During their combat, he escaped; and, after having joined his party, he proceeded to Wady Gharendel, Elim, and Mount Sinai; at the foot of which, he visited the convent of St. Catherine, said to be built on the spot where Moses, while watching the flocks of Jethro, beheld the angel of the Lord. In his way through the desert, our traveller was often deceived by the mirage; and in that part of the wilderness called Sin, he discovered the wells and palm trees related in the Scriptures to have been found there by the Israelites.

After reaching the summit of Mount Sinai, now so difficult of ascent, that it is often imposed by the monks as a penance, he entered the desert of Rephidim; inspected the rock of Maribah, where Moses made the water gush forth; and, shortly afterwards, returned to Cairo, and embarked on the Nile with the intention of sailing to Syria; in which country, after touching at the island of Cyprus, he landed, in December, 1721. Passing through Phoenicia, he joined a party of six thousand pilgrims proceeding to Jerusalem, when he was attacked by banditti, and seized upon as a hostage to secure the payment of a ransom for his delivery. The robbers, however, being dispersed by the Aga of Jerusalem, Mr. Shaw reached that city in safety; and, after visiting Bethlehem, Jericho, and the river Jordan, proceeded through the country, near Mount Ephraim, to the sea, and embarked at Acra for the coast of Barbary. Previously to setting sail, while his vessel was under Mount Carmel, he relates his observation of three flights of storks, each of which occupied three hours in passing over the breadth of only half a mile.

Landing at Bona, some time in 1722, he immediately proceeded to Algiers, where he amused himself by making several excursions into the interior of Barbary; on his return from one of which, he married Mrs. Holden, widow of a former British consul. In 1727, in which year he was made a fellow of his college, he visited Tunis, and the ruins of Carthage, where he spent much time in endeavouring to fix the boundaries of the ancient city; a point in the explanation of which he displays immense learning and research. Sailing east

ward, he passed by Rhodes; and after landing among the ruins of ancient Nisna, and visiting the sanctuary of Sidi Daoud, proceeded to Lowhaneah, formerly Aquilana, where he inspected the immense quarries described by Strabo as containing the materials with which Carthage and Utica were built. Pursuing from Cape Bon the circumversions of the shore, he proceeded as far as the eastern boundary of the Lesser Syrtis, visiting, in his way, Hamamet and Saloome, and making such inspections and examinations among the ruins he met with as would enable him to determine the sites of ancient cities, and otherwise assist him in his geographical researches. From the island of Jerby, he turned his course towards the lake of Marko, beyond which he had to pass a dreary and sterile waste, infested by banditti.

Pursuing his course westward, he arrived in safety at Algiers, where he continued making several excursions into the interior of the country, till 1733, when he returned to England, and commenced the preparation of his manuscripts for the press, which he published in 1738. His work received general and merited approbation, but was attacked by Dr. Pococke, who accused Shaw of incorrectness in his description of the east. These charges, however, he very ably rebutted, in a work he published in 1746, entitled, Supplement to a Work entitled Voyages and Observations; and in a Letter to Clayton, Archbishop of Clogher, printed in 1747. In 1733, our traveller became D. D. and a fellow of the Royal Society; and, in 1740, was nominated by his college, principal of St. Edmund Hall, the ruinous state of which he soon repaired by his munificence. About the same time, he was also made regius professor of Greek at Oxford, and presented to the vicarage of Bramley, where he resided till his death, which took place some time in 1751.

The work of Dr. Shaw, which has been translated into the French, Dutch, and German languages, is the best that has been written containing an account of the Algerine and Tunisian states. Of the manners of the country, and its natural history, his details are most minute and interesting; and his geographical researches throw a light upon

the ancient and modern state of Numidia, which before was but imperfectly known. In the course of his travels, he collected nearly six hundred plants, of which one hundred and forty were newly discovered, besides an immense number of minerals and medals, many of which he presented to public institutions. In the course of conversation,

happening to assert that a certain tribe of the Arabs were lion-eaters, he was much ridiculed and disbelieved; but Bruce has since confirmed the truth of his statement, as well as of all the accounts he gives, in his travels, of Africa. For the services he rendered to botany, the plant Shawia was so named by Forster, in honour of him.

LORD GEORGE ANSON, Baron of Soberton, son of William Anson, Esq., was born in 1697, at his father's seat in Staffordshire. He evinced an early predilection for a naval life, and having passed through the necessary grades of his profession, became, in 1722, commander of the Weazle sloop, from which, in 1724, he went as post-captain on board the Scarborough. Between 1724 and 1735, he made three voyages to South Carolina, where he built a town to which he gave his own name, and acquired considerable property. During the years 1738 and 1739, he was employed in protecting the trade of Guinea from the annoyance of the French; and, in 1740, he was appointed to lead a squadron against the Spanish settlements in the Pacific. After considerable delay, he sailed with five ships of the line, and a few smaller vessels, but the little fleet was dispersed by tempestuous weather, in the passage round Cape Horn, and afterwards re-assembled at the island of Juan Fernandez. Anson's own ship, the Centurion, had lost half her crew by the scurvy, while the men that remained were nearly all disabled by disease; and, though some were restored by the vegetables found in the island, others were every day added to the lists of mortality. The British squadron sojourned for three months at Juan Fernandez, during which time, Anson, by his personal attendance on the invalids, set an example which was honourably followed by his officers.

On the 19th of September, the ships, whose united crews were now reduced in number from one thousand four hundred to three hundred and thirtyfive men, set sail for the town of Paita,

which they attacked, set fire to, and abandoned, having possessed themselves of a booty worth £30,000. They quitted Paita on the 16th of November, bringing with them a ship called the Solidad, having previously sank or destroyed most of the other vessels which they found in the harbour.

Commodore Anson next directed his passage towards the coast of Mexico, in the hope of intercepting a rich Spanish galleon, on her passage from Acapulco to Manilla. Abandoning the Gloucester, which accompanied him, in consequence of its leaky state, he concentrated the whole of his force in his own ship, the Centurion, from which he disembarked at the island of Tinian, one of the Ladrones, with the greater part of his men. Whilst on shore, he beheld the Centurion carried out to a great distance at sea, and no hope being entertained of her return, the greatest activity was used to render sea-worthy a Spanish bark that had been found on the island, in which the commodore intended to set out in search of his vessel. Fortunately, the ship came to anchor a few days after, in front of the island, and the little force soon proceeded to intercept the galleon. Its capture was effected after two hours' sharp fighting, in which two were killed and seventeen wounded on board the Centurion, while among the Spaniards sixty-seven were killed and eighty-four wounded. After the action, the Centurion was discovered to be on fire near the powder-room, but the flames being promptly extinguished, it reached Canton, in safety, with its prize, worth £313,000. Commodore Anson arrived, after an absence of three years and nine months, on the 15th of June, 1744, at

Spithead, having, by the aid of a fog, passed unobserved through the French fleet, which was waiting for his return in the channel.

In addition to the immense wealth which Anson had gained from this expedition, he was made rear-admiral of the blue, and became a member of parliament for Heydon, in Yorkshire. He soon after was promoted to the rank of vice-admiral of the white, and was honoured with a seat at the board of admiralty. In 1747, he encountered and subdued, off Cape Finisterre, the French fleet under M. de la Jonquierre, who, on giving his sword to Anson, said, pointing to L'Invincibile and La Gloire, two of the ships which had surrendered, "Sir, you have vanquished the Invincible, and Glory follows you." For this victory, which was owing to the enemy's inferiority of number, and not to their want of bravery, the English admiral was raised to the peerage by the title of Lord Anson, Baron of Soberton, and he was soon after made vice-admiral of England. He was made first lord of the admiralty, in 1751; and from that year till 1755, acted as one of the lords justices during the absence of the king from England. He quitted his post at the admiralty in November, 1756, owing to some strictures that had been made on his conduct relative to the loss of Minorca. He was, however honourably acquitted; and, in 1758, had the command of a powerful fleet to protect the descents that the English were about to make on Cherbourg and St. Malo. In 1761, he was made commander-in-chief of the fleets, and by this elevation, attained the summit of professional honour. The last service which he performed was in the September of the same year, when he conveyed Charlotte, the intended con

sort of George the Third, to England from Germany.

He died suddenly on the 6th of June, 1762, at his seat, Moor Park, having just before been walking in his garden. At his death, the barony became extinct, he having had no issue by his wife, Elizabeth Yorke, eldest daughter of Lord-chancellor Hardwicke. His nephew was, however, created Viscount Anson.

Lord Anson had all the qualities requisite to form a naval officer. He was persevering in enterprise, intrepid in danger, calm and sagacious in perplexity. The motto of "Nil desperandum," that was attached to his arms, seemed always present to his thoughts in the hour of difficulty or peril. In private life, he was ingenuous and unsuspecting; so that he often became the dupe of those of an opposite disposition. He knew so little of men and of society, that he was said "to have been round the world, but never in it;" and his unfortunate attachment to play, made him a victim at home to the knavery of pretended friends, though abroad he had little difficulty in vanquishing his avowed enemies.

His voyage round the world, compiled under his own direction, but printed with the name of his chaplain, is an amusing and well-written work, and contains an interesting account of an expedition, which Mr. Aikin justly ranks "among the most memorable of the naval transactions of England." Among the merits of this eminent person, says the same authority, was that of having bred up several excellent officers, who afterwards performed great services to their country. Till later voyages had multiplied the navigation of the globe, "to have been round the world with Commodore Anson" a great distinction to a seaman.

was

RICHARD POCOCKE was born at Southampton, some time in the year 1704. After having received a classical education, and acquired a knowledge of several oriental languages, he, in Au

gust, 1733-4, about which time he took the degree of LL. D., visited France and Italy; and, in 1736, he set out on an expedition to the east. He reached Alexandria in September, 1737, and

proceeded thence to Rosetta, where he visited Cosmas, the Greek patriarch, and observed the veneration of the people for "two of those naked saints, who are commonly natural fools, and are held in great esteem in Egypt." On the 11th of November, he reached Cairo, where he took great pains in ascertaining the modern condition of the country, and the customs of the people, with every description of whom he associated and conversed. After descending the well of Joseph, visiting and examining the pyramids near Cairo and Saccara, and endeavouring to discover the site of ancient Memphis, which, in accordance with Bruce and others, he places at Metrahenny, he made an excursion to Faiume, the Lake Maris, and ancient Arsinoe; in which province he discovered, at Baiamont, the ruins of two pyramids; where, he observes, "I saw the people sifting the sand in order to find seals and medals, there being no part in all the east where the former are found in such great abundance." About two miles distant from Lake Moris, he explored the remains of the Temple of the Labyrinth, a building which once contained three thousand rooms, "contrived in such a manner that no stranger could find his way out;" and he relates a tradition, prevalent among the inhabitants near the lake, of King Caroon, "who had keys to his treasures that loaded two hundred camels." "One would imagine from this," he observes, "that the fable of Charon might have its rise here, and that this name might be the title of the chief person who had the care of the labyrinth and of the sepulchres in and about it."

Mr. Pococke embarked, in the beginning of December, for Upper Egypt; and, on the 9th of January, 1738, reached Dendera, where he discovered the remains of all the ancient buildings choked with ashes, and the habitations of the Arabs fixed on the Temple of Athor-Aphrodite, or the Egyptian Venus. He then visited the ruins of Thebes, Elephantina, Philoe, and the cataracts; and returning to Cairo, the latter end of February, prepared for an excursion to Mount Sinai; but a war just breaking out between the monks and Arabs in that part, he changed his course, and, sailing down the Nile

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to Damietta, arrived at Jaffa on the 14th of March. Proceeding immediately to Jerusalem, he explored every spot worthy of notice in that city; and his topographical observations have moved much obscurity respecting several parts of it. After making an excursion to Jericho and Jordan, he proceeded along the brook of Kedron to the Dead Sea, where he bathed, in order to ascertain the truth of Pliny's assertion that no living bodies would sink in. it. I stayed in it," says Mr. Pococke, near a quarter of an hour, and found I could lay on it in any posture without motion and without sinking; it bore me up in such a manner, that when I struck in swimming, my legs were above the water, and I found it difficult to recover my feet." His face was covered with a crust of salt on coming out of the lake, and he describes the water as having the effect of constringing his mouth, in the same manner as strong alum juice. In May, he returned to Jaffa, whence he sailed to Acra, and visited the northern parts of Palestine and Galilee, particularly Mounts Carmel and Tabor, Cana, Nazareth, the lake of Tiberias, and Mount Hermon; whence he proceeded towards the sea, and sailed to Tyre, Sidon, and Mount Lebanon. He next explored Balbec and its magnificent temple; proceeded to Damascus, Horus, and Aleppo; and after crossing the Euphrates to Orfah, continued his route through Antioch and Scanderoon to Tripoli, where, on the 24th of October, he embarked for Cyprus. After passing some time in this island, he returned to Egypt; visited Mount Sinai; followed the track of the Israelites through the wilderness; embarked at Alexandria for Crete; ascended Mount Ida, and continued his course to Smyrna and Constantinople. He then visited the principal cities of Greece, and returned to England in 1741; two years after which, he published, in one folio volume, an account of his travels, with maps and plates, under the title of A Description of the East, and some other Countries, which was succeeded by two other volumes of the same size.

Mr. Pococke, on his return to England, was spoken of with great reputation throughout Europe; and having taken orders, was made, in 1756, Archdeacon of Ossory; in 1765, Bishop of

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Elphin; in the July of the same year, Bishop of Meath; and died of apoplexy in the following month of September.

Few authors have given so minute and curious an account of the pyramids and temples of Egypt and Palestine; or more accurately described and determined the ancient and modern topography of the famous cities and ruins he visited, than Dr. Pococke. The account of his travels contains a mass of most valuable and interesting information; which, however, notwithstanding the education of the author, is written in a style, dry, crude, and occasionally ungrammatical. It has been doubted whether he really discovered

THIS distinguished merchant, traveller, and philanthropist, was born at | Portsmouth, in Hampshire, on the 12th of August, 1712. At the age of seventeen, he was bound apprentice to a merchant at Lisbon, and, at the expiration of his apprenticeship, returned to London, and pursued his commercial profession, without any remarkable event occurring in his life, until 1743. In the February of this year, he entered into partnership with Mr. Dingley, a Russian merchant, and arrived. in the following June, at St. Petersburzh. Here he first became acquainted with the Caspian trade, then in its infancy, and having an ardent desire to visit Persia, he made an offer to the Russian factors to proceed to that country in the capacity of their agent, which he was accordingly appointed, and set out in September.

With his suite, consisting of an interpreter, a clerk, a Russian servant, a Tartar boy, and a guard, and having under his care twenty carriage loads of English cloth, he arrived at Moscow in ten days; whence, on the 24th he proceeded to Zaritzen, on the banks of the Volga, and, along that river, continued his journey to Astrachan and Yerkie. Having now arrived at the Caspian, he embarked, on the 22nd of November, and traversing the whole length of the sea from north to south, made a short

stay at Langarood, and then made for Asirabad, which he reached on the 18th of December. After the inhabitants had shown some apprehension at hoiding communication with a vessel which they at first supposed to be that of a pirate, Mr. Hanway was allowed to land; and whilst on shore, witnessed the woods of the neighbouring mountains on fire; the heat of which was so excessive, that it is described by Mr. Pugh, the biographer of Hanway, as "causing the butter on board the ship to run like oil." On his arrival at Astrabad, he was presented to the governor, who received him in great state, and told him, in the eastern style of compliment, "that the city of Astrabad was now his to do what he pleased with." Having obtained the promise of an escort to Meshed, he had already sent part of his goods forward, and was preparing to set out himself for that city, when, to his great mortification, the governor told him he could spare but one soldier to accompany him. This reply was succeeded by the arrival of intelligence still more distressing, and rendering the situation of Hanway extremely perilous. The town of Astrabad had been suddenly besieged by a party of rebels, and their leader declaring that he intended to seize the shah's treasures and the European goods, the terrified inhabitants "cursed