Gael. mol.) Here again, we find upwards of thirty derivatives from moli, including a dozen verbs and adjectives, while mol has barely branched out into one substantive, and one adjective. To say therefore that the Welsh root is borrowed from the Gaelic, is like asserting that the Greek λέγω-with its host of descendants, came from the Latin lego.

We next find ngelynion (enemies), singular, gelyn. The Scottish Gaelic has, I believe, no corresponding term, but the ancient Irish has galam (O'Reilly's Dict.). It stands however perfectly* isolated, while gelyn is accompanied by ten derivatives. To prove, then, that it was originally adopted from the Irish, would, I conceive, be a difficult task, on more accounts than one.

It would be easy to collect many hundreds of similar instances, but I will content myself with observing, once for all, that when the same elements coexist in the two languages, the compounds and derivatives in Welsh generally exceed those in Gaelic, in the ratio of at least ten to one. If, therefore, the Welsh did actually borrow or steal the terms in question, it must be admitted that they have taken much better care of them than the original owners did.

I will just add a striking instance of parallelism in the two tongues. Each possesses three words for the adjective like, as follows :

degree. To take away all Gaelic elements from it, would make as sad havock with the language, as cutting off legs, arms, and tongues would with the persons of those who speak it. Even the little fragment adduced by Mr.FORBES would, if operated upon in this way, lose nine pronouns, four prepositions, and be subjected to the mutilation of three verbs, and at least as many nouns. Nay more, this conformity of words is not so strong a proof of affinity as the grammar and structure of the passage. The compound pronominal forms ynot (in thee), arnaf (over me), the preterite termination in ais (Irish as-eas), the passive form ywaradwydder (Lat. confundar), and above all the initial mutations in Nuw, ngelynion, answering to the Irish eclipses ndia, ngalan, are to me direct evidences of relationship, outweighing many pages of argumentation and assumption, however ingenious and plausible.

At the same time, I freely admit that a great proportion of Gaelic vocables are not to be identified in Welsh, as we now have it. But to assume that these are genuine Celtic, and the nonGaelic portion of Welsh not so, is clearly a two-fold begging of the question. Let it be remembered that the controversy really hinges on this point-Is Welsh a Celtic dialect? that is, is it allied to the language anciently spoken by those inhabitants of Gaul, Italy, and Germany, who called themselves Celts? It might turn out upon inquiry that Cymric and Armorican agree closely with the parent tongue in words and forms; while a great proportion of the Gaelic dialects has came from other sources. I myself have certainly an opinion upon the subject, and perhaps possess a little information, which I may one day lay before the public in a more extended form than is practicable in the pages of a Magazine. If Mr. FORBES is wrong, he will not be sorry to be set right; if his theory be sound, he will have cause to rejoice in case his opponent ventures to write a book. Yours, &c.

R. GARNETT.

THIS grotto exists in the slope of a rock on the right hand of the river Marla, about half a mile from Toscanella, the ancient Tuscania. It has been excavated under a volcanic deposition, or lava, that forms the vault, and the walls are of the masso arenario. An irregular gallery, of forty feet in extent, gives access to a chamber sixteen feet broad and thirty feet long; but the wall next the entrance is not in a straight line, but sometimes diverges towards the interior of the chamber. One of these projections of the walls is cut like a quadrangular pilaster, having on its top a rough capital a good deal broken, forming a kind of gola rovescia, as represented in the engraving. About five feet on the right hand of that pilaster the entrance of another gallery presents itself, smaller than the former, and which forms in its course a half circular line. The same gallery divides itself in two after a little extent, but the water and soil have filled it so that it is impossible to describe it more accurately.

In the middle of the chamber are two pillars of peperino, one of them two feet in diameter, the other, with its plinth, eight feet. These columns, whose curvature is not always perfect, are placed on the ground without any base, and are formed of two separate pieces. The plinths are both different, as that of the lowest pillar is higher than that of the highest.

At a little distance from the abovementioned columns there is a part of another column overthrown on the ground, which, by its fall, occasioned that of the portion of the vault of the chamber which was supported by it. On the left hand of the chamber there is an aperture, which is, probably, the entrance to another chamber; but neitherits form nor its extent is known, being entirely filled with earth and rubbish. In the first chamber there is also a portion of a sarcophagus of peperino, in which, probably, a dead body has been deposited.

All the line of the rock, where this GENT. MAG. VOL. XII.

sepulchre has been excavated, presents uniformly the same formation of masso arenario and lava. It is evident that there are many other sepulchres, and this assertion is strengthened by the frequent apertures remarked in the superficies of the soil above the rock that are produced by the fall of the vault in the sepulchres below.

Indeed the construction of this sepulchre conveys to us the idea of the most irregular and careless architecture. It is apparent that no care has been taken to preserve symmetry; this is evinced by the rough pillar, without another like it, in the interior of the chamber; and its unfinished top, without any attempt at an ornamented capital. The two columns, in two separate pieces, although so short and unfinished, placed upright without a base, and the inequality and roughness of the plinths, chs, indicate that they were not placed there for ornament, but merely to support the vault in a greater degree than could have been effected by the simple pillars, as they extend on all sides from the columns. From all these particulars we must conjecture that at that epoch the arts were in their infancy, and did not venture to attempt to proceed beyond the simple principles at that period understood. Some living authors have erroneously supposed that this sepulchre may be assigned to the later period of the nation; but such an opinion is confuted by the following reasons:

1. Because the enterprise of cutting such grottoes under a floor of lava (a very hard substance) denotes more strength of arm and power of intellect than that of excavating them in the tufo or masso arenario, which is more easily worked, and at less expense, and therefore more suited to the altered circumstances of the declining and impoverished state of Etruria.

2. Because we have in Tuscania many other sepulchres that are, undoubtedly, of the later epoch, which are always of a construction very different from the more ancient, and are never supported by pillars of the same

2 Y

References to the Plan.

A. Entrance to the grotto opening to the east.

B. Pilaster whose moulding is formed of a gola rovescia, somewhat broken, as represented in the engraving.

C. Column, of the diameter of two palms four inches; height, comprehending the capital, eight spans seven inches.

D. Column, of the diameter of two palms six inches; height, comprehending the capital, seven spans three and a half inches.

These columns rest on the earth with

out any base: they are of peperino, rather broken, with capitals of unequal heights, the lower column having the higher capital, and vice-versa.

E. Perhaps somewhere about this spot there might have been another column, which falling may have occasioned the

ruin of the first story of the vault. Among

the rubbish is a block of peperino regularly, perhaps the capital of the column.

F. A sepulchral subterraneous way, of most ancient Etruscan form. It is partly blocked, and it is necessary to pass through it crawling on the hands and knees.

There is reason to think that it is full of the remains of interments. The water which penetrates it and the rubbish have prevented its being explored further than the point G.

H. A place, now filled up, which, probably, is a sepulchral chamber of later date than the subterranean way, perhaps of the time when the Etruscans deposited their dead on funeral beds, or when they collected them in urns.

MR. URBAN, Greenwich, Sept. 16. A SECOND part of the New General Biographical Dictionary was published on the 30th August about a month after its announcement. Асtuated by the motives before described, and endeavouring to divest myself of every unfavourable presentiment which the first part was so much adapted to produce, I have critically examined its

contents; and request your acceptance of a portion of my notes.

I forbore to comment on the imitative title of the work, and on the misconceptions to which the name of the late learned, eloquent, and amiable Principal Rose might lead-on account of the abundance of other censurable matter. As the same reason still exists, I may at once enter in medias res-preserving, for the sake of comparison, the order of my former communication.

To the anonymous nature of the work, I must repeat my objections. The biographer has to collect materials from various and recondite sources to appreciate opposite evidence-to pass sentence on men of all sects, of all parties, and of all ranks. It is fit, therefore, that the public should have some clue to his character, which the name would afford. To name the contributors might also promote the object of the proprietors, for an anonymous work is seldom read with confidence, or quoted as an authority.

The references are more frequent, especially to the Biographie Universelle; but we miss Bp. Tanner, and the Biographia Britannica! Now, 1 affirm that Tanner has been consulted; and that numerous articles have been translated from continental publications without acknowledgment. Ex. gr.

"AGLIONBIE, [Edvardus) in schola Etonensi absolutis liberalium artium tyrociniis, scholaris collegii regalis Cantabr. factus MDXXXVI, dein collegii ejusdem socius, magister artium, tandem armiger et justitiarius in comit. Warwic. Scripsit Genealogiam reginæ Elizabethæ. [ob quam ei dedit regina quinque libras per annum in perpetuum. Hatcher MS. Inett.] Carmen Latinum xx distich. in obitum duorum Suffolciensium fratrum. Pr. Cum Deus iratus justa excandesceret ira.' Extat inter Epigrammata collecta per Th. Wilsonum, Lond. MDLII. 4to." -Tanner.

"Aglionby, (Edward,) educated at Eton, and elected to King's college, Cambridge, 1536, where he distinguished himself, and became a fellow and M.A. He was afterwards justice of peace in Warwickshire; wrote the genealogy of queen Elizabeth, and was presented by her with an annual pension of five pounds. He was author of a Latin poem, which is printed in Wilson's Epigrammata, 1552. 4to." N. G. B. D.

"AGIS I. fils d'Eurysthènes, roi de Sparte, vers l'an 980 av. J.-C. Les Lacédémoniens envoyèrent plusieurs colonies sous son règne. Ses actions ne sont point connues. On prétend qu'il soumit

le premier les habitants d'Hélos, autrement les Ilotes, mais cela ne paraît pas probable. Il eut pour successeur Echestratus son fils. Les rois de sa branche prirent de lui le nom d'Agiades.Clavier."

"Agis I. son of Eurysthenes, king of Sparta, reigned about 980 B.C. It is conjectured that he was the first who brought the inhabitants of Helos under the yoke, and it is known that the Spartans sent out many colonies in his time. He was succeeded by his son Echestratus, and the kings of his family assumed the name of Agiades." -N. G. B. D.

The articles AHMED Ben Fares and AHMED Ben Mohammed appear to be chiefly translated from De Rossi. The articles Ætius, the heretic-AffichardM. Afflitto-Agapetus-AgatharcusAgathocles - St. Agathon - Agay Agazzari-Agelet-Agezio-Agiles &c. are translations, literal or garbled, from the Biographie Universelle.

We are promised many hundred names not to be found elsewhere" as separate articles of biography. From the subjoined and similar specimens, I am rather disposed to admit that the promise may be performed.

"ALCOCK, (John,) an English Jesuit, whose real name was Gage, born in 1651. After studying at St. Omer, he became a novitiate of the society Sept. 7, 1670. He died in England, Dec. 29, 1703."

ALANSON. Another of the name of Alanson wasa member of the same society, (the Jesuits,] but nothing more is known

of him."

"AFFLITTO, (Gaetan Andrew.) an advocate; printed Pleadings and Decisions of Law."

"AFFLITTO, (Cesar d',) an able jurisconsult, wrote Inquiries into Feudal Tenures, &c."

Alcock and Alanson, I presume, are copied from a certain catalogue of English Jesuits, by the Rev. G. Oliver of Exeter. The other scraps are detached from a short article by M. Villenave. John ALARY has two articles: I affirm that the advocate wrote the works ascribed to the pretended physician. While one person is made to appear in two perfectly dissimilar shapes, and various persons recorded only because they were born and died, others of considerable eminence are omitted. I may instance, William Aglionby, M.D. F.R.S.-Edmund Aikin, the architect.-Eleazer Albin, the naturalist. -Antonio de Alcedo, the historian.Gerónimo de Alcala, the novelist.Gaetano d'Ancora, the antiquary. -&c.

To the form of some of the articles, I must once more object. The inversion of the dates should be avoidedfor a tale always loses a part of its interest by the anticipation of its conclusion. Sometimes also this method leads to repetition. Thus, we are twice told that G. F. Albani died in

1803.

In the bibliography of the articles, an entire reformation is required. Art. ÆSCHYLUS, we have no description of the EDITIO PRINCEPS-no date to either of the annotated editions-no mention of the translation by Potter. Art. ALAMANNI, we are not informed when and where La Coltivazione was printed, viz. Parigi, R. Stefano, 1546, 4to. Art. H. C. ALBERT, we have Essays on Shakspeare, Inquiries on the English Constitution, &c. It is not said where he was born-but find elsewhere that he wrote in Ger man! Art. AFFONSO DE ALBUQUERQUE, we have no mention of the celebrated Commentarios nor is there an article for his son, who wrote the Memoirs, a History of the family, and Poems. Barbosa gives a short narrative of his life and works. He died in 1580.

The relative extent of the articles is not sufficiently studied. Alaric I. and Alberoni occupy a twelfth part of the space which is allotted to about 420 names. Without more editorial exertion, and due pliancy on the part of the contributors, we shall never have "one harmonious whole." Every writer has his favourite themes--but disquisitions should be very sparingly introduced in a biographical work of proposed moderate limits.

The arrangement of the articles remains the same. The groups are not so formidable; but they should be dispersed by authority. The proems have more sobriety-nevertheless, it may require an encyclopedia of wit to avoid future tautology. I observe that Lord Fortescue is recorded as J. F. ALAND, which was not even the family name-but the Duke of Alba is classed under his title.

I shall pass from general censures to the critical examination of half-adozen articles: C. J. Agricola, Affo, Agard, Aggas, Aikin, and Akenside.

on

The article Cnæius Julius AGRICOLA requires a short observation. In the Biographie Universelle, the accounts of Agricola and M. Vipsanius Agrippa occupy the same space precisely. In Chalmers we have an article Agricola-but not on Agrippa. In the New Biographical Dictionary, Agricola obtains only about an eighth part of the space which is appropriated to Agrippa! The reason assigned for this treatment of Agricola is, that Tacitus is in the hands of every body. Now, I maintain that the admission of such a principle of construction would destroy the character of a general biography. It would cease to be an account of the most eminent persons; the comparatively obscure would become the most conspicuous.

The account of Ireneus Arro is a mutilated translation of an anonymous article in the Biographie Universelle. It is scarcely possible to conceive a more imperfect specimen of biography. We have neither the date of the birth of Ireneo Affò, nor the dates of his public appointments, nor of such of his works as are cited, nor the date of his death!

I must justify my censure by further specimens. It is said that Affò "died at the age of 60:" he was born at Busseto the 10th December 1741, and died there the 14th May 1797. It is said that he left a MS. history of P. L. Farnese: he did so, but it was printed at Milan in 1821. Five only of his works are enumerated: he wrote more than fifty! One of the works cited is called "his Memoirs:" it contains memoirs of above two hundred and fifty Parmesan writers! Gamba, Cicognara, or Brunet, would have furnished our sagacious biographer with some valuable hints on Father Affò; besides, for twice-seven years, the public has been in possession of a very ample account of his life and writings by his successor in the bibliothecal chair at Parma, Signor Angelo Pez

zana.

The excellent Biographie Universelle of M. Michaud, which received the contributions of more than three hundred writers, has some very defective articles, especially in the anonymous portion of it; and the editor of the New Biographical Dictionary announces that it is to be followed so far only as it may be safely consulted. The rule is