Newton, but soon attempted to account for them. He was eager to build a world that should not be easily destroyed; and his favourite "Theory of Atoms" shews with how strong materials he wished to raise his structure. Without any intention, Descartes gave assurance to the mechanical philosophy, (which supposes the world to move as a mere machine,) and thus he excludes the agency of a Deity in its structure and preservation.

On Reputation. A Fable.

The following instructive fable is taken from one of Howel's Letters, but it does not appear to what collection it belongs; perhaps it was the production of the ingenious author's fancy.*"It happened that Fire, Water, and Fame, went to travel together; and they consulted, if they lost one another, how they might be recovered, and meet again. Fire said, when you see smoke, you shall find me ; Water said, when you see marsh and moorish low grounds, you shall find me; but Fame said, take heed how you lose me, for if you do, you run a great hazard never to meet me again: there's no retrieving of me."-Howel's Fam. Letters, vol. ii. letter 14.

It seems to be an Eastern fable.

Balloons.

What would the lively writer above-mentioned have said of these specimens of modern ingenuity and bravery, who talks so triumphantly on the discoveries about his own times? 66 Though in former times a bishop's head was sent (apart from his body) to dwell among the Antipodes, because he first hatched and held that opinion; yet our East-India navigators, who so often cross the equator and tropics, will tell you it's a gross error to hold there are no Antipodes. For a man to walk upon the ocean when the surges were at the highest, and to make a dull piece of wood to swim, nay fly, upon the water, was held as impossible a thing, as it is now thought to fly in the air." -Howel's F. Letters, vol. iii. letter 9.

A Poet.

The Latin saying, "Poeta nascitur non fit," was uttered with little consideration on the sub. ject. Poetry, like any other art, requires knowledge. The very essence of poetry consists of figurative language, tropes, metaphors, and allegories, which no writer can use, without some intimate knowledge of those matters from whence

they were borrowed.

One difference between

Shakespeare and other poets is, the Warwickshire bard was a good naturalist; and all his metaphors taken from nature are very correct in their parts, as well as very beautiful in their structure and application. Of Shakespeare we may truly sing, in the lines of a modern poet :

Hail! glorious Bard, whose high command
A thousand various strings obey;

While joins and mixes to thy hand

At once the bold and tender lay.

Not mighty Homer down Parnassus steep

Rolls the full tide of verse so clear, and yet so deep.
Ode on the Power of Poetry, Dodsley's Collect. vol. 3.

T. Warton and Gray.

It may be wondered, that in the excellent comparison between these two poetical and learned men, their Latin poetry was omitted, being subjects in which they most approached towards each other's merits. The Latin specimens of Gray and Warton are delightful: the fragment, "De Principiis Cogitandi," of the former, and the "Mons Catharina," of the latter writer, have more perspicuity and ease than their compo sitions in their own language. Gray's verses on the "Chartreuse" will not be degraded by a com

* See Memoirs of the Life, &e. of T. Warton, by R. Mant, M.A. 1802.

parison with Warton's Latin inscriptions. To carry on the comparison of these elegant and ingenious scholars, we must prefer the comic muse of Warton to that of Gray. The "Long Story" cannot be compared with the "Progress of Discontent," of Warton. Gray's attempt at humour frequently failed in success; and humour seems the faculty in which Warton highly excelled, as may be seen in the specimens of his, in the "Oxford Sausage," and in some papers of the "Connoisseur." T. Warton possessed all the humour of the Dean of St. Patrick's, without his grossness or indelicacy.

Female Garrulity.

The Archbishop of Cambray, in his treatise on "Female Education,*" enters into the reasons why women are so talkative. "First," says the prelate,

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women are too often indulged in romantic friendships, accustomed to excessive compliments and flatteries, and jealousies among one another. Accustomed to cousider a facility of talking as a proof of genius, they discourse on trifles with unmeasurable length; and, fond of trifles, they neither pay attention to select their subjects, or to the true method of conversing, viz. to say a

* L' Education des Filles. 12me. Amsterdam, 1708. VOL. II.

K

great deal in few words; and to be nice in the subjects on which they harangue. Secondly, women are brought up with too much art and finesse, which they apply to all their schemes and fancies. Now these plans are carried on in a roundabout manner, as women are naturally timid and shamefaced, and so become actresses in all they do, and most eloquent orators on whatever topic is near their heart, besides the facility with which they can call tears to their assistance, &c."

Talent for Satire.

Young persons of lively parts, and inexperienced in life and characters, are very lavish of their censures on men and things. They soon, however, (if the lively blossoms of their youth set in the fruit of their understanding,) discover that a very small degree of wit is sufficient to find fault, and utter abuse. A little wit, with a convenient share of ill-nature, will enable a man to be satirical; but it requires a good deal of sense to praise worthy objects, as in such there is a great quantity of matter of the best sort, and they require commensurate abilities and judgment to give them their share and kind of encomium. The last resource of ignorance is a sneer, when the person is conscious he can give no answer; and