Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

JAN.

tablishing manufactures, giving vigour to commerce, and encouraging arts and fciences; in fhort, he gave his empire an influence and importance which it never enjoyed before his time. His character is well delineated in Thomfon's Winter.

30, 1649. Charles I. was decollated at Whitehall. Sec Arith. Quest.

31, 1796. The French Princefs Maria Theresa, daughter of Louis XVI. arrived at Vienna."

We recommend this ingenious work to mafters of fchools and heads of families; because by its affiftance they can, with cafe, ftore the minds of young people with ufeful information. Indeed, to perfons of every defcription, it will prove an acceptable prefent, fince it furnishes materials for rational converfation.

Mr. Butler is already, known, by his Engraved Introduction to Arithmetic, his Arithmetical Queftions, his Geographical and Biographical Exercifes, and his Exercifes on the Globes-all of which are well adapted to anfwer the ends for which they are intended. Such induftry in behalf of the rifing generation, is entitled to a fuitable reward.

A Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Diocese of London, in the Years 1798 and 1799. By the Right Reverend Beilby, Lord Bishop of that Diocefe. Cadell.

THIS Charge contains many things worthy of atten tion; particularly from thofe individuals to whom it was originally addreffed.

We were more especially pleased with the remarks on infidelity on the value of the fcriptures-and on the importance of a proper temper and conduct in the minifterial profeffion. "A wicked and profligate clergyman," fays his Lordship, " is a monfter in nature,

of

of which I will not suppose the existence. Even a gay and trifling one is a character totally inconfiftent with the fanctity and dignity of the minifterial office." We with this remark thould receive due attention from every denomination. The fuccefs of religion in the world depends in a great measure on the peaceableness and purity of the manners of the clergy in every department of their profeffion.

The Annual Anthology, Volume the First, 1799. Longman and Rees.

WE E understand that Mr. Southey is the Editor of this collection of original poetry, and that it is intended that two fuch volumes fhould be publifhed every year. We have only to say, that whilft the contents prefent a great variety, most of the pieces are deferving the palm of approbation.

We fhall afford the reader feveral fpecimens, from the perufal of which he will have it in his power to form his own judgment.

Youth and Age are thus happily defcribed in a few ftanzas:

YOUTH AND AGE.

"WITH cheerful step the traveller
Purfues his early way,

When first the dimly-dawning eaft
Reveals the rifing day.

He bounds along his craggy road,
He haftens up the height,
And all he fees and all he hears,

But only give delight.

And if the mist retiring flow,

Roll round its wavy white,
He thinks the morning vapours hide
Some beauty from his fight.

But when behind the western clouds

Departs the fading day,

How wearily the traveller

Purfues his evening way!

When

Then forely o'er the craggy road
His painful footsteps creep,
And flow with many a feeble paufe,
He labours up the fleep.

And if the mists of night clofe round,
They fill his foul with fear;
He dreads fome unfeen precipice,
Some hidden danger near.

So cheerfully does youth begin
Life's pleasant morning ftage;
Alas! the evening traveller feels
The fears of wary age!

An Elegy on a Quid of Tobacco, and the Filbert, are no unpleafing specimens of ferious humour.

ELEGY

ON A.QUID OF TOBACCO.

"IT lay before me on the close-graz'd grafs,
Befide my path, an old Tobacco Quid:
And fhall I by the mute adviser pass

Without one serious thought? now Heaven forbid
Perhaps fome idle drunkard threw thee there,
Some hufband, fpendthrift of his weekly hire,
One who for wife and children takes no care,
But fits and tipples by the alehouse fire.
Ah! lucklefs was the day he learnt to chew!
Embryo of ills the quid that pleas'd him first!
Thirty from that unhappy quid he grew,

Then to the alehoufe went to quench his thirst.
So great events from caufes fmall arife,

The foreft oak was once an acorn feed?
And many a wretch from drunkennefs who dies,
Owes all his evils to the Indian weed.
Let not temptation, mortal, ere come nigh!
Sufpect fome ambush in the parsley hid!
From the first kifs of love, ye maidens, fly!
Ye youths, avoid the firft Tobacco Quid!

Perhaps

Perhaps I wrong thee, O thou veteran chaw,
And better thoughts my mufings fhould engage,
That thou wert rounded in fome toothless jaw,
The joy, perhaps, of folitary age.

One who has fuffered fortune's hardest knocks,
Poor, and with pone to tend on his grey hairs,
Yet has a friend in his tobacco-box,

And whilst he rolls his quid, forgets his cares.
Even fo it is with human happiness,

Each feeks his own according to his whim; One toils for wealth, one fame alone can bleis, One afks a quid, a quid is all to him.

O veteran chaw, thy fibres favoury strong,

Whilft ought remain'd to chew thy mafter chew'd, Then caft thee here when all thy juice was gone, Emblem of felfifh man's ingratitude!

A happy man, O caft-off quid, is he

Who, like as thou, has comforted the poor; Happy his age, who knows himfelf like thee, Thou didst thy duty, man can do no more.

THEODERIT.

THE FILBERT.

"Nay, gather not that Filbert, Nicholas,
There is a maggot there,-it is his houfe-
His caftle-oh commit not burglary!
Strip him not naked, 'tis his clothes, his thell,
His bones, the very armour of his life,
And thou fhalt do no murder Nicholas !
It were an eafy thing to crack that nut,
Or with thy crackers or thy double teeth,
So easily may all things be deftroyed!
But 'tis not in the power of mortal man
To mend the fracture of a filbert fhell.

There were two great men once amufed themselves
With watching maggots run their wriggling race
And wagering on their fpeed; but Nick, to us
It were no fport to fee the pampered worm
Roll out and then draw in his folds of fat,
Like to fome Barber's leathern powder bag

Where

Wherewith he feathers, frofts, or cauliflowers
Spruce Beau, or Lady fair, or Doctor grave.
Enough of dangers and of enemies

Hath Nature's wisdom for the worm ordained,
Increase not thou the number! him the Moufe
Gnawing with nibbling tooth the shell's defence,
May from his native tenement eject;

Him may the Nut-hatch piercing with strong bill
Unwittingly deftroy, or to his hoard

The Squirrel bear, at leifure to be crack'd.
Man alfo hath his dangers and his foes
As this poor Maggot hath, and when I mufe
Upon the aches, anxieties and fears,
The Maggot knows not, Nicholas, methinks
It were a happy metamorphofis

To be enkernelled thus: never to hear
Of wars, and of invafions, and of plots,
Kings, Jacobins and Tax-commiffioners,
To feel no motion but the wind that shook
The Filbert Tree, and rock'd me to my reft;
And in the middle of fuch exquifite food
To live luxurious! the perfection this
Of fnugnefs! it were to unite at once
Hermit retirement, Aldermanic blifs,
And Stoic independence of mankind.

(To be concluded in our next.)

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

THEODERIT.

We are obliged to Acafto for his fuggeftions, but do not deem them improvements. We fhall with, however, for every additional biographical information which can be communicated to us. The Ellay fent to us by Acafto fhall be inferted, but his other contributions do not fuit us. Sincerity and Riches fhall have a place in a future number. The letter addreffed to Muly is not fufficiently interefting to the public.

Sonnets to the Owl, and to a Young Oak, meet our approbation. The Tales in our poffeffion fhall be inferted when we know to what length they are to be extended. No pieces fhould reach beyond a volume, in which Four Numbers are included. The Effay on Time, Farewell to Summer, W. Templeton's and other favours, are under confideration.

« ZurückWeiter »