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SCOTS MAGAZINE,

AND

Edinburgh Literary Miscellany,

FOR AUGUST 1809:

With a Map of the Islands of ZEALAND, and of the SCHELDT to

ANTWERP.

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of Mankind in ancient and modern times. By Robert Wallace, D. D. 599 III. Observations on Fungus Hematodes, or Soft Cancer. By James Wardrop, F.R.S.E., New Works published in Edinburgh, 604

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THE

Scots Magazine,

AND

EDINBURGH LITERARY MISCELLANY,

FOR AUGUST 1809.

Description of the Islands of ZEALAND, and of the SCHELDT to ANTWERP. THE great rivers of the Scheldt,

the Maese, and the Rhine, after traversing a large portion of the Netherlands, France, and Germany, unite their streams, and fall into the sea on the south frontier of the province of Holland. The confluence of such mighty streams in a flat and sandy district, produces a considerable number of low islands, of such extent and fertility as to compose one of the most important of the seven provinces, into which the republic of Holland was divided. Encouraged by its insular and inaccessible situation, it was among the first to throw off the yoke of Philip II. and the struggles between the enterprizing valour of the Spanish troops, and the determined resistance of the Zealanders, produced some of the most singular scenes which have occurred in the annals of military history.

The Scheldt is the principal agent in the formation of this insular territory. At some distance below Antwerp, it splits into two branches, called the Western and Eastern Scheldt. The Western branch, or the Hondt, divides these islands from the continent of Flanders; the Eastern branch separates them into two chains, which derive their names from this circumstance. The quarter, as it is called,

cheren, North and South Beveland, of the West Scheldt, contains Wal

and two small islands called Joostland

and Wolfersdyk. It is against this quarter, as the one which covers Antwerp, that the operations of our armament are chiefly directed.

Among the islands of Zealand, Walcheren takes a decided lead. Its situation at the mouth of the Scheldt, and commanding all the entrances into that important river; its facility of communication with France, Britain, and the rest of the Netherlands; its commodious habours-all contribute, in a commercial country, to raise it to the highest distinction. The inhabitants are about 70,000. Middleburg, its capital, is the capital also of the whole province. It is reckoned to contain about 26,000 inhabitants. It was formerly accounted strong, and, in the sixteenth century, when in the possession of the Spaniards, stood a siege of a year and a half against the Dutch. Flushing is much smaller, but has acquired a superior importance from its use as a naval station, for which it is fitted by its harbour, equally secure and commodious to ships of war. Its trade was also extensive, while trade existed in Holland. It is celebrated as the birth-place of De Ruyter, the first of Dutch admi rals. Flushing and Middleburg communicate by a canal. Other small towns are Ter Veer, Armuyden, West

Ca

Capelle, and Domburg. The first is slightly fortified, and has a tolerable harbour. Walcheren is only nine miles in length, and eight in breadth; so completely does it owe its great

ness to commerce.

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The island of South Beveland is of an oblong form, and of considerably greater extent than Walcheren, tho' from its confined situation much inferior in importance. It extends the whole way from Walcheren to the coast of Brabant, and connects them together, being separated only by a narrow channel from each. It is through it, therefore, that our troops pass to execute their operations on the continent, and against Antwerp.The capital of this island is Goes, or Tergoes. This place is chiefly noted for a most singular atchievement of the Spanish army in their war against the Dutch. Tergoes was then besieged by the latter. South Beveland had been formerly joined to the neighbouring island of Tolen, till a violent inundation forced a passage between them. Since that time no one had attempted to cross on foot, till the Spanish commander conceived the bold idea. Having learned that a part of it was fordable, he selected three thousand of his best troops, and persuaded them to undertake this daring enterprize. They succeeded, and the mere sight of them was sufficient to discomfit the Dutch troops, to whom it appeared, that nothing less than a miracle could have effected such a -passage.

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Proceeding in this direction, we come to the vicinity of Antwerp, the ultimate destination, so far as yet appears, of our armament. The river, down to this city, is crowded with forts; but the chief resistance seems to be expected from Lillo, on the bank of the Scheldt, about midway between Antwerp and the farthest extremity of Beveland. Antwerp itself was formerly considered as one of the strongest places in Europe. Its reduc

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tion, in 1585, was the masterpiece of the great Farnese, and was effected only by cutting off all its supplies.The Dutch were then masters of the sea, and the place could not be completely blockaded, till a boom of immense magnitude was thrown over the Scheldt below the city, an enterprize universally considered impracticable, till the moment of its accomplishment. The Dutch in vain attempted either to destroy or penetrate it; and the citizens, after a most glorious defence, were forced to surrender. Since that time Antwerp, whether from its fortifications being neglected, or at least not keeping pace with the improvements in the art of siege, has never made any very conspicuous figure.The city has generally fallen, without a struggle, to the army which was master of the field; and though the citadel still maintained the character of a fortress, it has not been distinguished by any very long or obstinate resistance.

The quarter of the West Scheldt contains also three minor islands: Joostland, a small appendage to the east side of Walcheren; and North Beveland and Wolfersdyke, on the North-west extremity of South Beveland.

The quarter of the East Scheldt is formed, on one side, by a branch of that river, and on the other by a branch of the Maese. It consists of three large islands, Schowen, Duyvelandt, and Tolen, and a small one between the two last, called Philipsland. The three great islands extend in the above order from the sea to the coast of Brabant. They are separated from each other by narrow and very shallow passages; which gave rise to an enterprise similar to, and still more daring, than the one executed for the relief of Tergoes. The island of Tolen, of which the Spaniards were masters, was separated by a narrow arm of the sea from Duyvelandt, to which they wished to transport themselves. 、 There

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There was a ford the whole way, but this ford was so narrow, that only three men could go abreast. The Dutch had covered the sea round it with their ships and boats, which employed every means of harassing the Spaniards on their passage; while a strong body of troops waited on the other side, to attack them at the moment of their reaching land. The Spaniards, however, taking advantage of a dark night, entered the ford, and made their way, though not without loss, through all the attacks of the hostile navy. The Dutch troops, mostly new levies, were so astonished at the daring intrepidity of this enterprise, that they fled with precipitation. In the same manner the Spaniards passed over from the island of Duyveland to that of Schowen, in order to form the siege of Ziericsee.

Immediately to the north of these islands, there are others belonging to the province of Holland, and formed by the branches of the Maese and the Rhine. These are Goeree, Over Flackee, Brille, and Isselmonde. On the canal, which bounds these to the north, lies Rotterdam.

The islands of Zealand lie so low, that, except the western coasts of Walcheren and Schowen, which are defended by sand hills, they are all preserved from the sea only by large dykes, constructed and maintained at an immense expence. Their magnitude is such, that two carriages may pass a breast on the top; yet even thus, they are not always sufficient to withstand the fury of the waves.

in that part of the county of Ross called the Black Isle. He fell in or about his 47th year. He began his military career in the marines, under the immediate eye of his uncle, General M'Kenzie, of that most honourable corps, and for some time previous to 1791 did the duty of adjutant to the Chatham division. Upon the death of his undle, by which he succeeded to some personal fortune, he relinquished the marines, perhaps from an ambition to get forward in his profession more rapidly than that service admits of. In the spring of 1794, he became major of the 2d battalion of 78th foot, or Rosshire Buffs, raised by the present Lord Seaforth. In the latter end of that year, or early in 1795, both battalions of the 78th were consolidated; by which measure this gallant officer became attached to the 1st battalion, and with the officers and men from the 2d, joined the 1st battalion at the Cape, from whence they proceeded to India 1,200 strong, where the regiment served with distinction under the present Lieutenant-general (then colonel) M'Kenzie Frazer. With this corps the gallant Major-general served many years in India, and latterly commanded the regiment. He returned to Europe in 1801-2, sincerely regretted by his regiment and all who knew him-and if his service in the East was not marked by any brilliant professional event, it was because the situation of that country, during his stay in it, did not call for any active exertion. Promotred to the rank of Colonel soon after he came home, on the breaking out of the present war in 1803, he was placed on the Northern Staff as a Brigadier; thereafter he was made governor and

Biographical Notice of the late General commandant of Alderney, and soon

MCKENZIE.

MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN RONALD

M'KENZIE, who so gloriously fell in the battle of Talavera, was the representative of a very ancient family, whose patrimonial estate (Suddie) lies

thereafter replaced on the Northern Staff as Major-general, in which situation he was, when, on his own solicita

tion, no doubt, he was removed to the command of a brigade in Portugal in 1808. He was in parliament four years, first for the Sutherland district

of

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