to pull down Pompey's pillar. But whether he gave them credit for their refpect to the Roman warrior, or to the Turkish government, he left them to themselves; and politely answered, that the English were too great patriots to injure the remains of Pompey. He knew little, however, of the difpofition of the people who were engaged in this undertaking. Had the Turkish empire role in oppofition, it would not perhaps at that moment have deterred them. The kite was brought, and fown fo directly over the pillar, that when it fell on the other fide, the ftring lodged upon the capital. The chief obftacle was now overcome. A twoinch rope was tied to one end of the ftring, and drawn over the pillar by the end to which the kite was affixed. By this rope one of the feamen afcended to the top and in lefs than an hour, a kind of shroud was conftructed, by which the whole company went up, and drank their punch amid the thouts of the altonifhed multitude. To the eye below, the capital of the pillar does not appear capable of hold ing more than one man upon it; but our feamen found it could contain no lefs than eight perfons very conveniently. It is aftonishing that no accident befel thefe madcaps, in a fituation fo elevated, that would have turned a landman giddy in his fober fenfes. The only detriment which the pillar received was the lofs of the volute before-mentioned; which came down with a thundering found, and was carried to England by one of the captains, as a prefent to a lady who commiffioned him for a piece of the pillar. The difcovery which they made amply compenfated for this mifchief; as without their evidence, the world would not have known at this hour, that there was originally a ftatue on this pillar, one foot and ancle of which are still remaining. The statue must have been of a gigantic fize, to have appeared of a man's proportion at fo great an height. There are circumstances in this ftory which might give it an air of fiction, were it not demonftrated beyond all doubt. Besides the testimonies of many eye-witnelles, the adventurers themfelves have left us a token of the fact, by the initials of their names, which are very legible in black paint just beneath the capital. REMARKABLE ACCOUNT OF THE LAND CRAB." [Extracted from Dr. Sibly's Wonders of Nature.] THE land-crab inhabits the Baha between the tropics, and feeds upon vegetables. Thefe creatures live not only in a kind of orderly fociety in their retreats in the mountains, but regularly once a year, march down to the fea-fide in a body of fome millions at a time. As they multiply in great numbers, they choose the month of April or May to begin their expedition; and then fally out by thoufands from the flumps of hollow trees, from the clefts of rocks, and from the holes which they dig for themselves under the furface of the earth. At that time the whole ground is covered with this band ofadventurers; there is no fetting down one's foot without treading upon them. The fea is their place of deftination, and to that they direct their march with right-lined precifion. No geometrician could fend them to their deftin ed flation by a fhorter courfe; they neither turn to the right nor to the left, whatever obftacles intervene ; and even tempt to fcale the walls to keep the unbroken tenor of their way. But tho' this be the general order of their route, they, upon other occafions, are obliged to conform to the face of the country; and, if it is interfected with rivers, they are then feen to wind along the course of the stream. The proceffion fets forward from the mountains with the regularity of an army under the guidance of an experienced commander. They are commonly divided into three battalions; of which the first confifts of the ftrongest and boldest males, that, like pioneers, march forward to clear the route and face the greatest dangers. Thefe are often obliged to halt for want of rain, and to go into the most convenient encampment till the weather changes. The main body of the army is compofed of females, which never leave the mountains till the rain is fet. in for fome time, and then descend in regular regular battalia, being formed into columns of fifty paces broad, and three miles deep, and fo close that they almoft cover the ground. Three or four days after this, the rear-guard follows, a traggling undifciplined tribe, confifting of males and females, but neither fo robuft nor fo vigorous as the former. The night is their chief time of proceeding; but if it rains by day, they do not fail to profit by the occafion; and they continue to move forward in their flow uniform manner. When the fun fhines and is hot upon. the furface of the ground, they then make an univerfal halt, and wait till the cool of the evening. When they are terrified, they march back in a con. fufed diforderly manner, holding up their nippers, with which they fome times tear off a piece of the skin, and then leave the weapon where they in flicted the wound. They even try to intimidate their enemies; for they of ten clatter their nippers together, as if it were to threaten those that come to difturb them. But though they thus ftrive to be formidable to man, they are much more fo to each other; for they are poffeffed of one moft unfocial property, which is, that if any of them by accident is maimed in fuch a manner as to be incapable of proceeding, the reft fall upon and devour it on the fpot, and then purfue their journey.When, after a fatiguing march, and efcaping a thousand dangers, (for they are fometimes three months in getting to the thore,) they have arrived at their deftined port, they prepare to caft their fpawn. The peas are as yet within their bodies, and not excluded, as is ufual in animals of this kind, under the tail; for the creature waits for the benefit of fea-water to help the delivery. For this purpose the crab has no fooner reached the fhore, than it eagerly goes to the edge of the water, and lets the waves wash over its body two or three times. This feems only a preparation for bringing their spawn to maturity; for, without further delay, they with draw to feek a lodging upon land; in the mean time the fpawn grows larger, is excluded out of the body, and sticks to the barbs under the flap, or more properly the tail. This bunch is feen as big as a hen's egg, and exactly refembling the roes of herrings. In this ftage of pregnancy they once more feek the fhore for the last time; and shaking off their fpawn into the water, leave accident to bring it to maturity. At this time whole thoals of hungry fish are at the fhore in expectation of this annual fupply; the fea to a great diftance feems black with them; and about two thirds of the crabs eggs are immediately devoured by these rapaci ous invaders. The eggs that efcape are hatched under the fand; and, foon after, millions at a time of the little crabs are feen quitting the fhore, and flowly travelling up to the mountains. The old ones, however, are not fo ac tive to return; they have become fo feeble and lean, that they can hardly creep along, and the flesh at that time changes its colour. The most of them, therefore, are obliged to continue in the flat parts of the country till they recover, making holes in the earth, which they cover at the mouth with leaves and dirt, fo that no air may en ter. There they throw off their old fhells, which they leave, as it were, quite whole; the place where they opened on the belly being unseen. At that time they are quite naked, and almoft without motion for fix days together, when they become fo fat as to be delicious food. They have then under their ftomachs four large white ftones, which gradually decrease in proportion as the thell hardens, and, when they come to perfection, are not to be found. It is at that time that the animal is feen flowly making its way back; and all this is moft commonly performed in the fpace of fix weeks, This animal, when poffeffed of its retreats in the mountains, is impregnable; for, only fubfifting on vegetables, it feldom ventures out; and its habitation being in the moft inacceffible places, it remains for a great part of the feafon in perfect fecurity. It is only when impelled by the defire of bringing forth its young, and when compelled to defcend into the flat country, that it is taken. At that time the natives wait for its defcent in eager expectation, and deftroy thousands; but, difregarding their bodies, they only feek for that fmall fpawn which lies on each side of the ftomach within the thell, of about the thickness of a man's thumb. They are much more valuable upon their return WHEN return after they have caft their fhell; their getting out; and then foon after, left no arts untried to get into a fami liarity at her houfe; but the knew his character and difpofition too well not to fhun all occafions that might enfnare her into his converfation. The governor, defpairing of fuccefs by ordinary means, apprehended and imprisoned her husband, under pretence of an information that he was guilty of a correfpondence with the enemies of the duke to betray the town into their poffeffion. This defign had its defired effect; and the wife of the unfortunate Danvelt, the day before that which was appointed for his execution, prefented herself in the hall of the governor's house, and, as he paffed through the apartment, threw herself at his feet, and holding his knees, befeeched his mercy. Rynfault beheld her with a diffembled fatisfaction; and, affuming an air of thought and authority, he bid her rife, and told her the muft follow him to his chofet; and afking her whether fhe knew the hand of the letter he pulled out of his pocket? went from her, leaving this admonition aloud: "If you would fave your hufband, you must give me an account of all you know, without prevarication; for every body is fatisfied that he is too fond of you to be able to hide from you the names of the rest of the confpirators, or any other particulars what foever." He went to his closet, and foon after the lady was fent for to án audience. The fervant knew his distance when matters of state were to be debated; and the governor, laying afide the air with which he had appear ed in public, began to be the fupplicant, and to rally an affliction which it was in her power easily to remove. She easily perceived his intention; and, bathed in tears, began to deprecate fo. wicked a defign. Luft, like ambition, takes all the faculties of the mind and body into its fervice and fubjection. Her becoming tears, her honeft anguifh, the wringing of her hands, and the many changes of her posture and figure in the vehemence of fpeaking, were but fo many attitudes in which he beheld her beauty, and farther incentives of his defire. All humanity was loft in that one appetite; and he fignified to her in fo many plain terms, that he was unhappy till he poffeffed her, and nothing elfe fhould be the price of her husband's life; and the muft, before the following noon, pronounce the death or enlargement of Danvelt. After this notification, when he faw Sapphira enough distracted to make the subject of their difcourfe to common eyes appear different from what it was, he called his fervants to conduct her to the gate. Loaded with infupportable affliction, the immediately repairs to her husband, and having fignified to the gaolers that the had a propofal to make to her husband from the governor, the was left alone with him, revealed to him all that had paffed, and reprefented the endless conflict he was in between love to his perfon and fidelity to his bed. It is eafy to imagine the fharp affliction this honeft pair was in upon fuch an incident, in lives not used to any but common Occurrences. The man was bridled by fhame from fpeaking what his fear prompted upon fo near an approach of death; but let fall words that fignified to her, he should not think her polluted, though the had confeffed to him that the governor had violated her perfon, fince he knew her will had no part in the action. She parted from him with this oblique permiffion, to fave a life he had not refolution enough to refign for the safety of his honour. The next morning the unhappy Sapphira attended the governor, and, being led into a remote apartment, fub * mitted to his defires. Rynfault.commended her charms; claimed a fauriliarity after what had paffed between them; and with an air of gaiety, in the language of a gallant, bid her return and take her husband out of prifon: but, continued he, my fair one must not he offended that I have taken care he shall not be an interruption to our future affignations. Thefe laft words foreboded what the found when fhe came to the gaol, her husband executed by order of Rynfault. It was remarkable, that the woman, who was full of tears and lamentations during the whole courfe of her affliction, uttered neither figh nor complaint, but ftood fixed with grief at this confummation of her misfortunes. She betook herself to her abode; and, after having in folitude paid her devo tions to Him who is the avenger of injured innocence, the repaired privately to court. Her perfon, and a certain grandeur of forrow negligent of forms, gained her paffage into the presence of the duke her fovereign. As foon as the came into the prefence, she broke forth into the following words: “Behold, O mighty Charles, a wretch weary of life, though it has always been spent in innocence and virtue. It is not in your power to redrefs my injuries, but it is to avenge them; and if the protection of the diftreffed, and the punishment of oppreffors, is a task worthy of a prince, I bring the duke of Burgundy ample matter for doing honour to his own great name, and of wiping infamy off mine." When the had spoken this, the delivered to the duke a paper reciting her ftory. He read it with all the emotion that indignation and pity could raife in a prince jealous of his honour in the behaviour. of his officers and the profperity of his fubjects. Upon an appointed day Rynfault was fent for to court, and, in the prefence of a few of the council, confronted by Sapphira. The prince asking, "Do you know that lady?" Rynfault, as foon as he could recover his furprife, told the duke he would marry her, if his highness would pleafe to think that a reparation. The duke feemed contented with this anfwer, and stood by during the immediate folemnization of the ceremony. At the conclufion conclufion of it, he told Rynfault, "Thus far have you done as conftrained by my authority; and I fhall not be fatisfied of your kind ufage of her, without you fign a gift of your whole eftate to her after your deceafe." To the performance of this alfo the duke SHORT SKETCH THE inhabitants, in general, of this kingdom, are very far from what they have too often and unjustly been reprefented by thofe of our country who never faw them, a nation of wild Irish. Miferable and oppreffed, as by far too many of them are, an Englishman will find as much civility in general, as amongst the fame clafs in his own country; and, for a small pecuniary confideration, they will exert themselves to pleafe you as much as any people, perhaps, in the king's dominions. Poverty and oppreffion will naturally make mankind four, rude, and unfociable, and eradicate, or at leaft fupprefs, all the more amiable principles and paffions of humanity. But it fhould feem unfair and ungenerous to judge of, or decide against, the natural difpofition of a man reduced by indigence and oppreffion almoft to defperation. Let commerce, agriculture, and arts, but call forth the dormant activity of their genius, and roufe the native fpirit of enterprize, which rather lies torpid within them; let liberal laws unfetter their minds, and plenty cheer their tables; they will foon fhow themselves deferving to rank with the moft refpectable focieties in Europe. The bogs wherewith Ireland is in fome places overgrown, are not injurious to health, as is commonly imagined; the watery exhalations from thefe are neither fo abundant, nor fo noxious, as thofe from marfhes, which become prejudicial from the various animal and vegetable fubftances which are left to putrify as foon as the waters are exhaled by the fun. Bogs are not, as one might fuppofe from their blacknefs, maffes of putrefaction; but, on the contrary, they are of fuch a texture, as to relift putrefaction above any other fubftance we know of. A fhoe, all of one piece of leather, very neatly ftitched, was taken out of a bog fonte years ago, yet entirely fresh; from the was a witnefs. When these two acts were executed, the duke turning to the lady, told her, "It now remains for me to put you in quiet poffeffion of what your husband has fo bountifully bestowed on you;" and ordered the immediate execution of Rynfault. OF IRELAND. very fashion of which, there is scarce room to doubt that it had lain there fome centuries. Butter, called roufkin, hath been found in hollowed trunks of trees, where it had been hid fo long, that it was become hard and almost friable, yet not void of unctuosity; that the length of time it had been buried was very great, we learn from the depth of the bog, which was ten feet, that had grown over it. But the common phenomenon of timber-trees dug out of these bogs, not only found, but alfo fo embalmed as afterwards to defy the injuries of time, demonstrates the antifeptic quality of them. The horns of the moofe-deer must have lain many centuries in a bog; for the Irifh hiftories do not recognize the exiftence of the animal whereon they grew. Indeed, human bodies have, in many places, been dug up entire, which muft have lain there for ages. The growth of bogs, however, is variable in different places, from the variety of conditions in the fituation, foil, humidity, and quantity of vegetable food; in fome places it is very rapid, in others very flow; and therefore their altitudes cannot afford any certain measure of time. In the manufacturing counties of the north, peat-fuel has become fo fcarce, that turburies let from five to eight guineas an acre. In fome places they are fo eradicated, there does not remain a trace of them, the ground being now converted into rich meadows and fweet paftures. If we truff to authorities, we must conclude that Ireland was not originally inferior to England, either in the fertility of the foil, or falubrity of the climate. When this country fhall have felt the happy effects of the late conceffions and indulgencies of the British parliament, by repealing feveral acts which reftrained the trade of the kingdom with foreign ports, and allowing the |