scapes to be the preferable subjects of premiums and of purchases for the gallery; but other works of the above-mentioned artists to be admissible, if deemed worthy.

4. A preference to be given to such pictures as have been exhibit ed at the Royal Academy.

5. The funds to be derived from benefactions, from annual subscriptions, from small fees on reception of the pictures, and commissions on the sale of them.

6. The members of the establish ment to be admitted in seven different classes. 1. Benefactors of one hun dred guineas or more in one sum. 2. Benefactors of fifty guineas in one sum. 3. Annual subscribers of five guineas or more. 4. Benefac tors of thirty guineas in one sum. 5. Annual subscribers of three guineas. 6. Benefactors of ten guineas in one sum. 7. Annual subscribers of one guinea a year. These rules are followed by several others, relative to the admission of subscribers, &c.; and it is stated that benefactors of one hundred guineas or upwards shall have the same privileges as the others in perpetuity, and be the hereditary patrons of the establishment; and out of that body the president and treasurer is to be annually elected; the whole to be under the government of a committee consisting of fifteen directors. It is further stated, that the reception-fees on pictures exhibited, shall be in proportion to the size of the picture, and not to its intrinsic value; and that the commission on the sale is to be one shilling in the pound; and that the rooms are to be shut up during the time of the annual exhibition of the Royal Academy.

Several first rate artists, among whom, are sir Wm. Beechey and Mr. Westall, are preparing pictures for this institution; and Mr. Ward, by the advice of the marquis of Stafford, who gave him fifty guineas for the original sketch, exhibits the picture of The Lyboya Serpent seizing its prey; the size of which is upwards of twelve feet by nine. The same artist has lately painted for

VOL. VI. NO. XXXV.

lord Somerville two landscapes, com→ prising very picturesque views, tak en from part of his lordship's estate in Somersetshire; also, two dogs and a puppy, of the Dalmatian breed, the property of captain Basset; this is painted in the manner of Hondius, and is a most spirited performance. From seeing a very capital picture of a white horse by Vandyke, in the royal collection, Mr. Ward has been induced to paint in imitation of the manner a portrait of Adonis, his majesty's favourite Hanoverian charger; and it is a very correct and spirited production. Mr. Ward is now engaged in painting several pic tures for the duke of Bedford, sir Watkin Williams Wynne, &c. He occasionally engraves, and is now engaged in a mezzotinto of the present bishop of Gloucester, from Lawrence, which promises to be a very superior print.

For his Italian views, Mr. Freebairne has been long pre-eminent : the poetic taste with which they are conceived; the appropriate character with which they are delineated; and the classic purity with which they are coloured, entitles them to a high rank with all men of taste. His right to this character is displayed in some pictures now in his painting-room. One of them is a view of the Bay of Naples, with the promontory of Pausillipo, in which was situated Virgil's academy; the Port of Civita Vecchia; the Vale of Tempe, and a scene in the environs of Delphi. To show that he can give to English scenery its appropriate graces, he has painted some English views; a view on the Thames near Marlow, which he has lately completed, is in an admirable style; it is a morning scene, with the boats, barges, and craft going off; the water painted in a beautiful transparent manner, with English barges, English boats, and English figures.

Nollekins, whose taste and talents as a sculptor are so well known, whose female figures have been remarked for elegance and grace, has just finished two statues of Venus, as large as life, and extremely beauti

4

ful. In one of them, she is represented as putting on her sandal; in the other, adjusting her hair. He has also finished a new bust of Mr. Fox. Of the old bust, it is a remarkable circumstance, and exhibits a singular proof of the popularity of the original, as well as of the merit of the sculptor, that Nollekins has carved in stone fifteen, at one hundred guineas each, for the following distinguished personages. The late empress of Russia, the prince of Wales, the duke of Norfolk, duke of Northumberland, duchess of Devonshire, lord Moira, lord Townshend, lord Holland, duke of Bedford, lord William Russel, Mr. Byng, Mr. Baker, the East India company, sir Francis Burdett, ford St. Vincent, Mr. Long, &c., &c. He has in hand a monumental statue of the late Mr. Townley, the proprietor of the capital collection of statues, which are to be removed to the British Museum. The above is to be erected in the chancel of the church at Burnley, Lancashire, which was built by some of Mr. Townley's family.

For the Literary Magazine.

ACCOUNT OF THE BRITISH AFRI

CAN COLONY AT BULAM.

MUCH as all must wish the abolition of slavery and the promotion of a commendable intercourse with the inhabitants of Africa, the colonizing scheme possesses more of romantic virtue than of true wisdom. The object to be accomplished seems too vast for the means employed, and the good to be effected lies at a remote distance. We may hope that, in time, Africa will be civilized; but the occupation by Europeans of a few inconsiderable islands, on a small part of its western coast, does not promise to make any extensive impression on the sentiments and manners of its inhabitants. In reply, however, it might be said that every thing must have a beginning;

and that Africa can only be civilized by bringing her in contact with more enlightened nations, and by establishing a communication between her and the christian world, on principles at least not abhorrent to christianity. Such were the views of the projectors of the Bulam expedition.

In the year 1791, Mr. Beaver, being then a lieutenant of the royal navy, out of employ, and preferring an active life to lounging about the capital, formed several schemes which were not executed, and at last engaged with a few gentlemen in attempting a settlement on the uninhabited island of Bulam, near the mouth of the Grande. Having advertised their plan, many subscribers were soon obtained; and on April 13, 1792, little more than three months after the commencement of the project, two hundred and seventy-five colonists, including men, women, and children, left England, in three vessels, the Calypso, Hankey, and Beggar's Benison, for the place of their destination.

With such haste and inexperience was this affair concerted, that they illegally proceeded to form a constitution for the future regulation of the colony, without the approbation of government. The motives, indeed, were highly creditable to the gentlemen concerned, and, if their measures were irregular, they could not be attributed to sedition: for their sole objects were to purchase land in Africa from those who claimed a right to the soil, and not to take forcible possession of it; to try whether it could not be cultivated by free natives, to induce the degraded Africans to labour and industry, and to ameliorate their condition by the introduction of religion and letters.

It will easily be supposed that a number of colonists, who were hastily obtained from all quarters by means of public advertisements, did not all enter into these sublime views; and that the majority of them did not weigh the nature of the undertaking, but engaged in it with the hope of exchanging their present ills

for some happy region beyond the Atlantic. Scarcely, however, were they embarked when discontents arose; and Mr. Beaver perceived that he had collected individuals whose character and conduct did not augur success,

Soon after they sailed, the Calypso parted company; and though the vessels were appointed to rendezvous at Teneriffe, previously to their proceeding for Bulam, the Calypso, which first arrived at the former island, did not wait for its companions, but made all haste to reach the latter; and its crew having imprudently taken forcible possession of it, they were attacked by the Africans, and several of them were slain and made prisoners.

When Mr. Beaver arrived, after an interesting voyage in the Hankey, he found the first detachment of settlers dispirited by this melancholy circumstance, and the majority of the adventurers soon resolved on abandoning the colony, in the Calypso. He prevailed, however, on a part to persevere in their original intention; and having made a purchase of the island of Bulama, so it is called in Africa, from the neighbouring kings, he took possession of it on July 19, 1792, with only 86 colonists, besides 4 seamen and a boy, who had unanimously voted him their president.

In a journal written on the island, from the sailing of the Calypso to its final evacuation on November 29, 1793, Mr. B. presents an afflicting account of their hardships and gradual mortality. Of the 275 persons who sailed from England, in order to settle on the island, there remained to him, after eleven months were elapsed, only three white and two black men, with two boys; who, together with three sailors, made the whole strength of the colony! His own exertions were so severe and unremitting, that it is impossible to give an adequate idea of them without transcribing almost all his journal.

When he saw the settlers almost daily falling sacrifices to the unheal

thiness of the climate, and to despondency of mind, it is surprising that his own firmness remained unshaken; and that he himself should have survived several attacks of fever with which he was afflicted. On the day following his recovery from a severe illness he records the following particulars :

Between seven and eight in the evening I could no longer articulate; but was seized with a rattling in my throat, wich I conceived to be a symptom of my no very distant dissolution. I was still sensible; and, indeed, for an hour after this rattling first seized me. It was now that I heard every one say that it was all over; and that captain Cox, sitting by the sky-light almost immediately over me, said that to-morrow he should have orders to get ready to sail for England. This, now that I am better, Mr. Munden and Mr. Aberdein, the only two members of the committee, have confirmed; as they had made up their minds to give such orders the moment that I was dead; for neither of them would take charge of the colony, and indeed, if they would, nobody would have staid when I was gone.

I can with truth aver, that if in these moments I had the least wish to live, it was to preserve this colony. Death, if thou never comest clothed in greater terrors, I shall never be afraid to meet thee; for the happiest moments of my existence were those, when I expected to cease to be. May my future life be such as to enable me always to meet thee thus!

About nine, I fell into a dose; and did not awake until late next morning, the 16th, when I was out of danger; and am this day well enough to sit up a little.

Afterwards, on December 18, 1792, on his recovering from a subsequent fever, his memorandums are:

Continue to get better. A fine breeze from the N. E. Peter and my man continue at work, but what is their work to what we have to do? It is like a drop of water compared with the ocean. Peter

is weak with a slight flux, and Waston is not very strong. Died, and was buried, Joseph Riches. Myself well enough to walk about a little; the N. E. wind continued to blow fresh all day, the therm. in the morning was 72, and has not risen higher than 77; in short, it has been the coolest and pleasantest day that I have yet experienced on the island. Its bracing coolness has almost cured me, who have been from day-light till dark exposed to it, while our indolent sick have been pent up all day in their stinking eating house, which has scarcely been cleaned since they came on shore, rather than exert themselves so much as to go into this renovating air. In the evening, when we leave off work, Peter goes on board the cutter; and my man and myself remain to defend the block-house! 'tis well we are not attacked. Since the departure of the Hankey, I have had no one to speak to, no conversation. I do not think it safe to show lights, and therefore cannot read in the evening; indeed, my head at present could not bear it; so that, after we leave off work, I sit about two hours alone in the dark, in sullen deliberation on what we are to do on the morrow, and then go to bed. How different this, from the life I have been accustomed to!

Since the first of this month, of 19 men, 4 women, and 5 children, we have buried 9 men, 3 women, and 1 child, which is, except one, half of the whole colony. It is melancholy no doubt, but many have absolutely died through fear. More courage, and greater exertions, I firmly be lieve, would have saved many of them; but a lowness of spirits, a general despondency, seems to possess every body. When taken ill, they lie down and say that they know they shall die; and, what is very remarkable, I have never yet known one recover after having, in such a manner, given himself up.

To relieve the colonists in their severe labour, and to supply the deficiencies occasioned by the ravages

of mortality, Mr. B. hired Grume tas, or native African servants: who were very useful in burning the wood, in clearing and inclosing the ground intended to be planted, and in erecting the block-house, which was intended as the citadel, or place of shelter and defence. At last, however, the number of settlers being reduced to six, of whom three were ill and one was lame, he was obliged to yield to their determination to quit the island; after the block-house had been constructed, and nearly 15 acres of ground were cleared and inclosed.

I must confess, says he, that in going out of the harbour I feel a great reluctance at being obliged to abandon a spot which I have certainly very much improved; and to see all my exertions, my cares, and anxieties for the success of this infant colony entirely thrown away. But, at the same time, I do feel an honest consciousness that every thing that could be reasonably expected from me has been done, to secure, though without success, its establishment.

As Mr. Beaver seems to have been the very soul of this expedition, we shall give a full length view of this indefatigable colonist; it will teach us how much it is possible for a man to do for himself and others. This enterprizing man is, in many respects, a second or new Robinson Crusoe, and his adventures are more instructive and little less amusing than those of De Foe's hero.

Though I am not an advocate for Rousseau's mode of educating his Emilius, yet I cannot help thinking that the more practical knowledge one can acquire, the better; it makes a man acquainted with his own resources, and a less dependent being. I therefore, so far as relates to myself only, consider my time on the island of Bulama, independent of the motives which led me to, or kept me there, instead of being thrown away, as the best spent period of my life; for I was so completely thrown upon myself, as to be obliged to rely more upon my

own individual resources and exertions, than I otherwise, probably, ever should have done.

For one year of that time I had not an individual to converse with; and lived almost as much the life of a hermit, as if there had not been another human being on the island. It is true that I set every body to work, and directed them what to do, but there our intercourse ceased: their work done, the Grumetas retired to their houses, the settlers to their rooms, except at the latter part of my stay on the island, when, in order to keep up for Mr. Hood, the only surviving subscriber, some degree of respect, which he appeared to me to be fast losing, I always had him to dinner with me, which occupied the hour between one and two.

Besides, during the seventeen months that I remained on the island, I had occasion, and indeed was obliged, to practise more occupations and professions, though I never before had a tool of any kind in my hand, than would otherwise have ever been the case, in the whole course of my life. To wit:

1st. Carpenter.-In all its branches, from that of making a broom-stick to that of building a house.

2d. Joiner.-In such works as making chairs, tables, stools, shelves, and cupboards, &c.

3d. Sawyer. Which I found the most difficult of the whole.

4th. Brick-maker.

5th. Tanner.-When I left the island I had just finished tanning a number of goat skins, for the bottoms of a set of chairs.

6th. Thatcher.

7th. Chandler.-I made candles, both dips and moulds.

8th. Rope-maker.-I was obliged to make a great deal of rope before I could leave the island with the

cutter.

9th. Sail-maker. 10th. Caulker. 11th. Plasterer.

12th. Carcase butcher.-It more than once fell to my lot to skin and

cut up a bullock, which had been killed for the colonists.

Among those which are dignified by the name of professions, may be reckoned,

1st. Engineer.--If the fixing upon the ground, and tracing the line of a square fort, with a bastion at each angle, will confer it.

2d. Architect.-Insomuch as the drawing the plan, elevation, and section of the block-house, ere it was commenced, can entitle me to it. 3d. Surveyor.

4th. Apothecary.-With this difference, in practice, that I never made a bill.

Indeed that practice was confined to one disease only, fever. To each man that came to me with it, I gave four grains of tartar emetic, or fifteen of ipecacuanha, which having operated, he had as much bark in port wine as he could swallow, while the fit was not on him: to women and children the dose was less, in proportion to their strength and constitution. This must be understood as being done after the surgeon had left us only, and this was the utmost extent of my sins in this profession.

I might greatly increase both lists were it necessary. Some of the employments were not, certainly, very dignified; however, to make amends, I was honoured with very fine, nay magnificent, titles. The Portuguese always called me governor; the Bijugas, capitano; but all the other nations, king (rey). If, therefore, I felt humbled, by the low employment of stripping a bullock of its hide, I might the next hour not only recover my importance, but feel more exalted than I had before felt humbled, by being accosted with the title of rey. And again, if the title of king should turn my head with vanity and pride, I might the next day be brought to a more just estimation of my consequence by being obliged to cook for

the colonists.

Long as is this catalogue of trades and professions, which Mr. B. followed during his residence on the