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{
ANEW
Geographical, Hiftorical, and Commercial
GRAMMAR.
AND
PRESENT STATE
OF THE SEVERAL
KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD.
CONTAINING,
h.
■■'i.
■ *
I. The Figures, Motioni, and Diftance* of J
the PlaneUtaccordinBtothc Ncwtuniiin
Syllem, and the UtcA Obferrations.
II. A jfcncral View of the Eanh coiifidired
as a iManet ; with fevcral ufcful C^-'ogra-
phical Dciiiiitiiiiu and Pruhlems.
HI. I he grand nivifiointof the (Wohc into
I,»nd and Water, Continent* and Iflands.
IV. rhe Situation and Extent of EninirL*,
Kingdoms, States, Provinces, and Co-
loriie*.
V. 1 heir Climate, Air, Soil, vegetable
Produi^iion*, Metals, Minerals, numral
Curiolities, Seas, Rivers, Bays, Capes,
Promontories, ;iiid Lakes.
VI. The Hirds and BcaAs peculiar tu eHt h
Country.
^^I. Obfervations on the Changes that
hivc been any where obfervcd upon the
I'ace of Nature, fince the moll early
Periods of Hiftory.
VIII. The Hiftor)' and Origin of Nations:
their I'orms of (Government, Religion,
Laws Kcvcnuci, Taxes, naval and mili-
tary Strength, Orders of Knighthood,&c.
IX. I he Oeniut, Maiiucrs, Cuil^onu, aad
Habits of the People.
X. Thctr Language, Learning, Arts, Sci«
cnces, Mainttadures, and Commerce.
XI. The chief Cities, Strut,'ed. II. A n!/i«L».Ai" the Coins- dt'dll "Nations, and their
Value in English .MoNi.
St>iUar
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69849
[ iv ]
Gneat improvements have keen made alfo in the Chro-
nological part of the work^ the origin of Nations, the
noble and military Orders of Knight hood, 6fr. &lc,
to makt room for introducing irew articles, and mo^
dern difcoveries from approved authorities, fo neceffary
to render the work more perf0\ fome parts of it which,
appeared too diffufe have been abridged, and others lefs
important have been omitted. Indeed alterations and
torreSiions every where occur, The additions are too
numerous to be here dijlin&ly Jpecifed, Though the bulk
tfthe laji Edition et^ceeded the preceding one, by Eighty
pages, this which is. now tendered to the Public exceeds
the former full Eighty pages more, '-^ A proof that
great pains and attention have been employed to give
the work a juji and continued claim to general notice
and approbation,
'•• ' ; ' : ■' • J ■ 1 ■'! A ' 'i
• «•» : .s
■-■,■'' ■ .'
PREFACE.
L»*.
\
TO a man lincerely ititerelled in the welfare of fociety and
of his country, it mUft be particularly agreeable to refle£l
on the rapid progrefs, and gienieral difflifion of learning and
civility, which, within the prefent age, have talcdn place in Great
Britain. Whatever may be the cafe in fomc other kingdoms of
Europe, we, in this ifland, may boad of our fuperiority to thofe il»
liberal prejudices, which not only cramp the genius, but foiir the
temper of man, and di^urb all the agreeable intercourfe of fociety.
Among us, learning is no longer confined Within the fcho^) of the
philofophers, or the courts of the great ; but, like all the greateft
advantages which heaven has bellowed on mankind, it is become as
univerfal as it is ufefuh
This general difFufion of knowledge is one cfTeft of that happy
conftitution of government, which, towards the clofe of the laft
century, was confirmed to us, and which conftitutes the peculiar
glory of this nation. In other countries, the great body of the
people poffefs little wealth, have little powel-, and confeqiiently
meet with little rcfpe£l j in Great Britain the people are opulent,
have great influence, and claim, of courfe, a proper (har6 of atten*
tion. To their improvemcnt» therefore, men of lettets have lately
direQed their ftudies ; as the great body of the peopk, no lefs than
the dignified, the learned, or the wealthy few, haVe an acknowledged
title to be amufcd and inftru£ted. Books have been divefted of the
terms of. the fchools, reduced from that fize which fuited only the
purfes of the rich, and the avocations of the ftudious, and are adapted
to perfonsof more ordinary fortunes, whofe attachment to other pur-
fuits admitted of little leifure for thofe of knowledge. It is to books
pf this kind more than to the works of our Bacons, our LockeS)
tind our Newtons, that the generality of our countrymen owe that
Cuperior improvement, whi«h diilinguilhea them from the lower
A 3 nx^g
6 PREFACE.
ranks of men in all other countries. To promote and advance ttiis
improvement, is the principal defign of our prefent undertaking.
No fubje£t appears more interefting than that we have chofen, and
none feems capable of being handled in a manner that may render
it more generally ufeful.
The knowledge of the world, and of its inhabitants, though not
theTublimeft purfutt of mankind, it mud be allowed is that which
mod nearly interefts them, and to which their abilities are bc(i
adapted. And books of Geography, which defcribe the fituation,
extent, foil, and produ£tions of kingdoms i the genius, manners,
religion, government, commerce, fclencesi and arts of all the in>
habitants upon earth, promife the beft aflldance for attaining this
knowledge.
The Compendium of Geography, we now offer to the Public,
differs in many particulars ftqm other books on that fubje£t. Be-
(ides exhibiting an eafy, diftin£l, and fyftematic account of the
theory and pra£^ice of what may be called Natural Geography, the
Author has attempted to render the following performance an in>
ftru£tive, though compendious detail of the general hidory of the
world. The character of nations uepends on a combination of a
great many circumftances, which reciprocally affe£t each other.
There is a nearer conne£tlon between the learning, the commerce,
the government, &c. of a (late, than mod people feem to appre-
hend. In a work of this kind, which pretends to include moral,
or political} as well as natural geography, no one of thefe obje£ts
Ihould pafs unnoticed. The omiflion of any one of them would, in
reality, deprive us of a branch of knowledge, not only interefting in
ttfelf, but which is abfolutely neceflary for enabling us to 'A)rm an
adequate and comprehenfive notion of the fubje£l in general. We
hav^ thought it neceffary, therefore, to add a new article to this
worki which comprehends the hiftory and prefent ftate of learning*,
in t^e .feveral countries we defciibe, with the characters of fuch
perfons as have been mod eminent in the various departments of
letters and philofophy. This fubje£t will, on a little refledKon
ap^&r altogether requifite, when we confider the powerful influence
of learning upon the manners, government, and general character
of natH>n8. Thefe objefks, indeed, till of late, feldom found a
plao^ in. geographical performances ; and, even where they have
been introducedi arc by no means handled in an entertaining or
;! , ;. ► inftruftive
I
PREFACE.
t
'»
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X
i
Inilruftive manner. Neither it this to be altogether imputeil to the
fault of geographical writers. The greater part of travellers, z€k^
inj; folely under the influence of avarioe, the pa(fion which firft
induced them to quit their n;ttive land, were at little parns, and
were indeed ilUqunUBed to colte£^ fuch materials ak are proper for
gratifying our curioOty, with regard to thefe particulars. The
geographer then, who could only employ the materials put into hie
hands, was not enabled to give us any important information upon
Aich fubje£ts. In the courfe of the prefent century, however,
men have begun to travel from different motives. A third for
knowledge, as well as for gold, has led many into diftant lindi*
Thcfe they have explored with a philofophic attention \ and bf
laying open the internal fprings of a£lion, by which the inhabitants
of diflerent regions are aduated, exhibit to us a natural and ftrikitig
pi£lure of human manners, under the various ilages of barbarity and
irefinement. Without manifeft impropriety, we could not but avaif
ourfelves of their labours, by means of which we have been enabled
to give a more copious, and a more perfe£l detail of what is called
Political Geography, than has hitherto appeared.
In confidering th^ prefent (late of nations, few drcumftances are
of more importance than their mutual intercourfe. This is chiefly
brought about by commerce, the prime mover in the oeconomy of
modern dates, and of which, thcrefofei we have never loll fight in
the prefent undertaking. -^
We are ftnfible that a reader could not examine the prefent (late
of nations with much entertainment or inftrudlion, unlefs he was
alfo made acquainted with their fituation during the preceding ages,
and of the various revolutions and events, by tlie operation of which
they have afTumed their prefent form and appearance. This con-
(litutes the hidorical part of our work ; a department which we
have endeavoured to execute in a manner entirely new. Indead of
fatiguing the reader with a dry detail of news-paper occurrences,
no way conne£led with one another, or with the general plan of
the' whole, we have mentioned only fuch fa£ls as are interedin^,
either in themfelves, or from their relation to objedls o( import-
ance. Inftead of a meagre index of incoherent incidents, we have
drawn up a regular and connefted epitome of the hiftory of each
country; fuch an epitome as may be read with equal pleafure and
advantage, and which may be coniidered as a proper inirodu£lion
to more copious accounts.
a paving.
a
PREFACE.
' Having, through the whole of the work, mentioned the ancient
names of countries, and in treating of their particular hiflory fome-
times carried our refearches beyond the limits of modern timesi we
have thought it necelTary, for the fatisfa£lion of fuch readers as are
unacquainted with claflical learning, to begin our hiftorical Intro-
duAion with the remote ages of antiquity. By inferting an account
of the ancient world in a book of geography, we afford an oppor-
tunity to the reader, of comparing together not only the manners,
government, and arts of different nations, c^ they now appear, but
33 they fubfiRed in ancient ages; which exhibitin{<; a general map,
as it were, of the hiftory of mankind, renders our work more com-
plete than any geographical treatife extant.
In the execution of our delign, we have all along endeavoured
to obferve order and perfpicuity. Elegance we have facrificed to
brevity : happy to catch the leading features which diflinguifh the
chara£lers of nations, and by a few (Irokes to hit off, though not
completely to finifh, the ptfture of mankind in ancient and modern
times.
"What has enabled us to comprlfe fo many fubje£^s within the
narrow bounds of this work, is the omiflTion of many immaterial
. circumftances, which are recorded in other performances of the fam«
kind, and of all thofe fabulous accounts or defcriptions which, to
the difgrace of the human underftanding, fwell the works of geo-
graphers } though the falfity of them, both frohi their own nature
and the concurring teftimony of the moft enlightened and beft in-
formed travellers and hiftorians, be long fmce detedlejd*
As to particular parts of the work, we have been more or Icfs
diffufe, according to their importance to us as men, and as iubjcdls
of Great Britain. Our own country, in both refpe£ts, deferved
the greateft fhare of our attention. Great Britain, though flic
cannot boaft of a more luxuriant foil or happier climate than many
•ther countries, has advantages of another and fuperior kind,
Avhich make her the delight, the envy, and the miftrefs of the
world: thefe are, the equity of her laws, the fieedom of her poH-
«ical conftitutlon, and the moderation of her religious fyrteni.
With regard to the Britifh empire we have therefore been fingularly
copious.
\
Next
PREFACE.
9
i
Next to Great Britain, we have been moil particular upon the
other dates of Europe j and always in proportion as they prefent
us with the largeil field for ufeful reflection. By comparing toge-
ther our accounts of the European nations, an important fyftem of
practical knowledge is inculcated, and a tboufand arguments will
appear in favour of a mild religion, a free governm'ent, ahd ah ex-'
tended, unreftrained commerce.
Europe having occupied fo large a part of our volume, Alia next:
claims our attention; which, however, though in fome refpeCtt
the moft famous quarter of the world, offers, when compared to
Europe, extremely little for our entertainment or inflruClion. In
Ada, a ftrong attachment to ancient culloms, and the weight of
tyrannical power, bears down the a£live genius of man, and pre-
vents that variety in manners and chara£ler, which diflinguiflies the
European nations.
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In Africa the human mind feems degraded below its natural
ftate. To dwell long upon the manners of this country, a country
fo immerfed in rudenefs and barbarity, beiides that it could afford
little inftruClion, would be difgufting to every lover of mankind.
Add to this, that the inhabitants of Africa, deprived of all arts
and fciences, without which the human mind remains torpid and
inactive, difcover no great variety in manners or charaAer. A"
gloomy famenefs almoit every where prevails ; and the trifling
diftinCtions which are difcovered among them, feem rather to arifc
from an excefs of brutality on the one hand, than from any per*
ceptible approaches towards refinement on the other. But though
thefe quarters of the globe are treated lefs extenfively than
Europe, there is no dillriCt of them, however barren or favage,
entirely omitted. ,...,"■-
America, whether confidered as an immenfe continent, inha-
bited by an endlefs variety of different people, or as a country inti-
mately connected with Europe by the ties of commerce and govern-
ment, deferves very paiticular attention. The bold difcovery, and
barbarous conqued of this New World, and the manners and pre-
judices of the original inhabitants, are objeCts, which, together
with the defcription of the country, defervedly occupy no fmall
(hare of this performance,
I«
10
P R E F A C E.
^ Ifi treating of fuch a variety, of C»hje€ts^ foiqe lefs obvioas par-
t|cubrs, no doubt, mud efcape. our notice. But if our general plan
^gpotJ* and'the outlines ;|n4 cfci^f figui[e8„fketched with truth
s^d^u<|gipent,j^he candour of the learned, we hope, will ^xcufe.
imperfej^ious wmch are unavoit^aole in a work of , ^is extenfive
kind. . . 's 1
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.K'v.'jil'j; lAuc n lo Yjh:
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ki(id.
We cannot, without exceeding tW'feoVniis oY'a'Pre/ace, inlift'
i^pon the other parts of our plan. The MapSf which arc executed
with carie, bj( the beft informed aitifts in thefe kingdoms, will,
we ho^, afford 'fatisfaftion. , The (Viejice of natural geography*
iof wan I of proper encouragement fiOth thofe wf*p are alone capa-
ble of giving it, ftill remains in a very imperfe£l ftatc j and the
cxafl divifions and extent 6/ countries, for w^nf of geometricai
fmryeys, are far from being Weft jifccrtaincd. ^'his confideratipn
iias induced us to adopt the ni'oft Cinexceptidndble of Templeman>
Tables, which, if they give not the exa£left account, afford^tleaft
^ general idea pf this fubje£k } which is ail indeed we can"attain,
until the geographical fbietfce arrives at greater pfei^eft ion. '
!.'. , . ' •• , ■ A -.0 jtftf . ..
DIRECTIONS lor placing the M A P S.-A f.« PWfl vr^ ff i ' l ' i ' w J.'t Li.-n^ i v.!}
gtars and ConneUatioxu jaj » '■'■
Copernicaa and other SyQfiipv '. ' .. ' m ■»
Coiinetv .1 . i/ /. f.; ii ? -.•'.•_ "r;^
Dofd^rine pf the Sphere — ^ — -
• ~ Glob* . ^ .i--4f
*iii>'
1 ^.!; {T!. .'
Problems perforiti!!!d by tlt« GMlff '
GeographicaV Obfervationa
< Natural Pivifi^na of the E»rth -; ^
Winds aiid Tides ^ ^i « '"i i M -
Itfaps and Cardinal Points -'•'•■^
P A R T II, Of the Otigiit »f Lmns^ O^vernmeMt, and Ctmnurct*
: r A R T III. Of fhe Origin ami Progrefs of SfHfiiifi, " ."
Of the natyral and political p«^nu of EtJItP^E :. . •
Its Situation, JBoMnd^ries, grand tivmpn^. ajid Hi|t<>^
Denmark — '■ — -
Eafl and WeftGreettlapd, m^i Iceland
Norway ■
penmark Proper '■
. )L.apla|>d •-
Sv|reden ' ••• i f
Mufcovy, pr the Ruffian Emmre
Scotland, ^nd thp fIebr*ideS| Orkney, 8{C.
, £nglai^d — "^ i ... '
Jrejand ■
, |fle of Map, Ifle of Wight, Jprfeyi pi^crpfey, &..
Pfuflia ■ ■
Sphemia ■ ■
Hungary •*' *
Tranfylvania^ Sclavonia, and Croati:^
Ppland and Lithuania
Switzerland •■ ■
Spain .
. Portugal '
Italy
TMrkey in Europe, the ancient Greece TT^ —
Turkim Iflands m the Levant, boing Psittof aqcient Greece
f 4"f Othev European Iflands ar^ ds&pbcdjwifh fhe Coiu^r^ to .wbicl|
thpy refpciStirely belong.
/ AS I A,
Its Situation, Boundaries, Grand Piy^ions, and Hiftory -^ 64c
9f Turkey, Afi^. ^^.^ ^^^.^ 25-,-. 639
£:- ^ • ..
<; O U T K;N T S.
.8
Tarttry inAfiit)
CWm ■ -.-
India in geneiral -
fndlii beyond t^e Qanges
Jndk vnt\m the Gangeti oi* tiic Empire bf the Great Mogul
The Peninfula within the Ganger - • m—. ■
li— ■ — —
"Indian andOriental Iflei belonging to Afia * ';'"
(. """ "..1 A F JUJ C A.
Iti SitugtioA, Boundarici* grtnd Divifi^, and Hiftoiy -
fif EgysL .:. -^ -r, ,
,The Stajejt of Barbary - ,•- i •
Africa from jthe Tropicitf Cancer to the Cape of Good Hope
^African I(luid> . a. . — — — •r— r-
.'.'5..
A M
It« DifcoYfry and Hiftory
OriginaVlnhabitacfts '
^^tuatibnt Boundancaf jind grand D|vifions - '
^ ^ r"NeV BrWaini and other Countries towards the North
«.§)• Fole .
gSjCanada — - -1— — rT •—
-^< <• Nov a Scotia _^ ■ " - ■ ' — »—
tj^ited 'States of America n ■ » ' ■
Jiew EngFa nd — r~'.. / ' ■
Kcw York " — , , >
:New Te"ae"y;__ ^ — ' , '. , 'f—-^, .,:'". ; ■ ■ • — —
Fennfylvami" 2 ...j^- < .-^'•■ - ^ ■ - ,-^ — ^i^;^
Mar]^land ■ ■ ■ - ' ' —
Virginia' ^ ■ —— « — — -
Ntfrth anT South CaroUna, with Qeojrgia " ' " » ,,
General CeTci-iptipnof the Wcit Indies • ■ '
jf4maica, and other Iflands in the Weft Indies ' i
%;rEa(fana:_Weft Florida .^ ' ■■ —
.5 I NewTVJexico, including California 1 \t«,»u a.«.J:V.~
f I Old-Mexico, or New Spain } North America -
§3 Terra Jnnma
Peru
Chill
ita 3
South America
'^
■g, » Paraguay, or ta Plata
«o ICubaand Hifp'aniola. and othcrTflands in America — —
fortuguefe America, Braul ■ ■
rehch America, Qayenne
6c8
66c
«78
682
688
697
70J
71*
718
726
729
737
^^
740 V
7'53
763
777
779
78s
790
79»
793
8oa
804
806
811
81?
8X2
* 816
83?
58331
1 840
Hi
847
8jr
8j;2
85+
857'
86a
artinicO) Guadaloupe, and other French Iflands in the Weft Indies 86c
tch America, Sunnam
TT
^f. Euilatia, aud'Oth|:r Putc^Xfland; inthe Weft Indies
»..^homas!sy and/6t|iefl)anifti Iflands^ in Ditto
New-IHfct»*(feiie8'' -■' ■•'■'■'■ < i.. ; .J.ii> ; > -:. . . .i „ m
Terra Incognita — — — r— ' l u i
A New Geographical .Table',- a^habetically arranged
86j
86J;.
867
ibid;
879
88n
A Tabhrof thc'Goiris of all Nations, aiid- their value in Ehg. Money 896
I A Chmuolo^cal Table of Remarkable Events, 2(c. ■ ! j— 9)1
•<■«■
INTRODUCTION.
PARTI.
Of Astronomical Geography.
SECT. I.
TH IS. fcietice of GEOORAPiiy cannot be completely underftood
without confidcrio? the earth a« a planet, or as a body movinf
round another at a confiuerable didance from it. But the fcicncc which
treats of the planets, and other heavenly bodies, is called AsTRONOMr-.
lience the necellity of beginning thii.work with an account of Ailronomy,
dr of the heat enly bodies. Of thefe, the moft confpicuous is that glo-
rious luminary the Sun» the fountain of light and heat to, the feveral pla- .
nets which move round it; and which, together with rhe fun, compofe
what aftronomers have called the Solar Syflem. The way, or path, in which
the planets move round the fun, is called their Orbit ; and it is now fuily
proved by aftronoiBers, that there are fix planets, which move round the
fun, each in its own orbit. I'he names of thefe, according, to their near-
nefs to the centrei ormiddle DOint of the fun, are Mercury, Venus, the
Earth, Man, Jupiter, and Saturn. The two iirft, becaufe they move
within the orbit of the earth (being nearer the fun) are calkd infer/or
{tlanets, or, perhaps more properly, iui trior or intitr planets ; the 'three
aft, moving «||thout the orbif of the earth, are called fuptrior^ or, per-
haps more properly, txttrlor or outtr planets. If we can form a notion
of the manner in w(fich any one ,of thefe planets, fuppofe our earth*
mores round the fun, we can eafily conceive the manner in which all
the reft do it. We fliall only therefore particularly confider the motion
of the earth, or pUnet on which we live, leaving that of the others to be
coUefted from a table, which we (IihU fet down with fuch explicatioi)S as
may render it intelligible to the meaneft capacity.
The earth upon ivhich we live, was long confidered as one large ex-
tenfive plane. The heavens, above it, in which the fun, moon and
ilars appeared to move daily from eaft to weft, were conceived to be at no
great diftancc from ir, and to be only defigned for the ufe or ornament of
our earth : feveral reafcjns, hwvever, occurred, which rendered this
opinion improbable; it i| needlcl's to mention them, becaufe we have
now a fuflicient proof of the figure of the earth, from the voyages of many
navigators who have actually failed round it : as from that of Magellan's
iliip, which was the firft that furrounded the globe, failing eaft from a
port in Europe in 1 5 19, and returning to the fame, after a voyage of 1 124
days, without apparently altering his diredtion, any more thaa a ^f
would appear to do in moving around a ball of wax.
The roundnefs of the earth being thoroughly eftabliflied, a way WM
thereby naturally opened for the oifcovery of its motion. For while it
was coniidered lu a plane, mankind had an ohfcurc notion of its beimf
fupported, like a fcafiblding, on pillars, though they could pet tell what
fi
fu^?
a INTRODUCTION.
fupported thcfir. But the figure of & globe is much better adapted to mo*
tion. This it confirmed by confiderine, that, if the earth did not move
lEound the fun, not only thefuiii but aU the ftart and planets, mud move
round the earth. Now, as philofopheri, by reckonings foundcd'on the
fureft obfervatiuni, have been able to guefs pretty nearly at the diAancea
of the hfivenly bodiea from the earth, and from each other, juft as every
body that knows the firft elements of mathematics can meafure the
height of a Aeeple, or any obje£t placed on it; it appeared that, if we
conceived the heavenly bodies to move round the earth, we muft fuppofe
t'liem endowed with a motion or velocity fo immenfe as to exceed all con*
ception i whereas all the appearances in nature miiy be as well explained by
imagining the earth to move round the fun in the fpace of a year, and to
turn on its own axis once in the 24 hours.
To form a conception of thefe two motions of the earth, we may ima-
gine a ball moving on a biliiard-table or bo«'ling ereen : the ball prc«
ceeds forwards upon the gi-ecu or table, not by fliaing along like a plane
upon wood, or a {late upon ice, but by turning rourtd its own axi?.
Which is an imaginary line drawn through the centre or middle of the
ball, and ending on its furface in two points called its (X>les. Conceiving
the matter then iu this way, and that the earth in the fpace of 24 hour?,
moves from weft to eafl, the inhabitants on the furface of it, like men
on the deck of a (liip, who arc inienfible of their own motion, and
think that the banks move from them in a coAtrai^ diredKon, will con«
ccive that the fun an ftars move from e^ft to welt m the fame time of 24
hours, in which they, along with the earth, move from weft to caft. This
daily or diurnul motion of the earth being once clearly conceived, will
enable us eafily to form a nbtionof its annnalor yearly motion round the
fun. For as that luminary fecms to have a daily motiofn round our earth,
Hrhich is really occafioned by the daily motion of the earth^round its a*is,
fo, in the courfc of a year, he feems to have an annual rtieiion in the hea«
vens, and to rife and fet in different points of theiA, which is really oc>
cafioned by the daily motion of the earth in its orbit or path roumf tht
fun, which it completes in the time of a year. Now as to the firft of
thefe motions we owe the difference of day and night, fo to the fecoiid
we are indebted, for the difference in the length of the days and nights,
and in the feaibns of the year.
Thus much being laid with regard to the motion of the earth, which
the fmallcft icflcclion may lead as to apply to the other planets, we muft
obfervc, before exhibiting our tnble, that, bcfides the fix planets already
mentioned, which move round the fun, there are other ten bodies which
move round three of thefe, in the fame manner as they do round the fun f
aqd of thefe our earth has one, called the moon; Jupiter has four, and
Saturn has five. Thefe are all called moons^ from their agreeing with
our niooii, which was firft attended to : and fometimcs they are called,
Jnanda^y planets, becaufe they feem to be attendants of the' Earth, Ju-
piter, and Saturn, about which they move, and which are called /r/-
Th«re are but two obfervations more, neccflliry for undcrftanding the
following table. They are thefe : we have already fiid that the annual
lotion of the earth occafioued the diverfity of feafons. But this would
apt happen, were the axis of the earth exadly parallel, or in a line
IKA tbc ajcis ifjf Its orbit; becaufe then the fame parts of the earth wotiljj
^ tuiwed towaWs the fun in every diurnal revolution $ which would dc.
** " prive
INTRODUCT ION.
mire mankind of the grateful viciffitudet of the feafoni, arifing from thi
diflfetence in length of the da^i and nights. Thi* therefore it not the
caftf--4be axis of the earth i> inclined to the plane of the earth's orbfr,
which we rwy coBeeive by fuppofinj; a fpindle put thiough a ball, with
one end of it tonchittg the ground ; if we more the ball direftly forwards,
while one end of the fpindle continues to touch the ground, and tVa
other points towards fomc quarter of the heaven?, we may fornt a notion
of the inclination of the earth's axis to its orbit, from the indtnatioti of
the fpindle to the ground. The fame obferration applies to fome of
the other planets, as may be feen from the table. The only thing that
now remams, is to conlider what is meant by the meaH diftances of the
planets from the fun. In order to underftand which, we muft learn
that the orbit, or path which a planet defcribes, were it to be marked
out, would not be quite round or circular, but in the fliapc of a figure called
an ellipiis, which, though refembling a circle, is longer thin broad. Hence
tl^ fame planet is not always at the fame diilance from the fun, and the
ihean diftance of it is, that which is eza£ily betwixt its greattft and leaft
difbnce. Here follows the table.
A TABLE of the Diameters, Pertodf, &c. of the« fsrei'at rianeti
in the Solar Syflem^
Mean diftances
a
3-1
11
Names
of the
planets
from the fun
•s determined
Irom obferva-
tions of the
traiifitof Venus
Annual
periods
found the
fun.
Diurnal
rotation
on its
axis.
g.
S B
in 1761
B
r a
•n
d. h. m.
Sun
890,000
y. d. h.
as ,6 c
3.818
8» d
Mercury
3,000
36,?4i,468
87 «3
unknown
109,699 unknown
unknown
Venus
9.330
68,891,486
P 224 17
14 8
80,195
43
nl 0'
Earth
7.970
9S,i73.ooo
I 6
1 c
68,143
I^l
»3' »9
M<^on
Mars
2,180
5,400
ditto
145,014,148
IOC
1 lit 17
»9 »a 44
a4 4c
»2,aoo
5S.»|7
556
»» 10'
c« 0'
Jupiter
94,000
494.990.976 «« 314 J»
9 5(
a9,c83
a 5,910
0' &
Saturn
78,00c
907,956,13011* 167 6
unknowt
S2,ioi'unkiiown
unknown
The reader baring obtained an idea of the folar fydem from this table,
and the prerious obferrations neceflary for underdandtng it, mud next
turn his refledHon to what are called the fixed ftarSf which comprehend the
luminaries abore our heaus that hare not been explained. The fixed ftars
are diftinguidied by the naked rye from the planets, by being Icfs bright
and luminous, and by continually exhibiting that appearance which we
call the twinkling of the ftars. This arifes trom their being fo extremely
fmall, that the interpofition of the leaft body, of which there are many
conftantly flmiting in the air, deprires us of the light of them ; when the
interpofed body changes its place, we again fee the ibr, .and this fuc-
ceifion being perpetual, occafions the twinkling. But a more rcmark>
able property of the fixed lUrs, and that from whi^h they have obtained
their name, is their never changing their fitUation, with regavd to each
other, as the planets, from what we hare already feid, tnuft eridently be
always changing theirs. The ftars which are neareft to ua feem largeft;
and are therefure trailed of the firft magnitude. Thofe of the fecond
I N T R o D u c T ro N:
:i'
maenitude appear left, being at a greater diitancc ; and fu proceediiti; on
to the iixth m<
fidered as immenfe ; becaulc the greater perfection we arrive at m our
glafles, the more ftars always appear to us. Mr. Flamftecd, late royal
allninumer at Gt-ecnwich, has given us a catalogue of about 3000 ftars,
which. i» the moll complete that has hitherto appeared. The immenfe
dilknce of the fixed liars from our earth, and one another, is of all con~
fiderations the moll projwr for raifing our ideas of the works of God.
{i'or notwlthllanding the great extent of the earth's 01 bit or path
/which is at leail 160 millions of miles in diameter) round the fun, the
dillance of a fixed liar is not fenlibly atfeftcd by it > lb that the fturdoea
not appear to be any nearer us when the earth is in that part of its orbit
nearell the fiar, than it Teemed to be when the earth was at the molVdi*
llant part of its orbit, or 161 millions of miles farther removed from the
fame liar. The flur nearcft us, and confcqucntly the largeft in appcar-
ancev is the dog-lhtr, or Sirlos. Modern ififcoveries make it probable
th^t each of ihefe fixed ftars is a fun, having worlds revolving round
it, as our fun has the earth and other planets revolving round him. Now
the dog-dar a|>(>car8 27,000 times lefs than the fun, and, as. the di(lanc«
of the liars, mull be greater in proportion as they fcem Ids, mathe-
maticians h-.ive computed the dilliince of .Sirius from us to be two
billions and two hundred thoudnd millions of miles. The motion of
light, therefore, which thoujrh fo quick as to be commonly thought
intlantaneous, takes up more time in tnivelling from the llius to us than
we do in making a Well India voyage. A ibund wouid not arrive to us
frdm thence in 50,000 y tars ; which, next to light, is confidered as the
quickcll body we are acquainted with. And a cannon ball Hying at the
rate of 480 miles an hour, wouUi not reach us in 700,000 years.
The llurs being at fuch iinmcnfe djlla").cs fiom the fun, canipt |X)f-
fibly receive from him fo llrong a light ,4s they feem to have ; nor any
brightu'efs fufficient tf> make them vilihlc to us. For the fun's rays mull
1)6 fo fcattered and didipated before they reach fuch remote objcfts, that
they can never be tranfmitted back to our eyes, fo as to render thefe ob-
jefts yiliblc by reflexion. The ftars therefore llijnc with their own na-
tive and unborrowed lull re, as the fun docs ; and fincc each particular
liar, as well as the fun, is confined to a particul.tr portion of fpace, it
is plain that the ftars are of theiame nature with the fun.
It is no way probable that the Almi reprefenti Tome animal. 1 hit it a
great circle which dividet the heavens into two equal partt, of which we
flwll fpeak hereafter. In the mean time, we ihall conclude thit feAion
wi'h an account of the rife, progrcfi, and revolutiont in aftronomy.
Mi^nkind muft have made a very confiderable improvement in obferr*
ing the muiiont of the heavenly bodiet, before they could fo far difen*
fnge themfelvet from the prejudicei of fenfe and popular opinion, at to
citeve that the earth upon which we live w an Egyptian philofopher, who flouriflied 1 38 years bef«)r«
Chrift. He fuppofed, with the vulgar, who meafure every thing by
themfelves, that the earth wat fixed immoveably in th? centre ot the
vniverfe, and that the feven plaoett, confidering the moon at one of the
primaries, were placed near to it; above them wat the firmament of
£xed ibtrs, then the cryftalline orbt, then the primum mobile, and, laft
«irikOf all, the caelum empyrium, or heaven of heavens. All thefe vaft orbt
he fuppofed to move round the earth once in 34 hours ; and befides that,
in certain dated and periodical times. 7 o aceubnt for thefe motiont, he
wfli obliged to conceive a number of circles, called excentrics and epi"
cycles, croflin(<[ and interfering with one another. This fyftem was uni-
verfally maintained by the Peripatetic philofophers, who were the moft
confiderable fe<£t in Europe from the tiroe of Ftolemy to the revival of
learning in the fixteenth ccstury.
At length, Copernicus, a native of Poland, a bold and original ge«
nius, adopted the Pythagorean, or true fydem of the univerfe ; and pub«
lifhed it to the world in the year 1530. This doftrin^ had been fo long
in obfcuriiy, that the retlorer of it was confidered at the inventor; and
the fyftem obtaioed the name of the Gopemican philofophy, though
only revived by that great man.
Europe, however, was ftill immerfed in ignorance ; and the general
ideas of the world were not able to keep pace with thofe of a refined
philofophy. Thit iccafioncd Copernicus to hare few abettors, but many
bppooenu. Tycbo Brahe, in particular, a noblt Dane, Anlible of the
defeiSts
INTRODUCTIO N. ^ /
4|efe^ of t>i« Ptolemaic fyftemt but unwilling to acknowledge the mo«
tion of the eaith, enden< ' ured, about 1586, to e(labli(h a new (y^em of
hit own, which was flill more perplexed and cmbarraiTed than that of
Ptolemy. It allowt a monthly motion to the moon round the earth, at
the centre of iti orbit ; and it makes the fun to be the centre of the or*
bits of Mercury, Venut, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The fun, howover.
with all the plancu, is fuppofed to be whirled round the earth in a year, and
even once io the twenty>taur houn. This fyftem, notwiihft»nding its ab*
furdit^, met with its advocates. Longomontanus, and others, fu far refined
upon ir, at to admit the diurnal motion of the earth, though (hey infifted
that it had no annual motion.
About this time, after a darknefs of a great many age», the firft dawn
of learning and tafte began to appear in £urope. Learned men in dif«
ferent countries began to cultivate adroQojjiy. Galileo, a Florentine,
about the year 1610, introduced the ufe df telefcopes, which difcovered
new arguments in fupport of the motion of the earth, and confirmed the old
ones. The fury ana bigotry of the clergy indeed had ahnoft checked this
flourifliing bud : Galileo was obliged to renounce the Copernican fylleni|
as a damnable herefy. The happy reformation in religion, however,
placed the one half of Europe beyond the reach of the pap.il thunder. It
taught mankind that the fcriptures were not given for explaining fyfteroa
of natural philofophy, but for a much nobler purpofe, to make us juft, vir*
luous, and humane : that, indead of oppoling the word of God, which in
fpeaking of natural things fuits itfelf to the prejudices of weak mortals,
we employed our faculties in a manner highly agreeable to God bimfelf,
i;i tracing the nature of his works, which, the more they are confidered,
afford us the greater reafon to admire his glorious attributes of power^
wifdoni, and goodnefs. From this time, therefore, noble difcoveriea,
were made in all the branches of allronomy. The motions of the hea*
venly bodies were not only clearly explained, but the generM law of natuFOy
according to which they moved, was difcovered and illuftrated by the im*
mortal Newton. This law is called Gravity or AuraHim^ and is the fame
by which any body falls to the ground, when difengaged from what
fupporied it. It has been deiYiondratcd, that this fame law which
keeps the fea in itc channel, and the various bodies which cover the fur«
face of this earth from flying off into the air, operates throughout the
univerfe, keeps the planets in theii orbits, aud preferves the whole fabric
of nature from confuiion and diforder*.
SECT.
» .... . ■ - i J.I 11 II I I I I I I I ! ■
• Befides the planets and flars mentioned above, we perceive, in the expanre of
the uriverfe, many other bodies btloneing to the fyftem of the fun, that fcem to
have much more irregular motions. Thefe are the comets, that dercending from th«
far diftant parts of the fyftem with great rapidity, furprife \a with the fitigular appear-
ance of a train or tail, which accompanies them } become vilible to un m the lower
parts of their orbits, and, after a (hurt ftay, go off again to vaft diftances, aud dif-
appear Though fome of the ancients had more juft notionit of them, yet the opi«
nioii having prevailed, that they were only meteors generated in the air, like
to thofe we fee in it every night, and in a few moments vasiilhing, no care wa»
taken to obferve or rtcyrd their phsnomcna accurately, til! of late. Henoe this part
of aftronomy is very imperfed. The gctMrral doftrine is, that they are lolid, com.
paa bodies, like other planets, and regulated by the fame laws of gravity, fo «» to
defcribe equal areas in proportional times by radii drawn to the common ccrare. They
move about the fun in very eccentric ellipfes, and arc of a much greater denfity than
the earth ; for fome of them are heattd in every period to luch a dearee as would
vitrify or diffipate any fubftance known to us. Sir Iftac Newton eom^JUtcd the heat of
t XNTRODUCTION.
SEC T. II.
Of the Doctrine of the Sphere.
HAVING, in the foregoing Section, treated of the univhie in g»«
ncrul, in which the earth hai been confidercd as a planet» wre now
proceed to the D«^triiTe of the Spherb, which ought alwaytto be premif-
cd before that of the Globe or earth, ai we (hull fee in the next ScAion.
In handling this fubjct% wc Ihnll confidcr the earth ns at r» ft, and the
heavenly bodies, as perfonoing their revolutions around it. This method
cannot le:id the reader into any miftake, lince we have prcvioufly ex-
plained the true fyrtem of the univcrfe, from which it appears that it it
the real \pnx\on of the earth, which octafmns the apparent motion of the
heavenly bodies. It is befides attended with this advantage^ that it pcr-
fe^Vly agrees with the information of our fenfcs, which always Uad u»
to conceive the matter in this way. The imaginittion therefore is not
put on the ftretch ; the idea is eafy and familiar, and in delivering the cle-
Ificnts of fcicnce, this objcii'l cannot be too much attended to.
N, B. In order more clearly to comprehend what follows, the reader
may oecafionally turn his eye to the figure of the artificial fphere, on the
oppuiite page.
The ancients obferved, that all the ftars turned (in appearance) round
the earth, from eaft to weft, in twcnty«four hours; that the circles
which fhey defcribed in thofe revolutions, were parallel to each o-
ther, but not of the fame magnitude i thofe )>a(ring over the middle of
the earth, being the largeft of all, while the reft diminiflicd in propor*
tion to their diftance from it. They alfo obferved, that there were two
the comet that appeared in the year i6fto, when neareft the fun, to be zooo times
hotter than red-hot iron, and that, being thus heateJ, it muft retain its heat till it comes
nnind agrain, although it* period (hould be more than lo.coo years ; and it is computed
to be only 575. It is believed that there are at leait ai comets belonging to our fyf-
tem, moving in all manner of dire^tion^ ; and all thofe which have been obferved
have moved through the ctherial regions and the orbits of the planets, without fuffer-
ing the lead fenfible refinance in their motitmi, which fufHciently proves that the pla-
nets do not move in folid orbs. tt{ all the comers, the periods of three only are
known with any degree o^ certainty, being found to return at intervals of 75, 129,
*nd 575 yors; and of thefe, that whirh appeared in 1680 is the moft remarkable.
This comet, at its greated diftance, is about 1 1 thoufand zoo millions of miles from
the fun, while its lead diftance from the centre of the fun is about 4uo thoufand
milits ; within lefs than one third part of the fun's femi-diameter from his furface. In
that part of its orbit tvhich is nearell the lun, it flies with the amazing velocity
of 88o,roo miles in an hour; and the fun, as feen from it, appears 100 degrrcs
in breadth, confequently 4o,roo times a» laree as he appears to us. The alio.
Iiiihiiig diftanee that this comet runs out into empty fpace, naturally fuggtfts to our
imagination, the vaft diftauce between our fun and the neareft of the fucd ftars,
pf whofe attra^ions alj the emnets miift keep clear, to return periodically and go
round the fun. Dr. Hjllcy, to whom every part of aftronnmy, but this in a particular
maimer, is highly indebted, has joined his labours to thofe of the great Sir Ifaac
Newton on this OihjcA. Qur earth was out of the way, when this comet laft pafled
near her orbit ; but it requirrs a more perleft knowledge of the motion of the comet,
to be able |o judtfc if it will always pafi by us with fo little efftft ; for it may be hi-re
(ihferved, that the conict, In one part of its orbit, approaches very near to the orb t
#1 fiiir rai th ; fo thaf, in fonie revolutions^ it may approach nrnr enwugh to have verv
conftderable, if not fatal iffefis upon It. §ee Newton, Hallcy, Gregory, KcilJ,
^'Lj^^irid, Durham, Fcrg\ifon, and whiAon,
i
points
000 times
II it comes
computed
o our fyf-
oWtTved
ut fufier-
the pla-
(>nly are
75. »»9»
nurkable.
It8 from
thdufaiid
facL-. Ill
Telocity
degrees
he alln-
to our
cd Aars,
y and go
articular
Sir iraae
A paired
e comet,
br hire
he orb t
live vcfT
U Kcilf,
I
i
points
■->• .«»
INTRODUCTION. . 9
points In the heavens, which alway* preferved the Tame fituation. Thefe
points they termed celcftial poles^ becnufe the heavens Iceined to turn
round them. In order to imitate thefe motipns, they invented what ts
called the Artificial Sfihere, through the centre of which they drew a
wire or iron rod, called an Axis^ whofe extremities were fiired to
the imtnovcable points called Poles, They farther obferved, that oa
the zcth of March, and 23d of September, the circle defcrihed bf' the
fun, was at an equal diflance from both of the poles. This circle*
therefore, muil divide the earth into two equal parts, and on this account
was called the Equator or Equaller, It was alfo irallcd the EquinoHial
Linty bccaufe the fun, when moving in it, makes the days and nights
of equaMength all over the world. Having alfo obferved that from the
2ift of June to the zzd of December, the fun advanced every day ti»r
wards a certain point, and having arrived there, returned towarrds that
from whence he fet out, from the 2 2d of December to the zift of
June; they fixed thefe pointi^ which they called S»lfiice$, hecaufe
the direct motion of the fun was flopped at them ; and rcprefented
the bounds of the fun's motion, by two circles, which they named
Tropics^ hecaufe the fun no fooner arrived there than he turned
back. Afironomers obferving the motion of the fun, found its quan-
tity, at a mean rate, to be nearly a degree (or the 360th part) of a great
circle in the heavens, every 24 hours. This great circle is called the
Ecliptic^ and it palFes through certain conftellations, dilHnguiihed by
the names of animals, in a zone called the Zodiac. It touches the tropic
of Cancer on one fi^e, and that of Capricorn on the other, and cuts the
equator obliquely. To exprefs this motion, they fuppofed two points in
the heavens, equally diAant from, and parallel ro, this circle, which
they called the Poles of the Zodiac, which, turning with the heavens*
by means of their axis, di&iai\>& t)\t two polar circles* In the artificial
fphere, the equinoAial, the two tropics, and two polar circles, are cue
at right angles, by two other circles called Colures, which ferve to mark
the points of the follUces, equinoxes, and poles of the zodiac. The
ancients alfo obferved, thnt when the fun was in any point of his courfe,
all the people inhabiting direflly north and Ibuth, as far as the poles*
have noon at the fame time. This gave occahon to imngine a circle
paffing through the poles of the world, which they called a Meridian,
and which is immoveable in the artificial fphere, as well as the horizon ;
which is another circle reprefenting the bounds betwixt the two hpini-
fpheres, or half fphcres, viz. that which is above it, and that which ia
below it.
SECT. III.
The Dodrlne of the Globe naturally follows that of the
Sphere.
BY the Doftrine of the Globe is meant the rcprefentation of the
different piuces and countries, on the face of the earth, upon an ar-
tificial globe or ball. Now the manner in which geographers have re-
prefeiitcd the fituation of one place upon this earth with repaid to an-
other, or with regard to the earth in general, has been by transferrin^-
the circles of the fphere to the artificial globe ; and this is the only
method they could employ. This will be abundantly obvious ivom au
example. After that circle in die heavens, which is called the equator,
was
to
INTRODUCTION.
Wat known to aftronoiners, there waa nothing more enfy than ta
transftrr it to the cartb, by whkh the lituatlon uf |>laces was determinrd,
according as they lay on one tide of the equator or another. The fame
may be oblerved of the other circles ot the fphere above mentioned.
The reader halving obtained an idea of the principle upon which the
Do^riue uf the Globe is founded, may proceed to confider this do^inc
iiiciif or, in other words, the dercription of our earth, as reprefented by
the artiJUlal^lobt,
Figure of the £arth.3 Though in fpeaking of the earth, along
with the other planets, it was fuiiicient to confider it as a fpheiical or
jtobular body ; yet it has been diicov«red, that this ii not its true
figure, and that the earth, though nearly a fphere or ball, is not per*
tcdtly fo. . This matter occalioned great difpute between the philolb*
phers of the bll a^e, among whom fir Ifaac Newton, and Caffini, a
French aQronomer, were the beads of two difierent parties. Sir Ifaac
demonilrated, from mathematical principles, that the earth was an
aitatt fpbere^ or that it was flatted at the poles, or north and fouth
pMnts, and jutted out towards the equator ; fo that a line, drawn
through the centre of the earth, and paiUng through the poles, which
is called a liiaineter, would aot be fo lung as a line drawn through
the fame centre, and paiSng through the eaft and weit points. The
"f rcnch philofopher afl'erted quite the. contrary. But the matter was
put to a trial by th« French king in 1736^ who font out a com-
piny of philolbphcrs towards the north pule, and likewife towards the
•(^uutor, in order to meafurc a degree, or the three hundred and fixtieth
part of a great circle in thefe different parts ; and from their report, the
opinion of lir Ifaac Newton was confirmed beyond difpute. Since that
time, therefore, the earth has always been contidered as mure flat towards
the poles than towards the equator. The reafon of this figure may be
««lily underiioud, if the reader fully comprehends what we formerly obferr-
cd, with' regard to the earth's motion. For if we fix a ball of clay on a
fpiodle, and whirl it round, we fhitU find that it will jut out or projcd to<
wards the middle, and flatten towards the pules. Now this is exactly the
cafe, with regard to our earth, only that its axis, reprefented by the fpin*
die, is imaginary. But though the earth be not properly fpherical, the
difference frum that figure is fo fmall, that it may be reprefented by a
globe or ball, without any fenfible error.
ClRCUMFBRFNCE AND DIAMETSR OP THE EARTH.] In the general
table which we have exhibited, page j, the diameter of the globe is
given, according to the beft obfervations : fo that its circumference U
25,038 Englifh miles. This circumference is conceived, for the con-
\cnicncy of meafuring, to be divided into three hundred and fixty
parts or decrees, each degree containing fixty geographical miles, or
fixty-ninc English miles and an half. Thefe degrees are in the fame
mnnnt-r conceived to be divided each into fixty minutes.
Axis and potES of the earth.] The Axis of the Earth is that
imaginary line, paffing through its centre, on which it is fuppofed to
turn round once in twenty-four hours. The extreme points of this line
are called the Poles of the earth ; one in the north, and the other in
the fouth, which are exn^ly under the two points of the heavens called
the North and South Poles. The knowledge of thefe poles is of great
ufe to the geographer, in determining the dilVanee and fituation of
places ; for the poles mark us it were the ends of the earth, which is
divided in the middle by the equator ; fu that the nearer one approaches
to
INTRODUCTION.
ft
li
thnt
to
ine
r ill
■illcd
reat
of
I is
lies
to the polei, the farther he removes from the equator, and contrariirifc,
in removiDg front the poles, you approach the eijuator.
Circles of the globe.] Thefe are commonly divided into the
greater and lejfer* A great circle is that whofe plane palles through th«
centre of the earth, and divides it into two equal parts or hemifpherek.
A lefTer circle is that which, being parallel to a greater, cannot paft
through the centre of the earth, nor divide it into two equal parts. The
greater circles are (ix in number, the lcili:r only four.
Eqjjator.] The firlt great circle we (hall fpeak of is the Equator,
which we have had occafion to hint at aleady. It is called fometimes
the EquinolliaU the reafon of which wc have explained ; and by navio
gators it is alfo called the Lw, becsufe, according to their rude no-
tions, they believed it to be a great Line drawn upon the fea from e»il
to wel), dividing the earth into the northern and Ibuthern hemifpheres.
and which they were actually to pafs in failing from the one into the
other. The poles of this circle are the fame with thofe of the world.
It pafl'es through the ead and weft points of the world, and, as has been
already mentioned, divides it into the northern and fouthem hemifpheres.
It is divided into three hundred and Axty degrees, the ufe of which will
loon ap|)ear.
Horizon.] This great circle is reprefented by a broad circular
piece uf wood, encompalUng the globe, and dividing it into the upper
and lower hemifpheres. Greographers very properly didinguidi the
horizon into ^tfenfihle and rational. The iiril may be conceived to be
made by any great plane on the furface of the fea, which feems to
divide the heavens into t'.vo hemifpheres, the one above, the other beloir
the level of the earth. This circle determines the riling or fetting of
the fun and (iars, in any particular place ; for when they begin to ap«
pear above the eaftern edge, we fay they rife, and when they go beneath
the wellern, we fuy they are fer. It appears then that each place has ita
own fenlible horizon. The other horizon, called the rational^ encom«
palles the globe exadtly in the middle. Its poles (that is two points in
Its axis, each ninety degrees diftant from its plane, as thofe of all circlet
are) are called the Ztnitb and Nadir ; the firft exactly above our heads,
and the other dlredly under our feet. The broad wooden circle, which
reprefents it on the globe, has feveral circles drawn upon it: of theff
the innermoft is that exhibiting the number of degrees of the twcli^
ligns of the Zodiac (of which hereafter), viz. thirty to each fign. N«sC
to this, you have the names of thefe iigns. Next to this, the d^yf of
the month according to the- old fiyle, and then according to the new
ftyle. Befides thefe, there is a circle rcprefenting the thirty-two rhumb!',
or points of the mariner's compafs. The ufe of all thcic will ^ ex«
plained afterwards.
Meridian.] The circle is reprefented by the hmfs ring^ on whicH
the globe hangs and turns. It is divided into three hundred and fixty
degrees, and cuts the equator at right angles ; fo that, counting from
the equator each way to the poles of the world, it contains four timet
ninety degrees^ and divides the earth into the eaftern an4 wedern
htniifpht-res. This circle is called the meridian, becaufe whtfi the fun
comes to the fouth part of ir, it is then meridies or mid-day, and then
the fun hits its greateli: altitude for that day, which is thfrft'ore called,
its meridian altitude. Now &s the fun is never in its merldiMl altitude, '
at two pliiccs call or wert of one another at the fame time, each of
thefe places rau(t have its own meridian. There are comn^pBly Inarked
f»
INTRODUCTION.
I. Aries r — —
March
7. Libra ^s —
2* Taurus « — —
April
8. Scorpio wi
3. Gemini n — —
May
9. Sagittarius t
4. Cancer as — ^ — •
June
10. Capricorn Vf
r;. Leo ft —
July
11. Aquarius ;::
." 6, Virgo ttR — —
Auguft
12. Pilces X —
on the pflobe twenty -four meridians, one through every flfteen degrcet
ot the equator.
Zodiac] The Zodiac is a broad circle, which cuts the equator ob«
ti(|uely ; in which the twelve ligns above tnentioned are reprefented.
In the middle or this circle is fuppofed another called the Ecliptic, from
which the fun never deviates in his annual courfe, and in wliich he ad*
ranees thirty degrees every jiionth. The twelve ligns are,
- September
- Oftober
- November
- December
- January
• February.
. CoLVREs.] If you imagine two great circles palling both through
the poles of the world, and one of them through the equinoctial pointu
Aries and Libra, and the other through the folilitiiil points Cancer and
Capricorn, thcfe are called the Colures, the one the Equinoiftial, the
other the Solftitial Colure. Theie divide the ecliptic into four equal
parts or quarteis, which are denominated according to the points which
thefe pais through, viz. the four cardinal' points, and are the firft
points of Aries, Libra, Cancer, and Capricorn ; and thcle are all the
great circles.
Tropics.] If you fuppofe two circles drawn parallel to the equi-
noflial, at twenty«three degrees thirty minutes diltance from it, mea-
fared on the brazen meridian, and one towards the north, the other to*
wards the fouth, thefe are called Tropics, becaufe the fun appears,
when in them, to turn backwards from his former courfe. The one is
called the Tropic of Cancer, the other of Capricorn, becaufe they pafs
through thefe points.
PoLAK CIRCLES.] If two Other circles are fuppofed to be drawn ac
the like dilbnce of twenty-three degrees thirty minutes, reckoned on the
meridian from the pobi' points, thefe are called the Polar Circles.
The n&rtbern is called the ArHic, becaufe the north pole is near the con-
ilellation of the Bear ; the foutbern^ the AntarSiic^ becaufe oppoiitc to
the former. And thefe are the four lelTer circles. Belidcs thefe ten
circles now dcfcribed, which are always drawn on the globe, there are
fevcral others, which are only fuppofed to be drawn on it. T htfe will
be explained as they become neccffary, left the reader fliould be dif-
gufted with too many definitions at the fame time without feeing the
purpofc for which they fcrvc. The main delign then of all thefe cir-
cles being to exhibit the refpe«Stive fituation of pluces on the earth, we
fliall proceed to confidcr more particularly how that is eU'eCted by them.
It wa3. found cafier to dilHnguifli places by the quarters of the e;irth,
in which they lay, than by their dillance from any one point. Thus
after it was difcovered, that the equator divMcd the earth into two parts,
called the Northern and Southern heinifpheres, it was eafy to fee that
ail pluses On the globe mi^ht be dilHnguiflied, according as they lay on
the north or fouth fide of the equator. Befides, nfter the fo'ir leffer
circles we have mentioned came to be known, it was found that the earth
by means of -them, migjt be divided into five portions, and confequently
th:it the places on its furface might be diftinguilhed according as they lay
in one or ot:her of thefe portions, whjch are called Zones, from the
Greek word ^-o.'h;, which lignifics a'girdle ; being broad fpaces, like
fwiithes, j;;irding the earth about. That part of the earth between the
tiu. ~ Tropic?,
INTRODUCT ION.
'^
Tropics, was called by the ancients the Torrid or Uurnt Zone^ becaufe
they conceived, that, being continually cxpofed to the perpendiciilHr or
direct rays of the fun, it was rendered uninhabitable, and contained no^
thing but parched and fandy deiarts. This notion, however, has long
fincc been refuted. It is found that the long nights, great dews, re-
gular rains and breezes, which prevail almofl: throughout the torrid zone,
render the earth not only habitable, but fo fruitful, that in niHny place*
they have two harvclls in a year ; all forts of fpices and drogs are ahnoll
folcly produced there ; and it furnifhcs more perfe^^f4^M(« tJPonuicherry in the Eaft-Indies;
'tttwcon N. and S. America;
^5
30
t3 30
H
'4 30
4 54 '5
32
57
29
10
52
29
20
7
57
44
4J
32
22
19
8
3
'7
18
18
19
•9
20
20
21
21
22
22
23
23
24
Names <<{ Countries and remarkuiiiu piuce* lituated
in every climate north of the equator.
'5 30
16
i6 :
'7
Within the fiift Climate lie the Gold and Silver
Coall in Africa; Malacca in the £aft Indies;
Cayenne and .Surinam in Terra Firma, S. America.
Here lie AbyfTmia in Africa ; Siam, Madrafi, and
jfiMMts of Daricn,
, Tobago, the Cra-
np.dcs, St. Vincent, and Barbadoes in tnc W. Indies.
III. Contains Mecca in Arabia; Bombay, Part of
B.-nj:;.!, in the Eaft-Indies; Canton in China
Mexico, Bay of Campcachy, in North America
Jamaica, Hifpanioia, St. Clirillopher'i), Antigua,
Alurtinico, and Uuadalupc, in the Weft-Indies.
IV. Epypt, and the Canary Iflands, in Africa;
Delhi, capital of the Mogul Empire in Afia
Ouir of Mexico, and EaJl Florida, in North Anie
rica ; the Havanna, in the Weft-lndics.
CJibraltar, in Spain; part of the Mediterranean
iea ; the Barbary coait, in Africa; Jerufalem ; If-
pahan, capital of Pcrfia ; Nanking, m China ; Ca»
iifiiiiiia. New Mexico, VVeft Florida, Georgia, and
the Carolina?, in North America.
VI. Lifljon, in Portugal ; Madrid in Spain ; Ml
norca, Sardinia, and part of Greece, in the Medi-
terranean ; Alia Minor; part of the Cafpian Sea;
Samarcand, in Great Tartary ; Peking, in China ;
Corca and Japan; Williamlburgh, in Virgin.'a;
Maryland, and Philadelphia, in N. Amei'ica.
VII. Northern provinces of Spain; fouthern ditto
of France; Turin, Genoa, and Rome, in Italy,
Conftantinople, and the Black Sea, in Turkey;
the Cafpian Sea, and part of Tartary ; New York,
Bofton in New England, North America.
VIII. Paris, Vienna capital of Germany ; Nova Sco-
tia, Newfoundland, and Canada, in N. America.
IX. London, Flanders, Prague, Drefden ; Cracow
in Poland; fouthern provinces of Ruifia; part of
Tartary ; north part of Newfoundland.
X. Dublin, York, Holland, Hanover, and Tartaryj
Warfaw in Poland; Labrador, and New South-
Wales, in North-America.
XI. Edinburgh, Copenhagen, Mowfcow cap. of RufBa
XII. South part of Sweden ; ToboUki cap. of Siberia
XIII. Orkney Ifles, Stockliolm, capital of Sweden.
XIV. Eergon in Norway ; Peterfburgh in Rufiia.
XV. Hudfon's Straits, North America.
XVI. Siberia, and the South part of Weft Greenland.
XVII. Drontheim, in Norway.
XV III. Part of Finland in Ruffia.
XIX. Archangel on the White Sea, Ruffia.
XX. Hecla, in Iceland.
XXI. Northern parts of RuiSa and Siberia.
XXII. New North Wales in North America,
90'XXni. Davis's Straits, in ditto.
XXIV. Samolcda.
XXV. South part of Lapland. '
XXVL Weft-Greenland.
XXVII. ZembU Auftralis.
XXVIII. Zembla Boreahs.
30
30
30
30
30
1 Mod til
2 Months
3 Months
4 Months
5 MonthSjXXIX. Spit(bcrg«Ji or Eaft Greenland.
6 Months.XXX. Unknown.
I N T R O D U C T I O IJ.
«J
eenland.
The d'lftance of places from the equator, or what is called their l^"
tituJtt n eaiily meaiured on the globe, by mean« of the meridian abuve
dei'crihed. For we have only to bring the place, whofe latitude w«
would know, to the meridian, where the degree of latitude is marked, an J
will be exa<5lly over the place. Now thiii it the manner alKidcd to, by
which the dillance of places from the equator, is mod properly diftiii-
guiilied ; but iv coulU not be adopted, until the figure and circumfereuoe
of the eanh were known, after which it was caly to determine the nuwi
ber of milei in each 360th part or degree of this circumference, and con-
fequcntly know the latitude -of places. As latitude 'n reckoned from ifae
equator towards the poles, it is either northern or fouthern, and the nearer
the poles the greater the latitude ; and no place can have more than 9a
degrees of latitude, bscaufe the poles, where they terminate, arc at toa^
diliance from the equator. j
Parallels of Latitude.] Through every degree of latitude, or
more properly through every particular place on the earth, geographer
fuppofe a circle ^o be drawn, which they- cull a parallel of latitude. The
interfr£lion of this circle, with the meiidian of any place, fllcws the true
fituation of that place.
Longitude.] The Longittrdeoi a place h its fituafioo with regard to
its meridian, and confequently reckoned tf)wards the eaft or weft : in rec-
koning the longitude there is no particular fpot from which we ought to fot
out preferably to another; but, for the advantage of a general lule. the
meriJianof Ferro, the mod wcfterly of the Canary Illands, was coniidercd
as the firfl meridian in mod of the globes and maps, and the longitude of
places was reckoned to be fo many degrees eafl or weft of tltc meridian of
Ferro. Thefe degrees are marked on the equator. No place can have
more than 180 degrees of longitude, becaul'e, the circumference of tlie
globe being 360 degrees, no place can be moved from annther above bait
that diftance ; but many foreign geographers very impropcily reckon the
longitude quite round the globe. The degrees of longitude are not equ^t
like thofe of latitude, bur diminifli in proportion as the meridians incline,
or their didance contra^s in approaching the pole. Hence in 60 degrees
of latitude, a degree of longitude is but half the quantity of a degree oti
the equator, and fo of the reft. The number of miles contained in a df>
gree of longitude, in each parallel of latitude, are fet down in the tabjp
in the following page.
Longitude and Latitude found.') To find the Lohgitude and
Latittidc of any place, therefore, we need only bring that place to tJie
braztu (Meridian, and wc fliall find the degree of longitude marked on the
equator, and the degree of latitude on the meridian. So that to find the
difference between the latitude or longitude of two places, we have only
to compare the degrees of either, thus found, with one another, and the
redu£lion of thefe degrees into miles, according to the table given below,
and, remembering that tvtty degree of longitude at the equator, and every
degree of latitude all over the globe, is equal to 60 geographic miles, or
69! Engliih, we fliall be able exa^ly to determine the dilhnce between
any places on the globe.
Distance of places measured.] The diflance of Places which
||e in an oblique dire«^ion, i. e. neither diredlly I'outh, north, eaH, nor
wefl, from one another, may be meafured in a readier way, by extend-
ing the compaiTes from the one to the other, and then applying them to
the equator. For inftatKe, extead the ccmpafTes fro(n Guinea in Africa,
to
1$
INTRODUCTION.
to Brazil in America, and then apply them to the equator, and you wilt
find ihe diAance to be 21; degreei, which at 60 miles to a degree, maktt
the diUance 1500 mile*.
A T A B L E
SHEWING
The Number of Miles contained in a Decree of LongitudCi in
each Parallel of Latitude from the Equator.
•
■8 .
1 •
•
8^
•
1
!^
I 5
.
3»
1
1-
2^
*■
61
s
**
9 96
r«
43
29
04
2 (
9 94
1
3*
50
88
62
28
17
3 5
9 9»
33
56
32
63
27
24
4 5
9 86
34
49
74
64
26
30
5 5
9 77
35
49
»5
«$
25
36
6 5
i9 67
36
48
54
66
24
4»
l^
■9 56
11
47
92
J7
23
♦S
8 <
19 40
47
28-
68
22
48
9 i
19 20
39
46
62
69
21
SI
10 5
9 08
40
46
CO
70
20
52
II f
,8 89
4»
45
28
7«
'9
54 '
12 1
8 68
42
44
^5
72
18
55
>3 5
8 46
43
43
88
73
'7
54.
»4 i
i8 22
44
43
16
74
16
S3
»5 !
.8 00
45
42
43
'
75
«5
52
16 j
!7 60
46
41
68
76
14
5'
'2 5
17 so'
:?
4«
00
11
•3
^o
18 j
\7 04
•
40
»S
'
12
48
»9 5
;6 73
;6 38
49
3g
36
79
II
45
20 «
50
38
57
80
10
42
21 (
;6 00
s<
37
73
■
81
09
38
22 5
15 <53
5»
37
00
82
08
35
as i
15 23
53
36
18
■
53
67
3^
24 f
J4 81
54
35
26
84
06
28
25 i
i4 38
55
34
41
,
85
05
\l
26 j
•4 00
56
33
55
86
04
27 J
►3 44
57
32
67
87
03
•4
38 5
■3 00
58
3»
79
88
02
09
29 J
;2 a8
59
30
90
89
CI
05
JOJ
1 96
60 ;^o
00
-
90 |oc
CO 1
introduction;
^
QtfADRANT or ALTITUDE.] In ordoT to fupply the place of
compafle& in this operation, there is commoplv a pliant narrow plate «. .
brafs, fcrewed on the brazen meridian, which contains 90 degrees, or
one quarter of the circumference of the globe, by means of which the
difiances and bearings of places are meafured without the trouble of firft
extending the compafles between them, and then applying the fame to the;
equator. This plate is called the Quadrant of Altitude.
Hour circle.] This is a fmall brafs circle fixed on the brazen meri-
dian, divided into 24 hours, and having an index moveable round the axis
of the globe.
PROBLEMS PEILFORMED BY THE GLOBE.
P I'T'HE diameter of an artificial gUie ieing given, to find in
) furfaceinfquarc^anditsfolidilyincubicmeafure,
Muhiply the diameter'by the circumference, which is a ^reat circle
dividing the globe into two equal parts, and the produA will give the
firil : then multiply the faid product by one fixth of the diameter, and
the product of that will give the fecond. After the fame manner vre may
find the furface and folidity of the natural globe, as alfo the whole
body of the atmofphere furrounding the fame, provided it be always and
every where of the fame height ; for having found the perpendicular
height thereof, by that common experiment of the afcent of Mercury at
the foot and top of a mountain, then double the faid height, and add the
fame to the diameter of the earth ; then multiply the whole as a new dia«
meter by its proper circumference, and from the produA fubtradl the
folidity of the earth, it will leave that of the atmofphere.
Prob. 2. To reRify the glohi:.
The globe being fet upon a true plane, raife the pole according^to the
given latitude ; then fix the quadrant of altitude in the zenith, and if
there be any mariner's compafs upon the pedeflal, let the globe be fo fi*
tuated, as that the brazen meridian may iland due fouth and north, ac«
cording to the two extremities of the needle, allowing their variation.
Prob . 3. 7oJtnd the longitude and latitude of any place.
For this, fee above.
Prob. 4. The longitude and latitude of any place ieing given, to find
that place on the globe.
Bring the degree of longitude to the brazen ttieridian ; reckon upon
the iaine meridian the degree of latitude, whether fouth or nortln and
make a mark with chalk where the reckoning ends } the point exaSly un-
der the chalk is the place defired.
Prob. 5. TheJatitude of any place being given^ to find all tbofe plaett
that have the fame latitude.
The globe being redificd (a) according to the latitude of *^ ■ p^^^^ ^^
the given place, and that place being brought to the brazen
meridian, make a mark exa^ly above the. fame, and turning tlio glbbe
round, all thole places palling under the faid thark have the fame latuude
uifh the given place.
Prob. 6. To find the Sun*s place in the Ecliptic at any timtk,
'The month and day being given^ look for the fame upon fli^ wooden
horizon ; and over-againil the day you will find the particular fign and
degree in which the Sun is at tint time, which;fign and degree being
noted in the ecliptic, the fame is the Sun's pla8C| or nearly at the time
defired. -
tfr
INTRODUCTION.
• ?HOP. 7. The mtnfb and Jity hein^; given, at al/o the particulmr lime of
thai day^ to find thofe placet of tht globe to vnbitb the Smh it in tho mtridiam
Ht that particular time.
The pi)lc being elevated according to the ludtiide of the given
|)1acc, briti)! the fitid plai c to the brazen meridian, and Tetting the index
•f the horary circle at the hour of the day, in the (;iven plate, turn the
globe till the index {wints at the upper figure of XII. which done, fix
the globe in that fituaiion, and obferve what places are exat^^ly under the
vpi>cr hetnifphere of the brazen meridian, tor thofe are the places de^
fired.
Pkob. 8. To kuow the length of tht dayimnd night in any place of the
earth at any time.
Elevnte the pole fa) according to the latitude of tho
fa) Prob, %. g',vc,^ pjace ; find the Sun's place in the ecliptic (b) at that
kJ »•»■• • time, which being brought to the eaft fide of the horizon,
let the Index of the horary circle at noon, or the upper figure XII. and
fuming the globe about till the aforefxid place of the ecliptic touch tho
wt-ilern fide of the horizon, look upon the horary circle, and v^'hcrefoever
the index pointeth, reckon the number of hours between the fime and
the upper figure of i j, for that is the length of the day, thf complement
whereof to 24 hours is the length of the night.
Pro B. 9. To know ivhat o'clock it it hy the globe in any part of .he worlds
mnd at any timef provided you know the hour of tlie day where you are at the
fame time.
(c) Prob. » Bring the place in which you are to the brazen meridian,
the pole being raifed (c) according to the latitude thereof,
and fet the Index of the horary circle to the hour of the day at that time,
Then bring the dcfired place to the brazen meiidian, and the index will
|)oint out the prefent hour at that place wherever
tween the two degrees marked, beiw^ reduced to time, will give the
number of days that the fun doth conllantly fliine above the horizon of
the given place ; and the oppofltc arch of tne faid circle will in like man>
^er give the number of dnys in which he is totally abfent, and alfo
will point out which days thofe are. And in the interval he will rife and
fet.
Prob. 1 3. The month avd day being givcn^ to find thojc places on theglobtf
to ivhiih thefuttt t-vhen on the rfteridian^ Jhall be vertical on that day.
The fun's place in the ecliptic being (^) found, bring the /^s pr„,. 4.
fame to the brazen meridian, in which make a fmall mark
ivith chalk, exaftly above the fun's place. Which done, turn the qjlobc
and thofe places which have the fun vertical in the meridian, will fuc>
cellively pafs under the faid mark.
Prob. 14. The month and day Icing given^' to find upon ivhat point of
the compafi the fun then riftth andfetteth in any place-
Elevate the pole according to the latitude of the deiired place,, and,
finding the fun's place in the ecliptic at the given time, bring the fame
to the eaftern fide of the horizon, and you may there clearly fee the point
of the compafs upon which he then rifeth. By turning the globe about
till his place coincide with the weftern fide of the horizon, you may alfo
fee upon the faid circle the exadl point of his fctting.
Prob. 15. To know hy .the globe the length of the longrfl and Jhortcfl days
and }iights in anv part of the "Morld,
Elevate the pole according to the latitude of the given place, and bring
the firft degree of Cancer if in the northern, or Capricorn if in the
fouthern hemifphcre, to the eaft fide of the horizon ; and fetting the in-
dex of the horary circle at noon, turn the globe about till the fign of
Cancer touch the weftern fide of the horizon, and then obferve upon the
horary circle the number of hours between the index and the upper figure
of Xil. reckoning them according to the motion of the index, tor that is
the length of the longeft day, the complement whereof is the extent pf
the Qiorteft niglu. As for the lliortcft day and longed night, they arc
only the reverfe of the former. '
Prob. 16. The hour of the day being given in any place ^ to find thofe
placci of the earth ivhcre it is cither noon or midnight, or any other particular
hour at the fame time.
Bring the given place to the brazen meridian, and ftt tha index of the
horary circle at the hour of the day in thjit place. Then turn about the
globe till the index point at the upper figure of XII. and obferve what
C i places
%f>
INTRODUCTIO N.
place* ire exa^y under the upper femicirde of the braien moriJian, for
in ihcm it it mid-day at the nme given. Which done, turn the glube
about till the index point at the lower figure of XII. and what placet are
then in the lower femicirde of the meridian, in them it it midnight at the
given time. After the fame manner we may find thofe placet that have
anv other particular hour at the time given, by moving the globe till the
index point at the hour defired, and obferving the placet that are then un-
der the biazen meiidian.
PaoE. 17. T/jc Jay and hour leing given^ to find by the globe that parti'
eular place of the earth to which the fun it vertical at that very time.
The fun't place in the ecliptic {a) being found and
^'^p*"'- ^' brought to the brazen meridian, make a mark above the
\ ) Roi. 1 . ^^^^ ^yi^i^ ^i^^ii^ , ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^1^^^^ placet of the earth in
whofe meridian the fun it at that itvf^unt, and bring them to the brazen
meridian ; which done, obferve narrowly that individual part of the
c.irth which falli exadly under the aferelaid mark in the biazcn meri-
dian ; for that it the particular place to which the fun it vertical at that
veiy time.
Paor. 18. The day and hour at any place being given^ to jind all thjfe
places where the fun it then rijing^ orfettiugt or on the meridian ; confequeut-
ly^ all thofe places vnhich are enlightened at t^jat time^ and thofe vthich are in
tbc dark.
This problem cannot be folved by any globe fitted up in the common
fvff with the hour-circle fixed upon the brafs meridian ; unlcfs the fun
be on or near fome of the tropics on the given day. But by a globe fit-
ted up according to Mr. Jofeph Harrit s invention, where the hour>
drcle lies on the furface of the globe, below the meridian, it may
be folved for any day in the year, according to his method ; which it as
follows.
Having found the place to which the fun is vertical at the given hour,
If the place be in the northern hcmifphere, elevate the north pole at
B^any decreet above the horizon, as are equal to the latitude of that
place ; if the place be in the fouthern hemifphere, elevate the fouth pole
accordingly ; and bring the faid place to tbe brazen meridian. Then,
all thofe places which are in the weflern femicirde of the horizon, have
the fun riling to them at that time ; and thofe in th^ eaftern femicirde
Bave it fetting; to thofe^ under the upper femicirde of the brafs meridi-
an, it is noon ; and to thofe under the lower femicirde, it is midnight. All
thofe places which are above the horizon, are enlightened by the fun,
and have the fun jull as many decrees above them, as they themfelves are
above the horizon; and this height may be known, by fixing the quu-
drant of altitude on the brazen meridian over the place to which the fun
is vertical ; and then layiu? it over any other place, obferve what num-
ber of degrees on the quadrant are intercepted between the faid place and
the horizon. In all thofe places that arc 1 8 degrees below the wcOeru
femicirde of the horizon, the morning twilight is jull beginning ; in all
thofe places that arc 18 degrees below the femicirde of the horizon, the
evening twilight is ending; and all thofe places that are lower than 18
degrees, have dark night.
If any place be brought to the upper femicirde of tlic brazen meridian,
and the hour index be fet to the upper XII. or noon, and then thc.globc
be turned round eallward on its axis : when the place comes to the weft-
cm femicirde of the horizon, the index will (hew the time of fun-rifing
INTRO D U C T I O N.
II
«t ihtt place I m<\ wlien the fame place comei to the eaftern femicircle of
the horicon, the inJrx wilt (hew the .time of fun-fet
To thofe places which do not uo under the horixon, the fun fcti not
ou that day : and to thofe which do not come above iti the fun doei not
rife.
Pro». 19. 7'^e menlh and day hiMg givtn^ with the plan tf tht m»»m
ill the zodiac ano her tmt lalitudf^ to find thtrthy tht txaff hour tvhen Jhi
Jhollrifi aitdjltt togtthvr V)itb htr fouthing^ orstmiHglo iht mtridimn •/ ikt
place.
The moon's place in the zodiac may be found rendily enoii^jh at any
time by nn ordinary almanack ; and her latitude, which ii her diilancc
from the ecliptic, by applying the femicircle oi pofition to her place in
the zodiac. For the folution of the problem («), elevate /j\i»,oi.i
the pole according to the latiluwPljf-the.givtn place, and
the fun's place in the ecliptic at thi^ tfme'btit^ (*) fouftd-i' *|>.* ■
and mnrked with chalk, as alfo the mWM^'i place atYtic f>tro«, xH^/'"** ^
bring the fun's place to the brazen merWiali, and fet the ind«j|jjM'|^
horary circle at noon, then turn the globe tlU the moon's place l\3lt$myt-
ly meet with the e<«llcrn and wcllern fide of the horizon, as alfo tlie bra«
zen meridian, and the index will point at thofe various timei, the parti*
cular hours of her rifing, fetting, and fouthing.
Prob. 20. Two places being given on th« globe^ to find the true dijiantt
between tlnm.
Lay the graduated edge of the quadrant of altitude over ^th the
places, and the number of degrees intercepted between them will btl their
true diflance from each other, reckoning every degree to be 69 j Eoglifli
miles.
Prob. at. A place being given on the globe ^ and iti true diftance from a
Jfcondplace% to find thereby all other placet of the earth that art of tht fame
dijlance from the given place.
Bring the given place tc the brazen meridian, and elevate the pole ac-
cording to the latitude of i faid place ; then fix the quadrant of altitude
in the zenith, and reckon upon th*; laid quadranr, the given diftance be>
tween the firft and fccond place, provided the fame be under 90 degrees*
otherwife you mvift ufe the femicircle of pofition, and making a mark
where the reckoning ends, and moving the faid quadrant or- femicircle
quite round upon the furface of the globe, all places paffing under that
mark, are thofe dciitcd.
GEOGRAPHICAL OBSERVATIONS.
/
1. The latitude of any place is equal to the elevation of the pole above
the horizon of that plnce, and the elevation of the equator is equal to the
complement of the latitude, that is, to what the latitude wants of 90 de-
grees.
2. Thofe places which lie on the equator, have no latitude, it being
there thac the latitude begins ; and thofe places which lie on the firft me*
ridian have no longitude, it being there that the longitude begins. Con-
(equcntly, that particular place of the earth where the firft meridian inter-
feas the equator, has neither longitude nor latitude.
3. All places of the earth do equally enjoy the benefit of the fun, ia.
refpeft of time, and are equally deprived of it.
4. All places upon the equator have their days and nights equally
long, that is, 12 hours each, at all times of the year. For although
the fun declines alternately, from the equator towards tlie north and
C 3 tq-
it
I N T R O I^ U C T I O K.
towards the fouth, yet, ns the horixou of the equator cuts all the parattefs
of latitude and declination in halves, tlie fun muft always continue a^ove
the horizon for one half a diurnal revolution about the earth, and for the
ether half below it.
c. In all plices of the earth between the equator and poles, the day*
aind nights arc equally long, viz. 12 hours each, wh<>n the fun is in the
equinoiftia! : for, in all the elevations of ths pole, fliort of 90 degrees
(which is the grcaieft), one half of the equator or equinodlial will be
above the horizon, and the other half below it.
6. The days and nights arc never of an equal length at any place
between the equator and polar circles, but when the fun enters the ligna
«y Aries and td Libra. For in eVcry other part of the ecliptic, the
circle of the fun's daily motion is divided into two unequal parts by the
horizon.
7. The nearer that any place is to the equator, the lefs is the difference
between the length of the days and nights in that place ; and the more
remote, the contrary. The circkn which the fun defcrlbes in the heaven
cveiy 24. hoursj being cut mdic nearly equal in the former cafe, and more
unequal in the latter.
8. In all places lying upon any given parallel of latitude, however long
or fliort the day and night be at atiy one of thefe places, at any time of the
year, it is then of the fame length at all the reft ; for in turning the globe
round its axis (when rei'^ified according to the fun's dcclinutionj, all thefe
places will keep equally long above or below the horizon.
9. The fun is vertical twice a year to every place between the tropics ;
♦o thofe under the tropics, once a year; but never any where elfe. For,
there can be no pl.icc between the tropics, but that there will be two
points in the Ecliptic, whufe declinations from the equator is equal to the
latitude of that place ; but one point of the ecliptic which has a dcclina*
tion equal to the latitude of places on the tropic ivhich that poinr of the
ecliptic touches ; and as the fun never goes without the tropics, he can
never be vertical to any place that lies without them.
lo.'^n all places lying exadly under the polar circles^, the fun, tvhcn
he is in the neared tropic, continues 24 hours above the horizon without
fctting ; becaufe no part of that tropic is below their horizon. And
when the fun is in the fartheft tropic, he is for the fame length of time
without rifmg ; becaufe no part of that tropic is above their horizon.
But, at all other times of the year, he rifcs and fcts there, ai in other
p'nces ; becaufe all the circles that can be drawn parallel to the equator,
bt t'.vccn the tropics, are more or lefs cut by the horizoin, as they are far-
ther from, or nearer to, that tropic which is all above the horizon ; and
when tht: fun i; not in either of the tropics, his diurnal courfe mull be in
one or other of thefe circles. ;""'
1 1. To iiil i^Iacts in the northern hemil.here, from the equator to the
polrir circle, the loni^cft day and Ihorteil night is when the (un is in the
northern tropic ; and the Ihorteft day and longeft night is when the fun is
in tht; I'ouihern tropic ; becaufe no circle of the fun's daily motion is i'o
much above the horizon, and fa little below it, as the northern tropic ;
and no i fo little above it, aad fo much below it, as the fouthern. In
the foul hern hcrnifphcre the contrary.
12 In ;ill pl.iccs between the polar circles and poles, the fun appears
for fomr nitmbci* of days (or rather diurnal revolutions) without fetting ;
and H tiit oppolitc time of the year without riling : becaufe fome part of the
., ^; ,.. ^' . , ._ . ecliptic
INTRODUCTION*
23
ecliptic never fets in the former cafe, and as much of t\\t oppofite jniit
never rifcs in the latter. And the nearer unto, or the more remote from,
the pole, thefe places arc, the lon^r or iliortcr is the fun's continuing
prefence or abfence. -
13. If a fliip fets out from any port, and fails round the earth call*
ward to the fame port again, let her take what time flie will to do it in,
the people in that fliip, in reckonin^a^ their time, will gain one complete
day at their return, or count one d.iy more than thoftt who relid^ at the
fanfe port ; hecaufe, by goin|; contrary to the fun's diurnal motion, and
being forwarder every even'ng than they were iu the morning, their ho-
rizon will get fo much the founer above the fetting fun, than if they had
kept for a whole day at nny particular place. And thus, by cutting oft'
a part proportionable to their own motion, from the length of every day,
they will gain a complete day of that fort at their return ; without gaiiv-
ing one m(»ment of abfolute tinte more than is elapfed duiing their courfe,
to the people at the pert. If they fail vveilivard they will reckon one day
lefs than the people do who rcfide at the fnid port ; becaufe, by gradually
following the apparent diurnal motion of the fun, they will keep him each
particular day fo much longer above their horizon, as anfwers to that day's
courfe; and thereby they cut off a. whole day in reckoning, at their re«
turn, without loling one moment of abfolute time.
Hence, if two fliips fliould fet out at the fame time from any port, and
fail round the globe, one eaftward and the other wcllward, fo as to meet
at the fame port on any day whatever, they will differ two days in reckon-
ing their time, at their return. If they fail twice round the earth, they
will differ four days ; if thrice, then fix, &c.
OF THE NATURAL DIVISIONS OF THE EARTH.
TH E conflituent parts of the Fjirth arc two, the la/rJ and water.
The parts of the land are continents, illands, peninfulas, ifthmufes,
promontories, ca|)es, coafts, mountains, &c. This land is divided into
two great continents (befides the illands), viz. the eafier>t and wejlcrn
continent. The eailcrn is fubdivided into three parts, viz. Europe, on
the northweft ; Afia, on the north-eafl: ; and Africa (which is joined to
Afia by the idhmus of Suez, 60 miles over), on the fouth. The wedern
continent confids of North and South America, joined by the iflhmus of
Daiicn, 60 or 70 miles broad.
A continent is a large portion of land, containing feveral countries or
kin<;dom8, without any entire feparation of its parts by water, as
Europe. An illatid is a fmallcr part of land, quite furrounded by water,
as Great Britain, hpeninfula is a traA of land every where furrounded
by water, except at one narrow neck, by which it joins the neighbour-
ing continent ; as the Morea in Greece : and that neck of land which fo
joins it, is called an ijihmus : as the idhmus of Suez which joins Africa
to Afia, and the iithmus of Darien which joins North and South Ame-
rica. A promontory is a hill, or point of land, ftretching itfcif into the
fea, the end of which is called a cape ; as the cape of Good Hope. A
coaft or Jljore is that part of a country which borders on the fea-fide.
Mountains, vallies, woods, deferts, plains, &c. need no defcription.
The moil reinarjcable at-e taken notice of, and defcribed ia the body of
this work,
C 4 Tb#
«4
INTRODUCTION.
The pirti of the vrater are oceans, feas, lakes, ftraits, gulfs, bays, or
creeks, rivers, &c. The waters are divided into three exteafive oceans
(bcfides lefler feas, which are only branches of thefc), viz. the Atlantic^
the Pacific^ and the Indian Ocean. The Atlantic, or WeOern Ocean,
divides the eaftcrn nnd wcilern continents, and is 3000 miles wide.
The Pacific divides America from Alia, and is 10,000 miles over. The
Indian Ocean lies between the £aft Indies and Africa, being 3000 miles
wide.
The ocean is a great and fpacious coUed^ion of water, without any
entire feparation of its parts by land ; as the Atlantic Ocean. The feci
is a fmaller coUet^ion of water, which communicates with the ocean,
confined by the land ; as the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. A lake is
a large colled\ion of water, entirely furrounded by land ; as the lake of
Geneva, and the lakes in Canada. A Jlrait is a narrow part of the fea,
redrained or lying between two fliores, and opening a paifage out of one
fea into another ; as the ftrait of Gibraltar, or that of Magellan. This
is fometimes called a found ; as the ftrait into the Baltic. A gulf is a
part of the fea running up into the land, and furruunded by it, except
at the paifage whereby it is communicated with the fua or ocean. If a
gulf be very large, it is called an inland fea ; as the Mediterranean : if
it do not go far into the land, it is called a hay^ as the Bay of Bifcay :
if it be very fmall, a creeks baven^ flation^ or road for fliips, as Milford
Haven. Rivers, canals, brooks, &c. need no dcfcription : for thcfe
leflcr divifions of water, like thofe of land, are to be met with in mod
cbuntries, and every one has a clear idea of what is meant by them. But
in order to ilrengthen the remembrance of the great parts of land and
water we have defcvibed, it may be proper to obferve, that there is a
Arong analogy or refemblance between them.
The defcription of a continent refembles that of an ocean ; an ifland
encompalTed with water refembles a lake encompaiTed with land. A pe«
xiinfuia of land is like a gulf or inland fea. A promontory, or cape of
}and, is like a bay or creek of fea : and an ifthmus, whereby two lands
are joined, refembles a ftrair, which unites one fea to another.
To this defcription of the divifions of the earth, rather than add an
enumeration of the various parts of land and water, which correfpond to
them, and which the reader will find in the body of the work, we (liall
fubjoin a table, exhibiting the fuperficial content of the whole globe in
fquare miles, fixty to a degree, and alfo of the feas and unknown parts,
the habitable earth, the four quarters or continents ; likewife of the great
empires and principal iflands, which ihall be placed as they are fuburdt>
Date to one another in magnitude.
7 -
"If , ' • ■
■ ' f
Tne
sJT
INTRODUCTION.
25
Square
m\e».
Iflands.
.SquBie
Miles,
j6,ooo
lilandi.
ii
rlie Globe —
'99.5'»)S'>5
Hifpaniiila
t>kye
_
900
Scu» and unknown Par(» —
100,512,016
Newfuundlaiid
,1!,5oo
Lewi*
>.
8D0
The Habitahic World • —
38,990,569
Ccvlon
Ireland
—
i 7,7 JO
Funcn
>-
768
Kuropc — — -^—
4,45C>,(/)5
—
»7,457
Vvica
—
fiij
Alia —
jo,7«'<,8i3
Formofa
—
1 7,c/0o
Minorca
to-
<»«
Africa — — —
9,6^4.^07
Anian
.-
11,90c
lUhodes
>
480
14,110,874
Gilolo
—
10400
Cuphalonia
—
4*0
Pcrtian Empire under Darius
i,6i(o,coo
Sicily
—
9.^00
7^00
lAmboya
— .
40«j
Rnin. Kmp. in its utmoft height
1,610,000
Timor
—
Urkneyl'oniona
•j»4
4,t6i,6«5
Sardinia
—
6600
Scio
_
jr.o
Chinefc —
1,749,000
Cyprus
—
6300
Martinico
—
t6o
Great Mogul — —
i,ii6^J0
050JI57
BOO,OCO
Jamaica
Klores
—
6.00
Lemuos
_
120
Turkifli — — —
—
6(iof)
Corfu
__
'94
Ccram
—
5400
Providence
«M
16S
Urcton
—
4U00
Man
—
160
■ Dnrneo — —
aiS.ooo
Socatra
-
3600
Bonibolm
—
160
Madagafcar — —
i6S,ooo
Caiidia
—
;)2zo
Wight
Malta
_
150
Kun>atra — —
laj.oo
l*orto Ric»
_
3200
ISO
Japan — —
Great Britain — —
ll><,000
Corlica
»
2520
barba915
iZant
__
1(0
•3
Celebes — ~
6S,400i
Majorca
—
1400
Antigua
ICO
Manilla — —
58,500'
St. jHjro
—
1400
St.Chrlftoph
cr'»
86
Iceland ~ ^ —
46,ocoi
Ncgiopont
—
1300
St. Helena
—
80
Terra del Fuego —
4».o7'!;
Peneriff
—
iz'yi
Gucrnfcjr
_
.JO
Mindinao — —
39,iOO
Gotiiland
—
1000
Jericy
_
4.1
Cuba — —
.38,400
Madeira
—
9!io
Ucrniudat
_
40
3«.»Jo
■St. Michac
1
()l(Sl
Rhode
—
36
To thefe iflandj may be ad
led the following, whit
h have lately been dlfcovered,
!«• more fully explored. Thee
may be arranged lin the follow
tadl dimcnflons of them
are not afctrtained ; but they
ing order, according to
their magnitude, beginning at
the lurgeft, which is fuppoled
to be nearly e(|uul in
ize to the whole contiucut ol
ICurope :
New Holland,
Otahcite, or Ki
ng George'v Ifland,
New Guinea,
Friendly Iflandi
)>
New Zealand,
Marquefas.
New Caledonia,
Eader, or Daviit's Ifland.
New Hebrides,
Winds and tides.] Wc cannot finiih the doftrine of the earth,
\vttl)0ut confulering Winds and Tides, from which the changes that hapr
pen on its furfacc principally arife.
W'iNDs.] The earth on which wc live is every where furrounded by
a fine invilible fluid, which extends to feveral miles above its rurtace,
and it called jlir. It is found by experiment, that a finall quantity of
air is capable of being expanded, fo as to fill a very large fpacc, or to be
comprclicd into a much fmaller compafs than it occupied before. The
general caufe of the expantion of air is heat, the general caufc of its
comprelTion is cold. Hence if any part of the air or atmofpherc receive
a greater degree of cold or heat than it had before, its parts will be put
in motion, and expanded or comprefled. But when air is put in motion,
wc call it -wind in general ; and a breeze, gale, or Aorm, according to the
qiiicknefs or velocity of that motion. Winds, therefore, which arc cou-
•• The number of inhabitants com- -% C Europe contains
piited at prefent to be in the known / \ Afia
world at a medium, taken from the > \ Africa
lull calculations, are about 953 mil- I /America
liuus. J *•
Ucunipc loiiiairis —
Afia — .
Africa 1
153 Millioxu,
150
»50
Toul 9^3
monly
(£6
INTRODUCTION.
Monlj conudcred »% things extremely rariable and uncertain, depend on
a general caule, and a£t with more or lefs uniformity in t>i'oportion as
the apafs without much variation, are uf three kinds : i. The
General 7 ra^c If tntiswhkh extend to near thirty dtgrees of latitude or\
each ftde of the equator in the Atlantic, £thiopic, and Pacific feats.
3. The Mon/oons, or fhifting trade winds, which b'ow fix mouths in one
dtredHon, and the other ilx months in the oppofire dire<5tions. Thel'e
are moflly in the Indian, or Eaflern Ocean, and do not extend above
two hundred leagues from the land. Their change is at the vernal and
autumnal equinox, and it is accom palsied with terrible (lorms of thunder,
lightning, and rain. 3. The Sea and LanJ Breezes, which are another
kind of periodical winds, that blow from the land from mid-night to
nid^day, and from the fca from about noon, till midnight : thcfc, how-
ever, do not extend above two or three Ic.igucs from fliorc. Near the
coaflb of Guinea in Africa, the wind blows nearly always from the wefi,
Ibuth-wefi, or fouth. On the coaft of Peru in South America, the winds
blow conftantly from the fouth-wefi. Beyond the latitude of thirty
north and Ibuth^ the winds, as we daily pirceive in Great Britain, are
more variable, though they blow oftcner from the well: than any other
point. Between the fourth and tenth degree of north latitude, and be-
tween the longitude of Cape Vcrd and the en'fternmoft of the Cape Vcrd
Ill;mds, there is a tradt of fea condemned to perpetual calms, attended
with terrible thunder and lightning, and fuch rains, that this fca has
Acquired the naine of the Rahs.
It may be alfb uftful to liudents in navigation and geography to ob-
fcrve farther, that the courfe or latitude our Ihips grneriilly keep in thtir
IJaffige from England to America and the Well Indites, is
To Bodon in New England, and Halifax in Nova Scotia, from 42 to^
43 degrees.
To New York by the Azores or Wcflern Iflands, 39 degrees.
To Carolina and Virffmia by Madeira, which is called the upper
courfe, 32 dfgrees : but the ufual courfe, to take advantage of the trade
winds, is from 16 to 23 degrees; and in f.iis courfe they frequently
fonch at Antigua : it is this courfe our Weft India (hips fail in.
The Spanifli galleons and the flota froin Spain keep from i ; to 1 8 de-
gr«cs ; and in their return to Spain about 37 degrees.
TiDiiS.] By the tides are mennt that regular motion of the fca, ac-
cording to which it ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four hours. The
doftrine of the Tides reinaincd in obfcurity till the immortal Sir Ifaac
Newton explained it by his great principle of gravity or attrifphere farthcll from the moun, the parts in the
nadir biing lefs atini^ted by her than the other parts which are nearer
to her, gravitate lefs towards the earth's centre, and confcquently mud
be higher than the refl:. Thofe parts of the caith, on the contrary, where
the moon appears on the horizon, or ninety degrees didant trom the
zenith and nadit't will have low water ; for as the waters iti the zenith
and nadir rife at the fame time, tht waters in 'heir neighbourhood will
profs toWilrds thofe rlaces to maintain the equilibrium ; to fupply the
places of thei'e, others will move the fame way, and fo on to the placet
ninety degrees didant from the zenith and n.«dir, where the water will
be lowed. By combining this do£lrine with the diurnal motion of the
earth, above explained, wc fliall be fcniible of the reafon why the tides
ebb and flow, twice in twenty-four hours, in every place on this globe.
The tides are higher than ordinary twice every month, that is, about
the times of new and full moon, and are called Spring Tides : for at thefe
limes the th the fun and moun are united, and draw in the
fame firaight line, and confcquently the iea niuft be more elevated. Ac
the conjunt^Uon, or when the fun and moon are on the famr fide of the
earth, they both tronfpiVe to raife the waters in the zenith, and con-
fequently m the nadir ; and at the oppofition, or when the earth is be-
tween the fun and moon, while one occaiions high water in the zenith
and nadir, the other does the fame. The tides are \t(i than ordinary
twice every month, about the (irft and lad quarters of the moon, and
arc called Neap Titles ; for in the quarters the fun raifes the waters where
the moon dcprcfles them, and deprefles where the moon raifes them: fo
that the tides are only occafioncd by the difference by which the a^ion of
the moon, which is nearcft us, prevails over that of the fun. Thefe
things would happen uniformly, were the whole furface of the earth co-
vered with water t but fitice there arc a multitude of iflands, and conti-
nents, which interrupt the natural courfe of the water, a variety of ap-
pearances are to be met with in different places, which cannot be explained
without regarding the fituation of fhorcs, ftraits, and othef objcds, which
have a fliare in producing them.
There are frequently llireams or currents in the Ocean, which fet fliips
a j»rcat wav beyond their intended courfe. There is a current between
Florida and the Bah:ima Iflands, which always runs from north to fouth..
A current runs contbntly from the Atlantic, through the ftraits of GI«<
braltar, into the Mediterranean. A current fets out of the Baltic fea,
through the Sound or ftrait between Sweden and Denmark, into the
Britifh channel, fo that there are no tides in the Baltic. About fmall
iflands and head-lands in the middle of the oce»n, the tides rife very lit-
tle ; but in fome bays, and about the mouths of rivers, they rife from 12
to 50 feet.
Maps,] A map is the reprefentation of the earth, or a part thereof,
on a plane furface. Maps differ from the globe in the fame manner as a
picture does from a iUtue. The globe truly reprefcnts the earthy but a
ma;\
'I
ftS
INTRODUCTION.
tnap no more than s plnne furfice can reprefent one that is fpheric^.
But although the earth can never be exhibited exactly by one map, yet,
by means of fcvcrul of them, each containing about ten or twenty de*
grecs of latitude, the rfprefentation will not fall very much fliort of the
giolx for cxadncfs; bccaufc I'uch maps, if joined together, would form
a fpherical convex nearly as round as the globe itfelf.
Cardinal Points.] The north is conAdercd as the upper part of
the map ; the fouth is at the bottom, oppofite to the north ; the ea{\
18 on the right hand, the face being turned to the north ; "nd the weft
on the left hand, oppolite to the ead. From the top to the bottom are
drawn meridians, or lines of longitude ; and from fide to fide, parallels of
Lvitudc. The outermoll of the meridians and parallels are marked with
degrees of latitude, or longitude, by means of which, and the fcale of
miles commonly placed in the corner of the map, the fituaiion, diftance,
&c. of places, may be found as on ths artificial globe. Thus to find
the dilbnce of two places, I'uppofe London and Paris, by the (nap, we
have «nly to meafure the fpace between them with the compafTes or a
bit of thread, and to apply this diftance to the fcalc of miles, which
^ews thut London is 210 miles diftant from Paris. If the places lie di-
re(flly north or fouth, eaft or weO, from one another, we have only to ob-
ferve the degrees on the meridians and parallels, and by turning thefe into
iniles,^ we obtain the dilbnce without meafuring. Ritrers are 3cfcribed
in maps by black lines, and are wider towards the mouth than towards
the head of the fpi'ing. Mouniains are (ketched on maps as on a pic<
fure. Forefts and woods are reprefented by a kind of (hrub ; bogs and
morafll-s, by fliades ; fands and fliallows are defcibed by fmall dots ; and
roads ufually by double lines. Near harbours, the depth of the water
is expreffed by figures reprefenting fathoms.
Lewgth of miles in DifFERENT countries.] There is fcarccly
a greater variety in any thing than in this fort of meafure : not only
thofe of fe}»arate count) ics differ, as the French from the Englifli, but
thofe of ?he fame country vary, in the different provinces, and all com-
monly from the flandard. Thus the common Englilh mile differs from
the flatute mile, and the French have three forts of leagues. We fliall
here give the miles of feveral countries compared with the £nglifh by
Dr, Halley.
The Englidi ilatute mile confifts of 5280 feet, 1760 yards, or 8 fur.
lon{;s. ,
The Ruffian vorft is little more than -} Englifh.
The TiMkifh, Italian, and old Roman lefler mile is nearly 1 Englifh. ;.
The Arabian, ancient and modern, is about 1 J Englifli.
The Scotch and Irifli mile is about i^ Englilh.
The Indian is almoft 3 Englifh. ,
The Dutch, Spanifh, and Polifli, is about 3^ Englifh.
The German is more than 4 Englifli.
The Swedifli, Danifli, and Hungarian, is from 5 to 6 Englifli.
The French common league is near 3 Englifh, and
The Englifli marine league is 3 Englifli mills.
">»
•■h\' "'
fJr r
-,, ,.
PART
INTRODUCTION.
«9
PART
II.
OF THE ORIGIN OF NATIONS, LAWS, GOVERNMENT,
AND COMMERCE.
HAVING, in the following work, mentioned the ancient namei uf
countries, and even fomctimet, in fpeakiiig of thefe countries, car-
tur refearches beyond modern times ; it was thought neceflary, in
order to prepare the reader for entering upon the particular hiftory of
each country vk defcribe, to place before his eye a general view of the
hiftory of mankind, from the iirft ages of the world, to the reformation
in religion during the i6th century. By a hidory of the world, we do
not mean a mere lift, of dates, which, when taken by itfelf, is a thing
extremely ihfignificant ; but an account of the moft intereding and im-
portant events which have happened among mankind ; with the caufes
gifiicriUy ;
acknowledged to be of fupcrior authority.
and
3*
INTRODUCTION.
and among the Egyptians, Hnm was \onfr revered as a divinity, under
the name of Juptter-Hummon. It appears cbat hiuiting was the princi-
pal occupation fome centuries after the deluge. The world teemed with
wild beafts ; and the great hetoifm of thofe times ^ontiAcd in d'.'ilroying
diem. Hence Nimrod acquired immortal renown ; and by the admira-
tion whi«,^h his courage and dexterity univerfally excited, was en-
^^'* abled to acquire an authority over his £eUuw>creaturca, and
to found at BaWlon the lirfl monarchy whofe origin is particutlrljr
mentioned in hiftory. Not long after, the foundation of Nineveh was
laid by Affur; in Egypt the four governments of Thebis, Theri.
Memphis, and Tanis, began to alTume fome appearance of form and
regularity. That thefe events (hould have happened fo foon after the
deluge, whatever furprife it may have occufloned to the learned fame
centuries ago, need not in the fmalleft degree excite the wonder of the
prefent age. We have feen, from many inilanres, the powerful cffeds
of the pnnciples of pupuhiion, and how fpeedily mankind increafe
when the generative faculty lies under no rcuraint. The kingdoms of
Mexico and Peru were incomparably more cxtendve than thofe of
Babylon, Nitieveh, and Egypt, during this eariy age ; and yet thefc
kingdoms are not fuppofed to have exifted four centuries before the
difcovery of America by Columbus.^ As mankind continued to multiply
on the earth, and to feparate from each other, the tradition conccrnmg
1^ the true God was obliterated or obfcured. This occafioncd.the
9^^ • calling of Abraham to be the father of a chofen people.
From this period the hiflory of ancient nations begins a little to expand
iifelf ; and we learn fevcral particulars of very confiderable import-
ance.
Mankind had not long beei> united into focieties before they fet them-
felves to opprefs and dcaroy one another. Chaderlaomer kinn^ of the
Elamites, or Perlians. was already become a robber and a conqueror.
His force, however, inuft not have been very confidet:able, fince^ in one
of thefe expeditions, Abraham, afTillec only by his houdiold, fet up-
on him in his retreat, and, after a fierce engageincnr, recovered all the
Ipoil that had been taken. . Abraham was foon after obliged by a
famine to leave Canaan, the country where God had conunanded him to
fettle, and to go into Egypt* This journey gives occaiion to Mofes to
mention fome particulars with regard to the Egyptians, and every ftroke
. difcovers the characters of an improved and powerful nation. The court
of the Egyptian monarch is dcfcribed in the moft brilliant colours.
He is furrounded with a crowd of courtiers, folely occupied in gratifying
\iia paflions. The particular governments into which this country was
divided) are now united under one powerful prince ; and Ham, who
led the colony into Egypt, is become the founder of a mighty empire.
We are not, however, to imagine, that all the laws which took place in
Egypt, and which have been fo julliy admired for their wifdoin, were
the work of this early age. Diodorus Siculus, a Greek writer, men-
tions many fucceffive princes, who laboured for their ellablifliment and
perfection. But in the time of Jacob, two centuries after, the firft prin-
ciples of civil order and regular government fecm to have been tolerably
• According to Dr. Playfair's chronological tables, the birth, of Abraham i» fixed at
■before Chrifl ;,o6o, aad hi» being called out of Urr at 1986.
undcrftood
INTRODUCTION.
J«
|« fixed -At
icrllood
gnderftood among the Egyp«an% The country wai divided into (everal
diftri^g or fcparatc departmrnts ; councils, compofi-d of experienced »nA
ieled\ pelfons, were edabliflied for \c management of public uftain f
granaries for prcfcrving corn were ere£ted ; and, in fine, the Egyptiam
in this age, enjoyed a commerce far from inconfidcrablc. Theie fiMSi,
though of an ancient date, deferTC our particular attention. It is from
the Egyptians, that many of the arts, buth of elegance and utility,
hiive been handed down in an uninterrupted chain to the modern nuiioM
of Europe. The Egyptians communicated their arts to the Greeks ;
the Greeks taught the Romans many improvements both in the arts uf
-e. The kingdom of Sicyon near Corinth, founded by the Pclafgi,
is generally fuppofed to have commenced in the year before Chrift 3090.
To thefe lirft inhabitants fucceed a colony from Egypt, who, about acoo
years before the Chriftian sera, penetrated into Greece, and, under the
name of Titans, endeavoured to ellablifli monarchy in this country, and
to introduce into it the laws and civil policy of the Egyptians. But the
empire of the Titans foon fell afunder ; and the ancient Greeks, who
fecm at this time to be as rude and barbarouc as any people in the world,
anain fell back into their lawlef« -and favage manner of life. Several
colonicf, however, foon after paiied over from Ada into Greece, and by
remaining in that country, produced a more conlidcrable alteration in
the manner of its inhabitants. The mod ancient of thefe were the colo-
nies of Inachus and Ogyges ; of whom the former fettled in Ar- g
gos, and the latter in Attica. We know very little of Ogyges * '*°'
or his fucceflbrs. Thofe of Inachus endeavoured to unite the difjierfed
and Wiindeiing Greeks ; and their endeavours for this purpofe were noc
altogether unfuccefsful.
But the hiftory of God's chofen people, the Ifnielites, is the only one
with which wre aie much acquainted during thofe ages. The train <»f
curioi'.s events, which occafioned the fettling of Jac;»b and his family
tn that part of Egypt of which Tanis was the capital, are univerfally known.
That pariarch died, according to the Septuagint verfion, 1794 ao^
years before Chrift, but according to the Hebrew Chronology, '"
only i68q years, and in the year ot the World 231 ;. This is a remark-
able XTA with rufpirt to the nations of heathen antiquity, and concludes
that period of time which the Greeks confidered as altogether unknown,
and which they have greatly disfigured by their fabulous narrations. Let
us regard this period then in another point of view, and confider what we
^in learn from the facrod writings, with refpe(ft to the arts, manner^-, and
laws of ansicnt -n atioM.
3*
INTRODUCTION.
It is a common error among writers on this fubje£>, to confider all the
nations of antiquity as bein^ on the fume footing with regard to thofe
tnatier^. They find fome nations extremely rude and barbarous* and
kcncc they conclude, that all were in that fituation. They difcover
others acquainted with many arts, and hence they infer the wifdom of
the fird ages. There appears, however, to have been as much differ-
ence between the inhabitants of the ancient world, in points of art and
Tctinement, as between the civilized kingdoms of modern Europe and
the Indians in America, or the Negroes on the coaft of Africa. Noah
WHS undoubteilly acquainted with all the arts of the antediluvian world :
thefe he would communicate to his children, and they again would hand
them down to their poller! ty. Thofe nations therenire who fettled
nearcfl the original feat of mankind, and who had the beft opportunities
to avail themfclves of the knowledge which their great ancedor was pof-
feiled of, early formed themfclves mto regular focietiC8,° and made con*
fiderable iniprovements in the arts which are mod fubfervient to human
life. Agriculture appears to have been known in the firft ages of the
world. Noah cultivated the vine ; in the time of Jacob, the fig-trte
and the almond were well known in the land of Cmaan ; and the indru-
mcnts of hufbandry, long before the dilcovcry of them in Greece, are
often mentioned in the facred writings. It is hardly to be fuppufed, that
the ancient citie$, both in Alia and cgypN whofe foundation, as we have
already mentioned, afcemls to the remoteft antiquity, could have bei'n
built, unlefs the culture of the ground had been prnttifcd at that time.
Nations who live by hunting or paflunige only, lead a wandering life,
and fcldom fix their refidence in cities. Commerce naturally follows
agriculture : and though we omnot trace the fteps by whi<;h it was intro-
duced among the ancient nations, we may, from detached pafTiges in fa>
cred writ, afcertain the progrefs which had been made in it during the
patriarchal times. We know, from the hidory of civil fociety, thui the
commercial inteccourfe between men muft be pretty coniiderable, before ,
the metals come to be coniidered as the medium of trade ; and yet this
was the cafe even in the days of Abraham. It appears, however, from
the relations which eftablilh this fadl, that the ufe of money had not
been of an ancient date ; it had no mark to afcertain its weight or finr-
nefs : and in a contra^ for a burying-place, in exchange for which
Abraham gave fiiver, the metal is weighed in prefcnce of all the peo-
ple. But as commerce improved, and bargains of this fort became more
common, this praflice was laid aiide, and the quantity of iilver was af« '
certained by a particular mark, which faved the trouble of neighing it.
But this does not a|'pear to have taken place till the time of Jacob, the
fecond from Abraham. The rcfilahy of which we read in his time, was
a piece of money, (lamped with the figure of a lamb, and of a precife
atidftated value, ft appears, from the hiftory of Jofcph, thiat the com-
merce between diflerent nations was by this time regularly carried on.
'The Iflimaelites afid Midianites, who bought him of his brethren, were
travelling merchants, refembling the modern caravans, who carried fpiccs,
perfumcii, and other rich commodities, from their own country into E»
gypt. The fame obfcrvatlons may be made from the book of Job, who,
aqpording to the befl writers, was a native of Arabia Felix, and alio a con-
tCTnporary with Jacob. He fpeaks of the roads of Thema and Saba,
i. e. of the caravarfS which fct out from thofe cities of Arabia. If we re-
fledl, that the commodities of this country were jpther the luxuries than
the
INTRODUCTION.
9^
the conveniences of HiV, we (liall have rcnfnn to conclude, that the
countries into which tbey were fent tor iiilc, and pnrticularly Kgypt, :
were confklcrabiy improved in arts and refinement : for people do not
think ot luxuries, until the ufeful arts have made high advancement
among them.
in fpeuking of commerce, we ought cnrcfully to didinguifli between
the fpecies of it which is cnnird on by land, ur inland commerce, and'
that which is carried on by lia : which laft kind of traffic is both later in'
its origin, and iluwcr in iis progrcli). HaJ ihc dcfcendants of Noah bcen^
left to their own injjcnuiiy, ;md received no tincture of the antediluvian, I
knowledge from their wile anccflors, it is improbable th:it they (hould
have ventured on navic'ating the open fcas fo Ibun as wr find tliey did.
That branch of his polierity, who fettled on the coaflsof Palclline, were*
the fifft people of the vvorUf amimc; whom navigation was made fubfer-'
vicnt to commerce ; they were Jiilinguiflicd by a word, which, in the He-'
brew tongue, i'ni,n'\lnv:» mrnha/its, and are the fame nation afterwards known
to the Greeks by the name of Phoenicians. Inhabiting a barren and un-
grateful foil, they let thcmfclves to better their fituatipn by cultivating the
:trts. Commerce was their capital objeift: and, with all the Writeis of
pagan antiquity, they pal's for the inventors uf whatever is fubfervient to
It. At the time of Abraham they were regarded as a powerful nation ;
their maritime commerce is mentioned by Jacob in his lad words to hit
children ; and, if we may believe Herodotus in a matter of fuch remote
»ntic]uity, the Phoenicians had by this time navigated the cuails of Greece,
nnd carried off ;!ie daughter of Inachus.
The arts of agriculture, commerce, and navigation, fuppofe th»
knowledge of feveral others ; agronomy, for intlance, or a knowledge of
the Situation and revolution!! of the heavenly bodies, is ncceflary both
to agriculture nnd navigation ; that of working metals, to commerce ;
and fo of other arts. In h£t, wc find that before the death of Jacob,
feveral nations were fo well acquainted with the revolutions of the moop,
as to meafure by them the duration of their year. It had been an uni-
verfal cuftom among all the nations of antiquity as well as the Jews,
to divide time into the portion of a week, or feven days : this undoubt-
edly arofc from the tradition with regard to the origin of the world.
It was natural for thofe nations who lea a pai^oral life, or who lived un-
der a ferene Iky, to obfcrve that the various appearances of the moon
were completed nearly in four weeks : hence the divifion of a month.
Thofe people again who lived by agriculture, and who had gotten among
them the divilion of the month, would naturally remaik, that twelve
of thefe brought back the fame temperature of the air, or the fame
feafons : hence the origin of what is called the lunar ytai-y ivhich
has every where taken place in the infancy of fcience. This, toge-
ther with the obTervation of th^ fixed flats, which, as we learn from
the book of Job, inuft have been very ancient, naturally paved th$
way for the aifcovcry of the yZi/ar year^ which at thar time would be
thought an immenfe improvement in aftronomy. But with regard to
thofe branches of knowledge which we have mentioned, it is to be re-
membered, that they were peculiar to the Et^ptians, and a .few na-
tions of Afia. Europe offers a frightful fpffta^-lc during this period.
Who could believe thait the Greeks, who in later ages became the pat-
terns of politenefi and every eleg?.ut art, were defcended from a favngc
race of men, traveriing the woods and wilds, inhabiting the rocks and
cav«rnS} a wretched prey to wild animals, and fomctimci to oue another ?
i D Tnis
34
INTRODUCTION.
Thii, however, it no more thnn what was to be exprif^ed. The defcend*
•ntt of Nuah, who removed at » ^reat diflance from (he plaint of Shinar,
loil all connexion with the civilifed part of mankind. Their uofterity
became (lill mure ignorant ; and the human mind was at length funk into
an abyft of mifery lulling which me itrcngthen-
ened bv rclieion, committed to the Amphi^tvr.ns the care of rhe temple at
Delphi, anaof the richci which, f(Om the dedicntinni of thofe who con'
fuited iha oracle, had been amaflcd in it. Thii alTcmblv, conllituted on
fuch foUd fuundationi, was the great fpring of ai^inn in Orvrcri whilff
that country prcfcrved its inc1e|)«nclence ; and, by the union which it iti'
fpircd among ihe Greeks, enable'd them to defend theij: liberties againft
all the force of the Perfian cmpiie. Conficlering the circumi^anccs of the
age in which it was inditutcd, the Amphi^lyonlc council is perhnps th((
mud remarkable |>oliiicsil cOabliihment wliich ^vrr tonk place among man«
kind. In the year before Chrift i ^si, the lOhmian games were inftttuted
It Corinth ; and 1303 the famous Olympic games by Felons.
The Greek dates, who formerly had no connection wirn one another^
except by mutiiul inroads and hoflilities, foon began toafi with concert, and
to undertake dilbnt expeditions for the general intereO of the community* .
The iirll ot thcfc was the obfcure expedition of the Argonauts, in Which
all Greece appears to have been concerned. The olijecl of the .,
Arjjonauts was to open the commerce of the Euxine i'ca, and to '*"*•
cltaolilh colonies in the adjacent country of Colchis. The ihip Argo«
« hich was the admiral of the fleet, is the only one particularly t Aen no^*
ticeof; though we learn from Homer, and other ancient writers, that
feveral fail were employed in this expedition. The fleet of the Argonauts
was, from the ignorance of thofe wno condudted it, long tofTcd about on
diiTcrent coafts. The rocks, at fome diflance from the mouth of the
Euxine fea, occafioned great labour : they fent forward a lic;ht veiTcl^
which paired through, but r'^turned with the lofs of her rudder. Th*!
is exprefled in the fabulous langu^ige of antiquity, by their fending out i
bird which returned with the lofs of its tail, and may give us an idea of
the allegorical obfcurity in which the other events of this expedition art
involved. The fleet, however^ at length arrived at >Eon, the capital of
Colchis, after performing a voyage, which, confidering the mean condi*
tion of the naval art during this age, was not lefs coi?fiderahle than the
circumnavigation of the world by our modern difcoverers. From this
expedition, to that againft Troy, which was undertaken :o recover ^
the fair Helena, a queen of Sparta, who had been carried off by "''4*
Paris, fon of the Trojan king, the Greeks mull have made a wonderful
progrefs in power and upuleiKe : r.o lefs than twelve hundred veflels were
employed in this voyage, each of which, at a medium, contained upwards
of a hundred men. Thcfe veiTelf, however, were hut half decked ; and
it docs not appear that iron entered at all into their conftrui^tion. If w*
add to thefe circumftances, that the Greeks had not the ufe of the faw, an
inftrument fo neceflary to the carpenter, a modern muft form but a ra^a
notion of the ftrength or elegance of this fleet.
Having thus confldered the ftate of Greece as a whole, let us examine
the circumftances of the particular countries into which it wns divjded.
This is of great importance to our prefent undertaking, bacaufe itisilithia
country only that we can trace the origin «nd progrefs of gov«rtmieat»
D a ar^y
36
INTRODUCTIO N.
arts, and manner*, which compofe fo great a part of our prefent work.
There appears originally to have been a very remarkable refemblance
between the political fituation of the different kingdoms of Greece. The^
were governed each by a king, or rather by a chieftain, who was their
leader in time of war, their judge in time of peace, and who prelided in'
the adminidration of their religious ceremonies. This prince, however,
was far from being abfolute. In each fociety there were a number of .
other leaders, whoie influence over their particular clans, or tribes, was
sot lefs confiderable than that of the king over his immediate followers.
Thefe captains . were often at war with one another, and fometimes.
with their fovereign. Such a fituation was, in all refpe^ts, extremely
unfavourable : each particular (late was in miniature what the whole
country had been before the time of Amphidyon. They required the
hand of another delicate painter to (hade the oppofite colours, and to
enable them to produce one powerful tSc&. The hiflory of Athens af-
fords us an example of the manner in which thefe dates, that, for want
of union, were weak and iniigniHcant, became, by being cemented toge.
thet*, important and powerful. .Theleus king of Atticn, about the year
before Chrift 1234, had acquired a great reputation by his exploits of va-
lour and ability. He faw the incouvenictces to which his country, from
being divided into twelve didvids, was expofed; and he conceived, that
by nfeans of the influence which his perfonal character, united to the royal
authority with which he was inveHed, had univerfally procured him, he
might be able to remove them. For this purpofe he endeavoured to
maintain, and even to incrcafe, his popularity among the peafants and
artifans: he detached, as much as poiTible, the different tribes from the
leaders who commanded them : he aboliflied the courts which had been
eftablifhed in different parts of Attica, and appointed one council-hall
common to all the Athenians. Thefeus, however, did not truft folely to
the- force of political regulations. He called to his aid all the power of
religious prejudices ; by eftablifliing common rites of religion to be per-
formed in Athens, and by inviting thither ftrangers from all quarters,
by the profpe£t of prote£tion and privileges, he raifed this city from aid
iDConfiderable village to a powerful metropolis. The fplendor of Athens
and of Thefeus now totally eclipfed that of the other villages and their
particular leaders. All the power of the ft;fte was united in one city, and
under one fovereign. The petty chieftains, who had formerly occalioned
fo much confufiun, by being divefted of all influence and coniideration,
became humble and fubmiffive ; and Attica remained under the peaceablo
government of a monarch.
This is a rude Iketch of the origin of the firft monarchy of which we
have a diftindl account, and may without, much vdriation, be applied to
the other ftates of Greece. This country, however, was not dellined to
continue long under the government of kings. A new influence arole^
which in a flaort time proved too powerful both for the king and the no-
bles. Thcfcus had divided the Athenians into three diftin»ft claffes ; the
nobles, the artifans, and the hufbandmen. In order to abridge the exoi»
bitnnt power of the nobles, he had bellowed many privileges on the two
other ranks of peribns. This plan of politics was followed by his foccef^
fors ; and the lower ranks of the Athenians,' partly from the countenance
of their fovereign, and partly fiom the proj^refsof arts and manufai^iiresj
which fjave them an opportunity of acquiring property, became conlidcr-
able and independent. Thefe tircumllances were attended with a remark*,
able effedt. Upon the death of Codrus, a prince of grtat ineiit, in the
INTRODUCTION.
37
/liich we
)lied to
llined to
je aroie^
the ne-
bs; the
exoi».
the two
fuccef*.
tenantc
iu'^^iires^
;)iilidcr-
in the
i
year B. C. 1 070* the Athenians, become weary of the regal authority, under
pretence of finding no one worthy of filling the throne of that monarch, who
had devoted him'ielf to death for the fatety of his people, abuliflied the
regal power, and proclaimed that none but Jupiter Ihould be king of
Athens. This revolution in favour of liberty was fo much the more re-
markable, as it happened fbon after that the Jews became unwilling toi.
remain under the government of the true God, and defired a mor- .
tal fovereign, that they might be like unto other ;iaiion8. ^^9S'
The government of Thebes, another of th^«Grecian fli^rcsi,- much
about the fame time, aflfumed the republican form. Near a centillry be-
fore the Trojan war, Cadmus, with a colony from Phccnicia, had founded
this city, which from that time had been governed by kings. But the
lalV fov(.<-eign being overcome in fingle combat, by a neighbouring prince*
the Thebuna aboli(hed the regal power. Till the days however of Pelo-
pidas and Cpannnondits, a period of feven hundred years, the Thebans
performed nothing worthy of the republican fpirit. Other cities of
Greece, after the examples of Thebes and Athens, erected themfelves into
republics. But the revolutions of Athens and Sparta, two rival ftates,
v/iiicb, by meuns of the fuperiority they acquired, gave the tone to the
manner!^, genius, and politics of the Greeks, deferve our principal atten-
tion. We have feen a tender (lioot of liberty fpring up in the city of
Athens, upon the deceafe of Codrus, its laft fovereign. ^'his (hoot gradu-
ally improved into a vigorous plant ; and it cannot but be pleafant to ob-
ferve its prugrefs. The Athenians, by abolifhing the name of king, did
not entirely fubvert the regal authority : they eftahlifhcd a perpe-
tual m'agiftrate, who, under the name of Archon, was inveftcd with ' '
almoft the fame rights which their kings had enjoyed. The Atheni-
ans, in time, became fenlible, that the archonic office was too lively an
image of royalty for a free flate. After it had continued therefore three hun-
dred and thirty-one years in the family of Codrus, they endeavoured to lefTea
fts dignity, not by abridging its power, but by (hortening its duration.
The firll period aliigned tor the continuance of the archonfliip in the fame
hands, 'vas three years. But the defire of the Athenians for a more per-
feft fyfttm of freedom than had hitherto been cftablifhed, increafed gg
in proportion to the liberty they enjoyed. They again called out '*■*
for a frefli reduiftion of the power of their archons ; and it was at length
determined that nine annual magiftrates fhould be appointed for this oAkc.
Thefe magiftratcs were not only chofen by the people, but accountable tb
them for their conduct at the expiration of their ofKce. Thel'e alterations
were too violent not to be attended with fome dangerous confeqtiences.
Th(^ Athenians, intoxicated with their freedom, broke out into the moft
unruly and licentious behaviour. No written laws had been as yet enacted
in Athens, and it was hardly poflible that the ancient cu(loms«f the realm,
which were naturally fuppofed »o be in part aboliihed by the fucceffive
changes in the government. liiould fufficiencly reftrain the tumultuary fpi«
rits of the Athenians. :>i the firlt flutter of their independence. This en-
gaged the wifer puit of the flate, who began to prefer any fyftem of go-
vernment to their prefent anarchy and conr'uHon, to cafl their eyes on
Drnr^r,, a man of nn auflerc but virtuous difpolition, as the fittefl perfon
tor compofing a fyllem of law, to bridle the furious and unruly manners of
their countrymen. Druco undertook the office about the year 628, but
executed it with fo much rigour, th»t, in the words of an ancient hiflorian,
•* His laws were written with blood, and not with ink." D^iith was the
indifcriininute punilhmem of every offence, and the laws of Draco were
D 3 found
^3«
INTRODUCTION.
^und to be a remedy worfe than the difenk. Affairs again returned int6
confullon and difordery and remained (o till the time of Stilun, who
died in the year before Chrift 549f The gentle manrers, dilinteielk-d
virtue, and wif'dnm more than human, by which this fage was diftin-
j^uiflied, pointed him uut as the only charadler adnpted to the molt impurt<
■nt of all offices, the giving laws to a free people, Solon, though this
employment was aiiigned him by the unanimous voice of his country, -long
deliberated whether he Ihould undertake it. At length, however, the mo»
fives of public utility avercame all coniiderations of private eafe, fafety, and
reputation, and determined him to enter an ocean pregnant with a thoufand
dangers. The firfl flep of his legiflation was to abolifl) all the laws of Dra'r
CO, ezceptiDg thofp relative to murder. The puni(h?
nians, who prepared all important bill; that came before the aflembly of
the people ; the fecond, though but a court of juftice, gained a prodigi-,
ous afccndancy in the republic, by the wifdom and gravity of its niemben,
who were not chofcn, but after the ftridcft fcrutiny, and the mbft ferious
d^Iiberatibn.
Such was the fyftem of government eftabliflied by Solon, which, the
nearer we examine it, will afford the more matter for our admiration.
Upon the fame plan moft of the other ancient republics were ellablilhcdt
To infift on all of them, therefore, would qeither be entertaining nor
inflru£live, But the government of Sparta, or Lacedaemon, had ibme-
thing in it fo peculiar, that the great lines of it at leall ought not to be
omitted even in a delineation of this fort. Sparta, like the other Ihitcs of
Greece, was originally divided into a number of petty principalities,
of which each was under the jurifdii^ion of its own immediaie chieftain.
J^elex is faid to be the firft kin^, about the year B. C, 1 516. At length,
the two brothers Eurillhcnes and Procles, getting poffeffion of
• this country, became conjunft in the royalty ; and, what is ex-r
-is are more celebrated for the wifdom of their laws, and politicd
inllu'ic;: V, t^^an for the power of their arms. Several of thefe leem to
have I •;■" 'I 'ated by the true fpirit of civil wifdom, and were admirably
calculh -v; i^e prefervin;^ order and good government in an extenfive king-
dom. The great empire of Affyxin likewife, -which had lb long difappear-
ed, becomes again an objed of attention, and affords the firft inilance wfc
meet with in hiflory, of a kingdom which fell afunder by its own wcighr,
and the edcminate weaknefs of its fovereigns. Sardunapalus, the laft
emperor of AlFyria, negleding theadminiilration of a^irs, and fliutting
hitnfelf up in his palace with his women and eunuchs, fell into contempt
with his luhjeds. The governors of his provinces, to whom, like ft
weak and indolent prince, he had entirely committed the conAmand of his
aimics, did not fail to lay hold of this opportunity of raifing their own
fortune on the ruins of their mailer's power. Arbaces governor of Medi^
and Belelis governor of Babylon, confpire againfl their fovereign, fet iir«
to his capital, in which Sardanapalus perifhed, B. C. 8 so, and divide
between them his extcnfive dominions. Thefe two kingdoms, fometimec
united under one prince, and fometimes governed each by a particular fo*
vereign, maintnined the chief fway of Afia for many years. Phul revived
the kingdom of AlTyria anno B. C. 777, and Shalmanezer, one of hit
fuccclfors, put an end to the kingdom of Ilrael, and carried the ten Trib«s
captive into Aflyria and Media, B. C. 721. Nebuchndacxur king of
Biihylon alfo, in the year B. C. 587, overturned the kingdom of Judaht
which had continued in the family of David from the year 1055, and maf»
tcred all the countries around him. But in the year 558, Cyrus the Great
took Babylon, and reduced this quarter of the world under the Per- g
fian yoke. The manners of this people as brave, hardy, and inde- " *
pendent, as well as the government of Cyrus, in all its v:»riou8 depart-
ments, are elegantly defcrihcd by Xenophnn, a Grecian philofophcr and
hirtorian. It is not ncceflary, howevvr, that we fliould enter on the fame
detail ufwn this fubjcft, as with regard to the affairs of the Greeks. Wc
have, in modern times, fufficient examples of monarchical governmenu :
but how few are our republics i* But the cera of Cyrus is in one refpeft ex-
D 4 ticmcly
4«
INTRODUCTION.
tremely remarknble ; befidc delivering the Jews fiom their capHvity, be.
Cifiife, with it the hiftory of the great nations of Hntiqvuty, which has hin
therto engaged our attention, may be fuppofed to iinifh. Let ur confider
then the genius of the AiTyrians, Babylonians, and Egyptiuns, in arts and
fciences ; and if poflible, difcover what progrcfs they had mude in thofd
acquirements, which are mbft fubfervient to the iitterefis of fociety.
■ The taile for the great and magnifltent, fecms to have been the pre-
vailing charatf^er of thefe nations; and they principally difplayed it in
, that an*
other day would have put in his poflcllion what Cheronaea hud denied
Vim. T3:c Greeks had loll that virtue, which was (he b^llisnf their con-
federacy. Their popular governments fcrved only to give a fant'tion to
their liccnttoufn(Ts ami corruption. The principal orators, in moft of
their thites, were bribed into the fervice of Philip ; and all the clo>ns, by all the Grecian Dates, except the Athenians and The-
bans. Thefe made a feeble eflbrt for expiring liberty. But they
334* ^.gfg obliged to yield to fupcrior force. Secure on the fide of
. Greece, Alexander fet out on his Pcrfian expedition, at the head of
thirty thoufand foot, and live thoufand horfe. The fucccfs of this army
in cunqiiering the whole force of Darius, in three pitched battles, in
OTcr-running and fubduifg not only the countries then known to the
Greeks, but many parts of India, the very n.tn. .s of which had never
reached an European ear, has been defcribcd by many aiithors both an-
cient and modern, and conlHtutes a linguhir part of the hidory of the
world. Soon after this rapid career of viftory and fuccels, Alex-
3^3* under died at Babylon. His captains, after facrificinf; all his fa»
mily to their ambition, divided among them his dominions. This gives
rife lo a number of xnts and events too complicated for our prcfent pur',
pofe, and even too iinintcrefting. After coniidering therefore the ftate of
arts and fctenccs in Greece, we (hall pafs over to the Roimin atlairs, where
the hi(b>rical dcdudion is mure fimple, and alfo mnrc important.
The bare nanies of illullrious men, who fiourifhcd In Greece from the
time of Cvrus to that of Alexander, would fill a large volume. During
this period, all the arts were ciin-ied to the higheli: pitch of perfeftion ;
and the improvements we Rave hitherto mentioned, were bur the dawn-.
ii>gs of this glorious day. Though the eaflern nations had raifed mag-
niliccnt and liupendous lbuftiire«, the Greeks were the firlT: people in the
yrorld, who, in their worki of architecture, added beauty to magnificence,
|ind elegance to grandeur. The temples of Jupiter oiytnpus, and the
Ephe'ian Diana, are the tiril monuments of good tafte. They were
creiiled by the Grecian colonic?, who fettled in Alia Mnor, before the
reign of Cyrus. Phidias, the Athtnian, who died in the year B. C. 432,
is the firil (culptor whofc woiks have been immortal. Zcuxis, Parrhalius,
and Timantheus, during the fame a^e, firll difcovered the power of the
pencil, and all the magic of painting. Compolition, in all its various
branchef, reached a decree of perfeiftioii in the Greek language, of which
n modern
reader can hardly form an idea. Alter Heliod and Homer,
who flouriflicd roco years before titc Chrillian oera, the tragic poets il^f-
chyliTs,' Sophocles, a:ul Euripides, were the firll coiiiidorablc itnprovers of
poetry, Herodorus gave limplicity and elegance to profaic writing. Ifo^
crates <;ave it cadence and harmony, but it was left to Thucvdides and
Dciuo^hcncs, to dilcover the full forge of the Gfeck tongue* It was not
I however
I N T R O D U C T vl O N.
4S
the
liowerer in the*finer sm alone tbnt the Ortelcj cTcelled. Erery f^irt
of philofophy was cultiviited among them with the utmoft fucceis. Noc
to mention the divine Socrates, the virtue of whofe life, and the ex-
cellence or whofe philofophy, juftly entitled him to a very high degree of
veneration ; hii three difciples, Plato, Arlfluile, and Xcnophon, may,
for ftrengrh of reafuning, juflnefs of fentimcnt, and propriety of expref-
fion, be put on a footing with the writers of any age or country. £x}x-
ricnce, indeed, in n long courfc of years, h.is taught us many I'ecrcts in
niiture, wiih which thcfe philolbphcrs wtre unacquainted , and which
no flrcngth of genius could divine. But whatever fume vain empirics in
learning may pretend, the moft learned and ingenious men, both in
France and £ngl;md, have ncknoivledgcd the fuperiority of the Greek •
philofophers ; and have reckoned themiclvcs happy in catching their turn
of thinking, ami manner of cxprdFion. But the Greeks were not lefs
diftinguiflied for their ai^ivc than for their fpeculative talents. It would
be endlefs to recount the nnmes of their fumous flatefmcn and warriors,
and it is impoHible to mcnt'on a few without doing iimiliicc to a greater
number. War was firrt reduced into a fcicnte by the Greeks. Their
foldiers fought from an aftcction to their country, and an ardor for glory,
and not from a dread of their fuperiors. We have feeo the eftcft of this mi-
litary virtue in their wars ngainft tlic Periians : the caufe of it was the wife
laws which Amphitftyon, Solon, and Lycurgus had eilablifhcd in Greece.
But ^c inuft noW leave this nation, whof(i hidory, both civil and philo-
fophical, is as important as their territory was inconiiderable, and turn
our attention to the Roman afl'drs, which are dill more interefling, both
on their own account, and from the relation in which they (land to thofe
of modern Europe
The charadter of Romulus, the founder of the lloman flaic, when we
view him as the leader of a few lawlefs and wandering banditti, is
an objeft of extreme iniignificance. But when we conlidcr him as ' ^^*
the founder of an empire as extcnfive as the world, and whofe progrefir
and decline have occanoned the two greateft revolutions that ever hHppen*
cd in Europe, we cannot help being intere^ed in his condu(5t. His dif-
pofitioQ was extremely martial ; and the political flatc of Italy, divided
into a number of fmall but independent dii^ridls, afforded a noble field for
the difplay of military«talents. RomHilus was continually embroiled with
one or other of his neighbours ; and war was the only employment by
which he and his companions expe(fled not only to aggrandixe themfelves,
but even to fubfirt. In the condufl of his wars with the neighbouring
people, we may obfervc the fame maxims by which the Romans after-
wards became mafters of the world. Indead of dellroying the nations he
had fubjeded, he united them to the Roman Hate, whereby Rome aCt
quired a new acccilion of ftrength from every war (he undertook, and be-
came powerful and populous from that very circumftance which ruins
and depopulates other kingdoms. If the enemies, with which he cont
tended, had, by means of the art or arms they employed, any confider-i
able advantage, Romulus immediately adopted that pradtice, or the ufe of
that weapon, and improved the military, fyftem of the Romans by the
united experiencp of ail their enemies. We have an ex-implc of both
thefe inaximucd to fupport it by the mull
cruel and infamous tyranny. This, together with the inlblence ot his
ion Stxats Tarquinius, who, by diflionouring Lucretin, a Roman lady,
affronted the whole nation, occafioned the expullion of the Tarquin
5°9* family, and with it the diflolution of the regal government. As
the Romans, however, were continually engaged in war, they found it
BccclFary to have fume officer inveilcd with fupreme authority, who might
cundu«ft them to the field, and regulate their military cnterprifcs. in
the room of the kings, therefore, they appointed two annual magillrates
called confuls, who, without creating the fame jealoufy, fuccecded to all
•he powers of their fovereigns. This revolution was extremely favourable
to the Roman grandeur. The confuls, who enjoyed but a temporary
piwtrr, were dehrous of iignalizing their reign by fome great acflion : each
vied with thofe who had gone before him, and the Romans were daily led
ot>i againii fome new enemy. When we add to this, that the people,
naturally warlike, were infpired to deeds of valour by every coniidcration
which could excite them : that the chizens of Rome were all foldiers, and
fought for their lands, their children, and their liberties, we need not be
forprifed, that they (hould, in the courfe of fome centuries, extend their
power all over Italy.
The Romans, now ftcure at home, and finding no iencmy to contend
with, turn their eyes abroad, and meet with a powerful rival in the Car-
thaginians. This (late had been founded or enlarged on the coaft of the
Mediterranean in Africa, fome time before Rome, by a colony of Phoe-
nicians, anno B. C. 869, and, according to the praaice of their mother
country, they had cultivated commerce and naval greatncfs.
Carthage, in this dclign, had proved wonderfully fuccefsful. She now
comjTianded both fides of the Mediterranean. Befides that of Africa,
»vhich flie alrnoft entirely poflTciTed, fhe had Extended herfelf on the Spanifli
fule, thioiigb the Straita. Thus miftrcfs of the fea, and of commerce, flie
had fcized on the liknds of Corfica and Sardinia. Sicily had difHculty to
r defend itfelf ; and the Romans were two nearly threatened not to take
■•* up arms. Hence a fucccflion of hotlilities between thefc rival
ilates, known in hirtory by the nair.e of Punic wars, in which the Car-
thaginians, with al) their wealth and power, were an unequal match for
the Romans. Carthalgc was a powerful I'cpublic, when Rome was an in-
ctyilidcrable flatc ; but ilic was now become corrupt and effeminate, while
Rome was in the vigour of hef politicrtl coulUtution. Carthage crn-
ployed
INTRODUCTION.
4$
!t\
which
ployed mercenariea to carry on her wart < Romef as we have already men-
tioned, was compofed of Toldicrs. Ihe firft war with Carthage laAe4
twenty>thrce years, and taught the Romans the art of fighting on the fen,
with which they had been hidieno unacquainted. A diirthaj^iaian veflH
was wrecked on their coaft { they ufcd it for a model, in three ,
months fitted out a fleet, and the conful Duilius, who fought their
firft naval battle, was viAorious. It is not to our purpofe to mention all
the tranfadlions of thefe wart. The behaviour of R<^ulu$, the Romaa
general, may give us an idea of the fpirtt which then animated this |):;ople.
Being taken prifonei* in Africa, he is fent back on his parole to ,
negociate a change of prilbnerst. He maintains in the fenate, the '
propriety of that law, which cut off from thofewho fuftered themfevet to-
be taken, all hoprs of being faved, and returns to a certain death.
Neither was (Jarthage, though corruptfd, deficient in great men. Of
all tlie enemies the Romans ever had to contend with, Hunnibal the Car-
thaginian was the moll inflexible and dangerous. His fnthrr Hamiicar
bad imbibed an extreme hatred againd the Romuns, and having fettled
the inteftine troubles of his country, he took an early opportunity to
infpirc his iim, tbotigh but nine year^ old, with his own fcncimcnts. For
this purpofe he ordered a folemn facrifice to be oti'ered to Jupiter, and
leading his ion tn the alrar, afkid him whether he w
^uering Antiochus, as they hud before done of the Etolians for conquering
Philip. They now purfue Ati'iochus, the laft objert of their rc«
' ' fentment, into Afia, and having vanquiihed him by fca and land,
compel him to fubmit to an infamous trei>ty.
In thefe conquells the Romans flill alU)wed the ancient inhabitants to
poflefs their territory ; they did not even cl'ange the form of government;
the conquered nations became the allies of the Roman people, which de«
nomination however, under a fpecious namt, concealed a condition very
iervilc, and inferred, that they fliould fubmil to whatever was required of
them. When we reflcft on thefe cafy conq Jefts, we have reafon to be
ai>oni(l)ed at the reiilhnce which the Romans met with from Mithridatea
King of Potvfus, for the fpacb of z6 years. >'ut this mooarch had great
Kfources. His kingdom bordering on the ioacceflible mountains of Cau*
cufus, abounded in a race of men, whofe minds were not enervated by
pleafurc, and whofe bodies were Arm and vigoious, and he gave the Ro-
mans more trouble than e,ven Hanibal.
The different ftates of Greece and Afia, who now began to feel the
weight of their yoke, but had not a fpirit to fliake it off, were tranfported
at finding a prince, who dared to fliew himfelf an enemy to the Romans,
and cheerfully fubmitted to his protection. Mithridates, however, at laft
was com|)elled to yield to the fuperior fortune of the Romans. Van-
quiflied fucceflively by Sylla and Lucullup, he was at length fubdued by
P«mii)ey, and ilripped of his dominions and of his life, in the year B. C.
63. In Africa, the Roman arms met with equal fuccefs. Marius, in
g^ conquering Jugurtha, made all fccure in that quarter. Even the
barbarous nations beyond the Alps, began to feel the weight of
the Roman arms. Gallia Narboneufis had been reduced into a pro»
viace.
INTRODUCTION.
41^
ioi<
vtncf . The Ciinbri« Teutoney, and other northern natbni of Europe,
broke into thii part of the empire. The fame Martui, whofe name trus
fo terrible in Africa, then ntside the North of Europe fo tremble.
The BHrbarians retired to their wildi and defMrts, Icfs formiditble
than the Roronn legiont. But while Rome conquered the Vorld, th(?ro
fubfiAed an tntcrn;il war within her wall*. This war had fubtiftod
from the firft periodf of the government. Rome, after the expulfion of
her kings, enjoyed but a partial liberty. The defccndtinis of the fenatort,
who were diltinguiflied by the name of Piittici»t^s, were inveiled with (9
many odious privileges, that the people felt thvir dependence, and became
determined to (liake it off. A thmifnnd difputes on this fubjeA arolc ht:-^
twixt them and the Patricians, which nUvays terminated in lavour of lir
berty.
Thcfc difputes, while the Romans prefcrved their virtur, tverii not ac-
tended with nny dangerous confcqucnccs 7'he Putricinns, who loved
their country, cheei fully parted with fome of their privile<^re8 to futisfy
the people ; and the people, on the other h:mci, thcuiph they ohtained
laws, by which they might he Hdmitrcd to enjoy the hi'ft offices of the
flatc, and though they had the power of nomin:iu;-n, aKviiys named Patri-
cian)*. But when the Romans, by the conqui i"i ot foreign Dutioni', l»c-
came acquainteil with all their luxuri«rfi and refinements ; when they be-
came tainted with the etteininncy and corruption of the ciilk-m couits. and
fporttd with every thing juft and hunourable, in order to obtain them, tl««
Hitte, torn by thjc fa(^ti()ns between its members, und without virtue oti ei-
ther fide to keep it together, became a prey to its own children. Ilriue
the bloody ftd.tions of the Gracchi, which paved the way fv)r im extlr-
guiflinble hatred between the nobles and commcns, and made it cafy ((»r
any turbulent demagogue to put them in adion agninii each other. The
love of their country was now no more than a fpecious nanvc ; the betttr
fort were too wealthy and effeminate to fubmit to the rij/ours of military
difciplinc, and the foldiers, compofed of the drejjs of the republic, uei<
no longer citizens. They had little refpeiJt for any but their comm:.nder ;
under his banner they fought, and cotujucred, and plundered ; and for
him they were ready to die. He might command them to embrne their
hands in the blood of their country. They who knew no country but the
camp, and no authority but that of their general, wore tvtr ready m
obey him. The multiplicity of the Roman conqutft?, Viowevcr, whi^-h
i^equired their keeping on foot fevcral armies at the fame time, retarded
the fubverfion of the repubiic. Thefe armies were fo mnny checks upon
each other. Had it not been for the fidiliers of Sylla, Rome would have
furrendered irs liberty to the army of Mariu?.
Julias Cxfiur at length appears. By fubduing the Gauls, he gained
his country the moft ufeful conqueft it ever made. Pompey, his „
QWn rival, js overcome in the plains of Pharfalia. Caei'ar a|)- * *
peats vidorious almoft at the fame time all over the world : in Egypt, lA
Afia, in Mauritania, in Spain, in Gaul, and in Britain : conqueior ott
all fides, iic is acknowledged irt^fter at Rome, and in the whole empire,
Bruttis and Ciillius think to give Rome her liberty, by Itabbing b.im in the
fenate*houfe. But though they thereby deliver the Rom;in» from
the tyranny of Julius, the republic daes not obtain its freedom. ***
It falls into the nands^of Mark Anthony ; young Ciefar Oftavianu«, ne-
phew to Julius Ctffar, wrclls ill from him by the fea-fight at A^ium, and
there is no Brutus of C-iflius to put an end to his life, Thofe
frtciuis of liberty had killed themfdves in defpair} and Of?a\ius, 5'*
under
48 INTRODUCTION.
under the name of Auguilui, and title of emperor, remained the undif'
tiirbed mader of the empire. During thefe civil cnmmotioni, the Ko*
mani ftill preferved the a}ory of their arms among diftnnt nationi ; and,
while it was unknown wnu Aiould be mailer at RoiOf, the Komuni were
without dii'piice, the maileri of the world. Their military difciplinc and
valour aboiiihed all the remains of the Carthngian, the Perfian, the
Greek, the AiTyrian, and Macedonian glorv ; they were now only a name.
No fooner, therefore, wag O^avius eAabliflied on the throne, than am-
bafTadors from all auarteri of the known world, crowd to miike their fub-
tnitlions. i£thiopia fues for peace ; the Parthiani, who had been a moft
iormiduble enemy, court his friendfhip ; India fecks hit alliance ; Panno-
nia acknowledges him ; Germany dreads him ; and the Wefer n-
'' ceivcs his laws. \ i£lorious by fea and land, he lluits the temple of
Janus. The whole earth lives in peace under his power,, and Jefus Chrift
comes into the world, four years before the common seia. '
Having thus traced the progrcfs of the Roman government, while it
remained a republic, our plan obliges us to fnya few words with regard tu
she ans, fcicnces, and manners of that people. During the fird ages of
the republic, the Romans lived in a total negle£t, or rather contempt, of
all the elegant improvements of life. War, politics, und agriculture,
were the only arts they fludied, becaufe they were the only arts they'
cftecmed. But upon tlie dowrtfal of Carthage, the Romans having no
cnemv to dread from abroad, began to talle the fweets of fecurity, and
to culiivate the arts. Their progrefi, however, whs not gradual, as in
the other countries we have defcribed. The ccnqueft of Greece at once
put them in pollcflion of every thing mod rare, curious, or elegant. Aliit,
which was the next victim, offered all its Aores ; and the Romans, from
the mott £mple people, fpeedily became acquainted with the arts, the
luxuries and refinements of the whole earth. liloquence they had always
cultivated as the high road to eminence and preferment. The orations of
Cicero are inferior only to thofeof Demofthenes. In poetry Virgil yields
only to Homer, whofe verfe, like the profe of Demofthenes, may he con-
fidered as inimitable. Horace, however, in his fatires and cpilHes, had no
model among the Greeks, and {lands to this day unrivalled in that fpecies
of writing. In hifiory, the Romans can boaft of Livy, who pofTefles all
the natural eafe of Herodotus, and is more defcriptive, more eloquenr,
and fentimental. Tacitus indeed did not flourifli in the Auguftan age, but
his works do himfelf the greateft honour, while they difgrace his country
and human nature, whofe corruption and vices he paints in the mod drik*
ing c6lour;. In philofophy, if we except the works of Cicero, and the
fyuem of the Greek philofopher Epicurus, defcribed in the nervous poe*
try of Lucretius, the Romans, during the time of the republic, made not
the leaft attempt. In tragedy, they never produced any thing excellent ;
and Terence, though remarkable for purity of flylc, wants that cowica v/j,
or \\vc\jr vein of humour, that diftinguiflies the Greek comedians, and
which diftinguiflies our bhakfpeare.
We now return to our hiftory, and are arrived at an ara, which pre-
frnts us with a fet of inonfters, under the name of emperors, whofe hifto>
ries, a few excepted, difgrace human nature. They did not indeed abo-
li(h the forms of the Roman republic, though they extinguifhcd its liber-
ties ; and, while they were praif^iling the mpft unwarrantable cruelties
upon their fubjctfts, they theinfclves were the flaves of their foldiers.
They made the world tremble, while they in their turn trembled at the
INTRODUCTION,
49
army. Rome, from the dmc of Auguflui, became the moft defpottc em-
pire chHt ever i'ubfiftcd in Europe. 'J'o form nii idea uf their governmenC«
We need only recall to our mind the fitUHtim o( Turkey at prefent. Ic ii
of no importance therefore to confidcr the charaflcr of the emperors, fince
they had no power hui what arofe from a mercenary (landing army ; nor to
etitcr into a det:\il with regard to the tranfaflions of the court, which were
direftcd with th;tt caprice, und cruelty, and corruption, which univerful«
ly prevailed under a defpotic guvcrnmunt. When it is faid that the Ro-
man republic conquered the world, it is only meant of the civilized part
of it, chiefly^ Greece, Carthitue, and Afi:i. A more difficult talk Hill
remained for the emperors, to fubdue the baibarous nations of Europe ;
the Ocrman?, the Gauli, the Britonf, and even the remote corner of
Scotland ; for thoiij{h thefe countries had been difcovered, they were not
eftedtuftlly fubducd by the Roman generals. Thefc nations t*^ough rude
and ignurant were brave and independent. It was rather iu.>n the fu^-
riority of their difcipiinc, than of their courage, that the Romans gained
any advantage over them, 'i he Roman wars with the Germans are de-
fcribcd by Tacitus, and from his accounts, though a Roman, it is eafy to
difcovcr with what biavcry they fought, and with what reludla.ice ihey
fubmitted to a foreign yoke. From the obOinate reliOance of the Ger-
mans, we may judge of the difficulties the Romans met with in fubduiog
the other nations of Europe. The contells were on both fides bloody ; the
countries of Europe were fucceffively laid waile, the inhabitants )-. •
riflied in the field, many were carried into iiavery, and but a feeble re; i-
nant fubmitted to the Roman power. This fituation of aftairs was extreme-
ly unfavourable to the happinefs of mankind. The barbarous nations,
indeed, from their intercourfe with the Rimians, acquired fomc tafte for
the arts, fciences, language, and manners uf their new maflers. Thefs
however were but milcrablc confolations for the lofs of liberty, for being
deprived of the ufe of their arms, for being over-awed by mercenary fc;-
diers kept in pay to rcflraio them, and for being delivered over to rapaci-
ous governors, who plundered them without mercy. The only i ircum-
(lance which could fupport them under thcfe complicated calamities, was
the hope of feeing better days.
The Roman empire, now ftretched out to fuch an extent, had loft its
fpring and force. It contained within itfelf the feeds of dilTohitiun ; and
the violent irruption of the Goths, Vandal?, Huns, and (..'; cr barbaiianjs,
hailcncd its dcftru(5tion. Thcfe fierce tribes, who came to t.r.lftantine, who was emperor the beginning of the fourth century,
and who had embraced Chriftianity, changed the feat of empire from
a Rome to Conftantinople. This occalioned a prodigious alteration.
3' * The weftern and caftern provinces were feparated irom each other,
and governed by different fovereigns. The withdrawing the Roman legi-
ons trom the Rhine- and the Danube to the Eaft, threw down the weflcrn
barriers of the empire, and laid it open to the invaders.
Rome (now known by the name of the Weftern Empire^ in contradiftinc-
tion to Conftantinople, which, from its lituation, was called the Eaftern
Empire), weakened by this divilion, becomes a prey to the barbarous na-
tions. Its ancient glory, vainly deemed immortal, is effaced, and Odon-
cer, a barbarian chiefcan, is feated on the throne of the Caefars. Thefe
r irruptions into the empire were gradual and fucceifive. The in>-
^' ' mcnfe fabric of the Roman Empire was the work of many ages,
and feveral centuries were employed in demolifbing it. The ancient dif-
ciplinc of the Romans, in military affairs, was fo efficacious, that the re-
mains of it dcfcended to their fuccelfors, and muft have proved an overmatch
for all their enemies, had it not been for the vices of their emperors, and
the univerfal corruption of manners among the people. Satiated with
the luxuries of the known world, the emperors were at a lofs to find new
provocatives. The moil diftant regions were explored, the ingenuity of
■ mankind was cxercifed, and the tribute of provinces expended upon one
' favourite difli. The tyranny, and the univerfal deprivation of manners
that prevailed under the emperors, or, as they are called, Cafars, could
only be equalled by the barbarity of thofc nations who overcame
bem.
Towards the clofe of the fixth century, the Saxons, a German nation,
were ntafters of the fouihern and more fertile provinces of Britain ; the
Franks, another tribe of Germans, of Gaul ; the Goths, of Spain; the
Goths and Lombards, of Italy, and the adjacent provinces. Scarcely
any veftigc of the Roman pulicy, jurifprudence, arts, or literature re-
mained. New forms of government, new laws, new manners, new
dreiTes, new languages, and new names of men and countries, were every
where introduced.
From this period, till the 16th century, Europe exhihitcd'a picture of
moil melancholy Gothic barbarity. Literature, Icicnce, tallc, were words
2 fcuicely
>
'fi
lNTROt)trCTlON.
$t
irwivet
inie», in
tie lands
barians.
ind, like
g before
ced with
nade no
hey ref-
pon the
"the hu-
efitation,
, A. D.
I. The-
jour and
e ofGotff
iftfnguilh
century,
lire from
ilteration.
ch other,
man legi-
le weftcrn
tradiftinc-
e Eajieru
laroiis na-
nd Odoa-
Thcfe
The in>-
»ny ages,
cient dif-
t the re-
verm atch
Irors, and
ted with
find new
enuity of
ipon one
" manners
s, could
vtrcamc
In nation,
lain ; the
lain ; the
Scarcely
iiiture rc-
^rs, new
:re every
li^ure of
\vc words
Icaiccly
fcarce in ufe during thefe ages. Pcrfona of the higheft rank, and in the
mod eminent Aations, could not read or write. Many of the cleigy did
not underftand the breviary which ihey were 6bliged daily to recite :
iottM of them could fcarcely read it. The human mind ncgledtedj uncul-
tivated, and depreflcd, funk into the mod profound ignorances The fu-
pcrior genius of Charlemagne, who, in the beginning of the 9th century,^
governed France and Germany with part of Italy ; and Alfred the Great
in England, during the latter part of rlie f.ime century, endeavoured to
difpel this darknels, and give their fubjedtr \ (hort gllmpfe of light. But
the ignorance of the age was too powerful for their efforts and inftitu'
tions. The darkaefs returned, and even incrcafed j fo that a dill grcatec
degree of ignorance and barbarifni prevailed throughout Europe.
A new divifion of property gradually introduced a new fpecies of go*
vcrnment formerly unknown ; which hngular inftituttoii is now diftin-
ftuiflied by the name of the Feudal Syji.m. The king or general, who led
the barbarians to conqueft,^ parcelled out the lands of the vanquiflicd a-
mong his chief officers, binding thofe on whom they were beftowed to
follow his ftandard with a number of men, and to bear arms in his defence.
The chief officers imitated the example of the fovercign, and In diftribut*
ing portions of their lands among their dependants, annexed the fame
condition to the grant. But though this fyftem feemcd to be admirably
calculated for defence againft a foreign enemy, it degenerated into a fyftem
of opprellion.
The ufurpation of the nobles became unbounded and Intolerable*
They reduced the great body of the people into a ftate of aitual fervitude.
They were deprived of the natural and moft unalienable rights of humani-
ty. They were flaves fixed to the foil which they cultivated, and together
with it were transferred from one proprietor to another, by fale or by coiv
Tcyance. Every offended baron, or chieftain, buckled on his armour
and fought redrefs at the head of his vafl'als. His adverfaries met him it
like hoftile array. The kindred and dependants of the aggreflbr, as well
trs of the defender, were involved in the quarrel. They had not even the
liberty of remaining neuter ".
The monarchs of Europe perceived the encroachments of theil' noble)
with impatience. In order to create fome power that might counterba-
lance thofe potent vaffals, who, while they enllaved the people, controlled
or gave law to the crown, a plan was adopted of conferring new privileges
on towns. Thefe privileges abolifhcd all marks of fervitude j and the in-
habitants of towns were formed into corporations, or bodies politic, to be
governed by a council and magiftrates of their own nominationi
The acquUition of liberty niade fuch a happy change in the conditioa
of mankind, as roufed them from that ftupiditjr and in.iflion into which
they had been funk by the wretchednefs of their former ftate. A fpirit
of induftry revived ; commerce became an object of attention, and began
to iiourilh. , . ....
Various caufes contributed to revive this fpint of commerce, and to re-
new the intercourfe between different nations. Conftantinople, the capital
of the Eiftern or Greek empire, had efcaped the ravages jf the Goths and
»
m
• Thig Gothic fyftem 'I prevails in Poland: a remnant of it continued in the
Highlands of Scotland I .ate as the year 1748. And even in Enjrland, a coutittf
renowned for civil and relijiom liberty, fome rns around the Baltic, were at that time extremely barbarous,
and infelted that fea with their piracies, this obliged the cities of Lubec
and Hamburg, foon after they had begun to open fomc trade with the
Italians, to enter into a league of mutual defence. They derived fuch.
advantages from this union, that other towns acceded to their confederacy ;
and, in a fliort time, eighty of the mofl conliderable cities, fcattered
through thofe large countries of Germany and Flanders, which flretch
from the bottom of the Baltic t9 Cologne on the Rhine, joined in an alli-
ance, called the Hanfeatic League ; which became fo formidable, that its
alliance was courted, and its enmity was dreaded by the greateft monarchs.
The members of this powerful aflbciation formed the firft fyftematic plan
of commerce knovv in the middle ages, and conducted it by cotnmon
laws enabled in their general alTemblies. They fuppli^d the reft of Eu-
rope with naval ftores ; and pitched on different towns, the moft eminent
of which was Bruges, in Flanders, where they cftabliflied ftaples, in
which their commerce was regularly canied on. Thither the Lombards
brought the productions of India, together witli the manufactures of^Italy,
and exchanged them for the more bulky, but not lefs ufeful commodi-
ties of the North.
As Bruges became the centre of communication between the Lombard!
and Hanfeatic merchants, the Flemings traded with both in that city to
fuch extent, as well as advantage, as ditful'cd among th- in a general habit
•f induftry, which long rendered Flanderg and the adjacent proviixces the
I moft
INTRODUCTION*
$1
ihcir
mod opulent, the moft populous, and bell cultivated countries in £u«
rope. *
Struck with the flourifhing flate of thcfe provinces, of which he dif-
covered the true caufe, Edward III. of England, endeavoured to
excite a fpirit of induflry among his own fubjeds, who, blind to '•' *
the advantages of their iituation, and ignorant of the fource from which
opuleuce was defined to flow into their country, totally negle(5ted com-
merce, and did not even attempt thofe nianufadlures, the materials of
which they furniihed to foreigners. By alluring Flemifli artifans to fettle
in his dominions, as well as by many wife law; Tor the cicouragement
and regulation of trade, he gave a beginning to ;he woollen manufac-
tures of England ; and firfl turned the aiSlive and entercrifing genius of
his people towards thofe arts which have raifed the Englilh to the firft
rank among commercial nations.
The Chriftinn princes, after their great lofles in the crufades, endea*
voured to cultivate the friendfliip of the great khans of Tartary,
whofe fame in arms had reached the moil remote corners of Europe and
Afia, that they might he fome check upon the Turks, who had been
fuch enemies to the Chriftian name ; and who, from a contemptible
handful of wanderers, fcrving occationally in the armies of contending
princes, had begun to extend their ravages over the iineft countries of
Afia.
The Chridian emballies were managed chiefly by monks, a wandering
profelTion of men, who, impelled by zeal, and undaunted by ditficulties
and danger, found their way to the remote courts of thefe infidels. The
Englifh philofopher Roger Bacon, was fo induftrious as to colledt from
their relations, or traditions, many particulars of the Tartars, which are
to be found in Purchas's Pilgrim, and other books of travels. The firft
regular traveller of the monkilh kind, who committed his difcoveries to
writing, was John du Plant Carpin, who, with fome of his bretliren,
about the year 1246, carried a letter from pope Innocent to the great
khan of Tartary, in favour of the Chriftian fubjtc^s in that prince's ex-
tenfive doniinioiis. Soon after this, a Ipirit of travelling into Tartary and
India became general ; and it would be no difficult matter to prove that
many Europeans, about the end of the fourteenth century, ferved in the
armies of Tamerlme, one of the greateft princes of Tartary, whofe con-
aucfts reached to the moft remote corners of India ; and that they intro-
uccd into Europe the ufe of gunpowder and artillery; the difcovefy
made by a German chemilt being only partial and accidental.
After the death of Tamerlane, who, jealous of the rifing power of the
Turks, had checked their progrefs, the Chriftian adventurers, upon their
return, mai^niiying the vail riches of the Eaft Indies, infpired their
countr\nicn with a fpirit of adventure and difcovery, and were ^ '*
the fii'ft that rendered a pafl'agc thither by fea probaole and pradlicable.
The Portuguefe had been always famous for their application to maritime
affairs ; and to their difcovery of the Cape of Good Hope, Great Britaia
is at this day indebted for her Indian cominercc.
At firft they contented thcmfelves with ftiort voyages, creeping along
the coaft of Africa, difcovering cape after cape; but by making a gradual
progrefs fouthward, they, in the year 1497, wore fo fortunate as to fail
beyond the cape, which opened a pafTagc by fea to the eaftern ocean, and
9II thofe countries known by the names of India, China, and Japan.
While the I'ortuguefe were intent upon a paffage to India by the eaft,
Jg 5 Col^^i%^
54
JNTRODUCTIO N.
Columbus, a native of Genoa, conccWcd a prqjeft of failing tlilther b]/
^he weft. His piopofal being condemncvl by his countrymen aa chime-
rical and abfurd, he laid hi. fchemes fuccelfivcly before the courts of
France, England, and Portugal, where he had no better fuccefs. Such
repeated difappointmcats would have broken the fpirit of any man but
.Columbus, The expedition required expencc, and he ';:ad nothing' to
defray it. Spain was now lis only refouicc; and there, after eight
yeais attendance, he at lcnj;ui fucceeded, through the intcrelt of queen
ifabella. This princefs wi' j 'vailcd upon to patronize him, by the rcr
prefentations of Juan Perf g ^ rdian of the monaficry of Pabida. He
»va6 a man of cp;ifiderable . arning, and of fome credit with queen Isabel-
la ; gnd being warmly attachcfl tpCoKimbus, from his perfonal acquaint-
fince with him, and knowledge of his merit, he had enteied into an ac»
curate examinatioi) of that great man's projeft, in conji-inftipn with a
phyfician fettled in his neighbouihood, who was eminent for his Ikill in
mathematical knowledge. Tj:is inve1iiga;ion completely fatisficd them
pf the folidity of the piinciplcs on which Columbus founded his opinion,
^nd of the probability of fuccefs in executing the plan which he propofed.
JPerer. thpreforp fo ftrongly recommended it to queen Ifabella, that flic
entirely pntered into the fcheme, and even generoully oflered, to the ho-
nour of her fex, to pledge her own jewels in order to raifc as much moT
jTjey as might be required iii making preparations for the voyage. But
Santagel, another friend nnd patron ot Columbus, immediately engaged
to advance the fum that was rcquifite, that the queen might not be re-?
^uced to the neccflity of having rcvourfo to that c::pedicnt.
Columbus now fet fail, anno 1+9::, with a fleet of three fliips, upon
dne of the molt adveuturous attempts ever undertaken by man, and :>'.
%h£ fate pf which the inhabitants of two world;; were inteieiled. 7n this
voyage he had a thoufand difficulties to contend with ; ai.d his lailors,
who were often difcontcntcd, at length L?i,an to inlift upon his return,
threatening, in cafe of rcfufal, to throw him overboard ; but tre firnintfa
pf the commander, and the difcovery of land, after a palfagc of 33 days,
put an end to the commotion. From the appearance of the natives, he
found to his furprize that this could not be tlic Indies he was in quefl of,
and which hp foon difcovered to be a new world : of vvhich tl.v. rea;?er
will find a more circumftantial account in that part of the following woik
which treats of America.
Europe now began to emerge out of that darkncfs into which flie had
been funk lince the fubvcrlion of the Ron an empire. Thefe difcoveries,
frorti which fuch wealth was dellincd to How to the commercial nations
pf Europe, were fucceeded by others of unfpeakable benefit to mankind.
The jnvention of printing, the revival of learning, arts, and fci-
^^ ■ ences ; and, laflly, the happy reformation in religion, all dillin-
guifli the i^th and i6th centuries as thetirft a-ra of modern hiftory. " It
was in thefe ages that the powers of Europe were formed into one greaj:
political lyflem, in which each took a ftation, wherein it has iince reinain-
p^y with iefs yariation than could have been expe6ted, ^fter the ilipcks
pccafioned by fo many internal revolutions, and fo many foreign wars,
pf which ^ye have given foine account in the hiilory of each p.Hrticular
|la^piji jhP following work. The great events which happened then have
pot hitherto fpcnf their force. The political principles' and maxims then
Iflljjbjilhpd, ffi|i continue to operate j {^d thp jde^s conccrninij the b^jiyiGc
INTRODUCTION.
SS
nimla
days,
vcfi he
of power then introducrd, or rendered general, ilill influence, in fume de«
gree, the councils of European nations."
/ From all which it feems extremely cer'nin, tlwt the concurrence of fo
many rival princes will always prevent ar. ne of them from gaining the
empire over £urope. But it is no lefs ce. ..i, that, in contending for it,
they mufl weaken their own force, and may at length render themfelves
incapable ofdefcnding even their juflpoiTeflions. The partial conquers they
may make are extremely illufive ; inllead of promoting, they rather op-
poic iheir defigns ; the more any kingdom is extended, it becomes the
weaker ; and great proje6ts have not been fo often executed by flow reiterat-
ed eftbrt6, as jn the cuurfe of a few years, and fometimes by a fingleexpe-
dicion. A prince may form a deliberate plan of deftroying the rights of
his fubjefts ; he may proceed by flow degrees in the execution of it, and
if he die before it is completed, his fuccellbi- may purfue the fame ileps,
and avail himfelf of what was done before him. iHwt external conquefts
cannot be concealed ; they generally occai:on mo'/e fear than hurt, and
are almoft alwsiys lefs folid than brilliant. Hence thr; alarms they excite,
the confederacies they give occafion to, by which the prince who, by mis-
fortune, hu8 been a conqueror, is commonly reduced to the laft extremi-
ties. This doArinc, however contrary to the prejudices of a powcrfuf
and vidorious nation, is one of the bell cftabliflicd in the fcicnce of politics*
It is confirmed by examples both ancient and modern. The ftates of
Greece, in particular, delivered from the terror of the Perfian invaiions,
exhibit the fame truth in a great variety of lights. There was not one of
the moil inconfulerable of thefe little focieties, but in its turn imbibed
the frenzy of conqueft, and in its turn too was reduced by this frenzy to
the utmoft mifcry and dillrefs *. The modern examples are fo well
known, that it is almofl unneceflary to mention them. Who does not
know that the houfe of Auftria f excited the terror of all Europe, before
it excited the pity of Great Britain ! Had that family never been the ob-
jcft of fear, the emprefs quecti would never have become the objedl of
companion. France affords an example not lefs flriking. The nerves of
that kingdom were flrained fo far beyond their flrcngth, by an ambitious
monarch, that it feemcd hardly poflible they fliould acquire their natural
tone in the courfe of this century. The debility of their efforts in the
war of 1756 prci-ed the greatnels of the evil, and the inefficacy of any re-
medy which is not flow and gradual : but the Britiih cabinet, in agitating
a civil war with the North Americans, hath greatly contributed to reftore
and augment thci.* naval power.
• The reader who would fee *his fubjeft fully illuftrated, may look at Ifocrates*
Oration on the Peace; one of t moil: 6nifhed modeU of ancient eloquence; and
which contains a rich fund of poUtiritl knowledge,
t Germany, Holland, and all the Low Countries, fevcral ftates in Italy, the king-
dom of Spain, \vi''i the vaft 'mpires of Mexico anil Peru in South America, were,
at the time of the Reformation, governed by Charles V. of the houfie trf Auftria : ter-
ritories which, though exceeding in riches and extent the moft powerful empires of an-
tiquity, did not gratify the ambition of that monarch ; and his whole reign w^s a
fctnc of hollility ag8'"ft his neighbours. One of his fucceffors, the late e:nprcfsuuecn,
and the reprefentative of that family, was, however, upon the death jf her Mther,
not only ftrippcd of her dominions, but reduced fo low as to be ii the want of ueceffa-
rics; and contributions were a(5lually raifed for her in Great Britain, whofe kinjr,
George II. engaged in her caufe, and at the oxpcnce«f this oation reinllated her :tp-
©n the Jpiperial throne,
E 4 C|
S6
INTRODUCTION.
Of all the kingdoms of Europe, Great BritHin, for a lung t\pne, eJi-'
joyed the jjreatell degree of prufpcrity Jind glory. She ought, therefore,
to have been the more itttentive to prcfcrve fo brltliant an exigence. A
greut empire cannot be continued in a happy litiuttion, but by wifdom and
moderation. The unhappy conteft of Great Britain with the Aim-rioan
colonies, through the folly, arrogance, or arbitrary defigns nx her then
miniflers of ftafe, has plunwi d her into the greatcft difficuhii:s ; b.'i na-
tional debt has been augmentet? to a prodigioiia height ; her t !s,cs gwitly
increafcd, and her trade diminiftied. Hiippy will it be, it" the prefr* t
peace with America, iiixd with the European powers with whoui flic has
Tjcen involved in w.ir, in confequcnce of htr ev;r to be laii;ent« li contcll
with the colonies, Hiould again lertore her to her former profpciity and
tranquillity.
PART III.
OP THE ORIGIN AND PROGF.ESS OF RF^LIGION.
EITY 13 an awful obje£^, and has ever rouftd the attentit i^ of
maukiuc' : but they being incapable of ele»ating their id'.-as to all
the fttblimity of his j.erfe6lionp, have too often brought down his per-
fections to the level of their ovyu ideas. This is more pa-t'cularly true
with regard to thoi'< r.ttions whofe religion had no other foundation but
the natural itclingSs j:;d more often the irregular palfions, of the human
heart, nnd who haa received no light from heaven refpedting this imports
ant object. In deducing the hillory of religion, therefore, wc muft make
the famedillinftion, which we have hitherto obferved, in tracing the pro-
grefs of arts, fcienccs, and of civiliication among mankind. Wc muft fe^^.
parate what is human from what is divine, what had its origin from par-
ticular revelations, from what is the eftedt of general laws, and ot the un-
alfifted open'idons of the human mind.
Agreeably to this diftindVion, we find, that in the firftagesofthe world,
the religion of the ealiern nations was pure and luminous. It;arofe from a,
divine fource, and was not then disfigured by human fancies or caprice.^
in time, however, thefe began to have their inftuence ; the ray of tradi-
tion was abfcured, and among thofe tribes which feparatcd at the greatell:
diftance, and in the fmalleft numbers, ^romthe more improved focieties of
men, it was altogether obliterated.
In this fituation a particular people were felefted by God himfelf, to.
be the depolitories of his law and wOrfliip ; bi\t the reft of mankind were
left to form hyppthcfes upon thefe lubje(5ts, which were more or lefs per-
fe6l according to an infinity of circumftauces, which ca,nnot properly be
Ifcdticed under any general heads.
The moft common reIij.;ion of antiquity, that which prevailed the long-,
^ft, and extended the widcft, was Polytheism, or the do£trine of a plu-
rality of gods. The rage of fy-ftcm, the ambition of reducing all the
phenomena of the moral world to a few general principles, has occafioned
ifianyimperfedl accounts, both of the origin and nature of this fpecics of
Worfliip. For without etjtering into a minute detail, it is impoffible to give
an adequate idea of the fMbjcft ; and what is faid upon it in general, mull
alw.iys be liable to many exceptions.
^ One thing, however, may be obferved, that the polytheifm of the an-
9^e^ts fecms neither to have been the fruit pf philolbphical fpeculations.
INTRODUCTION.
57
nor «f trisfigured triiiVitions, concerning the nature of the divinity. It
feems to have arifen during the rudeA aees of fociety, while the rational
powers were feeble, and while mankincT were under the tyranny of ima-
ginntion and palTion. It was built therefore folely upon fentiment ; at
each tribe of men had their huroei, fo likewile they had their gods.
Thofe heroes Wiio led them forth to the combat, who pretided in their coun-
cils, whofe imnge was engraved on their fancy, whofe exploits were im«
printed on their memory, even aftet' death cmoyed an exigence in the
imagination of their followers. The force of blood, of friendfhip, of
vfTtvlion, among rude nations, is what we cannot eafily cotu:eive : but the
power of imagination over the fenfes is what all men have in fome degree
experienced. Combine thefe two caufes, &nd it will not appear flrange
that the image of dep:uted heroes (hould have been feen by their compa-
|iio'ns, aniinating the battle, taking vengeance on their enemies, and
performing in a word, the fame funiTtions which they performed when
alive. An appearance fo unnatural would not excite terror amang men
unacquainted with evil fpirits, and who had not learned to fear any
thing but their enemies. On the contrary, it confirmed their courage,
flattered their vanity, and tiic tcdimony of thofe who had feen it, fup- .
ported by the extreme credulity and romantic cad of thofe who had not^
gained an uuiverfal afl'ent among all the members of their fociety. A
Imall degree of reflexion, however, would be fufficient to convince them,
thar, as their own heroes exiftcd after death, it might likewifc be the
cafe of thofe of their enemies. Two orders of gods, therefore, would
be eftabliflied, the propitious and the hoflile ; the gods who were to be
loved, and thufe who were to be feared. But time, which wears off the
impreffions of tradition, the frequent invalions by which the nations of
antiquity were ravaged, defolatcd or tranTpUnted, made rhem lofe the
names, and confound the charafters of thofe two orders of divl ' ics, and
form various fyftems of religion, which though warped by a thoufand
particular circumllances, gave no fmall indications of their firfl texture
and original materials. For in general the gods of the ancients gave
abundant proof of human infirmity. They were fubjedt to all the paf-
iions of men ; they partook even of their partial affections, and in many
inflanccs difcovered their preference of one race or nation to all others.
They did not eat and drink the fame fubllances with men ; but they lived
on nectar and ambrofia ; they had a particulac^ pleafure in fmelling the
ileam of the facrificcs, and they made love with a ferocity unknown in
northern climates. The rites bv which they were worfliipped, naturally
refultcd from their character. The mod enlightened among the Greeks,
entertained nearly the fame notions of gods a,nd religion, with thofe that
are to be met with in the poems of He(i«d and Homer ; and Anaxagoras,
who flouriflied B. C. 430 years» was the firft, even in Greece, that pub-,
licly announced the exigence of on? Creator and Governor of the
univerfc.
It muft be obferved, however, that the religion of the ancients waa
npt much connected, either with their private behaviour, or with their
political arrangements. If we except a few fanatical focieties, whofe
principles do not fall within our plan, the greater part of mankind were
extremely tolerant in their principles. They had their own gods who
Watched over them ; their neighbours, they imagined, alfo had theirs ; .
and there was room enough in the univerfe for b'th tp live together ii\
good fellowfliip, without interfci;ing'or joflling with one anpther.
■■■'■■•■■■ ■ Thei
5«
INTRODUCTION.
TIieintrodvKftjon of ChrJflian'ity, by Inculcating the unity of God, Ivy
announcing the purity of his chariu^cr, atu4 by explaining the fcrvicc he
retiuiied of men, produced a total alterntiun in their religious fentiineiita
anct belief. But this is not the place for handling thiufublimc fubjcd. It
is Aillicicnt to obicrve here, that a religion, which was founded oti the
unity of ihc Dciiy, which admitted oi no ailbciation with falfc gods, mult
either be ultoqcthcr dcftroyed, or become the prcvailin<; In lief of man*
kind. 'I he latter was the cafe. Chiiiliauity tnadc its way among the
rivilized part uf mankind, by the fub imity of its dodiinc» and preci pts ;
it \C(\ lircd not the aid of human power ; it fuibiined iifelf by the truth
and wildom by which it was char.iaciifcd. But in time it became cornip;*
ed ly the introdudion of worldly maxims, of maxims very inconfiOent
with the precepts of its divine author, and by the ambition of the clergy j
which ar length occafioncd the elevation, and exorbitant claims of the
bid)op of Rome.
The m:inagement of whatever related to the church being naturally
conferred on tlioie who had eftabliflied ii, liill oceatiuncd the elevation and
then the domination of the clergy, and afterwards of the bifluip of Rome,
over all the members of the Chriftian world, it is impoHible to delcribc,
within our narrow limits, all the concomitant eaufes, fome of which were
extrtmely delicate, by wiiich this fpecies of univerfal monarchy was el*
l.'iblifticd. The bifhops of Rome, by being removed from the control
of the Roman emperors, then rcfiding in Cunflantinoplc ; by borrow-
ing with little variation, the religious cetemonics and rites eilablifhed
among the heathen world, and otherwife working on the credulous mindt
of birbarians, by whom that empire began to be difmcmbercd j^ and by
•vailing tbemfclvcs of every circumftance which fortune threw in their
Way, flowly crciJkd the fabiic of their antichriftiaii power, at firft an ob-
ject of veneration, and afterwards of terror, to all temporal princes.
The eaufes of its happy diUblution arc more palpable, and operated with
greater ati^ivity. The moll efficacious was the rapid improvetncnt of arte,
poveminent, and commerce, which, :ff'er many ages of barbarity, made
lis way into Europe. The fcandalous lives of thofe who called them-
fclvts the " minijlers nf Je/us Chriji** their ignorance and tyranny,
the deflre natural to fovcreigns of delivering thcmfelvcs from a foreign
yoke, the opportunity of applyjtig to national objcdtr, the iinmcnfe
wealth which had been diverted to the fervice of the church in every
kingdom of Europe, tonfpired with the ardour of the tirft reformers,
and hallened the progrefs of the reformation. The unreafonablencfs of
the claims of the church of Routt was dt-monllrated ; ttiany of their doc«
trines were proved to be equally unfcriptural and irrationnl ; and fome of
iheir abfurd mummeries and fuperftitions were expofed both by argu-
ment and ridicule. The fervices of the reformers in this rcfpecl give
thctn a jull claim to our veneration ; but, involved as they had themfelvei
been in the daiknefs of fuperlHtion, it w.'S not to be expefted that they
Hiould be able wholly to free themfelves from errors ; they ftlll retained
an attachment to fome abfurd dodrines, and preferved too much of the
intylcrant fpirit of the church from which they had feparatcd themfclves.
With all their defe(5t«, they are entitled to our admiration and cfteem ;
and the refurmution began by Luther in Gennany in the year 1517,
and which took place in Englana A. D. 15^4, was an event highly favour,
able to the civil, as well .as to the religious rights of mankind.
We fliall now proceed tg the main p4rt; of our work, beginttlog witU
Euaopc.
'1
wJtU
i-
t S9 1
EUROPE.
EUROPE, thoujrh the Icaft extenfiye quarter of the fflohc, contaTn-
ino; only about ;, 4.56, 061; Iq'iare miles, vvhercaH the habitable parti
of the world in the ether qiiiirtcrs, are cftiniiitcd at 36,666,806 fquara
miK'9, is in miiny refpcv^ts that which mofi defcrvcs our attention.
There the human mind lv>s made the grcatcrt progn;!, towards its im-
pr{)vi.-ment ; and there the arts, whether of utility or ornrmicnt, the fd-
enri'.-, both military and civil, have been carried to the greuffft perfec-
tion. If we except the earlicll ages of the world, it is in Juirope that wo
find the j^reatcft variety %{ charadcr, government, and manners, and
from whence we draw the ^rcateft number of fa'ts and memorials, cither
for our entertainment or inftriiction.
Geography difcovcrs to us rwo circumftances with regard, to Europe,
which perhaps have hadaconfiderable tendency in giving itthcfupcrioriiy
ovf r the reU of the world. Firil, the happy temperature of its climate,
no put of it lying within the torrid zone ; and fecondlr, the great v;'.-
rit cy of its furtace. The eftetft of a moderate dim ite, botli on plants ami
anitnals, is well known from experience. The immcnfc number of moun-
tains, rivers, fcas, ^c. which divide the different countries of Europe
from one another, is likewife gular inftance ot .^his kind we are acquainted with. The other mixed
IJQvprnment} of Eyrope axe compofcd only of two of the fimple forms,
'-^i^f
!^
a..
'f
^J- r<^^«'l>ii^'^^
v<
^^s^
^^r*t5. ■% >4r^::5- »jf?^. ^^
^'''^rC'^^^A'^
h\
Sf*'
."SaOg
^U/US ' ,
»>i>ii&r.
■^r.-MCM JiJ ■■■f l ■ ■'■■■■ mm m ■! j « ^ \^^ ''^ —
ICY s V. X \ \ ^i> X k5!^Cp> \ , - ' y
, Worth C.ipe .\ J\0<^^';-^ ^.V''!L/i''\ \ / ^'
"•*»
'»
Itmbufil
tffi'''"^'
>» ^ Itomf
i^V'%\^.^>.
— _-_ Peluasli
i«*!i.
McT,
real
IJIIOPE
,ii\ ■^^U.E./rcjkl.onifon
6o EUROPE.,
fuch as Polaiul, fevcral dates of Italy, &c. all which fliall be explained
at length in their proper places.
The Chriftiau religion is eftabliflied throughout every part of Europe,
except Turkey ; but from the various capacities of the human mind,
and the ditferent lights in which fpeculative opinions are apt to appear,
when viewed by perlbns of different educations and paffions, that religion
is divided into a number of different fci'^s, but which may be compre-
hended under three general dei.ominations ; if>, The Greek church;
2d, Popery : and 3d, Proteftantifm : which laft is again divided into Lu-
: theranifm and Calvinifm, fo called from Luther and Calvin, the two dif-
tinguifhed reformers of the 16th century.
The languages of Europe are derived* from the fix following: the
Greek, Latin, Teutonic or old German, the Celtic, Sclavonic, and Gothic.
GRAND DIVISIONS OF EUROPE.
' 1 *HIS grand divifion of the earth is fituated between the loth degree
4 weft, and the 6^th degree eaft longitude from London j and br-
nvecn the 36th and 7 2d degree of north latitude. It is bounded on the
north, by the Frozen Ocean ; on the eaft, by Afia ; on the Ibuth, by the
Mediterranean Sea, which divides it from Atrica ; and on the weft, by the
Atlantic Ocean, which feparates it from America : being jooo miles long
f'om Cape St. Vincent in the weft, to the mouth of the river Obyin the
north-eall ; and 2500 broad from north to fouth, from the north Cape in
Norway to Cape Cayha or Metapar in the Morea, the moll fouthern pro
montiry in Europe. It contains the following kingdoms and ftates.
■CB}
i .
V -r. r
jr: -^ J
pi
■1
•2 ,
tl)
— u:
Kingdoms.
Len.
>co
j'm;
14c
80c
I50C
700
60u
6cc
.re
IsC
ZO'
(,rc
70c
Hth.
30c
IS-
10 ■
3°
50c
1 ire
^-e
iff
»J0
Chief City
Uift. & Bearing
from London.
Dili, of 'i'lnic
from Lonuoii.
P.eligions.
England
.Scotland
Ireland
London
i 59 bef.
Luth. and Calv.
fJerniaiiy
\'ienna 6co E.
1 5 b- r
Pap. Luth. and Ca
Bulicn^iH
Prague 600 E,
I 4 btl'.
Papifts
Holland
IOC
20c
500
sec
10:
IOC
Amilcrdam 180 E.
iS bef.
Calvinifts
!• landers
France
Brufiels 180 S. K.
16 bef.
Papift»
Papifts
Paris 1 400 S. E.
f) bef.
Spain
Madrid
Soo S.
17 aft.
Papifts
I'ortugal
l.ifbon
850 S. W.
38 aft
J'apifts
fiwitzerlaud
zOo
iiern, Coire,
Stc.
420 S. E.
28 bef.
Calvin, anu i.'.^\nu
Several T Piedm.Montfcrat,MiIan,Parma,Modena,Mantua,Venice,Genoa,l'ufcany,J
fmall ftates J Turin, Cafal, Milan, Parma, Modena, Mantua, Venice, Genoa, Floren
Popedom
24c
280
I2C
120
240
240
Rome
-820.S. t.
51 bi'f.
Papifts
Naples
Naples
8 -
6c
C<,>hE\-"l N. Lat. i;j— 4f
ii.\GE.N,/ E. Lon n— 50
Funen,
768
r?
3»
Odcnlce,
Falfter aud
Langland,
> 2:0
a;r
12
f Nikoping. .J
L N:i\kuw.
rt 1^
Femtren,
SO
1 i
a
Horge.
Alfen,
54
I';
6
Sonderborgc. '..
ci
Men a.
39
14
S
Stcge.
W
1 Bornholm,
t6o
2C
li
ig, f ' -ght, and of a black colour ; but they
have felilom any Wards, .bcLaufeit is their cor .1-ant pradice to root them
out. Ti>ey have high bre.if!:s and broad flioiin_v rs, efpecially the women,
who arc obliged to carry g .at burdens from their younger years. They
are very li^ht and nimble of foot, and can alfo ufe their hands with much
Ikill and dexterity. They are not very lively in their tempers, but they are
good hjmou red. friendly, and unconcerned about futurity. Their moft
r.t(rccable food .s the flcfii of rcin-decr ; but that is now fcarjc among
tficm, ;t»nd their beft provilions are iifh, fcals, and fea-fowl. Their
ilriivk is clear water, which ftandsin the houfe in a great copper veffel, or
in a wooden tub, which is very nearly made by them, ornamented with
fifti-boncs and rings, and provided with a pewter ladle 01 dipping difli.
The
W£ST GREENLAND.
•?
lere
hole
aif-
mil-
fta-
I tall,
they
them
Ey are
tnaft
long
"heir
;1, or
with
difli.
The
The men make their hunting and filhing implements, and prepare tho
wood-work of their boats ; and the women cover them with Ikins. The
men hunt and fifli, but when they have towed their booty to land, they
trouble thcmfelvcs no farther about it ; nay, it would be accounted be-
neath their dignity only to draw the feal up upon the ftiore. The wo-
men are the butchers and cooks, and alfo the currier* to drefa the pelts,
and jnake cloaths, fliocs, and boots, out of them ; fo that they are like-
w ife both fhoemakers and taylora. The women alfo build and repair the
houfcs ar/d tents, fo far as relates to the mafonry, the men doing only th»
carpenters work. They live in huts during their winter, which is incre-
dibly fevere ; but Mr. Crantz, who has given us the latell and beft ac-
counts of this country, fays, that in their longeft fummer days itisfo hot
that the inhabitants are obliged to throw off their fummer garments. They
have no trade, though they have a inoft improveable ffihery upon their
coafts ; but they employ all the year either in Hilling or hunting, in whicH
they arc very clextrous, particularly in catching and killing feals.
Curiosities.] The taking of whales in the feas of Greenland, among
the fields of ice that have been increafiug for ages, is one of the greatelc
curiolities in nature. Thefe fields, or pieces of ice, are frequently more
than a mile in length, and upwards of i oo feet in thicknefs ; and when.
tlicy are put in motion by a ftorm, nothing can \tc more terrible ; the
Dutch had 1 3 fliips cruflied to pieces by them in one feafon.
There are Ibveral kinds of whales in Greenland ; fome white, and others
black. The black fort, the grand bay whale, is in moll elleem, on ac-
count of his bulk, and the great quantity of fat or blubber he affords,
which turns to oil. His tongue is about 18 feet long, inclofed in long
pieces of what we call whalebone, which are covered with a kind of hair
like horfe-hair; and on each fide of his tongue are 250 pieces of this
whalebone. As to the bones of his body tliey arc as hiu-d as an ox's
bones, and of no ufe. There arc no teeth in hi? mouth ; and he is ufu-
ally between 60 and 80 feet long j very thick about the head, but grows
lels from thence to the tail.
When the feamen fee a whale fpout, the word is immediately given,
fall, fall, when every one haftens from the Ihip to his boat ; fix or eight
men being appointed 10 a boar, and four or five boats ufiially belong to
one iliip.
When they come near the whale, the harpooner ftrikes him with his
harpoon fa barbed dart), and the m
TTi I S ifland, which receives Its name from the great mafles of ice
vhat are feen near it, lies between 63 and 67 dog. N. lat. and be-
tween I ' and 27 deg. W. long. It extends four hundred miles in length,
end a', hundred and lixty in breadth, containing about 46000 fquare
miles. In April, !7'83, the inhabitants of Iceland obferved fomething
rifen and flaming in the fea, to the fouth of Grinbourgh, at eight miles
diftant from the rocks des Oifeaux, which afterwards was found to be a
new illaud. The fa£t is authentic, but its dinienfions and fituation are
not wcil afcertained. The information brought by the laft fliip from
thence, Wi
have an uncommonly llrongatt>Khment to their native country, and think '
themfclve.i no where elfe fo huppy. An IccLinder, therefore, i'eldom fct«
tk's in Copenhagen, though the moft iidvantagcous conditiona (liould be :
oHcrcd him. Their difpofitions are letiojs, and they are much ir.clmed
to religion. They never p.)!s a river, or any orher ditngeroun place, with* .
out prcvioufly taking oft'thrir hats, and imploring the divine protection : i
and they arc always thankful for their pfefervation, when they have pafied '
the danger. When they meet together, their chief patiime confirts in'
reading their hiftory. The m.irterof the houfc begins, and the rcfl con» 1
tinue in their turns when he is tired. They arc famous for playing at
chefs ; and one of their paftimes confifts in reciting verfes. Sometimes'
a man and woman take one another by the hand, and by turns fing flan*-
zas, which are a kind of di;d(>;;ue, and in which the company occafional-
ly join in chorus. The drefs ot the L;rl;mderi is not elegant or orna-
mental, but ib neat, cleanlv, ond fiiited to the climate. On their fingers
the women wear feveral gold, lilver, or brafs rings. The poorer women
drefs in the coarfe cloth, called wadinal, and always wear black : thofe
who are in better circumllances wear broad clorh, with lilver ornaments,
gilt. The houfes of the Icelanders iirc generally bad : in fome places they
are buiit of drift wood, and in others ihey are railed of lava, with mofs,
Auffed between the lava. I heir roots are covered with fods laid ove?
rafters, or fometimes over ribs of wh;dcs, which are both more durable
and more expenfive than wood. They have not even a chin>njy in their
kitchens, but only lay their fuel on the earth, be;wccn three Itones ; and •
the fmoke iffucs from a fquare hole in the roof. Their food principlly
confiils of dried fi(h, four butter, which they coi-fider as a great dainty,
milk tiiixed with water and whey, and a little meat. Bread is fo fcarce
among them, that there is hardly any peafaat who eats it above three or
four months in the year. >;
Religion.] The only religion tolerated in Iceland is the Lutheran.'
The churches on the eaft, fouth, and welt quarters of the ifland, are un-
der the jurifditYion of thcbifliop of Skalholt (the c ;p'.tal of the ifland , and
thofe of the north quarter are fubjcct to the bifiiop of Hoolum. The
lUand is divided into 189 pariflies, of which 1:7 belong to the fee of SkuU
holr, and 62 to that of Hoolum. Ail the minillers are natives of Icel nd,
and receive a yearly falary of four or five hundred rix-doUara from die
Icing, exclufivc of what they have from their connfrcgations.
Language. I The language in Iceland is the fame as iiv^t formerly
fpoken in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, and has been prefervcd fo
pure, that any Icelander underi^ands their moil ancient traditional hillo-
ries.
Learning and learned men,] It is faid that poetry formerly,
flouriflied very much in Iceland: and we are informed that E>;il Skalla*
grimfon, Kormack, Ogmundfon, GlumGeirfon, and Thorlief Jarlia were
celebrated as great poets. But the art of writing was not much in :tfe till af-
ter the year 1 000 ; though the Runic characlers were known in that country
before tha: period, and molt probably biougbt thither from, Norway.
After the reception of the Chriliian rcl'gion, the Latin ihuaders were
immediately adopted, as the Rumc alphabet, which only coulillsof Jixteeii
F kucrs.
6€
ICELAND.
lottftrs wai found infufficient. The firfl Icelandic bldiop, Ifleif, found-
ed a fchoul at Skalholt ; and foon after they founded four other fchot .j,
ia which rhe youth were inflruifteJ in the Latin tongurf divinity, and
fomc parts of theoretic philofophy. And from the introdui^^ion of the
Chriflian religion here till the year iib^^ when Iceland became i'u'>it6l
to Norway, it was one of the lew countries in Europe, and the nJ; one
in the North, wherein the fcicnccs were cultivated and held in eilecm.
But this period uf time feems to have produced more learned men in
leelantH'than Hny other period fince. It appears from their ancient chru*
nicies, that they hud cunfiderable knowledge in morality, philofophy, na-
tural hiftoiy, and aftronomy. Moll of their works were written in the
nth, 1 2th, 13th, and 14th centuries; and fome of them have been
printed. Mr. Banks, now Sir Jofeph B;rings at Aix-la-ChapcUe, Carllbad, Bath, and
SwitzerJaiMl, and feveral others found in Italy, arc cpnfidcred as very re-,
'. ■• * - mat kable :
-W'
\y of
liland
and
|:y re-.
ible ;
I f: E L A N D. ij;
tnarkable : but, excepting in the lad mentioned country, the water no
M'here becomes fo hot as to boil ; nor is it any where known to he thrown
fo high, HS the hot fpouting water-fprings in Iceland. All thofe water
works that have been contrived with fo much art, and at fo enormous an
cxpence, cannot by any means be compared with theCe. The water-works
at St. Cloud, which are thought the greateft among all the French water*
works, cad up a thin column eighty rect into the air : while fome fpringi
in Iceland fpout columps of water, of fcveral feet in thicknefs, to tnii
height of many fathoms ; and, as many affirm, of feveral hundred feet.
Thefe fpiings are of unequal degrees of heat. From fome, the water
flows gently as from other fprings, and it is then r >" bath i from
others, it fpouts bolting Wiitcr with a great noife, n then called a
kettle. Though the degree of heat is unequal, yet r',.o;| (nyt^
that he does not remember ever to have oblcivcd it i Fahren-
heit's thermometer. At Geyfcr, Rccyhum, and L; he found
it at 212 ; and in the laft pl.icc, in the ground, at a 1 ;.ic ho: i_,.rrcntof
water, 21 3 degrees. It is very common for fome of the fpoutIn}j;-fptingf^
to ceaic, and others to rife up in their (lead. Frequent earthquiikcii, and
fubteriiirican noifcs, heard at the time, caufe great terror to the people
who I've in the neighbourhood. In feveral of thefe hot fprings, the inha«
bitants who live near them boil their viftuals, only by hanging a pot into
which the flefli is put in cold water, in the water of the fpriug. They alfo
bathe in the rivulets that run from them, which, by degrees, become
lukewarm, or arc coded by their being mixed with rivulets of cold wa-
ter. The cows that drink of thefe fprings are faid to yield an extraordi-
nary quantity of milk , and it is likewifc clleemed very wholefome when
drank by the human fpecier.
The largeft of all the fpciiting- fprings in Iceland is called Geyfer. K
is about two days journey uom Heckla, and not far from Skalholt. In
approaching towards it, a lo.id roaring noife is heard, like the rufliing oC^
a torrent, precipitating itfclf from ftupendous rocks. The water here
fpouts feveral times a day, but always by ftarts, and after certain intervals.
Some travellers have affirmed that it fpouts to the height of fixty fa-
thorns. The water is thrown up much higher at foine times than at
others ; when Dr. Van Trcil was there, the utmoil; height to which it
mounted was computed to be 93 feet.
Bafaltinc pillars are likewife very common in Iceland, which arc fup-
pofed to have been produced by fubterraneous fires. The lower fort of
people imagine thefe pillars to have been piled upon one another by gi-
ants, who made ufc of fupernatural force to efFedl it. They have gene-
rally from three to feven lides, and are from four to feven feet in thick-
nefs, and from twelve to fixteen yards in length, without any horizontal'
divifions. In fome places, they are only fecn here and there among the
lava in the mountains : but, in fome other places, they extend two or three
miles in length without interruption.
There are iminenlc m.ifies of ice, by which every year great da-
mage is done to this country, and which affeft the climate of it ; they,
trrive commonly with a N. W. or N. N. W. wind from Greenlaud,
The field-ice is of two or three fathoms thicknefs, is fcparated by the winds,
and lefs dreaded than the rock or mountain-ice, which is often fcen fifty
and more feet above water, and is at leaft nine times the fame depth below*
water. Thefe prodigious maffes of ice are frequently left in (hod water^
tixed» as it were, to the ground, and in that ilato remain maoj month?i
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N O R W A Y.
nay, it is faid, even years undiflblved, chilling all the ambient pnri
of the atmofpherc tor many miles round. When many fuch lofty and
bulky mali'es of it'c are floating together, the wood that is often drifted
along between them, is fo much chafed, and prefled with fuch violence
together, that it takf s fire : which circumflance has occafioned fabulous
accounts of the ice being in flames. The ice caufed fo violent a cr>ld in
1753, and 1754, that horfes and flieep dropped down dead on account of
if, as well as for want of food : horfes were obferved to feed upon dead
cattle, and the (hccp to eat of each other's woo). A number of bears
arrive yearly witli the ice, which commit great ravages, particularly
among the flieep. The Icelanders attempt to deftroy thefe intruders at
foon as they get fight of them ; and fomctimes they afliemble togetl-.er,
and drive them back to the ice, with which they often float cffagaih. For
want of fire-arms, they are obliged to make ufe offpearson thefe occi-
Cons The government encourages the natives to deftroy thefe animaU,
by paying a premium of ten dollars for every bear that is killed. Their
(kins are alfo purchafed for the king, and are not allowed to be fold to
any othtr perfon.
It is extraordinary that no wood grows fuccefsfully in Iceland ; nay,
there are very few trees to be found on the whole ifland, though there
are certain proofs that wood formerly grew there in great abundance.
Nor can corn be cultivated here to any advantage ; though cabbages
parfley, turnips, and peas, may be met with in five or fix gardens,
which are faid to be all that are in the whole ifland.
Trade.") The commerce of this ifland is monopolized by a Danifii
company. The foil upon the fea-coafts is tolerably good for pafture:
and though there is not any confidcrable town in the whole ifland, tht
Icelanders have fcveral frequented ports. Their exports confift of dried
fifli, falted mutton and lamb, beef, butter, tallow, train-oil, coarfe
woollen-cloth, fliockings, gloves, raw wool, flieep-lkin?, lamb-ikins,
fox-fnrs of various colours, eider-down, and ftathtrs. Their imports
Confift of timber, filhing-lincf, and hooks, tobacco, bread, horfe-fliors,
brandy, wine, filt, linen, and a little filk ; exclufivc of fome necdTa*
ries and fuperfluitics for the more wealthy. ' /,
Strenotk, AND REVENtjE.] As Iceland affords no bait for aivarict
or ambitiun, the inhabitants depend entirely upon his Daiiiili majefty*»
J r )tc<5lion ; and the revenue he draws from thg country amounts to
about 30,00 . crowns a year.
THE FARO OR FERRO ISLANDS,
^O culled from their lying in a clufter, and the inhabitants ferrying
i^J from one ifland to another. They are about 24 in number, and lie
between 61 and 63 tieg. W. long, froin London. The fpace. of this cluf-
t'^r extends about 60 miles in Icngfh and 40 in breadth, .•;oo miles to the
weflward of Norway ; having Shetland and the Orkneys on the fouth'
Caft, and Greenland and Icelund upon the north and north •weft. The
rr'fldc and income of the inhabitants, who may be about 3000 or 4000,
add little or nothing to the revenues of Denmrxrk.
N
Name, bounoarus,
AN£i EXTENT,
]
T
Touth by the entrance iiito the
O R W A y. . '
HE natural fignificat'on of Norway is,
the Nor/Jjeiii-wrty. It is bounded on the
Baltic called the Sca^gerac, or Categate ;
on
N O R V/ A Y.
<59
bient p?rt
I lofty and
ten drifted
:h violence
:d fabulous
t a cr>ld in
account of
upon dead
er of bears
particularly
intruders as
,e togetlier,
igaih. For
thefe occa-
:fe animals,
cd. Their
3 be fold to
:land ; nay,
jough there
abundance,
^h cabbages
fix gardens,
by a DaniOi
for prtfture:
E ifland, th«
r.fift of dried
i-oil, coaffc
lamb-lkins,
icir imports
orfe-fliocs,
)me necefllv-
for avarice
niajefty*»
amounts to
In
nts ftrrying
ber, and lie
of this cluf-
miles to the
the fouth-
•weft. The
00 or 4000,
Norway is,
luded on the
)t Categate ;
on
on the weft and north by the northern ocean ; and on the eaft it is di-
vided from Sweden by a long ridge of mountains, called at different parrs
by different names ; as Filleficld, Dofrefield, RundfielJ, and Dourtield.
Thc'reader may confult the table of dimenfions in Denmark for its ex-
tent ; but it is a country fo little kno»n to the rell of Europe, that it is
diflicult to fix its dimenfiuns with preciiion.
Climate.] The climate of Norway varies according to its extent,
and its pofition towards the fea. At Bergen the winter U moderate, and
the fea is prafticable. Tlie eaftern parts of Norway are commonly co-
vered with fnow ; and the cold generally fets in about the middle of Oc-
tober, with intenfe feverity, to the middle of April ; the waters being all
that while frozen to a confidcrabic thicknefs. In 17 19, 7C00 Swedes,
who were on their march to attack Drontheim, periflied in the fnow, on
the mountains which feparate Sweden from Norway ; and their bodies
were found in different poftures. But even froft and fnow have their con-
vcniencies, as they facilitate the conveyance of goods by land. As to
the more northern parts of this country, c;illed Finmaik, the' cold is fo
intenfe, that they are but little known. At Bergen, the longcfl day con-
iifts of about 19 hours, and the fliorteft of about (ix. In lummer, the
inhabitants can read and write at midnight by the light of the Iky ; and
in the moft northerly parts, about midfummer, the fun is continually in
view. In thofe parts, however, in the middle of winter, there is only a
faint glimmering of light at noon for about an hour and a half; owmg
to the refledlon of the fun's rays on the mountains. Nature, notwith-
ftanding, has been fo kind to the Norwegians, that in the midft of their
darknfefs, the Iky is fo ferene, and the moon and the aurora borealis fo
bright, that they can carry on their fiftiery, and work at their fcveral
trades in open air.
The air is fo pure in fome of the inland parts, that it has been faid the
inhabitants live fo long as to be tired' of life, and caufe thcmfelves to be
tranfported to a lefs falubrious air. Sudden thaws, and fnow- falls, have
however, fometimes dreadful effeifls, and deftroy whole villages.
Mountains.] Norway is reckoned one of the moll mounta'nous
countries in the world ; for it contains a chain of unequal mountains run-
ning from fouth to north : to pafs that of Hardanger, a man muft travel
about feventy Englifli miles ; and to pafs others, upwards of fifty. Do-
frefield is counted the highefl mountain, perhaps in Europe. The rivers
and catarafts which interfeft thofe dreadful precipices, and that are p.ilT
able only by llighr tottering wooden bridges, render travelling in this
country very terrible and dangerous ; though the government is at the
cxpence of providing, at different (lages, houfes accominodated with fire,
light, and kitchen furniture. Detached from this vaft chain, other im*
menfe mountains prefent theinfelves all over Norway ; fome of them with
rcfervoirs of water on the top ; and the whole forming a moft furpriling
landfcape. The a£livity of the natives in recovering their flieep and
goats, when penned up, through a falfe Hep, in one of thofe rocks, is
wonderful. The owner direds himfelf to be lowered down from the top
of the mountain, fitting on u crofs fiick, tied to the end of a long rope ;
and when he arrives at the place, where the creature (lands, he faftens it
to thp fame cord, and it is drawn up with himfelf. The caverns that are
to be met with in thefe mountains, are more wonderful than thofe, per-
haps, in any other part of the world, though lefs liable to obfervation.
One of them, called Dolfteen was, in 1750, vifited by two clergymen;
who reported that they proceeded in it till they heard the fea d^(hin^
F } w^
$0
N O R. \V AY.
over their liea^sj that the pafllige was as wulc and as high a» an ordina-7
church) the fides perpendicular, and the root' vauhed : that they dcfcciuied
• flight of natural flairs ; but when they arrived at another, they durft
not venture to proceed, but returned j and that they confumed two caudles
going and returning.
Forests.] The chief wealth of Norway lies in its forefts, which
furnifti foreigners with marts, bcaits, planks and boards : and ferve bc-
iide for all domeftic ufes ; particuliirly the conftruction ot houl'e?, bridges,
fliips, and for charcoal to the foundcries. The chief timber growing
here are fir and pine, chn, alh, yew, benreed (a very curious wood),
birch, beech, oak, elm or alder, juniper, the afpin-trec, the comol or
(loe-tree, hafel, elder, and even ebony (under the mountains of Kolen),
lime or Hndyts into wliich they are about to be plunged,
and dalhcd among the rocks at the bottom.
Even animals, which have come too near the vortex, have cxprcfltd
the utmort terror when they find the flrcam irrcfilHblc. Whales are tre-
quenlly carried aw.iy ; and the moment they feci the force of the water,
tbey rtrugj^le againft it with ail their might, howling and bellowing in a
frightful manner. The like happens frequently to bears, who attempt lo
fwim to (he itland to prey upon the flieep.
It was the opinion oi'Kircbcr, that the Maltyftrom is a fea vortex, which
attracts the flood under the fliore of Norway, and difcharges it again in
the gulf of Bothnia r but this opinion is now known to be erroneous, by
the return of the (liattered fragments of whatever happens to be fu< ked
down by it. The large ftcms of firs and pines rife again lb lliivered and
fplintered, that the pieces look as if covered with briiUes. The whole
phaeuomena are the ctibcts of the violence of the daily ebb and flow, occa-
fioncd by the contraction of the ftream in its courfe between the rocks.
People, language, religion,/ The Norwegians are a tniddling
AND CUSTOMS OF NoRWAY. ) kii^d of people, between the lim-
plicity of the Greenlanders and Icelanders, and the more polillied inanners
of the Danes. Their religion is Lutheran j and they have bilhops as thole
of Denmark, without temporal jurifdit'tion. Their viceroy, like his
roaf'er, is abfolute: but the farmers and common people in Norway are
much lefs opprefled than thofe in Denmark.
The Norwegians in general are ftrong, robuft, and brave; but quick in
refenting real or fuppofed injuries. The women are handlbtne and courte-
ous; and the Norwegian forms, both of livtng, and enjoying property,
urc mild, and greatly n fembling the Saxon anccftors of the prdent liiig-
li(h. Every inhabitant is an artifan, and fupplics his family in all its ne-
ceflarics with his own m.inufa<5ture8 ; fo that in Norway there arc few by
profellion who arc hatters, flioe-makers, taylors, tanners, weavers, car-
penters, fmiths, or joiners. The loweft Norwegian peafant is an artift
pnd a gentleman, and even a poet. They often mix with oat-meal the
bark of the fir, made into a kind of flour; and they are reduced to very
extraordinary Ihifts for fupplying the place of bread, or faiinaceous food.
The manners of the middling Norwegians form a proper fubject of con-
templation even to a philofopher, as they lead that kind of life which we
may fay is furnifhcd with plenty ; but they are neither fond of luxury,
nor do they dread penury : and this middle ftatc prolongs their ages fur-
prilingly. Thoug,h their drefs is ia many rcfpeds accommodated to their
climate,
dimatd
weathe
any col
years
were
ages,
Th«
DENMARK.
If
dimate, yet, by ciiftom, inftead of guarding againft the inclemency of the
weather, thty outbiavf it; to;- they cxpol'e themfclvcs to cold, without
any coverture upon tlicir brcalls or necks. A Norwegian ot jjn huiidreti
years of age is not accooiucii pad his hil:ioiir: and in 1733, lour couples
were m^tiricd, and danced beiorc hib Danilh majelty at Frcdcncfli)hs where bfoadeft, though in I'undry
others fiiru it it net ^9. '
Denmark
7^
DENMARK.
Dfmn.iiV Proper is ilivu'pil info two parts; the pcninfula of Jutland .in«
cirri' ly callcl Lvncy'ia Clytfoncfuiy nn 1 th-j ifliinds ;it the entrance ot the
B.iitiv, rri' ntionrii in the fiihlo. Ir is rcinurkahlc, th.it though nil thcle to-
fjcihur conlHruif rhc kin:^.l(»in of D^unvirk, yet not any one of them is fc-
uarntcly o.ilK'd hy that nnine. Copenhagen, the mctropolit, is in the
itUtnd of Ziainnd.
Air, ci.imatf, son,, stati of aoriculture, &c.] One of the
largcft and niort t'cnile of all the provincrs of this kingdom i« Jutland,
which produces abundance of all foris of grain and pafturage, and is a kind
«f mitgiizine for Norway on all occuiions. A great niiinher of fmail cattle
flic bred in this province, and afterw uds tranlportcd into HoUlein, to be
fed for the irt'c of Hamburi{h, Liibcc, and Amftcrdani. jutlRnd is every
where intcrfperfcd with hills, and on the enll fide has fine woods of oak,
fir, IxTch, birch, and other trcs ; but the well fide btinjj Icfs woody,
the inhabitants nie obli'^cd to ufc turf and heath for fuel. Zt aland is for
the molt part a fandy foil, but nther fertile in grain and pallurage, and
agrce.ibly variegated with woods and lakes of water. The climate is more
temperate here, on account of tl)C vapours from the furrounding fe.i, than
it is in many more Ibutherly parts of Europe. Spring and autumn are fca-
Ibns fcarccly known in Denmark, on account of ihc fudden tranlitions
from cold to heat, and frv):ii h-:at to colJ, which diftinguifh the climate of
this kingdom. In all the njrthein provinces of Denmark the winters arc
very fc VI re, fo that the inhabit ints often pafs arms of the f(;a in iledgea
upon the ice; and duiing the wlntir all their harbours arc fio/.cn up.
The j;reHteft part ot iIil' land.i in D. nmark and HoKlein arc iicfs, and the
aicicr.t nobility by grants which they cxroitcd at difterent times from the
crown, g.iincd Aich a i)owcr over the farmers, and thofe who refided upon
their dlarts, that at lcny;th they rc.tuccd them to a tlate of exirMiic ilavery ;
fo that they weic bo ii;ht and fuld with the lands, and were clkenied the
prop rty of tlieir lords. Many of the nol)lc landholdfis in Slclwick and
Holllcin, have the powrr f)f life and drarh. The lituation of the f.irnicrs
lias, indeed, ben m.idc fomcwhat more agreeable by fomc modern edicts ;
buc they are ftill, if fuch an cxprcHion may be allowed, chained to their
far. lis, and are difpofed of at the will of thrir lords. When a farmer in
Denmark, or in HoUiein, happens to be an indulbious man, and is lituat-
c.i u.)(jn a poor farm, which by great diil^cnec he has laboured tocuItivat«
adi'ant.igeoufly. as foo:\ as he has performed the toilfome talk, and expeds
to reap the profits of what he has fown, his lord, under pretence of taking
it into hisown hand, removes him from that farm to another of his poor
farm-;, and experts thar he llionkl perform the fame laborious talk there,
xv'thout any other emolumcr.t than what he Ihall think propyl to t;ive him.
'I his hbs brcn fo long ihc pradViee in this country, that it nccefllirily throws
the greatclt damp upon the efforts of indullry, and prevents thole im-
provements in a!.;ricultiire which would otherwife l)« introduced: the con-
leipicnce of which i.<, tliat nine pans in ten of the inhabitants are in a ftate
of great poverty. But it the farmers had a Iceurity for their property,
the lands of Dcnin irk nii/jit have been cultivated to much greater advan-
an they arc at piefcnt, and a much ereater number
tag
ported by the pt-oduce of agriculture
people fup-
Amimai.s.] Denmark produces an eitcellent breed of horfes, both for
the faddle and carriage, about 50 o arc fold annually out of the country,
and of their horned cattle to 30, cor. Befides numbers of black cattle, they
have ihcep, and h't^s, and gime; and the fea coarts are generally well
fupplicd uith fiUi.
Popi;-
Popt
iTtade it
tn.irk,
Oldcnb
4*
■.^
DENMARK.
77
Population, manners, and customs.] By nn atonal numeratiun
iTiiide in i7;(;, ut hit Danidi mnjcily't i'uhjidts in iiii domiinum ut' Ucn*
tn.trk, Norway, iluldcin, the illanus in the Baltic, and the cnimtivt ot'
Oldcnburgh and Dclmrnhorif, in VVellphaiiu ; they were (itid to amount
tu 3,444,000 I'uuls, cxclulivc ot' the IccliindciH :uk1 Grecnlanders. The
moll accurate account of the population, it that made under the direction uf
the famous Scrucnlce, by which
Jutland numbered
Dcnmaikloelaud
Funcn
Niirway
Illandst of Ferro
35^^. '36
203,466
143,988
723»«4«
4»75+
Iceland 46,101
Duchy of Slcfwiclc 243,^0;;
Duiliy of Holrtcin 134/JO5
Oklcnburgii b2,8^^
Delmcnhoid i(>,^i7
Sum Ti)til 2,017,017
Several of th« fmallcr iflands incKidcJ in the dirtrift of Fionia aie omit- «'
ted in this computation, which may coi.tuin a tew thoufands.
However difproportioncd this number may fccm to the extent of his Da.
nifli majelly's dominions, yft, every thiiuj onlidercil, it h tar jjrcurfr t!v,i(|
could have been expedlcd from the unculiivarcd Ihitc ot hia \n,ti liion;..
But the trade of Denmark hath been fo fliackled by tli« corruption ;ui>l .ir'ai-
trary proceedings of her minillcrs, and her merchants arc fo terrified by
the defpotlfm ot her government, that this kingdom, which might be ren-
dered rich and flourifhini;, is at prcfcnt one of the m^.i^ indigent and dil-
treifed flutes in Europe'; und thcfe circumlbmccs prevent Denmark frmn
being fo populous as it othcrwitc would be, if tiic ndminitbMtiou of go*
vernment were more mild and equitable, and if proper cncouragemfnt
were given to foreigners, and to ihofc who engage in agricultuie, uni '
other arts.
The ancient inhabitants of Dcnmaik poflelTcd a do{;rce of courage which
approached even to ferocity; but by a continued feries of tyranny and
oppreiTion their national charader is much changed, and from a br.ivc,
cnterprifing, and warlike people, they arc become indolent, timid, and
dull of appreheiifinn. They value themfelvcs extremely upon thofc t't^a
and privileges which they derive from the Crown, and aie exceedingly tond
of pomp and (hew. They endeavour to imit;itc the French in their man- ■
ners, tlrefs, and even in their gallanrry; though they arc ii.iturally the
very contrail of that ivition. They fall much into thiit indolcnoc and timi-
dity which form a cofiderablc |Ktrt of the charadlers of the modern Danes ;
but in other rcfpe(fl3 are well-meaning people, and acquit thcmfelvts pro-
perly in their rcfpc£Hve employments, 'lli: Dane-, like other northern
nations, arc given to intenipeiance in drinking, and convivial enteriain*
inents; but their nobilitv, who now begin to vilit the other cjurts of Eu-
rope, arc refining from their provincial habits imd vices.
RiiLiGiox.] The religion is Lutheran ; and the kingdom ii" divided .
into lix diocefes ; one in Zealand, one in Funcn, and four in Jutland;
thefe diocefes arc governed by billinp?, whole proieiliv)-* is entirely to fu-
pci intend the other clergy ; nor have they any other mark of pe-cminency
than a diftindicm of their ecclefiallical drefs, for rhcy have neither cathe-
dral nor ecclelialUcal courts, nor the fmallell ccni ern with civil nfta-is:
their morals, however, are fo good, th-.it they art* revtrnl by the people.
They are paid by the Hare, as all the church-lands vveie v.ifely itppropnared
to the govemment at the Reformation.
^ii4NCUAe£ AND LEARNi: G ] The langUiige of Dcnmaik is a dLilcfl
V of
■•ri/
'■*;«!«:,<■**
78
DENMARK.
of the Teutonic; but High Dutch and French are fpoken at court; and
the nobility have lately made gre^t ndvnncci in the Englifli, which i* novf
publicly tnught at Copenhagen as a ncceirary part ot education. A com-
pany of Engliili comcdinns uccafionally vilit that capital, where they iRnd
tolerable encouragennent.
The univerfity of Copenhngrn hat funds for the grntuitoui fupporr of
318 (ludents ; thcfe fundi are t':iid to amount to 300,000 rixing begins about two miles from the town, and is dc-
ffv.-ded by 90 pieces of cannon, as well as thfl difficulty of the navigation.
But notwithflanding all thcfe advantages, there is little appearance of in*
duitry or trade in this city ; and Copenhagen, though one of the fined
ports in the world, can bead of little commerce. The public places are
filled with officers either in the land or Tea fervice; and the number of
forces kept up is much too large for this little kingdom. The police of
Copenhagen is extremely regular, and people may walk through ths
ivhole city at midnight with great fafety. Indeed, it is ufually almoft as
quiet here at eleven olclock at night as in a country village, and, at that
time, there is fcarcely a coach heard to rattle through the itreets.
The apartments of the palace at Copenhagen are grand, and the tapeftry
in many of them, beautiful, particularly the Aory of Efther, and an af-
fortment of wild beafts, after the manner of Quida. A colonnade at each
extremity forms 1 ^. (tallies, which for their extent and beauty of furniture,
are equal to any in Europe. But the fined palace belonging to his Danifh
majeu}'' lies about 20 Engllfh miles from Copenhagen, and is called Frede*
ricfburg. It is a very large building, moated round with a triple ditch,
and calculated, like mod of the ancient refidenccs of princes, for defence
againd an enemy. It was built by Chiidian the IVth, and, according to
the architet^ure of the tinips, partakes of the Greek and Gothic dylcs. Ii»
the front of the grand quadrangle appear Tufcan and Doric pillars, and on
tlvc fummit of the buildipg are fpires and turrets. Some of the rooms are
Tcry
DENMARK.
7f
tapeftry
i an af-
nt each
irnitiirc,
Danifti
Frede-
e ditch,
defence
rding to
Ics. Ii>
and on
oms are
Tcrjr
very fplendld, though furniflied in the antique taHc. The Knights* hall
i* of great length. The tapedry reprcfcnii (he wars of Denmark, aod the
cicling is a muft minute and labuurcd performance in fculpiure. The
chimney-piece was once entirely covered with plates of Ulver, richly orn*-
mented ; but tl\c Svvidcs, who have often landed here, and even bclieged
the ciipitid, tore the n uU away, and rifled the pal:ice, nocwithflanding its
triple iiiuiit and formidable ii|)|icaranec. The late unhappy queen Matilda
fpLiit much or her time ut this palace, during the king's tour through Eu-
rope. AI)out two miles from EUiiiour is another fmall royal palace, flat
roijfcd, with i;t windows in front, faid to be built on the place formerly
(HCiipicd by the palace of Hamlet's father. In an adjoining garden, ii
Ihcwii the very fput where, according to that tradition, that prince was
j'oifoncd.
Jii^i;iA)urgh 1$ a p rk which contains a roy;J coinitry fear, called th« "
Mcriiiitagc; which i^ rem'.trk.iblc for ilic difpoiiiion oFitsapartmt'nis, an4
the quainincfs ot its I'liruiturc; piiticulaily a machine which conveys th«
diflies to and from the kind's tiiblc in the lecoiui itory. The chief eccle-
hatViCiil building in IX-mnark i» the cathedral of Roi'chiM, where the kings
and (piccns of Dcmiiark were tomierly buritd, and their monuments llill
remain, joining to this cathedral, by a covered palLtge, is a royal jialdcc*
built in l*'33.
CoMM.
In 1613, ChrilVian IV. of Denmark, elbbliilied an Eaft India Coinp>
ny at Copenhagen ; and foon after, four iliips failed from thence to the '
fiiill Indies. The hint of this trade was given to his Danifli majefty by'
James I. of Eng'and, who married a princefs of D;:nmark ; and in 1617,
they built and tortiiied a ciftle and town at Tranquebar, on the coali of
Coromandcl. The fecurity which many of the Indians found under the
cannon of this fort, invited numbers of them to fettle here: fo thai th«
Dunilh Eafl India Company were foon rich enough to pay their kini; ayear-
ly tribute of zo,ooo rix-doUars. The Company* however^ willing to hc-
comc rich ail of a fuddcn, in i620ende?tvouiud to pofRfs thenvfelves^f rhO'
fpice-trade at Ceylon j but were defeated by the Portoguefc, The truth
is, they foon ^mbroileil themfelves with the native Indians on alt luHids ;.
and had it not been fop the generous ninHanciQ given them by Qdri^Fiir, an
Enwlifli Eaft India governor, tbefcttlement at TraiKiuebar muft h^ve been
taken by th« Rajah of Tanjour. Upon the clofe of the wars in Europief
after the death of Charles XXI, of Sweden, the Dsnilh £att India Qom^^
pan/
8o
I [
DENMARK.
pany fouinl themfelves fo imich in debt, tliat thcv publiflied propofals for
anew fiibfcriptiou for enlarging their ancient capital iWk, and for fitting
out fliips to Tranqucbar, Bengal, and China. Two years after, his D..-
nif.i innjerty granted a new charter to his Eaft India Company, with vaft
privileges ; and for fome time its commerce was carr cd on with great vi-
gour. I fhall jiift mention, that the Danes likewifc poflefb the iflands of
St. Ihonias and Sr. Croix, and the I'mall illand of St. John, in the Weft
Indies, which are free ports and celebrnted for fmuggling ; alfo the fort of
Chrillianbur'j on the coalT: of Guinea ; and carry on a coniiderable com-
merce with the Mediterranean.
CuRiosiTiiis, NATURM, AND ARTIFICIAL.] Denmark Proper af-
fords fewer of thcll- than thcothcr parts of his Danill. .'■^liclly's dominions,
if wc except the contents of the Royal Miilcum (it Copenluigcu, which
conliHs of a numerous collodion of both. It contains fcveral good paint-
ings and a fine collcftion of coins, particularly thofc of the Confuls in the
time of the Roman Republic, and of the emperors after the feat of em-
pire was dividt'd into the Ealt and Wtil. JBefulcs artificial Ikclctons,
ivoiy carvings, models, cluck-work, and a beautiful cabinet of ivory and
ebony, made by a Danilli artill who was blind, here arc to be fecn two
famous antique drinking velVcls; the one of gold, the other of lilvcr, and
both of the form of a hunting horn : that of gold fccins to be of Pagan
inanufadurc; and trnm the railVd hieroglypliical figures on its outfidc, it
probably was made ufe of in religious ceremonies : it is about two feet
'nine inches long, weighs 102 ounces, contains two Engliflj pints and a
half, and was found in the diocefc of Ripen, in the year 1639. The
other, of filvcr, weighs about four pounds, and is termed Cofnu OLlett'
iurgkum; which, the'y fay, was prefcntcd to Otho I. duke of Olden'
burg, by a gholl. Some, however, arc of opinion, that this veflel was
made by order of Chriftian I. king of Denmark, the iirft of the Olden-
burg race, who reigned in 1448. I fliall jull mention in this place, that
feveral veffels of different metals, and the fame form, have beeij found in
the North of England, and are probably of Danifh original. This mu-
feum is likewife furnillicd with a prodigious number of aflronomical, op-
tical, and mathematical inftruments ; fome Indian curiofities, and a fet
of medals ancient and inodcrn. Many curious ailronomical inftruments
axe likewife placed in the round tower at Copenhagen ; which is fo con-
trived that a coach may drive to its top. '1 he village of Anglen, lying
between Flenft)urg and Slcfwick, is alfo eflecnicd a curioiity, as giving its
name to the Angles, or Anglo-Saxon inhabitants of Great Britain, and
the anceftors. of the bulk of the modern Englilh.
The greJitcft laritics in liis Daniili majelly's dominions are omitted,
however, by giogiapliers ; \ mean thofc ancient infctiptioiis upon rocks,
that are mentioned by antiquaries and hiftorians ; and are generally
thought to be the old and original manner of writing, before the ufc of
{»aper of any kind, and waxen tables, was known, 'i licfc cbaradtrs are
lunic, and fo imperfectly undcKftood by the 'earned thcmfclvc?, that
their meaning is very uncertain ; but they are imagined to be hiftorical.
Stephanus, in his notes ujion Saxo-GraminaticuSj^ has exhibited fpccimens
of feveral pf thofe infcriptinn? .
CivmtioNSTiTuTioM, GOVERN-) The ancient con(litu!ion of
MENT, ANP LAWS. J Denmark was originally much
upon the fame plan with other Goihic yovfrnmerit?. The king came to
the throne by election; and, in conjun^Jtion with the fcnatv; where he pre-
• , ' lid?d,
DENMARK.
Si
fided, was inverted with the executive power. He likewife commanded
the army, and decided Hnally all the difputes which arofe between hisfub-
jefts. I'he legiflative power, together with the right of eleftion of the
kinjf, was veftcd in the dates ; who were compofed, Hrft, of the order of
nobility, and fecondly, the order of the citizens and farmers ; and after
the Chriftiun religion had gained ground in the North, the clergy were
alfo admitted, not only to be an order of the ftates, but to have feats
likewife in the fenatc. Thefc orders had their refpeftivc rights and pri-,
vileges, and were independent of each other j the crown had alfo its pre-
rogatives, and a certain iixed revenue arifing out of lands, which were
appropriated to its fupport. This conflitution had many evident advan-
tages : but, unfortunately, the balance of this government was never
properly adjuiled ; fo that the nobles very foon aiuimeda di£^atorial pow-
er, and greatly opprefTed the people, as the national afTemblics were not
regularly held to redrefs their grievances. And when the Roman Catholic
clergy came to have a fliare in the civil government, they far furpalledthe
nobility in pride and ambition. The reprefentatives of the people had
neither power, credit, nor talents, to counteradt the efforts of the other
two orders, who forced the crown to give up its prerogatives, and to op-
prefs and tyrannize over the people. Chrifhan the Second,' by endeavour-,
nig in an imprudent manner to ttcm the torrent of their opprefTion, loft
his crown and his liberty ; but Chriftiun the Third, by uniting himfelf
with the nobles and the fenate, deftroyed the power of the clergy, though
the oppreffion of the common people by the nobility ftill remained. At
length, in the reign of Frederick the Third, the people inftead of exerting
themfelves to remedy the defects of the conftitution, and to maintain their
common liberties, were fo infatuated as to make the king defpotic, ii|
hopes thereby of rendering themfelves lefs fubjeft to the tyranny of the
nobility. A fcries of unfuccefsful wars>had brought the nation in general
intofo miferablc a condition, that the public had not money for paying '
off the army. The difpute came to a fnort queftion, which was, that the
nobles fliould fubmit to taxes, from which they pleaded an exemption*
The inferior people upon this threw their eyes towards the king, tor re-
lief and protection from the opprcllions of the intermediate order of nobi-
lity : in this they were encouraged by the clergy. In a meeting of the
flutes, it was propofed that the nobles fhould bear their (hare in the com-
iijon burden. Upon this, Otta Craeg put the people in mind that the
commons were no more than Jlavcs to the lords.
This was the vvatch-word which had been concerted between the leaders
of the commouK, the clergy, and even the court itfelf. NanfQn, the
fpeaker of the commons, catched hold of the term Slavery; the aflembl/
broke up in a ferment ; and the commons, with the clargy, withdrew to s»
houic of their own, where they refolved to make the king afolcmn tender
of their Uberties and fervices, and formally to eftablifli in his family the
hereditary fucccllion to their crown. This rcfolution was ep^ecutcd the
next day. The bifliop of Copenhagen oiliciated as f^eaker for the clergy
and commons. The king accepted of thcirtender, promiling them relief
and protection. The gates of Copenhagen were fhut ; and the nobility^
finding the nerves of their power thus cut, fubmitted with the bed gracf
they could to confirm what had been done.
On the loth of January, i6'Ji, the three orders of nobility, clerjfy,
and people, ligned each a fcparate aift ; by which they copfented that thf
crown fhould be hereditary in the royal family, as well in the female as in
Sz
DENMARK.
the male Hhc, and by which they iiivcftcJ the kinj; with abfolute powf r,
and gave him the ri The following is a lift of the king's ievenues,exclufi ve of his private eflates.
*, Rix-dollars at
h
Tribute of hard torn or land-tax.
Small taxes, including poll-tax, pound-rents, excite,
marriages, &c. - . . - j
Cuftom-houfe dutie?, ...
Duties of the Sound, - •'""'• *->.;,
Duties of Jutland, from falt-pits, - ^-' *■ -
Tythes and poll-tax of Norway, - » '
Tolls of Bergen, Drontheim, Chriftianfand, and Chrifliana,
Other tolls, » - « -
Revenue from mines, - '■'••'" - -
Revenue from Slefwick, Holftcin, Oldenburgh, and Del
menhorft, - - - -
Taxes on acorns, and niaft from beech.
Tolls on the VVefer, . , ^
Poft-ofBce, - .-*-.' -
Farms of Iceland and Ferro,
FarrAs of Bronbolm, ...
Oyfter Fifhery, - »
Stamp Paper, « . - ..
4s. each.
1,000,030
}
950,000
154,000
200,000
37,000
770,000
160,000
552,006
300,000
690,000
20,000
7,500
70,000
35,000
14,800
22,000
40,000
■ J ii-vr
f./.i .V. •■■■■:
/I .
Sum total, 5,012,300
In Englifli money, 1,002,460
By
P E N M A R K.
«S
95c,oco
154,000
1 200,000
37,000
1770,000
1 1 60,000
552,006
300,000
[690,000
20,000
7,;co
70,000
35,000
14,800
22,000
40,000
>I2,300
302,460
By
By a lift of the revenue taken in 1 730, it then only amounted to Eng-
lifh money jf. 454,700. '■'•■ ■
Army and navy.] The three laft kings of Denmark, notwithfland-
ing the degeneracy ot their people in martial affairs, were very refpcft-
able princes, by the number and difcipline of their troops, which they
kept up with vad care. The prefent military force of Denmark coniiits
of 70,000 men, cavalry and infantry, the greateft part of which confifts
of a militia who. receive no pay, but are regillered on the army lifV, and
every Sunday exercifed. The regular troops are about 20,000, and mod*
ly foreigners, or moll of whom are oflicered by foreigners ; for Frederic
III. W.IS too refined a politician to trufthisfecurityinthe hands of thofe
he had tricked out of their liberty. Though this army is extremely
burdcnfumc to the nation, yet it colis little to the crown : great part of
the infantry lie in Norway, where they live upon the boors at free quar*.
ter : and in Denmark the peafantry are obliged to maintain the cavalry
in viduals and lodging, and even to furniih th^m with money. The pre*
fent fleet of Denmark is compofed of 36 flups of the line, and 1 8 fri^
gates ; but many of the fhips being old, and wanting great repairs, if
they can fend out 25 fhips upon the greateft emergency, this is fuppofed
to be the mod they c»n do. This fleet is generally flationed at Copenha-
gen, where arc the dock-yards, {tore^houfes, and all the materials necef*
fary for the ufe of the marine. They have 26,000 regiftered feamen,
who cannot c^uit the kingdom without leave, niJi' ferve on board a mer-
chant-man without permiiHon from the admiralty ; 4000 of thefe are kept
in conftant pay and employed in the dock-yards ; their pay, however,
fcarcely amounts to nine fliillings a month, but then they have a fort of
uniform, with fome provifions and lodgings allowed for themfelves and
families.
Orders of knighthood in Denmark.] Thefe are twoj that
of the Elephant^ and that of Daueburg: the former was iniiituted by
ChrilHan I. in the year 1478, and is deemed the mod honourable; its
badge is an elephant furmounted with a caftle, fet in diamonds, and fuf*
pended to a Iky-blue watered ribbon ; worn like the George in England
over the right (lioulder : the number of its members, befides the fove*
reign, are thirty, and the knights of it are addrefTed by the title of ex«-
cellency. The badges of the Daneburg order, which is fjud to be of
the highell antiquity, inftituted in the year 12 19, but it became obfo-
letG, and was revived in 1671 by Chriftian V. confift of a white ribbon
with red edges, worn fear f ways over the right fhoulder; from which de>
pcnds a fmall crofs.of diamonds, and an embroidered (lar on the bread of
the coat, furrounded with the motto, Pietate t^ juftitia. The badge 13
a crofs pattee enamelled white, on the centre the letter C and 5 crowned
with a regal crown, and this motto Rejiitutor, The number of kpights
is numerous, and not limited.
History.] We owe the chief hillory of Denmark to a verj' extraor-
dinary phenomenon ; I mean, the revival of the purity of the Latin
language in Scandinavia, in the pcrfon of Saxo-Grammaticus, at a time
(the 1 2th century) when it was lod in all other parts of the European
continent. Saxo, like the other hidorians of his age, has adopted, and
at the fume time ennobled by his dyle, the mod ridiculous abfurdities of
remote antiquity. We can however colleft enough from him to conclude^
that the ancient Dahes, like the Gauls, the Scots, the Irifh, and other
G 3 northctu
85
DENMARK.
northern nationi, liad their bards, who recounted the military atchicve*
menti of their heroes ; and that their firft hitiories were written in verfe.
There can be no doubt that the Scandfiniivians or Cimbri, and the Teu-
tones rthe inhabitants of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden) were Scy-
thians by their orighial ; but how far the trai^^s of land, called either
Scythia * or Gaul, formerly reached, is uncertain.
Even the name of the firft ChrilUan Danifli king is uncertain ; and
thofe of thet>eople whom they commanded were fo blended together, that
it is impoflible for the reader to conce iv(:: a precife idea of the old ScandU
navian hiftory. This, undoubtedly, was owing to the remains of their
Scythian cuftoms, particularly rhat of removing from one country to an-
other ; and of feveral nations or fcpts joining together in expeditions by
fea or land ; and the adventurers being denominated after their chief
leaders. Thus the terms, Danes, Saxons, Jutes or Goths, Germans,
and Normans, were prumilcuoully ufed long after the time of Charle-
magne. Even the (liort revival of literature, under that prince, throws
very little light upon the Danifli hiilory. All we know is, that the in-
habitants of Scandinavia, in their maritime expeditions, went generally
under the name of Saxons with foreigners ; that they were bold adven-
turers, rude, fierce, and martini : that fo far back as the year of Chrift
^oo, they infulted all the fea-coails of Kuropc ; that they fettled in Ire-
land, where they built ftone-houfes ; and that they became matters of
England, and fome part of Scotland ; both which kingdoms ftill retain
proofs of their barbarity. When wo read the hiOory of Denmark and
that of England, under the Danifli princes who reigned over both coun-
tries, we meet with but a faint refemblance of events ; but the Danes as
conquerors, always give themfelves the fuperiority over the Englifli.
In the eleventh century under Canute the Great, Denmark may be faid
to have been in its zenith of glory, as far as extent of dominion can give
fantlion to the expreflion. Few very interefling events in Denmark pre-
ceded the year 1387, when Margaret mounted that throne ; and partly
by her adai-efs, ana partly by hereditary right, flie formed the union of
Calmar, anno 1 397, by which flie was acknowledged fovcreign of Swe-
den, Denmark, and Norway. She held her dignity with fuch nrninefs and
courage, that ftie was juftly ftyled the ^cmiramis of the North. Her fuc-
ceflbrs being deftitute of her great qualifications, the union of Calmar,
by which the three kingdoms were in future to be under one fovereign,
fell to nothing ; but Norway ftill continued annexed to Denmark. About
the year 1448, the crown ot Denmark fell toChriftian, count of Olden-
burg, from whom the prefent royal family of Denmark is defcendcd.
Jn «5i3, Chriftian II. king of Denmark, one of the moft complete
tyranti that modern times have produced, mounted the throne of I)en-
mark ; and having married the filter of the emperor Charles V. he gave
a full loofe to his innate cruelty. Being driven out of Sweden, for the
* By Scythia may he underftood all th«ife northern cotintries of Europe and Afia
(now inhabited by the Danes, Norwe|viiins, SwctU's, RuflTians, and Tartarx, fee the
Introdufiion), whofe inhabitants ovt-rturned and peopled the Roman empire, and con-
tinued folate as tl»c i.^th century to iifue forth in large bodies, and naval expeditions,
ravaging the rn^re fcuthcrn and fertile kingdoms cf Europe ; hence by hr William
Temple, and other hiitorians, they are tciincd the Noil{nrn Hivi, ibi Motbn- cf N*-
tivu, tbe Stordoiije of Europt, ^ ,
bloody
DENMARK.
8r^
bloody maiTacrei he committed there, the Danes rebelled againft hinn
likewife ; and he fled, with hid wife and children, into the Nctherlandi.
Frcdei'ick, duke of Ilolfiein, was unanimoudy called to the throne, on
the dcpofition of his cruel nephew, who openly embraced the opinions
of Luther, and about the year i;36, the proteflant religion was ella*
bliflied in l)tnmark, by that wife and politic prince Chriilmn III.
Chrirtian IV. of Denmark, in 1629, was chofea for the head of the
protcliant league, formed a;;ainU the houfe of AuAria ; hut, though brave
in his own perfon, he was in Jangrx of lofmg his dominions ; when he
was fuccccded in that command by GuHavus Adolphus king of Sweden.
The Dutch having obliged Chriltian, who died in 1648, to lower the
duties of the Sound, his fon Frederic III. confcnted to accept of an an*
nuity of i gcooo florins for the whole. The Dutch, after this, per*
fuaded him to declare war againd Charles Guftavus, king of Sweden;
which had almoll coft him his ciown in 1657. Charles {formed the for-
trcfs nf Fredericdadt ; and in the fucceeding winter he marched his army
over the ice to the iiland of Funcn, where he furprifed the Danifh troops,
took Odcnfcc and Nyburg, and marched over the Great Belt to beficge
Copenhagen itfclf. Cromwellj who then governed Kngland under the
title of Prute(!^or, interpofcd ; and Frederic defended Tub capital with
great magnanimity till the peace of Rofchild ; by which Frederic ceded
the provinces of Halland, Bleking, and Sconia, the ifland of Bornholm«
and Bahus and Drontheim in Norway, to the Swedt-s. Frederic fought
to elude thcfe fevere terms ; but Charles took Cronenburgh, and once
more bcfieged Copenhagen by Tea and land. The ilcady intrepid condudl
^f Frederic, under thefe misfortunes, endeared him to his fubje^s ; and
^he citizens of Copenhagen made an admirable defence till a Dutch fleet
ari-ived in the Baltic, and beat the Swedifli fleet. The fortune of war
was now entirely changed in favour of Frederic, who fliewed on every
occafion great abilities, both civil and militaiy ; and having forced
Charles to raife the ficge of Copenhagen, mi^ht have carried the war
into Sweden, had not the Englifli fleet under Montague, appeared in the
Baltic. This enabled Charles to befiege Copenhagen a third time ; but
France and England offering their mediation, a peace was concluded in
that c ipital ; by which the iiland of Bornholm returned to the Danes ;
but the ifland of Rugen, Bleking, Halland, and Schonen, remained with
the Swedes.
Thou^^h this peace did not reftore to Denmark all flie had loft, yet the
magnanimous behaviour of Frederic, under the moft imminent dangers,
and his attention to the fafety of his fubjct'^s, even preferably to his own,
greatly endeared him in their eyes ; and he at length became abfolute, in
the manner already related. Frederic was fucceeded in 1670, by his fon
Chriflian V. who obliged the duke of HoUlein Gottorp to renounce all
. the advantages he had gained by the treaty of Roft;hild. He then re-
covered a number of places in Schonen ; but his army was defeated in
the Woody battle of Lunden, by Charles XJ. of Sweden. This defeat
did not put an end to the war ; which Chriflian obftinately continued,
till he was defeated entirely at the battle of Lat^dfcroon : and having al-
moft cxhauilcd his dominions in his military operations, and being in a
manner abandoned by all his allies, he was forced to fign a treaty, on
the terms prefcribed by France, in 1679. Chriftian, however, did not
defift from his military attempts ; and at lull he became the ally and fub-
fidiary of Lewis XIV. who was then threatening Europe with chains.
6 ^ Chriftian,
IS
DENMARK.
Chriftian, ifter a vaft variety of treatinjf and fighting with the Holftel-
ner«, Hambuighere, and othei* northern powers, died in 1699. He waa
AicCeeded by Frederic IV. who, like his prcdecclTors, maintained his
pretenfions upon Holftein ; and probably mud have becomfe mailer of
that duchy, had not the Englifh and Dutch Heets raifed the fiege of Ton*
u'ngcn, while the young king of Sweden, Charles XII. who was then
no more than fixtcen years of age, landed within eight miles of Copeh*
hagen, to affift his brother-in-law the duke of Holftein. Charles proba-
bly would have made himfelf mafter of Copenhagen, had not his Danifh
najefty agreed t6 the peace of Travendahl, which was entirely in the
duke's favour. By another treaty concluded with the States General,
Charles obliged himfelf to furnifli a body of troops, who were to be paid
by the confederates ; and afterwards did great ferutce againft the French
in the war of queen Anne.
Notwithftandinj; this peace, Frederic was perpetually engaged in wars
with the Swedes, and while Charles XII. was an exile at Bender, he
made a defcent upon the SivediHi Pomerania ; and another, in the year
1712, upon Bremen, and took the city of Stade. His troops, however,
-were totally defeated by the Swedes at Gadefbuch, who laid his favourite
city of Altena in aftxes. Frederic revenged hinjfelf, by feizing great part
of the ducal Holftein, and forcing the Swedifli general, count Steinbock,
to furrender himfelf prifoner, with all his troops. In the year 1716, the
fucceffes of Frederic were fo great, by taking Toningcn and Stralfund,
by driving the Swedes out of Norway, and reducing Wifinar in Pome-
rania, that his allies began to fufped he was aiming at the fovereignty
of all Scandinavia. Upon the return of Charles of Sweden from his ex-
ile, he renewed the war againft Denmark with a moft imbittered fpirit ;
but on the death of that prince, who wan killed at the liege of Frederic-
flial, Frederic durft not refufe the offer of his Britannic majefty's medi-
ation between him and the crown of Sweden ; in confequence of which
a peace was concluded at Stockholm, which left him in pollclfion of the
duchy of Slefwick. Frederic died in the year 1730, after having two
years before feen his capital reduced to aflics by an accidental fire. His
'fon and fucceflbr, ChriOian Frederic, or Chriftian VI. made no other
ufe of his power, and the advantages with which he mounted the throne,
than to cultivate peace with all his neighbours, and to promote the hap-
pinefs of his fubjefts ; whom he eafcd of many oppreffive tujies.
In 1734, after guarantying the Pragmatic Sanation *. Chriftian fent
6000 men to the ailiftancc of the emperor, during" the diipute of the fuc-
cei^on to the crown of Poland. Though he was pacifir, yet he was jea-
lous of his rights, efpecially over Hamburgh. He obliged the Ham
burghers to call in the mediation of Pruffia, to abolilh their bank, to ad-
mit the coin of Denmark as current, and to pay him a million of iilver
marks. He had, two years after, viz. in 1738, a difpute with his Bri-
tannic maiefty about the little lordihip of Steinhorll, which had been
mortgaged to the latter by a duke of Holftein Lawenburgh, and which
Chriftian faid belonged to him. Some blood was fpilt during the con-
teft; in which Chriftian, it is though', never was in earneft. It
• An agreement by which the princes of Europe engaged to fupport the Houfu of
Auftria in fevour of the ^ucen of Hungary, daughter of tlic cniperor Charles VI.
who htid no mole iiTuc. .«.
* brought
r E N M A R K. tf
brought on, however, a treaty, in which he availed himfclf of hia Bri-
tannic maielty'spredilcdion for his German dominions ; for he agreed to
pay Chriuian a fubfidy of 70,000!. Aerling a year, on condition of keep*
ing in readinef» 7000 troops for the protcdion of Hanover : this was a
gamful bargain for Denmark. And two years after, he feized foine
-Dutch fbips, for trading without his leave to Iceland ; but the difference
was made up by the mediation of Sweden. Chril^ian had fo great a party
in that kingdom, that it was generally thought he would revive the union
of Calmar, by procuring his fon to be declared fucceflbr to his then Swe-
dilh majelly. Some Oeps for that purpofe were certainly taken ; but
whatever Chriftian's views might have been, the defign was frultrated by
the jealoufy of other powers, who could nut bear the thoughts of feeing
all Scandinavia fubjcd to one family. Chrillian died in 1746, with th&
charatfier of being the falicr of his people.
His fon and fuccefTor, Frederic V. had, in 1743, married the princeft
Louifa, daughter to his Britannic majcily George II. He improved up*
on his father's plan, for the hnppinefs of his people ; but took no con-
cern, except that of a mediator, in the German war. For it was by hit
intervention that the treaty of Clofler-feven was concluded between his
royal highnefs the late duke of Cumberland, and the French general
Kichlicu. Upon the death of his firA queen, who was mother to his pre-
fent Danidi majedy, he married a daughter of the duke of Bnmfwic-VVol-
fcnbuttle ; and died in 1 766. His fon, CMiriftian VII. was born the 2gth
of January, 1749 ; and married his piefent Britannic majeOy's youngeft
filler, the princefs Carolina-Matilda. But this alliance, though it wore
at firft a very promiiing appearance, yet had in the event a very unfor-
tunate termination. This is partly attributed to the intrigues of the
queen-dowager, mother-in-law to the prefent king, who has a fon named
Frederic, and whom flie is rcprefrnted as delirous of raifing to the throne.
She poflelTes a great degree of dillimulation, and when the princefs Caro-
lina-Matilda came to Copenhagen, fixe received her with all the appear-
ance of friendfliip and affe<5lion, acquainting ' her with all the king's
faults, and at the fame time telling her, that flie would take every op-
portunity, as a mother, to ailiil her in reclaiming him. By this condudt*
fhe became the depofitory of all the young queen's fecrets, whilft at the
fame time it is faid (he placed people about the king, to keep him con-
flantly engaged in all kinds of riot or debauchery, to which ine knew fae
was naturally too much inclined : and at length it was fo ordered, that a
miftrefs was thrown in the king's way, whom be was perfuaded to keep
in his palace. When the king was upon his travels, the queen-dowager
ufcd frequently to vifit the young queen Matilda ; and under the maflc of
frienddiip and affedtion, told her often of the debaucheries and exceiTes
which the king had fallen into in Holland, England, and France, and
often perfuaded her not to live with him. But as foon as the king re-
turned, the queen reproaching him with his condutfV, though in a gen-
tle manner, his mother-in-law immediately took his part, and endeavour-
ed to perfuade the kinif to give no ear to hercounfels, as it was prefump-
tion in a queen of Denm^irk to diredl the king. Queen Matilda now be-
gan to dilcover the defigns of the quecn-dowager, -and afterwards lived
upon very good terms with the king, who for a time was much reclaimed.
The young qi-ecn alio now alTumed to hcrfelf the part which the queen-
dowager had been complimented with, the management of public affairs.
This iluug the old queen to the quick ; and her thoughts were now entirely
occupied
90 DENMARK.
occupied with fchemei of rtrtngt. She at length found meant to gratify
it in » very smptc manner. About the end ot the year 1770, it wu< ob>
lerved that Brandt and Struenfce were particubrljr' regarded by the king;
the fonner as a favoutite, and the latter as a minifler, and that they paid
gceat court toe^ueen Matilda, and were fuptiorted by her. This opened
a Dcw. fcene of mtrigiie at Copenhagen ; all the difcardcd placemen paid
their court to the queen-dowager, and (lie became the head and patronefi
of the party. Old count Molkc, an arttiil difplaccd Hatefman, and othcr«,
who were well verfcd in intrigues of this nature, perceiving that they
liad unexperienced young pcrfons to contend with, who, thoujih they
might mean well, had not lutficient knowledge and capacity to conduct the
public affairs, very foon predicted their ruin. Struenfe and Brandt want-
ed to make a reform in the adminiftration of public adairs at once, which
ibould have been the work of time : and thereby made a great number
of enemies, among thofe whofe intered it was that things fhould continue
wpon the fame footing ihat they had been for fome time before. After
this queen Matilda was delivered of a daughter, bur as foon as the (jucen-
duwager faw her, (lie immediately turned back, and with a malicious
fmile, declared, that the child had all the features of Struenfce : on
ivhich her friends publiHied it among the people, that the queen mull
have had an intrigue with Struenfce ; fvhich was corroborated by the
queen's often (peaking with this minifler in public. A great variety of
fiw'ii reports were now propagated againft the reigning queen ; and an-
other report was alfo indulkioufly (pread, that the governing party had
formed a defign to fuperfcde the king, as being incapable of govern-
ing ; that the queen was to be declared regent during the minority of
her fon ; and that Struenfce was to be her primc-minirter. Whatever
Strueufee did to reform the abufcs of the late minidry, was reprei'ented
to the people as fo many attacks upon, and attempts to deitroy, the
government of the kingdom. By fuch means the people began to be
greatly incenled againfl this nvjnifter : and as he alfo wanted to make a
reform in the military, he gave great offence to the troops, at the head
of ytrhich were fome of the creatures of the queen-dowager, who took
every opportunity to make their inferior officers believe, that it was the
defign of^ Struenfce to change the whole fyflem of government. It muft
be admitted, that this mini(\er feems in many refpetfls to have a6fed
very imprudently, and to have been too much under the guidance of his
paflions : his principles alfo appear to have been of the libertine kind.
Many councils were held between the queen-dowager and her friends,
upon th« proper mcafures to be taken for effeduating their defigns : and
it was at length refolved to furprife the king in the middle of the night,
and force him immediately to lign an order, which was to be prepared
in readinefs, for committing the pcrfons before mentioned to feparate
prifons, to accufe them of high Miafon in general, and in particular
of a defign to poifon, or dethrone the king ; and that if that could not
be properly fupported, by torture or otherwife, to procure witnefTes to
confirm the report of a criminal commerce between the queen and Stru-
enfce. This was an undertaking of fo hazardous a nature, that the
wary count Moltke, and moil of the queen-dowa.'i^er's friends, who had
any thing to lofc, drew back, endeavouring to animate others, but ex-
cufing themfclves from taking any open and at'Uve. part in this affair.
However, the quecn-duwagcr at lall procured a futlicicQt number of ac-
5p' - ' . tive
DENMARK.
9«
five inftrumenti for the execution of her defigna. On the t6th of Jt^
nuary, 1773* > matked ball was given at the court of penmsrk. Th«
king had danced at this ball, and afterwards played at quadrille with ge-
neral Oahler, his lady, and counfcllor Struenlee, brother to the count.
The queen, after dancing ab ifual one country-dunce wirh the king,
gave her hand to count Struenfee during i e remainder of the evening.
She retired about two in the morning, and was followed by him and
count Brandt. About four the fame morning, prince Frederic, who '
had alib been at the ball, got up and drefled himfelf, and went with the
2ucea-dowagcr to the king s bea-chamber, accompanied by general Eich-
edt and count Rantzau. They ordered his majedy's valet>de«chambrs
to awake him, and in the midft of the furprife and alarm, that this un-
expected intruiion excited, they informed him, that queen Matilda nnd
the two Strucnfces were at that inftant bufy in drawing up an a£k of re-
nunciation of the crown, which they would immediately after compel
him to iign : and that the only means he could ufc ro prevent fo imnii*
nent a danger, was to Iign thofe orders without lofs of time, which they
had brought with them, for arrelHng the (jueen and her accomplices. It
is faid, that the king was not cafily prevailed upon to Iign thefe orders ;
but at length complied, though with reluctance and hefitation. Count
Kantzau, and three ofHcers, were difpatched at that untimely hour to
the queen's apartments, and immediately arrefted her. She was put in-
to one of the king's coaches, in which (he was conveyed to the catUe of
Cronenburgh, together with the infant princefs, attended by lady Moftyn,
and efcorted by a party of dragoons. In the mean time, Struenfee and
Brandt were alfo fcized in their beds, and imprifoned in the citadel.
Struenfee's brother, Ibme of his adheients, and mod of the members
of the late adminiftration, were feized the fame night, to the number of
about eighteen, and thrown into confinement, i'he government after
this feemed to be entirely lodged in the hands of the queen-dowager and
her fon, fupported and alTiAed by thofe who had the principal (hare in
the revolution ; while the king appeared to be little more than a pageant,
whofe perfon and name it was necciTary occafioniilly to make ufe of.
All the officers who had a hand in the re't'olution were immediately pro-
moted, and an nlmoft total change took place in all the departments of
adminillration. A new council was appointed, in which prince Frederic
prclided, and a commilTion of eight members, to examine the papers of
the prifoners, and to commence 4 procefs a<;ainft them. The fon oi
queen Matilda, the prince royal, who was entered iirto the fifth year of
his age, was put into the care of a lady of (]uality, who was appointed
governefs, under the fuperintcndcncy of the (juccn-dowager. Struen-
fee and Brandt were put in irons, and very rigoroufly treated in prifon :
they both underwent long and fre(|i!ent examinations, j^nd at length re-
ceived fentencc of death. They were beheaded on the 2 3th of April,
having their right hands previouUy cut off; but many of their friends
and adherents were afterwards ftt at liberty. Struenfee at firft had abfo-
lutely denied having any criminal intercourfe with the (lueen ; but this
he afterwards confelTcd ; and though he is faid by foinc to have been in-
duced to do this only by the fear of torture, the proofs of his guilt in
this refpeft were efteemed notorious, and his confellions full and expli-
cit. Befide, no mcafures were adopted by^hc court of Great Britain to
clear j^ (^^ queen's charaCler in this refpcd. But in May, his Britannic
majclty
f*
DENMARK.
wajefly ftnt ft fmnll fnnadron of (hips to convey that princefi to Gcr.
ntiiny, and appointed the city of Zell, in hi« electoral dominioni, for ihtt
place ot her tmure rcfidcnce. »Shc died th«re, of u nutignant fever, on
the loth of May, fjfif aged i\ ynirt and lO montfis.
In 1780, h»« Danifh majclly acceded to the arintd neutrality propofcd
by the emprefs of Riilfiii. He appears at prcl'cnt to have fiich a debility
of iindcrilandinfi:, as to difqualify liiin tor the pro]icr mnnagemeiit nf
public aftiiirs; but on the 16th of April, 1784, another court revolution
ttwk place. 'Ihc que(i>-dowa},ffr'» friemls were removed, ti new council,
formed under the aufpices of the prince royal, foinc of the former old
membcfii rellorod to the cabinet, and no regard it to be p.iid for the fu-
ture to any inrtrument, unlcl» ligned by the king, and coutucrligned by
the prince royal.
Chriitian VII. reigning king of Denmark and Norway, LL. D. and
F.R.S. was born in 1740 ; in i76C< he was married to the priiicefn Ca-
rolina Matilda of England ; and has ilHie, Frederic, prince royal of Ocn-
mark, born January iHy ►708 ; Louifa Augulla, princelu ri)}ul, born Ju-
ly 7. »77'-
His Danish Majesty's GERMAN DOMINION^'.
H0L9TEIN, a duchy of Lower Saxony, about 100 miles long and
^o broad, and a fruitful country, wan formerh' divided between
the cmprrfs of Kullia (termed Ducal tiollUin), the king of IX'nmark,
and the imperial cities of Hamburg and Lubeck ; but on the 16th of No-
vember, 1773, the Ducul Ilnliiiin, with all the rights, prerogativcH, and
territorial fovcrcignty, was formally Mansfcrred to the king of Denmark,
by virtue of a treaty between both courts. The duke of liollicin CJot-
torp is joint fovereign of great part of it now, with the Danifh monarch.
Kiel is the capital of Ducal Holllcin, and is well built, bus a harbour,
and neat public edifices. The capititl of the Dauith Holllcin h Gluck-
Aadt, a well-built town and foitrefs, but in a marlhy fituatiun on the right
ol the Elbe, and has fomc foreign commerce.
Altrna, a larr^c, populous, and handfomc town, of great tr.ifhc, is
comniodioufly fituated on the Flbc, in the neighbourhood of Hamburg.
It was built profeflcdly in that fit^tation by tlic kings of Denmark, that
it might fliirc in the commerce of the lonmr. lieing declared a free
port, and the llaplc of the Danifli Eaft India comp.my, the merchants
alfo enjoying liberty of confciencc, grtat numbers flock to Altena from
all parts of the Nt)rth, and even I'rom Hamburg itfelf.
The famous city of Hamburg lies, in a grographical fenfc, in IIol-
flein ; but is an imperial, free, and lianfeatic city, lying on the verge
of that part of H(jillciii, called Stormar. It has the fovcrcignty of a
fmall dillrid round it, of about ten m les circuit: it is one of the molt
flourifhing commercial towns in Europe ; and though the kings of Den-
mark ftill lay claim to certain privileges within its walls, it m.iy be con-
(Idered as a well-regulated commonwealth. The number of its inhabit-
ants arc faid to amount to 180,000 ; and it is furniflied with a vaft va-
riety of noble edifices, both public and private : it has two fpacious har-
bours, formed by the river Elbe, which runs through the town, and 8+
bridges arc thrown over its canals. Hamburg has the good fortune of
having
L A P L A N O.
93.
havinj^bern peculiarly fiivourcd in its commerce by Grent Britain, with,
whom it (Vill curries on n gieat trade. Tlu Kuinbiir^crit in.iiiituia
twelve conipaities ot° foot, aiul uiic trutip of druguuns, bcUdci an artil-
lery Company.
Lubcc, all iin()crial city, with a good barbour, and uno the capital-
of the Hani Towni*, ami llill a rich and populous plicc, is alfu iii tl>is
duchy, and govcrhcd bv its own ma](|;ilh-atc!i. It has j? pjrilli ck,urchc« .
bclidrs a large cathedral. Luthcrauirm it the Ui >bli(hcd rclijiion of tho .
whole duchy.
In Wksti-hm.ia, the kin;:; of Denmark has the counties of Olden*
burg and DclnicnhurO, about aoco lijuare miles ; they lie on the luuth
}id(* of the Wefcr ; their capitals have the (ainv name i the firll has the
ri'iiiiiinH ot a fortitication, and the lull is an open place. 01u«iibur}(
gave a tide to the firll royal anccllor of his prcfcnt Danifli majclly. The
country abounds with marlhcs and hcuthii, but its hurlci iire the bcft ia
Gcrinanv.
L A P L A N D.
TH E northern fituation of Laplamf, and the divifion of its pro-
perty, rcnuirc, before I proceed farther, that 1 fliould treat of it
under a iIilHnCt head, and in the fame method that I obferve in other
countries.
Situation, exti'.nt, division, 7 The whole country of Lap-
ANU NAMi'. S '^"*l cxtcnd:i, fofur as it is known,
from the North Cii[)c in 71'' 30' N. hit. to the White Sea, under tlvc ,
ari'tic circle. Part of i.a])laiul belongs to the Danes, and is included
in the government of Wardhuys ; part to the Sweden, which is by far
the moll valuable ; and Ionic j)arts in the cnii, to the Mufcovites or
Rullians. It would be little better than walHng the reader's time, to
pretend to point out the fiippofcd dimenlions of each. That bclonginf;
to the Swedes, may be feen m the table of dimenlions given in the ac-
count of Sweden : but other nccounti lay, that it is about too German
miles in length, and 90 in breadth : it comprehends all the country from
the Baltic, to the mountains that feparate Norway from Sweden. The
Mufcovitc part lies towards the call, between the lake Knarak and the
White Sea. Thofe parts, notwithftanding the rudenefs of the country,
are divided into fmaller dirtrii'ts : generally taking their nunics from ri-
vers : but, xinlefs in the Swedifli part, which is lubjci'i to a prefeift, t\\Ht
Laplanders can be faid to be under no regular govcinincnt. 'J'he iiwe-
didi Lapland, therefore, is the objed chictly conlidcrcd by authori in
dcfcribing this country. It has been generally thought, that tlu? Lap-
landers arc the defcendanti of Finlandcis driven out ot their own country,
aad that they take their name from Lcttpcs, which figniflcfi exiles. The
reader, from what has been faid in the introdudUon, may eafily conceive
that in Lapland, for fome months in the lurnmcr, the fun never lets ;>
and during winter, it never rifes : but the inhabitants are fo wcHullilred
by the twilight and the aurora borealis, that they never difcontinuc their
work through darknefs.
Climate.] In winter it is no unfual thing fox their lips to be fro<
zcn Co the oup in attempting to drink ; and in Ibrne thermometers, fpi-
rity
^
LAPLAND.
rhs of wine a're concreted into ice : the limbs of the inhabitants very" of-
ten mo'tify with cold : drifts of fnow threaten to bury the traveller, and
cover the ground four or five feet deep. A thaw fometimes takes place,
and then the frolt that fucceeds, prefcnts the Laplanders with a fmooth
level of ice, over which he travels with a rein-deer in a fledge with in-
conceivable fwiftnefs. The heats of fummer are excclfive for a fliort
time ; and the catara^s, which dalh from the mountains, often prefenc
to the eye the mod pic^urefque appearances.
Mountains, rivers, lakes, t The reader mufl form in his mind
AND FORESTS. * a vaft mafs of mountains, irregularly
crowded together, to give him an idtea of Lapland ; they are, however,
in fome interftlces, feparated by rivers and lakes, which contain an
incredible number of iflands, fome of which form delightful habitations ;
and are believed by the natives to be the terreftrial Paradife : even rofea
and other flowers grow wild on their borders in the fummer ; though
this is but a iliort gleam of temperature, for the climate in general is
exceffively fevere. Du|ky forells, and noifome, unhealthy moraffes, and
barren plains cover great part of the fiat country, fo that nothing ean
be more uncomfortable than the (late of the inhabitants.
Metals and minerals.] Silver and gold mines, as well as thofe
of iron, copper, and lead, have been difcovered and worked in Lapland
to great advantage ; beautiful cryflals are found here, as arc fome ame-
thyfis and topazes ; alfo various forts of mineral llones, furprifingly
poliflied by the hand of nature ; valuable pearls have likewife been fome-
times found in thefe rivers, but nevqr in the feas.
Animals, qjuadrupeds, birds, 1 We mud refer to our accounts
FISHES, AND iNsr':TS. J of Denmark and Norway for
great part of this aiticle, as its contents are in c.ommon with all the
three countries. The zrhelitiy a creature refembling the marten, is a
native of Lapland ; and its ikin, whether black or white, is fo much
eileemed, that it is frequently given as prefents to royal and dininguiflied
perfonages. The Lapland hares grow white in the winter; and the
country produces a large black cat, which attends the natives in hunting.
By far the mod remarkable, however, of (he Lapland animals, is the
reiu'deer ; which nature fcems to have provided to folace the L:iplandcrs
for the privation of the other comforts of life. This animal, the mod
ufeful perhaps of any in the creation, refembles the dag, only it lome-
what droops the head, and the horns projed forward. All defcribers
of this animal have taken notice of the cracking noife that they make
when they move their legs, which is attributed to their feparating and af-
terwards bringing together the divifions of the hoof. The under part is
entirely covered with hair, in the fame manner that the claw of the Ptar-
migan 13 with feathery bridles, which is almod the only bird that can en-
dure the rigour of the fame climate. The hoof however is not only
thus protedcd ; the fame neceflity which obliges the Laplanders to ufc
ihow flioes, makes the extraordinary width of the rein's hoof to be
equally convenient in paQing over fnow, as it prevents their finking too
deep, which they continually would, did the weight of their body reft
only on a fmall point. This quadruped hath therefore an indindt to ufe
a hoof of fuch a form in a dill more advantageous manner, by feparat-
ing it when the foot is to toach the ground fo as to cover a larger fur-
face of fnow. The inftant however the leg of the animal is raifed, the
hoof is immediately contraAed, and the collilion of the parts occaiions
I the
LAPLAND.
9$
the fnapping which is heard on every motion of the rein. And proba-
bly the cracking which they perpetually make, may ferve to keep tlKia
together when the weather is remarkably dark. In fumnicr, the rein-
deer provide themfelves with leaves and grafs, and in the winter they
live upon mofs : they have a wonderful fagacity at finding it out, and
when found, they fcrape aw.iy the fnow that covers it with their feet.
The fcantinefs of their fare is inconceivable, as is the length of the j jur-
nies which they can perform without any other fupport. Thry fix the
reindeer to a kind of Hedge, fliaped like a fmall boat, in which the tra-
veller, well fecured from cold, is laced down with the reins in one handy
and a kind of bludgeon in the other, to keep the carriage clear of ice and
fnow. The deer, whofe harncirmg is very iimple, fets out, and con-
tinues the journey with prodigious fpeed ; and is fo fafe and tr;i6tab'.e,
that the driver is at little or no trouble in direding him. At night they
look out for their own provender ; and their milk often helps to fuppoit
their matter. Their inlHnft in chooling their road, and direfting rlieir
courfe, can only be accounted for by their being well acquainted with
the country during the fummcr months, when they live in woods.
Their flefh'is a well tailed food, whether frefh or dried ; their (kin forms
excellent clothing both for the bed and thi body ; their milk and cheelis
are nutritive and pleafant ; and their inteftines and tendons fupply their
matters with thread and cordage. When they run about wild in th«
fields, they may be fliot at js other game. But it is faid, that if one is
killed in a flock, the furvivors will gore and trample him to pieces ;
therefore fingle ftragglers are generally pitched upon. Were I to re-
count every ciicumltanct, related by the credulous, of this animal, the
whole would appear fabulous. With all their excellent qualities, how-
ever, the rein-cieer ha' e their inco-veniences.
It is difficult ill fummer to keep them from draggling ; they are fome-
times buried in the fnow ; and they frequently grow relHve, to the great
danger of the driver and his carriage. Their furprifing fpeed (for they
are faid to run at the rate of 200 miles a day) feems to be owing to
their impatience to get rid of their incumbrance. None but a Lap«
lander could bear the uneafy pofture in which be is placed, when he is
confined in one of thofe carnages or pulkhas ; or would believe, that,
by whifpering the rein-deer in the ear, thty know the place of their
deilination. But after nil thefe abatements, the natives would have dif-
ficulty to fubfirt without the rein-deer, which ferve them for fo many
purpoics.
People, customs, and manners.] The language of the Lap-
landers is of Finnifli oiigin, nnd comprehends fo many dialei^s, tint it U
with difficulty they undcrfland each other. They have ucither writ'ng
nor letters among them, but a number of hieroglyphicSj which they
make ufe of in their Rounes, a fort of iHcks that they call Pillave, and
Which ferve them for an almanack. Thefe hieroglyphics are alfo the
marks they ufe inftead of fignatures, even in matters of law. MifHona-
rics, from the chriftianized parrs of Scandinavia, introduced among
them the Chriftian religion ; but they cannot be faid even yet to M
Chriftiins. though they have among them fome religious feminarics,
inftituted by the king of Denmark. Upon the whole, the nwjority of
the Laplanders praflife as grofs fuperftitions and idolatries, as are to b«
found among the moft uninftruiSted pagans ; and fo abfurd, that they
fcarcely deferve to be mentioned, were it not that the number and oddi-
ties
96
LAP L AN D.
tie* of their fujierfiitions have induced the northern traders to beliere,
that they are ikilful in magic and divination. For this purpofe their ma-
Sicians, who are a peculiar fet of men, make ufe of what they call a
rum, made of the hollowed trunk of a fir, pine, or birch-tree, one end
of which is covered with a fkin ; on this thejr draw, with a kindof red
colour, the .figures of their own gods, as well as of Jefus Chrift, the
apoflles, the Ain, moon, iTars, birds, and rivers ; on thefe they place
one or two brafs rings, which, when the drum is beaten with a' little
hammer, dance over the figures ; and according to their progrefs the for-
cerer prognoflicates. Thefe frantic operations are generally performed for
f ain ; and the northern Ihip- matters are fucb dupes to the arts of thefe
Mnpoilors, that they often buy from them a magic cord, which contains
a.number of knots, by opening of which, according to the magician's
diredion?, they gain what wind they want. This is alfo a very com-
mon traffic on the banks of the Red Sea, and is managed with great ad-
drefs on the part of the forcercr, who keeps up the price of his knotted
talifm!an. The Laplanders ftill retain the worftiip of many of the Teu-
tonic gods ; .but have among them great remains oFthedruidical inflitu-
tions. They believe the tranfmigration of the foul, and have fettivals
fet apart for the worfliip of certain genii, called Jfeuhles, who they
think inhabit the air, and have great power over human actions ; but
being without form or fubftance, they affign to them neither images nor
ilatues.
Agriculture is not much attended to among the Laplanders. They
are chiefly divided into Lapland fifliers, and Lapland mountaineers.
The former always make their habitation on the brink, or in the neigh-
bourhood of fome lake, from whence they draw their fubflflence. The
others feck their fupport upon the mountains, and their environs, pof-
feiling herds of rein-deer more or lefs numerous, which they ufe ac-
cording to the feafon, but go generally on foot. They are excellent and
very induftrious herdfmen, and are rich in comparifon of the Lapland filh-
ers. Some of them poffefs fix hundred or a thoufand rein-deer, and have
often money and plate beiides. They mark every rein-deer on th.e ears,
and divide them into clafles ; fo that they inflantly perceive whether
any one is ikayed, though they cannot count to fo great a number as
that to which their flock often amounts. Thofc who polFefs but a
fmall flock, give to every individual a proper name; The Lapland
fifliers, who are alfo called Laplanders of the Woods, becaufe in fum-
mer they dwell upon the borders of the lakes, and in winter in the
forcfls, live byfifliing and hunting, and chufe their fituation by its con-
venience for either. The greatell part of them, however, have fomc
rein-deer. They are aftive and expert in the chace : and the introduction
of fire-arms among them has almofl: entirely abolilhed the ufe of the
bow and arrow. Befldes looking after the rein-deer, the fifliery, and
the chace, the men employ themfelves in the conftruftion of their ca-
noes, which are fmall, light, and compadt. They alfo make fledges,
tp which they give the form of a canoe, harnefs for the rein-deer, cups,
bowls, and various other utenfils, which are fometimes neatly carved,
at)d fometimes ornamented with bones, brafs, or horn. The employ-
ment of the women confifts in making nets for the fifhery, in drying
fifh and meat, in milking the reii^-deer, in making checfe, and tanning
hides : but it is underflood to be the bufinefs of the men to look after
the kitchen ; in which, it is faid, the women never intefere.
The
L A P L A N t).
M
The
The Laplanders live in huts in the form of tents.. A hut is about
twenty-five to thirty feet in dinmetcr, and not much above fix in height*
They cover them according to the feafon, and the means of the pofleflori
fome with briars, bark of birch, and linen ; others with turf, coarfe
cloth, or felt, or the old (kins of rein-detf. The door is of felt, made
like two curtains, which open afunder. A little place furrounded with ' '
ilones is made in the middle of the hut for the fire, over which a chain
is fufpended to hang the kettle upon. They are fcarcdy able to Hand
upright in their huts, but conftantly fit upon their heels round the fire.
At night, they lie down quite naked ; and to feparate the apartments^
they place upright flicks at fmall diftances. They cover themfelves with
their cloaths, or lie upon them. In winter, they put their naked 'cet
into a fur bag. Their houfchold furniture confius of iron or coppef
kettles, wooden cups, bowls, fpoons, and foinetimes tin, or even filve^
b.ifons : to thefe may be added, the implements of fifliing and hunting.
That they may not be obliged to carry fuch a number of things with,
them in their exciirfions, tliey build in the forefts, at certain diftances^
little huts, made like pigeon -houfcs, and placed upon a pol>» which is
the trunk of a tree, cut off at about the height of a fathom or fix foot from
the reot. In thefe elevated hvits they keep their goods and provifions )
and though they are never fliut, yet they arc never plundered. The
rein-deer fupply the Laplanders with the greatell part of their provifions ;
the chace and the fiflicry fupply the reft. Their principal dirties are the
flefli of the rein-deer, and puddings which they make of their blood,
by putting it cither alone, or mixed with wild berries, into the fto-
mach of the animal from whence it was taken, in which they cook it
for food. But the (leJh of the bear is coiifiJcred by them as their moft
delicate meat. Iliey eat every kind of fiih, even the fea-dog ; as well
as all forts of wild animals, not excepting birds of prey, and carnivo-
rous animals. Their winter provifions confift chiefly of flefli and fifh
dried in the open air, both of which they eat raw, and without any fort
of drefling. Their common drink is water, fometimes mixed with milk :
they make alfo broths and fifli-foups. Brandy is very fcarce with them/
but they arc extremely fond of it. Whenever they arc inclined to eat,
the head of the family fpreads a mat on the ground ; and then men and
women fquat round this mar, which is covered with dilhes. Every Lap-
lander always carries about him a knife, a fpoon, and a little cup foi*
drinking. Each has his portion feparately given him, that no perfoa
may be injured ; for they are great eaters. Before and after the meal
they make a (hort prayc r : and, as foon as they have done eating, each
gives the other his hand.
In the drefs of the Laplanders they ufc no kind of linen. The
men wear clofe breeches, reaching down to their flioes, which are made
of untanned (kin, pointed, and turned up befnre ; and in winter they
put a little hay in them. Their doublet is made to fit their fliape, and
open at the breaft. Over this, they wear a clofe coat with narrow
flecves, whofc Ikirts reach down to the knees, and which is fallened
round them by a leathern girdle, ornamented with plates of tirt or brafs*
To this girdle they tie their knives, their inftruments for getting fire,
their pipes, and the icft of their fmoaking apparatus. Their oloaths are
made of fur, of leather, or of cloth ; the clofe coat of cloth or leather,
always bordered with fur, or bindings of cloth of different colours.
Their caps are edged with fur, pointed at top, and the four fcams a-
H dorncd
jl«
L A P L A N t).
dcrned with lifls of a diflfcrent colour from that of r cap. The. wo*
men wear breeches, fliocs, doublets, and clufe coatt, in the fame man-
ner as the men ; but their girdle, at which they carrjr likewife the im-
plements for fmoking tobacco, is commonly embroidered with brafs
wire. Their dofe coat hath a collar, which comes up fomewhat higher
than thtit of the men. Befides thefe, they wear handkerchiefs, and lit-
tle aprons, made of painted cloth, rings on their fingers, and ear-rings,
to which they fometimes hnng chains of filver, which pafs two or three
times round the neck. They are often drefled in caps folded after the
manner of turbans. They wear alfo caps fitted to the fliape of the
head ; and as they are much addidled to finery, they are all ornamented
with the embroidery of brafs wire, or at leail with lift of different
Colours.
Lapland is but poorly peopled, owing to the general barrennefs of its
foil. 1 he whole number of its inhabitants may amount to about 60,000.
Both men and women are in general confiderably fhorter than more
fouthern Europeans. Maupertuis meafurcd a woman who was fuck-
ling her child, whofc height did not exceed four feet two inches and
tbout a half; they make, however, a much more agreeable appear-
ance than the men, who are often ill-fhnpcd and ugly, and their hc.ids
too large for their bodies. Their women are complaifant, chafte, often
well made, and extremely nervous ; which is alfo obfervable among the
men, although more rarely. It frequently happens, that a Lapland
woman wiH laint away, or even fall into a fit of frenzy, on a fpark of
fife flying towards her, an unexpedted noife, or the fudden fight of an
unexpe^ed object, though it is in its own nature not in the leafl alarm-
ing : in fliort, at the mofl trifling things imaginable. During rhefe pa-
roxyfms of terror, they deal about blows with the firft thing that pre-
fent&itfelf; and, on coming to themfelvcs, are utterly ignorant ot all
that has pafTed.
When a Laplander intends to marry a female, he, or his friendS|
court her father with brandy ; when, with fome difficulty he gains ad-
mittance to his fair one, he offers her a beaver's tongue, or fome other
eatable ; which fhe rejc£ls before company, but accepts of in private.
Cohabitation often precedes riarriage ; but every admittance to the fair
©lie \i purchafed from the father by her lover with a bottle of brandy,
and this prolongs the courtfliip fometimes for three years. The prieft of
the parifli at laft celebrates the nuptials ; but the bridegroom is obliged
to fcrve his father-in-law for vour years after. He then carries his wife
and her fortune home.
CoMMBRCF.] Little can be faid of the commerce of the Lapl.mdcrs.
Their exports confifl of fifli, rein-deer, furs, bafkcts, and toys ; with
fome dried pikes, and cheefes made of rein-deer mi!k. They receive for
thefe, rixdollars, woollen cloths, linen, Copper, tin, flour, oil, hides,
needles, knives, fpirituous liquors, tobacco and other iiecelTaries.
Their mines are generally worked by foreigners, and produce no incon-
fiderable profit. The Laplaiviers travel in a kind of caravan, with their
families, to the Finland and Norway fairs. And the reader may make
fome efliinate of the medium of commerce amoug them, when he is told,
that fifty fquirrel fkins, or one fox fkin, and a pair of Lapland flioes,
produce one rixdollar j but no coirputation can be made of the public
icvecue, the grcatcil part of which is allotted for the inaiotenance of
the
SWEDEN.
99
the clergy t With regard to the fecurity of their property, few dtfpute*
happen ; and their judges have no military to enforce their decreet, the
people having a remarkable arerfioQ to war ; and, fo far as we know,
are never employed in any army.
SWEDEN.
1 Extent and Sitvation.
Length
Breadth
Miles.
800 >
500 i
between
{
Degrees.
56 and 69 North latitude
10 and 30 £aft longitude*
BotTNOARiES AND 7 TpHIS countrv is bounded by the Baltic Sea, the
DIVISIONS. J X Sound, and-the Categate, or Sca^erac, on the
fouth ; by the impaffable mountiins of Norway, on the weft ; by Daniih
or Norwegian Lapland, on the north ; and by Mufcovy on the caft. It
is divided into feven provinces : i. Sweden Proper. 2. Gothland. 3* Li-
vonia. 4. Ingria. (Thcfe twe laft provinces belong now, however, to
the Ruffians, having been conquered by Peter the Great, and ceded by
pofterior treaties.) 5. Finland. 6. Swedifti Lapland : and 7. The Swe-
diih iflands. Great abatements muft be made for the lakes Mnd unim«
proved parts of Sweden; which are fo extenlive, that the habitable part
IS confined to narrow bounds. The following are the dimenlions given uy
of this kingdom.
Sweden.
Square
Miles.
76.835
Sum
total.
W8.71S
1
bB'
1
Capital Citie*.
Sweden Proper •»- —
Gothhod — —
Schonen — —
47,900
*5,91S
1,960
76,000
73,000
1000
560
960
360
76.83s
i5o,s6o
T,liO
344
*53
77
4x0
395
80
84
47
24
194
r6o
215
23
9
24
ZI
Stockholm.
N. Lat. 59— 3a
E. Long, 19—15.
Calmar.
Luudeu.
Torne. ' 1 . >
Uma. .. ^
Abo.
Cajcnburg.
VVifty.
Barkholm.
Stralfund.
Bergen.
Lapland and 1
W. Bothnia. /
Swedilh Finland, aud 1
Eafl: Bothnia J
Gothland I. —
Oeland I. — —
Upper 1 Pomerauia, P.
Saxony jRugen I.
Of Sweden Proper, the following are the fubdivifions :
Uplandia, Helfingia,
'■■' Suderinania, Dalicarlia,
Wfi.^tiiftiiii^i ..'"■.•* Medclpe^iH, ; : "
, Ksndiiy ':..:'■ .' ; 'AflgerbigakJ >'
fieUcicia, ,., , Jemptu.
6t
fOO
SWEDEN.
.' 7(1
Of Gothland, the following are the fubdivifiong ;
Eaft Gothland, Dalia,
Weft Gothliind, Schoncn, : t, j
Smaland, Blcking, v . , v , ' i
Wermeland, Halland.
' Of Swediflx Lapland, the following ate the fubdtvifions:
Thornc Lapmark, Pithia Lnpmark,
Kiini Lapmark, Uma Lapmark.
Lula Lapmark,
The principal places in Weft Bothnia arc Umea, Pitea, and Tornca.
Of Finland, the following are the fubdivilions :
*^ ■ Eaft Bothnia, NylanJ, *
' " "'■ Cajania, Travaftia, '
Savoloxia, Finland Proper.
The Swedifli ifles are Gorbland, Ocland, Aland, and Rugcn.
The face of Sweden is pretty fimihir to thofe of its neighbouring coun-
tries ; only it has the advantage of navigable rivers.
Climate and seasons, roiil The fame may be faid with regard
AND PRODUCTIONS. 5 to this article. Summer burfts from
winter ; and vegetation is more fpcedy than in fouthern climates ; for the
fun is here fo hot, as fomctiiiies to fct (orerts on fire. Stoves and warm
lurs mitigate the cold of winter, which is fo intenle, that the nofcs and
extremities of the inhabitants are fumetimes mortified ; and in fuch cafes,
the bell remedy that has been found our. is rubbing the aftefted part with
fnow. The Swedes, fmce the days of Charles XII. have been at incredi-
ble pains to correct the native barrennefs of their country, by ere!d ffOm- thence .the miners defcend about 40
fathoms to the lowed ycfn.'. This mine i;'fai4 X*^ fii'oduce 20,000 crowns
• year. The jprbdu<6i of the cop^er-raines i^ uncerjtaia; but the whole is
• ' *. ' : ,;•.'.'. ' ■ loaded
S W E D E N.
101
it
■ -;■
loaded with vaft taxes and redin^tons to the pfovernment, which has no
Other rcfourccs for the exigencies of rtate. Thefe fubterrancous manHont
arc nilonilhingly I'pacious, and at the fame time commodious for their in*
habitants, fo that they fecm to form a hidden world. The water-tails in
Sweden udbrd excellent conveniency for turning mills for forges ; and for
fome years, the exports of Sweden for iron brought in 300,0001. fterl'.ng.
Dr. Bufching thinks that they conHituted two thirds of the national re*
venue. It mull, however, be obfervcd, that the extortions of the Swcdifh
government, and the importatif)n of American bar-iron into £uro|)e, and
fome other caulcs, have greatly diminifljcd this manufai'iture \r. Sweden ;
fo that the Swedes will be obliged to apply tbemfelves to other branches
of trade and improvements, el'pecially in agriculture.
Antiquities and curiosities, J A few leagues from Gottenburg
NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL. ) there is a liideous prccipicc, down
which a dreadful catarad of water ruflies with fuch impetusfity, from the
height into fo deep a bed of water, that large mafls, and other bodies of
timber th;it are precipitated down it, difappear, fome for half an hour,
and others for an hour, before they arc recovered : the bottom of this
bed has never been found, though founded by lines of feveral hundred
fathoms. A remarkable (limy lake, which fingcs things put into it, has
been found in the fouthern part of Gothland : and feveral parts of Swe-
den contain a ilone, which being of a yellow colour, inteniiixcd with fe-
veral ftreaks of white, as if compofed of gold and filvcr, aftbids fulphur,
vitriol, alum, and minium. The Swedes pretend to have a manufcripc
copy of a tranflation of the Gofpcls in Gothic, done by a bifliop 1 300
years ago.
Seas.] Their feas are the Baltic, and the gulfs of Bothnia and Fin-
land, which arc arms of the Baltic ; and on the well of Sweden arc the
Catenate fea, and the Sound, a flrait about four miles over, which divides
Sweden from IX-nmark.
Thel'e feas have no tides, and are frozen up ufually four months in the
year ; nor are they fo fait as the ocean, never mixing with it, becaufe a
current fets always out of the Baltic fea into the ocean.
Animals, quadrupeds, | Thefe differ little from thofe already
B.RDS, AND fishes. 5 d^^fcribed in Norway and Denmark, to
which I muft refer ; only the Swediili horfes are known to be more fer-
viceable in war than the German. The Swediili hawks, when carried to
France, have been known to revifit their native country ; as appears from
one that was killed in Finland, with an infcription on a fmall gold plate*
lignifying that he belonged to the French king. The fiflies found in the
rivers and lakes of Sweden, are the fame with thofe in other northern
countries, and taken in fuch quantities, that their pikes (particularly) are
faltcd and pickled for exportation. The train-oil of the feals, taken in
the gulf of Finland, is a conliderable article of exportation.
Inhabitants, manners, and customs.] There is a great diver-
fity of chambers among the people of Sweden ; and what is peculiarly
remarkable among them, they are known to have had different charattera
in different ages. At prefent, their pea'.'ants fecm to be a heavy plodding
race of men, rtrong and hardy ; but without any other ambition than
that of fublilllng themfelves and their families as well as they can : the
mercantile clafles are much of the fame caft ; but their application and
pcrfeverance is difcovered among them all. One could however, form no
idea that tUe modern Swedes arc the defccndaius ojf thofe, who, under
H 3 Guftavus
101.
SWEDEN.
Guftavus Adolphus and Charles XII. carried terror in their namea
through diftant countries, and (hook the .foundations of ihe greuteft en>«
{tires. The inrrlgues of their fenators tlrHf;ged them to take part in the
ate war againil Prullia ; yet their behaviour was fpiritlels, and their cou-
rage contemptible. The principal nobility and gentry uf Sweden are na»
turally brave, polite, and hofpituble ; tlicy have high and warm notions
of honour, and arc jealous of their national intcreHs. The drcfs, exer>
cifes, and diverlions, uf the common people, arc nUnoll tlie fame with
thofe of Denmark : the better fort are infatuated with French moiirs and
fafliions. They are not fond of marrying their daughters when young,
as they have but little to fparc in their own life-timc. The women go to
plough, threfh out the corn, row upon the water, ferve the bricklayers^,
carry burdens, and do all the common drudgeiies in hufbaudry.
. Religion.] Chrillianity was introduced here in the qih centary.
Their religion is Lutheran, which was prop^igated amont; them by Gitf-
tavus Vafa, about the year I5i3. The Swedes are furprifiiigly uniform
^nd unremitting in religious matters ; and have fuch an averfion to
popery, that caAration is the fate of every Roman catholic prieil dilco«
vered in their country. The archbilliop of Upl'al has a revenue of about
400 1. a year ; and has under him 13 fuifragrfn?, befides fupcrintendaius,
with moderate Aipend£. No clergyman has the Icaft ilircaion in the af-
fairs of ftate; but their moraU, and the fandity of their lives, endear
them fo much to the people, that the government would repent making
them its enemies. Their churches are neat, and often ornamented. A
body of eccIeiiaiUcal laws and canons direct their religious oeconomy. A
converfion to popery, or a long continuance under excommunication,
«rt commodities in their own
fliips, Thofe towns which have no foreign commerce, though lying near
the fcH, arc called land-towns. A third kind are termed mine-towns, at
beionfifing to the mine diftrids. The Swedes, about the year 1752, had
greatly iucreafed their exports, and diminiflied their imports, mofi part
of which arrive, or are fent off in Swedilli fliips ; the Swedes having now
a kind of navigation-H^l, like that of the Englifli. Thcfe promiitng ap«
peaninces were, however, blalled, by the madnefs and jealoufies of the
Swedifli government.
Stockholm is a ilaple-town, and the capital of the kingdom ; it fiandt
a^)0ut 760 miles north-eafl from London, upon lix contiguous iilands, and
built upon piles. The caflle, though commodious and covered with cop.
per, has neither ftrength nor beauty ; but accommodates the royal court,
and the national courts and colleges. The number of houfe-keepers, who
pay taxes, arc 6o,oco, The harbour is fpacious and convenient, though
difficult of accefs, and this city is furnidied with all the exterior marks of
magniiicence, and eredtions for manufaflures and commerce that are com-
mon to other great European cities, particularly a national bank, the ca-
pital of which is 466,666U 1 3s. 4d. llerling.
»r9
•An aciideniy of arts and fciences was fome years fincc eftablifhed at Stockholm,
and is now in ;i ilourifhing condition. I'iicy have publiDiod fcvcral volumes of me.-
n^ifs, wlii«h buve bceu well received by the public . . '
H 4 ' ' Govern-
104
SWEDE K.
GovEHNMKNT.] Thc poTcrnmciu of Sweden hiis vimlfij'onc many
changes. The vSvvalcs, like thr n.mti*, wcic rtiijjiii;illy free, iuiil during
the coiirfe of ininy centuries thc crown was f Icdtivc j but '.iltcr vaiioiiK
revolutions, which will be hcreafttT nuntioncil, Charles X 11. who wms
killed in 171 H, bccnine iltfpotic. lie wns lucccciicil by bis filler, Ul-
rica ; who confenliil 10 t!u- iholition of del'potinn, iinil rclloicti thc Ibite*
to their former lil^crties ; and they, in return, :illi)ciafed her hnfl)and thc
landgrave of Hodel
of the conftitution was then drawn up, by which tin; royal power was
brought, perhaps too low; for the king of Sweden could U:;uTily be
' called by that name, being limited in cvc"y exercifc of government, and
even in the education of his own children. Thc diet of the thites ap-
pointed the great oflic* rs of the kingdom j and :ill employ nients of any
value, ecclcllallical, civil, or military, were confoired by the king only
with the approbation of thc fcnatc. The ellates were formed of deputicj
from the four orders, nobility, cUrgy, buri'.hcrs and pealants. Thc rc»
prefentativet of the nobility, which included the gentry, amounted to
above icoo, thofe of the clergy to 200, the burghers to about ijo, and
the peafants to 3;o. Each order fat in its own houfc, and had its own
fpcaker; and each chofe a fecrct comniittfc for thc difpatch of bulincfs.
The ftatcs were to be convoked once in three years, in the month of Ja«
miary ; and their collective body had greater powers than the parliamciU
of Great Britain ; becaufe, as is has been obferved, thc king*!) preroga-
tive was far more bounded.
When thc rtatcs were not fitting, the affairs of thc pnblic were managed
by the king and the fenate, which were no other than a committee of
>he (latcs, but chofen in a particular manner ; thc nobility, or upper
houfe appointed 24 deputies, thc clergy 12, iind ihc burj;licrs i?. j thefe
Chofc three perlbns, who were to be pveleiucd to thc king, that he might
nominate one out of the th'ee for eaiii v.Kaiicy. The peafants had no
vote in elet'^ing a fcnator. Abnoft all the extcutivc power was I deed in
the fenate, which confirted of 14 members, bclides thc chief govtriiors of
the provinces, thc prefuluit of the chancery, and the grandmarflutl.
Thofe fenators, during the rtcefs of the flutes, formed the king's pfivy-
council ; but he had no more than a calling vote in their deliberations,
Appeals lay to them from different courts ol judicature ; but each fenator
»va8 accountable for his coiuluCl lo thc llate.s. Thus, upon the whole,
the government of Swciitn might be c ilU d republican, tor thc king'a
power was not fo great as that ot a fhuithoUler. The fenate had even a
^ower of impofing upon thc king a fub-committce of their number who
were to attend upon his perfon, and to be a check upon all his proceed-
ings, dovvn to thc very management of his family. It would be endlef?
to recount the numerous fubordiuare courts, boards, commiilions, and
tribunals, which the jealoufy of the Swedes had introduced into the ad-
minillration of civil, military, commercial, and other departments; it is
fufticient to fay, that though nothing could be more plaufible, yet no-
thing was lefs pradticablc than thc whole plan of their dillributive powers.
Their ofHccrs and minillers, under thc notion of making them checks
upon one another, were multiplied to an inconvenient degree; and the
pperafions of government were' greatly retarded, if not rendered ineflec-
tH'nne(flion with Fr.incc, and have cndeavuuied to put an end to
if. Eut the influence of the French court in Sweden, in confcquence of
their fubfldies and intrigues, has occnlioncd coniidrrabic fut.'^ions in that
kini;doin. In 1738, n moll powerful party appeared in the diet in favour
cf French meafurcs The perfons who cnmpofed it went under the deno-
mination of Hats. The nbjee conllitution of government. And as, whatever reafon bis f'ubje^s may
fiavc to complain "f him, on account of the power he has affuined, he is
Certainly a prince of very confidcrablc penetration and abilities, and it is pro-
bable, that when his own interefts and thofc of his fubjeifls do not interfere,
he will attend to the advantage uf the nation. His fagacity, therefore,
thcic is reafon to conclude, will lead him to promote the external political
interefls of Sweden t and he tn;»y, perhap?, be contented, under the gua-
rantee of Great-Britain, to obferve a ihift neutrality with regard both to
Dentn irk and Rulfi , The intereft of Sweden even reaches as far as Tur-
key ; for rhat emnire found its account in balancing the power of RulTxi by
that of Cha-lcsXII.
Rii.vfe.NuE AND COIN,] Thc rcvenuc of Sweden, by the unfortunate
\\;wi of Charles XII. and with the Rullians fince, has been greatly redu»
Ced,. Livonia, Bremen, Verden, and other places that kingdom was
dripped of, contained iiliout 78)009 fquai'9 miles. Her gold and filver
f^iecip
SWEDEN.
107
fpecie in the late rrign, arofe chiefly from the king's German domit/ionr.
Formerly, the crown liind&, poll-moncy, titlvci, mine*, and utiicr arti>
cleif are titid to have produced a million llerling. The payments that ure
made in copper, which it here the chief medium of commerce, \i extreme-
ly iuconvfiui'nt ; fume of thofe j/icccs being as ha. The cavalry is clothed, armed, and inuin-
tainvd, by a r, ar^ the ^al]IoD nails ; the collar is compQfcd of eleven
• goldep
io8
SWEDEN.
golden heads of feraplis, with wings expanded, and eleven blue patriarchal
croffes enamelled on gold, all joined together witli chains of gold. The
order of A'^f/ii, inttituted by the prtient king in May 1772. There arc
three clufles. giand-crofl'es, commanders, and junior knights. The
ribbon of the order isgrt-eu and watered ; the collar chafed and enamelled,
rtmpofed of four whcat-fhcaves, eij^ht flnclds of the aims of Sweden, and
frtur of the arms of Holflein, the whole joined with fmall chains of gold.
To the centre is pendent a medal of gold, chafed and pierced with a ^arb,
as in the collar, with a Swedifti muttu: *' Gujlaf, Den. trctiie injihkjlare^
1772," which is the enfign.
History of SwEObN.] The Goths, the ancient inhabitants of this
country, joined by the Normans, Danes, Saxons, Vandals, &c. have had
the reputation of fiibdning the Roman empire, and all the fouthern nations
of Europe. 1 fliuU not here follow the wild romances of Swcdidi hiflo-
rians throuoh the early ages, from M:i;rog the grcat-^rand-fon of Noah.
It is fufhcient to fay, that S>veden has as go( pniil to their chatafter among the inhabitants
of the North, had acquired an iivmicnfe influence in all public affairs, ;ind
obtained poflTeflionsof what lands had been left unoccupied b)' the nobility.
Thcfe two ranks of men, enjoying all the property of the llate, formed a
council called the Senate, which was mafter of all public deliberations.
This fyftem of government was extremely unfavourable to the national
profperity. The Swedes periflied in the dilfenfions between their prelates
and lay-barons, or between thofe and their fovereign ; they were drained
of the little riches they poflcfTed, to fupport the indolent pomp of a few
magnificent biihops ; and, what was ftill more fatnl, the unlucky fituation
of their internal affitirs expofcd them to the inroads and oppreflion of a fo-
reign enemy. Thefc were the D;ines, who, by their neighbourhood and
power, were always able to avail thcmfelves of the dilTenfions in Sweden,
jind to fubjcrt under a foreign yoke, a coun'ry weakened and exhaufled by
its domeflic broi's In ttiis deplor.ible fituation Sweden remained for
more than two centuries ; fomctimcs under the nominal fubjedion of its
own princes, fometimes united to the kingdom of Denmark, and in either
cafe e<]u;dl} opprellvd and infulted,
Magnui Ladulus, crowned in 1 276, feoms to have been the firft king of
Sweden why puifacd u reijulur fyltein to incrcufc his authority ; and to
iuccced
SWEDEN.
10^
fucceed in this, he made the argumentation of the revenues of the crown his
principal objcft. He was one of the abled princes who had ever Cit on the
Swediili throne ; by his art and addrefs he prevailed upon the convention
of eftates to make very extraordinary grants lo him for the fupport of his
royal dignity. The augmentation of the revenues of the crows was natu-
rally followed by a propqftionable Increafeof the regal power ; and whilfl,
by the fleady and vigorous exertion of his power, Magnus humbled the
haughty fpirit^of his nobles, and created in the red of the nation a refpe^
for the royal dignity, with which they appear before to have been but lit-
tle acquainted ; he, at the fame time, by employing his authority in many
refpefts for the public good, reconciled his fubjc6ts to a«5t8 of power, which
in former monarchs they would have oppoled with the utmoft violence.
The fucceffors of Magnus did not maintain their authority with equal abili-
ty ; and feveral commotions and revolutions followed, which threw the na-
tion into great diforder and confuiion, and the government was for a long
tiir» in the moft unfettlcd flate.
lu the year i 387, Margaret, daughter of Valdemar, king of Denmark,
and widow of Huguin, king of Nonvay, reigned in both thefe kingdoms.
That princefs, to the ordinary ambition of her fcx, added a penetration
.and enlnrgemcnt of mind, which rendered her capable of conducing the
grcatefl and moft complicated defigns. She has been called the Seiv.iiatn's
of the North, becauff, like Semiiamis, llie found means to reduce by arms,
or by intrigue, an immenfe extent of territory ; and became wedcn, in this
manner, became a regular monarchy. Some favourable effefts of this
change were foon vifiblc : arts and manufaftures were cftabliflied and im-
proved ; navigation and commerce began to flourifti ; letters and civility
were introduced ; and a kingdom, known only by name to the reft of Eu-
rope, began to be known by its arms, and to have a certain weight in all
public treaties or deliberations.
Guftavus died in 1 5 ?9 ; while his eldeft fon Eric, was preparing to em-
bark for England to marry t]uetn Elizabeth.
Under Eric, who fuccce^led his father Guftavus Vafa, the titles of
eo'int and bai'tjn were introduced into Sweden, and made hereditary. Eric's
niiferable and cnufelefs jcaloufy of his brothers forced them to take up arms ;
and the fenrite liding with them, he was depofcd in 1566. His brother
John fucceeded him, and entered into a ruinous war with Ruflia. John at-
tempted, by the advice of his qiieen, to re-eftablifli the catholic religion in
Sweden ; but, though he made flrong ettbrts for that purpofe, and even
reconciled Mmfelf to the pope, he was oppofed by his brother Charles,
and the fchcmc proved inctte£tual. John's fon Sigifmund, was, however,
chofen king of Poland in uS;, upon which he endeavoured .ngain to re-
flore the Roman catholic religion in his dominions ; but he died in 1592.
Charles, brother to king John, was chofen adminiftrator of Sweden ;
and being a llrenuous proteftant, his nephew, Sigifmund, endeavoured
to drive him from the adminiftratorfhip, but without effeft ; till at laft he
and his family were excluded from the fucceflion to the crown, which was
conferred upon Charles in 1 599. The reign of Charlos, through the prac-
tices of Sigifmund, who was himfelf a powerful prince, and at the head of
a great party both in Sweden and Ruftia, was turbulent ; which gave the
Danes encouragement to invade Sweden. Their conduct was checked by
the great Guftavus Adolphus, though then a minor, and heir apparent to
Sweden. Upon the death of his father, which happened in 1611, he was
declared of age by the ftates, though then only in his eighteenth year.
Guftavus, foon after his acceffion, found himfelf, through the power and
intrigues of the Pole?, RuiHans, and Danes, engaged in a war with all his
neighbourE, nntierinfiiiltedifadvantages; all of which he furmoumed. He
narrowly mifled being maftcr of Ruflia ; but the Ruffians were fo tenacious
of their independency, that his fcheme was baifled. In 1617 he made a
peace, under the mediation of James I. of England by which he recover-
ed Livonia, and four towns in the prefedurcof Novogorod, with a fum of
money betides. *
The ideas of Guftavus began now to extend. He had feen a vaft deal
of milirai-y fervice, and he was affiled by the counfels of La Gardie, one
of the beft generals and wifeft ftatefmcn of his age. His troops, byperpp.
tual war, had become the beft difciplined and moft warlike in Europe; and
kc carried his ambition farther than hiftorians arc willing to acknowledge.
The piinces of the hoyfc of Auftria were, it is certain, early jealous of
y his
Charh
SWEDEN.
Ill
traft deal
lie, one
— y perpp-
>e ; and
wledge.
alous of
j his
his cnterprifi'nf' fpirit, and fupportcd his ancient implacable enemy Sigif-
niund, whom Gullaviis defeated. In 1627, he formed the fiege of Dnnt-
zick, in which he was unfucceGful ; but the attempt which was detcated
only by the fudden rife of the Viftula, added fo much to his military cha-
radter, that the prottftant caufe placed him at the head of the confederacy
for reducing the houfe of Auftria. His life, from that time, was a conti-
nued chain of the molt rapid and wonderful fucceffcs : even the mention of
each would exceed our bounds. It is fuflicient to fay, that after taking
Riga, and over-running Livonia, he entered Poland, where he was vii%-
rious ; and from thence in 1630, he landed in Pomerania, drove the Ger-
mans out of Mecklenburg, dcleated the famous count Tilly the AuUrian
general, who was till then thought invincible ; and over-rnn Franconia.
Upon the defeat and death of Tilly, Wallenftcin, another Aullrian gene-
ral, ofequal reputation, WIS app<)inted to command againft Gurtavuf, wlio was
killed upon the plain of Lutzeu in 1632, after guining a battle ; which, had
he furvivtd, would probably have put a period tu tlie Aulb ian jirL-atiicfs.
Tlie amazing abilities oi Guftavus Adolpbu?, both in the cabin^rt and
the field, never appeared fo fully as after his d-sath. He left behind him a
fet of generab, tiained by himlllf, who mHintaliicci the glory of the Sive-
dilb army with mod aftoniHiing valour and fucter:. The names of duk»
Bernard, Bmnier, Torftenlop, VVrangel, ai.d other?, and rher prodigious
actions in war, never can be forgotten in the aiin:ils oF Europe. It is un-
certain what courfe Gulbivus would have purfueJ, had his liie bi-cn pro-
lons^cd, and his fucccH'cs continued ; but there is the llrongell icifon t<»
believe, that he had in his eye foinewhat more than tiie relief of the pro-
teitiints, and the relloration of the Pula'ine family. His cliancellor Oxen-
ftiern was as confummate a politician as he was a vvanior ; and during the
minority of his daughter Chiillina, he managed the aftairs of S»vedin with
fuch fuccefs, that (lie in a m inner dii'tated the pe.ice of VV^cftphalia, in 1648,
which threw the aftairs of Europe into a new fyftc-m.
Chridina was but lix years of age when her father was killed. She re-
ceived a noble education; but her fine genius took an uncommon, and in-
deed romantic turn. She invited to her court, IXfcartes^, S.ilmifiu?, ani
other learned men ; to whom flic was nor, however, exrrenuly l,')tral.
She exprelfed a value for Grotius ; and (lie was an excellent judge of the
polite arts; but illiberal and indelicate in the choice ot her private ftvoui-
ites. She at the fame time difcharged all the duties of her high Ibition ;
and though her generals were bafely betrayed by France, flic continued to
fupport the honour of her crown. Being refolved not to .rry, file re«
figned her crovvn to her coufin Charles Gudavus, fon to the uuke of Deux-
ponts, in 1694.
Charles bad great fuccefs againft the Poles : be drove their king John
CafiiTiir, ii'.t) Silclia ; and received from them an oath of allegiance,
which, with their ufual inconlhnc}', they bnjke. His progrefs upon the
ice againft Denmark, has been already mentioned ; and he died of a fever
in i66o. His fon and fucceffor, Charles XI. was not five ytars of age at
his father's death ; and this rendered it neceflary for his guardians to con-
clude a peace with their ntighbours, by which the Swedes gave up the
ifland of Bornh-dm, and Drontheim, in. Norway. All differences wcfc ac-
commodated at the fame time with Rulf!! and Holland; and S^vcden con-
tinued to make a very refpedable figure in the affairs of Europe. When
Charles came to be of age he reccired i» fubfidy frojn the French king,
Lewis XIV. bu^ perceiving the liberties of Europe to be in dan;^er from
that monarch^ ambition, he entered into the alliance with England
a and
112
SWEDEN.
and Holland againft him. He afterwnrds joined with France againft tfte
hoiife of Auftiia ; but being beaten in Germany at Feleni BcUin, a power-
ful confederacy was formed againflhim. The cle(Sor of Brandenburg made
himfelf maftcr of the Swcdifli Pomerania ; the bi(hop of Munfler over-ran
Breden and Vcrden, and the Daries took WifmHr, and feveral places in
Schonen. They were afterwards beaten ; and Charles by the treaty of St,
Germains, which followed that of Nimegiien in 1678, recovered all he
had loft, except fome places in Germany. He then married Ulrica Leo-
nora, the king of Denmark's lifler : but made a very bad ufe of the tran-
quillity he had regained ; for he enflaved and beggnred his peo|)le, that he
might render his power defpotic, aadhis army formidable. The ftatcs loft
all their power ; and Sweden was now reduced to the condition of Den-
mark. Heordered the brave Patkul,vvho was at the head of the Livonian
deputies, to lofe.his head and his right hand, tor the boldnefs of his remon-
llrance in favour of his countrymen, but he faved himielf by flight: and
Charles btcatiit; fo confidcrablc a power, that the conferences for a general
peace at Ryfwick, 1697, were opened under his mediation.
Charles XI. died in 169;', and was fuccetded by his minor fon, the fa-
mous Charles XII. The hillory of no prince is better known than that of
this hero. His father's will had fixed the age ot his majority to eighteen,
but it was fet alide for an e;arlier d;ite by the management of count Piper,
who tjjcreby bcciinie his fiift minifter. Soon aftt r his accelTion, the kings
of Denmark and Poland, and the czar of Mufcovy formed a pow-
erful confederacy agaiiilT: him, encouraged by tire mean opinion
abilities. He made head againft th^m uU ;
he (liLTiatcd the pe.icc of Travendahl to
which the duke of Holftcin was re- '
The czar Peter was at this time ravaging In-
gria, at the htad ot 80,000 men, and had befiegcd Narva. The army of
Charles did not exceed 20,00^ men ; but fuch was hii* impatience, that he
advanced at the head of 8coo, entirely routed the main body of the
Ruffians, and raifed the fiegc. Such were his fuccefles and fo numerous
his priibneis, that the Rullians attributed his a("riions to necromancy,
Charles from thence marched into Saxony, where his warlike atchieve-
mcnts equrilled, if they did not excel, thole of Guftavus Adolphus. He
dethroned Auguftus king of Poland : but ftained all his laurels by putting
the brave count Patkul to a death equally painful and ignominious. He
raifed Sranitlaus to the croivn of Poland in 1705, and his name carried
iri'h it fuch terror, that he was courted by all the powers of Europe ;
and among others, by the duke of Marlborough, in the name of queen
Anne, ani'dll the full career of her fuccefles againft France. His ftub-
bornnefs and implacable difpolition, however, were fuch, that he cannot be
confidered in a better light than that of an illurtrious madman ; for he loft
in the battle of Pultowa, 1 709, which he fought in his march to dethrone
the czar, more than all be had gained by his vidories. His brave army
was ruined, and he was forced to take refuge among the Turks at Bender.
His anions there, in attempting to defend himfclf with 300 Swedes againl|
30,000 Turks, prove him to have hem worfe than frantic. The 1 urks
Found it however convenient for their aft'airs to fet hiin at liberty. But
his misfortunes did not cure his military madnefs ; and after his return to
his dominions, he profecutcd his revcnjjp againft Denmark, till he was
Icilled by a cannon-lhot, as it is generally faid. Jit the liege of Frederic-
flially in Norway-, belonging* to the Danes, in 1718, when he was no
mor^ thuQ ihirty-llx years ojF age. It has been fuppofed^ that Charles
• ■ "-L ' wai
they had of his youth and
and belieging Copenhagen
his Danifli majelly, by
eftabliftied in his dominions.
SWEDEN.
tij
was not in rCRlity killed by a fliot from the walls of Fltdeticflialli bqt thut
a pidol from fome neare;- hand, from one of thofe about, him, gare the
deciiive blow, which put an end tc the life of this celebrated monarch*
This opinion is faid to be very prevalent among the bed informed perfoni
in Sweden. And it appears that the Swedes were tired a( a prince under
whom they had loft their richert provinces, their bravcft troops, and theif
national riches ; and who yet, untamed by ndverfity, purfued an unfuC-
cefsful and pernicious war, nor would ever have liftened to the voice of
peace, or confuhed the internal tranquillity of his country.
Charles XII. was fucceeded, as hath been' already mentioned, by hit
fifter, jthe princefs Ulrica Ele;inora, wife to thr hereditary pj-'nce of HelTe*
We have alfo feen iir wSiai manner .the Swedes recovered their liberties j
and given fome account of the capitulation limned by the queen and he^
hufband, when they entered ujwn the exciciic of government. Theic
firft rsrc was to make a peace with Great J^ritain, which the late king in**
tended to have invaded. The Swedes thcti, to preV«;nt their farther JoflTet
by the progrefs of the Ruflian, tlie Danifll, the Saxon, and Ciher arm^*
made many great facrifices to obtain pftace iVom thofe powers. The French,
however, about the year 1738, formed that d:'ngeroU9 party in the king*
dom, under the name of the Haft, which hath been already fpoken orj
which not only broke the internal quk-t of the kingdom, bulled it into a
ruinous war with Ruifia. Thei> Sv.vdifli niajefties having no children, it
was neceflary to fettle the fuccti'Boii ; efpecially as the duke of Holftciti
was defcended from the queen's eldeft liUer, and was, at the fame time,
the prefumptive heir to tlie empire of Ruffia. Four compet'tors appeared |
the duke of Holftein Goiturp, prince Fr;'cieric of Hcffe-Cairel, ncphevv to
the king, the prince of Denmark, and the duke of D ux-Ponts. Thi
duke of Holftein would hnvc carried the cledion, had he riot embraced thi
Greek religion, that he might mount the throne of Ruflia.- The czarina
interpofed, and oftered to reftore all the conqueiis (lie had made from Swe-
den, excepting a fmall diftrid in Finland, if the Swedes would receive the
duke of Holftcin's uncle, the bilhnpof Lubeck, as their hereditary prince,
and fucceffor to their crown. This was agreed to ; and a peace was con-
cluded at Abo, under the meo''.ition of his Britannic majt-fty. This peacft
was fo firmly adhered to by tii"e czarina, thr^r hig Danilh' m.ijelly thought
proper to drop all the etfedts of his refcntmenr, and fotget the indignity
done to hisfon. The princes fiiccelfor, Adolphus Frederic, married the
piincefs Ulrica, fifter to the king of Pruffia ; and entered into the pofTefliot)
of his new dignity in 1 75 1 . He was a prince of a mild and gentle temper,
and much harrafled by the contending Swedifti factions, and found his ntU-
ation extremely troubtclbme, in confequence of the reftraints and oppofl*
ti(m which he met with from the fenate. He paffed the greateft part of his •
reign very difagrceably, and was at length, through the iiirrigues oftht
queen, brought over to the French party. He died in February, 177 1,
and was fucceeded by his fon, Guftavus the Third, the prefenr reigning
prince. He pofleflbs abilities greatly fuperior to thofe of his farher, and
has much more ambition. He was about five and twenty yertrs of age wheii
he was proclaimed king of Svveden, his underftanding hud been much Cul-
tivated, he hath an infinuating addrefs, and a graceful and commanding
elocuton. He was at Paris at the lijjie of his father'« death, from whericft
he wrote in the moft gracious terms to the fenate, repeatedly ilfuring them
that he deligned to govern according to the laws. In conifequencc of the
death of the late king, an extraordmary diet was called to regulate the af-
fain of the government} and to fettle the form of the corouatioo oath fot
114
SWEDEN.
the prefent king. Suitie time after his arrivnl in Sweden, on the sOth c^
March, lyyx, nis inajefty foleninly figned and fwore to obferve twent;^-
four articlest relative to his future adminiftration of government. This
was termed a capitulation ; and among the articles were the following :
f * The kins promifcs before God to fupport the government of the king*
dom, as then edabllflicd ; to maintain the rights and liberties of ths
ftntes, the liberties and frcurity of all his fu^edts, and to reign with
gentlenefs and equity according to the laws of^the kingdom, the form
of the regency as it was edabliflicd in the year 1720, and conform-
able to the prefent adl of capitulaiion. In confcquence of the dc«
claration of the Hates, the king fliall regard any perfon, who fliall openly
or clandcflinely endeavour to introduce abfolute lovereignty, as an enemy
of the kingdom, and as a traitor to his country, as every perfon mud take
an oath refpefling this matter, before he can take poflcflion of any employ-
ment. With rrgaril to the affairs of the cabinet and the fenate, the king
promifes to follow the regulations of the year 1720 upon that head, which
were to be dirc«flt'd always by a majority of votes, and never to do any
thing therein without, and much Icfs againft, their advice. To the end
jhat the council of ftatc may be fo much the more convinced of the inviol-
able defigns of his majcAy, and of his (incere love for the good of his pco
pie, he declares them to be entirely difcngaged from their oath of fidelity,
in cafe that he wilfully a£ts contrary to his coronation-oath, and to this ca-
pitulation. And laftly, the king threatens any perfon with his highefi
difpleafure, who (hall be fo inconliderate as to propofe to him a greater de-
gree of power and fplcnilor than is inarkfld out in this aft of capitulation,
as his majefty drfires only to gain the affcdlions of his faithful fubjefts, and
to be their powerful defender sgaiuA any attempts which may be made up-
on their lawful liberties."
But fcarcely had the king taken thcfe folemn oaths to rule according to
the then edabliihed form of government, and accepted the crown upon
thefe conditions, before he formed a plan to govern as he thought pro-
per, regarding thefe oaths only as matters of ceremony. And he made
ufe of every art, the mc^ profound diflimulation, and the utmoll dexterity
and addrefs, in order to render this hazardous enterprife fuccefsful. At hi^
firil arrival at Stockholm, he adopted every method which could increafe
his popularity. Three times a week he regularly gave audience to all who
prefented thcmfelves. Neither rank, fortune, nor intered, were neceffa-
ry to obtain ^accefs to him : it wag fufiicient to have been injured, and to
have a legal caufe of complaint to lay before him. He lidencd to the
meaneftof his fubjefts with affability, and entered into the minuted details
that concerned them ; he informed himfelf of their private affairs, and
fcemed to intereft himfelf in their happinefs. 1'his conduct made him
confidered as truly the fat\ier of his people, and the Swedes begun to idoU
ize him. In the mean time, there happened fome contentions between the
different orders of the Swcdifh dates ; and no methods were left untried to
foment thefe jealoufics. EmilTaries wer<^ likewife planted in every part of
the kingdom, for the purpofe of fowing difcontent among the inhabitants,
of rendering them difaffefted to the edabliflied government, and of exciting
them t(^ an infurreftion. At length when the king found his fchcme ripe
for execution, having taken the proper meafures for bringing a confiderable
number of the ofiicers and foldiers * into his intered, on the 19th of Au-
■ ^^ gi'^N
• The fidelity which was manifefted by a private foldier, o; this occifio , defervc:»
M be recorded. The night preceding the revolution, the ki.g being dcfirouj of vifiN
ing
SWEDEN.
«'5
deferve»
, of VillN
ing
guft, 177*1 be totally overturned the Swedifh conditut'ion oF government.
In lefs than an hour he made himfclt' mafter of all the military force of
$tockhulm. He planted grenndiers, with their bayot>et3 fixed, at the
door of the counciNchamberi in which the fenate were alTcmbled, and
made all the members of it priforers. / nd that no rt^iws might be carried
to any other part of Sweden, of ths tranfiiftlon in which the king was en*
gaged, till the fcheme was completed, cannon witc drawn from the arfc-
nal, and planted at the palace, the bridges, and oilier parts of the town*
and particularly at all the avenues leading to it. Soldiers flood over thefc
with matches ready lighted ; all com miuii cation with the country was cut
ofty no one without a pafTporr from the king being allowed to Icii ve the city.
The fcnators wcve then confined in feparate apartments in the palace, and
many others who were fuppofed to be zealoiifly attached to the liberties o(
Sweden, were put under arreft. The remainder of the day the king em-
ployed in viliting diftercnt r|uarteis of the town, in order to receive oaths
of fidelity to him from the magiftrate?, the colleges, and city militia.
Oaths were alfo tendered the next day to the people in general, to whom he
addrelled a fpecch, which he concluded by declaring, that his only inten-
tion was to reftore trarquillity to his native country, by fupprefliUq; Jfcen-
tioufnefs, oveitiirnlng the aiiftocratic form of government, reviving the
old Swedifli liberty, and reftoring the ancient laws of Sweden, fuch as
they were before 1680. " I renounce now," faid he, *' as I have already
♦< done, all ide^ of the abhorred abfoliuc' power, or what is called /ovc
*♦ rcigtity^ eflteining it now, as before, my greatefl glory to be the firfl
*' citizen among a truly' tree people." Heralds then went through the
different quarters of the town, to proclaim an afTembly of the (lates for the
following day. This proclamation contained a threat, that if ahy member
of the diet fliuuld abfent himfelf, he fliould be confidercd and treated as a
traitor to his country.
On the morning of the 2ifl of Auguft, a large detachment of guards
was ordered to take pofTcflion of the Jt^uare, where the houf'c of nobles
ftands. The palace was iavcfted on all fides with troops, and cannon were
planted in the court, f icing the hallvvhcrc the fVates were to be afTemblcd.
Thefc were not only charged, but foldiers ftood over them witli matches
ready lighted in their hands. The feverjil orders of the ilates were here
compelled to afTemb'le by the king's order, and thefe military preparations
were made in order to aflift their deiibcrarions. The king being feated on
his throne, furiou'.uled by his guards, and a numerous band of officers,
after having addrtfTed a fpeech to the flates, he ordered a fecretary to read
a new form of government, which he offered to the flates for their accep-
tance. As they were furrounded by an armed force, they thought proper
to comply with what was required of them. The marflial of the diet, and
the fpeakers of the other orders, figned the form of goveVnmenr ; and the
ftatcS took the oath to the Icing, which he dirtated to them himfelf. Thia
extraordinary tranftftibn was concluded in a manner equally extraordinary.
The king drew a book of pfalms from his pocket, and taking off his crown j
ing the arfeoal, went thither, and ordered the centinel to admit liim. The latter re-
fufed. " Do you k ow who you are fpealcing to ?" laid tho king. " Yes;" replied
the foldier, but 1 litewife ki.ow my duty." — ^/rfir a very judicious a'^d welUwrittutl
account ol this extraordinary revolution in Swede'', piiblifhed by Charles Francis She-
ridan, ci'q. who wat ftcretary to the Britifli cnvoy In Sweden, at the time of the revo-
lution.
I z began
ii6
RUSSIA-
began to Hng Te Dtumy in which he was joined by the aflembly. He af.
terwardi gave them to underhand, that he intended in fix years time again
to convene an alTembly of the ftates. Thus was this great revolution com-
pleted without any bloodfhed, in which the Swedes lurrcndercd that con-
flitution, which their forefathers had bequeathed to them ?fter the death
•f Charles the Twelfth, as a bulwark againlV any defputic attempts of
their future monarchs.
The Swedes, at fome period», have difcovered an ardent love of liberty ;
at others, they have feemed fitted only fc. flavcry : and when they were
labouring to render thenil'elvcs free, they have wanted that found politi*
cal knowlcge, which would have pointed out to them the proper methods
for fecuring their future freedom. The moft capital defect of^the Swcdifli
conAituticn was the total want of all balance of its pans : and the divifion
of the Swedilh nation into three diilindt cbfTes of nobles, burghers, and
peafants, whofe intereils were perpetually clafliing, has been a circumftance
very unfavourable to the liberty of the Swedes. The power of their kings
was much reftraimd ; but no fufficient regulitions were adopted for fecur-
{••(J the perfonal freedom of the fubje(3. Thefc defetts in the Swedifli
conftitution paved the way for the late revciution : but it is notv.'ithiiand'^ '
ing a jud fubjff£t of furpnfe, that a bold and hardy people, who had fo
cautiouily limited the power of their prince, flioald at once without a
ftruggle, fuflfer him to proceed to fo great an extenfion of his authority.
It appears, however, (hat the exorbitant power which Guftavus the f hiid
hath thus alfumed, he has hitherto, fincc the revolution, cxercifed with
fome degree of moderation.
Guftavus of Holllein-Gottorp, king of Sweden, was born in 17x6^
and fucceeded his father in 1771. He was married in 1766, to Sophia
Magdelena, the princefs-royal of Denmark, by whom he has ilTiie a prince,
Guftavus Adolphus, born November i, 1778. His brothers and (ifier
are, 1. Charles, born in 1748. 2. Frederic Adulphus, born in 1750.
3. Sophia Albertina, born in 1753.
MUSCOVY, OR THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE in
EUROPE AND ASIA.
Situation and extent of the Russian empire in
Europe.
Miles.
Degrees,
:, Length 1 joo 7 .^j^ f 23 and 65 End longitude.
Breadth 1100 3 l- 47 and 72 North latitude.
Divisions 1 \ CCORDING to the moft authentic accounts of this
AND NAME. \ /\. mighty empire, it confifts of fifteen (Mr. "Voltaire
fays fixteen) provintes, or governments : befides part of Carelia, Eftho*
nia, Ingria, Livonia, and part of Finland, which were conquered from
Sweden ; the Crimea, orCrim Tartary, anciently the Taurica Cherfone-
fus, a peninfula in the Euxine fca, fubjed to the Turks formerly, but add»
ed in the year 1783 to the Ruflian empire, with the ifle of Taman, and
part of Cuban * ; alfo the duchy of Courland in Pjl:>.!id, of which the cm-
prefs of Riifila-has has now the entire difpofal.
* The RuiCant are fuff ofed to have gained ;»beve a million «f rubiest by thii
The
IN
RUSSIA.
n?
The foUowini; uhle uill give fome idea of the RufliiD f mjpire, properly
fo called, or Ruflia in Kuropc, with iti acquifitioni from Sweden in th«
prefent century. And ilfu of the Rutfian empire in its moft cxienfive
fenfe, for we muft alio include all the acquilitioDi in Tartury, now known
by the riame of Siberia : the whHe comprehending the northern parti of
Europe and Afia, Ihetching from the Baltic and bweden on the weft, to
Kamtfchatka and 'hu Eaitern Ocean ; and on the north, from the Frozen
Ocean to the forty-fcventh degree of latitude, where it it bounded by Fo*
land, Little Taitar^, Turkey, Georgia, the Euxine and Cafpian feat,
Gkeat Tartary, Chmefe Tartary, and other unknown regioni in Afia.
The country now comprized under the name of Ruflia or the Rufliac, it
of an extent nrarly equal to all the rell uf Europe, and ereaier than the
Roman cniuirc in the zenith of its power, or the empire ufDariui fubdued
by Alexander, or both put together, as may be fcen by turning to the ta*
ble, page 23, to which we may add the authority of Vultaire.
Ruflian Empire
in Eurape.
Greek Church.
1
Conquered f
from Sweden fi&ce t
1700. ^
Seized from the/
Turks in 1783. \
Chriftiant and
Idolaiera
I
Ruf, or Mufcl
Bcl);rod,
Don Cofliict,
Uk. CofliiM,
Lapland,
Ruf. Finland,
Livoiiia,
Ingria,
Crim. Tart.
RuiTun Emp.
in Afla.
Mufcovy Tar-
tary Ic Siberia,
Kaim. Taic.
Square
Milei.
7i*4i650
71,900
< 7,000
4<,ooo
72,000
41,310
>«.5»S
9,100
8,aoo
>,eoo,oeo
Sso,oeo
Total4,:6i,68i
11 bo
375
400
330
405
3«
218
»7J
itfo
JI50
(ISO
1050
«i5
180
205
S70
180
«45
90
«J
1500
750
Chief Citiei.
Molcuw.
Waionctz.
Paochioa.
Kiow.
Kola.
Wyburg.
Riga.
PnaasawBo/^-,^"- *«•
1 E. L. to-at
Kaffa.
Toboliky.
Aftfachao.
Ruffia has been alfo fubdivided iuto thirty
able to be froien again. In fome very fevcre winters, fparrows, though
a hardy fpecics of birds, have been feen quite numbed by the intenfe
cold, and unable to fly : and drivers, when fitting on their loaded car>
riages, have fonietimcs been found frozen to death in that poHure. When
the theimomt'ter has ftood at 2^ degrees below o, boiling water thrown
up into the air by an engine, fo as to fpread, has fallen down perfci^liy
drv, formed into ice. A pint bottle of common water was found by Dr.
King frozen into ^ folid piece of ice in an hour and a quarter. A bottle of
Arong ale has alfo been frozen in an hour and a half : but in this fubftance
there was about a tea cup full in the middle unfrozen, which was at
flrong and inflammable as brandy or fpirits of wine. But notwithdanding
the t'everity of the cold in Ruilia, the inhabitants have fuch various mvant
and provilions to gunrd againfl it, that they fuffer much lefs fnfm it than
might be expected. The houfes of perfons of tolerable circumflances are
fo well protcd^ed, both without doors and within, that they are fefdomi
heard to complain of cold. The method of warming the houfes in Ruf-
iia is by an oven condrudted with fcveral fluet^, and the country abounds
with wood, which is the common fuel. Thcfe ovens confume a much
fmallcr quantity of wood than might be imagined, and yet they ferve at
the fame time for the ordinary people to drefs their food. They put
a very moderate faggot into tbem, and fuffer it to burn only till the.
thicked bl.?ck fmoke is evaporated ; they then fhut down the chirimey to
retain all the reft of the heat in the chamber ; by this method the ch'an>
ber keeps its heat 34 hours, and is comanonly fo warm that they fit with
very little covering, efpecially children, who are ufually in their fhirts. The
windows in the huts of the poor are very fmall, that ns little cold may be
adntitted as poflible : in the houfes of perfoos of condition, the windows are
caulked up againft winter, and commonly have double glafs frames. In
fliort, they can regulate the warmth in their apartments by a thsrmometer
with great exa£tnef8, opening or fliutting the fiats to increal'e or diminifh
the heat. When the Kuflinns go out, they are clothed fo warmly, that
they almod bid i^^fiance to frod and fnow ; and it is obfervible, that the
wind is feldom v'olent in the winter; but when there is much wind, the
cold is exceedingly' piercing.
One advantage, which the Ruflians derive from the feverity of their
climate, is, the preferving provifions by the frod. Good houfewives, m
foon as the frod fets in for the winter, about the end of October, kill their
poultry, and keep them in tubs packed up with a layer of fnow between
them, and then take them out for ufe as occadou requires : by which
nteans they .ve the nouridiment of the animal for feveral months. Venl
frozen ai Archangel, and brought to Peterfburgh, is edeemed the fined
they have ; nor can it be diftinguifhed from what is fredi killed, being .
equally juicy. The markets in Peterfburph arc by this means fupplied in
winter with all manner of provifions. zt. a cheaper rate than would other*
wife be polfible ; and it is not a !iitie curious to fee the vad (lacks of whole
hogs, fticep, fidi, and othT animals, which are piled up in the markets
for fale. The me'^iiod of thawing frozen provifions in Rufliat is by am'
merging th**..! in cold water : for when the operation of thawing them H
cne«-ica by hear, it feems to occafion a violent fermentation, and almoft
ft fudden putrefadtion : but when produced by cold water, the ice feema
to be attra^ed out of the body, and forms a troofpareut incruilatiou round
1 4 Ua
4«0
H U S S I A.
I
■it. If a tabbage; which 19 thoroughly frozen, be thawed by cold water,
it is as frefli a» if jul\ gathered out of ihe garden 5 but if it be rhHWcd by
fire or hot water, it becomes fo rancid and ftrong that it cannot be eaten.
The quicknefs of vegeration in Ruffia is picrty much the fame as has
teen defcribed in Scandinavia, or Sweden and Denmark. The fnow is
,the natural manure of Rufiia, whrre grain grow* in plenty, near Pohind,
and in the warmer provinces. Tfee bulk of the people, however, are
' miferably fed ; the foil produces a vafl number of muflirooms for their
fubfiilence ; and in foii.e places, befides oaks and firs, RuHia yields rliu*
barb, flax, hemp, pafture for cattle, wax, honey, rice, and melons. The
boors arc particularly cureful in the cultivation of honey, which yields
them plenty of metheglin, their ordinary drink ; they likcwife extradt a
fpirit from rye, which they prefer to brandy.
That a grtat part of Ruma was populous in former days, is not to be
difputed; though it is equally certain, that the inliabitroper for corn, yet its vaft fertility in fome provinces, bids fair tq
make grain as common in Rulli», as it is in the louthern counticH of Eu>
rope. The vaft communication, by means of rivers, which the inland
|>artt of that empire have with each other, ferve to lupply one province
with thofe products of the earth in which another may be deficient. .A*,
to mines and minerals, they are as plentiful in Ruflia as in Soandiuavia ;
Ud the people are daily improving in working them. Mount;bt to be the fiimous Monte*
Hiphfei of the ancients, now called the G it die cf the Eitrth, On the
Hveflern fide of the Dnieper comes in part of the C'nrpathian mou^itains,
and between the Black 8ea and the Cafpian, Mount Caucafus borders a
range of vafl plains extending to the fea of Oral, And here we may ob«
ferve, that from Peterlburgh to Pekin, one ihail hardly meet with a moun*
tain on the road through Independent f arrary ; and from Peterlburgh to
%hp ,iorth part of France, by the road of Dantjjic, Hamburgh, and Am»
fierda.7. wp fcarcely can perceive the fmalleft hill.
Thp moft confiderable rivers arc the Wolga, or Volga, running eaft an4
Couth, whichf after traverfing the greatefl part of Mufcovy, and winding
acourfeof 3000 Englifh miles, difcharges itfelfinto the Cafpian fea 1
it it not only reckoned the largeft, but one of the pioft ferule riven
of Europe: it produces all kinJs of fid), and feitiliaes all the lands on
each fide with the richeft trees, fruits, and vegetables ; and it is remark*
able, that in all this long courfe there is not a fipgle cataract to interrupt
the navigation, but the nearer it approaches to its mouth, multiplies its
quantities of ifles, as it divides itfelf into a greater number of arms than
any known river in the world : and all thefe arms divide themfelves intQ
others flill left, which join and meet again, fo that the Wolga difcharges
itfiilf into the Cafpian fea by more than 70 mouths, Sy means of this
noblt
«. tj S S I A.
I2l
noble rlver^ the city of Mofcow prefcrvcg a comnninication, not only
with all the fouthern parts of Rnlta, but even with Pcrfia, Georgia, Tar-
tary, aud other countries bordcriiiir on the Cai'pian fca. The Don, or
Tan'iis, which divides the moft cailern part of Ruflia from Alia ; and in
its courfe towards the eafl, comes fo near the Wolga, that the late czar
bad unde L'.kea to have a communication between them by means of a
canal: this grand proj eft, however, was defeated by the irruptions of the
1 artars. This river, excltiiive of its turnings and windings, difchargcs
itfeU into the PaUis Msotis, or fea of Afoph, about four hundred miles
from its rife. The Boridhenes, or Dnieper, which is likewife one of the
'largell rivers in Europe, runs through Liihuimia, the country of the Za-
porog Colfacs, and thatof the Nagaifch Tartars, and falls into the £uxine»
or Black Sea, at Kinbourn, near Oczakow ; it has thirteen catara«5)6 with-
in a fmall diflance. To ihefc may be added the two Dwinas, one of
which empties itfolf at Riga imo the Baltic ; the other has hi fource near
Ul^iaga» and dividing itl'elf into two branches near Archangel, there fails
into the White Sea,
As to forelh, they abound in this extenfive country { and the northera
and north-eailern provinces are in a maimer defart ; nor can the few in«
habitants they contain V>e called Chriftians rather than Pagans.
Animals, quadrupeds, birds, 1 Thefe do not differ greatly fiom
FISHES, and INSECTS. I thofe defcribed in the Scandinavian
provinces, to which we muft refer the reader. The lynx, famou? for its
piercing eye, is « Piuive of this empire j it makes prey of every creature
it can mailer .; r ' ". . '"•lid to be produced chiefly in the fir-trte forclU,
The hysenas, cn,\ Aolves, foxes, and other creatures already de-
fcribed, aflbrd i ■ 'r ';.r3 for cloriiinfi; the inhabitants ; but the furs of the
black foxes and f;rminc arc more valuable in Ruflia than clfewhere. The
dromedary and caint'l were formerly ali?ioft the only bealls of burden
known in many parts of Rufli u The czar Peter encouraged a bre«c| of
large horfcs for war and carriages; but thofe employed in the ordinary
purpofts of life are but fmall ; as ai e their cows and il-.cep.
We know of few or no birds in Ruflia, that have not been already de^
fcribed. The fame may be faid of filhes, only the RulBims are better
provided than their neighbours with flurgeon, cod, falmon, and beluga :
the latter rcfemblesa fturgcon, and is often called the large fturgeon ; it
is from twelve to fifteen feet in length, and weighs from 9 to 16 and iS
hundred weight; its flefh is white and delicious. Of the roe of the ftur-
geon and the beluga, the Rullians make the famous cavear lb much ef-
teemed for its richnefs and flavour, that it is often fent in prefenis to
crowned heads. In cutting up the belugas, rhey often find what is calle^
the belugarftones, which is con>.ealed in thdt mufs of glandular flefl\
which covers the pollerior parts of the dorfal fpine, fupplying the place of
a kidney in fifb. The inftant it is taken from the fill), it is foft and moift,
but quickly hardens in the air. Its lize is that of a hen's egg, ihape fomer
times oval and fometimes flatted, and commonly fe)ls for a ruble. 1 his
(lone is fuppoled by profelTor Pallus to belong to the genitals of the fifli t
it holds a conlidenible rank, though with little merit, amopg the domcflic
remedies of the Rullians, who fcrape it, and, mixed with water, give it
in difhcult labours, in the difeafes of children, and other diforders.
PoPVtATlON, MANNERS, AND CUSTOMS.] Nothing can be more in-
judicious, or remote from truth, than the accounts we have from author!i|
fti the jjwpulaiion of tbit yaft empire; the whole of which, they think,
Ma
124
R U S S I A.
does not exceed* at modt fcven millions. 'It is furprinng that fucti n iriK"
take Aiould havecoiuinued i'o long, when we coiidder the itnmenfe armies
bioiight into the field by rhc iuvcreigns of Ru^ia, atid the bluody wart
they maintained in Afia and Eiiiopc. Mr. Voltaire is, perhaps, the firft
author who has attempted to undeceive the public in this refpcA ; and
has dune x* upon very authentic gruuiids, by producing a lift, taken in
1-47, of nil the males who paid the capiuirion or poll-tax, and which
amount to fix millions lix hundred smd torty-fix thoiii'ind three hundred
iind ninety. In this number are included boys and old men ; but girls
and women are not reckoned, or boys born between the making of one rc-
{;irter of the hinds and another. Now, if we only reckon triple the nom-
>. r of heads <'tibjecl 10 be taxedj including women and girls, we (hall find
near iwcntv millions of fou's. To this account may be added three hun-
dred and fifty thoufrnd foUliers, aiid tv.o hundred thoufand nobility and
clerjjy: and foreigrcrs of all kinJs, wha i.re likcwife exempted from the
poll t:,x ; as alfo (lays Mr. Volraire) the inhabitants of ihe conquered
cour.trios, namely, Livonia, Erthoni.!, L-.giia, Careiia, .aid a part of Fin-
Ja'id ; the Ukraine, and the Don CoHiics, ihc Kalmucs, and other Tar-
<^ars ; the Samuides, the Laplanders, the Ofiac, and all the idolatrous
people of Siberia, a coun'ry of greater extent than China, are not in-
cluded in this lirt. The r.ew regilier in -.764 contains 8,500,000 fubjeft
to the poll-tax ; and a late ingenious Wi iter relidcm fume time in RuiFu
gives the following ellimatc :
J,c^«ver clafs of people paying capitation tax.
Conquered provinces, — — —
Nob t- families, — — —
Clergy, — : ' " *»: * "■ y^"_ —
Military, — — — —
Civil, — — — _
Ukraine, Siberia, Coflacs, Stc. — —
l8,ooo,coo
I,2CO,000
6 ,000
1 00,000
360,000
30,000
350,000
"l/k'
20, ioo,coo
To thefc muft now be added near a million more by the acquifuions of
the Crimea, and part of Cuban Tartary.
As her imperial niajefty of all the RulTias pofleffes many of the coun-
f jes from whence the prodigious fwarms of barbarians who overthrew the
Ro^nan empire iiTued, there is the lirongcft rt-afon to believe, that her
dominions mull have been better peopled formerly than they are at pre-
fent ; twcmy-four millions, arc but a thin population for the immenlit
tract of country flic pofiiiircs. As the like dccrealc of inhal)itants is
obfervable in many other parts of the globe, we arc to look lor the rta-
fon in natural cauies, which we cannot dll'euis here. Perhaps the intro-
duiflion of the ihiall-pot and the venereal difeai'e may have aflillcd in the
depopulation ; and it is likely that the prodigious quantity of ftiong and
fpirituous liquors, confuined by the inhabitants of the North, is un^^
friendly to generation.
The Rullians properly fo called, are in general a pcrfonable people,
hardv, vigorous, and patient of labouV, efpecially in the field, to an in-
credible degree. Their complexions differ little from thofe of the Englidi
or Scots J but the women think that an addition of red heightens their
beauty. Their eve-fight feems to be dcfedlive, occafioned, piobably, by
the fuow, which tor a lung time of the year is continually prcfent to theip
. T " ' ' ' , ' cyos.
RUSSIA;
laj
eye*. Their officers and foldters always poflefled a large (hare of paflive
valour; but in the late war "with the king of Pruflia, thry proved as af
tive as any troops in Europe ; and in the laie WHr with the Turks they
greatly diftinguiflied themfelves. They are implicitly fubinillire to dif-'
cipline, let it be e«er fo fevere ; they endure extreme hardihips with
great patience ; and can content themfelves with very hard fare.
Before the days of Peter the Great, the Rufliiins were in general bar*
barous, ignorant, mean, and much addi^ctd to drunkenneCs ; no lefs than
40CO brandy-fliops have been reckoned in Mofcow. Not only the com-
mon people^ but many of the boyars, or nobles, lived in a continual ft.ite
of idlenefs and intoxication ; and the moll complete objed\s of mifery and
barbarity prefented themfelves upon the ftrcets, while the court of Mof-
cow was by far the mod fplendid of any upon the globe. The czar and
the grandees dreHed after the mod fuperb Aiiatic manner ; and their mag-
nificence exceeded every idea that can be conceived from modern exum-
ples. The earl of Carlillc, in the account of his embHlTy, fays, that he
could fee nothing but gold and precious Hones in the robes of the czar
and hi j courtiers. The manufs6\ures, however, of thofe, and all other
luxuries, were carried on by Italians, Germans, and other fcicigners.
Peter faw the bulk of his fubjeds, at his accelTiun to the throne, little
better than bealls of burden to lupport the pomp of (he court. He forced
his great men to lay aiide their long robes, and drefs in the European
manner ; and he even obliged the laity to cut oif their beards. The
other improvements, in learning and the arts, which he made, (hall be
mentioned elfewhere The Rullians, before his days, had hardly a fhip
upon their coafts. T**./ had no conveniences for travelling, no pave«
ments in their ftreets, >io places of public diverlion ; and they entertained
n fovcreign contempt for all improvements of the mind. At prcfent, a
French or Englifh gentleman may make a (hift to live as comfortably and
fociably in Ruffia, as in mod other parts of Europe. Their polite aiTem*
blies, lince the acceflion of the prefent eniprefs, have been put under
proper regulations ; and few of the ancient ufages remain. It i;>, how-
ever, to be obferved, that notwithdanding the feverities of Peter, and
the prudence of fucceeding governments, drunkennefs dill continues
among all ranks ; nor are even prieds or ladies aOiamed of it on holi-
days.
The Rudians were formerly noted for fo drong an attachment to their
native foil, that they feldom vifited foreign parts. This,' however, was
only the confequence of their pride and ignorance ; for Rudian nobiiity,
beddcs thofe who are in a public charadeer, when the Ihow is frozen hard enoni>h tp
bear them. In the internal parts 6t Rufli.i liorl'es draw tlieir tkdgcsj
and the fledge-way towards February, become fo well beaten, that they
ere<5t a kind of coach upon the iledi^es, in which they may lie at full
length, and fo travel night and day, wrapped up in good furs ; thus they
often perform a journey of about 4:0 miles, iuch as that between Pt-.
terfburgh and Mofcow. in three days and nights. Her imperial majelly,
in her journies, is drawn in a houfe which contains a bed, a cable, chairti,
and other conveniences for four people, by 24 poll-horfcs ; and the huul«
itielf is fixed on a fledge.
DiFFERBNT NATIONS ) As thc pvcfcnt fubjc^s of the RufTian em«
SUBJECT TO Russia, ipire, in its moft extenlive fcufe, are the de-
fcendants of many diifeient people, and inhabit prodigious trails of coun-
try, fo we F;»d among them a vaft variety of chara£tcr and manners ; and
the great reformations introduced of late years, as well as the difcoveries
made, render former accounts to be but little depended upon. Many of
the Tartars, who inhabit large portions of rhe Ruffian dominions, now
live in fixed houfes and villages, cultivate the land, and pay tribute iikq
other fubje£ts. Till lately, they were not admitted into the Ruffian ar«
mies ; but now they make excellent foldiers. Other Ruffi.m Tartars re-
tain their old wandering lives. Both lides of the VVolga are inhabited by
the Tfcheremifes and Morduars, a peaceable indulhious people. The
Bafkirs are likewife fixed inhabitants ot the tratf that reaches Irom Kulan
to the frontiers of Sibciia ; and have certain privilcoes, of which tht-y
are tenacious-. Thc wandering Kalmucs occupy the relt of the tract to
Adrach.m and the frontiers of the Uibecs ; and in cunfideration of certain
piefents they receive from her imperial majefty, they ferve in her uimief
without pay, but are apt to plunder equally friends and foes.
The Ctjacsy who lately made a figure in the military hiftorv of Eu-
rope, were originally Polifli peafants, and fervtd in thc Ukraine as a mif
litia againft the Tartars. Being opprefTed by their unfeeling lords, a p^rt
of them removed to the uncultivated banks of tfae Don, or Tanais, and
there eftabliflied a colony. They were foon after joined, in 163-, by
two other detachments of their countrymen ; and they reduced Afopti,
which they were obliged ro abandon to the Turks, after laying it in
aflies. They next put themfelves imder the protefti'^n of the Ruffians,
built Circaflca, on an illmd ih rhe Don ; and their pv/ii'cffions, which cm-
2 ^ilcd
/
#
126
RUSSIA.
fified of tlitrty>nine towni on both (idei that river, retched from Ribntto
Afoph. They there lived in a country^ which they took care to cuhi<
vate ; nnd they were fo wedded to their original cultomsi that they were
litile better than nominal fu^e^s of theczan, till the time of Peter the
Great. They profefled the Creek religion ; their inclinations were war'
like, and they occafionully ferved againll the Tartars and Turks on the
Falus Masotis.
The internal government of the Coflacs approaches rery near to the
idea we form of that of the nncient Germans, as defcribed by Tacitus.
The captains and officers of the nxtion choofe a chief, whom they call
hauptman, and he refides at Circaflca ; but this choice is confirmed by the
caar ; and the hauptman holds his authority during life. He z&» as a
fuperior ovei*the other towns of the nation, each of which is formed into
a feparate commonwealth, governed by its own hetman, who is chofen an-
nually. They ferve in war, in conlideration of their enjoying their laws
and liberties. They indeed have feveral times rebelled, tor which they
fuSered fevcrcly under Peter the Great. But the RuiTian yoke was fo
much eafier than thut of the Poles, that, in 165^, the CufTucs of the
Ukraine put themfclves likewife under the protcaiOu of Ruffia. They
complained, however, that their liberties had been invaded ; and in the
war between Charles XII. and Peter, their hetman Mazeppa, joined the
former ; but he found himff If unable to fulfil the magnificent promifes
he had made to Charles. He brought over, however, fome of the Zapa>
ruvian CofTacf, who were fettled about the falls of the river Nieper, but
moft of them were cut in pieces.
The ihieii and chara<5ttr of the Tartars of Kafan, and of thofe derived
from them, are very uniform, and may ferve for the charafteriftic marks
of all the Mahoinetan Tartars in their neighbourhood. Very few of
them are tall ; but they are generally flraight and well-made, have fmall
face?, with freflj complexions, and a fprightly and agreeable air. They
are hautrhty and jealous of their honour, but of a very moderate capa-
city. They are fober and frugal, dexterous at mechanical trades^ and
fond of neatnefs. The Tartarian women are of a wholefome complexion,
rather than handfome, and of a good conllitution : from their earliefl in*
fancy they are accudomed to labour, retirement, modeily, and rubmilTion.
The Tartars of Kalan tiike great care of the education of their children.
They habituate their youth to l.iboUr, to fobriety, and to a ftrift ob-
fervancc of the manners of their ancedors. They are taught to read and
write, and are inftrudcd in the Arabic tongue, and the principles of their
religion. Even thcftn:ille(l village has its chapel, fchool, pried, and fchooU
maOer; though fome of thefc prieds and fchool-mafters are not much
fkilled in the Arabic language. The belt Tartarian academies in the Ruf;
(ian empire are thofe of Kafan, Tobo^fk, and Adrachan, which are unr
der the dirciflion of the gagouns, or high-prieds. It is not uncommon
to find fmall collcc^ious of liii'torical anecdotes in manufcript, in the huts
of the buors ; and thtir merchants, b^'-tidcs what thefe little libraries con-
tain, arc pretty extenfivcly acquainied with the hiftory of their own peo- '
p!e, and that of the ciicumjacent ftates, with the antiquities of eachi^
Such as chofe to make a progrcls in theology, enter themfelves into the
fchnols of Boughaiia, which are more complete than the others.
The Tartar citizens of Kafan, Orenberg, and other government?,
carry on commerce, exeicife feveral trades, and have fome manufa)plc comprehend from tun to one hundred farms. 1 hei'e
villages were at tirft CDinpofed of troops of wandering fliephcrds ; but br*-
ing drawn gradually clolcr together by iuccefiivc population, they found
themfeives under the necellity of cultivating the cuith, and creifting lixcd
habitations. They never leave their fields fallow ; for which reafon they
ufe more manure than the Rullians. They are much attached to the cul-
tivation of bees ; m.'tny <>f them are pcrfcd mailers of this part of rural
ceconomy, ami reap great profit from it. Moft of the villages alfo coo*
tain tanners, llioe 'makers, taylors, dyers, fiiiiths, and carpenters, 'i he
laborious females fpin, and make cloth from the fleece ut their Hock.,
and thread from hemp of their own cultivation. OIU men, who have
maintained j^bod charȣter8, are held in great veneration amung them,
and a grey beard is contidered as n have always prefeieuct
and precedence, and are the arbitrators in all dif}>u es.
I he habitations and manner of living of the Tartar citizens and villagers
of Aftrachan are perfectly fimilar with thofe of the Tartars of Kafan.
In the city of Aflrachan they have a large magazine for gooJs^ built of
bricks, and fcveral (hops upon arches. They cai-ry on an important com-
merce with the Armenians, Perlians, Indians, and Bougharians ; and
their manutadories of Morocco leather, cuttonc, cniclots, and iilks, are
in a very thriving fl.itc.
The Finns are of Afiatic origin, and have a clofe refemblance to the
Laplanders, only they are more civilized, and better informed. They
live in towns and villages, have fchools and academies, and make fome
progrefs in the arts and fcienccs. They profefs ihc Lutheran faith, and
ufe the ChrilHan aera in their chronology. They carry on commerce,
and cxercife mofl of the common trades. The boors are chiedy employe^
in agriculture, hunting, andjilhing. They arc great eaters, making iiv]8
meals a day, and are immoderately fond of brandy. They enjoy a
coniiderable degree of freedom, as the Rullian government has continued
to them the enjoyment of the privileges which they formerly had under
the crown of Sweden.
The yotiaksy who are a Finnifli race, chiefly inhabit the province of
Viaitk, in the government of Kafan. This nation was one ot thole who
were formerly under the protection of the Tartars ; but, fince it has been
fubjefted to Ruflia, it has preferred the cjuiet and fecurity which agiicul-
ture affords, to the ambulatory life of herdfmen and IhephcrJ^, and
fixed habitations to tlitir ancient tehr«. Some of rhe Votiaks arc Chrif-
tiins, but a great part of them are heathens and idolaters; though even
thefe believe the dodrine of a iuture if.tc of rtwaids and puniflimcnts.
The OJiiaku who are likcwile a Finnilh race, are one of th ■ moll nit«
inerous nations of Siberia. Ktfore they were in fuhjertion ro RulUa, they
were governed by princes of their own nation, and their defccndanrs are
ilill reputed noble. As thefe people divide themlelves into dilferent liocks
or tribes, they ch ufe their chiefs froni among the progeny of their ai -
cient rulers. Thefe maintain peace and gowtl order, and fiiperintf nd the
payment of the taxes. They are entirely un.tcquuintcd with the ule of
letters
128
RUSSIA.
letters, and are extremely ignorant ; they can reckon u far u ten, but
DO farther, as is the cafe with other Finnllh nations.
The Fcgnuh are rather beloir the middle fUiure, hnve generally black
hair, and a fcHnty beard. They are of a gav difnofition, honed, la*
borious and acute ; but flovenly and fickle, and inclined to be extremely
paflionfite. Their women are well made, robuft, civil, and laborious.
They are unacquainred with the ufe of lexers as well as fome of their
kindred nations : they do not reckon their time by years, thoueh they
mark the months, and name them after the various revolutions of lutura
which they obferve in their foreft. They diflinguifli themlelves into
tribes or races ; and a Vos;oul village is commonly compofed only of one
family, whofe chief or elder performs the functions et' ftarofte, or magif*
trate of the vill;tge. Their principal occupiition is the chiice, in which
they difcover much eagcrneU and addrefg; ufing indifcriininately fire>
arms, the how, and the ffiear. They are alfo fliilful in contriving traps,
fnares, and gins, and all the lures of game.
The 7fcbeuvi'afchfi dwell along the tww fidrs of the Wolga, in the go.
vernments of Nifchnei-Novogorod, Kafun, and Orenberg. They never
live in towns, but aflemble in fmall villages, and (fhoofe the forefls for
their habicatinns. They are very fond of hunting, and procure for that
purpofe fcrew-barrel muikcts, which they prefer to the bow. One of
their marriage ceremonies is, that on the weddin){ night the bride is ob>
liged to pull off her hufband's boots. A late writer fays, <* Among the
*' Tfchouwafches the liu(bio(reffion of all their idle ceremonies ; nor did he cut oiT the oeards of
his clergy ; that impolitic attempt was referved for the late emperor, and
Sreatly Contributed to his fatal cataftrophe. Before his days, an incre-
ible number of both fexes were fhut up in convents ; ror has it been
found prudent entirely to abolifli thofe focietics. The abufes of (hem,
however, are in a great meafure removed ; for no male can become a
monk till he is turned of thirty : and no female a nun, till (be is fifty ;
•nd even then not without permiflion of their fuperiors.
The conquered provinces, as already obferved, retain the eiercife of
their own religion ; but fuch is the extent of the Ruffian empire, tJbat
m my of its fubjcfli are Mahometans, and more of them no better than
Pagans, in Siberia and the uncultivated countries. Many ill-judged at-
tempts have been made to convert them by force, which have only tended
to confirm them in their infidelity. On the banks of the river Sarpa, is a
flourifliing colony of Mfravian brethren, to which the founders have
given the name of Sarepta: the beginning of the fettlement was in 1765,
with difiinguilhcd privilejges from the imperial court.
Language.] I'he common language of RufTia is a mixture of the
Polilh and Sclnvonian; their pricfts however, and the moil learned
clergy, make ufc of what is called modern Greek; and they who know
that lan;;uage in its purity, are at no lofs.for underdaj^ding it in its cor-
rupted llate. The Ruffians httve thirty fix letters, the forms of which
' have a flrong refemblance to the old Greek- alphabet.
V , Learning akd lcarned men.] The Ruffians, hitherto, have made
but aa iuconiiderable appearance in th« republic of letters ; but-«he great
encou-
RUSSIA.
131
^couragement girea by their fovcreigna of late, in thf iiiflkutlon of
academiei, and other literary boardi, hat produced fuliicient proofi, that
they are no way deficient at to intelleAual abilitiei. The papers exhi-
bitt-d by them, at their academical mccungi, have been tnvuurably re*
ceived all over Europe; efpecially thofe that relate (o a(tronomy, the
mathemittici, and narural philofophy. The fpeeches proitounced by the
bifhop of Turer, the metropolitan of Novogorod, the vicc>chancellory
jind the marihat, atihe late opening of the cominmiiriun fpr a new code of
lawa, are elegant and claflical ; anathe progreft which le.irning has madts
in' that empire fi nee the beginning of thii century, with the fpecimeiu
of literature publiihed both at Peteriburg and Mofcow, it an evidence^
that the Ruliiant are not unqualified to fhine in the artt and fciencet.
However, the cfTortt to civilise them did not begin with Peter the ,Grea^»
but were much older. A fmall glimmering, like the firll d>y*bre.ik, wm
fecn under Czar Iwan, in the. middle of the 16th century. This becanua
more confpicuout under Alexius Michaelowitz : but under Peter it burft
forth with the fplendour of a rifing fun, and hath continued ever fince to
afcend towards itt meridian.
UNivERtiTrEt.] Three colleges were founded by Peter the Great at
Mofcow ; one for cl.me of
the moft learned foreigners in every faculty, who are provided with good
falaries ; and alfo a military academy, where the young nobility aiio of*
iicers font arc taught the art of war.
CiTut, TowMt, PALACEi, I Pcterfburg naturally takes the l(;ad in
AND OTHER BU|LDiNOi. ) this diviflon. It lies at the iunAioin iqf
the Neva, with the lake Ladoga, already mentioned, in latitude 60 ; bi^C
the reader may have a better idea of its fuuaiion, by being informal
that it (lands on both fides the river ^eva, between that lake and.the bot«
tom of the Fii)land gulf. In the year 1703, this city conliftsdof a few
fmall fifhing huts, on a fpot fo waterifli and fvvampy, that the ground
was formed into nine iilandt ; by which according to Vpltaire, its prin-
cipal quarters arc Hill divided Without entering into too minute a ];•
fcription of this wonderful city, it is fuiHcient to fay, that it extends a!>oi'^
fix iniles every way ; and contains every ftruflurc for magnificence, thtt
improvement of the arts, revenue, navigation, war, commerce, and the
like, that are to be found in the moil celebrated cities in Europe. But
there is a convent which defervea particular notice, in which 4j>o young
ladies are educated at the emprcfs's expence ; 200 of th'.m ol fuperioC
rank, and the others, daughters of cirizens and tradefinfen, who, after a
certain time allotted to their education, quit the convent with improve-
ments fuitable to their conditions of life, and thoie of the lower clafs are
prefenced with a fum of money as a dowry if they marry, or ro procure
to chemfelves a proper livelihood. Near to this convent is a foundling
Hofpital, afliftant to that noble one eftabllfhcd at Mofcow, and where the
i^Qther may come t9 be delivered privately, ufj^i ;hf o>. after the^tmoft at«
K 2 '-••,■.;.. tentlQii
IJl
RUSSIA.
tcDtion to her, ihe leaves the child to the Aate, as a parent more capable
•f promoting i» welfare.
As Peterlburgh is the emporium of RufTM, the number of foreign flitps
trading to it in the fummer-time is furprifing. In winter, 3000 one-
horfe fledges are employed for paflcngers in the (Ireets. It is fuppofed,
that there arc 400,000 inhabitants in this city ; and it is ornamented with
thirty-five great churches ; for in it alnnofl every f«£t of the Cl.\riftian re-
ligion is tolerated. It alfo contains five palaces. Tome of which are I'u-
pcrb, paiticularly that which is called the New Summer Palace, near
the Triumphal Port, which is an ekgant piece of architeflure., This
magnificent city is defended on that fide next the fea by the t'ortrefs of
Cronftadt ; which, confidering the difficulty and danger of navigating a
large naval force through the gulf of Finland, is fufficient to guard it on
that fide from the attempts of any enemy. Peterfburg is the capital ot
the province of Ingria, one of Peter the Great's conqtiefls from the
Swedes. All the neighbourhood of this city is coyered with country-
houfcs and gardens.
The city of Mofcow was formerly the glory of this great empire, and
it MW continues confidcrable enough to figure among the capitals of Eu-
rope. It flandf , as has been already mentioned, on the river from whence
it takes it name, in lat. 55 4^, and about 1414 miles north-eafl uf Lon-
don ; and though its flreets are not regular, it prefents a very pidu-
rel'quc appearance : for it contains fuch a number of gardens, groves»
lawns, and Itream!!, that it feems rather to be a cultivated country than
n city. The ancient magnificence of this city would be incredible, were
it not attefled by the mod unqueflionable authors : but we are to make
great allowances for the uncultivated ftate of the adjacent provinces,
which might have mnde it appear with a greater luflre in a traveller's
eyes. Neither Volttiire nor Bufching gives us any fatisfaftory acvount
of this capital ; and little credit is to be given to the authors who divide
it into regular quarters, and cnch c^uarier inhabited by a different order
or profelTion. Bufching fpeaks of it as the largefl city in Europe ; but
thut can he only meant as to the ground it (lands on, computed to be 16
miles in circumference. It is generally agreed, that Mofcow contains 1600
churches and convents, and forty-i'.iree places or fquares. Bufching
makes the .mrrchant's exchange to contain about 6coo fine fliops, which
dif|)lny a vaft parade of conimerce, efpecially to and from Cituna. No
city liilplays a greater contrail than Mofcow, of magniticence and
nieannefs in building. Ti>c lioufes of the inhabitlnts in general are
nufevable timber booths ; but their palaces, churches, convents, and
other public edifices, are fpacious and lofty. The Krimlin, or grand im-
pciial palace, is mentioned as one of the mofl fupcrb flruftures in the
world : it ftands in the inrerior circle of the city, and contains the old
imperial p.tlace, pk'afurc houl'e, and flables, a viclualling houfe, the
palace which formerly belonged to the patriarch, nine cathedrals, five
convents, four parifll chvnxhes, tlui arfeual, with the puMic colleges, and
other offices. All. the churches in the Krimlin have beautiful fpircs,
inoft of thcin gilt, or covered with filver : the aithitet^uic is in the Go<
tbic tafte; but the iMlides of the churches are richly ornatnented ; and
the piilures of the faints are decorated with gold, filver, and precious
vroncs. Mention is made of the cathedral, which has no fewer than nine
rowers, covered with copper double gilt, and coutiilns a filver branch
with forty e'^'lu li^lusj hiid t^ weigh 2S00 pounds. A volume would
I fcarccly
RUSSIA.
»33
fcarccly fuffice to recount the other particulars of the magnificence of this
city. Its fumptuous monuments ot the great'dukes and czars, the ma'^
gazine, the patriarchal palace, the exchequer, and chancery» are noble
ftru^tures. The public is not unactiuainted with the barbarous anecdote,
that the czar John Bafilides ordered the architeA of the church of Jeru*
falem to be deprived of his eye-fight, that he might never contrive its
e(|ual. The ftory is improbable, and might take us rife from the arbi-
trary difpofition of ihat great prince. I (hall have occafion hereafter to
mention the great bell of Mofcow ; where the inhabitants are fo diftra£t*
edly fond of bells, that they are always tinkling in every quarter. Th«
jewels and ornaments of an image of the virgin Mary^ in the Krimlia
church, and its other furniture, can be only equalled '.ty Avhs^t is feen at
the famous Holy Houfe of Loretto in Italy. Mr. Voltaire fays, that
Peter, who was attentive to every thing, did not negle£l Mofcow at the
time he was building Pcterfburg ; for he caufed it to be paved, adorne(i
it with noble edifices, and enriched it with manufudlures.
The foundling hofpital at Mofcow is an excellent inflitution, and ap*
*iears to be under very judicious regulations. It was founded by the pre«
funt emprefe, and is fupportcd by voluntary contributions, legacies, and
other charitable endowments. It is an immenfe pile of building, of a
quadrangular fliape, and contains 3000 foundlings : when the eftabliih-
ment is completed, it is intended to contain 800a. They are taken great
care of ; and at the age of fourteen, they have the liberty of choofing any
particular branch of trade ; and for this purpofe there are different fpecica
of manufadlures edabliflied in the hofpital. When they have gone
through a certain apprenticelhip, or about the age of twenty, they are aU
lowM the liberty of ferting up for themfelves: a fum of money is be-
llowed upon each foundling for that purpofe, and they are permitted to
carry on trade in any part of the Ruffian empire. This is a very confi-
derable privilege in Rullia, where the peafants are (laves, and cannot leave
their villages without the permitlion ot their mailers.
Nothing can be faid with certainty as to the population of iMofcow.
When lord Carlifle was the Englifti ambaffador there, in the reign of
Charles II. this city was 12 miles in compafs, and the number of houfe^
were computed at '40,000. Voltaire fays, that when he wrote, Mofcow
was twenty miles in circumference, and that its inhabitants ^mounted to
500,000 ; but it is alinoft impollible to make an ellimate of it^ prefcn^
population.
Curiosities,] This article affords no great entertainment, as Ruf-
iia has but hitcly been admitted into the rank of civilized nations. She
can, however, produce many ftupendous monuments of the public fpirit
of her fovereigns; paiticularly her canals made by Peter the G rear, for
the btnetit of commerce. Siberia is full of old fcpulchres of an unknowi^
nation, whofe inftruments and arms were all made of copper. In the
cabinet of natural hillory at Peterfburg, is a rhinoceros, dug up on the
banks of the river Valui, with his Ikin, and the hair upon it, perfeA. I
have already hinted at the paiCon the Ruffians have for bell -ringing ; and
we are told, that the great bell of Mofcow, the largeft in the world,
weighs 443,772 pounds weight. It is 19 feet high, and 1$ in diameter;
.and was c*U in the reign of the emprefs Anne ; but the beam on
which it hung, being burnt, it fell, and a large piece is broken out of it;
€0 that it lately lay in a manner ufelefs. Mr. Bruce, in his late Memoirs
mentions a bell at M»fc9w ^'"-nded in Czar Bovls'« time, j^q feet high,
1^? '}
"f!"'
»34
RUSSIA.
23 in dtameter, 6* in circumference, nnd two in thicknefi, that weighrd
536,000 pounds. The building of Pucrlburg, nnJ ruiriii^ it ofu foci-
den from a tew fiihing huts to be n populous and rich cit.y, is )H;rliaps a
curiofity hardly to bo paralleled fince the erection of ihc Kgypfiiin pyra«
inids. The f«mc may be f; lid of the fortreft of Cmnfladt, in the neigh-
bourhood of Peteriburg, which is almoft impregnable. Thuk* fortiefs
und city, tmnloycd, for fome ycurs, 300,000 men in laying its fouttdu.
tioni, and driving piles, night nnd day ; a work which no nionnrch in
£uro|)e (Peter excepted) cOuKl buve executed. The whok plan, with
il very little afllllance from fome Oermiin engineers, was dmwn by hit
own band. Equally wonderful wus the navy which he rHifcd^e his peo-
ple, at* the time when they could hardly be faid to have p^teifed a fliip
in any part of the globe. What is more wonderful thnn all, he oiten
wrouf^ht in perfon in all tbofe nmuziag works, uith the fame afliduity as
if he hud been a common labuurei .
CoMMKRCF AND MA- ) In treating of the Ruffian commerce, forifler
RiTiME ruRct. ) aclounts are ot little ferv ice at this time, becaufe
of its great improvements and variations. By the bett and furcft infor-
niation^ the annual exjior'-i bt lluflla ut prcfent nmount to four mil-
lions of rubles ; and her imports do not exceed three millions ; fo that
the balance of trade is yearly 225,0001. llcrling in her favour.
Ruflfm's productions afid exports, in' general, are many, and very va-
luable, viz. ' furs and }>eltry of various kinds, red leather, linen and
thread, iron, copjper, fail-cloth, hemp and flax, pitch and tar, wax,
honey, tallow, iling-glafs, linfeed-oil, pot-a(h, foap, feathers, tr.in-
oil, hogs brinies, mufk, rhubarb, and other dru^s, timber, and alio
raw filk from China and Pcrlia.
Her foreign commerce is much increafed fince her conquefts from
Sweden, efpecially of Livonia and Ingria ; and* lincc the eftiiblidninji of
her new emporium of Pctcifturg; when-by her naval iittercourfe with
^Europe is made much more fliort and eafy. The Ukraine may be called
the j»ranarie8 of the empire ; the bcft corn, hemp, flax, honey, and wax,
come from this ier^-':* province, and lo.coo head of horned cattle are
annually fent from its pallurcs into Silelia and Saxony.
{^uffia carries on a commerce ovcr-l.md, by caravans, to China, chief-
ly in furs : and they bring back from thence, tea, filk, cotton, gold, &c.
To Bocharia near the river Oxus in Ifartary, Ruflia fends her own mer-
chnndife, in return for Indian filks, curled lamb-lkins, and ready money ;
and alfo fiom the annual fair at Samarcand ; (lie likewife trades to Perlia
by Artrachan, crofs the Cafpian fea, f«r raw and wrought (ilk. The em-
prefs, this year 1784, ifTued an edift, permitting all foreigners to carry
on a free trade by fea and land with the I'evcral countries bordering on the
Euxine, which have been lately annexed to the-empire. The fan>e pri-
vileges, re!'gious and civil, are llowed to them in the ports of Clicrlon,
SebafliopoHs, and Theodofi.i (formerly Cafta), in the province of Tau-
rica, as in Pcterfburg.
Before the time of Peter the Great, Arcen highly
inllrumcnt;il in uromoting the welfare of theflatc, may iiutwithllanilmg,
for the mod trifling oflence, or even for no oflence at all, be fcized upon
and fcnt to Siberia, or made to drudge for life upon the public works, and
have all their goods conKfcatcd, whenever the lovereign or his inininers
fli.ill think proper. Perfonsof any rank may be banilfied into Sibcria.for
the ilightelt political intrigue, and their polTeirions being confifcated, a
whole family may at once be ruined by the infmuations of an artful cour.
tier. The lecret court of chancery, which is a tribunal compnfed of a
few miniders chofcn by the fovereign, leaves the Ijves and fortunes of
all families at their mercy. Even the nobility of Ruiiia, being thus
brought under the yoke of the mod dreadful flavery, do not fail to reta-
liate upon the people, who are iluvcs to the nobles as >icll as to the fo*
vcreign.
The fydem of civil laws at prefent edablilhcd ir Rudla is very imper*
fc6i, and in many inftanccs barbarous and unjud ; being an aiicmbla|j;e
of laws and regulations drawn from mud of the dates of Europe, ill di>
iredod, and in nuny refpcds not at all adapted to the genius ot the Ruf.
Ian nation. But the prefent emprafs has ixudc foine attempts to reloiiu
the laws, and put them upon a better footing. The courts of judicc
here were in general very corrupt, and thofe ()y whom it was admini- .
ttered extremely ignorant ; but the cmprcls hath lately made fome ju-
dicious regulations, and flxcd a certain f.il.iiy to the oflice of judge,
which before depended on the contributions of the unhappy clients, and
thus the poor were without hope or remedy. It is hoped that the new
code of laws for which flte hath given inUrudtionf, will foon be produced,
to increafe the people's liberty, fecurity, and felici.ty.
The didindlions of rank form a confiderable part of the Ruitian condi-
tution. The late cmpredes took the title of AutocrHtix; which implies,
that they owed their dignity to no earthly power. Their ancient nobility
were divided into knczes or knazcys, boyars, and vaivods. The knczea
were fovereigns upon theit own cdatcs, till they were reduced by the
czar ; but they dill retain the name. The boyars were nobility under
the knezes ; and the vaivods were governors ot provinces. Thofe titles,
however, fo often revived the ideas of their ancient power,- that the
prefi^nt and late empre> or nearly fix millions Iterling annually. Thus computed ;
Capitation tax, ...
Qther taxes and duties, *•
Her own eftates, with other domi-
nions taken from the clergy,
Produce of the mines,
Monopoly of diftilled liquors,
^lonopoly of falr^^ - >< _
I
Rubles.
8,500,000
7,ooo,coo
? 6,000,000
1,500,000
4,ooc,ooo
i,8co,ooo
28,8oo,oco
Tic deficiency of the fum total may be e«fily made up by the profit
nril iig from Itamp-papcr, parents, poft'office, and other articles omitted
in the general calculation, befidjs rcr^ founded by Kit in the year 430.
This
!!P«wr
138
R U S 6 I A.
If
h
Tliit Kli ts by fotne conidered ns au ancloot prince, while others men-
tion htin as a utnplc boattnau, who ufcd to tranfport goods and paflengers
scrofs the ^eiper. For a long time the chief or ruler had the title of grant!-
duke of Kiour. We cannot, with the fmalleft degree of probaoility,
carry our conjeflures, with regard to the hiflory of Ruflia, higher than
the introduction of Chrillianit^, which happened about the tenth cen-
tury ; when the princefs of this country, called Olha, is faid to have been
baptifed at Conflantinopk, and refufed the hand of the Greek empe-
ror, John Zimifccs, in marriage. Thi^ accounts for the RuiTians adopr«
ing the Greek religion, and part of their alphabet. Photius the famou:)
Greek patriarch, fent priefts to baptize ilie RuiTians, who were for fume
time fubje£t to the fee of Conlli^nimople ; but the Greek patriarchs ui-
terwards refigned all their authority over the RulTian church ; and its
bilhops erected themfclves into patriarchs, who were iu a manner inde>
pendent of the civil power. . It is certain, that, till the year 1450, the
princes of RuiCa were but very little coofidercd, being chiefly fub-
3c£ted by the Tartars. It was about this time, that John, or Iwan "Bifx-
lidesi, conquered the Tartars, and, among others, the duke of Gtf:three years ; and by his wifdom and the mildneft of his
charafter, he reftored cafe and tranquillity to his fubjefts. He encou-
raged them to induftfy, and gave them the example of very commend-
able behaviour in his own pcrlon. Before we take leave of Michael, it may
be proper to mention the mode of the czar's nuptials, which could not
be introduced into the mifcellancous cufloms of their f!.ibje£t«, and which
arc aa follow. His czarifli maiel\y*8 intention to marry being known, the
moft celebrated beauties of his dominions were fent for to court, and
there entertained. They weie viiited by the czar, and the moft magni-
ficent nuptial preparations were made, before the happy lady was de-
clared, by feniVing her magnificent jewels, and a wedding robe. The reft
of the candidates were then difmifled to their feveral homes, with fuitablo
prefents. The name of the lady's father who pleafcd Michael, waa
Sirefchnen ; and he was plowing his own farm when it was announced to
liim, that he was father-in-law to the czar.
Alexius fucceeded his father Michael, and was married in the fame
manner. He appears to have been a prince of great genius. He re«
covered Smolenlko, ELiow, and the Ukraine but was unmrtunate in bia
wars with the Swedes. When the grand fignior, Mahomet IV. haugh-
tily demanded fome pofleflions from him in the Ukraine, his anfwer was,
*< that he fcorncd to fubmit to a Mahometan dog, and that his fcymitar
was as good as the grand fignior's fabre." He promoted agricultitre {
Introduced into his empire arts and fciences, of which he was himlclf a
iover ; publilhed a code of laws, fome of which are ftill uied in the ad-
miniftration of juftice ; and greatly improved his army by mending iia
difcipline. This he effefted chiefly by the help of urangers, moll of
whom were Scotch. He cultivated a polite currefpondcnce with the
D^her powers of Europe ; and even with the coutt of Rome, though he
ordered
140
RUSSIA.
orilcrcd his amhanadors not to kif» the popf's toe. He fubducd a ch'tf
of the Dull Collkii, iisiineii Strnko Uafiit, who eiidcuvuurid to mukc him-
felt kin;; of Ai>nM:h«u j and the nbcl, with 15,000 of hit adherenti,
were h nged on the hiyh- roadi. He iiuroduced linen and filk manuf.ic-
lurct into hi» dominionii : tiiid inOeitd^ of puitiiiK to death, or rntlavin};
hir Liihuaniun, Pulifli, and Tartar prifoncis, he fciit thtm to p«optc tha
banks of the Wulga and tl>c Kama. Theodore fuccccdcd hit father AU
C3iiu8 in 1667. He wai ol' a gentle dilpnlition, and- weak cnnllitiitiun ;
fond of pomp and niagniiiccncc ; and in gratifying this propcnfity con-
tributed to pel ifli hi* fubje^s by the iniroduaion uf foreign nianufui-
ttiret, and nrticiei of elegance, which they ioon began to aaopt and inii-
l4itc. He delighted much in horf«i, und he rciulcnd a real fcrvicc to his
. country, in the beginning and eftablifliing very liiced her brotlier Iwdn in his biithright ; and exercifcd the government
lierfelf, with the greateA feverity and inhumanity; for all the RuiTian
grandees who were related to Peter, or whom flic fuppofed to favour him,
*vere put to cruel dcathii. Th'^ indances given by Voltaire, of her bar-
baroua adminillration, are Ihockin^ to humanity. At length, in 1682,
4he two princes, I wan and Peter, were declared joint fovcreigns, and
their filler their afliiciate co-regent. Her admin iteration was bloody and
tumultuous; nor durft flic venture to check the fury of the Strelitzes,
and other infurgcnts. Finding this debility in her own perfon, (he in-
tended to have married prince Balil Oalitzin, who is laid to have been a
.man of fcnfc and fpirit, and fome Ic.irnin?. Being placed at the head of
the army by Sophia, he. marched into Cum Tartary ; but Peter was now
flbout 17 jears of at^c, and allertcd his right to the throne. Sophia and
Iwan were th«n at Mofcow ; and upon Peter's publidiing aloud that a
confpiracy had been formed by ^is lifter to murder him, he was joined
by the Sircliizes, who defeated or'deftroycd Sophia's party, and tbrccd
bcrfclf to retire to a nionailcry. Galitziii's life was fpared, but his
^rcat elLite was conliKrated ; and the following curious fcntcnce was pro-
inounccd as his punirnmert, " Thou art commanded by the moil clement
*' czar to repair to Karga, a town under the pole, and there to continue
•' the remainder of thy days. His mnjelly, out of his extreme goodncfs,
** allows thee three pence pir day tor thy fubfiftence." This left Peter
with no other compctuor, in the year 16^9, than the mildand^eafy Iwan,
jind upon his dctth, which happened in 1696, Peter reigned alone, and
cruelly
RUSSIA.
14,1
cruelly provided for his own future fccurity, by the execution of above
3000 Strelitzes.
It far exceeds the bounds prefcribcd to this work, to give evrn n fum-
miiry detail of thi« great prince** attions. Thev may be collcdcd from
I he hillorics of tb« northern nntions, Poland, Germany, and other couii-
trirs ; fome of which I have already exhijbitcd, as I intend to do the rclt.
All thfTcforc tliat in nccofliiry in this place, is to give a general view ot*
his power, and the vail reformation he intrrulitced into his dominions.
Peter, though he had been but very indifferently educated, through
the jc»loiiry ot his li Her, nliuciatcd himielfwish Ocrmans and Dutch;
with the former for the fake of their manufai^tures, which he early intro-
duced into hi;) dominions ; and with the latter for their Ikill in niiviga*
tion, wliirh he pnic^tlfed himltir. His inclinatiou for the arts was en>
cotiraged by his favourite Le Forr, a Piedmontefe; and general Gordoir,
a Seoicliiiian, dilcmlined the i-/,ar'ti own regiment, conliiling of ^oco
foreigners; wlule Le Fort nifed a regiment of u.oo.^ among whom
he. introduced the French and Gcrnian cxcrcifes of arms, with a view of
employing them in curl)ing the infolence of the ,Sriclit7.cs. Peter, af-
ter this, l)c^>an his travels ; leaving his military affairs in the hands 'if
Gordon. He fet out as an attendant upon hi» own ambafl'idors ; and hia
adventurer in lioll.uid uimI Englund, and other courts, are too nume-
rous, and too well known, to be inferred here. By working a« a com-
mon Ihip-carpenier at Dcptford and Snardam, he completed himfelf in
fllip-huilding and navigation ; und through the excellent difcipline intro-
duced among hi& troops by the foreigners, he not onlv over-awed or
vrulhcd all civil infurrei^tions, but all his enemies on this fide of Alia (
and at hill he even exterminated, excepting two feeble regiments, the
whole body ol the StrclitKes. He role gradually through every rank and
fcrvicc both hy fea and land; and the many defeats which he received,
^-flicciitlly that from Charles XII. at Narva, fcemed only to enlarge hi»
ambition, and extend his ide;is. '1 he battlci he loft rendered him a con-,
cjv'cror upon the whole, by adding experience to his courage: and the
generous fricndihip he (liewcd to Aiigulhis king of Poland, both before
and after he was dethroned by the king of Sweden, redounds gicatly to
his honour. He had no regard for rank, diflini^t from merit ; and he at
]j\i\ married Catharine, a young Lithuanian woman, who had been be-
trothed to a SwcdiH) fnldier ; becaufc, after a long cohabitation, he found
her poircHed of a foul formed to execute his plans, and to aflifl his coun-
cils. Catharine was fo much a flranger to her own country, that her
hulband afterwards difcovered her brother, who ferved as a common foi-
dier in his armies. But military and ivu'al triumphs, which fucceeded
one another after the battle of Pultoua in 1709, with Charles XII. were
not the chief glories of Peter's rr'gn. He applied himfelf with equal af-
fiduity, as already mentioned, to the cultivation of commerce, arts, and
fiiences : and, upon the whole, he niulc fuch acqiiifiiions of dominion,
even in F.uropc ttfelt", that he may be faid at the tiine of his death,
which happened in 1725, to li»ve been%e mod powerful prince of hi^
age, but moie feaicd than beloved by his fnbjci'ts.
Peter the Gicat was unfortufiatc in his eldeft fon, who was called the
czarowitz, and who, marrying wirhoyt his conlent, entered, as his father
alleged, into fome dangerous pr,i(ftices agai.'.lt his pcrfoii and govern-
mcnt ; for which he wa tried and condemned to death. Under a fovc-
rdjgn fo uelpotic as Peter was, we can l'«y nothing as to the juflke of the
charge.
S:^
141
RUSSIA.
charge. It was undoubtedly his will, that the younj; prince fliould be
found guilty ; and the very reading of the fentencc appears to have been
fatal to him. It ii fnid, th;!t h» ftwn at the fentence of death was pro-
nounced upon the prince, wherein were the following words, «* The di<
** vine, ccclefiaftical, civil, and military laws condemn to death, with.
** out mercy, all thoK. whofe attempts ngaind iheir lather and their fo>
** vereign are manifcA," he fell into the moft violent convulfionn, from
which it was with the grcated difficulty that he regained a little interval
of fenfe, during which he delired his father would come to fee him,
.when he alked his p.trdon, and foon after died. After this event, Peter
ordered his wife Catharine to be crowned, with the fame magnificent ce-
•remonics as if (he had been a Greek emprefs, and to be recognized as
4iis fucceflbr ; which ihe accordingly was, and mounted the Rullian
throne upon the dcccafe of her hulbamt. She died, after a gloriousi reign,
in 1727, and was fucceeded by Peter II. a minor, fon to the czarowitz.
Many domellic revolutions happened in Ruflia during the fljort reicn of
this prince ; but none was more remarkable than the difgrace and exile of
•prince Mcnziknif, the favourite general in the two late reigns, and ef>
teemed the richcA fubject in Europe. Peter died of the fmall
ter, was, by, the dcilination of the late emprefs, entitled to the crown:
but the Rumans for political reufons filled their throne with Anne, duchefs
of Courland, fecond daughter to Iwan, Pctpr's eldell brother ; though
her cldcft lifter the duchefs of Mecklenburgh was alive. Her reign was
extremely profperous ; and though flie accepted of the crown under li-
mitations that fome thoui;ht derogatory to her dignity, yet flic broke
them all, aflerted the premgativc of her ancedors, and puniflicd the
afpiring Dolgorucki family, who had impofed upon her limitations,
with a view, as it is faid, that they themfeWes might govern She
raifed her favourite, Biron, to the duchy of Courland ; and was obliged
to give way to many fcvrie executions on his account. Upon her death
in 1740, John, the fon of her niece the princefs of Mecklenburgh, by
Anthony Ulric of Brunfwick Wolfenbuttle, was by her will, entitled
to the fucceffion : but being no more than two years old, Biron was ap-
pointed to be adminiflrator of the empire durii;g his nonage. This
deilination waS' difagrccable to the princefs of Mecklenburgh and her
hufband, and unpopular among the Rullians. Count Munich was em-
ployed by the princefs of Mecklenburgh to arreft Biron ; who was tried,
• and condemned to die, hut was feni in exile to Siberia.
The adminiftration of the princefs Anne of Mecklenburgh and her
huiband was, upoti many accounts, but particularly that of her German
connections, difagrccable, not only to the Rulfians, but to other powers
of Europe; and notwithftandii^ a profperous,war they carried on with
the Swede?, the princefs Eli/alrcth, daughter, by Catherine, to Peter the
Great, formed fuch a party, that in one niijht's time fhe was declared and
proclaimed emprefs of the Rulfias ; and the princefs of Mecklei>burgh,
her hufband, and fon, were made prifonets. .
Elizabeth's reign may be faid to have been more glorious than that of
any < ' her prcdcceflbrs, her fathw excepted. She aboliflied capital pu-
niiluncuts ;
' k
RUSSIA.
: flioutd be
hnve been
th wu pro-
" The di-
leath, with«
id ihcir fo«
Ifioni), from
tie interval
Co fee him,
vent, Peter
nificent ce-
ognized at
the Rullian
rioui. reign,
czarowitz.
trt reign of
and exile of
ni, and ef.
lalUpox, in
RufTun fc>
fide the or-
le of Peter
ded daugh«
the crown :
ne, duchefi
r; though
reign was
. under li-
flie broke
miflicd the
imitations,
em She
iras obliged
her death
burgh, by
, entitled
)n was ap-
re. This
and her
vwas cm-
was tried,
and her
German
ler powers
d on with
Peter the
:lared and
let>burgh,
n that of
ipital pu>
fliments ;
'f§
niflimenti ^ and introduced into all civil and military proceedingt a mo<
deration, till her time unknown in Ruffia: but at the i.uiie time (he pu-
niflied the countt Munich and Oflerman, who had the chief management
of affairs during the late adminiftration, with exilei She made peace
with Sweden ; and fettled, as we have already feen, the fuccefliun to
that crown, as well as to her own dominioni, upoii the mod equitable
foundation. Having gloriouflv finiflied'a war, which had been ftirred
up againd her, with Sweden, flie replaced the natural order of fuccelTioit
in her own family, by declaring the duke of Holdein-Gottorp, who waa
defcended from her elded fider, to be her heir. She gave him the title of
grand-duke of Rudia ; and foon after her accetfion to the thrcne, die
called him to her court ; where he renounced the fuccedion of the crowa
of Sweden, which undoubtedly belonged to him, embraced the Greek
religion, and married a princels of Anhalt-Zerbd, by w^om he had a fon,
who is now heir to the Kudian empire.
Few princes have had a more uninterrupted career of glory than Eli-
zabeth. She was completely viAorious over the Swedes. Her alliance
was courted by Great Britain, at the expence of a large fublidy ; but
many political, and fomc private reafons, it is faid, determined her to
take part with the houfc of Audria againd the king of Pruflia in 17(6.
Her arms alone ga.ve a turn to the fuccefs of the war, which was in dif-
favour of Prudia, notwithdanding that monarch's amazing abilities both
in the field and cabinet. Her conqucds were fuch, as portended the en*
tire dedrutftion of the Prudian power, which was, perhaps, faved only
by her critical death, on January ;, 1762.
Elizabeth was fucceeded by Peter III. grand-prince of Ruflia, and
duke of Holdein : a prince whofe condu61 has been varioufly reprefenied*
He mounted the throne podcded of an enthudadic admiration of hie
Prudidn majedy's virtues ; to whom he gave peace, and whofe principlct
and praAices he feems to have adopted as the directories of his future
reign. He might have furmounted the edefts even of thofe peculiari-
ties, unpopular as they then were in Rudia ; but it is faid, that he aimed
at reformations in his dominions, which even Peter the Great durd not
attempt; and that he even ventured to cut od' the beards of his clergy.
It is alfo alleged, that he had formed a refohition to dedroy both his ein-
prefs and her fon, though they had been declared heirs to the impertHt'
throne by the fame authority which had placed the crown upon his
bend : and even the advocates of Peter, the Third acknowledge, that he
had refolved to diut up his wife «nd fon in a convent, to place his mif-
trefs upon the throne, and to change the order of fuccedion. However,
the execution of his dedans was prevented by -an alinod general confpi-
racy being formed ngaind him, in which the emprefs took a very active
part ; ana this unfortunate prince fcarcely knew an interval betue.cn the
lofs of his crown and his life, of which h^ was deprived, \vhile under
an ignominious confinement, in July 1762. That his condud with re*
gard to Prullia was not the folc cnufeof his dcmfition, feems pictty e^vidcnt
from the meafures or" his fucceflor, who was his own wift-,- and ;)ow. reigns
by the title of Catharine II. That princels, with regard to Pruflia, trod
ill her hulband's Hep?, and now follows the plan he chalked out. The
mod remurk.ible doinedic occurrence of her reign hitherto, is the death of
prince Iwan fon to the princefs of Mecklenburgh.
This young prince, as loon as he came into the world was defigncd,
though UDJudly and illegally, to wear the im|'erial crown' of Rufiia, af-
ter
144
RUSSIA.
I
tcr the death of hit great aunt, the empreri Anna Iwanowna s but I)/
the advancement of the cniprefs Elizabeth, he was comicinned to lead an
obfciire life in the caftle of Schluflelbourg under a {Irong guard, who had
purticular orders, thnt if any pcrfon, or any armed force, was employed
sn attempting to deliver him, they Ihould kill him immediately. He
lived quietly in his prifon when the emprefs Catherine II. mounted the
throne ; and as the rcvulution (vhich dc|)ofed her hufband Peter III. had
occ^fiohed h rtrong ferment in the minds of the people, Catherine was ap«
prchenlivc that fome attempts might be made in favour of Iwan : ihe
therefore doubled the guards of this unhappy prince, anil piirticularly
cntrulled him to the care of two olKccrr, who were devoted to her intcreit.
However, a lieutenant of infantry, who was born in the Ukraine, under*
took, or at lead pretended fo, to deliver Iwan by force of arms, from the
furtrefs of Schluflelbourg; and under this pretence the piince was put
to death. The lieutenant who attempted to deliver him was arreded,
and afterwards beheaded : but, notwiihdanding this, it has been rcpre-
fented that he was a mere tool of the court, though he fuifered for ex*
ccuting the inArut.'lions that he had received.
While this event excited the attention of the Ruffian nation, the flaines
of civil war broke out with great violence in Poland, which has gene-
rally been the cafe when the throne was vacant. And as the internal
tranquillity of Poland is a capital objeifl with Ruilia, the emprefs Catherine
fent a body of troops into Poland, an^d by her influence count Poniatow-
fki was raifed to the throne. She alfo interpofed in order to fecurc the
rights which the treaty of Oliva had given to the Greek and proteftant
fuDJeds of Poland. But the umbrage which her imperial majelly's
armies gave to the Reman Catholic Poles, by their leiidence in Poland,
increafed the rage of civil tvar in that country, and produced confede-
racies againft all that bad been done duiing the late election which ren>
dered Poland a fcene of blood and confution. The conduct of RuHia
with regard to Poland, gave fo much offence to the Ottoman court, that
the Grand Signior fent Obreflcofl:', the Rulfian minifter, to the prilon of
the Seven Towers, declared war againd Ruflia, and marched a very nu-
merous army to the confines of Ruilia and Poland. HoQilities foon com-
menced between thefe rival and mighty empires. In the months of Feb-
ruary and March 1:69, Crim Gucray, Khan of the Tartars, at the
head of a great bodv'of Tartars, Supported by ir,ooo Spahis, having
broken the Ruflian lines of communication, penetrated into the province
of New Servia, where he committed great ravages, burning many towns
and villages, and carrying off fome thoufand families captive. In April
following, th& Grand Vizir, at the head of a great army, began his
inarch from Conilantinople, and proceeded towards the Danube. In the
mean time prince Gallitzin, who commanded the Rulfian army on the
banks of the Neider, thought this a proper time to attempt fomething dc-
cilive, before the arrival of the great Turkifli force in that quarter.
Having accordingly crofled the Neifter with his whole army, he advanc-
ed to Choczim, where he encamped in fight of a body of 30,000 Turks,
commanded by Caraman Pacha, and intrenched umier the cannon of the
town. The prince having made the neccflary difpofitions, attacked the
Turks in their intrenchments early in the luprning of the 30th of April,
#nH, notwithftanding an obftinate defence, and a dread hil Hrc from the
forirels, at length beat them out of their trenches. Ti>e Turks endca-
vcurcd to cover their retreat, by detaching a large body of cavalry to at-
. tack
4
wna ; but b/
led to lead Hn
ard, who had
WM employed
idiatcly. He
mounted the
'cter III. had
erine was ap«
>f Iwan : (he
1 particularly
her intcreu.
raine, under-
ms, from the
ince was put
was arreted,
1 been rcpre-
feied for ex-
in, the flame§
ch has gene*
^ the internal
efs Catherine
int Poniatow*
to fecurc the
nd proteftanc
iai majefty's
;e in Poland,
^ced confcde-
which ren-
la of Ruilia
court, that
the prilon of
a very nu-
cs foon com-
iths of Fcb-
tars, at the
nhis, having
:he province
many towns
e. in April
, began his
ibe. Ill tlie
rmy on the
mething dc-
lat quarter,
he advanc-
oco Turks,
nnon of the
attacked the
th of April,
e from the
urks endca-
valry to at-
tack
RUSSIA
;4S
f.rtack the right wltig of the RufBan army { but they hid fuch a warm re-
ception from the artillery, th^t they foon retired in great difordcf. Ge-
neral Sioilein and prince Dolgorucki were then ordered to purfue the fu-
gitives, at the head of eight batciilions ; which they did fo eftcdtually*
that they followed them into the fuburbs of Choczim, and their purfuit
was at length only (lopped Ify the palifadoes of the fortrels* Soon after,
the town w.is let on fire by red hot bulls, and a great number of Jews ana .
Chrillians took refuge in the RiifTian camp. From thefe fuccedes of the
Ku(!ian», it might hiive been cxpe£ted that Choczim would have imme-
diatfly fullrn into their h^nds But this was not tha cafe; for prince
Gallitzin thouf/ht proper to retire from Chocxim, and to repnfs the Nei*
iter. The realuns alFigned fur this condutft were, that Choczim was gar*
rifoned by i8,030 men, well provided with artillery; that feveral great
bodies of Turkifh troops appeared in the neighbourhood ; that the coun-
try was fo waAcd, the army could not be fupplied with provifions ; and
that prince Gallitzm, not having fufiicient artillery along with him, chofe
for the prcfent to fufpend his defign of befieging the place. Indeed it
appears that the Turki(h cavalry had over-run the neighbouring countryi
burnt (oine fmall towns, and dt-uioyed fome Rulfian magazines.
While the RulTians and Turks were attacking each other in different
places of their dominions on the fule of Europe, the Tartar Aiiatic na-
tions in their difierent interefts, extended the rage of war into another
quarter of the globe. On the 9th of May, a bloody engagement wai ''
fought between the Kalmucs, and thofe 7'artars that inhabit the hanks of
the Cuban, lying bet^veen the Black and the Cafpift no time in mak-
ing ufe of this great and unexpected advantage. Ambft defpcrate en<-
{!:agement enfued, in which the flaughter of the Turks was prodigious.
Not only the field of battle, but the river over which fome few hundreds
of Turks made their efcape by fwtmming, was for fcveral miles covered
with dead bodies. The Ruflians took 64 pieces of cannon, and above
1 50 colours and horfe-tails. The Turks immediately broke up their camp,
and abandoned the flrong tbrtrefs of Choczim, with au its ftoris and nu-
merous artillery, and retired tumultuoufly towards the Danube. They
were much exafpcrated at the ill-conduft of their commander the vizir;
and It was computed that the Turks loft 28,000 of ihe bcft and bravcft
of their troops, within little more than a fortnight ; and that 48,000
more abandoned the army, and totally dcferted, in the tumultuous retreat
to the Danube. Prince Gallitzin placed a garrifon of four regiments in
the fortrefs of Choczim, and foon after rcligned the command of the
army to general count Romanzow, and returned to Peterlburgh, covered
with laurels.
The Ruffians continued to carry on the war wiih fuccefs ; they overTun
the great province of Moldavia, and general Elmpt took pofl'cmoi) of the
capitrtl city Jafly, without oppofitioh. And as the Greek natives of this
province bad always fecretly favoured the Rufllans, they now took this
' " *' •' -W' ' opponuuity
e Tartan alfo
tally deftroyed
I other places,
pofledon the
of that river
d of theni^
«bridgeaoyer
'atflgem or de-
Prince G^I"
of the 9th o£^
1 croiTed the
their ground*
re they were,
lent was very
TheTurka
;ally defeated,
itmoft diforder
ks croiTed the
ince Gallltzin
bayonets, who
the lofs of thq
the fpot, bc-
rere drowned.
to this c'dfiital
n engaging in
le bridge over
e batteries of
lingly, on the
ufand regular
r with a large
follow, when
eifler carried
time in mak-
deipcrate en*
18 prodigious,
few hundreds
miles covered
and above
p their camp,
loriS and nu-
lube. They
er the vizir ;
and braveft
that 48,000
Ituous retreat
regiments in
mafid of the
rgh, covered
hey overTuo
(lemot) of the
tives of this
ow rook thi.s
opporiuulty
k u s s i Ai
U7
^portunity of their fuccefs, atid the abfence olr tbe Turks^ to declare
Ihcmfelves openly. The Greek inhabitants of Moldavia, and afttrwai-di
thofeofWallachia, acknowledged the emprefs-ef Ruflia their fovereign^
and took oaths of fidelity to hen On the 18th of July, I770, general
Romaozow jlcfpftd a 1 urkilh army, near the river Lvrgft : tn^ Turks arb
fatd to haveamdiintcd to Soiooo men, and Were cotttmanded by the khant
of the Crimeii. But on the fecond of Auguft, the fame Ruffian general
obtained a (lill greater vidtory oyer another army of the Turks, cditi-
mandcd by a new grand visir. This army was very numerous; but wai
totally defeated. It is faid that above 7000 Turks were kilted in the fielcl
of battle, and that the roads to the Danube were covered with d6ad bodies t
a vail quantity of ammunition^ 142 pieces of brafs canjion, arid (bme thou*
Cind carnages loaded with ptovifions, fell into the hands of the Ruilians.
But it was not only by land that the Ruflians carried on the war fucceli-
fully againfl the Turks. The emprefs fent a confiderable fleet of men b^
war, Ruffian-buiit, into the Mediterranean, to a£t againll the Turks on
that fide. And, by means of this ileet, the RulHabs fpt'ead ruin and de*
folation through the open tfliinds of the Archipelago, and the neighbour-'
ing defencelefs coalts of Greece and AHa. It is obfervable, that iti thia
attempt of the Ruilians to a£l as a maritime power, they wefe gl^atly
aflifted by England ; hut whether in this the Englidi government WAs in-
fluenced by principles of found policy, mdy very, reasonably be quef-
fioned.
The war betwetn the Ruffians and the Turks dill continiied to be car-
ried on by land, as well as by iea^ to the advantage of the former ; but
at length fome attempts weri; made to nfegociate a peace : it was, hdwer »r^
a long time before matters couid be accommodatfd between, thefe greai
contending powers j hoftilities were repeatedly fufpended, and afterwards
renewed ; but at laft a peace Was concluded, on the 21ft of July, 1774,
highly honourable and beneficial to the Ruffians, by which they ob^
tained the liberty of a free navigation over the Black Sea, and a free
trade with all the parts of the Ottoman empire.
Before the conclufion of the war with the Turks, a rebellion broke out
in Ruffia, which gave much alarm to the coUrt of Peterlburgh. A Cof-
iac, whole name was Pugatfcheflj alTumed the rtiihe and charafter of the
late unfortunate emperor Peter the Third. He appeared in th5 kingdom
ot Kafan, and pretended that he made his efcape, through an extraor-
dinary interpolition of Providence, from the murderers who were cm-
ployed to aflaffinate him ; and rhat the report of his death was only :\ fic-
tion invented by the court. There is faid to have been a ftriking refeiii-
blance in his perlon tathat of the hire emperor, iwhich induced him to
ftngagein thisenterprize. As he poneiTed abilitiesand addrefsj his tollowers
foon became very numerous ; and lie lu length found himfelf fo power-
tuli his followers being armed, and provided with artillery, th:it he flood
(everal engagements with abU Rulllan generals, at the head of large bo-
dies of troops, and committed great ravages in the country. But being
at ialt totally defeated, and taken priibner, he was broi\g:ht to Mofcow in
an iron cage, and there behciuled, on the 2 id of Junu-.ny, 1775.
The prefent emprefs of Rjilia, notwithftani'ing the very unfavourabl*
circurtiftances whii ii attended her taking pofTclIion of the government of
that empire, ha», from the Commencement of her reign, filled her high
Aatian with dilling-iflie;! reputation and ability. She h.is •encouraged
learning and the arts, and cudcivoured greatly to extend the commerce
L 2 s» the abolition of the ufe of torture; and flie has silfo 'adopted an e\-
ceilent plan for the reformation of prifons. Th|e new code of laws for
which me hath given her inllru<5^ons is yet wanting to give political fe-
licity to an opprefled people. But one of the moft remarkable tranfac-
tions of her reign, is an ellablifliment of an armed neutrality, for the
protection of the commerce of nations not at war, from any attacks or
infults from belligerent powers. By the code of maritime law, which
her imperial majefty has endeavoured to enforce, neutral {hips are to en-
joy a ftee navigation, even from port to port, and on the coalls of bel-
ligerent powers ; and all e&ds belonging to the fubjefts of belligerent
powers are looked upon to be as free, on board fuch neutral Ihips, ex-
. cepting only fuch goods as are exprefsly ftipulated contraband in her
treaty of commerce with Great Britain. It was in 178c, that her impe-
rial majefly invited the powers not at war to accede to this armed neu-
trality. Thofe who engaged in it were to make a comipon caufe of it
at fea, againftany of the belligerent powers wlo (hould violate, with re-
fpedt to neutral nations, thefc principles of maritime law. The arified
neutrality was acceded to, the fame year, by the kings of Sweden and
Denmark, and by the States-General.
Catharine II. emprels of all the Ruflias, princcfs of Anhalt Zerbft, was
born in 1729, and afceuded the throne in 1762, upon the depolition and
death of her hufband. She was married to that prince whtlft duke of
Holftein Gottorp, in 1745, by whom (he has ifTue Paul Petrowitz, great-
duke of Ruilia, born in 17^4, who has been twice married, and -by his
prefcnt duchefs, the piiiicefs of Wirtemberg, has had two fons Alexander
and Conflantine, and a daughter Alcxandtina Pawleona.
SCOTLAND, AND ITS adjacent ISLES.
ISLES OF SCOTLAND.
1 Shall, according to the general plan I have laid down, treat of the
iflands belonging to Scotland, before I proceed to the defcription of
that ancient kingdom ; and, to avoid prolixity, I Ihall comprehend under
one head, thf)ie of Shetland, Orkticv, and the Hebrides, or Weflern ifles.
Situation and exteni.] The illands of Shetland lie north-eaft of
the Orcades, or Orkney-iflands. between 60 and 61 degrees of north lati-
tude , and part of the ihire of Orkney.
The Orcades lie north of Dung{by-head, between 59 and 60 degrees of
north latitude; divided tVom the continent by a tempeiluous ftrait called
IVntlaiid Frith, 24 miles long^ und 12 broad.
The Hebrides, or Wellcin illcs, arc very numerous, and fome of them
larj^e ; fituatcd between 55 and eg detfrecs of north latitude.
Ci-iMAit,"} There is very little ditteren^e in the climate of theft
iflands, the air beins kt< n, pieicing, and falnbrious ; fo that mar.y of the
' , natives
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ISLES OF SCOTLAND.
149
natives live to a great age. lu the Shetland and Orkney iflandi they fee
to read at midnight in June and July ; and during four of the fummer
months, they have.,frt'quent communications, both lor bufinefs and curi«
ofity, with each other, and with the continent : the reft of the year, how
ever, they are almoft inacceffible, through fo^s, darknefs, and itorms. It
is a certatn^fad, that a Scotch Mierman was imprifoned in May, for pub-
lifliing the account of the prince and princefs of Orange being raif&d to
the throne of England the preceding November ; and he woula probably
have been ^hanged, had not the news been confirmed by the arrival of a
fliip.
Chief islands and towns.^ The largeft of the Shetland iflands,
which are forty-fix in number (though many of them are uninhabited),
is Mainland, which is 60 miles in length, and 20 in breadth. Its prin-
cipal town is Larwick, which contains 300 families ; the whole number
ot families in the ifland not exceeding jco. Skalloway is ariother town,
where the remains of a caflle are flill to be feen, and it is the feat of a
preibytery. On this ifland the Dutch begin to fiili for herrings at Mid«
fummer, and their fifliing leafon lalls fix months.
The largeft of the Orkney iflands, which are about thirty in numbec
(though feveral of them are unpeopled), is called Pomona. Its length is
33 miles, and its breadth, in fome places, nine. It contains nine parifli
churches, and four excellent harbours.
The lile of Mull, in the Hebrides, is .twenty-four miles long, and, in.
fomc places, almoft as broad. It contains two pariflies, and a caftle, call-
ed Duart, which is the chief place in the ifland. The other principal
weftern iflands are, Ixiwis, or Harries (for they both form but one ifland),
which belongs to the (hire of Rofs, and is too miles in length, and 1 5
or 14 in breadth, its chief town is Stornway. Sky, belonging to the
ilure of Inverneis, is 40 miles long, and, in fome places, 30 broad ;
fruitful, and well peopled, fiute, which is about ten miles loug, and
three or four broad, is famous for containing the caftle of Rothfay, which
gave the title of duke to the eldeft fons ot the kings of Scotland ; as it
now does to the prince of Wales. Rothfay is likewife a royal burgh ;
and the iflands of Bute and Arran for,m the fliire of Bute. The iflcs of
Ila and Jura, arc part of Argylefliin'e, and contain together about 570
fquare miles, but they have no towns worthy notice. North Ui ft con-
tains an excellent harbour, called Lochmaddy, famous for herring*fifl>-
ing. I (hall omit the mention of many other of ^he Hebrides iflands,
which are at prefent of fmall importance, eithsr to the public, or the
proprietors ; rhough, probably, they may, in future times, be of great
confequence to both, by the very improveable fiflierics upon their coafts.
I cannot, however, avoid mentioning the famous i^fle of lona, once the
leat and I'anftuary of wertern learning, and the burying-placc of many
kings of Scotland, Ireland, and Norway. It is ftill famous for its re-
liques of fantStimonious antiquity, as fliall be hereal^ter mentioned. Some
authors have been at great pains to defcribe the ifland of St. Kilda, or
Hirt, for no other reafun, that I can difcover, but becaufe it is the re-
Saoteft of all the north-weft iflands, and very difficult of accefsj for if
does not contain above thirty-five families, all of which are proteftantfai^^
know very little of the value of money. *
Inhabitants, customs, popula- ) It is opt to be imagined, th^t
TiON,LANeyAaE, ANP RELIGION. ) the inb^bi^aiUs of the iflaotis
, . L J •* . ' beiongitig
A(J-/.;.!A'Ii
S$Oi
ISLES #7 SCOTLAND.
belonmqg to Scotlfliid can be (o minutely defcribed here, n th«y kare
peen by fome other authors ; nut fo much on account of their importance,
as their curiofity. 1 hofe o> Shrt^and amd Orkney were formerty fubje^fc
to the Normans, who conquered them in 1099, a few years aner they
landed in England under VVillinm called the Conqueror. In the year
1263 th^y were in pofkfkon qf Magnus of Norway, who fold them tp
Alexander ki/)g ef Scots, and he gave them as fiefs to a nobleman of the
name of Speirei After this, they were claimed by, and became fi^bje£t
to the crown of Denmark. Chriftian I. in the reign of James III. co^r
vsyed them in property to the crown of Scotland, as a marriage' portion
with his daughter V'jrgarer, and all fucure preteiifions were entirely ceded
on the marriage 1/ Jamca VI. of Scotland with Anne of Denmark. The
iflcs of Shetland and O^'kney Yonn a ftewartry, or ihirc, which fends a
member topar}i.s of the Celts, as defcribed
jby the ol'd^ft arid beft authors > but with a (irong tincture bf the feud.1l
COnllltUtion. Their fhanachics or ftory-tellers fupply the place of the an-
cient bardf, fo fi^mous in hiftory ; and are the hiftorians, or rather gene-
alogtfls, as well as poets, of the nation and family. The chief is likewifc
^'^t^eodgd. When he appears abroad, with his mufician, who is gener;illy
».■■«■:"■■' ' * '■- '• * ;••■'-.'•_;;. ■- ' af'bag*
ISI,ES OF SCOTLAND.
m
hare
three
liftory,
[ey are
fight-
|rel"ent,
ibridcs
"ter be
Id pre-
|of the
ips th«
TQible
Icribed
Ifeud.il
|he an-
1 gene-
tewife
ler>»Uy
wbag".
(
» bttpiper, and dreiTed in thd innnner, butt «* >t >• (*id, more futnp' '
tuoully than the Enelifli minftrels of former times *. Notwithftanding the
contempt into which that mufic'is fallen, it is almoft incredible with wha(
care and attention it was cultivated among thefe illaaders (a late as the
beginning»of ths prefent century. They had regular colleges and proa
fcuors, and the ftudents took degrees according to their proficiency. Many,
of the Celtic rites, fome of which were too barbarous to be letained, or
even hientioned, are now aboliflied. The inhabitants, however, lliU pro-
ferve the moft profound refpedt and offeftion for their feveral chieftaini«
notwithftanding all the pains that have been taken by the Briiifli legilla-
ture to break thoCe connexions, which experience has (liewn to be fu dan«
gerous to government. The common people are but little better lodge4
than the Norwegians and Laplanders already dcfcribed ; though they cec ■
tainly fare better, for they have oatmeal, plenty of lifli and fowl, chcefe,
butter-milk, and whey ; and alfo mutton, beet, goat, kid, and venifon,
Th^ indulge themfelves, like their forefathers, in a romantic poetical
torn, which is an enemy to indudry, and indeed to domeHic and perfonaj
cleanlincfj. The agility of both fexes in the cxcrcifes ot the field, and in
dancing to their favourite nnific, is remarkable.
The reader would not pardon an author, who, in treating of this fub«
jrft, Hiould omit that remarkable mantology, or gift of prophecy, which
diftinguidies the inhabitants of the Hebrides under the name oi/eeomi
fight. It would be equally abfurd to attempt tt) difprove the reality of
the inftitnces of this kind that have been brought by reputable authors, as
to admit all that has been faid upon the fuhjedt. The iidepts of the fe-
cond fight pretend that they have certain revelations, or rather prcfeata*
tions, either really or typically, which fwim bcfote their eyes, of certain
events that are to happen in the compafs of 24 or 48 hours. I do not,
however, from the befi information, obferve thnt any two of thofc adepts,
agree as to the manner and forms of thofe revelations, or that they h-tvft
any fixed method for iutcrpretiug their typical appearances. The truth
feems to be, that thofe illanders, by indulging themfelves in lazy habits,
acquire vifionary ideas, and overheat their imaginations, till they are pre-
fented with thofe phantafms, which'thcy mistake for fatidical or prophetic
manifeflations. They inftantly begin to prophefy ; and it would be ab-
furd to fuppofe, that amidft many thoufands of predidlions, fome did r>ot
happen to be fulfilled ; and theie being well attciled, gave a lan£lion to
the whole.
Many learned men have been of opinion, that ths Hebrides, being the
moll wederly iflands where the Celts fettled, their language mufl remain
there in its greatefl purity. This opinion, though very plaufiblc, has
failed in experience. Many Celtic words, it is true, as well as cuf^oms,
are there fop.id ; but the vail intercourfe which the Hebrides had with the
Panes, the Norwegians, and other northern people, whofe language is
mixed with Sciavonian and Teutonic, whi(;h laft has no affinity with
the Celtic, has rendered their language a compound ; fo that it approaches
in no df gree to the purity of the Celtic, commonly called Erfc, which
was fpuken by their neighbours in Lochabcr and the oppoUte coafts of
Scotland, x\% undoubted defcendants of the Celts, among whom th9tr
liinguage remains inore unmis;ed.
* &(« Percy's ReliqacsBf Ancient En^ifh Poftry, in 3 vols.
The
152
ISLES OF SCOTLAND.
I
The religion profeiftd in the Hebrides is chiefly prefbyterian, as 0(Fa-
blifhcd in the church of Scotland, but popery and ignorance' ft! il prevail
amon;; fome of thr iflanders, whilft fuperilitidus practices and cuiloma
feem to be almoft grafted in their nature.
' Soil, mines, and (^iahries.] Though it is not in the power of
nittural philofophy to account for the reafon, yet it is certain that the
foil, both of the northern and wcOern iflands belonging to Scotland, hat
fuffered an amazing aheraiian. It is evident to the eye-fighi, that many
of the-fe iflnnds have been the habititrinns of the Druids, whofe temples
are Hilt vifible in moft of them ; and thofe temples were furroundcd by
proves, though little or no timber now grows in the neighbourhood. The
flumps of former trees, however, are difcerniblc, as are many vcftiges of
grandeur, even iince theadmidion of the ChiiiHan religion ; which prove
the decreafe of the riches, power, and population of the inhabitants.
Experience daily (hews, that if the foil of the northern and weilern iflands
till of late were barren, cold, and uncomfortable, it wus owing to their
want of culture ; for fuch fpots of them *as are now cultivated, produce
corn, vegetables, and garden-fluff, more than fufficient for the inhabit-
ants ; and even fruit-trees are now brought to maturity. Tin, lead, and
Jilver mines ; marl, flat**, frce-ftone, and even quarries of marble, have
bcf n found upon thcfe iflnnds. They are not deflitutc of fine frclh wa-
if r ; nor of lakes and rivulets that abound with excellent n out. At the
fame time it nuift be owned, that the prcfent face of the foil is bare, and
unornamented with trees, excepting a few that are reared in gardens.
Trade and manufactures.] Thefc are all in their infancy in rhofe
iflatids. The reader can eafily fuppofe, that their flaplc commodities con-
fiil of fifli, efpccially herrings, which are the bell in the world, and,
when properly cured, are equ?il even to thofe of the Dutch. They carry
iin likewife a confiderable trcds v? down and feathers ; and ti.eir flieep af-
ford them woulj .vhtch they inainifatfture into coarfe cloths ; and even
the linen manuf;ifl;urea rnnke no fnall progrefs in thcfe iflands. They
carry their black oattie wliv*" to the adjacent parts of Scotland, where
they arc difpofed of in fale or barter ; as are large quantities of their
in uttor, which they f;>lt in the hide. Upon the whole, application and
Induftry, with fome portion of public entuuragemenr, are only wanting
to render thefe iflands at once ornamental and beneficial to the mother-
country, as well as to their inhabitants.
Bbasts, birds, and fishes.] Little can be faid on this head, that
is peculiar to thefe iflands. In the countries already defcribed, mention has
been made of moil of the birds and tiflies that have been difcovered here ;
only it is thought that they contain a fpecies of falcon or hawk, of a more
noble and docile nature than any that are to be found elfewhere. The
Shetland ifles are famous for a fmall breed of horfcs, which are incredibly
aiiive, ftiong, and haidy, and frequently fecn in tiie ftreets of London,
yoked to the iplendid carriages of the curious r.id wealthy. The coafls of
thofe. iflands, till wifhin thefe 20 years, fcemed, however, to have been
crt-ated, not for the inhabitants, but for flrangers. The latter lurnifh
the former with wines, ftrong liquors, fpice, and luxuries of all kinds,
for their native commodities, at the gain of above 100 per eenr. But it
is to be hoped that this pernicious traffic now draws to an end. Three
thoufand buflfes have been known to he employed in one year by the
Diitih in ihe herring fifliery, befidcs thofe fitted out by the Hamburj;hers,
Bremeners, and other northern ports.
" *^ Raritibs
ISLES OF SCOTLAND.
Ha
R. Hi-iiBs AND CURIOSITIES, I Thefe iflands exhibit many preg-
a;;
cienMrcmains, particularly catacombs, and nine filver iibuiz or clafps»
foum at Stennis, one of the Orkneys, that the Romans were well ac-
quainted with thefe parts.
The cathedral of Kirkwall, the capital of the Orkneys, is a fine Gothic
building, dedicated to St. Magnrs, but now converted into a parilh
church. Its roof is fupported by 4 pillars on each fide, and its fteeple,
ip which is a good ring of bells, by four large pillars. The three gatet
of the church are chequered with ted and white poliflied llone, emtofled
and elegantly flowered.
The Hebrides are ftill more diftinguiflied than the Orkney or Shet-
land iHes for their remains of antiquity ; and ir would far exceed the
bounds allotted to this head, were wc even to mention every noted
monument found upon them, deuicated to civil, religious, or warlike
purpofes. We cannot, however, avoid taking particular notice of the
celebrated ifle of lona, called St. Columb-Kill. Not to enter into the
hillory or origin, of the religious ereilions upon this ifland, it is fuf-
ficient to fay, that it fcems to have ferved as a fanftuary for St. Columba,
and other holy men of learning, while Ireland, England, and Scotland,
were dcfolated by barbarifm. It appears that the northern pagans often
landed here, and paid no regard to the fiindtity of the place. 1 he church
of St. Mary, which is built in the form of a cathedral, is a beautiful fa-
brlc. It contains the bodif s of fome Scotch, Irifli, and Norwegian kings,
with fome Gaelic infcriptions. The tomb of Columba, who Tics buried
here, is nninfcribcd. The llceple is large, the copula 2 1 feet fquare, the
doors and windows are curioufly carved, and the altar is of the fineft mar-
ble. Innumerable are the infcriptions of ancient cuiloms and ceremonies
that aic difcerniblc upon this ifland ; and which give countenance to the
well-known obfervation, that when learning was nearly exiinrt on the
continent of Europe, it found a refuge in Scotland, or rather in tbefelflands.
The iflands belonging to Scotland conrain likewifc feme natural curi-
• olitics
lAAAGE EVALUATION
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■K\
tS4
ISLES OF SCOTLAND.
ofittes peculiar to tLcmfelves : the phaftoji, or Molucca bean, have baeti
found in the Orkneys, driven as fuppoTed, from the Weil Indies, by '
the wcllerly winds, which often force' afliore many curious ibelU and ma^
rine productions, highly efteemed by naturalills. . lit the pariih of Harn,
a large piece of Hag's horn was found very deep in the earth, by the, in-
habitants, who were digging for marl ; and certain bitumln-^us effluviir pro«
duce furprifing phaenoniena, Which the natives believe to be fupernaturiii.
But foine of the mail aftoniihing appearances in nature have remained
vndei'cribed, and, till lately, unobferved even by the natives of thefe
iAunds. A difcovery rt{i\riei for the inc^uilitive genius of Mr. Banks,
now Sir Jofeph Banks, who, in relating his voyage through the Hebrides,
anno 177*, fays, *' We were no fooncr arnved, than we ,wcrc ftrficfc
with a fcene of magnificence wbicii exceeded our expefiations, thougii
founded, as we thought, upon the moft fanguinc foundations : the wbole
^ that end of the iwand (viz. StafTa,. a mile in length, and half a mite
in breadth) fupiwrted by ranges of natural pillars, moftly above fifty feet
' high, Ihinding in natural colonnades, according as the bays or pinnts of
land formed themfelves : upon a firm baiis of fclid unformed rock,^above
thefe, the ftratura whicH- reaches to the foil or furface of the ifland, vti-t
Tied in thick4iefs as the ilknd itfelf formed into hilis or vallics ; each hill,
.which hung over the columns below, forming aa ample pediment ; fome
/of thc(b, above iixty feet, in thicHnefs from the bafe to the point, formed^
by the floping of the hill on each fide, almoft in the iliape of thofe ufed
SB architeilure, : ..
^* Compared ro this, what are the cathedrals or palaces built bylMpen ?
mere models or play-things. Imitations as diminutive, as his worln will
always be, when compared to thofe of natuie. Where is now the boaottoras of thofe wbick
have been broken oft in order to form it ; between the angles of which, n
yellotV (lalagmitic matter ha> exuded, which ferres to define the angles
precifely, and at the'fame time vary the colour, with a great deal of ele«
gance; and to render St ftiH more agreeable, the whole is lighted from
without ; fo that the fartheft extremity is very plainly fcen, from without ;
and the air within being agitated by the flux and reflux of the tide, !■
perfectly dry and wholefbme, free entirely from the damp of vapours with
which natural caverns in general ubound."
Mr. Pennant, who alio made a voyage to thefe iflands in the fame year,
had a glance of Staffa, in hi? palTage from lona to Mull, but was pre-
vented by ftormy weather from approaching it. " On the wel>," ijiys
he, "appears the beajuiiful groupe of the 'Treafljunifh ifles. Neareft lieg
StaiT:!, a new Cr^ant's Caufeway, riling amidfl the waves, but with co>
iumns of double the height jof that in Irelq^pd; gloffy and f efpiende^Hf -
from the beams of the eaftern fun." And in the itle of Sky, a confider-
able way northward, he refumes the fubjefl. ♦• We had in view a fine
fejries of genuine bafnltic columns, refembling the GiantV Caufeway ;
tftc pillars were above twenty feet high, confining of foar, five, and fix
angles, but moftly of five. At » fmall diftance from thcfe on the flope of
f hill, is a tradt of fome roads entirely formed of the tops of feveral fe-
rie9 of columns, even and clofe fet, forming a reticulated furl^ace of
amazing beauty and curiofity. This is the moft northern bafaltcs I am
acquainted with; the laft of four in the Britifli dominions, all running,
from foUth to north, nearly in a meridian : the Gi:int'» Caufeway appears
firft ; Staffit, &c. fuccceds ; the rock Humbla about twenty leagues far.
^her, and finally, thofe ceflumns of Sky : the depth of the ocean, in all
probability, conceals the yall links of this chain."
Learning, LEARNED MEN, AND HisTORYf See Scotland,
Feet.
371
250
53
zo
l»7
70
39
!»
9 -
SCOTLAND.
Extent and Situatioh.
Miles. Degrees.
3°° I between 5 54 «n4 5? North latitude.
Length ^ _
breadth 190
> between <
and 6 Weft longitude.
»j , nr^HERE can be little doubt that the Soots were not the
*-• 1. original inhabitants of this kingilom, but o; the Celiae.
or Gauls, which they invaded about the beginning of the fourth century,
and having conquered the Pidls, the territories of i)oth were called Scot-
land' ; and that the word Scot is no other than a corruption of Scuyth, or
Scythian, being originally from that immenfe country, called Scythia by
the ancients. It is termed, by the Italians, Scotia; by the Spaniards.
Efcotia ; by the French, Elcotfe ; and Scotland by the Scots, Germans,
and Englifti. ■
Boundaries.] Scotland, which contains an xn of 27,794 fquare
^liles, is bounded on the fouth by England ; and on the noith, eaft, and
weft, by the Deucaledonian, German, and Irifl) feas, «r more properly,
the Atlantic occaQ*
: ; . • :^-'' J DivisioNfl
»5«
S COT L A N D.
V DiViiiONS AND SUBDIVISIONS.] Scotland is divided inro the coun-
tries fouth of the Frith of Forth> the capital of whigh, and of all the
kingdom, is Edinburgh ; and thofe to the north of the fame river, where
the chief town is Aberdeen. This was the ancient national divifion ; but
Ibroe modern writers, with lefs geographical accuracy, have divided it
into Highlands and Lowlands, on account of the ^different habits, man-
ners, and cuftoms of the inhabitants of each.
Eighteen counties, or (hires, are allotted to, the fouthern divifion, and
15 to the northern ; and thofe coii^tries are fubdivided into iheriftdoms^
ftewartries, and bailiwicks, according to the ancient tenures and privi-
kges of the' landholden*
Shires.
[
SheriiTdoms and other
fabdivifioni
Chief Towns.
I . Edinburgh (4 39* ) < Mid Lothian —
*) r Edinburgh, W. Ion. 3.
l) N. lat. 56. Muffel-
n
and
burch, Xchh,
Dalkeith.
H Dunbar, Haddington,
and North BerwiA,
Dunfe, and Lauder.
s. Haddington (lai)j Eaft Lothian
3. Merfe, anciently j The Merches, and I C
Berwick f (1 14) f Lauderdale -* 1 C
M iiA.>w«..».u.k/.^..\5 Tiviotdale, Lidfdale, 5 C Jedburgh, Kelfo, and
4.Roxboiough(i65)| Efcdale and Eufdal^ f r Melrofs.
""'" (19) Ettrick Foreft ^«-...,
Tweedale
5. Selkirk
6. Peebles
(4a)
7. Lanerk (388)< Clydefdale
i
8. Dumfries
9. Wigtown
io.Kircudbright(ioo) Galloway, Eaft part
. J Kyle, Carrick, and
'J Cynningham —
12. Dumbarton (66) Lenox — ;.
13. Bute {34) and ! Bute, ArranandOitk.
14. Caithnefs (1C5) 1 nefs —
-1{
ii. Air
15. Renfrew
1 5. Stirling
Selkirk.
Peebles.
Glafgow, W. Ion. 4-5.
N. lat. 1^5-52. Ha-
milton, Lanerk, and
_^ Rutherglen.
(188) Nithfdale, Annandale ^ Dumfries, Annan.
(.,0) { Galloway, W.« ,„■ } {^r'^Jii.fCr'
"■ " " " Kircudbright.
"^ rAir, Kilmarnock, Ir-
> < win, Maybole, Stew-
' ' ^ arton and Saltcots.
Dumbarton. •—
jf Rothfay. — —
'^>\ Wick, N. lat. 58.40.
J I and Thurfo.
"X t Renfrew, Paifley,
> } Greenock, & Port-
J t Glafgow.
Stirling and Falkirk.
(280)'
(126)
(76)
Renfrew —
Stirlin? -^
* The itumbers (hew the proportion of militia as propufcd to be raifed in each
Ihii-e, when that fcheme was la d before parliament in 17^5.
I Berwick, All th« north Tide of the Tweed, belonjged formerly to Scotland, and
fav« name to a ciuiitjr tn that kin{rdom ; bat it is row formed into a tnwn and county
(.•f itieif, in a political fe. i'e diftinil from Engla id aud ScutU'id, having its uwu pri>
filegcf. ;
noun-
1 the
vhere
i but
ded it
man-
I, and
loins*
S C O T L A N
Sbirei.
17.. Linlithgow
iR. Argyle
(80) j
SherifTdoms and other
fubdivilioni. '
Weft Lothian
-}!
f Argyle, Cowal, Knap-"
1 Dale, K "
19. Perth
2o« Kincardin (109)
IUale, Kintire, and
Lorn, with part of
- V • the WeOern Ifles, !
"H^^ particularly ma, Ju-r
I ra. Mull, Wift, Te-
I rif, Col, and Lif-
\, more — —
(Perth, AthoUGowfy, "]
Brondalbin, Mon-
teith, Strathern
Stormont, Glen
fliicld, and Raynork
D. isr
Chief Towns.
Linlithgow, Burrough
ftonner8,& Qneen's-
ferry.
Inverar/, DunftaiT-
nage, X.illontner, and
Campbeltown.
»7f
I \ Perth, Scone,
9f^ blane, Blaii
-V I Dunkeld.
kJl
Diim«
Blair> and
Merns — —
jei. Aberdeen
, X . Mar,Buchan,Garioch
^55 US and Strathbogle
12. Invernefs (282)
1
( Bervie, Stonhive and
1 Kincardin.
fold Aberdeen, W. Ion.
I-40. N. lat. 57-22.
. New Aberdeen, Fra-
Y ^ ferlburgh, Peterhead^
IKintore, Strathbogle,
Inverary, and Old
J L Meldrum.
Aird, Strathglafs, Sky, 1 c
Harris, Badenoch, ( \ Inverneft, Inverlochj',
Lochaber, and f j FortAuguftu8,Boileau
Glenmorilbn J L
23. Nairne (ij) and C Weftcrn part of Mur- ',
$
24. Cromartie (2|^)r. ray and Croraartie
^
. Fife
^5
26, Forfar
27. BamflT
U^7)<
Fife —
?<
( 3 26) < Forfar, Angus
BamfF, Srrathdovern,
(182)^ Boyne Euzy
-H
r uamn, JStrarnaovern, 1 m
\ Boyne Euzy, Bui- I J
J veny, Strathawin, f |
L and part of Biichan j (,
Nairne, Cromartie. ,
Bt Andrews, Coiv'jer,
Falkland, Kirknidy,
Inncrkythen, Ely,
Burnt Illand, Dum-
ftrmline, Dyfart, An-
ftruthcrandAberdouC
Montrofe, Forfar,
Dundee, Arbroth,
and Brechin.
Bamffand CuUen.
28. Sutherlapd (100) |
36. Clacmnnnah (31) [*
I Fife part
Strathnaver and Su-
therland —
and
30. Kinrofs
(»3)l
--H
> < Strathy ai;>d Dornoch.
Culrofs, Clacmstnnan,
Alloa, and Kinrufs.
31. Rofii
f5»
SCOTLAND.
Chief Tonrni.
31. Roft (aoi)-
Taine, Dingwall, Fdr-
Shires. Sheriffdoms and other
fubdivifions.
f Eaftcrand Welter Rofs"
liks of Lewis Loch-
broom, Lochcarren . ,
Ardmcanach, Red- W trofe, Rofamarkte,
cadle, Feriintofl), I | and New Kelfo.
Strathpeffer, and I
Ferrindonald J
«2. Elein (tac) 'Murray and Strathfpey "Eldn and Forres.
^ ^ r J r Kirkwall, W.lon.3 N.
i J l N. lat.6i.
In all thtrty-fhree (hires, which choofe thirty reprefentatives to fit in
the parliament of Great-Britain ; 3iite andCaithnefs chooiing alternately
St do Nairne and Cromartie, and Clacmanaan an
Lochmaban and Kircudbright \
Wigtown, New Galloway, i
Stranraer, and Whitthorn J
Air, Invin, Rothfay, Campbel-
town, and Inverary
ipbcl- 1
Climate, soit, air, and water.] In the northern parts, day*
light, at. IVtidlummer, l.frevv,
Dumbarton, and Greenock, falls into the Frith of Clyde, oppofite to the
iile of Bute. Beftdes thofe capital rivers, Scotland conr;iins many of an it>«
ferior forr, well provided with falmon, troin, and other fiflics, which equally
enrich and beautify the counrry. Several of thofe livers go by the nameef
ejkf which is the old Celtic name for ivater. The greateft improvement
for inland navigation that has been attempted hi that part of Great-Brkain,
was undertaken at a. very confidcrable expence, by a fociety of public-
fpirited gentlemen, forjoininjf the rivers Forth and Clyde together ; by
which
i6o
SCOTLAND.
which a communication has been opened between the eaft and well feaip
to the advantage of the whole kingdom.
The lakes ot Scotland (there called Lochs) are too many to be particu*
larly defcribed. Thofe called Lo^h Tay, Loch Lomond, Locheii,
Loch-Au, and one or two more, prefent us with fuch pidturefque fccnes as
•re fcarcely ecjuaUed in Europe, if we except Ireland. Several of thefe
lakes are beautifully fringed with woods, and contain plenty of frefli-watcr
filb. The Scotch iomctimcs give the name of a loch to an arm of the fea ;
for example. Loch Fyn, which is 60 miles long and four broad, and is fa-
mous for its excellent herrines. The Loch of Spinie, near Elgin, is re-
markable for its number of (wans and cygnets, which often darken the air
with their flights i owing, as fome think, to the plant olsrina, which gro^vi
in its waters, with a flraight ftalk and a cluftcr of feeds at the top. Near
Locknefs is a hill almofl two miles perpendicular, on the top of which is a
lake of cold freih water, about ^o fathoms in length, too deep ever yet to
be fathomed, and which never freezes ; whereas, but 17 miles from thence,
the lake Lochanwyn, or Green Lake, is covered with ice all the year
round. The ancient province 6f Lochabar, receives that name from be«^
ing the mouth of the lochs, by means of which the ancient Caledonians,
the genuine dcfcendatits of the Celts, were probably enabled to prd'erve
themfelvcs independent on, and unmixed with, the Lowlanders. Befidea
thefe rivers and lochs, and others too numerous to mention, the coails of
Scotland are in many parts indented with large, bold, and navigable bays
or arms of the fea ; as the bay of Glenluce and Wigtoun bay ; ibmetimea
they are called Friths, as the Solway Frith, which leparates Scotland from
England on the weft ; the Frith uf Forth, Murray Frith, and thofe of
Cromarty ana Dornoch.
The nice of Scotland, even where it is moft uninviting, prefents us
with the moft incontrovertible evidences of its having formerly abound-
ed with timber. The deepeft molTes, or moraftes, contain large logs of
wood ; and their waters being impregnated with turpentine have a preferv-
ing quality, as appears by the human bodies which have been dilcovercd
in thofe molliis. The Sylva Caledonia, or Caledonian foi-eft, the re-
mains of which are now thought to be Etrick wood, in the fouth of Scot-
land, is famous in antiquity for being the retreat of the Caledonian wild
boars ; but fuch an animal is not now to be fcen in iScotland. Several
woods, however, ftill remain in thi t country ; and many attempts have
been made for reducing them into charcoal, for the ufe of furnaces and
founderics ; but lying at a great diftaiice from water-carriage, though the
work fuccceded pt^rfeftly in the execution, they were found impra^icable
to be continued. Fir trees grow in great perfcd^lion almoft all over Scot-
land, and form beautiful plantations. The Scotch oak is excellent in the
Highlands, where fome woods reach 20 or 30 miles in length, and four or
five in breadth ; but, through the ioccnvenicocy already mentioned, with-
out being of much emplument to the proprietors.
Metals and minerals.] Though Scotland does not at prefentboaft of
Its gold mines, yet, it is certain, that it contains fuch, or at leaft that ^cot•
land formerly affotded a confiderable quantity of that metal for its coinage.
James V. and his father contrafted with certain Germans for working the
mines of Crawford-Moor i and it is an undoubted fad, that when James
V. married the French khig's daughter, a number of covered diihes, filled
"with coins of Scotch gold, were prefented to the guefts by way of defcrt.
The civil wars and troubles which followed, under his daughter, and in the
• ' minority
S C t L A 1^ D*
i$i
■coinage.
dng the
In James
les, filled
If defcrt.
id in the
minority
ihinonty of His j^randfon; drove thofc foKigneri, die chief df whom w0
c;tncd Cornelius, from their works, which fince tKat time Ijave never hteik
recovered. Some ftnall pieces of gold have been found in thofe partt
wafhed down by the floods. It Hkewife appcan by the public recordi'^
that thofe beautiful coins ftruck by James V. called bonnet2|>ieces, word
fibricatcd of gold found in Scotland, as were otlier medals of the CuHt
Several landholders in Sctltland derive a large profit from their le^d
mines, which are f.iid to be very rich, and to produce large duantities of
filver ; but we know of no filver mines that are worked at prefeht. Stimh
copper mines have been found near Edinburgh ; and many parts of Scot-
land, in the eaO, weft, and northern counties, produce excellent coal of
variou< kinds, Itirge qoantities of which »re exported^ to the vafl: emolu''^
mtnt of the public. Lime-done is here in grent plenty, sis is free-ftoires
fo. that the houfcs of ihc better fort are cvnurui'led of the mofl: beautiful
materials. The indolence of the inhabitants ofmanv plHces in ScbHatuf^
Where nu coal is found, prevented them from fupi^inj^ that defeat by
plantations of wood ; and the peat-mofles being in many pal'ts, of the nortn,
efpeciially, almoll exhauilcd, the inhabitants are put to gre<«t diiKcultiei
for fuel ; however the taflu for plantations, of all kinds, that now prevails^
will fuon remedy that Inconveniency.
Lapis lazuli is fuid to be dug up in Lanerkfhire ; alUm ihines have bifetk .
fuund in BamfDhire ; crydal, variegated pebbles, aind other tranfpareht
flones, which admit of the fineft poiidi for feuls, are foundin various parts }
as are talc, flint, rea*fliells, potters clay, aud fullers earth. The AoneA
which the country people call elf-arrow>head$, and to which tfaey afligti A
fupernatural origin and ufe, were probably the flint-heads of arrows madii
nfe of by the Caledonians and ancient Scots. No country produces greats
erj}lehty of iron ore, both in mines and iloncs, than Scotland } of which
die proprietors now begin to tafte the i'weets, in theiic founderics, as a^
Carron, and other metalline manufactures.
Vegetable ano animal pro ) It is certnin that the foil ofScok^
pvcTiONs, BY SKA ANO LAND. \ land may lie rendered, iii many
parts, nearly as fruitful as that of England. It is even fuid, that fomd
trafts of the low countries at prefent exceed in value Englifli eftatr )'' the
fame exftnt, becaufe they arc fo far lefs exhaulled and worn out thii.: .AoOi
of the fouthern parts of the ill md ; and agriculture is now perhtlps as well
underilood, both in theory and praftlce, among many of the Scotch land-
lords and' farmers, as it is in any part of Europe, ^y,
Such is the mutability of rhings, and the influence of commerce, .that a'
very confiderablc part oVthe bnded property has lately (perhaps happily
for the public) fallen into new hi^nds. The merchants of Glafgow, wKd
are the life and foul of that part of the kingdnmi while they are daily in-
troducing new branches of commerce, are^nolefs attentive to the progreft
of agriculture, by which they do their country in particular, and the whole
ifli.id in general, the moft circntlal fervicc. The a£live gsriius of thefe
people extends evfen to moors, rocks, and marlhes, which being hitherto
reckoned' ufelefs, were coufequently negleftcd, but are now brought tcf
produce cer.ain fpecies of grain of timber, for which the foil if bed'
adapted.
But the fruits of Ikill jtnd iriduftry are chiefly perceivable in the ddiJhtiet
lying upon the river Forth, cilled the Lothians, where agriculture i»
thoroughly underftood, and the farmers, who generally rent from 3 to
i€i
S C
T L A N D.
5'*o1* p«r nnn. are well fed, well clothed, and comfombly lodged. TIi«
reverfr, however, may be obfcrved of a very confidctable part of Scotland,
which Hill remains in a ilate of nature, via where the landlords, ignorant
of their real iatered, refufc to grant fuch leafcs as would encouruge the te<
nant to improve his own farm. In fuch places the hu(b,tndmen barely ex-
ill upon the sleanings of a fcanty farm, feldoin evcerding 20 or 30I. per
ann. the cattle are lean and finall, the hnufes mean beyond expreflion, and
the face of the country exhibits the mod deplorable marks of poverty and
oppreffion. Indeed from a millaken notion of the landed people in gene-
ral, the greaieft pan of tljie kingdom lies naked and expefrd, for WHnt of
fuch hedge*rows and planting at adorn the country of England. They
confider hedges as ufelefs and cumberlbme, as occupying more room than
what they call ilone inclofures, which, except in the Lothians already
mentioned, arc generally no other than low paltry walls, huddled up of
loofe ftones, withoat lime or mortar, which yield a bleak and mean ap-
pearance.
The foil in gencml produces wheat, rye, barley, oats, hemp, Har,
bay, and pafture. In the fouthern counties the fineft garden fruits, par-
ticularly apricots, ne£hirines, and peaches, are (aid to tall little, if at all,
(hort of'^thofe in England ; and the fame may be faid of the common. fruits.
The uncultivated parts of the Highlands abound in various kinds of falu-
biious and pleafant-tafted berries ; though it muft be owned, that many
extenfive traAs are covered with a ftrone heath. The fea-coaft producea
the alga-marina, dulfc or duliih, a moft wholcfome nutritive weed, in great
tiuantities, and other marine* plants.
The fifties on the coaft of bcutlnnd are much the fame with thofe of the
iflands and countries already dcfcribed ; but the Scots have improved in
their iiflieries as much as they have in their manufaftures and agriculture :
for focieties have been formed, which have carried that branch of national
wealth to a perfei^ion that never was before known in that country ; and
hids fair to emulate the Dutch themfclvcs in curimt, as well as catching,
their ii(h. In former times, the Scots feldom ventured to iifh above a
leaguers diflance from the land ; but they now ply in the deep waters as
boldly and riicceGifuUy as any of their neighbours. Their falmons, which
they can lend more early, when prepared, to the Levant and fouthern
markets than the EngHHi and Irifh can, are of great fervice to the nation,
as the returns are generally made in fpecie, or beneficial commodities.
This country contains ivw or no kmds, either of wild or domefiic ani-
malii, that are not common with their neighbours. The red-deer and the
roe-buck are found in the Highland!), but their fle(h is not comparable tft
£ngU{h venifon. Hares, and all other animals fur game, are here plenti<
ful ; as arc the groufe and heath-cock, which is a moi\ delicious bird, as
likewife are the capperkaily, and the tarmacan, which is of the pheafiint
kind, but thePe birds are fcarce even in the Highlands, and when difcn-
vered are very (hy. The numbers of blaclc cattle thar cover the hills of
Scotland towards the Htghlatids, ajgd (heep that are fed U|X>n the beauti''| I
mountains of Tweedale, and other parts of the fouth, are almoft incredible,
and formerly brought large fums into the country ; the black cattle efitc-
cially, which, when fatrened on the fouthern paftures, have been reckoned
fuperior to Englifli beef. It is to be hoped, however, that this trade is
row on its decline, by the vaft increafe of manufa£tures, whufe demand
for tiutcher*s meat mufi leflen the exportation of cattle into England. Some
are,
+-;■
SfcOTLANbi
i«j
aoi*
xd the
>le to
enti*
rd, ag
afiint
difco-
U of
uti^l
ibie,
efiw-
oned
dc is
mand
Some
are
•rf of eplpidn, that A fufficient HocV^ by proper mcthodf, may be raifed to
fuppl'y both miirketi, to ihe {{reat einolunlent of the nation.
Formerly the l(>ngi of Scorlaiid were at infinite pain* to men>rU have been rtiudc uf Ute to Introduce the EnKlifli nnd
foreign breeds, and mufch pains, have been taken for providinj^ them with
proper food and itMnugcment, but with what fucceli i
) The population of Scotland ii |;e«
) neraliy fixed at about a million and a
\
lime alunt call dif*
coyer.
, PuPULATIONV IHHABITANTS,
MANNBRS, AND CUSTOMS.
half of fouU. 1 his calculation reds merely upob vague conjeAureSt as I
know of no attempt that has been made to fupport even its probabiliryt If
we form an eftimate upon any known principle^ the inhabitants of Scotland
are far more numerout. Jt is to be regretted that fome public encourage^
ment has not been given to brilig this matter nearer to A certainty^ wbich
might be done by the return! of the clergy from their fevefal pariQies. The
only records at prcfent th^t can be appealed to', are thofe of the army ; and^
by the bell information, they make the number of foldiers fuiroiihed by
Scotland in the wAr which began in I7$S» to amount to 80^000 men. We
are, however, to obferve, that about 60,000 of thefe were railed in the
iflands and Highlands, which form by far the lead populous part of i;cot<
land'. It belong)), therefore* to political calculation to eompdte whether
the population of Scotland does nut exceed two millions, as no country in
the world, exclulive of the army, fends abroad more of its inhabitants, ti
we confult the moA ancient and creditable hidories, the popuiarioii of Scot>
land in the thirteenth centuryt mull have been excelTive, as it afforded f«
many thoufandi to fall by the fwords of the Englifh^ without any fcutible
decrcafe (fo far a« I can find) of the Inhahitan
dence could be found fuiRcient to brint; them to punifliment. The fidelity
of the Highlanders of both fexef, under a (IHl greater temptation, to the
young Pretender after his defeat at Culloden, could fcarcely be believed,
were it not well attefted.
They affeft a fondnefs for the memory and language of their forefather*'
beyond, perhaps, any people in the world ; bat this attachment is feldom
or never carried into any thing that is indecent or difgudfulf though they
retain it abroad as well as at home. They are fond of the ancient Scotch
difhes, fuch as the haggefs, the (beep's head fingcd, the fifti in fauce, thte
chicken broth, and minced collops. Thefe difhes, in their original dreflf-
ingi'"were favoury and nutritive for keen appetites ; but the modern im-
pioveinents that have been made in the Scotch cookery have rendered them
:igreeable to the moft delicate palates.
■■■■•'• ■• TTio
■ "1 »• •• '
ii..'.A'
SCOTLAND.
i6i
The
The Inhnbttants ot' thofe ptirts of Scotland, w^o live ckiefly by paflurr^
have a natuml vein tor poetry ; and the beaiitttui fimplicity of the Scotch
tunei is rclKhed by all true judges of nature. Lovt it irenerally the fub-
jc^t, and many of the airn have been brought upon the Englilh ftage with
variationi, under new nnniei, but with thii d>fAdvantagr» that* ^though
rendered more contorniiible to the rulci of mufic, they are mollly alterM
for the worfe, bani^^ llript of that orif^inal fimpUcity, which, however ir-
regular, is thcii moft elleniiiil ch irai^crinic, it (o agreeable to the ear, and
has fuel) powers over the human bread. Thofe of a more lively and
merry firuin have had better fortune, being introduced into the army m
their native drrfs, by the fifes, an inrtrument for which they are remark-
ably Well fuitcd. It has been ridiculouilv fuppofed that Rizzio, the un-
happy Italian fecretary of Mary queen of Scots, reformed the Scotch m.f<
fie. This Is a faldtoqd invented by his dountnrmen, in envy to tlie Scott.
Their fincil tunes exidcd in their church munc, long before Rixziu's ar-
rival ; nor does it appear that Rizzio, who was chiefly ctttployed by hit
miftref!) in foreign difpatcheii, ever compofcd an air during the (liort time
.he lived in Scotland ; but, were there no other evidences to confute this re-
^rr', the original cliara^er of the muik itfelf is fulKcienC.
The lower people in Scotland are not fo much accuftomcd at the Englifll
.arc to clubn, dintKre, and other convivial entertainments ; but when they
partake of them, for that very reafon they fecm to enjoy them more com*
pletely. One inditution there is, at once fncial and charitable, and tkat
18, the contributions raifed for celebrating the weddings of people of an
interior rank. Thole fcftivitiea partake of the ancient Saturnalia ; but
though the company conlidi promlfcuoufly of the high and the low, the en-
tertainment is as decent as it is jovial. Each tfueft pays accarding to hit
inclination or ability, but feldom under a (hilling a head, for which they
have a wedding dinner and daiictng. When the parties happen to hcfer*
vants in refpet^tabie fiimilies, the contributions are fo liberal ihat they of-
ten eflablini the young couple in the world. 1
The common people of Scotland retain the folemn decent tnnl0m of
their anccftors at burials. When a relation dies in town, the paritlt bea*
die is fcnt round with a pafling, bell ; but he ilops at certain places, and
with a flow melancholy tone announces the name of the jparty deceafed,
•and the time of his interment, to which he invites all his fellow-country-
men. At the hour appointed, if the deceafed was beloved in the plarr,
vail numbers attend. The procefltc^i is fometimes preceded by the magi-
ftrates and their ofhcers, and the deceafed is carried in his coffin, covered
by a velvet pall, with chair poles, to the grave, where if is interred, with-
out any oration or addrefs to the people, or prayers or farther ceremony,
than the neareft relation thanking the company for their attendaooe* The
fuiierals of the nobility and gentry, are performed in much the fame manner
AS in England, but without any burial fervice. The Highland funerals
were generally preceded by bagpipes, which played certain dirges, called (-«-
ro/iac/ji, and were accompanied by the voices of the attendants of both fexes.
pancing is a favourite amufemeDt in this country, but little regard is
,paid to art or gracefulnefs : the whole confifts in agility, and in keeping
time to their own tunes, which they do with great exadtnefs. One of the
peculiar diverfions prav'^ifiKl by the gentlemen, is the Gefj which requires
^n equal degree of art and drcngth ; it is played by a bat and a ball ; the
tatter is fmaller and harder than a cricket ball ; the bat is of a taper con-t
^VU^i^, till it teiinina^cs in the part that fitikes the baU, whi^h is loi^ded
M i Huh
t66
SCOTLAND.
with If ad, and faced with horn. The divcrfiy itfelf rcf^mhles that o|
the Mall^ which wai common in England in the middle of the laft century.
An expert playev will fend the ball ap amasinc; dillance at one ftr«ke;
large flat Hones, often from twenty to two hundred pounds weight each,
which they hurl from a common uand to a mstrk at a certain diftance ; and
yhoever is neareft the mark is the vi\xt which the Lowlanders call a iiity and 1 make no doubt is the div/e.
word with Celt. Sometimes they wear a kind of petticoat of the fame va-
fiegattd llufT, buckled round the waift, and this they teim the philibegy
which fecms to be of Milefian extraftion. Their (lockings are likewiie df
tartilB, tied below the knee with tartan garters formed into taflels. The
poorer i>eoplc wear upon their feet brogues made of Ontanned or undrefled
leather ; for their heads a blue flat cap is ufed, called a bonnet, of a
particular woollen manufacture. From the belt of the philibeg hung ge-
nerally iheir knivesj and a dagger, Which they called a diik, and an iron
^ftol, fometimes of fine workmanlhip, and curioufly inlaid with lilver.
The introdudtion of the broad fword of Andrea Ferrara, a Spaniard (which
was always part of the Highland drefs), feems to be no earlier than the
reign of James III. who invited that excellent workman to Scotland. A
large leathern purfe, riihly adorned with filver, hangii)g before them,
was always part of a Highland chieftain's dreis.
The drefs of the Highland women confifted' of a petticoat and jerkin,
with ftrait fleeve?, trimmed or not trimmed, according to the quality of
ihc wearer ; over'ihis they were a plaid, which they either held clo(e un-
der (heir chins wi^h the hand, or 'fallencd with a buckle of a particular
lathion. On the head ihey wore a kerchief of fine linen of different forms.
'J he women's plaid has been but lately difiifed in Scotland by the Indies,
who ttore it in a graceful manner, the drapery falling towards the feet in
large tdiii.'-. ^ curious vir^uofo may find a ftrong refemblance between
the vuiiesrHted a;id fimbriated draperies of the ancients, and thofe of the
Tu(c lis (who were unqueftionably of Celtic original), as they arc tote
fccfi lA th^ monuments of antiquity. '
• ' ■ ■ - • . ' The
unto
had
then
ing
out,
took
no d
their
SCOTLAND.
16;
The nttachment of the Highlanders to this drcfs, rendered it a bond of
union, which often proved dangerous to the government. Many efibrts
had been made by the legillaturc, after the rebeltioo in 171 5, to difarm
them* and oblige rhem.to conform to the Low-country drcfles. The difarm-
ing fcheme was the moft fL-cceisful, for when the rebellion in 1745 hroke
out, the common people had fcarccly any other arms than thofe which they
took from the king's troops. Their overthrow at CuUoden, rendered it
no difficult matter for the legiflature to force them into a total change of
their drcf>. Its conveniency, however, for the purpofes of the field, is To
great, that fome of the Highland reginu tits uill retain H. Even the
common people have of late refumed the ufc of it ; and for its lightnefs and
freedom of the body, many of the Highland gentlemen Wear it in the
fumraer time.
The drefs of tlie higher and middle ranks of the Low Country, differ
little or nothing from the EngUih ; l)ut>many of the peafantry Aill retain
tlic bonnet, for the cheapnefs and lightnefs of the wear. The drcfs of the
women of all rat^ks arc much the fame in both kingdoms, but not fo as to
their neatncfs, and ihe cleunnefs of the female fervants.
1 have already mentioned the language of the Highlanders, efpecially
towards Lochaber and Badenoch. to be radically Celtics The Englim
fpoken by the Scots, notwithltanding its provincial articulations, which are
as frequent there as in the more fouthcrn counties, is written in the fame
manner in both kingdoms. At prefcnt, the pronunciation of a Scotchman
is greatly improving, nnd with fome does not differ from the pronunciation
of a Londoner, more than that of a Londoner does from an inhabitant of
Somei fetfhirc, and fome pnrts of Worcedcrllure,
Punishments.] Thefe are pretty much the famie in Scotland as in
England, only that of beheading is performed by an inilrument called the
Maiden : the model-of which, it is well known* was brought from Halifax
in England to Scotland, by the regent earl Morton, and it was firil ufed
for the execution of himfelf.
Religion.] Ancient Scottifli hiftorians, with Bede, and other writers,
generally agree that ChriAianity was firil taught in Scotland by fome of
the difciples of St. John the apoHlc, who fled to this northern corner to
■avoid the perfecution of Domitian, the Roman emperor ; though it was
not publicly profefled till the beginning of the third century, when a
prince, whom Scotch hiflorians can Donald the Firfl, his queen, and fe-
veral of his nobles, were folcmnly baptized. It was farther confirmed by
emigrations from South Britain, during the perfccutions of Aurelius and
Diocletian, when it became the eilabliflied religion of Scotland, under the
management of certain learned and pious men, named Cdldecs, who feein
to have been the firll regular clergy in Scotland, and were governed by
uvcrfeers or bifliops chofen by themfelves, from among their own body,
and who had no pre-eminence or rank over the reft of their brethren.
Thus, independent of the church of Rom-, Chriftianity feems to have
1)een taught, planted, and finally confirmed in Scotland as a nations)
•church, where it fl«)uri(hed in its native fimplicity, till the arrival of Pal-
jadius, a pricft fent by the bi(hop of Rome in the fifth century, who found
means to introduce the moJes and ceremonies of the Romifli church,
which at laft prevailed, and f cotland became involved in that darknefg
which for many ages overfpread Europe ; though their dependance upon
the pope was very llender, when compared to the blind fubjedliou of many
ffthcr nations, ' . . .. . . u. .1
H ^ ThQ
|60
SCOTLAND.
The Cpldees, hQW^ver, long retained their original tnanners, and re-
inained a diiliutSt order, potwiihdanding the oppremon of ibc Romifb cler'»
gy, fo late as the age pf Robert Bruce, in the i4 of obfervation, that the oppofition to popery
in this ifland, though it ceafrd in Scotland upon the extinction of the
Culdees, w^ in the fame age revived in England bv John WicjdifTe, a
plan of parts and learning, who was the forerunner jn the work of rofur-
inatioR, to John Jfufs, and Jerom of Prague, as the latter were to Mar?
t)n Luther, and John Calvin. But though the doftiincs of Wicklifte were
nearly the fame with thofc propagated by the reformers in the i6th cen-
tury, and the age feemcd Rrongly difpofcd to receive them, nfti»irs were not
yet fully ripe lor this great revolution ; and the finiflnng blow to popery
}n England was rcfervcd to the age of Henry VIII.
Soon af|er that inipurtapt event took place in Engl-.ind, when learning,
arts, and fciences began to revive in Europe, the abfurditics of the church
pf Rome, as well as the profligate lives of her clergy, did not elciipe the
notice of a free ^nd enquiring people, but gave rile to the Refoim^^tinn ii^
Scotland, It began in the reign of James V. niade great progrefs under
that of his daughter Miry, j^nd was at length completed through the
preaching of John I^lnox, who had adopted the do^rines qr Calvin, and
in a degice wi|s the apoflle of Scotland. It was natural tor his brethren tq
imagine, that upon the abolition of the Roman C;itholic religion, they
were to fucceed to the revenues of that cleigy. The great nobility whq
had parcelled out thofe poflipfliuns for themlelves, did not at hrll difcou*
rage this notion ; but, no fooner had Knox fuccceded in his deligns, which,
through the fury of the mob, deftroyed foine of the fined ccclefuftical
builditigs in the world, than the parliament, or ratV.cr the nobil.ty, mo-
popolized all the church living!^, and raofl fcandaloufly left the reformed
f lergy to live almoft in a flate of beggary ; nor could all their efforts pro-
duce any great ftruggle or alteration in their favour.
The nobility and great landholders left the doftiine and difcjpline of
i^be church to be modelled by the preachers, and they were confirmed by
parliament. Succeeding times rendered the prefbyterian clergy of vaft
iinportance to the ftate ; and their revetiues have been fo inuch mended,
that though no flipeud there exceeds 1 50!. a year, few fall fhort of 60I.
and none of 50I. If the prefent expeniive mode of living continues in
Scotland, the eftablilhed cjergy will ^lave ma^^y unanfwerable reafons tq
prge for the increafe of their revenues.
The bounds of this work do not admit of entering at large upon the
flodtrinal and oeconomical part of the church of Scotland. It is futhcienc
%o fay, that its firft principle is a parity of ccclenailical authority among all
its prefibyters ; that it agrees in its cenfures with the rcroimed churches
abroad in the chief heads of oppofition m popt- ry ; but that it is modelled
principally after the Calviniftical plan eftabliflied iit Geneva. This elln-
bliflimenr, at various periods, proved fo tyi;innical over the laity, by hav-
ijng the power of the greater and UlTc'r excommunication, which were atr
fended by a forfeiture of edate, and fometimes life, that the kirk fellions,
^nd other bodies, have been abridged of all their dangerous powers over
|he laity, who are extremely jealous of their being revived. It is faid^
fhat even that relic of popery, the obliging forniciitors of both fexes to fit
ppon what they call a repentrngrflool, in the church, and in full view o(
(he congregation, begins to wear out; it having been found, that the
l^o^cl^ wo^en^ on acc9^nt o( tliat peoauce, were the greatcft infanticide^
fo
tl
f:,
SCOTLAND.
%$9
popery
in the world. In fliort, ^ power of the Scotch clergy is at prefcnt very
niodcrate, or at leaft v? .moderately excrclfed ; nor are they accountable
for the extravagancies « Uicir piedecefflirs-. They have been, ever fince
the Revolution, firm adhcients to civil llbevty, and the houfc of Hanover;
find iidled with remarkable intrepidity durin<; the rebellion in 1743. They
j^iefb without clerical robes ; but fbme of them appear in the pulpit ia
gowns, after the Geneva form, and bands. They make no ufe of fet
f{)rms in woifliip, but are nor prohibited that of the Lord's Prayer. The
rents of the bifliops, hncc the abolition of epifcopacy, are paid to the king,
who commonly appropriates them to pious puipolcs. A thoufand pounds
9 yciir is always fent by his majejly for the uic of the proteftant ichoolt
eroded by aft of parliament in NorihrBritain, and the Welfern Ifles ; an4
the Scotch clergy, of latp, have planned out funds for the fupport of their
widows and orphans. The number of parilhes in Scotland are eight hun-
dred and ninety, whereof thirty-one are collegiate churches, that is, where
the cure is (erved by more than one minifL'r,
The higheft ccclefiaflical authority in Scotland is the general aflembly,
which we may call the ecclefiaflical parliament of ^^otlHnd. It confifls di
pommiflioners, fome of which arc laymen, under the title of ruling ciders,
*from prefbyteries, royal burghs, and uni'verfiticc. A prefbytery, confift-
ingot under twelve minifters, fends twominifters and one ruling elder: if
it contains betweeu'tweWc and eighteen minifters, it fends i;hree, and one
ruling elder: if it contains between eighteen and twenty -four minifters, it
fends four minifters and two ruling elders : but if the prefl)y tcry h;is twen-
ty-four minifters, it fends five minifters and two ruling elders. Every
royal burgh fends one ruling elder, and Edinburgh two ; whofe eledioa
inuft be attefted by the refpe^ive kirk-feflions pf.their own burghs. Every
uuiverfity fends one commiftioner, ufually a minifter of their own body,
f he commiffioners are choien yearly, fix weeks before the meeting of the
alfcmbly . The ruling elders are often of the firft quality of the country.
The king prcfidcs by hi? commiJlioner (who is always a nobleman) in
this aflcmbly, which meets once a year : but he has no voice in their deli-
berations. The order of their proceedings is regular, though the num-
ber of members often creates a confufion ; which the moderator, who is
(:hofen by them to be as it were fpeaker of the houfe, has not fuificient au-
^hoiity 10 prevent. Appeal* are brought from all the other ecclefiaftical
courts in Scotland to the general afi'embly ; and no appeal lies from U9.
determinations in relij^ious matters.
Provincial i'ynods are next in authority to the general aflembjy. They
{^re compofed of a lumber of the ndj.icent preibyteiies, over whom they
h.iveapnwer: anu there are fiiteen of them in Scotland ; but their aftj
are reverfible by the general aftembl)-,
Subordinate to the i'ynods, are prefljyteries, fixty -nine of Which arc i(j
Scotland, each confifting of a number of contiguous pariflics. The mini-
fters of thele pariihes, witl> one ruling elder, chofen half-yearly out of
every ftlljon, compofes a pre/bytery. Thcfe prefljyterics meet in the hea4
town of that divjlioti ; but have no jurifdii^ion beyond their own bouni^s,
thouj^h wiihin thefe they have cognifance of all ecclefioftical caufcs an4
matters, A chief part of their bufinefs is the ordination of candidates for
livings, in which they are regular and folemn. The patron of a living is
bound to nominate or prefsnt in fix months after a vacancy, othcrwife the
preft)ytcry fills the pl»cey«rf ^tvfl^to j but that privilege does not hold it^
J$>PI burghs.
Aklrlc-
T*mi^
170
SCOTLAND.
A kuk-fcflion ts the lowcft occlrfiaftical judicatory in Scoilanil, and its
authutity does not extend btyond its own parilli. Thc'.mcinl)erb conlift ol"
the minifler, ciders, and deacons. The deacons are laymen, and act
pretty much as churchwardens do in England, by having the fuperinten-
dtncy of the poor, and tukinj; care of other parochial att'airs.^ The elder,
or, as he U called, the ruling elder, is a place of great parochial trull, and
lie is generally a lay perfon of quality or intt reft in the parifli. They are
fuppofed to »A in a kind of co-urdinancy with the miniAer, and to be af-
fimng to him in many of his clerical duties, particularly in catechiling,
vifiting the fick, aad at the conimunion-tnhle.
The oitce of minifters, or preaching prefbyters, includes the offices of
deacons and ruling elders ; they alone can preach, adminider the facra*
ments, catechife, pronounce church cenfures, ordain deacons and ruling-
elders, aflift at the imporition ot° hands upon other ininiAers, and moderate
«r prefidc in all ecclefiailicil judicatories.
It has already been obfcrved, at they fly in the face of the ci-
vil power, or at lead the inili^nces are rare and ineonlidcrablc : and pcr>
hips many of t\\c(e /eerfftons are lawful, or to be jnftilitd, on account of
the great abufes of patron\£;cs, by which tnsny parHhts have unworthy or
incapable minifler» impi>feii upon them, as is the qafc in many places in
England.
A different fet of difTentet's in Scotlandj^ confifla of the epifcopalians, a
few quakers, maiiv papills, and other fedlaries, who are denominated from
their preacher?. ^pifcopMcy, from the time of the Rclloration in 1660,
to that of the Revolution in 1688, was the eflablifbed church of Scot-
land : and would proklably havp continued fo, had not the bifliops, who
were In general verv weak men, and creatures ot the duke of York, af-
tcrwartis James VII. and II. rcfufed to rccognile king William's titl?.
The partifans of that unh;ippy prince retained the epilcopal religion ; and
king William's government was rendered fo unpopular in Scotland, that
jn <]ueen Anne's time, the epifcopalians were more numerous in fonie
parts than the prelbyterians ; and their meetings which thev held under
the A<^ of Tpleration, as well attended. A Scotch epifcopaliaii thus be-
coming another naijie for a Jacobite, th-y received fome checks after the
rtbrliiunin 17 1?; but thcv recovered themfelvcs lo well, that at the
breaking out of the rebellion in 1745, they became ag;iin numerous, alte|r
which the government found means to invalidate the a^ts of their clciic;ii
order. Their meetings however, liill fubfiil, but thinly. In the mean
while, the decline of the noninrovs is far from having fuppreifed epilco-
pary in Scotland ; the Engiilh bilbops fupply then) with clergy qu;ilified
SCOTLAND.
i7t
$ecori\t\s to hw, whofe chapels are chiefly filled by the Englifli, 8i>d fuch
Scotch hearers v{ that perlualion as have places under the government.
The detVlinn of fome threat tamilies from the cat^fc ot' popery, and
the exiiti^ion of others, hayc rendered its votaries inconlidembie in Scot-
land, "they are chiefly confined to the northern parts, and the iflandi :
and though a violent npp liition yfM lately r^ifed againft them, fearing their
tibenief were about to be eiilarged, they appear to be as quiet and in-
pflfennvc as protcflant fubjcdts.
Scotland, during the time of eptfcopacy, contained tvfo archbiflioo*
rirs, St. Andrewy anid Glafgow; and twelve bifliopricks, Edinburgh,
t>unkctd, Aberdeen, Murray, Brechin, Dumblaiti, Rufs, Caithnef8»,0rk-
fiey, Qalloway, Argyle, and the |fles.
Lbarmno, and LRARNen MEN.] For this article we may refer fo
the literary hiftory of Europe for 1400 years pafl. Thewefl:ern parts and
Ules of Scotland produced St. Patrick, the celebritted apoftle of Ireland ;
and many others fince, whofe bare names would make a long article. The
writings of Adamnarus, and other ^^uthors, who lived before, and at the
time of the Nortrian invafion, which are come to our hands, are (pect>
mens of their learning. Charles the Great, or Charlemagne, moft un«
queftionably held a correfpondence by letters with the kings of Scotland,
with whom he formed a famous league ; and employed Scotchmen in
planning, fettling, and ruling his favourite univerlities, and other fcm!-
haries of learning, in France, Italy, and Germany. It is an undoubted
truth, though a teeming paradoxical fa£t, that Barbour, a Scotch poet,
philoibpher, and biflorian, though prior in time to Chaucer, having ilou-
riflied in the year i}68, ^vrote, according to the modern ideas, as pure
Englifli as that bard, and his verfification is perhaps more harmonious.
The deflruAion of the Scotch monuments of learning and antiquity have
rcndewd their early annals lame, and often fabulous ; but the Latia
ilylc of Buchanan's hillory is to this day the moft daflical of all modera
productions. The letters of ^he Scotch kings to the neighbouring princes,
are incoinp.irably the fineil compofltions of the times in which iney were
written, and are free from the barbarifms of thofe fent them in anfwer.
Thile of tcnderncfti and-fccling, tire ufbnilhed ut the poetic ge-
>Ma* and aclicate I'enfibility of Thoinfon.
l}vitofuU litci'ury purHiits, that of rendering mankind more virtuous
and lutppy, which is the proper obje«!^ of what is c.ilU.d moralt, ou^ht to be
. regariled with peculiar honour and lefpetff. 'I'hc philofophy of Dr. Hui-
chcfon, not to meniion other works more fubtilc und elegant, but left con-
VincinK A>id lelli iutlruilivi-, dcfcrvrs to be read by all who would know
thr hitlorical coinpo-
fuiou) difputc the p.tlin of ini;rK with the dead, and cover ihcir couuiry
yi'ith lau«ch, which noiihcr envy can blill, nor time can dellroy.
Univbiis.tibs.I Tlic univcifnics of Scotland are four, viz. St. An-
drews*, founded in 141 1. -Glaf^ow-j-i 14^;^,.— Aberdeen §, 1477. —
Aftd Edinburgh ;, icSji. ,.
CITIR8.
f III! I , , ^
'^ St. Andrews ha;* a Ch»ticrllor, two FrincipuU, and eleven ProfcfTon in
Crenk, Moral I'hilofophy, Church Hillorjr,
llumauity, . Natural l*h Idlophy, Divinity,
llcbrew, Matlicniatiis, Medicine.
l.pgK, Civil Hiftory,
^ Ciltti'^w has a Chancellor, Rcdlor, l>u*n of Faculty, Principal, and fourteen Pro-
, felTors in
fireek, .„. .„ Meral Philofophy.
Htmunity, Natural Philofophy,
Fcbnw, Mathematics,
Oriotal Laugusges, PrnOhcal Aftionomy,
Lt>^ic, Hiftor)',
$ Aberdeen has properly two collets viz. King's Colitge, and Marifchal College j
Kirg'« College has a ChaticeUor, Kcdor rriiicival, and fcven Prufcli'uri in
pr«:«k, Philofophy, Civil law,
t3..^ :... 'rt:..:..:.» kji..r.^:^.
Divinity,
Civil and Scotch Law,
Mtdicire,
A I. atomy.
Medicine.
Pr* .
Humanity, Diviniiy,
Pric tal La-'guagfs,
Marifchal college has a Chancellor, Reftor, Pri.cipal, and feven Profcfllirs in
fjrcck, Natural Philofopl^ Divinity,
pricftal Languages, Matheuiatict^ Medici^, ,"
Motal Fhiloiophyaud Logic.
the
SCOTLAND.
'73
CcTifis, TOWNS, ANDOTHiR BDincEil SdinHiirgh, tht capittf
pvui.iu ANti I'RivATi. I of Scotlntidi nnturatlv tnkor
the lend in thii irivilion. which thr boiimli of our woilc olili)^ vtn to con«
tndi. This enflli', before the iifc of nrtillci'v, w«i difcmrd to be imfnreg-
niible b^ force. It win prolmbly built by the Saxon kiiijj Edwin^ whbler
tcrritoriCB rcuchcd to the Frith of Forth, Hnd who ^avc hit niime tjtt Edfiw
burgh, ns it ccrrninty did not full into the hands of the Scots, till' tfi*i
reign of IndulphuB, who lived in the ycir 953. The town wns buiit" fnt
the benefit of proiei^Uon from the cultlrt and n more inconvenient fftu*
ntion for n ciipnul can fcnrcely be conceived : the hij^-Areet,- which iroitr
the rid}^c of u hill lyinj; enO imd well ; and tlie Junes running down it*
iideii, north nnd foutli. In former timc!i the town was furrounded' by
water, excepting towards the ciift ; fo that wlien tht French iMndeil in
Scotliind, during the rc}jciir^ of JMury vf Guile, they gave ir the ntime
of Lillcbourg. This fituHtioii fiijif^'elled the idc;i of buiUlii'g very \ohy
houfes divided into Aitriet, each of which conminii a' I'ltitc or roonrs, gc-
ncrally htrve and commodious for the ufe of a fiutiity ; fo that (\\e high'*
Ibroct of £diiibnigh, which is chieHy of hewn iH)nr, bioud, nnd well
paved, ntukcH a moll uuguQ iippcarnnce, clpecially ns it riles n full milciU
H dirctSt line, aud f;radunl ulcint from the puhicc of Holyiood-houfc on
the eaft, and is terminated (»n the well by the rude miijtlly of its carttie>,
built upon A lofty rock, inncccflible on all llde», except where it joins tor'
the city. The calilc not only overlooks the city, its environs, gnrdenff
the new town, nnd n fine rich nei(;hl)ourii:'^ country, but commands si
nioft exienlive profpcft of the river Forth, the (hipping, the oppofite confl
of Fife, and even fome hills at the didanie of ±0 or 50 miles, which*
border upon the Highlnnds. This crowded population, however, Wiis fo*
Ihockingly inamveuieut, that the Kn^^lidi,' who fcldom went farther int»
the country, returned with the decpeil impreinons ot Scotch nallincfs,
which became proverbial. ThecaHlc has fomc good apartments, a toler-'
able train of artillery, nnd has nor only a large magazine of arms and
ammunition, but contains the regalia, which were depofited here under
the moll folemu legal inflruments of their never being removed ffom
thence. All that is known »x prcfent of thofe regalia, is contained in tha
inilrumcnt which wns rnkeu at the time of their being depofited, whertf
they arc fully defcribcd.
Facing the caAle, as I have already obferved, at n mile's diflance, ftandd
the abbey, or rather palace, of Holy rood -hnufe. Th« inner quadrangle
of this palace, begun by Jatncs V. nnd fmiflicd by Charles I. is of mag-
nificent modern architcdture, built according to the pl.tn, and under the
direi'lion of Sir William Bruce, a Scotch gentleman of family^ and one^
of the greateft archiiedts of that a^c. Round the quadrangle runs an ar'
cade, adorned with pilafters : and the inlide contains magntiiceiit apart''
t Ediaburgh has a Patron, Prhicipal, and Prof^lT'iri in
Muthcmatlcs, Materia McdicOr.
Civil Hiftnry, Inft. of I'hyfic aoA McdU
Natural HiHorff ciite*
Scntch Law, PraAice of Mcdlcut^,
Civil Law, Chtmlftry,
Law of Nature aii4 Nafton»,Anatotry, " "'
Rhetoric atid fieUM Liittrcs, Midwifcty.
B«t»l>jr
Divinity.
Church Hiftory,
fireek,
Humanity/j, > .
Hebrew., , '
i'OgIC,
Moral Philofojjhf,
Natural {'hilofoptiy,
menu
«74
S C d f L A N l5;
mentt for the duke of Hamilton, who is hereditary keeper of the PauK^;
and for other noblemen. Its long gallery contains figures, fome of which
•re from portraits, but all of them pointed by modern hands, of the kings
of Scotland down to the time of the Revolution. James Vn« when duke
of Yorkf intended to have made great improvemenCs about this palace I
for at prefent nothing can be more uncomfortable than its fituation, at th^
bottom of bleak unimproved crags and mountains, with fcarcely a iingle
tree in its neighbourhood. The chapel belonging to the palace, as it llood
when repaired and ornamented by thut prince, is thought to have been a
mod elegant piece of Gothic architecture. It had a very lofty roof, and two
rooms of ftone galleries, fupportcd by curioub pillars. Itwasthe conTentual
church of the old abbey. Its inlidc was dcmolilhed and rifled of all its
rich ornaments, by the tury of the mob at the Revolution, which even
broke into the repoiltories of the dead, and difcovered a vault, till that
time unknown, which contained the bodies of James V. his fird queen,
and Henry Darnley. The walls and roof of this ancient chapel gave
way and fell down on the 2d and 3d of December, 1768, occauoned by
the enormous weight of a new ftone roof, laid over it fome years ago,
which the walls were unable to fupport.
Thehofpital, founded by George Herriot, goIdfmithtoJamcsVI.com-
monly called Herriot's Work, Hands to the fouth-wefl of the cadle, in a no*
ble fituation. It is the fined and moft regular fpecimen which Inigo Jone^
(who went to Scotland as architect to queen Anne, wife of king James
VI.) has left us of his Gothic manner, and far exceeding any thing of
that kind to be feen in Engfand. One BalcanquhiUe, a divine, whom
Herriot left bis executor, is faid to have prevailed upon Jones to admit
fume barbarous devices into the building, particularly the windows, and
to have iufifted that the ornaments of each (hould be iomcwhat different
from thofe of the others. It is, notwithflandio^, upon the whole, a de-
lightful fabric, and adorned with gardens, not inelegantly laid out. It
was built for the maintenance and eduation of poor children belonging to
the citizens and tradefmen of Edinburgh, and is under the dircftion of
the city magiftrates.
Among the other public edifices of Edinburgh, before the Revolution,
was the college, which claims the privileges of an univerlity, founded by
king James VI. and bv him put under the direflion of the magirtrates,
who have the power of^chanccUor and vice-chancellor. Little can be faid
ot its buildings, which were calculated for the fobe r literary manners of
thofe days ; they are, however, improveable, and inny be rendered ele<
Eant. What is of far more importance, it is fupfiied with excellent pro-
'.ttora in the feveral branches of learning ; and its fchools for every pare
of the medical art are reckoned equal to any in Europe. This college is
provided with a library, founded by one Clement Little, which is faid to
have been of late greatly augmented ; and a mufcum belonging to it was
Kiven by Sir Andrew Balfour, a phyiician. It contains feveral natural, and
ibme literary curiofities, which one would little expe<^ to find at Edinburgh.
The Parhamcnt-Square, or, as it is there ciilled, Clofe, was formerly
tbe moft ornamental part of this city ; it is formed into a very noble qua-
-drangle, part of which confifts of lofty buildings ; and in the middle ia
a fine equedrian flatue of Charles II. The room built by Charles I. for
the parliament-houfe, though not fo large, is better proportioned than
WeiiminOer-h^ll ; and its roof,'though executed in the fame manner, has
been bv good judges held to be fuperior. It is apw converted into a court.
of
SCOTLAND.
»75
by
•fhvtr, where afingle judge, called the lord ordinary, prefides by rota-
toii; in a room near it, fu the other judges ; and adjoining are the pub-
lic offices of the law, exchequer, chancer) , flirievalty, and inagidr^cy oC
Edinburgh ; and the valuable library of the lawyers. This equals any
thing of the like kind to he found in England, or perhaps in any part of
Europe, and was at tiift entirely founded and furniflied by lawyers. The
number of printed books it contains is amazing; and the colledion has
been made wiih exquifue terbrothi^-k, and Brechin, lie in
the fame county of Angus: the firlt hns a great uiul tluiiriniing turcign
trade, ami the manufadurei of the other twu me upon the thriving hauJ.
It may be neceflhry again to pot the rcjder in ininJ, that I write with
Jreat uncertainty with reg:ird tu Scotland, on account of its improving
ate. I have rather under than ovcr>ratccl the number of inhabitants in
the town! I have mentioned. Edinburgh certainly contains more than
6c,ocofouli, which is the common computation, to which 1 all along cou«
^rm myfelf : but the iuHux ot people, and the increafc of matrimony in
proportion to that of property, mull create |{reut alterations for the bet*
ter, and few for the worfe, bccauPe the inhabitants who are difpoled to
indulhy may always find employment. This uncertainty is the reafon
why I omit a particular defcription of Dumfries, Air, Grenock, P.iifley,
Sterling, n.id about 50 other burghs and towns of very confidcrable trade
in Scotland. But great allowances are to be madi on the other hand, fur
the large emigrations of many to England, America, the Well and EaU
Indies, for new fettlemcnis.
The ancient Scots valued themfelves upon truding to their own valour«
and not to fortirications, for the defence of their country. I'his was a
maxim more hcroical perhaps than prudent, as they have often experi-
enced : and, indeed, at this day, their forts would make but a forry fi«
gure, if regularly attacked. The calUes of Edinburgh, Sterling, and
Dumbarton, formerly thought places of great flreiigih, could not holi
out 48 hours, if bencged by 6000 regular troops, witfr proper artillery.
Fort William, which lie> in the Well Highlands, is fuflicient to bridle
the inhabitants of that neighbourhood ; as .ire Fort George, and Fort Au*
gudus, in the north and noith-weih but none of them can be confidered
as defences againd a foreign enemy.
I (hall not pretend to enter upon a defcription of the noble edifices that,
within the cnurfe of this and the lalY century, have been ereAed by private
perfoDS in Scotland, bccuui'e they arc fo numerous, that to particularize
them exceeds the bounds of my plan. It is fufficient to (liy, th:it many of
them are equal to fome of the moll fujpcrb buildings in England and fo-
reign countries, and the reader's furprizc at this will ceafe, when he iiLin-
formed that the genius of no people in the world is more devoted to archi-
tcAurethan that of the nobility and gentry in Scotland ; and thatth9re is
DO country in Europe, on account of the cheapnel's of material;, where it
can be gratified at fo moderate an expence. This may likcwife account for
the ftupendous Gothic cathedrals, and oiher religious edifices which an-
ciently abounded in Scotland ; but at th? time ot the Reformation they
were moftly demoliflicd, by a furious and tumultuous mob, who, in theie
practices, received too much countenance from the reforming clergy, ex-
afperated at the long and fore lulTerings they had endured from the popidi
party.
Antiquities and curiosities, ) The Roman, and other anti-
NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL. ) quitic«, found in Scotland, have
of themfelves furnifhed matter for large volumes. The flations of the Ro-
man legions, their caftella, their pretenturcs or walls reaching acrofs the
ifland, have been traced with great precilion by antiquaries and hiilorians ;
^o that, without fome frefli difcovcries, an account of' them could afford
BO inftru£tibn to the learned, and but little aniufcmcnt to the ignorant ;
becaufc at prefent they can be difcovcred only by critical eyes. Some
nnntion of the chief, however, may be proper. The courfe of the Ro«
man
S C O T L A JT D.
«7^
nran whU (or at it ii called by the roqntry people, Oraham*i Dyhr^ from
a tradiiion ihnt a Scottifh wnrrior ot ti>,t( name tirft broke over it} between
th<^ '^'Ivde and Futth, which wit firli markeil out by Agricula, nnd com*
f>U .J by Antoniuuj Piui, ii (till «litcerniblet «» I'e I'cverul P.'tnimn camp*
n the ncighhnui houd *. Aii;ncol;i'8 cainj), at the buttuin of the Grampian
hilU, n a'llriking remain ol' Roman antiquity. It is fituated at Ardoch,
in PcrthOiirei and ii prenerally tltotn^i ^ to Imvc bt'cn the camp occupied by
Atjiicola, beturc he i'might the bloody hafic, lu well rccofc;e'l by THCtttia,
with the Caledonian ktn^ Galgaout, who w.is defeated. Some writcrt
think, that thi« remain of antiquity at Ardnch was, on account of the nu«
mctuus Roman coins and infctipiioni found near it, a Roman cadcllum or
fort. Be that ns it will, it certainly is the moA entire and belt prefervedof
nny Roman antiquity of that kind in North Britain, having no left than
five rows of ditches and lix ramparti on the fouth fide ; and of the four
gate! which lead into the area, three of them are very d'ldindt and plain,
vix. the pratoria, dccumana, and dextra.
The Roman temple, or building in the form of the Pantheon at Rome,
or of the dome of St. Paul's at London, ftood upon the banks of the river
Carron, in Sterlin^fhirr, but has been lately barbaroufly demnlilhed, by
a ncl ;',hbourin|{ Gotb, for the purpofc of mending a mill pond. Its herghc
VMS twrnty>two feet, and its external circumference at the bafe was eighty-
;:ight tc<:t ; lb that upon the whole it was one of the moli complete Romtin
antiquities in the world. It is thought to have been built by Agricola, or
loinc of his fuccellors, as a temple to the god Terminus, as it flood near
the prerenture which bouitdcd the Roman empire in Diitain to the north.
Near it are fome artificial conical mounts of earth, which flill retain the
name of Duni-pacf, or Duni-pacis : which fervc to evidence that there
was a kind nf folemn compromifc between the Romans and the Caledoninns,
that the former fliould not extend their empire farther to the north-
wards.
Jnnumcrsible are the coin?, urns, utenfils, infcrtptions, and other rr«
mains of the Romans, that have been found in dtftercnt parts of Scotland ;
fome of them to the north of the wall, where, however, it does itot appear
that they made any edablifliment. By the infciiptions found near the
wall, the names of the kgions that built it, and bow far they carried it on,
may be learned. 7'he remaiiu of Roman highways are frequent in the
fuuthern parts.
* Kear the weftern extremity of this wall, at Duntocher, in Dumhartnnniirc, a
countryman, in dij^^in^ a trench on the declivity of a hill, upon which are feen the
rrm.iirm nf a Roman furr, turned up feveral uncummon tiles, which exciting the curi-
oiity of the peal'untry in that nei^hbovirhuud, it was not loiij; before they hroie in upon
an citiie fubtcrrantoiis huUl'njt, fmm which they dug out a cart load of thtfc nlatc-
rials, A gi: tiemsT who wai then upon a joMrney throU);h that part of Scotlnnd,
f'Miud meai 8, upon the lecmidday, to flop all farther proceedings, in hopes that fomei-*-
public fpiHted pt-rfons would, by talcing off the furface, explore the whole without-de-
niolifhing it. ['he tiles are of leven ditt'crei t fizes ; the fmalleft heiaj; foven, aid ths
Jargeft t'.venty-oae inches fquare. They are from twn to three inchoK in thicknefs, of
a reddidi colour, ai.d in a perfc'i5l!y fuu.id condition. The K iTcr on<;^ con-pofe feveral
rows of pillars, which form a labyrinth nf {lufTagcs about eighiceii ii>(.heii tquire ; add
tlia \a ger tiles being laid over the whole, fcrvc as a roof to fupport the earth above,
which i« found lo be two feet in depth. The biiilding isfurroundcd by a fubterrane-
oiiH wall of hewn ftone. 'Ihe bones and teeth of animals, with a footy kind of
earth, were found in the piff-igcs ; from which fome have co' jedlur^ lihis building to
luvc bcc!j occupied as a hot-bed for the ufe uf the neighbouring garrifon,
N i Daniftx
x9o
SCOTLAND.
- DaniQieflifipt and fortifications arc eailly (Jifcernible in feveral horthcra
couuciei, and are known by their Iq.uure (i}]:urc8 and difHciilt fituations.
Some houfcsof ftupendous fabrics remain in Rofs-Uiire, but whe:her they,
are Danifl), Pic'Uni, or Scott ilii, does not appear. The elevations of two
of them are to be feen in Gordon'^ Itinerarium Septentrionaie. I am of
opinion that they are Norwegian or Sc^ndinuviitn ilrut^ures, and built
about the iitth century, tq fa.vour the dcicents of that people upon thofe
cofe of any coeval monu-
ment)) to be found in Europe, as they have all the appearance of an order;
and the building is neat, and in the Roman ilyleof archite^urc. It is,
however, difficult to allign them to any but the Piifts, as they Ibind in
their dominioKS ; and Tome fculpturcs u|>on that at Brechin, denote it to
beof ChriDian origin, it is not indeed iinpcinblc that thefe fculptures are
of a later date. Belides thefe two pillars, many other PiAilh buildi^igs are
found in Scotland, but not of the fame laCle.
The veiliges of crtdions by the ancient Scott themfelves, are not only
curious but inilrui^ive, as they regard many important events of their
hillory. That people had amongft them a rude notion of fculpture, in
which they (rar.fmiiwd the ai^ions of their kings and heroes. At a place
called Abetlemno, near Brechin, four or five ancient obelilks arc llill to
be feen, called the Danilh ftones of Aberlemno. They were ercrtcd as
commemorations of the Scotch vidlories over that people; and are adorned
with bas-reliefs of tntn on horfeback, and many emblematical figures and
hieioglyphicsnot intelligible at this day, but minutely defcribed by Mr.
Gordon. Many other hiflorical monuments of the Scots may be difcover-
ed on the like occalions : but it muft be acknowledged, that the obfcurity
of their fculptures has encouraged a field of buundlefs and frivolous con-i
jctftures, fo thut the interpretations of many of them are often fanciful.
It would, however, b6 unpardonable, if I fhould ncglcft to mention the
Itone near the town of Forres, of Fortrofc, in Murni y, which far furpaflcs
all the others in magnificence and grandeur, *♦ and is. (fays Mr. Gordoi-,)
perhaps one of the moll irately monummts of that kind in Europe, it rifcs
about 23 feet in. height, above ground, and is, as I am credibly infoim-
ed, no lefs th;>n 12 or 15 feet below; fo that the \yhole height is at Icall
55 feet, and its breadth near five, it is all one fingle and entire Hone ;
g rem variety of figures in relievo are carved thereon, and fomeof them fiill
dillinft and vifible; but the Injury of the weather has obfcurcd thofe to-
wards the upper part." Though this monument has been generally looked
upon as Danilh, yet 1 have little doubt of its being Scotch, ai:d that it was
rrectcd in commemoration of the final expulfion of the Danes out of Mur-
ray, where they held their lall fettlcment in Scotland, nfter the defeat they
received from Malcolm, a few years before ih€ Norman inv'nfion.
At Sandwick, in Rofs^fhire, is a very fplendid ancient obclilk, furround-
ed at the bate with large, well cut fing floncs, formed like llcps. Both
iidcs
" 1
SCO T L A N D.
i8i:
fides of the column are covered with varipus enrichmenti, in vcel) fiaiflied
carved work. The one face preft^nia a fuinptuuus crolit, with a figure 6f .
St. Andrew on each hand, and fomc uncouth animals and flowerings un-
derneath. The central divifion on the reverfe, exhibits a variety of curious
Hgurcs, birds, and animals. .
The ruiiis of the cathedral of Elgin are very flriking ; and many parts
6f that fine building have ftiU the remains of much grandeur and dignity in
them. The weft Uoor is highly ornamented, there is much elegance in
the ciirvings, and the whole edihce dilplays very elaborate workmanfliip.
Among the remaiqs of aficient calUes, may be mentioned Kildrumy caftle
in tlie north of Scotland, which was formerly a place of great ftrength and
magniticeBce* and utten ufcd as an afylum to noble families in periods of
civil war. laverugie caftle, the ancient feat of theearl.marefchals of Scot-
land, is alfo a large and lofry pile, (ituated on a fteep bank of the river ;
two very, high tapers bound the front, and even in their decaying fiate,
give the caftie an air of much grandeur and antiquity. Vaft rows of ve-
nerable trees, incloiing the adjoining garden, add to the dcfcdi of the de-.
eayed buildings. Near the town of .Huntley arc the ruins of HVintley
caftle. On the avenue that leads to it, are two large fquare towers, whica
hud defended the gateway. The caftle fcems to be very old, and great
part of it is deitioliiUed ; but there is a maily building oi a more modern,
date, in which, feme of the apartmetlts, and in particular their curioua
cielings are Hill in tolerable prefsrvation. '1 hey are painted with a great
variety of fubjei^ts, in fmall diviiions, in which are contained many em-
blcmaticftl lig*iipes.
Beiides tlwfc remains of Roman, l*i6lifti, Danifli, and Scotti(h aptiqui-
ties, many Diniidical mCwuments and temples are difcernible in the nor-
thern puns of Scotland, as well as in the illes, where we may fuppofe that
pagajiifm took its lalt refuge. They are ealily perceived, by their circular
forms ; but though they are equally rct>ular, yet none of them are i'o ftu-
pcndous as the Druidical eredtions in South Britain. There is in Perth-
Ihire a barrow which feems to be a Britifh erection, and the moft beautiful
of the kind perhups in the world ; it exadly rcfembles the figure of a fliip,
with the keel uppermoft. The common people call it Ternay, which fome
interpret to be terrtt navis, the fliip of earth. It feems to be of the moft
remote antiquity, and perhaps was erefted to the memory of fome Britifti
prince, who adfed as auxili^'y to the Romans; for it lies near Auchte*.
rarder, not. m^ny miles diftant from the great fcene of Agricola's ope-
rations.
The traces of ancient votcinoes are not unfrequent in Saotlandt The
hill of Finehavcn is one inftancc ; and the hill of Bergonium near Dun*
ftaii'<«n the Briridi plantations ; and from other countries, their produCts, td
the immenfe faving of their nation. The profperity of Glafgow and it»
neighbourhood hath been greatly owing to the connection and trade with
Virsrinia.
The fiflieries of Scotland are not confined to their own coaft, for they
have a great concern in the whale fifhery carried on upon the coaft of
Spitfcergen ; and their returns are valuable, as the government allows
them a bounty of 408. for every ton of fl)ipping employed in that article.
The late improvement of their fiflieries, which I have already mentioned,
and whichare daily increafing, open inexhauflible funds of wealth ; their
cured fifli being by foreigners, and the EngUfli planters in America, pre-
ferred to thofc of Newfoundland, m4?-^-^iU
The
S C O T LAND.
••l
. ThebuiTes^ or vefTels employed in the great herring fifltery on the welUtti
coalis of Scothntl) are fitted out from the north-weft parts df Enclaritt^ -
the north of Ireland, as well as the numerous ports of the Clyde »nd
neighbouring iflands. The je^and rendezvous is at Campbelt'ow'ft, a com*
modious port in Argyldliire, facing the north of Ireland, where fometimei
loOTeiTclB have been affembled. They clear out on the izth of Septem-
ber, and muft return to their diiTerent ports by the 1 3th of January. The/
are alio under certain regulations refpefting the number of toi^, tneOf
nets, &c. the whole being judicioufly calculated to promote the bed of na*
tional purpofes, its Arength, and its commcce. But though the political
txiftence of Great Britain dei^ends upon the number and bravery of ottf
feamen, this noble inflitutien has hitherto proved ruinous to mahv of thofe
who have embarked in it, and unlefs vigoroufly fupportfcd will end in
fm(Ae.
To encourage this fiftiery, a bounty of 5c s. per ton was granted b^
parliament } but whether from the infufficiency of the fund appropriated
for this purpofe, or »ny other caufe, the bounty was withrheki from yeat
to year, while in the mean time the adventurers were riot only finking
their fortunes, but alfo borrowing to theu'moftlimitsof theircredw. Th6
bour^ty has fince been reduced from 50 to 50s. with the ftron^i^ aiFurancti
of its being regularly paid when due. U})on the'ftrength of thefe promi^
fes they have again embarked in the fifhery, and it is to bte wifltfed, thai
no confideration whatever may tend to withdraw an induceinent fo requi^
fite to place tbis fifliery on a permanent footing. •
The benefits of thefe fifheries are perhaps equalled by other manuifaiftureft
carrying; on at land ; particularly that of iron at Carroh, iti Sterlingftiire;
Their linen-manufadtory, notwithflanding a ftrong rivalfllip from Ire'>
land, is in a flourifhing (fate. The thread manufafture of Scotland is equal,
if not fuperior, to any in the world ; and the lace fabricated from it, hab
been deemed worthy of royal wear and approba'tion. It has been faid, fomfe
years ago, that the exports from Scotland to England, and the Britifli plahta* >
tions, in linen, cambrics, checks, Ofnaburgs, inckle, itnd the likecom^
modities, amounted annually to 400,000! exclufive of their homte con>
fumption ;- and there is reafon to believe that the fum isconliderably larger
at prefent. The Scots are likewife making very proifliflng efibrts ror etta-
bliming woollen manufactures ; and their exports of caps^. flockihgs,
mittens, and other articles of their own wool, begin to he \tiy confider*
able. The Scots, it is true, cannot pretend to rival {he English in iheiir
finer cloths; but they make at prefent fome broad cl6th proper for thfe
wear of people of fafhion in an undrefs, and in quality and lineBeft equA
to what is commonly called Yorkfhire cloth. Amofag th6 Other lats im«
provements of the Scots, we are not to forget the vaft progrefs they have
made in working the mines, and fmelting the ores of their' country.
Their coal trade to England is well known ; and of late they have turned
even their flones to account, by their contrads for paving the flreets df
Loudon. If the great trade in cattle, which the Scots carried on of late
with the Englidi, is now diminiihed, it is owing to the bell of nation;il
caiifes, that of an increafe of home confumption.
The trade carried on by the Scots with England, is chiefly from Leithf
and the eaftern ports of the nation ; but Glafgow was the great emporium
for the American commerce, before the commencement of the unhappy
breach with the Colonies. The late junftion of the Forth to the Clyde
will render the benefits of trrde of mutual advantage to both pftrts of Scot-
N 4 land.
/,
I<4
SCO T L A N D.
Jand. In (hprti the more that the Teas, the firuation, the foil, harbouV*,
f q4 fXV^Xi of (bis country are known* the better adsiptt;4 it appears for all
the purpofes of commerce, both foreign and domclHc.
. With renrd to other manufa^ures, not mentioned, fomc of them are
jjrer in their infancy. The town of Paifley alone employs an incredible
number of hands, in fabricating a pnrticiilar kind ofnoweredand ilrlpcd'
Vliyns, which are a reafoiiable and eiegant wear. Sugaivhoufes, glafs-
vvorks pf every kind, delfthoufes, and paper-mills, are eredcd every-
ivhere. The Scotch carpeting makes neat and litling furniture ; and
A>mc eifay* have been lately made, with no inconfiderable degree of fuc«
CCfff, to ct»rry that branch of munutaftureto as great perfedlionas is found
fO vny P^rt of Europe. After ail that has been faid, many )ear9 will be
]H;(^uired before the trade and improvements of ^cotbnd can be brought to
maturity. In any event, they never can give utpbra^c to the Englifli, as
the interefts of the two people are, or ougltt lo be the fame.
Having laid thus much, I cannot avoid obferving the prodigious difad*
vantages under which both the commercial and-landedintercil uf Scotland
lies, from her nobility and ^rcat land holders having coo fond an attach-
fnept fpr England, and foreign countries, where they fpcnd their ready '
money., This is one of the evils arifing to Scotland from the union, which
removed the feat of her legiflature to London ; but it is greatly augmented
\ty the refort of volunteer abftntecs to that capital. White this partiality
fiibfifls, the Scots will probably continue to be dillrefled for a currency ai
fpecie. How far paper c^n fupply that defeiSl, depends upon an attention
to the balance of trade ; and the evil may, perhap?, be fumewhat prevent*
f;d,by money remitted from England for parrying on the vail manufni^urcs
and YforYi noyf fee on foot in Scotland. The gentlemen who rt- fide in
Scotland, l^aye wifely abandot)cd French claret and brandy, (though toq
inuch i» 6il\ made ufe of in that country), for rum produced in the
^ritiOi plantations; atid their own malt-liq^oi?, are now ':ome nearly to
as great pcrfe4^onas thofe in England ; and it is faid, that they have late*
]y. exported large quantities of their ale to X^onc^on, Dublin, and the
Plantations.
RbvE!«ue«.3 See England.
Coins.] In the reign of Edward II. of England, the value and deno*
minations q( coins were the fame in Scotland as in England. Towards the
reign of Jaitnes II. a Scotch fliilling anfwered to about an Englifli fix-
pence; and about the n^ign of queen Mary of Scotland, it was not mo^e
than an EngUfh groat. It continued diminidiing in this manner till after
the union of the two crowns under her fon James VI. when the vnii re-
foft of the Scotch nobility and gentry to the Englifh court, occasioned
fuch a drain of fpecie from Scotland, that by degrees a Scotch (hilling fell
tto the value of one twelfth of an Bnglidi fliilling, and their pennies in pro-
portion. A Scotch penny is now very rarely to be found ; and they were
fucceeded by bodies, which was double the value of a Scotch [)enny, and
are ftilj current, but are daily wearing out. A Scotch h' .. « , QaDBH
1
.<<''
S a O T L AN D.
i8j
■ Order op thr thistlb.] This is a military order, inftituted, as
the Scotch writers affcrr, by their king Achaius, jn the ninth century^
upon his making an ofi'enfive and defcniive league with Charlemagne, kinj
of France, or as others i'ay, on account of his vitftory over AtheliUne, klnj(
of England, when he vowed iti the kirk of St. Andrew, that he and hit
pofteriiy would ever bear the figure of i hat crofs in their enfigns on which
the faint fuffcrcd. It has been frequently negle£te»l, and as often refunied.
It conlifts of the fovereign, and 1 2 companioTts, who arc called Knights of
the Thiftle, and have on their enfign this iignificant motto, tfrmp me im»
pune lairffit. " None flwU fafely provoke me." The ordinary fymboli
worn by the knights, are a ftar of four, points, in the centre is a Thiftle
properly embroidered on ihc lett breaft, and a green ribbHod over their left
flioulder, appendent to which is the image of St. Andrew. According to
the ftatutes of James II. the ribband was to be a blue watered tabby;
which by queen Anae in 170^ was changed to green. George J;
added the rays of glory to I'urround the figure of St. Andrew, \Vhieh haa^t
at the collnr.
Laws and constitution.] The ancient conAitution and govern*
ment in Scotland h<8«
SCOTLAliD.
ifiinOritr of Jnmei IV. who wai concempnrary withi and fon iii-tuw to,
Henry Vll. oi: £ngland, the |mrti»incnt puiiucii.out to hun hi> duty, at
l)i^ fit'ft fervent of his people ; as appears by the »fts flill extant. In ihort,
ttkc conAUution waa raihcr ariiVxratical than montirchicai. The abufa ot
tliefe ariftocratiMl powrers, by tha chieftuins and greut landholder!} gave
the king, however, u very coundcrnhle intere(r amoii^ the lower ranks ;
aiwl a prince who had fenfe and uddrci's to retain the ail'ri.'^ions of his people^
wai gcnemUy able to humble the niuH over-grown of hit fuhjefts ; but
when, on the other hand, a king of Scuthini<» like ]nmc8 III. ihewed a
dHfvfpeA to his jmrliaoicot, the event was commonly futul to the crown.
The kihgs of Scotlnnd, nutwithlUitding this paramount power in the par-
riitment, found means to weaken and elude its force ; and in this ihcy wero
altttlcil by their clcrg}** whofe revenues were immenfe, and who had very
little depcndance upon the pope, and were always jealous of the po;vcrful
iiobUity . This was done by eitablifhing a feleCl body of nieuiberit, w ho were
called ttft UrJs »ftbt ar ticks, Thcl'e were chofcn out of the clergy, nobility,
khlghts, and burgeiTes. The biHicps for inlt;ince, chofe eight peers, and
the peers eight bilhops ; and thcfe iixtecn jointly chofe eight barons (or
inights of the fliire), '\\y\ eight commillioners for burghs ; and to all thofe
were added eight great officers of ilatc, the chancellor being prciideut of
the whole.
Thrir bofinefs was to prepare all queflions and bills, and other matters
l>rought iDtowarliament ; fo that in ht\ though the king could give no
negative, yet being by bis clergy, and t^e, places he had to bc({ovv, always
lure of the lords of articles, nothing coutd come into parliament that could
call fur his negative. It mud be acknowltdged, that this inlUiution feems
to have prevailed by ftcalih ; nor was it ever brought into any regular f) •
Aeni ; even its modes varied ; and the greatcft lawyers are ignorant w)icn
it took place. The Scots, however, never loll fight of their 9riginal prin-
tiples: and though Churies f. wanted to form thefe lords of the articles
into tegular niachmes for his o%vii defpoiic purpofes, he found iiiinpraAi-
cable ; and the melancholy confcquciices arc well known. At the Revolu-
tion, the Scots gave a frelh inilanre how well they underftood the piinci-
{ties of liberty,. by omitting all pedantic debates about abtlkntioii^ and the '
ike terms, and voting king James at once to have forfeited his crowu {
which they gave to the prince and princefs of Orange.
This fpirit of reHllance was the more remarkable, as the people had
groaned under the moll infupponablc minifterial tyranny ever fincc the Re-
iioratiou. It is aiked. Why did they luhmit to that lyianny ? The an-
iwer is. In order to prefer ve thtt inJepi-udency upon Enr;l:ini.l, which
Cromwf.ll and his parliament rndcivoiuTd to dclhoy, by uniting then\
dvith England : they therefore cholc to rubmir to a temporary evil ; but
ihcv took the firll opportunity to get lid oi their oppn l! )iv.
Scotland, when it was a Icpaiate kingdom, c.innot be laid to have had
any jiecrs, in the Engilfli Icnl'e of the word, J he nability, who were
dukrs, marquilFcs, earls, and lords, were by the kiiv,!; made hereditary
members of parliament ; but they lonned no dililurt hoiiiV, for they fat
in the fame room with the c nmnons, who had the lame deliberate and dc-
ciiive vote with them in all public mittteit. A b.non, though not a ba-
ron of parliamcr^t, might lit upon a lord's allize in matters of life and
jdcaih ; nor was it necellltry f)r the aflizcrs, or jury, to be unanimous in
their Vjcrdicl. The teudal turtoMis, even at the time of the Rertoration,
veie fo prevalent, a:>d the rclcue of a great ciiininal was commonly fo
- much
SCOTLAND.
«»r
much aplirehended, that fd(iom abo^e two days pafled between (ht fcntehce
and the execution. "" '{
Orent uniccrtointjr ot:c*6rl'1n the Scotch hiftory, by confburiding parlit'
inents with conVentioni { the difference was, that a parliament cdUM enaft
laws as well a<) lav on taxes : a convention, or meeting of the dates, only
met for the purpoibs of (mtation. Before the Union, >!.e kings of Scot^
l«nd had four great and fbur Itflcf oftkers of ftate ; the great, yftete thd
I6id hi^h chancellor, hlph-treafiner, pfity-ftal, and fccrctary : the foue
IcfTer were, the lords regifter advocate, treafurer-depute, and juftice clerk.
Since the Union nonedf theft continue, fcxcfcptiug the lords privy feah re-
giilcr, advocate, and ju(!ice ctefk : a third feci-etiry of ftate hai occanoft-
ally been lioitlihatfed by the king for* Sebttiih affiiit's, but undit the faMtf de-*
nomination as the other two Ibei-etarles. The above officers of Aate At in
the Scotch parliartientfcy virtue of thdi- ollkci.
The officers of the crown were, the high-chamberlain, conftable, ad-
miral, and miirfhnt. The offices of cdnftabic and marflial Were heredi.
tary. A nohlemun has tlill a penflon as admiral ; and the office of itiit*
ihal is estcrcifed by a Khtght inarftiat.
The ofhce of c|iaiicellbr of Scoilithd difftr^d little frohi thfe (kmh in Eng'
land. The fame may he faid of the lords treafbrer, privy-feal, dnd fecre*
ta^y. The lord-redtter WaS h^ad-clerk to the parliamcht, convention,
frfeafuty, fc*theqireP,' knA rtftim, and keeper of all public records.
Though his office was only ^lirihg the kint's jpleafure, yit it was Very lu*
cftRiVe, by difpofin^ of hl& deputatioh, Whleh hfted duting life. He a£t-
cd as teller to the parliameht ; ahd it was dangerous for ahy miiihbtr to dtf>
putc his report of the huirb6ri Upoh a diviflon. The lotd advocate's 6tRc6
rcreitibles thatof ibi: attorney>^cnerat in Englsind, only hh powers are faif
more extenfive ; bbcalilTe/ by the Sdo^ifh laws, he is the pt-ofecutor of all
capital crimes before thi JuUiciary, and likeWiiV concurs 'tti all piirfuiti be^
fore fovcre ign courts, fur breaches of the p(iace, and ulfb itl all rtratters cr«
vil, wherein the kihg, ot his dbnntbr. hath interef^. TiVo folicrtors ard
huined by his majclly, by way of aflmatits to thk lord-advotaie. The of-
fice; of juflicc-clerk, entitles the poitbdbr to prdide in the cfiminaJ court of
judice, while the juAice-genctal, an office I ihall defbribe hereafter, is ab^
font.
The ancient conftitution of Scbttand admitted of many otheroffiees both
of the crown and Hate ; but they are either now estiindii, or too incbnfider-
able to be del'cribed hert. That of Lyon king at annF* Or the Ux
faecialium, or grand herald of Scotland, is JSill in bein^ ; and it wa's for-
merly r:i office of great fplendour and importancfe, irtfijmu'ch that the
ifcicitcc of heraldry Was prtferved therfe in greater purity thah in any bthet
coimtiy in Europe. He was even crowned folcmnly in parliatneht with &
golden circle ; and his authority, which is hot the cafe in EnglAnd, in all
armorial affairs might bfe carried into executirin by the civil laW.
The privy-council of Scot'and before the Revolution, had, or aflumed^
inquifitorial powers, even that of torture; but it is now funk in the onr^
liament and privy-council cf Great-Britain ; and the civil and criminal
caufes in Scotland are chiefly cognifabk by two courts of judicature.
The firft is, that of the college of julHce, which was ihftitutedby Jame«
V. after the model of the French parliamei;it, to fupply an ambulatory
committee of parliament, who took to themfelves the nam^s of the lords
of council and fcflion, which the prefent members of the college of juftice
flill retain. This court confifts of a prefident and fourteen ordinary mem-
bers, befides extraordinary ones named by the king, who may Qt and vote,
feut
II
SCOTLAND*
but have no falariri, and are not bound to attendancei Thii court niftv be
culled a llHiiding jury in all mntteri of propercv thut lie before them. Ineir.
furrnn of proceeding do not lie within my piai;* neither uoei any inquiry
how far fuch an inUitution, in fu narrow a criuntry^us Scotland, u compa-
tible with the fecurity of private property. The civil law is their dirtitoty
in all matters thut come not within the municipal taws of the kingdom.'
it has. been often matter of furprit'c, that the Scots were fo'tcnaciousof the
forms of their courtj, and the tflt^nce of their l.iws, as to refcrvc them by
the articles of the Union, 'rhis, however, can be cafiTy accounted for,
becaul'c thofe laws and forms were eifentiul to the pollcliiua of «lliitcii and
lands, which in Scotland arc often held by modes incompatible with the
laws of England. I Ihall jufl add, that the lords of council and fcirion ai,i
lik'ewile as a court of equity ; but their decrees are (fortunately, perhaps
for the fubjetft) reverfible by the Britiflt Houfc of Lords, to which an ap>
t>eul lies.
The judice court is the higheft criminal trilninal in Scotland ; but in its,
prefcnt rorm k was inlVitutrd fo late as the year 1672, when a lord-jiilVice-
genernl, reinovable at the king's plcafure, was appqintcd. This lucni*
live office iUll cxiils in the {lerlbn oi one of the chief nohjlity ; but the
ordinary mcn\bers of the court, .are the jullice-dcrl^ and Ave other judges^
who are always nominated from the lords of fefTion. In this court the.
verdi£t of a jury condemns or acc^uits ; but, as I Imve already hinted*,
without any n^-'celHty of their being unanimous.
Befides thefe two great courts of law, ,the Scots, by the articles of the
Union, have a court of exchequer. This court has the fame power, au-
thority, privilege, and, jurifdidlion, over the revenue of Scotland, as the.
court of exchequer in England has over the revenues there; nnd all mat^
ters and things competent to the court of exchequer of England relating
thereto, are likewife competent to the exchequer of Scotland. The judges
of the exchequer in Scotland cxeiclfe certain powers which formerly be«
longed to the treafury, and are Hill veded in that of England.
The court of adiniralty in Scotland, was, in the reign of Charles ito
by a£V of parliarhcnt, declared to be a fupreme court, in all caufes com'<
petent to its own.juiifiliinion ; and the lord high admiral is declared to be
the kiiig's lieutenant and juliice-genernl upon the feas, and in all ports,
harbours, and creeks of the fame ; and upon freih waters and navigable
rivers, below the firft bridge, or within flood mark j fo that nothing com-
petent to its iurifdidion can be meddled with, in the firil indunce, but by «,
the lord higl) admiral and the judges of his court. Sentences palled ini
all inferior courts of admiialtyv may be brought again before his court ;
but no appeal lies from it to the lords of the fctrion, or any other judi-
catory, unlefs in cafes not maritime. Caufes are tried in this court by
the civil law, which in fuch cafes, is likewife the common law of Scut-
land, as well as by the laws of Oleron, Wifby, and the Hanfe towns,
and other maritime pra6lice$ and decilions common tipon the continenrl
The place of lord admiral of Scotland is little more than hoininal, but
the falary annexed to it is reckoned worth loool. a year ; and the judge
of the admiralty is co:rimonly a lawyer of dilHnftiun, with conddcrable
^perquiiUes pertaining tcThis office. ,T "^
1 he college or faculty of advocates, which anfwers to the Englifli inns
of court, may be called the feminary of Scotch lawycra. They are with-
in themfelves an orderly court, au'd their forms require great precifion
and examination it ipalify it| candidates for admiirion> Subordinate to
2 then)
nl
til
S C O T L AN D.
«#•
them ii t body of inferior Uwyeri, or, «• they may be called, Rttomeya^
who culled themfelvci writers to the iignet, becautc they alone can fub*
fcrlbe the writs that pafs the fignct ; they likewife hiive a bye govern-
ment for their own regulation. Such are the different law-courts thac
arc held in the capital of Scotland : we fliall pais to thofe that are infe-
rior.
The government of the counties in Scotland was formerlv veiled in
flicriffs and Acw.irds, courts of regality, baron courtt, commliTariet, juf«
tices of the pence, and coroners.
Formerly (liertflfdoms were generally hereditable i but, by a late aA of
parliament, thry are now all veiled in the crown ; it being there enacted*
that all high-lheriffi, or llewards, (hall, for the future, bo nominated and
appointed annually by hii majcily, his heirs and fucceflbrs. In regard tu
the (heriif drpute<, and llewHi'd-leputes, it is enat^cd, that theie (hull
only be one in each county, or ftewartry, who muft be an advocate, of
three year* (landing at leau. For ihc fpace of feven years, tlicfe dcjtuiiea
are to be nominated by the king, with fuch continuance as his mujeiiy
fliall think fit ; arter which they are to enjoin their office adviiamaut cul-
pam^ that is, tor life, unlefs guilty of lome ofti-nce. Some other regu-
lations have been likewife introduced, hij^hly for the credit of the (herifia
courts.
Stewartries were formerly part of the ancient royal domain ; and the
(lewarts h.id much the fame power in them as the flieriif had in his
county.
Courts of regality of old were held by virtue of a royal jurifdi<^ion
veiled in the lord, with particular immunities and privileges %' but thefe
were To dangerous, and fo extravagant, that all the Scotch regalities are
now diflblved by an a£l of parliament.
Bnron courts belong to every perfon who holds a barony of the king*
In civil matters, they extend xo matters not exceeding fcrtv (hillings ftcr-
ling ; and in criminal cafes, to petty adlions of alTault ana battery ; but
the punifliment is not to exceed twenty fliillings (lerling, or ietting
the delinquent in'^the (locks for three hours, in the day time. Thefe
courts, however pttty, were in former days invcAed with the power of
life and death, which they have now lod.
The courts of commi(rarie8 in Scotland anfwer to thofe of the Engli(h
diocefan chancellors, the highed of which is kept at Edinburgh ; wherein,
before four judges, a^lions are pleaded concerning matters relating to
wills and tcHnments ; the right of patronage to eccleliadical benefices,
tythes, divorces, and caufcs of that nature ; but in almoft all other parts
of the kingdom, there fits but one judge on thefe caufes.
According to the prefent inditution, judices of the peace in Scotland
exercife pretty much the fame powers as thofe in England. In former
times their office, though of very old danding, was infigniiicant, bein({
cramped by the powers of the great feudal tyrants, who obtained an a^
of parliament, that they were not to take cognizance of riots till fifteen
days after the fa6l.
7 The inditution of coroners is as old as the reign of Malcolm II. the
f-eat legiflator of Scotland, who lived before the Norman invaiion of
nglar^d. They took cognizance of all breaches of the king's -peace ;
and they were required to have clerks to rcgider- difpofilions and matters
of fa£l, ns well as verdiAs of jurors ; the office, however, is at prefent
nuch difufed in Scotland.
, From
999
SCOTLAND;
, From th< above ikott vi«w of the Scotch lawi and inftitutioiw, it li
ttlftio tbtt thny^ett radlcaUy the (mse with thofc of the EnKliOi. Ths
latter alledgic, indeed, that the Scott borrowed the contents of their R$gi0m
fdaji/iattrnt their oldeft lawr*booki from the wovk^of GUnvilk, who wae
a jodge undet Henry li. of England. The Scots, on the other band,
fay, that Olanville'i work was copied from their Rtgiam Majeftatem^ even
With the peculiwrkiet of the Utter, which do not now, and never did, ex-
ift in the Uws of Englaad. /
The royal burght in Scotland form, as it were, a commercial parlia*
meiit, which memts once a ytur at Eduiburgh, cooiifting of a reprefeata-
five from each burgh, to consult upon tha common ^ood of the whole.
Their powers are pretty extenQvc, and before the Union they made laws
relating to fliipping, to mailers and owners of fliips, to mariners and mer>
chants, by whom they were freighbrd ; to maoutaduret, fuch as plaiding,
linen, and yarn ; to the curing and packing of fifli, falmon, and herrings^
tiui to the importing and exporting fevcral cominoidities. The trade be«
tween Scotland and the Netherlands is fubjeft to their regulation : they fix
the ftaple parr, which was formerly at Dort, and is now at Can prere*
Their contcrvator is indeed nominated by the crown, but then thei. 'on<
vention regulates his power, approves his deputies, and appoinr hu fa>
lary: fo that, in truthj the whole ftaple trade is fub]c«^cd to th^ur raa«
Mgemenr. U|wn the whole, this is a very lingular inllicution, and fuf*
fkieotly proves the vaA attention which the governinent ot Scotland tor^
merly paid to trade. It took its prefcnt form in the reign of James ill. .
1487, and had excellent confequrnces tor the benofit of commerce.
Such are the laws and conAitution of Scotland, as they cxift at pnefenl^
in their general view ; but our bounds do not permit us ta deicend to far*
ther particulars, which are various and complicated. The conformity
between the pra£)icc of the civil law qf Scotiaod, 0<:.-^ that in England,
ta remarkable. The EngUfli law report' ore of the ivme nature with the
Scotch practice ; and their a£b of federunt, acfwer to the Englith rules of
(ourc ; the Scottish wadfets and revcrflons, to the Engiiih mortgages and
(lefeafances ; their poinding of goods, after letters of horning, is much the
fame as the Engliih executions upon oiulawrics ; and an appeal againft
the king's pardon, in cafes of murder, by- the next of kin to the deceafcd,
is admitted in Scotland ^s well as in England^ Many other ufagcs iirc
the fame in both kingdoms. I cannot, however, difmifs this head with*-
out one obfcrvation, which proves the fimilarity between the Eiiglifli and
Scotch conftitutions, which I believe has been mentioned by no author.
In old times, all the freeholders in Scotland met together in pnefcnce of
the king, who was feated on the top of a hillock, which, in the old
Scotch conftitutions, is called the Moot, or Mute-hill ; all national affairs
were here tranfa^ed i judgments given, and ditl'crcnces ended. This
Moot-hill X apprehend to be of the fame nature as the Saxon Pole-mote,
and tQ figiufy no more than the hill of meeting.
HiSTOiK v.] Though the writers of ancient Scotch hiftory are too fond
of fyftem and fable, yet it is cafy to coUeCl, from the Roman authors,
and other evidences^ that Scotlarid was formerly inhabited by different
people* The Caledonians were, ptobabiy, the firft inhabitants ; the Pifts,
lUndout^edlywere the Britons, who were forced northwards by the Belgi:
GauUi «bov« fourfcoie years .before the defcent of Julius Caefar ; and
who fettling ioSffKlwd were joinedlby great numbers of their country-
neni that were driven northwards by the Romans.: The Scots mo(t pro-
I ; . , I bably.
SCOTLAND.
191
bnbly, were « nation of adventurers from ihe ancient Scyihia, who ha4
(crved in the armiet on the cdntinmr, nnd, ai hat been already hinted,
«fier conquerine; the other inhabitant;, gave their own name to the coun-
try. The trntS lying fouthward oi the Forth, appears to have been In-
habited by the Sxxons, and by the Britons who formed the kingdom oi
Akuith, the c.ipital of which was Dumbarton : but all thefe people in
procefs of time, were fubducd by the Scots.
Havinj; prcmifed thus much, it is unnecelTary fur me to inveftigatc tha
conlVitution ut Scotland from its fubulouf, or even its early- ages. It i«
fnificit-nt to < The brave fiand made bf
Galdus againd that great general, docs honour to the valour of both peo-
ple ; and the fentimcnts of the C'uledonian concerning the freedom and
independency of his country, iip|)ear to have warmed the noble hi(h>«
rial) wirh the fame generous p'liion. It is plain, however, that Tacitus
thought it for the honour of Atjricnla, to conceal fume p;