ceived a pittance from writing in the Critical Review, under his countryman Mallet. He had received, the preceding year, proposals from his friend Mr. Murray, to enter into company with him as a bookseller, on his taking Mr. Sandby's business in Fleet Street; it does not appear from what cause he was led to decline the offer. While he was preparing to publish a third edition of the SHIPWRECK, he obtained the highly advantageous appointment of purser to the Aurora frigate, Captain Lee, which was ordered to carry out Mr. Vansittart and the other Commissioners to India, with the promise of being made their private secretary. The catastrophe is well known. The Aurora frigate sailed on the 30th of September, 1769, left the Cape on the 27th of December, and was heard of no more. It is the most probable opinion, that she foundered in the Mozambique Channel, the dangers of which the captain, in spite, as it is said of remonstrances, was rash enough, although a stranger to its navigation, to encounter.

In 1773, a black was examined before the East India Directors, who affirmed that he was one of five persons who had been saved from the wreck of the Aurora, and that she had been cast away on a reef of rocks off Mocoa.

To these particulars, for which the public are chiefly indebted to the assiduous researches of the Rev. James Stanier Clarke, it may be added, on the same authority, that Falconer was, in his person, about five feet seven inches in height, of a thin light make, hard featured, and weatherbeaten, of blunt and awkward manners, but cheerful, kind, and generous. He was however, inclined to be satirical, and delighted in controversy strange characteristics of a man who was a thorough seaman and a poet!

'Tis mine. retired beneath this cavern hoar That stands all lonely on the sea beat shore. Far other themes of deep distrefs to sing Than ever trembled from the vocal string:

OCT. 1.1819.