VARIETIES.

Origin of Gas Illumination.--In the year 1627, John Hacket and Octavo Strada obtained a patent for rendering coals and wood useful without smoke. There is no evidence to establish in positive terms that illumination by gas was here meant, though the language used seems scarcely open to any other interference; but in a work published at Frankfort in the year 1683, entitled, "Foolish Wisdom, or Wise Folly," we have the conversion of coal and wood into gas and coke, most distinctly claimed as the discovery of a preceding period. "In Holland there is turf, and in England there are coals, neither of which are good for burning in apartments or in melting houses; I have, however, discovered a method of burning both these into good coals, so that they reot only produce no smoke or bad smell; but yield as strong a heat for melting materials as that of wood, and throw out such flames, that a foot of coal shall make a flame ten feet long. This I have demonstrated at the Hague with turf, and proved in England with coal, in the presence of Mr. Boyle, by experiments at Windsor, on a large scale. It deserves also to be remarked, that the Swedes procure their tar from fire wood. I have procured tar from coal, which is in every respect equal to Swedish, and even superior for some purposes. I have tried it both on timber and ropes, and found it very excellent. The King himself ordered a proof of it to be made in his presence.

"This is a thing of very great importance to the English, and the coals, after the tar is extracted, are better for use than before."

Flying in the air.-Though the science of ærostation is of very modern date, yet there is strong reason to believe it was not altogether unknown to the ancients; and of their poets, speaking on the subject, says,

"Thus did of old the advent'rous Cretan dare, With wings not given to man, attempt the air," Milton, in his History of Britain, speaks of one Elmer, a monk of Malmesbury, who foretold the invasion of William of Normandy, but "who could not foresee when time was the breaking of his own legs, for soaring too high. He, in his youth, strangely aspiring, had made and fitted wings to his hands and feet; with these, on the top of a tower, spread out to gather air, he flew more than a furlong; but the wind being too high, he came fluttering down, to the maiming of his limbs; yet so conceited was he of his art, that he attributed the cause of his fall to the want of a tail, as birds have, which he forgot to make and fix behind him."

In an old book, entitled, "An Account of a Voyage performed by two Monks in the suite of a French Ambassador, to the Kingdom of Siam," we read as follows: "One day the people at Siam entertained the French ambassador with the display of an excellent fire-work; and towards the conclusion thereof, they informed him they would perform the best piece, which was to blow up the engineer of the fire-work, on a cask, high into the air. As the ambassador thought that the engineer would be killed, be requested they would not perform this best mesterpiece, and that he was already well entertained with what he had seen; but they told him he need not be under any apprehension for the engineer's life, as he would suffer no injury; on this, their assurance, the ambassador gave his consent.

"Accordingly, a cask was brought, on the head of which the engineer seated himself, having in his hand a machine, which proved afterwards to be a arge umbrella; some gunpowder was placed under the cask, and, on a signal given, it was set on fire, and the cask, with the engineer thereon, rose high in the air; and when at the highest elevation, the engineer opened bis umbrella, and descended without any injury."

As every one knows that no such explosion of gunpowder could actually have taken place, without blowing the engineer to atoms, it has been very plausibly conjectured, that in the inside of the cask there must have been an air balloon, by which it was raised so high; that the firing of the gunpowder was but an artificial trick to veil the real means of ascent; and that the umbrella was nothing else but our modern parachute! If so, what becomes of our boasted inventions in ærostatics? for this exhibition at Siam must

have taken place nearly a hundred and fifty years ago.
The embassy to which the two monks who give this
narration were attached, is the same as that which M.
Voltaire has described in his works, and which took
place in the year 1684.

Bed-ridden Mechanic.-James Sandy, of Alyth in
Scotland, was entirely deprived, at an early age, of
the use of his limbs; and during a long life, may be
said to have been constantly bed-ridden. He contrived,
notwithstanding, by dint of great ingenuity, not only
to pass his time agreeably, but to render himself a
useful member of society. He soon displayed a taste
for mechanical pursuits, and contrived, as a work-shop
for his operations, a sort of circular bed, the sides of
which being raised about eighteen inches above the
clothes, were employed as a platform for turning
lathes, table vices, and cases for tools of all kinds.
His genius for practical mechanics was universal. He
was skilled in all sorts of turning; and constructed
several very curious lathes, as well as clocks and
musical instruments of every description, no less ad-
mired for the sweetness of their tone than the elegance
of their execution. He excelled, too, in the construc-
tion of optical instruments; and made some reflecting
telescopes, the specula of which were not inferior to
those finished by the most eminent London artists.
He suggested some important improvements in the
machinery for spinning flax; and we believe he was
the first who made the wooden-jointed snuff-boxes,
generally called Laurencekirk boxes, some of which,
fabricated by this self-taught artist, were purchased,
and sent as presents to the royal family. To his other
endowments, he added an accurate knowledge of draw-
ing and engraving, and in both these arts, produced
specimens of the highest excellence. For upwards of
fifty years, he quitted his bed only three times; and
on these occasions his house was either inundated with
water, or threatened with danger from fire. His curi-
osity, which was unbounded, prompted him to hatch
different kinds of bird's eggs, by the natural warmth
of his body, and he afterwards reared the motley broods
with all the tenderness of a parent; so that on visiting
birds, to which he may be said to have given birth,
him, it was no unusual thing to see various singing
perched on his head, and warbling the artificial notes
he had taught them. Naturally possessed of a good
constitution, and an active cheerful turn of mind, his
house was the general coffee-room of the village,
cussed with the utmost freedom. In consequence of
where the affairs both of church and state, were dis-
long confinement, his countenance had rather a sickly
cast, but it was remarkably expressive, particularly
singular man had acquired, by his ingenuity and indus
when he was surrounded by his country friends, This
try, an honourable independence, and died possessed
of considerable property. In short, bis history holds
out this very instructive lesson, that no difficulties are
too great to be overcome by industry and perseverance;
and that genius, though it should sometimes miss the
distinction it deserves, will seldom fail, unless by its
own fault, to secure competence and respectability.

SCIENCE, ETC.

Sir Humphrey Davy's Electrical Discoveries.-The electrical researches of Sir Humphrey Davy, begin to assume a very interesting aspect. They have already produced important results; and have given rise to the expectation that we are upon the eve of some very brilliant discovery, which is to change the face of Sci

ence

He has ascertained, by means of a very ingenious apparatus, which he has contrived for the purpose, that even a perfect vacuum is permeable to electricity, and is rendered luminous by either the common spark, or the shock from a Leyden jar. The intensity of the phenomena depends upon the temperature. This fact is curious. When the tube was very hot, the electrical light appeared of a bright green colour, and of great density. It lost its vividness by a diminution of temperature. When the tube was cooled to 20° below zero, the clectical light was so faint, as to require considerable darkness to be perceptible.

Air seems to affect very much the colour of the electric fluid. When air was gradually introduced, the electrical light changed from green, to sea green,

At all temperatures below 200°, the mercurial vacuum was a much worse conductor, than highly rarefied air.

Sir Humphrey concludes that," it is evident from the general results of my investigation, that the light, and probably the heat, generated in electrical discharges, depends principally on some properties or substances belonging to the ponderable matter through which it passes; but they prove likewise, that space, where there is no appreciable quantity of this matter, is capable of exhibiting electrical phenomena; and, under this point of view, they are favourable to the idea of the phenomena of electricity being produced by a highly subtile fluid or fluids, of which the particles are repulsive, with respect to each other, and attractive of the particles of other matter."

In the same communication, Sir Humphrey offers some additional proofs in favour of a law discovered by Newton. Experimenting with water, chloride of phosphorus, and sulphuret of carbon, he "had no doubt," that the decrements of temperature in vapours being in arithmetical progression, the diminution of density is in geometrical progression. This law is of much importance. It has been often disputed, or received with suspicion.

Crayon Pencils." The finest grained charcoal that can be procured is sawed into slips of the size and form required, and put into a pipkin of melted bees' wax, where they are permitted to remain near a slow fire for half an hour or more, in proportion to the thickness of the charcoal: they are then taken out, and when perfectly cool, are fit for use. By adding a small quantity of rosin to the wax, they may be made considerably harder; and on the contrary, they are made softer by a little butter or tallow. Drawings with them are as permanent as with ink, and not liable to injury by being rubbed or remaining in the damp."

REPOSITORY OF GENIUS.
ORIGINAL CHARADE.
BY A LADY.

My First, when present, you may call your own,
Improve the passing vagrant as it flies;
Thus will a wise regard be truly shewn

To that immortal part which never dies.
From a rude mass, my Second claims its birth,
Yet rises beautiful and fair to see ;

O! let your consciences, ye sons of earth,
In my best property resemble Me.
My Whole's a peaceful, unobtrusive friend,
Whose silent admonitions, well regarded,
May help you to pursue your being's end,
And gain that place where virtue is rewarded.
A REBUS.

BY THE SAME.

A wretch that robs by night, and cheats by day,
And loves to make the honest man his prey;
A passion that deforms the fairest face,
And robs the brightest beauty of its grace;
Another, that o'erwhelms the heart with grief,
And often flies to death to seek relief;

A quality that on its owner's face
Writes its own name in characters of brass;
An animal both treacherous and sly,
That in its benefactor's face will fly;

A state of things where order is revers'd,
And knaves and fools with liberty are curs'd;
A most notorious enemy to truth,
Instilling poison in the ear of youth.

The seven initials join'd will bring to sight
A whole, where all these different parts unite;
With mischief fraught, and to complete the group,
A boasting coward, and a silly dupe.

"A Juvenile Circle" requires to know how SIX Shillings should be placed so as to be in contact each with all the others? The said "Circle" has enclosed the price, and ordered that two different Copies of the Iris be presented to any "person who shall send the Solution within one week, with name and place of abode."

WEEKLY DIARY.

JANUARY.

REMARKABLE DAYS.

brevity which condenses a thought or a metaphor,
where one thing is said and another is to be applied
which often produces wit; and that quick pungency
which excites surprise, but strikes with conviction;
which gives it an epigrammatic turn. George Herbert
entitled the small collection which he formed "Jacula
Prudentam," Darts or Javelins! something hurled and
striking deeply; a characteristic of a proverb which
possibly Herbert may have borrowed from a remark-
able passage in Plato's dialogue of " Protagoras, or
the Sophists."

MONDAY 6-Epiphany, or Twelfth Day. The rites of this day, the name of which signifies an appearance of light, or a manifestation, are different in various places, but all in honour of the Eastern Magi. There is a very antient and singular custom, in various parts of It is evident, however, that the earliest writings of the continent, which takes place on the eve of every people are marked by their most homely, or the Epiphany, and is performed in the follow-domestic proverbs; for these were more directly addressed to their wants. Franklin, who may be consiing manner:-A cake, made of flour, butter, dered as the founder of a people, who were suddenly and eggs, and of a size proportionable to the number of the guests, is brought in and divided placed in that stage of civil society which as yet could afford no literature, discovered the philosophical cast of into as many shares as "convives" are going his genius, when he filled his almanacks with proverbs, to sit down to supper. These pieces, one of by the ingenious contrivance of framing them into a which conceals a bean lodged in the outer part connected discourse, delivered by an old man attending of the cake, are tossed up in a napkin. The an anction. "These proverbs," he tells us, "which youngest person in the company comes forward, contained the wisdom of many ages and nations, when and having said grace, takes hold of a slice their scattered counsels were brought together, made a great impression. They were reprinted in Britain, without looking at it, and then addresses the master of the house by these words:- Fabe in a large sheet of paper, and stuck up in houses; and were twice translated in France, and distributed among Domine (lord of the bean), who is this for?' their poor parishioners." The same occurrence had An answer is given, and when all the shares happened with us ere we became a reading people. are drawn, the guest who finds the bean in his Much later even than the reign of Elizabeth our ancesor her possession is declared king or queen of tors had proverbs always before them, on every thing the feast, and becomes possessed of all the which had room for a piece of advice on it; they had right belonging to the president for the night. them painted in their tapestries, stamped on the most When either drinks, if any one in the company ordinary utensils, on the blades of their knives, the omits to say aloud "the king" or the queen borders of their plates, and "conned them out of drinks," a fine is lawfully exacted, which con- goldsmith's rings." The usurer, in Robert Greene's Groats worth of Wit," compressed all his philosophy sists in a pledge deposited in the hands of some into the circle of his ring, having learnt sufficient Latin one, to be redeemed after supper by a kiss, or to understand the proverbial motto of "Ta tiba cura!" This sort of amusement was well a song. The husband was reminded of bis lordly authority known at Rome, with this difference, that the when he only looked into his trencher, one of its learned king of the feast was not chosen by means of a aphorisms having descended to us,— bean, but by the cast of small bones called tali. They are the ankle-bones of sheep, which schoolboys in France still use for a game called osselets; having been previously smoothed upon a stone, and reduced to four sides. The tessera, dice, have six. Horace says, Carm. lib. 1, od. 4:

But when you sink to Pluto's hall, No little rattling bones shall fall To choose you Monarch of the wine. WEDNESDAY, 8.-Saint Lucian. Lucian, a native of Syria, was celebrated in his youth for his eloquence, and intimate acquaintance with polite literature. After the death of his parents, he gave all his fortune to the poor, and confined himself to the study of the scriptures. He was a proficient in the Hebrew, and revised the Septuagint version of the Bible. He wrote an apology for the Christians, and presented it to Maximinus II. After having undergone various torments at the instigation of this emperor, he was martyred in the year 312.

PROVERBS.

The following very interesting article is abridged from Mr. D'Israeli's chapter of "THE PHILOSOPHY OF PROVERBS."

Proverbs must be distinguished from proverbial phrases, and from sententious maxims; but as proverbs have many faces, from their miscellaneous nature, the class itself scarcely admits of any definition. When Johnson defined a proverb to be "a short sentence frequently repeated by the people," this definition would not include the most curious ones, which have not always circulated among the populace, nor even belong to them; nor does it designate the vital qualities of a proverb. The pithy quaintness of old Howel has admirably described the ingredients of an exquisite proverb to be sense, shortness, and salt. A proverb is distinguished from a maxim or an apophthegm, by that

"The calmest husbands make the stormyest wives."

The English proverbs of the populace, most of which
are still in circulation, were collected by old JOHN
HEYWOOD. They are arranged by TUSSER for "the
parlour-the guest's chamber-the hall-table-les-
sons," &c. Not a small portion of our ancient proverbs
were adapted to rural life, when our ancestors lived
more than ourselves amidst the works of God, and less
among those of men. At this time, one of our old
statesmen, in commending the art of compressing a
tedious discourse into a few significant phrases, sug-
gests the use of proverbs in diplomatic intercourse,
convinced of the great benefit which would result to
the negotiators themselves, as well as to others! I
give a literary curiosity of this kind. A member of
the house of commons, in the reign of Elizabeth, made
verbs. The subject was a bill against double-payments
a speech entirely composed of the most homely pro-
of book-debts. Knavish tradesmen were then in the

habit of swelling out their book-debts with those who
took credit, particularly to their younger customers.
One of the members who began to speak "for very
fear shook," and stood silent. This nervons orator
was followed by a blunt and true representative of the
famous governor of Barataria, delivering himself thus
- It is now my chance to speak something, and that
without humming or hawing. I think this law is a
good law. Even reckoning makes long friends. As
far goes the penny as the penny's master. Vigilantibus
non dormientibus jura subveniunt. Pay the reckoning
over-night, and you shall not be troubled in the morn-
ing. If ready money be mensura publica, let every
one cut his coat according to his cloth. When his old
suit is in the wane, let him stay till that his money
bring a new suit in the increase.'

Among the middle classes of society to this day, we
may observe that certain family proverbs are tradition-
ally preserved: the favourite saying of a father is
repeated by the sons; and frequently the conduct of a
whole generation has been influenced by such domestic
proverbs. This may be perceived in many of the
mottos of our old nobility, which seem to have origin-
ated in some habitual proverb of the founder of the
family. In ages when proverbs were most prevalent,

|

such pithy sentences would admirably serve in the ordinary business of life, and lead on to decision, even in its greater exigencies.

Proverbs were at length consigned to the people, when books were addressed to scholars; but the people did not find themselves so destitute of practical wisdom, by preserving their national proverbs, as some of those closet students who had ceased to repeat them. The various humours of mankind, in the mutability of human affairs, had given birth to every species; and men were wise, or merry, or satirical, and mourned or rejoiced in proverbs. Nations held an universal intercourse of proverbs, from the eastern to the western world; for we discover among those which appear strictly national many which are common to them all. Of our own familiar ones several may be tracked among the snows of the Latins and the Greeks, and bave sometimes been drawn from "The Mines of the East :" like decayed families which remain in obscurity, they may boast of a high lineal descent whenever they recover their lost title-deeds. The vulgar proverb “To carry coals to Newcastle," local and idiomatic as it appears, however, has been borrowed and applied by ourselves; it may be found among the Persians: in the "Bustan of Sadi" we have Infers piper in Hindostan; "To carry pepper to Hindostan:" among the Hebrews, "To carry oil to a city of olives;" a similar proverb occurs in Greek; and in Galland's "Maxims of the East" we may discover how many of the most common proverbs among us, as well as some of Joe Miller's jests, are of oriental origin.

The interest we may derive from the study of proverbs is not confined to their universal truths, nor to their poignant pleasantry; a philosophical mind will discover in proverbs a great variety of the most curious knowledge. The manners of a people are painted after life in their domestic proverbs; and it would not be advancing too much to assert, that the genius of the age might be often detected in its prevalent ones. The learned Selden tells us, that the proverbs of several nations were much studied by Bishop Andrews; the reason assigned was, because "by them he knew the minds of several nations, which," said he, "is a brave thing, as we count him wise who knows the minds and the insides of men, which is done by knowing what is habitual to them." Lord Bacon condensed a wide circuit of philosophical thought, when he observed that "the genius, wit, and spirit of a nation are discovered by their proverbs."

as,

The ancient, perhaps, the extinct spirit of English men, was once expressed by our proverb, "Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion;" i. e. the first of the yeomanry rather than the last of the gentry. A foreign philosopher might have discovered our own ancient skill in archery among our proverbs; for none but true toxopholites could have had such a proverb "I will either make a shaft or a bolt of it!" signifying, says the author of Ivanhoe, a determination bolt was the arrow peculiarly fitted to the cross-bow, to make one use or other of the thing spoken of the as that of the long-bow was called a shaft. These instances sufficiently demonstrate that the characteristic circumstances and feelings of a people are discovered in their popular notions, are stamped on their familiar proverbs.

It is also evident that the peculiar, and often idiomatic, humour of a people is best preserved in their proverbs. There is a shrewdness, although deficient in delicacy, in the Scottish proverbs ; they are idiomatic, facetious, and strike home. Kelly, who has collected three thousand, informs us, that, in 1725, the Scotch were a great proverbial nation; for that few among the better sort will converse any considerable time, but will confirm every assertion and observation with a Scottish proverb. The speculative Scotch of our own times have probably degenerated in prudential lore, and deem themselves much wiser than their proverbs. They may reply by a Scotch proverb on proverbs, made by a great man in Scotland, who, having given a splendid entertainment, was harshly told, that "Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them;" but he readily answered, "Wise men make proverbs, and fools repeat them!"

National humour, frequently local and idiomatical, depends on the artificial habits of mankind, so opposite to each other; but there is a natural vein, which

the populace, always true to nature, preserve, even among the gravest people. The Arabian proverb, "The barber learns his art on the orphan's face;" the Chinese,"In a field of melons do not pull up your shoe; under a plum-tree do not adjust your cap;"to impress caution in our conduct under circumstances of suspicion ;--and the Hebrew one, "He that bath had one of his family hanged may not say to his neighbour, hang up this fish!" are all instances of this sort of humour.

There is another source of national characteristics, frequently producing strange or whimsical combinations; a people, from a very natural circumstance, have drawn their proverbs from local objects, or from allusions to peculiar customs. The influence of manners-and-customs over the ideas and language of a people would form a subject of extensive and curious research. There is a Japanese proverb, that "A fog cannot be dispelled with a fan!" Had we not known the origin of this proverb, it would be evident that it could only have occurred to a people who had constantly before them fogs and fans; and the fact appears that fogs are frequent on the coast of Japan; and that from the age of five years both sexes carry fans. The Spaniards have an odd proverb to describe those who tease and vex a person before they do him the very benefit which they are about to confer--acting kindly, bat speaking roughly; Mostrar primero la horca que el lugar, "To show the gallows before they show the town," a circumstance alluding to their small towns, which have a gallows placed on an eminence, so that the gallows breaks on the eye of the traveller before he gets a view of the town itself.

The Cheshire proverb on marriage, Better wed over the mixon than over the moor," that is, at home or in its vicinity; mixon alludes to the dung, &c. in the farm-yard, while the road from Chester to London is over the moorland in Staffordshire; this local proverb is a curious instance of provincial pride, perhaps of wisdom, to induce the gentry of that county to form intermarriages; to prolong their own ancient families, and perpetuate ancient friendships between them.

In the Isle of Man a proverbial expression forcibly indicates the object constantly occupying the minds of the inhabitants. The two Deemsters or judges, when appointed to the chair of judgment, declare they will render justice between man and man "as equally as the herring bone lies between the two sides:" an image which could not have occurred to any people unaccustomed to the herring-fishery. There is a Cornish proverb, "Those who will not be ruled by the rudder must be ruled by the rock"-the strands of Cornwall, so often covered with wrecks, could not fail to impress on the imaginations of its inbabitants the two objects from whence they drew this salutary proverb, against obstinate wrong-heads.

The Italians apply a proverb to a person who, while be is beaten, takes the blows quietly :

:

Per beato ch'elle non furon pesche!
"Luckily they were not peaches!"

ways enter into some part of our own! Truth and

by the French surgeon Guillotine. This proverb may
be applied to one who falls a victim to his own inge-nature never can be obsolete.
nuity; the artificer of his own destruction! The in-
ventor was James, Earl of Morton, who for some years
governed Scotland, and afterwards, it is said, very
unjustly suffered by his own invention. It is a striking
coincidence, that the same fate was shared by the
French reviver; both alike sad examples of disturbed
times? Among our own proverbs a remarkable inci-
dent has been commemorated; Hand over head, as men
took the Covenant! This preserves the manner in
which the Scotch covenant, so famous in our history,
was violently taken by above sixty thousand persons
about Edinburgh, in 1638; a circumstance at that
time novel in our own revolutionary history, and after-
wards paralleled by the French in voting by "accla-
mation."

Proverbs embrace the wide sphere of human existence, they take all the colours of life, they are often exquisite strokes of genius, they delight by their airy sarcasm or their caustic satire, the luxuriance of their humour, the playfulness of their turn, and even by the elegance of their imagery, and the tenderness of their sentiment. They give a deep insight into domestic life, and open for us the heart of man, in all the various states which he may occupy-a frequent review of Proverbs should enter into our readings; and although they are no longer the ornaments of conversation, they have not ceased to be the treasures of Thought!

are more

Among these historical proverbs none
interesting than those which perpetuate national events,
connected with those of another people. When a
Frenchman would let us understand that he has settled
with his creditors, the proverb is, J'ai payé tous mes
Anglois: "I have paid all my English." This proverb
originated when John, the French king, was taken
prisoner by our Black Prince. Levies of money were
made for the king's ransom, and for many French
lords; and the French people have thus perpetuated
the military glory of our nation, and their own idea of
it, by making the English and their creditors synoni-
mous terms. Another relates to the same event-Ore
le Pape est devenu Francois, et Jesu Christ Anglais
Now the Pope is become French and Jesus Christ
English;" a proverb which arose when the Pope, exiled
from Rome, held his court at Avignon in France; and
the English prospered so well, that they possessed
more than half the kingdom. The Spanish proverb
concerning England is well known-

"

Con todo el mondo guerra,
Y paz con Inglaterra!
"War with the world,
And peace with England!"

Whether this proverb was one of the results of their memorable armada, and was only coined after their conviction of the splendid folly which they had committed, I cannot ascertain. England must always have been a desirable ally to Spain against her potent rival and neighbour. The Italians have a proverb, which formerly, at least, was strongly indicative of the travelled Englishman in their country, Inglese Italianato è un diavolo incarnato: "The Italianized Englishman is a devil incarnate." Formerly there existed a closer intercourse between our country and Italy, than with France. Before and during the reigns of Elizabeth and James the First, that land of the elegant arts modelled our taste and manners; and more Italians travelled into England, and were more constant residents, from commercial concerns, than afterwards when France assumed a higher rank in Europe by her political superiority. This cause will sufficiently account for the number of Italian proverbs relating to England, which show an intimacy with our manners which could not else have occurred. It was probably some sarcastic Italian, and, perhaps, horologer, who, to describe the disagreement of persons, proverbed our nation-"They agree like the clocks of London!" We were once better famed for merry Christmasses and their The community of the Castle Poggibonsi, pro-pies; and it must have been Italians who had been bably from some jocular tenure observed on St. Ber- domiciliated with us who gave currency to the proverb nard's day, pay a tribute of peaches to the court of Ha piu da fare che i forni di natale in Inghilterra: Tuscany, which are usually shared among the ladies in "He has more business than English ovens at Christwaiting, and the pages of the court. It happened one mas." season, in a great scarcity of peaches, that the good Shakespeare's folio was usually laid open in the great Our pie-loving gentry were notorions, and people at Poggibonsi, finding them rather dear, sent, hails of our nobility to entertain their attendants, who instead of the customary tribute, a quantity of fine devoured at once Shakespeare and their pasty. Some juicy figs, which was so much disapproved of by the of those volumes have come down to us, not only with pages, that as soon as they got hold of them, they the stains, but enclosing even the identical pie-crusts began in rage to empty the baskets on the heads of the of the Elizabethau age. ambassadors of the Poggibonsi, who, in attempting to By as well as they could from the pulpy shower, halfblinded, and recollecting that peaches would have had stones in them, cried out

And to threaten to give a man

Una pesca in un occhio,

A peach in the eye," means to give him a thrashing. This proverb, it is said, originated in the close of a certain droll adven

ture.

Per beato ch'elle non furon pesche! "Luckily they were not peaches!"

The Scotch proverb, "He that invented the maiden first hanselled it," that is, got the first of it! The maiden is that well-known beheading engine, revived

conversation, since the time we have derived our
Proverbs have ceased to be studied, or employed in
knowledge from books; but in a philosophical age
they appear to offer infinite subjects for speculative
curiosity originating ir various eras, these memorials
of manners, of events, and of modes of thinking, for
bistrical as well as for moral purposes, still retain a
strong hold on our attention. The collected knowledge
of successive ages, and of different people, must al-

REJOICINGS UPON THE NEW YEAR'S
COMING OF AGE.

FROM THE LONDON MAGAZINE.

The Old Year being dead, and the New Year coming of age, which he does, by Calendar Law, as soon as the breath is out of the old gentleman's body, nothing would serve the young spark but he must give a dinner upon the occasion, to which all the Days in the year were invited. The Festivals, whom he deputed as his Stewards, were mightily taken with the notion. They had been engaged time out of mind, they said, in providing mirth and good cheer for mortals below; and it was time they should have a taste of their own bounty. It was stiffly debated among them, whether the Fasts should be admitted. Some said, the appearance of such lean, starved guests, with their mortified faces, would pervert the ends of the meeting. But the objection was overruled by Christmas Day, who had a design upon Ash Wednesday (as you shall hear), and a mighty desire to see how the old Domine would behave himself in his cups. Only the Vigils were requested to come with their lanterns, to light the gentlefolks home at night.

All the Days came to their day. Covers were provided for three hundred and sixty-five guests at the principal table; with an occasional knife and fork at the side-board for the Twenty-Ninth of February.

I should have told you, that cards of invitation had been issued. The carriers were the Hours; twelve little, merry, whirligig foot-pages, as you should desire to see, that went all round, and found out the persons invited well enough, with the exception of Easter Day, Shrove Tuesday, and a few snch Moveables, who had lately shifted their quarters.

Well, they all met at last, foul Days, fine Days, all sorts of Days, and a rare din they made of it. There was nothing but, Hail! fellow Day, well met-brother Day-sister Day,-only Lady Day kept a little on the aloof, and seemed somewhat scornful. Yet some said, Twelfth Day cut her out and out, for she came in a tiffany suit, white and gold, like a Queen on a frostcake, all royal, glittering, and Epiphanous. The rest came, some in green, some in white-bat old Lent and his family were not yet out of mourning. Rainy Days came in, dripping, and sunshiny Days helped them to change their stockings. Wedding Day was there in his marriage finery, a little the worse for -wear; Pay Day came late, as he always does; and Doomsday sent word--he might be expected.

April Fool (as my young lord's jester) took upon himself to marshal the guests, and, wild work he made with it. It would have posed old Eira Pater to have found out any given Day in the year, to erect a scheme ther, to the confounding of all sober horoscopy. upon-good Days, bad Days, were so shuffled, toge

He had stuck the Twenty First of June next to the Twenty Second of December, and the former looked like wedged in (as was concerted) betwixt Christmas and a Maypole siding a marrow-bone. Ash Wednesday got Lord Mayor's Days. Lord! how he laid about him! Nothing but barons of beef and turkeys would go down with him- to the great greasing and detriment of his new sackcloth bib and tucker. And still Christmas Day. was at his elbow, plying him with the wassailbowl, till he roared, and hiccup'd, and protested there was no faith in dried ling, but commended it to the devil for a sour, windy, acrimonious, censorious, hypo-crit-crit-critical mess, and no dish for a gentleman. Then he dipt his fist into the middle of the great cus

tard that stood before his left-hand neighbour, and danbed his hungry beard all over with it, till you would have taken him for the Last Day in December, it so hung in icicles.

At another part of the table, Shrove Tuesday was helping the Second of September to some cock broth, which courtesy the latter returned with the delicate thigh of a hen pheasant-so there was no love lost for that matter. The Last of Lent was spunging upon Shrovetide's pancakes; which April Fool perceiving, told him he did well, for pancakes were proper to a good fry-day.

In another part, a hubbub arose about the Thirtieth of January, who, it seems, being a sour puritanic character, that thought nobody's meat good or sanctified enough for him, had smuggled into the room a calf's head, which he had had cooked at home for that pur pose, thinking to feast thereon incontinently; but as it lay in the dish, March Manyweathers, who is a very fine lady, and subject to the megrims, suddenly screamed out there was a "human head in the platter," and raved about Herodias' daughter to that degree, that the obnoxious viand was obliged to be removed; nor did she recover her stomach till she had gulped down a Restorative, confected of Oak Apple, which the merry Twenty Ninth of May always carries about with him for that purpose.

board, somewhere between the Greek Calends and
Latter Lammas.

Ash Wednesday, being now called upon for a song,
with his eyes fast stuck in his head, and as well as the
Canary he had swallowed would give him leave, stuck
up a Carol, which Christmas Day had taught him for
the nonce; and was followed by the latter, who gave
"Miserere" in fine style, hitting off the mumping
tones and lengthened drawl of Old Mortification with
infinite humour. April Fool swore they had exchanged
conditions: but Good Friday was observed to look
extremely grave; and Sunday held her fan before her
face, that she might not be seen to smile.
Shrove-tide, Lord Mayor's Day, and April Fool,
next joined in a glee-

Which is the properest day to drink?

in which all the Days chiming in, made a merry burden.
question being proposed, who had the greatest number
They next fell to quibbles and conundrums. The
of followers-the Quarter Days said, there could be
no question as to that; for they had all the creditors in
the world dogging their heels. But April Fool gave it
in favour of the Forty Days before Easter; because
and they kept lent all the year.
the debtors in all cases out-numbered the creditors,

All this while, Valentine's Day kept courting pretty
May, who sate next him, slipping amorous billets-doux
under the table, till the Dog Days (who are naturally
of a warm constitution) began to be jealous, and to
bark and rage exceedingly. April Fool, who likes a
bit of sport above measure, and had some pretensions
to the lady besides, as being but a cousin once re-
moved,-clapped and halloo'd them on; and as fast as
their indignation cooled, those mad wags, the Ember
Days, were at it with their bellows, to blow it into a
flame; and all was in a ferment: till old Madam Sep-

into empassioned eloquence. Neither does his counte-
nance exhibit the conflicting passions which distract
the soul and give expression and energy to each tone
and fibre; we perceive a lightness, and, in his most
tragic moments, an unaccountable coldness in almost
every feature.
His action is sometimes, but not ge-
nerally, appropriate; however, this objection might be
removed by practice; but the former are impediments
which appear, to us, insuperable.

The Painting in the Opera of the LIBERTINE is beautiful; particularly the Garden, Moonlight, Piazza, and Banquet-Hall Scenery. But we think there is a manifest impropriety in presuming to introduce a representation of the Infernal Regions;' indeed, the Scene accords as little with taste as with sound judgment.

LITERARY NOTICES.

The author of the Confessions of an English Opium Eater, announces the speely appearance of his Prolegomena to all future Systems of Political Economy, the publication of which has been so long delayed by his illness.

The new novel of the Great Unknown is not to appear, we understand, till the middle of January. The story, we believe, helongs to the reign of our Second Charles, at the particular period of the Popish Plot. The picture of those times of courtly folly and vice-the character of Charles himself, and the extraordinary features of the favourite Buckingham-afford fine grounds for our unequalled Novel-historian.

The new Poem from the pen of Mr. Barry Cornwall, will appear very early this season.

The Works of Shakespeare are about to be printed in Miniature volumes, uniformly with the Spenser Classics. Letters from the Caucasus and Georgia. With a map and

views.

Mr. James Malcolm purposes publishing by Subscription, in 2 vols. 8vo. The Past and Present State of the Agriculture of the County of Surry.

The King's health being called for after this, a notable dispute arose between the Twelfth of August (a zealous old Whig gentlewoman), and the Twenty Third of April (a new-fangled lady of the Tory stamp), as to which of them should have the honour to propose it. August grew hot upon the matter, affirming time out of mind the prescriptive right to have lain with her, till her rival had basely supplanted her; whom she represented as little better than a kept mistress, who went about in fine clothes, while she (the legitimate BIRTH-tuagesima (who boasts herself the Mother of the Days) THIS Day is Published, in 2 vols. 8vo. Price 249. DAY) had scarcely a rag, &c.

April Fool, being made mediator, confirmed the right in the strongest form of words to the appellant, but decided for peace's sake that the exercise of it should remain with the present possessor. At the same time, he slily rounded the first lady in the ear, that an action might lie against the Crown for bi-geny. It beginning to grow a little duskish, Candlemas lustily bawled out for lights, which was opposed by all the Days, who protested against burning day-light. Then fair water was handed round in silver ewers, and the same lady was observed to take an unusual time in washing herself.

May Day, with that sweetness which is peculiar to her, in a neat speech proposing the health of the founder, crowned her goblet (and by her example the rest of the company) with garlands. This being done, the lordly New Year from the upper end of the table, in a cordial but somewhat lofty tone, returned thanks. He felt proud on an occasion of meeting so many of his worthy father's late tenants, promised to improve their farms, and at the same time to abate (if any thing was found unreasonable) in their rents.

At the mention of this, the four Quarter Days involuntarily looked at each other, and smiled; April Fool whistled to an old tune of "New Brooms;" and a surly old rebel at the further end of the table (who was discovered to be no other than the Fifth of November), muttered out distinctly enough to be heard by the whole company, words to this effect, that, when the old one is gone, he is a fool that looks for a better." Which rudeness of his the guests resenting unanimously voted his expulsion; and the male-content was thrust out neck and heels into the cellar, as the properest place for such a boutefeu and firebrand as he had shown himself.

Order being restored-the young lord (who, to say truth, had been a little ruffled, and put beside his oratory) in as few, and yet as obliging words as possible, assured them of entire welcome; and, with a graceful turn, singleing out poor Twenty Ninth of February, that had sate all this while mum-chance at the side board, begged to couple his health with that of the good company before him- which he drank accordingly; observing, that he had not seen his honest face any time these four years, with a number of endearing expressions besides. At the same time, removing the solitary Day from the forlorn seat which had been assigned him, be stationed him at his own

wisely diverted the conversation with a tedious tale of
the lovers which she could reckon when she was young;
and of one Master Rogation Day in particular, who
was for ever putting the question to her, but she kept

him at a distance, as the chronicle would tell- by
which I apprehend she meant the Almanack. Then
she rambled on to the Days that were gone, the good
old Days, and so to the Days before the flood-which
plainly showed her old head to be little better than
crazed and dolted.

Day being ended, the Days called for their cloaks
and great coats, and took their leaves. Lord Mayor's
Day went off in a Mist, as usual; Shortest Day in a
deep black Fog, that wrapt the little gentleman all
round like a hedge-hog. Two Vigils- so watchmen
are called in heaven-saw Christmas Day safe home-
they had been used to the business before. Another
Vigil-a stont, sturdy patrole, called the Ere of St.
Christopher-seeing Ash Wednesday in a condition little
better than he should be, e'en whipt him over bis
shoulders, pick-a-back fashion, and Old Mortification
went floating home, singing-

On the bat's back do I fly,

and a number of old snatches besides, between drunk

and sober, but very few Aves or Penitentiaries (you
may believe me) were among them. Longest Day set
off westward in beautiful crimson and gold-the rest,
some in one fashion, some in another;- but Valentine
and pretty May took their departure together in one
of the prettiest silvery twilights a Lover's Day would
wish to set in.

THE DRAMA.

MANCHESTER DRAMATIC REGISTER.

Monday, Dec. 30th.-Venice Preserved: with the
Libertine.

Wednesday, Jan. 1st.-Douglas: Winning a Husband:
and the Libertine.
Thursday, 2nd.-The Stranger: with the Libertine.
Friday, 3rd.-Wild Oats with the Libertine.

On Monday night Mr. Clason appeared as Jaffier, in
the Tragedy of Venice Preserved. However correctly
this gentleman may conceive of the spirit of the cha-
racter, his voice has not that scope which is necessary
to mark the several shades of emphasis, and to swell

ADVERTISEMENTS.

by ROBINSON & ELLIS, St. Ann's-Place, and sold by all the Booksellers. SERMONS, by the Late REV. WM. HAWKES, of Manchester; with a SKETCH of his LIFE. By the REV. J. CORRIE.

EDUCATION.-The REV. W. WORDSWORTH,

B. A. begs leave to acquaint his Friends, that his ACADEMY, at LONGSIGHT, will be RE-OPENED on the 21st Instant.-Cards, containing particulars, may be obtained on application at the Academy, or at the IRIS OFFICE. Longsight, Jan. 1st, 1823. MOSLEY-STREET CLASSICAL, MATHEMATICAL AND COMMERCIAL ACADEMY.

MR. W. M. LAWRIE, successor to Mr. W. AL

BISTON, respectfully announces that the above-mentioned Academy, will be REOPENED on Monday the 13th of January, 1823, for the instruction of Youth of both sexes. Cards of the terins, &c. with_references, may be had by applying to Messrs. CLARKE, Booksellers, and at the IRI OFFICE, Manchester. 11, Prime-st. Hulme, Dec. 24, 1822.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The "Review" by "Dramaticus" cannot be inserted.-Should D. really intend what he professes, we see no reason why he should hesitate to cast off a disguise, which in the most favourable view, must be considered suspicious and unfair. With much of D.'s criticism we agree, and his knowledge and general competency we admit; but is he not hyper-critical? We do not profess to eulogise where censure is due; neither would we conceal a defect which, by being exhibited, might be corrected; but, where improvement is impracticable, and "our patience" not likely to be again" exhausted," why indulge in the keenest invective ? The "Epic Scintillation" of our Liverpool "Juvenis” is received, and shall appear in due course.

A press of interesting matter precludes us from acknowledging several articles received this week.-Our esteemed correspondents shall be duly noticed in our next.

A LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

This Paper is Published Weekly, and may be had of the Booksellers in Manchester; of Agents in many of the principal Towns in the Kingdom; and of the News-carriers. The last column is open to ADVertisements of a LITERARY and SCIENTIFIC nature, comprising Education, Institutions, Sales of Libraries, &c.

No. 50.-VOL. II.

FOR THE IRIS.

THE CLUB.

No. XXV.-FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1823.

'Tis with our judgments as our watches, none Go just alike, yet each believes his own.

РОРЕ.

ON the subject of style there exists in the Club
a difference of opinion similar to that which, in |
the time of Cicero, divided the Roman orators
into two parties, one of which admired the
asiatic, the other, the attic manner of writing,
Some of our members, and the president and
antiquary in particular, are the advocates of
stately and dignified composition, and consider
Dr. Johnson, and the writers who resemble
him, as the best exemplars of eloquent English.
The secretary and some others are professed
admirers of simplicity in writing, and look
upon Mr. Addison as having produced the finest
specimens of elegant composition which have
appeared in our language. It is a natural con-
sequence of this difference of opinion that,
whenever a paper is read at our meeting, one
part of the members are desirous of giving to
the language a more sonorous and magniloquent
expression, while the others are contriving to
substitute, for the lengthy and uncommon words
of their opponents, some phrase which, without
being mean or vulgar, may express with more
simplicity, the meaning of the author. The
contests, on these occasions, are often warm;
and it is amusing to hear the charges of turgid-
ity or tameness, bombast or vulgarity, which
are alternately brought by the contending par-
ties against the emendations proposed by their
antagonists. As is the case in all controversies,
it is not uncommon for the original subject of
dispute to be forgotten in the course of the dis-
cussion; and it frequently happens that a differ-
ence of opinion with respect to two modes of
expression leads to an extended debate on the
subject of English style in general.

The President, a little moved perhaps by some remark from the advocates of an easy and simple style, is usually the first to quit the iminediate subject of dispute, and enter upon a wider field of discussion. At such times he collects all the dignity and importance of his manner, and looking round with that air of authority which is in him becoming, because it appears to be natural, delivers himself slowly, and with a measured cadence, to the following effect.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 1823.

PRICE 31d.

The

association with mean and vulgar objects, and rence, but which are at the same time free from
that it is, from that circumstance, unfit for the any taint of vulgarity. The meaning of such
purposes of elevated or elegant composition. words is more fully understood by all classes of
Leaving, therefore, that language to its only readers than the meaning of antique expres-
legitimate and allowable use, to be the medium sions, or of those sounding words which are
of communicating the common sentiments of derived from the learned languages. With res-
mankind, in their ordinary colloquial inter-pect to the construction of sentences, that mode
course, he will seek for the words which he of arranging words which is the least artificial
employs, and for the phrases by which his will, I think, generally be most perspicuous.
thoughts are to be advantageously communicated It is therefore my opinion, that a writer who
to the public, in the writings of those authors desires to please the community, and to obtain
who have, at different periods, enlarged the general popularity, should avoid unusual and
meaning, and increased the dignity of the Eng- learned words; and endeavour to make choice
lish language. He will derive his modes of of such as are familiar but not mean; and that
expression from the sacred remains of those he should aim rather at an elegant simplicity of
writers, whose works have been so justly and style, than at a magniloquent and stately manner
emphatically characterised as the well-springs of expression. I am aware that a composition
of English undefiled. From works deeply im- which is destitute of uncommon words; and in
bued with the spirit of classic lore, and rich in which the thoughts are expressed in an easy
words and phrases at once noble and expressive; and unaffected manner, is not so likely to strike
ample in their meaning, as they are dignified the imagination of common readers, as a piece
and sonorous in pronunciation. He will, I ad- which is more inflated and artificial.
mit, judiciously avoid those inaccuracies, into difficulty which is experienced by those who
which the great, but early masters of our tongue endeavour to write in a natural and simple
have sometimes fallen. He will correct, by the manner is not apparent to the reader; and al-
rules of modern criticism, the license which though he is always more pleased with authors
was not only allowable, but appears graceful who have succeeded in this kind of writing, he
and admirable in their imperishable works. In usually reserves his admiration for those who
making these corrections, and in the general appear to be more profound because they are
formation of his style, he will, I conceive, find less capable of being understood. It is indeed
a peculiar advantage in taking for his model the necessary to be a tolerable judge of composi-
invaluable productions of Dr. Johnson. From tion, and even to have had some practice in
them certainly he may best acquire such a com- composition, in order to be able to judge of the
mand of the English language as should be pos- merit of a pure, natural, and simple, style.
sessed by every one who aspires to the attain- I am not surprised when I hear the style of Dr.
ment of an eloquent style. No other writer Johnson extolled by injudicious readers. I am
has, in my opinion, so fully exemplified the sensible that such a mode of composition must
dignity and richness of which our language is appear to them admirable from its very defects;
capable, or so variously exhibited the power of and that his numerous uncommon words, and
style to give elevation to common subjects, and sounding periods, must fall upon their ears with
to add to the importance of those which are in something like the effect of a spell or incanta-
themselves noble. In short, when I consider tion. The admirers of the Doctor must excuse
the uncommon excellence of this great writer, me if I cannot estimate his compositions so
I do not hesitate to pronounce that the student highly as I do those of Mr. Addison. It is to
of composition who shall form himself upon the writings of that gentleman that I would
the model of Dr. Johnson's prose writings will always refer those who seek for a model of ele-
acquire a style, as far superior to that of Mr. gant composition. They will find in them that
Addison, as a magnificent palace, the finished beautiful simplicity of expression which engages
work of some great architect, is superior to a
the attention of the reader by a secret charm;
cottage however simply elegant the latter may and which causes him again and again to recur
appear."
to the page with invariable delight Allowancy
must of course be made for some inaccuracies,
lapse of a century have become unfit for po-
and for the use of a few words which, in the
lished composition. But making these allow-
English, or better adapted to express with clear-
ances we shall no where find a style more purely
ness, and in an unaffected and graceful manner,
the sentiments of the author. Style has been
termed the dress of thought; and if I might
borrow this metaphor for the purpose of con-
trasting the styles of Addison and Johnson, I
would say that the first resembled the vesture
of a Grecian nymph, shading, but not conceal-
ing, the beautiful form which it enveloped;
while the latter might be likened to the hoop
petticoat and towering head-dress, by the assis-
tance of which our grandmothers appeared

which, in the opinion of Bayle, is essential to
The Secretary, who possesses one qualification
a good disputant-that of patiently hearing his
adversary; always listens with attention, and
with an air of deference, to the remarks of the
President, and generally, after a little pause,
replies somewhat as follows.

"So long as it shall be the end of composition to adorn and dignify a subject, so long will "I think it will be allowed that the first that mode of communicating his sentiments by requisite of composition is to convey the meanwhich this end is most completely obtained being of the writer with clearness and precision. preferred by a judicious and skilful writer. I do not mean that these qualities are of themSuch a writer will not derive his modes of ex- selves sufficient to constitute a good style, but pression from the loose phraseology of conver-I think that no style can be good in which they sation; or employ words of hackneyed and do not appear. Now clearness and precision common occurrence. He will be aware that appear to me most effectually to be attained by the language of ordinary life is debased by its the use of such words as are of common occur