doubt that he will preserve it in his cabinet of curiosities; and this is its only chance of ever reaching posterity; for, we consider, that when the publisher's gaol-delivery takes place, the unsold members of this family, will find a warmer, or a less honourable place. REVIEW.-Theological Essays on Select THE Volume before us contains fifteen Each essay concludes with some practical inferences, and these constitute the most valuable part of the book. But, unfortunately, they do not always arise from the principles that are advanced, and the premises which are laid down. This circumstance, though materially affecting the consistency of the whole, cannot, however, deprive them of their intrinsic value; and by those among whom, we apprehend from the preface, the work has obtained its chief circulation, this discrepance will, perhaps, be but partially noticed. It is the misfortune of too many theological authors, that, having embraced a creed, which they consider infallible, their pens are always under its influence, and those truths, which they undertake to discuss, are compelled to bend in subservience to its authority. This is one fruitful source 76.-VOL. VII. | of many inconsistencies which are thrown into circulation-it is a rock on which many a stately vessel has been stranded, and on which the author of these essays has struck, though he has not suffered shipwreck. THE INEFFICACY OF REASON CON- TRASTED WITH OF REVELATION. (By the Rev. Robert Hall, of Leicester.) THE flagrant and pernicious errors entertained by the most celebrated pagan legislators, poets, and philosophers, are sufficient to demonstrate, beyond all contradiction, the inability of unassisted reason, in its most improved and perfect state, to conduct man to virtue and happiness, and the necessity thence resulting, of superior aid. At the same time, we would not depreciate the value of those discoveries and improvements to which reason really attained, nor charge the picture of its aberrations and defects with deeper shades than justly belong to it. The most eminent among the pagans, it ought to be remembered, who, having no other resource, were best acquainted with its weakness and its power, never dreamed of denying the necessity of revela|tion; this they asserted in the most explicit terms, and on some occasions they seem to have expected and anticipated the communication of such a benefit. The following remarkable passage, out of Plato, tends both to confirm the fact of a revelation being anticipated, and to evince, supposing nothing supernatural in the case, the divine sagacity of that great author. He says, that "this just person (the inspired teacher of whom he had been speaking) must be poor, and void of all qualifications but those of virtue alone; that a wicked world would not bear his instructions and reproofs; and, therefore, within three or four years after he began to preach, he should be persecuted, imprisoned, scourged, and, at last, be put to death," In whatever light we consider it, this must be allowed to be a most remarkable passage,-whether we regard it as merely the conjecture of a highly enlightened mind, or as the fruit of prophetic suggestion; nor are we aware of any absurdity in *De Republica, l. ii. supposing that the prophetic spirit scattered, on certain occasions, some seeds of truth amidst that mass of corruption and darkness which oppressed the pagan world. The opinion we have ventured to advance, is asserted in the most positive terms in several parts of Justin Martyr's second Apology. Without pursuing this inquiry further, we shall content ourselves with remarking, that, as the sufficiency of mere reason, as the guide to truth, never entered into the conception of pagans, so it could never have arisen at all, but in consequence of confounding its results with the dictates of revelation, which, since its publication, has never ceased to modify the speculations, and aid the inquiries, of those who are least disposed to bow to its authority. On all questions of morality and religion, the streams of thought have flowed through channels enriched with a celestial ore, whence they have derived the tincture to which they are indebted for their rarest and most salutary qualities. | NORFOLK ISLAND. NORFOLK Island was discovered by Capt. Cook, on his second voyage round the world, in the year 1774. At that time the island abounded in aquatic birds of different species, and was almost entirely covered with pinetrees, bound together by a species of supplejack, which rendered it extremely difficult to penetrate to the interior. Captain Cook conjectured that this island had formerly been a volcano, from finding some small pieces of reddish porous lava. Capt. Cook having noticed that the flax plant, from which the New Zealanders manufacture all their cordage, grew here in great abundance, and that the fertility of the soil seemed to render it a proper place for a settlement; when the colony of New South Wales was established at Port Jackson, a detachment, consisting of one master's mate, one surgeon, one assistant surgeon, two seamen, two mariners, nine male and six female convicts, the whole under the command of Sir Philip Gidley King, R. N. were de The inefficacy of unassisted reason, in religious concerns, appears un-spatched to settle Norfolk Island. deniably in two points; the doubtful Lieut. King arrived there with his manner in which the wisest pagans party in February, 1788; but three were accustomed to express them- days elapsed before this small party selves respecting a future state, the could effect a landing, the whole coast existence of which, Warburton is con- being, what seamen call steep-to, and fident none of the philosophers be- the surf constantly beating on the lieved; and their proud reliance on shore. At length, a landing was made their own virtue, which was such as on the south side, in Sydney Bay. left no room for repentance. Of a Lieut. King immediately commenced future state, Socrates, in the near the erection of storehouses, and the prospect of death, is represented by clearing of the adjacent land for cultiPlato as expressing a hope, accom-vation; a task of great difficulty, the panied with the greatest uncertainty : island being nearly covered with pineand, with respect to the second point, trees of an enormous size, and bindthe lofty confidence in their own weed and supplejacks growing round virtue, which we have imputed to and to the branches of these trees. them, the language of Cicero, in one Some land was, however, cleared, and of his familiar letters, is awfully the culture of wheat, maize, cotton, decisive: "Nec enim dum ero, angor &c. immediately commenced. ulla re, cum omni cuream culpa; et si non ero, sensu omni carebo." "While I exist, I shall be troubled at nothing, since I have no fault whatever; and if I shall not exist, I shall be devoid of all feeling."* So true is it, that life and immortality are brought by the Saviour, and that, until he appeared, the greatest men were equally unacquainted with their present condition and their future prospects. * Vol. 1. p. 51, At this time the island abounded with wild pigeons, which were easily knocked down with a stick. Turtle were also sometimes procured; and, in calm weather, when a boat could be sent out, a large supply of fish, of the snapper kind, could be always obtained. The turtle, and these fish, were sometimes issued out to the settlers, instead of salt provisions. Among the vegetable productions were, the cabbage-tree, the plantain or banana tree, and the flax plant. Lieut. King introduced the orange-tree, the sugar cane, and the cotton plant. The island, which is situated in 29° 0′ S. latitude, and 168° 5' E. longitude, was found to be about six miles in length, and four in breadth, and to contain about 14,000 acres. Lieut. King continued at Norfolk Island, as commandant and superintendant for two years, during which, two accidents were occasioned by the surf, in one of which a mariner was drowned, and in the other four persons lost their lives. The settlement was thrice increased, in the same time, with mariners and convicts; about 30 acres of land were cleared upon the public account, and 18 acres by individuals, for gardens. Wheat, maize, and potatoes, were growing, and every kind of garden vegetable was found to flourish, though much annoyed by grubs and flies. The convicts, even in this distant little isle, continued the same pests of society as in England. The more industrious of them, those who seemed inclined to lead a life of honesty for the future, were, in common with the free-people, continually robbed by their abandoned and profligate companions. At one time, a scheme (into which most of the convicts entered) was formed for the purpose of seizing the persons of the commandant and free-people, and effecting their escape by force. This was fortunately discovered, and prevented. The provision cask was continually robbed; spirits were stolen at every opportunity; the vegetables were dug out of the ground, and concealed; nay, the very eggs, placed under a hen for the purpose of hatching, were stolen, and the live stock destroyed. Lieut. King also experienced the greatest difficulty in obtaining any kind of labour from the convicts, as he had not a sufficient number of free-people to superintend them. He therefore tasked them, and thus obliged them to work in some degree; but every practical man, acquainted with those occupations which are necessary in a new colony, well knows, that the labour thus obtained would but be sufficient barely to maintain a man in England; indeed, those persons who follow the same trade in England, usually perform twice the quantum of labour, which was thus procured from the convicts of Norfolk Island. In 1790, Capt. Phillip, governor of New South Wales, having received no supply of provisions from England, found himself compelled to reduce the rations ; and considering that Norfolk Island possessed greater resources, in its fish and vegetables, than Port Jackson, he relieved himself of part of the population, by directing the Sirius and Supply to sail for Norfolk Island, with about 220 mariners and convicts, under the command of Major Ross, whom he appointed to succeed Lieut. King as commandant, the latter officer being directed to proceed to England with despatches. The Sirius and Supply arrived at Norfolk Island on the 13th of March, and, on the 19th, the larger vessel, the Sirius, was unfortunately wrecked in Sydney Bay. The greatest part of the stores, provisions, &c. intended for the support of the island till relief should arrive from England, was embarked on board the Sirius. Lieutenant King quitted Norfolk Island a few days after the wreck of the Sirius, on board the Supply. There being now 498 persons on the island, martial law was proclaimed, and the ration of provisions reduced one-half: the greatest exertions were used to save the stores, provisions, &c. from on board the wreck of the Sirius, and, fortunately, they were in a great measure successful. During eleven months that the crew of the Sirius remained on Norfolk Island, the greatest apprehensions were entertained of a famine. The rations were therefore reduced to as small a quantity as was barely sufficient to support life; but even this would not have prevented the dreaded evil, had not the settlers found a resource in the vast number of birds, of the puffin kind, which frequent Mount Pitt, (a hill in the centre of the island, about 1,200 feet high, supposed to be the crater of an exhausted volcano,) and in the fish which abounded on the coast, large supplies of which were sometimes procured. But even these resources were fast failing; the season for the Mount Pitt birds was nearly over; and but small quantities of fish could be obtained, when the Justinian and Surprise store-ships arrived, 7th August, 1790, with 200 convicts, and a supply of stores, &c. The crew of the Sirius were at length relieved from their irksome situation, by the arrival of the Supply, with directions to convey them to Port Jackson. the island was too small to support itself, while the dangers of the landing had cost many lives, and the expense of the civil and military establishments were very considerable, determined to evacuate the island; accordingly, the settlers, with their stock, &c. were removed to the banks of the river Derwent, in the fertile island of Van Diemen's Land. Since that period, the island has been deserted. The English government, now finding how inadequate the present modes of punishment were to the prevention of crime, transportation being rather welcomed than fear ner and place of exile. Some of the convicts have already been despatched to the Bermudas, to labour in the dock yard; some are to be sent to the Bahama Islands; while the more depraved are to be banished to Norfolk Island, there to be kept to hard labour, and not to be allowed their freedom till they have shewed themselves worthy of it by their good conduct. Major Ross remained lieut.-governor of Norfolk Island till the latter end of 1791, during which time a considerable quantity of land was cleared, and several grants of land were bestowed. The flourishing state of the island induced many others to emigrate thither from New South Wales, so that when Lieut. King resumed the government, January, 1792, no less than 62 persons accompanied him to Norfolk Island. Subsequently, the quantities of wheat, maize, &c. raised, being superior to the demand, either of Port Jackson, or within the settle-ed, have resolved to change the manment itself, the governor of New South Wales refused to purchase the surplus produce of the settlers, many of whom, in consequence, relinquished their farms. Two New Zealanders having been procured, their mode of manufacturing the flax plant was learned, and canvass and other coarse articles were made. The New Zealanders were then restored to their native land. Notwithstanding the defection of some of the settlers, the island continued to prosper, so that Lieut.-governor King was enabled to offer to send 5,000 bushels of maize to the parent settlement, in 1796. There were 400lbs. of pork cured in the island, and, afterwards, it appeared that 40 tons of salt-meat might have been spared. But, soon after this period, the whole island was overgrown with weeds in the most extraordinary manner, to the great injury of the harvest. Lieut.-governor King quitted his government in 1796. Notwithstanding some bad harvests, and other unfortunate occurrences, the island continued to prosper; and, in 1801, the inhabitants amounted to about 1000. The crops of wheat and maize, but especially the latter, were almost invariably large, and vast quantities of animal food were raised; but, amidst all this prosperity, the character of the settlers defeated every project for rendering the island independent of foreign aid. The most abandoned profligacy prevailed; drunkeness, and all its attendant evils, were almost universal; so that its fertile soil, and beautiful climate, were almost a misfortune, as they enabled the idle and the dissolute to indulge with the greater facility in their vices. The English government, perceiving that There can be no place better adapted for a penitentiary of this description, than Norfolk Island. Escape is almost impossible, from the danger of putting to sea, except in open daylight, and with very favourable weather. The soil, which consists of a dark rich brown mould, or a light red earth, is very fertile, and will easily produce a sufficient quantity of provisions for the maintenance of the inhabitants. Potatoes, wheat, maize, &c. grow extremely well; and animals increase very fast. Planks of excellent timber, for the purposes of building, are found; consisting of pine, (some 220 feet in height, and 9 feet in diameter) live oak, black wood, yellow wood, and beech, besides a variety of smaller trees. Clay for manufacturing, and excellent lime-stone abound. The climate, though rather hot in the summer months, is proved, by experience, to be very healthy. Fish may be procured during the greater part of the year, as may puffins, with some pigeons, turtle, &c. Two small isles, which Lieut. King named after the new governor of New South Wales, and secretary of the Admiralty, lie off the S. W. end of Norfolk Island: Nepean Island, which is very small, consists of a mass of sand, held together by the ANSWER TO A QUERY ON THE IN col. 108 of your number for January, A Juvenile Reader asks, "Why must a pendulum which vibrates seconds, be shorter at the equator than at the poles?" rocks; though there is not the least appearance of mould upon the island, yet some fine large trees grow upon it; and it is entirely covered with a kind of long coarse grass. Phillip Isle is likewise covered with a long sharp grass. A valley runs through the isle. Some pines are, or were, on the summit of the hills. Hawks, pigeons, parroquets, and puffins, are numerous. When Norfolk Island was inhabited, Phillip Isle was used for the purpose of breeding and raising pigs, and as a place of banishment for the worst convicts, it being, as Milton rather curi-point, and, consequently, the force of ously says, This is occasioned by the oblate spheroidical figure of the earth; that is, a line passing from the equator to the centre of the earth, would be longer, by about 17 miles, than if it passed from either of the poles to the same gravity is less at the equator than at the poles; and it is likewise greatly diminished by the centrifugal force arising from the earth's rotation on its axis, which is greatest at the equator. The length of a pendulum, to vibrate seconds at the equator, must be 39.027 inches, and at the poles 39.197 inches.-Your's respectfully, THOS. CROSSLEY. Old-lane, near Halifax. SOLUTION OF A QUERY PROPOSED BY 190 yards. of this diameter, is 28,2523 square 2. Now the area of a piece of land yards; the half of which produces the number of cubic yards, or loads of earth, required. "To the lowest depth, a lower deep." It would be useless to expect that Norfolk Island should prove of any benefit to Britain as a colony. The island is too small; it has no harbour, and no peculiar produce of any importance. Its utility is merely as a place of banishment; where the bodily and moral discipline shall be of such a description as to excite dread; where the wicked and profligate may be taught to procure a livelihood by honest industry; where but few temptations to crime can exist; where it to be 5 yards, this would reduce the 1. Suppose the breadth of the ditch is hardly possible to offend with im-diameter of the land to be covered to punity; where no resorts for the base and vile are permitted; where the contagion of vice is confined within its narrowest bounds. To effect these objects, the situation, soil, and climate, of the island are all favourable; but much depends upon those entrusted with the government of the island; if they be not able, firm, and discriminating, of irreproachable character, of persevering vigilance, the objects of the settlement will be defeated. The superior officers should either possess a knowledge of the principal mechanical arts, or have under their command, persons well acquainted with those trades; but, of course, the former would be preferable, as it would prevent the practice of many impositions. If this settlement answers its intended purpose, it will, by the dread it will inspire in England, operate very strongly upon the minds of the vicious and abandoned, and deter them from the perpetration of any offence which would subject them to a punishment they must behold with the greatest terror; but even this will be insufficient to restrain the incorrigible. ZQA. 3.-The length of the ditch is found by ascertaining the arithmetical mean between the lengths of the two circumferences, and is 612 yards. 4. The breadth and length of the ditch being known, we must find the depth requisite to produce 14,126} cubic yards. This, by the rule of proportion, will be seen to be 43 yards nearly. Thus we have the length of the ditch, 6124 yards; the breadth 5 yards, and the depth not quite 4 yards. The cube of these amounts will produce the number of cubic yards required, the undertaking; in accomplishing or the quantity of earth requisite for which, the owner will lose more than 3,000 square yards. J. L. C. [A similar answer has been received from Wm. Oakes, of Harlow, Staffordshire.] |