introduced to an English acquaintance by Mr. Melmoth, cannot but be striking to every classical reader. Yet a man of genius, who shall find a translation flow from his pen with that ease so remarkable in the original, might often be at a loss for expression in the concluding sentence, from the quick turn which distinguishes that author; and resembles rather the point of the epigrammatist, than the unrestrained negligence of the letter writer.

As the most diffused writers are universally most adapted to change of language, it is remarkable, that the works of Cicero have been only partially translated by men qualified for such an undertaking. His rhetorical, and more particularly his philosophical disquisitions, the interesting picture of the efforts of reason unassisted by revelation, are still confined to the admiration of the learned world.

The characters of these writers I have cursorily touched upon, as being those which are most familiar to the pens of my fellow-citizens; and to the junior part of them, whose method of study is not yet fixed, I should wish to recommend this method as the most efficacious introduction to clasical knowledge. And now, good-natured reader, that thou may'st see with myself what an unpardonable offence, in the moral, as well as the literary world, is a negligent translation, I will point out to thee one instance where the mistakes of a single expression has given rise to a more barbarous murder, than ever graced the frontispiece of a Newgate calendar.

Those laudable promoters of christian merriment, (as themselves profess) Sternhold and Hopkins, either originally tempted by the text which they have adopted for

their motto, to torture poor David into doggerel rhime; or pleased to conceal so inhuman a deed under such unquestionable authority; refer us to the advice of an inspired writer for their justification. And as psalm singing is there prescribed to those who are light of heart, they have taken apon them to provide ample entertainment for all his najesty's christian subjects who are inclined to be tuneful.

The passage in the original language stands thus; Κακοπαθεί τις ἐν ὑμῖν; προσευχέσθω: ἐνθυμῖν τις ; ψαλλέτω.

Epist. Jac. c. 5. v. 13.

This probably is not the expression which would have beer made use of, had the apostle intended to characterize sacred music, as there are other words more peculiarly adapted to such a meaning; and this is by the Greek authors promiscuously used for any sort of song; and among them by Anacreon, whose lyre was seldom tuned to psalmody, but in honour of deities whose worship did not admit of the serious or sublime. It is probable therefore, that this expression refers only to the effect which harmony is known. to produce, in softening the extravagance of joy, as well as the pangs of affliction; and that this may be ranked among those many errata, which in some measure pervert the ori ginal intention of these inimitable writings; undoubtedly calculated to unite a simplicity adapted to the meanest capacities, with an elegance capable of pleasing the most refined.

C

No. 29. MONDAY, JUNE 4, 1787.

Vir bonus est quis?

The good man is a Quiz.

TO GREGORY GRIFFIN, ESQ.

Mr. GREGORY GRIFFIN,

I FIND, most unfortunately for myself, that I come un

der the denomination of a quiz. As it is your peculiar province to apply the lash to the little world out of the library, it will be totally unnecessary to offer an apology for this letter, which, it is my most earnest request, may be circulated, especially through the lower school, with all possible expedition.

But before I proceed, it may be thought neecssary to give some description of a figure which my own conscience but too frequently informs me is not, at first sight, by any means agreeable.

I am now forty-nine years of age, and measure four feet eight inches in height. My usual dress is a dark wig without powder, a round gold laced hat, a light blue coat and waistcoat, a pair of black everlasting breeches, and a large muslin neckcloth, which, indeed, has lately been adopted by, and seems the constant ornament of the macaronies of the age.

In my childhood the nurse who took care, or rather who did not take care of me, let master Jacob (for that is my christian name) fall upon the tender, which circumstance she, of course, concealed from my parents. Some time elapsed before the discovery was made, and all medical assistance was then ineffectual. The family surgeon looked very grave, and emphatically pronounced that the bones were distorted, and, although I was not yet an adult, it was by no means a recent injury; and there would be a gibbosity, a preternatural incurvation of the spina dorsi for the remainder of my existence.

Notwithstanding, to please my mother, he gave me a steel machine, made to press principally upon the gibbous part, and afterwards tried a cross and strengthening plaister of oxycroceum and opedeldock, but without effect.

The boys in the village soon began to call me humpy, and in a very short time, I was dignified, by general consent, with the title of my Lord. My father, judging perhaps that my companions at school might banter and make game of my personal defects, procured a clergyman to live in the house in the capacity of tutor; but being himself an excellent classick, he gave up much of his time to superintend the education of his only son. Notwithstanding his paternal fondness and good intentions, I have but too frequently since felt the disadvantage of not having early enjoyed a public introduction into the world. Had my ear been a little more accustomed to the word quiz, I should have no occasion now to intrude myself upon your notice. But for the sake of perspicuity, it will be necessary to finish the description of my person, before I enter into a detail of the grievances it has caused. It has been

already prefaced, that I was doomed to have a hump-back; at the age of twenty-four a scrophulous humour disfigured a face not naturally resembling that of Adonis. A little time before I reached my twenty-fifth year, two fore teeth were knocked out by a chambermaid in Yorkshire, whom I, after having drank too much, attempted to kiss; and what made this circumstance much more painful, she had a little before, patiently, I might say willingly, submitted her lips to be saluted by a young officer, who was quartered at that time in the town. My nose soon after began to increase to an enormous size, and is now perfectly unnatural. You may see in it the colours of the rainbow; but red and purple are particularly conspicuous, and like rivals, are plainly seen to contend for the superiority. In short, Sterne's trumpeter, when he entered Strasburgh, had a snub to mine in point of size, and an aquiline in point of beauty, for I exceed Bardolph, the knight of the burning lamp.

Riding through Eton about a week ago, with my nose before me,

Nescio quid meditans, nugarum, et totus in illis.

Meditating, indeed, on I know not what, I was awakened from my reverie by several provincial words, the meaning of which were to me at that time, almost unintelligible; although by the gestures which accompanied them, it was no difficult matter to discover that they were not intended by way of compliment, "There's a quiz! there's a good one! my God! what a Gig! what a tough one! Smoke his nose !"

Notwithstanding I perceived that these expressions proceeded from several young Etonians, not one of whom had