398 
correcting the different proofs. The 
building for this purpose is ornamented 
in. front with pillars, and with statues 
of the Muses: it has also in sculpture 
the editions of the Oxford classics. 
The whole was raised out of the pro- 
fits of the publication of Lord Claren- 
don’s “ History of the Civil Wars ;” 
the same having been presented. to 
the university hy his son. 
I shall terminate this review of the 
principal monuments in Oxford by no- 
ticing the Theatre, constructed under 
the direction of Sir Christopher Wren, 
who was in his time the first architect, 
and one of the best mathematicians, in 
England. The plan of it was bor- 
rowed from that of Marcellus at Rome, 
and the funds for its erection were 
supplied by Archbishop Sheldon. It 
will contain about 3000 persons, who 
mect-here in the ceremonial business 
of the university ; such as the installa- 
tion of a new Chancellor, and the like. 
Here it was that, in 1814, the Emperor _ 
of Russia, the King of Prussia, the 
Prince de Metternich, the Count de 
Lieven, Prince Blucher, &c. were 
promoted to the degree of Doctors in 
Civil Law. 
. In one of the saloons, appendages 
to the theatre, we find the portrait of 
Archbishop Sheldon, the founder ; 
also that of George LV. by Sir Thomas 
Lawrences ; with those of the Emperor 
of Russia and the King of Prussia, by 
the Frencli painter Gerard. 
——— 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
ELIEVING, as I do, that the 
small and cheap work on Eng- 
lish Grammar, published by the pe- 
riodical writer whom you once, on 
comparing him with contemporary 
writers, emphatically denominated 
“the political Goliali,”* has done, and 
is doing, more towards improving the 
rising generation, in the highly impor- 
tant art of correctly and defintely 
writing their own language, than any 
other work extant: I was therefore 
pleased to observe your learned cor- 
respondent H. in page 12, attempting 
an improvement of a passage in the 
Grammar of Mr. Cobbett; but felt 
disappointed that he has stopped short 
of so doing, and has oinitted to give 
* And of whose writings you have re- 
peatedly and justly spoken in commenda- 
tion; particularly in vol, 4%, p. 514. vol, 
45, p. 349, and wol, 45, p. 344. 
d 3 
Mr. Cobbeti?s English Grammar. 
[Dee. t, 
his own development of Mr. Cobbett’s 
example (quoted from Murray,) of 
the truncated or elliptical* sentence, 
“ Shame being lost, ail virtue is Jost.” 
If however I comprehend. the general 
rule of development in the following 
column, which Mr. H. says ‘is appli- 
cable to every variety of this species 
of ellipsis” called the ‘* case absolute,” 
I suppose he meant to illustrate the 
abave sentence thus; viz. ‘‘ As shame 
is lost, all virtue zs lost; an illastra- 
tion greatly inferior, in my opinion, to 
that of Mr. Cobbett, quoted. iu p, 12, 
viz. “it being, or the state of thivgs 
being such, that shame is Tost, all 
virtue is lost.” But on this, point, and 
any others concerning the correctness 
of Mr. Cobbett’s grammatical rules or 
examples, I much wish to read the 
free opinions of your literary corres- 
pondents, if written in the spirit of 
fair and liberal criticism. 
A.C. R, 
London ; Sept. 30. 
we 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
THE, HUMOURS of BARTLEMY. FAIR. 
“None but the brave deserve the fair |’, 
DO not know what pleasuré would ° 
be more delightful than that which 
arises from the annual returnofia Fair. 
If it be only for our sweethearts and 
children’s sakes, the festivity is. en- 
dearing. But this, alas! is only feit 
and enjoyed in rural, hamlets and 
peaceful greens, far distant from;‘‘ the | 
busy hum of men.” ., When fairs were 
spots of commerce, and scenes!) of 
mutual interest; when, if joy mide the 
heart over full, and the spirit of good 
liquor opened the sluices, of abundant 
concord towards each other, there 
happened no riotous. turbulence: the 
partics met and parted in amity, the 
remembrance lived in story, and the 
anticipation of return was fresh and 
enticing. 
* In Art, 227, instead of simply saying, 
“ Ellipsis means deficiency,” Mr, Cobbett 
has made two important blinders, viz. 
first, in confounding an ellipsis, a geome- 
trical curve, one of the conic sections, 
having both ends-always'simitar, with an 
oval figure, having sometimes’ oue eid 
more, obtvse than; the-other, as is the case 
with most of the eggs of bitds, after whicly 
these. non-elliptical. curves, have | been 
named; and, second, in supposing that any. 
part. of a real ¢lliptical cunve can be 
described by circular arcs, struck with the 
compasses. Ovals, all figures so described, 
are usually called, even where. their two 
ends are struck with equal radii. 
