stanborough, Warkworth, and Drunage. Smaller vessels and boats near the land had the advantage of a fine breeze, while in the offing we were all the morning becalmed, and had scarcely a breath of wind. If this state of things retarded our progress along the coast for a time, it was particularly favourable for a very proper exercise on board of our ship, where prayers are read upon deck on Sunday, when the vessel is at sea, at least when the weather will permit. Accordingly, about 11 o'clock, the boatswain and his crew began to get the quarter-deck screened and decorated all round with colours and flags, and a long flowing pendant was also hoisted at the topmast. All hands appeared clean, and all strangers were in their long coats. When the signal was given for prayers by the tolling of the bell, the whole company on the quarter-deck counted 22. The Union flag was spread over the companion, or staircase of the cabin, on which a large quarto Bible was laid. A most appropriate prayer, composed for the particular service of this ship, is generally read by the captain; but when any stranger of distinction is on board, it is always considered as a proper compliment to request of him to officiate. On the present occasion, however, one of the party, no less distinguished for his learning than for the urbanity of his manners, officially undertook this du

ty; and after reading in the scriptures, he gave, extempore, a most elegant and suitable prayer; and this service had upon the whole a very impressive effect.

A

enter the busy ports of the Rivers Tyne, Wear, and Tees. One of these vessels was so deeply laden, that, even in the fine weather which we now experienced, the sea rolled over and over her deck, so as to be quite alarming to landsmen; and, though her small crew seemned to take it quite coolly, enjoying their conversation and pipe of tobacco, it was not till after many an eager look from the party that she was seen apparently steering in safety for the weather-beaten shores of Hartlepool. Although we thus lost sight of many of our companions of the sea, their number never seemed to decrease, and they only changed their class and size, from the sloops of the north to the great and laboursome brigs in the London coal-trade. bout twilight, the ruins of the Abbey and remains of the venerable Church of Whitby could be pretty distinctly traced, and also the original alumworks of Great Britain, established by a patent of Charles I. about the year 1630, which are still seen smoking and in activity. In the process of excava tion for these works, and for the Roman cement, belonging to Lords Mulgrave and Dundas, a striking impression appears evidently to have been made upon the higher lands, while the sea continues to make the most alarming progress in washing away the lower shores.-Just as the day-light begins to fail, we see far a-head the craggy cliffs of Scarborough, with the old and ruinous Castle, perched most fantastically upon the precipice.

About mid-day a fine breeze sprang up, which enabled us to keep pretty close to the shore, and carried us, in the course of the day, in beautiful succession, within view of all the towns and interesting objects along this tract of coast. In the mountainous back-ground of this day's sail, we distinctly saw the rugged range including the Cheviot, Carterfell, Maiden Pap, and Wisp hills of Roxburghshire, which gradually softened down with the Northumberland range to the Weardale and Teesdale forests of Durhamshire, and the Hambleton and Mallard hills of Yorkshire. glided along at a fine rate, in company with a vast number of vessels of all descriptions, almost all of which we outsailed, but many left our track to

VOL. 11.

We

Off Dudgeon Monday, 28th. Floating Light,

While ashore at

Scarborough, for a

were

,

a

few hours in the morning, we informed that this famous wateringplace was not then particularly full of company, having only, a few days before, been left by Miss M'Lcelebrated Scots beauty, who was followed to Harrowgate by the bulk of the company, especially by her younger admirers, who occupied Hudson's, the principal lodging-house or hotel in town, where the company was lodg→ ed, upon almost any terms, with regard to accommodation, the more readily to catch a passing glance of her.

The wind still continued to be fayourable for keeping along the Yorkshire coast, and, with all sail set, our ship soon passed the wonderful chalky

4 A

promontory of Flamborough Head, remarked by mineralogists as the point at which the chalk formation Commences towards the north, from which it takes a diagonal stretch a cross the south-eastern part of England, and is traced along the flat shores of the remaining part of Yorkshire, and the counties of Lincoln, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire, and is also found stretching along the opposite coast of France. Leaving the shores of Yorkshire at Flamborough Head, a course was steered for the Dudgeon Floating Light, which, at midnight, was observed to be at no great distance, a circumstance affording some curious reflections upon the strange kind of life which must be led by the crew or attendants of such a vessel. Their situation was well understood by some of the seamen on board of our ship, It is, however, a happy diversity in the nature of man which fits some one for every station. By the view of this twinkling light, exhibited from the mast of a vessel moored near a dangerous stretch of sand-banks lying in the way of all ships on this coast, our hearts were greatly comforted; we were not only enabled to avoid these hidden dangers, and make free with our course, but were directed to Cromer Light, the next in order along this coast, and forming the guide of the seaman for entering Yarmouth Roads, which we reached about 6 o'clock, A. M. The voyage from the Off Lowes- Frith of Forth to Holtoff, Tuesland is sometimes perday, 29th. formed by ships taking their departure to cross the sea from Flamborough Head in Yorkshire, but more frequently from Cromer, on the Norfolk coast, according to the state of the winds; under any circumstances, however, it seldom happens that vessels keep by the land so far as Lowestoff, on the Suffolk coast. But our vessel, being perfectly under the command of the party, the object on board was to make things as agreeable as possible, and, as the wind was not considered very tempting for crossing to Holland, while there was some little impression that the voyage might be fully as answerable if made to Östend, if a favourable wind should spring up, it was resolved to stop at Lowestoff at least till the evening, when it would

be a better time to leave the English coast, so as to render it more certain that we should fall in with the low and flat shores of Holland with daylight in the morning. The resolution for stopping at Lowestoff created new life and spirits in almost every one on board, for, as it blew pretty fresh dur ing the preceding night, with a short running sea, which occasioned much motion in the ship in crossing what is called the Great Wash of Lincoln, both the faces and the stomachs of most of the landsmen on board had been washed.

Lowestoff is one of the prettiest lying towns upon the coast of Eng land. It is situate at a turning point of the navigation from the north to London, and the water being deep to the very edge of the gravel beach which extends about half a mile from the town, the passing ships form a most interesting part of the view from Lowestoff, while the terrace gardens and back grounds along the precipitous bank on which it is perched, give a fantastic and curious appearance to the town, when seen from the ships. The streets and houses here bear the strictest examination, with regard to cleanliness and English com fort; and both in the manner, and perhaps some what in the language, the inhabitants bear a good deal of resemblance to those of the Netherlands. Preparations were made for sailing in the evening, but, as the weather looked dark and stormy, it was agreed to defer till next evening, unless the wind should so shift as to allow the ship to keep her course fur ther along the shore, and to cross the entrance to the Thames, for the Downs, with day-light; for this coast is so very much encumbered with sand-banks, as to render it hardly possible to beat a passage, while sailing under night would be hazardous in the extreme.

The wind being still adYarmouth, verse for the Downs and Wednesday, Ostend, this plan was ac30th. cordingly relinquished; but the weather being remarkably pleasant, the fore-part of this day was occupied in making an excursion to Yarmouth by land; and here, if we had not the same extent of Dutch cleanliness in the streets, that is observable at Lowestoff, we had the busy scene of a great trading place,

with the harbour in the form of a canal, with the Dutch row of trees shading the windows, and somewhat obscuring the view of the ships. Yarmouth is said to contain about 20,000 inhabitants, and has several good streets, with a fine open square or market-place, with many remarkable narrow chares or alleys. It is situated upon the river Yaer, which is navigable for flats and boats about 25 miles, or as far as the city of Norwich. On this river happened the unfortunate accident by the exploșion of the boiler of a steam-boat, by which several persons lost their lives. This accident has, however, been the means of bringing the subject under the immediate cognizance of Parliament, and it is hoped that this beautiful application of the steam-engine, may not only be brought more generally into use, but may be rendered as safe as vessels under such circumstances can possibly be made. The church here is a fine old pile of building, with a leaden roof of great extent, which is somewhat curiously wrought. The interior of the church is quite in the old fashion, and the roof is painted in imitation of marble. The organ is large, and is said to be one of the finest in England,which the people of Yarmouth have probably caught from their opposite neighbours of Holland. The position of the seat of the Mayor and Aldermen in this church is very uncommon. It terminates in a kind of pulpit for the Mayor, which is situated so close to the pulpit-proper, that, were it not for the tinsel ornament of the former, and the grave plainness of the latter, it would be impossible to distinguish which was intended for the Parson, or which for the Mayor. His worship might surely contrive to get a place sufficiently conspicuons, without eneroaching so offensively upon the clergyman.

-a taste

By far the most interesting scene which can attract or occupy the attention of the stranger in Yarmouth, is the noble range of barracks for the regular cantonment of the army, and the system of British humanity is finely displayed here, in the ample accommodation for the sick and wounded sailors and soldiers. Here extensive suits of well-aired apart ments are prepared for the sick, with an appropriate number of beds, and

in time of war these are amply provided with bedding and linens in the most cleanly and perfect condition; with a sufficient quota of nurses appointed to each ward, so as to render the prescriptions and directions of the medical gentlemen regular and certain: In all respects the arrangements of this establishment are calculated to solace the afflicted, and render a bed of sickness comparatively easy. These appointments are in perfect unison with the characteristic generosity, good sense, and taste of a people, who have placed the statues of the humane and amiable HoWARD, and the literary JOHNSON, along with the heroic NELSON, in the most prominent parts of its national cathedral.

In the evening, just about twilight, we again embarked to pursue our voyage to Holland direct, and about nine P. M. the lower light of Lowestoff disappeared, being sunk under the surface of the water, from the distance we had run. S.

REMARKS ON THE TUMULT AT EDINBURGH, COMMONLY CALLED THE PORTEOUS MOB; WITH REFLEC

TIONS ON THE POLITICAL STATE

OF SCOTLAND IN 1737; BY A CON

TEMPORARY.

[The following "Remarks" are extracted from a scarce Tract, which has recently fallen in our way, entitled "Memoirs of the Times, in a Letter to a Friend in the Country, &c. printed at London, 1737.” Itconsists of cursory observations on several of the most remarkable political and literary topics of the day. The author (whose name we have no means of ascertaining) appears to have been a person of intelligence, and derable liberality and candour. We have in general expresses himself with consiconfined ourselves, however, exclusively to what relates to Scottish affairs, and more particularly to that very singular occurrence, the PORTEOUS MOB,-which excited at the time such an extraordinary sensation throughout the nation,-and which (if we may credit the current report) is destined to be speedily restored to popular interest, as the ground-work of one of the New Tales of my Landlord. It cannot be light on the subject, nor does he profess to do so, but his remarks are just and intelligent, and the paper may serve as an index to the popular feelings and prejudices that then prevailed. We may probably take an early opportunity of presenting our readers

said that our letter writer throws much new

sult offered at Glascow to a party, of the Earl of Deloraine's regiment in the late King's reign; you are led to be lieve that the inhabitants of North Britain are people of a very turbulent disposition: You say farther, that many of your neighbours are apprehensive of the consequences of this business and that those people are in general disaffected, or that at least there is a strong party of malecontents amongst them. You will, Sir, I hope, forgive me for differing in opinion from you and your acquaintance. I have taken some pains to be inform'd of the genius of this people, and of the situation of things amongst them at present; and am convinced from the accounts I have received, that they are neither mutinous in their nature, nor disaffected to the present Government; but, on the contrary, perfectly sensible of the great blessings they enjoy under it, and the advantages they reap from the condition they are in. We will, if you please, consider the state of these our neighbours a little more closely, that we may not be affrighted with idle tales, or conceive wrong ideas of an honest and generous people.

The Scots have ever been remarkable for their love of liberty, though they have been always govern'd by kings: They have always had high ideas of the law, and have look'd upon it as a rule to sovereigns as well as subjects. To be convinced of this, we need only to look into the Scotch History, or if that requires too much time, into Buchanan's famous Dialogues concerning the Jus Regni of Scottish Princes. As there is no country in the world where there are men of better understanding than these, so there is in Scotland as well as in other places, people of mean understandings and low education. These, however, love' liberty as well as their betters, and are as warmly affected to the laws, though they have not the abilities of judging how far this zeal ought to be carried, and where it should stop. Here is the true cause of those disorders you so much wonder at. Disturbances in the streets, and mobs on trivial occasions, are far less frequent

friends of his Lordship rescued him. But it became absolutely necessary to appease the enraged multitude by the blood of the

criminals."

in Scotland than elsewhere; but if the common people once conceive that their liberty or their religion is in danger, they rise like a swarm of bees. I will give you an instance of it, which I have had from very good hands. When the Revolution happened here, King James had a garrison at each end of the city of Edinburgh; the Castle, which commands the town, was in the hands of the Duke of Gordon, and there was a body of regular troops in the Abby of Holyrood-house, which was stock'd, as all that unhap py Prince's palaces were, with a surprizing number of Popish priests. The people of Edinburgh took it into their heads to make themselves masters of the Abby; and they effected it by open force, notwithstanding the officer who commanded there made a vigorous resistance. The people proceeded with violence; 'tis true, they broke open the priests' lodgings, and the royal chapel, but they plundered neither: They brought what they called the relicks of idolatry into the open street, and there they burnt them; after which they departed quietly, and no further mobbing followed upon that occasion. All the instances you mention have followed from the same turn of temper, though in those they happen to be wrong, as here they are right. In the main, they seldom intend evil, though they have frequently committed it, while they have imagined they were doing good. If they are warm, they are not stubborn; and if they commit errors, they are ready to confess them, nay, and to suffer for them, rather than persist in them. At Glascow, when their magistrates were punished for the insult you mentioned, the people looked on with shame and sorrow, but they did not pretend to take arms. As to the business of Captain Green, the whole nation was at that time discontented, and not altogether without cause; the ruin of their colony at Darien, and of a trade from whence they justly hoped much benefit, had raised a spirit of discord amongst them, which unhappily vented itself upon these poor people, who were falsly accused by some of their own ship's crew of hav ing murdered a person employ'd by the Scotch India Company: I say, that their discontents at that time were not altogether without reason; and I think I am warranted in so say.