_July 9th._ Started from St. Thomas', with the assurance that our little schooner was awaiting us at Chagres. We all longed to see the wee craft once more, and to be again with her upon the waves; and indeed we regretted her, clipper as she was, with as much fondness as if she were the most stately man-of-war. I close my portfolio for the present; where I shall open it next, Fate knows, not I. But wherever it may be, for your eyes and yours alone, my friend, are these “types of travel” recorded. I do not write for the public eye; I leave that to your friend N. P. W. and to my friend Mrs. Trollope, content, when again we meet, and shake hands once more after my wanderings, to hear you say, in the language of Old Will—Well, Ned, “thou didst make tolerable vent of thy travel.” * * * * * Wherever the Inquisition had power, the word _fata_ was not allowed in any book. An author wishing to use the word, printed in his book _facta_, and put in the errata “for facta read fata.” LINES. BY P. P. COOKE. I sometime at sweet even go Forth to the greenwood tree, To watch the day-flush fading slow Over the west countrie. There, sitting on a gnarled root, I place my hand upon my cheek— And sitting thus, whole hours, all mute, Feeding on thought too rich to speak, I hear the ever rushing wings Of the many cloudy things Which are my brain's imaginings. And sometime am quite happy—quite— Under the influence, soft and holy, Of the eve's bough-broken light, (Bough-broken and most melancholy!) Quite happy! and my fingers pass Over my brow and through my hair, In rude—rude mimicry, alas! Of the soft fingers slim and fair That once were so familiar there— But which now death-eaten are. So I do sit me down and dream— Acquaint with mystery; and seem To prying Ouphes a happy mortal, And seem aright!—For through the portal Of joyful meditation stream All bright and lovely things. But then These come not to the haunts of men, And I, (sad I!) am happy only In the old wood, dim and lonely! THE LEARNED LANGUAGES. BY MATHEW CAREY. So much has been written on the advantages and disadvantages of studying these languages, and such a diversity of opinions prevails on the mode of teaching them, among those who are in favor of the study, that little of novelty can be adduced on this mooted subject; and a writer can scarcely expect to find readers at all disposed to favor his lucubrations with a perusal, or, if they condescend to peruse, they will rarely come to the task with unprejudiced minds. This is very discouraging, and might well forbid any but a bold writer from entering the arena. The importance of the subject induces me, however, to venture. If I fail of producing conviction, I shall only share the same fate as numbers who have preceded me.