Thoughts on Death. From Montaigne.

The author laughs at all philosophers on this subject in a very happy way. Philosophy enjoins us, that we should always have death before our eyes, to foresee and consider before the time; and then gives us rules and precautions to provide that this foresight and thought do us no harm. Just so do physicians; who throw us into diseases, to the end that they may have a subject for their drugs and art. If we have known how to live consistently and quietly, we shall know how to die so too. We trouble life with the care of death, and death with the care of life. The one vexes us, and the other frights us. It is not, in fact, against death that we prepare ourselves, but against the preparations of death."-Montaigne's Essay, vol. iii. c. 12.

Physiognomy. From the same.

"A

This frank and natural writer expresses himself on this mysterious and fanciful subject with his usual penetration, ease, and good sense. man's countenance is but a slender security, yet is something to be regarded too; and were I to lash men, I would most severely scourge the wicked ones who belie and betray the promises that na

ture has planted in their foreheads. I would with great severity punish malice in a courteous aspect. I believe there is an art in distinguishing affable from silly faces, rigid from the stern, malicious from the pensive, the coy from melancholy, and such other bordering qualities.”— Vol. iii. c. 12.

N.B. It is here to be observed, that Montaigne confines this art of discrimination to the discovery of the moral qualities only; and does not, like Lavater, include intellect.

Mason and Hayley.

*

It is a very ingenious observation of an excellent critic of poetical merit, that" among the fortunate circumstances that attended Homer, it was not one of the least that he wrote before general and abstract terms were invented." The truth of this observation is strongly illustrated by the poetry of Mason and Hayley; wherein the reader is continually involved in the mist of generalities and abstract terms, which are often personified, and fill the scenery with most unsubstantial shadows from the school of metaphysics. Even when these shadowy bards mean to draw visible objects,

* Essay on Pope's Genius and Writings, 2 vols. 8vo.

and indulge their readers with picturesque descriptions, they endeavour to give to

"airy nothings

"A local habitation and a name."

Cards.

The playing at cards, unconnected with any species of gaming, is innocent, and, in some cases, useful. When companies meet together of men and women with little sympathy, rather gregariously than socially,

"The feast of reason, and the flow of soul,"

is little to be expected. The card-table then removes that of the bottles and glasses; and the tea being taken at the same time in which the games commence, all opportunities for indulging in too much wine is prevented among the men, and the love of prate and scandal intercepted among the ladies. Besides, whist is an employment of the intellect; and among good-mannered people can lead to nothing harmful; as avarice is often excluded by the smallness of the stakes, and the competition of skill.

Adapting Poetry to Music.

"The sound must seem an echo to the sense," says Pope, in his Essay on Criticism, and pro

ceeds with some following lines to exemplify his doctrine-how unsuccessfully, the "Rambler" has shewn, with his usual force of sagacity and perspicuity. A musical man, to use a common phrase, may think that certain sounds express the sense of certain sentences and words better than any other mode of articulation; but let this music in his soul be an argument to him, and let others judge for themselves, and prefer a good reader to a chaunter.

The Subject continued.

The difficulty of connecting poetry with-music is very great, and its success, of course, very uncertain. The late Mr. Shenstone, who was a musical as well as a poetical genius, says, in one of his letters, "I presume that nothing can go further than the Oratorio of the Messiah.' It seems the best composer's best composition; yet I fancied that I could observe some parts in it wherein Handel's judgment failed him, and where the music was not equal, or was even opposite to what the words required."-Shenstone's Letters, (93,) ed. 1758, 12mo.

Women.

M. d'Alembert has well retorted on the accusaons against the female race, by founding them on

the ill conduct of men in their education. "Were you just in your complaint, Where can we find an amiable and virtuous woman? the reason might be found in the state of subjection and degradation to which we reduce women, the restraints we put upon them, the frivolous conversation, disgraceful to them and ourselves, with which we entertain them, as though they had not reason, or deserved to have any add to all this the wretched education we bestow on them, which teaches them to be always acting a part, concealing every sentiment of their minds, withholding all their opinions, and suppressing every thought that arises in their bosoms." M. D'Alembert's Letter to Rousseau.

The Subject continued.

At present, in England, a more generous system of education is bestowed on our young females; their conversation is vastly improved, their manners more free, their sentiments and opinions uttered with ease and perspicuity; and their understandings entitle them to demand, from men of the best. education and parts, respectful attention. In the time of Swift and Pope, it appears that women were not so well instructed; and, allowing for the satirical and severe disposition of the Dean of St. Patrick's, perhaps the following lines may be con