Engagement between Hawke and Conflans, Nov. 20th, 1759. Serris. The Anti-Chamber to this apartment contains a bust of Lord Hawke, and various paintings of naval exploits. The most remarkable of the latter are two large pieces, representing engagements, in the reign of Charles II., between Captain Thomas Harman, of the Tiger frigate, and the Dutch: in the first of which the English commander is successfully repelling the efforts of eight privateers to deprive him of a large fleet of colliers placed under his convoy; and in the other he is capturing a Dutch man of war, which he towed into the harbour of Cadiz, in sight of a squadron of the enemy's ships there riding. The parts undescribed of this extensive fabric, include the commodious apartments of the Officers, and the various wards of the Pensioners and Nurses. The Pensioners comprehend boatswains, mates, and private seamen; to the first of whom is allowed, weekly, 2s. 6d., to the second Is. 6d., and to the last 1s., for pocket money: the present number of these within the walls, is about two thousand three hundred and fifty. There are besides an indefinite number of Out-pensioners. Of the Nurses there are about one hundred and fifty on the foundation, who are all widows of seamen, and are required to be at least fortyfive years of age at the time of their admission. The Hospital diet is liberal, and the general appearance of its inmates, particularly of such as have not received any extraordinary wounds in the service, remarkably healthy. Admission to this grand national institution may be obtained daily, the hours allotted to Divine service on Sundays only excepted: and a small fee to the proper attendants secures a sight of every object worthy inspection within the different buildings. MINUTES OF A POST-TOUR FROM PARIS TO NAPLES: COMMUNICATED IN A LETTER TO A FRIEND. [Publication was unthought of by the writer of the following Minutes. They profess not, as will be obvious at once, to convey a regular description of a single place or object. They disclose simply the current of the narrator's thoughts and feelings, as he travelled, almost without intermission, through a wide and highly interesting tract of country, of which he had more reason to regret what he could not, than to be pleased with what he could see. Yet their easy but piquant style gave a pleasure in the perusal to the Editor, which he is anxious to communicate to his readers.] MY DEAR S. Naples, 21st June, 1824. I am then absolutely separated from you all by an interval of nearly fourteen hundred miles!-divided by the sea, the Alps, and the Apennines!-with I know not how many states of different denominations, kingdoms, dukedoms, popedoms, republics, lying between us. During my long journey, performed in the short space of nine days and a half, I have seen divers curiosities of nature and art, with many fair cities and goodly prospects. You will not imagine, however, that I had much time to devote to the examination of the interesting objects which presented themselves to my eyes, like water to the lips of Tantalus, and disappeared almost ere I could cast a glance at them: the cities, mountains, plains, and all that I have seen, passing before me as in a panorama, have left my imagination and memory in a state of confusion: I will endeavour, notwithstanding, to collect my scattered ideas, and give you a sketch of all my adventures. To begin then with the outset. Exactly as the deep-toned bells of the ancient towers of Notre Dame announced that the 7th of June had terminated and the 8th of June commenced, I stepped into the carriage charged with the high office of conveying me and sundry other valuable effects from the residence of the Baron at Paris, to that of his brother Baron at Naples, transformed for the occasion (for what important purposes you know) into an Austrian Courier, and furnished with that most indispensable article for foreign travel, a huge passport, recommending all authorities to render me aid and assistance. I had three companions, viz. an attendant Courier, and a green parroquet, and black English terrier, belonging to the Courier; all in high spirits-much more so than myself. At a quarter past twelve, the Rue d'Artois re-echoed the claquement of the postillion's whip, and we were en route: the day had been very fine, and the moon shone with silvery brightness. I was unromantic enough to gaze on the lofty mansions, and the trees, as we rolled down the Boulevard, hardly caring about the moon beyond the convenience of her light, and without one single poetical image crossing my mind, which however was far from unoccupied. On quitting Paris, I wrapped myself in my cloak, and composed myself to sleep in a corner of the vehicle: if you will take your map, you may join me at Melun in the mornning, or else at Montereau, where we stopped ten minutes to get a cup of coffee. Of these halts, during the journey, I availed myself to procure, though sometimes with difficulty, a basin of water and a towel. We continued our journey through a flat country, tolerably pleasant, without any remarkable features, watered by the Youne, a wide but shallow river, beside which the road runs for a considerable distance. We passed through Sens, a considerable town, with a cathedral, not apparently very interesting, but that might have delayed me an hour had my journey been one of pleasure. We were now |