NEW METHOD OF IMPROVING FRUIT TREES. IN the garden of Mr Simpson of Newcastle a new method has been adopted for the management of the finer fruit trees: By this treatment he got last season From one nectarine, the tree 8 years old, 148 201 From 2 trees 349 nectarines and peaches of a full fize, fome of them eight inches in circumference. The gardener, in thining the fruit. took off 2020 peaches, and 590 nectarines, and the trees are now full of health and vigour, promising an equally luxuriant produce in the enfuing feafon. The method of cultivation which Mr Simpson made use of, and which he feels much happiness in making as extenfively public as poffible, is to plant the trees within frames fourteen feet long, and twelve feet broad, with three flides of glass (much the fame as those used in hot-beds) on a level plain of rich loamy foil, and extending them from the root, on a platform of wood with lathes, to an elevation of three feet five inches, which is confidered as the best for receiving the beneficial rays of the fun: by this, a vacant space is formed between the tree and the earth, calculated to prevent any noxious vapours, or infects, doing a prejudice to the tree or its fruit; great care must be taken in fixing the frames close to the earth, that the froft or cold blafts may not do harm; fo foon as the bloffoms make their appearance, the glass slides must be put on, and the tree must have nearly the fame treatment as a melon-bed, only with this difference, that in ferene weather, when the fun fhines without froft, the glaffes are taken off. and alfo, at other times, to make ufe of any genial fertilizing fhower, when neceffary. ANECDOTE. During one of the famines to which the Highlands of Scotland were fre quently liable, before the use of potatoes was introduced into that remote part of the island, two females who lived together in the fame hut, and who were its only inhabitants, being remarked to preferve their fleekness and wonted mein, while their wretched neighbours, on every fide, were wafting away with famine, fuperftition promptly fuggefted that these pampered high-fed dames must have improper dealings. Their hut was in confequence forcibly entered; and its terrified inmates, to efcape the fury ofis their fanatic affailants, gave up their good genius, a cafk of pickled fnails a SCOTS MAGAZINE, For UNE 1796. A ACCOUNT OF JAMES MACPHERSON, ESQ. FTER the publication of Temora, Mr Macpherson was called to an employment which withdrew him for fome time both from the Mufes and his country. In 1764 Governor Johnstone was appointed Chief of Penfacola, and Mr Macpherson accompanied him as his Secretary. If we are not miftaken, fome difference arose between the Principal and his dependant, and they parted before their return to England. Having contributed his aid to the fettlement of the civil government of that colony, he vifited feveral of the Weft- India iflands, and fome of the provinces of North America, and returned to England in the year 1766. He foon returned to his ftudies, and in 1771 produced "An Introduction to-the Hiftory of Great Britain and Ireland," 4to. a work which, he fays, "without any of the ordinary incitements to literary labour, he was induced to proceed in by the fole motive of private amufement." The fubject of this performance, it might reasonably be fuppofed, would not excite any violent controverfial acrimony; yet neither it nor its author could efcape from fèveral moft grofs and bitter in the wits, and neglected by the work. Some of his friends, and particularly Sir John Elliot, endeavoured to refcue it from contempt, and force it into notice. Their fuccefs was not equal to their efforts. After a very acute, learned, and witty critique, which was univerfally afcribed to a Gentleman ftill living, and inferted in the Critical Review, the new tranflation was confeffed to poffefs no merit, and ever fince has been configned to oblivion. About this time feems to be the period of Mr Macpherson's literary mortifications. In 1773, Dr Johnson and Mr Bofwell made the Tour to the Hebrides; and in the courfe of it, the former took fome pains to examine into the proof of the authenticity of Offian. The refult of his inquiries he gave to the public in 1775, in his narrative of the Tour, and his opinion was unfavourable. "I believe they (i. e. the poems, fays he) never exifted in any other form than that which we have feen. The Editor or Author never could fhew the original; nor can it be fhewn by any other. To revenge reafonable incredulity by refufing evidence is a degree of infolence with which the world is not yet acquainted; and ftubborn audacity is the laft refuge of guilt. It would be eafy to fhew it, if he had it; but whence could it be had?, The opinions above declared by Dr Johnfon incenfed our Author fo much, that he was promoted by his evil genius. to fend a menacing letter to his antagonift, which produced a fevere, fpirited, 3 E and and farcaftie reply *. warmth abated, or whether he had been made fenfible of his folly by the interpofition of friends, we know not; but certain it is, we hear no more afterwards of this ridiculous affair, except that our Author is fuppofed to have affifted Mr Nicol in an Anfwer to Dr Johnfon's Tour, printed in 1770. Whether his ftance which arofe. The refiftance of the Colonies called for the aid of a ready writer to combat the arguments of the Americans, and to give force to the reafons which influenced the conduct of Government, and he was selected for. the purpose. He wrote a Pamphlet, which was circulated with much induftry, entitled, " The Rights of Great Britain afferted againft the Claims of the Colonies; being an Answer to the Declaration of the General Congress," 8vo. 1776, and of which many editions were published. He alfo was the Author of " A fhort Hiftory of the Oppofition during the lalt Seffion of Parliament," 8vo. 1779, a pamphlet which, on account of its merit, was by many、 afcribed to Mr Gibbon. In 1775 Mr Macpherson published "The Hiftory of Great Britain, from the Restoration to the Acceffion of the Houfe of Hanover," in two vols. 4to. a work which has been decried with much clamour, but without much argument or proof. The Author appears to have been influenced by fome prejudices in favour of the Tory party; but his performance, as far as we have had an opportunity of comparing his narrative with his authorities, is not Jiable to the cenfure thrown out upon In this publication he certainly acted with great fairness, as, along with it, he published the proofs upon which his facts were founded, in two quarto vofumes, entitled, "Original Papers, containing the fecret Hiftory of Great Britain, from the Restoration to the Acceffion of the Houfe of Hanover. To which are perfixed, Extracts from the Life of James 11. as written by himfelf." Thefe papers were chiefly collected by Mr Carte, but are not of equal authority. Thefe, however, clear up many obfcurities, and fet the characters of many perfons in paft times in a different light from that in which they have been ufually viewed. Soon after this period, the tide of fortune flowed very rapidly in Mr Macpherfon's favour, and his talents and induftry were amply fufficient to enable him to avail himself of every favourable circum But a more lucrative employment was conferred on him about this time. He was oppointed Agent to the Nabob of Arcot, and in that capacity exerted his talents in feveral appeals to the public in behalf of his client. Among others, he published "Letters from Mahommed Ali Chan, Nabob of Arcot, to the Court of Directors. To which is annexed, a State of Facts relative to Tanjore, with an Appendix of Original Papers," 4to. 1777; and he was fuppofed to be the Author of "The Hif tory and Management of the East-India Company, from its Origin in 1600 to the prefent Times, Vol. I. containing the Affairs of the Carnatic; in which the Rights of the Nobob are explained, and the Injustice of the Company proved.” 4to. 1779: In his capacity of Agent to the Nabob, it was probably thought requifite that he should have a feat in the British Parliament. He was accordingly in 1780 chofen Member for Camelford, but we do not recollect that he ever at tempted to fpeak in the Houfe. He was alfo re-chofen in 1784 and 1790.0 For a few years laft paft his health began to fail, and he returned to his native country in expectation of receiving. benefit from the change, of air, He 1 continued, however, to decline, and af, ter lingering some time, died at his feat at Bellevue, in Inverness, on the 17th of February last 1796. He appears to have died in very opulent circumstances, and by his will, dated June 1793, gave various annuities and legacies to feveral perfons to a great amount. He alfo bequeathed 1000l. to John Mackenzie, of Figtree court, in the Temple, to defray the expence of printing and publishing Offian in the original. He directed 300l. to be laid out in erecting a monument to his memory, in fome confpicuous fituation at Bellevue aforefaid, and ordered that his body fhould be carried from Scotland, and interred in the Abbey-church at Westminfter, the city wherein he had paffed the greatest and best part of his life. He was accordingly buried in the Poets Corner. THE DECAYED ENGLISH MERCHANT AND HIS DAUGHTER. (CONCLUDED FROM PAGE 358.) : YOU will readily believe, that the cretion, "other wife we fhall do no bountiful stranger did not break his pro- more harm than good-I prefume I am mife to Amelia. He kept it indeed fo not expected ?" Amelia bowed a nega» religiously holy, that, in lefs than ten tive. "Then my fudden appearance days from the date of his departure, would make thy father worse, child," our pious daughter received a meffage, continued the Doctor. "No! go back purporting that a perfon at the public to him, and tell him an old friend of houfe begged to speak with her. You, his from London, and who has parti my friend, whofe fancy is ever warmed cular bufinefs in this part of Wales, by your affectionate heart, will immemeans to pay him a vifit on the score of diately conclude what was concluded ancient amity, and will take cottage fare by Amelia, that it could be only the from him in his chamber. The name much-desired doctor, who had thus de- of this old friend will then be a matter licately, to prevent the ill effect of fur- of amufing conjecture, in the midst of prife on the fick merchant, announced which, thou, child, may'ft fuggest that his arrival. If fo, you are in the right. thou fhouldst not wonder if it were me, However inconfiftent with the spirit of telling him as much of the adventure bufinefs fuch a long journey might be, that I find happened at this inn, between it was perfectly in unifon with the fpirit thee and the gentleman who brought of benevolence by which Dr ****** me thy meffage, and with it the ftory of was moved to determine upon it the in- thy virtues and misfortunes, to fupport flant the cafe was flated to him, and to and to relieve which, would have brought execute what he had so determined with me ten times as far but we have no all the dispatch neceffary to an affair of time for profeffion; I am come here to life and death, and the life and death, practise; fo fare thee well, my good moreover, of an old and unfortunate little maid.--All that I have premised friend. "My good little girl," faid will be the work only of an hour, at the he, on the entrance of Amelia-"My end of which I will be with thee." good little girl, I am come from "Heaven" interrupted Amelia, falling on her knees you are come from heaven to make my father well.""Under the aufpices of that heaven, I trust Fum refumed the Doctor. "Let us Ay this inftant," exclaimed Amelia, in the animated accents of nature. "Let us do all things in order," replied the Doctor in the language of friendly difVOL. LVIIl. She kiffed his hand fervently, and, without fpeaking a fingle word, fprung up, and might rather be faid to fly than run to the cottage, though the paths thereto were loft in fnow. Her father was fitting up in his bed, fupported by pillows, which the aged adherent had made fhift to place in the absence of his filial nurfe, who gently chid the old woman for taking her proper business 3 F Out K out of her hands; but that, if her father had found a moment's ease by this ufur pation of her natural rights, fhe would then forgive the ufurper. She then entered on her errand, which she managed fo well as to make the old friend's name, after much pleafant conjecture on both fides, the fubject of a wager; the father obferving, that if it fhould prove to belong to the Doctor, Providence had fent him to reward the virtue of his daughter, who, on her part, maintained, that it would be chiefly owing to the value which heaven itself would fet on her parent's life. This amicable ftrife had put the invalid into unwonted fpirits, and thereby, perhaps, not only prepared the way for the cure of a fever on the nerves, but laid the best foundation of it. The poor gentleman did not dare to lay any ftrefs on the poffibility of a vifit from the physician; and yet a faint blufh of hope denoted that he fhould think himself moft happy to lose his wager. At this aufpicious crifis it was, that our Doctor made his entré, saying, as he advanced to the bed-side-" My efteemed friend, I am come to return my perfonal thanks to thee, for having me in thy thoughts when thou wert too fick to remember any but those who are dear to thee, and of whom thou haft a good opinion. Give me thy hand; and, without entering into long hiftories, let us fee if, in return for thy kindnefs, I can make thee well again. Thofe eyes have, I fee, still the spirit of life in them; and this heart fhall yet bound with renovated enjoyments." The emotions of Amelia during these favourable prognoftications, no words can tell. The merchant was ftrongly affected. The Doctor perceived that his patient was recoverable both in the maladies of body and mind; and as he was no lefs a philofopher and philanthrophift than a phyfician, he could with equal skill prescribe for each. He was one of the people called Quakers; and to a perfect knowledge of the world, of his profeffion, and of the human heart, united all the honeft plainnefs of the character. The merchant's diforder was, as I have faid, a fever on the spirits, of which the fymptoms were, as ufual, want of appetite, laffitude, watchfulness, and dejection of mind, a pulfe flow and creeping, difficulty of refpiration, and a dread, yet hope of death. I need not tell you, that in this dif eafe the cathartics of the mind, fuch as exhilirate, enliven, and amuse the patient, are the most effectual remedies, and as fuch were administered with uncommon fuccefs on the prefent occafion. In lefs than a fortnight, the fick man not only was in a condition to leave his bed, but his chamber, and play his part in the cottage parlour, in a thousand little frolics that Amelia and the Doctor devifed to entertain him. In the course of the third week he refumed his accustomed exercises; and under the cordial fupports of his friend and his child, he could afcend the mountains that environed his habitation. In the middle of the fourth week, his fpirits and ftrength were fo well restored, that in returning home to dinner, after a walk of fome miles, he jocularly propofed to run against the Doctor and Amelia for a wager; which being agreed upon by the other parties, he fet off and out-ran them both. It was in the afternoon of this victorious day, that the good Doctor intimated the neceffity of his return to town; good humouredly obferving, that although, by a lucky arrangement, he had left his fick and wounded in very good hands with a brother physician in London, he could not trefpafs any longer without fear of being fet down by the college as a deferter; and he must therefore repair to head-quarters in the morning. |