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voyage to Cape-Town;-and the general result was, as might have been anticipated, that at considerable distance from the land, the ocean, and consequently the atmosphere upon it, are not liable to very great changes of temperation from the alternation of day and night. Indeed, throughout the whole watery world the temperature must always be more equable than it is on land; a fact which, in conjunction with the purity of the air-its freedom from dust or insects:-and the gentle exercise of sailing, is sufficient to account for the salutary effects of seavoyaging. The doctor ascertained, also, that the temperature of fish-particularly that of the porpoise-is not greatly inferior to that of land animals.

Art. XXVII-Meteorological Diary:-followed by a List of Foreign Publications, from July to the end of September 1816; comprising eight in Natural history-five in Botany-eleven in Chemistry-five in Mineralogy and Geology-eight in Agriculture and Rural Economy-three in Geography-twentyseven in Medicine, Surgery, Anatomy, and Physiology-thirteen in Mechanic Philosophy and Mathematics-together with four Voyages and Travels.

ART. II.-Biographical Sketch of the late Captain Johnston Blakeley; of whom we gave a portrait in our Number for May, 1816

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OHNSTON BLAKELEY was born near the village of Seaford, in the county of Down, Ireland, in the month of October, 1781. Two years afterwards his father, Mr. John Blakeley, emigrated to this country; and after residing at Philadelphia a few months, left it for Charleston, South Carolina, with a view of engaging in business. Meeting, however, with but little encouragement at Charleston, he finally removed to Wilmington, North Carolina, allured by more favourable prospects. Soon after his establishment at this place, Mr. Blakeley was deprived, one by one, of his wife, and all his children, except his son Johnston.

Ascribing these successive losses to the insalubrity of the climate, which is said to be peculiarly unfavourable to children, Mr. Blakeley was induced to send his only surviving son to New York; as well with a view to the preservation of his health, as to afford him an opportunity of acquiring an education. Johnston was, accordingly, in the year 1790, sent to that place, and committed to the care of Mr. Hoope, a respectable merchant of that place, and an old friend of his father. Here he remained five years, assiduously pursuing his studies; at the end of which he returned to Wilmington,-where he remained for some time without any particular pursuit or occupation.

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It was the intention of his father to bring him up to the law, and with a view to qualify him for that profession, he was placed, in 1796, at the university of North Carolina,—a most respectable institution, situated at Chapel Hill, in the county of Orange. While pursuing his studies here, he was deprived of his father, who died the year after young Blakeley entered the university; leaving behind him the character of a good man, equally exemplary as a parent and a citizen. Young Blakeley was now without a relative in this country, to whom he could look up for advice, or protection, or assistance; and it became necessary for him to choose a guardian. In this choice he was singularly fortunate, in the selection of Mr. Jones, an eminent lawyer, of Wilmington, who most tenderly and generously supplied the place of a father. With occasional intermissions, he remained at college till some time in the year 1799; when, by some misfortune, of which we have never been able to obtain any distinct account, and which, therefore, we will not attempt to detail, he was deprived of the support derived from his father, and compelled to relinquish his studies at the university, as well as his intention of practising the law.

Having long had a predilection for a naval life,—which, however, he had, with a self-denial worthy of imitation, concealed from his father, he solicited, and through the friendly exertions of Mr. Jones, obtained a midshipman's warrant, in the year 1800. It is but just to state, however, that previous to making this application, Mr. Jones, desirous that his young ward should fulfil the wishes of his deceased parent, kindly offered to take him to his house, and to afford him every facility in his power, to complete his legal studies. Unwilling to accumulate obligations he might never repay, and perhaps, too, stimulated by a clear perception of the line of life nature had marked out for him, he declined this generous offer. In every subsequent situation, he retained and demonstrated the most grateful recollection of Mr. Jones's friendship, and to the end of his life acknowledged him his benefactor.

'As any thing'-writes the gentleman who furnished us the materials for this Biography, and whose language we have almost every where followed-which illustrates the character of so much departed worth, especially where the qualities of the heart are so well calculated to excite our admiration, cannot but be interesting, I have furnished a few extracts from the letters of captain Blakeley, written to me at various periods. Having been deprived of his father at an age when the desire of knowing something of his family was beginning to be felt, it was not in his power to gratify his inquiries on that subject,

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in a satisfactory manner, until May, 1811, when I had the pleasure of opening a correspondence with him.'

In his first letter, dated on board the United States' brig Enterprise, May 9th, 1811, he manifested his anxiety to obtain the wished for information, relative to his connexions, in the following manner. 'It would afford me great gratification to hear from you all the information you possess respecting my relations. This trouble your goodness will excuse, when I inform you that for fourteen years I have not beheld one being to whom I was bound by any tie of consanguinity.'-In another letter, written soon after, he observes,' The affection manifested by is truly grateful to my heart. Indeed, I begin already to feel for her a filial regard, and the more so, as it was my lot to lose my mother before I was sensible of a mother's tenderness. In reply to a letter, in which the solicitude for his professional reputation was cordially expressed by the female above alluded to, he remarks- Should I be fortunate enough to acquire any fame, my good old friend will make me debtor for more than half. With her prayers for my success can I doubt it? I hope the last Blakeley who exists will lay down his life ere he tarnish the reputation of those who have gone before him. My father's memory is very dear to me, and I trust his son will never cast a reproach on it.'-In another, he observes, It is true that in the war in which we are engaged, we have to contend under great disadvantages; but this should stimulate to greater exertions, and we have already seen that our enemy is not invincible.' In a letter, dated on board the Enterprise, the 29th of April, 1813, he observes, Independent of personal feeling, I rejoice at the good fortune of the navy, believing it to be that description of force best adapted to the defence of this country. I confess the success of our sailors has been much greater than I had any reason to expect, taking into view the many difficulties they had to encounter. The charm which once seemed to have encircled the British navy, and rendered its very name formidable, appears to be fast dispelling.'

'In a letter, dated Newburyport, 28th January, 1814, he remarks: I shall ever view as one of the most unfortunate events of my life having quitted the Enterprise at the moment I did. Had I remained in her a fortnight longer, my name might have been classed with those who stand so high. I cannot but consider it a mortifying circumstance that I left her, but a few days before she fell in with the only enemy on this station with which she could have creditably contended. I confess I felt heartily glad when I received my order to take command of the Wasp, conceiving that there was no hope of doing any thing in the Enterprise. But when I heard of the contest

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