737 Affecting Incident. 738 that unless a person regulate his ex- | studding sails, and all her stay-sails, penditure by his income, so as to live within it, ruin, or something equally bad, must ensue. What would be extravagance, perhaps, in a person of limited means, would be but just expenditure with a person of a larger property. What I wish is, that my beloved rib may see that there are others who appear at least to think on these subjects the same as I do, which will have no inconsiderable effect in bringing about a reformation in her conduct. By inserting this, with any corrections you may think necessary, you will do me a real service; but should your endeavours to serve me fail of success, I am afraid I must be content | to be what I have styled myself, A Henpecked Husband. AN AFFECTING INCIDENT. and the sea was running very high. In this situation I saw your son going astern. I immediately wore the ship on the other tack, while the men took in all our light sails, and reefed the top-sails, for it was blowing too heavy to bring the ship on a wind but with double-reefed top-sails. In a few minutes we lost sight of him; but as soon as possible I tacked the ship and stood on a wind, and in about forty minutes I saw him again from our main top-mast head a long way to windward. We made every signal possible, but it appeared that he saw none. He was sitting on the thaught, a little above the middle in water. We passed under his lee about one mile. He said, that when he saw this, he began to think we had not seen him. We stood on until we lost sight of him a second time, in order to make sure of his being drifted under our lee against we returned. "In about fifteen minutes we saw THE following extract is from a letter written by Mr. William Coomb, cap-him from the mast head. I then came tain of an American ship called the Felicity, to Mr. B. Banks, captain of an English trading brig; giving an account of the narrow escape of Mr. William Banks, son of Captain Baker Banks, who, in the summer of 1806, sailed with Captain Coomb from Liverpool to Charleston. The letter is dated, Glasgow, October 19th, 1807. "DEAR SIR, "YOURS of the 16th inst. I have this moment received, and I will with pleasure give you every information relative to your amiable son. "In the morning, before we made the land of Charleston, he was on deck with myself, going to take a double altitude, as the sun had been obscured for several days, and our reckoning was out. He went into the boat which was suspended over our stern, to do something to the ropes, when, on twisting one of the bolts, it broke, dragging with it some of the timbers. The boat, on falling, received a sudden jerk, which carried away the stern; when, with the young man on board, having both bow and stern torn out, it fell into the water, and, instantly filling, it was left by the ship. At that time we were going away with the wind quarterly, blowing a strong gale; the ship was under her three top-gallant sails, lower and fore-top-mast down, keeping him in sight, until by degrees I got on deck, when we got all our lee side manned with running bowlines. I then put my second mate at the helm, with orders to mind no further instructions than what I was then going to deliver, not even of your son himself. I saw plainly, that if we missed him that time, it would all be over. "The sea was still continuing to run very high; but when I found that I could fetch him, I ordered the mate to bear down on him, and take the boat on the lee cat-head, and then clap his helm a lee; by so doing we had time to catch him from the fore to the mizzen shrouds, which we fortunately did by one of the running bow-lines being put over his head and round his body. The end of this rope was secured; and it broke the fishing line with which he had made himself fast, it being in the boat when she broke adrift." "Adieu, I will send you another letter in two or three days, "Yours, with love, "gratitude, and esteem, Mr. William Banks, at the time the above accident happened, was about sixteen years of age. He was in this perilous situation about two hours and 739 Comets.-Egyptian Tomb. (From Nicholson's Natural Philosophy.) He says, Besides the seven primary planets and their moons, there are other bodies that revolve round the sun, and claim peculiar distinction on several accounts. These are called Comets, and they appear occasionally in every part of the heavens, their motion being formed in very long ellipses, whose lower focus is in or very near to the sun. By observations of parallax it is found, that at their first appearance they are nearer to us than Jupiter; whence it is concluded, that they are most commonly less than that planet, for if they were as large as Saturn they would be seen as far off. 740 1661, was seen before in the same orbit, and under the same circumstances, in the year 1522, which gives its period to be 129 years; and that very remarkable comet (1680) is shewn to be the same with that which appeared in the year 1106, its period being 575 years. The number of comets is very much greater than that of the planets which move in the vicinity of the sun. From the reports of former historians, as well as from the observations of late years, it is ascertained that more than 450 have been seen previous to the year 1771; and when the attention of astronomers was called to this object, by the expectation of the return of the comet of 1759, no fewer than seven were seen in the course of seven years. From this circumstance, and the probability that all the comets recorded in ancient history were of considerable magnitude, the number is far beyond any estimation which we can make. But the number of comets whose orbits are settled with sufficient accuracy to ascertain their identity when they may appear again, is no more than 59, reckoning as late as the year 1771. Their motions in the heavens are not all in the order of the signs, or direct like those of the planets; but the num When comets arrive within a certain distance of the sun, they emit a fume or vapour, which is called the tail. This shows that they contain a portion of matter more rare and volatile than any on the earth; for the tailber begins to appear while they are in a higher, and consequently colder region than Mars. The tail is always directed to that part of the heavens which is directly opposite to the sun, and is greater after the comet has passed its perihelium than at its approach. whose motion is retrograde, is nearly equal to that of those whose motion is direct. After what has been said, we may infer, that if comets are habitable, they must be possessed by creatures very different from any we have been used to behold. There may be, however, That part of a comet's orbit which other uses, for which it is probable comes under our observation, is so they may have been formed; the matsmall in proportion to the whole, that ter which composes their tails must in most it does not differ from a para-fall in process of time to the sun, or bola by quantities that observation the nearest planet that may pass can distinguish; for which reason, the through it, where it may supply dedimensions of their orbits and periodi- | fects, and answer purposes which cal times, cannot be determined from our total ignorance of its properties a single appearance with any degree scarcely allows us even to conjecture. of exactness. But from the re-appearance of comets after long intervals of time, in the same region of the heavens, and moving in the same curve, it is decided that they revolve about the sun in very eccentric ellipses, being governed throughout by the same law of describing equal areas in equal times, which is found to take place in the inferior part of their orbits. The comet that appeared in the year Egyptian Tomb. MR. EDITOR. In this age of indefatigable research, and ingenuity of invention, subservient to the elucidation of its object, when our imaginations are conveyed back to the very uttermost verge of antiquity, by contemplating, as it were, amidst the silent repository of 741 Egyptian Tomb. 742 kings, the vast magnitude and design | with a bas-relief, representing an oval, of whose gigantic palaces, temples, and mausoleums, the mind can scarcely fathom, we are led into a train of melancholy reflections at the colossal strivings to perpetuate to the latest posterity their existence, and their almost indissoluble works. This surely is a theme to call forth all the energies of the philosopher and the historian. I was led into the above, and a train of similar reflections, after visiting the Egyptian tomb in Piccadilly, the other day, which, though it did not perfectly gratify my most sanguine expectations, yet viewed as the intention of the projector was, to convey some faint ideas of the extraordinary sepulchre itself, which for its great beauty and grandeur of ornament, executed in the very infancy of the arts, is surely deserving our warmest commendations. My present intention is, to convey to those who have not either leisure or opportunity of viewing the mimic resemblance, some slight idea of the whole. From the confined nature of the premises, we are at once ushered into the solemn assembly of deities and kings, surrounded by all their symbolical and mythological designations; but we are the next moment instructed by the attendant guide to proceed above, to survey first the model of the whole, presenting to the view a pleasing representation, in miniature, of the entire formation of this stupendous catacomb; then we commence at the Entrance Partats, which Belzonie observes, are generally surmounted in which is sculptured a scarabæus or beetle, and the figure of a man, with the head of a hawk: on each side of this emblem are two figures, in the act of adoration. We then descend along each corridor, staircase, entrance hall, and different excavations, each named by Mr. B. as it struck his imagination, till we arrive at the sacred depositum of the king, Psammis;* and more fully to illustrate and convey an idea of this singular place, a model of the alabaster Sarcophagus+ is placed in the saloon, as Mr. B. names this inner chamber. After viewing the model, which gives a pleasing, and I have no doubt, as far as ingenuity could accomplish, a correct idea of the place itself, we proceed to several cases of Egyptian antiquities, well worthy the attention of the antiquary and the scholar, to elucidate the history and the antiquities of that extraordinary portion of the globe. The collection is rich in fragments, highly embellished with hieroglyphics, mummies, curious specimens of idols, of fine workmanship and brilliancy of colours, of which several of porcelain are particularly beautiful. There are also some of scarabai of basalt and verde-antico; one of a square form, used by the kings of Egypt, and worn as an ornament on their breasts. Some fragments of terra cotta, and lacrymatories, also appear, together with various figures of alabaster, and plates of the same substance, supposed to have been used for religious ceremonies; likewise vases and fragments bird over her head: according to the Egyptian mythology, she was the nurse of the children of Osiris and Isis. The dress of Osiris is almost entirely white, which, Plutarch says, was the usual colour of his attire, though sometimes it was black. The whole tablet is surmounted by the winged globe, accompanied by the inscription which is scarcely ever wanting, when this tutelary genius is introduced, whose name seems to be indicated by a bent bar, with a hand. The other characters appear to mean, the Sacred Father of the protecting powers, living unalterable, reigning and ministering. This was the room in which Mr. B. found Limself, after he had passed through the small aperture in the painted wall, spoken of in his publication, and to this apartment he gave the name of Entrance Hall. Its dimensions are 27 ft. by 25 ft. 11 in.; and the pillars are 4 ft. square. Immediately in front of the door, as you enter, is the finest painted group of the whole sepulchre, consisting of four figures, and representing the reception of some distinguished personage, by Osiris, the great divinity of the Egyptians An explanation of the subject of this group, will serve as a specimen of the manner in which these curious pictures have The Sarcophagus is of oriental alabaster, been interpreted by the eminent scholar to nine feet five inches long, and three feet seven whom he is indebted for the Appendix to the inches wide, its thickness is only two inches, second edition of his Travels. Osiris is seated and it is semi-transparent when a light is placed on the throne of state, supported by pillars or in the inside. It is minutely sculptured within feet: he holds a book in each hand, and in the and without, with several hundred figures, left a flail, also king Psammis, with his name which do not exceed two inches in height, and on his belt, is presented to him by the Egyp- represent, it may be supposed, the whole of tian Apollo, Arueris, who has the head of a the funeral procession and ceremonies, relathawk: behind Osiris, is a female figure, pro-ing to the deceased, united with several embably the goddess Buto, with a cage, and a blems, &c. of alabaster, and tomb-stones, from the mummy pits at Gournou, richly covered with hieroglyphics; also several vases containing the bowels of mummies; idols of wood; a most beautiful head of black basalt from Sais, in high preservation, representing the bust of a negro, finely sculptured, and rendered singularly striking by a vein of a dun colour running across the forehead, which the ingenuity of the artist appears to have had in view, in order to its embellishment. There are also ancient shoes, and ropes made of the leaves of the palm-tree; tresses of hair in a state of wonderful preservation; two fine specimens of mummies; one is that of an Egyptian priest, remarkable for the singular position and bending of the arms, which appear to be that of adoration; the other was opened a short time since in England; "It is more perfect (observes Mr. B.) than any of those I unfolded in Egypt, during six years' research." The box out of which it was taken, is richly covered with hieroglyphics finely painted. Amongst the great variety of the collection, is a portion of the original tomb of Psammis, which had fallen off from the wall, sufficient to give an idea of the infinite diversity and ingenuity of the ancient Egyptian artists. But by far the most valuable specimen of Egyptian antiquities, is a manuscript of papyrus, said to be the largest known, measuring twenty-three feet in length, in the most perfect state of preservation, the character beautifully, and, to all appearance, elaborately executed. This, were it possible to decipher it, would at once open to us a door through which all their magical illusion of character might be viewed unencumbered by Psammis, one of the most powerful of Egyptian kings, whose father Pharaoh-Necho is recorded in Holy Writ, as leading captive into his dominions Jehoahaz the brother of Jehoakim, king of Judah and Jerusalem. The most remarkable feature (says Mr. B.) of the whole embellishments of the Catacomb, consists of a procession of captives; which will be seen on the left, immediately as you enter the chamber on the lower tier, or compartment of the wall:-Before a hawk-headed divinity, are four red men, with white kirtles; then four white men, with black beards, and with a simple white fillet round their black hair, wearing striped fringed kirtles. Before these are four negroes, with hair of different 744 conjecture and theories, plunging us still farther into the depths of baseless speculations, without advancing one step towards the development of truth. But, alas! that is for ever closed. Ages have buried amidst the desolation of empires, the key to their mysterious language. Having thus gratified our curiosity by the survey of these early relics, we descend to the inspection of those superb paintings in relief, copied from the tomb, and various parts adjacent, arranged in the order of the different compartments, as nearly resembling the original positions as the confined space will admit. Those selected for exhibition, are chosen for their beauty of design, and their exact counterparts of the original workmanship, for which we are indebted to the indefatigable zeal and perseverance of Mr. B. in taking wax impressions of the most prominent for beauty and design, of the great assemblage of gods, deities, triumphs, sacrifices, &c. &c. displayed in the tomb of Psammis. In the centre of so much attraction, the mind naturally becomes embarrassed for a subject to fix upon for reflection; here then, on the left of the entrance, is one peculiarly striking: I mean four figures represented in the procession of captives. They are Israelites: no one can mistake them; and here I am led to remark the striking similarity between the ancient Jews, and those of the present day. The same contour of visage, short thick neck, black bushy beards, peculiarly arched eye-brows, quick penetrating and inquisitive eye, in short, the first glance of those figures must strike the most superficial observer, that they are designed to personify the seed of Abraham, and evidently to grace the triumph of their conqueror.§ Numerous other casts colours, wearing large circular ear-rings, having white petticoats, supported by a belt over their shoulder and next in order march four white men, with smaller beards and curled whiskers, bearing double spreading plumes on their heads; tattooed, and wearing robes or mantles, spotted like the skins of wild beasts. Mr. B. considers the red men as Egyptians, the black-bearded men as Jews, and the tattooed as Persians; and these conjectures seem to accord remarkably well with the history of the times concerned: for Necho, the father of Psammis, whose tomb this is supposed to be, is known, both from sacred history and from Herodotus, to have had wars with the Jews, and with the Babylonians: and Herodotus 745 Character of Christophe. are placed around, which the brevity of my present communication prevents me from describing. Should this be considered sufficiently interesting for a place in your Magazine, it is my intention, at some future period, to transmit you some observations on the domestic habits, economy, and arts, of the Egyptians, during the bondage of the Israelites amongst them. W. H. Bermondsey Square, July 9, 1821. mentions his expedition against the Ethiopians; so that this procession may very naturally be considered as consisting of captives made in his wars. The passages in scripture which illustrate this portion of history, will be found in the 2d Chronicles, chap. 35. ver. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24; and chap. 36. ver. 1, 2, 3, 4; and in Jeremiah, chap. 36. See also the 2d book of Herodotus. It is impossible to conceive any thing more striking, than this agreement of sacred and profane history, with this remarkable representation in the catacomb. There is ample room for curiosity to indulge itself in conjecture, as to the import of the other pictures which adorn the pillars and the walls of the Entrance Hall. CHARACTER OP CHRISTOPHE, THЕ LATE EMPEROR OF HAYTI, (Communicated by Timotheus.) PREVIOUSLY to the insurrection in St. Domingo, in 1790, Christophe had been a common slave; but being of a courageous and daring spirit, he soon signalized himself in the black army, and was accordingly promoted; and before the termination of the war between the natives and the French, he was made a general. From the period the French were obliged to evacuate the island, to the death of Dessalines, little more is known of him than that he generally assisted in promoting and carrying into execution the measures of that sanguinary and barbarous chief: though there can be little doubt that he was acquiring to himself greater power, and aiming to secure the supreme command. It is well known that Dessalines possessed so ferocious and barbarous a disposition, and that his proceedings were so insupportably tyrannical, that the black population, having obtained their independence, and being averse to every thing that had the appearance of tyranny, soon grew weary of his No. 30.-Vol. III. 746 government, and in the end killed him. It has been said that Christophe headed the plot, and was at no great distance from Dessalines, with some other black officers, when the fellow, whom they had engaged to murder him, made up to him, in the presence of the soldiers, and shot him. Christophe, being next in command, considered the place thus vacated, to be his right, and immediately took steps to secure it. A part only of the officers and soldiers, however, attached themselves to him. this, he endeavoured to reduce those Dissatisfied at who had, so contrary to his expectations and ambitious designs, chosen another chief, and adopted another form of government. But all his attempts were fruitless. Over the northern districts of the island, however, he reigned with little or no opposition till the period of the circumstance which occasioned his death. received from St. Domingo, and which The accounts which have been since have appeared in the public papers, have represented this chief as 66 one of the greatest tyrants, and the common and only enemy of his people." Saying this of a man, is certainly saying the worst that can be said. Those who have been accessary to his death, find light, to serve their cause, and to make it necessary to represent him in this the reasons for their conduct in this affair appear as plausible as they can. But such as have had an opportunity of knowing their character and designs, will hesitate not a little to receive all they may now say to the discredit of their late chief. That Christophe, however, was a great lover of power, is very certain. This, at the beginning of his reign, led him to take measures of a most arbitrary nature, to secure the supreme power to himself for life, and to his son after him. These proceedings, though by no means equal in cruelty to those of his predecessor, nevertheless inspired the minds of the people with a dread of him, which, had he been afterwards more lenient, would most probably have softened into reverence and respect. But his love of power would not allow him to be less severe; and he continued to be feared and to be hated. It has He was also avaricious. been said, he was so to an extreme; and when it is known that he reserved 3 B |