1818.] Biographical Sketch of Thomas Moore, Esq. 513 such as Byron, Scott, Southey, &c.; but which ended in a due return of Thos. Moore, who had a great majority of votes. This jeu d'esprit produced much merriment, and the health of the auf thor was drank with applause. Lord Charlemont then gave" the living Poets of Great Britain, on which Mr. Moore said, Gentlemen, notwithstanding the witty song which you have just heard, and the flattering ele vation which the author has assigned me, I cannot from my public sentiments, have never allowed that transient ruffle on the surface to impede the progress of the deep tide of friendship beneath, men who feel that there is something more sacred than party, and whose noble natures in the worst of times, would come out of the conflict of public opinion, like pebbles out of the Ocean, but more smooth and more polished from its asperities by the very agitation in which they had been revolving. To see them beside me on a day like this is a pleasure that lives too deep for words. To the you a Byron, without recalling to your hearts remajority of you, gentlemen, I am unknown; but as your countryman, as one who has ventured to touch the chords of his intense passion, that disposition of fine fancy Ireland's Harp, and whose best fame is made out of the echoes of their sweetness; as one whose humble talents have been ever devoted, and with the blessing of God, ever shall be devoted to the honour and advancement of his coun try's name; whose love for that country, even they, who condemn his manner of shewing it, will at least allow to be sincere, and perhaps forgive its intemperance for its truth- setting him down as one who loved not wise, but too well. To most of you, gentlemen, I say, I am but thus known. We have hitherto been strangers to each other; allow such a mark of respect to be paid to the illustrious names that adorn the literature of the present day, without calling your attention awhile to the singular constellation of genius, and asking you to dwell a little on the brightness of each "particular star" that forms it. Can I name to collections of all that his mighty genius has awakened there, his energy, his burning words, to wander only among the ruins of the heart, to dwell in places which the fire of feeling has desolated, and like the chesnut-tree, that grows best in volcanic soils, to luxuriate most where confiagration of passion has left its mark? Need I men. tion to you a Scott, that fertile and fascinating writer, the vegetation of whose mind is as rapid as that of a northern summer, and as rich as the most golden harvests of the south, whose beautiful creations succeed each other like fruits in Armida's enchanted garden," one scarce is gathered ere another grows?" Shall I recall to you a Rogers (to me endeared by friendship as well as genius) who has hung up his own name on the shrine of memory among the most imperishable tablets there. A Southey, not the laureat, but the author of Don Roderick," one of the noblest and most eloquent poems in any language. A Camp. bell, the polished and spirited Campbell, whose Irish muse, crystalized by the touch of genius, and made eternal. A Wordsworth, a poet, even in his puerilities, whose capacious mind, like the great pool of Norway, draws into its vortex not only the mighty things of the deep, but its minute weeds and refuse. A Crabbe, who has shewn what the more than galvanic power of talent can effect, by giving not only motion, but life and soul to sub jects that seemed incapable of it. I could enu but may I not flatter myself that from song of "Innesfail" is the very tears of our own this night a new era of communion begins between us? The giving and receiving of a tribute like this is the very hot-bed of the heart, forcing at once all its feelings into a fullness of fruit, which it would take years of ordinary ripening to produce, and there is not a man of you who have pledged the cup of fellowship this night, with whom I would not claim the privelege of grasping by the hand, with all the cordiality of a long and well cemented friendship. I could not say more if I were to speak for ages. With a heart full as this glass, I thank you for your kindness to me, and have the sincere gratification of drinking all your healths. Suitable compliments were paid in the course of the evening to those distinguished writers, Lady Morgan, Mr. Mathurin, Mr. Shiel, Mr. Philips, also to Miss O'Neil, Mr. Kemble, &c. Lord Allen gave the memory of Mr. Curran, on which a very modest, pathetic, and eloquent speech was delivered by his son, in a tone and manner that produced the most lively emotion throughout the room. A gentleman afterwards sang a very lively and well written song, composed by himself for the occasion. The subject was the poet's Election in Olympus, at which there were several candidates, merate, gentlemen, still more, and from thence would pass with delight to dwell upon the living poets of our owu land. The dramatic powers of a Maturin and a Shiel, the former consecrated by the applause of a Scott and a Byron, and the latter by the tears of some of the brightest eyes in the empire. The rich imagination of a Philips who has courted successfully more than one muse.- The versatile genius of a Morgan, who was the first that mated our sweet Irish strains with poetry worthy of their pathos and their force. But I fee! I have already trespassed too long upon your patience and your time. I do not regret, however, that you have deigned to listen with patience to this humble tribute to the living masters of the English lyre, which I "the meanest of the throng," thus feebly, but heartily, have paid them. It was 10 o'clock before any one retired-a'l Was harmony and conviviality; and in the course of the evening Mr. Moore himself delighted the company by singing some songs, in which were happily blended those peculiar talents which he possesses in such perfection. [ 514 ] PARLIAMENTARY REPORTS. REPORT from the Committee on the Petition of the Trustees of the BRITISH MUSEUM, relating to the Collection of the late Dr. BURNEY. In our last number we gave a brief notice of this Report, but it seems of sufficient importance to justify us in presenting our literary readers with the whole document. The Committee, to whom the Petition of the Trustees of the British Museum, submitting to the House the propriety of purchasing the Collection of the late Dr. Burney for the use of the public, was referred, Have directed their attention, in the first place, to inquiring into the component parts or principal classes of literature, of which this library consists; secondly, into their value; and thirdly, as to the importance of purchasing the whole at the public charge for the purpose of adding it to the Collection now existing in the British Museum, having ascertained that Dr. Burney's exccutor was unwilling to separate one portion from the rest, or to treat for the sale of the Collection otherwise than as entire and undivided. One of the large classes consists of manuscripts of classical and other ancient authors; among which that of Homer's Iliad, formerly belonging to Mr. Townley, holds the first place in the estimation of all the very competent judges who were examined by your Committee; although not supposed to be older than the latter part of the thirteenth or beginning of the fourteenth century, it is considered as being of the earliest date of the M.SS. of Homer's Iliad known to scholars, and may be rated as superior to any other which now exists, at least in England; it is also extremely rich in scholia, which have been hitherto but partially explored. There are two copies of the series of Greek orators, probably written in the fourteenth or fifteenth centuries, of which that upon vellum was brought to this country by Mr. Cripps, and Dr. Clarke, and is esteemed as extremely valuable; an account of the orations contained in it was drawn up by Dr. Raine, late Master of the Charter-house, and of the collations which he had made in comparing it with the Aldine edition. These MS.S. are considered by very able judges to be much older than the date assigned to them by the Committee. [July 1, This manuscript of the Rhetoricians is, indeed, one of the most important manuscripts ever introduced into this country, because it supplies more lacune than any other manuscript; there is contained in it a portion of Isaus which has never been printed: there is only one printed oration of Lycurgus in existence, which is imperfect, and this manuscript completes it; there is also an oration of Dinarchus which may be completed from this manuscript. Collection, there are two beautiful copies Among the rarer manuscripts in the of the Greek Gospels, of the tenth and twelfth centuries. Ptolemy is another of the finest M.SS. The geography of enriched with maps, which although not older than the fifteenth century, yet, from the circumstance of all the other known copies of this work in the original language being in the collection of different public libraries abroad, the possession of this copy is rendered particularly desirable. There is likewise a valuable Latin manuscript of the comedies of Plantus, written in the fourteenth century, containing twenty plays; which is a much larger number than the copies already in ries in general contain, most of which the Museum, or those in foreign librahave only six or eight, and few, comparatively speaking, more than twelve plays. A beautiful and correct manuscript of Callimachus of the fifteenth century; a very fine copy of Pappas Alexandrinus' collection of Mathematical Treatises, of similar date; and a manuscript of the Asinus Aureus of Apuleius, an author of extreme rarity, deserve also particular notice. The whole number of manuscripts amounts to about 385, but those above-mentioned are the most important and valuable. noticed, there is a very large number of Exclusive of the manuscripts already memoranda and criticisms, in Dr. Burney's own hand, (exclusive of the Fragmenta Scenica Græca, and books with Dr. Burney's own notes;) three or four articles of which seem nearly prepared for the press. In this part of the Collection, there are several small Lexicons of the Greek Dialects, with numerous remarks on ancient authors; the merit of which, though certainly considerable, can only be thoroughly appreciated by patient investigation. There are also many original letters of Isaac Casaubon, who maintained an extensive correspondence with many of 1818.] Report on Dr. Burney's Library. the learned men of his time, whose letters to Casaubon have never been published. Among the printed books, the whole number of which is from 13,000 to 14,000 volumes, the most distinguished branch consists of the collection of Greek dramatic authors, which are arranged so as to present every diversity of text and commentary at one view; each play being bound up singly, and in so complete, but expensive a manner, that it has occasioned the sacrifice of two copies of every edition, and in some instances of such editions as are very rare: the same arrangement has also been adopted with regard to Harpocration, and some of the Greek grammarians; and both the editions of, and annotations upon, Terentianus Maurus, are particularly copious and complete. It appears, indeed, that this Collection contains the first edition of every Greek classic, and several of the scarcest among the Latins, and that the series of grammarians, lexicographers, and philological writers, in both languages, is unusually complete. The books are represented to be generally in good, though not in what may be styled brilliant condition; the whole having been collected by Dr. Burney himself, from the different great libraries which have been of late years brought to sale, beginning chiefly with the Pinelli Collection. To enable the House to form an opinion upon this branch of the Collection, your Committee subjoin the words of one of the witnesses, whom they examined; who says, "The great features of this eminent scholar's library is that part which relates to Greek literature, whether ancient or more recent. In this respect it is probably the most complete ever assembled by any mali, as it comprises all the materials requisite for classical criticism. In Latin Classics, and in the criticism connected with Roman literature, it is not so copious as in the Greek; but nevertheless it contains a number of rare and valuable books, which would considerably enrich the stores deposited in the Museum." The same witness, with reference to the collection of Memoranda above alluded to, further says, 515 Burney. The greater portion of the books thus enriched, are the Greek Tragedians and the ancient Greek Lexicographers. To illustrate the Greek Drama, and to add to the stores of the ancient Lexicographers, Dr. Burney seems to have directed the greatest portion of his industry, and to any future edition these remarks and additions would prove a most interesting acquisition. Another important portion of this Collection may be called the Variorum Collection; this is, perhaps, one of the most remarkable series of books in the whole library in it, Dr. Burney has so brought together the comments and notes of many celebrated scholars upon several Greek, and particularly the Dramatic writers, that at one view may be seen almost all that has been said in illustration of each author; it extends to about 300 volumes in folio and quarto. One portion of this remarkable Collection consists of a regular series of 170 volumes, entitled Fragmenta Scenica Græca, which comprises all the remains of the Greek Dramatists, in number not less than 200, wheresoever they could be traced.” The great copiousness of Dr. Burney's Library in Greek literature may be collected at once from the following comparative statement of the editions of several Authors, in that Collection, and in the Library of the British Museum. "The books with manuscript notes may be divided into three portions; first, those which have their margins more or less crowded with remarks, collations, &c. in the hand-writing of many very eminent scholars, viz. Bentley, Burmann, Casaubon, &c.; secondly, the books with manuscript notes by Dr. Sophocles 516 Report on Dr. Burney's Library: Another and a very different branch of this collection comprises a numerous and rare series of Newspapers, from 1603 to the present time, amounting in the whole to 700 volumes, which is more ample than any other that is supposed to be extant. A large collection of between 300 and 400 volumes in quarto, containing Materials for a History of the Stage, from 1660 to the present time, and particulars relating to the biography of Actors, and persons connected with the Stage, may be classed after these daily journals. Dr. Burney's collection of Prints has been principally made with reference to this object, comprising the most complete series that probably exists of theatrical portraits, beginning in the latter part of Queen Elizabeth's reign, which is the period of our earliest engravers of portraits, such as Gemenie, Hogenburgh, Elstracke, and the three Passes, and continued to the present time. The number of these theatrical engravings is about 5,000, many of which are bound together in ten volumes; besides these, there are about 2,000 other engraved portraits, principally of authors, commentators, and other learned per sons. With respect to the value of the manuscripts, the Homer is rated by the different witnesses at from 600l. to 8001. and one of them supposed it might even reach so high a price as 1,000l.; the Greek Rhetoricians are estimated at from 340l. to 5001.; the larger copy of the Greek Gospels at 2001; the Geography of Ptolemy at 657. and the copy of Plautus at 50%. One witness estimates the whole of the ancient manuscripts at upwards of 2,500/.; and an eminent bookseller at 3,000l. The set of Newspapers, from the year 1603 to the present time, is valued at from 900 guineas to 1,000l. The books with manuscript notes, together with Dr. Burney's Variorum Compilation, including the Fragmenta Scenica Græca, are estimated by one at 1,000l., and by another as high as 1,340.; who likewise computes the materials for the History of the Stage at 140/. The prints are judged to be worth the sum of 4501.; and the bookseller above referred to, who has examined the whole (except the engravings) for the purpose of enabling the present proprietor to set a value upon them, estimates the printed books in the library at 9,000l. some other books in his study adjoining, and a great [July 1, number of tracts at 5001. ; and the whole, exclusive of the prints, at 14,500. A considerable expense would necessarily attend the selling of this, or any other library, by public auction, which usually amounts either to 15 or 17 per cent. upon the gross produce of the sale; but your committee having questioned the last witness alluded to, Mr. Payne, found it to be his opinion that the net money price of the library in question, after deducting all expenses, might amount to 14,500l. The persons examined by your committee, as being particularly competent to assist them in forming their judgment, have been, Henry Ellis, esq. the Rev. Henry H. Baber, and Mr. Smith, from the British Museum; Richard Heber, esq. the Rev. T. F. Dibdin, the Rev. J. Cleaver Banks, Mr. Payne, and Mr. Evans; the substance of whose testimony your committee have endeavoured to put the house in possession of. The importance of acquiring for the British Museum, a library stored with such literary treasures as have been enumerated, is sufficiently apparent from what has been already stated; but it is obvious, that in purchasing the entire collection much more will be bought than it will be necessary to retain; and that a considerable number of the printed books, being duplicates of those already in the British Museum, must be sold again; and that this cannot be done otherwise than at the expense of 174 per cent. upon the produce of such sales, whatever the amount may be. It is also to be borne in mind, that even if the purchase should be completed without delay, these duplicates could not be sorted and examined, so as to bring them to sale in the course of the present session. Your committee therefore suggest, that, for the ensuing year, the net amount of such sale (which may be estimated at from 3,000l. to 4,000l.) should so far be refunded to the public, as to go in diminution of the annual grant to the British Museum; and also, that, in consideration of so ample and costly an accession being made to the existing stock of books, it may be proper to suspend or reduce, for a time, the annual grant of 1,000l. to the book fund, with the exception of such parts of that annual sum as are applied in subscriptions to works now in the progress of publication. Upon the whole matter, your committee venture to recommend as the result of the best consideration which they 1818.] Proceedings of the Society of Arts, &c. have bestowed both upon the importance and just value of the entire collection, that the proprietor, being ready to dispose of it for the sum of 13,500/. it will be a very material addition to the public 517 stock of literature, and purchased at a PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. SOCIETY OF ARTS, MANUFACTURES AND COMMERCE. The rewards adjudged by this society were presented on Tuesday, 26th May last, at Freemasons' Hall, Great Queenstreet, to the respective candidates, by his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, president. They were as follow: IN AGRICULTURE. To Robert Haldane Bradshaw, esq. M. P. of Worsley Hall, near Manchester, for reclaiming 294 acres of peat moss-the gold medal. To the Rev. E. Cartwright, D. D. Hollanden House, near Seven Oaks, for comparative experiments on manures-the gold medal. To Sir W. W. Wynn, bart. M. P. Wynnstay, Denbighshire, for planting 845,500 forest trees-the gold medal. To R. Creyke, esq. Dotterill Park, near Beverley, Yorkshire, for planting 164,560 forest trees-the silver medal. To Mr. J. Common, Denwick, near Alnwick, for a double drill turnip sower-the silver medal and ten guineas. To Isaac Espinasse, esq. Chancery-lane, for the management of bees-the silver Ceres medal. IN CHEMISTRY. To Ambrose Bowden, esq. Navy Office, for a method of preventing and curing the dry rot in ship timber-the gold medal. IN POLITE ARTS. To Mr. A. P. Harrison, Gloucester-place, Camden-town, for an original landscape the silver palette. To Mr. C. F. Tayler, Leadenhall-street, for an original miniature-the silver Isis medal. To H. H. White, esq. Old-square, Lincoln's Inn, for a copy of a painting-the silver medal. To Miss J. T. Hamlyn, of Plymouth, for an original painting of game-the gold Isis medal. To Miss Maria Grant, Little Dean's-yard, Westminster, for a copy of a drawing from Teniers the silver medal. To Miss M. Mainwaring, Chichester Rents, Chancery-lane, for the copy of a painting-the silver palette. To Mr. L. R. Grieves, Church-street, Soho, for a pen and ink drawing-the silver Isis medal. To Mr. J. D. Harding, Greenwich-road, for an original landscape-the silver medal. To Mr. G. Gwilt, jun. Union-street, BoNEW MONTHLY MAG.-No. 54. rough, for an original drawing—the silver palette. To Mr. C. F. Thatcher, Paddington, for an original drawing-the silver Isis medal. cadilly, for a drawing of the Townley Venus To Mr. G. Gibbon, Sackville-street, Pic-the gold Isis medal. To Mr. J. S. Davies, Hackney, for a copy of an engraving-the silver palette. To Mr. F. Langdon, Maida-hill, Paddington, for a copy of an engraving-the silver Isis medal. To Mr. W. Warman, Compton-street, ture-the silver palette. Brunswick-square, for a copy of a minia market, for a drawing of the Elgin Theseus To Mr. H. C. Slous, Panton-street, Hay-the silver palette. To Mr. H. Edward, Percival-street, Goswell-street-road, for a drawing of the Townley Homer-the silver medal. To Mr. W. H. Davies, Plumtree-street, Bloomsbury, for a drawing of the Townley Homer-the silver Isis medal. To Mr. C. Rolls, Bayham-street, Camden-town, for an outline drawing of the Farnese Hercules-the silver medal. To Mr. T, Engleheart, Bayham-street, Farnese Hercules--the silver Isis medal. Camden-town, for an outline drawing of the To Mr. A. Poynter, Lambs Conduitplace, Foundling Hospital, for a design for a post-office-the silver medallion, in conformity to the will of the late John Stock, esq. To Mr. C. H. Fowler, Millman-street, Foundling Hospital, for a design for a post office the silver Isis medal. To Miss M. A. Chalon, Beaumont-street, Devonshire-place, for a copy of an historical painting-the silver Isis medal. To Miss B. A. Clarke, Finch-lane, Cornhill, for a copy of an historical painting-the silver medal. To Miss E. Wallace, Bath, for an original flower-piece-the silver Isis medal. To Mr. J. B. East, Grafton-street, Fitzroy-square, for a miniature, after Guidothe silver medal. To Mr. T. Taylor, Birmingham, for a model in wax of her late Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte-the gold Isis medal. To Master S. Henning, Queen's-row, Pentonville, for an original intaglio-the silver palette. To Master A. S. Henning, for the copy of an intaglio-the silver palette. 3 X VOL. IX. |