ger of their smuggling foreign goods into this kingdom; but, with so vigilant a custom-house as our's, this danger is inconsiderable-and we may safely take our chance of it, in the prospect of a substantial benefit.

Since the arrival of General Miranda two months ago, a good deal has been said on the subject of invading the province of Caraccas. Mr. Depon's description of that country has been referred to in support of the arguments for this enterprize. Owing to the height of the mountains, the climate is said to be much more salubrious than that of the islands in the same latitude; the soil is considered extremely fertile, and the minds of the inhabitants strongly averse to the monopolizing despotism of the mother country. After the experience we have had at Buenos Ayres, no reflecting person will advise our attempting to make a conquest of a Spanish settlement; and the point recommended, therefore, is to emancipate. The principal question in this case is, In what state of civilization are the inhabitants of that country? Are they fitted to preserve and enjoy liberty? If they are not, it is doubtful whether they will benefit much by the change; but if they are (and it is confidently stated that they are so) there can be no question of their prospering more under an independent government than with their present system. The chief regret would in that case be, that the attempt had not been made long ago, as a measure of that kind undertaken at present could scarcely fail to prolong the war.

Stocks have been steady during last month, and money tolerably plenty.
PRICE OF STOCKS.

The Average Prices of Navigable Canal Shares, Dock Stock, Five Office Shares, &c. in FEB. 1808; at the Office of Mr. Scott, 28, New-Bridge-street, London.

Rose Copper Smelting Company, 150l. per share. Grand Junction, 911. per share. Grand Surrey, 411. to 451.-Ellesmere, 551.-Tavistock Mineral Canal, 1121. for 1051. paid. - Kennet and Avon, 201. subscription, 10s. premium each.Huddersfield, 171. per share. East London Water Works, original shares 72 guineas each premium. New do. from 671. 4s. to 551. each.-West Middlesex Water Works, 17 guineas premium. --West India Dock Stock, 1451. to 144l. 10s. -London Dock, 1091.- Globe Assurance, 1101.

AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR FEBRUARY, 1808.

Exclusive of partial damages from the late falls of snow, the reports from all parts of the country are of a most promising nature. The wheats, although in some degree affected by the various changes experienced this season, look generally bold and healthy, but those which were early sown far the best, more particularly in the North. Some on cold hungry clays look yellow and weak, but will doubtless recover should the spring be favourable-a blessing we may reasonably expect after so rough a winter. Other crops, tares, rape, rye, &c. are of equal good promise with the wheat, excepting that in some situations the tares are a good deal beat down by the snows. Very few beans yet above ground.

Well drained and naturally dry lands are universally in good condition where properly managed, and in great forwardness for Lent sowing. Much turnip land cleared, and that crop has exceeded expectation (which, indeed, was bad enough) the roots remaining tolerably sound to the last. Spring feed, as has been said, will be very short. Bread corn on hand more plentiful throughout the country than has been known for some years.

A considerable number of lambs have been lost from the severity of the weather in the South and West, and it is feared we shall have a repetition of very disastrous accounts of that kind from the North; otherwise the fall of lambs is talked of as large. A vast abundance of lean and half fat stock in the country, but good fat things not so plentiful, and probable to be scarce as the spring advances, particularly pigs, the only species of stock, perhaps, of which the breed does not equal the demand. Provisions in Ireland in great plenty and cheap, but on the advance. Mutton, 5s. 6d. to 5s. 4d. Lamb, 7s. to London Bacon, 6s. Irish do. 4s. 8d.

Smithfield. Beef, 4s. 6d. to 5s. 4d. 10s. Veal, 8s. to 9s. Pork, 5s. to 7s. to 5s. Fat, 4s. 3d. to 4s. 6d.

PRIZE CATTLE.

At the late Meeting of the Smithfield Club, held at Freemasons' Tavern on the 14th of December, 1807, the Duke of Bedford, the president, in the chair, several prizes were publicly adjudged to the owners of such of the fat Cattle exhibited in Mr. Sadler's yard, in Goswell-street, as had, in the opinion of five gentlemen appointed to examine them, improved the most in condition for the quantity of food consumed in their fattening, considering age, work performed, and other circumstances.

The following correct particulars, since furnished to the Secretary of the Club by the Butchers who killed the prize animals, of the weight of meat and of offals, we trust will prove acceptable to many of our readers.

Mr. Gilbert Maltby's three one- N° 1 134 141 year-old new Leicester wethers

2 130

11

-grass, turnips, and cabbages

122414 1234

thers-grass, hay, and turnips

3 148

From the frequent changes in the weather, from frost to snow and rain, the business of spring sowing has been much impeded, and little as yet has been done, owing to the wetness of the lands. The wheats on cold moist soils look sickly, wanting dry weather to recover their former verdure, where well water furrowed. The plants of wheat, rye, and tares on warm dry lands appear sufficiently thick and strong, feeling only a check from the late prevailing humidity, which has been equally unfavourable to feeding sheep, and ewes with early lambs. Tura ip crops have not suffered so much as might have been expected, the roots in general keeping sound and good. Cole, both for seed and feed, never more flourishing, from which immense droves of very fat sheep have been recent'y sent to Smithfield market.

Owing to the expected scarcity of hay and fodder, the prices of lean stock at the late fairs still continued low, the graziers being fearful of making large purchases. But from the great winter consumption of pork in London, and the present vast demand for the navy, porking pigs and large stores for the distillers are in great request at advanced prices.

Bigg

69 2

61 1

47 10

49 8

38 6

37 6

29 8

30 7

56 5

71 4

459

61 1

61 4

27 2

THE ATHENÆUM.

No. 16. APRIL 1st, 1808.

GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.

ANCIENT GREEK DANCE.

To the Editor of the Atheneum.

Sir, Dr. Beattie, in a letter to Mrs. Montague, says, "I have enclosed two papers; one is an epitaph, &c.; the other is a tune which you desired me to send you, and which, if it were what is pretended, would indeed be a very great curiosity; but I am apt to think that it has been composed in modern times, and even since the invention of the present musical system. Yet I have been told, by pretty good authority, that the Greeks believe it to be as ancient as the days of Theseus." Lord Monboddo, having obtained a transcript of the same tune, wrote on the back of his copy the following memorandum: "A tune to which the Greeks at present dance, called Romeka. It imitates the winding of a labyrinth; and it is supposed to be that which Theseus brought from Crete to Greece, when he returned with Ariadne. It is mentioned by Homer in the Shield, as having been taught Ariadne by Dedalus. Plutarch also speaks of it in the life of Theseus, and Eustathius in his commentary upon Homer. It is danced upon all solemn occasions; and the person who leads the dance carries a handkerchief in his hand, representing the signal which Theseus was to make if he returned victorious. It begins very slow, increasing still in quickness, and then gradually sinking into a slow movement, as at the beginning."+ I shall not presume either to assert or deny the antiquity of this tune; but I shall beg leave to observe, that a dance similar to the one described by Lord Monboddo was performed on the stage at Naples in 1621, and is still performed by the fishermen on the shores of the Mediterranean near that city. My authority is the author of an Historical Memoir on Italian Tragedy. VOL. III. Having

2 R

* Vide an Account of the Life and Writings of James Beattie, LL. D. Vol. I. 285.

↑ Ibid. Vol. III. p. 246.

' Una

Having mentioned a dance which was performed at Naples during the representation of the Crispo of Stefonio, he adds, in a note, "From the description of this dance, I am induced to think it was unconnected with the tragedy, and only performed between the acts, like the modern ballet. I shall give the words of my authority. rappresentanza di ballo, imitante i giri del Laberinto, fu messa alla publica vista in Napoli nell' anno 1621, con applauso universale, allorchi rappresentossi la tragedia del Crispo composta dallo Stefonio.' Descriz d'Ercolano, p. 114. Here we may dimly discern a ballet or dramatic dance, founded upon the story of Theseus and Ariadne. It is a curious but a certain fact, that a dance of a similar figure is frequently performed at this day on the shore of the Mediterranean near Naples, by the fishermen and their families. Signora Angelica Kaufman, who had viewed this dance with the eye of a painter skilled in the antique, once observed to me, that she could discover in the gestures of the dancers several of the attitudes which we admire in the paintings found amongst the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum."*

If, Sir, it were not inconsistent with your plan, I could wish you would indulge your readers with a copy of the tune mentioned by Dr. Beattie (if a copy can now be obtained); and perhaps some future traveller in Italy may afford us an opportunity of comparing it with the tune to which the Neapolitan fishermen dance.

Before I quit this subject I shall transcribe another passage from the description of Herculaneum quoted above. "Teseo," says the author, "è creduto l'inventore delle strofe, e delle antistrofe in memoria degli intricati giri del Laberinto." He proceeds-" I canti, i balli, e i suoni erano le decorazioni della scena, che a noi sono pervenuti con vocabolo Inglese di contradanze, Country Dances, quasi invenzione degli Inglesi contadini."+

* Walker, Histor. Mem. on Ital. Tragedy, p. 133. † Venuti, delle Antichi d'Ercol. p. 114.

JOSEPH OF NAZARETH, GRAND BURG-GRAVE OF BAVARIA!

FLE AT Heraclitus, an rideat Democritus? in attempting to speak of these "things," shall I laugh with Democritus, or weep with Heraclitus? they are so ridiculous and absurd on the one side; so lamentable and tragical on the other! Burton's Anal. of Melancholy, vol. ii. p. 514.

Pleasing as would have been the task to dwell on that eventful period in history, which comprehends the gradual propagation of the doctrines professed by the first reformers, and the successful issue of