METEOROLOGICAL TABLE for May, 1787. Height of Fahrenheit's Thermometer. D. of 8 o'cl. Noon 11 o'cl. Night. Height of Fahrenheit's Thermometer. Month. 8 o'cl. Morn. Noon 11 o'cl. Night. Barom. in. pts.in May, 1787. W. CARY, Mathematical Inftrument-Maker, oppofite Arundel-street, Strand. 23 57 24 52 58 25 54 26 56 46 882839Gཀྵ༦。 52 29,77 fair 54 29,76 fair 55 29,83 fair 47 30,1 cloudy 58 48 30,14 fair 52 30,5 fair 52 54 30,29 fair 58 30,11 fair 60 Medlar (mefpilus Germanica) and corn-flag (gladiolus communis) in bloom. Dag rofe and elder (fambucus nigra) in bloom-3 Much hay-making; a plentiful crop.-4 Leaves of the goole e ries and currants much eaten by the caterpillars of the great magpie moth (phalena groffulariata) and by the larva of an undefcribed tenthredo.5 Imperfect foliage on the Italian poplar; this kind did not bear the feverity of the fpring fo well as its congener the black poplar.-6 Rofes in general blown. Some strawberries, but without HAVOUR.-7 Cytus ledon in bloom. Hemerocallis blows.-9 Wheat in bloom. 1 Fields refreshed, and appear again verdurous. Jafmine in bloom. An excellent feafon for the wheat in bloom, the weather being fill and warm, and no beating rain. 12 Young THE Gentleman's Magazine : For MAY, 1787. BEING THE FIFTH NUMBER OF VOL. LVII. PART I. Οσν θαυμάζεις τεθ ̓ ελέροισι γελως. Lucian. I. To Mr. WILLIAMS at Lions. Dear Sir, Wellwyn, Feb. 23, 1739. Nothing can be more kind than the continuance of your friendship; nothing more unjust than your fufpicion of my backwardness to embrace it. I efteem you for yourself, and the good company you keep. Homer was a very honeft gentleman, who talked of many gods, and believed but one. Horace fays, quanto tibi negaveris a Diis plura feres. Fenelon was half an angel; and New. ton looked fo far and fo clearly into Nature, that he found himself under the neceffity to clap a God at the head of it, in order to render any thing accountable. As to Voltaire, he is content with the contemplation of his own parts, without looking for any other immortality than they fhall give him. Thus, Sir, my fermon ends: But why this fermon? To fhew myself qualified for the deanery or mitre you fo kindly with me. But thefe things are long in coming. If in your travels you fhould pick me up a little vacant principality, it would do as well; I am as well qualified for it, and as likely to fucceed in it. Monaco would be a pretty finecure; for, as I take it, the Moft Chriftian King is fo good as to do all the duty. I have brought you to the borders of Italy; I heartily with, you all pleasure in the land of Kantys. But before that I hope to be cenfured by you in another letter, which would give me great fatisfaction. You enquire after writers. Here is a libel lately publifhed, called Manners, for which the author is fled, and the minifter has been reprimanded: there are two or three things well enough faid in it to balance a deal of grofs abufe. The laft publication I have read was about fuicide, in which the author endeavours to perfuade an Englishman not to hang himself when the wind is N.E. Muttapha, a new tragedy, is treading the ftage with fome applaufe. Nothing fhoots in abundance this fpring but divinity; a forward plant like the fnow-drop, but of little flavour. I defire you to re-enter me into your little lift of friends; and to be affured that, with the moft fincere affection and good wishes, &c. &c. &c. &c. E. YOUNG. II. To Mr. WILLIAMS at Nice. Dear Sir, Wellwyn, Nov. 25. 1739.1 Letters from the dead are fo entertaining, that many wits have lied their friends out of hell fo agreeably, that mankind has forgiven the impofition, for the fake of the pleasure. Next to letters from the dead, are thofe from the living at a great difrance, and, in fome fenfe, inhabitants of another world. But, as far as I can learn 12 Young fly-catchers (mufcicapa grifola) have left their neft.-13 Vines in bloom. from May 17. HE two following letters of the famous Dr. Young were written to the fame gentleman whofe admirable letter was printed in vol. LIII. p. 222, 3, 4, and are now commuINDAGATOR. PART I. Monaco would be a fucceed in it. You enquire after writers. Here is for which the author is fled, and the minifter has been reprimanded: there are two or three things well enough faid in it to balance a deal of grofs abufe. The laft publication I have read was about fuicide, in which the author endeavours to perfuade an Englishman not to hang himfelf when the wind is N.E. Muftapha, a new tragedy, is treading the ftage with fome applaufe. Nothing fhoots in abundance this fpring but divinity; a forward plant like the fnow-drop, but of little flavour. I defire you to re-enter me into your little lift of friends; and to be affured shat, with the moft fincere affection and good wifhes, &c. &c. &c. &c. E. YOUNG. II. To Mr. WILLIAMS at Nice. Dear Sir, Wellwyn, Nov. 15. 1739Letters from the dead are fo entertaining, that many wits have lied their friends out of hell fo agreeably, that mankind has forgiven the impofition, for the fake of the pleasure. Next to letters from the dead, are thofe from the living at a great diftance, as and, in fome fenfe, inhabitants of ano to ther world. But, as far as I can learn grifola) have left their neft.-13 Vines in loom with the fcarabaeos folftitialis,-14 Young At. They died last year during the hot we 372 Original Letters from the Author of the Night Thoughts.. from your letter, that other world I mean is itself dead fince I was there, at leaft, much out of order. Poor Sun! give him a glafs of your pupil's October, to cure his November dumps; it will make him gay, and dance as in our Rehearfal; but leave a glafs for his holinefs the Pope; and, that it may go down with him the better, you may let him know it is prescribed by the Council of Nice. When I was there, I contracted a great intimacy with the Mediterranean. Every day I made him a folemn vifit. He roared very agreeably; 1 hope our men of war will foon learn his art for the entertainment of his Spanish Majefty; this is a kind of opera that will receive no improvement from the lofs of manhood. If here you are at a lofs for my meaning (for I think I am a little obfcure), confult Mr. Patterson's little wife; fhe will let you into the fecret; for I am mistaken, or our friend F. has taught her to look on all eunuchs with high difdain, and to deteft mufick for the execrable damages it has done the whole fex. If you vifit my quondam habitation, you will pass a folemn affembly of cypreffes; I have great regard for their memory and welfare; they took up my quarrel against the Sun, and often defended me from his infults, when he was much more furious than you now reprefent him, You are fo kind as often to remember me with Mr. P. When you drink my health, regard your own. I would have you eat my health, and I will drink yours: the north wants fpirits; and the fouth, flefh; but take care you get not more than your own. There is great plenty in Italian markets, and it comes cheap; if any thing can be called cheap which may poffibly coft a whole Roman nose. I hope you have nothing of Rome about you but that noble feature; if you have, poft away to his Holiness. No man makes more Proteftants than the Pope, or mors faints than the devil, when either of them is thoroughly known; for truth and virtue have no better friends upon earth than a near infpection and inti rate acquaintance with the deformity and madnefs of their oppofites, This, dear Sir, comes of your converting with parfons; I forgot I was writing a letter, and was providing myfelf for next Sunday with a fermon againft drinking, wenching, &c. &c. Pardon a friend's infirmity, and manfully bear your own amy. May this be the greatest you meet with in your travels, and then NEW DESCRIPTION OF PAISLEY. PAISLEY was erected into a burgh of barony by James IV. 1488. It enjoys all the powers neceffary for government and police, without any of the burthens to which royal burghs are fubjected. The government of the town is vefted in three magiftrates, feventeen counfellors, and a treasurer; eight of whom are changed annually ar Michaelmas. The freedom of the place is conferred on very moderate terms. The revenues of the town are not great, but they have been managed to the best advantage. The rapid increase of the place has not been attended with a proportional increase of revenue; therefore feveral neceffary improvements, and intended public build. ings, are not yet carried into execution. As the extenfive manufactures carried on at this town and places adjacent are valuable acquifitions to the country, they will naturally excite the attention of all who confider manufactures one of the chief pillars which fupport our nas tional profperity. In attempting to trace the progrefs and extent of thefe, it will not be improper to obferve, that the first attempts to emerge from floth and poverty require confiderable exertions; and even thefe exertions can have but fmall effect for a confiderable period of time. The firft difficulty to furmount, is the want of knowledge in the branch to be introduced. When that is overcome, the want of capital is another obitruction, which commonly prevents any great progrefs from being made for years. After the habits of industry are acquired, and the manufacturing arts are arrived at fome degree of perfection, when the capitals of thofe engaged in them have increated in proportion, then the progrefs of manufactures moves ra pidly on; but when all the springs of emulation, ambition, and expenfive lux. ury, are put in motion, they accelerate their progrefs with allonishing velocity. The branches of manufactures carried on at Pailey, are the linen, the thread, the filk, and the cotton. The |