Poems, of which 20007. were for this Canto, and for " The Prisoner of Chillon,-A Dream,-and other Poems;" of which we shall soon take further notice. These are golden Dreams; sufficient to excite the envy of meaner Bards-CXVIII Stanzas! and wellworth the money, though it is more than ten pounds a stanza, and more than a guinea a line.-Poets might be found, who would furnish a hundred times the quantity of lines for a tenth part of the price.-Who will now complain of want of patronage?

79. Lord Byron's Pilgrimage to the Holy Land; a Poem, in Two Cantos. To which is added, The Tempest, a Fragment. 8vo. pp. 72. Johnson.

Of this publication it may be sufficient to say, that, had it been published either without the name of any Author, or with a real name, it might claim some merit. But it is not Lord Byron's; and the Lord Chancellor has already REVIEWED it.

80. Leiters written on board His Majesty's Ship the Northumberland, and at Saint Helena; in which the Conduct and Conversations of Napoleon Buonaparte, and his Suite, during the Voyage, and the first Months of his Residence in that Island, are faithfully described and related. By William Warden, Surgeon on board the Northumberland. 8vo. pp. 215. Ackermann.

WHATEVER relates to the personal History of Napoleon Buona parte ing; more especially when it comes cannot fail of being generally interestin a shape so authentic as the present. "Non ego, sed Democritus dixit," is Mr. Warden's motto on this occasion; and the Reader is at once admitted into familiar intercourse with a man whose eventful history during the last twenty years will astonish the latest posterity. The gigantic power he had at one period attained, rendered him the arbiter of the destinies of the greater part of Europe. At this moment, he appears to retain an unbroken mind; and, though no longer the Colossus that terrified afflicted Nations, upholds an Imperial state in his little circle of adherents in the centre of a small and almost barren Island of rugged Rocks.

From the professional situation of Mr. Warden, his opportunities of intercourse on board the Northumberland were frequent; and they led to

the

the present narrative derives its principal merit. The general outline of the conduct and manners of Na

poleon during the voyage is already familiar to our Readers; but we shall present them with a few particulars that appear worthy of more particular attention. The reception of the Ex-Emperor on board the Northumberland is thus described:

"The barge of the Tonnant reached the Northumberland in a few minutes after it left the Bellerophon *. Our quarter-deck was covered with Officers, and there were also some individuals of rank, who had come round from motives of curiosity, to view the passing scene. Besides the object of general attraction and attention, the barge contained Lord Keith and Sir George Cockburn, Marshal Bertrand, who had shared in all his Imperial Master's fortunes, and the Generals Montholon and Gourgon, who had been, and still continued to retain the titles of his Aides-de-Camp. As the boat approached, the figure of Napoleon was readily distinguished, from his apparent resemblance to the various prints of him which are displayed in the windows of the shops. The Marines occupied the front of the poop, and the Officers kept the quarter-deck. An universal silence prevailed when the barge reached the side, and there was a grave, but anxious aspect in all the spectators, which, in the opinion of others as well as myself, was no small addition to the solemnity of the ceremonial. Count Bertrand ascended first, and having bowed, retired a few steps to give place to him whom he still considered as his master, and in whose presence he appeared to feel all his most respectful homage was still due. The whole ship's company seemed at this moment to be in breathless expectation. Lord Keith was the last who quitted the barge, and I cannot give you a more complete idea of the wrapped attention of all on board to the figure of Napoleon, than that his Lordship, high as he is in naval charactér, Admiral also of the Channel Fleet, to which we belonged, and arrayed in

*"I have been given to understand that Buonaparte's conduct on board the Bellerophon had been such as rather to conciliate the good humour of all on board, so that his departure was not attended with any the slightest mark of disapprobation or disrespect; but with that kind of awful silence which accompanies the fatal close of a public execution."

the decorations of his order, did not seem to be noticed, nor scarcely even to be seen, among the groupe which was subject to him. With a slow step Buonaparte mounted the gangway, and, on deck, he raised his hat, when the guard feeling himself firm on the quarterThe Officers of the Northumberland, presented arms and the drum rolled. who were uncovered, stood considerably in advance. Those he approached, and saluted with an air of the most affable politeness.

The

"Buonaparte, previous to his leaving the Bellerophon, was, it seems, recom mended to select three of his suite to accompany him to St. Helena. Bertrand was at that time supposed to be particularly proscribed; but it is understood that Lord Keith took upon himself the responsibility of including such an attached friend in the number of the exiled General's attendants. The others were the Count de las Cases, who had been a Captain in the French Navy, and is a man of literary attainments; General Count Montholon, and Lieut.Gen. Gourgond, his two Aides-de-Camp, who were devoted to his fortunes. latter Officers served him in the Russian Campaign, and describe the winter which they encountered there in all its horrors. The Russian cavalry they extol; but represent the Cossacks as easily dispersed. They do not appear to hold the Prussians in very high estimation, but consider them, at the same time, as superior to the Austrians. The English infantry, at the battle of Waterloo, filled them with absolute astonishment; but they represent our cavalry as much too impetuous: they probably found them so on that glorious day. In a conversation with Count Bertrand, which happened to glance on that subject, he could not hide his sensations. The little he said was in a plaintive tone, though expressed with candour, and accompanied with expressive shrugs of lamentation. We fought that day, he said, for the Crown of France; but you gained the battle, and we are undone.'

"From the information I received in my conversation with our French guests, it appears that the Emperor's abdication in favour of his Son, is a matter which, as far at least as my knowledge extends, has been altogether misconceived in England: I mean as referring to the immediate and proximate causes of it. If the communications made to me were correct, and I am not willing to imagine that they were invented merely to impose upon me, a grand political scheme was contrived by Fouche to out-wit his

Master,

Master, and it proved successful. The Historiette was thus related: On Napoleon's return to Paris, after his disastrous defeat at Waterloo, and when he may be supposed to have been agitated by doubt and perplexity as to the conduct he should pursue in that extraordinary crisis; a letter was offered to his attention by the Duke of Otranto, as having been received by the latter from Prince Metternich the Austrian Minister. It was dated in the preceding April; and the diplomatic writer stated the decided object of his Imperial Master to be the final expulsion of Napoleon the First from the throne of France; and that the French Nation should be left to their uninterrupted decision, whether they would have a Monarchy under Napoleon the Second, or adopt a Republican form of Government. tria professed to have no right, and consequently felt no intention, to dictate to the French Nation. The final and ratified expulsion of the Traitor (such was the expression) is all the Austrian Emperor demands of France. Napoleon seized the bait; and immediately abdicated in favour of his Son: but he had no sooner taken this step, than he discovered the double game that Fouche was playing. The letter was a forgery, and it soon appeared that the Emperor of Austria had it not in his power, if he had ever indulged the contemplation, to clothe his grandson with political cha

racter.

Aus

"On my asking Count Bertrand which of the French Generals had amassed the greatest portion of wealth; he, without the least hesitation, mentioned Massena; though, he added, they have all made very considerable fortunes. Macdonald, Duke of Tarentum, he appeared to think had made less than any other. Of Davoust, Duke D'Eckmuhl, he spoke, to our extreme astonishment, in an animated strain of panegyric, which was instantly met with an outcry from all who heard it, respecting the conduct of that Officer at Hamburgh, which we represented as atrocious beyond example. This he would not allow; on the contrary, he described him as a zealous, correct, and faithful Commander; and far from being destitute of humanity; as notwithstanding his notions of military obedience, which were known to be of the most rigid kind, he did not act up to the severity of his instructions. As for his taking a bribe, Bertrand declared him to be incapable of such baseness; and asserted, from his own knowledge, that a very large sum had been offered him, to connive at the sailing of some ships from Hamburgh in the night,

which he refused with the disdain of a faithful soldier and an honourable man."

The following account of Buouaparte's return to France from Elba, was casually related to Mr. Warden:

"The Duke de Bassano was the chief actor. Individuals had gone from several departments in France to Elba, and the then Emperor had been induced to suspect that the Allies determined to send him to the Island to which he is now destined. On what authority this apprehension was grounded, not the most distant idea was communicated. It is certain, however, that he entertained it with such seriousness, as to induce him to make the resolute attempt in meditation before the connecting plot was ripe for overt measures in France. Even after his little Army was embarked, a dispatch arrived from his friends, which contained the most earnest entreaties to postpone his enterprise if it were only for one month. ther, if he had received them before he had quitted the Island, they would have been sufficient to check his impatience and quiet his alarms, was not a subject of conjecture: but be that as it may, whatever the counsels were, they arrived too late to be followed; the die was cast."

Whe

"Of the Crown Jewels of France, Buonaparte recovered, as I am informed, but one article, which was a Diamond Cross, whose value was estimated at 12,000l. sterling."

"Some years since, when the Marquis of Wellesley was Secretary of State for the Foreign Department, Sir George, then Captain Cockburn, who then commanded the Implacable, was particularly chosen to conduct a secret enterprise with Baron de Colai, a Pole, to rescue and secure the escape of Ferdinand VII. of Spain, who was at that time confined in the Castle of Vincennes.- I have now the means of throwing some light upon that interesting transaction, by the communications of those who were well acquainted with what I must consider as the unfortunate conclusion of it. All that could be done by the active, patient, and unremitting vigilance of Captain Cockburn, to whom so important a part of this secret design had been entrusted, was accomplished; and it need not be added, that the Officers under his command shared his persevering spirit. They, in due time, arrived at the spot, where the Baron was to enter upon the part assigned him in the bold and dangerous stratagem; and, as an essential accompaniment of it, money and jewels were artfully concealed in different parts

of

of his dress. He hoped to return in about a month, and all the necessary signals were arranged, in order to secure his retreat with his royal prize to the ship. Nothing more, however, was heard of the Baron; and the Implacable, after a long-continued, tedious, and ever-watchful cruize, returned to port. The enterprising Pole now became the subject of various conjectures. He was successively considered as having betrayed his trust, or seized as a spy, and put to death; or that the weak, infatuated Prince, for whose deliverance the enterprising Baron had devoted himself to so much danger, had betrayed the plot, and involved his romantic adherent in the fatal consequences of such a discovery. But the mystery of the poor Baron's fate was now to be unfolded.

The necessary witnesses for the purpose were in Court: Savary, who was Minister of the Police of Paris, at the time of this secret expedition, was in the suite of Napoleon, and could have no objection to tell all that he knew of the business, while his master was on the spot to confirm or correct the statement. There was no difficulty, therefore, for Sir George Cockburn, in his present high official character, to become acquainted with the finale of the bold Baron's adventures; concerning which, it may be presumed, his generous nature felt something more than curiosity. -The Baron, it seems, had arrived in safety, at the point to which he was destined; but Almighty Love appears to have demanded his first attentions.

A

lady, to whom he was ardently attached in Paris, was an irresistible object of attraction, and to that city he bent his first steps but he had not been two hours within its walls before some of Savary's myrmidons seized the unfortunate and imprudent Pole, stripped off his cloaths, with their valuable con

cealments, and consigned him to a pri

son.

So far the stratagem failed of success: but Buonaparte wished to know whether the imprisoned Monarch was privy to it. A proper person was therefore selected to personate the Baron, and with all his false passports and rich cloaths, introduced himself to Ferdinand; but though the guards were purposely withdrawn, to give all possible

facility for his escape, the imprisoned King dared not encounter the danger of the attempt."

These extracts, we doubt not, are sufficient to excite the curiosity of our Readers to peruse the whole of this interesting Narrative; and they will be highly gratified; more especi

ally with the unreserved conversation in which the exiled Emperor endeavours to defend his conduct, in points where his character appears to be the most vulnerable: the execution of the Duke D'Enghien-the sudden death of Pichegru- the alleged murder of our countryman, Captain Wrightthe poisoning at Jaffa-and the massacre at El Arish.

The account of the projected invasion of England in 1805, is a striking instance of the persevering spirit of Napoleon; and his wily plan for carrying it into effect, frustrated only by the decisive victory of Trafalgar, is an article which deserves peculiar attention.

re

Buonaparte once inquired specting a religious community in Scotland called Johnsonians, who, he understood, were a very active sect in that part of Britain." On this subject, Mr. Warden has a whimsical conjecture:

"As in the various plans he had laid for invading our tight little Island, as the song has it, it is not improbable that he might have looked towards the Hebrides, as capable of favouring his design; and, if so, Doctor. Johnson's tour thither might have been curiously consulted, and may I not deduce these Johnsonians from such a combination of circumstances?"

The religious community of Johnsonians we apprehend to have been merely the blunder of a Foreigner, for Jansenists.

81. Sermons on interesting Subjects, by James Scott, D. D. Rector of Simonburn. 8vo. pp. xliv & 366. Rivingtons.

WHEN a person has eminently distinguished himself on the theatre of life, we have a natural desire to become acquainted with the means by which his renown was attained, and to examine the cause why he arrived at that elevation, to which others have either not aspired, or have been unsuccessful in the pursuit. We are led to regard the writings of such a would appreciate their utility, their man with peculiar attention. We excellence, and design; considering the world to be more than commonly interested in them: for although the name of an Author will not perpetuate a Work void of merit, yet we have many instances wherein it immediately recommends to popular peru

sal,

sal, not only sounding trifles, but Works which every good man must condemn as dangerous in their principle, and pernicious in their tendency. The Author of these Discourses, at a very early period of life became popular in the University of Cambridge, as a Scholar, a Poet, and a Preacher. He uniformly, and with much diligence, cultivated the great share of learning acquired in early life; but the benevolence of his disposition also prompted exertions more useful to mankind; and to excel as a preacher became the chief object of his ambition.

"No sooner," says his Editor, "did he enter upon his clerical duties as preacher of the Afternoon Sermon at St. John's, in Leeds, than his oratorical powers were displayed. He had accustomed himself to composition in College; and immediately after his first degree, he devoted his time to the study of Divinity; he was therefore enabled to write his Sermons; and with so much care did he apply himself to the task, that he preached, after a few corrections and additions, some of those Discourses, in the latter part of his life, which he had written between his 24th and 28th years: many of his Sermons seem to have been composed before he had attained the full vigour of his age. Whilst he was thus usefully and properly employed, his mind and heart were in his profession; for no sooner had he preached one Sermon, than he began to prepare another: the young encouraged his zeal with their applauses, the old gladdened his heart with their prayers."

From the year 1760 to 1767, Dr. Scott often resided at the University, where he was a frequent and popular preacher and it was during this period of his life that he became known to the Nation at large by his political writings. Under the patronage of Lords Sandwich and Halifax, he directed a very spirited attack against Lord Bute, at that time the personal favourite of the King; he affixed to his letters the signature of Anti-Sejanus, by which title he was afterwards universally known to the publick.

In the year 1771, he was presented to the valuable Rectory of Simonburn, which changed the early prospect of an useful and happy life into troubles and disappointment. Mr. Clapham, the editor of these Sermons, has given an interesting detail of the

particulars, which may be acceptable to our readers, and more particularly so to those by whom tithes are received or paid.

Dr. Scott succeeded a Clergyman more disposed to maxims of peace than those of prudence, whose long incumbency engendered evils highly prejudicial to his successor. Against the laxity of Clergymen in this particular, Mr. Clapham inveighs with much warmth: yet we feel no disposi tion to dispute the truth of his assertions, nor do we recollect an instance to which they could more justly be pointed. It appears that on the presentation of Dr. Scott the receipts of the Living were under 4001, per annum: whilst the estimated value was 15007. The Doctor though nei

ther an austere nor a covetous man, yet was firm in the performance of duties, and in his endeavour to ascertain, at least, the rights of the incumbent. The parishioners insisted that he must take things as he found them, and leave them so. The most mild expostulation and the most affec tionate entreaties on his part, excited in them only the most virulent invective and violence., They would submit to no arbitration, no controul, except their custom, which for 52 years had been drawing, and almost establishing, a precedent of abuse through the whole parish. All other means unavailing, the Law was appealed to. After a litigation, much increased in expence by the rancorous obstinacy of his opponents, he raised the Living from 400l. to 30001. per annum, and it is now supposed to be worth double that sum: but, having established the rights of the Rector, he was most lenient in the use of them. In the Life of Dr. S. the Editor enters into a considerable discussion concerning tithes. The general conduct of Clergymen in the collection of their income is very ably advocated: general censures are repelled by sound argument; and the charge of injustice confuted by a comparison with the manner in which tithes are valued and exacted when in the hands of Layimpropriators. In one parish, a rich Nobleman receives, without murmur or complaint, the full amount of his tithes: in another, a poor Rector is the object of general abuse, because he remits one-third only of their value, perhaps of his whole income.