we are afraid the author has outdone herself. It exhibits a specimen of plethoretic conciseness, which is almost surfeiting:

"Poetry has of late too much degenerated into personal satire, persiflage, and caricature, among one class of writers; while among another, it has exhibited the vagrancies of genius without the inspiration; the exuberance of fancy without the curb of judgment; and the eccentricities of invention with out the restrictions of taste. The image

has been strained while the verse has

been slackened. We have had pleo

nasm without fullness, and facility without force. Redundancy has been mis. taken for plenitude, flimsiness for ease, and distortion for energy. An over-desire of being natural has made the poet feeble, and the rage for being simple has sometimes made him silly. The sensibility is sickly, and the elevation vertiginous."

Independent, however, of the similarity perceptible in the style, there will also be found in Colebs' many unequivocal proofs of the same extensive knowledge, and sound sense; of the same refined taste and unaffected piety, and of the same discrimination of character, which most of Mrs More's other writings display, But this is not all.

Some years ago, there appeared in a religious magazine, published monthly in London, a series of papers under the title of Modern Characters'. It is long since we were led to admire these descriptions, and we have lately understood that they were from the pen of Mrs More. In this opinion we are now confirmed, as we have an idea, that several of the characters introduced into the present work are just those which were so well pourtrayed in the Christian Observer, represented more exactly to the life. Thus the history of Lady Belfield seems to develope a character, which is very nearly the Amanda described in the Observer. The fundamental want of

h is a just view of the depravity of

man, and of the evil nature of sin. They have both somewhat more plausibility than principle, and are rather concerned to maintain an exterior decency and propriety of conduct, than to acquaint themselves intimately with the doctrine of Scripture. They appear both desirous of keeping measures with certain fashionable prejudices which they had imbibed; and altho' neither of them would upon any account be considered the enemy of religion, yet it would seem, that they were frequently in circles where they could not keep from thinking that it made both their good sense questionable, and their good breeding too, if they appeared boldly to stand up in its defence. In like manner, altho' they wish to preserve an unblemished reputation, yet both seem to be a little more afraid of receiving a strictly religious character from the world, thau of any of the vices which go to constitute a profligate one.

In the same manner, Mrs Ranby of 1809, seems to be only Theodosia of 1803, pretty exactly personified. The one has a peculiar phraseology; so has the other. The one "leans to mysticism, and is in quest of transports and supernatural impressions." The other "holds those as unworthy of her intercourse, who cannot catch at a certain mystic meaning, who do not fully conceive of impressions, and cannot respond to mysterious communications." They were fond of the same parts of Scripture, and had an equal aversion at all public amusements.— Celebs was considered by Mrs R. "to have but low views of divine things," and her husband, she remarked, "was unacquainted with religious feelings, and knew little of the nature of conversion." Just in the same way Theodosia professsed to have little respect for Eusebia, on account of her seeming to be so very ignorant on these subjects. Another striking circumstance in which these ladies agree may also be mentioned. Theo

dasia, notwithstanding very profuse acknowledgments of her general vileness, is apt to justify herself when you come to particulars. Now, there is no reader of Cœlebs, we may say, but who has been most highly entertained at the display which Mrs Ranby gave of this very disposition, in the scene where her husband had well nigh blurted out some little things, which it was certainly more convenient to prevent him from disclosing.

The third character, and the fullest of the three which are illustrated in the Christian Observer, is that of Eu sebia, a perfect paragon of excellence, whose principles, dispositions, and conduct, are almost exactly those which distinguish the family of Stanley Grove, and which it is evidently the great object of the author throughout the work to illustrate and recommend.

It is from these circumstances which we have now mentioned, that we are induced to believe, that Mrs More has now afresh laid her hands upon the materials which she had formerly collected, and under a conviction of their useful and valuable nature, has again wrought them up into a web of a different pattern and size.

In the Christian Observer, our author laid down, as it were, a series of important and interesting theorems. In her present work, she has proceed.

ed to the demonstration of them.

Formerly, she seemed to resemble a skilful anatomist, with his various subjects stretched out before him, employed in giving a full and faithful representation of the several powers of the human body, in describing its several limbs, its muscles, its fibres, its nerves, and the different situations in which they are found, the places which they hold, the purposes which they serve, and the distempers with which they are liable to be affected.

From such a prelection, a very correct idea may no doubt be formed of

the anatomist to be able to ascend into heaven, as Prometheus of old is represented, with the assistance of Pallas, to have done if he can fancy him stealing from thence a portion of celestial fire, and therewith proceeding to communicate life, motion, and activity to the inanimate bodies; if, farther, he can figure to himself the visible display of the justness and fidelity of the anatomist's description, which may be supposed to follow, in the va rious operations of which the renova ted men become capable in active life:-if, we say, the imagination of the reader can admit of all these ideas, then the analogy which they bear to the present subject of discussion will perhaps be in some measure understood. The former account which Mrs More gave of her characters was the discourse delivered over the anatomical preparations. Now, she has given lectures upon life. Formerly, she described her personages. Here, she has displayed them; and on both occasions, she has exhibited that in. timate knowledge, which she must be allowed to possess, of the intellectual, moral, and spiritual mechanism of Man.

(To be continued.)

New Works published in Edinburgh.

AN Inquiry into the Antivariolous

power of Vaccination. By Tho mas Brown, Surgeon, Musselburgh, 8vo. 7s. 6d.

A System of Chemistry. By J. Murray. Second Edition. 4 vols. 8vo. 21. 8s.

Translations of M. Gener. By the Rev. J. Muckersy. Second Edition. 8vo. 7s.

Scottish Literary Intelligence. Complete edition of the works of

race.

But if the reader can imagine

June 1809.

author

author of Robinson Crusoe, and of various political works, will be pub

lished in a few weeks.

Splendid editions of Mr Scott's two celebrated poems of Marmion, and the Lay of the Last Minstrel, with embellishments from the pencil of Westall, will be speedily published.

MR

FOREIGN.

R Pratt is preparing, and about to publish, some Specimens of Poetry by Joseph Blackett, a youth of extraordinary poetical promise; who, from an undistinguished situation, by no means favourable to mental exertion, has just started up. A singular accident brought some of his productions under the inspection of several eminent literary characters; who have been unanimous in pronouncing him one of the most highly gifted individuals that has for many years claimed the notice of the Public. The strength of his genius is said to be Dramatic; a species of composition, for which it must be allowed there is, in the present state of the stage, or rather in the present vitiated taste of the Public, a full and fair opportunity for the exertion of a natural and origi. nal genius.

Mr Bowyer (who some time since published those parts of Sir Robert Ainslie's celebrated collection of Drawings which related to Egypt, Caramania, and Palestine,) has just issued a prospectus for publishing the remaining part of that collection. The new work will consist of Views in Turkey in Europe, and will include Bulgaria, Romania, Wallachia, Syria, the Islands in the Archipelago, &c. &c. Among them will be a correct representation of the celebrated Temple of Jupiter Ammon at Siwah, in the deserts of Libya, discovered in 1762; some curious and highly interesting delineations of the Temple of Diana at Ephesus, and a large and accurate View of Constantinople and its environs. A considerable part of this work will consist of views in countries of which there are no other draw ings extant. The present publication will include the whole of Sir Robert

veral years with great success.

The London Edition of Mr Barlow's Epic of the Columbiad, will be ready in a few days.

The Public will learn with pleasure, that Miss Starke's beautiful Translations from Carlo Maria Maggi will shortly be published in an elegant small volume.

It is intended shortly to republish Fuller's Worthies, Purchase's Pilgrims, and Hakluyt's Voyages. This undertaking forms part of the plan of those booksellers who are reprinting the Chronicles of Holinshed, Hall, Grafton, &c.

A new Life of Torquato Tasso; including his letters, illustrations of his writings, and memoirs of some of his li terary contemporaries, is in forwardness.

Dr Ireland will speedily publish, A Comparison between Paganism and Christianity, in a course of lectures to the King's scholars, at Westminster, in the years 1806, 7, and 8.

Mr Francis Hardy is engaged upon a Life of the late classical and patriotic Earl of Charlemont; including a view of the affairs of Ireland during a very interesting and important period.

Mr Drew, author of an Essay on the Immateriality and Immortality of the Soul, has in the press, in an 8vo. volume, an Essay, the object of which is to prove the Indentity and General Resurrection of the Human Body.

Mr Thomas Hope will shortly pub. lish a Collection of Designs, representing the costume of the ancients. It will consist of about 160 outline engravings, with an introduction, and form two volumes in quarto and octavo.

The Clarendon press is engaged on an edition of the Ionic Lexicon of Æmilius Portus, designed to accompany the edition of Herodotus, lately published by Mr Cook.

A

A Practical Treatise on the Merino and Anglo-Merino Breeds of Sheep is in its progress through the press, and will be ready for publication in a few days. The object of this Treatise is to demonstrate to the practical farmer the peculiar advantages attending the above breeds, and to prove that the Spanish manner of treating the Merino sheep is not indispensable in this country to the production of fine clothing wool.

The missionaries at Karass have printed several small tracts, in which the absurdities of the Koran are exposed, and the leading doctrines and duties of the gospel concisely but forcibly stated. The circulation of these over a great extent of country, has already produced a considerable sensation among the natives. In the district round Karass, a general attention to the subject of reli. gion has been excited; the violent prejudices against Christianity are greatly abated; many do not scruple to express doubts respecting the Truth of Mohammedism, and there is every reason to believe, that not a few would openly renounce it, were they not restrained by the dread of their chiefs. An effendi, whose name is Shelling, and who is allowed to be one of the most respectable of their priests, has frankly acknowledged, that he is unable to answer the objections against his religion; and tho' he still professes to be a Mohammedan, he discovers a high veneration for the gospel, and a decided attachment to the missionaries. Abdy, the old priest, died in October last, of the plague, to the infection of which his incautious exertions had exposed him. There cannot be a doubt, say the missionaries, that he too was speculatively convinced of the truth of Christianity, and frequently did not hesitate to expose the absurdity of the Mohammedan religion; but he was so much influenced by the fear of the chiefs, that he continued to the last to exercise the office of priest among his countrymen. The young natives whom Mr Brunton has ransomed from slavery, continue to give the greatest satisfaction. The progress which they make in their education, is exceedingly encouraging; some of them can already read the Bible. During the last year, several were baptized. Among these

was Katagerry, the young Sultan, whose history is particularly interesting. He is lineally descended from the Khans of the Crimea, and is allied to some of the greatest families in the East. His father being one of the chiefs near Karass, he became acquainted with Mr Brunton soon after his arrival, and has ever since manifested the strongest attachment to him. The missionary, engaged by his amiable disposition, began to instruct him in the principles of Christianity, and it was not long before he perceived its superiority over his own religion. It is now two years since he renounced Mohammedism; and ever since, he has not only adhered stedfastly to the profession of Christianity, but zealously endeavoured to spread the knowledge of it among his countrymen. He loses no opportunity of recommending it to their attention, boldly defends it whenever it is attacked, and discovers the most earnest concern for their conversion. Nor is it with the common people only, that he takes these pains; he frequently argues with the mollas and the effendis, labouring to expose their absurd opinions and wicked practices, to their deluded followers. Hitherto, neither promises nor threats have caused him to waver in his attachment to Christianity. At his own earnest request, he was publicly baptized in the month of July, and was soon afterwards induced, by the wish to do something for his own support, to offer his services to the governor of Georghievsk, by whom he was immediately employed to write in one of the offices of the Crown. It is well known that Christianity was once the religion of many countries in the East, that are now overspread with Mohammedan darkness. A century has scarcely elapsed since the Abazas, the Kabardians, and other Circassian tribes, were compelled at the point of the sword to exchange the doctrines of Christianity for those of Isla. mism. But though the majority of the mountain tribes submitted to the mandate of their conquerors, some successfully resisted, and these, it is said, still profess to be Christians. It is also reported that some of the old churches are yet standing; and that these people possess books, which none of them understand.

POE.

444

EPITAPHS.

(Continued from p. 368.)

27. On a Scold.

HER husband prays, if by her grave you walk,

You gently tread, for if she's wak'd, she'll talk.

28. Another, by Piron.

Ci git ma femme-ah qu'il est bien !
Pour son repos et pour le mien.

29. Another, by Cowper.

Here rests my spouse; no pair thro' life,
So equal lived as we did;
Alike we shared perpetual strife,
Nor knew I rest till she did.

30. In Westminster Abbey.

Here lie the remains of Sir James Fullerton, Knt, first gentleman of the bed-chamher to King Charles the First, (Prince and King) a generous rewarder of all virtue, a severe reprover of all vice, a professed renouncer of all vanity. He was a firm pillar to the commonwealth, a faithful patron to the catholic church, a fair pattern to the British court. He lived to the welfare of his country, to the honour of his Prince, to the glory of his God. He died fuller of faith than of fear, fuller of resolution than of pain, fuller of honour than of days.

31. In the High Church-yard, Glasgow.
To the memory
of

Three Eminent Physicians,
Matthew, Thomas, and John Brisbane
Grand-father, Son,, and Grand-son,
Men not more distinguished
For skill in their profession,
Than for

Their Learning, Virtue,
and
Humanity.
They died

Anno Dom. 1699, 1742, 1775.

32. On Adrian, by himself. Adrianus Sixtus hic situs est qui nihil sibi infœlicius in vita duxit, quam quod reg. paverat.

33. On Wigandus, by himself. In Christo vixi, morior, vivoque Wigandus, Do sordes morti, caetera, Christe, tibi. 34. On Prior, by himself. Nobles and heralds, by your leave, Here lye the bones of Matthew Prior, The son of Adam and of Eve :

Let Bourbon or Nassau go higher. 35. On W. Lowndes, Esq. Secretary to the Treasury in the reign of Q. Anne. No ways or means, against the tyrant Death, Could raise supplies to aid thy fund of

breath,