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be, says he to himself, that we hereafter may become dissatisfied with the arrangement, and this opinion will be cast in our teeth. The writer proceeds: the first thing of the kind which has occurred for a great while.' This must be generally admitted to be profound. What thing of the kind does the writer mean? Why the reconciliation. The reconciliation then, is a thing of some kind, but what that kind is, must be discovered in some other part of the paper. It is a something which has before occurred, but that happened a great while ago; therefore, the something which occurred a great while ago' is the thing, of which the present reconciliation is a kind.

Another instance of profound remark is to be discovered in a communication signed South Abington, in which the writer, after mentioning that the federalists by their exertions of sophistry and misrepresentations have elected' Mr. Gore as chief magistrate of Massachusetts, makes this declaration; by similar means they have succeeded in the election of a Lieutenant Governour and Senators, a majority of whom will undoubtedly second any motion that shall be originated by his excellency to increase their popularity and heighten the prosperity and happiness of their constituents.' It would undoubtedly be singular indeed, that any motion should be originated by his Excellency in the Senate of Massachusetts, where he has no power or legal authority; but it is much more singular that a majority of this very Senate should have it advanced as a charge against them, that they would' second any motion' which shall be originated to heighten the prosperity and Does the writer mean to infer that a happiness of their constituents.' democratick majority would destroy or diminish that prosperity and happiness?'

The same writer remarks that the federalists have accused the government of partiality towards the belligerent powers.' We never heard of their partiality to more than one of the belligerent powers; where the other partiality is to be found, remains to be decided by this writer; yet he proceeds to declare that ' all of which observations have been proclaimed and reproclaimed in most if not all the federal prints from Maine to Georgia.' Now, though we should defy them to produce these federal papers, where this partiality to the belligerent powers' has been thus proclaimed and reproclaimed,' yet we have no doubt they would shelter themselves under the impenetrable shield of profundity and incomprehensibility, to which we have just alluded.

MUSICK.

THE peculiar characteristicks of this science are many, and foreign authors have vied with each other in producing sounds and effects the most striking; we cannot however avoid passing encomiums upon real merit whether assisted by nature or art.

The Irish muse has been particularly successful in affording a peculiar wildness in notes, tones and transitions: if excellence of composition is estimated by the effect on the mind, or its influence over the heart, the Irish melodies graduate to a high degree. Carolan was wonderfully happy in his effusions; great conception, exquisite feeling, and his flights of fancy combined with his genius, will ever entitle him to that celebrity which his countrymen have universally bestowed.He was an itinerant bard of much eminence, and considered as the Anacreon of his country; his 'Smee Shum Lourther an noig Whnee Planaty Power,' or 'Leave me not Love,' and 'Mas think no Shlaun la Warlagh me,' or 'Oh let me hush thy tender fears,' are two Airs that in their native country spread the light of song over the gloom of unillumined ignorance,' and in their tendency soften the ferocity of uncivilized heroism. The musick and poetry of the Irish are analagous, and their sounds faithfully echo their sense; the difficulty of attempting English translations to Irish melodies is universally acknowledged, but the success which Mr. Hewitt has met with, in endeavouring to harmonize several favourite airs from the Irish bard, deserves not only commendation, but entitles him to the respect of every amateur in the science of musick. The facility with which he has arranged the wildness of the melodies of the Bards of Erin, seem to have been executed with a degree of taste and elegance rarely to be met with in this, and seldom in the European world.

The lovers of musick anxiously expect the return of this gentleman to this metropolis, in the ensuing autumn, that they may be afforded an opportunity of bestowing upon real merit its due reward.'

LITERARY NOTICES.

JOHNSON'S WORKS.

Messrs. Oliver C. Greenleaf and Edward Cotton intend to publish the works of Doctor Johnson, in eight octavo volumes; they will issue proposals immediately.

The works of Johnson are a necessary appendage to the library of every English gentleman and scholar; and it is rather singular that they have never until now been offered for publication in the United States. The Rambler, the Lives of the Poets, and the Notes on Shakespeare, have indeed been severally published in this country; but to the admirers of the great moralist, it seems necessary to preserve all his writings in a body, that they may be unfolded at one view. The writings of Doctor Johnson are marked by an original cast both in thought and expression, which have distinguished him, as one of the most extraordinary men which his age or country has produced. The

researches of his industry were no less remarkable than the perspicuity of his intelle&t. Doctor Johnson was at one time the boast of every literary man in England; and to have produced him, was considered almost as much an honour to his counrry, as that conferred by the talents of Shakespeare and Milton. If they were the greatest English poets, he was the greatest English critick, that had ever existed.

The works of such a man must surely command the attention of every reader. We are therefore highly gratified in contemplating the prospect which this publication unfolds.

THE LIFE OF MRS. ELIZABETH CARTER, is now in the press, and will shortly be published by O. C. Greenleaf, in one large octavo volume. To the scholar, and even to the general reader, the life of the pious author of the translator of Epictetus will be equally interesting and instructive. The circumstances by which it was distinguished are not very remarkable, but they derive peculiar interest from the importance of the subject and the manner in which they are recorded. The letters of our authoress, with which it is occasionally interspersed, afford a forcible example of true epistolary style, whilst they indicate the strength of her mind and excellence of her character.

THE STAGE.

PANTOMIME AND MELO-DRAME.

Of all the perversions of taste, whether it be considered in relation to poetry, eloquence, painting, architecture, the stage, or any other ob. ject of that faculty, we cannot call to mind any more striking absurdity than that passion for extravagant show, and nonsensical pantomimick exhibitions which are the fashion of the times. It is said of theatrical exhibitions that they excite sympathy by a certain selfish illusion of the imagination, which places us for a time in the situation of the object of our sympathy. We experience, though in a less degree, the same kind of emotion which a real exhibition of events would produce. But in the monsters of the Pantomime and Melo-Drame, there can be no laudable pleasure, nor true feelings excited; they gratify our baser thoughts, and please our distempered fancies. They please as the stories of hobgoblins please children, or the stories of modern novelists love-sick girls; but surely afford the reason no rational delight.Churchill is very happy in the Rosciad, in describing the absurdities of Pantomime; the more monstrous Melo-Drame was not then in being.

• Harlequin comes, their chief! see from afar,

The hero seated in fantastick car;

Wedded to novelty, his only arms

Are wooden swords, wands, talismans, and charms;

On one side folly sits, by some call'd fun,
And on the other, his arch patron Lun.
Behind, for Liberty a thirst in vain,
Sense, helpless captive, drags the galling chain.
Six rude mis-shapen beasts the chariot draw,
Whom reason loathes, and nature never saw;
Monsters with tails of ice, and heads of fire!
Gorgons, and hydras, and chimeras dire.
Each was bestrode by full as monstrous weight,
Giant, dwarf, Genius, Elf, Hermaphrodite.
The town, as usual, met him in full cry:
The town, as usual, knew no reason why.
But fashion so directs, and moderns raise

On fashion's mould'ring base, their transient praise."

Among the Pantomimes which the managers of the Boston Theatre have 'got up' this season, none has a more deserving claim to the admiration of the full grown children of the metropolis, than THE BRAZEN MASK. Excepting the Melo-Drame of THE PILGRIMS, we do not recollect to have ever witnessed a more splendid spectacle of nonsense and foolery. Those who have not seen this grand, heroick, serious Pantomime,' may perhaps thank us for some information respecting it. Be it known then, that the plot of the piece is not communicated to the spectator in the customary manner by action, look and gesture; but by a more 'miraculous organ' than any of those usually denominated 'organs of sense.' The various, passions, ideas, &c. of the dramatis persona, are conveyed to the spectators by means of a huge label, dangling from a pole, and brought on by some lubberly supernumerary. On those labels are painted, in large capitals, whatever the actors mean to express, or the incident which is then taking place. There are indeed two or three instances in which this ingenious method of conveying information is dispensed with; and in all these cases, the actions and looks of the performers, though very comical and pathetick, are utterly inexplicable. It would certainly be an improvement to have all, which the personages are supposed to say, painted on the brazen masks worn by the greatest part of them. Perhaps it would be some objection to this method, that their speeches would all appear to the spectators at one view; but this might be obviated by the actor's pointing to one or the other as circumstances required. 'Correct books of the plot, incidents,' &c. are sold at the box-office; but notwithstanding all this, the reason why the Baron should desert his castle and domains, and become the leader of a banditti, still remains an inscrutable mystery.

THE GERMAN THEATRE.

IN our next Number we shall commence the publication of the celebrated German play from the Anti-Jacobin, which we shall occasionally accompa ny by Notes illustrative of the original dramas, which it is intended to ridicule. "THE ROVERS, or DOUBLE ARRANGEMENT," is said to be the production of Lord Grenville, and admirably exposes the system of German composition, and even of the Melo-Drame, a species of writing infinitely more ridiculous. The following is the

PLOT.

ROGERO, Son of the late Minister of the COUNT of SAXE WEIMAR, have ing, while he was at College, fallen desperately in love with MATILDA POTTINGEN, Daughter of his Tutor, Doctor ENGELBURTUS POTTINGEN, Professor of Civil Law, and Matilda evidently returning his passion, the Doctor, to prevent ill consequences sends his Daughter on a visit to her Aunt, in Wetteravia, where she becomes acquainted with CASIMER, a Polish Officer, who happens to be quartered near her Aunt's; and has several Children by him.

RODERIC, COUNT of SAXE WEIMAR, a Prince of tyrannical and licentious disposition, has for his Prime Minister and favourite, GASPAR, a crafty villain, who had risen to his Post by first ruining, and then putting to death ROGERO's father-GASPAR, apprehensive of the power and popularity which the young ROGERO may enjoy at his return to Court, seizes the occasion of his intrigue with MATILDA (of which he is apprized officially by Doctor POTTINGEN) to procure from his Master an order for the recall of ROGERO from College, and for committing him to the care of the PRIOR of the Abbey of Quedlinburgb, a Priest, rapacious, savage, and sensual, and devoted to GASPAR's interests-sending at the same time private orders to the Prior to confine him in a Dungeon.

Here ROGERO languishes many years. His daily sustenance is administer ed to him through a grated opening at the top of a Cavern, by the Landlady of the Golden Eagle at WEIMAR, with whom GASPAR contracts, in the Prince's name, for his support; intending, and more than once endeavouring, to corrupt the Waiter to mingle poison with the food, in order that he may get rid of ROGERO for ever.

In the mean time CASIMER, having been called away from the neighborhood of MATILDA's residence to other quarters, becomes enamoured of, and marries CECILIA, by whom he has a family, and whom he likewise deserts after a few years co-habitation, on pretence of business which calls him to Kamschatka.

Doctor POTTINGEN, now grown old and infirm, and feeling the want of his Daughter's society, sends young POTTINGEN in search of her, with strict injunctions not to return without her; and to bring with her either her present lover CASIMERE, or, should that not be possible, ROGERO himself, if he can find him; the Doctor having set his heart upon seeing his Children comfortably settled before his death. MATILDA, about the same period,