EDINBURGH ADVERTISEMENTS OF THE LAST

CENTURY.

Friday, Oct. 23, 1713.

A GENTLEMAN wants for a servant, a sober genteel young lad, that can shave and dress wigs, and wears livery, and would like him the better if he could write. Such as can be well recommended as honest and sober, may enquire at Mr. Kenneth M'Kenzie, at the foot of the Canongate, where they may hear of a master, who will give them good encouragement and use them well.

Dec. 7, 1717.

THIS is to advertise all Gentleman and others, that there is a good Hackney Coach going to London (if God permit) on the fifteenth day of this instant December, Edward James, coachman. They are to be agreed with at Thomas Gibb's in the Canongate.

ROYALTY VERSUS STAYS.

THE following Edict, published by a foreign Sovereign about fifty years ago, is, we hope, inapplicable to the present time, nevertheless it deserves a place in our periodical, to show the errors of a former age, and to warn the fair of the present day to avoid them :

"Whereas, the dangerous consequences arising from the use of stays are universally acknowledged to impair the health and impede the growth of the fair sex; when, on the contrary, the suppression of that part of dress cannot but be effectual in strengthening their constitution. We hereby strictly enjoin, that, in all orphan houses, nunneries and other places, set apart for the public education of young girls, no stays of any kind shall be made use of, or encouraged from henceforth, and from this instant; and it is hereby farther hinted to all masters and mistresses of academies and boarding schools, that any girl wearing stays should not be received or countenanced in any such schools. We hereby also will and command, that it be enjoined to the college of physicians, that a dissertation, adapted to every one's capacity, be forthwith composed, shewing how materially the growth of children of the female sex is injured by the use of stays, for the better information of parents and schoolmasters who wish to procure a handsome shape to their children or pupils, as also, those who are not rich enough to alter the stays in proportion to the growth of such children, or having the means neglected to do it. The above dissertation shall be distributed gratis and dispersed among the public; the more so, as whole nations unacquainted with the use of stays, bring up a race of children remarkable for the healthiest constitutions."

MISS MATCHLESS AND ANOTHER BACHELOR.

To the Editor of THE DAY.

SIR, I was much pleased with the frank, free, and lively epistle of your light-hearted correspondent, Miss Matchless, and I cannot sufficiently admire the simple and ingenious manner she proposes for becoming acquainted with the advertising Bachelor. Should such a plan, however, be inconsistent with that gentleman's notions of etiquette, I beg to inform Miss Matchless that there are a number of other bachelors, under a certain age, who will be happy to adopt her new method of introduction, and she has only to name a day after Thursday, and the distinguishing badge we are to wear, and she may depend upon our waiting her inspection. It has occurred to several of us, however, that while Miss Matchless is so very particular in her enquiries regarding personal appearance, it would be well were she to favour you with a wooden cut of her own physiognomy; for certain of our club maintain that, if she be the lady they suspect, her personal charms are not of the highest order, and that her name, while it is strictly applicable to her as a spinster, is quite misapplied in reference to her beauty. Will Miss M. be kind enough to intimate, through the medium of The Day, the colour she proposes to fix for her summer dress, that when we see it in St. Vincent Street we may put on our good looks, and hail her with agreeable countenances; for first impressions are often the most important, and a single look has done more in a moment, than years of plotting and anxiety could effect. I shall conclude in the words of Moore's Anacreon

Woman! be fair, we must adore thee,
Smile, and a world is weak before thee.
ANOTHER BACHELOR.

George's Street, Tuesday.

JOSEPH HAYDN.

THE recent celebration of the centenary of the birth of this extraordinary man may make a few particulars of his life and labours acceptable at the present moment. And well may the term "extraordinary" be applied to Joseph Haydn-a man who shone, if not unmatched for musical genius, at least without an equal for industry and fecundity of imagination. His life was extended to the age of three-score and seventeen, from which the immaturity of childhood and the waning years of his later existence must be thrown off. In fact, the period of his musical career was comprised between the age of eighteen, when he ventured before the public with his first quartett, and of seventy-three, when his powers began to wane under the infirmity of advancing years. He left behind him an autograph, though incomplete, detail of his rare, unwearied, and successful diligence; and by this, it appears that between the years 1760 and 1805 (for in the former his Symphony in D appeared), he had composed 118 symphonies, 83 quartetts (the last of which came out in an unfinished state in 1806, and was rendered mournfully interesting by the device on its titlepage-" Alas! mine every power is withered!") 24 trios, 19 operas, 5 oratorios, 163 pieces for the tenor, 24 concertos for various instruments, 15 masses, 10 smaller pieces of church music, amongst others, the "Stabat Mater" and "Salve Regina," 44 sonatas for the piano, 42 German and Italian songs, 39 canons, 13 vocal pieces for more than one voice, 365 Scottish melodies, and a host of miscellaneous compositions. In no one individual was there perhaps ever combined more fertility of invention, more mastery of science, more playfulness of humour, or a greater originality of easy and graceful imagination. After the twelve symphonies, which Haydn wrote for Salomon's Concerts, followed the Creation, that splendid achievement, which encircled the evening of his days with an immortality of glory. He composed it at the advanced age of sixty-five, evidently in the enjoyment of unimpaired freshness and vigour of mind; and it was first performed at Vienna. Even Wieland caught the enthusiasm, which Hadyn's masterpiece had kindled under every European sky, nor did he rest until he had sung the praises of the Creation. The writer recollects, as it were but yesterday, paying his first visit to Haydn in the year 1799, and finding him busily engaged in composing the part of "Summer" in his delightful "Seasons;" at this time he bore his years with a racy cheerfulness and vigour of intellect, of which three-score has but rarely the happiness to boast. An isolated fact is frequently the index to a whole life. We remember his giving as the theme to a canon, which a young artist was desirous of writing, these few but pithy words" Let thy science be thy God, the world thou inhabitest, and thine own self!"-Athenæum. + Hin ist alle meine kraft!

ODDS AND ENDS.

A SHORT time before our arrival at Hammerfest, a whale was found stranded in the bay. When the tide left it, the fishermen who found it, immediately began to flench it, and had actually cut a quantity of blubber off the back, when a person who resided near the spot, persuaded them it would be more profitable if it were towed into Hammerfest. They accordingly fixed two grapnels through its nostrils, and a hawser round its tail, with which they hauled it off at high water, and made it fast to two boats. It had not been long in deep water before it began to evince signs of life, and soon after made a start off with the boats, which it dragged for twenty miles, although there was a smart breeze at the time, and the fishermen in order to obstruct its progress, hoisted the sails and laid them flat aback to the mast. They were in the end compelled to cut the rope, being in danger of swamping, and thus lost the fish. They were so much enraged with the person who persuaded them to remove the whale that they actually prosecuted him for the advice he had given.—Clavering's Journal.

Homer, in the seventh book of the Odyssey, after describing Alcinou's palace, states, that the royal garden was four acres in extent, and that the fruits consisted of grapes, olives and figs, which were watered by two fountains. Laertes' garden had the same fruits and also fountains. The garden of Calypso, in the fifth book of the Odyssey, seems to have been fixed upon by this semi-Goddess for its pleasing situation, without having owed any thing to art or labour, more than the beautiful spots in Juan Fernandez or Tinian, when visited by Lord Anson.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"Two Days at Killarney," in an early number. "W." if possible, in our Saturday's publication. "R. R.'s" enigma is so obscure, that we cannot discover whether the author writes in prose or verse.

"Theatrical Note Book.-No. IV." as soon as possible.

PUBLISHED, every Morning, Sunday excepted, by JOHN FINLAY, at No. 9, Miller Street; and Sold by JOHN WYLIE, 97, Argyle Street; DAVID ROBERTSON, and W. R. M'PHUN, Glasgore; THOMAS STEVENSON, and the other Booksellers, Edinburgh: DaVID DICK, and A. GARDNER, Booksellers, Paisley: A. LAING, Greenock; and J. GLASS, Bookseller, Rothsay.

PRINTED BY JOHN GRAHAM, MELVILLE PLACE.

GLASGOW PUNCH.

IMAGINE not, gentle reader, from the title of this article, that we are about to manufacture for thee that matchless mead and never-to-be-neglected nectar of our far-famed city-that we have already, with a well tutored eye, tossed the requisite lumps of double-refined into the mandarin china bowl-have squeezed thereupon, free from all essential oil, a goodly half-dozen of round, thin-skinned lemons-have poured in half a bottle of fine flavoured Jamaica-saturating the whole with the contents of a huge pitcher of iced water-that we, in fact, having completed the witching brewst by a topdressing of Bahama limes, are now about to upraise, with an air of self-complacency at our own powers, a full brimmer of the well skinked beverage to our lips, and to ask thee if thou hadst the heart to refuse to join Would that we could indeed welcome thee at a board, and round a bowl redolent with such insinuating and conversable liquor-sure are we that our humble endeavours to cater for thy pleasure, and to minister to thy instruction, would be more easily accomplished. Then might we, indeed, occasionally pawn upon thee, without fear, a Joe Miller for an original joke, and a plate of "cauld kale het again" for some perfectly novel potage. But alas! this idea-the idea of congregating the many thousand readers of " The Day" round one bowl, to tell them our secrets, and to ask them to join in drinking success to our undertaking-is altogether preposterous. The famous Tun at Heidelberg, though filled to the brim, would not afford each even a single bumper-and what in the name of Bacchus is one bumper, or one bowl of Glasgow Punch?

us.

No, no, gentle reader, sanguine though we be, we have never once dreamt of having it in our power to quaff with thee, and thy congregated fellows, this drink of the Gods. The PUNCH to which we now invite thee is calculated-not for snug parties with their limbs stretched under the mahogany, but for crowds standing bolt upright in the street-not for a narrow, confined, and cabined circle-but for a wide, mixed, and popular assembly. To lay this metaphor aside, we now purpose introducing thee to a legitimate and worthy descendant of the famous Pulicinello, who was in the custom of keeping the Piazza San Marco in a constant gaffaw with his oddities and quiddities, with his sly hits and his sarcastic inuendos; and who, on the Rialto, or at the Logetto, whispered secrets, which even the Doge and his Council, with all their spies and lions mouths to boot, could not discover; and sported enigmas that set all the courtiers of Venice on the rack to solve. This celebrated character, and his no less conspicuous helpmate have just made their appearance in our city what encouragement they are likely to meet with, will be better collected from their own mouths than any information we can give on the subject:—

[SCENE FIRST-Punch and Judy.] Judy.-Ah, my dear Mr. Punch, what makes you look so very sad, and hold your head upon your hand, as if you were not in no good health?

Punch.-Ah! Judy, my dear, we have left our own kongtrie, and come to one no good place. I have come, for know dat der is one Mr. Punch here already and he take all de money; so Judy, my dear, you may put your thumb in your mout, for I fear very bad

you will no get noting else to put in it. De Scotch people are so very fond of der own Mr. Punch, dat they will give noting to any oder Mr. Punch.

Judy. Dat is de very bad news indeed, Mr. Punch; but what sort of fellow is dis Scotch Mr. Punch.

Punch. I no see him, but he must be one very droll fellow, one very comical fellow, one very queer fellow, one perfect devil of a fellow-for am told, de people of Glasgow will sit and see him from five o'clock in de afternoon, till two of de clock in de morning dat is ten hours' performance, and dat tho their neighbour's house be all in de fire, they will not leave Mr. Punch, no upon no account. Ah, dis dam Glasgow Punch he play de very devil with oder men of talent and taste dat come to de town-he must be one terrible grand cleber fellow.

Judy. Where does he put up his box?

Punch.-Box!! de skounderell! he no want no

box; he play his dam trick in de people's houses, and he is to be found at de first tables in de city, where he is as welcome as de sun dat shines.

Judy-Does he quarrel wid his wife, as you do with your Judy, Mister Punch?

Punch.-O! no, no, no, no-I no hear dat, but he make oder men quarrel with their Judys, and dat is much worse thing.

Judy.-No, no, Mister Punch, dat is much better thing; I wish you was one Glasgow Punch, den de quet house would be with us.

Punch.-Ah! Judy, don't speak to me, I have one very great big melancholy at my heart-ah! dis dam Glasgow Punch dat starve poor stranger Punch, I have got de big pain at my stomach.

Judy. My dear Mr. Punch, I will send to de doctor for your stomach?

Punch.-Ah! Judy, Judy, de cook be de best doctor for de pain in de stomach.

Judy. I will send for de doctor for all dat. He will tell what to do wid dis Glasgow Punch, and dat, may be, will take de big melancholy from your heart and de pain from your stomach?

Punch. My dear Judy, you are de great good sense woman-it is one million pities that a man of my great big merits should be starved in this great big city.

Judy.-Hush! der is de doctor's foot on de stair already?

[ENTER Doctor.]

Doctor.-Well, Sir, what is the matter with you? Punch.-Ah! big melancholy at my heart and big pain at my stomach.

Doctor.-Put out your tongue?
Punch.-Der.

Doctor. It seems very clean.

Punch.-Clean! very too much clean, dis is one grand town for clean tongue.

Doctor.-What is your regular diet? Punch.-Regular diet! I not know what dat mean, I have had no regular diet, nor any oder diet, since I came to dis place.

Doctor. Who are you? Punch-Der is my card.

Doctor. What! Mr. Punch, the celebrated performer, come to town!

Punch. Just de same-I have been celebrated all

over Europe as a man of great talents and wonderful merit.

Doctor. And you have come here expecting to live by your merit; ah! Mr. Punch, Mr. Punch, if that is your intention, I fear you must mess with the chameleon. Our air is thick, no doubt, but it will not keep up that paunch of yours, or I am much mistaken. I understand your complaint now, but don't be alarmed, it is nothing uncommon. All men of talent, whether they sport the buskin, or devote themselves to literary pursuits, are affected by a lowness of spirits, and pains in the stomach, when they come to Glasgow, and the only thing I prescribe for such patients is a change of air as soon as possible. Even men of merit, that belong to our city, are obliged to go to other places in order to get cured of such complaints. So don't be alarmed, Mr. Punch, it is not cholera, but a disease indigenous to our town.

Punch-Dat may be all true, Doctor; but I am come for to know dat der is a rival of mine dat de call de Glasgow Punch, dat is the great big enemy to de success of all men of talent.

Doctor.-(winking to Judy)-0 yes, Mr. Punch, I know that fellow; he has got the Glasgow people entirely under his thumb; had you all the merit in the world it would be vain for you to contest the palm with him.

Punch.-I am come for to know he make big sum of money.

Doctor.-All true, Mr. Punch: there are large sums money expended on him; he is a most bewitching fellow, and has a delightful flavour in the nostrils of the public. Punch.-Oh de dam skounderell, he just lead de public by de nose.

Doctor. That is just the bridle by which the public ought to be led, Mr. Punch; but in place of calling your rival bad names, you ought to set about learning the tricks by which he fascinates the public.

Punch. But how can I do dat, when I only hear of him, and never see him at all—at all?

66

Doctor. To be serious with you, Mr. Punch, your rival, whom you are so much afraid of, is nothing more than a pet tipple," which goes by your name, and, if you will learn to make it to perfection, you will be more welcome to the tables of our wealthy citizens, than if you had written the Letters of Junius, the Pleasures of Hope, or even the Waverley Novels themselves. To squeeze a lemon to the fancy of our cits is, in their opinion, the highest of all human accomplishments, and, were you fortunate enough to discover any improvement in the art of giving a top-dressing to a bowl of their favourite nectar, you might reckon yourself a made man.

Punch. And I would no more be troubled wid de pain in de stomach, nor have de clean tongue, nor de clean teeth? Ah, my dear Doctor, tell me how I may come for be taught to make dis grand liqueur.

Doctor. You are a great genius, Mr. Punch; and, after you get a little knowledge of it, you may make discoveries and improvements that may hit the taste of our citizens, and, if you are so lucky, you will receive more encouragement and patronage than if you had discovered a new planet, or found out the way to the North Pole. So, Mr. Punch, give up all your wit and humour, flights of fancy and ingenious devices, which have drawn so much applause upon you in other places, and learn to become an honest pains-taking publican, hang up a sign of yourself at the door, with a lemon in the one hand and a ladle in the other: you will be sure of full houses every night, always bumpers, Mr. Punch, always bumpers.

Punch.-(Shaking his head.)-Ah, mine Got, but dis be one dam degradation for de man of talent.

Doctor. Nothing else will do in Glasgow, Mr. Punch-remember the clean tongue.

Punch.-Ah, de devil take de clean tongue-vill, vill, I vill think of it-and you come back and teach me how to be de publican, and how to make de punch—

Ir has been truly said by the poet from whose pages these lines are taken, that

"God made the country, and man made the town ;" for however glorious may be the works of man, however enduring their sway, what are their glories and duration to the ever-green fields, what their splendours to the towering mountains or the nobly-spreading lakes? What are the charms of a life pent up amidst the smoke and misery of a town, to those which may be enjoyed by him who wanders forth to breathe the free air of heaven, amidst the inspiring, though perchance solitary, lakes and glens, whither Nature is ever inviting his footsteps?

A few summers ago, somewhat embued with these feelings, after having returned to Dublin from a visit to the vale of Ovoca, and the other beauties of County Wicklow, we resolved to extend our wanderings to the far-famed Lakes of Killarney. The intermediate journeying we shall pass rapidly over-at Limerick we saw the stone where the noted treaty was signed; and, moving quickly onwards to Tralee; on the afternoon of the third day reached the small and dull town of Killarney. The Lakes are situated at a distance of about two miles from the town, and the afternoon being delightful, we obtained our first look of the Lower Lake by a walk to Ross Castle. The view that presented itself to us from this spot is extensive-in the distance we beheld the majestic and bold heights of Glena, and the stupendous Mangerton, which seemed to frown in sullen dignity over the milder beauties of the Lake, which lay at its base in a state of the most peaceful repose.

Though having every disposition to linger o'er the scene, yet our stay being unfortunately limited to the short space of two days, we resolved at all events to extend them to the utmost limits which the season afforded. With that end, we were early on foot next morning, and having the aid of hardy, sure-footed Kerry ponies, pursued our way towards the Gap of Dunloe. This is a wild mountain pass, formed between the hills, which on both sides are quite precipitous, with immense masses of rock lying about in every direction, and frequently threatening to interrupt the path of the traveller.

"Crags, knolls and mounds, confusedly hurled,

The fragments of an earlier world." We have never seen Glencoe; but assuredly Glencroe presents nothing to equal the dreary sublimity of the scenery through which we now passed. A gloomy pool attracted our attention at a part of the rugged road, where, had we not possessed the most unlimited confidence in our sturdy ponies, the dread of being precipitated into these dreary waters, would have quickly dispelled our ideas of the sublime: as it was, the slight idea of fear served but to increase the feeling produced by the surrounding grandeur of the scene.

Leaving Dunloe, we rode on through the valley of Comme Duff, and, having sent our ponies back to Kil larney, proceeded to Gheramine, the abode of Lord Brandon, on the borders of the Upper Lake. His Lordship being from home, we found our way to his sanctuma few books, and some implements and trophies of the chase, were alone worthy of note in this secluded habitation, the whole aspect of which presented a picture of the most morbid desolation.

We now embarked in the boat which had been or

dered to wait us at this point, and found it well provided with the ammunition suitable for a cruize. Our bugle sounded a merry peal, and we moved forward amongst

The fairy crowds

Of islands, which together lie, As quietly as spots of sky Among the evening clouds.

The Upper Lake, on whose waters we now were embarked, is about three miles in length, is completely surrounded with hills, and, as the narrow river or pass, which unites it with the Lower and Turk Lakes, is entirely concealed amidst the islands and projecting points of land, the quiet seclusion of the scene overpowers the mind with a feeling which may be enjoyed, but not easily described.

We landed opposite to an immense overhanging rock, named the Eagle's Nest, and, as our gunner discharged a cannon, listened to the surprizing echo proceeding from this rock, which, like tremendous peals of thunder, was reverberated an amazing number of times, until it gradually died away, as the sound appeared to depart in the distance. Again continuing our course towards the Lower Lake, through the connecting passage, or river, we reached a point, where the current runs down with immense rapidity-the oars were laid aside and we were hurried, with amazing quickness, into Glenà bay. This beautiful spot lies at the upper part of the Lower Lake, and commands an enlivening view of a considerable part of its variegated extent. Here we unloaded the stores from the boat, and, entering a little cottage, embosomed amidst the most luxuriant wood, at the foot of Glenà mountain, with appetites sharpened by the bracing air of Loch Lein, made a most comfortable repast. We had, in addition to what our boat afforded, some excellent salmon newly caught from the Lough.

We once more embarked, and, proceeding over the splendid expanse of the Lower Lake, shooting swiftly past numerous richly-wooded islands, approached the deeply-indented rocks of Ross Island, from the shores of which we had obtained the first view of the Lake on the previous evening. Here the bugle was in requisition, and, amidst the delightful quiet of a summer evening, called forth a numerous host of echoes. The boatmen, also, held a supposed conversation with a person on shore, which did not, however, like an Irish echo that we have somewhere heard of, produce an answer from the rocks-some rather long sentences were, however, repeated with the most amazing distinctness, from different quarters. We now landed, and, aided by the refreshed vigour of our ponies, were speedily seated in the hotel at Killarney.

The last morning we could devote to the scenery of Lough Lein, having dawned, we again mounted our friendly ponies, and, attended by a bugleman and guide, prepared for the ascent of Mangerton. The view of the Lakes, which gradually opened upon us as we ascended the mountain, became truly splendid and exhilerating. The coast near Bantry, the Tralee and other mountains, were distinctly seen, forming as a whole, a prospect of the most commanding description.

"Now we've gained the mountain's brow,

What a landscape lies below!

No clouds, no vapours intervene,

But the gay, the open scene;

Does the face of nature show,
In all the hues of heaven's bow,
And, swelling to embrace the light,
Spreads around beneath the sight.'

Having surveyed and drank out of the Devil's Punch Bowl, a dark and very cold pool of some extent, very near the summit of the mountain, we descended a short way down the Glen of the Horse. The sides of this glen are very precipitous, and we found that careful footsteps are required of those who would proceed with security. A more desolate, gloomy spot cannot well be imagined-no traces of human habitations are

to be seen a few goats are observed scrambling amongst the rocks, the only abodes of whose owners are in caverns hollowed out of the rocks.

We now descended from Mangerton, and next reached the Abbey of Mucruss, a relic of the olden times and in a very fine state of preservation. In the interior of the choir, which is gloomy in the extreme, are, piled in numerous fantastic shapes, the last remains of many bye-gone generations-a more ghastly remembrancer of the futility of earthly desires could scarce be presented.

"To what base uses we may return."

The noble dust of Alexander was certainly more usefully employed, if we imagine it stopping a hole, than to suppose his "chop-fallen" skull surmounting a fantastic pyramid in the Abbey of Mucruss.

We were once more upon the borders of the Lough, and found the boat waiting our arrival, provided as in the previous day's excursion. After a renewal of yesterday's treat, of Arbutus dressed salmon, in a hut in one of the islands, we coasted round the Turk Lake, which we had not yesterday been able to visit. This Lake, which may be about two miles in length, is perhaps the most enchanting of the three. It is indented

by numerous little bays, richly wooded, which, from being narrow at the entrance, or protected by islands, have all the effect, when sailing round them, of separate though miniature lakes, and present a most picturesque and secluded aspect.

The ascent of Mangerton had occupied so much of our time that night beginning to come on apace, we had with regret to leave many spots unvisited, near which we might else have lingered. But many pleasing recollections have the two days spent around Lough Lein left on our minds, and, though probably never destined again to revisit its woods and glens, it is likely long to remain a delightful source of reminiscence to those friends who shared with us the enjoyments of the scene.

We got back rather late to Killarney, and wound np the pleasures of the day by hearing the enchanting strains of the Irish pipe, sounded by one who well understood the touching and simple melodies of his native land. Next morning we bade farewell to Killarney, and arrived the same evening at Cork, from whence we returned, by Kilkenny, &c. to Dublin.

MISCELLANEA.

A REMARKABLE INSTANCE OF SENSIBLE REPARTEE IN A LUNATIC. A gentleman of the name of Man, who resided at Deptford, and had a place in the Custom-house, having constantly finished his business at two o'clock, used generally to go home then to dinner. In his walk he frequently met a gentleman who lived in that neighbourhood, who was known to be disordered in his intellects, but whose conduct had always been inoffensive. It happened one day that the madman met him on the causeway, and, having a large stick in his hand when he came opposite to Mr. Man, he made a sudden stop, and striking one end of the stick on the ground, he held it with both his hands, and sternly pronounced, "Who are you, Sir?" The other not at all alarmed, and willing to soothe his assailant with a pun, replied, "Why, Sir, I am a double man; I am Man by name, and man by nature." "Are you so?" says the insane; "Why I am a man beside myself, and we two will fight you two"-Immediately upon which he knocked Mr. Man into the ditch, and deliberately walked off.

POETRY.

MARY.

A minnow by the sunny brink,
Of waters soon to freeze;

A little bird, that cannot think
On storms and leafless trees.

A flower sprung in a wintry vale,
To smile amid the gloom,
And sweetly scent the passing gale
That bears away its bloom.
The violet, lily, and the rose,

Blend in her mien together;
Alas! that summer ere should close,
And leave such flowers to wither.

ROBERT BURNS.

As every trait of our National Bard is an object of interest, it is with pleasure we present our readers with the following letter, written by him, to a friend in Paisley; although merely a business letter, our readers will perceive, in several sentences, the spirit of the Bard, bursting the trammels of mercantile correspondence, and expressing itself in unison with the real feelings of his heart. We beg again to offer our gratitude to the Lady who has so kindly presented us with this relic, as well as the letter of Lord Lovat, we formerly published.

I

DEAR SIR, I am sorry I was out of Edinburgh, making a slight pilgrimage to the classic scenes of this country, when I was favoured with your's of the 11th inst., enclosing an order of the Paisley Banking Company on the Royal Bank, for twenty pounds seven shillings sterling, payment in full, after carriage deducted, for ninety copies of my book I sent you. According to your motions, I see you will have left Scotland before this reaches you, otherwise I would send you Holy Willie with all my heart. was so hurried that I absolutely forgot several things I ought to have minded-among the rest, sending books to Mr. ; but any order of your's will be answered at Creech's shop. You will please remember that non-subscribers pay six shillings: this is Creech's profit, but those who have subscribed, though their names may have been neglected in the printed list, which is very incorrect, they are supplied at the subscription price. I was not at Glasgow, nor do I intend for London, and I think Mrs. Fame is very idle to tell so many lies on a poor poet. When you or Mr. write for copies, if you should want any, direct to Mr. Hill, at Mr. Creech's shop, and I write to Mr. Hill by this post to answer either of your orders. Hill is Mr. C.'s first clerk, and Creech, himself, is presently in London. I suppose I shall have the pleasure, by your return to Paisley, of assuring you how much I am, dear Sir, your obliged humble servant,

Berrywell, near Dunse, May 17th, 1787.

LACONICS.

(From the Album Wreath.)

ROBT. BURNS.

THE happiness of life is made up of minute fractions. There is no faith so firm as that which has never been called in question.

Vivid imaginations present and occasion a thousand inconveniences that dull souls are not liable to, or sensible of.-Zimmerman. Oh! cruel girl, I did but steal one kiss, And you have stolen away my heart for this.

He that wishes to content his desires by the possession of what he wishes for, is like him who endeavours to put out fire with

straw.

The most important and awful precept of the day, is its depar

ture.

Replies are not always answers.

Compliments fill up the hiatus, when intellect, sincerity, or affection are mute.

Confessing a folly is an act of judgment, a compliment we often refuse to pass on ourselves.

Happiness is the shadow of contentment, and rests or moves for ever with its original.

There is an alloted sphere for every species of ability.

To be happy at home, is the ultimate result of all ambition, the end to which every enterprise and labour tends. -Dr Johnson.

In nature, movement is life: but, repose is life in sculpture.

ODDS AND ENDS.

ANECDOTE OF ADMIRAL WILLIAMS FREEMAN.-The last number of the United Service Journal contains a memoir of the distinguished naval services, during the American war, of the late venerable Admiral of the Fleet, William Peere Williams Freeman. The following anecdote of him, whilst a youth, is characteristic of the man. When a midshipman, serving on a foreign station, young Williams (for he did not take the name of Freeman until late in life), and a brother Mid, had each a favourite dog on board their vessel: Williams's dog had by some means given offence to the other younker, who threatened to throw the animal overboard. "If you do," rejoined Williams, "then yours shall follow ;" and he accordingly kept his word. Enraged at the loss of his dog, the other Mid came up to Williams and demanded satisfaction, challenging him to fight. "Be calm, Sir," said Williams coolly, "you have acted most brutally towards my poor dog, and I have retaliated on yours, as I promised I would do; you are entitled to no satisfaction from me, but your unoffending dog is I therefore propose to save the life of yours, if you will

do so by mine." This proposal being acceded to, young Williams instantly leapt overboard, swam to his opponent's dog, secured him in preference to his own, returned to the vessel, and, with the animal under his arm, was hauled up by a rope which had been thrown over the side for him to hold by. His comrade then took his sousing in turn, to the high delight of young Williams, and was equally successful in saving the life of the other poor brute. The matter did not rest here; the youths had been guilty of a breach of orders in thus risking their lives, and were each sent to the mast-head by way of penance.-When far advanced in years, the kind-hearted Admiral declared, that there was scarcely any circumstance in his life he reflected on with greater satisfaction than that of having been instrumental in saving the lives of these dogs so true is it, that bravery and humanity are closely allied.

SEBASTIANI. Sebastiani, in whose military command this district was comprised, was a person who betrayed no compunction in carrying the abominable edict of M. Soult into effect; and scarcely a day past in which several prisoners were not put to death in Granada in conformity to that decree. Among the instances of heroic virtue which were displayed here during the continuance of this tyranny, there are two which were gratefully : acknowledged by the national Government. Lorenzo Teyxeyro, an inhabitant of Granada, who had performed the dangerous service of communicating intelligence to the nearest Spanish general, was discovered, and might have saved his life if he would have named the persons through whom the communication was carried on; but he was true to them as he had been to his country, and suffered death contentedly. The other instance was attended with more tragic circumstances. Captain Vicente Moreno, who was serving with the mountaineers of Ronda, was made prisoner, carried to Granada, and there had the alternative proposed to him of suffering by the hangman, or entering into the Intruder's service. Sebastiani showed much solicitude to prevail upon this officer, having, it may be believed, some feeling of humanity, if not some fore-feeling of the opprobrium which such acts of wickedness draw after them in this world, and of the account which is to be rendered for them in the next. Moreno's wife and four children were therefore, by the General's orders, brought to him when he was upon the scaffold, to see if their entreaties would shake bis resolution; but Moreno, with the courage of a martyr, bade ber withdraw, and teach her sons to remember the example he was about to give them, and to serve their country, as he had done, honourably and dutifully to the last. This murder provoked a public retaliation which the Spaniards seldom exercised, but -when they did-upon a tremendous scale. Gonzales, who was member in the Cortes for Jaen, had served with Moreno, and loved him as such a man deserved to be loved; and by his orders seventy French prisoners were put to death at Marbella.- Southey. THE REIGN OF ELIZABETH-Was the golden period of cosmetics. The beaux of that day, it is evident, used the abominable art of painting their faces, as well as the women. Our old comedies abound with perpetual allusions to oils, tinctures, quintessences, pomatums, perfumes, paint, white and red, &c. One of their prime cosmetics was a frequent use of the bath, and the aplication of wine. Strutt quotes, from an old MS. a recipe to make the face of a beautiful red colour. The person was to be in a bath, that he might perspire, and afterwards wash his face with wine, and "so should be faire and roddy." In Mr. Lodge's "Illustrations of British History," I observe a letter from the Earl of Shrewsbury, who had the keeping of the unfortunate Queen of Scots. The Earl notices that the Queen bathed in wine, and complains of the expense, and requires a further allowance. A learned professor informed me, on my pointing out this passage, that white wine was used for these purposes. They also made a bath of milk. Elder beauties bathed in wine to get rid of their wrinkles, and perhaps not without reason, wine certainly being a great astringent. Unwrinkled beauties bathed in milk, to preserve the softness and smoothness of the skin. Our venerable beauties of the Elizabethean age, were initiated coquettes, and the mysteries of their toilet might be worth unveiling.-D'Israeli.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We do not recollect having received the contribution "L." alludes to; we should, however, prefer an article in prose rather than in verse.

"Finis" ought to be contented with the present enviable situation of his verses. We generally decline the contents of Albums. "Z." is a comical fellow. "Miss Wimpleton" without delay.

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