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tion. Although heir to the throne of is more harsh and repulsive than tender. Denmark, Hamlet's rank, as a Prince, is He expressly says, "Man delights not not a prominent feature in the drama. me, nor woman neither." The affecting His father had been victorious in war; state of his mind is early made known by but he is not drawn as a young warrior, himself : of a commanding figure, ambitious of "I have that within, which passeth outward show," conquest and surrounded by the compan- After the discovery of the murder, he is ions of victory. He is introduced as still more agitated and depressed; ponders "young Hamlet," divested of pomp, fol- on death, in soliloqu,; sinks into a strange lowers, show, and authority, he meets and mournful abstraction,and breaks forth us in his domestic and more affecting into moving complaints, or exclamations character, as an injured son, deprived of of agony and indignation. Earnestly his inheritance, and plunged in deep sad- resolved on avenging his father's murder, ness occasioned by the sudden death of he becomes incoherent in his discourse, his father and the unnatural marriage ofhis and assumes, or betrays, an appearance mother with his uncle. Shakspeare has of occasional derangement. In repreplaced him in the heart of our sympathies, senting this gentle and noble nature, diby exhibiting him without the appen- vested of all state and form, and full of dages of his high birth, in a private and moralizing melancholy, an unstudied neg. amiable light, wholly indifferent to his own ligence of demeanour, suited to private concerns, and oppressed by his sympa- life and the predominance of strong feelthies and affections. His filial love and ings over forms of ceremony constitute sorrow absorb every other consideration. the essential grace and pathos of the perHe is not even moved to notice the usur- formance. Kean's youthful and pleasing pation of his throne; and although he is figure, the pensive cast of his countesupposed to be in love with Ophelia, his nance, expressive tones and gestures, with love is wholly subordinate to his grief. his profound discrimination of nature and He does not seek an interview with her. Shakspeare, qualify him to shine in this She occupies little of his thoughts, and interesting character.-We regret that his passion is made known to us by her we are under a necessity of postponing conversations with her father and broth- the remainder of our observations on this er, not by his demeanour to her, which subject, to our next.

IN

W. C.

NARRATIVE OF A VOYAGE TO NEW-ZEALAND.

BY JOHN LIDDIARD NICHOLAS, ESQ. Svo. PUBLISHED SEPT. 1817.,

From the Literary Gazette, October 1817.

N our last Number* we introduced ernment, in 1809, to take out convicts to our readers to the acquaintance of the Botany Bay, when having completed savage tribe of Wangeroa, whose chief, that business, she embarked a number of GEORGE, having served on board some passengers, and proceeded to New Zeaof the whalers, spoke English fluently, land for a cargo of timber. and on Mr. Nicholas's going to shake hands with him, returned the compliment with a "how d'ye do my boy," uttered in the most vulgar style.

Our travellers resolved to afford a perfect proof of their confidence in the natives by spending the night in the camp. Here they obtained from George the following particulars respecting the massacre of the crew of the Boyd, a ship of 500 tons, commanded by Captain John Thompson, which was chartered by gov

• See Ath. Vol. 2, p. 124,

George (says Mr. Nicholas,) stated, that himself and another of his countrymen being together at Port Jackson, they both agreed with Captain Thompson to work their passage to their own country. It happened, he said, however, that he was taken so ill himself during the voyage, as to be utterly incapable of doing his duty; which the Captain not believ ing to be the case, and imputing his inability to work rather to laziness than indisposition, he was threatened, insulted, and abused by him. George attempted

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to remonstrate against this severe treat into it.-The ship being now anchored ment; but the Captain being a man of in his own harbour, the Captain, he incholeric temper, this only exasperated formed us, sent him on shore, having him the more, and it was in vain that the first stripped him of every thing English other told him he was a chief in his own he had about him, to the very clothes he country, and ought to be treated with had on, which were also taken from him; some respect; urging at the same time so that he was received by his countryhis illness, and assuring him that this was men almost in a state of perfect nudity. the only cause that prevented him from To these he instantly related all his working. The enraged Captain would hardships, and the inhuman treatment he pay no regard to what he said, but calling had received on board; while enraged him a cookee cookee, (a common man,) at the detail, they unanimously insisted had him tied up to the gangway, and on revenge, and nothing short of the flogged most severely. This degrading destruction of the Captain and the crew, treatment of the Captain towards him and taking possession of the vessel, could taking away all restraint from the ship's satisfy their fury. This he promised to company, he was subject during the rest do, and the work of slaughter was now of the voyage to their taunts and scurrili- about to commence, while the devoted ties, and they persecuted him, he said, victims remained unconscious of the inin every possible way that they could fernal project. The imprudence and devise. temerity of Captain Thompson assisted Such treatment, it will readily be sup- that vengeance which his misconduct had posed, must have sunk deeply into a mind roused, and were now displayed in too like George's, and the revenge he medi- evident a manner. Never once reflecttated was no less terrible than certain. ing on the character of the savage, whose But whether he resolved on it during the favourite passion is revenge, and not convoyage, or had afterwards formed the sidering that his own tyranny had prodiabolical design, I was not able to dis- voked the most signal retaliation that cover; though I imagine he had con- could be taken, he had the rashness to ceived it before he got on shore, as he leave the ship unprotected, and taking a toid the Captain very emphatically, while boat's crew with him, proceeded to the he was derided by him for calling him- shore, where a horde of outrageous canself a chief, that he would find him to be nibals stood prepared for his destruction. such on arriving at his country. This, The duration of this dreadful tragedy however, might have been said without was short. He had scarcely landed, any other idea than to assure him of the when he was knocked down and murderfact, and was a natural reply enough to ed by Tippouie ;* and his sailors, unhis taunting incredulity. But a stronger happily sharing the same fate, were all circumstance than this leads me to suppose stripped by the barbarians, who immedithat George had determined on his horrid ately appeared dressed in the clothes of purpose while he was yet on board. On their victims, went on to the ship to comtheir arrival at New Zealand, the Captain, plete the carnage. Arriving at the ship, induced most probably by his suggestions, with their revenge unsatiated, and still ran the ship into Wangeroa; a harbour raging for blood, a general massacre of which, I believe, had never before been the remaining part of the crew, together entered by any European vessel, and with all the passengers on board, iminewhich lying in the very territory of the diately ensued, and with the exception of chief whom he had so ill treated, was four individuals, neither man, woman, recommended, I doubt not, to make his nor child, of all that had left Port Jackdestruction inevitable. He would not son, escaped the cruel vengeance of their acknowledge to us that he himself suggested this harbour to the Captain as the most convenient place for him to take in his cargo, though from his evasive answers I am fully persuaded he decoyed him * George's Brother.

2P ATHENEUM. Vol. 2.

merciless enemies. It was in vain they sought to conceal themselves; they were soon discovered with a fatal certainty, and dragged out to suffer the most ex

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After reading this dreadful story, we participated in some of the satisfaction expressed by the author, on learning from George that many of the bloody wretches who performed in the scene of horror, were blown up by the explosion of the powder magazine on board the ship.

In the midst of these ruthless cannibals, Mr. Marsden and Mr. Nicholas, however, reposed in safety. At the particular request of George they slept on

cruciating torments. Some of the sailors the intemperate violence of one indirunning up the rigging, with the hope Not less, I should suppose, that when the fury of the savages should than seventy human being were destroyhave subsided, their own lives might be ed in this furious carnage. spared, met with the same fate as the rest of their unfortunate companions. Coming down at the request of Tippahee,+ who had, on that dreadful morning, come into the harbour from the Bay of Islands, they put themselves under his protection, and though the old Chief did all in his power to prevent their being massacred, his efforts were unavailing, and they fell before his eyes, the last victims in this last scene of blood and horror. But here I am wrong, this was the ground beside him and his wife.not the last scene, for there was one more 66 Awaking at the dawn of day, (says at which humanity will shudder, as well the latter,) a scene, the strangest that as the person who records it. These can be imagined, presented itself to my savages, not satisfied with the vengeance view. An immense number of human they had already taken, and true to their beings, men, women, and children, some character as cannibals, feasted themselves half naked, and others loaded with fanon the dead bodies of their victims, de- tastic finery, were all stretched about me vouring the mangled flesh till their in in every direction; while the warriors, human appetites were completely glutted. with their spears stuck in the ground, The four who had escaped the cruel and their other weapons lying beside destiny of all the rest, consisted of a them, were either peeping out from under woman, two children, and the cabin-boy; their kakahows, or shaking from off their these, except the last, had fortunately eluded the search of the barbarians till their thirst of blood was satiated, and then being discovered, were spared, and treated with some kindness. The cabinboy having, during the voyage, ingratiat ed himself into favour with George, by several acts of friendship, had now the good fortune to receive that reward, which of all others was the most valuable to him, his life. The Chief, impressed with a grateful recollection of his kind offices, received him in an affectionate manner; while he ran to him for protection, and crying out in a piteous strain, "Gcorge, you won't kill me?" he was answered by the the other, who showed, that with all his cruelty, he was capable of gratitude, "No, my boy, I wo'n't kill y you are a good boy;" and taken by him under his own immediate care.

Such was the end of the unfortunate Boyd, and such the melancholy fate of a number of people all cut off in the prime of life, and lost to their country, their friends, and their dearest connexions, by

+ Chief of another tribe more to the South.

dripping heads the heavy dew that had fallen in the night.-Before sun-rise they were all up."

The next day the Wangeroa chiefs accompanied their guests on board the Active, where their good disposition was further conciliated by presents of axes, scissars, nails, fish-hook, plane-irons, and pieces of red India print, with which they departed highly satisfied, and protesting everlasting friendship. We may here observe, that in no instance did the natives of New Zealand ever betray the slightest inclination to forfeit the pledge of hospitality when once extended to their visitors-the "haromai," and the "red mat," were always held sacred.

The vessel now got under weigh for its destination, the "Bay of Islands;" and on the 22d December anchored safely abreast of Rangehoo, the residence of Diaterra. A salute of great guns and musketry was fired on this occasion.

They landed among a crowd of natives, who received them with many demonstrations of pleasure; and the narrative proceeds—

"On the arrival of the boats with the

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cattle, they appeared perfectly bewildered of it to the same height as his description, with amazement, not knowing what to they believed not a single word he said. conclude respecting such extraordinary- On telling them that he had seen large looking animals. Cows or horses they corraddees carry men and women about had never seen before, and diverted now in land canoes, (meaning carriages) they from every thing else, they regarded them would put their fingers in their ears to as stupendous prodigies. However, prevent themselves from listening to him, their astonishment was soon turned into and desire him very indignantly not to alarm and confusion; for one of the tell so many lies. A few of them, howcows that was wild and unmanageable, ever, more curious than the rest, to prove being impatient of restraint, rushed in his veracity, would mount upon the among them, and caused such violent backs of their pigs, saying they must be terror through the whole assemblage, more fit for the purpose of riding than that imagining some preternatural mon- the corraddees, and endeavouring to ster had been let loose to destroy them, gallop them about in the style of Eurothey all immediately betook themselves pean horsemanship, they quickly tumbled to flight. But this cause of their panic being removed, they did not hesitate to return, and Mr. Marsden, mounting the horse, rode up and down the beach, exciting their wonder in a tenfold degree.

into the dirt, and became quite as incredulous as their sceptical companions. This was, therefore, a day of triumph to Duaterra, as it afforded him an opportunity of convincing them by ocular demonstration of the truth of his statement.

To see a man seated on the back of such an animal, they thought the strangest We shall not trespass on our space fur... · thing in nature; and following him with ther at present, but in our next insert staring eyes, they believed at the moment the description of Duaterra's town, which that he was more than mortal. Though may serve, with a few slight variations, Duaterra, on his return from his former for a general picture of the settlements of. visit to Port Jackson, had described to every tribe on the island, the whole being his countrymen the nature and use of subdivided into independent Powers, of the horse, his account appeared to them from 150 to 3 or 400 persons, under a so preposterous, that it only excited their reigning chief, who, in some instances, ridicule. Having no name in his lan- has a religious and feudal authority over guage for this animal, he thought that adjoining tribes; and in that case, his corraddee, their term for a dog, would warriors are cominanded by a brother, or be the best designation he could adopt; nephew, or other near relatives. but as they could not elevate their ideas

AMERICAN TRAVELLERS.

From the Literary Gazette.

Extracts of LETTERS from a SWISS has plenty of money,does very well to come TRAVELLER, in North-America, to America, it is a real Paradise. But as in the summer of 1816.

(Concluded.)

Philadelphia.

our Swiss arrived here without money and without prospects-that is a misery! There lately arrived a ship with 500 of THE country round Philadelphia and these unhappy people who were not even further inland is inexpressibly beau- able to pay for their passa Many of tiful; all indicates great prosperity. Fruit them regret their emigration, put it is now which only wants to be gathered, and too late. They were sold here as servants. delightful meadows where the finest cat- Children are best paid for; girls and tle graze, one sees continually; there are also many handsome country houses. The farmer is there his own master; he does not want to work, because the soil produces every thing without much labour; whoever loves a country life and

boys who are not able to pay for their passage, serve till their 18th and 21st year, like black slaves. A healthy and robust man must work for four or five years to pay his passage, which is 80 dollars, Old people cannot find any body to take

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them; so that there are now about 50 of but if the Europeans will continue to them on board the ship, who wait with come as they have done from the year an anxious heart to know their fate. If 1800, it will in a short time be increased they find nobody to take them for their beyond calculation. Pennsylvania alone passage-money, they are thrown into could maintain on an extent of twentyprison, where they must work with mal- seven millions of acres, fourteen millions efactors in sawing marble, till they of men. There is therefore room have earned enough to pay for their pas- enough for new comers. The climate sage, which may last ten or twelve years. here is not the most agreeable, on account What barbarians are the men, the blood- of the sudden changes of the air. The suckers, who grow rich by such a traffic! thermometer sometimes changes in one -There are some Germans who do so, afternoon 20°, from warm to cold; the and circulate the most tempting pam- greatest heat which I experienced here phlets. The last who sailed for this pur- was 95°. The Winter, they say, is very pose, said, before his departure, that this rough and cold, and lasts four or five should be his last voyage, and if this one months. The Government and its rights succeeded, he should be rich enough. are much like those of Switzerland; one The ship which brought the last refugees lives quite free, and is not plagued about gained at least 30,000 florins. Persons passports nor any thing else. There is who can pay for their passage and have no public police; duelling is forbidden still a little money remaining in their under severe penalties; when they quarhands to buy a small piece of land and rel they settle it after the English fashmaintain themselves for a while do very ion. I see that there are many insuffic well: but the others are more unhappy ient laws which are partly too mild and than they would ever be in Europe. A give the wicked too much liberty: for good workman is not badly off; but these eleven years only one man these increase very much, and will, in the has been condemned to death, and he end, have but little profit. Besides, a was hanged a few days ago. Though young European cannot so soon accustom himself to the dull country life here; many pine after home. The farmer is, as I have already said, his own master, he sells his corn very well, pays his taxes, and does not want to buy any thing. The soil produces him every thing, and with a small capital, a laborious farmer can in a very short time prosper. An acre of uncleared land in a fine country and good soil costs two or three dollars, of which the half is paid paid directly, and the other half in six months. The population the United States is now eight millions;

he had committed three murders, many blamed the Government for his condemnation; the clergy defended him in the pulpit, the journalists in their papers, and the Quakers sent petitions to the Presi dent for his release.

Here are many French refugees; the rich buy themselves estates; the poor live in great misery; about 400 of them enlisted themselves in the service of the Spaniards, who by flattering promises and brilliant prospects enticed these poor strangers and sent them to Mexico.

THE NARRATIVE OF JOEN ALBERTUS THOEN,*

A NATIVE OF LEYDEN, AND A BRITISH SERJEANT IN THE BENGAL EUROPEAN ARTILLERY. From the Gentleman's Magazine.

AT the end of the time I have men- ed at Colombo), "You will be killed." tioned,a Kandian came in and looked "Well, said I, I am ready, to let them at me, and I at him; he then ran away, kill me, I can't get up to walk away." and as I thought to bring people to kill me; and then came in three women to look at me, from whom I turned away, being quite naked, and two of them said to me in Portuguese (a language I learn

• Concluded from p. 257.

Just at this time the same man who had been there before, came again, and he seemed angry with the women for speaking to me, and drove them away; when they were gone, he took out from under his clothes plenty of curry and rice,

and