foppery and dillitantism for the mere pur- || perceived that you had built up a part of pose of killing his time and wasting his A gentleman about thirty-two now entered the room, habited like a West Indian planter, and after the usual salutations addressed himself somewhat abruptly to my aunt:-"My plain motive, madam, for doing myself the honour of waiting upon your Ladyship, is to inform you, that as the summer solstice approaches, you might perhaps wish for some alteration in your house. If so, madam, as I have obtained a bricklayer and architect from London to make the requisite alterations in mine, I have only to add that you are welcome to them." "Sir, I feel much obliged to you,” replied my aunt. "Will you permit me to ask you a question. As my niece and myself passed your park wall the other day, I it with brick, which some time since I understand you pulled down, and put palisades,-why did you do this?" Madam,” replied he, “I believe I before informed you that the solstice is at hand. In summer the interstices of the palisades admit the current of air necessary for health; in autumn and winter it is better to keep out those currents; I am now therefore blocking up the intervals which I heretofore opened." "I beg your pardon, Sir," replied my "Pray what do you think of the seasons in England ?" aunt. "I think, replied he," "that they would puzzle the best astronomers that ever lived and calculated; they are as little regulated by the sun as the tides. I have sometimes scarcely made my summer arrangements before, in one brief night, I am surprized with winter. Madam, a poet should pass a season in the counties of Kent or Cumberland, that in one short month he might see all the possible changes of nature.Ladies, I have the pleasure of wishing you health."-And with this he took his leave. "Now," said my aunt, "what think you of this spark?" "That he is a very solemn blockhead," said I; "and not worth a single moment's thought or consideration. There are some kinds of maduess which are so innocent in their symptoms and effects, that the law does not deem itself justified in interposing to controul or confine them. It is upon this principle that this gentleman is suffered to waste his estate in these follies. The ancients would have given him a trustee." (To be continued.) MONUMENT TO LORD NELSON. The subject of the grand design now bringing forward by Benjamin West, Esq (under the patronage of the Lords of the Admiralty, the Right Hon, Lord Hood, Governor of Greenwich Hospital, and the Hon. the Board of Directors of that Hospital, to the memory of our naval Hero, Lord Nelson, and to be placed in one of the quadrangles of Greenwich Hospital) "is the Ocean giving up the body of Lord Nelson, with his dominions, into the arms of Britannia." THIS Composition is now modelling by || Board of Directors of Greenwich; and, alMr. West and Mr. Panzetti, at the stone ma- though in an unfinished state, it plainly testinufactory at Lambeth, which is under the con- fied to those noble visitors, that this productrollership of Mr. J. Sealy and Mrs. Code. This tion, by the second of the Sisters of the Three composition was lately inspected by many of Arts, over which Mr. West presides as Presi the Lords of the Admiralty, and the Hon. the dent of the Royal Academy, when completed must add new laurels to those which his penci has already acquired by public sanction, and perpetuate his name with the most durable monuments of national taste, which his own genius has created, to dignify his age, and shed lustre upon the annals of his country. A description of the composition of this work of art will not be unacceptable to our readers; it will develope those mighty resources of genius which exist in this country beyond any other in Europe, and prove that our achievements in Arts are not second to those of our Arms. This composition is divided into three groupes-Britannia is seated on a rock of native granite, as durable as her glory, towering in majestic greatness; her countenance filled with a composed dignity, but expressing a noble and sacred sorrow on receiving the dead body of her Hero, just placed in her lap, by Victory, with eagle plumes, together with the trident of Neptune, expressive of the dominion of the Ocean as her proper right. An agent of Neptune is assisting Victory in this pious act. Britannia has the dead hand of Nelson in her left, whilst her other arm is extended, as having just embraced the|| dead body. By the side of Britannia is the British Lion, and in his nervous embrace is a tablet, on which are inscribed, in Roman characters, the one hundred and twenty-two battles which the hero fought in defence of his country. Near the Lion is a British Naval Genius, with naval tablets, on which are written the names of his celebrated victories. On the right side of Britannia is the second groupe, with Neptune at its head.-The god is in all the appendages and pomp of his element-He gives to Britannia, by the hand of one of his Tritons (which is marked by the characteristics of a British Seaman, the true legitimate Triton, and undisputed offspring of the waves) the tablet on which is written Trafalgar. Neptune is recumbent on his shelly car, borne on the waves by his Tritons and Sea Horses, whose countenances are marked with the energies of their nature, and expressive of the - qualities of their raging element. They appear as just coming from the wreck of battle, which is described at the close of this end of the composition by the sinking and explosion of ships of war. The third and last groupe on the left of Britannia, seated on the same rock with herself, are the three sisters-England, Ireland, and Scotland; they are reclining with affection on each otherwith united tenderness and reciprocal consolation at the sight of the dead body of their Hero then presented to their view. This end of the composition is closed by the metropolitan Dome of St. Paul's, towering in majestic altitude over clouds of smoke, ascending from the fire of cannons, and the expression of triumphs, as pervading the city on receiving the intelligence of the Victory of Trafalgar. The figures in this composition are, in number, about seventeen; in height, from seven feet to nine and ten; they occupy an extent of rather more than forty-five feet. When we consider the durability of the composition of these materials with which this vast work of art is made,-that neither water, fire, nor frost, can disfigure, diminish, or destroy them, we have to lament that a composition so durable for works of sculpture, which are intended to be exposed to the atmosphere, was not known to the ancient Greeks.-Had they discovered this composition, we might have been in possession of twenty times the number of their statues, Basso Relievos, &c. more than the world at present have-Had the Greeks obtained the knowledge of this composition, the Barbarians would not have powdered into lime for plaster to cover their walls those mo. numents of taste, which the Athenians bequeathed to the moderns. They would not, with such shameless degeneracy, have hidden their heads amidst the ruins of their forefathers' glory, and pulled down temples and porticos to make beaches of granite and doorposts of prophyry. We rejoice that the discovery of this invaluable clay belongs to the patience of British philosophy; and we hope that this composition, in the hands of men of talent, will be the means of our public ways, and the entran ces of our provincial cities, being decorated with works illustrating our greatness as a Naval Power, and thus proclaiming to all the inhabitants of the land the triumph we feel at the great achievement of our arms by sea and land. We have only to observe, that had this noble work of art been executed in marble, it would have cost upwards of fifteen years of labour, and as many thousand pounds of money in the purchase of the marble-In the present instance, the expence is moderate, and the labour has not exceeded eighteen months. It has, moreover, another distinction-The hand and genius of the Artist are here impressed with infinitely more freshness, life, and immediate raciness, if we may so express it, than by any work in marble. It is the sculptor's own haud which swells the sinews, moulds the limbs, and depicts the passions. Nothing is lost by the agency of inferior labourer, or the tameness of deputed chissels. Phidias, had he worked with a material of this kind, would have left us his own genuine touch; the freshness of his all graceful fingers, and the immediate sensible pressure of his own unrivalled hand. ORIGINAL JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE TO THE COAST OF AFRICA IN 1805, IN HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP SUCCESS.-BY J. STRANG, SURGEON. (Continued from Page 176) On the 27th of December, the West India convoy under charge of his Majesty's ship Hyæna, appeared to windward. Jan. 5th. For these four days past we have been lying off and on the Bay, waiting till the ships of the convoy were ready to proceed on the voyage. The weather had been remark ably mild and genial, the atmosphere clear and dry, and the air soft and balmy. The climate of Madeira, indeed, may be accounted one of the most salubrious, and has been found highly beneficial in cases of consump tion. This was strikingly exemplified in my own case, for although I left England with evident symptoms of incipient phtisis, they are now totally gone. Hence Madeira may be reckoned an excellent station for consumptive patients. It is liable, however, to this inconvenience, that from the circumstance of the island being almost a mere hill, it affords little room for exercise, and is deficient in that variety of scenery so useful to invalids. the quarter-deck by eight Tritons, accompanied by a great retinue whom he employs to enforce his orders. He was dressed in the most fantastic manner, with a mask on his face and a trident in his hand. All his attendants, &c. were so bedaubed with paint that it was impossible to recognize them. After saluting the officers, and expressing his pleasure at seeing them, he desired his clerk to read the list of those who had never before been within the tropic, for the purpose of having them initiated by baptism. Afterwards one of his attendants recited some verses composed for the occasion by one of the seamen, the burden of which was, that as English seamen were his peculiar favourites, he had deputed to them the dominion of the sea. The procession then slowly retired to the forecastle again, after which the most serious part of the ceremony commenced. During the visit to the quarter deck, all those who were about to be initiated were kept below. They were now, however, brought forward one by one, blind-folded, and placed over a large tub full of water. Here their faces were besineared with tar, and their chins scraped with a huge razor made of an iron boop. While perform On the evening of the 5th, made sail with the convey with a gentle breeze from the east ward. This turned out to be the trade-wind, which we were thus fortunate in getting so far to the eastward. On the 7th made Palma, one of the Canary islands. It is very high landing this part of the operation, one stood with We were now rapidly carried to the southward, leaving Teneriffe, the Peak of which was invcloped in clouds. Early on the morning of the 10th crossed the tropic of Cancer, and in the forenoon the ceremonies usual on the occasion commenced. Preprations had been making some days previously for the celebration of this grand fete, and much pains had been taken to make it as splendid as possible. About nine o'clock a hollow voice was heard forward, bailing the ship. After inquiring if there were any strangers in the ship, and desiring us to heave to, till he boarded her, the venerable form of the watery God was seen coming over the bows. He seated himself in a naval car with the lovely Amphitrite on one side, and his son on the other. In this style he was drawn to No. XXV. Vol. IV.-N. S. a tar-brush, aud the instant the victim opened his mouth to answer some question purposely put to him, it was thrust down his throat. The abrasion being finished, they suddenly plunged him into the tub, by withdrawing the seat from under him, while others stood ready to salute him with bucket-fulls of water, which were dashed upon him till he made his escape. In this manner all those who had never before crossed the tropic were christened, nor was it of any avail to oppose such harsh treatment. Resistance only made the ordeal more severe, but the officers were exempted upon paying a certain quantity of spirits. On the following day made Cape Blanco, on the coast of Africa, where we found his Majesty's ships Trompeuse and Lack. These Gg ships had been ordered to cruize for us off this point, with the design of proceeding together to the attack of Senegal, but the expedition had been abandoned, and it was with regret, that, instead of transports with troops, they found we had only brought out the AfriCan convoy.. meeting an old school-fellow whom I had supposed dead, but who I found to be surgeon of the Lark. There are few incidents more gratifying than this. Goree is a small islaud, or rather rock, which has alternately been in the possession of the Dutch, French, and British. Its situation as a settlement for trade is very good, as it affords tolerable good anchorage for ship. Jan. 14th. Arrived at Goree. In approaching the warm latitudes we had already begun to experience some of the usual consequencesping, and is in the vicinity of the rivers Seneof increased temperature. These were an increased secretion of bile, and in some cases a severe head-ach. These were best-treated by cooling evacuants and an antiphlogistic diet. In truth, a very low and cooling diet, with a dose of calomel now and then to carry off the superabundant bile, forms the best preparative for a warm climate. It seldom happens, however, that our countrymen have fortitude enough to follow a plan, which though their reasons may approve their passions oppose, and hence we too often find them sacrificing at the shrine of intemperance their comforts and their health. Thus we have substituted in the room of simple instinct a thousand unnatural appetites and desires. Stimulated by the inordinate excitement of high living and excessive heat, it is no wonder that the constitution becomes deranged and diseased. Though seamen are generally rough in their manners, they are far from being hardy in their constitutions. Their moral character and physical habits are both the result of the peculiarity of their situation. Though great allowances are to be made for the force of custom it is not always able to counteract strong morbid impressions. Hence, however accustomed they may be to the vicissitudes of the weather or the change of climate, these seldom fail to excite disease unless the utmost care is taken to guard against them. Captain Scott gave an order that every one on the moruing watch should drink a pint of sea-water, and this was continued all the time we were approaching the coast. The uncommon degree of health we enjoyed on this dangerous station, evinced the great propriety of all the measures he adopted for securing the health of the ship's company. On going on shore at Goree on the evening of our arrival, I was agreeably surprised at || gal and Gambia, the latter of which it commands. The fortifications appear to be in wretched order, nor does the garrison consist of more than two hundred men. It is easy to recognize in the appearance of these men the blasting effects of the climate, and many of them are constantly in the hospital. We found the officers and inhabitants (who are principally Moors) extremely hospitable. Most of the former are married to the mulatto ladies, many of whom appeared very handsome. The marriage ceremony I am afraid is, on the part of the gentlemen, a mere form, but the ladies consider it valid, and it is said exhibit a fidelity to their engagements that would be worth the example of more polished societies. After the consent of the friends is procured, which is effected by a few presents, and after a few entertainments to the acquaintance, the husband takes home the sable bride, and in future she is considered as his wife. They never expect to go to England, or indeed quit the island with their husbands, but they continue faithful to him after his departure, till they hear of his death, or learn that he is never to come to the island again. The gentlemen, I believe, consider it merely as a temporary expedient, nor suppose it binding any where but at Goree. There are a great many slaves here, some of which are for sale, and many employed in domestic affairs, and cannot be sold. These latter are servants in the different houses, and seem to be as comfortably situated as the poorer classes in this country. The familes appear to be very fond of visiting, and every evening a party was formed at some of their houses, where coffee is served, and it is said a great deal of claret drank. In passing through the street one night with a friend, our attention was attracted by the sound of hand-organ and a party dancing to it. On venturing to take a peep at this scene of festivity, we were most courteously invited to partake of the dance, by a party of young Moorish females, who were amusing them selves in this manner, without the assistance of a single gentleman. After witnessing some of their dances which were very pretty, they politely attempted a country-dance, for the purpose of eaabling us to participate in the amusement. To the strictest modesty these ladies added that affability of manner which is characteristic of the French, and which is so agreeable to strangers. Jan. 17th. Sailed from Goree with the ship Duke, bound to Sierra Leone, having left the rest of the convoy in charge of the Trompeuse, to conduct to Cape Corse. The weather continued fine, with a gentle breeze. Thermome ter seldom above 79. The seamen having little duty to attend to in this moderate weather, amused themselves with dancing and various sports, some of which were extremely amusing and ludicrously characteristic of the thoughtless gaiety of our tars. The officers set the example, and leaping, singlestick, the broad-sword exercise, and dancing, were the amusements of the day. These recreations are extremely useful in dissipating the tedium of a sea-life, and 'warding off that fell scourge of seamen, the scurvy. For this purpose also, an ounce of lemon juice, mixed with an equal part of sugar and a sufficient portion of water, was at this time served out daily to each man. Though no symptom of scurvy had yet appeared, it was thought proper to adopt this measure of prevention, particularly as it would at the same time form an excellent antisceptic drink. On the morning of the 23d, made Cape Sierra Leone, and soon afterwards fell in with his Majesty's ship Squirrel. In sailing up the river we were saluted with four guns from a small mud battery of one of the native princes. On approaching this place we observed several sharks swimming about the ship. The water had that luminous appearance which has been so often observed, and of which so many explanations had been given. At the first sight it impresses the spectator with the notion that the sea is on fire, and that the ship is steering through liquid flames. The passage of the albicores, bonettas, &c. in pursuit of flying-fish, is clearly marked by a luminous track. We were spectators of the relentless warfare of these voracious animals against the helpless flying-fish, who, unable to elude their enemies by the swiftness of their swimming, boldly venture into the air and wing their way through the atmosphere. It has been said that those fish are only capable of making a leap from the water by a muscular effort, and are afterwards supported by their broad membraneous fins, but that as soon as these grow dry they drop again. It is true, that after touching the surface of the water they frequently bound up again, and sometimes repeat this two or three times, but it is equally true that they have the power of changing their course, and may sometimes be ob served fluttering their wings like a bird. We caught great numbers of them every evening from their flying on board, and found them as delicious as the anchovies in the Mediter ranean. On the morning after we came to anchor, a shark about eight feet in length was caught alongside. One of the seamen was carelessly washing his feet and legs over the boat's gunnel, when the monster appeared making directly for him, but luckily the alarm was given, and he had time to pull his legs into the boat. They are in great plenty here, and come up the river with the flood tide. They had lately carried off two boys who were bathing. In the evening of the same day I accompanied the rest of the officers to the funeral of Captain Brawn, of his Majesty's ship Squirrel. He died of a dysentery contracted by drinking a quantity of cold water when he was very hot.. He was a young man universally regretted by his officers and ship's company. There is something peculiarly distressing attached to the notion of dying in a foreign country far from the soothing sympathy of friendship, and this event impressed us all with the most melancholy anticipations. Virgil makes the mother of Euryalus lament his death, from the circumstance that his remains would be scattered in a foreign land, nor would he have friends to pay the last sad attention to his remains: |