AMATORY EJACULATION. BY MR. GRAY, THE ENGLISH PINDAR, i WITH Beauty, with Pleasure surrounded, tó languish Ar the Court of Olympus, assembled by Jove," So in pity to mortals they sent him below, That happiness flows from this Banker alone. For he debits, &c. 1 At home and abroad, or in peace or in war, His currency never descends below par; Whether good news or bad, whether Stocks rise or fall, The bills of this Banker ne'er lower at all For their holders all know that he ne'er interferes They are a lite • These pensive lines were found among Mr. Gray's MSS. rary curiosity, as being the only amatory verses he ever wrote, var L Sept.] He issues his notes from the eyes of the fair, His cheques are all sign'd by dame Nature's own hand, HONEST JOHN BULL, GLEE AND CHORUS. COMPOSED AND SET TO MUSIC BY MR. C. OF THE TEMPERI When he's gone we shan't find such another; She gave him a good education, Bade him keep to his church and his king, And then go be merry and sing. Some must govern, and some till the ground, That knaves are for lev'lling, no wonder, 'Tis easy to guess at their views; Every Briton has freedom enough, To be HAPPY, as long as he's GOOD. EPIGRAM. CLODIO says that he's himself BIOGRAPHICAL, LITERARY, AND SCIENTIFIC MAGAZINE FOR SEPTEMBER 1799. CONDUCTED BY ROBERT BISSET, LL. D. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF OTHER LITERARY GENTLEMEN. THIS NUMBER IS EMBELLISHED WITH A TORTRAIT OF THE LATE JAMES EARL CHARLEMONT, AND A CORRECT MAP OF THE DUTCH PROVINCES. LONDON: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY G. CAWTHORN, PRITISH LIBRARY, NO. 132, STRAND, OF WALES: BOLD ALSO BY MESSRS, RICHARDSON, ROYAL-EXCHANGE; H D. SYMONDS, J. WALLIS AND W. WEST, PATERNOSTER-ROW; J. HATCHARD AND J. WRIGHT, PICCADILLY; P. HILL, EDINBURGH; AND ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN TOWN AND COUNTRY. TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. IN our Number for October will be given a Life of CHARLES JAMES FOX, in which we shall follore the same plan which we adopted in our Life of William Pitt; we shall endeavour to in: estigate bis intellectual, moral, oratorical, and political character; as well as give a sketch of bis history. We pledge ourselves, that no difference of sentiments shall in the least interfere with impartiality, or prevent us from doing, to the utmost of our power, justice to such a subject as, in a country abounding with able men, very rarely occurs. We are obliged to a Correspondent who signs himself a Sackvillite; and shail, on a future occasion, make use of the hints with which he has furnished When he considers the impracticability of obtaining accurate infer mation concerning the variety of characters which fall under our consideration, he will make some indulgence for the errors we unavoidably commit. We shall be thankful to him for information on subjects of biography or any other. We have received the letter of Octavius, from Stamford; and heartily join with him in his wish of speedily recovering the taste of the British Nation from their propensity for German Dramas; and see the Stage, which was originally intended for the reformation of Vice, upon its former footing. His strictures shall have an early insertion. To convince Ax Enemy to all Licentiousness that we mean to adhere to impartiality in our animadversions, his letter in Defence of certain Methodists shall have a place in our next. Mr. Canthate's Introduction to a History of Methodism' shall appear in the succeeding Number. The Hints for the Biography of an illustrious Character, appear to be rather tinctured with party-spleen. They are not sufficiently authenticated to induce us to rely on them implicitly. We shall draw our estimate of his character not from a part but from the schole of his conduct. Several other Favours are received, some of which are intended for inser tion in the next Number. A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF THE HONOURABLE CHARLES JAMES FOX. HAVING in our June Magazine attempted to exhibit an outline of the life and character of William Pitt, and having understood that not only his friends but his opposers allowed the fairness of the delineation; having also learned from the Bookseller that the recep tion of that Number was peculiarly favourable, we are induced now to venture on a parallel subject. In the life and character which we are about to attempt, some difficulties occur which in our last, of equal importance, did not exist. One of the difficulties is GENERAL; as with the most brilliant and splendid light there is a greater mixture of shade. The former required comprehension, but the latter demands nice discrimination. Admiring Epaminondas and Themistocles as the first men in their respective ages and countries, we should apprehend that a biographer would with more ease have displayed Epaminondas, in youth formed by science and philosophy; in manhood, uniformly devoting his time and talents to the defence and aggrandizement of his country; than Themistocles, with brilliant virtues in his youth, clouded by dissipation; in manhood opposing the best and most patriotic counsellor of his country, because that counsellor was JUST, and, though he rendered very essential services to his country, withdrawing from her councils. Another difficulty belongs to the writer individually. He is apprehensive that statements or reasonings necessary in illustrating truth may be imputed to diversity in political opinion. He pledges himself to authenticity, according to the best of his information; and to impartiality, according to the best of his judgment. He will be peculiarly cautious in discussing such measures or conduct as may be contrary to his own sentiments on recent questions; and in his strictures will examine reasons rather than assign motives. The strength or weakness of reasons, where the cases are known, may be easily estimated; motives are often more difficult to be discovered, at least with such certainty as to justify imputation where there is a possibility of mistake. Among many of the advantages of primogeniture, it is none of the least that it stimulates exertion in the younger branches of families. VOL. I. |