For the COUNTY MAGAZINE. A Copy of a Letter fent to the Right Rev. Thomas, Lord Bishop of Kildare, from the Rev. Mr. Buckler, of Warminster, in Wilts, concerning a Remedy for the Stone. ment. be, I have ever fince I drank it been free PHILIP FLETCHER. Bath, Dec. 24, 1753. me about fix hours. I had recourfe to my For the COUNTY MAGAZINE. THE ASSASSINATION. HE benefit I received from the Daucus, Τ Tor or Wild Carrot, has been fo great, that I thought it my duty to mankind to encourage the advertising its virtues, and the relief I received by it, in the Salisbury Journal, about three years ago, which was crowned with the high fatisfaction that I received intelligence that it had done great cures on feveral people, who took it purely on the recommendation of my advertiseI had laboured under that painful dif-ing water upon them; and after it has stood order, the ftone in the kidney, at least five or fix minutes, drink it, generally diforty-fix years, when about four years ago, forts of falt meats (or at leaft I ought to do viding it into two draughts. I forbear all or fomething more, it became fo painful, fo) and ftrong beer I rigidly refrain from. that I was under an abfolute neceffity of I drink about two or three glafles of wine quitting my annual journies into Hants; after dinner, and as much table beer as I and to feek for eafe by any means I could find it, but all in vain; it grew upon me have an inclination to. I never drink any fo, that I could not fit at table to eat my I take great care not to drink after my tea thing in the morning before or after tea. meat but in the greatest pain, and finding, in the evening. It is fomething forcing, by experience, that I could have more eafe by a recumbent pofture than in any other, but not violently fo. It does no hurt in I was obliged to lie down wherever 1 came, prejudiced in its favour, but of this I am any kind. You will perhaps fay. I am either at home or abroad, and in that po- confident, I find myfelf in better health, fition I converfed with my friends, and in and I have enjoyed more eafe for these that pofture eat my dinner daily; and in four years laft paft, than I ever did from and I have enjoyed more ease for these fhort, I was still followed by fuch continual pain, that Í expected I had but a fhort the age of 14 to that time. I have not time to live. I had applied to phyficians, water, no, not once, fince I took this funds, I ordered a chaife, and drove poit any bloody or in the apothecaries, conformable to directions, I made ufe of Mrs. Stevens's medicine, and nauseous as it was, I took about fourfcore draughts of it, together with a full dofe of that ill tafted powder, that is part of the recipe, but all in vain,-I could find no relief. In this miferable condition, I recollected I had an herbal, in which were prefcribed remedies carrot tea, notwithstanding I made fuch at I am, &c. THOMAS BUCKLER. that on Wednesday, about two o'clock in Chamber at St. James's, and put the King, the afternoon, twenty defperadoes, armed with daggers, rufhed into the Prefence the two Secretaries of State, the Prefident of the Council, and the Lord Chancellor, to death; that they afterwards proceeded to Buckingham-houfe, where they fized upon the Queen, and committed her and that the guards were overpowered by about the three elder Princefles to the Tower; ten thoufand volunteers from Ireland, headed by Napper Tandy; and that Mr. Fox, in tants of Westminster, had poffeffed himfelt woman's cloaths, fupported by the inhabiof the bank, the crown, and the jewel office. Terrified at fuch alarming intelligence, to Dover. The people at Dover had not heard a word of Napper Tandy and the Irish; the story there was, that a man, dreffed like a gypfey, had, under pretence of telling fome of the ladies in waiting their fortunes, gained admittance to the caftle of Windfor, where he concealed himfelt until the dead hour of the night, when he put all the Royal Family to death. That for many disorders;. I providentially looked A Letter from the Reverend the Dean of in confequence of this, there was a rebel into it, and found the Wild Carrot ftrongly recommended by Mr. Boyle; I immediately (it being on the firft or fecond of Auguft) fent a perfon into the field to get SIR, Kildare. lion, and the guards being drawn out, above fix hundred people were shot dead upon the fpot. me the Wild Carrot, which was accord-had been much afflicted with the ftone, ingly done. I made it into a tea, fweeten- reading Mr. Buckler's letter, I, who and I proceeded poft to Rochefter. Here ing it with Lifbon fugar, and drank about two ordinary tea pots full in a day; each pot contains a full half pint, one for breakfaft, the other for fupper; eating with it as with other tea, and in three days time the pain began to grow weak and die away, and in five days it quite left me; my fpirits revived, and I was reftored (Í biefs God) to perfect eafe: this was in Auguft laft, four years ago. I continued drinking this tea till about the 17th of December following, and then idly neglecting it, the diforder returned, and I had a fhort, but fevere fit, that held My fears upon this grew ftill greater, the matter began to mend, and things apbetook myself to drinking the wild carrot peared not quite fo bad. The ftory at tea. This was in the month of October Rochefter was, that his Majefty, in paffing laft; and fince I have drank it, I have not through Buckingham-gate, was fhot by a felt any fevere pain. I have fometimes in- Scotch fmuggler, difguifed like a fruit wodeed uneafy feelings, but they are the feel-man; that the ball penetrated the breaft, ings rather of weight than of pain, and and lodging in the center of the heart, his generally terminate with my parting with Majefty died inftantaneously. That, on a great deal of loofe gravel, much more the piffol being fired, an armed body of than I was formerly ufed to part with. fmugglers appeared, and galloping through Whether this medicine tends to the diffolv- the park, were met at the treasury door by ing a ftone already concreted, or ferves about two thousand more, with the Chanonly to prevent farther concretion, I can- cellor of the Exchequer, and the Mafter not fay; but it is no finall happiness to me, of the Rolls in their cuftody, tied back to that whatever its manner of operating may back. That thefe two unhappy gentlemen were made faft to the long cannon on the who were fupported by eight thousand four | Tankard was gone after a tobacco cart. I parade, which being previoufly loaded, was hundred and eighty-eight French infantry, now found out my mistake; and that my then discharged, and the bodies blown into exclufive of commiffioned and non-com-fmugglers and the landlord's fmugglers a million of pieces. That the fmugglers miffioned officers, drums and fifes, at the were different perfons; I therefore afked then, in great numbers, marched to the head of whom was the Pretender, as com- him how foon he heard of the King's death, city, where they feized upon the court mander in chief. Both armies met in Hyde after the affaffination by the Ruffian Prinof Aldermen, and as many Directors of Park, where the guards did miracles; but cefs; and what were the particulars. He the India Company as they could find, overpoured by numbers, they were obliged told me that I had heard the story quite all of whom they put to death, except to retreat; and had not the providence of wrong, there was no Ruffian princefs conBrook Watson, who was tied by his wooden God fent the Mafter General of the ord-cerned; the King, he faid, was poisoned leg to the top of the Monument. There nance to Tyburn, with a new howitzer, to by hot rolls and butter, at Windfor, and was not a word of Mr. Fox or Napper cover their retreat, they must all have been dropped down dead as he was getting out Tandy at Rochefter, nor of the Queen, cut to pieces. There his Grace proved the of his carriage at St. James's; the baker nor the Princeffes. Poor Watfon, faid Iufe of fortifications, by getting behind an had been taken up, and confeffed, that to myself, and it blew bitter hard, what old cow-houfe, and from thence fo annoy- Charles Fox came to him, when he had will become of thee in this storm! ing the Pretender's army, that they durft the dough in the leaver, and that he gave not purfue the guards. In the battle, the him fome powder to mix with it, which Ruffian Princefs was killed by a mufquet he said would make the Royal Family love hot, and on examination, the proved to him, and he accordingly put it in.-Fox be no other perfon than the famous Timo- was fled to Ireland.The queen was exthy Brecknock, who was fuppofed to be tremely ill, and the two elder Princefles hanged at Caftle-bar fome time ago, but were dead, and the reft of the family, for who, it seems, was brought to life for this they all eat rolls and butter, were in a moft rebellious purpofe. Things were in this dangerous way; things were all quiet, and ftate when the exprefs fet off. an exprefs gone off for the Prince to come to town. Still anxious, I pofted to Chatham, where I thought I should arrive at the truth, Chatham being a garrisoned town. Here I had full confirmation, and all the particulars, from the landlord, who had them from a ferjeant's wife that washes for a Colonel who had an exprefs from London. The affair, as related at Chatham, terrified me with horror. A lady, who faid fhe was a Ruffian Princefs, begged to prefent a petition to his Majefty. She held it in her hand in the form of a long roll of parchment, which his Majefty bent forward to receive, when the treacherous Princefs fired off a piftol that was concealed within the roll, and which having four rifled barrels, each loaded with ball, two of them ftruck his Majefty in the head, and penetrated the os frontis, lodged in the pia mater, and occafioned inftant death. But it was not alone the King that fell; a footman and a yeoman of the guards were mortally wounded by the two other balls, and the Princefs, availing herfelf of the general confternation, drew forth another pistol and a dagger, and rufhing up into the council room, there flew the poor Attorney General, as he was altering and amending a letter from Mr. Eden, about the Commercial Treaty. Mr. Pitt, on feeing this bloody-minded deed, fled to the door, but in his confufion, not knowing how it opened, he was delayed, and unfortunately met the fate of the Attorney General, being ftabbed in the neck, juft in the fpot where Caffius ftruck the firft Cæfar. The ftab was fo violent, and the dagger fo long, that the point penetrated the lungs, and cut feveral of the ligaments of the heart. The undifmayed Princefs then made her way into St. James's-ftreet, where meeting an enfign of the guards, the knocked him down with the butt end of her piftol, and giving him a kick on the loins, broke his back, and he expired in great agonies. The troops were all ordered out, and every thing wore the appearance of confufion. In twelve minutes and three quarters from the time of shooting the King, the Princefs was mounted on a black horfe, and drefied in regimentals, at the head of a thousand German cavalry, A new horfe being put to the chaife, we foon arrived at the Bricklayer's Arms, oppofite Kent-bar turnpike, where the horses would not pafs without water. There the landlady, who is a widow, informed me that Charles Fox, difguifed in woman's clothes, had murdered the King, and fled to Ireland, from whence he was to bring over all the volunteers, and Napper Tandy, to take London by ftorm the vile ungrateful man. Well, fays I to myself, my little property is gone, and the national debt will. This had a wonderful effect on my mind, be paid off by a wipe, fooner than Mr. and I was anxious to get to town. But Pitt expected. There can now be no one of the horfes falling lame at the Green doubt of the fact, every thing is fo circum-Man on Blackheath, I was induced to ask ftantial. I thought it beft, however, to the news there whilft another was getting. proceed, and I travelled poft without afking There I heard that the King was ftabbed a queftion, until I came to Shuter's hill. in the belly with a butcher's knife, by one There I thought I could plainly hear both of the eastern Princefles, who was loaded the firing of fmall arms, and the noife of the with irons in India by Mr. Haftings; that Duke of Richmond's new howitzer. If his Majefty's bowels came out, and that afked the landlord how many the enemy he died immediately. The Princess was now were, and whether the troops from fecured and fent to the Tower. the interior parts had arrived to strengthen the royal army. The landlord faid he knew nothing about troops, except the damned troops that were quartered on him againft the field day; O then, fays I, thank God fome affiftance is arrived. Affiftance, replies the landlord-affiftance is of no ufe now, Tankard and his party are routed, and the fmugglers have carried the day they carried off every thing before the troops arrived here. The Rochefter ftory now occurred, and I bemoaned the fate of my poor friend, Watfon, on the top of the Monument. And are they really fmugglers, faid 1, that have done this bloody deed. Smugglers, aye that they are, and ftout fellows, I'll warrant them, replies the landlord: but they han't killed any body. My heart leaped to my mouth, and I afked my hoft, if the Mafter of the Rolls and the Minifter were not blown to atoms by the great gun in the park, and if my old fchool-fellow was not ituck on his wooden leg at the top of the Monument. The landlord was all amazement, and afked the poft-boy if I was mad: the poft-boy faid all the road was mad, and afked how far off the Pretender was-the landlord knew no fuch fign on the road; but as to the finugglers, they were got off, and Mr. In about five minutes we were at Rhode's livery ftables, the Surry fide of Weftminfter-bridge, where I learned that the King was wounded between the fourth and fifth rib; that the dagger had penetrated the liver, but that the King was not dead. Thefe were glorious tidings. Both my Sovereign and my property were alive. I haftened joyfully in a coach to St. James's, where the proper authentic intelligence was put into my hands, and five lines of the gazette told me the fimple fact of the King's life being attempted by one poor mad woman. Thus in its way from Lon don to Dover, did the ftory magnify itself into an affaffination by Mr. Fox, a murder by an Indian Princefs, a rebellion by a Ruffian Princefs, a maflacre by fmugglers, a butchery of all the Royal Family by a gypfey, and a general flaughter of the Houfe of Hanover by twenty affaffins. Such is the force of a travelling ftory; and happy is it that every man in England can now laugh at the above idle reports, the danger being past, and the King fecure in the attachment of his people. And well fecured he is in a land of liberty, whilft the minds of his fubjects feel the power of juftice, and their fenfes acknowledge the bleffings of reafon. To the Editor of the COUNTY MAGAZINE. SIR, THE HE obfervations contained in my fecond letter on Reading (fee p. 106) have been pleafing to fome, and furprizing to others. To thofe acquainted with the nature of mufical founds, I might, perhaps, attempt fomething like a demonftration; but the generality of your readers must be of another clafs, to whom fuch arguments would be ufelefs. It is of the utmost importance in directing young perfons to read, to oblige them to articulate every fmall ward or particle, and every fyllable of a word, correctly and diftinctly. The common and prevailing inattention of parents and even teachers to this circumftance is to be lamented. Afk a boy of twelve or fourteen years of age to read or repeat the Catechifm, e. g. 'tis ten to one that he does not exprefs half the words fufficiently diftinct to be heard, if he fo much as articulates them. Afk him to read a few ver fes in the bible, a paragraph in a newspaper, or a letter, &c. in your Magazine; and 'tis twenty to one if you can make the leaft fenfe of it, if you truft alone to the impreffion it makes on the auditory nerves. This is an incontrovertible fact; and therefore, in an age when the advantages of education are better underftood than in preceding times, a very ferious reflection, which calls for the minutest attention of parents and others entrufted with the government of young perfons. Hence, the importance of placing children, or even adult perfons who have ftill need of inftruction, under the care of judicious, careful, and attentive tutors; of thofe who not only know their duty, and are acquainted with the beft methods of communicating inftruction, but study to difcharge that duty to their own fatisfaction, and the advantage of their pupils. If parents would confider the value of time, that the years paffed over in an erroneous, or a flovenly and carelefs education are never to be recalled; is it to be conceived that, upon motives too mean and fordid to be repeated, they would furnish matter for future reproach, and fubject themselves to the ftings and lafhes of a wounded confcience for fuch a violation of the truft committed to them? I am, Sir, yours, &c. Aug. 18, 1786. J. M. ANSWER to the QUESTION, p. 101, in the 'ry indeed! Have you not ftudied all our parts ?" laft Magazine. y the height of the roof. the flant height. a=the diftance a body will defcend on the roof, while another defcends the perpendicular height y; then, per laws of falling bodies, "THI have done this young gentle HIS looks well," faid I to myself, “ "I have," said I, madam; "but that is my favourite. We have all our fan cies.' very "We have fo, Sir: but with such a whim, I would rather that you were my phyfician than my lover, though I fhould not choofe you for either. But you will do well for her; for I am out of my skill if her heart would not be the better of being laid to fomebody's: but I leave you to fettle it with her. The ten guineas will, at least, pay the doctor:" and the Aung out of the room. "What a creature!" cried the young Lady; "he is enough to make any body fick." "She is not the most delicate woman in the world," faid I, feeling my fair patient's pulfe, and feeming to examine her features: "but it appears," added I," she is not mif taken with regard to your diftemper, though the feems to speak at a venture. "I did not expect fuch an infult from you, Sir," faid fhe, compofedly. I mean no infult," replied I," madam; I fympathize moft tenderly with your diftrefs. But it is not to be cured in a folitary bed: I therefore advife you to get up, and take a walk to the Park, or to go to fome place of public amufement, where you may chance to meet your lover." man more real fervice, without one dram of medicine, than I could have done by a hundred boluffes, five hundred pills, fifty dofes of rhubarb, and as many tinctures of bark, with bleeding, bliftering, and vomit-him after what has happened. Yet I fhould Alas, Sir," faid fhe, "I can never fee ing. I might, indeed, have picked his like to return him the money, and make him pocket of a good deal of money, by one fenfible of my contempt. But, perhaps, he while reducing him, and another time mak- knows where I live, and means to repeat ing him up, by talking now of a confump- his infults. Is it poffible that he can ftill view tion, and now of a plethora; but thank me in fo mean a light? O the cruel man !” `heaven! my mind is as much above fuch And fhe wept bitterly. practices, as my circumftances render them unneceflary. "You are mistaken," faid I, " I dare affirm, in the motives of the young gentleAs I ruminated in this manner, a card was man. You, I fuppofe, made him fenfible put into my hand, informing me, that my of your virtue: he was likewife fenfible of advice was wanted at Mrs. B's, mil-your pride; he wished to ferve you; and in liner, New Bond-ftreet. I ordered my what he did, he only obeyed the dictates of chariot, and found myself there in a few his heart." minutes, "Is it poffible?" cried fhe. "Ay, and probable too," returned I.. "What relief," faid fhe, "do you communicate to my heart!" "Would I could heal it entirely," faid I, and I kifled her hand. She blushed. I kiffed her check. She trembled. After the usual falutations, Mrs. B-fhewed me up two pair of stairs: when throwing afide the curtains, and difcovering a beautiful young lady," here," faid fhe, " is your patient, doctor; I believe the is in love; for fhe does nothing but figh: She fays, indeed, it is vexation, because a gentleman one evening put ten guineas into her band-box, and the is afraid forfooth that he will confider it as the price of her virtue; and a good price too for fuch a bauble. Though fhe is certain that he does not know where to find her, fhe is ready to« break her heart, in fhort, for what on my confcience would have eafed mine." "It is very well," faid I, obferving how matters ftood; "that is an affair of the heart; for I have devoted myself particularly to the study of that part." "That part!" cried fhe," a pretty fto "Be not alarmed," faid I, "my fair patient! I would not hurta hair of your head; and I repeat it again, I wish I could tune every chord of your heart.". knows my fincerity, and he will give this "He who fees all hearts," added I, bofom peace:" and I mechanically stretched my hand to the place, though with the affections of a father. But unhappily that inftant my fair patient happened to turn herself in the bed; whether from thinking of her lover, or from what other caufe, I pretend not to fay, but Touched by the delicate reproof, I pul- after her. We were now alone once more. To be alone with a beautiful woman is always a pleasure, though we believe her as chafte as Diana; but to be alone with a beautiful woman while in bed, is doubly pleafing: a fympathetic hope fteals over the heart, the poffibility of fomething plays about the brain, and a certain feeling warms the frozen bofom of the holy hermit, while he fettles the accounts of her foul, and communicates itfelf to the palfied nerves of a hoary phyfician, while he feels her pulle. [To be concluded in our next.] 66 bodies have their inftitutions from various | defperate demands; determined at all motives, and are founded upon different events to rifque once more their fhattered principles, I beg leave to confider what fame, or end their days in difgrace and kind of fociety must be productive of the ruin. Other focieties there are, inftituted greatest good to thofe who compofe it. I for the promotion of mirth and jollity, and mean fuch a fociety, whofe members con- which, though not of fo pernicious a na fift chiefly of young men, who, at a cer- ture as the two preceding ones, yet are protain period of life, generally with to make ductive of very little good to their inemthemfelves confpicuous in the world, but bers; riot and intoxication generally preunfortunately too often purfue the wrong vail at thefe feftivals of pleafure; and road to fame, at whofe temple they are fo fome, perhaps, whofe inclinations natuambitious of arriving. So predominant rally lead them into an excefs of ebriety, in the minds of youth are all objects of facrifice their health, fortunes and reputa pleafure, that they eagerly embrace every tions at thefe Bacchanalian revels. opportunity for their attainment; and as they are naturally led into fome fort of company or other, it seems moft reafonable their choice of companions will be fuch, as to be moft conducive to the end they have in view; and as pares cum paribus, facillimè congregantur," they allociate themfelves into focieties, different in their nature, as their different opinions and paffions have their influence. Societies thus inftituted, are (truly speaking) to be confidered, rather as feminaries of vice, than any thing elfe; for why are they formed, and for what purpofes? For the promotion of idleness, and depravation of morals. What other effects can be produced from dancing clubs, card clubs, and many others nearly of the fame nature; whofe members meet for no other purpofe but to facrifice at the fhrine of Bacchus? What improvement or good can young men derive by vifiting thofe periodical fcenes of mirth? Can it be prefumed, tat by attending a courfe of dancing every week, they cultivate their morals, or advance in knowledge; or muft it be confelled they habituate themselves to idlenefs, and thereby degenerate into fordid ignorance? No fooner are they captivated with this yoke of pleafure, than the curb of reafon, no longer able to reftrain the impetuofity of the paffions, lofes its hold, and they rush into every extremity of profligacy for the enjoyment of their licentious appetites. Of all the vices young men efpecially can abandon themfeives to, gaming is the worft; and what elfe can be the refult of a card club; inftituted at firft, I'll admit, merely for the innocent amufement of its members; but all who will allow the powerful effects of habit in human conduct, muft acknowledge the impropriety of this inftitution. Does not experience convince us daily, how rapidly men's fortunes and characters are carried away in the torrent of this deftructive whirlpool; and when deftitute of thefe, what lengths will they not run for the acquifition of money, to fatisfy their Now, therefore, it comes to be confi dered, what kind of fociety young men may form among themselves, which will at once afford entertainment, and at the fame time tend to the cultivation of their minds, and the improvement of their underftandings; is it to be conceived either of the foregoing ones will have thefe effects? The only inftitution that can produce fuch confequences, is that termed a Literary Society, compofed of youth, truly ambitious in the purfuit after knowledge; with a perfon to prefide over them, whofe morals and feientifical knowledge command at once refpect and admiration. Such a fociety as this, regulated by proper rules, is one of the moft defirable inftitutions of any that can be formed; it is here we behold real merit beaming forth in her genuine colours, every member feems emulous for that praife, which his diligence and fobriety alone can entitle him to, and which will be an everlafting ornament to his name and character. He here becomes acquainted with the elements of every fcience, learns to fpeak with propriety, argue logically, and deliver himself with fluency and eafe; and above all, he ini ates himself in the precepts of virtue and morality; fo that, befides being an orna ment to fociety, and a worthy companion, he may boat of the name of an honeft man, "The nobleft work of God!" It is mach to be wifhed, that there was a fociety of this nature in every town, as it would be not only the means of improving that fcholaftic knowledge which young men their educationly but it would likewife equip them (if I may be allowed the expreffion) for the more lerious concerns of life. Ifhould be happy to find the gentlemen of this town engage themselves in promoting fo valuable an inftitution; and I truft, there are many already, whofe fentiments coincide with mine, and doubt not, was there but a fcheme of the kind propofed, many young gentlemen would be happy with fuch an opportunity of improving themfelves. SALISBURY: Printed by B. C. Now foftened funs a mellow luftre shed, T HIS is, in general, a very agreeable month, the diftinguishing foftnefs and ferenity of Autumn, with its deep blue skies, prevailing through great part of it. The days are now very fenfibly fhortened; and the mornings and evenings are chill and damp, though the warmth is ftill confiderable in the middle of the day. This variation of temperature is one caufe why Autumn is an unhealthy time, efpecially in the warmer climates, and in moift fituations. Those who are obliged to be abroad early or late in this feafon, fhould be guarded by warm clothing against the cold fogs. In late years, a good deal of corn, is abroad, efpecially in the northern parts of the ifland, at the beginning of September; but it is fuppofed that, in general, all will be got in, or at leaft cut, by this time for the firft of the month is the day on which it is allowed by law to begin fhooting partridges. Thefe birds make their nefts in corn-fields, where they bring up their young, which run after the parents like chickens. While the corn is ftanding, they have a fafe refuge in it; but after harveft, when the fportiman may freely range over the ftubble with his pointers, they are either obliged to take to the wing, and offer themfelves to the fhooter's aim; or are furrounded by nets on the ground, and thus taken in whole coveys. BER, To be continued Monthly. In his mid-career, the spaniel struck, Stiff, by the tainted gale, with open nose, Outftretch'd, and finely fenfible, draws full, Fearful and cautious, on the latent prey; As in the fun the circling covey bask Their varied plumes, and watchful every way Thro' the rough stubble turn the fecret eye. THOMSON. A remarkable product of the earth collected in this month, is faffron. This is cultivated in various parts of Europe, but none is fuperior to that grown in England, chiefly in the counties of Effex and Cambridge. The faffron plant is a fpecies of crocus, which is planted in July, and the flowers gathered in September. The part which alone is ufed, is the fine branched filaments on the infide of the flower, called the Chives. It is properly an expansion of the female part of fructification, or piftil. Thefe are picked off, dried, and prefled together into cakes. They are of a high orange colour, and have a very ftrong aromatic odour. Saffron is ufed in medicine as a cordial; and its flavour was formerly much efteemed in cookery. It gives a fine deep yellow dye. Very few other flowers open in this month; and it is to the ripening fruits, that we are chiefly indebted for variegation of colour in the landscape of nature. The labours of the hufbandman have but a very fhort intermiffion; for no fooner is the harvest gathered in, but the fields are again plowed up and prepared for the winter corn, rye and wheat, which is fown during this month and the next. At this time it is proper to ftraiten the entrance of bee-hives, that wafps and drones may have lefs opportunity of getting in and devouring the honey. Early in September, a harveft of a peculiar kind is offered to the inhabitants of our fea-cofts, in the immenfe fhoals of herrings, which travelling in a prodigious army from the neighbourhood of the 1786. Price Three-Pence. arctic circle, after many divifions and fubdivifions, at length appear in the narrow feas which encompass our island. Yarmouth is the principal station from whence our fishermen proceed in fearch of this valuable booty. Towards the end of this month, the chimney or common swallow entirely dif appears. There are various opinions. concerning the manner in which these birds difpofe of themfelves during the winter; fome imagining that they all fly away to diftant fouthern regions, where infect-food is at all times to be met with; others, that they retire to holes and ca verns, or even fink to the bottom of ponds and rivers, where they pafs the winter months in a torpid and apparently lifeless. ftate. That many of them migrate to other countries, feems fufficiently proved. But fome, probably, always ftay behind, which are the younger broods, or fmaller kinds, that are incapable of fo long a flight. For fome time before their departure, they begin to collect in flocks, fettling on trees, bafking on the roofs of buildings, or gathering round towers and fteeples, from whence they take fhort excurfions, as if to try their powers of flight. When Auttunn fcatters his departing gleams, THOMSON. Not only the fwallow tribe, but many other fmall birds which feed on infects, |
