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To our CORRESPONDENT S.

IT and T has been always our study to oblige our correfpondents, and extend our plan from intimations which they have generously favoured us with. The request of a Pattern for an Apron, by a lady who fhines in our collection, we have complied with, not valuing our expence, providing we can exprefs our gratitude.

The author of Shakespears, or remarks on Shakespeare's characters, has done us a fingular honour in presenting us with Number I. and hope he will not take it amifs that we have published an extract from it for the entertainment of our fair correfpondents.

The rich Pattern for a laced Apron to be wrought on Cat-gutt, is now in the hands of our engraver, and is defigned for the Magazine for January next.— As the drawing is by one of the most ingenious artifts in London, we doubt not but the lady who requested it, as well as our fair patroneffes in general, will be fatisfied with it on account of its richness and elegance.

We waited for the continuation of Fanny Scudamore, &c. till we had scarcely time for printing the favours received from our other female friends.

Indiana may reft affured that we shall do her due honour when we have reviewed the series of her letters.

We are greatly obliged to a new correfpondent for The Fortunate Sequel, or the Adventures of Ella Worthy, a Nov 1, in a Series of Letters, by a Lady: and as they display an uncommon knowledge of the human heart, are wrote with spirit and elegance, and are fraught with fentiments that are neceffary for the conduct of the fex in general, they fhall begin our collection for January next, and be continued every fucceeding month without interruption.

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Among a great and elegant variety of pieces in profe, we are honoured with a continuation of the Morning Meaitation, by E5 L-g. Letter to the Editor, Lift of Ladies in Eaft and Weft-Lavington, Wilshire, and Lift of Gentlemen is the fame, by Eliz. Lg. The Life of Mahomet, by →→→ An Effay on Bigotry, by T. B. Lift of young Gentlemen in Trowbridge, Wilts, by a confiant Reader. On the Pract ce of Gaming among Ladies of Quality, by Queries relating to the refining of Beer, by J. Clarke, &c.

We are favoured with the following pieces of poetry, Verfes addressed 10 Mifs L. T-r, of Bs, by T. P. An Enigma and Rebus, by J-e Stfb. Oz the Death of a lovely Boy, by Clara. Difappointment, an Elegy, by Mr. Hawkins. Winter, addreffed to Mifs S-v, by Amintor. To Mifs M. Mn, by J. D———1.. Fo the amiable Mifs M. B-, by T. P--k, Lines from a Brother to a Sifter in Town, by J, R. Rebus, by A. Z. with an Answer to one in October, with innumerable other pieces, fome of which shall be inferted in our Supplement, to be published in the middle of January next.

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Ben Johnson's jealoufy, and partly to the pride and pertnefs of dunces, who, under the umbrage of fuch a name as Shakespeare's, would gladly fhelter their own idlenefs and ignorance.

He was bred in a learned age, when even the court ladies learnt Greek, and

REFLECTIONS on the LEARNING of the queen of England among scholars

SHAKESPEARE.

By Mr. UPTON..

[From his CRITICAL OBSERVATIONS on SHAKESPEARE.]

I

had the reputation of being a fcholar. Whether her fucceffor had equal learning and fenfe, is not material to be at prefent enquired into; but thus far is certain, that letters, even then, food in fome rank of praife. Happy for us that our poet and Johnfon came into life fo early; that they lived not in`an age when not only their arts, but every thing elfe that had wit and elegance began to be despised; till the minds of the people came to be dif

and fuperftitious fanaticifm, which foon after, like a deluge, overwhelmed this nation. 'Twere to be wished, that with our restored king, fome of that

Have often wondered with what kind of reafoning any one could be fo far imposed on, as to imagine that Shakespeare had no learning; when it muft at the fame time be acknowledged, that without learning he cannot be red with any degree of understanding or taft. At this time of day he will hard-pofed for all the hypocrify, nonfenfe, ly be allowed infpiration, which his brother bards formerly claimed, and which claim, if the pretenfions were any ways anfwerable, was generally granted. However, we are well-af-tat of literature had been reflored fured from the hiftories of his times, which we enjoyed in the days of queen that he was early initiated into the Elizabeth. -But when we brought facred company of the mufes, and tho' home our Frenchified king, we did he might have small avocations, yet he then, and have even to this day contifoon returned again with greater eager-nued to, bring from France our monefs to his beloved ftudies. Hence dels, not only of letters, but (O shame he was poffeffed of fufficient helps, ei- to free-born Englishmen!) of morals ther from abroad or at home, to mid-and manners. Hence every thing, unless wife into the world his great and beau tiful conceptions, and to give them birth and being. That a contrary opinion has ever prevaled, is owing partly to

of French extraction, appears aukward and antiquated. Our poets write to the humour of the age, and when their own little ftock is fpent, they fet them4 K 2

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And after he has refused to comply, I could wish, or imagination form a

would anfwer?

"It would become me

"As well as it does you; and I should do it,

"With much more eafe; for my good will is to it,

"And your's it is against."

shape befides yours--that she could like. And this for herself to swear, and that by the jewel of her dower-her modefty. Jewel indeed! How bleft the man who poffeffes the heart and hand of virgin chastity! It is a dower, in itself, beyond estimation.

The hope and pleasure with which fhe asks this question "Do you love me?

I do not fuppofe, my fair country women, but either of you, in a state of fuch fimplicity, might be the tender, affectionate Miranda. It is the debauch of city and courts, that refines our paffions into the vapours of indif-joyed itself into tears; congratulating her on her tender heart having its wifh.

ference.

Love makes her fear all for him imagining

"He looks wearily ?”

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it has the entire poffeffion of her heart. She forgets her duty to her father, by breaking his command, as the confeffes, after the fault is committed, in telling Ferdinand her name.

"Miranda, O my father, "I've broke your heft to fay fo." Flattery is found to be now the moft effectual means of gaining the fair. To this Miranda appears infenfible. She admires more her lover than herself.

How this language would charm a coquette !

"O you, fo perfect, and fo peerless, are "Of ev'ry creature's beft.", (created But fhe fimply answers,

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I could never hear, but my foul

There is a feeming contradiction in nature, which is, that tears, the fign of forrow, fhould fo often be the ef fect of joy.

However it be, Miranda fays,

"I am a fool

"To weep at what I'm glad of."

But why should she become the dif fembler? At being asked, wherefore the weeps. It is delicacy-fhe would hide the real cause-the joy of finding herself beloved by Ferdinand. The reflection of a moment tells her it is trifling, and the gives way to the innocent feelings of nature, and affumes its language, these are her words:

"At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer

"That I defire to give, and much less take "What I fhall die to want bus this is trifling;

"And all the more it fecks to hide itself, "The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, balbful cunning;

"And prompt me, plain and holy inne

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could with, or imagination form a fhape befides yours--that the could like. And this for herself to fwear, and that by the jewel of her dower-ber modefty. Jewel indeed! How bleft the man who poffeffes the heart and hand of virgin chastity! It is a dower, in itself, beyond eftimation.

The hope and pleasure with which fhe asks this queftion "Do you love me?

I do not fuppofe, my fair country women, but either of you, in a state of fuch fimplicity, might be the tender, affectionate Miranda. It is the debauch of city and courts, that refines our paffions into the vapours of indif-joyed itself into tears; congratulating ference. her on her tender heart having its with.

Love makes her fear all for him; imagining

"He looks wearily?"

it has the entire poffeffion of her heart. -She forgets her duty to her father, by breaking his command, as the confeffes, after the fault is committed, in telling Ferdinand her name.

"Miranda, O my father, "I've broke your heft to fay fo." Flattery is found to be now the moft effectual means of gaining the fair. To this Miranda appears infenfible. She admires more her lover than herself.

I could never hear, but my foul

There is a feeming contradiction in nature, which is, that tears, the fign of forrow, fhould fo often be the d fect of joy.

However it be, Miranda fays,

" I am a fool

"To weep at what I'm glad of."

But why should she become the dif fembler? At being asked, wherefore fhe weeps. It is delicacy-fhe would hide the real caufe-the joy of finding herself beloved by Ferdinand. The reflection of a moment tells her it is trifling, and the gives way to the inno

How this language would charm a cent feelings of nature, and affumes its coquette !

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language,-thefe are her words:

"At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer

"That I defire to give, and much less take "What I fhall die to want : but this is

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be lo That every Ferdinand may

bleft with a Miranda's heart And hand. And every Miranda have a Ferdinand,

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