APPENDIX. No. I. SHORT ACCOUNT of LEE Boo and SACKHOUSE, two Youths, brought at different periods from distant regions of the earth, still the rudest states of human society; referred to in Essay I. HUMAN nature is ever an object of interesting contemplation; particularly when those who more immediately form the subject of it, are immediately connected with far distant regions still in their rudest state of society. Having in Essay I. alluded to these two excellent young men, Lee Boo and Sackhouse, who answer that description, it has occurred to me to add here a very short account of them. LEE BOO was born in one of the Pelew Islands. The Antelope East India packet, commanded by Captain Wilson, was, in 1783, wrecked on its shore. The inhabitants, who were of a copper colour, were perfectly naked, and had never before either seen or heard of white men, whom they therefore considered as most extraordinary beings. Notwithstanding this, however, they showed the ship's crew much kindness; and though in a very early stage of their society, they seemed to have more gentle manners, and greater intellect, than many farther advanced. Lee Boo was the son of the rupack, or king, of the little island on the coast of which the shipwreck happened, and was brought to Britain for his improvement by Captain Wilson, at the desire of his father. Many amusing anecdotes are recorded of his surprise at what he saw in the new situation into which he was brought. The English had at Pelew with them a Newfoundland dog, which they called Sailor; and that being the only quadruped which he had ever seen, he committed the same error regarding it that children do in similar cases: he mistook the name of the individual for what denoted a class, calling every animal a sailor. When he first saw a horse, he remarked that it was a very large sailor. The first time he saw a man on horseback, he desired all present to come forward and wonder, expressing the same surprise at him, which, in ancient days, and among those in another quarter of the world, gave rise to the fabulous idea of the Centaur. He was much delighted at seeing a dining-room lighted up, a table covered for supper, and a sideboard with plate on it. Before a mirror he stood with astonishment, and looked behind it to see if the figure appearing in it was there. He called high buildings, "house upon house up to the sky." He termed a carriage a house; and he expressed its motion by saying, that when he was in it, it was run away with by sailors, (his name for horses, as we have just seen ;) and he observed, that when he went one way in it, the adjoining fields, houses, and trees, ran all in the opposite direction. When first brought on shore, and taken into a chamber with a four-posted bed, that he might go to rest, not knowing for what purpose it was intended, he repeatedly jumped in and out of it, and felt and pulled aside the curtains; at length, being acquainted with its use, he laid himself down to sleep, saying, that " in England there is a house for every thing.” He was sent to an academy, and instructed in reading; being not a little proud of his acquirements, and saying, that when he went home he would "teach great people their letters." He was of a most affectionate temper. He called Captain Wilson always Captain; but he never gave Mrs Wilson any other title than "mother." He was often told that he should say "Mrs Wilson;" but his constant reply was, No, no; mother, mother.” On being shown a miniature painting of Mr Keate, a friend of his present, he said, with surprise and pleasure, " Misser Keate;" and being asked if he knew the meaning of it, said, "Lee Boo understand well; this Misser Keate die, that Misser Keate live." Could Dr Johnson have better defined the object of a portrait? But why, amid all the cares of the friends of this amiable young man, did they not inoculate him? Exposed to the infection of the smallpox, he was seized with the fatal malady, and, at the age of twenty, died of it on 27th July, 1784, to the great sorrow and regret of all who knew him. The East India Company handsomely erected a neat monument over his grave in Rotherhithe churchyard, with an inscription, expressive of their gratitude for "the humane and kind treatment afforded by his father to the crew of their ship the Antelope, when wrecked upon his island ;” and it concluded with the following lines : 66 Stop, reader, stop, let Nature drop a tear : SACKHOUSE was an Esquimaux, born in 1797, on the coast of Greenland. In 1816, when the whale ships of the season were about to return home, he contrived, unseen, to get on board of one of them belonging to Leith; and discovering himself to the captain after they were at sea, was, at his own desire, brought to Britain, though the captain handsomely offered to return with him if he should choose it. He had stowed his canoe also on board; and in Leith harbour performed with it many feats of great dexterity. He was afterwards joined to a northern expedition, under Captain Ross, as an interpreter; and conducted himself not only with good address, but with much courage and presence of mind on some trying occasions. He was taught the English language and drawing, and made much proficiency in them; he also danced well, and played the flute; and those accomplishments, with his good-natured honest face, and obliging manners, rendered him a favourite and welcome guest wherever he went. The ancient Latin poet Attius, quoted by Cicero,* said that a shepherd took the ship of the Argonauts for a large animal. The late discovered people in Baffin's Bay had the same idea of an English vessel, reckoning the sails to be its wings. This anecdote of the Northmen, as they were called, Sackhouse was fond of relating; and, with good-humour, was wont to tell also of his own ignorance on his arrival in this country. He said he imagined the first cow which he saw, to be a wild and dangerous animal, adding, that when he spied her, he returned to the boat for his harpoon, that he might defend himself and his companions from the ferocious-looking beast. On his first seeing a looking-glass, he said, "Fine, fine; two pair rooms!" He He was kind-hearted, and uncommonly fond of children. Though slow in believing there was any intention to affront him, yet he had a quick sense of insult when he discovered that it was intended. had great strength; and one evening, on the street of Edinburgh, having been attacked in an ungenerous, cowardly way, he resisted the injury very summarily, by knocking down some of the assailants. Those who * De Natura Deorum, lib. ii. R |