1786. Plan publifbed by Lieut. Mears of a Paffage from Bengal to America. allotted to one of us only. But that each may have a fair chance, I propofe that we all three lie down and fall afleep, and that the bread may be the lot of him, who, on awaking, fhall have had the most curious dream. The other citizen, as we may readily fuppofe, approved vaftly this fuggeftion. The countryman alfo fignified his approbation, and pretended to give completely into the fnare. They then made the bread, put it on the fire to bake, and lay down. But our tradefmen were fo much fatigued with their journey, that without intending it, they fell foon into a profound flumber. The clown, more cunning, waited only this opportunity; got up without noife, went and eat the bread, and then compofed himself to reft. Soon after one of the citizens awaked, and calling to his companions; "Friends," faid he, liften to my dream. I thought my felf tranfported by two angels into Hell. For a long time they kept me fufpended over the abyss of everlafting fire. There, I was a witness to the torments of the damned."“And I,” said the other, "dreamed that the gates of Heaven were opened to me. The arch-angels Michael and Gabriel, after railing me up into the fky, carried me be fore the throne of God. There was I a fpectator of his glory."-And then the dreamer began to recount the wonders of Paradife, as the other had of the infernal abodes. The country man, mean while, though he heard perfectly well what they faid, pretended to be fill afleep. They went to roufe him from his flumiber; when he, affecting the furprize of a man fuddenly dif. turbed from reft, cried out, "What is the matter?" "Why it is only your fellow travellers. What do you not recollect us? Come, arife, and inform us of your dream." My dream? Oh! I have had a very droll one, and one that I am fure will afford you forme divertion. When I faw you both carried away, the one to Heaven, the other to Hell, I thought that I had loft you for ever. I then got up, and as I expected never to fee you more, I went and demolished the loaf." A New-England Cuftem. SOM OME years ago a Commander of one of his Majefty's fhips of war being ftationed at Boston, had orders to cruize from time to time, in order to protect our trade, and diftrefs the enemy. It happened unluckily that he returned from one of his cruizes on a Sunday; and as he had left his Lady at Bofton, the moment the heard of the fhip's arrival, the haftened down to the water's fide, in order to receive him. The Captain, on landing, embraced her with tenderness 429 and affection: this, as there were many spectators by, gave great offence, and was confidered as an act of indecency, and a flagrant profanation of the Sabbath.-The next day, therefore, he was fummoned before the magiftrates, who, with many fe vere rebukes, and pious exhortations, ordered him to be publickly whipped. The Captain ftifled his indignation and refentment as much as poffible; and, as the punishment, from the frequency of it, was not attended with any great degree of ignominy or difgrace, he mixed with the beft company, was well received by them, and they were apparently good friends. At length the time of the ftation expired, and he was recalled. He went, therefore, with feeming concern, to take leave of his worthy friends; and, that they might fpend one happy day together before their final feparation, he invited the principal Magiftrates and Select men to dine with him on board his fhip, upon the day of his departure. They accepted the invitation, and nothing could be more joyous and convivial than the entertainment which he gave them. At length the fatal moment arrived that was to feparate them: the anchor was a-peak, the fails were unfurled, and nothing was wanting but the fignal to get under way. The Captain, after taking an affectionate leave of his worthy friends, accompanied them upon deck, where the Boatfwain and crew were in readiness to receive them. He there thanked them afresh for the civilities they had fhewn him, of which, he said, he should retain an eternal remembrance, and to which he wifhed it had been in his power to have made a more adequate return. One point of civility only remained to be adjusted between them, which, as it was in his power, fo he meant moft juftly to recompenie to them. He then reminded them of what had paffed, and ordering the crew to pinion them, had them brought one by one to the gang-way, where the Boatfwain ftripped off their fhirts, and, with a cat-of nine-tails, laid on the back of each forty ftripes fave one. They were then, amidst the fhouts and acclamations of the crew, fhoved into their boats; and the Captain immediately getting under way, failed for England. Plan published by Lieutenant John Mears of Proposals for a Voyage from Bengal to the and THE HERE remains not a doubt in the opinion of the world, but that a profitable and valuable commerce may be profecuted from Bengal to the coast of America, either directly to that continent, or by the way of China. From the earliest dawnings of commerce, voyages have been performed to the utter ruin of individuals and even of great commercial companies, but in the end, a fuccefsful traffic hath generally been established on their ruins, and the nation at large often have reaped advantages from the failure of their plans, which perhaps from badly concerted measures, or want of the proper means to put them into execution, brought ruin on their heads by the large advances required for the outset of the vessels, and by the contingencies that they had not forefeen, or perhaps were not prepared for, The engaging in, and embracing of plans formed on vifionary ideas, or uncertain information, can only be attended with the above fate, and even if carried into execution, the immenfe expences attending are generally more than adequate to the advantages arifing from the completion and execution of the plan. The difbursements required for fuch undertakings are the rocks which they too often fplit on, and permits us not to fee the iflue of the expedition. In the plan now under confideration many of thofe difficulties are removed, the fum required being in itself fo moderate, that it will almoft render void the remarks above alluded to. The first point to be confidered is, whether the advantages that may be derived from the voyage, will be adequate to the rifk of the property concerned in it. The mafs of evidence and information before us, proceeding from the late publication of Cook's Voyages by authority of the admiralty, prefents to our view objects highly interefting, viz. the procuring at an eafy rate a merchandize that will draw from China an immediate return of fpecie. It is well known that China is the general refervoir for the wealth of Europe, it is also known, that there are no channels by which this immenfe wealth iffues from this empire except by the way of Siberia into Ruffia, and by Kiatcha into Kamchatka. Immenfe caravans proceed from Mofcow, with the tributary furs and other European articles, through Siberia to the frontiers of China, the Chinese merchants affemble from the remoteft parts of the empire to this great mart, where mutual exchanges take place, fair isopenfor35 days,theRuffians receive cie, the caravans return through the defert in return for their furs, filk, teas, and fpeto the northward of Arkangel, bordering on the White Sea, they then embark on the Wolga, and fall down that river on their return to Mofcow. At Moscow may be purchafed most of the manufactures of China, particularly filks, raw fik and teas, the latter fo fine, and of fuch fuperior quality to that which is imported into Europe, that it is fold from one guinea to fix per pound, the balance of this trade is greatly againft China, a quantity of bullion being imported into Ruffia, from whence it is evident, that the conftant demand of the Chinese for furs, particular y the fea otter, will occafion a quick and cer tain fale for them if they are produced at the markets of Canton by American adven tures. The only channel by which the Chinese were furnished with the fea otter skin, previous to Captain Cook's discovery, was by the way of Kiatcha, which is fituated on the frontiers of China, the circuitous voyage the Ruffian merchants take before they make their appearance at Kiatcha, renders their demands for this valuable fkin exorbitantly high, they collect them in Kamchatka, and from the Kurile Iflands, and from those isles that are fituated immediately between the continents of Afia and America. The merchants embark on fmall vèffels of 30 tons, with their collection of furs acquired during the fummer months, at Bolcherisk, a town in Kamchatka, they proceed a-cross the fea of Okolík to the town of that name, which may be a voyage of three weeks or a month from this they proceed in caravans to Hiatcha, which is diftant one thousand three hundred miles. The Chinefe merchants here affemble again and proceed with their purchases of otter fkins to Pekin, which is feven hundred miles diftant from Kiatcha. The fea otter fkin is worth in Kamchatka from thirty five to fifty dollars, they fell at Kiatcha from feventy to ninety. For prime fkins at Canton Captain King received one hundred and twenty del ars. It is to be obferved, that the Ruffians of Kamchatka had not, in Captain Cook's time, the fmalleft knowledge of that part of the coaft where the fea otter fo much abounds; Captain King informs us that they once were in abundance to the northward of the Kurie Ifles known to the Ruffians, and also the intermediate Ifles between the two continents, but now they are fcarce, and that they had retired to a more fouthern latitude which oc cupies the space of Captain Cook's difcoveries, our navigators did not fee them to the northward of Briftol Bay, the Ruffians had not then been to the fouthward of ́ Onalaika. 1786. Plan publifbed by Lieut. Mears of a Paffage from Bengal to America. It is probable that they knew the higher northern latitudes where the larger kind of amphibious animals abound. The delineation of the coaft prefents to view the extent whereon the fea otter is to be found, viz. fo far fouth as the latitude of 42° and to the northward of 59° including Cook's River, King George's Sound, and that of Norton, and the different places that he touched at, may it not be conjectured, that as the fea otter has retired to the fouthward of Kamchatka already, that they may alfo be found to the fouthward of 42° the latitude wherein Captain Cook firft made the American coaft, it points out to us the great extent of country that abound with thefe animals, fufficient to employ many veffels in their researches for furs. Captain King fuppofes that if a veffel was to enter King George's Sound, they might find an immediate fupply of 300 fkins equal on an average to 120 dollars, or 281.. each, to 8400l. but if veffels fhould not range a long the coaft and seek the inhabitants, it is not eafy to limit the number to be procured. Strangers to luxury, thefe Indians knew not the treasures they poffeffed, the fea otter furnished both food and cloathing, they knew no ufe that the fuperfluous fkins could be put to, perhaps they rotted in their huts, or threw them away as ufelefs, moft likely they killed all but the number that they had immediate want of. It may be supposed that the taste they already have had of barter, the rumour of which will fpread far among them, will make those people affiduous to lay in a stock, and careful to preferve them, again the future vifits of ftrangers and vifitors fo novel and fo new; indeed their friends of both fhips promifed faithfully another vifit, at which the Indians feemed much pleafed. There is annexed to the third volume of Captain Cook's Voyage, a Vocabulary of the language, which must be of fingular ufe. 431 fpecies of furs that may be procured on this coaft, and that may be turned to valuable account, particularly martins, which, if they are of the black kind, as he mentions they are, are no lefs valuable, allowing for the diminution of their fize, than that of the fea otter. Of late confiderable parcels of the fouthern martins, have been shipped for Canton, from England, they are fo denominated from the yellowness of their colour; they come from the province of Canada, the northern ones that come from the fame place, are entirely engroffed by the the three king's furriers, who refide in London, they are obliged by contract to fend them to the great market or fair of Leipfic, in Germany; they are foon difperfed through the latter country and Ruffia, and not a few of them make their way to China by the Siberian caravans. Again it may be faid, that it is no fmall point to come under confideration, the great extent of coaft that abound with the fea otter, each part of the coaft that Capt. Cook touched at was inhabited, fu'l evidence is before us that no civilized nation had been prior to him, and the information he conveys is fo fubftantial, the plans of the bays and harbours fo clear, that it admits not of a doubt, but that a voyage to this country would be highly beneficial to the people who fubfcribe towards its being carried into exe cution. It is proposed that two veffels be purchafed, their tonnage to exceed 250 tons each that they fhall be coppered, and veffels of fuch built, and rig'd fo lightly, as to render the working of them easy to few men, two veffels are here propofed, as they will mutually fupport each other, and the crews will the more readily embark when there is fome provifion made for an untoward accident. That the complement of Europeans to cach veffel fhould be 15, and that of Laf cars 15, fo as to compleat each with the number of 30. Having faid thus much on a fubject fo new, and now fo well authenticated, it is to be hoped that the plan will find countenance, and work its own way, furrounded as it may appear with difficulties, that can with eafe be diffipated; it is to be feared that the failure of a former expedition, planned from this part of the world, will damp the fpirit of enterprize, and render it difficult to fet another on foot; let it be remembred, that the other was not put into execution, but failed in that part of it which was free from danger-nor were they poffeffed of fuch ample documents as are now furnished, that muft certainly tend to fix in the minds of hofe who may become fubfcribers, a confi- The veffels fhould be fitted for clofe quardence in them who propofe putting the plan ters, and otherwife perfectly equipt for into execution. Captains Cook and King mention other That there fhould be three good fmiths and one forge to each veffel, and a quantity of iron, not exceeding 16 tons,this to compofe part of her American cargo, the fmiths muft be expert fo as to be able to forge fuch tools as it appears the Indians are most defirous of; for though fix of the fineft skins were purchased by Captain King for a dozen of farge glafs green beads, yet it is well know that the fancy of thofe people for articles of ornament is exceedingly capricious, and that iron is the only fure article for their mar ket. fight. The The Discovery was but 300 tons, no objection was made to the diminution of her fize, from which it may be clearly afcertained that the vessels should not exceed 200 or 250 tons. Their cargo from this to the coaft of Maley, to confift of that which the fubfcribers fhall think moft eligible for market. If 200 chefts of opium could be procured for each veffel, from the government, giving fecurity for to pay the prime coft into the company's treasury at Canton, it would much facilitate the plan, from the fales of this article and the rest of the cargo for Malay, a profit ought to arife that would partly tend to clear the original cofts and out-fit from this port; fhould fuch arife, it is propofed to pay the amount into the hands of the fubfcribers attornies of Canton, referving fufficient to victual the two veffels for the American voyage. The remainder of the cargo, befides the iron, for the American market, fhould confift of coarfe woollen cloths, cop. per and glass trinkets, with many other trifling articles too tedious to mention. The vessels should have their business compleated on the Malay coaft, and be at Canton by the first of March, so as to be ready to depart from thence the beginning of April, the time that the S. W. Monfoon generally fets in. The course from the fouthernmoft end of the Ifle of Farmofe, which is in the lattitude of 21° 45' 4' N. and longitude 121, 30 eaft to the Schumagins Ifles, on the coaft of America, is N. 260 degrees caft, and diftant 1277 leagues. The Schumagins Ifles are thofe that are the furtheft north on the coaft where our refearches for the furs are to begin, and to continue on as far to the fouthward as they are to be found. Moderate failing veffels may reach the coaft of America about the middle of June, and continue on it till October, they will then fteer to the fouthward within the tropics, to get the N. E. trade; they then may teer, either for the Sandwich Islands, to refresh, or proceed direct to Canton, where the neceflary orders from the fubfcribers will be in waiting for them. It is prefumed, that two fuch veffels as have been defcribed, may be purchased for about forty thoufand Sicca rupees, twenty thousand will equip them for fea, empress their crews, and lay in the iron and other trifling articles for the coaft of America that fixty thousand Sicca rupees would fit out the expedition in the first inftance. As all fchemes of the kind may chance to He attended with more hazard than an eftaed commerce, it is propofed to divide the rifk as much as poffible, and with this view, the fcheme may consist of fixty shares, or actions, of one thousand rupees each, any perfon being at liberty to fubfcribe for as many fhares as he shall think proper. When the fubfcriptions are full, a committee of five members to be chofen, who fhall have the conducting of the expedition co-figned to them, by the fubfcribers at large, under fuch reftrictions as may be deemed neceffary at a general meeting. (To be continued.) The prefent State of Matrimony in South Britain. WIVES eloped from their huf bands Hufbands run away from their Married pairs in a state of separati- Married pairs living in a ftate of - Married pairs reputed happy in the efteem of the world Married pairs in South-Britain, in 1362 2361 4120 191023 162320 510133 1102 155 9 872564 Let all married pairs learn these following rules; please and be pleased, bear and forbear, wink and forgive: a fhort leffon, but if well got, it will increase the number of happy pairs, reftore good harmony in families, and man and wife will not be diftinguished by characters quite oppofite to the end of their ftate. The tokens of finding out a married couple, as the cafe ftands now, are quite different from what they were in days of yore: Abimeleck found out Haac and Rebecca to be man and wife by the expreffions of fondness to one another. This would prove a forry token now-a-days, and expofe one that would go upon it to manfold blunders. Anecdote of Voltaire. HE Comte de coming to Fer T nei to see Voltaire, the poet faid to him, "You refemble Orpheus, who de fcended to the habitation of shadows. I am now no more than a fhadow." "You are a paradoxical fhadow then," replied the Comte, "for you emit great light." Proceeding Hiftory of the Brith Parliament. $780. IT HOUSE of COMMON S. T was unneceffary to repeat those arguments. If this was a fair construction of the purport and neceffary consequences of the resolution, was it a light and trifling confideration, when we reflected on the folemn and decifive manner in which the faith of the two countries had been engaged on this fubject? Whether Great Bricain should infidiously, by furprise, and collaterally, as it were, make a proposal, which would argue in her a repentance of the bounty, or rasher of the juftice, which he had done to Ire land, and which, if not accepted, would necef Hib. Mag. Aug. 1786. 433 farily deftroy for ever all confidence in that Country towards Great Britain on thofe great Conftitutional questions, which she had thewn were fo near to her breaft, and fo valued above all other advantages fhe had either claimed or acquired? It had been folemnly ftipulated between the two kingdoms, that "the right claimed by Ireland to be bound in all cafes whatever, only by laws made by the King, Lords, and Commons of Ireland, fhould never more be queftioned, or questionable." This refolution did not question that right. No, certainly it did not. It only offered to bargain for it, and propofed conditions on which the right was to be relinquished for ever by Ireland.But who are the perfons negociating, and under what circumftances is the treaty carried on? A final commercial arrangement is declared to be neceffary to the future good understanding between the countries; and in this final arrangement it is declared by Britain to be an indifpenfable condition that Ireland should give up all legillative authority in matters of trade and navigation; and this condition is not fairly put forward in the outlet of the treaty, but Ireland is treacherously encouraged to demand a benefit, and then a price is exacted greater than any fa vour Britain can beftow, while by the manner of ftating it, Ireland is at the fame time given to unde: ftand, that there can never be peace or cordiality between the two countries till the acquiefces in the facrifice. When a stronger power, conscious of its fuperiority, treats with a weaker one upon fuch terms, it may not queftion indeed the right to the poffeffion withed for, but it does more, it hints a, menace on the confequence of with-holding it; the letter of the compact is not infringed, but the fpirit of it is violated. If the British government really thought it ef fential to the future good understanding, and to the common interefts of the two kingdoms, that the power of legiflating to particular objects, fhould be lodged in one kingdom, only for the common benefit of both, and of confequence in that kingdom, which was the head of the em pire, it should have been diftinctly, fo stated in the front and outlet of the first overture made to the Irish parliament, as the bafis of a permanent agreement. If then, upon due deliberation, and full communication with their conftituents and with the country at large, the parliament of that kingdom had thought it adviseable, and had been authorised to treat for the furrender of those rights which they had to lately deemed the only faleguard, either of their commerce or of their conflitution, and which they gloried, so much to have obtained by their own virtuous and fpirited exertions; then undoubtedly, whatever he might have thought of their prudence, he should not have held himself at liberty to make the fame comments on the proceeding. Instead of this att had been delufion, trick, and fallacy; a new fcheme of commercial arrangement is propofed to the Irish as a boon, and the surrender of their conftitution is tacked to it as a mercantile regulation. Ireland, newly escaped from harth trammels and fevere difcipline, is treated like a high mettled horse, hard to catch; and the Irish Secretary is to return to the field, foothing and lii |