~ 
128 
that we might decline our turn in any 
book. Jt. would also require a consider 
able memory, to know to whom a book 
shoald be sent. But there was to bea 
hst of the subscribers in each book, and 
always in the same order; and if A had 
this book first, Bsecond, C third, &c. B 
should have the next book first, C second, 
é&c.and A last. And as every subscriber 
was ta insert in the list opposite hs 
maine the day of the month when he for- 
warded a book, itewould be seen who had 
kept it lcirger than the prescribed time, 
and consequently who was subject to 
forfeitures. But we still adhere to good 
old customs. When the new books ar- 
rive, those who have most leisure to 
watch the opportunity, or are by habita- 
tion, or other respects most fortunate, 
take them and keep them aslong as they 
please, aud send them where they please, 
and when they return them again, then 
these of us who are the next fortunate, 
ebtain them; but sometimes, indeed, it 
has been discovered, that it is not more 
inconvenient to send a book, if a chvice 
one, to. a neighbour’s house, than to thie 
shop. Now, though there are advan- 
tages in this plan, because it secures these 
who are not very good judges of writing, 
learning, &e. from the necessity of viv 
mg any opinion in company concerning 
any particular work, before they have 
heard, that of their superiors; which me- 
thod I ebserve to be adopted with much 
felicity very often by our greater critics; 
and also because fa book should be of 
an improper tendency; or of a nature so 
alluring as to occupy too much of the 
time of those who have but little to spare, 
sts charms will be rendered less efiulgent 
by time and a little patience, and desire 
vill be moderated by repeated disap- 
ane bent m endeavourmg. to obtain it: 
¥et it seems to me, that we are subscrib- 
tng principally for the benefit of a few 
persons, and constituting them our Arbi- 
tre rh, without publicly de- 
elaring them to be such, and the sub- 
scription for that purpose ; aad I cannot 
bring my mind to approve of things which 
are done clandestinely. If your Corre- 
spondent then intends to recommend or 
establish book-societies, he should es- 
teem it a matter of principal considera- 
tion how to form a plan, by which every 
gne may obtain aieuiace. i proportion 
to his subscription. When the books 
have been sold in the former of those so- 
cieties mentioned by me, several sub- 
seribers have been coed to find not 
awly kooks which they had never seen, 
4o 
ress of the Minstrels 2—Fanaticism. 
{March }, 
but which they did not know to belongte ~~ 
the society. When all the subscribers 
live in the same place, or within a short 
distance, and are joint proprietors, no- 
thing can be more simple and impartial 
than such a distribution as I have alluded 
to. In the other ssciety some objection . 
may be made to it, beeause the manager 
is the proprietor, and he would not be 
able to discover the injurer or doser of 
any particular book. But in justice to 
him, it ought to be observed, thigt, not- 
withstanding this, since he has’ seen by 
your last Supplement, that this Herca- 
lean difficulty bas in some other places 
been vanquished, he has adopted this 
plan.with respect to the periodical pub- 
lications; which before, lay perhaps three 
or four together at one house the grantor 
part of the month. 
Your's, &c. 
Gaasborough, AvLus MAvRiTLUS, 
June 1, 1807. ! 
eS 
Lo the Editor of the Monthly Magazine, 
SIR, 
CONSTANT reader of your ex+ 
cellent’ Magazine would be much 
obliged to any of y your Correspondents for 
an authentic account of the peculiar dress 
of the ancient minstrels. 
: uh Your’s, &e. 
October 17, 1807. C, 
For the Monthly Magazine. . 
FANATICISM: A VISION. 
WN ETHOUGHT I awoke as from a 
deep sleep, of the duration of 
which I was quite unconscious. I found 
myself in the country, under the broad 
canopy of heaven. The sun had newly 
risen; the birds were singing their morn 
ing hymn to the Creator. Light fleecy 
clouds adorned the sky; whilst the earth, 
fresh with dew-drops, aud decked with all 
the flowers of spring, offered her pure 
incense to her maker, The soul, awaken- 
ed to the contemplation of such a scene, 
could only say within herself, 
‘t These are thy glorious works, Parent of 
Good 
The i impression of this delightful scene 
soon gave way to far other sensations. 
Uncounted years seemed to have rolled _ 
over me since I had Jast beheld it, and. 
age and infirmity had laid their hea F 
hands uponme. My hair and long 
bore witness to the bleachi 
time, and my limbs no lo 
their wonted vigour. I 
collect my scattered t 
