actually faw them, was fo great, as to make the gout fortunately disappear. The composition of the fpecies Planfarum, the most excellent and most laborious of his works, occafioned alfo an illness, which ferved to accelerate his death. The confiant filence which attended his fludies, brought on the ftone and the moit excruciating pains in his right fide, When his pupi! Roland returned from Surinam, he felt the livelieft fenfa tions of joy. Rolander had brought with him the Cochineal-tree (Coctus Cochenillifer,) on which were to be feen alive the infects from which the red colour used in dying fearlet is extracted. This joy was however foon changed into the deepeft fadness, owing to a miltaken carefulness. The tree had been removed to the botaical garden. Before the gardener had received any instructions refpecting its management, he observed the infects, which were creeping upon its leaves, and confidering them to be the deftruction of the leaves of the tree, be gathered them with great trouble and care, killed them, and thus annihilated the great and bright hopes which Linnæus had conceived of introducing cochineal as a natural production into Sweden. This accident caufed fo much derangement in his frame, as to be followed by a moft violent nervous head-ach.

Nature again operated by her magic power upon his health, even when it was quite impaired and reduced int the year 1774. Lieut. Col. Dahlberg

which contained thirteen new genera, and upwards of forty new fpecies.

Linnæus, the darling of nature, was not fo fortunate as Fontenelle, Haller, and Voltaire, in finding her propitious to him till his last moment. His great mind, the energy and powers of his faculties, funk into fuch a deep decline, that towards the laft flage of his life, he was reduced to the helpless and feeble state of an infant. His fate was fimilar to, nay worfe ftill than that of Franklin. The two last years of his existence were, it might be faid, but a flow and obftinate struggle with death. While he gave lectures in the month of May 1774, in the botanical garden, he had an apoplectic stroke, and feli into a fwoon from which he did not recover for a long time. This was the petiod at which his health declined entirely. In his younger days, he used to be afflicted with catarrhs and the tooth-ach, and his maturity with the moft violent meagrim; but he now began to complain of a pain in the lower part of his back and in his loins. In the year 1774 Mr Penrant, the celebrated Zoologist, wrote to him, to intreat him not to forget his promife of writing the natural biftory of Lapland, which he had. first made in the preface of his Flora Lapponica. The answer which Linnæus returned to Mr Pennant's request purported, "that it would now be too late for him to begin."

Baucholy

lancholy and painful state, nature still remained his only comfort and relief. He ufed to be carried to his museum, where he viewed the treafures which he had collected with fo much labour, and manifested a parti. cular delight in examining the rari

ties and new productions, which, during the latter part of his life, had been brought him by M. Mutis from Carthagena and New Grenada, and by his other pupils from the Cape of Good Hope and Asia.

(To be concluded in our next.)

Ο

UR readers well know the hif tory of this mutiny by the interesting account published by Captain Bligh after his return home. It happened on the 28th of April 1789, at a little distance from Tofoa, one of the Friendly Iflands. The mutineers who kept poffeffion of the Bounty were in all 25, and the moft able men of the fhip's company, viz. Fletcher Chriftian, master's matePeter Heywood, Edward Young and George Stewart, midshipmen, Charles Churchill, mafter at arms, John Mills, gunner's mate, James Morrifon, Boatfwain's mate, Thomas Burkitt, Matthew Quintal, John Sumner, John Milward, William M'Koy, Henry Kilbrant, Alexander Smith, William Mufprat, Michael Byrne, Thomas Elifon, John Williams, Ifaac Martin, Matthew Thomfon and Richard Skinner feamen, William Brown, gardener, Jofeph Coleman, armourer, Charles Norman, and Thomas M'Intofh, carpenter's mates. The three laft, with Ifaac Martin, were detained contrary to their inclination.

When Captain Bligh was turned adrift and the Bounty fet fail, fome of Chriftian's party cried out, "Huzza, for Otaheite," which gave him much offence, as he dreaded the Captain's following him thither. In order therefore to deceive the boat, they fteered W. N. W. but as foon as the launch was out of fight, made for Otaheite.

Remorse feems to have feized Ed. Mag. June 1796.

Chriftian the moment he had com mitted the attrocious deed. He became penfive, while a few of the others began to laugh and joke about the difmal fituation of the Captain and his companions. This raillery increased Chriftian's agitation, which became fo great that he was unable to conceal it." He ftaid on deck till the launch was out of fight, but he never looked at it without the ftrongest emotions. He began to be afraid even of his own party, and when he went down to the cabin to examine the ftores, he enjoined Churchill and Heywood to ftay on deck and be particularly vigilant.

The thought of what was paft prevented them of thinking of what was to come. They were now returning to Otaheite, but never once confulted among themselves what they should fay to the natives. Indeed Churchhill hinted fomething of it to Chriftian, but he feemed quite indifferent about the matter, imagining that any ftory they thought proper to tell would be credited by the natives.

They were determined not to stop at any of the Ilands, but make the utmost expedition to reach Otaheite. The weather however becoming tempeftuous, and the wind unfavourable, they were obliged to anchor at an Ifland about feven leagues from their intended port. They tarried here three days, during which time they faw no inhabitants, and the land wore a dreary appearance. Having pow

a fresh

a fresh breeze, they weighed and flood for Otaheite.

While paffing Annamooka they were vifited by feveral canoes from the neighbouring iflands. Thefe natives, who knew them, expreffed great aftonishment at their return, while Chriftian pretended that fome very urgent reafons required their longer stay at Otaheite. Nothing material occurred during the remainder of their paffage.

All the mutineers agreed that Christian fhould take the command, which at first he feemed to decline, withing to refign it to Stewart. He however accepted it, while Stewart acted under him.

On their approaching the island he ordered every man to remain under arms, left the Captain might have contrived to vifit fome of the neighbouring districts, and communicated his misfortunes, more particularly to Tinab, a chief of Otaheite, who was exceedingly partial to him. Chriftian of courfe knew that the natives would be inclined to take his part, and perhaps unite their force to recover the veffel, Thefe apprehenfions were foon removed by Churchhill, who remarked the impoffibility of Captain Bligh's reaching Otaheite, or any of the adjoining iflands, with out their obferving the launch; notwithilanding, it was deemed advisable that they thould all remain on their guard.

As foon as they were in fight of Otaheite feveral of the natives came off in canoes to learn the caufe of their unexpected return; Chriftian told them that Captain Bligh had difcovered that Captain Cooke was alive and at Whytutakee, and that both he and his officers were determined to remain there with him. This news accordingly fpread, but the ftory created much furprise.

Tinah and Poeeno, two chiefs remarkably attached to captain Bligh, immediately haftened on board. They

were foon followed by others, who were equally furprised at meeting with their old friends; but Tinah and Poeeno alternately inquired the meaning that Captain Bligh sent them back; why alfo he did not come with them and bring Captain Cooke, for whom they entertained fo great a regard. To thefe queflions Chriftian returned very forry answers, and with fonic equivocations evaded others.

The chiefs underflanding that these people were come to fettle among them, immediately began, according to cuftom, to choofe each his Tayo, or friend. Their notions of friendhip are indeed very extraordinary. When a perfon becomes a Tayo, to any one, it is expected of that perfon that he will cherish his friend's wife, the neglect of which would, occafion much coolness and indifference. They are however exceedingly faithful to their friends, for they would fhudder at the thoughts of betraying them, They are likewife ready to fupply their wants even to their own injury; and when those who have Tayos die without iffue, their titles and estates, agreeable to the law of Tayofhip, devolve to their chofen friends, with whom, according to cuftom, they change names at the time their friendhips are contracted.

The mutineers now landed, while the best refreshments that the place afforded were immediately provided. It is impoffible to defcribe the pleafure which fome of the females felt upon feeing their former gallants: they were particularly affiduous in preparing the most agreeble food for their reception.

Captain Bligh while he was here. had a tent erected for his own ule; Chriflian immediately took poffeffion of this, telling the chiefs that he was now Captain Chriftian during Bligh's abfence. To this all his accomplices affented and behaved to him with afsumed respect.

The hip's company were divided

into two parties, one to remain on board the veffel, the other on shore by turns.

A fhort time after they had land ed, Churchill, whom Chriftian had made his most conftant companion, became the Tayo of a great chief in the upper districts, and received an invitation to his houfe. Chriftian, in order to court the favour of the chiefs, was remarkably profufe in his prefents; he was likewife cunning enough to take the merit of all the donations, which created a degree of jealoufy between him and his confederates.

Tinah regularly visited Chriftian, every day, both on fhore and on board. This chief, however, could not conceal his diffatisfaction at the abfence of Captain Bligh and the other officers; nor could he indeed reconcile it to himself why the Captain would not return and abide in Otaheite in preference to any other ifland. Iddeah, Tinah's wife, who had been remarkably attached to Captain Bligh, became exceedingly melancholy at his feeming indifference. On this account the enter tained an averfion to Chriftian and his accomplices, and feldom accompanied her husband in his visits.

During the intervals of folitude, Christian was frequently feized with remorfe and horror at what he had done. Reflection almoft fet him mad, and he certainly felt more anguilh at the commiffion of the mutiny than any of his confederates. Whenever Churchill or Stewart were in his company he endeavoured to refume his vivacity and fhake off thofe gloomy terrors which occafionally clouded his mind. Churchill was naturally poffeffed of a sprightly difpofition; his prefence, therefore, in a great meafure, difpelled the other's uneafinefs, and helped to keep up bis fpirits.

Martin likewife expreffed much unhappiness when alone, but none of

the men dared to fhew the leaft dif. approbation of what was done, for fear of being immediately defroyed; for feveral fufpected that Chriftian had given fecret orders to fome of his moft particular friends to put to infant death any who fhould complain or mutter at their prefent fituation, left the natives fhould discover what had happened, and of course revenge their ill-treatment of Captain Bligh.

Some of the natives who visited the Bounty committed feveral depredations. Christian complained to Tinah of his people's thefts and mifbehaviour. This chief, when Captain Bligh, was in the island, had been very affiduous in recovering whatever was ftolen; but now affairs. feemed to wear a different complexion, Tinah paid little or no attention to Chriftian's complaints, nor feemed to be in the leaft concerned for whatever lofs he fuftained. The fat was, the natives thought they were at liberty to do whatever they liked, fince the Captain, whom they looked upon as the chief of those English, was abfent: and Chriftian. was afraid to affume too much authority, far fear he might incur their displeasure, and be confequently abandoned by them.

It was obferved that Chriftian had, previous to his departure from this ifland with the Captain, entertained a paffion for fome of the female na, tives; to one he was particularly attached. She was young, affectionate, genteel, and fetting afide the dif figurements which the customs of the country render general, the might well be accounted handfome. Their mutual affection was remarkable, and the fincerity of their loves indifputable. In short, they were married, according to the fashion, which is no more than making a bargain with the parents and exchanging mutual promifes before all the friends who are on the occafion invited. Among

thefe

thefe people polygamy is allowed; and what is not more wonderful than true, they enjoy domeftic harmony even with a plurality of wives.

Among the Otaheiteans, inflead of the wife bringing any property to the husband, it is a rule, whenever a man chooses a female for his companion, that he must buy her of her parents, who are generally very unreafonable in their demands: and if the husband does not continue his prefents in a regular manner, it is in the father's power to take home his child and difpofe of her in a more profitable manner: thus it appears that intereft fubdues all ties of parental affection; and traffic of this kind is fo common, that the young la dies themselves are by no means ftrangers to their own value, being always prefent at the time they are bargained for, and not a little conceited when they coft a good price, This mode of getting wives was very inconvenient to our adventurers, as their flock was now growing low, and they had not wherewithal to continue their donations; befides, what they had was in common to all; for Chriftian, dreading any quarrel or jealoufy among themselves, agreed that there fhould be no private property, and a fpeedy confumption was naturally the confequence. They were, in fome meafare, however, enabled to give prefents by the quantity of prefents they received.

It is in the husband's power also to put away his wife if he difapproves of her, and in fuch cafe the fruits of their connection are deftroyed; but if the hufband becomes a tender father, and efpoufes his child, then the marriage ftate is faid to be confirmed. There is no doubt but the affection of English fathers made a ftrong impreffion upon the women of Otaheite, who, notwithstanding the barbarous cuftom of their country, are remarkable for their maternal feelings. It is not then to be won

dered at, that they should be more attached to meu, though ftrangers, who they knew would both preferve and love their offspring, than even to their own countrymen, who had fo frequently put the favage cuftom in execution. This, then, accounts for their partiality to our adventurers, who were equally charmed by their gaiety, and attached by their remarkable conftancy; for notwithftanding the levity of their disposition, and natural inclination to mirth, they were always fincere in their loveproteftations.

Chriftian being looked upon by the natives as a chief among his own people, thought it abfolutely neceffary to fupport the character, though in appearance; it was, however, with much difficulty that he could command even a feigned refpect, for feveral of his party became tired of doing him this outward homage, and in their moments of jealous reflection, confidered themselves as good as he, and deemed it therefore unworthy their characters as men, to pay him that refpect which they did not think he deferved: thus the ringleader of thefe mutineers, the very man who ftimulated them to the daring act of rebellion, found it impoflible to quench that fpisit which he before) encouraged, and, with reason indeed, apprehended a mutiny among themfelves. The want of honest friends added much to his remorfe and fear, nor was he affured of the fincerity of thofe with whom he confulted and advised. In this precarious fituation it behoved him more and more to obrain and fecure the affections of the natives: for which reafon, though labouring under all the difficulties before obferved, he fupported his feeming authority, and acted in the fame manner as the chiefs of the island, he not only indulged himself with a plurality of wives, but likewife entertained a number of concubines, choofing fuch females as were