composition; and having hitherto resisted every offensive means employed against it, is likely to continue its progress, till it has completely deprived the inhabitants of this wholesome and delicious fruit.'

The heights of the island appear to have been the first places which were clothed with the native shrubs and plants; and these still grow on elevated situations, blended with exotics, which thrive equally well; so that it is difficult to say, whether the native island shrubs, or the furze, myrtle, Scotch fir, the mimosæ of New Holland, or the heath and broom of Africa, prosper best. best. On these spots, the beauty of which is probably heightened by the contrast of surrounding barrenness, we have an opportunity of observing what the unassisted efforts of the climate, and of a highly productive soil, are capable of effecting,'

Though attempts to cover the naked volcanic hills on the shore have not been sufficiently multiplied, there can be little doubt of their ultimate success. Some time ago, several of the inhabitants had formed themselves into a society for carrying on extensive plans of improvement; and they were powerfully assisted by Dr. James Anderson, a gentleman well known in India for his ardent and active benevolence, and for his scientific pursuits. The want of adequate funds, and other difficulties, unfortunately abated their efforts; yet the result of their first experiments was very encouraging to every well devised scheme of amelioration. The author judiciously recommends to plant the valleys with those sorts of Palm trees which endure extraordinary droughts, and which would prove a certain resource in the event of an unpropitious season, or of the non-arrival of expected supplies. Along with the palms, he would introduce such trees as yield the most wholesome and nutritious fruits, particularly the Jack and Mahwah. He supposes that the want of shelter, firewood, and useful timber, might be supplied by the jungle shrubs of India, especially the Mimosa, and by several forest trees, particularly the Teak, the Poon, and the Banyan. He next suggests the propriety of an artificial command of water, by means of tanks and reservoirs, in order to forward the first plantations, and to counteract the effects of long continued droughts.

When we consider how much this island might be improved and decorated by the addition of wood, it is difficult not to anticipate the striking and beautiful effects that would arise from it. There is here every variety and wildness of surface, which can result from the most fantastic configuration of rocks and hills; and this rude and natural scenery wants only the shade and embellishment of wood, to make the whole one of the most delightful and romantic spots in the world; and which, instead of disgusting the eye with a prospect so dismal

and

and dreary under a benign and genial sky, would discover, in the remote solitude of the ocean, an object the most grateful and refreshing to those that approached it.'

The inhabitants of St. Helena are supposed to amount to about two thousand, of whom five hundred are soldiers, and six hundred blacks. The females born in the island are said to exceed the males in number. Though most of the families live in a state of comparative retirement, and in a situation. apparently favourable to peace and happiness, few individuals. seem to be satisfied with their condition; and even the natives express a strong desire of going home.' Petty jealousies and intestine divisions, which are generally suspended during the shipping season, are sometimes revived when the island is free from bustle:

The arrival of the homeward-bound Indiamen is the greatest event of the year. It fills the whole settlement with alacrity and joy. They quit their gardens, flock to James town, open their houses for the accommodation of the passengers, and entertain them with plays, dances, and concerts. These gay assemblies are enlivened by the presence of many agreeable and handsome young women,, natives of the place, who, amid the general festivity, seem to feel a peculiar interest in what is going forward; probably, not without some throbbing expectations of being taken from a scene, where they are weary with constantly contemplating the same objects. The appearance of so much loveliness and beauty, cast away in a lonesome situation like this, has sometimes raised stronger emotions than those of mere sympathy, in the bosoms of their guests; and the native women of St. Helena have adorned domestic life, and graced the politest circles in England and India. To such fortunate and pleasing occurrences, it what contribute, that many of the strangers, having escaped with impaired constitutions from the oppression and sultriness of an Indian atmosphere, experience a sudden renovation of health and spirits, under this mild and salubrious climate. Into minds thus exhilarated, from the effect of returning health, love easily finds an entrance.

may some

But whether the expectations of the ladies are often favoured in this way, or not, the pleasure and benefit derived by convalescents from the climate tend greatly to enhance the enjoyment of their short stay here and as the people with whom they live, are of a courteous and obliging disposition, and readily take the trouble of shewing whatever is worth seeing in the island, it may easily be supposed, that strangers will pass their time very agreeably. We love so much better to be pleased than to be instructed, that the qualities which inspire good humour and complacency, easily compensate the want of information and intelligence. The conversation of the natives is that of a plain unaffected people, chiefly conversant about their own concerns. A life of seclusion, passed upon a spot where one only sees the sky and the ocean, is not likely to make men philosophers or citizens of the world. Where the mind is limited in its views to the scenery and occupations of a petty isle, some of its conceptions will naturally betray

the contined circumstances in which they arise. An observation made by a St. Helena lady," that the arrival of the Indiamen in England must, she supposed, make London very gay," however it may excite a smile in this country, was perfectly natural, in the situation in which it was made.'

The small farms and gardens yield some excellent fruits, pot-herbs, and farinaceous roots: but the island is in a great measure destitute of bread-corn, and is little adapted to the culture of grain. Besides, rats, catterpillars, and the peach insect have multiplied amazingly, to the great annoyance of the gardener and the agriculturist.

It is curious,' observes the author, that some creatures, when brought into a climate that is new to them, should thus spread and increase to a degree beyond what they did in the countries from which they were imported. A very remarkable instance of this lately occurred in India, on the coast of Coromandel, where in the year 1796. a species of the cochineal insect, called the Sylvester, was introduced from the Brasils. It was considered as a great acquisition, and much care was taken of it at first. It would feed on nothing but the common native Opuntia, which is generally used for hedges all over the country. In a short time, the insect destroyed all the Opuntias in the Carnatic; and so complete was the havock which this voracious creature made, that the remaining stumps of the hedges on which it had settled, looked as if they had been consumed by fire. Nor was this all; for when our army was in Mysore, in the year 1799, the natives mentioned what appeared to them very astonishing and unaccountable, that all their Opuntias had, about the same period been entirely consumed. In this manner, a small insect, introduced from the Brasils for the laudable purpose of establishing a cochineal manufacture, wasted and destroyed, in the short period of three years, almost all the Opuntias of the southern peninsula of India.'

Seventy different species of eatable fish, including turtle, are caught on the coast. Yams, potatoes, apples, beef, kid, mutton, and poultry, are good and abundant.

The labour of the fields, fishing, and the menial duties of domestic economy, are assigned to a mixed race of blacks, whose slavery has very lately been entirely abolished. The release of 600 blacks from a state of thraldom can subtract but little from the guilt of Europe, or the wrongs of Africa: yet it is consolatory to record even a single act of justice and mercy to an inconsiderable portion of this unhappy race, whom the enormous wickedness of Europeans has dragged from their homes, and condemned to slavery, not for any wrong they ever did us, or for any good we ever mean to do them; but because our power has unhappily enabled us to make their weakness and sufferings subservient to our avarice.'

The

The political consequence of St. Helena to Great Britain, and its advantages and disadvantages as a shipping station, when compared with the Cape of Good Hope, are succinctly and fairly stated towards the conclusion of the work.-The whole is embellished by two views, the first representing the town and harbour, and the other shewing the island as it appears at the distance of six leagues. The writer's style is distinct and nervous, and sometimes approaches to elegance: but, in general, it wants compression and polish. His reflections are considerate, and his sentiments dignified and humane. We therefore recommend his publication, without reserve, to all those persons who may wish for accurate and authentic information relative to the little settlement of which it treats.

MONTHLY CATALOGUE, For NOVEMBER, 1805.

MILITARY and NAVAL AFFAIRS.

Art. 17. Reports of the Commissioners of Naval Inquiry, for the Year 1804 With Notes, and a copious Appendix, containing Selections from the most important Documents on which the Reports are founded. By John Irving Maxwell, of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple. 8vo. pp. 700. 15s. Boards. Symonds. 1805.

THIS Volume contains the whole of the Fleven Reports of the Naval

Commissioners, respecting, 1. the Naval Storekeepers at Jamaica; 2. the Chest of Chatham; 3. the Block Contract, and the Coopers' Contract; 4. Prize Agency; 5. the Six-penny office; 6. Plymouth and Woolwich Yards; 7. the Naval Hospital at East Stonehouse, and Le Caton Hospital Ship; 8. the Victualling Department at Plymouth, and the Embezzlement of the King's Casks; 9. the Receipt and Issue of Stores at Plymouth Yard; 10. the Office of Treasurer of the Navy; 11. the Issue of Navy Bills for the Purpose of raising Money.-The editor has not attempted to insert the whole of the evidence collected by the Commissioners, because it occupies, with the Reports, between two and three thousand folio pages! but he has endeavoured to select the most important documents, with perfect impartiality. He has not added the Reports of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on the 10th and 11th Reports, because they did not come within his express object, would have increased the bulk of his volume, and the insertion of them might have savoured of party motives, they being the bases of the articles of impeachment against a noble Lord.

Art. 18. The Vindication of N. Jekyll, Esq. late Captain of the 43d Regiment; with a Copy of the Proceedings of the General Court Martial held on Col. Stewart of the same Regiment; together with the several Memorials and Letters addressed to H. R. H.

the

the Commander in Chief, the Right Hon. the Secretary at War, and the Judge Advocate-General, with their Answers, &c. &c. 8vo. pp. 260. 38. Ed. Lloyd. 1805.

Capt. Jekyll having conceived himself aggrieved by the behaviour of Col. Stewart, commanding officer of the regiment to which he belonged, forwarded charges against him, in consequence of which a court martial was appointed. By the decision of this court, of which Major-General Moore was president, the Colonel was "most fully and most honourably acquitted;" the charges were denominated "malicious and groundless;" and the conduct of Capt. Jekyll was censured as 66 highly injurious to the good of the service." In conformity with this judgment, it was shortly afterward notified, that His Majesty had no farther occasion for the services of Capt. Jekyll; who thus lost not only his situation in the army, but the sum of money which he had given for his company. He therefore made reiterated applications to the Commander in Chief, endeavouring to obtain a revision of the sentence, by urging circumstances of extenuation; or, at least, praying to be permitted to dispose of his commission. All these efforts have proved fruitless, and he now appeals to the public. As to us, our court is not a court martial; and we shall not offer any opinion on the subject.

Art. 19. Trial of Lieutenant-General Harrie Innes, of the Royal Marines, at, a General Court Martial, held at the Royal Hospital at Chelsea, June 5 and 8, 1852, &c. 8vo. 19. Dedman.

Gen. Innes was accused of making false returns and certificates relative to a serjeant who had deserted, and of discharging another serjeant, without authority from the admiralty. Of the first charge, the General was fully and honourably acquitted; and, with regard to the second, the court was of opinion, that the circumstances of the case justified the infringement of the rules and articles for the government of the marine forces, and therefore honourably acquitted him of that charge also.

BIOGRAPHY.

Art. 20. Sketches of the Lives and Characters of eminent English Civilians, with an Historical Introduction relative to the College of Advocates, and an Enumeration of the whole Series of Academic Graduates admitted into that Society, from the Beginning of the Reign of Henry VIII. to the Close of the Year 1803. By one of the Members of the College. 8vo. pp. 140. 4s. sewed. Kearsley. 1804.

We have here a convenient manual for persons, to whom interest or curiosity imparts a desire of becoming acquainted with the leading particulars of the lives of those who have been, or who at present are, members of this very respectable and learned society.

For a long course of years, the English civilians did not form a body, but were mingled with the mass of the citizens; and it was not till about the commencement of the reign of Henry VIII. on the proposal of Dr. Richard Bodewell, Dean of the Arches, that they agreed to dwell in contiguous houses, and to enjoy a community of board. In 1568, Dr. Henry Hervie, Dean of the Arches, procured

from