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THE

EDINBURGH MAGAZINE,

OR

LITERARY MISCELLANY,

FOR MARCH 1797.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEW.

HAMILTON PALACE, the feat of

the Duke of Hamilton, is diftant 12 miles from Glasgow; it is a large pile of building, with two deep wings at right angles with the cen

tre.

The gallery is of great extent, and furnished (as well as fome other rooms) with moft excellent paintings: that of Daniel in the Lion's den, by Rubens, is a great performance: the fear and devotion of the Prophet is finely expreffed by his uplifted face and eyes, his clafped hands, his fwelling muscles, and the violent extenfion of one foot: a lion looks fiercely at him with open mouth, and feems only restrained by the Almighty pow. er from making him fall a victim to his hunger; and the fignal deliver ance of Daniel is more fully marked by the number of human bones fcattered over the floor, as if to fhew the inftant fate of others, in whofe favour the Deity did not interfere.

The marriage-feast, by Paul Veronefe, is a fine piece; and the obstinacy and refistance of the intruder, who came without the wedding garment, is strongly expreffed.

The treaty of peace between England and Spain, in the reign of James I. by Juan de Pantoxa, is a good kiftorical picture. There are fix envoys on the part of the Spaniards, and five en that of the Englith, with their

names infcribed over each: the Eng

lith are the Earls of Doriet, Nottingham, Devonshire, Northampton, and Robert Cecil.

Earls of Lauderdale and Lanark fettling the covenant, both in black, with faces full of puritanical folemnity.

Several of the Dukes of Hamil. ton. James Duke of Hamilton, with a blue ribband and white rod. His fon, beheaded in 1649. His brother, killed at the battle of Worcester.The Duke who fell in the duel with Lord Mohun.

Fielding, Earl of Denbigh; his hair grey, a gun in his hand, and attended by an Indian boy. It seems perfectly to fart from the canvas, and the action of his countenance looking up has matchlefs fpirit. His daughter, and her husband the Marquis of Hamilton.

Old Duke of Chatelherault, in black, with an order about his neck.

Two half-lengths in black; one with a fiddle in his hand, the other in a grotefque attitude; both with the fame countenances; good, but fwarthy; miftakenly called David Rizzo's.

Maria Dei Gratia Scotorum Regi na, 1586, Et. 43. a half length; a ftiff figure, in a great ruff, auburne hair, qval but pretty full face, of much X 2

larger

larger and plainer features than that at castle Braan, a natural alteration from the increase of her cruel ufage, and of her ill health; yet ftill with a resemblance to that portrait. It was reported, that the fent this picture, together with a ring, to the Duke of Hamilton, a little before her execution.

A head, faid to be Anna Bullen, very handsome, dreffed in a ruff and kerchief edged with ermine, and in a

purple gown; over her face a veil
fo tranfparent as not to conceal
The bloom of young defire and purple
light of love.

Earl Morton, regent of Scotland.
The rough reformer John Knox.
Lord Belhaven, author of the fa-
mous fpeech against the union.

Philip II. at full-length, with a ftrange figure of Fame bowing at his feet, with a label and this motto, Pro merente adfto.

ACCOUNT OF THE LATE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD, BY THE FRENCH COMMANDER, ENTRECASTEAUX, MADE FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCOVERY, AND ALSO IN SEARCH OF LA PEYROUSE.

Taken from the Journal of an Officer why ferved on board one of the ships.
From the Monthly Magazine.

ON
N September 28, 1791, in the
two floops, la Recherche and
l'Efperance, of fixteen guns, and 110
men each, we weighed from the har-
bour of Breft, completely equipped
for a voyage of circumnavigating the
globe. The government had previ-
oufly fent on board a number of
gen-
tlemen, verfed in aftronomy, natural
history, botany, painting, &c. and
had provided an apparatus of aftro.
nomical inftruments, marine time-pie-
ces, in fine, every article that appear-
ed likely to render the expedition
fubfervient to the purposes of science.
The conduct of the expedition was
affigned to Capt. Entrecafteaux.

The leading object of the voyage was to endeavour to procure intelligence relative to Capt. La Peyroufe, who had long been miffing in the South Seas, and to make a complete tour of New Holland; an island, by far the largest in the world; comprehending an immenfe circuit of at least 3000 (French) leagues. The accomplishment of this laft point was effential to the hiftory of geography, and what had not been affected by either Cook or La Peyroufe.

The first port we made, was Santa Cruz in Teneriffe; we arrived there

on the 17th of October, and having taken in wines and provifions, we proceeded on our route to the Cape of Good Hope: we arrived there; and while we continued there; the expedition fuftained a confiderable misfortune in the death of the astronomer Bertrand.

Feb. 26, 1792. We left the Cape, and bore away for the island of New Guinea, fome parts of which we explored: we reached the islands Arfacides on July the 9th, and New Ireland the 17th ditto. We afterwards made for Amboyna, one of the Molucca islands, where we arrived September 6th.

Oct. 11. We left Amboyna, and failed immediately for the west part of New Holland, along which we intended to coaft, (as being the least known,) and then to proceed along the fouthern fhore; we were always driven back, however, by eaft and fouth east winds, and this part of our enterprize was confequently fruftrated.

·Dec. 3, 1792. We arrived at that cape which is at the fouth weft extremity of New Holland, and failed along the fouthern shore till Jan. 3d, having, by this means, traced and af certained

certained about two-thirds of the whole extent of the fouthern coaft.

In confequence of the want of water, and the prevalence of high foutheasterly winds, we bore away for the Cape de Diernes; the fouth east extremity of this extenfive island. In this part of the fouthern coaft, we observed a number of bold and noble harbours. After a delay here of three weeks, we fhaped our courfe for New Zealand, and afterwards for the Friendly Inlands.

On the 11th of March, we paffed very near the North Cape of New Zealand, and making for the fhore, feveral canoes came along fide of us. We procured a number of ornaments from the favages, and parting from them reluctantly,continued our route.

On the 16th, we difcovered two little islands, at a little distance from each other. The most eastern one lies in 30°. 17. fouth latitude, and in 179°. 41. east longitude.

On the 17th, we discovered an island about five leagues in circumference, confpicuous by its elevated fituation. It lies in 29°. 3, fouth latitude, and in 179°. 54, eat longitude.

On the 2d of March, we saw Ehoua, the most fouth westerly of the Friendly Islands. The next day we anchored at Tongataboo, the largest of the Friendly Iflands. A multitude of canoes crowded about us, and the beach was foon covered with the natives, who welcomed our arrival by every poffible expreffion of joy. This fatisfaction was fometimes interrupted by the imprudence of fome of our people, and fometimes by the exceffive curiofity of the Islanders, to fee and poffefs every thing that was European. After a tedious voyage, which had often forced us to put in to uninhabited places, how grateful was the fatisfaction we experienced, to find ourselves fo well entertained by a people among whom civilization is already confiderably advanced!

Among thefe Illanders, we fre

quently meet with men fix feet high, their limbs fhaped in the most comely proportion. The fertility of the foil, which exempted them from the neceffity of extreme labour, may conduce not a little to the unufual perfection of their forms. Their features have a ftrong refemblance to those of Europeans. A burning fky has impreffed a flight difcolour on their fkins. Thofe, among the women, who are but little exposed to the rays of the fun, are fufficiently fair. Some of them are distinguished by a beautiful carnation, which gives a vivacity to their whole figure. A thoufand nameless graces are vifible in their geftures, when engaged in the flightest employments. In the dance, their movements are enchanting.

The language of this people bears an analogy with the gentleness of their manners. It is well adapted to mufic, for which they have a peculiar tafte. Their concerts, wherein every one performs his part, demonftrate the juft ideas they entertain of harmony. The women, as well as the men, have their fhoulders and breafts naked. A cotton cloth, or rather a piece of stuff manufactured with the bark of mulberry tree into paper, ferves them for apparel. It forms a beautiful drapery reaching from a little above the waift, down to the feet.

The art of pottery has made fome progrefs among them. We faw feveral vafes of potters earth, tolerably well baked, in which they preferved their water; these vases are manufactured in an island named Seidgy, lying, according to the best accounts we could gather, about 100 leagues to the north of the place where we were at anchor.

Thefe islands produce a species of nutmegs, which differs very little in form from thofe of the Moluccas.It is not, however, aromatic, and is almost twice as large. We collected in the island a number of objects

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