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(Lon. Mag.)

GERMAN EPIGRAMS.

The Germans possess a great number and variety of short epigrammatic compositions, from which an interesting Anthology might be wreathed. We propose to give a few specimens from time to time.

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Original Anecdotes, Literary News, Chit Chat, Incidents, &c.

MR. SOUTHEY.

No writer of the present day (observes Mr. Galt, in his Bachelor's Wife) has written more of what I should call respectable poetry, than the Poet Laureat. He has, I acknowledge, produced several passages of great beauty and magnificence, but none which can be justly called truly sublime or pathetic. He ranks high in the estimation of the world, and deservedly so, as a man of genius, and perhaps in point of industry he is not inferior, neither in constancy of application nor in productive power, to the greatest of his cotemporaries. But the whole of his lays and lucubrations bear an impress of art or authorship which will ever keep them out of the first class.

ANIMAL SUICIDE.

A doubt has been raised-whether brute animals ever commit suicide: to me it is obvious that they do not, and cannot. Some years, ago, however, there was a case reported in all the newspapers of an old ram who committed suicide (as it was alleged) in the presence of many witnesses. Not having any pistols or razors, he ran for a short distance, in order to aid the impetus of his descent, and leaped over a precipice, at the foot of which he was dashed to pieces. His motive to the "rash act," as the papers called it, was supposed to be mere tædium vitæ. But, for my part, I doubted the accuracy of the report. Not long after a case occurred in Westmoreland which strengthened my doubts. A fine young blood horse, who could have no possible reason for making away with himself, unless it were the high price of oats at that time, was found one morning dead in his field. The case was certainly a suspicious one: for he was lying by the side of a stone-wall, the upper part of which wall his skull had fractured, and which had returned the compliment by fracturing his skull. It was argued, therefore, that in default of ponds, &c. he had deliberately hammered with his head against the wall; this, at first, seemed the only solution: and he was generally pro

nounced felo de se. However, a day or two brought the truth to light. The field lay upon the side of a hill: and, from a mountain which rose above it, a shepherd had witnessed the whole catastrophe, and gave evidence which vindicated the character of the horse. The day had been very windy; and the young creature being in high spirits, and, caring evidently as little for the corn question, as for the bullion question, had raced about in all directions; and at length, descending too steep a part of the field, had been unable to check himself, and was projected by the impetus of his own descent like a battering ram against the wall.

HUMAN SUICIDE.

Of human suicides, the most affecting I have ever seen recorded is one which I met with in a German book: this I shall repeat a little further on: the most calm and deliberate is the following, which is said to have occurred at Keswick, in Cumberland: but I must acknowledge, that I never had an opportunity, whilst staying at Keswick, of verifying the statement. A young man of studious turn, who is said to have resided near Penrith, was anxious to qualify himself for entering the church, or for any other mode of life which might secure to him a reasonable portion of literary leisure. His family, however, thought that under the circumstances of his situation he would have a better chance for success in life as a tradesman; and they took the nece ry steps for placing him as an apprentice at some shopkeeper's in Penrith. This he looked upon as an indignity, to which he was determined in no case to submit. And accordingly, when he had ascertained that all opposition to the choice of his friends was useless, he walked over to the mountainous district of Keswick (about sixteen miles distant)-looked about him in order to select his ground-coolly walked up Lattrig (a dependency of Skiddaw)-made a pillow of sodslaid himself down with his face looking up to the sky-and in that posture was found dead, with the appearance of having died tranquilly.

OPIUM EATERS.

The practice of eating opium does not appear to be so general with the Turks as is commonly believed. But there is a set of people at Constantinople devoted to this drug; and the Theriakis, as they are called, have that hollow and livid aspect, the fixed dulness of the eye at one time, or the unnatural brightness at another, which tell too plainly of this destructive habit. They seldom live beyond thirty; lose all appetite for food; and as their strength wastes, the craving for the vivid excitement of opium increases. It is useless to warn a Theriakee that he is hurrying to the grave. He comes in the morning to a large coffee-house, a wellknown resort for this purpose, close to the superb mosque of Suleimaneih. Having swallowed his pill, he seats himself in the portico in front, which is shaded by trees. He has no wish to change his position, for motion would disturb his happiness, which he will tell you is indescribable. Then the most wild and blissful reveries come crowding on him. His eyes are fixed on the river beneath, covered with the sails of every nation; on the majestic shores of Asia opposite, or vacantly raised where the gilded minarets of Suleimanieh ascend on high: if external objects heighten, as is allowed, the illusions of opium, the Turk is privileged. There, till the sun sets on the scene, the Theirakee revels in love,in splendour,or pride. He sees the beauties of Circassia striving whose charms shall most delight him; the Ottoman fleet sails beneath his flag as the Capitan Pacha: or seated in the divan, turbaned heads are bowed before him, and voices hail the favoured of Alla and the Sultan. But evening comes, and he awakes to a sense of wretchedness and helplessness, to a gnawing hunger which is an effect of his vice; and hurries home, to suffer till the morning sun calls him to his paradise again.

DR. JOHNSON

was a frequent visitor at Sheridan's, when he was in London, and used to fondle the children, in his rough way, who might so far boast of having been • elevees sur les genoux des philosophes. Observing that Mrs. Sheridan's

eldest daughter already began to give signs of that love of literature for which she was afterwards distinguished, and that she was very busily employed in reading his Ramblers,' her mother hastened to assure Dr. Johnson, it was only works of that unexceptionable de scription which she suffered to meet the eyes of her little girl. In general,' added Mrs. Sheridan, 'I am very careful to keep from her all such books as are not calculated, by their moral tendency, expressly for the perusal of youth.' Then you are a fool, Madam vociferated the doctor. Turn your daughter loose into the library; if she is well inclined, she will choose only nutritious food; if otherwise, all your cautions will avail nothing to prevent her following the natural bent of her inclinations.'

TRANSLATIONS.

Translations are the touchstones of wit, and that which is true wit in one language will be equally so in another. It is like mercury; which, though it may assume different forms, is not lost in any operation you can make it undergo. What the Italians call concetti (conceits), if translated into English, would be called nonsense. The works of the ancients have always undergone this proof. Homer, read him in what language you will, is always the greatest of poets. Even "Don Quixote," did not succeed less in French than in Spanish. Moliere preserves true beau ties in Italian and English: as he painted nature, the truth and justice of his pictures will be always acknowledged, if they are but rendered properly and happily. Every translation is a copy; but, to copy well, a man should know how to paint. When many of the gay comedies or other pieces, which have the most reputation in France, come to be translated into English, they appear to be only tissues of trifles, agreeably expressed. All those very delicate thoughts vanish away, when you take them out of the words in which they are dressed: the kind of wit, in which their meuit consists, evaporates as soon as they touch this crucible. As all the lustre was owing only to the turn and polish, it

cannot be preserved in another tongue, because it is impossible to find equivalent expressions for all those pretty phrases that supply the place of thought. By this proof we may, in fact, know the merit of every author; for true wit is the same in all ages and nations.

MAIDENS ALL FORLORN.

Miss Mary Lydia Lucrine, a maiden lady of genteel fortune, who died in the year 1778, at her apartments in Oxford Street, and who, some years since, meeting with a disappointment as to matrimony, made a vow, never to see the light of the sun! Accordingly the windows of her apartment were closely shut up, and she strictly kept her resolution.

A few years ago another lady, who had resolved never to see the light of the day again, from a matrimonial disappointment, lived shut up in darkness, (at least she had only a lamp or candle burning,) in Charter-house Street; and this lady, like the above, rigidly kept her maiden vow.

FIRE QUERY.

A correspondent, dissatisfied with the answer to the query respecting the sun putting out a fire, given in a former number, states, that the rarefaction of the air, by the double action of the fire and the sun, is the cause of the phenomenon. "For," says he, "it is well known that a fire will not burn without air, and also that heat rarefies the air. Now, the sun's heat, combined with that of the fire, will rarify the air to such a degree, that the fire will go out, because the air is not sufficiently dense to make it burn."

THIEVES.

The capital of England is the only place in the world where thieves voluntarily assume a notorious costume to distinguish themselves from their fellow citizens. The cut of the coat, tie of the neckcloth, and sleek curl of the hair above the ears, are all as distinct and peculiar as livery, parochial garb or badge. Honest men should be prohibited from imitating what is equivalent to branding or ironing in other countries.

CHANCE OR FORTUNE.

A singular reverse of fortune has just happened to an Irishman of the name of Arthur Burns, who at present resides in the High-street, Glasgow. He came to this country a number of years ago, and has since worked as a builder's labourer, and bore the character of a sober and industrious man. An uncle of his, who went to the East Indies in early life, accumulated a large fortune, and on his death-bed made a will bequeathing the whole of his property in favour of his relation. Inquiry was made after Burns in Ireland, where it was ascertained that he long before had gone to Scotland. A messenger was immediately despatched to this city, and care

ful inquiry made, till he was at length traced out a few days ago, and the good with the copy of his uncle's will, appointing news imparted to him. He was furnished him sole heir to his immense property, amounting to 190,000l. in cash, several valuable estates, five merchant vessels at sea, besides an inventory of furniture of the richest and most costly description; among other articles, are a gold table, a bedstead mounted with gold, a pair of slippers with gold buckles, two carriages fine. ly mounted with silver, and various other articles equally splendid. One of the vessels, called the Margaret, is on her pas sage home, with some of these valuable effects, and a large stock of the choicest wines, and several puncheons of rum. Mr. B. is about forty years old, is married, but without children. None of the money or effects have yet arrived, as the will was despatched before the merchant was dead, but accounts of his decease and the arrival of the effects are daily expected. Burns in the meantime has never ceased from his employment, and is much less clated on the subject than might have been expected. He regularly carries home in the evening his usual bundle of sticks for fuel. As is always the case in matters of this kind, new friends have sprung up on every side, who are eager to serve him; and offers of accommodation are unbounded; but he has declined their services, and prefers working in his homely garb and abstemious fare, till he is able to touch his

own.

Mr.

his uncle to him in Ireland, some years Three thousand pounds was sent by and when he failed, he ranked the labourer ago, entrusted to a gentleman who kept it, as one of his creditors. The composition was 7s. but he has not yet received it, and it would seem that his good fortune would come on him all at once.

CHOLERA MORBUS.

and which in 1817 appeared for the first The Plague, called also Cholera Morbus, time on the banks of the Ganges, reached, in 1821, the shores of the Persian Gulf. Syria by means of the caravans from BasIn 1822 it spread into Persia, and entered

sora. In the month of June last it mounted to Antioch, and extended to the shores of the Mediterranean, where it came in contact with the European merchants. The report, that it has made its appearance in the Isle of Cyprus and in Lower Egypt, is groundless; but there is reason to fear that it will be introduced into the latter country during the approaching spring, especially if it should reach Damas before the cold season arrests its ravages. It is not known whether or not it has penetrated into Alexandria; the last intelligence merely states that it has already desolated the shores of the gulf on which that city is situated; and that the terror which it inspired had caused the flight of the greater part of the population.

ECCENTRIC CHARACTERS DECEASED.

Died at Cheltenham, aged 73, the Rev. Sir Henry Bate Dudley, bart. rector of Willingham, prebendary of Ely, and a magistrate of Cambridgeshire, &c. one of the most adventurous and original characters of his age. He was a native of Chelmsford, where his father, Mr. Bate, who was a clergyman, conferred on him a classical education, and afterwards sent him to college. He commenced his career by writing for the stage, and produced "The Rivals," and the "Blackamore washed White," while Mr. Garrick conducted Drury Lane Theatre, and, of course, became acquainted with that gentleman, and with the theatrical performers of his day. He next appeared as a recruiting officer, at a station near Middlesex hospital, where his active manœuvres to promote enlistments excited most public attention. The peace of 1782 depriving him of this employment he adventured in the speculation of a newspaper, and brought out the Morning Herald, with all that energy of posting bills, &c. and with humbugs in liveries, which soon conferred on the paper great notoriety. Besides writing articles of wit and humour for his paper, in which he had much talent, he produced "The Woodman," and the "Flitch of Bacon," wherein he fortunately enjoyed the co-operation of Mr. Shield. He was frequently a guest at the table of the prince; and, patronage offering in the church, he entered into holy orders, and was soon after placed in the list of the magistracy of the counties of Essex and Cambridgeshire, still continuing his connexion with the newspaper. At his living, at Bradwell near the sea, he became an agricultural improver, and obtain. ed a premium from the Society of Arts, for some extensive embankments in a district where the retiring of the sea favoured the operation; and about the same time he rendered himself very conspicuous as a magistrate, by raising a hue and cry through two counties, in chase of a man, who was charged with damning the king; and, as an editor, complimented the Court of King's Bench on the clemency of the sentence on Kidd Wake, of five years' solitary confinement, a journeyman printer, who had been convicted, on the evidence of Stockdale, of being one of the mob who insulted the king, on his way to the Parliament House. In course of time, our subject was made a baronet, and succeeded the bishop of Chester, as rector of Willingham, in the county of Cambridge. A few years ago he sold his interest in the Morning Herald to its present active proprietors, having previously disposed of the English Chronicle and the Courier de l'Europe which he also established. His connexion with the press enabled him constantly to keep himself before the public, and his consequent literary influence introduced him to an extensive circle of acquaintance. Few men, therefore, were better known during

a period of forty-five years. In political principles, his paper was like harlequin's coat, and therefore held in little estimation; yet maintained a circulation from the chit-chat and small wit with which it was filled, as well as advertisements from the exaggerated reports of its circulation, which it now enjoys. That he was a man which, in his time, was seldom half of that of genius, and of daring and persevering enterprise, it cannot be denied.-Mon. Mag.

THE ASBESTOS STONE.

The asbestos stone is found in several places in Europe and Asia, particularly in Sweden, Corsica, Cornwall, and the Island of Anglesea, in England. It is of a silky nature, very fine, and of a greyish colour; insipid, and indissoluble in water. It may be split into threads and filaments, from one to ten inches in length. It is indestructible by fire, whence it may be employed for many useful purposes. There are some sorts whose filaments are rigid and brittle, and others more flexible. The former is not spun into cloth, and the latter very difficultly. In consequence of its incombustibility, it was very much valued by the ancients for wrapping up the bodies of the dead. In the year 1702, an urn was discovered at Rome, with the bones of a buman body wrapped in a cloth made of it is as follows: the stone is laid to soak in flexible asbestos. The method of preparing warm water, then opened and divided by the hands, that the earthy matter may be washed out. This earth is white like chalk, and makes the water thick and milky. This being several times repeated, the fila

ments are afterwards collected and dried: they are commodiously spun with flax. When the cloth is woven, it is best preserved by oil from breaking. It is then put into the fire; and the flax being burnt out, the cloth remains pure and white. It might also be made into paper; and, from its incombustibility, wills, or any other thing of importance, could be written on it. The Chinese make furnaces of this mineral, which are very portable.

THE COMET, which became visible in this country a few days after Christmas-day last, passed its perihelion, or nearest point to the sun, about the 22d of December; in the thir teen days that followed, to the 4th of January, its apparent motion amongst the fixed stars was at the average daily rate of 1 deg. 31 m.; thence to the 12th, its motion averaged 1 d. 58 m.; and so rapid was the increase of its speed, that between the morning of the 12th and the evening of the 23d of January, its apparent motion was 2 deg. 36 m. per day, and the real daily motion in its orbit, as viewed from the sun, 112 minutes per day, being nearly double the velocity with which the earth revolves round the sun, although this latter amounts to nearly one million and a half of miles daily! Its apparent course is amongst the stars which surround the North Pole. M.

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