7. William Gray, Esq. of Heathrey hall. At Stirling Castle, D. J. French, Esq. Ordnance Storekeeper. 8. At London, the Honourable J. A. Stuart Wortley Mackenzie. At Leith, Mr Alexander Christie, ironmonger. 10. John Drysdale, late Surgeon in the Honourable East India Company s service, Bombay Establishment. At Peterhead, the Rev. Dr George Moir, 55 years minister of that parish. 11. At New Strelitz, her Serene Highness the Princess Maria Louisa Albertine, widow of the Landgrave George, of Hesse Darmstadt. She was born 16th March 1729, and had therefore nearly completed her 89th year. 13. At Campfield, John Strachan, Esq. of Campfield, aged 94 years. At London, Lieutenant Charles Maclaren, late of the 42d regiment, or Royal Highlanders, of a protracted illness from the wounds which he received at the battle of Toulouse. At Peebles, Miss Elizabeth Dick, aged 94, daughter of the late Rev. Mr James Dick, one of the ministers of Glasgow. At Cunninghamhead, Mrs Snodgrass, spouse of Neil Snodgrass, Esq. of Cunning hamhead. 14. At London, Miss Henrietta Finch, daughter of the late Lady Charlotte Finch, and sister to the Earl of Winchelsea. At Brechin, in the 97th year of her age, Mrs Margaret Fergusson, relict of the Rev. Mr Patrick Turnbull, late minister of the gospel at Strickathro. 15. At Edinburgh, Hector Macneill, Esq. the well known author of " Will and Jean," and other works. He was, it is believed, son of Captain Macneill, of the 42d regiment; was born at Rosebank, near Roslin; and received his education in Edinburgh. In the early part of his life, he had visited both the East and West Indies; in the latter of which, he resided some years, and, by the death of a friend there, acquired the greater part of the small fortune of which he died possessed. He had for many years laboured under a bilious disorder; and about a month previous to his death, he was seized with jaundice, which put a period to his life, in the 72d year of his age. 16. At Edinburgh, Sir John Stirling of Glorat, Bart. 16. At Greenwich, in the 88th year of her age, Ann, widow of Lieutenant-Gene ral Forbes Macbean, of the Royal Artillery. 17. At Keith, Banffshire, from the bursting of a blood-vessel, Major Peter Grant, late of the 92d regiment, or Gordon Highlanders. His zeal for the service induced him to join the army in Flanders in 1793, as a volunteer. His services having been noticed by the Marquis of Huntly, his Lordship appointed him to his regiment upon its establishment in 1794. Major Grant was constantly present with, and shared in the many gallant exploits of this distinguished corps, in Holland, Egypt, and in the Peninsula, &c. In the course of these severe conflicts, he was repeatedly wounded, and was finally under the necessity of retiring from the service, in consequence of losing a leg by a cannon ball in Spain. 18. At Edinburgh, Henry D. Goodsir, Esq. late surgeon of the 89th foot. 20. At Glasgow, after a short illness, Mr James Denholm, of the Glasgow Academy, aged 45. Mr Denholm was author of the History of Glasgow, and several other works. As an artist, the productions of his pencil have been much valued-as a teacher of drawing, geography, &c. he waseminently useful. - At the Cairn of Lochryan, Lieute nant James Adair, R. N. son of Thomas Adair of Genoch, Esq. Clerk to the Signet. Lately-At London, the Right Hon. Lady Mary Ker, in the 72d year of her age, third sister of his Grace the late John Duke of Roxburgh. At Crinan, Janet Malley, aged 108. Last harvest she attended the field, and in one day cut down six stooks of corn. At Cannock, in Staffordshire, in the 89th year of his age, Mr John Sheet, one of the very few remaining soldiers of those employ ed under General Wolfe at the siege of Quebec. He had occupied a farm at Cannock for about fifty years. On his passage to Ceylon, LieutenantColonel Erskine, youngest son of Lord Erskine. William Elrick, who was born in the eventful year of 1715. He was formerly at Aquorthies, and lately came to reside on the barony of Fetternear, in the parish of Chapel of Garioch, both belonging to Mr Leslie of Balquhain, where he died, having been able to continue his occupation of a day labourer until within these five years. His faculties of seeing, hearing, and speech, were quite entire at the time of his death. On Candlemas day he would have completed 103 years of age. George Ramsay and Co. Printers, Edinburgh. Particulars respecting the Families of Polwarth and Jerviswood, about the period of the Revolution of 1688; with Songs by Lady Grizzel Hume, &c...430 Some Account of Signora Girardelli, the Incombustible Lady, now exhibit. ing in Edinburgh, with Observations on the power of resisting the action of Fire, as evinced in a variety of examples Peruvian Monster........................... 448 REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. Fourth Canto of Childe Harold. 449 Northanger Abbey: and Persuasion....453 Mr Ewing's Report on Management of the Poor of Glasgow...............................455 437 Llewellen, or the Vale of Phlinlimmon; a Novel New edition of Cowper's Poems, with Critical Notes, &C.458 SURVEY OF FRENCH LITERATURE For March 1818: viz., Mad. de Genlis on the Manners of the French ;-Athenæum of Paris;-Travels to the Mouth of the Black Sea ;-On the Cadaster;-Survey of the Paris Theatres, &c. &C. 460 The ORIGINAL POETRY. Dirge of Tippoo Sultaun: By Dr Leyden.-Sonnet from Petrarch. -The Confession............................464 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. Royal Society of Edinburgh...........466 | LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. Foundation of a New Observatory in Edinburgh.-Blue Iron Earth.Dry Rot.-New Schools in France.Chronicles of Cæsarea.-Ancient Indian Fortification, &c. &c.468 Works Preparing for Publication.473 Monthly List of New Publications 474 MONTHLY REGISTER. Foreign Intelligence www 478 Parliamentary Intelligence.479 ib. Appointments and Promotions... Births, Marriages, Deaths............498 EDINBURGH: PRINTED FOR ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND COMPANY. The communications from W. R.,-G. D.,-and P. have reached us, and will meet with our earliest. and most respectful attention. C. F.'s paper is very curious, and shall, if possible, find a place in our next. A. D. qr. merits also our best thanks, and will be inserted. We have received J. C.'s various communications, with sentiments of sincere respect;-but we cannot publish any contribution of that nature, which is not an exclusive gift. We regret that we cannot insert the notice from St Andrew's, without infringing a rule we have hitherto found it expedient to follow. Our friend F.'s promised favour is impatiently expected. Ebenezer Fudge "has much of the family spirit about him, and his "Letter First" is very ably written; but we differ from him as to the propriety of indulging a depraved appetite in the public by giving notoriety to such "delineations," however exquisitely finished, or amply deserved. But were we so disposed "There's none, (without flattery,) if We may judge, Half so fit for this great undertaking as Fudge!" "Acasto" is too didactic for a Monthly Magazine. Sral Poetical pieces of real excellence have recently reached us, amidst a deluge of more coinmon-place effusions. The former shall be gratefully inserted as speedily as our narrow limits will al dow. The Correspondents of the EDINBURGH MAGAZINE AND LITERARY MISCELLANY are respectfully requested to transmit their Communications for the Editors to ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE and COMPANY, Edinburgh, or LONGMAN and COMPANY, London, to whom also orders for the Work should be particularly addressed. Printed by George Ramsay & Co. THE EDINBURGH MAGAZINE, AND LITERARY MISCELLANY. MAY 1818. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. NOTICES OF VOYAGES UNDERTAKEN prospects of success in attaining the FOR THE DISCOVERY OF A NORTHERN THE regions situated between the Arctic Circle and the Pole, after being long abandoned to neglect and forget fulness, at this moment attract a stronger interest than any of the fairer and more smiling portions of the globe. This was first excited by the curious and valuable facts communicated by Captain Scoresby, and published by the Wernerian Society; and it has been greatly heightened by the bold and spirited attempts now making, under the auspices of Government, to explore a path through regions which tempest and perpetual ice seemed to have hitherto barred against the approach of mortals. It is worthy of remark, that this was the earliest career of British discovery; it was even the nurse of our infant navy. That courage which has triumphed over all the fleets of Europe, and made every ocean tributary, was first employed in braving the wintry tempests and moving mountains of the Polar Seas. We are happy to understand that Mr Barrow is preparing a chronological account of all the discoveries within the Arctic regions,-a work for which he possesses ample materials, and which, in his hands, will be truly interesting. In the mean time, the curiosity of our readers may be gratified by a rapid sketch of some of the most remarkable of these voyages, to which we shall add a few remarks on the objects which our present expeditions have in contemplation. The first British expedition of discovery was undertaken in 1553, for the purpose of exploring a passage to India round the northern shores of Europe and Asia. It was an object to the nation of almost unbounded enthusiasm. The discoveries of Spain and Portugal, which had opened new worlds to the wonder of mankind, and had deluged the mother countries with gold, were still fresh in their recollection; and it was hoped that the present expedition would be productive of results equally splendid. Although it was favoured by Government, and particularly by the reigning monarch, Edward VI., it was undertaken, and the expence defrayed, by a body of individuals united under the title of the "Mysterie and Companie of the Marchants Adventurers for the Discoverie of Regions, Dominions, Islands, and places unknowen." These are described as "certaine grave citizens of London, and men of great wisedome, and careful of the good of their country," who, seeing that the wealth of the Spaniards and Portugals, by the discoverie of newe trades and countries, was marveilously increased, supposing the same to be a course and meane for them to obteine the like, resolved upon a newe and strange navigation." For this purpose they subscribed L. 5000, which was employed in building three vessels, in the construction of which all the skill in shipbuilding which the nation possessed was put in requisition. Not only were they put together, calked, and pitched with the utmost care, but an invention, then new, was employed, of covering the keel with thin sheets of lead, as a defence against insects; and they were supplied with provisions for a year and a half. Many gallant captains sued for the command of this squadron; but the preference was given to Sir Hugh Wil- loughby, a "valiant gentleman," whose high birth, distinguished na val prowess, and even his noble and commanding figure, seemed to throw a new lustre on the expedition. The second in command was Richard Chancellor," a man of great estimation, for many good partes of witte in him." The instructions for the voyage were drawn up by Sebastian Cabot, governor of the merchant company, who had himself made several important discoveries, and was considered as the most experienced mariner in England. These instructions are not unworthy of perusal. They contain many salutary exhortations to cleanliness, harmony, good order, and diligence. It is hinted that, in giving "advertisements of their proceedings," they may do it," passing such dangers of the sea, perils of ice, intolerable coldes, and other impediments which, by sundry authors and writers, have ministered matter of suspicion in some heads, that this voyage could not succeede." We cannot help thinking, however, that he himself has conjured up a much more serious and unfounded fear, when he tells them that "there are people that can swimme in the sea, havens, and rivers, naked, coveting to draw nigh your ships, desirous of the bodies of men, which they covet for meate; therefore diligent watch is to be kept both day and night." He concludes with telling them," how many persons, as wel the king's majestie, the lords of his honorable counsell, this whole companie, as also your wives, children, kinsfolkes, allies, friends, and familiars, be replenished in their hearts with ardent desire to learne and know your estates, conditions, and welfares, and in what likelihood you be in, to obtaine this noble enterprize, which is hoped no less to succeede to you, than the orient and occident Indias have to the high benefit of the emperour and kings of Portugal." 66 The squadron sailed down the Thames on the 10th of May 1553. As they passed Greenwich, where the court then resided, an immense concourse assembled to behold and hail them. The courtiers and chief nobility stood at the windows, while the common people covered the shore and the roofs of the houses. Guns were fired, handkerchiefs waved, “ the valleys and the waters gave an echo, and the mariners they shouted in such sort, that the sky rang againe with the noyse thereof. To bee short, it was a very triumphe (after a sort) in all respects to the beholders.” At this moment of exultation, the thought of the mighty and unknown seas which they were to traverse, instead of damping hope, served only to give a new grandeur to the enterprise. Not one, perhaps, of the thousands who hailed them as they floated down in pomp, amid discharges of artillery, and with all their ensigns displayed, suspected that they were victims adorned for the sacrifice, and that this brilliant expedition was destined soon to have so fatal an issue. The squadron was detained a considerable time by contrary winds in sailing along the English coast, and, having in vain attempted to reach Scotland, they then directed their course towards the coast of Norway. Here they fell in with that multitude of little islands which extend along the north-eastern extremity of Scandinavia. They touched at those of Lofoot, (Loffoden,) which they found "plentifully inhabited, and very genthe people." Here they obtained some directions for sailing along the coast, and fixed upon Wardhuys, a harbour of Finmark, for their rendezvous, in case of dispersion. Soon after putting to sea, there came on " flawes of windes and terrible whirlwindes,” in which they suffered dreadfully. The pinnace of the admiral's ship was dashed to pieces, and he lost sight entirely of the other two vessels. Next morning he discovered one of them, the Confidence, to leeward of him; but the other, the Edward, was finally lost sight of. The admiral continued, however, to push forward, in order to reach Wardhuys; but he sailed on without discovering any appearance of land, which, indeed, the soundings (of 180 fathoms) indicated to be at a great distance; so that it 1 |