1822,] 
tion. Fish are equally plentiful in the 
sea without the basin; so numerous 
and voracious, indeed, as to be caught 
with little trouble ; three boats, nearly 
filled, were procured in a short time, 
principally of a species resembling the 
bream and perch, averaging three or 
four pounds weight each, and of excel- 
lent cating. Merchant vessels that 
touch here, wishing to add_to. their 
sea store, should. cure them imme- 
diately ; exposure to rain previous to 
Salting is found by experience to ren- 
der them of little value. 
Whales frequent the vicinity of this 
island at certain periods. But its 
chief visitors are seals, who twenty 
years ago were to be seen on the 
rocks, and basking in the grass, in 
many thousands. Instances have oc- 
curred of three thousand having been 
killed in a few days: the principal 
instrument for this purpose is a good 
cudgel, which by a smart blow over 
the snout accomplishes the object. At 
present their numbers are much di- 
minished, by the great demand for the 
skin in commerce, and having become 
of late years a fashionable article of 
dress. Numbers likewise are carried 
to America. 
The stratum of earth is thin, and lit- 
tle, therefore, can be accomplished 
here by cultivation; but at the bottom 
of the crater, around the basin, I have 
little doubt that gardens might be 
formed, were any of the temporary 
sojourners industrious enough to make 
the attempt, and inclose them from the 
depredations of the seals. A few wild 
hogs and goats are said to exist, but 
we saw nothing of the kind. Sea 
birds are particularly numerous, i.e. 
the peterel, penguin, common gull, 
and albatross species. ‘lhe latter is a 
large and powerful bird, sometimes 
twice the size of a turkey, and the 
wings, when extended, measuring thir- 
teen feet from tip to tip, though eleven 
or twelve feet is more common. Of 
these we caught many, by a hook and 
line kept floating astern; and they are 
remarkable for having an additional 
joint in the wing, a peculiarity that is 
not discernible till after repeated exa- 
mination. A dense coat of feathers 
renders it impenetrable to small shot, 
and under the skin is a layer of fat 
half an inch thick; a bag of the same 
adipose substance near the tail, said 
to be for the purpose of Jubricating the 
feathers, is. as large as a tolerable- 
sized apple. The skin is in great re- 
Account of the Island of St. Paul. 293 
quest among American seamen, who 
dry and preserve it very carefully, 
selling it for a considerable sum in 
their own country, the down being re- 
markably fine and white. Vhe carcase 
to us proved more serviceable, the sea- 
men having feasted on it frequently, 
and on Christmas Day was jocularly 
hamed by them a St. Paul’s goose. 
Smoke has been seen to issue from 
fissures in the earth, and sometimes, 
during the night, luminous spots re- 
sembling fire, though we saw nothing 
of the kind. Many of the stones are 
of adark blue colour, some resembling 
pumice, aud others bearing evident 
traces of fusion. Hresh water is small 
in quantity, and diflicult to be pro- 
cured. 
Amsterdam island, about fifty miles 
distant, is ten or twelve miles in cir- 
cumference, but so difficult. of access, 
that a landing has only been effected 
there once or twice these fiftj-years. 
There is, however, more wood and 
water than at St. Paul’s.. Its latitude 
is about.37° 50’ S., longitude the same 
as the other. Both islands are com- 
monly made by vessels going direct to 
China, or through Bass’s Straits, 
—<— 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
shame knowledge of. the French 
language is generally esteem- 
ed, and is of considerable importance. 
Conceiving that it might be obtain- 
ed more thoroughly, and with less 
trouble to the learner, than by the 
usual mode, my wife and I have pur- 
sued a plan, which, as far as I am 
aware, has not before been employed. 
We have not unfrequently been 
spoken {o respecting the mode of 
procedure adopted, and have found 
ourselves incapable of explaining, pre- 
cisely, our views ina short time, and in 
few words, We therefore determined 
to draw up the present statement, and 
to request you would give it a place in 
your Magazine. 
The principle, on which our plan 
was founded, is, that an infant is ca- 
pable of learning, from the time when 
it begins to speak, two languages at the 
sametime. This practice is observed 
in Wales, in Scotland, and Ireland ; on 
the frontiers of France ; in Switzerland, 
and in other parts where the English or 
the French are frequently understood 
by young children, together with ano- 
ther language, according to the respec- 
tive situation of the countries. Indeed, 
this 
