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tary toils and dangers, and accordingly facrificed to them, not only the fofter pleasures of eafe and indolence, but even life itfelf. Whence did the unparalleled ftrength of refolution which diftinguifhed the character of the Lacedemonians originate, but from a fettled de termination of fecuring that praife for which they fo ardently panted? They chofe rather to fubject themfelves to the greateft fufferings, nay, voluntary to undergo the most exquifite pains and tortures, than betray a want of hardinefs which might, in their opinion, juftify the imputation of effeminate cowardice.

Whatever the fpecies of reward is, if the defire of it be congenial to the mind, its empire is generally abfőlute. All the evils of pain, want, and hunger, have been willingly embraced by men, under the idea of thereby obtaining fome favourite object. No potion can be prescribed too naufeous for the languishing patient, when he feels within himieif the exhilarating anticipation of its falutary effects; nor can any regi men be devised fo fevere, which he will not gladly fubmit to and perfevere in, if it yields hopes of recovering that inestimable bleffing, health. It is impoffible fully to conceive how violently men will ftrain in the race of competition, when the prize of glory is held out to their view; and on what dangerous feas they will hazard their existence, when tempted by a profpect of immenfe gain.

Under the well-regulated direction of fuch principles, the nobleft efforts of genius and application have been exerted, and with most defirable fuccefs in promoting the general happiness of fociety. To this fource we may juftly afcribe the great advances which have. been made in arts and fciences, and in thort the production of almost every thing on which the wifeft men have agreed to imprefs the ftamp of excellence. It is clear from the flightest intercourfe with the world, that the attention beftowed on the various objects of pursuit in life, is ufually proportioned to the degree of honour and

advantage

advantage which they are deemed capable of affording. Few would be found willing to plant the tree, did they not expect to eat of the fruit; few bold enough to ftand the fhock of the combat, if forbidden to partake of the glory of the victory. The husbandman would neither plow nor fow, did he not hope to reap the produce of his labour; the artifan would not wafte his health and ftrength with inceffant toil, was he not induced to it by a view of gain; nor would the student trim the midnight lamp, did he not flatter himfelf with the pleafing expectation of future distinction and pre-eminence.Deprive him of this, and his genius languishes; and, after a few unfuccefsful efforts, abandons itfelf to defpair; like a fair flower under the influence of an inclement sky, that never appears in its genuine beauty, but after having exhibited fome faint tints of its native luftre, fickens, droops, and dies.

If, therefore, a regard to praife or emolument, hath a manifeft tendency to engage men in enterprizes which may ultimately conduce to public ornament or utility, it by no means argues found policy to d.fcourage fuch motives, however fubordinate in their natures. To cut off all profpect of reward, with a view of making eminence more amiable, is the fame abfurdity, as to aim at improving the motion of the machine, by breaking its main-fpring. Under the protection of public favour and gratitude, works of ingenuity have, in times paft, flourished, and to the credit of the prefent day, do now afford a difplay of no lefs excellence; and that still further advances may be made, and arts and fciences carried to a yet higher degree of perfection, we have reafon to expect, whilft both royal and popular patronage continue to diffuse their foftering influence, and concur to extend encouragement and incitement to all that merit it.

Animated by thefe confiderations, and encouraged by the fuccefs of those who have gone before us in the walks of literature, permit us to indulge the flattering hope,

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hope, that by purfuing the paths which are here pointed out to us, and aided by the affiftance which is here afforded us, we also may arrive at fome degree of diftinction, and contribute in our refpective fpheres, fome fmall fhare at least to the promotion and improvement of useful knowledge.

CURIOUS PARTICULARS

CHARACTERISTIC OF EACH MONTH IN THE YEAR.

Chiefly extracted from the New Edition of Dr. Aikin's

Calendar of Nature.

I.

CALENDAR OF NATURE.

SEPTEMBER.

Now foften'd funs a mellow luftre fhed,
The laden orchards glow with tempting red;
On hazel boughs the clusters hang embrown'd,
And with the sportsman's war the new-fhorn fields
refound.

PLEAS

LEASANT month, poffeffing the softness and ferenity of autumn, yet the days are fenfibly fhortened, and the various temperature of the weather occafions unhealthiness. 2. Corn abroad at the beginning of the month, therefore partridge fhooting commences the 14th instead of the ft of September. 3: Partridges feed on grain and other feeds, fcratched up, therefore live chiefly on the ground, making much ufe of their legs and little of their wings. 4. They pair early in the fpring, the hen fitting twenty-two days, and the young come forth full-feathered, like chickens. 5. When the young ones are attacked, wonderful inftances of attachment in the old ones-even have feigned

being wounded, to draw off the purfuers from the neft. 6. Partridges retire to groves in the day-time-to the open ftubble in the night. Man is their most formidable enemy, obliging them, by pointers, to take wing for the purpose of hooting them, or inclosing them in a net when they remain on the ground:

-In his mid career the spaniel's touch,

Stiff by the tainted gale, with open nofe
Outstretch'd, and finely fenfible, draws full,
Fearful and cautious on the latent prey;
As in the fun the circling covey bask
Their varied plumes, and watchful ev'ry way,
Through the rough stubble turn the fecret eye.

THOMSON.

7. Saffron now gathered, grows chiefly in Effex, in a confiderable tract between Cambridge and Saffron Malden. The process of gathering and drying, curious-ufed in medicine as a cordial, formerly esteemed in cookery, and imparts a fine yellow dye. 8. Few flowers, except the ivy, open in this month. 9 Short intermiffion to the labours of the husbandman; for the haryeft gathered in, then comes fowing for the winter crops. 0. Bee-hives to be ftraitened in their entrance, left wafps and other depredators injure the honey. 11. Arrivals of the herrings affords a harvest to the inhabitants of the eastern and western coafts of the island. 12. Herrings make their winter rendezvous within the arctic circle. 13. Put themselves in motion in the fpring, that they might depofit their spawn in warmer latitudes. 14. Grand fhoal does not appear till June, then attended by an immenfe multitude of fea-birds, &c. all of which are fupported without apparently di minishing their hoft-main body alters the appearance of the ocean-fo large that it is divided into columns of five or fix miles in length, and three or four in breadth, finking and rifing, and in bright weather exhibiting

hibiting a refplendency of colours, like a field of gems. 15. The great body is divided by the Shetland Ifles into two grand divifions, the one going to Yarmouth, the other to the Western Iles. 16. At the end of the month the common fwallow disappears. 17. Three current opinions of their disappearance for the winter-1. Into a torpid ftate.-2. Into caverns and fheltered places.— 3. Into other countries, having a warmer climate; thus, croffing the Channel to Spain, thence to Gibraltar, and thence to the northern hores of Africa. 18. Other fmall foft-billed birds now difappear by migration. 19. Field-fare and red-wing return from more northerly countries to spend the winter with us. 20. Wood owl hoots, ftone-curlew clamours; the wood-lark, thrush, black-bird, commence their autumnal mufic.

21. The fnake cafts his fkin, parting (by rolling itself in the grafs) with its whole external covering, even the outer coat of the eyes fcales off, and is left in the head of the flough like a pair of fpectacles. 22. Of infects, very few now make their appearance. 23. Apples gathered for cyder-making, which in Worcestershire, Somersetfhire, and Devonshire, conftitutes a bufy and important employment. 24. The fermented juice of apples is called cyder, or apple wine-that of pears, perry. 25. Hazel nuts gathered in our thickets and gardens.

Ye virgins come, for you their latest fong

The wood-lands raife'; the cluftering nuts for you
The lover finds amid the fecret fhade;

And where they burnish on the topmost bough,
With active vigour crushes down the tree,
Or shakes them ripe from the refigning bush.

26. The oak fheds its acorns, and the nuts fall from the beech, both called maft. 27. Turning hogs into forests, an excellent mode of fattening them; curious account of this procedure in Gilpin's Foreft fcenery *. 28. On

*This account fhall be given as an extract in our next Number.-Ed.

the

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