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the remains of this veffel; concerning which I was foon fatisfied: for notwith ftanding the rapidity of the tides, I went down three different times, changing the ground at each going. down. I fell in with a ftump of the wreck, now funk five fathom deep at low water, to a level with the foft bed of the river, which is compofed of a light fand intermixed with fhells.

By the muddinefs of the river there is a darkness at only two'fathoms from the furface, that cannot be defcribed; from the smallness of the machine, which contained only fortyeight Ength gallons, it was impoffible to make this attempt with a candle burning in it, which would confume the air too quickly for any man to be able to work, and at the fame time pay attention to receiving the neceffary fupplies of air, that important fupport of life. Two days after we failed for Leith, where we happily arrived at four o'clock next morning. The trials I had hitherto made, were only preparatory to my views at the Scares, hoping that the experience I had acquired, would enable me to furmount the dangerous difficulty of the unequal rocky bottom I had to contend with there; but in the preceding trials and different alterations of the machinery, fo much time had been loft, that I could not fail for Bambrough before the first of September; the weather then being formy, it was three days before I arrived there in my fmall open boat, yet though fo near the equinox, I was in hopes I fhould ftill have a few days of calm weather; but, after many unfuccefsful attempts, could make no trial until the end of September.

This tedious and vexatious interval was greatly foftened by the kindnefs and hofpitality of the Rev. Doctor Sharpe, Archdeacon of Northumberland, his lady and family, at Bambrough Castle, whofe friendly concern I will always remember with the fincereft gratitude.

Having at laft fome favourable weather, I failed to the Scares, with VOL. III.

my brother and three failors I had brought with me from Leith, alfo two pilots from Bambrough and Warren.

By the calmness of the weather, it was four in the afternoon, about high water, before I could go down, at a fmall distance from the place where I judged the wreck to lie: the depth was about ten fathoms. I happily. alighted on a flat part of the rock, within a fmall fpace of a dreadful chafm, and had just gone two steps with my machine, when the terror of the two pilots was fo great, that, in fpite of my brother, they brought me up very precipitately, before I had in any degree examined around me: on coming into the boat, they remonftrated on the danger of the machine being overturned, either on` the wreck or the rocks, and alfo on the impoffibility of raising any of the weighty goods with fo fmall a purchafe, in an open boat; where at this feafon no large veffel would venture to lie, as the nights were now fo long, and only two paffages for a fmall veffel to run through, in cafe of a gale of easterly or foutherly wind; one of the paffages extremely narrow, and both of them dangerous. As the tide now ran in the face of the rock we lay at, the pilots would not confent to lie at anchor any longer; left, wind and tide being both contrary, they thould not be able to conduct us fafely through the islands before it was dark.

I was obliged to comply, very unwillingly, with their intreaties; though part of their affertions came too truly to pafs; for, in failing home, we cleared the rocks and islands with difficulty, but not before eleven o'clock at night, and even then with hard labour.

Convinced, from this, that with an open boat nothing could be accomplifhed to purpofe, and except in June and July, no man would risk himself with me in a floop, to continue a few days and nights at anchor there; I was obliged to abandon this ultimate aim of all my attempts: yet D

though

though my boat was too fmall to raise any great weight, I determined to take a view of the guns of a Dutch ship of war loft in the year 1704, and as they lay two or three miles nearer the land, I could execute this defign with lefs difficulty, efpecially as the weather continued ftill favourable. Having procured all intelligence poffible, we went to the place; and, being joined by Mr. Blacket, tackfman of the islands, his fon, and feveral other brave fellows, my two pilots, though ftill with me, having no ftomach for the fervice, I went down four different times, but could find no marks of any wreck, notwithstanding my walking about in five and fix fathoms water, as far as it was thought fafe to allow rope to the bell; continuing generally twenty minutes or more each time, at the bottom. On this occafion I was obliged to carry a cutting hook and knife, to clear away the fea-weeds, which at this place are very thick and frong; without this method I could not move about. At the fifth going down, each trial being in a different place, I was agreeably furprized to find a large grove of tall weeds, all of them from fix to eight feet high, with large tufted tops, moftly growing in regular ranges, as far as the eye could reach; a variety of fmall lobfters, and other fhell fifh, fwimming about in the intervals.

On a furvey of the ground, I found myself on the extremity of the place where the long looked for cannon lay, and one very large piece was nearly covered with round ftones, thrown upon it by ftorms from the fouth-eaft. By the appearance and found, I judged it to be iron; but, to form a more certain idea, I tried to pull up a strong weed, expecting fome part of the ruft, if iron, would adhere to the fibres of the root; but my ftrength was now exhausted almost to faintnefs, by fuch violent exertions in moving about during a space of near three hours, yet till I determined, if poffible, to have this weed. I twisted the bushy top round one of

the hooks at the mouth of the bell, on which part of the weight for finking the machine hung, then giving the fignal, brought the weed along with me.

To one fide of the root was faftened a piece of rock, about feven pounds weight; in the middle a piece of decayed oak, very black, on the other fide a black fubftance, which on a few hours expofure to the air, changed into a dull reddish colour, refembling crocus martis.

Preffing bufinefs requiring me at home the Monday following, I fet fail for Leith; our compafs being attracted by the great quantity of ironwork in my boat, we were, during the night, in the greatest danger, being twice entangled amongst the rocks, and very much chilled with the cold for want of proper cover: but efcaping thefe dangers, we fafely next morning arrived at Leith.

The propofed alterations in conftructing a Diving-bell to hold two perfons, which can be managed by a floop of one hundred tons, or a little under that burden, are—

To have the machine on the com-. mon circular plan, able to contain two hundred gallons English, or a little more, with proper pullies within, by which the weights which bring it to the full finking degree, can be lowered down to the bottom: on pulling the rope fixed to this weight, the perfon or perfons in the bell can lower the machine to the bottom, or raise themselves with the bell, so as to take in air from the barrels, as often as necessary; by the fame method they may bring the bell to the furface, and the balancing weight can be taken in afterwards. The great and obvious importance of this alteration is, that the bell, as constructed formerly, could never be lowered fafely with a man, on any wreck or rocky bottom; but, on the contrary, with the utmost hazard (till the ground was known) of being overturned: by the prefent amendment no danger can attend it; feamen, nay, even the moft timid landfmen, will, by this means, be foon brought to use, with

boldness,

boldness, an invention which may be attended with great advantage to themselves and country.

This machine alfo, in many places, can be used in the coldeft weather, as the men in the bell have no occafion to be above knee-deep in water, for which high-topped water-tight boots will be a fufficient defence, and a thick flannel drefs is preferable to every other.

pofition, the favour of my schoolfellows, of whom I was in a few years confidered as the chief, and on every public occafion felected by my master, to prove his own diligence, and difplay my acquifitions. In feven years, I finished my career of claffical education, and left the good old gentleman with tears of filial affection; who heightened my feelings by the fympathetic regard which was confpicuous in own looks.

his CHARLES SPALDING.

EDINBURGH, 15th FEB. 1776.

MEMOIRS OF

A CORNISH CURATE.

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.

And here I cannot forbear fondly indulging my fancy, with a retrofpective view of thofe happy days, those years of unmingled felicity, when Care has not planted her fting in the human breaft, or thought launched out into fcenes of future action, where mifery fo often dafhes the cup of life

To pourtray one's own life with with her bitter draught!

impartiality, and to lay open with candour the movements of the heart; to dare to confefs it's foibles, and by the test of justice to try it's merits; is perhaps as difficult a task as can well be conceived: but, actuated by a regard for the happiness of those who have not yet determined on their future course of life, and hoping that my ftory may serve either to direct or to deter, I venture to lay it be fore the public.

I was born in a diftant county, in a remote corner of the kingdom My parents were above indigence, and their honour above imputation. A family pride, which had been handed down through a fucceffion of generations, prevented them from ftooping to the drudgery of trade; while their hereditary estate, being infufficient to fecure a genteel independence to themselves, was of courfe too limited to enable them to provide for the contingency of a numerous offspring.

I was the third fon, and of course had but little to expect. My father early intended me for the church, and I was placed under an approved måfter, at a celebrated grammar-fchool. My diligence, let me fay it, fince I can without vanity make the affertion, foon procured me the good-will of my mafter; and the meeknefs of my dif

There are, I believe, but few perfons, however happy they may have been in their progrefs through life, who have not made the fame reflections; and recurred with pleasure to thofe cloudless hours, when the task, or the dread of correction, were the worft ills that could befal them; when the joys of the heart were pure and unalloyed, the tear foon forgot, and the mind indifferent to what events might occur. If the fortunate have made thefe reflections, well may I; who have journeyed on one dreary road, fince I firft entered the path of life, and fcarcely have known those intervals of blifs, which the mendicant himfelf is not forbidden to taste!

From the grammar-fchool I was removed to the university of Oxford, and entered on the foundation of Exeter College. The fame diligent application which had marked my former ftudies, foon rendered me confpicuous in the univerfity; and I was complimented on every occafion, as a youth of uncommon genius, and unwearied affiduity. My heart began to be elated with the applaufes which were fo lavishly bestowed upon me; I was animated to yet farther exertions of application; and, in four years, tock my batchelor's degree, with an eclat which has feldom diftinguished a lefs

D 2

diligent

diligent fcholar. I foon became the object of univerfal admiration in the univerfity; my future greatnefs was prognosticated in the most flattering terms, as one who would be an honour to literature, and a luminary in the church; but thefe compliments, however foothing to the youthful bofom, only operated to diftrefs me. The lefs affiduous could not endure me to bear away the palm of genius on every public occafion; and the proud, the honoured, and the great, began to affect a fupercilious contempt in my prefence, which I am confident was neither fanctioned by their fituations, nor deferved by my conduct; but, as our harmonious Pope fays

Envy will merit as it's fhade purfue;

And, like a fhadow, proves the fubftance true.'

A

The charms offcience, and the maxims of philofophy, could neither infpire me with fortitude, nor lull my fenfibility. Too partial, perhaps, to my own merit, I was impatient of the fligh eft appearance of difrefpect; and my feelings were, about this time, put to to a moft fevere trial, by the death of my father, after fo fhort an illness that I was prevented from receiving his laft benediction. This calamity more deeply affected me than all my fubfequent misfortunes; it was the firft I ever fuffered, and the keen edge of delicate fenfibility had not yet been blunted by a frequent repetition of mifery. I refigned myfelf into the arms of melancholy; and fecluding myself from the impertinent or affected condolers of my lofs, indulged that exquifite kind of forrow which fhuns the obtrufion of the world.

By my father's will I found myfelf entitled to 500l. which was all I had to combat the world, and establish myself in life; but, had I been rendered by my patrimony what the prudent call perfectly eafy, my grief would not have been lefs poignant, nor my feelings lefs acute.

As my finances would no longer decently fupport me at college, and my affliction for the lofs of a beloved parent ftifled every throb of ambition,

and forbade me to launch into a more active courfe of life, I embraced the firft opportunity of an ordination, at once to feclude myfelf from fecular employments, and to gratify my sedentary and ftudious difpofition.

To engage in the most facred of all offices without a more laudable view, may be excufed in the eyes of an unthinking world, but muft certainly render a man highly culpable in the fight of Heaven; and, though I am not confcious of ever difgracing my profeffion, except my poverty and misfortunes may be thought to have degraded it, I have often reflected with fhame that I was not influenced by worthier motives.

Having affumed the facred habit, I fet out for my native place with a pain and reluctance I had never before experienced. I reflected, that I was now not only bidding adieu for ever to the feats of the mufes, and leaving behind me fome valuable friends, to whom I was attached by a fimilarity of studies; but had likewife the melancholy confideration to fupport, that I had no longer a father to receive me in his longing arms, or a faithful friend to guard me from the deceptions of the world. At the fight of my native manfion, the tears gufhed involuntarily from my eyes: I was overcome with contending paffions; and could scarcely fupport myself into the room where my relations were ready to receive me, before I fell littlefs on the floor, and enjoyed a temporary fufpenfion of thought, and a confequent relaxation from mifery.

On recovering, I found the whole family anxiously attentive to my welfare; and my mother, from her apprehenfions for me, was in a state little better than that from which I was reitored. She, however, foon regained ftrength to blefs God that I was fafe, and that he had lived to see me in holy orders.

Regardless of fecuring any little advantage that might have accrued to me from my acceptance of a curacy, I continued fome time with my mother and elder brother, profecuting my theological

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theological ftudies with much application, and only allowing proper intervals for exercife, or company. Time, the grand reftorer, affifted by thofe doctrines of chriftianity which are peculiarly comforting to the afflicted, brought me by degrees to a necef. fary compofure of mind. I gradually regained my wonted ferenity; and was ardently looking forward to my future deftination, when a fresh accident

plunged me into the depths of mifery, and not only taught me to defpair of finding friendship in a heart where the maxims of virtue are not inherent, but convinced me that the ties of blood may be burit afunder at the inftigations of paffion, and a brother with lefs reluctance facrificed than a fenfual appetite abandoned.

[To be concluded in our next. ]

REVIEW AND GUARDIAN OF LITERATURE.

JULY

ART I. The Hiftory of Sumatra; containing an Account of the Government, Laws, Cuftoms, and Manners, of the Native Inhabitants, with a Defcription of the Natural Productions, and a Relation of the Ancient Political State of that Ifland. By William Marfden, F.R.S. late Secretary to the Prefident and Council of Fort Marlborough*. 4to. 135. Payne and Son.

TH

HOUGH the Ifland of Sumatra, in point of fituation and extent, holds a confpicuous rank on the terraqueous globe, and is furpaffed by few in the bountiful indulgénces of nature, it has been unaccountably neglected by writers; fo that, in fact, except a fhort sketch of the manners prevailing in a particular diftrict, published in the Philofophical Tranfactions of the year 1778, not a fingle page of information has been communicated to the public by any Englishman who ever refided there.

Indeed, to form a general and toferably accurate account of this country, and it's inhabitants, is a work of great difficulty. The neceffary information is by no means to be procured from the natives, whofe knowledge and enquiries are to the laft degree confined, and the internal parts of Sumatra have seldom been vifited by Europeans. The great variety of independent governments, and confequent diverfity of national

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1783.

diftinctions in this island, render the talk of properly difcriminating more difficult than it is eafy to conceive; not fo much from the number of these diftinct governments, or the diffimilarity in their languages or manners, as from the perplexed and uncertain ftate of their many local divifions, and the innovations on the originality of the ancient cuftoms and manners of the people, by fettlers from different countries.

These objections, Mr. Marsden ob ferves, would have deterred him from an undertaking apparently fo arduous; had he not reflected, that thofe circumftances in which the principal difficulty confifted, were in fact the leaft interefting to the public, and of the leaft utility in themfelves. He therefore very properly determined to give rather a comprehenfive than a circumftantial defcription of the divifions of the country into it's various governments; aiming at a more particular detail in what refpects the cuftoms, opinions, arts, and induftry, of the original inhabitants, in their most genuine ftate: and though the interests of European powers established on the island, with the hiftory of their fettlements, and revolutions of commerce, form no part of Mr. Marsden's plan, he has occafionally introduced them, where they were materially connected with the accounts of the native inhabitants.

Much the greatest portion of what

See the account of an extraordinary phænomenon obferved at Sumatra by this gentleman, Page 22.

Our

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