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Anacreon.

It has been a dispute among some profound Greek scholars, whether this amatory bard is to be ranged with classic authors. Certain critics have considered him as a forgery of some Byzantine scholar. However, with some exceptions, he is less objectionable than some other classics of the erotic kind, and less loaded with mythologic fables than any of the minor Greek poets. Though his muse treats of love merely physical; yet one of his late translators, in this sentimental age of that passion, has exaggerated the warm language of the old Teian, so as to have brought a disgrace on his name, which he does not merit. In general, nature and simplicity prevail in his composition, though on themes which were likely to have led him into gross improprieties of thought and diction.

N.B. Let the reader compare T. Moore's translation with that of T. Girdlestone, M.D. 1804, 2d edit. the latter is more like Anacreon, the other like-T. Moore.

Love at First Sight.

Some grave reasoners have doubted the existence of love at first sight, though experience tells us that, in many cases, it is more likely to happen

than at the second interview; for then the observer becomes more cool, and examines the mind of his favourite object, which has little to do with her external beauties; and it is well known that what are called love-matches are seldom or never happy.

Oh! how the spring of love resembleth
The uncertain glory of an April day;

Which now shews all the beauty of the sun,
But knows of him no more.

Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona.

Shenstone,

Who sought his chief happiness, though he ultimately found his misery, in the regions of fancy, has well observed on a common error of the imagination. "I have often considered why those possessed of palaces, yet often esteem a roothouse or a cottage as a desirable object in their gardens. Is it not from having the experience of the imperfection of happiness in higher life, that they are led to conceive it more complete under a straw roof, where, perhaps, it may really be as defective as in the apartments of a minister or a king?" A living poet, who has searched into the scenes of the cottage with equal diligence and humanity, have given us the inside of one with a most melancholy detail:

Come, search within; nor sight nor smell regard,
The true physician walks the foulest ward.
See, on the floor what frowsy patches rest,
What nauseous fragments on you fractur'd nest.
"The Parish Register," Poems by the
Rev. G. Crabbe, 1809.

Natural Philosophy.

The too quick transition from the study of natural phenomena to the causes of them is one instance of the pride and weakness of human learning. The diligent search into the various phenomena of nature, and the technical arrangement of them, in vegetables, has rendered the name of Linnæus immortal. Even the wonderful abilities and learning of Newton, though he had observed, with an accuracy and profundity unequalled, the phenomena of the skies, did not enable him to search into the causes of gravity and attraction; but his modesty was satisfied with stating facts, and not establishing systems: the errors of Descartes shewed the sense of the English philosopher.

M. Descartes.

Born with a volatility of fancy which marred his judgment, Descartes was not contented to observe phenomena with the modest patience of

Newton, but soon attempted to account for them. He was eager to build a world that should not be easily destroyed; and his favourite "Theory of Atoms" shews with how strong materials he wished to raise his structure. Without any intention, Descartes gave assurance to the mechanical philosophy, (which supposes the world to move as a mere machine,) and thus he excludes the agency of a Deity in its structure and preservation.

On Reputation. A Fable.

The following instructive fable is taken from one of Howel's Letters, but it does not appear to what collection it belongs; perhaps it was the production of the ingenious author's fancy.*"It happened that Fire, Water, and Fame, went to travel together; and they consulted, if they lost one another, how they might be recovered, and meet again. Fire said, when you see smoke, you shall find me; Water said, when you see marsh and moorish low grounds, you shall find me ; but Fame said, take heed how you lose me, for if you do, you run a great hazard never to meet me again: there's no retrieving of me."-Howel's Fam. Letters, vol. ii. letter 14.

It seems to be an Eastern fable.

Balloons.

What would the lively writer above-mentioned have said of these specimens of modern ingenuity and bravery, who talks so triumphantly on the discoveries about his own times? 66 Though in former times a bishop's head was sent (apart from his body) to dwell among the Antipodes, because he first hatched and held that opinion; yet our East-India navigators, who so often cross the equator and tropics, will tell you it's a gross error to hold there are no Antipodes. For a man to walk upon the ocean when the surges were at the highest, and to make a dull piece of wood to swim, nay fly, upon the water, was held as impossible a thing, as it is now thought to fly in the air." -Howel's F. Letters, vol. iii. letter 9.

A Poet.

The Latin saying, "Poeta nascitur non fit," was uttered with little consideration on the subject. Poetry, like any other art, requires knowledge. The very essence of poetry consists of figurative language, tropes, metaphors, and allegories, which no writer can use, without some intimate knowledge of those matters from whence

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