plied. We spoke of it briefly in our 69th Vol. p. 260, and are now induced by the circumstances of the case to take this farther notice of it.

From a prefixed sketch of the author's life, we learn that he was born in the year 1730, of respectable parents, and descended from an antient family, originally of Flanders. He was educated at the grammar-school at Andover, and is said to have been at the age of seventeen master of the Latin and Greek languages. He was designed for the Church of England: but, entertaining some scruples respecting the canons,' he was sent to Plasterer's-hall, London, which was at that time an academy for Protestant Dissenters. Here he made great progress in his studies, under the tuition of Dr. Walker; who seems to have been much but unreasonably surprized at the fluency with which his pupil, at the age of seventeen, read the Greek Testament: an acquirement which we have certainly known obtained by boys of half the age in some instances; and throughout the classes of our public schools, at ten, eleven, and twelve years old. — After five years of unremitted application, Mr. N. is said to have become master (again) of five languages, namely the Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, and Chaldean. These accomplishments introduced him to the notice of the learned; and he spent several of his vacations with Dr. Young, at his house at Welwyn in Hertfordshire. — Shortly afterward, (that is, in the year 1752,) he received a call to Newport in the Isle of Wight;' where he continued three years. Some differences arising between the congregation and their pastor, he accepted an invitation' to Cranbrook in Kent; where, we are told, the author's ministry was greatly blessed.'

In 1760, Mr. Noyes married, as the editor states, Miss Lade; whose father was nephew and heir apparent to Sir John Lade, Bart.: but whose favour he lost by refusing to marry a Miss Inskip, a predecessor of the present Sir John, into whose family the old Baronet (by way of revenging his nephew's refusal) gave the whole of his estates, on condition of their taking the family name of Lade, which name is for ever to be assumed by whoever enjoys the same. - By this lady the author had nine children, six of whom are now living.'

Mr. N. continued his ministration with this congregation for many years with great acceptance and success, and no event of moment occurred in his peaceable and religious life till the year 1781; when his wife, after a lingering illness, left him a widower, with his large family. On the evening of the day of her burial, her husband delivered a most affecting discourse

5

discourse to a crowded and interested audience: yet, on the very next Sunday after the interment, this crowded and interested audience informed Mr. N., who had been their minister for twenty six years, that "his future services would be dispensed with " The only reason alleged for this ungrateful and indeed inhuman conduct was their inability to support a minister, though at the moment they intended to invite another with at least 1ol. per annum additional stipend! We hope and trust that such instances are rare among similar congrega tions, or wretched must be the state of those ministers who have no more certain dependence than on the whim of their audience. To the credit of the proposed successor of Mr. Noyes, it should be told that he refused to accept a place which had been vacated in a manner so dishonourable to the congregation. The name of this gentleman is Porteus.

In the year following this affair, the author first published the poem here presented again to the reader. On its appearance, containing, as it does, scenes of real and deep distress, Stephen Law, Esq., of Bedgebury-house, near Cranbrook, to his immortal honour, allowed the author an annuity which he enjoyed during the life of that gentleman; and which was continued to him, until his own death, by John Cartier, Esq. formerly Governor of Bengal, and son-in-law to his first patron. -Mr. Noyes died in 1798, in his 68th year, and was buried in Cranbrook church-yard, near the remains of his wife and children.

The poem opens with a general but striking description of the abode of distress. The verses have on the whole an even and melodious cadence; and an air of melancholy pervades their style and tone, which is well adapted to convey the feelings intended to be expressed. Here is not, indeed, any thing resembling the tenderness of Goldsmith or the vigour of Crabbe: Mr. Noyes does not write verse like an experienced poet; his numbers occasionally halt, and many of his expressions are feeble and incorrect; yet some very good passages occur in the poem, and the whole seems to have come warm from the heart, -a heart which appears to have been too much weighed down by the pressure of real calamity, to express its sufferings with adequate energy in poetical language. - The description of the person who had been principally instrumental in his removal from Cranbrook is, perhaps, as good a specimen of the author's manner as we can select:

• Hunger and Thirst have painful pointed stings,
But vile Contempt a tenfold sorrow brings,
And brings it laden with a tenfold weight,
On those who sink to worse from better state.

Whose

Whose eye contemptuous keenest flashes sends ?
His, whom we number'd once among our friends:
Whose brow reveals the most disgusting scorn?
His, but our equal, or inferior born :

Whose venom'd tongue excites our saddest tears?
His, whom we once sustain'd in happier years.
Can this foul fiend, the base-born child of Pride,
In any, but the rankest breast, reside?
The feigned saint, who carries in his face
The serious picture of internal Grace,

Who pleads the orphan's and the widow's cause,
With seeming pity, and with self applause ;
Whose lips the law of charity can teach,
And love and friendship most devoutly preach;
Who censures pride with hypocritic zeal,
And paints its downfall in a whining tale;
Who for the wretched heaves an artful sigh,
And gives distress the tribute of his eye;
Pleads, pities, preaches, censures, weeps, and sighs,
Yet is no saint; but Satan in disguise:
A man like this, within his heart provides

A filthy corner, where the fiend resides

If to this Saint, some wretch presents his suit,

Out starts the fiend, and strikes the suppliant mute.'

The subsequent lines also are not to be read without participation in the heart-rending feelings of the writer:

Less anxious thoughts his mind would discompose,
Were none the partners of his daily woes;

Had he been doom'd to bear the load alone,
This mournful verse the world had never known;
The wretch dejected had in secret sigh'd,
Beneath his burden, and in secret dy'd;
But tender pledges of connubial love
Partake his wants, and all his pity move:
Their mother's joy-their mother now no more,
To see-to feel their sorrows, and deplore!
Turn from this scene, my soul, awhile, and sigh,
And lift to Heav'n the hand-the heart-the eye!
Then to this scene, blest shade! I'll turn again,
And solemnize thy death in plaintive strain.'

The contrast between the author's former simple happiness and actual utter distress, his domestic circle in their rural cottage, and his children, deprived of their mother, in the cold abode of poverty, is deeply affecting. We have truly' sympathized with the sufferer, and sincerely hope that this work may benefit his family.

MONTHLY

MONTHLY CATALOGUE,

For NOVEMBER, 1810.

MILITARY AFFAIRS.

Art. 14. THIS small work contains judicious observations in the form of questions, that are to be found in various larger books, relative to the twelve following points connected with the defence of outposts for the security of an army: 1st, A guard on a plain, or on the skirt of a wood, 2d, A guard in a farm to defend a passage. 3d, A guard on the bank of a river. 4th, A post before a ford. 5th, A post at a ford below a mill-dam. 6th, A post to defend the passage of a bridge in a narrow valley. 7th, An entrenched post at the head of a wooden bridge or a bridge of boats. 8th, An entrenched post upon a steep height, upon rocks, or near a tower or wind-mill. 9th, Entrenchments at a bridge-head to cover cantonments or winter-quarters. 1oth, The defence at the entrance of a strait, gorge, or narrow pass between mountains. 11th, The establishment of bridges for the passage or fretreat of an army. 12th, a post in a fort to protect a little town or village, which may be a passage important to preserve.

The Defence of Outposts; translated from the French. 12mo. 18. Hatchard.

The editor informs us that this tract has been translated from the French, with the view of promoting the diffusion of military know lege throughout Great Britain. It may, however, be regarded as a mere mite for tiros: since small indeed must be the degree of military knowlege, which does not greatly exceed the information that can be derived from this minute performance.

MEDICAL, &c.

Art. 15. A Treatise on Cheltenham Waters, and Bilious Diseases, &c. 2d Edition, newly arranged, with numerous Additions, and two Plates. By Thomas Jameson, M. D., Resident Physician at Cheltenham. 8vo. pp. 250. Callow, &c. 1809.

As we have already noticed the first edition of this work, Rev. Vol. xliv. p. 431. it is not necessary to enter into a detailed critique on it in its present form. Cheltenham happens to be one of the most fashionable resorts for invalids, real and imaginary; and the author has not only undertaken to point out the nature of the mineral waters, which abound there, and to prescribe the manner in which they should be used, but appears peculiarly solicitous to inform the public that it is very unsafe to take these waters without first taking advice; not to add that he is the person from whom advice may always be procured. We conceive, therefore, that Dr. Jameson will consider us as cooperating with him in this grand object, when we inform our readers that he has had great experience in bilious complaints, and that he has discovered some new springs at Cheltenham; two facts which are carefully inculcated in the preface: but the point most particu larly to be regarded is the mischief which often ensues from an im

proper

proper use of these waters. It is not uncommon (he says) for persons to commence a course of purging, merely from a supposition that they are bilious; and for those that are really bilious, to persevere in a free use of the waters, without knowing to what extent they can be taken with safety. But prudence requires that invalids should always be directed, before they drink the water, whether they are to pursue the laxative, or purging plan, and what kind of water is best suited to their case. And after they have drank them a certain time, it would be proper to ascertain with accuracy, whether changes have not taken place in their constitution, or their disease, to interdict the further use of the waters. We hope that this valuable suggestion will be carefully remembered.

After these admonitions, we proceed to the body of the work; in which we begin with a chapter on fluidity, mineral waters, and watering-places, which contains much that is common, and some things that are incorrect. For instance, Dr. J. asserts that petrifying springs derive their properties from an acid or alkali dissolving calcareous or siliceous earth in water;' and that most of our warm waters, as Matlock and Buxton, are of this kind.' We are not sur prized to find Dr. Jameson maintaining the opinion, that no artificial combination of salts dissolved in water is so efficacious as the Cheltenham water in its natural state: but we are rather surprized at the declaration which afterward escapes him, that a great part of the benefit derived from visiting watering-places depends on extraneous circumstances, change of air, exercise, relaxation of mind, regular habits, and confidence in a remedy.' Although we agree with the Doctor in these sentiments, we cannot commend his prudence in thus withdrawing the veil which conceals the mysteries of the profession from profane eyes!

The topographical description of Cheltenham occupies the next chapter, and the third consists of an account of the saline nature of the soil: neither of which contains much that is interesting. The fourth chapter, ¡in which we have a description of the wells, with the chemical and medical properties of the waters, embraces the most important part of the author's subject, and may be regarded as the nucleus to which all the extraneous matter has adhered. With respect to the chemical account of the waters, Dr. J. has properly referred to the analysis of Dr. Fothergill and Mr. Accum; and the medical part is dispatched in a very short compass.- We have next a chapter on the modes of administering the different kinds of waters, in which Dr. Jameson again very prudently inculcates the necessity of taking the advice of a medical practitioner upon the spot.' He also informs us that sometimes the waters cannot be made to operate properly, in which case the utmost skill of the physician is required to render them safe and efficient;' and finally, that the author has been able, by certain restrictions,' to remove the bad effects which occasionally ensue from their use.

Three more chapters yet remain; one on the diseases in which the waters are indicated, and the contrary; a second on the bilious diseases of this country; and finally, an account of the baths at Cheltenham.