196 
them is therefore neceffary for their wel- 
fare ; but if the reins of parental autho- 
rity fit loofely upon a boy, no wonder if 
he quits-the thorny path of fcience, be- 
fore he has gathered any of its fweets, 
for that of pleafure. The confequence 
is obvious : he lofes the only period of 
his life in which fcience is attainable. 
The Americans have, notwithftanding, 
made a laudable progrefs in ufeful and 
experimental, if not in ornamental and 
{peculative, fcience ; and, confidering 
they do not poffefs European ‘affluence, 
it cannot be expected they fhould dedicate 
thofe funds to works of tafte, which 
they are called upon to apply to thofe of 
utility: but as they do all that prudence, 
can juftify, it is fair to prefume the lux- 
ury of fcience will find its way among 
them in the.train ef wealth, 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine, 
SIR, : 
F you think proper to infert the 
annexed account in your next Maga- 
zine, you may rely upen its authenticity 5 
and that you may have no hefitation with 
refpect to its veracity, I have enclofed my 
addrefs. 
If it is compatible with your plan'to 
receive donations, it wWeuld be doing an 
eficntial aét of charity to a heiplefs being, 
who has hitherto devoted the little prefents 
he has received to the purchafe of books 
and cloaths. Tam, Sir, &c: 
Ferney-hill, Aug.5, 1803. G. W. 
THERE is fow living in the parifh of 
Ednam, the birth-place of the immortal 
poet Thomfon, a young man of eighteen 
years ot age, who was born without legs 
or knees, and his thighs defective. His 
father was a day-labourer, but has teen 
dead for fome years. He fits upon a ta- 
ble in the cottage through the day, and 
when the weather is fair, his mother car- 
ries him into a field, where he reads, and 
enjoys the air. He has taught himfelf to 
read, to write a legible had, to play on 
the flute, todraw with a pencil, although 
one of his arms he cannot raife to his 
breaft, and he attempts poetry. He is, 
notwithftanding the want of exercife, very 
healthy, always chearful and contented, 
though his fupport depends entirely upon 
the wages of his younger brother, who is 
a fervant toa refpectabie farmer at Ed- 
nam. When his father died, his mother, 
in great ditrefs, exclaimed, ** Oh! Wil- 
ham, who will maiptain you now ?—To 
Remarkable Perfon at. Ednam. 
{ Sept. 1, 
which he anfwered, ‘¢ Dear mother, that 
Divine Being who created me in this help- 
lefs ftate, will not fuffer me to perith of 
want.” He is very grateful to any perfon 
who lends him books, drawings to copy, 
or pays the leaft attention to him. He is 
little known, or he would poffibly be re- 
lieved by the benevolent. A very {mall 
fum would fecure him from want, as oat- 
meal, milk, and potatoes, are the food of 
the Scotch peafantry, and all he has ever 
been accuftomed to. The lamenefs of one , 
of his arms prevents him from learning 
any bufinefs to earn his living. He is 
extremely well-informed, converfes with 
- great propriety upon every fubjeét, al- 
though his articulation is alfo defective ; 
he feels much interefted in the prefent 
ftate of his native country and of Europe ; 
reads the new{papers which are occafionally 
fent him with great anxiety ; and as a 
proof of it, I tranfmit you a copy of his 
-laft, though by no means his beft, produc- 
tion, which he entitles ** The Pears of 
Switzerland ;°’ and if you think it de- 
ferving a place in your poetical Mifceilany, 
you may be affured it is entirely his own 
compofition, and is alfo his own writing ; 
although he does .not know the purpofe. 
for which it is intended. Any contribu- 
tion, however f{maill, will be received by 
Mr. Puituips, No. 7:,St.Paul’sChurch- 
yard, or the Rev. Mr. ROBERTSON, 
Ednam, near Kelio. ; 
THE TEARS OF SWITZERLAND. | 
How blafted now, how chang’d my ftate, 
How fall’n from glory and renown ; 
No more I°m mark’d fair Freedom’s feat, - 
No more my fons are cali’d her own, 
Fair Freedom from my fons is fled— 
Flea, in fome happier ciime to reign 3 
And lowthey droop and bow the head 
_ Beneath ftern Gallia’s galling chain, 
Long they for me like patriots fought, 
And ftood, though on all fides afiail’d 5 
For me and freedom wonders wrought, 
But fate and:Gallia prevail’d. _ 
. 
How are they funk ; ‘upon my dales 
No virgin’s heard to pour her lay, 
Nor paftoral pipe within my vales, — 
Nor fhepherd’s fong to cheer theday, 
But fadnefs dwells in every breaft 5 
Complaints and fighs from evety vale, _ 
Of virgins wrong’d and {wains opprefs’d, 
Sound mournfully upon the gale. 
The maid bemoans her piteous cafe, 
Sighs, beats her breaft, and fits forlorn 5 
The youth (fome tyrant’s train to grace,» 
She lov’d, from her embrace is tora. 
; Does 
