son in England no longer pleasant or respectable.  They left it and went to the continent; though it is likely they were the more induced to do so by certain family difficulties, and the ill effects of the father’s turbulent temper, which speedily lost him the friends his uncommon abilities and erudition had procured.  The reader who desires information respecting these two singular men, and the sentiments entertained in general as to their improper conduct in the matter of the publication, may turn to the Supplement to the Encyclopaedia Britannica.  It is, however, but justice to inform him, that the account there given, bears decisive indications of party bias in more senses than one; and that the strongest assertions it contains as to the share which Forster the father had in the publication, are not supported on evidence sufficient for the conviction of any unprejudiced mind.  The writer of that article, as of several others in that very valuable publication, appears to have given up his imagination to the prevailing terrors of the times, and to have become, at last, almost incapable of discriminating betwixt personal delinquency and epidemic immorality—­the misfortunes incident to individuals in every age or country, and the evils arising out of the erroneous creeds and systems of a particular time and place.  A single quotation from the article now alluded to, may be conducive to the reader’s favourable acceptance of that portion of the Forsters’ labours from which it is proposed to supply many of the succeeding notes.  “An account of the voyage was published in English and German, by George Forster; and the language, which is correct and elegant, was undoubtedly his; but those who knew both him and his father, are satisfied that the matter proceeded from the joint stock of their observations and reflections.  Several parts of the work, and particularly the elaborate investigations relative to the languages spoken by the natives of the South Sea Islands, and the speculations concerning their successive migrations, are thought to be strongly impressed with the genius of the elder Forster.”  Before concluding this note, it may be proper to say, that Mr Wales conceiving Mr G. Forster had made some misrepresentations of certain facts, wrote some remarks upon his book, to which Mr F. replied.  This is said on the authority of the Biog.  Brit. for the writer himself has never seen either of the productions alluded to.  That work very candidly admits, that the Forsters’ books contain much curious and useful information.  It is probable, then, that the readers in general will concur with the writer in discarding entirely all consideration of moral conduct as to the agreement, and availing themselves of whatever of utility or amusement the publication in question can afford.—­E.

[2] The same day we observed several flying fishes, pursued by bonitos and dolphins, rising out of the water in order to escape from them.  They were flying in all directions, and not against