186).] ° 
SAP wed 9 7 
Ewtracts from the Port-folio of a Alan of Letters. 
KING JAMES JL. and ISAAC VOSSIUS, 
_ @ Prebendary of Windsor. 
“s H. camesit,” said the king, “that 
& the Greeks andthe Romaus had 
better poets, orators, and historians, than 
we have?” “ And it please your majesty,” 
rephed the prebendary, with an honest 
bluntness, * Greece and Rome werecom- 
monwealths, but monarchy never en- 
courages those fine arts.” 
ANECDOTE OF MR. GRIGNION. 
When tneiate Mr. Grignion, then only 
nineteen years of age, went to Paris with 
letters of recominodation to Dr, Atter- 
bury (then in exile), bis comprehensive 
mind and talents pleased the bishop so 
highiy, that he always called him “ son;” 
and Gryiion (proud of the compliment) 
aiways called hiny ‘‘ father.” Mr. G. re- 
mained in Paris tll the prelate died,! and 
took his passage (from Dieppe, in Nor- 
mandy) for England, ur the vessel which 
had the body uf the bishop on board, 
(sent fur interment in Westmmster Ab- 
bey.) lhe vessel was beating about im 
the .bannel, by adverse) winds and 
stouns, for sis or eiglit weeks, the sailors 
repeatcdily attempting to heave the, body 
of the ioshop Overboard, thinking it oc- 
casioned the storm, which the captain 
consiautly checked. When the vessel 
arrived at Dover Pier, Mr. Grignien 
found a party of custom-house officers, 
who had been im waiting upwards of a 
mouth; and on the cotiin being opened, 
between the weoden case avd leaden 
oue, was found contraband lace to a 
great amount, which they seized, ‘The 
captain was no doubt in the secret, which 
made bim prevent his men tron: Ujcow- 
the corpse into the sea. 
BECKES AND BUMS. 
A passage in Shakespeare’s * Timon of 
Athens,” has baffled. the whole -host of 
his commentators. It is where Aper- 
nantes encenng ‘Limou’s Levee, ob- 
senses : 
£6 What acoil is here, 
& Serving of decks, and jutcing out of bums.” 
Shakespeare not unfrequently brings 
in words that are purely provincial. The 
word ** Beck,” intrcduced here, is used 
im Scotland to signify the Curtsey, or 
Salutation, by ladies, as the “ Bow,” or 
jutting out the bum,” is the mode of ga- 
tating by gentlemen. 
4 
“ 
It is not unamusing to peruse the 
“nonsensical observations made by the 
various Annotators on this passage. One 
of them, thinks beck is derived from the 
Saxon, and means a nod of the heat. 
Another supposes if ought to be written 
<“ beek s” or ** serving of beeks,” as if 
Timon’s visitors were: a company of 
amorous, ‘* bling,” turtle-doves! And 
Dr: Samuel Johnson, not understanding 
it, dictatorially pronounces the passage 
‘© ancient nonsense.” 
a a) ALBERONI, 
Campistron, the poet, having been 
robked while travelling through Italy, are 
rived almost naked at a. village in the 
Parmesan, of which Julio Alberont was 
minister.’ fhe ecclesiastic gave him a 
very friendly reception, and supplied him 
with clothes and money to conuaue, his 
journey to Rome, Campistron  after- 
wards visited Ltaly a second time, as 
secretary to the Duke de Vendome. 
He had not forgotten his benefactor, in 
the vicinity of whose residence the atiny 
was encamped; he mentioned him to, 
Vendéme, who sent for Alberon, con- 
versed with him for some time, and em- 
ployed him in various affairs, 1n whic 
he acquitted himself so well, as to gain 
the esteem and: fiiendship of the duke, 
This led to his subsequent acquaintance 
with the Prizcess Ursini; and thus he 
ascended, step by step, to the dignity of 
cardinal, and prime-minister of Spain. 
NATURAL DAUGHTER OF JAMES II. 
“A natural daughter of King James IT. 
was convicted vf friends’ principles, and 
imprisoned for the same, with Thomas 
Ellwood, &c. Upon her being engaged 
to a young man for marriage, and the 
day fixed, as they were on the road, the 
coach overturned, and her intended hus- 
band was killed, and bis brother broke 
his beg; she staid in London, and nursed , 
the young man till recovered, when, as- 
suming some habit of disguise, She tra- 
velled on foot to the isle of Ely, and 
enquiring at some friend’s house for. em=- 
ployment, the master asked her, “ What 
she could do?” She answered, “ She was 
willing to put her hand to any thing.” 
He then-said, “*Canst thou reap?” She 
replied, ‘She could hardly tell; but if 
he pleased she would wry.” Sa he sent 
her into the field, and before evening she 
discovered herself to be so great a pro- 
frcient at reaping, as to be calied 
<‘ Queen of the Reapers.” She constantly 
penis 1) attended 
