1789. Anecdote of Alexander the Great. 7 They have very little induftry among fometimes to the number of fixty or eighthem; for fo well contented are they with ty. no by Quintus Curtius. HE city of Sidon having furrendered THE the gifts of Providence, wherewith thefe Anecdote of Alexander the Great. Recorded flands are furrounded, they have notion of any other neceffaries of life than what they are already used to; and have karce a wifh beyond the fupply of the prefent moment: that being anfwered, their only care is to provide for their landlord, and to purchafe fpirits and tobacco, their only laxaries; of which they are all, both men and women exceffively fond. In fummer the men gather the wreck of fea weeds, and burn it to make kelp; of which the andlord gets as much as is equivalent to the reat, and if any remained, it is bartered for what they most wanted or defired: the ref of the year the general and principal employ of the men is fishing, except what is neceflary for their potatoes and cloathing, or the repairs of their huts and boats. Their boats, called curraghs, are oval baskets, covered with feal fkins; and in fuch weak and tottering veffels, they venture out fo far as is neceflary to get fifh enough for their fa ilies. Their shell-fish they get in the followng manner; the inen go to the rocks, with ahook tied to the end of a ftrong rod, and with that they pull from under the rocks as many crabs and lobfters as they want, the afters commonly weigh from five to twelve pounds each; for fcollops and oyfters, when the tide is out, the young women wade into the fea where they know the beds of fuch fith lay; fome of them naked, others havng ftripped off their petticoats, go in with their gowns tucked up about their waift. The follops weigh from two to four pounds to Alexander, he ordered Hephæftion to beftow the crown on him whom the Sidonians fhould think moft worthy of that honour. Hephæftion being at that time refident with two young men of diftinction, offered them the kingdom; but they refuled it, telling him that it was contrary to the laws of their country, to admit any one to that honour, who was not one of the roy al family. He then, having expreffed his admiration of their difinterefted fpirit, defired them to name one of the royal race, who might remember that he received the crown through their hands. Overlooking many who would have been ambitious of this high honour, they made choice of Ahdolonymus, whofe fingular merit had rendered him confpicuous even in the vale of obicurity. Though remotely related to the royal family, a series of misfortunes had reduced him to the neceffity of cultivating a garden før a small stipend, in the suburbs of the city. each. When the weather is favourable the wo men frequently affemble in fome neighbouring field, convenient to their huts, where they amufe themselves with knitting and inging in the fun. The oldeft forming a ircular group, fit working in the middle; round them the reft in circles, according to their years; the younger furrounding those of prater age, and finging alternate, and fomes in chorus, while the elder continue kiting. The fongs called fpeic-feouchs are tals of exploits atchieved by the giants, bunters, and warriors of old. Their funeral proceffions are no lefs worthy of notice than their other customs. Wapped in a coarfe linen cloth, by them aled ebed, the corfe is put into a curragh, h the feet and and legs hanging over the en; and (with it) a man with a paddle duct the whole train to the ifle of Awhich is their burial ground: this curfollowed by that which carried the ; next follow the relations of the de, in the order of their proximity in aled; and then as many as had curraghs, While Abdolonymus was bufily employed in weeding his garden, the two friends of Hephæftion, bearing in their hands the enfigns of royalty, approached and faluted him king, informing him that Alexander had appointed him to that office; and requiring him immediately to exchange his ruftic garh and utenlils of husbandry, for the regal robe and fceptre. At the fame time, they urged him, when he fhould he feated on the throne, and have a nation in his power, not to forget the humble condition from which he had been raised. All this appeared to Abdolenymus as an illufion of the fancy, or an infult offered to his poverty. He requefted them not to trouble him with their impertinent jefts, and to find fome other way of amusing themselves, which might leave him in the peaceable enjoyment of his obfcure habitati on. At length, however, they convinced him that they were ferious in their proposal, and prevailed upon him to accept the regal office, and accompany them to the palace. No fooner was he in poffeffion of the gol vernment, than pride and envy created hita enemies, who whispered their murmurs in every place, till at laft they reached the ear of Alexander; who, commanding the new elccted prince to be fent for, enquired of him, with what temper of mind he bad borne his poverty. "Would to Heaven," replied Abdolonymus, "that I may be able to bear my crown with equal_moderation! for when I poffeffed little, I wanted no 8 thing: thefe hands fupplied me with whatever I defired." From this anfwer, Alexander formed fo high an idea of his wifdom, that he confirmed the choice which had been made, and annexed a neighbouring province to the government of Sidon. THE Jan. -The principal Bon Ton-Recipe for making the Teeth black. BONTON. HE Italian Opera houfe has opened, but with no great profpect of public approbation, though nobly patronized. The fingers and the dancers are far inferior to thofe of last year; but the band, which was led by Cramer, is in every part highly respectable. The want of the king's prefence, which was a hoft at all mufical meetings, has operated as a powerful check. The profeffional concert however is announced with Marchef as the principal vocal performer, and Cramer at the head of the band. The executive band of the ftate heing out of action, the death of our coufin of Spain has not yet been mourned-the Prince Regent of courfe will make her first appear. ance in fables.~. Abington has an undoubted right to make her appearance under this head, for she may Lay with the late Geo. Faulkner, the printer, of facetious memory, "I know peers and peers know me.”. Abington feels feverely for his majefty's illness, a memorial having been prepared praying a penfion, and it having been intimated that a provifion from the privy purfe would be granted in recompence for amufements afforded. The ladies of the lords of the bed-cham ber, having taken great offence at the inutility applied to their hufbands-they may be bad politicians, fay the ladies, but they are good men. Lady Loughborough's patronage of Mifs Wallace, has much merit; but has not the lady chofen a wrong profeffion for her ward? -The ftage is enchanted ground which few women can tread without infinite danger to their honour. Managers are infatiate, monfters, who think nothing of devouring virgins, and where will they find heroes or knights errant to protect them?-not on the ftage, for their virtue is only reprefented, and honour and courage are generally fictitious. -- The hard weather at Paris has prevented any recent change in the fashion: long cloaks, with fur linings, cover every thing. The Anacreontic fociety have commenced this year with more than ufual vivacity.Haydn's mufic had the honour of adoption, and the band was excellent. Cramer firft violin.-Clementi, the piano forte.-Parke, the bautboy.-Leanders, the horns.- Condell, Hindmarth, and Smith, violins.-M. Of green vitriol - 6 parts 1-10th part part I part 5 parts Macerate the myrobalans for a night in eighty parts of water in the morning fqueeze out the water, and put it on the fire to boil. Pulverife the other ingredients (except the oil) and add them to the infufion while it is boiling when it acquires a thick confiftence, add the oil. This preparation is spread on a leaf of betel, and applied, at bed time, to the teeth,, where it is fuffered to remain until morning. When they wish to give it a reddifh tinge, they add to thefe ingredients a certain proportion of buckum; a porous wood of a red colour, which communicates to water by infufion. There are many other receipts, but the above is fufficient for a fpecimen. The ba fis of them all, is a vegetable aftringent, combined with fome preparation of iron. Nothing can fhew the force of habit-determining our ideas of beauty than this receipt. How fhocked is a European lady to be told that white teeth are a deformity, and that black teeth are highly beautiful and ornamental! Yet after all, if we difallow the force of habit, and endeavour to prove who is in the right as to this matter, it mu be universally acknowledged that what nature has appointed 'muft be moft beautiful European ladies therefore have nature on thei fide, while the advocates for black teeth car plead only the prejudices of education. I am, Sir, Yours, WHITE TEETH. Reflection Reflections on Winter. unceasing Rolls round the seasons of the changeful THOMSON'S Winter. How changed the scene !, whebeau teous landscape of nature, where the golden cowflip reared the dewy head, and ten thousand kinds of flowers in gay profufion spread their variegated dyes, delight no more! In vain I look round for the plaited daizy, or the gaudy tulip, for the milkwhite lily, or the fun-flower tinged with gold-in vain feek the humble violet, breathing its odoriferous perfume in the fequeftered vale. Alas! they are gone !-they are faded, and will be seen no more, till yender regent of the day again collects his fructifying beams, and fair-handed Spring returns with benignant fmiles. The gentle zephyrs, which a little while ago, breathing from the warm chambers of the fouth, bore on their kindly fanning wings the ambrofial odours, exhaled from Flora's rich perfumes, are now driven far away, by fern Winter's howling winds, and boifterous forms.—The waving trees, under whofe delightful fhade the Mufes played, and penfive Solitude fat reclined, are stripped of their verdant honours, and all bare and unfightly, fpread their naked arms to the freezing fkies, and tempeft-fraught heavens. The joyous fun, which a few weeks ago mounted on his refulgent throne, fcattered glories as he climbed over the eastern hills, rejoicing the earth, and animating the whole race of organized beings, is now fhrouded in thick clouds, or emits a weak and pallid light 9 The sportsman now, with his fagacious ing covey, uplifts the tube, and with undogs, traverses the fields, fprings the founderring aim, marking the game, in a moment lays them breathless, fluttering on the ground. Inhuman fport! but much-loved diverfion. Ah! now, ye feathered tribes, where will you be fafe from the fowler's wily arts, from the terrific thunder of the deftructive gun? Hard is your lot, pinched with cold, bitten with hunger, and pursued with dangers from every quarter? The mufic of the woods is over; the fongfters of the groves are ftruck dumb; no more they warble forth their sweet notes in ftrains delightful, nor tune their throats to love: no more they welcome the newborn day with their inimitable harmonies, nor hail the approach of day's great fovereign; but benumb'd with cold, they fit difconfolate among the bushes, or driven by want, croud into the farmers yards, to seek for food and fhelter-shelter from the inclemency of the season, and from the deathgriping claws of the rapacious falcon. Immenfe flights of field-fares and redwings now vifit our ifland, driven here by the intense cold of the northern countries, to pick a fcanty fubfiftence from the few berries which yet remain on the hedge-rows and hawthorn bufhes. The faipe too is found in our moors and marshes, and with bill ingulpht, feeks its unctuous food, or running along the cryftal ftreams, devours the worms and-infects that it finds on the furface; the few of them that efcape the murdering gun return annually with the returning fpring. On the Beauty of the Roman Ladies. (Tranflated from the French of the late Prefident Dupaty) W the ftate of female beauty at Rome; HY fhould I not fay fomething of beauty, which is fo highly eftimated in every country in the world, betore which the heart of the mature man is ftill inflamed when of youth begins to palpitate, the imagination of which fill melts, or makes the old man nothing else can warm him, and the memory fmile. Beauty is rare here, as it is every where elfe. Nature here, in the compofition of women, is often deficiens in that charm ng combination of colours and form which the eye of man demands when it contemplates the fofter fex. Nature feldom attains beauty here, except in the outline of the countenance, and the hand. She gives a rough sketch of the fhape, but feldom finishes: the bofom and the foot especially efcape her. Nor indeed, does the form with equal beauty, every species of flower, in every country in the world. B She ΙΟ On the Beauty of the Roman Ladies.-The Careless Lover. Jan. She is faid, however, to compenfate for this negligence, or want of industry, with refpect to the Roman women, by the perfection of their shoulders; but I am in reality of opinion, that if the fhoulders of the Roman women appear more beautiful, it is because they are more feen; poffibly too the émbonpoint that begins to take place very early, does in fact contribute to embellish them. Be this as it may, nature could not place more happily, nor accord with more effect, the forehead, eyes, nose, mouth, chin, ears and neck, than in the Roman women; fhe could not poffibly employ purer, softer, or more correct forms; all the diftinct parts, are finished, and the whole is complete. How charming is complexion! It is impregnated with roles and with lilies. What carnation! You would think that fair one perpetually blufhing. A fine Roman head never fails to aftonish, and, taken altogether, affects the heart: its beauties are perceived at the first glance, and the flighteft recollection brings it full into the memory. But, as every excellence in this world is counterbalanced by its defects; if a Roman woman receives from nature that beauty which aftonishes and excites admiration, fhe does not obtain from her that grace which charms and infpires love. If the poffeffes those never failing attractions which form, of a fine woman, but one beauty, the is wanting in thofe fugitive graces, which, of one amiable perfon, form twenty. You may contemplate that countenance a whole day in vain, those fine eyes will only have one look, that pretty mouth only one fmile; never will you difcover either pain or pleafure paffing over that unvaried brow; nor thofe accomplished features gently undulating, like water, by the infenfible motion of a tender fentiment, or a delicate idea. It may be obferved, indeed, that it is difficult for a woman of much fenfibility to be perfectly handsome. Senfibility neceffarily deranges, by its delicate motions the proportions of the face; but, then, it fubftitutes features expreffive of mind, for beauty. Nothing is more rare than to meet with a face here that moves, or interefts; that bespeaks a foul. But what lovely hands! and beautiful hands are indeed a beauty, they are fo rare! Beauty, among the Roman women, fades very rapidly, and at once. Here it is a rofe without a bud. A Roman girl of fifteen is in full beauty; and as the does not eultivate it by any exercife, as the overwhelms it with fleep, and takes no method to preferve it, her features are foon furcharged with too ha comes difproportionate; but it is to this very indolence, which, in fo fhort a time, will difguife all the delicacy of her face, that he is indebted for thofe handsome shoulders, which the difplays to view with fo much pride. There is another reafon why the beauty of the Roman women decays fo rapidly: it is always kept fhut up; it is always in the shade. The bud of beauty, like other flowers, requires the rays of the fun. I must say a word or too of the voice of the Roman women, for the voice is an effen tial part of the fex. That of the Roman woman, like their faces, is fine, but it has no foul: it expreffes, at times, the burits of paffion, but hardly ever its true accents. Let a Roman woman, in fhort fing before you, her voice will not originate from her heart, nor will it expire in your's. There are exceptions, however, among the Roman ladies, to all I have been saying. I am myself acquainted with at least three; Therefa, Rofalinda, and Palmira P. . . . It is true, that by paffing their lives with foreigners, in their father's houfe, the coquetry natural to their fex and to themselves is continually kept in action. Therefa is Armida in miniature; Palmira would have refembled Erminia, in the days of Erminia; Rofalinda has fomething of whatever is pleafing in a woman in every country in the world. Each motion of her eye-lid and of her lip is a grace. Thefe three fifters poffefs accomplishments. They dance-with delicacy-with expreffion! But I have said sufficient on the subject of Roman beauty; the delicate bloom of a flower must be carefully touched, and its perfumes fparingly inhaled. very fashionable young fellow, of a very ref pectable family, but rather firaitened in his circumftances, being a man of ton and taste, as he had only a small post under the government, made himself so agreeable in the eyes fo confequential, indeed, in the eyes of a mifs Fenwick, a young heiress, poffeffed of a confiderable fortune in various shapes, that fhe gave him all the encouragement which the moft animated lover could defire; but there was always in her whole behaviour to him the moft pointed propriety. Flattered by his affiduities and attentions, and fondly believing that he had really a fincere perfonal regard for her, without being under the influence of any lucrative confider." ations, as he had a general good character, Grian De 1789. The Careless Lover. promised herself not a little pleasure in raifing a young man of merit, who gave the ftrongeft affurances of a difinterefted attachment, to an affluent fituation. Animated by her future profpects, and future defigns, fhe complied with her impatient lover's earnest defire to fix the wedding-day, with a chearfulness which charmed him, with a fatisfaction which she could not conceal. It may easily be imagined by those who are acquainted with the importance of wealth, that George Davifon was not the only man who made his addreffes to miss Fenwick. She had, indeed, in her fuite many refpectable admirers, and many rap turous lovers; but George was the only man that had made an impreffion upon her heart, 2s fhe deemed him, with all his accomplishments and attractions, really deferving of her sensations in his favour.-There was but one man in her fuite, except himself, who flood high enough in her efteem to make her believe that he was very well qualified to make the woman who gave him her hand happy in the marriage ftate. This man was a Mr. Seaton, who with a found understanding, was a very entertaining companion : who with the most benevolent difpofition, was truly polite in his manners, and irreproachable in his moral conduct through life. As he was poffeffed of all thofe advantages, though he wanted all his elegant allurements, George could not help looking on him as a formidable rival, till he had fecured the nomination of his wedding day: by that nomination he was perfectly fatisfied, and gave himfelf up to the joys of expectation which fluttered in his bofom. A few days before that which mifs Fenwick had fixed for the completion of her lover's felicity, Mr. Seaton, who was always a welcome gueft at her house, as the liftened at all times with pleafure to his improving and amusing conversation, waited on her. Soon after his entrance into the room in which the received him, he informed her that he had fome intelligence to communicate to her, in which he was deeply concerned. Amelia was not a little furprised at the folemnity with which Mr. Seaton addreffed her, but intreated him, with the ftrongeft marks of curiofity in her countenance, to proceed. He then told her plainly, that if the married Davifon the would certainly repent of her connection with him. Amelia was very willing to believe that she was going to cherish in her breaft an enemy to her peace, and requefted Mr. Seaton with additional eagerness, to be more explicit with regard to his most unexpected information. II Before Mr. Seaton could articulate an aufwer, George entered the room, and having made a cool bow to him, put a little volume into Amelia's hands, telling her that it was the prettiest book of the kind he had ever met with. As Mr. Seaton left the room foon after George made his appearance, Amelia was, for the first time, embarraffed by the fight of her lover: however, the received the book presented to her with her ufual politenels, and gave him no reafon by her looks to fuppofe that the had heard any thing to his difadvantage.-She was indeed very unwilling to give credit to any reports against him: and determined not to believe him unworthy of her affection, until she was certain that his conduct was indefenfible. George took his leave in a few minutes after he had prefented his book, and recommended the perufal of it with additional spirit in his manner of speaking. Amelia was not now in a humour to read ; but fhe put the book recommended to her in her pocket, and strolling to a picturesque part of her extenfive grounds, fat down upon a bank. Taking out her book she began to read, but could not help taking her eyes, now and then, from the page before her, in order to ruminate on what had dropt from Mr. Seaton's lips. In turning over the leaves the came to one which ftruck her in a particular manner, a note, written by a female hand, and addrefied to the man to whom he was going to be united for life, made her ftart with furprize. By that note it appeared that a favourite miftrefs had the full poffeffion of his heart, and that a great part of the fortune arising from his marriage was deftined to keep her in the most fashionable style.-The book dropped from her hand, and the probably would have fainted, had not Mr. Seaton who flood concealed not far from the interefting fpot, flown to her affiftance, and saved her from falling. As foon as the could find words, fhe told Mr. Seaton that he was too well convinced of the baseness of her lover's behaviour to think of having any farther connections with him and fhewed him the note which had fufficiently opened her eyes: the converfation which followed between them proved highly fatisfactory to Mr. Seaton, as he felt himself in the fairest way to arrive at the fummit of his wishes. Amelia, though fhe was thoroughly convinced of her lover's unworthiness, determined not to ftrike the blow of disappointment till the very day appointed for the wedding. When George appeared, on that day, in his bridal dress; · she said, laughing, to him B 2 -" You |