The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-08-24 00:00:00

TOE STATIASMAN,

SENEGAL

Is an Island of Africa, in the river to called,
about ono mile and a quarter in length, from
north to moth, and almost half a mile in breadth,
from easkao west. It is composed of a bed of
loose sand, productive of nothing but what is
forced hy art, and the richest manure ; not with-
standing which, it contains 3000 inhabitants,
whose principal food is fish and anise; this sort
of corn growing in great plenty almost all over
the whole country. It may seem surprising, that
a part of the world so very unhealthy us this
should yet be so populous, but the wonder will
tease, when we come to understand, that the
greatest pride among the men consists in the num.
ber of their wives; 'so that every one takes as
many as he is able to maintain, same sit, others
eight, and others twelve at a time. The river
which surrounds it, rises in the interior country,
and runs into the Athletic. Some Geographers
arc of opinion that it rises out of the great Lake
Mabeira, and passes through a course of .1,500
miles, before it discharges itself into the ocean ;
while others, no less obstinately assert it to be a
continuation of the Niger, though neither opi.
nion can be otherwise supported than by conjec.
turc. The river Senegal is doubtless one of the
' largest rivers of Africa.; fur, without ascending
higher than the Lake Benin (the farthest that F.u.•
ropeans have peetetrated, at least upon unques.
tionable authority), it is 800 leagues to the Island
of Senegal, near the mouth of the river. So
cruel, so savage, and so barbarous are the inha.
bitanfs, that few people's curiosity is sufficient
to.earry them through the dangers and fatigues
which would necessarily attend such a pursuit.
Within two leagues of the sea, the river in its
course takes a sudden turn to the South, and, for
the remainder of its passage, is divided from the
sea by only a natural ridge of land, sometimes
not 100 toises over. By this curve it prolongs
its course for 25 leagues farther, from North to
South, till at length it discharges itself into the
ocean, in 15 degrees, 50 minutes, north latitude.
This great river separates the country of the Ne-
,
groes from the Moors of Sahara, or the Desert,
stretching, by a number of windings, to a pro.
digious length, from east to west. The eitreme
rapidity of this river is attributed to the space
passed through by so large a body of water, con-
fined within so narrow a channel, the mouth of it
being no more than half a league over, and that
chdaked up with sand, called a bar, which ren-
ders the passage exceedingly difficult and danger-
ous. This bar is doubly dangerous, on account
not only of the shallowness of the water at all
times, but the shifting of the bar, and the change I
of its situation, after floods and heavy rains, by.
which the channels are lost, and new soundings I
requisite .to discover them. Indeed the Senegal
would be quite shut up, for_but one channel of
200 Wises in breadth, and two fathoms depth,
which has long kept its situation, immoveable j
amidst the floods and overflowing/ of the river.
This bar prevents ships of 5 or 600 tons from en.
teeing the river, and mooring under the fort--an
inconvenience that obliged the French Company
to keep a vessel constantly at anchor in the then.'
eel, for no other purpose than to keep an account
of the soundings.
The most commodious time of the year for'
crossing the bar Is from the month of January till
August, the winds being less variable, the river
smooth, and. the bar flied, until the ensuing rainy
season, when the prodigious swell of the rivet,
'and the south-west winds opposed to its rapid
course, raise waves to so great a height at the bars
that their dashing resembles the shuck of moun.l
Itains, and so furious as to dash in pieces the ,
`stoutest ship. After crossing the bar, it becomes
a beautiful, smooth, and gently-gliding neer), at
four fathoms depth. In advancing* league higher,
the country, on the south side, is clothed with
beautiful verdure, the trees in perpetual bloom;
than which nothing can form a more agreeable
contrast to the dry, sandy, and barren points of
land, that first present themselves to shipping.
All around lie a great number of islands, plea.
witty stocked with trees, fruits, herbage, and
birds; but appropriated to no use, incept the
island of Senegal. The mouth of the river is laid
Idown in latitude 15. 50. north.

The Freedom of the City of Cork has been voted
to Captain AUGUSTUS BALRWIN, of the Royal
Navy, far his heroic conduct in the late action
with the Russian fleet in the Baltic.
The Freedom of the City of Cork has been
onaohnotasly voted in Council, to Capt. nonenz
HALL, of the Lucifer bomb, as an acknowledg-
ment of regard and gratitude from his fellow.
citizens, for the services he had rendered his
country during his command of that ship is the
Mediterranean.
The Hoe, sear Plymouth, le, perhaps, without
an exception, the most delightful promenade in the
kingdom, the prospects it commaudsare very beau.
tiful and picturesque. The Corporetion of Ply.
mouth ham employed labourers to level it, and
seats lire to be built for the Seeommodation
of the public. CASIDZIPS gives the following ac.
count of it—" Between the town and theses is an
hill, called the Ifaw, on the top of which' is a deli-
cate level or plain, which affords a very pleasant
prospect oa all sides, and a curious compass far
the use of mariners. From this hill it is fabled
that the Cornish giant Corium's, wrestling with
the giant Gogmagog, threw him headlong into the

sea."
A fine Newfoundland dog, the property of Mit.
Scott, of Waltham Ablrey, was killed last week
in a field by a *easel, which attached itself to his
throat, whilst the dog was in pursuit of it in a
ditch. The poor animal being unable to disen-
tangle himself from his troublesome 'smiles',
straggled for a considerable time, until at length
exhausted with the loss of blood, he fell down
and expired. The dog was valued at 30 guineas.
Yesterday, a gentleman passing along the Stroud
had his pocket picked by a gang of fellows, wbel,
atom being discovered, made off; ono of them was
closely primed, and taken opposite St. Clement's
Church. Us was immediately conveyed to Bow-
street.

THE liffEADAVOrelif. •
The following account of the affair in whielethe
boats of the Dreadnought were engaged in Basque
Roads differing from the former statements which
appeared, we have thought it right to give it pub.
licity :
" While the fleet lay in Basque Roads, it had
been constantly the habit to make one ship send
boats at night to row guard towards the mouth
of the Charente, the entrance of which Was pro.
tected by a small island (isle d'Aix) very well
fortified.

" The enemy sent one of their brigs of war.
down to remain tinder the protection of the Isle.
of Aix during the day, and at night she generally
went at some distance up the river, to catch any
of our boats who might be bold enough to go
_too close to the shore in chase of the coastieg
vessels from Rochelle towards Ruchefurt, which
were annoyed by our men of. war. On the night
of the 25th and 26th, Lietiteutauts Forman and
Owen were ordered to raw gitersl in two boats,
under the orders of Lieutenant Furman. It was
at first thought that the brig had not gone up the
river that night ; fortunately,. however, Lieute-
nant Furman thought it best to reconnoitre her
before they made an attack, otherwise none of
them could have escaped as the. tide was. •
-44 At about half past two, hevingisavaited so
long for the turn of tide, the, boats epproacliesll
the brig, when, from her situation, Lieutenant
Forman despaired of macron, and proposed re-
tiring ; but Lieutenant Owen was so fully eunli-
dent of success, that he wiihed to make the attack
alone—and on this the attack .was made. Lieut.
Forman pulled down alongside the brig to get
on board. The enemy, in addition to the usual
mode of defence, which is a very strong net-work
stretched tight along, considerably higher than the
bulwark of the vessel, through which they wore
obliged to cut, had strong sharp pikes, standing
out boriaoqtally from her sides about six or seven
feet, rather lower than the upper edge of a boat.
On the end of one of these Lieut. Owen ran his
boa, and there he stuck, a mark for the French.
men, who popped at them like so many fowls tied
to a stake. Lieut. Forman's boat had been the
first alongside, and had avoided the pikes ; and
while he was occupied in trying to cut through
the net, he heard Lieut. Owen cry for quarter.
The people of Lieur. Furman's boat seeing tht
istate they were in, and many of them being
wounded, one tnortally.,,pitahed off, and had not
the Lieutenant himself bgeu able to swim, he must
have remained in the brig a prisoner ; however, he
swam to his boat, and reteifell a wound just as
he was going to get into her. He brought on
board the Dreadnought seven, besides himself,
wounded, one since dead ; and left behind Lieut.
Owen, with his boat and people, nhoins it was
impossible to bring ofE. One of them, *it has
since been heard, was killed, and four wounded.
The enemy had one killed, and two or three
wounded, by their owu account."

4CITRAORDINdItYC.WSE OF DEATH.

•
Peter Peuterean, a painter, dt Mind Ham, wherit
he was born in the year 1650, *as reqnested to
paint as emblematie pieturE of Mortality, repre.
sestina human skulls and bohcs, etirruiduled tritii
rich gems, and mesital instruments; to express the
vanity of this world's pleisures, amusements, of
possissions ; and, that he might imitate nature nigh
the greater exactness, he went into an anatomical
room, where several ikeletohs hung by wire, from
the ceiling, and bones 'and skulls lay scattered
about, and immediately prepared to make his de.
signs. While we was thus empl.iyed. either owing
to fatigue, or tp intense study, lie insensibly fell
asleep • but was suddenly ronsed by the shock of
an earthquake, which happened at that instant, on
the 18th of September, The moment he
awoke, he observed the skeletons move about, as
they were shaken, in different directions, and the
skulls roll from one side of the room to the other;
and, being totally Ignorant of the cause, he was
struck with such horror, that he threw himself
down stairs, and fell into the street half dead. His
friends took all possible means to efface the impres.
sion made on his mind by this unlucky event, and
acquainted him with the real cause of the agitatiun
of the skeletons ; but in vain ; for this transaction
affected his spirits in su violent a manner, that it
brought on a disorder, which in a short time end.
ed his days. •
_ •

Surcret.—Al event of an awful nature oe.
curred during the 'last week at Southall, Middle.
sez. An attorney, who had some causes at the
Exeter Assizes, was returning from thence, after
having called at Oxford, by the stage-coach.—
Having alighted, he desired the coachman to wait
OLw'mhantee for Mm ' • be, hotiever, did not re-
'taro, but went to a farm-house, and requested
the favour of pen, ink, and paper and was re.
ferred to a neighbouring public-house, where he
wrote a letter (which afterwards turned out to be
'his will), and addressed it to his family. lie af-
terwards left the public house, and in the dusk
of the evening he was found in the canal, with his
head nearly severed from his body, and stabbed
from head to foot in a moat shocking manner.—
An inquest sat on the body, and returned a 'cr.
diet of—Lunacy.
At Gloucester, John Johns, dies King,
charged with assaulting autkrobbing Mr. Richard
Aldridge' on the highway, near Bristol, pleaded
guilty. Upon being .asked why sentence of death
should not be passed upon him, said, "he was sell_
Bible he had committed. a crime against society.
by which his life .was
.forfeited, to tho I.ins
of his country, but.
.that 'be bad been
led to. the r!eed by fixe. di.trets of his family
for bread." Judge Batt.t.r,, psssipg sautence
upon him, was so affected ~that he was ()Wised,
to turn gis face from thispesaploh, and whilst re-
peatins the usual words, t‘, to !be taken to the
place frau whedce )ou were. bropght—and—you
know what I should say, and what I mean," and,
wept. Tlip ether part of the sentence. was scarcely
articeialee He was rccuinmended to mercy b;
the prosecutor.

.446 R fee LIVRE 4

--~~

lire have received three accounts of the pre.
sent state of the growing wheat; one from the
Wiltshire Downs, one from the lower part of
Somerset, and the other from Dorset and Dc.
vonshire ; they all concur in stating the prospect
ora plentiful harvest, and • that corn in general
never bole a more healthy appointees, or a filler
env.
A correspondent, oho lately made the tour of
several English co pities, informs us, that the crops
in.general appear good, and the ears well
Idled. In tome few pltices; blight and mildew
Iwo made their appearance"; bet the wheat was
soefar advanced to maturity before they emote on,
that the produce %s ill he little deteriorated by
them. Dry weather, however, is now much
wanted, in orikr to harvest the different kinds of
grain. A full average crop is expected, and ra.
tht.v more in many places. The turnips arc very
nnegnal ; the fly bas been tell busy in certain
districts. .

COUNTRY FAIRS.
-sm.

At Wilford fair► near Salisbury► on Saturday,
35,000 shed► and lambs were penned► and but
rev remained unsold. The prices 'were full -34.
twr bead daarer than list year ; ewes fetched from
441. to 353. welters 35•. to 465. lambs 154. to
23a The preference was in favour of South-down,
stork.

At I.lnsdown Mr, on Thursday, a large quan.:
lily of cheese wig pitched ; prices from 665. t
635. many loads were carried off unsold. Very
few good horses, and oven inferior ones said high.
Ono gentleman. missed his pocket-book, which
contained nearly 9001.
At Worcester Lammas fair there was a very
large supply of cattle and Oleo!) ; the few,
were rather upon the decline in price ; the 141Ser
maintained the same price as at the last fair, and
_many of both were driven away for ward of pur.
*hailers. Good horses were scarce, 5,,1 sold It
very high prices. Seventy pimtkets of kept wen
weighed ; current prices 41. 10s. to M. its. per
swt.

&TOUT LiMPrON, cos. 20b
The Bill at the Long-roonsal on Tuesday night,
was attended by the most brilliant display of cum.
patty we ever remember to have seen, at so early a
period of the season. All the beauty, rank and
fashion of the country, were present. The Mar.
gravineof Anspach es tered the ball-room at eleven
o'clock ; but although she remained till a late hour
blithe morning, her ierette Highness did not dance.
The ball was opened by Miss Ashton and Captain
Thineombe, of the Guards, Aid.de.Camp to the
Earl or Above five-and-thirty couple fol.
lowed in the mazy 'lessee., The attentions of Mr.
Lynne, the Master of the Cercmonies, and of Mr.
who c,nducted the evening's entertain-
rirnt, gave universal satisfaction.
r. Pope, orCovent.gartlen, made his first ap.
pearance, lust night, in oho character of Othello.
Tile Theatre was t:rooviled in every part.—Hc was
;creived with unbounded applause. In Mr. Max.
fiel.ll logo, there was notlling•to dente. Mr.
Kelly, in Cussio, appt.m.,ll to Ns nil entirely 4o
codeprehenii the vigour of that character. Miss
carppioitorrom theTiteatre-Royal, Glasgow, made
her, debut oft these boardh, and gave to Derdemo-
na 'all the ictittisite tenderness and passion.—ller
person Is gracefiil, and her voice extremely ener-
getic.
The Marquis of Lansilown arrived at the Castle,
on Thurs.l4y night, from Ns seat at Bowlwood, in
Wiltshire, and set off the next .moruiftg for Lon-
don.—ller Ladyship and the fluidly, we regret to
104, will nut hotionr.this place with theirOreleace,
till towards the end of Autumn.

4t•'"►

POLICE.
-.........-,.

Maxsrov Tuesiday d *saws of
the town charged a Gautleases with pusisiwg bee
downsupon the pavement, wince'', she was much
bruised about the head and shoal.: .rs. The Gen-
tleman in his defence stated, that he had been
&juicing wine, and returning heats •thisegh Al.
alersgate-strect, the Prosecutrix meek bolsi of his
arm, and absolutely prevented him from passing..
Ile should not hare used any violence, but from
the circumstance or another woman baring for.
merly accosted him in a similar foamier, and rub.
bed him of a broach worth nine giddies.

• The Loam MAYOR was hippy to istseeere Atop
notwithstanding the unfortunate siteatiems of the
Woinan, shn had been candid, and dad Pot differ
from the Gentleman in her story; sod recom-
mended to the parties to settle the eitter.
The Gentleman imonedieWly gave tise woman 59.
lin consideration of her misfortenes, mid the charge
was dismissed.
•.'.!t •

I ATTu N -G OEN- —Topeniay Mary M 4 REGIS
and Mary 6'r-filth were charged with seducing the
fidelity of a servant girl in the employ of. Miss
Abraham, dress-maker and muslin warehouse.
• keeper, in lloltiorn. APBean kept apartments in
the Strand, had frequent access to the girl, and
persuaded her to pilfer articles out of the shop.
shc gale her ss. for an article worth W'. and a
great quantity of goods were fawn, on Wilean,
and brought to the Office, as well as a watch and
401,1 seals. They were committal for re-esami-
station.
A master chimney-sweeper, of the name of Laz-
ier:, was held to ball for an assault on a yuwng
woman, with intent to commit a rape.
We RSIIIP • ST R . --Iresterclity;, 'thrill!! Leslie
was fully committed to Nesigate,fiir trial, charged
iiith gulag into the shop of Mr. Saunders, in Old..
,street, under pretence of making a purchase, but
stealing two shin's.
A smart young wan named Edwards, alias Tap
he, was committed fur trial, charged with rob-
bind the premises of Mr. Page, in Norton-Falgate,
of a large quantity of linen, blankets„, and other
articles._

LONDON t hinted sett Published by n. Lae cat.. bt the
STNUNMA N rritE, Si, k leet4treet.