wretched sufferer was held up in a sitting posture; and when they were concluded, he was laid down and covered with a new robe made of the skin of a lynx. I had observed that his belly and breast were covered with scars, and I understood that they were caused by a custom prevalent among them, of applying pieces of lighted touch-wood to their flesh, in order to relieve pain or demonstrate their courage. He was now placed on a broad plank, and carried by six men into the woods, where I was invited to accompany them. I could not conjecture what would be the end of this ceremony, particularly as I saw one man carry fire, another an axe, and a third dry wood. I was, indeed, disposed to suspect that, as it was their custom to burn their dead, they intended to relieve the poor man from his pain, and perform the last sad duty of surviving affec tion. When they had advanced a short distance into the wood, they laid him upon a clear spot, and kindled a fire against his back when the physician began to scarify the ulcer with a very blunt instrument, the cruel pain of which operation the patient bore with incredible resolution. The scene afflicted me, and I left it,'

Mr. Mackenzie learnt, in his return from the sea-coast, that the poor man had died under this treatment.

From the Friendly Village, the travellers were furnished with another canoe, and proceeded with the stream towards the sea. At one house where they stopped, some of the women were employed in beating and preparing the inner rind of the cedar bark, to which they gave the appearance of flax. Others were spinning with a distaff and spindle. One of them was weaving a robe of this substance, intermixed with stripes of the sea-otter skin, on a frame of adequate contrivance, which was placed against the side of the house. The men were fishing with drag-nets between two canoes.-After this account of their employments, many readers, we apprehend, will have a more respectful opinion of the state of the arts and manufactures among the natives of North America, than they have been accustomed to entertain.

On July the 20th, Mr. M, and his companions arrived at an arm of the sea; and on the 21st they were near a cape which was seen by Captain Vancouver, and by him named Cape Menzies, the arm of the sea being that which he has called the Cascade Canal. This was the farthest of their progress to the West; and at this station the latitude was 529 21′ N., and the longitude, calculated from the mean of two emersions of Jupiter's satellites, 128° 02′ W., which is something more West than Cape Menzies is placed in the chart of Captain Vancouver.

We shall select one more from among the instances of unpleasant situations to which the travellers were exposed, in their expedition to the sea;

Under

Under the land we met with three canoes, with fifteen men in them, and laden with their moveables, as if proceeding to a new situation, or returning to a former one. They manifested no kind of mistrust or fear of us, but entered into conversation with our young man, as I supposed, to obtain some information concerning us. It did not appear that they were the same people as those we had lately seen, as they spoke the language of our young chief, with a different accent. They then examined every thing we had in our canoe, with an air of indifference and disdain. One of them in particular made me understand, with an air of insolence, that a large canoe had lately been in this bay, with people in her like me, and that one of them, whom he called Macubah, had fired on him and his friends, and that Bensins had struck him on the back with the flat part of his sword. He also mentioned another name, the articulation of which I could not determine. At the same time he illustrated these circumstances by the assistance of gun and sword; and I do not doubt but he well deserved the treatment which he described. He also produced several European articles, which could not have been long in his possession. From his conduct and appearance, I wished very much to be rid of him, and flattered myself that he would prosecute his voyage, which appeared to be in an opposite direction to our course. However, when I prepared to part from them, they turned their canoes about, and persuaded my young man to leave me, which I could not prevent.

We coasted along the land at about West-South-West for six miles, and met a canoe with two boys in it, who were dispatched to summon the people on that part of the coast to join them. The troublesome fellow now forced himself into my canoe, and pointed out a narrow channel on the opp site shore, that led to his village, and requested us to steer towards it, which I accordingly ordered. His importunities now became very irksome, and he wanted to see every thing we had, particularly my instruments, concerning which he must have received information from my young man. He asked for my hat, my handkerchief, and, in short, every thing that he saw about me. At the same time he frequently repeated the unpleasant intelligence that he had been shot at by people of my colour.'

In the night of the 22d of July they began their voyage of return, the particulars of which afford much amusement; and they once more arrived at Fort Chepewyan, on the 24th of August.

We have been less circumstantial in our remarks on the relation of this voyage, than on the expedition to the Northern Sea: but it may nevertheless be remarked that the account of the voyage to the West coast is a work of greater entertainment and interest than could have been furnished by that which was directed to the North. Each has its distinct utility: the Northern, in corroborating, and we may say in completing, the evidence that there does not exist a navigable passage by a to the North of America; and the Western, in proving

the

the practicability of commercial intercourse through the Continent between the Eastern and Western coasts.

Mr. M. has drawn up some brief observations concerning the geography, the climate, and the fur trade of North Ame rica; which are inserted in the latter part of his volume, and serve as an appendix to the voyages. In his remarks on the geography, he considers both the political divisions, and those which have been formed by nature. The climate, it is stated, is much more severe on the Eastern than on the Western coast; which the author attributes to the former being exposed to the North-west winds that blow from the Frozen Sea.-The following passage affords matter for reflection: but we will not undertake to determine whether or not it is founded on a suffi cient length of experience :

It has been frequently advanced, that the difference of clearing away the wood has had an astonishing influence in meliorating the climate: but I am not disposed to assent to that opinion in the extent which it proposes to establish, when I consider the very trifling proportion of the country cleared, compared with the whole. The employment of the axe may have had some inconsiderable effect; but I look to other causes. I myself observed in a country, which was in an absolute state of nature, that the climate is improving; and this circumstance was confirmed to me by the native inhabitants of it. Such a change, therefore, must proceed from some predominating operation in the system of the globe which is beyond my conjecture, and, indeed, above my comprehension, and may, probably, in the course of time, give to America the climate of Europe. It is well known, indeed, that the waters are decreasing there, and that many lakes are draining and filling up by the earth which is carried into them from the higher lands by the rivers; and this may have some partial effect.'

The writer concludes his work with considerations respecting the fur-trade; which, he is of opinion, would be productive of more advantage both to the public and to the merchants, if the Hudson's-Bay and the North-West Companies were to unite.

Experience, however, (he says,) has proved that this trade, from its very nature, cannot be carried on by individuals. A very large capital, or credit, or indeed both, is necessary; and consequently an association of men of wealth to direct, with men of enterprise to act, in one common interest, must be formed on such principles, as that in due time the latter may succeed the former, in continual and progressive succession. Such was the equitable and successful mode adopted by the merchants from Canada, which has been already described.

The junction of such a commercial association with the Hudson's Bay Company is the important measure which I would propose, and the trade might then be carried on with a very superior degree of ad

vantage,

vantage, both private and public, under the privilege of their charter, and would prove, in fact, the complete fulfilment of the conditions on which it was first granted.

It would be an equal injustice to either party to be excluded from the option of such an undertaking; for if the one has a right by charter; has not the other a tight by prior possession, as being suc cessors to the subjects of France, who were exclusively possessed of all the then known parts of this country, before Canada was ceded to Great Britain, except the coast of Hudson's Bay, and having themselves been the discoverers of a vast extent of country since added to his Majesty's territories, even to the Hyperborean and the Pacific Oceans?

If, therefore, that company should decline, or to be averse to engage in, such an extensive, and perhaps hazardous, undertaking, it would not, surely, be an unreasonable proposal to them, from government, to give up a right which they refuse to exercise, on allowing them a just and reasonable indemnification for their stock, re. gulated by the average dividends of a certain number of years, or the actual price at which they transfer their stock.

• By enjoying the privilege of the company's charter, though but for a limited period, there are adventurers who would be willing, as they are able, to engage in, and carry on, the proposed commercial undertaking, as well as to give the most ample and satisfactory security to government for the fulfilment of its contract with the company.'

With these observations, the author has given a sketch of the mode which he would recommend as the most eligible for conducting the trade.,

It seems superfluous to add to the foregoing account, that we regard the expeditions of Mr. Mackenzie as of considerable importance to geography and commerce; and that his narrative contains much information and entertainment. It is accompanied with three maps, which are well executed : one, general, of the Northern part of America, from 40° to 70° N. latitude; and a separate map for each voyage.

ART. II. Letters from his Excellency General Washington to Arthur Toung, Esq. F.R.8.: Containing an Account of his Husbandry, with a Map of his Farm; his Opinions on various Questions in Agriculture and many Particulars of the Rural Economy of the United States. 8vo. pp. 172. 38. sewed. Richardson, &c.

ACCURACY is peculiarly desirable on all matters of practical importance, and every branch of rural science comes under this description. When our inquities respect the state of agriculture in distant countries, it is necessary to consider the authority on which our information rests, and the mediam through which it comes to us. Of the Rural Economy of the United States, we have heard various accounts: but perhaps

none

none are more clearly exhibited, and rest on more satisfactory evidence, than the details contained in the pages now before

General Washington deservedly ranks among the most eminent characters of the eighteenth century; and while history delineates his political and military character as inferior to none in virtue and the noblest fame, these letters will serve to prove that he possessed those estimable qualities which constitute the amiable man and the useful citizen. We recollect, indeed, no individual in antiquity, who must not lose by a comparison with Washington: but, if we were to make such a parallel, it would be with the Elder Cato; who is described by Cicero as cultivating his mind and deriving pleasure from agriculture in his old age.

It is a species of mental luxury to follow this founder of a great and flourishing empire into his rural retirement, and to hear him indulging in the following noble sentiment: How much more delightful to an undebauched mind is the task of making improvements on the earth, than all the vain glory which can be acquired from ravaging it, by the most uninterrupted career of conquests!' This is a reflection, as Mr. Young observes, which does honour to the heart of this truly great man; and we will add that the world would be more happy, if all, who are placed in the situation occupied by Washington, felt like him its full effect. Though there be not much to warrant romantic expectations of human felicity from this source, we may be allowed to say, with Mr. Y., that

It must be a pleasing spectacle to a reflecting mind, to see so close an attention paid to the practice of Agriculture, by men in the highest situations; who, from commanding Armies, and presiding in Senates, can descend to the humble walk of Husbandry, and find it an employment sufficient to interest the most splendid talents; and an amusement that can animate the best affections of the heart.'

This correspondence gives a very satisfactory, because authentic and accurate, account of the Central States of the American Union; yet, since the details which it contains were the result of queries known to have been proposed by Mr. Young, it is fair to suppose that the American reporters consulted by General Washington made the best of the subject to the Transatlantic inquirer, without violating the truth. The first letter is dated, Mount Vernon, August 6, 1786; and the last, Philadelphia, December 12, 1793; so that the correspondence occupies a space of rather more than seven years. To put Mr. Young in possession of various facts, besides communicating the result of his own extensive experience, the President of the United States addressed a circular letter, containing a string of questions, to several intelligent farmers in the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,

Maryland,