creditsthe fact, that those to whom the rents of this place are paid, should be so blind to their own interest, as well as to that of their tenantry, which is intimately connected with it, as to sanetion upwards of seventy boats crews to row from item To this circumstance it is owing, in a great measure, that both large and small fish, are sometimes scarce; that the corn and grafs grounds are much trodden down; and the peats rendered lefs valuable than they otherwise would be. Hence, too, the introduction and sale of great quantities of spirits, tea, snuff, and other merchandize, corrupts the morals of the people, wastes their substance, and leads them to difsipation of almost every kind.

Here are some tolerable harbours, or inlets of the sea. Of these, Hammavoe, which lies on the west side, is the best, being pretty capacious, and having good anchorage; but the entry to it is very narrow and hazardous without a pilot, on account of a large ridge of rocks, that almost runs across the passage, although the gut is eleven feet deep." Culliavoe is the next considerable placé céfor anchoring small vefsels, and is noted for a tolerable beach, which on one side runs so steep, that sloops can lie vand take in their cargoes by the help of a small plank; an inestimable advantage this, beside that of a safe entry. The other inlets or creeks, are convenient for small vcraft and are generally well furnifhed with - beaches; particularly the one occupied by the present btacksman and factor. It is, by far, the best for finishing or completing the cure of salted ling, tufk, and cod.

As these places of anchorage are well fenced from the ocean, and once yielded nine tons of kelp, it is highly presumable, that, instead of this quantity, at the expiry

of

cevery three years, the fhores might be cut in such a manner, as to render four tons yearly, besides the quantity arising from sea ware, with which this island has been often blessed, and by which it produces certain as

302 tonishing crops of bear; nay, in this production, I am convinced it stands unrivalled in almost every corner of the world.

The corn and grafs grounds are truly beautiful, and open a wide field for contemplation. Nature has indeed been very bountiful, but art parsimonious in this delightful spot. Were their powers united in an elegant, manner, it would become the admiration, as it now may bę deemed the garden, of Shetland.

Here there is also a warren, together with otters and seals, and a few of the birds most common to the country. The tide of Papa sound, which separates it from the main land to the southward, is oft times so rapid and dangerous, that it cannot be safely forded. Under this description, may be reckoned the passage to the Vae Skerries, which lie about a league off land, nearly in the direction of N. N. W.

These rocks, which in boisterous weather wear a dread ful appearance from the horn of Papa Stour, have yet been known to shelter men and boats, when defeated or overtaken by a high sea, on their returning from the ling fishing. They lie in a cluster, and form somewhat like a bason.

Besides this convenience, they fhelve sa much, that boats can be drawn up and secured upon them. Nay, there is an instance of a lodge having been erected there by Dunrofsnefs men*, for a fishing station. They have not a sward of grafs, but abound in limpets of a large size. They also produce flint; and are much resorted to by seals. In fine, these Skerries may be considered as an appendage of Papa, although considerably disjoined from it. At all events, they are a great

convenience.

*The parish that bears this name, is distant about thirty-five miles from these Skerries and bounded on the south by Lumburgh Head.

The two holms, which lie near the western point of this island, and are pofsefsed solely by the laird of Lochend, feed horned cattle and sheep, of each a few, to much advantage; although washed by the ocean, in almost every direction, in winter, in so much that the grafs is often so brackish, that they cannot eat it. However, it is no tour, that some oxen that had been kept there for a se ries of years, produced an amazing quantity of fine tallow.

It is said, that Papa Stour, and its appendages, are still redeemable by the heirs of Mouat of Bequalee, the original proprietor, by whom the same were impignorated to Busta and Lochend, for certain sums of money advanced him. The vestige of his policy, and coat of arms, is still visible, and not at all contemptible for the times in which he lived.

The church, though an ancient structure, is sufficient to contain the inhabitants. The parson does duty once in three weeks, as he has two other parishes under his care. But the drawn fheaf, to which he is entitled here, forms considerable part of his stipend.

1

I should be wanting to myself, were I to close these strictures, without heeding the civilities I received in this island, where I stayed three days with a friend. Such marks of urbanity, chearfulnefs, and friendship, claim my warmest and most grateful tribute of praise. Beneficent

actions indeed, are amply rewarded in a happier stage of existence, independently of those placid satisfactions which they always communicate to virtuous minds. And, how much soever even a public acknowledgement may gratify, it can only convey an imperfect idea of what is felt. But

"If e'er a gleam of comfort glads my soul,

"If e'er my brow to wonted smiles unbends;
* 'Tis when the fleeting minutes as they roll,
**Can add one gleam of pleasure to my friends.

Edin. Nov. 20. 1792.

C. S.

ANECDOTE OF MARESMAL DE FEUILLADE.

LOUIS XVI. one day asked the marefhal de Feuillade, what M. de Calenat could be good for. Sire, (said he,) if your majesty wants a general of an army, he is very worthy of that employment.-If you want a chancellor, he will nobly fill the functions of it. If you judge it proper to make him a minister, his capacity is, in every respect, equal to the task." At the time M. de Feuillade said this, he was at variance with M. de Calenat.

AN

TO CORRESPONDENTS:

AN efsay entitled the Road to Perfection, with extracts, is received. The Directions for preserving objects of Natural History, are also come to hand, and shall appear as soon as possible.

The very interesting unedited Fragments of Bacon are also thankfully received.

The Editor is much obliged to C. F. for the observations on mechanism. Both the contrivances he mentions have been adopted in particular cases ; and have been found liable, in practice, to objections that do not readily occur in theory. Of these more particular notice will be taken on some future occasion.

The lines by Timothy Sober are received; and fhall have a place with the first convenience.

The communication by Marcellus, has been too long overlooked. For this, and other things of the same kind, the Editor finds it necefsary to apologise, by ascribing it to the confusion occasioned by a search made in his office, that he would not have here mentioned at all, had he not been afraid that some pieces may have been entirely lost on that occasion, which he hopes at any rate will be few. He can only recollect one small bundle of papers amifsing, and that luckily consisted for the most part of his own writings, but some others he can recollect to have been in it, particularly a paper from Trader Political, and one signed Astyanax, and another Ruriola Alter. He hopes still to be able to recover these: but Should that not be in his power, he hopes these correspondents will obli gingly pardon him for this involuntary apparent disrespect.

The SECOND ORDER OF GEMS will be inserted after a short inter« val, to give room to some other articles that have been too long deferred

CRITICAL REMARKS ON SOMÉ CELEBRATED ENGLISH AUTHORS.

LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN OF LITERARY EMINENCE LATELY DECEASED, TO A YOUNG GENTLEMAN WHO HAD REQUESTED HIS ADVICE IN REGARD TO THE PROPER MODE OF CONDUCTING HIS STUDies.

Ι

I AM glad to find, my dear

that you are so keenly engaged in the study of history and the belles lettres; and I have no doubt, but if you persevere, you will soon make such proficiency as to furhish yourself a very interesting amusement. But in this, as in every other pursuit, you must lay your account with meeting with disappointments. Here you will soon perceive, that all is not gold that glitters ; and when you think you have acquired full information on one head, it will not be long before you will be obliged to unlearn what you have been

VOL. Xiii.