thing very possible), not a fingle man would return alive; for the trees, which are close to the fea-fide, while protecting the Indians against our mufketry, would leave the men whom we might debark exposed to a fhower of ftones, fo much the more difficult to avoid,as, being thrown with uncommon force and addrefs, they produced almoft the fame effect as our bullets, and had the advantage of fucceeding one another with greater rapidity. M. De Vaujuas was of the fame opinion. I would not, however, accede to it, till I had fully ascertained the impoflibility of anchoring within gun-fhot of the village. I paffed two days in working to windward oppofite the bay; and could perceive the wrecks of our long-boats aground upon the fand, and round them an immense number of Indians. What will no doubt appear incredible is, that during this time five or fix canoes came off from the fhore with hogs, pigeons, and cocoa-nuts, to offer us in exchange. I was obliged every moment to curb my anger, left I fhould give orders to fend them to the botfom. The Indians, not knowing that we had any arms of longer range than our inufkets, remained without the least apprehenfion at fifty toifes diftance from the thips, and offered us their provifions with great apparent fecurity. Our geftures gave them no encouragement to approach, and in this way they paffed a whole hour in the afternoon of the 12th of December. Their offers of barter were fucceeded by raillery, and ere long I perceived feveral other canoes quit the beach in order to join them. As they had no fufpicion of the range of our guns, and as every thing indicated that I fhould foon be forced to depart from my principles of moderation, I ordered a thot to be fired into the midst of them. My orders were executed with the utmost precifion. The ball dashed the water into the canoes, and they inftantly made the best of their way to the fhore, being joined in their flight by thofe that had left the beach a little while before. “It was with difficulty that I could tear myself from this fatal fpot, and leave the dead bodies of our murdered companions. In M. De Langle I loft an old friend, a man of fenfe, judgment, and information, and one of the beft officers in the French navy. His humanity was the caufe of his death. Had he allowed himself to fire upon the first Indians who came into the water in order to furround his boats, he would have faved his own life, and thofe of M. De Lamanon and ten other victims of Indian ferocity. There were befides twenty perfons belonging to the two frigates grievoutly wounded; this event deprived us for the moment of thirty-two hands, and two longboats, the only ones we had capable of containing a fufficient number of armed men to attempt a defcent. These confiderations were the guide of my future conduct. The finalleft check would have forced me to burn one of the two frigates to man the other. I had indeed the frame of a long-boat on board; but could not put it together without going into port. If, to fatisfy my revenge, 1 had only wished for the malfacre of a few Indians, I had an opportunity of deftroying, finking, and blowing to pieces, a hundred canoes, containing more than five huqdred perfons; but I was afraid of being mistaken in the choice of my vic. tims; and the voice of conscience faved their lives. Thofe whom this narrative may remind of the catastrophe of Captain Cook fhould bear in mind, that his fhips were anchored in the bay of Karakakooa; that their guns rendered them mafters of the beach; and that they could give the law to the Indians by threatening to deftroy the canoes that remained at the water-fide, as well as the villages that fkirted the coaft. We, on the contrary, were at fea, out of gun-sbot, and obliged to keep off the coaft, where a calm might have been attended with the greatest danger. A heavy fwell drifted us conftantly towards the reefs, outside of which we might, without doubt, have anchored with iron chains; but still we fhould have been out of gun-shot of the village, besides that the fwell was fufficient to cut our cable at the hawie-holes, and thereby to expofe us to the most imminent ha zard. I exhaufted every calculation of probability before I left this fatal ifland; being at length convinced that anchoring was impracticable, and that a defcent unfupported by the frigates would be rafhness in the extreme. Even fuccefs would have been useless, fince it was certain that not a fingle man remained alive in the hands of the Indians, and that our boats, which we we had the means of replacing, were Revenue-Duties-Imports--Ex broken to pieces and aground." Vol. iii. p. 79. (To be concluded in our next.) LETTER 1. Obfervations on walking-Route to and from Liverpool-Situation of the Ifland of Man -Kings-Lords--Bishops-Efta blifhments-Governors. ports-Bounties-Reflections. Letter VII. On the Fishery-Sal mon, &c.-Of Herrings--BoatsPrice-Mode of Curing--Exported -Sorts used in Italy-A Poem on the Herring Fishery. Letter VIII. Abbeys-ClergyLaw-fuits refpecting their Rights, and the Establishment at Castletown- Benefactors. Letter IX. Bishop Wilfon's Life abridged-Anecdotes--Letter to Lord Derby-Bishop Hildefley--Bishop Wilfon's Works, Editions of-Anecdotes of the Rev. Dr. Wilfon and Mrs. Macaulay, and of Mr. and Mrs. Northcote. Letter X. Mifcellaneous--Early Hiftory-Its Acceffion to England in 1765-Paffage Veffels of the Ifland, &c.-Pafs-Coins-Mills. Letter XI. Cattle-Birds--Plants Roads-Inns-Taxes-Rivers--Calf --Mountains-Springs --Domeftic Economy-Ladies-GallantryCharacter of the lower Claffes-Language-Meeting of their Parliament. Letter XII. Of the House of Kevs -Singular Laws--Ceremony on their Promulgation-Ordinances--Attornies' Fees-Loyalty-Lift of princi pal Land Proprietors-Poftfcript. PAROCHIAL TOUR. Number of Parishes-Maughold -Ramfay-Lezayre-Bride--Verfes Letter II. Commiffioners' Report -Andreas--Archdeacons-Quarter -Allegations-Revenue--Customs lands-Jurby-Shoals-Curraugh-Duties-Illicit Practices. Weather-Cottages, &c.-On Peat Bogs-Ballaugh-Glens-Story of Letter III. Conftitution--Courts of civil Jurifdiction-Spiritual Courts Mrs. B.-Kirk Michael-Bithop's -Juries-Inferior Officers. Palace-Thurot's Action-Registry Letter IV. On Agriculture-Quar- -Runic Infcription-Turnip Tilterlands-Soil-Climate-Tenures-- lage-Learned Men-Kirk Ger Mowing-Farms-Roads-Ploughs man-Gigantic Bones-A particular -Manures-Cattle-Sheep-Pigs Cenfus of Peel, &c.-Peel-Har Crops. - bour-Bay and Castle-Singular Infcription-Tynwald, and St. John's Chapel-Keys-Kirk PatrickMines-Longevity-Kirk Marown --Divifion into Sheadings-Lay BapLetter VI. Ports--Fairs--Regifters tifm-Braddon--Bay--Infcriptions Population-Vicars-Poft-office-St. Matthew's Chapel-Strangers' Letter V. On Literature--Language--Printers--Scriptures--Hymns -English and Manks Publications on the Island. Tombs Tombs Douglas-Friendly Societies-Fishery---Former naval Strength-Light-houfes and new Pier -Seats Nunnery-Kirk OncanPrices of Provifion and LabourViews-Lady Bufk's Tomb-InnsOf the Methodists-Their prefent State-Kirk Lonan-Laxey-Mines -Treasure Trove-Old Church-Kirk Chrift Rufhen-Mines--Calf --Port Iron--A new Discovery on Fish-Kirk Arbory-Singular Epitaph-On R. Cottier's Wife-Kirk Santon-Bridges-AntiquitiesGrazing Terms--Rot in SheepLongevity-Remarks on this Work Malew-Turnip Tillage-Infcriptions-Caftle-town-Caitle Rufhen -New Chapel-Free School--St. Michael's Ifland-Ballafalla-Ruthen Abbey-Mount Strange--Criminal Law-Sketches of Hiftory-Appendix--Act of Settlement-Explanatory A&t-Postscript. EXTRACTS. PEDESTRIAN TRAVELLING. To Wm. H—s, Efq. M. D. Spital " DEAR SIR, Salisbury, 1798. "AT length I gratify my wishes, by fending you, in a collected form, the obfervations I made laft fummer during my tour through the Ifland of Man. Mr. H―k—s, who refided in Ramfay, induced me to accompany him thither; and joining him at Briftol, we proceeded on foot to Liverpool. "Moritz, a German, whofe excurfion in England is tranflated, obferves, That a traveller on foot in England is confidered as a fort of wild man, or an out-of-the-way being, who is ftared at, pitied, fufpecied, and fhunned, by every body that meets him.' have the happinefs of knowing feveral gentlemen, who take confiderable pleafure in walking, and others, whofe excurfions are before the public. "Mr. Hucks, in his Tour through Wales, 1794, fays, We are fo comdoubt if you would recognise us pletely metamorphofed, that I much 'through our difguife: we carry our clothes, &c. in a wallet or knapsack, from which we have not hitherto experienced the flighteft inconvenience: as for all appearance and gentility, they are entirely out of the question '-our object is to fee, not to be feen; and if I thought I had one acquaint" ance, who would be ashamed of me and my knapfack, feated by the fire. 'fide of an honeft Welch peasant in a country village, I fhould not only make myself eafy on my own account, but fhould be induced to pity and to 'defpife him for his weaknefs.' adopted by pedeftrians, in long excurfions.-The Rev. Mr. Warner (Walk "I fhall now notice other modes through Wales,' 1798, 8vo.) had a Spencer fitted up with a large fportsman's pocket to carry his linen, &c. and Mr. C. who accompanied him, had fidepockets annexed to his coat; but neither anfwered perfectly their wishes. another way: a handsome leather bag "A party whom they met had taken covered with net-work was fufpended from the fhoulder, and hung under the left arm like a fhooting bag, and proved no inelegant addition to the perfon. "Another party had their portmanteau on a little poney which they kept before them; but this was, it feems, more plague than profit;' and they foon entered into a treaty for its fale. "It is requifite that a walker fhould have about him all his real neceflaries; thefe are but few, a fingle change of linen, a pocket map, compafs, &c. which take but little fpace, and may be provided for thus:-A small neat bag made with oil-cafe and lined, about.. fifteen inches every way, made to button deep to prevent rain from penetrating, and four buttons to faften two fhoulder-belts, will form a knapsack of fmall weight and attended with no inconvenience, except the falfe shame which may arife from its pedlar-like appearance, but which good fenfe will foon overcome; but to fecure you a polite reception and a better bed, you may carry it in your handkerchief through through a town. This fize is large enough for two perfons, although it muft not be lefs for one; a light small umbrella would be a defirable addition." P. I. THE ISLAND OF MAN. "THE name of Man is fuppofed to refer to its fituation as to the furrounding kingdoms, from the Saxon word Mang, lignifying among; others fuppofe the word to originate from Maune, the name of St. Patrick, the apoftle of the island, before he affumed that of Patricius. By Cæfar it is called Mona; by the inhabitants Manning; and by people in general Man. "Its ancient bearing was a fhip; but the arms are now, and have been for centuries, Gules, three armed legs proper, or rather argent, conjoined in fefs, at the upper part of the thigh, Hefhed in triangle, garnished and fpurred topaz. So long as the King of Man wrote Rex Manniæ et Infularum, they bore the thip; but when the Scots had poffeffion, with the Wettern islands, the legs were fubftituted. It is faid of the three legs, that with the toe of the one they fpurn at Ireland, with the fpur of the other they kick at Scotland, and with the third they bow to EngJand. "It is fuppofed that the firft inhabitants were British; and that they were fucceeded by the Druids until the fourth century, when Chriftianity was introduced into this ifland." P. 7. LAWS OF THE ISLAND. "AMONG the laws of the island we find the following, fome of which are fingular. only for his perfonal appearance to fuch action, and for the forth-coming of what effects he hath within this ifland. "If any man die, the widow to have one half of all his goods, and half the tenement in which the lives during her widowhood, if his first wife; and one quarter, if the second or third wife. The eldest daughter inherits, if there be no fon, though there be other children. "If a man gets a maid with child, and then within a year or two after doth marry her, fuch child is judged 'to be legitimate by our laws. "Perions beating another violently, befide punishment and charges of cure, are fined ros. But if the perfon fo beat ufed upbraiding and provoking language fo as to cause fuch beating, they are to be fined 13s. 4d. and to be imprisoned.' "An ancient ordinance fays, "There ought to be corbs pertaining to a man, as if his father hath a pan, the fon to have it; or else his best jack and fallet; bow and arrows (commuted by flat. of 1748 † for the modern weapons of war), his best board, and best ftool; his coulter and rackentree; his best cup, if it be wood and bound 'with filver and gilt; his beft cheft. For a woman, the beft wheel and 'cards, rackentree; a fack, or else a • Mank's fpade; the best bead of jet or amber; the best broach; the best crofs; the best pot or pan. "If any man take a woman (Tem'poral cuffom. laws, 1577) by contraint, or force her against her will; if the be a wife he muft fuffer the law for her: if she be a maid or single woman, the deemfter shall give her a rope, a fword, and a ring, and the "No action of arrest shall be grant-thall have her choice, either to hang ed againit a landed man, or native of this ifle, to imprison or hold him to bail, unless he has obtained the governor's pals, or that there is fome other juft caufe to believe he designs to go off the island; and that any perfon profecuted for a foreign debt by an action of arrest, fhall be held to bail with the rope, cut off his head with the fword, or marry him with the 'ring. Report fays that every complainant has been lenient, except one, who prefented the rope; but relented on the prifoner being tucked up, and defired he might be let down. She then prefented the ring, but the man All late writers agree that Mona Cæfaris is Man; but Mona Taciti belongs to Anglesey. Early authors call it Monada, Menavia Secunda (to diftinguish it from Angiefey), Eubonia, &c. The Manks derive it traditionally from Manna Man Maclea, an early king, who firft conquered the island.” "By the faid flatute, proteftants are allowed to keep fire-arms, which are to defcend to their heirs and affigns, in place of the ancient weapons of war • called curbs, and be a full fatisfaction for the fame.” replied, replied,That one punishment was enough for one crime; therefore he 'fhould keep the ring for fome future ' occafion.' "Wives have a power to make their wills (though their husbands be living) of one half of all the goods; except in the fix northern parishes, where the wife, if the has had children, can only difpofe of a third part of the living goods. Tradition fays, the South-fide ladies obtained this fuperior privilege, by affifting their husbands in a day of battle. "Executors of fpiritual men have a right to the year's profits, if they live till after twelve o'clock on Eafter-day. "They retain the ufage (obferved by the Saxons before the conqueft), that the bishop, or fome priest appointed by him, do always fit in their great court along with the governor, till fentence of death (if any) is to be pronounced; the deemfter afking the jury, instead of guilty or not guilty-Vod fir charrée foie? which is, May the man of the chancel, or he that minifters at the 'altar, continue to fit?' "Mortgages must be recorded within fix months; and by the laws of the ifland, all mortgagees are empowered, at the expiration of five years from the date of their mortgage, to take possesfion of the lands granted in mortgage, and retain the fame until the mortgage is paid off, fetting the lands yearly by public auction, and crediting the mortgager with the rent. Notwithstanding which the mortgager has a right at any time to pay off the mortgage within twenty-one years." P. 141. (To be concluded in our next.) MONTHLY CATALOGUE, WITH OCCASIONAL NOTICES. NEW PUBLICATIONS. . ARTS AND SCIENCES. ART MILITARY. REPORTS, with Plans, Sections, &c. of the proposed dry Tunnel, or Pallage, from Gravefend, in Kent, to Tilbury, in Effex; demonftrating its Practicability, and great Importance to the two Counties, and to the Nation at large; alfo on a Canal from near Gravelend to Stroud: with fome mifcellaneous and practical Obfervations. By R. DODD, Engineer. Engineer. With Plates. 4to. 55. Taylor. Mathematical and Philofophical Repofitory. No. VI. By T. LEY. BOURN. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Glen dining. (See Monthly Epitome, Vol. II. p. 156.) Secret Inftructions, by Frederick the Second, King of Pruflia; being fecret Orders given by that Monarch to the Officers of his Army, and particularly to thofe of the Ca valry, for the Regulation of their Conduct in War. Tranflated from the original German into French, by the PRINCE DE LIGNE, and now first tranflated into English. 8vo. 4s. 6d. Williams. Inftructions for forming a Regiment of Infantry, with the eighteen Manœuvres, on nineteen Copperplates. 8vo. 5s. Egerton. Inftructions for the armed Yeomanry. By Sir WILLIAM YOUNG, Bart. 1s. 6d. Egerton. Minutes and Obfervations, for the Use of Gentlemen and Yeomanry. By WILLIAM ALLEN, Adjutant of the Herefordshire Gentlemen and Yeomanry. 1s. Egerton. |