ning downe and participating with the salt hills, tasts brackish at his fall into the valleyes, which are but two, and those very small, having their appellations from a lemmon tree above, and a ruined chappell placed beneath, built by the Spaniard, and delapidated by the Dutch. Their has been a village about it, lately depopulated from her inhiabitants, by command from the Spanish king, for that it became an vnlawfull magazine of seamen's treasure, in turning and returning out of both the Indies, whereby he lost both tribute and prerogative in apparant measure. Monuments of antique beings, nor other rarities, can be found here. You see all, if you view the ribs of an old carrick, and some broken pieces of her ordnance left their against the owner's good will or approbation: goats and hogs are the now dwellers, who multiply in great abundance, and (though unwillingly) affoord themselves to hungry and sea-beaten passagers: it has store of partrich and guinea-hens, ail which were brought thither by the honest Portugall, who now dare neither anchor there, nor owne their labours, lest the English, or Flemmings, question them. "The ile is very even and delightful above, and gives a large prospect into the ocean. Tis a saying with the sea-men, a man there has his choice, whether he will breake his heart going up, or his necke comming downe, either wish bestowing more jocundity then comfort: and here we left buried our honest captaine Andrew Evans." The closing section of the volume is devoted to A Discourse and Proofe that Madoc ap Owen Gwynedd first found out that Continent now called America." Having stated the proba bility, as well as various traditions, that the ancients were in some measure acquainted with the transatlantic world, Mr. Herbert repeats the celebrated passage in Seneca's Medea: Venient annis Secula seris, quibus Oceanus - Vltima Thule: following it with some lines, supposed prophetical, of Taliessin: by whose verses prince Madoc appears to have been induced to go upon his voyage of discovery. He is said to have left his country in the year 1170; and at last to have de scried land in the gulph of Mexico, "not farre from Florida." Ilaving effected a settlement, he returned to Wales, leaving a hundred and twenty persons behind him. Having engaged some more of his countrymen to accompany him, he is stated to have made a second voyage; and to have remained with his followers for the rest of their lives, in the New World. All intercourse having been broken off, and broils ensuing in their native country, they and their expedition are supposed to have been alike forgotten. On this story, it will be remembered, Mr. Southey has founded his poem. A "A Treatise of Religion and Learning, und of Religious and Learned Men. Consisting of Sir Books. The two first treating of Religion and Learning; the four last of Religious, or Learned Men, in an Alphabetical Order. Work seasonable for these Times,wherein Religion and Learning have so many Enemies." By Edward Leigh, Master of Arts, of Magdalen Hall, in Oxford. London [1656], fid. Of the different books of which this work is composed, the four last, it will be easily perceived, at the present day, must be the most interesting. We select from them a few anecdotes of wellknown characters. "R. Benjamin, a famous Jewish geographer. His Hebrew Itinerary is published, cum versione et notis Constantini L'Empereur.-Vide ejus Epist. Dedicat. "He was very skilfull in the Oriental tongues. Linguarum Orientalium callentissimus vir Thomas Bodlæus. Drus. Not. in Tetragram. He was the great founder of our famous Oxford library, which is therefore called Bibliotheca Bodleiana. He gave many Hebrew books to the library, and was imployed in many honourable embassies to the kings of France and Deminark, the lantgrave of Hesse, the duke of Brunswick, the states of Holland. "He gave for his arms three crowns, with this inscription, Quarta perennis erit." "Philip de Commines, knight, was born at Commines, a town in Flanders. "In his youth he served Charles, duke of Burgundy, and afterwards Lewis, the eleventh of that name, king of France, who imployed him in his weightiest and secretest affairs. The French tongue he spake perfectly and eloquently; the Italian, Dutch, and Spanish, reasonably well. "He hath written the history of France under Lewis XI., and Charles VIII. his sonne. "He was the spectator and actor of his history. "Nothing more grieved him, then that in his youth he was not trained up in the Latin tongue, which his misfortune he often bewailed. The emperour Charles V., and Francis I. king of France, made so great account of this history, that the emperour caried it continually about with him, and the king was much displeased with the publishing thereof. "He, in his history, dived so farre into, and writ so plainly of, the greatest affairs of state, that queen Catharine de Medicis used to say, that he had made as many hereticks in state-policy, as Luther had done in religion." for the accomplishment of that book he had read and perused over many old monuments of England."—Ascham's Torophilus, p. 23. "Josephus Judaicus clarissimus Judæorum Historicus. Ful. Miscel. 1. ii. c. 3. most learned in the Greek and Hebrew. "He is a diligent historian; yet since he wrote the antiquities of his own nation, with an intention to communicate them to others, he 'described them as stately as he could ; and when he thought the simplicity of the Scripture did not suffice to the commendation of things done among the Hebrews, he invented and added many things himself; therefore, in those things he is to be prudently read, lest he deceive the unwary reader. This fault, Luther, on Gen. 34, and Rivet, on Exod. 2. and Chamier and others, tax hin with.-Vide Cornel. a Lap. in Gen. xxix. and in Numb, c. îì. v, 34. "There was a Jew in latter times, who, out of the true Josephus translated into Latin by Ruffinus, (he himself understanding no Greek,) and Hegesyppus (or rather Ambrose) his Latine history of the destruction of Jerusalem, set out an Hebrew history under the false name of Joseph Ben-Gorion, whom he thought to be the same with Josephus the historian, for whom he would be taken. The epitome of this Hebrew history is entitled, Josiphon, whence the name of Josippus was taken up." "John Whitgift, archbishop of Canterbury. "He had an uncle called Robert Whitgift, abbot of the monastery of Wellow, in Lincolnshire, who, teaching divers young gentlemen, took like pains also with him. In which time, (as he was pleased often to remember,) he heard his uncle the abbot say, that they, and their religion, could not long continue, because, (said he) I have read the whole Scripture over and over, and could never finde therein, that our religion was founded by God. And for proof of his opinion, the abbot would alledge that saying of our Saviour, Matth. xv. 13. Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted out. "He never preached, but he first wrote his notes in Latine, and afterward kept them during his life. "There were several writings between him and Thomas Cartwright, about the ceremonies." Extracts I. Extracts from the Portfolio of a Man of Letters. MR. PITT'S PLAN OF REFORM. T O extinguish by purchase, on the voluntary surrender of those interested in them, thirty-six of the most decayed boroughs. II. To add, in consequence, seventytwo members to the county representation. III. In case of any future purchase to be made in like manner of any borough, beyond the thirty-six, either at present decayed, or which hereafter should become so, the right of representation of such borough to be transferred to the unrepresented large towns which should express a desire of exercising such right. IV. That copyholders be added to the county elective body. On these grounds, he moved to bring in a bill to amend the representation of the people in parliament. After a debate, the motion was negatived: Ayes 174 Noes 248 422 The quincunx arrangement of the Roman legions in battle, is most completely confirmed by a passage in the Georgics, where it is compared to the mode recommended of planting trees. Indeed, I fear this part of the Roman tactics, which made their ranks so easy th open and to unite, in every form of combination which the exigencies of battle might require, either for attack, for ral Majority against the motion 74; or above lying with accumulative progression of one sixth of the whole number. RHETORICAL ACCENTUATION. The analogy between musical and rhetorical tone or accentuation, has been beautifully illustrated in a late number. The same principle was recognised by antiquity; and is stated by Dionysius Halicarnassensis, a great critic and historian of the Augustan era, who, at the same time, observes on the coalescence both of the grave and acute tones in the circumflex. This is a circumstance which indeed depends on their nature; the circumflex vowels being formed by the coalescence of two short vowels, or a short and long vowel, and partaking of the tones of each. Our long vowels, particularly e, i, and o long, partake of this property very largely; the knowledge and use of which are of no little practical importance, particularly in music. Dionysius says, the melody of speech is measured very nearly by one interval, called the diapente; and is neither raised 'above three tones and a semi-tone to the acute, nor descends lower toward the grave yet notwithstanding, every particle of speech is not pronounced with the same tone; but some with the acute, some with the grave; and some have both MONTHLY MAG. No. 197. strength, or for retreat (facilis dividente in quacunque velis partes, facilis jungenti) has been too successfully adopted by our great opponent. Sancho blesses the man who invented sleep; I am for blessing those who invented the positive pleasures. And so thought Hortensio Lando, a physician of Milan, who flourished in the sixteenth century; and who published Un Catalogo degli Inventori delle cose che si mangiano, e delle bevande che oggidi s'usuno. This catalogue of the inventors of nice dishes has not been re-edited at the expense of any one corporation in christendom. Bengt Bergius the Swede, who published in the ensuing century on dainties, does not so much as quote the work of his predecessor; and yet the catalogue of the writers he does quote, exceeds forty pages. 2 I SACRED SACRED DRAMAS. A Jewish poet, named Ezechiel, says Grotius, wrote in Greek the first sacred dramas. PARACHUTES. The inventor of parachutes was John Baptist Dante, of Perugia, who used to make experiments on the art of flying by the side of lake Thrasimene, and who many times succeeded in sailing from a rock through the air to a considerable distance. After falling many times into the water, he attempted, on the marriage of count Bartolomeo Alviani, to exhibit his skill over land; and threw himself in a feathered garb, and with spreading wings, off the pinnacle of the church. But alas! his parachute lost its balance; he fell on hard ground, and broke his thigh. It was some triumph of science not to die on the spot. Pity excited interest in his behalf. He was invited to Venice as professor of mathematics, and died there at forty years of age. ACOLYTES. Were the acolytes in the temple of Jerusalem, called by the names of angels; so that, although the lads who officiated were changed, the same name remained to him who stood in the same place? How else can we account for such expressions, as that the Lord sitteth between the cherubim; that Michael stands at his right hand, Gabriel at his left, Uriel before him, and Raphael behind him? (See Basnage Histoire des Juifs, c. ix.) And in the false gospel, De Nativitate Maria, the writer of which knew, and intended to observe, the costume of the place and time, the Vir. gin is said to have been educated in the temple, and to have known the several angels by their faces. Virgo, quæ jum angelicos bene noverat vultus. LEMONS. Theophrastus, who studied under Plato and Aristotle, says of lemons (Hist. Plant. iv. c. 4.) that they were cultivated for their fragrance, not for their taste; that the peel was laid up with garments to preserve them from moths; and that the juice was administered by physicians to cure a bad breath. Virgil in his second Georgic, (v. 131.) describes agrecably the lemon-trce. Pliny mentions (lib. xii. c. 3.) the use of lemon-juice as an antidote; but says that the fruit, from its austere taste, was not eaten. Plutarch, who flourished within a generation of Pliny, witnessed the introduction of lemons at the Roman tables: Juba, king of Mauritania, was the first who exhibited them at his dinners, (Sce Casaubon's Animadversions on the Deipnosophists of Athenæus, p. 163.) And Athenæus introduces Democritus, (Athen. 1. c. p. 63.) as not wondering that old people made wry mouths at the taste of lemons; for, adds he, in my grandfather's time, they were never set upon table. And to this day the Chinese, who grow the fruit, do not apply it (Prevost, vol. vi. p. 455,) to culinary purposes. The great use of lemons began with the introduction of sugar, which is said to have resulted from the conquest of Sicily by the Arabs in the ninth century. Sestini, in his letters from Sicily and Turkey, (liv. ii. p. 181), thinks, that the best sorts of lemon, and the best sorts of sherbet, were derived from Florence by the Sicilians. Probably Rome couti nued, even in the dark ages, to be the chief seat of luxury and refinement; and had domesticated the art of making lemonade, before either Messina or Florence. In Madagascar (Flacourt, p. 42) slices of lemon are broiled, and eaten with salt. Pomet (Histoire generale des drogues, vol. i. p. 266,) gives the preference over all others to the lemons of Madeira. But, according to Ferrarius, there grows at the Cape a sweet lemon, to which he gives the name Incomparabilis. EFFICACY OF A PUN. A member of parliament having brought in a bill that required an amendment, which was denied him by the house, he frequently repeated "that he thirsted to mend his bill." At length another member arose and adressed the speaker, humbly moving "that as the honourable member who spoke last thirsted so very much, he might be allowed to mend his draught." This put the house into good humour, and his petition was granted. ORIGINAL ON ELIZA HILL, OF BOSTON, K. A BEAUTIFUL CHILD, WHO DIED SUD DENLY, AT ΤΗΣ AGE OF ELEVEN YEARS. BENEATH a father's watchful eye, A mother's fost'ring care, Eliza, in the bloom of youth, Shone fairest of the fair. The playful kid, that lightly bounds, And vaults in airy space, Could not more innocence display, Or fascinating grace. Her heavenly features, sylphid form, Her virtues, op'ning into day, Death, in his silent, sad career, Beheld this beauteous prize: "Art thou a child of earth," he cried, "Or daughter of the skies?" Unseen, he stretch'd his icy hand, And wav'd it o'er her head; Then gently smote-but at his touch The vital spirit fled. (Just so the early blossom fades, When Winter's ling'ring pace Checks the impatient step of spring, Benumb'd in his embrace.) Death stood amaz'd: and ah! too late, Would have recall'd the stroke: But Death himself was powerless here, Nor could the deed revoke. "And wast thou, then, of mortal clay, And cast in human mould ?” The pallid parent's anguish'd shriek The truth too plainly told.* The father, on coming down stairs, found is child lifeless at the foot of the staircase, AN IRREGULAR DESCRIPTIVE ODE, BY this huge crag of granite high, I gaze upon the evening sky; I mark the circling waters wide: Nature, that for ever shines Transcendent in august simplicity, Now in all her grace reclines Upon the bosom of the sea: And to complete the magic sight Of forms divine, and colours bright, The radiant clouds around her head A fair and glowing mantle spread; Whilst the young waves, with light'ning glance, O'er their sleeping parents dance; And from the stream, In fancy's dream, (Where, mid heaven's concentred ray, Each object waking new delight; Far as the eye can trace, To this inhospitable shore, (Whose rocks and fearful caverns roar, With undiverted course they throng, Again they seek the main, And plunge into the depth of night pro found. Upon the utmost verge of ocean, A homeward-destin'd bark appears; Tho' sailing fast, so slow its motion, It emblems lite's departing years: What transport in yon vessel dwells, Whilst, gazing on his native shore, The seaman's anxious bosom swells, With ecstasies unknown before! Exultant now he waves his hand; He bids the friendly gale arise, That he has ever call'd the pride |