It would be a waste of time to give an account of 
the various tortures by which these Fakirs seek for re- 
ion. Tavernier informs us, that some of them 
vernier’s. Travels, and Stavorinus’ Voyage to the East 
183, 142; and vol. iil. p. 147. (7) 
FALCONER, Wisin, an ingenious poet, of ob- 
» Witrram, an in $ 
of whom little more is see Po 
part 
element, in very subordinate stations. In such unfa- 
vourable circ , it is difficult to conceive how 
fr =: oy Aca da Aen gaggorsf 
acquiring taste, ‘or culti- 
vating those poetical talents, which he afterwards so 
a py Hr aN On this. subject, the 
memoirs of his busy and obscure life, afford us li 
ee ren ntnn, sonnei 0 sondtete, des Sel. 
eoner possessed one of those ardent and vigorous minds 
which seem destined to surmount every obstacle op- 
ean te Sasion into ccabsenee: by theis 
own natural elasticity. The late ingenious editor of 
the works of Burns, however, informs us, that Fal- 
goner, W ing on board a man of war, attracted 
the ; Campbell, the author of Lexiphanes, who 
4 im as his servant, and having discovered his 
emer ne ing his instruction. 
Rel 
G if 
| 
which di considerable powers 
eel widen In 1762, “aoa 
a Poem, in three Cantos, by a 
hich has insured to Falconer an eminent 
i 
267 
FAL 
scribed to Edward Duke of York, brother te his pres Falconer 
<n and was very favourably received by the 
pe 
- Through the influence of his royal patron, whom 
he further complimented b: 
cond rture from England as Rear Admiral,” Fal« 
coner obtained the lucrative situation of purser of the 
Royal George, one of the finest ships in the British 
navy. It was probably from motives of gratitude, that 
he was now induced to enter the field of political con- 
troversy ; and having enlisted under the banners of 
the party of * King’s Friends,” he published a satiri-. 
cal piece, entitled, “ The 
inveighed against Mr Pitt, (afterwards Earl of Chat- 
ham), sith ie piliatents 
In 1764, he gave a second edition of the Shipwreck, 
with Gonpelerabl le addi i 
additions, having extended it to the: 
length of about one thousand lines more than the for- 
mer. In 1769, he published “ The. Marine Diction« 
ary,” in one volume 4to; a work of considerable uti-« 
lity; and, about the same time, he gave a third edi- 
tion of the Shipwreck, with some alterations. 
Towards the close of the year 1769, he embarked, 
with several East India su , on board the Au< 
rora with the view of endeavouring to improve 
. This vessel, however, was never 
heard of after her departure from the Cape of Good 
Hope, in the month of December; and there is no 
doubt that she must have foundered: at sea, and gone 
down with all her crew. 
The title of Falconer to the name of a poet, is suffi< 
ciently established by his Shipwreck. The subject was 
new, and eminently le of poetical effect ; and the 
derived additi interest from the reality of the 
incidents which it described. The ional know- 
and ical powers of the author, enabled him 
to do ample justice to his theme; and em mer 
— and melodious versification of the Shipwreck, 
ve secured for it a place among the standard and po-« 
pular juctions of the British muse. (z) 
FALCONRY. See Hunrine.. 
FALKIRK, is the principal town of the eastern dis« 
«© An Ode on his se-- 
ue,” in which he- 
Falkirk, 
trict of Stirlingshire, and is beautifully situated on an Situation. 
eminence above the Carse and the Frith of Forth. The 
whole scenery of the river Forth is delightful, and that 
part of it which is seen from Falkirk is rich as well as 
diversified, and never fails to captivate and astonish 
—— Taking Falkirk for a centre, you are 
sented towards the north with a prospect in the form 
of an amphitheatre, which extends every way to the 
distance of ten or twelve miles. f 
Toward the west, it is bounded by the termination 
of the Campsie hills, and the 1 camo above Den- 
ny ; on the north by the Ochil hills; and on the east 
by the Saline hills, part of the coast of Fife, and the ri- 
sing above Bo'ness. This view comprehends 
Stirling castle on the north-west ; and there is an open- 
ing i which runs far back in- 
clly 
Carses of Falkirk, and other alluvial lands upon the 
banks of the Forth, which are so justly celebrated for 
This. ] is diversified 
ishing iron works at Car- 
canal. These, together with the ancient seats of neigh- 
bouring gentlemen, the villas and villages occasioned . 
