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das Agulhas, which, as well as the French appellation des Aiguilles, is defcriptive of its form, and would rightly be tranflated Needle Cape.

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On approaching the Cape, a very remarkable eminence may in clear weather be discovered at a confiderable diftance; and is called the Tablemountain from its appearance, as it terminates in a flat horizontal furface, from which the face of the rock defcends almoft perpendicularly. In the mild or fummer feafon, which commences in September and continues till March, the Table Land or Mountain is fometimes fuddenly capped with a white cloud, by fome called the fpreading of the table cloth. When this cloud feems to roll down the fteep face of the mountain, it is a fure indication of an approaching gale of wind from the fouth eaft; which generally blows with great violence, and fometimes continues a day or more, but in common is of fhort duration. On the firft appearance of this cloud, the fhips in Table Bay begin to prepare for it, by ftriking yards and top mafts, and making every thing as fnug as poffible. -A little to the weftward of the Table Land, divided by a fmall valley, ftands, on the right hand fide of Table bay, a round hill, called the Sugar-loaf; and by many the Lion's Head, as there is a continuance from it contiguous to the fea, called the Lion's Rump; and when you take a general view of the whole, it very much refembles that animal with his head erect. The Sugar-loaf or Lion's Head, and the Lion's Rump, have each a flag-ftaff on them, by which the approach of fhips is made known to the governor, particularifing their number, nation, and the quarter from which they come. To the eaftward, feparated by a fmali chafm from the Table-land, ftands Charles's Mount, well known by the appellation of the Devil's Tower, or Devils Head; and fo called from the violent gufts of wind fuppofed to iffue from it when it par takes of the cap that covers the Tableland, though thefe gufts are nothing more than a degree of force the wind acquires in coming through the chafm. When the phenomenon appears in the

morning, which is by no means fo frequent as in the evening, the failors have a faying, as the Devil's Tower is almoft contiguous to the Table-land, that the old gentleman is going to breakfast; in the middle of the day, that he is going to dinner; and, if in the evening, that the cloth is fpread for fupper. Table-mountain rifes about three thoufand five hundred and fixty-feven feet above the level of the fea; the Devil's Tower about three thousand three hundred and fixty eight; and the Lion's Head two thousand seven hundred and fixty four. In the neighbourhood of the latter lies Conftantia, a district confifting of two farms, wherein the famous wines of that name are produced.

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The above-defcribed high lands form a kind of amphitheatre about the Table valley, where the Cape town ftands. This is fituated at the bottom of the middle height, or Table-mountain; and almost in the centre of the Tablebay, fo called from that mountain.This bay, it is obferved in Philips's voyage, cannot properly be called a port, being by no means a ftation of fecurity; it is expofed to all the violence of the winds, which fet into it from the fea; and is far from fufficiently fecured from thofe which blow from the land. The gufts which defcend from the fummit of Table-mountain are fufficient to force ships from their anchors, and even violently to annoy perfons on the thore, by deftroying any tents or other temporary edifices which may be erected, and raising clouds of fine duft, which produce very trouble fome effects. A gale of this kind, from the fouth-eaft, blew for three days fucceffively when Captain Cook lay here in his firft voyage; at which time, he infoms us, the Refolution was the only fhip in the harbour that had not dragged her anchors. The ftorms from the fea are ftill more formidable, fo much fo, that ships have frequently been driven by them from their anchorage, and wrecked at the head of the Bay. But thefe accidents happen chiefly in the quaade Mouffon, or winter months, from May 14 to the fame day of Auguft; during which time few fhips venture to anchor here.

Our fleet, arriving later, lay perfectly than elegant. But this is by no means unmolefted as long as it was neceffary the cafe with the bed-rooms or upper for it to remain in this ftation.-Falfe- apartments; which are very barely and bay, on the fouth-eaft fide of the Cape, ill furnished. The streets are rough, is more fecure than Table-bay during uneven, and unpaved. But many of the prevalence of the north west winds, the houses have a space flagged before but fill lefs fo in ftrong gales from the the door; and others have trees plantfouth-eaft. It is, however, lefs fre- ed before them, which form a pleasant quented, being twenty-four miles of shade, and give an agreeable air to the very heavy road diftant from Capetown, ftreets. whence almost all neceffaries must be procured. The moft fheltered part of Falle bay is a recefs on the weft fide, talled Simon's Bay."

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The only landing-place is at the eaft end of the town, where there is a wooden quay running fome paces into the fea, with feveral cranes on it for the convenience of loading and unloading the fcots that come along fide. To this place excellent water is conveyed by pipes, which makes the watering of fhips both eafy and expeditious. Clofe to the quay, on the left hand, ftands the caffle and principal fortrefs; a ftrong extenfive work, having excellent accommodations for the troops, and for many of the civil officers belonging to the company. Within the gates the company have their principal ftores, which are fpacious as well as convenient. This fort covers and defends the east part of the town and harbour, as Amfterdam fort does the weft part. The latter, which has been built fince Commodore Johnfton's expedition, and whereon both French and Dutch judgment have been united to render it effectual and ftrong, is admirably planned and calculated to annoy and harrafs fhips coming into the bay. Some fmaller detached fortifications extend along the coaft, both to the eaft and weft, and make landing, which was not the cafe before the late war, hazardous and difficult. word, Cape town is at this time fortified with ftrength, regularity, and judgment.

The latest and most particular as well as apparently the moft juft account of the Cape town, concerning which voyagers had differed very much from one another in their reprefentations, is that given by Mr. White in his Jourzal of a Voyage to New South Wales. From the thipping, he obferves, the 10n appears pleafantly fituated, but at the fame time fmall, a deception that arifes from its being built in a valley with fuch ftupendous mountains directbehind it. On landing, however, you are furprifed, and agreeably difappointed, to find it not only extenfive, but well built, and in a good ftile; the fireets fpacious, and interfecting each ether at right angles with great precifon. This exactnefs in the formation of the ftreets, when viewed from the Table land, is obferved to be very great. The houfes in general are built of ftone, cemented together with a glutinous kind of earth which ferves as mortar, and afterwards neatly plastered and white wathed with lime. As to their height, they do not in common exceed two ftories, on account of the vioence of the wind, which at fome fea lons of the year blows with great Erength and fury. For the fame reafon thatch has been ufually preferred toiles or fhingles; but the bad effects that have proceeded from this mode when fires happen, has induced the inbabitants in all their new buildings to ive the preference to flates and tiles. The lower parts of the houfes, accordIng to the cuftom of the Dutch nation, only uncommonly neat and clean in appearance, but they are really fo; and the furniture is rather rich

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The governor's houfe is delightfully fituated, nearly in the centre of an extenfive garden, the property of the Dutch Eaft-India company, ufefully planted, and at the fame time elegantly laid out. The governor's family make what ufe they please of the produce of the garden, which is various and abundant: but the original intention of the company in appropriating fo extenfive a piece of ground to this purpose was

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that their hofpital, which is generally fixteen, and fometimes eighteen, in one pretty full when their fhips arrive after of the teams; when the roads long voyages, may be well fupplied heavy, they fometimes, though rarely, with fruits and vegetables, and like- yoke twenty; all which the Hottentots, wife that their fhips may receive a fimi- Malays, and Cape flaves, have in the lar fupply. This garden is as public as moft perfect fubjection and obedience. St. James's Park; and for its hand- One of thefe fellows places himself on fome, pleasant, and well-fhaded, walks, the fore part of the waggon, or, when is much frequented by perfons of every loaded, on the top of the load, and with defcription, but particularly by the a tremendous long whip, which from fashionable and gay. At the upper its fize he is obliged to hold in both end of the principal walk is a fmall his hands, manages thefe creatures fpace walled in for the purpose of con- with inexpreffible addrefs. When he fining fome large oftriches and a few finds expedition needlefs, he can make deer; and a little to the right of this is them keep whatever pace he chooses, a fmall menagery, in which the com- either trot or gallop (a gait performed pany have half a dozen wild animals, or kept up with difficulty by European and about the fame number of curious oxen), and that with as much eafe as if birds. he was driving horfes. They likewife manage horfes with the fame dexterity; and, to fee one of them driving three, four, five, and fometimes fix, pair, in hand, with one of thefe long whips, would make the most complete mafter of the whip in England cut a defpicable figure. Carriages are not very numerous at the Cape, as the inhabitants in general travel in covered waggons, which better fuit the roughness of the country. The governor and fome few of the principal people keep coaches, which are a good dale in the English ftile, and always drawn by fix horfes.

There are two churches in the town; one large, plain, and unadorned, for the Calvinifts, the prevailing fect; and a smaller one for the Lutherans. The hofpital, which is large and extenfive, is fituated at the upper end of the town, clofe to the company's garden: where the convalefcents reap the benefit of a wholefome pure air, perfumed with the exhalation of a great variety of rich fruit trees, aromatic fhrubs, and odorous plants and flowers; and likewife have the ufe of every production of it.

Befides their hofpital, the Dutch Eaft India company have feveral other public buildings, which tend to improve the appearance of the town. The two principal of thefe are, the ftables and a houfe for their flaves. The former is a hand fome range of buildings, capable of containing an incredible number of horses. Thofe they have at the Cape are fmall, fpirited, and full of life. The latter is a building of confiderable extent, where the flaves, both male and female, have feparate apartments, in a very comfortable ftile to refide in after the fatigues and toil of the day; and there are feveral officers placed over them, who have commodious apartments, and treat them humanely.

The inhabitants of the Cape, though in their perfons large, ftout, and athle tic, have not all that phlegm about them which is the characteristic of Dutchmen in general. The phyfical influence of climate may in fome degree account for this, for it is well known that in all fouthern latitudes the temper and difpofition of the people are more gay, and that they are more inclined to luxury and amusements of every kind, than the inhabitants of the northern hemifphere. The ladies are lively, good natured, and familiar; and from a peculiar gay turn, they admit of liberties that would be thought reprehenfible in England, though perhaps they as feldom overleap the th bounds of virtue as the women of other countries.

The heavy draft-work about the Cape is moftly performed by oxen; which are here brought to an uncom- M. Vaillant fays, "The men appear mon degree of usefulness and docility. to be in general well made, and the It is not uncommon to fte fourteen, women pretty. Almoft all the ladies

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fole accomplishment. They love finging, and are remarkably fond of dancing; on this account it is rare not to fee feveral balls every week. The officers of the thips which touch here, and which lie fome time in the roads, often afford them an opportunity of indulging in this pleasure."

play on the harpfichord; this is their is often carried fo far, that I have heard fome of the inhabitants fay, they had much rather be taken by the Englifh, than owe their fafety to the arms of the French, nation." Thefe circumftances, to which we may give full credit as they are related by a Frenchman, may have made the late conqueft of this place by the English a more cafy atchievement.-See p. 561 of our last December Magazine.

Sentimental Journey from Dorfet-Street to Merrion-Square. A Shandean Sketch by Valentine Vagary.

IT

THE SHOWER.

T wets apace-but no matter. In a fhower of rain, we meet with fo many as much befprinkled as ourselves, to keep us in countenance, that we feel not our comfortless fituation-It is juft the fame in things of more importance. But this is a gloomy reflection, and I hate all gloomy things.

COLONNADE OF THE PARLIAMENT

HOUSE.

I muft, however, ftand under this huge colonnade, or I fhall be wet to the tkin-Every thing is good for fomething.

A ftranger is aftonished to find neither a coffee-houfe nor a tavern in a place at which fo many ftrangers arrive; but one may procure lodgings in every private house. The ufual charge for bed and board is a dollar a day; which is dear enough, when we confider the cheapnefs of the productions of the country. Fish are very abundant at the Cape. Among thofe moft efteemed, the principal are the rooman, a red fifa found in the bay of Falfo; and the klepvis, which has no fcales, and which is caught on the rocks bordering the fea: the fteenbraafen, the ftompneus, and fome others. Thefe excellent fifh make a confpicuous figure at every good table. Oifters are very rare here, and none are found any where but in the bay of Fallo. Eels however are ftill more uncommon. To find game, one muft go a great many leagues from the Cape. Partridges of different kinds, fmaller or larger, and more or lefs delicious than thofe of Europe, are found here; but the quail and the snipe do not differ from ours. They are never seen here but in their paffage. Strangers were generally well received at the Cape by thofe who were in the company's fervice, and by fome others who are private people; but the English were always adored, either on account of the fimilarity between the manners of the two nations, or of their very much affecting to be generous. He returned, in a few minutes, flowIt was an undoubted fact, that, when- ly, and with well-feigned concern. He ever they arrived, every one was eager had wearied himself, and was hoarfe to offer them lodging. In lefs than with bawling; it was warm, and his eight days every thing became English in the houfe upon which they had fixed their choice; and the mafter, the miftrefs, and even their children, foon affumed their manners. "Of all nations," fays Vaillant," the French are the leaft efteemed; the citizens, above all, cannot endure them; and this hatred Hib. Mag Jan. 1796.

THE INVALID.

"Does your honour want a coach ?" faid a lame man in a foldier's coat, with a familiarity that told me he thought we might be of fervice to each other. I nodded affent, and away he hopped off, into College-Street, with the expedition of a lapwing; bawling all the way-Coach coach! coach! coach! coach! till he was quite out of fight.

throat quite parched he was the most unfortunate fellow in the world; he had not got two-pence the whole dayyet he had done his beft; but there was no coach to be got for love or money; and how could he help it?

His rhetorick was too powerful. "There, my brave fellow for a brave F

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As he took the money, his countenance brightened for a moment; his features then affumed an aspect of diftant refpect, and he made me three or four of his best bows.

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one I doubt not you have been-is a the glafs. The fellow flood holdfilling to repay your endeavours." ing his hat in the rain. He tapped at the window, I let it partly down. Tell your companion, who fent you," faid I, that he may, if he pleafes, give you half what I gave him; which, I dare fay, he will never do. But you are a couple of well-matched rafcals, and I leave you to deal together!Coachman, drive on "He did fo and I foon ceased to hear the curfes of the

"In what regiment did you ferve, honeft foldier;" faid I, as he was retreating; "and in what engagement was you wounded ?"

"An pleafe your honour," faid he, "I fcorn to tell any gentleman a lye. I never ferved his majefty in all my life. I am a poor fmuggler, and got hamftringed by a confounded dog of a dragoon, as I was affifting our captain to Iand a few things in Rush.

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I was forry I had given the rafcal a fhilling- Yet," laid an inftantaneous reflection, "has he not fuffered abundantly for his offence? He would have ferved you if he could, and why fhould he lofe his reward?"

THE CONFEDERATE.

Prefently, a ragged fellow made his appearance. He walked twice by me. "Shall I call your honour a coach ?" faid he, on paffing me the third time. "I believe I can get you one in a minute or two."

"You may "faid I; and away he went, but with lefs expedition than his difabled predeceffor. He knew well enough where to go, and proceeded very quietly about the matter-There is always leaft noife where most business is done.

"Thefe fellows have confederated together," faid I: " and I will endeavour to be even with one of them, at leaft

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A coach, in fomewhat lefs than a quarter of an hour, drove up leifurely, and my new friend jumped off from the box As he opened the door, he told me how luckily he had met with the coach up in Aungier Street: that he had taken a fine dance in the rain; but he was determined to get me one, and had promifed the coachman fixpence more than his fare.

I made no reply-but the inftant he had clofed the door, bade the coach man drive to my houfe, and drew up

difappointed confederate.

British Theatre.

October 19, 1795.

MR. COOPER, who had only performed in the country, appeared

the first time at Covent Garden in the character of Hamlet. In this part the late Mr. Henderfon difplayed his talents to an admiring public, and the fame was chofen by Mr. Kemble for his first effay on the London ftage. To both thefe gentlemen the choice was favourable, and they each fhewed the force of their minds in conceiving the character, and their powers to exhibit it with propriety and effect. The prefent candidate, Mr. Cooper, has been lefs fuccessful. His perfon, counte nance, and voice, promifed more than he had ability to execute. His action, deportment, and pronunciation, were in many parts exceptionable; and he appeared rather to repeat what he had been taught, than to enter into the character with feeling. He would evidently have fhewn more prudence in felecting fome other part for his first

appearance.

20.] The Dependent, a Comedy, by Mr. Cumberland, was acted the firft time at Drury Lane. The fuccess this gentleman has lately experienced in his dramatic efforts, thould have impofed on him more caution than he has fhewn in obtruding this hafty abortion on the public. It had little plot, incident, or originality of character, to recommend it; the methodist preacher being adopted from Ezekiel Daw in his own novel of" Henry." Infipidity feemed to pervade every fcene; and though the performers exerted themselves in its

favour,

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