you have taken in forming so re- Sir, we shall ever entertain a lively ipectable a Corps-the generosity and remembrance of that polite attention unhounded liberality you have always to us, for which you have been 10 shewn in supporting it and the very eminently distinguished ; and that you marked ability with which you have may enjoy long life and happiness is the commanded it, merit our warmest apo hearty with of every LOYAL Islingprobation, and our most sincere thanks. TON VOLUNTEER. In taking our leave of you as our

JOHN BIGGERSTAFF, sun. Commandant, permit us to assure you,

Secrecary to the Corps.

COLONEL DESPARD.

MEMOIRS OF COLONEL EDWARD MARCUS DESPARD, BY JAMES BANNANTINE, HIS SECRETARY, WHEN SUPERINTENDANT OF HIS

MAJESTY'S AFFAIRS AT HONDURAS.

H.. was born, we learn, in 1750 or tants, who voluntarily solicited him to

1751, and de cenderl from a very take the command, and retook from ancient and respectable family in the the Spaniards, Black River, the prinQueen's County, in Ireland. He is cipal settlement of the coalt. For this the youngest of six brothers, all of feivice he received the thanks of the whom, except the eldett, have served Governor, Council, and Allembly of either in the army or navy. In 1766, Jamaica, and of the King himself. Ir he entered the army as an Enlign in 1783, he was promoted to the rank of the goth regiment ; in the same regi- Colonel. In 1784, he was appointed Inent he served as a Lieutenant, and First Commissioner for settling and rein the 79th he served succellively as ceiving the territory ceded to Britain Lieutenant, Quarter Master, Captain by the fixth article of the Definitive Lieutenant, and Captain. From his Treaty of Peace with Spain in 1785superior Oficers he received many He as a Colonel so well discharged his marks of approbation, particularly from duty, that he was appointed SuperinGeneral Calcraft, of the soth, General tendant of his Majetty's affairs on the Meadows, and the Duke of Northum- coast of Honduras, which office he heid berland. He has been for the lat much to the advantage of the Crown twenty years detached from any parti- of England, for he obtained from that cular corps, and intrusted with impor- of Spain some very important privitant offices. In 1979, he was appointed leges. The clathing interefts, however, Chief Engineer to the St. Juan Expe-, of the inhabitants of this coalt, prodition, and conducted himself so as to duced much discontent, and the Coloobtain

distinguishedattention and praise nel was by a party of them, accused of froin Captain Pollon, who commanded various misdemeanors to his Majesty's on that occasion: He also received the Ministers. He now came home, and thanks of the Council and Assembly demanded that his conduct Rould be of the island of Jamaica, for the con investigated, but was, after two years struction of public works there, and constant attendance on all the departwas in consequence of these services, ments of Govern!nent, at latt told by appointed by the Governor of Jamaica, Ministers, that there was no charge to be • Commander in Chief of the againit him worthy of investigation; Illand of Rattan, and its dependenties, that his Majesty had thought proper to and of the troops there, and to rank as abolith the office of Superintendant at Lieutenant-Colonel and Field-Engi. Honduras, otherwise he should have neer, and coramanded as such on the been reinitated in it. But he was then, Spanish Main, in Rattan, and on the and on every occalion, assured that his Musquito lhore, and Bay of Honduras.' services thould not be forgotten, buc After this, at Cape Gracias a Dios he in due time meet their reward. put himself at che head of the inhabi.

LMPORTANT

IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES. PROFESSOR PALMER, of Wolffen- The Optical Instrument Maker of

buttle, has invented a conipotition the Academy of Sciences at Stockholm, to secure combustible substances, such Mr. Gabriel Collin, has invented an as wood, paper, linen, cotton. &c. instrument, by means of which subfrom catching fire. He has published itances may be discovered, and fought the secret of his discovery, which con- at the bottom of the sea. lits of a powder made up of the follow. ing ingredients, viz.-One ounce of

The King of Sweden ordered some falphur, one ditto of red ochre, and fix experiments to be tried with this ounces of copper water *.

inftrument on board the frigate of To prevent wood catching fire, it is the Swedish Sea Cadets, which were first covered with joiners' glue, over

attested by the Captain. From them which the powder is spread. This it results, that by means of the instruprocess is repeated three or four times ment, bright objects may be seen at after the wood has become dry. In

a depth of 53 feet, and obscure ones linen and paper, only water is used

at 27 feet; in the Baltic obscure ob. inttead of glue, and the process is rejects could be seen at 27, and clear peated twice.

ones at 37 feet depth. If this powder be thrown on sub- There is a contrivance in this in. tances actually in combustion, two ftrument, by which the observer can ounces of it will extinguish the fire, to look as deeply into the water in milty the extent of the surface of a square or foul, as in clear fair weather. The foot. The meritorious Professor pro- wind never hinders the use of this inmiles a Dissertation respecting the par. ftrument, which only requires one ticular application of this discovery to person for ule. His Swedish Majesty fave precious effects, and even men has rewarded the artist with a douceur from the danger of being burnt. On of about rool. Aterling, and the Aca. the ruth of December lait, the first ex- demy of Science at Stockholm, is to periments were tried at Wolffenbuttle, , make a report on it. and gave general fatisfaction.

THE VILLA OF THE LATE MR. JOHN SEWELL.

(WITH AN ENGRAVING.] In conformity to a wish expressed by tention which he had paid to its erection

its late worthy owner, that after his and preservation, and the great expence decease, whenever tiat might happen, that he had been at to bring it io its we would infert a Plate, which he had present state, we must acknowledge his previously had engraven, representative foible to have been entitled to great of a Building and Grounds erected and indulgence. planted by himself, we have conüdered The House occupies one of the most the circumstance of their being an- elevated and pleasant spots in the parish nounced for Sale as favourable to the of Battersea † ; and the Grounds about intention.

it (comprising thirteen acres) are among If the smallest trait of vanity was to the belt cultivated and most fruitful be found in the composition of our de- freehoids in the vicinity. ceased friend,whose memory we respect, it was on the subject of this Villa (which [For Particulars into which it is not our he usually denominated his FOLLY); province to enter, we refer to the Eightb and when we contider the laborious at. Page of our Blue Wrapper.]

There is probably some error as to this latter ingredient: we are inclined to think the Writer means copperas.

† Some Account of this Village was given in our Magazine for September 1801, to accompany a humorous Engraving of “ Undertakers at Death's Door."

.

A few of the hilla fjandoms Ground and Mcadam-landat Battersea Pixe Surry

The Freehold Estate of the late

. JOHN SEWELL, Esq

Which will be Sald by Anction by M? Smith, at Garraways Coffee House on Wednesday the 23 March 1803 .

Drawn & Engrard hr S. Rawk.

VESTIGES,
COLLECTED AND RECOLLECTED,

BY JOSEPH MOSER, ESQ.

NUMBER VIII.

SIR MATTHEW HALE.

that besides his legal knowledge, which This excellent Judge is truly

esteemed was most eminent, he was, as his works to have been one of the most bril- evince, conspicuous as a divine and a liant ornaments of his age and country, philosopher, whether confidered in his profesional His temper and his principles were or private capacity. It is a curious equally firm, without the least tincture circumstance, that there is a work of of asperity in either. His piety, purity his extant, though, I think, little read, of heart, and total disintereltedness, viz. “ The Analysis of the Law of were traits of character which were, England," which contains the skeleton, through the whole term of his existence, or rather essence, of our law, and the peculiarly obvious and which have been heads of which have the same methodi. 10 frequently recorded, and descanted cal arrangement afterwards ro luccell- on, that they are blended with his idea, fully adopted by Sir William Black and, in a manner, identified with his ftone in his celebrated Commentaries, very name! Yet it is extraordinary in of which this small treatise evidently a high degree, and, were it not upon gave liim the hint, and the principles legal record, it would be wholly incre. of which, and of Sir Matthew Hale's dible, that when he was Lord Chief “ History of the Common Law," in Baron of the Exchequer, a fingular and the fame volume, he has, like its fyr- clumsy attempt was made to bribe this tem, introduced, expatiated upon, and excellent man and incorruptible Mainterwoven with the more abundant giitrate. With what it might be matter of his larger work.

alked. What immense sum of gold ! Such an adoption, and adaptation, What valt quantity of plate ? or jewels ? certainly reflects lionour upon both or what large annual revenue was parties; but it is nevertheless a pleasing offered to tempt him to swerve from speculation to trace works fuperemi- his integrity? The answer is, that nent for their celebrity, and, conse. nothing of the kind above stated was quently, fupereminently useful, to offered; a person concerned in a ,

a their suurces, as it shews, in their pro. caule pending before bim, imagined, gress, the progress of the human mind, from the narrow sordid impulse of his and developes the avidity with which a owo mind, that he was to be bought man of genius seizes upon, and the at a cheaper rate, and therefore lent mode by which he refines and improves him two loaves of sugar*. The fact a train of thought, a system of science, was this : congenial to his own ideas.

At the Spring assizes for the county The hiitory of Sir Matthew Hale, of Bucks, in the year 1658, before Sir who, after passing through the fub- Matthew Hale, then Lord Chief Baron ordinate stations in the courts of law of the Exchequer, a bill of indietment with the most extensive professional was preferred against Robert Hawkins, reputation that perhaps any man in Clerk, for a felony ftated to have been his time possefred, succeeded Sir John committed by him at Chilton, in the Keeling as Lord Chief Justice of the Taid county, in stealing from the King's Bench in 1671, is lo well known, dwelling-house of Henry Laurimore that a repetition of it would be super. two gold rings, one holland apron, and Auous. It may be sufficient to observe, two pieces of gold, his property.

It is a little puzzling to think what the donor, however sweet he might imagine the Judge's tooth to have been, could suppose he could do with two loaves of sugar while on the Circuit. It must, however, be observed, that, not withstanding the great rife of the article in our time, loaf sugar was much dearer in the seventeenth century than at present, it being then esteemed in some degree a curiosity.

The VOL. XLIII. FEB. 1803.

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a