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vage enabled him to fulfil duties more important than those belonging to the Critick. As the Moralist, be sought to instruct, admonish, and reform;" and never has the portrait of a glowing, but neglected genius, of a strong, but ill-directed understanding, been more powerfully or more impressively drawn, than in the narrative of that unfortunate man.

For these reasons, and many others that might be urged, it cannot be lamented, although a subject of regret to himself, that Johnson did not engage in the later edition of the Biographia Britannica. Such an occupation must necessarily have most materially diminished the num ber of his original compositions; and as the minuteness of Biography furnishes its greatest charm, and the extent and accuracy of the research employed contribute so mainly to its utility, it is evident that men less highly gifted, but of greater industry, were better qualified for so vast an undertaking.

It will be obvious, that of a body of biographical matter no judgment can be formed from extracts; nor can an analysis of Mr. Chalmers's Work, however confined, be expected within the present limits.

Of its extent some idea may be collected from the following statement:

The last edition of this Dictionary, completed in 1798, was comprised in 15 volumes. The present one occupies no less than 32 volumes: it has been augmented by 3934 additional Lives; and of the remaining number, 2176 have been re-written; and the whole revised and corrected. The total number of articles exceeds 9000. To have attempted to leave no source of information unexplored, and no error corrected, would have been vain and hopeless; yet, from a careful and unprejudiced examination of the several volumes, it may be safely averred, that the general fidelity of Mr. Chalmers's labours stands conspicuous and unimpeached. Appended to each article are pointed out the sources whence the materials were derived in the Memoirs of Authors their Works are enumerated, with the date of publication, and other useful particulars; and in proportioning the length of an article to the quality and interest of the subject (wherein certain Writers have most lamentably

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failed), a due consistency has been observed.

These are valuable improvements, and would alone stamp the superiority of this undertaking over all contemporary productions of the same class: nevertheless it prefers higher claims to public notice.

Unwarped by prejudice, and free from all taint of that asperity from which Authors are said to be seldom exempt, the Editor has pursued his labours with fearlessness, candour, and impartiality he has trodden upon ashes under which the fire is scarcely extinguished, with a delicate yet firm step; and whilst the purity of his taste has prevented injudicious commendation, the rectitude of his principles forbade the palliation of those qualities, which a high-toned moral feeling will neither pardon nor disguise.

Öf a Work likely to be so generally diffused, it is scarcely necessary to add more; a sense of its intrinsic va lue has alone prompted this imperfect testimony. In the applause which the present age and posterity will not fail to bestow upon his labours, and in the honest pride resulting from a faithful discharge of his duty to the Literature of his country, Mr. Chalmers will derive his best and most enviable reward. S. D. D.

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Tour through various Parts of the NETHERLANDS and GERMANY in 1815. (Continued from page 200.)

M

Y two last letters, the fruit of a rainy morning at a village inn, contained some sketches of the History of Hainault, from the 10th century until the death of the unfortu nate Princess Jacoba in 1436, when that beautiful and rich Province merged in the House of Burgundy. That aspiring family had already, by a rare concurrence of fortunate events, obtained a preponderating weight in the Netherlands. In the early part of the fifteenth century they were in possession of Mechlin, Flanders, Artois, Brabant, and Limburg; and the base and unjust conduct of Philip Duke of Burgundy towards Jacoba the heiress of Hainault, led to the acquisition of that Province, together with Holland and Zealand. Hainault remained under the dominion of the Burgundian Princes, and of the Spanish Monarchs of the Austrian line,

until the reign of Louis the XIVth, when a considerable branch was lopped off, and annexed by that ambitious monarch to his own dominions, under the name of French Hainault, with Valenciennes for its capital; a town which has been rendered memorable by the seige which it sustained in 1793. I heartily wish that this, as well as every other branch of the Belgian Provinces, which has been lopped off by France at different periods, could be annexed to the new kingdom of the Netherlands, which I trust will be enabled to maintain its independence. There were few events during the Revolutionary War which gave me more real concern, as a lover of my country, than the subjugation of the Low Countries; and on the downfall of Buonaparte, I hailed the establishment of the kingdom of the Netherlands, under the Prince of Orange Nassau, as a master-stroke of policy, although I lament that the wings of France were not then more effectually clipped in that quarter. Let us be thankful, however, for the incorporation of the Austrian Netherlands with Holland, not only as strengthening the barrier against the power of France on that side, but as opening prospects highly advantageous to the naval and commercial interests of Great Britain. There is no doubt that France will always have her eye upon those fair and flourishing Provinces, the possession of which would add so bright a jewel to her crown: and it will be the interest of Great Britain to prevent, if possible, her gaining so formidable an accession of power and influence. The dismantling of the Barrier Towns by the Emperor Joseph the Second, betrayed a palpable want of political foresight; the fatal effects of which were felt at the commencement of the late war. It is to be hoped that the present Sovereign of Belgium will learn wisdom from the romantic folly of Joseph, and avail himself of the season of peace to secure his frontiers by a strong chain of fortresses'; and above all, that the Netherlands will be made happy in the possession of a well-regulated system of civil and religious liberty, which will prove a better security to the country, than a Wall more formidable than that which separates China from Tartary.

A distinction has prevailed from a remote period in those Provinces which used to be known by the name of the Austrian Netherlands-namely, that some of them are called Flemish and others Walloon, a distinction originating in the difference of language, and which is thus explained by a judicious Writer whom I have often quoted: "The Walloon tongue, which is spoken in the Provinces bearing that name, essentially different from the Flemish language spoken in the other Provinces, is that antient French language which arose out of the ruins of the Latin tongue in the age of Charlemagne, and was spoken in France, as well as in the Walloon Low Countries, in the ages succeeding the reign of that monarch. This old language was named Romance, or Gaulois; and from the word Gaulois, corrupted into Wallois, has arisen the name Walloon. Whilst France, by gradual refinement, has improved the old Gaulois iato that softer and more elegant tongue which is now spoken in that kingdom, the Walloon Provinces in the Low Countries have retained their antient language, more rude, but in its rudeness bold and energetic." Hainault is one of the Walloon Provinces, although it must be remarked that the old dialect has, since the middle of the last century, been gradually giv ing way to the language of France: as the broad Scots of the Lowlanders, North of the Tweed, has, during the same period, been giving way to the pure English standard. Nevertheless, the Muse of Froissart alone will preserve the old Gaulois from sinking into oblivion, as the dialect in which Allan Ramsay sung will continue to be studied as long as the yellow broom waves on the Cowden Knows, or the rapid stream flows down the vale of Yarrow t." I would also observe, that the Flemish language has fallen much into disuse in many parts where it was pretty generally spoken half a century ago; and it is not unlikely that in the course of another half century it will be found only in the Dutch Provinces.

Hainault possesses various elegant manufactures, in common with the

* Shaw.

The above passage is quoted by memory from the Biography of the Poet Burns,

neighbouring Provinces of Flanders and Brabant; and I was informed that it contains valuable mines of iron, as well as strata of coal, which require only a spirit of enterprize to render them sources of great commercial advantages.

It seems to be universally allowed that agriculture has been carried to a greater degree of perfection in Flanders than in any other part of Europe. The natural fertility of the soil, and the happy temperature of the climate, are highly favourable to the industry of the husbandman; and there can be no doubt that the small extent of the farms throughout this Province has powerfully contributed to the flourishing state of its agriculture. I recollect to have heard, when I was in Flanders upwards of 20 years ago, that the farms there rarely exceeded 50 or 60 acres, and were frequently of less extent; and that long experience had given such convincing proofs of the utility of the system, as to induce some of the neighbouring Provinces to set about imitating their example. It appears that, about 60 years ago, the States of Hainault passed a law for limiting the extent of farms, whereby it was expressly ordained, that no farm should exceed 150 acres; the good effects of which regulation have since been experienced in various points of view, essentially connected with the best interests of the community. The bad effects of a contrary system in England, in our day, are too palpable to all who have eyes to see, and ears to hear, to require proof. Agriculture is the most solid and permanent basis of national strength and prosperity; there is nothing so bountiful and generous in its returns as land; and the true secret of rendering the soil a source of national wealth, as well as of individual comfort, is to let it out in small farms, calculated 40 afford a decent and comfortable maintenance to a plain, temperate, bardy race of men, removed from the seductions of luxury.

[Roma."

"Hanc olim veteres vitam coluere Sabini, Hanc Remus et frater; sic fortis Etruria crevit, Scilicet et rerum facta est pulcherrima I now resume the narrative of my Tour. We travelled from Halle, the last town in the Province of Hainault, to Brussels, through an enchanting

2

country, where Nature and Art conspire to fill the mind with delightful emotions. On our arrival at Brussels we drove to a spacious and elegant hotel called the Duke of Wellington, which stands in that delicious spot called the Park, the varied beauties of which surpass the descriptive powers of my pen. In a former Tour I communicated a variety of particulars concerning Brussels, for which I refer your Readers to the pages of your Magazine in the months of October and November 1804. I made some additional observations during my last visit, which must be postponed until the Reader has been conducted over the plains of Waterloo. We proceeded thither the day after our arrival at Brussels in a carriage which we hired for the day, and which commodiously held the party with whom I had travelled from Lille; and from whose society and converse I had derived so much rational gratification, as made me deeply regret that the hour of bidding, perhaps, a final adieu, was so near at hand. We set out at an early hour in the morning, with the view of breakfasting at Waterloo, and dedicating the rest of the day to a minute survey of the field of battle. That celebrated spot is situated near 10 miles to the South of Brussels. Soon after leaving the suburbs, we entered the extensive and magnificent Forest of Soigny, which extends over an immense tract of country from East to West; and from North to South (the direction in which it is traversed by the road from Brussels) it extends to a distance of six or seven miles. The whole scene was solemn and grand-it was, to borrow the words of one of our Poets, Pan's own umbrage dark and deep ;" and well calculated' to inspire the mind with mingled emotions of admiration and awe. The road is very wide, perhaps not less than between 40 and 50 feet, with a paved chaussée in the middle, along which our carriage rolled. I could not help contrasting the stillness of our journey, interrupted only by the chirping of birds and the sound of the woodman's axe, with the scenes of noise, confusion, and horror, which were exhibited on this very road for some days before and after the battle. Soon after emerging from the gloom of the Fo

rest,

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one of the monuments appeared the following inscription: "Dulce et decorum est pro putria mori!" O Nature, with what exquisite chords dost thou bind our hearts, making them thrill with ineffable emotions of sympathy and grief, tenderness and love! Why was my heart full on this occasion? and why did I give vent to my feelings in sighs and tears? I reclined against the monument-I looked at the inscription-and thought of Britain.

Every association of ideas, public and private, connected with that word, rushed upon my miod; and after a pause of some moments, I turned round to a lady of our party, who stood before the monument dissolved in tears, and repeated the following lines from Dr. Young:

Britain! that word pronounc'd is an alarm, [veins; It warms the blood, tho' frozen in our Awakes the soul, and sends her to the field Enamour'd of the glorious face of War. Britain! there's noble magic in the

sound!

With my heart warmed by such feelings, I took my leave of the Church of Waterloo. And here I take my leave of your Readers until next month, when I hope to resume the interesting subject of Waterloo.

CLERICUS LEICESTRIENSIS.

Mr. URBAN,

April 5.
LLOW the medium

taking as satisfactory as possible, in regard to a notice of errors and omis sions in the different volumes. A list of the former (and no topographical work, on a scale so comprehensive, was ever quite exempt from inaccuracies) will be appended to most, and, it is hoped, to the whole of the Counties. Concerning omissions, it may be desirable to inform the Subscribers, as it may influence them in binding the Work, that an account of the parish of Barnes, in the county of Surrey, which parish was inadvertently overlooked by the Editor of that portion of the "Beauties," will be inserted in the Appendix to the Introduction.

The Proprietors will likewise have, on this occasion, an opportunity of rendering a grateful and necessary of fering to the friends of the undertaking-a collective enumeration of the gentlemen who have contributed local information concerning the Counties in which they reside, or respecting which they have taken a particular interest. J. NORRIS BREWER.

Mr. URBAN,

N

April 14.

your Magazine for June last, a Correspondent states, that the late Mr. Mason left all his papers and manuscripts" to the Bishop of London" (Dr. B. Porteus), "the Rev. J. Dixon, and Wm. Burgh, esq. of York, with directions that they should publish such of them as they thought proper, together with a complete edition of his Works."

This statement, with regard to the Bp. of London, is erroneous; and consequently your Correspondent's supposition, that the delay of publication was occasioned by the Bishop's objection to the admission of Mr. Mason's satirical works, is totally without foundation. That the Literary Publick may have authentic information upon with which even of the

Afyour Magazine (which presents personal friends of Mr. Mason seem

the most ready channel of communication with the Antiquarian and Topographical Publick) to inform the Subscribers to the "Beauties of Eng-. land and Wales," that the Introduction to that Work, which has unavoidably occupied much time in preparing, will shortly be ready for publication.

It is the anxious wish of the Proprietors to render this summary and completion of their extensive under

to be unacquainted, I send you a copy of that clause in his Will, which provides for the disposal of his unpublished Writings.

"Whereas I shall probably leave several Manuscripts in prose and verse without written directions concerning

their publication; my will and desire is,

that Wm. Burgh, esq. LL. D. now residing in York, together with my aforesaid three trustees (the Rev. C, Alderson, Rector of Eckington in Derbyshire,

the

extended the fame and character of the Author.

In letter to one of his friends be certainly expressed a wish that his correspondence should not be pub

consider what weight an accidental expression in a familiar letter might have against his general opinion, as acknowledged by his friends, and illustrated by his Life of Gray, who

was an Author at least as fastidious as Mason, and of whose credit he was equally careful. Neither was any injunction of the sort mentioned to Dr. Burgh, in whose judgment be fully relied, and to which he entirely resigned his character. EBOR.

Mr. URBAN,

IT

March 22.

the Rev. J. Dixon, Rector of Boughton in Northamptonshire, and Rich. Stonhewer, esq. Auditor of the Excise), should either jointly or severally revise the same; and that, after such careful revision, such Manuscript and other unpublished; but it may be worth while to lished Works should be selected, which any three, or a majority of them, including the same Win. Burgh, esq. shall think proper for publication. And my will further is, that these then posthumous pieces shall be printed, together with my Writings already printed with my name, in one complete edition; and also, that the said Wm. 'Burgh, esq. shall attend to the correct printing of the same. And respecting this complete edition of my Works, my will is, that my executor hereafter mentioned (Rev. C. Alderson) shall sell and dispose of the same to some reputable bookseller or booksellers, and the property in them which will legally devolve to him at my decease; and the net sum which he shall receive for the same (after all his expences are deducted) shall be given by him, as a voluntary donation, to the York County Infirmary." The papers were placed in Dr. Burgh's possession soon after Mr. Mason's death, in 1797, and there remained till his decease, in Dec. 1808, but without any progress being made by him towards their selection and arrangement for the press; a circumstance more to be regretted, as, from his abilities, sound judgment, and correct opinions, we had reason to expect, not only a more complete edition of the Author's Works, but likewise some account of his Life, written in such a manner as might have given an acceptable addition to that most useful and engaging species of writing, Professional and Literary Biography.

At this time Mr. Alderson and Mr. Dixon, who were the only surviving trustees, being from extreme ill health incapable of taking any very active part in the publication, consulted with several persons whose judgment they respected; and in 1811 reprinted the Works of Mr. Mason already published, with some few additions from the papers in their possession.

As these papers are not yet destroyed, and as several valuable letters are preserved by many of his friends, there is no reason to give up the hope of having his wishes complied with, and of publishing a work which might answer his charitable purposes, at the same time that they

T appears from various Volumes of your Magazine, that the Literary World has for many years endeavoured to discover the Author of Junius's Letters; and many suppositions have been published on the subject of inquiry. Has not Sir William Temple somewhere written, "We see a little, conjecture much; and so jump on to a conclusion?" A recent publication, bearing the title of "The Author of Junius's Letters identified," inclines me to communicate what follows.

The late Dowager Lady of a Nothe Bar to the Peerage, in a converbleman who had been elevated from sation with an intimate friend of hers, said, that, after Lord's death, at their house in town, on some shelves, concealed within a wainscot, were found many copies, in sheets, of veral billets from the King, in his Junius's Letters; and with them seown hand-writing-all of them deto be with him; his siring Lord

Majesty naming the time of each in

terview with the utmost exactness
even to the minute."
H. C. M.

S. B. says, "It is a fact well-ascertained, that the great DUKE of MARLBOROUGH received part, at least, of his education at St. Paul's School; but the time of his admission, and continuance there, is uncertain, the records of the School having been destroyed in the fire of 1666. Whatever in any degree contributed to form the mind of such a man, he observes, cannot but be interesting to the publick; and he therefore solicits information from any Correspondent who may have it in his power, respecting that or any other circumstance of the Duke's early life."

Mr.

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