entrusted with "the golden pen." In the first trial, for the manner of teaching scholars, after Johnson had taught his pupil a fortnight, he would not bring him forward! This was awarded in favour of Bales.

"The second, for secretary and clerk-like writing, dictating to them both in English and in Latin, Bales performed best, being first done; written straightest without line, with true orthography; the challenger himself confessing that he wanted the Latin tongue, and no clerk!

"The third and last trial for fair writing in sundry kinds of hands, the challenger prevailed for the beauty and most "authentic proportion," and for the superior variety of the Roman hand. In the court-hand the respondent exceeded the appellant, and likewise in the set text; and bastard secretary was also somewhat perfecter.

"At length Bales, perhaps perceiving an equilibrium in the judicial decision, to overwhelm his antagonist, presented what he distinguishes as his "master-piece," composed of secretary and Roman hand four ways varied, and offering the defendant to let pass all his previous advantages if he could better this specimen of caligraphy! The challenger was silent! At this moment some of the judges, perceiving that the decision must go in favour of Bales, in consideration of the youth of the challenger, lest he might be disgraced to the world, requested the other judges not to pass judgment in public. Bales assures us, that he in vain remonstrated; for, by these means, the winning of the golden pen might not be so famously spread as otherwise it would have been. To Bales the prize was awarded. But our history has a more interesting close; the subtle machiavelism of the first challenger!

"When the great trial had closed, and Bales, carrying off the golden pen, exultingly had it painted and set up for his sign, the baffled challenger went about reporting that he had won the golden pen, but that the defendant had obtained the same by plots and shifts, and other base and cunning practices." Bales vindicated his claim, and offered to show the world his "master-piece," which had acquired it. Johnson issued an "appeal to all impartial pen-men," which he spread in great numbers through the city for ten days, a libel against the judges and the victorious defendant! He declared that there had been a subtle combination with one of the

judges concerning the place of trial; which he expected to have been before "pen-men," but not before a multitude like a stage-play, and shouts and tumults with which the challenger had hitherto been unacquainted. The judges were intended to be twelve; but of the five, four were the challenger's friends, honest gentlemen, but unskilled in judging of most hands; and he offered again forty pounds to be allowed in six months to equal Bales's master-piece. And he closes his " appeal" by declaring that Bales had lost in several parts of the trial, neither did the judges deny that Bales possessed himself of the golden pen by a trick! Before judgment was awarded, alleging the sickness of his wife to be extreme, he desired she might have a sight of the golden pen to comfort her! The ancient gentleman, who was the holder, taking the defendant's word, allowed the golden pen to be carried to the sick wife; and Bales immediately pawned it, and afterwards, to make sure work, sold it at a great loss, so that, when the judges met for their definite sentence, nor pen nor penny-worth was to be had! The judges being ashamed of their conduct, were compelled to give such a verdict as suited the

occasion!

NATURAL HISTORY.

Fossil Remains.-The fossil bones of animals belonging to a primeval world are found to exist in Switzerland in

proportion as more attention is paid to them, and they are often thrown into the fire together with the coals, in the body of which they are found. In the meeting of Swiss naturalists this year, M. de Luc, of Geneva, presented a paper on this subject, in which he endeavours to refute the assertion of M. Cuvier; according to which, it is not proved that the temperature of the northern climates has changed since the times when animals of the elephant, the hippopotamus, the rhinoceros, the elasmotherium, and the tapir, subsisted in them. After some preliminary observations, which cannot be extracted here, M. de Luc declares his opinion, that as, in those remote ages of antiquity, the distribution of land and sea was different to what it now is, it may hence be inferred that likewise different. The existence of the larger elephant, the nature of the atmosphere and the temperature were from Sicily to Siberia, proves farther, that these countries were then less different in their climate than they now are; and the author concludes with the remark of bis illustrious uncle-"That the revolution caused by the deluge produced a great change on the surface of the earth, even with respect to the influence of the sun's beams; and it appears that the temperature of different countries was, at that time, not so dissimilar as at present, and that the difference of the seasons was likewise less considerable. Hence we may understand why large animals could live then, in climates where they cannot now subsist.

THE DRAMA.

character will be raised still higher in the estimation of the public.

The Title-page and Index will be ready in a few days.

As several numbers of the Iris are now nearly out of print, we beg to suggest to those subscribers whose sets are imperfect, the expedi ency of completing them without delay.

ADVERTISEMENT.

EDUCATION. THE REV. G. BROWN, A. M. in his private establishment at Chadderton, (pleasantly sitn ated on the Irwell, five miles above Bury,) will have a few vacancies after the Christmas holidays. The number of pupils is limited to six or eight ;—they have the use of a valuable se lect Library, and are treated in every respect as part of the family.

Terms.-FORTY GUINEAS per annum, including washing, the Advertiser at" Chadderton, near Bury, Lancashire.” and every charge, except school books and stationery.—Address,

Chadderton, Dec. 20, 1822.

Friends for the encouragement he has received during

W. ALBISTON returns his sincere thanks to bis the eleven years in which he has, in Manchester, exercised the profession of a TEACHER, and respectfully informs them and formerly occupied by Mr. Clare, at the HOLLINS, near WARRINGTON, on the road from thence to Liverpool; at which place he purposes to OPEN, on the 21st of January next, a BOARDING SCHOOL for YOUNG GENTLEMEN.TERMS:-For Young Gentlemen under 12 years of age, 25 guineas per annum; above twelve, 28 gnineas; above 15 year, 30 guineas-REFERENCES:-The Rev. Robert Newton, the Rev. Josh. Collier, and Mr. John Lomas, Manchester; the Rev. James Townley, and Mr. James Goodier, Warrington, and Mr. Samuel Healy, Liverpool.-CARDS of the Terms may be had by application to Mr. C. Albiston, 38, Cannon-street, Messrs. W. and W. Clarke, and J. Roberts, Booksellers, Manchester; the Booksellers in Warrington; or Mr. Samuel Healy,

the Public, that he has taken the commodious PREMISES

MOSLEY-STREET CLASSICAL, MATHEMATICAL, AND COMMERCIAL ACADEMY,

On the preceding Saturday we were highly entertained Liverpool. Our Theatre opened for the season on Monday last. with the Comic Opera, “Love in a Village," in which the part of Rosetta was performed by the celebrated and popular Miss Stephens. This lady was engaged for that night only, and drew an elegant and overflowing house. MR. W. M. LAWRIE, successor to Mr. W. ALThe only changes which we notice in the company the last season, are, Messrs. Foster and Diddear; the former from the Theatre Royal, Bath, and the latter from that of Norwich.

since

We understand that a young gentleman of considerable attainments is about to make his debut at our Theatre, in the arduous character of Jaflier in the Tragedy of Venice Preserved. Report speaks highly of his merits.

With the present year we conclude our first volume; and acknowledge, with thankfulness, the attention and liberal support which have been uniformly extended to our Miscellany.

BISTON, respectfully announces that the above-mentioned Academy, will be REOPENED on Monday the 13th of Jannary, 1823, for the instruction of Youth of both sexes. Cards of the terms, &c. with references, may be had by ap plying to Messrs. CLARKE, Booksellers, and at the IRIS OFFICE, Manchester.-W. L. has a good school to dispose of, worth upwards of £100 per anuum, with proper Desks, &c. 11, Prime-st. Hulme, Dec. 24, 1822.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

D. is informed that a critique on "an ODE on the USR and ABUSE of POETRY" is prepared; and should have appeared this week but for a press of articles, for the insertion of which we stood pledged.-Indeed, had Mr. B not identified his Ode with our town, by date and domicile, we should have felt inclined to shrink from the task; a task which proved as onpleasant to ourselves, as it can possibly do to either the au thor or his admirers.—It shall be given in our next.

R. T.'s remarks are only illustrative of "home" and, to this, Matrimony has no exclusive right.-The verses will be inserted under the head-" A HOMELY COT."

Our esteemed correspondent N. S. C. compliments ns on our punctuality; but we fear that his query must be replied to in the affirmative.-Should it be in his power to favour us with a uplicate, mistake, oversight, and misfortune shall be guarded against.

The sentiments of Juvenis are correct and promising; some of

his hints are original; and his entire plan, such as must tend to the formation of a worthy, respected character.-We urge him to persevere, and wish him the utmost success in the prosecution of his views.

"W. B." "Senex," "Leodiensis," "Myra,” and “T. S." have been received.

After an impartial retrospect, we flatter ourselves, that the popularity of the Iris may, with- The communications of "A Friend," "Spartacus," "R. W. S. out presumption, be attributed chiefly to its intrinsic merits. We can, without hesitation, declare, that we have been in no instance, influenced by invidious views against our contemporaries; nor have we resorted to the insertion of inflated paragraphs, or to any other description of indirect or exaggerated recommendation, in order to increase the sale of our numbers.

By our arrangements for the ensuing year, we have secured the co-operation of gentlemen of acknowledged literary talent; consequently, our numbers will be enriched with a greater variety of original articles on subjects of general interest. We therefore, trust, that our publication will be rendered more interesting, and that its literary

"Morager's" reply to Vindex, relative to the Phrenological System of Drs. Gall and Spurzheim, is just received, and shall bave our early attention-We are ignorant of" the circamstances" to which M. allades, and request he will favou: 85 with an explanation by the earliest hand.-The state of our friend" Hermes'" health, (which we know was infirm) excites our alarm.

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