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NOTES.

MULTANGULARIS, from MULTUS, many, and ANGULA, an angle.

POLYANGULARIS, from POLUS, many, and ANGULA, an angle.

POLYGONUS, from POLUS, many, and GONU, an angle.

1. Angulis plusquam sextis prominentibus longitudinalibus.-L.INNÆUS.

2. Multangularis, a multangular stem.
Polyangularis, not in MARTYN.

Polygonus, or four-cornered, or many-angled, having several (more than six) prominent longitudinal angles. Delin. Plant. But in Philos. Bot. it is a species of anceps. Multangularis is explained in Delin. Pl. to be excavated longitudinally by several hollow angles. According to this explanation, therefore, the former term refers to the angles in cameo, the second to those in intaglio. But in Philos. Bot. the multangular stem is said to have several prominent angles.-MARTYN.

3. Multangularis, Polyangularis, Polygonus, neither of these terms are in BERKENHOUT.

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THE MAGIC WHIP.

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DURING a solitary ride on horse-back, was in her lap. This she frequently took up and laid down, with a strange mixture of complacence and petulence for vanity pointed out some remains of a fine face, but truth discovered scenes that she did not wish to know. She saw with deep compunction that the hoary hand of time had long been busied

one fine morning, from London to Uxbridge, I amused myself with fancying my horse-whip to be equal in power, convenience, and secrecy to any conjuror's cap, necromancer's ring, or enchanter's rod I had ever heard of, and that by its means I was enabled to take off the shell or external covering from several of the passen-in scattering a winter's frost over her once gers I might meet with on the road, and peep at the soul, as she was busy in rising the bulwarks of character and appearances, in order to intrench herself with snug security amongst her favourite vices and follies which lay be-imagined that by the assistance of pastes, hind them.

auburn hair. She felt with anguish his rough chissel tracing furrows in her brow. She had indeed often attempted to interrupt the old gentleman in his work, and she vainly

powders, combs, rouge, lotions, and perfumes, she had counteracted his rude attempts, or blunted the edge of his tools, whilst, in fact, she was only allowing him an oppor

How little, thought I, are we to credit the report which an outward show makes either of human happiness, or the characters of men. It is very possible that yon coach-tunity the more to sharpen them. Often did man is more at ease under the garb of servitude, than the mistress whom he drives.

Carelessly waving my whip, its lash encircled a spoke of the chariot-wheel, as it passed me.

she endeavour by languishing accents and practised smiles to entice back the departing cupids to lie in ambush in her locks, or shoot their arrows from behind her wrinkles. Furies were eager to occupy the post those young urchins found no longer tenable.

Perhaps I had taken her at a disadvantage; a late unfortunate accident might have con

The lady had, upon a superficial view, a very venerable appearance; and I was tempted to imagine she might be some happy devotee who having made a voluntary resigna-tributed its share towards the discomposure tion of her place in the gay circle of youth to which I saw predominant in her countenance. her grand-daughter, had bid adieu to the The morning's employment had been to devanities of life; and by a regular attend-posit her plate until the return of the next ance upon morning and evening prayers, mak- || quarterage, with a pawnbroker of eminence, ing cordials, elixirs, and plasters for the sick || and wounded, with other acts of charity, was laying up as great a stock of good works for the world to come, as her remnant of time would allow.

I am sorry to say my whip in this instance proved an enemy to charity. It discovered to me that though she affected a placid dignity of countenance, yet this was only a mark of the deformed features of her character,|| which were composed of coquettish vanity, supercilious pride, and waspish chagrin. Her|| dress was fantastically young, and her delicate bosom, which she graciously exhibited to whoever would look, struck me, on account of its colour and antiquity, with that kind of veneration with which I should contemplate a drum that had served in many campaigns in the Marlborough wars. A prayer-book, and a treatise concerning the preservation of beauty, lay on one side of the seat, and a small bottle of cordial on the other; a knotting-shuttle was in her hand, and a pocket looking-glass

frequently employed by the nobility, in order to defray the expences of a brilliant rout, in which she was honoured with the company of persons of the first distinction. But as no one can be completely happy in the present chequered state, this worthy person hath also her misfortunes; for, notwithstanding every effort to display her taste and magnificence, she was totally eclipsed the succeeding evening by a lady whom she is known to despise, and whom she has often made the object of her ridicule, upon account of the inferiority

of her rank and fortune.

The thoughts of the charioteer were entirely occupied about having his horses properly trimmed against the next assembly-night; and if his mistress will please to pay him his wages, which have been due these two months, he intends to buy himself a pair of secondhand silver buckles upon the occasion. And he pleases himself with the thought, that these, in conjunction with a pair of new white thread stockings, will enable him to cut as

brilliant a figure among the gentlemen of the !! stable, as his mistress in rivalling all the belles in the ball-room.

As to his postillion, hilarity maintained her seat upon his countenance, nor did she so much as flinch at the briskest flourishes of my soul searching instrument.

The next personage who passed me as I was sauntering along the road, was a venerable pontiff, weil mounted upon a proud steed, with a footman behind him on another. He holds a vicarage of £500 per annum, presented to him some years ago by a young nobleman, to whom he had been travelling tutor. As the tutor was a discreet man, he knew when to accompany his charge, and when to remain at the inn, and leave his pupil to his own pursuits; and the grateful pupil has rewarded his complaisance with the above living. The other || day a second benefice of about £300 per annum, in value, became vacant, and thinking it might enable him to do more good in his day and generation, our pious divine rode up to town with the utmost haste, to solicit the gift of his quondam patron.

The driver of a west-country waggon next engaged my attention. This man, quoth 1, is condemned to quit his midnight slumbers, and slowly to pace the dark and solitary ¦¦ road, even in the most inclement seasons, and that perhaps merely to gain a sorry pittance for a wife and numerous family; while his happy master is doubtless enjoying and enriching himself at home, by means of the hardships and fidelity of this his servant. As I approached to him, 1 heard him cheerfully carolling to his team. Upon slightly touch ing the hem of his frock with my rod of intelligence, i found that a winter's great-coat, with an oil-skinned hat, and a morning-dram, were sufficient barriers against rain and pinching frost; that early rising, was by habit rendered a pleasure; that his gains, though small, were sure; and that his only solicitude was to drive the horses with safety on the road, and to take care of them at the

ins.

But the proprietor is by no means an object of envy. Though the warm downy bed yields to his limbs, and he can hear the winds whistle around him, sheltered from the rough blasts, yet anxious cares banish sleep from his eyes. Twice has he, partly by misfortunes, and partly by imprudence, become a bankrupt; and he is now upon the brink of inevitable destruction.

I then touched with my mystic instrument, the carriage of a nobleman. He sat musing and pensive in one corner of the coach. Doubtless here is some sche:ne on the carpet for the public good, thought 1; he is devising some project to pay off the national debt.

No; it is simply to lessen his own, and to stop the clamours of his numerous creditors. He has lately sold two country-seats, and mortgaged a third, merely to get rid of importunate visitors.

This would have given him a little respite, had it not been for an unlucky opposition he met with in a borough; where the vain ambition of bringing in his man, has not only exposed him to the mortification of losing his cause, but has thrown him again very considerably in arrears. He is now contriving a new vista through some woods, to answer his immediate wants: the difficulty is, to conceal the motive, for he has made so many openings and intersections to defray bis exigences, after a run of ill luck at the gaming-table, or at Newmarket, that the sound of the axe is already become the jest of the neigheurhoed.

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But unfortunately, the living was engaged long before the death of the incumbent, to a noble Lord, from whom the patron expects considerable preferment in the state; and this noble Lord has already given it to the brother of his toad-eater, who has lately entered into orders.

Our clergyman is moralizing upon the various disappointment men meet with in their journey through this vale of misery. But to alleviate his affliction as much as possible, which is allowed to every man, provided only he makes use of lawful measures, he has formed a uoble resolution to raise the tythes among his dear parishioners, as soon as he shall return to the cure of souls.

"Take care, young gentlemen, don't ride

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"Very well, Sirs," says I, and I smacked my whip.

One of these gay sparks I found to be the son of honest country parents. The extravagance of this hopeful youth had soon exhausted the little store their industry had been long in collecting. He has lost by his folly and inattention to business, several fa vourable opportunities of advancing himself in the world, and his only immediate prospect is a voyage to the East Indies, in the capacity of a common sailor, to avoid some very disagreeable inquiries.

The other is a clerk in a merchant's counting-house. He has this morning robbed his master to join a jovial party a few miles from town. Humanity casts a veil over his f iture lot.

But what chariot is that with the green-address; but a sketch of her history will exshades drawn up in so fine an evening? the plain the mystery. charioteer drives so remarkably slow, and seems to have something of a leer upon his

countenance.

My magic whip soon rendered the blinds as transparent as glass. I beheld a gentleman, aged seventy-six, of a very grave aspect, amusing himself with a Miss of sixteen. He is not like your thoughtless young men, who are fond of ostentation, and who triumph in their vices. No; when he strays from the line of right, he still takes care to walk upon that of prudence. He has a virtuous wife, whom he would not willingly offend, especially as most of her fortune is at her own disposal; and he has children, from whom the cautious good man hides every appearance of evil. He therefore takes the following method of gratifying his youthful propensities:

She is the only child of a couple in middling circumstances, who keep a chandler's shop in one of the out-skirts of the town; and as they are able to leave their daughter three hundred pounds, they were determined she should have a genteel education. To these parents she is obliged for her present situation. They had the folly to place her at one of those seminaries for young ladies, where the same education is given to females in opposite spheres of life, and where every accomplishinent for a lady to be taken under a gentleman's protection carefully taught.

Our damsel having good natural talents, made great proficience in her learning. The first week she fancied herself a young lady, because the school-mistress and all the Misses gave her that appellation. In the space of a month she despised her parents as vulgar and low-bred animals, only fit to serve in a In two months she laughed at petty shop. domestic employments; scorned to take a needle in her hand for the servile offices of making a shirt or hemming a handkerchief, or for any thing less than to work tambour, or the tent-stitch. She next read novels, re

This young lady is lodged and boarded at a convenient house on the road, where she passes for his niece. And, besides frequent visits by way of inquiring after her health, he often gives her an airing in his carriage, as he returns from town, where his business, real or feigned, generally calls him twice or thrice a week. It is impossible for the coachman not to suspect something; but his masterpeated slip-slop love-verses, learned foreign knows how to keep him discreet; and he finds it more advantageous to appear totally blind to what he cannot prove, than to hazard his master's displeasure by imprudent insinuations.

languages; that is, knew what tables and chairs were called in French, and could repeat a few phrases she had orally acof most schoolquired, in the manner

girls. She played a few tunes on the piano imperfectly, and free from the shackles of

The girl, young as she is, plays her part admirably. She has the art to make a profit-time; talked of young gentlemen ; stored every

corner of her brain full of love, intrigues, elopements, &c. Thus was she at the age of fifteen, rendered ripe enough to jump into the arms of the first gallant who should extend them for her reception.

able capitulation at every interview. A new present, by way of subduing the remains of her modesty, or of pacifying her scruples, is always the term of fresh familiaritics. He bas just been giving her a pair of diamond earrings; and she knows how to set down the ecstacy they inspire, to the proper score. She holds them in the band which amorously encircles his neck, and gives them every moment such transporting glances and ogles as were enough to make any man in his senses jealous of his own gift; but our old gentleman is in-accomplished, soon found access to her ten. fatuated enough to attribute her transports to the charms of his person.

One incident made me smile. In the ardour of his caresses, the upper set of his teeth fell into her lap, this made him somewhat confused, but the young lady with great prudence, pitied his misfortune, and assisted him in re-adjusting the set.

It may be thought surprising that a creature so young, should be mistress of so much No, II. Vol. I.-N. S.

A French journeyman hair-dresser who attended the school, and whose grecu longwaisted coat, clubbed hair, worked ruffles, fringed neckcloth, all softened and rendered smooth and uniform by a general suffusion of powder, entitled him to the character of all

der heart. But as it was not in his power to make her higher presents than a horn tortoiseshell comb, or a pot of artificial bear's grease, stolen from his master, the amour was at a stand. At this juncture, our old gentleman being struck with the cast of her countenance, more than with any particular beauty of person, thought her well qualified to be his mistress; and he made her such offers as no prudent girl could refuse; especially as M

this fortunate event enables her to indulge ber favourite passion also. For now it is in her power to carry on the intrigue with her first gallant at her ease, and repay herself with her youthful barber, for the nauseous caresses she is obliged to bestow on her antiquated swain, who has now almost attained his seventy, whilst she is only in her fifteen.

Behold yonder goes a brisk spark, driving along in his phaeton, with all the pride of luxury and pleasure. His horses fly like the foaming steeds of Apollo. I smacked my whip, and found that although he has escaped with his life and limbs, yet he Has overturned his fortune, and riding headlong to infamy and

want.

work-house. His exigencies being great, public payment slow, he was acessitated to sell for five pounds his title to fifty; with this he commenced shoe-black. But trade ill succeeding, he bought a wooden limb, a pickaxe, and a shovel, and now obtains occasional employ from the superintendant of the roads.

Thus was this veteran in distress the only survivor of a numerous family; nor had he a distant relation to acknowledge him. He appeared as an insulated inhabitant of this globe, or like the mast of a wrecked ship, raising its head above a tempestuous ocean.

Here, thought I, is misery complete. But I soon learned how much appearances had deceived me. A consciousness of having disSeeing a lame old man levelling the ruts charged his duty through every stage of with a spade, I rode up to him; but as he was action, and a release from greater sufferings, without disguise my whip was useless. An unhas made the eve of his boisterous life tolerreserved conversation was sufficient to furnish ably calm and serene. me with a short, but melancholy epitome of pends, like the fowls of heaven, upon ProIt is true, he now dehis life, the principal incidents of which were vidence and the returning day for his subas follow:-He was seized by a press-gaug in sistence. Providence and the returning day the beginning of the last war, and hurried on have not yet left him destitute. Bread suffiboard a tender. Upon pleading earnestly the cient to satisfy the rage of hunger, and the miseries into which a large family would be refreshing brook to slake his thirst, have been involved by his absence, the Lieutenant had always in his power. Nor is it unfrequent that the humanity to propose that if he would he dines luxuriously on the offals of an ordijoin the gang for a certain time, his release mary, or the passing tribute levied on the huwould be afterwards insured to him.-"No," mane, which sometimes enables him to raise said he," I would rather endure an injury than an exhilarating draught. He sleeps at night commit one." After being exposed to variin barus and stables; insured by his poverty ous dangers, he lost a leg in an engagement from losses by fire,he sleeps; nor were his slumwith a French ship, which was taken. His bers ever disturbed by the apprehenion of midshare of prize-money amounted to fifty pounds.uight robbers. His present desires are absorbed The hopes of returning to his wife and children with this treasure, consoled him for the loss of his limb. He returned; his wife was dead; his eldest son had been happily rescued from the infamy to which a pick poket is exposed, and sent to sea by the directors of the institution in favour of deserted children, where he was however accidently drowned. An elder daughter had been at service, but was afterwards seduced, and died upon the town. Three younger children had perished in a

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in longing for the refreshing pint; for the day bad been sultry, and he was fatigued andthirsty. These wants I soon supplied, and a donation too trifling to be mentioned, rendered him happier than numbers would be by the acquisition of thousands. He threw the spade over his shoulder, and limped away rejoicing, leaving the morrow to take care for itself.

R.

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