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600 slaves. Afterwards, however, this These promises are likewise
restriction was annulled, and the held forth to such slave or freeman
company was permitted to employ as shall discover those who conceal
as many slaves as it should think pro- diamonds. If a slave discover his
per, on paying 600 crusadas (about master, the king grants him 200,000
75l. sterling) for every miner. By reis, besides his liberty. Those who
the two contracts, the court reserves act contrary to this law, not only lose
for its own use every diamond which the diamonds which they purloin,
shall be found to exceed a certain and their slaves, but often are put to
weight. A law, which forbad, under death. The punishments inflicted on
pain of death, any infringement on the slaves are, commonly, whipping,
this privilege, did not appear suffi- condemnation to the gallies for life,
cient to ensure compliance with it, or immediate death.
but rather tended to depopulate the The diamond seekers are obliged
places adjacent to the spot, and to to render an exact account to the
turn the surrounding country into a king's commissary of all such dia-
vast desart. Within the space of 100 monds as they or their slaves disco-
leagues, there is only one village to ver. The commissary deposits the
be seen, and this is inhabited by the diamonds in a case covered with iron,
agents and slaves of the company ! and secured by three locks. He has

The agent of this privileged body possession of one of the keys, the
in Europe, was no other than the go- viceroy has another, and the Prova-
vernment itself. Prior to the emido de Hazienda Real, has the third,
gration of the court of Portugal to This case is put into a second, on
the Brasils, whatever the produce of which are placed the seals of the
the mines might be, government three personages already mentioned;
delivered to one contractor, dia- the three keys being closed within it.
monds to the amount of 5,000,000 The viceroy is not permitted to view
crusadas or 1,125,0001. sterling, and the contents of the cases, but merely
no more, annually, in virtue of an consigns the whole to the third strong
express agreement to that effect, box, upon the lock of which he places
which has ever been held sacred. his seal. The opening of the treasure
The price of the diamond was rated takes place in the presence of the
advantageously to the contractor. king, who makes choice of such dia-
These precious stones are bought in monds as he approves of, paying to
a raw state by us, or by the Dutch, the finders a price which is regulated
and after being cut, are dissemina. by the law already mentioned.
ted throughout Europe, but especial- 6 There never has been found a
ly France, where this gem was most diamond," says the abbé Raynal,
eagerly bought up. They are less which could be put in competition
hard, pellucid, and brilliant, than with that sent from Brasil to the
those of the East Indies ; but they king of Portugal; its weight being
are far whiter. Their value is about 1680 carats or 12 oz. Although
101. per cent. under that of the for- there is no mode of ascertaining its
mer. The law, which ensures to the value, yet an English writer has been
king of Portugal, the exclusive pos- bold enough to compute it at the
session of the largest diamonds found enormous sum of 224,000,0001, ster-
in Brasil, ordains that the slaves who ling!!-If, however, as some lapida.
find them shall be granted their free assert, this reputed diamond be
dom, and that the king shall pay thèir a topaz, the above computation must
master 400,000 reis. If a freeman be egregiously erroneous.”
be the finder, he is to have a similar

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A very extraordinary incident is related in the history of Sweden, written in Swedish, by Dalin. It took place at the representation of a mystery of the Passion, under John II. in 1513.

THE actor who performed the part of Longinus, the soldier who was to pierce the Christ on the cross, in the side, was so far transported by the spirit of his action, that he really killed the man who personated the Christ; who falling suddenly, and with great violence, overthrew the actress who represented the holy mother. King John who was present at this spectacle, was so exceedingly enraged against Longinus, that he

leaped on the stage and struck off his head. The spectators who had been delighted with the too violent actor, became infuriated against their king, fell upon him in a throng and massacred him. This may stand as an example of the power of dramatick representation; but it argues little in favour of the moderation and solemnity inspired by such sacred subjects. They much more certainly gratified curiosity than devotion.

Remain of Druidical Practices.

THE southern part of Devonhirse is remarkable for its cider. In order to ensure a good fruit harvest, the following custom is generally kept up in that quarter. On the eve of the Epiphany, the farmer, attended by his workmen, with a large pitcher of cider goes to the orchard, and then, encir cling one of the best trees, they drink the following toast three several times. Here's to thee, old apple tree; When thou may'st bud, and when thou may'st blow!

This done they return to the house, the doors of which they are sure to find bolted by the females, who, be the weather what it may, are inexorable to all entreaties to open them, till some one among them has guessed what is upon the spit, which is generally some nice little thing difficult to be hit on, and is the reward of him who first names it. doors are then thrown open, and the lucky clodpole receives the tidbit as his recompense. Some are so superstitious as to believe, that if they neglect this custom, the trees will bear no apples that year.

The

And when thou may'st bear apple enow?
Hats full caps full!
Bushel-bushel-sacks full!
And my pockets full too!
Mazza! Hazza! Huzza!

JERUSALEM.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem destroyed by fire.
Jerusalem, 24 Oct. 1808.

IN the night between the 11th and 12th instant, after the Franciscan monks, who reside in the Holy Sepulchre, had retired to rest, they heard an uncommon noise in the church. They immediately hastened to the spot, and, upon their entering it, they discovered the wooden altar, together with the wooden cells of the Armenian ecclesiasticks situated over the columns of the gallery, in flames, without their being able to divine the

cause. From thence the flames descended upon the choir of the Greeks, and from thence to the floor of the church. The fire now assumed a most awful appearance, and threatened the elevated wooden cupola of the Temple with immediate destruction. The Franciscans used their utmost exertions to stop the progress of the flames; but they were too few in number. They also wanted the necessary implements for that purpose; and when they at last succeeded in

alarming the ecclesiasticks of the ad. and images in bas relief that decorated jacent church of St. Salvator, and of the chapel containing the Holy Sepul. acquainting them, as well as the po- chre, situated in the centre of the lice, with what had happened, the church. Shortly after, the massive flames had already reached the cu- columns that supported the gallery pola. As soon as the alarm was fell down, together with the whole of given the whole of the Roman Catho- the walls. Fortunately no lives were lick youth of the city rushed imme- lost ; only a few persons were hurt, diately to their assistance, and exert- or scorched by the fire. It is remarked themselves with the greatest zeal able that the interiour of the above and intrepidity; but it was impossible mentioned chapel containing the to stop the fury of the devouring Holy Sepulchre, and wherein service element; and, between five and six is performed, has not been in the o'clock in the morning, the burning least injured, although the same was cupola, with all the melting and boil. situated immediately under the cuing lead wherewith it was covered, pola, and consequently in the middle fell in, and thereby gave this exten- of the flames. Even after the fire sive building the awful appearance of had been extinguished, it was found á burning smelting house. The ex- that the silk hangings, wherewith it cessive heat which proceeded from is decorated, and the splendid paintthis immense mass of liquid fire, ing, representing the Resurrection, caused not only the marble columns placed upon the altar at the entrance which support the gallery, to burst, of the sepulchre, had not sustained but likewise the marble floor of the the least injury. church, together with the pilasters

ITALY.

DISCOVERY OF ANTIQUITIES. AT the villa of count Moroni, the shell of an egg; an oil bottle ; a near Rome, were lately discovered broken mirror; and a lamp. Upon the tombs of the ancient Roman fa- this lamp was represented Tarquimily of Manlia. They were found nius, son of the seventh and last king to contain two statues, five busts, and of Rome, carrying a dagger in his an urn; all of them in a tolerable hand, at the moment that he was good state of preservation ; and dis- going to violate Lucretia. Baron de tinguished with the name of Manlius. Hasselin, minister from his majesty Two skeletons, which have been dug the king of Bavaria to the Holy See, up at the feet of the abovementioned has purchased those valuable antiquistatues, had still rings on their fin- ties, which are at least 2000 years gers. Next to the skeleton of a wo

old. man, named Agathonia, was found

OBITUARY.

ANNA SEWARD. ANNA SEWARD, a poetess man of taste and learning, and of conof distinguished elegance, born about siderable talents for poetry and polite the year 1745, was daughter of the literature. Anna's infant mind was reverend Thomas Seward, rector of nourished by her father with the Eyam, in the Peak of Derbyshire, a vivid and sublime imagery of Milton,

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and her early education amid the occasion, nor that her partiality, and wild and Alpine scenery of the Peak, probably, also, her political sentienhanced the enthusiasm of feeling ments at that period, led her to exto which she was naturally disposed. press warm indignation against those In her seventh year, her father being who inflicted a disgraceful punishmade a canon-residentiary of Litch- ment upon her hero. We are infield, she removed with the family formed that she afterwards became to that city, which thenceforth be sensible of the injustice she had done came her residence during the whole General Washington by her personal of her life. The fruit of her father's invectives on this melancholy occainstructions appeared in some early sion. These two elegiack pieces proefforts at poetical composition, which, duced the appropriate compliment however, met with discouragement from Dr. Darwin, of telling her that from her mother; and Mr. Seward she was “ the inventress of epic was afterwards induced to withdraw elegy.” The death of lady Miller the countenance he had given to her was lamented by Miss Seward in a literary pursuits; so that several poem to her memory, published in years of her youth elapsed with only 1782, in the style of rich and florid stolen and interrupted attempts to imagery which marks her composicultivate an art of which she had so tions. Her poetical novel of “ Louisa," strongly imbibed the rudiments. As which appeared in 1784, displayed she grew to womanhood, she, of her talent of uniting narrative with course, followed more freely the bent description and sentiment, and proof her genius; she was, however, ved a popular production. As a mere long known only as the private orna- novel its merit is not of the first rate, ment of Litchfield, and the object of and they who read for incident solely, much attachment and admiration in will probably find the vehicle redunher circle of friends. An acquaint- dant in ornament. It, however, conance with lady Miller, of Bathcaston, tains much to admire. In 1787, she induced her to become a contributor addressed an Ode of Congratulation to her poetical Vase. She repeated- to the victorious Elliott, on his return ly obtained the myrtle wreath which from Gibraltar. It is in the epic was its prize, and the publication of strain, and the writer has exerted the crowned pieces first ushered Miss every effort to render it worthy of Seward's muse to the world. In the the patriotick sentiment which inspi. following year, 1780, she published red it. her “ Elegy on Captain Cook,” a In 1790, Miss Seward lost her aged performance of great merit, as well father, whose gradual decline she had from its harmony of versification, as solaced with the tenderest filial assithe beautiful and appropriate image- duity. Her muse had been long silent, ry with which it abounds, and the when in 1796 she published “ Llanforce and delicacy of its sentiments. gollen Vale, with other Poems.” Of The contrast between the different these, in general, the character is simourners on this event, queen Obe- milar to that of her preceding com. rea, and the wife of the great naviga- positions, but it may be possibly tor, is peculiarly striking. The next thought that the authoress was now year produced her “ Monody on Ma. deviating more into that exuberance jor André.” With this lamented of words and excess of ornament young officer she was intimately ac- which is the principal defect of her quainted, in the course of his long poetry. In this miscellany were some attachment to her amiable friend, sonnets; and three years afterwards Miss Honora Sneyd. It is not, there she published a collection of a hun. fore, to be wondered at, that she dred compositions of this species, all writes with peculiar pathos on this of the legitimate form, and many ot

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them beautifully descriptive and sentimental. To these were subjoined "Odes paraphrased from Horace." In the latter she professedly indulged her talent at amplification, in which she sometimes appears elegant and splendid, but in general, one to whom the originals are familar will think their spirit much impaired by dilution. Soon after the death of Dr. Darwin, Miss Seward, who at one time of her life had been intimately acquainted with this distinguished philosopher and poet, published, in 1804, "Memoirs of his Life." This

is a desultory performance, written in a style very deficient in correctness and good taste, but full of entertaining matter, and enriched with some judicious criticism on Dr. Darwin's poetical character, and on other incidental topicks. From her account of the origin of the celebrated" Botanick Garden," it appears, that some admired lines in the exordium of the first part of that poem were of her composition, though unacknowledg ed Indeed, the harmony of her versification, and her powers of brilliant and picturesque description, enable her lines to blend their tints with those of Darwin, without any perceptible change in the tone of colouring. This lady died at Litchfield on the 25th of March, and we understand that she has made Walter Scott, Esq. and Mr. Constable, of Edinburgh, her literary heirs.

HAMPSHIRE.

Died At his house in Winchester, James Pyle, Esq. at a very advanced age. He has left very considerable

property. The landed part of it, we hear, he has bequeathed to his nephew, the Rev. James Pyle Ashe; and a large part of his personal property to distant relations and others. The character of Mr. Pyle has been singular. The property which he inherited from his father was considerable, and during a long life it had been greatly increased by his parsimonious manner of living. In the early part of Mr Pyle's life, he lost a large sum of money by the failure of a person to whom he had confided it. From that time he became sus

picious, and seemed unwilling to intrust his money with any one. Under this feeling, whenever he received his rents, he secreted the money. About a twelve month ago Mr. Pyle was attacked by a paralytick affection, and it being known that he was in the habit of hiding his money, it was judged prudent by his friends to search the house; and in one or two rooms, that were visited only by himself for many years, cash and notes were found to the amount of between 6 or 70001. secreted in every kind of way-some tied up in pieces of paper-some put into the seats of chairs-and indeed every expedient was used at concealment. The money thus found was immediately taken to a banker's, on Mr. Pyle's account; but he never forgave this compelled discovery of his treasure. Mr. Pyle, though parsimonious to the extreme, was indulgent to his tenants, to whom he granted long leases without advancing the rent. His character was that of being penurious in trifles, while he suffered his thousands to lie unheeded and unemployed.

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