REMARKS ON THE PHILOSOPHY, &C. 251 



After I had recovered my surprise, I felt an anxiety to know what 

 had become of the Mouse with which the Weasel had ascended the 

 Fir tree. On climbing up it (the tree was at least fifteen feet 

 high) I observed a small bird's nest* towards the top, in which the 

 Mouse had been safely deposited by its destroyer. 



Upon another occasion I perceived an Ermine Weasel in such 

 close pursuit of a Rat that I had time to get my gun, and at one 

 shot killed them both. 



Surely this species is capable of being tamed, and made practi- 

 cally useful to mankind ; its propensities are the same as those of 

 the Ferret Weasel (Mustela furo), and in its nature it is much 

 more hardy and less liable to disease. 



Rolleston Hall, Staffordshire, 

 Oct. 19, 1836. 



SOME REMARKS ON THE PHILOSOPHY AND 

 OBSERVANCES OF SHAKSPEARE. 



II.— THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA. 



It is fortunate that the duration of human productions does not 

 depend upon individual consent, or there would soon be nothing left 

 to abolish : the appetites of mankind are so various and capricious, 

 that unanimity of taste is as impossible as a verdict universally iden- 

 tical is impossible with fallibility; judgment must be fixed by 

 majority ; we, therefore, reject the peremptory opinion of Mr. Up- 

 ton, who denies the right of Shakspeare to this play, and are con- 

 tent to be pleased in spite of criticism. 



This play is altogether a love matter, it begins and ends with 

 love, the whole business and process of it is love ; Proteus, Valen- 

 tine, Thurio, Silvia, Julia, all are in love. We feel it like an elec- 

 tric battery playing round our hearts, as though the poet had 

 written it with a feather snatched from Cupid's wing. 



The first scene is laid in Verona. The two friends discuss, wit- 



* Probably that of a Goldencrowned Kinglet (Regulus aurkapUlus. )..— 

 Eds. 



