whole been gradually increased in tonnage | people. The number that then went by as well as in the power of their engines; coaches may be thus estimated: four and still larger boats and more powerful coaches up and four coaches down, which engines are now constructing: among might average six passengers each. others, one of about 100 feet keel and 17 feet beam with an engine of 24 horses' power; and one of equal burthen, having an engine of 30 horses power". These boats are all neatly fitted up, and some of them even elegantly decorated. On board all the passage steam-boats are newspapers, pamphlets, books, &c. for the amusement of the passengers, and such refreshments as are desirable on so short a voyage, a distance of about 26 miles by water, and 24 by land. The voyage betwixt Glasgow and Greenock, including stoppages at intermediate places, is commonly accomplished in from three to four hours, the vessel taking advantage of the tide as far as circumstances will permit: but as they start at different hours from the same place, they are sometimes obliged to go part or nearly the whole of their voyage against the tide. The voyage has been accomplished in 24 hours; the tide being favourable, but against a moderate breeze of contrary windt. At first, owing to the novelty and apparent danger of the conveyance, the num ber of passengers was so very small that the only steam-boat then on the river could hardly clear her expenses but the degree of success which attended that attempt soon commanded public confidence. The number of passengers which now go in those boats may seem incredible to those who have not witnessed it. Travelling by land has not only been nearly superseded, but the communication very greatly increased, owing to the cheapness and facility of the conveyance. Many days in fine weather, from 500 to 600 have gone from Glasgow to Port-Glasgow and returned in the same day. One of the boats alone has been known to carry 247 at one time. The increase of travelling in consequence of navigation by steam, may be estimated by the number that went in the common passage boats before the introduction of this agent: at that time, the highest estimate even for summer did not much exceed 50 up and 50 down, and those generally of the lower class of the For the value of a horses' rower, see Buchanan's Essay on Mill-work, Teeth of Wheels, p. 180. The time which was allowed to the Mail Coach to go between those towns, was 24 hours, but owing to extraordinary exertion some of the coaches now run that distance in about 24 hours. In the summer, the pleasure of the voyage and the beauty of the scenery attract multitudes; and the bathing-places below Greenock have, in consequence of the easy passage, been crowded beyond former example. The scenery near Glasgow is sylvan and beautiful, but becomes bolder and more picturesque as the river descends, until it terminates in the rugged mountains of the west Highlands. ROBERTSON BUCHANAN." Some days ago, the inhabitants of Milford and its neighbourhood were alarmed by the arrival of a vessel, which they conceived, from the quantity of smoke which issued from her, and the noise on board, to be on fire; it however proved to be the Thames passage vessel, worked by steam-engines, which had come from Glasgow to Wexford, and from thence to Milford, on her way to London, between which place and Margate she is intended to carry passengers. She left Wexford on Tuesday afternoon at two o'clock, and arrived at Milford at nine the same evening. She was worked about that harbour a considerable part of Wednesday, and she went remarkably swift through the wa ter, against wind and tide, and appears well adapted for the purpose she is intended for. An alarm of the same kind was also excited at St. Ives, in Cornwall, at Falmouth, and at other places on the const. We learn also, that, this same vessel very suddenly made its appearance at Portsmouth, and coming into the harbour immediately against the wind, produced, with a little surprise, a considerable degree of curiosity. She was built lately on the Clyde, and was brought to Portsmouth, for the purpose of shewing the uses to which she may be applied. She is a very neatly fitted vessel, has the appearance of helm with all the celerity of the best saila yacht, is 75 tous burden, answers to her ing vessels, and goes through the water at the rate of from seven to eight miles an hour-which is produced by the steam from the engine erected in her, it being of 14 horse power: one ton of coals is sufficient fuel to produce the necessary force of steam for impelling her 100 miles She came to Portsmouth from Plymouth Sound, in 23 hours. The machinery in her, we suppose, is constructed upon the common [638 of the machinery that acts on the water, resembling a water-mill wheel, would be so much in the way at sea in rough weather, and would expose the vessel to so much danger, if the bad weather encreased to a storm, that none have been yet hardy enough to try vessels of this construction on the ocean. principle of most steam engines: the steam produced by the boiling water is condensed into a piston or pipe, which acts upon two wheels that are fixed upon the sides of the vessel, and these touching the sea, propel her forward in any direction, at the rate mentioned. It was intended, had the wind not been fair, that she should have towed the Endymion frigate out of the harbour on Saturday morning. The vessel went out at between nine and ten o'clock, when Ad-ing ships might afford, would be of so mirals Sir Edward Thornbrough, Halkett, and Fleming, Captains Boger, Tower, &c. went on board to ascertain her qualifications. She continued to work about Spithead nearly two hours, when she departed for Margate and the River. There are, we believe, several modes of impelling vessels by steam: a capital boat of the kind has lately been built on the Thames, under a patent; and therefore conducted with some privacy. She also, is intended to ply between Margate and the Metropolis; but her machinery is con cealed. While on this subject, we cannot avoid adding an incident that occurred not long ago on the Thames. A steam boat in the course of building, and nearly finished, was bought, at a fair price, by persons who passed themselves off for a Company intending to join, and to fit her for a passage boat from London down the river. The builder procured them a pilot, to carry her to Margate:—when arrived in the open sea, four Frenchmen made their appearance from below, and obliged the pilot to carry her over to the coast of France, where she safely arrived, to the astonishment of all vessels coming into the Downs, as she passed them; and of the inhabitants of the coast, where she became domiciliated. The very ingenious Mr. J. W. Boswell has submitted an idea on this subject, which we think it our duty to add. He observes, The method of propelling ships by steam engines, which has been for some years practised with success in the rivers and estuaries of North America, and which has at length been introduced on the Thames, is of a nature which must coufine its use to rivers, canals, or small lakes; for the part And yet the security and expedition, which the mechanical principle of impell much more importance on the ocean, particularly for the conveyance of passengers and letters, that its adoption on the waters, where it is used at present, is obviously of but little consequence in comparison. His plan is, to cause a violent emission of air, rising through the water, behind the vessel: the resistance this would find from the water, would originate a motive power, in his opinion sufficient to impell the vessel forward with considerable velocity. He adds, Vessels on this plan would be more safe in case of leaks, as the engine could easily sions. be made to work the pumps on such occa Vessels with a steam-engine need not have so many hands for mere sailing, or in could be made to hoist the anchor, and the merchant service, since the engine raise and lower the yards, sails, and topmasts, and do other work requiring much force, besides working the pumps. The steam-engine would be also useful in grinding flour for the crew, while the waste steam could be used in cooking. And, last, though not least, the waste steam would besides always afford a plentiful supply of fresh water, by an apparatus for condensing it being added. ST. HELENA. The following Intelligence from this island will gratify our readers; not only from its nature, but because it may be taken as one instance of the spread of that spirit of benevolence that does so much honour to the mother country, to her dis tant dependencies. We give only an abstract of proceedings which prove the interest taken by the superiors in the welfare of their inferiors. The Governor, Mark Wilks, Esq. by patronizing these efforts gives them an 639] St. Helena order, and regularity, highly honourable to will also solicit the Hon. Court to present [640 himself, and beneficial to them. BENEVOLENT SOCIETY. the St. Helena library, with copies of those works of which they may possibly have duplicates at their library in the India House." may lie under in future ages to the copies Who knows what obligations the learned preserved in the library thus established on the island of St. HELENA? quiry, is that respecting the cause of deteAmong the most curious subjects of en St. Helena has within this year or two either instituted or greatly invigorated those charitable means of educating the lower classes of the community, including the free blacks, as well as the whites, the pattern of which was borrowed from the mother country. The number of children on the island was estimated at thirteen hundred; of these about two hundred were first taken under care, for the purpose of instruc-rioration and decay, among what have tion; some of these were slaves to the Com- been the choicest specimens of the vegeta pany; and four were slaves to individuals. Beside these, a few were receiving instruc- ble tribe. It is well known, that some tion in a more private mauner. the progeny of others appears to have great, fruits are no longer what they were: that ly degenerated; and, in short, that much disappointment has taken place among the curious, in consequence. As every thing that may contribute to explain the cause of this, has its consequence, we give a place to the following. The Governor had ordered the youth of the garrison to be instructed: and two branch schools had been established, not only for the benefit of the Company's slaves, but of all the slave children, and free poor, in the neighbourhood of each school. They are-in the Valley 1. The old under school: ON CHESNUT TR EES. Extract from a Letter. 2 The Sunday school for slave children. In the Country. 1. The Sunday school at Plantation. 2. The Sunday school at Long. wood. The funds in part, are raised by some of the children themselves. Garrison boys on the foundation pay fourpence "I take this opportunity of requesting weekly the rest one penny weekly.--your attention to a singular fact, in natural It will readily be supposed, that the rewards history, which has lately been noticed to given greatly exceed the payments. Ten stately chesnut trees near Mr. Doveton's me. On regretting the appearance of some of the elder girls are allowed to bring their country house, which seemed to have been own needle work with them, to be ex- sometime dead, I was assured, that within ecuted under the inspection of the mistress. these last four or five years, the greater The First Report of the Benevolent So-in this Island, have either died or are dying. number of the chesnut trees, of every age ciety was made Oct. 27, 1814, and was opened by an address from the Governor in person, in which the institution was strongly recommended to general patron age. House, in both these states, I could perceive On inspecting several at the Plantationtion, beyond the ordinary indications of deno insects, nor any other source of destrucThere is also a Bible Society: which rassed by these singular phænomena, until cay in an aged tree. I was long embarproceeds in conjunction with the Benevo- it was accidentally mentioned, that, on the lent Education Society; and furthers its first introduction of the chesnut, the rats views. The smallest donations are received; had been so troublesome in the destruction and care is taken by the regulations, that of the seed, that it became an established no subscription apparently beyond the li-practice, which has since been continued, mited powers of any subscriber, should be accepted. There is a Library Society; the subscribers to which purchase books to be added to the present library of the company: so that, under judicious management, and choice, a few years will obtain for the island, an inexhaustible fund of instruction and pleaThe Governor and Council also, promise to recommend to the Court of Directors, that all books and other articles which the society shall commission from England, shall be sent freight free; and sure. to propagate the plant by means of suckers you to investigate as a philosophical botaonly. This is the fact which I should wish nist. The theory of Mr. Knight, regarding the certain decay of all engrafted fruits, or. such as are propagated by any other means illustration, in the singular fact which I than the seed, may receive an unexpected have stated. In both cases, these dissevered portions of the original tree are destined to follow the decay of their parent; and a theory which seems strange only to superficial observers, will be seen to accord with the beautiful simplicity of nature, in all her | Loroux is that part of the left bank of the works. In vegetable, as in animal exist-Loire immediately bordering the river, ence, limits are placed to the prolongation of individual life; and the species can be preserved by no other means than the reproduction of new individuals." DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY OF LA VENDEE. The importance of the efforts making by the Royalists in France, to deliver their country from Corsican Tyranuy, is understood by few among us. The war in that country formerly brought the Republican cause to the brink of ruin, and would have quite ruined it, had not French pride refused British succours while in seeming prosperity; and when adversity pressed on the Royalist cause, and succours would have been acceptable, it was too late. In war, no second opportunity is to be looked for. At present a very different policy is pursuing. Vast quantities of stores and ammunition in various shapes have been sent, instantly, to assist the Royalists; and the Royalists have thankfully received them. and which is comprised, according to the new division, within the departments of the Loire Inferieure, and the Mayenne and Loire... Three brothers called Chouuns, formed Gravelle. The places where they commitmeetings in the envirous of Laval and la ed their robberies, and the information that has been obtained, leads us to suppose that the original profession of these chiefs, was that of smuggling; this is the origin of the rebels called Chouans. LE MARAIS: THE MARSHES. Le Marais is that part of Lower Poitou adjacent to the sea. It is a flat and very open country, and the passes are impracticable during winter, and very difficult in other seasons. It is intersected at all points of its circumference by cauals, or salt marshes, a species of natural fortification which renders any attack against it very dangerous, and consequently, is favorable for defence, particularly for the inhabitants. Few carriage roads are to be met with, the greatest partare bye-ways or raised paths, and made between two canals. These cauals are in general from thirty to forty feet wide, from the upper extremity of one bank to the other. The baudit carrying his musket in a bandoleer, leans upon a long pole, and leaps from one bank to the other with amazing facinot admit of his performing this exercise, lity. If the presence of the enemy will without exposing himself to his fire, he Our readers will be enabled from this description of the country to know what confidence to place in the accounts pub-throws himself into his niole, [a kind of small lished in the various Moniteurs, of victories, here :—total destruction of the rebels, there:-&c. &c. of the sudden appearing, and disappearing of the rebel hosts; for no doubt, so much of the former management of the forces is renewed, as was then derived from the nature of the country: and is dependant on it. These people are not dispersed-but they disperse supporting at the same time frequent skirthemselves: they are not destroyed, if bea-mishes: thus it costs him several hours to ten: but even when the fortune of war turns against them, their enemies gain little besides the ground they stand on. Such is the war in La Vendee! boat very flat and very light,] and crosses the canal with very great rapidity, being always sufficiently shut up to hide himself from the sight of his pursuers. He soon appears again, fires at you, and disappears in an instant, very often before you have time to answer his fire. The republican soldier, to whom this mode of fighting is unknown, is obliged to be continually upon his guard, to march along the shoresofthecanals, and to follow slowly their circuitous track, traverse over a space which the bandit most commonly accomplishes in a few minutes. After you have surmounted all these obstacles, and arrived at the plain after having followed all the zig-zags, [The following is from the Republican formed by the canals which surround it, General Turreau.] LE BOCAGE: THE WOODS. Le Bocage is a part of Lower Poitou, now divided into several districts belonging to the department of La Vendee. Le VOL. II. Lit. Pan. Now Series, July 1. the enemy present themselves in all parts; they seem to rise out of the land and water. Notwithstanding which we must at any rate take post there, and support ourselves at it; for one may judge of the dangers so a retreat in this country by the difficultief of penetrating it. Z first rank of military people. Finally, the Vendeans are Frenchmen animated with the double fanaticism of Religion and Royalty, who have for a long while fixed victory on their side, and who could not have been conquered but by Frenchmen. Le Bocage and le Loroux form the country which may be called la Vendee, as it is that in which the war has been constantly the most vigorous and bloody. They are two great cantons, one of which (le Bocage) formed part of Poitou, and the other a part of Anjou and Brittany. They are now divided according to the new division, into tire Departments of la Vendee, les Deux Sevres, la Loire Inferieure, and Mayenne and Loire. It is the most fertile country belonging to the Republic; it was also the most populous, before the horrors of war and the calamitous dominion of the rebels had driven away the patriots. The inhabitants of le Marais formed a division of the army of Charette, and followed it very regularly in its expeditious, at the time it occupied all the neighbouring points of their country; such as Challans, Machecoul, &c. and afterwards the isles of Bouin and Noirmoutier. But after it had been driven from all these posts, and was forced to abandon successively all the frontier boroughs and towns of le Marais and le Bocage, as Lege, Palluau, Aizenay, Beaulieu, &c. &c. then the banditti of le Marais remained at home and confined themselves to a defensive war, for which, nature seenis to have formed their country. This war was the more dangerous, as the situation of le Marais placed the inhabitants in a state to receive succours from abroad, or to facilitate and protect the debarkation of such as they wish to procure for the rebels of la Vendee. The coasts in those parts of the Western Departments being extremely flat and easy of access by sea, [although The locality of le Bocage is a perfect shoals may be found along these coasts, contrast to that of le Marais. It is the they are less difficult of access than if they same with le Loroux, rather less woody, were steep, particularly, if the inhabitants however, than le Bocage, in that part favour the descent of the enemy,] every which is nearest the bank of the Loire. thing was to be dreaded from the conseLe Bocage is a country very much interquences which might ensue from the com-sected, although there are no large rivers; munications and enterprizes of domestic and external enemies; and we may judge of the perilous situation of the republican troops destined for the defence of these coasts in case of a combined attack from both, as they would have found themselves between two fires; their local disposition necessarily preventing them from being more than weakly and slowly sup-dry-shod, but which the least rain transported. OF THE VENDEANS. Let us now speak of the Vendeans; let ús speak of those truly extraordinary men, whose political existence, whose rapid and extraordinary successes, and above all, their unheard of ferocity, will form an epoch in the republican æra; of those Vendeans who want only humanity and another cause to support, to unite every heroic quality. very uneven, although there are no mountains; and very woody, although there are but few forests; and the woods which are numerous, are but of a moderate extent. It is very uneven, and much intersected by reason of many little hills, valleys, ravines, small rivers almost always fordable, even rivulets which one may often pass over forms into torrents. It is much intersected, because, all the estates are divided into small inclosures or fields surrounded with ditches. [These fields are commonly not more than fifty or sixty perches in extent, and are frequently surrounded by ditches, It is principally owing to this subdivision of land into small fields, and to the ditches and drains which surround and intersect them, that the ground is so extremely fertile, which otherwise would be exceedingly watery.] It is very woody, because the A mode of fighting hitherto unknown. fields are inclosed with strong hedges and perhaps inimitable if it be really prac-planted on the banks of the ditches, someticable in that country alone, and peculiar times with trees, disposed in such a manto the genius of its inhabitants; an invic-ner that they have the effect of pallisades lable attachment to their party; an unliround a fortification. mited confidence in their chiefs; such fidelity in their promises as may supply the want of discipline; an invincible courage which is proof against every kind of danger, fatigue, and want: these are what make the Vendeans formidable enemies, and which ought to place them in history in the What still contributes to render this country very woody is, that, the soil being very rich and fertile, shrubs, heath, thorns, broom, and in general, all wild and spontaneous productions, as well as those obtained by industry, are of an immense size and strength. |
