Vega, is dry and uninteresting; but more exact than the former. The inquisition was a sanguinary tribunal; no one can pretend to deny it. Without The Spaniards have been particularly suc- wishing by any means to justify the acts of cessful in compositions of gallantry, in fables, inhumanity to which it gave authority or ocand ingenious fictions. The Arabs taught casion at various periods, a few words may them the art of narration, and their imagi-explain the purposes of its establishment, nation supplied the rest; they excelled before we did in this kind of writing, which we have since improved, while they have made no farther progress. Don Quixote will be read with pleasure as long as men possess wit, taste, and judgment. The most esteemed among the poetical writers of this country are, Ercilla, Garcilasso de la Vega, Fray Luis de Leon, Quevedo, Lopes de Vega, and Villegas. The most ancient Castilian poet known, is Gonzalo Berceo, born at Berceo, and a monk in the monastery of Saint Millan; he flourished in 1211. The subject of one of the poems he has left us, is the life of the glorious confesor, Saint Dominic of Silos. and though we may not become more indulgent towards the consequences, yet we may towards the motive. Ferdinand had conquered Grenada; but Spain was not yet reduced to subjection; numbers of Moors remained, and formed an inextinguishable focus of civil dissensions. What expedient could quench those seeds of rebellion? To expel them was impossible; the unbelievers were too numerous, and the catholics were too weak. He was therefore obliged to have recourse to that engine so powerful among men, superstition. Juan de Torquemada, an artful Dominican, confessor to Queen Isabella, persuaded Ferdinand that a Bull, calculated to foment the Of Spanish literature at large, the produc-hatred of the Catholics against the infidels, tions are considerable in quantity, and display perhaps more imagination than that of other European nations, but little reasoning, taste, or profundity: these necessarily depend upon a certain degree of liberty, and will re turn with it. INQUISITION, AUTO DA FÉ. The only reason that we have ever heard assigned by those who confess they should see without displeasure the success of Buonaparte against Spain, is comprised in the question, "is it not high time that the bloody Inquisition were abolished?" It is not necessary, after a work has been so long before the public as the Panorama has, to appeal to its sentiments in opposition to every superstitions constraint upon conscience; we have expressed, in the strongest terms, our abhorrence of any man's assuming a domineering power over the sentiments of another, and most certainly we are not going to eulogize the Inquisition yet as the present condition of that institution is of some consequence in the actual crisis of affairs in Spain, as even enemies are entitled to a fair hearing, and as the Spaniards, who ought to be the best judges in the case, have now very little terror of the Holy Office, it becomes rather an object of curiosity than that of dread. The Rev. Mr. Townshend in his. Travels in Spain, relates that, though a heretic clergyman, he was seen publicly riding in the chariot of the Grand Inquisitor, and in company with that officer, without occasioning any scandal. We hope, therefore, that the most offensive authority of the inquisition has ceased; and that, AS THE SPANIARDS ATCHIEVE CIVIL LIBERTY, THEY WILL SHAKE OFF EVERY SUPERSTITION, AND BE EMULOUS OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, AND SPIRITUAL FREEDOM, ALSO, would prove an effectual means of giving the Spaniards the requisite strength to counterbalance the Moorish power. Ferdinand approved the suggestion; it was submitted to Pope Sixtus IV. and the Holy Office was established by virtue of a bull in 1479. Torquemada received a Cardinal's hat, and was appointed Grand Inquisitor. At first the Moors were the only victims of that severe tribunal; they were condemned by thousands; but, as it is the unfortunate fate of human affairs, that even well intended institutions invariably degenerate into abuses, the Inquisition, instead of lessening its influence in proportion as the number of Moors was reduced, assumed a very alarming and execrable power under Ferdinand's successors. At length that tribunal became formidable to the sovereigns themselves; and the Grand Inquisitor had the audacity to demand drops of blood from Philip III, which were spilt on burning coals by the hand of the executioner !-And what was Philip's crime? He had shed a few tears on the fate of some wretched victims who were going to be thrown into the flames! Since the establishment of the present dynasty on the throne of Spain, the horrible exhibition of an auto-da-fé has not taken place. The last was suffered under Charles II. n 1680. The Inquisition having now become a mere engine of politics, keeps so watchful an eye both in Spain, and in the Indies, that not a word of mischievous tendency can be spoken in society but what is almost immediately reported to the Grand Inquisitor. Thus have all the various attempts of French propagandists been hitherto frustrated, and this is what the partizans of Gallic philosophy cannot pardon. This is the cause why they depict the Inquisition as a sangui nary, arbitrary, and most artful tribunal. Every person who introduces and retails books contrary to good morals, and pernicious to public tranquillity is arrested by order of the Inquisition. But what polished country in Europe would permit the printing and selling of a work inimical to pablie peace and happiness? In England, where the liberty of the press has the full extent it oaght to have, is not the publisher answerable for the contents of his book? Would France have be more unfortunate than it has been, had the publication of works such as Voltaire's, Rousseau's, d'Alembert's, &c. been prevented? Without entering into the various arguments adduced by the writers of the present day to calumniate the Inquisition, I conclude with asserting, that numberless absurdities have been propagated with respect to the Inquisition, and its conduct. And as to its effect on the public, such as the obligation of hearing mass, certificates of confession, and other customs which have been made subjects of jesting, by the French, especially; all I can say, is, that whoever chooses it, goes to mass; whoever thinks it proper, goes to confession. The Inquisition never interferes. WATER-SPOUTS. The following paper, on an extremely curious subject, has lately been communicated to the public in the Naval Chronicle, by Capt. Ricketts, of the Royal Navy: who has expressed his wish, in which we heartily coincide, that gentlemen of the navy would note whatever interesting operations of nature they behold, and direct them to usefulness by transmitting them to respectable publications, on the judgment of the editors of which they can rely. This paper is distinguished, by describing ,a much nearer situation to an object of the kind, than any we remember to have perused. We may almost consider Capt. Ricketts as having been in the water-spout; at least on the edge of it; as the circumstance of dampness, felt by himself, and others, in their linen, and that of the wetness of one part of the main sail, sufficiently indicates. But Capt. R. has not noticed the state of the atmosphere, before, during, and after the passage of this phenomenon; what was the degree of cold, whether rain, or hail, or snow, fell a little before, or soon after; the distance from the nearest land, in the course of the wind; the depth of the sea, or the vicinity of rocks. It does not appear that the hour of the night was marked; and the relator does not say, explicitly, that "sharp and heavy rain "fell; though his words favour that opinion. That fact would have been of consequence. On the whole, though we are much obliged to the Capt. for what he has stated, yet, after attending to our remarks, we doubt not, but he would observe many other particulars, in a phenomenon of the same kind, should fortune favour him with the sight. We have endeavoured to supply these omissions, by the description M. Michaux gives of several water spouts, seen by him and his sons, at Nice. These observers were not so near as, we incline to think, might safely be wished, to the objects seen; but many of their remarks agree with those of Capi. R.-The mistiness of these objects, and their analogy to the general nature of clouds, well deserves repeated examination, and if ascertained, may determine at the same time, under what circumstances they may be approached with safety. Are these phenomena equally frequent over deep seas, as over seas of moderate depth? Is the vicinity of land favourable to their formation? M. Michaux's paper has the advantage of figures. Those seen by Capt. R. in the day time, might have had a similar advantage. Water-Spouts, as seen from his Majesty's Brig El Corso, William Ricketts, Esq. Commander, in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas, 1800-1801. From the sensation of alarm generally prevailing in ships on the approach of waterspouts, and the serious consequences that may result from the endeavours of mariners to avoid them, I have been induced to believe that any communication, tending to throw light on the subject, caunot fail to prove very desirable. Previous to the month of July, 1800, my opinion of water-spouts was formed on the basis of those popularly inculcated among sailors. By them I was led to imagine that all water-spouts were solid columns of water, pumped up, as it were, by the action of the clouds from the sea, the vicinity to which was attended with imminent danger, as well from a vortex created by the ascending fluid, as from the occasional fall of a tremendous deluge from above; and it was under considerable apprehensions arising from such impressions, that at the latter end of July, 1800 (while sailing among the Lipari Islands), I was suddenly awakened by a hurried exclamation from the officer on watch, that a water-spout was near, and would soon be aboard us. On my reaching the deck (which was done without the delay of dressing), I · immediately perceived from the larboard quarter, that a phenomenon of that nature was actually approaching us. The night at this time was dark and calm, though the water was slowly undulated. The clouds were ge nerally low, black, and stationary, while the object of alarm, but a few yards from the quarter, appeared as part of a cloud itself, descending in a tapering and circular form to 761] Water-Spouts. the sea. As from the latter circumstances, and the dampness sensibly felt by all those who stood only in their linen on deck, no doubt could possibly be entertained that, had the popular notion of a created vortex, &c. been correct, inevitable destruction must have followed: it afterwards became with me a matter of doubt, how far experience would prove the received opinions to be just. Respecting the propriety of these doubts, a very fine opportunity of judging not long afterwards occurred. It was in the month of November, 1801, whilst cruising along the Istrian shore, that, soon after noon, our attention was excited by the appearance, in the south, of a lofty black inverted column, resting as it were on the sea, and reaching to the clouds. Round the lower extremity of this column there arose a thick and voluminous vapour (resembling steam), which, on its attaining a moderate height, flew out in scroll or volute-like forms to the east and the west. Whilst we were occupied by the above phenomenon, our attention was hastily diverted by what at first appeared only a small agitation of the water; afterwards, by observing this water rise into a vapour; and ultimately, by seeing that vapour ascend in the form of a cloudy pillar from the sea. In the meantime (that is, from the moment the vapour began to appear), a dark cloud immediately over, was observed to be dilating itself (downward) into the shape of an udder, from whence there instantly descended a pillar, similar in figure and colour to the former. It was then directly remarked, that, although the velocity of both these pillars, or parts of a pillar, was increasing as they drew near, yet, that the speed of the upper one was considerably greater than that of the lower; this disproportion continuing till they had nearly united, when a junction, on both sides, was rapidly formed. During the period of making the latter remarks, the column first noticed was suddenly divided more than two-thirds down, the superior part flying upwards like the curling of a shaving, whilst the other sunk away with the vapour, which had previously begun to subside. In several [762 other parts of the same dark cloud, great tinual rain. Observations on Water-Spouts, seen from After a mild season for the greatest part The severe cold had frozen the snow, and rendered it so compact that, notwithstanding the influence of several days of clear weather soon afterwards, in which the heat of the sun was very perceptible, there was not the least drop of water fell from the eaves of the house in which I dwell, which is exposed to the sun in winter for eight hours, and, being situated near the sea, is perfectly sheltered on the north side by the eminence 2D 3 of the rock of the castle. This fact appeared very surprising to me, after a residence of about forty years in this town. Several old persons remarked, that this snow would wait for another fall before is melted, and I found by the result that the observation was true. On Sunday Jan. 4, 1789, at the phasis of the first quarter of the moon, the cold was again renewed, and continued severe on the Monday and Tuesday. At eight in the morning I first observed an immense mass of clouds towering upwards, and extending from north-east to south, which rose towards the zenith, by advancing to the westward. Accustomed as I am to consider these clouds according to the system of my old professor of natural philosophy, Father Beccaria, I concluded that they would proceed to desolate our fields, the fruits of which, particularly the oranges and lemons, had already perished by the antecedent cold. And as a strong wind then prevailed over the face of the sea, I foretold to my two eldest sons, that it was very probable we might discover some waterspout in the course of the day. In fact, about five minutes after ten in the morning, I observed on the sea, at the distance of not more than a musket-shot from the shore, a round space of ten or twelve toises in diameter, in which the water did not really boil, but seemed ready to boil. For there appeared all round, and sometimes within the circle, vapours in the form of mists, eight toises and more in height, having the appearance, though on a scale incomparably larger, of those vapours which rise from the surface of water beginning to simmer. I saw clearly that this was, if I may so express myself, the embryo of the foot of a water-spout driven along by the wind, while the clouds were not sufficiently advanced to afford the stem a body. It continued therefore to move before the wind from east to west, keeping, to my very great surprise, its surrounding vapours, elevated like sails, notwithstanding the extreme force of impulsion which drove it towards the shore. As soon as it came near the land, the circle was contracted, the mass of vapour becaine of less dimensions, and at the moment it touched the land it was at once overset by the wind, under the appearance of a long train of mist, which was speedily dissipated. I then perceived that the hope I had formed of seeing water-spouts during the day, was on the point of being realized but as my occupations demanded my attendance elsewhere, I charged my two eldest sons to watch alternately at the window, in order that the phenomenon might not pass unobserved. At last, about eight minutes before noon, my second son came to me, exclaining, Fa"ther, here is a very superb water-spout." His earnestness was equal to that of a sailor, who, after a long and tedious voyage, first discovers land. I followed him to the window, and beheld an immense water-spout passing majestically before Nice. The clouds had already occupied not only the upper and southern part of the atmosphere, but they had proceeded towards the west, so as to cover the whole extent within my view; with this circumstance, nevertheless, that they had left uncovered beneath and towards the south, a part in the form of a segment of a circle, through which, at an extreme distance, some clouds were discerned, upon which the sun threw the colours of the morning. The foot of this water-spout, was so am ple, that a man of war of 100 guns, with all its sails, might have been enveloped and even concealed in it. Hence, from the circular form of the foot of this water-spout, some judgment may be made of the volume of vapour it afforded. Instead of the tranquillity it exhibited at its first appearance, this lower part assumed the resemblance of the crater of a volcano, with this exception, that it threw out no thing but large streams of cloud and spouts of sea-water. But it threw these in parabolic streams from the centre, to the circumference, and all around, with such impetuosity and violence as to render it very evident to us, that an inexpressible efferrescence must have prevailed in the interior bason, though the great distance, and the opacity of the surrounding vapour, prevented us from seeing it. The diameter of the water-spout, and that of its expanded upper part, were large in proportion. Its colour was a very deep indigo, the same as that of the clouds, which extended from east to west. While we were looking at this extraordinary appearance, which my sons beheld for the first time, and which seemed to have concentrated all their senses in one, on a sudden an impetuous shower of hail discharged itself against the windows in grains of the size of pistol and musket balls. We immediately suspended our observations, in order to close the shades of both stories of the house, in which the whole family assisted, for fear of having the windows absolutely broken to pieces, as happened a few years before. But I soon perceived that this precaution was absolutely useless, or at least unnecessary; for the hail, though in a few minutes it covered the ground to the height of four inches, did not in the least damage the trees in the garden behind our house. It consisted merely of large flakes of snow rounded by the wind in their fall, and possessing neither the weight nor the hardness of hail. Upon opening some of the pieces I found them t● ecnsist of a thin compact shell, nearly empty, ing to my notions, might increase the inwithin, excepting a few rays from the centre tensity of the power by which this appearance to the circumference. The degree of con- is produced, it was nevertheless possible that gelation in these balls was so slight that they this envelope should be capable of remaining began to melt the moment they touched the upright and stationary. In this uncertainty ground, and accelerated the fusion of the I suspended my reflexions to observe the resnow which had fallen before. sult. I remarked a kind of teat or protubeThis frozen snow, which during its fall rance, projecting obliquely from the lower had obscured the air sufficiently to prevent part of the clouds which arrived from the our seeing the water-spout through the blinds, east. The foot continued motionless, and the having ceased, we resumed our observations protuberance preserved its oblique direction, with all possible diligence, and beheld another till the moment when by the action of the water-spout somewhat inferior in magnitude wind it arrived at the foot; at which instant to the former which had disappeared. It we all three observed the protuberance direct followed nearly the same course as the other. itself perpendicularly towards the foot, and By the account of time employed by each in like an immense sack of gauze unroll itself its successive passage, I estimated that the one from the extremity; when the folds of before us must have been the third; never- this sack disappeared, and the body of the theless, by confining my narration to what water-spout, which was grey and transparent, I really saw, it must be considered as the fixed itself in the bottom of the foot, assumed second only. This water-spout having con- the vertical position, and became larger in tinued its course towards Antibes, we ob- diameter. My second son, who, as well as served that it began to contract in all its his elder brother, possesses a very clear sight, rlimensions, some time before it arrived at immediately exclaimed: "See, father, how the shore, and that the foot was reduced to rapidly the vapours fly up through the bag." nothing when it touched the ground. It I saw, in fact, that they seemed to expand it contracted insensibly upwards, the expanded with a kind of tension, at the same time givconical part became broader and more rare, ing it a deep indigo colour, which was comand the whole joined the mass of clouds inmunicated to the cloud. At the same instant the same manner as one mist incorporates with another. I returned towards the place where I had discovered the first water-spout, and was greatly surprised at discovering a new foot ready formed, without any descending spout. My astonishment was founded on these three circumstances: 1. The existence of the foot of the waterspout without its stem or body; for before this observation, I considered it as indubitable that the enveloped matter of the foot or recipient was a production of the body of the water-spout itself, or an expansion of its proper substance. Now I saw clearly enough in this phenomenon the identity of the substance which composes clouds and mists, and that it was not supplied by the waterspout. The embryo of the spout which I had seen at ten o'clock, appeared to show that it was probably produced by the sea. ! 2. I was surprised to see that this foot was stationary at the place of its formation, whereas those which I had before seen were carried swiftly along by the wind. For though it was not impossible but that this foot might be carried by a motion along the line of sight, and consequently not perceptible to me; it was at least certain that it gained nothing from east to west, that is to say, from my left to my right, the direction in which the sea, the clouds, and the other water-spouts which had travelled so far in so short a space of time, were carried. 3. I was astonished, that the body of the water-spout being wanting, which, accord 7 the colour of the whole water-spout became so deep that we could distinguish no motion in its expanded part. We observed only that the whole phenomenon moved from east to west, and was destroyed on the coast of Provence. Lastly, a fourth was formed, which was destroyed in the same manner, without any such reproduction, beyond the hills of Antibes, because, their course being more oblique towards the north, they could not meet the gulph Jean, and the prolongation of their track was altogether over land. A fall of snow succeeded immediately afterwards, which was of the usual density and configuration. It lasted all the rest of the afternoon and the following night, so that on the following day there was as much snow on the ground as before. It afterwards rained for a long time, which cleared the country of the snow that had accumulated. As the impetuous wind of the preceding day continued with undiminished force through the whole night, and the other accessary circumstances were likewise present, I think there is reason to conclude that new water-spouts must have been formed in the afternoon, and perhaps in the night of the 6th; but the obscurity of the atmosphere, from the fall of the snow, did not permit me to observe them. I shall therefore proceed to make some remarks on the wind which caused this phenomenon. Though the velocity of this wind was nearly equal to that of the greatest storms in our seas, the waves were not proportionally deep. Two circumstances appeared to concur in pro |