another, until the mind of the reader is to- And spread their vermil velvet, in the ray Of sweets, than all the flowers that glow on Cey Or the following from "The Wreck :" To show our readers how this work is tickets, many unfortunates, who are doomed lem shrine, to the high honour of representto reap from the lottery only the "blank-ing the mighty Shah of Persia, as his amness of despair." Mr Hope, a genius and bassador. In this latter character, howupholsterer, writes a magnificent book all ever, he appears only in the preface, as the about Eastern (we mean oriental-not Yan- story leaves him attached to an embassy deskee) folks and fashions, which gives him tined for England. He becomes connected vast fame, much money from the booksel with all manner of persons, and placed in lers, and extensive orders for divers matters all manner of circumstances, and moreover, in his principal line of business. Then meets with divers story-tellers, who do not comes Mr Morier (at least they say in Eng- add so much to the value, as to the size, of land, that it is he), who is a kind of diplo- the book. Hajji is gay and frolicksome, matic traveller, and no genius, that is, none sustaining himself generally pretty well, in comparison with Mr Hope; and he too and contriving, on the whole, to deserve the makes a book, and goes East, even to name of an amusing companion. It is said Persia, for his matter, and out of it he con- that Morier has resided in the East, and cocts a work, which will do neither him, is well qualified to give information respectnor any one else, any very great good. ing the Oriental character and customs. Still, it is not without some merit and value; This book may therefore be considered in'tis not the worst book in the world to in-structive in these particulars; but all the duce an afternoon's slumbers, or to amuse characters are caricatured; quite too much any body, who would like to hear Gil Blas, allowance is necessary for exaggerated grown very old and garrulous, telling the sto- features and unnatural strength of colour ry of what befel him, or might have befallen ing; no human society could exist in the him in Persia. To the author it may be tol-condition which he describes. erably profitable, not only because it is quite as amusing as many things which go down very well, but because, when first published, an indistinct impression prevailed that Hajjí was a legitimate brother of Anastasius, and many doubtless will expect, as we did, to find in it some display of Mr Hope's extraordinary powers. Indeed, as we read it, we were not wholly undeceived; it seemed to us very much such a thing as might have been made of what was left of Anastasius; and, to confess the whole of our mistake, we really supposed, for a season, that Mr. "The morning had just broke when we reached Hope, intending to make a great book, had the banks of the river. The chief executioner was accumulated more materials than he could surrounded by a body of about five hundred cavalwork up, and after he had drawn off they, and the infantry was coming up as well as it could. We were about fording the river, when of spirit of his eloquence, his fine fancies, vivid a sudden we were accosted by a voice on the other Another fault is the use of words which recollections, and acute observations, and side, which shouted two or three strange words either never were English, or have long sold it at a great price, he was willing to in a language unknown to us, explaining their since become obsolete; such as crinckled, part with the lees for just what he could meaning by a musket shot. This stopped our cawhich occurs frequently; glint, bosses, pa get. After making an open avowal of this reer, and called the attention of our chief, who came up, looking paler than death. vonnine, pavilioning, settle for a seat gener-error, we can only say in our defence, that rory we can ally, instead of a kitchen seat (which would there is great force as well as beauty, in be quite out of place where it occurs), tow- some passages; that some of the incidents ers as a verb active, clomb for clumb or are very striking and well wrought out; and climbed, &c. &c.; most of them words which that on the whole, the book is so far interwe will venture to pronounce not English, esting, that no thorough novel reader would whatever else they may be. And we pray quit it, until he had fairly made an end of our author not to call plebeians plebians, both volumes. nor morasses morăsses, nor Pericles Pericles, &c.if he can help it. (then follows a description of "her loved tasks," occupying a page and a half of mere parenthesis), "though her days Passed on in such sweet labours, still she felt Alone, and there was in her virgin heart A void that all her pleasure could not fill' [ If our author will be at the pains to read the beginning and end of his sentence, as we have put them, together, omitting the parenthesis, he will perceive at once, that in describing the favourite pursuits of his heroine he has lost sight not only of the idea he set out with, but of grammar, and really makes no sentence at all. These are peccadilloes; but still they are worthy the attention of a man who aims to write poetry and English, and of whom, we think, his country has great reason to be proud. written, we will extract a few passages Hajji is second in command of a corps which marches to attack the Russians; the Serdar, who commands the division to which his corps is attached, has advanced with the cavalry to attack a walled town; Hajjî's immediate commander, whose Persian title, done into English, is "chief executioner," follows to his support with the infantry and artillery. All the battle which Hajjî is concerned in, is after this sort. What's the news?" exclaimed he, in a voice far below its usual pitch-what are we doing?-where are we going?-Hajji Baba,' accosting me, was it you that fixed?' No, said I, catching rather more of his apprehension than was convenient; 'no, I did not fire. Perhaps there are ghols here among the Muscovites, as well as at Åshtarek among the Armenians. "In another minute more barbarous cries were yonder two fellows." The book is introduced by a pleasant pre-heard, and another shot was fired, and by this time fatory letter from Peregrine Persic Esq., day had sufficiently advanced to show two men, on gentleman at large to Dr Fundgruben, soldiers. As soon as our chief saw the extent of the other bank, whom we discovered to be Russian Chaplain to the Swedish Embassy at the the danger, and the foe opposed to us, his countenPorte, stating how these memoirs happen- ance cleared up, and he instantly put on the face of ed to be obtained from the author, Haji the greatest resolution and vigour. 1o Go, seize, himself. Then come the memoirs, and they strike, kill he exclaimed, almost in one breath, to amount to about this; that Hajji Baba, the those around him-Go, bring me the heads of son of a barber in Ispahan, to depart from Persia for Constantinople; with drawn swords, whilst the two soldiers with takes occasion “Immediately several men dashed into the river, but certain robbers interfered, and the bar- drew to a small rising ground, and, placing thember soon found himself shaving the Turco- selves back to back, began a regular, though altermans,-whose character, country, appear- ants, with a steadiness that surprised us. They killed nate discharge of their muskets upon their assailance, and habits, are vividly sketched. Af-two men, which caused the remainder to retreat back to our commander, and no one else seemed at all anxious to follow their example. he swore, entreated, pushed, and offered money for Ir Anastasius had not been written, this In vain their heads: not one of his men would advance. myself will go; here, make way! will nobody At length, he said, with a most magnanimous shout, follow me? Then, stopping, and addressing himself I to me, he said, 'Hajji! my soul, my friend, won't you "By this time he had proceeded some distance, and then halted. Our chief, expecting to find the ་ ed how many it would be agreeable that I should | own life's blood back again, to its mother earth? "With these feelings, oppressed as if the moun- The night was dark and lowering, and well suited to the horrid scene about to be acted. The by clouds of the colour of blood; and, as the night advanced, they rolled, on in unceasing thunders Russians back to back under every bush, did en to fifteen thousand of them gave up their souls; sun, unusual in these climates, had set surrounded know what course to pursue, when the decision was that the prices of slaves have diminished one hun over the adjacent range of Albors. At sudden in soon made for us by the appearance of the Serdar, So much for the battle; which is very accurately related in the official description, and in the instructions of Hajji's officer to him. 'Yes,' said the mirza, as he looked up from his knee, upon which he rested his hand to write his letter, and quoting a well known passage in Saadi, Falsehood mixed with good intentions, is preferable to truth tending to excite strife.' "The vizier then called for his shoes, rose from his seat, mounted the horse that was waiting for him at the door of his tent, and proceeded to the audience of the Shah, to give an account of the different despatches that he had just received. I followed him, and mixed in with his large retinue of servants, until he turned round to me, and said, 糖 tervals the moon was seen through the dense va- "You yourself was there, Hajji,' said he to me, he ordered me to depart. "I found the Shah still encamped at Sultanieh, although the autumn was now far advanced, and the season for returning to Tehran near at hand I presented myself at the grand vizier's levee, with several other couriers, from different parts of the empire, and delivered my despatches. When he had inspected mine, he called me to him, and said aloud, You are welcome! You also were at Hamamlu? The infidels did not dare to face the Kizzil bashes, eh? The Persian horseman, and the Persian sword, after all, nobody can face. Your khan, I see, has been wounded; he is indeed one of the Shah's best servants. Well it was no worse. You must have had hot work on each side of the river.' "To all this, and much more, I said Yes, yes,"" and No, no, as fast as the necessity of the remark required; and I enjoyed the satisfaction of being looked upon as a man just come out of a battle. The vizier then called to one of his mirzas or secretaries. Here,' said he, you must make out a fatteh nameh (a proclamation of victory), which must immediately be sent into the different provinces, particularly to Khorassan, in order to overawe the rebel khans there; and let the account be suited to the dignity and character of our victorious monarch. We are in want of a victory just at present; but, recollect, a good, substantial, and bloody, victory. 'How many strong were the enemy? inquired the mirza, looking towards me. Bisyar, bisyar, many, many,' answered I, hesitating and embarrass previous guilt were apparent. Hajji's par- "One of the Shah's eunuchs came up to me, and terment. "All I could say in answer was 'be cheshm,' (by my eyes); and lucky was it for me that he quitted me immediately, that Mirza Ahmak had also left me, and that it was dusk, or else the fear and anguish which overwhelmed me upon hearing this message must have betrayed me. A cold sweat broke out all over my body, my eyes swam, my knees knocked under me, and I should perhaps have fallen into a swoon, if the counter fear of being seen in such a state, in the very centre of the pal ace, had not roused me. appropriated ground, and the principal gate of the "We all kept a dead and breathless silence: 1 ut still breathed, but the convulsions of death were upon her, and her lips moved as if she would speak, although the blood was fast flowing from her mouth. I could not catch a word, although shetit tered sounds that seemed like words. I thought she said, My child! my child! but perhaps it was an illusion of my brain. I hung over her in the deepest despair, and having lost all sense of prudence and of self-preservation, I acted so much up to my own feelings, that if the men around me had had the smallest suspicion of my real situation, noth ing could have saved me from destruction. I even carried my phrensy so far as to steep my handkerchief in her blood, saying to myself,This, at least, shall never part from me! I came to myself, how ever, upon hearing the shrill and dæmon like voice of one of her murderers from the tower's height crying out-Is she dead?" Ay, as a stone,' answered one of my ruffians. Carry her away, then,' said the voice. To hell yourself, in a suppressed tone, said another ruffian; upon which my men lifted the dead body into the taboot, placed it upon their shoulders, and walked off with it to the burial ground without the city, where they found a grave ready dug to receive it. I walked mechanically after them, absorbed in most melancholy thoughts, and when we had arrived at the burial-place, I sat myself down on a grave-stone, scarcely conscious of what was going on. I watched the operations of the Nasackchies with a sort of unmeaning stare; saw them place the dead body in the earth; then shovel the mould over it; then place two stones, one at the feet and the other at the head. When they had finished, they came up to me and said that all was done to which I answered, Go home; I will follow. They left me seated on the grave, and returned to town." A Course of Study, preparatory to the Bar or the Senate; to which is annexed a Memoir on the Private or Domestic Lives of the Romans. By George Watterston. Washington. 1823. 12mo. pp. 240. THERE is much good sense, good learning, and good taste in this work, but its usefulness as a book of practical advice must, we think, be very limited. In the first place, the course of study prescribed, if pursued with any tolerable fidelity, would educate the student far more thoroughly than can be expedient,-not to say practicable,-if any reference is had to some after-pursuit as the main business of life. Of this the reader may judge from the titles of the letters, which serve as a table of contents. Besides the languages, rhetoric, philosophy, &c. &c., drawing, painting, civil, military, and naval architecture, music, chemistry, mineralogy, botany, and zoology, are all pressed upon the attention of the student; and these things are to be learned, not slightly, not superficially, but as well as a mere amateur would be likely to learn any one of them. It is often said that a man cannot know too too much, but, waving all discussion of the truth of this axiom, it is certain that any one may endeavour to learn too much. The brightest genius would be strongly tasked if required to accumulate all the knowledge which Mr Watterston recommends, even if he did not look to eminence at the bar or in the senate, as his ultima Thule." But few could compass this boundless extent of art and science, and leave themselves an opportunity to become any thing in any profession; now, if this book be meant to give practical ad vice to common youths, governed by common motives and aiming at common objects, if it be written, not for the one in a thousand-who would not need it but for that appears to the mass, we must say us to offer much advice which cannot be taken. On the whole, it is undoubtedly safer to recommend too much exertion and too high an aim, than to err in the opposite extreme. Still, where so much study, or rather so extensive studies are prescribed, the student is compelled to select, for himself, such branches of human knowledge as it may be most necessary to master, and thus the principal object of the book is defeated, or else he will aim at all, and of necessity inflict upon himself the pain and the depression of disappointment, and dissipate his attention amid constant changes, and waste a large proportion of his labour. Advice to the Teens. By Isaac Taylor. Boston. 1823. 12mo. THE first of these little volumes consists of considerations on the six following subjects: We think Mr Watterston has made anoth-The purport of education to fit us for our er mistake. We regard reading as a much stations in life: The different sources of inless important part of education than he struction: The period of leaving school as appears to do. We consider it as among the best suited to real education: The imporprincipal means of intellectual improve-tance of self-cultivation: The various obment, but as altogether subordinate to jects of self-cultivation Using our talents: thinking. On page 178, our author says, Self-cultivation may hope for divine bles"in this [conversation] as in reading, always sings." examine and think for yourself; it is by thinking much, that much is acquired, and not by rushing over the innumerable pages of innumerable volumes," &c.; but this is the only evidence the book contains, of the author's agreeing with us in this opinion. Upon every subject, and every division of every subject, he recommends many books; now, as we have already said, he should not impose upon the student a necessity of choosing, because the principal intent of the book is to relieve him from this necessity, by pointing out to him exactly the "prepara tory course" he is to pursue; but if all the books suggested are read as they should be read, if read at all, there will be little time left for thought. ready pretty well informed on these imporEvery reader will consider himself altant subjects, and will be sure to regard all remarks upon them as trite and dull, which are not recommended by some peculiar charm of novelty. The first part of the book is exceedingly deficient in this requisite. It abounds with judicious maxims of abstract morality, and the simple results of long trains of logical reflection; but it is altogether too intellectual,-too full of precept without example and illustration. If, however, the reader will exercise a little patience with the first forty pages, he will begin to be relieved, and before he has finished the volume, he will find many things that are highly entertaining and well worth his attention. We select the following passage from the preface. The limits which should be regarded, and the precautions which should be used to give to reading its utmost efficiency as one among the means of intellectual cultiva"It is a very common mistake which the author tion, cannot at this moment and in this way has found extremely detrimental to youthful improvement;-that masters are to teach their pupils; be discussed. The subject is extensive and and that the whole burden of education lies on the important, and we hope to call the atten- tutor. That the thoughtless volatile young should tion of our readers to it before long. But take up such a notion, is no wonder; but the manour concern is now, only with Mr Watter ner in which many teachers operate seems to intiston's course of study; and in this connex-mate that they also make the same mistake; for all ion it is enough to say, that if all the works the end. That teaching is alone efficient which is their teaching is telling; substituting the means for here enumerated are fairly dealt with, the connected with doing. The pupil must not be a future lawyer or senator will incur no small mere recipient, a listener; but an actor, if he risk of finding his mind overlaid by that would ever comprehend the lesson; if especially which ought to be and might be so used, as he would make that morsel of knowledge his own. to furnish at once aliment and stimulus. We have spoken plainly of the faults of this book, and would with equal distinctness admit that it contains many valuable observations, and, both in the matter and the manner, sufficient proof that it is not the work of a weak or an empty mind. The Memoir upon the Private Life of the Romans, contains little that is very original or striking; it is a short, but accurate and judicious compendium of other works upon this subject. We do not think it so good We suspect, that if the reader can understand this, he will find the sentiment good; but the style is so clumsy and the punctuation so bad, that we should almost prefer leaving our children to take their chance for finding the sentiment somewhere else. Some parts of the book are far less exceptionable in this respect. It contains very few views that are new, but many important common principles are enforced with considerable power. It teaches valuable lessons on employing our time with economy, and on the active and energetic use of all our talents.. the story, which would leave no curiosity | ed his flight, he made ready his arrow, and a mo- Our remarks respecting the style of "Self- cloudiness is soon dissipated, and the au- "Home is the grand nursery for virtues, and admirably adapted for the purpose; it lays hold of the heart while it is yet unsophisticated, and has only its common depravity to struggle against, not fixed, rooted, warped yet by habit, bad company or false notions. If parents are judicious and faithful, here, much may be done. To love home is one of the first of virtues, first in point of time and of importance too, as it is the parent of all the rest. The sweet charities that bind man to man, which ornament and enrich social life; which in value, as regarding happiness, are far beyond wealth or talent; these all germinate from the nursery, are fostered amid the domestic circle; and only there can be reared to maturity, firmness, or beauty. Virtues engrafted, afterwards, by artificial In to see from whence it proceeded. Charles Brown stood by his side! The countenance of the savage assumed at once the terrible, ashen hue of Indian paleness. His wounded victim was left untouched, back a fearful glance on what he supposed to be the and he hastily retreated into the thicket, casting ghost of his rival. Brown attempted to follow; but the farther he advanced, the farther the Indian retreated, his face growing paler and paler, and his knees trembling against each other in excessive terror. f said the That our readers may judge of the style, we will quote the first pages of the book, as a fair specimen of its general character. "I never view the thriving villages of New Eng land, which speak so forcibly to the heart, of happiness and prosperity, without feeling a glow of naHobomok," said the intruder, 'I am a man like tional pride, as I say, 'This is my own, my native land. A long train of associations are connected yourself. I suppose three years agone you heard I with her picturesque rivers, as they repose in their was dead, but it has pleased the Lord to spare me peaceful loveliness, the broad and sparkling mirror in captivity until this time, and to lead me once of the heavens, and with the cultivated environs more to New England. The vessel which brought of her busy cities, which seem every where blush-me hither, lieth down a mile below, but I chose the ing into a perfect Eden of fruit and flowers. The rather to be put on shore, being impatient to inquire concerning the friends I left behind. You used to remembrance of what we have been, comes rushing be my friend, Hobomok, and many piece of seron the heart in powerful and happy contrast. most nations the path of antiquity is shrouded in vice have you done for me. I beseech you feel of hand, that you may know I am flesh and blood, darkness, rendered more visible by the wild, fantastic light of fable; but with us, the vista of time is even as yourself.' luminous to its remotest point. Each succeeding year has left its footsteps distinct upon the soil, and the cold dew of our chilling dawn is still visible beneath the mid-day sun. Two centuries only have the undisturbed grandeur of nature;-when the elapsed, since our most beautiful villages reposed in scenes now rendered classic by literary associations, or resounding with the din of commerce, echoed nought but the song of the hunter, or the Hobomok fixed his eyes upon him with such a God was here in his fleet tread of the wild deer. holy temple, and the whole earth kept silence be- strange mixture of sorrow and fierceness, that fore him! But the voice of prayer was soon to be Brown laid his hand upon his rifle, half fearful his heard in the desert. The sun, which for ages beswered with deliberate emphasis, intentions were evil. At length, the Indian anyond the memory of man had gazed on the strange, fearful worship of the Great Spirit of the wilderness, was soon to shed its splendor upon the altars of the tying God. That light which had arisen amid the brought it hither in their own bosom, and amid des After repeated assurances, the Indian timidly approached-and the certainty that Brown was indeed alive, was more dreadful to him than all the ghosts that could have been summoned from anoth er world. had returned,' said the Englishman; but do speak You look as if you were sorry your old friend and tell me one thing Is Mary Conant yet alive?' 'She is both alive and well.' I thank God, rejoined his rival. 'I need not ask whether she is marriestly and mournfully uj on him, and sighed deeply, as he said, The handsome English bird hath for three years lain in my bosom; and her milk hath nourished the son of Hobomok. The Englishman cast a glance of mingled doubt and despair towards the Indian, who again repeated the distressing truth. Disappointed love, a sense of degradation, perhaps something of resentment, were all mingled in a dreadful chaos of agony, within the mind of the unfortunate young man; and at that moment it was difficult to tell to which of the two, anguish had presented her most unmingled up. The Indian gazed upon his rival, as he stood leaning his aching head against a tree; and once and again he indulged in the design of taking his healthy appearance, nor the fruitfulness of those darkness of Europe, stretched its long, luminous generated at home. Here the child learns, before track across the Atlantic, till the summits of the learning is felt as a lesson; learns to love, in itself western world became tinged with its brightness. the most delightful of all sensations; is allured to ring many long, long ages of gloom and corrupplay its own part at benevolence, by smiles which tion, it seemed as if the pure flame of religion was vibrate every nerve of sensibility; begins to bestow every where quenched in blood; but the watchful vestal had kept the sacred flame still burning deepwhen it has nothing to give but affection; to con fer favours, though itself feeble, ignorant, and de- ly and fervently. Men, stern and unyielding, pendent." olation and poverty they kindled it on the sbrine of Jehovah In this enlightened and liberal age, it is perhaps too fashionable to look back upon those early sufferers in the cause of the Reformation, as a band of dark, discontented bigots. Without doubt, there were many broad, deep shadows in their characters, but there was likewise bold and powerful light. The peculiarities of their situation occasioned most of their faults, and atoned for them. They were struck off from a learned, opulent and powerful nation, under circumstances which goaded and lacerated them almost to ferociand no wonder that men who fled from op- whether he could collect sufficient fortitude to fulfil For a long time however, it seemed doubtful pression in their own country, to all the hardships his resolution. The remembrance of the smiling of a remote and dreary province, should have ex-wife and the little prattling boy, whom he had that hibited a deep mixture of exclusive, bitter, and mo- morning left, came too vividly before him. It recks rose passions." It is to be regretted that the author had not a more intelligible system of punctuation; but the moral worth of the work is sufficient to counterbalance many such faults. We may safely recommend that every parent purchase it, and read it first himself. Hobomok, A Tale of Early Times. By an pp. E can say of this little work what can seldom be said truly of any book,-that its merit is greater than its pretension. It is a brief and simple story of our fathers, sketching their manners, character, and circumstances, with equal truth and spirit, -connecting with the chain of supposed events, many interesting traditions, and exhibiting the author's talents in many passages of power and beauty. The style does not indicate the practised writer, and will, we hope, be improved by careful cultivation. Still, with many faults which due culture may remove, there is a kind of graceful wildness which almost redeems them. We shall not give an analysis of life. loves him better than she does me; for even now No,' thought he. She was first his. Mary she prays for him in her sleep. The sacrifice most be made to her." not now what was the mighty struggle in the mind of that dark man. He arose and touched Brown's arm, as he said, "Tis all true which I have told you. It is three snows since the bird came to my nest; and the Great Spirit only knows how much I have loved her. Good and kind has she been; but the heart of Mary is not with the Indian. In her sleep she talks with the Great Spirit, and the name of the white man is on her lips. Hobomok will go far off among some of the red men in the west. They will dig him a grave, and Mary may sing the marriage song in the wigwam of the Englishman.' No,' answered his astonished companion. is your wife. Keep her, and cherish her with tenderness. A moment ago, I expected your arrow would rid me of the life which has now become a She burden. I will be as generous as you have been. I dence in his ability increased with every | for the demonstration of the case. I know the 'imexertion of his powers; till, in the latter portance of it, from numerous conversations I have part of his career, he became callous to had, both in Scotland and England, on this most interesting subject. Persons of truly religious princriticism, setting at nought literary opin- ciples, as well as those of little or no religion at all, ions that interfered with his own, and bold- have greatly erred in their estimate of this great ly and justly relying on his own superior and good man.' judgment. He was, moreover, a man of The Editor of this publication seems to warm affections; and, while severely judg- have had doubts of his own, as to the propriing himself, overflowing with charity to all ety of publishing some of the more gloomy of mankind;-thoroughly pious; and, while these letters, lest they should have a tenfirmly persuaded of the truth of his own dency to create despondency in other views of christianity, ready to believe, that minds; but he silenced his doubts by a in every nation, kindred, tongue, and peo- very natural reflection, that insanity is ple, they who fear the Lord and work not contagions, and it is well that he did righteousness, are accepted of him ;"-bow-so. The mystery which has so long hung ed down with a constitutional melancholy; over the character of Cowper, is now reyet sedulous in his exertions to relieve from moved. It seems, that for thirty years prethe like uneasiness, all within the sphere vious to his death he had been incessantly of his influence. Thus much we learn haunted by the notion that he was deserted from Hayley's life, and his selections from of God, and doomed to eternal destruction; Cowper's letters; but, on the subject of his to use his own inimitable language, "My melancholy, we are left by that work en- thoughts are clad in a sober livery, for tirely in the dark; from any thing we can the most part as grave as that of a bishop's find there, saving some obscure hints that servants. They turn too upon spiritual serve only to perplex us, it would appear subjects, but the tallest fellow, and the that after Cowper removed from St Albans, loudest among them all, is he who is continall that he suffered was from such fits of the ually crying with a loud voice, Actum est de THIS is a remarkable age for literature. spleen as visit ordinary mortals. A newte, PERIISTI." We believe there are few Within a few years we have recovered lost light is shed upon his character, by the let-individuals who have not occasionally suf works of Cicero, an unknown manuscript ters now published. We think Hayley, fered from attacks of the spleen, and ret of Milton; and we are now presented with having these letters in his possession, and any one call to mind the disheartening senletters of Cowper heretofore suppressed suppressing them, was guilty of unfairness, sation, and then contemplate Cowper. His We hasten to congratulate our readers on and injured the character of his friend, be- were not such short, intermitted fits of the the means of mingled amusement and in-sides attempting to deceive his readers; disease as others, perhaps all, have suffered; struction, which this work offers to them. but a gloom of despondency always preThere are few who would not rise from the sent with him, and rarely lightened by a perusal of Cowper's Letters wiser, though ray of hope. Yet he did not the less aim they might be sadder men. He was in evto perform his duty as a man and a chrisery respect an extraordinary being. But tian. He must have felt, what all have felt, for his timidity, and wonderful distrust of his own powers in early life, no one can pation in unhallowed pleasures; but he temptations to relieve his cares by particidoubt that he might have attained the like strenuously resisted them; determined to eminence in his profession as his friend bear that cross in whose influence of bless Thurlow, and have filled the same station, ing, as he believed, he had ceased to have with equal honor to himself and usefulness Mr Newton, with two or three to Me Ball, on the any interest. He exerted all the faculties And lastly, there are many letters addressed to to others. When this same timidity and subject of religion; which, though not of general of his mind in the service of a master, who, distrust had driven him to an act of despe- application, but confined to its aspect on the mind as he fancied, had doomed him irrevocably ration, when his acute sense of the exceed of the writer, were decidedly worthy of Mr Hay- to everlasting misery. Madly persuaded destroyed ley's insertion; and so, on that no store his reason, when Providence had seen meet very account; his concern, as biographer, being that he had ceased to be to him a father, he rather with the individual than the community. to restore to him the possession of his fac-But these, out of tenderness to the feelings of the called not his justice in question, nor failed ulties, still, his utter unconsciousness of his reader, I am persuaded, and for the gloominess they in filial obedience. In the midst of his own talents, kept him almost useless for years, attach to the writer's mind, he has utterly excluded: distresses he had still a heart to weep with engaged in desultory reading, in learning to In doing this, however, amiable and considerate as those that wept, and rejoice with those that draw, in rearing pigeons and hares, mak- his caution must appear, the gloominess which he rejoiced. Like the angels in heaven, he has taken from the mind of Cowper, has the effect ing dove-cotes and rabbit-hutches, and of involving his character in obscurity. People had joy over the sinner that repented, and delighting and edifying only the few who read the Letters' with the Task' in their recollec- he was ever ready with the balm of his conhad the benefit of observing his exem- tion (and vice versa) and are perplexed. They solation for the afflicted. Weakened as he ready plary life, and listening to his profound look for the Cowper of each, in the other, and find was, he ceased not to wrestle for the blesssense and his beautiful fancies. Thus did him not. The correspondency is destroyed.ing and who can doubt that he finally obHence the character of Cowper is undetermined; he bury his talent, thus might he have con- mystery hangs over it; and the opinions formed of tained that happiness, the hope of which tinued to live, at his death to have his him are as various as the minds of the enquirers. seldom alleviated his despair? The preface name recorded in some religious magazine, That I am not singular in deducing these conse- to these letters, discloses facts which refer and then forgotten. But it pleased Provi- quences from the suppression of the gloomy, but, the melancholywe may say the insanity dence to lead him down again into "the in many instances, strikingly pious passages, re- of Cowper, to causes which have not been valley of the shadow of death," and when stored in the present volume, I am warranted to as before revealed to the public; it also states sert, on the authority of a highly esteemed friend, a the light once more partially dawned upon man justly valued for his attainments in theological with great distinctness, the peculiar form his mind, to prompt his friend Unwin to knowledge, and extensively acquainted with the which his despair assumed. It seems, that suggest to him how he might be at once state of religious opinions. In alluding to these there is good authority for believing that useful to himself and to his fellow-creatures. suppressed letters, he emphatically says, Cowper his liability to excessive melancholy arose At the age of fifty he commenced author. without them, and they should be permitted to exist, from his having imprudently checked an will never be clearly and satisfactorily understood The awakened Sampson could not but be erysipelatous complaint of the face. While conscious of his strength, and his confisuffering from one of these attacks of de and we are disposed to comment on his con- dressed to the same persons (with the exception of 66 *The Rev. Legh Richmond. |