tions, is comparatively cheap. nature of &c. &c. in our next. ou the Curates' Bill; INDAGATOR; A. H.; lume of Poems by Mr. T. BECK of Deptford. "G. B. on the Life of Knox;" A. S. The Sonnet in p 375. (sent under the sigPORSON) was copied from a Vo ,quently deserved remuneration. a written order. is hoped, be engraved. THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, Mr. URBAN, For MAY, 1814. May 9. N Advertisement on your Covers are more legible than in their former colour) induced me instantly to order Mr. Mitford's edition of " Gray's Works," chiefly on account of " two portraits of him" there announced. A succeeding Number described them, as one by Eckhard, the other by Richardson, when Gray was of the age of fifteen; it also gave notice of an Edition to be brought out by Mr. Mathias, "with a portrait of Mr. Gray, engraved from the original picture in the possession of the Master and Fellows of Pembroke-hall, Cambridge." An accidental circumstance, in aid of recollection, made me curious to have an early view of this first work, as I hope to have at least a glimpse of the next edition. When Mr. Mason's first publication in quarto came out, with the words (which I give from memory)" G. Mason et B. Wilson vivi memores fecerunt" on the engraving, some most worthy neighbours, Mr. and Mrs. Ashby, of Haselbeech in Northamptonshire, who had resided some years at Cambridge during my time, and were well known to Mr. Gray, expressed both surprise and concern at the appearance of the Portrait; they knew that Mr. Gray had an invincible aversion to be exhibited to the Publick at the head of his Poems. This is confirmed by Mr. Mitford (p. 49); but it is very possi ble that Mr. Mason might know his dislike to be limited to his own lifetime. With respect to the Engraving then produced-I can say, that I had an early opportunity of seeing the drawing from which it was taken. Being at York in September 1771, I was introduced to Mr. Mason, then in residence. On my first visit, he was sitting in an attitude of much attention to a drawing, pinned up over the fire-place; and another Gentleman, whom I afterwards found to be Mr. Vaslet, a miniature painter, who since settled at Bath, had evidently at the moment been in consultation with him about it. My friend begged leave to ask, whom it was intended to looked earnestly at Mr. Vaslet. I could not resist (though I instantly felt a wish to have been silent) saying, "Surely, from the strong likeness, it must be the late Mr. Gray." Mr. Mason at once certainly forgave the intrusion, by asking my opinion as to his fears of having "caricatured" his poor friend. The features were certainly softened down, previously to the Engraving. That "Picture" therefore was, I presume, first drawn by Mason-I understood since, that it was etched by Wilson*, to whom probably it was left, with permission to improve it. That Mr. Gray had no objection to a social communication of his own with other Portraits, the circumstance of Dr. Turner's having two profile shades of him, is a farther confirmation of my opinion, as having had in my possession many years a reduced profile of him, with those of three contemporaries, taken probably at the same time by Mr. Mapletoft, as the others were his intimate friends, and two in one frame drawn at full length in characterone of them, Dr. Hadley, of Queen's College, M. D. in the then costume of a Great Wig, administering a medicine to a Recruiting Serjeant, with cocked hat, sash, and halbert, well becoming a very large and tall man, a near and dear friend of mine, Fellow and Tutor of that College, and Proctor in 1760, from whose collection the Copies were presented to me. I had not the honour of being personally known to Mr. Gray; but, exclusive of general opportunities, I had many an occasional and near view of him, from his being attracted even to * Mr. Tyson quotes Mr. Mason as telling him in a letter, Feb. 1772, that "Wilson has made a striking likeness of Gray." Literary Anecdotes of Eighteenth Century, vol. VIII. p. 580. If I was not misinformed, Mason had taught, or obtained instruction for, Wilson in the art of etching. ан An Essay on saving persons from Drowning at the breaking of the Ice; de livered by Captain GEORGE WILLIAM MANBY, Esq. Honorary Member of the Royal Humane Society, before their Committee, assembled at the London Coffee-House, on the 19th of January 1814. (Extracted from the "Annual Report" of the Society for 1814.) THE loss of human life is always a subject of distress and lamentation; but, when this calamity suddenly happens in the midst of health, and in the pursuit of active recreation, how deeply is our sorrow 'aggravated! Such is the unavailing affliction of the survivors of those unfortunate individuals who have perished by the breaking of the ice when they were enjoying the robust and healthy exercise of skaiting. These fatal events take place every winter; most of which might have been prevented had there been prompt arrangements previously made, and ready means at band, for affording instant relief in cases of such extreme peril. drowned by the Ice breaking beneath them. If the plan which I have lately devised, and now most respectfully submit to the consideration of the Royal Humane Society, and the Publick, be adopted, I feel encouraged to believe it is not going too far to assert that drowning by the breaking of the Ice will scarcely, if ever, hereafter occur. Among the many awful instances of this nature which occurred last Winter, there was one in Scotland that demanded my most serious consideration. Seventeen persons were at one and the same moment precipitated into Eternity! The history of this truly melancholy event was related to ine while I was in that country, employed in carrying into effect the humane intentions of Parliament for averting or lessening the perils of the storm. The impression made on my mind by this shocking event, led me to think and reason on the most simple and prompt mode of affording assist ance to persons in danger of being I am therefore induced to recommend that it should be made known at those places to which skaiters resort, that implements are now constructed for giving immediate assistance in every case of danger or difticulty to which persons on the ice can be exposed. This appears to me to be the more necessary when it is considered that the means heretofore in use, though they have sometimes been crowned with success, have too often proved abortive. I now beg leave to enter into a detail of the new method here proposed, and will elucidate my suggestions by representing models before the Committee, who will at first sight perceive the simplicity which prevails through every part of this new apparatus; and I do most ardently hope that this system will not only be promulgated by your benevolent Society, but trust that it will be carried into effect throughout the kingdom, and indeed in other countries. A Description of the New Mode of Saving Persons from Drowning. The implements necessary for this purpose consist of the following articles, the application of which shall be presently explained. 1st. A rope having a floating noose, distended by whalebone, with an egg-shaped piece of wood or cork, at a convenient distance to be easily grasped by the band. The evident purpose of this rope, is to have it thrown to the aid of a person hanging by the edges of the ice, or liable to be drowned by its breaking. 2nd. A Portable gig-boat made of wicker for the advantage of extreme lightness. This boat is rendered unimmergible by air, and is made to stand upright on the ice running upon rollers*. It is to be used when at the breaking of the ice the distance is too great for throwing the rope, or when the means at present in use are insufficient to afford relief. The weight of a boat of this nature, will not, I conceive, be more than 16lbs. 3rd. A small light jolly boat +, intended for the same purpose, but which from its being formed of stronger materials, may, in some particular instances of danger, be preferable. *The roller in the fore part of the boat might easily be made to regulate the direction of the boat, but the sprit answers this end, and all unnecessary complexity is avoided. + The rullocks or vacancies on the gunwale of this boat are not for the purpose of admitting oars; they are made to receive the frame of the ladder to prevent its slipping. F 4th. Sprits armed with iron points, which, by sticking in the ice, are used for impelling the boats forward. 5th. An Elongatable grappling rod, which in cases where the body has sunk beneath the ice can be instantly adapted to any common depth of water, for the purpose of grappling for and bringing the sufferer to the surface. 6th. Portable ladders for communicating with the boat from the ice, in cases where the current may have carried the body from the place at which it first sunk. These ladders may be lengthened by unfolding or fitting in, and made buoyant as may suit the occasion for which they are intended. (To be concluded in our next.) Mr. |