employed to take care of them, is Julius | for favour, displaying grace, address, and Firmicus, who lived in the fourth century; agility: all seemed to contribute to render but the barbarous nations had at that the sport of hawking an exercise replete period long resided on the confines of the with nobleness, magnificence, and even Roman Empire. After having overthrown with gallantry. that government they settled themselves, in the fifth century, in Italy, where they prac-united itself with the forms and the rotised this sport: it was so popular in the sixth century, that the Lombardy laws prohibited giving the sword, or the bird, as a ransom. This amusement, it should appear, was followed by military officers; it was even reserved as a privilege to nobles and to free men. Charlemagne, by a capitulary in 769 forbad it from the serfs: Falconers are reckoned among the Household Officers of that Prince. The dignity of Grand Falconer was one among those attached to the palace of the | Greek Emperors, at Constantinople. In this manner, proceeding from the East to the West, tlie chase by means of birds became one of the delights of Sovereigns, and of men distinguished by birth, power, or wealth; the evidence of this appears in monuments and documents of every description among all these nations, whether pictured, sculptured, or written. This species of pleasure very naturally mantic spectacles of Chivalry, introduced during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. This concidence no doubt,-for the human imagination avails itself of every thing,influenced the writers, and determined them to engage their powers on similar subjects: when it was required either to describe the diversion of the aerial chase, or to give directions for it. In the delightful season of spring, in the midst of the most beautifu! country scenes, and objects, the lively and brilliant fancy of this tribe seized on this subject: the poets, the troubadours, took it for the burden of their songs; the romancers, and even princes, themselves, sung the pleasures of their falconry expeditions, and reduced their precepts to systematic instruction. The first work known on this subject dates in the thirteenth century, under the title of "The Book of King Modus and the Queen of Ratio; treating on the rules, pleasures, manners, and fashion of the exercise of Vennerie and Falconry." These two allegorical personages fill the poem, in verses of eight syllables. It was printed at Chambery, in 1486. Among the French, the practice of this amusement, which quickly became a passion, is proved from private histories, also from that of the French Monarchy published by Montfaucon, founded on the One of the best known works on the tombs, the pictures, and the painted win-subject, is the poem composed by Gasse de dows represented in MSS. Princes, soldiers, nobles, even ladies, as well as falconers by office, are represented with a bird on the fist, or with the glove which was used for the purpose of carrying it. It was Philip the Hardy, in the thirteenth century, who gave the title of Grand Falconer to the chief of these officers; they enjoyed special privileges, and even till very lately the presence of the Sove reign was, in graud ceremonies, announced by that of the falcons carried before them. The northern monarchs, and the Order of Malta, sent well trained birds, as pre sents. The nature of this chase, in an element the least of all elements under the controul of man, followed very frequently | in the high regions of the air, by creatures apparently the least susceptible of command and obedience; the class of persons whose pleasure and even occupation it formed; the presence of the fair sex, permitted by an amusement Dever very bloody, and demanding the employment of the most agreeable animals, dogs and horses, each exerting itself in competition VOL. III. No. 15. Lit. Pan. N. S. Dec, 1. la Bigne, a priest of Normandy, first Chaplain to John, King of France, who ordered it to be executed during his captivity in the Savoy at London, for the instruc tion of his son, the Duke of Burgundy, then a child. He treats on the pretensions of hawking before hunting to obtain the preference, in the exercises of Monarchs. Edward King of England travelling in France, in 1359, had, says Froissart, thirty falconers on horseback, each with his bird, among his retinue. Nevertheless, the splendour of the west fades before that of the east. Bajazet I. had in his service seven thousand falconers, and as many huntsmen: Charles VI. sent him vultures and falcons, with gloves embroidered with pearls and jewels, on which to carry them. The Emperor Frederic II. wrote au ample treatise on the subject: in which he reduced the art to principles and system. He describes himself as vir inquisitor et experientie amator Divus Augustus Fredericus Secundus, Romanorum Imperator. So lately as 1756 this treatise was translated into German; and in 1788 Schreider at Leipsic published the Latin text. S Commercial Interests of the Community; it, by some of our Gentlemen, lovers of the to furnish Commerce with the means of sports of the Field. affording to Science and her followers every facility of research and experiment; to invite Science within your walls, and to establish, on a wise, an enlarged, and a dignified plan, on a plan suited to the high character of a British Merchant, such In stitutious as that which the ceremony of this day has placed under the protection of the City of London, and her opulent, hohourable, and discerning sons.' The striking manner in which the advantages of the union of Commerce and Science are exemplified in this address, could not fail to produce a powerful impression on the Meeting. The history of it, forms a part of the history of our species; and displays a form of barbaric pomp, not undeserving of notice. We therefore, trust, that the following article, which is translated and composed from authentic documents, will be found interesting by our readers. The use made by the ancients of dogs for the chase is well known, and the care with which they were trained; they even attributed to the deities the office of doing them honour Ipsn coronat .... STATIUS. Sir W. BLIZARD moved-" That the thanks of this Assembly be given to Mr. Butler for his perspicuous, elegant, and But, it does not appear that the use of most impressive Address in illustration of birds in chase, that is to say, the employ the excellence of learning and science, ment of birds of prey, to subdue their especially their relation to, and happy in-prey, under command, was known to, or fluence upon the commercial concerns of society; and in explanation of the liberal design of the London Institution; and, that Mr. Butler be requested to allow such Address to be printed." Mr. Good seconded the motion. The thanks of the meeting and the request were unanimously voted, and communicated to Mr. Butler by the Lord Mayor. Mr. Butler expressed his high sense of the honour conferred on him, and consented to the request of the Meeting. The company then withdrew to partake of an elegant dinner, the Lord Mayor in the chair. After the usual toasts of the King, Prince Regent, &c. had been given, the Lord Mayor in an elegant speech proposed "the Success of the Institution." A number of excellent speeches were delivered in the course of the evening, by the Lord Mayor, Lord Carrington, Sir Wm. Blizard, Mr. Hibbert, Mr. Mason Good, and others. The chair was most ably filled by the Lord Mayor, whose spirit seemed to be caught by the assembly, and the evening was spent with the utmost cheerfulness and conviviality. SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE ART OF This Art was formerly extremely prevalent and popular in our country; and very lately, attempts have been made to revive practised by, the Greeks or Romans, sti less by the Egyptions, who had deified such birds. Their fight, like that of many other birds, afforded the Estruscans matter for their auguries, whether fortunate or fearful. It was among the nations described at barbarous by the ancients, who inhabited at first the eastern and northern parts of Asia, that the employment of these birds for this purpose was practised. Aristotle is cited as having mentioned the chase by birds as known among the Thracians, who were originally of those countries. Scythia produced several kinds of birds of prey: they were useful in the immense plains which the wandering people tra versed. The Tartars who have partly succeeded them, are strongly attached to Falconry: that tribe of them which conquered China, if they did not find this mode of sport established there, introduced it. Among a considerable number of portraits of per sons of rank, painted in China, now before me, many carry a bird of prey on the fist. The Falcon, the most noble among those birds, is almost always delicated standing on a golden perch in Indian paintings, inserted in MSS. It is therefore very likely that it was at the time of their irruption into the Eu ropean territories that the ancient people, all derived from the north of Asia, brought the custom and the skill appertaining to this species of chase. In short, the first writer who mentions birds employed in Falcoury and people employed to take care of them, is Julius | for favour, displaying grace, address, and as a ransom. This amusement, it should appear, was followed by military officers; it was even reserved as a privilege to nobles and to free men. Charlemagne, by a capitulary in 769 forbad it from the serfs: Falconers are reckoned among the Household Officers of that Prince. The dignity of Grand Falconer was one among those attached to the palace of the Greek Emperors, at Constantinople. In this manner, proceeding from the East to the West, the chase by means of birds became one of the delights of Sovereigns, and of men distinguished by birth, power, or wealth; the evidence of this appears in monuments and documents of every description among all these nations, whether pictured, sculptured, or written. a This species of pleasure very naturally mantic spectacles of Chivalry, introduced The first work known on this subject Among the French, the practice of this amusement, which quickly became passion, is proved from private histories, also from that of the French Monarchy published by Montfaucon, founded on the One of the best known works on the tombs, the pictures, and the painted win-subject, is the poem composed by Gasse de dows represented in MSS. Princes, soldiers, la Bigne, a priest of Normandy, first Chapnobles, even ladies, as well as falconers by lain to John, King of France, who oroffice, are represented with a bird on the dered it to be executed during his captivity fist, or with the glove which was used for in the Savoy at London, for the instruc. the purpose of carrying it. tion of his son, the Duke of Burgundy, then a child. He treats on the pretensions of hawking before hunting to obtain the preference, in the exercises of Monarchs. Edward King of England travelling in It was Philip the Hardy, in the thirteenth sents. The nature of this chase, in an element the least of all elements under the controul of man, followed very frequently in the high regions of the air, by creatures apparently the least susceptible of command and obedience; the class of persons whose pleasure and even occupation it formed; the presence of the fair sex, permitted by an amusement never very bloody, and demanding the employment of the most agreeable animals, dogs and horses, each exerting itself in competition VOL. III. No. 15. Lit. Pan. N. S. Dec, 1. falconers on horseback, each with his bird, The Emperor Frederic II. wrote au So lately as 1756 this treatise was translated into German; and in 1788 Schreider at Leipsic published the Latin text. S 1 INTERESTING INTELLIGENCE FROM THE BRITISH SETTLEMENTS IN THE EAST INDIES, &c. During the ten years herein adverted to, the late Mowqua was alive, who was one of the greatest purchasers of cotton, and the most efficient supporter of the market ever known at Canton; and it was not until the absconding of Inqua in 1810, that the junior merchants ceased to be consi dered as responsible, and to deal largely in cotton. "The aggregate quantity of capital required for the 72,500 bales just brought to market is 21,73,500 tales, or nearly three millions of dollars, and even allowing the Company's, and one third of the commanders to be received in teas, there will remain two millions of dollars to be paid to the merchants of India, a great part of which their agents must call in within two months, to answer engagements, and the remainder, if not paid within four, would be totally inapplicable to the purpose of re STATE OF THE COTTON MARKET IN CHINA. "Importation of Cotton in Canton, from Bombay and Bengal, between the years 1812 and 1813, taken from returus procured at the Custom House of each Presidency. Years. Bales Bombay. Bales Bengal. Total Bules. 1803 97,000 26,000 123,000 "At this time there are but three merchants who can be considered as solvent; the others are in circumstances which would render it hazardous to trust them with the property, or could have means of making payments for it, within the time they are required. Their payments must so completely depend on their being able to sell, they having no capital of their own, that it would in fact be more eligible for the agents to retail the cotton themselves than to hazard it, by placing it under their 91,000 170,000 coutroul. 143,000 "The risk of warehousing in a country 140,000 where fires are frequent, and where the 145,000 Hong merchants, or those who could exert 114,000 themselves to avert its consequences, might 93,000 remain unconcerned spectators of the de110,000 struction of the property, is so great, that 70,000 an ageut must shew some forcible reasons for resorting to a measure of that natureso much out of the common routine of business." 1,199,000 In 1814, 127,000 bales: this is exclusive of 4000 bales Madras cotton on the Company's account. MALACCA LIGHT HOUSE. This very useful edifice, erected by or der of government, has long been a desideratum, most heartily wished for. "Thus it appears that the quantity imported from Bombay and Bengal, amouris The extent of the Panjang Shoal, or to 127,000 bales since the 1st of April last, Long Reef of Rocks to the southward of exclusive of 4000 bales of Madras cotton, Pulo Java, or Gallows Island, which at which has not been admitted into the cal-high water is just a wash, and in many culation, in consequence of the importations from that Presidency not appearing for the ten years between 1802 and 1813; and of this quantity 72,500 bales came into the market at once on the 1st of December, a period when the cotton trade always stagnates, and when little probability of selling occurs before the beginning of March. places steep-to, renders it very dangerous for ships of any considerable burthen, entering the roads from the southward, and indeed also those proceeding down the Straits for that port,-the lights along shore being low, and very deceiving. A circumstance, within our recollection, very nearly proved fatal to H. M. ship Trident, Captain Johnstone, bearing the flag of H. E. the late Admiral Rainier, going into the road, on a very dark night, fron this island, with a strong breeze, passed the town, and was merely by the sight of the breakers, brought up, all standing, with two anchors, dropped under foot, within a cable's length of the reef in eight fathoms. With respect to the shoal or sand bank, off Fisher's Islaud, whereou there is about three fathoms, a beacon was once erected on it by order of Major Farquhar, which we believe was washed away: there is, however, a narrow chaunel between the shoal and island, through which H. M. ship Terpsichore, Captain Bathurst, passed in 1805,-borrowing on each side. Mr. Horsburgh, in his Directory, only remarks, that he has heard of such a shoal. CEYLON. FORM OF POLITICAL SUBMISSION. The following is part of the ceremony observed on occasion of the late transfer of the Government of this Island—meaning the interior of it, late under its native tyrant, to the Crown of Great Britain. The formality of bringing the banner, and the records, of their country, deserves notice, as a very expressive token of sub mission. Feb. 8, 1815.-The Adikar this day at 11 o'clock, made his public entry at head quarters at this place, bringing with him in solemn procession the Insignias of the four Korles, a banner with the device of the sun and moon (indicating perpetual duration) and the rolls or records of the Dessavony, he was followed by all the chiefs of that province who had not preVionsly joined the British Standard. The Gatherer. NO. IX. NEW SERIES. "I am but a Gatherer and Dealer in other Men's Stuff." LUCK AND PRUDENCE: One manner of acquiring Medical Reputation. There are few professions in which a skilful command of countenance is more necessary than in Physic. Whoever cannot look grave, with the appearance of consideration, will find it very difficult to make his way in the world: whoever cannot take advantage of a, fortunate incident, deserves to suffer under a more than ordinary want of confidence in his skill. Fortune seldom bestows her favours on the unworthy; for, even the discernment to know when they are bestowed, deserves its reward, and sometimes meets with it, in ample proportion. Accident, solely, both with the drug and the Doctor, has often been the maker of their fame. This may be exemplified by an anecdote of a deservedly eminent physician, which though it has been often related, is not less to the point. The Doctor happened to be sent for one evening, after having indulged at a convivial meeting, so that by the time he had been whirled to his patient's door, he was very ill qualified to decide in a case of difficulty. Having made shift to reach the drawing room, and seeing a lady extended on a sofa, assisted by a female attendant, he by a sort of mechanical impulse, seized her The Chiefs of the Provinces of Saffra- form an opinion on the case, he exclaimed, hand; but finding himself utterly unable to gum and three Korles previously submitted, « Dd drunk, by G-d!" (meaning, that were assembled on the occasion, in whose he was in that unfit state) and immediately presence the Adikar first resigned the In-made the best retreat he was able. Feelsignia to the Chiefs of the four Korles who thereupon in token of their submission formally surrendered them to Mr. D'Oyley Commissioner on behalf of the Govern ment. ing rather awkwardly at this adventure, he was not impatient to renew his visit; but being sent for on some other occasion, he took courage, and was preparing an apology, when the lady presently removed It is well known what measures the late his apprehensious, by whispering these tyrant had taken to support his authority. words in his ear-" My dear Doctor, how Beside having recourse to the most diaboli-could you find out my case so immediately, cal cruelty to enforce obedience by the terror of his name, he had obtained possession of the wives and families of the chiefs, so that they did not dare to forsake his standard, till the British force was sufficiently advanced to afford protection. the other evening?-It was certainly a proof of your skill; but, for God's sake, not a word more on that subject." Thus, the Doctor added to his repute, by a circumstance which might have endangered that of a less fortunate man. |
