EPIGRAM ON THE DEATH OF THE LATE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE. BY CAPT. THOMSON. NEWCASTLE dead! confufion seize LETTER FROM ABERDEEN. F Marifchal College, Aberdeen, 1767.. A Very whimsical controversy has arisen lately in our fociety, which entirely takes up at present the attention of every critic in North-Britain.-It arofe from as whimfical a circumftance. An exercise was imposed some time ago in this our college, of which the following line, taken from Salluft's De republica ordinanda, was the theme: Hæc igitur multitudo, malis moribus Im-buta, parum mihi idonea videtur ad capeffendam rempublicam. The impofition was intended as a punishment, and, therefore, to render it as difficult as poffible to a native of North-Britain, it was directed to be wrote in English.-The poor lad, whofe task it was, unfortunately K 6 unfortunately ftumbled at the threshold: for, being but little acquainted with this foreign language, he translated Im-buta into Im-buted; and gave for his reason, that in this place he could find no word in the English tongue fo proper-The profeffor, difgufted at the tranflation, and enraged at the reafon, reported it to the feniors; who, after much altercation, agreed, that the word Im-buted is a very fit and proper tranflation of Im-buta, whenever that word is used in a bad meaning, such as-Venenis malis Imbuta, Salluft.-Animus Im-butus malis artibus. Idem, &c. And they determined to fend a deputation from their body to their chancellor, the Earl of B-, to intreat that the word Im-buted may be inoculated into the English language: aud they fubmit it to his lordship and the English nation to determine, whether the acceptance of that word fhall be dated from his lordship's admittance into Clifden house, or from his acceffion. And they humbly pray, that the word may accordingly be inferted in all future editions of the English dictionaries: recommending it particularly to Dr. Johnfon, to make ufe of this fhort definition of the word Penfion -Munus tabo Im-butum.Hor. Epod. which they prefume most applicable at prefent to the word Penfion in general, and to his own in particular. In the mean time, till the fate of this important. word is determined, the Royal College of Phyficians in Edinburgh, (of which his lordfhip the Earl of B is likewife an honorary member) and all the other learned bodies in this part of the world, are preparing themselves, with the utmost industry, to be ready to take either fide of the question, according as his lordship shall determine. They, who are fuppofed to be the best judges of this matter, pretend, that the word will certainly be rejected by their chancellor; but accepted with much pleasure by the whole English nation and they imagine, that on all future occafions, authors will not say, that such a one has poisoned a youthful mind, but that he has Im-buted a youthful mind. Not that he has inftilled into him unconftitutional principles; but that he has Im-buted into him unconstitutional principles. The word Im-buted being much more expressive than infinuated or poisoned. They think too, that its use will, for fome years to come, be much more extenfive in political papers than almoft any other in the language; and particularly that, in all future changes of the miniftry, inftead of the old, improper, and worn-out phrases of refigned and appointed, they will, with much more precision and propriety, fay-fuch a one has been Buted out of, or Im-buted into, this or that unfortunately ftumbled at the threshold: for, being And they humbly pray, that the word may accordingly be inferted in all future editions of the English dictionaries: recommending it particularly to Dr. Johnfon, to make ufe of this fhort definition of the word Penfion -Munus tabo Im-butum.Hor. Epod. which they prefume most applicable at present to the word Penfion in general, and to his own in particular. In the mean time, till the fate of this important. word is determined, the Royal College of Phyficians in Edinburgh, (of which his lordship the Earl of B is likewise an honorary member) and all the other learned bodies in this part of the world, are preparing themselves, with the utmost induftry, to be ready to take either fide of the question, according as his lordship shall determine. They, who are fuppofed to be the beft judges of this matter, pretend, that the word will certainly be rejected by their chancellor; but accepted with much pleasure by the whole English nation: and they imagine, that on all future occafions, authors will not fay, that fuch a one has poisoned a youthful mind, but that he has Im-buted a youthful mind. Not that he has inftilled into him unconftitutional principles; but that he has Im-buted into him unconftitutional principles. The word Im-buted being much more expreffive than infinuated or poisoned. They think too, that its ufe will, for fome years to come, be much more extenfive in political papers than almost any other in the language; and particularly that, in all future changes of the miniftry, inftead of the old, improper, and worn-out phrases of refigned and appointed, they will, with much more precifion and propriety, say-such a one has been Buted out of, or Im-buted into, this or that |