formed, as the savages that range throughout, the north-west country, and are also strangers to that sanguinary ferocity, by which many of the Indian tribes are characterized. They are remarkable for the mildness, and gentleness of their manners, and are never known to use an offensive weapon against each other, or to kill, or wound, any person whatever. Nor can the effects of spirituous liquors, so baneful to other natives, excite them to cruelty, or vindictive passion. Their behaviour is uniformly orderly and decent; their mode of dress is the same as that which now prevails among the other savages who have intercourse with Europeans; and the stuffs, and silks, for which they exchange their furs, are often rich and costly.

Their whole number is about thirteen hundred; nearly one-half being converted to the Christian faith, and the other half being Pagans. A missionary sent from Quebec, resides among them; and chapels, where divine service is performed, are erected at the principal posts. Repeated efforts, and much persuasion have been used, to prevail on these savages to cultivate their lands, and to plant Indian corn, or potatoes. They have not, however, been able to overcome their propensity to indolence, or their utter aversion and abhorence to that species of labour. They appeared to relish these articles of food, when offered, and would eat them with avidity, if accompanied with a little grease; yet, even the incitement of reward, superadded to the prospect of a constant and wholesome supply of nourishment, failed in producing any inclination for industry.

A totally different people are the Iroquois, whose dissimulation enabled them to surprise, and almost to exterminate the Hurons after forming the most intimate connections by alliances, and friendships. A complete instance this, that statesmanlike hypocrisy, however it may be laid to the charge of refinement in manners, is not derived from that source, exclusively, if at all we fear that human nature, itself, must plead guilty to this charge.

The Indians seem not, in general, to be ignorant that their forefathers were strangers in the country which they now inhabit. They assert, that they migrated from a distant region towards the west. The Iroquois, who, of all the nations of North America, the inhabitants of Mexico excepted, had made the advancement in the social state, assert, greatest that for a series of years they wandered from one situation to another, under the conduct of a female. By her they were led over a great portion of the continent of North America, until they made choice of the tract which they now occupy, whose climate was more temperate, and whose soil was more

adapted to the purposes of cultivation than that of any place they had before visited. She there distributed lands among her followers, aud thus founded a colony which has ever since retained its station. The natives of the neighbouring territories, blend under one name the five tribes of the Iroquois, although each is possessed of its peculiar dialect. They inhabit the country on the north and south of lake Ontario, bounded on the east by lake Champlain. They are divided into Upper and Lower Iroquois, and into five cantons; the former distinguished by the appellations of Tsonnon thousans, Goyogouens, and Onontagues; the latter by those of Agniers and Ŏnoyouths. By extending their wars far beyond the limits of their domains, they found a nation in Virginia which differed but little from them in language, and which, although formerly connected with them by some affinity, had long been unknown to them or forgotten. Of this conformity of language they availed themselves, by combining the interests of that people with their own, and thus strengthened their association.

The savages preserve their skin free from all excrescences of hair, excepting that on the head and eye-brows, and even this some of them are at the trouble to eradicate. On the first arrival of Europeans on their coasts, their surprise at the uncommon appearance of these strangers became excessive; and the long beard, which at that period was the prevailing mode, gave them, in the eyes of the natives, an air of hideous deformity.

Their education is almost entirely limited to the knowledge of making war by stealth, and to the habitual exercise of patience and fortitude in enduring the most severe trials of misery and pain. The condition of their life, and the state of their society, are the irresiseither of those situations. Their courage does. table reasons which guide their conduct in not appear inferior to that of the rest of mankind, and it is only the mode of exercising it, which constitutes the difference in this respect, between them and more civilized nations."

In the savage state, where indolence and sloth are considered as enjoyments, a disposition to activity is rarely to be discovered. To prepare pallisades for their forts, to construct or to repair their cabins, to dress the inside of the skins with which they cloath themselves, to fabricate some articles of domestic furniture, to mend or to renew the simple instruments in use among them, to paint and ornament themselves after their own rude and fantas. tical taste, form, next to those of war and the chace, the most laborious occupations of the men.

Having an immense extent of territory over which to range, the more sedentary tribes have learnt by experience to choose, with sufficient judginent, situations for their val

ges. These are usually placed in the midst of the best soil, and upon an eminence, if such can be found, to command a prospect of the neighbouring country, and to enable the inhabitants thereby to guard against surprise. They endeavour to combine with these local advantages, the choice of a spot on the banks of a river which glides in a serpentine course, in order to form a ditch around those fortifications, which unimproved art enables them to add to the conveniences supplied by nature. The villages which are most exposed to an enemy, are fortified with pallisades from fifteen to thirty feet in altitude, placed closely together, and composed of a triple range, the center of which is planted perpendicularly, the others in a slanting position, and the whole is thickly lined to the height of twelve feet, with bark of trees. Within the fort, there are certain situations filled with stones to throw upon an enemy, and likewise reservoirs of water for extinguishing fires. The inhabitants ascend to their forts by means of trees or logs full of notches. The general form of the pallisadoed defences, is round or oval, with only one entrance.

About a hundred cabins, with seven families in each, form the general size of an Iroquois village. These people seldom reside in their forts, unless when threatened with danger, or in a state of actual warfare. The habitations of all the native tribes of America, evince the poverty, simplicity, and frugality of men born in the infancy of a new world." The following is Mr. Heriot's account of the expeditions by which furs are procured. We trust our fair readers, will acknowledge that those engaged in this service, have need of every encouragement to support them under fatigues by which they secure the comfort, or embellish the appearance, of British beauty.

The company trading to the north-west sends every year, to the posts on Lake Superior, about fifty canoes loaded with merchandise. These are dispatched about the beginning of May, from La Chine, a distance of nine miles above Montreal. The canoes are formed of the bark of the birch-tree, and closely lined with thin ribs made of a tough wood. The seams are sewed with radical fibres, called watape, and they are afterwards carefull, covered over with gum to exclude the water. The bottom of the vessel is nearly flat, the sides are rounded, and either end terminates in a sharp edge. The price of one of these is about twelve pounds sterling, and it is calculated to contain, on the perilous voyage for which it is destined, a weight equal to 3,500lbs. The men are engaged at Montreal four or five months before they set out on their journey, and receive in advance their

equipment and one-third of their wages. Each man holds in his hand a large paddle; and the canoe, although loaded within six inches of the gunwale, is made to move along with wonderful expedition. The voyageurs, or navigators, are of constitutions the strongest and most robust; and they are at an early period inured to the encounter of hardships. The fare on which they subsist is penurious and course * Fortified by habit against apprehension from the species of dithculties and perils with which they are about to struggle, they enter on their toils with confidence and hope. Whilst moving along the surface of the stream, they sing in alternate strains the songs and music of their country, and cause the desolate wilds on the banks of the Outaouais, to resound with the voice of chearfulness. They adapt in rowing their strokes to the cadence of their strains, and redouble their efforts by making them in time. In dragging the canoes up the rapids, great care is necessary to prevent then from striking against rocks, the materials of which they are composed being slight and easily da maged. When a canoe receives an injury, the aperture is stopped with gum melted by the heat of a piece of burning charcoal. Fibres of bark bruised, and moistened with gum in a liquid state, are applied to-larger apertures; a linen rag is put over the whole, and its edges are cemented with gum.

of

The total number of men contained in the canoes, amounts usually to about three hundred and seventy-three, of which three hundred and fifty are navigators, eighteen are guides, and five are clerks. When arrived at the grand depôt, on Lake Superior, part these ascend as far as the Rainy Lake, and they are usually absent from Montreal about five months. The guides are paid for this service thirty-seven pounds sterling, and are allowed besides, a suitable equipment. The wages of the person who sits in the front of the canoe, and of him whose office it is to steer, are about twenty-one pounds sterling each; those of the other men, about twelve pounds ten shillings of the same money.

To each man, a blanket, shirt, and pair of trowsers are supplied; and all are maintained by their employers during the period of their engagement. The advantage of trafficking with the savages is likewise permitted, and some individuals procure by this means a profit amounting to more than double their pay.

Some of these voyagers travel many hundreds of miles, among the Indians, and in the forests; others are stationary at particular places for years.

*Chiefly the grease of the bear, and a meal, of coarse flour, made from Indian

corn.

7. All such as marry, without a fair and reasonable prospect of being able to support and bring up a family on the fruits of their own industry, without burthening the public. Lastly, No persons to receive any benefit from former bequests or donations to the poor, who do not comply with the conditions of these regulations.

Does this worthy magistrate really think that religious opinion should be made a test of national bounty? if so, it is but equitable that sectaries should be excused from paying to the poor's rate; for, is it not a penalty to load them with the support of other people's poor, and their own also now, that sectaries should receive no encouragement from the state, is one thing;-to subject them to a penalty, no matter for what purpose, is another. To confine national benevolence within any narrower limits than those of the nation itself, appears to us to be establishing injurious distinctions, and adopting false criteria of desert; whereas the sooner all distinctions are done away, politically considered, the better,-The rule should be, if any man will not work, neither

let him eat.'

We perfectly agree with Mr. C. not only in respect for the clergy, but in thinking that the appointment of clergymen to the office of magistrate is inconsistent with their sacred character.

I deny that they can be, at the same time, competent parish priests; the two functions cannot be made to coalesce; they are in direct contradiction to each other; the one being constituted to employ the penalties of the law, and bring the guilty to punishment: and the other, to instruct, admonish, console, and improve the morals of the parishioner; and by a watchful attention to the conduct of individuals, be one effectual medium to the prevention of crimes.

The office of a parish priest, it cannot be repeated too frequently, is of the utmost importance; the instructions which the rising generation might derive from the active discharge of its duties, would save thousands from the hospitals, and tens of thousands from ruin: would diminish the poor's rates by augmenting diligence, frugality, good morals, aye, and good manners, too, which be it remembered, are of pleasing consequence

"Awake, arise, or be for ever fallen."

To those who revel in the lap of affluence, a subject such as that to which these pages irksome;-perhaps it will not be suffered to are devoted, may be perhaps unpleasant and

yet, to these I shall venture to declare the enter, much less to dwell on their minds;~ solemn truth, that, without some sacrifices, and considerable ones too, on their parts; without the exertion of many, and very many, individuals among them, this country cannot long retain its independence, much less that exalted station which, as yet, it holds, to the envy and admiration of the world. Nay, apart from all considerations of national glory and security, if we really value the continuance of those private and individual blessings which we enjoy, to a degree at least equal with, if not far surpassing, what ever fell to the lot of any nation, whether antient or modern, these sacrifices will be cheerfully and speedily made, whilst we have something left to relinquish ;which pervade our happy island; it cannot be to preserve those abundant sources of luxury too often repeated, we must conduct ourselves in a manner very different to both antients and in private life;-we must at once forego every moderns;--we must determine on reformation general welfare, and we must actively, and other consideration but that of public and not loosely, fulfil the duties assigned us in the gradations of society; or new laws may be enacted, and statute upon statute mul tiplied in vain :-the progress of corruption will be accelerated, the blindness of the nation confirmed, and mischief accumulated upon us, until we are swallowed up in that complication of dangers with which we are continue to hope, that a gracious Providence threatened and surrounded. But we will has woven the destiny of this distinguished nation in fairer and brighter colours.

I shall now take my leave of an indulgent public, with one concluding reflection; which, trust, will be thought neither impertinent

nor unseasonable. I am, and have been, long impressed with a strong and serious conviction, that in the arduous, the vital contest in which we are engaged, it is become indispensably necessary to collect the views of the people to one distinct and immediate object; the destruction of which shall be obviously perceived to affect the dearest interests of every individual in the country, without exception. I am disposed to think, that in giving to the mass of our population a stake in the country, similar to what will be created by the general Benefit Fund in contemplation, something of this kind has been discovered: in this there will be something more than mere ideal concern; something that comes more immedi ately home to the senses, than those speculative excellencies, of which the many is capable of forming but very indistinct conceptions. It will afford a safe deposit for the earnings of industrious labour, and it opens to the lower classes a prospect of comfort under old age and infirmity, to which they can look without degrading reflection, as the fruit of their own independent industry. Furthermore, it will greatly check, and in all probability prevent and put a stop to, what has become but too frequent in our army and navy; viz. desertion. And in appropriating a small part of our superfluous wealth and time to provide for the relief of our truly indigent brethren, we shall not only ensure possession and permanence to the remainder, but most assuredly call a blessing down on our exertions; while every heart and every hand in these seabegirted lands, shall be united to repel and punish every attempt, whether of domestic treason or foreign invasion, to rob us of those inestimable advantages which, under a liberal and enlightened establishment in Church and State, we have hitherto been suffered to enjoy. If the plan submitted in the preceding pages affords a hint towards the attainment of such an object, my studies will not have been misapplied, and I shall rejoice in the animating reflection of having thus contributed my mite to promote the permanent prosperity and happiness of a beloved country.

new.

"The present period of peril, unexampled in the annals of the whole world, calls for exertions out of the common course, and for the execution of designs applicable to the exigencies of an æra as extraordinary as it is The object of inquiry is, whether they are rational, practicable, and necessary Whether advantages, far exceeding the labour and expence bestowed on them, are not likely to result from their adoption? if the public mind is so impressed, their execution should be immediate: &c."-Vide Colquhoun's Treatise on Indigence, p. 262.

A Biographical History of England, from the Revolution to the End of George I's Reign; being a Continuation of the Rev. J. Granger's Work: consisting of Characters disposed in different Classes, and adapted to a methodical Catalogue of engraved British Heads; interspersed with a variety of Anecdotes, and Memoirs of a great number of Persons, not to be found in any other Biographical Work. The Materials being supplied by the Manuscripts left by Mr. Granger, and the Collections of the Editor, the Rev. Mark Noble, F. A. S, &c. &c: Richardson, London, 3 Vols. Price £1.7s. in boards.

To desire an acquaintance with men of eminence is a natural disposition of the hu man mind and the more intimate our acquaintance with them can be, the greater is our gratification, and pleasure. But distance prevents our personal knowledge of some, who are our contemporaries; and those who died before our own time, can be known to us only by their remains. Their fame, induces us to wish for a sight of them, and since we cannot obtain that, we substitute the satisfaction to be derived from an inspection of their resemblances; art offers its services, and a skilful likeness impresses us with the idea of wisdom or valour, of magnanimity or penetration.

The features of some men do absolutely impress us with an opinion of their mental powers and we read in their countenances conspicuously written sagacity or inanity, keenness or dullness. These features the hand of the painter transfers to the canvas, for the contemplation of future generations: the skill of the engraver copies them correctly, and distributes them over the face of the earth. In possessing these, though copies, we have all that is possible for us to obtain, and many are gratified by a single exertion of nal is confined to one place, and can be art, and at small expense, while the origiappropriated by one owner only.

That the curious should form collections of these portraits, and take a delight in surveying the representations they contain, follows readily from the premises we have stated. This has been the endeavour of the liberal in all ages, and will continue to be, while science distinguishes a man