F890} 
[May 1, 
Extracts from the Port-folio of a Man of Letters. 
[Communications to this Article are always thankfully received. ] 
— 
SALIC LAW. 
HE Salic law was instituted by Char- 
lemagne, who, when he had made a 
conquest of the country betwixt the Elbe 
and the river Sala, having observed that 
the women were lewd and voluptuous, 
and consequently unfit to have rule and 
government, cut them off from all suc- 
eessions by this ordinance; im terram 
Salicum mulieres ne succedant. 
CLIMATE OF ENGLAND. 
Sir William Temple has recorded an 
observation of Charles the Second, on the 
climate of England, which he says he 
thought “ new and right, and truly like a 
kang of England that loved and esteemed 
his own country. It was in reply to some 
of the company that were reviling our 
climate, and extolling those of Italy and 
Spain, or at least of France. We said he 
thonght that the best elimate where he 
could be abroad in the air with pleasure, 
6r at least without trouble and incon- 
venience, the most days of the year, and 
the most hours of the day; and this he 
thought he could be in England,more than 
any other country he knew of in Europe. 
And (adds Sir William) I myself believe 
it is true, not only of the hot and the 
cold, but even ainong our neighbours in 
France and the Low Countries them- 
selves, where the heats and the colds, or 
the changes of seasons, dre less treatable 
than they are with us.” 
ENGLISH GARDENS. 
Sir Wiiliam Temple said he esteemed 
the true region of gardens in England, to 
be the compass of ten miles about Lon- 
don, where the accidental warmth of air 
_ from the fires and steams of so vast a 
town, makes fruits as well as corn, a great 
deal forwarder than in Hampshire or 
Wiltshire, though mere Southward by a 
full degree. 
ALPHONSO, KING OF ARRAGON. 
It was a saying of Alphonso, surnamed 
the Wise, King of Arragon; that aniong 
so many things as are possessed by men, 
or sought after during the course of their 
lives, all the rest are but baubles, except,’ 
eld wood to burn, old wine to drink, old 
fricnds to converse with, and old books to 
read. 
» KING JAMES THF, FIRST. 
The following pun is recorded of James 
the first, Kingof England. Taylor, called 
the Water Poet, on aecount of his being 
a Thames watermana, had written a book 
entitled Laugh and be Fat, winch gave 
taueh offence to Mr, Coryate, the cele» 
brated traveller. This book, on complainé 
_ being made, was ordered by command to 
be burnt. Coriat following this with fresh 
complaints against Taylor, his Majesty 
was pleased to tell him, that’ when the 
lords of his privy council had leisure, and 
nothing better todo, they should hear and 
determine the difference between Mr. 
Coryate the Scholar, and John Faylor the 
Sculler. 
- DON QUIXOTTE. 
An mgenious Spaniard has said, that 
Cervantes by his history of Don Quixot 
had ruined the Spanish monarchy; for 
before that time, love and valour were all 
romance among them: eyery young ca- 
valier that entered the scene, dedicated 
the services of his life to his honour first, 
and then to his mistress. After Don 
Quixot appeared, and with that mimitable 
wit and humour turned all this romantie’ 
honour and love into ridicule, the Spa- 
niards began to grow ashamed of both, 
and to laugh at fighting and loving; or at 
least. otherwise than to pursue their for~ 
tune, or satisfy their lust; and the conse? 
quences of this both upon their bodies and 
their minds, the Spaniards would needs 
have pass for a great cause of the ruin of 
Spain, or of its greatness and power. 
VENICE, 
In 1574, Henry the Third of France, 
(who had been elected King of Peland,) 
returning to take possession of the former 
crown, which devolved to him on the 
death of Charles the Ninth, his brother, 
visited Venice in his way to Paris. Ow 
this occasion the Senate prepared an en- 
tertainment for bith at the arsenal. On 
the King’s entrance, and before he sat 
down to table, he was shown an empty 
dock, in which men were set to work to 
construct a galley within his sight, and 
proceeded with so much diligence and 
expedition that before the King rose 
from table it was finished, and a discharge 
of cannon made from it upon the King’s 
~ drinking Prosperity to the Republic. 
PHILIP THE GOOD, DUKE OF BURGUNDY. 
The following humorous frolic is re~ 
corded of this amiable prince. Being at 
Bruges duringa festival m the winter sea- 
son, he amused himself mr the long eve- 
mings, hy sometimes walking about that 
populous city, attended by a few courtiers 
in a sort of incognito. In one of these 
walks he met with a fellow buried in sleep 
and drink, and snoring at full length on a 
bench. Ue ordered his attendants to 
bring him to his palace, but to be careful 
