Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

vating and embellishing that fair vine
yard which his old fchool-fellow had
raised.—It is unneceffary to inform our
readers that we allude here to The Tat-
ler, Spe&ator, and Guardian; — thofe
exquifite papers, which were the de-
light of the most brilliant ara in our
literary annals, and which will continue
to charm every age that fhall retain a
veftige of learning or politenefs.

Of the numerous obligations which
the learned world lies under to the in-
genious Editor, the refcuing of thefe
Letters from the hand of Oblivion will
not be deemed the leaft. We have
perufed them with infinite pleasure, and
confider them as the natural, unpreme-
ditated, unaffected effufions of one of
the best of human hearts. They were
written in various circumftances, under
the impreffion of the moment, and we
view their amiable author in various
fituations-under the influence of hope
-of difappointment, of undeferved ill-
treatment, and of pecuniary einbarrass-
ments; yet never, for a moment, de-
parting from the character of the Chrif.
tian, the philofopher, and the gentle
man; evincing, upon every occafion,
a finely-regulated fpirit, and determin-
ed fortitude, with all the milder affec-
tions and tender charities which confti-
tute the chief ornament of humanity.-
But of the nature and tendency of the
work before us, as well as of the cha-
racter of the author, we cannot, in any
expreffions of our own, convey fo ade-
quate an idea as may be collected from
the words of the Editor's Preface; from
which we shall take the liberty of tran-
fcribing a paffage or two.

"The following collection of Letters, though the genuine effufions of one of the moft elegant writers in the English language, can add little to the reputation of a literary character which has been long ago fully eftablifhed; being, in general, the hafty productions of his pen, intended only for private inspection; and fome of them evidently fcribbled when their amiable author was probably not in the very beft condition for penmanfhip. The fubjects of many of them are trivial and domeftic, fuch as may at first be fuppofed not very interefting to the publick, and from most men would be de med infignificant and below attention; but as they contain the private and undifguifed opinions of the man who took upon himself to be the Cenfor of the age, and for years exercifed that delicate office with fuitable dignity, and general approbation, it may excite no little curiofity to obferve how be conducted himfelf in thofe concerns and occurrences of

[ocr errors]

331

life through which he fo ably directed others. Not a fingle scrap of them has been fappressed; nor is there a line in the whole publication which does not, in the opinion of the Editor, go to confirm all that has lately been faid, for the fuperiority of Steele's understanding and his heart, in the Notes to the new edition of "The Tatler." Thefe Letters manifeft throughout, with irresistible conviction, the very many excellent and this public benefactor to fociety; and, in amiable qualities which greatly endeared proof of their authenticity, we fee in them, with regret, indubitable marks of "that imprudence of generofity, or vanity of profu "fion, which kept Steele always incura"bly neceffitous," and fhaded his fine charafter. Confidering the conftant vexation and ferious inconveniencies of which it was the cause or the occafion, to himfelf and his inattention to economy. It was, however, family, nothing can be faid to excufe Steele's more pardonable, and the lefs reproachable, ditors. Our regret on every inftance which as in the end he did ample justice to his crethefe Letters afford of this indifcretion, is very greatly augmented by our admiration and love of that extenfive and indefatigable philanthropy to which we are principally indebted for a long feries of well-written papers, fraught with valuable leffons of morality and good-breeding, which have doubtlefs contributed very much to the intellectual fexes, in this country. Excepting, however, improvement and moral refinement, of both what refers, in thefe Letters, to the lamentable failure of conduct abovementioned, too well afcertained before, no publication of Steele redounds more to his honour as a man than the prefent. It fhews him to have been a firm and confcientious patriot; a faithful, affectionate hufband; a fond, indulgent parent; and, even at this period, if it does not illuftrate, it very much enhances the value know, with certainty, that the falutary inof his writings, both moral and political, to mired, and fo well received, from the fictiftructions and fublime precepts, fo much adtious Ifaac Bickerftaff, Efq. were no other than the genuine fentiments and habitual practice of the real Sir Richard Steele.

"Thefe documents, which fortunately come in feasonable aid of what has lately been advanced for the firit time, and with great juftice it feems, in favour of Steele's ill-known or much-injured character, fell, eldest daughter, Elizabeth, a lady who, with after his death, into the poffeffion of his dearing qualities of her father, both of the a charming perfon, inherited the many en

* From the moft attentive perufal of thefe standing of Steele, we cannot fuppofe him Letters, as well as from the admirable underactuated by fo contemptible a motive as "the dently generous, is not to be denied. EDIT. vanity of profufion;" that he was impru

66

head

head and heart; and whofe hereditary benignity of difpofition, which felf-intereft could not, and prudence did not, fufficiently reftrain, was at laft equally fatal to her fortune, as it had been to that of her father."

To the above extract let us be permitted to fubjoin, that the letters written during courtship* are fuch as might be expected from their author, when under the influence of an honourable paffion, infpired by an uncommon degree of beauty, and fanctioned by accomplishments of a more permanent and folid kind. They are natural, paffionate, and respectful: in fhort, they bear evident marks of being the addreffes of a man of fine parts, and highly-polished manners, to a woman of elegance, good fenfe, and virtue.-Thofe after marriage are an admirable model, for fuch as are in, or intend to enter, the marriage ftate, of that delicate decorum, and thofe tender attentions, which

fo materially contribute to the happiness

of the most tender union with which Providence has favoured the rational

creation. They are, indeed, fuch as, if read with due attention, muft effentially promote domeftic harmony; on which account we warmly recommend them as the most useful piece of furniture of which a family can be poffeffed.

In a future number we fhall refume

our review of thefe agreeable Letters, and gratify fuch of our readers as have not feen them with a few extracts.

58. Features from Life. By the Author of "George Bateman and Maria." 2 Vol.

THIS Novel is dedicated to Mrs.

Haftings, but it does not feem to poffefs merit enough to draw that lady's attention from her husband's trial.

The ftory confifts only of a gentle man's ruining his friend's wife, and being killed in a duel by that friend's friend, who feems to have had little occafion to fight him. Here and there we have other tales interwoven, for aliter non fit, hvite, liber. The only parts which feem to difcover much fancy are, vol. 1. p. 102, where a gentleman, confined in a mad-houfe, hears the lady finging, the love of whom drove him out of his mind; and the visit to Mr. Williams's.

The writer would be surprised to fee how often, in the few loofe pages of thefe two volumes, infinty and inflated

occur.

We have counted them an in

*Of these fee a specimen, LVII. p. 283.

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

59. Characters of the Kings and Queens of England, felected from different Hiftories; with Obfervations and Reflections, chiefly adapted to common Life; and particularly intended for the Inftruction of Youth. T which are added, Notes Hiftorical. By J Holt. Vol. II. 12mo.

THIS is a continuation of a little work which we had occafion to mention

in vol. LVII. p. 999; and our opinion of it is not leffened by the appearance The Characters, of a fecond volume. which extend from Richard II. to Henry VIII. are judiciously compiled; and the Remarks intelligent and inftructive. From the Character of Henry IV. Mr. H. takes occafion to observe, "how neceffary it is that young perfons guard against the first deviation from the efpecially fhould be conftantly on their paths of virtue.-' Henry (fays Mr. Hume, fpeaking of the enormities by which he ob. tained the crown,) was infenfibly led into this blameable conduct by a train of incidents which few men poffefs virtue enough to withstand.'-"To enable those who are entering upon active life, to avoid being infenfibly led into thefe errors (adds Mr. Holt),

we will make fome brief obfervations. It is but feldom that men, in their common tranf

[ocr errors]

actions, think at all; and, probably, fewer ftill deliberately think of the rectitude, or depravity, of what they are about. We are often impelled by paflion or habit. Henry (fays Hume) was tame from caution, humble from fear, cruel from policy, and rapa cious from indigence.'

Whilft any one

yields himself to be governed by thefe, or fuch like propenfities, there is little ufe made of reflection; therefore, we cannot probably do better than accuftom ourselves to an early habit of thoughtfulness. And yet it is well known to every instructor of youth, how difficult it is to imprefs this habit on the mind. Emulation or fear most generally enforce the performance of a talk; nay, the more advanced in life, the ftudious perfon, confeffes how untoward this act of the mind frequently is; that, notwithstanding his utmoit efforts, a refiftance is still made, which he

he cannot conquer. Nevertheless, Memory, which is the power of recollecting things paft, and which brutes poffefs in a certain degree; and Thought, which may be defin ed a right conception of things; may be greatly improved by dint of industry and early difcipline.".. Mankind in general act as if nothing more was necellary than to drown all thought, and then give themselves up, to be led or driven, as paffion fways. Hence what can be more impious than to fpurn this inestimable gift, or bury this talent, which was given for the important purpose of difcerning good from evil; and then to pretend, in excufe for all the madness they are guilty of, that they did not think; in other words, becaufe they would not take the rains to think? For this purpofe, it would be useful for every one to fpend fome time every day in the following reflections:--whether he indulges paffion or appetite beyond the intention of nature; whether he only confults health, in eating, fleeping, and in recreations; whether he yields to anger, upon fmail or no provocations; whether he fulfils the duties of life according to the extent of his abilities. If any one fhould accuftom himself to fuch felf-examination, we may truft fuch discipline would not be mifapplied.--There is, perhaps, however, no one, whatever his rank or ftation may be, fo hardened in the ways of wickednefs, who does not intend, fome time or other, to review his conduct, and regulate the remainder of his life by the laws of virtue. But new emptations attach him, new invitations of pleature or intereft prefent themselves, and the hour of reformation is delayed till to-morrow; and thus every delay gives vice another opportunity of fortifying itself by habit; and the change of manners, though it may be fincerely intended, is poftponed to the time when fome craving appetite fhall be fully gratified, or fome powerful allurement have loft its importunity; and fo the first imperceptible step in vice leads the finner on till he become at laft, like Henry IV, a penitent for fins, be'cause he could no longer enjoy the fruits of 'his tranfgreflion.'-To the above general remarks we would recommend to our female friends the practice of one virtue in particular; which is of fo much importance to the fex, that no elixir which can be purchafed tends fo much to heighten their charms. Nor is its being an embellifher of female beauty its only quality: it is that radiant zone, or magic ceftus, which, as a shield, will encircle and protect them. Hear the teftimony of the divine Milton, in his own words, a converfation between two brothers, in fearch after a fifter loft in the woods, urged by one by way of confolation to the other:

'Tis Chastity, my brother, chastity: She that has that, is clad in complete steel; And, like a quiver'd nymph, with arrows keen,

May trace huge forefts, and unharbour'
heaths,

Infamous hills, and fandy perilous wilds;
Where, through the facred rays of chastity,
No favage, bandit, or mountaincer,
Will dare to foil her virgin purity,
Yea, there; where very defolation dwells,
By grots and caverns, hagg'd with horrid
fhade,

She may pafs on, with unblanch'd majesty
-Be it not done in pride, or in prefumption.”
Mafque of Corus.

"Hear alfo the confeilion of a profefled libertine [the laft Lord Lyttelton]: A 'chafle, a virtuous woman, is an awful cha'racter; fomething preternatural feems to 'furround her, and fhroud her from the profane approach of feduction.'

On the conduct of Henry's fon and fucceffor we find the following acute reflections:

"Henry V. prefents to us a character but feldom found, namely, a libertin reclaimed; as fuch examples are rare, they are more remarkable. It should feem too, that Henry's intemperances were of that fpecies, above all others, the most deftructive to the health of the body, and moft unfriendly to the cultivation of the mind; and, perhaps, an example of more virtuous refolution can hardly be difplayed than he who has conquered a habit of drunkennefs: that Henry was guilty of this vice appears too evident, from the company he kept, the frolicks he committed with his companions, and the place where they affociated, to admit of a doubt; but that he conquered this habit appears allo equally evident, fince his character, afterwards, is of a prince, chatte, temperate, moderate, devout.' As this vicious propen

fity has fo many fatal confequences, it may not be amifs to fay fomething on this fubject, which cannot be better expreffed than in the words of a judicious writer, which we have the liberty to transcribe.

'Drunkenness is either actual or habitual; juft as it is one thing to be drunk, and ans other to be a drunkard. What we shall deliver upon the fubject must principally be underflood of a babit of intemperance; although part of the guilt and danger defcribed may be applicable to cafual exceffes, and all of it, in a certain degree, forasmuch as every habit is only a repetition of fingle inftances.-The mifchief of drunkenness, from which we are to compute the guilt of it, confifts in the following bad effects:

1. It betrays most constitutions either into extravagances of anger, or fins of lewdness.

2. It difqualifies men for the duties of their station, both by the temporary diforder of their faculties, and, at length, by a conftant incapacity and stupefaction.

* Blue Boar, Eaftcheap.

+ Dr. Paley, chancellor of Carlife.

[ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

To thefe confequences of drunkennefs must be added the peculiar danger and mifchief of the example. Drunkenness is a focial feftive vice; apt, beyond any vice I can mention, to draw in others by the example. The free-drinker collects his circle; the circle naturally spreads; of thofe who are drawn within it, many become the corrupters, and centres of parties and circles of their own; every one countenancing, and perhaps emulating, the rest, till a whole neighbourhood be infected, from the contagion of a single example.

This account is confirmed by what we often obferve of drunkenness, that it is a Local vice, found to prevail in certain countries, certain diftricts of a country, or in particular towns, without any reafon being given for the fashion, but that it had been introduced by fome popular examples.-With this reflection upon the spreading quality of drunkennefs let us connect a remark which belongs to the feveral evil effects above recited. The confequences of a vice, like the symptoms of a disease, though they be all enumerated in the description, feldom all meet in the fame fubject. In this instance under confideration, the age and temperature of one drunkard may have little to fear from inflammations of luft or anger;, the fortune of a fecond may not be injured by the expence; a third may have no family to be difquicted by his irregularities; and a fourth may poffefs a conftitution fortified against the poison of strong liquors. Bat if, as we always ought to do, we comprehend, within the confequences of our conduct, the mifchief and tendency of the example, the above circumftances, however fortunate to the individual, will be found to vary the gult of his intemperance lefs probably than he fuppofes

Although the waste of time and money may be of finall importance to you, it may be of the utmost to fome one or other whom your fociety corrupts. Repeated, or longcontinued exceffes, which hurt not your health, may be fatal to your companion. Although you have neither wife, child, nor parent, to lament your abfence from home, or expect your return to it with terror; other families, whote hutbands and fathers have been invited to share in your cbriety, or encouraged to imitate it, may justly lay their mifery or ruin at your coor. This will hold good, whether the perfon feduced be feduced immediately by you, or the vice be propogated from you to hrn, through feveral interm dite examples. A moralift uit allemble. Il thefe confiderations to judge truly of a vice whic! aily meets with milder names and are indulgence than it de

[ocr errors]

ferves......I omit thofe outrages upon one another, and upon the peace and safety of the neighbourhood in which drunken revels often end; and alfo thofe deleterious and maniacal effects which ftrong liquors pro duce upon particular conftitutions: because, in general propofitions concerning drunkennefs, no confequences fhould be included but what are conftant enough to be generally expected.

The appetite for intoxicating liquors appears to me to be almost always acquired. One proof of which is, that it is apt to return only at particular times; as, after dinner, in the evening, or the market-day, at the mar ket-town, in such a company, at such a tavern. And this may be the reafon, that if a habit of drunkenness be ever overcome, it is upon fome change of place, fituation, company, or profethion. A man funk deep in a habit of drunkennefs will, upon fuch occafions as thefe, when he finds himself loosened from the affociations which held him faft, fometimes make a plunge and get out. In a matter of fuch great importance, it is well worth while, where it is tolerably convenient, to change cur habitation and fociety, for the fake of the experiment.

'Habits of drunkennefs commonly take their rife either from a fondness for, and connection with, fome company or fome companion already addicted to this practice; which affords an almost irresistible invitation to take a fhare in the indulgencies which thofe about us are enjoying with fo much apparent relish and delight; or want of regular employment, which is fure to let in many fuperfluous cravings and customs, and this among the reft; or, laftly, from grief or fatigue, both which strongly folicit that relief which inebriating liquors adminifter for the prefent, and furnish a fpecious excufe for complying with the inclination. But the habit, when once fet in, is continued by different motives from those to which it owes its origin.

Perions addicted to exceffive drinking fuffer in the intervals of fobriety, and near the return of their accustomed indulgence, a faintnefs and oppreffion circa praecordia, which it exceeds the ordinary patience of human nature to endure. This is ufually relieved, for a thort time, by a repetition of the fame excefs; and to this relief, as to the relief of any long-continued pain, they who have once experienced it are urged almost beyond the power of refiftance. This is not all: as the liquor lofes its mulus, the dofe must be increased to reach the fame pitch of elevation, or eafe; which increase preportionably accelerates the progrefs of all the maladies which drunkennets brings on.— Whoever reflects on the violence of the craving, in the advanced ftages of the habit, and the fatal termination to which the gratification of it leads, will, the moment he perceives the leaft tendency in himmelf of a growing

growing inclination to intemperance, collect his refolution to this point; or what, perhaps, he will find his beft fecurity, arm himfelf with fome peremptory rule, as to the times and quantities of his indulgences. I own myfelf a friend to the laying-down rules to ourselves of this fort, and rigidly abiding by them. They may be exclaimed against as ftiff; but they are often falutary. Indefinite refolutions of abftemioufnefs are

apt to yield to extraordinary occafions; and extraordinary occafions to occur perpetually. Whereas, the ftricter the rule is, the more tenacious we grow of it; and many a man will abstain, rather than break a rule, who would not be easily brought to exercife the fame mortification from higher motives;not to mention, that when our rule is once known, we are provided with an answer to every importunity.

'There is a difference, no doubt, between convivial intemperance and that folitary fottifanefs which waits neither for company nor invitation. But the one, I am afraid, commonly ends in the other; and this laft is the bafeft degradation to which the faculties and dignity of human nature can be reduced.' We have not, at present, room to enter into the Hiftorical Notes; but may perhaps extract fome of them at a future opportunity.

By

60. Emmeline, the Orphan of the Cafile. Charlotte Smith. In Four Volumes, 12mo. NOT having time in the prefent month to enter into a critique on the "Orphan of the Caftle," we fhall content ourfelves with tranfcribing from it fome fpecimens of Mrs. Smith's poetry. The exquifite fonnets of this "pathetic poetefs" have been already noticed in our vel. LVI. p. 333. That which follaws will not detract from her fair fame. { Far on the fands, the low, retiring tide, { In diftant murmurs hardly feems to flow," And o'er the world of waters, blue and wide, The fighing fummer wind forgets to blow. As finks the day-ftar in the rofy West, The filent wave with rich reficction glows; Alas! can tranquil Nature give me reft, Or fcenes of beauty foothe me to repose ? Can the foft luftre of the fleeping main, Yon radiant heaven, or all creation's charms, "Erafe the written troubles of the brain," Which Memory tortures, and which guilt aOr bid a bofom tranfient quiet prove, arms? That bleeds with vain remorie and unextinguifh'd love?

And this is ftill more beautiful:
I love thee, mournful, fober-fuited Night,
When the faint moon, yet lingering in her

wane

And veil'd in clouds, with pale uncertain [light Hangs o'er the waters of the reftleis main.

[ocr errors]

In deep depreffion funk, the enfeebled mind
Will to the deaf cold elements complain,
And tell the embofom'd grief, however vain,
To fullen furges and the viewlefs wind.
Tho' no repofe on thy dark breaft I find,
For in thy quiet gloom the exhausted heart
I ftill enjoy thee-cheerlefs as thou art;
Is calm, tho wretched; hopeless, yet refign'd.
While to the winds and waves its forrows
May reach-tho' loft on earth-the ear of
given,
[Heaven!
But what must be the feelings of a
mind which, could dictate this

ODE TO DESPAIR!
Thou fpectre of terrific mien, a
Lord of the hopeless heart and hollow eye, &-

In whofe fierce train each form is feen.
That drives fick Reafon to infanity!
I woo thee with unufual prayer,
"Grim-vifaged, comfortless Despair:"74
Approach; in me a willing victim find,
Who feeks thine iron fway-and calls thee
kind! -

Ah! hide for ever from my fight
The faithlefs flatterer Hope-whofe pencil,
Portrays fome vifion of delight, [gay,
While in dire contraft, to mine eyes
Then bids the fairy tablet fade away;
Thy phantoms, yet more hideous, rife,
And Memory draws, from Pleasure's wi-
ther'd flower,

[ocr errors]

Corrofives for the heart-of fatal power!
I bid the traitor Love, adieu!
Who to this fond, believing bofom came,
A gueft infidious and untrue, [name.
With Pity's foothing voice-in Friendship's
The wounds be gave, nor Time shall cure,
Nor Reafon teach me to endure.
And to that breaft mild Patience pleads in
vain,

Which feels the curfe―of meriting its pain.
Yet not to me, tremendous power!

Thy worst of fpirit-wounding pangs impart,
With which, in dark conviction's hour,
But, of illufion long the fport,
Thou ftrik'ft the guilty unrepentant heart!

That dreary, tranquil gloom I court,
Where my paft errors I may ftill deplore,
And dream of long-loit happiness no more!
To thee I give this tortured breaft,
Where Hope arifes but to foster pain;
Ah! Jull its agonies to reft!
Ah! let me never be deceiv'd again!
But callous, in thy deep repofe
Behold, in long array, the woes
Of the dread future, calm and undifmay'd,
Till I may claim the hope-that shall not
fade!

61. Coke on Littleton, &c. &c.
(Continued from p. 150.)

WE proceed to give fome extracts from that part of Mr. Butler's Preface

« ZurückWeiter »