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both gain our highest esteem, as they fulfil a moral duty at the expense of their affection; both excite our compassion to the highest, as they suffer willingly and from a motive which

horror. It will always injure the perfection of his work, when the tragic poe. cannot bring about his end with out a villain, and when he is obliged to draw the greatness of the sufferings from the greatness of the villainy.- makes them estimable in the highest Shakspeare's lago and Lady Macbeth, degree. In this case our compassion Cleopatra in Roxalana, Francis Moor is so little disturbed by disagreeable in the Robbers, are proofs of that feelings, that it rather burus with a truth. A poet, who understands his greater force. It is merely the imtrue interest, will not cause the mis- possibility of combining the idea of fortune to spring from a degenerate misfortune with the highest claim to will, whose sole view is misfortune, happiness, which could dim our symand ouch, still less, from a deficiency pathetic pleasure by a cloud of sorrow. of the understanding, but from the R. H. real force of circumstances. If these do not spring from immoral sources, but from exterior things which have no will, nor are subject to any will, the compassion is more pure, and is not weakened at least by any representation of moral inconsistency; But

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On the IMPROPRIETY of not using the
Letter "K" to certain Words.
SIR,

number some remarks on the above subject by "Philo," I beg leave to submit to you and to your readers some additional remarks on the same subject.

then the beholder cannot be relievedAVING observed in your last from the disagreeable feeling of an inconsistency in nature, which, in this case, can alone save the moral consistency. Compassion rises to a still higher degree, when he who suffers, as well as he who caused the sufferings, are the objects of it. But this can only happen when the latter excites neither our hatred nor contempt, but is brought to be the author of the misfortune against his inclination: Thus it is a principal beauty in the German Iphigenia, that the Taurian king, the only one who opposes the wishes of Orestes and his sister, never loses our esteem, and in the

end claims our love.

This species of emotion is still surpassed by that, when the cause of the inisfortune is not only favourable to morality, but is only possible by morality, and in which the mutual sufferings arise from the idea of having been the cause of sufferings. Of this kind is the situation of Chimenes, and Roderic in the Cid of Peter Corneille, which, without dispute, in regard to the denouement, is the master piece of the tragic art. Love of honour and filial duty arm the hand of Roderic against the father of his beloved, and bravery gives him the victory. Love of honour and filial duty converts Chimenes, the daughter of the vanquished, into his most bitter accuser and prosecutor. Both act against the inclination of their hearts,

I admit with Philo the impropriety of not using a letter which cannot be discarded from our language without considerable inconvenience and irregularity: but I think it important to suggest a new improvement, which, if generally adopted, would set the controversy at rest for ever respecting the long disputed claims of c and k The absurdity, in my opinion, has always been that of shewing an undue partiality to the letter c; so that at one time our writers have inserted it before k unnecessarily, as in the old form of drincke, thincke, marckes, remarckes, &c. &c.; at other times, as at present, and for some time past, they seem to have thought the circular form of c more elegant than that of the angular letter k, and therefore to have adopted it with all the haste and levity of fashion and caprice, ta the exclusion of the much injured k Now, as I am an advocate for brevity and economy in speaking, writing, and printing, and see no reason for using two or more consonants whenone will answer the purpose, I would, with your leave, Mr. Editor, suggest the substi tution of k instead of c in such words as publik, traffik, and even Garrik, Merrik, Warwik, Limerik, Wood

ence or irregularity, I presume, could arise from this practice in writing the derivatives after the same manner- as traffiking, &c. and we should have not only ancient authority in our own language, for this distinction between the soft consonant c and the hard k, but also the present authority of the Swedish language, in which a greater progress appears to have been made in the refinement and regulation of orthography, than in any other language of modern Europe.

stok, Tavistok, &c. No inconveni- the middle of winter, when the days were short, and the nights cold, long, and wearisome. The pediar was a handsome well-dressed man, and very likely to be an agreeable companion for such a maid as Alice, on such a night as that; yet Alice declared, that from the very beginning she did not like him greatly, and though he introduced himself with a little ribaldry, and a great deal of flattery interlarded, yet when he came to ask a night's lodging, he met with a peremptory refusal; he jested on the I have suggested these remarks, subject, said he believed she was in Mr. Editor, chiefly, because there the right, for that it would be imare too many persons who think, with possible for bim to keep his own bed, your correspondent "Philo," that and such a sweet creature lying alone from Dr. Johnson's decisions there under the same roof-took her on seldom lies an appeal!—If so, adieu his knee, and ravished a kiss.-: to all improvement, and let us be- but all would not do. No, she come voluntary slaves to the authority would not consent to his staying of ONE GREAT NAME! there." "But are you really going to put me away to-night?" Yes. "Indeed, my dear girl, you must not be so unreasonable; I am come straight from Newcastle, where I have been purchasing a fresh stock of cannot travel far with theni, and as goods, which are so heavy that I the people around are all of the poorer sort, I will rather make you a present

Yours, &c.

PHILELEUTHEROS.

Chapter Coffee House,
Aug. 11, 1809.

THE LONG PACK. A Tale. By the
Ettrick Shepherd

IN the year 1723, Colonel Ridley

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Freturned fr072 Indio, with what of the greatest shawl in my pack be

in those days was counted an immense fortune, and retired to a country seat on the banks of North Tyne, in Northumberland. The house was rebuilt, and furnished with every thing elegant and costly; and amongst others, a service of plate supposed to be worth 10007. He went to London annually with his family, during a few of the winter months, and at these times there were but few left at his country house. At the time we treat of there were only three domestics remained there; a maid servant, whose name was Alice, kept the house, and two men, who threshed the corn and took care of some cattle, for the two ploughmen were boarded in houses of their own

fore 1 go further." At the mentioning of the shawl, the picture of deliberation was pourtrayed in lively colours in Alice's face for a little; but her prudence overcame. "No, she was but a servant, and had orders to harbour no person about the house but such as came on business, nor they either, unless well acquainted with them.” “What the worse can either your master, or you, or any other person, be, of suffering me to tarry until the morning?" "I intreat you do not insist, for here you cannot be." But, indeed. I am not able to carry my goods further tonight." "Then you must leave them, or get a horse to carry them away." "Of all the inflexible beings ever I One afternoon as Alice was sitting saw, thou art the first! But I cannot spinning some yarn for a pair of blame you, your resolution is just stockings, to herself, a pedlar entered and right. Well, well, since no betthe hall with a comical pack on his ter may be, I must leave them, and back. Alice had seen as long a pack, go search for lodgings myself someand as broad a pack; but a pack where else, for, fatigued as I am, it equally as long, broad, and thick, she is as much as my life is worth to declared she never saw. It was about endeavour carrying them further."

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Alice was rather taken at her word: ror that had overwhelmed the heart she wanted nothing to do with his of poor Alice. She puffed out the goods: the man was displeased at candle, lighted it again, and, not be her, and might accuse her of stealing ing able to find a candlestick, though some of them; but it was an alter- a dozen stood on the shelf in the native she had proposed, and against fore kitchen, she set it in a waterwhich she could start no plausible jug, and ran out to the barn for old objection, so she rather reluctantly Richard. "Oh, Richard! Oh, for consented. "But the pack will be mercy, Richard, make haste, and better out of your way," said he, come into the house. Come away, "and safer, if you will be so kind Richard." Why, what is the mat as lock it bye in some room or ter, Alice? What is wrong?" ““ Ob, closet." She then led him into a Richard! a pedlar came into the hall, low parlour, where he placed it care- intreating for lodging. Well, I would fully on two chairs, and went his not let him stay on any account, and way, wishing Alice a good night. behold he is gone off and left his When Alice and the pack were pack." "And what is the great matleft in the large house by themselves, ter in that," said Richard. "I will she could not, for her life, quit think wager a penny he will look after it ing of the pack one moment. What before it shall look after him.” “* But, was in it which made it so heavy Oh, Richard, I tremble to tell you! that its owner could not carry it? We are all gone, for it is a living She would go and see what was in it. pack." "A living pack," said It was a very curious pack. At least Richard, staring at Alice, and letting she would go and handle it, and see his chops fall down. Richard had what she thought was in it. She just lifted the flail over his head to went into the parlour-opened a wall- begin threshing a sheaf; but when press: she wanted nothing in the he heard of a living pack, he dropped press: she never so much as looked into it: her eyes were fixed on the pack. "It was a very queer pack--it was square the one way, but not square the other way-it was a monstrous queer pack." It was now wearing late. She returned from the room in a sort of trepidation-sat down to her wheel, but could not spin one thread. "It is a droll pack yon! What made the man so very earnest with me to tarry all night? Never was man so importunate. What in the world has he got in it? It's a confounded queer pack after all it's so long and so thick. It's a terrible queer pack."

one end of the hand-staff to the floor, and, leaning on the other, took such a look at Alice. He knew long be fore that Alice was beautiful he knew that ten years before, but he never took such a look at her in his life. "A living pack!" said Richard. “ Why the woman is mad without all doubts."

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"" Oh, Richard! come away. Heaven knows what is in it! but I saw it moving as plainly as I see you at present. Make haste and conie away, Richard." Richard did not stand to expostulate any longer, nor even to put on his coat, but fol lowed Alice into the house, assuring What surmises will fear not give her by the way, that it was nothing rise to in the mind of a woman! She but a whim, and of a piece with lighted a moulded candle, and went many of her phantages. But," again into the parlour, closed the added he, "of all the foolish ideas window shutters,, and barred them; that ever possessed my brain, this is but before she came out, she set her- the most unfeasible, and unnatural, self upright, held in her breath, and and impossible. How can a pack, took another steady and scrutinizing made of napkins, and muslins, and look of the pack. God of mercy! corduroy breeches, perhaps, ever be She saw it moving as visibly as ever come alive? It is even worse than she saw any thing in her life. Every to suppose a horse's hair will turn an hair on her head stood upright. Every ecl." So saying, he lifted the candie inch of flesh on her body crept like out of the jug, and, turning about, a nest of pigmires. She hasted into never stopped till he had his band the kitchen as fast as she could, for upon the pack. He felt the bales her knees bent under the load of ter-`that surrounded its edges to prevent

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fool," said Richard.

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the goods being rumpled and spoiled, with a spring, and with looks very by carrying the cords that bound it, different from those which regulated and the canvass in which it was his features as he went down. wrapped. The pack was well enough. sure as he had death to meet with he He found nought about it that other saw it stirring. Hold your prace, packs wanted. It was just like other you fool," said Richard. Edward packs made up of the same stuff. He swore again that he saw it stiring; saw nought that aile it. And a good but whether he really thenght so, or Large pack it was. It would cost the only said so, is hard to determine. bobest man 2001. if not more. It." Faith, Alice," said he agam, "if would cost him more; but he would you will let me, I'll shoot it.” “I make it all up again by cheating tell you to hold your peace, vou fools, like Alice, with his gewgaws.' No," said Alice testified some little disappoint- Edward, " in the multitude of counment at seeing Richard unconvinced, sellors there is safety; and I will even by ocular proof. She wished maintain this to be our safest plan. she had never seen either him or it Our master's house is confided to our bowsomever, for she was convinced care, and the wealth that it contains there was something mysterious about may tempt some people to use stratait; that they were stolen goods, or gems. Now, if we open up this something that way; and she was man's pack, he may pursue us for terrified to stay in the house with it. damages to any amount, but if I shoot But Richard assured her the pack was at it, what amends can he get of me? right enough. If there is any thing that should not During this conversation in comes be there, Lord how I will pepper it, Edward. He was a lad about 16 and if it is lawful goods, he can only years of age, son to a coal-driver on make me pay for the few that are the border was possessed of a good damaged, which I will get at valua-. deal of humour and ingenuity, but tion; so, if none of you will acquisomewhat roguish, forward, and com- esce, I will take all the blame myTuonly very ragged in his apparel. self, and ware a shot on it." Richard He was about this time wholly in- said, whatever was the consequence fent on shooting the crows and birds, he would be blameless. A half deliof various kinds, that alighted in rious smile rather distorted than beauwhole flocks where he foddered the timed Alice's pretty face; but Edcatule. He had bought a huge old m-ward took it for an assent to what he litary gun, which he denominated Co- had been advancing, so snatching up penhagen, and was continually thun- Copenhagen in one hand, and the candering away at them. He seldom killed die in the other, he hasted down the any, if ever, but he once or twice passage, and without hesitating a moknocked off a few feathers, and, af- ment, fired at the pack. Gracious ter much narrow inspection, disco- God! the blood gushed out upon the vered some drops of blood on the floor like a torrent, and a hideous snow. He was at this very moment oar, followed by the groans of death, come in a great haste for Copen- issued from the pack. Edward drophagen, having seen a glorious chance ped Copenhagen upon the ground, of sparrows, and a Robin-red breast, and ran into the kitchen like one among them, feeding on the site of a distracted. The kitchen was darkish, corn rick, but hearing them talk of for he had left the candle in the parsomething mysterious, and a living lour; so taking to the door without pack, he pricked up his ears, and being able to uiter a word, he ran to became all attention. Faith, Alice," the hills like a wild roe, looking over said he, if you will let me I'll each shoulder as fast as he could turn shoot it." "Hold your peace, fool," his head from the one to the other. said Richard. Edward took the can- Alice followed as fast as she could, dle from Richard, who still held it in but lost half the way of Edward. She his hand, and gliding down the pas- was all the way sighing and crying sage, edged up the parlour door, and most pitifully. Old Richard stood for watched the pack attentively for about a short space rather in a state of petwo minutes. He then came back trefaction, but at length, after soine UINVERSAL MAG. VOL. XII. N

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hasty ejaculations, he went into the man being, Edward was certainly parlour. The whole floor flowed with taken by surprize, and quite conblood. The pack had thrown itself founded; he indeed asserted, as long on the ground; but the groans and as he lived, that he saw something cries were ceased, and only a kind of stirring in the pack, but his eagerness guttural noise was heard from it. to shoot, and his terror on seeing Knowing, that then something must what he had done, which was no be done, he ran after his compa- more than what he might have ex nions, and called on them to come pected, had he been certain he saw back. Though Edward had escaped the pack moving, makes this assevea good way, and was still persevering ration rather doubtful. They made on, yet, as he never took long time all possible expedition in extricating to consider of the utility of any thing, him, intending to call medical assistbut acted from immediate impulse, ance, but it was too late, the vital he turned and came as fast back as he spark was gone for ever. Alas," had gone away. Alice also came said old Richard, heaving a deep sigh, homeward, but more slowly, and " poor man, 'tis all over with him! crying even more bitterly than be- I wish he had lived a little longer to fore. Edward overtook her, and was have repented of this, for he has holding on his course; but, as he surely died in a bad cause. Poor man! passed, she turned away her face, he was somebody's son, and, no doubt, and called him a murderer. At the dear to them, and nobody can tell sound of this epithet, Edward made how small a crime this hath, by a a dead pause, and looked at Alice regular gradation, become the fruits with a face much longer than it used of." Richard came twice across his to be. He drew in his breath twice, eyes with the sleeve of his shirt, for as if going to speak; but he only he still wanted the coat: a thought swallowed his spittle, and held his of a tender nature shot through his

peace.

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heart. "Alas," said he, if his

They were soon all three in the parents are alive, how will their parlour, and, in no little terror and hearts bear this, poor things!" said agitation of mind, loosed the pack, Richard, weeping outright. "Poor the principal commodity of which things! God pity them." was a stout young man, whom Edward had shot through the heart, and thus bereaved of existence in a few minutes. To paint the feelings, or even the appearance of young Edward, during this scene, is impossible: he acted little, spoke less, and appeared in a hopeless stupor: the most of his employment consisted in swallowing his spittle, and staring at his two companions.

The way that he was packed up was artful and curious. His knees were brought up parallel to his navel, and his feet and legs stuffed in a hat-box, another hat-box, a size larger, and wanting the bottom, made up the vacancy betwixt his face and knees, and there being only one fold of canvass around this, he breathed with the greatest freedom; but it had undoubtedly been the heaving of his It is most generally believed, that breast which had caused the movewhen Edward fired at the pack, he ment noticed by the servants. His had not the most distant idea of shoot- right arm was within the box, and to ing a man; but seeing Alice so jea- his hand was tied a cutlass, with Yous of it, he thought the Colonel which he could rip himself from his would approve of his intrepidity, and confinement at once. There were also protect him from being wronged by four loaded pistols secreted with him, the pedlar; and, besides, he had ne- and a silver wind-call. On coming ver got a chance of a shot at such a to the pistols and cutlass, Villain," large thing in his life, and was cu- said old Richard, "see what he has rious to see how many folds of the here. But I should not call him a pedlar's fine haberdashery ware Co- villain," said he again, softening his penhagen would drive the drops tone," for he is now gone to answer through, so that when the stream of at that bar where no false witness, blood burst from the pack, accom- nor loquacious orator, can bias the panied with the dying groans of a hu- justice of the sentence pronounced on

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