That excellent good man Gilpin drew up a family record of his great grandfather, grandfather and father, who had all been “very valuable men.” “I have often thought,” said he, “such little records might be very useful in families; whether the subjects of them were good or bad. A light house may serve equally the purpose of leading you into a haven, or deterring you from a rock.”[1] If it may stand with your soft blush, to hear Yourself but told unto yourself, and see In my character what your features be, You will not from the paper slightly pass. No lady, but at some time loves her glass. And this shall be no false one, but as much Removed, as you from need to have it such.[2] [Footnote 1: WARNER'S RECOLLECTIONS.] [Footnote 2: BEN JONSON.] There was once a German who being poet, physician and physiognomist, saw in a vision of Paradise Physiognomy herself, and received from her a most gracious compliment, which lay buried among the Heidelberg Manuscripts in the Vatican, till Frederick Adelung in the year 1799, brought it to light some centuries after the very name of the poet had perished. Read the compliment, reader, if thou canst as given by the German antiquary, without note, comment, glossary, or punctuation. I can answer for the fidelity of my transcript, though not of his text. _Zu mir in gar glicher wise Quam us hymels paradyse Vil manich schöne frouwe name Jeglicher wol die kron zam Sie waren schöne und gecleit Vrauwelicher zuchte mynnekeit Sie ziert ine danne riche gewant Mir wart iglicher name bekant Wanne er in geschriben was An ir vorgespan als ich las_ PHISONOMIA _kunstenriche Gutlicht redt wider mich Wir byden dich herre bescheiden Das du in gottes geleiden Dust machen myne lobelich kunst So hastu mynneclichen gunst Von mir und myner gespilen vil Der igliche dich des bidden wil Das du in erkennen gebest Und du in unser früntschaft lebest Alleine din cleit sy donne Got wil dir geben solich wonne Die mannich gelerter mane Nummer mer gewynnen kan._ There was no truth in Physiognomy when she made this promise to her medico-poet. Yet he deserved her gratitude for he taught that her unerring indications might be read not in the countenance alone, but in all the members of the human body. In cases of disputed inheritance, when it is contended that the heir claimant is not the son of his reputed father, but a spurious, or supposititious child, such a series of portraits would be witnesses, he thought, against whose evidence no exception could be taken. Indeed such evidence would have disproved the impudent story of the Warming Pan, if any thing had depended upon legitimacy in that case; and in our times it might divest D. Miguel of all claim to the crown of Portugal, by right of birth.