Sectiun II., iy03 [ 173 ] Trans. R. S. C. 



X. — Acadian Magazines. 

 By D. E. Jack, 



(Communicated by Dr. S. E. Dawson and read May 20th, 1903.) 



The earliest Acadia] i magazine of which there appears to be any 

 record was The Nova Scotia Magazine, of which 5 volumes were 

 printed at Halifax, N.S., during the years 1789-93. This magazine 

 contained but little original matter, and abounded in anecdotes and 

 selected articles culled from The European Magazine, The American 

 Museum, The Massachusetts Magazine, The Imperial Magazine and from 

 many other sources. It also contained a large amount of poetry, part of 

 which was of local origin. " PoUio,'^ of Halifax, must have been a verse 

 writer of influence, as several efforts appear over his signature. One of 

 these written " For the Nova Scotia Magazine " is entitled " Odin, An 

 Highland Ballad Versified."' The editor of the magazine deals ten- 

 derly with " Pollio " and his short-comings in part as follows : — 



" We take the liberty of calling our ingenious correspondent's at- 

 tention to a few of his rhymes. He well knows that their harmony in 

 no wise depends on the similarity of the written words, but on sound 

 only: Therefore, though we are aware he can produce too many in- 

 stances from the greatest English poets, we would advise him to be 

 guided by his ear alone." 



Then follow some exam,ples of bad rhymes such as health, death, 

 move, love, red, mead, convey, sea, etc. The editor further adds: — 



" These remarks, we confide, will be received with the same spirit 

 they are offered; which is only that of friendly communication. Cheap 

 as they are, we would not have spent them upon an inferior writer. 

 But from ' Pollio ' we hope for many future favours ; and, if he thinks 

 with us, the least contention can easily remedy this trifling defect; 

 trifling, we know, not from poverty of words, but more likely from too 

 hasty composition." 



The following translation of the thirty-third Ode of Anacreon, 

 signed " Minimus," and which appeared in The Nova Scotia Magazine for 

 March, 1790, p. 230, is not without merit. By a singular co-incidence a 

 translation of the same Ode by W. P. Dole, LL.D. of St. John, N.B., 

 appears in Stewart's Quarterly, published eighty years later, and although 

 more extended reference is made in this paper both to Stewart's Quar- 

 terly and to the writings of Dr. Dole, it may not now be inappro- 

 priate to give both translations for the purposes of comparison. Singu- 



