The Ormus' mines-and, from those Summer Isles, That lift their green heads up i' the Indian seas, Rare fruits and perfumes, such as we, who dwell In orange bowers, ne'er heard of. ANG. But you disbelieved the story PROSP. I knew it to be trueANG. My lord, you jest, sure PROSP. -'Tis true as that I stand Whom mighty Spirits from the mid air-beings And may, if but I will, bind in the winds: X. Y. Z. The Women, alarm'd, say this never will suit, For they very well know that all fishes are mute; Yet, soothed with the thoughts of the gay coral groves, Where, as fishes, they still expect graces and loves, Giving scope to their fancies, our sweet pretty Belles Talk of seeking for pearls as they grow in their shells: While the young romping Misses are all much afraid Of passing their time as a Dab or a Maid. Conjecture goes on in this aqueous round, And shows, in its course, where each class may be found: We congratulate our readers that the fair weather of the last ten days relieves the aquatic apprehensions excited by our humorous Correspondent, whose epistle should have appeared last week.-Ed. Our Soldiers are Lobsters, from time out of mind; In the tide of his stomach, as food down his throat; And as the poor herrings were made to be eaten, His slaves, like the Stock-fish, are made to be beaten. Here the Critics as Crabs, still perverse in their gait; While the Players and Wits are as Grigs in this state; The Writers of Prose, Salmon, Haddock, and But as to the Poet, the Poet's an odd fish, But were the relation of all to be penn'd, But the Ocean of thought is so vast and so wide, ROMANCE FROM THE SPANISH. En las torres de la Alhambra, &c. R. Historia de las Guerras de Granada. Edit. Barc. p. 328. From th' Alhambra's walls and towers And Granada's warlike sons Were seen to hide their heads, and weepBecause the King had in one day Unreasonably doom'd to die Abencerrages thirty-six, All of blood and valour highWhom Zegries and Gomeles Of treason to the King accus'd— Which act such universal grief In Granada's town infus'd. No wonder that such Chieftains, dead, Deplor'd their cruel taking off, Lady of high rank was none That did not in weeds appear; But no sable garb of woe If any cast his mourning suit, And hot with tyrant's hate, they dart; There they find the cruel King, There they smite him to the heart.* *The above romance commemorates the execution of thirty-six of the Abencerrages by the Moorish King Mulahacen. It appears that the Zegries and Gomeles, two Moorish families, accused them falsely of treason; and that the Gazules and Alabezes, other Moorish families, avenged them, by slaying the tyrant in the Court of Lions, in the Alhambra. MY COTTAGE. On a mountain's Southern side, Every worldly care forgot. Widely devious then I'll stray, Now the mountain's height I'll scale, Pleasing rovings--but alone, Oh! how shortly they will cloy; Shall I then thy absence mournWill not Emma share my joy? Happy then, when she is near, I will form the grot and bower, For her spread the gay parterre, Rich with every choicest flower. Never wearied, then I'll tend Every tree that she approves; Heavy laden boughs shall bend With the fruit that Emma loves. Or aloft on rapid wing, When at morn the Lark shall soar; Or at eve, when anthems ring From the happy woodland choir; Lost in converse, with her stray; Or, with book on mossy seat, List delighted to the lay, Pour'd around, of woodnotes sweet, Where the violets' lowly beds Balmy fragrance wide dispense; Where the lilies lift their heads, Emblems of her innocence; Where the honeysuckles bloom, Where the humble jasmines creep, Where the lilacs shed perfume, Proudly nodding o'er the steep, From whose cloud-encircled head, Far and wide, the enraptured eye May behold the prospect spread, Till it joins the distant sky O then, Emma! lovely fair! Thou in whom all charms combine! Spring's luxuriance come and share, Summer's fruit, and Autumn's vine. And when Winter war shall wage, Short'ning day, and length'ning night, Shelter'd from its stormy rage, Still our Cot shall yield delight. Suff' ring Cotters then shall know Misery shall heave her sigh; Poverty shall tell her tale; And thy ready sympathy To relieve shall never fail. Round the faggot's evening blaze Hoary Age the hours beguile. Come, thou Fair, with Pity's eye! Share with me these scenes of joy, BIOGRAPHY. JOHN GIFFORD, Esq. the government of his native isle, which has so long been the envy of the world. Mr. Gifford was principally educated at Repton, under the late Dr. Prior, to whose care he was consigned by his grandfather, his father dying when he was only a few months old. He was afterwards sent to Oxford, where his mind, naturally vigorous, was much augmented in its powers, and much enlarged in its capacities, by the very ample range which his studies embraced in that renowned seat of academical learning. He inherited a very large patrimonial estate, but his grandfather dying in 1772, when he himself was only 14 years of age, his property was left in the hands of guardians during his minority. Mr. Gifford was intended for the bar, and the liberal nature of his studies, together with the strong bent of his natural genius, eminently qualified him for obtaining the highest honours in that noble profession, which his father had embraced before him; but, although in 1781 he took chambers in Lincoln's-Inn, he was diverted, soon after, from the continued and regular prosecution of his professional pursuits, by circumstances of a private and domestic nature, which it is inmaterial to detail, but which, in a short time, operating on his ardent and susceptible mind, determined him upon returning to France, where those high powers with which he was gifted were still further matured, and where, profiting alike from the conversations of the learned, and the cultivation of letters, his character assumed that commanding energy which distinguished him so much amongst his contemporaries. During his residence there he was introduced to the British AmJ. A.bassador, in whose more immediate circle he continued to move for several years. His society was courted by the highest and most enlightened circles; and many and lasting were the tributes of respect and attachment he afterwards received from those Nobles, who saw the work of destruction which the blind policy of their government was preparing for their devoted country, and which their talents and influence were not sufficient to prevent. It was here, in England, under the agis of true liberty, that they had time to deplore those fatal councils, and that want of firmness, which drove them from their native land, and reduced them from power and affluence to indigence and misery. Many an able article on the previously un It has been frequently observed, that the lives of literary men are enlivened by few incidents, and therefore seldom afford any great scope for biographical remark; for, variety of action is not to be expected in the closet, or in the privacy of study: a simple narrative, therefore, of their writings and opinions, is all that we can hope to find in their history. The subject of this our that Mr. Gifford next appeared in the field of literature, by publishing his elaborate and truly legitimate History of France. It appeared in the year 1792; and it is not a little surprising, that till that period we had no authentic history of a country for so many centuries regarded as natural enemy-a sentiment which it is earnestly to be hoped will henceforth give way to the more liberal feelings of the present age, and that France and England will, for the future, appear only as rivals in diffusing amongst mankind the arts and blessings of peace and humanity. The principles of the Jacobin Club having found their way into this country, he published a Plain Address to the common sense of the People of England; being an exposure of Paine's Life and Writings” (1792.) On the breaking out of the war in 1794, Mr. Gifford's abilities took a more active and ample range; and his sound principles, historical and constitutional knowledge, and vigorous style, displayed at once, to the admiration of thousands, the true friend of his King and Country, and the consummate politician. His next work was An Address to the Members of the Loyal Associations." This most interesting publication first appeared, we believe, in the year 1796. We have before us the ninth edition, published by Longman, in 1798. It was reprinted ten different times, and we have been credibly informed that upwards of 100,000 copies were circulated! The effect it must have produced may easily be conceived. Having obtained a high reputation as an author, he continued to write with much celebrity. In 1795 he published a " Letter to the Earl of Lauderdale," in answer to a Pamphlet of his Lordship on the Finance Measures of the Administration. This went through several editions: it consisted of 144 closely printed pages, and was constantly republished till the year 1800. a In the Shortly after appeared his Description of residence in France during the years 1792 and 1795, in a series of letters. following year he published the "Bunditti Unmasked, or Historical Memoirs of the Present Times." memoir forms an exception to this obser-known causes of their misfortunes, pro-wards Lord Chancellor, having in a letter vation on the general tenor of the lives of literary men, for Mr. Gifford's embraced a very wide and variegated field, chiefly in the character of a political writer and an active magistrate. In the introduction of this gentleman to the notice of our readers, we bring forward a man not more distinguished by the eminence of his learning and talents, than by the goodness of his heart. At a time when the kingdom was so seriously divided with anarchy, republicanism, and treason, he most zealously aided those whose opinions and principles were truly loyal and constitutional, displaying his talents in developing and counteracting the plans and macinations of levellers against ceeded from the pens of those noble exiles, and appeared in a work alone sufficient to immortalize the name of Gifford! It was as the historian of his own country that Mr. Gifford first put forth his claims as a public writer; the History of England, which bears his name, came down only to the reign of Elizabeth. The death of his publisher intervened before the completion of the work, and it is to be regretted that that circumstance should have put an end to his labours in a field where his talents had such ample scope for their display. The violence of the French revolution obliged him to return to England. It was shortly after his return from the Continent About this time, public opinion was much divided upon the propriety of the contest. The Hon. Thomas Erskine, afterexpressed his sentiments in direct opposition to the views of the then ministry, on the causes and consequences of the war, was answered by Mr. Gifford, which is the most important of all his pamphlets, and is entitled an "Answer to Lord (then Mr.) Erskine's Causes and Consequences of the War with France," which had an unprecedented circulation, and was deemed by many competent judges little inferior to the best productions of the celebrated Burke. With this valuable and important publication, every prediction in which the author had the happiness to live to see verified, Mr. Gifford, we are informed, closed his career as a writer of detached political wife, a most amiable and accomplished of which is now a just subject of exultation point round which the loyal and the good night with confidence assemble." Though many have been the times when he has exposed his person to quell the turbulence of the disaffected disturbers of the public peace, yet at the riots in Piccadilly, in the spring of 1810, he acted a more than never been publicly mentioned, it would usually conspicuous part, which, as it has now be useless to detail. But there is one He married, secondly, Miss Georgiana Gullifer, second daughter of the late Walter whom he has left seven children to deplore Gullifer, Esq. of Witham, Essex, and by his irreparable loss. In private life he was distinguished by the most ardent conjugal point more recently connected with the and paternal affection, and by the warmth discharge of his public duties as a magiand steadiness of his friendships. As a strate, so important from its merits and its public character, his loss will be deeply consequences, that it would almost be unregretted by all who have the true interests just to his memory, in any sketch of his of society at heart. He was a firm and life, to omit the mention of it; we mean strenuous supporter of the genuine prin- the active part which he displayed in deciples of the constitution in church and feating the wicked attack on the sacred curred with his real patriotism to render Regent, at a time when he was fulfilling state. The independence of his mind conperson of His Royal Highness the Prince him superior to the influence of political one of the highest functions of his royal attachments, and in his views of men and office. Had it not been for the timely aid measures he was governed solely by his so- which Mr. Gifford with great intrepidity Gifford confined his attention solely to the licitude for the public good. As a magi- afforded to the posse comitatus, on that day, work, there can be no doubt that it would strate, he was characterised by sagacity and the atrocious plans of the disaffected in the have had an extensive circulation, and penetration, by activity and promptitude, Park would, there is strong reason to bethat he would have realized by it a splendid while, by his energy, decision, and intre-lieve, have been carried into entire effect. fortune, the just reward of his talents, inde-pidity, he was eminently fitted for the The longer Mr. Gifford lived, the more did magisterial station in disturbed and perilous public business accumulate upon him, parpendence, and perseverance; but in the year 1800, he was so unfortunate as to be times. In a word, by the death of Mr. ticularly in his own populous district, where honoured by the late Duke of Portland, Gifford, the King has lost a most loyal the weight of his authority, the influence of without any solicitation, either by himself subject, the constitution a most zealous his name, and the value of his services, or his friends, with the appointment of a friend, and the country a most excellent were thoroughly known and appreciated : Police Magistracy at Worship-street; an magistrate. And certainly the pen of no from this circumstance he was prevented public writer was more constantly and useappointment certainly highly flattering to from paying that attention to his health the ambition of any man of loyalty and fully employed than that of Mr. Gifford, in which previous exertions had rendered so talents, but producing at that time only the stimulating his countrymen to those stre-highly necessary. The vigour of his general is now 600.) The arduous and incessant the unwearied assiduity with which he deframe became latterly much impaired from inadequate compensation of 4007. a year (itnuous and persevering efforts, the success duties of this situation gradually affected his health, and rendered it impossible for him to continue that supreme and powerful direction of his Review, which was necessary to maintain it in the high altitude which it had previously reached. Mr. Gifford, however, continued occasionally to write for it till a late period of his life, and it still retains a respectable circulation: but it is several years since he resigned its editorial superintendence, on account of his undeviating firmness of principle having drawn down upon him the threatenings of prosecutions from a certain Administration in 1806; in which case, if conviction had followed, he must have resigned his Magisterial appointment! The attempt had been previously tried, by a prosecution against the printer and publisher, in an action for damages, for certain articles on the Catholic Question: but by the splendid abilities of Messrs. Garrow and Park, the independence of a British jury, and above all, by the cause of the British constitution being properly appreciated, it failed, inasmuch as the damages against the publisher being laid at ten thousand pounds, the Jury gave a verdict of 501. and nominal damages against the printer of one shilling! The Catholic Dr. Troy was the plaintiff, and Mr. Erskine was his leading counsel. This trial took place in the year 1805. In this year Mr. Gifford was visited by a severe domestic calamity, in the loss of his first In 1809 he gave the world his History of the Political Life of the Saviour of his Country, the immortal and Right Hon. William Pitt, in 3 vols. royal 4to. and in 6 vols. 8vo. Of this work it is not intended here to speak at any length. An eminent prelate now living, and to whom Mr. Pitt stood in some degree indebted for the superintending charge of his education, did not hesitate to declare, that if any one thing more than another added to its value, it was its singular correctness in relation to all matters of fact. As his grand object in composing it was the establishment and the propagation of TRUTH, his mind was not biassed by the feelings or warped by the prejudices of any party spirit, and it is almost impossible to peruse it without being strongly impressed with a conviction of the integrity and the independence of his principles. voted himself to the business of his office. A violent attack of bilious fever, in August last, was the consequence of his over exertions, from which he only partially recovered, and he sunk, at last, exhausted from its effects, a few months after the disease had made its first inroads in his constitution. The death of Mr. Gifford took place rather suddenly, on the 6th of March, in the 60th year of his age, at Bromley in Kent, whither he had been removed, that he might be nearer to his medical advisers, in whose skill, under Providence, he placed the firmest reliance, and who resided in that town. The loss of a man so eminently calculated to fulfil every public and private duty, so inflexible in his attachment to the King, the Church, and the State, so sincere a Christian, and so powerful an advocate and defender of the real liberties of Great Britain against the attacks of every class of schismatics, infidels, and democrats, leaves a vacuum in civilized society, which in these turbulent times every thinking mind must deeply deplore. The rest of his life was not confined to the active duties of his official occupation, his literary pursuits were numerous and extensive. His avocations, as honorary secretary of the Pitt Club, engrossed a considerable share of his attention. In fact, there was no one object of his public life in which he felt more warmly interested, than in propagating the principles and in supporting the purposes for which that club was avowedly instituted. He felt it, to use the expres- KING'S THEATRE.-On Tuesday, after Il sion of Mr. Perceval, to be the "rallying | Barbiere di Seviglia, the music of which im THE DRAMA. proves upon us every time we hear it, while the incomparable acting of Ambrogetti acquires fresh claims to the praise of having rendered the Italian Comic Opera in London entirely superior to what it ever was before, the grand historical Ballet of Tamerlane and Bajazet was revived. It is twelve years since this piece was a great favourite, and it is now reproduced with alterations calculated to render its second existence more brilliant than its first. It is magnificently got up, and the variety and beauty of the dances merit much commendation. At the commencement, a slight opposition was shewn, but it gave way gradually as the Ballet proceeded; and the grace of Milanie, the elasticity of le Briton, and the figure of Copere, achieved another triumph for the Eastern Conqueror. The displeasure was evidently aimed at the introduction of dances peculiar to Hindustan; but we confess, that to us they formed a very agreeable alternation with the more received classics of Terpsichore. Upon the whole, we consider this as one of the most grand and attractive Ballets which has been brought forward. DRURY LANE.-The dramatic strength of modern England has, since our last, been evaporated in a farce at each House, of which it would be difficult to say which was the most dull. Now there are certain species of composition in which we are accustomed to dulness, and others in which dulness is no great matter; but dulness in a Farce, is decidedly bad. It is very tolerable to yawn when one is sleepy, and has got on night-gown and slippers, and a long wick to the candles; but to be obliged to yawn when one wants to laugh, is odiousodious as a Blackamoor's Head, for that is the name of the new production at Drury Lane. About four fifths of this piece occupied in the retrospective history of the characters, who, instead of breaking in upon us with all the business and bustle of Farce, are introduced at full length like actors in a history which is to last till doomsday. Before you have got intimately acquainted with these prosing dramatis personæ, and a few trifling affairs are elaborately explained, it is time for the curtain to drop and accordingly it does drop soon after, and you unexpectedly find yourself at the end of a Farce (Heaven bless the mark !) without fun, humour, situation, or incident. COVENT GARDEN.-The difference between this Farce and the aforesaid is simply, that in the former a miserable new thing was produced, in the latter a good old one was spoilt. Our trusty and well-beloved cousin Barnaby Brittle, revivified from Moliere's George Dandin, under the title of December and May, has little claim to pass current as a novelty; and, in fact, this Farce is a mere interpolation of the original one and Mrs. Centlivre's Artifice. The scenery was, however, beautiful, and the acting excellent. Nevertheless, this Farce, like its twin companion at the other house, has descended into the vault. DIGEST OF POLITICS AND NEWS. THE painful news of the present hour which most occupies the mind of Britain, is the very serious indisposition of the Queen. We are informed that Her Majesty's disorder is a water in the chest, a malady at once so distressing and alarming, as to awaken great commiseration for the sufferer, and trust that the fears we express may be great apprehensions of the result. We unfounded, and that our aged Sovereign may be spared yet a little longer, as the pattern to British wives and mothers. Humanity is not exempt from foibles, and it has been too much the fashion of our distempered times to impute some to this exalted Personage; but it would be well to remember the bright example she has set to her subjects in all the paramount moral duties of life. In France, the Prince of Conde, the head of that illustrious branch of the Bourbon family, has died at the age of $2. The French and American legislatures have severally finished their annual labours, without furnishing any prominent topic for record. Disputes between the latter country and Spain continue to occupy attention, but do not seem likely to involve the parties in war. The Insurgents under Bolivar have been worsted in the Caraccas. In Demerara there have been some disturbances, in which a body of run-away negroes killed two whites;-two others were murdered by slaves on the coast. The Duke of Wellington has returned to the Continent.-The allowance of 6000l. per ann. to the Duke of Kent, and to his Consort in the event of survivorship, has been voted in Parliament. There was little opposition, H. R. Highness being in the Whig interest.--The Duke of Cambridge has been traversing the north of Germany with his bride, who is represented as very amiable, though not handsome. The Queen Dowager of Wittemberg has had the pleasure of meeting her brother, and new relation. Arthur Thistlewood has been found guilty of writing a threatening letter to He will not, Lord Sidmouth. dare say, be brought up for judgment. VARIETIES. we The Bread Fruit Potatoe, from its uncommon productiveness, is getting rapidly into estimation. Mr. Inman, of Spaxton, near Bridgwater, planted last year, in the common way, in a heavy soil, without manure, or any extra attention, two potatoes of that variety, weighing four ounces; the produce was 263 ounces, being an increase per acre (allowing six sacks to be the proper quantity to seed an acre) of 396 sacks. As they vegetate very early in the spring, they may be planted till the middle of June with success, and will ripen early. It may be observed, that pigs prefer them to all other sorts of potatoes.-Provincial Paper. ETAT DE LA FRANCE. Le Royaliste défend tout; Et Gouvion, qui l'imite en tout, Le Bon Chretien qui souffre tout LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. CONTENTS OF THE JOURNAL DES SAVANS, FOR MAY 1818. Periodical Journals and Newspapers published in the Austrian Empire:-The number of periodical Journals (not newspapers) published in the whole Austrian Empire, is 31. Of these, 13 are published at Vienna, 9 in Italy, 2 at Prague, 3 at Saltzburg, 1 at Owen's History of the Bible Society, Grätz, 2 at Pest, and 1 at Presburg-20 reviewed by M. Silvestre de Sacy. in the German language, 8 in the Italian, Halma's edition and translation of the Al1 in the Hungarian, I in the Slavonian, 1 in magest of Ptolemy, by M. Letronne.the new Greek language:-2 are dedicated Girault Duvivier's Grammaire des Gramto theology, 2 to jurisprudence, 3 to medi- maires, by M. Raynouard.-Adam's Roman cine and surgery, 2 to natural philosophy, Antiquities, by M. Daunou.-M. Angelo I to the military sciences, 2 to history and Maio, the fourteenth Sybilline book; A statistics, 1 to economics, 4 to the belles Dissertation by M. Thorlacius on the lettres, 1 to music, 10 to miscellaneous Books of the Sybils, by M. Visconti.subjects, I for youth.-As literary journals, New Travels in the Kingdom of Flora, by we mention the admirable Biblioteca Ita- M. Loiseleur de Longchamp; by M. Tesliana; the Hungarian journal, called Tudo- sier.-Memoir on the Oracles of the manyos Gyüjtemeny; and the Chronicle Ancients, by M. Clavier; by M. Daunou. of Austrian Literature. In the whole mo--Explanation of the Passage of Strabo, narchy there appear 31 Newspapers; viz. relative to the sacred buildings of Héliopo17 German, 7 Italian, 1 Latin, 2 Hunga- lis in Egypt, by M. Letronne.-A Note on rian, 1 Bohemian, 1 Polish, 1 Greek, the Egyptian Monuments, by M. Jomard.1 Servian:-Of these, 7 are published in M. Abel Remusat has been appointed one Vienna, 2 in Bohemia, 1 in Moravia, 4 in of the authors of the Journal des Savans, Hungary and Transylvania, 2 in Gallicia, in the room of the late M. Visconti. 1 in Styria, 1 in Carinthia, 1 in Salzburg, 1 in Tyrol, 2 in Illyria, 7 in Italy. With the exception of the Austrian Observer, the Wanderer, the Vienna Bohemian Gazette, the Ephemerides Posonienses, the Magyaz Kurir, the Servian Gazette, and the THAETPA OZ, these papers are chiefly read for the advertisements and miscellaneous intelligence. METEOROLOGICAL JOURNAL. MAY. Thursday, 14-Thermometer from 41 to 56. Of hym that sought his Wyfe agaynst the Friday, 15-Thermometer from 39 to 59. Streme. A man the whose wyfe, as she came ouer a bridg fell in to the ryuer and was drowned; wherfore he wente and sought for her vpward against the stream, wherat his neighboures, that wente with hynı maruayled, and sayde he dyd nought, he shulde go seke her downewarde with the streame-Naye, quod he, I am sure I shall neuer fynde her that waye: For she was so waywarde and so contrary to euery thynge, while she lyuedde, that I knowe very well nowe she is deed, she wyll go agaynste the streame. Of the emperour Augustus and the olde Men. Barometer from 29, 71, stationary. Wind E. WbN. and NE. -Generally clear. Rain fallen, 25 of an inch. Saturday, 16-Thermometer from 40 to 62. Barometer from 29, 72 to 29, 82. Wind NW. and SW. 4.-Morning clear; the rest of the day cloudy, with a few drops of rain about one. A few common flies were flying about to-day for the first time. Sunday, 17-Thermometer from 43 to 56. Barometer from 29, 84 to 29, 95. Wind WbN. NbE. and N. -General cloud, with a little misling rain about noon, and a short smart shower in the evening. Rain fallen, 05 of an inch. Monday, 18-Thermometer from 44 to 67. Barometer from 30, 06 to 30, 15. Wind NbW. and NbE. 1.-Clear till about nine in the evening, when it became overcast. Rain fallen, 05 of an inch. Tuesday, 19-Thermometer from 46 to 57. Barometer from 30, 20 to 30, 18. Wind N. 2.-Generally cloudy, the wind blowing very cold in the evening. Wednesday, 20-Thermometer from 39 to 64. Barometer from 30, 25 to 30, 28. As the noble emperour Augustus on a time cam in to a bayne, he behelde an old Man that hadde done good seruice in the Warres, frotte himselfe agaynste a marble pyller for lacke of one to helpe to wasshe him, th emperour moued with pite gaue an annuite to fynde hym a seruaunt to wayte vpon him. When this was knowen a great sorte of olde men drewe them together, and stode where as the emperour shulde passe forth by, euerye one of them rubbynge his owne backe with a marble Edmonton, Middlesex. stone The Emperour demaunded why they dyd so? Bycause noble emperour, sayd they, we be not able to kepe seruauntes to do it. Why quod the emperour, one of you maye clawe and frote an others backe well inough. Wind NE. 1.-Clear. Latitude 51.37.32. N. Longitude 3. 51. W. JOHN ADAMS. TO CORRESPONDENTS. BRITISH MOSSES.-I. C********d of "Tales and Quicke Answeres," | Halesworth must excuse us, if with all possi ble respect we decline inserting his Letter, which can be considered in no other light than as a Challenge to an unknown person, whom he cannot address through any other medium. Plain dealing is the basis on which the Literary Gazette is conducted. We assume no merit for articles not written by those Gentlemen who do us the honour to be regularly connected with our Journal; we endeavour scrupulously to render to every one the due meed of acknowledgment: if we have high authority, we state it without puff; and if our Communications are anonymous, we unreservedly say so, and neither take praise nor avoid responsibility beyond what belongs to editing an open miscellany. In the review of the Muscologia Britannica, we fairly delivered our own sentiments as our own, and gave as another's what we derived from a Correspondent under an assumed signature. We have only now to add, that Mr. Hooker, in handsomely thanking us for only doing the Work justice, states, that the discoveries claimed by our Yoxford Correspondent, belong of right to Mr. C********d, to whom the author ascribes several interesting emendations, which will appear in the ensuing edition of his valuable publication. Philostorgus is informed that we thought and still think the lines signed Squib, and received from an entirely anonymous correspondent, a very clever and humorous jeu d'esprit. We were certainly not aware of the death of the person alluded to; but though we would not insert the most exquisite wit to hurt private feelings, we cannot agree that there was any thing of that nature, or personal, in the verses alluded to. We may add, en passant, that those who treat others so freely, from the Prince to the peasant, have no right to be so selfishly tender. The EDITOR of the ANNALS of the FINE ARTS has reclaimed from us the priority of publishing the Report of the Dilettanti Society on Grecian Antiquities, which appeared in the Literary Gazette of the 2d inst. with an intimation that it was original. We hasten to rectify this erroneous impression, and to assign the merit where it is due; for we consider the plagiarisms, without acknowledgment, which are daily seen in literary property, to be dishonourable to the cause of literature and science, and make it an invariable rule to quote our authority for every article which we insert in our Journal. But in the present instance the matter was prepared for the Literary Gazette long previous to its appearance, and we had not then seen the Number of the ANNALS in which it was published a month before we could find a convenient opportunity to give it place. From an oversight in our last Number, the account of the Kaleidoscope, and the clever poetry on the same subject, were not acknowledged as being derived from the Cambridge Chronicle. BENSLEY and SONS, Bolt Court, Fleet Street, |