so clearly has this author described the varieties of his multifarious scenery. A classical reader will be delighted with the happy applications of many passages out of Virgil, in which he proves that elegant poet to be a connoisseur in picturesque beauty as well as himself. The pencil of Gilpin. enabled him to place much of his instruction before the eyes of his reader, so that he wanders in his forests, and walks by the sides of his lakes and rivers. In the former views, his portraits of animals strike us with particular delight. In his introduction of the reader into his delightful prospects, he is reminded of the hero and his guide in the favourite author of Gilpin, when they approach the Elysian Fields "Devenêre locos lætos, et amœna vireta Guarini the Poet. Though the author of "Pastor Fido" is not remarkable for nature and simplicity in his poetry, yet the following lines on "Modesty" are an exception to the above censure: Vergogna che n'altrui stampi natura, "This sentiment of shame will prevail, however we may endeavour to dismiss it: if we banish it from the heart, it will take refuge in the countenance." This circumstance, though not physically true, yet can well serve the purposes of poetry to strike the fancy. Discoveries in the Arts and Sciences. The Abbé du Bos has learnedly observed, that these discoveries are not made by dint of study and previous theories, but arise in consequence of hints produced by accidents, and pursued by men of mechanical skill, but of no philosophical genius. Telescopes, the compass, making of glass, &c. among many other inventions, may be brought to confirm the Abbé's observation; who shrewdly remarks also, that learned nations and erudite individuals are not of course distinguished by their good sense, judgment, and sagacity. Jealousy. This dreadful passion does not arise only from the suspicion of a carnal crime in the parties, but nearly as often from the observation that the parties seem more intellectually amused with each other. Those who are harassed with the more vulgar suspicion, should attend to the sentiment of "Nature's secretary”— For boy, howsoever we do pride ourselves, More longing, wavering, sooner lost and won Twelfth Night. Sir Isaac Newton. The In a late publication of anecdotes of eminent persons, the following story is related of Sir Isaac Newton. When he was at the head of the Mint, he employed a person to settle his accounts. writer seems to imply, that this great philosopher was not equal to the summing part of that office. Surely this is making, rather than relating, a wonderful thing. Is it not more reasonable to suppose that an eminent mathematician was induced to employ an agent in the Mint, to leave to himself more liberty for his sublimer speculations? Taste for the Nude. The exposure of their fair persons by the ladies is not only at variance with modesty, but seems equally in hostility with taste. We will consulta man of prose and a man of poetry on this delicate point of taste. "When a garden," says Mr. Southcote, "is discoverable at one glance of the eye, it takes away even the hope of variety." When the beautiful Armida appears before the enemy's camp, the Italian poet describes the delicate and enchanting reserve of her dress, "Parte appar delle mamme," &c. Part of her heaving bosom rose to view, Tasso Gierusal. cant. 4, stanzá 31. If this be true of young and beautiful females, what shall we say of the indiscretion of those ladies, from whom age has taken away, or to whom nature originally denied, any charms to expose ? Songs and Novels. From idle ballads, and as idle novels, do young persons imbibe their first ideas of a passion, which may destroy in a few hours their whole views of comfort and happiness. Let them attend to the words of a wise man. "The passion called Love has so general and powerful influence; it makes so much of the entertainment, and indeed so much of the occupation of that part of life, which decides the character for ever; that the mode and the principles on which it engages the sympathy, and strikes the imagination, become of the utmost importance to the manners and the morals of society.”—Burke. History. The same eminent politician has well described the twofold nature of history, and the good or evil that may result from the reading of it. " In history, a great volume is unrolled for our instruction, drawing the materials of future wisdom from the past errors and infirmities of mankind. It may, in the perversion, serve for a magazine, furnishing offensive and defensive weapons for parties in Church and State, and supplying the means of keeping alive or reviving dissensions and animosities, and adding fuel to civil fury." History consists, for the greater part, of the miseries brought upon the world by pride, ambition, avarice, revenge, lust, sedition, hypocrisy, ungoverned zeal, and all the train of disorderly appetites which disturb the public, with the same "Troublous storms that toss "The private state, and render life unsweet." Habits of Men in Office are well described and discriminated by the same excellent philosopher and eloquent writer. "The habits of office are apt to give men a turn to think the substance of business not to be of much more importance than the forms by which it is conducted. These forms are well adapted to con |