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MIDDLE LIFE.

To the Editor of the Literary Gazette. Sir. Though I profess to be only a respectable tradesman and an honest citizen, I hope you will not refuse to insert the following sketch of family grievances, that have occurred to me during the last month. My wife and daughters take in your journal regularly; and as they think very highly of every thing it contains, I wish through your medium to make my sentiments known to them.

At length, after the preparations being discussed till I was tired of hearing of them, the gala-day arrived; but a great omission had been made. My wife had forgot to mertion the dinner hour; ours was usually two o'clock, and I proposed that it should not be altered; however, to be on the safe side, half past two was agreed on; long before which we had all assembled in the best parlour in our best attire, to receive the visitors in proper style. Three o'clock struck and they had not yet arrived. I insisted that my wife had mistaken the day, and she herself began to think so too; we waited another half-hour, but still no one came. Every face in the room but my own looked blank, for I was the only one present that did not feel disappointment. My wife lamented her fish, fowls, &c. and I endeavoured I came to London about fifteen years ago, to comfort her by telling her how well we with a wife and young family, having no could enjoy her good things by ourselves; other prospects than what I might hope from but all would not do. Waiting longer we an unimpeached character and careful and all thought useless, so we soon sat down to industrious habits. I entered into trade, and an excellent dinner, which I was very well since that time, through perseverance and disposed to relish. I complimented my wife constant exertion, have continued to prosper. on her good dishes, and she shortly began to I owe my success too, in a great measure, brighten up. When the cloth was removed, to never having been above my business; to I took one of my little ones on each knee, to having been content to keep within my own partake of the grand desert; I congratulated sphere; not associating with those so much myself on seeing my family so comfortably above me, as to interfere with my own about me, and I filled a bumper to my wife's sober habits, and keeping equally clear of health, telling her how much of my happithose beneath me. In these sentiments, Iness I owed to her. This compliment quite have brought up my children; I have edu- restored her equanimity, and she had‍just cated my daughters well, but plainly, in filled one in return, when we heard a such a manner as rather to make them sen- thundering knock at the door; the glass sible wives than figurantes in a ball-room; dropped from her hand and was smashed in and my boys I have brought up to industry. pieces. We stared at each other, every one To do my wife justice, I have always had exclaiming, what shall be done! Why, what her co-operation; and for upwards of should be done my dear, said 1, but to tell twenty years, I never had occasion to repent the truth? Oh, not for the world! said my of my wedding-day; being of too managing wife; as you value me, do not say a word. a disposition was always her only fault: thus I After such a solemn appeal, I was of course have long been as happy a father and hus- silent. We had scarcely time to make a rush band as perhaps London affords. I am con- into the best parlour while the visitors were sidered to be a good man on the Royal coming up stairs. My daughters, who had Exchange, and a good man by my friends in not much occasion for rouge, were enanother sense of the word. My eldest deavouring to compose their scattered ringdaughter was to have been married at the lets, when the bride and her sister entered beginning of the year, to a respectable young the room, attired in the very height of the man who has long lived with me, and whom fashion, with flowers and silks and satins, I intended, then, to take into partnership. that formed a complete contrast to my wife and daughters' comparatively plain but neat appearance. They were followed by two of the most complete dandies I ever beheld, who were introduced to me as Mr. Fleming and his partner.

still has the same destination, though it Whenever this question shall be resolved,
bears the old insignificant title of Academy we may hope that the dispute between the
of Inscriptions and Belles-lettres, conferred classical and the romantic will end, and that
on it by Louis XIV., because it was espe- the latter will obtain the right of citizenship
cially charged to compose the pompous in-in France.
scriptions which were lavished on all the mo-
numents of his reign. What progress must
human intellect have made between the
reign of Louis XIV, and the establisment of
the French Republic, when the Academy of
Inscriptions, (where compliments were ma-
nufactured in Latin verse,) was converted
into a philosophic depot for every branch of
moral and political knowledge. The Aca-
demy of the Fine Arts, has also undergone
some modifications, since it has dropped the
title of the Class of the Fine Arts. It was
the wish of the Republican government, that
this class should combine representatives of
all the imitative arts. Thus it included not
only distinguished painters, sculptors, and
engravers, but also musical composers, and
actors. Some persons, however, suggested
that it was not proper to admit actors
among the members of the class, appa-
rently because they did not honour the dra-
matic art with a place among the fine arts;
and since that period, no actor has been
chosen a member of the class. The aca-
demy has not publicly stated its reasons for
this regulation; and it still remains to be ex-
plained, why a good tragic actor, who fre-
quently creates more than the author himself,
should not be styled an artist, as well as a
painter or sculptor, who do no more than an
actor; namely, copy nature or produce
ideal nature. An actor has been compared
to a practical musician, who merely plays an
instrument without the merit of composing
or inventing. This comparison, however,
though it may be correct with respect to
bad actors, is certainly unjust towards the
higher professors of the histrionic art;
and if the public have never been informed
why the dramatic art is excluded from the
Academy of the Fine Arts, it is probably
because no satisfactory reason can be ad-
duced for such a measure. In the French Aca-
demy, great pains have hitherto been taken,
to preserve what is styled classical taste in
poetry; the consequence is, that this classical
taste has produced no poets. German lite-
rature on the one hand, and Lord Byron on
the other, have introduced in France in a
contraband way, a taste for the romantic;
thus, all the partizans of our old literature
exclaim that good taste, the taste for the age
of Louis XIV. is visibly declining, and that
there will be an end to the purity of poetical
doctrine, if the encroachments of foreign
taste be not speedily opposed. Lord Byron,
in particular, has produced a kind of revolu-
tion here for a long period. No foreign
poet has been so much read, translated, and
imitated. Impartial persons know not what
to think of this dispute about classical and
romantic taste; and the French Academy, in
order to preserve a clear conscience, has pro-
posed as a subject for the prize of eloquence,
to determine what constitutes poetic genius,
and how it is to be recognized independently
of diversity of languages and forms of ver-
sification, and in every different style, from
the epopee to the apologue.

So things were situated, till about a month or six weeks ago, we received a formal announcement of the marriage of a country cousin of my wife, to a rich tradesman in St. James's-Street. After a family consultation, it was agreed that my wife and eldest girl should visit the bride and invite her to dinner. They accordingly went, though I must own, I did not much like the sound of St. James's Street; but I have always made a rule of never giving opposition to what did not appear unreasonable. The invitation was accepted, and from that hour I date my misfortunes.

My wife, who gave me a great account of her cousin's grandeur, said she was deternined to entertain her genteely, and to shew her that she was not superior to her city relations. I said nothing, though this desire to vie touched me with rather painful forebodings.

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The first compliments being over, the bride said she was afraid that they had come too soon; but," ," she continued, as I knew that you citizens are often early people, I was determined to err on the right side, so I insisted on Mr. Fleming getting ready to be here against four, though he said, it was the first time in his life that he had ever gone out to dinner before six." I anxiously waited for my wife's reply, who, as I feared, would not be outdone in gentility. She cntreated Mrs. Fleming not to be uneasy, but to consider herself as a relation and not as a stranger; and said, she had no doubt that we should have plenty of interesting conversation to occupy the two

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hours before dinner, which she was sorry have seen re-heated, to behold a parcel of thing; not only my hours, but my very would not be ready till past six. Before finikin dishes, of not one of which did I know meals are changed. In place of my snug Mrs. Fleming had time to reply, one of the the name; and my poor wife, who, when she tea and muffins at five o'clock, I am put off little girls about five years old, who had sat down, looked the picture of confusion, with biscuits and small slices of thin bread and overheard what was passing, ran up ex-I perceived to be in the same predicament. butter at seven; and instead of a comfortable claiming, "Shall we have another dinner, As well could she have repeated the Greek hot supper at nine, I am obliged to eat delímother?" Her mother reddened, but quickly alphabet, as the names of the messes on her cate sandwiches at eleven; even porter, the turned to Mrs Fleming, saying, "We always own table. Hence the most terrible piece of only drink that I relish, is excluded; so that make the children dine early you know." work arose about this dish and that dish, I, whose boast it was that I never spent a "Sure you and my father and we all dined and the dish at the side, and the dish in the night out of my own house, shall, if things go ek early; and to day we had such nice fruit, middle, and the dish at the corner, for the on at this rate, be forced to go to a coffeebecause the company did not come." What table was so crowded that it was scarcely house to get a comfortable meal. But to was to be done? my elder girls looked at possible to distinguish which dish was asked crown all, my eldest daughter has begun to each other and then at their mother. They for. Though our visitors put a bold face on look cold on her intended husband; for Mr. endeavoured to coax the child and turn her it, I believe they were as ignorant as our- Fleming's partner has paid her attention, attention; but she, accustomed to tell the selves on the subject. My son, who is a lad and I would almost as lieve follow her to truth, went on. "May I have some of the of some humour, got out of the scrape very her grave, as see her married to such a coxother dinner?" "My dear," said my wife to well, by calling the dishes by various French comb. Her poor lover is getting quite lowme, " "ring the bell for the servant to take names that came into his head. spirited and unfit for business; he continually the child to the nursery, for it is almost makes blunders in the accounts. In fact, her tea time." "Sure mother, we have no I am on the road to ruin. nursery," she replied, "and ar'n't we to have another dinner before tea?"-worse and worse. I do not know how it would have I ended, had not the servant come and taken the poor child away by force, who begged to the last to have some of the other dinner. It was some time before we all regained our at self possession. I perceived by the countenances of the strangers, that they saw through our ridiculous manoeuvres, and would laugh at us behind our backs. So much, thought I, for fashionable visitors.

er he

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At length dinner was blundered through, and the rest of the evening went off tolerably. The company remained till twelve o'clock; but my wife, afraid of being vulgar, did not mention supper, and at length they went away without being offered any refreshment at all. At parting, Mrs. Fleming returned the invitation for that day fortnight, which to my mortification was accepted without my ever being consulted.

A CITIZEN.

THE DRAMA. DRURY-LANE.-King Lear was played on Wednesday, and the principal character melodramatized by Mr. Booth. Mr. Cooper perWhen they were gone-" Well my dears," formed Edgar, a character which tells on the said I, to my wife and daughters, "I think stage, but which affords no scope for the we have seen enough of west-end company." exercise of either superior talent or sound "I am quite of another opinion," replied my judgment. It differed little from other perMy wife presently quitted the room to wife; "Mrs. Fleming is certainly a very gen-sonations which we have seen, and was demake preparations for dinner; but Mrs. teel woman, and my girls may learn a great cidedly inferior to the Poor Tom of Charles Fleming soon broke the dead pause that en-deal of polish from her, which they want." Kemble. Midas was the afterpiece, got up sued, by asking my son and daughters what My daughters agreed with their mother in in good style, Madame Vestris, sticking to the places of amusement they frequented most. eulogizing the bride and her sister, and it male parts, being the Apollo, Miss Smithson oth My daughters blushed, not knowing what to was vain for me to argue against them. I a handsome Venus, Munden a most ludicrous say; but she scarcely gave them time to thought it best to let them have their own Midas, and Harley rather a whimsical Pan. reply, before she went on most volubly. way, trusting that good sense would soon reWe go much oftener to the Opera than sume its sway. any where else, because Mr. Fleming has such a fine ear; for my own part, I prefer the drama; but Mr. Fleming does not think Covent Garden worth going to since Miss O'Neil left, and he thinks nothing of any other theatre." She then went through all the other places of amusement in rotation; and I was proud, and my son and daughters were ashamed, of scarcely having been at one of them. "Well, 'tis a strange thing to have always lived in London and never to have seen London. But I suppose it is because you reside in the city, so far from every thing of the kind. Mr. Fleming says, that he could not exist without amusement; and really, we feel quite full of the vapeurs noirs, as the French say, if we stay at home a whole evening."

The next morning at breakfast, a bill for ten pounds came from the pastry-cook's (a genteel dinner for nine having been sent in according to my wife's order); I showed it to her without making a single observation. She was heartily ashamed of it, and said such a thing should never occur again. I let this pass by, in the hope that it would have the effect of making her yield to me in return. But alas! even in the course of this day, I found my influence to be on the decline. Dinner, without my knowledge, was put off till four! I remonstrated, but in vain; too many voices were against me.

My daughters now occupied themselves from morning till night in making preparations for their intended visit. They had not a single gown fit to appear in; I was of Thus she talked on for near an hour, course called upon for money, which I gave making me heartily sick of her and her unwillingly for the first time in my life. fashion, and my poor daughters heartily At length the day arrived, and we all set vexed at being citizens. As for the gentle-out in a glass coach; we were punctual to men, they never condescended to say more the hour (six), but Mrs. Fleming and her than—“ sure”—“ indeed ”—“ very true," sister did not appear till near seven. At tea there was a large party; and such absurdity At length my wife returned to the parlour, and pretension I never before witnessed. and at about half-past six dinner was an-But to eut my story short, since that time, nounced. I certainly felt some curiosity to the reign of any family comfort has been see the dishes uncovered; but what was my completely over. My wife and daughters have astonishment, instead of the good substantial continued to inter-visit with Mrs. Fleming, dinner we had left, and which I expected to whom they endeavour to imitate in every

&c.

COVENT GARDEN.-Wallace.-The tragedy announced in our last was performed on Tuesday, and succeeded. The production of a mere boy (speaking with reference to the age of literary adolescency), and of a very young gentleman even in the common count of life, we cannot help considering this as a very signal example of early dramatic genius. We accordingly feel strongly prompted to be lavish in our praise; but the simple fact of a tragedy, capable of delighting thousands of all ranks, being written by an author in his teens, is a volume of eulogy; and we shall better discharge our duty to the public and to this promising individual, by describing simply its merits and its defects: the former will excite just applause; the latter may be of some use in the way of hints for the future, which precocious talent requires perhaps more than any other description of mental endowment.

The difficulty of constructing a sterling play is much augmented by the choice of a historical subject, in which personages famed in the annals of nations are brought as characters upon the stage. The more renowned they have been, the more generally have men formed in their imaginations a picture of them; and whenever a writer or actor fails to coincide with this beau ideal of the fancy, the critic sets it down as a departure from truth and reality, without entertaining the question of which is the true conception.

Act IV.-Scene I.

shall die unstained, or live dishonoured;
and after a dreadful struggle she tears and
tramples on the insidious offer. Wallace is A wild and romantic glen. Night, with the
then led off the stage for execution; she
starts from a swoon, reels to the side, and
witnesses the last stroke, which also breaks
her heart. The curtain falls.

In this respect the hero Wallace presents an
object pre-eminently challenging the utmost
skill of the dramatist. In legendary tale, in
the scroll of warlike achievements, in the
highest romance of enterprizing valour, in
the noblest records of patriotism, and in the
deepest wrongs of human fate, he has been
handed down to posterity in colours which no Such is the outline of this tragedy; whence
art can surpass: no invention can exceed the it will be seen that Helen is the Helen Mar
wonders of his adventures; no poetic report of Miss Porter; and in rejecting the proffered
can o'ertop the bravery of his exploits; no mercy, she does precisely what the Earl of
descriptive powers can add grace to the gal- Gloucester is made to do in the novel.
lantry of his bearing; no feeling homage can Donglas is a compound of the novellist's
exalt his devotion to his country, and no pa- Bothwell in the beginning, and her Sir Ed-
thos can increase the shame and horror of ward Bruce in the end. The scene of quar-
his death. Such a theme it was perilous for rel among the Chiefs, is drawn from the
a young pen to approach; but Mr. Walker same source; and the resemblance is through-
was fortunate in having the Wallace of his-out marked and particular. Even the lan-
tory softened down to his muse by the alter-guage, as we have observed, is frequently
ing hand of fiction. He has taken the prin- copied; thus for instance, in the novel,
cipal materials of his tragedy from Miss Helen exclaims, (vol. v. p. 224,) "And is
Jane Porter's very interesting novel of The there no hope? Ah, conduct me to this lawless
Scottish Chiefs. Here we had the same king! If tears, if a breaking heart can avail,
characters drawn, most of the incidents, and I will kneel before him; I will die before
even some of the language. Indeed the only him, only let Sir William Wallace live!"
variation of moment which we can recollect, which, we think, are almost the precise
is his giving the hero a wife in secret (the words Mrs. Bunn, the Helen of the play,
idea of which, by the way, is anticipated in utters under the same circumstances. In
the Agnes of Miss Holford's sweet poem, those parts which we presume are more dis-
Wallace, or the Fight of Falkirk), instead tinctly attributable to Mr. Walker, there is
of his dead love Marion, and the Helen, who an unaffected simplicity which merits warm
is united to him on the eve of his execution, approbation; for turgidity and bombast are
in Miss Porter's novel; and making her be-alnost the inseparable concomitants of youth-
loved by his friend Douglas and his foe Mon- ful composition. He nowhere offends; he
teith. Upon these data, Mr. W. has exerted has had the magnanimity to despise clap-
himself with much effect. He has composed traps, the sound judgment to avoid mawkish
several fine poetical passages; he has con- sentiment, and the discrimination to consult
ducted the plot regularly; he has contrived natural incident in marching on to his con-
a number of excellent dramatic situations; clusion. Were he a more mature candidate
and, commencing with the end of the third for the palm, we might condemn him in two or
act, he has wrought up the catastrophe with three points: but we will only commune with
extraordinary ability.
him as friendly advisers. In our opinion, he
The play begins with Edward's offers to would have done better to maintain a little
the Scotch, and their rejection by Wallace. more of the firmness, if not sternness, of
The dissentions among the Scottish leaders Wallace: Wallace ought to shed no tear.
are then exposed. Wallace entrusts the se- Commoner warriors of that age would have
cret of his marriage to the base Monteith, been ashamed of such weakness. Again, the
who himself aims at a union with Helen, effect of irony in his address to his associate
and who, to accomplish his object, leads leaders, is fine; but it is improper, and loses
Douglas, to whom she had been betrothed, its effect when repeated to the soldiers flying
to witness her affectionate parting interview from battle. Monteith appears to us to be
with Wallace, on the eve of his going to too refined, and too refining a traitor. These
battle with the English. This plot however were rude and barbarous times; brute force,
fails; for the brave and noble Douglas is and not nice manoeuvre, was the weapon to
convinced of the integrity of his friend, and destroy a rival; and even perfidy, when re-
sacrifices his own passion on the altar of his sorted to, was of a rough and rugged cast.
country. The Scotch, owing to the treachery Centuries after the time of Wallace, all the
of some of their leaders, are defeated, and machiavelism of all the nobles in Scotland
Wallace, with a few valiant followers, com- would not have furnished so perfect and
pelled to fly. Monteith is foiled by Douglas complete a designer as Monteith is here de-
in an attempt to carry off Helen; but at last lineated. But we will not dwell on these
succeeds in betraying Wallace to the enemy. slight specks on a performance which is so
The villain is however slain by Douglas in the honourable to its author. We will not even
very consummation of his wicked design: have the show of finding fault, under the
but the unfortunate captive is taken to Lon-name of advice, where we truly think so re-
don, and doomed to an ignominious death.
Helen and Douglas follow him; the former
supplicates the king for his pardon, which is
granted, on condition that he renounces his
country's cause, and swears allegiance to
Edward. The distracted wife brings these
terms as her lord is hurrying to the scaffold
To her he leaves the determination if he

murmurs of an approaching storm. Wallace discovered bareheaded, reclining against a rock.

Wal. It will not be-Slumber, thou too art
leagued
With an ungrateful country to forsake me!
(rising.)
Then, welcome storm and darkness!
Here methinks,

In this drear desert I should dwell alone;
And, with the Spirit of these mountains, share
His independence! Here, amid these wilds,
Whose earliest habitants, yon lofty pines,
High lift their bold heads to the liberal heavens,
And mock the tyrant blast!-'tis well; the

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markable a specimen of early genius is entitled to every species of encouragement from a liberal and a discerning public. With this we will hope to see the sapling a splendid tree: and are happy to have it in our power, by giving a specimen of his composition, to show on what grounds that hope is planted,

Wal.

Mark me!

Thou say'st these rocks are desolate-'tis true.
And dost thou wonder that a kindred gloom
Has still its charm?

Mont.

Wal.

This is no answer.

No?

Then I will speak thee plainer: this wide circus,
Where solitude hath girt her with a zone
Of rock on rock-these crags, whose mightier
spires

High tower to heaven-these rushing cataracts,
Are free-all free-even as the soul of Wallace!
They hold their rights, not at a despot's will,
But by primeval charter-unprofan'd,
Since the world was the air that blows on

Majestic monuments of untam'd nature,

them

Has ne'er been tainted by the breath of slavery—
The earth that holds them,

Has ne'er been blasted by the tyrant's tread!
'Tis here alone, dwells liberty!-and here,
Would I, apart from man, contemplate her!
Now, art thou answer'd?

We have left ourselves little room to speak of the performers. Macready was admirable in The Wallace. His stupor on discovering the baseness of Monteith, was almost the best thing we ever witnessed on the stage. His farewell to his native haunts was also exquisitely given; and all his final scenes towering above each other in dignity and pathos. The whole character raised him still one step higher in the estimation of an approving public. Mrs. Bunn also imparted much effect to Helen. Her voice is not tuneable, but her person is imposing, and her tragic powers great. The commanding figure of Mr. C. Keinble was displayed to much advantage in the noble Douglas ;

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nor was his acting less graceful than his form. Alternate boldness, manly feeling, grief, and despair, were pourtrayed with a beauty and accuracy, which left nothing to be wished. Mr. Abbott too deserved the meed of praise, for the ability with which he sustained an uneasy and disagreeable part. The value of such a performer can only be ascertained by beholding inferior talent in such characters as those which he so often renders respectable and effective. The minor Thanes were tolerable, and (to end this sad eventful history) Miss Foote, looking most bewitchingly pretty, spoke a smart epiloguc very cleverly.

VARIETIES.

A few days ago, a woodman, engaged in splitting timber for rail-posts, in the woods close by the lake at Haining, a seat of Mr. Pringle's, in Selkirkshire, discovered in the centre of a large wild cherry tree, a living bat, of a bright scarlet colour, which, through fear, he foolishly suffered to escape, being fully persuaded (with the characteristic superstition of the inhabitants of that part of the country) that it was a "being not of this world." The tree presents a small cavity in the centre, where the bat was inclosed, but is perfectly sound and solid on each side.Caledonian Mercury.

nine o'clock at night without a knowledge | lations from various languages,) has just an-
of the proper pass-word. The Comte denounced for publication, an abridgement of
Clermont, a French emigrant residing in the important work, "Asia, by Soao de Bar-
Dublin, had unluckily staid out one night ros," in the German language, under the
beyond the prescribed hour, and on en- title of "History of the Discoveries and
deavouring to get into the castle, where he Conquests of the Portuguese in the East,
slept, was stopped of course by the sentry, from the year 1415 to 1539," in five vols. 8vo.
who was inexorable. "Oh, sare," said the The learned translator has the whole work
66
Frenchman,
angry
you must let me in; ready in MS.; but has probably been in-
je suis-I am the Comte de Clermont." "Aduced by the fear of not meeting with
county Clare man!" replied the soldier-de-sufficient encouragement, to publish only a
vil a bit of me would care if you were a part of it.
county Kerry man, or even come out of the
heart of Tipperary like myself: clear my
post," continued he, repelling the count,
you will never see the county of Clare in
your days again."

66

or

METEOROLOGICAL JOURNAL.

NOVEMBER 1820.

Thursday, 9-Thermometer from 43 to 49.
Barometer from 30, 10 to 30, 12.
Wind N. E. 1, and 3.-Generally cloudy;
sunshine at times.

County of the Chimera.-A student, from
the south of Ireland, in the university of
Dublin, who was unfortunately, at the same
time, so idle as to stand in need of continual
prompting at examinations, and so deaf as to
be almost incapable of benefiting by it, was
once asked by his exaininer, "What was the
Chimæra?" He instantly cocked his ear to
catch a whisper from his neighbour, who,
vexed at seeing him so ignorant, said, rather
impatiently, "Why, 'tis a monster, man!"
The deaf scholar taking the prompt imper-cloudy; rain in the evening.
fectly, cried out with the utmost confidence,
The chimæra, sir, why sure every body
knows he is a Munster Man!"

Friday, 10-Thermometer from 40 to 49.

Barometer from 30, 16 to 30, 20. Wind N. N. E. 2. and §.-Generally cloudy. Saturday, 11-Thermometer from 40 to 48.

H. Harvey, of Wickham Skeith, Suffolk, states, through the Gentleman's Magazine,

Barometer from 30, 28 to 30, 39.
Sunday, 12-Thermometer from 34 to 41.
Wind N.E. -Clouds passing; clear at times.

Barometer from 30, 32 to 29, 97.
Wind W. b. N., and S. W. 2.-Generally
Monday, 13-Thermometer from 35 to 38.

Barometer from 29, 71 to 29, 85. Wind N. E. 2.- Generally cloudy, with a misling rain.

Rain fallen,125 of an inch.

It is whimsical to read the descriptions which the foreign journals give, not only of that he has prepared a model for direction- Tuesday, 14-Thermometer from 31 to 38.

our proceedings but of our persons; the following is one of their portraits:

If

Barometer from 29, 92 to 29, 95. Wind N. E. 2, and 3.-Generally cloudy, 10 minutes, at noon. with rain at times. A little snow for about

Rain fallen,15 of an inch.

Wednesday, 15-Thermometer from 31 to 43.

Barometer from 30, 07 to 30, 11. Wind N. E. and N. b. E. 2.-Generally clear; clouds passing at times.

Rain fallen ,075 of an inch.

On Friday the 24th, at 59 minutes, 17 setellite of Jupiter will emerge from an eclipse. conds after 7 o'clock, (clock time) the first SaEdmonton, Middlesex.

posts, with painted letters, giving light in such Mr. Brougham, attorney-general to the and retaining that property for several years. a manner as to be legible in the night time, Queen of England:-This acute, learned, and This is certainly a humane and useful inveneloquent advocate, who may perhaps in a tion; and it is to be regretted in this resfew years become Lord Chancellor, is a mean pect that the immense aggregate of hulooking figure, as lean as a broomstick, yellow, and fallen away, with a flat nose, a wide man inconveniency, disappointment, and mouth, and unpleasing contours; but he has the most simple expedients, is suffered suffering, occasioned by the neglect of large sparkling eyes which flash fire, and as to exist in a country like England. soon as he begins to speak his countenance we could take into one view all the evils is lighted up with a degree of animation, un-of a single year from the want of direction derstanding, and self-possession, the effect of which is not weakened by a bad habit (per- tion of having the names of places on the posts generally, and of the common precauhaps a nervous affection) of every moment road inscribed conspicuously upon some of stretching the nostrils, distorting the closed the houses, it would lead, we think, to the mouth on both sides, and at the same time universal adoption of both practices, and winking with the eyes. The charm of his conduce more materially than may at first be WINE AND WALNUTS omitted for one week in eloquence is irresistible to an unprejudiced supposed to the public comfort and benefit. person, and there is in his manner something which the English call gentlemanlike, by which he is very favourably distinguished from the violent fury of his colleague Mr. Denman, the Queen's solicitor-general, who with a terrible bass voice roars in the hall, at the same time thumping on the bar.

JOHN ADAMS.

Philosophical Journal recommends the fol-
Preservation of eggs.-The Edinburgh
lowing method for the preservation of eggs,
either for zoological or economical purposes:

Varnish them with gum arabic, and then imbed them in pounded charcoal. The gum Mr. Isaac Jacob, of Waterford, received readily removed by washing in water; and arabic is preferable to varnish, because it is a letter a short time ago, in the superscrip- the charcoal is essential for maintaining a tion of which the writer had the singular in-uniformity of temperature round the eggs, in genuity to avoid putting a single letter of transporting them through different climates. his correspondent's name, by directing to

Eyzek Gekup. This was clever cacography.-A fact.]

LITERARY NOTICES.

Irish Counties.-During the rebellion of 1798, Ireland was subject to the severe disci- GERMAN LITERATURE.-De Barros' Asia. pline of military law, and sentries were-M. D. W. Soltace, of Luneburg, in the placed in every important situation, with the kingdom of Hanover, (who has enriched strictest orders not to let any person pass after German literature with many excellent trans

The first snow this season.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

order to verify some dates, respecting which the memory of the ancient author was not absolutely precise. An anachronism touching Hogarth thus escaped him in an early chapter, and even thus in his last, the worthy old gentleman wrote We had not space this week for J. G. on the Lot"Seven Champions of England," instead of "Seven Champions of Christendom !”

tery; nor are we quite clear that, though humour-
ously treated, the subject falls within our plan.
W. M.'s letter is obliging. We hope no jesting of
our's will deter him from writing to us, nor herp
even one indifferent poet from taking the chance
of our opinion for an appearance in print. We
feel sincerely, that many poor beginnings have :
grown to a rich harvest; and are disposed to act
on this conviction.

Errata.-In our last No. Critique on Othello, 1.
6, for bed scenes, read best scenes. On Twelfth
Night. 1. 15 from the end, for Aubrey, read
Audrey:

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