(From Ancient Spanish Ballads, &c.) At the gate of old Granada, when all its bolts are barr'd, At twilight at the Vaga gate there is a trampling heard; There is a trampling heard, as of horses treading slow, And a weeping voice of women, and a heavy sound of woe. "What tow'r is fall'n, what star is set, what chief come these bewailing?" "A tower is fall'n, a star is set. Alas! alas for Celin!"Three times they knock, three times they cry, and wide the doors they throw; Dejectedly they enter, and mournfully they go; In gloomy lines they mustering stand beneath the hollow porch, Before him ride his vassals, in order two by two, And all the people, far and near, cry-"Alas! alas for Celin!" One maid is wringing of her hands, and one is weeping soreDown to the dust men bow their heads, and ashes black they strew, Upon their broider'd garments of crimson, green, and blueBefore each gate the bier stands still, then barsts the loud bewailing, From door and lattice, high and low-" Alas! alas for Celin!" An old, old woman cometh forth, when she hears the people cry; Her hair is white as silver, like horn her glazed eye. [ago; 'Twas she that nursed him at her breast, that nursed him long She knows not whom they all lament, but soon she well shall know. freceive their wailingWith one deep shriek she through doth break, when her ears "Let me kiss my Celin ere I die-Alas! alas for Celin !" Some of our modern literati declaim lustily on the inferiority of the present race of mankind, with regard to works of genius, when contrasted with the superior tact of our forefathers. They are ever harping on that old adage, that whatever is good, must derive its name from the ancients,'-implying a sort of sanctity to their productions, which the geniuses of our times, have hardly power to imitate. They further tell us, that the world of letters is rapidly on the decline, and fast degenerating from the purity and simplicity of the "olden time."—that we substitute imitation for invention, and prefer artificial refinement to natural elegance. We can boast of none of that energy and force of intellect, say our pseudo-critics, which is the very soul of ancient writings, our genins plays the fool, in endeavouring to exhibit the sober characteristics of our predecessors, and in adopting their phraseology together with their terse and unlaboured turns of expression, we attain to nothing beyond a farrago of extravagant and wire-drawn sentiments. Allowing that there is a good deal of ill-nature, and dissatisfaction interwoven with this rebuke, we cannot possitively deny its justness. For my own part, I am fully persuaded, that there is either some radical imbe cility in our genius now-a-days, or that the means used in eliciting its powers are insufficient or absolutely detrimental to a fair developement of them. The productions of modern pens, certainly do not possess that vigorous and soul-stirring influence, which characterizes the writings of those golden eras: they are too speculative in the studied graces of art and address, the understanding, rather than the passions. Every aberration from nature may be said to advance one step to deformity; consequently the more ornament that is appended to beauty, the more it blurs simplicity, and destroys excellence. It is upon this scale, I take it, that ancient productions of intellect, are almost unexceptionably superior to modern ones. Native delicacy enriches and recommends the former, whilst the latter only trust to artificial and fading colours. Another striking feature in ancient works, both of fancy and imagination, and which is paramount to all the beauties of modern composition, is originality.— With a firm and dignified, as well as a soft and harmonious expression, our precedaneous scribes possessed a rapid creative power,-a raciness of style which played at once on the heart and understanding. There is a freedom of thought, an excursive range of faculties observable in their writings, which has not yet been realized in modern productions.. They placed a confidence in their own powers, and therefore had less recourse to imitation. A writer of the present day, is deficient of this assurance, consequently when he hazards an opinion, it is so stilly gilded with foreign ornament, that its native force is totally lost. Such is our inferiority in works of pure and legitimate talent. Nor can we boast of our taste; though acknowledged to be more refined than that of our ancestors, it is in fact perverted and seduced from its proper channel; it wears a sort of tinsel here, which is easily rubbed off and accommodated to the fluctuations of time and fashion. A man now-a-days can hardly be said to have a taste of his own. He suffers his judgment and opimions to be guided by all sorts of chicanary,-no matter how incongruous with reason and common sense. Instead of thinking for himself, and drawing substantial inferences on passing events, by the aid of his own reason, he absolutely buys his opinions, which are at stated periods-weekly-monthly and quarterly handed to him. As our taste is adulterated, so will our genius be deprived of that scope, and full play of its powers which is required to give force and brilliancy to its operations. Besides, there is an unwarrantable restraint laid upon our talent in the present day. It is too soon put out of countenance by the sneers of ridicule, and too easily disarmed of its self-confidence by the cavils of malignity. A man cannot fly off in the random touches of his imagination, or strike out his sparklings of wit,but he runs the risk of being scouted as loutish or nonsensical-if he has a turn for the discursive, and ranges the fields of fancy and speculation, he is hunted down by a sect of majesterial, pragmatical censors, are indeed remarkable for nothing, save their puerile and litigious humours. scintillations of fancy, when unshackled by despotic tyranny.-These authors carry through their writings a vein of originality, both in sentiment and expression they desert art to consult nature, and only make use of the former, when it assists in showing the latter to greater advantage.-Without confidence genius is reduced to the level of ordinary capacity-its powers are benumbed, and instead of an imagination, fervid and expressive, it displays a feeble and vapid influence. The age which poured forth the happiest effusions of genuine talent,, was that in which criticism pointed out the contrast between the realities of nature and her imitations-not that lynx-eyed scrutiny, which is ever on the alert to discover the imperfections of geniusbut that criticism where dispassionate survey gave beauty to defect—and support to inaccuracy. When criticism is fairly and impartially awarded to the productions of the pen, it proves an honorable and useful art, and is conducive to the best interests of an elegant and polite literature: but when it is used as a pretext for ushering into being a train of vituperative and scurrilous jargon, when genius is vilified, and its operations derogated through its medium-when it is used as a cloak, under which private animosity seeks to obtain redress, it then becomes highly reprehensible, inasmuch as it discourages rising talent, and warps the youthful aspirations of genius. I blush to say, that much of the present system of Reviewing, is built on this liberal principle. Every absurdity which a compound of ignorance, ostentation, and stubbornness can engender, is unblushingly exercised by the slave of criticism, without regard for either private character, or public welfare. Under such despotism it is a natu ral consequence that our talent should decline, and that our national literature should dwindle to the lowest state of dignity.-Ridicule is the poison which hangs on the pen of criticism, and it is also the poison which most easily benumbs the susceptibility of genius. E. Leeds, Feb. 1823. NATURAL HISTORY. ON THE BENEFITS, &c. DERIVED BY MANKIND FROM REPTILES, &c. Some weeks ago I furnished an account of a singular method of preventing the depredations of Caterpillars; and at the same time promised a few observations on the injuries sustained by man from the crea tures by which he is surrounded. Many insects, reptiles, birds, and beasts, are persecuted by the vulgar from a supposition that they are injurious to man, which to closer observers of nature are known to be bis benefactors. The most useful insect possessed by Britain is perhaps the Carrion Fly; the Bee is not to be compared with it. To batchers and housewives it is troublesome, bat for its trifling aggressions we are repaid a thousand fold. Dead animals, &c. which are left exposed in summer, and which are who Many ingenious and ostensible reasons have been severally adduced for this degeneracy of modern talent,-but I am persuaded that none will be found to warrant such effects more certainly than the present System of Reviewing. It is this which blights the budding of genius, and chills the flush of aspiring talent;-this which overawes the simplicity of nature, and compels her to borrow forms less obtrusive, but infinitely more disgusting.—It is to the taste of a few, that a writer must now exercise his pen, or he seldom fails to bring on himself the censure of the public at large. Doubtless many men of rare talent have resigned the offerings of fame, merely to avoid the jargon and invective of a feverish hyper-critic. There are few works of the present day, which exhibit the effusions of an unbiassed and impartial mind; but much less numerous are those which display unbounded talent with a fearlessness of derision.-Works of fancy and humour, which are by far the most numerous productions of modern pens, almost unexceptionably betray a mind labouring under the fear of ridicule. There are, by the bye, a few to be found who hold at defiance the menaces of criticism, and in these few are strikingly illustrated the increased power of the imagination, and the brighter. too large to be buried by beetles, are speedily removed by these scavengers, and thus is prevented the formation of that deadly miasmata, which but too often fills our houses with sickness and death. The too great encrease of these flies, as well as other insects, is prevented by the Dragon Fly, and by reptiles, and birds.—It is singular that many of our most destructive insects and vermin have been originally im ported from hot countries, and that, not like the plants of the tropics, their naturalization has been extremely rapid. The Rat is a well known instance, and I fear the Cockroach will speedily become as notorious. The rapid increase of the Cockroach, its great voracity, eating every thing that is ever eaten, together with its disgusting appearance, render it in some houses more obnoxious than any other vermin. And but for its fondness for damp and warm situations, which confines it to kitchens and to the lower rooms of houses, it would soon become worse than the plagues of Egypt. It is mostly destroyed by Arsenic; but as there is great danger attending the use of this, I should recommend Qnassia, which would perhaps have the same effect on it as on house flies. Another troublesome insect, a native of warm countries, is the Paceron, the different tribes of which are so destructive in our gardens. The black kind is very ruinoas to beans. The green is much attached to rose trees. There are of many other colours, brown, yellow, lead colour, and I believe underground species, as lettuces are frequently destroyed by a sort which surrounds their roots. In the winged state the Puceron is often seen in our windows, in the form of a minute but elegant fly, with wings of extraordinary magnitude, many times the length of the body. In this state it is a most beautiful microscopic object. This insect has been represented as the principal food of the humming bird. We have to thank the botanists for its naturalization, happy could they have naturalized the birds which prey on it. What appears most singular is, that this insect seldom if ever attacks flowers, their fragrance is poison to it. With such care has the Creator guarded the germ of plants! The ravages of the Puceron are best prevented by dusting the plants with air-slacked lime. There are few Birds that are injurious to man. The Crow and Sparrow are perhaps benefactors. To the Swallow tribe we are under great obligations. METEOROLOGY. Meteorological Report of the Atmospherical Pressure and Temperature, Rain, Wind, &c. deduced from diurnal observations made at Manchester, in the mouth of January, 1823, by THOMAS HANSON, Surgeon. ...... BAROMETRICAL PRESSURE. The Monthly Mean ... . Highest, which took place on the 7th.. Lowest, which took place on the 29th.. Difference of the extremes...... Greatest variation in 24 hours, which was on the 27th ..... Spaces, taken from the daily means........... Number of changes Monthly Mean ....... TEMPERATURE. to lay the solid foundation of literary knowledge amongst the labouring classes of the community, to give practical effect to the natural genius found in the soldier, the sailor, the apprentice, and the plough boy, and to make that genius a perennial source of wealth, Inches. strength and safety to the kingdom; such a work 29.66 | naturally seeks the approbation of your Majesty, who, 30.14 | amongst all the royal personages of the present age, is 28.90 the only one that appears to have justly estimated the 1.24 value of the people." I beg leave to remark, that the word "work" in the adduced sentence, is what oc.39 casions a doubt as to it being grammatical. 3.15 8 Degrees. 349.7 36.6 28.9 Mean of the 30th. decade, commencing on the 5th. 31st. 44 ....... 32nd. "ending on the 3rd Feb. Highest, which took place on the 4th. 29th. 30th. Lowest, which took place on the 19th... Difference of the extreme...... Greatest variation in 24 hours, which occurred on the 19th.... RAIN, &c. 1.190 of an inch. Number of wet days..... ..... Amongst the Quadrupeds of our island, we may pnt down as enemies, Rats, Mice, Weasels, Hares, Rabbits, the Polecat, and the Fox; the annihilation of which would be a benefit. Future legislators will endeavour to make a given space support the greatest number of men, compatible with the greatest sum of human happiness. It has been maintained by some naturalists, that no species of animal ever has, or ever will become extinct, and that the destruction of one link in the chain of being, would be fatal to the whole. I, however, can see no reason why we could not now dispense with many-and am of opinion that there have existed animals of which there is now none of their species remaining. The organic remains of remote ages is in favour of this opinion.. The theories that have been invented to invalidate it, are too absurd to deserve serious consideration, such as supposing | South ...... gigantic fossil bones to have grown in the earth, &c. In the early ages of the world, animals were not only longer lived, but larger; their longevity and their size answering to great numbers in our times. Doubtless all animals that are not particularly useful will sometime become extinet; the whole perhaps of the carnivorous kinds, except those which have been domesticated. The rapid civilization, and the numerical increase of man, seem to require this dispensation. Pendleton, Feb. 12, 1823. North. ... North-east. East.... South-east South-west. 8 4 10 SIR,-Induced by the interesting strictures in the Iris of the 15th, and wishing to contribute to the abo37.4 lition of the unnatural (and now wholly unnecessary) 48 | practice of human dissection, I take the liberty of en15 closing a short extract from the Literary Gazette of the 33 1st instant. I have subjoined a few remarks; and allow me, through the medium of your paper, to call the attention of every member of society to this very important subject. I am, &c. B. 12 1 0 2 0 ... 6 4 | Strong. . Boisterous. REMARKS. 0 January 1st. very foggy all day;-2nd. a little snow in the night, rain in the course of the day; highest state of temperature at ten o'clock in the evening;3rd. maximum temperature at bed time;-4th. a very rainy day;-7th. ice on the ground out of town; the lowest temperature indicated by the reporter's thermometer 38°, which is five degrees above freezing; 12th, 13th, slight falls of snow ;-15th, snow during the day, in the evening a copious fall. Almost daily falls of snow, with low temperature, and strong northeast and south-east winds, continued to the end of the month. CORRESPONDENCE. TO THE EDITOR, SIR,-A correspondent in the Iris of last week has made a blunder (whether intentionally on his part is best known to himself) respecting Mr. Vandenhoff's the flaxion of the momentum, representation of the character of "Brutus," which your correspondent states was played to £15. The real fact, Sir, is widely different; Brutas, during the season, was produced but once; and was for the beneof Mr. Bass, the receipts of the evening amounting to £224 ! There is another circumstance worthy of notice; V. P. says, "Mr. V. played his other principal characters to very trifling receipts ;"-it is but justice to the actor in question, explicitly to state (a fact well known to the theatrical public) that the LAST season here, was the MOST PROFITABLE to the Managers that had been for SOME YEARS. Now when the segment becomes equal to the hemis-fit phere, r will be equal to a; therefore, the fluents will bepa2 and pa3; the latter divided by the former gives a = 7 inches, the distance of the center of gra vity of the hemisphere from the vertex of the segment, and per question, is equal to the height of the segment. Whence 2/7.5 x 16.5=22.248594 the diameter of the segment; and bence 1678.7925 = the solidity required. Solutions have been received from Amicus, Mr. Jones, Mr. Wilson, and Mercurius. Question No. 62, by Mr. Jones, Chorlton Row. There are two ships, A and B, upon the same parallel of latitude :-B is exactly one mile to the west of A, when she sets sail directly south, and sails uniformly at the rate of 8 miles per hour. In 15 minutes afterwards, A sets off at the rate of 9 miles per hour to overtake her. Quere, to what point of the compass did A sail, to overtake B in the least possible time? Mosley-Street, Feb. 18, 1823. "What could be more distressing than the story, recently in the Newspapers, of the Widower, who, wishing to lay his lost baby on the mouldering bosom of its buried mother, found that the grave had been rifled, and that the last melancholy solace he had sought was denied to his aching soul! Yes, there was another late event even more agonizing than this: it appeared in the Police Reports, A son of lowly station in Kent, but of feelings which would have ennobled the highest, had interred his aged father. The body was removed during the night; and the disordered sod too plainly exposed the crime. A cart was traced to London, and vile looking men had been seen larking about the peaceful village churchyard. To the metropolis the son followed without delay. Inspired by filial piety, this poor, countryman, totally unaccustomed to the horrors of such sights, obtained a warrant, and searched for his father's corse in every receptacle, Medical School, and Hospital. The imagination can hardly contemplate the dreadful task; we shudder while we think of it. What were his best hopes? To find the mangled limbs of the Being to whom he owed life, amid some of those masses of putridity and dis gust which were exposed to his view. To turn over the gashed remains or the headless trunk, praying that he might there recognise his father and give him Christian burial. Our flesh creeps at the picture which our fancy draws. Suffice it to say, that he did recognise the mangled body, and did restore it to the earth. The Romans would have erected a statue, if not a temple, to commemorate such an act. In England it figured among the shameful narratives got up to stimulate curiosity in the reports of the lowest courts! Such shocking occurrences ought never to take place in a civilized country."" Merchants, Tradesmen, Shopkeepers, and Mechanics, all furnish themselves with stock of their respective kinds at their own proper expense; but the indigent medical man has recourse to this species of robbery ! The grave, and its contents, are as much ours as any other property we possess, and none have a right to trespass upon, or disturb them. Then what can be thought of the man who resorts to this nefarions plunder? Can indigence, rashness, or inhumanity extenuate his guilt? By no means; but least of all can we submit to be tantalized with a profession of PHILANTHROPY! Philanthropy ? Let the BENEVOLENT ACTS of ANOTOMICAL LECTURERS speak! In no gradation of life can we find a parallel for these men; they amass wealth without capital, without talent, without spirit, without industry, without ability; in fact, without any other quality than a formal stale jargon, and unblushing duplicity to impose upon society, despoil the grave, and exact from the anxious student! Their policy pompous profession obtains the attendance of a few curiholes dissection necessary for the student, and their ous individuals; but I defy them to point out any real benefit which can ever result from their investigations, save a pecuniary one to themselves, their relatives, and their dependents! f. VARIETIES. GENUINE ANECDOTE.-A short time since, a respectable Medical Practitioner, not a hundred miles from Ludlow, was called up in the night by a labouring man, residing at a few miles distance, to attend his wife, who was in childbed. Mr. W., who had often attended under similar circumstances without obtaining any remuneration, asked the man who was to pay him. The countryman answered, that he possessed five pounds, Concordat of 1801: he ridiculed the Legion of Honor. shot. ALEXANDER POPE'S LAST ILLNESS.-During Pope's last illness, a squabble happened in his chamber, between his two Pnysicians, Dr. Burton and Dr. Thompson, they mutually charging each other with hastening the death of their patient by improper prescriptions. Pope at length silenced them by saying, Gentlemen, I only learn by your discourse that I am in a dangerous way; therefore all I now ask is that the following epi-world."-" You are a fool," cried the other; "there's gram may be added after my death, to the next edition of the Dunciad, by way of postcript: : Dunces rejoice, forgive all censures past, The greatest dunce has killed your foe at Isst. ADVANTAGES Of Gibbets.-Two Lighwaymen were crossing Hounslow-heath, when one of them observed a gibbet. "Curse those gibbets," said he, "if it were not for them our's would be the best trade in the nothing better for us than gibbets; for were it not for them, every person would turn highwayman, and we should be ruined.” IMPROMPTU, ANIMAL SYMPATHY.-On the day of the great thaw, On seeing a'eautiful French girl, whose mother was English. a spaniel was observed, opposite to Thionville, floating down the Moselle on a small piece of ice. It is not known how the poor dog got into that situation; but he set up piteous cries. Having passed one of the dogs belonging to the decoys on the left of the Moselle, that intrepid animal dashed into the river, soon reached the unfortunate spaniel, and seizing him by the neck swam on shore with him amidst the acclamations of the spectators.-French paper. AN ANGEL VISION.-A story is circulated in Coventry, which we copy from a contemporary, leaving our readers to form their own judgment in the case. On Saturday morning se'nnight, a woman living at Collycroft, Bedworth, surprised that her son, 13 years of age, did not come down at the usual time, went to him, when he made signs for pen, ink, and paper, and stated that he had had a vision of an angel in the night, who informed him that he should be deaf and dumb for a month. He appeared unconscious of sound and incapable of utterance: he has so remained ever since. Many persons have been to visit the youth, who are satisfied with the truth of this statement. The term now is very short until the termination of this extraordinary visitation (if such it be) of Providence, when probably the lad will be able to communicate some further particulars respecting his singular case.Cheltenham Chronicle. SNOW. The remarkable phenomenon of a fall of snow in Jamaica, occurred at Anotto Bay, on the 15th December. The flakes fell to within a few feet of the earth, where they recoiled a little upwards from the heat of its evaporatiou, and dissolved into liquid drops. REPARTEE. A pretty smart repartee was given the other day at a place in the Trongate, Glasgow, where some repairs were being made on the pavement, and a very confined space was left for the lieges to walk upon. A beautiful young lady was met at this narrow spot by two gentlemen, (one of them an exquisite Corinthian.) "I protest," said the dandy, "this place is as narrow as Balaam's passage." (The name of a narrow lane in Glasgow.) "Yes," said his companion, "and, like Balaam, my progress is arrested by an Angel." "True," said the lady, looking him full in the face, at the same time gliding neatly past him, " and I am stopt by an Ass!" CHARACTER Of the late GENERAL MOREAU, BY BONAPARTE.-The Empress Josephine married Moreau to Mademoiselle Hulot, a creole of the Isle of France. This young lady had an ambitious mother, who governed her, and soon governed her husband also. She changed his character: he was no longer the same man; he began to intrigue; his house became the rendezvous of all the disaffected; he not only opposed, but conspired against the establishment of religions worship, and the No wonder that her cheeks disclose A blush so crimson, and a skin so fair; THE DRAMA. MANCHESTER DRAMATIC REGISTER, Tuesday.-The Bee Hive: with Tom and Jerry. LITERARY NOTICES. father, the late John Aikin, M. D.; together with a selection We are informed that a new historical romance by the Mr. Henry Neele, the author of a volume of very elegant We understand that the literary remains' of the late Stephen The Flood of Thessaly: the Girl of Provence; the Letter of The author of the Cavalier, &c. has a Novel in the press, Major Long's Exploratory Travels in the Rocky Mountains of America will appear before the expiration of the month;as will the Third volume of the Transactions of the Literary Society of Bombay, illustrated by Plates. A poem entitled 'The Judgment of Hubert" is about to make its appearance. Life and Writings. By Henry Mackenzie, Esq. F.R.S.E. 3. The WORKS of JOHN PLAYFAIR, F.R.S.L. and E. late Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh, with an Account of the Author's Life, 4 vols. 8vo. 21. 12s. 6d. 4. The POETRY contained in the Novels, Tales, and Romances, of the Author of "Waverley," with short Introductory Notices from the Prose. Handsomely printed, in 1 vol. foolscap 8vo. with an engraved Title and Vignette View of Edinburgh. 9s. boards. 5. ILLUSTRATIONS of the GEOLOGY, ANTIQUITIES, and SCENERY of the SHETLAND ISLANDS. By S. Hibbert, M.D. F.R.S.E 4to. With a large Geological Map, and other Engravings. 31. 3s. This Work contains an interesting Account of the Manuers, Customs, and Antiquities of these Islands, so much celebrated by the Author of "The Pirate." 6. MANUAL of MINERALOGY. By Robert Jameson, Regina Professor of Natural History in the University of Edinburgh, &c. 8vo. 15s. 7. A SYSTEM of MINERALOGY. By Robert Jameson, Professor of Natural History in the University of Edinburgh. 3 vols. 8vo. The Third Edition, greatly improved. With numerous Plates. 2. 16s. 8. A TREATISE on the EXTERNAL, CHEMICAL, and PHYSICAL CHARACTERS of MINERALS. By Robert Jameson, Professor of Natural History in the University of Edinburgh. Third Edition. 8vo. 12s. 9. The LIFE of the Right Hon. JOHN PHILPOT CURRAN, late Master of the Rolls in Ireland. By his Son, William H. Curran, Esq. Barrister-at-Law. With a portrait and fac-similes. Second Edition. 2 vols. post 8vo. 17. Is. 10. An ACCOUNT of the FISHES found in the River Ganges and its Branches. By Francis Hamilton (formerly Buchanan), M.D. 4to. 21. 25. A Volume of Plates, to the above Work, in royal 4to. beat tifully engraved by Swaine. 31. 3s. 11. HISTORY of the INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO; containing an Account of the Manners, Arts, Languages, Religious, Institutions, anti Commerce of its Inhabitants. By John Crawfurd, F.R.S., late British Resident at the Court of the Sultan of Java. 3 vols. 8vo. with 35 illustrative Maps and Engravings. 2. 12s. 6d. 12. A DESCRIPTION of the WESTERN ISLANDS of SCOTLAND; including the ISLE of MAN; comprising an Account of their Geological Structure, with Remarks on their Agriculture, Economy, Scenery, and Antiquities. By J. M'Culloch, M.D. F.L.S. 2 large vols. 8vo. with a Volume of Illustrative Engravings, in 4to. Price 31. 3s. boards. 13. FLORA SCOTICA; or a Description of Scottish Plants. Arranged both according to the Artificial and Natural Methods. In Two Parts. By W. J. Hooker, L.L.D. F.R.S.L. and E. Svo. 14s. 14. VIEW of the ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES of EDUCATION, founded on the Study of the Nature of Man. By J. G. Sparzheim, M.D. 12mo. 7s. 6d. TO CORRESPONDENTS. I am's "excellent communication" is but an attempt at humourons composition; we would recommend him to repair the "stool's leg." Nemo's communication is generally interesting, and in some E. of Leeds, is informed that we have some objection to the A Friend's promised communication is requested. A LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY. This Paper is Published Weekly, and may be had of the Booksellers in Manchester; of Agents in many of the principal Towns in the Kingdom; and of the News-carriers. The last column is open to ADVERTISEMENTS of a LITERARY and SCIENTIFIC nature, comprising Education, Institutions, Sales of Libraries, &c. SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1823. such general admiration as a stupendous and most ingenious structure, was erected. Impelled by a wish to avail himself of this unexpected and singularly favourable opportunity, especially as he had in the mean time considerably improved his apparatus, he obtained permission to erect for it an observatory, supported by a platform several feet above the top of the highest part of the present cross: and having succeeded in fixing the apparatus in the interior of the observatory, he commenced a new series of sketches on a greatly extended scale, so as to admit the introduction of minute objects at a distance of some miles. Of this observatory, which was placed nearly 140 yards above the pavement of St. Paul's, we give an exact representation :- A couple of extraordinary sized Lithographic | more than usually severe, a great part of the plates accompany the work, which afford a correct idea of the difficulties of the undertaking; and in a subsequent part we have the following particulars of the threatened dangers within the immediate vicinity of the author's seat of oper ation. 'Indeed scarcely a day passed without derangement of some part of the scaffolding, or machinery connected with it; and so strong became the sense of danger arising from these repeated casualties, that notwithstanding the powerful inducement of increased remuneration, it was difficult on these emergencies to obtain the services of efficient workmen. This will not appear surprising, when it is known that during high winds, it was impossible for a person to stand on the scaffolding without clinging for support to the frame-work; the creaking and whistling of the timbers, at such times, resembled those of a ship laboring in a storm, and the situation of the artist was not unlike that of a mariner at the mast-head. During a squall circular fraine-work of heavy planks, erected above the gallery for the prevention of accidents, was carried over the house-tops to a considerable distance. At this moment a similar fate had nearly befallen the observatory, which was torn from its fastenings, turned partly over the edge of the platform, and its various contents thrown into utter confusion. The fury of the wind rendered the door impassable; and after a short interval of suspense, an outlet was obtained by forcing a passage on the opposite side. By this misfortune, independently of the personal inconvenience, considerable delay and expense were occasioned ere the work could be resumed; and it became necessary to provide against similar misfortunes, by securing the observatory to a cross-beam, and constructing a rope-fence, as seen in the vignette. Thus fortified, the work was proceeded in without any other accidents of a nature worthy to be noticed, until all the sketches which could be taken from the observatory were completed. These sketches, com PRICE 31d. prising 280 sheets of drawing paper, extend over a surface of 1680 square feet; a space which will not appear surprising, when considered as including a portion of almost every public building and dwelling-house in the metropolis, with all the villages, fields, roads, villas, rivers, canals, &c. visible from the summit of the Cathedral.' BIOGRAPHY. MEMOIR OF SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART. BY ROBERT SCOTT, EDITOR OF THE CABINET OF PORTRAITS. The distinguished subject of this sketch was born at Edinburgh, on the 15th of August, 1771, and is the oldest surviving son of the late Walter Scott, Esq. an advocate, or writer to the Signet. His mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Scott, was a daughter of David Rutherford, Esq. also a writer to the Signet, from whom she received a considerable fortune. She was a very accomplished woman; and after her death, in 1789, some of her poetical productions were published. Young Walter, being lame and of a very tender constitution, received the first rudiments of his education from his mother, to whom he was always much attached. In his early youth he displayed a considerable taste in drawing landscapes from nature, but was neither remarkable for liveliness of disposition, nor aptitude for learning. From his mother's tuition he was sent to the grammar-school of Musselburgh, where he made but little progress until his tenth year, when Dr. Paterson succeeded to the school, at which time the following circumstance is related to have taken place.-The late Dr. Hugh Blair, being on a visit to the school, examined several of the boys, but paid particular attention to young Scott, which Dr. Paterson perceiving, and thinking it was the boy's stupidity that engaged tho doctor's notice, said-"Doctor, my predecessor told me that boy has the thickest skull in the school." "May be so," replied Dr. Blair, "but through that thick scull I can discern many bright rays of future genius." From Musselburgh he was sent to the High-school of Edinburgh, where he completed his classical studies, and then removed to the University of Edinburgh. Having finished his education, he was articled to a writer of the Signet, and before he had attained his twenty-first year was admitted an advocate of the Scotch bar. Here he most assiduously attended his professional duties, and in the year 1798 he married a Miss Carpenter, by whom he has several children. At the end of the next year he was appointed sheriff'sdepute of the county of Selkirk, and in March, 1806, peculiar circumstance attended this appointment:one of the principal clerks of session in Scotland.. A Mr. Scott's warrant, although drawn up, had not yet passed the seals, when the death of Mr. Pitt caused an entire change in the ministry; and his nomination to the office having been procured through the friendship of the late Lord Melville, who was then under impeachment, it was naturally considered void. To the credit of the new cabinet, however, no objection wittily remarked at the time, "the last lay of the arose to the appointment; which was thus, as was ministry." enjoyment of two luerative situations, which produced Being now relieved from professional labours by the from 8001. to 1000l. per annum, and having about the same period come into possession of a valuable estate through the death of his father and an uncle, he was enabled to follow his literary pursuits at pleasure. His first productions were two German ballads, adapted to the English taste, entitled The Chase,' and William and Helen.' These pieces were merely written for amusement, and would not have been published but for the earnest solicitations of his friends. After a lapse of three years Mr. Scott produced a translation of Goethe's tragedy of Goetz of Berlinchingen.' His next pieces were The Eve of St. John,' and Glenfinlas,' which appeared in the late Mr. Lewis's Tales of Wonder. · In 1802 appeared his first work of any importance, The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border,' and the following year he published Sir Tristram,' a metrical romance of the thirteenth century, by Thomas of Ercildown, edited from the Auchinleck manuscripts. In 1805, The Lay of the Last Minstrel' was produced, and at once established his fame upon the firmest basis. This poem will be long read and admired for the interest of the story, the ease and harmony of the language, the picturesqueness of the incidents and scenery, and for the delineation of the manners of the ancient borderers. In 1806, a collection of Ballads and Lyrical Pieces,' and, in 1808, Marmion, a Tale of Flodden Field,' added considerably to his reputation. The latter poem the author has himself characterised as containing the best and worst poetry that he has ever written." The rapidity of Mr. Scott's pen shone conspicuously this year; for, in addition to Marmion,' he published Descriptions and Illustrations of the Lay of the Last Minstrel,' and a complete edition of Dryden's Works,' with notes, and a new life of the author. Very shortly after this, he undertook the editing of Lord Somers's collection of Historical Tracts, Sir Ralph Sadler's State Papers, and Anna Seward's Poetical Works. In the same year in which the last of these appeared he produced, The Lady of the Lake,' a poem abounding in interest and poetical beauty. In 1811, The Vision of Don Roderick' was published, in aid of the subscription for the Portuguese. This was followed, in 1813, by Rokeby ;' and, in 1814, by The Lord of the Isles;' The Border Antiquities of England;' a new edition of the works of Swift, with a life and annotations; and The Field of Waterloo,' a poem. About the same time appeared a prose work, chiefly on the subject of Waterloo, called Paul's Letters to his Kinsfolk,' which was generally attributed to the pen of our prolific author. Two other poems, The Bridal of Triermain, and Harold the Dauntless,' which first appeared anonymously, have since been claimed by Sir Walter. In 1822 he published a dramatic poem, called Halidon Hill,' which was not so successful as most of his productions. This, we believe, completes the catalogue of his acknowledged writings-enough most assuredly to establish his fame, both for extraordinary genius and unwearied industry. But report adds another very long addition to the list, by ascribing to Sir Walter Scott a series of Novels and Tales which have been received by the public in a manner unprecedented in the annals of literature. The first of these, Waverley,' appeared in 1814, since which the series has extended to forty-six volumes; and it is confidently stated that they have realized to their author upwards of £100,000. It is said, we know not with what degree of truth, that the manuscript of Waverley remained for three weeks in the possession of a bookseller in St. Paul's Church-yard, being left with him by a young gentleman who wished to dispose of it; but the bibliopole, having been previously unsuccessful in that branch of literature, declined the proposal. We should think this could not have been the case. That Sir Walter Scott is the author of these Novels and Tales we feel little doubt, agreeing with the writer of a letter to Mr. Heber, that the circumstance of every other living poet of any consequence having in some way been honourably mentioned in the course of them, leaves sufficient ground for attributing them to "Few travellers visit Edinburgh without inquiring whether Walter Scott is visible. In a small dark room, where one of the courts is held, he is to be seen every morning in term time, seated at a small table with the acts of the court before him. He is a short, broad-shouldered, and rather robust man, with light hair, eyes between blue and grey, broad nose, and round face. Though a great number of travellers have letters of recommendation to Mr. Scott, yet his parties are not numerous. His manners are agreeable, untainted with vanity and the only, affectation to be seen in him is, that he is solicitous not to appear as a poet. He is very lively and full of anecdote! and, though not brilliant in company, is always cheerful and unassuming. He often relates that in his infancy the old people used to take him upon their knees, call him Little Watty, and tell him all sorts of old stories and legends while his brothers were abroad at work, from which he was exempted on account of his lame ness. : The character of Sir Walter Scott has been thus pourtrayed by Mr. Jeffrey, editor of the Edinburgh Review: "He is in a wonderful degree possessed of talents of a very rare kind, and these talents have not been allowed to lie dormant, having been employed for many years in affording amusement and instruction to the whole of this nation. Sir Walter Scott is a man possessed of a most fruitful imagination, a man of most extraordinary genius, a man who is master of almost every subject, and looks into human character, and paints what he there discovers in colours the most beautiful, and language the most sublime. In short, he is a man who combines so many rare qualities, and so much erudition, that he has raised himself to a pinnacle of glory unequalled in this, or, I may say, in any other age." NORA'S VOW. BY SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART. Hear what Highland Nora said: I would not wed the Earlie's son." "The swan," she said, "the lake's clear breast May barter for the eagle's nest; The Awe's fierce stream may backward turn, Still in the water-lily's shade Her wonted nest the wild swan made, THE RETURN. (Concluded from our last.) Engaged with these reflections, he scarcely perceived that night was approaching, and that the clouds had got thick and dense. All at once he found himself in a little dale, quite solitary, surrounded with wood,-where not the least trace of an habitation could be perceived. The rapid flight of some birds returning to their place of shelter, the noise of the trees that bordered the way, and some large drops of rain, soon turned his thoughts into another channel. It appeared certain from the instructions he had received on the road, that he had lost his way; he looked all around, and saw nothing but a thick dark cloud, which, like a huge curtain, spread round the whole horizon. The rain increased rapidly; he was very shortly wet through; the trees, stripped of their foliage afforded him no shelter, and the night setting in made him fear he should not be able to see his way. Not knowing what to do, he stopped a moment, made up his mind, and pursued his course through the wood straight forward for an hour longer. The continual noise of the rain beating upon the trees, the screaming of wild birds, and the acute sense of his state increasing with the cold and fatigue; the weight of his clothes; the fear of passing the whole night thus in the forest, rendered his situation painful in the extreme. When, after a long journey, seated before a good fire, in the middle of our family, with a full coffee-pot upon the table, and our soup boiling, we hear the noise of the wind and rain without, we recal to our minds with a kind of pleasure, the similar storms to which we have been exposed, without shelter, and without the hope of meeting one, and the comfortable roof which protects us is doubly prized: but a poor traveller a-foot, upon whom the rain is pouring in torrents, who can hardly see his road, which is in the middle of a thick wood, is but little disposed to enjoy this consolation beforehand. At last he perceived that the darkness decreased, that the noise of the rain was getting farther off, and that he should soon be out of the wood. It is scarcely possible to represent the joy Herbert felt, without having been in his situation, when, a few moments after, he heard the barking of a dog, then that of other dogs which answered it, and at last the crowing of a cock. These certain indications of an inhabited place, caused him to double his steps, and just as he was getting out of the wood, he perceived several houses more or less distant, which he distinguished by the light from the windows. He went up to the first, and through a little low window saw a lamp upon a table; beyond this a door half open enabled him to see a kitchen, in which he could distinguish the fire place; a young female was close by, and appeared busy with her soup; the room-the fire-the soup-the young girl-all was calculated to attract a young traveller, dripping wet and greatly fatigued; he knocks, and the young person with the lamp in her hand opens the door. She was attired simply, but with much neatness; her pretty features were einbellished with two fine dark eyes, and the tint of health and an air of affability and kindness were diffused over her features. Herbert forgot all he had undergone; he said he was a traveller who had lost his way, asked if he was far from the town, and if there was an inn in the village. The town is at least three leagues off, replied the young girl; there is no inn in this hamlet, but in the great village beyond the brook there's one. It still rains very heavily, added she, and the village is above a quarter of a league distant; our house is not an inn, but on so stormy a night as this, a lost traveller can have shelter. The more Herbert looked at the girl, who spoke to him in the sweetest tone of voice, the more his emotion increased; on the other hand, it was not displeasing to her, to observe the impression she made upon a young man possessed of the most pleasing appearance, notwithstanding the miserable state of his clothes from the rain, and his long dark hair hanging upon his shoulders dripping wet: Herbert appeared the more interesting for all this. Walk in, walk in, said the maiden's father, who had heard the dialogue, opening the room door; walk in young man; I know pretty well what it is to travel, and be overtaken by a storm-I had plenty of it in my younger days; I have not been in this quiet state long. Herbert entered, related how he had been lost, and the conversation immediately turned on the pleasures and inconveniences of travelling. The old man listened to Herbert with great pleasure and much curiosity; asked him whence he came; and what towns he had visited. When he mentioned Brême, where he had worked for the longest time, the old man smoothed his wrinkled brow; he held out his hand to Herbert, took hold of bis, and gave it a hearty shake. Ah! Brême is a good spot! said he, in a tone that indicated emotion and joy,-a good spot indeed! He asked question upon question, and, as it happened, Herbert had been a long time with a master-joiner at Brême, who had been his host's companion in his early years. He who carries us back to the days of childhood, who recals to our minds the hours we regret, who speaks to us of the friends we loved with all the warmth of youth, be |