th the week for vifiting Mr. Juftel. In one of thefe vifits, after fome difcourfe about the Proteftant churches, obferved by Dr. Hickes to be in many places de molished, notwithstanding the edict of Nonthe, Batws, Sir, laye Mr. Juftel, : "as I am wont to talk in confidence with you, fo I will tell you a fecret, that almost none of us know befides myfelf: our extirpation is decreed; we must all be banished our country, or turn Papifts. I tell it you, becaufe I intend to come into England, where I have many friends; and that, when I come to fee you amongst the reft, you may remember that I told it you." Upon this, I afked him how long it would be before this fad perfecution would be put in execution? He answered, "Within four or five years at moft and remember, fays he again, that I foretold the time."After he had been fome time in London, he made a vifit to the Doctor, at his houfe on Tower-hill; where, prefently after the common forms of congratulating one another [it was about the time that the bill of exclufion was thrown out of the H. of Lords], he faid, "Sir, don't you remember what I told you of the perfecution we have fince fuffered, and of the time when it would begin? and now you fee all has accordingly come to pafs." He fent by Dr. Hickes the original MS. in Greek of the "Canones Ecclefiæ Univerfalis," published by his father, and other choice MSS. to be prefented to the univertity of Oxford: upon the receipt of which benefaction, that learned body conferred on him the degree of LL.D. June 23, 1675*. He left Paris in 1681, upon the perfecution of the Proteftants there; and, coming to London, was, foine time after, inade keeper of King Charles the Second's Library at St. James's, to which was annexed a falary of 200l. per annum. He held this place till his death, Sept. 1693, and was then fucceeded by Dr. Richard Bentley. Our author wrote feveral books, the titles whereof may be feen in the Catalogue of the Bodleian Library. His diforder was that dreadful one the ftone; of which one was taken from him of an ounce weight, and another of the forprizing weight of five ounces and a half. He was buried at Eaton near Windfor; and left one fon, named Chriftopher. His fucceffor in the Royal Library was the famous Dr. Bentley.-His portrait and family arms are here Wood's Fafti, vol. II. under that year. Dr. Hickes returned from Paris in 1674. Mr. URBAN, Leicestershire, Feb. 17. K of late been the topic of defeation with fome of your correfpondents, I fend you an extraordinary inttance of natural hiftory there. Three fprings originate, or take their rife, in that Lordship or its environs, and proceed to three rivers, which empty themfelves into the fea at three different parts of this kingdom. The first takes its direction for, or is one of the heads of, The Soar, which running N. W. by Leicester, directs its courfe northwards for the Trent, which proceeds to the Humber, and falls into the fea at or near Patington in Yorkshire, The next paffes to a fimall, but rather rapid ftream, called The Swift, which runs S. W. by Lutterworth; after which it joins the Avon, which proceeds to the Severn, and empties itself into the Briti Channel. The laft takes its courfe for The Welland, which runs nearly S. by Harborough, and patles to the Nen, or Nine; which falls into the German Ocean near Lynn in Norfolk. Knaptoft, now depopulated, is a valuable rectory; and was difposed of a few years fince, by the late duke of Rutland, to Dr. Watfon the prefent very excelleat Bishop of Landaff. It is fituated 10 miles South of Leicetter, and nearly in the center of this kingdom. T. W. J. Mar. 6. Mr. URBAN, which appear to have belonged to one Hamlet Clarke," in your valuable_Magazine for lait month, we read, “Item, one payre of rayfed filver hangers and girdles of rugged purle," and two fimilar items. In the margin is a query, What are theje? The following extract from the Tragedy of Hamlet, Jolinfon and Steevens's edit. 1778, vol. X. p. 397, appears to me a full explanation of the terms "hangers and girdies." Ojr. The King, Sir, hath wagered with him fix Barbery horfes, against the which he has impon'd, as 1 take it, fix French rapiers and poniards, with their affigus, as girdle, hangers, and fo: Three of the carriages, in faith, are very dear to fancy, very refponfive to the hilts, moft delicate carriages, and of very liberal conceit. Fam. What call you the carriages Op. The carriages, Sir, are the hangers. Note. -vaigers.] It appears from feveral plays, that what was caled a Mr. URBAN, F. W. Feb. 9. LEASE to inform your correfponPLEASE. R. (p. 28,) that the fecond medal which he peaks of was certainly ftruck on the following occafion. When the Princess Clementina Sobiefky was travelling from Poland to Italy, to meet the Pretender, to whom he was affianced, the was feized, by order of the Emperor, through part of whofe domi. nions her route unfortunately lay, and imprisoned in one of his caffles. This flep, equally base and foolish, was faid to be taken at the inftance of the minif try of George I. Some gentlemen, I believe natives of Ireland, who efpouted the caufe of the exiled family, very gallantly determined to attempt the refeue of an injured lady, whom they looked upon as their future Queen. For this purpofe they contrived to engage a young woman in the fuite of the Princels to favour their defign, and to atfit in the execution of it. One night, when every thing was concerted, and in readinefs, the Princefs feigned hetfelf ill, went early to bed, and gave orders not to be diflurbed in the morning. Having dimiffed her attendants, the rofe, and got herfelt conveyed very dextrously without the gates of the raftle, where the gentlemen were waiting to receive her. The young woman immediately took her lady's place in the bed, and acted her part fo well, that it was late the next day before he was difcovered; and fe hereby gave the Princefs time to get fo far on her way as effectually to baffle The editor of the "Bibliotheca Topographica" alío has lately picked out the few following articles from St. Bride's Regifter, London, for the ufe of future commentators : 1590. xviith of May, Ifabell the wife of Hamble: Panketman was buried. 1592. Hamir Evans buried ixth of Nov." her purfuers. After feveral untoward accidents, and many difficulties which ufually attend a long journey in the middle of winter, the arrived fafe in the Venetian territories, and was foon after conducted to her husband. I give the above as what I remember to have read, very many years ago, in an interefting and well-written pamphlet, intituled, A Narrative of the Seizure and Efcape of the Princefs Clementina Sobiesky, and which came from the pen of one of the gentlemen who effected her deliverance, 1 am forry I cannot recollect the place of her confinement, nor how long i was confined: I particularly well remember, that the name of one of the gentlemen was Tool; and I think another of them was called Milon. I beg R. O. P. (vəl. LVII. p. 971,) will pl afe to confider, whether he hath not mistaken the conftruction of the pallage in Milton, as one whofe drouth Yet fcarce allay'd ftill eyes the current ftream." I apprehend one is the nominative to eyes, and not arouth; and that the claufe whole douth yet jcarce allay'd is put abfolutely. Thus the impropriety which P. H. he complains of will vanish. Mr. URBAN, N Mr. 19. reading the following pallage in the will of King Henry VI. (fee "Roval and Noble Wills,") "Item, the fpace between the wall of the church and the wall of the cloyfter fhall conteyne 38 feete, which is left for to fett in certaine trees and flowers, behovable and convenient for the service of the fave church," it occurred to me, that it has often been afked, and. I think, never fatista torily antwered, "For what pur pofe were yew-trees anciently planted in church-yards?" In times when it was confidered as a matter of importance that the churches should at certain feafons be adorned with evergreens; and to ftrew branches in the way, and to scatter herbs and flowers into the graves, were practifed as religious rites; was it not behovable and convenient for the fervice of the church," that every churchyard fhould contain at least one yewe tree? Several reafons may be affigned for giving this tree a preference to every other evergreen. It is very hardy, longlived, and, though in time it attains to a confiderable height, produces branches in abundance fo low as to be always within reach of the hand,—and at last affords a beautiful wood for furniture. Yours, &o, E. P. Mr. URBAN, W Feb. 28. HEN the writers of antiquity are difpofed to moralize, there are few fubjects which they introduce fo frequently as complaints of Human Mifery. That mixture of natural Evil with Good, which pervades our whole fyftem; that inftability, by which all our concerns are affected; that fucceffion of adverfity and profperity, which we all more or lefs experience; that clofe connection of pain with pleafure, which we all feel; that infufficiency of man to procure or preferve his own hap. dinefs; thefe incidents, to which human life is unavoidably and irremediably expofed, fuggeft melancholy reflections to poets, hiftorians, and philofophers. The confideration of the divine decree, that ALL men fhould fuffer afflic tion in a greater or lefs proportion, is urged by Achilles as a confolatory ar▪ gument to the weeping Priam, and gives occafion for the beautiful allegory of the two urns (which to much refembles the Cup mentioned by Ifaiah, and in the Pfalms): 'Siç yag sxexhwoado Oro Jukasi Będlass, Such is, alas! the Gods fevere decree : The fource of evil one, and one of good : POPE's inadequate Tranflation. ny people yet as to what you ask me concerning who is the happiest of men, I cannot fay that you are fo till I shall have heard that you have ended your life happily!We must obferve the end of every thing, how it ultimately terminates; for the Deity hath utterly overthrown and deftroyed many, to whom the prospect of wealth and happiness had been fhewn." Lib. 1. of that admirable, becaufe ethic and dramatic hiftorian, Herodotus. It is a gloomy reprefentation of life which Solon exhibits to reprefs the infolence of Cræfus: "Do you enquire (fays he) concerning human affairs of me, who know every divine power to be envious, and difpofed to the perter bation of man's happineis? In a length of time, one may fee and feel many I lay it down, things he would not. that the term of man's life is feventy years; but, of all the days in thefe fe venty years, not one resembles another exactly in any circumftance. And, from this mutability, is man calamity itfelf; παν εσι ανθρωπος συμφορη. You appear to be very rich, and king of maGENT. MAG. March, 1788. The fame hiftory, which records the words of Solon, relates also a converfátion which happened between Xerxes and his uncle Artabanus. When that infatuated king had collected his vaft army near the Hellefpont, he at firft furveyed the amazing forces with exultation; but, foon after, he wept. ́Artabanus afked the caufe of this fudden change. "Upon reflection (fays Xerxes) I pitied the brevity of human life, fince not one of thefe men, who are fo many in number, will live to his hundredth year." Artabanus replies, "We fuffer in life many things more pitiable than this; for, fhort as life is, there was never yet any man, either among thefe or others, fo happy, as not, on many occafions, to with for death rather than life. For the calamities which befall it, and the difeafes which disturb it, make life appear long, though in reality it be short: το that, as life is full of anxiety, death is to man a refuge moft eligible." Herod. lib. 7. f. 46. Whether it be that the mind has a natural love of truth, or that man is prone to be querulous, the fact is, that fentiments of defpondency are gratifying to the people of all countries. The maxim of Solon, which teaches us to pronounce no one happy till his life be finished, paffed into a proverb among the Greeks, and became a popular fay ing. Hence the chorus in Sophocles, reflecting on the changed and fallen ftate of Edipus, concludes, Ωσε, θνητον οντ', εκείνην την τελευτάιαν ιδειν Ἡμερανεπισκοπῶνα, μηδεν ολβίζειν, πριν απ Τέρμα το βια πέραση, μηδεν αλγεινον πας Ord. T. 1528. θων. i, e. " waiting therefore to fee that laft day, call no man, who is mortal, happy, till he has paffed the limit of life without experiencing any forrow.” In the fame ftrain peaks Deïanira, in the Trachiniæ of Sophocles, ver. 1; Hecuba, in the Troades, ver. 509; and Andromache, Andromache, in the play fo called, ver. 100, by Euripides. The complaints of human mifery made by Euripides are frequent; but none more commonly cited than the following: Θνήτων γαρ έδεις εσιν ευδαίμως ανηρ To this writer particular allufion is made in the fragments of two cómic poets. Thus, by Nicoftratus, a paffage of Euripides is repeated, and to it a remark is added: 6 Ουκ έσιν όςις παντ' Ανηρ ευδαιμονία. Νη την Αθηναν συντόμως γε, φίλταθε Ευριπίδη, τον βιον έθηκας εις τίχον; i. e. My favourite Euripides, in this one verfe, there's not a man who is in all things happy," in good truth, you have briefly comprised human life. Among the fragments of Pofidippus, we find, Όταν αλοχεῖν σοι συμπεση τις δεσποία, Ευριπιδη μνησθήλι συ, και έχων εση, σε Ουκ εσιν όςις παντ' Ανηρ ευδαιμονι.” Είναι δ ̓ ὑπολαβε και σε των Πολλων ένα. i. e. "When it happens to you, O Mafter, to be at all unfortunate, do but remember Euripides, and you will be more eafy; there's not a man who is in all things happy.' Conclude yourfelf to be one among the general num ber of mankind." "How ftrange a thing (faid Socrates) is that which men call pleasure! how wonderfully conftituted is its na ture with refpect to its apparent con trary, pain! inafmuch as that both of them will not accompany a perfon at the fame time; but if any man purfue and obtain the one, he is almost always compelled to receive the other afterwards, as if the two were tied together from one head-point." Phæd. Pl. p. 162, Forft. ed. In fuch terms do the best and wifeft of the Greek writers complain of human affairs. What fhall we fay then? shall we aflent to the affertion of Homer? Οι μεν γαρ τι το εσιν οϊζυρώτερον Ανδρος Πανίων, στα τε γαιαν επιποιεῖ τε και ές πεις Il. 17. 446. For ah! what is there, of inferior birth, That breathes, or creeps upon the duft of earth, [kind, What wretched creature, of what wretched Than man more weak, calamitous, and Shall we allow that the child newly born into the world does right to begin his life with tears and loud lament, ut æquum eft Cui tantum in vità reftet tranfire malorum→ according to the impious Lucretius ! lib v. 227. Are we then the mere fports of chance or fortune? Are we fent into the world as into a prifon, and are malignant fpirits appointed to wrack and torture us with tribulation and woe? is it fufficient ground for wretchedness, is it abundant caufe for defpondency, to be told "we are men?' (feo Gray). That "to each his fuffering." are aligned, we must allow; but the impartial reafoner on human life will not hence complain; he will rather confider the ends for which Providence ordains that the condition of man fhould. be mixed with evil. And in this appointment the Deity hath confulted for the prepollent happinefs of his most favoured creature. The love of variety is predominant in the human mind. Hence it is we are pleafed with new fcenes, new objects, new company: on the other hand, there is nothing fo beautiful, nothing fo agreeable, which, by continual view and uninterrupted intercourfe, will not create a degree of wearine's at least, if not of difguti. We should be ftrangers to the animating influence of a genial day with a ferene fky, if we were not occafionally depre ed by the weight of a clouded atmo Sphere. fphere. We should perceive no beauty in a calm fea, if we never experienced the horrors of a ftorm. It is the general intermixture of lands and waters, hills and vallies, plains and mountains, one with another, that creates a fine landfcape in the prospect of any particular country and, in the extenfive furvey of the universe at large, it is the wonderful contraft of vaft deferts and peopled cities, of feas and iflands, oceans and continents, which makes the world an admirable and ftupendous whole. In the fcale of beauty in animated nature, the graceful dignity of the human thape rifes higher from a comparison of that with the deformity of many other creatures and if the whole race of mankind could be furveved at once, perhaps from the very inequalities of complec tion and firength, of body and mind, of habits and manners, which are visible in the feveral parts of the globe, the general system of our fpecies would ap. pear more excellent than if all men, and all ftates of men, had attained to the fame degree of perfection. Thus many things which, taken fingly, appear to a difadvantage, and are difagreeable, do yet, upon a relative view of them with other parts, or objects, or circumftances, with which they are connected, contribute to heighten fatisfaction. Let but this principle be applied to human life, and it will be no paradox to affert, that, from the variety of events, fome good and fome evil, which befall us, life itself is rendered more agreeable than it would be, did we experience no interchange of forrow with joy. That evils are worfe in expectation than in feeling; that they tend to excite industry; that they humanize the difpofition; that they bring the mind to a right fate of recollection, and to new purposes of acting; these are truths fo obvious as to need no enlargement: one reflection, however, on the different manner in which heathens and Chriftians confider aflictions, thould not be omitted. The former, in their ftate of uncertainty concerning the foul's immortality and the attributes of the Deity, bewailed the afflictions of life as the greatest of evils: but Chriftians, who are affured of a future ftate, and have formed juft conceptions of God's providence, have a confolation which no philofophy could impart; they cherish a pious and firm hope, that 4thofe who low in tears, fhall reap in joy;" that "bleffed are they who RESEARCHES into the obscure history of parent nations, though not likely to have much influence on the fum of happiness, may, if they be conducted with a fpirit liberal as well as penetrative, reward the labours of the ftudent, and gratify those who by exer cife have increafed and extended the energies of that curiofity which Nature has created in every bofom. But if the inveftigator of a subject, so distant from the vulgar topics of malignity, purfue his enquiry with fpleen, and deliver his inftruction with contempt of those who are to receive it, there can be but little hope that the knowledge of Truth wil be much propagaced by his endeavour. This obfervation I hope to illuftrate by fome remarks upon a learned treatife lately published, under the title of "A Differtation on the Goths and Scythi ans," by Mr. Pinkerton. The fpiteful and unqualified invec tives contained in this book against all the Gallic nations, I forbear to recite or refer to. Examples of fuch unaccountable enmity against fo large a portion of the human race, and which has fo long ceafed to exift, may provoke merriment in the perutal, but are furely unworthy of a ferious difcuffion. Í fhall confine myself, therefore, to a notation of the effects of the author's enmity on his judgement. Having fortified himself with the invincible axiom, that authorities are facts in bißtory; and recommended himfelf to the reader's veneration, by intimating the time and labour which he had devoted to the acquifition of materials for his book; he declares with defiance, by the authority of Tacitus, Beda, and all Antiquity," that the Caledonii and Picti came originally from Germany, Scythia, and ScandiDavia; that the Romans were not a Gaelic, but a Gothic, people; that the natives of Cifalpine Gaul were not Celts, but German Gauls; that it is like a Celtic understanding to derive Latin from Celtic; that the Latin words found in this language were introduced by the clergy, and are relative only to religious |