ga is rugged, and full of naked, broken rocks, which stretch out to some distance into the fea. But at the fouth-east part is a pretty good road for shipping, which is much frequented in peaceable times, particularly about the months of May, June, July, and August, by veffels that go thither to lade with falt. For the better accommodation of these veffels, at the eaft end is a large falt pond, within two hundred paces of the fea; and near the west-end of the island, on the fouth-fide, is a fmall harbour with a little stream of fresh water. This end of the island is also full of low fhrub. bey trees, but the east-end is deftitute of any production of that kind, being quite rocky and barren, and yielding nothing but a coarse fort of grafs. There are fome goats on the Iiland, though not in great numbers. The turtle, or tortoile, of which there is fuch plenty here that they have given name to the Ifle, come up the fandy bays, where they bury their eggs on the fhore, leaving them to be hatched af terwards by the heat of the fun. These likewise employ fome veffels yearly in the catching, which come thither from the Bermudas and other places. Dampier says, that there is no good riding for fhipping any where round the Ifland, excepting in the road near the Salt Pond, or in the fmall harbour abovementioned. From the BRITISH MAGAZINE. Cafe of a Girl born without a Tongue. M.demy that he had feen at Lif bon a girl of about 15, who had been born without a tongue. He examined her very attentively. In the place of the tongue was a fleshy fubftance, which he found was able to contract and dilate itself, of courfe it had all the mufcles of the tongue. The places where the tongue fhould be, remained plump and full, as if the tongue had been in being. He examined afterwards how the performed the feveral functions of the tongue. First as to fpeech: the pronounced feveral words fo distinctly, that had he not known the wanted the tongue, he could not discover by her fpeech that he wanted it. She, however, pronounced the letters C, F, G, L, N, K, S, T, X, Z, with more difficulty than the other confonants. When the pronounces them, the inclines her head forward, drawing back the chin as it were to the larinx, in order to raise it in a line with her teeth. The second function of the tongue, the tafte, fhe had as exquifite as any body. She told M. de Juffieu, that the found an agreeable taste in those dry fweet-meats he had given her. 3dly, Maftication the performed with difficulty. The above fleshy fubftance was not long enough to gather and keep the food under the teeth. She was here obliged to use the maxilla' inferior, which through habit fhe could either approach or remove from under the fuperior, as the wanted to bring the morfel fhe would grind under the upper jaw. She fometimes ufes her finger for the fame purpose. 4thly, Deglutition must needs be difficult to her. The tongue naturally forms itself into a kind of a hollow, fomewhat like a spoon, by which means it gathers every atcm in the mouth, and protrudes them into the pharinx; but here nature and use from her infancy have in fome measure fup plied this want of a tongue. The mufcles attached to the above fleshy fubstance raise themfelves up, forming at the fame time a kind of rima, which in fome fort acting the part of a tongue, protrude the aliments into the pharinx, the obferving to incline her head for ward, which facilitates their defcent.. Thofe, together with the labial mufcles, help her by their contraction to pit out what is in her mouth. M. Roland, furgeon at Saumur, has a cafe pretty nearly the fame. A boy, nine years old, loft his tongue by a mortification that enhed an ulcer he had after the finall fpox. There was this difference, the root of the boy's Long tongue was bifurcated, and pretty apparent; whereas the root of the above girl's was round and fmall. This boy also could speak, and perform the other functions of the tongue, like this girl. From the ROYAL MAGAZINE. On the Bafenefs of Detraction. From the ROYAL MAGAZINE. Remarkable Story of an English Watch- A Bout eighteen years ago, a Protestant English watch-maker, who lived at Oporto in good credit and esteem, had an accufation fecretly laid I him, of dinimithing of punished, as in England; it has much furprised me, that one which, in my opinion, is of the blackest die, remains unnoticed. A man, urged perhaps by the most dreadful neceffity, who takes the trifle of two or three guineas from you, fhall fuffer death; while the info. lent villain who detracts your character remains unpunished, nay even careffed by those whofe ftation ought to make them blush to own acquaintance with him. I have often wondered, when in company, to see many who bear the title of good people attend to a tale of fcandal, and with eagerness enquire into every circumftance they thought could heighten it. My foul has fhrunk back with horror at the cruelty, and common humanity made me defend the absent sometimes at the expence of truth. Calumny is undoubtedly the bane of fociety, and can never take place but in a mind fraught with every bale acti on. This induces me to wish it was punishable in the most severe manner by the laws, as the fting of confcience to a heart capable of injuring, in so tender a manner, the peace of others, is nothing; and the fole pleasure of doing ill lulls every other thought afleep But I would have those who indulge themfelves in flander reflect, that they are as liable to its effects as thofe against whom they use it; and that deferved retaliation is undoubtedly the most dreadful of all pains. the kingdom. A fudden fearch of his houfe was thereon immediately made, and a fmall piece of gold coin, called a new-crown, being the tenth part of a moidore, and of the value of two fhillings and eight-pence halfpenny. was found in a little quantity of aquaregis; upon which, his person was feized, and foon after fent prifoner to Lifbon; where a legal process was commenced, for his conviction, in the customary and flow manner of a Chancery-fuit in England. During the course of these proceedings, the Jefuits, who al ways gave their spiritual affiftance to prifoners, undertook his conversion to their religion, which all Portuguse confider as the greatest act of piety and kindnefs, in being the means of faving a foul from perdition. It became natural for thefe people, of course, to get information of the nature of his offence. He alledged, in excufe of the fact he was charged with, that he was only making an experiment, and to which the infignificance of the piece of money under operation, gave so reasonable a colour, that the jefuits became willing to fave him. They therefore publicly appeared zealous to effect his converfion, but privately dropt infinuations, that his fafety depended on his not changing his religion, from the wellknown fcruples entertained in that country of fending a foul to hell, by dif miffing it from a body out of the pale of what they fo firmly believe to be the only true church, and which otherwise might have afterwards become faved by a converfion to their faith. This fcru ple 1 ple has very often in that country been the means of retarding for a long time, a condemnation; as when condemnation is past, execution ordinarily follows in three days; and that man's condemnation would probably have taken place, had he fuffered his religious faith to become perverted. The favourable opinion entertained of him, and his caufe, by the Jefuits who visited that prifon, excited one father Carboni of their order, who was an Italian, and of high character for learning, knowledge, and worth, to pay him a vifit; in which he took occafion to ask him, it he could not perform fome piece of curious workmanship in his art? His anfwer was, that he thought he could make a good watch of a fize to be fet in a ring. This he was bid to do, and at the fame time offered any money or materials that might be requifite for doing it. The piece of work was finished with all hafte, and delivered to him. Father Carboni being in great esteem with his late Most Faithful Majefty, and often confulted by him in affairs of the highest confequence, wore the ring up. on his finger the first time that he afterwards went to the palace: and while his majesty was difcourfing with him, took care to give occafion to be oblerved to look often at his ring, till the king afked him, what he had got upon his finger that he appeared to be fo fond of. He anfwered, a trifling curiofity, and mentioned what it was. His majesty defired to look at it, which he did; and faid it was a curiofity indeed. Carboni thereon faid, he knew not how to confider it as worthy of his majefty's acceptance, unless from its having been made in his kingdom. The king, upon this, enquired who the maker of it was? He was answered with the giving of his name, and the mention of his unhappy fituation, with every alleviating circumftance that could foften his accufation upon hearing of which, his majelty, fhaking his head, faid, with a finile, Ab! Father!. you are a fly Rogue; however, you may tell your VOL. III. Friend, he shall be fet at Liberty, which wàs accordingly foon done." I do not mention this unfortunate and ingenious artist's name, because he is probably yet alive, and poffibly now in England. Thefe facts, however, I heard upon the spot, and have no reafon to doubt them. The man I know was there a prifoner, under the accufation I have mentioned, and released by the royal favour, as many persons now in London can testify as well as myself: and I am confident all of them will conconfirm the whole account I have given. I am, Sir, Your's, &c. VERITAS. From the COMPLETE MAGAZINE. The Sentiments of a Frenchman on the Temper of the English. N OTHING is fo uncommon a mong the English, as that eafy affability, that inftant method of acquaintance, or that chearfulness of difpofition, which make in France the charm of every fociety. Yet, in this gloony referve, they feem to pride themselves, and think themfelves lefs happy, if obliged to be more focial. One may affert, without wronging them, that they do not study the method of going thro' life with pleafure and tranquility, like the French. Might not this be a proof that they are not fo much philofophers as they imagine? Philofophy is no more than the art of making ourselves happy; that is, of feeking pleasure in regularity, and re conciling what we owe to fociety with what is due to ourfelves This chearfulness, which is the characteristic of our nation in the eye of an Englishman, paffes almoft for folly. But is their gloominefs a greater mark of their wisdom? and folly against folly, is not the most chearful fort the best? if our gaiety makes them fad, they ought not to think it strange, if their ferioufnefs makes us laugh. As As this difpofition to levity is not familiar to them, and as they look on every thing as a fault which they do not find at home, the English, who live among us, are hurt by it. Several of their authors reproach us with it as a vice, or at least as a ridicule. on. Mr. Addison ftiles us a comic natiIn my opinion it is not acting the philofopher on this point, to regard as a fault, that quality which contributes moft to the pleasure of fociety and happinefs of life. Plato, convinced that whatever makes men happier, make them better, advises to neglect nothing that may excite and convert to an early habit, this fenfe of joy in children. Seneca places it in the first rank of good things. Certain it is, at least, that gaiety may be a concomitant of all forts of virtue, but that there are fome vices with which it is incompatible. As to him who laughs at every thing, and him who laughs at nothing, neither of them has found judgment. All the difference I find between them is, that the laft is constantly the most unhappy. Those who speak against chearfulness, prove nothing else, but that they were born melancholic, and that in their hearts they rather envy than condemn that levity they affect to despise. The Spectator, whose conftant object was the good of mankind in general, and of his own nation in particular, should, according to his own principles, place chearfulness among the moft defireable qualities; and, probably, whenever he contradicts himself in this particular, it is only to conform to the tempers of the people whom he addresses. He afferts, that gaiety is one great obstacle to the prudent conduct of women. But are thofe of a melancholic temper, as the English women generally are, lefs fubject to the foibles of love? I am acquainted with some doctors in this fcience, to whofe judgment I would more willingly refer, than to his. And, perhaps, in reality, perfons naturally of a gay temper, are too eafily taken off by different objects, to give themselves up to all the exceffes of this paffion. Mr. Hobbes, a celebrated philofopher of his nation, maintains, that laughing proceeds from our pride alone. This is only a paradox, if afferted of laughing in general, and only argues that mifanthropical difpofition for which he was remarkable. To bring the caufes he affigns, for laughing, under fufpicion, it is fufficient to remark, that proud people are commonly those who laugh leaft Gravity is the infeparable companion of pride. To fay that a man is vain, becaufe the humour of a writer, or the buffooneries of a harlequin, excite his laughter, would be advancing a great abfurdity. We fhould diftinguish between laughter, infpired by joy, and that which arifes from mockery. The malicious fneer is improperly called laughter. It must be owned, that pride is the parent of fuch laughter as this ; but this is in itself vicious; whereas, the other fort has nothing in its principles or effects that deferves condemnation. We find this amiable in others, and is it unhappiness to feel a disposition towards it in ourselves? When I fee an Englishman laugh, I fancy I rather fee him hunting after joy, than having caught it; and this is more particularly remarkable in their women, whofe tempers are inclined to melancholy. A laugh leaves no more traces on their countenance, than a flash of lightning on the face of the heavens. The noft laughing air is inftantly fucceeded by the most gloomy. One would be apt to think that their fouls open with difficulty to joy, or at least that joy is not pleafed with its habitation there. In regard to fine raillery, it must be allowed, that it is not natural to the English, and therefore those who endeavour at it, make but an ill figure. Some of their authors have candidly confeffed, that pleafantry is quite foreign to their character; but, according to the reafon they give, they lofe nothing by this confeffion. Bishop Sprat gives the following one: "The English (fays he) have too much bravery to fubmit fubmit to be derided, and too much tifed here in a method unknown to our virtue and honour to mock others." learned univerfity, without the grace of action, or propriety of pronuncia XXXXXXXXXXXXX on, and in a fitting pofture. Mr. Pre From the COMPLETE MAGAZINE. An Account of a fingular Club. T HE prefent age feems to be a very inquifitive one, if we may judge from the feveral clubs about town, who make it their bufinefs, like the Athenians, to hear or to talk of fome new thing. In thefe weekly meetings, we are entertained with variety, that ferves either to improve the understanding, or to excite a laugh, which, together with every man's quantum of, porter, lemonade, bread and cheefe, (for fome are for the blifs of eating as well as drinking) can never come dear for four-pence. Happy Britons! who live in a country where the mind and body are feasted so very reasonably. As many of the learned focieties oblige the world with memoirs of their tranfactions, that every thing useful may be divulged for the benefit of mankind, that learning may be encouraged, and the arts and sciences furnished with every hint, which tends to their improvement, I imagine it will not be improper, sometimes to inform the public, what may be debated in these lesser focieties, where all kinds of subjects are handed about with the greatest freedom; where Crifpin may deliver his fentiments on English liberty, and Mr. Waiter explain the mysteries of religion. There is none that I have feen, can be compared to the Ben Johnson for good order. I do not mean in Ruffelstreet, where young fellows fpend more money than they know how to get. No! here it is quite different, ceconomy, gravity, and decorum, are confpicuous in every face, which may be feen at once, as fident, like a learned bishop, has a bible before him, the feeming inconfistencies of which they are determined to clear up, as you may perceive from the following questions, which I have had the pleasure to hear debated. Query (1.) Whether St. Paul fought with the wild beafts at Ephesus? (2.) Whether there is a jeparate ftate between death and the refurrection, clearly revealed in feripture ? and, (3.) Whether any perfon befides Balaam heard the afs Speak to him? As the obfervations offered on the last question, muft needs be very curious, I here fend you a short sketch for the information of your readers. The propofer opened the queftion with obferving, that as he could see no ufe, no end, no defign in the afs's speaking to the prophet, because God: had permitted him to go with the princes, but had forbid him to speak any thing contrary to what was revealed to him, therefore he imagined it must be a vision of the afs's speaking: for an afs to speak, a dumb creature, a stupid animal, a brute to have the organs of a man, must be a miracle; and what use there could be in it, he could not imagine; and that whether we believe it or no, he fuppofed it was of no great confequence; therefore fhould be glad to hear what the rest of the gentlemen had to say on the question. The next in order, after a short paufe, thus began: "Mr. Prefident, I am not certain whether Balaam had any perfon in company with him, or no; hem! lets fee the bible; yes, yes, here is mention of his two fervants, he faddled his afs, and went away in hafte : now, perhaps, the road where Balaam travelled was narrow, where, perhaps, only one could pafs at a time, and table, and at the round an oval very often, becaufe fervants will not table, and at the fame time the orator exercifes his lungs and his reafon: this grave circle enjoy their tobacco, in all the majesty of fmoak. Oratory is prac incommode their maters, by raifing the duft or dirting them, they ride a quarter or half a mile behind, fo, I think that nobody heard the afs fpeak |