it be real or fictitious will prove a matter of no moment to you or your friends, as the pleasure of recital will be just the same; and if the sire, grand-sire, dam or grand-dam were at all famous for their excellence upon the Turf, you enjoy the eternal happiness of boring your acquaintance with the exploits of the different branches, at the time you bestride the imaginary merits of the whole gene ration. A steed of these superior qualifications having been secured, immediately turn your thoughts to the necessary apparatus, in which be particularly careful to prefer ornament to UTILITY. The extra neatness of your saddle being adjusted from the hands of a popular maker, a hard and sharp bridle will the best answer your purpose; for although it will occasion the horse to move in constant misery, that consideration is not to be put in competition with the more important determination you have formed of cutting a figure, which you will always have it in your power to do, by throwing the horse suddenly upon his haunches, whenever you please, and by his prancing, in pain, as suddenly alarm the Ladies wherever you go. It will be necessary you give your sadler a positive order to furnish you with a crupper as well as a fashionable breast plate; they have each their utility; for as one will prevent the horse's slipping through his girths, so the other will prevent the saddle's slipping over his cars. The horse being thus provided, advert to the tout ensemble, and let your own appearance critically correspond with the Rosinante you have selected; you will readily conceive it directly in point that you affect the sportsman, though you never saw a hound in your life; your taylor, therefore, in whose province it is, will set you perfectly right in the article of dress, rendering instructions. from me upon that head totally unnecessary. Previous to the time of mounting your horse, spurs should by no means be forgotten, as they are in general, to young riders, of double and treble utility. First they may, by a sudden exertion, if your horse makes a nip or happens to stumble, keep him from falling. Should he prove too volatile in his temper, and run away with you, they may probably assist in stopping him; or, what is of much more consequence, if prudently brought into forcible contact with his sides, they may perhaps enable you to keep your seat till the garden wall, or the guard-house at Kensington, puts a stop to his career. When mounted (let it be at whatever part of the town it may), keep your body perfectly erect, as a position most attracting to the Ladies; go an easy half speed over the stones, with a slack rein, which will not only demonstrate a palpable reliance upon the safety of your horse, but prove at your entre a most distinguishing trait of your courage and humanity. Thus amusing, or rather surprising, the mechanical part of the world in the streets, contrive at entering the Park Gate, so to do, at the very moment of a carriage passing, that by having no more than a bare inch between the wheel on one side, and the gate-post on the other, you convince the gaping pedes trians, the old proverb was with you, and that "Naught is never in danger.” If If any thing in your manner and appearance should unexpectedly constitute a kind of reverential awe, and the very modest civil porter at the inner gate seem disposed to make you a respectful obedience, apply your fingers rather briskly to the rein of the hard and sharp, and with the shoulder of your horse twirl him out of the way, as it will not only prevent him the trouble, but serve to convince him you are (in your own opinion) a person of some consequence, and he will, of course, be better prepared to pay you proper respect on a future occasion. Having run thus far before the wind," or in other words, arrived at the place of destination, where you are to become a distinguished candidate for popular pre-eminence, no time is to be lost; therefore, without adverting to the unsportsman-like idea of your horse's coming full out of the stable, and not had time to unload his carcase, set off at his full speed, or as near it as you can venture to ride (without the danger of falling), and continue it to the end of the row; if you luckily escape without an accident, it will not only (with those who never rode themselves) obtain you the credit of a good horseman and bold rider, but constitute you an object of general notice upon your return, es well as afford striking proof of the speed of your horse, particu Jarly as he had not the common pace of a post-horse put in competition with him. Ride close to the foot-path, and with a look of pure apathy, endeavour to make others look at you; in passing a very handsome or a very modest woman, be sure not only to stare her to tally out of countenance, but, by repeatedly turning the head, and looking after her, endeavour to inculcate the idea of an intrigue, by way of doing honour to her reputation. When you have totally exhausted your studied collection of gestures, accumulated for, and thrown off upon the occasion, have recourse to your handkerchief, the frequent and airy flittings of which will give a relief in lights and shades to the whole; and when deposited in your pocket, casually leave a third hanging carelessly out, no bad mode of convincing the world you are not without one. In your repeated gallops of attraction, be sure not to deviate from a straight line of determination, turn heither to the right or left, but let those who value their own safety get out of your way, it will prove the principal part of your business to take care of your self. Should any cynical OLD SPORTSMAN Survey you with an emphatical leer, bordering upon indignation, pay him with interest, "assume a degree of courage if you have it not," and by a look of effrontery, finished with a contemptuous sneer, convince him you can look with much more contempt than he can. When the great business of public appearance is complete, and the cup of ambition amply fill'd in Rotten Row, it will then be dis rectly in stile to fashionably and carelessly look in at Tattersall's, to cast your eye over what there may be for Monday's sale; when there ask a thousand questions, not one of which may be at all to the purpose; see horses out, that you have neither inclination of on to purchase; all which will afford you the credit of being a 3 knowing knowing one, as most of those who wish to be thought so proceed directly in this way. In your return it will be directly in character to kick up a little dust (though the weather be wet) with the Turnpike Men at Hyde Park Corner; this will soon collect a crowd, and render you still better known, if not more universally respected, Pay no attention whatever to the ill-digested recommendation of walking your horse home, that he may come in cool, and be the more ready to dress. Such lenity only spoils good servants; the best mode, undoubtedly, is to take him home in a high state of perspiration, as it will then be impossible for the servant to neglect his duty without detection, and by having three or four hours earnest employment, he will be prevented from a tendency to habitual indolence. Should these hints (the result of long experience) be thought worthy insertion, additional instructions, for the chace, shall soo reach you from the pen of IN DAYS OF OLD. CAMBADO. IN August 1678, the whole Royal Navy of England consisted of five first-rates, manned by 3135 seamen; four second-rates, with 1555 scamen; sixteen third-rates, containing 5010 seamen; thirty-three fourth-rates, with 6460 seamen; twelve fifth-rates, 1100 seamen; seven sixth-rates, 423 seamen; six fire-ships, 340 seamen. The total number of ships was 83, the scamen were 18,323. There was besides a numerous train of ketches, smacks, yachts, and other small craft. The whole was completely equip ped for service, and each ship was furnished with sea-stores for six months. The rest was not There was no immediate probability of war. Therefore, in April 1679, the naval establishment had been reduced to seventysix ships, and 12,040 men in actual service. in ready equipment, but in a condition to be completely fitted out for sea at the expence of 50,000l. In the magazines were naval stores to the value of 60,000l. Thirty capital ships were at the same time in building. During the next five years the royal navy was exceedingly neglected. In the year 1684, the king had at sea only 2 ships, manned with 3070 men. The rest were rotting in the harbours, and already in a state of decay not to be repaired for less than 120,000l. In the magazines were, at this time, not above 5,000l. worth of stores. In ship-building, in all the ports of England, in the reigns of Charles the Second and James the Second, it was usual for the shipwrights to employ, with every 20 loads of English timber, 100 loads of foreign timber. The English timber was, for vessels of small dimensions, deemed considerably profitable. For the greatest ships, on the contrary, foreign timber, the growth of PoLand, Prussia, and Bohemia, and imported from Riga, Dantzick, Konigsberg, and Hamburgh, was experienced to be the most lasting. In In October 1688, King James had at sea, 12 third-rates, containing 4715 men; 28 fourth-rates, with 6318 men; 2 fifth-rates, with 220 men; 6 sixth-rates, with 370 men; and 20 fire-ships, 680 men; besides tenders, yachts, &c. The total number of the ships was 67 their whole complements of men amounted to 12,303. STATEMENT Of the Distribution of the British Naval Force, to Nov. 1, 1801, Exclusive of the Hired Armed Vessels, which are chiefly employed in protecting the Coasting Trade of Great-Britain. INFORMATION RESPECTING THE AMERICAN INDIANS. THE small tribes of American savages are engaged in perpetual hostilities, that are conducted with an atrocious ferocity, and unrelenting vengeance, of which nations, whose affections have been matured and humanized by the unions of civil society, can hardly frame a conception. The causes that among them give birth to wars, the modes in which their hostilities are conducted, the uses which they make of conquest, and the behaviour of the victors and the vanquished, are all so different from those that are known among civilized nations, that in giving the history and philosophy of savage life, they merit a minute examination. The causes of war among savages, are few and simple; but from the prompt and impetuous methods in which the passions act, before they have been softened and constrained by the refinements of policy, these causes frequently recur, and always with violent effects. Whatever touches their imagined honour, or their rights, hardly admits of negociation among a fierce people, who know no other law but force. Cool and intricate discussions do not suit their genius or their temper, except on some rare occasions in the councils of their elders. The young are always ready to appeal. to arms. Encroachments on their hunting grounds, contests of emulation, or the inconsiderate and presumptuous ardour of young warriors, who are impatient to signalize their prowess, create fre quent occasions of hostility; and the first blood that is shed, becomes the seed of eternal discords. ENCROACHMENTS ON THEIR HUNTING GROUNDS. Savages have little idea of private property, except in things which they hold in actual occupation, or which they want to supply their immediate necessities. Their sense of public and national property is, perhaps, as strong as in the highest state of civilization. To divide a forest into small portions, and to secure the property of the game to single families, is contrary to the nature of the chase, which cannot be pursued within narrow limits; and would require arts above the attainment of the savage state, and a division of their wigwams, inconsistent with the safety of their tribes. The nation lives together in villages, for their mutual society and assistance, and claims a common right of hunting in an extensive region, marked by mountains and rivers, and such natural boundaries as are obvious to men in the rudest condition of the human mind. The extent is such as favours the excursions and freedom of the chase; but not being more than is necessary to furnish to the nation a secure and constant supply of game, it is defended with the zeal of private property. Such boundaries, however, as hills and streams, but vaguely mark the entire limits of an Indian nation. It is not always certain in what point to fix the summit of the dividing ridges, and still less definite is the line that connects one ridge or water with another, to complete a boundary composed of many separate |