ledge of the ancient languages, forms as singular an object as the annals of literature can produce. In 1810, Richard returned to London, where he was reduced to the utmost distress, and compelled to sell all his books to prevent his being starved to death; the Welsh Bardic Society, however, on learning his destitute condition, furnished him with the means of returning to his native country. In the perusal of the numerous works that have engaged the attention of this singular individual, his chief pleasure is not derived from the facts or the information they contain, but from the mere investigation of the words, and the grammatical constitution of the languages, Richard's studies are diversified by some eccentricities, which show that he is not wholly incapable of other acquirements. At one time in particular, he was highly delighted with blowing a ram's horn, which he did in such a manner, as rendered him no inconsiderable nuisance to the neighbourhood. Having had a present made to him of a handsome French horn, he threw aside his former instrument, and, by constant assiduity, qualified himself to play a few tunes in a manner more remarkable for its noise than its accuracy. Thus accomplished, he paid a visit to Chester during the election of 1818; and arriving there at the precise time when the band of General Grosvenor were celebrating his return, he placed himself in the midst of them -" And blew a blast so loud and dread, Were ne'er prophetic sounds so full of woe. The derangement thus occasioned, induced the general to call him up to him; when, after a few words, he made him a handsome present, and gave him his permission to blow his horn as long as he pleased. Another of his peculiarities is a partiality for the whole race of cats, which he seems to regard with great affection, and to resent any injury done to them with the utmost indignation. This singular predilection has led him to adorn the numerous books on grammar, which he has himself written, with prints of cats, cut from old ballads, or wherever else he can discover them; and to copy every thing that has been written and strikes his fancy respecting them; amongst which is "The Auction of Cats in Cateaton-street," the well-known production of one of the most celebrated wits of the present day. The principal residence of Richard for some years has been at Liverpool, where he may be seen at times walking with a book under his arm, without noticing or speaking to any one, unless he be first spoken to, when he answers in any language in which he is addressed, with great readiness and civility. If any gratuity be offered to him, (for he never solicits it,) he receives it with a degree of hesitation, generally using the words, "I am not worthy." To any ridicule to which his dress may give rise, he is totally insensible. At one time he chose to tie up his hair with a large piece of green ferret, which gave him the most ludicrous appearance possible. Some time since, one of his friends gave him a light-horseman's jacket, of blue and silver, which he immediately put on, and continued to wear, and which, contrasted with his hair and beard, gave him the appearance of a Jewish warrior, as represented in old prints, and consequently attracted after him a crowd of children. In his present appearance he strongly resembles some of the beggars of Rembrandt; and if he had lived in the time of that great artist, might have afforded a good subject for his immortal pencil. Our engraving may be regarded as presenting a faithful picture of this highly eccentric character; and for the interesting sketch of the linguist's life subjoined to the illustration we hold ourselves indebted to the pages of the Percy Anecdotes. The Novelist. No. XCIX. AN ADVENTURE. As I was travelling from Florence to Rome, I remained for a few days at Terni, to view the famous cascade, the surrounding beautiful scenery, and the ruins of some ancient temples that are there to be seen. I was furnished with a letter of introduction to the Marchese di Castelbruno, whose usual place of residence is a castle, from which he derives his title; situated in one of the most inaccessible parts of this ridge of the Appennines. Being anxious to explore a region so remarkable for its romantic and picturesque scenery, I eagerly seized this opportunity of delivering my credentials, and having provided myself with arms (a necessary precaution against the numerous banditti that infest the papal territory) I set off on horseback for Castelbruno. It was one of those beautiful winter mornings so peculiar to the mild climate of Italy. After having crossed a fertile plain, where nature was clad in every charm of soft and tranquil beauty, I reached the foot of a mountain; as I as- The roar of waters! from the headlong height After having spent some time in admir- There was an air of wildness and desolation in every object around me, that inspired the mind with the most gloomy ideas. It conjured up to my imagination all the fantastical forms of "mountain sprites," and "mischievous elves," of which I had heard so many terrific tales in the days of my childhood. Night was now fast approaching, and though I am not of a very timorous disposition, yet I must own I was not sorry to hear a faint and distant sound, which appeared to proceed from some convent beli, ringing for vespers; I followed the swelling tones, and to my great joy I soon perceived the spire of a village church. I made my horse quicken his pace, and having reached the summit of the mountain, I at last found myself again amongst human habitations. edifice. It was a small hamlet, the abode of BYRON. The gloomy repulsive appearance of this building had excited so unfavourable an impression on my mind, that I hesitated whether I should enter it, but a feeling of shame came over me, I taxed myself with childish pusillanimity, and getting off my horse I led him over the draw. bridge, I knocked at a ponderous gate, and, as if by magic, it flew open, creaking on its rusty hinges no one appeared-I walked on into a spacious court-yard, surprised at the deep, profound silence which reigned in this vast mansion. But now the next and most important consideration was whether or how to proceed. The place seemed quite deserted, and yet I was certain that the Marchese di Castelbruno resided in it. The only rational surmise was, that the family resided in some of the remote angles of the castle, and this I was determined to find out. Uncertain which way to turn, I as cended an ample staircase, and as I trod upon the marble steps the sound was dis mally re-echoed by the vaulted roof. I presently arrived in an immense hall. Its dreary walls were adorned with the dusty portraits of the former possessors of this desolate mansion, and the mouldering furniture laid about in strange confusion. The light of my torch aroused myriads of bats, and numerous owls were fluttering about trying to fly from the obnoxious glare, through the broken panes of the large Gothic windows. Holding my torch in one hand, and grasping a pistol with the other, I remained for some time irresolute whether I should proceed. The most sombre reflections, such as the objects around me were calculated to inspire, now crowded the upon my imagination. What, thought I the way to this castle now occurred to me, and added considerably to my suspicions and to my uneasiness. As I was busied with these reflections I imagined I heard a murmur in some adjoining apartment-I startled. It appeared like the sound of human voices, they seemed to be approaching. I presently distinctly heard some one say • he must be here, we must find him." To recede was now impracticable, or at least equally dangerous as to remain. I placed myself against the wall, resolved, if it came to the worst, to sell my life dearly, and to make a stout defence. A side door, which I had not perceived, suddenly opened, and two servants, with lighted torches, splendidly arrayed in gorgeous liveries, entered the hall. Their fear in beholding me, in so threatening an attitude as the one I had assumed, seemed very great. They inquired my pleasure, and having briefly explained to them who I was, and what I wanted, they desired me to follow them to their master's apartment; a request with which, after a little hesitation, I acquiesced. I followed my conductors through a labyrinth of rooms, staircases and galleries, for this palace, like Armida's garden, was "Perplex'd with walks in many a devious maze.” till we reached a seemingly new erected wing. "When through the loftiest gate, the wanderer passed, (And three of these, the spacious structure graced,) With sculptured silver, glorious to behold, TASSO. JERUS. DEL. In this elegant retirement I met with the most cordial and polite reception from the Marchese, who was surrounded by a numerous assemblage of gentlemen. After the preliminary mutual compliments, he introduced me to the party. There was an air of candour in his behaviour, of benevolence in his countenance, that not only restored all my confidence, but made me ashamed of my former fears. We passed the evening in jovial conviviality, and when the hour of bed-time arrived he apologized for not having a better room to offer me than the one he had ordered to be prepared; adding that the others were occupied by his friends who were present, and who were now on a visit to him. I begged he would put himself to no inconvenience on my account, and having wished him a hearty good night, I followed the servant who was to conduct me to my bed-chamber. As I walked along I asked what was become of my horse? "Your horse, sir," replied the man, " is well taken care of in the stable; we heard you knock at the gate, and as we hastened down we were surprised to find him without the rider. We concluded that you must have come up by the wrong staircase, which leads to the uninhabited part of the castle, where we afterwards found you." This elucidation convinced me of the absurdity of my conjectures, and I reached my room with the same sensations of delight as a sailor may be supposed to experience, when, after a violent tempest, he reaches his destined port in safety. After the servant had retired, I began to survey my apartment-it was in a state of dilapidation. The tottering window frames seemed ready to be blown down by every gust of wind, and the old brocaded curtains and chairs bore evident testimony to the active industry of the moths. Having well ascertained that no one was in the room, I locked the door, put out my candle, and throwing myself on the bed, I soon fell into a profound sleep. In the middle of the night, I was awakened by a tremendous noise, that shook the massy building to its very foundation. It was one of those sudden storms so common in these elevated regions, and of whose violence, those only who have travelled through mountainous countries can form an adequate conception. It was "a sublime, terrific tumult of the elements," the bleak north wind hissed, and howled, with hideous moan, in all directions, and drove the rain and hail with incredible force against the shattered window. The vivid lightning flashed, in white fantastic streaks, in fearful rapid succession. Loud peals of thunder were re-echoed from mountain to mountain, and from that awful, that majestic sound, it appeared as if, appropinquante mundi termine-the whole creation's end were near at hand. I got up to fasten my window shutter, and as I was groping about to find my bed again, I perceived, through a crevice in the wall, a faint glimmering of light. I approached softly, holding my breath. I looked, and started back, horror-struck. I mustered up all my resolution, and, advancing cautiously, I again beheld, in a sort of vault below, an assemblage of people, seated round a table covered with black cloth, on which lay several daggers, and, at the further end, stood a person whom I recognised as my Host. From his gesticulations, I conjectured that he was declaiming with great vehemence, but the distance, as well as the noise of the storm, prevented me from hearing what he said. My blood curdled with horror at the sight; my hair stood erect, as if the chill of death had struck me. Every doubt had now ceased, every illusion vanished, and I had acquired the melancholy certainty of being amongst a band of ruffians, who, for aught I knew to the contrary, might at that very instant be discussing if, or how, they should put me to death. As soon as the first emoticn of fear had subsided, I became more calm and collected. I dressed myself as well as I could in the dark, took my pistols, and having commended my soul to God, I seated myself in a chair, fully resigned to my fate. In this terrible situation, the mind, agitated with a tumult of sombre ideas, floating, as it were, between horror and hope, life and death, I hailed with raptures the dawn of approaching day. The clock presently struck the hour of eight. The same servant came to wake me. had no need of it, but perceiving the necessity of making "bonne mine a mauvais jeu," and, under the plausible pretext of an early ride, I ordered my horse. I As soon as I had got without the castle walls, I breathed a fervent prayer to God, through whose gracious interposition I had escaped the dangers that had encompassed me, and, without losing much time, I hastened back to Terni. I was aware that it would be equally dangerous, and imprudent, to make my adventure known till I had reached some place of safety, and therefore hastened to Rome, with the utmost expedition. Having safely arrived in that city, I went the next morning to read the paper in the Caffé del Corso. I took up the "Diario Romano," and almost the first article I read, informed me that the Marchese di Castelbruno had been detected and apprehended as one of the chiefs of the Carbonari. The Selector; AND LITERARY NOTICES OF AN ITALIAN SPRING. SPRING advanced, and the mountains looked forth from beneath the snow: the chestnuts began to assume their light and fan-like foliage: the dark ilex and corktrees which crowned the hills threw off their burthen of snow; and the olives, now in flower, starred the mountain-paths with their small fallen blossoms: the heath perfumed the air; the melancholy voice of the cuckoo issued from the depths of the forests; the swallows returned from their pilgrimage; and in soft moonlight evenings, the nightingales answered one another from the copses; the vines with freshest green hung over the springing corn, and various flowers adorned the banks of each running stream.-Valperga. BIRDS' NESTS. SPRING is abroad! the cuckoo's note Seems in her song alone. No traveller she, whose vaunting boast Spring is abroad! a thousand more Sweet voices are around, On the grey cliffs that haughtily On heath, and mountain hoar, I would not bear them from the nest, Lay thick as summer dew; ther more than 400 lbs. and 6 oz. the answer. Admit a block of marble measures 63 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 12 feet thick, what is the weight? (This is given by authors, as the dimensions of an immense block in the walls of Balbec, in Turkey.) 63 × 12 × 12=9072 solid feet, which × 1728 15676416 cubic inches, this x by .09773 1532056 lbs. .13568= 683 tons, 19 cwt. 8 lb. 2 oz. .17. III. The weight of any body in lbs. Avoirdupois, being divided by the corresponding tabular number, quotes the solidity in cubic inches. Example. Suppose a piece of oak weighs 400.3776 lbs., what is its solidity? 400.3776.0331= 12096 inches the answer. IV. The absolute weight of a body floating in a liquid, is equal to the weight of such part of the fluid as is displaced thereby. Example. How many inches will a cubic foot of elm sink in water? .02894 × 1728 rather more than 50 lbs. (the weight of a foot of elm, or of the water displaced). 50 lb..03617 (the specific gravity of water) 1382.3 cubic inches immersed, which divided by 144, gives 9.6 inches the answer. The above short instances may perhaps such researches may find ample satisfacbe sufficient, those who are curious in tion in Robinson's Mensuration. (however irregular,) may be very exactly The solidity and weight of any body determined thus:-Into any vessel, whose horizontal sections are easily computed, pour as much water as will cover the body whose solidity is required, then immerse it, and observe how high the water has risen: the solid content of this sion, will equal the solidity of that body; additional space occupied by such immerfrom which (per table) the weight may be readily computed. The Gatherer. 14-95 weight of water, of equal I am but a Gatherer and disposer of other bulk to Derby specimen, then 14 x 5 72 Derby ore's gravity, and 12 × 5 66 Yorkshire ditto; hence their spe cific gravity is as 72 to 66. = II. The solidity of any body in inches, multiplied by the corresponding tabular weight, will give the weight in lbs. avoirdupois. Example.-Admit a piece of oak measures 56 inches long, 18 broad, and 12 deep, what is its weight? 56 x 18 x 12: 12096 cubic inches, which multiplied by .0331, will give ra men's stuff."- Wootton THE DOCTOR OUTWITTED. SOME years since, during the great floods, a farmer's wife was taken in labour, and no person competent to assist her, living nearer than seven miles, the good husband rode with the utmost speed to the doctor, whom he begged instantly to go to his wite. The doctor being a knowing one, declared, though his usual fee was two guineas, at such a distance, when no danger appeared; yet now, (said he,) as |