only to the comforts of the slaves, their numbers might be recruited without the aid of fresh importation; and that the increased price, at which new slaves must now be purchased, renders it highly important for the planters to use every means to produce this end. Could this be accomplished, much of the evils of West Indian slavery would be abolished.-The frequent occurrence of Tetanus to the children of negroes shortly after their birth, a disease which proves almost certainly fatal to them, presents a formidable obstacle to their increase. The author recommends plunging in the sea water as an almost certain preventative of this disease; and so simple a remedy deserves an ample trial.

From the chapter on Discipline, we may acquire a tolerably full idea of the degree to which the sufferings of the negroes are generally extended; and we learn that a great part of this severity is not only unnecessary, but even prejudicial to the interests of the owners. The writer indeed almost universally condemns the use of the whip; an instrument which appears at present to be applied to the negroes with at least as much freedom as to any beasts of burden.

The second part of the work commences with some observations on the peculiarities in the constitution and diseases of negroes. Either from their natural conformation, or from their habits of life, (probably from an union of these causes,) we find that they are endued with a nervous system of less sensibility, and are less affected by medicines and by external impressions, than even the most hardy among the whites. They are not so liable to be infected by fever, but are more apt to be attacked by severe bowel complaints, and obstinate diseases of the skin. A short section is allotted to the consideration of each malady to which the negroes are liable; and after a description of its leading symptoms, we have an account of its remedies and modes of prevention; the whole detailed in a popular and intelligible style, containing much useful information, without any attempt at the refinements of medical speculation. The book is indeed intended rather for the perusal of the planter, than that of the professional man; and the writer strongly recommends the planters themselves to acquire some portion of medical knowlege. Though we are no friends to popular medicine in general, yet in this case we agree in the propriety of the advice: attentive observation may seize the moment in which a remedy of easy application may prevent a disease of magnitude and danger: professional assistance cannot at all times be procured; and the rapid progress of tropical diseases admits of no delay.

Without

The

Without entering on a minute analysis of this part of the volume, we may remark that the directions are in general simple and intelligible, but they do not profess much originality, nor profound observation; and we feel justified in confidently recommending, this publication to all those who are concerned in the management of West Indian estates. writer seems to possess a considerable share of sense and humanity, though not strictly entitled to the character either of a philosopher or a philanthropist. With regard to his style, which in such a work is perhaps scarcely a fair object of criticism, it has the important merit of being perspicuous; and it displays the character, as the author intended, of a familiar address to persons who are not in the habit of much reasoning or reflection.

ART. IX. Correspondence between Frances, Countess of Hartford, (afterward Duchess of Somerset,) and Henrietta Louisa, Countess of Pomfret, between the Years 1738 and 1741. 3 Vols. 12mo. 11. 1s. Boards. R. Phillips. 1805.

PERHAPS no country in the world has produced a greater

number of sensible and accomplished women than Great Britain; and we think that this is a circumstance which does honour to our native isle. The cultivated understandings of our females shew that they are not, and ought not to be degraded as women are in other countries; and indeed they often convince us that, although in their organic structure they are "the weaker vessels," the mental jewels which they include are not less valuable than those which belong to masculine bodies. The Correspondence before us displays not merely all the politeness and good breeding which are to be expected from people of rank, but evinces nice observation and good sense; and though its contents are not all equally interesting or striking, the remarks which both Ladies occasionally make are creditable to their minds and hearts.

The MSS. from which these Letters are printed are the property of the Burslem family, of Imber House, Wilts; and the editor, Mr. Bingley, of Christ-church, has prefixed to the first volume concise prefatory memoirs of the two countesses, between whom this epistolary intercourse was maintained. From them we collect the following information:

Frances, Countess of Hartford, and afterwards Duchess of Somerset, was the eldest of the two daughters and coheirs of the honorable Henry Thynne, only son of Thomas, first viscount Weymouth, by Grace, only daughter and heir of sir George Strode, of Leveston in Dorsetshire. She was married about the year 1713, to Algernon lord

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lord Hartford, eldest son of Charles then duke of Somerset, a young nobleman distinguished for every amiable virtue that could adorn his rank.

The fruits of this marriage were, first, a daughter, lady Elizabeth Seymour, born in November 1716, who afterwards became duchess of Northumberland; and a son, George Seymour, viscount Beauchamp, born on the eleventh of September 1725. He died of the small pox, which seized him at Bologna, during his travels on the Continent, and carried him off the evening of his birth-day on which he had completed his nineteenth year.

Not long after her marriage, lady Hartford became one of the ladies of the bedchamber to Caroline, the queen of king George the Second, then princess of Wales. She continued in this office till the death of the queen, which took place in the month of November 1737, when both she and the countess of Pomfret (also of the bedchamber) retired from the bustle and jealousies of the court, to enjoy the more satisfactory comforts of domestic life. They appear to have been much attached to their royal mistress, whose death they each speak of in their letters, in terms of sincere regret.'

This lady distinguished herself by her amiable interference in behalf of the poet Savage, as recorded in his life by Johnson. She is said to have made various acquirements in literature, and to have had some taste for poetical composition: but the editor, aware that, if we are to decide on the evidence produced, the character of Lady Hartford as a poet would not stand high, endeavours to obviate criticism by observing that the specimens contained in the present volumes are not, perhaps, the most favourable ones that could be adduced.' We can only say that, if Mr. Bingley could produce better specimens, he should, for the credit of Lady H., have given us a poetical bonne bouche. This lady died in 1754.

Henrietta Louisa, Countess of Pomfret, was the only surviving child of John lord Jefferys of Wem, and lady Charlotte Herbert, daughter of Phillip, earl of Pembroke and Montgomery. Her grandfather was the lord Chancellor who bore so conspicuous a part in the reign of James the Second.

In the year 1720 she was united in marriage to Thomas Fermor, lord Lempster, who, in the subsequent year, was created earl of Pomfret, or Pontefract, in the county of York. This nobleman was afterwards elected a knight of the Bath; and in September 1727, was appointed Master of the Horse to Caroline, queen of George the Second, to whom also lady Pomfret was one of the ladies of the bedchamber.

On the death of the queen, 1737, both lady Pomfret and lady Hartford retired from public life; and the present letters inform us, that it was after this period that the close degree of intimacy commenced, to which we are indebted for their being written. The former lady says, in one of them, "I do not grieve that our friendship did not begin sooner; since I am certain it would have excited the

good

good-nature of a great many people, though they had not cared one farthing about either of us, to have made it their business, by a thousand lies on both sides, to inform us how dangerous a person each was to the other, and how unfit for a friend.”

This is a severe, but not unfounded stricture on the morals of a court.

The correspondence between these two ladies commenced soon after Lord Pomfret and his family left England, in order to reside on the continent, and continued for about three years; the travelled or rather travelling lady beginning her epistolary career at Monts near Paris, on the 2d of September O. S., or 13th N.S. 1733, and closing it at Brussels Oct. 6, 1741, N. S. From Paris, Lady Pomfret accompanied her husband to Lyons, Aix, Marseilles, Genoa, Sienna, Florence, Rome, Bologna, Venice, Inspruch, Augsburg, Frankfort, and Brussels.

Lady P. appears to have been a most indefatigable and punctual correspondent; and her letters, though written in haste, and without study, discover the investigating mind of the tra-. veller, and the happy art of blending entertainment with instruction. Her anecdotes are related with ease, and her details are given with accuracy. She has an evident advantage over her friend at home, by enjoying a wider and more varied field of observation: but, if Lady Hartford's letters are less amusing, they are not less sensible.

It will occur to our readers that Lord Pomfret's route through France, Italy, the Tyrol, and Germany, has since been often pursued; and that manners, customs, and governments have undergone such revolutions, that in some degree the word obsolete belongs to the accounts here detailed. In justice, however, to this lady, we must observe that it is impossible to read her travels without interest; without admitting her to possess an excellent understanding, a cultivated taste, and a most amiable disposition; nor without assigning to her works a place by the side of her acquaintance Lady Mary Wortley Montague, whom she much resembles in her easy mode of narration.

These ladies seem to vie with each other in endeavours to communicate reciprocal pleasure, each according to her respective situation. Lady Pomfret, supplied with the usual materials of the grand tour, writes of palaces, pictures, statues, churches, popes, priests, ceremonies, processions, superstition, convents, nuns, &c. Lady Hartford, in return, makes remarks on her friend's accounts, paints her own retirement and occupations, and gives amusing anecdotes of the fashionable world, the intrigues of the court, the party measures, and the politics of the day.

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When

When wicked protestants travel, they cannot help remarking the faith and piety of catholic countries, which are carried to an excess that at least excites our astonishment. During Lady Pomfret's residence at Florence, she transmits several specimens of Catholic credulity, of which we shall copy one : • Palazzo Ridolfi, Jan. 1, N. S., 1741.

The weather has been so extremely bad of late, that, though two days beyond the usual time have elapsed, the post is not arrived yet. These violent storms and rains the priests and mob attribute to the devils which the Virgin of the Imprunetta is casting out of possessed men and women; and which, in their return to hell, make this disturbance in the air. As this is a lady with whom I am but lately become acquainted, and as at present I have little else to say, I shall allow her to fill np a part of my letter.

A great many years ago-so many that nobody can tell the exact number the people of Florence began to build a church; but whatever advance they made in the day, (like Penelope's web) was destroyed in the night. Upon this ill success, they determined to take two young unbroken steers, and yoke them together with a great stone hanging down between their necks; and, setting them off, wherever they should stop to erect there the church. In this they did very right, for the worship they intended was certainly fitter for the judgment of beasts than of men.-But to my story. The place at which the animals became tired was about seven miles from the city, among some prune trees belonging to the family of the Buondelmonti. Here they set to work to clear the ground, and dig the foundation-when a lamentable voice struck their ears from below. On this, one of the workmen threw away his pickaxe; and moving the loose earth more lightly, found the image of the Virgin Mary in terra cotta, with a child in her arms, and a scar on her forehead that had occasioned the aforesaid cry. This wonderful discovery made them proceed with great alacrity in their work: and she had soon not only a large habitation, but a new order was constituted to her honour and service, with great and unusual privileges annexed to it. And upon all general calamities ever since, she is conducted with great pomp into the city of Flo rence, and remains in the Duomo till, upon frequent prayers and remonstrances, she is so good as to remove or remedy the evil. The inundation I wrote you an account of, being the occasion of her present coming amongst us, her entry was preceded by all the religious orders, two and two; the gentlemen and others carrying lighted flambeaus. On each side the guards were drawn out: the streets (made clean) were crowded with the common people; and the windows were adorned with tapestry, damask, &c., and filled with ladies. In a large box, about the size of a woman,― covered with seven rich mantles, having as many candles stuck before, and a canopy over it,-passed the Dama, incognita; for as this image is only a tile, the priests very justly fear that it would rather raise contempt than veneration if it was seen, and therefore have spread amongst the people a notion that whoever sees it is immediately struck blind. She still remains at the cathedral; whither all the great vulgar, and the little, go to pay their

devotions.