54 ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND SAMAR. Sept 21, 



nails ; and fuch is the dexterity of the Indians in unit- 

 ing the different pieces of bamboo, that in the whole 

 conftruftion of his hut, neither iron nor any other me- 

 tal are to be found. Two months induftry in the year 

 fuffice to provide for the wants of a people whofe inno- 

 cent and gentle manners are, to me, the ftrongeft 

 proofs of the real happinefs they enjoy. 



(To be concluded in our next. ) 



To the Editor of the Bee, 



StriBures en Scottijh Poetry, particularly that of Allah 

 Ramsay. 

 Sir, 



Jr OR about five years paft we have been amufed by the 

 bookfcllers with an inceffant chorus of verfes in the 

 Scottifh diale£l. Every county in Scotland has a num- 

 ber of words and phrafes peculiar and intelligible to it- 

 felf only, and it is ufual for the bard to borrow, with- 

 out feleftion, the provincial vulgarifms to which he has 

 been accuftomed. Before an author can pleafe he 

 muft make himfelf underftood. To a native of Annan- 

 dale the dialers of Aberdeenfliire and of Somerfet are 

 equally difcordant. The fame of fuch poetry can 

 hardly be extenfive or lading. But befides, thefe wri- 

 ters commonly deform their pages with every antiqua- 

 ted phrafe which perverted induftry can difcover ; and 

 it would not be difficult, though indeed invidious and 

 ufelefs, to point out paffhgcs where vulgarity itfelf is 

 evidently mifunderftood and mifapplied. 



AVTien a man of fenfe intends to publifli in rhyme, 

 he will firft make himfelf famiHar with at leaft a few of 

 the beft and moft popular Englifli poets. By an atten- 

 tive comparifon of their works with his own, he will 

 either learn the art of elegant conipofition, or tlie pro- 

 piiety of filence. When a perfon difcharges upon the 



