1800.] 
EXTRAORDINARY DOG, 
In 1712, a dog was fhewn at Leipzig, 
which could articulate all the alphabet 
but 7, 2, and x. 
LEIBNITZ. 
Nibil magni nunc fit in literis, fays Leib- 
nitz, in one of his letters; yet of how 
many great writers he was the cotempo- 
rary. That which lafts long is feldom 
popular at fir; that which immediately 
pleafes, feldom continues to pleafe, 
DYADIC ARITHMETIC. 
The dyadic arithmetic propofes to ex- 
prefs all numbers by two charaéters, 1 and 
o. The value of 1 is to double at every 
emove into a preceding column. Thus, 
1 Is reprefented by 1, 2 by 10, 4 by 100, 
and 8 by 1000; 3 is reprefented by a1, 
5 by 101, 6 by r10, 7 by 114, 9 by 1001, 
and ro, by roro. Thus far nothing feems 
to be gained but fimplicity : and there is a 
grevious lofs of brevity. But in the huge 
numbers of the mathematicians this incon- 
venience was to fall away: and the com- 
plex operations of addition, fubftraétion, 
multiplication, and divifion, were to fink 
into mere tranfcription. 
RELIGIOUS COALITION: 
Adam Neufer, a minifter in the palati- 
nate, ferioufly propofed a coalition between 
the Anti-trinitarian Chriftians, and the 
Turks :—He was not much out, their 
opinions in faét approximate. 
ANTIJACOBITE. 
Who wrote the Antijacobite? It was 
attributed to Leibnitz, but denied by him: 
and it has been reprinted in fome collec- 
tions of his works. 
MAGLIABECCHI. 
Magliabecchiwas fo fond of books that 
he chofe to be always in contaét with 
them: he paved his ftair-cafe with vo- 
Jumes, in order to walk up and down 
upon them, and had no other bed{tead than 
his folios, 
The late GEORGE FORSTRR. 
The fingle fruit of a philanthropic 
action is indeed the joy of him who has 
been relieved by it, and the fecret’ con- 
{cioufnefs of him who has performed it; 
but fuchan a¢tion may bring forth fo many 
others, that it is blameable to withhold it 
from the public. It muft thew the way 
to thofe who want an example; it muit 
confirm tne confidence in the human heart ; 
it muftdo honourto the rative place of the 
philanthropic man, and infpire his fellow- 
citizens with refpect towards him, as well 
as pride in poffeffing him. In this refpeé&, 
Thope the ftill living paitakers in the fol- 
lowing aétion will pardon its being made 
ublic. 
A learned man of great merit, whofe 
rom the Portfolio of a Man of Letters. 
43 
lofs Germany ftill bewails, wrote, fome 
years ago, toa bookfeller, Mr.*Vols, at 
Berlin, that in order to form a new plan of 
life, he wanted the fum of 1500 dollars. 
He knew well, he faid, that h's Correfpoa- 
dent could not draw it out of his trade, 
but entreated him to procure it him for fix 
years, though on a very high intereft. The 
bookfeller deliberated about it with a 
friend. A circular letter was written, 
in which, without naming the learned 
man, the rich were invited to bring this 
fum together. The late privy-counfellor 
Wlomer figned it, and took himfelf a bill 
of too dollars: Count Herzberg, and 
another defervedly efteemed minifter of the 
king, did the fame; almoft the whole of 
the reft was figned by Jew-houfes, many 
of whom ate the firft banking-houfes, in 
Berlin, and very eager to feize every op- 
portunity to fhew their philanthropy. It 
is eafily to be underftood, that men whe 
could determine to advance money to an 
unknown perion, thought of no interett, 
and left it to his integrity whether he 
would pay them or not. Some years af- 
terwards, anew circular letter announced 
the death of the perfon affifted, George 
Forfter, adding, that the fum lent him 
might be collected from what he had left. 
I¢ wasunanimoutly beftewed, as a free gift, 
upon his children. 
Ihave related this event in a fimple 
manner, becaufe ornaments are as apt to 
disfigure moralas corporeal beauty. I fhall 
add no praife, becaufe this would only be 
a profanation of the touching generofity 
difplayed by that action. As a contraft, - 
I fall edd another anecdote. 
When Reinhold Forfter returned from 
England, hehad fearcely been a few hours 
in a great trading town of the north of 
Germany, not many miles diftant from the 
borders of the Elbe, when he was invited 
to dinner by arich merchant, celebrated 
for his knowledge and beneficence. He 
went there, and was altonifhed at the 
princely luxury be faw. The following 
morning, he called again upon the mer- 
chant, told him, full of confidence, that he 
was in a great perplexity, and entreated 
him to ‘advance him 200 dollars, that he 
and his family might be able to continue 
their journey. ‘ [ find your demand 
very fingular,” replied the merchant, Be iE 
know you too little, Sir, to truft you with 
noney.’” ** But yelterday,”’ cried Fortfter, 
‘* you fpent three times 2s much in a ban- 
quet,and today you refufe to diaw an honelt 
man, with his wife and children, from the 
moft prefling embarraflment by a trifle!” 
The merchant at lait gave him aihird part, 
or the half; and related to me this affair 
G2 himfelf 
