It contains many interesting specimens from American literature, and has a large sale among the body, whose organ it is.

The Farmer's Register.-Shortly after the failure of Constable's great house, the "Farmer's Magazine," ably edited by Mr. Cleghorn, which they had long successfully published, was discontinued, and Scottish agriculturists were without an exclusive organ. This work was then projected in monthly numbers at tenpence. It has since been increased in size and price, and, with the exception of an unnecessary political summary, must be useful as it is judicious.

A journal with the affected title of The Scrutinist, which was to be at once literary and agricultural, was printed at Montrose, and sent hither to be published, at the same time. It shortly after emigrated to Edinburgh, and, like some other travellers, changed its name-to that of the Scots Agricultural Magazine.

Swan's Views of Glasgow.-This splendid and spirited undertaking was begun this year, and met with uncommon success. It consists of interesting views of the city, streets, and public buildings, with brief but elegantly written descriptions. The proprietor contemplates a companion work to this in a series of " Views on the River Clyde." And, early in 1828, there will appear the first number of Brown's magnificent work on the Royal Palaces of Scotland; the literary department of which is confided to the learned Dr. Jamieson, the father of Scottish Antiquaries.

A Quarterly Medical Journal, the property of which is to be held in shares by several leading practitioners in town, is announced as to be published early next year. Its establishment was mainly brought about by Dr. Young and Mr. Weir, and it is to be edited by Dr. M'Kenzie-projector of a Plan for Raising the Dead.

The Spirit of British Song, The Encyclopedia and Portfolio of Songs, The Minstrelsy, The Thistle, The Amaranth, The Scots Worthies, &c., although published in numbers, cannot properly be enumerated in our list, as that method was only resorted to for conveniency, and formed no essential part of their plan.

The Casquet, A Selection of Gems, is at present in

course of publication; and The Chronicle of the Isles, in Scripture phraseology, now and then appears.

Lumsden's Commercial Memorandum-Book, and The Western Kalendar, are annually published, and have a sale of many thousands, but hardly come within the scope of our list.

Besides those chronologically enumerated, a multitude of others have, during the first quarter of the nineteenth century, sought to enlighten the world for at least the remaining three-fourths of that cycle, but in vain. ADVISERS have had the fate they usually met with-in being neglected;―TORCHES have been used in lighting farthing candles; PERIPATETICS have never fairly got upon their legs;-RAINBOWS have been as fleeting if not so lovely as that the poet sings;-CENSORS have not been listened to;-SWINGERS have hurt nobody ;—and WEEKLY MAGAZINES have so harmonized with the sound of their title, that they never had a monthly existence. These we do not particularize, as they seldom passed their second number.

SPECIMENS OF A SERIES OF NEW READINGS IN BAILEY AND JOHNSON.-No. X.

Assurance. The chief ingredient in procuring the success of men of mediocrity. Once the word which signified conviction resulting from reason: now the sign of impudence, and index of a quicker method of mental travelling-to an agreeable opinion of one's self. method of providing for future wants from present opportunities, whether by saving from pleasure or pillaging from credulity.

A

Bending. The "first position" in the march of promo

tion.

Consignment.-A method of getting rid of goods men are tempted to prepare for a market where the chances are two to one that they will not sell, and twenty to one that they will never be paid for if they do.

Deserts. What fortune does to merit;-seldom what she gives.

Envy. The oxidation of the soul; but it is only the meaner minds and metals that can rust.

Fading.-See Miss Foote.

Gossips.-Old women who attend in-lyings in petticoats, and all lyeings in breeches.

Hair. The foliage of the human tree. The drapery of a fine woman's face, and that part of what is connected with their brains, which youngsters most carefully cultivate. The only crop which many thick soils can produce, and one that fifty thousand people in Great Britain live by cutting.

Imagination. That power which can create without substance, paint without colour, and kill without crime. Jury-Twelve men; seven of whom must be of one opinion, and five of none.

Kissing. The lover's employment of lips when words won't pass over them;-the poetry of contact ;-the dram-drinking of boyhood;-and the way Highlanders ascertain whether their female acquaintances have been tippling or not.

Libel.-What any body feels to be true, but fears to have known.

Moment. A flap of the wing of time. The life of a thought.

Nose. The seat of one sense which snuff-takers gratify at the expense of the other four-and common-sense besides. The tell-tale of conviviality, which will accompany one into his cups, and yet be the first to blush and blab about the matter. An asnoying companion in Edinburgh, and in the neighbourhood of GoosedubsStreet.

Originalty.-The only thing impossible of attainment by perseverance. The mark no one ever hits by aiming at it.

Pun. The paper-currency representative of, but not always convertible into the bullion of wit.

Quibbling.-Treating words like caoutchouc, or using it to them. See the above.

Robbing. Of all arts, that which admits of being done in the greatest variety of ways.

Scholar.-One who has been taught much and thought little.

Tavern.-An independent territory, where a shilling makes you a sovereign. A place where dinners are more cheaply bought by coin, than elsewhere by complaisance.

Unlike. See half the portraits that are painted, and husbands and wives that live together.

Violin.-An instrument which a man seldom arrives at

perfection in playing, till he is too deaf from age to hear his own notes.

Watch.-A machine which many wear with a golden cover, that they may have something about them of the same hue as their brazen face. Some lawyers carry one to measure the time when their clients' claims become due; and keep that specimen of the precious metals-as a proof that paper, (even foolscap,) can be converted into gold.

Young. The only thing that the whole world agree in wishing to become again. The name of an eminent physician alive, and of a bad poet dead.

Zest.-What we feel in finishing a pleasant task—like that which this definition concludes.

RESOLUTIONS

Passed at a recent Meeting of THE DUNCE CLUB, held in the House of one of the Members, as the Atmosphere of a Tavern might contain the infection of Wit.

Mr. CHRISTOPHER SEGGIE in the Chair,

SUPPORTED BY

Messrs. ANDREW DAICHIE, PETER STECH, Gilbert GABBYGASH, and SAMUEL SOUROCKS.

RESOLVED, I.-That "The Ant," published in Glasgow, is of a dangerous and mischievous tendency: being lively, erratic, diverting, and inaccurate.

II. That, as many parts of "The Maximist," and the whole of "The Phraseologist," in that publication, are aimed at us and our fraternity; and that we are, therefore, bound to discountenance the work, its editor, printer, publishers, &c.

III. That the best means we can take to do this, is to nod, look gash, wink, hint, shake the head, whisper, allege that authors are dangerous, idle, irascible, and unfit for business -but only in the general, and positively without individual application.

IV. That it would also be advisable to descant on certain errors of the press which it is possible to discover in it or any other work-to talk of Addison's purity, hint about Mr. Lennie's works, and insinuate that cleverness is but flippancy, and ability only another name for impudence. V. That, nevertheless, its editor be elected an honorary member of our Club, inasmuch as he has discontinued the work

at the time its sale was at the highest point, and yielded returns much greater than the outlay. VI. That the Ayr Advertiser and Stirling Journal be taken in for the use of the Club, which cannot bear a Free Press, and has an aversion to modern Scots Times and Scotsmen ; hates Observers, and dislikes the name of even Mercury and Courier.

VII. That the worder of the previous resolution be fined a gallon of heavy wet, for the attempt at a pun that it contains. VIII.-That Mr. Molleson be expelled for the levity of his life-preserver, and that every one who can produce an imperfect copy of "The Ant," which he might have completed in time, be admitted without a vote or the payment of the usual fees.

IX. That the magistrates of Anderston be not admitted, for more than one of them is exceedingly clever, although they countenance pig-races.

X.-That we have nothing more to say at present.

THE HERON FAMILY.

CONCLUSION OF THE CORRESPONDENCE.

MRS. HERON TO MRS.

OF GLASGOW.
Bonnybrae, September, 1827.

MY DERE MEM,-I cannot tell you how happy I am this blessed day. The things for my puir lassie-now Mrs. Charles Heron-arrived here safe and sound by Mr. Lyon's coach, who had taken partiklar care that the ben-boxes should not be crushed, and so no one flounce or feather was out of its place or confuffled. My own saisnet gown, however, was a wee thought over long in the skerts for me, for I am of the opinion yet that nobody who has trig ancles should countenance lang petticoat tails, any more than folks of discretion should not, in the way of their duty, disparage the impudent showing of the calves. Mary looked butiful in her white muslin, although amaist as pale as itself, though I maun say't that shouldna say't. The liveries were lemun-kuloured kid for the gentlemen, and the best men wore a bunch of satin ribbon they call a boket at their breast button-hole. Charles ye ken had twa best men for variorum; the one of them of his own christian name-very tall-terribly dour in being a bachelor I doubt, for I tried to get at his opinion of our Jeanie, puir lassie-and desperate clever at every thing he tries. He walked out to Bonnybrae as fast as the coach on the wedding morning. Well, as Charles would not consent to be married