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The viciffitudes of Old Sarum, the construction of New Sarum, the prefent city of Salisbury, and an account of the old Roman roads, render this fection uncommonly curious; nor must we omit the fingularity of the right still exercised by this ancient borough, to fend two members to parliament, though there are no houfes remaining, except a small publick house in its vicinity, and that the number of electors is reduced to feven freeholders, who have lands lying within the liber. ties of the borough. "Old Sarum first fent members to parliament in the 23d of Edward I. and then intermitted till the 34th of Edward III. from which time it has been done conftantly. The election is ufually held in a temporary house, erected on one of the burgage lands, near the village of Stratford: the manor belongs to Thomas Pitt, Lord Camelford, a defcendant of Governor Pitt, the owner of the famous Diamond, and grandfather to the great Earl of Chatham; the Governor bought the manor in 1690, of James Earl of Salisbury, for 1500l. Salisbury cathedral, and the Bishop's palace are fully described, and a beautiful view of the weft front of the Cathedral, drawn by Mr. Britton, and engraved by Storer, is prefixed to both volumes. The churches, colleges, and other publick edifices in Salisbury; a characteristic of the inhabitants; reflections on the state of the poor, &c. are the principal fubjects of Sections III. and IV. Longford Castle, a feat belonging to the Earlof Radnor, fituated about three miles south-eaft of Salisbury, being the first object that attracted the attention of our author, after leaving the city, he has given a beautiful view of it, and a defcription of the valuable pictures and curiofities it contains, particularly a fteel chair which may rank amongst the choiceft labours of antiquity; "the compartments, more than 130 in number, contain a multiplicity of figures in miniature, neatly and wonderfully executed." For the history and further account of this great and weighty curiofity, See Sect. V. p. 112. Downton Town and New Hall are briefly defcribed, and a most affecting anecdote related of Dr. Raleigh, elder brother to the famous Sir Walter Raleigh, in Sect VI.

The hiftory of the ancient palace of Clarendon, formerly fituated in the midst of an extenfive and beautiful park, about two miles fouth east of Salisbury, now levelled with the duft; an account of the refidence of several British monarchs at Clarendon; of the famous conftitutions of Clarendon of the famous Earl of Clarendon, Lord Chancellor in the reign of Charles II. and grandfather to Queen Mary, the wife of William III. and of Queen Ann; and anecdotes of Stephen Duck, the threther, and Poet, patronifed by Queen Caroline, the confort of George II. occupy Sect. VII.

As even the analytical table of the principal contents of the remaining fubjects of this volume, is too detailed to be brought within any moderate compafs, we can only obferve, that the defcription of the Statues, Bufts, and Pictures at Wilton Houfe, the feat of the Earl of Pembroke, embellished with a most beautiful view of the edificeand the most ample defcription of Fonthill, the celebrated mansion of Mr. Beckford, with all its late improvements, collection of pictures by ancient mafters, and by British artists of our own time; its magnificent apartments and fplendid furniture, &c. are the principal fubjects which occupy the greatest part of the remaining pages of this volume-but we were much difappointed,after all that has been published concerning this fuperb manfion, with the inferiority of the view of it, compared with Wilton House, and Wardour Caftle, the feat of Lord Arundel, the laft plate in the volume, the defcription of which is likewife very interefting, and it comprises an amufing biographical account of Mr. Giles Huffey, an eccentric English painter, fome of whofe works form part of the decorations of the caftle. Afhcombe, a fingularly fequeftered abode of the uncle of Lord Arundel, as described by H. P. Wyndham, Efq. is likewife introduced into the fame fection with Wardour Castle.

The Volume clofes with a fhort account of Knoyle, a village diftinguifhed by the birth of the celebrated Sir Chriftopher Wren, the Archite& of St. Paul's Cathedral; and of Mere, a fmall town, fignifying, in the Saxon language, a boundary or land-mark.

❤ There are thirteen burgage tenements within the limits of the borough, nine of which belong to Lord Camelford.

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The counties of Dorfet, Somerset, and Wilts, unite near this place. It formerly had a Cattle, erected on a high knoll, ftill called the Castle hill; and (To be concluded by a Review of Vol II. in it is remarkable, that his Royal High

our next.)

An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, from its first Settlement, in January 1788, to Auguit 1801: With Remarks on the Dif pofitions, Cuftoms, Manners, &c. of the Native Inhabitants of that Country. To which are added, fome Particulars of New Zealand; compiled, by Permiffion, from the MSS. of Lieutenant-Governor King; and an Account of a Voyage performed by Captain Flinders and Mr. Bafs; by which the Existence of a Strait feparating Van Dieman's Land from the Continent of New Holland was afcertained. Abftracted from the Journal of Mr. Bafs. By Lieutenant Colonel Collins, of the Royal Marines, late Judge Advocate and Secretary of the Colony. Illuftrated by Engravings. 4to.

TH HIS is the continuation of a Work, of which the First Part was reviewed in our XXXIVth Volume. Of the former part, the contents were drawn from the Author's own obfervation during an actual refidence on the fpot; the prefent is compiled from materials with which he has been favoured, and on the authenticity of which, he tells us, "he can fately take his credit." In fact, the Work al. together bears a strong semblance to an official Publication; and, as the first Volume was dedicated to [the late] Lord Sydney, the prefent is infcribed to Lord Hobart, His Majefty's Secretary of State for the War Department, &c. We are forry to find, from a perufal of this fecond Volume, that no amend ment has taken place in the general behaviour of the Convicts. Repeated inftances occur of the depravity to which human nature can be reduced, notwithstanding the punishment that was fure to follow tranfgreffion, or the rewards and encouragement that attended better conduct. Great difcontents exifted among the Irish Convicts, which were artfully fomented by fome defigning characters. The extreme, nay lavage, ignorance of thefe people cannot better be exhibited, than by quoting the following paffage:

"The Irifh prifoners who had arrived in the last hips from that country had about this period become fo turbulent and refractory, and fo diffatisfied with their fituation, that, without the most rigid and fevere treatment, it was impoffible to derive from them any Jabour whatever. In addition to their natural vicious propenfities, they conceived an opinion, that there was a colony of white people, which had been

difcovered in this country, fituated to the S. W. of the fettlement, from which it was diftant between three and four hundred miles; and in which they were affured of finding all the comforts of life, without the neceflity of labouring for them.

It was difcovered, that, in confequence of this extraordinary rumour, a plan had been formed, by means of a correfpondence carried on between thefe people, from one district to another, of escaping from the colony; which was to be put in execution fo foon as they had completed a fufficient ftock of provisions. The place of general rendezvous was fixed upon, and they were furnished with a paper of written instructions for their guidance to this fancied paradife, or to China; in addition to which, they had been fupplied with the figure of a compafs drawn upon paper.

"Having received early information of the intentions of this party, the governor wrote to a magistrate at Parramatta, defiring that he would go to Toongabbe, where the principal partof the mal-contents were employed, and point out to them the danger to which fo ill-advised a step would expofe them; but, as to attempt to reafon with ignorance and obftinacy, was only to waste time, he was to acquaint them, that the governor would allow any four of them whom they should felect from their number, and who they might think capable of travelling over fteep and rocky mountains, through thick and extenfive woods, and fording deep and rapid ftreams, to proceed as far as they should find themfelves able, with fuch provifions as they could carry. That further, for the prefervation of

the

the lives of thofe four men, he would order three other people, who were accustomed to the woods of this country, and well acquainted with the favages of the mountains to accompany and lead them in the direction pointed out in their written instructions.

"On converfing with thefe infatuated people, it appeared, that the hiftory of the fuppofed fettlement had its rife from fome ftrange and unintelligible account which one of thete men, who had left his work, and refided for fome time with the natives, had collected from the mountain lavages.

"A very few days demonstrated the effect of the governor's addrefs to these ignorant people. He received in formation, that confiderable numbers of them were affembling for the purpofe of proceeding in queft of the new fettlement. He, therefore, directed a party of armed conftabies to way-lay and fecure as many as they were able; which was effected, and fixteen were taken and put into confinement. On fpeaking to them the following day, they appeared to be totally ignorant whither they were going; but, obferving in them as much obftinacy as ignorance, the governor justly conceived that he could not ufe an ar. gument more likely to convince them of their misconduct, than by ordering a fevere corporal punishment to be inflicted at Sydney, on thole who appeared to be the principals in this bufinefs; which was accordingly put in execution; feven of them receiving each two hundred lashes; the remainder, after being punished at Parramatta, were fent to hard labour, and ftrictly looked after.

"On inquiry, it appeared, that this party was compofed of feveral who were prefent when the magistrate addreffed them by order of the governor; and that others had affembled from different farms, which were fituated at a confiderable distance from each other. The trouble taken to collect and miflead these people, proved to him that it was the work of fome wicked incendiary, who defigned by this means to embarrass the publick concerns of the colony. and thereby throw obitacles in the way of his government.

"Being, on further confideration of the neceflity of checking this fpirit of emigration, determined to convince them, by their own experience, of the danger and difficulties which attended

it, the governor caufed four of the strongest and hardiett among them to be chofen by themfelves, and properly prepared for a journey of discovery. They were to be accompanied by three men, upon whom the governor knew 'he could depend, and who were to lead them back, when fatigued and exhaufted with their journey, over the very worit and molt dangerous part of the country. This plan was no fooner fettled, than the governor received information on which he could rely, that a party of these mifcreants had concerted with the four deputies to meet them at a certain place, where they were to murder the perions intended to be their guides, poffefs themselves of their arms and provifions, and then parfue their own route. This diabolical fcheme was counteracted by the addition of four foldiers to the guides; and on the 14th they set off from Parramatta.

"On the 24th the foldiers returned with three of the deputies, who, having gained the foot of the first mountains, were fo completely fick of their journey, and of the profpect before them, that they requested to return with the foldiers, whofe million here terminated, being ordered to leave them at this place in the direction of the guides; one man only expreffed a refolution to perfevere, and penetrate further into the country, and was left with them for that purpose.

"The history of these people might well be fuppofed to end here; but their reftlefs difpofitions were not calculated to remain long in peace.

"It will be feen, on recurring to the tranfactions of the month of October last, that a boat belonging to a fettler had been carried off in the night, by fome people who were fuppofed to have taken her out to fea, where, from the weaknefs of the boat, they must foon have perifhed; but they were now heard of again. Owen Cavanagh, a free man, had a boat which he employed in tranfporting grain from the Hawkesbury to Sydney. On the oth of this month, he informed the governor, that, a thort time before, his boat had been boarded in the night, off Mullet-Iland, by the very people who had stolen the one from the fettler, and carried her off, with another, containing fifty bushels of grain, which fome other perfon was bringing to Sydney. One man, who had, against his with, been

concerned

concerned in the firft feizure, now left them, and returned with Cavanagh; and from him the following account of their proceedings was obtained. Having effected the capture, they proceeded to the fouthward, with the intention of reaching the wreck of the hip Sydneycove. For their guide, they had a pocket compaís, of which fcarcely one man of the fourteen who compofed the party, knew the ufe. In this boat they were twice thrown on fhore, and at last reached an ifland, where, had they not fortunately found many birds and feals, they mu inevitably have perished. From the inconceiveable hardships they underwent, they would to a man have gladly returned, could they have hoped that their punishment would have been any thing thort of death. Finding it impoffible for fuch a number of difcontented beings to continue of one mind, or to be able to furnish food in their miferable fituation for fo many, they judged it neceffary, from a motive of felf-prefervation, that one half should deceive the other half; and while these were afleep, thofe who were prepared, took away the boat, leaving their feven wretched and unfufpecting companions upon the defolate island, the fituation of which this man could not defcribe, ío as to enable the governor at any time to find it. Their number now being reduced to feven, and thinking themfelves in danger near this port, they had been Jurking for fome time about BrokenBay, with a view of capturing a better boat loaded with grain from the Hawkesbury; which they effected, first by taking the boat of Owen Cavanagh, the fupport of whofe wife and children it had long been. After fecuring him, they took poffeffion of a finaller boat, containing upwards of fifty bufhels of wheat; and, finding Cavanagh's the largest and beft of the two, they ran out about three or four leagues from the land, when they thifted their prisoners into the maller boat, and ftood off to the northward; where it was very probable they would lofe their boat, the being of fuch a fize, that if they fhould get her on thore by any accident, they would not be able to lunch her again, and mult finally perish.

"Here we find extreme ignorance, accompanied by great cunning, proucing cruelty; for nothing lefs can be laid of their abandoning the mi.

ferable uninformed companions of their crime. Self-prefervation was their plea; but was there not a method left within their reach, which might have preferved the whole? Might they not have returned to Sydney, and thrown themselves upon that mercy which they had fo often feen exercifed in the fettlement. Could it be imagined, that at this day there was exifting in a polished civilized kingdom, a race of beings (for they do not deferve the appellation of men) fo extremely ignorant, and fo little humanized as these were, compared with whom the naked favages of the mountains were an enlightened people!

They

"Occafional defertions of one or two people at a time had occurred fince the establishment of the fettlement; but the first convicts who arrived from Ireland in the Queen in the year. 1791 went off in numerous bodies, few of whom ever returned. too were prepoffeffed with the pollibility of penetrating through the woods to China, and imparted the fame idea to all of their countrymen who came after them, engaging the in the fame act of folly and madnefs. It was not then to be wondered at, that Wilson, who lately came in from the woods, should, among other articles of information, mention his finding more than fifty fkeletons, which the natives affured him had been white men, who had loft their way and perished. This account was corroborated by different European articles/ which were fcattered about, fuch as knives, old thoes, and other things which were known not to belong to the natives."

We find another ftriking inftance of this ignorance in an Irish Convict, who, having efcaped from his work, and been for fome time miffing, was at length brought in.

He had wandered about for several days in fearch of a road which he expected to have found, and which was to have conducted him to China, or the new colony; but, his ftrength failing with his provifions, he grew faint, and, defpairing of meeting with any relief, he had juft fenfe enough to reverfe the written inftructions, which had been calculated folely to carry him out, directing him to keep the fun on a particular part of his body, varying according to the time of the day. By this method he travelled eastward, and

în a direction that led him nearly to the head of George's River, where a few people were fettled; and having one morning heard the report of a gun at a distance, he endeavoured to walk towards it, but was unable to make himself heard by hallooing, when night overtook him. Being faint and wearied, he took a little flour, which he ftill had in his pocket, and fprinkling it on fome freth water, drank it, and laid himself down to reft. In the morning, being fomewhat refreshed, he again exerted himself to get forward in the direction whence the report of the gun had revived him, and foon after heard a man's voice, upon which he hallooed again, and to his infinite joy was answered. The man, who was one of the fettlers, took him to his boufe, recruited his fpirits, and brought him into the town. On being questioned how he found his way back, he faid, "that a paper compafs which had been given him was of no utility; he therefore kept his face toward the place where the fun came from; but if the Lord had not been on his fide, he fhould have been loft, for he had been two whole days without any food, except a little flour and water.'

A fhip from India having been wrecked on the Coast, some of the furvivors undertook to penetrate by land to the Settlement. The diftreffes and miferable end of most of these people, proved the difficulty with which fuch an attempt muft ever be attended: they, however, in the courfe of their long and perilous journey, difcovered, in the face of a fteep cliff, wathed by the sea, a ftratum of coal, in breadth about fix feet, and extending eight or

The Beauties of England and Wales; or, Delineations Topographical, Hiftorical, and Defcriptive, of each County. By John Britton and Edward Wedlake Brayley. Vol. II. 8vo.

In our Magazine for October 1801, we noticed the firit volume of this very laudable work; which we perceive is proceeding in its career with fpirit and attention, and will, we doubt not, when finished, fuperfede in our libraries all the works extant on the fame pian. The prefent volume comprehends Cambridgeshire, Chethire, and Cornwall, and in each county much

VOL. XLIII, JAN. 1803,

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nine miles to the fouthward. By the fpecimens of this coal which were afterwards obtained, the quality appeared to be good; and large quantities of this valuable article were at a fubfequent period found in the neigh bourhood of the fettlement.

We must reserve the conclufion of our remarks on this volume till next month: only adding for the prefent, that, having perufed with pain the following remark-" As the Annalist of the English Colony in New South Wales, I probably take my leave for ever of that country, in whofe service L spent the first nine years of its infancy, during all the difficulties and hardships with which, in that rude state, it had to contend: a country which has eventually proved the destruction of my brightest profpects; having, by my fervices there, been precluded from fucceeding to my proper fituation in the profeffional line to which I was bred; without any other reward as yet to boast of, than the consciousness of having ever been a faithful and zealous fervant to my employers, and knowing that the peculiar hardthip of my cafe has been acknowledged by every Gentleman, in and out of office, to whom it has been communicated:" -we feel a proportionate gratification on finding that Colonel Collins has no longer any reafon to complain of the backwardness of Government to reward his fervices in that country for we have feen it announced by the Newf papers, that this Gentleman has been appointed Lieutenant-Governor of a fettlement that is to be eftablished in Bafs Strait, with a falary of 500l. per ann. (To be concluded in our next.)

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