comitant disorders were to be remedied, or prevented; a capital was to be rebuilt; soon after, a conspiracy was formed against the life of his sovereign; great and powerful criminals were to be punished; a powerful society, the Jesuits, had become dangerous to the state, and was to be suppressed; Pombal had, besides, two wars to maintain, with inadequate means; his country wanted establishments of commerce and manufactures ; he had ancient prejudices to silence, and powerful enemies to humble, &c. Surely an ordinary man would have been crushed under the accumulated weight of so many enterprises. M. de Pombal boldly undertook them, and succeeded. He had vices, no doubt; but men must be strangely blinded by partiality, to deny his eminent qualities. Above all, he possessed that firmness of mind, that undaunted resolution, which, indeed, lead sometimes to the commission of crimes, but without which, no man ever achieved great things.

SIR,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

IT often happens that some of the limbs of fruit-trees, trained against a wall, are blighted, and die; while others remain in a healthy and flourishing state. This evil is, by gardeners, generally attributed to the effects of lightning. But, if this were the case, would not the violent action of the electrick fluid produce a laceration of the branch and stalk of the tree? No such effect is to be perceived. It therefore appears to me that we must seek some other cause for this evil, and I flatter myself that I have discovered the real one.

A few years since, when Galvanism was first introduced to publick notice, I constructed a pile, consisting of about one hundred plates of copper, and as many of zink, each about two inches square. Among other experiments, I applied it to the branch of a tender plant (a species of the ficoides). Having left it for about an hour, on my return I found the branch withered, and hanging close to the stalk. It immediately occurred to me that Galvanism might be the cause of the abovementioned defect in wall fruit trees, occasioned by the oxidation of the nails, by which they are oftentimes fastened (for I conceive Galvanism to be produced, in a greater or less degree, by every metal passing into a state of oxidation). Recollecting that the limb of a cherry tree in my garden had, nearly a year before, been fastened to the wall with an iron cramp, I instantly examined it, and found it dead; though, when fastened, it was a flourishing, healthy limb, at least an inch in diameter, and nine feet in length.

I have since examined several peach and nectarine trees; and wherever I discovered a limb dead, I invariably found that one or more of the nails which fastened it, were in contact with the bark. A limb of a peach tree puzzled me for some time. It was dead, but I could not perceive that any of the nails were in contact with it (the scraps of cloth being left pretty long). After a narrow search, however, I found the mud, of which the wall was built, considerably stained with rust immediately under the branch: and on digging into the wall with my knife, I brought the hidden mischief to light-It was part of a very large spike nail, and which lay about an inch below the surface.

On mentioning some of those circumstances to a friend, he observed, that about a year before, he had fastened some currant trees to a wall with iron hooks. On examination, almost every limb so fastened was dead.

The effect of the Galvanism in these cases will probably be found to be greater in rainy seasons, as the oxidation then goes on more rapidly than it does at other times.

I could have wished to have made some further observations on this subject, before I communicated them to the publick; but at present I have not the opportunity; but I hope some of your numerous correspondents will attend to the subject, and communicate the result of their further observations through the channel of your valuable Magazine. Your's, &c. May 30, 1808.

OBSERVATOR.

ANECDOTES.

ORATOR HENLEY.

THIS eccentrick preacher, of whom it is not yet settled whether he was inspired or deranged, resided at one period in Craven-buildings, Drury Lane; and, we have been informed, used to dress like a beau, and frequent publick amusements. The celebrated Mrs. Bracegirdle lived in a house opposite to him. He is said to have aimed at the restoration of the ancient eloquence of the pulpit: but this is not correct. He affected, whether from motives of ridicule, or with a view to display his erudition, the mysterious denunciations of the Salian priests, combined with the inexplicable doctrines of the Sophists. And when he had sufficiently entangled the intellects of his auditors, would burst at once upon them with observations scriptural, classical, and elegant. From these he would sometimes again diverge to ludicrous descriptions of common life; instruct butchers how they should cut their joints; taylors, how they should make clothes; shoemakers, in the expeditious mode of executing the business of the gentle eraft; and mingle sense, absurdity, and enthusiasm in such a manner as to render his entertainments highly agreeable to the palates of his various guests.

One of his advertisements, for Sunday, the 29th of September, 1729, is curious:

"At the Oratory, the corner of Lincoln's-in-fields near Clare-market, to morrow, at half an hour after ten, 1. the postell will be on the turning Lot's wife into a pillar of salt. The sermon will be on the necessary power and attractive force which religion gives to the spirit of man with God and good spirits."*

"The Monday's orations will be shortly resumed. On Wednesday, the oration will be on the skits of the fashions, or a live gallery of family pictures, in all ages, ruffs, muffs, puffs, manifold shoes, wedding-shoes, twoshoes, slip-shoes, peals, clocks, pantofles, buskins, pantaloons, garters, shoulder-knots, perriwigs, head dresses, modesties, tuckers, farthingales, corkins, minikins, slammakins, ruffles, round robbins. toilets, fans, patches; dame, forsooth, madam my lady, the wit and beauty of my grannam, Winifred, Joan, Bridget. compared with our Winny, Jenny, and Biddy, fine ladies pretty gentlewomen: being a general view of the beau monde from before Noah's flood to the year 29. On Friday will be something better than last Tuesday. After each A BOв at the times."

*We dare not quote the next passage, for a reason which that useful divine, JergMiah Collier, has given, in his View of the Impiety of the English Stage.

One of the advertisements of this singular character, we have heard, invited the licensed victuallers of the metropolis to a lecture on " Social Morality." After which he promises to inform them, "how they shall sell more porter than they do at present."

It is little to be doubted, but that the Oratory was, on this important occasion, crowded with publicans. The orator was particularly animated and entertaining. He explained to them the nature of their situation; their duties; descanted on the various characters of their guests, and many other collateral circumstances. At last, he said: "My brethren, to perform my promise, and, by explaining to you how you shall sell more beer, endeavour to inculcate a moral duty, I must apprise you, that my instructions can never be forgotten, because they are comprised in three words:" FILL YOUR POTS!

GARRICK AND PREVILLE.

When Garrick was in France, he made a short excursion from the capital with the celebrated Parisian performer, Preville. They were on horseback, and Preville took a fancy to act the part of a drunken cavalier. Garrick applauded the imitation, but told him, he wanted one thing, which was essential to complete the picture; he did not make his legs drunk. "Hold, my friend,” said he, “and I shall show you an English blood, who, after having dined at a tavern, and swallowed three or four bottles of port, mounts his horse in a summer evening to go to his box in the country." He immediately proceeded to exhibit all the gradations of intoxication. He called to his servant, that the sun and the fields were turning round him ; whipped and spurred his horse until the animal reared and wheeled in every direction. At length he lost his whip; his feet seemed incapable of resting in the stirrups; the bridle dropped from his hand; and he appeared to have lost the use of all his faculties. Finally, he fell from his horse in such a death-like manner, that Preville gave an involuntary cry of horrour, and his terrour greatly increased when he found that his friend made no answer to his questions. After wiping the dust from his face, he asked again, with the emotion and anxiety of friendship, whether he was hurt? Garrick, whose eyes were close, half opened one of them, hiccupped, and with the most natural tone of intoxication, called for another glass. Preville was astonished, and when Garrick started up, and resumed his usual demeanour, the French actor exclaimed: "My friend, allow the scholar to embrace his master, and thank him for the valuable lesson he has given him."

There are two members in the house of commons, named Montagu Mathew, and Mathew Montagu; the former a tall handsome man; and the latter a little man. During the present session of parliament, the speaker, having addressed the latter as the former, Montagu Mathew ob served, it was strange he should make such a mistake, as there was as great a difference between them as between a horse chesnut and a chesnut horse.

An Irish footman, having carried a basket of game from his master to a friend, waited a considerable time for the customary fee; but not finding it likely to appear, scratched his head, and said: "Sir, if my master should say-Paddy, what did the gentleman give you; what would your honour have me to tell him?”

POETRY.

IT is not a part of the plan of this Journal to originate. Our promised duty to our readers is simply to select. We shall never, however, reject an original review or essay of merit. It will flatter us and gratify our patrons when Genius and Taste use our pages to amuse or to instruct. Although we claim neither of these, we trust that the following brief and imperfect obituary article will neither weary nor offend any one who may turn over our pages in search of abler productions.

THERE is usually so little novelty in the manner of recording the loss of one whose virtues were confined chiefly within the limits of the social circle, and so little to interest the publick in the matter, that obituary notices are glanced at with a careless eye. But the claims of friendship, although forgotten by the world, are neither the less sacred, nor the less to be neglected, by those few survivers who know the worth of a parted friend. If, in any case, the virtues of those who adorned the fireside circle, unambitious of a more extended fame, deserve to be recorded, we shall not err in speaking of MRS. MIRIAM GRATZ. In the possession of almost every comfort; cherished and valued by friends; deservedly adored by her family; in full health, and at no advanced period of life, this excellent woman was suddenly attacked by a disease, whose violence in a few days proved fatal.

Although she had for many years to sustain the shock of severe afflictions, which professional skill could not subdue, and which filial affection alone can alleviate, she was yet blessed in the best treasure which this life can give to a mother; the affectionate attachment of her children. Her parlour was the unvaried scene of content, and witnessed the unceasing interchange of grateful kindnesses;-the gratitude of children, eager to reward the long and anxious watchings of a fond mother, and the gra titude of that mother for the endearing exertions of children to repay