Scottish Literary Intelligence. DR Cook, of Lawrence Kirk, who wrote on the resurrection of Christ, has nearly ready for the press, a History of the Reformation, in two large quartos. From the indefatigable research and known talents of the author, much is expected: he has detected many errors and false quotations in Hume, the historian; and the literary world may look for a full and distinct account of that important event, with an exposition of the causes that led to the Reformation, &c.— Dr Cook is the son of the Professor of that name of St Andrews. Sir John Sinclair has addressed, to a number of respectable farmers in different districts, a letter to the following purport: Several of my most respectable friends in the agricultural line, and Sir Joseph Banks in particular, have strongly inculcated the idea, that it is a duty incumbent on a Scottish president of an English board, to draw up a treatise on the system of husbandry adopted in Scotland, by means of which, the farmers of that country are enabled, in extensive tracts, to pay double the rent for the land they cultivate, compared to land of a similar quality and description in England; and in his communication to me upon that subject, Sir Joseph adds, "that agriculture has derived, is deriving, and will derive more benefits from Scottish industry and skill, than has been accumulated since the days when Adam first wielded a spade.” When thus called upon, in a manner so flattering to the agricultural skill and industry of my countrymen, it is impossible for me not to obey the summons; more especially as I am deeply impressed with the idea, that the introduction of the simple, economical, and judicious system of husbandry adopted in Scotland, would double the value of many districts in Eng. land, and would render the British empire independent of other countries for food, and for a variety of other most essential articles. I have to request, therefore, that you will have the goodness to favour me with your assistance in carrying on so useful an undertaking; and for that purpose, that you would be pleased to transmit to me, as speedily as the circumstances of the case will admit of it (the sooner the more desirable,) full answers to the subjoined queries. As soon as the treatise which I propose to draw up is printed, I shall have the pleasure of transmitting a copy of it to you, with many thanks for your friendly and public-spirited assistance in so important an inquiry. The queries are as follow: 1. What may be the size of the farm you occupy, in Scotch or English acres? 2. What may be the nature and quality of the soil and sub-soil? 3. How near is the farm situated to any town or village; to any navigable river; or to the sea? 4. What may be the number of fields into which it is divided; or the average size of each ? 5. What the rotation of crops, and the average-produce of each crop? 6. What the number of farm ser vants, married and unmarried; and the wages and other emoluments they receive? 7. What the average number of persons, occasionally employed, in other operations about the farm? 8. What the number of work-horses, and the expence of maintaining them? 9. What the number of other stock kept on the farm? 10. What the number of ploughs and carts; and whether any waggons are used on it? 11. Is there a threshing-mill; and is it wrought by horses, wind, or water? Are there fanners; and how are they wrought? 12. What is the rent of the land per Scotch or English acre? 13. Is the farmer. liable to any additional burden, for land-tax, assessment for the poor, stipend to the minister, or salary to the schoolmaster; and to what amount? 14. What do you consider to be the best sizes for arable farms, in different districts, according to the capi tals of which different farmers be may possessed; and why do you think such sizes preferable? 15. What sums, on an average, may it require, to stock such farms; and what may be the average expense of the different articles ? performed by Mr Robert Semple; in which he visited several important places, not noticed in his former work.-He is about to publish the Observations will be embellished by a variety of made on this second journey. The work plates, illustrative of the Costume and Manners of the Inhabitants of several parts of the Peninsula. Captain Henderson has in the press, An Account of the British Settlement of Honduras; together with Sketches of the Manners and Customs of the Mosquito Indians. The Rev. Mr Dibdin, has just completed the first volume, of his edition of Ames's and Herbert's Typographical Antiquities of Great Britain; and it will make its appearance in December. Mr Surr's new novel, named the Romance of the Times, will appear about Christmas. The Rev. W. Ward, of Diss, has in the Literary Intelligence, ENGLISH and press, the first volume of the Fulfilment FOREIGN. MR [R Lambert, who lately travelled through Lower Canada, and the United States, has begun to print an account of his Observations on the present State of those interesting Countries. His work will make three volumes octavo, and will be illustrated with a variety of engravings, from drawings made on the spot. Sir William Ousely has made considerable progress in a work, which consists of the Accounts of Alexander the Great, which are to be found in Eastern writers. The general Collection of Voyages and Travels, in twenty-eight volumes, corresponding with the British Essayists, will be ready in a few days. We are authorised to mention that the late Marquis of , wrote a series of Letters to his son on every topic of Education; and that the work will, without delay, be given to the world. Some copies of the original 4to edition of Mr Barlow's fine poem of the Columbiad, have been imported from America, by Mr Raymond, of Pall Mall, and are to be had at Four Guineas in boards. The volume taken altogether is one of the most elegant that ever issued from the press. A second journey through the Southern part of Spain, has been recently of the Revelation, or Prophetic History of the Declension and Restoration of the Christian Church. A work which cannot fail to prove highly interesting to lovers of the fine arts, is in considerable forwardness. It will consist of thirty engraved portraits of some of the females most distinguished at the present day for beauty, rank, and fashion. It is intended to appear in five parts, and is to be entitled, Beauties of the Reign of George III. The portraits are painted by Mrs Mee, and will be engraved by artists of the first eminence. They will be accompanied with biographical accounts, forming together a most magnificent folio volume. A Collection of Tales, selected and translated from the works of Wieland, Schiller, Meissner, and other celebrated German writers, in three volumes small octavo, will speedily make their appear Poetry. VERSES Written in the year 1786, when the celebrated ROBERT BURNS had bid farewell to his native Country, and was about to emigrate to Jamaica, "Full many a flow'r is born to blush un seen, "And waste its sweetness on the desert air." GRAY. HAIL, sweetest bard! sae lately ken't, They gar ane glow'r; When Winter wi' his drouket pow 'Thou paints, my fancy soon taks lowe And rides the storm. When smiling Spring, wi' lilies crown'd, I follow thee, and fondly stray In mirth and glee, And when thou hails, at dewy morn, On wand'ring Ayr, 'Neath yon ag'd Elm at noon I ly, And when in sober mantle clad The peaceful cot, Or catch the strains thy fancy pours, To strew the cottar's path wi' flow'rs, Or when Tam's drouth, sae ill to slocken, The tempest ragen through the wood, To right and left, fiends yellen loud And Spunkie in the mosses blinken, Ye tuneful nine, frae moors and fells, Twine gowans in't, and row't in ells O! Fortune, smile and kiss him yet! But ah! can suffering merit fail The shipwreck'd boy benumb'd and wet, May his not find some harbour yet Ye Embro' lads *, sae deep in skill, And yet gar ilka shaw, and hill, It cannot sure attach to you, To skreen his laurels frae the dew, And foil the storm that would subdue, Haste wipe the tear frae Scotland's e'e, And brag the world. E-v-le. THE JUBILEE. A New Song. By G. SCOTT. A Caledonian. BRITONS! hail the auspicious day, On this glorious Jubilee. Vengeance, death, or victory. Ours the country, ours the king, Warriors stern, and patriots keen, Freedom's standard still is seen Streaming o'er our heads, to flee. See Europa's blasted plains, Heroes of the Northern Isle! Strike Napoleon's blood-stain'd throne, And they shall be-shall be free. Soul of Nelson!-can it be? The Scotch Nobility and Literati. O higher, still higher, rose the rude wave to heaven, O louder the tempest did roar !- ven, And toss'd on thy coast, Labradore, And the rough-rolling ocean to roar; of peace, Where storms cannot fear any more, Nor thy cold frozen coast, Labradore! Glasgow. THE CAPTIVE NEGRO. R. G. SWEET western breeze that gently waves, The branches of this mountain shade, Beyond yon crimson'd sea that laves My country's shore, thou'st haply stray'd. Rich, mingling with thy balmy breath, Methinks I feel my native air; "That thought will soothe the pangs of death, Which now my inmost vitals tear. Full twenty springs have brought their And usher'd autumn's mellow glow, Since last my native fields I view'd, A lovely maiden blest my arms And as it writh'd and scream'd in pain, And mock'd the frantic parent's tear. The fiery west that gilds yon spires, How canst thou, Christian, mercy crave, From that great Pow'r thou call'st thy God? Who crush the Negro to the grave, 'Tis almost o'er, of life the dream; M. R. E. TO THE SHADE OF OSSIAN. Struck as thou sung'st the strife of kings; wrought, A triumph knew again. While rose in song the battle plain, Where Fingal, like an angry god, Resistless in his terrors strode, And strew'd the field with hostile slain : Or lower'd thy lofty tone and sung "The heaving breasts of love:" Then o'er the chords thy fingers hung, Fearing each harsher sound to move. As rose the measure plaintive, slow, And seemed to know the tale of woe The tragic lay each soul ingrost, And in soft sympathy was lost, Then struggled from each manly breast, Each face a gaze of sorrow wore. |