object to having attained that great end, the reputation of becoming publicly notorious. One fair-one, at least, who has lately astonished a crowded assembly by the shyness of her humility and diffidence, as much as by her wonderful adherence to veracity, will surely not refuse to exchange the vulgar word famous, which she has so long shared with persons of her own description, for that of notorious. And, although she must lament that our language does not admit of comparison, like the Latin, in which case her honour would have been superlative, yet it must be some consolation to her, as well as to the publick, that a word may be found, which recalls every idea suitable to the birth, parentage, and education, life, character, and behaviour,' of a woman of genuine notoriety. I am, Sir,

"Yours, &c.

"A CONSTANT READER."

My Correspondent's objections to the abuse of words are not perhaps new; but they are not upon that account the less worthy of our attention, because the representations which have been made on this subject do not appear as yet to have answered their purpose. While we congratulate ourselves on the refined polish

given to our language by the growing taste of our age, it may be worth while to consider whether we are not in some danger of refining our language to a dangerous excess, and of entirely banishing the use of what was formerly called plain English. My Correspondent has instanced some cases in which this specious refinement prevails; and perhaps would not have greatly erred, if he had attributed it partly to a degree of politeness improperly employed on unworthy objects, and partly to a sort of fellow-feeling with crimes and follies in which we may be concerned. It is certain that some crimes, by which the peace of society is eminently endangered, are usually expressed in very gentle and delicate terms. And these terms convey so little of dislike proportioned to their atrocity, that we might in time be at a loss to know what proper name belongs to such crimes, if we did not find it sometimes expressed pretty freely in our Courts of Justice, or did not hear it repeated every Sunday from that very antient and perspicuous body of laws, called the Ten Commandments. Owing to this very polite language, one who does not know the world, and seldom speaks its language, is surprised to hear how many instances of theft are harmless tricks, or ne

cessary accommodations; how frequently adultery is only a faux pas, and murder an affair of honour. Still politeness is an accomplishment of a nature so captivating, that perhaps it will not be easy to restore words to their proper meaning, or to give every thing its right name, unless we can prevail upon those who are afraid to express a crime to become equally afraid to commit it. It is to little purpose that we grow nice in words, in proportion as we become gross in facts; and it is certain that whatever softenings and refinements we may bestow on Vice and Folly on purpose to hide them from ourselves, or to recommend them to others, they are very apt to regain their right names when it is too late either for shame or penitence.

THE PROJECTOR. No 93.

"London ingulphs them all! The shark is there, And the shark's prey: the spendthrift, and the leech That sucks him."

Cowper.

March 1809.

THERE are few studies that afford more rational amusement or instruction than that of Natural History. The classifications, characteristicks, and descriptions of animals, vegetables, and minerals, afford an inexhaustible gratification to curiosity; and, from the beauty and excellence of the graphic illustrations, present one of the most elegant entertainments to the eye. But, while I bestow this praise on the writings of our eminent Natural Historians; and add, that of late years they have been published, in great numbers, with an accuracy and splendour worthy of the first talents; I must take the liberty to suggest some small objections, to which, in my humble opinion, they are yet liable. The first is, that more attention seems to be paid to the mineral and vege

table kingdoms than to the animal; and the second is, that in the animal kingdom, more attention is paid to the classes of those we call beasts, than to that of men, while it can never be denied that the latter is of far more import

ance.

The consequence of all this would be trifling, if it amounted only to prove a defect in a book, or an oversight in an author; but I am afraid it is owing to this that so much more value is often set upon a horse than a man; that a colt is better educated than an heir; and that more care is taken to keep a pack of yelping dogs in good case, than to provide for the comforts of an equal number of honest tenants. In truth, we seem to be far better acquainted with the properties of such animals than we are with our own species; and hence many of us look for those valuable services, and that fidelity and friendship, in four-legged animals, which we cannot find among the upright bipeds. Another evil consequence is, that while we study all the arts of destroying noxious animals, and bestow large sums on vermin-killers and ratcatchers, and on the enemies of grubs and caterpillars, we allow the most pernicious vermin of our own species to range at large, and destroy every thing that is valuable about us.