In the hypothefis of the motion of the earth and univerfal gravitation, the centrifugal force, augmented beneath the equator, fhould, to produce the mountains of the Andes, have given them a direction eaft and weft, as is the cafe with the mountains of the Moon in Africa. Thus did they in reality run north and fouth, the hypothefis would be overturned; but our new obfervations convince us of the contrary. The above-men tioned directions having been examined with the nicest attention, it appears that neither the particular feries proceed precifely from east to west, nor the junction of them north and fouth: The latter declines to the fouth caft, and the particular feries decline in the fame proportion, to the weftward from weft to fouth-west, and to the eastward from caft to north-east. The reafon of this is, that South America does not completely interfect the equator. Thus, if a line were to be drawn through its middle, longitudinally, it would form with the equinoctial line an angle of fixty degrees only, inftead of ninety. To restore the directions of our cordilleras in fuch a way as that they should look precifely towards the cardinal points, it would be neceffary that a comet, fuch as the one of which WHISTON dreamed, fhould make its appearance, fhould fuddenly attack this continent to Cape Horn, and push it thirty degrees to the westward. * Vanier, Praed. pag. 117. Thefe lines may be thus freely tranflated: O happy people to whom the earth pours forth her stores at will; on whom providence has bestowed fummers, the coolncis of which, emulate the fpring; winters without cold; a cloudlefs firmament; and a foil highly fer tile without showers. difmal array of of the fepulchre, the difplays herself living, and in all her fplendor. The high world is the principal nave: its flooring fuperior in elevation to Olympus, Pindus, Imaus, or the Pyrenean mountains, fupports a magnifi cent facade looking towards the north, and crowned by the celestial equator. The edifice, which terminates beneath the tropic of Capricorn, is crowned at the meridian by another arch of equal elegance. Corazon, Iligniza, Chimborazo, Collanes, Vilcanota, Illimani, Condorcma, and Tacora, are the columns by which it is. fupported. Antifara, Cotopaxi, Tunguragua, Pichincha, Ambato, Quiniftakae, and Cheke-Putina, are fo many y inextinguishable lamps, which, covered by a thick vapour, perpetuate unceasingly the worship of the Deity. 11 [To be concluded in our next.] For the Monthly Magazine. Defcription of the Sarique (Virginian Opoffum, of Pennant) lately brought alive intoFrance, by Cit. Rouelle, being an extract of a letter written by him to Cit. Tofcan, Keeper of the National Museum of Natural Hiftory. THE HE Sarique, or Opoffum of the Americans, is found in most of the woody and warm parts of that Continent. Its hair is brown, and white at the tips: the tail is rather long, naked, and resembling that of the rat: its ears are open, rounded, very thin, and bordered with a light brown edge. It is a filent animal, fleeping during the day and coming forth from its retreat only towards the clofe of evening; it feeks its prey in the night, returning at day-break to its hole, which is generally dug under the roots of fome great tree, and well lined with grafs or mofs. They dwell generally in pairs, but fome males lead a folitary life. Fruits of various kinds conftitute its principal food, and it will eagerly devour the eggs and young of birds. Its flesh is reckoned excellent eating, and vaft numbers are annually deftroyed by the natives and wild quadru peds: being very ill provided for defence, and running but flowly, as foon as it is purfted it afcends a tree, and fixing itfelf by its prehenfile tail on one of the topmost and flendereft branches, it remains fufpended with the head downwards till the purfuit has ceafed: the Indians, however, which the Opoffum has fixed itfelf, the climb the tree, and breaking the bough to animal falls to the ground and is fcized by the dogs in waiting below. It brings fort! from four to twelve young, without whic fertility, the species would foon be an hilated by its numerous enemies.. from far The forked lightning darts athwart the fky, Quick travelling down to th' eye with dazzling rays: Then,darkness all around, how fweet thevoice Of friend! In converse kind there dwells a charm, That wakes a smile, and mocks the found**ing ftorm. Nor lefs, when 'mid the barren dreary heath The traveller ftrays, where scarce a heathflower blooms Yellow, or purple, as where Pentland lifts ímile, Save the poor furze ;---) or toiling when he -climbs Snowdon or hoar Plinlimmon's craggy fides, Brecnoc, or Grampian fummits :---Who furveys Nature's grand fcenery, may not always hope To view the cultur'd garden, or the lawn Of verdure foftly smooth, or daified vale: Nor always may he meet the wilder charms Of brighter picturefque; nor gaze entranced The lake, whofe fair expanfe, like mirror -clear, What (miles upon the bank, of bush, or tree, And heaven's blue vault, reflects; for nature's tints, Various as bold, difplay no common tone. She, fkilful painter, from the wide extremes Of rough and smooth, of light and fhade, effects The clair obfcure, the glory of her work. haunts J Of nature, marking her vagaries ftrange, And bold, and unrestrained as fhe, to muse The free, the rapturous lay; ftill pace along Your lonely way; and be your mufings fweet! Friendship has too its charms: for kindred minds, Reflecting thought for thought, like travellers, Bring each to each fame unknown treasures home. Whether embosom'd deep in ocean's flood, 4 Or fcaling high the cliff, or piercing deep The fecret mine, or filver-winding stream Skimming in wanton veffel, or with staff, Like jolly pilgrim, pacing with flow step The pathiefs muir, where the short windlestray Of filvery brown, difperfed with many a knob And green tall rush, obftruct the doubtful foot; 1 Converfe is doubly fweet---and fuch, my friend, We have enjoyed; but now agree to take A long farewell: and thus through human life; For what is human life? a day's fhort journey, With changes fraught ;---now up the wond -rous height Hope climbs, and wistful views, and views agains The lengthening profpect---calls the prospect fair; Now, like the lightsome kid, o'er verdant lawn She fprings, then, 'midft the folitary wafte Sings chearful, though no voice the hears ...around, Save the rude north-eaft, or the querulous brook, Or fcreaming eagle: then rude ocean heaves, Ocean of griefs and cares,the boisterous wave, Till, prifon'd round, the fickens. Oh! my friend, Sweet then is converfe; for to man 'tis given To chear the foul with converfe: nobler man Nature has diff'renced from the fpeechless brute By voice, by reafon :---how he rifes high, Proudly profpective! How he looks around, With nobler front, and foul-inspiring joy! But, Aikin, now we part; tho' fcene fo fweet Might tempt us ftill t' extend our focial walk. The mountain fide, befide whofe smiling cots The greener pine, and larch of paler hue : tree The fainted abbey, whofe time-mouldered As natures' fongfters! And what scene so gay As the ftill changing, ftill delightful change Of hill and dale, and deep romantic glen, Quick-gliding stream, and ever babbling brook! walls Bring to the memory the fair Gothic haunts Of Tintern, Monmouth's fair fequefter'd ruin, Near which Wye pours the wild romantic flood. Low funk in earth the gates! and round the stones The fhining ivy twines its wanton arms And, oh! what found fo fweet as western gales Kiffing the trembling trees! And fancy can Wake founds ftill fweeter, can create new fcenes, Fresh, gay, ambrofial, fuch as purer sense Of mufeful bard fees, hears, and grows infpir'd. There are t whom humbler walks have Can vifit the clofe cot, where poverty To different mufings :---there she learnt to fcorn The low difdains of contumely, there caught Ye generous rich, for 'mid the numerous tribe Of gold-gorg'd wealthy, Britain boafts her few Of rich, and generous, fcorn not to contrive How beft to houfe the labourer, let him tafte The fweets of cleanlinefs, and know to breathe Pure air; nor let him tremble at th' approach Of every wind that rides the pelting ftorm. He, for your luxuries labours, he to you Like the poor patient ox, and gentle sheep, Raiment and food fupplies: ah! fay, fhall he Meet nothing but contempt, and low neglect? Who deems his fellow mean, for man's his fellow, Himself is mean---is worthless---a mere nothing, And though he force the poor's man's out ward worship Knee-bent to th' earth, fhall have his heart's contempt. My friend, be thine to rove no fruitless path For fcience guides thee, and thyfelf haft rais'd Fair hopet, and pointing thee to rural haunts And pleafing themes, thy parent leads the way. To thofe who have vifited the wretched unhealthy hovels in the Highlands of Scotland, and in Ireland, it cannot be deemed unfeafonable to recommend an attention to the more decent accommodation of the cotters, or cottagers. Men of fortune, who in future may build on their eftates habitations for their poor tenants, would do well to ftudy a most interefting publication entitled, Heights and Elevations for Cottages," by Wood. See a Journal of a Tour through North Wales and part of Shropshire, with Obfervations on Mineralogy, and other branches of Natural History, by Arthur Aikin. The fnows, In ceafelefs change, to Britain's ftudious youth, Well he deferibes and Britain's ftudious youth Shall blefs his toils--- nor lefs with Ev'NING TALES,I With critic rules, and foft poetic lays, To art and science lifts the manly breast. Or, like the many-darting rays of light, Which quick converge, and form one luftrous point. Thy talk is toil and patience to furvey* Hence fhall determine well the diftant eye, rais'd To the MEMORY of Miss K. She was fair as lilies of the vale! Her voice was heavenly! on her faded cheek, With racking pain and lengthened fickness pale, Sat calm-eyed faith and patience ever meek. Domestic love would watch the livelong day, Smoothing her fleepless pillow, fhe, the while, In thankful filence wore the hours away, Reviving hope with many a tender fmile. Calendar of Nature." "The Ufe of Natural Hiftory in Poetry," and "Evenings at Home," &c. by Dr. Aikin. The leading object of Mr. A's Tour into Scotland, was a mineralogy furvey of the country. † A celebrated Mineralogift, Author of a work entitled, "Voyoge dans les Alps." 123 And when he took her laft, her long farewell, No death-bed terrors on her spirit hung 3 But dying kiffes from her cold lips fell, And eager bleffings faulter'd on her -tongue. Think not her angel form shall sleep in duft! And friends no more fhall part, while ORIGINAL ANECDOTES AND REMAINS OF EMINENT PERSONS. [In our next Number we propose to commence an extenfive feries of interefting articles, under the bead of WALPOLIANA, being a collection of original Bon-mats, Anecdotes, &c. by Horace Walpole, late Earl of Orford; taken from bis MSS. notes, and from numerous converfations; with Extracts from many of bis unpublished Letters. This valuable article will be furnished by a literary Gentleman, who was bonoured with the Earl's intimate acquaintance for fifteen years, from 1782 to bis death.] GOLDONI, THE MODERN ITALIAN (Communicated by Mr. Damiani.) advocate, and fent him to be a practitioner in Modena. An horrid ceremony of ecclefiaftical jurifdiction, at which he was prefent, infpired him with a melancholy turn, and he determined to become CHARLES was He gave a Capuchin. His father, perceiving the early indications of his humourous character, as well as his invincible propenfity to those studies, which have rendered his name immortal. His father, perceiving that the darling amufement of his fon was dramatic performances, had a small theatre erected in his own houfe, in which Goldoni, while yet an infant, amufed Himlelf, with three or four of his companions, by acting comedies. Before he was fent to school, his genius prompted him to become an author. In the feventh and eighth years of his age, ere he had fcarcely learned to read correctly, all his time was devoted to the perufing comic writers, among whom was Cicognini, a Florentine, little known in the dramatic commonwealth. After having well ftudied thefe, he ventured to sketch out the plan of a comedy, which needed more than one eye-witness of the greatest probity, to verify its being the production of a child. After having finished his grammatical fradies at Venice, and his rhetorical ftudies at the Jefuit's College in Perugia, he was fent to a boarding-fchool at Rimini, to ftudy philofophy. The impulfe of nature, however, fuperfeded with him the ftudy of Ariftotle's works, fo much in vogue in thofe times. He frequented the theatres with uncommon curiofity; and paffing gradually from the pit to the ftage, entered into a familiar acquaintance with the actors. When the feafon of comic performances was over, and the actors were to remove to Chiozza, young Goldoni made his efcape in their company. This was the firft fault he committed, which, according to his own confeffion, drew a great many others after it. His father had intended him to be a phyfician, like himself the young man, however, was wholly averfe to the ftudy. He propofed afterwards to make him an whimsical inconftant humour of his fon, feigned to fecond this propofal, and promiled to go and present him to the guardian of the Capuchins in Venice, in the hope that after fome stay in that ex tenfive and merry city, his melancholy fit would ceafe. The fcheme fucceeded; for the young man, indulging in all the fafhionable diffipation of the place, was cured of his foolish refolution. It was however neceffary for him to be fettled in fome employment, and he was prevailed upon by his mother, after the death of his father, to exercife the profeffion of a lawyer in Venice, By a fudden reverse of fortune he was compelled to quit at once both the bar and Venice. He then went to Milan, where he was employed by the refident of Venice in the capacity of fe. cretary, where becoming acquainted with the manager of the theatre, he wrote a farce, entitled, Il Gondoliere Veneziano, the Venetian Gondolier; which was the first comic production of his that was performed and printed. Some, time after, Goldoni broke with the Venetian refident, and removed to Verona. There was in this place, at that time, the company of comedians of the theatre of St. Samuel of Venice, and among them the famous actor Cofali, an old acquaintance of Goldoni, who introduced him to the manager. He began therefore to work for the theatre, and became infenfibly united to the company, for which he compofed feveral pieces. Having remov ed along with them to Genoa, he was for the first time seized with an ardent paífion for a lady, who foon afterwards became his wife. He returned with the company to Venice, where he difplayed, for the firft time, the powers of his ge nius, and executed his plan of reforming the Italian stage. He wrote the Momols, Courtifan, the Squanderer, and other pie |