Page images
PDF
EPUB

wanted for the proper discharge of his duties, or make necessary exertions, or accommodate himself, for any length of time, to those whom it is his duty, or his interest to conciliate. For such a character what can be done? Business perplexes, and serious study wearies him. Military duty interrupts his pleasures, attendance on the great is in perfect warfare with his sluggishness. Pride alone should make such a being insupportable even to himself. Beware of a life so shameful. At court, with the king, in the army among the generals; in whatever situation you may be, exert yourself to behave with urbanity. Endeavour to acquire that politeness, which shows a respectful deference to every one. Away with all airs of dignity, of affectation, of bustle; learn to behave to every one according to his rank, his reputation, his merit, and his fame. Give to merit, esteem; to talents, attachment; to rank and titles, civility and ceremony. A seclusion from the world to indulge in idleness is dishonourable; but a retirement employed in acts of duty, or professional exertions, acquires general esteem. As to general acquaintance, consider them as a kind of imperfect friends, upon whom you should not rely; and whom except from urgent necessity, you should never trust; but you should serve them as opportunity offers, and endeavour to lay them under obligations to you.

"As to true friends, choose them with care. Their number must necessarily be small. Have no friend who does not fear God, and who is not wholly governed by the truths of religion. To friends like these open your heart without reserve, and keep nothing secret from them except the secrets of others."

Soon after Fenelon was appointed preceptor of the royal princes, he was elected a member of the French academy. Conformably to an established rule of that institution, he pronounced a discourse before the academy on his reception. Few discourses pronounced on these occasions, have survived the day of their delivery. Fenelon's was generally admired; the authors of the Bibliotheque Britannique, (vol. 19, p. 54.) spoke of it in terms of great commendation. In one part of it, Fenelon illustrates by an ingenious comparison, what should be a great object of every writer, in the general ordonance of his work: "The beauties of a literary composition," he says, "should re

[blocks in formation]

semble those of architecture; the boldest works are not always the best. No part of an edifice should be constructed with a view to its own particular beauty; each should be constructed with a view to the strength and beauty of the whole."

When the academy projected their dictionary, they directed M. Dacier, their secretary, to communicate the plan of it to Fenelon, and to request his thoughts on the design, and the best mode of carrying it into execution. Fenelon replied by a letter, published after his decease with the title Lettre à l'academie Française. He does not confine himself to the particular point to which his attention was called by the academy, but throws out many general observations, replete with judgment and taste, on the actual state ofliterature in France. His remarks on French poetry are interesting, and show that, in a very advanced age, his soul was still wedded to immortal verse. He admits the imperfection of the heroic poetry of his countrymen. "Our versification," he says in this letter, "loses, if I am not deceived, much more than it gains by rhyme. It loses much of its vivacity, its harmony, and its ease. It frequently happens that the rhyme, which has cost the poet so much labour, reduces him to the necessity of extending and weakening his period. He is often forced to employ two or three superfluous verses, for the sake of one, which he particularly wishes to introduce. We are scrupulous in the choice of rhymes, and anxiously seek for those, which are thought to be rich; but we are not as scrupulous as we should be about solidity of thought and sentiment, clearness of expression, natural arrangement, and dignity of language. By rhyme we gain little, except an irksome uniformity of cadence, which is so far from being grateful to the ear, that we carefully avoid it in prose. The repetition of final syllables fatigues us in heroic verse. There is more harmony in those odes and stanzas, in which the rhymes are irregularly arranged; but our grand heroic strains, which require the most harmonious, the most varied, and the most majestic sound, frequently consist of verses, which have no pretence to perfection."

We cannot conclude this article, which has swelled almost to prolixity, without the transcription of an eulogium, which is as eloquent as that Genius whom it so nobly commends.

With the name of Fenelon the most pleasing ideas are associated. To singular elevation both of genius and sentiment, he united extreme modesty and simplicity; unconquerably firm in every thing which he considered a duty, he displayed, both on great and ordinary occasions a meekness, which nothing could discompose. In the midst of a voluptuous court, he practised the virtues of an anchorite; equally humble and elegant, severe to himself and indulgent to others; a mysterious holiness hangs on his character and attracts our veneration, while his misfortunes shed over him a tinge of distress, which excites our tenderest sympathy.

From many occurrences of Fenelon's life, it might be natural to expect that, in the administration of his diocese, he would err by excess of zeal; but from this defect, no one was ever more free. To perform every kind of liberal and generous service, to abstain from unnecessary acts of authority, to avoid every display of ostentation, to correct by meekness and moderation, what was culpable; to improve with prudence and sobriety what was good, and always to keep himself and his own exertions, from the public eye, was the uniform tenor of his conduct.-During the fifteen years in which he governed his diocese, his administration was uniformly wise and gentle; between him and his flock, his chapter and his clergy, there never was even the semblance of discord. He allowed himself a short time for sleep, rose at an early hour, gave some time to prayer and pious meditation, and then arranged with one of his grand vicars the employments of the day. Unless engaged in the offices of devotion, he was accessible at all hours. His only recreation was to walk in the garden or in the open country. His letters, like those of Cicero, often express the satisfaction which he felt in retiring after the agitation and hurry of business to the simple and interesting scenes of nature. By their stillness and calm, any ruffle of the day was quickly smoothed, and his mind, wearied by study or business, soon recovered its freshness and elasticity. There too his piety was often invigorated. "The country," he says in one of his letters, " delights me. In the midst of it I find God's holy peace." In his rural walks with his friends, his conversation was particularly instructive and pleasing. This cir

cumstance is frequently mentioned by his contemporaries. No person, says the duke de St. Simon, ever possessed in a higher degree the talent of gay and fascinating converse. It was perfectly enchanting. His mild piety troubled none, and was respected by all. No one felt his superiority; every one found him on his own level. If you quitted him for a moment, you instantly ran back to him. In fine, as the climax of his character, when he died, in a good old age, he was bewailed both by the romanist and the protestant, and left behind him a spotless reputation for the integrity of his life and the brilliancy of his genius.

CLERMONT SEMINARY.-FOR THE PORT FOLIO..

DURING the atrocities of a sanguinary revolution, the ill fated island of St. Domingo, was doomed to be deformed by all its horrors. Originally blest both by nature and fortune, and proud of her serene sky, her balmy air, and her golden fruitage, she might justly exclaim, I sit the QUEEN of the isles, and there is none beside me.

But in one day, in the pathetic language of the prophet, the gold became dim, and the most fine gold was changed. African Servitude, revolting against the oppressor, confounded Innocence with Guilt, and destroyed every vestige of Utility, Beauty, and Grandeur..'

In those mournful vicissitudes of evil, which ultimately wasted the blood and, treasure of thousands, two gentlemen of property and consideration, by the name of Carré, were twice the victims of persecution. They found an asylum in America.Here, with a courage, truly Roman, instead of bending to the blasts of adversity, instead of shrinking from the shower, and cowering in the chimney. corner of Indolence, they generously resolved to mitigate the malice of Fortune, by the most strenuous efforts of mind. Endowed with learning and talents, patience

and perseverance, they began, as it were, life anew, and being thrown naked into its amphitheatre, they wrestled with the adversary, in the genuine spirit of gladiators.

Of all the pursuits in which men of liberal knowledge, but of limited property may engage, none is nobler than the instruction of youth, in those moral, religious, and literary principles, which adorn humanity. Here was a fair field open to our adventurers; nor did they hesitate to thrust in the sickle.

Patronized by a few gentlemen of spirit and fortune, who were moreover, solicitous for the welfare of the rising generation, Messieurs Carré opened a liberal seminary, in the immediate vicinity of this metropolis. The building, selected for this purpose, is airy and ample. It is delightfully situated on the Frankford road to Germantown, about four miles from Philadelphia. Its site is lofty, and it commands an extended and enchanting prospect. The salubrity of the air, the liberty of the pleasure grounds, and the charms of the landscape, all contribute to the health and comfort of the pupil.

Of this interesting academy we have attempted to impart an accurate idea, by the aid of our engraver. His delineation is spirited and faithful, and the annexed plate will convince the most incredulous, that Wisdom, Genius, and Application may be much worse lodged than in this elegant mansion.

The judicious plans of Messrs. Carré are so well known, that it might seem impertinent to expatiate upon their modes of instruction. It is sufficient to say, that these gentlemen are true disciples of Nature, Experience and Philosophy. Disdaining mountebank pretension, and all the artifices of braggart promise, they silently and modestly accomplish what others only talk of. Their mode of teaching, though, in some respects new, is perfectly regular and simple. The character and extent of each lesson is proportioned to the pupil's powers. Literary Enthusiasm is awakened, illiberal Envy is checked, and generous Emulation encouraged. In short, the success of Messrs. Carré's scheme is the true test of its utility. Their discipline is rigid without austerity, and their care, paternal without partialities. The rules of politeness and good breeding are inculcated, as well as the rules of grammar, and a just reliance may be confi

« PreviousContinue »