naturalist new exhibitions of observation; this month will congeal multitudes into a state of hopeless wishes and pining recollection, where the eye of vanity will, in vain, look round for admiration, and the hand of avarice shuffle cards, in a bower, with inefficacious dexterity*. " In relation to myself, I will recede to my garret. For the gaiety and sprightliness of dwellers, in elevated regions, is probably owing to the encrease of that vertiginous motion with which we are carried round by the diurnal revolution of the earth. The powers of agitation upon the spirits are well known, and nothing is plainer, than that he who towers to the fifth story, is whirled through more space by every circumrotation, than another that grovels upon the ground floor. Indeed, I think a frequent removal to various diftances from the center so necessary to a just estimate of intellectual abilities, that I * The above rant is, I believe, taken almost word for word from the Rambler, though, for want of a good Index, I cannot at present point out the number. would would propose that there should be a cavern dug, and a tower erected, like those which Bacon describes in Solomon's house, for the expanfion and concentration of understanding, according to the exigence of different employments or constitutions. Perhaps, some that fume away in meditations on time and space in the tower, might compose tables of interest at a certain depth, and he, that upon level ground, stagnates in filence, or creeps in narrative, might, at the height of half a mile, fermentinto merriment, sparkle with rapartee, and froth with declamation. I have discovered, by a long feries of observations, that invention and elocution suffer great impediments from dense and impure vapours, and that the tenuity of a defecated air, at a proper distance from the furface of the earth, accelerates the fancy, and fetsat liberty those intellectual powerswhich were before shackled by too ftrong attraction, and unable to expand themselves under the pressure of a gross atmosphere. I have found dullness to quicken into fentiment in a thin ether, as water not over-hot boils in a receiver part ly ly exhausted, and heads, to appearance empty, have teemed with notions on rifing ground, as the flaccid fides of a football would have swelled out into stiffness and erection. All which, perhaps, I may reveal to mankind in a treatise on barometrical pneumatology.*" "Thus concluded Hypertatus his elaborate differtation on convivial Ale, Hilarity, Merriment, and a Garret. He then shewed me a most encomiastick veneration, overwhelmed me with a lusciousness of eulogy, and bestowed on me magnificent remuneratory honourst, for the prime ra In order to understand the beauties of this paragraph, confult Hypertatus's letter to the Rambler, upon the conveniences and advantages of a Garret. This is one of Mr. J-----n's chef d'œuvres, both for stile and matter. Besides, which is not very frequent with him, he makes an attempt in this place at wit and humour, but with his ufual success. Of this however more hereafter. Hitherto Hypertatus, Mr. J-----n's friend and correspondent, is supposed to be the speaker in the Rhapsody; and the praises of convivial ale, hilarity, merriment, and a garret, are all put in his mouth. Lexiphanes himself relates from henceforth what follows in his own person. † Rambler, No. 104. dical dical excellencies, perspicacity of remarks, and versatile plastick imagination‡difplayed in my Ramblers. He added that, on that account, he imagined, when I composed them, I had quitted my garret, and afcended into the cock-loft. He called me EXCELLENT RAMBLER | ! "Afterwards he requested me to accompany him in his ambulatory projects, but I tranfmitted him a declinature * on account of the pain which I suffered from fome artificial excoriations which I had contracted on a very respectable part of my body, by the severe succussations of a conductitious steed when I was taking a tollutation to Highgate. " I had laid the strictest monitory injunctions on Oroonoko, my swarthy boy of Ethiopian race, to hie before as my precurfort, and bespeak a vespertine collation at a Caravansery, whose master was most re Warton's Essay on Pope. || Ibid. * Robertson's History of Scotland, Vol. 2. Sec the story of Mas David Black. + Warton, ut fupra. nown' nown'd for culinary science and economical accomplishmentst. But the Renegado difobeyed my most absolute commands, and as he was passing through Field-Lane, his olfactory powers being affected by odoriferous steams, lured him to linger in the shops of culinary retailers, and banquet upon favory sheep'sheads, prime pigs pettytoes, and plump plumb pudding. His powers of manducation and digestion being now fatiated, and being fatisfied of my firm ad. herence to a rational and equitable adaptation of penalties to offences, and under no terror of death, the strongest and most operative of prohibitory sanctions*, the thirsty fever that raged in his throat, hurried him, † The above phrases are in Cornelius's Letter to the Rambler, No. 51. One Proof, among innumerable others, that all Mr. J-----n's female correspondents are as great Lexiphaneses, and as fond of hard words as himself. Whoever confiders how carefully Steele and Addison varied their style according to the different characters they have introduced, cannot but wonder at the great reputation the heavy pedantick uniform Ramblers have acquired and still maintain. * Ram. No. 114. |