To attain a knowledge of characters only, in their prefent diverfified flate, requires as much time as, thould fuch a change take place, would make a confiderable progrefs in the language itself.

Had fuch an univerfality been established in the beginning of the fifteenth century, before printing had diffeminated the productions of each nation in their various inexpretive characters, it would have been highly beneficial to literature; as we should have had the pristine fpirit of the languages tranfmitted to us in as correct and forcible a manner, as we receive the modern ones by oral communication. Yet, late as is the prefent time, he deferves the gratitude of the Literati, who attempts to render fo effential a fervice to learning.

I was lately at a meeting of gentlemen convened to be witneffes of the power of a fet of characters invented by a Mr. C. a gentleman who is too far in the decline of life, to bring to perfection fo difficult au undertaking. His characters, which he fays are capable of expreffing every poñible articulate found, are in number, I think, ninety: the method by which he demonftrates the utility of them, is thus: "A perfon dictates to him a fentence in any language he is master of; Mr. C. writes it in his characters, and after he has taken all the different languages, he reads them over to the perfons who dictated (or any other who understands the language), fo as to be perfectly understood." I confefs I fhould not have thought it the most arduous undertaking of my life, to have done the fame with the Englith letters; for the words happened not to require any unusual character to exprefs their founds. One fentence indeed, dictated by the Rev. D. WilBiams, in the Welsh language, was very difficuit, and I believe foiled Mr. C. for he required him to repeat it a number of times, and found the found fo hard, that he never could properly gain it fo as to fay it after him; much leis give it on paper, where a Aranger fhould, if he had learnt the chracter, be able to pronounce it with as much propriety as his own vernacular idiom.

The company rather abruptly broke up, fo we did not know how nearly his characters had given this latt fentence, for he did

not offer to treat it.

The perfon who attempts to characterize every articulate found, ought to have his auricular organs exceeding quick, that they

may catch the found before the air has diffuled it; the car thould be delicate, in order to receive it with exactress, and capable of conveying it to the memory without diminution: that Mr. C. has poffeffed thefe quaEfications, I will not difpute, that he is not at this time, or at leaft was not that evening, no gentlemen prefent would deny; but the trial was not fuchcient to determine whether the'e char Cers will, or will not, ferve the pur, cies regined of them. They are foon I

Should they not have the defired effect, but only poffefs fome few advantages over the prefent ineffectual methods we have of exprefing founds, others may contribute their afiftance, and perfect them in time.

If Britain be the happy nation defigned to complete this elaborate undertaking, the will "emulate the Greek and Roman name," and make the knowledge of the abftrufe languages familiar to the learned world. H.

Mr. URBAN, Houghton-le-Spring, Of. 22. N your Magazine for September, p. 428, is the following paffage, extracted from the Memoirs of Thomas Hollis, Efq.

E

"The following anecdote is remarkable; At Baron's auction in July 1768, Mr. Rotheram's Elay on Eftablishments, in anfwer to the Confeffional, was bid for by Mr. H. but bought by an unlimited commiffion, which exciting curiofity to fee it, the following note was found written in the book: The author Mr. Rotheram, but revised by Thomas Secker, A.B.C. A prefumption that this MS. note was not unknown to his Grace, and that he wifhed to have it fuppreffed."

It hath been repeatedly infinuated in paragraphs and pamphlets from refpectable writers, who ought to have been above circulating reports to another's prejudice, for which they could have no good authority, that the effay was undertaken from interested and mercenary views, and from a profpect of rewards held forth by fome great names in the church.

In anfwer to all fuch groundless affertions and infinuations, give me leave to affure you that the merits or demerits of that pamphlet, whatever they may be, reft folely and en tirely with the author himfelf: that it was undertaken and executed by him without the counfel, advice, affittance, encouragemnt, or participation of any perfon whatever: that the MS. was never revised by the great perfon above alluded to, or by any one but the author himfelf: that no part of its contents, no fentence, word, or letter, in the effay, was at any time corrected, amended, or al tered, but by the author: and that, as far as he knows, it never was feen by any perfor but himself and the printer, till the impreffion, as it is now in the hands of the publick, was compleated. If you will be fo good as to give this a place in your Magazine, you will oblige, and do juftice to, The Author of the "Effay on Eftablishments in Religion."

MR. URBAN,

HOUGH Virgil's ftyle be juftly confi

and to arraign him in that refpect, would be to arraign one's own judgement,

"nec detrahere aufim→→→

Hærentem multa capiti cum laude coronam.” Hor. yet feveral errors have been rationally prefumed to be introduced into his Works, through the ignorance or negligence of the antient librarians. Some of thefe have been pointed out by the critics, and fome perhaps remain uncorrected even to this day.

One, and that a grofs one, if I am not miftaken, occurs in the 449th line of the first Eneid, in the word But to fave the reader, who may be as corpulent and indolent as myfelf, the fatigue of heaving himfelf into that unfrequented apartment, his study, for the original, and that I may be better understood, I will lay the whole paffage before him:

Lucus in urbe fuit media gratiffimus umbrâ, Quo primùm jactati undis et turbine Pæni Effodere loco fignum, quod regia Juno Monftrarat, caput aeris equi: nam fic fore

bello

Egregiam et facilem vitu per fæcula gentem.

Now the word which appears to me exceptionable in this paffage, is the conjunction in the last line, which, though a fingle word, and a small one too, does materially affect the fenfe of the claufe, it is part of, but much to its prejudice, in my humble opinion; making it neceffary that the four following words fhould be rendered, "eternally renowned," as most expofitors agree.

But I apprehend it to be unworthy that accuracy which characterizes Virgil, to convey that idea in terms fo equivocal, not to fay, ungrammatical; efpecially as it might have been done with more precifion by the alteration of one word, and the inverfion of the order of two more, thus, et facilem per fæcula vivere gentem: neither do I judge it reafonable to imagine, that Virgil, at the penning of this paffage, had the fame of the Carthaginians in contemplation, but that of the Romans; and on this prefumption, I read the last line, after the first word, not et, but baud facilem victu per fecula gentem: and render it, as baud is a more emphatical negative particle than non, very difficult to be fubdued, for fome centuries of years; and then it relates, by anticipation, a memorable circumftance in the hiftory of the Carthaginian itate, viz. " that its power was great and formidable for fome ages, as its wars in Sicily, Spain, and elfewhere, undeniably demonitrate. Particularly that utmost effort of its power in its wars with the Romans; the first of which lafted 24 years, the fecond 18, and the third 4 years.

Add to this, that the emendation I propofe, being admitted, Virgil, (who rarely let flip a fair opportunity of introducing into his Рост the thining part of the Roman hif

tory), pays the Romans a very fine compli ment; for by reprefenting the Carthaginians as very difficultly fubdued, he implicitly extols the power of the Romans, who, before his time, had fubdued them.

But this emendation is not fupported by any MS. True, as far as I know. Yet, as it renders the paffage more confonant to Virgil's probable defign, more beautiful, more determinate in its fenfe, not to say more claffical, its novelty can rationally be no obftacle to its reception. More efpecially as the antients, for baud or baut, frequently wrote aut; which might eafily be corrupted, first into at, and then into et.

In further fupport of the alteration propofed, I might obferve, that the figure, alyndeton, fuperfedes the neceffity of a conjunction in the paffage under confideration. But as I am writing to the Literati, it would be a needlefs labour.

To make the emendation I offer more intelligible, beg leave, (though I am prolix, if not tedious, already), to add a paraphrafe on the paffage it is part of.

Within the city which Elifa made, A lofty grove diffus'd a pleafing fhade. There the Phoenicians, as they dug the ground, A horfe's head, by Juno's favour, found: Nor that unmeaning; the prognostic fhew'd, They would be brave, and hard to be subdu'd Si quid novifti rectius iftis Candidus imperti: fi non, bis utere mecum. Hor.

If you encourage me by printing this, you may receive, from time to time, Critiques I have made on most of the Clafficks, who am, Sir, your humble fervant, J. LEWIS Ludlow Free-febol, Oct. 26, 1780.

P. S. Alluding to the wars between the Carthaginians and Romans, Silius Italicus thus harmoniously and fublimely fings:

Gens Cadmea fuper regno certamina movit Quæfitumque diu quâ tandem poneret arce * Terrarum Fortuna caput.

Mr. URBAN,

Y

Νου. 16.

OUR correfpondent M. G. p. 404, will find fome gratification of his curiofity about William Maitland, in British Topography, vol. II. p. 572. 665.

NICHOLAS TINDAL, M. A. was prefented to the vicarage of Great Waltham, near Chelmsford, Effex, 1722, by Trinity College, Oxford, of which he was probably a member. He quitted this living 1740, and died at Greenwich, Jan. 27, 1774. He began a Hiftory of Effex, of which he publifhed a fmall part in 4to. numbers (Brit. Top. p. 345, n.) and left it for the translation of Rapin. He was alfo editor of "A "Guide to Claffical Learning, or Polymetis "abridged, for Schools." I am not certain whether John Tindall, LL. D. rector of Chelmsford, 1738-9, and an active magiftrate, was not his brother, and George Tin

dall

dall, fon of John, captain of the Deal Caftle man of war, died October 17, 1777.

Of Mr. AMES we may expect a life prefixed to the improved edition of his Typo graphy, by Mr. Herbert, now in the pref. CROMWELL MORTIMER was many years fecretary to the Royal Society, an imperti nent affuming empiric, though M. D. and fellow of the College of Phyficians, 1744 (See his Plan of Practice in Gent. Mag. 1779, P. 541.) He was fecond fon of John Mortimer, F. R. S. author of the "Whole "Art of Husbandry, 1708. 1765," 8vo. by experiments in which he almoft ruined himself. His first wife was Dorothy, eldest daughter of the protector Richard Cromwell. The Doctor's elder brother left him the family eftate at Topping-hall, in Hatfield Pe. verel parith, Effex, where he died Jan. 7, 1752, and has an epitaph. He left an only fon Hans, of Lincoln's-Inn, and Cawldthorp near Burton on Trent. (See Morant's Effex, II. 133.) Of Dr. PARSONS, I will fend you fome particulars for your next. Q

The Theatrical Regifter must be deferred.

TH

Narrative of a late extraordinary Tranfaction between two diftinguifhed Noblemen. HE Lord Chancellor, as Speaker, acquainted the house, on Friday, Nov. 3, that there was a report abroad, that a perfonal infult was intended to a peer of that houfe; but as he fpoke, he faid, from rumour only, he wished that, if any of their lordships could fpeak from authority, they , would itate the matter to the house.

Lord Jerfey faid, the infult alluded to by the noble lord was intended against the Duke of Grafton, and that the Earl of Pomfret was the perfon by whom the injury was threatened.

A motion was then made, that the Duke of Grafton and Lord Pomfret be ordered to attend this house in their places on Monday

next.

On Monday they attended accordingly ; and the Duke was called upon to give the houfe fuch a defcription of the circumstances attending the affair in question, as his Grace conceived to be just.

His Grace then faid, that on the 22d of October, without having any previous intimation, or being confcious of any offence, he received the following letter from the Earl of Pomfret :

"My Lord, Having received an infult from you of the groffeft nature, in your having taken under your protection a villain, that has threatened me and my family with deftruction, I think it neceffary to inform you, that I am waiting at your park-gate, with a brace of piftols and a word, in order to receive from you that fatisfaction which fuch an injury requires. Your's, &c."

The Duke allured the houfe, that he never was more furprized on any occafion in his life than on the receipt of this letter. He protested upon his honour, and appealed the Almighty for the truth of this after

tion, that he neither contributed nor knew of the preferment of the perfon, whom he afterwards understood to be alluded to in this epiftle. Having then no perfon to advife with on receiving fo direct an accufation and fo fingular a call, from the confcious dictates of his own feeling, his Grace wrote to the following purport:

"My Lord, I never was more furprized than on receiving the letter which I have just now had from your lordship. Your lordship thinks I have injured you. I affure your lordship moft fincerely, that, fo far from entertaining any intentions of that kind, it would, at all times, have given me fenfible fatisfaction to have obliged you. So far as I understand who the perfon is you allude to, I proteft to your lordship, I know nothing of him, nor have, in any respect, difcovered either friendship or protection towards him of any kind. I hope your lordship will confide in this affeveration, and not drive matters to those extremities which you mention in your letter. If your lordship will do me the honour to call upon me, I am fatisfied I can give you fuch teftimonies of my not having merited fuch an imputation, as would entirely convince you that your present opinion is erroneous. Your's, &c."

When a friend who was on a vifit at his Grace's feat came from church, he made him a confidant, and advised with him how to proceed. The refult was, that they went to the park-gate together, but his lordship was gone. He then remained in fufpence, but was foon relieved by a letter to the following purport:

"My Lord, I was induced to fend my first letter to your Grace by the following circumftance. A fellow, whom I fome time ago employed in the capacity of a servant, of the name of Langftaff, killed, while he remained in my service, one of the best horfes in my ftud. I turned him away for the offence, and he felt fo much refentment from his difmiffion, as to threaten me, my wife, children, and house, with affaffination and deftruction. I found that fome time after his being difcarded from his employment from me, he had fo far carried his threats into execution, as to have ripped up the belly of one of my fineft mares, in a moft barbarous manner, quite from thoulder to flank, of which wound the died.-Trembling then for the fafety of my dear children, I took every measure to prevent his future depredations; but was informed, to my infinite furprize, that he had been appointed to the office of excifeman, by a fervant of your Grace's, a Mr. Smith, in my neighbourhood, and that therefore I was fill likely to be fubject to his malice. Under the refentment which this information naturally produced, I wrote that letter to your Grace, but hope that I have been mistaken in my conjecture, as I would not willingly entertain fuch an opinion of a British peer, as would difgrace the worst of commoners. I would fail believe your Grace to be a good

citizen,

"My Lord Pomfret,

"The houfe are of opinion, that you have committed a high offence against their privileges in your recent correfpondence with the Duke of Grafton.

"And they have therefore refolved, that you be committed to the Tower."

His Lordfhip bowed aud retired, attended by the black rod.

On the 13th a petition was prefented to the house from the Earl, acknowledging in the fulleft, but at the fame time the most delicate manner, his forrow for having incurred the difpleasure of the houfe; praying, that their lordships would take his cafe into confideration, and order him to attend at their bar, where he was willing to make any conceffions their lordships fhould think proper. This petition being read, Ordered, that it be taken into confideration on Wednefday the 15th inftant.

Accordingly on that day his lordfhip was brought to the bar, and feriously reprimanded for the heinous offence he had been guilty, of towards the privileges of their houfe, in the perfon of a noble peer, the Duke of Grafton, &c. but that in confideration of his petition, and folemn cugagement to relinquith all thought of further refentment, they were willing, upon his Lordship's asking pardon, and making proper acknowledgments, to reftore his Lordship to the poffeffion of his privileges and freedom.

This ended, his Lordhip was next acquainted with the fubinition and engagement the house expected from him, previous to his Lordship's enlargement, which was conceived in the following terms:

"I am highly fenfible of the offence I have been guilty of, in having fent thefe rath and unadvifed letters, and humbly afk pardon of this most honourable houfe for having fo done. I do now believe that I laboured under a moft grofs error in imputing to his Grace the Duke of Grafton thofe intentions with respect to me, of which I accufed him; and do here give your lordships my moft ferious and folemn engagement, that Í refignall ideas and intentions of refentment towards him, and alfo towards all the perfons who have been made mention of in the courfe of this unhappy tranfaction.”

The clerk having read the paper, his Lordship addreffed the houfe for an explanation of the forms that were to be the guide and obfervation of his future conduct, requefling at the fame time that a full and explicit defcription might be given him of the objects against whom he was to pledge his honour to the house to fufpend all intentions of violence and refentment. He affured the hon. houfe, that at that moment he felt no refestment again ft any man; but thought it highly necellary perfectly to understand the engagements he was about to enter into with their lordships.

Earl of Pomfret fhould withdraw. This be-ing complied with, his lordship.very freely delivered his opinion of the-noble peer's offence, the tenderness of his request, and the terms of his fubmiflion. He was by no means for narrowing the terms of fubminion. The noble lord himself, he faid, had fuggefted the true and proper line of proceeding upon this occafion; he had faid, in ftating his objections, that he entertained no cumity, nor any kind of refentment or intentional violence, against any man living. Why then alter an explicit acknowledgement that did not in itself bear fo wide an application as the noble Lord had annexed to it? His Lordhip obferved, that though this might be improper, yet fome attention to his Lordship's words may lead to that kind of explanation, which the houfe in their beft confideration may think proper to make. Here his Lordthip recited the general tenor of the engage ment, to which, in his judgement, the earl of Pomfret ought to be bound; and concluded with withing, that, if any other lord didered from him, he would now rife and fpeak. After fome paufe, no other lord rifing, he moved, that the earl of Pomfret be called in. The Lord Chancellor then in his feat addreffed the Earl as he flood at the bar in the most serious manner, acquainting him with the expectations of the houfe; that a confined engagement was by no means futticient; it is the opinion of their lordships that not only the gentlemen alluded to in your letters fhould be understood to be embraced in the refignation of your refentment, but alfo that every other perfon who has either been obliquely included as a party in the tranfaction itfelf, or has been fubfequently concerned in the courfe of the proceedings arifing from it, fhould be equally confidered as the objects of this engagement, and as having an exemption therefore from every future violence or relentment.

Lord Pomfret, without making any reply, was beginning to read his fubminion as he flood at the bar, when the Lord Chancellor acquainted him with the order of the houte, that his Lordthip thould be refløred to his feat, and indulged with the liberty of reading it in the mofi nonourable manner in his place. Sir Francis Moleneux, gentlemaa uther of the black red, prefented him with his word, who then took his feat, and read the fubmiffion prefcribed him by the houfe. This ceremony being performed, the foliowing order was agreed to.

Die Veneris, 17° Novembris. It is ordered, by the lords ipiritual and temporal in parliament allembled, that Geo. earl of Pomfret be, and is hereby, discharged from the rsttrait he lies onder in the cuftody of the gentleman uther of the black rod attending this house.

The above order being read, his Lordship was difcharged of courie, and the houfe ad

MR.