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A number of gentlemen in the city of New York have instituted an association, stiled "The New York Historical Society," to promote the knowledge of the civil, literary, and ecclesiastical history of their country. Denmark.

Some well disposed persons in Denmark have begun to print an edition of 2000 copies of the Icelandic New Testament. The British and Foreign Bible Society has voted a sum of money to enable them to add 3000 more to the number, and intend to assist them hereafter in printing the whole bible in that language.

the

Counsellor Giesieke of Copenhagen has obtained permission of the king to make a Tour through Greenland, for purposes of geography and mineralogy. France. M.Leroi, who has made many successful experiments in agriculture, advises persons by no means to procure grain for sowing from a soil north of their own land, but from a country south of it; because, he says, it is a general rule, that the product of seed improves in going from south to north, and that it decreases in virtue in going from north to south. He recommends boiled carrots as an excellent and cheap food for the fattening of pigs; and he adds, that by steeping raw carrots in water to deprive them of their acrid principle, then by boiling them and causing them to ferment, an ardent spirit may be drawn from them, more wholesome than brandy distilled

from rye.

Germany.

intendant of the observatory of the celebrated senator of justice Schroeter at Lilienthal, has calculated the path of this comet-From the calculation it follows that the new comet, after appearing in superior brilliancy in the southern parts of the globe, and after passing very close to the South Pole of the ecliptic, on the 31st of December, will be again visible towards the middle of January, above the horizon of the observatories in the south of Europe, and about the 20th of the same month will be also visible in this neighbourhood. It will then be seen in the Milky Way, in the sign of the Whale, included by the new astronomers in the sign of the Electrical Machine. With us the comet will rise but a very little above the clearest part of the south and southwest horizons, and on that account we can only observe it if we are favoured with warmer weather; but in the south of Germany, France, Italy, &c. it may be very distinctly observed, and followed with the telescope, until very near the end of February. In order to facilitate the finding again of this comet, M. Bessel has calculated the following places of the same for the meridian of Paris :Degrees of As

Dr. Olbers has communicated the following information, relating to the comet discovered by M. Pons, at Marseilles, dated Bremen, Dec. 23 :

"The comet discovered by M. Pons, at Marseilles, on the 10th of November, has not been visible these few days past, on account of its too great increase of southern declination. According to observations made here and in Lilienthal, M. Bessel, super

cension. 25 14

19 40
17 33

South Decli

nation.
39 18

29 84

23 58

Jan. 15, Jan. 25, Feb. 4, Until the 16th of February this comet will become clearer and more brilliant than it was on the 10th of November, the day of its first discovery."

The Emperor of Austria has granted to the Observatory at Ofen, in Hungary, the sum of 7000 florins for the purchase of astronomical instruments. He has also given permission to the following gentlemen to visit the mines in the Hereditary States: to Mr. Chenevix, English chemist; to Don Gimbernat, director of the Royal Cabinet at Madrid; to Mr. Beker, inspector of the mines at Altenburgh; and to Mr. Grellman, merchant, of Vienna.

A prostrate forest of palm-trees has lately been discovered on the banks of the Necker, some of which are two feet in diameter. Among the perished wood were mingled in confusion bones, supposed to have belonged to Hyænas, Elephants, and Bears, of a large size.

ENTERTAINMENTS AND EXHIBITIONS.

DRURY-LANE, Dec. 26.-After Miss Lee, the successful author of the

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Mr. WROUGHTON

Mr. H. SIDDONS

Mr. ELLISTON

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Mr. BANNISTER

Mr. DE CAMP
Miss POPE

Mrs. H. SIDDONS
Miss RAY

the tragedy of George Barnwell, comedy of the Chapter of Accidents. The Enchanters; or, Harlequin Sultaun, The high estimation in which this was brought out for the entertainment lady has been held by the public, and of the holiday frequenters of the all the exertions of the performers theatre. Had the Ghost of the cele- who embraced the whole comic brated Rich condescended to have strength of the house, could not, witnessed the representation of this however, save the piece from the spectacle, we can figure to ourselves most decided disapprobation of a the sensations it must have excited in crowded and elegant audience. The the soul of that Father of Pantomime. opposition commenced in the first For ourselves we can most safely as- act, in consequence of the length of sert, that we never witnessed any he- the scenes, and the total absence of terogeneous compound of this descrip- interest or humour. tion so totally bereft of all interest, The principal characters in this and of so unmeaning and unintel- unfortunate comedy, were as follows: ligible a description. Instead of its Lord Wellwyn being an Harlequinade, fraught with Sir Harry whim, trick, deception, and bustle, Somerville we were not gratified with Harlequin's Admiral activity in above two leaps, and with Bronze his amorous attentions and civilities Lady Morelove to Columbine, more than four times, Laura throughout the whole piece. The in- Emma tervals were filled up with splendid Adelaide processions, into which were intro- Tiptoe duced camels and dromedaries in pro- Servant Mrs. HARLOWE fusion-these sort of excrescences As this piece will never appear beseem to have taken hold of both thea- fore the public again, it is not necestres, ever since the memorable ro- sary to enter much into detail conmance of Blue Beard. A new per- cerning it. In the fourth act the paformer (a Mr. Hartland) was the tience of the audience became exHarlequin. He is possessed of the hausted, when some disgusting abrequisites for the character, agility surdities in Lady Morelove's conduct and vivacity, but he has little of that in her dressing-room, and Mr. Banelegant display of whim and simple nister, as a drunken Admiral, roused playfulness for which we look to a pro- the indignation of the house to the fessor of the masque. The Clown highest pitch. Lady Moreloce was a (Urchin) by Montgomery, from the female Lord Ogleby, without the Royal Circus, was given by that per- interest of the original. Mrs. H. Sidformer with all the effect of which the dons, a lovely young heiress, was made part itself was rendered susceptible by contrary to the rules of all delicacy, to the author. We have to repeat our avow her love for Lord Wellwyn, remarks upon nonsense of this kind the father of Somerville, who did her in general, that we deplore the splen- the honour of accepting her hand. dour in scenery and dresses, thrown away upon so silly a trifle.

Miss DUNCAN

Miss MELLON

Miss Duncan, the wife of Sir Harry, whom he had left in France, appears The music by Shaw, the leader of first in the disguise of a French the band, does that gentleman credit. abbé, and is imposed on the old lady Mr. Gibbon, as Hapuck, an enchanter, as a conjuror; and in the last scene, to sung a song in fine style, which display a very beautiful dress, when brought down the unanimous ap- she meets her husband by Assignation, plause of the audience. The House for the purpose of discovering her was crowded in every part, and the self. It appeared as if the author piece was announced for repetition. thought that the number of characJan. 28. This evening was pro- ters introduced would compensate duced at this theatre, a new comedy, for the total absence of interest, pacalled Assignation, from the pen of thos, and humour. The prologue,

spoken by Mr. Bartley, was well received; and Miss Duncan in the epilogue was loudly applauded.

OPERA-HOUSE, Feb. 3.-A new comic Opera, cailed Roberto l'Assassino was brought forward for the first Feb. 4.-A new Ballet entitled time. The music is only indifferent, Emily, or Juvenile Indiscretion, was and there was nothing interesting in performed at this theatre. The fable the fable. Naldi exerted his musical is founded on the airy spirit of the and comic powers with great zeal, but heroine, which tempts her into many the mass was too heavy to receive aniwild excesses, but better principles mation even from his lively talents. of action at last prevail, and she is Signor Siboni and Madame Perini wholly reformed.“ Miss Gayton, a deserved much credit for their endeapupil of D'Egville, performed the vours to support the piece. character of Emily, and she was the main prop of the entertainment. Her dancing was light, animated, and expressive. Parisot, in a very elegant pas seul, gave considerable strength to the piece. D'Egville is the composer, and it is very creditable to his talents.

CONCERT OF ANCIENT MUSIC.The first rehearsal of this Institution' this season, took place on Monday evening, the 2d of February, in the room in Hanover-square. The Earl of Dartmouth presided. The selection was judicious, and the whole was admirably performed. Harrison disCOVENT-GARDEN, Feb. 7.-Mas- played his usual chaste, simple, and singer's vigorous, but improbable elegant style of singing. Bartleman, comedy of A new Way to pay old whose health has lately been very Debts, was revived at this theatre. bad, exerted his fine voice with judg Cooke supported the part of Sir Giles ment and effect. Mrs. Billington, Ocerreach with considerable ability. disgusted it is said, with the caprices The language of this play is of so of fashion, has declined an engageantique a cast, that the general effect ment for the present season. is uniformly heavy. Ashe and Mrs. Vaughan appeared to considerable advantage. The band was led with the usual excellence of Cramer.

Mrs.

The Oratorios commenced at this theatre on the 13th of February, under the direction of the Ashleys. The Orchestra was filled with able The first regular performance took performers under the conduct of Mr. place on Wednesday, Feb. 4. The G. Ashley. The principal singers opening piece was the Coronation Anwere Braham, Madame Dussek, Mrs. them, and the grand chorus from Dickons, (late' Miss Poole) Bellamy, the Messiah concluded this enterDoyle, Pyne, and Mrs. Bland.

tainment.

ADDITIONS TO, AND CORRECTIONS IN, FORMER

OBITUARIES.

Further Account of Sir RICHARD were captured. During the ensuing KING, Bart. Admiral of the Red, season he was employed in much serwhose Death was announced at page vice, for which his uncle rewarded 549 of Vol. VI. him by promoting him to the rank of lieutenant. Soon ap

E born in

Het wayar 1790, but descended pointment, he had the misfortune to

from a respectable family who re- lose his uncle, who died after a short sided at Bromley in Kent. Before indisposition in April 1746, but he he was eight years of age he en- still continued to serve in India, until tered on the toils of that service, the conclusion of the war in 1748, of which he afterwards became so when in the year following he returnsplendid an ornament. In 1738, he ed to England. From this time to went to sea with his maternal uncle, the recommencement of hostilities in the late Commodore Curtis Barnet, 1754, he had no opportunity of disunder whose eye he first served in tinguishing himself; but in that year the Mediterranean, and in the year it being thought expedient to send 1744, accompanied him to the East a small squadron to the East Indies, Indies, in the course of which voyage, under Admiral Watson, he went out three valuable French East Indiamen as lieutenant of the Bristol. While

156

Additions to, and Corrections in, former Obituaries. [FEBRUARY this fleet was at anchor at Kinsale, a Captain King's credit for courage, violent storm came on, in which the promptitude, and perseverance, being Eagle and Bristol ran foul of each fully established, he was selected for other, were dismasted, and rendered that service. The fort having been incapable of proceeding on the voy- carried by storm, Captain King and age. Mr. King was removed into the his detachment of seamen first entered Tiger, which was ordered to proceed the breach, but the riches found at to India in lieu of the Bristol, and on Hughly fell far short of the expecta the arrival of Admiral Watson at the tions of the captors. As a ditinguishplace of his destination, was received ing mark of the approbation and conon board the Admiral's ship. Early fidence of Admiral Watson, he sein 1756, Lieut. King highly distin- lected Captain King as the bearer of guished himself at the attack and his dispatches to England, containcapture of Geriah, the capital of the ing an account of the re-establishdominions of the famous pirate, An- ment of the East-India Company in gria. After this service, Admiral their respective settlements; and acWatson, in July, advanced our young cordingly he sailed from Bengal in lieutenant to the rank of master and February 1757, and arrived at London commander, and appointed him to the in the July following. The year Blaze fire-ship. The squadron after- after, he was appointed to the Bonetta wards proceeded to Bengal, and hav- sloop, in which he was sent to the ing reduced all the forts below Cal- Leeward Islands, and in January, cutta, which, together with that city, 1758, was promoted by Commohad fallen into the hands of the nabob dore Moore to the rank of Post-CapSurajah Dowla, who was then at tain. His first appointment was to war with the English, Admiral Wat- the Rye frigate, but he was soon reson co-operated with Colonel Clive moved into the Ludlow Castle of in the reduction of that place. On 44 guns. In 1759, he convoyed a January 2d, 1757, the ships took their large fleet of merchant ships from stations, and began a most vigorous Jamaica to England, and at the becannonade, which at the end of two ginning of 1760, was appointed to the hours, drove the enemy from their Argo frigate of 28 guns, in which he guns, and compelled them to aban- for some time cruised off Brest, and don the fort. Captain King was here afterwards in the North Sea, till the designated to the post of honour, end of 1761. On the commencement the Admiral immediately landing a of hostilities with Spain, in 1762, party of seamen under his command, Lord Anson particularly recommendwith the king's troops under Captain ed Captain King to his majesty, as an Coote, with whom he conjointly took officer on whom he could depend to possession of the fort. At the time carry the earliest intelligence of that the squadron sailed to Bengal, event to the East Indies; and General Captain King was dangerously ill Draper, who was appointed to comat Madras, but recovering, took his mand the land forces on an expedition passage in the Protector, one of the against Manilla, embarked with him Company's ships, and arrived at Ben- on board the Argo. Captain King gal about the same time that the had the good fortune to make an exsquadron did, but had the mortifica- peditious passage to India; which, if tion to find that his fire-ship, the he had not done, the enterprize Blaze, had sprung a leak, and had against Manilla must have failed, as been sent to Bombay. By this acci- the squadron arrived there only a few dent he became merely a volunteer, days previously to the changing of and though employed on the most the moonsoon. During the siege of active service, the Captains of the Manilla, intelligence was received, squadron took advantage of this cir- that the rich galleon, St. Philippina, cumstance, in refusing him to share was on her passage from Acapulco, prize money with them as a Cap- and Captain King, in company with tain, by which he lost many thousand the Panther, Captain Hyde Parker, pounds. Admiral Watson's next ob- were ordered to cruise with a view to ject being to attack the rich city of intercept her; but missing this ship, Hughly, belonging to the nabob, and they fell in with another, the Santis

sima Trinidada, which had sailed Spry, and, in the month of November, from Manilla, and having been dis- returned to England in the Europe of masted in a gale of wind, was return- 64 guns. After his return he was aping thither under jury-masts. This pointed, in March 1779, to the Exeter ship was of larger dimensons than of 64 guns, and ordered to proceed as our 74 gun ships, and had on board second officer in command, under 700 men, but only a few guns mount- Admiral Sir Edward Hughes to the ed. The Argo engaged her, in the East Indies. On his arrival there night, though she had only so men in January 1780, he was promoted to able to go to quarters, and on the the rank of Commodore, with a capnext day, the galleon sustained a tain under him, and on this station he severe cannonade from the Panther continued the whole of the war, and and the Argo, before she surrendered. was engaged in all the actions with The two frigates returned to Manilla the French squadrons under M. de with their prize, the value of which Suffrein. In the first engagement was estimated at three millions of dol- which took place off Fort St, George, lars. In the mean time the St. Philip on the 15th of February, 1782, Compina, on hearing of the war with modore King's ship, the Exeter, reEngland, had taken shelter at Palapa, ceived the fire of most of the French a port in the island of Samar; and ships, as they passed on towards the Captain King in the Argo, with the centre; and as it was evidently the deSeaford under his command, sailed sign of Suffrein to disable the Exeter from Manilla with orders to endea- and Superb, those two ships were your to proceed to Palapa, and take materially crippled. The Exeter had possession of her; but after persever- to sustain an unequal contest, first ing in the attempt for three months, with three, and then with five of the against the monsoon, strong winds, enemy's ships, the smallest of them and much rain, the ships' sails and of equal force, and superior to her in rigging being rotten and worn out, size. The Superb was also assailed by and the provisions almost expended, four, possessing similar advantages; he was under the painful necessity of and a calm prevented the other ships returning to Manilla without the of the British from coming to their rich object of his pursuit. In 1763, assistance. The wind afterwards Captain King was appointed to the springing up, enabled the four headGrafton of 68 guns, in which he ar- most ships to come up, which induced rived in England in July 1764, having, the French to retreat. By this time in company with the Lenox, the the Exeter was almost reduced to a galleon he had captured. In 1771, wreck, her Captain, Reynolds, had he was appointed to the Northum- been killed close by the side of the berland, the flag-ship of Sir Robert Commodore, and ten of her men had Harland, who, having engaged to shared the same fate, and forty-five take a particular captain, Captain were wounded. From the number of King was appointed to the Ardent, shot holes she had received under and immediately afterwards to the water, she was under the necessity of Asia, and continued in that ship, making a signal of distress, and had which was a stationed guardship at it not been for the most indefatigable Portsmouth, for the usual period of exertions, she, in all probability, three years. In 1777, he commanded would have gone to the bottom. Comthe Pallas frigate of 36 guns, in which medore King, amidst this scene of he convoyed a fleet of merchant ships horror, displayed the most consumto Quebec, and returning in Sep- mate bravery, unshaken fortitude, tember 1778, after the commence- and presence of mind. Towards the ment of hostilities between France clo e of the action, as two of the cneand Great Britain, he was sent with my's ships were Learing down to atthe squadron under the command of tack the Exeter, the Master asked Commodore Evans, to assist in seizing him what he should do with the ship; the Islands of St. Pierre and Mique- to which he replied, "There is nolon, on the coast of Newfoundland, thing to be done, but to fight her till which service having been performed, she sinks." The Exeter was howhe exchanged ships with Captain ever preserved, but so completely disUNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. VII.

X

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