The Sun.
London, England, 1822-11-23 00:00:00

LITERARY NOTICE.

A GLOSSARY ; or, Collection' of Words, Phrases, Names,
and Allusions to Customs, Proverbs, &c. which have been
thought to reluire Illustrntion,, in the Works of English
Authors, particularly SHAKESPEARE, and his Contem-
poraries.

Cadentqu'e
Qum nunc aunt in honore
By ROBERT NAIRES, A.lll. F.R.S. F.A.S., Archdeacon' of

Stafford, &c.

The world has long been indebted to this
Gentleman for many valuable productions, some
in conformity to the duties of his serious calling,
and others for the promotion of Learning and
Taste. His work, entitled " Elements of
Orthoem" is a standard Book, and proves how
well he was qualified for that which he has re-
cently presented to the public, and which is
the subject of our present notice. The Scrow
of this Gentleman have been justly admired
for the soundness of the doctrines, and time
elegance .of the language. Of the work be-
fore us the leartied. Author tells us in a mo-
dest Preface that " its materials were sought
and collected entirely for amusement ; and the
task has been continued and completed, so far as
it can be called complete, exactly in the same
manner; with perseverance indeed through a
long series of years, but uniformly at leisure
hours, and only in the intervals of more import-
ant occupations." Happy •is the man that can
so honourably and so usefully employ his leisure
hours, and though the public have reason from
the value of this Author's serious labours, to
wish for more of them, yet they have reason
to rejoice that he had leisure to produce a Work
so amusing and instructive as the present. 'Ye
doubt not that it will, to use his own words,
"entertain the Reader no less than it has amused
the Writer." To the admirers of our dra- '
matic Bard this Work is one of the most
valuable treasures that has been ever pre-
sented to them. It illustrates a multipli
city of passages by a reference to Customs
Proverbs, Adages, and Tales, which have escaped
the most elaborate and intelligent of the Com-
mentators. The Author cites abundant autho-
rities for all his explanations, and gives his own
opinions with diffidence, notwithstanding the force
and perspicuity with which they are supported.
The nature of the work hardly admits of quota-
tions in this place, and therefore we can only
offer our humble testimony to its general merit,
heartily recommending it to the attention of
the scholar, the man of taste, and particularly of
the Lovers of the Drama, as 'it not only illustrates
,the works of SHAKESPEARE, but of those contem-
porary writers who, though eclipsed by his ra-
diance, will continue to adorn the Literature of
our Country. We cannot, however, deny our-
selves the pleasure of transcribing the following
respectful and dignified dedication of this truly
valuable addition to British Literature :

TO
THE KING.

SIRE,—It was 'the .Glory of one illustrious - Reign to have
resisted and humbled the tnemies of the Country; and also to
have produced and foStcred the distinguished Authors whose
Works are here altempted to be illustrated.
Under the Auspices of YOUR MAJESTY, as PRINCE
REGENT, the forrner Glory has been surpassed ; and of the
latter, the most sanguine expectations are fully authorised, by
what is-already known of the Talents, Taste, and Beneficence,
of KING GEORGE THE FOURTH._
. _

Looking up, therefore, to YOUR MAJESTY as the declared
Friend and Protector of Literature, in all its Branches, I have
solicited Permissiorrto lay this humble Performance at the foot
.of the Throne, and subscribe myself
YOUR illAJEsTv's
Most obedient, most devoted, and
Faithful Subject and Servant,
ROBERT 'AIRES.

ANECDOTE.--A very genteel looking young
man was seen to enter a church in time of ser-
vice; he paused at the entrance ; the congrega-
tion stared ; he advanced a few steps, and deli-
berately surveying the whole assembly, com-
menced a slow march up the broad aisle ; not a
pew.was
.opened ; the audience were too busy
for civility; he wheeled, ,and..in the same man-
ner performed a rnarnia, stepring as if to Roslyn
Castle, or the'Dcad March in Saul, and .disap..
peared. A few moments after, he re-entered
with a huge block upon his shoulders as heavy
as he ,could well stagger under. His counte-
nance was immoveable--.-again the good people
stared, and half rose from their seats, with their
books in their hands. At length he placed the
block in the very centre of the principal passage
and seated himself upon it. Then, for the first
time, the. reproach was felt. Every pew door in
the church was instantly flung open. But no—
the stranger was a gentleman ; he came not there
for disturbance ; he moved not ; smiled not ;
but preserved the utmost decorum until the ser-
vice Was concluded, when, he shouldered his
block, and to the same slow step bore it off, and
replaced it where hellad found it.