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maintain my position in spite of every one. As to you, my dear Stedingk, you must not think of abandoning us; the only irretrieveable fault is to despair of the safety of the country. If you leave Finland, it must be solely to bring us German troops, who know how to obey. Great states are not easily destroyed; and you will see that good will spring from our misfortunes. At all events honour commands to remain firm to the last, and then I shall say like Francis the First, all is lost but honour.

No sovereign ever took more pains than Gustavus to guard his country from that moral epidemy which spreads desolation through Europe. He had learnt, from the civil commotions of Sweden, how to appreciate those new fangled doctrines of anarchy, pompously decorated with the name of liberty. His sentiments on the French revolution are well known; and grievously has he atoned for his too great penetration. Some time before, he had judiciously foreseen that the infection would be brought from America; and he thus expressed his sentiments to the same Baron de Stedingk, then in Paris, who had, rather unwittingly, accepted the order of Cincinnatus.

But

My ambassador has, of course, imparted to you my intentions, and I doubt not but you have complied with them, by immediately relinquishing the Cincinnatus badge which you never ought to have accepted, I have not been deceived by the denomination: the meaning not the word is to be minded. whether this be a fellowship, or a military order, it is inconsistent with my interests and my wisdom, to allow my subjects, and especially men distinguished by their rank and by my private friendship, to wear, and to think themselves honoured by publicly displaying, the trophies of a successful rebellion of subjects against their legitimate sovereign; and particularly of a rebellion, the motives and aim of which were so unjust, and so groundless. I am well aware, that America is now regarded as an independent country, and is even my ally; but that success which has crowned the enterprise, can never justify it. We are, ourselves, too recently emerged from our troubles, to suppose that the latent seeds of our ancient animosities have been completely destroyed, and it is my duty to remove any object which can renew those ideas.

Proofs of Gustavus's warm attachment to his friends are abundantly scattered in all his letters; and no man seems to have felt more than he did that generous friendship, of which kings are too slightly sup

posed incapable; but these spontaneous effusions of the heart cannot well be sepa rated from the concomitant circumstances which gave them rise. From one of his gayer epistles we have taken the following anecdotes, concerning Englishmen; and shall with them conclude this article.

We have here two Englishmen, who possess their full share of that eccentricity, which is held to be a national characteristic. One is the Earl of Effingham of the illustrious House of Howard, and first cousin to the Duke of Norfolk. He has astonished us a good deal, as well as his lady, whom you would never take for the wife of an English peer, from her dress, and from her manners. She could not be presented at court, on account of the etiquette of ceremonial, and of her preten sions, which could not be granted. The other is the Earl of Baltimore; I have not seen him, but this is an original quite opposite to the other, for he will not go to court, where the other claims privileges. He was asked, if he intended to be presented? Not I, said he, I have never seen a king, not even my own; and he left this place two days after. He had six women in his train; and, I really believe, he took a seventh here.

Ex Plutarchi Operibus excerpta quæ ad artes spectant collegit, in capita digessit interpretatione Latina et adnotatione instruxit. J. F. Facius, Lipsiæ, 1805.

12mo.

We have long wished that men of learning would turn their attention, as the author before us has done, to those particular parts or subjects, of the writings of the ancients, which contain important information respecting the arts, the ingenuity, the commerce, and discoveries of the ancients. Examinations of the nature alluded to, by being directed to specific themes, would give more effective satisfaction in the course of their inquiries, than is practicable by general comments. M. Dutens, in his work on the Discoveries of the Ancients, by limiting his attention to certain objects of research made many interesting discoveries, and justified the claim of former ages to a variety of knowledge, never before attributed to them. We may add, that as every man of learning has usually his favourite author, it would be a service to the republic of letters if those passages for instance, in that author which contain the greatest portion of information, were selected and published, separately. The assistance of professional men, in most parts of Europe,

would easily be obtained; and would contribute to illustrate not only the principles adopted by the ancients, but the modes of execution employed by them. Such treatises would also enable us more clearly to understand the terms used by ancient writers; so that letters and the arts would mutually assist each other. We are glad to see this idea acted upon by M. Facius in the work before us; and heartily wish it were directed to the illustration of other valuable writers. It would afford equal instruction and entertain

ment.

Next to Pliny and Pausanias, Plutarch is one of those authors who have left us most information on the arts among the ancients. Commentators have not always taken the trouble of explaining the passages which relate to them. Most have expatiated at uncommon length on points of literary or grammatical criticism, without reflecting that whatever relates to the arts, is no less connected with the history of manners and customs, than with that of the language. It is equally interesting and entertaining for a man of a cultivated mind, who wishes to read with advantage, to be enabled with the aid of luminous explanations, to initiate himself as it were into the secrets of the ancients, to determine the origin of their inventions and discoveries, to follow them in their progress and improvement, to compare them with those of the moderns, and thus to enable himself to judge between them. But that which is a matter of mere amusement for a man of the world, not destitute of learning, becomes a necessary study for those who devote their lives to the instruction of others, and especially to the historian and antiquary. It follows, that without a knowledge of the processes of the arts, as without being acquainted with the words used to describe them, it is impossible to examine, or to explain in a suitable and satisfactory manner, the various monuments of antiquity which are in our possession.

M. Facius has divided his work into chapters, which seems to be the most natural and methodical division for a publication of this kind. He very properly begins by chusing those passages which give an idea of the arts, of their nature, of their distinguished rank and influence under the reign of a man of genius. Such is the object of his first chapter. The se

cond chapter alludes to the different substances employed in the performance of the arts, and to the technical phrases, terms, and expressions used to denote the particular branch embraced by each artist. We read in the annotations to this chapter, that the ancients rendered ivory as ductile as they did gold, and that, for this purpose they used a kind of beer called Zythum, which was thought to be wine made of barley in which they suffered the ivory to soak for a length of time: they most likely mixed some powerful solvent with the liquor. Whatever relates to the Plastic art is detailed in the third chapter. The fourth is allotted to descriptions of the va rious representations of the Egyptian Gods. The author introduces some that appear very extraordinary. At Hermopolis Typhon was figured under the shape of a Hippopotamus, on the back of which a hawk is fighting a serpent: and at Sais, in the vestibule of the temple were different basso relievos representing Osiris as a child, an old man, a hawk, a fish, and a hippopotamus.

The most celebrated statuaries and their works are mentioned in the fifth chapter. On the Jocasta of Silanion, M. Facius observes that the artist had shewn great ability in casting the paleness of death over her face; and, according to Beckman, that he probably had imagined a particular mixture of metals to produce this effect. It is to be lamented that the ancients, speaking of works relative to the arts, have not taken more care to transmit to posterity the process by which such great effects were produced.

The statues of the Gods and Heroes are the object of the sixth chapter. Apollo with a cock on his fist, is mentioned: most likely this characterizes him as the god of light. We know not as yet, says M. Facius of any monument like it. Another most singular one represents Jupiter without ears; an allegory which it is extremely difficult to explain.

The seventh chapter relates to the statues of kings and illustrious men. Sardanapalus was represented in an attitude of insult and self reproach, with an inscription importing eat, drink, make merry: all the rest is nothing. Which language was properly adapted to the description of that prince by historians. There are several inscriptions of the same kind in the Athenea of Arts.

The eighth chapter contains the description of several colossal statues, and the ninth of several images and other figures.

The tenth contains an account of the small images executed in gold, either in honour of Gods, Goddesses, and distinguished characters, or even of courtezans; for several writers speak of that of the famous Phryne. Sometimes Princes and Kings were represented at half length; the Greeks called these figures poτoμai, we call them Busts.

The eleventh chapter illustrates chased shields, and vases charged with alto and basso-relievos. M. Facius observes that on the shield of Ulysses was a dolphin; on that of Idomeneus a cock; on that of Menelaus a dragon; on that of Aristomenes a spread eagle; and on that of Alcibiades a Cupid.

The twelfth treats of Glytica and of the different works it has produced for rings, seals, &c.

Whatever relates to painting, as the names of the most celebrated painters, their principal works, and the exposition of various subjects, executed by unknown artists, is to be found in the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth chapters. It is evident that in ancient times Greece alone produced eminent painters; and M. Facins informs us, on the authority of Strabo, that Sicyon, for a long time had a celebrated school, and that the three predominant and esteemed styles among the Greeks, were the Ionic, the Sicyonian, and the Attic.

Whatever relates to architecture, and works belonging to that art is related in the sixteenth and seventeenth chap

ters.

The eighteenth enumerates artists of different sorts.

The nineteenth is an epitome of miscellanies on different sorts of works.

The twentieth and last chapter treats of the different coins of Greece and of their dies.

M. Facius has not been satisfied with translating such passages as might enrich his collection, he has affixed historical, critical, or grammatical notes to each chapter; and occasionally compares the passages in Plutarch with those in other authors who have written on the same subject; or tefers his readers to them.

The whole work is replete with erudi

tion, and proves that the author has a profound knowledge of Greek literature and of antiquity. M. Facius's book therefore must be considered as a compendium equally entertaining and useful to the Archæologist, or Antiquary, and to the amateurs of the Greek language.

Observations addressed to the British Public; in particular to the Grand Juries of these Dominions. 8vo pp. 73, price 1s. 6d. Booth, London 1800.

The man who is not affectionately interested in the welfare of his country is unworthy of the protection which that country extends to its citizens, and especially of the numerous blessings which accompany a high state of civilization, like that of Britain. But affection has different ways of shewing itself: it may be too fond, or it may be too fearful; too fond to discover imperfections which are obvious to others, too fearful and anxious for the welfare of the subject which engrosses its attention, and hereby induced to take alarm without real cause for apprehension. In general, the happy medium though the most difficult is the most advantageous but, wherever admonition may be salutary, the effect of that error which leads to caution, and by cantion to amendment, is far more desirable, than that security which closes its eyes against danger, till too late, and when repentance is unavailing, exhausts itself in hopeless lamentations and despair.

He

The author of the pamphlet before us, appears to be impressed with a sense of the danger to which this country is exposed, not so much from foreign foes, as from internal relaxation of manners, fears that immorality increases among us and that the bonds which connect society, are loosened by principles inconsistent with the welfare of the body politic. We shail not captiously except against this idea of increasing depravity: yet we may observe, that in the whole course of our reading, we have remarked the same complaint, in almost the same language, made by moralists in general: each lamenting that the virtues of the predecessors were enfeebled in their posterity; and of course, each regarding the generation then passed away, as more exemplary than that which was current to himself.

But whatever be the proportions of virtues and vices in different periods, there

is at all times abundant occasion for the remonstrances of the sage, and for the spirit of the reformer. To rouse the languid attention of the times to a sense of duty, whether to God or man, is no mean service to the public, and whoever perceives a danger and cautions against it, deserves at once the acknowledgments and the support of his countrymen.

edicts of Roberspierre, but by frivolity and lewdness, by bodily excesses, and by mental imbecility. This unhappy race may justly be exhibited in terrorem to the great of the earth; and those who desire to escape their fate should charge themselves daily and hourly not to adopt their maxims, or to imitate their conduct.

Do we then exonerate the lower ranks from their delinquencies? No: but we attribute so much to example that we know not where to terminate its effects. It is the stone thrown into the pool, which produces circle after circle in succession, till the most distant parts of the surface have felt the commotion, and observation can no longer distinguish its

The infection of French principles in polity and religion undoubtedly prevailed among us, at one time, to an alarming extent: we hope and believe that the deJusion is very much abated, if not altogether exploded; but neither the danger we have experienced, nor our deliverance from it should be discarded from our recollection. It is the laudable intention of effects though convinced of their existthis author to recal our escape to our remembrance, to caution us against selfsufficiency and supineness, to urge a reformation both public and private, and to excite every man in his station, and according to his influence, to do his duty, and assist in promoting the true interests of the British community.

ence.

The writer does not confine himself to the professed purport of his pamphlet: perhaps it might not have been the worse if he had but as his digressions mark his carnestness in the cause he has espoused, we can overlook these, as we could overlook more considerable imperfections, for the sake of his main argument, and the general tenor of his exhortations.

We shall give a few examples of his style and manner of reasoning.

The late successes of the French on the continent, which have rivetted the fetters of that part of Europe, at least for some years, cannot, without the intervention of other more powerful causes, be ascribed to their Emperor. It is impossible not to perceive the hand of an over-ruling Providence which, for purposes we cannot presume to scan, so disposed of the measures of his antagonists as to lay then at his feet almost without resistance. What could induce a garrison of thirty thousand men, whose courage and discipline have never been disputed, with arms in their hands, to surrender, without an effort, at Ulm? Witness the same folly and credulity which preserved the bridge of Vienna on the word of an enemy proverbially faithless; and the more fatal armistice, when a fortnight's fortitude and perseverance would, in all human probability, have placed Napoleon and his army at the inercy of the allies.

But, especially, he calls on Grand Juries to exert the power with which the law has invested them, and to practise their privilege of presenting nuisances of every kind, whatever is adverse to good manners. He thinks that much benefit may be derived from such public expressions of abhorrence, and that vigorous examples of exerted principle would effect, in a legal manner, what individuals may desire, but relinquish without attempting, because they consider private endeavours as unavailing. With our author, we too are friends to morals: we too see, in the profligate manners of the French nobility, the causes of their ruin: we know they had abandoned themselves to licentiousness; where then is the wonder they abandoned their country to the destroyer? They were not degraded by expulsion, by inimical decrees which stripped them of their honours, by meeting, as opponents in policy or in arms, those who had sustained the lowest offices in their houshold: they were previously degraded from the ranks of true honour by their dishonourable lives they became unworthy of their dignities when dissipation, folly, and guilting nations, it also excites their jealousy. It beclouded their intellects and engrossed their time, their talents, their understandings; their blood was corrupted, not by the decrees of the convention or the ferocious

:

The unexampled prosperity of our country in itself implies danger: for, at the same time that it commands the admiration of surround

behoves us, therefore, to be on our guard, and not to be so ostentatious in that display of wealth which has marked our progress, on every shore and in every clime where the Bri

tish arms have penetrated. But no system that the wisdom of man can devise, will en‐ sure to us the continuance of the blessings we have so long enjoyed, unless the exercise of private virtue is restored through every branch of society, and fostered by the diligent and united circumspection of all men entrusted in any respect with the interests of religion and moral order, and for the prevention of these crimes which will otherwise cover us with disgrace and infamy, and finally accelerate our destruction.

Of the attachment of the lower classes of our fellow-subjects towards their superiors, it would be painful to entertain the smallest suspicion. But it is melancholy to observe, that the middling classes of society, the grand Ink that has bound us together for so many years, are disappearing very fast, more particularly in the country, through the intervention of over-grown farms, which have thrown the industrious labourer to such a distance, that all prospect of bettering his condition has for ever vanished from his sight.

The following remarks deserve the reflection of our female readers. We have often been surprized, that the very consideration of certain indelicacies being the offspring of French invention, and the adoption of French usurpers, has not been inducement sufficient to the British fair to reject them: for why should French dominion be admitted any more in habiliWe are not ments than in politics? slaves yet and shall slavery begin with our women?

This uniform, this unreserved and cheap display of beauty, has rendered it too familiar, and disarmed it of all fascination :—it may attract the snares of the seducer; but the honourable lover, the man of sense and reflection, who looks for the solid and rational delights of domestic life, recoils from the idea of associa ting his destiny, or of risking his hopes of happiness with such slight and frail materials.

I cannot forbear stating, on very credible information, that a respectable physician should have declared that, in one season only, no less than two hundred female patients under his care had either actually died, or would continue to linger for life, under complaints for which there was no cure; and all contracted in consequence of the exposure of their persons in the pernicious and prevailing indecent fashions of the day!-But the mischief, distressing as it is, does not end here: it will extend to posterity, and succeeding generations will have to deplore the disorders entailed upon them by their parents,

Next to the education of youth, it is, I believe, allowed, that nothing can have a greater influence on the morals, good or bad,

of society, than the representations of the theatre, which, under the management of talents and integrity, might certainly be ap plied to promote the noblest purposes of virtue, as much as, at the discretion of the mer. cenary and unprincipled, they might be perverted to the worst ends of vice,-in preparing the human mind for the gradual encouragement of de' auched habits, and the mest licentious courses. Perhaps it would be difficult to calculate the extent of that mischief, which has been eirculated by the exhibitions on the stage of characters the most abandoned, in such a specious garb as covers the deformity of vice and depravity, from the disgust and detestation of the honest and the good,

Nevertheless, truth compels me to state that, in some late instances, such pieces have been, not only suffered in the performance, but applauded, which, in my own opinion, sanctioned by good authority, have had a tendency highly indecorous, corrupt, and immoral; I ailude more particularly to those plays which have been translated from the German Drama,

We flatter ourselves that we may venture to console this well-intentioned writer, by hoping that there is more virtue among us than he thinks for: by hinting at a spirit of contempt for those who degrade themselves conspicuously, as not only extant but extending; by reminding him of those periods of our history, from which we have risen to comparative rectitude, periods when the whole land was deluged with manners openly offensive to decency; when the court itself was the established school of immorality under royal patronage; when no modest female went to the theatre, nor any woman, if she ventured thither, shewed her own face; unless lost to shame, but

Sat indignant at a courtier's play, Whence not a mask went unimprov'd away, When the wild licence of a foreign reign Did all the dregs of bold Socinus drain: Pulpits their sacred satire learn'd to spare, And vice admir'd to find a flatt'rer there!

We understand this is the production of a gentleman who was lately chairman of a Middlesex Grand Jury,

A Compendious History of New England, designed for schools and private families, by Jedidiah Morse, D. D. and the Rev. Elijah Parish, A. M. 12mo. pp. 388 ; with a map of the United States, pr. 1 doll. 25 c. bound. Charlestown, near Boston, N. America, S. Etheridge, 1804. Taylor, London. Price Os. Ir is, undoubtedly extremely proper.

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