he fhewed them a packet of letters, which he was carrying to one of the towns of Italy, exactly done up in a leather bag, in fuch a manner as that they could not be wet by the fea. He kept them thus company for fome time on their voyage, converfing, and afking queftions; and after eating an hearty meal with them, he took his leave, and, jumping into the fea, purfued his voyage alone.

In order to aid thefe powers of enduring in the deep, nature seemed to have affifted him in a very extraordinary manner for the fpaces between his fingers and toes were webbed, as in a goofe; and his cheft became fo very capacious, that he could take in, at one infpiration, as much breath as would ferve him for a whole day.

The account of fo extraordinary a perfon did not fail to reach the King himfelf, who commanded Nicholas to be brought before him. It was no easy matter to find Nicholas, who generally spent his time in the folitudes of the deep; but, at laft, after much fearching, he was found, and brought before his Majefty. The curiofity of this monarch had been long excited by the accounts he had heard of the bottom of the gulf of Charybdis ; he now therefore conceived, that it would be a proper opportunity to have more certain information. He therefore commanded our poor diver to examine the bottom of this dreadful whirlpool; and as an incitement to his obedience, he ordered a golden cup to be flung into it. Nicholas was not infenfible of the dangers to which he was expofed, dangers known only to himfelf; and therefore he prefumed to remonftrate: but the hopes of the reward, the defire of pleafing the King, and the pleasure of fhewing his fkill, at laft prevailed. He inftantly jumped into the gulf, and was as inftantly fwallowed up in its bofom. He continued for three quarters of an hour below; during which time the King and his attendants remained on the fhore, anxious for his fate: but he at laft appeared, holding the cup in one hand, and making his way good among the waves with the other. It may be fuppofed he was received with applaufe when he came on fhore: the cup was made the reward of his adventure; the King ordered him to be taken proper care of; and, as he was fomewhat fatigued and debilitated by his labour, after an hearty meal, he was put to bed, and permitted to refresh himfelf by fleeping.

When his fpirits were thus reftored; he was brought to fatisfy the King's curiofity with a narrative of the wonders he had feen; and his account was to the following effect. He would never, he faid, have obeyed the King's commands, had he been apprifed of half the dangers that were before him. There were four things, he said, which rendered the gulf dreadful, not only to men, but to fishes themselves: 1. The force of the water bursting up from the bottom, which required great ftrength to refift; 2. The abruptnefs of the rocks, that on every fide threatened deftruction; 3. The force of the whirlpool dafhing against those rocks; and, 4. The number and magnitude of the polypus fish, fome of which appeared as large as a man; and which, every where ticking against the rocks, projected their fibrous arms to entangle him. Being asked, how he was able fo readily to find the cup that had been thrown in? he replied, that it happened to be flung by the waves into the cavity of a rock against which he himself was urged in his defcent. This account, however, did not fatisfy the King's curiofity. Being requested to venture once more into the gulf for further discoveries, he at first refused: but the King, defirous of having the moft exact information poffible of all things to be found in the gulf, repeated his folicitations; and, to give them ftill greater weight, produced a larger cup than the former, and added alfo a purfe of gold. Upon these confiderations the unfortunate diver once again plunged into the whirlpool, and was never heard of more.

ANECDOTE of King Arthur.

TT was formerly the practice for the

Sovereigns of England to command their fleets in perfon. King Arthur is particularly mentioned, as being fond of naval expeditions. He was the first who commanded that respect to his navy, by obliging the fhips of all nations to falute the English flips of war by lowering their top-fails, as in like manner they were to falute the caftles on fhore, which he ufed to fay was an acknowledgement that they were in the territories where they confeffed a fovereign power, and where they might receive protection. It was from that monarch that the practice of faluting with cannon was first introduced in Europe.

RE

RETROSPECTION.

A ferious ode.
Hen I review my early days,

Wand look far back to youthful prime,

Alas! I cry, I've not been wife!
I've hid inftructions from mine eyes,
And wasted half my time!

A thoufand keen reflections fill
The gloomy region of my breast:
I fee I've broken many a vow,

I fee I've liv'd-I know not how-
And robb'd my foul of reft.

Alas, I fee my mental powers
Were bent on trifles vain and light:
I've not improv'd my fhining hours,
I've fool'd and toy'd till evening lours,
And tells th' approach of night.
Oh, could I once drive back the spheres,
And thofe dear lapfed hours recall,
Methinks I'd form new hopes and fears,
Wisdom fhould charm my growing years,
And Virtue guide them all.

But what avails a with fo vain?
Or what relief can hence enfue?

As foon fhall Time put back the fun,
As I recall the race I've run,
Or what I've done undo.

The laws of unrelenting Fate
Admit of life no second stage;

The feythe of Time (an awful truth?)
Admits but ONE IMPROVING YOUTH,
And ONE DECLINING AGE.

One comfort now alone remains,

One hope alone through grace is given :
If yet fome future life is lent,
I may improve it to repent,

And fit my foul for heaven.

EPITAPH on Major ANDRE. [42.593.]

Each patriot chief now hails thy glorious ghof,

And bids thee welcome to th' Elyfian coaft.
What tho' no laurell'd urn thy bones infhrine?
Unfading wreaths fhall round thy temples

twine.

What boots it, then, unmanly tears to shed,
Or mourn for thee as for the vulgar dead?
Britannia cries, "My fons, reftrain your woe;
No figh be heard, no tears be feen to flow.
Let ANDRE's name

warm,

VERSES, written by a student, on the admiffion of the Marquis of GRAHAM, as Lord Chancellor of the University of Glasgow-ched, Dec. 27. 1780, in the room of his father, the Duke of MONTROSE, who refigned.

E Mufes! join the pleafing theme;
Ye Naiads! quit your filver ftream;
Graces and Virtues! join the throng,
And gayly raise th' aufpicious fong.
Nor woods I fing, nor flow'ry dales,
Nor meadows rich, nor fertile vales:
When better fung, not even these
Could boast the various taste to please.
The time by ancient bards foretold,
Begins to dawn, the age of gold;
Truth plays on every fhepherd's tongue,
Nature revives, and Time looks young.
A Youth appears! ye gracious Pow'rs
Who favour Contemplation's bow'rs,
It is your likeness fure you chofe,
And fent us down in young MONTROSE.
Long may his aufpices adorn

Our favour'd courts: may he return
To heaven and you, loaded with fame,
An honour'd age, and noble name.
May Pallas grace our fage retreats,
The Mufes play around our feats,
And Learning fimply drefs'd appear,
And Wit our earneft toils to cheer.
May Alma Mater grow in fame,
And latest years record her name.
Thus prays a youth the fludious swains,
Around fend forth responsive strains.
Glasgow, Jan. 13. 1781.

EPITAPH in JAMAICA.

By Dr GOLDSMITH.
Not printed in his warks.
On ZACHARY BAYLY, Efq;
HE was a man,

To whom the endowments of Nature
Rendered thofe of Art fuperfluous.
He was wife,

Without the affiftance of recordedWisdom.
And eloquent,

Beyond the precepts of fcholaftic Rhetoric,

His fudy

His private virtues

Were not lefs confpicuous than

His public benevolence.

He confidered. Individuals as Brethren,

And his Country as a Parent.

May his talents be remembered with refpece, His virtues with emulation!

breeches,

Earl H

-gh's office, Jan 9. 1781.

Waugh

Coming out, I look'd small, I acknowledge, to find

I had left, in my fury my fmall cloaths behind! But my kind honeft cook, Dolly Giblet by name, With a blush brought them after, and cover'd my fhame!

Yet, as Fortune would have it, my fingle dif grace

Was foon at an end, from a lucky release, Brought by the cool and magnanimous ftand, That mark'd the militia and troops I command. Now our commandant halloo'd with voice from afar,

That they all had furrendered pris'ners of war! But whether British or French, I don't know, I declare!

Not a dog of them can, I am fure, fave his ba

con,

For, thank God, ev'ry man was kill'd, wounded, or taken!

Poor Pierfon, whom honour call'd out of his bed, At the clofe of the action was fhot through the bead.

"P. S. I have pris'ners five hundred at least in my fight,

One hundred are wounded, and more kill'd outright!

The reft left their arms, when of fighting grown fick, [Nick!

And flew like young devils, drove hard by old But they cannot fly far, as they'll find to their forrow,

As I hope to take all, dead or living, to mor

ed, or taken,

I beg that the matter may not be mistaken : For thofe only maim'd in a leg or a thigh, You'll furely allow up the country might fly.

Our lofs-though my memory's fomewhat confounded

May be fifty in flain, and half that number

wounded.

My friend Fredy Mulcafter, brother to Nelly, Hlas, as ufual, exerted himself, let me tell ye! -As for me, I'm not hurt-but two ihot came fo pat

They whifted their way through my bat: What a narrow efcape from their d'd Gal lic lead!

What a dreadful affair had they knock'd of my bead!

Further news I tranfmit o'er to England to

morrow;

But fend this if you can to difpel all their for row"

DECEPTION; or, The vanity of human profpes and pions.

O human views, or plans, or schemes, Afford us ground for lafting peace; They rife and die like empty dreams, And prove an unsubstantial blifs. Our beauty fades, our flowers decay, Our pleafures difappoint our hope: Our expectations fink away,

Nor can our pudeace hold them up. Yet men of every rank and state,

Some plaything tofs from hand to hand : For this they tearlefs tempt their fate,

For this they compafs fea and land. In youthful days, with paffions warm, Some favourite object we purfue ; Till growing years diffolve the charm ;

And then we wish for fomething new. That fomething new, with care obtain'd, Makes fmall addition to our store : 'Twas but a tranfient good we gain'd ;

And then we figh for fomething more.
Alas, that fomething, when poffeft,

With futile pleafure cheats the mind;
While Truth ftill whifpers in the breast,
The darling wifh is ftill behind.
Hence flattering Hope, with placid mien,
Re-animates the panting race,

Tili age and darkness close the scene,

And then we cry, How vain the chace! Thus round and round fome giddy steep,

We fondly trace the changing fhore;
Till, plung'd in Death's tremendous deep,
Our views are fix'd to change no more.
Marshfield, Jan. 1, 1781.
W. O.

HI

HISTORICAL AFFAIRS.

FOR fome time paft, Britain has got a new enemy almost every year.In 1775, hoftilities were begun in America, between her and her colonies; in 1776 thofe colonies declared themfelves independent of the mother-country; in 1778, France joined the revolted colonifts againft G. Britain; in 1779, Spain, joined them alfo; and in 1780, our ancient allies the Dutch, by refufing to fulfil their treaties, and by fupplying our enemies with naval and military fores, made Britain iffue an order for general reprisals against them: - so that now, befides our war with the revolted colo. nies, we are at war likewife with France, Spain, and the United Provinces, with out any allies; nay, as a treaty of neutrality is entered into by the Emprefs of Ruffia, the Kings of Sweden and Denmark, and the United Provinces, by which thefe four powers engage to pro tec, jointly, the commerce of all and each of these confederated powers, under colour of which they may fupply our enemies with all kinds of naval ftores, they may be also considered as unfriendly to

"Petersburg, December 26. The English minifter having lately prefented a memorial to our court, containing remonttrances againft the refolution of her Imperial Majefty perfifting in the fyftem of armed neutrality, the Emprefs has returned for anfwer, "That her Imperial Majefty hath nothing more at heart than to preferve the good harmony and intelligence which hath hitherto fub fifted between Ruffia and England; but that the dignity of her crown, and the intereft of her fubjects, would not permit her any longer to fuffer the violences daily exercised towards her hips; that her Majefty was aftonifhed, as well as all Europe, to experience a far better ufage from the Houfe of Bourbon, than from the court of G. Britain, though the Englith nation enjoyed in Ruffia many more privileges than any other nation what foever; that, notwithaanding her Impe, rial Majefty had given fufficient proofs of her intentions of preferving the strict. eft neutrality, the hoftile proceedings on the part of G. Britain towards the fubjects of Ruffin has not yet been fufpended; that her Imperial Majefly could not after them any longer, and could by no

means acknowledge the authority of English tribunals, which arrogate to themfelves the right of judging and difpofing of the fhips and properties of the fubjects of Ruffia; that her Majefty confequently demanded a complete reftitu tion of all the fhips and effects belonging to her fubjects, and a reafonable compenfation for the damages, lofs of time, &c. without any juridical proceedings, delay, or proteftation whatsoever; and in cafe of a refufal of thefe equitable demands, her Majefty would be under the neccffity of having recourfe to means of violence."

ENGLAND.

On the 1st of January, new-year-day, George-Auguftus-Frederick Prince of Wales, who was born on the 12th of Auguft 1762, was declared of age, and appeared at court in his new character.

On the 18th, the day kept for her Majefty's birth day, the court was very brilliant; the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Lord Chancellor, the Mafter of the Rolls, the Lords Chief Juices of the King's bench and Common Pleas, the Speaker of the House of Commons, and all the great officers of ftate being prefent. At two o'clock, the Prince of Wales, attended by the Lord Southampton, and the whole of his fuite [42. 675.], arrived. His Royal Highnefs went for a few minutes into the Queen's apartments; where he was joined by the Duke of Cumberland, who accompanied him to the drawing-room.

The King's fecond fon, Prince Frederick, who was born on the 16th of Auguft 1763, and who, in 1764, was elected Bishop of Ofnaburg, set out from the Queen's palace on Saturday morning, Dec. 30. accompanied by Col. Grenville, and Gen. Malitier, a German officer, on his way to the continent. The Princefs Augufta yacht lay at Margate for his reception. On Tuesday Jan. 2. his R. Highness was at Oftend, where every mark of diftinction due to his high rank was paid him.

The Count de Welderen, the Dutch Ambaffador, fet out from London, Jan.1. [42. 706.], accompanied by his lady, and his fecretary, for Harwich, in order to imbark for HelvoetЛluys.

After the ordinary London gazette was published in the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 9. a gazette-extraordinary appeared; which we copy, viz.

F 2

"St

"St James's, Jan. 9. This day arrived Lieut. Waugh, of the invalids, at the Earl of Hillsborough's office, with let ters from Lt-Gov. Irving, of Guernsey, inclosing a letter to him from Lt-Gov. Corbet, of the island of Jerfey, dated, Jerfey, Jan. 6. 1781;-of which the fol lowing is an extract.

"I am now to acquaint you, that the French landed this morning, about two o'clock, between two pofts fo diftant that the guards did not perceive them. They marched across the roads, and were in the market-place by fix this morning. I was taken prifoner about feven; but I was fortunately releafed by the very brave and steady behaviour of the troops and militia; and the commandant then informed me, that they furrendered prifoners of war. They were all taken, killed, or wounded. Poor Major Pierfon, exerting himself at the head of a brave troop of followers, at the clofe of the affair, was unfortunately killed.

P. S. We have about 500 prifoners. Some hundreds are killed, and about 100 wounded. The rest left their arms, and are fled into the country; but I hope to have them all to-morrow.

Our lofs may be so killed, and perhaps half that number wounded.

My friend Mulcaster has, as ufual, exerted himself. I am not hurt; but two fhots through my hat.

I fhall tranfmit particulars to-morrow morning to England; but fend this if you can."

"St James's, Fun. 16. It appears from accounts from the island of Jerfey, that the French, to the number of 800, and upwards, landed before day-break on the 6th inftant at the Bank du Violet.

That in their attempt to land, one privateer and four transport-veffels were wrecked upon the rocks, whereby upwards of 200 men were loft.

That the French General, Baron de Rullecourt, marched across the country to the town of St Helier's, feized the avenues of the town and the guard, made prifoner Capt. Charlton of the artillery, and fent a detachment to feize the Licutenant-Governor.

That the Lieutenant-Governor had by fome means received information in time to dispatch two meffengers to the different ftations of the 78th, 83d, and 95th regiments, and to the militia.

That immediately afterwards the Lieutenant-Governor was taken prifoner, and

carried to the French General, who was in the court-houfe; who immediately propofed to him to fign terms of capitulation, on pain of firing the town, and putting the inhabitants to the fword, in cafe of refufal.

That the Lieutenant-Governor reprefented, that, being a prifoner, he was deprived of all authority; and that therefore his figning any capitulation, or pretending to give any orders, could be of no avail.

That the General infifted however; and the Lieutenant-Governor, to avoid the confequences, figned the capitulation That Elizabeth caftle was fummoned to furrender; which Capt. Aylward, who commanded there, peremptorily refufed; and, firing upon the French, compelled them to retire.

That in the mean time the King's troops, under the command of Major Pierfon, next in feniority to the Lieutenant-Governor, and Capt. Campbell, and the militia of the island, affembled upon the heights near the town; and being required by the French General to conform to the capitulation, returned for anfwer, That if the French did not lay down their arms, and furrender themfelves prifoners, in twenty minutes, they would be attacked.

That accordingly Major Pierfon having made a very able difpofition of his Majefty's troops, they rushed upon the enemy with fuch vigour and impetuofity, that in lefs than half an hour, the French General being mortally wounded, the officer next in command to him defired the Lieutenant-Governor (who had been compelled by the French General to ftand clofe by him during the beat of the action, faying, that he fhould fhare his fate) to refume the government, and to accept their fubmiffion as prifoners of