First, fleet as a bird, to the summons Wit flew, While a light on the vine-leaves there broke, In flashes so quick and so brilliant, all knew "Twas the light from his lips as he spoke. "Bright tree! let thy nectar but cheer me," he cried,

"And the fount of Wit never can fail:" ""Tis the Vine! 'tis the Vine!" hills and valleys reply,

"Hail, hail to the Wine-tree, all hail !"

(1) "Nerium Oleander. In Cyprus it retains its ancient name, Rhododaphne, and the Cypriots adorn their churches with the flowers on feast-days."-Journal of Dr. Sibthorpe, Walpole's Turkey.

(2) Ibid.

(3) Lonicera Caprifolium, used by the girls of Patmos for garlands.

(4) Cuscuta europæa. "From the twisting and twining of the stems, it is compared by the Greeks to the dishevelled hair of the Nereids."- Walpole's Turkey.

(5) The produce of the island in these acorns alone amounts annually to fifteen thousand quintals."- Clarke's

Travels.

(6) Now Santa Maura-the island, from whose cliffs Sappho leaped into the sea.

The precipice, which is fearfully dizzy, is about one hundred and fourteen feet from the water, which is of a profound depth, as appears from the dark-blue color and the eddy that plays round the pointed and projecting rocks.”—Goodiszon's Ionian Isles.

(8) See Mr. Goodisson's very interesting description of all these circumstances.

(9) I have attempted, in these four lines, to give some idea of that beautiful fragment of Sappho, beginning Glykeia mater, which represents so truly (as Warton remarks) "the languor and listlessness of a person deeply in love."

(10) This word is defrauded here, I suspect, of a syllable; Dr. Clarke, if I recollect right, makes it "Balalaika."

(11) “I saw above thirty parties engaged in dancing the Romaika upon the sand; in some of these groups, the girl who led them chased the retreating wave."-Douglas on the Modern Greeks.

(12) "In dancing the Romaika (says Mr. Douglas) they begin in slow and solemn step till they have gained the time, but by degrees the air becomes more sprightly; the conductress of the dance sometimes setting to her partner, sometimes darting before the rest, and leading them through the most rapid revolutions; sometimes crossing under the hands, which are held up to let her pass, and giving as much liveliness and intricacy as she can to the figures, into which she conducts her companions, while their business is to follow her in all her movements, without breaking the chain, or losing the measure."

(13) For a description of the Pyrrhic Dance, see De Guys, &c.-It appears from Apuleius (lib. x.) that this war-dance was, among the ancients, sometimes performed by females.

(14) See the costume of the Greek women of Natolia in Castellan's Maurs des Othomans.

(15) The sword was the weapon chiefly used in this dance. (16) Homer, II. ii. 753.

(17) It is said that Leonidas and his companions employed themselves, on the eve of the battle, in music and the gymnastic exercises of their country.

(18) "This morning we paid our visit to the Cave of Trophonius, and the Fountains of Memory and Oblivion, just upon the water of Hercyna, which flows through stupendous rocks."Williams's Travels in Greece.

(19) This superstitious custom of the Thessalians exists also, as Pietro della Valle tells us, among the Persians.

(20) An ancient city of Zea, the walls of which were of marble. Its remains (says Clarke) "extend from the shore, quite into a valley watered by the streams of a fountain, whence loulis received its name."

(21) Zea was the birthplace of this poet, whose verses are by Catullus called "tears."

(22) These "Songs of the Well," as they were called among the ancients, still exist in Greece. De Guys tells us that he has seen "the young women in Prince's Island, assembled in the evening at a public well, suddenly strike up a dance, while others sung in concert to them."

(23) The inhabitants of Syra, both ancient and modern, may be considered as the worshippers of water. The old fountain, at which the nymphs of the island assembled in the ear liest ages, exists in its original state; the same rendezvous as it was formerly, whether of love and gallantry, or of gossiping and tale-telling. It is near to the town, and the most limpid water gushes continually from the solid rock. It is regarded by the inhabitants with a degree of religious veneration; and they preserve a tradition, that the pilgrims of old time, in their way to Delos, resorted hither for purification.”—Clarke.

(26)

"Violet-crowned Athens."-Pindar.

(27) The whole of this scene was suggested by Pliny's account of the artist Pausias and his mistress Glycera, lib. xxxv. c. 40.

(28) The traveller Shaw mentions a beautiful rill in Barbary, which is received into a large basin, called Shrub wee krub, "Drink and away,"-there being great danger of meeting with thieves and assassins in such places.

(29) The Arabian shepherd has a peculiar ceremony in weaning the young camel: when the proper time arrives, he turns the camel towards the rising star, Canopus, and says, "Do you see Canopus? from this moment you taste not another drop of milk."-Richardson.

(30) "Whoever returns from a pilgrimage to Mecca hangs this plant (the mitre-shaped Aloe) over his street-door, as a token of his having performed this holy journey."-Hassel quist.

(31) This form of notice to the caravans to prepare for marching, was applied by Hafiz to the necessity of relinquishing the pleasures of this world, and preparing for death:-"For me what room is there for pleasure in the bower of Beauty, when every moment the bell makes proclamation, Bind on your burdens?" "

(32) The watchmen, in the camp of the caravans, go their rounds, crying one after another, "God is one," &c., &c.

(33) It was customary," says Irwin. "to light up fires on the mountains, within view of Cosseir, to give notice of th approach of the caravans that came from the Nile." (34) virginibus bacchata Laconis Taygeta.-Virgil.

(35) See, for an account of this dance, De Guy's Travels. (36) The Huma.

(37) The name which the Greeks give to the Virgin Mary

IN what manner the following Epistles came into my hands, it is not necessary for the public to know. It will be seen by MR. FUDGE'S Second Letter, that he is one of those gentlemen whose Secret Services in Ireland, under the mild ministry of my Lord CASTLEREAGH, have been so amply and gratefully remunerated. Like his friend and associate, THOMAS REYNOLDS, Esq., he had retired upon the reward of his honest industry; but has lately been induced to appear again in active life, and superintend the training of that Delatorian Cohort, which Lord SIDMOUTH, in his wisdom and benevolence, has organized.

Whether Mr FUDGE, himself, has yet made any discoveries, does not appear from the following pages. But much may be expected from a person of his zeal and sagacity, and, indeed, to him, Lord SIDMOUTH, and the Greenland-bound ships, the eyes of all lovers of discoveries are now most anxiously directed.

I regret much that I have been obliged to omit Mr. BOB FUDGE's Third Letter, concluding the adventures of his Day with the Dinner, Opera, &c., &c.;-but, in consequence of some remarks upon Marinette's thin drapery, which, it was thought, might give offence to certain well-meaning persons, the manuscript was sent back to Paris for his revi

| sion, and had not returned when the last sheet was put to press.

It will not, I hope, be thought presumptuous, it I take this opportunity of complaining of a very serious injustice I have suffered from the public. Dr. KING wrote a treatise to prove that BENTLEY "was not the author of his own book," and a similar absurdity has been asserted of me, in almost all the best-informed literary circles. With the name of the real author staring them in the face, they have yet persisted in attributing my works to other people; and the fame of the Twopenny Post-Bagsuch as it is having hovered doubtfully over various persons, has at last settled upon the head of a certain little gentleman, who wears it, I understand, as complacently as if it actually belonged to him.

I can only add, that if any lady or gentleman, curious in such matters, will take the trouble of calling at my lodgings, 245 Piccadilly, I shall have the honor of assuring them, in propriâ personâ, that I am-his, or her,

Very obedient

And very humble Servant, THOMAS BROWN, THE YOUNGER.

April 17, 1818.