a factitious metal, used in the making of domestic utensils. The basis of this metal is tin, united to small portions of lead, zinc, bismuth, and antimony. There are three sorts of pewter in common use, distinguished by the names of plate, trifle, and ley. The plate-pewter is used for plates and dishes; the trifle, chiefly for pints and quarts;

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1 As a specimen of this extraordinary composition, we shall take leave to introduce here the following extract, which appears to us to be eminently characteristic: "As for legacies for the poor, I am at a stand; as for beggars by trade and election, I give them nothing; as for impotents by the hand of God, the public ought to maintain them; as for those who can get no work, the magistrate should cause them to be employed, which may be well done in Ireland, where is (are) fifteen acres of improvable land for every head; prisoners for crime, by the king; for debts, by their prosecutors; as for those who compassionate the sufferings of any object, let them relieve them, and relieve themselves by relieving such sufferings, that is, give them alms pro re nata, and for God's sake relieve those several species above mentioned, where the above-mentioned obligers fail in their duties: Wherefore I am contented that I have assisted all my poor relations, and put many in a way of getting their own bread, and have laboured in public works, and by inventions have sought out real objects of charity; and do hereby conjure all who partake of my estate, from time to time to do the same at their peril. Nevertheless, to answer custom, and to take the surer side, I give L.20 to the most wanting of the parish wherein I die." Here we have the domain of charity laid out by a political economist; and after the exclusion of the various classes above specified, it must be confessed that enough will scarcely remain to render it discernible on the map of the moral duties; though, "to answer custom and to take the surer side," a prudent Dives may, out of his enormous wealth, leave some L.20 to the most destitute of the parish wherein death separates him from all his earthly possessions. Peyrouse, the celebrated but unfortunate French navigator, was born at Albi in the year 1741. His father intended to train him up to a maritime life, for which purpose he sent him, when very young, to the marine school, where he became enthusiastically attached to his profession, and ambitious to emulate the fame of the most celebrated navigators. He was appointed midshipman on the 19th of November 1756, and behaved with great bravery in that station, having been severely wounded in the engagement between Hawke and Conflans on the 29th of November 1759. The Formidable, in which he served, was taken after a vigorous resistance; and it is probable that Pérouse reaped some advantage from his acquaintance with British officers. He was promoted, on the 1st of October 1764, to the rank of lieutenant; and as he abhorred a life of ease and idleness, he contrived to be employed in six different ships of war during the peace between Great Britain and France. In 1776 he was promoted to the rank of master and commander. In 1779 he commanded the Amazone, belonging to the squadron of Vice-admiral Count d'Estaing; and when that officer engaged Admiral Byron, the duty assigned to La Pérouse was to carry the orders of the admiral to the whole of the line. He afterwards took the sloop Ariel, and contributed to the capture of the Experiment. In the year 1782, La Pérouse was sent with the Sceptre of seventy-four guns, and two frigates of thirty-six guns each, having some troops and field-pieces on board, to destroy the English settlements in Hudson's Bay; a task which he easily accomplished, as there was nothing on shore to oppose the smallest force. When he had destroyed the settlements, having learned that some of the English had fled at his approach into the woods, he generously left them provisions, and arms to defend themselves against the savages. In the year 1785, he was appointed to the command of some ships commissioned for a voyage round the world, which unfortunately proved his last. Of this voyage, as far as it was accomplished, full accounts have already been published, from which it is manifest that Pérouse was admirably qualified to discharge such a trust. He was an experienced and skilful seaman; skilled in mathematical and physical science; uncorrupted by that false philosophy which disgraced many of his attendants; and capable of the utmost perseverance in every commendable pursuit. To these valuable qualities he added caution and courage, with a disposition truly benevolent towards the savages whom he visited. Most of the calamities attendant on the voyage, with the exception of the last, were occasioned by the disobedience of his officers, or their neglecting to follow his advice. The last despatches received from this excellent man were dated from Botany Bay, the 7th of February 1788; but since that period no authentic account of him has ever been obtained.