many other things; and it is to be feared that the disease is not only epidemical, but almost incurable: for Madam Custom is so imperious and dogmatical, that she will not listen to harmony, to reason, or to common sense; and in her procession she has Miss Fashion to hold up her train. When riding in a coach, I often perceive the lips of some persons move very quickly, but scarcely to open, and a kind of indistinct sound issues, somewhat like the chirping of a bird; so that I know not whether to mourn or to laugh. We learn from Horace how the ancient Greeks pronounced"Graiis dedit ore rotundo Musa loqui:" -but our country folks would do well to imitate them in this respect, by opening the lips sufficiently, so as to give force and energy to the motions of the mind. The Anglo-Saxon seems to be capable of this, from its native simplicity and majestic vigour and most probably this pronunciation prevailed about a century ago, in the reign of queen Anne. But, where feebleness of expression and phraseology creeps in, there effeminacy of manners has already begun, or will inevitably soon follow. This has been the case with Greece and Rome. The bold, nervous, and elegant Latin, has dwindled and sunk into the soft Italian and the finical French, &c.: and, alas! by our intercourse with these and other nations, the noble Anglo-Saxon is degenerating apace. I seem to myself like one taking a solitary evening walk beside an ancient mansion, which I view with some attention. I remark many trifling or whimsical alterations or additions, which the bad taste of late possessors has introduced. I perceive likewise that some of the principal foundationstones have been removed, so as to endanger the fabric, and portend its ruin. I pause; and inquire, Can any skilful architects or judicious workmen be found, to set about a reparation, or at least prevent further dilapidations in the building? If it be prudent in a man to preserve his estate undiminished, for the good of his family; so is it laudable that he should pay attention to his rising offspring, to have them instructed in such a way as to qualify them for some respectable station in life. If we may hope for any general good to be produced, in what is here hinted, it must be attended to in the | 66 early stages of youth. Therefore, let all teachers exert themselves to preserve, as far as they can, the energetic and emphatic expression of their native tongue. But how shall they teach, unless they are instructed themselves? They shut their ears against information, and consider it as a kind of insult, if any one attempt to correct them. Some, when their fault is pointed out, excuse themselves by saying,'Why, it is very common. "If it be common, then it is so much the worse. If we should not follow a multitude to do evil, neither should we follow the common practice in speaking wrong. From this consideration, we must not be very sanguine in our hopes. But, perhaps, some who would not bear personal reproof, may, by looking over this paper, be put upon self-examination in private, and then be induced to amend. There are many other faults, in orthography and phraseology, which have tended to debase our language, or lessen its sterling value. Diphthongs have been lately omitted in most publications, and single vowels substituted in their stead. This has arisen partly from the hurry of the writer, and partly from the ignorance or laziness of the compositor. A gentleman, when he scrawls a card, or a kind of letter, is precipitate, and leaves out a vowel, and sometimes a consonant; and others follow him, supposing that, from his superior education, he must be correct. The compositor likewise is too indolent to look out for a diphthong, when a single vowel is at hand. But diphthongs are essentially necessary, both on account of the quantity of the syllable, and also to preserve the etymology as much as possible, at least to the eye; and especially in words derived from Greek and Latin. Indeed, some of the consonants might be removed, as being redundant; yet even this should be done with a sparing hand; because they are like the principal timbers in a building, which help to uphold it. It seems that the letter e might be eradicated from many words in our language, if not from all; as the sounds which are usually attached to it may be very easily and properly expressed by the letters k and s. It was an unfortunate circumstance, when the Normans introduced their barbarous dialect of the French here; and, among other Greek words. It has been the custom with some persons of late, to give verbs neuter an active signification; or they seem not to know the difference between a verb active and a verb neuter. For in stance: they substitute the verb lay, which is active, instead of the verb lie, which is neuter: thus they speak nonsense frequently in the common use of this verb; and they seem not willing to be informed; or their organs have got such an habitual bias, that they find it difficult to alter. In speaking of a woman in child-birth, they say, "She lays in, or she has laid in." By asking the question, what? it will point out the absurdity or impropriety of the phrase. What does she lay in? or what has she laid in? Has she laid in groceries, or stores? The verb lie signifies a state of being, or the posture of the body; and it makes lain in the perfect tense: therefore they should say, "She lies in;" or, "She has lain in." In a certain law report it was said, "The cause is to lay over until the next term." You may inform the lawyer, if he chance to cast his eye on your Miscellany, that he has in this instance written stark nonsense. Many other instances of improper phraseology, as well as pronunciation, might be pointed out; but some apology is needful even for what is here written and these few hints are submitted, through the medium of your publication, to the consideration of the candid and intelligent reader; and to excite the inhabitants of Britain to pay a little more attention to their native tongue. Though much has been irretrievably lost, with respect to pronunciation in colloquial intercourse; yet perhaps something may be done to prevent a further debasement, if some persons of ability would lend their aid; or if the masters of academies, and of all schools, would lay the matter seriously to heart, with a true patriotic zeal. CURIOUS ADVERTISEMENT, FROM THE KENTUCKY REPORTER. One TAKE notice, and beware of the swîndler, Jesse Dogherty, who married me in November last; and some time after marriage he informed me, that he had another wife alive; and, before I recovered the shock, the villain left me, and took one of my best horses. of my neighbours, however, was so good as to follow him, take away the horse, and bring it back. The said Dogherty is about 40 years of age; five feet ten inches high; round shouldered; dark, and grey eyes. has thick lips, complexion and hair He is remarkably ugly and ill-natured; is very fond of ardent spirits; and, by profession, a notorious liar. This is, therefore, to warn all widows to beware of the swindler, as all he wants is their property. The said Dogherty has a number of wives living, (perhaps eight or known; and he will, no doubt, if he ten,) but the number is not positively can get them, have eight or ten more. I believe that is the way he makes his living. MARY DODD, Livington County. Kentucky, Sept. 5th, 1817. HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY, (Continued from col. 134.) The Astronomy of the Egyptians.—It is difficult to determine with any degree of probability, whether Astronomy was first cultivated in Egypt or Chaldea. It has been already remarked, "That it was disputed between the Egyptians and the Chaldeans, which of them first cultivated this science." Each nation asserted its priority; and attempted to support its claims by arguments which were supposed to furnish incontestable evidence. It is very probable that both nations commenced the study of this exalted science nearly at the same time. History warrants us in asserting, that the Egyptians have been as early in the study of AsTheir tronomy as the Chaldeans. country presenting them with every advantage for astronomical observations, from its level situation, and from its serene and generally cloudless sky. And it is, says Dr. Long, a fact which no person can doubt, that they can shew even to this day, in their pyramids, the most ancient monuments in the world of their skill in practical Р 66 Astronomy; for these are all situated so that their several fronts face very exactly the four cardinal points, E. S. N. W." To this inquisitive and intelligent people, these stupendous observatories would afford the greatest facilities for ascertaining the various phenomena of the heavens,—the periodical revolutions of the Planets,-the eclipses of the Sun and Moon,-and the relative situations of the fixed Stars. And, according to Macrobius, the Egyptians were acquainted with the revolution of Mercury and Venus round the Sun, and the order which the planets held in the system. It is therefore probable, that Diodorus Siculus is correct in asserting, that they were acquainted with the stations and retrogradations of the planets. Diogenes Laertius informs us, that the Egyptians maintain, that 48,863 years elapsed between the time of Vulcan and Alexander the Great, and that during this period they had observed 373 eclipses of the Sun, and 832 of the Moon. These numbers represent pretty nearly the proportion between the eclipses of the two luminaries; but Montucla and Bossut, object to the credibility of this account, because the number of eclipses here mentioned, might have occurred in the shorter interval of twelve or thirteen centuries. It is probable, that these 48,863 years, were only so many revolutions of the Moon, or lunar years. If this be admitted, there is little inconsistency in the account; but if it be not admitted, the statement is evidently a vain fiction, only intended to raise the antiquity of the nation. Simplicius, who lived in the reign of the Emperor Justinian, says, it was reported to him, that the Egyptians had made observations on the stars for 2000 years past; which, if he reckoned from his own time, will carry us back to 1500 years before the birth of Christ. What these observations were, he does not mention; but it seems highly probable that they were too vague and uncertain to be useful, since Hipparchus has made no use of them in determining the mean motions of the Sun and Moon. Conon, the friend of Archimedes, collected many eclipses of the Sun, which had been observed by the Egyptians; and it is highly probable that they employed formulæ resembling those of the Indians and Sia mese, for computing their celestial phenomena. Thales appears to have received from the Egyptians his method of predicting an eclipse of the Sun; and Diogenes Laertius asserts as their opinion, that the earth had a spherical form, and that the Moon was eclipsed by plunging into its shadow. These facts, few and imperfect as they appear, are sufficient to impress us with a high sense of the astronomical knowledge of the Egyptians; but whatever opinion we may entertain of the extent of their attainments, and the antiquity of their observations, we must consider that enlightened country as the place from which science was diffused over Europe, and as the source from which Greece derived the most precious of her intellectual treasures. But how famous soever the old Egyptians had been for their skill in Astronomy, nothing remained of it in the time of Augustus; for when Strabo was there, they shewed him indeed the large buildings where formerly the priests lived, and studied Astronomy and philosophy; but he saw no person who presided over those sciences then; the persons present were those who attended the sacrifices, and explained to strangers their religious rites and ceremonies. They told him that Plato and Eudoxus had been thirteen years in Egypt, and they shewed him the apartments where they had studied with the priests. It is to be lamented, that the Egyptians were as foolishly attached to judicial astrology as the Chaldeans; but it may be remarked, that mankind have every where, and at all times, manifested so great a desire of looking into futurity, as easily to become the dupes of such as pretended to foretell things to come. Astronomy of the Persians and Phœnicians.-The Persians and Phoenicians, who, from their geographical situation, must have had frequent intercourse with Egypt and Chaldea, seem to have drawn from these kingdoms a considerable portion of astronomical knowledge. The year of the Persians consisted of 365 days; and, as they were acquainted with the real period of the Sun, they added an intercalary month at the end of every 120 years. This additional month fell at the close of the twelfth month after the lapse of 1440 years, which the Persians called their period of inter calation, and which appears to have been established about 820 years before Christ. he says, "By the mere dint of that shrewdness and sagacity with which nature has endowed him, he will perWe learn from the Persian books, ceive a meaning here, which, you that there were formerly four bright will readily acknowledge, could not Stars, which pointed out the cardinal be perceived by a man in a state of points of the heavens; and it is a very idiotism. In the case of the idiot, remarkable coincidence, in which there is a complete barrier against his chance could have no share, that 3000 ever acquiring that conception of the years before the Christian æra, Alde- meaning of this passage, which is baran and Antares were situated ex- quite competent to a man of strong actly in the equinoctial points, while and accomplished understanding. For Regulus and the Southern Fish were the sake of illustration, we may conplaced in the two solstices. The ceive this poor outcast from the comZodiac of the Persians, like that of the mon light of humanity, in some unacIndians, had two divisions; and they countable fit of attention, listening to very strangely maintained, that the the sound of these words, and making Stars were nearer to the earth than the some strenuous but abortive attempts Moon: an opinion which must have to arrive at the same comprehension preceded the observation of their of them with a man whose reason is eclipses by that luminary. While entire. But he cannot shake off the other nations were applying Astronomy fetters which the hand of nature has merely to the purposes of agriculture laid upon his understanding; and he and chronology, the Phoenicians were goes back again to the dimness and employing the Stars to guide their delirium of his unhappy situation; course through the trackless ocean, in and, his mind locks itself up in the those grand maritime enterprises which prison-hold of its confined and darkhave associated their name with the ened faculties; and if, in his mysteearliest history of commercial disco- rious state of existence, he formed any very. Thus did a slender acquaint- conception whatever of the words ance with the position of the Lesser now uttered in your hearing, we may Bear, enable the Phoenicians to con- rest assured that it stands distinguishduct their colonies to the remotest re-ed, by a wide and impassable chasm, gions of Europe, and transplant into the most savage climes the arts and sciences of the East. from the conception of him who has all the common powers and perceptions of the species." The annexed picture of the deathhouse of an expiring mortal, has all this popular writer's depth of feeling. "We may as well think of seeking a refuge in the applause of men, from the condemnation of God, as we may think of seeking a refuge in the power or the skill of men, from the mandate of God, that our breath shall depart from us. And, have you never thought, when called to the chamber of the dying man, when you saw the warning of death upon his countenance, and how its symptoms gathered and SIR, Liverpool, April 22, 1819. ALLOW me to hand you an extract or two, from the last published sermons of Dr. Chalmers. For simplicity, pathos, and truth of description, they are masterly specimens:-and permit me, as a friend to your infant publication, to suggest, that it will be highly satisfactory to numbers of your read-grew, and got the ascendency over all ers, to find its pages enriched with occasional selections from new publications of merit, which few have the means of perusing entire. Your's, respectfully, AMICUS. The following striking passage occurs in the sermon on "The necessity of the Spirit, to give effect to the preaching of the Gospel." Speaking of the "natural man" understanding the literal import of the Scriptures, the ministrations of human care and of human tenderness; when it every day became more visible, that the patient was drawing to his close, and that nothing in the whole compass of art, or any of its resources, could stay the advances of the sure and last malady; have you never thought, on seeing the bed of the sufferer surrounded by other comforters than those of the patriarch Job; when, from morning to night, and from night to morning, the watchful family sat at his couch, and guarded his broken slumbers, and interpreted all his signals, and tried to hide from his observation the tears which attested him to be the kindest of parents; when the sad anticipation spread its gloomy stillness over the household, and even sent forth an air of seriousness and concern upon the men of other families; when you have witnessed the despair of friends, who could only turn to cry at the spectacle of his last agonies; and had seen how little it was that weeping children and inquiring neighbours could do for him; when you have contrasted the unrelenting necessity of the grave, with the feebleness of every surrounding endeavour to ward it off; - has the thought never entered within you, How powerless is the desire of man! how sure and how resistless is the decree of God!" CHARACTER OF DR. CHALMERS. WHOEVER is acquainted with the name of this celebrated divine, will readily allow, that he possesses a mind of no common magnitude: but whether the following delineation of his character is under any obligation to friendship, we presume not to determine. It is certainly the production of no ordinary genius; but as we are not aware that its author has been publicly avowed, we feel some hesitation in giving his name to the world. Copy of a Letter from Dr.his friend in Glasgow. DEAR SIR, to Sept. 27, 1814. Your letter of the 20th, requesting my opinion with respect to the character, ability, and fitness of Mr. Chalmers, to supply the vacant church of Glasgow, (owing to my having wandered from place to place for this fortnight past,) I received only yesterday, which will explain the cause of my not receiving it. Of the character of Mr. Chalmers, there is and can be but one opinion entertained by all who know him. He possesses a most vigorous understanding, a sound judgment, richly furnished and governed by divine truth; his sentiments are those which are usually called orthodox; his piety is unfeigned and deep-he has all the zeal of a new convert, directed and restrained by. wisdom and prudence. His integrity is most inflexible, which has formed a delicate sense of honour, awake to every word and action in matters small as well as great; he is kind, benevolent, generous, candid, and fair as the summer day, and has a hand ever open to every good work; he is active, industrious, and a great economist of time; he is clothed with that Christian humility, that makes him simple, modest, unobtrusive in word and deed; but an hour's private conversation with him, is a feast of piety and genius, not to be bought, and very rarely to be attained, in the commerce of life and friendship by any means. Of the ability of Mr. Chalmers, there is little reason to say any more than to appeal to his works; which bring forward a man of no ordinary station in literature and science, politics and divinity; which shew a giant mind, able to grasp what is out of ordinary reach. In the pulpit his language is provincial, and his manners unpolished: but there is a novelty and loftiness of thought, a sublimity of sentiment, a brilliance of imagination, a strength of point and expression, a power of eloquence, that not merely arrests, but lifts up and bears away the attention whereever he will. Of the fitness of Mr. Chalmers for supplying the vacant church of Glasgow, it is unnecessary to say a word: if the Congregation would wish for a man whose talent would do them and all Glasgow honour, I know of no man so capable of gratifying their wishes as Mr. Chalmers. I am aware, Sir, you may think what I have written proceeds from the extravagance of friendship and partiality. That I am the friend of Mr. Chalmers, is to me a matter of exultation; that I should be partial to such a man, is my undoubted duty; but that I have said one word more than I believe to be true, or that I have in the least exaggerated in any thing I have written, I am not conscious of-and can with confidence refer you to any man of truth and fairness that may know him. I have written what I have written, from no very strong desire that he should go to Glasgow, but because I think truth required, when I was requested to write, that I should say what I have said.-The evidently merited and deservedly growing fame of |