Time was, when none would cry that oaf was me; But now you strive about your pedigree. I think I have now satisfactorily proved, that there is every reason to suppose that the sentences produced to support the exceptions found in the Greek and Latin Grammars, are nothing more than examples of false syntax. The simple case is this-Is it a thing impossible or improbable, that the Greeks or Romans should write ungrammati. cally? If any one can prove that it is, I will willingly own myself to have been deceived; till then, I must retain my present opinion, however strange it may appear. ADOLESCENS. SIR, You spread the knowledge of art OUR Publication being ever ready and its improvements, accept a few remarks from a lover of our country's improved science, which at this time I shall more particularly confine to that of Iron-bridge building, drawn up after seeing the new-erected Iron Bridge over the River Chalmer, near Springfield, in the great East Essex road, leading to Whittam, Colchester, Harwich, &c.; to the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk. This bridge, which is said to be the most beautiful ever erected in this kingdom, or probably any other, was built from a design of Mr. Dodd, the same engineer and architect of the Waterloo stone bridge, so much admired by foreigners who visit this country. But this iron bridge, his last production, differs from all others previously erected, by not resting on any piers or but tresses, but simply built on iron coJumns or standards driven into the river banks. The fact is, it does not form an arch, but a straight line across the river; therefore has no lateral thrust or pressure, and of course needs no piers or buttresses. This newly-introduced system in bridge-building is certainly of the greatest importance and saving of expense, where there is a difficulty in getting a foundation for them in rivers; as also the great loss of time and expense of keeping away water during their execution. All the pres sure of these bridges being perfectly vertical, it is impossible any settlement can ever take place, if the same inge nious previous measures are introduced which were in this applied; that is, after the standards or columns were driven down as far as they could be with the pile engine, they were made the fulcrum of an immense lever, with heavy weights suspended at the outer ends, producing a pressure of more than three times the calculated weight the bridge had there to sustain; certainly a way of great safety and little trouble in producing it. The plan of these bridges also require no spandrells, and of course admit vessels to approach any part of the aperture without being materially confined to the centre, as there is a necessity for in bridges formed with arches. The principal strength and stability of this bridge are obtained by elliptical arcs and chords, kept so flat, that the purposes of the truss girder are fully obtained, but with superior elegance and greater strength, and may be extended to an indefinite length. Two of those cross the river, their extreme ends resting on the iron pillars driven in the river banks, and not projecting higher than the hand-rail of the ballustrades, with an extended chord from the two points of the basement, holding them together, and preventing their extending by pressure; to which elliptic arc-piece are attached chords of suspension for supporting the bridge flooring: these chords of suspension being flat, form stiles between the pannels of the beautiful Gothic work which form the ballustrades on each side the bridge. This bridge being upon the principles of tenacity, the chief part of the iron acts upon the pulling system longitudinally. There are grooves in the top of those iron columns, on which the whole bridge has room to contract or expand, so necessary in this climate, from the various changes of the atmosphere from heat to cold, as the other iron bridges have suffered materially from the want of this precaution, Evidence has been given in the House of Commons, that the Southwark bridge rises from two to two and a quarter inches in the middle of the day, and settles again in the evening. Of those iron columns in the river, instead of piers or buttresses, if they resist the floating ice, of which, from their strength and dimensions, there can be no doubt, Mr. Dodd, the engineer, bas INERD not mention how destructive wasps were in the last season; but how I got a-head of them, may be worthy of notice. Our first alarm on a bed of red Chili strawberries, the fruit of which being borne high up, must have occasioned this bad choice; for the adjoining fine bed of black strawberries, in which the fruit grows near the ground, was scarcely touched. The cherries were next de the peaches and nectarines on open walls being also almost untouched. I wish that I could confirm the effects in attracting wasps, attributed to hoya carnosa and yewberries. My gardener saw not less than 200 wasps on one bunch of black Hamburgh grapes, in a neighbouring hot-house, close to a plant of the boya in the richest flower; and my own observations only go as far as a solitary bee feeding on it. As for yewberries, I saw wasps passing numerously by an abundance of them in a very thick hedge, in their way to the closely adjoining hot-house at Studiey, in which the bags, improperly made of Scotch gauze (which by its transparency increases the temptation), were eaten through, and full of these pests of the garden. I remain, yours truly, THOMAS FRANKLAND. Thirkleby, near Thirsk, Horticultural Transactions, voured, without any seeming possibility To the Editor of the European Magazine. of defence; then followed the more forward grapes, the Frontiniacs being soon cleared, though the Muscadines were untouched. On this, we secured all the remaining bunches by exertion in making bags of foundation muslin, which is impenetrable. At the samne time, we gave rewards for the destruction of nests of wasps, and, as is usual, hung up phials, which were cleared out two or three times a day without gaining any ground. I then tried a small landing net (which had been used for catching trout flies), with a wire hoop six inches in diameter, a purse of Scotch gauze sixteen inches deep, and a twofeet handle, the effect of which soon became visible; for by holding it on or under any fruit, the wasps fell blunder. ing into the net, and were there easily crushed by a piece of wood (I used a THE FAIR REVENGE. HE elements of this story are to Albion's England, to which we referred in the article on Charles Brandon and Mary Queen of France. blank butter print, as being conveni-be found in the old poem called ently held, or a hedging glove on the left hand) in such numbers, that my gardener counted upwards of 220 at one haul from two apricots. We then made more nets, and by perseverance soon turned the tide, so that scarcely a wasp could escape us, whether on espaliers or wall fruit, to feed being certain death; and we had consequently MoorPark apricots in perfection till Sept. 16, Aganippus, king of Argos, dying without heirs male, bequeathed his throne to his only daughter, the beautiful and beloved Dapbles. This female succession was displeasing to a nobleman who held large possessions on the frontiers; and he came for the first time towards the court, not to pay his respects to the new queen, but to give her battle. Doracles (for that was his name) was not much known by the people. He had distinguished himself for as jealous an independence as a subject could well assume; and though he had been of use in repelling invasion du ring the latter years of the king, had never made his appearance to receive his master's thanks personally. A correspondence however was understood to have gone on between him and several noblemen about the court; and there were those, who in spite of his inattention to popularity, suspected that it would go hard with the young queen, when the two armies came face to face. But neither these subtle statesmen, nor the ambitious young soldier Doracles, were aware of the effects to be produced by a strong personal attachment. The young queen, amiable as she was beautiful, had involuntarily baffled his expectations from her courtiers, by exciting in the minds of some a real disinterested regard, while others nourished a hope of sharing her throne instead. At least, they speculated upon becoming each the favourite minister; and held it a better thing to reign under that title and a charming mis tress, than be the servants of a master wilful and domineering. By the people she was adored; and when she came riding out of her palace on the morning of the fight, with an unaccustomed spear standing up in its rest by her side, her diademed hair flowing a little off into the wind, her face paler than usual, but still tinted with its roses, and a look in which confidence in the love of her subjects, and tenderness for the wounds they were going to encounter, seemed to contend for the expression, the shout which they sent up would have told a stouter heart than a traitor's, that the royal charmer was secure. The queen, during the conflict, remained in a tent upon an eminence, to which the younger leaders vied who should best spur up their smoking horses to bring her good news from time to time. The battle was short and bloody. Doracles soon found that he had miscalculated his point; and all his skill and resolution could not set the error to rights. It was allowed, that if either courage or military talent could en title him to the throne, he would have had a right to it; but the popularity of Daphles supplied her cause with all the ardour which a lax state of subjection on the part of the more powerful nobles might have denied it. When her troops charged, or made any other voluntary movement, they put all their hearts into their blows; and when they were compelled to await the enemy, they stood as inflexible as walls of iron. It was like hanimering upon metal statuary; or staking their fated horses upon spears rivetted in stone. Doracles was taken prisoner. The queen, re-issuing from her tent, crowned with laurel, came riding down the eminence, and remained at the foot with her generals, while the prisoners were taken by. Her pale face kept as royal a countenance of composed pity as she could manage, while the commoner rebels passed along, aching with their wounded arms fastened behind, and shaking back their bloody and blinding locks for want of a hand to part them. But the blood mounted to her cheeks, when the proud and handsome Doracles, whom she now saw for the first time, blushed deeply as he cast a glance at his female conqueror, and then stepped haughtily along, handling his gilded chains as if they were au indifferent ornament. "I have conquered him," though she: “it is a heavy blow to so proud a head; and as he looks not unamiable, it might be politic as well as courteous and kind in me to turn his submission into a more willing one." Alas! pity was helping admiration to a kinder set of offices than the generous-hearted queen suspected. The captive went to his prison, a conqueror after all; for Daphles loved bim. The second night, after having exhibited in her manners a strange mixture of joy and seriousness, and signified to her counsellors her intention of setting the prisoner free, she released him with her own hands. Many a step did she hesitate as she went down the stairs; and when she came to the door, she shed a full, but soft, and as it seemed to her a wilful and refreshing flood of tears, humbling herself for her approaching task. When she had entered, she blushed deeply, and then turning as pale, stood for a minute silent and without motion. She then said, Thy queen, Doracles, has come to show thee how kindly she can treat a great and gallant subject, who did frontiers, and was leaguing with her enemies for another struggle. not know her;" and with these words, was too certain. He had passed the and almost before she was aware, the prisoner was released, and preparing to go. He appeared suprised, but not off his guard, nor in any temper to be over grateful. "Name," said he, "O queen, the conditions on which I depart, and they will be faithfully kept." Daphles moved her lips, but they spoke not. She waved her head and hand with a deadly smile, as if freeing him from all conditions; and he was turning to go, when she fell senseless on the floor. The haughty warrior raised her with more impatience than good will. He could guess at love in a woman, but he had but a mean opinion of both it and her sex; and the deadly struggle in the heart of Daphles did not help him to distinguish the romantic passion which had induced her to put all her past and virgin notions of love into his person, from the commonest liking that might flatter his soldierly vanity. The queen, on awaking from her swoon, found herself compelled, in very justice to the intensity of a true passion, to explain how pity had brought it upon her. "I might ask it," said she, "Doracles, in return:" and here she resumed something of her queen-like dignity; "but I feel that my modesty will be sufficiently saved by the name of your wife; and a substantial throne, with a returu that nothing shall perplex or interfere with thee, I do now accordingly offer thee, not as the condition of thy freedom, but as a diversion of men's eyes and thoughts from what they will think ill in me, if they find me rejected." And in getting out that hard word, her voice faultered a little, and her eyes filled with tears. Doracles, with the best grace his lately defeated spirit could assume, spoke in willing terms of accepting her offer. They left the prison; and his full pardon having been proclaimed, the courtiers, with feasts and entertainments, vied who should seem best to approve their mistress's choice; for so they were quick to understand it. The late captive, who was really as graceful and accomplished as a proud spirit would let him be, received and returned all their attention in princely sort; and Dapbles was beginning to hope that he might turn a glad eye upon her Some day, when news was brought her that he had gone from court, nobody knew whither. The next intelligence From that day, gladness, though not kindness, went out of the face of Daphles. She wrote him a letter, without a word of reproach in it, enough to bring back the remotest heart that had the least spark of sympathy; but he only answered it in a spirit, which shewed that he regarded the deepest love but as a wanton trifle. That letter touched her kind wits. She had had a paper drawn up, leaving him her throne in case she should die; but some of her ministers, availing themselves of her enfeebled spirit, had summoned a meeting of the nobles, at which she was to preside in the dress she wore on the day of victory; the sight of which, it was thought, with the arguments which they meant to use, would prevail upon the assembly to urge her to a revocation of the bequest. Her women dressed her, while she was almost unconscious of what they were doing, for she had now began to fade quickly, body as well as mind. They put on her the white garments edged with silver waves, in remembrance of the stream of Inachus, the founder of the Argive monarchy; the spear was brought out, to be stuck by the side of the throne, instead of the sceptre; and their hands prepared to put the same laurel on her head, which bound its healthy white temples, when she sat on horseback, and saw the prisoner go by. But at sight of its twisted and withered green, she took it in her hand; and looking about her in her chair with an air of momentary recollection, began picking it, and letting the leaves fall upon the floor. She went on thus, leaf after leaf, looking vacantly downwards; and when she had stripped the circle half round, she leaned her cheek against the side of her sick chair; and shutting her eyes quietly, so died. The envoys from Argos went to the court of Calydon, where Doracles then was; and bringing him the diadem upon a black cushion, informed him at once of the death of the Queen, and her nomination of him to the throne. He shewed little more than a ceremonious gravity at the former news; but could ill contain his joy at the latter, and set off instantly to take possession. Among the other nobles who feasted him, was one who, having been the particular companion of the late king, had be come like a second father to his unhappy daughter. The new Prince observing the melancholy which he scarce ly affected to repress, and seeing him look up occasionally at a picture which had a veil over it, asked him what the picture was that seemed to disturb him so, and why it was veiled. "If it be the portrait of the late king," said Doracles, "pray think me worthy of doing honour to it, for he was a noble prince. Unveil it, pray. I insist upon it. What am I not worthy to look upon my predecessors, Phorbas?" And at these words, he frowned impatiently. Phorbas, with a trembling hand, but not for want of courage, withdrew the black covering; and the portrait of Daphles, in all her youth and beauty, flashed upon the eyes of Doracles. It was not a melancholy face. It was drawn before misfortune had touched it, and sparkled with a blooming beauty, in which animal spirits and good-nature contended for predominance. Doracles paused, and seemed struck. "The possessor of that face," said he, inquiringly, "could never have been so sorrowful, as I have heard?”—“ Pardon me, Sir," answered Phorbas; "I was as another father to her, and knew all." "It cannot be," returned the prince. The old man begged his other guests to withdraw a while, and then told Doracles how many fond and despairing things the queen had said of him, both before her wits began to fail, and after. "Her wits to fail?" murmured the king: "I have known what it is to feel almost a mad impatience of the will; but I knew not that these-gentle creatures, women, could so feel for such a trifle." Phorbas brought out the laurel-crown, and told him how it was that the half of it became bare. The impatient blood of Doracles mounted, but not in anger, to his face; and breaking up the party, he requested that the picture might be removed to his own chamber, promising to return it. A whole year however did he keep it; and as he had no foreign enemies to occupy his time, nor was disposed to enter into the common sports of peace, it was understood that he spent the greatest part of his time, when he was not in council, in the room where the picture hung. In truth, the image of the once smiling Daphles haunted him wherever he went; and to ease himself of the yearuing of wishing her alive again and seeing her face, he was in the babit of being with it as much as possible. His self-will turned upon him, even in that gentle shape. Millions of times did he wish back the loving author of his fortunes, whom he had treated with so clownish an ingratitude; and millions of times did the sense of the impotence of his wish run up in red hurry to his cheeks, and help to pull them into a gaunt melancholy. But this is not a repaying sorrow to dwell upon. He was one day, after being in vain expected at council, found lying madly on the floor of the room, dead. He had torn the portrait from the wall. His dagger was in his heart; and his cheek lay upon that blooming and smiling face, which had it been living, would never have looked so at being revenged. TO A PIRATING POET. We grant the strains that you rehearse The ancients peep'd into your verse, A CURIOUS HANDBILL OF A SLOPSELLER IN HULL. B-y, mercer and sea draper, High Street, Hull. Sailors rigged complete from stem to stern; viz. chapeau, mapeau, flying-gib, and flesh-jack; inner pea, outer pea, and cord defender; rudder-case and service to the same, up-traders, down-traders, fore-shoes, lacings, gaskets, &c. &c. With canvas bags, GRAY. The poet Gray was notoriously fear. ful of fire, and kept a ladder of ropes in his bed-room. Some mischievous young men at Cambridge knew this, roused him from below, in the middle of a dark night, with the cry of fire! The staircase, they said, was in flames. Up went his window, and down he came by his rope ladder, as fast as he could go, into a tub of water, which they had placed to receive him. |