ACADEMY OF ARTS. THE New-York Academy of Arts is now open. The gentlemen, under whose liberal patronage the inftitution has been eftablished, must be pleased to find, though but at present in its infancy, that it exhibits a stately and elegant collection of ftatwary and painting, at once useful and ornamental; useful to the student, folicitous regularly to cultivate the fine arts, and ornamental to the city, which has given it birth, It is furely in an infant country a very interesting exhibition, not only to artifts, but to Americans at large. In the rotunda of the Pantheon, the ftudent may pafs his hours in uninterrupted ftudy, cultivating his tafte by contemplating the most correct models of ancient sculpture. Inftitu tions like this have, in the opinion of philofophers and statesmen, a tendency to foften and humanize the mind, and they have therefore made them the repofitory of materials, on which genius may exercise its powers to advantage, and without which, the strongest intellect may be fruitlessly and deviously employ. ed. It is their opinion, that by studying these authentic models, that idea of excellence, which is the refult of the accumulated experience of past ages, may at once be acquired. The student here receives at a fingle glance the correct principles, which many artists have spent their whole lives in ascertaining; and fatisfied with their effect, he is fpared the painful investigation, by which they came to be known and fixed. In addition to the statues and bufts, which at prefent adorn the Pantheon, will be shortly added correct copies of those works of art, which formerly adorned the Italian galleries. THE indefatigable Dr. MORSE has again fent his AMERICAN GAZETTEER to the prefs of Meffrs. Thomas & Andrews in Boston. This new edition of that highly important work, we hear, is much amended, and enriched with many additional defcriptions. The total fale of the first edition, which was published in 1797, and which confifted of many thousand copies, requires no other comment on its value and general estimation. TO CORRESPONDENTS. THE Editor wishes, that thofe correfpondents, who find their com munications admitted, would always underftand, that his fincere gratitude for their favours, will be ever implied by his acceptation. The Effay, entitled "THE MORAL EFFECTS OF A WELL MANAGED THEATRE," by Euripides, is a judicious and elegant performance; but the liberty however of referving its publication, for a few months, is refpefully folicited. The author of what he terms, "Heraldric Mottos for the prefent Dramatic Company in Bofton.-No. I." may spare himself the trouble of continuing his fubje&. Many of his Mottos are inappropriate, and fcandalous. Theatrical Criticisms must be deferred, till the contemplated enlargement of this publication is effected. The poetical trifles of "Xerxes," and of " Hefper," are too rude to gain a welcome reception. THE MONTHLY ANTHOLOGY, FOR JANUARY, 1804. IN the following thoughts, an old friend is with pleasure recognized, whose odd combination of gravity and vivacity is calculated to make one half of the world rail at his history, and the other half censure his levity. In this effay, he has united the "utile cum dulci;” and if some object to the humour, and others, to the severity of his remarks, all must unite in attributing them to the best feelings of the human heart. THE EDITOR. FOR THE MONTHLY ANTHOLOGY. THOUGHTS ON DRESS. PERHAPS ERHAPS no fubject has occupied more attention, than dress. It is an end, which we propose in almost all our labours. Drefs has ftimulated ingenuity to the greatest variety of inventions. The vanity of the world keeps the world in motion. Drefs fpreads the fail, and opens the furrow. Drefs is the pride of the infant in the lap, and of the over-grown child of thirty. Dress is the darling toy of the fair, and the chief accomplishment of the foldier. It calls into exercise the taste of mankind. Take away drefs, and polished circles would have no fubjects for criticism. The beauties of the age would fink into lifeless indifference. The bufy would be reduced to idleness, and fools would return to infignificance. Spring-ships and Fall-ships would fail without the prayer, which is now breathed from a thoufand gentle lips, for their fuccefs. The amufement of shopping, that relief of tediousness, would be fufpended, and the heavy hours would wear away without one enlivening incident. In writing on drefs, it is neceffary to proceed with caution. The manufacturer, the merchant, the statesman, all are interefted in this weighty fubject. Drefs influences the cabinet of policy, as well as the toilet of beauty. The profperity of nations is connected with a paffion for dress. England could not fight her battles without her broadcloths, nor France chain her enemies without her laces. It is a ground of confolation to the politician, that the spleen of moralists cannot affect the state of fociety. They may rail and fneer; but the vain heart will still beat high for ornament; the fair will still feek to become more fair; and they who want understanding will ftrive to compenfate the deficiency by out. ward fhow. Man ever has been, and ever will be a fuperficial being, contented with his trappings, and pleased with himself on account of the labours of the filk-worm. It is however to be hoped, that there are fome, whofe obfervations on man have extended beyond the discovery of this effential property," that he is capable of wearing clothes." It is to be hoped, there are fome, who can conceive that the human head may be improved for a higher end, than to ferve as a fubftratum for a hat or a bonnet. I do not wish to fhock the age by venting abfurdities. I do not wish to fubvert that foundation of all human knowledge, experience. I grant, that when a part has for time immemorial been applied to a particular ufe, we may conclude with great probability, that it was defigned for that very end. But without wifhing to deny the right application of the human head, by the fashionable world, I would fuggeft the poffibility, that it may have been defigned to answer fome other purpose than that of ornament. To those who know this purpose by experience, my obfervations may be interesting. Is it not strange, that man can be vain of his attire? Does he wear fine clothes? Let him give the credit to the weaver and the tailor. Is man a moral, intelligent being; and fhall he fwell with no higher ambition than the peacock? Surely the fluttering fop, who places all excellence in the cut and quality of his coat, if he ever poffeffed, must have wholly loft the dignity of human nature. It is a mark of a little mind to feek diftinction by dress, That man, who leaves no higher character, than this, behind him, that he wore fine clothes, is more contemptible than filth and raggedness could make him. That man, whofe converfation does not make us forget his drefs, is unfit for human fociety, |