VOL. 3.] rest of the scene. Sadler's Eronautic Expedition.-The late Mr. Paul. I could now obviously perceive that my course had been rapid, and my journey nearly accomplished, as at within ten minutes of six o'clock, I distinctly saw the enclosures on the Island of Holyhead, and shortly after, the pier at the town. 43 tle agitated by the breeze, and which here and and descending till those required were there breaking into foam, added to the inte- met with; it is evident, that if any lateral motion could be communicated to the machine, not only would the chance of obtaining auspicious breezes be increased by the extended range in space, but even in currents partially adverse, acounteracting impulse, like the steering and tacking of a ship, might produce a wonderful effect. Blanchard declared his oars were of little use, but Roberts and Hu Being now very near land at 23 minutes past six, I began to prepare for a descent, and for this purpose run out the grappling-line, putting the necessary loose articles in safety, and casting over the remainder, amongst others, three eggs, one of which broke into a number of pieces before reaching the sea; the exact time of another in coming in contact with the lin, who ascended at Paris, assert that water, was 29 seconds, an interval of time they were enabled by the use of two which will show that my elevation was not oars, to deviate no less than 22°. from great, and that I had been enabled so to regu- the direction of the wind. fate the balloon as to preserve a given altitude, and to pursue a direct line. It may appear absurd to some per"Within a quarter of seven o'clock I was a sons; but when we consider the infancy little to the southward of the Light-house on Holyhead, when perceiving a suitable place of this science, and the extraordinary on which to alight, I in a few minutes opened discoveries made and making with res the valve, when the balloon descending, a cur rent of air brought me at once within a short pect to chemical agents, we confess we distance of the spot which I had selected, and are not without hopes of seeing, in our the grappling-iron touching the earth, the bal- own time, such improvements in the art loon remained stationary, at within twelve feet of the ground: the evening was serenely calm, of navigating the air, as being expressed and a number of persons having assembled to at this moment might expose us to ridi aid me at the moment of descent, it was effect- cule. It would be a delightful thing, if it ed in a manner the most successful; the ma chine being perfectly poised, and the quantity could be attained, to travel so easily at of gas expelled so accurate, that the weight of the rate of 50 miles an hour, wherever the disengaged grapple prevented its rising, one wished to go;-a jest-loving compaand the yet remaining buoyancy of the balloon kept it floating from the ground; so that permitting more gas to escape, the car gently touched the earth, and at five minutes after seven o'clock I TROD ON THE SHORES OF WALES, THE FIRST AERONAUT WHO HAD SUCCESSFULLY ACCOMPLISHED THE PASSAGE OF THE IRISH CHANNEL." nion at our elbow adds, "to have a gentleman order his balloon at 11 o'clock at Hyde Park Corner, intending to visit a friend to dinner at 5 in Prince's-Street, Edinburgh!" But when we reflect on the many im Our intention being rather to pre- portant natural phenomena in the invesserve the memorial of this remarkable tigation and solution of which aerostation undertaking than to enter into any of is calculated to form so conspicuous an the philosophical enquiries to which it agent, it is not too much to hope, that it so naturally leads, we shall merely notice may be prosecuted with the zeal and enthe important proof it affords of the pos- thusiasm it merits. To the Messrs. Sadsibility of directing a balloon through the lers science is much indebted for their exair, in a certain degree at least, towards a ertions, and it is a pity that enlarged given point. When so much has been public encouragement has not more amdone in finding currents, by ascending ply aided their individual labours. From La Belle Assemblee, December 1817. PAUL, THE ASIATIC HUNTER. PAUL was, for many years, employ- which gave him birth.* Nothing could ed as superintendant of the elephants ever rouse him to a state of merriment, stationed at Danpore, generally from fif- even amidst the uproar of midnight festity to an hundred in number. This re- vity, of which he partook freely; but, markable man was about six feet two in- without being affected in the least by ches in height, his make was more than copious libations, even of spirits, while. proportionably stout, and his disposition others confined themselves to wine. was completely indicative of the country He was a German 44 Dr. Drake's "Shakspeare and his Times."-Learned Ladies. [VOL. 3 Paul would sit nearly silent, with an un- search to a great distance, and would varying countenance, twirling his thumbs, perhaps set off thirty or forty miles with and occasionally volunteering with a Ger- as many elephants, on hearing of a tyger man song, delivered with closed eyes, having committed depredations. As to the thumbs still twirling, and with obvi- hog-hunting, Paul thought it beneath his ous tokens of delight, at the sound of his notice; and, as he used to express himown voice; which, though not offensive, self, "left that to the boys." Indeed, it was by no means equal to his own opin- was very rare to see him on a horse. His ion of its merits. Paul never took offence; weight and disinclination, no doubt, were he was bent on making money, and his partly the causes of his rarely taking to exertions were in the end amply success- the saddle; but, as he was a great dealer ful. He was possessed of a coolness and in elephants, we may fairly conjecture, presence of mind, which gave him a that the display of such as were ready wonderful superiority in all matters relat- for the market, was the motive which ing to tyger-hunting. He rarely rode but operated principally towards his riding on a bare pad, and ordinarily by himself, elephants on all occasions. armed with an old musket, and furnished with a small pouch containing his powder and ball. He was, however, remarkably nice in the selection of elephants for this purpose; and as he was for many years in charge of such numbers, in which changes were perpetually made, from requisitions for service, and from new arrivals, we may justly conclude, that he did not fail to keep himself well provided, by the reservation of such as were, in his opinion, best qualified for his views. The consciousness of his own corporeal powers, as well as the steadiness of the animal that bore him, and the continual practice in which he lived, could not fail to render Paul successful, even had his disposition been somewhat less Paul was assuredly a competent judge, phlegmatic, and his mind less steady. but this assertion partook more of hypoAccordingly all were governed by him, thesis than reason.---Oriental Field Sports. when after game; for which he would Paul's aims were at the head or the heart, and in general his shots were well placed; rarely deviating many inches from the parts at which he levelled his musket. He charged very amply, and never missed of effect for want of powder. He used often to remark, that he could instantly, at sight of a tyger, decide whether or not it had been in the habit of attacking the human race, or whether its devastations had been confined to cattle, &c. He observed that such as had once killed a man, ever after cared little for any other prey; and that they could be distinguished by the remarkable darkness of their skins, and by a redness in the cornea, or whites of the eyes. From the Literary Gazette. DR. DRAKE'S SHAKSPEARE AND HIS TIMES." 66 TH HERE is so much curious matter their respective departments, remaining concentrated in these volumes that without a rival ?" we offer no excuse for returning to them. The state of English literature at the period when our immortal Bard added his brilliant light to the galaxy is thus noticed by way of introduction. "The literary period of which we are proceeding to give a slight sketch, may be justly considered as the most splendid in our Annals; for in what equal portion of our history can we bring forward three such mighty names as Spencer, Bacon, and Shakspeare, each, in Literature, which had for centuries been confined to ecclesiastics and scholars by profession, was, at the commencement of Elizabeth's reign, thrown open to the higher classes of general society. The example was given by the Queen herself; and the nobility, the superior orders of the gentry, and even their wives and daughters, became enthusiasts in the cause of letters. The novelty which attended these studies, the eager desire to possess what had been so long and jeal VOL. 3.] Chronology of Shakspeare's Dramas-Contemporary Poets. 45 ously concealed, and the curiosity to ex- of an enlightened people. Literature plore and rifle the treasures of the Greek was almost confined to the metropolis and Roman world, which mystery and and to persons of rank; and in the counimagination had swelled into the marvel- try, to read and write were still rare aclous, contributed to excite an absolute complishments. The next century, thank passion for books. The court, the du- Heaven, saw mental cultivation diffused cal castle, and the baronial hall, were throughout the kingdom and every class suddenly converted into academies, and of society, and at the present era we may could boast of splendid libraries, as well fairly anticipate the time, when not to as of splendid tapestries. In the first of be able to read and write will be conthese, according to Ascham, might be sidered, even in the lowest, as, great a seen the Queen reading more Greeke phenomenon as the capacity to do either every day than some Prebendarie of was esteemed in the middle ranks two this church doth read Latin in a whole hundred years ago. 66 week," and while she was translating Several of Shakspeare's countrymen Isocrates or Seneca, it may be easily were upon the stage, and celebrated coconceived that her maids of honour medians, when he arrived in London; found it convenient to praise and to adopt and it is probable that an acquaintance the disposition of her time. In the sec- with Heminge and the two Burbadges ond, observes Warton, the daughter of a introduced him at once to the town as a duchess was taught not only to distil performer, as well as his brother Edstrong waters, but to construe Greek; mond, who was a player at the Globe, and in the third, every young lady who and dying in 1607, was buried in St. aspired to be fashionable, was compel- Saviour's Church, Borough, as appears led, in imitation of the greater world, to from the records of that parish, 31 Deexhibit similar marks of erudition." cember, same year. Dr. Drake contends, With so many blue-stocking Count- on good grounds, that William Shakesses, and Dames, and Misses, it may speare was an able and meritorious acreadily be believed, that the male sex tor; but, as we would rather trace him devoted themselves to learned pursuits; in his more splendid and enduring course, and accordingly we find it stated on con- we leave this portion of the work to temporary authority. (Harrison's de- pursue his literary track. scription of England.) About 1587, the poem of Venus and "This further is not to be omitted, to Adonis appears to have been written, the singular commendation of both sorts though the first edition was not publishand sexes of our Courtiers here in Eng- ed till 1593; two or three years after land, that there are verie few of them, the author had commenced dramatic which have not the use and skill of sun- poet. It was dedicated, as well as the drie speaches, beside an excellent veine Rape of Lucrece, to the Earl of Southof writing before time not regarded.— ampton, the friend of Essex, and the Trulie it is a rare thing with us now, to munificent patron of our bard. His heare of a Courtier which hath but his first drama, Dr. Drake holds to be Periown language. And to saie how many cles, a play which is alluded to, in the gentlewomen and ladies there are, that prologue to The Hogge has lost his beside sound knowledge of the Greeke Pearle, and the date of which is assignand Latine toongs, are thereto no lesse ed to 1590. Dr. D. proceeds thence to skilfull in the Spanish, Italian, and show the probable order and chronology French, or in some one of them, it rest of the genuine dramas-in all, thirtyeth not in me; sith I am persuaded, that five plays in twenty-three years. as the noblemen and gentlemen do sur- During this brilliant period, and ramount in this behalfe, so these come ve- ther more than an equal number of years rie little or nothing at all behind them preceding and following, namely, during for their parts; which industrie God con- the reign of Elizabeth, flourished with tinae, and accomplish that which other- great celebriry as poets, Beaumont (Sir wise is wanting!" John,) Breton, Browne, Chalkhill, ChapThis taste, however, was far from per- man, Churchyard, Constable, Daniel, vading, as it does in our days, the bulk Davies, Davors, Donne, Drayton, Drum 46 Shakspeare and his Times-Contemporary Poets-Dress of the Citizen. [VOL.8 mond, Fairfax, Fitzgeffrey, the Fletch- A rakehell sworne to prodigalitie That dares not term it liberalitie; Not from the sinne, but from the seeing eie. Holding it true felicitie to flie ers (Giles and Phineas,) Gascoigne, A lecher, that hath lost both flesh and faine, Greene, Hall, Harrington, Jonson, Lodge, That holds not lecherie a pleasant game :Marlow, Marston, Niccols, Raleigh, Thus with the world, the world dissembles still, Sackville, Southwell, Spenser, Stirling, And, to their own confusions, follow will; Sydney, Sylvester, Turberville, Tusser, Warner, Watson, Willobie, Wither, and Wotten, who may be considered the for"In Lodge, we find whole pastorals ty master-bards of the age. But to and odes, which have all the ease, polish, these might be added the names of very and elegance of a modern author. How near two hundred (193) minor poets, natural is the sentiment, and how sweet who, with their works, are known to the the expression of the following in Old learned in black letter: the whole fur- Damon's Pastoral : nishing a sufficient proof that the Shaksperian age which produced two hundred and thirty-three authors who published their poetry in the collected form of volumes, was indeed an era fertile in verse and versifiers. Of the chief of these writers, our author gives concise and interesting biographical sketches, together with specimens of their style; and, as our enumeration of names may be thought rather dry, we shall, with our readers' permission, digress into this part of his work, and extract a few of the passages which seem to us to contain information and examples least generally known respecting the contemporaries of Shakspeare. Thomas Lodge, M. D. " has the double honour of being the first who published in our language, a collection of Satires, so named; and of having suggested to Shakspeare the plot of his As You Like It. *** The work which gives hin: precedence as a writer of professed satires, is entitled, “A Fig for Momus; containing pleasant varietie, included in Satyrs, Eulogues, and Epistles, by T. L. of Lincolnes Inne, Gent. 1595," It is dedicated to William, Earle of Darbie, and, though published two years before the appearance of Hall's Satires, possesses a spirit, ease, and har mony, which that more celebrated poet has not surpassed. Than the following lines, selected from the first satire, we know few which, in the same department, can establish a better claim to vigour, truth, and melody : All men are willing with the world to haulte, Homely hearts do harbour quiet; Little fear, and mickle solace; Where the mind and store agreeth; Least he longs that little seeth. To converse where honour thronged, That the day consum'd returns not: Solitary Shepherd's Song: How charmingly he breaks out in the O shady vale, O fair enriched meads, O sacred bowers, sweet fields, and rising mountains, O painted flowers, green herbs where Flora treads, Refresh'd by wanton winds, and watery fountains! We shall close this notice of Dr. Lodge with one exquisite quotation more from Rosalind's Madrigal. Love in my bosom, like a bee, Doth suck his sweet: Now with his wings he plays with me, Within mine eyes he makes his rest; Ah, Wanton, will ye? The dress of the Citizen, in Shakspeare's time, was, if less elegant, equally showy, and sometimes fully as expensive as that of the man of fashion. The medium habit may, with great probability, be considered as sketched in the following humorous tale, derived from a popular pamphlet, printed in 1609 : A Citizen, for recreation-sake, To see the Country, would a journey take VOL. 3.] Additional Particulars as to the real Cause of the Death of Capt.Cook. 47 Some dozen mile, or very little more; Taking his leave with friends two months before, Sirrah! (says one) stand, and your purse deliver, I am a taker, thou must be a giver." a Maisters, (quoth he) pray heare me ere ye go: The jerkin and the bases be a taylor's: The falling band is likewise none of mine, care, Since in thy loss so many bear a share. The world goes hard : many good fellowes lacke: The scarfe, I do assure you, is a saylour's: DR. COLEY'S ACCOUNT OF THE DEATH OF CAPT. COOK. SIR, ON To the Editor of the Literary Gazette. N reading the statement of the real our people were taking it away, a priest cause of the death of Captain Cook, saw one of them with a carved image; in your publication for November 1st, and upon inquiry, was informed, that the it brought to my recollection the account whole semicircle (as mentioned in the of that melancholy transaction, as related description of the Morai,) had been carto me at Owhyhee. I visited Owhyhee, ried to the boats.-Though the natives as surgeon of his Majesty ship Cornwal- were spectators of this business, they did lis in 1808, and from a manuscript ac- not seem to resent it; but, on the concount of the voyage, I send you the fol- trary, had even assisted in the removal. lowing particulars, which I obtained from Mr. King thought proper to mention the an Englishman of the name of Young, particulars to Kaoo; who seemed exwho had resided on the island upwards ceedingly indifferent about the matter, of fifteen years, and was married to a begging him only to restore the center daughter of the king's brother. All the image; which was immediately done. eircumstances relative to this man, are and it was conveyed to one of the priests" minutely detailed in Captain Vancou- houses." ver's voyages. When our great circum- Young, the Englishman I have before navigator first visited Owhyhee, the Mo- alluded to, assured me this circumstance rai was surrounded with a high railing, was the principal cause of the death of which was taken on board the Resolution Captain Cook: he told me, the priests for fire-wood; Captain Cook having re- did not understand the precise nature of quested permission to do so, in conse- Mr. King's request. The Morai is always quence of the scarcity of wood, except at under the influence of the Taboo, and a distance from the ship. The following every thing belonging to it is held by the is the account of this transaction, as re- natives sacred and inviolable; it therecorded in Cook's Voyage.-"Our ships fore appears unaccountable, that Captain were much in want of fuel, therefore Cook should have made such a request; Captain Cook desired Mr. King to treat particularly as he was not unacquainted with the priests, for the purchase of the with the religious rites and ceremonies of Fail on the Morai. Mr. King had his the natives. That the transaction I have doubts about the decency of this over- described, or some other affair not reture, and apprehended that the bare men-. corded, made a very unfavourable imtion of it might be deemed IMPIOUS; but pression on the minds of the islanders, is in this he was exceedingly mistaken. proved by their conduct on the return of They expressed no kind of surprise at the ships to Kara-kakooa Bay, which is the application, and the wood was deliv- thus described: "Our reception on comered without the least stipulation. Whilst ing to auchor was so different from what |