(John), a learned English nonconformist divine born in 1630. He became minister of Great Torrington in Devonshire, and was appointed household chaplain to Cromwell; but seems to have been free from the fanaticism then in fashion, as he offended Cromwell greatly by preaching against the notion of particular faith, which the ministers of his court were great advocates for. When Oliver died, he continued chaplain to Richard; and when Richard was deposed, he returned to Torrington; where he continued till the act of uniformity took place and set him aside. He afterwards settled at Utrecht, until the declaration for liberty of conscience was published by king James II. under shelter of which he returned to London, where he died in 1705. He published a great number of sermons and religious works, which have been reprinted together in two vols folio.

Howe's Island, a small island in the neighbourhood of New South Wales, discovered on February 17, 1788, S. Lat. 31° 30' E. Long. 159° 04'. It is of an arched figure, lying from north-west to south-east, the two extremities including a space of about six miles, though, by reason of the curved figure of the island itself, it is near seven in length. It is deeply indented on the middle of the eastern part by a bay named Ross's Bay, and on the opposite and western part has another named Prince William Henry's Bay; so that the whole has the appearance of two islands joined together by an isthmus, which in some places is not above half a mile broad. On the southern part of that division which lies most to the northward are two considerable bays, named Callam's and Hunter's Bay; and on the south-western part of the other are two high mountains, the most southerly named Mount Gower, and the other Mount Lidgbird. The convex part of the island lying towards the north-east, and the concave side towards the opposite quarter, is terminated by two points named Point King and Point Philip. No fresh water was found on the island; but it abounds with cabbage-palms, mangrove, and manchineel trees, even up to the summits of the mountains. There are plenty of ganets, and a land fowl of a dusky brown colour, with a bill about four inches long, and feet like those of a chicken. These were found to be remarkably fine meat, and were very fat. There are many large pigeons, and the white birds found in Norfolk Island were also met with in this place. The bill of this bird is red, and very strong, thick, and sharp pointed. Great numbers of fine turtle frequent this island in summer, but go to the northward in winter. These, it was imagined, would prove of great service to the colony at Port Jackson; but, from some cause or other, it appears they have hitherto been disappointed. Plenty of fish were caught by a hook and line. At the distance of about four leagues from Lord Howe's Island is a very remarkable and high rock, to which the name of Ball's Pyramid has been given. This island may be approached without danger; but about four miles from the south-west part of the pyramid there is a very dangerous rock, which shows itself above the surface of the water, and appears not to be larger than a boat. The southern part of the island is lined with a sandy beach, which is guarded against the sea by a reef of coral rock, at the distance of half a mile from the beach, through which there are several small openings for boats; but there is nowhere a greater depth of water within the reef than four feet. By the account of Mr Watts, who visited this island in his return from Port Jackson, the isthmus which joins the two parts has evidently been overflowed, and the island disjoined, as in the very centre the men saw large beds of coral rocks and great quantities of shells; and on the east, which seems in general to be the weather-side, the sea has thrown up a bank of sand from 25 to 30 feet high, which serves as a barrier against future inundations. The island also appears to have suffered by volcanic eruptions, as great quantities of pumice stones and other matters of that kind were found upon it. Mr Austin also found the whole reef which shelters the west bay a burnt-up mass. The time he visited the island was that of the incubation of the ganets, of which there were then prodig-