IT is not a part of the plan of this Journal to originate. Our promised duty to our readers is simply to select. We shall never, however, reject an original review or essay of merit. It will flatter us and gratify our patrons when Genius and Taste use our pages to amuse or to instruct. Although we claim neither of these, we trust that the following brief and imperfect obituary article will neither weary nor offend any one who may turn over our pages in search of abler productions.

THERE is usually so little novelty in the manner of recording the loss of one whose virtues were confined chiefly within the limits of the social circle, and so little to interest the publick in the matter, that obituary notices are glanced at with a careless eye. But the claims of friendship, although forgotten by the world, are neither the less sacred, nor the less to be neglected, by those few survivers who know the worth of a parted friend. If, in any case, the virtues of those who adorned the fireside circle, unambitious of a more extended fame, deserve to be recorded, we shall not err in speaking of MRS. MIRIAM GRATZ. In the possession of almost every comfort; cherished and valued by friends; deservedly adored by her fami ly; in full health, and at no advanced period of life, this excellent woman was suddenly attacked by a disease, whose violence in a few days proved fatal.

Although she had for many years to sustain the shock of severe afflictions, which professional skill could not subdue, and which filial affection alone can alleviate, she was yet blessed in the best treasure which this life can give to a mother; the affectionate attachment of her children. Her parlour was the unvaried scene of content, and witnessed the unceasing interchange of grateful kindnesses; the gratitude of children, eager to reward the long and anxious watchings of a fond mother, and the gra titude of that mother for the endearing exertions of children to repay

the debt. She knew that cheerfulness is the charm of the domestick circle, and she was always cheerful. She knew that, where home is pleasant, children will prefer it to the fleeting gayeties of life; and it was her study to make their home pleasant. She banished from her circle all selfishness but that which springs from the endearments of affection, and she taught her inmates to center all their affections, their desires and their hopes at their own fireside, and to expect there that happiness which was never absent. Could children part from such a mother and feel only the transient emotions of a fleeting sorrow? No; their grief is sacred. When she died, others lost a friend,-always active, always kind, always benevolent. Her intimates lost a companion, and the poor lost a protector. To such, their loss may be supplied. But where are children to seek or to find the affection of such a mother? Where? In the love of that BEING, who, for His own wise ends, hath parted them for a few years; but wно, we humbly hope, hath not forbidden us to seek in another world, for a re-union with those who have been endeared to us in this by the strongest ties.

At Northampton [Eng.] Thomas Percy, L. L D. one of the senior fellows, and vice president of St. John's college, Oxford. Dr. Percy was nephew to the celebrated bishop of Dromore; the last edition of whose valuable and interesting "Relicks of Ancient English Poetry," he edited. To this work he was preparing the addition of a fourth volume, which was announced so long since as March, 1807, and which will not, we trust, even now be withheld from the literary world, to whom Dr. Percy's taste and information on this subject are well known.

Drowned by shipwreck, off Memel, Lord Viscount Royston, eldest son of the earl of Hardwicke and M. P. for Riegate. We understand, a more promising young nobleman was never given to a country's hopes, or more untimely snatched away. At an age when most are content to study the ancient authors, with a view only to attain the language in which they wrote, his lordship was so thoroughly master of their contents, that he translated the most obscure of them, with a spirit and clearness which surpassed the original. It was from the desire of adding, to the store of ancient and modern learning which he possessed, the advantages that result from personal observation and from travel, that his lordship quitted the splendour of an affluent home, and encountered the dangers under which he finally perished.

In St. Gilesgate, Durham, in the 96th year of his age, William Cloyd. Among the many eccentrick tricks of his youth he once undertook to descend, upon a rope, from the steeple of St. Giles's church, to the Bower Banks adjoining, and accomplished it unhurt. In 1739, he was with admiral Vernon at the taking of Porto Bello and Carthagena. In 1742, he was deprived of his eyesight by lightning, upon the African coast; and after that, became famous for dressing sheep's feet, which proved a very profitable trade to him, and enabled him to procure his quantum of ale, of which he consumed no small quantity. At cards and bowling matches Cloyd was generally one of the foremost, and frequently betted very freely. He enjoyed, in general, a very good state of health, and within the last twenty years has been seen to run round the feet of a large stool turned topsey turvey, with his boots on. About twenty-six years ago, he was at a bowling match on Gilesgate moor, when a violent altercation arose about the position of the bowls, which had nearly ended in blows; when Cloyd, starting from the crowd, cried out: "Lead me to the place where the bowls are." On his arrival there, after groping awhile for the bowls, he

This created a loud

About 18 years ago,

cried out; "Any body may see that bowl is first." laugh, and put all the parties in good humour again. he received one of Hetherington's benefactions of ten pounds a year to blind men, upon which he subsisted till his decease.

In the 53d year of his age, Charles Henry Wilson, Esq. late of the Middle Temple. Mr. Wilson was several years editor of The Gazetteer; and there are few daily or periodical publications of any standing which have not been occasionally indebted to his contributions. He was the author of The Wandering Islander. Polyanthea, Brookeana, Beauties of Burke, and many more original productions, compilations, and translations, to none of which would he suffer his name to be prefixed. His attainments were al most universal. He was deeply versed in the antiquities and literature of the Gothick, Scandinavian, and Celtick nations. With an inexhaustible fund of learning, he was "a fellow of infinite jest-of most excellent fancy." His wit and humour, were truly original. The factitious jester, the Joe Miller wit, in vain attempted to enter the lists with him; he was speedily distanced by a simile, or an expression which never could enter the imagination of his rival, but so ludicrously apposite to the subject in hand, as never to fail to "set the table in a roar." He was a native of the north of Ireland, and migrated to the metropolis upwards of twenty years ago. Born to no fortune, he ran his career of life, without doing more than providing for the day which was passing over him; a fate not uncommon to men entering the world under the same circumstances, and possessing similar endowments, joined to a strong relish for social enjoy

ment.

At Hammersmith, in his 85th year, John Rice, Esq. a character miserable and penurious. Mr. Rice was born in Westminster, and having received a musical education, he resolved to try his fortune in America. He sailed for New York, where he settled, and got an appointment as or ganist. In this situation, denying himself the common necessaries of life, he accumulated a considerable sum of money, and returned to England.. His habit was that of the most indigent beggar; and so deplorably miserable were his garb and appearance, that he was turned out of two lodgings that he took. At length he obtained a room at a glazier's shop, near Marsham-street, where he was taken ill. He requested that he might be decently clothed and conveyed to Mr. Boyce, at Hammersmith, whose father, he said, was his most intimate acquaintance. He was accordingly taken to the house of Mr. Boyce, where he only survived a few days. After his death, his will was opened; by which, it appeared that he bequeathed 20,0001. to Mr. Boyce, and 10,000l. to the bishop of New York. He is said to have died worth 40,0001.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

RECENT AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS.

By Benjamin and Thomas Kite, Philadelphia, republished,

Memoirs of the Rev. John Newton, by the Rev. Richard Cecil. 12mo. price $1. Journal, or historical account of the Life and Travels of George Fox, written b him self; with an Introduction, by William Penn. 2 vols. 8vo. price $4. 50.

Elements of Natural Philosophy, by John Webster: with Notes and Corrections, by Robert Patterson, professor of Mathematicks in the University of Pennsylvania. 8vo. price $1. 75.

A Practical Essay on the Analysis of Minerals, by Frederick Accuna, teacher of Practical Chymistry, Pharmacy, and Minerology. 12mo. price $1.

By Kimber and Conrad, Philadelphia, republished,

A Sketch of the Improved Method of Education, employed by Dr. Bell, in the Asy. lum at Madras, by J. Lancaster, in London, and lately introduced into several schools, for poor children, in New York and Philadelphia.

By Bradford and Inskeep, Philadelphia, republished,

In a beautiful miniature edition, with an elegant Engraving-Petrarch; in a selection of his Sonnets and Odes, accompanied with Notes.

By Johnson and Warner, Philadelphia, published,

A Chart of the Coast of North Carolina, between Cape Hatteras and Cape Fear; from a survey lately taken pursuant to an act of congress. Price $3.

Republished-A correct edition of Murray's Grammar, from the 16th English edition, improved by the author. Price 25 cents.

An easy Introduction to Astronomy, for young gentlemen and ladies, with plates. By J. Ferguson. Price $1.

Newtonian System of Philosophy, explained by familiar objects, with plates. This edition is improved by Notes and Illustrations of Robert Patterson, of the University of Pennsylvania. Price 62 cents.

Walker's Dictionary, abridged. Price $1.

A Tour through part of Virginia, in the summer of 1808; in a Series of Letters, including an Account of Harper's Ferry, the Natural Bridge, the new discovery called Weir's Cave, Monticello, and the different Medicinal Springs; Hot and Cold Baths visited by the author. Price 25 cents.

At Harrisburg and Lancaster, Penn. published,

The Practical Distiller; or, An Introduction to making whiskey, gin, brandy, spirits, &c. &c. of better quality, and in larger quantities, than produced by the present mode of distilling, from the produce of the United States; such as rye, corn, buckwheat, apples, peaches, potatoes, pumpions, and turnips. With directions how to conduct and improve the practical part of distilling in all its various branches. Together with directions for purifying, clearing, and colouring whiskey, making spirits similar to French Brandy, &c. from the spirits of rye, corn, apples, potatoes, &c. &c. And sundry extracts of approved receipts for making cider, domestick wines, and beer. By Samuel M'Harry, of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.

By Robert M Dermut, New York, published,

The Natural, Civil, and Political History of Chili, translated from the Italian of the abbé Molina, with notes from the Spanish and French versions, and a Copious Appendix, consisting of a translation into English Heroick verse, of the most striking and interesting passages in the celebrated Spanish Epick poem, "The Araucana," by Don Alonzo de Ercilla, illustrated by a map of the country. By Richard Alsop.

By I. Riley, New York, published,

Johnson's Reports, volume 3.

Republished-In a handsome duodecimo volume, ornamented with an elegant engraving, designed by Tisdale, and engraved by Leney. Price $1 in boards.

Sotheby's translation of The Georgicks of Virgil, into English Heroick Verse. To which is added, a translation, by Arthur Murphy, of the Poem of the Bees, from the Latin of L. Vaniere; containing the true history of these wonderful insects; their economy, polity and mode of propagation, from modern discoveries, illustrated with copious Notes.

By Smith and Forman, New York, published,

The Juvenile Spelling Book; being an easy introduction to the English Language, containing easy and familiar lessons in spelling, with appropriate reading lessons, calculated to advance the learners by easy gradations, and to teach the orthography

of Johnson, and the pronunciation of Walker. The third edition. By A. Picket, author of the "Juvenile Expositor." &c.

"Nothing can enter into the affections, which stumbles at the threshold".

By Hastings, Etheridge, and Bliss, Boston, published,

-BLAIR.

The Embargo, or Sketches of the Times; a Satire. Together with the Spanish Revolution, and other poems. By William Cullen Bryant.

Monthly Anthology and Boston Review, for January 1809. Vol. VI. No. 1.

By Joshua Cushing, Boston, published,

An Introduction to the Making of Latin, selected chiefly from Ellis's Exercises, and adapted to the rules of Adams's Syntax. To which is subjoined, the second part of Lyne's Latin Primer. By William Bigelow, A. M. master of the publick Latin grammar school, Boston, Massachussetts. Second edition, adapted also to the Syntax of Smith's New Hampshire Latin Grammar.

By Monroe, Francis, and Parker, Boston, published, Part 1. of vol. 1. of a new work, entitled "A Compendium and Digest of the Laws of Massachussetts. By William Charles White, counsellor at law.

"Misera servitus est, ubi jus est vagum, aut incognitum.”

By William Wells, Boston, published,

Elegantly printed in 1 volume octavo, and ornamented with a portrait, painted by Stewart, and engraved by Edwin, the Works of Fisher Ames, compiled by a number of friends-to which are prefixed, Notices of his Life and Character.

Nihil tetigit quod non ornavit.

Price $2. 50 in boards.

By David West, Boston, republished,

The Analogy of Religion, Natural and Revealed, to the constitution and course of nature. To which are added, two brief Dissertations; 1. on Personal Identity; 2. on the Nature of Virtue-together with a Charge delivered to the clergy of the Diocese of Durham, at the primary visitation, in the year 1751. By Joseph Butler, L. L. D. late lord bishop of Durham. Second American edition-to which is prefixed, a Life of the Author, by Dr. Kippis; with a Preface, giving some account of his charac ter and writings, by Samuel Halifax, D. D. late lord bishop of Gloucester.

Price $2. 25 handsomely bound.

By Coale and Thomas, Baltimore, republished,

The Poems of Camoens, by Lord Viscount Strangford, in one volume, duodecimo.

PROPOSED AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS.

Hopkins and Earle, Philadelphia, propose

To republish, the History of the World, from the Reign of Alexander, to that of Augustus. Comprehending the latter ages of European Greece, and the History of the Great kingdoms in Asia and Africa, from their foundation to their destruction; with a preliminary survey of Alexander's conquests, and an estimate of his plans for their consolidation and improvement. By John Gillies, L. L. D. 3 vols. 8vo. price to subscribers $7. to nonsubscribers $8.

C. and A. Conrad & Co. and William G. Oliver, Philadelphia,

To republish, The Plays of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators. To which are added Notes, by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens; revised and augmented by Isaac Reed. With a Glossarial Index. Time, which is continually washing away the dissoluble fabricks of other poets, passes without injury by the adamant of Shakspeare.-Dr. Johnson's Preface.

Benjamin and Thomas Kite, Philadelphia,

To republish, Harvey's Meditations, with plates.

Cowper's Poems, 2 vols. miniature size; being the first of a series of poetical works, to be uniformly printed, and to consist of some of the most popular English Poets; with a volume of selected American poems.