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The man immortalized for "purring like a cat," was one Bufby, a Proctor in the Commons. He who barked fo ingeniously, and then called the drawer to drive away the dog, was father to Dr. Salter of the Charterhoufe. He who fung a fong, and by correfpondent motions of his arm chalked out a giant on the wall, was one Richardfon, an attorney.The letter figned Sunday was written by Mifs Talbot; and he fancied the billets in the first volume of the Rambler were fent by Mifs Mulfo, now Mrs. Chapone.

The papers contributed by Mrs. Carter had much of his esteem, though he always blamed me for preferring the letter figned Charita to the allegory, where religion and fuperftition are indeed moft masterly delineated.

MISCELLANEOUS.

He did not take much delight in that fort of converfation, which confifted in telling ftories. He was, however, no enemy to that fort of talk from the famous Mr. Foote, "whose happiness of manner in relating was fuch as fubdued arrogance, and roused stupidity." His ftories were truly like thofe of Biron in Love's Labour Loft, so very attractive,

That aged years play'd truant at his tales, And younger hearings were quite ravifh'd, So fweet and voluble was his difcourfe?

Of all converfers, however, added he, the late Hawkins Browne was the most delightful; his talk was at once fo elegant, fo apparently artlefs, fo pure, and fo pleasing, it feemed a perpetual ftream of fentiment, enlivened by gaiety, and fparkling with images.

We talked of Lady Tavistock, who grieved herself to death for the lofs of her husband. "She was rich, and wanted employment; fo fhe cried, till the loft all power of reftraining her tears. Other women are forced to outlive their husbands, who were just as much beloved; but they have no time for grief. I doubt not if we had put Lady Tavistock into a chandler's fhop, and given her a nurse-child to tend, her life would have been faved. The poor and the busy have no leifure for fentimental forrow.”

On a Sermon in the City being commended, he asked the fubject. On being told it was Friendship, he said, "Why should little Evans preach on fuch a fubject, where no one can be thinking of it ?"-What are they thinking on, Sir ? Why, the men are thinking of their money, the women of their mop1."

Of Johnson, faid Hogarth, he is not contented with believing the bible; he refolves to believe nothing but the bible.-He added, Johnfon, though fo wife a fellow, is more like David than Solomon, for he fays in his hafte, that all men are liars.Johnson's incredulity amounted almost to a disease.

When at Brighthelmftone he turned his back on Lord Bolingbroke, he made this excufe: I am not obliged to find reafons for refpecting the rank of him who will not condefcend to declare it by his dress, or some other visible mark; what are stars and other figns of fuperiority made for?

Mrs. Piozzi's APOLOGY for the DOCTOR'S ODD MANNERS.

What may I not apprehend, who, if I relate anecdotes of Mr. Johnfon, am obliged to repeat expreffions of feverity, and fentences of contempt? Let me at least foften them a little, by faying, that he did not hate the perfons he treated with roughness, or despise those whom he drove from him with apparent fcorn. He really loved and refpected many, whom he would not fuffer to love him. He was even ungentle with those for whom he had the greatest regard. When I one day lamented the death of a coufin killed in America, "Prithee, my dear (faid he). have done with canting: how would the world be worse for it, I may ask, if all your relations were at once spitted like laiks, and roafted for Prefto's fupper?" (Prefto was the dog under the table.)-When we went into Wales together to Sir Robert Cotton's, at Lleweny, one day at dinner I meant to please Mr. Johnfon particularly with a difh of young peas.

Are they not charming? faid I to him. "Perhaps, faid he, they would be fo-to a pig." I inftance these to excufe my mentioning thofe he made to others.

Mrs. THRALE'S VERSES on Dr. JOHNSON,

When Mr. Thrale built the new library at Streatham, and hung up over the books the portraits of his favourite friends, that of Dr. Johnson was last finished, and closed the number. It was almoft impoffible not to make verfes on fuch an accidental combination of circumstances, so I made the following ones; but as a character written in verfe will for the moft part be found imperfect as a character, I have therefore written a profe one, with which I mean, not to complete, but conclude thefe anecdotes of the best and wifelt man that ever came within the reach of my perfonal acquaintance; and I think I might venture to add, that of all or any of my readers.

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Gigantic in knowledge, in virtue, in strength,
Our company clofes with Johnfon at length;
So the Greeks from the cavern of Polypheme
past,

When wifeft, and greatest, Ulyffes came last.
To his comrades contemptuous, we see him
look down

On their wit and their worth with a general frown,

Since from Science' proud tree the rich fruit

1

'he receives,

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We fuffer from Jobnfon; contented to find, That fome notice we gain from so noble a mind,

And pardon our hurts, fince fo often we've found

The balm of inftruction pour'd into the wound.

Who could shake the whole trunk while they 'Tis thus for its virtues the chemists extol

turned a few leaves.

His piety pure, his morality nice-
Protector of virtue, and terror of vice;

In these features Religion's firm champion
difplay'd,

Shall make infidels fear for a modern crufade :

Pure rectified fpirits, fublime alcohol;
From

noxious putrefcence prefervative

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SOME ACCOUNT with REGARD to the TRAVELS of JAMES BRUCE, Efq. of

T

KINNAIRD.

[Said to be written by the Hon. DAINES BARRINGTON, Efq.]

HE many voyages for the better knowledge of the globe we inhabit have been one of the most diftinguished glories of the prefent reign.

Moft of thefe, however, have rather been undertaken to explore very diftant feas and coafts, than to procure information with regard to the interior parts of the four great cortinents.

In Europe even, we are not fo well acquainted with diftricts which belong to the Turkish empire, as we should be ; and we are still more ignorant in the Afiatic quarter, of that immenfe tract which lies between Thibet and the N. E. extremity.

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As for South-America, we must be chiefly contented with fuch opportunities of access as the jealoufy of the Spaniards will fometimes indulge to the curiofity of the French, though fuch researches are always denied to English

men.

only to be expected after Mr. Bruce's death, which both his make and health feem to remove the danger of for feveral years,

A late traveller, however, the Baron de Tott, hath infinuated, that Mr. Bruce was never at the fources of the Nile, because Mr. Bruce's fervant (who was with him in Abyf finia) faid at Cairo, that he never accompa nied his master to any fuch spot.

If, therefore, this infinuation continues uncontradicted, as well as many other reports to the prejudice of our very diftinguished tra veller, the publication (whenever it may take place) will not receive the entire credit, which I am perfuaded it will most amply deserve.

Having therefore lately procured the means of difproving this moft ill-founded infinuation of the Baron Tott, as well as fome other objections which have been circulated against the credit of Mr. Bruce's much-to-be-expect ed narrative, I think that it is right fuch information fhould be early laid before the public. I muft, at the fame time, premife, that though I have the honour to be known to Mr. Bruce, yet our acquaintance is not of the most intimate kind, nor have I feen him for feveral years. He will not, moreover, receive the most diftant intimation of what I am now publishing, otherwife the defence (if any is requifite) would be infinitely more ftrong and accurate.

The more interior parts of Africa, however, are equally open to every European nation, provided it contains travellers of enter, prize and abilities; and in this divifion of the globe the admiffion to Abyffinia hath generally been fuppofed to be the most difficult. It is therefore much to be regretted, that when an Englishman (fo eminently qualified as Mr. Bruce) hath made fo long a refidence in this unfrequented empire, that the public fhould not have yet received the very interefting information from him, which he is certainly enabled to give them. It is much to be feared, indeed, that the profpect of this communication is a diftant one, and perhaps I believe that this as well as other dates and facts which I fhall state are accurate; dut as no application hath been made to Mr. Bruce himself, it is probable there may be fome mi takes, though it is hoped of no great importance,

JAMES BRUCE, Esq. of Kinnaird, is a gentleman of considerable family and fortune, and in 1763 was appointed Conful to Algiers, where he continued till 1765 *.

In June 1764, he requested leave of abfence from the Secretary of State for the Southern department, in order to make fome drawings of Antiquities near Tunis, for which Mr. Bruce had very confiderable talents *.

In Mr. Bruce's laft letter from Algiers to the fame Secretary, dated December 29, 1764, Mr. Bruce alludes to another leave of abfence, which he had likewife requested, that he might vifit parts of the African continent +.

How long he continued in Africa I have not had the opportunity of procuring information; but having intentions afterwards of vifiting Palmyra, he was fhipwrecked on the coaft of Tunis, and plundered of every thing by the barbarous inhabitants.

The most diftreffing part of the lofs was probably that of his inftruments, fo neceffary to a scientific traveller ; and though he afterwards procured fome of thefe, yet others (particularly a quadrant) could not be recovered.

Mr. Bruce, however, determining to repair this lofs as focn as poffible from France, fo much nearer to him than England, was fo fortunate as to be provided with a time-piece and quadrant from that quarter ‡.

Where he continued after his shipwreck I have not heard, with any degree of accuracy; but on the 28th of January, 1768, he was at a French house in Aleppo, by which route he probably returned from Palmyra.

Where and when Mr. Bruce received the French inftruments is not known; but as he was ftill bent on vifiting Abyflinia, he gave a commiffion to Mr. W. Ruffel, F. R. S. § for a reflecting telescope, made by Mr. Bird, or Short; a watch with a hand to point feconds, and the newest and completest English Astronomical Tables, all of which were to be sent to Mr. Fremeaux ||, and forwarded to him at Alexandria, before August.

On the 29th of March, 1768, Mr. Bruce was at Sidon on the coaft of Syria. and wrote to Mr. Ruffel from thence for the following additional instruments, viz. A twelve feet refracting telescope, to be divided into pieces of three feet, and joined with fcrews ¶; this telefcope was alfo accompanied by two thermometers, and two portable barometers. Mr. Bruce moreover informed Mr. Ruffel, that he was going into a country (viz. Abyffinia) from which few travellers had returned, and wifhed Mr. Ruffel, or his philofophical friends, would fend him their defiderata, as he was entirely at their fervice **. Mr. Bruce added, that if he could not obtain admiflion into Abyffinia, he still would do his best in the cause of Science, on the eastern coast of the Red Sea.

As Mr. Bruce had directed the instruments to be ready for him at Alexandria by the be ginning of August 1768, it is probable that he reached Cairo about that time, from

* Letter of June 4th, 1764, at present in the office of Lord Sydney, which his Lordship has been fo obliging as to permit me to examine.

f Mr. Bruce explains himself no further in this letter; but it is believed that he proceeded confiderably to the fouthward of Algiers, and made thofe very capital drawings of remains of Roman architecture, which many have feen upon Mr. Bruce's return to England. Before he fet out for Algiers, he informed fome of his friends, that the making fuch excurfions for these interesting purposes was his principal inducement for accepting the confulfhip.

Upon this occafion Lewis the Fifteenth prefented Mr Bruce with an iron quadrant, of four feet radius, as he had probably reprefented to the Academy of Sciences bis want of fuch an inftrument, whilft he should be in Abyffinia: Mr. Bruce brought back with him to En gland this cumbrous fellow-traveller, and having put upon it an infcription to the following purport, is faid to have prefented it to the univerfity of Glasgow :

“With this instrument given by the King of France, Lewis XV. Mr. Bruce proceeded to the fources of the Nile, it being carried on foot, upon men's fhoulders, over the mountains of Abyffinia." This information 1 received from that eminent maker of inftruments Mr, Nairne.

To conclude my account of this quadrant, it may not be improper to mention, that Mr. Bruce fent it to an island in the lake of Dombea, when an attack was apprehended from the Gellas (the conftant enemies of the Abyffinians), which ended in the plunder of Gondar. This lake is very near to Gondar.

§ Letter from Dr. Patrick Ruffel, at Aleppo, to Dr. Alexander Ruffel, in London, kindly communicated to me by Mr. W. Ruffel, late Secretary to the Turkey Company, and F. R.S. Letter of February 11, 1768, received by Mr. Ruffel in London, April 27.

A merchant of eminence in London.

In order to make it more portable.

** Mr. Ruffel was unfortunately confined by a fevere fit of the gout, at Bath, when he received this letter, and therefore could not make this kind offer from Mr. Bruce to his philofophical friends, early enough to tranfmit them to Alexandria, where Mr. Bruce was to be in August 1768,

whence

whence he proceeded to Abyfania, by way of Jedda, Mazava,† and Arquico §

*

Whilft Mr. Bruce was at Jedda, he was met by fome English gentlemen returning from the Eaft Indies, among whom was Mr. Newland, who hath published a map of the Red Sea, and who availed himself of Mr. Bruce's obfervations to fix the fituation of that port. ||

It is fuppofed that Mr. Bruce did not stay long at Jedda, as he is faid to have explored the coaft on the E. fide as low as Mocha, during which drawings were taken of many curious fith in the Red Sea. Mr Bruce muft alfo have entered Abyffinia, either at the lat ter end of 1768, or the very beginning of 1769, as he made an observation on that part of Africa on the 15th of January of that year. I

In this perilous enterprize he was accom-' panied by a Greek fervant (named Michael) and an Italian painter, who probably affifted in the numerous articles which might deferve representation, and who died of a flux before Mr. Bruce's return to Cairo in 1773.

Mr. Bruce muft at times alfo have been affifted by many others, as his inftruments, apparatus for drawings, and other neceffaries, from their weight and bulk could not be eafily tranfported from place to place, and perhaps required beafts of burthen.

Το thefe likewife must be added feveral medicines which enabled him to perform feveral cures on the inhabitants, and probably occafioned the good reception he afterwards met with.

I shall leave fuch other particulars as happened to Mr. Bruce during his long refidence in this unfrequented country, to his own fuperior narrative, and fhall therefore only ftate, that he made a large number of obfervations** to fix the fituation of places, out of which 31 have been examined and computed by the

Aftronomer Royal. The first of these observations was made on the 10th of January 1759, and the laft, on the 5th of October 1772, from 30 to 38 degrees of E. longitude from Greenwich, and from 12 to 28 degrees of N. latitude. It need fcarcely be faid, therefore, that these observations, which include fo large an extent of almost unknown country, must prove a valuable addition to geography; and the more fo, because the Portugueíc, who first visited Abyffinia, give neither longitude nor latitude of any place in that empire ++; and Poncet only two latitudes, viz. thofe of Sennar and Giefum. ‡‡

As Mr. Bruce made the last of his obfervations on the 5th of October 1772, it is probable that he might then be on his return to Cairo, through Nubia and Upper Egypt, where he arrived on the 15th of January 1773, after an abfence of more than four years; bringing back with him his Greek fervant, named Michael.

Mr. Bruce continued at Cairo four months, during which time he had daily intercourie with Mr. Antes, the fubftance of a letter from whom will contain the principal confutation of Baron Tott, and others, who have been incredulous with regard to Mr. Bruce's expected narrative.

Mr. Antes was born of German parents, who were poffefied of lands in the back fettlements of Pennsylvania; and having fhewed early abilities as a mechanic, removed to Europe, where he diftinguished himself in the art of watch-making, which he learnt without apprenticeship. Being a member of the church known by the name of Unitas Fratrum, and commonly called Moravian, he wished to be employed in their missions, and more efpecially that of the fame perfuafion established at Cairo, who always have defined to procure opportunities of instructing the Abyffinians. ¶

Or Giedda, the port to Mecca and Medina.

† A fmall fland on the W. coaft of the Red Sea, N. lat. 15. the most southern part of the Turkish dominions in Africa.

A port to the S. of Mazava. The neighbouring district is under the dominion of an Arabic Shiek. The Portuguese entered Abyffinia by the fame route.

I have this information from that diftinguished Geographer Mr. Dalrymple, F. R. S. Mr. Bruce carried with him so many black lead pencils for this purpofe, that he prefented feveral to Mr. Antes on his return to Cairo. Who Mr. Antes was will hereafter

appear.

Of the eclipfes of Jupiter's Satellites.—I am obliged to Vice-Admiral Campbell for this

communication.

++"Many of the countries in Ethiopia are diverfly placed by divers, which Alvarez, in "his fo many years travel in Ethiopia, might well have acquainted us with, had he accuftomed himfelf by rules of art to have observed by inftruments." Purchas.

Thefe two latitudes were fixed by Father Benevent, who accompanied Poncet, and died whilt in Abyffinia.

Dr. Hocker, who was a phyfician, and ordained minifter of the fame church, was shipwrecked not many years fince on the Red Sea, in making this attempt, and obliged to return

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"which gave Mr. Antes frequent opportu"nities of inquiring with regard to Ahyffi"nia, concerning which he was particularly "interested from a reafon before stated §.

Mr. Bruce had left Cairo 15 months be- "which was not lefs than four months, no fore Mr. Antes came there; and the inter-day paffed without their feeing each other, course, therefore, between them first took place on Mr. Bruce's return in 1773Having given this account of Mr. Bruce and Mr. Antes's being first known to each other, I fhall now tate the fubftance of fome information received from the latter, who is now established at Fulneck near Leeds, after having refided eleven years at Cairo.

"That Mr. Antes frequently converfed "with Michael, Mr. Bruce's Greek fervant, "who is ftated to have by no means had a "lively imagination, and who always agreed "with the circumstances mentioned by his "mafter, and more particularly in relation

"That Mr. Brace left Cairo in 1768, "and proceeded thence, by way of Jedda," to their having visited the fources of the "Mazava, and Arquico, into Abyffinia,

"That in 1771, a Greek came from "Gondar * in Abyffinia, who had a draft "from Mr. Bruce on a French merchant "at Cairo (named Rofe) + for some hun"dreds of German crowns, which were "paid immediately. This draft was accom" Ipanied by a letter from Mr. Bruce, and "was the first time that he had been "heard of at Cairo fince his departure in "1768.

"That after Mr. Bruce's return to Cairo ❝in 1773, Mr. Antes faw a young Arme. "nian and his father (who came likewise "from. Gondar) at Mr. Pini's, an Italian "merchant of Cairo, where they and Mr. "Bruce converfed in the Abyffinian lan

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guage, and feemed glad to meet him "again.

"That Mr. Bruce returned to Cairo from "Abyffinia, by way of Nubia and Upper "Egypt, which can be fully attested by the "Francifcan Friars who are established at "Ife, near Afyuwan, which latter is the "highest town of Upper Egypt.

"That during Mr. Bruce's stay at Cairo,

"Nile, which the Baron Tott doubts of, from "having had a converfation with this fame "Greek fervant."

Mr. Antes adds, "That Baron Tott ftaid "but a few days at Cairo; and, from his "fhort refidence in that country, hith given " feveral erroneous accounts relative to "Egypt. Mr. Antes, on the other hand, "had almost daily converfations with Mi"chael for feveral years, and often in relation "to the fources of the Nile**."

Laftly, "That after Mr. Bruce left Cairo, "Mr. Antes had converfed with others + f "who had known Mr. Bruce in Abyffinia, "and that he was there called Maalim Ja"kube, or Mr. James."

After this ftate of facts, I conceive that no one can entertain a reasonable doubt with regard to Mr. Bruce's not only having vifited, but refided long in Abyffinia; though it is remarkable that the Jefuits expreffed the fame doubts in relation to Poncet, who had continued there nearly as long as Mr. Bruce. Poncet happened to be a layman, and the Jetuits, perhaps, would not approve of any narrative that did not come from father Bene

to Cairo. I am obliged to the Rev. Mr. Latrobe for this communication, as likewife feveral others, and more particularly, the letter from his brother-in-law, Mr. John Antes, extracts from which will foon be stated.

* Generally confidered as the capital.

It hath before been stated, that Mr. Bruce established himself in a French houfe at Aleppo, from which most probably he obtained credit upon a houfe of the fame nation at Cairo, and was thence fupplied with a power of drawing from Abyffinia.

His name was Paolo. The Armenians are the moft enterprifing of any inland merchants -Their religious notions alfo agree with thofe of the Abyffinians, which is a moft material point.

Mr. Antes does not speak the Abyffinian language himself, but was informed by Paolo, the Armenian merchant, who had long refided at Gondar, that their converfation was in that tongue.

Viz. his belonging to the Moravian miffion at Cairo, who have always wifhed to vifit that country.

** Mr. Antes's peculiar curiofity with regard to Abyffinia, hath before been accounted for.

++ There is an intercourfe between Cairo and Abyffinia, as the Patriarch of the Copts refides at the former, from whom the Archbishop of Abyffinia receives his confecration. The Copts are faid to be a branch of the Eaftern church, who both circumcife and baptize. Their Patriarch always affumes the name of Mark. The prefent Patriarch is Mark the 17th.

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