his earnest prayer. This prayer is, perhaps, the most beautiful portion of the poem. The Purple Island was written while Fletcher was yet very young: but it gives its author an indisputable right to the very highest rank on the scale of British Poets. Milton was evidently indebted to him for many of his beauties,-as, in his turn, was he, perhaps, indebted to Spenser, in no inconsiderable degree. Be these things as they may, that all the praise I have awarded him is but a feeble tribute to his merits, the extracts I shall transcribe from The Purple Island will abundantly prove to the reader. Oh, thou deep well of life! wide stream of love! More wide, more deep, than deepest, widest seas! Who, dying, death to endless death didst prove, To work this wilful rebel-island's ease! Thy love no time began, no time decays,— But still increaseth with increasing days,— Where, then, may we begin, where may we end, thy praise? Thus far the first Canto.-The following is a curious specimen of the skill with which the allegory is sustained. THE VEINS. Nor is there any part in all this land, But is a little isle: for thousand brooks, In azure channels, glide on silver sand: Their serpent-windings, and deceiving crooks, Circling about, and watering all the plain, Empty themselves into the all-drinking main, And, creeping, forward slide, but never turn again. The above extract is the only one I shall make from Canto the second, which is full of curious anatomical description, carried out with equal truth and beauty. For similar reasons, I shall pass over Cantos the third, fourth, and fifth, at present, and commence my extracts, once more, with the following sparkling stanza from Canto sixth. HEAVEN. There, golden stars set in the crystal snow, There, dainty joys laugh at whiteheaded caring, There, day no night, delight no end shall know, Sweets, without surfeit, fulness without sparing, And by its spending, growing happiness: There, God, himself, in glory's lavishness Diffused to all, in all, is all full blessedness. Here is an animated landscape. What a flowergarden! SPRING-TIME. The flowers, that, frightened with sharp winter's dread, Retire into their mother Tellus' womb, Peep out again from their unfrozen tomb: The hedge, green satin pinked and cut, arrays; In hundred colored silks the tulip plays; The imperial flower his neck with pearl attires; The lily, high her silver grogram rears; The pansy, her wrought velvet garment bears; The red rose, scarlet, and the provence, damask wears. Come we now to the seventh Canto. Here is a touching sketch. PASSING AWAY. Why shouldst thou, here, look for perpetual good? At every loss 'gainst Heaven's face repining:Do but behold where glorious cities stood, With gilded tops, and silver turrets shining! There, now, the hart, fearless of greyhound, feeds, And loving pelican in safety breeds. And now for a series of pictures, painted by a master-hand. The first who sits to the mighty liner is HYPOCRISY. His wanton heart he veils with dewy eyes, A saint, abroad,—at home, a fiend,—and worst, a saint ! The next sitter is akin to him whom we have been observing. Mark the delicate discrimination the artist makes between them. DISSEMBLANCE. His painted face might hardly be detected: Arms of offence he seld' or never wore ; Lest thence his close designs might be suspected: But clasping close his foe, as loth to part, He steals his dagger, with false, smiling art, And sheaths the trait'rous steel in its own master's heart. Two Jewish captains, close themselves enlacing In love's sweet twines, his target broad displayed, One, with 's left hand the other's beard embracing, But, in his right a shining sword he swayed, Which, unawares, through th' other's ribs he smites; There lay the wretch without all burial-rites: His word, "HE DEEPEST WOUNDS, THAT IN HIS FAWNING BITES!" The "word" is the motto of the shield each of these personified passions is supposed to bear.-What a portraiture is this of SEDITION! A subtle craftsman framed him seemly arms, Forged in the shop of wrangling Sophistry, And wrought with curious arts, and mighty charms, Tempered with lies, and false Philosophy. Millions of heedless souls thus had he slain ;— His seven-fold targe a field of gules did stain; In this two swords he bore,-his word, "DIVIDE, and REIGN !" The next is a full-length. This impersonation is perhaps as strong and apt as any in this brilliant gallery. ENVY. Envy came next: Envy, with squinted eyes: Sick of a strange disease,—his neighbor's health! Blest lives he, then, when any, better, dies! Is never poor, but in another's wealth! On best men's griefs and harms he feeds his fill, Else his own maw doth eat, with spiteful will. Ill must the temper be, where diet is so ill! Each eye through diverse optic slyly leers, And molehill faults to mountains multiply. His missile weapon was a lying tongue, Here is a sketch; a family group. Mark the exquisite delineation of the difference between these kindred personations. DETRACTION And Thievery. And at the rear of these, in secret guise, Crept Thievery and Detraction; near akin: No twins more like: they seemed almost the same. One stole the goods,—the other, the good name. The latter lives in scorn,—the former dies in shame! The thief's death is surely better than the detractor's life. Turn we now to Canto eighth. Here is the fifteenth stanza. I grieve to pass over some admirable des"article" is growing rapidly upon criptions, but my my hands. AMBITION. Ah, silly man! who dream'st that honor stands Thy servile spirit press'd, with wildest passion raves. Wouldst thou live honored? Clip Ambition's wing! To Reason's yoke thy furious passions bring! Thrice noble is the man who of himself is king? What affluence of description characterises the following sketch of FLATTERY. His art is but to hide, not heal, a sore: To nourish pride: to strangle conscience: To drain the rich, his own dry vaults to store: To spoil the precious soul: to please vile sense : A carrion-crow he is,-a gaping grave,The rich coat's moth,—the Devil's fact'ring knave. In Canto ninth, you may read what I will call THE LESSON OF THE LARK, The cheerful lark, mounting from early bed, There, chants her Maker's praises, out of sight.* Earth seems a molehill, men but ants to be, Teaching proud men, that soar to high degree, The further up they climb, the less they seem and see! There is a whole library of human philosophy in that Alexandrine ! Here are three pictures that should adorn the cabinet of every Christian. Humility and Faith! HUMILITY. with sweet and lowly grace All other higher than himself esteemed; He in himself prized things as mean and base, Which yet in others great and glorious seemed. All ill, due debt; good, undeserved, he thought; His heart, a lowroofed house, but sweetly wrought, Where God himself would dwell. THE SAME. So choicest drugs in meanest shrubs are found; So richest pearls lie closed in vilest shells: FAITH. By them went FIDO, marshal of the field; EXTRACTS FROM GLEANINGS ON THE WAY. BY J. Q. P. of N. C. America-Coup d'œil of "my tour"-Philadelphia-its plan- America! happy, fortunate, prosperous America! As the child loves its mother, so I love thee. Ere I was let loose from the prison-walls of a university, I had promised to tread your rich and productive soil; to see your young and vigorous people; your cities, towns and villages; to roam through your unknown forests; to glide down your beautiful and majestic rivers; to climb your lofty mountains and behold the surrounding scenery. The grand, the curious and beautiful of foreign climes may induce many of thy sons to leave their blessed homes, ignorant of the beauties of their own country, but they offer not the same attractions to me. Give me to see the sublime and beautiful in naturethe rocks and torrents, forests and mountains, hills, vales and grassy plains that are found in my own lovely land-give me to know and love my country, and I ask So have I often seen a purple flower, But soon refreshed with a welcome shower, I have visited in "my tour" the fertile fields of the sunny South, and enjoyed in that land of ease and elegance the kindness and hospitality of the people. I have halted in Philadelphia-the city of beauty-where more elegant figures and lovely faces are seen than any where in the Union; eat my icecream at Parkinson's; become acquainted with the intelligent and accomplishThe twelfth Canto, and the last, contains many splen-ed of that most delightful city, and charmed with their did stanzas which I would fain transcribe, but there are limits to one contributor's monthly share in a Magazine, as well as to the patience of its thousands of monthly readers: and I must close with the two closing stanzas of "The Purple Island." HEAVEN'S DELIGHTS. society. I have travelled through the beautifully cultivated country of Eastern Pennsylvania, and lingered on the banks of the romantic Susquehanna. I have bravely ascended and descended, on inclined planes, the Alleghany mountains, and refreshed myself at the "Summit House." I have embarked at Pittsburg, floated down "La Belle Riviêre"--the Ohio, and stemmed the pow There, sweet delights which know not end nor mea-erful current of the Mississippi. I have wandered over sure. No chance is there, nor eating times succeeding; No wasteful spending can impair their treasure; Pleasure full-grown, yet ever freshly-breeding; The soul still big of joy, and still conceiving: Fulness of sweets exclude not more receiving, the extensive prairies of the West, and lodged in the wigwam of the red man. In the light canoe of the Indian, I have moved, with a quick and equal sweep, over the still and quiet waters, lit by Heaven's beautiful lamp, and fancied myself in some paradisian scene. I have skimmed over the sail-covered lakes of the North, Beyond slow tongue's reports, beyond quick thought's felt my "littleness" at mighty Niagara, drank my glass perceiving! There they are gone: there will they ever bide : of water at fashionable Saratoga, and read the last literary work in Boston. I have glided down the grand, romantic and classical Hudson, landed at New Yorkthe great commercial emporium of our country, promenaded Broadway, and forced my steps through the dense masses of living beings which throng that elegant street. I have listened to the last piece of music sung by a charming lady in the "Monumental City," stood within the Senate Chamber at Washington and heard the elo If this attempt to add to the interest of the Messen-quence of the nation. I have surveyed from the Capiger, by extracting some of the beauties of the elder bards, shall be received with favor on the part of the readers of these pages, it will give the writer much pleasure to renew it in some future numbers. J. F. O. tol, in Richmond, the picturesque scenery of the surrounding country, bathed my limbs in the Hot Springs of Virginia, touched at " Old Point Comfort" and luxuriated on oysters, fish and a pure and healthy sea breeze. I have passed through scenes interesting and charming; VOL. IV.-32 gazed on spots sacred to American freemen; parted | Water Works and Girard College, and ask if you have from friends dear in my memory. PHILADELPHIA. This neat and beautiful city is situated between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, about six miles above their junction. You are landed at Chesnut street wharf, and introduced, at once, into the most fashionable part of the city. The first things remarked, are the neatness and cleanliness of the streets; the stores, which are well finished and showy; the gentlemen, who are good-looking and well dressed, and the many handsome female faces met at every step. Contrasting their complexions with the Southern ladies, you will find them not so fine and delicate, but more showy in the distance. Their feet are large, which is almost a characteristic. The Southern lady may justly boast of the neatness and delicacy of her hands and feet. seen these places, but never wish to know if you have The plan of the city is plain, simple and convenient. The principal streets are those which extend from the banks of the one to that of the other river--these are crossed by others at right angles, thereby dividing it in squares. Chesnut is the most fashionable. The houses are built of good brick, plain, comfortable and well fur-change, Deaf and Dumb Asylum, Academy of Fine nished. The Girard Row, Portico Square and Colonnade are the most attractive fronts. The most serious objection is the monotonous appearance of the buildings, which is tiresome to the visiter, but this dull and quaker-like style is being laid aside for one more finished, beautiful and elegant. From spring till winter, the Philadelphian is making improvements about his lot-and when at the top, you are repaid by a most charmnot satisfied with his house, he pulls it down and builds again, or tears away the brick and adds a marble front, or repaints the doors, windows, &c. The number of trees which border the streets, gives an air of freshness and coolness to the city and adds much to its beauty and comfort. The public squares are large and in good order, and want only a few trifling additions to make them most delightful promenades, both during the day and night. If water were kept leaping and playing through and above the green grass, which carpets the walks on either side, and if, during the night the brilliant gas lights were substituted for those of oil, then would Independent and Washington squares soon be rid of those who now visit them, and the respectable citizens and strangers could here promenade without the risk of being insulted at every step. Owing to this arrangement of streets and public squares, the air circulates freely and contributes to the health of the city. Arts and Mint are the most interesting and conspicuous buildings. Having seen this, you now visit Fairmount, situated amid the romantic scenery of the Schuylkill. The basins are on a high hill and the water is raised by machinery propelled by the waters of the Schuylkill. You ascend to these basins by means of wooden steps ing view of the City, Penitentiary, Girard College, Pratt's Gardens and the picturesque country around. These works now at a very trifling expense supply the citizens with pure and healthy water, and in cases of fire, afford sufficient water to extinguish the flames before they can make any advance. I have said that the ladies of Philadelphia are handsome. This is not all. They are intelligent and accomplished. The number of select and well conducted schools give them great advantages, and their education is not finished at fourteen, in order that they may come out," as is too often the case in the South. Their manners are pleasant and agreeable, and their conversation interesting and instructive. They want the liveliness, the vivacity, the simplicity, the ease and expression of the Southern lady when engaged in conversation. They have the substance, but want the soul. Hence the conversation of the latter, although not so instructive, is more attractive and winning. All who have been so fortunate and happy as to converse with both, must acknowledge the superiority of the Southern in this particular. There is a something which fasci dress in better taste than any people in this country. Their dresses are neater and their colors better chosen; hence their appearance is the more finished. The public buildings are of a fine order, but I visited only one with much interest-the Old State House, which stands unnoticed and unhonored, with its front posted with bills of "Theatre,” “Magic,” “Diorama," | nates, chains and insensibly wins. The Philadelphians "Constable's Notice," "Lost," &c. To me, it served to recall many interesting and delightful associations, and I felt sorry that it is not more highly prized. It should be the boast of every Philadelphian, that in this The ladies are very fond of music and flowers, both plain and venerable pile once sat the immortal Signers of which speak very favorably of their taste and refineof the Declaration of Independence-that on these steps ment. In walking the streets, you will see beautiful -was first declared that we were free and independent-collections of flowers at their windows, and you will that here the "Father" of a now flourishing and exten- find some of their private gardens most extensive. I sive country was first seen sitting in the Presidential have been often charmed with their music, and it is chair, directing the destinies of a new and freeborn na-delightful to attend the musical soirée given by Mrs. tion. But no such feelings as these glow in their bosoms, and they never point to it as the dearest proof of their freedom. How often will they speak of Fairmount Capt. R. and Mrs. B. alternately on Tuesday evenings. At these parties, you hear the best vocal and instrumental performers and meet the most select society. As instrumental performers of a high order, we may mention Mrs. W., Misses N. and P.-and as vocalists, Mrs. Capt. R., Mrs. B. and Misses W. and G. It has been said that the Philadelphians are cold and reserved in their intercourse with strangers, but it holds true only with those who have visited that city and left it without remaining sufficiently long to become known. Strangers who bring letters of introduction, or persons whose family, education and manners are such as to entitle them to move in their circles, will, when acquainted, have the most marked attentions paid them. There is no city in the Union in which the gentleman is better received. If he pass the ordeal, he is safe and happy in their society; if found unsuited and rejected, he will find it advisable not to attempt the purchase, as he will most certainly fail. As I lay in my bed this morning I heard a low noise upon my windows, and extending my arm from beneath The Medical department of the University of Penn- its folding of blankets, I drew aside the curtain, to see sylvania is an institution well known through our which of winter's messengers was summoning me to country, and stands deservedly high both at home and arise. Like a wild urchin scattering shot from his abroad. The antiquity of the school and the great father's pouch, the delicate flakes of sleet tapped against names connected with it, have placed it at the head of the panes, and made music upon the brittle and respondmedical schools on this side of the Atlantic. With it, ing surface. I was fairly awake. There was no sunare associated the names of Rush, Wistar, Barton, light in the skies, but a dull, heavy atmosphere fell over Dorsey, Physick, Dewees, Chapman, Jackson, Hare the face of nature, and veiled the distant houses in a and Horner-names illustrious in the history of medi-dusky cloud. Still the spattering against the windows eine and as benefactors of mankind. It has been gra- continued, and I answered the summons by a spring dually extending its course of instruction, and its re-from my bed, and was soon equipped. sources are constantly accumulating. The chemical How cheerfully our hearth burns on a sleety mornlaboratory is inferior to none in the world, and the anato-ing, when the servant is industrious. You descend mical museum is the most perfect in this country. To it, is attached the Philadelphia Hospital or Alms-House, the most extensive and best arranged building of the kind. The winter has been uncommonly gay. Mr. and Mrs. Wood and Mr. Brough have astonished and delighted the musical world in the operas of Masanello, Fra Diavolo and La Somnambula. They have fine voices, sing with great taste and power and give the greatest satisfaction. The parties and balls are very frequent. To-night, we attend the brilliant ball at Mrs. C***, Chesnut street, where we shall meet the aristocratic and fashionable.-At 10 o'clock, we made our obeisance to Mr. and Mrs. C***, and stepping aside so as to give room for those who were behind, we were soon lost in the crowd. The music from Johnson's justly celebrated band invited to the dance, and we were soon engaged in the graceful cotillion, the voluptuous waltz and elegant gallope. The dancing continued until twelve, at which time the ladies were conducted to the supper table, which was heavily loaded with all the luxuries of good eating. At one in the morning, the company began to disperse, and at two I found myself comfortably fixed in my lodgings, which I left at ten, fatigued and suffering from headache and fever. from the regions of Lapland, where furred wrappers and ermined cloaks are necessary, into the region of delicious comfort. The breakfast room is warm, and you meet your rosy child, with its rich cheeks crimsoned with health, who runs to you from her cricket by the fire, and presses her sweet warm cheek to yours. You take her in your arms, and both together gaze upon the whitened fields; and how the merry heart laughs, as she sees the old cow sliding down the hill, like a mahogany table-her four legs stiff as icicles. She chirps and laughs with delight, when a little boy catches the sliding old quadruped by the tail, and accompanies her on her slippery journey, until they arrive in safety at the bottom of the hill. The wiry, woolly dog has crept from his lair in an old basket, where he has slept all night, covered up in a green baize crumb-cloth which he has cabbaged, and he looks around him with a knowing eye as if he was considering his chance for an upset. He is a droll, sly and quaint chap, and though quite young, has his wits wonderfully developed. The only place that he will stand a chance for a fall, will be the outside steps that descend to the kitchen. Bob, the ostler's, shoes, may have iced their angles, as he passed in from the stable. No sun yet-and the clock is on the figure of nine. Is yonder white world of ice to stand all day long? The skies forbid. I delight in sleigh-riding. It is glorious sport, when, with ladies on either side of us and with horses well trained and gentle, we dart away at the rate of twelve miles an hour to see some dear friend in the country. How the urn smokes again, and the aroma of the It is sweet to leave behind the pent-up city with its dull coffee ascends in fragrant spires and pervades the room, anthracite coal fires, and seek the country and seat our- as if the odor of some Deity descending from Olympus. selves beside the cheerful wood which blazes and The hot rolls melt the butter, as I hope the sunbeam, erackles on the family hearth. And then too, comes the warm and vigorous, will ere long march over the stubcold bread and sliced ham, cakes and wine, and other re-born ice, and conquer its huge surface with a smile. freshments a thousand times better than the same things The sleet hurries on apace from the near hanging on our own tables. And now too is the time we love clouds, and the very trees seem to shiver as the ice-bolt |