Page images
PDF
EPUB

to bar all access. As we gained the times as an intruder. Immediately centre, the sight was refreshed by a beneath these, on thrones less gorcharming verdure, by meads decked geously splendid, sat STEELE and with flowers and enlivened with HAWKSWORTH, with their eyes turned streams, by groves that seemed to from time to time upon ADDISON and offer a delicious shelter, and within JOHNSON. In the countenance of whose embowering roof birds of STEELE mirth was the prevailing feachoicest song were heard. I now ture, while HAWKSWORTH'S had an began to have a clearer view of the interesting and attractive sobriety in magnificent temple that crowned the it: they both smiled upon me as I adtop of this ascent, and I observed also vanced, and seemed rejoiced at my that every step we advanced, after appearance. Under them again, with having passed the middle, was encum- diminished splendour, I recognized bered with numerous and increased LLOYD, COLMAN, MOORE, and CHESdifficulties; the hill itself became al- TERFIELD, in whom so great a simimost perpendicular, and the surface larity prevailed that I was unable to was so slippery that all possibility of perceive any striking distinction. reaching its summit, unless supported Having gazed for some time upon by my celestial guides, seemed utterly this spectacle, and felt a sort of sacred excluded. I however gained the very top, and stood wrapped in silent admiration as I gazed upon the superb structure that was now before me.

awe creeping upon me, I turned round to TRUTH, who stood at my right hand, with the hope that she would explain to me this strange adventure. Her look declared that she met my thoughts, and, after a short pause, she addressed me :

But I was not permitted long to gaze. My celestial guides led me into the interior, where new wonders struck upon my sight. All was splen- "Presumptuous youth! whose daring dour and grandeur; vaulted roofs ternerity has led thee to the confines fretted with gold; rich hangings in- of this sacred temple, which is dewrought with diamonds and other voted to us who have conducted thee precious stones; marble pillars of ex- hither, thy hopes and thy designs are quisite polish that supported the roof; known to me. I dare not unveil the and on each side long arcades that volume of futurity to read thy destiny; led to delightful groves and shady whether thou wilt succeed, or whether walks. I was conducted through thou wilt add one more to the many many rooms of this description, till who have in vain sought to gain this at length we arrived at one more lofty temple. Yet thy boldness is itself a and spacious than the rest; it was virtue, and I have therefore designed more superbly decorated, and at the to shew thee the reward of success. further extremity I beheld a pyrami- Behold that vacant throne rising a dal ascent of thrones of dazzling small degree above the immortal two brightness, each overhung by a rich who sit at top: this yet remains uncanopy bedropped with pearls. My filled. I read in thy counter.ance guides marked the astonishment that consternation and dismay at the this wrought in me, but they did not thought of transcending those exaltspeak, and as I approached nearer I ed names: but an humbler reward perceived that each throne was filled awaits humbler merit. He who is with a figure that I immediately re- denied the highest pinnacle of fame, cognized. On the topmost seat, which may yet find a middle station that was composed of two thrones, sat Ar- shall well reward his labours. BeDISON and JOHNSON; the former in hold then on thy right and on thy ab easy and graceful attitude, the lat- left other vacant thrones that will ter with composed and austere dig- one day perhaps be filled; let a genenity. ADDISON seemed to regard me rous emulation fire your bosom; with a smile of encouragement; his strive to become one of this august look was playful and benevolent; and few. I perceive by your looks that his eyes had a mixture of severity and a faint hope beams upon you; engaiety in them that was uncommonly courage it; the first step to excellence fascinating; while the brow of JOHN- is to believe that you are capable 10x seemed to scowl upon me some of it."

me:

As she pronounced these words low and homely scenes which consti she conducted me up the marble tute the characteristics of this species steps that led to the top, and at her of poetry? They wrote, as it were, in command I knelt before ADDISON, a foreign language, and they imagined JOHNSON, and HAWKSWORTH, who that words would convey the feelings all placed their hands upon my head. of the heart, the inwrought habitudes Wir then advanced, and under her of nature. They attempted to deguidance I bent before COLMAN, Scribe what was to them strange, and LLOYD,and CHESTERFIELD, who re- partly unknown, perhaps, except peated the same action; finally, Hu- from books; it did not circulate with MOUR seizing me by the hand with a the flow of their sensations, and congay good-natured smile, led me again sequently it has a frigid and often a to ADDISON, who once more placed his ludicrous appearance. It is the same hand upon my head. After this cere- as if an Englishman were to attempt mony f was re-conducted down the to write Chinese pastorals, by groupsteps, and TRUTH again addressed ing together all that he has heard respecting their rural affairs and man"Thus gifted go forth: remember ners: the materials, indeed, might be this thy solemn initiation; and re- there, but they would be wrought up ceive from me this celestial mirror, without judgment, skill, or feeling. by which thou wilt be enabled to A rustic, though endowed with gepierce through the envelopements of nius, would find it hard to hit off passion, prejudice, and error, and with accuracy the manners of high read the heart of man, such as it is." life; he might string together a cerI stretched forth my hand to receive it, when methought a false step threw me headlong on the ground; in an instant the temple, thrones, and all, vanished from my sight: and I found that I had taken a comfortable nap in my arm chair, and that when I thought I was seizing the mirror, my head had only slipped from its corner, and had nearly precipitated me on the floor.

tain number of set phrases, and bring forward the hackneyed topics of former writers, but the vivida vis animi, as well as the vivida vis veritatis, would certainly be wanting. It is thus mutually the same; and this very opinion is strengthened by the praise which Mr. Roscoe bestows upon the Ayrshire ploughman, whose excellence is to be accounted for, not so much from the superior applicabi lity of the Scottish dialect, (though I

Mr. Roscoe, and the PASTORAL POE- confess this was a stupendous advan

SIR,

TRY of ENGLAND.

tage that he possessed) as from the circumstances of the author's birth

MR. ROSCOE, in his, "Life of and situation, conjoined with his find Lorenzo de' Medici," has just- genius. In what he wrote, he painted ly observed, at page 394 of the first his own feelings, bis own experience, volume, that few attempts have been his own delights; he did not frigidly made in England to adopt the provin- delineate from casual inspection or cial idiom of the inhabitants to the from uncertain rumour, what awak

[ocr errors]

language of poetry. Neither the ened no corresponding sensations in "Shepherd's Tale" of Spenser (he his own breast. In this manner, I adds) nor the Pastorals" of Gay, think, it may be accounted for that possess that native simplicity and close we have no genuine English pastorals; adherence to the manners and lan- but should an English Burns ever guage of country life, which ought to arise in this country, it would then form the basis of this kind of compo- be shewn that language is only the sition. And Mr. Roscoe thinks that handmaid of genius; that it takes its the reason of this is the inaptitude of form and shape, its mouldings and our language for genuine pastoral its energies from the powerful and poetry. Perhaps, however, another plastic hand of pure inspiration. I and more probable cause may be as- allow, indeed, that the beautiful and signed. May it not be, that neither Doric simplicity of the Scottish dialect Spenser nor Gay were bred in the is eminently calculated for composicountry, nor passed their life in those tions of this nature; its elision of

dissolution, in early life, or during the vigour of manhood; although, in a majority of cases, its fatal conse quences may almost certainly be prevented by the application of an appropriate Truss or Compress.

consonants, its power of forming diminutives, and its richness of expres sions for particular objects, all conspire to confer this pre-eminence upon it. I know few things that would be more curious and interesting than an attempt to form the pro- Prolapses (a species of disorder vincial language of England into pas- vulgarly called a bearing down of torals, by a person of fine genius, of the body") are extremely similar to acute sensibility, and delicate taste. I remain, &c.

[blocks in formation]

CASSIUS.

ruptures, originating in a similar infirmity of the bodily frame, and requiring a like plan of treatment. They are not, indeed, equally common; but yet occur much more fre

A Concise Account of the NEW RUP- quently than an inattentive observer

TURE SOCIETY.

WITH a view to interest the public in the success of this Institution, it is thought necessary to submit to them the following concise statements, with respect to the nature of those calamities for the relief of which it is established. The facts here mentioned, it is presumed, will be amply sufficient to excite attention and induce inquiry.

might be apt to suppose, and are

especially incident to the weaker sex.
The idea of delicacy attached to this
complaint, has the effect of conceal-
ing from public view both the num-
ber and the sufferings of its victims;
circumstances which could not fail,
were they fully known, to produce a
powerful impression on every hu-
But,
mane and benevolent mind.
perhaps, the sufferings adverted to,
will not bear a minute description;
and, it may therefore suffice generally
to observe, that they can hardly be
conceived, except by those individuals
who have had some opportunity of
knowing them, either from personal
or from professional experience.

It has been estimated that at least one person in fifteen is ruptured: but among those classes of the community, which are much exposed to laborious employment, the average may be fixed at one in eight or nine. The proportion, however, of sufferers from this disease, is incomparably Among the afflicted poor, where greater in places of which the situa- no means of relief have been resorted tion is low and damp, and the atmos- to, during the existence of ruptures phere relaxing. The committee of and prolapses, the unhappy objects this institution have been credibly in- are commonly disabled from fulfilling formed, that, in some particular parishes, the proportion may be computed at even a fourth of the labour ing population!

This complaint is not confined to any particular age or sex,* nor is it the consequence of depraved habits or immoral behaviour: but it arises from a natural bodily defect, or from very unusual exertions at any period of life; and can be neither foreseen nor avoided, either by the wealthy or the poor. Its tendency is so alarming, that, without timely aid, it generally terminates by a painful and rapid

As many persons do not know that females are liable to this heavy afflic tion; the following statement, made by Mr. Blair, and founded on actual experience, will shew the proportion

of herniary complaints in each sex,
out of 3287 cases:

800 Double S In both thighs
Ruptures. In both groins
In one thigh
In one groin
In the navel

2487 Single
Ruptures.

Males. Fem.

3 & 44

667 & 86

59 & 175 1702 & 400

36 & 115 Total 2467 & 820

$287

Of the single ruptures, more than one third happened on the left side, and nearly two thirds on the right side. A very small proportion of triple ruptures, and other extraordinary cases, likewise occurred in the above number; but they were extremely rare, and mostly existed among the female sex.

the ordinary duties of their stations; namely, "that there already exists a insomuch, that in the army and navy society for these specific objects." it is an invariable rule to dismiss During the year 1790, a society from the service those men who be- was formed in this metropolis for the come ruptured by the violence of sole purpose of gratuitously affording their exertions. How lamentable a surgical assistance and trusses to rup fact is it, that many thousands of indi- tured persons, of either sex, in individuals, perhaps during the period of gent circumstances. The benefits of full health and activity, should drag that establishment were extended to on a most useless and miserable life, those ruptured soldiers and sailors for want of either the means or the (properly recommended by their knowledge requisite to obtain relief; commanding officers) who had been when that knowledge and those dismissed from his Majesty's service; means can so easily be provided, by on which account the War Office their affluent neighbours! contributed fifty pounds per annum, The extreme danger of these towards the support of that society. complaints, and the great inconve- Popular instructions were likewise niences entailed on those pitiable printed and circulated by the sub-cribeings who survive their misfortune, bers, for conveying to the afflicted have given birth to an innumerable poor such needful information conhost of truss-sellers, rupture-mongers, cerning the nature and consequences women-doctors, and ignorant impos- of ruptures as 'should lead them to tors; so that "no disease tas the late adopt means for their personal safety. celebrated Mr. Pott observes) has ever But, unfortunately, some circumfurnished such a constant succession stances occurred, which induced the of quacks as ruptures have." These principal patrons of that institution pretenders are to be found in almost (after calling a general meeting) to every city, town, and village through- discontinue their sanction, and at out this kingdom; for whoever can length to withdraw from it entirely.* forge an iron hoop, or fabricate an elastic compress, thinks himself qualified to undertake the cure of an intir

*

Copy of a Declaration recently published in the Newspapers, &c. UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF H. R. H.

mity, the treatment of which demands as much anatomical and surgical knowledge as that of any disorder inTHE DUKE OF YORK. cident to human nature. If a greater NEW RUPTURE SOCIETY. mischief can happen to the ruptured Various public advertisements havpoor than the malady with which they ing appeared from time to time with are visited, it is that of unhappily fal- several of our names, unauthorised by ling into the hands of unprincipled us, and contrary to our wishes, the self-taught rupture-doctors and truss- following notice is given, in order to makers, who have no ideas beyond prevent any further misapprehension those of money-getting and mecha- or deception:

nical action.

"We, the undersigned president, The great national importance of vice-presidents, treasurer, and life relieving the necessitous and afflicted governors of a society formerly insti class of people here alluded to, must tuted for the Relief of the Ruptured be sufficiently obvious to every re- Poor, think it incumbent on us to deflecting mind; and, when it is dis- clare, that, in consequence of our dis tinctly made known how small a approbation of the conduct of some of sum will be annually required for the officers and managers of that Instithe comfort and security of so many tution, we consider ourselves as hav-deplorable sufferers, no feeling spectator of such wretchedness can

withhold his contribution.

One objection, and only one, it is here proper to anticipate, lest some benevolent persons should suppose there is no absolute necessity for the establishment of this institution;

ing had no connection with the Society (to which Sir John Pinhorn is now said to be treasurer, and Mr.William Turnbull, surgeon) since the 15th day of December, 1800; nor have we ever sanctioned, or even been privy to, any of their subsequent proceedings; but have joined and sanctioned ano

These facts are now too publicly ample room to commiserate and imknown to require farther explanation. prove their condition, notwithstandIt cannot, therefore, be irrelevant to ing former efforts to relieve them.. the present appeal in behalf of the With such design, a new and efficient ruptured poor, to state that there is institution has been recently establish

ed for the relief of ruptured persons, ther Institution, under the title of of benefits to the army and navy, as which will afford a similar extension The New Rupture Society, established 1805, which we trust will be governed quate for that purpose. At the same soon as the funds shall prove adeby such just and honourable princi- time, it is resolved, that this new inples as will prevent those irregulari- stitution shall include within the ties which compelled us, the under- sphere of its bounty a description of signed, to withdraw from the former sufferers, (namely, persons afflicted Institution: and we rely on that public and liberal support to the New So ciety which, on investigation, it may be found to merit.

(Signed) President.

Melville.

Vice-Presidents.
M. Garthshore,
J. Heaviside,
J. J Angerstein,
W. Windham,
Robert Hankey,
W1 Farquhar.

Treasurer. J. W. Adam

[ocr errors]

Life Governors.
Henry Hoare,
W Alers,
W. Hall Timbrel,
Abr. Goldsmid,
Rob' Thornton,
Sam Thornton,
Henry Thornton,
James Farrer,
George Wolf,
Teignmouth,
W. Wilberforce,
Barhain,

S. Dunelm.

The New Rupture Society is under the immediate patronage H. R. H. the Duke of York; who has condescended to express his full conviction of its great public utility," in relieving the poor, of both sexes, afflicted with Herniary complaints and Prolapses. By adopting a system of economy in the formation and management of a permanent fund for these purposes, a number of Subscribers of one or two guineas each per annum, may be enabied to administer consolation to thousands of their fellow creatures, who would otherwise die miserably, or live unprofitable members of the commu

nity.

The benefits of this Charity are extended to all parts of the kingdom: and the patients in London are at tended by Mr, Blair, No. 69, Great Russel-street, Bloomsbury-square.

Subscriptions for the use of The New Rupture Society are received by the following Bankers: Messrs. Hoare, Fleet-street (Treasurers to the Institution); Hankey and Co. Fenchurch street; Fuller, Chatteris, and Co. UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. VIII.

with Prolapses,) who have hitherto been left unprotected and forsaken. With a reference to this twofold object of its formation, it is named The New Rupture Society for the Relief of both Sexes, afflicted with Herniary Complaints and Prolapses.

THE BEE.-No.' II.

Floriferis ut apes in saltibus omnia libant,
LUCRETIUS.

omnia nos.

DR. RICHARD CHANDLER.

Thor through Asia Minor are HE travels of this ingenious auwell known. He appears, however, to have been an abler antiquary than a descriptive writer. When sailing along the Atlantic, the magnificent picture of the setting sun he thus depicts:

"It changed rapidly into different figures until the resemblance was that of a capacious punch bowl inverted; the rim of the bottom extending upwards, and the body lengthening be low, it became a mushroom on a stalk; it was next metamorphosed into a flaming cauldron, of which the lid rising up swelled nearly into an orb and vanished.

LACEDEMONIAN BLACK BROTH.

was furnished with salt and vinegar,
For making this beverage the cook
and bid to procure what was wanting
from a victim.
conjectured, was blood.
This, it has been
cure will not lament that the entire
The Epi-
recipe has not reached us.

[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »