never rested until it had deprived the Crown of its dearest prerogatives, and established the independence of the people on a firm and permanent basis. Having thus made all necessary preliminary observations, and after stating, at large, the claims of the Witenagemote and the claims of the feudal system, I shall now proceed to the more historical part of the inquiry. I have hitherto gone on general grounds, but it will now be necessary to examine, with minuteness, the reign of each Norman King,-as from events in these reigns are derived the whole of my facts and arguments. And here, at the close of the second essay, I state, as my opinion, That the liberties of England originated solely in the necessities of the Sovereign, which necessities were occasioned by the insufficient provision made for him by the feudal system. End of Chapter II. The Bouquet. "I have here only made a nosegay of culled flowers, and have brought nothing of my own but the thread that ties them." MONTAIGNE. SIR WALTER SCOTT'S NAPOLEON. [Continued from our last.] DESCRIPTION OF DANTON, ROBESPIERRÉ, MARAT. AND Three men of terror, whose names will long remain, we trust, unmatched in history by those of any similar mis ereants, had now the unrivalled leading of the Jacobins, and called the Triumvirate. Danton deserves to be named first, as unrivalled by his colleagues in talent and audacity. He was a man of gi gantic size, and possessed a voice of thunder. His countenance was that of an Ogre on the shoulders of a Her cules. He was as fond of the pleasure of vice as of the practice of cruelty; and it was said that there were times when he became humanized, amidst his debauchery laughed at the terror which his furious declamation excited, and might be approached with safety, like the Maelstrom at the turn of tide. His profusion was indulged to an extent hazardous to his popularity, for the populace are jealous of a lavish expenditure, as raising their favourites too much above their own degree; and the charge of peculation always finds ready credit with them, when brought against public men. mature deliberation. Happily for the Convention, this commandant of jaa national guards, on whose presence of mind and coun the fate of France perhaps for the moment depended, as stupid and cowardly as he was brutally ferocious. suffered himself, without resistance, to be arrested b few gens d'armes, the immediate guards of the Conventi headed by two of its members, who behaved in the em gency with equal prudence and spirit. But fortune, or the demon whom he had served, afford Robespierre another chance for safety, perhaps eren empire; for moments which a man of self-possess might have employed for escape, one of desperate court a might have used for victory, which, considering the vided and extremely unsettled state of the capital, likely to be gained by the boldest competitor. while praise is received without gratitude, it is withheld powerful demagogue. Subsequent events seemed for Robespierre possessed this advantage over Danton; that Vanity was Robespierre's ruling passion; and, though his countenance was the image of his mind, he was vain even of his personal appearance, and never adopted the external habits of a sans-culotte. Amongst his fellow Jacobins, he was distinguished by the nicety with which his hair was arranged and powdered; and the neatness of his dress was carefully attended to, so as to counterbalance, if possible, the vulgarity of his person. His apartments, though small, were elegant; and vanity had filled them with representations of the occupant. Robespierre's picture, at length, hung in one place, his miniature in another, his bust occupied a niche, and on the table were disposed a few medallions exhibiting his head in profile. The vanity which all this indicated was of the coldest and most selfish character, being such as considers neglect as insult, and receives homage merely as a tribute; so that, The arrested deputies had been carried from one pr to another, all the gaolers refusing to receive under the official charge Robespierre, and those who had aided in supplying their dark habitations with such a tida successive inhabitants. At length the prisoners were cured in the office of the committee of public safety. by this time all was in alarm amongst the commune Paris, where Fleuriot, the Mayor, and Payan, the cessor of Hebert, convoked the civic body, despate municipal officers to raise the city and the Pauxbourg their name, and caused the tocsin to be rung. Pa speedily assembled a force sufficient to liberate Hent Robespierre, and the other arrested deputies, and to ca them to the Hotel de Ville, where about two thous men were congregated, consisting chiefly of artillerym and of insurgents from the suburb of Saint Antoine, already expressed their resolution of marching against Convention. But the selfish and cowardly characte Robespierre was unfit for such a crisis. He appea altogether confounded and overwhelmed with what passed, and was passing around him; and not one of the victims of the Reign of Terror felt its disabling fluence so completely as he, the despot, who had so l directed its sway. He had not, even though the me must have been in his power, the presence of mind to perse money in considerable sums, which of itself wo not have failed to ensure the support of the revolution rabble. Meantime the Convention continued to maintain bold and commanding front which they had so sudde and critically assumed. Upon learning the escape of arrested deputies, and hearing of the insurrection at Hotel de Ville, they instantly passed a decree outlaw Robespierre and his associates, indicting a similar do upon the Mayor of Paris, the Procureur, and other m bers of the Commune, and charging twelve of their m bers, the boldest who could be selected, to proceed fiends. Danton, like the huge serpent called the Boa, the armed force to the execution of the sentence. might be approached with a degree of safety when gorged drums of the national guards now beat to arms in all with prey, but the appetite of Marat for blood was like sections under authority of the Convention, while the horse-leech, which says, not enough: and the slaugh- tocsin continued to summon assistance with its iron terous envy of Robespierre was like the gnawing worm, to Robespierre and the civic magistrates. Every t that dieth not, and yields no interval of repose. In glut- appeared to threaten a violent catastrophe, until it ting Danton with spoil, and furnishing the means of in-seen clearly that the public voice, and especially am dulging his luxury, the Girondists might have purchased the national guards, was declaring itself generally ag his support; but nothing under the supreme rule in the Terrorists. France would have gratified Robespierre; and an unlimited torrent of the blood of that unhappy country could alone have satiated Marat. If a colleague was to be chosen out of that most detestable triumvirate, unquestionably Danton was to be considered as the most eligible. DEATH-SCENE OF ROBESPIERRE. The officers of the Legislative Body were ordered to lay hands on Robespierre: but such was the terror of his name, that they hesitated for some time to obey, and the reluctance of their own immediate satellites afforded the Convention an indifferent omen of the respect which was likely to be paid without doors to their decree against this The Hotel de Ville was surrounded by about fi hundred men, and cannon turned upon the doors. force of the assailants was weakest in point of nur but their leaders were men of spirit, and night cond their inferiority of force. The deputies commissioned for the purpose rea decree of the Assembly to those whom they found a bled in front of the City-hall, and they shrunk fro attempt of defending it, some joining the assailants, laying down their arms and dispersing. Meantim deserted group of Terrorists within conducted them like scorpions, which, when surrounded by a circle are said to turn their stings on each other and on elves. frequently happens (generally, perhaps) that the bitch allurements of man. Mutual and ferocious upbraiding took place mong those miserable men. Wretch! were these the jeans you promised to furnish ?" said Payan to Henriot, hom he found intoxicated, and incapable of resolution texertion; and seizing on him as he spoke, he preciitated the revolutionary general from a window. Henot survived the fall only to drag himself into a drain, in hich he was afterwards discovered and brought out to secution. The younger Robespierre threw himself from e window, but had not the good fortune to perish on the pot. It seemed as if even the melancholy fate of the icide, the last refuge of guilt and despair, was denied men who had so long refused every species of mercy their fellow creatures. Le Bas alone had calmness nough to despatch himself with a pistol-shot. Saint Just, fter imploring his comrades to kill him, attempted his is own life with an irresolute hand, and failed. Couthon y beneath the table brandishing a knife, with which he peatedly wounded his bosom, without daring to add ree enough to reach his heart. Their chief, Robes erre, in an unsuccessful attempt to shoot himself, had aly inflicted a horrible fracture on his under jaw. In this situation they were found like wolves in their úr, foul with blood-mutilated-despairing-not able to Robespierre lay on a table in an anti-room, his head adden by a bloody and dirty cloth bound round the shatported by a deal box, and his hideous countenance half The captives were carried in triumph to the Convention, ho, without admitting them to the bar, ordered them, as utlaws, for instant execution. As the fatal cars passed lobespierre, were overwhelmed with execrations, from the a the guillotine, those who filled them, but especially riends and relatives of victims whom he had sent on the ame melancholy road. The nature of his previous wound, rom which the cloth had never been removed till the xecutioner tore it off, added to the torture of the sufferer. The shattered jaw dropped, and the wretch yelled aloud, to the horror of the spectators. A mask taken from that dreadful head was long exhibited in different nations of Europe, and appalled the spectators by its ugliness, and the mixture of fiendish expression with that of bodily agony. Thus fell Maximilian Robespierre, after having been the during which time he governed it upon the principles of rst person in the French Republic for nearly two years, Nero or Caligula. red chin. During this month a great number of races will take place, particularly in the north and west of England, so that, in the indispensible absence of the chase, the proceedings of the turf will be unusually active. We say unusually active, because, generally speaking, the entries are fuller than were ever before known, and because races commence in a regular and legal manner, for the first time, on the 25th of this month, at the second town in the British empire, Liverpool; they commence, too, with spirit rarely excelled, with an entry never surpassed in the infancy of any undertaking. That for the gold cup is remarkable, the greater part of the very best horses of the north being named for it, and hence the struggle will be more than ordinarily interesting. COLUMBUS. dead-Oo. I have heard so.-J. His soul is lost, I think. Oo. Why so?-J. He was not a disciple of Christ.Oo. How do you know that? You could not see his soul? J. How do you know whether the root of the mango tree is good? You cannot see it; but you can judge by the fruit on its branches. Thus I know that Mr. J. was not a disciple of Christ, because his words and actions were not such as indicate the disciple.-Oo. And so all who are not disciples of Christ are lost!--J. Yes, all, whether Burmans or foreigners.-Oo. This is hard.-J. Yes, it is hard, indeed; otherwise I should not have come all this "Alike the month to all its influence lends, And sportsmen hail it as the best of friends." way, and left parents and all, to tell you of Christ. [He seemed to feel the force of this, and after stopping a little, Angling. There is, indeed, a choice of sport for anglers he said,] How is it that the disciples of Christ are so forthis month, as almost all kinds of fresh-water fish will tunate above all men ?-J. Are not all men sinners, and now feed. Morning and evening, however, are the periods deserving of punishment in a future state?Oo. Yes; all to be embraced by the fisherman for the exercise of his must suffer, in some future state, for the sins they commit. skill; as in the hours when the sun is most potent, and The punishment follows the crime, as surely as the wheel the atmosphere is unclouded, the piscatory tribe are weary, of a cart follows the footsteps of the ox.-J. Now, accordand, being plentifully supplied with natural flies and fall-ing to the Burman system, there is no escape. According ing insects, reject the neatest artificial bait, or the nicest to the Christian system, there is. Jesus Christ has died in the place of sinners; has borne their sins; and now those who believe on him, and become his disciples, are released from the punishment they deserve. At death Peter Martyr, in his very curious account of Colum- they are received into heaven, and are happy for ever.of Jamaica, he immediately caused mass to be said on ac- principles of misery and destruction.-J. Teacher, there bus's voyages, tells us, that on his landing on the island. That I will never believe. My mind is very stiff on this one point, namely, that all existence involves in itself count of the safe landing of himself and his followers, and are two evil futurities, and one good. A miserable future that during the performance of that sacred mystery, an old Carib, eighty years of age, attended by several of his existence is evil, and annihilation or nigban is an evil, a countrymen, observed the service with great attention. fearful evil. A happy future existence is alone good.basket of fruit in his hand, which he in a very courteous and destruction. Nigban is the only permanent good, After it was over, the old man approached Columbus with. I admit that it is best, if it could be perpetual; but it cannot be. Whatever is, is liable to change, and misery, manner presented to him, and by means of an interpreter and that good has been attained by Gaudama, the last thus addressed him: "We have been told that you have in a very powerful deity.-J. If there be not an eternal Being, you cannot and surprising manner run over several countries which account for any thing. Whence this world, and all that were before unknown to you, and that you have filled the we see?-Oo. Fate.-J. Fate! The cause must always inhabitants of them with fear and dismay. Wherefore I be equal to the effect. See, I raise this table; see, also, exhort and desire you to remember that the souls of men that ant under it: suppose I were invisible, would a wise when they are separated from their bodies, have two pas-Fate is a word, that is all. It is not an agent, not a thing. man say the ant raised it? Now Fate is not even an ant. sages; the one horrid and dark, prepared for those who What is fate ?-Oo. The fate of creatures is the influence have been troublesome and inimical to the human race; those who, whilst they were alive, delighted in the peace If there be a determination, there must be a determiner.the other a pleasant and delightful one, and appointed for which their good or bad deeds have on their future existence.-J. If influence be exerted, there must be an excrter. and quiet of mankind. Therefore you will do no hurt to any one, if you bear in mind that you are mortal, and that Oo. No; there is no determiner. There cannot be an every one will be rewarded or punished in a future state eternal, Being.J. Consider this point. It is a main according to his actions in the present one." point of true wisdom. Whenever there is an execution of Columbus, by the interpreter, answered the old man, a purpose, there must be an agent. Oo, [After a little "that what he had told him respecting the passage of the thought] I must say that my mind is very decided and souls after the death of the body, had been long known to hard, and unless you tell me something more to the purhim and his countrymen, and that he was much surprised Pose, I shall never believe.-J. Well, teacher, I wish you those notions prevailed amongst them, who seemed to be to believe, not for my profit, but for yours. I daily pray living quite in a state of nature. That he and his fol- the true God to give you light, that you may believe. lowers were sent by the King and Queen of Spain, to Whether you will ever believe in this world, I don't know; discover all those parts of the world that had been hitherto but when you die I know you will believe what I now unknown, that they might civilize the cannibals and other say. You will then appear before the God you now deny. wild men that lived in those countries, and inflict proper-Oo. I don't know that. pp. 39-41. punishment upon them, and that they might defend and honour those persons who were virtuous and innocent; that therefore neither himself nor any other Carib, who had no intention of hurting them, had the least reason to fear any violence, and that they would avenge any injury which should be offered to him or any other worthy persons of the island, by any of their neighbours." The old man was so pleased with the speech and the manner of Columbus, that though he was extremely old, he offered to follow Columbus, and would have done so, had not his wife and children prevented him. The old man appeared much surprised to understand how a man of Columbus's dignity and appearance should be under the control of another person, and became much more astonished when the interpreter explained to him the honour, the pomp, and the wealth of the several sovereigns of Europe, and the extent of the country, and the great ness and beauty of the things over which they reigned. He became pensive, and in a flood of tears asked the interpreter repeatedly, whether it was the heavens or the earth which had produced men so superior to themselves as Columbus and his followers. BURMESE NOTIONS OF RELIGION. The ardent shooter will, this month, begin to cast a (From Judson's Mission.) Unwholesome Mcat.-According to a statement in the Edinburgh Weekly Chronicle, the practice of selling unsound butchers' meat has of late been carried to a great fifty stones, of the most shocking quality, was seized there extent in that city; and, on Saturday week, not less than by the police. Several persons were, in consequence, fined in the penalty of £5 each. We most heartily join with the editor in reprobating so villanous a practice; indeed, we can hardly find an epithet sufficiently strong to express our abhorrence of the unprincipled dealers in carrion, especially when we reflect on the consequences produced by their nefarious traffic. No one need wonder at the prevalence of disease among the people, who considers for one moment how much of their food may, from the existence of such practices, be not only unfit for the purposes of nourishment, but positively injurious to health. Instances have fallen under our own observation, where robust young men were brought to a premature grave by the use of unwholesome animal food and yet we have reason to believe, that the flesh of smothered and diseased cattle is not unfrequently exposed for sale in some of the markets in this town. We are certain, at any rate, that it is customary, in some of the remote streets, to go about with old and tainted butchers' meat, which the needy are tempted to purchase, on account of its cheapness. This practice should be instantly stopped ; and we would further recommend to those who are entrusted with this business, to keep a watchful eye on such persons as are suspected of trafficking in unwholesome provisions of any description; for, however ungracious their interference may be, they are thereby rendering a service of the greatest value to the community at large. Poetry. THE CREATION. 'Twas chaos all-then first th' Almighty spoke, Th' Almighty spoke: "Let there be light," and light And grateful murmurs through heaven's concave rung; With God's own likeness stamp'd upon his breast; And while his breast with heaven-born rapture glow'd, Shelton. THE WARRIOR'S DEATH. The young knight fell while on the foe He fell as he had wish'd-in fame, While the youth was sobbing loud, For say my death was death of bliss- Her love was still my pride. I die! yet fear not death's cold sleep; The cross dropt from his lifeless hand, And the bravest of the Christian band Manchester. LIBERTY. O! he swept his bold lyre, With a bard's holy fire,' W. M. J. BOLTON. And of freedom, sweet freedom he sang; It was Liberty's voice, And the hearts of the brave, Then awake! O, awake! Are more blest in the grave Than living at Liberty's death. The recent aquatic exploit of Dr. Bedale has be the subject of such general conversation, that apology, we presume, need be offered for our givin place in the Kaleidoscope to the following paragra on the subject, from the Liverpool Courier and M cury. We shall, next week, follow up this arti with the account of Lord Byron's great swimmi feat in the Mediterranean, to which we have verted in the subjoined remarks; and as aqu gyninasia is the topic of the day, we shall lay he our readers a series of brief, and, we trust, ent taining articles on the subject.-Edit. Kal. Extraordinary Swimming.-Our readers will do less recollect the circumstance of Dr. Bedale, of Manch ter, having some time ago announced his intention swimming from this town to Runcorn, a distance of abe eighteen miles, without receiving any aid from the bos which might follow him, or resting in any way whate out of the water. It appears that this offer, on the of the doctor, originated in a wager which he laid Mr. Matthew Vipond, of Manchester, that he wo swim with him from Liverpool to Runcorn in one All preliminaries having been settled, the morning Tuesday last was fixed upon; and, as if to afford eve facility to the adventurers, and grace their daring atten the morning opened out exceedingly auspicious, the shone brilliantly, and every thing seemed to favour t bold experiment which was about to be tried by t aquatic adventurers: great excitement prevailed, and merous spectators, in boats, witnessed the arduous s novel undertaking. About a quarter past eight o'clo in the morning they started from the Queen's Do The Doctor, prodigal of his strength, was anxious give his opponent every advantage by allowing him keep a-head. During their progress, at different tim small quantities of brandy and wine were presente in bottles fastened to the end of sticks, from the boa The swimmers were thus enabled to receive their freshments by treading water. When within a short d tance of Runcorn, the doctor shot a-head of Vipon who, however, made every possible exertion to regain his his experiment under the most favourable circum- 99 fiately proceeded to Mr. Morgan's, Fenwick-street, where number of gentlemen were waiting to receive him. A and of music was in attendance in the lobby, and, on ais approach, struck up the air of "See, the Conquering Hero comes. He appeared to be little worse for his great exertions, described himself as being very warm and comfortable, and expressed his readiness to swim again to the same place at any time. Considerable bets have been pending on the performance of this feat. If the tide run, as we have heard stated, at the rate of four miles on the average, and the distance from the Queen's Dock to Runcorn be sixteen miles, the action of the tide alone would carry a man from the former to the latter place in four hours, with little or no exertion on his part. Dr. Bedale did actually thus float the greater part of the way, as he informed us that he lay chiefly on his back, which we can readily believe, from the extraordinary effect that the exposure has produced upon his face. We consider this, however, to be a great and memorable exploit, although its merit lies rather in the power of enduring the cool water for hours together, than in any proficiency in the art of swimming. Singular Dowries.-About 1770, there was living in London a tradesman, who had disposed of eleven daughters in marriage, with each of whom he gave their weight in halfpence, as a fortune. The young ladies must have been bulky, for the lightest of them weighed fifty pounds, two shillings, and eightpence.. An advertisment in an Irish paper, setting forth the many conveniences and advantages to be derived from metal window sashes, among other particulars, observed that "these sashes would last for ever; and afterwards, if the owner had no use for them, they might be sold for old iron. Choosing a Wife in Turkey.-When a Turk has determined on marriage, he makes his wishes known to his mother, or to any other near female relation, and gives a description of the appearance he would wish his wife to possess. The lady applied to, sets out immediately in search of a bride, calling at the houses of her female acquaintance, where there are unmarried women. Those who are supposed to answer the description contained in her instructions are made to undergo a severe examination. Their hair is regularly combed, that it may be seen Dr. Bedale possesses this power of endurance in a whether it is all their own; their mouth is kept open some most extraordinary degree; in proof of which, on minutes to show whether the teeth be good; the breath is the evening of the day on which he passed to Run- smelt that it may be ascertained if it be sweet; the body corn, he remained in the Floating Bath for nearly an handled all over, for fear of its possessing any hidden hour, apparently without inconvenience; besides deformity; and, finally, they are made to walk up and which, his body, compared with its bulk of water, is down the room, that it may be seen if they are exempt specifically lighter than that of ordinary persons. from lameness. Thus young ladies in Turkey undergo, The Doctor has not exerted himself in vain. Lean-horses in this country when they are to be bargained for. on such occasions, a more scrupulous examination than der swam for love, Lord Byron for glory, and many The good qualities and defects of the ladies visited are men have had to swim for their lives; but the Doctor then reported to the proper quarter; the choice is fixed, has swam for money, and has netted about seventy and the same messenger returns to make formal proposals. pounds by his extraordinary performance. -New Monthly Magazine. Before we proceed to make any remarks upon this Judging from our own power of enduring exposure to water of the temperature we have named, we thought it impossible to remain uninjured during the time it would require to reach Runcorn by the combined operations of swimming and floating. We knew that persons could, in warmer climates, remain six hours, and much longer, in the water. Lord Byron swam in the Mediterranean for four hours and twenty minutes, and he asserted that if he had been divested of his trowsers, he could have continued in the water two hours longer, without inconvenience. We do not know the average temperature of the Mediterranean, in summer, but we shall venture to assume that it exceeds 70 degrees by Fahrenheit. In the awful and interesting narrative of the thunderstorm which the ship New York lately encountered in the Gulph stream, it was stated that the temperature of the water was 74 degrees. Chit Chat. As Richard Brinsley Sheridan, of eloquent and witty memory, was standing at his window with his first wife, a poor man, selling matches, importuned her very much good fellow, you only lose your time. This lady once to purchase some; on which Sheridan exclaimed, "My made a match herself, and is resolved never to have any thing more to do with another." 4 King......G-2 ....... .B-7 1 Castle......G-7 2 Bishop ...B-8 3 Pawn......G-5 4. Pawn......G-3 5 Pawn..... G-4 6 Pawn......H-2 7 Pawn......G-3 STUDY CXLIX. MATE. Black Man's Dream.-A number of years bygone, a black man, named Peter Cooper, happened to marry one of our fair townswomen, who did not use him with that tenderness that he conceived himself entitled to. Having The white, with the move, to win in eight moves with the tried all other arts to retrieve her lost affections in vain, pawn, without taking the black pawn. Peter, at last, resolved to work upon her fears of punishment in another world for her conduct in this. Pretending, therefore, to awake, one morning, extravagantly alarmed, his helpmate was full of anxiety to know what was the matter; and having sufficiently, as he thought, whetted her curiosity, by mysteriously hinting that could a tale unfold," at length Peter proceeded as follows: he "Hell ob a dream last night. I dream I go to Hebben and rap at de doa, and a gent man come to de doa wid black coat and powda hair. Whoa dere ?-Peeta Coopa. -Whoa Peeta Coopa? I'm not know you. Not knowa The temperature of the Mersey, on Tuesday last, as Peeta Coopa! Look de book, Sa.-He take de book, an recorded in the log-book kept on board the Floating he look de book, an he no find Peeta Coopa.-Den I say, Bath, was 62 degrees, which, in all probability, was Oh! lad, oh! look again; find Peeta Coopa in a corna. lower by ten or twelve degrees than the Mediterra--He take de book, an he look de book, an at last he find nean, in which Lord Byron and his companions swam for so many hours. Before we can form a correct estimate of Dr. Bedale's performance as a swimming feat, we ought to know precisely the distance by water from the southern extremity of Liverpool to Runcorn, and also the rate at which the current runs: but neither of these data is ascertained; and we do not know whether the distance be eighteen miles, as stated in the Courier, or twenty miles, as it is generally considered. It ought also to be stated, that Dr. Bedale made Peeta Coopa in lilly lilly (little) corna.-Peeta Coopa, Black. WHITE. 14 The Traveller. CAPTAIN FRANKLIN'S EXPEDITION. We copy from the Quebec Gazette, of the 8th of June, which has just reached us, the following interesting extract of a letter, from a gentleman connected with the expedition under Captain Franklin, R. N., dated Great Slave Lake, 12th Nov., 1826 : "The principal object of the expedition was to discover a navigable passage, westward from the mouth of the Mackenzie to Behring's Straits, and his Majesty's ship Blossom was despatched round Cape Horn for the purpose of meeting it at Icy Cape or in Kotzebue's Sound. If Captain Franklin's means permitted, he was directed also to send a detachment to the eastward, to survey the coast between Mackenzie and Copper mine Rivers, and to return over land from the mouth of the latter to the establishment on Bear Lake. The smaller parties of Esquimaux, that were subsequently ner. dall and the determined attitude assumed by the party," experienced in coasting a shore of a very peculiar nature, s "On the 9th of July, Captain Franklin was stopped by took place, and seldom more than a mile or two a day. ice, unbroken from the shore, and from that date up to In this tedious way he reached the 141st degree of longithe 4th of August, he could advance only as the separation tude, by which time the ice had given way so as to give a passage to the boats; but other obstacles of a more serious of the water, that a landing on the main shore was effected nature now opposed themselves to his progress. The coast only once after passing the 139th degree of longitude, was so low and difficult of approach, from the shallowness though it was frequently attempted, by dragging the boats for miles through the mud. On all other occasions he had to land on the naked reefs that skirt the coast, where, after the departure of ice, the party suffered severely from want of fresh water, and once passed two entire days without that necessary article. Thick fogs and heavy gales of wind prevented the expedition from quitting this "From the skill with which Captain Franklin's ar-spot for eight days by a fog so dense, that all objects were rangements were made, he was enabled to descend the obscured at the distance of a few yards, stormy weather inhospitable part of the coast, and it was detained on one Mackenzie and visit the Arctic Sea, last year, within six prevailing all the time. months of his departure from England, and to return insurmountable obstacles, the resolution and perseverance again up the river, to our destined winter quarters at Fort of Captain Franklin and his party enabled them to reach Notwithstanding these almost Franklin, in Bear Lake, by open water. time, I had sailed round Bear Lake, and ascertained the gust. They had then performed more than half the disIn the mean- nearly the 150th degree of longitude by the 18th of Audistance between its eastern extremity and the Copper-tance, along the coast, to Icy Cape had plenty of provi mine River. The knowledge of the country gained by sions, boats in good order, and an open sea before them; these excursions tended much to perfect the plans of and although, from the fatigues they had undergone, the operation for this year, and the liberal supplies of pro- strength of the crews was somewhat impaired, yet their visions furnished by the Hudson Bay Company this spring, spirit was unbroken; but the period had now arrived when enabled Captain Franklin to equip both parties. Three it was Captain Franklin's duty, in pursuance of his inboats were built for the service in England, of mahogany, structions, to consider the probability of his being able to --a wood considered to be well adapted for the purpose. reach Kotzebue's Sound before the severe weather set in; They were necessarily sinall, and of a light construction, and, if he did not expect to attain that object, he was prothat they might be more easily carried over the numerous hibited from hazarding the safety of the party by a longer portages which occur on the route from York Factory, continuance on the coast. Hudson's Bay, to Bear Lake; but, from. the care be- mity of rashness to have attempted to get to Kotzebue's stowed in building them, they reached that place without Sound by traversing an unknown coast at that advanced It would have been the extrematerial injury, and, eventually, answered even better season, even had he been certain that the Blossom had than they were expected to do. A fourth, of a similar reached that place; but the uncertainty attending all size and form, was built at Bear Lake, of fir, and proved voyages in high latitudes made it extremely doubtful as good as the others. The main part of the expedition whether that vessel was actually at the rendezvous or not. which was to proceed to the westward, under Captain It was, therefore, in conformity with Captain Franklin's Franklin's mmediate command, in two of the boats, usual judgment, and the almost paternal anxiety he has which were named the Lion and Reliance, consisted of always evinced for the safety of those who have had the Lieutenant Back, eleven British seamen, marines, and happiness to serve under his command, that he decided landsmen, two Canadian voyageurs, and an Esquimaux in- upon commencing his return to Bear Lake at that period. terpreter. The eastern detachment, comprising Mr. Kendall, assistant surveyor, one seaman, two marines, six his whole party that they turned their backs upon an landsmen, and an Esquimaux, embarked in the Dolphin unsurveyed part of the coast. The only feeling that will "It was a matter of the deepest regret to himself and and Union, and were put under the charge of Dr. Richard-be excited in the minds of others will be surprise that he gress to the extent that he did. The propriety of Capt. Franklin's determination was evinced by a succession of was able to surmount the obstacles opposed to his prostormy weather, which speedily set in; and by intelligence he received from some friendly Esquimaux lads, that their countrymen were collecting in numbers about the mouth of the Mackenzie; and that a large part of the mountain Indians were on the march to intercept him, on account of his having come, as they supposed, to interfere with the trade of the Esquimaux. Had he been only a few days later, it is more than probable that he could not have escaped the numerous enemies without a contest. He arrived with his party in perfect health at Bear Lake on 21st of September, and despatched an express to Government the following morning, with an account of his proceedings. As it was necessary that the express should set out without delay, to enable it to ascend the Mackenzie whilst the navigation continued open, Captain Franklin had merely time to write me a short account of his proceedings. The preceding sketch is, therefore, necessarily very imperfect. I have omitted to mention that the trending of the coast carried the expedi-veyed the coast through upwards of 36 degrees of longi tion into 704 degrees of north latitude. "The two branches of the expedition have thus sin tion, on parting from Captain Franklin, they pursued the Sea pretty well known, as far as the 115th degree of we easternmost channel of the river, which is that by which longitude. There remain only 11 degrees of unknow With regard to the eastern detachment of the expedi-coveries and those of Captain Parry, render the Arch tude, which, together with Captain Franklin's former di Mackenzie returned from the sea, and is accurately and coast betwixt that and Icy Cape, and Captain Beechy t ably described by him. They reached the sea on the 7th of perhaps by this time traced a considerable portion even July, in lat. 69 deg. 29 min. N., long. 183 deg. 24 min. W., that in the Blossom, so that a complete discovery of th having, on that day, fallen in with a horde of Esquimaux, north-west passage, so long an object for which Brita who, whilst the boats were, in a similar situation to Cap- has contended, is now brought within very narrow limi tain Franklin's, aground on the flats at the mouth of the river, endeavoured to seize upon Mr. Kendall's boat, no doubt for the purpose of plundering it. The attempt, however, which was, perhaps, merely the impulse of the moment, was not participated in by the whole horde, and was instantly frustrated by the cool courage of Mr. Ken son. "We left our winter quarters on the 21st of June, descended the Mackenzie till the 2d July, and as far as latitude 67 deg. 38 m. N. long. 103 deg. 53 m. W. At this place, named Parting Point by Captain Franklin, the river dívides into a number of widely diverging branches separated from each other by low and partially flooded lands. It was determined that the two divisions of the expedition should separate here, and that each party should follow the channel which accorded best with their respective routes. Captain Franklin, in the preceding autumn, had descended a middle channel, and reached the seat at Garry's island, in lat. 69 30. deg. N. long. 135 45. W. He now entered the most westerly arm which winds round the base of the rocky mountains, and reached its mouth on the 7th of July. Its outlet is so barred by sand-banks, that the crews were compelled to drag the boats for miles, even at the top of high water. In this unpleasant situation they were visited by a large party of Esquimaux, who at first behaved quietly, and carried on a barter in an amicable manner, but at length, prompted by the desire of plunder, and confiding in the superiority of numbers, on a preconcerted signal, upwards of 250 stout fellows, armed with long knives, rushed into the water at once, and seizing on the boats, dragged them on shore. The judicious measures pursued by Captain Franklin, however, well seconded by the prompt obedience and determined conduct of Lieutenant Back and the crews of the boats, rescued the provisions and all the property of consequence from the hands of these freebooters, and the boats were ultimately got afloat without a shot having been fired, or any personal injury received on either side. The same party came twice that night and next day with hostile intentions, when the expedition had put ashore to repair the rigging of the boats which had been cut in the affray, but the posture of defence in which Captain Franklin drew up his small force, deterred them from renewing the attack. bad weather, and had, on several occasions, to cut a p sage through tongues of ice with the hatchet, and to for a way for the boats with much labour and some hazmess They suffered some detention on this voyage, front The ice attains a great thickness in that sea, some of th foes being aground in nine fathoms water, but under in the summer months, it decays with an almost incred ble rapidity. powerful radiation of a sun constantly above the horizo of water, the party were on several occasions enabled sail through shallow canals, worn on the surface of the floes by the action of the waves, when, from the ice beits As the boats drew only twenty inch closely packed on the shore, they could find no passa betwixt the masses of which it was composed. They h fortunately clear weather for these attempts. Had th experienced the fogs which Captain Franklin met with the westward, they must of necessity have remained shore. Notwithstanding the quantity of ice they that towards the end of August there is a free passage a ship along the northern coast of America, from the 100 countered thus early in the season, they were convinc to the 150th degree of west longitude; and to the eas harbours, although there are none on the part of the con surveyed by Captain Franklin to the westward. T ward of the Mackenzie there are some commodio whole difficulty in performing the north-west passage a ship seems to be in attaining the coast of the continet through the intricate straits which lead from Baffin't Hudson's Bays. The flocd tide was found setting every where along the coast from the eastward. per-mine, prevented them from bringing their boats abo eight miles from the sea, and they therefore abandone them there, with the remainder of their stores, tents, & The rapids, which obstruct the navigation of the Cop a present to the Esquimaux, and set out overland to Fo Franklin, carrying (exclusive of instruments, arms, an ammunition, and a few specimens of plants and mineral merely a blanket, and ten days' provision for each pers They arrived on the eastern arm of Bear Lake on the 180 of August, and at the Fort on the 1st of September, afte an absence of seventy-one days, in excellent health a condition. Hudson's Bay Company's ship, with the exception |