another, and strongly prepoffeffed in | SELECT ESSAYS relating to the GE, bis favour another highly deferving of all her esteem, and fully enjoying all her love. With regard to Henrietta's conduct in her distressful fitu NIUS and WRITINGS of SHAKE→ SPEARE. ESSAY IV. General Remarks on the WRITINGS of [From the Preface to MISCELLANEOUS SH ation, Mrs. Grey is of opinion that she should endeavour to prevail on her father to confent to her giving her hand to the man who was in poffeffion of her heart. And it is to be hoped that fuch a compliance with her intreaties would not be productive of HAKESPEARE, who first reany terrible confequences to her fecond ad- vived, or more properly formed wirer. Few men, I believe, put a pethe ftage, was the greatest dramatic riod to their exiftence from a difap-author this country ever produced.-pointment in love, though a late unfor- By the force of a found judgment, tunate affair feems to militate against moft lively imagination, and a perfect my fentiments upon this occafion.-knowledge of human nature, without With regard to that affair, I may, per- the leaft affiftance of art, he difpelled haps, be fingular in my opinion, but I thofe condense clouds of Gothic ignocannot help imagining that the defper-rance, which at that time obfcured us, ate lover, would not have murdered the and first caufed Britain to appear a object of his paffion, and have, at- formidable rival to her learned neightempted to destroy bimfelf, if he had bours. Nothing but a liberal educanot been deceived by falfe appear- tion was wanting to raise this great ances, and flattered by falfe hopes.-man to the fummit of perfection, where If he had not thought he had reafon he would for ever have flourished unto fuppofe himself favoured by her, rivalled but the fun itself has its without whom he could not enjoy his fpots, nor was any thing as yet ever existence. The man who is affured formed entirely compleat. that he is not beloved, and that another is preferred to him, muft be frantic indeed to form any expectations of fuccefs. Such a man has nothing to do, as a lover, but to give up the pur-limer fuit at once, as he will, by promoting the happiness of the object of his ad-informs us, that "Grand flights are miration, (that is by refigning to her the man whom he has chofen) exhibit the ftrongest proof of his esteem and affection for her. Upon this ground Henrietta's fecond lover ftands, and he fhould he told that he must never Had he been converfant with the ancient critics and tragedians, his genius, inftead of being checked or depreffed by an obfervance of their rules, would have foared a nobler and sublimer height. A critic of eminence never in more danger than when they are left to themselves, without ballaft to poife, or helm to guide their course, but encumbered with their own weight, and daring without discretion." He indeed apologizes for this abfurdity in his Chorus in Henry the The unities of time and place he, for expect the flightest degree of her af- the most part, feems very little to refection, of her efteem, if he fo far in-gard: in his obfervance of the other, fluences her father by the weight of his he is more regular. purfe, as to make him compel her to give her hand without her heart; in other words, to compel her to be miferable for life, with the aggravating reflections arifing from the infringement of her voluntary vows. (To be continued.) Vth. Vouchfafe to thofe that have not read the flory This convinces us that he himself pceived into the heavens, and metamor was confcious of the error, but chofephofed into conftellations. Juliet, by rather to proceed in the beaten path, than be at the trouble of finding out a new one. a beautiful hyperbole, fays that Romeo's body entire would not only make a ftar, but divided into feveral parts, would form fo many different fplendid appearances. Though Shakefpeare, for the mot part, caufed his kings and heroes to maintain their dignity, without ftooping into vulgar phrafe, yet he fometimes makes them defcend from their characters, and use the language of a buffoon. Thus Henry the Fifth, juft before the battle of Agincourt Ariftotle has laid it down as a rule, that the time fuppofed to be employed in a tragedy, fhould be confined to a fingle day, or as little more as poffible: but I cannot fee what harm it can do us if we fuffer ourselves to be deceived, and pass over the length of time neceffary to produce the incidents reprefented, and accompany the poet in his peregrinations from place to place without being difgufted at the abfurdity, or offended at the impofition. Thoughty French crowns to one they will beat Shakespeare did not bring tragedy to us, for they bear them on their fhoulthe utmost perfection, yet he laid foders: but it is no English treason to cut noble a bafe for its future rife and im- French crowns, and to-morrow the king provement, as exceeded the most fan- himself will be a clipper :"--and im guine expectations. mediately falls into that beautiful soliloquy Our poet has particularly excelled in clearly and fully marking and diftinguishing the manners of his principal characters. Thus we know by his difcourfe, that Macbeth will break through all laws human and divine, to poffefs the crown, though even at the expence of his peace of mind: nor are we at a lofs to determine whether the god-like Brutus will affift his enflaved country, or tamely fubmit to the ufurpation of an ambitious tyrant. Love the ufual fubject of modern tragedies, our poet has very wifely refufed admittance into his beft compotions it is a paffion truly comic, and when introduced in tragedy, deferves our contempt, rather than pity. In Romeo and Juliet the diftrefs is real; yet there is none of the modern gallantry fo much admired: but the play itfelf can by no means be reckoned amongst his best pieces. The follow-! ing fpeech of Juliet has been cenfured as ridiculous, but I believe without juft caufe: "Indeed the French may lay twen Upon the king, let us our lives, our fouls, The Chorus in the fame play quibbles tors, who Have for the gilt of France (O guilt indeed!) No perfon hath been more commended for an honeft integrity of heart than our poet, but he is not free from that he openly digreffes to pay a complicourt-vice flattery. In his Macbeth and whenever he has occafion to speak ment to the prince then on the throne: of kings, makes ufe of the most reli gious terms. THE (To be continued.) my GOVERNES S. (Continued from Page 477.) S foon as I found fifter recovering her strength, I began to think of leaving her, though both fhe and Mrs. Graham expreffed the greateft uneafinefs on my being deterThis evidently alludes to the antient mined not only to make all poffible fabulous hiftories, of mortals being re-enquiries after a family who wanted a Give me my Romeo, Night, and when he dies, go governess, but for a family at a dif tance from them. I did not chufe to fix in that part of the country, though they would have both of them perfuaded me to ftay till fomething offered near them, declaring at the fame time that my refidence in a spot where they could often fee me, would greatly increase their happiness; but I was of a different opinion: I therefore went and took a place in the ftage, which would carry me within a few miles of Mrs. Matters's, imagining I could cafily walk the reft of the way. When I returned home Mr. Graham met me with a look of the utmost fatisfaction, and told me that he had just heard of a gentleman of fortune who wanted a young lady as a governefs for his daughter; adding, that as he was reckoned univerfally a polite and generous man, he hoped I would try at least if it would not fuit me, being only within a fhort mile of his house. In reply to this propofal, I told him that I did not chufe to live in a family in which no lady fuperintended, if any other was to be met with, and declared my intention to return to Mis. Mafters and my aunt. Finding that he could not prevail on me to alter my plan, he permitted me to depart, but with the moft visible regret. Accordingly I waited on this lady. She received me at her toilet, where he had evidently been endeavouring to repair the ruins which time had made in her perfon. She had, as I apprehended, juft finifhed her face, and was therefore fit to be feen. Hav ing defired me to fit down, she began to lament the infinite fatigue and trouble which attended the education of children, declaring that her's were quite infants, though grown to an amazing height for their age: that their height and fize made people fancy they were a great deal older than they were, and had indeed put it into their heads that they would foon be women, tho' abfolute babies. "I am obliged, therefore, continued fhe, to keep them from the fight of every body, in order to prevent their flying out, and wish to have a difcreet perfou to undertake the care of their education, and reftrain them within due bounds. They are remarkably lively for their years, taking after me, who have great fpirits, and more fit to pafs for their fifter than their mother. I was quite a child my felf when I married Mr.Gaskin, and as I am fure I hurt my conftitution by quick breeding, I will take care that my girls fhall not marry at fo early an age though indeed (added fhe, as if correcting herself for entertaining fo abfurd an idea) it will be time enough for them to think of fuch things twenty years hence, as they are mere babies." She then defired me to ring the bell, and ordered the fervant to fend Julia and Dorothea to her-ftill continuing to talk of the extreme youth and childifhnefs of her daughters, fo that I could As foon as I arrived at Mrs. Mafters's, fhe informed me that a gay widow, at the entrance of the next town, having been left with two daughters, who grew up very faft, and began to divide the attention of the men, in the mother's opinion, if they did not actually engrofs it, wifhed to con-not well expect them to be above fefine them to their own apartment un. der the care of a proper perfon, who would fit with them, and keep them to their books and their needles. "This place," continued Mrs. Mafters, " may, I think, do very well for you, if you can bear to be fhut up with a couple of raw girls." I told her that I fhould have no objection to fuch a fituation if I could give fatisfaction to their mother. ven or eight years old; though their mother appeared to be little lefs than fixty. However as there are great deceptions with regard to age, and as there are women who bear children rather late in life, I imagined I fhould find the Mifs Gaskins very young ladies. Two well grown young women now entered the room; but they were dref fed in white frocks: they had quilted caps on their heads, and fashes round The Governess. wastes; and their hair hung over their eyes before, and down their backs behind. They curtfied and blushed at the fight of a stranger: blufhed I imagined, for the follies of their mother, who calling them to her, and treating them like infants, (by patting the cheek of one, and ftroking the hair of the other) prefented them to me, telling them that as fhe fhould put herself to the expence of keeping a perfon to teach them every thing that was neceffary for them to know, fhe hoped they would be good children, and do as I bade them. "July," continued fhe, taking up the bottom of her frock, "has hemmed this all herself, and little Dolly (chucking her under the chin) has finished her fampler: but I would not have them employed about fuch intignificant works: I would have them taught to do fomething which may be of ufe, as they grow older; fuch as embroidering fhoes, &c. &c. for me, after having made all my linen, and their own.” 527 them, which would have afforded me great diversion. As foon as I returned to Mrs. Mafters I asked her what character Mrs. Gaskins bore. "A very good one, I believe (replied fhe)-Why, Lizy, she is past the age which expofes a woman to scandal." "I fancy, madam, faid I, that the lady herfelf is of a different opinion." "Pfhaw child! replied fhe, Mrs. Gafkin is an old woman, and I will lay my life no man troubles his head about her." "If then fhe is only foolish enough, faid I, to think herself young and handfome, I will go and live with her, for her fentiments concerning herself are of no confequence to me." I went first, however, to fee my aunt, who told me that the wished I might be able to fpend my time tolerably with a woman fantaftical enough to make great girls pafs for children. In reply, I faid, that I could have wifhed fhe had been of another turn; but that as he was a woman of character, and as people who depended upon their in Here a rap at the door made her hurry away the young ladies, whom fhe ordered to return to their nurfery. A gentleman, by the name of Thom-duftry in any fhape, were not to be fon, was then announced. I rose to go, telling Mrs. Gafkin that I would wait on her when she was more at leifure, but she told me that as there was nothing, fhe fuppofed, to be fettled except the terms, the bufinefs between us would foon be done-fhe then afked what 1 expected. Upon my mentioning what Mrs Grantham had given me she made no demur: fhe clofed with all my demands, and told me that the wifhed I would come to ftay with her that very evening. I replied, that if the particularly defired it, I would come that evening, though it would be more agreeable to me to make a visit to a very near relation firft-meaning my aunt adding that I would certainly wait on her at the end of the week. very nice, I was willing to make a trial. Accordingly, I went to Mrs. Gafkin rather before I had given her reafon to expect me: by fo doing I pleafed her not a little. She carried me immediately to the nursery, where I found the young ladies at their needles, in coarfe dark coloured cotton frocks, and black caps, but with such full bofoms they hardly made a decent appearance; though they had high tuckers, without handkerchiefs; and indeed their mama, as they were ordered to call her, aware of my thinking fo, called to her eldeft, and putting down her breast, bade ner not stretch herfelf out of her stays fo; adding, that fhe grew at fuch a rate fhe did not know what to do with her, and that the would have her wear a pin cloth put "Well, answered fhe, that must do then, if you cannot come before.-high before, over her monftrous neck. She then hurried me away, but not till I had obferved, upon the entrance of Mr. Thomson, that these was going to be a scene of flirtation between The poor young lady coloured like fire at this treatment, and got out of her mother's fight as foon as she could. She then fnubbed the youngest for looking fo ferious and folemn, declar- With the lait gracious promife Mrs. and principal amufement) that it ways fits and fings not far from the fsst where all its affections are centered; and any one who is curious enough to fearch the hedge-row where it delivers its mufic, will frequently find the net near to acquire fome proficiency in this delightful and pleafing department of natural history. The author of this performance has not like his pred-ceffors and contemporaries, clandeftinely copied the miflakes of preceding witers; but to make it as perfect as pofible, has abfolutely been at the trouble and expence of procuring almoft every bird ho has mentioned, and fo taken an exaft defcription: he has also been at the pains of examining the nelt, eggs, &c. of each fpecies, and me many new discoveries with relation to their neftlings, never before taken notice of. No fooner was he gone than the two Throughout the whole great care has wife been taken to clear up the faults, and rec fifters came up to me, welcomed me tify the millakes, to correct the blunders, and to the houfe, and faid they fhould be explode the errors of former writers; whe quite glad to have fomebody with them instead of copying nature, and r préfeating who would prevail on their mamma to things with juttnefs, plainness, and perffice let them have gowns, handkerchiefs,, have, too often add d from their own and heels to their fhoes; and to let them turn up their hair. (To be continued.) imaginations, and impofed on the reader fearce any thing but fables, fictitious itoris, and chimerical abfurdities. The works of the ancients, particularly that of Aldrovandes, Pliny, Ariftotle, Gefner, &c. &c. are plete with fuch dry extraneous matter and imperti nent fluff, as is really disgusting to a feries NATURAL HISTORY of the NIGHT- reader; the moderns alfo are in fome meane INGALE. Continued from Page 405.) T has been afferted by many re culpable, as they too frequently tranfile and modern, that the nightingale never fings near its neft, for fear of its being difcovered by that means; but II shall make appear hereafter. † Thus one of will beg leave to affirm from a long courfe of obfervation and experience in ornithology, (which indeed for many years paft has heen my chief study, * them tells us in his description of the cuko", that it builds a neft like other birds, wh thorns, long gra's, hay, &c. hatches, and brings up its young. The fame author t forms us that the water-wagrail is a bird of pat fage, and is never seen in this country in ** ter that the crow, the raven, and the As the generality of naturalifls, and like the rapacions tribe, kill and cat fl particularly thofe who have wrote on ornitho birds-that the white owl has a hooting nett. logy, have been too credulous and inaccurate, and never appears in moon light evenings, all and abound with errors, the author of the a which affertions are certainly falfe, as mathe bove, to abviate these inconveniences, has obvious to every one who is the leaft conver with great, application and indefatigable ftudy fant in this part of natural hiftory. Another and industry, compofed a Natural Hiftory of modern writer would make us believe that the Briti Birds on a new plan, i. e. by a friday builds in holes of trees, and is a carnivor attention to nature herself, without regard to any thing faid by others on the subject. Such werk can want no recommendation, as it must be valuable to every one who would with ous bird. The miffel thrush, if we cordit this author, lays eggs like thofe of the throttle, Viz. in my Ornithology. |