and slightly animated colours; or whether the Greek women have less degenerated here than elsewhere from their ancient beauty, it is certain that there are not to be found, in any other country of the LEVANT, SO many beautiful women as at Scio, and, nevertheless, subjugated by a bad taste; they make too great a use of red, white, and black, which, very far from adding to their charms, cause that softness to disappear, conceal that delicate complexion, destroy that bloom, which every where render women so agreeable and so captivating.

Here they frequent the baths much more seldom than the Greek women of SMYRNA and CONSTANTINOPLE, and this, perhaps, is the reason why their beauty lasts longer. They attribute the whiteness of their teeth to the almost continual and general custom of having mastic incessantly in their mouth; but, perhaps, they owe this advantage still more to the dislike that they have to smoking, in which the others find an inexpressible pleasure.

Economical and temperate in their family, the richest, as well as the poorest, shew an excessive love of gain. Those less gifted by fortune employ themselves in making stockings, caps, and purses, which they sell to passengers, or carry to their dealers. The rich women embroider handkerchiefs and all the linen in use among the Orientals; several have a frame in their own house, and work at some sort of silk or cotton stuff. Sweetmeats, conserves of roses and orange flowers, sirups of lemon and bergamot-citron, occupy a great number of women of all ages and of all conditions. It is generally in the country that they breed the silk-worm and spin cotton.'

The curious reader will likewise be gratified with a particular account of the gathering of mastic, and with descriptions of three shells, named Bulimus denticulatus, Melania buccinoidea, and Planorbis orientalis.

From Scio, the travellers proceeded to Tchesmé, a small town of Asia, seated on the ruins of Cyssus :

Geographers place at the head of a bay, two or three leagues to the north of TCHESME, the ancient ERYTHRA, celebrated for the oracles of the Sibyl; I chose to proceed thither on foot, while my colleague was purchasing at TCHESME, the provisions that we wanted. I left on the right the town and some chalky, calcareous hillocks; I traversed an uneven ground, fields in culture, hillocks uncultivated, and, after an hour's journey, I found myself in a plain that termi. nated at the bay of which I have just spoken. I saw, at a little distance from the sea, a spring rather copious, the water of which was harsh and burning the environs presented marine salt. A poor building stood by the side of the spring: I was told that there are basins where a person may bathe; I wished to enter them: percel ving some Turks, I retired, and was proceeding towards the sea, when, a moment after, I saw two of them, with the yatagan in their hand, advancing towards me, threatening me and calling me dog and infidel. I had with me only a Greek servant, little capable of seconding me, though strong as HERCULES; but I had a swordcane: this was better. I immediately unsheathed my weapon, and,

in a firm and imposing voice, desired them to be told, that if they did not instantly retire, I would cause five hundred blows to be given them with a stick, in my presence, by the aga of TCHESME. This threat and, above all, my sword, made these Turks change their tone. "He is a madman, he is a Frenchman," said they to each other; "let us leave him alone."

'I did not think it prudent to go and see the ruins of ERYTHRÆ. I gathered several interesting plants, and returned to the harbour.' So much solid matter has been pressed by M. Olivier into his pages, that, had we not already transgressed our accustomed limits, we should linger with him on Delos, Naxos, Cimolis, and Milo:-but, for various particulars respecting those islands, we must beg leave to refer our readers to the work.

The four chapters relative to Crete convey much circumstantial information, though in a strain that is seldom animated by striking incident or splendour of recital.

The collection of plates, which belong to this part of the publication, consists of one general and seven particular maps, of two engravings of the female costume in Scio and Argentiera, and of five which relate to objects in natural history. The representation of a Turkish burying-ground, planted with cypress-trees, requiring particular care in the execution, is not yet finished, but will be published with the next delivery.

Fidelity seems to be the chief merit of the translation: in which on almost every occasion, we remark the turn and even the arrangement of French phraseology. The expression True it is forms a notable exception, but it occurs so frequently as to produce a ludicrous effect. Chicory is used for succory or endive, tribune for gallery, and breach for breccia. We have heard of a translator who rendered précipité per se by Persian precipitate: but we trust that the remainder of this valuable work will not be done into English with such precipitation.

ART. II. Journal of the late Campaign in Egypt: including Descriptions of that Country, and of Gibraltar, Minorca, Malta, Marmorice, and Macri: with an Appendix, containing Official Papers and Documents. By Thomas Walsh, Captain in His Majesty's 93d Regiment of Foot, &c. Illustrated by numerous Engravings of Antiquities, Views, Costumes, Plans, Positions, &c. 4to. PP. 400. 31. 3 s. Boards. Cadell and Davies. 1803.

TH

CHOUGH the tale of glory respecting the Egyptian expedition has been so frequently repeated, we still dwell on it without satiety but to accompany the author of the elegant volume before us would be pleasant on any occasion; since his manner of describing the eventful scenes, in which he bore apart, bê

stow's

stows on them an additional interest. The language of this work is also more correct and happy than that of any publica tion on this subject which we have yet had occasion to notice; the engravings (with one or two exceptions) are designed and executed in a style of superior merit; and the art of the printer has been exercised to add every embellishment of types and paper. The maps and plans are particularly large and valuable*, From the author's account of Gibraltar, a place so often described before, we shall make only the following extract; the first part of which applies to some recent occurrences in that garrison, and the remainder states an institution which deserves to be known and applauded :

If water be scarce, wine, on the other hand, is in such abundance, and so cheap, that in no part of the world exist such repeated scenes of intoxication. It is indeed distressing to see whole bands of soldiers and sailors literally lying in the streets in the most degra. ding state of inebriety. Drunkenness is no crime in the garrison, except in those who are on duty; and every man coming off a working party is ordered to be paid eight pence on the spot, which he im mediately proceeds to spend in a kind of bad wine, called black. strap. Houses for the sale of this pernicious liquor are found at every step, and furnish no small part of the revenue.

The situation of officers here, especially in time of war, is very melancholy; cooped up in a prison, from which it is impassible to stir, and with no other amusement or resource, but what they can find among themselves. I must, however, except the garrison library, which, to a mind susceptible or desirous of information, is an institution of the most useful and advantageous kind. A committee of officers is appointed, to whom the choice of the books is left; and in the selection none are admitted but the most approved productions. All interesting new publications are purchased, and likewise a regular succession of the best English papers. Every officer, on his arrival at Gibraltar, gives one week's pay to the fund, which constitutes him a subscriber, paying only the additional sum of four dollars

*The work,' says Captain W. in his preface, is accompanied by forty-one plates, including upwards of fifty subjects, most of them from drawings made by the Author with the utmost attention to correctness. Taken in perfect security, and with all necessary deliberation; they are, at least, not the hasty sketches of a solitary traveller, who holds the pencil with a trembling hand; or the productions of reminiscence, executed in the retirement of the closet, from a few strokcs made by stealth. For their fidelity, therefore, he can venture to pledge himself, however little merit in other re. spects they may be found to possess. The large map of the course of the Nile, the plans of the peninsula of Aboukir, the town of Alexandria, and the battle of the 21st of March, and the views of the city and castle of Cairo, the Author owes to the kindness of some officers of the highest character and abilities.

annually.

annually. By means of this trifling contribution, the library is well supplied; and a new building is now erecting, better calculated for literary pursuits. This will be completed by the assistance of a separate subscription made a few years ago.'

In describing Minorca, Captain Walsh mentions a species of fortification newly adopted for the defence of the coast, which may deserve consideration at home; particularly at the present juncture :

Near Fort George is Mount Stuart, standing at the entrance of the harbour, and defended by a small round tower, cannon-proof, and having a piece of heavy ordnance mounted on its top, which is flat. This gun being en barbette, and placed on a travelling carriage, can be used against any wished-for point. In the tower there is a guard of a sergeant and twelve men, who are always provided with ten days provision. Within the tower is a well, and the only entrance is by means of a ladder, so that this being drawn up, all access is very difficult. It is an excellent mean of defence, and every creek or bay in the island, where there is a possibility of making a descent, is defended by a tower of this description.'

From the account of Malta, we extract the subsequent particulars, in addition to our quotations from Lieutenant Anderson's journal, in our last Review:

La Valette, the seat of government, is a very regularly built town. Its principal streets are wide and straight, well paved, and furnished with good footpaths. The buildings are all of freestone, with which the island abounds; and the numerous superb edifices and hotels, formerly belonging to the knights of the order, give to la Valette a superiority over any town of equal size. The two palaces of the grand master, adjoining each other, are fine structures. Their interiour seems to have been very magnificent, and still retains several marks of splendour, though they are much injured by dilapidation, and the greater part of the costly furniture has been taken away or destroyed. The council chamber is lined with the most beautiful gobelin tapestry, and the other apartments are adorned with paintings of the different actions and valiant exploits, which occurred during the memorable siege of the island by the Turks. Adjoining to the palace, and communicating with it, is the armoury, which was found in the best possible state on our taking possession of the place. It contains eighteen thousand stand of fire arms, independent of a variety of swords, spears, and other ancient weapons, all of which are very tastefully and neatly arranged.

The churches are extremely numerous, and all very fine buildings. That of St. John, the patron of the order, is however far superiour to the rest. The roof is most beautifully sculptured, and adorned with some good paintings. "The grand altar," says Brydone, "is a piece of very curious and elegant marble; the pavement, in particular, is the richest in the world. It is composed entirely of sepulchral monuments (of persons belonging to the order) of the finest marbles, porphyry, and a variety of other valuable stones, REV. JUNE, 1803. admirably

K

admira' ly joined together at an incredible expence, and representing, in a kind of Mosaic, the arms, insignia, &c of the persons whose names they are intended to commemorate. In the magnificence of these and other monuments, the heirs of the grand masters, commanders, &c. have long vied with each other." Vol. II. p. z26.

Water, which in a climate like this is so great a luxury, is found every where in abundance, and scarcely a street is without one fountain at least.

any

The works round this town, and the adjoining places, at Floriana, Cottoniera, and Vittoriosa, are perhaps the most extensive of in the world, and, as I before observed, extremely strong. They were, however, in many parts, and especially at Floriana, in a very ruinous state; owing to the little attention paid to them by the French, and to the very remiss administration of · late grand master, Hompesch, who is excessively disliked by Maltese, and generally accused of having occasioned the overthrow of the order. These works are also nearly deprived of their guns; upwards of one hundred of the finest, and of the heaviest calibre, having been carried by the French to Egypt. A great number, however, still remain in the arsenals, and might be mounted on the ramparts with very little difficulty.'

The bay of Marmorice, the welcome refuge of our fleet from tempestuous weather, is elegantly described. We insert the author's account of an excursion which he made, to visit some antiquities in the neighbourhood of Macri:

JANUARY the 30th.

At eight this morning we left our ship, and went on shore, accompanied by the Capoutan Bey's dragoman, or interpreter. We staid in the town of Macri till eleven, when having procured, or rather pressed horses and a guide through the all powerful influence of our escort (a Janissary), we took the road towards the Grecian village of Kaya, where we arrived at one, after passing through a smail Turkish town, situate in a large plain covered with fruit trees. This town was erected apparently with a view of keeping the neighbouring Greeks in awe.

Kaya is placed on the slope of a kill, descending into the above mentioned plain, and consists of about three hundred houses, built at a distance from each other, and consequently covering a great extent of ground. We were here treated with all imaginable hospitality. Never was there a more striking contrast, than that between the manners of this enslaved people, and those of their despotic neighbours. It was towards evening when we left the place; at which time all the merry inhabitants, men, women, and children, were assembled in front of their miserable houses, the younger part gaily dancing to the sound of the lera. This instrument resembles the fiddle, but has only tlace strings, and produces a much shriller It is played upon with a bow in the same manner, and is generally accompanied with the voice. Milton appears to have been acquainted with it in Italy, where it has the name of ribecca.

tone.

When