passing; as the Chinese contrive to entrap a sufficient number of them, without resorting to any noisy means, which might frighten or render them shy.

From Tiger island until we got as far as the second bar, nothing particular presented itself to our view.

Opposite this sand, which runs across the river, there is a stupendous pagoda built on the western bank; it is eight or ten stories high, somewhat pyramidical, and full of apertures in each square, seemingly much decorated. We did not, however, stop to examine it.

Here the scenery begins to assumie an interesting appearance. In the back ground, high and fantastically shaped mountains raise their summits among the clouds; while all round (with very little exception,) to the feet of these mountains, the ground seems a level verdant plain, intersected (as before mentioned,) with innumerable branches of the river, and artificial canals. It is this last circumstance that renders the scenery so truly picturesque; for a person can only see that particular branch on which he is sailing: but he beholds with amazement a variety of ships, junks, and vessels of every description, gliding as if by the effects of magic, through fields and villages, winding among castles, pagodas, and monasteries, sometimes on one side of them, sometimes on the other, sailing in an infinite variety of directions, and forming the most whimsical, novel, and entertaining prospect I ever remember to have seen! As we approached Wampoa," the plot continued to thicken," and we could do little else than gaze with a mixture of pleasure and astonishment, at the interesting scenes that surrounded us: scarcely a word being spoken in the boat for several miles, so completely was each individual's attention arrested by the passing objects.

Wampoa is an anchorage abreast of Dane's island, and distant from Canton abont ten or twelve miles. Above this place no European vessel is permitted to proceed, on any account whatever: indeed ships of any great draught could not go much further up, on account of the shallowness of the water. At this anchorage may be seen ships from every great maritime power on the globe, except France, there being none at this time from that country.

In viewing the various national flags flying on board their respective ships at Wampoa, it is highly gratifying to Eng

lishmen's feelings, to observe the British, superior in number to all the others collectively: while each individual ship, like a colossal emblem of the British counmerce, appears to look down with contempt on the pigmy representatives of the nations that surround her!

There is little to be observed of Dane's islaud, more than that there is a little village on it facing the roads; while a number of villas, pagodas, and mandarins" seats are seen scattered about on the surrounding isles; especially near the banks of the river, where there are hoppo houses, where boats are overhauled, and chops or permits given by the officers of the customs: they so far respected our pendant, however, that we were suffered to proceed without the smallest molestation. I had almost forgotten to mention, that it is at Dane's island that affairs of honour are usually settled between European gentlemen. At Canton, therefore, to "throw down the gauntlet," it is ou necessary to say, "Dane's island, sir!" (To be continued.)

For the Monthly Magazine. CRITICAL SURVEY of LESSING'S WORKS. [For Particulars of his Life fee Vol. 19, p. 569, and Vol. 23, p. 38.]

N

I know

I know this lady only by fome middling poems, and fhould not have thought her hiftory entitled to much regard, were it not that the draws from a peculiar and refpectable fource the unpublished Memoirs of Gomez Vafconcellos de Figueredo. Of this man it is well known that he and his brother were among the moft faithful adherents of Don Antonio. But how came thefe memoirs to the hands of Madame de Saintonge?-She was his grand-daughter. If one allow ances are to be made for the loquacity of a Frenchwoman, much confidence may be placed in her opportunities of information. Allow me then to put down a few particulars inferred from this volume, which here and there seem to rectify or complete the statements of Gebauer.

First, a word or two concerning the partiality of Madame de Saintonge. The legitimate birth of Don Antonio is with her paft a doubt. According to her, the father, Duke Louis of Beja, exprellly acknowledged in his will that the mother had been really, though privateby, married to him. Yet he adds, that Don Antonio, until his return from Africa, always fuppofed himself to be only a natural fon of Duke Louis. If this be true, the other cannot. Duke Louis died in 1555, thirteen years before Antonio's return from Africa. Can the will of his father have been unknown to him for thirteen years? In a word, this circumftance is falfe. Louis may have made Don Antonio his fole heir; but that proves little in favour of a legiti mate birth. Had this circunftance been attefted in the will, the friends of Don Antonio would not have found fo much effort neceffary to make out a pedigree.

What this female hiftorian fays of the death of Cardinal Henry, proves fill more ftrongly her thoughtles partiality, The cardinal died in his 68th year; and the fays herfelf: Il etait vieux et uje, c'en devait etre affez pour faire juger qu'il n'irait pas loin. Why not top there? Why infinuate, befides his age and his decrepitude, another caufe of death? Yet flie fays outright, Quelques hifioriens difent, que Philippe trouva la fecret de l'empecher de languir. Had the but named one fuch hiftorian, this might be excufable. Gebauer has not obferved the imputation any where: I fear, Madame de Saintonge muit incur the reproach of inventing it.

This does her no honour :-it does not therefore follow that the no where

fpeaks the truth. She may moft fecurely be trufted for what relpects the brother of her grandfather; and this Mr. Gebauer might have ufed in the following paffage: "In the Azores, efpecially in Tercera, a rumour had been fpread that King Sebaftian had not been killed, and would foon, be reitored to his fubjects. Afterwards, when Antonio informed thofe of Tercera of the death of Hleury, and of his elevation, they were content; and although they learnt from their de puties the defeat of Antonio at Alcantara, and his flight, they remained in allegiance to their expected Sovereign: efpecially as Cyprian of Figueredo, a fteady adherent of Antonio, encouraged this expectation; and as Pedro Valdes and his Spaniards had failed in an attempt at invation." Here Mr. Gebauer is, contrary to his cuftom, very concite; and, what is rare with him, quotes no voucher. At least, he might have trusted Madame de Saintonge for the chriftian name of Figueredo, the bruther of her grandfather. She calls him Scipio, not Cyprian. He was, he lays, governor of Tercera, and had declared for Antonio, without liftening to the offers made him by the King of Spain, through the Princefs of Eboli Ruy Gomez. Philip II. was therefore indifpofed against him, and confifcated all his eftates in Portogal. But the expedition intrufted to Pedro Valdes was not the only one he rendered fruitlefs. Valdes, or (as Madame de Saintonge lefs correctly calls him) Balde, was an opinionated man, and thought victory could not elcape him; but, like fuch people, when put to the proof he maintained but poorly the ho nour of his nation. He was wholly routed, and returned with difgrace and confufion to Portugal. Philip had hun taken into cuftody, and charged him with an attack contrary to orders; fo that all the intereft of his friends was requisite to intercept puniflument. The year after, a fecond attempt was made on Tercera, with ftill worfe fuccefs. Of this Mr. Gebauer appears to know no thing; but Madame de Saintonge relates it thus: The governor Figueredo had fo few foldiers left, that a lefs refolute man than he would rather have thought of an advantageous capifulation, than of a defence. But nothing could thake his refolution, and he thought of a stratagem which fucceeded. He got a number of

This man feems to have invented the fable of Sebaftian's being alive.

opens at length on a lovely lawn, at the extent of which is seated the house; which has no imposing air of grandeur, but an inviting appearance of repose and comfort. The lawn is richly skirted with trees of all growths, from fine elms to low twisted bushy oaks, feathered down to the grass, and uniting with it: it opens to the sea forty feet above high-water mark. This height is a steep bank, entirely covered with luxuriant wood, of various sorts. Sumach, laurustinus, and other beautiful shrubs, are mixed with oak and hazel; and over their tufted-tops, the view falls directly on the waves, murmuring at your feet. Walks sweetly sheltered, wind through this rich foliage, and afford to pausing meditation a delicious retreat: no sound but the dashing wave meets the car, and no object but the ocean stealing through the solemn gloom, arrests the eye.

St. John's, the seat of Edward Simeon, esq. is the favourite haunt most visited from Ryde. The grounds are extensive, and agreeably diversified; amidst its fine woods, Taste has, with her magic wand, created a Paradise. On each side the gate by which you enter, is a beautiful and interesting cottage. The low, projecting thatch, which forms a porch, is supported by pillars of elm, not stripped of its bark: round these the clyinatis hangs its purple bells, climbs the roof, and lines the simple arcade before the door; on each side of which rustic chairs are placed, and over one of these a pair of turtle-doves (which are natives of the Island) have found a shelter. A labourer and his wife inhabit one of these beautiful cottages: the other opens into a little elegant room with painted floor-cloth, table and chairs. Simple shelves, suspended by a ribbon, are enriched with a few interesting volumes; and this room is, with a benevolent hospitality, dedicated to strangers. The sweet-scented white clymatis creeps over the window, and mingles its feathery clusters with its purple relative on the roof. A deep shade of wood shelters these lovely retreats, through which a winding avenue slowly leads to scenes of varied and more enlivened beauty. The ground gradually rises, and the shade diminishes, till from a considerable eminence a charming view of the ocean bursts upon the sight; as you proceed, the grounds are more ornamented, and the shrubs more luxuriant. The unostentatious mansion is finely situated on an eminence, commanding extensive views of the sea, while the intervening slopes are richly ormuneuted with hang

ing woods. Beds of the most luxuriant shrubs, with wide extent, scatter perfume and richness on the scene. Groups of magnificent and venerable elms, throw a rich shade around the opposite front; while beneath their unbrageous canopies, seats of various forms and sizes invite the delighted loiterer to linger till the last sunbeam warns him to depart. One of our enraptured party exclaimed, that it was the spot where one might fancy wood-nymphs and fairies met, to hold their revels. From this sheltered and lovely lawn, various walks lead to different parts of the grounds. We soon crossed a carriage road, and entered a spacious turf-walk, richly ornamented with tall shrubs. This leads to a cottage singularly beautiful; and through a simpie arcade at one end, a fine view of the ocean is afforded. The pillars which support this, are formed of saplings nailed to a piece of wood, which at a small distance produce the effect of fluted columns: round these the tea-tree flings its flexile shoots, and twining honey-suckles intermingle their sweets. At the back of the cottage there is a recess, whose thatched roof sweeps over a rustic seat, enclosed by a simple lattice of unpeeled branches; round these, twining shrubs bloom in lavish luxury; a lovely little sloping lawn fronts the seat, bounded by hedges of sweet-briar; below this, rising woods meet the eye, and heyond thein is a fine view of the ocean. Winding through a corn-field, we enter the coppice, whose sequestered and shady walks lead in different directions to the Marino, an elegant castellated building near the coast. A little gallery over the arched gate-way leads to an apartment whose Gothic windows open on the sea; here the liberal owner permits tea-parties to be accommodated, and once a week a band of music attends in the neighbouring wood." The grand view of the ocean in front, the tranquil gloom of the woods behind, the gentle rippling of

It is much to be regretted that the owner of thus terrestrial Paradise, who with nusual liberality Fas studiously provided for the gratincation of strangers, should have tempted to any violation of the sabbath, by the addition of music on that day. The numbers which it assembles, and the envi viality which it induces, are not likely to

contribute to sanctity of manners; and the injunction, Remember the sabbath-day ta keep it holy," issues from an authority, which no man, however elevated or distinguished, can disregard with impunity.

the

the waves on the shore, the seclusion and stiliness of the place, all conspire to give an air of soothing solemnity to the seche. Those who have taste and feeling, must bid adieu to St. John's with regret, and "cast many a longing, lingering look behind.”

Binstead had been mentioned to us as worthy attention: this is a small hamlet,

"Far shelter'd in a glade obscure;"

Near

it is sweetly embosomed in woods. the humble church stands the parsonage, a beautifully secluded cottage: it is almost covered with jessamine and honeysuckles, which meet the sloping thatch, and embower its little windows. A glass door opens from the front into a little garden, on whose beds bloom bushes of myrtle which scarcely lose a leaf even in winter: over the door is a simple tablet, peeping from amongst surrounding shrubs, on which is inscribed,

"Contentment is wealth."

Contiguous to the garden, is a field bounded by hanga ng woods, through the natural archies of which, the ocean peeps upon the sight. A neat simple walk leads to a garden formed on the descending cliff, down which a flight of stone steps conducts to the beach. The continued wood runs along the coast, separating the garden from the ocean. The inviting wicket opening on the shore, sometimes leads water-parties to land here; and the benevolent occupier of this peaceful abode, is obliging enough to permit them to dine under a spacious yew-tree, near the house. I had imagined that habitations comprising so many beauties, existed only in the imaginations of the writers of fiction: it was a mistake; the Isle of Wight affords many such, and Binstead parsonage is amongst the number.

Steep-Hill was now the place of our destination; and we ascended our vehicle, ila hed with hope, to see new beauties, and enjoy new pleasures. The Priory (the seat of Judge Grose) is the first ob ject to detain the traveller. The grounds are on a grand scale, and enriched ith scarce shrubs and trees. From different openings in the walks, very fine views of the sea are norded; and a large fleet at anchor with our sight, greatly enriched this scene. On quitting the Priory, the road becomes highly interesting, romantic, and varied. St. Helen's is a lovely point: the little humlet is situated on a fine cliff, the harbour at the bottom. We next pass through Brading, a small marLet-town, ancient in its appearance. The

first religious establishment in the Island, is said to have been here. Sandown, a short distance further, has a considerable fort, built by Henry VIII.: it is kept in repair, and well manned. Humiliating proofs of the imperfect state even of civilized society, here crowd on the sight. The eye is offended by those nurseries of ignorance and ferocity-barracks; and the mind is wrested from its tranquillity by the gleaming firelock, and the discor dant dram. Near the shore a number of huts formed of the soil, are erected for the soldiers' wives; these buildings, with all their wretched accompaniments, suggest the idea of a Hottentot settlement. That man should ever be transformed into a machine for expediting human murder, is a melancholy and awful consideration; but that this execrable profession should be carried or amidst all that is beautiful and sublime in nature, is as offensive to taste, as it is obnoxious to judgment and feeling. Near this spotis the cottage of the once celebrated John Wilkes. It is finely situated, the bay of Sandown sweeping just below its windows. The plantations and shrubberies were once ornamented with pavilions, and gay with flowers. A memorial to Churchill was erected here, after a model of Virgil's tomb at Naples. The shrub beries are now torn in pieces, the wood destroyed, the house shut up, forlorn, and desolate. On meeting a woman amidst the wild, I asked her what had done all this: she replied, "the soldiers, ma'am, the soldiers; they tear every thing to pieces;" and with an exclamation too sacred for the occasion, added flowers there war !''

what

It is scarcely possible to conceive within twenty miles, a ride which comprehends such variety, beauty, grandeur, and sublimity, as that between Ryde and Niton. Fine bold views of the sea, lofty chitis, rich plots of ground covered with ripe harvests, and hanging woods ornamenting the deep slopes, form an ever-charming, ever-changing variety. At Shank Chine, the sublime part of the scenery commences. This is an immense cl. sm, formed by some awful convulsion of nature. The height of the cliffs at its opening on the store, is at least two hundred and seventy feet: the sloping winding sides of this grand fissure are richly covered with a variety of focage, which conceals its termination. different edges of the disparted rock, are two cottages, which have a very pictu resque effect, whether beheld from bove or below; these heighten the novelty and

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beauty