part §. In fertility of invention and foundness of judgment, they were equalled by few, exceeded by none. In one point they differed; our modern genius, more modeft, pretended only to mechanics and mufict, while Hooke laid claim to every invention he heard of, even to the fublime difcoveries of Newton ¶.-But to return to our Author.

Befides this treatise on marine clocks, Mr. B. has published alfo An Essay on Clock-work, as it relates to the Purposes of common Life, to tronomy, and to Navigation, &c. in 2 vols. 4to. with 38 fine copper plates, printed at Paris in 1763. This contains both the theory and practice of clock-work, a description of a vaft variety of clocks, and occafionally of feveral curious and uncommon tools. Our Author has tranfcribed into the present work much of that part of the effay which relates to marine clocks, and refers to the other parts of it frequently. Mr. B. has also published, very lately, a tract ferving to illuftrate and explain feveral matters relating to the theory, the construction, and the trial of fuch new machines as have been offered in France as time-keepers for difcovering the longitude at fea.

§ See the Minutes of the Royal Society. See alfo the Minutes of the Board of Longitude, and the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Commiffioners appointed by an Act paffed 3 G. III. chap. 14. p. 359. + See the preface to Smith's Harmonics.

The following extract from the Minutes of the Royal Society, will furnish us with one inftance of this, out of many that might be poduced:

"August 16, 1699. Mr. Newton fhewed a new inftrument con"trived by him for obferving the moon, ftars, the longitude at fea ; "being the old inftrument mended of fome faults, with which, not"withstanding, Mr. Halley had found the longitude better than the "feamen by other methods.

"October 25, 1699. Dr. Hooke faid the inftrument mentioned "laft meeting was of his invention before the year 1665, and the "ufe and fabric of it was declared in the hiftory of the Royal So"ciety."

In Sprat's Hiftory of the Royal Society 1667, page 246, brief men. tion is made of an inftrument for taking angles, in which both objects are feen at once by reflection: in the animadverfions on Heve lius, page 55, this inftrument is particularly defcribed; but it differs materially from Newton's, in which one object only is feen by reflection. Hooke's defign was to enable one obferver only, to take distances of the ftars; the inftruments of Tycho and Hevelius requiring two: Newton's defign was to obviate the difficulties, from the motion of the fhip, in taking distances between the moon and ftars at fea. Hooke, we fee, eagerly laid claim to this invention of Newton's, though he understood neither the construction nor defign of the inftrument then produced before the Society.-This inftrument of Newton's is the very fame with the quadrant re-invented by Hadley, and now in conftant ufe. Phil. Tranf. No. 465.

This is intended as an answer to a piece by M. Le Roy, charging our Author with purloining the inventions of Mr. Le Roy and Mr. Harrison. Mr. B. is very copious in his own vindication; and, in fome points, he retorts the charge of plagiarism on his adversary.

We ought to apologize for detaining our readers fo long on this article; but in confidering this account of the attempts of a foreigner to difcover the longitude by a time-keeper, we could not pass over, unnoticed, the labours of our countrymen Hooke and Harrison:

ERRAT U M.

In our Appendix published laft month, page 564, line 12, for in, read it.

ART. IX. The History of Jamaica: or, general Survey of the Ancient and Madern State of that ifland. Illuftrated with Copper-plates. 4to. 3 Vols. 31. 33. Lowndes. 1774.

T is a very difcouraging attempt to engage in a work that wants the striking incidents of ancient hiftory, to give it a popular reputation: the road to fame feems narrowed against fuch adventurers, and the fhrine of avarice forbids their approach. These mortifying interdictions are no doubt the cause that we have hitherto had no precife defcription of Jamaica; thofe few who have ventured upon the unpromifing fubject were medical gentlemen, who humoured their own turn of mind in botanical researches, and gave very little attention to the more interesting parts of the history. Our prefent Author, as if infpired by fome local deity, enters boldly into the inmoft receffes of the civil polity; defcribes the refinements of government in the different departments of the ftate; marks out those enormities in the publick offices, from which commerce is oppreffed, and the planter expofed to irreparable injuries; dwells with an honeft delight upon thofe characters who have ftood forth the champions of their country, from our first fettling there, to the prefent time; difcriminates the true intereft of the ifland, and propofes many falutary meafures for improving it; enters upon a defcription of that part of the vegetable creation, which nature has entrusted to the protection of those friendly climates; and points out their relative advantages, as well with regard to trade, as to endemial difeafes. Climate, foil, and medicinal fprings fall within his notice and defeription; their nature and properties; their ufes and effects are explained and exemplified. The Author has indeed prefented us with a more finished picture of that country than has hitherto been exhibited; and we hope nis labour will be recompenfed in the confummation of his wifh; for by transporting Jamaica to England, he has brought the ftrangers together, in the generous REV. Aug. 1774.

K

hope

hope that an intimacy may unite them in the fame affections, and the mother country feel a natural kindness for an adopted child, who contributes fo largely to her defence and fupport. This feems to be the only end our Author aims at; and as we are affured that he is a native of the island, and of confiderable landed property there, we are the more inclined to believe it. A liberal and independent fpirit alfo breathes through the whole work, that vindicates and juftifies our credulity. As we cannot enter on a regular analyfis of fo large a work as the prefent, we fhall content ourselves, and, we hope, our readers, with a few detached extracts from different parts of this hiftory; fubjoining fuch occafional obfervations as may naturally flow from the paffages felected.

Speaking, in his introductory difcourfe, upon colony adminiftration, our Author remarks that there hath been scarcely a writer upon the fubject, who hath not produced inftances of confummate tyranny and injuftice; and he declares that It is not an easy matter to difcredit what fo many evidences have concurred in afferting but he adds, it is very natural to suppose, that the luft of unlimited power, inherent to mankind, will always ravage most licentiously in thofe fequeftered places, where the hand which fhould reftrain its career is too diftant, and the reins are too much flackened by their immoderate length. Men entrusted with publick offices fo far from the mother ftate, require a chain, instead of a thread to hold them within bounds. It was for this reason, that the Romans, the most generous of all conquerors, inftituted a means for punishing extortion committed by their prætors, or other officers, in their feveral provinces. The impeaching before the fenate, and bringing to juftice, fuch offenders, was thought highly honourable; and was anxiously coveted and undertaken, by advocates moft diftinguished in the city, for their virtues, rank and ability. We have feen (unhappily) the reverfe of this in our fyftem; and tyranny has not only been defended, but even careffed and rewarded, in proportion as it has been uncommonly daring and enormous.

The tyrant had only to call the ftruggles of the oppreffed by the name of faction; and under the fhadow of this word, he could conceal their wounds, and his own guilt.

A faithful defcription of our provincial governors, and men in power, would be little better than a portrait of artifice, duplicity, haughtiness, violence, rapine, avarice, meannefs, rancour and dif honefty ranged in fucceffion; with a very fmall portion of honour, juftice, and magnanimity, here and there intermixed, to leffen the difguft, which, otherwife, the eye muft feel in the contemplation of fo horrid a group.

How unpleafing then would be the task of fuch a biography, which is to exhibit the deformities of human nature, unenlivened with any, or but too few, of its graces! Yet, I confefs, that if writer could fupprefs the averfion which naturally rifes at the fight of loathfome objects, it would be no small relief now and then to paint those brighter tints of character, whofe radiance glistens through

the

the difmal fcene, and receives a heightening from the fhades and darkness that furround it.'

General reflection is a frailty in us all; when we engage in a favourite topick, the imagination is warmed, we forward it with a zeal that will not allow us leifure to difcriminate characters, and in that hurry of mind, we are content to form our ideas of men, from the manners of those we are most intimate with our Author, we fuppofe, has been an eye witness of those tyrannies he defcribes. A rapacious or arbitrary governor is a very reprehenfible character, more particularly as his title of excellency should be an excitement to deferve that high and amiable note of distinction. That there are many weak and wicked men which Influence recommends to the highest appointments, we readily admit; but we are bound in honour to rescue from the general cenfure two or three who have fallen within our knowledge and remembrance.

Governor Trelawney was, to ufe an honeft, home-spun expreffion, a downright worthy man; he had plain fenfe, unadorned with thofe lively colourings of the mind which lead fo many into irretrievable error. In his military character he was brave and enterprizing; gentleness and fimplicity marked his civil capacity; and an uncorruptible integrity gave dignity to both; he lived many years in harmony with the people of Jamaica, and he left them infinitely regretted.

The late Sir Henry Moore entered upon the government when the country was rent to pieces by the ftorms of faction; thofe gentlemen who had upheld the oppofition against his predeceffor were violent, but faithful and difinterested; the miniftry complimented their fpirit by taking part in their refentments. Sir Henry Moore was fashioned to the times; he had wisdom, temper, and affability. He executed his inftructions in the sense in which they were given to him; and thus by being dutiful to the fovereign, he gained the affections of the fubject. The fpirit of difcord fubfided; the name of Kingston or Spanishtown was no longer the opprobrium to diftinguifh a party; and the planting and commercial intereft were comprehended in the fame idea. But, to the honour of Jamaica be it obferved, when a governor poffeffes wisdom and integrity, the people are ever guided by his counfels. When Sir Henry was preparing to leave the island, the affembly teftified their gratitude in a very unusual manner; in their flattering addrefs to the new governor, they did not forget their obligations to their old one: and on his return to England, his prefent majesty manifested an approbation of his conduct, by conferring on him the honour of a baronet, and presenting him

with a fum of money to defray the customary charges of the patent. The late Sir William Trelawney moved in the fame tract which his ancestor had marked out, and died much lamented by the whole ifland.

That the reader may judge of our Author's talents in pottraying the moft agreeable parts of human nature, we will prefent him with the pictures of Colonel D'Oyley and Sir Henry Morgan, from the Author's collection.

Under the auspices of Colonel D'Oyley, Jamaica was preferved from foreign as well as inteftine enemies, and advanced very far ia civilization. By his perfonal bravery, and wife conduct in defeating every attempt of the Spaniards to retake the island, as well as by the fpirit of industry he excited among the troops and other inhabitants, without relaxing their military difcipline too much, he gained more honour than either Penn or Venables by their invasion of it.. If to this we add, that he appears not to have fought advantage to himself by the monopoly of land, which undoubtedly was within his power, or by practifing any extortion or oppreffion on the fubjects abandoned to his entire command; but, on the contrary, manifelled a firm and perfevering zeal in maintaining good order among men disheartened and averfe to fettlement; in improving and eftablishing it by humane, vigorous and prudent measures, while in its infancy; and finally, delivering it out of his hands to the nation a well peopled and thriving colony; we fhall fee caufe to applaud him as an excellent officer, difinterefled patriot, a wife governor, a brave and upright man; and muft lament, that, although it is to his good conduct alone we owe the poffeffion of Jamaica, he received no other reward for his many eminent fervices than the approbation of his own heart. He was of a good family, educated to the law, and held fome civil employments in Ireland: but conformable to the ufage of the times during the civil war, he quitted his profeffion for the camp, , and firft ferved among the royalifts. He was, early in the war, taken prifoner by the forces of the parliament; and afterwards entered into the fervice of the victorious party. He engaged in the expedition against the Spanish Weft-Indies for one year only; but by various occurrences, continued in the fervice till after the reforation. He had frongly folicited Cromwell to confirm him in the government of Jamaica; and was conftantly refufed, from a diftruft perhaps of his political principles. So that, although he enjoyed the fupreme command here for a longer space than any of his predeceffors, it was only by the accident of furvivorship upon the deaths of Sedgewicke and Brayne. It is a memorable circumftance attending his life, that the very man to whom the protector had manifeited fo inflexible an averfion or jealoufy, feenied the most capable of any commander employed, that he held the government, which had been denied to his folicitations, much longer, and fucceeded in the adminiftration of it much better, than any other.-

Sir Henry Morgan, whofe atchievements are well known, was equal to any the oft renowned warriors of hiftorical fame, in valour, condut and fuccefs: but this gentleman has been unhappily confounded with the piratical herd; although it is certain, that he

conftantly