objects with great reason to this render- ¡and άμny being strong and well known asseverations of the truth. ing since ektroma in the LXX. is used to denote a child dead in the womb, such an one, if it might be said to be born, certainly, could not be said to see anything after it was born. We are not, however, wholly satisfied with the Dr.'s notion, that the last offspring of multiparous animals is smaller and weaker than those born before it, as applied in burning heat. gourd. · James 1. 11. The sun arisen with a Dr. M. should have adhistory of Jonah and his We are told expressly, that "when the sun did arise. God prepared "" a vehement east wind,"-the suffocaΓια αυτό, καύσων. his piercing rays, to increase the sufferings The sun & ded of the disappointed prophet. M. states very strong reasons both for and On the famous text 1 John v 7. Dr. against its authenticity, and concludes by observing, "on the whole, I am led to illustration of this term. We wish our author had inquired whether this word might not be used by St Paul to denote what we commonly call a posthumous child: a child born after his father's death And it may be remarked, that the other apostles were appointed to their office suspect, that though so much labour (born, in St. Paul's language) during the "and critical acuteness have been beslife of Christ on earth: whereas St. Paul "towed on these celebrated verses, more "is yet to be done, before the mystery was so appointed, by Christ after his death. Or, certainly, all the apostles, wholly developed." We invite the "in which they are involved can be even including Matthias and Barnabas, learned Dr. and others, to consider the were converted during our Lord's life and ministry; (and conversion is often expres correspondent FIDELIS. [Panorama, Vol. hypothesis of two editions, started by our sed by birth) but St. Paul was one, and THE only one, converted by our Lord in per-author on the grammatical concatenation of III. pp. 305, 531.] The remarks of our son after his decease: he was, therefore, the passage, are exactly such as might be whether this word express it or not, a posthumous birth, and being the only one, of revision by the original author. expected from an insertion in consequence might allude to this circumstance by using the article. Moreover, when the hus which im We We cannot with convenience prolong band dies during the pregnancy of his these remarks. Our readers will perceive wife, it is, evident that the child born that we consider the importance of the after his death, is THE posthumous child Dr.'s labours as justifying an attention of his father. Ma τρώμα, which we cannot pay to every work ports loss, bear the sense of a parent lost? have been highly gratified with the tenor 2 Cor. 1. 20. We give the Dr.'s note have admired the steady acumen of the of the volume; and in many instances on this passage, partly, as an instance of writer. Much, however, is still wanting, the improved sense of a passage, by at- before this department of criticism can tention to the articles and partly to jus-be esteemed as complete: and much more tify our friendly censure of this worthy before those English expressions shall writer, (which some have deemed harsh) have been suggested or selected, which, for not having given us English versions in the opinion of competent judges, will often enough. approach the nearest to a fair and adequate representation of the original : Verse 20. ὅσαι γὰρ ἐπαγγελίαι Θεῖ, ἐν αὐτῷ τὸ ναί καὶ ἐν αὐτῷ τὸ ἁμήν. The Those also, who have noticed the dif authors of our Eng, Version, from not attend-ferent import of words, in distant parts ing to the articles, have here, I think, ob- of the same country, or the acceptation scured the perspicuity of the original: they of a term, in one town or district, in a have rendered for all the promises of God, in him are Yea and in him Amen:" and the sense peculiar to that place, will discern an additional branch of investigation. other English translators, Macknight, Wake-We would not willingly say, that good field, and Newcome, have taken the words in the same order. I would render "for how many so ever be the promises of God, in him (Christ) is the Yea and in him the Amen; meaning, whatever God hath promised, he will through Christ assuredly fulfil, val Gre k, at Athens, was not good at Corinth, at Ephesus, or at Rome yet we know, for certain, that good English in London, is not always so esteemed in Edinburgh. or in Dublin, A History of the Island of St. Helena, from its Discovery by the Portuguese, to the Year 1806; to which is added an Appendix. Dedicated, hy Permission, to the Honourable the Court of Directors for Affaits of the United English East-India Company. By T. H. Brooke, Secretary to the Government of St. Helena. Price 8s. pp. 409. Black, Parry, and Kingsbury, London, 1808. Is not an island, in the midst of the ocean, a State complete in itself, secure from the intrusions of ambitious neigh; bours, unaffected by their jealousies, and beyond the reach of their ennities? In such a situation, if any where, we might expect to find the Utopian scheme of Sir Thomas More established in perfection. We might suppose, that here the milder virtues of humanity, if they be really the more powerful ingredients in the composition of our nature, must have the most favourable opportunity for displaying themselves in full vigour, and manifesting that predominating influence, which some have attributed to them. The island of St. Helena, distant 400 leagues from the nearest land; possessing a salubrious atmosphere, hill and dale in pleasing variety, capable of affording whatever is necessary to the support of life, most of those fruits that are the luxuries of tropi cal climates, this island, surely must be a Paradise! Alas! there is still a something deficient; its inhabitants are mere mortals; and the infirmities and imperfections of the mortal race, counteract all the delights, and embitter all the enjoyments presented by the band of Nature. Moral qualities are of greater consequence to the comfort and happiness of our species, than all the bounties which entertain the senses, than the most voluptuous assemblage intended to gratify the capricious desires and imaginary wants of man. Such is the moral which clearly results from the contents of the volume before us. Misconduct of the officers, misbehaviour of the settlers, mutinies among the garrison; discontents, murmurings, and sufferings, compose the greater part of the early history of this establishment. Nevertheless, the benefits altending the benevolent wisdom of an individual when vested with authority, are no less striking; and we peruse with infinite satisfaction, the account of regulations established by a Governor Roberts, or the steady policy pursued in later times, by a Brooke, or a Patton. The observation is trite, that the corruption of the best things is the worst of corruption. The instances of depravity, in the character of the chaplains to this island, narrated by our author, while they contribute to account for the perturb ed condition of the people, are admonitory instances in proof of the importance attached to the sacred character, and of the it pure and respectable. consequence connected with preserving those of the politician are anticipated by our author, when he reasons on the propriety of retaining the island of St. Helena, even if the Cape of Good Hope should remain under the dominion of this well worth while to prevent our enemies country. There can be no doubt that it is from establishing themselves in a post, which commands the track of our most valuable vessels, and would afford them an opportunity of committing depreda tions, to an amount not easily estimated. Such are the inferences of the moralist: Of late, commercial enterprize, also, has acquired an interest in this island; not that its products are of much consequence in speculation, but that its conpecially to our South Sea Whalers, has venience, as a port of refreshment, es under certain circumstances, to be of very been sensibly felt, and may possibly prove, great importance. We receive, therefore, Mr. Brooke's History with pleasure; especially as, from this gentleman's official situation, we are induced to attribute the highest authority to his communications. Nevertheless, we think his volume defective by the absence of a map of the island; and had his readers would have accepted it as a he added a view of the principal town, gratification. The island of St. Helena (says our author) is situated in 15° 55' south latitude, and 5o It 49′ west longitude from Greenwich. lies within the limit of the south-east trade wind, and is distant 400 leagues from the coast of Africa, the nearest continent. The extreme length of the island is 10 miles, its breadth 64, its circumference about 28 miles, and its surface, in acres, 30,300. The island, when observed at sea, presents to the eye the appearance of an abrupt and rugged rock, divested of tree, shrub, or herbage. A nearer approach brings in view the central éminences, distinguished by a softer outline, clothed with verdure, and towering to the clouds. Advancing still nearer, the scene again changes, and the green summits are shut from sight by the intervening craggy and stupendous cliffs, that seem to overhang the sea. Their great elevation excites in the mind of a stranger an idea of being too near the land; whilst the seaman, acquainted with the coast, proceeds safely to the anchorage which may be within a cable's length of the shore: and in his progress, the exterior aspect of the islan, and the disposition of its batteries and military works, impress an opinion of defensive strength. On rounding Manden's Point the eye is suddenly relieved by a view of the town, seated in a narrow valley between two lofty mountains; and the interspersion of trees among the white houses, has an effect picturesque and picasing in a high degree. This valley, known by the name of James's Valley, is on the N. W. and leeward side of the island, in which situation there is good anchorage from 8 to 25 fathoms; and fresh water is conveyed in leaden pipes to the wharf, froin a spring at two miles distance, which affords a plentiful supply. In James's Town, the thermometer, in the shade, seldom rises above 8 degrees; bat the reflected heat from the sides of the valley, when there is liule wind, and the sky is clear, resembles that of India. In the country the temperature is much more moderate and uniform. Thunder, lightning, or storms, rarely disturb the serenity of this mild atmosphere, in which so small a portion of electric fluid is supposed to exist, that it was imagined a machine for collecting it would be useless: but experiment has exposed the error of this supposition. The clouds, floating at a certain height in the atmosphere, yield humidity to the higher parts of the island without discharging any moisture of the low lands; where, after a long continuance of drought, the roots of grass, &c. perish. The earth, in conse quence, loses its adhesion, and when a heavy fall of rain occurs, it is washed from the declivities, which are thus divested of the means of vegetation, and either deepen into gullies, or stand in the form of prominences, where the texture is sufficiently hard to resist the effects of the rain; which seems to be the natural history of all the barren ridges that in fantastic figures terminate abruptly at the sea, and form the exterior of the island. From these causes the luxuriance of vegetation increases in proportion to distance and height from the sea; and upon the very summits of the interior hills oxen are to be seen up to their knees in grass; and the process of digestion being forwarded by the repose which the animal enjoys from the general diffusion of springs in those situations, the upper lands are, on every account, regarded as the prime pastures of the island. Fruits, particularly vines, figs, oranges, and lemons, ripen best in the vallies near the sea; which are also wel! adapted to the growth of plantains and bananoes; all these fruits requiring a great degree of heat, and the enriched soil and shelter of the vallies. From a garden more interior, but finely watered and sheltered, of no greater extent than three acres of ground, 24,000 dozen apples, of a large size, were gathered in one season, besides peaches, guavas, grapes, and figs, in abundance. Cherries have been tried, but without success. Gooseberry and currant bushes turn to evergreens, and do. not bear fruit. The island, however, is not to be considered as possessing a general fertility. The greater part of it is a barren, reluctant waste. By the registered returns of the year 1805, the population of the island is stated at 504 329 were free; inaking a total of 2064, exwhite inhabitants, 1560 blacks, of whom clusive of the garrison and civil establishment of the company. Five thousand one hundred and eight acres are in the hands of individuals, besides goat-ranges, which are the outskirts of the island, affording the chief supply of fresh meat both to the inhabitants and the hospital. Lands, in general, are supposed to yield a net profit of between 7 and 8 per cent. The price of labour is high; a carpenter cannot be hired under six or seven shillings a day. A mason's wages vary from four to five shillings; and those of a labourer from two shillings to half-a-crown, or to a black man, engaged by the year, from ten to twenty pounds. In this case clothing is likewise to be provided, as well as main tenance, and medical attendance in the event of sickness. The anchorage in the road is safe and sheltered; and though the vessels riding there sometimes drive to sea, this is owing rather to the steep declivity of the bank, than to the force or impression of the wind. The surf is occasionally high and dangerous; but the ocean beyond it is never ruffled by those hurricanes which in other climates occasion so much distress. The approach from the south-east is smooth and commodious; and on departing for Europe, the ship glides away before a gentle and a steady breeze. s that the arches are as thirig I no be; thousands of meansing immm mereen to eighteen Ty Tunes wide, at x feet from the g The con The sume time, and on the same Asty Wifi Mamal We think, however, that the date of But apart from the larches, watch fin were plated; these looked f ing, and annoy made good shooti or eight rears after planting; they the to der, and are now, literally spesi dead. The land on which the experi his letter chiefly refers, is called cently made by his lordship, and to show. It is very rocky, producing, a greatest part of it, nothing but st its elevation is so great, that it i its hemispherical head, abore every direction, at a great distance. mountains in the vicinity of Winan If the larches which are now plante feet distance, quite round the sides a the top of this mountain, should the of which, from their present ap entertain the strongest hopes, we future become less solicitous about this hardy tree, and less dispose! them closer than six feet apart, seem at present to be. Fy are disappointed, the failure will out its use, as a warning to others. The whole sum expended in 322,000 larenes, at 30s, thanse to £+s, 1 s. v£3. The plantation is aut in his estimate. he e int, because the land me tenced before it could have been letz aste, and he reuve advant stead masturing if. is The Outemp.TE IF 488 bes the componunterest of 45 per the amount of the whole loss which obably be sustained by this undertakSixty years, I might proceed to make a 1stantial estimate of the profit which robably be derived from it at twenty ence, when one half of the trees, viz. 10 (supposing 500 to have perished) be cut down; and at forty years hence, one half of the remainder, viz 80,000, sing another 500 to have perished) be taken away; and at sixty years when (though another 500 should rished,) there will be 80,000 trees of ars growth, and not more than 302 on to be felled, if the then proprietor have the heart to do it. Great quantities of waste lands, (says he) and of commons appurtenant to cultivated lands, and of open fields, have for some years past been annually inclosed by acts of parlia ment, and the lands thus brought into seve ralty have been so improved by planting in some places, and by mending the pasturage in others, and by converting much into tillage which had never been ploughed before, thats the whole kingdom is in these respects, as: well as in its commercial relations, far more flourishing than it was forty years ago. I indeed am not one of those who consider the increased luxury of the country as a public benefit, or as any proper criterion of public strength and prosperity; yet, when I see the great bulk of the people (I speak not of the vicious refuse of an overgrown capital), to be better fed, better clothed, better lodged, and better educated, than the same class either ever was, or now is any other part of the of this country to be extremely prosperous. world, I cannot but look upon the situation e is a quantity of land, both in Great and Ireland, of very little value in ntstate, and which cannot be converth profit to the undertaker, either into or good pasture land, but which beated with larches, would immediately rent of above thirty shillings a year. I am not ignorant that our commerce is ertion requires some illustration....... the parent of our national opulence; and sists in cutting down the whole at that our opulence, rather then the number of or thirty years growth, and replantour people, is the present sinew of our na ground. A reasonable doubt how- tional strength. But should commerce ever y arise, whether the same will yield a desert us, as it has deserted all other coun rop of larches as valuable as the first; tries in which it once flourished, I am anx osing experience to prove this doubt ious that we should still be able to maintain founded, and five hundred acres to our station as a free people, among the des ed with larches at six or eight fect potic powers of Enrope. It would be far bet , after twenty-five years let twenty ter for us, to be a free nation of labouring cut down, and the land be replant-peasants, than a nation of gentlemen, wearen the whole is thus gone over, the ing chains of slavery gilt by the gold of com anted part will be twenty-five years be ready for the axe; and all the ts will be ready in succession, twenty ry year, for ever; affording a rent, first twenty-five years, of £1,500 a n 500 acres of waste land. This ounded on the supposition of an acre s of twenty-five years growth being ly £75 though there is good reason cture, that it will be worth more; tainty that for the first twenty-five lls, its value will be increasing on the increasing age of the wood. int, may perhaps be of value to our readers.--Why should any waste? pay great deference to the opihose who have passed many years orld, and have had opportunities iting present times by comparison ner, we are happy to find his differ strongly from those who a kind of despondency, on the ation of evils among mankind, hile every reasonable mind lashould meet with fortitude. merce. Certainly we would not have com merce supplant the national attention to agriculture; and as trade is proverbially fickle, let us not rest our dependence unreservedly on such a basis. Mr. Willis relates with approbation the cautious experin.ents of his neighbour, Mr. Clapcott. We heartily join in recommending equal prudence, at first, to others, who may intend to adopt more energetic measures and to conduct their operations on a widen scale after they have profited by results obtained with little labour and hazard. In March 1804, Mr. Clapcott inclosed with an earth bank 3 feet high, 5 feet at the bottom, 4 feet at top, at 1s. 3d. per lug part of which is planted with furz, part with quicksets, a square field of six acres covered with short heath and a few furz scattered on the surface. The soil he made choice of for his experiments, was neither the best nor the worst part of his allotment; it was such an average quality, as would fairly and honestly try the value of the lands, in the dif |