P.S. I should be glad to be informed by any of your readers, of any author who has considered the subject in the same light with myself. There is, I am told, a poetical epistle of Byrom's, in support of this opinion, but I have not read it.* ON A PASSAGE IN LYNE'S LATIN PRIMER. 40.40140.4 To the Editors of the Northern Star. IN Lyne's LATIN PRIMER (a work on the whole of great excellence) there is a curious note on the use of the Infinitive mood appended (page 35,) to the following passage of TERENCE:→ Errat longè meâ quidem sententiâ, Qui imperium credat gravius esse aut stabilius, Vi quod fit, quam illud quod amicitiâ adjungitur. "N. B. ESSE in this ninth example shows a great deal, though not all, of the nature of an INFINITIVE, word, and of the reason of its name. ESSE here, according to the construction we choose to give it, is either a verb, or a noun, or even an adjective: a verb, if we make it to affirm or predicate, ESSE is; a noun, thus, ESSE TO BE or A BEING, when it agrees with IMPERIUM ; an adjective, thus, ESSE TO BE or AS BEING, when it agrees with IMPERIUM." The subject of Grammar has deservedly occupied the attention of the learned in all ages; but unfortunately I am either not much benefitted by their labours, or the above is an useless and unmeaning distinction; and it appears to me rather a play upon words to assert that ESSE is with any propriety called an adjective. In truth, Mr. Editor, our author has (like most other men) some whimsical and fantastic notions peculiar to himself, and I should be glad to see this passage more satisfactorily explained, or the defects which his book contains fully investigated. I send this rather as a query than a stricture on the passage. Hull, June 1, 1818. VELUTI. • We believe the following lines form that portion of the poem which relates to this subject. ED. Jesus, ascended into heav'n again, One country's tongue, to his Apostles known, THE LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES, POPULATION, &c. OF THE PRINCIPAL TOWNS IN THE WEST RIDING OF THE COUNTY OF YORK. The citadel of Boodroom, which is generally agreed to occupy the place of the ancient Halicarnassus, is supposed to contain many valuable remains of ancient sculpture, hitherto preserved with the greatest circumspection from the eyes of Europeans. On this subject Mr. Beaufort furnishes the following anecdote:- "Some years ago, a French frigate, being at Boodroom, the commander expressed a great desire to see the marbles in the fortress; but the then governor absolutely refused to admit him without direct orders from the Porte. The commander had interest; the ambassador was set to work; and in a short time the frigate returned, bearing the necessary ferman. The governor put it to his forehead, in acknowledgment of its authority, and declared his readiness to proceed. Arrived at the outer gate, "Effendy," said the governor, "the orders of my imperial master must be implicitly obeyed." "Let me in then," exclaimed the impatient captain. "Undoubtedly," replied the Turk, " for so I am enjoined to do by the ferman; but as it contains no directions about your coming out again, you will perhaps forgive this momentary pause, before we pass the draw-bridge." The French commandant, not choosing to put such dangerous irony to the test, departed. George I. 1 Among the few individuals who had retained under the new reign the places that they held or occupied about Queen Anne was Dr. Younger, Dean of Salisbury. Anticipating the change of sovereigns, he had applied with such success to render himself master of the German language, that he was continued in the office of Clerk of the Closet, which gave him great access to the King, behind whose chair he usually stood at chapel. With Younger His Majesty often talked during the service, a circumstance which, as being indecorous, naturally excited much offence. Lord Townsend, then one of the secretaries of state, animated by a sense of loyal affection, ventured to acquaint him that his deportment at chapel gave cause of regret, mingled with animadversion, to many of his most attached subjects; beseeching him at the same time particularly to abstain from conversing with Dr. Younger. Far from resenting the freedom taken with him, His Majesty promised amendment, and Lord Townsend strongly enjoined the Clerk of the Closet to observe in future the most decorous behaviour on his part. Finding, however, that they resumed or continued the same practice, Lord Townsend sent Younger a positive order, as secretary of state, directing him, without presuming to present himself again in the royal presence, to repair immediately to his deanery. Dr. Younger, conceiving the injunction to proceed from the King, obeyed without remonstrance or delay; and the secretary, waiting on His Majesty, informed him that the Dean had received a kick from a horse which fractured his skull, of which accident he was dead. George I. expressed the deepest concern at his loss, and never entertained the most remote idea of the deception which had been practised on him. Several years afterwards, before which time Lord Townsend had quitted his employment, the King going down to review some regiments that were encamped on Salisbury Plain, the Bishop and Chapter of that city had the honour to be presented to him, and to kiss his hand. But when Younger approached for the purpose, His Majesty, overcome with amazement at beholding again a man whom he had long considered as no more, could scarcely restrain his emotions. As soon, however, as circumstances permitted, he sent for the Dean into his presence, and a mutual explanation took place. Conscious of the rectitude and propriety of the motives which had actuated Lord Townsend in his conduct, he never expressed any sentiment of anger or of resentment: but contented himself with promising Younger to confer on him a mitre, as soon as an occasion should present itself; an assurance which he would have probably realized, if the Dean had not shortly afterwards been carried off by death.-Wraxall's 's Historical Memoirs. The King. Dr. Lettsom has left us the following character of our present afflicted monarch:- "We are apt to talk much of the King, as if we were familiar with him; but of all men in the kingdom I think he is the least known; from the little knowledge I possess of him I believe him to be one of the best informed men in Europe. In speaking German and French he has no hesitation, and he is the finest reader I ever heard. In philosophy, mathematics, mechanics, and in the higher sciences, I doubt whether any character living can claim such a happy combination. He is friendly to his inferiors, and kind to his servants and domestics; and if Heaven grant him health, the great political interests of the country will be safe." Burke's Character of William the Conqueror. "He had a body suited to the character of his mind; erect, firm, large, and active: a countenance stern, and which became command. Magnificent in his living, reserved in his conversation, grave in his common deportment, but relaxing with a wise facetiousness, he knew how to relieve his mind and preserve his dignity; for he never forfeited by a personal acquaintance the esteem which he had acquired by his great actions. Unlearned in books, he formed his understanding by the rigid discipline of a large and complicated experience. He knew men much, and therefore trusted them but little; but when he knew any man to be good he reposed in him an entire confidence, which prevented his prudence from degenerating into a vice. He had vices in his composition, and great ones: but they were the vices of a great mind; ambition, the malady of every extensive genius; and avarice, the madness of the wise; one chiefly actuated his youth, the other governed his age. The vices of young and light minds, the joys of wine and the pleasures of love, never reached his aspiring nature." Introduction of Christianity into Northumbria. Edwin, King of Northumbria, married Ethelburga the daughter of Ethelbert, King of Kent; and, previous to the marriage, he pledged himself not to molest that lady and her attendants in the observance of their religion, and even held out a hope that he would embrace it himself. Accordingly, when Ethelburga arrived at the court of Edwin, in 625, she was accompanied by Paulinus, a minister who had laboured twenty-four years in Kent, and who came with the queen in the character of a bishop. For almost two years, however, he seems to have been merely her private chaplain; at least his labours for the conversion of the Northumbrians had little or no effect. It was long before Edwin could be prevailed on to relinquish the gods of his fathers. He indeed consented to the baptism of his infant daughter Eanfled, who was baptized on Whitsunday, 626, with eleven others of his family, and was the first in Northumberland who received the sacred rite; and some time after he desisted from the worship of idols; but it was not till Easter the following year that he openly embraced the religion of Jesus. Yet before making a public avowal of his sentiments, he held an assembly of his nobles and counsellors, in the hope that he would prevail with them to concur in his resolution. Their concurrence was easily obtained. As soon as the assembly had been convened, and the subject had been proposed by the king for discussion, Coifi, his highpriest, who was no doubt acquainted with the sentiments of his royal master, rose and addressed him to the following effect: "It becomes you, O king, to inquire into the nature of that religion which is now proposed to us. In regard to that which we have hitherto held, I solemnly declare, that I have found it altogether worthless and unprofitable: none of your people has been more devoted to the service of our gods than I; yet many receive from you more ample favours, and greater honours, and prosper more in all their undertakings. If the gods had any influence, they would surely give the greatest share of their favours to their most zealous servant. Wherefore, if the |