Essay XXVII. Of Friendship.-- "Epimenides the Candian."] Bacon calls the ancient Cretan priest Epimenides a "Candian," as Machiavel speaks of the capture of Rome by the "Francesi" under Brennus. Mr. Pashley, in his _Travels in Crete_, vol. i. p. 189., shows that Candia is a name unknown in the island; and that among the natives its ancient denomination is still in use. The name Candia has been propagated over Europe from the Italian usage. "The Latin adage meeteth with it a little: 'Magna civitas, magna solitudo.'"] See Erasm. _Adag._, p. 1293. It is taken from a verse of a Greek comic poet, which referred to the city of Megalopolis in Arcadia: "Ἐρημία μεγάλη 'στὶν ἡ Μεγάλη πόλις."--Strab. viii. 8. § 1. "The Roman name attaineth the true use and cause thereof, naming them 'participes curarum.'"] To what examples of this expression does Bacon refer? "The parable of Pythagoras is dark, but true: 'Cor ne edito.'"] Concerning this Pythagorean precept, see Diog., Laert. viii. 17, 18., cum not. The saying of Themistocles is repeated in _Apophthegms_, No. 199. p. 392. The saying of Heraclitus is repeated, _Apophthegms_, No. 268.; _De Sap. Vet._, vol. xi. p. 346. It is alluded to in _Nov. Org._, ii. 32.: "Quicquid enim abducit intellectum a consuetis, æquat et complanat aream ejus, ad recipiendum _lumen siccum et purum_ notionum verarum." "It was a sparing speech of the ancients, to say that a friend is another himself."] See Aristot., _Mag. Mor._ ii. 11.: "Μία φανὲν ψυχὴ ἡ ἐμὴ καὶ ἡ τούτου;" and again, c. 15.: "Τοιοῦτος οἷος ἕτερος εἶναι ἐγὼ, ἀν γε καὶ σφόδρα φίλον τοιήσῃς, ὥσπερ τὸ λεγόμενον 'ἄλλος οὗτος Ἡρακλῆς,' 'ἄλλος φίλος ἐγώ.'" _Eth. Eud._ vii. 12.: "Ὁ γὰρ φίλος βούλεται εἶναι, ὥσπερ ἡ παροιμία φησὶν, ἄλλος Ἠρακλῆς, ἄλλος οὗτος." L. (_To be continued._) * * * * * THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. The interest which the execution of the railroad across the Isthmus of Panama excites, induces me to transmit you the following extract from Gage's _New Survey of the West Indies_, 8vo., London, 1699.