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escaped the allurements and dangers of the capital, while he missed the high finish of education it afforded, and acquired such an attachment to learning, and such habits of application, that his character was fixed, and the ruling passion was implanted which governed his whole future life."

Own

Having obtained a considerable reputation early in life, he soon had a splendid circle of literary friends, formed of foreigners and his countrymen, of whom many were members of the Society of Jesus; hence we find, that "few pages occur in his Memoirs, which are not decorated with the names of eminent literary characters, pointed out more or less to the Reader's attention by anecdotes and observations." Those Dr. A. has converted into the subjects of Biographical Notes, in which he has aimed less at giving minute details of their lives and writings, than characteristic sketches, furnishing correct ideas of "their deserts, both moral and literary; and of the rank they held among their contemporaries." It is hoped that these additions will render the work of Huet more interesting and instructive; and that they may, collectively, afford a tolerably extensive view of the state of letters on the Continent of Europe, during a period which must ever stand distinguished among those in which the human mind has made the most sensible progress."

Dr. A. thus closes his Introduction, of which we have faithfully detailed the purport, with specimens of his language occasionally interspersed. In so doing we feel confident of the approbation of our Readers, and are convinced they will confirm our assertion that we are much indebted to the Translator for this spontaneous illustration of the Memoirs of Huet, to which we shall now proceed with our remarks. It is impossible not to admire the pious manner adopted by the Author in his very outset, affording a most striking contrast to the contemptible effusions of vanity which might be pointed out in many modern Memoirs. Huet attributes every virtuous motive and impulse on this occasion to its true source: "Cherish," he exclaims, with thy favour, this work, undertaken at thy instigation; that in writing and publishing it my

mind may be so disposed, and my affections so directed, as to augment the love of Thee in the hearts of my readers." The loss of Rochelle had caused the decline of the "Calvinist faction" in France: Daniel Huet, the father of the author, was of noble descent, and "had formerly been of that_party;" his mother, much younger than her husband, was Isabella Pillon de Bertoville of Rouen, a woman of excellent endowments. Peter Daniel Huet was born in 1630. John Gontier, a zealous and learned Jesuit, undertook and accomplished the conversion of our prelate's father, who was so sensible of his former errors, that he made a convert of his mother on her death-bed, and delighted the Jesuit to such a degree, that, "by his own efforts, and those of his friends, the conversion was celebrated in a collection of Greek, Latin, and French verses, to which was subjoined an elegant eulogy of the life and virtues of this respectable woman," and inscribed over her tomb on a tablet of marble. It may be farther worthy of notice, that this new Catholick af terwards built a Chapel for himself and family in the Church of St. John at Caen, furnished it with rich ornaments and vestments, endowed a priest, added musical accompaniments and symphonies with instruments, to the simple chaunt of the Roman Catholick church service, and gave to the church, and consecrated to pious uses, the musical instruments which he had purchased for his own amusement: such were the consequences of religious zeal, a little tinctured with a sense of atonement.

M. Huet describes certain ornaments given to him by his godfather on the New Year's day next following his baptism, which furnish a curious idea of the fashion of the times; they consisted of a silken bonnet fastened by a circlet of gold, set with diamonds, and adorned with herons' plumes. "To this he added a belt embroidered with gold, from which depended a little sword, accommodated to my stature, and a gold chain so weighty, that when at a more advanced age I walked adorned with it, and swathed in its many coils, I was almost oppressed under the load." Alain Augée, a person in holy orders, was entrusted with the early part of his education, which was interrupted by the prema

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ture death of his mother, who had not attained the 40th year of her age. This event proved particularly inauspicious for Huet, as he seems to have been transferred from guardian to guardian, with little ceremony, and less respect to his rights of relation ship. He was at length fixed for six years at Caen, and "chained down" with several cousins to the rudiments of language; from thence he went to the College of Mont Royal at Caen, under the tuition of the Jesuits, the rectors of the college, who for five years instructed him in polite literature, and for three in philosophy. The natural desire of improvement inherent to Huet, met with consider able interruption from his juvenile companions, who contrived every inischievous trick to impede his progress, and keep him as deficient as themselves: when he retired to a wood to escape them, they hunted him amongst the bushes, squirted dirty water at him, and pelted him with clods till he commenced a retreat; he, however, persevered and was successful, as at the age of thirteen he had completed his course of belles lettres, and appeared fit to enter upon that of philosophy. What we have said on this head will serve to explain his ardent attachment to his studies, and the Reader will infer from it that he did not relax as he advanced in life. Before he attained manhood, Huet had nearly become a Dominican through mere enthusiasm; and the superior of the order, who had encouraged this infatuation, incurred the resentment of his relations and fellow-citizens, through a mistaken idea that he had attempted to ensnare an unwary youth: afterwards, he adopted the manners and pursuits of a fine gentleman, and speaks of his agility and strength with much complacency, and mentions a singular instance of his presence of mind, even when very young, which we would recommend for imitation to every youth in the kingdom under similar circumstances.

"From childhood I had learned the art of swimming, without a master, and without corks, but accidentally. For, being, like other boys, accustomed in the hot weather to bathe several times in the day for the sake of coolness, it once happened that I ventured into a stream without first trying its depth,' and immediately sunk to the bottom; when, being roused to the

utmost exertion by the urgency of the danger, I struggled so hard with my hands and feet, as to raise myself to the surface of the water; and having thus discovered that I possessed a faculty with which I was before unacquainted, I swam across a time, by frequent practice, I acquired deep river on that very day. From that such a proficiency in this art, that I was able to dive to the bottom of the deepest streams, and take up oysters from the ground; so that none of my companions were reckoned to surpass me in this respect."

One of the first uses he made of his

liberty, after he had reached his twenty-first year, was the gratification of an inordinate desire to collect the valuable works then extant, which he did with such excessive avidity, that his purse generally stood at a very low ebb. His was a motley collection with respect to external appearance, though excellent in the essential point; nor did he scruple to use his books lest they should be soiled, or neglect to mark favourite passages to preserve the purity of the margins; the only uneasy sensation of his mind arose from the dread that a library so select should at length be dispersed in alleys and upon booksellers' stalls, and thus fall into the hands of the ignoraut vulgar: this he contrived in due time to prevent. In a work of so multifarious a nature, it is impossible to think of giving a complete, or even au imperfect outline; we have therefore noticed only such parts as may be known without injuring the interest. The numerous incidents of Huet's life with respect to literary affairs, are strong incentives to a perusal of his Memoirs; and the Biographical Anecdotes in the form of Notes will amply gratify more general readers: a specimen of the latter shall conclude this article.

Antony de Garabi, sieur de la Luzerne, in a very uncomely body, lodged a mind possessed of many agreeable talents and accomplishments, which rendered his society welcome to the most distinguished persons of his time. He was born in 1617 at Luzerne, near Coutances in Normandy, and studied at Caen under Halle. He was much attached to the literary characters with which Caen then abouuded, and was ready to do them all the kind offices in his power. Garabi was the author of a number of French and Latin poems, and some works in prose, which displayed an easy and flowing style of composition, but without much depth

of

of study. He passed his latter years at a fine estate which he inherited, at Estienville in the Cotentin, and died in 1679. His Latin works in verse and prose were printed at Caen 1663.

6. The Contemplatist; a Series of Essays upon Morals and Literature. By William Mudford, Author of "Nubilia," &c.; 12mo; pp. 336. Sherwood and

Co. 1810.

THE essential qualifications of one who would wish to increase the number of Essayists, are a knowledge of the world, correct taste, and a considerable portion of humour. Men may write Essays without these, but they must not expect to rank with the Spectators, Tatlers, Ramblers, &c. Mr. Mudford's Essays consist of— I. An Introductory Address; 11. The Hill of Literature, and the Temple of the Essayists, an Allegory; III. Vindication of Authors by Profession. IV. and V. The narrative of Julia, in four papers; VI. Critical Examination of the styles of Addison, Johnson, and Goldsmith; VII. Critical Examination of Milton's Samson Agonistes; VIII. Cruelty to Animals; IX. Julia; X. Analysis of Sewell's Tragedy of Sir Walter Raleigh; XI. Julia; XII. Adultery and Seduction; XIII. Dignity of the human Mind; XIV. XV. XVI. Critical Examination of the Poems of Henry Kirke White; XVII. Matrimonial Infelicity; XVIII. On Suspicion; XIX. Considerations on the Utility of the learned Languages; XX. Account of John Wilde, esq.; XXI. Self-knowledge.

Of these we are most inclined to praise No. I. III. VIII. XII. and XVIII. in all of which are many useful remarks, conveyed in a pleasing, although somewhat inflated style. His critical papers, however, are not the production of a sound judgment. In criticism, it is one thing to differ from general opinion, and quite another thing to shew that general opinion is wrong. We doubt whether any man in the kingdom, whose claim to taste has been allowed, will join the author in the following:

P. 86. “In reading the Essays of Addison, I am seldom arrested by any sudden elevations, by any harmonious collocation of sentences, or by any happy application of words. He writes in one even tenor, and must, therefore, sometimes fail in preserve GENT. MAG. January, 1811.

ing a necessary conformity between ' his style and his subject."

The" happy application of words" is, we believe, acknowledged with universal conviction, to be Addison's › great and peculiar excellence. Nor will our author make many converts to his new opinion, that, "in the con- ? sideration of language," Addison is to be estimated below both John-' son and Goldsmith." Mr. Mudford

began this paper by censuring those who compare the styles of Addison, Johnson, and Goldsmith, and yet pursues his comparisons until they preduce the above results!

In his Papers on Kirke White's works, are many remarks which show that Mr. Mudford has perused them with much attention. They are, indeed, extraordinary productions, and the imperfections Mr. M. has pointed out may be usefully studied by young Poets. Mr. M. however, seems mistaken in asserting that "the talents of Henry procured him no powerful friend, no munificent patron: he was suffered to languish in an humble mediocrity of station." He forgets that he was sent to the University of Cambridge; and, had he lived, would have wanted no encouragement in the regular prosecution of his studies. The distinction Mr. M. makes between White and Burns and Chatterton is very just. The moral degradation of Burns and Chatterton ought never to be forgot in a comparative estimate.

On these Essays we shall only add, that No. XVII. contains some opinions on the causes of matrimonial infelicity, which the Author would do well to revise; and that, in No. XIX. he appears to have imbibed the vulgar prejudices against classical learning, which were very becoming when brought forward by such a man as Cobbett, but are surely out of place in a work which emulates the taste of the British Essayists.

7. The Reformer: comprising Twenty-two Essays on Religion and Morality. W th an Appendix; 12mo; pp. 360. Rivingtons. 1810.

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gion and morals which are most important to the happiness of mankind, and the well-being of society; and, in aid of his own sentiments, he has called in those powerful allies, Addison, Blair, and Johnson. He has also frequently quoted, and has given a perspicuous analysis of, Beattie's celebrated Essay on Truth, a work which, we agree with him, cannot be too frequently perused. Our Author's original opinions, if not always striking for their novelty, are not the less calculated to promote the valuable and generous purposes of his work, which we feel disposed to recommend to the attention of the young of both sexes.

As a specimen, the following will perhaps not discredit our recommendation:

"Having thus stated the good effects resulting from industry, I shall now state an instance of the miserable effects of indolence. Idleness is so general a distemper, that there is hardly any person without some alloy of it; and thousands beside myself spend more time in an idle uncertainty which to begin first of two affairs, than would have been sufficient to have ended them both. The occasion of this seems to be the want of some necessary employment, to put the spirits in motion, and awaken them out of their lethargy. If I had less leisure, I should have more; for I should find my time distinguished into portions, some for business, and others for the indulging of pleasures: but now one face of indolence overspreads the whole, and I have no land-mark to direct myself by. Were one's time a little straitened by business, like water inclosed by its banks, it would have some determined course; but unless it be put into some channel, it has no current, but becomes a deluge, without either use or motion. When Scanderberg, Prince of Epirus, was dead, the Turks, who had but too often felt the force of his arm in the battles he had won from them, imagined, that, by wearing a piece of his bones near their heart, they should be animated with a vigour and force like to that which inspired him when living. As I am like to be of little use whilst I live, I am resolved to do what good I can after my decease; and have accordingly ordered my bones to be disposed of in this manner, for the good of such of my countrymen as are troubled with too great a proportion of fire. All fox-hunters, upon wearing me, would in a short time be brought to endure their beds in a morning, and perhaps even quit them with regret at ten: instead of hurrying away to tease

a poor animal, and run away from their own thoughts, a chair or a chariot would be thought the most desirable means of performing a remove from one place to another. In a word, no Egyptian mummy was ever half so useful in physie, as I should be to these feverish constitutions, to repress the violent sallies of youth, and give each action its proper weight and

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repose. I can stifle any violent inclination, and oppose a torrent of anger, or the solicitations of revenge, with success. Although indolence is a stream which flows slowly on, it yet undermines the foundation of every virtue. A vice of á more lively nature were a more desirable tyrant than this rust of the mind, which gives a tincture of its nature to every action of one's life. It were as little hazard to be tossed in a storm, as to lie thus perpetually becalmed and it is to no purpose to possess the seeds of a thousand good qualities, if we want the vigour and resolution necessary for exerting them. Death brings all persons back to an equality; and this image of it, this slumber of the soul, leaves no difference between the greatest genius and the meanest understanding. A faculty of doing things remarkably praise-worthy, thus concealed, is of no more use to the owner, than a heap of gold to the miser who has not the heart to make use of it.. To-morrow is still the fatal time when all is to be rectified to-morrow comes; it goes; and still I please myself with the shadow, whilst I lose the reality; unmindful that the present time alone is ours; the future is yet. unborn; and the past is dead, and can only live, as parents in their children, in the actions it has produced. The time

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we live ought not to be computed by the number of years, but by the use that has been made of it: thus, it is not the extent of ground, but the yearly rent, which gives the value to the estate. Wretched and thoughtless creatures!. in. the only place where covetousness were a virtue, we turn prodigals! Nothing lies upon our hands with such uneasiness, nor has there been so many devices for any thing, as to make it slide away imperceptibly, and to no purpose. A shilling shall be hoarded with care, whilst that which is above the price of an estate is thrown away with disregard and contempt. There is nothing, now-a-days, so much avoided, as a solicitous improvement of every part of time; it is a report which must be shunned, as. one regards the name of a Wit and a fine Genius, and as one fears the dreadful charagter of a laborious Plodder: but, notwithstanding this, the greatest Wits any age has produced, thought far otherwise: such as Socrates and Demosthenes. All are acquainted with the labour and assiduity with which Tully acquired his eloquence.

quence. Of Seneca and Pliny it may be
said, that they both employed their time
to the best advantage. In a word, it has
ever been found, that all the finest gifts
of Nature may be lavished away to no
purpose upon an idle man; but let it
never be forgotten, what must be the
dreadful state of that man, who has been
so unaccountably negligent, as not to use
to the best advantage the talents with
which indulgent Heaven has entrusted
him; as an awful time must come, when
account
must render an
every man
of the deeds done in this life, before the
judgment-seat of the great tribunal of
Heaven, and receive the final and irrevoc-
able sentence pronounced, either, as a
faithful steward, to enter into the joy

of his Lord;" or, like the idle and un-
profitable servant, "to be cast into utter
darkness, where will be wailing and gnash-
ing of teeth."

In a subsequent part of this Volume we find the following anecdote

of a once celebrated character.

"Though it is part of every good man's religion to resign himself to God's will, yet an example upon the worldly wisdom of that duty, will be of use to every one who suffers under the immediate pressure of affliction. I shall quote an example, A which may prove very beneficial. short time before Lord Sackville expired, the Rev. Mr. Sackville Bayle, his worthy parish priest and ever faithful friend, administered the solemu offices of the sacrament to him; reading, at his request, the prayers for a communicant at the point of death. He had ordered all his bed-curtains to be opened, and the window-sashes thrown open, that he might have air and What space to assist him in his efforts. they were; with what devotion he joined in those solemn prayers that warn the parting spirit to dismiss all hopes that centre in this world, that reverend friend cau witness. I also was a witness and a partaker; and no other person was present at that holy ceremony. A short time before he expired, came, by his desire, to his bedside; where, when taking my hand and pressing it between his, he addressed me, for the last time, in the following words: "You see we now in those inoments when no disguise will avail, and when the spirit of a man must be proved. I have a mind perfectly resigned, and at peace with itself. I have done with this world; and what I have done in it, I have done for the best; I hope and Tell trust I am prepared for the next. me not of all that passes in health and pride of heart; these are muments in which a man must be searched; and remember that I die content." I know that I am correct in these expressious, which

were transcribed a few days after his death, and dated Sept. 13, 1785."

This last extract will doubtless incline our Readers to guess at the author, but in this we cannot assist them. All we know is, that his in tentions in compiling this work are Jaudable, and that in the execution he has shewn a portion of ability enough' to induce us to dispense with the niceties of criticism.

8. The Classical Journal, for 1810. Printed by J. A. Valpy, for Longman and Co. Two Volumes 8vo.

WE congratulate our learned Countrymen on the completion of Two

Volumes of a work undertaken on the laudable principles of the "Bibli otheca Literaria" of Mr. Wasse in 1722 (which extended only to ten Numbers), and of the "Miscellanea Observationes, 1731;" which, though superintended by Dr. Jortin, "received so little encouragement in England, that at the end of eighteen months it was removed to Holland, and translated and continued in the Latin language."

"Notwithstanding the contributions of the Learned on the Continent, it ceased to be published in its original series in 1739. A few numbers were afterwards added at a long and irregular interval from each other; but the work was soon abandoned.

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Since that period," we proudly jou Mr. V. in observing, "a new æra has arisen in Classical Literature. The labours of Bentley, which had been either neglected or obstructed by his contemporaries, have been duly appreciated by a lightened age, and every succeeding year adds new bays to the wreath of his fame. His critical disquisitions have given birth to those of Hemsterhuis, Ruhnken, Valkenaer, Villoison, Brunck, Dawes, Markland, Toup, Tyrwhitt, and Porson. By these great luminaries a flood of light has been shed on the Classical world, and critical knowledge has assumed a meridian brightness, which even the gloom of political dissentions, or of revolutionary storms, can neither obscure nor diminish. The present time abounds with men of accurate taste, of critical sagacity, of rich and various information, and of splendid genius. ... It has been thought,” adds Mr. V. “ that an attempt to collect their scattered rays would tend to cherish the blaze of literature by general communication. this view, the present Repository is offered to their patronage; and, if they will honour it with their support, and adorn it by their productions, a confident expectation

With

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