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fwarmed, and ftung intolerably; and
the butterflies in many places darkened
the air with their numbers. It is not
likely that our voyagers should be fond
of careening in this bay; they, there-
fore, fet fail on May the 31ft, and on
June the 2d, in latitude 20° S. found
themselves embarrassed among a chain
of iflands, the largest of which did
not exceed five leagues in circumfe-
rence. On the western fide of this
country, Dampier found a like chain
of islands, in the fame latitude, which
made him quit the coaft as too danger
ous to navigate, and not worth the
hazard. Our voyagers, however, not-
withstanding the danger, purfued their
courfe till Sunday the 10th, when, in
Jat. 16° 20'S. being near the latitude
affigned by Quiros to the islands of Sa-
lomon, they flood off with a view to
examine them; but, while the officers
were at fupper, the water fuddenly
fhoaled, and caufed a general alarm.
The gentlemen fprung fuddenly upon
the deck; the failors got all to their
pofts, in readiness to put the ship about,
and to drop anchor, when at the very
next caft of the lead the water deepen-
ed again, and they concluded that they
had paffed the tail of the fhoal, and
that all the danger was over; fo they
returned again to fupper, and about
eleven at night they went to bed. But
they were scarce warm there before the
fhip ftruck upon a rock, and remained
immoveable. In a moment all hands
were upon deck, and every countenance
expreffed the horror arifing from their
deplorable fituation. The moon fhone
bright, and there was a fine breeze.
The heaving of the furge grated the
bottom of the veffel against the rock,
and they every moment expected the
hole to be made, in which the sea was
to rush, that was to swallow them up,
The fails were in an inftant let fall, the
mafts lowered, the boats hoisted out,
the rock examined, and all this with as
much calmness and regularity as if
only an ordinary accident had hap-
pened, in which there was no danger.
Upon examination it was found, that
the hip had been heaved over a ledge
into a hollow, and that her bows were
faft, while her ftern floated. They,
therefore, carried out the anchors
abaft, though whether they would take
or not upon the rock was uncertain;
and then, applying their whole force to
the capiton, they endeavoured to heave
the fhip a-tern, but their efforts in this
way took no effect. In the mean while,

Epitome of Lieut. Cook's Voyage round the World.

to increase their terror, the light of the moon discovered to their view the heathing boards come floating round them, and presently a large proportion of the Falfe keel; and, what ftill added to their distress, if fuch diftrefs could admit of aggravation, they found the tide to ebb away, and the hip gras dually to rest her whole weight on the rugged point of a coral rock. Nothing now was to be apprehended but that The would never rife more; yet it did not appear, when the fettled, that she let in more water than her pumps could carry off. As there remained no hope of relief, but from her keeping together till the return of the flood, their next bufinefs was to heave overboard every heavy article they could poffibly spare, in order to prepare her to float at the height of the next tide. This refolus tion was no fooner taken than carried into execution. The guns that were upon the deck, the iron and stone ballaft in the hold, all decayed fores, and, in fhort, every other cumbersome artiticle, were calt into the fea, as of no value when life was at ftake. Every precaution being now taken, they waited impatiently for the return of the flood. In the mean time, the wind dying away, left the fhip at perfect reft. Thus the night past heavily on, and when daylight appeared, it opened to the view of the defponding multitude all the hors rors of their dreadful fituation. The fhip lying like a wreck on a rock (as it were) in the middle of the ocean, no land within many miles of the place where he lay, no intermediate rock whereon to reft a part of the crew, while the remainder might be brought away in the boats, a scene of confusion every moment expected to enfue, when all fubordination would ceafe, and when the struggle for life would occafion many to perish; when the contention among the strong to get polfeffion of the boats, would leave no hope for the weak to escape with life ; and when even thofe who might reach the fhore, would inevitably be exposed, defenceless among favages, to greater fufferings than those who inftantly met death; all these gloomy thoughts and apprehenfions, could not but take place in minds that were now at leifure to reflect. The hour, however, approached that was to determine the crifis of their fate; and at eleven the next day, when it was hoped the ship would have been relieved, though they had lightened her near 50 tons, the ftill wanted 18

Epitome of Lieut. Cook's Voyage round the World.

inches, to make her float. It is easier to conceive than exprefs the anxiety of every mind on meeting the fhock of fuch a difappointment; they had now 12 hours longer to wait for the return of the night tide, and they had the additional mortification to find, that when the tide again began to flow, the leakes increased, so that three pumps continually kept going were (carce fufficient to prevent the water from gaining in the hold. This was a heavy fervice that could not be remitted, and before the height of the next flood had almost exhaufted the whole strength of the ship. On that coaft the night tides rife higher than the day tides by several inches. Accordingly, the hip being lightened confiderably more than on the first trial, very fortunately rofe upon the furge when the night tide came to its height, and was launched off the rock into deep water, with no other apparent injury than what he had fuftained by her firft refting. To them whe have waited in a state of fufpenfe, when death was approaching in all its horrors, the joy that fucceeded this ray of hope can only be known. But the danger was yet far from being over. The man who kept the watch to mark the progrefs of the leak, gave out, at the approach of the fucceeding day, that the water had gained upon the pumps more than eighteen inches; and the men who had been employed to work the pumps, though conftantly relieved every ten minutes, being now fo much exhausted that they could not continue their labour for five minutes together, without fainting and falling down upon the deck, though the water flowed round them four inches deep, began to grow carelefs of life, and were juft upon the point of relinquishing their labour in defpair, when the man who fucceeded to the watch proclaimed aloud, that the balance between the water admitted by the leaks and that thrown out by the pumps was nearly equal; and that what advantage there was, the pumps had it. This operated, to use the writer's words, like a charm, New confidence inspired new vigour, and, inftead of the leaks gaining upon the pumps, the pumps, before eight in the morning, had gained confiderably upon the leaks. But unremitting labour would probably have foon produced the fame defpondency as before, had not Mr. Monkhouse, a midshipman, proposed an expedient, that, being approved, very happily fucceeded. GENT. MAS. Feb. 1774

ed

upon

73

He caused a studding-fail to be stretchthe deck, and over it a quantity of oakham and wool to be lightly fpread and quilted juft enough to keep the mixture tight to the fail. This done he caufed the dung and filth of all the animals they had on board to be raked together, and with this he covered the mixture of wool and oakham. Being thus prepared, and a number of ropes fattened to the canyas to keep the fides extended, they hauled it under the hips bottom, and when it had covered the leaky parts, the fuction that carried in the water drew with it the fothering of the canvas. In the moment of application the effect was felt. The water that three pumps could but juft with difficulty e ject, was easily kept under by one; and now the joy became general. Those whofe only with was to reach the fhore, were now for continuing their voyage till a convenient harbour could be discovered, in which the hip might be properly laid down and repaired; and all were impatient to get under fail. Such of the anchors as could be raised were weighed, and thofe entangled in the rock were cut away.

On the 12th they anchored a league from the rock, and on the 13th they got under fail, and with a gentle breeze proceeded on their voyage. The ledge on which the hip ftruck lies in lat. 15° 45'S, and at the distance of eight leagues from the main; but it is not the only fhoal upon this part of the coaft, especially to the northward.

On the 14th they difcovered a harbour, in which with difficulty they moored the fhip. Providence manifeftly interpofed in their prefervation throughout; for now it began to blow juft as this harbour was discovered, and it would have been impoffible to weather a ftorm in the condition the fhip then was; for fhe had already refused to work, and had twice missed stays. While fhe lay upon the rock the breeze died away, and not a breath of wind disturbed the furface of the ocean; as foon as she was released, the breeze quickened, which, if it had rifen half an hour fooner, would have dashed her into a thousand

pieces. The harbour they difcovered in the critical moment when a stormi was approaching, was fuch as in the whole courfe of their navigation they had not feen the like. It was in every refpect convenient. In warping her in they found fo bold a hore that the floated a twenty feet dittance from it,

and

74

Extraordinary Sagacity in a Dog.

and they made a ftage to facilitate the communication. They found the bay plentifully fupplied with wood and water; and, in fhort, a fituation more defirable could not have been wished.

Here they landed, erected tents, and built a forge, unloaded their ammunition, provifion, and ftores; made proper preparations for their defence in cafe of a fudden attack or furprize from the favages. Every thing being thus far in forwardness, the fhip was then laid ashore and her leaks examined, when it appeared that the rock had cut four of her planks, at her floor heads, close to the imbers; that three more were very much damaged, but that her prefervation was owing to a circumftance that aftonished and impreffed all who beheld it; a point of the rock on which the ad refted had made a hole in the fhip's fide, large enough to have baffled all human efforts to have prevented her going to the bottom in the fhort fpace of a fingle hour; but providentially it broke where it penetrated, and, by plugging up the orifice, was itfelf a remedy against the mischief it had done.

Perhaps in the hiftory of mankind there is no relation to be met with of any aftonishing escape, in which fo many circumstances concur to manifeft the power of an invifible arm employed in working out a deliverance. If any of our readers are defirous to know all the particulars, we must refer them to the original; what is here fet down is only to be confidered as an imperfect fketch.

(To be concluded in our next.) Mr. URBAN,

THE inclofed curious and authentic

remain of the famous SirJohn Harrington, not having been difcovered at the time of the publication of his elegant fugitive pieces in the little volume of Nuga Antique, printed at London in 1669, I must beg a place for it in your valuable repofitory, where it will be preferved, and will, I doubt not, be truly acceptable to many of your

readers.

Your occafional correfpondent, ANTIQUARIUS, Copy of a letter from Sir John Harrington to Prince HENRY, Son 10 King JAMES I. concerninge bis Dogge.

"MAY it please your Highneffe to accept in as goode forte what I now offer as it hath done aforetyme; and I may faie I pede faufto; but having good

reafon to thinke your Highneffe had goode will and likinge to reade what others have tolde of my rare Dogge, I will even give a brief hiftorie of his goode deedes and ftraunge feats; and herein will I not plaie the curr myselfe, but in goode foothe relate what is no more nor leffe than bare verity. Although I mean not to difparage the deedes of Alexander's horfe, I will match my Dogge against him for good carriage, for if he did not bear a great Prince on his back, I am bolde to faie he did often bear the fweet wordes of a greater Princeffe on his necke. I did once relate to your Highneffe after what forte his tacklinge was where. withe he did fojourn from my howse at the Bathe to Greenwiche Palace, and deliver up to the Cowrte there fuch matters as were entrusted to his care. This he hathe often done, and came fafe to the Bathe, or my howfe here at Kelftone, with goodlie, returnes from fuch Nobilitie as were pleafede to emploie him; nor was it ever tolde our Ladie Queene that this meffenger did ever blab ought concerninge his highe trufte, as others have done in more fpecial matters. Neither muft it be for gotten as how he once was fente withe two charges of fack wine from the Bathe to my howfe, by my man Combe; and on his way the cordage did fiackene, but my truftie bearer did now bear himselfe fo wifely as to covertly hide one flasket in the ruthes, and take the other in his teethe to the Howfe, after whiche he wente forthe, and returnede withe the other parte of his burden to dinner; hereat yr Highneffe may peychance marvele and doubte, but we have livinge teftimonie of those who wroughte in the fieldés and efpiede his worke, and now live to tell they did muche longe to plaie the Dogge and give ftowage to the wing themfelves, but they did refrain and watchede the paffinge of this whole bufineffe. 1 need not faie howe muche I dide once grieve at miffinge this Dogge, for on my journiee towardes Londone, fome idle paftimers did di verte themselves withe huntinge mallards in a ponde, and conveyed him to the Spanish Ambaffador's, where in a happie houre after fix weekes. I did heare of him; but fache was the cowrte he did pay to the Don, that he was no leffe in good likinge there than at home. Nor did the household listen to my claim, or challenge, till I rested my fuite on the Dogges own proefs

and

Mr. Ferguson's mechanic Principles defended.

and made him perform fuch feats before the nobles affembled, as put it paft doubt that I was his master. I did fend him to the hall in the time of dinner, and made him bringe thence a pheafant out the difh, which created much mirthe, but much more when he returnede at my commandment to the table again, and put it again in the fame cover. Herewith the companie was well content to allowe me my claim, and we bothe were well content to accept it, and came homewardes. I could dwell more on this matter, but jubes renovare dolorem; I will now faie in what manner he died. As we traveled towardes the Bathe, he leapede on my horfes necke, and was more earneste in fawninge and courtinge my notice than what I had obferved for time backe, and after my chidinge his difturbing my paffinge forwardes, he gave me fome glances of fuch affection as movede me to cajole him; but alafs he crept fuddenly into a thiorny brake, and died in a fhort time. Thus I have trove to rehearse fach of his deeds as maie fuggeft much more to yr Highneffe thought of this Dogge.

But havinge faide fo much of him in profe, I will fay fomewhat too in verfe, as you may find hereafter at the close of this hiftorie. Now let Ulyffes praise his Dogge Argus, or Tobite be led by that Dagge whofe name doth not appeare, yet coud I fay fuch things of my Bungey, for fo was he ftyled, as might fhame them both, either for good faith, clear wit, or wonderful deeds; to faie no more than I have faid of his bearing letters to London and Greenwich more than an hundred miles. As I doubte not but your Highneffe would love my Dogge if not myfelfe, I have been thus tedious in hie ftorie, and againe faie that of all the Dogges near your father's Court not one hathe more love, more diligence to pleafe, or lefs pay for pleafinge, than him I write of; for verily a bone would contenie my fervante, when some expecte greater matters, or will knavithly find oute a bone of contention.

I now refte youre Highneffe friend in all fervice that maye fuite him.

JOHN HARRINGTON.

P. S. The verles above spoken of are in my book of epigrams in praise of my Dogge Bungey to Momus." And I have an excellente picture curiously limned to remain in my posterity. Kelfone, June 14, 1608.

Book iii. Epigram 21.

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Mr. URBAN, THOUGH my pretenfions to mecha nical knowledge are exceedingly fmall, yet I am fond of the ftudy; and can receive both pleasure and instruction from the perufal of writings on mechanical fubjects, which do not abound with technical terms; and are, by their perfpicuity, rather adapted to promote general knowledge, than to aid the mechanic in the conftruction of any particular machine. In fhort, those writings are beft adapted to my capacity, which confider mechanics as a fcience depending on certain fixed principles, and conducive to general utility, without treating profeffedly of any feparate art. As the controverfy upon the mechanical advantages of high and low wheels, is of the kind I have juft mentioned, the attentive perufal of it in your useful and instructive Mifceldany, afforded me much fatisfaction.

I am no lefs pleafed with the ingenuity of the writers†, than I am with the candow and mildness of the disputants: the former does honour to their understandings; the latter to their hearts. How happy would it be for the public, if politicians and divines would follow this laudable example in their controverfial writings! if they would never attempt to rail when they cannot reason, and abufe when they cannot convince!

I mean not to enter into the merits of the difpute between Mr. Sharpe and the writer who figns himself SIMPLEX. I honour Mr. Sharpe as an ingenious mechanic, and heartily with him fuccefs; though I am inclined, on the prefent occafion, to concur with Simplex in the preference he gives to high wheels. The only inducement I have to write on a fubje& I have to flight a knowledge of, is to rectify a miftake that writer has been guilty of, in accufing the very ingenious and fenfible Mr. Fergufon, of "fliding impercepistibly into a palpable abfurdityt. Mr. Ferguson fays, the pulley is one of the fix mechanical powers; yet he afterwards fays, "the fingle pulicy "only changes the direction of power; "it gives no mechanical advantage.' Thus far Mr. Fergufon; and what he has advanced, in both the above affertions, is strictly and incontrovertibly true. The palpable abfurdity" lies not in Mr. Fergufan's doctrine, but in the inference Simplex draws from it: "for,

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Vide SUPP.to MAG, for 1773, p. 643.

6 Shakespeare's Defcription of Night contrafted.-Curious Coin.

"for, fays he, if one pulley gives no

advantage, neither can a combination "of them give any." This inference is falfe in fact, as well as philofophy. The fact is, that a combination of pullies will effect what one cannot; and the mechanic power by which they effect it, is the fame that Simplex has obferved in levers, &c. viz. " because "the moving power paffes through "more space than the power moved." This is easily explained: for, fuppofe it is required to raife a weight 12 inches, by a rope paffing through a fingle pulley; it is manifeft only 12 inches of rope can pass through the pulley, in raifing the weight to the height requir ed; but let the fame weight be raised 12 inches by a rope, paffing through a combination of four pullies, and it is equally clear that the rope muft pafs through four foot of space, while the weight afcends through one: and the rope is the moving power; therefore,

the moving power paffes through "more space than the power moved." Therefore, Mr Ferguson advanced a truth, and Simplex a ❝ palpable abfur"dity," Q. E. D.

I doubt not, but a writer of Simplex's candour and ingenuity will fee and retract his error, I am, Your's, &c.

Feb. 12, 1774.

Mr. URBAN,

H. L.

S one of your correfpondents has AS given you Shakespear's celebrated defeription of Night, and afferted that it is not equalled by any other poet; I am defirous, by means of your Magazine, to contraft it with a paffage from my favourite poet Dr. Young, and let the impartial public determine which has the preference.

MACBETH folus.

"Now o'er half the world Nature feems dead, and wicked dreams

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Silence how dead! and darkness how profound!

Nor eye nor lift'ning car an object finds;

Creation fleeps:-'tis as the general

pulfe

Of life ftood ftill, and Nature made a paufe,

An awful paufe! prophetic of her end.”

YOUNG.

Do not imagine I mean to detra& from the fame of the immortal Shakefpear, by the above parallel; I hold him in too much reverence to be capable of the thought: but, in my opinion, the beauty of the paffage cited from Macbeth confifts principally in the happy allufion of the imagery to the circumftances of Macbeth. Dr. Young's defcription of Night is beautiful in the highest degree, confidered as a general defcription; and is equally fo in whatever circumftance you sup-pofe the writer to be. The images are trong, bold, and natural, whether they are put into the mouth of a murderer, a traveller, or a philofopher.—It is not fo with the celebrated fpeech of Macbeth; the chief beauty there arifes from the peculiar circumstances of the fpeaker at the time. All the images, though fublime, are horrible, and fuited to the mind of a man bent on a horrid design. It is unnatural, confidered merely as a defcription of Night; but confidered as the speech of a murderer, just about to commit the hourid deed, it is in the highest degree juft and natural and, in this light the poet undoubtedly meant it fhould be confider. ed. I may therefore repeat, without injuftice to Shakespear, that Dr. Young's defcription of Night, confidered merely as fuch, is much more natural and fubblime than Shakespear's; and is not, I believe, to be equalled by any poet, antient or modern. I am,

I

Your conftant Reader.

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Have feen a coin with a head like that in your last Magazine, the reverfe with VER upon it. I think this may be the fame coin, as the last letter

feems to have been an R. The above coin is fuppofed to be one of Caflibelin, who was governor of Ve. rulam; fo that it is not Saxon. This is all the information I can give upon the fubject, which by communicating to your correspondent M. will much ablige

'T. D.

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