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Amongst the wants of the country, and which an English ear, attuned to the melody of its native groves, almost directly discovers, is the total absence of birds of song.

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it. The tables of the rich are covered with Graciozo, who delivers many truly agree-order, for its sting, to the recently ima mob of dishes, and, after the grace, (whichable and witty speeches, as will the Seno-ported, is frequently very troublesome, I may call the riot act,) the surrounding ra Gamborino, the character of a Gracio- and productive of much pain and erupauthorities fall on them with proper visa, whose diverting observations and gour. Dinner parties, however, are not smart speeches will give great delight to usual. When a festive occasion occurs the audience. The comedy will be in a family, the entertainments commence adorned by appropriate dresses and with a breakfast, which is, in fact, an scenes; amongst others, the march of the early dinner. heroic Spanish army to attack the infidels, The Cubano cabalero rises early, and with suitablewarlike accompaniments-the But if the evening hour is deprived of takes a cup of chocolate as soon as risen. Spanish hero on horseback-the Moorish the notes of the nightingale, it is enriched He then lights his cigar, and either strolls chieftain advancing to challenge the Spa- by the brightness of the cocuyo, or fire-fly in his patio, or balconies, or mounts his niards, when the Spanish conqueror, with This singular insect bears, in the upper horse. At ten o'clock he breakfasts on fish, the assistance of the Ave Maria, will cut parts of its head, a phosphoric light, like meat, soup, eggs, and ham, with wine and off the head of the Moor; with many other that of a glow-worm, and numbers are coffee. Before the company rise from ta- agreeable and surprising incidents. After seen circling in the air like meteors. It ble, a little pan, with live charcoal, is this will be performed, the excellent and is perfectly harmless, and too often sufbrought, for every one to light their ci- much admired piece, called The Re-fers from puerile tyranny on this account. gars with. The females, except in the establishment of the Constitution,' writ- Amongst the animal rarities of the upper ranks, smoke also. I can scarcely ten by an eminent patriot, where will be island, let me not forget to notice the draw the line precise here, for this inclí-seen the ceremony of laying the lapida of Cuba blood-hound, that celebrated friend nation of the females to turn into the neu- our most glorious constitution. Also will of the whites and enemy of the blacks. ter gender, seems very great. I have be seen the portraits of those Spanish he- In chief and general air, he is not much seen the wives and daughters of an official roes, Quiroga and Riego, and a proces- unlike the English mastiff, but possesses real smoking in the streets! I have seen sion of alcaldes and other authorities. all the ferocity of the bull-dog. Every the wives and daughters of abogados, The theatre will be illuminated with per-plantation has several of these creatures, physicians, and alcaldes, smoking, and fect brilliancy, so as to afford this most for the pursuit of cimarrones, or fugitive yet it is certainly true, what the gentle- respectable public every satisfaction."'' negroes, and the preservation of the men tell you, that no lady smokes. This is a knotty paradox; but, if I remember Of the animals, reptiles, insects, &c. whites, as the negroes stand in more dread of one of these ferocious brutes than right, the clown in "The Winter's Tale" peculiar to the Havana, we have the of an armed overseer. I have no reason, makes some observations very illustrative following notice:however, to believe that they are emof the point; for my part, I am not clown ployed otherwise than as guides in the enough to attempt it. Smoking, indeed, pursuit of fugitives, and house-guards for is so general, that the people all look like their masters; but it is undoubted that pictures of saints with glorified halos. It the spirit of persecution against the unis said the poor Mexicans were conquerhappy negroes is instilled and fostered by ed so speedily by their handful of inva-form the favourite meat of the lower or- every kind of encouragement and allureders, from the consternation excited at the ment, for I deny that nature, (as some alappearance of Cortes' sixteen dragoons, lege,) has violated her own feelings and they conceiving the man and horse to be principles by making the blood-hound a one animal. If a body of Spaniards were natural enemy to the man of colour. In now to invade some untobaccoed Mexico, England, you have often noticed the sathe man and his cigar would certainly gacity with which a pampered house-dog have the same fearful effect. The chilscents out and attacks a beggar, who has dren even smoke! Little creatures of five fewer distinctive marks than the slave. or six years old strut about with their ciThe principle of education is the same, gars; and, as parents dress the boys of and insolent tyranny of persecution equalthat age in long coats with little canes, the effect of human instruction.' they have all the air of manhood, and only want whiskers to make them appear as if set up to ridicule their fathers."

We now pass on to the theatre at the Havana, where,—'

The black cattle are a very fine breed,
and are used in great numbers to draw
produce. Sheep are rare, a few only
being kept, rather as curiosities than as
stock. The hogs are most abundant, and

ders, most of whom keep them. Horses
and mules are bred in the island, but a
great many of the latter are imported from
the Costa firme; and of the former, a
large bony breed, called frisones, (or
frieslanders,) are brought from North
America. These are not found to thrive,
the first hot summer carrying them off.
The price of horses ranges from sixty to
five hundred dollars; the usual price of a
decent serviceable horse being two hun-ly
dred dollars.

Venomous creatures this island is,

happily, almost entirely free from. The those that infest the woods in England, snakes found here, are very similar to and are very shy of society. Their bite 'It is usual to take a box for the season, is not mortal. The worst of the venomous or a certain length of time-three or four species is the arana peluda, or hairy months; and if you do not, you will get spider, a hideous reptile, as large as a no box seat. You pay four reals man's hand, covered with brown hair. for your admission at the outward door, The bite is considered highly dangerous. and afterwards an additional sum, accord- The scorpion is so common, that its freing to the part of the house, or nature of quency almost takes off the feeling of the the accommodation you choose. The dread with which it would otherwise be company is tolerable, and the house con- regarded. It is, when, fully grown, as venient, though not large. It is only ful- large as the arana peluda, with a long ly lighted on grand nights, which circum-jointed tail, which it carries curved over stance is always advertised, as is the programme of the piece, as-" This evening will be presented to the illustrious and respectable people of the Havana, the famous and much admired comedy, entitled, El Triunfo del Ave Maria,' in which Senor Garcia will perform the part of a

its back, but is extended at pleasure.
The sting is at the end. The effect (for
speak from experience,) is sharp and
painful, and creates a local paralysis, but
wears off through time and the applica
tion of spirits. The mosquito must,
though insignificant, be ranked in this

The author of this work, who writes in

a lively manner but thinks profoundly,
the slave trade on Cuba, shows, and we
when again speaking of the influence of
think satisfactorily, that the abolition
of slavery will be favourable to the
real and permanent interests of the
island; we do not doubt, and if doubt
exists in such a case, that grand axiom,
that what is morally wrong cannot be
at is
politically right,' would influence our
decision, did not humanity alone de-
cide, the question. In conclusion, we
must express our hearty commenda-
tion of this work, and would recom-
mend it to statesmen and senators, to
philanthropists, and to every one who
can feel for another's woe, and look
with pity on the untutored and enslaved
African.

Memoirs of the Life of Anne Boleyn, Queen of Henry VIII. By Miss Benger, Author of Memoirs of Mrs. Hamilton, John Tobin, &c. 2 vols. 8vo. pp. 548. London, 1821. ENTERTAINING as we do, considerable respect for Miss Benger's talents, and a high regard for the sex of which she is an ornament, we are sorry that her pen has not been more suitably employed than on the present occasion. For, although we believe that Anne Boleyn was innocent of the charge for which she suffered, and fell a victim to the caprice and jealousy of an odious monster, yet some historians have entertained a different opinion, and her levity has often been admitted. Now, as an investigation into the criminality or levity of woman, is not the proper study' of woman, we wish that Miss Benger had become the biographer of some of those illustrious ladies who grace the annals of British history, whose character is less doubtful; especially as, notwithstanding all her research, she has not brought any new fact or new evidence to decide the merits of Lady Anne Boleyn.

and ceremony usual on such occasions, to the barrier, where, at the sound of the tial train, each mounted on a mettled trumpet, appeared the king and his marcourser, clothed in purple velvet and cloth of gold; the royal steed was distinguished by his embroidered drapery, and the gallant plume of feathers pendant from his head, and which rose ambitiously to the saddle of the rider. The signal being given, the coursers flew like lightning; each cavalier ran twelve courses the youthful monarch struck the ring five times, and finally bore away the prize in triumph, abandoning the ornaments of his charger to the applauding multitude. In another public festival, at Greenwich, the king challenged all comers to fight with the target; and afterwards exhibited still greater prowess in hurling the spear; nor did the indefatigable prince desist till he had achieved equal honour with the twohanded sword.'

Such were the amusements of princes and gentlemen. Of female occupations at that period, we are told, that—

been always considered rather as ornaThe maids of honour appear to have mental than useful: neither serious charge nor weighty responsibility was ever imposed on these fairest ministers of royalty, whose business it was, like If we at first regretted to find Miss to shed around her the ineffable charm of nymphs, to encircle their queen only Benger engaged in this work, we were grace and beauty; accustomed to attend not less surprized to find that she spun her on all public exhibitions of pomp and the barren subject out into two vo- splendour, to dress with taste, to move lumes-we beg pardon, two half vo- with elegance, comprised their most imlumes only; for the whole work is portant duties: their accomplishments, if paged straight forward; but, by the any they possessed, were reserved for the addition of an extra title, it has been recreation of her private hours, when, ac done up in two thin volumes,-acording to her humour, they were rewretched bookselling expedient, which reflects no credit on the publishers.

The life of Anne Boleyn, and the particulars of her melancholy fate, are so well known, that it would be a work of supererrogation to repeat them here; especially as what relates to her personally, appears to us to be the least interesting, and is certainly the least novel part of the work, which contains some curious information relative to the court manners during the reign of Henry VIII, as well as a view of society during the two preceding centuries. Of the activity and skill of Henry in manly exercises, many instances have been recorded. The following is

one :

One day, an engagement having been made by some of the courtiers to run at the ring for a wager, the king declared his willingness to enter the lists with six companions, the prize being promised to him who, within a certain space of time, should most often reach the goal. At the hour appointed, the ambassadors, the court, the ladies, repaired, with the pomp

ternately associated in her labours and dequired to sing, dance, work, and pray, alvotions. Finally, their conduct was closely inspected by an elderly governante, whose duty it was to maintain amongst them strict order and decorum. naries of instruction, an establishment In the absence of schools and other semisuch as this must have offered some equivocal advantages to childhood, and few attractions to youth: to the former it might supply habits of docility and application, of promptitute and self-possession, eminently useful in the intercourse of after-life; nor was it a defect peculiar to the education received in a court, that it turity, the artless simplicity of childhood. blasted, by a specious semblance of maAmongst the other vices inseparable from the artificial system transmitted by the middle ages, it was not the least, that it abridged what is usually esteemed the best and happiest season of human existence: the cheerfulness of infancy was soon clouded with care. At four years of age the sons of the nobility commenced their studies; at six they were initiated into the Latin grammar; at twelve they were introduced into company; at fourteen they exhausted their

strength in hunting; at sixteen they were exercised in jousting; and at eighteen The education of girls was still more perthey were boldly ushered into public life. niciously opposed to simplicity and nature; from the earliest period, they appear to have been taught to imitate the manners, and even to adopt the dress of grown women: at thirteen they were not only disfigured by the stiff costumes, but infected with the pride, the vanity, and folly of their elder associates. From the moment that they were allowed to assume their place at the tournament, they affected to dispense smiles and favours on real or pretended votaries; and, whilst glittering with gold and jewels, they began to expatiate on the reciprocations between the mistress and the servant, they learnt to envy the distinctions conferred by the bold successful champion, and to sigh for the sovereignty conceded to peerless beauty.'

Of the celebrated interview between Henry and Francis, in the field of the Cloth of Gold, our author gives a very make a few extracts:— animated description, from which we

'Aware of Henry's predilection for the age of Edward the Third, the King of France submitted to him, whether he should not, in imitation of the Black on horseback. Although this proposition Prince, have his dinner served and carved the ordonnances of chivalry were to be was negatived, in every other instance religiously observed; and it was especially stipulated, that, in the ensuing joust, the number of strokes given on either side, should be referred to the ladies! Finally, after a longer interval than had been spent by the Edwards and fairest provinces of France, the plain of Henries of former days in acquiring the Guisnes was chosen for the interview, and the young Emperor Charles, by a dextrous stroke of policy, engrossed to himself the fruits of the costly enterprise. the English coast, when, under pretence In his passage to Flanders, he approached of paying his respects to his aunt Catherine, he threw himself on Henry's generosity, and voluntarily came to his court without a single precaution for safety and protection. Charmed with this proof of confidence, so consonant to the spirit of chivalry, Henry was easily persuaded to pledge his friendship to the avowed rival ally and a brother.' of that prince he was about to visit as an

*

*

At some little distance from the town of Guisnes, a temporary palace was prepared for Henry's reception, which the combined powers of English and Flemish mechanism had rendered rare and beantiful as the marvellous house of Aladdin, so exquisitely constructed by his obedient genii.' It appears to have been formed of moveable planks of timber, and covered with canvass so well painted as to resemble stone. Within, it was

'The queen's table was furnished with more elegance, and with the additional delicacies of fricandes or custard, frythour or tarte; besides every delicacy of the season.

The brewer is enjoined not to put hops or brimstone into the ale.

hung with arras and tapestry, the most the king lived in Hall, and freely treated a chet loaf and manchet, ale and wine, rich and tasteful that the looms of Ghent all who asked for entertainment. In ge- beef and mutton, were supplied in abuncould supply; but, after all these efforts neral, the palace, like the pageant so of dance, with the addition of capons or of ingenuity, it was found totally inade. ten admitted within its walls, presented a hens, pigeons and conies. On fast days, quate to the occasion; since two thousand motley combination of bloated luxury salt salmon, salted eels, whitings, gurnet, five hundred of the king's suite had no and squalid wretchedness, fantastic ele-plaice, and flounders: fruit was reserved better resource than to lodge in tents, of gance and sordid penury. The royal for lent; butter was always allowed in which the inside was hung with white apartments were strewn with rushes; the profusion. cloth, richly embroidered, and surmount- stairs and floors of the other rooms were ed by the union rose, interlace with the often inlaid with filth; and whilst fires* fleur-de-lys. The spot selected for this blazed in the great chambers, hung with encampment was about half a league be-arras, the inferior officers were shivering yond the town of Guisnes, and about the with cold; and some of their attendants same distance from the town of Ardres, literally beggars. in whose castle lodged Francis and his Among other statutes published in gallant court. Whilst Henry and his re- the seventeenth year of this reign, at tinue, like crusaders, remained in their Eltham, was one, by which it was enactsplendid pavilions, necessity must have ed, that none but decent persons should led to a different distribution of the qua- be admitted into court service; that in drupeds in his train, of which the horse future no rascal † should be employed in alone amounted to the enormous number any domestic capacity; and that the sculof four thousand three hundred and twen-lions of the kitchen should not be perty-six. To these, according to stipula-mitted to go naked. By another article, tion, an equal number was opposed by the it was prohibited to any of the king's French party: thus the cordial meeting household to follow the king when he which was to form an eternal union of friend- should go on his pastime, unless invited. ship, resembled the clashing of two hos. By another article, obviously dictated by tile armies, and seemed rather calculated Henry's personal feelings, it is enacted, to create impressions of distrust and jea-that, in future, none be admitted but perlousy than to suggest images of peace and amity, hospitality and concord.'

The two kings met on the 10th of June, when they embraced and walked arm in arm around the encampment. Their attendants on both sides also fraternized, and all national prejudices seemed forgotten :

After the first ceremonies between the two kings, both withdrew to a tent of cloth of gold, where, after reiterated con

nour were allotted, a chet loaf and a man

A swan was five shillings, a capon eighteen-pence, pigeons eight-pence per dozen; a fat heron was eight-pence, a partridge four-pence, pullets three-pence each, conies two shillings per dozen; the stork, the bustard, and the crane, were then admitted to the table.

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A munificent provision of twenty-four loaves per day was made for the king's greyhounds; other dogs were banished the court, with the exception of spaniels kept for the ladies.

A gift was allowed to whoever married or made the king a present.'

sons of good demeanor, fashion, gesture, In our extracts, we have hitherto
countenance, and stature, so as the king's scarcely noticed the heroine in these
house may be furnished with such as are
tried, elect, and picked for the king's ho- volumes, but her history cannot but be
nour. To the privilege of maintenance, familiar to our readers, whom we refer
implied in the bouche of court, a com-
to Nos. 57, 67, and 75, of the Literary
paratively small number of the palace in- Chronicle, where they will find many
mates were admitted; but, for the per- interesting particulars respecting her.
sonal attendants, both for the king and As, however, love letters are very im-
queen, there was, in general, kept a plen-portant affairs, and those of sovereigns
tiful table, and to the six maids of ho-
very rate, we shall present our readers
deceiver,' our Eighth Harry, to Anne
with a couple from that gallant gay
Boleyn. The first has a passage in it
respecting the Mores, which is inexpli-
dish. Among the dainties which he re-heart put ourselves into your hands, beg.
King Henry understood a man and a My Mistress and Friend,-I and my
lished, were, giggots of mutton or veni-ging you to recommend us to your favour,
son, stopped with cloves, chickens in cri-
tuary, larkes, sparrows, or lamb stued,
with chines of mutton, venison pastry;
jelly hippocras, cream of almonds.

gratulations, Henry began, pro forma, tochet, a chine of beef, and a gallon of ale
read the articles, when, instead of desig- for breakfast.'
nating himself the King of France, he stopt The conclusion of the picture of the
abruptly after "I, Henry, King of Eng-court is taken from Loyd, who says,cable:-
land," and laughing, exclaimed, "No,
not the king of France; I should be an
impostor if I claimed that title, for the
King of France is here."

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Of the state of Henry's court at home, and of his singular regulations, we have the following ludicrous description:

In the gorgeous finery of King Henry's court, we often trace a resemblance to the barbaric splendour and magnificence exhibited by the despots of Asia and Africa; and poorly as that age was furnished with the more elegance, conveniences, and accommodations, that essentially contribute to the comfort and refinement of modern life, it will be found, that, wherever wealth abounded, there prevailed a superfluity of all that was rare and precious, an excess of pomp and prodigality, to which modern Europe scarcely offers any parallel. Under the

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Stabling was allowed to such of the queen's gentlewomen as were peers daughters. Seven messes of ladies dined at the same table in the great chamber; * Coals were only allowed for the King, Queen, and Lady Mary's chambers.'

A rascal implied an illiterate vagrant; one who could not even repeat his Creed.'

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It was expressly stipulated, that the officers of the squillery shall see silver and pewter vessels kept safe, (pewter vessels being then costly); and it is forbidden to the king's at tendants to steal locks or keys from cupboards, or other articles of furniture out of noblemen's gentlemen's houses where he goes to visit. The king's barber is enjoined to be cleanly, misguided women and idle persons. The knight marshal is directed to take good care that all such unthrifty and common women as follow the court be banished.'

and not to let absence lessen your affection to us. For it were great pity to increase our pain, which absence alone does sufficiently, and more than I could ever have thought; bringing to my mind a point of astronomy, which is, that the farther the Mores are from us, the farther, too, is the sun, and yet its heat is the more scorching; so it is with our love; we are at a distance from one another, and yet it keeps its fervency, at least on my side. I hope the like on your part, assuring you, that the uneasiness of absence is already too severe for me; and when I think of the continuance of that which I must of necessity suffer, it would seem intolerable to me, were it not for the firm hope I have of your unchangeable affection for me; and now to put you some

Tudors, the frank hospitality of the rude and by no means to frequent the company of times in mind of it, and seeing I cannot be

Saxon monarchs was still perpetuated on public festivals, at Christmas and Easter, on Twelfth-day and Michaelmas, and some other extraordinary occasions, when

present in person with you, I send you the nearest thing to that possible, that is ny picture, set in bracelets, with the whole device which you know already,

wishing myself in their place, when it shall please you. This from the hand of Your servant and friend, H. Rex.' When the popular clamour became strong, Henry found it advisable to remove Anne Boleyn from court, which Miss Benger says she quitted with painful impressions of disgust, not unmingled with resentment.' The following is one of Henry's letters to her during her absence:—

To Anne Boleyn.

The approach of the time which I have so long expected, rejoices me so much, that it seems almost ready come. However, the entire accomplishment cannot be till this two persons meet, which meeting is more desired by me than any thing in the world; for what joy can be greater upon earth, than to have the company of her who is my dearest friend? Knowing, likewise, that she does the same on her part, the thinking on which gives great pleasure. You may judge what an effect the presence of that person must have on me, whose absence has made a greater wound in my heart, than either words or writing can express, and which nothing can cure but her return. I beg you, dear mistress, to tell your father from me, that I desire him to hasten the appointment by two days, that he may be in court before the old term, or at farthest, on the day prefixed, for otherwise I shall think he will not do the lover's turn, as he said he would, nor answer my expectation. No more at present, for want of time, hoping shortly, that by word of mouth, I shall tell you the rest of my sufferings from your absence.'

With this letter we close our extracts from Miss Benger's Life of Anne Boleyn, which would have been more properly entitled, in the quaint style of less modern writers, Some Memorable Passages in the Reign of Henry the Eighth. The work, however, contains much that is interesting, although we fear it will not enhance the literary reputation of the author.

The Lilian Bride, and other Poems. By Barton Wilford. 12mo. pp. 71. London, 1821.

Ir our readers do not already give us credit for a tolerable share of critical independence, they may, perhaps, call our strict impartiality in question, when we inform them, that the Lilian Bride is by a favourite correspondent, who has often enriched the poetical department of the Literary Chronicle with his elegant effusions; and further, that the work is from the press of our friend Mr. Davidson, who exhibits our lucubrations in fair black and white, weekly, to the public. Hap

pily, however, we are relieved from the task of subjecting ourselves to any suspicion in this respect, by adopting the critique, (and a poetical one too, which is a novelty,) of another of our correspondents, who sent us an 'Impromptu to Wilford, on receiving a copy of his first publication.' This impromptu we shall not insert, but merely quote a passage from it, which relates to the Lilian Bride :—

-Nicely scattered through each part, There's something that will touch the heart, With many a well-told homely truth, To suit each anxious love-sick youth. I pity much the Arab chief;His was a thorough life of grief; Though round him some few roses grew, Fate did its thorns so thickly strew, That when the joy was in his arms, He clasped a mass of poisoned charms. Ill-fated heroine! in the prime Of life cut off.'

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THIS volume is a pleasing memento of departed excellence; it is confined to a biography of religious females only, with the object of interesting the mind by a delineation of virtues sustained amidst all the diversities of human society, and to excite a serious consideration of the important connexion which We must, however, observe, in addi-subsists between the present character tion to the remarks of our poetical cri- and the future destiny. The lives of tic, that the Lilian Bride possesses the principal persons noticed in this many beautiful passages; the merits of volume, have often been before the which are a strong recommendation to public; they are, however, re-written the poem, independent of the interest and much improved. of the story. The following picture of human life is finely drawn:

'How sweet's the retrospective glance

That's ta'en of early hours,
When the young life was but a trance-
A dream of rosy bow'rs.

But dire the change from youth to age
In life's delusive pilgrimage!

A summer lake no breath has crost-
A raging sea that's tempest tost-
A tender bud of early spring,
That often dies-while blossoming!
But, though we are with grief opprest,
And the sear'd heart's a foe to rest,-
Though never more the eye may close,
Till death his darkness o'er it throws,-
Though frenzy fire the throbbing brain-
The frame be rack'd with every pain;
Still, still of life we grasp the chain.'
There is a fine tribute to the sex,
and to the influence that love has on
woman's heart, which we cannot for-
bear quoting:-

'How beautiful is that pure flame,

That finds its home in woman's heart!
Till time expires, 'tis still the same,
And never-never will depart!
The frown may be repulsive, yet
It cannot make affection fly,
Which deep within the mind is set-

Too deep for hate to venture nigh!
For what the object lov'd has been,

When hours of joy went fast, Is still upon the memory green, And Lila, she had felt the power

And blossoms in affliction's blast!

Of love in a more genial hour,
And still that passion round her clung,
And when she saw pale sorrow's stings
As if existence on it hung;

Dive deep in Antar's youthful breast, she lov'd Lim most when most opprest,She lov'd him for his sufferings!""

The Minor Pieces possess much me

The life of that amiable woman and elegant writer, Miss Catherine Talbot, might have been rendered more interesting, by inserting some of her letters, which are models of epistolary writing; but this would, perhaps, be extending the plan further than the biographer, who is a female, intended. We, however, would suggest to any one who may have leisure and inclination to make an interesting little volume, to collect the lets ters of Miss Talbot, several of which have been published in fugitive works, recently; and, we believe, there are some that have never been printed in Dr. Birch's collection of MSS. in the British Museum. Some specimens of Miss Talbot's talents are, however, given, and we select one; it is an imitation of Ossian, and was written before the peace of 1763 :

6.66 True, Ossian, I delight in songs; harmony sooths my soul. It sooths it, O Ossian, but raises it far above these grassy clods and rocky hills. It exalts it far above the vain phantoms of clouds, the wandering meteors of the night.

"Listen in thy turn, thou sad son of Fingal, to the lonely dweller of the rock. Let thy harp rest for a while, and thy thoughts cease to retrace the war and bloodshed of the days that are past. Sightless art thou, O Ossian, and sad is thy failing age. Thine ear is to the hollow blast, and thy expectation is closed in the narrow house. Thy memory is of the deeds of thy fathers; and thy fathers, where are they? What, O Ossian, are those deeds of other times? They are horror and blood and desolation.

Harp of Ossian, be still. Why dost thou sound in the blast, and wake my sleeping fancy? Deep and long has been its repose. Solid are the walls that surround me. The idle laugh enters not here; why then should the idler tear? Yet, Ossian, I would weep for thee: I would weep for thee, Malvina. But my days are as the flight of an arrow. Shall the arrow turn aside from its mark?

Memoirs of Mrs. Dyott, under the so-
lemn Form of an Oath, written by
herself, accounting for her Separa-
tion from General Dyott; with va-
rious Letters of the General and other
Personages. 8vo. pp. 48. London,

1821.

mies, and literayr characters. I read them all with pleasure, and especially the number of the Revue Encyclopedique, and its interesting views of the new works of science in Europe.

I rejoice, indeed, that the commemoration of the life and virtues of my SHOULD any of our readers doubt that friend Kosciuzko, is undertaken by a married people have often serious mis- person so able to present them worunderstandings, or that law is expen-thily to the world; the connection, too, sive and lawyers are rapacious, let them read this little Memoir, which is ornamented with a goodly' portrait of the author and heroine. We, who are no sceptics on these subjects, who would not interfere between man and wife on any occasion, nor in law, if we could avoid it, shall say nothing further in this business, than that such things are,' and we regret their existence.

which the several scenes of his services furnished between the three great revolutions of Poland, France, and America, cannot fail to render the work of great interest to those three countries. A citizen of the U. S. sometime since informed me, he wished to undertake this work, but I discouraged the attempt, by assuring him, it was already in hands fully qualified for the task, in a situation to learn better the inciA brief Description of the Mardents of his early, as well as latter life, (to which I know my fellow citizen had bles collected by Lord Elgin, at Athens, &c.; and also of the Phiga-interval Kosciuzko had passed in Ameno means of access) and that the short lian Marbles, now deposited in the rica, could hardly authorize the acBritish Museum. A New Edition. of his Life; he has, consequently, decount of that to be entitled the History clined it, and will, I am sure, have cause to felicitate himself on having avoided a competition for which he was so little prepared.

"Bright was thy genius, Ossian! But darkness was in thy heart. It shrunk from the light of heaven. The lonely dweller of the rock sang in vain to thy deafened ear. The Greeian was not blind like thee. On him the true sun never dawned; yet he sung, though erroneously, of all-ruling Providence, and faintly looked up to the parent of Gods and men. Thy vivid fancy, O Ossian, what beheld it but a cloudy Fingal? Vain is the pride of ancestry; thou reinainest by choice an orphan, in an orphan world. Did the dweller of the rock never point out to thy friendless age, a kindred higher than the heavens? A brotherhood wide as the world? A staff to thy failing steps? A light to thy sightless soul? And didst thou reject them, Ossian? What, then, is genius, but a meteor brightness? The humble, the mild, the By J. Coombe Laskey, Esq. 12mo. simple, the uneloquent, with peaceful pp. 35. London. steps followed their welcome pastor, into THIS little work contains a more mifair meads of everlasting verdure-while nute and enlarged description of those thou sittest gloomy on the storm-beaten valuable collections, the Elgin and hill, repeating to the angry blast the boast Phigalian Marbles, than the Synopsis of human pride, the tales of devastation, of the British Museum, which is pubtimes are these. Ah! would they were!lished at so limited a price, as to render still destruction spreads; still human its notices excessively brief; besides, pride rises with the tigers of the desert,

the deeds of other times. Far other

and utters its horrid boast!" "

A striking instance of precocity is furnished in some poems written by Caroline, daughter of the Rev. Charles Symonds, who was born in 1792, and died at the early age of eleven. We select the last by this infant genius, and which was afterwards inscribed on her tomb:

THE BLIGHTED ROSE-BUD.
Scarce had thy velvet lips imbibed the dew,
And nature hail'd thee, infart Queen of
May;

Scarce saw thy op'ning bloom the sun's
broad ray,

And on the air its tender fragrance threw ;
When the north wind enamour'd of thee grew,
And from his chilling kiss, thy charms decay;
Now droops thine head, now fades thy blushing
hue,

No more the queen of flow'rs, no longer gay.
So blooms a maid, her guardian's health and

joy,

Her mind array'd in innocency's vest; When suddenly, impatient to destroy,

several of the statues, friezes, &c. not
noticed at all in the Synopsis, are here
described, and frequently with classical
explanations, which cannot but be of
service to the general reader, and must
render the work a useful vade mecum
to all who may visit those splendid mo-
numents of art.

I read, with great pleasure, the views you present of the progress of France toincidents, I had feared, portended trouwards a rational government; some late ble, but the earth will as soon reverse its course in its orbit as the mind of man fall back from the lights recently shed on it, to the darkness of monkish insurrection of the south will bid defiance ages and impositions. The general to the tyrants of the north, and thus armies will catch the flame they are sent to extinguish, and spread its salutary purifications over their native soil. Man has, for countless ages, been enveloped in darkness, civil and religious. The lights of science have at length found their way into his mind; he THOMAS JEFFERSON, Esq. Late President of the United States, to the Che- the will to resume his rights and be had always the power, and needed only valier Jullien, Editor of the Revue Encyclo-free; he now has that will, and the world pedique, at Paris.

Foreign Literature.

ORIGINAL LETTER*

OP

Monticello, Dec. 26, SIR, Long-continued ill health and a slow and uncertain convalescence, have put it out of my power to acknowledge sooner your favours of Feb. and March of the last year, and particularly to thank you for the several tracts you were so kind as to send me. The charms and budding virtues, now no more.' The duplicate copies were disposed of This work we sincerely recommend as you wished, to our societies, acadeto all young persons; to the religious * Communicated to us through our Corresworld it can require no recommendation.pondent at Paris.-ED.

Death clasps the victim to his iron breast: She fades-the parent, sister, friend deplore

will at length be free. At the age of seventy-seven years, I cannot expect to see this; it is comfortable, however, to foresee it, and to pass the few days remaining to me in prayers for its speedy consummation, to which I add those for the continuance of your useful labours through long years of health and happiness.

Thlitterson

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