Husband had Sense, all he got for his trouble was a Beard well lathered with Cream Tart." When all have told their story, we play the cards round, answering the word given with some other kept back, so as to make sense. This sometimes enlivens the conversation with the most comical sallies. For people whose business is water drinking, I do not think this a bad amusement; it neither stupifies the mind with the empty sameness of cards, nor fatigues it with the stern reflection of Moorish chefs and draughts. It stimulates emulation, employs the fancy agreeably, and relieves the head of mirth. And let me tell you, that though our gentlemen are reckoned very sensible people, the wit is commonly amongst the ladies; and the prince knows so very well there would be no doing without us, that he has kept us for four days to dinner and supper, bc.

INDEX INDICATORIUS.

Continued from p. 191.

AE. I. a subscriber, observes, that "we boast of what an enlightened age this is, of the vast increase of knowledge of all kinds, how eminently a just mode of thinking, and liberality of sentiment prevail; but above all, what a finished character, in a commercial point of view, this country displays. Without pretending to determine what real ground there may be for all this, and what degree of it is the trifling effects of superficial thinking, I shall only hint at a grievance, which notwithstanding all our improvements still exists in the commercial department of this country, and which if it does increase, must operate strongly against the prosperity of this nation."

The evil here alluded to is bankruptcy, than which, this correspondent observes, nothing is now more common, (this paper was received above a year ago.) If the dividend be likely to turn out small, he observes, "there may be some difficulty in looking the bankrupt in the face with complacency; but generally this difficulty is soon got over, the matter is hushed, and so far from his being stigmatized as an object of aversion, he not only enjoys the countenance of the public as fully as ever, but it is ten to one, if indiscriminately, whether honest or fraudulent, he has it not in his power in a few years to act his crime

June 19. over again." He then proceeds to bewail that no laws are provided to guard against this evil; and stigmatizes the existing laws on this head as nugatory and ineffectual; but proposes no specific plan for making them better. Those who have examined the subject with attention, will be the most ready to admit, that it is a matter of extreme difficulty, that shall be at the same time calculated to screen from undeserved oppression the honest and unfortunate debtor, and to bring to condign punishment the fraudulent debtor. He alone who can devise such a law, is justly entitled to condemn those laws that others have devised for that purpose.

A friendly correspondent, about two years ago, when the Editor on the blue cover indicated that he was frequently favoured with advices from his correspondents of a very opposite tendency one from the other, transmitted the following communication.

"Sir, having of late been teased with certain captious critics, booksellers, respecting your work, the motives for whose conduct it is not difficult to explain, I cannot think of answering them better, than by the following lines, extracted from the writings of an old poet, with very little alteration. By giving them a place in your Bée, as early as possible, you will oblige, &c.

MR BEE,

"The ayre's already tainted with the swarmes
Of insects which against you rise in arms;
Word peckers, paper rats, book scorpions,

Of wit corrupted, the unfashion'd sons;
The barbed censurers begin to looke
Like the grim consistory on your booke;

And on each line cast a reforming eye,

Severer than spruce law, or even young churchmen fry;

Till when with jaundic'd eye they've all perus'd,

They nothing find aright and you're abus'd :
By ne you're called forward, pert, pedantic,
Another says you're whimsical or frantic ;
A third cries you are haughty, proud, and vain,
Nor to accept his proferr'd aid will deign;
A fourth afserts you're surly, stiff, and soure,
A fifth maintains you labour by the hour,

Like a dull horse, still turning round a mill,
Without one spark of genius, or of skill;
One says your stile is flimsy, frothy, ranting,
Another swears its dull fanatic canting;
In one thing only they can all agree,

And that is damning this damn'd, damned Bee."

The writer runs on to a considerable length in the same strain, concluding with a very handsome compliment to the Editor, which his readers will readily pardon him for not inserting.

Acknowledgements to correspondents in our next.

134.

THE BEE,

OR

LITERARY WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER,

FOR

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26. 1793.

CRITICAL REMARKS ON SOME CELEBRATED AUTHORS.

FROM A GENTLEMAN OF LITERARY EMINENCE LATELY DECEASED, TO A YOUNG GENTLEMAN WHO HAD REQUESTED HIS ADVICE IN REGARD TO THE PROPER MODE OF CONDUCTING HIS STUDIES.

LETTER VI.

Continued from p. 12.

Spanish Literature,-Cervantes,-Mexio,-Mariana, -Don Alonzo d'Ercilla, &c.

AFTER the Italian states began to lose their preponderance in Europe, Spain increased in power and influence; and for more than a century was decidedly the first nation in Europe. During that period the Spanish language acquired a very general

currency among all nations: but short was the period of its glory; and the oppressive sway of religious despotism, has, since that period, given such a severe check to the spirit of freedom, as almost to extinguish the desire for literary exertions in that fine country, so that few books of merit can be found in that language.

Although the Spanish dramas are now much inferior to many others in Europe, I am inclined to think that it was in that country the taste for dramatic writings was first cultivated after the revival of letters. I have scarcely had an opportunity of seeing any of the old plays. I have only seen one or two of Calderon. They are written in a careless irregular manner, and discover more genius than art; more fire than regularity. If Shakespeare had understood the Spanish language, I fhould have imagined they served as his model. It is well known that Corneille studied these with a considerable degree of attention.

Be this as it may, it is certain these plays consisted only of three acts; and I have often thought that many of Shakespeare's were originally thus divided, and were thrown into their present form by the players, who made to them whatever additions they pleased, without any opposition from the author, who never seems to have once spent a thought about them after they went out of his hand.

Cervantes is, without doubt, the first writer in the Spanish language; and the first part of Don Quixote is undoubtedly the best of his performances. In his younger days Cervantes discovered a strong pre

dilection for poetry: But his poetry, like the generality of what I have seen of his countrymen, consisted of forced and unnatural conceits; multiplied corruscations of wit, but little of nature or true pathos. His Voyage to Parnafsus is a satire. In his younger years, too, he wrote what we in English would stile a romance, called Galatea, in that wild strain of fanciful pastoral manners so truly copied in the Arcadia of Sir Philip Sydney. I attempted to read it, but was forced to lay it by with disgust. By degrees however his judgement matured, and he corrected that false taste which he borrowed from his countrymen; for besides Don Quixote, he publifhed two volumes of novels which are written in a more natural and pleasing manner, and have been translated into English. I was highly delighted in reading the first of these, called La Gitanilla, or the Gipsy, which is written with a great deal of fire, and irregular wildness of imagery, and exhibits an inchanting kind of scenery that is very pleasing, though in many respects unnatural. Like Homer, too, and Milton, Cervantes wrote a performance of inferior merit towards the close of his life, which he valued much more highly than any of his other works. It is intitled the Adventures of Persiles and Sigismunda. It is in the pastoral romantic strain, which is I think the most extravagant and unprofitable kind of compositions I know. He likewise wrote some comedies that I have never

seen.

Of all the novels that are now generally read, the Don Quixote of Cervantes is the oldest and