sufficiency," says an elegant modern her attention. She excelled in paintwriter*, “ must alter with the occa- ing, both in oil and water colours. sion; for to mediocrity the simplicity In portraits she was very successful, of truth may appear vanity, and the and that her readiness to exert this consciousness of superiority seem en- pleasing art was equal to her skill, vy.”. There is perhaps no method many of her friends will gratefully of improving the mind more effica- acknowledge. She was also passioncious, and certainly none more agree- ately fond of music, and pursued able, than a mutual interchange of with characteristic ardour and indussentiments with the well read, the try the study of that enchanting acjudicious, and the intelligent: by complishment. Her insatiable thirst many therefore the conversation of for knowledge induced, and her per. Mrs. Cobbold was much sought after, severing application enabled, her to as her colloquial powers rivaled even make herself mistress of the French, her literary talents. She had, as has Italian, and German languages, and been beautifully remarked, “a con- to acquire some proficiency in the

stant flow of thought, joining with Latin and Greek tongues. Her love -the current of other minds, thence of flowers was very great, and was gathering fresh strength, not head rendered more pleasing by her intilong in its course, but easily turning mate acquaintance with their several with every bend in its progress." She properties and uses. possessed likewise a facility of com- The countenance of Mrs. Cobbold prehension and a felicity of expres was extremely commanding; her sion, by which she fascinated and de eyes were remarkable for their quick lighted minds of the most opposite and intelligent expression, and her textures. . .

address and manner peculiarly graceMrs. Cobbold shone pre-eminentful. But no delineation can give a in the circle in which she daily mov- more adequate idea of some of the ed for the versatility and universali- | leading features of this distinguished ty of her genius. Her knowledge woman, than the following poetical was multifarious, and her powers of picture, written by her three years fancy and sentiment striking. There after her second marriage: are few departments in science which,

A CHARACTER she had not attempted, and in many

(Of the Author, by Herself.) certainly she eminently excelled. | Alicia frankly owns, the erowd There is no mode of the lyre through | Has reason oft to call her proud; which she had not run--song, epi.

Por, scorning every little art,

She loves her friends with all her heart, gram, ode, sonnet, elegy, ballad,

While, careless of the world beside, opera, tragedy, nay even the lofty She makes indifference pass for pride; epic itself. Yet the Muses alone And when acquaintance call to chratter, were far from monopolizing the ta- of dinners, dr

1 of dinners, dress, or some such matter,

Forgets to thank them for the honour lents of this indefatigable woman.

| Their visit has conferred upon ber: Botany, entomology, geology, mine- Nay, 'e'en in eircles termed polite, ralogy, conchology, and the fine Sits downriglit stupid half the night; arts, alternately divided and engaged

Yet with a stern and baughty air

|| Till half she fears ber heart may findi Repels impertinence's stare,

A pang severe to leave behind
Restrains not, as she ought, the sneer

The earthly bliss about it twin'd.
When affectation prattles near,
And frets to hear a coxcomb prate,

On every occasion Mrs. Cobbold Though vice alone provoke her hate.

was ready to give advice to those who Upon ber birth Fate smil'd serene,

| asked it; and very many there are And gave her life's delightful mean; Taught her to look, while blest with health,

| who have profited by its excellence. From enry free, on pride or wealth; Even her admonitions were generalThat virtue far surpasses birth,

| ly blended with consolation, though And modesty enhances worth. She boasts not, and the world may know it,

sometimes necessarily mingled with A taste for dress, or shape to shew it; reproof. So decided was her manla neatness no excelling pattern,

ner with the vicious, that the boldest Nor yet affectedly a slattero ;

offender stood abashed in her preToo proud to cringe, too plain to shine, Sie quits all claim at twenty-nine

sence, and by the force of her . reTo dissipation or to fame

probation, she often reclaimed the A fat, unfashionable danie.

idle and careless to proper feeling Her foibles all are strictly scann'd

and better conduct. In the manageBy Fully's idle censuring band;

ment of her family, and the arrangeWhile Scandal's rotaries, glad to maul her,

ment of her domestic concerns, exA petticvated pedant call her.

travagance and dissipationwere strict. Yet think not that ber simple Muse

ly avoided: yet the natural geneThat name with affectation wooes :

rosity of her disposition evinced itself She sbuns the proud conceited thought,

on every laudable occasion, and very The verse by tedious study bought, While unassuming Nature's praise

few persons with the same means Breathes in her song, inspires her lays; were so extensively useful. HeracAnd virtuous love, with air serene,

tions throughout life shewed that she Wames the soft domestic scene,

knew the right use of riches-to-enAnd varies still its placid round. Yet, shall the truth be fairly own'd? courage merit, relieve the distressed, Dear Vanity, with harmless pow'r,

support the weak, and raise the deSteps in to claim an idle hour,

sponding. Many individuals, to whose And makes it doubtful to decree If Friendship prompt the verse or she:

complaints she has listened, and Yet should her heart expound its laws, i

whose sorrows she has soothed, will Success were sure in Friendship’s cause. bear grateful witness of those virtues 1795.

which rendered her a model of exAnd now some seventeen years gone by, Alicia's retrospective eye

cellence, whether considered as a Reviews this portrait light and free,

wife, a mother, or a friend. I canA rapid sketch, and smiles to see

not more appropriately conclude this How little Time has done, but fix

tribute to the memory of this lamentThe lines more strong at forty-six.

ed and highly gifted woman, than in Yet past not all these seasons o'er

the pathetic language of an elegant Without some prudent, useful lore:

female writer of the present day: For she has learnt witb less disdain To listen to the weak or vain;

“She is now removed to that sphere Her ueighbour's faults less barsbly shewn, where the incense of human applause And more severely mark'd her own; can no longer gratify; where the And she has daily, hourly, found Esteem and kindness growing round;

joys and cares of human life can no Has felt affection's tender tear

longer delight or assail her; to that E'en the rough stroke of pain endcar, sphere, where alone those faculties,

which she always devoted to the all connected with her, will at length worthiest purposes, can attain their receive their full reward. complete expansion; and those vir.

L.J. tues, which proved the blessing of l [rs wice, Sept. 15.

MUSICAL REVIEW. Introduction et Rondeau Ecossais no means difficult; nor is the piano

concertant pour Piano forte et forte part in anywisc intricate.

Violon, ou Cor ou Violoncelle, Fair Geraldine, Song (in the Spa· dedić à son Ami, Puzri, par J. wish Style), written by H. S. Van · Moscheles. Euvre 63. Pr. 53.1 Dyk, Esg.; composed, and dedi---(Cramer and Co. Regent-street.) cated to his Friend, David Bar. - Treintroduction to this rondo con ber, by John Barnett. Pr. ls. 6d. sists of an adagio of short extent, :-(Cramer and Co.) . but highly original as to conception, “ As the tree seems more bright," a and conspicuous for the elegance of Song, written by H. S. Van Dyk, some chromatic modulations brought Esq.; composed, and dedicated to forward in its progress. Whether James Northcote, Esq. R. A. by the subject of the rondo in F major John Barnett. Pr. Is. 6d.—(Crabe an authentic Scotch melody, or mer and Co.) .. . the invention of Mr. M. is a question The above two songs appear to us we will not trust to our memory to of so superior an order of composidecide. The character certainly is tion, that we feel called upon to reCaledonian; and the cadences of its commend them strenuously to the periods in the relative minor key notice of our readers. “ Fair Gehave a singular and not unpleasing raldine," as the author states, is truly effect. - We are not disposed to fol- and completely written in the Spanisli low Mr. M. through a matter of style. Mr. Barnett we can perceive twelve pages of superstructure, con- has availed himself occasionally of sisting of digressions more or less authentic models from that country: founded on the theme, reproductions but he has rather imitated than coof the latter under varied forms, ac- pied them; and he has intermixed tive characteristic passages, and se- these imitations with ideas of his own, lect modulations. All these, it may sufficiently analogous and characterbe sufficient to say, are devised and istic to combine into a satisfactory linked together with great delicacy, and indeed elegant whole. The harand in a style which proclaims the monic treatment, likewise the tranmasterly hand of their author. The sitions and the modulations, are accompaniment of the violin, horn, throughout pure, and in the best or violoncello (for any of these three style. In some instances the vocalist instruments may be employed at plea- will be required to use great care sure), is indispensable, and, we will and nicety to adapt the melody to aud, of the best effect; the same the text, which does not always adapt being written in a perfectly inde- itself kindly to the former. pendent wanner, and with uncommon The second song, “ As the tree neatness of expression, although by seems more bright," without bearing any decided marks of foreign natio- ll of themselves warrant such expecta. nality, deviates, nevertheless, greatly tion. from the routine style of our English Aria alla Scozzese, with Introducvocal compositions; and beautiful as tion and Variations for the Pianowe consider it to be, appears to us to forte; composed, and dedicated derive its principal charm from that to Miss Dakeyne of Manchester, deviation. A fascinating vein of spi- by T. A. Rawlings. Pr. 4s.rited freshness pervades its whole (Cramer and Co.) . . structure; there is no moping, no The subject of these variations, whining drawl in its melody; all pro- seven in number, is an air in the Scotch ceeds lively and tastefully; the mind style, both pleasing and, from its reis elated, and the ear delighted. In gularity, well suited to variation. this case, as in the former, the words Without entering on the specific meto be disposed of are numerous, but rits and characteristics of all the vathey range themselves much more riations before us, we wish to call the aptly under their musical represen- reader's particular attention to var. tatives.

3. as exhibiting very striking proofs “ To welcome Jamie hame again," a of a style of composition truly classic.

Ballad, written by H. S. Van In this variation, Mr. R. has strung Dyk, Esq. as sung by Miss Ste- together in a legato manner a prophens with unbounded applause gression of melody and harmony at at the Nobility's Concerts; com once soothing and impressive, and posed by J. A. Rawlings. Pr. 2s. bound together with a fascinating -(Cramer and Co.) , mellowness of keeping; the variation

In the present case we feel no he- is excellent throughout, and particusitation in stating, that the poet, Mr. lárly beautiful towards its terminaVan Dyk, has had less success in the tion. We will not dilate on the fluent co-operation of his composer than in triplets delicately arranged in var. 1. the two above instances. The com- or on the neat combination of semiposition of Mr. Rawlings, without af- quaver passages in var. 2.; everything fording room for decided objection, throughout is as it should be from calls as little for specific commenda- || such a pen; and the polacca (var. 7.), tion. It is so completely framed upon which is fancifully devised, leads the the model employed in the construc- composition to an appropriately briltion of hundreds of previous ballads, | liant termination. that we should feel at a loss to point A new Sonata for the Piano-forte; out any one phrase materially differ composed, and respectfully dediing from one or another with which cated to Miss J.P. Lewis of Stockthe musical public has been long fa well, by E. Solis. Op. 1. Pr. 3s. miliarized. That, barring the ques 1 -(Clementi and Co. Cheapside.) tion of originality, Mr. R.'s compo- | This sonata is of simple but altosition presents merits in point of pe- gether very proper construction: the riodic connection and correct harmo- | three movements, an allegro, andante, nic treatment, justice calls upon us and rondo, are all in the key of Eb unequivocally to declare; indeed the major, to which Mr. S. has adhered

experience, good taste, and scientific with very little deviation, little or no ... attainments of the composer, woulu modulation being resorted to in the