1823.] 
“ Creation,” a poem so much perused 
by all orthodox personages, particu- 
larly by Dr. Johnson: they will find 
the same offence repeated there in 
humerous instances; and, without 
wishing to extenuate it in either 
writer, we will affirm that the indul- 
gence afforded to one should surely 
extend to both. 
Some of the hebdomadal critics. have 
been merciless in their attacks upon 
his lordship’s heinous outrages cn 
what they conceive to be legitimaie 
rhyme. Had these gentlemen been 
permitted to devote a fortnight to 
their lucubrations, they might possibly 
have discovered that, these alleged 
violations of rhythmus were the effect, 
not of negligence, but design; they 
might have reflected that, since the 
author’s powers of versification were 
undoubted, he had probably been 
influenced in the choice of his rhymes 
by their suitableness to the subjects 
introduced ; and that of this he might 
probably be as competent a judge as 
any Zoilus of the critic tribe. We 
wish it were practicable to put Butler’s 
“Hudibras” into the hands of such 
censors, as a new publication: their 
strictures upon it would doubtless be 
highly amusing. The spirit. which 
regards the individual more than his 
performance, has been indeed  suffi- 
ciently visible in the attacks on the 
“Don Juan;” in fact, “ your very good 
sort of people,” thinking, without 
doubt, that the end. sanctifies the 
means, seem constantly animated by 
it. A dramatic piecc, at least afford- 
ing scope for powerful acting, makes 
its appearance, and becomes popular, 
It has of course its partizans and its 
antagonists. ‘The latter for a while 
content themselyes with the accus- 
tomed weapons of ridicule; but, on its 
becoming a matter of general noto- 
riety, that the drama is founded ona 
production of the daughter of Godwin 
and the widow of Shelley, conspiracy 
(for it merits no milder name) is re- 
sorted to, to warn the town by placards 
against its immorality and impiety! 
Sed hac satis. It would be as tedious 
as it would be casy to multiply exam- 
ples. Laudari a laudato vero, was the 
just boast of the ancient; and, if the 
converse of the proposition be true, 
-there certainly exists a class of per- 
sons who confer honour by their abuse, 
and enhance the reputation which is 
the object of their calumny. 
MontuHLy Mac, No, 389. 
On the Preservation of Cabbages. 
417 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
HE following simple method, em- 
ployed by the Portuguese on- 
board their ships, for the preservation 
of cabbages, may not perhaps be 
deemed unacceptable by some of the 
readers of your valuable Miscellany ; 
more especially as it may be casily 
transferred to our domestic economy, 
and as present appearances indicate 
the early approach of a severe winter, 
when a scarcity of esculent vegetables 
may be expected. 
The cabbage is cut so as to leave 
about two inches or more of the stem 
attached to it; after which the pith is 
scooped out, to about the depth of an 
inch, care being taken not to wound 
or bruise the rind by this operation. 
The cabbages are then suspended, by 
means of a cord tied round that portion 
of the stem next the cabbage, and fas- 
tened, at regular intervals, to a rope 
run across the deck. That portion of 
the stem from which the pith is taken, 
being uppermost, is ‘regularly filled 
with water every morning. By this 
simple method, the cabbage is pre- 
served fresh during pretty long voy- 
ages. Pr 
Perhaps the same mode of preserva- 
tion might be extended to winter 
cauliflower, brocoli, &c. 
November 1823. 
——— 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
NOTICE relative to the “KING,” or the 
CANONICAL and MORAL BOOKS of the 
CHINESE.* 
HE traditions of the learned in 
China refer the origin of their 
literature to the foundation of their 
monarchy, near 3000 years prior to 
the Christian era; but their historical 
records are little to be depended upon 
tili about the twelfth century preceding 
that date. It appears probable that 
the first Chinese books were written 
under the patriarchal dynasty of the 
Tcheou. But doubts are entertained 
by some even as to this latter epoch, 
only five centuries prior; and, to ac- 
quire correct notions respecting their 
classical books, Confucius and his 
disciples are represented, as having 
first putin order and commented on 
the others, if they were not the real 
authors of them. Confa- 
* From a late Number of the Revue 
Encyclopedique. 
