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equalled by the loudest and most dreadful cataracts; the noife being heard feveral leagues off, and the vortices or pits are of fuch an extent and depth, that if a fhip comes within its attraction, it is inevitably abforbed and carried down to the bottom, and there beat to pieces against the rocks; and when the water relaxes, the fragments thereof are thrown up again. But these intervals of tranquillity are only at the turn of the ebb and flood, and calm weather and last but a quarter of an hour, its violence gradually returning. When the ftream is moft boisterous, and its fury heightened by a storm, it is dangerous to come within a Norway mile of it; boats, fhips, and yachts having been carried away, by not guarding againft it before they were within its reach. It likewife happens frequently, that whales come too near the ftream, and are overpowered by its violence; and then it is impoffible to defcribe their howlings

and bellowings in their fruitless ftruggles to difengage themfelves. A bear once attempting to fwim from Lofoden to Mofkoe, with a defgh of preying upon the fheep at pasture in the island, afforded the like spectacle to the people; the ftream caught him, and bore him down, while he roared terribly, fo as to be heard on shore. Large flocks of firs and pine trees, after being abforbed by the current, rife again, broken and torn to fuch a degree as if briftles grew on them. This plainly fhows the bottom to confift of craggy rocks, among which they are whirled to and fro. This ftream is regulated by the flux and reflux of the fea; it being conftantly high and low water every fix hours. In the year 1645, early in the morning of Sexagefima Sunday, it raged with fuch noife and impetuofity, that on the island of Moskoe, the very ftones of the houfes fell to the ground,

Striking Remarks on the Difference between TALENTS and GENIUS.

L'

ITTLE minds are fond of ex- beft; thofe high feelings of the mind amining parts; to fee things by which right is impreffed on the in the whole, to judge of them in the heart as a fentiment, at the fame great, requires genius; and though inftant that it is received into the untalents and abilities are frequent, ge- derftanding as a truth; where there is nius is infinitely rare. This man a foul to animate as well as a head to has elocution; that has wit; another direct-this is genius-equally rare in poffeffes learning and knowledge; and a fourth is eminent for thofe fmall arts which captivate the confidence of mankind in highly polished fociety, fuch qualifications are not confined to a few, and the fituations for which they are requifite may always be fupplied out of the common herd; but that tranfcendent power of intellect, that rapidity of intuition, which pervades and illuminates the whole of the darkeft fubject at a fingle glance; comparing at once every poffible combination, and invariably felecting the

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all ages, feldom understood at first, becaufe above the times which it is deftined to enlighten and improve, and therefore undervalued; but fure, fooner or later, to find its level in the eftimation of mankind. Of fuch men it has been faid, with very little of poetical fiction, that they hold a middle ftation between men of the common ftandard and the higher orders of intellectual beings

Sanctius his animal mentifque capacius

alte.

METEC

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THE BRITISH MUS E.

Extract from a Poem juft published, entitled 'A MORNING WALK; addreff. Ied to an eminent Clergyman.'

O W placid is the morning air! how
foft!

And how refreshing! On this upland field,
Gilt with the radiance of the rising sun,
Now let me wander, and with joy behold
Another proof, in this returning day,
Of th' order and design that rule the frame
Of univerfal nature. Lo! with light
Apparell'd, Phoebus up the welkin guides
His blazing car. Pierc'd by his beam,
the clouds,

So lately banded to oppofe his power, Retire athwart the fky. Scatter'd, they feem

Effulgent ifles, that lightly float along The azure firmament. Meantime array'd In robes of recent verdure, pearl'd with dew,

Shook from the pinions of departing night, Th' enliven'd earth rejoices. From her groves

The matin fongfters emulously pour Their melodies: fave that the tuneful lark,

Herald of morn, leaves them, afcending high,

And foars; and carols as he foars; and foon

Varying his fprightly fong, defcends, and drops

Into the furrow, by his neftled mate.

Seafon of foft delight! Now to the wild, Nature's admirer hies him, while his heart Throbs with emotion, exquifitely foft, And only known to thofe, whole bofoms feel

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That animate the canvass, or entrance The foul in th' extasies of rapt'rous song; Deem not your portion fcanty, nor complain

That Nature hath to you, with niggard hand,

Her gifts imparted. If the hath bestow'd Pow'rs to distinguish beauty, but deny'd Th' inventive energies; perchance, with thefe,

She kindly hath withheld the reckless zeal

Of paffion; and fecur'd you from the

cares,

Th' unnumber'd, agonizing cares, that fwarm

Even in the bower of fancy. Ye enjoy The fimile of this soft season, unallay'd With restless wishes for ye know not what ; Sublime, untafted pleasure, unallay'd With grief fantastic, or imagin'd woe. Fram'd for difcerning ev'ry pleafing form Of graceful elegance, your fouls are calm; Calm as yon river, that fo flowly moves: His progrefs paffes unobferv'd, the while His breaft reflects the likenefs of each fhrub

And blossom, waving o'er th' enamell'd bank.

**

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Flash'd with its radiance on my raptur'd foul,

The wish arose, a blameless wifh, t' improve,

If th' early carol of an oaten reed
Can e'er by fkill of riper years be fwell'&
To notes of bolder melody, t' improve,
And bid the verse with foft furprise falute
Thy ear, my Theon! and awhile entice
Thy thought from heavenly themes; to
mufe with me

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On former times, and to indulge the figh
Of penfive recollection. No, I hear
Thee fay with due reproof, Not with a
figh
Will we review the periods that are past;
Rather with gratitude; and the defire,
And the refolve, to confecrate what time
May yet be left us, to th' important task
Of rend'ring better fervice to mankind;
If fo we may prepare and plume our fouls
For foaring to a higher fphere.' A pause
Of awful contemplation fills my heart
With holy ravishment. I feel the power
Of the fublime fuggeftion !-Now adieu
Ye waftes! I leave you with regret, and
oft

Will I revifit you; for well I ween
The busiest active life requires an hour
For recollection. Hence the mind renew'd
Feels every power alive; and feels the

charm

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ADDRESS to a favourite CANARY BIRD.

SWEET Bird! devoid of ev'ry care,
You feel no idle rage,
To wander in the fields of air;

You're happy in your cage.

You cheerful hop, and plume your wing,
And all your wants affwage;
Pick up your food, and drink and fing,
And revel in your cage.

Your heart no female charms allure,
No vain defires engage;
And many evils, I endure,

Are ftrangers to your cage.
Thro' free to rove, I cannot find,

On life's difaftrous stage,
Such calm content and peace of mind,

As reft within your cage.

Then well you may your fong pursue,
With ills no war you wage;
And Kings, my Bird! may envy you
The bleffings of your cage.
painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds.

A TALE

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It

the fhade.

ceas'd-yet still in Florio's fancy fung

Still on each note his captive spirit hung
Till o'er the mead a cool fequefter'd grot
From its rich roof a fparry luftre fhot.
A cryftal water crofs'd the pebbled floor,
And on the front thefe fimple lines it bore

Hence away, nor dare intrude!
In this fecret fhadowy cell
Mufing Memory loves to dwell,
With her fifter Solitude.

Far from the bufy world the flies,
To taste that peace the world denies.
Entranc'd fhe fits; from youth to age,
Reviewing Life's eventful page;
And noting, ere they fade away,
The little lines of yesterday.

Florio had gain'd a rude and rocky feat, When lo, the Genius of this still retreat! Fair was her form-but who can hope to

trace

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* The Lake of Kefwick in Cumberland. R 2

And,

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