wonted facility, repaying his circumfpect attention to its laws, by filencing the voice of cenfure, guarding his character from impeachment, and his name from reproach. Cecilia had been known to him half her life. She had been careffed in his houfe as a beautiful child; and her prefence was now folicited there as an amiable acquaintance. Her vifits, indeed, had by no means been frequent, as the ill-humour of Lady Margaret Monckton had rendered them painful to her; yet the opportunities they afforded her of mixing with people of fashion, had ferved to prepare her for the new fcenes in which the was foon to be a performer. Mr Monckton, in return, had always been a welcome gueft at the deanry. His Converfation was to Cecilia a never fail ing fource of information; as his knowledge of life and manners enabled him to ftart thofe fubjects of which she was moft ignorant; and her mind, copious for the admiffion, and intelligent for the arrangement of knowledge, received all new ideas with avidity. Pleafure given in fociety, like money lent in ufury, returns with intereft to thofe who difpenfe it: and the difcourfe of Mr Monckton conferred not a greater favour upon Cecilia than her attention to it repaid. And thus the speaker and the hearer being mutually gratified, they had always met with complacency, and commonly parted with regret. This reciprocation of pleasure had, however, produced different effects upon their minds. The ideas of Cecilia were enlarged, while the reflections of Mr Monckton were imbittered. He here faw an object, who to all the advantages of that wealth he had fo highly prized, added youth, beauty, and intelligence: tho' much her fenior, he was by no means of an age to render his addressing her an impropriety; and the entertainment she received from his converfation, perfuaded him, that her good opinion might with tafe be improved into a regard the most partial. He regretted the venal rapacity with which he had facrificed himfelf to a woman he abhorred; and his wifhes for her final decay became daily more fervent. He knew that the acquaintance of Cecilia was confined to a circle of which he himself was the principal ornament; that the had rejected all the propofals of marriage which had hitherto been made to her; and as he had fedu loufly watched her from her earliest years, he had reafon to believe, that her heart had efcaped any dangerous impreffion. This being her fituation, he had long looked upon her as his future property; as fuch he had indulged his admiration, and as fuch he had already appropriated ber eftate; though he had not more vigilantly infpected into her fentiments,than he had guarded his own from a similar fcrutiny. The death of the dean, her uncle, had indeed much alarmed him. He grieved at her leaving Suffolk, where he confi dered himself as the firft man, alike in parts and in confequence; and he dreaded her refiding in London, where he forefaw that numerous rivals, equal to himfelf in talents and in riches, would speedily furround her: rivals, too, youthful and fanguine, not fhackled by prefent ties, but at liberty to folicit her immediate acceptance. Beauty and indepeudence, rarely found together, would attract a crowd of fuitors at once brilliant and affiduous; and the houfe of Mr Harrel [her guardian] was eminent for its elegance and gaiety. But yet, undaunted by danger, and confiding in his own powers, he determined to pursue the project he had formed, not fearing, by addrefs and perfeverance, to infure its fuccefs." Such is the well-drawn character of a man who makes a very capital figure in this novel. His intrigues are fome of the principal embarraffinents of the plot; and in his difappointment we have a fine leffon, to teach us the infecurity of that wifdom which is not connected with a virtuous principle, and manifested by fimplicity and integrity of conduct; the one its firmeft fupport, and the other its lovelicht ornament. A fine contraft to this most infidious and fpecious character is given in that of Belfield, another gentleman who fi gures confiderably in the ftory of Cecilia: "A tall thin young man, whofe face was all animation, and whofe eyes fparkled with intelligence. He had been intended by his father for trade; but his fpirit foaring above the occupation for which he was deligned, from repining led him to refift, and from refifting to rebel. He eloped from his friends, and contrived to enter into the army. But, fond of the polite arts, and eager for the acquirement of knowledge, he found not this way of life much better adapted to his inclination than that from which he had escaped. He foon grew weary of it, was reconciled to his father, and entered at the Temple. But here, too volatile for ferious ftudy, and too gay for laborious application, he made little progrefs; and the fame quickness of parts, and vigour of imagination, which, united with prudence, or accompanied by judgement, might have raised him to the head of his profeffion, being unhappily affociated with ficklenefs and caprice, ferved only to impede his improvement, and obftruct his preferment. And now, with little bufinefs, and that little neglected, a fmall fortune, and that fortune daily becoming lefs, the admiration of the world, but that admiration ending fimply in civility, he lived an unfettled and unprofitable life; generally careffed, and universally fought, yet careless of his intereft, and thoughtless of the future; devoting his time to company, his income to diffipation, and his heart to the Mufes." This gentleman is held up as a very lively portrait of the mifery of mere genius! that fplendour of imagination which only dazzles the understanding, without fatisfying the mind, and ever putting it on wrong purfuits, deludes where it promised to gratify; and while it makes it improvident for the future, takes off the true ufe and enjoyment of the prefent. The prudence and fagacity of Monckton, enlivened by the genius, and fup. ported by the integrity of Belfield, would go near to form a perfect character; a part, the one terminated in felfish cunning, and the other in poignant difcontent. The former, when detected, makes a man the abhorrence of others; and the latter, in a ceaseless round of hope and difappointment, fets a man at variance with himself. The other principal characters in this exquifite novel are in general nicely difcriminated, and properly fupported. They are all directed to the main object, and all concur to the denouement of the plot. The prodigality of the Harrels, and the pride of old Delville, [another guardian to Cecilia], though carried to the extreme, are yet within the bounds of probability. The character of Mrs Delville is highly finished, and leaves a very ftrong impreffion on the mind. We fee dignity ftruggling with tendernefs. We fee the GREAT and ARDENT fo foftened by the foothing affections of humanity, and the mild virtues of the heart, parental fondnefs, generous friendfhip, and impartial juftice, which furmount fome irrational, though deeprooted prejudices, that we always meet her with admiration, and part from her with regret. We wished to have feen more of her in the concluding fcenes, where the want of her disappointed us The volubility of Mifs Larolles is very well defcribed; and the sprightly wit, and inconfiderate eafe and hilarity, of Lady Honoria Pemberton, always meet our idea of the character meant to be exhi bited. We fee them as perfectly as if we were converfing with the originals. We may fay the fame of fome characters that figure in a lower circle, particularly of Hobfon. The felf-importance of a rich tradesman is represented to the life, It is a character that frequently occurs but we never faw it fo perfectly marked, or fo uniformly fupported. The ftory of the excellent Mr Albany is pathetic; and the events of his life well account for the fingularity of his behaviour, and the ftrangeness of his expreffions. M. Obfervations on the means of preferving the health of Soldiers; and of conducting Military Hofpitals, &c. 2 vols 8vo. ByDonald Monro, M. D. Physician to his Majefly's Army, and to St George's Hofpital: Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians at London, and of the Royal Society. DR Monro has divided his performance into five parts: In the firft he treats of the general means of preferving the lives of foldiers; in the fecond, he explains the most proper method of provi ding and conducting military hofpitals; in the third, he furnishes an account of the health and diseases of the troops who were encamped at Coxheath in the years 1778 and 1779; in the fourth, he details and examines the difeafes incident to foldiers in the time of actual fervice; and in the fifth, he exhibits a pharmacopoeia adapted to the ufe of military hofpitals. As a fpecimen of the work, we fhall infert what he has faid concerning the imbarkation of troops for fervice. "At all times, when troops are to be fent upon expeditions, particularly into warm climates, great care ought to be taken to embark fuch only as are in good health; particular regard ought to be paid to thofe who are picked up in the ftreets, or have been taken out of the Savoy, Savoy, or other gaols. All dirty, rags from off fuch people ought to be thrown away or burnt; and the men, after being well washed, and new clothed, ought to be kept for a fortnight or three weeks in fome garrifon-town, or with their regiments, in open airy places, that it may be afcertained that they have no infectious diforder before they be put on board the transports. All ships allotted for tranfports ought to be well aired and purified, and every thing fitted up properly, before the men are embarked. They ought to be provided with ventilators, or wind fails, to make a free circulation of air through the veffel; and they ought never to be crowded; but full room allowed for each man, in proportion to the length of the voyage. In military expeditions, foldiers are pat upon fhip's allowance; which Dr Lind very justly observes, ought not, in voyages to the warm climates, to be made up fo much of falted beef and falted pork, which have a tendency to putrefaction, as is the common practice of the navy; but that a greater fhare of bifcuit, flour, oatmeal, groats, rice, and other stores of that kind, ought to be laid in; and a greater proportion of them, and a lefs of the falted meat, diftributed among the men; and he is certainly in the right, when he fays, that a full animal diet, and tenacious malt-liquors, are well adapted to the conftitution of our own and of other northern climates; and that failors who vifit the Greenland feas, and are remarkable for a voracious appetite, and a ftrong digeftion of hard falted meat, and the coarfeft fare, when fent to the Weft Indies, foon become fenfible of a decay of appetite, and find a full grofs falted diet pernicious to health. "Inftinct (he fays) has taught the natives between the tropics to live chiefly on a vegetable diet, pf grains, roots, and fubacid fruits, with plenty of diluting liquors." A ftore of vegetables, such as mustardfeed, garlick, onions, potatoes, pickled cabbages, and other pickled vegetables, four crout, and other things of that kind, which can be purchased at a cheap rate, and preferved for fome months, ought to be laid in; which may be mixed with the foups prepared for the men, or given them to eat along with their falted provifions. A quantity of beer, cyder, or wine, ought to be put aboard, and a certain allowance diftributed to each man daily. When, for want of thefe, men are reduced to an allowance of fpirits, they ought to be mixed with feven or eight times the quantity of water, and occafionally fome molaffes, and a little lemon-juice may be added before they are given to the men; if lemons cannot be got, cream of tartar, or vinegar, may fupply their place; and it ought to be a duty of one of the military officers on board, to see the spirits mixed with the water, and diftributed among the men daily. It ought, however, to be observed, that altho' the juice of lemons and limes, and other vegetable acids, are good prefervatives against the fcurvy and putrid diforders, yet that the too free ufe of them is fometimes in danger of weakening the ftomach and bowels too much, and rendering people fubject to diarrhoeas, or dyfenteries, on the leaft feverish attack; and that therefore, when punch is allowed to the men, it ought not to be made too four; and that it will be often better to give them but a pint, or quart of weak punch to dinner, and the rest of their allowance of fpirits only mixed with water, than to give them the whole in punch. On expeditions, a quantity of loaves, fuch as the Ruffians ufe for preparing a beer, may, probably, be found extremely useful on fuch fervices, and the beer to be a good prefervative of health. The late Dr Mounfey, who had been phyfi cian to the Emprefs of Ruffia, told me, that they prepared them in the following manner. They grind a quantity of malt into flour, which they mix with oat or barley meal, and make up into loaves, or cakes, with water, and then bake the loaves in an oven, and keep them for ufe; and when they want beer they break them, and infufe them in boiling water, along with fome mint, fortwentyfour hours, longer or fhorter time according to the heat of the weather; at the end of which time the liquor has acquired an acidulous vinous taste, and they ufe it by way of small beer; and he added, that when he ferved as physician to the Ruffian army, it was ufed much; and that it was a wholefome and plea fant liquor, which the Ruffians call by the name of quafs.” ODE And tho' the wreath's prepar'd, unwreath'd the chiefs return! Ye nations, hear! nor fondly deem To Heaven fhe bends, and Heaven alone, To fpare her crimes, and heal her woes. Proud man with vengeance still Purfues, and aggravates ev'n fancied ill. Far gentler means offended Heav'n employs; With mercy Heaven corrects, chaftifes, not destroys. When Hope's laft gleam can hardly dare Then, Oh! to Heaven's protecting hand Be praife, be pray'r addrefs'd, Be virtuous, and be blefs'd.— Pale Envy's vain contentions cease, ODE FOR THE NEW YEAR. The world from thefe difafters free ; Say, Father Time! when shall we fee When fhall the olive bloffom bloom, And Peace her long-loft sway refume! O favour'd by propitious kies, Young Janus, fraught with joys, arife! Let ev'ry fun that gilds the fphere See Nature blefs'd with Love fincere. In glowing India's spicy groves, The fable native fing his loves; Nor start to hear the blast of war, Borne on the æther from afar. Where Europe fpreads her fertile fields, And Plenty all her produce yields; May ev'ry drooping Art revive, And riches flow from Commerce' hive. No more let Calpé hear the roar, Of thund'ring cannon round her fhore: Her rock, as now, for ever stand, The pride, the glory of our land. Where Heaven bids native Freedom reign, Beyond th' Atlantic's liquid plain, Be heard no more the warrior's groan, The patriot's figh, the parent's moan! From where bleft Titan fhews his head, To where he feeks his western bed, Refound the trumpet's voice no more, Nor navies dread a hostile fhore. Let focial Love's unbounded stream, And public Honour, ftrong and warm, And eafy Quiet's gentle dream, Still each heart, and spread each charm. So fhall transport fill the foul, And mild affection bind the whole; So thall Science bloom anew, And kindness drop like morning dew. So fhall ev'ry clime be known, And ev'ry nation feem our own: So fhall Virtue never die, But feek the plaudit of the sky. AN ADDRESS, written and Spoken by Mrs Siddons, when foe produced to the au dience her three reafons for quitting the Bath Theatre. [vol. 44. p. 677.] HAVE I not rais'd fome expectation here Wrote by herself!-What! Authorefs and play'r? True we have heard her, (thus I guess you'd fay) With decency recite another's lay; But never heard, nor ever could we dream, Herself had fipp'd the Heliconian ftream. Perhaps you farther faid, (excufe me, pray, For thus fuppofing all that you might fay), What will the treat of in this fame addrefs; Is it to fhew her learning? Can you guess? Here let me anfwer, No: far different views Poffefs'd my foul, and fir'd my Virgin Muse! 'Twas honeft gratitude; at whofe requeft, Sham'd be the heart that will not do its best! The The time draws near, when I must bid adieu name, O'erlook'd my faults, but magnify'd my fame. How fhall I bear the parting? Well I know, Anticipation, here, is daily woe. [thrown, Oh, should kind fortune, where I next am Beftow but half the candour you have shewa; Envy, o'ercome, will hurl her pointless dart, And critic gall be fhed-without its fmart: The numerous doubts and fears I entertain, Be idle all; as all possess'd in vain! But to my promise If I thus am blefs'd; In friendships link'd; beyond my worth caSince I'm fecure in my employers aid, [refs'd; Who meets my wishes ere they fearce are made; Why do you quit,(you'll fay) fuch certain gain, To truft caprice, and its vexatious train? What can compenfate for the rifks you run, And what your reafons? Surely, you have none! To argue here would be your time's abufe→→ My word I keep, my reafons I produce: [Here her three Children were difcovered. There are the moles that heave me from your fide, (dy'd !Where I was rooted, where I could have Stand forth, ye elves, and plead your mother's caufe; [draws Ye little magnets, whofe ftrong influence Me from a point where every gentle breeze Wafted my bark to happiness and ease; Sends me advent'rous on a larger main, In hopes that you may profit by my gain ! Have I been hafty? Am I there to blame? Anfwer all ye who own a parent's name. Thus have I tir'd you with an untaught Muse, Who for a favour fill most humbly sues, That you, for claffic learning, will receive My foul's best wishes, which I freely give: For polish'd periods, round, and touch'd with art, The fervent offerings of my grateful heart. ODE to VIRTUE. Wake, my Mufe! awake the lyre! Αν [fire: O, animate the facred strain ! Let not a thought of earth remain, To check thy warmth, or damp the fond deTo Virtue all thy ftrains belong; 'Tis fhe, bright goddess, claims thy song. My bofom glows with wild poetic fires : Fair Virtue's praife I fing; the hears me, and infpires. Hail, goddess of majestic mien! I know thee by thy fnowy veft, Of ruffian waves, that trike the foul with dread, Or the fell form that howls and bursts around thy head. VOL. XLV. And see! a heavenly form appears, Oft does the turn the volume o'er, Mortals, attend the mufe's fong! Power above. Aud fogs arife, and rains defcend, And one brown profpect opens round Of leaflefs trees and furrow'd ground; Save where unmelted fpots of fnow Upon the shaded hill-fide flow; While chill winds blow, and torrents roll, The fcene difgufls the fight, depreffes all the foul. Yet worse what polar climates fhare Vaft regions, dreary, bleak and bare! There, on an icy mountain's height, Seen only by the moon's pale light, Stern Winter rears his giant form, His robe a mift, his voice a storm; His frown the fhivering nations fly, And hid, for half the year, in smoky caverns lie. Yet there the lamp's perpetual blaze Can pierce the gloom with chearing rays; Yet there the heroic tale or fong Can urge the fingering hours along; Yet there their hands, with timely care, The kajak and the dart prepare,. On Summer feas to work their way, * And wage the watry war, and make the feat their prey. |