thonths in twelve come from Bourbon, the Cape of Good Hope, Batavia, and Europe. The fpiceries of Ceylon, Amboyna, and Banda, promife to flourish in this ifland. In the parish of Pamplemonfe, the King of France maintains, at a confiderable expence, and in good condition, a fpacious botanical garden, divided into four parts, reprefenting the feveral quarters of the earth; in which the trees, fhrubs, plants, flowers, herbs, roots, &c. of each are respectively planted; pieces of wood being fixed in the ground by each, defcribing its name,native country,and qualities. In this garden cinnamon and cloves thrive amazingly. All around the island (except fmall inlets oppofite to fome bays) at a tolerable distance from the fhore, there is a reef of coral rock, which fhelters the intermediate space of water, makes it quite fmooth and ferene, and prevents the formation of fuch heavy furges as, rolling and breaking on the fhore, might render landing difficult, if not impracticable. The fields and woods abound with deer, hares, rabbits, and flying game. The inhabitants are remarkable for their hofpitality, and the ladies who are natives of this ifland, for their beauty. Mauritius is the metropolis of the French African iflands, the chief feat of government, the emporium of commerce, and the afyfum of exiles from France. The inhabitants are not fo independent in their circumstances, nor fo eafy in their minds as thofe of Bourbon, although they affect drefs and gaiety, and have better houfes and furniture. Every third more perfon you meet of a fair complexion, wears at his button-hole the order of St, Louis. As the pofition of the town of Port Louis, and the fortifications defending the entrance of the harbour, are well known, I fhall not give any particular defcription of them. I cannot, however, but oferve, that the practice of warping fhips into that port, is merely a political ftratagem, intended to imprefs the world with a notion that it is of the most difficult accefs. The paffage for fhips is clear and eafy; and every afternoon, during the 23 days I was there, there was a conftant, fteady; and brifk gale directly into the harbour. The island of Bourbon is fituated in the 21ft degree of fouth latitude, and 54th eaft longitude from London. Its figure is nearly circular. Perhaps there is not a spot on the face of the earth fo worthy of the attention of naturalifts as this ifland. It contains three high mountains, which are often feen at the diftance of thirty leagues: and are the highest land I ever faw, except the Peak of Teneriffe. On the fummit of one of thefe mountains, which is in the fouth east quarter of the island, there is a volcano which frequently emits finoke, flames, and afhes. This volcano exhibits an awful but beautiful profpe&t at night, when it vomits flames, and fills the fur rounding heavens with particles of fire. Of the three mountains of Bourbon, this alone is barren and uninhabited. The mountain which is reputed the highest, riles in the centre of the ifland, and to the northward of it appears a ridge of hills, called the Falaifes one one fide of which, bold, abrupt, and fublime, forms a Rupendous precipice, in perpendicular height two thoufand French fathoms, overhanging a large river, which fometimes glides fmoothly along, and at others falls in rough cafeades. In refpect of fize, Bourbon is nearly equal to Mauritius. The foil, which is in fome parts black, and in others grey, is fuperlatively fruitful, and improves in quality in proportion as it approaches even to the tops of eminences and mountains. The windward fide, and the quarter of St. Lufan on the caft fide, are level lauds watered by very fine rivers, particularly the great river d'Abord, which precipitates itfelf into a diftrict the most beautiful of the whole ifland, but where the landing from the fea is difficult and full of danger. In the latitude of 21 degrees this ifland produces wheat, cabbages, turnips, carrots, artichokes, perfe, beans, and garden-fruits and roots equal in fize and flavour to any I ever faw in Europe. It prodices alfo the fugar-cane, cof fer, cotton, indigo, and all Weft India fruits, fuperior to any I ever faw in any of the American iflands. Its rice is not inferior to that of either Carolina; and its mangoes are equal to any in Hindcftan. The poultry are the largest I ever faw, and in every respect excel thofe of all other countries. The ladies of Bourbon are remarkably tall, and elegantly formed: their complexions beautifully red and white, and their features the most delica e and handfome that can be imagined. In figure, complexion, and features, the men refeinble the women; only that the former are more mafcular, f dwell a little on the extraordinary beauty of the natives of the ifland of Bourbon, because it is a very fingular circumfiance to find ele gance of fhape, delicacy of features, and bloom of complexion in the torrid zone... The pafturage of this ifland is not well adapted to the breed of fheep, but it abounds with goats, fmall horned cattle, and fmall hardy horfes. The inhabitants of Bourbon are ftill more hofpitable than thofe of Mauritius. They are frank, cheerful, and polite, with more fincerity. Every repaft begins with a glass of brandy, and the tables are plentiful and elegant, being furnished with but cher's meat, and a great variety of fowls, fish, and vegetables. But the enjoyments of the gay and focial inhabitants of this eachanting ifle are mixed with fufferings unknown in the most bar. ren and inhofpitable countries. Contented and happy in the company of one another, they might well defpife that contempt in which they are held by the poor nobleffe of Mauritius, becaule, forfooth, they are not in general of noble extraction; but they fuffer feverer misfortunes under that iron government in which they live: the depredations of their rebellious runaway flaves, who oc cupy fome of the inacceffible mountains; but above all, in those frequent hurricanes which ravage their country from January to April or May. The diftance from Bourbon to Mauritius is about 37 leagues, which is run from the latter to the former in the space of from eighteen to twenty-four hours: but but to return to Mauritius from this paffage fhould be adopted by their navigation at thofe feafons when the inner paffage between Madagascar and the continent is impracticable. Bourbon takes up a month; at the leaft fourteen days, uniefs in the hurricane feafon, when the wind is more variable. The Seychell or Mahé Islands lie a few leagues north-east from the north end of Madagafcar. The French took poffeffion of them fince the last war, and ftationed in them a party of foldiers. They were before uninhabited. They yield fome tropical provifions, and a great many turtle, with other fish. In the island of Seychell there is a very fate and commodious deep bay, with excellent anchorage, where fhips may wood and water with great ease and fafety. At a very fhort diftance, I believe less than a league from the ifland of Seychell, lies that of Prafline. The foil of each is reprefented as excellent; the land throughout is flat, and is faid to grow fome large timber proper for building. Thefe iflands are remarkable for producing the tree which yields a kind of cocoa-nut, reprefenting in the most striking manner the figure of a human breech, thighs, &c. having a fœtid fmell from an aperture of the fundament, like that of human excrement. The Indians, ftruck with this resemblance, formerly fet an enormous value upon thefe nuts; but fince the French traders furnished the market with them more plentifully, they have loft much of their eflimation, together with their rarity. As thefe iflands are capable of raifing abundance of provifions, theep, goats, and horned cattle, a fettlement might be made. on them, very convenient for the English East India Company, if VOL. XXV. Some Account of the most capital` Pictures in the King of Spain's Palace at Madrid. Tranflated from the Spanish of Sir Anthony Raphael Mengs, Knt. First Painter to bis Catholic Majefty, by John Talbot Dillon, Knt. and Baron of the facred Roman Empire. I COULD with that all the fine pictures difperfed in the different royal feats were united and formed into one grand collection in the palace at Madrid, and that they were properly arranged in a gallery worthy of the magnificence of the monarch, in order to address to you on this fubject an effay on the art, from the remote times down to the prefent, in which every artist we know of worthy of notice might be more or lefs commented upon, for the information of thofe who have any curiofity or tafte for these matters; and that they might be made fenfible of the effential difference ex. ifting between them, by which I fhould be able to render my own ideas more clear; but the court having never formed any inten tions of fuch a collection, I thall fpeak unconnectedly of the great masters of different ages, attaching myfelf principally to the Spanih painters, whofe works are confpicuous in the principal apartments of the palace. Some of the most distinguished of these performances are in the king's dreffing-room, particularly N by by the hand of Velafquez, Spag- In the picture of the feigned Bacchus crowning a few drunkards, his ftyle is more loofe and free, copying Nature not as the is, but as the appears to the eye. He is fill more bold and animated in his Vulcan's Forge; where fome of the figures of the workmen are a perfect imitation of na. ture. But he has given the most perfect copy of nature in the picture of a woman fpinning, which is of his last flyle and manner, and fo well executed, that the labour of the hand fems not to have been employed, but that the mind alone conveyed the pencil, in which its merit is fingular. Some of his portraits have likewife this excellence, and form the moft perfect model of his fchool. Spagnolet was admirable in his imitation of nature, ftrength of clair obfcure, freedom of pencil, and in defcribing peculiar circumftances of the human frame, fuch as wrinkles, hair, &c. His manner is bold; but he did not equal Velafquez in his diftribution of light and fhade, not understanding its proper gradations, and the ef fects of air, though his colouring is more lively, as may be feen by his pictures over the doors. In the fame apartment there are pictures of Murillo, in two different manners: his first, in those of the Incarnation and the birth of our Saviour; which, particularly the fecond, are painted with great boldness in regard to nature, tho' performed before he had attained that foftnefs which characterizes his fecond manner, as may be perceived in other pictures in this apartment; particularly in the fmall one of the nuptials of Our Lady, and a fine half length of St. James in the adjacent room. In the King's drawing-room there is an excellent picture of Velafquez, reprefenting the Infanta Donna Margarita Maria of Afturias, whole portrait Velafquez is drawing; but this capital piece being fo well known, I have nothing to add, only that it is a convincing proof of the effect of imitation from nature, and of the general fatisfaction it yields, particularly when the beautiful is not the primary confideration. I pals over at prefent many fine paintings of Titian's, difperfed in various apartments of the palace, to speak to you of that most noble picture of Velafquez reprefenting Philip IV. on horfeback; where every thing is admirable, as well the horfe as the figure of the monarch; even the landscape is ma naged naged with tafte; but, above all, the graceful cafe of the fovereign's head is fingular, as the very skin feems to thine, and the hair is beautiful, and touched with great lightnefs. Contiguous to this capital performance, there is another of the Conde Duke of Olivares, in nothing inferior to that of the king's. Let us now turn our attention to another picture, by the fame hand, reprefenting a fiege, which was before in that faloon of the Retiro, called De los Reynos, and is now in the dining-room of the Moft Serene Prince of Afturias. This picture comprehends every perfection the fubject would admit of; and there is no part, if we only except the foldiers lances, which is not reprefented with the utmoft skill. In the fame apartment there is a portrait of the Infanta Donna Margarita Maria, and an Infante on horseback, both by Velafquez, in his best manner, as well as fome other portraits, of his, in the fame room. In the Prince of Afturias's dreffing-room there are three fine pictures by Spagnolet, two of them reprefent a St. Jerome and a St. Benedict, companions, executed in his brightest manner, in which a perfect command of the pencil may be obferved, as well as the most accurate copy from nature, with an uncommon expreffion in the countenance of St. Benedict. The third is the martyrdom of a faint, equally excellent, though with more force. It would be fuperfluous to fpeak to you of Rubens, or of his school, of which there are many pieces in the palace. But one, above others, is remarkable, reprefenting the adoration of the kings, one of his moft capital pieces, done by him in Flanders, after his best manner; and afterwards, when he came to Spain, he made an addition to the canvas, to enlarge the picture, and increase the number of figures; amongst which he has added his own portrait. This picture contains every perfection the artift was capable of in the hiftorical line; and the defign is not the most incorrect. Amongst many fine pieces of Vandyke, there is one reprefenting the apprehending of Chrift in the garden, executed with a fine taste and colouring, as far as a night-piece would admit of: a half length portrait of the Cardinal Infante, brother of Philip IV. is alfo infinitely excellent from the juftnefs of its execution, and the graceful eafe that attends it, as well as colouring and fallowness of complexion. The works of Lucca Jordano are innumerable; of whom it may be faid, he never did any thing amifs; as a good tafte is everywhere perceptible in his works, though in an einbryo form, compared to the excellent productions of other great men of the Italian fchools. On the other hand, he never arrived at perfection; fo that his manner will admit of no falling off, without a total debafement of painting, which was the fate of his copiers. The works of Jordan may be claffed in two different manners, though he often printed indifcriminately, copying from different painters. Some of his pieces have an harflinefs, like thofe of Spagnolet, from whom Jordan learn. ed his art, and copied in his early days; but his general manner, and N 2 the |