IR,

Could any of your readers tell me the origin of the phrase: "He does it under the rose ?"

J. HALL.

"Under the rose we speak it."*And at a venture, also, we take it, that the expression" under the rose," like that which says, "he that is hanged need fear no colours," arose from the wars. It may be asked: What wars engendered the former phrase? To which we reply, the wars betwixt the houses of York and Lancaster. These, it is well known, obtained, for ages, the popular appellation of "The contention betwixt the two roses." In this conflict, the opposite adherents wore as badges, the cognizances of their different parties. They swore by the red or the white 1ose; and these opposite emblems were displayed as the signs of two taverns; one of which was by the

*Beggars' Bush, comedy, Beaumont and Fletcher, act ii. scene 3.

side, and the other opposite the parliament house, old palace yard, West minster. Here the retainers and servants of the noblemen attached to the duke of York and Henry VI. used to meet. Here, as disturbances were frequent, measures either of defence or of annoyance were taken, and every transaction was said to be done "UNDER THE ROSE;" by which the most profound secrecy was presumed. From this, we believe, the phrase spread, and became a term of general acceptation: and it is curious to observe, that in the time of James I. the authors whom we have quoted in our motto, put it, as a colloquial expres sion, into the mouth of Vandunke, the governour of Bruges: intending, perhaps, to intimate, that it was in use in Flanders, which, we need not hint to our friend Mr. H. was part of the dominions of the dutchess of Burgundy, daughter of Richard, duke of York, and sister to Edward IV. EDITOR.

SIR,

YOUR explanation of the phrase, under the rose," in your last number, is extremely ingenious and novel. It is indeed so plausible, that I should incline to trust to it, had I not always imagined that phrase to have been derived from an ancient custom, observed at Grecian festivals. The learned Potter thus describes it: "The rose, being dedicated by Cupid to Harpocrates, the god of silence, to engage him to conceal the lewd acions of Venus, was an emblem of silence; whence to present, or hold it up to any person in discourse, served instead of an admonition that it was time for him to hold his peace. And in entertaining rooms, it it was customary to place a rose above the table, to signify that what was there spoken, should be kept private." Potter refers

IN your last number, your correspondent, Mr. J. Hall, expresses a wish to be informed, what is the origin of the phrase, under the rose. The wild rose tree [Rosa sylvestris] it is well known, abounds in solitary places, and at a distance from the haunts of man. Now, as such retired spots are well suited, not only as places of rendezvous for lovers, but for others engaged in transactions that shun the light of day, and where they can unbosom themselves in perfect confidence to each other, is it not natural to suppose, that these places

Ah! no-in hopeless love thou canst not pine,

Thou ne'er canst woo the brightest maid in vain ;

Methinks I hear some hoary swain exclaim,

"A time there was, when yonder mouldering dome

While I, as hope, and strength, and life recede,

Far, far from thee shall waste the languid day:

Blest, if the scroll that speaks thy bliss I read,

But far more blest to feel life's powers decay.

THE DESERTED PARSONAGE.

[By J. Lynch, esq.]

MARK* where yon steeple rears its simple spire,

Where all the village train, with awe retire,

To lift their grateful orisons on high, To him, whose awful mandate rules the sky.

I love to see the long procession glide Across the mead, or up the green hill's side,

To that plain edifice, whose folding door
Expands admissible to rich and poor:
The house of HIM, who no distinction
knows,

But that which Virtue's sacred power be. stows,

Behind the church a tottering mansion bends,

Whose mouldering wall a sudden lapse portends;

Rank weeds enclose its entrance; and each stone

Is with excrescent damps and moss o'ergrown:

Its garden waste, its lawn o'errun with briar;

Its once pellucid fount a bed of mire: There desolation reigns-no human sound The long deserted, lonely rooms resound: No guest, with champing steed and hasty hoof,

Approaches now the hospitabic roof;

That rifted roof, wide opening to the sky; Totters at every blast that blusters by.

* From poems about to be published. The author has seen a parsonage house in Yorkshire, which answered this description

How cheerful to the eye its front arose ! There crept the woodbine, and here bloomed the rose,

There drooped the virgin lily's pensive head;

And here carnations glowed with streaky

red.

There stood of ancient elms a stately row, Now by the unrelenting axe laid low: And here, as gently sloped the smiling lawn,

Started at every breeze, the trembling fawn.

Methinks, e'en now, in yon sequestered way,

Where hazel clumps exclude the noontide ray,

Our lost, lamented, past'ral friend I view,
As wont, some pious reverie pursue.
O! what a man was he ?-what charms of

sense

Could round such tranquil happiness dispense.

Each sun, that on his works delighted shone,

Saw him neglect, for others' ease his own: Each liberal sentiment that warmed his breast,

A friend in every human form confest;
No narrow, selfish prejudice confined,
His noble, free, disinterested mind.
To every sect alike his bounty flowed;
His love for all mankind unceasing glowed:
For as the sun its genial warmth imparts,
Alike to barren and to fertile parts,
So would he dedicate to all his care,
And portion of his love to all a share:
Good, without pride; and learned without
conceit;

Skilled to check riot, or suppress debate;
No match declared-no contract was be

that he could not move his left hand. The mercury continuing to descend, marked eight inches and a half, and a violent detonation was heard from the balloon, which then descended with great rapidity, and M. Brioschi awoke. The aeronauts alighted safely on the hill of Euganea, not far from Petrarch's tomb and the city of Argua, about twelve miles from Padua. The voyage lasted from half past three until half past eight o'clock.

DR. BREWSTER, of Edinburgh, has invented an instrument for determining distances at one station, without measuring a base, without a portable base being attached to the instrument, or without know. ing the magnitude of the object, the distance of which is to be ascertained. A long base is actually created by the instrument, without measuring it; and the distance is obtained upon a principle, which, as far as we know, has never been employed in trigonomical instruments.

RECENT AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS.

In Baltimore, published,

The Practice and Jurisdiction of the Court of Admiralty, in three parts. 1. A Ilistorical Examination of the Civil Jurisdiction of the Court of Admiralty. 2. A Translation of Clarke's Praxis, with notes on the Jurisdiction and Practice of the District Courts. 3. A Collection of Precedents. Paret natione modoque. By John E. Hall, Esquire. pp. 250, 8vo. By Thomas 1. Ronalds, N.York, republished, The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, price 1 dollar.

By D. Longworth, New York, published, No. I. of the Rambler's Magazine, and Theatrical Register.

By Robert M Dermut, N. York, published,

The Yankee in London. A series of Letters, written by an American, during nine months residence in London. Containing Sketches of Society, and manners in that city at the present day; and of the most prominent traits in the English character. 1 vol. 12mo, price 87 1-2 cents.

Also-Maryland Reports. Being a series of the most important law cases, argued and determined in the Provincial Court, and court of Appeals, of the then province of Maryland, from the year 1700, down to the American Revolution, selected from the records of the state, and from notes of some of the most eminent counsel, who practised law within that period. By Thomas Harris, jun. esq. clerk of the Court of appeals, and John McHenry, esq. attorney at law.

By William Wells, Boston, published, A Biographical Dictionary-Containing a brief account of the first Settlers, and

other eminent Characters, among the Magistrates, Ministers, Literary and Worthy Men of New England. By John Elliot, D.D. Corresponding Secretary of the Massa chussetts Historical Society.

"These were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times." Son of Syrach.

One volume 8vo. price 2 dolls. 50 cts. in boards, and 3 dolls. neatly bound. By Isaiah Thomas, Boston, and Worcester

Sermons on Various Subjects, Evangelical, Devotional and Practical, adapted to the Promotion of Christian Piety, Family Religion, and Youthful Virtue. By the Rev. Joseph Lathrop, D. D. Pastor of the First Church in Westspringfield. By Farrand, Mallory & Co. Boston, republished,

The Scripture Doctrine of Atonement Examined-First, in relation to Jewish Sacrifices-and then, to the sacrifice of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ By John Taylor, of Norwich.

To which are added-Candid Remarks upon the Rev. Mr. Taylor's Discourse, entied, The Scripture Doctrine of Atonement. By George Hampton, M. A.

PROPOSED AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS.

Mathew Carey, Philadelphia, Proposes to republish-Wilkinson's general Atlas, Royal Quarto, with additions of the Maps of the several states, and expects to be able to publish it in about twelve months.

Jane Aitken, Philadelphia,

To publish in a few days-An Epitome of Electricity, and Galvanism. By two Gentlemen of Philadelphia.