ii notice of Delia Danceabout, letter from 235 James 1. 184 Delpaian Club, what 401 Depravity of language, what 102 Jameson's Medical Admonisher, 249 Descent of Peter die Great, 114 Journey through Albania 156 Description of the Athenian la- Last poems of Byron, 5641 d.es 259 Latitude of West Point 246 Desultory reading, 188 Detroit, surrender of 189 Legal Study, Hoffman's course D'israch's James 1. 184 of, 192 Drama, remarks on the American 376 Dueling, Essay on 152 remarks of a Lounger on 383 r.ctures on the law a- Letters on the French Revolu- Library of the Medical College 248 323 gainst 485 Locust, Natural History of the 493 445 Editors, Catholicus to the 285 Lord Chief Justice Coke, 180 Elementary treatise on Mineral- Love and Friendship, 100 ogy 345 Louis XI. supersution of 129 Elizabeth queen of England, 62 Manuel, review of 427 by a club of Paters 386 Manufactures, English, 306 Ema, character of 441 Mathematicks, 77, 151, 243, 317, Engush Synonymes, 99 403, 498, 501, English Manufactures, 306 Margaret of Anjou, 86 Essay on Genius and passion, 121 Medical College, 248 on Duelling, 152 Faculty, remarks on the moral Fairy tale, 25 Foundation of Poetical rules, Genius and Passion, 461 100 Mineralogy, professor Cleave- Memoirs of Sir Joshua Reynolds, 156 324 351. 241 1 121 Misce lany, 38, 106, 202, 276, Missouri Territory, bird's-eye 366 -- controversy on 327 372. Missouri, Scenes in 435 Greece, Lobhouse's Travels. Mgbton, Pasquin of 249 through 469: Moral Faculty, 224 Grosvenor, Mrs. Jang, life and. death of Haddock, the sleeping preacher 185 Handsome compunen 502 My Landlady's Gown, notice of 505 411 Natural History of the Locust, 493 •242 Nature, Sketches from 583, 441 Happiness, truc New Orleans, battle of 453 High heads and heels, 307 Noah, a poem, notice of 157 Hindman, Col. Jacob 38 Observations on the Weather of History of the War, Bracken- 1816 69 ridge's, 188 Ogilvies Essays, review of 8 History of America, continua- Oinniana, 126, 506 tion of Ramsay's 429 Original Letters 303, 455 Hobhouse's Travels 409 241 Hotiman's course of Legal Study 192 Homer, entical comments on 313 Passion the soul of genius, Peter the great, character or 114, 206 256 8 323 314 Origin of "drunk as David's Sow" 475 55 Pasquin of Mobton 249 297 THE PORTICO. CONDUCTED BY TWO MEN OF PADUA. VOL. III. Incline to different objects; one pursues The vast alone, the wonderful, the wild; And gentlest beauty. CLAUDIAN. Such and so various are the tastes of men."-AKENSIDE. The Life and Studies of Benjamin West, Esq. President of the Royal Academy of London, prior to his arrival in England; compiled from materials furnished by himself, By John GaALT. Philadelphia: published by Moses Thomas. 1816. octavo p. p. 196. We have read this volume with considerable interest, and have been delighted, not only with the variety of anecdotes which it contains, but with the manner in which they are related. There is something of that peculiar character, which distinguishes all the paintings of our great countryman, visible even in the materials of this book a clearness and precision, a sort of familiar elegance and finish, which are the more to be admired, because they are rarely to be met with. There is abundant evidence, to say nothing of the avowal of the compiler, that the anecdotes have all been taken from the lips, or from the pen, of Mr. West; for none but a painter, and an enthusiast, would have thus carefully registered the first spurrings of genius, and the first attempts of his young mind, to leave some vestiges of the flame that burned within him. The "life and studies" of such a man as Mr. West, are not interesting only to the young artist. Every young man, and particularly every young American, will find himself amply rewarded for the trouble of tracing his steps, from the first tottering of childhood, to the commanding tread of the full grown man. It is useful to follow such a man through the many, varied, intricate, and sometimes disheartening scenes, which spread themselves before him; from the moment of boyhood, to the hour when he arose in the fulness of his strength-in the very bosom of Italy-in the home of all that is inspiring and noble-surrounded by the relicks of other ages, and of other worlds. It is useful to follow such a man, through such scenes, to the moment when all that was conjecture, became certainty, in his fate: when all that had been prediction became history: when the applauses of individuals were forgotten, and nations lifted up their voices in his praise. It appears, that Mr. Benjamin West was born near Springfield, in Pennsylvania, on the 16th of October, 1738, of parents who belonged to the society of Friends. It is related, that his mother, being at a meeting of the society, when a preacher, eminent for his forcible eloquence, was pouring out the spontaneous gusts of his mind upon the situation and prospects of our coun try, was so much affected at the discourse, that she was seized with the pangs of labour, on the spot. She was taken home, and the subject of these memoirs was brought into the world. The preacher, it is said, was a man of "warm imagination," and felt deeply impressed with a belief, which he cautiously expressed, The preacher was that Benjamin would be no common man. right in the ground of his prediction: no man can be common, who is born under such uncommon circumstances. This prediction of the preacher, no doubt, communicated that impulse to the character of young Benjamin, which has ever since quickened with obstacle-that immortality to his genius, which has never permitted it to tire in its ascent, or flag in its success. Such was the confidence of the parents, that the child would, indeed, prove to be something uncommon, that every struggle of originality was observed and encouraged; and all eyes were on the watch for every revelation of character. This it is, that creates great men; or rather, that gives spring and scope to their great |