June 6. livion, it would be necefsary to have them all rendered into Latin, and their use would be confined to a learned, quibbling, and designing set of statesmen and lawyers. The French have been as busy in altering their language as their constitution. It was when one of their kings married an Italian princefs, that the changed the sound of the terminatian ois into that of ais; and as it was fhorter and more melodious to the ear, the sound was universally adopted; but the people in those days had more sense than to think of losing all their books by changing their language; and therefore no one thought of changing the spelling till the great Voltaire, who, like every one else, had his follies, introduced the ais; but yet it would not go down with the bulk of the nation till within these three or four years, when it would appear that the French looked on every thing that was old as detestible: They not only adopted M. Voltaire's improvement, but so many others, that I declare, though well versed in the French language, I cannot read a new French book without stammering at the sight of these absurdities. I fhall just farther remark that many of our affected literati pretend to use such orthography, as honor, favor, &c. and fhould the final letter be, in course of time, omitted in pronounciation, which is by no means impofsible, by the same easy infatuation they may come to write ono, favo, and so on adieu then to old English! Avoid such innovations as a deadly poison to the waluable body of English literature. Leith 1792. A. A. L VERSES BY THOMSON ON THE DEATH OF HIS MOTHER. For the Bee. Yɛ fabled muses I your aid disclaim, Your airy raptures, and your fancied flame, See! where the kindest, best of mothers lies, And more than volumes ev'ry look imparts; VOL, ix.. Why was I then, ye pow'rs! reserv'd for this, Down ye wild wishes of unruly woe! TO HUMANITY. For the Bee. DELIGHTFUL emblem of the god of love, I know thee by thy soft angelic form, And the big tear which glistens in thine eye; When beauty feels thy pow'r humanity! Oh to the friendlefs still vouchsafe thine aid, And lull their sorrows to the wifh'd for rest! Q. D. C. ON HONOUR. HONOUR!-What art thou, pretty flying name? M THE DREAM OF GALILEO, OR THE PLEASUres of KnoWLEDGE. Franslated from the German. GALILEO was twice brought before the Inquistion at Rome, because he defended the system of Copernicus, which appeared to be inconsistent with the sacred writings. The second time he lay long in prison, and in great uncertainty with regard to his fate; at last he was released upon this condition, that he should not depart from the duchy of Tuscany. The most important of his astronomical discoveries, made partly alone, and partly with assistance, are those which are mentioned in this dream. He lived, after his last imprisonment, at his country seat near Arcetri in Tuscany, having lost his sight, but enjoying, till his death, the society of Viviani, who was afterwards his biographer, and who was accustomed never to subscribe his name without the addition of the 'scholar of Galileo.' These few introductory observations will probably render the following efsay more intelligible than it would otherwise have been. Galileo, whose labours in the cause of science had gi ven him so fair a claim to immortality, was now living at Arcetri in Tuscany, and enjoying a peaceful and honourable old age. He was already deprived of the noblest of his senses, but he still rejoiced at the appearance of the spring; partly on account of the return of the nightingale, and the sweet fragrance of the reviving blofsoms; and partly on account of the lively recollection which he still retained of the pleasures that were past. It was in the last of these seasons which he lived to enjoy, that Viviani, the youngest and most affectionate of He his scholars, carried him out to the fields at Arcetri. perceived that he was advancing too far for his strength, and therefore intreated his conductor, with a smile, that he would not, in defiance of the prohibition, carry him beyond the boundaries of Florence; for you know, added he, the solemn engagement which I was obliged to come under to the Holy Inquisition. Viviani set him down, immediately, to recover his fatigue, upon a little mount, where, being still nearer to the plants and flowers, and sitting as it were amidst a cloud of fragrance, he recollected that ardent desire for liberty, which had seized him once at Rome upon the approach of the spring; and he was about to discharge upon his barbarous persecutors the last drop of bitterness which he had in his heart, when he checked himself suddenly with this exprefsion: rit of Copernicus must not be provoked.? The spi Viviani, who was totally ignorant of the dream to which Galileo here alluded, begged for an explanation of these words; but the old man, who felt that the evening was too cool and moist for his weak nerves, insisted uponfirst being carried back to the house. You know, he began when he had refreshed himself a little, with what severity I was treated at Rome, and-、 how long my deliverance was delayed, when I found that all the powerful intercefsions of my illustrious protectors, the Medicean princes, and even the recantation to which I had descended, remained wholly without effect, I threw myself down in despair upon my bed, full of the most melancholy reflections upon my fate, and of secret indignation against providence itself. So far, I exclaimed, as thy recollection extends, how blameless has been thy course of life! With what unwearied labour and zeal, for thy em-ployment, hast thou explored the labyrinths of a false philosophy, in search of that light which thou canst not find! Hast thou not exerted every faculty of thy soul to esta |