234 
into physiological learning. He had 
a reflecting mind, and, well weighing 
the analogy that prevails throughout 
nature, was led to remark, that as we 
are acquainted with phosphoric and 
electric animals, it is not improbable 
that future times may discover plants 
which, like the torpedo and gymnotus, 
shall electrify the intruder who dares 
to approachthem. The Abbé Bertho- 
lon and Dr. Ingenhouz were of the 
same opinion. As a portion of labour 
and attention appears now to be di- 
rected to investigating the interior of 
unexplored regions, this speculation, 
though a most singular one, may even- 
tually be found to be no miscon- 
ception. 
ORIGINAL LETTER OF S. DUCK THE POET 
TO MR. BENJAMIN KENNICOTT. 
Sir,—I return you many thanks for 
the valuable present of your book, 
which I received by the hands of Mr. 
Lillington. I have read it once over 
with pleasure, and have begun it a 
second time ; and a second time I am 
edified,—h@e decies repetita placebit. 
Your account of the tree of life, the 
Sabbath, and sacrifices, are very inge- 
nious; and, if you have not demonstra- 
tion, you have at least great probabi- 
lity on your side. But I ought to be 
very careful how I give my opinion on 
matters so abstruse, and so much 
Kew Green, in Surrey ; June 14, 1'747. 
P.S.—I do not wonder to see Dr. Oliver 
among the number of your friends ; he is 
one to allmankind. I have obligations to 
him myself, which I shall always acknow« 
ledge. If you see him in your way to De- 
vonshire, be so kind as to tell him that I 
frequently think of him with pleasure. 
LORD ROSSLYN. 
The difficulties of getting rid of a 
Scotch or Irish pronunciation are con- 
siderable ; but examples are not want- 
ing to stimulate those who are in pur- 
suit of this.object. There is now in 
London a gentleman, in a high office 
of the law, who did not leave Scotland 
till after he had been seme years ad- 
‘vanced in manhood; and yet, by re- 
ceiving instruction for a few months 
only, according to the plan laid down 
by Sheridan, sen. he has conquered ali 
the difliculties attached to invetcrate 
habits. ¥ allude to Lord Rosslyn, or 
Stephensiana, No. XII. 
[Oct. 1, 
above the reach of my capacity. For 
though (as you observe in your obli- 
ging letter,) there is some similitude 
in our lives, yet the parallel will not 
hold in the point of learning; for you 
have been, in that respect, much hap- 
pier than I have been, who have never 
had the advantage of such a liberal 
education as you are blest with; it 
being my misfortune to be a stranger 
to the universities, of which you are an 
ornament. However, I shall not be 
wanting in diligence yet to improve my- 
self; and, as the chief duties of Chris- 
tianity (I mean those which are abso- 
lutely necessary to salvation,) lie in a 
narrow compass, and are pretty obvi- 
ous and plain, I will do my best en- 
deavour to recommend them in such 
a manner as may excite mankind to 
practise them; which if I can do, I 
shall think myself not entirely useless 
to society. And now, dear sir, I 
heartily congratulate you on your 
success, and the amazing progress you 
have made in the learned world; I sin- 
cerely wish that it may turn out to the 
advantage of yourself in particular, as 
it must be to the benefit of mankind 
in general. When you come towards 
London, the honour of seeing you here 
would be extremely grateful to, sir, 
Your most obliged, 
humble servant, 
; LL - 
Mr. Wedderburne, who was first soli- 
citor and then attorney general, and 
afterwards lord high chancellor. His 
speech, at present, is not to be distin- 
guished from that of the most po- 
lished natives of England, in point of 
pronunciation and of intonation. The 
instance of Lord Aylmoor, a lord of 
session at Edinburgh, was yet more ex- 
traordinary, for only by conversing 
and reading with actors, and other 
Englishmen, withoutleaving Scotland, 
he arrived at a perfect accuracy of 
pronunciation. 
LORD CHANCELLOR ELDON, 
Is a wonderful instance of good for- 
tune, and is justly praised for his bon- 
hommie. He was the pupil of Mr. 
Bray, the great conveyancer, who was 
the nephew of Matt. Duane, the great 
Roman Catholic conveyancer. Such 
was his assiduity and attention, = 
r. 
