1 personification of the love-sick Poly- Being on the subject of Handel's Mr. URBAN, J. CARTER. Nov. 10. Nthe subjects of some Memo labours of this elaborate Author renders it peculiarly desirable to English readers, to possess more accurate information respecting them, and th Author. Dr. William Lewis, of Kingston, whose History of the Materia Medica was first published in 1761, 4to. is also the Author of that very useful Work, The New Dispensatory, several times reprinted. bis bas Since the notice of Dr. John Harris, Author of the Lexicon Technicum, in the Memoranda above mentioned, the publick is favoured by Dr. Hut ton with some account of him in the new edition of his Mathematical and Philosophical Dictionary, where he is recorded among the eminent Matbematicians of his time; but it still remains desirable to ascertain the labours of this comprehensive writer, as a Divine and Antiquary, which may. shortly be expected in the Ninth Volume of the "Literary Anecdotes." In the mention made in that valuable Repository of literary information of the Athenian Letters," the edition published under the direction of Lord Hardwicke in two vols. 4to. 1798, is not noticed. This elegant edition is, embellished with portraits of Philip Charles Yorke, and is illustrated, with a map of Greece, and with twelve other engravings from antique busts of Hardwicke, and of the Hona the list of Authors of that cele brated Work, mentioned also in Nichols's Anecdotes, besides that of Mr. Henry Coventry, are to be added the names of Mrs. Catherine Talbot and Dr. Birch. Among the less conspicuous Engligh literary Characters of the last Century, it would be very desirable to obtain some information respect. ing the Authors of the following productions, appearing to possess a great. share of original merit; and whether any others are extant from the same Oranda and inquiries respecting hands? The Spleen: an Epistle to Mr. C. J. Jove and Semele. P. Dodsley's On Barclay's Apology for the Quakers; A. M. 406 Notices.-Bibliomania.- A. M. T. S. Boetius his Consolation of James Thomson, the Poet, died Aug. 37, 1748. Is James Thomson, one of the Members of the Society for the Encouragement of Learning, 1736, the Poet Thomson? or Author of the above-mentioned Translation? Yours, &c. RUSTICUS. I Nov. 1. Mr. URBAN, Nov. 15, Tis the remark of a sylvan Moralist, that those Cottagers are the most deserving who take the greatest pride in the embellishment of their, little plots of garden-ground; and in cities, where we cannot have recourse to the same criterion, I think it may be observed, that the most loyal subjects and the most peaceable citizens, will be found among such poor fami lies as show the greatest solicitude to maintain personal respectability in their attire. Those, who under an exterior of rags and indigence, eat and drink all the produce of their labour, will almost invariably, like the Suns Culottes of a neighbouring Country, be the loudest in their complaints of the times, the Laws, and the Government. 1 There are probably few Countries where the lower ranks are less dispos ed to obtrude their distresses on publie notice. It is reported of a late-illustrious Visitor, that he inquired during his residence among us, what was become of the poor people; thus strongly bearing testimony to the generally respectable appearance of the labouring class of the community. I have been much surprized that several months have elapsed without any further observations on the proposal of your Correspondent (p. 39 of your present volume) for establishing a BENEVOLENT CLOTHING SOCIETY. Mr. URBAN, CORDIALLY concur with Philo Lib. p. 303, in his reprehension of the modern Bibliomania, which now prevails. It has often occurred to me as a point worth consideration, whether the Act for the protection of Literary Property would extend to cases of this sort. For instance, supposing any public advantage could be derived by a re-publication of "Mr. Dibdin's Bibliomania," or " Mr. Savage's Treatise on Decorative Printing," after he has destroyed his blocks, as Mr. Dibdin did the plates In the absence of an abler advocate of his work, both of them having declared their intention Nortore print them, would the Court of Chancery in such a case, on the application of either of these individuals, grant an injunction to restrain any person, who might be disposed to run the risk of printing a second edition of The these Bibliomaniac Publications ?. Some of your learned readers will probably condescend to solve my doubts on this important question. spirit of the Law, whatever may be the words of it, certainly does not warrant this monopolizing system: for, it surely may be fairly contended, that Mr. Dibdin and Mr. Savage have, by their declaration not to re-print either of these Works, given up their right to the protection which the Legislature meant to afford to Literary Men, by the statute in question. MISANQUAC. allow me to suggest one material advantage in such a repository as is to abolish that pernicious traffick there recommended. It would tend the servants in large families, and carried on in the Metropolis, between those convenient persons who are always at hand to receive any species of property into their bags, under the ostensible pretext of buying old clothes. In addition to the excellent letter of B. S. I will only offer a hint, that Children's clothes could not be bestowed to more certain advantage than in the schools every where establishing by the NATIONAL SOCIETY. Yours, &c. HELEN. ***The observations of CLERICUS on the subject of the "Benevolent Clothing Society," shall appear in our next. Mr. יז Mr. URBAN, July 2. T has often occurred to me, that the denominations of the Officers of the Royal Navy, below the rank of Rear-Admiral, do not properly define the respective Rank of each. A Post Captain, although in rank a full Colonel, is merely styled Captain! A Commander (which, by the way, is a most ridiculous term, it being equally descriptive of the Commander of a Gravesend-boat, and of a Firstrate Man of War) is also called Captain, though he is a Major in rank! But a Lieutenant, although he actually ranks with a Captain in the Army, is never styled Captain! And at present below the Lieutenant there is no rank at all! Now here is an evil which has been loudly and justly complained of; and the following plau has suggested itself as an effectual remedy for this palpable incongruity. The Titles of Admiral, Vice-Admiral, and Rear-Admiral, are very appropriate, and should therefore remain attached to the several ranks as heretofore. The Brevet Officer, who acts as Rear-Admiral, and who is now styled Commodore, should be denominated a Brigadier-Admiral. The term Post-Captain (a no-meaning phrase) should be changed for op that of Commodore, which would be much more appropriate than what has been heretofore suggested; viz. the substitution of the title of NavyColonel for that of Post-Captain. The Post-Captain who is not of Three years standing, may be styled a Junior-Commodore. ,, The title of Commander should be superseded by that of Vice-Commodoré. A Lieutenant should become a Captain in name, as he is now in rank. The Naval Subaltern, who has passed his examination, after Six years' approved service, should be denominated a Lieutenant. A young man of Four years' standing and upwards, but who has not yet passed his examination, may still retain the name of Midshipman, if that of Ensign * be disapproved; or I believe I am correct in stating, that in the French Navy, there is a Junior-Officer answering to our Midshipman, who is styled "Ensigne de Vais seau." A Midshipman (as he is called) is at present degraded in rank, if indeed he may be supposed to hold any rank at all, below each of the WarrantOfficers; viz. the Gunner, Boatswain, and Carpenter · -men who certainly, however appropriate their conduct may be in their respective situations, are not so circumstanced by birth, education, or habits of life, as to justify their being considered a Midshipman's superior in rank! How would it be approved, Sir, were the Quarter-Musters of Dragoons to have the Cornets (many of whom are of the first families in the United Kingdom) placed under their command? And where is the difference in the two cases? A Quarter-Master of Dragoons is a Warrant-officer, of precisely the same origin and rank in life, as a Gunner, Boatswain, or Carpenter of a Man of War; and the Cornet, probably the brother of the young Sailor so degraded: If not so, yet may the Sailor nevertheless be sprung from a family inferior to none in the British dominions! There appears indeed no other method of accounting for all these things, but that they accord with the very many other circumstances, wherein the Soldier is placed so conspicuously, and so unwarrantably, before the Sailor, in the military Dramatis Persona of the State ! Yours, &c. SPECTATOR. dices, and the passions of those to whom it is supposed to be addressed. The hand-bill, a copy of which I send you on the other side, appears to me to be entitled to similar praise. I accidentally met with it the other day in a near Greenwich; and, if not inconsistent with the nature of your Miscellany, I shall be happy to Beevit inserted in a future Number. Yours, &c. SAUTERIENSIS. Who would enter for a Small Craft, when the Ship Leander, the finest and fastest-sailing Frigate in the World, with a good spar deck over head to keep you dry, warm, and comfortable; and a lower deck like a barn, where you may play at leap-frog when the hammocks are hung up: has room for 100. "active, smart Seámen, &c. This whacking, double-banked Frigate is fitting at Woolwich, to be flag-ship on the fine, healthy, full-bellied Halifax station, where you may get a bushel of potatoes for a shilling, a cod-fish for a biscuit, and a glass of boatswain's grog for twopence. The Officers' cabins are building on the main deck, to give every Tar a double birth below. Lots of leave on shore. Dancing and fiddling on board; and four pounds of tobacco served out every month. A few strapping fellows who would eat an Enemy alive, wanted for the Admiral's barge. Every good man is almost certain of being made a War#rant Officer, or getting a snug birth in Halifax Dock-yard. God save the King The Leander, and a full-bellied station!! Mr. URBAN, T. S. դրա July 31. PHILO-VITRUVIUS, Part 1, 484, has my thanks for his public spirit. 1 entreat him to persevere. The evidence of the Gentleman's Magazine, to which I have referred, is contained in your Volume for 1812, ii. P. 539, But in an article signed S. A. S. Westminster Bridge itself should be force the visited, to feel in their full disgust and the arise against the Artist who has dared to graft his sickly conceptions upon that noble, and, till then, uni form design. indignation on which Further, I shall only suggest to Philo-Vitruvius, th that he look into the secret history of the of Architect to the Bridge; and to appointment ascertain what proof of professional qualification is demanded from the candidates for the office. My strictures have been considered severe; but palliatives increase the disorder which I am anxious to arrest. Some good has been produced, for the carefully-finished model of the Athenian Doric Column," to the memory of English Admiral Nefson, is not so easy of access as formerly. Yours, &c. THE EDITOR OF THE REJECTED PICTURES. *** W. S. is informed, that I. S's Plan of Education will in due time be examined. But we advise such of our Friends as are anxious for the public notice of their Works, not to be too hasty in their expectations. They are not aware of the multiplicity of objects that engage our attention. EDIT. |