reputation among the sculptors of Venice, completed the amount of assistance for which he was indebted to the advice of others. Resolved to free himself from the shackles, which bound his contemporaries to vile mediocrity, Canova determined no longer to imitate the miserable productions of the decline of the art; but, while he was indefatigable in his studies from the antique which the Venetian academy furnished, he made simple nature his principal guide. Anatomy he pursued as essentially connected with the profession of his choice, and in this science he was far from confining himself to a theoretical knowledge. Aware that mechanical superiority could do little for an artist in a pursuit, in which lofty feelings and poetic imagination are requisite to inspire the sentiments to be delineated by the chisel, he cultivated the collateral branches of science and literature. Canova opened his studio at the age of sixteen, and his earliest productions obtained for him the first place among the sculptors of his native state. In his twentythird year he became permanently settled at Rome, and, as nature had always been his instructress, he had no false principles to unlearn. But such was the assiduity with which he applied to the study of "the calm heroic" of the ancient models, that his first work, while he was yet a guest in the Palace of the Venetian Ambassador, was universally pronounced "the most perfect that Rome had seen for ages." The life of Canova was devoted to the art, with which his name will be associated in history. "His statues," as he himself observed, “ were the sole proof of his civil existence." When Italy was aroused from the slumber of ages, to Canova was assigned the high distinction of supplying, with his own sculpture, the vacancies in the Vatican occasioned by the removal of the prodigies of Grecian art.'

We must protest against new and strange words, especially in a discourse on the fine arts, where good taste ought to predominate. Mr Lawrence tells of wealth reproductively used.

7.-A Plea for Africa, delivered in New Haven, July 4, 1825. By LEONARD BACON, Pastor of the First Church in New Haven. 8vo. pp. 22.

IT is the purpose of Mr Bacon, in this eloquent and animated discourse, to show the advantages contemplated by the American Colonisation Society, the immense field for useful exertion spread out before it, the benevolence of its designs, and its claims on the public for approbation and efficient support. He draws in glowing colors the picture of Africa in its present state of degradation. For

ages the nations of the civilised world have combined to tread the inhabitants in the dust, to rivet the chains of servitude, and overwhelm with misery and desolation a continent, suited by nature in many of its parts to be among the fairest and happiest portions of the earth. The wrongs heaped on Africa, and the outrage practised upon human nature, by the foul disgrace of the slave trade, can never be atoned for; the deed is of too aggravating a nature, to admit of the least palliation in the circumstances of the case, and its crime of too black and deep a die, to be in any degree weakened by long years of penitence and regrets. To stop the progress of the evil is all that can now be done. And this can be done.

Let the light of civilisation be kindled up in Africa, and you will find there hearts of as much warmth, and minds of as much power, as in any other part of the globe. If this object is ever to be attained, it must be through the instructions and example of persons, who settle in the country, and diffuse the means, and prove the benefits of civilisation. In the United States we have stronger motives, than even that of benevolence, for aiding such a plan; we have a population fast increasing upon us, whose removal, by every method, which can be made practicable to this end, the best interests of the nation loudly demand. Not that we look for the time, when the whole black population of the country will go over to Africa; how many or how few will at any future day make this voyage, is not a subject with which we concern ourselves; we anticipate nothing, predict nothing; but of one thing we are certain, which is, that the Colonisation Society, with the noble and generous objects for which it was instituted, and by which it has been conducted, cannot possibly produce any other than good results. If one person only is sent away, and prosperously settled in Africa, it is a benefit to this country, and a benefit to that, without doing any harm to either. If ten are sent, so much greater is the benefit; and if a colony is established, affording a home to hundreds and thousands, the gain is still increased in the same proportion. In short, much good is certainly done, and no harm can possibly follow. Such in reality are the facts of the case, in regard to the labors of the Colonisation Society, and the colony it has built up at Liberia. With this view of the subject we heartily wish success to the Society, and are gratified to find so able a pen as Mr Bacon's engaged in defending a cause, which we deem of great and lasting importance.

8.-A Polyglot Grammar of the Hebrew, Chaldce, Syriac, Greek, Latin, English, French, Italian, Spanish, and German Languages, reduced to one common Rule of Syntax, and a Uniform Mode of Declension and Conjugation, as far as practicable; with Notes explanatory of the Idioms of each Language, a succinct Plan of their Prosody, and an extensive Index; the whole intended to simiplify the Study of the Languages. By SAMUEL BARNARD. 8vo. pp. 312. Philadelphia.

So completely has Mr Barnard described the plan and purpose of his work in this copious title, that we can add nothing to make these better understood by the reader. In looking over the volume, we have been struck with wonder at the author's industry and perseverance in collecting, and laboring to methodise, such a mass of particulars; but we fear the success of his undertaking will be in no degree proportionate to the toil it has cost him to carry it through. Learners will find his book too abstruse and complex, while it contains little, that is not familiar to the skilful linguist. As a work of convenience and curiosity for those, who would obtain a superficial view of several languages, and see their various forms and inflections compared, it has some value; but as an aid to a philosophical investigation of the principles of speech, or to the acquisition of grammar, words, and idioms, it is unquestionably ill contrived. In a long and elaborate preface are several judicious remarks on the characteristics of the English language, as compared with those of the ancients. But it is observable, that in grappling with so many languages, the author has in a good degree lost the power of writing his own. He is constantly obscure and indefinite, using words loosely, and bringing together combinations so incongruous, as to produce but feeble impressions on the mind.

9.-Address delivered before the Palmetto Society, of South Carolina, in Commemoration of the Defence of the Palmetto Fort, on Sullivan's Island, (June 28th, 1776). By WILLIAM CRAFTS. 8vo. pp. 21. Charleston. 1825.

THIS very handsome Address deserves conspicuous notice among those, which the return of the half century anniversary of the Revolution is constantly bringing forth. The memorable defence of fort Sullivan, since called, and most deservedly, by the name of the hero, who conducted that defence, yields in gallantry to no action of the revolutionary, or any other war. Mr Crafts

1825.] Crafts' Address before the Palmetto Society.

465

has celebrated it in a happy strain. A leading portion of his discourse consists of a narration of the events of the day, in language, which though scarcely elevated above the historical tone, certainly forms the most appropriate style for such a commemoration. In rare instances, indeed, like that of the 17th of June, when an occasion, an audience, and an orator are met, such as no subsequent coincidence can hope to parallel, we wish the address to take a higher, and, if we may so express it, a more lyrical strain; and to leave beneath it all mere narration of incidents. But it is certainly the judicious course, on most occasions of revolutionary commemoration, as far as the nature of a public address will permit, to let the gallant exploits celebrated tell their own tale, in their own simple recital.

That the defence of Fort Moultrie, at least, did not suffer by this style of commemorative address will, we think, appear from the following passage. After very beautifully describing the approach of the English fleet to Charleston, and the defenceless state of the fort, Mr Crafts proceeds.

'Had the advice of General Lee, to abandon the post on Sullivan's Island, met the accordance, instead of the pointed reprobation of Mr Rutledge, the enemy would have found easy access to our city. But that gentleman, with a boldness of spirit and sanguine confidence, which defied danger, wrote General Moultrie that he would cut off his hand rather than sign an order to abandon the fort. General Lee, however, had, in the hopelessness of defending it, withdrawn nearly all the garrison, the larger portion of which he detached to another quarter, as if to concentrate the rays of glory on the remainder. So little effect did he anticipate from Moultrie's defence, that during the engagement he sent messages to him, allowing him to spike his guns and return whenever he pleased, suggesting modes of retreat, having previously left him to fight the battle with scarcely any ammunition. So confident, on the other hand, was President Rutledge of success, that when, during the battle, he received a demand for more powder, he sent five hundred weight, telling Colonel Moultrie that his collection was very small, and he must make out to conquer with that. Under these disadvantages, in a fort, exposed in its rear and on one of its sides, with a small garrison, protected by palmetto logs, and barriers of sand, with scarcely more than twenty pieces of cannon, did this brave commander, at the head of his gallant associates, defeat, after a fierce cannonade of twelve hours, a British squadron, mounting two hundred and fifty guns, and fought by near two thousand men. The loss of the enemy nearly equalled the strength of the garrison, which suffered, comparatively, a most trifling loss, and would have inflicted much greater injury on their assailants, had not the scarcity of ammunition compelled them to suspend their fire

466 Crafts' Address before the Palmetto Society.

[Oct. occasionally, which gave rise to the ill-timed exclamation—“ the Yankees have done fighting!" That which had been called a slaughter-pen, proved an asylum; those floating castles, which came, in the proud assurance of victory, were turned into slaughterpens; the commander of the squadron severely wounded, was, at times, left alone upon his deck; the last royal governor, that South Carolina ever is to see, was mortally wounded in the conflict; one of the ships of war was taken and destroyed; all of them were dreadfully shattered and put to flight, and the proud ensign of Great Britain retired in dismay from the virgin flag of South Carolina. Having reembarked their four thousand troops from Long Island, the invader's squadron abandoned their unhappy design on Charleston, and left its inhabitants secure from danger, and full of gratitude to their brave defenders. Here was a proud achievement for South Carolina, one on which sectional feelings, if they existed, would well sanction our rejoicing. There was nothing sectional, however, in the revolutionary times or spirit, and this brilliant event was hailed throughout the United States as a most fortunate omen in the common cause of liberty. It imparted hope and confidence to the rising energies of freemen, and taught the invincibility [?] of men, who determined to be free. The skepticism of General Lee was changed into praise and congratulations, and the brave garrison of the Palmetto fort, received the thanks of the American Congress.

Many of these gallant men performed singular deeds of valor, and the name of Jasper, who proved on this occasion, that patriotic devotion which he afterwards sealed with his life at Savannah, will long be dear to Carolinians. Can you forget, people of Carolina! the noble enthusiasm of the dying soldier, M'Daniel, who, when the streams of life were flowing from his patriot heart, cried out to his comrades," don't let Liberty expire with me to-day!"—And it did not expire-the prayer ascended to heaven, and the Almighty, in his mercy granted, and in his goodness will perpetuate it. What think you, luxurious citizens of peaceful prosperity, of that patriotic devotion which gave, not only the Roman tribute to patriotism of gold and jewellery, but stripped the garment from the back of the soldier to wad the cannon that defended his country; and this too, when opposition was hopeless and submission was profitable; when he fought with a halter round his neck, and defeat was ruin. Such were your countrymen, who defended Fort Sullivan, thence forward known deservedly as Fort Moultrie. Two of them alone survive. May they feel happy in the renewed honors of the day. May heaven long preserve them to share in its festive celebration, and to rejoice in the prosperity of the nation, which they aided to emancipate.' pp.13-16.

But it must not be inferred from our former remarks, and this