in general, an appellation given to things greatly inferior in size to that which is usual in their several kinds: thus there are dwarfs of the human species, dwarf-dogs, dwarf-trees, &c.

The Romans were passionately fond of dwarfs, whom they called nani or name, inasmuch that they often used artificial methods to prevent the growth of boys designed for dwarfs, by inclosing them in boxes, or by the use of tight bandages. Augustus's niece, Julia, was extremely fond of a dwarf called Sonopas, who was only two feet and an hand-breadth high.—We have many other accounts of human dwarfs, but most of them deformed in some way or other besides the smallness of their size. Many relations also concerning dwarfs we must necessarily look upon to be fabulous, as well as those concerning giants.—The following history, however, which we have reason to look upon as authentic, is too remarkable not to be acceptable to the generality of our readers.

Jeffery Hudson, the famous English dwarf, was born at Oakham in Rutlandshire in 1619; and about the age of seven or eight, being then but 18 inches high, was retained in the service of the duke of Buckingham, who resided at Burleigh on the Hill. Soon after the marriage of Charles I. the king and queen being entertained at Burleigh, little Jeffery was served up to table in a cold pye, and presented by the duchess to the queen, who kept him as her dwarf. From 7 years of age till 30, he never grew taller; but after 30, he shot up to three feet nine inches, and there fixed. Jeffery became a considerable part of the entertainment of the court. Sir William Davenant wrote a poem called Jeffreys, on a battle between him and a turkey-cock; and in 1638, was published a very small book, called the New Year's Gift, presented at court by the lady Parva to the lord Minimus (commonly called Little Jeffery) her majesty's servant, &c. written by Microphilus, with a little print of Jeffery prefixed. Before this period, Jeffery was employed on a negociation of great importance: he was sent to France to fetch a midwife for the queen; and on his return with this gentlewoman, and her majesty's dancing-master, and many rich presents to the queen from her mother Mary de Medicis, he was taken by the Dunkirkers. Jeffery, thus made of consequence, grew to think himself really so. He had borne with little temper the teasing of the courtiers and domestics, and had many squabbles with the king's gigantic porter. At last, being provoked by Mr Crofts, a young gentleman of family, a challenge ensued; and Mr Crofts coming to the rendezvous armed only with a squirt, the little creature was so enraged, that a real duel ensued; and the appointment being on horseback with pistols, to put them more on a level, Jeffery, with the first fire, shot his antagonist dead. This happened in France, whither he had attended his mistress in the troubles. He was again taken prisoner by a Turkish rover, and sold into Barbary. He probably did not remain long in slavery: for at the beginning of the civil war, he was made a captain in the royal army; and in 1644 attended the queen to France, where he remained till the Restoration. At last, upon suspicion of his being privy to the Popish plot, he was taken up in 1682, and confined in the Gatehouse, Westminster, where he ended his life, in the 63d year of his age.

In the Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences, a relation is given by the Count de Treslau, of a dwarf called Bebe, kept by the late Stanislaus king of Poland, and who died in 1764 at the age of 23, when he measured only 33 inches. At the time of his birth, he measured only between eight and nine inches. Diminutive as were his dimensions, his reasoning faculties were not less scanty; appearing indeed not to have been superior to those of a well-taught pointer; but that the size and strength of the intellectual powers are not affected by the diminutiveness or tenuity of the corporeal organs, is evident from a still more striking instance of littleness, given us by the same nobleman, in the person of Monsieur Borulawski, a Polish gentleman, whom he saw at Luneville, who has since been at Paris, and who at the age of 22 measured only 28 inches. This miniature of a man, considering him only as to his bodily dimensions, appears a giant with regard to his mental powers and attainments. ments. He is described by the count as possessing all the graces of wit, united with a sound judgment and an excellent memory; so that we may with justice say of M. Borulawski, in the words of Seneca, and nearly in the order in which he has used them, "Potest ingenium fortissimum ac beatissimum sub quolibet corporeculo latere." Epist. 66.

Count Borulawski was the son of a Polish nobleman attached to the fortunes of king Stanislaus, who lost his property in consequence of that attachment, and who had six children, three dwarfs, and three well-grown. What is singular enough, they were born alternately, a big one and a little one, though both parents were of the common size. The little count's youngest sister was much less than him, but died at the age of 23. The count continued to grow till he was about 30, and has at present attained his 51st year, and the height of three feet two inches. He never experienced any sickness, but lived in a polite and affluent manner under the patronage of a lady, a friend of the family, till love at the age of 41 intruded into his little peaceful bosom, and involved him in matrimony, care, and perplexity. The lady he chose was of his own country, but of French extraction, and the middle size. They have three children, all girls, and none of them likely to be dwarfs. To provide for a family now became an object big with difficulty, requiring all the exertion of his powers (which could promise but little), and his talents, of which music alone afforded any view of profit. He plays extremely well upon the guitar; and by having concerts in several of the principal cities in Germany, he raised temporary supplies. At Vienna he was persuaded to turn his thoughts to England, where it was believed the public curiosity might in a little time benefit him sufficiently to enable him to live independent in so cheap a country as Poland. He was furnished by very respectable friends with recommendations to several of the most distinguished characters in this kingdom, as the duchess of Devonshire, Rutland, &c., whose kind patronage he is not backward to acknowledge. He was advised to let himself be seen as a curiosity, and the price of admission was fixed at a guinea. The number of his visitors, of course, was not very great. After a pretty long stay in London he went to Bath and Bristol; visited Dublin and some other parts of Ireland; whence he returned by way of Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham, to London. He also visited Edinburgh and some other towns of Scotland. In every place he acquired a number of friends. In reality, the ease and politeness of his manners and address please no less than the diminutive, yet elegant, proportions of his figure astonish those who visit him. His person is pleasing and graceful, and his look manly and noble. He speaks French fluently, and English tolerably. He is remarkably lively and cheerful, though fitted for the most serious and rational conversation. Such is this wonderful little man—an object of curiosity really worthy the attention of the philosopher, the man of taste, and the anatomist. His life has been published, written by himself.