"ABSINTHIUM, [Greek: apsinthion, aspinthion], Comicis, ab insigni amarore quo bibeates illud aversantur."-_Junius, Nomenclator ap. Nicot_.
"ABSINTHITES, _wormwood wine_.--_Hutton's Dict_.
"Hujus modi autem propomatum _hodie_ apud Christianos quoque _maximus est et frequentissimus usus_, quibus potatores maximi ceu proemiis quibusdam atque prÊludiis utuntur, ad dirum illud suum propinandi certamen. _Ae maxime quidem commune est proponia absynthites_, quod vim habet stomachum corroborandi et extenuandi, expellendique excrementa quÊ in eo continentur. Hoc fere propomate potatores hodie maxime ab initio coenÊ utuntur ceu pharmaco cum hesternÊ, atque prÊteritÊ, tum futurÊ ebrietatis, atque crapulÊ.... _amarissimÊ sunt potiones medicatÊ_, quibus tandem stomachi cruditates immoderato cibo potuque collectas expurgundi cause uti coguntur."--Stuckius, _AntiquitatÊ Corviralium. Tiguri_, 1582, fol. 327.
Of the two latest editors, Mr. Knight decides for the _river_, and Mr. Collier does not decide at all. Our northern neighbours think us almost as much deficient in philological illustration as in enlarged philosophical criticism on the poet, in which they claim to have shown us the way.
To the list of subjects and authors in this unrivalled volume, communicated by LORD BRAYBROOKE (Vol. ii., p. 194.), I would add that No. XXI. _Probationary Odes_ (which is unmarked in the Sunning-hill Park copy) was written by Dr. Laurence: so also were Nos. XIII. and XIV., of which LORD BRAYBROOKE speaks doubtfully. My authority is the note in the correspondence of Burke and Laurence published in 1827, page 21. The other names all agree with my own copy, marked by the late Mr. A. Chalmers.
In order to render the account of the work complete, I would add the following list of writers of the _Political Miscellanies_. Those marked with an asterisk are said "not to be from the club:"--
"* Probationary Ode Extraordinary, by Mason.
Rondeau to the Right Honourable W. Eden. Dr. Laurence.
This is the House that George built. Richardson.
Epigrams by Sir Cecil Wray. Tickell and Richardson.
* Extracts from 2nd Vol. of Lord Mulgrave's Essays.
A tale 'at Brookes's once,' &c. Richardson.
Dialogue 'Donec Gratus eram Tibi.' Lord J. Townshend.