94 WEEKLY DIARY. APRIL. REMARKABLE DAYS. TUESDAY, 23.-Saint George. : REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS. BY BEPPO. velvet bordered with gold. The george is the Saint George is the patron Saint of England; for this the following reason is assigned: When Robert, Duke of Normandy, the son of William the Conqueror, was fighting against the Turks, and laying siege to the famous city of Antioch, which was expected to be relieved by the Saracens, St. George appeared with an innumerable army coming down from the hills all clad in white, with a red cross on his banner, to reinforce the christians; this so terrified the infidels, that they fled and left the chrisUnder the tians in possession of the town. name and ensign of St. George, our victorious Edward III, in 1344, instituted the most noble At a chapter held June 3d, 1786, it was orOrder of the Garter. Its establishment is dated fifty years before the knights of St. Michael dained that, in future, this order should consist were instituted in France by Lewis XI, eighty of the sovereign, and twenty-five knights, exyears before the order of the Golden Fleece, clusive of the sons of his majesty, or his sucestablished by Philip the Good, Duke of Bur-cessors, who have been or shall be elected gundy; and one hundred and ninety before the knights of this most noble order. order of St. Andrew was set up in Scotland by James V. The Emperor Frederic IV instituted, in 1470, an order of knights in honour of St. George; and an honourable military order in Venice bears his name. St. George is usually 63. painted on horseback, and tilting at a dragon under his feet: but this representation is no more than an emblematical figure, purporting, that by his faith and christian fortitude he conquered the devil, called the dragon in the Apocalypse.-(Butler.) There were some alterations made in the Order of the Garter in 1557, and 1788. It consists of twenty-six knights or companions, generally all peers or princes; of whom the King of England is sovereign, or chief. They are a corporation, having a great and little seal; their officers are, a prelate, chancellor, register, king at arms, and usher. They have also a dean and twelve canons, with petty canons, vergers, and twenty-six pensioners, or poor knights. The order is under the patronage or protection of St. George of Cappadocia, the tutelar saint of this kingdom. Their college is held in Windsor-castle, within the chapel of St. George, and the chapter-house, crected by the founder for that purpose. The origin of this order is differently related by different authors. The common account is, that it was erected in honor of a garter of the Countess of Salisbury, which she dropped in dancing, and which was picked up by King Edward; but our best antiquaries denounce this as fabulous. Camden, Fern, and others, think it was instituted on occasion of the victory obtained over the French at the battle of Cressy; when Edward ordered his garter to be displayed as a signal of battle; to commemorate this, he made a garter the principal ornament of the order, erected in memory of this signal victory, and a symbol of the indissoluble union of the knights. The habit and ensigns of the order, are, a surcoat, garter, mantle, hood, george, collar, cap, and feathers. The motto on the garter and star is, Honi soit qui mal y pense (evil be to him that evil thinks). The garter is of blue THURSDAY, 25,--Saint Mark. Saint Mark's Gospel was written in the year On the 25th of April, or 15th day of Nisan, Among the antient Jews at Jerusalem, it We recollect to have heard of this author O town of dirt, and smoke, and seot, and noise, And if obtained, their happiness secure. I sing thee, Manchester, thy pleasures, toys, There is a praiseworthy modesty too, observable in the three last lines, which gives an additional grace to the stanza. Much praise was given to Homer, for being able to introduce into very good verse, the names of the Grecian commanders, and the number each vessel contained, which went to the siege of Troy; and the mere English reader will readily allow the praise was just, on reading Mr. Pope's translation, which in that part contains as many crabbed rhymes as can possibly be crowded together in so short a space. It will also be allowed, that the poem under discussion, contains as fine a specimen of difficult rhyming, as can possibly be met with in the English language. We will take the following as a sample. I had much trouble, reader, I assure ye, To make my last rhyme not to sound cacophonous, We would dwell much longer on this little | ting for all, orderly, not pestering my things with my country by these paroxysms, whereby the devotions meritorious poem, but we fear to forestal the women's, nor their's with either chamber-maids, nor of the church were much impeded, he obviated their author in his profit and the public in their their's with wash-maids. Also, for laundresses, when repetition, by assuring his parishioners, that no treatI travel, I will have them sent away before with the ment was more effectual than immersion in cold pleasure we shall, therefore, draw to a conAnd the chamber-maids I water, and as his kirk was fortunately contiguous clusion, observing, that the author, in the carriages, to see all safe. will have go before, that the chamber may be ready, to a fresh-water lake, he gave notice that attendants short space of 320 lines, has contrived to convey the information, that Manchester has sweet, and clean. Also, for that it is undecent to should be at hand, during divine service, to ensure crowd up myself with my gentleman usher in my the proper means of cure. The sequel need scarcely churches, chapels, and buildings, parsons, law coach, I will have him have a convenient horse to be told. The fear of being carried out of the church, yers, and doctors, like other large towns, Cheet-attend me, either in city or country, And I must and into the water, acted like a charm; not a single ham's college, a collegiate church, an ex- have two footmen. And my desire is, that you defray Naiad was made, and the worthy minister has, for change, a portico, an infirmary, two work- all the charges for me. And for myself, besides my many years, had reason to boast of one of the best houses, Cheetham's library, a literary and yearly allowance, I would have twenty gowns of ap-regulated congregations in Shetland. philosophical society, and a philharmonic. He parel, six of them excellent good ones, eight of them thus beautifully takes leave of his readers. for the country, and six other of them very excellent good ones. Also I would have to put in my purse £2000, and £200, and so, you to pay to my debts. Also, I would have £6000 to buy me jewels, and £4000 to buy me a pearl chain. Now, seeing I have been and am, so reasonable unto you, I pray you do find my children apparel, and their schooling, and all my servants, men and women, their wages. Also, I will have all my houses furnished, and my lodging chambers to be suited with all such furniture as is fit; as beds, stools, chairs, suitable cushions, carpets, silver warming pans, cupboards of plate, fair hangings, and such like. So for my drawing chambers in all houses, I will have them delicately furnished, both with hangings, couch, canopy, glass, carpet, chairs, cushions, and all things thereunto belonging. Also, my desire is, that you will pay my debts, build up The Philharmonic I must also mention, Must now be wearied.-How time rolls- SIR JOHN SPENCER. In 1610, died Sir John Spencer, formerly Lord Mayor of London. He was perhaps the richest oitizen of his time; but the amount of his wealth cannot Ashby-house, and purchase lands, and lend no money When I attended the kirk of Baliasta, a female shriek, the indication of a convulsion-fit, was heard ; the minister, (Mr. Ingram of Fetlar) very properly stopped his discourse, until the disturber was remov ed; and after advising all those who thought they might be similarly affected, to leave the church, he gave out in the mean time a psalm. The congregation was thus preserved from farther interruption; for, on leaving the kirk, I saw several females writhing and tossing about their arms on the green grass, who durst not for fear of a censure from the pulpit, exhibit themselves after this manner within the sacred walls of the kirk.-DR. HIBBERT. THE LIMBO OF ODDITIES. 1. Tom Coryatt, in his Crudities, says, that be was "quipped" with the nick-name of Furcifer, for introducing, from Italy, the use of the fork into England. tobacco, which he called The Counterblast; and 2. James I. wrote a pamphlet against the use of which was decorated with a wood-cut of Beelzebub smoking. be ascertained: it was variously stated at three, five, now desire, and double attendance."-MISS AIKIN. OF THE SHETLANDERS. about one thousand persons followed in mourning women. 3.-Burleigh, in reproof of a dilatory House of Commons on the subject of subsidies, quoted the 4. There is a pillar in Grand Cairo, to which, if fools are bound, they are said to recover their senses. 5. The first newspaper established in England, was called the English Mercury; and was published in April, 1588. The first extant specimen of this paper, is dated July 23, 1588. 6.-The word gazette, is derived from gazetta, a Venetian coin 7.-Henry VIII. luxurious as he was, wore cloth hose. A pair of silk hose were presented to Edward VI. as a magnificent present, by Sir Thomas Gresham. 8.-St. George, the champion, in the legenda aurea of Vortagine, is said to have originally dealt in bacon. 9. Of all literary forgeries, that of a language by Psalmanazar is the most remarkable. The architect, Philander, a commentator on Vitruvius, forged a MS. purporting to be of Anaxagoras, to support his arebitectural opinions by ancient authority. 10. A curious specimen of the manners prevalent among the higher circles in ancient Greece, is furnished by Homer, who introduces Penelope, the Queen, calling her maids, "bitches." Ulysses associates with a cowherd, and broils his own dinner, of kids' entrails. 11. Life in the 16th century." At seven o'clock every morning, my lord and my lady have set on their table one quart of beer, one of wine, two pieces of salt fish, six red herrings, or a dish of sprats."Household Book of the Earl of Northumberland. 12.-The Lord of Carleton, in Norfolk, is bound, by charter, to present the king with 100 herrings, in 24 pies, when they first come in season. 13. The origin of the story of the Wandering Jew, is to be found in the 21st verse of the 19th chapter of St. John; "Then went they saying abroad, that that disciple should not die." 14. There was no regular pavement for foot passengers, in the streets of London, till 1762. The foot-way in the principal streets, was divided, by posts, or a pailing, from the carriage-way. 15.-Sweating sickness.-Speaking of this epidemic, Camden says, that he had "observed it thrice, in the last age, rise through the whole kingdom of England. I observed it first in 1485, when Henry | ceases, it acquires a kind of rotary motion, and at VII. began his reign, some time after a great conjunc- last becomes stationary as before." tion of the superior planets in Scorpio; 2ndly, less violent in the 33rd year after, in 1518, after a great opposition of the same planets in Scorpio and Taurus ; and lastly, 33 years after, in 1551, after another conjunction of the same planets in Taurus, had exerted its malignant influence." 16. The Irish. Strato gives the following account of the Irish in his time. "They are cannibals, and feed on man's flesh to excess. They look upon it as a credit to eat the bodies of their dead parents, and scruple not to commit incest." Camden says, "They make no bones of raw flesh, after squeezing the blood out; to digest which, they drink usquebaugh. They let their cows' blood too, which, after it is curdled, they strew over with butter, and eat with a relish." 17. French levity. Caesar says, that the Gauls of his time were inclined to alterations of government, from national inconstancy and levity. Silius Italicus describes the modern Gauls more exactly. Vaniloquum Celtæ genus ac mutabile mentis. April 12th, 1822. Sling a shilling or sixpence at the end of a piece of thread by means of a loop; then resting your elbow on a table, hold the other end of the thread betwixt your fore finger and thumb, observing to let it pass across the ball of the thumb, and thus suspend the shilling in an empty goblet; premising, however, that the shilling is properly suspended, you will observe, that when it has recovered its equilibrium, it will, for a moment be stationary: it will then of its own accord, and without the least agency from the person holding it, assume the action of a pendulum, vibrating from side to side of the glass; and after a few seconds, will strike the hour nearest to the time of day; for instance, if the time be twenty-five minutes past six, it will strike six; if thirty-five minutes past six it will strike seven; and so on of any other hour.-Observe your hand must be perfectly steady; and if you find it difficult to keep it in an immoveable posture, it is nseless to attempt the experiment. It is necessary to remark, that the thread should lay over the pulse of the thumb, and this may in some measure account for the vibration of the shilling; but to what cause its striking the precise hour is to be traced, remains unexplained; for it is no less astonishing, than true, that when it has struck the proper number, its vibration TO THE EDITOR. THEATRE-ROYAL, MANCHESTER. FOR the BENEFIT of Mrs. M GIBBON, ON Monday Next, April 22nd, 1822, will be presented the celebrated Tragedy of ADELGITHA; or, the Fruits of a Single Error. After which an Interlude called THE BATH ROAD; or, the Londoner's Outwitted. The part of Ellen, (first time) Mrs. M'GIBBON, in which she will attempt the FAVOURITE COMIC SONG, called "NICE YOUNG MAIDENS." To conclude with the favourite Melo-Drame of THE WARLOCK OF THE GLEN. The part of Adela, Countess of Glencairn, (for that night only,) Mrs. M'GIBBON. and of Mr. ELAND, at the Theatre where Places for the -Tickets to be had of Mrs. M'GÏBBON, 13, Oldham-street; Boxes may be taken. SIR, It has been said there is but one step from the sublime to the ridiculous. Now, Sir, I am sadly puzzled to determine which of these epithets could be most properly applied to the following Spenserian sublime, but the world may think it ridiculous, and, stanza. As a child of my own, I wish to believe it as it is desirable to have the public opinion upon it, previous to my putting myself to the trouble of writing more in the same style, I request that the Club,' at the Green Dragon, will form a Committee, and favour me with a critical report thereon, through the A DISSERTATION on the TOPOGRAPHY of medium of the Iris. Methought I saw a wretch with hollow eyne BOOKS PUBLISHED THIS DAY. In octavo, Price 9s. boards. the PLAIN of TROY, including an Examination of the Opinions of Demetrias, Chevalier, Dr. Clarke, and Major Rennell. BY CHARLES MACLAREN. Printed for ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE and Co. Edinburgh; HURST, ROBINSON, and Co. Cheapside, London; and Sold by Robinson and Ellis, T. Sowler, and Bancks and Co. Man chester. Beautifully printed in 4 vols. foolscap 8vo. with twenty-four Engravings, price 17. 16s. boards, a new edition of THE ADVENTURES of GIL BLAS of SANTILLANE. Embellished with 24 Engravings, by the most eminent Artists, from paintings by ROBERT SMIRKE, R. A. ".. A few proof Impressions of the Plates, separate from the work, are printed on royal 4to. price 21. 2s. Ditto on India paper, price 21. 12s. 6d. and on India paper, before the description, price 37. 3s. London: Published by HURST, ROBINSON, and Co. 90, Cheapside, London; and Sold by Robinson and Ellis; T. Sowler; and Bancks and Co. Manchester. Of whom may be had. TO CORRESPONDENTS. ADVERTISEMENTS.- -In consequence of our introducing into the Iris, Advertisements connected with Literature and the Arts, it is our intention to add, 1. DON QUIXOTE DE LA MANCHA. Illustrated with 24 Engravings, by CHARLES HEATH, from original Drawoccasionally, an additional half-sheet to our num-ings by RICHARD WESTALL, R. A. 4 vols. foolscap 8vo. bers, without at the same time increasing the price. price 21. 2s. boards. We also take this opportunity of returning our acknowledgments to those friends who have obligingly favoured us with their Advertisements. Proof impressions of the Engravings, separate from the work, royal 4to. price 27. 25. Do. on India Paper, 24. 12s. 6d. 2. BUNYAN'S PILGRIM's PROGRESS. Embellished with Six Engravings, from the designs of Richard Westall, R. A. handsomely printed in foolscap 8vo. 10s. 6d. boards. In 12mo. with 130 New Receipts, price 9s. boards. the Fourth Edition, of We never refuse to listen to any suggestion respecting the Iris, however insignificant may be the source from which it originates, or however contemptible the manner in which it is offered. It has been imputed to us, as matter of complaint, that we have not made a sufficient distinction between our Original Articles, and those which we have Select-families: also, the Art of composing the most simple and most ed. Our readers will, however, do us the justice to recollect, that we do not claim originality for any article but such as is headed, For the Iris.' We persuaded ourselves that the initials only, would have been sufficient to enable our readers to dis tinguish the Selections from the Original Articles, independently of the other criteria which we furnished. We think so still, notwithstanding the Philippic of an anonymous writer. who, assails us doubtless, under the influence of the mortification which our rejection of his paltry communications has occasioned. We have received several obliging letters on this subject; in reply to which the preceding remarks will, we trust, be a sufficient explanation. The above paragraph was written before these favours came to hand. We assure the fair members of the Chit Chat Club,' that we have no such motives as they impute to us: we shall return them their communication; but, must remark, that, in our opinion, the reason stated by them, for declining an interview, is not the real one. We shall feel obliged to Ybznk, if he will favour us with the name and date of the Magazine to which he alludes, as we think he is mistaken, the Author of the Lines being well known to ns. Julia's 'Original Poetry,' is mislaid. Communications have been received from L-B.-11. W. R.-W. F.-Oudeis.-Bob.-Zeno.-and Quiz. THE COOK'S ORACLE; containing Receipts for Plain Cookery on the most Economical Plan for private highly finished Broths, Gravies, Soups, Sauces, Store Sauces, and Flavouring Essences: the Quantity of each Article is ac result of Actual Experiments instituted in the Kitchen of a curately stated by Weight and Measure; the whole being the Physician. The FOURTH EDITION; to which is added, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY NEW RECEIPTS for Pastry, Preserves, Puddings, and an easy, certain, and economical process for preparing Pickles, by which they will be ready in a fortnight, and remain good for years. Revised by the Author of "The Art of Invigorating Life." The Receipts added to this Edition may be had gratis, by the former purchasers of the work. Printed for ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE and Co. Edinburgh; HURST, ROBINSON, and Co. Cheapside, London; and Sold by Bancks and Co.; T. Sowler; and Robinson and Ellis, Manchester. "For practical receipts we recommend particularly and chiefly the Cook's Oracle, in which, along with the plainest directions, there is more of Philosophy, and if we may so speak of the Literature of Gastronomie than in any Work we have seen.-Suppl. to Ency. Britan.-article Food. "We venture to prophecy, that the Cook's Oracle will be considered as the English institute of Cookery, and may well earn for its author the proud title of Apicius Britannicas."-Edinburgh Review, No. 69. "This is the only English Cookery Book which has been written from the real experiments of a Housekeeper, for the benefit of Housekeepers. If the masters and mistresses of families will sometimes condescend to make an amusement of this art, they will escape a number of disappointments, &c. which those who will not, must suffer, to the detriment of beth their health and their fortune."-Author's Introduction. MANCHESTER: Printed, Published, and Sold, by HENRY SMITH AND BROTHERS, St. Ann's Square. We have been favoured with the following from the MSS. of a Literary Society, in Liverpool. THE DUEL.-A FRAGMENT. Now the Marquis insisted upon maintaining his point, and notwithstanding all his friend, the Abbé, had advanced to the contrary, still would he be positive that there was no other way of satisfying his wounded honor, And therefore,' said he, my good friend, say no more, for not all your rhetoric-not all your reasoning shall deter me from executing my project will be revenged-the villain shall dearly pay for the insult he has offered me. I beg, my Lord,' said the Abbé, I may be permitted to say a few words more, in addition to what I have already said, on this subject. Duelling, my Lord, is at least but a tyrant custom, which, by long usage, is got so interwoven with our other customs, as to make it appear indispensable. But when we consider the horrid extent of this worst of practices, every feeling and unprejudiced mind must shrink with detestation from the bare idea of it; suffer me, my Lord, for a moment, to put the present case to point. This young Chevalier, you say, has materially injured your honor-be it so-you send him a challenge you meet he falls--of what benefit is it to you, and what reparation to your honor, that a fellow-creature should lose his life, and society perhaps an useful member--I am fully persuaded none;-but to reverse the case,suppose (your Lordship will excuse me) supyour revenge be satisfied?-Even with your pose he kills you! Then, my Lord, how will own blood! You might, in that case, leave a disconsolate wife, a wife who has ever loved, and honored you-your children too--who would protect them from the rude insults of a wicked world; consider, my Lord, the danger there is to yourself in this affair, and I think you will not hesitate to relinquish this odious design. But,' you may urge, what will the world say to my conduct, if I refuse to call the villain to account? Shall I not, with justice, be accused of pusillanimity--branded with every cowardly epithet-and avoided as a mean and despicable person?' What has the world to do in this affair, my Lord? Is not your life of greater value to you than 6 My good friend,' interrupted the Marquis, "I feel the force (in some degree) of your reasoning--but you must excuse me, when I say, I cannot satisfy the nice sense of honor which I feel within me, otherwise than by complying SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1822. with this same custom, against which you have said so much.' WEEKLY. PRICE 3 d. varieties of that object. It ought always to be founded on the principles of truth; but it The next day, the Marquis was brought often proves to be only the child of opinion, home on a litter-pale, and weltering in his or the result of mere accident. True taste is blood; he fell a sad victim to the horrid prac- not acquirable without toil and study; and we tice of duelling. A few hours before he breath- find but few who are not too indolent to aced his last, he called the Marchioness to his cept of its advantages on such trying terms; bed-side, and seeing her weep- Alas! my while a false taste is more of a natural than a love,' said he, 'how unavailing are those tears, cultivated property; and hence, in a division yet they give me an additional proof, if I need- of mankind, would number ten to one in its ed one, of your affection for me,-oh! could favour. If the generality of men are ambithey but call back yesterday!--but that is im- tious of being deemed witty, wise, or learned; possible. Adieu! my dear-strive to forget and most women anxious to appear amiable the murderer of your peace--and, oh! train and well educated; so are they desirous of up our children in the path of virtue. And securing the reputation of those qualities, you my child-my Edward-you must now upon as easy conditions as possible. The most succeed to the titles and fortune of your un-industrious would avoid labour, and the least happy father,--but beware, my child, beware discerning have sense enough to discover how how you follow him in his prejudices, and few can distinguish the true from the false customs; a fatal compliance to the false notion coin; and with how much comparative faciof honor, which I had imbibed, has brought lity the latter is obtained, and passed upon me this day to the gates of death!--I die I die the world. Of this foible we all, perhaps, Edward-take warning by me, and never partake in a lesser or greater degree. Like risk your precious life, to comply with the men of high ambition and narrow fortunes, diabolical custom of duelling. My friend, my we counterfeit the style we are not able to good friend, the Abbé, I am ashamed to see- purchase; and fondly flatter ourselves, that tell him--to-pardon my obstinacy-and-pity our tinsel will prove as current as the gold it my-weakness. I can-no more-oh! mercy is designed to resemble. mercy, heaven!' The Abbé when he saw the Marquis stretch-tion of taste; nothing more rare than its reNothing is more common than the affectaed out a livid corse, burst into tears. Adieu, ality. The variety of incidents that concur to my noble friend,' said he, I lament thy death, render this misfortune almost universal, is thou wert deserving of a better fate, for though infinite. Among these are to be reckoned, thou gavest way to the evil prejudices of man- bad principles of education; ineligible comkind, yet, hadst thou a heart generous, affecpany in early life; the imperfect judgment of tionate, feeling, and sincere;-a heart ever relief to the way-worn travellers of this miser- is no excuse for its encouragement, neither penetrable by the sad voice of affliction, and those who undertake to direct our choice? and thou wert ever ready to afford comfort and perhaps, natural or acquired prejudices of our own. But as the prevalence of a defect should the difficulty of its remedy, deter us from attempting its removal. So much, both in regard of the elegance of life, and the morality of conduct, depends upon the possession of taste, properly so called, that there is scarcely any exertion of which its acquisition is not worthy. It is a great, and should be a elements are instilled and settled, and the general accomplishment. It is only where its mind formed and polished by its rules, that a polite character, of either sex, can be said to have received its best gloss. A good taste is the crown of science, the ornament of virtue, and the heightener of beauty: if not the creator, it is the guide af knowledge; and while it refines the manners, it sweetens the intercourse of life. By its aid we elevate our own pleasures, and form a due estimate of the merits of our friends. Taste teaches us to enlarge able world.' ESSAY ON TASTE. F. "True taste is an excellent economist. She con unes her choice to few objects, and delights in producing great effects by small means; while false and reminds us in her works, of the Scholar of taste is for ever sighing after the new and the rare; Apelles, who, not being able to paint his Helen beautiful, determined to make her fine." WHAT is taste? No question has been more frequently asked; no one, hitherto, less satisfactorily answered. In our opinion, it is that peculiar relish which we possess for any justly agreeable object, and is more or less perfect, according to the degree of judgment we may employ in distinguishing the excellences and the circle of our rational enjoyments, and imparts a praise-worthy character to our happiness. In a word, taste is the quintessence of propriety, and the centre of all that is amiable and pleasing. rank of humanity. But, however great may be the natural capacity, toil and patience are necessary to reduce it to regularity, and mould it into beauty. But the price of acquired excellence is always high; and the mind that Genuine taste is the follower of truth, and shrinks from the labour indispensable to valuthe admirer of beauty; and beauty and truth able attainments, is deficient in the best of include whatever is excellent in form or spirit. human energies. Nature, in leaving much to Easily to distinguish truth and beauty from the achievment of art, even where she has their opposites, under all the possible diversity been most liberal in her endowments, paid a of circumstances in which they may be viewed compliment to the diligence on which she imis to possess a well-established, and vigilant posed the task of completing her gracious detaste; is to display a free and active discern-sign. It is no slight happiness that the perment, and to evince the bounty of nature formance required on the part of the wellimproved by the most laudable, because the gifted, is so perfectly within their reach; and most liberal of arts--the art of pleasing; for that, of the inappreciable acquisition of taste, that taste is very imperfect which does not few indeed need despair, who are wise enough pervade and direct the exterior carriage, as to prize, and resolved to attain, the most elewell as the internal sentiments. To possess gant and generally useful of all human acthis two-fold excellence, and to exercise it in complishments. both its provinces, is to promote elegance, and to practice virtue; since, as fitness and beauty are concomitants in the natural, so are truth and beauty in the moral world. It is one of the commendations of taste, that, like the cultivation of our judgment, its promotion demands the previous rejection of prejudice; that its attainment is incompatible with error and partiality; and that its essence is opposed to every feeling of impropriety, and every principle of injustice. It is on these grounds, that moralists insist on the false taste of the vicious. "True taste," say they, "cannot be reconciled with bad inclinations. It regards them with disgust, and best displays its own pure nature, by its inherent aversion to irregularity and turpitude." This property of taste, even were it the sole feature of that attribute, would be its sufficient recommendation; but if not an equal, it is a more obvious benefit that it confers, in directing our preference in matters of science, literature, and the polite arts. Not confined to its advantage as a moral guide--as a director in the choice of our companions and our pleasures-it includes or induces the love of refined gratification, the enjoyment of elegant literature, the admiration of excellence, in painting and sculpture, and, in a word, the whole circle of civilization, in the higher sense of the expression. Its principles, while they influence life and conduct, impart a delicacy to manners; and not only give a conciliating cast to the actions of business, but exalt the capacity for pleasure. It is in the absence, and only in the absence, of true taste, that absurdity prevails, and the rougher habits are indulged; that we deviate into those errors of demeanour, and that inferior choice of books, or company, of which our politeness is afterwards exhausted, and which our returning reason never fails to condemn. Whether there be an eternal dissimilarity in the essence of human souls; whether they are invariable in their native powers, or exert themselves more or less vigorously in proportion to the strength or delicacy of the organs they animate; or whether the force of education, habit, or society, gives an inferior or superior turn to the mind, philosophy has never determined. It is, however, not less certain, that there is an immeasurable difference in the individuals of either sex, (whatever its real cause) than that some persons are distinguished by so many and such striking perfections, as almost to be elevated above the MYRA, A PORTRAIT. B. Myra was and is attractive. Her face and person are, without any claims to be called beautiful, fully entitled to the epithets fine and commanding. As far as regarded her acquirements, every thing that could add a grace to person, a fascination to feature, or a charm to manner was cultivated with anxiety; while every thing that could confer superiority of thought, or propriety of feeling was neglected. But, in the attainment of only exterior accomplishments, Myra again fell into a mistake. Even here, a tasteful mind would have been necessary to make a tasteful choice and a judicious arrangement. Myra possessed it not, and, acting inerely from the dictates of the master feeling, vanity, she selected the most gaudy accomplishments, and even these she put on ostentatiously. She imagined that to become altogether irresistible, a certain blandness of manner was necessary: in the acquirement of it she was but a timid or mincing imitator: no originality of taste or temper existing in herself, gave cadence to her words, or easiness to her motions; and the inevitable consequence was, that Myra adopted, the mere surface and tinsel manner, for the real softness of feminine delicacy. tual ear, somewhat in the Mrs. Mal-a-prop Hence her fine language is, to any intellecstyle --hence her modulations seem borrowed from the tuning key; hence does she oftentimes mistake the dignity of the lady, for the sweep of the tragedy-queen, Her mind was disposed by nature for the advantageous reception of the most useful and liberal ideas; her heart possessed all the incli-he nations to amiability. But the fairest work of nature may be marred by art. The tree which, in its native forest or solitary wild, would have spontaneously branched out into forms the most picturesque and beautiful, becomes a tame and insipid object, when fashioned by the hands of the gardener. The I have said Myra was attractive: of course Vanity forms a considerable portion of the But if not her fault, it was her still greater misfortune, that she possessed within herself no antidote to this bane of every thing simple and dignified. It was Myra's greatest misfortune that her mind was left a prey to its own devouring vanity, and her heart a passive victim to the tyranny of that mind. The consequences followed naturally, and easily established themselves. Her "How d' do, Mr."--when Myra would magnificent; the air of her head, and the whole manner accompanying it, is not the simple evidence of an internal consciousness, naturally acted upon and as naturally developing itself, but rather a studied effect got up for an occasion,, whose highest praise may be, that it is very like nature, but whose well-earned censure must be, that it is not nature. Yet Myra can be natural. There is as much difference between Myra at a social fireside, and Myra figuring in a drawing-room, or receiving the afternoon visit of "somebody," as there is between a fine woman in Grecian drapery, and the same woman in Queen Anne's ruffs, hoops, and stomacher. In the former situation, Myra is easy without affectation,and often times capable of the expression of a naturally exalted feeling. Her mind occasionally gives proof of the strength and energy of its original construction, and her heart of the amiability of its texture; which not all the subtle interweavings of the world, have been entirely able to disguise. But this, as I said, happens at the fire-side, and when "nobody" is by. Who shall speak of Myra's heart at two o'clock in the afternoon? Sometimes of an evening, it can indulge its own bent, while its master, the head, is completely disengaged; but during the busy hours of day, it is occupied, like every other slave, in sedulous attendance upon its tyrant. Then it dare do nothing but obey the orders, and discharge the duties imposed on it. Thus Myra sometimes does a good-hearted, or says an innocent or ingenious thing: but it is more than probable, that by the next morning, vanity will whisper, that such and such are not done or said according to the rigid rules of bienséance; and, acting upon this all-powerful dictate, Myra will seek for an opportunity to give the lie to her own heart, and consequent pain to the hearts of others. |
