Слике страница
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

We pafs over Mr. Bofwell's tales of the fecond-fight. They were merely bear-fay, and no fnow-ball ever gathered like that dreaming goffip. The efcape of the Pretender, alias Prince Charles- Edward, is the 'next paffage of note; but as that has been already cited in our Magazine and other publications, we alfo país it over; only ob ferving that, as Mr. Boswell truly fays, it does great honour to the humanity, fidelity, and generosity of the Highlanders. Nor can we refift the temptation to guess what Dr. Johnfon would have faid on the Prince's efcape, had he been as much prejudiced against him as against the Whigs; we think we hear him faying, "Why, Sir, many a thief has made as extraordinary an escape from more multifarious perils, and has experienced as much fidelity from the rest of the gang."

A Highland gentleman had affured our travellers that Prince Charles was in London in 1759, and that there was then a plan in agitation for reftoring his family. Dr. Johníon could scarcely credit this ftory, and faid, "There could be no probable plan at that time. Such an attempt could not have fucceeded, unless the King of Pruffia had stopped the army in Germany; for both the army and the fleet would, even without orders, have fought for the King, to whom they had engaged themfelves."

Weak, indeed! To mention no more, one would think the Doctor had never heard of the defection of Churchill and the army in England, and of the Irish at the Boyne, from their worn allegiance to Prince Charles's grandfather, and of their cordially joining a foreigner, the Prince of Orange.

[blocks in formation]

quence, and little things of little importante and so he becomes more patient, and better pleafed. All good-humour and complaifance are acquired. Naturally a child feizes die rectly what it fees, and thinks of pleasing it. felf only. By degrees, it is taught to please others, and to prefer others; and that this will ultimately produce the greatest happinefs. If a man is not convinced of that, be never will practise it. Common language fpeaks the truth as to this: we fay, a perfun is well- bred.”

The above fubject, we find afterwards te fumed: "In the argument on Tuefday night, about natural goodness, Dr. Johnson denied that any child was better than another, but by difference of instruction; though, in con fequence of greater attention being paid to inftruction by one child than another, and of a variety of imperceptible causes, fuch as inftruction being counteracted by fervants, a notion was conceived, that of two children, equally well educated, one was naturally much worse than another. He owned, this morning, that one might have a greater aptitude to learn than another, and that we inherit difpofitions from our parents. “I inherited, faid he, a vile melancholy from my father, which has made me mad all my life, at leaft not fober."-Lady M'Leod wondered he should tell this.- Madam, faid I, he knows that with that madness he is fuperior to other men."

It is a well known fact, that Hume's filtem of fcepticism is founded on that part of Locke's Effay on the Human Understanding, where innate ideas are denied; where it is afferted that the mind is a mere rafa tabula, and that every impreffion arifes from outward accident. And here, with all his zeal against Hume's philofophy, we find Dr. Johníon moft cordially fupporting it, though certainly without attending to the confequen ces drawn by Hume, that Truth and Virtue, Falfehood and Vice are merely artificial, and not the fame in different ages and countries, Not to enter into metaphyfics on innate ideas, no fact, we believe, is more certain than that, interwoven with their most primary perceptions, there are different difpofitions in children, which all the powers of education and company will never overcome. Courage and cowardice, compattion and heard-heartednefs, avarice and generosity, in a word, bafenefs and magnanimity of temper, are 25 deeply rooted in children of the fame parents, as their different degrees of intellectual capa city; and are under the power of education in the fame manner. Good difpofitions and

To combat thefe notions is the defign of Dr. Beattie's Effay on the Immutability of Truth; a good and easy subject, had it been handled with more logic and lefs declamation.

good

good intellects may be cultivated and fet in motion, and bad ones may be gilded and difguifed by it. Nay, vicious habits may even be fubdued by conviction and resolution: but that rare occurrence only proves the radical difference of the powers and difpofitions with which we are born. In many parts of his Ramblers and other writings, the Doctor clearly afcertains the difference here contended for, though in the above citation, through the medium of Mr. B. he denied that any child was better than another, but by diffe rence of instruction ;"-which we humbly conceive to be no better than faying, there is no difference between copper and gold, except the different ftamp of the mint. The clofe of the quotation contains a confeffion which throws light on the Doctor's character, as the conclufion and following paffage do on that of Mr. Bofwell:

"I was elated," fays he, "by the thought of having been able to entice fuch a man to this remote part of the world. A ludicrous yet juft image prefented itself to my mind, which I expreffed to the company. I compared myself to a dog who has got hold of a large piece of meat, and runs away with it to a corner, where he may devour it in peace, without any fear of others taking it from him. In London, Reynolds, Beauclerk, and all of them, are contending who fhall enjoy Dr. Johnfon's conversation. We are feasting upon it, undisturbed, at Dunvegan."

Take alfo the following striking characteriftics of the Doctor's treatment of his obiequious friend and companion: "To hear the grave Dr. Samuel Johnfon, that majestick teacher of moral and religious wisdom, while fitting folemn in an arm-chair, in the ifle of Sky, talk ex cathedra of his keeping a feraglio, and acknowledge that the fuppofition had often been in his thoughts, ftruck me fo forcibly with ludicrous contrast, that I could not but laugh immoderately, He was too proud to fubmit, even for a moment, to be the object of ridicule, and in ftantly retaliated with fuch keen farcaftick wit, and fuch a variety of degrading images, of every one of which I was the object, that, though I can bear such attacks as well as moft men, I yet found myself fo much the fport of all the company, that I would glally expunge from my mind every trace of this severe reLOTT."

The following anecdote of Garrick, and Johnson's estimate of his abilities as a critic and judge of fine writing, are curious. "Having talked of the ftrictness with which witnelles are examined in courts of justice, Dr. Johníon told us, that Garrick, though accuftomed to face multitudes, when produced as

a witness in Westminster-hall, was fo difconcerted by a new mode of public appearance, that he could not understand what was afked.

It was a caufe where an actor claimed a free benefit; that is to fay, a benefit without paying the expence of the house; but the meaning of the term was difputed. Garrick was asked, "Sir, have you a free benefit ? "— "Yes."-"Upon what terms have you it?

"Upon-the terms-of-a free benefit." He was difmiffed as one from whom no information could be obtained.-Dr. Johafon is often too hard on our friend Mr. Garrick. When I afked him, why he did not mention him in the preface to his Shakespeare, he faid, "Garrick has been liberally paid for any thing he has done for Shakespeare. If Í should praise him, I fhould much more praife the nation who paid him. He has not made Shakespeare better known. He cannot illuftrate Shakespeare. So I have reafons enough againít mentioning him, were reafons neceffary. There should be reafons for it."

The above anecdote reminds us of Mr. Garrick's behaviour when he was examined on the trial of Btti, who had ftabbed a ruffian in the Haymarket. Our Rofcius declared on oath that he never heard or knew that ftabbing was an Italian vice. The cenfure on Garrick's literary abilities and tafte is fevere indeed: "He cannot illuftrate Shakespeare."-However ftrange this may feem to the mob, who remember Garrick's aftonishing powers of acting, we believe that thofe who have converfed with him, and knew the turn of his taste, and extent of his critical acumen, and who recollect many of the poor neglected dramas which he brought on the ftage, will very cordially agree with the Ductor's cenfure.

The following is highly characteristic of Mr. Bofwell's feamanship: "It was very dark indeed, and there was a heavy and inceffant rain. The fparks of the burning peat flew so much about, that I dreaded the veffel might take fire. Then, as Col was a fportfman, and had had powder on board, I figured that we might be blown up. Simpfon and he both appeared a little frightened, which made me more fo; and the perpetual talking, or rather fhouting, which was carried on in Erfe, alarmed me still more. man is always fufpicious of what is faying in an unknown tongue; and if fear be his paffion at the time, he grows more afraid. Our veffel often lay fo much on one fide, that I trembled left the fhould be overfet; and indeed they told me afterwards, that they had run her fometimes to within an inch of the water, fo anxious were they to make what hafte they could before the night should be worle. I now faw what I never faw before,

A

a pro

a prodigious fea, with immenfe billows com. ing upon a vessel, so as that it seemed hardly poffible to escape. There was fomething grandly horrible in the fight, I am glad I have feen it once. Amidst all these terrifying circumftances, I endeavoured to compofe my mind. It was not easy to do it; for all the stories that I had heard of the dangerous failing among the Hebrides, which is proverbial, came full upon my recollection. When I thought of those who were deareft to me, and would fuffer feverely, fhould I be loft, I upbraided myself, as not having fufficient caufe for putting myself in fuch danger. Piety afforded me comfort; yet 1 was difturbed by the objections that have been made against a particular providence."

Hardly a week paffes but the Gravefend boats " run within an inch of the water," and have the billows dashing over their decks. Indeed we cannot help confidering the dan gers above expressed, and the fearful apprehenfions acknowledged, as a cockney's account of his first voyage to Woolwich or Gravefend. On the first perufal of the above, we were impatient to see how Dr. Johnson, whose ideas on the horrid fituation of one on hip-board we have already cited, behaved in this dreadful fcene, fo grandly horrible; and we were pleased to find that good luck (for to fay Providence on the occafion, would hardly be decent) befriended him. He "had all this time," fays Mr. B." been quiet and unconcerned. He had fain down on one of the beds, and having got free from fickness, was fatisfied. The truth is, he knew nothing all this while of the danger we were in; but, fearless and unconcerned, might

have said, in the words which he has chofes for the motto to his Rambler,

[ocr errors]

me cunque rapit tempeftas, deferar bosper. After the above defcription of a tempest at fea, written under lively and moft Serious feelings, we are prefented with the following, which, at the close of a fad tale of hairbreadth 'fcapes, is certainly fomewhat ludicrous, and will affect the rifible mufcies of those who are mafters in the art of mental imagery, as much perhaps as the whole of the fad tale, particularly the danger apprehended from Col's powder-horn, will affect the true falt-water failor, “ I now went down,” fays Mr. B. "with Coll and Mr. Simpton, to visit him (the Doctor). He was lying in philofophic tranquility, with a greyhound of Col's at his back, keeping him warm. Col is quite the Juvenis qui gaudet canibur. He had when we left Taliskeri two grey. hounds, two terriers, a pointer, and a large Newfoundland water-dog. He loft one of his terriers by the road, but had ftill five dogs with him. I was very ill, and very defirous to get on fhore."

The posture of the Doctor and his canine companion, and the interesting catalogue of Col's dogs, are truly Homeric; though, perhaps, a little in the spirit of Cotton's celebrated tranflation of Virgil.

The next thing remarkable we meet in our journey through Mr. B's volume reprefents the Doctor in a very rude and difagreeable light. We find him treating a learned and venerable clergyman of feventy. seven years in the most wafpish and capricious manner. But of this afterwards. [To be concluded in our next.]

Memoirs of the Literary and Philofophical Society of Manchester. Vol. I. & II. 8vo. 12s. Boards. 1785. Cadell. [Continued from page 168.]

An Effay on the Afcent of Vapour. By Dr. Eafon. Read 19th November, 1782.

HIS paper might with equal propriety have been an Effay on Defcent of Rain; but the Doctor is a better philofopher than he is a writer. He fets out with telling us that "there are few phenomena in nature, which have puzzled philofophers more, than the ascent of vapour

and the different theories laid down by Doctors Halley and Defaguliers have been rejected, while another, not lefs liable to objections, has been almost universally received.

This theory, which I shall presently mention, was at first invented by a French gentleman, Monfieur le Roi, and afterwards revived by Lord Kaimes, and Doctor Hugh

Hamilton. It is this-That the air diffolves water, as water does faline substances: the folution being perfect, the air will become tranfparent."

Having made his objections to this theory, our author proceeds to raife, with the affiftance of electricity, one of his own, which is at least ingenious, and is indeed as probable as any of the other nine hundred and ninety-nine which have been raised on the fame fubject-" By making fome obfervations on the falling of rain, fr he, we shall have other proofs, that the electric matter is the great caufe by which vapour is fupported in the atmosphere. Here I must observe a fact, well known to prefent, that bodies electrified, by the fie electric power (no matter whether pofitis e

[ocr errors]

or negative) repel each other; and, when electrified by the different powers, that is, the one plus and the other minus, attract each other: ou coming into contact, an equilibrium is restored, and neither of them will thew any figns of electricity.

"From this it follows: If two clouds are electrified by the fame power, they will repel each other, and the vapour be fufpended in both; but when one is pofitive and the other negative, they will attract each other, and restore an equilibrium. The electric power by which the vapour was fufpended, being now destroyed by the mutual action of the clouds on each other, the particles of wa ter will have an opportunity of running together into each other, and, as they augment in fize, will gain a greater degree of gravity, defcending in small rain, or a heavy shower, according to circumstances.

clouds, or the fuperabundant quantity in the air, will electrify those black clouds, by which means the particles of vapour will be expanded, raised higher, and the air become clear. Clouds may be melted away, even when we are looking at them, by another caufe, that is, by the heat of the fun. We know, that tranfparent bodies are not heated by the fun, but opaque ones are: the clouds being opaque bodies, are warmed by the rays of the sun shining on them, and any additional quantity of heat will rarify the vapour, and occafion its expanding in the air, which will foon become tranfparent. When vapour is made to expand more than it would otherwife do, a certain quantity of abfolute heat is neceffary to keep it in the form of vapour; therefore, when the receiver of an air-pump is exhaufting, it appears muddy, and a number of drops are found within it: the moi"A cloud, highly electrified, paffing over fture contained in the air, in the form of va a high building or mountain, may be attracted pour, being made to occupy a greater space by, and be deprived of its electricity, without than what is natural to it, and receiving no or with a violent explosion of thunder. If addition of heat, a part of it is condenfed.* the cloud is electrified plus, the fire will defcend from the cloud to the mountain; but if it be electrified minus, the fire will afcend from the mountain to the cloud. In both cafes, the effect is the fame, and generally, heavy rain immediately, or foon after, follows: this is well known to the inhabitants of, and travellers among mountains.

"From this we can eafily account, why -thunder-showers are often partial, falling near, or among mountains, and the rain in fuch quantities, as to occafion rivers to be overflowed; whilft, at the distance of a few miles, the ground continues parched up with drought, and the roads covered with duft.

"It often happens, that one clap of thunder is not fufficient to produce rain from a cloud, nor even a fecond: in fhort, the claps must be repeated, till an equilibrium is reftored, and then the rain muft, of confequence, fall. Sometimes we may have violent thunder and lightning without rain, and the black appearance of the heavens may be changed to a clear tranfparent sky, especially in warm weather. To account for this, it must be remembered, as I lately faid, that one or more claps of thunder are not always fufficient to produce rain from the clouds: fo, if an equilibrium be not restored, little or no rain will fall, and in a fhort time the electric matter, paffing from the earth to the

"If, therefore, the air is fuddenly rarified, a few drops of rain will defcend, as may often be observed in the summer season."

The Doctor concludes his paper "with a fhort fummary of the whole.

1. That heat is the great cause by which water is converted into vapour, which is condenfed by cold.

2. That electricity renders vapour specifically lighter, and adds to its abfolute heat, repelling its particles; which particles would be condenfed by cold: and that electricity is the great agent by which vapour ascends to the upper regions.

[ocr errors]

3. That when the electric power by which vapour is fufpended in the atmosphere, is deftroyed, a heavy mist, small rain, or thunder-fhowers, will be the confequence. Had the advocates for the doctrine of folution, made heat and electricity the folvents, their theory would have been lefs exceptionable."

On the Comparative Merit of the Ancients
and Moderns with refpect to the Imitative
Arts. By Mr. Thomas Kershaw. Read
Feb. 19, 1783.

Modesty has ever been the companion of true courage: that Mr K. is a man of spirit, thus to lift his voice among a host of learned Doctors, mutt be confeffed.

"This fhort effay, he fays, is intended to point out the excellencies of the ancients in the imi

«On this principle, we can readily account for the mift, which appears on difcharging an air-gun: the condensed air in the chamber of the barrel, on being fet free, will expand fuddenly, occupying a larger fpace, an no ad litional heat being acquired, the vapours must neceffarily be condensed in the form of mift."

EUROP, MAG.

Y Y

tative

346

tative arts; yet, at the fame time, to allow the moderns their due thare of fame, in having not only made fome improvements, but inventions, of which the ancients were entirely ignorant.

"That the ancients bear the palm from the moderns in fculpture, will not be contefted: their religion fanctified and encouraged that branch of feience. Gods, Demigods, and heroes, all confpired to bring it into the highest repute and their images were often depofited in buildings of the most exquifite tafte, to commemorate particular occurrences. The rage for highly ornamented edifices, perhaps, never rose to a greater height than amongst the Romans. These fons of fortune acquired so much wealth, and, by plundering diftant climes, had fo collected the riches of whole kingdoms into one city, that there was no way left to diffipate fuch immenfe fums, but by engaging in the most expenfive works of art. Each ambitious conqueror, defirous to tranfmit his own actions and thofe of his ancestors to pofterity, called in to his aid the sculptor and the architect, whofe utmost skill was exerted to blazon their atchievements in the folidity of stone and marble.

"This fhews, in fome measure, why fculpture outstripped her fifter art; for the fpecimens of ancient painting are much inferior to modern productions. They are deficient in colouring, chiaro- obscuro, and keeping. Several of the Claffics tell us, there were but four colours or pigments in ufe amongst the ancient artifts, viz. black, white, yellow, and red. Now, it is impoffible to produce from those colours only, the variety of tints neceffary to equal even a tolerable colourift of the moderns. Although this evinces nothing against the abilities of the ancients, we may fairly conclude, that the rich and luxuriant defcriptions handed down to us, are inflated with hyperbole, fufficient to make us doubt the veracity of fome of their authors. Unfortunately for thefe warm advocates, the difcoveries of Herculaneum have fpitefully contradicted their affertions, and furnished us with means to draw our own conclufions. It is very poffible they might admire, and be furprised at a fight of, what appeared to them the ultimatum of perfection."

"Chiaro-fcuro, or the art of diftributing the lights and thadows in a picture advantageously, as well for the repofe and fatisfaction of the eye, as for the effect of the whole together, feems to be a modern invention."

**Pliny, Cicero.

"That part of the art termed keeping, the ancients feem to have been but little acquainted with, and without a due management of this, every picture would be filled with confufion. Instead of a proper fubor. dination, each group or figure would feem to contend for precedence. This want of order deftroys all dignity, and prevents the artist from forming an agreeable whole.

"Any attempts in antique landscape with which we are acquainted, are executed wretchedly. In that part of the art, the fuperiority of the moderns is manifest.

"We have the authority of Frefnoy † to fay, that Michael Angelo furpaffed not only all the moderns, but the ancients in architecture: he quotes the St. Peter's at Rome, the Palazzo Farnese, and the St. John's at Florence, as proofs of his opi nion.”

"Etching, engraving, mezzotinto, and aquatinta are all of modern invention, and of great utility. They deliver down to us accurate copies from the works of eminent men at a small expence; and diffuse abroad the bright flame of science, fo that even those, who are far diftant from the centre of the arts, may roufe their fouls to action, and enlighten that spark of genius, which might hitherto have lain dormant."

Having fpoken of thefe and fome other plain truths, the author very prudently makes his retreat under cover of the Socie ty's candour,

"From the candour of this learned fociety, the writer of this effay claims protection, and hopes, an attempt to investigate truth will not be deemed audacity."

On the Impropriety of allowing a Bounty to encourage the Exportation of Corn, &c. By Jofeph Wimpey. Read Feb. 26, 1783.

This paper was written in confequence of one read priorly on Economical Regifters:-it is not confined to the exportation of corn, but extends to the oceanly fubjectfree ports. The writer's arguments, however, are too long (though by no means loose) for our infertion; nevertheless, they are fuch as merit an impartial perufal by every landed and commercial man in the kingdom.-Suffice it for us to fay, Mr. Wimpey maintains, that allowing a bounty on the exportation of corn, is "execrable management :"-and that as to throwing open the ports, "nothing could fooner reduce this country to the deepest poverty and diftrefs.”

Frefnay, a French artist well known for his Latin poem de Arte Graphica.

On

« ПретходнаНастави »