swer better than any other single mode. A Chaise had never been tried till we attempted it, and the convenience we found in it is very sufficient to recommend it to others. Perhaps a two-wheeled chaise may be preferable to a four one, as the stony, road for three or four days is very troublesome. Whoever is induced to bring a chaise would do well to have the top so made, as to take off occasionally; and at Bussora to purchase a pair of mules, to relieve each other daily. It should be as light as possible, consistent with strength; and a spare axle-tree had better accompany

it.

Water Skins. Those used at Surat and Broach for the Buffaloes are much stronger and far preferable to those made at Bussora; and therefore two pair at least had better be carried, as well as a Bownagur Chaagul canteen for each person and each servant. These, with a few of the Bussora smaller skins,will be sufficient,as water is scarce ever further distant than the fourth day.

Coops for Live Stock. Those made at Bussora, being only slips of date trees, are very insufficient; they ought therefore to be brought from Bombay, bearly of the same size as those used on board ship, only better contrived to the camel's side and to balance exactly. One good pair that would hold three dozen, divided each by three or four partitions to prevent the fowls and ducks from pressing upon each other, in case of the coops losing their balance by the camels being unruly, as frequently happens at the beginning of the journey.

Provisions. A bag or two of Yams will be very welcome on Desert, and a dozen baskets acceptable at Bussora, a small box of essences, a bottle or two of crash, a few pickles, some preserved tamarinds and mangoes: these we found very grateful indeed after a hot march.

BUSSORA. On the arrival of the party here, if they mean to travel quick, their first attention must be the securing a proper caravan, an interpreter, a cook, and a horse for each person.

Caravan. Previous to ascertaining the sum, the following preliminaries should be carefully adjusted. Had we known this, a heavy additional expence would have been avoided, as

well as a deal of vexations altercations with our Shick :

1st, That he the Shick shall not permit any article of merchandize to be carried without express permission. 2. That he shall not take any other passengers of any denomination whatever. 3. That the number of guards be fixed at sixty; as from a most careful investigation of this subject with the several Shicks in the grand carravan, we are convinced that number is sufficient at any season of the year, they being sufficient to protect any party from robbers or wanderers; and five times their number could not give protection, were any of the great Shicks to attempt to detain them.4. That each of the above sixty be provided with a matchlock and a proper quantity of ammunition; and that each is furnished with a camel, and carry his own provisions and water. -5. That, independent of the guard, six Arabs be furnished by the Shick for the purposes of bringing wood and water, pitching tents, loading camels, &c. Their pay should be included in the general contract; but being constantly employed in your service, they ought to be provisioned: that is, a certain quantity of rice and butter should be delivered them every evening, and as much biscuit and dates in the course of the day as they chuse to eat.-6. That, instead of bargaining for any certain number of baggage camels, the whole of the baggage meant to be carried be weighed and shewn to the Shick, and he be at liberty to carry it as he pleases. By this regulation every cause of dispute is removed, and probably a heavy additional expence avoided, as was our case, though we hired at first 20 camels, then 10, and on the day of setting out from Zebere were obliged to pay 150 lumaboobs for additional baggage.-7. That a certain day be fixed for departure from Zebere; after which no halt to be permitted, except for the necessary purposes of refreshment. This is meant to prevent deJays near Zebere, in order to give time for goods being sent privately.—8. That only two-thirds of whatever sum may be agreed upon be paid in Bussora, and the remainder at Aleppo, on the completion of the journey and contract.-9. That the whole of the contract be regularly drawn up and executed in duplicate, one to remain at

Bussora,

Bussora, and the other to be produced at Aleppo; and the more form that is observed in this, the better, as the Arabs will endeavour to saddle Travellers with expences; and therefore a particular provision should be made, that all fees, or presents, to all other tribes whatever, shall be defrayed by the Shick, or deducted out of the third to be paid at Aleppo.

Clothes of the Country-Are no wise requisite, as it is impossible to conceal your being English; nor would it answer any good purpose to attempt it, except in case of passing by any of the Tribes whilst the caravan is in motion; for, if you halt, your tents and baggage will instantly distinguish you; and for this purpose a black camelin and a coarse shawl for a turband are quite sufficient.

Provisions. It is scarce possible to draw up any certain list, without knowing the number of the party, their servants, &c. However, very little inconvenience will attend the want of it here, as the lists of the articles carried by former Travellers are kept at Bussora, and an express caravan need not be provided with more than five weeks' provisions at the utmost. The following are the principal points to attend to :-Salt beef and tongues: these are excellent in their kind; and what we brought are not yet expended, though in the last week of our quarantine.Potted meat: what we had, was not sufficiently pressed down, which occasioned the loss of it. Sheep: these we purchased frequently, and were never without them; they were excellent, and accompanied the camels tolerably well; but an express caravan should not trust to the meeting with them.-Fowls and Ducks: the

latter in preference, as bearing fatigue better. Lime or Orange Juice: very necessary and refreshing; at least a dozen bottles.-Vinegar: at least a carbhay.-Coffee: a maund will answer every purpose.-Dates: are of great use to the Arabs, and therefore iwo or three additional frails had better be carried.-Wheat-flour: is preferable to Bussora biscuit, and is easily made into tolerable bread upon an iron plate. Grain for the Horses: a full allowance, and to be delivered out carefully by measure; the want of which, to our party, would have been of consequence, had we not forGENT. MAG. July, 1914.

tunately, at Hect, upon the banks of the Euphrates, and again at Tyba, met with supplies; which an express caravan ought not to trust to.

Other necessaries. - A tinder-box, steel and matches; two Aleppo lanthorns; a hatchet or two; a wooden triangle for the large skins of water, and another for the smaller ones; candles, a dozen or 15lbs.; tent pins, long and of durable wood, a spare bag full, and a couple of spare mallets; small water skins, enough to complete for four days, 12 to 20; be very careful that they are new; piastres in halves and quarters, not above 100; a hooka or nargil, with tobacco and tongs, and spare reeds must not be forgot, as a fresh chillum is a real indulgence. The occurrences in our journey across the Desert have nothing very remarkable in them, and yet they may be of service, particularly in shewing the inconvenience of accompanying a grand caravan. (To be concluded in u future Number.)

SIR;

Kensington, July 8. SHALL feel obliged by the insertion of the following correction of riana, which had before escaped me. some errata in the Bibliotheca SpenceIt is hardly necessary to premise, that considerable number of little inaccura in a work of such extent and variety, a cies must present themselves; but, as

correctness constitutes the chief merit of every bibliographical production, I am of course willing to hope that these inaccuracies are neither flagrant or numerous in the one under consideration. The errata, above alluded to, are as follow:

Beta in the generality of the Manuscripts of the middle age.

P. 500. (End of first paragraph.) The Greek passages from Homer are not uniformly omitted. My search for them happened to be unfortunate or incomplete.

Vol. III.

P. 65, line 26: for xpnтng read xpnros. P. 109, line 23: for Tou Meλavos read o μέλος το

Two observations may be fairly subjoined; not for the sake of exculpation (for I will always thank fully receive fair criticism, and acknowledge my regret for gross errors) but as arising out of the nature of the case itself. First; In the earliest impressions of Greek Authors, the contractions are frequently difficult to decypher, and the accents are so often blurred that it is difficult to copy them correctly. Secondly; If the extracts and descriptions in De Bure's Bibliogr. Instruct. were as minutely examined as have been those in the Bibl. Spenceriana, the deficiencies and errors would be found to be in a tenfold deI could have

gree more numerous.

"scribbled the margins" (as Warburton expresses it) of my own copy of that justly-popular foreign work, almost from beginning to end. It is not however meant, by this latter observation, to cast unmerited censure upon the reputation of De Bure, or to defend the errors of one work by mentioning those of another.

Far otherwise:-all that I wish the can

did Critic and experienced Bibliographer to admit, is, that in researches of the nature of the volumes under consideration, the attention cannot be al

ways kept alive with the same ardour, and the most resolute diligence and enduring patience will sometimes abate and be subdued. In Bibliography if in any other pursuit~it may fairly and emphatically be said: "Whoever thinks a faultless piece to see, Thinks what ne'er was, nor is, nor e'er shall be." Yours, &c.

T. F. DIBDIN.

P.S. Until pointed out to me by Mr. Roscoe, I was not aware that the article FLOTINUS had been introduced

a second time: (see vol. II. p. 275. vol. III. p. 463.) It will however be seen that the mode of describing the

+ The Genitive Case has been here strangely substituted for the Nominative. Pope's Essay on Criticism, v. 253.

edition, here referred to, is pretty much the same in both instances arising from a similarity of feeling on examining it for the purpose of description.

Mr. URBAN,

THE

July 9. HE Cathedral Church of Rouen (engraved in your last Frontispiece) was built by the hands of our countrymen in the 13th century; and, in despite of the opinions of Mr. Hawkins, champion for foreign art, history of Architecture, that, in rewho "thinks," though writing on the gard to the splendid religious fabrics of this Island, there is "no use" in bringing them into discussion, I most cordially subscribe to such strong conviction. By consulting the accounts of Rouen, in a "Description of the Earth," published 1605, we read, that "the Cathedral is dedicated to the Virgin Mary," the choir wherehath three towers of a vast height, of is lined round with copper: it particularly that of Reuve, and that of the Pyramid; the spire of which steeple only (being made of wood and covered with gilt lead) hath 200 steps,

and the whole edifice above 600.

On the great gate (presume West centre entrance) is a triumphal arch in honour of King Henry IV. with emblems of his conquest over the Holy League. The body of the Church is supported by 21 pillars, in which, and in the chapel, are to be seen the magnificent tombs of Cardinal d'Amboise, and of the antient dukes and archbishops; as also, the monument of John duke of Bedford, who was Regent of France under our King Henry VI.

features of the structure, much doubt Considering the present external

is entertained relative to the correctness of the date 1055, (see p. 633.) as the grand tier of windows, with the turrets, and centrical tier of compartments between the two West towers, brings us to Wells cathedral; centriside ditto to Lincoln Cathedral; pyracal entrance to Lichfield Cathedral;

midal finish over centre entrance to

Salisbury cathedral; circular centre window entirely French; left-hand tower to Ely Cathedral, its termination French; right-hand tower to York, finish (a crown) French; ailes of nave transepts, and centre tower, to York Cathedral; its spire French,

and

and by its detail of no very remote date (17th century.)

Upon the whole, the display is most magnificent, and worthy the genius of those who raised the walls: and let us assert, with laudable confidence, that either our Architects, or some of their best workmen, were sent to Rouen, from the different churches, brought into notice above, as original models or designs, to contribute their powers in composing that object, the "shadow" of which is now standing in review before us, for our admiration and for our praise. Yours, &c. J. C.

Mr. URBAN,

March 12. highly do I respect the chaTracter of your excellent publication, the taste of your numerous readers, and my own sense of decorum, to presume to trouble myself or you with coarse declamatory diatribes against any man, or against any set of men, on account of conduct religious, moral, or political. My strictures on the truly illustrious Nobleman of singular talent, whose various poetical lucubrations are in general well received by the publick, shall be temperate and concise: I seek not to wound his honourable feelings, but to appeal to his undisputed and undoubt. ed judgment; and by it, if possible, to awaken and improve his heart.

In an edition of his Lordship's beautiful poem "The Corsair," appear eight lines, addressed to the Princess Charlotte of Wales. I shall not stoop to pick out the literary merits or faults of the composition; my censure applies, solely, to its literal purport. To pot-house politicians, so sprightly a production might perhaps have charms; but, surely, a Peer of the British Empire can derive little food for vanity, or even self-congratula tion, from recollection of an anonymous squib, by which the modest sensibilities of a duteous Female were outraged, and turned into the subject of popular chat.

An admiring retainer of his Lordship has published something like an elaborate attempt at defence of these rhymes, on the plea of political justice to his party. Alas! Sir, party attachments but ill atone for violations of moral duty. Will Mr.

candid opinion of the tendency and truth of another small copy of verses? They are not unknown to him, I dare say; they were written, as some of his Lordship's Friends may remember, on a transaction that took place at Windsor, and that was briefly and elegantly recorded by the pen of Sir Henry Halford, bart.-As in the former instance, so in this, Mr. Urban, I condescend not to waste words or time in analyzing the charms of the poetry; "Curs'd be the verse, how smooth soe'er That tends to make one honest man my it flow,

foe!"

I only ask [of Lord if he will permit me, or, at least of Mr. his counsel,] whether the gross tenour of the composition be worthy of an Englishman's applause ?-whether, in short, its Noble Author feels justified faithful representation of plain matter in this severity of his satire by its of fact?

The frowardness of childhood at school, of pupilage at the University, of youth at coming to the command of a fortune and the honours of a title, &c. &c. come not within the scope of present animadversion. My views are of a public nature; and as a public man, only, I conjure his Lordship to-CONSIDER HIS WAYS. Yours, &c.

EVE

CHRISTIANUS.

Mr. URBAN, Adlingfleet, June 4. VERY one can recollect that the Property Tax was proposed to be taken off on the 5th of April after the Ratification of a Definitive Treaty of Peace. It appears now, however, to be ascertained from the Ministry, that it is doubtful and undetermined whether the Tax may not be continued during our contest with America. Most earnestly it is to be hoped that this will not be the

case.

On reading the Titles of the very many Preferments held by the late Dr. Hugh Thomas (page 440), I was reminded of the famous pluralist Bego de Clara, a foreigner who held so many Livings in England before the Reformation. Certainly the Statute against Pluralities wants some revi

sion.

the

the Statute appears to have been to permit a second Living to be held as auxiliary to a former one, when such former Living was so low as 87. per annum in the King's Book. After a Japse of 250 years, however, there are many Livings of 15, 20, 25, and 30 pounds per annum present value, which were of the very same value in Henry the Eighth's day; and yet no person can hold a second Living as auxiliary to any of these. And again, many Livings of 81. per anu. and under in the King's Book are now worth 4, 5, and 6001. per annum; and yet any person (who has interest to procure it) can, by the Statute, hold another Living of any value whatever as auxiliary to one of these! There are four Parish-Churches in Yorkshire conti guous to each other, two of them were greater Abbeys, the other two Collegiate Churches before the Refor mation; viz. Selby, Drax, Howden, and Hemingbrough. They are all so valued in the King's Book that no second Living can be held with any of them without purchasing a Dispensation; and yet the total amount of the value of them all together is but 1757. per annum! They were all endowed with money-payments to continue the same for ever. The last named Living is but 201. per annum at this day; and it was 201. per annum in the second year of King Edward VI. Yours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

T is now

T. VR.

July 2.
I com-

My first trial was upon 100 different sorts of Trees, Oaks, Elms, Spanish and Horse-chesnuts, Lime, Beech, Sycamore, and Planes. The trees were all young ones, from 10 to 16 feet high. In the ensuing year the bark had collapsed over every wound before the month of June. Every one of these trees, I remarked in the course of the year succeeding that in which they had been pruned, enlarged in their girth and head, in a much greater degree than those which had not had the knife.

My second year's trial I extended to 1000 Trees of the same description. Similar success accompanied this experiment with the first. Since that period I have extended it to indefinite numbers, and to growing trees of all sizes and ages, with equal effect. In some cases I applied Mr. Forsyth's composition, to ascertain whether it would accelerate the growth of the bark over the wounds: I tried the use of this composition on several trees, applying it to a wound of an equal size on the same tree where I left another wound on the same tree without it; and I am rather inclined to think the composition impeded, instead of assisting, the growth of the bark. It is scarcely necessary to mention that every bough or branch which was taken away, was cut close and smooth to the stem of the tree. In trees of 10 feet high, I cleared the stem 6 feet; of 12 feet, I cleared it 7 feet; of 14 feet, I cleared it 8 feet; of 16 feet, I cleared it 9 feet. A handsome is secured by this practice

my Forest Trees in the last week of July, and through the months of August and September. It occurred to me when I first made the experiment, that the wounds made in taking off the limbs would heal before the cold weather set in; and as the tree was in progress of growth, this object would be more effectually attained during the ascent of the sap, and whilst the tree was in full leaf, than at any other period of the year; the leaves contributing to shade from the sun and shelter from the rain.