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THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

Ascham, in the Epistle prefixed to his “Toxophilus,” 1571, observes that

“Manye Englishe writers usinge straunge wordes as Lattine, Frenche, and Italian, do make al thinges darke and harde.  Ones,” says he, “I communed with a man which reasoned the Englishe tongue to be enriched and encreased thereby, sayinge, Who will not prayse that feast, where a man shall drincke at a dinner both wyne, ale, and beere?  Truly (quoth I) they be al good every one taken by itself alone; but if you put malmesye and sack, redde wyne and white, ale and beere, and al in one pot, you shall make a drinke neither easye to be knowen, nor holsom for the bodye.”

A.V.

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ROYAL WISH.

When King James I. first saw the public library at Oxford, and perceived the little chains by which the books were fastened, he expressed his wish that if ever it should be his fate to be a prisoner, this library might be his prison, those books his fellow prisoners, and the chains his fetters.

J.E.H.

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EPITAPH

On a Marine Officer, in the churchyard of Burwick-in-Elmet, Yorkshire.

  Here lies, retired from busy scenes,
  A first lieutenant of Marines,
  Who lately lived in gay content,
  On board the brave ship Diligent.

  Now stripp’d of all his warlike show,
  And laid in box of elm below,
  Confin’d in earth in narrow borders,
  He rises not till further orders.

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ANNUAL OF SCIENCE.

This Day is published, price 5s.

ARCANA of SCIENCE, and ANNUAL REGISTER of the USEFUL ARTS for 1831.

Comprising POPULAR INVENTIONS, IMPROVEMENTS, and DISCOVERIES Abridged from the Transactions of Public Societies and Scientific Journals of the past year.  With several Engravings.

“One of the best and cheapest books of the day.”—­Mag.  Nat.  Hist.

“An annual register of new inventions and improvements in a popular form like this, cannot fail to be useful.”—­Lit.  Gaz.

Printed for JOHN LIMBIRD, 143.  Strand;—­of whom may be had the Volumes for the three preceding years.

* * * * *

Printed and Published by J LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, (near Somerset House,) London; sold by ERNEST FLEISCHER, 626, New Market, Leipsic; G.G.  BENNIS, 55, Rue Neuve, St. Augustin, Paris; and by all Newsmen and Booksellers.