FOR THE IRIS. ANECDOTES AND FATE OF GENIUS. IN a former number some observations were inserted on the "Fate of Genius," from which it seems to have been the writer's aim, to shew the causes of misfortune incident to learned men, and the effect different eras have had, in forwarding or discouraging their attempts to improve and enlighten their illiterate contemporaries; and, in a preceding number, “Zeno" has introduced some remarks upon their poverty, and given some names illustrative of his subject. It is not my intention to enter into any further discussion of what either of them has said, but to notice some additional anecdotes of genius, which, though they may be known to some readers, to others may be novel and interesting. It should be observed, that I have not entirely adhered to a relation of adversity, being unwilling to indulge too much in descriptions of human wretchedness; and as pleasure and amusement are governed by opposites, and not by one continued sameness, which would tend only to weary and fatigue us, I have intermixed anecdotes of the literati to whom fortune has been propitious, with those of others whose lives have been composed of bitterness and misery. Homer, the first poet and beggar of note, as Goldsmith designates him, amongst the ancients, was blind, and went about the states of Greece, and those adjoining, chaunting his rhapsodies to a throng of villagers collected around him, like a ballad-singer of the present day, but it is observed that his mouth was more frequently filled with verses than with bread. Plato banished his writings out of his commonwealth, as did also Socrates, because they did not esteem ordinary men competent readers of them. The witty and elegant Plautus, the comic poet, was, it is observed better off; for he had two trades, he was a poet for his diversion, and turned a hand-mill, as slave to a baker, in order to earn a subsistence. Hesiod could arrive at no higher fortune than tending flocks on mount Helicon. Sappho, the tender and love-sick Sappho, threw herself from a precipice into the sea, under an idea that if she escaped, it would cure her of an amorous propensity she entertained for Phaon, and perished. Simonides, the most pathetic writer of antiquity, prostituted his talents to serve great men's turus, for a small reward. Yet it is observed, that Hiero, King of Syracuse, got more by Simonides' acquaintance, than Simonides did by his. The answer he is mentioned as having given to this Prince, on his asking him who God was, is much celebrated. The poet desired a day to consider the question proposed to him; on the morrow he asked two days; and whenever he was called upon for his answer he doubled the time. The King, snrprised at this behaviour, demanded his reason for it. "It is," replied Simonides, "because the more I consider the question the more obscure it seems.' Quia quanto diutius considero tanto mihi res videtur obscnrior. He is celebrated for his memory, and SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1822. repeated long passages of Homer, sitting in the public theatre on a seat orected for him on the stage for that purpose. Esop was a slave, and a little ugly deformed fellow, of very uncomely countenance, having scarcely the figure of a man, and was for a very considerable time almost without the use of speech, One of his masters could not bear to see him, but beat him into the fields to be out of his sight. He was sold to Xanthus, a philosopher; who one day wishing to treat some of his friends, ordered Esop to provide the best things he could find in the market. Esop made a large provision of tongues, and desired the cook to serve them up with different sauces. When dinner came, the first and second course, the last service, and all the made dishes, were tongues. "Did I not order you," said Xanthus, in a violent passion, "to buy the best victuals the market afforded?" "And have I not obeyed your orders?" said Esop, "Is there any thing better than tongues? Is not the tongue the bond of civil society, the key of sciences, and the organ of truth and reason? By means of tongues cities are built, and governments established and administered; with that men instruct, persuade, and preside in assemblies: it is the instrument by which we acquit ourselves of the chief of all our duties, the praising and adoring the gods." Well then," replied Xanthus, thinking to catch him, 66 go to market again to-morrow, and buy me the worst things you can find; this same company will dine with me, and I have a mind to diversify my entertainment." Esop the next day provided nothing but the very same dishes; telling his master that the tongue was the very worst thing in the world. "It is," says he, "the instrument of all strife and contention, the fomenter of law-suits, and the source of divisions and wars; it is the organ of error, of lies, of calumny and blasphemy." His prototype, and distributor of his wit among the Romans, Phædrus, who, for elegance and simplicity, is unrivalled, was also doomed to slavery. Of the jolly bard, Anacreon, it is related, that Polycrates having presented him with several talents, he could not sleep for several successive nights for the thought of them, and returned them to his patrons saying, the value of the treasure was not worth the trouble and anxiety of keeping it. It is conjectured that he wrote his eighth ode on the occasion. Love and wine were to him as his being, and were enjoyed by him without restraint to a very late period of his existence. Untainted with avarice, and careless as to the occurrences and vicissitudes of life, he appears to have spent his days in one continued scene of voluptuous ease and conviviality. We are told that he was choked by a grape stone, but it is thought that this, his supposed end, is more emblematical of his disposition, than the real cause of his death. Socrates, whose morality and virtue were extolled to the highest, was purblind, long-legged, and hairy, and had much occasion for the patience, resignation, humility and meekness, he is described to have possessed in the extreme. At home he was subjected to the frowns and churlishness of a shrewish wife, one of whose greetings of him is so well known as not WEEKLY. PRICE 3 d. to need repetition, and whose name, Xantippe, is a bye word for an ill-tempered partner of a hen-pecked husband. Abroad he had to contend with the passions and jealousy of his countrymen; who, in return for the greatest gifts man can bestow upon his fellows, that is, treating their children as a father would his own family, pointing out to them the way to true enjoyment in this life, by punctually observing what is right and just, and teaching them to venerate their country, cruelly poisoned him. So fickle were they, that they afterwards put to death or banished most of his judges, for doing what they had urged them to. So blind is an infuriated multitude!* Scaliger said he never read the account of Socrates' death in Plato's Phadon, but he wept. Democritus was blind, withered, and ugly. Archilochus, the inventor of Iambic verse, was a satirist, severe and even cruel in the extreme. The tragical story of Lycambes is a striking proof of the power of his satire, and of the unrelenting nature of his disposition. Lycambes had promised him his daughter Neobule, in marriage; but an offer from a person of superior rank and fortune occurring in the interim, the father forgot the Poet, and presented the fair one to the wealthy suitor. Inflamed with indignation and revenge, the irritated bard dipped his pen in gall, and poured forth such a torrent of invective on the miserable Lycambes and his family, that in despair he committed suicide, and terminated his life by a halter; an example which, it is said, all his. daughters unhappily imitated, unable to support the defamation with which the disappointed Poet had overwhelmed them. Archilochus fell in battle, by the hand of Calondas, who immolated his own son to the manes of the Poet, to attone the vengeance of Apollo. Pindar, whose powers of harmony were matchless, our fair readers will be gratified to hear, was greatly indebted to the ladies, for he studied with Myrtis, who distinguished herself by her lyric poetry, and was afterwards under the tuition of the beautiful and accomplished Corinna, who five times snatched the victory from her pupil, in the public contests of Greece. Of Thespis it is related that, at the commencement of his career, Solon hindered him from acting his tragedies, thinking those feigned representations of no use, and having seen one, but disliking the manner of it, he forbade him to act any more. How forcibly do the sentiments of the late Dr. Franklin strike us, (if we refer them to assemblies of democracies) on reading accounts similar to the above, of the passions to which popular states are subject. ، We assemble Parliaments and Councils," says he, "to have the benefit of their collected wisdom, but we necessarily have, at the same time, the inconvenience of their collected passions, preju dices, and private interests. By the help of these, artful men overpower their wisdom, and dupe its possessors: and if we may judge by the acts, arrets, and edicts, all the world over, an assembly of wise meu is the greatest fool npon earth; and Montesquien, shewing their over-heated zeal, too great remissness, and too great violence, in their enterprizes, observes, in his laconic style, that "sometimes with a hundred thousand arms they overturu all before them, and sometimes with a hundred thousand feet they creep like insects." Eschylus exiled himself, through disgust, at being hockey recited Euripides was the son of a poor herb woman: when Thine be the fate of that same buskin'd bard, Aristophanes the celebrated Athenian comic poet, : nexions, for he declares that he was ashamed of his OBSERVATIONS Chingonga, a double bell, (a bell at each ex-island, launched it, and paddled in the utmost tremity of a semi-circular arch), the sound of haste to Maccatala. The following day at which is instantly recognized by females, who noon, a canoe being observed hovering along conceal themselves untill the object of their the north shore, I proceeded towards it in the terror is past. To complete this monstrous small boat, but as we approached, it slowly picture of human weakness, these princesses, retreated to the entrance of a small creek. in order to secure the success of the predatory Our pacific appearance at length induced it to excursions in which they are not unfrequently wait for us. A man stood on the prow, engaged, stand upon an elevated situation, speaking vociferously, and with much gesticuand cause the army to pass in review between lation. This was Boonzie himself.-He made their legs. I know several merchants ennobled a long harangue, in which he took care to by an alliance with these Amazons, of whose make himself known; and concluded by saytyranny they complain bitterly. Notwithstanding, that if I offered him any injury, Enzambi Empoongu would punish me. A present of beads, cloth, and brandy, dispelled his fears, and in return, he gave me a fine goat, and a bunch of plantains; and requested that his son, Chimpola, might accompany me on board. towards women. I am not aware that a similar custom prevails in the adjoining province of Chimfooka, or in any other part of the coast between Mayumba and the Congo. Priests. The Patriarch or High Priest, Boonzie, resides at Maccatala. His spiritual jurisdiction is very extensive, and his person is held so sacred, that no one, however high his rank, presumes to approach, or even address him, when admitted to his presence, until a sign is given, whereupon the obeisance paid him approaches to adoration. Every audience is accompanied by a present, valuable in proportion to the wealth of the person suing for patronage or redress; but as Boonzie is believed incapable of taking a bribe, he is solicited to inspect the present; and those articles he approves of, being tied loosely to the parcel, drop off whilst the attendants are retiring with it. None of the princes, to a considerable distance from Maccatala, consider themselves safe under the Patriarch's displeasure. There is therefore a constant resort to his residence ; and his office thus becomes a source of much On the Countries of Congo and Loango as emolument. By Mr. Maxwell, author of the Letters to Mungo Park, &c. a Maccatala abounds in beautiful and magnificent sylvan scenery, and is altogether happy rural scene of various view." The vil lages are built in the open cultivated spaces, with which the woods are interspersed; and are surrounded by plantations of cassava, Indian corn, plantains, peas, tobacco, &c. In one of these pleasing solitudes, resides Chinganga Boonzie, an inferior member of the priesthood. Ordeal Trial.-When any one is falsely accused of an atrocious crime, he can only prove his innocence by passing, unharmed, the ordeal trial of Cassah. This consists in swallowing a certain quantity of the cassah, which is administered by a person called Ganga Emcassah. Upon a day appointed, the accused makes his appearance, and on demanding to drink the cassah, the Ganga administers it in presence of a great concourse of people, who, arranging themselves in a circle around him, await with eagerness the effect of the poison. If it causes great sickness and stupefaction, he is pronounced guilty; but if it does not, or if The district of Maccatala is held sacred by it produces vomiting, he is immediately deall the neighbouring nations, and happy do clared innocent, presented with a mark of disthey esteem themselves who can get the bodies tinction upon the spot, and is ever after thought of their departed friends deposited in that hal-worthy of unreserved confidence. The atteslowed ground; an opportunity, of which tation of his innocence is merely a piece of those bordering on the river, never fail to calabash shell, about the size of a dollar, avail themselves. Canoes may be seen almost painted white, and fastened, by means of a every day at Embomma, going down the river string embracing the circumference of the to Maccatala with dead bodies. They are head, to the right temple. My friend, Captain always distinguished from other canoes, by J. V. Aubinais of Nantz, witnessed one of some particular mark of funeral solemnity. these trials: it was that of a woman accused Voombi quenda Maccatala! would the natives of infidelity to her husband. The moment she on board answer, when asked where these began to sicken and stagger, the spectators canoes were going. burst into the circle and dispatched her with The present Patriarch is about sixty years their knives and daggers, first cutting off her breasts. Such a custom is too savage to enof age, a dignified and venerable looking man, no way distinguished by his dress from the large upon; but it appears evident to me, that other chiefs. He was the first person with the fate of the unfortunate individual is deterwhom, in sailing up the river, I had an inter- mined beforehand, according to his wealth or view, and but for the sanctity of whose cha-power, and that when he does escape with imracter, (on which he laid great stress), I had punity, some less deleterious drug must have found it no easy matter to bring the natives to been substituted for the cassah. This poison a parley. Upon coming to anchor near Oyster is prepared from the bark of a tree; its colour Haven, we discovered four people upon Hope is a bright red; and the fracture of the bark Island, and being desirous of a conference, I presents a resinous appearance. sent the mate and four men in a small boat, them. The natives, as we could perceive from provided with trinkets, to distribute amongst the ship with our glasses, awaited unmoved, furled and exchanged for the oars; then, with the approach of the boat, until the sail was • We are indebted for this interesting article to Dr. Brew-great precipitation, they took a canoe upon ster's Philosophical Journal. Palm Tree. The palm is the most valuable yields a sweet nutritive oil; with its leaves the tree that grows in Africa. Besides wine, it natives thatch their houses; and with the small wiry threads that hang from its branches, they string their musical instruments; not to mention many other useful purposes it serves. It sometimes attains the height of 120 feet; but the stem, considering its great length, is slender. The branches fall off annually, and leave knobs like those of a cabbage stalk. The natives in this part of Africa are extravagantly fond of palm wine, which is very pleasant to the taste when first drawn from the tree; but until it has undergone fermentation they seldom drink it: then, although not so agreeable to an European palate, they relish it more highly; perhaps from the inebriating quality it has acquired. The wine is obtained by making an incision in the tender head of the tree, and collecting it in a calabash, into which it is conveyed by means of a small splinter of wood, communicating with the incision. The mouth of the calabash is lightly covered with dry grass, to keep off the swarms of flies and wasps. It is then left until such time as, from experience, it is known to be nearly full; when a man again ascends the tree with empty vessels at his belt, to replace the full ones, which he brings down in the same manner. This, notwithstanding the height of the tree, is easily accomplished. The climber provides himself with a tough woodbine hoop, the circumference of which embraces the tree and his body, but with so much space intervening, as permits him to lean back at arms-length from the tree, thus enabling him to fix his feet firmly against the knobs. In this way, by jerking the hoop upwards, he ascends very quickly. The wine is always extracted from the male tree; the female, which bears the nuts, being too valuable to use in that way. The nut is nearly of the size and figure of the walnut, Each tree produces three or four bunches. which are sometimes so large that a single cluster has been known to weigh above 100 pounds. (To be continued.) MANNERS AND CUSTOMS IN HOLLAND. I did not observe any one smoking in church, but in the streets and highways, all the men, and a few of the women, have their pipes constantly in their mouths. I have seen a little boy, about ten years of age, with a long black coat, silk breeches, his hands in the pockets of the same, silver shoe buckles, a tobacco pipe in his mouth, and the whole crowned by a huge three-cornered cocked hat, under which the youth did move with a gravity of demeanour becoming his great grandfather. The sight of any little girl of six or seven years old, attired in her Sunday's costume, is quite sufficient to excite one's laughter for a month. She moves within the massy folds of some apparently antiquated gown, and beneath the far-spreading brim of a prodigious straw bonnet, with the grave deportment of a woman of seventy years of age; and with this appearance every look and every gesture corresponds. Creatures strange taken for witches: such as (3) Fayries, Pigmies, a dwarfish race of mankind, Corpus animale primitùs immortale, non conditione corporis, sed beneficio conditoris. Cesset voluntas propria, non erit infernus. Confiteri impossibilia insanientis est. Confessor, a Martyr in Ballion, wanting only ye stamp Currenti cede furori. Contemplative life in Monks hath pride for its father During a short excursion in a Dutch stage coach, ca 2 x 2 MATHEMATICS. Solution of No. 14, by Mr. W. Wilson. and If we designate by b the interval between the luminous bodies, by the distance of one of them from the point in question, and, consequently, by ba that of the other from the same point; we shall have, by a well known property, when c is the intensity of the first luminous body at the distance a, and d the intensity of the second at the same distance, da2 which will represent the in(4-x,2' tensities of light at the point which is at the distance from the first luminous body, and at the distance ba from the second. Now the sum of these intensities, which we will represent by y, ought to be a minimum; we 2da2 dy 2ca2 shall then have, (0-2)3 3√√cxb 3√//c +3√d. dx Therefore, a = 23 = 0. 2 If the intensities are equal, c=d, then x= b. Solution of No. 15, by Tyro. First, the area of a circle whose diameter is 6 inches, is 28.27 inches. Hence, 231 28.278.17 the depth of the hole from the surface of the liquor. If AC be the radius of the sphere, and AD the radius of the hole, we shall have, by 47. Euc. 1 √AC2 AD2 DC, that is, in numbers, √144 9135 = 11.61, this substracted from 12, the radius of the sphere, gives .391 inch for the height of the segment cut off. Consequently 8.17 + .391 8.56 inches the depth from the surface of the sphere. POETRY. ΤΟ I gaze on the smiles that bewitchingly play, Tho' thy love-beaming eyes, dear Mary, may say, O, didst thou but know what the heart must endure, Yet though in thy bosom I ne'er have a place, TO A KISS. Soft child of love-thou balmy bliss, Yet go-for wherefore should I sigh? WOMAN. S. PYTHIAS. Through many a land and clime a ranger, A lonely, unprotected stranger, While steering thus my course precarious, Alive to ev'ry tender feeling, To deeds of mercy ever prone, Taints the free bounty of their heart; But cheerful aid at once impart. Form'd in benevolence of nature, Obliging, modest, gay, and mild, Her courteous looks, her words caressing, WOMAN'S the stranger's gen'ral blessing, Manchester, May 20, 1822. YBZNK. HEART'S EASE. There is a charming little flow'r, A charming flow'r it is ; The brightest gem in Flora's bow'r, I love to see the little thing, Open its sparkling eyes. Then bright and fresh with shining dew, With triple spots of various hue, This is the flow'r that I will wear, What is it called?- Heart's Ease. THE MILK-MAID AND THE BANKER. A Milk-maid with a very pretty face, Had a black Cow, the ugliest in the place, A beast as dangerous, too, as she was frightful, And so confirm'd a truant, that she bounded Which had, as usual, slipp'd it's anchor, "Are you from Acton, pretty lass?" he cried: "Yes," with a curtsey she replied. Why then you know the laundress, Sally Wrench?” "She is my cousin, Sir, and next-door neighbour." "That's lucky--I've a message for the wench, Which needs despatch, and you may save my labour. Give her this kiss, my dear, and say I sent it, But mind, you owe me one-I've only lent it." ADMIRAL Keppel. Admiral Keppel underwent a trial of court martial at Liverpool, on the score of having shown more prudence in a naval engagement than suited the party that opposed him, and which has been still more eclipsed by the brilliance of modern tactics. Burke assisted him on his trial, and he was honourably acquitted. After this acquittal the freedom of the city of London was presented to him in a box of Heart of Oak, and on the same day Rodney received the same compliment, in a box of GOLD. Rodney was at that time known to be a little embarrassed in his affairs, and the following epigram appeared on the occasion. Each favourite's defective part, For cautious Keppel wanted heart, MRS. BILLINGTON. The celebrated composer, Haydn, when in England, was frequently in her society: meeting her one day at Sir Joshua Reynolds', who had painted her as Saint Cecilia, listening to the angels, according to the common idea, Mrs. Billington shewed him the picture. It is like,' said Haydn, but I see a strange mistake.' Where?' said Reynolds, alive to the merits of his performance. You have,' replied Haydn, with graceful compliments, painted her listening to the angels; you ought to have painted the angels listening to her.' FILTERING MACHINES. The Parisians have an excellent mode of purifying the water of the Seine. It is put into what is called a fountain, which is a strong earthen jar, about four feet high, placed on a wooden pedestal; at the bottom there is gravel to the height of six or eight inches, which should be cleared annually. The fountain costs a guinea, and the waterman receives a trifle for filling it twice a week, which is generally sufficient for one family. The water thus filtered through the gravel becomes as pure as crystal, and is drawn off by a spout at the bottom of the fountain. This machine is not liable to the common accidents Some such and wear of the usual filtering stones. an apparatus is deserving the attention and adoption of the inhabitants of Manchester, where at present, clear and transparent water is so rare a commodity. Another simple and more expeditious mode of filteration is one which Dr. Lind has described. Let a barrel with its head knocked out, be about half filled with clear sand or gravel; place a much smaller barrel without either end, or any open cylinder, upright in the middle of it, and let this be almost filled with the same. If the foul water be poured into the small cylinder, it will rise up through the sand of the larger barrel, and appear pure in the space between the two. WHIMSICAL EPITAPH IN A COUNTRY CHURCH-YARD Reader, I've left this world, in which I had a world to do; Sweating and fretting to be rich, Just such a fool as you. ON A MISER. "Worth fifty thousand pounds," old Gripus died :'Tis well-for he was nothing worth beside! LITERARY NOTICES. A new volume of Poems, by Mr. James Montgomery, will appear this month, under the title of Songs of Zion." 66 The concluding volume of Sir Robert Ker Porter's Travels in Georgia, Persia, Babylonia, &c. will appear in a few days. Malpas, by the author of the Cavalier; Roche Blanc, by Miss A. M. Porter; The Refugees, by the author of Correction; and Tales of the Manor, by Mrs. Holland, are nearly ready for publication. Mr. Wordsworth's Guide to the Lakes will appear in a few days. The River Derwent, and other Poems, by W. B. Clarke, B. A. Jesus College, Cambridge, will appear WE called the other morning on our friend Miss ; we were ushered into the breakfast room, and, until the lady appeared, entertained ourselves with a survey of the various elegantia which ornamented her work table. Among others, a neatly bound MS. book attracted our attention, and without any consideration of what it might contain, we ventured to open it. Our own name immediately caught our eye, and a curiosity to discover in what manner we were connected with a lady's private devotions, induced us to acquaint ourselves with the contents of the book. Before we were interrupted, we had time to copy the whole of the manuscript in short-hand, and we now publish it for the entertainment of our readers. We hope our sweet friend will forgive the larceny of her secrets-every thing, but what is now presented to the world, will for ever be inviolate in our bosom. In compliment to her wonderful perseverance, we will call it THE BOOK OF A WEEK.. MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 1822.-Quite determined to begin my journal to-morrow. Mr. Tacit says, no woman has resolution to persist in one regularly for a week-convince him of the contrary. Entirely Mrs. Banck's fault I did not commence it with the new-year as I meant to have done; ordered my book for the first of January, and it was not sent home until the second; great disappointment to me; could not begin regularly as I intended, so felt myself careless about it-thought it would do any time-besides have had other things to engage me. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23.-Really could not begin yesterday. Mary Durnove called on me in the morning, and would oblige me to go with her to Mrs. Penlove's. Mrs. P- — would have no 'nay'I must join ber party to the Concert. Resolved about beginning to-morrow-must go into the Square this morning, I want some lace-we dine at Mr. Ruffle's-positive Mr. Tacit's wrong. THURSDAY, JANUARY 24.—I'm going to beginwonder how people keep journals-Anne Caton shewed me her's once-thought it was very formalshe fills it with poetry and stuff. I never tried to write poetry but once, when I wanted to compose a sonnet to the moon, that I might call it the crystal mirror where the sun is glass'd,' but could not think of any thing else to say-fancied that a pretty idea. Had The Pirate' sent me from Mrs. Mervyn's-she always keeps the books a day too long-just glanced it over-think I shan't like it-the names don't seem good. Mr. Winnow calls it a sea saw'-would not laugh at his pun-vexed him. A very genteel Concert to-night- Catalani sang better than on Tuesday -thought Mrs. Whimble looked wretched-never saw hair in such horrid taste-her feathers stuck up behind like a peacock's tail-thought she'd a fan in her head. Mr. Tacit asked me about the journal told him I had begun it-bet me a pair of gloves I did not continue it a week-determined to win them. Did not feel well all evening; fancied I must look deplorably; saw Jane Arnold eyeing me quite triumphantly; ran to the glass when I got home-frightened. her. absolutely dressed herself in her brother's clothes | man-a fine practical allegory of a modern husband; last night, and walked to Manchester and bought it somewhere for 2s. 6d. ; we set to and read it. Mr. Gracegrove dined with us-Mr. G— thinks himself uncommonly clever; wanted to talk with me about poetry-advised me to read Chaucer; thinks there are no good novels now-a-days-almost all of them licentious and impure; 'Clarissa Harlowe' is his favourite, and he recommended me to read Tom Jones.' I had read them both, and was ashamed to acknowledge it. Went to the Theatre this evening; Clara Fisher's benefit-never saw her before-astonished and pleased with the little prodigy; a full house-hate full houses-no room for the gentlemen to go about. Mr. Gracegrove bothering me all night about the beauties of Sheridan's Comedies-so very delicate and chaste; asked him what he thought of the screen-scene-heard him afterwards praising The Marriage of Figaro' and X Y Z.' to my Papa. We never look well at the Theatre owing to that horrid Gas; forgot my glass and was obliged to see without it. SATURDAY, JANUARY 26.-Finished the first volume of the Pirate;' wish I had read them all quite satiated with these Scotch Novels, and yet one feels obliged to know something about them. Can't tell what to say about this must find out what the wise ones think. Mr. Tacit called this morning; saw the Foscari' on the book stand, asked me if I had read it-told him 'no'-nor he; he had seen some extracts from Cain,' and he would never read another line of Lord Byron's; afraid he would talk about Don Juan'—I am sure I must look conscious if any body speak of it. Dined at the Moulton's; a very large party-Mrs. M-the vulgarest woman I know; she told that they had given 7s. 6d. a pound for the salmon; and asked Mr. Gurman if he would have a piece of the belly-sate by that brute Eatwell; never saw such a voracious monster-he snatches at every thing before him I was breaking some bread and he nearly stuck his fork into my hand, and then mumbled out an apology thought it was something slipped from his plate.' Mrs. Sayton observed, that the gentleman was eating turkey.' Very stupid in the drawing-room-Jane Moulton and I went up stairs; she shewed me her correspondence with Captain Epaulette-never heard such rubbish; Jane must be a simpleton-I'm sure the Captain thinks she is; I wonder her mother will permit such flirtation-the Captain quoted that line of Pope's, and waft a sigh from Indus to the Pole;' thought it doubly misapplied; first, the lady not at all frosty, and secondly, the Captain rather sighing towards Indus than otherwise. SUNDAY, JANUARY 27.-Very cold morning; put on two petticoats to keep me warm in church; wondered who that handsome fellow was with the Dakeneys-could'nt keep my eyes off him-afraid he must have noticed it; determined to speak to them after church-thought the Doctor uncommonly tedious; my Papa said it was an excellent sermoncould'nt tell any thing about it (here there was a considerable hiatus, and a memorandum in pencil to 'ask cousin Jane about the text and sermon; know she writes them for an exercise; think it right to have them in'- ..) went to the Dakeneys at the conclusion; that conceited Maria stuck close to the beau, and pestered him in the most outrageous manner--the man smiled impatiently at her tattle, and I saw him enquire who I was; my Papa called me to the carriage, and I was obliged to leave my curiosity unsatisfied-since heard it was Mr. Dacres, of Bath. Finished another volume of the Pirate' and read the Evening Lessons and Psalms. the other a beautiful set of pearls, much handsomer than those Mary Belton had at the last AssemblyI'll wear 'em next Thursday on purpose to mortify Mr. Tacit called, told him it was my birthday, asked him to write me some verses; the man sighed and looked melancholy; I suppose he was thinking of .. .. .. .. presently he picked up my tinsel bridegroom, and asked if it were my weddingday also; I told him, 'yes'-he said I was very regardless of my happy choice; I wanted to know whether a woman should be fond enough of her husband to eat him. My old aunt Catherine dined with us, and brought me Thomas á Kempis' for a gift, she had fitted it out with a most elaborate though well meant inscription, To my dear God-daughter and Niece this book, to shew her the way wherein her feet should find a path, and to mark out the imita tion wherewith she ought to be an imitator, is given on the twenty-third celebration of that day when she was born into the world, by me, who am her sponsorial mother unto the Church, and her affectionate aunt in the flesh.' It was accompanied with a store of good precepts, which I hope not wilfully to neglect. TUESDAY, JANUARY 29.-I get quite weary of my journalizing—but I will win Mr. Tacit's gloves; had a lazy fit this morning, obliged to send home the Pirate' unfinished. Persuaded my Mamma to go to the Theatre this evening-Miss Wensley played 'Juliet ;' what a happy creature Juliet must have been, married at fourteen, and in such a snug romantic way-I wish there were masquerades in Manchester; I should like to fall in love at a masquerade -there is no falling in love in Manchester. Courtship is a regular siege here; a man sits down before his mistress, attacks her with an artillery of presents and a light fire of billets doux-if this do not succeed, he turns the siege into a blockade, prevents all intercourse with the citadel, and never desists until she either surrender, or the siege is raised. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30.-Went to town. Several people in the Square-every body seems to wear plaids in some shape or other; can't endure them myself. Called on Mrs. Tristfull-found her as usual; sad rheumatic pains-shocking catarrh-could'nt possibly survive the winter; no, no, it was her last season; so dreadfully asthmatic, and the fog quite destroyed her. In the evening Papa would take us to the Panorama; Mr. Tacit, who dined with him, accompanied us. A very imposing exhibition; Papa compared it to a warping-mill-what a Cannonstreet notion. The conversation afterwards turned on shipwrecks. Mr. Tacit mentioned one very forcibly described in Don Juan;' asked me if I had ever seen it-told him a story-he offered to transcribe it for me; said he could lend me the book, but that he would not insult me by the proposal-looked as unconscious as I could; afraid I must have betrayed myself though. THURSDAY, JANUARY 31.-Now Mr. Tacit where are your gloves, I will wear them this evening. Don't quite like the new dress which Mrs. Taylor has sent me; something simpler wonld have suited me better-put it on however--and my pearls; lie down a few hours in the afternoon, and I shall look quite beautiful-and keep to the end of the night. Had a very pleasant evening-the gentlemen very agreeable and quite enow of them; danced the first quadrilles with Mr. Tacit, asked him for his glovestold him I had persevered for a week; he seemed quite astonished-asked what I had done, could not recollect any thing; read over the week's proceedings when I came home, and found I had not registered one profitable action which I had performedquite ashamed of myself-give over keeping a journal until I have something better to put in it. N. B.-Mrs. Tristfull at the Assembly. MONDAY, JANUARY 28.-My birth-day-twentythree years old; got up with some very serious thoughts on the occasion-in the breakfast room before any one else; opened the Piano-my Papa came down and interrupted me Hallo! girl, a sad despairing sort of ditty to strum on thy birth-day,' playing Nobody coming to marry me'-did'nt know I was. Papa We are seriously concerned for the prevalent sensent me two presents from Manchester, one a half-timents of disapprobation which exist towards our penny-worth of gilt gingerbread moulded like a performance; more especially as the reproach of it is. EXCUSATORY: |