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246 letter on Dr Gilbert Stuart's writings. June 20. surrections, sufficient for all his power and ambition to over-rule; to mortify his desires, would be conquest; to subdue his affections, would be victory; and to keep peace in that little state would be immortal glory, honour, and renown. Yours, &c..

Yarrow's braes, }

Dec. 5. 1791. S

COPY OF SIR

ALEXIS junior.

WILLIAM BLACKSTONE'S LETTER TO

DR GILBERT STUART, THE ORIGINAL IN THE HANDS OF MR MURRAY, BOOKSELLER, LONDON.

SIR,

ON

N my return from a part of my circuit last week, I found on my table your valuable work, the View of Society in Europe, for which I return you my thanks, and fhall take the first opportunity my leisure affords of giving it a careful perusal. I entirely agree with you that law cannot be studied as a science, without calling in the aid of history; and the higher that history ascends into the ruder ages of mankind, the better interpreter it will be of many ancient legal formularies and customs. I perceive by occasionally dipping into your notes, as I opened the leaves of the book, that in some respects you differ from a work of mine, to which you are pleased to pay much greater compliments than it deserves; and your observations, so far as I have seen, appear to me to be just; and I fear that an accurate inquirer may still find · in other parts of it, sufficient marks of what was really the case, that the book was not originally

compiled with any view of submitting it to public inspection. I am, Sir, your obliged humble servant.

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IN your Bee for February 15th is an account of an old stone coffin or kisthean, found in the parish of Kirkurd. The flint shaped like a halbert, is that ancient weapon called a stone celt; for some account of these wea pons, (vide Barlase history of Cornwall, the Archilogia, c.) The one of the circular form, and the cylindrical one, were for similar purposes. The neatly carved ring, was a druidical amulet, often purchased at a great price, by warriors from the druids; its virtue was similar, though of lefs efficacy than the anguinum. Stone celts, anguinum, adder, and coal black amulets, I have often known found in old sepulchral tumuli, and they denoted the person interred to have been a person of rank and estimation.

DETACHED OBSERVATIONS.

GENIUS, though, by its splendid appearance, it generally attracts the admiration of mankind, is seldom beneficial either to its pofsefsor or the world in general. A man of genius rarely passes his time in the

world comfortably, nor are the strong efforts of his mind, in public matters, often sufficiently seen by those who have it in their power to render them useful to society, that they are of any avail.

When parents happen to observe great natural parts in their children they should exert themselves in turning away their eyes from great objects of pursuit, and instil in their minds a desire of becoming eminent in their own particular profefsion; also in taking every opportunity of fhowing them examples of the great value of integrity; for men of abilities are more frequently dishonest than those of moderate talents, and perons who want integrity, seldom pafs unpunished even in this world;-well known truths, though too little attended to by those who have occasion to weigh such things in their thoughts.

There is a pleasure even in sadness, which none but mourners know.

The friendship of some men, is like the jealousy of others, only the paroxysm of an hour, which rages violently and again subsides, till a new occasion calls it forth.

Vows and engagements of all kinds are, upon to☛ many occasions, only considered as nugatory forms, which law prescribes, but custom absolves from performing.

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Ah Maraton! haste thee," the cries,
"Here the reign of opprefsion is o'er;
"The tyrant is robb'd of his prize!

"And Addila sorrows no more."

Now sinking amid the dim ray,
Her form seems to fade on my view.
Oh stay thee! my Addila, stay!"
She beckons and I must pursue.

To-morrow the white man, in vain,

Shall proudly account me his slave!
My fhackles I plunge in the main,

And rush to the realms of the brave! C.

AN IRREGULAR EPISTLE.

For the Bee.

Now ev'ning, dress'd in sober gray,
Steals silent on the lap of day;
The lofty hills and landscapes gay,
Deceive the sight and melt away;
The hare that o'er the lawns did stray,
The bird that warbled from the spray,
'The lamb that round did sportive play,
Do each the call of night obey,

And homeward seek their wonted way.
Then, whilst in repose gentle nature indulges,
Whilst Old Age, by the fire, his long story divulgos,
Whilst jovial mortals quaff off their full glasses,
And drown in champaigne all their cares and distresses,
To you, my dear Tom, I'll my bosom disclose,
And freely reveal all my pleasures and woes:
For concealment soon quenches the quick blaze of joy,
Whilst it teaches grief's slow-wasting flame to destroy.

The dreaded sting of bitter woe,
My joyful heart does seldom know,
In sweet content my days 1 spend,
Blest with a brother and a friend.
Not all the pleasures, all the treasures
Which fill the splendid courts of kings,
Procure a joy without alloy,

Such as from gentle friendship. springs.

The man who lives unstain'd by vice,
Virtue, still, who makes his choice,
The distréfss loathsome-form
And misfortune's furious storm,

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