From memoranda collected from authors, whose works entitle them to great consideration, I request to offer the following aphorism, which, through the medium of your publication, I shall be glad to find verified: and, if this mode of contributing to the tendency of your work be acceptable, I shall regularly supply you with communications of this nature; and also with other matter equally relevant to the object of philosophical investigation, In furentibus Luna Mercurio non copulatur in hâc figurâ Saturnus quidem noctù Mars autem interdiù cardinem tenebit maximè que in Cancro, Virgine ac Piscibus, Thus translated: In the nativities of mad persons, the Moon is not conjoined with Mercury,-Saturn by night, and Mars by day, being posited in cardinal signs, particularly Cancer; the same also takes place when they are in Virgo and Pisces, To the Editor of the Monthly Correspondent. SIR, Pimlico, Dec. 22, 1813, HAVING lately had access to the library of a gentleman, to whose family the unfortunate Richard Savage was related, in turning over the leaves of Johnson's Lives of the Poets, I found the following curious verses, appended by way of note, on the day of his birth, as given by his biographer, (10th Jan, 1697-8.) "ILL-FATED Progeny of lawlesse love! Though borne* beneathe the gracious star of Jove; This is spelled verbatim, &c. Through life, sore indiscretions swayed thy minde, Thy web of anguish faste-poor childe of lawlesse love?" Quere. The hour and minute of Mr. Savage's birth? In order to enable them to discover these, however, it may be necessary to inform your correspondents by an extract from Dr. Johnson, that Savage was imprisoned for being concerned in the murder of a Mr. James Sinclair, on the 20th Nov. 1727, and tried and cast for death; which, however the interposition of his friends with queen Caroline averted, in spite of (oh, sad, and, thank heaven, rare instance of maternal malignity!) the efforts of his own mother, who opposed his pardon most strenuously to the last. He died in Newgate, the victim of his indiscretions, July 31st, 1743. Dr. Johnson thus describes his person and mind, to which description I should not do justice, by delivering it in any other words than his. "Savage," he says, "was a man equally distinguished by his virtues and vices; and at once remarkable for his weaknesses and abilities. "He was of a middle stature, of a thin habit of body, a long visage, coarse features, and melancholy aspect; of a `grave and manly deportment, a solemn dignity of mien, but which, upon a nearer acquaintance, softened into an engaging earnestness of manners. His walk was slow, his voice tremulous and mournful. He was easily excited to smiles but very seldom provoked to laughter. "His mind was in an uncommon degree vigorous and active. His judgment was accurate, his apprehension quick, and his memory so tenacious, that he was frequently observed to know what he learned from others in a very short time, better than those by whom he was informed, and could frequently recollect incidents, with all their combination of circumstances, which few would have regarded at the present time, but which the quickness of his apprehension impressed upon him. He had the art of escaping from his reflections, and accommodating himself to every new scene. "To this quality is to be imputed the extent of his knowledge compared with the short time which he spent in visible endeavours to acquire it. He mingled in cursory conversation with the same readiness of attention as others apply to a lecture, and amidst the appearance of gaiety, lost no idea that was started, nor any hint that could be improved. He had therefore made in the coffee-houses the same proficiency as others in their closets; and it is remarkable that the writings of a man of little education and little reading have an air of learning scarcely to be found in any other performances, but which, perhaps, as often obscures as embellishes them. "He was compassionate both by nature and principle, and always ready to perform offices of humanity; but when he was provoked (and very small offences were sufficient to provoke him), he would prosecute his revenge with the utmost acrimony till his passion had subsided. "His friendship was therefore of little value; for though he was very zealous in the support or vindication of those whom he loved, yet it was always dangerous to trust him, because he always considered himself as discharged at the first quarrel from all ties of honour and gratitude, and would betray those secrets which in the warmth of confidence had been imparted to him. This practice drew upon him an universal accusation of ingratitude: nor can it be denied that he was very ready to set himself free from the load of an obligation, for he could not bear to conceive himself in a state of dependance, his pride being equally powerful with his other passions, and appearing in the form of insolence at one time, and of vanity at another. Vanity, the most innocent species of pride, was most frequently predominent: he could not easily leave off, when he had begun to mention himself or his works; nor even read his verses without stealing his eyes from the page, to discover in the audience how they were affected with any favourite passage. "His veracity was questioned, but with little reason; his accounts, though not indeed always the same, were generally consistent. When he loved any man he suppressed all his faults; and when he had been offended by him, concealed all his virtues: but his characters are generally true, so far as he proceeded; though it cannot be denied, that his partiality might have sometimes the effect of falsehood."-The Doctor concludes the life of this unhappy man, by observing, "This relation will not be wholly without its use; if those, who languish under any part of his sufferings, shall be able to fortify their patience by reflecting, that they feel only those afflictions from which the abilities of Savage did not exempt or those, who, in confidence of superior capacities or attainments, disregard the common maxims of life, should be reminded that nothing will supply the want of prudence; and that negligence and irregularity, long continued, will make knowledge useless, wit ridiculous, and genius contemptible." As in your Prospectus, the Biography of persons, now or lately living, is to be produced for exemplifying the truth of Prognostic Astronomy, I wish for the above to be inserted in your first number; and hope, in a future publication, to see some elementary cause given for the extraordinary life and conduct of Richard Savage. I am, Sir, An admirer of your Plan, The foregoing letter was transmitted to us in the month of December last, but press of matter prevented it from being inserted in the Querist for January. As the destiny of Richard Savage has interested, and will continue to interest, all ingenious and liberal-minded men, it has been thought proper to assign the probable elementary causes for his wanderings and misfortunes; for his inflexibility in error; and, consequently, unhappy end. As many of our readers may not be acquainted with the particulars of his life, in addition to what our correspondent relates, we have subjoined an abridgment of it; upon which our scientific friends, by combining events with the elementary impression which he appears to have received at birth, will form their own conclusions. These, though differing from ours, if transmitted for insertion, shall receive the most impartial notice. LATITUDE OF THE PLANETS. 1 05614 117 258n|015 | 048 s 1 35 |