weak, indulged, dram-drinking weaver from his garret,, put an axe or saw in his hand, or a spade and a hoe, with his blanket to sleep on, and send him to clear a spot that civilized man never before attempted, and the creature sinks under it; take any other indulged person, brought up in a manufactory, who wishes to emigrate with his wife and two children, so helpless as to require their food to be brought to them, and what can they do? Sink under it. Yet, for want of a due attention to this momentous business, I fear we shall hear many painful relations of disappointments and distresses, which a Board, set specially apart, might have prevented. I will say nothing about the crowded state of the ships that are gone, nor the evils that will flow from them in consequences. Compare this description with the restless back-woodsman in America, who, with a horse carrying all his furniture, and with a wife and child, or two, perhaps, has to raise his log-house, cut down trees in a forest as old as the creation, clear the land, raise his Indian corn, and presently become an easy settler. If we wish to settle the Cape, it must be with such characters as these, the hardy agriculturist, not the puny inanufacturer; and every attempt to elucidate a subject of such moment should be adopted. Your correspondent G. A. reasons well, therefore, in all he says; and we shall act well, if we form a permanent and increasing settlement in the South of Africa, for a day will come when we shall want it. Yours, &c. Mr. URBAN, THE T. W. Jan. 13. HE study of Biography has ever been considered as one of the most interesting and instructive parts of History. When we read of any person who has made himself conspicuous, as a statesman, lawyer, or soldier, or who has been pre-eminent in any branch of literature, a natural wish arises to know something of the private life and character of such a mao. In this branch of knowledge, Great Britain is second to no other country; and the many valuable works which we possess, treating of the lives of eminent men, which this kingdom has produced, may be considered as rendering any further elucidation of the subject unnecessary. It 131 strikes me, however, that a very entertaining as well as useful work might still be formed, with this object in. view; and I shall state my ideas for the consideration of any person who may be disposed to see the subject in the same light as I do. The Abbey Church of Westminster contains the ashes of a very large portion of the majesty, worth, genius, and abilities, of this nation. What I should propose, therefore, is, that the several epitaphs of the monuments and tombstones should be followed by a short biographical sketch of the lives and characters of the persons commemorated. This would form a very interesting guide to parties, who from curiosity may be led to visit that venerable pile, and be a material addition to the many books which have been written, illustrative of the topography of the Metropolis. The notices in such a work should not, I think, be select, but general; though the extent of each notice should, of course, be in proportion to the interest of the subject; and this point alone would require the exercise of a sound judgment. I cannot but persuade myself, that such a proposal as the above would be well received, and meet with an adequate reward for the labour it might occasion. Now I am upon the subject of projects in literature, let me suggest the following to your botanical readers. First, a Flora of the United Kingdom, arranged according to soils. It is well known that a considerable portion of the plants indigenous in these kingdoms are local, and can with difficulty be cultivated with success, in a different soil from that of their natural habitat. A skilful arrangement of plants, therefore, according to the above idea, would be an useful assistant to the practical agriculturist, and be interesting in a philosophical point of view. To this a very useful appendage would be, the provincial names of indigenous plants, arranged under the Linnæan names. Many of our common weeds are known by dif ferent names in different counties 3 and such a list of names would at once designate, in any part of the kingdom, the plants treated of in any agricultural work, and thereby prevent confusion and mistakes. Secondly, an alphabetical Catalogue of the generic names of plants, with the derivation thereof, the Authors who 132 An who first constituted the genera, and one whose establishment costs only Great pains are every where taken 66 In some future Number, I will endeavour to shew the comparative advantages and disadvantages of a Colony, with and without taxation. Yours, &c. A LOMBARD. LETTER FROM THE ARCTIC LAND EXPEDITION. (From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine.} "Aug. 27, 1819.-At Sea. A part of Greenland, named Cape FTER passing the Southern 66 D. A. Y. Mr. URBAN, London, Feb. 11. Farewell, we met with much ice; but as it did not lie thick, little difficulty was experienced in forcing a way through it, nor did it prove so great an impediment as the contrary winds which still continued to thwart us. Near the Greenland coast the streams or fields of ice consisted of a collection of loose and comparatively flat pieces, more or less densely compacted together, according to the state of the weather; but on approaching the shores of Labrador, we fell in with many icebergs, or large floating fields of ice. The variety of forms assumed by these masses afforded us amuse ment, 1.820.] Arctic Land Expedition. ment, but occasionally we saw some of such an enomous size, that every other feeling gave place to astonishment. One of these larger bergs we estimated to be 200 feet high above the water, and above half a mile in length. Its surface was broken by mountains of no mean size, with deep valleys between. Enormous as the se dimensions must appear, you will be more surprised when I inform you, that the part of an iceberg which projects above water, amounts only to a ninth part of the whole mass, that being the proportion of ice which floats above salt water. Arthur's seat clothed in snow would have formed - only one pinnacle to this berg. When these bodies became familiar to us from their frequency, we derived much pleasure from the various shades and gradations of colour they exhibited. The more compact parts were generally of a bright verdigris blue; towards the base a fine sea green prevailed; here and there a tint of red was seen, and the summits alone were snow-white. As the part of the ice which is covered by the sea decays more rapidly than that which is in the air, it often happens that one of these islands becomes top-heavy and tumbles over. We never saw one in the act of making this revolution, but most of them bore evident marks of having been overturned twice or thrice; the old water lines, intersecting each other in various directions, being still deeply engraved on their surfaces. "We first beheld the land (Resolution Island) during a fog, which soon became so thick that we could not see the length of the ship. In consequence of this, we got involved in a field of ice: then, to add to our distress, it fell calm; and although we could perceive that we were carried along by a violent current, yet the fog deprived us of ascertaining its direction, and the depth of water was too great to admit of our anchoring. After remaining in this situation for two or three hours, receiving occasionally some heavy blows from the ice, an alarm was given that we were close on the rocks. We all ran upon deck, and beheld a tremendous cliff frowning directly over the mast heads of the ship. It was perfectly perpendicular, covered in many places by sheets of ice; and its summit was so high, and shrouded in so thick a fog, 133 that it could not be traced from the deck. We had scarcely time to make any useful exertions; for in a few minutes the ship fell broadside against the cliff, along the face of which she was violently hurried by the current, towards a ridge of broken rocks, which in a short time would have torn the stoutest vessel to pieces. The heavy swell which prevailed caused the ship in her passage to beat against various rocky ledges which projected under water. One of the blows she thus sustained, drove the rudder out of its place; but it fortunately hung suspended by tackling which had been employed to secure it on coming amongst the ice. At this instant, when all human exertions seemed perfectly fruitless, the current eddied off shore, the land-breeze sprang up, a boat that we had put overboard succeeded in taking us in tow, and-what appeared almost miraculous one of the last thumps the ship received caused the rudder to fall back into its place. By this combination of favourable circumstances, we succeeded in getting round the point we so much dreaded; and, setting all sail, we steered from the land. Upon the first alarm of danger, the women and children, of whom we had a large number on board, going to Lord Selkirk's colony, rushed upon the deck much terrified. The officers, however, succeeded in calming their fears, and prevailed on them to go below out of the way of the sailors: but scarcely had this been effected, when the curreut carried us against a large iceberg; which bad grounded upon a ridge of sunken rocks that lay at svine distance from the shore. The crash of the masts and yards, together with the grinding of the ship's side against the ice, terrified them more than ever; but we speedily got clear of the second danger without receiving further damage. Our troubles, however, were not at an end; the ship had received so much damage whilst on the rocks, that, on examination, a great deal of water was found in the hold. All hands were instantly set to the pumps; but, to our mortification, we found that the water rushed in faster than we could, with every exertion, discharge it. Affairs now wore a gloomy aspect; the water in the hold increased to upwards of five feet, and the men were getting tired at the pumps, when fortunately the weather cleared cleared up a little, and we saw the Eddystone, one of the vessels that accompanied us, at no great distance : we bore down, and informed them of our situation. Every assistance in their power was promptly supplied; they sent 20 men and two carpenters. The services of the latter were invaluable, as our own carpenter had died in the earlier part of the voyage. With this fresh accession of strength, we kept the leak from gaioing upon us; and after some time the carpenters succeeded in discovering and patching up the broken parts so as sensibly to diminish the influx of water. Their operations were, however, slow; and it was not till the evening of the second day that we succeeded in getting all the water out of the ship. During the whole of this time, not only the officers and men worked hard, but even many of the women, recovering their spirits, proved eminently useful at the pumps. As the water decreased, the carpenters were enabled the more readily to repair the damage that had been sustained and they ultimately succeeded so well, that one pump proved sufficieat to discharge the water as fast as it leaked. in. In this state we have continued ever since. "In these straits the Hudson's Bay vessels are generally visited by a tribe of Esquimaux, who frequent the shores during summer, and come off to the ships for the purpose of bartering their whole wealth, which consists in whale and sea-blubber, for iron, which has become an article of the first consequence to them. Accord changed for pieces of iron, hoops, knives, saws, hatchets, and harpoons, and tin-pots. The wind continuing contrary during the remainder of the day, we stood in towards the land, and gave the women of the tribe an opportunity to come off, which they did, in five large canoes, framed like the large one, of skins, but open, and each capable of carrying from 20 to 30 people. The oars were pulled by women, but there was an old man in each boat to direct them. brought off a great many children, I As they suppose we saw the whole tribe, amounting to nearly 200 souls. "The features of the Esquimaux are not the most regular in the world: but it was pleasing to see their flat, fat greasy faces. When they had disposed of their articles of trade, we presented the women and children with a few needles, beads, and other trinkets, and sent them away highly delighted. Since that time we have been contending against contrary winds; but by perseverance have succeeded in getting within a few days sail of York Factory, at which place I shall conclude and despatch. "August 31-York Factory.-We have landed here in safety; find the country more pleasant than we expected, and have been told that the difficulties of travelling in this country have been much exaggerated. J. R." Ancient Anecdotes, &c. from VALERIUS MAXIMUS, by Dr. CAREY, West Square. (Continued from p. 24.) ABIUS Maximus, commander of ingly, one day when we were above the Roman army in Spain, (U. C. : them who had gone over from the Roman lines, to join their yet unconquered countrymen, he condemned them to suffer the amputation of their hands.— Lib. 2, 7, 11. 20 miles from the shore, these poor creatures ventured off in their skin 612) finding it difficult to prevent the canoes, pulling with the utmost anxi- defection of the natives, resolved to ety to reach the vessels. It sometimes terrify them into quiet submission by happens, when the ships have a fair the severity of punishment. Accordwind, that they run past the Esqui-ingly, whenever he captured any of maux haunts without stopping in the present instance, however, we were detained by light contrary winds, which enabled them to overtake us; and when they did so, they expressed so much joy and exultation, that it was easy to conceive how great their disappointment must have been when they missed us. In a short time we were surrounded by 30 or 40 canoes, each carrying one man, with his small cargo of merchandize, which, to their great satisfaction, they speedily ex The elder Scipio Africanus, at the reduction of Carthage, (U. C. 552) got into his power a number of men who had abandoned the Roman standard, and deserted to the enemy, He put them all to death, but made a distinction, in point of severity, between the Romans and the other Italians. 1820.] Ancient Anecdotes.Ancient Sculptures.. Italians. The latter he beheaded, as faithless allies; the former he crucified, as traitors to their country.— Lib. 2, 7, 12. The junior Africanus also, having recovered a number of deserters at the final destruction of Carthage, (U. C. 607) caused such of them, as were not Romans, to be exposed to wild beasts in the public spectacles Lib. 2, 1, 13. Paulus Æmilius, after his victory over Perseus (or Perses *), king of Macedonia, (U. C. 586) exercised a different species of severity in the punishment of deserters. He caused them to be trodden to death by elephants. Lib. 2, 7, 14. In the war against the Tarentines and king Pyrrhus, (U. C. 475) a considerable number of Roman prisoners having been gratuitously restored by that prince; the senate decreed, that such of them as had served in the cavalry, should be degraded to the rank of foot soldiers; that those of the infantry should be turned down to the companies of slingers, which (as I have already observed in a former communication) were the least respectable portion of a Roman army. In addition to these degradations, those unfortunate men were neither to be admitted within the intrenchments of the camp, nor allowed to intrench themselves without, or even to enjoy the shelter of such tents as the rest of the army used. And the only condition, on which any of their number could obtain a restoration to his former rank, was that of producing the spoils of two enemies, killed with his own band.-Lib. 2, 7, 15. The Roman consul Petilius having been killed in battle, (U. €. 577) the Senate ordered that his whole army should forfeit, not only their pay for the current year, but also the arrears of pay due to them; because they had not rather chosen to perish in defence of their general, than suffer him to fall. Lib. 2. 7, 15. During the second Punic war, (U. C. 387) Hannibal offered to release six or eight thousand Roman prisoners *Perseus. Perses.--For the satisfaction of the English reader, it may not be amiss to observe that the name is written in both forms; the difference being only a dialectic variation-Perseus in the common dialect, Perses in the Doric, as Achilleus, Achilles, &c. 135 for a moderate sum. But the Senate (wishing to inculcate the doctrine, that men of spirit ought rather to fall bravely in battle, than suffer themselves to be taken) refused to accept the offer (2, 7, 15.)—And this refusal was given at a time (as we learn from Livy, 22, 57) when the Roman government found such difficulty in procuring freemen to recruit their armies, that they were under the necessity of purchasing (at a higher price per head) a considerable number of slaves, to whom they gave their liberty, on condition of their consenting to become soldiers. On the day of a Roman general's triumph, it was the custom that he should first invite the consuls to supper, and then request them not to come; lest, on that joyous occasion, he should see any superior seated at the same table with him.-Lib. 2,8, 6. The Roman censors, Camillus and Postumius, (U. C. 301) imposed fines on men who had lived to an advanced age without marrying.-Lib. 2, 9, 1. A Roman senator having divorced his wife without consulting any of his friends, (U. C. 646) the censors expelled him from the senate, on account, not of the divorce itself (which was otherwise allowable), but of his inconsideration in an affair of such serious importance. (To be continued.) ACCOUNT OF THE ANCIENT SCULP- No. I. I. A CONQUERED PROVINCE. Colossul Bust. The sorrowful countenance and dishevelled hair shew the character which the Romans gave to the images of conquered provinces. (Visconti, Description des Antiques, &c. p. 2.) These figures are in general designated by particular attributes, relative to their commerce, religion, rivers, &c. like the Ungaria (Hungary) of the Capitoline Museum. Sometimes the Province is seen koeeling to the Conqueror; at others, with the hands tied behind, and no other dress than a tunick, as the costume of slaves. Half-length, II. GORDIAN PIUS. in a military habit, engraved Monumento Gabini, no. 14. It has the arms not |