The astronomer smiled with open mouth, like one who does not comprehend a thing, but out of politeness, raises no objections to it. "I proceed a little farther still," continued the lady. "That involuntary sentiment, denominated Sympathy, I compare to the power by which the magnet attracts iron. Both are inexplicable. The solar spots may probably be the effects of age, when the warmth of the heart gradually decreases; for who can answer for it that our sun will not be by degrees extinguished? Then will the universe be as dark and cold as the heart of an old man or a conqueror. The thought is enough to chill one. Farewell!" The lady skipped away to forget, in the vortex of a sprightly dance, the whole system of Descartes. The astronomer looked after her, shaking his head, and compared her to a shooting star. AMERICAN SCENERY-FOR THE PORT FOLIO. BURLINGTON BAY, ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN. THIS bay has its name from the town of Burlington, in Chittendon county, Vermont, where, in the year 1791, a university was established by the legislature of that state. Among the numerous interesting views which this noble lake offers to the admirer of nature, few surpass the present, in picturesque effect, particularly on one of those days of rural serenity and repose, when the smooth expanse of waters, studded with islands, reflects the tranquil sublimity of the blue sky and surrounding mountains; while the white sails of the various vessels that float lazily on its bosom, give additional grandeur and novelty to the scene. Lake Champlain is more than 200 miles in length, is of very irregular breadth, from one to seventeen miles; and is said to occupy an extent of five hundred thousand acres. It is abundantly stored with fish; and contains more than 60 islands of various dimensions. FOR THE PORT FOLIO. REMONSTRANCE OF THE DOGS OF PHILADELPHIA. To the Honourable the Corporation of the City of Philadelphia, the humble remonstrance of the Dogs of the said City, ShewethThat they have seen with surprise and distress a law for killing all such Dogs as are not provided with collars after the 10th instant, in order to prevent their biting the Citizens of Philadelphia, and thus bringing on a fatal disease. Your memorialists are sorry to complain of the injustice of this law, inasmuch as its objects are a part of one class of animals only, while a part of several more numerous classes of animals equally, or more disposed to bite, are wholly overlooked in the law, and still suffered to roam at large in the city with impunity. These are, 1st, a certain class of traders in goods of all kinds, and particularly in public stock, whose bites are often as destructive to the interests of the Citizens of Philadelphia, as our bites are to their lives. 2. There are certain members of the learned professions, who live by biting all those persons who are dependant upon them. These are those ministers of the gospel, who bite their parishioners, with indifferent sermons; and who neglect to return in visits and private instructions, to their congregations a compensation for the salaries they receive from them; also those lawyers who bite their Clients out of large fees for trifling services, or for neglecting and postponing their suits; and lastly, those physicians who not only bite their patients with large bills, but who bite one another, not as we do upon the hands and legs openly, but slily and secretly upon their backs. The diseases induced by all these different kinds of bites are often of a serious and destructive nature, and call for the interference of laws to prevent and punish them. Your memorialists, therefore, humbly pray that all the classes of persons before mentioned, may be killed, or obliged to wear collars, in order to defend them from the resentment of the public; and thus by an act of equal justice, to place them upon a footing with your memorialists; and your memorialists, as in duty bound, shall ever bark. Signed, in behalf of all the Dogs in the city, by May 29, 1811. CÆSAR, TOWSER, POMPEY, WATCH, and HORACE IN LONDON. Or all the descriptive passages in Horace, none has been perused with a more cordial approbation, especially by the rural enthusiast, than that far-famed Epode, which so enchantingly celebrates the joys of the sylvan life. In this beautiful poem, the poet, with his accustomed felicity, describes one Alphius, a scoundrel usurer, chaunting, at great length, the delights of rural retirement, resolving to repair to the groves of solitude: but finally, from the despotism of Avarice and of Habit, returning to his villainous speculations and his trade of money-lending. Horace in London, has very happily modernized this matchless performance; and if Mr. Pope could be raised from the tomb, he would not hesitate liberally to commend his fellow-labourer in this peculiar way of composition. EPODE II. RURAL FELICITY. Beatus ille qui procul negotiis, &c. "HAPPY the man who leaves off trade (Thus to himself, Paul Poplin said,) No care his mind engages; Fix'd on a gently rising hill, At Somers-town, or Pentonville, He eyes the passing stages. The city rout, the lord mayor's ball, |