Jan. 13. Received from Mr. Mitford, and read in a letter to Mr. Heber, his strictures on Weber's edition of Ford's Works. Severe but apparently just, he seems disposed to give a sample of Porson's style of conjectural emendation of corrupt passages, applied to English writers; but, however they may display the ingenuity of the critic, the reader can rarely be satisfied that the correction restores the original; it often, I suspect, improves it. Finished the fourth volume of Miss S.'s Letters. She justly observes, what I have often expressed, that madness, as well as guilt, may be awed by the fear of punishment, and that it is a dangerous plea to admit in justification. Jan. 15. Pursued Miss Seward's Letters, -as they synchronise with my Diary they become more interesting, the same subject being frequently discussed. The enthusiasm with which she hails Mr. Scott's Glenfinlas in MS., his first poem, is a most favourable trait. Unpublished and unheard of compositions, she justly observes, are the tests of the taste and judgment of a critic. The Methodists, she happily remarks in a letter to Mr. Fellows, July 20, 1799, transfer the hair-mantle, the Scourge, the pilgrimage, and the monkish self-inflictions from the body, to the mind. Her prophecies respecting Buonaparte's destinies, Aug. 23, 1799, have proved most fallacious. She estimates Bloomfield's "Farmer's Boy," upon the whole, very justly, adopting my expression of their character, at first rather coldly, but the simplicity and truth of description gain on her esteem. Jan. 16. Looked into Buchanan's "Christian Researches." Though, in a Syrian copy of the New Testament supposed to be a thousand years old, he does not find the disputed passage in John, he is satisfied it is genuine, because he thinks it more likely that the Arians of the fourth century should have omitted it, than that the orthodox should have forged and interpolated it. What a critic!! In 1868 a millennium, he says, is to commence, in which knowledge and holiness will be general, but not universal; this life still continuing in a state of probation and discipline for another. How unlucky that I was born a century too soon! He is of opinion that our army in India is disaffected for want of chaplains, and as an argument for the East India Company giving an easy passage to missionaries, he seriously quotes the Reverend Mr. Kolhoff of Tanjore, as remarking that among the many ships that have been lost, there never perished one vessel that had a missionary aboard! The insurers at Lloyd's will surely bite at this! Jan. 17. Began the sixth and last volume of Miss Seward's Letters. As she advances in life and infirmity, they acquire a melancholy expression which is very touching, and the agonies of mind which she evidently suffers at poor Saville's death, her last comfort below being extinguished, and the deep gloom in which she observes the solemn anniversary, are quite heart-rending. I am delighted with the cordial enthusiasm with which she hails Mr. Scott's poems, and equally offended with her evident aversion to Cowper, and her tasteless condemnation of his letters as insipid conversation pieces full of vanity and egotism. Of the Cadzow Castle of the former she observes, "It is all over excellence, nothing but excellence and every species of excellence, harmonious, picturesque, characteristic. It satisfies to luxury the whole soul of my imagination." Of the latter, she thinks that "any well-educated person of ordinary talents every day produces letters as well worthy attention." * * Miss Seward was a very clever person, and occasionally wrote with force and Walter Scott states (Letter 37) that Lady Dalkeith compelled him to introduce the Dæmon dwarf into the "Lay of the Last Minstrel." Hayley's "Triumph of Music" seems to have sunk him finally in Miss Seward's esteem. It was the coup de grace. Jan. 18. Finished Miss Seward's Letters. Either my taste becomes accommodated to her style, or the latter letters are more naturally written than the former. Her extracts from Bishop Horne's Life (Letter 47), show him to have been a more besotted bigot than one would suppose could have attained a British mitre in the latter half of the eighteenth century. Her account of Chaucer, in the same Letter, popping up his nose at intervals in Godwin's Life of him, is very happy. The anguish she expresses at Saville's death, years after it occurred, is very striking: her horror at the event is still fresh. Walter Scott (Letter 56) it appears discards the originality of Ossian. Her distinction of those who talk from a spring, or a reservoir of ideas, is very happy, and she expresses the labour of pumping up ideas from an exhausted receiver. * Jan. 20. Read the History of the Caliph Vathek - written, or translated (not certainly from an Eastern Tongue) by Dr. Henley ; a strange mixture of wit, voluptuousness, and horror; of which the moral is not very clear. Jan. 24. Read Aikin's "Letters on English Poetry." He is a most insipid cicerone to our Parnassus, nor do I know anything more tiresome to my feelings than the dead level of his equable and unquestionable mediocrity of style and sentiment, neither excellence to admire nor fault to blame. Jan 25. Looked over Lloyd's Chronicle, 1762. What evidence should we require to attest a real miracle? when (Feb. 1762,) on a trial at Hereford Assizes before Lord Chief Justice Hyde, the venerable minister of the parish, backed by his brother the minister of the next, swore that a corpse which had been dead and buried thirty days, turned red, sweated, and bled and moved at the presence and touch of the supposed murderers !! † elegance, but her taste was spoiled by her excessive love of ornament. The style of her own letters too plainly shows why she did not relish that of Cowper.-ED. * Mr. Green probably received the book from Dr. Henley, his neighbour, who was then living at Rendlesham, near Woodbridge: and who does not appear to have informed him, that Mr. Beckford was the author of this singular work of genius, and that he was only the commentator. Mr. Green certainly does not appear to have felt its merit. We confess that we have always thought Dr. Henley's notes to be like so much heavy luggage on the roof of this graceful and enchanting work. By some subsequent and late publications, Mr. Beckford has established his fame, as one of the writers of the finest taste and genius of the age,-"The classic of an age that boasts but few."-EDIT. This trial took place, we believe, in the time of Charles the First. It is difficult to set limits to the credulity of superstition, or to say to what lengths a heated imagination will not go, when accompanied by the force of long cherished errors. We must recollect the illustrious names of Sir Thomas Browne and Sir Matthew Hale. Yet one gave his credence in favour of the supernatural power of witches, and the other condemned them. What Mr. Green means by real miracles, would be untouched by any such delusive representations of weakness or credulity as are found in the above statement. That bodies of persons when life has lately departed, have retained their heat for so long a time as to revive the hopes of the friends of the deceased, has been shown in some remarkable cases in various medical books of the highest authority.-EDIT. PRIOR'S LIFE OF GOLDSMITH. MR. URBAN, Cork, Jan. 16. A CURSORY view of Mr. Prior's Life of Goldsmith has suggested the following observations :-The industry of research and accuracy of facts, which distinguish that work, induce me to submit them to the author as matters of correction (should I be not mistaken), for a future edition, particularly as I have not seen what struck me as erroneous, noticed as such in the ample review of this interesting biography, which appears in the last Quarterly, although the passages are extracted. In volume I. p. 181, it is said, "It would appear he (Goldsmith) had the honour of an introduction to Voltaire at Paris. Two allusions are made to this honour; one in the Public Ledger; another, in an account of his (Voltaire's) life." In the latter, Goldsmith says, (as quoted page 182,) "The person who writes this memoir (of Voltaire), who had the honour and pleasure of being his acquaintance, remembers to have seen him in a select company of wits, of both sexes, in Paris, when the subject happened to turn on English taste and learning. Fontenelle, who was of the party, began to revile both. Diderot attempted to vindicate their poetry and learning, but with unequal abilities. Fontenelle continued his triumph, till about 12 o'clock, when Voltaire appeared at last roused from his reverie; his harangue lasted three hours. I never was so much charmed, nor did I ever remember so absolute a victory as he gained in the dispute." Now, Goldsmith, according to Mr. Prior, and the fact is incontestible, never was in Paris until 1754 or 1755; and it is equally certain that Voltaire left that capital for Berlin in 1750, and never returned to it until 1778 (February), in the month of May of which year he died there; so that it was impossible he could have been seen there by Goldsmith in 1754 or 1755. In Condorcet's life of Voltaire, there are no dates to determine the fact; but it is clear from the narrative that his absence continued uninterrupted from his departure from Berlin, where he arrived in 1750, until his final and fatal return in 1778. Condorcet (page 62, édition de 1817), says, "Voltaire alla donc à Berlin. On ne vit plus que la perte d'un homme qui honorait la France, et la honte de l'avoir forcé à chercher ailleurs un asile." His presence in Paris is never subsequently alluded to until 1778, when (page 139) it is observed, "Depuis long-temps Voltaire désirait revoir sa patrie," &c. But Duvernet's Life of Voltaire (La Vie de Voltaire, Genève 1786, in 8vo,) is more distinct. In chapter xiv, the poet's departure for Berlin, at the invitation of the great Frederick, is explicitly assigned to the year 1750; and in chapter xxv, under the dates of 1777 à 1778, it is said, "Voltaire absent de Paris depuis près de trente ans ...... cédant aux différentes voix qui l'appellaient à Paris, part au milieu de l'hiver (February 1778)," &c. Another biographer of Voltaire, M. Lepan, (Paris 1824, 4th edition, in 8vo.) page 171, states the arrival of the Poet at Berlin in 1750; and page 347, the author adds, "Depuis plusieurs années, Voltaire sollicitoit vivement la permission de venir à Paris. Louis XVI. enfin l'accorda, et Voltaire quitta Ferney pour n'y plus revenir le 3 Février 1778, et arriva à Paris le 10." In the same page it is stated that Voltaire never saw the celebrated actor Lekain on the stage of Paris (though he did at Ferney), the great tragedian having first appeared there the 14th September 1750, and died the 8th February 1778, during which interval Voltaire was absent. The latter's correspondence fully confirms, likewise, the fact of this long absence; so that Goldsmith's statement is difficult of explanation. Nor is it less so in regard to Fontenelle, who, in 1754 or 1755, when Goldsmith was in Paris, was in the ninety-eighth or ninety-ninth year of his age-a period of life wholly incompatible with the story. Fontenelle was born in February 1657, and, independently of his great age, had long been obliged to relinquish society from utter deafness. How Mr. Prior will reconcile these obvious discrepancies I am at a loss to conjecture. I should add, that Goldsmith, in his Memoir of Voltaire, attributes the latter's arrival in England to the year 1720, in place of 1725; but it appears that it was a very hasty composition (page 304), which would account for this erroneous date, though assuredly not for the assertion of his own acquaintance in Paris with Voltaire, and the victory over Fontenelle, who, I may add, was by no means so eloquent a speaker, or so able a disputant as Diderot-the only man in Paris who, in powers of language, could be compared to Dr. Johnson. In Voltaire's tale of Zadig, the chapter xx, L'Ermite is an obvious plagiarism of Parnell's Hermit, to which no reference is made; but it is adverted to in a note by Condorcet, who says that the original story is to be found in the Thalmud, whence it was transferred into the collection of Fabliaux (De l'Ermite qu'un ange conduisit dans le siécle), and into the Gesta Romanorum, as well as the Doctrinal de Sapience (1482 and 1485, in folio). Fréron, the critic and journalist (ob. 1776), first indicated the English source whence Voltaire borrowed the idea without acknowledgment; for which he never was forgiven by the patriarch of Ferney. Goldsmith, too, is accused in the Gentleman's Magazine of this month (Vol. VII. No. 1. N. S.) page 16, of having "translated, without acknowledgment, some of Sir William Temple's poetry." The Chevalier Rutledge, mentioned in volume 11, page 769, where the name is erroneously called Rudlidge, was the son of an Irish officer in the French service, and author of La Quinzaine Anglaise, (1776, in 12mo.) a satirical production, as well as of several dramatic compositions of temporary vogue. He served in the Irish brigade, but was expelled for misconduct. His christian name was James. Thomas Fitzmaurice, whose letter is given, vol. 11. page 440, was, probably, brother of the first, and uncle of the present Marquis of Lansdown. He married Mary O'Bryen, Countess of Orkney, in 1771, and was grandfather of the present Earl of Orkney. I have the honour to be, &c. J. R. Mr. URBAN, VARIOUS allusions having recently been made in your Magazine to the history of Mezzotinto Engraving, I send you a transcript of some evidence on that subject by the celebrated Mariette. The testimonies of Sandrart, Heineken, Vertue, and Granger, to the known; but I do not remember to claims of De Siegen are generally have seen that of Mariette introduced in any of the numerous works on the Fine Arts. Yours, &c. BOLTON CORNEY. Evelyn Jean, Sculptura, or the history and art of Chalcography and Engraving in Copper, &c. London, 1662. 8vo. "Nel nostro esemplare legato in marMariette, come segue. [L. Cicognara.] rachino dorato, trovari scritto di mano di "Cette histoire de la gravure par Jean Evelyn est introuvable même en Angleterre, où le livre a été imprimé: mais il faut l'avoir complette, et c'est encore une difficulté; car la planche gravée par le Prince Robert [sic] y manque presque toujours. Il est arrivé souvent que les curieux l'en ont ôtée pour en enrichir leurs recueils d'estampes; c'est cependlequel il est parlé pour la première fois et ant la principale singularité du livre, dans avec mystère de la gravure en manière noire ou mezzotinto, et comme d'un secret qui n'étoit pas encore publié. On en fait honneur au Prince Robert, comte Palatin du Rhin, et l'on en étoit d'autant plus persuadé qu'il venoit d'apporter en Angleterre cette nouvelle manière de graver: cependant dans l'exacte vérité l'invention étoit d'un officier Allemand, nommé L. de Siegen, qui servoit dans l'armée du Landgrave de Hesse, et qui fit présent de son secret au Prince Robert. Celui-ci aidé par Waillant ne fit que le perfectionner, et sous ses auspices cette gravure se fixa en Angleterre, et y fit de tels progrès que c'est de tous les pays celui où elle a été le plus goutée, et le plus cultivée. trouve à la page 131 de cet ouvrage, une enumeration des pièces gravées en manière noire par le Prince Robert. Ce sont autant de chefs-d'œuvre, et qui sont en même tems de la plus grande rareté. Je les ai presque toutes. La plus considérable a été gravée à Francfort en 1658. C'est une décollation de S. Jean Baptiste d'après M. Ange de Caravagio." On Catalogo Ragionato dei libri d'arte e d'antichità posseduti dal Conte Cicognara. Pisa, 1821. 8vo. I. 43. JOURNAL OF ROBERT BARGRAVE, IN TURKEY. * WHEREUPON the merchants acquainting the Vezir hereof, ye Vezir sent chaous, or sergeant, to him to leye on him and to convey him thence, and this he did indeed in so rude and savage a manner, pulling and thrusting him, till he came from his own house to the sea side, where he turned him into a small barke, in which he crost the Helespont in his way toward Smirna. Being arriv'd at Smirna, he was put aboard the ship Margett (together with his lady and some of his children sent from Constantinople after him), and brought for England. With him was sent likewise Consull Hide (since Sr Henry Hide), as a prisoner, to answer sundry misdemears, hee was accused and convinced of before his ldp and divers of the nation. And now having purg'd out our inconveniences, after the flux of about P.400,000, to the value of 100,000l. sters, we enjoy'd a respite of quietude, affording of sorrows ye comfort of great jollities and hospitable refreshmts. In which short breathing time wee of the younger form, undr ye pupilage of Mr. Sam. Rogers, represented two or three comedies, with the reward of great applause; nor was or whole conversation other than a various scene of mirth. But too soon after ye tide of or joy turn'd into a stream of grief; first, by the deplorable tragedy of or King of England; 2dly, by loosing ye vitalls of our society, Mr. Tho. Bendish and Dr. Reyner for ever; being drown'd with ye ship Talent, in anno 1649, in a fight with a French ship, as he was taking his voyage for Hierusalem: on which my abrupt passion wept out this unworthie elegie. [The omission of the elegy will be excused by the reader, but the following lines may be introduced for the sake of the marginal note:] "God it seems too good for this, *After the word "desire," add " and rejecting his own conveniency. Whereupon," &c. The person in question is Sir Sackville Crow, the English Ambassador with the Sultan, whom Sir Thomas Bendish is sent to supersede. Who cut a rope on wch my dear friend hung, begging to buy his life wth a great ransome. GENT. MAG. VOL. VII. more to dispose o'selves to be something cheerfull. But scarce was o' cheerfull prelude ended, but a pavan of fresh sorrows overtook or intended joys; first, by the death of my Lady Bendish, and then by a violent and general pestilence, not much short of that in Sultan Morat's reign; when the death of 10,000 in a day mov'd him to pray for ye preservation of his people, building for this purpose a pulpit in an open campania, which is yet to be seen. Nor was it long before ye whole empire was embroil'd in civil warrs; 1st. Between Sphahees and Janizaries, who fought a set battle on ye plains of Scutara, while wee at a fair distance, in or boats, were pleas'd spectators. Nay, in ye very streets and spacious places of Constantinople had they notable skirmishes, ye city gates being shut, and the walls scal'd on every side, so yt all was in as great confusion as cou'd be wisht; yet in ye heat of all such was their dexterous policy, y' a few hours composed matters so, as if there had been nothing done, curing the publick wounds with the loss of five or six private heads. 2nd. But in anno 1648 hapned a disturbance of greater consequence and longer durance (a very near parallel wh the rebellion in England), when some ambitious spirits, pretending many exorbitances in the Grd Seign', wch exposed ye empire to many desperate mischiefs, contriv'd his death; but their after actions demonstrated their intentions to have been for their personal advancem' and not the publick advantage. Yet in this they came short of or English regicides; they murder'd their king privately in his Seraglio, not before his palace gates; nor to this day dares any own the fact, or say, "I was a contriver, or I an actor in it." 2dly. They put to death his chief vizer, cut off and sequestered many others which had been nearest and most faithfull to him, gathering their estates for the common good into their private purses. 3dly. They displac'd and plac'd such in their Divan (or parliament) as were fitting paste for their mold, who had ye empty titles of power and hon', while these graspt ye real managem of the empire to themselves, and thus subverted the very order of their long continued government. 4ly. They took off some petty impositions (or monopolies) to the value of 4d. in the pound, but laid taxes and loaded exactions upon them of ten times greater value, nay wholly devoured the estates and lives of many particular loyal subjects, who had no faults but faithfulness to their king and country; and, 5thly. The plotters and 3 A |