"femblance a Candle bears to the life of Man-The ftory of Prometheus, the inventor of Candles-Remarks on the Mythology of the Ancients-OvidHefiod-Homer-Of Machinery-The early ages fond of it, and why?-The Itory of Thefeus and Ariadne-Light-houfes, the great benefit of- Edystone Light houfe-Candles probably made ufe of on this occation among the Ancients-Light-Sir Ifaac Newton-Optics-Aftronomy-Chronology-Age of the World not known-Mofes-Bonaparte-Friar Bacon-Conclusion. (1) WHEN Phoebus refts his head in Thetis' lap, [Heav'n, (5) Within fome cloud-capt tower of See the poor poet at his table fit, ber'd hobbles forth, Till prompted by neceffity, with care (7) And the verfe quickly gains its prif So have I feen a poor unlucky boy T'immortalife in never dying ftrains, (ro) And, though unequal to fo great a Yet lovers often have its aid enjoy'd. ray, arms. Leander boldly ftemm'd the boift'rous Still we the likeness fee, and humbled NOTES EXPLANATORY AND CRITICAL. (1) The opening of this Poem is peculiarly beautiful. We here fee the fubject propofed in a moft fimple yet dignified manner, and a thought, which of itfelf is low and trivial, by the art of the Poet made majestic and important. (2) Mantua was the birth-place of Virgil. Thus his epitaph-" Mantua me genuit," &c. (3) The Georgicks" Quid faciat lætas fegetes," &c. (4) "Da facilem curfum atque audacibus annue coeptis."-VIRGIL,Geor.lib.i.41. (5) Grub-street, in the ward of Cripplegate, running between Moor-Street and Chifwell street, Vid. Map of London. Its apparent poverty, I fuppofe, bas given rife to the idea of its being the refidence of the votaries of the Mules. VOL.XLII. DEC. 1802. That Tii That it has long had this character is well known: Pope, in the Dunciad, has often mentioned it as fuch. By the "cloud-capt tower," an expreffion taken from the immortal Shakespeare, the Poet means the attic ftory of a house, or what is commonly called the garret. For the benefits of living in a garret, Vid. Rambler, No. 117. (6) To make the found echo to the fenfe, has long been confidered an excellency only to be found in two or three of the greatest mafters of verification. Homer and Virgil excel all the ancients in this beauty; but I question whether there is a more perfect example of it in all their works, than we have in these two lines. For remarks on this art, the reader may confult Dion. Halic. Dimit. Phal. Blair's Lectures, and The Elements of Criticism. (7) Another beautiful inftance of the fame. As in the last we felt the verfe languid, and as it were impeded, we here feel it flow with ftrength and celerity. Befide the writers already mentioned, fee Pope's Art of Criticism. (8) I imagine the stream here alluded to, is what is commonly called, the New River, although there appears fome arguments to believe the Poet means the river Lea; as the Trinobantes were the inhabitants of Effex and Middlefex, and the latter mentioned river has its courfe through thefe counties. Vid. Camden's Brit. Moll Speed, and other topography; alfo Brooke's, Salmon's, and Walker's Gazetteers. The critical reader will, perhaps, difcover an inconsistency in this line. If the river "glide fmoothly," how can it wash or lave the plains? It might be faid with juftice of a river that is liable to overflow its banks, but not of one that glides fmoothly" within its banks. I am fure, if the author had reviewed this a fecond time, he would have corrected it; and, if I might be allowed to hazard a fuggestion, instead of the word "lave," would have put the word eats, which at once conveys a most beautiful idea to the reader's 'imagination, viz. a river devouring a plain, and expreffes, in a very trong manner, the nature of the river defcribed. The thought, I must own, is from Horace, but that furely is no objection. Non rura, quæ Liris quietâ Mordet aquâ taciturnus amnis.-Hor. Od. 31. lib. 1. (9). The excellent Founder of the Humane Society. (10) There is fcarce a poet, of any antiquity, but what has made a like declaration of their expectations. Vid. Ovid Metam. 15. Virg. Geo. 3. Hor. Od. 1. This one circumftance proves the poetical abilities of the author. (11) The "Hop Garden," a Georgick, in 2 books, by Chriftopher Smart. (12) Cyder," a Poem, by John Phillips, and "The Fleece," by Dyer. (13) The Hero and Leander of Mufæus. Some people fuppofe this beautiful Poem to be the work of fome more modern poet than Mufæus, the fucceffor of Orpheus. Voffius and others think it belongs to one Onomacritus, who was feven hundred years younger than Mufæus. This opinion feems chiefly to reft on the authority of Paufanias, who mentions that perfon as the writer of fome fragments attributed to Mufæus, extant in his time; but whether the Hero and Leander was one of them, does not appear. Others, among whom are F. Cafaubon, and Daniel Paræus, imagine it the work of tome writer in the fifth century of the Chriftian æra. I fhall not pretend to give an opinion on the fubject, but fhall leave it to the confideration of the judicious reader, who may confult, if he pleafes, Voffius, Paræus, Cafaubon, Heinfeus, Scaliger, and the other critics who have difcuffed the fubject more at large. (14) I with the reader to notice the beauty, and excellent moral tendency, of thefe concluding lines.-Vide. Gray's Inn Journal, No. 27. ARGUMENT OF BOOK II. This Book opens with the Genius of Ruffia pronouncing a panegyrick on Russian Tallow-The great Benefits arifing from Navigation-Argonautic Expedition-Captain Cooke-Remarks on Expeditions in general-For CommerceFor Religion For Conqueft-A Perionification of Expedition - EgyptAddrefs to the Memory of Bruce-Palmyra-Zenobia-The Nile--Crocodiles -Pyramids The Plague-Tallow Chandlers not affected with the Plague of 1665-Oxygen-Azote-Defcription of a Tallow-Chandler's fhion-Weights and Scales-Epifode of Sextillus and Pruinella-Confumptions cured by the Smell of Tallow-Conclufion. SOME יI SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LATE MR. SAMUEL PATERSON. Some fmall memorial left behind, Or foon, when clos'd Life's tranfient fcene, JOHN THE HERMIT. See Poetry in our lafl, p. 382. has been the established custom in all ages, and almost in every nation under the Sun, not excepting even the uncivilized, to erect fome frail memorial of departed fellow-mortals, and to perpetuate, as far as human means could effect it, the remembrance of great and good men. On this principle, pyramids, maufoleums, obelisks, and monuments, with their various decorated recorded tablets, have, from earliest antiquity, been the pompous fhrines in which the manes of the illuftrious dead have been preferved, and memorials of their noble deeds handed down to remote pofterity. Thus Heroes, Statesmen, Kings, in duft repofe. POPE. But it has fometimes happened, that thefe pofthumous honours have been paid to the good and the bad indifcriminately; to the tyrant, and to the Father of his people; to the fanguine destroyer of devoted nations, and to the brave deliverer of his country from lawless ufurpation and uncon trolled oppreffion. Hence, the bright examples and the moral leons which should be conveyed to the living are perverted, bafe adulation extends its influence beyond the grave, and many of thefe fplendid monuments exhibit only, lying legends. In the humbler walks of private life, the useful talents, the amiable virtues, of the good citizen, ere the tears that bedewed his funereal obfequies have cealed to flow, find a readier mode of prefervation from oblivion; an untarnifhable record, perhaps not lefs durable than marble, being not so liable to the depredations of time, a never-fading record on the pages of the faithful historian, or the candid biographer; the latter title the writer of this laft tribute to the memory of a worthy character, of a faithful friend, and of a companion, through the long courfe of half a century, hopes he may juftly claim; for nothing but the truth fhall be briefly related. A claffical education, no matter when or where, gave my deceafed friend an early tafte for fcientific and polite literature, and perhaps no better means offer. ing to indulge this propensity, he fet out in life, in the station of a bookfeller, by which we are not always to understand a mere buyer and feller of books, but not unfrequently, what the French term un homme de lettres, a learned man, one who is well fkilled in literature-fuch was Mr. Robert Dodfley, bookfeller in London, also a dramatic poet and mifcellaneous author, who paid the debt of nature in 1764; and fuch was the late Mr. Samuel Paterfon, recently departed; and fuch, at this day, are fome diftinguished bookfellers in different countries on the continent of Europe. That branch of the bufinefs in which my friend engaged was, at the diftant period of time when he first settled, but little known in England-the importation of foreign books; in this department, the late Paul Vaillant was almoft alone; certainly the most eminent, and commonly called the Foreign Bookfeller. Mr. Paterfon followed in the fame line, and but for the mifmanagement of the perfon intrufted to execute his commiffions abroad, might have fucceeded as well. He afterwards directed his views to an employment for which he was peculiarly qualified, and perhaps unrivalled. It is certain he has left no equal, nor, as it is to be feared, any fucceffor. In the arduous and difficult task of compofing fcientific and claffical catalogues of public and private libraries of books and manufcripts in the ancient and modern languages, for a long feries See the Obituary in our lat, for the latter end of October. of of years, Mr. Paterfon acquired the highest degree of reputation; and feveral volumes of his catalogues, which are now becoming fcarce, are not only well known to the literati of the principal cities and universities of Europe, but constitute valuable articles in their public libraries. A talent fo rare could not fail of recommending him to the notice of perfons of high rank in his own country, diftinguished for their refined talte, and judgment in literature, amongst whom he had the honour to be held in great efteem; more particularly by the Marquis of Lanfdown, who configned to him the care of arranging his valuable and well-chofen collection of books, in the new and elegant library (built for their reception in Lanfdown House, Berkeley Square, by Wyatt), permitting him, alfo, to add fuch scarce or new books as he should think worthy of a place in it, and continuing him in the honourable station of his Lordship's librarian, feveral years. A regular lift of our Bibliologift's valuable catalogues may be ufeful to men of literature, at the fame time, that it ferves as a memorial of his fingular talent. The first, diftinguished by a most remarkable circumftance, is a Catalogue of a Collection of Manufcripts of the Right Honourable and Right Worship ful Sir Julius Cæfar, Knt. Judge of the Admiralty, Master of the Court of Requests, &c. in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and in the reigns of James I. and Charles I. Chancellor, and Under Treasurer of the Exchequer, &c. which, by the ignorance of the perfon into whofe hands they fell, were on the point of being fold by weight, to a cheesemonger, as wafte paper, for the fum of ten pounds; but fome of them being shown to Mr. Paterson, by Mr. Bayne, formerly an apothecary in Cork street, he carefully examined and foon discovered their value. And, finally, by his masterly publication of the Catalogue (now before me), digefted under feveral thousands of the moft Jingular and interefting beads, they fold, by auction, for three hundred and fiftyfix pounds; and amongst the purchafers were the late Lord Orford, Philip Carteret Webb, and other perfons of rank. It is dated in 1757. The fecond of which I have been enabled to collect any certain information was, Bibliotheca Anglia Curiofa, col lected principally, with a view to a Hiftory of English Literature, fold in March 1771, in three parts. The third, Bibliotheca Fletwoodiana, including the ancient Conventual li brary of Meffenden Abbey, Bucking. hamfhire. Sold in 1774. The fourth, Bibliotheca Beauclerkiana, or the valuable library of the late Hon. Topham Beauclerk, F. R. S. confifting of thirty thousand volumes in moft languages, and upon almost every branch of feience and polite literature. Sold in 1781. This catalogue, in my poffeffion, forms a very large and thick volume, in octavo, clofely printed. The fifth, Bibliotheca Croftfiana, a catalogue of the curious and distinguifhed library of the late Rev. and learned Thomas Croft, A. M. Chancellor of the Diocese of Peterborough, &c. This, likewife, is a large octavo volume, in my poffeffion. Sold in 1783. The fixth, Bibliotheca Univerfalis Selecta, with an Index of Authors, Interpreters, and Editors. Sold in 1786.* The feventh, Bibliotheca Pinelli, the library of a noble Venetian, an octavo volume. Sold in 1790. The eighth, Bibliotheca Strangeiana, or the library of the late Mr. Strange, of Portland-place. Sold by Leigh and Sotheby, 1801. The ninth, Bibliotheca Fageliana, a moft noble collection of the late M. Fagel, Secretary to the States General of the United Provinces, brought from the Hague; intended to be fold in March 1802, but difpofed of by private contract to the University of Dublin. Independent of thefe profeffional labours, Mr. Paterfon was a mifcellaneous writer of various little tracts, having for their object public utility, found policy, and moral admonition; but to which he did not think proper to put his name. Thofe I have now before me are➡ Another Traveller; or, Curfory Remarks, &c. made upon a Journey through Part of the Netherlands in 1766, by Coriat Junior. 3 vols. 12mo. 1769. Some monthly and weekly Re. views, published at that time in maga zines, and other periodical publica tions, having acculed our Author of being an humble imitator of Yorick's Sentimental Journey, he published an appeal, with atteftations of the Book fellers, fold to the biddeft bidder. The pow erful oppofition made to this publica tion by the bookfellers, at that time the chief proprietors of moft, newfpapers, and by the advertisers of quack medicines, accommodations for private lying in of pregnant women, &c. easily accounts for its want of fuccefs. Speculations on Law and Lawyers, an excellent tract, demonstrating the injuftice and iniquity of perfonal arrefts for debt, previous to any verification of the debt, on a fimple affidavit; a practice unknown in other countries; and the pernicious confequences of which are expofed by affecting examples of cruelty. 8vo. London. 1788. T. MORTIMER. London, Dec. 11, 1802. No. V. ON THE ADVANTAGES OF A LIBERAL EDUCATION. Doctrina fed vim promovet infitam, Thus with early culture bleft, Infancy's expanding breaft HORAT. Lib. iv. Od. 4. Glows with fenfe and pow'rs matur'd: Whence, if future merit raife Private love, or public praise, MANY confider a liberal education The ignorance that pervades the lower claffes of the community, and the numberless evils which arife from it, cannot but give the moft ferious concern to a benevolent mind. The child of poverty too often receives no other inftruction, than the occafional admonitions of parents almoft as uninformed as himself; abilities, which, had they been properly tutored, might have ferved the caufe of virtue, not ANON. unfrequently lie dormant, or, from an unfortunate bias, are inclined to the fide of vice. The poetical genius, which, affifted by education, might have rivalled the celebrity of a Dryden or a Pope, will perhaps only burst forth into the ftaves of a trifling ballad; and the fertility of invention, or promptnefs of execution, which might have nobly furthered the measures of Government, will perhaps be exerted in ftriking out the plots, or perpetrating the deeds of villany. But a liberal education is ferviceable, not only in eliciting and polishing the talents of genius, but alfo in arming the frail youth against the prejudices of ignorance and the temptations of immorality, and directing him to the knowledge of the truth. Without a monitor to warn him of his danger, the example of corrupt affociates will eafily feduce him into vice. He will foon learn to con |