As a proof that there is at least one eminent exception to the assertion of
ARDELIO, that "_we_ know that the Romans must have had a postal system," I
send the following extract from Dr. William {550} Smith's _Dictionary of
Greek and Roman Antiquities_, sub voc. Tabellarius:
"As the Romans had no public post, they were obliged to employ special
messengers, who were called Tabellarii, to convey their letters, when
they had not an opportunity of sending them otherwise."
[Greek: Halieus].
Dublin.
_Epigram on the Feuds between Handel and Bononcini_ (Vol. ix., p.
445.).--This epigram, which has frequently been printed as Swift's, was
written by Dr. Byrom of Manchester. In his very interesting _Diary_, which
is shortly about to appear under the able editorship of my friend Dr.
Parkinson in the series of Chetham publications, Byrom mentions it.
"Nourse asked me if I had seen the verses upon Handel and Bononcini,
not knowing that they were mine; but Sculler said I was charged with
them, and so I said they were mine; they both said they had been
mightily liked."--Byrom's _Remains_ (Cheetham Series), vol. i. part i.
p. 173.
The verses are thus more correctly given in Byrom's _Works_, vol. i. p.
342., edit. 1773:
"_Epigram on the Feuds between Handel and Bononcini._
Some say, compar'd to Bononcini,
That Mynheer Handel's but a ninny;
Others aver that he to Handel
Is scarcely fit to hold a candle:
Strange all this difference should be,
'Twixt Tweedledum and Tweedledee!"