has been formed more by nature than by artificial contrivance, is calculated to create and to nourish poetical fentiment. A warm fancy, and an elegant tafle, converfant with the inchanting mythology of the ancient Greeks, may conceive, in the moments of fentimental delirium, the whole scene to be peopled by thofe imaginary beings who formerly were wont to haunt the fields of Arcadia. Reclining at cafe in the fhade of a grove, and wrapt in a reverie, infpired by the genius of the place, he may liften with rapture to the mufic of Pan, whofe melody refounds. from the receffes of the woods, or perceive, in fome neighbouring lawn, the nymphs of the valley leading down the dance, and fporting amongst the flowers: other nymphs gambol in the ftream, the brow of the hill is occupied by the mountain deities, and a mufe fits under the hawthorn.

To fuch luxuries of fancy, our young reclufe was not a ftranger, and while it might be wondered at, that he preferred folitary wandering to noify amufements, he enjoyed a delight in the former, which the latter could not confer.

At a confiderable diftance from the houfe, and in one of the most retired banks of the fiream, he conftructed a little hermitage, which almoft over looked the water, and was over-fhadowed by trees in this cell he placed a small table and a feat, and of ten spent the whole day in undifturbed reading, or agreeable mufing, and in enjoying the tranquil delights of the place.

At this period, Mr Park gave little indication of poffeffing that fpirit of enterprize and activity, by which he has been fince diftinguished. His character feemed to belong to that class, who take greater delight in attending to the calm operations of intellect, and in enjoying the delicious charms of fentiment, than in the bustle of bufinefs, and the fcenes

of active life. His variety of talent, however, furnishes a proof of the difficulty of eilimating a youthful mind; and affords another instance of the influence of particular circumftances in developing latent, or forming new qualities of character.

About this time too Mr Park took great delight in reading voyages and travels: Cook, in particular, engaged much of his attention; and perhaps even fo early as this period he might entertain the thought of vifiting, in future, fome diftant land.

Mr and Mrs Park and child, at prefent, refide at Fowlfhiels, and he occafionally pays a vifit to London, His predilection for reading and ftudy ftill continues, and I believe that at prefent he is even a harder ftudent in every art and science, than he ever was at any period of his life.

In perfon, Mr Park is tall, athletic, and has an air of robustness and perfonal vigour, which eminently bespeak him fit for enduring much bodily fatigue; his air is careless, yet calm and fteady, and when engaged in converfation, his countenance is animated, and his eye affumes an expreffion at which a stranger would fhrink.

In company, he is generally referv. ed and taciturn in his manner; at particular times, however, he is more lively and gay, and inftructs and entertains his friends with a folidity of remark, and a variety of anec. dote, which are feldom to be equalled.

His addrefs and manners are fimple in the highest degree; but if he look upon the polish and frippery of etiquette as below his notice, he is by no means either vulgar or rude : though conftitutionally ferious, he is extremely fond of humour, and enjoys a jeft or a bon-mot with infinite relih. His religious fentiments poffefs that happy medium which is fo favourable to human happiness, being

equally

blame.

As Mr Park is now bound to his native country, by the double ties of a husband and a father, there is no probability that he will ever undertake a new enterprize; this the

Thus is he enjoying, and long may he live to enjoy, the refpect of the world, the efteem and affection of his friends; the pleasures of fcience; the peace of his own breaft, aud the approbation of Heaven. A. M.

IT "T is too generally found, that weak minds, on original meannefs, engraft only pride; and that unexpected fuccefs is often more detrimental to fuch characters than the heaviest preffure of calamity.

Edward Burton was born of parents who had ftruggled hard with adverfity, and who had felt the pinching hand of poverty through every stage of their exiftence; but whofe honefty remained without the imputation of blame; and, like the fun burfting through involving clouds, appeared brighter from the contraft of the furrounding gloom. They both paid the great debt of nature before their only fon had reached his tenth year, leaving him no other inheritance than their benediction. The integrity of his deceased parents, however, recommended him to the attention of their neighbours; who raised a liberal fund for the purpose of putting the orphan to fchool, and supplying other neceflary expences, till he fhould arrive at an age capable of providing for himself.

Being of an active difpofition, and deprived of thofe imprudent indulgences which children of more opulent parents often experience to their lofs, he foon made a confiderable progrefs in learning; and, at the age of fourteen, was efteemed fully qualified to be placed as an apprentice in fome genteel employment. His patrons finding him to be a spirited enterprifing lad, of good addrefs, recommended him to a merchant in London: very properly judging, that, in a merchant's counting-houfe, diligence and probity may, in general, meet with adequate encouragement. During the four first years, Burton behaved with fo much dutiful fubmiffion and attention, as to conciliate the regard of his mafter, and the good-will of all with whom he was connected. As he advanced towards a state of manhood, he began to relax in Ed. Mag. Jan. 1801.

diligence and integrity; but made up for it, in the eyes of the world at least, by redoubled officiousnefs, and the most fpecious appearances.

Those who have themselves uniformly purfued the paths of rectitude, are the leaft capable of detecting artifice and infincerity. Burton found means to wind himself more clofely round his master's heart, by a fhew of regard, the more he wanted the reality; and, at the expiration of his term, was admitted into a thare of the bufinefs, as a reward for his apparent integrity, affiduity, and ability.

On this unexpected elevation, Burton felt all thofe concomitant paffions which agitate a little mind where vanity is predominant; but as a man never wholly throws off fhame, nor becomes callous to the ftings of confcience, till a long intercourse with vice has rendered him thoroughly abandoned, he still adhered to his original diffimulation in public, and never gave full fcope to his natural foibles, unlefs when thrown off his guard by mingling with the votaries of unreftrained mirth, or when wine, in which he feldom indulged to an excess, had heated his imagination, and induced an oblivion of his origin. His expences however, from the gratification of various paflions, confiderably exceeded his income, though he appeared a pattern of economy to all his connections; and, in a fhort time. his real character muft have become apparent, had not another turn of undeferved fortune raised him ftill higher in the fcale of worldly efti mation.

His partner being a plodding man, who had acquired his whole fortune by honeft induftry and unimpeached integrity, had never entered into the matrimonial ftate; nor. indeed, had he ever kept up any affectionate intercourfe or correfpondence with his relations: but,

having

having feveral neices in the country, who might reasonably expect to become fharers of his acquifitions when death fhould deprive him of the power of enjoying the wealth he had accumulated, he had determined to give one of them an invitation to town, purpofely that it might produce an attachment between her and his favourite Burton; and, fhould this defign be fairly accomplished, to leave them in the entire poffef fion of his business, and retire himself into his native country, with fuch pecuniary acquifitions as might well be fpared without prejudice to the credit and advantage of the trade, there to enjoy that relaxation from butinefs, and content of mind, which a life of probity had entitled him to expect..

The old gentleman's niece foon arrived, happy to obey a fummons from which he hoped to derive both pleafure and advantage; nor was it long before Burton, who eafily ingratiated himself with the fair niece, obtained her hand, with the entire approbation of the uncle, and accompanied by a formal furrender of the whole bufinefs.

Elevated to a pitch of affluence and credit beyond what his moft fanguine wishes had taught him to expect, and free from the controul of a partner, Burton no longer thought himfelf obliged to conceal his real propenfities; and, immediately affuming a confequence which is unjustifiable in any one, but intolerable in an upftart, he gave full licence to the dictates of a weak head and a depraved heart; fell into every fafhionable excefs; diffolved the ties of honour; violated the fincerity of friendship; and, by appearing to the world in a new character, foon forfeited that esteem which his plaufibility had formerly procured him.

As extravagance muft always find means for its fupport, to finish his character for diffipation, he became a gamefter, and a dabbler in the funds; and, as he had neither practice to secure him from deception at the gaming-table, nor

information to direct him in the alley, one lofs and difgrace followed another in quick fucceffion; till, in three years after he had poffeffed the fole direction of affairs, his creditors became importunate; his finances were exhausted; and a commiffion of bankruptcy being taken out, the neat dividend of his effects amounted to no more than fix fhillings in the pound.

Awakened now to a real fenfe of his condition, and ftung with remorse, fhame, and vexation, Burton determined to fupport appearances by any poffible means; and having in vain attempted to raise money, he ventured to commit a capital forgery, which being soon detected, he was taken into cuftody before he could fecure his intended retreat to America. In this melancholy fituation, when reflection came too late, and when even repentance could not fave, he was vifited by his wife, whom he had in many inftances treated with unmanly feverity, as well as by his injured and worthy patron; and, if any thing could have added to the diffraction of his mind, the fight of those two persons, whom he had fo effentially wronged, muft certainly have augmented his wretchednefs. In them, pity overcame every spark of refentment, and all their intereft was exerted to fave him from an ignominious death. Their exertions, however, were in vain; he was convicted on the cleareft evidence, and foon after fuffered that punishment which the violaters of public faith, ought always to experience.

Such was the end of Edward Burton! May his example deter others from pur, fuing fimilar fteps; and teach the humble to reflect, that thofe are not always the happiest who have been raised from original obfcurity to the poffeffion of riches and honour; but that he who, content with his condition, confines his expences within his income, enjoys more felicity and permanent fatisfaction than can ever fall to the lot of the upftart in

power or the beggar in affluenc e. W. M.

Nor the way-weary Pilgrim at evening bends,

To give thanks to the Hearer of Prayer, who defends

From ftorms him who has not a home!

Oft have I revolv'd on the days that are gone,

And time s mouldy records furvey'd, When dread Superftition afcended the throne,

And proftrate the nations obey'd! In deep, leaden flumbers, was feal'd learning's eye!

By ignorance, fcience in fetters was bound;

Truth languish'd; and genius beheld with a figh

Her wild flowers expos'd to a cold, wintry fky,

Which fcatter'd their leaves on the ground!

Yet in midst of the gloom darts a tranfient

ray,

When pity afforded relief;

And wip'd the fad tear of misfortune a

way,

And footh'd the pale victim of grief. Thefe rude fculptur'd walls once receiv'd with a tear

Their Queen, lovely Mary, who fled from the foe,

With a heart torn with anguish, an eye wild with fear,

And death clofe behind her!-a profpect how drear!

To finish her measure of woe!

"Unfortunate Mary! why wilt thou depart?

Why why to Elizabeth fly?Compaffion's warm glow never melted her heart,

Nor the fweet tear of pity her eye! Her cold, frozen bofom's the throne of de

For the Edinburgh Magazine.

TO ANTIQUITY.

VENIUS of antient times! thou miftwrapt pow'r,

Who lov't the past, and mark'st the paffing hour;

Whofe hoar dominion spreads o'er many an age,

To the dark confines of oblivion's stage Teeming with all that prides a fage fire,

And all that fwells aloft the poet's fire, Who haunt'ft the wood whofe central oaks have been

Of holy druid rites the facred scene; Or lov't to wander through the hallow'd gloom,

Count the great dead, and epitaph the tomb.

Good dowagers exult, or inly figh;
And blooming maids from filken work-
bags pour

(Like tangled fea-weed on the vexed
fhore)

Of patch-work, netting, fringe, a strange and motley ftore';

Whilft all attempting many a different mode,

Would from their fhoulders hitch time's heavy load,

Thus have we chose, in comic fock bedight,

" In