799. | 
hand, the Dutchman by this word means 
only a perfect exemption from every thing 
that might interfere with his ordinary ha- 
bits, that might compel him to make any 
facrifice, or f{ubmit to any reftraint, or that 
might hinder the gratification of his ava- 
rice. ‘* Our governors”’ fay they, “* muft 
be mild and gentle; but by this they 
mean only, that their rulers muft be im- 
potent and aficep. When their ancient, 
sveterate and ftubborn hatred againit the 
houfe of Orange had broken out afrefh, 
they never Jaboured to reform their ftrange 
federal conftitution, according to which 
there were in this little republic nearly as 
many ftates which were independent, and 
whofe jurifdiftion -was confined toa {ingle 
town, as in Germany; becaufe fuch a 
reform would have changed all their anci- 
ent cuftoms. But the violent hatred borne 
by the majority of the inhabitants of the, 
fea provinces againft the Stadtholderians, 
from the gratification of which the one 
party were withheld by no fcruples, and 
which the other party were little felicitous 
to appeafe, might unite with the circum- 
ftances of the times, in promoting the in- 
troduction of French principles among the 
patriots. And yet fo little were they pre- 
pared for the final accomplifhment of their 
wifhes, by forming a moderate plan of 
reform in their government, that two years 
were neceflary to form a conftitution which 
foon hecame the derifion of all parties. An 
invitation to tranfmit {chemes of reform in 
the conftitution both of the towns and 
provinces, occafioned a fatyrical writer to 
compare the fituation of the country, with 
that of a many who pulled down his houfe 
and then projected aiplan of a new one 
among the ruins; whence it could not but 
follow, that being heated by the labour of 
demolifhing, he might then cool himfelf 
by flanding ftill in the open air. 
EE 
To the Editor of the Mozthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
AD your correfpondent Indagator, 
in your laft, confined himfelf to 
what he fays was the principal object, of 
his communication, you would not have 
been troubled with this letter. As he 
dogs not profeis to enumerate thofe teach- 
ers of Matheinatics only, who are engaged 
in the different Univerfities in this parc of 
the ifland, he fhould have been very fcrue 
pulous refpecting the exactnefs of his in- 
formation ; the fimple omiffion of any one 
of that clafs of whom he has given a cata- 
fogue, being a real injury to that indivi. 
2. } 
= 
- 
Scotch Mathematitians.—Court of Requefts. 
6a9 
dual, efpecially as Indagator writes in the 
character of a critical mathematician. 
Had Indagator been. dilpofed to do juf- 
tice, he ought not to have negleéted Dr. 
Meikleham, the re&or of Air Academy, 
who, when only about twenty-four years 
of age, during the illnefs of the late Pro- 
feffor Anderfon, of the Univerfity of Glaf. 
gow, taught, with great fuccefs, for two 
feflions, the. Natural Philofophy clafs, 
mathematically and experimentally. Mr. 
Wallace, another young gentleman, of 
Perth Academy, furely might alfo have 
been mentioned. A paper on Porifms, 
written by him, has been publithed in the 
fourth volume of the Edinburgh Philofo~ » 
phical Tranfa€tions, and read with much 
fatisfaction. 
eminently diftinguifhed in this place as a 
teacher of Mathematics, favours much of 
defigned negieé either in himéelf or his 
informant. Mr. Lothian has been a 
teacher of Mathematics in this town up- 
wards of twehty years: he was fixed upon 
by the late Profeffor Anderfon to fill the 
mathematical department in his inftitu- 
tion; which-truft he difcharged for the 
firft time, during the laft feffion, greaths 
to the advantage of his pupils. _ j 
Many others eminently diftinguifhed 
for their profound knowledge in Mathe- 
matics are well known, but whofe names 
do not ftand in need of the panegyrics of 
this biographer. I am, Sir, : 
Your humble Servant, 
. PLEURANT. 
Glafcow, Ful) 91 1799+. 
a 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
N anfwer to the information required 
by your correfpondent C. A. R. in 
our Magazine of laft month, refpe€ting 
the author of the melody of the old Hun- 
dredth Pfalm tune; I have to inform him, 
that Martin Luther was the compofer of 
that beautiful piece of mufic. 
| I am, yours refpectfully, 
Mazchefler, Aug. 14, 1799. E.F, 
ee v 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
AVING lately been fummoned to 
the Court of Requefts, and there 
conftrained to pay an unreafonable de- 
mand, made by an impertinent fervant, [ 
fhall be happy to learn, through the me- 
dium of your ufsful Magazine, the origin 
and 


The omiffion of the name of 
Lothian, well known at Edinburgh, and’ 
2S SS 
ee ee ae ae ae 
ee 
