same subject; I could not forbear suggesting my opinion relative to its merits, and at the same time, mark some of its defects with an impartial hand. The first line, in the first verse, is faulty in the sentiment conveyed, though its numbers flow with ease and harmony. The sun-beams on the mid-day play'd, sun-beams The word on, in some degree renders the meaning doubtful, as the idea intended to be conveyed, is, that at mid-day, to use a common phrase, the sun beat down with uncommon severity; and when we say the (6 play," which is a poetical expression, we usually say, they played upon some object, therefore, from the sense conveyed in the first line, it does not appear where "the sun beams play'd," whether on the clouds in the heavens, or on the inhabitants or beasts of the earth, but only that they play'd. Altho' Edgar's meaning may be comprehended, yet his idea is not conveyed with that perspicuity, as is to be perceived in the three succeeding lines in the same verse, which cannot be altered much for the better. The second verse is good; but the third is unparalelled, which follows- Each leaf's at rest--the grove is stillNow scarce a sound swells on the ear There's naught, except the murm'ring rill, That breaks the magic silence here. The scene in this verse, is drawn exactly from nature, it is fraught with that harmony, natural simplicity, and beauty, that is rare to be found in Shenstone's works. Now gently curls the hamlet's smoke........ The two first lines in this verse, are very natural and truly beautiful, and to a person who has been accustomed to the country, and a frequenter of rural scenes, the perusal of them must afford much pleasure, and excite the most agreeable sensations. The two last lines in the same verse are not so good; the one, because it is unnatural, and the other expletive and unharmonious. At mid-day, when the sun shines with excessive heat, the squirrels are rarely seen upon the lofty oaks, basking themselves in its rays, but more frequently found on the not very lofty, but knotty white-oak and rock-oak trees, from ten to eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and from three to four in the afternoon, basking on those trees, in which, also, they usually have their nests and holes. The scenes in the two following verses, ave fraught with the greatest festive and rural simpli- || The bleating flock, the hedge along, The horn is blown-the rustic goes- The scene generally, and design of the poem is very good, and strongly indicative of the author's genius, and vivid and correct imagination. plexity in the minds of those who conduct a periodical paper, which must ever put their delicacy and temper to the test, to observe the trash daily offered for insertion, and which frequently they are induced to comply from unwillingness to offend. This has been the fatal rock upon which so many excellent literary establishments have foundered and sunk into oblivion. For it is a truth well established, that when poor writers find no obstruction on the vestibule of a publication, (of whatever kind it may be) good ones have a peeuliar and unconquerable antipathy to bear then company. Men of talents and those of a grovelling capacity cannot well associate together, so they will not suffer their writings to be compared with imbecility and imperfection; -In the one case they consider themselves personally disgraced -the other is an insult to their judgment and understanding. But without further ceremony I will proceed to notice a piece under the head of "Chatterer No I," which appeared in the 10th number of your Miscellany; and, if my judgment is not unusually warped, this extraordinary production evinces from beginning to end, in point of stile and sense, the strongest blunders that can be found in type for the last two centuries at least. I will merely point out a few to the author-not attempting to reason upon their im print, is the cause of much per-propriety, as there are certain principles of good sense, to overstep which would be treason. "Nature is an ocean of wonder and a subject that can never be exhausted." Nature is a subject!-so is an horse a subject, an ass a subject, and a man a subject in chirurgical language-that is, subjects for dissection. "There have been millions of men in all ages eternally at work, digging and delving and prying into nature; some laying hands on and catching at one particle and some at another." This latter passage, I suppose, was intended by the author to be explanatory of the former, rendering it (in the eyes of the author) less exceptionable on the score of good sense. In other words, nature is a subject, and Chatterer intended, by "digging, and delving, and prying into it," to lay it open and expose to mankind every limb, tendon and joint of the mighty fa bric, to the astonishment of the world, as the prowess of the SUR GEON that accomplished the DisSECTION!!! In this sense, how are we to reconcile a subsequent sentence-examply gratia : "And many of them after infinite labour, have done little more than wonder at it all their lives, and told us how ig- || norant they were, and unequal to the work and part they chose " "Nature ever was and will be an admired mistress." but then a very unkind one I take it, for she "And thus she manages it, "thus far shalt thou go and no farther." And yet not so hard-hearted neither, for when men are "in love and ravished with nature, and sometimes embrace her too much and beyond their strength and abilities." Us poor men are permitted at times to take one kind "embrace" of good Mrs. Nature, and that too "beyond our strength and abilities." If this indeed be the case Chatterer must acknowledge, according to the course of "nature," this beautiful and kind, yet unkind creature, is in a fair way of losing her "health, vigour, and bloom." But our writer, in spite of the exalted opinion he has of his dulcina, gives us to understand, that when we once get in "love" with nature, although she permits us not to approach her, yet we are in a fair way of being "ravished!" "All nature is exceeding good natured and kind to man, and expands her charms for the entertainment of the whole creation." Great God! what a monster!what prostitution is this!-what iniquity!-what abomination! Alas! my dear Chat. ! beware of this "mistress" of yours, however "young, gay, sprightly, and beautiful" she may be. Beautiful as she is, like some of her sex, she may be "beautiful" only to deceive, and not be "always in health, vigour and bloom" too. In a word, the whole of this incomparable composition, is a wirespun, incomprehensible piece of that non-descript writing, that will ever be irreconcileable with good sense, and puts at naught, every rule of grammar and composition. In my opinion, it is the duty of the Editors of every periodical paper, to reject every piece offered to them for publication, derogating from the principles of language, and in the least calculated to pervert our taste for polite literature; and, instead of being ushered into the republic of letters, through the medium of the press, should be consigned-eternally consigned to oblivion. Yours, respectfully, CENSOR. Mount Pleasant, Long-Island. For the Lady's Miscellany. Messrs. Editors. One of your correspondents asks, how often a young man may visit a young lady without being justly called her suitor? and why social intercourse may not be permitted, with as much propriety, between them as between persons of the same sex?-These questi ons I shall not attempt to answer, contenting myself with giving my opinion as to some of the causes from whence the evil arises of which he complains; and let me premise that whatever displeasure I may incur from the fair sex, I shall endeavour to bear, but they may rest assured that no one admires and esteems their virtues more than myself. The female part of God's creation are many of them vain, conceited and coquettish, and from thence springs many unpleasant consequences in our intercourse with them. A young lady has a visit from a beau (as she calls him) -his object being merely to spend the evening in social conversethe next day, perhaps, she meets a female friend, and immediately. salutes her with "Ah, Miss I had a beau last night-a fine pretty fellow indeed he was, and then you must know he entertained me with a long dish of discourse, and I do verily believe if you had seen him you would have been in love with him," and if we may judge from the clattering of her tongue the salutation must have been as long as the ten commandments. Well no doubt her friend's curiosity was raised to a very high pitch, to know the name of this fine fellow-at length out it comes-the mystery is unravelled. Now if this poor unfortunate young man happens by chance, or otherwise, to visit this same young lady, two or three 1 Promenade Costume in the Egyptian Style.—An Arabian tunic and petticoat of fine white cambric, sitting high round the throat, with appliqued net, in the crescent form; robin stomacher, and Egyptian border round the bottom.. Armenian hat, composed of short amber sarsenet, with white floss female acquaintances, are the ori-binding and cord.-Grecian scarf gin and foundation of the many false and unfounded reports that are in circulation, particularly with respect to the subject under consideration. To be serious, if two of different sexes may not indulge themselves, in taking a walk on the Battery, to taste the sweets of the evening breeze, nor in Vauxhall Garden, to inhale the sweet odorous scent of the roses, without the prattling tongue of scandal to interpose with its poisonous sting and interrupt their felicity, then farewell to all social intercourse between persons of different sexes; and we of the same color, with rich brocade ends. Half boots of amber colored kid or silk, the same as. the hat. Gloves of York tan or buff kid. Park or Garden Promenade Habit.-A round robe of jaconet muslin, with a high French cuff, and appliqued border of narrow lace round the feet. A cassoc coat or demi pelisse of cerulean blue shot sarsenet, finish round. the bosom with a basket border, extended on white satin, confined at the bottom of the waist with a silver or steel clasp, and to the bottom with three regular, divid |
