atures of
Boswell, around the board, and the doctor's beloved tea-kettle singing
its harmonious and solacing solo on the blazing "ingle." Inspecting more
minutely the features of the visionary picture, we might behold the
oracle of learning when about to deliver his opinion, perhaps, on the
artificial fire of Gray, or the feeling and simplicity of Goldsmith: his
opening eyes and unclosing lips; the "harsh thunder" of his
articulation, and the horrisonous stamp of his ample foot, impress us
with the same reverence which was felt by his literary visitants. It was
here, doubtless, where the Herculean task of compiling his dictionary was
achieved; the monotony of which was relieved by writing the periodical
papers of his Guardian, and the more flowery composition of poetry and
biography. But he is gone, and though the mist of years may obscure his
personal history, and vicissitudes annihilate his household memorials,
yet his morality and piety, his unparalleled labour and patient
endurance, but chief of all, his brilliant and versatile genius, will
perish but with the annals of humanity. His fame

"From sire to son shall speed; from clime to clime,
Outstripping death upon the wings of time!"

** H.

* * * * *

COMMON RIGHTS.

_(To the Editor of the Mirror.)_

As the columns of your MIRROR are a treasury of instruction, perhaps it
may not be thought amiss, or unworthy its pages, to record the advances
of science in the land we live in. I have long since heard of our
American brethren possessing the wonderful art of "launching" as the term
is, their habitations; but I was not aware that my friends on this side
the water had arrived at such a height on the hill of invention, until a
few weeks back, when travelling in the western part of Dorsetshire,
through the small village of _Pulham_, in that county; a neat,
comfortable-looking cottage was pointed out for my observation, and which
I was assured by many creditable persons, who had witnessed the
performance, was, in the year 1826, chimneys, windows, and altogether,
removed, without sustaining any injury, the distance of nearly two miles.
The power employed was that of ten horses. The spot where it was intended
originally to stand, was pointed out to me, being a piece of waste land
called _Lydlinch Common_. I inquired what motive could have induced the
proprietor to coach it off in such a novel manner, and the following
account I