at the diftance of about fix yards from the fire, with feveral of their hands and limbs in a mangled condition, fome broiled and forme raw; but no other parts of their bodies, which gave caufe to fufpect that the cannibals had feafted on and eaten all the reft. We obferved a large body of them affembled on the top of a hill, at about two miles diftance; but night coming on, we durft not advance to attack them neither was it thought fafe to quit the fhore to take account of the number killed, our body being but fmall, and the favages numerous and fierce. They were armed with long lances, and with weapons not unlike the halberts of our ferjeants in fhape, made of hard wood, and inftead of iron, mounted with bone. We could difcover nothing belonging to the cutter but one of the oars, which was broken and ftuck in the fand, to which they had tied the fastenings of their canoes. It was fufpected that the dead bodies of our people had been divided among the different parties of favages that had been concerned in the maffacre; and it was not collecting the remains of our mangled companions, we made the best of our way from this polluted place. About four the next morning we weighed anchor, and about feven got under way, and purfued our courfe home. In the mean time, the furgeon examined the remains of the bodies brought on board, but could not make out to whom they belonged; fo they were decently laid together, and with the ufual folemnity on board fhips, committed to the deep. Authentic Account of a late unfortunate Tranfaction, with respect to a Diving Machine at Plymouth. MANY reports of a very contrary nature having been spread concerning the fate of an unfortunate man, who was loft in a Diving Machine, the Gentleman, who was applied to by him, has thought it expedient to lay a full and authentic ftate of the matter before the public. improbable but that the party that MR. was feen at a distance were feafting upon fome of the others, as thofe on the shore had been upon what were found, before they were dif turbed by our crew in the longboat. Be that as it may, we could discover no traces of more than four of their bodies, nor could we tell where the favages had concealed the cutter. It was now near night, and our lieutenant not thinking it fafe to truft our crew in the dark, in an open boat, within reach of fuch cruel barbarians, ordered the canoes to be broken up and destroyed; and, after carefully R. DAY (the fole projector of the fcheme, and, as matters have turned out, the unhappy facrifice to his own ingenuity) employed his thoughts for fome years paft in planning a method of finking a veffel under water, with a man in it, who fhould live therein for a certain time, and then, by his own means only, bring himself up to the furface. After much study he conceived that his plan could be reduced into practice: he communicated his idea in the part of the country where he lived, and had the most fanguine hopes of fuccefs. He went fo far as to try his project in the Broads [2] 3 near pieces, and three days provifion. Thus equipped, about nine in the morning we left the fhip, and failed and towed for Eaft-bay, keeping close in fhore, and examining every creek we paffed, to find the cutter: we continued our search till two in the afternoon, when we put into a small cove to dress dinner. While that was getting ready, we obferved a company of Indians, feemingly very bufy, on the oppofite fhore; we left our dinner, and, rowed precipitately to the place where the favages were affembled. On our approach they all fled; we followed them closely to a little town which we found deferted: we fearched their huts, and while thus employed the favages returned, and made a fhew of refiftance; but fome trifling prefents being made to their chiefs, they were very foon appealed. However, on our return to our boat, they followed us, and fome of them threw ftones. After we had dined, we renewed our fearch, and at proper intervals kept firing our wall-pieces, as fignals to the cutter, if any of her people fhould happen to be within hearing. About five in the afternoon we opened a small bay, where we saw a large double canoe, and a body of Indians hauling her upon the beach. We quickened our courfe to come up with them, but they inftantly fled on feeing us approach; this made us fufpect that fome mifchief had been done. On landing, the first thing we saw in the canoe was one of the cutter's rowlock boards and a pair of fhoes tied up together. On advancing farther upon the beach, we found feveral of their baskets, and faw one of their dogs eating a piece of broiled flefh: we examined it, and fufpected it to be human: and in one of their baskets having found a hand, which we knew to be the left hand of Thomas Hill, by the letters T. H. being marked on it, we were no longer in doubt about the event. We pursued the favages as far as was practicable; but without fuccefs. On our return we deftroyed their canoe, and continued our search. At half after fix in the evening we opened Grafs cove, where we faw a great many Indians affembled on the beach, and fix or feven canoes floating in the furf. We flood in fhore, and when the favages faw us, they retreated to a rifing hill, clofe by the water-fide. We were in doubt whether it was through fear that they retreated, or with a defign to decoy us to an ambufcade. Ŏur lieutenant determined not to be furprized, and therefore, running clofe in fhore, ordered the grappling to be dropt near enough to reach them with our guns, but at too great a diftance to be under any apprehenfions from their treachery. In this pofition we began to engage, taking aim, and determining to kill as many of them as our could guns reach. It was fome time before we diflodged them; but at length, many of them being wounded, and fome killed, they began to dif perfe. Our lieutenant improved their panic, and, fupported by the officers and marines, leapt on fhore, and purfued the fugitives. We had not advanced far from the water-fide, before we beheld the moft horrible fight that ever was feen by any European; the heads, hearts, livers, and lights, of three or four of our people broiling on the fire, and their bowels lying at at the diftance of about fix yards from the fire, with feveral of their hands and limbs in a mangled condition, fome broiled and forme raw; but no other parts of their bodies, which gave caufe to fufpect that the cannibals had feafted on and eaten all the reft. We observed a large body of them affembled on the top of a hill, at about two miles diftance; but night coming on, we durft not advance to attack them: neither was it thought fafe to quit the fhore to take account of the number killed, our body being but fmall, and the favages numerous and fierce. They were armed with long lances, and with weapons not unlike the halberts of our ferjeants in fhape, made of hard wood, and instead of iron, mount ed with bone. We could difcover nothing belonging to the cutter but one of the oars, which was broken and ftuck in the fand, to which they had tied the fastenings of their canoes. It was fufpected that the dead bodies of our people had been divided among the different parties of favages that had been concerned in the maffacre; and it was not improbable but that the party that was seen at a distance were feafting upon fome of the others, as thofe on the fhore had been upon what were found, before they were difturbed by our crew in the longboat. Be that as it may, we could discover no traces of more than four of their bodies, nor could we tell where the favages had concealed the cutter. It was now near night, and our lieutenant not thinking it fafe to truft our crew in the dark, in an open boat, within reach of fuch cruel barbarians, ordered the canoes to be broken up and deftroyed; and, after carefully collecting the remains of our mangled companions, we made the best of our way from this polluted place. About four the next morning we weighed anchor, and about feven got under way, and purfued our courfe home. In the mean time, the furgeon examined the remains of the bodies brought on board, but could not make out to whom they belonged; fo they were decently laid together, and with the ufual folemnity on board fhips, committed to the deep. Authentic Account of a late unfortunate Tranfaction, with respect to a Diving Machine at Plymouth. MANY reports of a very contrary nature having been spread concerning the fate of an unfortunate man, who was loft in a Diving Machine, the Gentleman, who was applied to by him, has thought it expedient to lay a full and authentic ftate of the matter before the public. MR. R. DAY (the fole projector of the scheme, and, as matters have turned out, the unhappy facrifice to his own ingenuity) employed his thoughts for fome years paft in planning a method of finking a veffel under water, with a man in it, who should live therein for a certain time, and then, by his own means only, bring himfelf up to the furface. After much ftudy he conceived that his plan could be reduced into practice: he communicated his idea in the part of the country where he lived, and had the most fanguine hopes of fuccefs. He went fo far as to try his project in the Broads [2] 3 near Lordship with great humanity ordered a number of hands from the dock-yard, who went with the ut most alacrity, and tried every effort to regain the ship, but unhappily without effect. Thus ended this unfortunate affair. Mr. Blake had not experience enough to judge of all poffible Contingencies, and has only now to lament the credulity with which he liftened to a projector, fond of his own scheme, but certainly not poffeffed of skill enough to guard against the variety of accidents to which he was liable. The poor man has unfortunately shortened his days; he was not, however, tempted or influenced by any body; he confided in his own judgment, and 'put his life to the hazard upon his own mistaken notions. by the great weight of the fluid upon it, be prevented from rifing. With respect to an animal being able to breathe for any confiderable time in pent-up air, we are indeed told, by an author of the first rank, that the famous Cornelius Drebelle contrived, not only a veffel to be rowed under water, but also a liquor to be carried in that veffel, which would fupply the want of fresh air. The veffel was made by the order of James the First, and carried twelve rowers, befides paffengers. It was tried in the river Thames, and one of the perfons, who was in that fubmarine naviga. tion, told the particulars of that experiment to a perfon, who afterwards related them to the great Mr. Boyle. As to the liquor, Mr. Boyle fays, he difcovered by a phyfician, who married Drebelle's daughter, that it was ufed from time to time, to purify and renew the air, and thereby preferve it in a ftate neceffary for respira tion. Many and various have been the opinions on this ftrange, ufelefs, and fatal experiment, though the more reasonable and intelligent part of mankind feem to give it up as wholly impracticable. It is well known, that pent-up air, when over-charged with the vapours emitted out of animal bodies, becomes unfit for refpiration; for which reafon, thofe confined in the diving-bell, after continuing fome time under water, are obliged to come up, and take in fresh air, or by fome fuch means recruit it. That any man fhould be able, after having funk a 'veffel to fo great a depth, to make that veffel at pleafure fo much more fpecifically lighter than water, as thereby to enable it to force its way to the furface, through the depreffure of fo great a weight, is a matter not haftily to be credited. Even cork, when funk to a certain depth, will, after continuing A Defcription of a curious Time-piece in Mr. Cox's Museum. MONG other great works now introduced at Mr. Cox's Museum is an immenfe Barometer, of fo extraordinary a conftruction, that by it the long fought for, and in all likelihood the only perpetual motion that ever will be difcovered, is obtained. The conftant revolution of wheels moving in vertical, horizontal, and other directions, is not only phyfically produced, but the indication of time from an union of the philofophic with the mechanic principles is effected. Upon ftruction of a veffel fit for that purpofe. Mr. Day, thus affifted, went to Plymouth with his model, and fet the men at that place to work upon it. The preffure of the water at one hundred feet depth was a circumftance of which Mr. Blake was advised, and touching that article he gave the strongest precautions to Mr. Day, telling him, at any expence, to fortify the chamber in which he was to fubfift, against the weight of fuch a body of water. Mr. Day fet off in great fpirits for Plymouth, and feemed fo confident, that Mr. Blake made a bett that the project would fucceed, reducing, however, the depth of water from one hundred yards to one hundred feet, and the time from 24 to 12 hours. By the terms of the wager, the experiment was to be made within three months from the date; but fo much time was neceffary for due preparation, that on the appointed day things were not in readinefs, and Mr. Blake loft the bett. In fome short time afterwards the veffel was finished, and Mr. Day ftill continued eager for the carrying of his plan into execution; he was uneafy at the idea of dropping the scheme, and wished for an opportunity to convince Mr. Blake, that he could perform what he had undertaken. He wrote from Plymouth that every thing was in readinefs, and should be executed the moment Mr. Blake arrived. Induced by this promise, Mr. Blake fet out for Plymouth; upon his. arrival a trial was made in Catwater, where Mr. Day lay, during the flow of tide, fix hours, and fix more during the tide of ebb; confined all the time in the room appropriated for his ufe. A day for the final determination was then fixed; the veffel was towed to the place agreed upon; Mr. Day provided himself with whatever he thought neceffary; went into the veffel, let the water into her, and with great compofure retired to the room conftructed for him, and shut np the valve: The fhip went gradually down † in 22 fathoms water, + at 2 o'clock on Tuesday June 28, in the afternoon, being to return at 2 the next morning. He had three buoys or meffengers, which he could fend to the furface at option, to announce his fituation below; but, none appearing, Mr. Blake, who was near at hand in a barge, began to entertain fome fufpicion: he kept a ftrict look out, and at the time appointed, neither the buoys nor the veffel coming up, he applied to the Orpheus frigate, which lay juft off the barge, for affiftance. The captain, with the moft ready benevolence, fupplied them with every thing in his power to feek for the fhip. Mr. Blake, in this alarming fituation, was not content with the help of the Orpheus only; he made immediate application to Lord Sandwich (who happened to be at Plymouth) for further relief. His *The veffel had a falfe bottom, ftanding on feet like a butcher's block, which contained the ballaft; and, by the perfon in the veffel unfcrewing fome pins, she was to rife to the furface, leaving the falfe bottom behind. + Some accounts lay, that she went down ftern foremoft, and is fuppofed to have bulged directly, as a very great rippling appeared instantly after her finking. Lord. |