Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

cent and Grenada. Its ravages extended to Guadaloupe, as well as Porto-Rico and its neighbourhood, though in a less degree. The loss experienced by Martinique alone may be very moderately calculated at 25,000,000 of francs, exclusively of the shipping: the works and buildings of entire parishes were razed to the ground. It lasted 26 hours, 12 of which with such inconceivable fury, as to produce all these disasters, and to destroy buildings which had withstood all former hurricanes. It will require many years before the colony can recover itself from this heavy calamity.

St. Lucie-Hurricane.

A recent letter gives the following dis tressing account of this tremendous visitation : "At three in the morning of the 21st Oct. it blew very hard at west, with very heavy rain; at four still harder; took in our fore sail, and brought her to under a try sail double-reefed: at seven yet harder, when a sea came and washed away one of our boats from the stern. When ten o'clock came it blew a perfect hurricane beyond what any of us had ever witnessed; however, the ship lay very quiet, but from the extreme heaviness and excessive quantity of rain, with the immense force of wind, all our cabins were full of water. At noon the weather abated, and at three in the afternoon it became quite moderate, when we set our sails again. I call the escape of the Antelope miraculous, because if we had remained at St. Lucie one night more, not an atom of the ship would ever have been seen-nothing could have saved us from shipwreck. Every ship we left there was lost. The town, barracks, and buildings of every kind were blown down. At the village of Gross-islet only three houses were left standing out of about 150: the Governor (MajorGeneral Seymour) was killed: also Major Burdett, his wife and children, were killed, by being buried in the ruins of their house blown in upon them. We visited St. Lucie again sixteen days afterwards, and the scene was such as my pen cannot describe: many of the inhabitants lost their clothes, and those who are sick are lying on the ground with no other covering than the sky, exposed to sun and rain. An officer in one of the Regiments, seeing the approach of the hurricane, put a few clothes into a small trunk, and hid it, as he thought, in a place of safety; when the weather was over, he found his trunk had been blown away, and the lid of it was found more than half a mile off. The soldiers and

others were obliged to lie down on the ground, and hold themselves fast by the grass, or any thing they could get, to save themselves. This may appear strange, but so it was; the power of the wind was excessive. The island of St. Lucie has suffered the most. The vessels were driven on shore at Barbadoes and Martinique, but no damage of any consequence to the houses or other buildings. Very

[blocks in formation]

The Naples Journal gives the following copy of an inscription, which has been discovered in the excavations of Pompeii. It is of the greatest interest for ancient history. The words and letters in italics have been supplied by Professor Romanelli :Romvlvs Martis Filivs vrbem Romam Condidit et regnavit annos P. m. quadraginta isqvs Acrone dvce hostivm Et Rege Caeninensivm Interfecto spolia opima, Iovi Feretrio consecravit Receptvsque in deorum Nvmervm Qvirini nomine Appellatus est a Romanis. The following is a translation:

Romulus, the son of Mars, built the city of Rome, and reigned forty years: having killed Acron, the General and King of the Cauinenses, he consecrated the spolia opima to Jupiter Feretrius. Being received among the gods, he was called Quirinus by the Romans.

New Theatre of San Carlos.

The following description of this magnificent building is from the pen of a recent traveller: The moment l'entered, I thought myself transported into the palace of some eastern emperor. My eyes were dazzled, and my soul delighted. Nothing could be more brilliant, and yet more imposing; two qualities which are rarely found united. There is nothing in Europe approaching it;

linen-drawers not reaching to the knee, a linen shirt, and a woollen cap, is seldom ragged or dirty. The beggars are disgusting and importunate here as elsewhere, but I did not see much difference between the Toledo and Bond Street in that re

spect. From the circumstance of open carriages being universally used, even as hackney carriages, from the street being paved throughout with flag-stones, and the shops and coffee-houses being open to the street, not by a door only, but by the are more intimately mixed than with us, and there is no possibility of sheltering yourself from the intrusion of miserable objects in the corner of your carriage, or in the recesses of a magasin des modes. The cattle, whether harnessed in the carriages of persons of fortune, or standing in the street for hire, are proverbially handsome, the former generally too fat for an English eye, and the latter would cortainly stand with advantage with ours in the same employ."

nothing capable of giving the most distant idea of it. The theatre, which was rebuilt in 800 days, is a stroke of policy; it attaches the people to the King more completely than the best laws could do; all Naples is intoxicated with patriotism on this occasion. The best way in the world to give offence would be to discover some defect in it. Mention the name of Ferdinand, and you are told that he has rebuilt San Carlos. The decorations are gold and silver, and the boxes a deep sky blue. The ornaments in front of the boxes are in re-removal of the whole front, the populace lief; hence their magnificence. They consist of gilded torches, grouped together, and intermixed with large fleur-de-lis. Here and there this splendid ornament is divided by bas reliefs of silver. I counted, I think, thirty-six of them. The boxes are very large, and have no curtains. I saw every where five or six persons in the front of each. A superb chandelier yields a brilliant light, and gives to these ornaments of gold and silver a splendour which they would not possess were they not in relief. Nothing could be more imposing and magnificent than the grand box of the King, above the middle door; it is supported by two palm trees of gold, of the size of nature. The drapery consists of sheets of metal, of a pale red. Contrasted with the magnifiœence of the royal box, nothing can be more simple and elegant than the small incognito boxes, situated on the second row opposite the stage. The blue satin, the gold ornaments, and the mirrors, are distri-contained unbecoming praises of me,buted with a taste which I have never before seen in Italy. The dazzling light of the chandelier penetrates into every corner of the theatre, and exhibits the most minute details. The ceiling, which is painted on canvass, completely in the style of the French school, is one of the largest pictures in existence."

A Picture of Naples.

66

RUSSIA.

Imperial Ukase.

This is addressed to the Legislative synod at Moscow, by the Emperor of Russia, and is dated from Moscow, Oct. 27, 1817. During my late travels through the provinces, I was obliged, to my no small regret, to listen to speeches, pronounced by some of the Clergy in different parts, which

66

praises which can only be ascribed unto God. As I am convinced in the depth of my heart of the Christian truth, that every blessing floweth unto us through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ alone, and that every man, be he whom he may, without Christ, is full only of evil, therefore, to ascribe unto me the glory of deeds, in which the hand of God hath been so evidently To a late visitor to this extraordinary manifested before the whole world, is to city, we are indebted for a sketch of its give unto men that glory which belongeth present state, and of the manners of its in-unto Almighty God alone. babitants, as they are. "There are few cities," he observes, "that can boast of so many open spaces as Naples, and which, though irregular in their form, have yet a play of picturesque feature about them, to my eye infinitely preferable to the formal lines of our squares. Of these, the principal, the Largo Reale, del Castello, delle Pigne, del Mercato, and the handsome streets di Chiaia, St. Lucia, Toledo, Nuovi, must immediately force themselves upon the recollection of any one who has visited it. The lazzaroni, are a remarkably finely made, active and intelligent people, whose dress, consisting of nothing but a pair of

I account it my duty, therefore, to forbid all such unbecoming expressions of praise, and recommend to the Holy Synod to give instructions to all the Diocesan Bishops, that they themselves, and the Clergy under them, may, on similar occasions, in future refrain from all such expressions of praise, so disagreeable to my ears; and that they may render unto the Lord of Hosts alone, thanksgivings for the blessings bestowed upon us, and pray for the out-pouring of his Grace upon all of us; couforming themselves in this matter to the words of Sacred Writ, which requires us to render to the King Eternal,

Immortal, Invisible, the only wise God, also considerably improved. The ramparts honour and glory for ever and ever.

"ALEXANDER."

Improvements at St. Petersburgh.

are replaced by magnificent walls, and boulevards surround the different sections of this great city. Several palaces are restored to their former grandeur; the an

Several new buildings which were inter-cient churches are re-established in the rupted during the war, are resumed with fresh vigour, and they are rising rapidly are 70,000 masous, carpenters, and other same forms which they had before. There in every part of the city. Much use is workmen employed throughout the city. made of cast iron; the grand balconies, The new palace of the Kremlin, which was the staircases, and the architectural deco- | built, as it were, at the command of an rations are made of this metal. Lebanow is building a palace, which will tion of a wing, in which the members of Prince enchanter, has been enlarged by the addicost three millions and a half of roubles. the suite of the Imperial Court are now It will be ornamented with forty-two co- lodged. This wing was not begun in July lumns of a colossal size, of cast iron. last, yet it is now fully inhabited. Nothing can equal the superb embellishments of the chateau of Zarso-Selo, which was the favourite residence of the immortal Catharine II. and in which the Emperor Alexander passed his youth. triumphal car of cast iron was recently A grand constructed uear it. It is built on an antique model, and it fixes the attention of all the

connoisseurs.

Births and Deaths-Longevity.

In 1817, 7,888 children were born at St. Petersburgh, among which 1,111, or one out of 7, were illegitimate. According to the list published by the synod, which include, however, only the members of the Greek church, the number of births in 1815, was 1,298,461, and of deaths 890,988, being an excess in the births of 407,473, among the deaths were 613 persons above 100 years of age, and one of the age of 155 years; there were 209 above 105 years old, 129 above 110, 72 above 115, 31 above 120, 13 above 125, 6 above 130, and 1, as above said, of 155 years of age.

Territorial Acquisitions.

The road between Petersburgh and Mosand waggons of every description. Tracow is covered incessantly with carriages vellers are numerous, and at present there sent by this road to Moscow, from Petersare several immense packages of moveables burgh, for the first establishment of the Court at the former place.

The University at Moscow is also repairing. Its ancient buildings are restored, its old funds are augmented, and new funds are bestowed upon it, in order to repair the Cabinet of Natural History. A new library is erected, to hold 65,000 volumes, and the apparatus for the Mathematical and Physical Sciences are reinstated. The list of its professors is to be considerably enlarged. SPAIN.

Slave Trade abolished.

Slave Trade, has been issued in Spain. It An important document, respecting the is a Decree of the King of Spain, prohibiting his subjects from trading in slaves on the coast of Africa, north of the Line, and restricting the duration of the trade The following article appears in the south of the Line, on the same coast, to Russian Court calendar for this year:two years and 5 mouths, from the date of Three hundred and fifty-five years have the Decree. The prohibition in the former elapsed since all the Russian provinces case is to take effect immediately, and the were united under one Government, du- penalty attached to its violation is transring which period the Russian frontiersportation to the Philippine Islands, on the have been from time to time extendEast Indian Sea. For this abolition, En

TURKEY.

ed, without a single instance in Russian gland pays to Spain the sum of £400,000.
history of a cession of territory. The
acquisitions of territory made by Russia
took place as follows-Siberia, in 1578;
Little Russia, in 1644; Livonia and Est-

honia, in 1710; White Russia, in 1772

the Crimea, in 1783; Lithuania and Cour. land, in 1793; the remainder of Poland, in 1795; Georgia, in 1801; Bialystock, in 1807: Finland, in 1809; and the Duchy of Warsaw, in 1815."

New Buildings at Moscow. The Kremlin is entirely rebuilt; it not only preserves its ancient features, but is

Barbarity of Ali-Pacha.

A letter from Smyrna, of the 15th of of Epirus and Thessaly, some months since, Oct. states, that Ali-Pacha, the Governor ordered a beautiful Greek lady, named Euphrosyne, of whom his eldest son, Mucin the sea of Jauniua, with fifteen of her tar Pacha, was enamoured, to be drowned female friends; but, as none of his subjects barbarity to carry them personally inte. would execute his commands, he had the effect.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

The order of the Emperor of Russia to Annual Duties to his clergy, not to utter any praises of him in their sermons, &c. which we have inserted in p. 850, calls to mind the following Pensions, &c. anecdote respecting our excellent Monarch:

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

1,426,000 1,338,000

5,783,322 6,127,529 2,134,484 2,200,017

[ocr errors]

1,127,929 1,163,820

388,132 353,604

241,199 492,872 58,085

255,318

374,006 1,062,073

374,006

6,200

37,773,329 89,782,044 10,545,852 11,914,373

2,393,201 2,861,505

$34,124
4,016

258,131

87 0,827 558,993
337,097
4,016

36,441

[ocr errors]

595,434

Total An. Duties 2,931,341 3,129,630 1,211,940
Permanent and

Annual Duties 40,704,670 42,911,680 11,757,792 12,509807

War Taxes
Customs

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors][merged small]
[ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors]

525 780,659 768,157

"Our Good Old King," as he is universally and most justly styled, soon after his accession to the throne, attending Divine 4,462,074 3,097,812 389,048 11,185,584 1,268,458 1,292,205 Service at St. James's, was eulogized by Excise. Property Total War Taxes 16,656,024 4,365,770 2,078,389 1,157,205 the preacher in his sermon, much in the same manner as the Emperor of Russia Total Net Reven. 57,360,691 47,277,450 13,831,181|13,657,012 had been on the occasion alluded to, and therefore he sent next day a message to the minister, which should be written in letters of gold, as a lesson for kings as well as ministers, apprising him that " he went to the church to hear God praised, and not himself," and desiring him to forbear in future from such improper adulation.

New Welch Order.

to

to

His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has it in immediate contemplation institute a Welch Order, similar those of St. Andrew and St. Patrick, consisting of twelve Knights Companions, besides the Sovereign. The Installation will probably take place on the 1st of March, being the festival of St. David, the tutelary Saint of Wales. It is a singular coincidence, that at the time of the death of her lamented son, the Duke of Glocester, Queen Anne was occupied in the arrangement of a similar Order. The intention, from what cause we have been unable to learn, was subsequently abandoned; but many original documents relating to the subject are still preserved in the library of Jesus College Oxford.

[blocks in formation]

Voyage to the North Pole.

Sir Joseph Banks lately transacted business with the Admiralty board supposed to relate to the intended voyage towards the North Pole, on discoveries. The ships, it is said, are to have two years' provisions on board, and are also to be supplied with warm clothing, &c. for the Sanguine use of the officers and men. hopes are entertained of a passage being discovered to the North Pacific Ocean. The crew, it is said, will consist of 50 men, including officers, in each vessel. They will also be provided with every appendage used by the Greenland ships; and some experienced men in that service are to go in the vessel,

New Bayonet Exercise.- In order to evince the superiority of the new exercise, detachments of the 90th and 64th regiments were lately ordered to assemble on Mount Wise, Plymouth Dock, and came to the charge in presence of Major General Brown, Captain Faden (the inventor), a number of military officers, and of a numerous assemblage of spectators. The utmost caution was used to prevent acci dents, and the points of the bayonets were enveloped in a ball or foil, which being sprinkled with a white powder, would shew the number of thrusts received by either party. It soon, however, became necessary to separate the combatants, as the lounges of the 90th, who practised the new exercise, enabled them to over reach the 64th, their supposed opponents; 2 H

and the latter, not being inclined to recede, | discharge; at the same time, we wish to received the thrusts with no great compla- observe the great pleasure we have decency. After some deliberation the men rived, in perceiving that no bill has were marched into George's square, and been found by us for murder, nor any one the gates were closed to all but officers. of a crime of a peculiarly atrocious nature; Several charges were given and received, ―a circumstance very gratifying to the in bodies, and in individual attacks; but Jury. the superiority of the new exercise was such as to render it evident, that the combatants on the old plan, receiving its attacks, would be destroyed on the first

moment of onset.

Emigration to North America.

Government will no longer give encou ragement to persons who wish to proceed as settlers to his Majesty's possessions in North America, except to such as Half-pay Officers, or persons under peculiar circum stances. This regulation has been adopted in consequence of a number of persons who Went there the last two years, without being provided with sufficient money or property to enable them to cultivate the land which had been allotted to them, and are now in very great distress.

[blocks in formation]

Christened, in the 97 parishes within the walls, 1,044-Buried, 1,085.

Christened, in the 17 parishes without the walls, 5,429-Buried, 8,939.

Christened, in the 23 out-parishes in Middlesex and Surry, 12,716-Buried, 10.108. Christened, in the 10 parishes in the City and Liberties of Westminster, 4,940-Buried, 4,836.

Christened,

Males, 12,624, Females, 11,505. In all 24,129.
Buried,

Males, 10,033, Females, 9.935. In all 19,968.

[blocks in formation]

The following address was lately pre. sented to

In the progress of our duty we visited the prison of Newgate, and especially directed our attention to the state of that from the great influx of prisoners, it is prison; and we lament to record, that hardly possible to keep them in a state of wholesome cleanliness, a circumstance we deeply deplore, as putting together all viated in the opinion of the Jury (and in description of offenders, an evil easily obwhich opinion they are borne out by Mr. Brown, the keeper of the prison), if more fication of the prisoners might be effected, space could be allotted, whereby a classito the evident improvement of their health, comfort, and morals.

in confinement, and the melancholy cir-
The vast number of juvenile depredators
cumstances of four being under sentence
of death in the condemned cells, and in
irons, the youngest only nine years of age,
circumstance of very many of them previ-
and the oldest 12, connected with the
ous to trial associating with the profligate,
the idea of the improbability of a reform,
hardened, and abandoned, presents to us
finement might produce.
which a more judicious and attentive con-

The deplorable situation of the male cularly the juvenile part, made a melanprisoners, with respect to clothing, particholy impression on our minds. Many were without shoes or stockings, others without shirts, and one almost in a state of nakedness-circumstances we earnestly recommend to the consideration of those who arrange and manage the general búsiness of the prison; and we are of opinion that the general health of the prisoners of both sexes would be materially improved, if an allowance of soap was granted for that purpose.

In visiting the lufirmary, the Grand Jury feel great pleasure in announcing that every necessary attention appears to have been paid to the sick, and those in a convalescent state, and to the general health

tices to the Lord Mayor and other Jus- of the prisoners.

presiding at the Old Bailey Sessions, by the Grand Jury.

We, the Grand Jury of the City of London, having reported the several bills of indictment presented to us in due form being informed by the proper Office no others are forthcoming, do wait that the Court for the purpose of receivi upon Dg our

and

We further beg leave to state to the Court the gratifying pleasure we received iu witnessing the exertions of Mrs. Fry and the Ladies who so kindly assist her în attending to and instructing the female prisoners, whose reformed deportment, and cheerful acquiescence to their wishes, demonstrated with a force no language can

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »