GREEK RELIGION. ST. PAUL visited Athens, and the other states of Greece, to preach Christianity, and notwithstanding all the anathemas the Pope has denounced against the Greeks, there is, in fact, but little difference between their religion, and that of the Roman Catholics. They equally make use of the sign of the cross; worship images; pray to the saints; have confessors; and belieye in transubstantiation, although they do not kneel at the elevation of the host. If they deny the doctrine of purgatory, they admit something very like it, in praying for the souls of the dead. Their bishops and superior clergy are never permitted to marry, but a simple priest is allowed that indulgence once in his life, though he can never take a second wife. They acknowledge the Pope to be the chief of the Patriarchs, but deny his having the power of granting indulgences; and this was his holiness's first reason for accusing them of schism. It is true, there is another grand point in which they dissent, both from the Roman Catholics and the Protestants; in the article of the Holy Ghost, which they say can proceed from the Father only. There are some less essential differences, such as their using leavened bread in the consecration of the sacrament, and mixing the bread and wine together. And they also differ in the ceremonies of baptism, marriage, and burial. In the first, they give three complete immersions. The second is performed by the priest's changing the ring from the bride's to the bridegroom's finger, saying a few words, and then from the bridegroom's to the bride's. He repeats this ceremony about thirty times, without any alteration, and when he desists, it is again as often performed by each of the godfathers and godmothers. Their funerals are like those of the savages-howling and making hideous cries till the corpse is interred, and then feasting over the grave. The Patriarch of Constantinople is the head of the Greek Church, and has under him the Patriarchs of Jerusalem, Damascus, and Alexandria. St. Polycart is their favourite saint. He was one of St. John's disciples, and suffered martyrdom at Smyrna, of which he was the first archbishop. SIR, CHALMERS AND JUNIUS. Πασίν τοι κίνδυνοσ ἐφ' ἑργμασιν· ουδέ τισ οιδε Θεογνιδοσ γνώμαι. Inter poetas minores. GEORGE CHALMERS, Esq. in the preface to his "Political Annals of the Colonies," informs his readers, that his "understanding, like that of other men, is not only fallible, but liable to mistake.” This, Sir, I do verily believe; and I do further believe, that the said George Chalmers never was more egregiously mistaken, than in thinking himself qualified to criticise upon such a work as nius's Letters." With regard to the political sentiments of Junius, I have nothing to say, but his style is far above the attacks of Mr. Chalmers, as the passage above quoted, from that gentleman's preface to his Annals, would of itself be sufficient to shew. Ju Your correspondent, « Vindex,” blames Mr. Chalmers for censuring Junius's use of an indicative mood following "if," under circumstances, which, as "Vindex" thinks, justify Junius. But what can Mr. Chalmers say to his own use of " if," with an indicative mood, in the following passage." If part of the capital, which had been usefully employed in husbandry, is withdrawn, in order to cultivate the cane and the coffee of the West-Indies, our domestic agriculture must necessarily suffer in the exact proportion to the sum taken away: if the business of ship-building is no longer carried on near the banks of our rivers, but on those of our colonies, that important manufacture can be no longer considered as a national one. If a portion of the capitals, which had been engaged in transacting our commerce with our European correspondents, is diverted to the plantations, our European traffic must necessarily languish; it must decline in the exact proportion to the amount of the stock withdrawn." Take a few more specimens. "On the authenticity of the facts, the public may safely rely, U-VOL. XVII. because the author used every endeavour to establish their accuracy, because they who doubt may examine the authorities which are exactly cited to encourage inquiry."--A masterly sentence throughout!!! "Neither party was gratified, because the hopes of both were as usual disappointed," i. e. neither party was pleased, because both parties were displeased. 66 Having sat three weeks without either passing laws, or granting money for the uses of the state, he dissolved them, never reflecting, that though such a measure may shew resentment, it can never be attended, during times of high passion, with any salutary effect." "It may be doubted, whether his piddling husbandry of petty farms, which has been ostentatiously praised by Dr. Price, can produce a sufficiency of food for a manufacturing country, or even prevent the too frequent returns of famine." How often should famines return? "Agriculture must be practised as a trade before it can supply superabundance. Certain it is, however, that, till the reign of Henry VIII. we had in England no carrots, turnips, cabbages, or sallads, and few of the fruits which now ornament our gardens, or exhilarate our tables."---This is piddling indeed!!! You, I am afraid, Mr. Editor, are tired of reading, and I am nearly sick of writing; but I cannot help adding one short sentence niore, as it gives us some insight into Mr. Chalmers's ideas concerning composition.---" I was studious not to multiply words, because I knew that brevity was always vivacious, that vivacity often covereth a multitude of faults." Poor Junius, that thou hadst not vivacity enough to screen thee from Mr. Chalmers's leaden mace! Such, Sir, is the critic who thus fiercely attacks the "Letters of Junius," against which he has shot his "telum imbelle et sine ictu," and against which he may for ever shoot, but in vain; and which, by those who are capable of understanding them, will ever be considered, in point of style, as truly an opus aureum." I am, Your constant reader, Stamford. And obliged humble servant, IMPORTANT MEDICAL COMMUNICATION ON THE DISEASE OF SCOLDING. FROM the days of the Spectator to the present time, periodical writers have indulged in invectives against scolding, from an evident misconception of the true nature, principles, and practice of scolding. Nay, our ancestors were more to blame, because they went farther, and, considering scolding as a crime, invented a punishment for it. Much light has never been thrown upon the subject; but, as I have made it my particular study for the last fiveand-thirty years, that is, ever since I entered into the happy state of matrimony, I hope I shall have it in my power to dispel the darkness of ignorant and persecuting times, and contribute something to eradicate those unreasonable prejudices, which many gentlemen of our own days entertain against scolding. The theory of scolding has been grossly mistaken. That which is a disease has been considered as a fault; whereas, in fact, scolding is a disease, principally of the lungs; and when the noxious matter has been long pent up, it affects the organs of speech in a very extraordinary manner, and is discharged with a violence which, while it relieves the patients, tends very much to disturb and frighten the beholders, or persons that happen to be within hearing. Such is my theory of scolding; and if we examine all the appearances which it presents, in different families, we shall find that they will all confirm this doctrine. It is, therefore, the greatest cruelty, and the greatest ignorance, to consider it as a crime. A person may as well be confined in jail for a fever, or transported for the gout, as punished for scolding, which is, to all intents and purposes, a disease arising from the causes already mentioned. Nor is it only a disease of itself, but it is also, when improperly treated, the cause of many other disorders. Neglected scoldings have often produced fits, of which a remarkable instance may be found in a treatise written by Dr. Colman, entitled, The Jealous Wife, in the fourth chapter, or act, as he calls it, of that celebrated work. On the other hand, where the scolding matter has been long pent up, without any vent, I have little doubt that it may bring on consumptions of the lungs, and those dreadful hysterical disorders which, if not speedily fatal, at least embitter the lives of many worthy members of society. All these evils might have been averted, if the faculty had considered scolding in the light of a / disease, and had treated it accordingly. In pursuance of my theory, I now proceed to the SYMPTOMS. The symptoms of scolding are these; a quick pulse, generally about one hundred beats in a minute; the eyes considerably inflamed, especially in persons who are fat, or reside near Wapping; a flushing in the face, very often to a great degree; at other times, in the course of the fit, the colour goes and comes in a most surprising manner; an irregular, but violent motion of the hands and arms, and a stamping with the right foot; the voice exceedingly loud, and, as the disorder advances, it becomes hoarse and inarticulate; and the whole frame is agitated. After these symptoms have continued for some time, they gradually, and in some cases very suddenly, go off; a plentiful effusion of water comes from the eyes, and the patient is restored to health; but the disorder leaves a considerable degree of weakness, and a peculiar foolishness of look, especially if any strangers have been present during the fit. The memory too, is, I conceive, somewhat impaired; the patient appears to retain a very imperfect recollection of what passed, and if put in mind of any circumstances, obstinately denies them. These symptoms, it may be supposed, will vary considerably, in different patients, but where they appear at one time, there can be very little doubt of the disorder. PREDISPOSING CAUSES. In all diseases, a knowledge of the predisposing causes will be found to assist us in the cure. In the present case, these causes are, irritablity of the vascular system, an exaltation of the passions, and a moderate deficiency of natural temper. OCCASIONAL CAUSES. The occasional causes of scolding are many. Among them may be enumerated, the throwing down of a china bason, misplacing a hat, or a pair of gloves, or an umbrella; leaving a door open; overdoing the meat; under-doing the same; spilling the soup; letting the fire go out; mistaking the hour, &c. &c. with many others, which I do not think it very necessary to enumerate, because these 'causes are so natural, that we cannot prevent them, and because, whatever the occasional cause of the disorder may be, the symptoms are the same, and the mode of cure the same. |