SIR, Lines on a Tomb-stone. June 6, 1826. THE following beautiful lines were copied, a few weeks since, from a tomb-stone in Brockdish Churchyard, Norfolk, raised to the memory of an amiable girl, aged ten years. Should you deem them worthy of a place in the forthcoming Number of your valuable little work, I think they cannot fail of proving highly interesting to your numerous readers. A CONSTANT READER. Blighted, like some fair flower, in early bloom, A Story for the Enemies of Free Trade and of the Im-' provement of Mechanics. [From "Narrative of a Journey into Khorasan, by J. B, Fraser, author of a Tour in the Himālā Mountains." P. 190. 4to. 1825. £3. 38.] Ir is not long ago since a native of Fars succeeded in making certain improvements in pottery, so far as to manufacture a species of porcelain resembling tolerable China ware. His fame quickly spread, and soon reached the court. When the king heard it he dispatched an order for the man to repair directly to Terhan to make china for the Shah. The poor fellow was seized with consternation at this order, for he knew that, not only should he have to work for the Shah, but for all his officers and courtiers; while so far from being paid, he would probably not receive enough to keep body and soul together. He accordingly went to court, not to make china, but mustering every thing he could raise for a bribe to the minister, he besought him to report to the king that he was not the man that made the china; that the real potter had run away nobody knew where, and that he himself was thus erroneously placed in restraint, and prayed that he might obtain his release. The minister soon sent him his discharge, and the man left the capital for his own country, fervently vowing never to make a bit of china, or attempting im provement of any sort as long as he lived. It is a common practice thus to kidnap the best workmen in all trades for the use of the court and great men of the provinces, who seldom or never pay for such matters. Thus every one rather avoids the reputation of excellence in any but the commonest trades; and thus the conduct of the govern ment and its officers strikes directly at the root of all improvement and useful invention. Letter of Mr. Wright's, preparatory to his First Missionary Visit to Scotland. SIR, It will no doubt be recollected by many of the readers of the Rev. R. Wright's Missionary Life and Labours, that when about to take his mission into Scotland, fearing lest the Scotch people should have their expectation too much raised before they saw and heard him, and that his appearance, voice and talents would not be such as they anticipated, and that their disappointment would prove injurious to the cause, he wrote a letter to inform them what kind of person they were to expect to find him. (Pp. 265, 266.) This letter I have often wished to see, and having lately been favoured with a copy of it, cannot deny myself the pleasure of transmitting it to you, being persuaded that the readers of your useful Miscellany will be as much gratified with the perusal of it as I was. To Mr. Purden, Glasgow. B. DEAR SIR, Wisbeach, June 30, 1809. BEING appointed by the Committee of the Unitarian Fund to visit our northern brethren as a missionary, I shall, if God permit, begin the journey on Monday next. Having several places to visit in my way through England, it will be near a fortnight after I set out before I can reach Glasgow. The first Sunday in July I have engaged to spend at Chester, where Mr. Lyons now resides. think of proceeding to Liverpool, and of taking coach from thence to glasgow. I hope to arrive at Glasgow on Friday the 14th or Saturday the 15th of July. I intend spending eight Lord's days in Scotland. Then I In your country I am a total stranger, and have no personal acquaintance there, unless it be one person at Edinburgh. I can make no appointments until I arrive at your town, where of course I shall spend the first Lord'sday. I shall wish to visit and preach in as many towns as I can, with any prospect of success. I shall not wish to waste my time in going to places where no prospect of doing good can be perceived, only I wish it to be known that I care not how often I preach, nor how much I am employed. The object is to do all the good we possibly can, in promoting the cause of pure and primitive Christianity. I reckon on the co-operation of the brethren I shall find in Scotland, in my efforts and endeavours to promote the glorious cause in which we are embarked, during my short stay in your country. In various parts of England, and in Wales, rational Christianity is making rapid progress; the accounts Mr. Lyons brought us from Scotland, gratified and animated us all. We rejoice that a part of the island, celebrated for seriousness, attention to religion, learning and hospitality, as Scotland is, admits into several of its towns the Unitarian doctrine; greatly will it rejoice my heart if I be so happy as to contribute to its success and spread there, by the labours I may undertake in my proposed journey.. certainly have long wished to see our Northern brethren, and I hope soon to have my spirit refreshed among them. May God prepare and enable me to come among you in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of his Son Jesus, and make our interviews abundantly edifying! by In expecting me, do not look for a man of figure, with sonorous voice, whose outward appearance will recommend him; but expect a person of diminutive stature, a plain man, who has nothing to recommend him but the truth, which to the utmost of his ability he will cheerfully communicate with plainness and fidelity, both in public and private, in defence of which he is willing to pass throngh evil report and good report, to promote which he will rejoice to labour in season and out of season. I shall be glad, when not engaged in public, to visit and converse with any friends who will receive me; but I wish it to be every where known, that I want no entertainment but what is most simple and cheap. I have been in the habit of travelling much among the poor, of partaking with them of their homely fare, seasoned by friendship and Christian conversation, of sleeping in the mud-walled cottage, sometimes on a clay floor, and open to the thatch above. I usually perform my journeys on foot. Our object in missi onary journeys is, and ought to be, to avoid unnecessary expense, and to put those among whom we go to as little expense and trouble as possible. I never wish to be entertained like a gentleman, but as a follower of the meek and lowly Jesus, employed in preaching his gospel to the poor; and wherever I find a homely bed, or mattress, and a little plain food, I have enough, and am satisfied and comfortable. Thus far I have thought it not improper to speak of myself, that the poorest brethren, as well as those in better circumstances, may be informed they will be put to no inconvenience in receiving a Unitarian Missionary to their houses. In free conversation among Christians I delight, and always reckon, when travelling, on doing as much good by conversation as by public preaching. Not having leisure to add more, I remain, dear Sir, very truly and respectfully, your Christian Friend and Brother, R. WRIGHT. Harris's Natural History of the Bible.* We have in this volume a valuable compilation, the sub stance of many works on the "Natural History of the Bible." It is one of those books by which America is repaying us for the knowledge and learning borrowed from Europe. Out of a considerable catalogue of original works derived from this side of the water, Dr. Harris has selected a great deal of useful and interesting matter. We are pleased to see his book reprinted here, and at a price which brings it within the reach of a great many readers. In the same number of pages we know of no work which contains so much real instruction on the customs of the Jews, and the productions, &c. of Eastern countries. But we shall give the reader an opportunity of judging for himself by a few extracts. At the end of a "Dissertation on the Mosaical Distinc The Natural History of the Bible; a Description of all the Quadrupeds, Birds, Fishes, Reptiles and Insects, Trees, Plants, Flowers, Gums and Precious Stones, mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures. Collected from the best Authorities, and Alphabetically Arranged. By Thaddeus Mason Harris, D. D., of Dorchester, Massachusetts. London, Reprinted for Tegg, Cheapside. 8vo. pp. 462. 1824. 10s. 6d. tion of Animals into Clean and Unclean," is the following Catalogue of forbidden Birds, in English Metre, extracted from the Bibliotheca Biblica, III. 142, ed. 4to, 1725, where it is printed in the old black letter. Of feathred Foules that fanne the bucksom aire, Not all alike weare made for foode to Men, For, these thou shalt not eat doth God declare, Twice tenne their nombre, and their flesh unclene: Fyrst the great Eagle, byrde of feigned Jove, Which Thebanes worshippe and diviners love. "Next Ossifrage and Ospray (both one kinde), Of luxurie and rapine, emblems mete, That haunte the shores, the choicest preye to finde, Who spareth not the pale dede man to teare: They too that range the thirstie wilds emong, The vocale Cuckowe, of the faulcon race, The glutton Cormorante, of sullen moode, "The Storke, which dwelleth on the fir-tree topp, |