cal observations. In 1777, Lamarck remarked a similar property in the spadix of Arum Italicum; as did the present author, in company with M. Hubert, in that of A. esculentum. The experiments are quoted at some length, and promise to lead to important conclusions in vegetable physiology: but, for the reasons already mentioned, we refrain from transcribing them, as well as some valuable observations on extinct craters, and on streams of lava with a scorious surface.

In a future article, we shall resume and conclude our report of these richly diversified and instructive volumes.

[To be continued.]

Muir.

ART. II. Histoire des Flibustiers, &c. i. e. A History of the Bucaniers, or Freebooters. Translated from the German of Mr. J. W. D'ARCHENHOLTZ. With a Preface and Notes by the Translator. 8vo. pp. 370. Paris.

1804. Im

ported by De Boffe, London. Price 7s. sewed. THE praise of being a judicious and elaborate historian,

which the French translator here bestows on M. D'ARCHENHOLTZ, he appears to have earned not less in the present than in former instances. Whether he has fairly incurred the censures here passed on him, on account of the free observations on the progress of the French revolution which he is charged with having interwoven with his narrative, we have no means of judging, since the censor has deemed it expedient altogether to suppress them; or, as with more truth he might have said, since he was constrained to prune them as the condition of obtaining an imprimatur. We regret this operation, however; and the more when we call to mind, that the German author was once a warm partizan of the revolutionary proceedings. Whatever may have been the justice of this case, we think that the translator is not warranted in reprehending M. D'A. for imputing cowardice to the Spanish colonists: because the charge is not grounded, as he asserts, on the report of Bucanier narrators, but is a conclusion supported by the whole tenor and all the facts of this narrative.

It is not solely in a literary point of view that these details claim attention; they arrest the notice of the student of human nature; and they demand a careful perusal from the public administrator, as exhibiting, in an extraordinary and striking light, the energies of which the human character is capable. It is necessary that we should know, however painful it may be to learn, that valour in the best of causes rarely produces feats and achievements equal to those which distinguish the expeditions

of

of these ferocious hordes; whom familiarity with peril, and the love of plunder, had rendered invincible. Indeed, the exploits of regular warfare fall very short of the deeds which render memorable the incursions of the Bucaniers of the western and southern seas.

If we do not advert to the state of the times, and if we do not bear in mind that colonies were not at this period duly appreciated, that the ascendancy of a superior naval force was not yet comprehended, nor the energies of states called forth by the application of funding systems; without duly weighing these circumstances, we might be led to wonder that no European power availed itself of the aid of the Brethren of the Coast, to ravish from Spain her so much envied American possessions. It may perhaps be an object of more reasonable surprize, that no chief was ever found who had address enough to inspire these desperate adventurers with ambition to second him in attempts to tread over the steps, and to realize the fortunes, of Cortez and Pizarro.

The term Flibustiers, in the French language, is a corruption of the English word Freebooters, the proper designation of the lawless pillagers who have generally, in this country, passed under the name of Bucaniers, or Pirates. The stock, from which this fraternity sprang, is to be found in the hunters of wild cattle in Hispaniola, since too well known under the name of St. Domingo; whose mode of life was in the highest degree rude and gross; and who consisted chiefly of Normans. A spirit of enterprize still distinguished this people; and if formerly they had achieved the conquest of states, but were now contented to rule in wild and boundless forests, and to earn victories over their inhabitants, we shall soon behold them attempting higher destinies, scouring the Spanish main, storming fortresses and cities, making governors prisoners, and engaging the attention, and defeating the plans, of a vast and mighty monarchy. The jealousy of the Spaniards would not suffer them to follow an innocent and peaceable occupation, and meditated nothing short of the utter extirpation of the hunters: but failing in this design, and having suffered grievously in the effort, they reduced their foes to the last extremity by a general destruction of the objects of the chace. In this emergency, it became necessary for them to seek a new vocation, and they fixed on that of the Freebooters; who were also known under the name of the Brethren of the Coast, which was their favourite appellation. With this fraternity, then, they were incorporated; and in this capacity they found ample means to avenge themselves on the Spaniards, for the wanton disturbance which they had experienced in their former mode of life.

The

The coasts which these Brethren visited, in their more early incursions, were those of Cumana, Carthagena, Porto-Bello, Cuba, and New Spain, and those which bordered on the lakes of Maracaibo and Nicaragua. They confined their naval captures to ships sailing from the Spanish colonies for Europe, because these were laden with materials of small extent and great value; they coveted not the bulky commodities of Europe, and suffered the vessels which bore them to pass unmolested. The success which crowned their early expeditions soon increased their numbers; adventurers of all descriptions were seen to crowd around the standards of western piracy; and all were admitted, without distinction of nation, religion, or language;except only the Spaniards, who were denied admission into the fraternity.

Tortuga, a small island which had not long before been colonized by France, was the place of rendezvous of the Freebooters; and here they were sure of meeting with protection, of finding supplies for their wants, and every species of pleasure that was adapted to their gross manners. Immediately on their landing, tables covered with delicacies, strong liquors, play, music, and dancing, occupied all their time. Depraved women of all nations and of all colours, induced by avarice and dissoluteness, poured into this spot from all the American islands, and constituted the principal charm, as well as the chief danger, of these tumultuous orgies. Thus were spent, in a few weeks, the treasures which cost long toil, all sorts of privations, much blood, and many lives, even on the part of the Freebooters; to say nothing of the calamities and horrors with which the plundered had been visited, whose least evil (generally speaking) was the loss of the valuables which had become the prey of their merciless robbers.

That early success which attended the Bucaniers was owing to the protection afforded them by the British and French Governments: in every war with Spain, each power readily furnished them with letters of marque: the flourishing state of Jamaica and St. Domingo first arose out of the depredations of these Freebooters; and but for their aid, the French settlements in the West Indies would have been crushed in their commencement. Had France availed itself of their assistance, and of the counsels of D'Ogeron, the governor of the French colony of St. Domingo, the whole of that island and the Carolinas would have been added to her empire: but the narrow views of Colbert rendered abortive the well-digested plans of the enlightened and politic D'Ogeron. If, however, the court of Louis XIV. refused to employ the Freebooters in realizing the great views of the French governor, it had no objection to sanction their

pillage,

pillage, by rendering the tenth of it payable to the government of Tortuga, or of St. Domingo.

Every where, the history of this singular fraternity strongly verifies the adage of faith among thieves. Their sense of independence was carried to the utmost length; and it was a rule of their order, that each individual should indulge his inclination and caprice, regardless of the convenience of his fellows. Did any of the society require sleep and repose, they must bear without a murmur the attempts of their associates to debar them of the gratification. Whatever had the effect of calling forth courage, of putting patience to the test, of enuring to privations, and of giving exercise to strength, was to be borne without complaint. Their fidelity in their engagements with each other was exemplary; and if any one violated it, or deprived his companions of a portion of their profits, he was made to undergo severe punishment: he was deprived of his character and property as a member of the order, was exposed without clothing and sustenance on some desert island, and was there left to his evil destiny. The patience of the Bucaniers was inexhaustible: they sustained hunger, thirst, and the greatest fatigues, with a serenity which nothing could affect, and never indulged in any murmur or complaint.

The resolutions of these extraordinary men were sudden and invariable. As soon as they gave their word, they became irrevocably bound; and they frequently pledged it on the simple proposition of an expedition. It was only when they had come to such a resolution, that they deliberated, not whether the plan was practicable or not, but on the best means of carrying it into effect. In their first attempts, they had only small vessels without decks,-sloops, and canoes,-in which they lay heaped one on another; there was hardly room for them to stretch themselves in order to partake of rest or sleep; they were exposed night and day to the inclemency of the skies, and the dangers of the sea; and they were confined to the most scanty sustenance. This destitute state proved to them only an additional incitement to amend their situation by some rich capture tormented by hunger, they braved the ocean on their frail skiffs; and on the appearance of a vessel, they calculated not the number of the guns nor of the men which it carried, nor did they bestow a thought on the extent of the danger to which they exposed themselves: they were resolved to have the victory; they were in essential want of it; and they obtained it always by boarding the hostile ship. They excelled in this kind of attack: with the rapidity of lightning they crept up the sides of the vessel, which, seeing only an open boat, never suspected danger; and as soon as they set

foot

foot on deck, the ship was theirs. If the party assailed happened to be aware of the attack, as one shot would have sent them to the bottom, they avoided the danger by skilful steerage. They never exposed their sides to the enemy, but always advanced with the head of their vessel only presented to the ship; while their most skiiful marksmen took off some of the cannoneers, which created confusion on the enemy's deck. The dread of their name, however, generally paralyzed resistance; the surrender was immediate; and the commiseration of the captors was invoked, as it was well known that, if irritated by resistance, they would infallibly throw the conquered overboard.

Will it be credited that these banditti were much addicted to the external observances of religion? Before the combat, they smote their breasts, prayed with fervor, addressed heaven with all the marks of penitence, settled any differences among themselves, asked mutual forgiveness, and embraced one another as a sign of cordial reconciliation. It is moreover said that these robbers never sat down to a meal without first engaging in acts of religion; that they prayed with fervency; that the Catholics recited the song of Zacharias, the magnificat, or the miserere; while the Protestants read a chapter in the bible, or a psalm.

This fraternity had for their government a verbal code, because they were in general strangers to the art of writing; and to the observance of these laws each member was sworn on admission. The most perfect equality reigned in the several floating communities. It was a crime punished by death to bring a woman or a young lad on board; and to desert a post in battle incurred the same forfeiture. Theft was expiated in some of the communities by an amputation of the nose and ears, and in others by exposure on a desert island. If the fact of the crime was doubtful, a jury was summoned; when the English and Dutch were sworn on the bible, and the French on the crucifix. Small prevarications were punished according to the discretion of a body called the Maritime Society, which inflicted either whipping or club-chastisement. Laws were enacted by a majority of voices, and temporary regulations were often decreed.

Among these bands were persons whom a fanatical turn had introduced, in order to avenge on the Spaniards the unparal leled cruelties exercised by them over the miserable Indians. A singular instance of this kind is furnished in the person of Monbars, a young gentleman of Languedoc, who is not unknown to our English readers. While a schoolboy, the recital of the barbarities of the Spaniards had gained possession of his mind, and

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