216 
be desired, the qualities which ought 
to distinguish the occupant of that chair 
to which he has recently been appoint- 
ed, and which he cannot fail to li with 
honour. The poet may well profess to 
teach the theory of his art, wlio can put 
it so beautifully into practice ; and his 
opinions of the works of others must 
deserve attention, when all voices unile 
to commend his own. 
—>—— 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
N a scrap of printed paper (ap- 
parently part of a leaf of some 
periodical publication.) which acciden- 
tally feil inte my hands the other day, 
I found the following paragraph :— 
* Botanists well know that a rose-bud 
is enclosed by jive leaves, which shut it 
up close, until the flower blows. There is 
upon this subject an admired relict of 
monkish Latin, descriptive of the leaves 
which surrouud the rose, and which criti- 
cally and classically states the differences 
that distinguish each leaf. It runs thus, 
‘ Quinque sunt fratres, 
Sub eodem tempore nati 5 
Duo barbati ; 
Ultimus é quinque ; 
Non est barbatus utrinque.’” 
The editor of the work asks for an 
English translation, which, of course, 
I have not seen, nor have the means of 
tracing. If this amusing jingle be 
correctly given, it is evident that there 
are only three of the leaves described, 
and it is left to the ingenuity of the 
reader to find out the characteristics of 
the other two by comp2ring those that 
are particularized, and ascribing the 
only alternative between them to those 
which ave not. Thus the common 
hedge-rose has a calyx, which incloses 
the bud, consisting of five leaves, long, 
lanceolate-narrow, two simple, two 
pinnate, (* barbati,’) and a fifth pin- 
nate only on one side, (“* non barbatus 
utringue.”) The three leaves, then, 
described in the above lines, are the 
two which are pinnate, or bearded, and 
the one which is pinnate on one side 
only, or “ not bearded on both sides,” 
as the verse rather ambiguously ex- 
presses it ; consequently the two leaves 
omitted in the description must be the 
two that are “ simple,” or without 
any beard at all. It is possible (per- 
haps not probable, since a paradox ap- 
pears to have been intended,) that two 
lines may have been lost from this ex- 
quisite trifle. Be this as it may, it is 
beyond my skill to give a rhyming 
translation at once brief, apivited, and 
Observations on the Life of Lord Russell. 
[April 1, 
so complete as evidently to imply what 
is omitted, and furnish a. cue to the 
reader to discover it himself. Should 
you deem the subject at all worthy of 
notice im your multifarieusly-useful 
Magazine, you are welcome to the fore- 
going communication, which you may 
employ as you think proper. 
The following imitation of the lines 
is also at your service. If it have not 
the brief and terse simplicity of the 
original, it will vot be more difficult 
to apprehend with the commentary al- 
ready given. Perhaps some of your 
correspondeats may be able to supply 
a better version. 
Five brethren there are 
Born at once of their mother 5 
Two bearded, two bare, 
The fifth neither one nor the other, 
But to each of his brethren half-brother. 
Feb. 9, 1822. Sus Rosa. 
——=————- 
For ihe Monthly Magazine. 
OBSERVATIONS on the LIF£ of LORD 
RUSSELL, by his DESCENDANT. 
YAVEE lite of the celebrated martyr 
to liberty, Lord Russell, which has 
recently appeared from the pen of his 
descendant, Lord John Russell, abounds 
with just and liberal sentiments on the 
subject of government, reflecting ho- 
nour on his understanding as well as 
his rank. It is truly gratifying to see 
a young nobleman so well and worthily 
employed. Greatly indeed were it to 
be wished that an academy of history 
were to be instituted, which might 
awaken the attention of persons in the 
higher classes of life to a branch of 
study which would tend to intellectual 
improvement, to speak with modera- 
tion, almost as much as horticultural 
or agricultural pursuits. Such are the 
inexhaustible stores of knowledge and 
instruction arising from this source, 
that never need the votary of the his- 
toric muse, who sacrifices at her altar 
with true devotion, apprehend a vacant 
or a useless hour. History is justly 
and nobly defined to be philosophy 
teaching by example. But to render 
this study “ of mankind” truly interest- 
ing, it must be combined with the real 
desire of benefiting mankind; and in 
this pursuit beyond all others, it will 
be found that knowledge increases the 
desire of knowledge. 
In England compared with France, it 
is to be regretted that few writers in 
this department are to be met with who 
fill the first ranks of society, or who 
have been actually engaged in the 
walks of public life. But from thena- 
ture 
