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THE HERON CORRESPONDENCE. No. I.

The Lost Leaf of a Letter.

[ONE of our Printer's Devils, in carrying a bundle of Prospectuses to the Dumfries Carrier the other day, picked up a leaf in the court-yard of his quarters. Like his tribe, he has a Mahomedan reverence for scraps of paper; and fearing that it was a bit of copy that he had taken from the office with the parcel he carried, he brought it to us. We at once recognised the hand of our crony, Charley Heron. In sending off his monthly pacquet of odds and ends to his relations in Dumfriesshire, he had forgot to enclose this leaf, and had doubtless by chance pulled it out of his pocket in the inn-yard. We immediately sent it back for enclosure, but the carts were gone; and as our Number will reach Bonnybrae before another weekly visit of Daniel Daicher the carrier, to print it is the speediest way of sending it, since that enterprising fellow Lyon has fitted up the fore-boot of the Independent coach expressly for the purpose of conveying "ANTS 99 to the South, but dare not carry letters with the fear of Francis Freeling before his eyes. We think we shall be able to persuade Heron to let us send all that portion of his scribblings which a sheet of letter paper will not hold, by the same conveyance in future.]

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The grand night for the Apocrypha debate at length arrived. All the old and young women who are pious, or who wish to be thought so, resolved to attend and "hear the speeches," and, besides the numerous body of gentlemen in Glasgow who really are both, and hundreds who are neither, crowded to the scene of strife. The arena-the Trades' Halll—was crammed an hour before the tournament, and I am told the debate was interesting. The subject is so. For six mortal hours it was argued. Only one reverend gentleman lost his temper; but the supporters of the Parent Society lost their cause.

Campbell's adherents carried the day. He is Lord Rector, and every person have seen is proud of it, as I hope and think he will himself be. The Bursary students were, as usual, professors' cat's paws, but the gallant young Englishmen stirred up the sluggish spirits of the Scotch alumni, who are dour when once made zealous, and there was a majority in all the four nations or classes of voters. Canning could not

have come down to take the oaths and deliver a "discourse." The two bores," as Moore calls the Corn Laws and Catholic Question, would have prevented him, but Campbell will do both; and the eloquent lecturer on the Greek poets need not fear to follow even Henry Brougham in a classical harangue. We have got a batch of new LL. D.s too, by the bye, and some good jokes have flown about on the occasion.

A sale of Ladies' Fancy Work, the proceeds for the use of our poor, is announced to be held in the Assembly Rooms, and if the weavers and cotton-spinners be idle, never before were so many fair fingers busy. There is positively no such thing as seeing a young miss at her piano, or getting her opinion of Tor Hill at present. When you call, you find one at baby-linen for children yet unborn; another weaving her purses for an attack upon yours; a third openly working at her "designs" upon your money and admiration, in the shape of sketches and oil paintings-perhaps to be touched up a little by Henderson, or some other clever artist, who may be friendly enough to take the labour, and let them get the lauding-as has been done before, as I am told; and a fourth biting her fingers, while she ransacks her fancy how else to employ them on something new and taking.-By the bye, I must tell you a good story about a sale of the same kind that took place, on a smaller scale, last week. A friend of mine, passing through the bazaar of beauty, and bewitchingly besought at every turn, either by irresistible looks, or eloquently hesitating words, at length was completely trounced, by a fair relative, into a purchase of what he thought was a wonderful specimen of her ingenuity;-and what was that, think you? A prettily bound copy of Cowper's Poems, which he gave her credit for doing up so tastefullyas, mind you, it was Ladies' Work that was advertised for sale -until he found the name of the bookseller who had sold it, stuck in the corner! If any tricks like this be played off on Wednesday, I shall be sure to let you laugh over them.

The Advertising Paper you ask about will not do. It would be pity that it should, since, without advertisements, how could the other papers pay for giving in every number as much information for sevenpence, as a modern volume contains?

The Literary and Commercial Society have met for the season, with many new members. The genius of Montgomery is the next topic of discussion, and Mr. C. Hutcheson the Essayist.

No other number of "The Minstrelsy" has appeared, and God knows when it will be forthcoming. Its editor is too busy making good verses, to collect or collate so-so ones at present.

Knowles's Alfred, so long announced, I hope will not appear till Kean comes home, or else it should go to the other house. Drury Lane has no one fit for the principal character, but it would suit Young to a hair.-The Anniversary Dinner of its author's pupils takes place on the first of December, and as it is probably the last season he will be among us, a full attendance is certain. He is engaged on a Comedy at present, called the Beggar's Daughter of Bethnal Green.

The Mechanics' Institution, considering the times, I am glad to say, in answer to your question, is well attended. So it may! Their present lecturer is giving a course for ten shil

lings, to which Brand's Royal Institution ten-guinea-displays are but showy quackery.

The only book published here since my last is the Rev. Mr. Harris's Selections for Recitation, which seem to be made with great taste. They are curiously arranged, and, by way of exercise to the pupil, no titles are given to the pieces. He must find out what they mean-a deuce of a test that to some productions of modern writers, isn't it?

Miss Foote appeared in our Theatre as a "Star," on Monday. This is a rank her talents by no means entitle her to assume, whatever eminence her notoriety may have conferred upon her. She never had any pretensions, even in the days when she was deemed innocent, and not known to be mercenary, to other attraction on the stage than her pretty face, and its air of inexpressive artlessness, her fine figure, and her taste in the costume for setting it off. When that face is somewhat faded-when it is known to have blushed as bright, and looked as simple as ever upon pea-green Hayne-after that figure had been somewhat marred, we must suspect that her skill in dressing the one is as great as that of showing off the other; and if so, her only charm is gone, save that of her dancing; the only interest-but that of curiosity, or-pity. She is to attire herself in short petticoats and blue stockings, as a broom-girl, I perceive, and sing one of Madame, Vestris's songs. This is descending the scale. Sing she cannot; and no one can do a careless little impropriety with half the grace of that other lady. Seymour, however, deserves praise for his spirit in bringing her here, and I hope will make profit. If Charles Kemble cannot draw money from Glasgow pockets, it is but fair that he should avail himself of what will; while it also furnishes you and me, Tom, with another example of the taste of Glasgow for the Drama.

Try to be in town by St. John's day. Douglas will preside at the Argyll. I have already described to you what a treat of its kind it is for once or twice to hear him propose the toasts of the evening.

To Correspondents.-" Amicus" has our best thanks.-"Observer" forgot to pay the postage. His suggestion will be attended to.-Could we transfer the beautiful autographs of the office-bearers of the "Harmonious Club" to our pages, we should not even defer the publication of the account of that institution till we learn something of their transactions.

Our Readers will please observe, that the half-title given to the Selections is not to be repeated in future Numbers. The articles are intended to run on from No. to No., so as to form a handsome volume, (independent of the original matter,) without any of those disagreeable interruptions common to periodical works.

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Printed by James Curll, 55, Bell-Street, and sold by all the Booksellers in Glasgow, and the West of Scotland.

THE ANT.

No. II.-SATURDAY, 16th DECEMBER, 1826.

Original.

SPECIMENS OF A SERIES OF NEW READINGS IN BAILEY AND JOHNSON.

No. II.

Anticipation.-A draft on curiosity-before sight;—the sensation experienced yesterday by our subscribers. Amanuensis-Transcriber.-One who commits errors in a neat hand, and who believes in the separate existence of words. His ear and his eye never converse with his understanding.

Anatomy.-It was once a law in the Chelsea Hospital of Ava, that candidates for admission should excel in tight rope dancing. Anatomical knowledge, by a similar enactment, is required from surgeons in Britain. Anon.-Buy and buy a proper name for the most voluminous of all authors.

Applause. To all but players, something unsubstantial, as the smell of a dinner, or the sound of a shilling. Author. Another name given to any one who can sign his own.

Auxiliary.-An apochryphal term expunged from the text of Scottish Bible Societies.

Ethiopia.-A country where Rowland's Kalydor is not known.

Etna.-A mountain in Sicily which supplies bookbinders

with pomice stones, and bookmakers with an image of a heart in love.

Agent.-The name a trader at last assumes when folly or misfortune have stript him of every other good one.

Age.-A crime to which no one will plead guilty, even on promise of pardon: a quality in rich uncles, and port wine, and stupid books.

Allegory.-A round-about road to wisdom, now shut up by the trustees of taste.

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MISLAID EPILOGUE TO A NEW PLAY,

Meant to have been spoken by Miss Chester, or any other
Lady who can enter hurriedly by the Stage-door.

I know that I intrude, yet e'er you blame,
Ask of yourselves who wouldn't do the same,
When I declare, that-monstrous as it seems,
'Tis not a fiction coined by one who dreams-
That only but this moment 'twas I knew
(Good heavens! how shall I e'er reveal❜t to you)—
That an adventure-O fye! don't mistake me-
A speculation then-(I fear 'twill make me
A theme for that)-has, like the sub-way plan-it
Sunk to the ground-e'er I had well began it;
And worsted here am I,-the matter over,—
While all my silks and laces-are at Dover!
I know that Spitalfields may make as good,
But then-Lord bless you-British is allowed;
And she's no daughter of the world's first mother
Who doesn't feel that that enhances t'other.
The case stands thus-Ma chere Rosalie wrote
To say some jokes the Other House had got
From the Feydeau, were coming in a hamper,
And being small, though heavy, one might tamper
With the tide-waiters till the tide would suit,
Then stow the package in the Fly's fore-boot.
I liked the plan-told what my wardrobe wanted—

Sent her the money. How my bosom panted,

When I received a note to tell the planning
Of the dull wits to send these jokes by Canning,
Feeling assured that, smuggled 'mong his baggage,
They might get passed the offspring of their waggage :
The blockheads! as if even eyes bribe-dim
Could think dull pickled jokes belonged to him;
Or that aught anti-British-Contraband—
Through him could find its way into the land!
-You know the rest-I only knew't to-night.
My silks were seiz'd-the wit scarce paid its freight;

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