signed; but was at length seized (a price having been put on his head) and brought on board the Foudroyant. The last time this prince had visited that ship, he was received with the honours due to his rank and quality. He was now in the disguise of a peasant, wretchedly at tired, his hands bound behind him, and insulted by the meanest of his countrymen. All who had known him entertained great regard for him. Nelson had been his affectionate friend. Nelson was deeply agitated. It is a most critical moment of his life. He consulted with his own mind, and determined on causing Carraccioli to be tried, by Neapolitan officers, on board the Foudroyant. He issued an order to the commanders of the Neapolitan frigates. They met to the number of five; examined particulars; condemned the prisoner; and the same day at sun set Carraccioli was executed at the yard arm of a Neapolitan vessel. We exceedingly regret this haste. We conceive that lord Nelson was neither the sovereign, nor the sovereign's representative, for purposes of criminal justice. We see no propriety in the place where the trial was held; nor in the forms or authority under which it was constituted. But, if the British commander had any reason to believe, that the unhappy prisoner would have been made a still more publick spectacle of at Naples; or that he would have undergone the torture, in order to have made him discover his accomplices; or that he would have been tortured to death, as a traitor; or that the Neapolitan sailors would have risen to rescue him, their old commander; then his lordship showed him mercy by the rapidity of his proceedings, and by their manner; yet we still think a court martial held in a Neapolitan vessel, under the guns of some British ship of war, less dis tinguished than the Foudroyant, would have preserved a decorum, VOL. III.

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which ought not slightly to be dispensed with.

The inference arising from this transaction strongly corroborates our statement, on the varied and complicated duties, in modern days, of a superiour British officer. Often must he, by the necessity of the case, be left to the exercise of his own judgment; and often may that judgment be influenced by incidents, by feelings, or by maxims, not evident to those around him. He may do right essentially, yet transgress circumstantially. He may decide justly, as to the principal, or the ultimate, yet err as to the accessories, or as to the regularity of appearances.

Nelson was not less confident in

his own judgment, when he took on himself to disobey the orders of his commanding officers, in the instances of lord Keith, in the Mediterranean; and of admiral Parker during the battle off Copenhagen. The first drew on him a reprimand from the admiralty, which he felt, though it was nothing like the reproof that would have thundered around the head of a less distinguished officer. "Their lordships," says the admiralty letter, "do not, from any informa tion before them, see sufficient reason to justify your having disobeyed the orders you had received from your commanding officer." This, to say the least, is very civilly expressed. They censure, also, his having employed 1000 of the best men of his squadron in the siege of Capua" in operations at a distance from the coast; where if they should have the misfortune to be defeated, they might be prevented from returning to the ships;" and their lordships commanded him "not to employ the seamen in like manner in future."

Another instance of lord Nelson's difference in opinion from that of his commander, occurred in the battle off Copenhagen. The action began about five minutes past 10 o'clock. Before the event declared in favour

of the British, admiral Parker made the signal for the engagement to

cease.

"Lord Nelson was at this time, as he had been during the whole action, walking the starboard side of the quarter deck; some. times much animated, at others heroically fine in his observations. A shot through the mainmast knocked a few splinters about us; he observed to me with a smile, it is warm work, and this day may be the last to any of us at a moment;' and then stopping short at the gang-way, he used an expression never to be erased from my memory, and said with emotion: But mark you, I would not be elsewhere for thousands.' When the signal No. 39 was made, the signal lieutenant reported it to him. He continued his walk, and did not appear to take notice of it. The lieutenant meeting his lordship at the next turn, asked, whether he should repeat it?' lord Nelson answered, 'no, acknowledge it.' On the officer returning to the poop, his lordship called after him is No. 16 [signal for close action which had been flying from the beginning] still hoisted?' the lieutenant answering in the affirmative; lord Nelson said, mind you keep it so.' He now walked the deck, considerably agitated, which was always known by his moving the stump of his right arm. After a turn or two, he said to me, in a quick manner: 'Do you know what's shown on board the commander in chief, No. 39? On asking him what that meant, he answered, why to leave off action:-Leave off action he repeated; and then added, with a shrug, now damn me if I do.' He also observed, I believe to captain Foley, you know, Foley, I have only one eye, I have a right to be blind sometimes;' and then with an archness peculiar to his character, putting the glass to his blind eye, he exclaimed: I really do not see the signal.' This remarkable signal was, therefore, only acnowledged on board the Elephant, not repeated.

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Undoubtedly, the strong mind of Nelson foresaw that his adversary would soon feel the effects of the struggle, and would accept with alacrity the truce he then, perhaps, meditated, and not long afterwards proposed. Yet, this disobedience must not be taken as exemplary among British officers. It ended happily; and "the end crowned the work;" but let only Nelsons take

such liberties with their superíours; and even Nelsons must expect animadversions.

The determination of this officer to support the honour of the British flag, was conspicuous from the earliest period of his command; for when he was captain only, he displayed a due sense of dignity on an incidental occasion. In this, however, happily for our country, we know he is not singular.

During the passage of the Boreas down to Antigua, to be laid up for the hurricane months, he paid a visit to Fort Royal, and St. Pierre Martinico; and, on landing, was attended by all the young gentlemen of the ship who could be spared. On beating into fort Royal bay, the French officer at the citadel neglected to hoist the colours, a mark of respect that is always observed on the arrival of a foreign ship of war. Captain Nelson immediately demanded an explanation, in a letter to count Damas, the governour; who ordered the officer to be put under arrest, and such further proofs of his respect to the British flag, as were very satisfactory, and induced captain Nelson to plead for the release of the officer, which was granted. The most friendly attentions were afterwards shown to the officers of the Boreas

during their stay at the island."

The vigour of his mental feelings tempted Nelson more than once, conceiving that he experienced slights from the admiralty, to relinquish the service in disgust. Happily his friends overruled him on these feverish occasions. If men of merit are subject to such paroxysms, where is the wonder, that the best intentions cannot give satisfaction to a numerous body of men, each panting after distinction and glory?

But, the duty and the real dignity of an officer does not conclude with his own efforts, or his own life. He is bound to leave to his country, se fur as in his power, successours of equal or superiour merit to himself. This can be accomplished only by a careful encouragement of rising abilities; and this forms a most pleasing trait in the character of our hero. On all proper occasions he applaud

ed those who under his command had conducted themselves well, without reserve. He does not appear to have, in any instance, " damned with faint praise." This marks a mind truly great. Nor is inferiour greatness, in our opinion, manifested in his condescension to younger minds. We therefore conclude this view of Nelson's character as an officer, by inserting an account of his manner of encouraging "the young gentlemen who had the happiness of being on his quarter deck," as described by lady Hughes in a letter to Mr. Matcham.

"It may reasonably be supposed that among the number of thirty, there must have been timid spirits, as well as bold; the timid he never rebuked; but always wished to show them, he desired nothing that he would not instantly do himself; and I have known him say, well, sir, I am

going a race to the mast head, and beg I may meet you there. No denial could be little fellow instantly began to climb the given to such a request; and the poor shrouds. Captain Nelson never took the least notice, in what manner it was done; but, when they met in the top, he spoke in the most cheerful terms to the midship. man, and observed how much any person was to be pitied, who could fancy there was any danger, or even any thing disagreeable, in the attempt.

"After this excellent example I have seen the same youth, who before was so timid, lead another in the like manner, and repeat his commander's words. He every day went into the school room, and saw the mode in which they pursued their nautical acquirements; and at twelve o'clock, he was always the first on deck, with his quadrant; no one could then neglect his duty.

"He always took some of his midship men with him on visits, when abroad; by which means he introduced them into much good company which otherwise they never could have seen."

THE use of sugar in feeding cattle, is a point most highly interesting, not to farmers and the people of this kingdom only, but to the world in general. It is here discussed with all the zeal which a discovery so important might be expected to produce, but with such a profusion of words (the general fault of the advocates of the plough) that we seem to be reading the speech of the chairman of an agricultural club, during two or three

hours after dinner. Experiments on this subject will, doubtless, soon be multiplied; and we recommend that they be related within a fourth part of the space here occupied, and at a proportionate expense. Farmers in general cannot find time to read, and many cannot conveniently pay for such diffuse narratives as we have been condemned to toil through. Waste lands, and the lower orders of peasantry might have been omitted in the title page

THIS was not the only interesting object which excited my attention during my visit to the munificent count. I met with a man under the protection of this nobleman, whose history might afford grounds for a very pretty romance. He is a Frenchman, a native of Bourdeaux; and was put, when a boy, on board a merchant ship, in order to learn the duty of a sailor. Soon after this, the war broke out between Great Britain and the Republick, and the ship in which he sailed was taken, and he carried prisoner to England. However, he did not remain in confinement long, but entered on board a small British ship of war bound to our settlements in New Holland. As fate would have it, a violent, storm arose; and the vessel was wrecked on one of the islands not many leagues from Otaheite. Himself and one seaman were the only persons who escaped; for not a trace of the men, nor the ship, remained, after the tempestuous horrours of the scene dispersed.

home. And a short time so accus tomed them to the society and manners of the country, that in a few months more, they were perfectly resigned to their situation. By degrees they laid aside European modes, and assumed the habits of the natives; forsaking their clothes, hunting and fishing, and doing just as if they had been born amid the Friendly Isles. They learnt the language, allowed themselves to be tattooed, and at length sealed their insular fates by marriage.

The subject of my narrative was little more than fifteen when he thus domesticated himself. Being of a handsome person, he was honoured with the hand of the daughter of the king, or chief; and having become thus royally allied, he received the investiture of nobility; namely, a process of tattooing confined to chiefs alone. The body thus imprinted, if I may use the expression, is marked all over with a beautiful damask pattern, in forms not inferiour to the finest Etruscan borders. The most eminent insignia of his royal distinction was, that the whole of the left side of his forehead, and below his eye, was one dark mass of tattoo. This latter appendage might please a savage taste, but it certainly was very hideous. But independently of that, I must acknowledge, to me there is something very admirable in the idea of a fine male figure without any other

covering than these beautiful enamellings; his feathered crown, and bow and quiver, seem to apparel him like a savage god. So true is nature to herself, that she never feels such an awful admiration of the human form divine, as when she beholds it in its native freedom. What figure clothed in all the pomp of robes, and crowns, and sceptres, ever so impressed the mind with a stamp of greatness, as the Apollo Belvidere! And surely, when we consider the athletick pursuits and liberty of limbs with the noble stature of many of the natives across the Atlantick and Pacifick oceans, my respected friend, the president of the British royal academy, well expressed himself, when on leaving America, a youth, and first beholding the Apollo at Rome, he exclaimed: "What a fine Mohawk warriour!" It was the language of nature, and a true compliment to the artist. Owing to the present habits of civilisation being totally different from those of ancient Greece, the human structure seldom attains any perfection. So no wonder the exclamation that the Apollo recalled the remembrance of any existing men, should surprise the generality of hearers. I have been more lucky; thanks to the mould in which nature cast some forms of my acquaintance, and the exercises which completed them! You know, to the vast expense of your time and patience, the use my pencil makes of the living models which a happy fate has thrown in my way; for painters may boast as they will about ideal beauty, but the outline of no fancied figure ever carried with it such perfect grace and harmony, as one drawn from a really existing being, of fine proportions and manly character. It was the study of nature alone that formed the Grecian artists. From the lovely females of Greece was the celebrated Venus modelled; and from the beautiful and naked yout' lrawing their bows on the

sands of the Egean sea, did the sculptor of the Python Apollo collect the graces of that transcendent figure.

save

But to return to my adventurer of the isles. His tattooing has carried me into an almost Shandean digression; but having just united him to a fond bride, I hope there is no need of apology for leaving him so long. However, I shall resume. The young Frenchman and his companion, a few days after the wreck, had found means to some articles which were afterwards very serviceable to them. But the most precious things they preserved, were fire arms, with some gunpowder; and for once, the importing of that death dispensing article was productive of blessings to the people amongst whom it came. Our new young chief, and his British companion, exerted themselves to a good effect in putting a stop to the practice of devouring the prisoners taken in war. The marriage of the former invested him with authority; and having learnt the language, his persuasions were so conclusive, that in the course of a very little time, it was rare to hear that the unnatural meal had even been taken by stealth. However, so wedded were some few to this horrid gluttony, that he found it necessary to add threats to his commands; and having expressed in the strongest terms his abhorrence of this practice, he told them that the first man he saw attempt to devour a prisoner, he would put the offender to immediate death.

Shortly afterwards a skirmish took place between his people and their enemies. A number of prisoners were taken; and almost all of the islanders held his commands in such respect, that none presumed to disobey excepting two, whose cannibal appetites were yet unsatiated. They slew an elderly female captive, and commenced their repast upon her body. Our resolute Frenchman de