ROM the experience of FIFTY-EIGHT YEARS we well know that to fecure the public favour we have only to use our best endeavours to deferve it. Impreffed with a due fenfe of that obligation, the task of meeting our Readers in a formal Preface becomes unneceffary. We have only to thank them for repeated inftances of indulgence; to entreat a continuance of their patronage; and to affure them that it is no less our wish, than it is our duty, to add whatever improvements may be fuggefted for their entertainment.
Profeffing to make our Mifcellany a Record of Obits, as well as other events which would be lost in the ephemerian register of a news-paper, we trust to the candour of our Readers in general, that most, if not all of them, will find in the Monthly Obituary fome individual recorded in whom they may have an interest*. We flatter ourselves it can be no very difficult matter to find any name in the Index at the end of each volume; but that aid must be waited for till the year is clofed.-The Increase of Explanatory Plates, to illuftrate the fubjects treated of, cannot have efcaped notice.
In one point only do we experience a difficulty. The aftonishing increase of correspondence, while it most agreeably flatters us with the conviction that our labours are acceptable, and furnishes the most ample fources for fe- lection, involves in it fome ground of perplexity. It is with reluctance we occafionally lay atide many valuable Letters on account merely of their length. Thefe it is regularly our till other communi- cations of a more temporary nature compel us ftill to pass by what it was never our intention to reject. Hence arife repeated enquiries after effays which remain in the precife fituation above defcribed. For this we can devife no other remedy, than to request our Correfpondents will confider that their favours are INTENDED TO BE PUBLISHED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, unless they are exprefsly told otherwife in the INDEX INDICATORIUS,
In fuch a multiplicity of letters, the very POSTAGE becomes a serious object; which we recommend to the notice of our Correfpondents: and it fo hap- pens, that fuch as are least worth using are in general those of which the carriage is unpaid. We have fometimes been taxed with a double letter, to ask a question of little moment; and this perhaps followed by a fecond, to enquire whether the first was received. To mention this inconvenience is, we doubt not, fufficient to obtain redrefs. From the great regularity of the Post-office, it is very rare indeed that a letter can mifcarry if directed to J. NICHOLS, Printer, Red Lion Paffage, Fleet-Street,
*Had we correfpondents in the whole circuit-walk round the capital, we fhould be equally attentive to their communications as to those whom M. W. is pleafed to object to
URBAN, thy Volume, where Inftruction join'd,
happy mixture with Delight appears, Shall ftill continue, through revolving years, T'improve and captivate the human mind, When all its Rivals have been long confign'd To dark oblivion;-if ferene it steer
Free from dire Party's rock; nor by the fneer Of Malice (from fuch bafe allov refin'd) Its worth depreffes. While impartial Fame
To thy chafte toils allots this meed of praise, May kind Succefs attend thy gen'rous aim, And, to affift thofe toils through future days, The lofty verfe another SEWARD build, His mighty pen another JOHNSON wield! Dec. 31, 1782.
ON COMPLEATING HIS LVIIITH VOLUME.
AGAIN the Mufe, that wakes the grateful lay, Hails the meridian of this annual day,
When thy trim Veffel, fraught with Learning's ftores, The Cornucopia on each threshold pours; While the full harveft of each circling year Suits every tafte, and every different fphere; Which juft defign in every clime doth faye From cold Neglect, or dark Oblivion's grave: Still may th' arrangement charm th' expanded view, While you the Ufeful and the Sweet purfue.
Are there who retrofpective views would trace, The meed of arms, and dignity of place? Time-honour'd piles, or caftle-courted peers, The palling glory of recoiling years? Thy ftudious pages will their aim requite, That throw a radiance on the darkest night! Are there who 'd Nature curiously obferve, Her laws how far each clafs, each rank, preferve? Thine's the blest task their wishes to fupply, With Mufic's ear, and Microfcopic Eye.
Or who each Seafon's change would nicely trace, Mark day's benign or inaufpicions face? For them the Year's fair progrefs is enroll'd, Heat of each day, its medium or its cold: Hail infant Science! grace this favourite foil, Where pleasure ever muft eclipfe the toil.
Are there of fine and pure ethereal fight, That melt at woe, or catch the quick delight, And feel that foul which gives the Mafter's hand, Who lyre, or lute, or fylvan pipe, command? In thy pure fhades they charm each liftening ear, And Fancy's pleas't, and Judgement loves to hear. But would we fean the fum of earthly things, The tranfient state of Genius, Peers, and Kings! Let us to thy Obituary turn,
Where Candour points to each attractive urn; While the her praife on Merir doth beftow, Like her, a veil o'er frailties learn to throw; Learn, from the whole, the moment to improve, Nor tempt our fate, nor dread our fure remove. Proceed then, URBAN, Learning to attend, Be thou to Science, Agent, Guardian, Friend; So fhall the dawning of each hope-flush'd year With like attractions welcome still appear! Dec. 31, 1788.
LOND GAZETTE GENERAL EVEN. St. James'sChron. Whitehall Even. London Chron. London Evening. Lloyd's Evening London Packet English Chron. Daily Advertifer
Public Advertiser
Gazetteer
Morning Chron. Morning Herald The World Morning Poft
Public Ledger
Gener. Advertiser
Univ. Register
For JANUARY, 1788.
CONTAINING
2A Word investigated for the Oxford Dictionary 29 Green Wood proved to be nota Refifter of Shot 31 Further Particulars of the Human Petrefaction ib. Cicero's Characters of Arrius and Sebofus
Meteor. Diaries for Jan. 1783, and Feb. 1737 Real Names of Correfpondents not neceifary The Utility of a well-timed cordial Laugh Droll Anecdote of the late learned Dr. Battie Anecdote of Parfon L, of King's College Candid Illuftrations of our laft Year's Volume 33 Ufeful Queftion to the Inclofers of Walte Land Thoughts on Lie of Tobacco, and on Opium 34 Problem on the Communication of Motion 6 Simon de Apulia--Encampment at Knaptoft 35 Remarks on a Dream related in Vol. LVII. ib. Infeription to Florianus, near Peterborough 36 Female Writers-Dr. Ander fon and Dr. Smith 7 GIANTS at GUILDHALL, whence derived 37 Hints for Improvement of Johnfon's DictionaryThoughts on Suicide, and on a future State Fine ancient Sculpture at Lichfield defcribed 9 On the Rights and the Comforts of the Poor (40 Mr. DALTON on the PYRAMIDS OF EGYPT Account of S. Hoffman, an Infant Muficjan 41 Account of Mr. Dalton's Views and Sections 1o Original Letter of Anthony Windfor, Efq. 42 Anecdotes of the Founder of Sunday Schools 11 The Names of Fish, and their best Seasons 44 Literature and Polite Arts, where encouraged 15 J. E's Farewel to Philalethes on Dr. Priestley 45 Original Letters of the pious Mr. J. HERVEY 17 Proceedings in prefent Seifion of Parliament 46 The Fern, or Brakes, botanically deferibed 19 REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS Obfervations on Mr.Hutchinfon and hisWritings 21 Remarks on Mr. Wakefield's Edition of Gray 22 Original Thoughts on Modern Education 25 Critical Reviewer's Opinion of Dr. John Jebb 26 Marriages, Deaths, Preferments, &c. Amiable Character of the good Bishop Hough 27 Prices of Grain-Theatrical Regiiter, &c. Two Copper Medals of Pretender and his Wife 281 Daily Variations in the Prices of Stocks
SELECT POETRY, ancient and modern 61-65 Foreign Affairs, E. and W. India News, American Intelligence, Domestic Occurrences
Embellished with exact Reprefentations of the PYRAMIDS OF EGYPT, drawn and etched by Mr. DALTON; a curious Piece of SCULPTURE from LICHFIELD; and a BARRISTER in the Drefs of the laft Century.
LONDON, Frinted by JOHN NICHOLS, for D. HENRY, late of SAINT JOHN'S GATE.
Crocufes begin to blow in warm fituations.-2 Chaffinch (fringilla coelebs) and thrush (Turdus muficus) fing. Beautiful vernal day.-3 Striped crocufes in full bloom.-4 Woodlaurel (Daphne laureola) in bloom.-5 Sky-lark (alauda arvenfis) fings.-6 Hedge-fparrow (motacilla modularis) fings.-7 Bloom-buds of pears much enlarged. Violets in bloom. Yellow crocufes in high beauty.-9 The opening buds of the weeping willow (falix Babylonica) give a greenifh caft to the tree. Our late frofts in the fpring of en detroy thefe earliest appearances of returning foliage.- Perfian iris and elm tree in bloom. Male yew-trees dufty with farina. Rooks (corvus frugilecus) build.-12 While poplar in bloom. Brimftone and brown butterflies (papilio rhamni & cortice) appear.13 Greenfinch (loxia chloris) fings. Bees frequent crocufes.-14 Forward apricots in bloom, The fky-lark warbles high And, leffening from the dazzled fight, is trembling thrilling extacy; Meits into air and liquid light.
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