to make fure of their prey against that affiftance which the cries of the victim never fail to bring, haften into the water, where they immediately drown it, and then return to the furface, and devour it at leifure. Though this fpecies of crocodiles in South-America are lefs fierce than many in other countries, and will plunge into the water on the approach of a man near the banks of the river; yet, if they can fecurely furprize any one fleeping, they never fail to take advantage of the opportunity. Their voracity has been felt by fome of the boatmen, who have inconfiderately flept with one of their arms or legs hanging over the fide of the boat, which these animals have feized, and fo drawn the whole body into the water. Crocodiles which have once feafted on human flesh, are known to be the mo dangerous, and become as it were inflamed with an infatiable defire of repeating the fame delicious repast. It has been faid that the ichneumon, a large Egyptian rat, is a destroyer of the crocodiles, by creeping down their throats whilft they fleep with their mouths open, and having fed upon their liver, gnaw a way out again through the belly; but this feems to found very much like a fable. However, this rat is faid to be of great fervice in Egypt, by hunting out, and breaking the crocodile's eggs; and thereby becomes another obstruction to the increase of those destructive creatures. Though we have no pofitive affurance of the truth of this, it is not at all imp obable. But we can hardly give credit to the account we have of a little bird called Trochilus, which is faid to be the only creature that the crocodile is in friendship with, and does not endeavour to deftroy; but this, it feems, is for the fervice the bird does him, by flying into his mouth, and feeding upon the meat that flicks between his teeth, or cleaning his jaws of the leeches that infeft them. Pliny tells us that the crocodiles lie hid in caves during the winter; but Dr. Pococke affirms he faw great numbers of them in January, and was affured that they never go above thirty or forty paces from the river. There are various ways of killing thefe creatures. The ufual method is by thooting them in the belly, where they are vulnerable, as we obferved above. Sometimes the people dig pits near the river, covering them flightly over, so that the crocodiles fall into them when they come afhore, and having let them remain there feveral days, till they are weakened by hunger, they hamper them with ropes, and draw them out alive. They have likewife a way of making fome animal cry near the river, which entices the crocodile out, and a man who lies concealed, takes an opportunity of thrusting a fpear into his belly, armed with a bearded point, which being fastened to a rope, they let him run into the water to spend his ftrength, then drag him out, and tie his jaws together. The fame method is practifed, if they can find by accident a crocodile fleeping in the fands. Another form of taking thefe creatures is by a piece of flesh ftuck on an iron hook, and let down into the river by a rope, the other end of which is faftened to a flake: when the crocodile has feized the bait, he is drawn to land and killed. A more extraordinary method than any of these was made ufe of to catch one of thefe creatures, that had done much mifchief: the person who undertook it for a reward bound his fon, a young lad, to a ftake in the place where the crocodile ufed to come, and laid himfelf befide him, flat on his belly, but fo that he could fee when the creature approached, having in each hand a fhort club, one of which was wound round at the end with a very large ball of coarfe thread dipped in pitch, and fo waited for the crocodile; which coming out of the river, and fmelling the flesh, made directly towards the boy, (who was placed in a confpicuous point of view) not obferving the father, who lay as if he were dead without motion. No fooner did the furicus animal open his mouth to feize the lad, than the father thrust the staff with the pitched ball into his jaws, which sticking in his teeth, and entangling them as he bit it, the man with the other club broke his back, and killed him. This happened in Egypt, where the crocodiles are the most furious, though their number are diminished very much fince the decay of the fertility of that country. None are now to be feen below the cataracts. The flch of the crocodiles is white and fat, and a delicious difh when they are young. The Arabs of Upper Egypt are very fond of it, and for. merly the inhabitants of Elephantis ured alfo to feed on it. Whether the Egpptians eat 4L 2 the eggs of the crocodile or not, travellers have omitted to inform us; but Mr. Moore fays, he has feen the natives about the river Gambia eat them, even when they had young ones in them as long as his finger, on which account they reckon them the greater dainty. It is well known that the ancient Egyptians paid divine honours to the crocodile, particularly the inhabitants of Arfinoe, and those who dwelt in the neighbour hood of Thebes, and the lake of Moris; while, on the other hand, the people of Elephantis and Tentyra killed and eat them. The crocodile was alfo the hieroglyphic of Providence, because it knows the height of the inundation before it happens, the water never rifing high enough to touch its eggs; nature having endow ed it with that wonderfull prefcience to avoid the inconveniences, and at the fame time enjoy the benefit of the river. The Tentyrites not only endeavoured to destroy all the crocodiles they could meet, but even waged war with the worhippers of that animal, especially with the people of Ombos. Of this war, the poet Juvenal takes notice in one of his Satires. This nation were as famous for the worship of the crocodile, as the inhabitants of Tentyra for their enmity towards it. They fed them in their ponds, fays Ælian, where they became fo tame as to obey when they were called. The crocodile feems to be the laft animal to which mankind could be tempted to pay divine adoration. But the Egyptians furpaffed all nations in idolatry, bigotry, and fuperftition. Almost every creature and every plant, nay flocks and ftones, they worshipped. Herodotus gives a particular account of the worship paid to the crocodile. That it might be done with fafety, one of thefe creatures was trained up to be tame and familiar for the purpose; and had his head adorned with ftrings of jewels and gold, and his fore-feet with chains. He was fed with confecrated provifions at the public charge; and when ftrangers went to fee him, which often happened, out of curiofity, they alfo carried him a prefent of a cake, dreifed meat, and wine, or a drink made with honey, which was offered to him by the priests, one opening his mouth, and the other feeding him. When he died, his body was embalmed, and buried in a facred coin at Arfince. To fuch a deplo rable ftate was human nature funk and fallen, in the times of ignorance! If any Egyptian, or even a stranger, was found killed by a crocodile, and left half devoured, the inhabitants were by law obliged, at their own charge, to embalm and place the remainder of the body in the most coftly manner; for none of his friends or relations, or any other, might touch his body, except the priests of the Nile, who buried it with their own hands, as fomething more than human. Regulus, pro-conful of Rome, in purfuing his conquests in Africa, in the year of the city 504, met on the banks of a river near Carthage with a crocodile ; which being a creature none of the Romans had ever feen or heard of before, they were fo furprised and frightned at the fight, that they took it to be a monster. As its hard and thick fcales were proof against their darts and arrows, they found it neceffary to fight him in form. They had recourfe to the balifte, which they made use of in fieges, to throw great ftones, and beat down the walls of cities. With thefe machines they discharged fhowers of huge ftones against this new enemy, and had the good luck with one of them to break his back-bone; which disabled him fo much, that the Romans had thereby an opportunity of accosting and dispatching him with theit darts and javelins. Thus far is probably true: but feveral hiftorians have related fuch hyperbolic accounts of this monster, and have trefpaffed fo much upon veracity, that it may from thence be very juftly inferred how great the amazement of those who faw this animal, muft have been, as it has proved the occafion of railing and propagating fo many wonderful stories, which have crept into history about it. Two years before the birth of Christ, and of Rome 746, Auguftus, to divert the people, first introduced a fight of crocodiles. He made a new canal, which he filled with thefe creatures; and thirty-fix of them were flain by Egyptians brought from the Nile for that purpofe. Round the canal were built feats and scaffolds for the spectators, who were highly delighted with this fcene, which was entirely new. C. Balbillus, who, according to Seneca, was a man of great integrity, and well verfed in all the branches of literature, was appointed prefect, or governor of Egypt, in Nero's reign. He wrote an ac count Mag. Reflections on Human Happiness: There is a small species of crocodiles, addreffed from a Father to his Son. 637 about the bignefs of a lizard, with a round tail covered with fcales. It usually feeds on the most odoriferous flowers, and the flesh is of ufe in phyfic; great numbers of them for that reafon being carried to Venice, and other places. We have only to add, that most writers make the alligator and the crocodile the fame, and we are inclined to fall in with that opinion; at least, there is but little difference between them. Those who think otherwife, obferve, that the crocodile has longer legs, the knots on his back are thicker and higher, and his flesh has not fuch a mutky fcent as that of the alligator. Befides, fay they, the crocodile carries his tail bent upwards, whereas the alligator drags his on the ground. Reflections on Human Happiness: Addiefed from a Father to his Son. FLORIO, faid the dying FLAVIAN, thou who hast been the dream of my sleeping, and care of my wakeful hours, thou in whofe life mine has ever been wrapt up, attend to the laft words of thy departing fire. I am now about to leave this world for that beyond the stars, and to exchange time for eternity. When I am gone, let not a fruitless grief too much opprefs thee for my lafs: forrow, when too much indulged, not only blasts each joy, but, by encouraging a melancholydisposition, greatly injures each focial virtue. Think therefore of me, as of one who is removed from a ftormy fea to a safe harbour, from earth to heaven. With calmnefs and composure I leave all earthly enjoyments, which, as I enjoy ed them thankfully, when beftowed on me, fo I now can quit them without a figh--long expecting the closing fcene; it is no wonder that I am prepared for it-my only remaining care is to make as fmooth as poilible to thee the rugged journey of life. Happiness, which like the running ftream, for ever purfued, recedes for ever from the grafp, is what we all feek, and all fucceffively fall fhort of obtaining. Thou too, my fon, wilt doubtless follow the flying phantom, and like the rest of her disappointed train, at laft find the vanity of hoping uninterruptedly to poffefa her. 3 True and permanent felicity (properly fo called) is not attainable below. Partial and imperfect are thofe trifling elations of the mind which we all by turns experience, and learn ail by turns to condemn. A fettled courfe and tenor of fatisfaction, can alone deserve the name of real happinefs; and fuch is to be found only in those bleft abodes, where joy for ever dwells, and where, as every pleasure refides, fo all thofe pleafures are eternal. What then, you will fay, is man, the lord of the creation, born to inevitable mifery? Is he for ever to be preffing to the goal, and never attaining the prize? Not fo---though perfect felicity be not attainable in this life; yet such a state is within every one's reach, as if it does not render him perfectly happy, will, however, enable him to improve every pleasure, and alleviate the weight of his misfortunes, and that is all that can here be expected. The paffions, as they are the ground of every vice, fo likewife from their roots, well cultivated, each virtue fprings, and, in confequence, each focial joy, and every heart-enlivening blifs. When the All-Wife Difpofer of the univerfe formed various men with different tempers and different minds, he left it in every one's power to enjoy, each in his separate sphere, a different kind of happinefs; and notwithstanding the seemingly ill harm, but fpoke it only for the rhyme's fake, the minifter went on with the ceremony. This night, between eleven and twelve o'clock, a gentleman went into a hackney coach at Temple-Bar, and ordered the coachman to drive him to Dockhead; but the fellow being in liquor, turned under Blackfiiers gateway, in Lud ateftreet, drove to the bottom of Water-lane, down the flight of ftone-fteps, and on to the caufeway: it luckily happened to be quite low water, fo that no accident enfued; but it was with great difficulty the horfes got the coach up again, though all poffible affiftance was given them. About fix o'clock this evening, Captain Shanks, heretofore commander of the hip Westmoreland, in the Leghorn trade, was murdered in his own house in Worcefter-Street, near Old Gravel-lane, Ratcliff, by one Daniel Looney, with whom high words had rifen; when the faid Looney took up a buccaneering picce, fired at and hot the faid Captain Shanks dead, fmall hot and fome pieces of fquare pewter entering in at his left fide, and went through his toly, and came out at the back part of his right fide, The coroner's inqueft fat on the boy, and brought in their verdict wilful murder againit Daniel Looney; and he was committed to Newgate. MONDAY, Nov. 9. Whitehall. This day his grace Robert Jor:-archbishop of York, and the right reverend Thomas lord bishop of London, were, by his majesty's command, (worn of his majesty's most honourable privy council, and took their places at the board accordingly. Letters from Algiers advife, that the Dey lately took it into his head to shut up all the Roman Catholic churches in one day, and to imprison all the miffionaries. TUESDAY, Nov. 10. The city of York having prefented their thanks to the right honourable William Pitt, Efq; for the important fervices done to the ation during his wife and vigorous administration; he returned the following anfwer. Mr. Pitt defires Mr. Strangwayes will be fo good to reprefent to the lordmayor, aldermen, fheriffs, and commons of the city of York, in common council affembled, with what true fpirit and lively gratitude he receives the confpicuous mark of honour, which they have condefcended to confer on him, by their approbation, countenance and favour. Juftly fenfible how little he has deserved, he can never enough admire and venerate that love for the public good, which has infpired univerfal concord at home, and an unconquerable fpiritin arms abroad: To thefe alone all the signal advantages of this nation, in every quarter of the globe, are, under providence, to be afcribed. He devoutly implores the happy continuance of the fame united zeal for the honour of the crown, and for the extenfion of the commerce and power of Great Britain; forming continual wishes for the prosperity and splendor of the ancient and reípectable city of York. The magiftrates and town-council of the burgh of Stirling, in Scotland, have alfo prefented an address of thanks to Mr. Pitt on the fame occafion; as have likewife the mayor and chamber of Exeter; and other places; all of whom have received Mr. Pitt's grateful acknowledgements for the honour done him. WEDNESDAY, Nov. II. This morning, John Perrott, a bank. rupt, who was convicted laft feffions at the Old Baily, for concealing bank notes, &c. to the value of 1200l. was carried in a cart from Newgate to the Rounds in Smithheld, where a gallows was placed almoft oppofite to the hofpital gate; he behaved agreeable to his unhappy fituation, with great penitence, and prayed with the ordinar unjuft is this? One man differs from another in all these trivial matters; you can't find two perfons who will be of the fame opinion in every thing; in the choice of meats, of cloaths, of living, of ftudies, of exercises, of pleasures, every person has his own opinion, founded on the constitution, difpofition, cuftom, company, and even foil. Providence has ordered it fo; and who can fay Providence does wrong? And in my opinion, you may as justly find fault with me for choosing a different colour of a coat from your own, as for preferring to go to church where the priest wears a furplice, and where I kneel at the Sacrament, when you go where the priest wears none, and where you fit at the Sacrament. Both of us think we are in the right in our choice of churches and cloaths; and pray who fhall be arbiter between us? You can't be more than I, because that would make you judge and party. If you confult Reafon, fhe will tell you, "I have nothing to do in the difpute; it is a matter wholly indifferent to me; I have no concern, whether you go to church where the priest wears a furplice, or where he does not; but whether he gives good advice for rectifying your conduct, and amending your morals; I have no concern whether you fit or kneel at the Sacrament, but the question is, whether you receive it with a due humility and regard to the holy engagement you enter into, and whether you perform that engagement by leading better lives for the future." Thus fays Reason; but how feldom is Reafon confulted? Again, in politics, let us confider how unjust the attempt to convince by force is. This man is a Whig; he fees Europe on the brink of a war; he is afraid of a difaffected party at home; he therefore imagines, that for our fecurity, we cannot have less than 20,000 men, for fuporting the balance of power, and keeping ourfelves in a pofture of defence. A Tory, on the other hand, fays and thinks too, that the balance of power is a meer chimæra, raised by a power-grafping and corrupt minifter, to ferve his ambitious defigns; that though Europe is on the eve of a war, we have no concern therewith; that 16000 men are fufficient for all the proper ufe the miniftry want for them; that more is burdenfome to the nation, and only calculated to fupport a wicked minister in his venal and corrupt views. Thefe opinions, fo different from each other, may be embraced by men whofe heads are fenfible, and their hearts good; men who have only the welfare of their country at heart, And yet to the former opinion, there will join all the prostitute and venal flaves of a debauched ministry, who will fell their fouls and confciences for a paultry bribe, men of whom I can only exclaim after Mr. Addison, O Portius is there not fome hidden curfe, Some fecret thunder in the ftores of heav'n,' Red with uncommon wrath to blast that man Who owes his riches to his country's ruin! Again, to the latter opinion, there will join all the traitors difaffected to the government, who, breaking thro' the most folemn oaths, only procure a feat in parliament, and put on the appearance of patriotifm, to fubvert the conftitution; villains! for furely perjury, in the most folemn matters is a crime, which cannot be openly defended by any perfon; there will likewife join all thofe pretended Patriots, who only exclaim against the wrong fteps of a minifter, in order to get that minifter difgraced; and when they have got themselves into his place, proceed in the very fame footsteps with their predeceffor, and likewise those who exclaim against the miniftry only to enhance the price of their corruption. And yet both parties, which is most strange, will overlook the failings, and even flatter those mean mifcreants of their own party, and will inveigh against one of the other party, tho' his fole motive be the public good, because he has the misfortune to differ from them in opinion. From this diversity of opinions in things immaterial, one may perceive the difference betwixt man who ftrikes out into a thousand different ways, and has a thoufand different inclinations and opinions from another man, and the brute creation, which have the fame fympathy and antipathy with others of their own fpecies, who all love the fame food, and hate the fame beafts of a different species; all sheep are cowardly, all eagles voracious, all foxes cunning, and all tygers cruel. As this diverfity of opinions and manners fhows the difference betwist reafon and instinct, it likewife fhows how limited man is in his perfections, how fittle able he |