pathy. This is the reason why men of warm imagi- | such sensations are abstract thought. Reasoning and nations so seldom fully relish a poem when read alone. Robert Hall, in one remarkable passage, says, that the most ardent admirer of poetry or oratory would not consent to witness their grandest display on the sole condition that he should never reveal his emotions. reflection on these abstract ideas thus obtained, constitute speculations of still greater refinement. Comparing and combining ideas in the mind, for the purpose of discovering relations as they exist in nature, is argument. Such comparisons and combinations made for the purpose of pleasing, are works of fancy, or poetry. He then who most carefully preserves his impressions, most It is also generally, and perhaps always, joined with a thirst of fame. This feeling impels the poet to make arduous exertions. It is the passion which, as meta-attentively considers and revolves his ideas, and most physicians say, is implanted in the human breast as an incentive to deeds beneficial to society. Whether it be in its nature culpable or not, is perhaps a difficult question. Quintilian says that if it be not itself a virtue, it is certainly often the cause of virtuous actions; and | this assertion few will venture to question. And at all events, this passion has ever been a characteristic of the greatest men. Few have risen to eminence without its aid. It existed largely in Byron. In verses written shortly after the publication of his English Bards and Scotch Reviewers, he says: "The fire in the cavern of Etna concealed, Still mantles unseen in its secret recess; At length in a volume terrific revealed, No torrent can quench it, no bounds can repress. Oh, thus the desire in my bosom for fame Bids me live but to hope for posterity's praise: How happy for the world had his genius led him to When the thirst of glory is disappointed, the aspirant is apt to become a gloomy misanthropist, who envies others the reputation which he cannot attain. Much of the sullen melancholy shown by men of genius may doubtless be ascribed to the perverted operation of this principle. The portion of fame which falls to their share is not sufficient to satisfy their wishes. closely and accurately compares them for the purpose of discovering such combinations as nature has made, or of combining anew the separate images into such grand and beautiful fabrics as may suit the taste of fancy, is likely to make the best philosopher or poet, as his attention is mainly turned to one or the other. Some difference in natural faculties no doubt exists, but this is probably small.* A LOAN TO THE MESSENGER. No. II. Here is a scrap from another of my poetical friends, which has never seen the light, and which I will lend to the readers of the Messenger for the month. I give it as it came to me, apology and all, and doubt not it will be well received by those to whom I now dedicate it. J. F. O. My Dear 0,-Instead of writing something new for your collection, I copy a few lines from a bagatelle, written a few days ago to a woman who is worthy of better verses: and, as they will never be published, of course, they may answer your purpose. Very truly yours, Boston, August, 1831. ΤΟ Lady! the fate that made me poor, The burning soul, and live apart : To check a thought of burning passion, WILLIS. But after all, the most brilliant genius will avail nothing without study. No illiterate man ever gained renown as a writer. Some have become great without the aid of foreign learning; but all have read and thought. No man is born a poet in the ordinary sense of the word. Whatever his own conceptions may be, he cannot reveal them without the use of words; and this knowledge can be acquired only by diligent study. In all time it has been true that they who have read and thought most, have made the greatest writers, whatever line of science or literature they pursued. Or perhaps there ought to be exceptions made in cases where the mind has been misdirected, as among the schoolmen, who spent their lives in perplexing themselves and others with subtle questions which it was of no use to solve. But however fruitless such labors as wasted their energies may be, this at least is certain, that without study no man will become great, whatever be his natural talents. Even such towering geniuses as Ho-tributors-but in the present instance we feel called upon in self* Of course no Editor is responsible for the opinions of his con. mer, Aristotle, Cicero, Virgil, Shakspeare, Bacon, New-defence to disclaim any belief in the doctrines advanced-and, ton, and Byron were not exempt from this necessity. Oh God! I know not why I'm gifted My look on thine unchidden lingers, moreover, to enter a solemn protest against them. The Essay on Genius is well written and we therefore admitted it. While many of its assumptions are indisputable-some we think are not to be sustained-and the inferences, generally, lag far behind To conclude: Locke has sufficiently proved that all our ideas are originally derived from the senses. These first impressions form the basis of all human knowledge. General conclusions drawn from comparison of nologist.--Ed. the spirit of the age. Our correspondent is evidently no phre Yet niust my fervor back, and wait Till solitude can set it free,Yet must I not forget that fate Has locked my heart, and lost the key; These very rhymes I'm weaving now Condemn me for a broken vow! N. P. W. N. B. My friend soon recovered from this sad stroke, and he has since recovered the "key," and locked within the fate-closed casket a pearl, I learn, of great price. So much for a sophomore's Anacreontics! Also, Aristarchus, the tragic poet of Tegea, who composed 70 tragedies, one of which was translated into If this "loan" prove acceptable, I have a choice one Latin verse by Ennius. in store for May. 0. Herodotus of Halicarnassus, wrote a history of the Wars of the Greeks against the Persians from the age of Cyrus to the battle of Mycale, including an account of the SOME ANCIENT GREEK AUTHORS. most celebrated nations in the world. Besides this, he CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. Whether Homer or Hesiod lived first has never been determined. Herodotus supposes them both to have lived at the same time, viz. B. C. 884. The Arun. marbles make them contemporaries, but place their era B. C. 907. Besides the Iliad and Odyssey, Homer wrote, according to some, a poem upon Amphiaraus' expedition against Thebes; Also, the Phoceis, the Cercopes, the small Iliad, the Epiciclides, the Batrachomyomachia, and some Hymns to the Gods. Hesiod wrote a poem on Agriculture, called The Works and Days, also Theogony, which is valuable for its account of the Gods of antiquity. His Shield of Hercules, and some others, are now lost. Archilocus wrote elegies, satires, odes and epigrams, and was the inventor of Iambics; these are by some ascribed to Epodes. Some fragments of his poetry remain. He is supposed to have lived B. C. 742. Alcaus is the inventor of Alcaic verses. Of all his works, nothing remains but a few fragments, found in Athenæus. B. C. 600. He was contemporary with the famous Sappho. She was the inventress of the Sapphic verse, and had composed nine books in lyric verses, besides epigrams, elegies, &c. Of all these, two pieces alone remain, and a few fragments quoted by Didymus. Theognis of Megara wrote several poems, of which only a few sentences are now extant, quoted by Plato and some others. B. C. 548. Simonides wrote elegies, epigrams and dramatical pieces; also Epic poems-one on Cambyses, King of Persia, &c. One of his most famous compositions, The Lamentations, a beautiful fragment, is still extant. Thespis, supposed to be the inventor of Tragedy, lived about this time. Anacreon. His odes are thought to be still extant, but very few of them can be truly ascribed to Anacreon. Eschylus is the first who introduced two actors on the stage, and clothed them with suitable dresses. He likewise removed murder from the eyes of the spectator. He wrote 90 tragedies, of which 7 are extant, viz. Prometheus Vinctus, Septem Duces contra Thebas, Persæ, Agamemnon, Chōéphora, Eumenides and Supplices. Pindar was his contemporary. Most of Pindar's works have perished. He had written some hymns to the Gods,-poems in honor of Apollo,-dithyrambics to Bacchus, and odes on several victories obtained at the had written a history of Assyria and Arabia which is not extant. There is a life of Homer generally attributed to him, but doubtfully. B. C. 445. Euripides, who lived at this time, wrote 75 or, as some say, 92 tragedies, of which only 19 are extant. He was the rival of Sophocles. About the commencement of the Peloponnesian war, flourished many celebrated authors, among whom was Aristophanes. He wrote 54 comedies, of which only 11 are extant. Also, Cratinus and Eupolis, who with Aristophanes, are mentioned by Horace—they were celebrated for their comic writings. B. C. 431. Also, the mathematician and astrologer, Meton, who, in a book called Enneadecaterides, endeavored to adjust the course of the sun and moon, and maintained that the solar and lunar years could regularly begin from the same point in the heavens. This is called the Metonic cycle. Thucydides flourished at this time. He wrote a history of the important events which happened during his command. This history is continued only to the 21st year of the war. It has been divided into eight books-the last of which is supposed to have been written by his daughters. It is imperfect. Also Hippocrates;-few of his writings remain. Lysias, the orator, wrote, according to Plutarch, no less than 425 orations-of these 34 are extant. B. C. 404. Contemporary with him was Agatho, an Athenian tragic and comic poet-there is now nothing extant of his works, except quotations in Aristotle and others. Xenophon, whose works are well known, lived about the year 398 before Christ. Ctesias, who wrote a history of the Assyrians and Persians, which Justin and Diodorus have prefered to that of Herodotus, lived also at this time. Some fragments of his compositions have been preserved. The works of Plato are numerous-they are all written, except twelve letters, in the form of a dialogue. 388. Of the 64 orations of Isæus, 10 are extant. Demosthenes imitated him. 377. About 32 of the orations of Isocrates, who lived at the same time, remain. All the compositions of the historian Theopompus are lost, except a few fragments quoted by ancient writers. 354. VOL. II.-39 Ephorus lived in his time-he wrote a history com- | which began with the Punic wars, and finished with the mencing with the return of the Heraclide and ending conquest of Macedonia by Paulus. This is lost, exwith the 20th year of Philip of Macedon. It was in 30 cept the first 5 books, and fragments of the 12 following. books and is frequently quoted by Strabo and others. Livy has copied whole books from him, almost word for Almost all the writings of Aristotle are extant. Dio-word-and thinks proper to call him in return "haudgenes Laertes has given a catalogue of them. His Art quaquam spernendus auctor." of Poetry has been imitated by Horace. schines, his contemporary, wrote 5 orations and 9 epistles. The orations alone are extant. 340. Demosthenes was his contemporary and rival. TO AN ARTIST, Lovely Woman. P. Theophrastus composed many books and treatises-Who requested the writer's opinion of a Pencil Sketch of a very Diogenes enumerates 200. Of these 20 are extant— among which are a history of stones-treatises on plants, on the winds, signs of fair weather, &c.-also, his Characters, a moral treatise. 320. Menander was his pupil; he was called prince of the new comedy. Only a few fragments remain of 108 comedies which he wrote. Philemon was contemporary with these two. The fragments of some of his comedies are printed with those of Menander. Megasthenes lived about this time. He wrote about the Indians and other oriental nations. His history is often quoted by the ancients. There is a work now extant which passes for his composition, but which is spurious. Epicurus also lived now. He wrote 300 volumes according to Diogenes. Chrysippus indeed, rivalled him in the number, but not in the merit of his productions. They were contemporaries. 280. The sketch is somewhat happy of the maid; Her very foot-prints glow with flowers! To shadow forth the vision bright, Which flowed from Jove's own hand without a stain. None but Apollo should the task essay; Bion, the pastoral poet, whose Idyllia are so celebrat-Its beams with something of divinity? ed, lived about this time. It is probable that Moschus, also a pastoral p ́et, was his contemporary—from the affection with which he mentions him. Theocritus distinguished himself by his poetical compositions, of which 30 Idyllia and some epigrams remain-also, a ludicrous poem called Syrinx. Virgil imitated him. B. C. 280. Aratus flourished now; he wrote a poem on Astronomy, also some hymns and epigrams. Lycophron also lived at this time. The titles of 20 of his tragedies are preserved. There is extant a strange work of this poet, call Cassandra, or Alexandra,-it contains about 1500 verses, from whose obscurity the author has been named Tenebrosus. In the Anthology is preserved a most beautiful hymn to Jupiter, written by Cleanthes,-of whose writings none except this is preserved. Manetho lived about this period,-an Egyptian who wrote, in the Greek language, a history of Egypt. The writers of the Universal History suspect some mistake in the passage of Eusebius which contains an account of this history. This was also the age of Apollonius of Perga, the Geometrician. He composed a treatise on conic sections in eight books-seven of which remain. It is one of the most valuable remains of antiquity. Nicander's writings were held in much estimation. Two of his poems, entitled Theriaca, and Alexipharniaca, are still extant. He is said to have written 5 books of Metamorphoses, which Ovid has imitated. He wrote also history. 150. About this time flourished Polybius. He wrote an universal History in Greek, divided into 40 books; To him alone the pow'r is given To blend the radiant hues of heaven, MARCH COURT. M. Court day! what an important day in Virginia!— what a day of bustle and business!—what a requisition is made upon every mode of conveyance to the little metropolis of the county! How many debts are then to be paid!-how many to be put off!-Alas! how preponderate the latter! If a man says "I will pay you at Court," I give up the debt as hopeless, without the intervention of the la. But if court day be thus important, how much more so is March court! That is the day when our candidates are expected home from Richmond to give an account of their stewardship; at least it used to be so, before the number of our legislators was lessened with a view of facilitating the transaction of business, and with a promise of shortening the sessions. But somehow or other, the public chest has such a multitude of charms, it seems now to be more impossible than ever to get away from it. "Tis that capitol rising in grandeur on high, Where bank notes, by thousands, bewitchingly lie," as the song says, which makes our sessions "of so long a life," and there is no practicable mode of preventing the evisceration of the aforesaid chest, but deferring the meeting of the Assembly to the month of February, and thereby compelling the performance of the Com- | depth of a trombone" Wherever a candidate is seen, monwealth's business within the two months which there is sure to be a jackass-surely, his long eared comwould intervene till the planting of corn. However, panion does not mean to satirize the candidate! Howthis is foreign to my present purpose, which is to de-ever that may be, you perceive the orator is obliged to scribe a scene at which I have often gazed with infinite desist, overwhelmed perhaps by this thundering apamusement. Would I had the power of Hogarth, that plause. Now the crowd opens to the right and left to I might perpetuate the actings and doings of a March make way for some superb animal at full trot, some court; but having no turn that way, I must barely Highflyer or Daredevil, who is thus exhibited ad captanattempt to group the materials, and leave the painting dum vulgus, which seems the common purpose of the to some regular artist to perfect. Picture to yourself, candidate, the jack, and his more noble competitor. But my gentle reader, our little town of Dumplinsburg, con- look-here approaches an object more terrible than all, sisting of a store, a tavern, and a blacksmith shop, the if we may judge from the dispersion of the crowd who common ingredients of a county town, with a court ensconce themselves behind every convenient corner and house and a jail in the foreground, as denoting the peep from their lurking holes, while the object of their superior respect to which they are entitled. Imagine a dread moves onward with saddle bags on arm, a pen benumber of roads diverging from the town like the radii hind his ear, and an inkhorn at his button hole. Lest of a circle, and upon these roads horsemen and footmen some of my readers should be ignorant of this august of every imaginable kind, moving, helter skelter, to a personage, I must do as they do in England, where they single point of attraction. Justices and jurymen- take a shaggy dog, and dipping him in red paint, they counsellors and clients-planters and pettifoggers-con- dash him against the signboard and write underneath, stables and cake women-farmers and felons-horse- this is the Red Lion. This is the sheriff and he is sumdrovers and horse-jockies, and so on, all rushing onward moning his jury-"Mr. Buckskin, you, sir, dodging belike the logs and rubbish upon the current of some hind the blacksmith's shop, I summon you on the jury;" mighty river swollen by rains, hurrying pell mell to the ah, luckless wight! he is caught and obliged to succumb. vast ocean which is to swallow them all up—a simile In vain he begs to be let off,-“you must apply to the not altogether unapt, when we consider that the greater magistrates," is the surly reply. And if, reader, you part of these people have law business, and the law is could listen to what passes afterwards in the court house, universally allowed to be a vortex worse than the you might hear something like the following colloquyMaelstrom. Direct the "fringed curtains of thine eyes" Judge. "What is your excuse, sir?" Juror. “I am a a little further to the main street-a street well entitled lawyer, sir." Judge. "Do you follow the law now, to the epithet main in all its significations, being in sir?" Juror. "No, sir, the law follows me." Judge. truth the principal and only street, and being moreover “Swear him, Mr. Clerk." Ah, there is a battle!!! see the political arena or cockpit, in which is settled pugi-how the crowd rushes to the spot-"who fights?”— listically, all the tough and knotty points which cannot be adjusted by argument. See, on either side, rows of nags of all sorts and sizes, from the skeleton just unhitched from the plough, to the saucy, fat, impudent pony, with roached mane and bobtail, and the sleek and long tailed pampered horse, whose coat proclaims his breeding, all tied to the staggering fence which constitutes the boundary of the street. Behold the motley assemblage within these limits hurrying to and fro with rapid strides, as if life were at stake. Who is he who slips about among the "greasy rogues," with outstretch-trial which I had the good fortune to witness. It was ed palm, and shaking as many hands as the Marquis La Fayette? It is the candidate for election, and he distributes with liberal hand that barren chronicle of legislative deeds, denominated the list of laws, upon which are fed a people starving for information. This is a mere regis-murder, but the evidence went clearly to establish the ter of the titles of acts passed at the last session, but it is caught at with avidity by the sovereigns, who are highly offended if they do not come in for a share of the Delegate's bounty. The purchase and distribution of these papers is a sort of carmen necessarium, or indispensable lesson, and it frequently happens that a mem-mitted for murder. The counsel for the accused arose, ber of the Assembly who has been absent from his post the whole winter, except upon the yeas and nays, acquires credit for his industry and attention to business in proportion to the magnitude of the bundle he distributes of this uninstructive record. "part 'em"-" stand off"-"fair play"-"let no man touch"-"hurrah, Dick”—“at him, Tom." An Englishman thinking himself in England, bawls out, "sheriff, read the riot act”—a Justice comes up and commands the peace; inter arma silent leges; he is unceremoniously knocked down, and Justice is blind as ought to be the case. Two of the rioters now attempt to ride in at the tavern door, and for awhile all Pandemonium seems broke loose. To complete this picture, I must, like Asmodeus, unroof the court house, and show you a during the last war, when the vessels of Admiral Gordon were making their way up the Potomac to Alexandria, that a negro woman was arraigned for killing one of her own sex and color; she had been committed for deed to be manslaughter, inasmuch as it was done in sudden heat, and without malice aforethought. The Attorney for the commonwealth waived the prosecution for murder, but quoted British authorities to show that she might be convicted of manslaughter, though com and in the most solemn manner, asked the court if it was a thing ever heard of, that an individual accused of one crime and acquitted, should be arraigned immediately for another, under the same prosecution? At intervals-boom-boom-boom went the British cannon See now he mounts some elevated stand and ha- | British authorities! exclaimed the counsel; British authorangues the gaping crowd, while a jackass led by his groom is braying at the top of his lungs just behind him. The jack takes in his breath, like Fay's Snorer, "with the tone of an octave flute, and lets it out with the profound rities, gentlemen!! Is there any one upon that bench so dead to the feelings of patriotism as at such a moment to listen to British authorities, when the British cannon is shaking the very walls of your court house to their foundation? This appeal was too cogent to be resisted. | We may be sure that all his partisans Up jumped one of the Justices and protested that it was not to be borne; let the prisoner go; away with your British authorities! The counsel for the accused, rubbed his hands and winked at the attorney; the attorney stood aghast; his astonishment was too great for utterance, and the negro was half way home before he recovered from his amazement. NUGATOR. THE DEATH OF ROBESPIERRE. SCENE I. ROBESPIERRE'S HOUSE. Robespierre and St. Just meeting. St. Just.-Danton is gone! Robespierre. Then can I hope for all things, Since he is dead whose shadow darken'd me; Did the crowd cheer or hiss him? St. Just.-Neither, sir: Save a few voices, all look'd on in silence. Robes. Ha! did they so?--but when the engine rattled, And the axe fell, didst thou perceive him shudder? Robes.-I did not wish for this. St. Just.-No man, since Louis Capet- My worthy friend-the friend of France and freedom- Till the wolves come to gorge themselves among them- To meet your views, a part in this great drama. St. Just.-Citizen Robespierre-my hearty thanks; Financial Minister, by any name Or trumpery title that may suit these times, Is what I aim at-gratify me there And personal friends are our most deadly foes, To spare their brains unnumbered schemes of vengeance And standing as I do on a frail crag Whence I must make one desperate spring to power, Those whitening sculls? those streams of guiltless blood (reads a letter.) "Exert your dexterity to escape a scene on which you are to appear once more ere you leave it forever. Your dictatorial chair, if attained, will be only a step to the scaffold, through a rabble who will spit on you as on Egalité. You have treasure enough. I expect you with anxiety. We will enjoy a hearty laugh at the expense of a people as credulous as greedy of novelty." He but little knows, How entered you? (Madame de Cabarus enters.) Ha! a woman! Lady. Your civic guard were sleeping; I am the daughter of the unhappy Laurens, (kneeling before him.) And I am yours through more blood than would serve Spare to his only child the misery Robes. 'Tis well, St. Just, But wherefore citizen me? I have not used The term to you-we are not strangers here. Of seeing perish thus her much lov'd sire. His head is white with age-let it not fall Beneath yon dreadful axe. Through sixty years A peaceful and reproachless life he led. St. Just.-Pardon me, sir, (or Sire, even as you please) Thy word can save him. Speak, oh speak that word, The cant of Jacobins infects my tongue, I had no meaning farther. One word more Before we part-now Danton is cut off, For our Redeemer's sake redeem his life, And child and father both shall bless thee ever. *A French line of battle ship. Burnt at the battle of Aboukir. How beautiful in tears! A noble dame |