what deficient in satisfactory information; and might have been improved and corrected by an -attentive perusal of the long previous publications of Schloetzer. The account of the Malays deserves transcription, as it may stimulate inquiry: Travellers who make observations on the Malays, are astonished to find in the centre of Asia, under the scorching climate of the line, the laws, the manners, the customs, and the prejudices, of the ancient inhabitants of the north of Europe. The Malays are governed by feudal laws, that capricious system conceived for the defence of the liberty of a few against the tyranny of one, whilst the multitude is subjected to slavery and oppression. "A chief, who has the title of king or sultan, issues his commands to his great vassals, who obey when they think proper; these have inferior vassals, who often act in the same manner with regard to them. A small part of the nation live independent, under the title of Oramcai, or noble, and sell their services to those who pay them best; whilst the body of the nation is composed of slaves, and lives in perpetual servitude. "With these laws the Malays are restless, fond of navigation, war, plunder, emigrations, colonies, desperate enterprises, adventures, and gallantry. They talk incessantly of their honour and their bravery, whilst they are universally considered by those with whom they have intercourse as the most treacherous, ferocious people on the face of the globe; and yet, which appeared to me extremely singular, they speak the softest language of Asia. What the Count de Forbin has said, in his memoirs, of the ferocity of the Macassars, is exactly true, and is the reigning characteristic of the whole Malay nations. More attached to the absurd laws of their pretended honour than to those of justice or humanity, you always observe that amongst them the strong oppress and destroy the weak; their treaties of peace and friendship never subsisting beyond that self-interest which induced them to make them; they are almost always armed, and either at war amongst themselves, or employed in pillaging their neighbours. This ferocity, which the Malays qualify under the name of courage, is so well known to the European companies who have settlements in the Indies, that they have universally agreed in prohibiting the captains of their ships who may put into the Malay islands, from taking on board any scamen of that nation, except in the greatest distress, and then on no account to exceed two or three. "It is nothing uncommon for a handful of these horrid savages suddenly to embark, attack a vessel by surprise, poniard in hand, "The Malays who are not slaves go always armed; they would think themselves disgraced if they went abroad without their poniards, which they call cris; the industry of this nation even surpasses itself in the fabric of this destructive weapon. "As their lives are a perpetual round of agitation and tumult, they could never endure the long flowing habits which prevail among the other Asiatics. The habits of the Malays are exactly adapted to their shapes, and loaded with a multitude of buttons, which fasten them close to their bodies in every part. I relate these seemingly trifling observations in order to prove, that in climates the most opposite, the same laws produce similar manners, customs, and preju dices: their effect is the same too with respect to agriculture. "The lands possessed by the Malays are, in general, of a superior quality; nature seems to have taken pleasure in there assembling her most favourite productions. They have not only those to be found in the territories of Siam, but a variety of others. The country is covered with odoriferous woods, such as the eagle, or aloes wood, the sandal, and the Cassia odorata, a species of cinna mon: you there breathe an air impregnated with the odours of the innumerable flowers of the greatest fragrance, of which there is a perpetual succession the year round, the sweet flavour of which captivates the soul, and inspires the most voluptuous sensations. No traveller wandering over the plains of Malacca, but feels himself strongly inpelled to wish his residence fixed in a place so luxu riant in allurements, where nature triumphs without the assistance of art In the midst of all this luxuriance of nature the Malay is miserable; the culture of the lands, abandoned to slaves, is fallen into contempt. These wretched labourers, dragged incessantly from their rustic employments by their restless masters, who delight in war and maritime enterprises, have rarely time, and never resolution, to give the necessary attention to the labouring of their grounds; their lands in general remain uncultivated, and produce no kind of grain for the subsistence of the inhabitants. "The reader who wishes for more ample information concerning this peninsula, may be referred to the voyages of Nieuhof and Hamilton. As the latter asserts, that the inland inhabitants, whom he calls the Mo nocaboes, are a different race from the Malays, and of much lighter complexion, it would seem probable that the Malays passed into this country from the north or south, and there is no small difficulty in accounting for their origin. The language should be skilfully collated with those of the neighbouring countries, and even with the ancient dialects of Hindostan, as, perhaps, they may be found to be the same with the Pallis, traditionally said to have been the most early inhabitants of that celebrated country." Under the well chosen name Polynesia our author describes that numerous collection of islands scattered in the Pacific Archipelago: to the most important of them, commonly called New Holland, he proposes to assign, without a very obvious advantage, the name Notasia. Like Natolia, the whole region is too small to take, with any epithet, the name of Asia; and it would be mistaken in our language for a privative, and wholly English word. This country, of which the native appellation will, no doubt, ere long, be ascertained, is become very interesting to Britons, since the prospect has dawned of a successful colonization. Mr. Pinkerton indicates (at p. 482) the expediency of a settlement in Papua: this end could surely be effected from Hindostan, in a manner more adapted to the climate, than from the mothercountry. To the description of Asia succeeds that of America. In the introductory dissertation Mr. Pinkerton gives strong reasons for questioning its supposed form, and for omitting the inland sea or bay, commonly called Baffin's, on the maps. In this case, when the climate shall have softened by the progress of settlement, it is probable that ships will be able to sail along the north coast of America, out of the Atlantic into the Pacific Ocean. exceed 72°, in the open Arctic ocean, and Davis himself was stopped at 72°, in this very sea, supposed to be inland, while it is probably only part of that ocean. It is further remarkable that this voyage is very im perfectly known from Baffin's relation, published by Purchas; and all the charts and maps of this pretended bay have been merely laid down from the observations contained in his journal; for if Baffin made any chart it was not published by Purchas. It is, perhaps, equally remarkable, that no doubt seems existence of Baffin's bay; while it is not imyet to have been entertained concerning the probable that he is merely a bold impostor, who wished to recommend himself to his. employers, by pretence of having imposed their names on grand and important features of nature, and by his numerous sounds, to have laid a scheme for drawing more money north west passage. Yet it would seem that from his protectors, for the investigation of a strong doubts prevailed even at the time, for these supposed discoveries were entirely neg Far ex In 1616 some spirited gentleman sent captain Bilot to attempt a north west passage. William Baffin sailed with him as pilot and this voyage is one of the most singular in the whole circle of geography. ceeding the utmost stretch of Davis, they discovered Horn Sound, Cape Dudley Digs, Hakluyt Island, Sir Thomas Smith's Sound, Cary's Islands, Alderman Jones's Sound, and Sir James Lancaster's Sound; all of them totally unknown to any preceding or succeeding navigator. Baffin thus pretended that he had, in an inland and a narrow sea, (which, to increase the absurdity, is laid down in our maps with all its shores, a matter never before attempted from a first and imperfect visit,) proceeded to the latitude of more than 780, while Captain Cook, the most skilful of modern navigators, could not lected. "Supposing that Baffin's bay were dismissed from our maps, it is probable that Greenland is a continuation of the continent, and spreads to the west about lat. 75°; or it may be detached land, like New Holland, extending towards the pole. The general line of Hearne 1772, and Mr. Mackenzie 1789, is the Arctic sea in this quarter, as seen by Mr. about lat. 70°; and it is not improbable that at a little higher latitude it coalesces with what is called Battin's bay; in which case Greenland is a detached land, and the country, several large islands in the Arctic ocean." on the north of Hudson's bay, consists of been, perhaps, worth while to observe that the commerce of that country seems to be approaching a state, in which the institution of fairs, or marts, would be expedispersed among the Indians, if they dient. Many commodities might be and times, for the purpose, and with the were called together at certain places opportunity of barter. Pedlars could In the account of Canada it would have not pursue the wanderings of the tribes; nor would their demand support the institution of perennial stores: but occasional stalls of cutlery, drapery, and whisky, pitched at the places where the furtraders convene, might become a signal for amusements that would civilize, and exchanges that would benefit both parties. The admirable survey of the Missouri inspires a deep regret, that the practicability of acquiring New-Orleans should not have occurred to ministers during the late war. In the account of the botany of Canada, the whole of which merits the praise of elegance and preci sion, the following observation especially deserves notice. "One however, the zizania aquatica, deserves to be mentioned: this graminaceous vegetable is nearly allied to the rice; it grows abundantly in all the shallow streams, and its mild farinaceous seeds contribute essentially to the support of the wandering tribes of Indians, and to the immense flights of swans, geese, and other aquatic fowls which resort hither for the purpose of breeding. Productive as it is, and habituated to the climate, inhabiting also situations which refuse all other culture, it is surprising that the European settlers have as yet taken no pains to improve a plant which seems in tended by nature to become at some future period the bread corn of the north." With the description of Africa Mr. Pinkerton concludes. His account of Egypt is so discouraging, that one almost wishes the French had happened to obtain that grant during the negocia tion for peace: it would not in their, or any hands, have endangered our own distant possessions. They would have taken. it, because it is a glorious acquisition, at more than a fair valuation; and would probably have allowed us for it the Cape, where we might have founded in Africa an English population. This would, probably, be a more expeditious form of establishing civilization there, than to undertake the tuition and government of an inveterate, indigenous population. Creoles, skilled in tropical agriculture, could be obtained in the WestIndies, and would at once found the sort of industry, which we can keep in perpetual motion. There seems, however, a possibility of obtaining, by negociation, from the Portuguese, the permission of re-colonizing Loango or Congo. Along the river Zair all the productions of the African climate can be reared with peculiar ad vantage; and it offers an extensive inland communication, which would faci litate the distribution over the interior of all European commodities. The mouth of the Orange river is also adapt ed for a settlement; it is wholly unclaimed, and may be occupied without previous concert; and it would be a convenient asylum for those, who have cast their plans of life, on the presumption that Britain would have persisted in retaining the Cape. At page 767, Mr. Pinkerton proposes to adopt, as the first meridian, that of the peak of the Azores. Desirable as it undoubtedly is that some neutral point should be substituted both on French, English, and German maps, to the meri dians of the respective European metropolises, it may be doubted whether the meridian of Dresden be not better adapted than any other for the convenience of geographers. It is the most central meridian; so that if Dresden be elevated to the zenith, the upper hemisphere of the globe includes all the quarters of the world. It is, therefore, very nearly the centre of gravity of human population, the middle point of terrestrial existence, and, inasmuch as it is so, entitled to be come the separating line between the right and left sides of the earth. Cosmopolitical grounds of preference can alone avail in a question of which national competitions at present inconveniently prevent the uniform decision. in his Mr. Pinkerton, from a passage preface, seems to aspire for no higher praise than that of the Strabo of the modern world. Were we to anticipate future opinion, we should expect it would allow that his redaction is neater, his range of study more comprehensive, his selection of intelligence more tasteful, and his views more statesman like. CHAPTER V. BRITISH TOPOGRAPHY AND ANTIQUITIES. TOPOGRAPHY, like all other subjects of investigation and nquiry, na received more numerous and important accessions during the last century, than have been derived from all the preceding ones. This may chiefly be attributed to the increased facility of travelling, and better accommodations in towns and remote villages, to a more urgent curiosity concerning our national antiquities and local history, and to the general prevalence of tours of pleasure, in which so many of our countrymen, who are in easy circumstances, liberally indulge. Even our county and parish histories, instead of exhibiting a dull, uninteresting series of municipal and ecclesiastical officers, of families never heard of beyond the bounds of their own estates, and of names even yet more obscure, sedulously and indiscriminately collected from tombstones and parish registers, are, by slow degrees shaking off their barbarism, and aspiring to their proper rank in our national literature.. Of all the subjects of investigation included under Topography, the study of Antiquities seems to be that which prompted the earliest and minutest surveys of Great Britain. The rude remains of the tribes who possessed the island previously to the invasion by the Romans, the roads and other monuments of civilization, constructed by these enlightened and enlightening conquerors, the military, the civil, and ecclesiastical architecture of the succeeding ages, all furnish a multiplicity of objects interesting in themselves, and eminently illustrative of the public and private history of the country. These have been described, explained, and classed, with various success, and form the original basis of British Topegraphy. In the early part of the sixteenth century, Leland, the royal antiquary, traversed the island in various directions, for six successive years, and presented to the public the fruit of his researches in his " Itinerary, and Collectanea." This worthy example was soon followed and surpassed by Camden, who in his "Britannia” has erected a lasting monument to his own fame and his country's glory. Within the short space of fifteen years, no less than five editions were published, which more than any thing else produced a general taste for topographical inquiries. The effects of the impulse thus communicated soon appeared in Lambarde's "Perambulation of Kent," the first of our county histories; in Erdeswick's Collections relative to Staffordshire;" and Carew's "History of Cornwall." Numerous works on a similar plan speedily followed, so that now a considerable proportion of the counties of England have been illustrated by their ANN. REV. VOL. I G& local historians; and even single towns and parishes have in many instances been the subjects of minute and laborious investigation. eyes The attention to antiquities in our early topographers, was excessive, and almost exclusive. The most flourishing towns were passed over with slight and inade quate notice; and the agriculture, the natural history, the picturesque scenery of the island, remained wholly unrecorded. The itineraries of the illustrious Ray, about the middle of the seventeenth century, appear to have first opened the of Englishmen upon the natural history of their native country, and the “British habitats,” inserted in his "Catalogus Plantarum," have been copied, with additions from various sources, into all the succeeding county histories. In a description of Cornwall, it was not possible wholly to omit all mention of its mines and minerals; nor could Bath, Buxton, or Harrowgate, be described without some notice, however slight and inaccurate, of their medicinal springs. The caverns and other natural curiosities of Derbyshire were, from very early times, the wonder of travellers; and from the first attention of inquirers into these subjects to the present day, the natural history of Britain has been more and more regarded as an important and essential department of its topography. In perusing the itineraries of our more ancient tourists, there is nothing that surprises the modern reader so much as the apparently total insensibility to those sublime and beautiful scenes of nature which have of late employed all the eloquence of the pen, and the magic of the pencil, in their illustration. Ray, a native of Essex, and a resident in Cambridge, in his different excursions, passed through the vallies of Derbyshire, ascended the mountains of North Wales, and beheld the glories of the Cumberland lakes; yet, from the whole of his itineraries, not a single sentence can be gleaned, expressive of that wonder and delight with which every one at the present day is irresistibly affected. But, indeed, a perception of the beauties of picturesque scenery is quite of modern growth. Even Addison, a man of sensibility and imagination, in the account which he has published of his journey through the south of France, Italy, and Swisserland, will appear remarkably frigid and reserved, when compared with those who have gone over the same ground in the course of the last twenty years. Some of the first specimens of picturesque description, are nearly contemporary with the introduction of that style in gardening which is peculiarly termed the English; but though the intimate and necessary connection between the two will be readily acknowledged, it does not appear easy to determine which of them is entitled to priority of origin. The embellisher of Hagley was the first who discovered and published to the world the exquisite beauties of the vale of Festiniog, and a few other selected portions of British scenery. The poet Gray soon after pointed out some of the characteristic features of the north of England, as Pennant and Cordiner did of Scotland: lastly, Mr. Gilpin, surveying the most striking varieties of country which Great Britain affords, with a profound knowledge of the principles of landscape, and a delicate susceptibility of picturesque effect, has, perhaps, brought to perfection this interesting and delightful branch of topographica investigation. If, however, our modern tourists have a larger and more various range than their predecessors, yet upon some subjects, especially antiquities, their inquiries must of |