picture. The air in the vicinity of his auditory nerve vibrates, and the nerve vibrates in unison, but he hears not the sound, attends not to the impression, nor interprets the meaning it conveys: when he calls into action his locomotive muscles, his movements are rather automatic than voluntary, for being perfectly inattentive to the shifting scene without him, he is as unconscious of change of place as a somnambulist: his reflections and speculations during the day are almost as perfectly disconnected from, and as little influenced by external impressions, as the dreams of night: his fits of profound reverie and absence exhibit all the appearance of trance.'-p. 26.

'Particular modes of thinking, of arranging our ideas, when rooted by habit, cherished with enthusiasm and exerted exclusively, are in their operation and effects, somewhat analogous to our corporeal organs of sense, each of which affords us access to a particular class of sensations and excludes every other. The mere mathematician taking supreme delight in one mode of arranging his ideas, and wholly indifferent and unaccustomed to every other, regards not with indifference merely, but with disgust and scorn, the tasteful but unreal transpositions and combinations of ideas, in which imagination most delights.'-p. 27.

"The intellectual eye of the mere mathematician, inured to contemplate only subjects, that are irradiated by the solar light of intuition, be comes inexcitable and blind to the faint and dubious light of probability, and he thus grows sceptical about the truth of opinions, and even facts, which every body else admits to be probable, or, even certain: or, if, on evidence which he regards as unsatisfactory, he is induced to admit the truth of conclusions, that are not deduced from mathematical principles, his understanding debauched and enervated by excessive devotion to a species of evidence in which there are no degrees, will be apt to overlook the nice and almost infinite shades of probability, and thus become credu lous. The writer of this essay, was well acquainted with a mathematician, who averred with perfect innocence and simplicity, his conscientious belief that all forms of government, were equally expedient, all codes of law equally equitable, and all systems of morality equally defensible.' pp. 31, 32.

The examination of the two following essays, together with some verbal remarks upon the stile of our author, must be postponed to our next number. In the mean time we ought to remark that Mr. Ogilvie does not seem to have staked his reputation on the essay we have just done examining,-but to have laid out his strength and placed his reliance upon that which directly succeeds it, On the Nature, Extent, and Limits of Human Knowledge.

CHRONICLE.

The following official letters complete our series of naval documents relative to the late war.-We take this occasion to advertise our readers that, as the affairs of the navy can occupy but very little space during the inaction of peace, we shall not find sufficient materials for a regular continuance of the Chronicle. Articles under that head, however, will appear as often as occasion shall require:-and we are induced to believe that such an arrangement will be satisfactory to the greater part of our

readers.

Copy of a letter from Captain Warrington to the Secretary of the

Navy.

United States' Sloop Peacock, at sea, lat. 27° 47′, long. 800 9', 29th April, 1814.

SIR, I HAVE the honour to inform you that we have this morning captured, after an action of forty-two minutes, his majesty's brig Epervier, rating and mounting 18 thirty-two-pound carronades, with 128 men, of whom eight were killed, and 15 wounded (according to the best information we could obtain). Among the latter is her first lieutenant, who has lost an arm, and received a severe splinter-wound on the hip. Not a man in the Peacock was killed, and only two wounded; neither dangerously so. The fate of the Epervier would have been determined in much less time, but for the circumstance of our foreyard being totally disabled, by two round shot in the starboard quarter, from her first broadside, which entirely deprived us of the use of our fore and fore-topsails, and compelled us to keep the ship large throughout the remainder of the action.

This, with a few topmast and top-gallant backstays cut away, a few shot through our sails, is the only injury the Peacock has sustained. Not a roundshot touched our hull; our masts and spars are as sound as ever. When the enemy struck, he had five feet water in his hold, his main-topmast was over the side, his mainboom shot away, his foremast cut nearly in two and tottering, his forerigging and stays shot away, his bowsprit

badly wounded, and forty-five shot-holes in his hull, twenty of which were within a foot of his water line. By great exertion we got her in sailing order, just as dark came on.

In fifteen minutes after the enemy struck, the Peacock was ready for another action, in every respect but her fore-yard, which was sent down, fished, and had the fore-sail set again in forty-five minutes: such was the spirit and activity of our gallant crew. The Epervier had under her convoy an English hermaphrodite brig, a Russian and a Spanish ship, which all hauled their wind, and stood to the east north-east. I had determined upon pursuing the former, but found that it would not answer to leave our prize in her then crippled state, and the more particularly so, as we found she had in specie 120,000 dollars, which we soon transferred to this sloop.

Every officer, seamen, and marine did his duty, which is the highest compliment I can pay them. I am, respectfully,

L. WARRINGTON.

P. S. From lieutenant Nicholson's report, who was counting up the Epervier's crew, there were eleven killed and fifteen wounded.

L. W.

CAPTURE OF THE REINDEER.

Copy of a letter from Captain Johnson Blakeley to the Secretary of the Navy, dated United States Sloop of War, Wasp, L'Orient, 8th July, 1814.

SIR,

On Tuesday the 28th ultimo, being then in latitude 48° 36′ north, and longitude 11° 15' west, we fell in with, engaged, and, after an action of nineteen minutes, captured his Britannic majesty's sloop of war the Reindeer, William Manners, esq. commander. Annexed are the minutes of our proceedings on that day, prior to and during the continuance of the action.

Where all did their duty, and each appeared anxious to excel, it is very difficult to discriminate. It is, however, only rendering them their merit due, when it is declared of lieutenants Reily and Bury, first and third of this vessel, and whose names will be found among those of the conquerors of the Guerriere and Java, and of Mr. Tillinghast, second lieutenant, who was greatly instrumental in the capture of the Boxer, that their conduct and courage on this occasion fulfilled the highest expectation, and gratified every wish. Sailing-master Carr is also entitled to great credit for the zeal and ability with which he discharged his various duties.

The cool and patient conduct of every officer and man, while exposed to the fire of the shifting gun of the enemy, and without an opportunity of returning it, could only be equalled by the animation and ardour exhibited when actually engaged, or by the promptitude and firmness with which every attempt of the enemy to board was met, and successfully repelled. Such conduct may be seen, but cannot well be described.

The Feindeer mounted 16 twenty-four-pound carronades, two long six or nine-pounders, and a shifting twelve-pound carronade, with a complement of on board 118 men. Her crew were said to be the pride of Ply

mouth.

Our loss in men has been severe, owing in part to the proximity of the two vessels, and the extreme smoothness of the sea, but chiefly in repelling boarders. That of the enemy, however, was infinitely more so, as will be seen by the list of killed and wounded on both sides.

Six round shot struck our hull, and many grape, which did not pene trate far. The foremast received a twenty-four-pound shot, which passed through its centre, and our rigging and sails were a good deal injured.

The Reindeer was literally cut to pieces in a line with her ports: her upper works, boats and spare spars were one complete wreck. A breeze springing up next afternoon, her foremast went by the board.

Having received all the prisoners on board, which, from the number of wounded, occupied much time, together with their baggage, the Reindeer was on the evening of the 29th set on fire, and in a few hours blew up. I have the honour to be,

Very respectfully,

Your most obedient servant,

Hon. Wm. Jones, Secretary of the Navy.

J. BLAKELEY.

Minutes of the action between the United States Sloop Wasp and his Britannic majesty's Sloop Reindeer, on the 28th June, 1814, lat. 48° 36′ N. long. 11° 15′ W.

AT 4, A. M. light breezes and cloudy; at a quarter after 4 discovered two sails, two points before the lee beam, kept away in chase; shortly after discovered one sail, on the weather beam; altered the course and hauled by in chase of the sail to windward. At 8, sail to windward bore E. N. E., wind very light; at 10 the stranger sail, bearing E. by N., hoisted an English ensign and pendant, and displayed a signal at the main (blue and yellow diagonally). Meridian, light airs and clouds; at half past 12, P. M., the enemy showed a blue and white flag, diagonally, at the fore, and fired a gun; 1 hour 15 minutes, called all hands to quarters, and prepared for action; 1 hour 22 minutes, believing we could weather the enemy, tacked ship and stood for him; 1 hour 50 minutes, the enemy tacked ship and stood from us; 1 hour 56 minutes, hoisted our colours and fired a gun to windward, which was answered by the enemy with another to windward; 2 hours 20 minutes, the enemy still standing from us, set the royals; 2 hours 25 minutes, set the flying-jib; 2 hours 29 minutes, set the upper staysails; 2 hours 32 minutes, the enemy having tacked for us, took in the staysails; 2 hours 47 minutes, furled the royals; 2 hours 51 minutes, seeing that the enemy would be able to weather us, tacked ship; 3 hours 3 minutes, the enemy hoisted his flying-jib; brailed up our mizen; 3 hours 15 minutes, the enemy on our weather quarter, distant about 60 yards, fired his shifting gun, a twelve-pound carronade, at us, loaded with round and grape-shot, from his top-gallant forecastle; 3 hours 17 minutes, fired the same gun a second time; 3 hours 19 minutes, fired it a third time; 3 hours 21 minutes, fired it a fourth time; 3 hours 24 minutes, a fifth shot, all from the same gun. Finding the enemy did not get sufficiently on the beam to enable us to bring our guns to bear, put the helm a-lee, and at 26 minutes after 3 commenced the action, with the after-carronade on the starboard side, and fired in succession; 3 hours 34 minutes, hauled up the mainsail; 3 hours 40 minutes, the enemy, having his larboard bow in contact with our larboard quarter endeavoured to board us; but was repulsed in every attempt; at 3 hours 44 minutes, orders were given to board in turn, which were promptly executed, when all resistance immediately ceased, and at 3 hours 45 minutes the enemy hauled down his flag. J. BLAKELEY.

Killed,
Wounded,

List of Killed and Wounded on board the Wasp.

Killed and Wounded on board the Reindeer.

Killed,

Wounded dangerously,

Do. severely,

Do. slightly,

Whole number wounded,

Whole number killed and wounded,

N. B. More than half the wounded were, in consequence of the severity and extent of their wounds, put on board a Portuguese brig, called the Lisbon Packet, on the third day after the action, to wit, on the 1st July, bound to Plymouth, England.

CAPTURE OF THE LEVANT AND CYANE.

Copy of a letter from Captain Stewart to the Secretary of the Navy, dated United States' Frigate Constitution, May 1815. SIR,

ON the 20th of February last, the island of Madeira bearing about W. S. W., distant 60 leagues, we fell in with his Britannic majesty's two ships of war, the Cyane and Levant, and brought them to action about six o'clock in the evening, both of which, after a spirited engagement of 40 minutes, surrendered to the ship under my command.

Considering the advantages derived by the enemy, from a divided and more active force, as also their superiority in the weight and number of guns, I deem the speedy and decisive result of this action the strongest assurance which can be given to the government, that all under my command did their duty, and gallantly supported the reputation of American

seamen.

Inclosed you will receive the minutes of the action, and a list of the killed and wounded on board this ship: also inclosed you will receive, for your information, a statement of the actual force of the enemy, and the number of killed and wounded on board their ships, as near as could be ascertained.

I have the honour to remain,
Very respectfully, sir,

Your most obedient servant,

CHARLES STEWART.

Honourable B. W. Crowninshield,

Secretary of the Navy, Washington.

List of Killed and wounded on board the United States' frigate Constitu tion, of forty-four guns (mounting thirty-two twenty-four pounders, and twenty thirty-two pound carronades), on the 20th February, 1815, in ac tion with his Britannic majesty's ships Cyane and Levant.

Killed-3. Wounded-12. Total-15.