As a note to these good lines, Mr. Urban, let me quote a few words from Mr. Sheridan's Introductory Discourse to the Course of Lectures on Elocution.

"Nor had he (speaking of Mr. Locke) far to seek for the source of our impropriety in the use of words, when he should reflect, that the study of our own language has never been made part of the education of our youth." (page 7.) Again, page 8: "And this might easily be effected, if only a fourth part of that time were dedicated to the study of our own tongue, which is now wasted in acquiring a smat tering in two dead languages, without proving of use or ornament to one in a hundred so instructed." In his 2d Dissertation on the State of Language, &c. (p. 168.) he says, "the Greeks studied no language but their own; in consequence of which they became perfect masters of its grammar, its prosody, and the meaning of its words; in short in every part of their language, relative either to sound or sense. We employ the best part of our time in the study of other languages, to the utter neglect of our own in consequence of which we scarcely know any thing of the grammar or prosody of our own tongue; and the meaning of our words is very vague and indeterminate."

Thanks, Mr. Urban, to Lindley Murray, we are not quite so badly off now.-Is there a Professor of the English tongue at the Universities ? JOHN ADAMS.

FROM BION.

A STRIPLING Archer oft would rove,

To shoot the birds which haunt the

grove,

Around he cast an eager eye,
And in a box-tree chanc'd to spy
Cupid, who skipp'd from spray to spray,
Like a brisk bird of plumage gay;
Elate with joy the bow he drew,
In vain the feather'd arrows flew;
Now here, now there, the Urchin bounds,
And shuns the meditated wounds:
Vexation made the Youth complain
That all his arrows flew in vain ;
He threw aside his bow, and ran
To an old friend, a labouring man,
Who first had taught him how to spring
The well-aim'd arrow from the string,
And shew'd him Cupid in the tree;
The old man smil'd-Be wise, said he,
Imprudent youth, nor longer try
To catch that bird, but from him fly,
He is a pest: but I have fears
That in a few revolving years,
This bird for thee his spares will spread,
And perch spontaneous on thy head.

NATIONAL DISCORD.

L.

IF the Thracian Lyrist was gifted with skill To humble the Tiger to crouch at his will,

Or the art of Timotheus had power t

move

A Tyrant from rage into pity and love; How blest, if some Bard should, with fervour, essay

The Demon of wild devastation to lay; Inventing aggression, by calmness enrag'd, In scenes of Smolensk and of Moskwa engag'd.

head;

But the Genius of bright intuition is filed; And harmony past from the heart to the brave 1 No rapt inspiration now succours the No sounds of the lyre are effectual to save! The reign is establish'd of Discord; delight Exults in narration of siege and of fight; Where losses confuse in the flames spreading-far, [war.

And distresses in pageants and tumults of From int'rests concordant, once friendship prevail'd, [assail'd; When a nation has been quite unequal Three powers carry ruin through Russia's vast state,

[hate. Which mourns the memento of sovereign He points all the mischief with cannon and steel,

[feel Whom Nature had never predestin'd to Harmonic affection; but steep'd him in

strife,

And gave him the trumpet, the drum, and the fife. W. A.

Lines written on perusing Lord BYRON'S Poem, entitled "Childe Harold." TITLES exalt, but cannot give renown, From rank alone no man can truly

shine;

The ray of genius springs from mind alone, And only that defies the hand of Time. Was each man equal in this state of things, And ev'ry mortal emulous of Fame; Byron's bold thoughts, borne on Apollo's

wings,

Would from their beauties gild their mas ter's name.

Accept then, Byron, from an humble pen, Another laurel round thy form to wave; Titles and wealth may be forgot by men, The works of genius live beyond the grave. J. C. Blaby, Jan. 12.

The Traveller and the Statue of Opportunity:
A Dialogue.

From the Greek of POSIDIPpus.
Traveller.

SAY, image, by what sculptor's hand,
In breathing marble here you stand?
Opportunity.

By his whose art, to thousands known,
Bids Jove and Pallas live in stone;
But seldom seen by human eyes,

I claim the kindred of the skies:

By few I'm found, tho' great my fame,
And Opportunity's my name.

Traveller.

Your locks unbound conceal your eyes?
Opportunity.

Because I chiefly court disguise.
Traveller.

Why coupled with that solemn fair,
Of downcast mien and mournful air?
Opportunity,

Repentance she! (the stone replies)
My substiture behind me flies;
Observe, and her you 'll ever see
Pursue the wretch depriv'd of me.
By her corrected, mortals mourn
For what they've done and what forborne.
Ask me no more, for, while you stay,
I vanish unperceiv'd away.

The TEARS of the BOOKSELLERS.
WHEN GOSSET fell,

Leigh rang his knell,
And Sotheby 'gan to vapour;
For I've been told,
That Folios sold
Indignant for waste-paper.
The Trade all swear,
They're in despair,
At so severe a crisis;
For all agree,
'Twas only He
Supplied the town with prices.
Shop, stall, and shed,
Lament him dead,
And blubber o'er, his carcase,
Ah me, the day!
Cries sad Lochée,
Ah me! replies the Marquis.
Words are but faint,
The woes to paint,
Of Maltby and of Relham,
Payne sobs and cries,
And Cuthell's eyes

Are big as tears can swell 'em.

Not classic Lunn,
Nor Jeffery's fun,
Nor Evans' first appearance,
No means were found
Could bring him round,
And give him a rehearance.
Then learn all ye,
Who visit Leigh,
To buy or to be bought in,
You'll soon or late,
Share GoSSET's fate,
And your own lọt be caught in,

HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 3.

A number of Petitions were presented both from the Laity and Clergy, against the claims of the Catholicks. The Bishop of Norwich deprecated the interference of the latter in this question, and their contributing to raise the detestable cry of No Popery." He deeply regretted that those illiberal and uncharitable sentiments, which Petitions of this nature upheld, and which had been banished from the rest of the world, should leave their last footsteps in the Sanctuaries of ourR eligion, and our Temples of Litera

ture.

The Duke of Norfolk and Lord Holland made a few remarks on the doctrines attributed to the Catholicks.

In the Commons, the same day, Mr. Whitbread presented a Petition from the British Prisoners of war in France, stating the distress to which they were reduced in consequence of their long captivity, the scanty allowance of the French Government (20 francs per month), and the exhaustion of their own resources.

Mr. Vansittart, in reply to Mr. Creevey, explained, that instead of their being any deficiency of the Income Tax, the probability was, that it would be found to have increased. The mistake arose from confounding the arrears with the produce of the quarter-from the latter nothing could be deduced; as for example in one year, when extraordinary diligence had been used to bring up the arrears, the produce amounted to 14 millions; yet in one of the quarters of that year there was a deficiency. In regard to the defalcation of the revenue to the amount of 2,400,0007. it arose from two causes. 1. That the East India Company was indebted to Government to the amount of 800,000l. for which sum it was not thought proper to call on them. 2. That from the badness of the harvest, the duties on malt had been unusually unproductive.

HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 9.

Lord Redesdale presented a Bill for the relief of certain Insolvent Debtors in England, which was read the first time.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 11. On the Petition against the Catholic Claims being presented from the County of Anglesea, Sir H. Parnell stated, that the signatures to this Petition had been ⚫btained under an erroneous impression. GENT. MAG. February, 1813,

The person who proposed the Petition at the meeting had enforced its necessity on the allegations contained in a book which he read to the meeting. This book pretended to be the third part of the Statements of the Penal Laws of the Catholics; but, so far from being published by the Catholic Board as alleged, it was written and industriously promulgated by their Enemies. It had been industriously cir culated throughout England, though in Ireland it was known to be a fabrication, and had influenced several persons to agree to Petitions against the Catholicks : being procured, however, under a delusion, they ought to have no weight.

Dr. Duigenan said, that the arguments against the Catholic Claims in the ensuing debate would be founded upon the first and second part of the Penal Claims; if the Third Part were a forgerỳ, it could not make a very deep impression.

Mr. Whitbread said, in reference to the Third Part of the Penal Statement, that the arguments of the opponents of the Catholicks were founded in falsehood, and their support was obtained by forgery.

Mr. Canning said, that this fabrication had, to his own knowledge, occasioned many friends to the Claims of the Catholicks to change their sentiments. The Petition was laid upon the table,

Lord Castlereagh, in moving the second reading of the Bill for appointing a Vice Chancellor, dwelt upon the necessity of such an appointment; and stated, that it had received the approbation of the Law Lords. The salary to be granted to the Vice Chancellor would be 4000/- one half of which it was proposed to take from the fund formed by the profits accruing to the Court of Chancery, and the other half from the interest upon unclaimed property in that Court, of which after paying the Masters in Chancery (each 2001. a year) and other officers, 90007. a year remained unappropriated.

Messrs. Stephen, Weatherall, Best, and the Solicitor General, spoke in support of the Bill; which was warmly opposed by Messrs. Bankes, Macdonald, Smith, Courtenay, Canning, Taylor, Ponsonby, and Sir S. Romilly. The principal arguments urged were that the arrear of business in the House of Lords had been accumulating 11 years, without any attempt having been made to discharge it- that the adoption of a process to compel the Members of that House to attend to hear Appeals, would be a more effectual mode of lightening

of it, to make known to your Majesty all that has happened since my last report. The following day after my arrival at Minsk, I reinforced my advanced guard. and ordered Gen. Lambert to go on the side of Borissow. On the 21st Nov. he attacked at the break of day the redoubts occupied by the rear-guard of Gen. Dombrowsky, who had arrived in great haste from Beresina to take possession of it. The resistance was very great; they fought a long time, and with fury. Your Majesty possesses in Count Lambert an active, courageous, and able general, capable of surmounting every difficulty, who having perceived the importance of this post, in which the Enemy had collected all their force to maintain themselves, decided ou taking it, and completely succeeded. The Enemy lost 2000 men in killed, and we have made as many prisoners. The remains of the corps of Dombrowsky have been pursued and dispersed. In the mean time, whilst my advanced guard was going from Minsk to Borissow, Gen. Ichaplitz was sent to Lembin to observe the passage of the Beresina, and Col. Loukowkin to take possession of every thing that the Enemy had been obliged to abandon. Some detachments of Dombrowsky had really crossed that river; Col. Loukowkin attacked them, and took from them a Colonel, many officers, 300 soldiers, and one colour. The passage of the river near Borissow had been judged so important, that the Enemy turned towards it all his attention. In consequence, Oudinot was detached to reinforce Dɔmbrowsky, but the tete-du-pont established on this side rendered fruitless all their endeavours. The Enemy, determined to force his passage, made demonstrations upen many points, and he succeeded at last in finding a very strong position, at 13 versts from Borisow, where he placed a battery of 30 pieces of cannon, and having on its flauks marshes and heights. He effected the passage of the river under the protection of his batteries, so as to render it impossible for us to prevent it, particularly as the river, at the place where he effected his passage, was very narrow, so that the infantry crossed it on horseback. On the 27th and 28th we heard a cannonade, first on the right, and then on the left. The Counts Wittgenstein and Platoff approached. Communications were established between us. On the 29th I attacked the Enemy in front, at the same time that Wittgenstein found himself already engaged with the troops which defended the passage of the river on the opposite side. Some prisoners informed us, that Napoleon was in person at this battle, with all his force, which amounted to about 70,000 men. The corps of Oudinot and Victor, that formed part of it,

The

were composed of soldiers who had not suffered much, as they were still provided both with artillery and cavalry. guard of Napoleon is likewise in tolerable condition. The Enemy was driven back to the distance of four or five versts, with the loss of one cannon, many officers, some hundreds of prisoners, and a considerable number of killed. Lieut.-gen. Sacken, whom I left in the environs of Brut, has perfectly executed my orders. The Prince of Schwartzenberg has twice approached Slonim; but Gen. Sacken having attacked Reguier two days successively, forced him to retreat and join Prince Schwartzenberg. Lieut.-gen. Regnier has lost one pair of colours, and 1000 prisoners. I have just learnt, that the Enemy is retreating from before me, having lost one more cannon and some baggage. I am going to pursue them.

Admiralty-office, Jan. 2. A letter from Capt. Downie, of the Royalist sloop, states the capture of the French lugger privateer Le Ruse, of 16 guns and 65 men.

[This Gazette contains an Order in Council, revoking the Order 19th Aug. 1807, respecting vessels under the flags of Mecklenburg, Oldenburg, Papenburg, and Kniphausen; and the Order in Council of the 25th of Nov. 1807, respecting the ships and goods belonging to Prussia and Lubec.

Admiralty office, Jan. 5. Sir F. Laforey has transmitted a letter from Capt. Westropp, of the Peruvian sloop, stating his having captured the Yankee American schooner privateer, of 7 guns and 44 men.

Admiralty office, Jan. 12. A letter from Capt. Lamby, of the Narcissus, states that the boats of that ship, under the direction of Lieut. Cririe, had captured the American privateer Joseph and Mary, of four guns and 73 men: in the approach \ of the boats under the fire of the privateer they had one man killed and one wounded; the Enemy had three wounded, and surrendered at the moment the boats were preparing to board.

A letter from Capt. Hillyar, of the Phoebe, gives an account of the capture of the Americau brig privateer Hunter, of 14 guns (12 of which were thrown overboard), and 72 men.

LONDON GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY.

Foreign-office, Jan. 17. Dispatches of which the following are copies, and an extract, have been received by Viscount Castlereagh, from Lord Cathcart, K. T.

MY LORD, St. Petersburgh, Dec. 12. I now avail myself of a Swedish courier to forward translations of two bulletins, viz. one from Major-gen, Kutusoff, aidde