Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

IN this poem, as in the Village Curate, we fee the fame actual obfervance of nature; while, by attending to the emotions of his own mind, and by defcribing what he himself fees, the author irrefiftibly calls forth fimilar feelings in his readers. The poem is not, however, without numerous defects.

Confidered as a whole, Adriano poffeffes an advantage which the Village Curate wanted; it has a regular fable, without which the beft poetry, after a time, becomes infipid, and even fatiguing. Independently, however, of this, the prefent work lofes its fuperiority; its beauties are fewer, and its blemishes are more confpicuous.

firft as a Fellow of the Linnean Socie tỷ of London, and, in the next place, as a zealous difciple of his great mafter. The doctor writes very threwdly, and evinces that he has viewed the fubject with accurate attention. His language is every where free from perfonal reflection, and it is fuch as a liberal opponent cannot diflike to receive.

This fubject has been so often difcuffed, that it is needlefs to make any particular quotation. The botanift may be pleased to read the particulars of Mr Smellie's objections, and to obferve the adroit manner in which Dr Rotheram turns many of them to the confirmation of the doctrine which they were intended to fubvert.

The migration of fwallows has been

The fable is fimple; it is, as the title implies, an hiftory of the occurrences of the fummer's day: the ad-maintained by Mr Smellie: Dr Ro ventures, indeed, are numerous, and might, perhaps, never happen; but ftill they are not fo far removed from the limits of probability as to create difguft.

The Sexes of Plants vindicated; in a Letter to Mr William Smellie, Member of the Antiquarian and Royal Societies of Edinburgh; containing a Refutation of his Arguments against the Sexes of Plants; and Remarks on certain Paffages of his Philofophy of Natural History. By John Rotheram, M. D. Fellow of the Linnean Society, London, 8vo. pp. 43. 1s. 6d. Cadell, 1790.

THE doctrine of the Sexes of Plants feems fo well established, and the experiments adduced by Linné himself, and by his difciples, have wrought fuch conviction on the minds of the generality of men, that a perfuafion to the contrary will not readily prevail. However, we do not difcountenance the questioning any theory, for every attack produces fome fresh proof of the truth.

Dr Rotheram enters the lifts on this cccafion with great propriety,

theram difputes the point, and is ra ther inclined to think that they pafs the winter in a torpid state; not that any facts are, or, perhaps, can be, yet brought, fufficiently fatisfactory to afcertain the truth.

Poems, confifting of Mifcellaneous Pie ces; and two Tragedies. By the late James Mylne, of Lochill, 8vo. 63. boards. Creech, Edinburgh; Cadell, London, 1790.

THE author, we are informed in a fhort but well-written preface to the book, was a man of great worth, and of amiable manners in private life. He had enjoyed the benefit of a liberal education; and found a pleasing relief, from profeffional occupations of an active and laborious nature, in cultivating the mufe. He died, however, without having prepared thefe pieces for the eye of the public. In thefe circumftances his friends are refponfible for the publication now before us; and we mult do them the juftice to say, that we think they have no cenfure to dread on the fcore of an imprudent partiality to the merits of the author.

Conclufion

Conclufion of Ned Drowfy :-A Story*.

THE reader will perhaps recollect that

name of Abrahams, had juft concluded the narrative of his adventures, and that the next morning was appointed for a conciliatory interview between Mrs Goodifon and her father. Ned, whofe natural indolence had now began to give place to the mott active of all pallions, had been fo much agitated by the events of the day, that we had no fooner parted from honest Abraham, than he began to comment upon the lucky incident of our rencontre with the old gentleman at the comedy; he feemed ftrongly inclined to deal with deftiny for fome certain impulfes, which he remembered to have felt, when he was fo earneft to go to the play; and declared with much gravity, that he went thither fully prepoffeffed fome good fortune would turn up: faid he, "I ought to rejoice in the happy "turn affairs have now taken, and I do rejoice; but it would have given me infinite delight to have fulfilled the plan I "had in defign for Mrs Goodifon's accom❝modation; fhe will now want no affift"ance from me; my little cottage will

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Well, to be fure,"

never have the honour of receiving her; "all thofe fchemes are at an end; Con"ftantia too will be a great fortune, the will

[ocr errors]

have higher views in life, and think no "more of me; or, if he did, it is not to be fuppofed her grandfather, who fo bitterly refented his daughter's match, will fuffer her to fall into the fame offence." I must confefs I thought fo entirely with my friend Ned in the concluding part of thefe remarks, that I could only advife him to wait the event of time, and recommend himfelf in the mean while as well as he could to Mr Somerville, the grandfather of Conftantia. Art and education, it is true, had not contributed much to Ned's accomplishments, but nature had done great things in his favour; to a perfon admirably, though not finically, formed, the had given a most interesting fet of features, with fuch a ftriking character of benevolence and open honefty, that he might be faid to carry his heart in his countenance: though there was a kind of laffitude in his deportment, the effect of habits long indulged, yet his fer fibility was ever ready to start forth upon the first call, and on thofe occafions no one would have regretted that he had not been trained in the fchool of the graces; there was fomething then difplayed, which they VOL. XII. No. 70.

N n

cannot teach, and only nature in her hap

cannot teach, and only nat

The next morning produced a letter from honest Abrahams, full of joy for the happy reconciliation now established, and inviting us to celebrate the day with Mis Somerville and the ladies at his houfe. This was an anxious crifis for my friend Ned; and I per ceived his mind in fuch a fate of agitation, that I thought fit to ftay with him for the reft of the forenoon; he began to form a variety of conjectures as to the reception he was likely to meet from the old gentleman, with haviour, and even of fpeeches with which no less a variety of plans for his own be he was to usher in his firit addreffes; fometimes he funk into melancholy and defpair, at other times he would fnatch a gleam of hope, and talk hirfelf into tranfports; he was now, for the first time in his life, itudiouily contriving how to fet off his perfon to the best advantage; his hair was fahionably dreft, and a handfome new fuit vas tried on, during which he furveyed himfelf in the glafs with fome attention, and, as I thought, not entirely without a fecret fa isfaction, which, indeed, I have feen other gentlemen bestow upon their perfons in a much greater degree, with much lefs reafon for their excufe.

[ocr errors]

When he was compleatly equipt, and the time approached for our going, "Alas!" he cried, "what does all this fignify? I am but a clown in better clothes. Why was father fo neglectful of my education, "or rather why was I fo negligent to a.a "myfelf of the little he allowed me? What

66

my

would I not give to redeem the time I "have thrown away! But 'tis in vain : I "have neither wit to recommend myself, "nor addrefs to difquife my want of it; I "have nothing to plead in my favour, but "common honour and hone ty; and what "cares that old hard-hearted fellow for qua "lities which could not reconcile him to "his own fon-in-law? he will certainly "look upon me with contempt. As for Con❤ "ftantia, gratitude, perhaps, might in tune "have difpofed her heart towards me, and "my zealous fervices might have induced "her mother to overlook my deficiencies, "but there is an end of that only chance "I had for happinefs, and I am a fool to "thruft myfelf into a fociety, where am "fure to heap fresh fuel on my paflion, and "fresh misfortunes on my head."

ly footh but not difpel, Ned proceeded With these impreffions, which I could on

See Edin. Mag. Vol. VII. p. 386.

place

[ocr errors]

Honeft

place of meeting with an aching heart and dejected countenance. We found the whole party affembled to receive us, and though my friend's embarrafiment difabled him from uttering any one of the ready-made fpeeches he had digefted for the purpofe, yet I faw nothing in Mr Somerville's countenance or address, that could augur other wife than well for honeft Ned; Mrs Goodifon was as gracious as poflible, and Conftantia'. fmile was benignity irfelf. Abrahams, who has all the hofpitality, as well as virtues of his forefathers the patriarchs, received us with open arms, and a face in which wide-mouthed joy grinned moft delectably. It was with pleasure I obferved Mr Somerville's grateful attentions towards him and his good dame; they had nothing of oftentation or artifice in them, but feemed the genuine eff ions of his heart; they convinced me he was not a man innately morofe, and th the refentment, fo long fottered in his bofom, was effually extirpated. Mrs Abrahams, in her province, had exerted herself to very good purpofe, and spread her board, if not elegtly, yet abundantly: Abrahams, on his part, kept his wine and his tongue going with inceffant gaiety and good-humour, and whilft he took every opportunity of drawing forth Ned's houeft heart and natural manners to the beft advantage, I was happy in difcovering that they did not efcap. the intuition of Somerville, and that he mode fafter progrefs towards his good cpinion, than if he had exhibited better breeding and lefs fincerity of character.

In the courfe of the evening the old gentleman told us he had determined upon taking his daughter and Conftantia into the country with him, where he flattered himfelf Mrs Goodifon would recover her health and fpirits fooner than in town, and at the fame time gave us all in turn a preffing invitation to his houfe. Abrahams and his wife excufed themfelves on the fcore of bufinefs; but Ned, who had no fuch plea to make, nor any difpofition to invent one, thankfully accepted the propofal.

The day fucceding, and fome few others, were paffed by Mrs Goodfon and Conftantia at Mr Somerville's in the neceifary preparations and arrangements previous to their leaving London; during this time Ned's diffidence and their occupations did not admit of any interview, and their departure was only announced to him by a note from the old gentleman, reminding him of his engagement: his fpirits were by this time fo much lowered from their late elevation, that he even doubted if he fhould accept the invitation: love however took care to fettle this point in his own favour, and Ned arrived at the place of his deflination rather as a victim under the power of a hope

1

lefs paffion, than as a modern fine gentle man with the affuming airs of a conqueror. The charms of the beautiful Conftantia, which had drawn her indolent admirer fo much out of his character and fo far from his home, now heightened by the happy te verfe of her fituation, and fet off with all the aids of drefs, dazzled him with their Inftre; and though her change of fortune and appearance was not calculated to dimi nifh his paffion, it feemed to forbid his hopes: in forrow, poverty and dependence, fhe had infpired him with the generous ambition of refcuing her from a fituation fo ill proportioned to her merits, and, though he had not actually made, he had very riously meditated a propofal of marriage: He faw her now in a fur different point of view, and comparing her with himfeif, her heauty, fortune and accomplishments, with his own confcious deficiencies, he funk into despair. This was not unobserved by Conftantia, neither did fhe want the penetration to difcern the caufe of it. When he had dragged on this wretched exiftence for fome days, he found the pain of it no longer fupportable, and afhamed of wearing a face of woe in the houfe of happinefs, he took the hardy refolution of bidding farewell to Conftantia and his hopes for ever.

Whilst he was meditating upon this painful fubject one evening during a folitary walk, he was furprited to hear himfeli accofted by the very perfon, from whofe chains he had determined to break loofe;, Conftantia was unattended, the place was retired, the hour was folemn, and her looks were foft and full of compaffion, What cannot love effe it infpired him with refolution to fpeak; it did more, it fupplied him with eloquence to exprefs his feelings.

Conftantia in few words gave him to underfand, that the rightly guefied the fitvation of his mind: this at once drew from him a confeffion of his love and his defpairof the former he spoke little and with no difplay: he neither fought to recommend his paffion, or excite her pity; of his own defects he spoke more at large, and dwelt much upon his want of education; he reprouched himself for the habitual indolence of his difpofition, and then, for the first time railing his eyes from the ground, he turned them on Conftantia, and after a paule exclaimed, "Thank Heaven! you are reftor"ed to a cordition, which no longer fub

jects you to the poffible facrifice I had "once the audacity to hint at. Confcious as "I am of my own unworthiness at all times "to afpire to fuch a propofal, let me do

myfelf the juftice to declare that my heart "was open to you in the pureft fenfe; that "to have tendered an afylum to your be"loved mother, without enfnaring your "heart by the obligation, would still have “

" been

"

you

nation, however, was to obey Conftantia's advice, and feek an interview with Mr Somerville.

[ocr errors]

been the pride of my life, and I as truly abhorred to exact, as you could difdain to grant, an interested furrend of your hand: and now, lovely Conftantia, when The next morning, as foon as Ned and "I am about to leave you in the bofont of Mr Somerville met, the old gentleman took profperity, if I do not feem to part from him into his library, and when he was feated with all that unmixt felicity, which Sir," faid he, "I fhall fave you fome em" your good fortune ought to inspire, do "baraffment if I begin our conference by $6 not reproach me for my unhappy weak- "telling you that I am well apprifed of "nefs; but recollect for once in your life," your fentiments towards my Conftantia; "that your charms are irresistible, and my foul only too fufceptible of their power, "and too far plunged into defpair, to ad"mit of any happiness hereafter."

At the conclufion of this fpeech Ned again fixt his eyes on the ground; after a fhort filence," I perceive,," replied Con"ftantia, "that my obfervations of late were rightly formed, and you have been "torturing your mind with reflections very flattering to me, but not very just to"wards vourfelf: believe me, Sir, your opinion is as much too exalted in one cafe, "as it is too humble in the other. As for

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

me, having as yet feen little of the world "but its miferies, and being indebted to "the benevolence of human nature for fupporting me under them, I fhall ever look

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

to that principle as a greater recomnien"dation in the character of a companion "for life, than the most brilliant talents or "moft elegant accomplishments in the quiet walks of life I shall expect to find my enjoyments." Here Ned ftarted from his reverie, a gleam of joy rushed upon his heart, by an involuntary motion he had grafped one of her hands; the perceived the tumult her words had created, and extricating her hand from his-" Permit me," faid he, "to qualify my respect for a bene

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

volent difpofition by remarking to you, "that without activity there can be no vir"tue: I will explain myself more particu larly; I will fpeak to you with the fin"cerity of a friend-You are bleft with "excellent natural endowments, a good heart "and a good understanding; you have nothing "to do but to shake off an indolent habit, "and, having youth at your command, to employ the one and cultivate the other: "the means of doing this it would be prefumption in me to prefcribe, but as my "grand-father is aman well acquainted with "the world, and fully qualified to give advice, "Ifhould earnestly recommend to you not to "take a hafty departure before you have con"fulted him, and I may venture to promise แ you will never repent of any confidence you may repofe in his friendship and dif"cretion.'

"

[ocr errors]

Here Conftantia put an end to the conference, and turned towards the houfe; Ned flood fixt in deep reflection, his mind fometimes brightening with hope, fometimes relapfing into despair: his final determiNn 2

"I fhall make the fame hafte to put you "out of fufpenfe, by affuring you that I am ແ not unfriendly to your withes."

This was an opening of fuch unexpected joy to Ned, that his fpirits had nearly funk under the furprife; he fared wildly without power of utterance, scarce venturing to credit what he had heard; the blood ruihed into his cheeks, and Somerville, feeing his diforder, proceeded : “ When I have faid "this on my own part, understand, young

gentleman, that I only engage not to ob"fruct your fuccefs, I do not, nay I cannot, undertake to enfare it: that must

[ocr errors]

depend upon Conftantia; permit me to "add, it mu? depend upon yourself." Here Ned, unable to fupprefs his tranfports, eagerly demanded what there could be in his power to do, that might advance him in the good opinion and esteem of Constantia? fuch was his gratitude to the old gentleman for his kindneis, that he could fearce refrain from throwing himself at his feet, and he implored him inftantly to point out the happy means, which he would implicitly embrace, were they ever fo difficult, cverfo dangerous.

"There will be neither hardfhip nor ha "zard," replied Mr Somerville," in what "I fhall advife. Great things may be ac"complished in a fhort time, where the "difpofition is good and the understanding apt: : though your father neglected your "education, it is no reafon you fhould negled yourfelf; you must fake off your "indolence; and as the firft ftep neceffary "towards your future comfort is to put

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

yourself at ease in point fortune, you must "make yourself matter of your own eftate; "that I fufpe& can only be done by extri"cating your affairs from the hands they are in; but as this is a business that will require the affiftance of an honest and "able agent, I fhall recommend to you my "own lawyer, on whole integrity you may "fecurely rely; he will foon reduce your "affairs to fuch a fystem of regularity, "that you will find it an cafy bulinefs, and "when you difcover how many fources of "future happinefs it opens to you, you will "purfue it as an employment of no lefs pleasure than advantage."

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

66

"tion in economy, what remains to be done will be a task of pleafure: this will confit in furnishing your mind and enlarging your experience; in fhort, Sir, rubbing "off the ruft of indolence and the prejudi"ces of a narrow education: now for this important undertaking I have a friend in "my eye, whofe underflanding, temper, "morals and manners qualify him to ren"der you most effential sevices; with this amiable and inftructive companion I "fhould in the first place recommend you "to take a tour through the most intereft"ing parts of your own country, and here"after, as occafion fhall ferve, you may, or you may not, extend your travels into "other countries; this is the best counsel I "have to give you, and I tender it with all "poffible good wishes for your fuccefs."

[ocr errors]

A plan, propofed with fo much cordiality, and holding forth fuch a reward for the accomplishments of its conditions, could not fail to be embraced with ardour by the late defpairing lover of Conftantia, The worthy lawyer was prepared for the undertaking, and Ned was all impatience to convince Mr Somerville, that indolence was no longer his ruling defe&t. He gave inftant orders for his journey, and then flew to Conftantia, at whofe feet he poured forth the humble, yet ardent, acknowledgments of a heart overflowing with gratitude and love it feemed as if love's arrow, like Ithuriel's fpear, poffeffed the magic powers of transformation with a touch: there was a spirit in his eyes, an energy in his motions, an illumination over his whole perfon, that gave his form and features a new caft: Conftantia faw the fudden transformation with furprife, and as it evinced the flexibility of his nature, and the influence of her own charms, the faw it alfo with delight: "So foon!" was her only reply, when he announced his immediate departure, but thofe words were uttered with fuch a cadence, and accompanied by fuch a look, as to the eye and ear of love conveyed more meaning than volumes would contain, unaided by fuch expreffion-" Yes, adorable "Conftantia," he exclaimed, I am now fetting forth to give the earliest proof in my «power of a ready and alert obedience to "the dictates of my beft advifer; thefe « few moments, which your condefcenfion indulges me with, are the only moments "I fhall not rigidly devote to the immedi"ate duties of my tafk: infpired with the hope of returning lefs unworthy of your "attention, I chearfully fubmit to banish "myfelf from your fight for a time, con"tent to cherish in my heart the lovely image there impreft, and flattering myfelf I have the fanction of your good "wishes for the fuccefs of my undertaking." Conftantia affured him he had

66

her good wishes for every happiness in life, and then yielding her hand to him, he tenderly effed it to his lips and departed.

It would be an uninterefting detail to enumerate the arrangements, which Ned by the inftructions of his friendly and judici ous agent adopted on his return to Poppyhall. His affairs had indeed been much neglected, but they were not embarrassed, so that they were eafly put into fuch order and regulation, as gave him full leifure for purfuing other objects of a more animating nature; with this view he returned to his friend Mr Somerville, and was again bleft with the prefence of Conftantia, to whom every day feemed to add new graces; he was welcomed by all parties in the mo affectionate manner; Mr Somerville, upoa converfing with his lawyer, received a very flattering report of Ned's activity and attention, nor was he difpleafed to hear from the fame authority, that his eftate and property far exceeded any amount, which the unpretending owner himself had ever hinted at.

It was now the latter end of April, and Ned had allowed himfclf only a few days to prepare for his tour, aad to form an acquaintance with the amiable perfon, who at Mr Somerville's request had engaged to accom pany him; their plan was to employ fix months in this excursion through England and part of Scotland, during which they were to vifit the chief towns and principal manufactories, and Mr Somerville had fur ther contrived to lay out their course, so as to fall in with the houfes of fome of his friends by the way, where he had fecured them a welcome in fuch focieties, as promifed no lefs profit than anufement to a young perfon in the purfuit of experience. Meafures had been taken to provide equipage, fervants and all things requifite for a travelling cftablishment, among which a few well-felected books were not forgotten, and, thus at length equipt, Ned with his companion, on the first morning of the month of May, having taken leave of Mr Somerville and Mrs Goodifon, and received a tender adieu from his beloved Conftantia, tent reluctantly into his chaife, and left the fineft eyes in the creation to pay the tribute of a tear to the forrows of the feene.

From this period I had heard nothing of his proceedings till a few days ago, when I was favoured by him with the following letter, dated from the house of Mr Somerville:

"Dear Sir,

am juft returned from a fix months "tour, in the courfe of which I have vilt"ed a variety of places and perfons in company with a gentleman, from whofe pleafing fociety I have reaped the highest en"joyment, and, if I do not deceive my

[ocr errors]

6.

felf,

« ZurückWeiter »