No breeze is disturbing the moment serene,
No song of the shepherd is heard in the

dale;

The blue hills but dimly far distant are seen,
Which tow'ring on high, seem the skies to

assail.

The feelings, how pensive, ah! who shall display,

That rise in our breasts from a moment like

this!

When the soul all immortal is urging its way
Thro' worlds yet unnumber'd, thro' regions

of bliss:

Unmov'd is the hour as the waves of the deep,

When the winds and the storms from their fury repose; When the soft-blowing zephyrs are buried in sleep,

And no breezes the calm of the ocean oppose.

But hark! as the moment of midnight has
toll'd,

Methinks that a spirit ethereal is nigh,
And far o'er the valley these accents' have

roll'd,

Like melody streaming from angels on high. This scene and this calmness of nature sur

vey;

Behold yon pale orb that is hast'ning to

rest:

Then who against feeling impressive shall say,
That a spirit immortal reigns not in the
breast?

The planets, tho' various, harmoniously roll;
The seasons, tho' changing, unerring re-

turn;

The world on its axis no hand can control;

The stars in their orbits resplendently burn; The moon all its lustre unceasingly borrows; But the power that guides them, ah! who shall explore?

For ever concealed, till life and its sorrows

sensibilities of spirits more finely touched; although the sensibility of the best man's nature be, from various causes, prone to perversion. "Spirits are not finely touched but to fine issues ;"-and to some violation of the feelings of the exquisitely sensitive, either by circumstance or the demeanour of the unfeeling-their errors may be more usually traced than to its own improper reactions. Those who are apt to give up the reins too unreconsider that those sensibilities parservedly to their sensibilities, should take also of the common pollution of our natures, and that those who pursue their guidance, as well as those who pursue the guidance of the passions, are in danger of deviation from the path of rectitude. Those, on the other hand, who coldly sneer on all who possess sensibilities to objects to which they are insensible, and who shew feeling, on occasions, in which they themselves are unmoved, should remember,

"that he who offends

against the least of these little ones, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were cast into the sea." Sensibility is that native characteristic of St. John, which made him to be distinguished from the other disciples as "that disciple whom Jesus loved." The most beneficial of the good influences of religion upon men as individuals, forming a portion of any com

Have ceas'd, and the pulses are throbbing munity, are the multiplying and refin

no more.

ON PLUTARCH's STATUE. WISE, honest Plutarch! to thy deathless praise

The sons of Rome this grateful statue raise; For why? both Greece and Rome thy fame have shar'd,

Their heroes written, and their lives compar'd.

But thou thyself could'st never write thy own;

Their lives had parallels-but thine has none.

ON SENSIBILITY.

I AM persuaded that God does a great deal of good work which man mars. The sensibilities of such a man as Cowper, were a sufficient check upon his grosser inclinations. There are not wanting many such examples. However useful the language of some divines may be, in restraining the passions of the vulgar, its influence often becomes a complete blight upon the

ing their sensibilities of attachment towards God and each other. Sensibility is not (abstractedly speaking) religion, but it certainly is a gift from heaven, most worthy to be esteemed in others, and cultivated in ourselves.

THE CHEST IN THE CORNER.-No. 3.

"Are we not here now?' continued the cor

'poral, and are we not [dropping his hat "plump on the ground and pausing before "he pronounced the words] gone in a mo"ment?' The descent of the hat was as if "a heavy lump of clay had been kneaded in "the crown of it. Nothing could express "the sentiment of mortality, of which it "was the type and forerunner, like it: bis "hand seemed to vanish from under it; it "fell dead; the corporal's eye fixed upon it "as upon a corpse, and Susannah burst into a flood of tears."

deep and reiterated woe, on the heart that once sympathized in my juvenile sorrows, and the hand of death had stiffened those limbs, that once accompanied my youthful excursions.

But to return to the subject. The chest, in addition to a variety of papers, contained clothes, money, some old family relics with the Orril arms upon them, and a gold locket with a miniature of a female, who, if the painter was just, possessed much beauty. The money was sufficient, not only to defray the expenses of the funeral, but also, I believe, it provided Adam with a comfortable maintenance for the remainder of his life.

that they will not be totally unable to | estimate my sensations. A belief, (which I confess I had long entertained,) in the doctrine of presentiments, was considerably increased by the state of my mind during the previous part of the afore-mentioned day; accompanied with melancholy feelings, somewhat resembling anticipations of distress, but occasionally lightened by beams of those thrilling emotions, which are excited when a speedy meeting with a dear friend, from whom we have long separated, is expected. I remember to have seen (the sun being about to set) huge masses of clouds drifted before a brisk wind, which obscured the brilliancy of that luminary. Occasionally, he has emer- My next step was, to order for myged from this thick and fleecy veil, self a decent suit of mourning, with and his rays shining through the thin- the other requisites which custom renest parts of it, have scattered mimicquires for the mournful ceremony of suns over a scene that was before consigning friends to the tomb. When threatening and gloomy. Too soon these were brought to my apartments, have I observed these appearances I found some of the smaller articles again retire, as the solar rays were enveloped in a newspaper from the again shaded; and beheld the delight- eastward, which had been given to ful scene give place to a still deeper the world about three weeks previous gloom, and more night-like obscurity. to the time in question. In casually Such was my mind; the clouds of looking over it, the following paradoubt were driven by the fierce winds graph attracted my attention. of tumult, over the radiant countenance of the sun of hope, and the disappearance of the transitory gleams of brightness, derived from this intellectual luminary, served to plunge me into the mists of despondence, and the midnight of apprehension.

"MISSING.

"On Monday last, March 27, a young lady, of the name of Fanny, being in a state of lunacy, escaped from Dr. T.'s asylum, at Land was afterwards observed walking along the beach in that neighbourhood. She is I was going, the reader must re- about twenty-six years of age, nearly member, to visit an associate of my five feet seven inches in height, has youth. Together we frolicked away a pale complexion, black hair, and our infantile years; together we chas-black eyes. If any person can give ed the butterfly; together we admired the flowers, and wondered at the sky; together we waded through the rudiments of Greek and Latin, and then -we parted; and though I wept, yet no afflicting presentiment was allowed to remain in my breast.

66

information, by which her retreat may
be discovered, so that she may be
restored to her distressed friends, he
will be amply rewarded. Address
L-
letters to Mr B-

Dated L, March 29, 1812.

"

The circumstance did not much strike me at the time, though it was brought to my recollection by a scene, which took place shortly afterwards, and which I now proceed to narrate.

"Next year," said I, as well as my tears would permit me; Ay," returned he, in a tone of fortitude, 66 next year, I shall see you again Ranald." We parted-for ever? No -not for ever-I saw him once more On the morning appointed for my —I have said so already-I am bewil-cousin's interment, Adam Earnest dered-I must stop. But I did see him the lips that I had "kissed I know not how often," were pale, the eyes that once beamed delight upon me were closed, the seal of affliction had been imprinted in characters of

was with me at an early hour. He was dressed in a blue jacket and trowsers. Round his arm was bound a piece of black crape, and his hat was enveloped in the same manner. We walked down to the hut. A low

murmuring noise issued from it,--we | entered, an old woman of the neighbourhood was sitting by the side of the rude couch, where the body of the deceased lay in his coffin. She had removed the withered flowers, which had been previously scattered over the body, and in lieu of them, had strewed roses, wet with morning dew, white violets, rosemary, and lavender, according to the custom of this part of the country; and she was now chanting an old popish dirge. She had learned it, she said, from her grandmother, a Catholic, who, most probably had derived it from the tradition of past ages. She again resumed her song, entreating us not to disturb her. We accordingly sat down on the pallet, and with a voice not totally destitute of melody, she sang some verses, of which I have been fortunate enough to procure an antique, and I believe pretty accurate copy, and which I here present to my readers.

mon, on which the church was built.

66

or streamed in the wind as the breeze advanced or subsided. Ah," said she, in a low tone of voice, "'tis very cold, but you sha'nt go by yourself." She clasped her hands to her bosom, stretched them out as if to avert some danger, and fell back on the turf. I hasted to her, but it was too late; she was gone; the spirit had departed, and had left the former beauteous habitation, cold and lifeless.

My readers will, by this time, have discovered this personage to be none other than the maniac described in the aforementioned advertisement. Of the cause of her derangement, of the mode of her arrival in this place, and of her near connection with him, part of whose grave she now occupies, future papers will speak. It is now about ten years since the same turf first enclosed their remains. By the side of their resting place is another grave, of more recent date, which contains the body of the honest, frank, old Adam Earnest; and I hope that when my journey through life shall be concluded, I shall sleep in the small space, which is unoccupied on the right hand of the unfortunate subjects of the present lucubration. There shall I enjoy a sleep, uninterrupted by days of sorrow, while I trust my soul will spring from its decayed habitation, to join my departed friends in the dwellings of bliss and glory.

As we ascended the hill from the bridge, some persons began to sing a psalm, and continued their music, till, attended by an increased number of people, we entered the church-yard, and shortly after were met by the clergyman, who commenced the service in the usual way. After going through the forms prescribed by the church, the coffin was lowered; and just as Mr. B. had concluded, by pronouncing the closing benediction, and as I was stooping to look into the grave for the last time, I heard one of the shrillest and most piercing shrieks, that I believe was ever uttered by mortal. It was not the mere expression of misery, it was a sound indicative of phrensied agony. On hearing a sound so startling, I involuntarily dropped my handkerchief, with which I had hitherto shaded my eyes, and I pressed my fingers to my ears. I turned to discover whence the sound arose, and perceived a female, dressed in a long grey cloak, which was torn in various places, and which, as it waved in the wind, afforded me an opportunity of observing a black silk gown, which covered as fine a figure as ever I beheld. Her clenched hands, extended foot, heated cheeks, and, above all, maniacally sparkling black eyes, told us that reason had departed from her throne. She wore a straw bonnet, and a modest looking cap, under which her black hair was almost concealed, and only one solitary curl sported on the lovely neck now tinged by an exposure to the sun. She unclenched her hands, and, putting one of them to her head, looked at the coffin, at the same time exclaiming in a tone of affecting distress, "And you will go, and leave me, and what will become of poor Fanny? Oh, Fanny, Fanny, what will you do!" The audience were softened; even the sexton stood leaning on his spade, and gazed on the lovely form. She started, and, clapping her hands before her eyes, uttered a scream, surpassing, if possible, the former one. "Oh! look, look, look," The supercilious may sneer at the she cried, "what will you do? mur- humble tribute to affection of a country der! save him, save him," and, lift-schoolmaster; but I have had the ing up her hands, she tore off with vehemence her bonnet and cap, and her lovely hair, released from its confinement, floated over her shoulders, No. 43.-VOL. IV.

A small mound, encircled with osiers, and in summer enriched by wild flowers, marks the tomb of these two unfortunates, united to each other by the closest ties of friendship, who, in their lives were amiable, and in their deaths were undivided. At the head of the grave is a plain stone, on which is engraved the following

Epitaph.

Reader, tread lightly on this spot,
For here the hallow'd ashes lie,
Of two whose names may be forgot,
Whose worth and virtues cannot die.
Though by affliction's storms distress'd,
And separated here below,
They're join'd in mansions of the blest,

Where sorrow's winds can never blow.

satisfaction, when entering the church yard, of seeing village maids, who previously had been making the echoes answer to their mirth, stop at the 3 B

humble grave, read the simple epitaph, and utter such exclamations of pity, as were amply deserved by the silent and unconscious occupants of that habitation, which is frequently watered by the tears of the lovely and sensitive rustic.

REMARKS ON MENTAL AFFECTIONS.

(Continued from col. 626. )

That insanity has no direct reference to the mental faculties, is proved, by those of the highest intellectual energies and attainments being only subject to it in common with those of the lowest. Even idiots, and infants, in whom the reasoning powers have not been developed, are occasionally afflicted with this disease;-and those of the most exalted intellects, who are visited by insanity, frequently retain the use of those powers, in which their chief excellence consisted, even while under the malady.

Bethlem seventeen years. I know his insanity was disputed; but it could only be disputed by those who were ignorant of what insanity is.

Norris, who was kept in an iron crib for nine years, in the same house, was a man of very superior intelligence in political matters; it was thought he knew more of the news of the day than any other man in all London, and yet there could be no doubt of his being a dangerous maniac.

It is well known that one of our stock plays was writtten by a patient in Bethlem, of the name of Lee;and there is no doubt with me, that the hero of this play, Alexander the Great, was a real madman; and so, I am persuaded, was Charles the 12th, of Sweden; and so, in all probability, at times was Bonaparte; at least there is no proof to the contrary, for these men did nothing but what the insane might do, and they did a great deal, which, as I think, none but the insane would have undertaken.

There was for many years a clergy- None of those authors who have man in the Manchester asylum, of this written expressly upon mental affecdescription; and it was thought there tions, have given a clear delineation was not a person in that large town, of the lunatic or insane character, at all equal to him in arguing upon agreeably to truth and nature; and theological subjects. His reasoning the only writers who have discovered powers were so acute, and his know- an intimate knowledge of the subject, ledge of the scriptures so great, and are Dr. Smollett, in his character of his application of texts so apt, that Sir Launcelot Greaves; Shakspeare, no one could refute him: and yet in his character of Hamlet; and Dr. there could be no doubt of his insa- Johnson, in his character of the Astronity. He fancied himself a duke, nomer, in his Rasselas, Prince of though kept there upon charity; and Abissinia. In these characters we often in the midst of the most inte- are taught to respect the virtues, and resting conversations, when his audi-intellectual powers, and attainments, 'tors were delighted and astonished with the emanations of his mind, he would suddenly break off with, "but, gentlemen, my carriage and servants have been long waiting, and I must bid you a good morning." He would then bow very politely to the company, and leave the room.

Some time since I saw a most beautiful publication, entitled “Rural Architecture." It consisted of engraved designs for rural cottages, lodges, and park gates. The designs, the engraving, and the explanations, were all the work of a lunatic, who, finding that the engraving would be the most expensive part of the publication, learned the art for the express purpose. The name of this man was Tilly Mathews; who was an inmate of

|

of real lunatics. I am tempted to give a long quotation from the philosopher, Johnson; and had be given us his analysis of the human mind, and this with the same ability with which he has described the operations of the mental functions, he would, I venture to believe, have left me nothing new to say upon this part of my subject.

Imlac had been giving an account of the Astronomer's believing that he had the command of the clouds and the weather, when it is said "The prince heard this narration with serious regard; but the princess smiled, and Pekuah convulsed herself with laughter, Ladies, said Imlac, to mock the heaviest of human afflictions, is neither charitable nor wise; few