the good bishop of that city, who throwing hm into a fiery furnance, roafted this ftrange bird, to the great edification of all beholders (fed tandem a Leone Catanenfi Epifcopo, divina virtute ex improvifo captus, frequenti in media urbe populo, in fornacem igneam injectus, ignis incendio confumptus eft.). This anecdote is to be found in Thomas Fa zellus, (lib. 5. c. 2. and again lib. 3. deca. 1. Rerum Sicularum) who clofes his account with the following pious remark, naturally arifing from his fubject, and which I fhall fet down in his own words-Sic divina juftitia prævaluit, et qui fe judicibus forte minus juflo zelo motis eripuerat, e fancti viri manibus elabi non potuit. "Thus," fays he, "divine juftice prevailed; and he, who had fnatched himself out of the hands of judges, who perhaps were actuated by a zeal not fo juft as it fhould be, could not efcape from this holy perfon."

(To be concluded in our next ̧) Tranflation of the curious Teftament of M. Fortune Ricard, Teacher of Arithmetic Read and published at the Court of Bailiwick of that Town, the 19th of August, 1784,

at D

THIS

HIS remarkable teftamentary Will is annexed by Dr. Price to his Obfervations on the Importance of the American Revolution, and is introduced by the follows ing advertisement:

"The following Teftament was lately published in France, and conveyed to me by Dr. Franklin. It exemplifies, with an infructive pleasantry and great force, the powers of compound intereft or a finking fund, and the ufes to which they may be applied for the benefit of nations and of pofterity. For this reason I here offer to the public the following tranflation of it, not doubting but I fhall be excufed if the turn of humour in it renders it a composition of a nature not perfectly fuitable to the other parts of this pamphlet."

The TESTAMENT, &c.

IN the name of God, I Fortune Ricard, teacher of arithmetic at D -, invoking the Holy Virgin and Saint Fortune my patron, do make this my laft will as follows[The executors, who have caufed this will to be printed, in order to fulfil the intentions of the late M. Fortune Ricard, do not think it neceffary to publish those particular be quefts which concern only his own family. After having difpofed of his patrimony among them with wisdom, he proceeds in the following manner.]

It remains how for me to declare my intentions with regard to the promife of 590 Gent. Mag. June, 1785.

livres, fubfcribed in my behalf by M. P. banker of this town. This fum proceeded originally from a prefent which was made me by Profper Ricard, my much honoured grandfather, when I entered the 8th year of my age. At that age he had taught me the principles of writing and calculation. After having fhewn me that a capital, with its ac cumulating intereft at five per cent. would amount, at the end of 100 years, to nore than 131 times the original fum, and feeing that I liftened to this lecture with the greatest attention, he took 24 livres out of his pocket, and addreffed me with an enthuf...fm which is ftill prefent to my mind My child, faid he, remember while thou liveft, that with economy and calculation nothing is impoffible for man. Here are 24 livres which I give thee. Take them to a merchant in our neighbourhood who will place them in trade out of regard to me. Every year thou fhalt add the intereft to the prin cipal. At thy death thou shalt employ the produce in good works for the repofe of thy order with fidelity, and in the courfe of my foul and my own.' I have executed this life I have planned many projects for employing this money. Having reached the 71ft year of my age, it amounts to 500 livres; but as I muft fome time or other fet bounds to myself, I now defire that it may be divided into five portions of 100 livres each; to which the interests shall be annually added, and the accumulated fums fhall be fucceffively applied to the following ufes.

1. In a hundred years the first sum of 100 livres will amount to more than 13,100 livres (58221) From this fum a prize of 4000 livres fhall be given for the beft theological differtation, to prove the lawfulness of putting out money to intereft. Three medals, of 600 livres each, fhall also be given for the three differtations which fhall be adjudged the next in merit to the prize differtation. The remainder of the 13,100 livres fhall be expended in printing the prize differtation, and extracts from the others. Copies of thefe fhall be fent, gratis, to all the bishops, clergy, and confeflors of the kingdom. I had intended to have fent them alfo into foreign countries: but I obferve that all the Univerfities of the Chriftian world, excepting thofe of France, have folemnly recognized the lawfulnefs of putting money to intereft §; and that it continues neceffary only in

this kingdom to explain a question in morals fo interefting to the welfare of the state.

2. After two hundred years a fecond fum of 100 livres, amounting, with its accumulated intereft, to more than 1,700,000 livres, (756,500l.) fhall be employed in eftablishing a perpetual fund for fcurfcore prizes of 1000 livres each, to be diftributed annually by the different academies of the kingdom as follows: Fifteen prizes for the most diftinguifh ed virtuous actions--fifteen for works of fcience and literature-ten or folutions of queftions in arithmetic and calculation-ten for new proceffes in agriculture as fhall produce the beft crops-ten for mafter-pieces in the fine arts-and ten to encourage races and other exercifes proper to difplay the force and agility of the body, and to restore amongst us a tafte for the gymnasium, which was in fuch great efteem among the Greeks, and which formerly made fo many heroes.

After three hundred years, from another fum of 100 livres, increased in that time to more than two hundred and twenty fix millions, (10,057,000l.) there fhall be appropriated 196 millions towards establishing, in the moft confiderable places in France, 500 patriotic banks for lending money with out intereft; the largest of which fhall have a fund of ten millions of livres, and the final left a fund of 100,000 livres. Thefe banks fhall be managed by a committee of the moft upright citizens in cach place, and the money fhall be employed in loans to fuccotir the unfortunate, or advanced towards promoting agriculture, trade, and induftry. The remaining thirty millions fhall be expended in founding twelve Mufeums in the cities of Paris, Lyons, Rouen, Bourdeaux, Rennes, Lifle, Nancy, Tours, Dijon, Thouloufe, Aix, and Grenoble. Each of thefe Museums fhall be placed at the moft agreea e end of the city. Five hundred thousand livres fhall be expended upon each building, and the purchafe of grounds which fhall belong to them, and be laid out into botanical and fruit gardens, and alfo into kitchen gardens and extenfive walks. To each Mufcum fhall be an nexed an income of 100,000 livres, and there fhall be lodged and boarded in it forty literary men and artists of fuperior merit, who, at the time of meals, fhall be divided into four tables, that their repafts may be chear ful without being too noify. Each mufeum hall be provided with fix fecretaries, a defigner and engraver, and four carriages. There fhall be alfo a hall for concerts, a N

Τ E.

theatre, a chemical laboratory, a cabinet of natural history, a hall for experimental philofophy, and a grand gallery for a common library. A hundred thoufand livres fhall be expended on a feparate library for each of thefe eftabliments. The fame fum fhall be employed in providing them with feparate cabinets of natural hiftory and with phi lofophical inftruments, and 10,000 livres fhall be referved annually for keeping up and increasing these cabinets and philofophi cal inftruments.

The libraries fhall always be open to the public. Twenty members to the mufeum fhall be engaged in giving public and gra tuitous courfes of lectures upon the foreign languages, and upon all the arts and fciences. The other twenty fhall be engaged in fuch other employments as may be moft ufeful. No one fhall be admitted a member till he has previously given proof, not of his rank, defcent, or nobility, but of his morals, and of his never having dishonoured his pen by writing againft religion and government, or by fatirifing any member of the community. On being admitted he fhall make oath,

That he will prefer virtue, truth, and his country to every thing; and the general good of literature to his own fame." The works of the members of the museum shall be printed at the expence of the establishment, and when thefe expences are reimbursed, the profits fhall belong to the authors.

(To be continued.)

Afriking Anecdote of the prefent King of

THE

Szweden.

IE following little narrative, which exhibits to the reader of fenfibility a lively portrait of filial affection, on the one hand, furnishes, on the other, a trait highly expreffive of that benevolence which fo eninently diftinguishes the character of the illuftrious Prince who knew fo well how to reward it.

A gentleman of Sweden was condemned to fuffer death as a punishment for certain offences committed by him in the difcharge of an important public office, which he had filled for a number of years with an integrity that had never before undergone either fufpicion or impeachment His fon, a youth of about eighteen years of age, was no fooner apprized of the predicament to which the wretched author of his being was reduced, than he flew to the Judge, who had pronounced the fatal decree, and, throwing himielf at his feet, prayed that he might be allowed to fuffer in the room of a father whom he adored, and whofe lofs, he declared, it was impoffible for him to furvive.

could

could hardly be perfuaded that he was fincere in it. Being at length fatisfied, how ever, that the young man actually wifhed for nothing more ardently than to fave his father's life, at the expence of his own, he wrote an account of the whole affair to the King; and the confequence was, that his Majefty immediately difpatched back the courier, with orders to grant a free pardon to the father, and to confer a title of honour on his incomparable fon.

This laft mark of royal favour, however, the youth begged leave, with all humility, to decline; and the motive for his refufal of it was not lefs noble than the conduct by which he had deferved it was generous and difin, terested.

“Of what avail,” exclaimed he, "could the moff exalted titie be to me, humbled as my family already is in the duft !-Alas! would it not ferve but as a monument to perpetuate in the minds of my countrymen the direful, remembrance of an unhappy father's fhame."

His Majefty actually fhed tears when this magnanimous fpeech was reported to him; and, fending for the heroic youth to Court, he appointed him directly to the office of his private confidential SECRETARY,

Collection of Voyages and Travels. The Voyage of Captain Cook round the World. (Continued from Page 240.)

the main. The villages on the latter were more extenfive than any that they had yet difcovered. They were upon the high land next the fea, and were furrounded by a ditch and a bank with rails on the top of it. Some of the inclofures here refembled a rude fort of fortification, and the whole had the appearance of places calculated for defence. The name of The Court of Aldermen was given, on the 3d, to feveral fmall ifands that lay in the neighbourhood; being. diftant about twelve miles from the main, between which were many other high islands which were moftly barren, as indeed, the main land here appeared to be; and the whole feemed but thinly inhabited. Teratu was the name of the chief that governed the diffrict from Cape Turn-again to this coaft.

Three canoes built differently from those above-mentioned came along-fide the English veffel on Friday. They were formed of the trunks of whole trees, rendered hollow by burning, which were not ornamented or carved at all. The people on board were of a darker complexion than the others; they were hoftile, and their manner of defiance was much the fame as that of the other Indians already deferibed.

Captain Cook failed afterwards towards an inlet, that had been difcovered, and anchoring in feven fathoms water, the fhip was farrounded foon after by a number of canoes, the crews of which did not feem

in the afternoon, and other rocks and inlands appearing in the fame quarter, the fhip not being able to weather them before night-fall, bore up between them and the main-land. In the evening a double canoe, built after the fame fashion as thofe of Otaheite, came up, when Tupia entered into a friendly converfation with them, and was told that the island, clofe to which the Endeavour lay, was called Mortobera; it was but a few miles from the main land, pretty high, but of no great extent. When it was dark, thefe Indians began their ufual falute, poured a volley of ftones into the fhip, and then retreated. A high round mountain was feen S. W. by W. of Mowtohera, which was called Mount Edgecumbe by Captain Cook. Many of the Indian canoes appeared the next morning, and one which appeared to be the fame that had given the falute the preceding night, came up. They once more entered into a peaceable converfation with Tupia, which lafted about an hour, but afterwards dif charged another volley of ftones at the Endeavour; in confequence of which infult, a mufquet was fired, and they took to their paddles with precipitation.

The fhip failed in the afternoon of the fame day, between a low flat island and

A bird being hot by one of the English, the Indians, without fhewing any surprise brought it on board, and were rewarded with a piece of cloth for their pains. It might be imagined that this circumftance would have tended to conciliate the affection of thofe people; but it happened otherwife : as foon as it was dark, they fang one of their fongs of defiance, and endeavoured to carry off the buoy of the anchor. Though fome mufquets were fired at them upon this occafion, they feemed rather to be irritated than frightened, and threatened to return in greater numbers, the next morning. Inftead of this, they came back about eleven on the Sunday night, but retired when they found that the fhip's crew were upon their guard.

A great number of canoes came off on the 4th in the morning, on board of which were near 200 men, arined with lances, fpears, and ftones, who feemed determined to attack the fhip, and would have boarded her, had they known on what quarter they could beft make their attack.

While the crew were watching their motions in the rain, Tupia took all poffible pains to diffuade the Indians from attempting any thing against the English; but hie PP 2

argun

arguments had not fo good an effect as thole that came from the mouth of the muiquets, which frightened them effectually, and induced them to begin trading again; yet they could not leave off their fraudulent practices. They fold two of their weapons; but a third, for which they had received cloth, they would not deliver, and only laughed at thofe who demanded an equivalent. The offender was wounded; but his countrymen did not feem difpofed to take notice of him; and another canoe was hit with fhot, the natives behav ing in the fame manner. The people paddled away whilft a round fhot was fired over them.

Searching for an anchoring place, the captain faw a fortified village on a high point near the head of the bay, and came to an anchor when he had found a village fortified like thofe already noticed. Some Indians came off, who behaved better than thofe that had been on board before. An old man in particular, whofe name was Tojava, came with another Indian to whom the captain prefented fome nails. Being informed that the English had no ill defigns, this man faid they were often vifited by freebooters, from the north, who ftripped them of all they could lay their hands on, and often made captives of their children and wives; and that being ignorant who the English were upon their arrival, the natives had taken the alarm upon the fhip's appearing off the coaft, but were now fatisfied of their good intent. He added, That to fecure themfelves from thefe plunderers, their houfes were built contiguous to the tops of rocks, where they were more able to defend themselves. Probably their poverty and mifery may be afcribed to the ravages of this banditti, who often fript them of every neceffary of life. Whilst they were fifhing for mullets in the bay, the Indians who came upon the banks teftified their friendfhip by every poffible means, and gave them an invitation to come on fhore. The affurances of friendship, which they had received from the gentlemen on board, feemed to have a proper influence upon the natives, who were now very tractable and fubmifive, and behaved with much civility to the people in the long-boat, which was again dispatched into the bay to fifh, but with little fuccefs: the Indians, however, brought great quantities of fifh dreffed and dried; and though they were indifferent, they were purchased, that trade might not be difcouraged. In a word, the natives treated the English with great hofpitality, fupplied them with wood and good water, and the hip being very foul-keeled, fcrubbed her bottom in the bay.

On the 8th of November they were vifi

ted by feveral canoes, in one of which was Tojava, who perceiving two ftrange canoe paddling from the oppofite fhore, fuddenly turned about and acquainted the captain that he was under apprehenfions the people in them were freebooters, but foon found his mistake, and returned to the ship. The Indians fupplied the fhip's crew with as much excellent fifh, refembling mackarel, as was fufficient for all their dinners, for which they gave them fome pieces of cloth. A great variety of plants was this day col lected by Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander, who had never obferved any of the kind before. These gentlemen remained on fhore till near dark, when they observed the manners of the natives difpofing of themselves during the night. They lay under fome bufhes; the men neareft the fea in a femicircular form, and the women and children moft diftant from it: their arms were placed against trees, very near them, to defend themfelves in cafe of a furprise from the freebooters. They had no king whofe fovereignty they acknowledged, which was a circumftance unparalleled on any other parts of the coast.

Early in the morning of the 19th feveral canoes brought a prodigious quantity of mackarel, one fort of which was no way different from the mackarel caught on our coaft. These canoes were fucceeded by many others, equally loaded with the fame fort of fish; and the cargoes purchafed were fo great, that when falted, they might be confidered as a month's provifion for the whole fhip's company. This being a very clear day, the aftronomer (Mr. Green) and the other gentlemen landed to obferve the tranfit of Mercury, and whilst the obfevation was making, a large canoe, with various commodities on board, carne along-fide the fhip; and Mr. Gore, the officer who had then the command, being defirous of encou raging them to traffic, produced a piece of Otaheitean cloth of more value than any they had yet feen, which was immediately feized by one of the Indians, who obftinately refused either to return it, or give any thing in exchange: he paid dearly however for his temerity, being fhot dead on the fpot. The death of this young Indian alarmed all the reft; they fled with great precipitancy, and, for the prefent, could not be induced to renew their traffick with the English. But when the Indians on fhore had heard the particulars related by Tojava, who greatly condemned the conduct of the deceafed, they feemed to think that he had me rited his fate. His name proved to be Otirreconooe. This tranfaction happened, as has been mentioned, whilft the obfervation was making of the tranfit of Mercury, when the weather was fo favourable, that

the

the whole tranfit was viewed, without a cloud intervening. Mr. Green made the obfervation of ingrefs, whilft Captain Cook was engaged in afcertaining the time by taking the fun's altitude. The tranfit coinmenced feven hours, 20 min. 58 fec. By Mr. Green's obfervation the internal contact was at 12 hours, eight min. 57 sec. the external at 12 hours nine min. 54 fec, the latitude 30 deg. 48 min. five fec. In confequence of this obfervation having been made here, this bay was called Mercury Bay.

On the roth, Mr. Banks, Dr. Solander, nd the captain went in boats to infpect a large river that runs into the bay. They found it broader fome miles within than at the mouth, and interfected into a number of ftreams, by feveral fmall islands which were covered with trees. On the east fide of the river the gentlemen fhot fome fhags, which proved very good eating. The fhore abounded with fifh of various kinds, fuch as cockles, clams, and oyfters; and here were alfo ducks, fhags, and curlews, with other wild fowl in great plenty.- At the mouth of the river there was good anchorage in five fathom water. The gentlemen were received with hofpitality by the inhabitants of a little village on the eaft fide of the river. There are there the remains of a fort called Eppah, on a peninsula that projects into the river, and it was calculated for defending a fmall number against a greater force. From the remains, it nevertheless feemed to have been taken and partly deftroyed.

The Indians fup before fun-fet, when they eat fish and birds baked or roafted; they roaft them upon a ftick, ftuck in the ground near the fire, and bake them in the manner the dog was baked, which the gentlemen eat at St. George's Ifland. A female mourner was prefent at one of their fuppers; fhe was feated upon the ground, and wept inceflantly, at the fame time repeating fome fentences in a dojeful manner, but which Tupia could not explain; at the termination of each period the cut herself with a fhell upon her breaft, her hands, or her face; notwithstanding this bloody fpectacle greatly affected the gentlemen prefent, yet all the Indians who fat by her, except one, were quite unmoved. The gentlemen faw fome, who from the depth of their fears muft, upon thefe occafions, have wounded themselves more violently.

On November the 11th great plenty of oyfters were procured from a bed which had been difcovered, and they proved exceedingly good. Next day the fhip was vifited by two cances, with unknown Indians; after fome invitation they came on board, and they all trafficked without any fraud.

Two fortified villages being deferted, the Captain, with Mr. Banks, and Dr. Solander, went to examine them. The fmalleft was romantically fituated upon a rock, which was arched; this village did not confift of above five or fix houfes, fenced round. There was but one path, which was very narrow, that conducted to it. The gentle men were invited by the inhabitants to pay them a vifit, but not having time to fpare, took another route, after having made prefents to the females. A body of men women and children now approached the gentlemen; thefe proved to be the inhabitants of another town, which they propofed vifiting. They gave many teftimonies of their friendly difpofitions; among others they uttered the word Heromai, which according to Tapia's interpretation, implied peace, and appeared much fatisfied, when informed the gentlemen intended vifiting their habitations. Their town was named Wharnetouwa. It is feated on a point of land over the fea, on the north fide of the bay it was paled round, and defended by a double ditch. Within the ditch a stage is erected for defending the place in cafe of an attack; near this ftage, quantities of darts and ftones are depofited, that they may always be in readiness to repel the affailants. There is another ftage to command the path that leads to the town; and there were fome outworks. The place feemed calculated to hold out a confiderable time against an enemy armed with no other weapons than thofe of the Indians. It appeared however deficient in water for holding out a fiege. Instead of bread, they eat fern root, which was here in great plenty, with dried fish. Very little of the lands was cultivated, and sweet potatoes and yams were the only vegetables to be found. There are two rocks near the fort of this fortification, both feparate from the main land; they are very fmall, nevertheless they are not without dwelling-houfes and little fortifications, In their engagements they throw ftones with their hands, being deftitute of a fling, and thofe lances are the only miffible weapons; they have, befides the patoo-patoo, already defcribed, a staff about five feet in length, and another fhorter. The English failed from this bay, after having taken poffeffion of it in the name of the king of Great Britain, on the 15th of November. Tojava, who vifited them in his canoe juft before their departure, faid he fhould prepare to retire to his fort as foon as the English were gone, as the relations of Otirreonooe had threatened to take his life, as a forfeit for that of the deceafed, Tojava being judged partial in this affair to the English.

A number of islands of different fizes ap pea