The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1810-12-27 00:00:00

THE ACE WE ME IN.

Ovid his given a very fine description of the
earlier ages of the world. visd has told us a beauti-
ful story about things which. in our times, st is
scarcely possible to conceive to II- any better than
pore fictions of the poet's beam. We are inform-
ed, for instance, th it there was an Age called "
rim
Gulden," from some precious metal which, ow w'-
count of its supre•ricelleuce. was applied alleyori-
rally to designate tha most halm', nil 'rect. abun-
dant, mid delightful era. that ever Heisted on the
emir. What this metal could beer been it to not
iii the power of a modern writer to inissume. Bat
from our absolute ignorance of the ineeriing of the
term " Golden," it may fairly be presumed that
it is altogether a fabulous exprrs.:o:i, and refers to
something as unreal as the unicorn, the pliesnix.
the sphysix, or the flying dragon. For wise tin
suppose that if such a metal as this called Gold
had existed at any period, it would bare been un-
knoWn to the chyssists of the loth century, who
hive explored the very arcane of native. and made
suetsnorahle discoveries respecting zinc, lii.routh.
and a handfed other mongrel metals, which the
ancients had uo more couception of fleas we have
of Cold. It is therefore clear, that this pert of
Naso's story is ell wry rye ; dud we need not won-
der that all the experiments of all the alcbytnists of
the last four centuries, founded on so ndiculeas a
poetical inv. ntion, should have lamentably hided
ie discovering that which was a Doa-entity-.their
ewrriw palpabik !
This iiscredible opinioa, that there really was
such a metal as gold, was &ether strengthened by
the cunning of the Pual, who compares the suc-
ceeding age to silver, • metal which we hams. by
some few proofs still remaining, is to be timid in
the bowels of the earth. And, again. by likening
the third age he treats upon to ked, a metal which
all the plumbers in England can veri'y upon oath
is to be had someway or otlier.-whether the truth
lies in a well or not. a immaterial to oar argunt,t •
The elixir of life, the longitude, the perpetual
motion. and the way to square a circle, Wrest!
equally had their followers. advocates. andtedsar.
era ; hut the wiser part of mankind have inveriahly
laughed at all such pursuite,.whetker of these who
hunted after intmeetality. in a mortal worlde.prr.
taint, where nothing is certain; perpetuity. ohms
every thin/decay., an exception to a physical
certainty ; or, what was of the same description,
its the philosopher's stone, or gold." as a substence
which we have every reason to believe is oafish%
more than an immaterial phantasy. The whdona
arid purity of the British Parliament has of late
been arraigned and brought into qn.stion more then
in former times, and, we must confess. in our oei.
nine, with greater justice than ever; for it.eviaced
no ordinary share of folly. in the Senate of a great
notion. to fall into • vulgar opinion, and appoint •
Committer, as they did last Session, to inquire into
its truth or faliehood, and report to the flume whe-
ther there wee any foundation for the belief its the
philosopher's stone, or not. Li no other light eau
the Billion Committee be considered, mod any men
of sense might hove anticipated their report. eke.
net there was UO seek West its creative imam
tar they were deputed to diatom ! steel y.s Mises.
port made a tense in the country. and vet all the
yelping fellows of the nation et work. to pease diet
the Committee ware wrong. We shall not Valet
into a controversy so evidently ridiculous. Nat NW..
led our own mind by the evidence of our own
seater. remain convinced that there is as sack thing
as glad to be seen.
Would to !leaven the precious ore did exist, and
that the age of peace. plea.uree and plenty resem-
bling, it were restored I Bat, alas even the silvery
age is pied, and we do not enjoy the seeamilary de-
gree of happiness with which mankind were blessed
during the period so designated. Nay, the very
age of teed, when rapine, injustice. sod diaeunil be.
gun to infest the world—when bellow, luirrithsas
Lenient, cried havoc, and let slip its bloxl-hound ---
even that dull and heavy time is over, mod a wo,se
has succeeded ; in which. unfortunately for our gees
nerstino, we are the actors. But what a-me shell
we give this " Age we lire ix f"—Were even follow
the exami.le of Ovid, and add anther metal to the
list, nothing would be found applicable bat that
wempound—brew/ Impudence and assurance pre.
vial over modesty mid tal. at. and brazen presump.
tion leads to honours, wealth, and fame! Another
phenomenon of nur times might be happilycoinpar.
ed with that semi-metallic combination which is im.
played in Galvanic experiments, and the prevalence
of universal Corruption find an apt counterpart is
the fluid wonders wrought in these curmus philoso.
pleical treats by Professor Davy. We might observe
how, by this medium, the dead were made to move
about. as by the influence of Corruption they ere
made to vote at Election.. end many other singular
and similar appearances might be produced and es.
plainer!.
But perhaps, after all, it would he more applies.
Me to dismiss Metals altogether from our simile,
ambit mice to bestow on this age the name it se ob.
stoutly merito--that of the Parse Aoa! How well
by this appellation will its nature be demonstrated
to posterity t Exquisitely true, our children's
children's children shall read the record ; and
when they mention the Paper Aqe, it will lie
understood to mean that period when—
lank Notes
Fictitious Bills ••
ReNethis ..... viesseies,
Deems.
Vats The Art of Ruliag,
Quack Fs&
Villainous Quibbles Lao,
MID

Waite Paper 141Igioo-7or Wier, *ice sons
&l oirite paper !
Lord forfand any one should carry the coops.
rime any farther than we have now done ; and
after 'eying we had Piper Mots for Rulers, go sp
and up, and find all scold !"
A strong detachment of the 'Tipperary, Militia,
under the command of en Officer, proceeded fres
this town for the purpose of ouppressinujrne di**
turbances which exist at Cunriamara.—(not)
Norwich Corn Markey,on Saturday, was bet
thinly attended, and little hiplines, transacted. la
the price of Wheat there was no alteration, yelling
from els. to 451% and a few very prime samples
worth a little mom Borlry was again lowa,. and
did not go mere than 16s. Brans 20t. to to..
6d, and Oats 14s. to 13s. pet comb.