NATURAL HISTORY of the DODO, from Dr. Goldsmith and other eminent Writers. Mwiftnels the attribute of birds; ANKIND have generally made but the Dodo has no title to this diftinction. Inftead of exciting the idea of fwiftnefs by its appearance, it feems to Arike the imagination as the most unwieldy and inactive animal in all na ture. Its body is maffive, almoft round, and covered with grey feathers; it is just barely fupported upon two fhort thick legs like pillars, while its head and neck rife from it in a manner truly grotefque. The neck is thick and purfy; the head confifts of two great chaps, that open far behind the eyes, which are large, black, and prominent; fo that the animal when it gapes feems to be all mouth. The bill is of an extraordinary length, not flat and broad, but thick, and of a bluish white, fharp at the end, and each chap crooked in oppofite directions. They resemble two pointed fpoons that are laid together by the backs. From all this refults a ftupid and voracious phyfiognomy; which is till more increafed by a bordering of feathers round the root of the beak, and which give the appearance of an hood or cowl, and finish a picture of ftupid deformity Bulk, which in other animals implies ftrength, in this only contributes to inactivity. The oltrich, or caffowary, are no more able to fly than the animal before us; but then they fupply that defect by their speed in rumming. The Dodo feems weighed down by its own heaviness, and has fearce ftrength to urge itfelf forward. It feems among Birds what the floth is among quadru pedes, an unrefifting thing, equally incapable of flight or defence. It is furnifhed with wings covered with soft afh coloured feathers, but they are too short A remarkable Infiance ASHORT time fince, the brig Li, berty, from London to Dublin, was captured by the Black Prince, whom fhe kept under her lee till night, when a gale of wind coming on, they were fearated, but were again taken the next day by a 40 gan French frigate, who took out the Captain and all the men, excepting three boys, the eldest of whom was but 18 years of age, whom they left on board, together with 12 French failors, and fent her for Breft, from which port they were about 40 hours fail.-There being a quantity of porter on board, nine out of the twelve went to affift it in flying. It is furnished with a tail, with a few fmall curled feathers; but this tail is difproportioned and difplaced. Its legs are too fhort for running, and its body too fat to be strong. One would take it for a tortoife that had fupplied itself with the feathers of a bird; and that, thus dreffed out with the inftruments of flight, it was only ftill the more unwieldy. This bird is a native of the Isle of France; and the Dutch, who firft difcovered it there, called it in their lan guage the nauseous bird, as well from its difgufting figure, as from the bad tafte of its fleth However, fucceeding obfervers contradict this first report, and affert, that its flesh is good and wholesome eating. It is a filly, fimple bird, as may very well be fuppofed from its figure, and is very eafily taken. Three or four Dodos are enough to dine an hundred men. Whether the Dodo be the fame bird with that which fome travellers have defcribed under the bird of Nazareth, yet remains uncertain. The country from whence they both come is the fame; their incapacity of flying is the fame; the form of the wings and body in both are fimilar; but the chief difference given is in the colour of the feathers, which in the female of the bird of Nazareth are faid to be extremely beautiful; and in the length of their legs, which in the Dodo are fhort; in the other, are deferibed as long. Time and future obfervation must clear up thefe doubts; and the teftimony of a fingle witnefs, who fhall have feen both, will throw more light on the fobject than the reasonings of an hundred Philofophers. of BRITISH Valour. down to drink, which they and tie fects a degree, as to be much intoxicated the boys, perceiving it, went down and locked the hatches upon them, then came up, and the youngest with a handspike knocked down the man at the helm, feized his fword, and, affifted by the other two, with each a handspike, fecured the three men upon deck, and brought the vessel into Kinfale, where the Frenchmen were fecured in gaol, and the vessel was brought into Dublin harbour, to the no fmall aftonifhment of every perfon.-The boys will be handsomely rewarded-The cargo is estimated at 11,000l. From From the LONDON GAZETTE, April 1, 1780. Whitehall, April 1, 1780. Extract of a Letter from Major General Campbell to Lord George Germain, dated Penfacola, December 15, 1779. WHA HAT a grievous mortification muft it be to me to have to relate to your Lordfip, and for my Sovereign's information, the conqueft of the western part of this province, by the arms of Spain, in confequence of their early intelligence of the commencement of hoftilities. Having, in my difpatches of the 14th of September, prepared your Lordhip for the events which have followed, I fhall refer for particulars to Lieutenant-colonel Dickfon's letter to me of the 10th of October from New Orleans, to the articles of capitula tion between him and his Excellency Don Bernardo de Galvez, Governor of Louifiana, at Baton Rouge, the 21ft day of September, to the lift he furnishes of the killed, wounded, and prifoners, and to a paper containing the reafons affigned by him for preferring Baton Rouge for a poft whereat to make a ftand, as comprizing all the additional intelligence, that appears to be requisite, of this unfortunate difalter. I cannot help obferving, that facts have demonstrated, that Spain had predetermined on a rupture with Great Britain long before the declaration made on the 16th day of June lait by their Ambaffador at the Court of London; had laid their plans, and prepared all their Governors abroad for fuch an event; and it would appear had even fixed on the day, or at leaft nearly the time, on which it was to take place; for we are here informed that war was declared at Porto Rico in a few days after the 16th of June. English veffels are known to have been carried into the Havannah as prizes in the beginning of August last. And from New-Orleans I have the Governor's own acknowledgment of his being apprizrd of the commencement of hoftilities on the 9th day of Auguft laft: but how much earlier his intelligence of that event really was is uncertain. However that be, it is now uncontroverribly known, that he has long ago been fecretly preparing for war. That having previously collected the whole force of the province of Louifiana, the independency of America was publicly recognized by beat of drum at New-Orleans on the 19th day of Auguft; and every thing being in readiness for that purpose, he immediately marched again our forces on the Micfilippi: and he fo effectually fucceeded by the capture, by feratagem, of a King's floop in Lake Pontchartrain, by the feizure of a schooner in the river Miffiffippi on her way with rum and provifions for Manchac, and of fix other fmall veffels on the lakes, and in the river Amit (one of thefe laft with troops of the regiment of Waldeck, and another with provifions) and by preventive precautions in ftopping any communications of intelligence of his movements being fent to this place; that he had nearly effected the reduction of the weltern part of this province, before we at Penfacola were apprized, or had the smallett communication of his having commenced hoftilities; the information of that event having only reached me on the 14th of September, as intimated to your Lordfhip in my letter of that date; and Lieutenant-colonel Dickfon, it appears, was forced to capitulate on the 21st day of the fame month. Copy of a Letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Dickfon to Major, General Campbell, dated New Orleans, O&. 20, 1779. SIR, I SEND by Lieutenant Wilson, for your information, a copy of a journal which I kept ever since the commencement of hoftilities with the Spaniards. The dangerous and difagreeable fituation I was in ever fince that period will be fully related to you by him, and I hope will in every particular juftify me, by convincing you that I have ufed my utmost efforts, even to the last minute, against a great fuperiority of forces, with every other advantage an enemy could defire. I fend by Lieutenant Wilson the capitulation in English, as propofed by me to his Excellency Don Bernardo de Galvez, and the original one in the French language, as finally concluded on between us. The terms are honourable to the troops and favourable to the inhabitants, and I hope will meet with your full approbation. It is with pleature I affure you, that all the Officers and men under my command behaved exceedingly well, and did every duty they were ordered with great chearfulness and exaЯnefs. Lieutenant Wilfon and (Signed) ALEX. DICKSON, LieutenantCol. of 16th reg. of foot. Copy of Lieutenant-Colonel Dickfon's Reasons for removing to Baton Rouge. Baton Rouge Redoubt, Sept. 22, 1779 THE various reports, feemingly well founded, that the rebels were in force above, and meditated in a fhort time an invafion of this part of the country, made it neceffary, without delay to fix upon fome fpot where works might be thrown up, and fortifications erected, fo as to prevent, if poffible, the troops under my command and the country I was fent to protect from falling into the hands of the enemy. The fituation of Manchac was unanimously condemned, and the fort there confidered as indefenfible against cannon. Accordingly, on the 30th day of July, 1779, agreeable to my own fentiments, and thofe of the engineer, and other Officers I confulted on the occafion, it was determined to take post at Meff. Watts and Flowers's Plantation at Baton Rouge, the fituation of which, and a large quanity of cleared ground, pointed it out as the only place where I could have a reasonable profpect of accomplishing the intent of my command. I accordingly sent engineer Graham with a letter addressed to the inhabitants, requesting them to co-operate with me in throwing up a redoubt on that place, with which they chearfully complied. Having intelligence which I could depend upon on the 3d day of September, that his Excellency Don Bernardo de Gal. vez was approaching in force to attack me, and that the redcubt at this place was in pretty good forwardness, it was determined in a Council of War to remove the troops, artillery, and ftores, as foon as poffible, to the redoubt, which was accord ingly done. On the 12th day of September, the redoubt was invelted, and early in the morning of the 21st a battery of heavy cannon was opened against it; and, after an inceffant fire on both fides for more than three hours, I found myself obliged to yield to the great fuperiority of his artillery, and to furrender the redoubt to his Excellency Don Bernardo de Galvez, who commanded the troops of his Catholic Majesty. I am confident I should not have been able to have made fo good a defence at Manchac, and of course to have procured fuch favourable terms for the troops under my command, and the country I was fent to protect. On account of the redoubts being erected thereon, Governor Galvez, confidering the Plantation of Meffrs. Watts and Flowers as belonging to the King, has accordingly taken it; and unless Government fhall make them a recompence, by reafon of their loyalty and readiness to promote the protection of the country, they will lofe a very valuable property; I therefore moft ftrongly recommend them to Government for a generous fatisfaction. (Signed) ALEX. DICKSON, Lieut. Col. 16th regt. of foot. Return of the Killed and Wounded. Royal artillery. I rank and file wounded. 16th regiment. 1 rank and file killed; 1 ditto wounded; 7 dead, fince prisoners. 60th regiment. Enfign killed. Waldeck regiment. 1 Enfign, 1 rank and file, killed; 1 Lieutenant, 1 Surgeon's mate, 2 ferjeants, 19 rank and file, dead fince prifoners. Enfign Brock, 3d battalion 60th regiment, Ensign Nolting, Waldeck regiment, killed. Lieutenant Leonardi, Waldeck regiment, died fince prifoner, on his way to New-Orleans. Note, 1 Officer, ferjeant, and 6 The The HISTORY of ENGLAND, continued from Page 138 of our laft. The impeached Lords having on the 16th of January 1715-16, petitioned the Houfe for longer time to put in their answers to the articles of impeachment, they were allowed time till Thursday the 19th, upon which day all of them, except the Earl of Wintoun (who upon his petition had till the 23d allowed him) were brought from the Tower to the bar of the House of Peers, where they feverally pleaded guilty to the articles of their impeachment, but urged fome things, by way of anfwer, to exte. nuate their guilt. The Earl of Derwentwater's answer was in writing, as were also the answers of the Lord Widdrington and the Earl of Nithifdale. The anfwers of the Earl of Carnwarth and the Lord Kenmure were delivered viva voce; and the Lord Nairn delivered in a petition to the Lords in waiting. Having thus pleaded guilty, the 9th of February was appointed for their receiving fentence. Upon which day they were all brought to the bar of the Court erected in Weftminster-hall, and had fentence, as in cafe of High-treason, pronounced against them by the Lordchancellor Cowper, Lord High-fteward on that occasion. The Commons having put the cafe of the rebel Lords in a courfe of juftice, they turned their thoughts to the reft of the Prefton prifoners, who were brought up to London; and, to prevent the formality of fending them into Lancashire to be tried, they brought in a bill to remove thofe difficulties, which obftructed the course of juftice; and, as this was only to be a temporary law, fo the occafion was fpecified in the title, which was An act for the more eafy and speedy trial of fuch perfons as have levied war against his Majesty during the prefent rebellion.' About the fame time Mr. Lechmere moved for an addrefs to the King, for a proclamation, offering a general pardon to fuch as were yet in arms in Scotland, who fhould lay them down within a certain time, with fuch restrictions and limitations as the King fhould think fit. This motion was strongly opposed by Mr. Pulteney, the Lord Conningby, and fome others, who reprefented the ill effects which fuch a proclamation might have both at home and abroad, in the prefent juncture of affairs. What had most weight, in this debate, was urged by Mr. Walpole, who contented himself with faying, he would not inquire into the reafons of this motion, but he had been offered fixty thousand pounds for the life of one fingle perfon. This gave Mr. Lechmere an occafion to vindicate his integrity and honeft intentions; but, finding what he had proposed was not thought confiftent with the King's and the nation's fervice, he did not infift upon it. The next day, Major Stuart, Aidde-camp to the Duke of Argyle, and Captain Morton, Aid-de-camp to General Cadogan, arrived at St. James's, with advice that the rebels had abandoned Perth, and were flying before the King's forces : and therefore the publishing a proclamation for a general pardon, at fuch a juncture, would have fhewed a weakness in the Government, and encouraged foreign powers to fupport the rebels. About this time the Pretender fent a letter to the Lord Mayor of London, with orders to proclaim him King of Great Britain; which was com municated to the Secretary of State. Mr. Baron Bury, Mr. Justice Eyre, and Mr. Baron Montague, having been appointed to try the rebels at Liverpool, there was a confiderable number found guilty and Richard Shuttleworth of Prefton, a Papift; Roger Moncafter of Garstang, an Attorney; Thomas Cowpe, William Butler, and Willian Ackworth; were executed at Prefton, on the 28th of January; and John Rowbotham, James Blundel, James Burne, James Finch, William Whalley, and John MacGillivray, were executed at Wigan on the 10th of February; Richard Charley, Efq; James Drummond, William Black, Donald Macdonald, Rorie Kennedy, and John Ord, executed at Prefton on the 9th of February; and Thomas Sydal, William Hartis, Stephen Seager, Jofeph Porter, and John Finch, executed at Manchester on the 11th of February. About one thousand of the rebel prifoners at Lancaster, Liverpool, and-Chelter, fubmitted to the King's mercy, and petitioned for transportation. In the mean time, great folicitations were made with the Court and with the Members of both Houses of Parliament, in behalf of the fix condemned Lords, particularly in favour of the Earl of Derwentwater. On the 13th of February, the Countess of Nithifdale and the Lord Nairn's Lady, watching an opportunity, when the King went through the apartments of the Palace Palace at St. James's, behind a windowcurtain, without being prefented by the Lord of the Bed-chamber in waiting, as ufual, on a fudden threw themfelves at the King's feet, begging mercy for their hufbands. This abrupt and irregular application could not but forprize the King, and those about him, and therefore proved as ineffectual as thafe which had been made in a more becoming and artful manner. For, a few days after, a refolution was taken in Council to caufe the fentence paffed on these Lords to be executed; for which purpose the neceffary warrants and orders were, on the 18th of February, fent, both to the Lieutenant of the Tower, and to the Sheriffs of the city of London and Middlefex. The next day the Countefs of Derwentwater, attended by her fitter, and accompanied by the Ducheffes of Cleveland and Bolton, and feveral other Ladies of the first rank, was by the Dukes of Richmond and St. Albans introduced into the King's Bed-chamber, where the humbly implored his clemency for her unfortunate confort; and then withdrew. It is very probable the Countess of Derwentwater received no favourable answer from the Court; for, on the 21st of February, the, with the Ladies of fome other condemned Lords, and about twenty more of diftinction, went to the lobby of the House of Peers to beg their interceffion but the Lords did not then think fit to take notice of their petitions. The next morning, the Ladies in diftrefs, with a ftill greater attendance than the day before, went to Weftminster to petition both Houfes of Parliament, where, by this time not a few Members appeared inclined to mercy. Sir Richard Steele, among the reft, offered one of these petitions, and made a long fpeech upon that fubject, and was feconded by Mr. Farrar, Mr. Shippen, and fome others; but they were opposed by all the leading Members of the prevailing fide; and, though a great many who used to vote with them went over on this occafion to the other party, yet a motion being made, and the question put for adjourning to the 1ft of March, the adjournment was carried by a majority of feven voices only, 762 to 155. The Ladies of the condemned Lords were more fuccessful with the Peers than with the Commons. The Duke of Richmond, a near relation of the Earl of Der wentwater, and one of the Lords allowed by the Houfe to affift him, could not refufe prefenting a petition in bis favour, but at the fame time he declared the would be against it. The Earl of Derby, out of pity for the numerous family of the Lord Nairn, charged himfelt with a petition in his behalf, as other Lords did, upon the like or different motives, with other petitions. The question being put, Whether these petitions thould be received and read, there arose a great debate, in which the Lord Townshend, and several other Lords, who upon all occafions had given undoubted proofs of their affection to the prefent fettlement, were against it, but, the Earl of Nottingham, to their great furprize, declaring for it, his weight, as Prefident of the Council, drew to that fide feveral Peers; fo the question was carried by nine or ten voices. After the reading of the petitions, the next question was, Whether, in the cafe of an impeachment, the King has any power to reprieve? This being alfo carried in the affirmative, the fame was followed by a motion for an addrefs to defire the King to grant a reprieve to the Lords who lay under fentence of death. This was oppofed by the firmeft friends of the Government; and even an Earl, who was for the two firft questions, reprefented, That though clemency was one of the brightest virtues that adorn and fupport a Crown; yet, in his opinion, the same should be exercised with difcretion, and only on proper objects:" and therefore moved, That they should addrefs the King to reprieve fuch of the condemned Lords as thould deferve his mercy. This, after fome further debate, was carried. Then the Earl of Stamford moved, That the time of respite be left to the King, which was readily agreed to; and then the addrefs with these amendments was carried by a majority of five voices only. To this address the King anfwered, That on this, and all other occafions, he would do what he thought most confiftent with the dignity of his Crown, and the fafety of his people." This wife and refolute anfwer proved, the next day, a great mortification to the Jacobite and difcontented party, who were extremely elated by the inclinations to mercy, which appeared in both Houses, and which occafioned various reflections. Whatever was the secret spring of thefe inclinations, it is certain, that in the Council, held the fame evening, about the execution of the condemned Lords, there was a contest between the Earl of Nottingham and fome other Lords, and four days after, that Earl was removed from being Prefident of the Council; the Earl of Aylesford, his brother, from being Chancellor of 1 |