98 Account of Christ's Hospital. another mathematical school, founded and endowed by a Mr. Travers; and it does honour to his heart, being expressly for the sons of lieutenants in the navy. Christ's Hospital, considered either as a blessing to society, or a royal foundation, is a great event in the reign of Edward VI.; a prince well known for his amiable qualities but early death. The internal arrangements of so extensive a concern are conducted in the best manner that circumspection or economy can suggest. The total number of boys is between 6 and 700, who are divided into 12 compartments, improperly designated wards from their too apparent similarity to those of an hospital for the sick. In each of these there is a nurse, who is accountable for the cleanliness, comfort, and good conduct of her boys. This situation is an excellent asylum for the depressed widow, and promises, after twenty years' service, a comfortable income. The steward is more properly a master, who, without superintending any part of education, keeps the accounts of the expenditure of the hospital, regulates all domestic concerns, and is the common reference for all complaints from inferior officers. The rules for maintaining order are excellent in themselves, and calculated to excite the emulation of youth. In each ward there are three, sometimes four monitors, who are as it were the viceroys of the steward, preserving order in their respective districts, and delivering the characters of all within their jurisdiction. This, with the exception of the Grecians, is the most honourable office attainable by merit, and distributed without distinetion or favour to the head-boys of each school. Every master has a house with an allowance of coals; and besides them there are a certain number of bedels, who are also constables, and placed at different posts to preserve order and attend in case of any emergency. Passengers are allowed a thoroughfare through the gates, which are however closed at stated hours, summer and winter, when no one is admitted but the actual residents or their friends.-The great hall is a noble long room, with several pictures and portraits descriptive of the hospital and its benefactors; and there is, I assure you, no spectacle more gratifying to a benevolent mind than to behold at one view so vast an assemblage of youths, all eating the bread of health, equally regardless and equally ignorant of the evils and misforLunes of the world. For the accommo [March 1, dation of the public the gates of this room are thrown open on a Sunday evening for three months every year, and an introduction from a governor admits a select company who come to enjoy the music and see the supper. The fare is plain and wholesome, consisting chiefly of joints of meat, broth, and porridge, and sometimes (though not often) vegetables. The breakfast is certainly not very inviting, being simply bread and water: the allowance of bread to each boy is half a two-penny loaf, which, from being educated here myself, I can affirm to be insufficient to satisfy the appetite of a growing boy; at least I have found it so.-The number of diseases are perhaps fewer than in any other school of a similar nature. The infirmary is a wellventilated place for the reception of those who are ill, and attended daily by a physician, Dr. BUDD; a surgeon, Mr. ABERNETHY; and an apothecary, Mr. FIELD, who resides in the hospital and dispenses the medicine. Besides the school at London, there is another at Hertford, of about 400 boys and 50 girls; but as this establishment is conducted by the same process as that of London, any further account would be superfluous.-One very curious characteristic of Christ's Hospital is the dress, which, as I am informed, was the common fashion in King Edward's time. It consists of an outer blue coat or garment with long flowing skirts, and an inner one of yellow, not unlike a lady's petticoat; the stockings are a bright yellow; but the cap and girdle are the ornamental part of the dress, and in the highest estimation. This dress is, however, inconvenient and cumbersome, and the governors would do well to modernize it; though I must confess that I agree with them in the supposition that this ancient custom excites attention, and calls forth the remembrance of old times. I have now related the most interesting particulars of this excellent institution; and in acknowledging my grateful sentiments to the authors of it, I conclude by wishing it prosperity and a transmission of its blessings to future ages. JOHN T London, Jan. 1815. 1816.] Mr. Dougall on the Language of Malta: guage of those newly-acquired possessions; a subject not only curious, but certainly important in the view of every lover of literature and antiquity. This language it is true is chiefly confined to the rural inhabitants of Malta, &c.; the Italian is besides so common among the inhabitants of the towns, the mariners, &c. that our countrymen in that island feel no absolute necessity of acquiring the Maltese dialect. Another and a powerful cause of this neglect of the country tongue is this, that being in its structure, its terms and phraseology, its pronunciation, and some other properties, entirely what is called oriental, and consequently quite dissimilar to the prevailing languages of the West, the acquisition of the Maltese becomes peculiarly difficult for an European. It is also to be considered, that the publications in tended to explain and teach this dialect have, until very lately, been produced either by learned foreigners transiently visiting Malta, or by natives of the island, possessing no doubt their maternal tongue, but not sufficiently instructed in the languages of the East, with which it is very closely allied, to render it by that alliance the more interesting and accessible to strangers. This last impediment in the study of the Maltese, however, is now in a fair way to be removed, by the patriotic and learned labours of a native of Malta, MICHAEL ANTONY VASSAL, professor of oriental languages in Rome. This distinguished Maltese published in that city, in 1791, a grammar in Latin of his native tongue, powerfully recommended indeed by a most competent judge, the celebrated orientalist ASSEMANI, professor of Arabic, Chaldaic, &c. in the Vatican. Encouraged by the reception of this grammar, the author in 1796 published the first part of a lexicon or dictionary, Maltese, Latin, and Italian, to be followed by a second part containing etymological and comparative discussions, with proper indexes in Latin and Italian, for the conveniency of strangers. This important portion of the work, however, owing to the unprincipled invasion, and consequent disorders of the Roman states, has not yet, I believe, seen the light. Having by the friendly exertions of a gentleman long resident in office in Malta, where he lately died, obtained copies of Vassal's grammar and lexicon, in addition to the treatise on the Maltese tongue by AGIUS DE SOLDANIS, printed in Rome in 1750, before in my possession; and 99 hearing of no attempt to draw the atten tion of our literati to the venerable remains of the antique oriental tongue still manifest in Malta and the adjoining isles; I have, Mr. Editor, presumed that some general notices of the nature and properties of the Maltese cannot fail to be acceptable to many readers of your valuable miscellany. It is my purpose, therefore, with your permission, to fur nish you with a general account of the Maltese dialect, historical and grammatical, annexing a brief vocabulary Maltese and English; the whole extracted from the works before described. Great learning and ingenious research have been employed at various times to decypher the inscriptions on coins Punic or Carthagenian, Phoenician, Etruscan, &c.: the Punic scene in Plautus has also exercised the skill of many a scholar: the Maltese, a daughter of the Phoenician and a sister of the Carthaginian, and now the sole survivor of the family, presents to the learned antiquary the most direct means of satisfying his curiosity on those and similar subjects. Of the important assistance to be derived from the Maltese in interpreting various terms, expressions, and allusions, in the Sacred Writings, particularly of the New Testament, proofs will be furnished in the course of the following observations. In this enterprise I am aware of two material difficulties to be overcome or avoided: first, that of the Maltese and of its mother or sister dialects I am totally ignorant; and next, that many sounds in the Maltese are not to be correctly represented by our alphabetic characters. I am still, however, not without a hope of being able to convey a notion of that dialect sufficiently distinct to answer the purpose of the present communication. I am, &c. JOHN DOUGALL. London, Jun. 15, 1816. στένομεν μεμνημένοι ἥβης ἐκείνης, νοῦ τ' ἐκείνου, καὶ φρενών. STOB. Adolescens, tamen etsi properas, hoc saxum rogat, Utiad se aspicias: deinde quod scriptu'st legas; MR. EDITOR, DEPARTED genius meets at length with its reward, and the admirers of the immortal BURNS hear with feelings of singular satisfaction that a splendid mo 100 Inscription on Burns — Remarks on the N. Southwark Bridge. [March 1, nument is now erecting to his memory at Dumfries in Scotland, where he resided during the greater part of his life, and where his remains were buried. The promoters of this benevolent plan are entitled to the public gratitude, and by this act of generosity they derive some reflected glory to themselves from the lustre of his genius Non hæc urna tua, Euripides, sed tu magis hujus, Namque tua hanc urnam gloria condecorat. The inscription that commemorates the burial-spot of this very beautiful poet is written in Latin, and has already appeared in more than one publication. As some of your readers, Mr. Editor, may perhaps be anacquainted with an epitaph which was written for the same purpose by a very amiable and accomplished man, in his tour to the Western Highlands of Scotland in the summer of 1803, I shall gratify their taste by producing it, first giving our author's preliminary observations. "As I profess myself a great admirer of the writings of Burns, and should think that I had no knowledge or taste in poetry if I were not, I endeavoured to stimulate the exertions of his countrymen when I was at Dumfries, by writing two short pieces of poetry, and fixing them as well as I was able on the turf of his grave. I cut some small hooked sticks from the ash-trees that sprung up among the tombs, and by means of these I pegged the papers down upon the grass. The epitaph I carried with me to the place, and the other I wrote with a pencil on the spot, making use of one of the monuments for a table. The epitaph was as fellows: Inscription to the point worthy of its subject-nay, worthy to be inscribed on the monument which is now erecting to the memory of Burns. That its elegant author may give additional proof of his poetical talent is the fervent wish of N. N. Jan. 10, 1816. MR. EDITOR, I PERCEIVE by the prices of shares of public undertakings inserted in the last month's Price Current, that some shares of the SOUTHWARE BRIDGE CONcern have been sold as low as 25 per cent. discount, which induced me to investigate the probable chance of revenue from that project. I accordingly sought for some of the publications in which I had seen ascertained the number of pas sengers, carriages, &c. that daily pass over the three bridges already built, and from documents which have been long before the public, I find as follows, viz. London. Blackfr. Westminst. 37,820 at id, 173 Foot passengers. 89,640 Coaches. 61,069 769 533 2,924 1,240 485 764 doubted but that as many foot passenNow I presume it will hardly be gers will pass over the Southwark-bridge this number then, at one penny each, will as now go over Westminster-bridge;~ produce the sum of 57,4961. per annum, equal to ten per cent, upon a capital of more than half a million, to which sum and roads may amount; yet, without I will suppose the expense of the bridge estimating one farthing for horses and carriages, which will amount to about 14,000l., reckoning one-third of the present passage over London and Blackfriars bridges. Thus then a sum of about 20,000l. will be left for the annual expenses of the bridge, such as repairs, lighting, watching, collecting tolls, &c. and for accumulation to pay off the share-holders when it is to become a free bridge. Being myself a bolder of but few shares, yet as the loss by such a discount would not be quite convenient for me to suffer, I was naturally at first view very much alarmed; but the above investigation has set my mind at rest, as I cannot but think it is the lowest estimate that can be rationally expected;-and when it is considered that the Southwarkbridge will be situated in the centre, between the City and Borough, the most populous parts of them, and the mast 1816.] Vindication of the Character of Dr. Johnson. 101 styling him the "most surly of moralists," "a man whose very writings in favour of virtue and religion are so gloomily impressed on the mind of his readers, as to do more harm than gooi to the cause he espouses!!" The cha desirable communication of the banks of the river; and that when this bridge and that from the Strand will be the occasion of a great addition to the population on the Surrey side, it is hardly too much to expect one-third of the number which pass over the two bridges of Black-racter of Johnson is an exhausted subfriars and London, which will produce a sum considerably more than the above; and which surplus will, according to the Act of Parliament, be laid by till it accumulates to a sum sufficient to pay off the share-holders double the original subscription, i. e. 2001. for every 100l. subscribed. I must remark also, that notwithstanding the present great depression on the shares, the bridge is proceeding in its execution with great celerity; a proof, I think, that those in the secret are quite satisfied: I shall, therefore, keep the few shares I hold until the bridge be finished, when I do not fear but I may, if inclined, sell them at a considerable premium. I recommend the same conduct to others, to whom it may not be inconvenient to pay up their subscription; as in my mind they cannot fail to receive ten per cent for their capital after the bridge shall be opened, and double their capital returned when it shall be given up to the public, besides common interest till opened; to all which I find by the Act of Parliament they are entitled. I am, &c. A SOUTHWARK-BRIDGE SUBSCRIBER. Jan. 18, 1816. I COULD not but notice in your last magazine a communication signed IMMISE RICORS, in which the writer makes a most unwarrantable attack upon the memory of the late Dr. SAMUEL JOHNSON. Now, without entering into the argument which he endeavours to support, that of trying experiments on living animals, which if at all to be allowed, is in my opinion only justifiable in a very limited degree; but in supporting his position, I cannot let pass without notice his endeavouring to traduce the character of the great moral teacher of his countrymen, by ject; for the zeal of his friends has MR. EDITOR, C. C. R. IN the late treaty of peace with France (the substance of which you have inserted in your 24th number) it is provided that the future French frontier on its eastern border, from the point of the junction of the Lauter with the Rhine to that of the Swiss canton of Vaud, "shall remain as fixed by the treaty of Paris." On reference to that treaty,* I observe that no specific line of demarcation is stated between the Rhine, where that river ceases to be the boundary near Huningen, and the regulating point of the department of the Doubs. It would gratify me, therefore, if any of your correspondents will inform me whether it is to be understood that the boundary of this intermediate country remains as it was under Imperial France, or whether the ancient line of the French territory, which excluded the district of Porentru, forms its new limit. The county of Montbelliard, which was expressly secured to France by the treaty See N. M. Mag. vol. i. p. 573. 3 102 Sketch of Prof. Tauscher's Tours in Russia in Asia. [March 1, of 1814, I conclude does continue confirmed to it by the new one.. But then the question is, what is the south-eastern frontier of the Upper Rhine? I conceive it is most probable that the treaty of Vienna will distinctly specify this line, in delineating the new boundaries of the Swiss states; but not baving the means of access to that important document, I am now at a loss to ascertain what is the precise frontier of France in the line which I have described. Some years ago the territory in question, in conjunction with the district of Basle, was formed into a separate department under the designation of Mont Terrible, the town of Porentru then forming its capital. But this I presume was abandoned in one of those capricious fits of change which marked the career of the late imperial ruler of France. Happy for mankind that his restless spirit is now confined within limits which even his ambition cannot change. V. M. H. Jan. 17, 1816. P.S. I was much amused on making some references to a gazetteer of very recent publication,t by observing the author (although his work was actually printed above half a year after the reduction of France to nearly its ancient limits) including all the departments that were lost by the treaty of Paris as still integral parts of that country! In a specific list of the existing departments of France, he gives no less than 21 that have been thus severed, embracing the whole of the Belgian provinces, the country of the Lower Rhine, and all Piedmont !!! Sketch of Professor TAUSCHER'S Tours in the Southern parts of Russia in Asia. THE following are extracts from a sketch recently published by Professor TAUSCHER, of his exploratory travels from 1809 to 1812, through those parts of Southern Russia which are comprehended between the 44th and 56th degrees * It is much to be wished, Mr. Editor, that you would give a copy of a document of this great and permanent importance at length in your magazine as soon as it is officially laid before Parliament. See "Gazetteer of the most remarkable Places in the World," &c. &c. by Thomas Bourn. 2d edit. corrected and greatly enlarge, 1815 "The excellence of any performance is to be estimated by consider ing its design, and the degree in which is calculated to answer it." (Motto to the Title !) of north latitude, and the 35th and 53d degrees of east longitude. They were undertaken at the instance of Count Alexis Razumowsky, now Minister of the National Education, who proposed that the Professor should particularly prosecute his researches in Natural History throughout the Asiatic Steppes, lying between the Ural and Wolga. He thus introduces his brief narrative: "The districts of Southern Russia and Central Asia, distinguished as containing the Steppes, are marked by peculiar features, and present an aspect which nature has not bestowed on any European scenery. The immense plains, of which they are constituted, in many respects resemble the ocean, where the traveller is piloted by his compass: in these regions the eye wanders over measureless flats, rarely diversified by rising ground, barren of trees or woods, scantily supplied with water or rivers, and destitute of fixed habitations, villages, or towns. The soil, however, in the early part of the spring is covered with a species of vegetation, in a manner peculiar to these climes; China asters, tulips, and other beautiful plants, converting it into a perfect flower-garden. Yet the scorching heat of the hotter mouths soon overtakes and destroys these tender nurslings of the Spring; for the dew never falls at any season of the year, and the rain but very sparingly during the summer. Towards the close of autumn the steppes reassume their gay and luxuriant appearance, blooming with the embroidery with which the finest kinds of saline plants adorn them; perhaps there is no country in the world where these plants are found in greater profusion than in the sterile plains of Southern Russia. If, in addition to these local embellishments, we consider that these districts are inhabited by a race of animals, natives only of sultry climates, such as camels, antelopes, &c. and that they are peopled by migratory tribes of herdsmen constantly wandering through these remode of living, frequently of striking singions, of patriarchal simplicity in their gularity in their costume, and of perfest originality of manners, it will be readily imagined, that the first aspect of the Steppe and its inhabitants cannot fail to make a most pleasing impression on the European stranger; independently of its presenting to the scientific traveller a field hitherto but partially gleaned, and abounding with materials for interesting research and profitable discoveries. "The traveller in these inhospitable . |