lurch for a
finish to each sentence he commences.

On the other hand, you must carefully shun the affectation of _bombastic
diction_--it is lamentable to see a preelucidated theme rendered
semidiaphonous, by the elimination of simple expression, to make room
for the conglomeration of pondrous periods, and to exhibit the
phonocamptic coxcombry of some pedant, who mistakes sentences for
wagons, and words for the wheels of them.

Avoid _alliteration_, allowed by all to be the very vehicle of vitious
verbosity, particularly in a periodical publication; therefore, the
thought that dully depends, during lengthened lines of lumbering
lucubration, on innumerable initials introduced instead of rhyme or
reason, is really reprehensible. Shakspeare, scorning the sufferance of
such a sneaking style, said "Wit whither wilt?"

Lest you should put the same question to me, I will give you my
concluding piece of advice, which is, that you should beware of
introducing second hand _Rural Tales_ and essays, from the successful
labours of your predecessors. Such things _have_ happened more than
once, and I remember reading a letter to the editor, in the first number
of a new magazine, which was unfortunately signed by, _An Old
Subscriber_.

P. S. I meant to have called myself a _Constant Reader_, but, if you
follow my advice, you will have so many of those, you will not know how
to distinguish me from others. I shall, therefore, address my future
correspondence, under the signature of my proper initials,

S. L. U. M.

* * * * *

A CHAPTER ON LOGIC;

_Or, the Horse Chesnut, and the Chesnut Horse._

Occasioned by an observation of Mr. Montague Mathew, in the house of
commons, during the last session of parliament, that Mr. Mathew Montague
was no more like him, than a horse chesnut was like a chesnut horse.

An Eton stripling, training for the law,
A dunce at syntax, but a dab at law,
One happy christmas laid upon the shelf
His cap and gown, and stores of learned pelf.
With all the deathless bards of Greece and Rome,
To spend a fortnight at his uncle's home.
Arriv'd, and pass'd the usual how d'ye do's,
Inquiries of old friends and college news;
"Well Tom--the road--what saw you worth discerning?
Or how goes study:--what is it you're learning?"
"Oh! logic, sir; but not the shallow rules
Of Locke and Bacon--antiquated fools!
'Tis wits' and wra