"Ci quanto tengo que participara V. S. cuya vida pido a Dios. gde. ms. as.-Palacio 8 de Julio, 1796."

Understood to be in English thus:

Lastly, that, his Majesty requires that your Lordship depart immediately from his dominions, and direct your course whithersoever you may conceive it most to your advantage."

"But I have it nevertheless in charge to assure your Lordship, of our wishes that God may guard your life many years."

Given at the Palace, the 8th July, 1796.

There is certainly nothing very harsh or forbidding in this order, to a man who was born in England, lived on good terms with her Ambassador, and openly opposed a war against her; unless the prontamente

should be so considered.

To those who know the predicament of a prontamente order, and the dangers of a delay under such a requisition, the following circumstances will be an explanation which softens the decree.

1. The Colonel's dismissal is dated on the 8th July, 1796:

2. He received a bow of marked respect from the King, in the public walks of Madrid, after his departure was decreed;

3. He was favoured with a respectful letter from the Prince of Peace, on the 12th of July, four days after the order, which has this friendly conclusion

"Repito a V. S. mi sincera attention y mis descos di que Dios gde.

Su vida Ms. As." &c.

In English thus :-:

"I repeat to your Lordship my sincere attention, and my prayers that God may guard your life many years, &c."

4. On the 13th of July, the same Prince granted Colonel T. a passport to come to England; and, t is remarkable that, although the dismissal was of an immediate nature, that this passport (bearing date four days later) was an unlimited one;

And 5. The Marquis of Bute's passport to Coldnel T. is dated on the 19th July, 1796, in Madrid; which is cleven days later than the dismissal; during all which time Colonel T. appeared openly in that city and at the Palace.

At length he left Madrid on the 20th of July, and landed at Plymouth on the 16th of August; whence he proceeded to London, where he has ever since continued.

Since his arrival in the capital, he has published several literary works, all of which were calculated to promote pacific employments, to attain the encrease of mechanical powers, and to contribute to the extension of agriculture and commerce: the character of an author, however, is best discovered in his writings. The Colonel has in particular directed his attention to the success of English agriculture, and the benefits to be derived from civil engineering, which constitute his favourite pursuits. He has endeavoured to awaken the notice of the merchants and citizens of London, concerning the crowded state of commerce in their streets and in their port; and he has held out the means of relief in an extensive book, containing a Plan for insulating the Metropolis, by means of a navigable Canal.

In the early part of the present year, 1801, CoJonel Tatham was called to the superintendence of the London docks at Wapping; where he took charge of the Office of Works, and the various operations of an undertaking, so replete with interest and variety, as to present a most extensive field for the display of that general knowledge which is only to be acquired by experience and intercourse with the world.

On this occasion, however, we are led to suppose he was at first somewhat mortified by the necessity of checking his own ideas in favour of those of others; for, as the Directors had condescended to receive instructions from a committce of Engineers, who are now dismissed, it became necessary that their plans should be executed without opposition, although his own should be superior on the score of method, expedition, and expence. He was thercfore, in general, restrained in his desires, that the company should profit by those improvements which result from travelling and observation; but on some occasions he was indulged in his plans, and he hath left a lasting memorial in the first piling of the foundation for the drainage pipe, which was executed under his superintendance, and driven in interpiled quincunx, according to his own suggestion, and although subject to many of those, obstacles which ever occur in the progress of new and magnificent undertakings, he has happily succeeded so far as to obviate the principal difficulties by zeal and perseverance.

The primary operations of taking down buildings,

reducing

reducing the ground to a proper level, enclosing and preparing the work-yards, putting the public sewers in good condition, constructing the jettie for landing materials, digging the steam engine foundation, piling the engine pit, boring the sections of strata, flanking the drainage pipes, receiving large quantities of timber and stone, in addition to the preparations of tide and coffer work, have simplified the afterparts of the engineering; and the Court of Directors have, at length, come to a new determination, to complete what remains to be done by contract.

This resolution, of course precludes the further services of Colonel Tatham, who is not within that description of persons; and we learn that, on the 11th of July last, he accordingly surrendered the keys of office to his successor, at the head of near five hundred orderly workmen, who were mostly discharged on this occasion; and whose prudent deportment, and grateful hearts, bore an ample testimony of the kindness and attention which they had experienced.

Whether this radical change of system will be attended with benefit to those connected with the property of the docks, is a question which time alone can determine: but so far as their late supervisor is concerned, it would be unjust to omit, that his con duct has been amply approved of by his employers.

Before we take leave of this interesting and extraordinary character, it may not be improper to remark, that he has adopted certain principles of social economy; and, as his candour does not hesitate to avow them openly, there can be no impro

priety in committing them to print. He professes to believe,

1st. That he who is a good citizen in any one country, will never be a bad subject in any other; nor will a bad man be bettered by the transposition of his allegiance he is in each case responsible for his demeanor in regard to society.

2dly. It becomes the dignity of human nature to be respectful to civil government, and those in authority: men should keep in view their final amenability to God.

3dly. The essence of true liberty is comprized in doing "as we would be done by," or in other words, so directing our own acts, under the public permission, that they shall neither restrain the same acts, or the same right of acting, in any other individual of the community.

4thly. It is impious to commit a voluntary aggression, and if people would begin the fashion of thinking so, the annihilation of follies and of crimes would be half effected.

THE RIGHT REVEREND

GEORGE PRETTYMAN, D.D. F.R.S.

LORD BISHOP OF LINCOLN.

THIS eminent prelate is the son of a tradesman at St. Edmund's Bury in the county of Suffolk, where he received his education, and then removed to Pembroke College, Cambridge, of which society he became fellow and tutor.

1801-2.

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