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"Enamoured, artless, young, on foreign ground,

Uncertain whither from myself to fly, To thee, dear lady, with a humble sigh,

Let me devote my heart; which I have found,

By certain proofs not few, intrepid, sound,
Good, and addicted to conceptions high.
When tempests shake the world, and
fire the sky,

It rests in adamant self-wrapt around;
As safe from envy, and from outrage rude,
From hopes and fears, that vulgar minds
abuse,

As fond of genius, and fixed fortitude,

Of the resounding lyre, and every muse. Weak will find it in one only part, you Now pierced by love's immedicable dart." p. 100.

When we come to the notes written by Cowper, upon the three first books of Paradise Lost, we deeply regret that he was prevented, by sorrow or malady, from pursuing a task for which he was so eminently fitted. His remarks on the language and versification of his author, are of high value; but his sentiments on the in ventions, the contrivance, and, above all, the religious feelings of Milton, are inestimable. Cowper justifies, most solidly, the fiction of Pandemonium, and the very unjustly censured allegory of Sin and Death; with the fine apostrophes where the poet speaks in his own person. As among

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materials of such value, we can only select a specimen, we cannot, perhaps, give one more striking than the fol lowing admirable note on Book i. 1.

26.

"And justify the ways of God to man.

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Justify them by evincing, that when man, by transgression, incurred the forfeiture of his blessings, and the displeasure of God, himself only was to blame. God created him for happiness, made him completely happy, furnished him with sufficient means of security, and gave him explicit notice of his danger. What could be more, unless he had compelled his obedience? which would have been at once of a free agent to that of an animal. to reduce him from the glorious condition

"There is a solemnity of sentiment, as well as majesty of numbers, in the exordium of this noble poem, which, in the works of the ancients, has no example.

"The sublimest of all subjects was reserved for Milton, and bringing to the contemplation of that subject, not only a genius equal to the best of theirs, but a heart also, deeply impregnated with the divine truths which lay before him, it is no wonder that he has produced a composition, on the whole, superiour to any that we have received from former ages. But he who addresses himself to the perusal of this work, with a mind entirely unaccustomed to serious and spiritual contemplation, unacquainted with the word of God, or prejudiced against it, is ill qualified to appreciate the value of a poem built upon it, or to taste its beauties.-Milton is the poet of Christians. An infidel may have an ear for the harmony of his numbers; may be aware of the dignity of his expressions; and in some degree of the sublimity of his conceptions; but the unaffected and masculine piety, which was his true inspirer, and is the very soul of his poem, he will either not perceive, or it will offend him.

"We cannot read this exordium without perceiving that the author possesses more fire than he shows. There is a supHis judgment controls his genius, and pressed force in it, the effect of judgment. his genius reminds us (to use his own beautiful similitude) of

A proud steed reined He addresses himself to the performance Champing his iron curb. of great things, but he makes no great exertion in doing it; a sure symptom of uncommon vigour." p. 189.

Thus it is that one poet comments upon another; and we will not scru

ple to say, that there is more of valuable observation in the few notes, which Cowper produced on the beginning of this poem, than in ten times the mass of ordinary annotaions.

As to the part of Mr. Hayley in this work, it is modest and proper. Some good notes he has written, and others collected, upon the poems here translated; and we suspect, though we do not perceive it to be said, that the translation of the complimentary poems, addressed to Milton, was his work. The volume is printed for the benefit of a godchild of Cowper, as before announced, and cannot doubt that considerable

we

FROM THE MONTHLY REVIEW.

A Cursory View of Prussia, from the Death of Frederick II. to the Peace of Tilsit. Containing an authentick Account of the Battles of Jena, Auerstadt, Eylau, and Friedland; as also, other important Events during that interesting Period. In a Series of Letters, from a Gentleman in Berlin to his Friend in London. 8vo. pp. 176. 5s. sewed. 1809.

THE history of Prussia, compared with that of the other states of Europe, bears some resemblance to the history of Thebes, when considered in relation to the other states of Greece. Each may be said to have risen and fallen with one man. The bes with Epaminondas, and Prussia with Frederick II. Neither country occupied a conspicuous rank in the political commonwealth before the age of its respective hero; and neither continued long to maintain its elevation when its hero was no more. The letters before us commenced in 1786, when the death of Frederick II. took place, and his nephew, Frederick William II. ascended the throne; having at his command a well disciplined army of two hundred thousand men, and a treasury of forty millions of dollars. He proved himself, however, altogether unworthy of such a succession; since, though not destitute of capacity, he permitted the love of sensual pleasures to engross those hours which he owed to the

advantage will be derived from it. The outline sketches by Flaxman, though elegant, are hardly sufficient to raise the book to the price fixed upon it; but this must be excused, in consideration of the application of the profits. The typography is handsome, but very far from correct. Whether the fault is to be imputed to the Chichester printer, or to some little failure of sight in the editor, we know too well how difficult it is to avoid press errours, to speak very harshly of them. Altogether, the work is such as to give abundant gratification to the admirers of Milton, Cowper, and poetry, whether Latin, English, or Italian.

welfare of his subjects. One delusion led the way to another; and his understanding being affected by the consequences of excess, as well as of remorse, he was so far forsaken by his reason as to become a believer in the absurd doctrine of apparitions, and to delegate unlimited authority to a hypocrite of the sect of Illuminati. The ministers of Frederick II. consequently declined to occupy a cabinet which they could not direct, and retired in 1792, six years after the death of their patron.

It was on this change that Austria 、 prevailed on Prussia to enter into the treaty of Pilnitz, the object of which was to attack France, and to complete the dismemberment of Poland. The latter of these points was accomplished in 1793; and the Polish nobility were brought reluctantly to Posen, to swear allegiance to their conquerors. Nothing could be more impolitick, or less adapted to conciliate, than the subsequent conduct of the Prussian government towards

the Poles. Instead of respecting tinued to be the policy of Prussia, till their national feelings, and endea- the invasion of Germany by Buonavouring to gain their attachment by parte, in 1805; when the violation of sensibly ameliorating their condition, the territory of Anspach and the perall the measures of Prussia were sonal urgency of the emperour of abrupt and peremptory. Their taxes Russia, who came to Berlin very were increased, their publick func- soon afterwards, led to a change of tionaries were changed, and the Ger- measures. It was at this visit of Alex. man language and the Prussian dis- ander that the convention of Poizdam cipline, with all its horrours, were was concluded, by which Prussia acforced upon them. We need not, ceded to the coalition against France. therefore, wonder at the serious in. But this convention was carcely surrection which broke out in the signed when the battle of Austerli:z succeeding year; nor at the discon-' took place; and was followed by the tent which continued to lurk in the submission of Austria. The court of minds of the Poles, after it had be- Prussia immediately endeavoured to come impossible to vent it in open reassume its former character of neu. resistance.

trality, and to conceal the convention Though the constitution of Frede- of Potzdam. But Buonaparte had been rick William II was naturally of the apprized of its hostile tendency, and most robust kind, it was prematurely demanded, not only the renunciation exhausted by intemperance, and he of it by Prussia, but satisfaction for died in 1797. He was succeeded by her audacity in taking measures to his son, the present king; whose oppose him. This satisfaction he education, having been entirely we- made to consist in the surrender of glected by his father, was conducted the provinces of Anspach, Cleves, in a manner at once too private to and Neufchatel; and in return he pregive him a knowledge of the world, tended to make over Hanover to and too remiss to convey that solid Prussia. But that this was mere preinstruction which retirement well tence became apparent in the course employed affords the best opportunity of a few months, by lord Yarmouth's of acquiring. He possesses, there. negotiation at Paris. The formation, fore, neither depth in the cabinet nor at the same time, of the confederation winning manners in publick; and he is of the Rhine, showed that Buonaparte much better fitted for the quiet of intended himself, and not the king of domestick life than for the agitations Prussia, as the successour of the emof royalty. Mildness, diffidence, and perour Francis, in the control of Gerindecision are his prominent charac- many; while, moreover, the French teristicks. At his accession, however, armies continued in Germany in imhe filled his cabinet with respectable mense numbers, notwithstanding the men, and gave his subjects an ex- reiterated applications of Prussia for ample of frugalitv in his establish- their removal. These successive afment Averse, also, from war, he re- fronts, and the promised aid of Rusfused to enter into the coalition of sia, gave an ascendency to the war. Austria and Russia, against France, party at Berlin; and the queen, who in 1799, in which there can be little had not hitherto interfered in podoubt that he acted wisely. But he liticks, now became a keen advocate crred in carrying his love of economy for asserting the national dignity. so far as to neglect the repair of his The people at large were eager for fortresses, since their dismantled war, and confident of success from state was the principal cause of their the recollection of the exploits of a rapid surrender to Buonaparte. former generation under Frederick

Neutrality, it is well known, con- 11. no person seeming conscious how

a

a

much they had degenerated since not considering that these poor soldiers that period, and still less how much themselves were half dying with hunger. their antagonists had improved.

Nor were those peasants near the French The sequel of this imprudent mea

quarters more fortunate; for they also,

without considering the wretched situation sure is universally known. But the

of those miserable people, took whatever present work communicates several they could find; and in passing Jessau, the circumstances which had not pre

rector of which place had fled to Königsviously been published in this coun- berg, they employed his whole pious litry. The most interesting of these

brary to boil their kettles. The rector's

sister, confined by the rheumatism, could relate to the battle of Jena, the siege

not escape. She lay in a little garret. Some of Glogau, and the retreat of prince oatmeal mixed with melted snow, was beIlohenlohe, till his surrender at fore ber, and this, for eight days, had been Prenzlau on the Oder; the French, her only sustenance. We gave her a small superiour in cavalry, and possessed portion of our travelling stock, and joy and of a shorter route than the Prussians,

gratitude beamed through her tears. The

nearer we came to Eylau, the fewer marks having advanced with such rapidity

of devastation we found; and though there as to cut off the whole army.-The were no provisions to be had any where, writer next proceeds to give an ac. yet we saw at least human faces; for the count of the battles of Pultusk, Eylau, other villages we passed through were all and Friedland. But in these, as well

deserted; nor had the houses here been so

much damaged, which gave us some relief, as in his detail of the battle of Jena,

after the various scenes of misery we had the rearler will be greatly at a loss

gone through. In the totally desolated vilfor want of plans of the engagements. lage of Kleinsausgarten we once more The subsequent extract presents an

found the terrifick picture of war; but miaffecting picture of the calamities of sery, indigence, and distress, I first saw

in their extreme at Eylau itself. Parents war, and should be read by all those

were there already so far reduced as to be who are apt to treat such horrours

forced to bury their literally starved babes with levity. Truly on this subject may in their gardens. Bread, meat, wine, branit be said:

dy, salt, or tobacco, were no where to be

found. Poor, emaciated, hollow-eyed specHe jests at scars, who never felt a wound.

tres were crawling about the streets, co“Soon after the arrival of Bennigsen vered with rags like the most pitiable begat Königsberg, I received a letter from a gars. To enter their houses, on account of friend there, of which I send you an ex- the stench of dead bodies, was scarcely tract, to give you, who, in your happy isl- possible; and even my essence of vinegar and, know nothing of the horrours of war, was not sufficient to defend me in their some little idea of the miseries attending church.--I never should have believed these dreadful scenes.

without seeing it myself, that human na“ As soon as the roads were safe, my ture could have born such an excessive curiosity prompted me to visit the memo. degree of anisery. Buonaparte had cruelly rable scene of action at Eylau. Most terri. given up the place to plunder. In short, evebir, indeed, had the iron hand of war ry thing was ruined, destroyed, and laid stamped its baneful traces upon these waste. Not a door, nor a window, nor a cupunfortunate districts. Here the peaceful board was remaining. This is, indeed, the peasant, who reads no newspapers, nor less extraordinary, when we consider that knows even the name of Buonaparte, is the town had been twice in the possession scared from his quiet abode. Both friend both of the French and the Russians, and and foe seem to have united to make him thus, twice were the streets streaming feel, to its full extent, his woful lot.- with blood. The combatants even followed 'The Russians, who were encamped to the each other into the very houses, From extent of five or six miles about Königs- the bighest to the lowest of the inhabitants berg, had, to make them fires in this cold they were all robbed of every thing they weather, unroofed and broken up the huts possessed, and simple water, with a scanty of all the neighbouring villages. Every pittance of mouidy'biead, was all they now kind of provision was swept away; and had to keep life together. To form an idea what made its loss more mortifying was, of the situation of these miserable beings, that five times as much was wasted as was one must bare seen them; for words are inade proper use of. This naturally enra- not sufficient to describe their excess of ged all the peasants against the Russians, wretchedness. Many died through far, the past.

66

many from ill treatment, and many were carts, horses, saddles, cloaks, hats, haryet sick from the painful recollection of ness, broken muskets, pistols, and other

arms innumerable, all in confusion, scatOverpowered by such dreadful scenes tered about. Russians, French, and Prus. of calamity, I deemed it even a relief to go sians, here all lay together. It was in truth and contemplate the horrours of the field. a woful sight.” Howsoever mangled I there found many of my fellow-creatures, yet these lifeless We have remarked a few German bodies had at least surmounted their suf. idioms in this epistolary publication. ferings; but the unfortunate inhabitants of The word " apparently” is used with Eylau were yet languishing on towards the more excruciating death of hunger. reference to the future, in the sense

This certainly would have been their dis- of “probably;" and in page 48 the mal lot, as the whole surrounding district author talks of “irritating the feelwas equally bereft of every mean of sus- ings of the whole woman,” a phrase tenance, had they not soon received from

which sounds rather awkwardly to Königsberg the most desirable relief and refreshment, besides clothing, linen, and English ears. The book, however, is every necessary article to repair and make entertaining, and fully satisfies that their dwellings tolerably comfortable. Had degree of expectation which the title I first visited the field of battle, this hide- of a “ Cursory View" is calculated to ous, unusual sight, which I hope never to

raise. Although without pretensions see again, would have undoubtedly shock

to the character of a finished perfored me more than it now did: for after having my mind so deeply harrowed mance, on the score either of richness

up with the late dreadful scenes, I must reofdescription or profundity ofthought, peat that the sight of the field, frightful as it has a claim to attention, both on it was, with from twelve to fifteen thou- account of the novelty of several of sand slaughtered victims strowed before

the circumstances mentioned in it, me, was yet a relief.-A slight snow had just fallen. My foot slipped, and, in sink

and for the unprejudiced manner in ing, my hand caught a ghastly human which the whole narrative is conface! Ilere were fragments of drums, ducted.

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Tales of Fashionable Life. By Miss Edgeworth, Author of “ Practical Education

Belinda-Castle Rackrent,” &c. 12mo. 3 vol. London. 1809. Announced for re. publication by J. Milligan, Georgetown), and by Bradford and Inskeep, Philadelphia.

IF it were possible for reviewers good sense, these cannot, indeed, be to envy the authors who are brought taught; and, with an extraordinary before them for judgment, we rather share of it, they are acquired without think we should be tempted to envy an instructer: but the most common Miss Edgeworth; not, however, so case is, to be capable of learning, and much for her matchless powers of yet to require teaching; and a far probable invention--her never failing greater part of the misery which exgood sense and cheerfulness_norists in society, arises from ignorance, her fine discrimination of characters than either from vice or from incapa-as for the delightful consciousness city, of having done more good than any Miss Edgeworth is the great moother writer, male or female, of her dern mistress in this school of true generation. Other arts and sciences philosophy; and has eclipsed, we have their use, no doubt; and, Heaven think, the fame of all her predeces. knows, they have their reward and sors. By her many excellent tracts on their fame. But the great art is the education, she has conferred a benefit art of living; and the chief science, on the whole mass of the population; the science of being happy. Where and discharged, with exemplary pathere is an absolute deficiency of tience as well as extraordinary judy

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