* personal injury, but was completely immersed in the heterogeneous compost which received him. Extremely morti so rapidly approaching. I am informed that Tamworth is supplied with its coals from Polesworth, a distance of two or three miles, entirely by barrow-fied at this unlucky accident, as he conwheeling, and with perhaps little or no additional expense; and we have an instance of a similar advantage, in the present mode of conveying our Key-hill sand to the canal, at a considerable distance. And these, perhaps, may be thought quite as useful as the elegant and statesman-like idea of "digging holes and filling them up again.' If every thing cannot be done which humanity might wish, there can be no doubt but that much might be accomplished. Idleness will engender vice and discontent. Remove the cause, and we may then in vain seek for sedition in our streets, though the philosopher's lantern and candle were sedulously employed for the purpose. 1 If I am wrong in my statements, I invite correction; but, if right, I request support. If called upon for any reply, I make no pledge; but shall be happy in any opportunity of assisting in the service of my native town and country. JAMES LUCKCOCK. Birmingham; Nov. 13, 1819. 66 BOCCACCIO. ceived it to be, he began to halloo to the urchin whom he had left in his apartment; but the lad, on hearing him plunge, ran straightway to his mistress, to inform her of the success of the experiment. She immediately hastened to the room, and, searching his clothes, soon found the purse of money, which Andrew always carried about him. Having thus obtained the prize for which her snares had been laid, and secured the reward of her consanguinity and tenderness, she thought proper to drop the relationship; and, shutting the door of the closet, left her dear brother to his meditations. Story of Andrew of Perugia concluded. O sooner did Andrew find himself alone, than he stripped to his shirt; for the weather was extremely warm; and, sitting down at one end of the bed, began to pull off his stockings: but, before he could get into bed, certain compunctious visitings' of nature compelled him to enquire of his attendant where he could retire for relief. The boy pointed to a closet, which Andrew entered with the haste and inconsideration natural to the occasion; and, treading on a board purposely left loose, fell through the floor into the abyss below. The place into which he was thus precipitated, was a sort of nook, which separated the house from the adjoining one, and served as a common receptacle for the filth of both. Though the height from which he descended therefore was considerable, he escaped without "Andrew, finding that no answer was returned to his repeated vociferations, began, too late, to suspect that some trick had been played him; and, climbing over the low wall which separated the dunghill from the street, went round to the door, where he rapped, and rattled, and called, a long time, to no purpose. Being now fully satisfied of his disaster, he began bitterly to bemoan himself, saying, 'Alas! in how short a time have I lost five hundred florins and a sister! After many other lamentations of a similar kind, returning to the charge, he battered the door so long and so violently, that the neighbours, unable to endure the disturbance, got up; and one of the lady's attendants opening a window, enquired, in a sleepy tone,‡ wlio was there?" Oh dear, (said Andrew,) don't you know me? I am Madonna Fiordaliso's brother Andrew."-'My good fellow, (replied the girl,) you seem to have drank too much. I know nothing of any Andrew, or any such nonsense. Go and sleep upon it, and come again to-morrow; and do not disturb us ail in this maner.'-“ How, (said Andrew,) do you pretend not to understand me? 'Egad, you know me as well as I' do myself: but, if these Sicilian relationships are so easily to be forgotten, give me my clothes again, and I'll willingly relinquish the acquaintance.”—“ You must be dreaming, my good fellow," (said the girl;) and, shutting the window, cut short the conversation. "Andrew, *Di tanto l'amò iddio che niuno male si fece nella caduta. + Il quale egli molto ben conobbe. 66 Andrew, now sensible of the full extent of his misfortune, was half mad with vexation; and, seizing a large stone, commenced so furious an attack upon the door, that the whole neighbourhood was roused; and, believing him to be some drunken reprobate, they began with common consent to abuse him,-as the dogs of a district set upon a strange cur.- What a shame it is to be knocking at people's doors at this time of night! (exclaimed they :) Do, good man, go home, and be quiet; and do not disturb the whole street in this manner.' On this, a certain ruffian, in the service of the good lady, whom Andrew had seen nothing of, encouraged probably by what he heard, thrust his head out of a window, and rubbing his eyes, as if awoke out of a profound sleep, asked, in a deep, hoarse, terrible voice, 'Who's that knocking there below? Andrew, startled at these unexpected accents, raised his head, and discerned a grim visage, surrounded by a black bushy beard, evidently belonging to a fellow of no common size.* At this terrific vision his wrath gave place to a contrary sentiment; and, trembling with fear, he began again to state his relationship to the lady; but the other, sternly interrupting him, exclaimed, 'I have a great mind to come down, and give you as many blows as you have given to the door, you stupid drunken jack-ass: will you let us have no sleep to-night!' And, so saying, he shut the window again. "Some of the neighbours, who were better acquainted than the rest with the fellow's profession, hearing this, called to Andrew, in a low voice, and told him that he had better go about his business, and not stay longer there, if he did not wish to be murdered. Andrew, terrified by the fellow's voice and aspect, and believing the advice to be disinterested, thought it best to follow it; and, giving up all farther hope of his money, began dolefully to retrace his way back to the inn. "Desirous, however, of relieving himself from the intolerable stench which exhaled from all parts of his person, he attempted to find his way to the sea; and, turning to the left, entered a street leading to the upper part of the city, called the Ruga Catalana. He had not gone far, before he saw two men coming towards him with a lantern; and, fearing they might be some police-officers or ill-disposed persons, he hid himself in a ruinous building hard by. The men, as if by design, soon after entered the same place, and, throwing down some tools which they had upon their shoulders, began to discourse together about them. They had not, however, remained long, before one of them exclaimed, What can be the matter! I never smelt such a steuch in all my life!' and, holding up the lantern, to their great astonishment, they espied the unfortunate Andrew, and called out, 'Who is there?' Andrew made no reply; but the men going up to him with the light, and seeing the condition he was in, asked him how he came there in such a trim?* on which Andrew related all that had happened to him. The men, on hearing his account, said to one another, He has certainly been at Scarebone Buttafuoco's;' aud, turning to Andrew, said, 'My good fellow, though you have lost your money, you may think yourself fortunate that you have saved your life; for, be assured, had you gone to bed, instead of falling into the place you did, you would have been murdered, as sure as ever you had fallen asleep. As for the money, 'tis of no use fretting about that, for you may as well expect to have the moon, as to sce a single farthing of it again:† your only chance is to get knocked on the head, if you say much about it.' They then whispered together a short time, aud, turning to Andrew, said, 'My lad, we are disposed to take compassion on you; and therefore, if you have a mind to join us in some business we are going upon, you may soon recover more than the value of what you have lost. Andrew, whosefcase was desperate, replied, that he was ready to do so. They then informed him, that the Archbishop of Naples, Messire Philip Minutolo, had been buried that day in rich vestments, with a ruby ring on his finger worth five hundred gold florins, and that their intention was to go and strip him. Accordingly they all set out together for the church; but the detestable odour which exhaled from poor Andrew so annoyed his companions, that one of them said, 'Is there no place where this fellow could wash himself a little, that Che quivi cosè brutto facesse. Tu ne potresti cosè riavere un denajo, come avere delle stelle del ciclo. 24 Strictures on the Character of the late Professor Porson. [Feb. 1, proving that Porson was a Wechabite, and not a wine-bibber; or by shewing, from the testimony and acknowledg ments of his convivial friends, that the imputation against these disgusting habits is misconceived, or malicious, or exaggerated beyond the strict boundary of truth? No such thing, Mr. Editor: "Cantabrigiensis" contents himself with a Jess difficult process; and, for "proofs of the urbanity of Mr. Porson's manner, (I quote his own words,) and of his readiness to assist other scholars, especially younger ones," he refers in a loose and general way to the praises bestowed upon him by Dr. Maltby, C. Burney, Gaisford, Monk, and other learned and enlightened cotemporaries. But, do these references shake the position of the author upon whom he comments; or blunt, in any degree, the edge of his moral rebuke? By no means. This complimentary tissue, in fact, and this gorgeous array of names, might have been largely extended, without carrying with them any extenuation whatsoever of the Professor's shocking delinquencies as an habitual drunkard. His fame, beyond all question, as a critic and a scholar, is built high on a rock of inexpugnable strength; and I believe that "Cantabrigiensis" has stated nothing more than the truth, when he speaks of his obliging readiness to communicate to others the rich stores of his information. He required a full stretch of admiring homage from all those with whom he associated; and to such as condescended to propitiate his good-humour by constant deference and uncontradicting submission, he was sufficiently affable and accessible. But in the observations made by the author of Junius with his Vizor Up! on the character of Porson, there is not a syllable that calls in question this sort of good-nature and obliging facility. His only object is to arraign and lament the depth to which het was plunged in his "besetting sin," which not only had a *For this reason it was that he so much courted the company, and cultivated the friendship, of young men; and, on this score, I have heard applied to him and his juvenile friends, with extreme rigour of satire, the following verses: Silenum pueri somno videre jacentem, Inflatum hesterno venas, ut semper, Iaccho! Virg. Buc. vi. 15. I ought to observe, that the observations made by the author of Junius with his Vizor Up! on the character of Porson, though very clever and acute, are quite incidental to the purpose of his pamphlet. 2 tendency to sink his own character in the estimation of society, but also to narrow his field of usefulness; and, (by such a strange association of learning and sensuality as was seen in him,) to cast a slur, perhaps, on the general reputation of men of letters. Most fully do I agree with this author, when he says, "that the faults of such men should be distinctly marked, and an emphatic seal of reprobation set upon them." Neither should the consideration of great intellectual gifts and classical attainments intercede to soften the rebuke; because, in truth, they aggravate the delinquency. Above all, it should be shown, that their vices have no sort of necessary connexion with their merits, and that they are the diseased excrescences, and not the genuine and healthy fruit, of the tree. For want of this moral discernment, many a scatter-brained nincompoop, blazing out his youth and his health (as Johnson says of Rochester) in lavish voluptuousness;" many a sauntering doll in Bondstreet, bankrupt in intellect, and filling up, in his talk, every vacuity of sense with an oath, has fancied himself more than half a Charles Fox, because he has duly endeavoured, and succeeded in that endeavour, to imitate his prototype in his gambling and other irregularities. The same also in regard to Porson, as a spirited living poet has well expressed it, The fool uncomb'd, and wash'd but once aweek, Thinks Porson's lice can give him Porson's Greek.* Hodson. If there be any truth in these remarks, the author of them, methinks, stands quite excused, or rather is to be applauded, for having stamped, in language of bold reprobation, these degrading propensities of the Professor. And (as I observed in the commencement of this letter)"Cantabrigiensis" appears to have miscontrued his intention most entirely, by supposing that, when a brand of cen sure His main object is to turn into ridicule the numerous laughable and indefensible guesses respecting the Letters of the mysterious Junins. The éclaircissement, in the close of his satire, is, I think, the best-told story in the English language. From henceforth we shall have no more silly hypotheses on this prolific subject. He is the Cervantes who has quenched the knighterrantry of mad conjecture on a question, the importance of which has been greatly overrated in the public esteem. See Junius with his Vizor Up! p. 29. sure was fixed upon his habits as a systematic sot; it was also intended to call in question his "urbanity" as a scholar, or his willingness to assist others in studies congenial with his own. But it must be obvious to all, that the two things are quite distinct from each other; and the inference drawn by the gentleman upon whose letter I am animadverting, is therefore wholly unwarrantable. I am aware, however, (for I would not knowingly blink the force of any one of his remarks,) that "Cantabrigiensis"has adduced the testimony of Mr. Kidd, the editor of "Tracts and Miscellaneous Criticisms of the late R. Porson, esq." who says, in his preface to this work, that, "in company, R. P. was the gentlest being I ever met with. He possess ed a heart filled with sensibility, &c. &c." page xvi. But, under favour, Mr. Kidd, like the herd of editors in general, is an enthusiast for his hero; and rash, enthu siastic admiration, as we all know, is more than purblind, and holds no communion with the sight of truth. I have thus endeavoured, Mr. Editor, from no other motive than an honest impulse of candour and fair-dealing, to vindicate an author who has both enlivened and instructed me, from an unjust imputation. With regard to that author, I neither know him, nor am I even sure of his name ;* but, should this contribution meet his eye, I beg him to accept the tribute of my humble commendation, for having made a display of great powers in wit and satire, unpoisoned by personality,-undebased by indecency. Nor is this merit to be slightly accounted, when we recollect that, from some apparently incurable perversity of the human faculties, men of all ages who have been gifted with humorous talents, from Aristophanes down to Peter Pindar, have stained their pages with ribald sarcasm and the faces of an * Of two reports which I have heard, one ascribes the tract in question to the pen of Sir Elias Taunton, of Oxford; and the other supposes it to be a posthumous publication of the late Hon. G. Hardinge, who was a Welsh judge, but better known and more celebrated, it is said, as a classical scholar, orator, and wit, than as a lawyer. His "Miscellaneous Works" have, not long since, been published by that respectable veteran in literature, Mr. J. Nicholls, to whom, I believe, the manuscripts of Mr. H. were bequeathed in his will. MONTHLY MAG. No. 336. impure imagination. But the author of Junius with his Vizor Up! blends a justness of moral discrimination with the delicacy of his facetious turns and the severer graces of his classical and wellcultivated mind. In regard to this high merit, I most cordially acquiesce in the sentiment so handsomely expressed by "Cantabrigiensis" at the commencement of his letter; and, as we seem to agree so fully in the main points, I hope he will take in good part the correction I have been induced to offer of that one misrepresentation into which he has fallen. EUMENES. I allude particularly to the notes at P. 18 and p. 28. A critique upon this little work has just been shewn me in a respectable journal, [see Monthly Review for September, p. 110.] in which it is objected, that "the author has displayed learning and talents too heavy-armed for the occasion." Now, so completely do I differ from this dictum, that it is, in my judgment, the very spright liness of his talents and the richness of his classical erudition, that dignifies his satire, elevates it above the insipidity of common buffoonery, and, like the sunshine of an Italian landscape, illuminates the whole. The same Aristarchus calls the work an 66 anonymous pamphlet," although the name of Edipus Oronoko stands staring in capital letters on the title-page; but he is evidently ignorant of the difference in meaning between the words anonymous and pseudonymous. How distressing is it, that ignorance and imbecility should so frequently usurp the chair of critical dictation. Pope, with an eye glancing on the critics, truly says: "Ten censure wrong for one who writes amiss." Essay on Criticism. E his residence. He was the father of the University of Oxford, being its oldest member. This gentleman was much disturbed in his latter days by dissensions with his parishioners relative to tithes; a source of discord that operates in a manner so decidedly injurious to religion, that it often separates the clergyman from his flock, leaves him an empty church, and fills the adjoining meeting-houses. He knew Mr. Rawlinson, of Sarsdenhouse, who was a friend and correspondent of Pope. He said that, in his youth, he used to visit there, and perfectly remembers having heard Mr. R. say that Mr. Pope was a troublesome friend and an implacable enemy, who sometimes forgot favours, but never forgave injuries. The Doctor married young, and had a large family. He obtained by marriage the rectory of Daylesford; and his intercourse with the family of Governor Hastings, enabled him to give me these interesting facts. His family had rented the church-lands of Shipton so long, that he was bred to the church, partly with a view of succeeding to the vicarage. Mr. Godwin was his predecessor, who held it half a century. one Considering Dr. Brookes as whose travels were bounded within the island that gave him birth, no man could have gleaned more useful knowledge of mankind. His manner was marked by frankness, and he was fond of the festive hour. His fund of anecdote was inexhaustible, and he was tolerant to every human being except Napoleon Bonaparte; he might have been induced to treat the Pope with respect, but he would never suffer the name of the Emperor to be mentioned in his hearing without indulging in angry feelings. He troubled himself but little with party politics; and his enmity towards Bonaparte was grounded upon his putting the Duke d'Enghein to death, after having seized him in a neutral state. Dr. Brookes was not a persecuting priest; but he could not endure the idea of admitting the Roman Catholics to the same rights as Protestants. In estimating this want of liberality, the time of his birth, and the force of early prejudices, should be considered. He was twenty years of age when the Scotch rebellion of 1745 broke out; and he said, the fear of the Catholic religion was the great check that kept the gentry from declaring in favour of the exiled family. Amongst those who, he said, were the most active partisans of the royal exiles, was the grandfather of a nobleman, then a commoner, who now presides at the head of the councils of our venerable Monarch. Dr. Brookes repeatedly declared, so strong was the attachment of the great families about this part of Oxfordshire to the Stuart family, that, if the Scotch had been able to push forward, and the French court had sent an army as strong as that which accompanied King William, they would have thrown off the mask, and taken up arms in their behalf. Lord Cornbury was the soul of the disaffected in this vicinity; next to whom, he said, stood Sir Robert Jenkinson, of South Lawn-lodge. I asked the intelligent old gentleman if he conceived the noble descendant of that staunch Tory had thrown off the Tory prejudices of his ancestors?—“ Not at all! (said he with great vivacity ;) he never deserted the high-court politics; he only waited till the ****** family rose to his doctrines of non-resistance and right divine. There was never a greater tendency towards arbitrary power displayed by the Stuarts. than is perceptible at the present hour." He then told me, that, when the Protender, as he was called, was in England, incog. he visited Lord Cornbury, and Banbury, a barber of Charlbury, who shaved the prince and dressed his wig, knew the Pretender, by a word that dropped incautiously from Lord Cornbury, and the extraordinary respect that was shewn to the mysterious stranger. I asked him if he believed this anecdote to be truth? The Doctor replied in the affirmative; and said he had other reasons for his belief besides the opinion of Banbury, who certainly had many opportunities of hearing and seeing what passed at Cornbury-house at that period. I then stated, that I had been informed by the keeper, (Mr. Morris,) at the High Lodge, of meetings having been held, prior to the rebellion of 1745, at which Lord Cornbury, Messrs. Jenkinson, Cope, Dean Basset of Dean, and Lacy, used to assist; that these assemblages took place generally in the night-time; and further, that he believed they kept up a regular correspondence with the exiled princes till the failure of the Scotch rebellion in 1745, and the numerous executions and confiscations which ensued, that finally crushed |