Shall we for ever make NEW BOOKS, as apothecaries make new mixtures, by pouring only out of one vessel into another? Are we to be for ever twisting and untwisting the same rope? for ever in the same track---for ever at the same pace? Tristram Shandy.

Some Account of the Life and Writings of John Milton. By the Rev. H. J. Todd, M. A. &c. The Second Edition, with Additions, and with a verbal Index to the Whole of Milton's Poetry. Vernor, Hood, and Co. 8vo. 1809.

This elegant and learned editor of Milton's poetical works had undertaken, and with unwearied diligence accomplished, a verbal index to the Muse of our illustrious poet, which with a life accompanied his second edition. The biographical sketch and index are here presented to the world in a separate volume, and to all the lovers of the noblest genius on the records of poetry, Milton, the "decus immortale" of our country, they cannot fail to be highly acceptable. The index is not confined to Mr. Todd's edition, (although it might, for it must infallibly supersede all other) but is " applicable to any edition of these poems." P. vi.

Of his biography he speaks, as no man will find it-as a work requiring an apology for the rashness of its author. It is true that Johnson, Hayley, and Simmons, have preceded him, but whilst he comes recommended by an accession of new anecdotes and facts, and is himself so highly gifted with judgment to discriminate, and penetration to detect error, the public has nothing to ask of him, but that he will accept their thanks. His narrative is professedly unadorned, but it has in it what Quintilian considers the primary quality of good writing, perspicuity, and is throughout exceedingly interesting. His differences with former biographers are conducted with all the amiable philosophy, of a sound scholar, and a perfect gentleman. Confession cheerfully follows the conviction that is produced by such an ingenuous and conciliating spirit of controversy. “Fan etiam, Arcadiâ dicet se judice victum."

Mr. Todd seems very desirous of rescuing Milton from the indignity of a flogging at Cambridge. "It rests," says he," solely

upon the testimony of Aubrey, which (however he candidly adds) I am unable to controvert." But it seems that no particular odium or ridicule attached to it, for, according to an extract, p. 10,

"In those days of simplicity and subordination, of roughness and rigour, this sort of punishment was much more common, and consequently by no means so disgraceful and unseemly for a young man at the University, as it would be thought at present."

And in the same page we have this anecdote.

"At Oxford, and I believe, at Cambridge, the rod was frequentlyused by the tutors and deans: and Dr. Potter, while a tutor of Trinity College, I knew right well, whipt his pupil with his sword by his side, when he came to take his leave of him to go to the inns of court."

Milton had, it appears, been accused of having been "vomited out" of the University, and as nothing was said by his libeller of this flagellation, it was probably as common at the universities at that period as it is now at schools, and of course attended with no lasting disgrace. Mr. Todd, in his attempt to save Milton from this lash, does more for the cause, when from the Oxford statutes (1635, ten years after Milton's going to Cambridge), he shews that the "virgâ corrigatur” applied only to boys under sirteen, and proves from the College Register, in correction of Warton, who says he was but fifteen, that he was in his seventeenth year, when he was admitted at Christ's College.

The following romantic circumstance in Milton's younger days, Mr. Todd gives us here in a corrected form, and acknowledges his obligation for it "through his friend Mr. Bindley, to M. Whish, Esq.

"Believing that the following real circumstance has been but little noticed, we submit the particulars of it, as not uninteresting, to the attention of our readers:†-It is well known that, in the bloom of youth, and when he pursued his studies at Cambridge, this poet was extremely beautiful. Wandering, one day, during the summer, far beyond the precincts of the University, into the country, he became so heated and fatigued, that, reclining himself at the foot of a tree to rest, he shortly fell asleep. Before he awoke, two ladies, who were foreigners, passed by in a carriage. Agreeably astonished at the loveliness of his appear.

Apel for Smectym,

General Evening Post, Spring, 1789.

ance, they alighted, and having admired him (as they thought) unperceived, for some time, the youngest, who was very handsome, drew a pencil from her pocket, and having written some lies upon a piece of paper, put it with her trembling hand into his own. Immediately afterwards they proceeded on their journey. Some of his acquaintances, who were in search of him, had observed this silent adventure, but at too. great a distance to discover that the highly-favoured party in it was our illustrious bard. Approaching nearer, they saw their friend, to whom, being awakened, they mentioned what had happened. Milton opened the paper, and, with surprize, read these verses from Guarini: (Madrigal. xii, ed. 1598.)

"Occhi, stelle mortali,

Ministre de miei mali,—
Se chiusi m' uccidete,
Aperti che farete?"

"Ye eyes! ye human stars! ye authors of my liveliest pangs! If thus,, when shut, ye wound me, what must have proved the consequence had ye been open?" Eager, from this moment, to find out the fair incognita, Milton travelled, but in vain, through every part of Italy. His poetic fervour became incessantly more and more heated by the idea which he had formed of his unknown admirer; and it is, in some degree, to her, that his own times, the present times, and the latest posterity must feel themselves indebted for several of the most impassioned and charming compositions of the Paradise Lost." P. 26, 27.

That this event is pretended, is tolerably clear, from an extract from the preface to Poésies de Mad. de Surville, where similar circumstances even to quatre vers Italiens, are related of Luis de Puytendre.

"His poetical fervour" is better accounted for by the close of Miss Seward's poetic relation of the anecdote.

"Thrice happy wound,

Given by his sleeping graces, as the Fair,

Hung over them enamour'd, the desire

Thy fond result inspired, that wing'd him there,

Where breath'd each Roman and each Tuscan lyre,

Might haply fan the emulative flame,

That rose o'er DANTE's song, and rivall'd MARO's fame!”

P. 28.

To works of more abundant space we must leave the happiness of enriching their pages with larger extracts.

Liber Facetiarum; being a Collection of curious and interesting Anecdotes. 18mo. pp. 344. 6s. Akenhead. 1859.

THE antiquity of collections of this nature, from the memora◄ bilia downwards, is well known, and the appearance of them always welcomed, by the busy as well as the idle. To read bon mots, as Johnson would say, "the busy can find time, and the idle patience." To this general recommendation, we may add our concurrence in the particular one, which the compiler has expressed in these words:

"The present volume has certain claims, however, above the common works of this nature. Its materials have been drawn from a great variety of respectable sources; and much caution has been used not to introduce anecdotes common to every collection, or otherwise grown vulgar by repetition."

Some selections will most agreeably describe the constitution of the volume.

“Theo. Cibber, in company with three other bon vivants, made an excursion. Theo. had a false set of teeth-a second a glass eye-a third a cork leg-but the fourth had nothing particular, except a remarkable way of shaking his head. They travelled in a post-coach, and while they were going the first stage, after each had made merry with his neighbour's infirmity, they agreed that at every baiting place they would all affect the same singularity. When they came to breakfast, they were all to squint, and, as the countrymen stood gaping round, when they first alighted, 'Od rot it,' cried one, how that man squints!' 'Why dom thee,' says a second, 'here be another squinting fellow!' The third was thought to be a better squinter than the other two, the fourth better than all the rest. In short, language cannot express how admirably they squinted, for they went one degree beyond the superlative. At dinner they all appeared to have cork legs, and their stumping about made more diversion than they had done at breakfast. At tea, they were all deaf; but at supper, which was at the Ship at Do ver-each man reassumed his character, the better to play his part in a farce they had concerted among them. When they were ready to go to bed, Cibber called out to the waiter Here, you fellow take ont my teeth.' Teeth, sir,' said the man. Ay, teeth sir. Unscrew that wire, and you'll find they'll all come out together.' After some hesitation, the man did as he was ordered. This was no sooner performed, than a second called out, Here you, take out my eye.' Lord sir,' said the waiter, 'your eye!' 'Yes, my eye. Come here you stupid D-VOL. VI.* ..

dog-pull up that eye-lid, and it will come out as easy as possible.' This done, the third cried out, Here you rascal, take off my leg.' This he did with less reluctance, being before apprized that it was cork, and also conceived that it would be his last job. He was however mistaken. The fourth watched his opportunity, and while the poor frightened waiter was surveying, with rueful countenance, the eye, teeth, and leg, lying upon the table, cried out in a frightful hollow voice,. Come here, sir, take off my head.' Turning round, and seeing the man's head shaking like that of a mandarine upon a chimney-piece, he darted out of the room, and after tumbling headlong down stairs, he ran about the house, swearing that the gentlemen up-stairs, were certainly all devils. Dibdin's Musical Tour." P. 3, 4.

"Grimani, after he had been in England about a month, happened, as he was strolling about, to find himself near Billingsgate. Seeing him a foreigner, he was presently hustled about; and in short, the fish-women and watermen determined to give him what they called, a complete blackguarding. Grimani, who scarcely understood a word of English, hearing the word damn frequently used, was struck as quick as lightning with an idea that he should conquer them with their own weapons. He thought he had nothing to do but think of a number of names unknown to the mob, and therefore began—dámn Cicero, damn Plutarch, damn Aristotle, dama Demosthenes, damn Plato, damn Anaxagoras, damn Scipio, damn Hannibal, damn, damn Agamemnon, damn, damn Achilles, and thus he went on with extreme volubility, throwing his muscles, which was a pretty easy thing to do, into the most frightful contortions, till at length one of the mob cried out, damme, come along, Jack, we have no chance with this fellow, he blackguards ten times better than any one of us.' Dibdin's Musical Tour." P. 16, 17.

"When the Fanatics in the year 1567, came to pull down the cathedral of Glasgow, a gardener who stood by, said—' My friends, cannot you make it a house for serving your God in your own way? for it would cost your country a great deal to build such another.' The Fanatics desisted, and it is the only cathedral in Scotland that remains en. tire and fit for service. Earl of Buchan's Life of And. Fletcher." P. 25.

"A copy of the original letter containing the order issued at the Reformation, as given in the Stat. Acc. of Dunkeld, p. 422.

“To our traist friendis the lairds of Arntilly and Kinvaid.

"Traist friendis, after maist harty commendacion, we pray you fail not to pass incontinent to the kirk of Dunkeld, and tak down the hail images thereof, and bring forth to the kirk-zyard, and burn thaym « openly. And sicklyk cast down the alteris, and purge the kirk of all