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body under the water? But even if there could be, this would not affift your arguments; for you tell us that "if any part of the body be left expofed, the contact of cold air or cold water to that part will raise the cheft and produce infpiration." This is very well; but how does it agree with your author's theory of evaporation? "The function of refpiration then," fays Dr. H., " is to originate and maintain a certain motion of the animal fibre effential to vitality, and the effect is produced by the contraction from evap oration, excited by atmospherick air." Will you pleafe to inform me, "Medicus," whether this para graph of yours was intended to oppofe or to defend Dr. Howard's opinion?

Afperity in fcientifick controverfy is unpleasant to every one who is inquiring for truth. It is therefore with regret that I make ufe of any expreffions with that appearance, nor fhall I do fo farther than you have rendered it neceffary. But with regard to the obfervations on hot and cold air, I must take the liberty to inform you that you have either deferted your author again, or elfe you do not understand the theory you are defending. Quoting the obfervations from the review, that

"as heat promotes evaporation, hot air fhould be better for respi ration than cold air," you remark as follows. "For my part, I fhould think that hot air would heat the lungs fafter than cold air, and that cold air would cool the lungs fafter than hot air." Here, fir, you ftart from and avoid the matter in difpute; but I muft bring you back to it. According to your author, refpiration is produced by evaporation from the fkin and lungs. The queftion then is, whether hot air or cold are moft proper for evaporation? The review afferts that heat promotes evaporation; therefore, according to the evaporative theory, hot air is more proper for refpiration than cold air. It is in vain for you to fay" that, as the intention is to cool the lungs, cool air must be preferable to hot." Will cold air produce more evaporation int the lungs than hot! It fhould' feem your intention to leave the doctrine of evaporation to its fate; but if that was defigned, you ought not to have attacked this fentence which opposes it.

If you permit, I fhall take the liberty of continuing my remarks to you on this fubject, and in the mean time leave these things for your candid and profound inveftigation. PHILO-LAVOISIER.

For the Monthly Anthology.

THE LITERARY WANDERER.

Qui mores bominum multorum vidit, et urbis... HORATIUS. AMID the numerous peculiarities, by which the productions of different writers are characterized, none appears more confpicuous, than diverfity of ftyle;

No. 1.

a diverfity, perhaps not lefs difcoverable in common converfation, than in the most elaborate literary performance; though at prefent I fhall confider it in the latter

acceptation. Something difcrimfnating predominates in every au thor's expreffion. Some are dif tinguished for humorous delineations, others for exquifité tenderfels; fome for cogency of argument, others for delicacy of fentiment; fome for fublimity of conception, and others for beauty and amenity of communication. Thus, though all appear folicitous to reach the bourne of eminence, they employ according to their predominant propenfities diffimilar vehicles for conveyance.

Judicious writers have ever regarded words, as fubordinate to fense, and by no means, as conftituting the principal excellence of any compofition; but many, who. feem enamoured of affectation, never condefcend to exprefs an idea; however natural, in a natural manner. By adopting this puterile mode of communication they imperceptibly become habituated to a very erroneous manner of conception; unhappily imagining, that magnificence of diction, novelty of expreffion, and uncommon conftructions are effential requifites in an elegant performance; and that fentiment, method, and fimplicity are but fecondary confiderations.

Hafty compofitors exhibit a ftyle, diftinguished for animation and inaccuracy; for, if an object be incompletely conceived, the deficiency will be immediately difcovered. Too indulent, or too much engaged in other purfuits for deliberate thought, they clothe their fentiments in fuch expreffions, as moft readily occur, regardlefs, whether they are the mcft elegant or appropriate. Glow of feeling however and enthufiafm not unfrequently manifeft them

felves in fuch precipitant productions. But animation and accuracy are in no degree incompatible. What I would fuggeft, is, that perfons, who compote with fcrupulous exactnefs, are commonly lefs remarkable for warmth of feeling in their writings, than thofe, who compofe with greater rapidity at first, and afterward pay attention to correctnefs. The pathetick Virgil is reported to have pursued the latter courfe. In the morning he was habitu ated to pour forth in the glow of poetick enthusiasm a large number of verses, and to devote the remainder of the day to painful, and rigid amendment.

As external objects have confiderable influence on the mind, a perfon's manner of thinking will beat a ftriking refemblance of his favourite purfuit. A poet, accuftomed to contemplate the lovely fcenes of nature with an eye of rapture, exhibits in his pieces the refiftlefs ardour of his foul. His expreffions are lively, picturefque, and energetick; he communicates a portion of his own ardent feelings to his reader. A fingle fentence will fometimes poffefs more intrinfick excellence, than a page of unanimated narration. For example; when our Saviour's turning water into wine was given, as a theme, at an English univerfity, a member, who afterward became very diftinguifhed for po etick abilities, inflead of compofing a long circumlocutory ac count, communicated his vivid conception in one line, which for beauty, force, and originality is perhaps unequalled;

"THE CONSCIOUS WATERS SAW THEIR

GOD, AND BLUSHED."

But however numerous may be the modes of expreffing our fentiments, the utility of frequently compofing cannot be questioned. A learned writer has obferved, that "compofition is for the moft part an effort of flow diligence and fteady perfeverance, to which the mind is dragged by neceffity or refolution, and from which attention is every moment ftarting to more delightful amusements." But ftudies of greatest pleasure and facility are not uniformly moft advantageous; fince knowledge, attained with painful affiduity, is ufually most useful and permanent. Books, it is acknowledged, are very pleasant companions to occupy the fuperfluities of time; but whoever wishes to appear to advantage, as a writer, must not only acquire a fund of refined and juft ideas, but a handfome manner of communicating them. With the commanding majefty of Johnfon he will unite the elegant fimplicity of Addison, and with the impaffioned exuberance of Burke the fafcinating delicacy of Hawkefworth. Such endeavours will add double excellence to his performances.

Influenced by the delufive intimations of indolence, perfons not unfrequently advance with tardy and involuntary steps to this elegant and beneficial employment. Some ftimulus feems requifite to roufe the foul from this fatal ftupefaction, and to direct it to active and commendable exertions. The reflection, which accuracy of compofition demands, cnables us to correct ill formed opinions, which the ardour and enthusiasm of youth may have contributed to produce. By careful attention to compofition we think with more juftness, judge with more accuracy, improve in propriety of expreffion, and at the fame time dignify and ennoble the intellectual powers. We become more happy our felves, and more qualified to communicate happiness to others.

As thefe lucubrations are to be principally compofed of literary fketches, mifcellaneous remarks, and diverfified amusement, I have adventured to affume the appellation of LITERARY WANDERER.

Andover, Jan. 15, 1805.

BIOGRAPHIA AMERICANA;

B..

OR MEMOIRS OF PROFESSIONAL, LEARNED, or DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS IN

VI.

THE UNITED STATES. Continued from page 592.

Communications for this article will be extremely acceptable to the Editor.

NATHAN FISKE, D. D.

From the Palladium.

MESSES. YOUNG & MINNS, IN the obituary notice of the Rev. Dr. Forbes, in your paper of the 25th inft. it is ftated, that "while at Brookfield, he affisted his worthy friend, Dr. Fifke, by

furnishing several numbers which appeared in the Worcester Gazette under the signature of "The Obferver," and which, after the death of Dr. Fifke, were collected and publifhed in a different form."

On this fubject the writer must have been mifinformed. If thefc.

gentlemen ever did unite in a publication, as mentioned, the numbers, it is believed, have never been" collected and published in a different form"; they certainly have not in the manner the writer has mentioned.

The Moral Monitor, to which the writer must have alluded as containing "feveral numbers furnifhed" by Dr. Forbes, is a collection of effays, principally from a series of numbers publifhed in the Worcester Gazette, under the fignature of "The Worcester Speculator" and "The Neighbour," and in the Maffachusetts

Magazine, under the titles of "The General Obferver" and «The Philanthropist." Thefe publications were not commenced until the year 1786, more than ten years after Dr. Forbes was fettled at Gloucester.

The felection for the Moral Monitor was chiefly made by Dr. Fifke, a few months previous to his death, and left by him in manufcript. The publication was undertaken with a view to further the benevolent intentions of the Author, and as a tribute of filial refpect for his memory. Worcester, Dec. 27, 1804.

ARGENIS:

For the Monthly Anthology.

A ROMANCE, FROM THE LATIN OF BARCLAY.

[IF our readers will turn to the Month. Anthol. Vol. i. p. 269, they will find a tranflation begun of Barclay's Argenis. The following attempt is by another, and we presume to fay, not lefs favoured fon of the Mufes. Whoever will be at the pains to compare the two translations with the original will feel no fenfation of regret for the fufpenfion of the firft, except what must ever feize the humane fcholar in witnefling the failure of a defign, which was happily conceived, and not illaudably attempted. But as to the comparative merit of the feparate efforts, we hefitate not to prefer the laft. If it has not the scrupulous nearness to the Author, which belongs to the first, it is less harsh and circumstantial, and has greater force of expreffion. The new Tranflator however, we are certain, does not with this comparison made, and had no idea, in his undertaking, of doing a justice to the beginning of the Romance, which was denied it in a former volume; but he doubtless has the defire, which is common to men of order and taste, regularly to commence a work which he intends to complete. We warmly reciprocate his feelings, and hope that no frost of publick neglect will blight this flower in our collection before it fhall be fully blown.]

TO the admirers of literary anecdotes we can offer little gratification from the life of John Barclay. It is indeed a melancholy reflection to confider how literally "the fons of fcience fade away," how little remains of thofe, whose writings have enlivened our gay hours by their wit, exercifed our ferious hours by

their acuteness, or foftened the melancholy of fickness and folitude by the mildnefs of their wif dom and the dignity of their philofophy.

The gleanings from all the fields to which we have accefs are only thefe barren facts; that be was born in France in 1582 of immediate Scotch extraction, and

Gela meet the fea, a foreign fhig dilembarked a youth of uncom mon elegance. His attendants with the allittance of the marine

died in 1621, at that age when utually the judgment is just dif ciplined, the pallions fobered, and the mental powers expanded to their full luxuriance. As he livers.conveyed his armour from the ed during the turbulence of the hip, and led the hofes to the early part of the reign of Henry fhore. Unufed to the roughnes IV., fo darkened by folly and of the fea, the ftranger reclined crimes, moft. of his writings are on the fand, and endeavoured to tinged with a colouring of fatire, compole his head, which still reHe wrote the Icon animorum, peated the motion of the waves. a book of Latin poems, and was He had fearce refigned himself the probable author of the Eu to fleep, when a deep cry disturbs phormio. Unfortunately he has ed his fumber with an inditting left none of his familiar epiftles, and unwelcome image of diftrefs, which make a man his own best and approaching nearer changed biographer, as they difplay the repofe for horrour. unmeditated feelings of the heart, exhibit the mind in undrefs, and in all the variety of its attitudes. Accordingly we find that the most valuable biographers fince the days of Plutarch, excepting always Bofwell's life of Johnfon, which is, and from peculiar circumftances forever must be untivalled and alone, are that of Cicero by Middleton, and that of Erafmus by Jortin.

It would be eafy to multiply teftimonies to the value of the Argenis; a book, which was almoft perpetually in the hands of Richlieu; and which was fcarce ly known among the cotemporaries of Barclay by any other title, than the "aureus liber." We felect however only the epigram of Grotius on the purity of its ftyle.

« Gente Caledonius, Gallus natalibus bic eft, Romam Romano, qui docet loqui."

BOOK I.

ore

BEFORE the world had yielded to the majesty of Rome, or the ocean fubmitted to the fovereign ty of the Tyber, on that part of Sicily, where the waters of the

An irregular foreft arofe at a fhort diftance, amidst whofe gloomy and entangled underwood appeared fome acclivities, which feemed formed to conceal treach ery From this there fuddenly rushed a lady of a noble counte nance, the luftre of whofe eyes was diminished by grief, and whofe difordered hair gave her an air of wildnefs and terrour. The fpeed of her horfe, though urged by blows and repeated cries, feemed too flow for her wifhes. His habitual reverence for misfortune was heightened by regard to her fex, and the violence of her grief. Such an event too at his entrance into Sicily feemed defigned by heaven as a favourable omen.

"Oh whoever you are," fhe exclaimed, as foon as her agita "if tion allowed her to fpeak,

you reverence valour, lend your "afiftance to Sicily, which in the "perfon of its braveft hero is at

«Nec mitius quam in Phrygio, aut Thebano furore ululanti," a fimile taken from the extravagances at the fealt of Cybele and Bacchus, is too harsh to be literally tranflated.

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