comparing, discriminating, and combining ideas? And ought not this to be the first object of liberal education? plexity, or want of clearness and precision, The same flippancy of presumptuous ignoin the expressions which imbody our thoughts. rance that laughs at a learned disquisition And hence it is, that as all real scholars, upon Greek accents, is equally prompt to I speak not now of the knowledge of things, who have been engaged in teaching, must deride the ardour of the naturalist in bunting acquired in the perusal of the Greek and have experienced-many a man has conceived butterflies, in exploring the varieties of a I speak not of the acquain- himself to possess a perfect knowledge of moss, or collecting specimens of rude stones. tance, to which it introduces us, with the scientific principles, till he came to express Nay a Newton, examining the colours of a facts, the manners, the characters, the senti- himself on the subject to others; but then has bubble, or demonstrating the properties of a ments of ancient times. I speak of the initia discovered that his conceptions have been crooked line, would be screened—if screened tory exercises of grammar and of syntax; erroneous, inaccurate, or obscure. By the-from their sneers, only by the celebrity of and at the early age which ought to be allotted person unacquainted with the structure of his name. to these, I maintain that there is no intellec- language, and unaccustomed to examine it tual exercise better calculated to furnish the strictly, this evidence of defective reasoning elements of thought, to fix the attention, to is commonly overlooked; and he rests at once call forth the latent powers of the understand-in thoughts without precision, and expresing, and to employ, without overstraining, its sions without distinct meaning. most important energies. [TO BE CONTINUED.] Correspondence. PRONUNCIATION. TO THE EDITOR. Let me not be understood as saying, that Indeed the connexion between language the skilful linguist must also be of course a and thought is much more intimate, than sound reasoner. He may possess inferior superficial inquirers imagine. Language is powers of natural understanding; and if a allowed by all to be the great vehicle by which mere linguist, whatever be his intellectual thoughts are communicated and in this view powers, he has neglected to exercise and in alone, the importance of an accurate acquaint-vigorate them by scientific studies. But I ance with language is incalculable. But do say, that the highest genius labours under many are not aware, that it is also the great the most considerable disadvantage in science, nunciation of this letter (a) in the words any, many, cutch instrument-if I may be allowed the expres-if not skilled in language: and that the in-Thames, where the a sounds like short e, as if written sion—of thought; that every man thinks in language, even when he thinks in privacy and utters not a word. tellect of a Bacon or a Newton could not be SIR, Reading at all times with pleasure your interesting publication, the Kaleidoscope, I note in one of your last, a letter, signed S. M. requesting that you or some of your learned correspondents will solve what he is pleased to term the following quotation from Walker's Dictionary, as a difficult and intricate problem. Walker expresses himself thus:-"There is a corrupt but a received pro enny, menny, ketch, tems.” Being present when this friendly discussion took place, I feel it a duty incumbent on my part to state the truth. The difference of opinion between Mr. S. M. and the gentlemen present was upon the pronunciation of the word catch. He, Mr. S. M. asserted that Mr. Walker in his Dictionary (the 4th edition) pronounced it ketch. This, on referring to the work, I find quite the reverse; and the note quoted above, headed by Mr. W. "Irregular and unaccented Sounds," is a further proof of his opinion. I cannot in conclusion but remark, that Mr. S. M.'s construction of the sentence is very prodigious, for it must be in his recollection that the large party present was decidedly against him. Liverpool, July 2, 1823. TIDE-TABLE. TO THE EDITOR. RANGER. Yet, let not the mere linguist be despised, as a useless trifler in the field of literature. That field is so spacious, that all parts of it cannot be occupied by the same person; and to be cultivated with general advantage, some spots must receive the undivided attention of certain individuals. The objects of human knowledge are so numerous, and there subsists such a mutual subserviency of each to all, that literary labour must be divided : and none but the superficial observer will lament the minuteness of the portion, which engrosses the attention of some; or laugh at SIR,-In your last we have Mr. Kaye's letter on this the ardour with which they prosecute the in-subject, which says, "Your explanation is correct, and highly satisfactory. The marks alluded to are employed to denote the transit of the tide from morning to evening, and from evening to morning." Now, Sir, I myself fectly agree with it, when I view the subject in the manner would readily subscribe to such a letter, because I per in which I think Mr. Kaye has, and that is, he has made reference to only one blank (and not to both of them) which is the only dispute between you and me; for he does not say, as you said, that, when there are two blanks, one of them (the first) denotes twelve o'clock; but that "the marks alluded to are employed to denote the transit of the tide, &c. by which it is plain he only alludes to the occurrences of one blank; because, by your own account (which he deems so satisfactory) the two blanks together do more than denote the transit of the tide, for you say one of the blanks denotes twelve o'clock, and the other the transit Hoping that I am still correct, and that Mr. Kaye will favour us with a further explanation; or that Mr. Lang, If there be any subject of human reason, in which the mind can exercise its powers independently of language, it may be supposed to be geometry. But let any man, most famihar with a geometrical demonstration, endeavour to present it, in all its steps, to his own mind divested of words, and he will fad himself baffled in the attempt. Nor is it unreasonable to suppose, that-if words alone could be totally effaced from the recollection -the mind, though retaining all its other acquisitions, would retain them to no effec. sail purpose, but would be reduced to a state f infantine imbecility. With so much is it philosophic justice, that in the Greek bigue the same term, which expresses a word vestigation of apparently unimportant objects. xpresses also the reasoning faculty.-But That very ardour of individual research, howala! though we cannot think without em- disproportionate-even really disproportionbring words, we may employ words without ate-to the objects which excite it, contriinking. Were it not so, many would be butes to the increase and perfection of the gue-tied, who are now most voluble in de-common stock; and often gives employment ying the wisdom of our forefathers. to a mind, which would otherwise be idle. Ju scientific pursuits, no mental habit is of I wish also the friends of science to give re importance than a readiness in examin- their special attention to this fact;-that the the closeness of our own reasoning, and a same men who decry the study of the dead ickness in detecting any latent vagueness languages as a useless waste of mental exerJaaccuracy of conception. And nothing tion, as the unprofitable study of words motes this habit more than an early instead of things,—are also the most forward intance with the accurate analysis of to point their shafts of ridicule against such guage. Any defect of correctness in think- scientific pursuits, as present no obvious utility is betrayed most immediately by the per- to the optics of these arbiters of literature. our other referee, will assist us, MARIS REFLUXUS, SPIDERS. TO THE EDITOR. -benefit of Mr. Yates. 10, Thursday, The Honey Moon: Jacques, Mr. Knight; Lampedo, Mr. Blanchard; Volante, Miss Smith pearance. son; Jujjana, Miss Kelly;-with Leon and Lisette, Venice, a variety of Singing, and Love, Law, and -benefit of Mr. St. Albin and Mad. Garbois. Ford, Miss Kelly:-with Monsieur Tonson: Mor- tlemen appear to take it in high dudgeon that we ha bieu, Mr. Mathews;-and Sylvester Daggerwood; disclaimed any participation in their opinions or decisions and the language in which they have expressed their o SIR. After perusing your interesting paper of last week, vious chagrin, may serve as a specimen of the gener spirit in which they write their philippics. We have n a gentleman happened to call upon me, who is highly celebrated as a naturalist, and whose works on animals changed one syllable of their courteous note; but ha scrupulously preserved the polite phraseology of our ind and birds will bear his name to future ages with honour. I showed him your correspondent's observations on spiders!: pendent and choleric correspondents. We admire pla speaking; and, in imitation of their laudable candour, 1 he was much pleased with them, and said that in his youth he had observed spiders much. He had a large Last week introduced us again to Blanchard and Knight, take occasion to say, that it is our conviction that had web near his bed, and used to supply it with flies regularly. know not; unless it be because one comes from the Theatre instead of questioning their infallibility, we should ha both long established favourites. Why they are so we identified ourselves with their high and mighty judgment At last the idea struck him to put a wasp into it. He Royal, Covent Garden, the other from Old Drury. They come in for a share of those encomiums which they k caught one, and holding it by its wings until its feet have, for some seasons past, regularly visited us, and how to lavish with an unsparing hand upon their favo got entangled, left it to its fate. The spider, a huge hence the reason, probably, why we are now become rites. However, we repeat that we have no ambition overgrown creature rushed from its den, but suddenly stop-accustomed to view their usual routine of unvaried per- be mistaken for the authors of any of the dramatic a ped cautiously to survey the intruder. After a short pause without disgust. There is a sameness in all they do, madversions which occasionally appear in the Kaleidor formances, if not with any peculiar pleasure, at least he boldly advanced to the attack. Then came the "tug that palls; a want of character so palpable, that having although we know that many of our readers are grauif of war." He seized the wasp, which, after some severe once seen them you have seen them for ever. struggles, succeeded in, as he supposed, piercing the spider wise can Sir Robert Branible be distinguished from by their perusal, and that too in proportion to their ad with his sting, causing it to retreat, and the wasp shortly Blanchard, and Blanchard only; and so it is with Mr. critiques are too often conceived. We not unfrequen Lord Duberly, Lord Duberly from Old Rapid; all are mony. We disclaim the cynical spirit in which su regained his liberty; but he never more saw the spider. Knight, whose perfect uniformity, appear when, and in find a second-rate actor puffed up into a Magnus Apol He seemed anxious that if any of your correspondents what he will, invariably proclaims him the same tiny, and a valuable performer either wholly passed over, had tried the same experiment, to know if the result had laughing, jerking rogue, "Mr. E. Knight, from the been the same. "damned with faint praise." Such writers, too often, I saw a very neat manœuvre, this morn- Theatre Royal, Drury-lane." ing, of a spider, to draw a large meat fly into the interior Sancho says, "expect better bread than is made of when of his web, without damaging it. On the death of the and we accordingly find them railing at some poor act fly, the spider placed his two fore legs over the body of the higher powers than he possesses. In fine, we consider whose cast of characters neither requires nor admits of a fiy, so as to raise an arch of the web. He then drew the victim close to him, and, retreating another step, again raised very unenviable propensity to dwell rather upon defe the web, and then gave another haul at his victim; and so than beauties, to discourage and perhaps drive from t continued until he got the fly close to the cone of his cell, profession, actors, who with proper encouragement where he might with leisure devour his prey, without in mild and judicious expostulation, might become ornam of the stage. the least having damaged his web. Yours, &c. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, June 28, 1823. The Brama. S. H. LIVERPOOL DRAMATIC REGISTER. In no Miss Smithson commenced her second engagement here If we have written these hasty remarks with any peri of that temper which our critics so often exhibit the selves, our excuse must be the contagion of their exam To Correspondents. OF THE LAST NUMBER OF THE KALEIDOSCOPE will be ro in exchange for any other number; or three-pence will be paid for clean copies, if brought in this day morrow. hand corner of our engraving, is intended to represen Indicator. the index have been delivered to subscribers and o without the title-page. We shall cheerfully supply deficiency to those who may apply at our office. Miss Kelly's Lady Racket, Mrs. Ford, and Juliana, When our readers have perused the following ex-ing herself if she imagines the tragic muse will raise her have convinced us how egregiously she must be deceiv traordinary address, we request they will take the trouble to fame and fortune. How she can so completely have to turn to our note, appended to the article.-Edit. Kul. mistaken herself all this while would be truly astonishing, did we not know that stage professors are frequently, at The very flattering preface, which last week ushered first, perversely bent on treading the exactly contrary path to PERKINS'S STEAN-ENGINE.-The large circle ZZ in the into notice our second paper, demands from us an acknow- that assigned them by nature and circumstances. This legement of more than ordinary warmth. So little used, young lady's benefit takes place to-morrow (Tuesday) evenhowever, are we to obligations, that you must satisfying, when the reward due to her domestic virtues will not, INDEX TO OUR THIRD VOLUME. We find that several cop yourselves, Messieurs Editors of the Kaleidoscope, simply we are sure, be withheld; although, for reasons which do not with our unfeigned thanks for the marked favour you sufficiently appear, she hath to encounter the withering inwere pleased to confer upon us. By disavowing any par- fluence of a Tuesday night, which is proverbially the most ticipation with "the writer or writers of this department unfashionable of all the seven. Filial piety has stronger of the Kaleidoscope," you have, unwittingly perhaps, claims to our notice than etiquette, and we are greatly's letter on matrimony shall appear in the next Kalida given to our lucubrations an importance which did not mistaken if the liberal aristocracy of Liverpool will not previously attach to them; for, now that you have renounced cheerfully sacrifice fashion on the more hallowed shrine of us. we are not without hope of rising somewhat in general benignity. estimation. Lamentable, as it certainly is, not to rank among the number of your judicious" friends, and unpardonable as may be the sin of being "opposed to them in our estimate of Mr. Vandendoff and Miss Kelly," we cannot prevail upon ourselves to deplore this piteous heresy, nor are we particularly ambitious of becoming part or parcel of your extra "judicious" coterie; on the contrary, permit us to invite your most fastidious anathema on every similar occasion, with the addition only of the following motto: Magna est veritas et prævalebit." 66 July 7, Monday, Poor Gentleman: Sir Robert Bramble, Mr. Madame Searle ;-and Cozening: Dick Mutable, 8, Tuesday, Heir at Law: Lord Duberly, Mr. Blan- Miss Kelly. We were sorry to witness the very great failure of Mr. St. Albin's benefit, on Friday. This gentleman and Mad. Garbois merited more extensive patronage; the which, We have been favoured with the communication of H however they may lament, they will enjoy the consciousness of deserving; but they were probably unprovided with adequate introductions, and will surely profit by the example of Mr. Yates, whose letters procured for him what, without them, he would have found his talents could not. Mrs. Aldridge has our congratulations on the very honourable triumph she achieved over the silly fellows near the stage-box on Wednesday; a victory not less creditable than complete, and complimentary alike to herself and the E. Printed, published, and sold, EVERY TUESDA manly part of the audience. July 14, 1823. OR, Literary and Scientific Mirror. Ca. Booksellers; E.Marl Burden-S. Brougham; borough, Newsvender; Bury-J. Kay; UTILE DUI CL." Nantwich-E. Jones; This anlar Miscellany, from which religious and political matters are excluded, contains a variety of original and selected Articles; comprehending Literature, Criticism, Men and Manners De-W. Hoon; Carlisle J. Jollie; No. 160.-NEW SERIES. Men and Manners. ON MATRIMONY. TO THE EDITOR. Lancaster-G. Bentham; Lichfield-Lomax; Manchester-Richardson & SII- Ormskirk-W. Garside: Penrith-J. Shaw; Prescot-A.Ducker; TUESDAY, JULY 22, 1823. married or single. My principal aim is to show that we do not throw them off by entering into this state, but that we bring them into more active operation; and therefore that we should be more solicitous in providing ourselves with partners who will not aggravate these natural and unavoidable sufferings, but join heart and hand in alleviating their poignancy, and averting as much as possible their untoward consequences. To do this, it is necessary 5IR,—This is a subject which will be pleasing to a great that the affection of the parties should be not less strong, ortion of your fair readers, and one which may be ren- than their confidence in each other firm and unsuspicious. lered generally useful and edifying. It is my intention They should be fully determined and prepared to say one to the other," When thou rejoicest, I will rejoice also; principally to confine my remarks to the reciprocal duties and when thou art in trouble and heaviness, I will also of husband and wife; and to this end it will be necessary participate in thy sorrow." It would be well, if the cono premise, that the due performance of these duties de-ditions of this holy ordinance were better recollected, and unds, in a great measure, upon the judgment, choice, ad discretion exercised and displayed by the parties, preiously to their entering into this state. of this sketch, bears very little resemblance to either of his The learned gentleman whose name stands at the head brethren of the judicial Bench already spoken of. He appears to possess more life and fire, with less self-control and equanimity of temper than Mr. Justice Bayley; and, with a capacity greatly superior, and a countenance much being so profound a lawyer as Mr. Justice Holroydmore intelligent and engaging, he is certainly far from Judging by his face, that speaking "index of the soul," we might take him to be a generous, well-meaning, sharpwitted gentleman, though somewhat superficial and testy withal; and every thing connected with his public life tends rather to confirm than overthrow this supposition. Perhaps the most expressive feature he can boast is the -- If a courtship has been carried on in a mere round of oying with and flattering each other; in a persuasion of other's possessing every good quality, approximating perfection; in a disregard to those sterling qualifications head and heart, necessary to buffet the billows of a tablestine world; and finally, with little or no attention the similarity of each other's disposition; I pronounce, ta marriage, resulting from such a courtship, is more ely to produce a jarring confederacy, than a complete and happy union. But if, on the other hand, the attacks * Capid have not been so boisterous and overwhelming 1 to blind the eye, and pervert the judgment; if the Ters have never lost sight of those imperfections which of the views and opinions of others. The mental inter-tered with a graceful fluency. His style is uncommonly this heir to, and which must alike attach to them as to Imankind; if they are persuaded that it is not the lack faults and blemishes that gave rise to their mutual keson, but the belief that the affinity of their natures tapositions will enable them, if not entirely to reWe, at least to cover each other's defects, and extenuate ith other's various failings; then the probability is, that joining together of two such persons in the holy bond wedlock will ensure to them happiness, to as great an ket as it is possible for mortals to enjoy.-How apt is youthful and foolish lover to mistake the nature and urance of this contract. Matrimony is not (as is too quently supposed) the consummation of bliss; it is the immediate realization of those manifold scenes of Mure and pain, hope and despair, ease and toil, which up the sum total of our lives, and which are the le characteristics of our probationary condition. Let it the supposed that the matrimonial state is one of pecuhardships; the only one in which these evils are Fly to arise. No; these are evils which are incident to Ivery being, and with which all must contend, whether 2 eye. It has nothing of the leaden, frigid fixedness of the optics of two-thirds of the professors of eloquence around him. There is something in its glance more impassioned, more indicative of taste, than is usually to be met with in our judicial courts. His voice is pleasing and flexible, and his delivery good. His observations are ut more rigidly adhered to. Before the altar of the living Much, very much might be said upon this interesting W. and native zeal should constitute the body and soul of his orations. His action is as unexceptionable as the matter of his addresses: it is that of a judicious and experienced speaker. Simplicity and ease are its prominent characteristics. him for a judge. He appears to have a much greater stock of that ingenuity and persuasiveness which are requisite to set forth the merits, or expose the demerits, of a cause, than of that patience and stretch of attention which are indispensible in sitting in judgment on conflicting statements. His quickness of perception, however, enables him speedily to form a correct judgment respecting the generality of cases that come before him, and to to do with impassioned utterance. It is a pity there is no POLITE LITERATURE. VERAX. detect the sophisms by which the learned counsel not un- [CONTINUED FROM OUR LAST.] largement of our views, the rectification of our judgin and the refinement of our intellectual taste constitut chief value; a value-not cognizable indeed, excep its possessors-yet as much superior to the former as rational and imperishable mind is pre-eminent above body. The man who pursues science only, or chiefly the sake of those beneficial results which she occasion affords, is not among her real votaries. He may b artist, but is not a philosopher; and for the highest provements of the arts themselves, he must still be inde to those, her more disinterested admirers, whose ardc vations, from the question which I have proposed to excited by the abstract charms which he disesteems. Nor let me be charged with digressing in these of science and of polite literature may be more clearly Icuss. The intimate connexion between the interest quent of the judges who have lately graced the Bench on old prejudices, discoverers of new systems, enlightening cerned, when we observe, that not only the same cha the Northern Circuit. Mr. Justice Best appears to commit to paper the evidence to which he is attending with great readiness. His memory does not appear to be one of the most retentive; perhaps a twinge of the gout, with which he is sadly annoyed, may sometimes contribute to disorder that faculty a little. However, this defect seldom betrays him into any very serious mistakes. By the help of a few extra references to his notes, he retains, to the conclusion of the trial, a and instructing the world. Such, with the brazen front ance. ters are hostile to both, but that the same principl argument, by which they attempt to decry the one, equally pointed against the other. No topic of decla than the question-cui bono? What is the USE, say tion is more frequently employed against classical learn of spending so much time and pains in learning deni guages? To what practical purpose can the knowl Nor let any of its friends imagine that they have no take of practical utility, is confined within the circ afterwards be turned? The narrow view. which these pretty clear insight into the matter he is investigating, is iminediately invaded, but one, perhaps, of which they, their objection equally tends to overturn the very for cause to be alarmed, because it is not their province which pecuniary advantages and corporeal enjoyments; and, in general, sums up with equal ability and impar- from unacquaintance with it, have overlooked the import- tions of science, and to bring back a dark night of u tiality. It is easy to discover, that in his barristerial days he has been expert at cross-examination. Whenever he several departments in the great commonwealth of litera-science is to be prosecuted no further than as it is ap We have already remarked, that between the tered barbarism. For let it be once established, has occasion to put an interrogatory, it is sure to be pithy ture there is such a community of interest, such a reci-ble to the purposes of common life, and the very and to the purpose. The learned Judge's gout will also enable us very charitably to account for the irritability smallest cannot be destroyed without danger to every procal dependance and mutual connexion, that even the principles of science will be soon forgotten. and peevish impetuosity in which he rather too much in- other. In time of peace from foreign foes, the competiThe man who would despise the demonstrative dulges. Mr. Justice Holroyd displays more magnanimity tions of its different members may but contribute to that lation of the velocity of light from the aberration in this respect. In another particular, however, Mr. Justice Best far surpasses his learned brother, and affords activity of diversified pursuit, which shall prove conducive fixed stars, unless he were assured that it might be to an example which the gentlemen of the long robe would to the general good: provided such a sovereign control to some practical use; the man who would suspen be maintained over their petty emulations, that no indivi- admiration of the splendid discoveries in modern do well to study and to imitate. He is eminently courte-duals shall be allowed to aggrandize themselves by the de-mistry till he should see that they afford some pre ous and forbearing towards the gentler sex. However unceremonious he may sometimes be to the lords of the results; the man who would prefer the discovery of for improving the colour of cloth, to that noble str creation," no excess of bodily suffering, nor even the most manifest provocations, ever cause him to offer the slightest ingenious speculation, which connects the phenom the solar spectrum with voltaic electricity;that m insult to a female, whatever may be her station in life, or a servile and a sordid mind: and it would be a de under whatever circumstances she may have entered the tion of literature to admit the justice of his princip court; and not only does he abstain from unnecessarily telling him that benefits, the most important, have a wounding their feelings himself, but he protects them to the utmost of his power, from the attacks of those who to society from scientific sources apparently the m mote. This reply, however confessedly true, woul have less gallantry and good sense. to abandon the intrinsic excellence of knowledge; seem to surrender the strong vantage ground, on her claims to our regard must ever stand-as distin ing man from the rest of the animal creation, and him in the scale of intellectual being. On that i nable ground we may always maintain the unvari nity and importance of universal literature and sci pression of their neighbours. But when any part of the There is a sentiment, which I am sorry to observe ob- It is certain that our habits gradually affect, more or less, the expression of the countenance and the tone of our opinions; and it would not be very difficult to distinguish, by means of these indications, the recluse from the individual who mingles with society, and the man whose intercourse has been exclusively with lawyers, from him whose social connections are diffused through the world at large. It may, therefore, be presumed, that, in private life, the subject of the present sketch travels further out of the bounds of his profession than is customary; for he seems to retain more of the general habits of mankind than I would be far from undervaluing the beneficial results is usual with lawyers of his standing, and to be in posses- of science, in improving the arts, and increasing the consion of a much more respectable stock of general informa-veniences, or even the luxuries, of civil life. I can smile tion than is usually to be traced in those who have gone at the excess of philosphic dignity in Archimedes, who through the routine of legal studies. felt as if he degraded mathematics in condescending to On the whole, as has been already intimated, Sir Wil-fabricate machines for his royal relative. I view with adliam Draper Best was much more conspicuous as a pleader, miration the advancement of navigation by the perfection than he is ever likely to be as a judge. Those particular of the lunar tables; the economizing of human labour by accomplishments which gave eclat to his character as a the invention of the steam-engine; and the various other Serjeant in the Court of Common Pleas, of which he is instances in which the triumphant discoveries of science said to have been one of the principal ornaments, are never have been extended from the study of the philosopher to called into exercise in his now more exalted station in the the palace of the king and the cottage of the peasant. Court of King's Bench. His peculiar talent was oratory; But I confess that I retain so much of the feelings of the his dominion was chiefly over the passions; and, in ad- old school, as to conceive that knowledge possesses still dressing a jury, he was uncommonly successful. Cool de- stronger claims on our estimation; that the improvement liberation, conscientious decision, and perspicuous cautions, of our fortunes, our habitations, our clothing, and our derive no assistance from glowing feelings, and have little food is not its highest recommendation; and that the en The keenest adversaries of the dead languages ar with strange inconsistency, warm advocates for I the living languages of foreign countries. A kn of French and Italian is reckoned a necessary p of female education. Yet few comparatively countries have actual occasion, in future life, e speak or write in French or in Italian; and stil after jabbering them in their youth for years, are speak or write in these languages with accura elegance. It must be supposed, therefore, that t advantage, which recommends them to these p useful education, is this;--that they introduce acquaintance with the writers and literary produ foreign countries. And I readily admit that th important object; while I lament that the class nental writers, most generally obtruded on our a ance, is of a description either worthless or pe But what judge of literary excellence will con productions of modern Europe with those stan composition, which the poets, orators, philosoph historians of ancient Greece and Rome afford as works are the great store-house, from which every thing characters of it (which are Roman letters, accented) and The people of Tonga believe that "there is no future A Scrap of Antiquity.-At a time when the custom of education. If education be conducted aright, it must commence at Avery early age. And if, at a still earlier age, that prepory control has been maintained over the child, Which is needful for subjecting it to discipline and habits attention, the subsequent course of instruction may ceed, not only without trenching at all upon youthful mjoyments, but so as to promote them considerably. Pur, indeed, would I be from abridging the exercise or Amusements of childhood. But no mistake can be greater dan the supposition, that absolute idleness promotes or Consistent with the true enjoyment of life, either in the or child. Few states are more wretched than the Fad of listless satiety, in which the mind, wearied of sure, preys upon itself, and knows not where to turn employment. If you should bring up a child for the e object of pleasurable existence, form in that child taly habits of submission to control, and of application [TO BE CONTINUED.] Chit Chat. By which it appears that the fingers on which annuli were A soldier, or doctor, to him was assigned the thumb; A married or diligent person, the fourth or ring finger; place there, Purdy (the successful jockey) would have An Irish travelling merchant, alias a pedler, asked an Young Members of Parliament.-Henry Lord Falkland being brought early into the House of Commons, a grave Senator objected to his youth, and said "he looked as if he had not sown his wild oats," The young Lord replied with great quickness, "Then I am come to the proper place, where there is a goose to pick them up. An Egotist.-A city dame who had taken up a modern novel to read aloud for the amusement of her gouty partner, who sat listening in his easy chair (between sleeping and waking) to the character of the hero of the tale, came at length to the following passage." Mr. who had many amiable qualities, was a great egotist. This appellative puzzled her; and she stopped to refer for an explanation. "Egotist; my dear, what is that? what is an egotist ?" "Oh!" replied the husband, proud of this appeal to his superior knowledge," an egotist is a lover of eggs." In the fifth year of the reign of Edward IV. an Act passed that every Englishman shall have an English bow of his own height, which is directed to be made of yew, wych, hazel, ash, or awburne (probably alder.) The next chapter also directs that butts shall be made in every township, which the inhabitants are obliged to shoot up and down every feast day, under the penalty of a halfpenny when they shall omit this exercise. In 1682 there was a most magnificent cavalcade and entertainment given by the Finsbury Archers, when they bestowed the titles of Duke of Shoreditch, Marquis of Islington, &c. upon the most deserving. Charles II. was present upon this occasion; but the day being rainy, he was obliged soon to leave the fields. Singular Resemblance.-Two Dromios.-John Ambrosius Bach, a German composer, and father of the celebrated musician, John Sebastian Bach, had a brother named John Christopher, also a musician, who so exceed, ingly resembled him, that even their own wives could only distinguish one from the other by the difference of dress! The brothers tenderly loved each other; their voices, dispositions, tastes, dislikes, even the style of their music were similar. If one sickened, the other also became ill; and they died within a short time of each other.-Lond. paper. ravages among the wheat crops in the south. Some farHessian Fly-This destructive insect is making great mers in Maryland, it is said, will not reap as much grain as they seeded.—American paper. and who occupied in so distinguished a manner the chair The famous Saunderson, although completely blind, of mathematics, in the University of Cambridge, being one day in a large company, remarked of a lady who had left the room, but whom he had never before met, nor even heard of, that she had very white teeth. The comvered this, for it happened to be true. "I have no reason,' pany were extremely anxious to learn how he had discosaid the Professor, to believe that the lady is a fool; and I can think of no other motive for her laughing inces santly, as she did, for a whole hour together." It has been said by an eminent writer on the arts, that to compose a church where every perfection of which the Gothic style is capable should be combined, he would choose the situation of Durham-the western front of Lincoln-the Lady's Chapel of Peterborough--the nave of Westminster-the towers of York-and the cloisters of Gloucester. A society of Arabian merchants is printing a large edition of the Koran at Cassan, to distribute among the Mahome tan tribes. Penmanship. An astonishing instance of industry and perseverance has just been produced by the exertions of Mr. Beedle, of Otter St. Mary, Devon, whose skill in minute penmanship has placed him far beyond the reach of competition. He has just executed another specimen, comprehending ninety-three thousand four hundred and eighty letters in a space of 34 inches by 34, exceeding his Health and Population.-The following table, given by former attempt within the same limits by many thousand Sir Gilbert Blane, who was indebted for it to Mr. Finlaiwhich are written without the slightest abbreviation: show the great improvement which has taken place in the letters. The following are the pieces he has chosen, and son, "one of the most able calculators of this age," will Goldsmith's Traveller, Deserted Village, Essay on Edu-laws of mortality between two periods; and the reader cation, Distresses of a Disabled Soldier, the Tale of Asem, will readily see, that if the table were calculated according Essay on Justice and Generosity, on the Irresolution of to the last census, the probabilities of life at the present Youth, on the Frailty of Man, on Friendship, on the period would be still greater. Genius of Love, and the national anthem of God save the King. In the central circle he has delineated Ottery writing. Though written without the aid of glasses, it requires microscopic powers to distinguish the characters. of the injury it has caused his sight, and the confidence Mr. Beedle will niake no further attempt, in consequence that what he has now done cannot be surpassed. end of Ceylon-M. Rask, a celebrated Danish tra-church, all the shades and lines of which form part of the it, who has recently returned to his country, was recked during his last voyage on the southern coast of eylon. He repaired to Colombo, and employed the time spent there in printing, in the Danish language, an yon the reading of Cingales and Pali; an essay which ld not have been printed any where but at Colombo, cause that is the only place in which the typographical tion: mracters employed in those two languages are to be und. The work at the same time affords a specimen of Indo-latin orthography, which M. Rask has invented the purpose of facilitating the comparison of the Orienlanguages with those of Europe; and which is so much ired at Ceylon, that they have already founded the At a barber's shop at Brentford, is the following inscrip SHAVIN DEPOTT. To all who has air or beards to crop I recommends my shavin shop I cuts the air on the newest plan Ages. Mean duration of So that the increase of Vitality Life, reckoning from is in the inverse ratio of 1693. 1789. 5 41.05 51.20 10 38.93 48.28 20 100 to 125 124 130 131 131 130 126 140 The increased salubrity of the community will readily account for the extraordinary increase of population within the last twenty years. The same circumstance will likewise show the immense advantages which all insuranceoffices must be deriving from the better order of things, and the impropriety of tables of several years' date being considered authority for the present general average of life |