354

lives' she lives!" said I; and pulling poor Tom's picture instinctively from my pocket, held it to her view. She raised her head; I saw her features-'twas his sister. 'Yes, (replied she,) Matilda still lives; come, come, you shall see her,' taking me by the arm; and before my companion could prevent it we were in the adjoining room. Oh what a scene was here! Upon a couch lay the beautiful, the accomplished, the amiable Matilda a living corpse! There is a certain stupefaction of the intellect, occasioned by a sudden depression from the height of joy to the abyss of sorrow, which can only be compared to death. My conductress, whose senses were much disordered, push'd me towards the couch. I stood-I gazed-alive to feeling, but as it were alive in marble, so fetter'd was every faculty of the body. She had shown no sign of returning animation, except her breath; her eyes were open, glaz'd, and fix'd. They were towards me, and unconsciously I raised my hand, which held the portrait, to my face. A momentary flash of recollection seem'd to return; she suddenly sprung up, grasp'd my arm, suatch'd the fatal picture, gaz'd wistfully upon it-" Hark!" said she; then reclining her head upon her bosom, murmured her lover's name, and breath'd her last. AN OLD SAILOR.

|

third edition of the Reminiscences of Charles
We have been perusing with much delight the
Butler, Esq., and from its instructive pages
have culled some of the most pleasing parts;

we submit them to our readers under the con

viction that they will derive equal satisfaction
with ourselves.

MR. PITT, AFTERWARDS LORD CHATHAM.
"Lord Holland describes in half a line the effect of

Mr. Pitt's oratory, when he intended te be severe, on
the object of his severities,—In both Mr. Pitt's
speeches, every word fell on Murray*; yet so ma-
naged, that neither he nor any body else could or did
take public notice of it, or in any degree reprehend
him. I sat near Murray, who suffered for an hour.'-
It was, perhaps, on this occasion, that Pitt used an
expression that once was in every mouth.-After Mur-
ray had suffered for some time, Pitt stopped, threw
his eyes around, then, fixing their whole power on
Murray, said, I must now address a few words to
Mr. Solicitor ;-they shall be few, but shall be dag-
gers: Murray was agitated ;—the look was continued,
-the agitation increased :-Judge Festus trembles!'
exclaimed Pitt, he shall hear me some other day.'
He sat down; Murray made no reply; and a languid
debate is said to have shewn the paralysis of the house.
The whole speech of lord Chatham, on the repeal
of the stamp act, is very fine: I sought for merit,'
said his lordship, 'wherever it was to be found. It
is my boast, that I was the first minister who looked
for it; and I found it in the mountains of the north.
I called it forth, and drew it into your service.—a
hardy and intrepid race of men. Men, who, when

left by our jealousy, became a prey to the artifices of
your enemies, and had gone nigh to have overturned
the state, in the war before the last. These men, in
the last war, were brought to combat on your side;
they served with fidelity, as they fought with valour,
and conquered for you in every part of the world.
Detested be the national prejudices against them! they
are unjust, groundless, illiberal, unmanly.-When I
ceased to serve his majesty as minister, it was not the
country of the man by which I was moved :—but the
man of that country wanted wisdom, and held principles
incompatible with freedom.'

"His celebrated reply to Horace Walpole has been
immortalized by the report given of it by Dr. Johnson.
-On one occasion, Mr. Moreton, the chief justice of
Chester, a gentleman of some eminence at the bar,
happened to say, King, lords, and commons, or,'-
(directing his eye towards lord Chatham), as that
right honourable member would call them, commons,
lords and king.' The only fault of this sentence is its
nonsense. Mr. Pitt arose, as he ever did,-with
great deliberation, and called to order: I have,' he
said, heard frequently in this house, doctrines, which
have surprised me; but now, my blood runs cold! I
desire the words of the honourable member may be
taken down.' The clerks of the house wrote the
words. Bring them to me,' said Mr. Pitt, in a voice
of thunder. By this time Mr. Moreton was frightened
out of his senses. 'Sir,' he said, addressing himself
to the Speaker, I am sorry to have given any offence
to the right honourable member, or to the house: I
meant nothing. King, lords and commons,-lords,
king and commons, commons, lords and king;-tria
juncta in uno.-I meant nothing! Indeed I meant no-
thing.' 'I don't wish to push the matter further,'
said Lord Chatham, in a voice a little above a whis-
per:-then, in a higher tone, the moment a man
acknowledges his error, he ceases to be guilty.-I have
a great regard for the honourable member, and, as an

instance of that regard, I give him this advice:'-a pause of some moments ensued,—then, assuming a look of unspeakable derision,-he said in a kind of colloquial tone,- Whenever that member means nothing, I recommend him to say nothing." "Once,-while he was speaking, Sir William Young called out, Question, question!'-Lord Chatham paused, then, fixing on Sir William a look of inexpressible disgust,-exclaimed- Pardon me, Mr. Speaker, my agitation :—when that member calls for the question, I fear I hear the knell of my country's rain.'

"When the Prussian subsidy, an unpopular meaChatham justified it with infinite address: insensibly he sure, was in agitation in the house of commons, lord subdued all his audience, and a murmur of approbation himself of the moment, his lordship placed himself in was heard from every part of the house. Availing

exclaimed in his loudest tone, Is there an Austrian among you? Let him stand forward, and reveal him self!'

an attitude of stern defiance, but perfect dignity, and

"On another occasion, immediately after he had fi nished a speech, in the house of commons, he walked out of it; and, as usual, with a very slow step. A silence ensued, till the door was opened to let him into the lobby. A member then started up, saying, 'I rise to reply to the right honourable member.'-Lord Chatham turned back, and fixed his eye on the orator,who instantly sat down dumb:-his lordship then returned to his seat, and exclaimed, Now let me hear what the honourable member has to say to me.' On the writer's asking the gentleman from whom he heard this anecdote,-if the house did not laugh at the ridiculous figure of the poor member? No sir,' he replied, we were all too much awed to laugh.' "But the most extraordinary instance of his command of the house, is, the manner in which he fixed indelibly on Mr. Grenville, the appellation of the tell me where, and in which each stanza ended with Gentle Shepherd.' At this time, a song of Dr. Howard, which began with the words, Gentle shepherd that line,was in every mouth. Ou some occasion, Mr. Grenville exclaimed, Where is our money? where are our means? I say again, where are our means? where is our money?' He then sat down, and lord Chatham paced slowly out of the house, humming the line, Gentle shepherd tell me where.—The effect was irresistible, and settled for ever on Mr. Grenville the appellation of the Gentle Shepherd.””

• Lord Mansfield.

+ Lord Bute.

THE VICTIM of FIDELITY;

A TALE.

In Caledonia's unenclosed wilds,
Uncultivated, drear, and desolate,
Where Nature in her radest garb appears;
Upon a rugged mountain. bare and bleak,
Rose the lone cottage of a shepherd swain.
Here, free from life-corroding care, he spent
His days, in an unterrupted flow
Of rural happiness. His sole employ,
His flocks and herds to tend. His slender pipe,
Whose simple notes the untaught ear could please,
And Tray, the guardian of his fleecy charge,-
(Whose fond caresses were not flattery)
By turns, beguil'd and cheer'd the vacant hours.
Whilst thus he liv'd in unmolested peace,
Urg'd by necessity, one day he went,
On traffick's errand, to a neighbouring fair,
Part of his flocks and herds there to dispose.
With signs and wonted looks, well understood
By each, the rest, until he should return,
He to the charge of faithful Tray consign'd.
Meanwhile, the dog, who with affection kind
His master lov'd with unremitting care,
Tended his little flock, both night and day,
Waiting with patience his lov'd lord's return.

Full four long days detain'd by sad mishap,
He from the fair return'd, regain'd his cot,
And eagerly enquir'd for trusty Tray.
Alas! in vain be information sought.-
With heartfelt grief. he thus exclaimed: "Thy fate

"I know,-an belpless prey thou hast become "To thy fidelity." But eager hope,

Still ling'ring, and unwilling to depart

From his despondent breast, wing'd his slow feet.
And to the mountain's top he hasted quick.
Here, at his post, he found his faithful dog,
Watching his flocks and herds. Him when he saw,
He rose,
and slowly struggled to approach-
Alas! his strength soon fail'd. With silent joy,
He feebly fawn'd, and lick'd his master's hand,
Then at his feet he fell, look'd up, and died!
Manchester, Oct. 20th, 1823.

AFTER BURNS.

Is there a man who ne'er has known,
Or sorrow or misfortune's frown.
Felt the keen throbs of misery's moan,

Here let him stop:
That while he contemplates this stone,
One tear may drop.

Who on life's gently flowing tide,
Secure from ill can prosperous ride,
Or smoothly down its current glide,

In hours of peace:
Hence let him learn, how great his pride,
Such joys may cease.
Beneath, one Fies, while fortune smiled,
And all passed happy, gay, and mild,
In youth's career with spirits wild,
Could sportive play;
Till eare and sorrow came and spoiled
His cheerful day.

J. W.

Whose heart could beat, whose eye could flow,
At other's grief, at other's woe;
Whose breast in sympathy could glow,
And not in vain :

'Twas but to hear, 'twas but to know,
And soothe their pain.

Till poverty's relentless hand,
Shook over him an Ebon wand,
Till stern adversity's command,

Repressed bis power;
Withheld his means and stopp'd his hand,
In luckless hour.

Heuce let him learn before too late,
However wise, or good, or great,
Howe'er with health or wealth elate,
To be aware :
There's bid in life's uncertain state,
Full many a snare.

Here let him sit beside this tomb,
This last retreat, this little home
Of frail mortality the doom,

And pensive strike
His bosom, for the time will come;
He'll share the like.

Manchester, Oct. 23rd, 1823.

CRITICISM.

LATIN ORTHOEPY.

Q.

There is scarcely any subject involved in greater obscurity than the pronunciation of ancient languages. After a language has ceased to be spoken as a vernacular tongue, we can hardly expect that its former pronunciation should long be retained; but that, in every country where some knowledge of it is preserved, the pronunciation will be modelled, in some degree, according to the rules of their own language. This, I believe, will be found to be the case, to a very considerable degree, with respect to the ancient language of Rome. In reply to the inquiry of GRAMMATICUS, in last Saturday's Iris, I beg leave to say, that the genuine pronunciation of the Latin language is undoubtedly lost, but that stronger traces of it are probably to be found in some European countries than in others. Those, for example, whose languages are obviously derived more immediately from the Latin, may be expected to retain some of the peculiarities of the ancient tongue, nd their vowel sounds will, in all probability, be nearly

the same.

diversity between the Scotch and continental pronunciation, as illustrated by the anecdote, is greatly exaggerated.

The communications of S. X. are generally marked by so much good sense that I should be sorry that this paper should supersede any which he may furnish on this subject; and should this meet his eye before he has thought of replying to Grammaticus, I would request him to favour us with his remarks, notwithstanding, on the subject here imperfectly handled. 27th Oct. 1823.

CORRESPONDENCE.

ON THE ART OF READING.

TO THE EDITOR,

GIMEL.

If we are to judge, then, by this standard, | we shall be naturally led to look to the Italian as most nearly allied of any of the continental tongues to the ancient language of their country; and we shall be prepared to expect that their men of learning will more nearly approximate than those of any other European nation to the ancient standard of Latin orthoepy. I am not sufficiently versed in Italian literature to enable me to decide whether their pronunciation of the vowel sounds of their own language has been borrowed from the Latin, or whether their modern pronunciation of Latin has not been made to coincide with their vernacular tongue. But if we shall find, that in the pronunciation of Latin, there is a striking similiarity in the majority of the continental nations, however remote from each other, and however little their reciprocal intercourse may have been, we shall then be led to conclude that the pronunciation which has been most generally adopted is undoubtedly the one that is most nearly allied to the ancient standard. It is a remarkable fact, therefore, that, as far as my observation extends, there is a very striking coincidence in their pronunciation of Latin, among natives of every part of Europe. England alone deviates form the continental standard, while Scotland coincides with it as nearly as the inhabitants of some neighbouring shires do in their pronunciation of the English language. With respect to myself, the Scotch and English pronunciation of the Latin are equally familiar, and I can either employ the one, or the other as circumstances may require. But in conversing in Latin with natives of France and Italy, of Holland and Germany, of Hungary, Poland, and Sweden, I have found that I was intelligible, only when 1 adopt-Iris, gave us some very interesting particulars respected the Scottish pronunciation; and the slight differences which I noticed, were not such as to occasion us much inconvenience. It is evident, therefore, that the

English pronunciation of Latin is a perfect anomaly;
and seeing it is, in almost every respect, so consonant
to the genius of English orthoepy, any one, bowever
little acquainted with the subject, will naturally con-
clude, that we have modelled our pronunciation of
Latin agreeably to the rules of our own language, rather
than that the English tongue, which, through a long
succession of ages, has been gradually approaching to
its present standard, should have retained any of the
peculiarities of the language of ancient Rome, with
which it has so little immediate connexion. But I am
at a loss to conceive upon what ground any one can
suppose that our pronunciation of Latin is at all similar
to that of antiquity, when it is so well known, that in the
course of a few centuries the English itself has materi-
ally altered its pronunciation. The pronunciation of our

ton que which prevailed in the age of our maiden Queen,
is now to be found in greater perfection in the dialects
that are spoken at a distance from the capital, and even in
Scotland itself, than in our seminaries of learning and
our schools of eloquence.

SIR-No study seems to be more neglected in this town than that of Reading. I have known inquiries to be made in vain for a teacher properly qualified to give instruction in this very interesting and valuable acquisition. I should think it would be well worth the while of any person fully capable, to offer his assistance to those who wish to study the art upon systematic principles. I have reasons for believing that such a person would experience much encouragement. I am, Sir, Your's &c. J. L.

ON THE NEW INSTITUTION FOR SCIENCE
AND THE ARTS.

TO THE EDITOR,

SIR,-The writer who, in a recent number of the

ing the Andersonian Institution of Glasgow, seemed, in his objections, to labour under some misconception when he assumed that the hereditary governors are to have free admission to every course of lectures delivered in the New Institution; an arrangement which would be palpably destructive of those objects which mainly contributed to the formation of this very promising establishment. The hereditary governors are which may be regularly paid for by the funds of the Insticertainly not to have access to any lectures but those tution. If a person engage the room for a course of lectures which he may deliver on his own account, he will, of course, retain the right of excluding every person who does not purchase his admittance upon the ordinary terms. By such lectures, therefore, the funds of the Institution will be enriched, but the here

ditary governors will not receive, and ought not to receive, any advantage. They can have no reasonable claim upon lectures, excepting those which are paid

for by the trustees.

By this latter species of lectures the Institution will certainly be impoverished, unless they take place very seldom; and if this be the case the hereditary governors will find, I suspect, that their great privileges are only nominal; by engrossing too much in appearance, they will possess too little in reality; a circumstance owing to the hasty, but certainly well-meant, measures, which were adopted at the public meeting.

I hope your ingenious correspondent will again turn his attention to the affair: we might, I venture to think, have fairly expected from authority, some ex

Much interesting information on the subject of Latin orthoepy will be found in the introduction to Walker's Key to the Classical Pronunciation of Greek, Latin, and Scripture Proper Names, and also in the remarks of Ainsworth on the several letters of the alphabet in the quarto edition of his Dictionary. In some particulars, it is evident that the moderns have deviated from the true Roman pronunciation, and in nothing more notoriouslyplanations upon the subject after the publication of his than in giving a soft pronunciation to the letters c and g, when coming before e and i. We have good reason to believe that the name of the father of Roman eloquence was neither Sisero, as we denominate him, nor Tchitchero, as he is called by the Italians, but Kikero. It is hardly reasonable to think that the orators of the age of Augustus made no distinction between malus and malus; and yet, in our pronunciation, and as far as I know, in the pronunciation of other Europeans also, these words are undistinguishable. Our adoption of the soft pronunciation of the letter c is confessedly at varience with ancient usage, and introduces a strange confusion and ambiguity in the language as addressed to

the ear.

Codo and sedo, cæpi and sepi, census and sensus, cicer and siser, cygni and signi, cœna and scena, with many others, have with us the same identical sound.

I beg leave here to correct a slight mistake, into which GRAMMATICUS has fallen in his quotation from Mr. Walker. It is not Grotius but Scaliger, of whom he relates the anecdote; and Mr. Walker thinks the

very plausible objection; and I feel persuaded, that when his observations, which have already excited much attention, are duly weighed, they will occasion some alterations in the arrangements, which will diminish the apparent, and increase the real privileges, of the governors of the Institution.

My best wishes, Sir, are for the prosperity of this most desirable establishment. I, therefore, observe

with deep concern the misconceptions which are proved to have existed by the letter above referred to, and which, I fear, are likely, if not speedily removed, to lead to still further misunderstandings.

I know that it is utterly impossible for human ingenuity to devise any plan against which an inveterate caviller cannot frame a species of objection; but this circumstance ought not to induce us to omit paying due attention to a serious defect in any of our schemes, when it has been pointed out in a plain, candid, and respectful madner.

A FRIEND TO THE INSTITUTION. Manchester, Oct. 28th, 1823.

A WEEKLY LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

The extensive circulation of the IRIS, renders it a very desirable medium for ADVERTISEMENTS of a LITERARY and SCIENTIFIC nature,
comprising Education, Institutions, Sales of Libraries, &c.

No. 93.-VOL. II.

A WEEK IN LONDON.

Written for the Iris.

"There is but one LONDON in the World," said Marshal Prince Blucher as he viewed it from the Telegraph at the Admiralty, and it was in the month of September when my business called me to the metropolis, where I had before repeatedly been, and I thought I could not better give my wife a treat than by taking her with me to this world of wonders; the suggestion was no sooner thrown out, than the journey was prepared for, and never perhaps was so much accomplished in such a limited period. Our progress was marked by nothing worthy of particular notice, but the heavy exactions on the road, which the inexperienced traveller suffers much by, and the coach stopped on the remote line of Bedfordshire, whilst the passengers were gratified by those interesting objects of nature, the light of the glow-worm, and the strains of the nightingale.

We were a good deal wearied on our arrival, and early betook ourselves to rest, rising betimes in the morning, to avail ourselves of that part of the day which is best suited for a stranger's research.

conceive the awful solemnity and rich magnificence of this great structure—the attention is arrested at every step, and the eye is never wearied; this ancient building has for some years been fast falling to decay, but the Dean and Chapter have voted a large sum, and Government have lately granted £10,000 to arrest the progress of time's dilapidating hand; considerable progress has already been made in its restoration.

senting the defeat of the Spanish Armada, and the spot where the fatal ball entered; his waistat the upper part a superb Throne surmounted coat and breeches are of white kerseymere, his by the Crown, and an elegant canopy of crim- stockings raw silk, and his shoes are surmounted son velvet, on the back is embossed most ex. with gold buckles at his feet lies his hat. quisitely, the Royal Arms, the whole of which Near this hangs the armour of General Monck, was erected on his present Majesty's accession who brought back King Charles the Second to to the throne; the richness of the drapery defies the Throne of his ancestors. Not the least indescription. Departing hence we descended interesting sight in this venerable fabric is the to Westminster Hall, the largest room in the spot where those two great political opponents, world unsupported by pillars, and man feels Pitt and Fox, lie side by side, there being only his own insignificance most sensibly in travers- a few feet of earth between them,-and here ing its immense space; at the upper end are the again philosophy might have scope for reflecfour Courts, and here may be seen streaming tion-they who so often were engaged in the through the vast void, the long robed fraternity, warmth of national argument, pouring out with their wigs and bags, or holding sapient streams of eloquent effusion, which so often converse on the "glorious uncertainties" of the amounted to hostile collission, are now speechundefined laws of England. Having admired less, and powerless in their narrow cell," this astonishing piece of architecture we pro- the stones which cover them bear the simple ceeded to the Abbey, and entered at Poet's letters of W. P. and C. J. F. but there is a noCorner, where are the monuments to the me- ble monument erected to Mr. Pitt, and another mory of the British Bards-this of itself would to his illustrious rival is about to add to the be a subject for some hours contemplation: it thousand which adorn this edifice. It would be was prayer time, and the chaunting of the choir, impossible for any one not actually a spectator, accompanied by the noble organ, gave a deep to solemnity to the contemplative mind; we walked leisurely along the sacred aisles surrounded every where by the most splendid monuments, many of which have been defaced by rude Our business lay with two distinguished mem- hands, and unfeeling hearts-by wretches on bers of His Majesty's Government, and occa- whose souls the ray of science has never shone, sions were numerous which presented them- and who must be dead to all feeling of genius selves to gratify our curiosity in a superior de- or patriotism. As soon as the service was over gree over most other travellers, and we were we paid the required amount of 2s. 6d. to be received with the most marked attention by the shewn throughout-a tribute given by most eminent individuals alluded to, who by a solemn with great reluctance, as it is undoubtedly a repledge to pursue our object to a successful con- flection on the national dignity to extort from clusion, released us from all anxiety, and gave the natives of England a payment for the inus an unbounded licence to pursue our plea- dulgence of seeing those works of art, which sures without inconvenience or restraint. From they themselves have been instrumental in erectthe unfortunate Marquis of Lwe re-ing: among other splendid monuments you are ceived orders for admission into the House of shewn two exquisitely wrought brass gates, the Lords which he procured from a noble Peer Chapel where the Knights of the Garter are inpurposely for us, and also to the House of stalled, each knight having his banner and helCommons from the Right Honorable met hanging over his stall-the fret work and and from both a regular supply of franks for mosaic marble pavement are rich specimens of our communications to our friends. Females art; but what would well occupy a day of miare excluded the privilege of attending the de-nute study is Henry the Seventh's Chapel, which bates, and I had consequently to take the day Cardinal Wolsey began as a mausoleum for for that purpose. There is nothing remarkable himself, but which was finished by King Henry in the interior of the House of Commons, and at an immense cost,-to a contemplative mind it appears to be cherished more from its anti- this superb sepulchre furnishes a melancholy quity than its decorations; it forms that part of picture of the instability of human greatnessWestminster Abbey which was dedicated to St. the nothingness of human pride, the princely Stephen, and possesses just comfortable conve- head, which late a diadem encircled, has long niences for the august body who assemble there. been shorn of its glory, and the proud heart on It is curious for a stranger to listen to the which the resplendent star of royalty shone, speeches delivered there, and to see the care- has been made a bed for the worm; such were lessness of many, and the indifference of all; our reflections when the guide, who observes an few of the Members take off their hats, except indecent rapidity, hurried us on to other obthe one who is delivering his sentiments and a jects; he led us to a folding door, which sudgreat majority sit or loll in most unbecoming denly opening, presents to the startled view the irreverence. In the House of Lords much more immortal Nelson in wax work, as large as life, decorum is observed; the bench of Bishops habited in the very clothes in which he closed who are in their robes, and the presence of the his honourable career, with the exception of the Lord Chancellor, and Princes of the Blood coat, which is a fac-simile, the family objecting Royal, tend to give a solemnity and to com- to grant it, but the honours which are emblamand a veneration, unknown in the other House. zoned on it are the originals-a pin at one corRound these walls is a valuable tapestry repre- ner of the Epaulette on the left shoulder marks

We "cast a longing lingering look behind" as we slowly and reluctantly withdrew, and proceeded through the cloisters, to the Treasury, an immense but inelegant building, which however, is abundantly commodious, and thence to the Horse Guards.

There is a parade in St. James' Park every forenoon which is always attended by a numerous concourse of spectators, the admirable band, playing fine military airs, and their flag, which is fetched by a detachment from the line with great ceremony, bore in its centre a wreath of laurel, embroidered, and in gold letters around it-Badajos, Vimeira, Ciudad-Rodrigo, Salamanca, Talavera, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Örthes, Thoulouse, and in the laurel wreathe, Waterloo; these relieve Guard at the Royal Residences, and it is well worthy the visit of a stranger. The Horse Guards itself forms one of the entrances to the Park, and is a handsome and commodious building, adjoining which is the Admiralty, with the Telegraph on the top, by which in clear weather communications are made to, and received from, the out ports in a few minutes. Opposite the great entrance from the Horse Guards is erected the celebrated mortar cast by order of Marshal Soult to throw bombs into Cadiz, a distance of four miles, and an 'inscription upon it expressive of the gratitude of the Spanish nation to his Majesty, to whom it was sent as a present; the large Gun is also at one end, mounted on Egyptian sphinxes, and is remarkable for its curious workmanship. The walks are particularly fine, and are lined with trees the whole way; pro

In the Stable Yard of the palace are apartments for several of the Royal Dukes when resident in town, and a vast collection of antiqui-infallibly have been masons-and remarks, that