millions that are annually raised for the support of government at home, and its dependencies abroad, a small fraction of one of these millions may surely be allowed for the maintenance of a station whose advantages are incalculable. But the article of expence, trifling even in war, could be no object whatsoever in time of peace. The fortifications, which were in the most ruinous condition when the place was taken, being finished in a complete manner, would require no further expence than that of merely keeping the works in repair, which might amount, perhaps, to an annual sum of five thousand pounds. The contingencies and extraordinaries of the army could not, at the utmost, amount to twenty thousand pounds; so that twenty five or thirty thousand pounds would be the extent of the contingent and extraordinary ex· pences of the Cape in time of peace; a sum that, by proper manage ment, and a prudent application of the revenues of the colony, might easily be defrayed out of the public treasury there, and leave a surplus adequate to all the demands of the civil department, together with the necessary repairs of public works and buildings.' The strength of the Cape is particularly described. There are but few points which it is necessary to defend: but, as to a landing, that may always be effected. Mr. B. thinks that an army of 10,000 men could not prevent it. Chapter ivth considers the Cape of Good Hope as a naval station. A fleet at this port may very cheaply be provided with beef, wine, and spirits. It is a convenient place for ships in distress; almost necessary as a half-way-house, for ships manned with Lascars, or for transports carrying out raw soldiers to the East Indies; and it enabled our fleet to clear the Indian Sea of privateers. As for its geographical advantages, Let us attend to Mr. Barrow: The geographical position of the Cape of Good Hope throws a vast weight into the scale of its importance to England. Its happy situation, with regard to climate, and the productions of the soil, stamp its value as a depositary of troops and seamen; and its relative position on the globe enhances that value by the ready com munication it commands with almost every part of the world. We have seen with what expedition more than two thousand troops were thrown from hence into India, to the very walls of Seringapatam ; and, on another occasion, twelve hundred effective men into Egypt. With equal facility and dispatch could the same, or a greater, number have been conveyed to the east coast of North America, the West India islands, or the west coast of South America. At a month's notice, the whole coast of Brazil could be lined with cruizers from the Cape. The whole eastern coast of Africa, and the various islands contiguous to it, are at the mercy of the power who holds the Cape; and the large island of Madagascar may be approached in ten or twelve days, those of France and Bourbon in much less than a month, the Red Sea in five or six weeks, and the coasts of Malabar and Coromandel in seven or eight weeks. These passages will cer 1 tainly depend much on the season of the year in which they are made, but when this is properly chosen, the different places may be arrived at within the periods here mentioned. If, at any time, troops might be wanted in the West Indies, the homeward bound East Indiamen might be employed to transport them thither from the Cape without retarding their passage more than sixteen or eighteen days, as the common practice of crossing the line is now as far to the westward as 26° west longitude. Detachments of the Hottentot corps would be well calculated for service in the West India islands. Should, at any future period, the French resume their projects on India by the Red Sea (which they will certainly not fail to do whenever an opportunity presents itself), in three months from the time it was first known in England, a force from the Cape might be in possession of the straits of Babelmandel, and, by thus anticipating, completely frustrate their designs, which, with the Cape in their possession, or in that of the Dutch, they might easily accomplish." Mr. B. again and again urges (what, we think, cannot occasion much doubt) the annoyance which our trade would experience if the Cape, together with the Isles of France and Bourbon, were in the hands of the enemy. He admits, with Lord Macartney, that Ceylon, for its excellent harbour of Trincomalée, is of more value than the Cape: but he quotes an opinion of that noble Lord, to shew that the Cape would be a powerful instrument in the hands of France for the recovery of Ceylon. Chapter v. discusses the importance of the Cape of Good Hope, considered in a commercial point of view, and as a depôt for the Southern Whale Fishery. With some speculation not very interesting, this chapter contains much useful information respecting the productions of the colony. The value of these productions, without alteration, will never tempt our avarice; since, as the author remarks: The obvious conclusion to be drawn from the view now taken of the amount of exports in colonial produce is, that the Cape of Good Hope, in its present condition, is of very little importance to any nation, considered as to the articles of commerce it supplies for exportation to foreign markets. The surplus produce, beyond the supply of its own inhabitants, a garrison, and navy of eight or ten thousand men, and the refreshments furnished to ships trading and casually calling there, is so trifling as to merit no consideration. But that, by a new system of things, is susceptible of great improvement; and the supply of the most important articles, of being extended to an almost indefinite amount.' Mr. Barrow then states the imports, and shews that five-sixths of the trade of the Cape of Good Hope were occasioned by the consumption of the garrison and navy; and consequently, except a considerable garrison be stationed there, or some In the last chapter, which includes a topographical and sta- In order to augment the riches of the colony, Mr. B. proposes to introduce ten thousand Chinese: not to toil as slaves, but to be endowed with small portions of land. Such labourers, consequently, would feel an interest in the improvement of their property; and the true, genuine, beneficial spirit of industry would be excited. A second plan, more easily carried into execution, and more on a level with the common notions of society, is to inclose many of the Cape lands, and to plant them: by these means, moisture would not be so easily dissipated as it is at present, and the violent scorching of the soil would in some degree be prevented. The inhabitants of the Cape are extremely fond of buying and selling; and this disposition is favourable to the revenue, since a tax of 5 per cent. is imposed on all sales. They are moreover excessively litigious; and justice, taking the colony throughout, is most imperfectly administered. The clergy are well maintained, and are held in respect; they are paid by government, not by any tax or tythe. In the beginning of the article, we expressed our general Mr. Barrow has just published another volume, intitled R.W. ART. ART. II. Poems, from the Portuguese of Luis de Camoens: with Remarks on his Life and Writings, Notes, &c. &c. Viscount Strangford. Carpenter. 1804. Crown 8vo. PP. 160. 7 S. By Lord MONG the delicate fruit with which we are sometimes reA freshed in our literary walks, we cannot hesitate to class these amatory effusions of Camoens, or rather of his pretended translator. A young nobleman of the present day, who loves to beguile his more serious labours in cultivating the graces of the Attic muse, here affords a rare and flattering presage of future eminence. This pleasing consideration, and the classical ease and delicacy which characterize the present volume, induce us to dwell on it rather more minutely than its limited size may seem to require. The biographical remarks are chiefly supplementary to those of Mickle, the elegant but free translator of the Lusiad. They contain some new anecdotes, conveyed in neat and elegant language, and are sprinkled with sentiments which accord with the finest feelings of the heart. Our readers will pardon the insertion of a few paragraphs: The latter years of CAMOENS present a mournful picture, not merely of individual calamity, but of national ingratitude. He whose best years had been devoted to the service of his country, he, who had taught her literary fame to rival the proudest efforts of Italy itself, and who seemed born to revive the remembrance of ancient gentility and Lusian heroism, was compelled in age to wander through the streets, a wretched dependent on casual contribution. One friend alone remained to smooth his downward path and guide his steps to the grave with gentleness and consolation. It was Antonio, his slave, a native of Java, who had accompanied CAMOENS to Europe, after having rescued him from the waves, when shipwrecked at the mouth of the Mecon. This faithful attendant was wont to seek alms throughout Lisbon, and at night shared the produce of the day with his poor and broken-hearted master. Blessed, for ever blessed, be the memory of this amiable Indian! But his friendship was employed in vain: CAMOENS sank beneath the pressure of penury and disease, and died in an alms-house † early in the year 1579. He was buried in the church of Saint Anne of the Franciscans. Over his grave, Goncalo Coutinho placed the following inscription 1, which, for comprehensive *Faria y Sousa. § xxix.' The place of his death is differently mentioned by Manoel de Faria. According to that commentator, he died in his own miserable hovel, close to the church in which he was interred.' 6 Sousa. Vid. §. Some years afterwards, Don Goncalves Camera caused a long and pompous epitaph to be engraved on the same tomb. But this posthumous panegyric only added deeper disgrace to the facts recorded in the former inscription.' simplicity, simplicity, the translator ventures to prefer to almost every production of a similar kind: HERE LIES LUIS DE CAMOENS: HE EXCELLED ALL THE POETS CF HIS TIME. HE LIVED POOR AND MISERABLE; AND HE DIED SO. MDLXXIX. It has been justly observed, that the fate of CAMOENS, considered in a political view, bears an intimate connection with that of his country. The same degradation of national sentiment, which suffered such a man to become a beggar and an outcast, not long afterwards plunged Portugal into the lowest disgrace, and reduced her to the abject state of a conquered province. So true it is, that the decline of public spirit in matters of taste is a certain indication of political decay t The character of CAMOENS may be inferred from his writings. An open and undisguised contempt of every thing base and sordid, whatevever were the rank or power of its possessor, formed one of its principal features. We have already seen how much the worldly interest of our poet was injured by this honourable audacity of soul. Those who condemn it must be ignorant that the exercise of this feeling produces a more enviable delight than any which fortune can ever bestow. The poor man is not always poor! But gallantry was the leading trait in the disposition of CAMOENS. His amours were various and successful. Woman was to him as a mi-. nistering angel, and for the little joy which he tasted in life, he was indebted to her. The magic of female charms forms his favourite theme, and while he paints the allurements of the sex with the glowing pencil of an enthusiast, he seems transported into that heaven which he describes. Nor did this passion ever desert him; even in his last days, he feelingly regretted the raptures of youth, and lingered with delight on the remembrances of love. A cavalier named Ruy de Camera, having called upon our author to finish a poetical version of the seven penitential psalms, raising his head from his miserable pallet, and pointing to his faithful slave, he exclaimed, "Alas, when I was a poet, I was young, and happy and blest with the love of ladies, but now I am a forelorn deserted wretch:-See-there stands my poor Antonio, vainly supplicating four pence to purchase a little coals-I have them not to give him!" The cavalier, as Sousa quaintly relates, closed his heart and his purse, and quitted the room. Such were the grandees of Portugal!' Mickle. Life of Camoens.' Of this opinion was Camoens himself. In a letter to Don Francisco de Almeyda, written a few days before his death, he has these prophetic expressions: "Peran tolos que fuy tan aficionado a mi patria, que no solo bolvi pera morir en ella, mas para morir con ella !""The world shall witness how dearly I have loved my country. I have returned, not merely to die in her bosom, but to die with her!" Sousa. Vid. xxv.' Sousa. Vid. § xxix.' And |