To his pleased ear the birds their carol sound, And all the living scene his power reveres. The hill and valley with bright verdure spread, And fanning gales his genial presence own: And scorch the sweets, which breathe in Spring's soft lap alone.' Other pieces equally surprizing, considering the very tender years of the writer, are given to the public: but we shall not plunder this hive of virgin honey farther than by inserting the last poem of this collection, addressed, in the February previous to the writer's death, to Lady Lucy Foley, on her birth day. (Feb. 14.) In this composition, Miss Symmons evidently bore in mind Pope's Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady: No morn now blushes on th' enamour'd sight, To crop their fragrance for your natal day; And the green spring still bud within your breast: Who could know such a charming young creature and not blot the 6 "Early, bright, transient, chaste as morning dew, She sparkled, was exhaled, and went to heaven :” but tris own representation of her being whispered by God's "still small voice" to her crown of glory' is the reverse of sublime. Art. 31. The Plea for a private Indulgence of Grief A Poem. By J**n D****n, D.D. Addressed to the Hon. P**1*•*p B**v**ie, in August, 1774. 8vo. IS, Cadell and Davies. We apprehend that this small tract proceeds from the pen of our old acquaintance, the venerable and respectable Dr. Duncan. It appears that he is aware that the elegy is confined and monotonous in its sentiments, as proceeding from an uniform train of emotions; and Mr W's Moy. he would not have placed himself in the situation of imploring the indulgence of the public, had he not lately found several mutilated MS. copies of the poem before us: but to prevent the disgrace of incorrect poetry, he has sent it to the press. The subject is the loss of a most amiable wife, whose death was an overwhelming affliction to Dr. D. His grief is indeed strongly expressed. but it is often inharmonious and obscure, and sometimes incorrect. Plunged by affliction into deep retirement, for the purpose of venting his sorrows, the poet is upbraided by his honorable friend, for its intemperate indulgence. He begins by repeating the charge exhibited against him: "Averse, thou say'st, from gloom, no less than strife, "To pleasure lost, I rob my waning life, "Of harmony, enjoyment, lustre, use. In the stanzas which follow, intended for the poet's justification, we see the traces of a good and feeling heart, though the poetical charms are not exquisite. Let the following shew that Dr. D.'s muse must be satisfied with moderate praise: Has aught the converse of the vacant throngs, Yet beats this heart at unison with thine. Midst kindred worthies plac'd, a noble groupe, Could I, thus blest as thou, in lonely silence droop?" Art. 32. On Earth Peace; An Invocation, addressed to Truth Truth, with love-tempered awe, we attend to thy voice; If in the subsequent part we complain of obscurity, we hope that EDUCATION. Art. 33. it explains, in a manner well adapted to young capacities, and in language which is very plain and simple, the common occurrences and economy of rural life. It will, particularly, be a very useful and agreeable present for those who are brought up in London, and are little acquainted with the pursuits and occupations of the country. Art. 34. The Wonders of the Microscope; or an Explanation of the Wisdom of the Creator in Objects comparatively minute, adapted to the understanding of young Persons: with 5 large Copper Plates. Izmo. 2s. 6d. half bound. Tabart and Co. This epitome of a very interesting portion of natural philosophy, in which the author confessedly borrows assistance from Dr. Hooke, will be found an amusing and instructive companion for young people. It will give them a general idea of the subject, sufficient to excite a desire of making it their study on a larger scale; and it is rendered the more acceptable by the seasonable reflections which are interspersed, on the wisdom of Providence, and his bountiful provision for the various works of his creation. Art. 35. The Travels of Rolando containing, in a supposed Tour round the World, authentic Descriptions of the Geography, Natural History, Manners, and Antiquities of various Countries. Trarslated from the French of L. F. Jauffret. 12mo. 4 vols. 128. Half bound. R. Phillips. The judicious plan, which was so successfully adopted by the Abbé Barthélémy, in his Travels of Anacharsis, for introducing young per sons to a knowlege of the topography and customs of antient Greece, may undoubtedly be applied in the formation of a more extensive tour. Though the Travels of Rolando will not bear a comparison with that excellent work, they are useful and instructive in many particulars respecting the countries visited in the tour: but they are of a more superficial nature; and from the want of references to au thorities from which the accounts are borrowed, they have a greater air of fiction, and are less likely to make a lasting impression. The work itself is incomplete: but the translator proposes to continue her labours as soon as the materials shall be furnished. Moral and religious reflections are happily blended with this agreeable narrative; and we rather think that they proceed principally from the pen of the translator; whose piety and good principles appear, from this circumstance, in a very conspicuous and commendable point of view. Art. 36. Dictionary of polite Literature; or fabulous History of the Heathen Gods and illustrious Heroes, with 28 Plates. 18mo. 2 vols. 138. Boards. Scatchard and Co. * These two volumes are of a very convenient size for a juvenile li brary; and although the accounts are necessarily concise, they will be generally found to convey, with sufficient accuracy, the information which is required on these subjects for young readers. The editor has availed himself of Spence's Polymetis, and other works of good authority, and has comprised a great variety of articles in this judi We apprehend that Miss Aikin, daughter of Dr. A., has favoured the English public with this work. 442 eious compilation. The plates are in general neatly executed, and give a dressed and pleasing appearance to the dictionary. TRAVELS. Art. 37. Observations on a short Tour made in the Summer of 1803, to the Western Highlands of Scotland, interspersed with original Pieces of Descriptive and Epistolary Poetry. 12mo. 1804. Sael and Co. 45. PP. 208. Boards. These observations, according to a hackneyed protestation, were not originally destined for the public eye, being simply noted down for the amusement of the author and that of his friends: but, it is added, the writer of this small volume considered that there was something of novelty in the mixture of original poetry with the prose in his narrative; and he was willing to hope that this circumstance alone might recommend his book to the attention of those, who are pleased with poetical descriptions of nature.' We are likewise reminded that various changes in manners, dress, language, and sentitake place in a country, within the short space of thirty years, and that the minutest accounts of the ablest writers will al ways leave room for subsequent inquiries. The inquiries of the present traveller, however, are in one place said to relate chiefly to the state of the roads and inns; while, in another, we are assured that amusement, not instruction, is his principal aim. We are moreover repeatedly told, without ceremony, that if we do not like his book, we may let it alone. After all these intimations, it would be highly unreasonable to expect a well connected and copious relation yet the author's remarks, though seldom important, or sufficiently circum. stantial, are not often erroneous, and his verses sometimes rise above mediocrity. ment may A few mis-statements require to be corrected.-Though an additional story would give to Inverary Castle a more imposing and ducal aspect, the building, in its present state, by no means deserves the epithets of mean and paltry. That the seal defends himself by pelting stones at his adversary is not very credible, even though a clergyman of Dundee should his seal to the testimony. -The establishment of parochial put schools is incorrectly noted. The law provides one for every parish; the rich, as well as the poor, may avail themselves of this beneficial institution; and the teaching is neither gratuitous, nor limited to English and Gaelic.-Church livings are not solely in the gift of landowners and universities: but the right of presentation to many is vested in the crown. In large towns, the corporation usually exercises that right, and in a very few instances, the session, or ecclesiastical court of the parish. The church patronage of the universities is very limited, as may be seen by looking into a Scottish almanac.-The intervening country between Hawic and Langholm is peculiarly dreary and confortless: yet to our observer it proved very pleasing;' while the real beauties which occur between Langholm and Longtown, particularly the finely wooded banks of the Esk,are passed in silence.-We confess, moreover, that we are little enamoured of the severe strictures on Mr. Hume. His writings at least contributed to stimulate genius and Mans and diligence in the investigation of those truths which can never suffer from ample inquiry and unreserved discussion. This volume is by no means free from errors of the press. Thus we remark Nearer for Near, Tyne for Fyne, Trenton for Renton, Greenoch for Greenock, &c. &c. &c That we may not, however, appear to be churlish or splenetic, we shall extract one or two of the most interesting passages. 'We proceeded along a well cultivated country towards Lanerk ; but two or three miles on this side of the town we turned out of the road, to the very delightful seat of Lady Ross, in order to take a view of the celebrated falls of the Clyde. Every thing about this place discovers the elegance, the taste, and the great liberality of the possessor. A natural curiosity of this kind ought not to be shut out from the inspection of the public; and it seems that the present proprietor fully entertains these sentiments; for the walks and resting-places about the falls of the Clyde are so contrived, as to give the most favourable opportunity of seeing them to advantage. The view from the seat under the summer-house is perhaps the most striking. Were it not impossible to describe the beauty of this scenery, I should wil. lingly attempt it. Though the waters were at their lowest at the season of the year in which we saw them, yet they exhibited a species of beauty of which I can convey no idea to the reader; and the cavern into which they fell is tremendous to look down upon. The frittering of the water as it breaks upon the rocks, the distance to which it is thrown forwards, the snowy whiteness of it, and the mist which fills the air, while the waves are reverberated from the gulph beneath, together with the incessant din and roar of their falling present a spectacle to the astonished spectator which is at once as sublime and as beautiful as the imagination can conceive. To make the view the more striking, you are placed in the centre of the finest amphitheatre of wood that I ever contemplated. Nor is the scenery confined to one spot; but is extended for more than a mile. The name of this fall is Corra-Linn. There is another very noble one above it, which is called Bonniton ; this is very grand and majestic, but inferior, in my mind, to the other; though some have thought it more tremendous in its appearance. The scenery around it is not so good, nor the falls so extended, nor the cauldron beneath it half so magnificent, or so dreadful. As one abrupt descent of the water it may be superior to Corra Linn. I could not leave this place without attempting to convey some feeble idea of it to the reader in verse. I am sensibile that the lines are very unworthy of the subject; and if they were much better than they are, they would be so still. Such as they are, the reader is welcome to them; and if he does not choose to read them, he has my permission to pass them, 'Here let me stand and gaze, where deaf'ning Clyde O'er rocks precipitates his roaring tide: If no strong barrier checks his sable flood In peace he steals along the silent wood; But some bold threat'ning crag should nature rear, |