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five miles out of Rome." This introduction reaffured the old fprig of the Academy, who thook hands with me, while he faid with a good-humoured fmile, "Dulce eft defipere in loco," (a very happy expreffion, which, by the bye, I find has been robbed by that book-making rafcal, Horace Flaccus.)

I need not detail the remainder of our evening, which was fpent in the pleafantcft manner, especially after our fociety had been increafed by the acceflion of the pretty Fabia. I have faid enough to correct your error; for, after this, I suppose you will not be hardy enough to affirm, either that Cicero was a man of mortification, or Cærellia a veftal.

Preient my kindeft compliments to your wife, or your miftreis; for I don't know which you are with at prefent. I fhall be very happy to fee you and her, or all three, at Puteoli, whenever your law-bulinefs will permit.

Next Saturday, I find by Varro's lawlift, is the end of term. What can detain you longer in Rome? Pray, have you beard any thing about a new poem, which is reported here to have been read before Auguftus, by a young man from fome place in the north of Italy, about Aneas and Hell? I hear he has introduced an artful compliment to that young blockhead Marcellus, which made Livia cry. If it is to be had at the bookfellers, get it for me, and bring it down with you, or fend it, if you can't come your felf, by the carrier, together with the Jafi week's Proclamations. Let me have all the court and city news by wholefale. Your's fincerely,

A. POLLIO."

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From Q. Horatius Flaccus to P. Virgilius Maro.

Brundufium, 7 Id. Nov. A. U. C. 735. FOR the fake of Vertumnus and Janus, my dear Virg., go inftantly on the receipt of this to that raical young Sofius's (who, you know, has lately remove ed to No. 7, Viminal Row, at the corner of Remus's Buildings, opposite the Corn Exchange), with the ode which I have fcribbled in extreme halle at the back of this, to be inferted in the next Imperial Magazine; but don't leave it without being paid: it will fetch fortyfive or fifty fefterces. Then take the trouble jutt to ftep across the way, into the Suburra, to Publius the broker's, and redeem the toga which I left in pawn there fome time about the 3d or 4th kalends of June, for which you will have to pay intereft at 10 per cent. Principal and intereft both may be fomewhat about 30 or 35 fererces. You will then have 15 or 20 remaining. Pay five of thefe to my washerwoman, her whom you have often feen, who lives down by Porta Flumentalis, whom I have addreffed in fome of my odes by the name of Glycera. When you have executed these commiffions, fend without delay by the Brundufium carrier (who puts up at Syrus the grocer's in the Forum) the remainder of the money wrapped up in the toga, directed to" Q. H. Flaccus, at M. Pedo's quæf tor, in the Roman Square, Brundufium."

The reafon of my extreme hafte is, that, the evening after my arrival, Pedo made me drunk and fent me roaring into the streets, where I kicked up a row, beat the watchman, and got my gown torn off iny thoulders by a foldier of the XXth legion, at prefent quartered here. I loft my purfe, moreover, in the fcuffle; which purfe contained all the money I had in the world. Pedo bids me drown care in his old Falernian, which is genuine fruff; but Pedo, though a good hearty fellow, is even poorer than myfelf: fo that I can never get back to town without having fome money forwarded to me from thence. 1 fhall be able to find my way home in Crifpus's flage-waggon, for about

10 fetterces.

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ceed. He has heard, however, that, next to being a wit, keeping company with witty men is the best step to fecure the reputation of the character he aims at; for which reafon, he encourages half the poor authors of Italy, and me among the reft, to come to his table. There Ï fatter, and get flattered in return; and, what is better, riot in the nobleft Falernian. As for any more fubftantial marks of his favour, whatever may be the opinon of the world on that fubject, I enjoy none; except, occafionally, when I write an ode which happens to tickle his vanity: but even this fource of his generolity begins to grow dry. My ode, "Mecanas atavis edite Regibus," brought me a gratuity in ready call large enough to live handfomely upon for a twelvemooth, and fee all my friends without fpunging dinners in return. That of Tyrrhena Regum Progenies" enabled me to enfranchife my Sabine Villa. But thofe golden times of my fortune are over. "Ibis Liburnis inter alta Navi

tay felling the royce to wise to prevent

my felling the very eftate which, by means of the former, I had purchafed; and that which I fent him on his last birthday, was answered only by a pretty written letter of compliment. As for Polho, may all the gods protect me from a man who picks the bread out of poor authors' mouths, while he himfelf fares delicately on Phoenicopter's brains.

Had I but a few farthings in my pocket, as I have in fact not one, I thould certainly take a trip one morning in the Dyrrachium Packet. My defire is -vehement to visit Greece, that I actnally addreffed the mafter of a cutter from Naupaćtus to work my paffage over; but cafting a contemptuous glance on my droptical legs, he answered, he did not want ballast.

Tis really a misfortune at my time of life to be fo fond of good liquor, and not to have money enough even to finuggle it Oh the Chian and Cretan wines, of which I have feen hogthead after hogshead ftowed quietly away in caves on the beach, while the custom-houfe of ficers look on without offering the leaf annoyance, their mouths being first ftopped by a tricongius! Would it might pleafe Jove that Mecenas would give me a place in the Excife: he then Ihould be my Bacchus, and I his Apollo,

By the bye, have you finished writing the speech for that afs Trebatius to deliver extempore on the opening of par liament? Your only fault is, you are

too epic in your profe compofitions. Who, in the name of Minos, can refift from laughing when he hears that plodding fimpleton fpeak in the language of Drances with the tone of Therlites? Your's ever,

Q. H. FLACCUS."

"Julia Hortenfia prefents her compliments to Lucia Severa, and has the honour to fend her monkey, by the bearer to pay his retpects to Lucia's favourite ape. Will be much obliged to Lucia, if he will inform her what he has heard for certain respecting Mark Antony's departure for Egypt; alfo, how Octavia bears this new inftance of the ungrateful man's inconftancy. Likewife, (if not impertinent,) what preparation Lucia makes ufe of to dye her hair purple, and whether the employs moufe's fkin or weazel's to make her eye-brows."

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

A COMMUNICATION between the

two coats of the Bristol Channel, has within a few years been established by a very convenient packet, failing twice a week between this place and Ilfra combe in Devonshire. This eftablish ment, by which travellers from the west of England to Wales, or Ireland, by way of Milford, fave upwards of two hundred miles, by a paffage frequently made in lefs than three hours, deferves to be more generally known than it appears to be. It may perhaps be neceffary to add, that this packet has accommodation for eight horfes, under deck, and for three carriages, and that her days of failing from this place, are Tuefdays and Saturdays'; and from Ilfracombe, on Mondays' and Thursdays. Your's, &c.

Stounfea, South Wales, A TRAVELLER. January 18, 1807.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIB,

TH

THE recent calamity at Bangor Ferry, recalls to my remembrance the plan a friend of mine fent to your office, two or three years paft; it gave a plan and calculation of the coft, to make a permanent mail-road through the ftream, by removing the rocky bank which is within a few yards of the ferry, and this could be no detriment to any property in the neighbourhood, as the communication is open to the fea on both fides, the expence le eftimated about twelve thousand pounds.

Had

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THE farfical fecret of the Invisible Girl," p. 70, and that of all the fpeaking figures that have ever been exLibited for the purpose of deceiving the unwary with a belief of fupernatural agency, or of exciting the wonder of per fons lefs incredulous, may be feen at large in the fecond volume of that very curious work, the Mujurgia Univerfalis of Father Kircher, where, on that fimple principle of the effects of reverberated founds, many fimilar experiments are exhibited. It is probable that most of the modern mechanicians of thefe figures have derived their knowledge, or at least have taken their principles from the above book. In your Literary and Philofophical Intelligence, p. 72, it is noticed that M. Defarets has determined, that most of the proceffes of weaving, at prefent ufed, were known in the tenth century. If any one should have an opportunity of examining the fragments of linen that are found in the mummies of the ibis, he will perceive that the art of weaving, fo far as relates to the above commodity, was precifely the fame as at prefeut in the most remote ages of which we have any monuments remaining. In fome of these there have been found fpecimens of darning the linen with thread, the inftrument for which procefs muft have been fimilar to the common needle. This might fupply the commentators on the Manners of Homer's Odyffey with the means of illuftration. Your's, &c. February 5, 1807.

D.

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pears to demand; I fhall, without further preface, proceed to attempt a refutation of the many exaggerated and erroneous accounts, which have been fo induftriously circulated through the medium of refpectable newspapers, wherein it is ftated that perfons have been feized with hydrophobia, and smothered or bled to death, as the only means of rescuing them from the dreadful malady.

Thefe accounts are fo extremely fabulous and abfurd, that I wonder the Editors of thofe papers fhould for a moment have confidered them worthy of

attention, and by infertion give them that degree of importance, which they could not otherwife have attained, thereby increating a ftate of terror and alarm, which has, in my opinion, been fo improperly and unneceffarily created; for I conceive there is not to be found a profeffional man, who would have the temerity to refort to fuch fanguinary means of getting rid of his patients, as he must in confequence become amenable to the laws of his country.

Admitting that there may have occurred two or three cafes of dogs really rabid, (for I am inclined to believe that part of the late reports, may have arifen from fomething like fact,) ftill I will maintain that they have by no means increafed to that extent, which has been fo generally accredited; and further, that not a fingle inftance of hydrophobia has recently taken place in this metropolis ; the report has originated in error, and is continued through prejudice. I have been at comiderable pains to afcertain this, by making inquiries, not only among my medical friends, but likewife in moft of the public inttitutions in this town; indeed, the very circumstances, under which it is faid to have taken place, is a direct negative to the fact, the difeafe having never been known to commence inmediately after the bite, generally not for weeks, or months. The Editors of the papers above alluded to, not fatisfied with eftablishing the exilience of the difeafe, muft delude the public yet farther by the propagation of remedies equally fullecious, and for the producem of which, the whole vegetable and mineral kingdoms appear to have been exhaufted; thefe remedies, if attended to by perfons really infected, are calculated to produce the worst of confequences, as they would be betraying the patient into a falfe fecurity, whilft the difenfe was working by flow, but infidious fieps, towards bis deftruction. The only certain remedy for

the bite of a rabid animal, is the entire removal of the part bitten, and that as foon as poifible after the infliction of the wound; but provided it be within fortyeight hours, the perfons may contider themfelves fecure from this dreadful complaint, as abforption would not have taken place in that time. It is fortunate for the public, that not one dog in twenty, reputed mad, is really fo; and it is wholly from this circunftance, that remedies bave obtained celebrity as fpecifics in the cure of this difeale; for it is a truth known to every profettional man, who is acquainted with the animal (economy, that there is not in the whole Materia Medica a medicine, however active in its nature, capable of preventing the abforption, or arrefting the progrefs of the poifon when abforbed. This is an important fact, and ought moit carefully to be attended to. Half drowning in the marine flood, is a means of torture but not of cure.

The only cafe of the difeafe in queftion, I have ever witneffed, was in a fisherman's fon at Wandsworth, about eighteen years ago. This lad was taken to the fea and unmerfed, until he was nearly in a ftate of infenfibility, when he was confidered fecure from danger; but the fallacy of this remedy was fatally evinced in this cafe, as he afterwards became the fubject of the disease, and died in confequence. Had his friends been aware of the important fact above ftated, and, inftead of trutting to the effect of an uncertain remedy, reforted to the only means of

part bitten,) a valuable member might not only have been preferved to fociety, but a child restored to his afflicted parents, to comfort and protect thein in their declining years. In this, as in every other dangerous difeafe, where early attention is neceffary in order to avert the fatal confequences that may enfae, empirical remedies are calculated to produce the most extenfive mifchiefs, as they lull the patient into a deceit ful calm, while the form is gathering to overwhelin him; and it cannot but be a matter of regret to every liberal and thanking mind, that perions are fuffered thus to trifle with the purfe and health of the community, it being a very common thing to fee a lift of medical trail advertifed by the noftrum-mangers of this town, as fo many fpecifics in the cure of incumble difeales, fuch as cancer, confumption of the lungs, flone, and gravel, and many others equally out of the reach MONTHLY MAG, No. 154.

of medicine. Many of thefe perfons have obtained a licence to practife from fome University, where doctorial dignities are retailed with the fame facility as the noftrums thus fanctioned, to the equal difgrace of the title, and the University froin which it was obtained. Is it rea fouable to fuppofe that a perfon ignorant of the structure of a machine fhould be able to repair its injuries when deranged? Certainly not. How then, I would beg leave to ask,) are thefe perfons, (many of whom are entirely ignorant of anatomy, the basis of all medical fcience, and without a knowledge of which the healing art is calculated to become rather injurious, than beneficial to mankind,) to repair the injuries of the human machine, the mo complicated ftructure in nature. Would the limits of your work permit, I could enlarge very much upon this fubject, and poffibly at fome future period I may refume it; for the prefent, I fhall conclude this article, by exhorting the public,not to fuffer popular prejudices to hurry them into a falfe belief in dangers, which exift only in imagination, or to acts of cruelty towards a race of animals, whofe fervices and faithful attachment to mankind deferve to be regarded as ftrong claims upon our humanity. Your's, &c. Finsbury Difpenfury, February 14, 1807.

M. BARTLETT,

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

Pulent, t. 16, from Your Cr, in DERUSING the letter of your correyour Magazine, refpecting the infects on apple-trees, I trouble you with a fuccefsful attempt I have made to prevent their propagation.

I had a valuable apple-tree, every way affected as he has defcribed. I chofe a dry time, with a clear warm funfline, and the noon of the day, for the operation.

I ordered my man to bring a hard hoebruth, and apply it to every infected limb, and treat them juft as he would his coach harness to get off the dirt, &c. This being done, he fetched his tin-box, oil and brush, and gave the limbs a good dreffing; leaving them expofed to the fun, for the limbs to inhale the efficacy of the application; and this was repeated occafiobally during the footer, with moderation and fuccefs, chuting always a dry time, and warm clear funthine. Your', c.

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To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

IN

SIR,

N the Catalogue of the works of Edmund Wingate, the mathematician and lawyer, annexed to Dr. Watkins' Memoirs of that neglected author, which appeared in your last number, I obferve, Dr. W. has omitted to infert Wingate's corrected edition of Britton, a lawyer who wrote in the reign of Edward the firft. The first edition of this work, published by Redman in 1540, being the only edition that appeared previous to Wingate's, began to grow very fcarce, and Wingate, at the request of several of his friends, (as appears by his preface,) publifhed a fecond edition in 12mo. in 1640. There has been only one fubfequent edition, which was published in 1762. From thefe three editions, of which Wingate's is the most valuable, the world has been fupplied with a work, a copy of which is to be met with in the library of every lawyer and antiquary.

It will be eafily imagined, that Wingate is better known to the learned in the law, as the editor of Britton, than by his other law publications, none of which are now read, or appear to have poffeffed much celebrity among his contemporaries. Dr. W. indeed, ftates, that his work, entituled, "The Body of the Law," went

through two editions, the date of the firft of which he fpecifies. The catalogue which I have confulted, mentions only one edition of this work by Wingate, viz. a 12mo. publifhed in 1678: but I have no doubt of the accuracy of Dr. W.'s ftatement, the date of the latter edition being more than twenty years after the death of the author. Certain it is that Wingate's name has not been honoured with one of thofe fcientific contractions, which have characterized the works of better, or lefs neglected, lawwriters.

Dr. W. mentions, that Wingate was the fuppofed editor of feveral works not mentioned in his fubjoined catalogue, which difplay much ability. I cannot fuppofe that the edition of Britton is included in this laconic, though handsome confignment to oblivion, Wingate being the avowed editor of that book. If it be confidered, however, as one of the objects of this fentence, I confefs I do not fee the propriety of omitting, in a paper intended to remind the world of an au thor nearly forgotten, one of the few memorials which ferve to identify the fubject of fuch a paper. Your's, &c. Manchefier, January 18, 1807.

ORIGINAL POETRY.

TO THE PRIMROSE,

BY MR. MAYNE.

BY murm'ring Nith, my native stream,
I've hail'd thee with the morning's beam;
Woo'd thee among the Falls of Clyde,
On Levin's banks, on Kelvin-fide;
And now, on Hanwell's flow'ry plain,
I welcome thy return again-
At Hanwell! where romantic views,
And fylvan scenes, invite the Mufe;
And where, left erring man fhould stray,
Truth's blameless Teacher leads the way!
Lorn tenant of the peaceful glade,
Emblem of Virtue in the fhade,
Rearing thy head to brave the ftorm
That would thine innocence deform!
Of all the flow'rs that greet the fpring,
Of all the flow'rs the feafons bring,
To me, while doom'd to linger here,
The lowly primrose fhall be dear!
Sprung like a primrose in the wild,
Short, like the primrofe, MARION fmil'd;
The fpring that gave her bloffoms birth,
Tore them for ever from the earth;

J. DENISON.

Nor left, ah me! one bud behind
To tranquillize a parent's mind,
Save that fweet bud which strews the way,
Bleft Hope! to an eternal May!

Lorn tenant of the peaceful glade,
Emblem of Virtue in the fhade,
Rearing thy head to brave the ftorm
That would thine innocence deform!
Of all the flow'rs that greet the fpring,
Of all the flow'rs the feafo: s bring,
To me, while doom'd to linger bere,
The lowly primrose shall be dear!

SONNET TO THE SOUL. PARAPHRASED FROM CARLO MARIA MAGGI,

BY MARIANA STARKE.

IMMORTAL Soul! bleft offspring of the fky!

Beftow'd to elevate the fons of earth; Why fleep fupine, while paljons dire araw nigh To rob thee of thy precious rights of buth?

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