XXIX. A Dissertation on the Philosophy of Aristotle. 4to, 1812. Mr T.'s complete and accurate knowledge of the ancient philosophy is amply and unequivocally displayed in this truly admirable volume, in which the physical and metaphysical dogmas of Aristotle are luminously unfolded. I sincerely confess that this elaborate work has greatly encreased my esteem for the Aristotelian philosophy, and at the same time confirmed me in the very high opinion I always entertained of the profound knowledge and eminent talents of its learned and excellent author. XXX. Theoretic Arithmetic. 8vo. 1806. In this exceedingly curious volume will be found all that has been written on this subject by Theo of Smyrna, Nicomachus, Iamblichus, and Boetius, with some remarkable particulars respecting perfect, amicable, and other numbers; as also a specimen of the manner in which the Pythagoreans philosophized about numbers, and a developement of their mystical and theological Arithmetic. XXXI. The Elements of a New Arithmetical Notation. 8vo. 1823. Although I have not studied this profound treatise with that persevering and long-sustained attention which is absolutely necessary to justify a decided opinion, yet in the cursory examination I have bestowed on it, I have seen quite sufficient to warrant my recommending it to my scientific readers as a work of considerable elegance, subtlety, and ingenuity. Le Croix, the celebrated French mathematician, has been commissioned by the Academy, to make a report on it. XXXII. Collectanea. 8vo. This volume of Collections was privately printed for the purpose of distributing among the author's friends. To Mr Taylor we are also indebted for the most complete and valuable collection of the" Chaldean Oracles" ever published, the result of many years passed in patient and laborious research, in which he has not only added more than fifty oracles which had not been noticed by any preceding editor, but has also accurately arranged them conformably to their proper subjects. And this he has done, not from conjecture, but from the authority of those ancient philosophers by whom these oracles are cited, and who had in their possession the entire work, of which fragments only at present remain. In addition to these extensive and elaborate works, Mr. T. has communicated many curious and important articles to the Classical Journal and other periodical publications. After surveying such extraordinary labours, I cannot conclude more appropriately than by quoting the words of Milton to Manso : "Ergo ego te Cliûs et magni nomine Phœbi CCCXXVII. Memory, Jan. 30, 1839. J. W. Mr Roberts of Islington told to me at Dr Giles's that a blind beggar, who died at Old Bethlem, had by heart the whole of the New Testament; and a man, who told fortunes, always quoted a verse of scripture, and seemed to have the Bible by heart; he was Poor Help, and is so called on a tomb-stone, which was on the New Dover-road, but which has been removed. CCCXXVIII. G. Dyer, &c. Feb. 4, 1839. I met Basil Montagu at Dr Giles's. He says that George Dyer is between 90 and 100. He dined with Lord Holland, and on his return met a friend at CharingCross, who observed that he was sorry to see his altered fortunes. What do you mean? replied Dyer. I am as well off as ever. Why how did you come by that hat? I bought it at hatter's in Fleet-St. Well, but where did you get that gold my band? Why, Lord bless me, I have taken the servant's hat instead of my own! Mr M. invited a number of Quakers and Geo. Dyer to meet at his house to form a society for the abolition of the punishment of death. As the company was retiring, Richard Phillips, a Quaker, who wore a very broadbrimmed hat, could not find his hat; it was soon found that Geo. Dyer had gone off with it! When some dreadful murder occurred, attended with circumstances of great barbarity to a child, a wager was laid that George would break out into no severe language in speaking of the murderer. He was asked what he thought of the conduct? he replied that it was rather eccentric! Lord Sandwich was a candidate for the High Stewardship of the University of Cambridge, against Lord Hardwick who carried the election by one vote. Dr Maskelyne promised to vote for Lord S., but some one undertook to stop him till the time for voting was passed by engaging his attention in discussing some astronomical discovery. Dr H. Lee heard from Mr Hamper of Birmingham a story about a student, who was so economical of time as to read in the w...r-c....t, but so absent, that he brought away the cover of the w...r-c....t, and left his book behind him. CCCXXIX. SATYRS AND SATIRES. The Bursar of Jesus College Cambridge, (Sheepshanks by name) having ordered one of the students to translate a Satire of Horace by way of punishment, spelt the word 'Satyr.' A few days after, he received the following lines: The Satyrs of old were Satyrs of note: They'd the head of a man but the legs of a goat: His shanks are a sheep's and his head is an ass's." The editor of this volume knows an instance of an officer who left his cocked hat behind him and walked into a ball-room with the cover of the w...r-c....t under his arm. CCCXXX. DISNEY THE BIGAMIST. Oct. 11, 1838. R....... this day gave to me the following account of Disney alias Battersby, the Bigamist, with whom N...... was connected. He was the son of an eminent builder of the same name (i. e. Arthur Battersby,) who resided in Peter-street, Dublin, and who a few years ago died, it is said, of a broken heart in consequence of the untowardness of his only son. Battersby has four sisters now living in most respectable circumstances, but the errors of their brother have caused them to repudiate him. With the money he had in his possession he came to England in 1826, and mixing in respectable circles, and passing himself off as a person of consequence, he became acquainted with the family of the Rev. Dr Muckelton, whose daughter, Ann, he married in 1826, and made a settlement of 4001. a-year upon her, at her father's house, Wellesden, Warwickshire, before the marriage took place, although it soon turned out that he was not worth a shilling. Before the honeymoon had gone its round, the bride and bridegroom left the paternal roof and came to London, and he took apartments at Fenton's Hotel, where he lived in great style. While he domiciled here, it was made known to the proprietor that he was in the habit of frequenting the Saloon, Piccadilly and apparently preferring the company of harlots to that of his blooming young wife he therefore thought proper to send in his bill of fare (upwards of 1201.) one morning with the breakfast. Excuses were made, and " payment shuffled" repeatedly, until at length the emissaries of John Doe and Richard Roe consigned the "young heir" to durance. The young and deluded wife was placed in a lodging in John-street, Pentonville, and from thence she wrote to her father, who with his confidential servant, started forthwith to town, and took her back to the paternal rectory. Here she was confined for some months, afflicted in mind and body; for the brute had conta minated the latter; and the result was, that the disgusted father obtained such a divorce as would prevent further companionship. The process cost him 5001. From that period (autumn, 1826,) there was no further communication between Battersby and this lady. As soon as he obtained his liberty by the aid of the Commissioners of the Insolvent Debtors' Court, and had paid his debt by durance to the proprietor of Fenton's Hotel, he assumed the name of Napier Disney, and entered as a private in the Life Guards, to which his fine features and commanding altitude were an easy passport. But no sooner had he received the bounty of George IV. than he deserted, and it appears that he soon after joined a dragoon regiment, and went to India. It does not appear by what means he got absolved from service in the latter corps, but he made his way to England about four years ago. With regard to his desertion from the Life Guards, there can be no doubt, as a Serjeant came from Windsor, and identified him before the day of trial. Soon after his arrival from India, Battersby entered the service of the Queen of Spain as an adjutant in the 11th regiment of British Lancers, and was soon after promoted to a cornetcy; but whether he ever attained the rank of Captain does not appear from the evidence of General Evans. When he applied for his license to marry Miss Stovin, his second wife, he declared on his oath that he was a Captain in the army, as will appear by the registry of his two marriages, and should he not have so ranked, he must have committed a quadruple perjury. He married Miss Stovin, a ward in Chancery, on the 11th of August last, at Burleigh chapel-of-ease, Strand, declaring that his name was Henry Napier Disney; that he was a "bachelor, " a "Captain in the Army," and that the lady (Miss Ann Stovin) was a spinster of full age, although only twenty years and nine months. On the 18th of November following he re-married the same lady at Paddington Church, when he swore that the lady to whom he had been wedded three months was a spinster of full age. His intention evidently was, to hoodwink the Court of Chancery, by concealing the prior marriage, so as to be, in |