In reviewing Dr. Pinckard's Travels to the West Indies in pur last number, we had occasion to advert to the extreme insalubrity of the colony of Batavia, which is unparalleled in any other part of the globe, Thunberg, who visited it in 1775, relates that at the latter end of that year he dined at the table of a certain physician in company with thirteen other persons, all of whom, on his return from Japan in the month of January, 1777, had paid the debt of nature, except the doctor and himself. The squadron to which our author be longed, had a fatal proof of the malignity of the climate, which, it should seem, no art can elude, no constitution escape, and against which no precaution can avail. In spite of every necessary circumspection, a dysentery, accom panied with typhus fever, was here brought on board, which continued to rage with more or less virulence during the remainder of their voyage to China. It appears that they had not lost an individual on their arrival at this place, but from thence to the end of the voyage there died not less than fifty.

This unhealthiness is not to be imputed to the heat, which is by no means so excessive as might be expected in a country so little removed from under the equinoctial line, and at a considerable distance from mountains or high grounds; the usual temperature in the middle of the day being only from 84 to 80, and sometimes as low as 76°, We must therefore look for its origin in the low swampy situation in which Batavia is built, and out of which a foul and contaminated atmosphere is constantly engendered; in the numerous stagnant ditches with which the city abounds, and a proposal for the filling up of which almost caused an insurrection of the inhabitants; in the numerous manufactures of an unwholesome tendency, which are carried on by the industrious Chinese in and near the city; in the noxious vapours arising from the putrefactive fermentation of vegetable matter, an operation which, in this region, is incessantly carrying on; in the custom prevalent among the Dutch of bringing their dead not only within the walls of the city, but in the churches; and various other aircumstances connected with local situation and prejudi ces: to these may be added excess in eating and drinking, and an imprudent manner of living, as a proof of which the mortality is greater among the males than the fe males, who lead a more regular and quiet life. That cleanliness also which is so striking a characteristic of the Hollanders in the mother country, seems here to have forsaken them, and the scenes of filth which used to disgrace the me tropolis of Scotland, are daily and nightly practised in Batavia,

A sufficiently good account is given of the natural productions of the island of Java. In no instance does the providence and wisdom of nature seem to be more signally displayed than in the conformation of the Nepenthes Distillatoria, or pitcher plant.

There is not, perhaps, among the numerous examples that occur of the provident economy of nature, in the vegetable part of the creation, a more remarkable instance of contrivance adapted to circumstances, of means suited to the end, than what is evidently displayed in this wonderful plant. Being the inhabitant of a tropical climate, and found on the most stoney and arid situations, nature has furnished it with the means of an ample supply of moisture, without which it would have withered and perished. To the footstalk of each leaf, and near the base, is attached a small bag, shaped like a pitcher, of the same consistence and colour of the leaf in the early stage of its growth, but changing with age to a reddish purple ; it is girt round with an oblique band or hoop, and covered with a lid neatly fitted, and moveable on a kind of hinge or strong fibre which, passing over the handle, connects the vessels with the leaf. By the contraction of this fibre the lid is drawn open whenever the weather is showery, or dews fall, which would appear to be just the contrary of what usually happens in nature, though the contraction probably is occasioned by the hot and dry atmosphere, and the expansion of the fibre does not take place till the moisture has fallen and saturated the pitcher. When this is the case the cover falls down, and it closes so firmly as to prevent any evaporation from taking place. The water, being gradually absorbed through the handle into the footstalk, gives vigour to the leaf and sustenance to the plant, As soon as the pitchers are exhausted, the lids again open to admit whatever moisture may fall; and when the plant has produced its seed, and the dry season fairly sets in, it withers, with all the covers of the pitchers standing open. Why the name of Homer's griefdispelling plant should have been transferred to the pitcher plant I am unable to explain; but it does not appear to be possessed of any sedative or narcotic quality like

that Nepenthes which the wife of Thone

"In Egypt gave to Jove born Helena.”

But it is time to introduce our readers to Cochinchina, which, as has been before observed, occupies only a small frac tional part of the present large volume, and which, like each one of the above-mentioned places, was no part of the object of the voyage, but like them was merely touched at for a few days in the passage to another country.

Mr. Barrow's indignation is excited, and we think with justice, by Mr. Pinkerton's unqualified observation relative to Cochinchina and the adjoining spacious and populous countries. The kingdoms of Laos, Cambodia, Siampa

Cochinchina, and Tung-quin,' says that geographer, are countries unimportant in themselves, and concerning which the materials are imperfect.' To the latter part of this sweeping and injudicious assertion, which had its origin in ignorance, we subscribe with Mr. Barrow; but we also agree with him in entirely dissenting from the former. We are of his opinion, that the countries which are thus held so very cheap, are highly important to the present and future concerns of our East Indian possessions, and as a proof of this opinion, shall lay before our readers an epitome, which cannot fail to be perused with interest, of the historical sketch which he has furnished us.

On arriving at Cochinchina in the year 1793, our voyagers found it labouring under the evils of a civil war,which had convulsed it for nineteen years. Three brothers, a merchant, a soldier, and a priest, each of considerable consequence in his respective profession, had rebelled against their lawful sovereign, and not only made themselves masters of his dominions, but added to it by conquest the neighbouring extensive kingdom of Tung-quin. The king of Cochinchina fell into their hands and suffered death; but his queen, the young prince, and some others of the royal family, escaped into a forest, whence, after some vain attempts to recover their inheritance, they found it expedient to retire with a few. faithful followers to the neighbouring island of Pulo Wai, a small uninhabited spot in the gulf of Siam.

There happened at this time to reside at court a French missionary named Adran, who by a happy combination of artfulness and merit, peculiar to those of his order, had contrived to possess himself of the entire good-will and confidence of the king, which he repaid with the warmest gratitude. In such consideration and esteem was he held, that his infidel sovereign, instead of persecuting, openly afforded this protection to the liule colony of true believers that had been raised by the zeal of the missionary, and, to the great scandal of his nobles and priests, had actually placed his only son and heir to the throne under the immediate tuition of a Romish divine. But his confidence was not misplaced; it was by the assistance of Adran that the royal family eluded the power of the rebels, and it was from his hands that they received their daily sustenance during several months of concealment. When at length they had effected their escape to the island above mentioned, this faithful attendant made his way to the southern provinces of Cochinchina; and, finding that the inhabitants of that country were still true to the interests of their legitimate monarch, and that a general dissatisfaction prevailed against the usurpers,conceiv

ed the plan of applying to Louis XVI. of France for succour, and thus serve at once his benefactor and native country, by restoring the former to his throne on such terins as might be highly advantageous to the latter. With this view he set sail in quest of the royal fugitives, whom he found with about fifteen hundred loyal adherents, reduced to circumstances of the greatest distress.

His design being communicated and approved, the eldest son of the emigrant king was committed to the care of the missionary, with which important charge he immedi ately embarked for Pondicherry, set sail from thence for Europe, and arrived at Paris in the year 1787. This young prince was treated with every mark of attention and respect at the court of Versailles; and the project of the missionary was so highly approved, that, in the course of a few months a treaty was drawn up and concluded between Louis XVI. and the King of Cochinchina, signed at Versailles on the part of the former by the Comptes de Vergennes and Montmorin, and of the latter by the young prince.

We shall transcribe the principal articles of this extraor dinary treaty, which we believe is now for the first time made public:

I. There shall be an offensive and defensive alliance between the kings of France and Cochinchina: they do hereby agree mutually to afford assistance to each other against all those who make war upon either of the two contracting parties.

II. To accomplish this purpose, there shall be put under the orders of the king of the Cochinchina a squadron of twenty French ships of war, of such size and force as shall be deemed sufficient for the demands of his service.

III. Five complete European regiments, and two regiments of native colonial troops, shall be embarked without delay for Cochinchina.

IV. His majesty Louis XVI. shall engage to furnish, within four months, the sum of one million dollars; five hundred thousand of which shall be in specie, the remainder in salt petre, cannon, musquets, and other military stores.

V. From the moment the French troops shall have entered the dominions of the King of Cochinchina, they and their generals, both by sea and land, shall receive their orders from the King of Cochinchina. To this effect the commanding officer shall be furnished with instructions from his Catholic Majesty to obey in all things, and in all places, the will of his new ally.

On the other hand,

I. The King of Cochinchina, as soon as tranquillity shall be reestablished in his dominions, shall engage to furnish, for fourteen ships of the line, suck a quantity of stores and provisions as will ena

ble them to put to sea without delay,on the requisition of the ambassa dor from the King of France; and for the better effecting this pur pose, there shall be sent out from Europe a corps of officers and petty officers of the marine, to be put upon a permanent establishment in Cochinchina.

II. His majesty Louis XVI. shall have resident consuls on every part of the coast of Cochinchina, wherever he may think fit to place them. These consuls shall be allowed the privilege of building, of causing to be built, ships, frigates, and other vessels, without molestation, under any pretence, from the Cochinchinese government,

III. The ambassador of his majesty Louis XVI. to the court of Cochinchina shall be allowed to fell such timber, in any of the forests, as may be found convenient and suitable for building ships, frigates, or other vessels.

'IV. The King of Cochinchina and the council of state shall cede' in perpetuity to his most Christian Majesty, his heirs, and successors, the port and territory of Han-san (bay of Turon and the peninsula), and the adjacent islands from Faifo on the south to Hai-wen on the north.

'V. The King of Cochinchina engages to furnish men and materi als necessary for the construction of forts, bridges, high-roads, tanks, &c. as far as may be judged necessary for the protection and defence of the cessions made to his faithful ally the king of France.

VI. In case that the natives shall at any time be unwilling to remain in the ceded territory, they will be at liberty to leave it, and will be reimbursed the value of the property they may leave upon it. The civil and criminal jurisprudence shall remain unaltered; al religious opinions shall be free; the taxes shall be collected by the French in the usual mode of the country, and the collectors shall be appointed jointly by the ambassador of France and the King of Cochinchina; but the latter shall not claim any part of those taxes, which will belong properly to his most Christian Majesty for the support of his territories.

VII. In the event of his most Christian Majesty being resolved to wage war in any part of India, it shall be allowed to the commander in chief of the French forces to raise a levy of 14,000 men, whom he shall cause to be trained in the same manner as they are in France, and to be put under French discipline.

VIII. In the event of any power whatsoever attacking the French in their Cochinchinese territory, theKing of Cochinchina shall furnish 60,000 men or more in land forces, whom he shall clothe, victual, &c. &c.'

Besides these articles, the treaty contained some others of inferior importance, but all of them, as might be expected, greatly in favour of the French. Adran was promoted to the episcopal dignity under the title of bishop of Cochinchina, and honoured with the appointment of ainbassador extra ordinary and plenipotentiary to that court.

He accordingly set sail without loss of time on his return