therefore, in the names of Jupiter and Juno, of Bacchus and Venus, and of every other God and Goddess, whom you may worship; nay more, I conjure you for the honour of the "sacred Mujesty of Truth," not again to prostitute the names of Euclid, Apollonius, and Archimedes, as you have already done in the "Elements of your True Arithmetic," by asserting, that you have vindicated the very scientific accuracy of the ancient mathematicians." What opinion, sir, let me ask you, would any one be led to entertain of the mathe matical works of the ancients, who had never seen them; from this "vindication of their very scientific accuracy," as you have modestly termed it? I fear, sir, that disgusted with the absurdity, nonsense, and falsehood, of your "True Arithmetic," yet supposing this treatise of your's, from your frequent assertions to that effect, to be a full and clear illustration of the writings of the ancient mathematicians, such a one would, on reading your book, imbibe an eternal disgust, not only to all mathematical works, both ancient and modern, but even to the very names themselves of every branch of the mathematical sciences. For would he not say, "If these be the Elements of the True Arithmetic, if this book, which to me appears so dark and empty, contains a clear and full explanation of the writings of the ancient mathematicians, which are acknowledged by all who are acquainted with them, to contain the purest specimens of right reasoning; what hope have I of ever being able to understand even the elements of the mathematical sciences?" first principles, the accuracy of their logic, and the truth of their conclusions; but which I now find to abound in ridiculous quirks, foolish conceits, and glaring absurdities." Some such reflections as these would most probably be made by every one unacquainted with mathematics, into whose hands your book might fall, and it was to prevent the injurious consequences to such from a total neglect of the most accurate of all sciences, which might be the result of such reflections, that I resolved to point out a few of the leading absurdities of your "Elements of the True Arithmetic of Infinites," which I have here done, trusting that you will believe me, when ĺ assure you, that I entertain the highest esteem for your character in every other point of view than as a writer on the Mathematical Sciences, but in none more than for those inestimable qualities of heart for which I have so frequently heard you admired, and which render you, though an avowed professor of Paganism, a bright example worthy the imitation of the followers of him who went about doing good." W. SAINT. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. B SIR, EING engaged in a "Life" of Algernon Sydney, I shall be obliged to any of your correspondents, who, through the medium of your Magazine, will inform me of any rare sources of information, whether in manuscript or in print. The materials contained in the Sydney papers, and in Dalrymple, as well as those in Ludlow and Burnet, are already before me; but it seems probable, that many references to my hero may be concealed in contemporary pub. lications, either scarce or little known; as, in a work of this description, I lately met with a very honourable notice of his conduct at Marston Moor, Feb. 12, 1811. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. "If this book, in which it is maintained that 1+1 is not equal to 2; that 1-1 is not equal to 0, or nothing; that a fraction, with nothing added to it, is less by unity, or 1, than the same fraction without the addition of nothing; that an infinite series of numbers, with nothing added to it, is infinitely less than the same series without the addition of nothing; if this SHOULD esteem it a very great maintains such manifest absurdities and self-contradic- favour, if some of your numerous and tions, be a "vindication of the accuracy ingenious correspondents would oblige of the ancient mathematicians," I must me, through the channel of your enter.. for ever bid adieu to the prospect of obtaining Magazine, with a list of such taining any knowledge of mathematics, which I had been taught to believe were distinguished for the simplicity of their The Deity to whom Mr. Taylor dedicated his Proclus. SIR, shrubs, herbs, and flowers, as emit the most salubrious and nutritious air, and in this I should wish wild, or hedge, herbs to be included. Also, if not going too far, I should be glad of any observations that would tend to shew, whether the air S emitted SIR, N amateur in philosophy, who has To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. not the opportunity of making experiments, wishes to propose the follow A SIR, [APPENING to run over a cata Png question. Suppose a polished iron Hlogue of books published or sold at ball were suspended, in the manner of a pendulum, between two magnets; the size of the ball, the length of the pendulum, (having as little friction as pose sible) and the form and distance of the magnets, being adjusted with the utmost accuracy; and this apparatus contained in a glass receiver, in which the atmospherical air was previously as much rarefied as possible. The question is, whether the attractive power of the two magnets would operate reciprocally upon the polished-iron ball, so as to keep it in a continued uniform oscillation between them, by the fresh impulse given to the ball at its near approximation (short of contact) to each magnet, in consequence of being drawn somewhat beyond its otherwise natural extent. March 21, 1811. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. SIR, HE following is the mode of an the Leipzig fairs, of 1809, which I accìdentally found amongst a parcel of foreign publications, I observed the fol lowing title, Λεξικόν της Αιολοδορίκης κτος της ομιλουμένης τωρινής των Ελλήνων γλώσσας, and wish to enquire of you, or any of your correspondents, if this so called Xoops yhorn is the language known by us at present as the modern Greek, or merely a dialect, or union of dialects, in use among the ancients? If the adjective 1 be a compound of apa, it probably signifies present, and the Angor here spoken of, is perhaps a modern Greek Dictionary. In two Dictionaries, which I had an opportunity of inspecting a few years ago, I remember finding the titles of the new Greek very different from that here alluded to. One was published in Leipzig, if I mistake not, in 1796, and to the best of my recollection was called Asier wogasnov ysgfemvixev xai iraxixty, and the other, according to my common-place book, bore the name of vuov Asžimov irakino Talysie which chemists in general yeasier. employ, in order to ascertain the quantity of animal and vegetable matter in soils. After the finely divided matter of the soil has been submitted to the action of the muriatic acid, which takes up the lime, magnesia, and part of the oxide of iron; the residuum, which generally consists of silica, alumina, and bighly oxidated iron, is exposed to a high degree of heat, in order to burn out the animal and ve getable matter, and the loss of weight it sustains in this process, is supposed to be equal to the quantity of those kinds of matter contained in the soil. That this method is incorrect, seems obvious, from this consideration. That part of the oxide of iron which is left, together with the vegetable matter after the action of the muriatic acid upon the soil, absorbs oxygen during calcination, and of course obtains an increase of weight. Hence the quantity of vegetable matter, calculated in this manner, and especially the soil contain much iron in a highly Now, sir, as I am not aware of any vocabulary of the modern Greek tongue existing in our language, I cannot but think that it would be interesting to many, not only to be informed, as 1 suspect, that all the Dictionaries here quoted em brace the same language, but also to receive some further account of a language, the real state of which appears at present to be but little known; and which, from its august descent, might be expected to have awakened the curiosity of philologists at an earlier period, As your Miscellany may doubtless fall into the hands of one or another, whose fortune and taste have enabled him to visit the territories of ancient Greece, I trust the perusal of this short notice will prevail on any gentleman of this description, to give in his opinion of the language at present in use among the descendants of Plato and Demosthenes. Kentish-Town, March 19, 1811, PADAGOGUS. For For the Monthly Magazine. THE LETTERS OF A WANDERER. LETTER VII. FTER some time spent in viewing this and resolved to gratify that prevailing feel ing implanted in the breast of mankind in general, namely, curiosity, even at the risk of a tumble into the stream, we scrambled down the rocky bank, and, stepping on the large stones that lay in all directions in the channel, reached the depth below the second fall, without accident, or the thousand difficulties and perils our guide to the cataract assured us must be the consequence of our undertaking. Arrived at the spot we wished to gain, we placed ourselves in front of the second cascade, which, though neither so astonishing nor grand as the one above, is well worthy of a visit, and forms a yet more pleasing subject for the pencil, than does the celebrated fall we had seen. This is a sheet of water of about thirty feet in height, falling in one unbroken cataract, enclosed by dark brown precipices, rendered yet more gloomy in their appearance by the profusion of trees that overhang the stream, uniting their leafy branches from either side of the dell, (in that part scarcely thirty yards in width,) and forming an almost impenetrable shade, beneath which the bridge with some of the towering cliffs that bound one side of the principal fail, appear with the most picturesque effect, and form one of the most romantic, admirable scenes I have ever beheld, From hence we again descended by the margin of the stream, till we reached the bottom of the third fali, which is nearly the same height as the one above; but the scene of the rustic bridge, and its accompaniments, being more in the bird's-eye style, it is less interesting than the former. Long did we linger amidst this delightful scenery, now passing across the stream upon the stones that rose far above the water, now seated on a jutting point of rock, listening to the rushing of the different falls, as their sounds swept along the dell, and mingling with the gentle whispers of the wind, produced an effect that scarce could fail in any bosom to awaken emotions of the most pleasing nature. In mine, they produced a melancholy, pensive calm, while busy thought reverted to many a long-past incident and happy circumstance; and recalling to memory many an absent or departed friend, my heart swelled with emotions indescrib hopes crushed by the rude hand of adversity, and its feelings lacerated by unkindness and ingratitude, then is the moment of bitter retrospection; then memory proves a torturing fiend, blasting every present enjoyment, and "turning all the past to pain." But away with such reflections, for the present let us "leave dull care behind," and return to the beauties of the Array, and the sweet banks of Ullswater, to which we hastened after quitting Gowbarrow, and again beheld a picture, in which there appeared not a single object to hurt the eye, or lead the beholder to imagine it would have been better omitted. All was beautiful, sweet, and lovely, as fancy could pourtray; while in the distant view into the gorge of Patter dale, at the extremity of the lake, there is a grandeur and sublimity scarce to be equalled in any part of Britain. Place Fell still claimed the pre-eminence over its neighbours, on the opposite shore; while, on the side on which we travelled, thick-wooded knolls, and awful precipices, hung almost over the road, and obscured the view of the stupendous back-ground; the line of which is often broken by romantic woody glens, through which considerable streams of water pour, amidst rocks and stones, roaring and sounding through the shade, "and falling fast from gradual slope to slope, with wild infracted course," hasten to the lake, and, mingling with its placid flood, steal silently "Along the mazes of the quiet vale." As you approach the entrance into Pat. terdale, the road winds sometimes close to the bases of the mountains, at others, passing through rows of thick, umbrageous trees, at length reaches the clean, comfortable inn, at the mouth of that sequestered vale, where, it being our intention to remain a day or two, we pro cured apartments, and, after partaking of an excellent dinner, we strolled around the environs; from a rock behind the inn, enjoying one of the finest views imaginable, of the scenery which had recently afforded us some cause for admiration: Gowbarrow, forming the back ground of the picture, Place Feil the boundary on the right, and a chain of lofty mountains that upon the left. This is a delightful scene, and we beheld it in full perfection, as the rays of the setting sun glistened on a part of the expanse of water, and threw a soft and glowing shade on every feature of the landscape. As the shades of evening began to obscure the distant objects from our sight, we quitted our rocky station, and sought the banks of Goldrill-beck, a stream issuing from Patterdale, where there are several pleasing spots, rural, simple, and interesting. Having now conducted you to the extremity of Ullswater, I shall take my leave of that truly beautiful lake, regret ting I do not possess the charming de scriptive powers of a Radcliffe, to convey to you a more just idea of its thousand lovely charms; if it were possible for language to convey an adequate idea of the richness and variety of its banks, the woods, the rocks, the pyramidal cliffs, and mountainous precipices, which, mingled with rural spots, ornament and encrease the beauty of the most charming of scenes. In length, Ullswater is about nine miles, and not more than two and an half at the widest. It abounds in char, eels, and trout, of the richest flavour. Report informed me, they are caught to the immense weight of twenty-five or thirty pounds; but, having seen none but of an ordinary size, I dare not affirm the assertion. And now farewel. In my next you shall have an account of an alpine excursion we had planned, and which actually took place on the succeeding day. Pray let me hear from you soon, and believe me sincerely, THE WANDERER. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. SIR, OUR correspondent L, the perusal of L's communication; and to that end, I shall avail myself of a remark it contains. He says, that "in dry, sandy, and calcareous, districts, they know little of disease among their poul. try." Then might not a poultry-yard be so constructed, as to combine all the advantages of such a soil, by laying upon it a stratum of sand, gravel, lime, or other dry earth, of a sufficient thickness; and by raising it in the centre, and letting it slope off to the sides, so as to resemble, in shape, a mirror? By the latter means, the rain would flow off to the extremities of the yard; and the little hill, thus created, would always be dry. The boundary of the yard might be placed a little way within the rise of the ground, so as to exclude, from the part occupied by the poultry, the level which the water, flowing from the centre, would naturally find: and it might be adviseable to cut a small trench, or ditch, round the extremity of the yard, (outside of the boundary fence,) in order to carry off the water coming from the raised ground. As the winds which blow from the north and east are in this climate the most severe, and the most likely to give cold to the young chickens, shelter and pro. tection from their effects are objects of consequence, and might be effected by building the poultry houses on the north and east sides of the yard. March 10, 1811. For the Monthly Magazine. H. CRITICAL REMARKS on SHAKESPEARE. KING JOHN.Act 1. Scene 1. So hence! Be thou the trumpet of our wrath, And sullen presage of your own decay. "B Y the epithet sullen," says Dr. Johnson, "which cannot be ap Y Number of your Magazine for plied to a trumpet, it is plain that the December last, page 403, furnishes some useful and interesting information re specting the diseases incident to poultry, and the treatment proper for their cure; acquired, apparently, by much experience in the breeding of poultry, and equal care and ability in referring those diseases to their real cause. But the trouble, care, and difficulty, necessary to their cure, are, as your correspondent justly insinuates, so great as to render the means of preventing the occurrence of those discases far more desirable to be known, than the means by which they can be cured. I shall therefore, through the medium of your Magazine, propose a n.ethod of prevention, suggested by a poet's imagination had suggested a new idea, as if he had said, 'Be a trumpet the prognostic of your own ruin.' But to alarm; be a bird of prey to croak out Mr. Malone sees not why the epithet suilen may not be applied to a trumpet with as much propriety as to a bell. And, in Henry IV. part 2, we read, "sounds ever after like a sullen bell." The epithet, however, as applied to a bell, is eminently happy. Milton has adopted it with grand effect in his Il Penseroso. Oft on a plat of rising ground, I hear the far off curfew sound, Over some wide-watered shore, Swinging slew with sullen roar. But the sound of the trumpet is sprightly and and animated. "Farewel, the neighing steed and the shrill trump," says Othello. And I apprehend that the allusion is not to a bird of prey, but to a passing bell, and that decay in this, as in other passages, bears a sense equivalent to dissolution. Thus in Act iv. Scene the last of this drama, we read that, vast confusion waits, As doth a raven on a sick-fallen beast, Act III. Scene 1. The word "untrimmed," Mr. Steevens tells us, means" undressed," in proof of which he adduces several superfluous examples, shewing that "trimmed" signifies "drest," or rather perhaps gaily dressed," Trimm'd like a younker prancing to his love," &c. But he offers no instance in which untrimmed is used for undressed. On the contrary, the quotations of Mr. Tollet sufficiently evince that "untrimmed" means simply unadorned." Sad, pale, and untrimmed, &c." I am of opinion with Theobald, that we should read, "and trimmed," that is, accomplished or adorned by art and nature. If the midnight bell Did with his iron tongue and brazen mouth Sound on unto the drowsy race of night. Ibid, Scene 3. Dr. Warburton, with that happiness which marks many of his emendations, for on reads ONE. Mr. Steevens, however, has a long note to justify the absurdity of the old blundering text. This we are accustomed to, and it might be borne; but it exceeds the common limits of patience, when we see the first note followed by a second, assigning his reasons for doubting and finally rejecting his own explanation. When may we hope for that great desideratum, an edition of Shakespeare, combining in one felicitous assemblage, the perspicacity of Warburton, the elaborate research of Steevens, and the dignified energy of Johnson; and at the same time exempt from the extravagance of the first, the critical imbecility of the second, and the deficiency of the last in the language and literature of the age of Elizabeth? Few readers of Shakespeare will fail to recollect that the ghost in Hamlet makes its appearance, the bell then beating one." In the same noble speech from which the passage we are now criticising was taken, the old copy has, "Then in despite of brooded watchful day," &c. This nonsense Mr. Pope, with true poetical feeling, had altered to “broad-eyed watchful day." But Mr. Steevens tells us, "that this emendation, however elegant, is unnecessary, for that all animals while brooded, that is, with a brood of young ones under their protection, are The comment remarkably vigilant." must be acknowledged worthy of the text. To speak candidly, however, Shakespeare is unquestionably indebted more or less to all his annotators; but it is surely high time that the golden ore of their criticisms should be separated from the dross. RICHARD II. Mr. Pope has justly remarked "that the rhyming couplets in this play are so much inferior to the composition in ge neral, as to appear of a different hand." It is now fully ascertained that there existed an old drama on the same subject, which is referred to both by Camden and Lord Bacon; and these rhyming passages, with divers other passages not in rhyme, but which are equally distinguishable, were in all probability borrowed from that antient historic play. As, for instance, the garden scene at the close of the 3d Act, the greater part of the resignation scene in the 4th Act, and almost the whole of the 5th Act. The long and tedious soliloquy of Richard in his prison of Pomfret castle, in particular, exhibits no trace of Shakespeare's pen. And the only two scenes in this act which appear to me entirely genuine, are those very short, but very excellent, ones; in the first of which York describes to his dutchess the entrance of Richard and Bolingbroke into the metropolis; and in the last, which passes at Windsor, the new king complains of the conduct of his son the prince of Wales, whose character is sketched with great force and felicity. Seek you to seize and gripe into your hands RICHARD II.-Act II. Scene 3. ford? Is not Gaunt dead and doth not Hereford live? Take Hereford's rights away and take from time His charters and his customary dues; |