Sed quoniam jam advesperascit, procedamus in atrium: nugæ autem pastorales istæ tuæ sub umbris sunt potius, et inter arbores, quam intra penates recensende. Quæ cum dixisset, et jam in atrium pervenissemus, ego finem loquendi feci: ille cogitabundus in bibliothecam perrexit. IMPRESSUM VENETIIS IN AEDIBUS ALDI RO MANI MENSE FE BRUARIO AN NO. M. DR. BIRCH. IN his Life of Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest Son of James I. Dr. Birch has inserted the following account of the commencement and progress of his work, which to individuals engaged in similar pursuits, will communicate a certain degree of interest. Tho. Birch, 24 January, 1760. "This book was begun to be compiled on Monday, January 1, 1759, and the first draught It finished on Monday the 29th of that month. was revised in February and March following, and occasionally improved till it was committed to the press in September, the same year: the first proof sheet being corrected by me, on Friday the 21st of that month, and the last sheet printed off on Wednesday, January 23d, 1760. On Thursday, January 31, it was presented to the Prince of Wales, at his Levee in Saville House, the Earl of Bute introducing me to His Royal Highness. Friday, Feb. 8, the book was published. "It has been reprinted in Dublin, by George Faulkner, whose edition was published on Tuesday, April 15, 1760." By this circumstantial detail we learn, that the author was one month in writing his book; he was occupied two months in revising it; but that he employed the interval between March and September to put the finishing hand to his labours. It was three entire months in passing through the press, which, as it consists of about thirty-five sheets, was in the proportion of three sheets a week. All this appears to be very judicious, and it is to be lamented at the present day, that authors and publishers do not take a little more time to deliberate upon these matters, and to render their labours more perfect. But it is almost the universal custom, that the moment an agreement M 2 is is made between publishers and authors, the work, whatever it may be, must at all events be got out; so out it comes, with all its imperfections on its head. Faulkner, the Dublin printer, was, it seems, very alert on this occasion, for he only took six weeks to get out his edition also. COUNTESS OF SHREWSBURY. IT is well known that this lady was one of the celebrated beauties at the Court of Charles the Second. Her name was Anna Maria Brudenell, daughter of Robert Brudenell, Earl of Cardigan. She was second wife to Francis Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, who was killed in a duel with the Duke of Buckingham, his wife's lover, in 1667. It was reported of her, that she held her lover's horse during the duel, in the habit of his page, and afterwards slept with him. She was, beyond all doubt, a very profligate character: but this anecdote cannot be founded in fact; at least, it is exceedingly improbable. Besides the principals engaged in this unfortunate duel, there were two other combatants en gaged gaged at the same time on each side; such being the very absurd and preposterous custom of the time. The Earl of Shrewsbury had for his seconds, Sir John Talbot and Mr. Eernard Howard. The Duke of Buckingham's seconds were, Sir Robert Holmes and Captain Jenkins. To all, or most of these personages, the Countess of Shrewsbury must have been known, and she would scarcely have exposed herself to a discovery in so strange a disguise, and on so extraordinary an occasion. Captain Jenkins was killed at the same time with the Earl of Shrewsbury. Minute particulars and anecdotes of all these individuals may be found in the Memoires de Grammont; from a copy of which, printed at Strawberry Hill, formerly belonging to Sir William Musgrave, and from a note in Sir William's own hand writing, the substance of the above account was taken. The Lady Shrewsbury abovementioned, afterwards was married to Mr. Rodney Bridges, of Hampshire, Son of Sir Thomas Bridges, of Keynsham, in Somersetshire. She died April 20, 1702. It is to this Lady Shrewsbury that Pope alludes in his animated description of her Paramour Villers, Duke of Buckingham. "In the worst inn's, worst room, with mat half hung, "The floors of plaister, and the walls of dung, "On once a flock bed, but repair'd with straw, Of mimick'd Statesmen and their merry King. There is a copy, in the Museum also, of the Old English translation of these Memoirs of the English Court, by Count Hamilton, which belonged to Sir William Musgrave, and is full of manuscript notes. DR. MEAD. THE following particulars respecting this truly eminent and excellent character, though perhaps partially known, I have never yet seen brought together in one place. I have extracted them from |