flow of those harsher terms, which lefs eafily combine in verfification. The Scottish language, in fhort, abounds in terms and phrafes connected with domeftic and focial life, with rural fcenery, fentiments, and occupations. And hence it is peculiarly fitted for paftoral poetry, the lighter odes, and the defcription of external nature. It furpaffes in humourous reprefentation, and is far from being unfuitable to the plaintive and tender. The poems, and efpecially the fongs of Burns, illuftrate and confirm the obfervation. For the didactic, and the fublimer kinds of poetry, it may be rather deficient in majesty and compass.

It is not unworthy of remark, that nothing gives a Scottish poet (or indeed any paftoral writer) greater fuperiority, than an extenfive and accurate acquaintance with the man ners and customs of the peafantry. The reprefentations of the former, are not only pleafing in themfelves, but are always ftrongly affociated with the pleafures of the country, and the beauties of nature; and allufions to the latter, recal the sports and happinefs of infant years, with a train of fo many endearing affociations, as to draw the mind, for a moment, from its cares; and give relish and poignancy to verfes, which may in other refpects be very imperfect and infipid. On this account particularly, the

poem of the "Daft Days," already mentioned, is far fuperior to one of the fame denomination by Fergusson This latter, in fhort, does not correfpond to its title: it is a mere Bacchanalian ode, connected with no particular feafon, and containing allufions to no particular class of national manners.

It is not pretended, that thefe hafty and fuperficial ftrictures are any way fufficient to illuftrate their fubje&t ; but could they call the attention of fome abler philologift to Scottish literature, their principal aim would be accomplished. To trace the progrefs of the Scottish language, would form an inveftigation, neither unworthy of the application of genius and tafte, nor unfruitful in inftruction and amufement. A hiftorical work of this nature might tend to illuftrate many other collateral branches of Scottish antiquities; might facilitate and improve the compofitions of modern writers in that language; and, if interfperfed with biographical anecdotes and critical remarks, might furnith a plentiful source of pleating and harmless recreation. To many of our countrymen it would undoubtedly be highly acceptable; and to none of them more so, than to

Yours, &c.

EDIN. Buccleugh Street, Jan. 16th 1801.

nile ingenuity, which few boys of that age either attempt, or could have accomplished.

In perufing the hiftory of genius, it may very frequently be obferved, that thofe individuals who, in the course of their lives, have diftinguifhed themfelves by their talents and public exertions, were originally intended for the church. This is eafily to be accounted for. In former times, when the reverence for religion was greater than it now is, it was generally imagined, that the office of a clergyman required greater abilities than any other profeffion; and when the parents perceived the fuperior acuteness of a favourite fon, they believed that his talents could not be better employed than in the caufe of religion, and they pioufly dedicated him to the more immediate fervice of God, and the work of the miniftry. Mr Park's inclination, however, not coinciding altogether with this profeffion, he was, with his own confent, put as an apprentice to Mr Thomas Anderfon, a furgeon in Selkirk, and refolved to profecute the study of medicine. After having made a competent proficiency in the Latin language, under the care of the late Mr Huggan, then rector of the grammar school of that place, and having prepared himself, by his apprenticeship, for further advancement in medical knowledge, he went to the university of Edinburgh, in the year 1789. During three fucceffive years of his attendance at the univerfity, he continued to make himself master of the various branches of medical fcience taught in that college, and in particular paid much attention to chemistry and botany. For this laft fcience he early manifelted a decided regard, which probably was occafioned by his accompanying his brother-in-law, Mr Dickfon, (author of the "Fafciculi Plantarum Cryptogamicarum Britannia") while yet very young, in feveral bo

tanical excurfions to different parts of Scotland. This predilection for botany, and the affiduous attention with which he cultivated it, were fingularly fortunate in the iffue, and conferred upon him additional qualifications as a traveller to unfrequented regions.

But while Mr Párk devoted, as was highly proper, the greater part of his time to the ftudy of medicine, and thofe branches more immediately connected with the healing art, he by no means neglected, as I am forry to obferve is too frequently the cafe, general learning and polite literature.

The greater number of furgeons, and even of those who take a degree in medicine, certainly do not pay due attention to elegant letters. It is reckoned fufficient, to have a compe tant acquaintance with medicine alone. But all the arts and fciences have an intimate connexion with one another: a proficiency in fome of them, facilitates and improves a knowledge in others, and darts an additional beam over the whole circle; and furely a perfon could not be a worse phyfician, for having fuperadded to his knowledge of the human body, and the cure of difeafes, the admirable accomplishments of elegant literature, and a diverfified mafs of general information.

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ignorance and enlightened philofophy. To the belles lettres, and poetry in particular, Mr Park was warmly attached, and feveral effufions of this kind which iffued from the pen of a leifure hour, found an eafy admiffion, and were read with pleasure in the periodical productions of the day.

About this period, he had the refolution to undertake and finish the writing of a Tragedy, for the amufement of himself and his private friends; what degree of dramatic merit this performance poffeffed the writer of this article cannot judge, as he never had the pleasure of feeing it. Immediately after he had finished his medical studies, in the year 1792, Mr Park obtained a furgeoncy in the Worcester, one of the hips belonging to the Eaft India company. In this capacity he made a voyage to India, during which, and his abode in a climate, which has often tried and found wanting many an European conftitution, Mr Park experienced no encroachment upon his health, and returned to England, and his native abode, without having suffered indifpofition even for a single hour.

The commander of this veffel had provided his fhip with a very hand fome library, and, I recollect of hearing Mr Park fay, that he believed he read a greater number of books during this voyage, than he ever did before, in an equal period of time. This voyage lafted upwards of a year, and Mr Park returned to Britain in fome part of 1794.

This fortunate circumftance of preferving his health in a foreign climate, and the confcioufnefs of a ro buft frame, which had been bestowed by nature, and guarded by temperance, would give him a confidence in his own refources, and inípire his courage to attempt higher enter prizes and more dangerous exploits. Accordingly a fhort time after he had returned from India, the African

Affociation had been inquiring after a perfon properly qualified to undertake a journey into the interior of Africa, and to penetrate farther if poffible than the mishaps which had befallen former travellers had permitted them to go.

No fooner had the knowledge of this circumftance come to Mr Park's ear, than his heart confented to the talk, and all the energies of an enterprizing mind were awakened at the profpect. He immediately offered his fervices to the Affociation, and after examining him upon his qualifications for the undertaking, they declared themfelves fatisfied, and refolved that he fhould fet out.

His own words difplay his warm attachment to the enterprize. " I had a paffionate defire, fays he in the beginning of his journal, to examine into the productions of a country fo little known, and to become experimentally acquainted with the modes of life, and character of the natives. I knew I was able to bear fatigue, and I relied upon my youth and the ftrength of my conftitution to preferve me from the effects of the climate."

The African Affociation had been formed fome years previous to this, and during that period had employed three travellers, Meffrs. Leydard, Lucas, and Major Houghton, to ef fectuate a journey into the interior of that continent, and enlarge, if pofüible, the feanty limits of our African geography. Their attempts, tho' made at different places, proved, unfortanately both for themselves, and the object in a great measure unfuccefsful; and it was referved to the more fortunate deftiny of Park to penetrate farther into thofe favage abodes, and in the language of Major Rennell, "to bring to our knowledge more important facts refpecting African geography (both oral and phyfical) than have been done by any former traveller."

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The failures of others may dif courage, but they will not annihilate fubfequent efforts in an energetic mind. In every breaft that pants after celebrity there exifts a fecret confcioufnefs of fuccefs, which, with out imput ng any blame to former attempts, ftimulates to a repeated trial, and is nourifhed by the hope that fortune will yet prove more confpicuous, that proper perfeverance will produce wonders, and that future exertions will fecure a triumph which was denied to incipient attempts. Without this conviction, which is the fource of greatnefs as well as the femblance of egotifm, nothing difficult could be effected. Mankind would pine at the first abortion, and give up for loft what the next trial would have discovered.

Acting upon this principle, Mr Park might believe, that though others failed he might fucceed, and his confidence of fuccefs would be increafed by the knowledge of his own habits. He could endure hunger, and thirst, and fatigue, beyond the patience of ordinary men; and his cool temper was proof against every fpecies of infult and difappointment. His refolution, naturally ftrong, and invigorated ftill farther by an irrefiftible curiofity, was not to be divefted from its proper objects by common or even extraordinary difficulties, and the feductive allurements of pleafure which might frequently folicit gratification, could have but little influence over a perfon who, though he had the feelings of a man, poffeffed the felf-command of an ancient fage. Such were Mr Park's qualifications as a traveller, and they were the more to be prized because they exhibited fuch a rare conjunction of corporeal and intellectual fitnefs, uniting both the valuable bounties of nature, and the no lefs useful accomplishments of cultivation and art

Having made the neceffary preparations for his journey, Mr Park took

an affectionate leave of his friends, and on the 22d of May 1795, failed from Portfmouth for the mouth of the Gambia.

Mr Park has himself favoured the public with a detail of the numerous viciffitudes which befell him in his route, and Major Rennell in his ample appendix to the journal, has illuftrated and placed in a proper light, the number, nature, and importance of the difcoveries, which Mr Park was fo fortunate to have accomplished.

The plan of the African Affociation is not yet completed. The triumph could not poffibly be final at once. Much has been done; much yet remains for future enterprize, but any perfon of candour, who reads Mr Park's journal, must rather be aftonished that he accomplished fo much, than difappointed at his not having done every thing.

With regard to the execution of his book, every critic will perceive and acknowledge that he has arranged and compofed his materials with a propriety and elegance which would do honour to any veteran in literature, whilft the modefty which pervades the whole work confers upon upon it an irresistible charm.

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Scarcely had Mr Park's Travels made their appearance when abridgement of them was imme- 1 diately published; made, no doubt, with a view to anticipate the hardearned emoluments of our traveller, than which furely nothing could be more unjust and dishonourable. Abridgements of this nature, though made with the fpecious pretext of furnishing the public with a cheap edition, containing whatever is remarkable and valuable in the original copy, certainly deferve not the countenance of the public; they mangle and destroy the beauties and peculiarities of the original, they appropriate an emolument to which they have no claim, and what is ftill worfe they are cal

culated