This city stands in the spacious and delightful valley of Rimac, an Indian word, which the Spaniards have corruptly changed into Lima. The original is derived from the name of an idol, to which the native Indians used to offer sacrifice; and, as it was supposed to return answers to the prayers addressed to it, they called it, by way of eminence, Rimac, or he who speaks. Lima, according to the most accurate observations, stands in 12 deg. 2 min. 3 sec. south latitude, and 60 deg. 32 min. 58 sec. west longitude from the meridian of Teneriffe. Its situation is one of the most advantageous that can be conceived, lying in a spacious valley, and at a proper distance, towards the north, bounded by the Cordillera des Andes, from whence some hills project into the valley. The river of the same name washes the walls, and when not increased by the torrents from the mountains, is easily fordable. However, it has an elegant stone bridge over it, having at one extremity a gate of the finest architecture. This gate conducts to the grand square, which is very large and superb.

The form of the city is triangular, the base, or longest side, extending along the banks of the river. Its length is twothirds of a league, and its greatest breadth two-fifths. It is surrounded by a brick-wall, which answers its original intention, but possesses no regularity. The streets are paved, and lined by canals, which, being arched over, contribute to its cleanliness, without any inconvenience. The houses for the most part are low, but commodious, and make a good appearance. They are all constructed in such a manner, and of such materials, as may best enable them to support the shocks of the earthquakes to which this city is so much devoted.These are the most dreadful disasters which attend Lima and the neighbouring country. So sudden and violent are these concussions of nature, that the interval between them is never of sufficient length to obliterate the remembrance of their tremendous consequences.

The earthquakes, however, though sudden, have their presages; one of which is a rumbling noise in the bowels of the. earth, about a minute before the shock is felt, which seems to

pervade all the adjacent subterraneous parts. This is followed by the dismal howlings of dogs, which seem to have the first perception of the impending danger. On these alarms, the terrified inhabitants fly from their houses into the streets with such precipitation, that if the calamity happens in the night, they appear quite naked. Nor does their terror end with the first shock, none venturing to return to their houses, even if they escape the first attack, lest a repetition should again involve them in greater calamity. One of the most dreadful concussions of nature, felt by this unfortunate city, happened on the 20th of October, 1687.

Another still more dreadful in its consequences, overtook it on the 28th of October, 1746, at half-past ten at night. In little more than three minutes, the greatest part of the buildings of every description was destroyed, burying under the ruins all those who had not been able to escape into the streets and squares; the only places of safety in these terrible convulsions. The fort of Callao, at the very same hour, sunk into similar ruins; but what it suffered from the earthquake in its buildings was trivial, compared to the catastrophe which ensued. The sea, receding to a considerable distance, returned in mountainous waves, foaming with the violence of the agitation, and instantly converted Callao into a sea; nothing remaining, except a piece of the wall of the fort of Santa Cruz, as a memorial of this terrible devastation. At that moment 23 ships, of different descriptions, were riding in the harbour; nineteen of which were absolutely sunk, and the other four, among which was the St. Fermin frigate, were carried, by the irresistible force of the waves, a considerable way up the country. This terrible inundation extended to other ports along the coast, which underwent the same fate as Lima. The number of inhabitants who perished in that city amounted to 1,300, besides the maimed and wounded. At Callao, whose population was estimated at 4,000, only 200 escaped; and twenty-two of these by means of the wall already mentioned. From these horrible visitations, added to its never raining, the reader would naturally be led to think, that the country must of necessity be totally barren; the contrary, however, is

the fact; for Lima enjoys an enviable fertility; and art and nature unite to supply that moisture which the clouds seem to withhold.

During our artists stay at Lima, they laboured incessantly to put the country into the best posture of defence, in case the English should invade it. At the same time four men of war was sent to cruize off the coast of Chili, and to visit the island of Juan Fernandez, in order to attack the English squadron, on its first appearance in the South seas; but, happily, the Spaniards left the island only a few days before commodore Anson's arrival, which fortunate incident prevented his falling into their hands; as his men were too much afflicted with the scurvy, to be able to make any resistance in case of an attack. The Spaniards returned to Callao, without receiving the least information of any foreign ships having been seen in those seas; and immediately resumed their unfinished mensuration of an arch of the meridian. Before they had completed their work, an express arrived at Quito, with the particulars of the success of the English on these coasts, and that they had sacked the town of Paita. Our artists therefore immediately returned to Lima, where they received the command of two frigates, fitted out to cruize on the coast of Chili.

Chili is celebrated for its fertility. Its plains, eminences, vallies, in short the whole kingdom, is an object of admiration; for such is the exuberant fruitfulness of the soil, that every particle of it seems to teem with vegetable life. In consequence of this, agriculture is one of the most beneficial employments. This kingdom abounds likewise in mines of all kinds, particularly in those of gold and copper.

Soon after our artists arrived in the bay of Conception, they joined the Esperanza, a Spanish man of war, commanded by Don Pedro Mendinuetta, who had found means to double cape Horn and reach this port. Being quickly joined by admiral Pizarro, who took upon him the.command of the squadron, they sailed for Valparaiso, where they found the Louis Erasme, Notre Dame de la Deliverance, and the Lys, French vessels, which having been freighted as register ships, had touched there to vend their cargoes. The whole fleet now

sailed for Juan Fernandez, and thence to Callao, where they arrived on the 24th of June.

Our artists once more returned to Quito where they finished their measurements, and then proceeded to Lima, in order to obtain a passage for Spain. At Callao, however, they fell in with the Deliverance and Lys, preparing to sail for Europe. This was an opportunity not to be omitted; and accordingly Don George Juan embarked in the latter, and Don Antonio de Ulloa in the latter.

They left Callao on the 22d of November, and were soon joined by the Louis Erasme and the Marquis d'Antin; but the Lys springing a leak was obliged to return. The rest of the squadron, however, had the good fortune to double cape Horn without meeting with the violent storms so frequently fatal to mariners in those latitudes. Having taken in supplies and repaired their shattered ships in the road of Fernando de Narona, on the coast of Brazil, on the 10th of June, 1744, they again set sail, and flattered themselves that the danger of the voyage was now at an end. But on the 21st of July, they discovered two sail within three leagues of them, and soon approaching within cannon-shot, the strangers hoisted English colours and formed their line, while the French, though little in a condition for fighting, likewise prepared for action.

The enemy, who afterwards proved to be privateers, were considerably superior in force. They were named the Prince Frederic, captain Talbot; and the Duke, captain Morecock. After a short contest, the Marquis d'Antin struck, after losing her captain, and receiving several shots between wind and water. The captain of the Deliverance, the headmost ship, seeing one of his consorts taken, prudently crowded sail and endeavoured to escape, while the Louis Erasme did the same. However the latter was soon obliged to yield; and while the privateers were occupied with each a prize, the Deliverance had the good fortune to escape.

The captain of the Deliverance began to felicitate himself on his fortune; and consulting with his officers what course

was most adviseable to steer, one of them, acquainted with Louisbourg, recommended that port, which being the shortest navigation, the captain yielded to his suggestions, after the plan had been approved of both by the officers and the pas

sengers.

On the 13th of August, they saw a brigantine plying in for Louisbourg, on which the Deliverance hoisted French colours, which was answered by the other firing two or three of her guns. This, however, occasioned no uneasiness; and in a short time, two men of war coming out of the harbour, still they supposed these might belong to a squadron of their country's ships, guarding that important place; and that the brigantine might be some privateer, with a design on the fishery. And here the reader's imagination will picture the complacency and joy which filled every heart, when they fancied themselves approaching the end of all their disasters; and the keen disappointment they felt, when their visionary schemes of delight ended in the real miseries of captivity---for the place was then in the hands of the English; and they found it impossible to fight or fly. The brigantine, which carried 50 guns, took possession of the Deliverance, and carried a very rich prize into port, while the two men of war, which were the Sunderland and the Chester, were ready to have yielded any requisite assistance.

Our author informs us, that all his secret papers were formed into a packet, and that he had given orders, that in case he should suddenly fall in any action, to have them thrown into the sea. When therefore it was found impracticable to escape, he threw the packet, loaded with bullets, into the sea himself; but all the papers relative to the mensuration of the degrees of the meridian, together with the physical and astronomical observations, he saved; knowing that their contents were of universal concern, and that no national injury could be sustained from their inspection. But fearing lest they should be abused or confounded with others of less importance, he thought proper to acquaint the English captains on what service he had been employed, and recommended his manuscripts to their care.