PROM the experience of FIFTY-EIGHT YEARS we well know that to

secure the public favour we have only to use our best endeavours to
deserve it. Imprefled with a due sense of that obligation, the task of meeting
our Readers in a formal Preface becomes unnecessary. We have only to thank
them for repeated inftances of indulgence; to entreat a continuance of their
patronage; and to assure them that it is no less our wishi, than it is our duty,
to add whatever improvements may be suggested for their entertainnient.

Profeffing to make our Miscellany a Record of Obits, as well as other events
which would be lost in the ephemerian register of a news-paper, we trust to
the candour of our Readers in general, that moít, if not all of them, will
find in the Monthly Obituary fome individual recorded in whom they may
have an interest*. We flatter ourselves it can be no very difficult matter to
find any name in the Index at the end of each volume; but that aid must be
waited for till the year is closed.--The Increase of Explanatory Plates, to
illuitrate the subjects treated of, cannot have escaped notice.

In one point only do we experience a difficulty. The astonishing increase
of correspondence, while it most agreeably fåtters us with the conviction
that our labours are acceptable, and furnishes the most ample sources for se-
lection, involves in it fome ground of perplexity. It is with reluctance we
occasionally lay atide many valuable Letters/on aceount merely of their
length. These it is regularly our intention to réfon:o kill other communi-
cations of a more temporary nature compel us fill, to pass by what it was
bever our intention to reject. Hence arise repeated enquiries after eflays
which remain in the precise situation above described. For this we can
devise no other remedy, than to request our Correspondents will consider
that their favours are INTENDED TO BE PUBLISHED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE,
unless they are expressly told otherwise in the INDEX INDICATORIUS,

In such a multiplicity of letters, the very Postage becomes a serious object;
which we recommend to the notice of our Correspondents: and it so hap-
pens, that such as are least worth using are in general those of which the
carriage is unpaid. We have sometimes been taxed with a double letter, to
ask a question of little moment; and this perhaps followed by a second, to
enquire whether the first was received. To mention this inconrenience is,
we doubt not, fufficient to obtaiu redress. From the great regularity of the
Poft-office, it is very rare indeed that a letter can miscarry if directed to
J. Nichols, Printer, Red Lion Passage, Fleet-Street.

Dec. 31, 1788.

* Had we correspondents in the whole circuit-walk round the capital, we should
be equally attentive to their communications as to those whom M. W. is pleased
to object to

RBAN, thy Volume, where Instruction join'd,

,
In happy mixture with Delight appears,
Shall still continue, through revolving years,

T improve and captivate the human mind,
When all its Rivals have been long consign'd

To dark oblivion ;--if ferene it steer
Free from dire Party's rock; nor by the sneer

Of Malice (from such base allov refin’d)
Its worth deprelles. While impartial Fame

To thy chafe toils allots this meed of praises

May kind Success attend thy gen?rous aim, And, to assist those toils through future days,

The lofty verse another SEWARD build,

His mighty pen another JOHNSON wield ! Dec. 31, 1782.

M-5.

То

SYLVANUS URBAN, EsQ ON COMPLEATING HIS LVIIITH VOLUME. GAIN the Mufe, that wakes the grateful lay,

A

When :hy trim Vessel, fraught with Learning's ftores,
The Cornucopia on each threshold pours ;
While the full harvest of each circling year
Suits every taste, and every different sphere ;
Which just design in every clime doth saye
From cold Neglect, or dark Oblivion's grave :
Sriit may th' arrangement charm th’expanded view,
While you the Useful and the Sweet pursue.

Are there who retrospective views would trace,
The meed of arms, and dignity of place?
Time-honour'd piles, or castle-courted peers,
The palling glory of recoiling years?
Thy fiudious pages will their aim rcquite,
That throw a radiance on the darkest night!
Are there who 'd Nature curioudy observe,
Her laws how far each class, each rank, preserve ?
Thine's the bleft tak their wishes to supply,
With Music's ear, and Microscopic Eye.

Or who each Season's change would nicely trace,
Mark day's benign or inauspicious face?
For them the Year's fair progress is enrollid,
Heat of each day, its medium or its cold :
Hail infant Science! grace this favourite foil,
Where pleasure ever muft eclipfe the toil.

Are there of fine and pure ethcreal fight,
That melt at woe, or catch the quick delight,
And feel that foul which gives the Master's hand,
Who lyre, or lute, or fylvan pipe, command ?
In tly pure shades they charm each listening ear,
And Fancy's pleas'ıl, and Judgement loves to hear.

But would we scan the sum of earthly things,
The transient state of Genius, Peers, and Kings !
Let us to thy Obituary turn,
Where Candour points to each attractive urn;
While the her praise on Merir doch bestow,
Like her, a veil o'er frailties learn to ihrow;
Learn, from the whole, the moment to improve,
Nor tempi our fare, por dread our sure remove.

Proceed then, URBAN, Learning to attend,
Be thou to Science, Ageit, Guardian, Friends
So Thall the dawning of eack hope-flush d year
With like attractions welcome Atill appear !

Dec. 31, 1788.

ST. JOHN's Gatco

LOND.GAZETTE
GENERAL EVEN.

St. James'sChron.
Whitehall Even.
London Chron.
London Evening

i loyd's Evening London Packet English Chron. Daily Advertiser Public Advertiser Gazetteer Morning Chron. Morning Herald The World Morning Post Public Ledger Gener. Advertiser Univ. Register

Derby
Exeter
Gloucefter
Hereford
Hull
Ipswich
IRELAND
Leeds 2
Leicester
Lewes
Liverpool 3
Maidstone
Manchester 2
Newcastle

3
Northampton
Norwich 2
Nottingham
OXFORD
Reading
Salisbury
SCOTLAND
Sheffield 2
Sherborne 2
Shrewsbury
Stamford
Winchester
Worceller
YORK 3

Bath 2

Bristol 4

Birmingham 2
Bary Sc. Edmund's
CAMBRIDGE
Canterbury z
Chelmsford
Coventry
Cumberland

For JANUARY, 1788.

3

CONTAINING Meteor. Diaries for Jan. 1783, and Feb. 1787 2] A Word investigated for the Oxford Dictionary 2 Real Names of Correspondents not necellary, 3 Green Wool proved to be not: Refifter of Shot 3 The Utility of a well-timed cordial Laugli 4. Further Particulars of the Human Petrefaction it Droll Anecdote of the late learned Dr. Battie 1b Cicero's Charicters of Arrius and Sebolus

3 Anecdote of Parson I-, of King's College 'b. Candid Illustrations of our last Year's Volume 3 Useful Question to the luclosers of Walte Land Thoughts on Lie of Tobacco, ani en Opium 3 Problem on the Communication of Motion 6 Simon de Apulizo-Encampment at Knaptoft 3 Remarks on a Dream related in Vol. LVII. ib. Infcription to Florianus, near Peterborough 3 Female Writerst-Dr. Anderfon and Dr. Smith ? Giants at GUILDHALL, whence derived 3 Hints for Improvement of Johnson's Dictionary @ Thoughts ou Suicide, and on a future State Fine ancient Sculpture at Lichfield described 9 On the Rights and the Comforts of the Poor (4 Mr. Dalton on the PYRAMIDS OF EGYPT ib. Account of S. Poman, an Infant Musicjan 4 Account of Mr. Dalton's Views and Sections 10 Original Letter of Anthony Winjsor, Esq.

4 Anecdotes of the Founder of Sunday Schools 11 The Names of Fill, and their best Seasons

4 Literature and Polite Arts, where encouragedis. Es Farewel to Philalethes on Dr. Priestley A Original Letters of the pious Mr. J. HERVEY 17 Proceedings in present Seilion of Parliament' 4 The Fern, or Brakes, botanically described 19 REVIEW Or New PUBLICATIONS 49--6

Observations on Mr.Hutchinson and hisWritings z I SelecT POETRY, ancient and modern 61-6
Remarks on Mr. Wakefield's Edition of Gray 22 Foreign Affairs, E. and W. India News, America
Original Thoughts on Modern Education 251 Intelligence, Domestic Occurrences 66--8
Critical Reviewer's Opinion of Dr. John Jebb 26 Marriages, Deaths, Preferments, &c. 81-2
Amiable Character of the good Bishop Plough 27 Prices of Graia—Theatrical Reguter, &c. 8
Two Copper Medals of Pretender and his wife 281 Daily Variations in the Prices of Stocks 8
Embellished with exact Representations of the PYRAMIDS OF Egypt, drawn and
etched by Mr. DALTON; a curious P.ece of ScưLPTURI. from LICHFIELD;

and a BARRISTER in the Dress us the last Century.
Ву
S r L V A N U S
V A

U R B AN, Gent.

LONDON, Frigied by JOUN NICHOLS, for D. HENRY, late oi SAINT JOHN'S GATE.

METEOROLOGICAL TABLE for January, 1788.
Height ot Fahrenheit's Thermometer. Height of Fahrenheit’s' Thermometer.

Barom.
Weather

Barom. Weather in. pts. in Jan. 1788.

in. pts. in Jan, 1788.

S

mild.
30 I

49
SE

cloudy, fair. 3 29 17

SI

hafty thowers, gleams of fun." 4 30

S

white frost, ice, fair and fill.2 5 29 14

white frott, ice, fair and fille 29 10

44
SW

overcast. 7 29

8
52
SW

bluftering wind. 8 29 17

51
W

fair, soft and mild.3 9 29 9 49

W

stormy, rain. IO 29 3

47
SW

overcast, rain. 4 11 29

46
S

rain, violent wind and rain. 12 28 12

45
S

storms with rain. 13

28
19 45

W 14 29 15 42

W

fun, pleasant. 5 15 29 13

W

78

rain.6
16
29 16

53
SW

7. blustering wind and showers. 17 30 I

47
SW

sun, pleasant, br Ik wind, 7 18

30
I
59
W

thin clouds and wind. 8
30
2

W

bright and pleasant, spring-like.9 30 1

NW

overcast and gloomy. 21 29 19

NE

overcast. 10 22 29 18

NE

ice, bright, with wind. 23 29 13

NE

thickith ice, fair. 24 29 17

44
w

ice, fair and pleasant,"I 25 29 16

W

louriog. 26 29 18

52
W

fair, mild, and pleasant.12
27
29 12

49
SW

13 fun&wind.pleasant,rain&storms !3 28

29
16
54

w
• 13 clouds and wind, rain, formy

night. 14

OBSERVATIONS. I Crocuses begin to blow in warm fituations.--2 Chaffinch (fringilla celebs) and thrush

(i urdus mulicus) fing. Beautiful vernal day.- 3 Striped crocuses in full bloom.---4 Woodlaur ! (Daphne laureola) io bloom.- 5 Sky-lark (alauda arvensis) fings *._ Hedge-sparrow (totacilla modularis) fings.--7 Bloom-buds of pears much enlarged. Violets ia bloom..-3 Yellow crocuses in high beauty.-9 The opening buds of the weeping willow (lalix Babylonica) give a greenish cast to the tree. Our late frosts in the spring of en deftroy these earliest appearances of returning foliage.- Perlian iris and elm tree in bloom. - Male yew-trees dufiy mith farina. Rooks (corvus frugilecus) build.—2 While poplar ia bloom Brimftone and brown butterflies (papilio rhamni & cortice) appear. 13 Greenfinch (loxia chloris) fings. Bees frequent crocuses.—14 Forward apricots in bloom, * The sky-lark warbles high

And, lessening from the dazzled light, Fis trembling thrilling extacy i