on his people, though his spirit was high, and he was guilty of many acts of oppreffion, yet he bore oppofition not only to his will, but even fometimes to his power, and upon discovering the disgufts of his people, often found it necessary to alter his measures. Of this the following may be produced as inftances. He impofed an inland tax on fugar, which on finding it occafioned great murmuring among the people, he immediately took off again. He laid another tax that was both ridiculous and grievous, which was humorously oppofed with infult, but to a happy effect; the circumstances of which may be thought extraordinary and entertain ing. The want of common fewers in Libon before its deftruction by the late earthquake made the carrying human ordure out of houses in large pots a great employment for black women, many of whom being flaves maintained poor widows with families of orphans by fuch work. But a tax being laid of a third part of fuch earnings, and fome duties in that country being received in kind; when the day came on which the payment of the tax commenced, all the black women went with their third pot to the palace-door, where they told the foldiers on guard, they were come to pay his Majefty's tax in fpecie. This, as may well be fuppofed, caufed a croud to af femble, the confequences of which were much mirth and fome difturbance. They were civilly defired to go off quietly with their loads, which they refufed doing," and infifted on paying the tax in their own way, till the King fent them an order to depart, on his royal promise that the tax fhould be abolished, as it imme. diately was. During his reign, likewife, a gentle man was condemned to be hanged for intriguing in a nunnery, it being confidered as a kind of facrilege. But as they were conveying him through the Fish-market to the place of execution, the matrons of the place all arofe in his defence, and extorted a promife from the officers of juftice, that the execution thould be delayed till they had been to the palace to intercede for his pardon; on which they all went to the palace-door in a body, and Lent up word to the King, that he ought not to fuffer a man to be hanged for doing only what he did every day himself; and continued fo to clamour, till the pardon was granted. What they accufed his Majefty of was really a fact, for he did at that time nightly vifit a nun in the convent of Odivellas; and what was more extraordinary, he always carried his confeffor and the Hoft with him in his carriage. Towards the latter end of his reign he likewise obtained a brief from Rome, to oblige all perfons under confeffion to name acceffaries in the commission of fins; which occafioned fuch murmurings and menaces in the metropolis, and probably throughout the kingdom, that government was afraid to attempt carrying it into execution. Some of the principal of the few remaining noble families having adjusted intermarriages, the parental noblemen waited on the Conde de Oeyras, afterwards Marquis of Pombal, to acquaint him therewith, and request his application for his Majefty's confent. The Conde told them, he was furprifed they proceeded fo far without confulting the King; however, he would inform his Majefty, and let them know his royal pleasure. The fpeedy refult was, they were told thofe engagements must be all entirely diffolved, and his Majesty directed with whom the refpective parties of either fex were immediately to marry; which peremptory commands they found it neceffary to comply with, to their infinite mortification, and probably complete unhappiness. A more horrid picture of an arbitrary government cannot perhaps be exhibited. Anecdotes of General PUTNAM. From Briffot's Travels through N. America. THis gentleman was remarkable for his bold and intrepid fpirit, which frequently prompted him to acts of fuccefsful rafhnefs. When he was pursued by Gen. Tryon, at the head of 1500 men, his only method of escape was by precipitating his horfe down the steep declivity of the rock called Horfeneck; and as none of the English dared to imitate his example, he escaped. "The Americans alfo relate, with aftonishment, the intrepid manner in which he killed a wolf of an enormous fize, which had long been the terror of Connecticut, and which had taken refuge in a deep and inacceffible cavern. He had the courage to have himself let down, by means of a cord fastened to his body, holding a torch in one hand and his gun in the other ;" and he had the good fortune to kill this ferocious animal, at the inftant when it sprang to ward 8 Gen. Putnam. Ships furnished by the Towns of England. Vol. 54, -ward him. But an act of intrepidity, England in 1346. [From an Ancient MS in the Cotton li. brary.] I the year 1346 (only 445 years ago) large fleet of feven hundred and fix ships during the reign of Edward III. a navy of England was manned and fitted was fitted out in Britain. At that time the out fomething in the manner that the militia is now; every town that carried on ata.-The fcale of importance of the difny trade being obliged to furnish its quoferent towns at that day, when compared with what they are now, affords a moft ftriking proof of the viciffitudes to which commercial importance is liable. Fowey in Cornwall then furnished near twice as many fhips as London did; and the names of many towns which tood pretty high on the lift are now nearly forgotten. As a part of the lift as it apin the Cottonian library, the following pears in the roll of Edward III.'s fleet is fubjoined: Names of Towns. No of ships. 47 43 31 which exceeded every other, was his Account of Ships furnished by the towns of venturing to clear, in a boat, the tremendous water-falls of Hudson's river. This was in the year 1756, when Putnam fought against the French, and their allies, the favages. He was, accidentally, with a boat and five men, on the eastern fide of the river contiguous to thefe falls. His men, who were on the oppofite fide, informed him, by fignal, that a confiderable body of favages were advancing to furround him, and that there was not a moment to lofe. Three modes of conduct were in his option, to remain, fight, and be facrificed; to attempt to pafs to the other fide, exposed to the full fhot of the enemy; or to fail down the water-falls, with almoft a certainty of being overwhelmed. Thefe were the alternatives. He did not hesitate, but jumped into his boat at the fortunate inftant; for one of his companions, who was at a little diftance, was a victim to the barbarians. His enemies arrived foon enough to discharge their balls at the boat, before he could get out of their reach. No fooner had he escaped this danger, through the rapidity of the current, but death prefented itself under a more terrific form. Rocks whofe points projected above the furface of the water; large maffes of timber, that half stopt up the paffage; absorbing gulfs; and rapid defcents, for the diftance of a quarter of a mile, left him no hope to escape but by a miracle. Putnam, however, relying on that Providence which had frequently been his protector, placed himself at the helm, and directed it with the utmost tranquillity. His companions faw him. with admiration, terror, and astonishment, avoid with the utmost addrefs, the rocks and threatening gulfs, which they every inftant expected to devour him. He difappeared, rose again, and directing his courfe across the only paffage which he could poffibly make, he at length gained the even furface of the river that flowed at the bottom of this dreadful cascade. The favages were no lefs furprised. This miracle aftonished them almost as much as the light of the firft Europeans that approached the banks of this river. They confidered Putnam as invulnerable; and they thought that they fhould offend the Great Spirit, if they attempted the life of a man that was fo vitibly under his immediate protection." I Fowey II Southampton 14 Newcastle 16 Hull 26 26 25 24 22 21 21 21 20 20 17 17 16 Life of the late Mr DUVAL, Superintendant of the Imperial Library and collection of Medals at Vienna. VALENTINE JAMERAI DUVAL was born in 1695, in the little village of Artonay, in Champagne. At the age of ten years he loft his father, a poor labourer, who left his wife in a ftate of poverty, and burthened with children, at a time when war and famine defolated France. In this ftate of poverty, the young Duval accuftomed himself from his infancy to a rude life, and to the privaton of almoft every neceffary. Mifery, ar from extinguishing the happy difpofitons with which he was born, served on the contrary to develope that masculine tourage which he retained to the laft moLent of his life. He had fcarcely learned to read, when, at the age of twelve years, be entered into the fervice of a peasant of the fame village, who appointed him to take care of his poultry. The uniformity of fuch an employment did not agree with the natural vivacity of his difpofition, but he found the means of relieving it by is fports and frolics, which attracted about him all the boys of the village. He prefided in their amusements, invented new ones, and his joviality and good humour made him the delight of all his asfociates. It was at the commencement of the fevere winter of 1709 that he quitted his native place, and travelled towards Lorraine; but after a few days journey he was feized by an exceffive cold, and even Backed by the small-pox. He muft have died but for the care of a poor shepferd in the environs of the village of Monglat, who placed him in a ftable, or rather a fheep-pen, and whofe poverty could apply him with no other articles of fubtence than coarfe bread and water, and other bed than a trufs of straw. The breath of the fheep foon difpelled his cold, and occafioned a perfpiration that affifted the diforder with which he was infected. His horrible deformity, which fcarcely left a trace of the human figure, did not prevent the fheep from frequentby vifiting him. "As I had not the ftrength," fays he, "to drive them away, they frequently took the liberty of licking my face; but the roughnefs of their tongues made me experience the torments of Marfyas. I did all I could to avoid these cruel caref. YOL. LIV. January 1792. fes, as much on my own account, as from the apprehenfion that the venom with which my face was covered might be infectious to thefe poor animals, not knowing then that this poifon was the pe culiar lot of beings of my own species.' From the cares he received, aided by the ftrength of his conftitution, be reco vered, and quitted his benefactor to continue his route as far as Clezantine, a village fituated on the borders of Lorraine, where he entered into the service of another fhepherd, with whom he remained two years; but taking a difguft to this kind of life, chance conducted him to the Hermitage of La Rochette, near Deneuvre. The Hermit, known by the name of Brother Palemon, received him, made him partake his ruftic labours, and embrace his mode of life. The abode of Duval at La Rochette was not of long duration; he saw himfelf obliged to refign his place to a Hermit fent to Brother Palemon by his fupe riors, who, to confole him, gave him a letter of recommendation to the Hermits of St Anne, at fome diftance from La Rochette, and a mile or two beyond Luneville. Our young reclufe, forced to abandon his retreat, felt the utmoft aftonishment in pafling through Luneville, which was the first town he had ever seen, and which he regarded as the centre of magnificence and pleasure. It was in the year 1713 that he arrived at the Hermitage of St Anne. Its four folitary inhabitants received him with kindness, and intrufted him with the care of fix cows, which ferved them for the culture of a piece of arable land of about a dozen acres, the produce of which, together with the milk and fruits of their little farm, were appropriated to their own fubfiftence, and to the diftribution of charity. He had always difcovered an ardour for books, and greedily devoured all that fell in his way, whatever might be their fubjects. It was at St Anne's that he be gan to learn to write. One of the old men traced for him, with a trembling and decrepit hand, the elements of this ingenious art. So defective a model could produce but very wretched copies; by his zeal and ingenuity, however, he was foon able to write an indifferent band with tolerable readiness. One day as he was employing himself, according to custom, in laying.fnares for game, game, that he might be able to purchafe books and maps of geography, he percei. ved upon a tree in the foreft a large wild cat, whose sparkling eyes and rich fur ftrongly excited his avarice. Refolved at all events to catch it, he climbed the tree, and perceiving that the animal kept at the extremity of the branches to avoid him, he cut a flick in order to drive it from its ftation. He gave it a violent blow on the head, and it fell to the ground, but was fo little injured as to be able to run away. Our Acteon, enraged at the idea of lofing his prey, made a fimilar leap, purfued it, and preffed it fo clofely, that the animal, upon the point of being taken, took-refuge in a hollow tree. Duval, redoubling his ardour, manœuvred to well with his ftick at the bottom of the tree, that the cat, finding itself warmly attacked, bolted from its retreat to make a new escape, and threw itself directly in the arms of its enemy. He exerted all his efforts to ftifle the animal, which became furious to an excefs, and finding its head and fore-claws free, it faftened its talons and teeth to the head of our hero. Duvai refolved not to let it efcape, and, in de fiance of the pain he felt, he tore it by its hind feet from his head, which was as it were scalped, and killed it against a tree. Elate with his victory, he faftened the cat to his ftick, and returned home. His mafters, feeing him covered with blood, were terrified; but he said to them with the utmost indifference, "It is a mere trifle; be fo good as to wash my head with a little warm wine, and it will foon be well: and here," fhewing the cat, "here is my recompence." Nothing can better depict the firm and determined character of this young reclufe, than his conduct in this little adventure. His perfevering zeal in the chace, and the money he procured for his game, had already enabled him to make a small col lection of books, when an unexpected occafion furnished him with the means of adding to it fome confiderable works. Walking in the forest one day, in autumn, and striking the dry leaves before him, he perceived fomething fplended on the ground, and, on taking it up, found it to be a gold feal, with a triple face well engraved on it. He went the following Sunday to Luneville, to entreat the vi car to publish it in the church, that the perfon who had loft it might recover it again by applying to him at the Hermitage. Some weeks after a man on horfe back, of genteel appearance, knocked at the gate of St Anne's, and afked for the Hermit's boy-Duval appeared.-" You have found a feal?" faid the ftranger to him.-"Yes, Sir."-" I will thank you for it; it belongs to me." "A mo. ment's patience; before I give it you, you will be fo good as to blazon your arms."." You are laughing at me, young man; you can furely know nothing of heraldry*."-"Be that as it may, Sir, you shall not have the feal till you have blazoned your arms." The gentleman †, furprised at the firm and decided tone of Duval, afked him a variety of queftions upon different subjects; and finding him equally informed in all, he defcribed his arms, and gave him two guineas as a recompence. Defirous of being better acquainted with this young lad, he made him promise to come and breakfast with him at Luneville every holiday. Duval kept his word, and received a crownpiece at every vifit. The generofity of Mr Fofter continued during his abode at Luneville, and be added to it his advice refp ting the choice of books and maps. The application of Duval, feconded by fuch a guide, could not fail of being attended with improvement, and he acquired a confiderable fhare of various kind of knowledge. The number of his books had gradually encreafed to four hundred volumes, but his wardrobe continued the fame. A coarfe linen coat for fummer, and a wollen one for winter, with his wooden fhoes, constituted nearly the whole of it. His frequent visits at Luneville, the opulence and luxury that prevailed there, and the ftate of eafe he began to feel, did not tempt him to quit his firft fimplicity; and he would have confidered himself as guilty of robbery, if he had spent a farthing of what was given him, or what he gained, for any other purpose than to fatisfy his paffion for ftudy and books. Economical to excefs as to all phyfical wants, and prodigal in whatever could contribute to his inftruction and extend his knowledge, his privations gave him no pain. In proportion as his mind ripened, and the circle of his ideas enlarged, he began to refl & upon his a ject state. He felt that he was not in his proper place, Among other books Duval had fallen by chance upon the Elements of Heraldry by Fa ther Menertier. It was Mr Folter, an Englishman of merit, who was then at Luneville. and and he wished to change it. From this inftant a fecret inquietude haunted him in his retreat, accompanied him in the foreft, and distracted him in the midft of his ftudies. Seated one day at the foot of a tree, abforbed in his reflections, and furrounded by maps of geography, which he examined with the most eager attention, a gentleman fuddenly approached him, and afked with an air of surprise what he was doing. "Studying geography," faid he. -"And do you understand any thing of the fubject?"-" Moft affuredly; I never trouble myself about things I do not understand "—"And what place are you now fecking for?"—" I am trying to find the most direct way to Quebec."-" For what purpose ?"—"That I might go there, and continue my ftudies in the Univerfity of that town"-" But why need you go for this purpose to the end of the world? There are Univerfities Bearer home, fuperior to that of Quebec; and if it will afford you any pleafure, I will point them out to you." At this moment they were joined by a large retinue belonging to the young Princes of Lorraine, who were hunting in the foreft with Count Vidampiere and Baron Plutfchner, their Governors. A variety of queftions were put to Duval, which he anfwered with equal precifion and goodfenfe, and without being out of counte nance It was at length propofed by Baron Piutfchner and Count Vidan.piere, the perfons who firft accofted him, that he fhould continue his ftudies in form in the College of Jesuits of Pont-à Mouf fon. Duval felt the importance of this propofal, but defired time to confider of it; adding, that he valued his liberty, and would never quit his retreat without being fure of preferving this precious gift of nature. They difpelled his apprehenfions on this fubject, and Baron Pfutfchner promised to call upon him in a few days. The Baron kept his word, and came to inform him, that Leopold Duke of Lorraine would take him under his protection, and furnish him with the means of purfuing and finishing his ftudies. He invited him at the fame time to go with him to court at Luneville. Our young recluie was attached to the hermitage, and could not quit it without tears. * He had read in one of his books of this University, which gave rife to his defire. Having vowed an eternal gratitude to his benefactors, he fet off in a chariot and fix with the Baron. On his arrival at Luneville he was prefented to the Duke, who received him in the midft of a numerous court, whom this fingular event had contributed to affemble. He anfwered every queftion that was put to him without being confused or at a lofs, notwithstanding the novelty of the scene to him, and the important part he had to act. Some ladies having expreffed their furprize at the beauty of his teeth, he faid very ingenuously, "What, ladies, can there be aftonishing in this? It is an advantage which I enjoy in common with all the canine fpecics." The Duke, charmed with his fimplicity and his happy phyfiognomy, renewed his promife of protection, and committed the care of his cftablishment at the college of Pont-àMouffon to Baron Pfutschner. His books and effects were conveyed thither; he was clothed, and an annual penfion af figned him. Duval's natural tafte for ftudy, added to his defire of anfwering the expectations of his illuftrious patron, made him redouble his zeal. Hiftory, geography, and antiquities, were the fludies be preferred, and in which his new guides were peculiarly qualified to affilt him. The fedentary life he now led being no longer balanced as heretofore by frequent bodily exercifes, his conftitution foon felt the effects. His animal fpirits, heated by his close application and his fittings-up, difordered his imagination; and it was in this ftate that the accidental fight of a young beauty kindled in his heart a sudden and violent love. Fatigued by his repeated ftruggles with the most impetuous of the human paffions, he read one day in St Jerôme, that hemlock was a certain cure for it. Charmed with this important dif covery, be immediately procured a confiderable quantity of this herb, and eat it as a fallad. The imprudence nearly coft him his life. The poifon having chilled his blood and dried up his lungs, he was feized with a dangerous illucis, the fatal effects of which were long felt by him. Weakened, however, as he was by ill health, his ftudies were unremitted: constantly attached to his books, he never quitted them but to breathe fometimes a pure air in the woods and forefts. Thefe folitary rambles recalled to his mind the paftoral life he had led; B 2 and |