difficult enterprise is not always a security from fear, when the danger appears almost inevitable. If the mind represens to itself these fifty men, suspended between heaven and earth, in the midst of darkness, trusting their safety to a machine so insecure, that the least want of caution, the treachery of a mercenary soldier, or the slightest fear, might have precipitated them into the abyss of the sea, or dashed them against the rocks, and adds to this the noise of the waves, the height of the rock, their weariness and exhausted spirits, it will not appear surprising that the boldest amongst them trembled, as in effect he who was foremost did. This serjeant telling the next man that he could mount no higher, and that his heart failed him, Bois-rose, to whom this discourse passed from mouth to mouth, and who perceived the truth of it by their advancing no higher, crept over the bodies of those that were before him, advising each to keep firm, and got up to the foremost, whose spirits he endeavoured at first to animate; but finding that gentleness would not prevail, he obliged him to mount by pricking him in the back with his poniard; and doubtless, if he had not obeyed him, he would have precipitated him into the sea. At length, with incredible labour and fatigue, the whole troop got to he top of the rock, a little before the break of day, and were introduced by the two soldiers into the castle, where they began to slaughter without mercy the sentinels and the guard: sleep delivered them up an easy prey to their enemies, who killed all that re-isted, and possessed themselves of the fort. Bois-rose immediately sent notice of this amazing success to admiral Villars, and thought the government of the citadel he had so dearly bought was the least reward he might expect. However, he heard that Villars, or rather the Commander de Grillon, had a design to drive him out of it, and amidst the first transports of his rage for this injustice, he delivered the Castle of Feschamp to Beards, p. 1 of this volume, that barIT was observed, in the article on bers' shops were once places of great resort, for passing away time in an idle manner. By way of enforcing some kind of regularity, and perhaps, at least as much to promote drinking, certain laws were usually hung up, the transgression of which was to be punished by specific forfeitures. It is not to be wondered at, that laws of this nature were as often laughed at as obeyed : "Laws for all faults, But laws so countenanc'd,that the strong statutes Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop, As much in mock as mark." Meas. for M. ii. 2. Dr. Johnson for being deficient in so Kenrick, with some triumph over important a point of knowledge, produced the following, as a specimen of such rules, professing to have copied them near Northallerton, in Yorkshire : RULES FOR SEEMLY BEHAVIOUR. "First come, first served-then come not late; And when arrived keep your state; For he who from these rules shall swerve, Must pay the forfeits,-so observe. 1. "Who enters here with boots and spurs, 2. "Who rudely takes another's turn, A forfeit mug may manners learn. 3. "Who reverentless shall swear or curse, Must lug seven farthings from his purse. 4. "Who checks the barber in his tale, Must pay for each a pot of ale. 5. "Who will or can not miss his hat While trimming, pays a pint for that. 6. "And he who can or will not pay, That they were something of this kind is most probable, though the 2. When you receive a piece in verse, which, after twice or thrice reading, you do not thoroughly understand, you may insert it, as indifferent poetry. 3. But, when you receive a poem, in which neither you nor the wisest of your poetical friends (after several times reading) can torture out either wit or meaning, you may insert it without hesitation, for THAT will be poetry of the highest order. You may apply the above rules to the following verses, which are descriptive of Flowers, and may serve as a test of your poetical judgment; etical jury be able to discover their gems, class, or natural order, they will be fairly entitled to a place in your amusing NIC-NAC. above lines wear some appearance of for should neither you nor your pofabrication; particularly in the mention of seven farthings, evidently put as an equivalent to a pint of ale, but in reality the price of a pint of porter in London, when Dr. Kenrick wrote, and not at all likely to have been the price of a pint of ale many years before. The language too, has not provinciality enough for the place assigned. Objections might be made also to several of the expressions, if the thing deserved more criticism. WHAT IS POETRY? TO THE EDITOR OF THE NIC-NAC. Tollington Park, Nov. 5, 1825. SIR,-Although you have been some years a practical Judge in the Court of Parnassus, you must sometimes find it a difficult task to decide satisfactorily upon the various claims of your numerous poetical aspirants. I, therefore, who have long observed your magnanimity, and remarked that you are as ready to receive as to give advice, take the liberty to offer some infallible rules, by which you may readily decide on the merits or demerits of all poetical contributions. RULES-1. When you receive from a correspondent any thing in verse, read it through once, and if you understand it clearly, reject it, as bad poetry. The lines appear to have been written in a flower-garden, where their author, after describing various other flowers, wraps himself in his allegorical mantle, and breaks out thus "But with what pen! with what poetic powers! Shall I describe those groups of beaute- That daily shine upon the grand parade, dener's aid? SIR,-Nothing is more cutting than the rebuke of a child. A friend of mine had contracted a habit of swearing at almost every word he spoke. I and several of his more serious friends had often remonstrated with him upon the folly and wickedness of it, and got laughed at for our pains. One day he let fly a tremendous volley before a son of his, a fine boy about ten years old. When he was cool, the boy came up to him:Pray, papa, "cut off says he, No, you rogue, my head." plied he, "what should I cut off your head for ?" "But why won't you, "Because I papa?" said the boy. love you too well," answered he. 66 66 " 66 re sup But, papa," said the boy, pose I were to tease you every day, and bring you a knife and provoke you ?" Why then," said he, 'may be some day or other I should take you at your "O papa, word." resumed the boy, "then I would not beg God Almighty every day to damn you so as you do, for if you do provoke Him, may be some day or other he'll take you at your word." My friend was struck, and the child's rebuke effected what all our arguments could not. From that day to this I never heard him swear an oath. Sheffield, Dec. 10, 1825. *** Enteresting Varieties. CABBAGE VERSUS WINE.-A French Journal asserts, that cabbage is a sovereign remedy for curing intoxication, and that it has even the power of preventing it; for, by eating a certain quantity of cabbage before dinner, we may drink as much wine as we please, without experiencing any inconvenience. This property of the cabbage is mentioned by Aristotle and Theophrastus, who are of opinion that it proceeds from the antipathy which the vine shews for the cabbage If a cabbage be planted near a vine, the latter retires to as great a distance as possible, or perhaps dies. Hence it is concluded, that the vine, owing to this aversion, allows itself to be overcome by the cabbage. Be this as it may, the phenomenon is indisputable, and the recipe, which was declared to be effectual by the ancient Egyptians, is now universally adopted in Germany. MILITARY VIRGIN.-It is stated in a military work by a Spanish officer, that in the year 1811 the courage of the besieged in Valencia was for a long time supported by the miraculous image of the Virgin, called "Santa Maria nuestra Senora de los desemparados.” She was the Generalissima of the Valencians, was recognised as such by the Marquis del Palacio, Captain-General of the Province, and bore in all public papers Generalissima par mar the title of y tierra." She was also decorated with the insignia of the CaptainGeneral, and the general's scarlet sash, embroidered with gold. SPECTACLES.-Every time you wipe your spectacles you scratch them a little, and many a little makes a mickle"-therefore, when you have done using them, put them away carefully in your case, to prevent other people abusing them-as a naughty boy did his grand-pa's spec 1 VOLTAIRE related, that he knew in London a physician named Brown, who had practised at Barbadoes, where he had a sugar-work and negroes; and having been robbed of a considérable sum, he called together his negroes, saying "My friends, the great serpent appeared to me during the night, and told me that the person who stole my money should, at this instant, have a parrot's feather at the point of his nose.' The thief immediately put his hand to his nose. "It is you," cried the master, "that robbed me, the great serpent has just now told me so. And by this method the doctor recovered his property. ROYAL LIBERAL.-When the news of the execution of Charles 1. reached Sweden, Queen Christina (of masculine celebrity) remarked to a nobleman at Court, who expressed a horror at the event, "My Lord, the English have cut off their King's head for making no use of it; and they have acted very wisely." BLANK PAPER.—A gentleman, who determined to furnish a room in the most costly manner, boasted that the paper alone had cost 394,4401, which he made out by showing, that he had employed an agent to purchase for him, at one penny each, throughout the country, all the tickets that had been drawn blanks in a previous lottery. Reckoning, therefore, 39,444 blanks at the original price of 101. each, he made out the above sum. KICKING THE BUCKET. SALLY had left her mop and pail Will stagger'd round, and smiling said, My boy, how hard you struck it! You may as well be buried, Ned, Since you have kick'd the bucket. " "Nay, nay," said Ned," that cannot be; Your inference must fail; I only have as yet, you see, To Correspondents. THERE is too much acrimony in T. G.'s "Epistle to suit the character of our work; we would rather be accused of dealing out milk-and-water to our friends than oil of vitriol; and shall bear the than that of malice.--The additional charge of insipidity with more fortitude particulars of Southgate Chapel are come to hand, but seem too trivial to deserve insertion.-We have read the publication Mary names, and will endeavour to extract some useful matter from its ponderous volumes. We agree with G.'s hint about Banks's Horse. LONDON Printed ant Published by T. Wallis, Camden Town.. PETER THE WILD BOY. (FROM THE PARISH REGISTER OF NORTH-CHURCH, IN THE COUNTY OF HERTFORD.) PETER, commonly known by the name of Peter the Wild Boy, lies buried in this church-yard, opposite to the porch.--In the year 1725 he was found in the woods near Hamelen, a fortified town in the electorate of Hanover, when his Majesty George 1. with his attendants, were hunting in the forest of Hertswold. He was supposed to be then about twelve years of age, and had subsisted in those woods upon the bark of trees, leaves, berries, &c. for some considerable time. How long he had continued in that wild state is altogether uncertain; but that he had formerly been under the care of some person, was evident from the remains of a shirtcollar about his neck at the time he was found. As Hamelen was a town where criminals were confined to work upon the fortifications, it was conjec |