Helleborus hyemalis

fœtidus

Primula Polyanthus (elatior)

Bellis perennis
Daphne Mezereon
Viola tricolor

Lamium purpureum
Senecio vulgaris

89. Converfation: a Didactic Poem, in Three Parts. By William Cooke, Efq. AFTER the opinion we have given of a former edition of this valuable Poem, in vol. LXVIII. p. 878, we thall now only prefent to our Readers the Author's new Dedication:

"To JOHN SYMMONS, Efq. F. R.S. &c. "Dear Sir, When this Poem was originally published, it was by implication infcribed to our late worthy and ever to be lamented friend, ander the character of Eugenio. As the intimate and loved friend of that excellent man, you will, I am fure, receive any teftimony to his various and exalted merits with the most cordial affection. The fubject is fo confoling to me, that it would be repreffing my feelings, as well as my refpect for the publick, to whom Mr. Morgann was to great an ornament and example, to produce a fecond edition of this Poem, without thus announcing his name, and attempting a flight fetch of his character.

With a view of general knowledge, and a large and early acquaintance with the higher circles of fociety, Mr. Morgann availed himfelf of both, for the lau dable purpose of forming his mind, im-` proving his morals, and polishing his tafte. All that he read, heard, or faw, fufficiently valuable to be noticed, became his own, where, by a peculiar tournure of mind, they received fuch a happy and appropriate organization, as to render every thing new, pleafing, and diverfified; hence he was the charm of every fociety he mixed with; particularly as his converfation was enriched with the greatest urbanity of manners, and the happieft arts of badinage and pleasantry.

"As a man he ftood detached from the general contagion of the age he lived in,

"Maurice Morgann, Efq. a gentleman defcended from an antient and refpectable family in Wales, Under-fecretary of State to the late Marquis of Lanfdown, during his first administration, and ́ afterwards Secretary to the Embaffy for ratifying the Peace with America, 1783, &c. &c. He died in March 1802." [See Gent. Mag. vol. LXXVI. p. 590.]

1

Lamium album Lonicera Periclymenum Ranunculus repens

Leontodon Taraxacum.
Crocus vernus

Helleborus viridis
Veronica agreftis

Fragaria fterilis..

neither complying with the vices of the great, however familiar or feductive, nor with their frivolities, however general or imposing. His mind was compounded of pure and fimple elements, which infe parably mixed in his business, his friendfhips, and general intercourfe with mankind; and it was often no lefs pleafing to his friends, than to the lovers of virtue in general, to fee with what fuperior luftre, thofe plain, but prepoffeffing colours outfhone the glare of fashion, and the accommodating varnish of modern morals.

"A mind thus fraught with the love of truth and inquiry, never yielded to the apathy of repofe, or the indolence of carelefs diffipation; his leisure hours were therefore frequently employed upon fome curious, or useful literary fubject; amongst which were particularly noticed, his " Remarks on the Slave Trade," and his "Effay on the Character of Sir John Falstaff." In the first will be found the feeds of moft of those arguments, which have fince been fo fuccefsfully urged in favour of the rights of Humanity; and in the latter, the spirit of the Poet himself breathing through his Commentator. I have often read with pleafure and improvement the character of Shakespear, as drawn by Dryden, Pope, Johnson, and others; but in Morgann we feel him commanding every paffage from the head to the heart; and the apology which he affigns to Ariftotle, for his name being imroperly ufed by his wretched officers, Rymer and other commentators," is one of the moft luminous and critical defences of Shakefpeare's not being bound by the unities, which perhaps has ever been produced, It is, as has been elegantly faid by the late ingenious Mr. Seward, the portrait of Homer painted by Apelles ;" and, muft make all amateurs of the Drama lament, that he had not employed more of his leisure hours in the fame literary pursuit we fhould then see our great Poet of Nature illuftrated, as he should be, by the Critic of Nature and congenial tafte.

"It has been objected to Mr. Morgann, that he had rather a predilection for an over-refinement on fubjects of tafte and literature; and perhaps he was fomewhat inclined to this-what fhall I call it ?

defe&t?

defect?-oh, no! no!it was the luxuriance of a fine imagination branching up, on fuch an infinite variety of views, as made it fometimes difficult for him to fettle on the close point-but when he gained that point, which he generally did, with what elegance and perfpicuity did he support it! with what energies did the heart speak! nay, even when he miffed it, he led us through fuch a delightful labyrinth of fragrance and flowers as diverfified the purfuit, and induced us to forget the ditappointment.

Malim cum Scaligero errare quam cum Clavio recte fapere,' was the exclamation of fome critic on a comparifon between two popular mathematici ans; and a fimilar impreffion moft people muft occafionally feel, who were in the habits of living with Mr. Morgann indeed, it was difficult to fay what would have been his failings, but by the virtues in which he principally excelled.

Such was the Friend to whom we have often liftened with the moft gratified at tention, whether on the excurfive-variegated wing of fancy, or on the firmer bafis of moral inquiry; for he was in all fituations" a man" (to ufe the fimple yet energetic words of Sir Philip Sidney) poffeffing high-erected thoughts feated in a heart of curtesy.' VALE!

Having thus difcharged my duties to the dead, let me now pay my respects to the living, not by entering into a detail ed panegyrie on your good qualities and claffical attainments, which I know your delicacy would refift, but by affuring you with great truth, that fome of what I efteem the beft traits of this Poem owe their origin to the many agreeable and inAtructive points of view, your manners and converfation have afforded me; and that the names of two fuch refpeétable characters to grace this little production of mine fhall be ever remembered with pride and fatisfaction by, dear Sir, your most faithful and obliged humble fervant, W. COOKE."

lumes. 4to.

"the

friend, a man of fimilar talents, Master Samuel Hooper, from the contributions of the late Mr. Aftle. From the materials, and the miferable prints, ope would not have expected encouragement for a fecond edition; but the arrangement is faid to be "much improved by collecting together thofe treatifes of which the fubjects are fimilar, from their difperfion through the four origi nal volumes, and adding feveral curious articles from MSS. or scarce tracts." The firl is, Mr. Grose's rules for drawing caricatures, and an effay on comic painting; the fecond, on the arraignment and execution of the late traitors, executed at Worcefler Jan. 27, 1616, containing many curious particulars of the conduct of Digby, two, Winters, &c. concerned in the Gunpowder Plot, no where elle to be met with, defcribing their latter end; the third, a parallel between Robert Devereux Earl of Ellex, and George Villiers Duke of Buckingham; the fourth, lift of James the Second's Army, lying at Hounflow heath, 1686, ftyled "An Invincible Army," but thewing wonderful hand of Providence in defeating the boafted ftrength of fuch an Army, expected to bring this obftinate Nation in dutiful fubjection to the See of Rome," as the Communicator obferves. The two next papers are, Fitz Stephens's defeription of London in the twelfth century, and Sir Thomas Chaloner's relating to the military ftate of the city in the reigns of Henry VIII. and Elizabeth; the fixth, an account of the expences of Sir Robert Sydney Earl of Leicester, by his Steward, now firit printed; as is the next, defcribing the ceremonies appointed to be observed at Court on various occafions, temp. Henry VII. The ory of Sir Thomas Erpingham, in the style of the original collector, is followed by Dr. Buchan's account of Carr Harl of Somerset, with a good portrait; but most of the prints in this volume are executed in a tyle much below its dignity, or indeed the reputation of any engraver but the pewter cutters in the fervice of the original publifher. Many of the articles have little or no connexion with British Antiquities; and others' might eafily have been (pared. Among fuch as ought pofitively to have been excluded, must be reckoned that Alagrant inftance of human depravity which could only be repeated by one to whom the difcovery was gratifying.

91. A

91. A Sermon, preached by John Wells, Soldier in the First Regiment of Guards, at the Baptift Meeting-house qt Quarndon, in Leicestershire, on Thursday, January 8, 1907. To which is prefixed [affixed] a fhort Account of the Author's Converfion.

THIS converfion, like all of the fame kind, was effected by hearing preaching in the chapel at Tottenhamcourt-road, and taking fome books, and going to pray in Hyde-park. Tlie fermon is of the ufual caft,

92. Obfervations on the Neceffity of intro ducing a jufficient Number of respectable Clergymen into the Weft Indies, and the Expediency of ejiablishing for that Purpoje, by Subfcription, a College in this Country, in which Perfons may be filly educated for the Clerical Function in that Part of the British Empire,

IT is not ealy 10 account why, out of the Colleges in the two Universities, fit and able men to ferve God in Church and State" may not be found without the Philanthropic Society undertaking the important concern of civilizing the Negroes, which fhould have been done before the Slave-trade was abolished. The Author of these Obfervations is afraid to trust the education of young men to the spot where they are to be employed, because they cannot be brought up in that firictnefs of manners, and habits of felf-denial, which are requifite in the clerical character, unless they could be kept in total feclufion from all fociety. The expediency of educating Negroes or Mus lattoes in fuch a College would require much confideration. The confequence which they would derive from having had a learned education in Europe will enable them to do incalculable mifchief if they fhould turn out ill. With the white inhabitants they would have no influence; but as fchoolmafters and

catechiits they would be particularly

ufeful.

93. A Letter to Samuel Whitbread, Ef M. P. on the Subject of the Poor Laws By T. Jarrold, M. D.

IT is not neceflary to proceed be: yond the two first pages to difcover that the fentiments of the Doctor are in confonance with thofe of the M. P. He praifes with reafon the establishment of Sunda-fchools, from their good effects among the manufacturers at Stockport; but difapproves the idea of a poor's bank, to which he prefers

friendly focieties; but fhews the prin ciple on which the poor's relief is founded Thefe, he thinks, are best promoted by Industry and (Economy. payment of wages in the grofs, and thus inducing labour. "A few years. fince, no clafs of the community were ters, as flage-coachmen and foldiers ; fo immoral, or had fuch bad charac but the efiablishment of mail-coaches made it ad ifeable for the proprietors of other coaches to change their fyftem of management; it was neceflary to difcharge their fervants for irregularity; they did fo; and I am informed a confiderable reformation has taken place in their general character. The chas racer of the foldiery is alfo greatly im proved; a military man is no longer inet with dread*; he is courteous and obliging, the protector of individuals as well as of the country; and, in point of morality, I greatly fear the army is more correct than the peafantry; fhould it be fo, it is not a favourable feature of the times, But if flagecoachmen are reformed by the exercife of the juft authority of their fuperiors, fo may the peafantry,"

94. Janfon's Stranger in America.

(Continued from p. 551.)

WE refame the labours of Mr. Janfon with an interefting article, his defeription of Washington, the Federal City and Seat of Government; and confels that we are not a little furprifed at fome parts of the information which it affords.

1

"The foundation of the present feat of government of the United States was one of the last national objećts of the diftinguifhed character whofe name it bears. The ingratitude of a certain portion of Americans to that great and good man, is one of the foulest ftains upon their character.

After fuccessfully fighting their battles, through a feven years' war, contending with the choiceft troops of Europe, and gaining them independence, he refigned his commiffion to that Congress which appointed him their commander in chief, and retired to the peaceful fhades of Mount Vernon. A short time only was he allowed for the enjoyment of tranquillity and domeftic pleasures; for, on the formation of the federal constitution, he was called, by the unanimous voice of the delegates who ratified that compact on behalf of their fellow citizens, to fill the firft poft in the executive department of the

• We know not when he was. EDIT.

State.

State. For his military fervices he had already difclaimed pecuniary recompence, requesting his country to difcharge only thofe expences which the emergencies of war had incurred. The office of the Prefident is by law limited to the term of four years; at the expiration of which time, when Washington again looked forward for the enjoyment of his favourite retirement, his farther fervices were a fecond time called for more loudly and unanimoufly than before. Four years more he devoted to the fervice of his Country; in which time he beheld the foundation of the federal city, the permanent feat, of government; and he furvived to fee the legiflators of America convened at the Capitol. It was about this time that the French faction began to raife its clamours, which prefident Washington foon quelled, by his energetic meafures; but the difaf fected in fecret reviled him for faving their country from the mercilefs fangs of a fet of monsters, who would have enflaved them, under the fpecious pretext of liberty, and equality. They infinuaded that he had pitched on a spot for the feat of government near to his eftate of Vernon, in order to inhance its value; though they well knew that his private property was ten-fold greater than his private expences. His choice, 1 believe, was directed to one object only; the capital is built in the centre of the United States."

''

The indignity that was fhewn to General Wathington, we are told, was refented by Mr. Fellenden, the Hudibras of America, that fame Mr. Felfenden who deceived, the fage Reviewers of London, in his "Terrible Tractoration;" who, in a note, gives the following character of a man whom Mr. Janfon ftyles "the leader of what is called the Jefferfonian Molocracy."

"Duane is faid to have fet up for a patriot at Calcutta, and commenced his ufeful labours as Editor of a newspaper, by exerting himself to foment a quarrel between the civil and military departments, Sir John Shore (now Lord Teignmouth), who then commanded, paid to little regard to the rights of man, that he merely rewarded him with a kind of wooden-horfi. cal promotion, which is not thought to confer any great honour on those who are the fubjects of that kind of elevation. He was then fent to England, from whence he was imported, to teach Americans likerty and equality under, the auspices of Emperor Jefferfon. Duane fays, that he was kidnapped by Sir John, having been invited to breakfast. But the man is to given to lying, that we with our readers to place no dependance on that part of the gory."

To refume Mr. Janfon's very entertaining defeription of the buildings projected in the city of Washington:

"On my return to London, the first general enquiry of my friends is repecting this far-famed place. The defcription of it by interested fcribblers may well ferve to raife an Englishman's curiofity, and lead him to fancy the capital of Columbia a terreftrial paradife. The entrance, or avenues, as they are pompously called, which lead to the American feat of government, are the worst roads I paffed in the country; and I appeal to every citizen who has been unlucky enough to travel the ftages North and South leading to the city, for the truth of the affertion. I particularly allude to the mail itage road from Bladenburg to Washington, and from thence to Alexandria. In the winter feafon, during the fitting of Congrefs, every turn of your waggon wheel (for 1 muft again oblerve, that there is no fuch thing in the country as what we call a ftage coach, or a poftchaife,) is for many miles attended with danger. The roads are never repaired; deep ruts, rocks, and ftumps of trees, every minute impede your progrefs, and often threaten your limbs with dislocation, Arrived, at the city, you are ftruck with its grotelque appearance. In one view from the Capitol hill, the eye fixes upon a row of uniform houfes, ten or twelve in number, while it faintly difcovers the adjacent tenements to be miferable wooden ftructures, confifting, when you approach them, of two or three rooms one above another. Again, you fee the Hotel, which foundation, to rival the large Inns in Enwas vauntingly promifed, on laying the gland. This, like every other private adventure, failed: the walls and the roof remain, but not a window! and, inftead of accommodating the members of Congrefs, and travellers of diftinétion, as propofed, a number of the loweft order of Irish have long held the title of naked poffeffion, from which, were it ever to become an object, it would be difficult to eject thern. Turning the eye, a wellfinished edifice prefents itfelf, furrounded by lofty trees, which never felt the ftroke of the axe. The prefident's houfe, the offices of ftate, and a little theatre, where an itinerant company repeated, during a part of the last year, the lines of Shakefpeare, Otway, and Dryden, to empty benches, terminate the view of the Pennfylvania or Grand Avenue.. Speculation, the life of the American, embraced the defign of the new city. Several companies of fpeculators purchased lots, and began to build hardfome ftreets, with an ardour that foon promifed a large and populous city. Before they arrived at the