be plaufibly prefented to me as the means of doing my duty the more effectually. But now, alas! of what value to me are all thofe helps or all thole impediments? When the damp chill fweat of death already begins to glaze our vifage, of what moment is it to us whether the vain breath of man blows hot or cold upon it? But our duties to men are not extinguished with our regard to their opinions. A country, which has been dear to us

from our birth, ought to be dear to us, as from our entrance, so to our final exit from the ftage upon which we have been appointed to act; and in the career of the duties which must in part be enjoyments of our new exiftence, how can we better start, and from what more proper poft, than the performance of those duties which have made occupations of the first part of the course allotted to us ?”

THE following attempt to complete a itanza of imperfect verfification in a modern inftance may amufe the reader: Enough for me, if to fome feeling breast My lines a fecret fympathy impart ; And as their pleafing influence flows confeft,

A figh of foft reflection heave the heart. Of the above ftanza, which forms the laft of a copy of verfes to Bentley by Gray (See page 228 of Mafon's 4to. Life of that Poet), his ingenious Biographer and Editor obferves in a note as follows:-"A corner of the only manufcript copy which Mr. Gray left of this fragment is unfortunately torn; and though I have endeavoured to fupply the chafm, I am not quite fatished with the words I have inferted in the third line. I print my additions in Italics, and fhall be much pleafed if any reader finds a better fupplement to this imperfect stanza.”

That the fupplemental words here alluded to are neither tuneable enough for the Author, forcible enough for a

conclufion of the piece (as, after all, there is reafon to think the stanza was), nor, in fact, what he really wrote, I fancy molt critical readers of Gray's poetry will allow. Below is offered another conclufion of the lines; but whether it may be better guessed, it is not for the guesser to determine. He will only, firft, remark, that he is strongly perfuaded the final word of all was the poet's own name (which, moft probably for that reafon, he in fome fit of peculiar modefty tore off); and, fecondly, remind the reader, that this feeling poet feemed to have a fingular pleafure in faying fomething refpecting himself in his verfes; as may be feen, at least, in three other of his few poems.

The completion I fhould offer is this: Enough for me, if to fome feeling breast

My lines a fecret fympathy convey; And, as their pleafing influence is impreft, A figh of foft reflection heave for GRAY, W. C.

attempt; and ever fince, in my intervals from bufinefs, have been confidering what fubject I fhould chufe for my animadverfions. As I am convinced every fubject must suffer more or lefs in my hands, I have at laft determined to make choice of one which I may treat with the utmost freedom. My remarks fhall be wholly perfonal, and yet none fhall be offended. I fhall delineate fome peculiarities in the character of one of your fincere friends, whom I am every day ftriving to be better acquainted with, but or whom, I hope, I have already fome knowledge. In plain terms, I am intending to write of myfelf. You will, perhaps, fay, I have chofen a very barren topic; but, excufe the egotifm, I think, barren as it is, you will be able to make it entertaining and inftructive. I fhall, therefore, endeavour to give you the materials; but in doing this, fhall not attempt to deviate from the carelefs ftile ufual in familiar correfpondence.

A tafte for literature is thought to be of fuch a different nature from the fpirit of exertion neceffary to ensure fuccefs in bufinefs, that, by fome, they are confidered impoffible to be united in one perfon. I cannot entirely admit the justice of this remark; for every one has leifure hours, which he may employ in any species of relaxation Le thinks proper; and certainly, if it affords amufement, there can be no argument against employing thofe hours in literature. Indeed, from its being fo much within our power, it feems peculiarly fitted for the recreation of an active life.

There is, however, undoubtedly, one great difficulty attending this union It requires confide able re folution to keep the two contending purfuits within their proper limits; and, without poffelling this refolution, all attempts to form fuch a junction must be productive of evil confequences. The temple of Plutus and temple of Minerva are fituated at fuch a diftance from each other, that he who intends to vifit both must not delay much time at either. The perfon who is even bleft with this degree of refolution, will often find himself compelled to employ it. Such, Sir, I confider is my fituation: and this continual fruggle between my inclination and my neceffary employment, forms the moft ftriking feature in my character. As

long as I have prudence to avoid employing that time in literary pursuits which should be employed in business, I cannot conceive I am acting wrong. All recreations are blameable, when they infringe on our important duties; but I cannot fee the one I have chofen has any peculiar culpability.

A perfon of this defcription will, it is true, often be obliged to fnatch moments of meditation in very unfuitable fituations. To catch the flippery eel of knowledge by the tail," is certainly a difficult talk for him; but difficult as it may be, if once endued with the propenfity, he will continually be ftriving after it, and even his attempts will not be unproductive of advantage. Although I cannot fay with Sir Richard Blackmore, that I ever make poetry to the rumbling of my oren chariot wheels, I can with truth fay, that I often make profe, and fometimes rhyme, to the rumbling of other people's. The noife of the ftreets of London can be compared to nothing but that defcribed in Milton

"Now forming Fury rofe, And clamour, fuch as heard in Heav'n till now

Was never arms on armour clashing Horrible difcord, and the madding bray'd

wheels

Of brazen chariots rag`d.”

Yet, my good friend, in fuch noife am I often doomed to meditate. Nor is noise the only inconvenience fuffered by becoming Peripatetic in the streets of London: for it often places me in very difagreeable and dangerous circunftances. Sometimes, when involved in deep thought in forming a well-turned period. I very narrowly efcape getting an abrupt period put to my own exitence; and when my imagination has been fublimely foaring through the celeitial regions, a fudden blow from a stupid, illiterate pott, has recalled it to earth, and ferved, like the remembrancer of Philip of Macedon, to remind me I was ftill but a man. have not unfrequently left my way, when endeavouring to explore the intricate receffes of the human foul; but this cafe is fo very common with metaphyficians, that it fcarcely deferves inentioning.

I

It has been obferved, that poets, when in the act of compofing, are accustomed to make expreffive gefti

culations

culations with their bodies; for which Quintilian has compared them to the lion, who lathes himself with his tail when preparing for combat. "The very external marks of this poetic fury," fays Olaus Wormius, when fpeaking of the ancient Saxon poets,

46

sare,

in fome, fo obvious, that a ftranger will difcover them at first fight to be poets, by certain looks and geftures, which are called in our language Skalvingl, i. e. the poetical vertigo." Horace likewife may be fup. pofed to allude to this circumftance, when he fays,

"Aut infanit homo, aut verfus facit:" The man is making verfes, or infane. Although you know I have never "courted the ten" with fufficient fuccefs to be denominated a poet, I rather think I am sometimes affected in this manner; for I often have the mortification to difcover, by the fignificant words and motions of thofe who furround me, that I am thought a fit inhabitant for St. Luke's Hospital. Nay, I once had a stronger proof of the popular opinion; for I was stopped in the Strand, forced into a hackneycoach, and, in fpite of all my remonrances, carried to Bethnal-green, as a perfon advertised to have elcaped from a mad-houfe in that place.

I lately had occafion to call upon a Gentleman to whom I was a perfect stranger, but with whom I had fome material bufinefs to tranfact. As it was rather early in the morning, he was not in a state in which he thought proper to receive me, and I was confequently requested to wait a few moments in the parlour, until he fhould be ready. In fuch a fituation, it is natural to feek for amufement, and I fometimes provide against fuch exigen-, cies, by carrying a fmall volume in my pocket, but at this time had not taken the precaution. I had, however, no caufe to repent my neglect, for on the table I found a copy of Falconer's Shipwreck;" a poem which, in my opinion, poffeffes more truly pathetic paffages than almost any other, of its fize, in the English language. The parting of Palemon and Anna, and the fubfequent account of Palemon's death, are parts which, I think, muft affect the most obdurate heart, and, I am not ashamed to confefs, never fail to draw tears from my eyes. The latter paffage had just begun to have

its ufual effect when the Gentleman entered. My confufion, and his furprife at feeing me in tears, may be much better imagined than defcribed. ALways haunted with a foolish bashfulnefs, I am eafily difconcerted when addreffing a ftranger; but at this time my confufion exceeded all that I had ever experienced before. This you will readily believe, when I inform you, that my ridiculous fituation, and the diftrefs of the poem, fo entirely occu pied my mind, that I could not recollect the bufinefs I came upon; and it was not until I had made many stupid, confufed fpeeches, and difcuffed in a very incoherent manner the state of the weather, funds, and the other common topics of converfation, that, with the affittance of my memorandum-book, I was able to tell the Gentleman the caufe of my vifit; and, although I at laft tranfacted my bufinefs with tolerable compofure, I have fince heard he has been enquiring of my friends, whe ther I was not at times deranged in intellect.

It has juft occurred to me, that an extract from the memorandum-book which was fo ufeful to me on the above occafion, will difplay the peculiarity in my character better than any thing elfe I could fay.

EXTRACT FROM MEMORANDUM-BOOK. May 16th, 1803.

MEMORANDUMS. To call on Meffrs. Holdfait, Gripe, and Co. of Throckmorton-street, and enquire the rate of freight on the Neptune-Maxim from Seneca: "Hæc aliis dio, ut dum dicis audias; ipfe fcribe, ut dum fcripferis legas"--Simon Omnium, Stock-broker, Bartholomew lane-Captain Van Haufer fuls for Embden on Saturday; must not forget to fee him to-morrow-Mr. Titlepage, the book feller, informs me, that Dr. Pofitive is the author of "Philofophical Doubts"--To write to Meffrs. M'Gilvray, M'Ilwham, and Co. of Glasgow, concerning our joint adventure in the Copernicus-The best edition of the Venerable Bede's works is that printed at Cologne, 1612, in 8 vols. fol.-To direct to Mellrs. Suckblood, Cowitch, and Co. as executors of the late Mr. Flogwell, Kingston, Jamaica-To deliver to my friend Mr. Mole the books I borrowed of him; viz. "The Treatife on the Tunnel under the Thames," and Dr. Mead's "Treatife on the Influence of the

Sun

Sun and Moon on Human Bodies," &c.

&c.

CONTINUATION OF LETTER V.

Amferdam. THE central painting reprefents Amfterdam as the first commercial city in the world. She leans on the new City Arms; Neptune tenders her a crown, Mercury the golden wand of merchandise, and Cybele offers her keys. The Roman eagle fufpends an Imperial crown over her head; Fame is proclaiming her dignity to the world; and Hercules, as the grand reprefentative of Virtue and Valour, is exercifing his club on the progeny of Pandora, who, notwithstanding the guards which are placed round the Goddefs (Amfterdam), endeavour to raife the fpirit of faction, and rob her of the glories which fo many divinities are heaping upon her. By this time I am fenfible that one reflection cannot have escaped you, that is, "The Dutch are very fond of magnifying themfelves, of making a great parade of that pre-eminence which the English lay a very powerful claim to."

All over the Stadthouse, Amfterdam is made the Queen of Commerce, fitting in unrivalled glory. Some, probably, may cenfure the Dutch for thus extolling themfelves: for my part, I feel perfectly indifferent refpecting it; there

Vide Smollet's Travels

may always be found enough to cavil with in every place, if a traveller happens to be troubled with that unfortu nate propenfity. In Holland, an imperious command is treated with filent contempt, and thick vollies of cenfure with the most carelefs indifference. Politenefs will fcarcely urge a Dutchman one step fafter than his usual pace; but rudeness makes him ftand ftill. I fhall therefore choose to let them enjoy the idea of the fuperiority which they affume; it is an innocent fpecies of pride, why thould I disturb their enjoyment of it?

In the following pages of this letter, I will only promife you a Catalogue of the Paintings, &c.; their merits you will, in fome measure, be able to appreciate, from the names of the artists. I fhould not have taken this trouble, were the English already in poffeffion of fuch a lift; but as this is not the cafe, I feel it a duty incumbent upon me to spare nothing which can render the account perfe&, and give you an adequate conception of the pride of Holland.

The ftranger generally commences his purfuit after the curiofities of the Stadthoufe with the

BURGOMASTER'S CHAMBER.

Above the entrance is a bas relief of through France and Italy.

two

two naked children with the Roman bundles and axe. On each fide stands an eagle; one with a theaf of arrows in its claws, the other with the rod of Mercury. Above, Mercury is endeavouring to lull Argus to fleep with his flute, that he might fteal the cafe entrutted to his care. Near Argus is a dog upon watch.-Painter unknown, and merit indifferent.

Two drawings of the Old and New Stadthoufe, by Zanredam and Van der Ulft, are placed in this chamber.

The ornaments are all of variegated marble; the frieze on the mantle-tree contains the hiftory of Fabius Maximus in bas relief, inimitably well done; and above is a painting on the fame fubje&t. The conceffion of the father to the fon, in quality of Conful, is finely expreffed; and the joy which the old man felt on feeing his child futain his pot with dignity is well conceived.-A. Queilenus.

Vondel, the Shakspeare of the Provinces, has touched this fubject with a fine hand.

A Table of Touchftone is another curiosity here. A Poem on the erection of the building is engraved upon it, written by C. Huygens, and engraved by E. Noske, a German.-The ceiling contains fome trifling paintings, of which it may fuffice to fay that they are there. The Burgomaiter's Chamber leads to

PROCLAMATION PLACE,

a gallery 32 feet by 10 feet. Here proclamations, edicts, &c. &c. are read to the Public. The ceiling is finely painted by Bronkhurit. The gallery leads to

EXECUTION CHAMBER. Above the entrance is a painting reprefenting the ftory of Amphion, and a relief nearly fimilar to that in the Burgo. mafter's Chamber; which chamber is equal in dimensions with this, viz. 30 feet by 20. Some Corinthian marble pilafters are worthy of notice. No paintings, except in the ceiling, of which as before. The next apartment in the order of place is the

COUNCIL CHAMBER,

Counsellors, and higher ones for the four Burgomafters for the time being and the Secretary. A capital painting, covering one fide in length, and 19 feet high, by Jacob de Wit, reprefents the election of the feventy Elders chofen by Mofes *. Mr. Fell attributes this piece to Bronkhurit; the name upon it is J. de Wit.

Above the chimney-piece, Solomon praying for Wildom.-G. Hinke.

Four bas reliefs and imitations by Jacob de Wit, which at a little distance would deceive the eye of a connoiffeur.

Oppofite the painting of Solomon is one by Bronkhurit, of nearly the fame fubject with the large one by De Wit. I prefume this accounts for Mr. Fell's mistake: yet he does not even mention this painting; he fpeaks only of the large one!

Four paintings in grey, by J. de Wit; fubjects, Religion, Peace, Go. vernment, and Fidelity; ceiling by J. de Wit.

ORPHANS CHAMBER.

Over the door, fome bas reliefs. On the chimney-piece, a picture of the Ceremonies of Roman Adoption. Ceiling daubed with figures of birds, &c.

Above the Council Chamber, and of the fame magnitude, is the

PAINTERS CHAMBER.

It is a fpecies of picture gallery, containing many fine paintings and innumerable prints, fome fay upwards of 10,000. Were I to enter upon fo elaborate a work as defcribing them, I prefume you would read the first line and laft one, then throw it alide-perhaps for ever.

BANKRUPTS' CHAMBER.

Story of Icarus and Dedalus, furmounted with elegant feftoons, all of white marble. Fortune flying away, &c.

SCHEPEN'S CHAMBER, or the Hall of Magistracy, where the Magiftrates fit every day to hear and determine on the merits of petty caufes and grievances in a fummary way. Over the entrance is written in gold letters,

Audi et alteram partem.

them!

VOL. XLIV. JULY 1803

E

The