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to those climates in summer. quiescent state, it had the appearance of a circular cloud revolving on the water like an horizontal wheel, in various and irregular involutions, expanding itself gradually on the lee side, when suddenly a column of the blackest cinders, ashes, and stones would shoot up in form of a spire at an angle of from ten to twenty degrees from a perpendicular line, the angle of inclination being universally to windward; this was rapidly succeeded by a second, third, and fourth, each acquiring greater velocity, and overtopping the other till they had attained an altitude as much above the level of our eye, as the sea was below it.

As the impetus with which the columns were severally propelled diminished, and their ascending motion had nearly ceased, they broke into various branches, resembling a groupe of pines: these again forming themselves into festoons of white feathery smoke in the most fanciful manner imaginable, intermixed with the finest particles of falling ashes, which at one time assumed the appearance of innumerable plumes of black and white ostrich feathers surmounting each other; at another, that of the light wavy branches of a weeping willow.

During these bursts, the most vivid flashes of lightning continually issued from the deepest part of the volcano; and the cloud of smoke, now ascending to an altitude much above the highest point to which the ashes were projected, rolled off in large masses of fleecy clouds, gradually expanding themselves before the wind in a direction nearly horizontal, and drawing up to them a quantity of water spouts, which formed a most beautiful and striking addition to the general appearance of the scene.

That part of the sea where the volcano was situated, was upwards of thirty fathoms deep, and at the time

of our viewing it the volcano was only four days old. Soon after our arrival on the cliff, a peasant observed he could discern a peak above the water: we looked, but could not see it: however, in less than half an hour it was plainly visible, and before we quitted the place, which was about three hours from the time of our arrival, a complete crater was formed above the water, not less than twenty feet high on the side where the greatest quantity of ashes fell; the diameter of the crater being apparently about four or five hundred feet.

The great eruptions were generally attended with a noise like the continued firing of cannon and musquetry intermixed, as also with slight shocks of earthquakes, several of which having been felt by my companions, but none by myself, I had become half sceptical, and thought their opinion arose merely from the force of imagination; but, while we were sitting within five or six yards of the edge of the cliff, partaking of a slight repast which had been brought with us, and were all busily engaged, one of the most magnificent bursts took place which we had yet witnessed, accompanied by a very severe shock of an earthquake. The instantaneous and involuntary movement of each was to spring upon his feet, and I said, “This admits of no doubt." The words had scarce passed my lips, before we observed a large portion of the face of the cliff, about fifty yards on our left, falling, which it did with a violent crash. So soon as our first consternation had a little subsided, we removed about ten or a dozen yards further from the edge of the cliff, and finished our dinner.

On the succeeding day, June 15th, having the Consul and some other friends on board, I weighed, and proceeded with the ship towards the volcano, with the intention of witnessing a night view; but in this expectation we were greatly disap

pointed

pointed, from the wind freshening and the weather becoming thick and hazy, and also from the volcano itself being clearly more quiescent than it was the preceding day. It seldom emitted any lightning, but occasionally as much flame as may be seen to issue from the top of a glass-house or foundery chimney. On passing directly under the great cloud of smoke, about. three or four miles distant from the volcano, the decks of the ship were covered with fine black ashes, which fell intermixed with small rain. We returned the next morning, and late on the evening of the same day I took my leave of St Michael's to complete my cruize.

On opening the volcano clear of the N. W. part of the island, after dark on the 16th, we witnessed one or two eruptions that, had the ship been near enough, would have been awfully grand. It appeared one continued blaze of lightning, but the distance which it was at from the ship, (upwards of twenty miles,) pre. vented our seeing it with effect. Returning again towards St Michael's, on the 4th of July, I was obliged, by the state of the wind, to pass with the ship very close to the island, which was now completely formed by the volcano, being nearly the height of Matlock High Tor, about eighty yards above the sea. At this time it was perfectly tranquil; which circumstance determined me to land, and explore it more narrowly. I left the ship in one of the boats, accompanied by some of the officers. As we approached, we perceived that it was still smoking in many parts, and upon our reaching the island found the surf on the beach very high. Rowing round to the lee side, with some little difficulty, by the aid of an oar, as a pole, I jumped on shore, and was followed by the other officers. We found a narrow beach of black ashes, from which the side of the island rose in general too steep to admit of our ascending; and,

where we could have clambered up, the mass of matter was much too hot to allow our proceeding more than a few yards in the ascent.

The declivity below the surface of the sea was equally steep, having

seven fathoms water scarce the boat's length from the shore, and at the distance of twenty or thirty yards we sounded twenty-five fathoms. From walking round it in about twelve minutes, I should judge that it was something less than a mile in circumfe rence; but the most extraordinary part was the crater, the mouth of which, on the side facing St. Michael's, was nearly level with the sea. It was filled with water, at that time boiling, and was emptying itself into the sea by a small stream about six yards over, and by which I should suppose it was continually filled again at high water. This stream, close to the edge of the sea, was so hot, as only to admit the finger to be dipped suddenly in and taken out again immediately.

It appeared evident, by the formation of this part of the island, that the sea had, during the eruptions, broke into the crater in two places, as the east side of the small stream was bounded by a precipice, a cliff between twenty and thirty feet high, forming a peninsula of about the same dimensions in width, and from fifty to sixty feet long, connected with the other part of the island by a narrow ridge of cinders and lava, as an isthmus of from forty to fifty feet in length, from which the crater rose in the form of an amphitheatre,

This cliff, at two or three miles distance from the island, had the appearance of a work of art, resembling a small fort or block-house.

The top

of this we were determined, if possible, to attain ; but the difficulty we had to encounter in doing so was considerable; the only way to attempt it was up the side of the isthmus, which was so steep, that the only mode by which we could effect it was, by fix

ing the end of an oar at the base, with

the assistance of which we forced ourselves up in nearly a backward direction.

Having reached the summit of the isthmus, we found another difficulty, for it was impossible to walk upon it, as the descent on the other side was immediate, and as steep as the one we had ascended; but, by throwing our legs across it, as would be done on the ridge of a house, and moving ourselves forward by our hands, we at length reached that part of it where it gradually widened itself, and formed the summit of the cliff, which we found to have a perfectly flat surface, of the dimensions before stated. Judging this to be the most conspicuous situation, we here planted the Union, and left a bottle sealed up, containing a small account of the origin of the island, and of our having landed upon it, and naming it Sabrina Island.

Within the crater I found the complete skeleton of a guard fish, the bones of which, being perfectly burnt, fell to pieces upon attempting to take them up; and, by the account of the inhabitants on the coast of St. Michael's, great numbers of fish had been destroyed during the early part of the eruption, as large quantities, probably suffocated or poisoned, were occasionally found drifted into the small inlets or bays. The island, like other volcanic productions, is composed principally of porous substances, and generally burnt to complete cinders with occasional masses of a stone, which I should suppose to be a mixture of iron and lime-stone.

[blocks in formation]

ANDERSON *, Alexander, Edin, burgh, 1688.

Angus +, Alexander, Aberdeen. Balfour, John, Edinburgh, 1770, 71, 75.

1775 Kobert Alexander, Esq. 1776 James Smollet, Esq. of Bonhill, by auction.

and Elphinston, Balfour, 178 1, 82-87.

Elphinston, 1781, supplement 1787.

1787 Hugh Seton, Esq. of Tough. Bell, John, Edinburgh, 1773, 78,85. 1786 Auction.

and Bradfute, 1790, 91. Chalmers §, James, Aberdeen.

"A Catalogue of excellent and rare Books, especially Histories and Romances, for the most part in English, and the Variorums, to be sold by way of Auction, the

12th day of November 1688. The books

are to be seen, from the first of November to the day of the Auction, at Edinburgh, on the South side of the High-street, a little above the Cross, being the close immediately above the Fish-market close, in the head of the said close on the left hand, where a placat will be on the gate, and the Catalogues are to be had there gratis. The time for Sale is only in the afternoon, from two of the clock till four. Edinburgh, printed in the year 1688;" only nine pages, closely

printed in two columns. "He who pays not his money presently, is to give earnest, to take them away and pay his money be fore the next day the auction begins; or else to lose his earnest, and the books to be put to sale again. What books shall happen to be unsold at the auction, are to be had af

terward."

† Mr Angus, of Aberdeen, who died about his life, the "Leigh and Sotheby, and the the year 1792, was, for the greatest part of King and Lochee," of that part of the world, and sold a great many libraries by auction. He was a man of great pleasantry and ready wit; and many of his bon mots are well recollected in Aberdeen,

One of the original promoters of the Society of Booksellers of Edinburgh and Leith; and the first who filled the situation of Præses thereof. He died in September 1806.

§ Printer to the City and University, and Printer and Proprietor of the Aberdeen Journal, which he conducted with uncom

mon

Creech, William, successor to Kincaid, 1774, 1778, auction 1780, Constable, Archibald, Edinburgh, 1795.

mon ability, and steady and loyal consistency of principle, for the long space of forty-six years. Few men have departed life in the city of Aberdeen with more unfeigned regret by a most numerous and highly-respectable circle of friends, to whom he was endeared by the best virtues that adorn social life-inflexible integrity, steady friendship, a disposition elevated, humane, and charitable, a temper unusually cheerful, and a memory rich in anecdote and information, chiefly of the literary kind.-His father cultivated his profession for some years in London, in the Printing-office of Mr Watts, (where he had the celebrated Dr Franklin for his fellow-journeyman,) was afterwards ranked among the literary printers of his time, and at his death was recorded as a gentleman "well skilled in the learned languages." His father was the Rev. James C. Professor of Divinity in the Marishal College, who died in 1744. About the year 1740 his son returned from London, and in 1746 established the Aberdeen Journal, at the close of the memorable Rebellion, during which he was a considerable sufferer from his attachment to the House of Hanover. His son, the subject of this article, was born in March 1742, and, after a classical and academical education at Marischal College, removed to London, and improved himself in the typographical art, both there and at Cambridge, until Sept. 1764, when the death of his father put him in possession of the establishment in his native city. Although now engaged in a business which afforded but little relaxation, and with the cares of a numerous family, he found leisure , to indulge his love of literature by that extensive course of reading which rendered him a valuable member of the literary societies of the place. With many of the Professors of both Colleges, and particularly with the late Drs. Campbell, Gerard, and Beattie, he formed an intimacy which death only dissolved. Had he been able to devote more time to study, it was universally thought by all who knew him, that he might have excelled in any branch of polite literature. The Gentleman's Magazine was frequently favoured with his communications on subjects of Biography and Antiquities.— As a man of business he was more generally known for his unvaried integrity, industry, and punctuality, which recommended him to the confidence and friendship of men of the highest rank and superior attainments.

Elliott, T. Kay, and Co. 1788.
Farie *, Robert, Glasgow.
Foulis +, Robert and Andrew, Glas-

gow.

In 1769, he married Margaret, youngest daughter of Mr David Douglas of London, by whom he left four sons and six daughters, who, with his afflicted widow, had to lament the loss of a tender husband, an indul gent father, and an affectionate and enga ging friend and companion, such as is not often to be found. He died June 17, 1810. He died March 30, 1800.

"Scotland, by these two learned Brothers, produced some of the most beautiful and correct printing which at present adorns the republic of letters. Even Bodoni of Parma, or Barbou of Paris, have not gone beyond some of the productions from the press of Robert and Andrew Foulis.

"Robert Foulis began printing about the year 1740; and one of his first essays was a good edition of Demetrius Phalereus, in 4to. In 1744, he brought out his famous immaculate edition of Horace, small 12mo. at Glasgow; and soon afterwards was in partnership with his brother Andrew.These two Printers were so industrious, that in thirty years time they produced as many correct and well-printed books as any of the famous Printers of old. Their large Classics, as well as their smaller sizes, either in Greek and Latin, or in pure Greek, are as remarkable for their beauty and exactness, as any in the Aldine series.

66

It is a melancholy reflection to think, that their taste for the fine arts at last produced their ruin; for, engaging to establish an Academy for the instruction of youth in Painting and Sculpture in Scotland, and the enormous expence necessary to send pupils to Italy, to study and copy the antients, gradually brought on their decline in the Printing business; and they found the city of Glasgow no fit soil to transplant the imitative arts into, although the literary genius of Greece and Rome had already produced them ample fortunes.

66

Notwithstanding the beginning of this scheme was very weak, yet in some of the departments it rose above mediocrity, particularly in drawing and engraving; but in moulding, modelling, and painting, they proved that all temporary and private attempts must be abortive, for want of continual support. Human life is too short for bringing to perfection those arts which require permanent establishments to prevent their decline. This is particularly the case with Painters; to whose studies no limits can be set, but whose encouragement is of

all

6

you any amusement, I have received amusement from you. At Ash bourne, where I had very little company, I had the luck to borrow Mr Bowyer's Life,' a book so full of contemporary history, that a literary man must find some of his old friends. I thought that I could now and then have told you some hints worth your notice; and perhaps we may talk a Life over. I hope we shall be much together. You must now be to me what you were before, and what dear Mr Allen was besides. He was taken unexpectedly away, but I think he was a very good man. I have made little progress in recovery. I am very weak, and very sleepiess; but I live on, and hope. I am, Sir, Your most humble servant, SAM. JOHNSON." After these invitations, my visits to him were of course more frequent; and his communications were more confidential.

He seriously entertained the thought of translating Thuanus: and often talked to me on the subject. Once, in particular, when I was rather wishing that he would favour the world, and gratify his Sovereign, by a Life of Spenser, (which he said that he would readily have done, had he been able to obtain any new materials for the purpose,) he added, "I have been thinking again, Sir, of Thuanus: it would not be the laborious task which you have supposed it. I should have no trouble but that of dictation, which would be performed as speedily as an amanuensis could write.

He was

proposal with much complacency, and a large sum of money was offered for it by Mr Cadell,) he declined, from motives of the sincerest modesty.— When talking of a regular edition of his own Works, not long before his death, he said, "that he had power, [from the booksellers,] to print such an edi tion, if his health admitted it; but had no power to assign over any edition, unless he could add notes, and so alter them as to make them new Works; which his state of health forbade him to think of."

I had occasionally the pleasure of introducing to him some of my literary friends, who were ambitious of this honour. Amongst these was the Rev. Samuel Badcock, well known for his eminent talents; who soon afterwards thus noticed the visit: "How much I am obliged to you for the favour you did me, in introducing me to Dr Johnson! Tantum vidi Virgilium.But to have seen him, and to have received a testimony of respect from him, was enough. I recollect all the conversation, and shall never forget one of his expressions.-Speaking of Dr Priestley, (whose writings I saw he estimated at a low rate,) he said,

·

You have proved him as deficient in probity as he is in learning.—I called him an Index-scholar; but he was not willing to allow him a claim even to that merit. He said, 'that he bor rowed from those who had been borrowers themselves, and did not know that the mistakes he adopted had been answered by others.'-I often think of our short, but precious, visit to this great man. I shall consider it as a kind of an ara in my life.”—The Rev. William Tooke, F. R. S. (the companion of my boyish days, and the steady friend thro' a pilgrimage of sixty years, whose fame is established by many valuable publications,) accomstone might be placed over the bodies of and highly delighted they were with panied me one day to Dr Johnson's;

earnestly invited, by his warm friend the late Mr Alderman Cadell, to publish a volume of Devotional Exercises; but this, (though he listened to the

tions on it in his own hand-writing. This I have caefully placed in my copy of

Shaw's Staffordshire.--He afterwards wrote to Lichfield, Dec. 2, desiring that a plain

his father, mother, and brother, who were

buried in St Michael's Church; and hoped

each other's conversation-particul.t

might be done while he was yet alive." ly after Mr Tooke had mesyund

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