And there I must again repeat, that what I defcribe is from a caged nightingale, because those which we hear in the fpring are fo rank, that they feldom fing any thing but short and loud jerks, which confequently cannot be compared to the notes of a caged bird, as the inftrument is overstrained. I must alfo here observe, that my nightingale was a very capital bird; for fome of them are fo vaftly inferior, that the bird-fanciers will not keep them, branding them with the name of French men. But it is not only in tone and variety that the nightingale excels; the bird alfo fings (if I may fo exprefs myfelf) with fuperior judgment and taste. I have therefore commonly obferved, that my nightingale began foftly like the ancient orators; referving its breath to fwell certain notes, which, by this means, had a moft aftonishing effect, and which eludes all verbal defcription. I have indeed taken down certain paffages which may be reduced to our mufical intervals; but though by these means one may form an idea of fome of the notes used, yet it is impoffible to give their comparative durations in point of mufical tune, upon which the whole effect muft depend. I once procured a very capital player on the flute to execute the notes which Kircher hath engraved in his Mufurgia, as being used by the nightingale; when, from want of not being able to fettle their comparative duration, it was impoffible to obferve any traces almoft of the nightingale's fong. It may not be improper here to confider, whether the nightingale may not have a very formidable competitor in the American mocking-bird +; though almoft all travellers agree, that the concert in the European woods is fuperior to that of the other parts of the globe T. As birds are now annually imported in great numbers from Afia, Africa, and America, I have frequently attended to their notes, both fingly and in con NOTE. +Turdus Americanus minor canorous. Ray's Syn. It is called by the Indians Contlatolli; which is faid to fignify four hundred tongues. See alfo Catefby. See Rochefort's Hift. des Antelles, T. I. p. 366.--Ph. Tr. Abr, Vol. III. p. 563-and Catesby, Auguft, 1774. cert, which are certainly not to be compared to thofe in Europe. Thomson, the poet, (whofe obfervations in natural history are much to be depended upon) makes this fuperiority in the European birds to be a fort of compenfation for their great inferiority in point of gaudy plumage. Our goldfinch, however, joins to a very brilliant and pleafing fong, a moft beautiful variety of colours in its feathers ||. It must be admitted, that foreign birds, when brought to Europe, are often heard to a great difadvantage; as many of them, from their great tameness, have certainly been brought up by hand, the confequence of which I have already stated from several experiments. The foft-billed birds alfo cannot be well brought over, as the fuccedaneum for infects (their common food) is fresh meat, and particularly the hearts of animals. I have happened, however, to hear the American mocking-bird in great perfection at Meff. Vogle's and Scott's, in Love-lane, Eastcheap. This bird is believed to be ftill living, and hath been in England thefe fix years. During the space of a minute he imitated the wood-lark, chaffinch, black-bird, thrush, and fparrow. I was told alfo, that he would bark like a dog; fo that the bird feems to have no choice in his imitations, though the pipe comes neareft to our nightingale of any bird I have yet met with. With regard to the original notes, however, of this bird, we are still at a lofs; as this can only be known by those who are accurately acquainted with the fong of other American birds. Kalm, indeed, informs us, that the natural fong is excellent *; but this traveller feems not to have been long enough in America to have distinguished what were the genuine notes with us, mimics do not often succeed but in imitations. I have little doubt, however, but that I cannot but think, that there would be a demand for thefe birds in China, as the inhabitants are very fedentary, and bird-cages are commonly reprefented as hanging in their rooms. I have been informed by a Tyroleze, that his best market for Canary birds was Conftantinople. Nnn *Vol, I. p. 219. this this bird would be fully equal to the fong of the nightingale in its whole compafs; but then, from the attention which the mocker pays to any other fort of difagreeable noifes, thefe capital notes would be always debased by a bad mixture. We have one mockingbird in England, which is the fkylark; as, contrary to a general obfervation I have before made, this bird will catch the note of any other which hangs near it; even after the skylark note is fixed. For this reason the bird-fanciers often place a skylark next one which hath not been long caught, in order, as they term it, to keep the caged skylark honest. The question, indeed, may be asked, why the wild fkylark, with these powers of imitation, ever adheres to the parental note; but it must be recollected, that a bird when at liberty is for ever Aifting its place, and confequently does not hear the fame notes eternally re peated, as when it hangs in a cage near another. In a wild ftate, therefore, the skylark adheres to the parental notes; as the parent cock attends the young ones, and is heard by them for fo confiderable a time. I am aware alfo, that it may asked, how birds originally came by the notes which are peculiar to each fpecies. My anfwer, however, to this is, That the origin of the notes of birds, together, with its gradual progrefs, is as difficult to be traced, as that of the different languages in nations. The lofs of the parent cock at this critical time for inftruction hath undoubtedly produced those varieties, which I have before obferved are the fong of each species; because then the neftling hath either attended to the fong of fome other birds, or perhaps invented fome new notes of its own; which are afterwards perpetuated from generation to generation, till fimilar accidents produce other alterations. The organs of fome birds alfo are probably so defective, that they cannot imitate properly the parental note, as fome men can never articulate as they fhould do. Such defects in the parent bird muft again occafion varieties, because these defects will be continued to their defcendants, who (as I before have proved) will only attend to the parental fong. Some of those defcendants alfo may have imperfect organs; which will again multiply varieties in the fong. The truth is, as I before obferved, that fcarcely any two birds of the fame fpecies have exactly the fame notes, if they are accurately attended to, though there is a general refemblance. Thus most people fee no difference between one theep and another, when a large flock is before them. The shepherd, however, knows each of them, and can fwear to them if they are loft; as can the Lincolnshire gosherd to each goose. The late Affair at Plymouth, which ended Jo unfortunately, and fo contrary to Expectation, having occafioned much Difcuffion, and iven rife to a Contrariety of Opinions upon the Subje&, it is thought proper to give a Detail of the Tranfactions; the Public may be affured that it comes from the beft Authority. Mcheme, and as matters have turned out, the unhappy facrifice to his own ingenuity) employed his thoughts, for fome years paft, in planning a method of finking a veffel under water, with a man in it, who fhould live therein for a certain time, and then, by his own means only, bring himself up to the furface. After much study, he conceived that his plan could be reduced into practice; he communicated his idea in the part of the country where he lived, and had the moft fanguine hopes of fuccefs. He went fo far as to try his project in the Broads, near Yarmouth. He fitted a Norwich market-boat for his purpose, funk himself 30 feet under water, where he continued during the fpace of 24 hours. and executed his defign to his own entire fatisfaction. Elate with this fuccefs, he then wanted to avail himself of his invention: he converfed with his friends, perfectly convinced that he had brought his undertaking to a certainty; but how to reap the advantage of it was the difficulty that remained. The perfon in whom he confided fuggefted to him, that if he acquainted the Sporting Gentlemen with the difcovery, and the certainty of the performance, confiderable bets would take place, as foon as the project should be mentioned in company. The Sport R. Day (the fole projector of the ing Calender was immediately looked into, and the name of Blake foon occurred; that Gentleman was fixed upon as the perfon to whom Mr. Day ought to addrefs himself. Accordingly Mr. Blake, in the month of November laft, received the following letter: "SIR, "I have found out an affair, by which means many thousands may be won: it is of a paradoxical nature, but can be performed with eafe; therefore, Sir, if you chufe to be informed of it, and give me One Hundred Pounds out of every Thousand you fhall win by it, I will very readily wait upon you, and inform you of it. I am, myfelf, but a poor mechanic, and not able to make any thing of it without your affiftance. Yours, &c. " J. DAY." Mr. Blake had no conception of Mr. Day's defign, nor was he fure that the letter was ferious. To clear the matter up, he returned for anfwer, that if Mr. Day would come to Town, and explain himself, Mr. Blake would confider of the propofal. If he approved of it, Mr. Day thould have the recompence he defired; if, on the other hand, the plan fhould be rejected, Mr. Blake would make him a prefent to defray the expences of his journey. In a fhort time after Mr. Day came to town; Mr. Blake faw him, and defired to know what fecret he was poffeffed of. The man replied, "That he could fink a fhip one hundred yards deep in the fea, with himfelf in it, and remain therein for the fpace of twenty-four hours, without communication with any thing above; and, at the expiration of the time, rife up again in the veffel." The propofal, in all its parts, was new to Mr. Blake. He took down the particulars, and, after confidering the matter, defired fome kind of proof of the practicability. The man added, that if Mr. Blake would furnish him with the materials neceffary, he would give him ocular demonftration. A model of the veffel in which he was to perform the experiment was then required, and in three or four weeks accomplished, fo as to give a perfect idea of the principle upon which the fcheme was to be executed; and, indeed, a very plaufible promife of fuccefs, not to Mr. Blake only, but many other gentlemen who were confulted upon the occafion. The confequence was, that Mr. Blake, agreeable to the man's defire, advanced money for the construction of a veffel fit for the purpose. Mr. Day, thus affifted, went to Plymouth with his model and fet the men at that place to work upon it. The preffure of the water at one hundred feet deep, was a circumftance of which Mr. Blake was advised; and touching that article, he gave the ftrongest precautions to Mr. Day, telling him, at any expence, to fortify the chamber in which he was to fubfift, against the weight of fuch a body of wa ter. Mr. Day fet off in great spirits for Plymouth, and feemed fo confident, that Mr. Blake made a bett that the project would fucced, reducing, however, the depth of the water from one hundred yards to one hundred feet, and the time from twenty-four hours to twelve. By the terms of the wager, the experiment was to be made within three months from the date; but fo much time was neceffary for due preparation, that on the appointed day things were not in readinefs, and Mr. Blake loft the bet. In fome fhort time afterwards the veffel was finished, and Mr. Day still continued eager for the carrying of his plan into execution; he was uneafy at the idea of dropping the fcheme, and wifhed for an opportunity to convince Mr. Blake that he could perform what he had undertaken. He wrote from Plymouth that every thing was in readinefs, and fhould be executed the moment Mr. Blake arrived. Induced by this promife, Mr. Blake fet out for Plymouth. Upon his arrival, a tryal was made in Catwater, where Mr. Day lay, during the flow of the tide, fix hours, and fix more during the tide of ebb, confined all the time in the room appropriated for his ufe. A day for the final determination was then fixed; the veffel was towed to the place agreed upon; Mr. Day provided himfelf with whatever he thought neceflary, went into the veffel, let the water into her, and with great compofure retired to the room conltructed for him, and fhut up the valve. The fhip went gradually down in twenty-two fathom water at two o'clock on Tuesday in the afternoon, being to return at two the next morning. He had three buoys or meffengers, which he Nnn 2 could could fend to the furface at option, to announce his fituation below; but none appearing, Mr. Blake, who was near at hand in a barge, began to entertain fome fufpicion: he kept a ftrict look out, and at the time appointed, neither the buoys nor the veffel coming up, he applied to the Orpheus frigate, which lay just off the barge, for affiftance. The captain, with the most ready benevolence, fupplied him with every thing in his power to fweep for the fhip. Mr. Blake, in this alarming fituation, was not content with the help of the Orpheus only; he made immediate application to Lord Sandwich (who happened to be His at Plymouth) for further relief. Lordship, with great humanity, ordered a number of hands from the Dock-yard, who went with the utmost alacrity, and tried every effort to regain the ship, but unhappily without effect. Thus ended this unfortunate affair. Mr. Blake had not experience enough to judge of all poffible contingencies, and has only now to lament the credulity with which he liftened to a projector, fond of his own scheme, but certainly not poffeffed of fkill enough to guard against the variety of accidents to which he was liable. The poor man has unfortunately fhortened his days; he was not, however, tempted or influenced by any body; he confided in his own judgment, and put his life to the hazard upon his own mistaken notions. Momus: or, the Laughing Philofopher. This is fome Monter of the Ife with four Legs: if I can keep him tame, and get to Naples with him, he's a Prefent for any Emperor that ever trod on neat's Leather: were I in England now, as once I was, and had but this Fish paint ed, not an holiday Fool there but would give a Piece of Silver to fee bim. There would this Monfier make a Man; any frange Beaft there makes a Man: when they will not give a Doit to relieve a lame Beggar, they will lay out ten to See a dead Indian. SHAKESPEARE. HAVE vifited almost all the nations people fo extravagant in their curiofity, or aftonished fo much at any other thing which differs from themselves, or the creatures of their country, as the English. If a foreigner comes amongst us in the garb of his nation, we prefs with indecency about him; not to honour him with our falutations of congratulation for the favour he has conferred upon us by fuch a vifit, but to ftare, to gape upon, and to pass a farcaftic opinion on the manner of his appearance, and to cenfure his ignorance of our manners and cuftoms. Upon fuch occafions we thould confefs our folly, like Virgil's clown, who in a proper manner chastifed himself for thinking his little paltry hamlet, Mantua, like imperial Rome. "Urbem quam dicunt Romam, Meliboe, putavi "Stultus ego huic noftræ fimilem."— This rudeness about the English people towards foreigners is grofs and unbecoming. The very untutored Indians, without the advantage of example and education, have a courtefy and an addrefs that even puts us enlightened people out of countenance. If a lady or a gentleman, of another country, attempts, in broken language, to converfe with us; inftead of informing them of their errors and inaccuracies, and putting them right in their pronunciation, we wonder and exclaim at their ignorance, and fet up a great horfe laugh, forgetting at the fame time that the ignorance refts on our fide. No lefs a man than the celebrated and improved Mr. Garrick was guilty of an error of this fort, when he made the grand tour to improve his mind, and render himself a rarer creature amongst his countrymen, who will blow on an angel if too frequently feen among st them. When Mr. Garrick reached Calais, he was walking the fireets and viewing the place, when he difcovered at once a number of children at play-and immediately exclaimed with an English amazement, Why, why, why nowit is amazing to hear how these little creatures fpeak French!" ་་ I do not mean to animadvert on this Garrickifm; nor fay, whether he had attention forgot the land he was in, or whether companions by the abfurdity of the obfervation. I beg leave to leave Mr. Garrick in Calais to pursue his obfervatious, while I continue my own. A paffion A paffion for rarities of all fpecies, genera, and denominations, feems to be the taste and ton of the times; and if King's themselves are to give fanctions to every folly, and adopt them, we are fo far right, by having the royal approbation to every exotic monster. His Majesty, in his princely wisdom, hath publicly declared to the circle of his cryftal, fmiling, hollow courtiers, that the discovery of the ifles of Otaheite, New Zealand, &c. is the brightest jewel in his crown, and that he is prouder to have his reign adorned with the accounts given by the various Mandevillean explorers, than of any other act or acquifition. I do fuppofe, in his royal mind the Quebec Bill does not hold fo fair a place! Now, fince the royal ftamp and feal are given to this circumnavigable bufinefs, Monsters must encrease, and the Kingdom in the course of time must be a grand menagerie for the animals of other countries. I dare say, at this prefent writing we have as great a variety as Captain Noah had in his long flip, and more in number, though they are not in pairs; and I believe Philofophers in general allow that marine gentleman to have had the greatest liveftock on board his veffel that ever any failor went to fea with. I have often been amazed when I reflected on the manner of their ftowing; and how he and his lady-daughters could attend with food to fupply the cravings of fo many maws: for according to the Mofaic narrative of that wonderful aquatic expedition, the elements were in general troubled and agitated, and confequently (as I have feen in common paffage-boats) these various creatures must have been variously indisposed and fick. It is not taken notice of by any Chriftian author, which greatly amazes me, that the ark fprung a leak on the thirty-eighth day, at two o'clock P. M. The confternation on this occafion was, as you may imagine, great. To ftop the water from gufhing in was the thought of the Captain's youngest daughter, Mifs Lillah, lineally defcended and named from Lamech's wife, She placed the pointer's nofe in the hole; from which steady pofition he learned to ftand fixed; and from that circumstance all the dogs nofes are cold. This canine pleafantry is mentioned by a Latin author called Mummius Secundus, Chap. iv. page 199. The paffion of exploration is now higher than ever, and animals and exotic plants arrive from the deepest horizons. It was but last year that a vicious little Horfe was brought from India, that kicked two mens' brains out in the courfe of the voyage. Mr. Banks, Dr. Solander, Mr. Cooke, and Mr. Furneaux have dived so deep into foreign parts, that they are abfolutely Crufoes. But with all their penetration, I do not find that any good hath accrued to the Community. Numbers of our hardy subjects have died on the paffage-many have been roasted and eaten by Cannibals-numbers have been drowned and a great expence the nation hath been put to; and only to bring home a few feeds-fome fhells-ftuffed fish-dried birds-voracious animalspreffed plants-and an Indian-in short, as many rare things as would set up a Necromancer or a Country Apothecary: "In his needy fhop a tortoife hung, "An alligator ftuffed, and other skins "Of ill-fhaped fishes.". Now, in former reigns, when Columbus, a Genoese, and Americus Vefpucius, a Florentine, failed in the year 1492, they made the discovery of the Western World; they were also followed by Magellan, a noble Portuguese, who found out thofe Straits which bear his name, as alfo South America. These noble adventurers were fucceeded by many of our own countrymen, particularly Raleigh, who is not inferior to any, and who was rewarded in an unmanly manner by that daftard wretch James the First, for his great and glorious fervices and fatigues. From the expeditions of these Heroes and many others, territories and iflands were annexed to our country; but the present mode of exploring only appears to be an expedition to pick up fhells, and preferve butterflies for the Fair Sex, The Ifles of Otaheite and New Zealand are not to be vifited or inhabited, and therefore thefe jaunts to the southern latitudes are only to amufe the Court, and encrease our collection of trifles. Plants have been brought over, which Linnæus cannot chriften-fhells have been found without their likeneffes and |