inal language of their own, apply to foreign tongues for explanation of terms, only become obsolete because the thread of continuity has accidentally been broken.

Shall we, because during those ages called the centuries of darkness, when it pleased the Almighty to infuse on mankind an intellectual sleep, men neglected the investigation of truth or the cultivation of their language, shall we, therefore, in this revivifying day of industry, neglect to apply to the labours of our preceding ancestors? surely no. The thread though broken may yet be tied, and by pursuing it as a clue, we may yet be lead from those labyrinths of error into which the hypotheses of imagination, and the uniformly directed investigations of learning have involved us.

The Romans overrun Gaul and Britain, and maintained possession of each for a considerable time; but, is it customary for invaders to give all and take nothing? Can it be supposed that an army with its attendant settlers would keep possession for any length of time, of a country whose forms, customs, religion, manners, and habits differed so essentially from their own, without regarding them with particular attention; and if they did regard them with attention, is it not natural to conclude that they would introduce to their own language the terms by which these vary. ing forms, customs, religions, manners, and habits were defined and could be explained? The suggestion is apparently conclusive. This cohabitation of different nations must have been attended by reciprocal advantages to their respective languages, and will undoubtedly account for the introduction into the Latin of those English words, which are arbitrary, having no root in their own language, and no sanction from Greek etymology. But because the Latins adopted our terms two thousand years ago, and assimilated them to the construction of their tongue, are we now to apply to them, for the interpretation of our own words? Are we to sacrifice the independence of our own language, the customs of our forefathers, and apply for allusions through the mist which the adaptation of our terms to the idioms of a foreign language has thrown over them? We think not.

THE BATTLE OF WORDS.

Four huge men of learning one ev’ning had met,

In a good lady's parlour, to worry and fret

The poor old English language to tatters and shreds,

For a bandage to bind etymologists' heads.

Their theme was, three words, honest Shakespeare oft used,

And the which, full as oft, commentators abus'd;

22

Patch, Patched and Pageant ;-so after they'd greeted
In due form and order, and each one was seated;
They applied to Sam Johnson, that rock of defence,
For all, who like him may sometimes err in sense.
Well, what says the Doctor? why "Pageant's” a shew
Indeed! is that all that's no more than I knew ;

Well, but now search again for his meaning of Patch'd,
Alas! here too the doors of his genius are latch'd.
But still look for "Patch," without anger or huffing,
Now-" a term of opprobry, perhaps ragamuffin."
A term of opprobry! but stop, of what nature?
For vices, like men, have their varying feature ;
Well-seek ragamuffin-he here tells us that
This word is from rag-and-he does not know what;
So, lay by the doctor, his reasoning assures
That the skill of physicians is prov'd by their cures.
In this puzzling dilemma, our heroes-for ah!

There are heroes in learning, as well as in war,

Who can wield their sharp lances of latin and greek,
And if these two should chance in the conflict to break,

Can follow examples of men of the field,

And retire behind Hebrew, or Syriac, their shield.
Our heroes then finding no help from their God
Who once shook th' Olympus of Lore with his nod,
Piled Pelion on Ossa, invention on thought
Till his own native tongue seem'd to him but a wart ;
Tried, by twisting, distorting, by righting, careening,
To strain these plain words to their fanciful meaning;
But as oft as they thought they'd discover'd the sense,
Shakespeare stood up himself in his language defence.
And prov'd that their wit to one passage assigned
Must still to that passage alone be confin'd;
Or, if one bright idea perchance had a brother,
They might still go so far, as to torture another.

They next then, applied with great labour and pain

To those who pretend obscure lines to explain,

But here they soon found, who most learning could boast
Was he who, explaining, could puzzle the most;

For Johnson and Warton, Tyrwhit and Malone,
They found had each one a conceit of his own,
In no instance abiding by general rules,
Excepting-when censuring others as fools.

Yet 'tis plain replies one, that in this they agree

That "patch'd" means "particolourd," pray look, and you'll see.
That can't be cries the dame, who as yet had been mute,

Unambitious to venture on learned dispute ;

For I'll prove that they 're wrong, and although 't may be treason

To oppose such wise men, yet I'll give you my reason;

I am patching this gown, but I certainly mean

That when finish'd the patching should never be seen.
And therefore I use the same colour, intending
That none should discover the rent I am mending.
'Tis an honest hypocrisy meant to conceal
That thrift we all use, but wish not to reveal.
But if patches meant different colours I trow,

Some ladies a strange colour'd garment would show,
But with all your great learning, your science will lack
To prove that a girl patches white robes with black.

Oddzooks cries one scholar, I think I now have it,
An idea! and thanks to the lady who gave it :
"Patch" must mean a concealment, I candidly vow
Ine'er ascertain❜d the right meaning till now.
By interpreting thus, we shall place all at ease;
Now hear me one moment good folks if you please;
"By appearances false to deceive," will explain

The meaning of those words we've sought for in vain :
From "Patch," Patched and Pageant I think I can prove
That this interpretation all doubts will remove :

He said, all consented with lore to dispense,

And to judge nature's child by their plain common sense.
Thus explaining each word from their own native phrase.
They discover'd their clue, and escap'd from their maze.

QUID PRO QUO.

Some authors write to shew their wit,

And some to prove their sense;

We too, may fail our mark to hit,

Because, we write-for pence:

WE most cordially, therefore, thank our friendly prophets for their predictions and wishes, for we sincerely desire that we may be as speedily as possible at our wit's end.

But we cannot, notwithstanding, help thinking that Mordecai will still be found sitting at the king's gate.

We were formerly told that we served up to the publick, "beans and pork" one day, "and pork and beans" the next. We admired and of

course remember the classical allusion; and that we may not suffer under such witticisms in future, we declare that we have changed the regularity of our ordinary, and that every Saturday the Bostonians shall be treated with the best platter we can muster of salt fish.

But, as fishers of men, we shall only attempt to catch them, when they are inclined to bite, and that being the case, we will answer for serving them up well dressed.

Theatre, Monday, Nov. 20th, 1809.

THE FOUNDLING OF THE FOREST, AND ANIMAL

MAGNETISM.

THE play having been advertised for repetition on Wednesday, we shall make no remarks on its performance this evening.

Animal Magnetism.

A play or farce loses much of its interest where the allusions of the author are not immediately conceived. Every thing that the abilities of Mr. Dickenson and Mr. Bernard could effect to excite laughter was attended with success in this exhibition.

Animal Magnetism first excited public attention in the year 1778, by some operations performed in it by Dr. Mesner in Paris.

The reports of the doctor's discovery, and his great success on a number of patients were noticed by government, and some persons of distinguished ability in philosophical pursuits were appointed to examine the merits of this pretended discovery. It was found to be borrowed from the exploded hypothesis of Van Helmont, and the result of their investigation was "That Animal Magnetism is a mere chimera.” Upon these circumstances, we presume that the laughable farce of Animal Magnetism was founded.

OURSELVES.

Wɛ wish and intend that our paper may, and we are not without hope that it will, shortly be considered as uttering the unadulterated sentiments of our judgment. This judgment may not always be correct, and in many instances we know it will not be thought so; but, if we can command ourselves, it shall always be sincere. We think we can so far command ourselves, as to venture to pledge to the public whatever of reputation we have acquired, for the fair, impartial, and unprejudiced exercise of our duty to them. This duty will frequently be unpleasant, but (heaven willing) we will perform it."

We have no friends, no enemies. If then, in the execution of the duty we profess, we should not acquire the one, or should create the other, we must content ourselves, like other patriots, in having laboured, "pro publico bono.”

LITERARY MERIT.

UNTIL we are proved to have deceived we expect candour. It has, hitherto, contrary to the practice of larger cities, been customary with the Bostonians to decline attending the performance of a new play, until its merit has been pronounced by others. This custom is attended with great injury to the managers of a theatre, and no small imputation on the liberality of the public. We know, that we have been accused of vanity-already-let us deserve the accusation or not, it is of no consequence-We will put the strength of our opinion to a fair trial. We are content to abide by the issue. We consequently venture to recommend to the public patronage, a play of American production, but of sterling merit, which is soon to be produced at our theatre. The author is Mr. White, a native of this town. We are actuated by no feeling but that of attempting to do justice. We have read the play, and sincerely believe that, if well performed, it must succeed. We will even When we deceive say more, we will pledge our judgment for its success.

the public, we shall expect no further support, for we shall not deserve it.

DR. S. JOHNSON.

WE may probably be suspected of having used too great a latitude of idea, in our remarks or insinuations with regard to Dr. JohnsonWe have hinted, to be sure, at some occasional aberrations from sound judgment, but let it not therefore be supposed, that we have souls incapable of feeling his beauties, minds insensible to his virtues, or hearts unwilling to do justice to his labours and his science.

But the first step to knowledge is inquiry, if we take every thing for granted that is said, even by the best of men, we shall be liable to error.

It is the province of every man's mind to deliberate, to weigh, and to examine, because

Errors in taste are dangerous in their influence, in proportion to the acknowledged genius or celebrity of the person who commits them, for where we have been taught or accustomed to admire, we suffer our judgments to repose on confidence when we should awaken them to examination. As in our mercantile concerns, we rely on those reputed