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meets with, but also of Nature; and to fpeak worthily of her, he fhould know how to paint her in full drefs as well as in her molt fimple garb. I do not know whether I am mistaken; but I think, that in this refpe&t my work will have gained a great deal by its tardy publication; and that I fhall have reafon to congratulate myfelf upon having followed the precept of Montaigne, when he fays, in fpeaking of authors, Qu'ils y penfent bien, avant de fe produire-qui les bâte? Let them reflect deliberately on the fub jects of their works, before they usher them into the world-Who hurries them?" A retired life, and the restoration of greater tranquillity, at length enabled our author to complete this interefting work; and, in another place, we have demonftrated that its importance to the generality of readers was confiderably augmented by the Expedition to Egypt, under Bonaparte, taking place foon after the delayed publication.

We cannot take our leave of Sonnini without exculpating him from the charge brought against him by our Translator in his preface, page xxiii. It would be an infult to the good fenfe of the reader to imagine that he would expect a French Republican to write like a Royalift. Sonnini's principles are republican; in the courfe of his work he has exhibited them in glaring colours: the latter part of the accufation we must disprove from that very work, page 582, where the reader will find the following very ftriking political remark, by no means calculated to please the Directory that governed France at the time when it was published, or to flatter the Chief of the prefent Triumvirate. It was occafioned by the

defpotic conduct of a Mamalûk officer; commander of the district of Basjoura, in Upper Egypt, who had seized his boat on the Nile for his own private ufe :→→ "Authority in improper hands conftantly leads to the fame abuses, and is carried to the fame excefs; in all countries expofed to its abfurdity and its violence, it purfues the fame measures. The de folating fyftem of requifitions, and particularly of arbitrary arrests, was exercifed in Egypt with a degree of cunning and blind fury, which would have difgraced our most hot-headed Revolutioniits, and our most skilful plunderers."`

In another part, p. 688, we find a political axiom, which fome may think more applicable to Monarchical than to Republican governments; but, without forming any judgment upon that point, we quote, as another inftance to prove that Sonnini's principles breathe the spirit of manly freedom, and bear the ftamp of found morality-" Corruption among men in power, an irrefragable teftimony of depravity of manners, and a certain prefage of the fall of empires, and the diffolution of the ties of fociety, was, among the defpots of Egypt, confidered as a received ufage and cuftom." From fuch a man the Revolutionary Governments of France could expect no active fupport; he is therefore left to feek for remuneration for paft fervices by literary pursuits, and is at this time repairing his fhattered fortune, and adding to his established scientific fame, by publishing, with his own material improvements, a fplendid edition of the works of his great Mafter in Natural History, the renowned Buffon.

M.

GENERAL WASHINGTON'S WILL. [ Concluded from Page 232. ]

ND now, having gone through these fpecific devifes with explanations for the more correct understanding of the meaning and defign of them, I proceed to the diftribution of the more important part of my eftate in minner following:

Firft.To my nephew, Bushrod Washington, and his heirs (partly in confideration of an intimation to his deceafed father, while we were bachelors, and he had kindly undertaken to fuperlatend my eftate during my military

fervices in the former war between Great Britain and France, that if ¶ thould fall therein, Mount Vernon, then lets extensive in dominion than at pre. fent, fhould become his property), I give and bequeath all that part thereof, which is comprehended within the following limits, viz.-Beginning at the ford of Dogue Run, near my mill, and extending along the road, and bounded thereby, as it now goes, and ever has gone fince my recollection of it; to the ford of Little Hunting Creek, at the Gum

Spring,

Spring, until it comes to a knowl, oppofite to an old road, which formerly paffed through the lower field of Muddynole Farm; at which on the north fide of the faid road, are three red or Spanish oaks, marked as a corner, and a tone placed; thence by a line of trees to be marked rectangular to the back line or outer boundary of the tract between Thompfon Mafon and myself; thence with that line easterly (now double ditching with a poft and rail fence thereon) to the run of Little Hunting Creek; thence with that run, which is the boundary between the lands of the late Humphrey Peake and me, to the tide water of the faid creek; thence by that water to Potomac River; thence with the river to the mouth of Dogue Creek; and thence with the faid Dogue Creek to the place of beginning at the aforefaid ford, containing upwards of four thou fand acres, be the fame more or lefs, together with the manfion houfe, and all other buildings and improvements there

on.

Second. In confideration of the confanguinity between them and my wife, being as nearly related to her as to my felf, as on account of the affection I had for, and the obligation I was under to their father, when living, who, from his youth, had attached himself to my perion, and followed my fortunes through the viciffitudes of the late revolution, afterwards devoting his time to the fuperintendence of my private concerns for many years, whilft my public emplayments rendered it impracticable to do it myself, thereby affording me ef. fential fervices, and always performing them in a manner the most filial and respectful; for thefe reafons, I lay, I give and bequeath to George Fayette Washington, and Lawrence Auguftus Washington, and their heirs, my eftate Eaft of Little Hunting Creek, lying on the river Potomac, including the farm of three hundred and fixty acres, leafed to Tobias Lear, as noticed before, and containing in the whole, by deed, two thousand and twenty acres, be it more or lefs; which faid eftate it is my will and defire fhould be equitably and advantageously divided between them, according to quantity, quality, and other circumftances, when the youngest shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years, by three judicious and difinterested men; one to be chofen by each of the brothers, and the third by these two. In the mean time, if the termination of my

wife's intereft therein should have ceased, the profits arifing therefrom are to be applied for their joint ufes and benefit.

Third-And whereas it has always been my intention, fince my expectation of having iffue has ceafed, to confider the grand children of my wife in the fame light as I do my own relations, and to act a friendly part by them, more especially by the two whom we have railed from their earliest infancy, namely, Eleanor Park Cuftis, and Geo. Washington Park Cuftis. And whereas the former of the fe hath lately intermar ried with Lawrence Lewis, a fon of my deceafed fifter, Betty Lewis, by which union the inducement to provide for them has been increafed :-Wherefore I give and bequeath to the faid Law. rence Lewis and Eleanor Park Lewis, his wife, and their heirs, the refidue of my Mount Vernon eftate, not already devised to my nephew, Bushrod Wath. ington, comprehended within the fol lowing defeription, viz. All the lands north of the road leading from the ford of Dogue Run to the Gum Spring, as defcribed in the devife of the other part of the tract, to Bushrod Wahington, until it comes to the Stone and three Red or Spanish Oaks on the knowl, thence with the rectangular line to the back line (between Mr. Mafon and me); thence with that line wefterly along the new double ditch to Dogue Run, by the tumbling dam of my mill; thence with the faid run to the ford aforementioned, to which I add all the land 1 poffets Weft of the faid Dogue Run and Dogue Creek, bounded Eafferly and Southerly thereby; together with the mill, distillery, and all other houfes and improvements on the premises, making together about two thoufand acres, be it more or less.

Fourth.-A&tuated by the principle already mentioned, I give and bequeath to George Washington Park Cuftis, the grandfon of my wife, and my ward, and to his heirs, the tract I hold on Four mile Run, in the vicinity of Alex. andria, containing one thousand two hundred acres, more or lefs, and my entire fquare, number twenty-one, in the City of Washington.

Fifth.-All the reft and refidue of my etiate, real and perfonal, not dif pofed of in manner aforesaid, in whatfoever confifting, where foever lying, and whenfoever found, a schedule of which, as far as is recolle&ted, with a reafonable estimate of its value, is hereunto annexed,

I defire

I defire may be fold by my executors at fuch times, in fuch manner, and on fuch credits (if an equal, valid, and fatisfactory diftribution of the specific property cannot be made without), as in their judgment fhall be moft conducive to the intereft of the parties concerned, and the monies arifing therefrom to be divided into twenty-three equal parts, and applied as follows, viz. To William Auguftine Washington, Elizabeth Spotwood, Jane Thornton, and the heirs of Ann Ahton, fon and daughters of my deceafed brother AugustineWashington, I give and bequeath four parts, that is one part to each of them; to Fielding Lewis, George Lewis, Robert Lewis, Howell Lewis, and Betty Carter, fons and daughter of my deceafed fifter, Betty Lewis, I give and bequeath five other parts, one to each of them; to George Steptoe Washington, Lawrence Auguftine Washington, Harriot Parks, and the heirs of Thornton Washington, fons and daughters of my deceased brother, Samuel Washington, I give and bequeath the other four parts, one part to each of them; to Corbin Washington, and the heirs of Jane Washington, fon and daughter of my deceafed brother, John Auguftine Washington, I give and bequeath two parts, one part to each of them. To Samuel Washington, Frances Ball, and Mildred Hammond, fon and daughters of my brother Charles Washington, I give and bequeath three parts, one part to each of them; and to George Fayette Washington, Charles Auguftine Washington, and Maria Washington, fons and daughter of my deceafed nephew George Auguftine Washington, I give one other part, that is, to each a third of that part. To Elizabeth Park Law, Martha Park Peter, and Eleanor Park Lewis, I give and bequeath three other parts, that is, a part to each of them; and to my nephew Bushrod Washington and Lawrence Lewis, and to my ward, the grandson of my wife, I give and bequeath one other part, that is, a third thereof to each of them. And, if it hould fo happen that any of the perfons whofe names are here enumerated (unknown to me) should now be dead, or fhould die before me, that in either of thefe cafes, the heirs of fuch deceased perfons thall, notwithstanding, derive all the benefits of the bequest, in the fame manner as if he or the was actually

living at the time; and by way of advice I recommend it to my Executors not to be precipitate in difpofing of the landed property therein directed to be fold, if, from temporary caufes, the fale thereof fhould be dull, experience having fully evinced that the price of land (especially above the falls of the rivers, and on the western waters) have been progreffively rifing, and cannot be lung checked in its encreating value. And I particularly recommend it to fuch of the Legatees (under the claufe of my will) as can make it convenient, to take each a fhare of my ftock in the Potomac Company, in preference to the amount of what it might fell for, being thoroughly convinced myfelf, that no ufes to which the money can be applied will be fo productive as the tolls arifing from this navigation when in full operation, (and this, from the nature of things, it must be ere long), and more especially if that of the Shenandoah is added thereto.

The Family Vault at Mount Vernon requiring repairs, and being improperly fituated besides, I defire that a new one of brick, upon a larger icale, may be built at the foot of what is commonly called the Vineyard Inclosure, on the ground which is marked out; in which my remains, with thofe of my deceased relations (now in the old vault) and fuch others of my family as may cufe to be entombed there, may be depofied. And it is my exprefs défire that my corpfe may be interred in a private manner, without parade or funeral oration.

Laftly, I confiiture and appoint my dearly beloved wife Martha Wahington, my nephews William Auguftine Washington, Bushrod Washington, George Steptoe Washington, Samuel Washington, and Lawrence Lewis, and my ward George Washington Park Cuftis (when he thall have arrived ag the age of twenty-one years), Executrix and Executors of this WILL and Tès. TAMENT.

IN WITNESS of all, and each of the things herein contained, [ have fet my hand and feal, this ninth day of July, in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety, and of the Inde. pendence of the United States the twenty fourth.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

• It appears the Teftator omitted the word Nine.

(Seal)

ACCOUNT

THE

ACCOUNT

or

THE FAMOUS BIRDS NESTS,

GENERALLY BROUGHT FROM JAVA, OR THE MALLAY COAST,
Tranflated from a late Dutch Publication.

HE bird who makes this neft is called Wallea, or Boerong Daya, and fometimes Lawit in the Mallay language. It is of the fize of a Swallow, with a large bill, and fharp claws; the tail is as long as the rest of the body, and is of a dark greenish colour, inclining to grey, its whole length from the bill to the tail is 4 inches.

In the neighbourhood of Batavia are two places to which great numbers of thefe birds refort. The first is called Callappa Nongal, and the fecond Sampia. They are two inacceffible rocks, full of holes and crevices, fome of which are big enough for a man to enter; thefe rocks are quite covered with trees, bushes, and thickets, and the rocks themfelves are a white marble.

In thefe holes and crevices they make their nefts in horizontal rows, one against the other; they leave no fpot unoccupied, provided it be only a dry one, for as foon as they perceive the leait wet approaching their nefts, they abandon them immediately, and build others in a dryer place.

These birds fly at day-break with a great noife from their nefts, and mount immediately out of fight, to feek their food, but in the rainy feason they keep nearer home; at four o'clock in the afternoon, or thereabout, they return to their nefts, from whence they do not ftir until the next morning: they feed chiefly upon infects that hover about pools and flanding waters. Kites are their greateft

enemies.

They prepare their nets from a part of their own excrements; and not from the foam of the fea, as fome have falfely imagined, being never feen on the fea thore.

There are different forts of nefts, thofe

found at Calappa and Nongal are grey, and of lefs value than thofe of Sampia, and both these are not to be compared to thofe that are taken from the neighbour. ing iflands of Sernoten and Borneo.

The colour and value depend entirely on the infects the bird eats, and on the lonesomeness of the rock where they have built nefts.

To prepare the neft and finish it takes them up about two months, and then they lay two eggs, which are hatched in fifteen or 16 days. As foon as their young are able to fly is the time for taking their nefts, which is generally done every four months, and by a people who are brought up to it from their childhood. The method used by them is to defcend by a ladder of Rattans, which is let down from the top of the rocks, and from thence they pick the melts wherever they find them; fometimes rafts are let down for the fame purpofe. In this dangerous employment many break their necks, and particularly the thieves who can only fteal them in the night, a very ftri&t watch being kept in the day time by centinels placed at a fmall dittance from the rocks.

The mountaineers, who are the people made use of, never begin their trade among the rocks, till they have killed a buffaloe, and faid their prayers, after which they are led by fuperftition to rub themselves with fcented oil, and throw benjamin and other aromaticks into the fire, to appeafe the genii of the rocks.

After the nefts are taken away, nothing remains but to dry and clean them, which are afterwards fold for 800 to 1400 Rxds. a Picol, each Picol being 125 lb. the value depends entirely on its fineness and whiteness.

CHERBOURG.

INou, Magazine on the lame year,

N our Magazine for February 1794,

E263, we prefented our readers with two Views of the Cone at this important

place, with an historical account of it, we now gratify our nautical readers with a Map of the Road, which we hope will be equally acceptable.

DU

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