sufferers around me, had been not long since the most distinguished for their extreme vivacity, and even for their beauty (little as was the appearance of it then) among the attendants of their queen; but that from their excessive imprudence, and intemperance, particularly an unlimited indulgence in intoxicating liquors, they laboured under the various distempers, which were always more or less the consequence of such practises; and that their queen had provided S this retreat for their reliet, which was principally under her care." She מן then pointed out some of the most remarkable cases of the afflicted, among which she enumerated dropsy, convulsions of various sorts, paisy, gout, acute rheumatismi, consumption, and many other frightful disorders, the catalogue of which was closed by the worst and most humiliating of maladies, madness and idiotism. On expressing my surprize that most of the complaints there should be those, which are attributed to intemperance; she observed, that she left it to others to account for the circuinstance, but of the fact there could be no doubt; that women when they threw off the the restraints of propriety almost invariably indulged to excess in strong liquors, and that to this source even more than to their thoughtless unprudence, most of the misery which they suffered of every description might be traced. By this time the day began to dawn, and impatient to continue my route, I requested my kind conductress to procure my dismissal as soon as possible; she said that I might go that day, either by one of the vessels of the island, or in a Felucca, the crew of which had been permit ted to depart the day before. I preferred the latter conveyance, and had a guide sent with me to the port nearest Deios, with orders to the captain of the Felucca to convey me there without delay; I then took leave of the ladies, and soon arrived at the port, where I found the Felucca weighing her anchor. I went aboard with the Captain without delay, the large latteen sails, were immediately unfurled, and we soon advanced with considerable rapidity. The wind being favourable, before many hours we saw the island to which we were bound, at a great distance covered with clouds, which seemed to adhere to it with a force which the wind could not overcome. On approaching the island we found that its coast consisted of rocky precipices which rose perpendicularly from the ocean, and rendered all access impossible, except at one narrow inlet, at each side of which a strong fort furnished with formidable batteries commanded the entrance; which was farther secured by a copper chain that extended from side to side a little way in. As soon as we came within hearing, a female, armed with a short coat of mail and helmet, appeared on the rampart of the nearest fort, with a speaking trumpet of a peculiar construction in her hand, through which, with a voice as distinct as if we were close beside her, she first ordered us to cast anchor between the forts; and then desired to know what brought us there. The captain informed her that he was ordered to land a passenger with dispatches for Juno, who he was informed was then on the island. He was then ordered to wait for a reply. On looking towards the fort we observed a telegraph put in motion, and in about a quarter of an hour, the same female again appeared, and said she had received orders from Minerva who directed the defence alone, and then to dismiss the vessel of the island, to admit the passenger instantly. down, and two seamen were sent to The boat was immediately lowered put me ashore: when we got near the chain I expected they would have passed under it, as it was about four feet above the water, but they stopped fear of touching it, which I could on their oars, with great token of not then account for, till it was lowered to the bottom by those within the fort; they then passed in, landed me in a very convenient wharf, from which a flight of granite stairs rose stantly departed. I had only time to the top of the precipices, and inin ascending the steps to observe that the chain was connected with a thick copper bar, that ran along the face of the precipice at both sides as far as I could see, a few feet above the level of the water, and that other similar bars lay parallel to it at equal distances, before a number of females armed in the same manner as her we had already seen, appeared descending the steps; I met them on a spacious landing place, and was conducted by them to the top, where two apparently of superior rank from the greater magnificence of their armour, waiting to receive me. were They nquired in a polite manner whether I would prefer to rest in the fort a while, or to proceed at once to the palace of their mistress, and on informing them that I would chuse rather to go on to the palace, they ordered a carriage to be brought out directly to convey me: which appeared almost as soon as it was ordered. It was formed something like the ancient chariots, but much lighter, and had two open seats, one of which was more elevated and placed behind the other. The wheels were of a very peculiar construction, each spoke of them consisting of a semicircular spring; the whole was finished with the most perfect workmanship, and the ornaments seemed even more valuable for the art with which they were formed than for their materials, though they were made of massy silver. Two of the finest horses I ever saw, were attached to it by a harness of a peculiar kind, so light and well contrived, that their motions seemed as free as if they were at liberty. One of the ladies ascended the front seat to drive, and the other did me the honour to sit on the upper seat with me. The road was perfectly smooth, a little rounded, and wound so among the hills as not to depart perceptibly from a level. Nothing could exceed the ease of the vehicle, the springs in the wheels made the road almost imperceptible to feeling, and seemed to render the draft so facile, that the horses appeared scarcely to need any eifoit for their rapid pace. The country as we advanced was covered with a profusion of the richest herbage, on which innumerable appeared either grazing its surface was finely vari and dale; numerous ord seen loaded with fruits o many fine fields of corn species appeared a littl almost ripe for the sickle, of flax, and plantations of observable in many place tant hills were covered w forests of oak, beech, c cedar; and over all som were seen whose towering lost in the clouds; on brooks of rapid water meandering among the from which various little cut, which admitted the herbage, and kept it i verdure. The air felt invi animating above all I ha perienced, and every t seemed to inspire industry while they exhibited the forts of both. After passing many n manner in a short period palace appeared before antient doric order, with le of red granite, highly poiis capitals and bases of jaspe deur of which was more the vast size of the fabric ding so happily with th the order. When we ca building, instead of enter expected, we turned off i ful avenue, which led a On inquiring what this ma lace was intended for, I w that it was formerly the ab nerva, but that on Juno reside on the island, she it to her, and had built ther, which was just then with the exception of the and to which we were th ing. And not long after th ing through a grove of loft we beheld it at a little dista It was built in that mo tecture which is falsely calle name stamped on it by the ignorance of those who wo at the trouble to underst which contains in reality principles of beauty, and greatest profundity of art this fine specimen was bro induce her to redress their wrongs. The part of your country which you came from, is by me most esteemed. The linen manufacture has ever been favoured by me, and I honour it by taking my name Athenæ* from it; I introduced it from Egypt into Greece, and last y to Ulster, where it flourishes above either. I once hoped to make its chief city the successor to my favourite Athens, but many obstructions to this remain to be removed. The useful sciences should ever precede those which are only ornamental, the desire of reversing this order, which my followers there pursue, highest perfection, for in it the external appearance possessed all the grandeur, which the internal parts of other structures of this order so often exhibit. The buttresses and other parts which disfigure them, being in this entirely superceded, by the happy contrivance of a beautiful portico, formed on the justest principles of the order, which while it contained all the mass necessary for the proper equilibrium of the internal arches, concealed the art by which this was effected. Nothing could exceed the elegance of the building, and the chearfulness caused by the vast body of light admitted by its spacious win-will, I fear, long delay my wishes, dows; its ornaments were of the simplest nature, and in this respect it bore the same analogy to other buildings of this species of architecture, which the Doric bears to the Composite order. Some majestic looking females appeared before this building, and my conductresses informing me they perceived Minerva among them, stopped the chariot, and one of them proceeded to announce our approach, and receive her orders. She speedily returned, and I was then led by her before the goddess of the arts and sciences. She appeared as if in the act of giving some directions about the unfinished part of the building, for she stood near it, and held a large plan open in one hand, while she leaned a little forward on her spear with the other. A countenance in which majesty and benignity, profound intelligence and exquisite sweetness were happily blended with a celestial beauty, and which in spired at once admiration and respect, now beamed forth on my astonished eyes with the splendour of a noon-day sun. I knelt on one knee before her, related the cause of my coming to the island, humbly implored her interest with Juno in the cause of my fair country women, and solicited her propitious favour in my studies of those arts which she patronized, and which from my infancy had ardently followed. Rise my son, replied the goddess. Your country-women may rely on my favour, which they have so much merited, as well as that of her to whom this island belongs. I have little doubt that our request to Juno will BELFAST MAG. NO. XVI. if not totally prevent their attainment. As to your own petition, it is directed to favourable ears, your labours, my son, have not been unnoticed by me, and as a token of my approbation, I present you this image of my form, which I permit you ever to retain. Saying this, she presented me with a large medal of solid gold, on which her resemblance was stamped with the most beautiful execution and effect, and then directed my conductress to introduce me to one of the ladies of her family, who would, she said, show me the various musæums, and repositories of the arts in her palace, which she knew I would behold with pleasure, and would attend to those other cares which mortals required. I returned my profound thanks to the goddess, and followed my con- / ductress into the palace. After passing through a magnificent antichamber, we entered a very spacious apartment, lighted by many vast windows, which rendered it as light as the external air. Here a number of elegantly formed females, were busily engaged in different occupations. Some were employed in the antient art of tapestry, with which they framed images of the most brilliant colouring, and happiest effect; others were painting some of the memorable events of history in the neglected wax colours of the Greeks, which are falsely said to be lost, though plainly described by * See La Pluches History of the Heavens, vol. L. Article Minerva, Xx the ancient writers. Every species of the graphic art was pursued here, both in oil and water colours, engraving, etching, and aquatinta; various looms were also busily at work, and the glory of the north, the inimitable damask was not neglected; at the lower end several were engaged in various designs of sculpture, and numerous other useful and ornamental arts were all carried on here at the same time. At the upper end of the apartment were musical instruments of all sorts, to which the ladies résorted for amusement in the intervals of their other employments. One or more played by turns while the rest were at work, which made their pleasing occupations still more chearful. When we entered a lady of most graceful figure sat in this part of the apartment, on a seat somewhat elevated, before a large harp of the utmost harmony of tone, furnished with such artful contrivances, as to render it the most perfect of stringed instruments. The music of it was exquisitely touching, and as she was playing on it, when we approached, we stopped to listen, that we might not interrupt her, and heard her sing the following verses with iniinitable sweetness, to music, perfectly appropriate to their design. Friendship again thy empire seize, When she finished, she looked up, and perceiving us, arose and walked towards us: my conductress presented me to her, repeated the words of the goddess, and wished me farewell, as she was obliged to return to the fort. The lady smiled benignantly, and welcomed me with an air, which showed the pleasure she took in executing the directions of her patroness, and herdelight in performing acts of kindness. In beauty of form she was not inferior to some of the most favoured of the neighbouring island; and if her countenance could not be compared to * Paphos. theirs in exquisite finish and rity of feature, it possessed species of beauty infinitely where refined sense and inte understanding and goodness beamed forth in every lo captivated the mind as we heart. The beauty of mo ladies here was of the same though many of them might the others, in even their mos charms. But in truth their tion was so delightful, from sense and benevolence, that I but little of their looks, and a dress I reinember nothing b was modest, rational, grac becoming, and that the ext ments of all contained som either of silk or fine wool, entirely of silk. There was in their manner which prever liarity, without being any puisive, they spoke with the and at the same time with ness of friends, equally rem the extremes of stiff reserve, gligent incivility, and posse nently that true ease of which the slavish votaries o are ever attempting in vain, they want its chief requisites, of mind and benevolence of H As the day was far passed my kind and lovely guide, we should postpone our vis repositories of art and scien following morning, and as of their chief repast was passed the interval in vie works in which the ladies ployed where we then wer but the two which most attr were all finished with exquisi attention were, a picture wi ed to exceed all in the rich colouring, but on nearer app of various coloured cloth; seen to be composed entirely I was told was the invent most respectable* lady of my whose happy wit, and brilli tion the hand of time had able to diminish. The oth art, was a landscape, forme filaments of glass, stained requisite shades, which we *Mrs. C-f-ld, of Ennisk - together vertically by an inuctible cement, and which when hed at the surface exhibited the exact imitation of nature, while the advantage of being unalterby time. ortly after this the ladies passed another apartment, where an ele repast was prepared, of which the -us articles were chosen and preso as most eminently to promote and refreshment. At the table two ishes were introduced this day: one haunch of Llama, skilfully dressed; ther was the favourite vegetable Chinese, called Pe-tsai, and both found to be excellent. The lady directed the rearing of the newlyd Llamas, informed us of their valuable qualities, and showed shawl which she had woven from wool herself, which exceeded in y the finest produce of Cashmire. ady who had cultivated the Pe-ld us, it was of the brasica geand was preferred by those who it to all other kinds. Several e other ladies informed us of stances which had occurred to either useful or amusing, in their of that day. One lady had a plant, which before was espoisonous, to be capable of ing a powerful medicine, by a management, which she reanother had succeeded in fixbeautiful and permanent scarlet linen; a third exhibited some read, made without any twist, ssing fibres of flax, drawn nd united by a curious engine, han elastic varnish, which she st brought to perfection, which instantly, and which was able by moisture, or the of the air. A fourth lady ed a curious article of history she had met in an ancient ebook, that exhibited in a new e fatal effects of a violent pasncontrouled by reason or jusA very young lady lately admit served on this, that it would be E the sexes were formed without 5, or that they could totally erahem by firmness of resolution. ena replied to her, that by the mode of reasoning, we should the use of fire, and of every -owerful agent in nature, for IN N the eighth canto of the Gerusalemme Conquistata, of Tasso, 12th and 18th octaves, is the word fonte put in the feminine gender, which flagrant solecism, with some other matters I could mention, tempts me to doubt whether that poem was ever the production of Tasso; it is in many places irksome and obscure, and is altogether unworthy of the author of the Liberata. If any person who is studious of Italian literature, could adjust this point, through the medium of your Magazine, it would much oblige RICCIARDO. For the Belfast Monthly Magazine. First Report from the Committee on Acts regarding the use of broad Wheels and other matters, relating to the preservation of the Turnpike Roads and Highways of the Kingdom.* The Committee appointed to take into consideration the acts now in force, regarding the use of broad Wheels, and to examine what shape is best calculated for ease of Draught, and the preservation of the Roads; also to suggest such additional regulations as may contribute to the preservation of the Turnpike roads and Highways of the Kingdom: And who were instructed to consider of an Act made in the 28th year of his present Majesty, for limiting the number of persons to be carried on the outside of Stage Coaches or other carriages; and to re port, from time to time to the house, * Published in June 1806. |