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nard attended by his surgeon, who had feel as acutely, as he, or any father of pronounced the wound not mortal, but his nation can; and tell him, that I will of that nature as to make it necessary for receive my daughter if he knows where his patient to remain quiet and undis- she is that I will gladly, O how gladly, turbed; he therefore forbore to make receive her." The distracted man had any enquiries of him as to the probable forgotten that she was now a wife, and situation of the young people; but the that if she had accompanied her huschief clerk of the house informed him, band, there was little probability of her that the young man having prevailed leaving him, or of his permitting her to upon his father about a mouth since to do so. For a week after these events procure him a commission in the royal Don Fodeya continued in this state of army, and having been called upon to mental inquietude. His afflicted wife join his regiment, he presumed that he was unremitting in her attentions to him, had most probably set off with that intent. and there appeared to be some hope that No female accompanied him, but a he would become more tranquil; when youth had called last evening, to whom Don Alonzo called to inform her that his employer had given a direction of his the army had received orders to march. route. The Colonel immediately went and that Colonel V--- not being able back to Don Fodeya's house, that he to wait upon her before his setting off might communicate the intelligence of with his regiment, had requested him to the expected recovery of Mr. Mannard, say, that he would do all he could to find and free him from the horror of having out her son-in-law; and that if he found taken away his life. Have you heard her daughter with him, he would proof my daughter, Sir?" asked the unhap- cure his discharge or leave of absence, py father; "where is she--I will go to and provide them with every facility of her-she shall be my own child again returning to Madrid as expeditiously as tell me, Sir, whither is she gone?-is possible. Meanwhile," observed Don she with the wretch that has robbed me Alonzo, "be assured, that I shall most of her."-Colonel V. assured him that anxiously second the Colonel in the his daughter had not been at Mr. Man- same effort." He then proceeded to nard's house; nor had he heard any Don Fodeya's chamber, and after some tidings of her; but he was happy to in- conversation upon the purpose of his form him, that the wounded man was visit, left him somewhat cheered by the not in danger. "That's something," prospect of the discovery and return of said the old man, "I am not a murderer, his daughter. then-but, Sir, the son of him I have The campaign was an active one, as wounded is; for he has inflicted a we all of us know, for the British Genwound in my heart which cannot be eral was not disposed to allow his forces healed-she is not gone then- may to lose the opportunity which offered, yet see her come back to her miserable of driving the Usurper out of a Counparent-Go, Sir, go to the Englishman, try which he had filled with misery and and tell him that a Spanish father can slaughter.

Omnia Græcé!

Nothing but French.

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To be continued.

66

NOTHING BUT FRENCH!

From the European Magazine.

JUVENAL.

causes concurred to produce this effect -a frequent intercourse between the re

spective countries, and a love of novelty common to all mankind.

As early as the reign of Augustus, but more particularly under the succeeding Emperors, a partiality for the If the Romans had been content with Greek language and Greek fashions was adopting a few only of the more elegant. not less prevalent among the Romans, arts and fashions of the Greeks, no mark than the partiality for the French lan- would have sprung up against which guage and French fashions is, at the the shafts of the satirist could have been present day, among the English. Two pointed; but their imitation of that re

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Memoirs of Dugald Stewart.

fined and luxurious people exceeded all bounds; it was conspicuous in every department and transaction of public and private life; and seemed to threaten the total abolition of Roman customs and

manners.

Between ancient Rome and modern Britain how exact is the parallel in this respect. With the conquerors of Attica, every thing was Greek; with the conquerors of France,every thing must be French. It cannot have escaped persons of observation, that in the higher orders of society, in this country, the French mode is predominant in the dress, at the table, in the social amusements. Among the women, the glittering silks of the continent have supplanted the less showy, but not less elegant, garments of our own looms; our tables are now covered with ragouts and fricassees, instead of plain English dishes; and reels and country-dances have given way to waltzes and quadrilles.

Nor is it upon our manners alone that the evil spirit of Gallicism is exerting its intriguing influence. It is intriguing also to the corruption of our language. In many circles there is an affectation of sing French phrases on almost every topic of conversation; and the following letter from an English gentleman at Pais to his friend in London, may serve to shew in what sort of jargon some persons of fashion now write :

"You must come to us immediately, my dear H------: you must en verite. I have just been looking at a house on the Boulevards that will suit you à merveille. Colonel Got

[VOL. 2.

who is gone to Swisserland, was the last tenant. It is bien meublée, and vraiement raisonable. When Mrs. H sees it, I am certain she will exclaim c'est tres jolie and tout à fuit ce qu'il faut.

"Living is extremely agreeable here; it is en verité. Amusement after amusement sans cesse. No time for ennui, mon cher H------.

A mere list of the different spectacles would fill up a whole sheet of paper.

"What fools we English are, n'est-ce pas ? It is the French alone who understand ce que c'est que de vivre. You have ten times the agrémens at Paris that you have in London, en verité: and what is worth consideration, pour beaucoup moins d'argent.

"Some of our booby-country-men find fault with the French cuisine. Pour moi, I like it much better than the English cookery. The the French dishes. Non, non, I shall never latter is too insipid; but there's some gout in like pla'n roast and boiled again, en verité.

"I dine most days at a table d'hôte, where there are as many English as French; but I always manoeuvre to sit next to a Frenchman, to hear his conversation and to be au fait of all that is going on in the capital. The French are very communicative, en verité, and one can't be surprised that they complain of our countrymen, as being trop serrés, trop rétenue." "You will be sorry to hear that our friend Plost a few hundreds last week at the Palais Royal. I don't play every night. the whole I have been rather lucky---quel que chose in pocket, mais pas beaucoup.

--

On

"I was at the bal masqué given by It was magnifique, en verité. There were were supported avec tout l'esprit possible. In about 60 masques, and the different characters the course of the evening there was some waitzing, and quadrilles. I wish you could have seen the company at supper. The coup d'œil was brilliant a l'extreme, and the tout-entier was conducted with the greatest éclat.

"Believe me, mon cher H-------,in daily expectation of seeing you, most truly,

"Your's G. M. "P.S. I had almost forgot to tell you how gaiement we pass the Sunday here. You know what a stupid day it is (n'est ce pas ?) in England. C'est toute autre chose a Paris, en verité. The opera, cards, dancing, &c. &c. &c.”

Eur. Mag. Aug. 1817.

MEMOIRS OF EMINENT PERSONS.

From the Monthly Magazine.

CONTEMPORARY AUTHORS.

No. I.

lovers of literature to form a more correct

of Moral Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh.

PHILOSOPHICAL view of the circumstances which contribute to

[We propose occasionally to present our readers with critical estimates of the writings of those contemporary Authors whose productions, from time to time lay claim to the formation of national character, is a public notice---with a view to enable the desideratum in the literature of every and complete judgment of their pretensions language. Few topics present a wider than can be made by observations on any range to ingenious speculation, and none single work. The successive articles will, we presume, be found as instructive in their offer a richer field to learned research or matter, as pleasing and liberal in their to comprehensive induction: it embraces manner.] all those peculiarities of temperament An Estimate of the Literary Character which are commonly ascribed to climate, of DUGALD STEWART, ESQ. Professor together with the political circumstances

VOL. 2.]

Memoirs of Dugald Stewart.

which occasionally may have induced an extraordinary exercise of the mental faculties; as well as the moral effect of heroic actions, and the influence of particular great examples.

That there is among every people a peculiar philosophy, as strongly marked as their national character, will not be questioned; and that the Scots are at present distinguished for metaphysical investigation, every reader will readily admit: an estimate, therefore, of the literary merits of the most eminent of the Edinburgh philosophers may probably be found deserving of some attention.

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It has not been alleged that the indifferency evinced towards his writings has been owing to any doubt of the justness and soundness of his principles, nor to any want of perspicuity in his theories or explanations: on the contrary, he has been always applauded as one of the clearest writers, and for bringing forward no hypothesis which the actual knowledge of mankind did not approve. But has he added any thing to the truths of moral science? Unless this can be answered decidedly in the affirmative, his merits must be resolved into the mediocre quality, of having only stated, with more perspicuity than his predecessors, principles and doctrines previously developed.

It will not be denied that Mr. Dugald Stewart arose in a period of society highly favourable to the studies in which But an extreme beauty of manner may he is supposed to have excelled; that entitle an author to the highest praisehis original condition in life was no less even when the subject is trite and comadvantageous; that he was placed in mon-place. Has it not, however, been the very best situation for inculcating his objected to the style of Mr. Dugald opinions with effect; and that his doc- Stewart, that his eloquence is sometimes trines, by being addressed to young verbose, and his dignity more pompous students, were necessarily received with than the occasion requires? If he has, a degree of approbation, which they generally speaking, stated certain truths might not have obtained had they been better than they had ever before been originally delivered in any other form stated, perhaps with more simplicity he than that of college lectures. No person might have produced a deeper impression has ventured to say that, in other circum- on his readers. His works have an stances, he would probably have been academical and an artificial character, found a greater character: such, indeed, which gives them doubtless something of has been the singular felicity of his lite- a classical air; but they want that naturary fortune, that perhaps it has rarely ral ease, which is no less essential to gracebeen thought he might, in any other, fulness than it is peculiar to originality. have appeared less eminent. There has And, in his subjects, he must be regardbeen in himself an uniform urbanity to- ed as addressing himself to a particular wards all things and all men; and all class, rather than to the generality of mantowards him has been equally agreeable. kind. If his attention has been excluIt would be difficult to mention au sively devoted to the philosophy of his author who has been more fortunate, as own country, the sphere of his genius far as the respectful esteem of contempo- may be thought still more limited; and, raries is a mark of good fortune ;--but from the rank of a genuine philosopher, a whether he should therefore be consi- teacher of mankind, he will sink to that dered as entitled to one of the highest of a Scottish professor: but may not places among the great of his own class, is a question not easily answered.

even this imply great honour? for the schools of Scotland have in his time produced many distinguished men; and he can reckon among his pupils all the most eminent.

It is not invidious to say, that his talents have been more admired by his pupils than by the rest of the world: the most ardent of his friends will not scruple In this estimate it therefore becomes to allow that his merits are in more c- necessary to consider what the Scottish pute at Edinburgh than in any other part philosophy really is-for there are perof Scotland; and unquestionably he is sous who doubt even the utility of that more celebrated as an author in that knowledge, of which Mr. Stewart has kingdom than in England, been so efficient a teacher.

Q ATHENEUM. Vol. 2.

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The philosophy of the Scottish nation the Philosophy of the Human Mind was is certainly deeply imbued with metaphy- published at Edinburgh in 1792, at sical speculation: but their metaphysics which time he was in full possession of are of a more practical kind than those the public applause as an instructor; of any other people, and are employed and had by his lectures predisposed a to elucidate the phenomena of moral na- numerous class of readers in that me ture more experimentally than the science tropolis to receive, with deference and is commonly supposed to admit of. Mr. even veneration, every sentiment which Stewart's theory of dreams is a beautiful he might be inclined to inculcate. The example of this; and perhaps it is also second volume did not appear till twenty the most favourable specimen of his pow. years afterwards, and, for himself, as ers as an author that we can refer to an author, not under such favourable while it might be chosen as one of the circumstances; for, in the course of that strongest instances of the circumscribed long interval, the very frame of society character of his genius; for his theory is had undergone a radical change, and a founded on a principle, the complete un race of young men had sprung up, partly derstanding of which would probably invigorated by his own instruction, and enable us to explain the whole mysteries partly by the audacious spirit of the age; of the involuntary actions of mankind. who, with the natural intrepidity of Few persons suspect that the temptations youth, and the instigations of great of vice are of the same "stuff that dreams innate talent, were less acquiescent to are made of;" Mr. Stewart has certainly dogmas of any kind than the readers to not developed the doctrine of associa- whom Mr. Stewart had the good fortune tion to that extent, but his premises originally to address himself. afford the only rational principle by necessary to advert to these circumstances, which the law of moral necessity, in its as they have undoubtedly affected his practical operation, can be explained.

It is the application of metaphysics to morals that constitutes the main peculiarity of the Scottish philosophy; and we think that the ability with which Mr. Stewart has managed this in his lectures, much more than in his publications, entitles him to that honourable place among his contemporaries which no one has ever presumed to think he did not fully deserve.

literary reputation, by placing him more on a level with the ordinary writers of the day, than his admirers, perhaps, ever thought likely to happen.

His "Elements of the Philosophy of the Human Mind" is a work more critical than original: it contains, doubtless, many judicious, many ingenious, observations, and passages of beautiful writing

but the substance of the whole is deduced from others; and what Mr. Having thus explicitly stated the Stewart has interwoven of his own is ground on which we conceive the fame more of the nature of those kind of reof this distinguished writer and most flections, with which an able reviewer estimable man chiefly rests, and which embellishes his strictures, than the tenor is of a kind that does not promise cele- of a regular work-notwithstanding the brity in another age equal to what he systematic form which he has adopted. has obtained in this-we now propose We can only except from this general to examine more particularly those dif- remark, the fifth section of chap. v. ferent works by which his permanent vol. 1,-the explanation of the phenorank as a literary character will be de- mena of dreaming, to which we have termined by posterity. These are-his already alluded. But it is not so much Elements of the Philosophy of the Human to the want of originality that we obMind; the Biographical Sketches of ject, as to the limits which Mr. Stewart Reid, Robertson, and Smith; and his prescribed to himself in the investiga Philosophical Essays. We are not at- tion of his subject; for we cannot imatempting to write his memoirs, and gine that he was not aware of the multitherefore it is unnecessary to notice farious ramifications" of the influence of those minor publications which he has association in regulating the succession" given to the world without his name. of our actions, as well as "of our The first volume of his Elements of thoughts." He has certainly made a

VOL. 2.]

Memoirs of Dugald Stewart.

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more pleasing work, by confining his opinions and principles thus acquired to the illustrations of the doctrine to the facul- general system of man, he will be apt to alties usually employed on objects of taste low but a narrow compass to the depth and fancy; but, had he extended his in- and extent of Mr. Stewart's acquaintance vestigation farther, he would have seen with the world of the human heart. that the whole system of morals rests Of his "Biographical Sketches" we upon the same principle; and possibly would comprehensively describe them he might have ascertained that there is a as argumentative eulogiums; they class of causes of great efficacy in the possess but little merit as narrations; establishing of our associations, of they are statements calculated to argue which no account has yet been satisfac- the reader into an opinion, that the pertorily given. In neither of the two sons spoken of were really the great men quartos on the "Elements of the Philo- whom the public had already admitted sophy of the Human Mind," nor in the them them to be. They want the lineaEssays, which are justly considered as ments of biography. It would indeed addenda to that work, is there a single be difficult to point out any work of the section of a chapter devoted to the mo- same class, in any language, written, in ral phenomena of sympathy and antipa- point of diction, half so well, and yet so thy-a subject which embraces the deficient in that kind of interest which whole elements of virtue and vice, and constitutes the charm alike of public and is more closely connected with taste in private history. We could have wished, art or composition than, perhaps, some for the sake of the author, that he had eritics are willing to allow. But Mr. given essays of so much intellectual Stewart has confined himself to a judi- ability any other title than the “Lives cious exposition of what others have of Reid, Robertson, and Adam Smith." thought, and respecting which the opi- The volume of Essays which he pubnion of the world is almost settled; and lished in 1810, may, as we have already it did not enter into his plan to examine remarked, be regarded as belonging to the foundations of a doctrine which, that general system, of which the "Elehowever practically admitted, it has ments of the Philosophy of the Human hitherto been fashionable to decry. We Mind" is also a part;--like that work, are all as averse to expose our moral these Essays have but little originality. weaknesses as cur bodily infirmities; The first division consists chiefly of oband the remark may be thought flippant, servations suggested by opinions of while it is not the less true, that the old Locke, Berkeley, Hume, and others, school of manners, in which Mr. Stewart with respect to the sources of our ideas; was bred, probably induced him to avoid and much of the second division is, in inquiries, of which the result would, in the same manner, occupied wi h the conmany cases, have been obnoxious to sideration of some notions on the suexisting philosophical dogmas. The blime, suggested also by the perusal of a "Elements of the Philosophy of the manuscript by Mr. Price, in defence of Human Mind" is, however, not a com- Mr. Burke's doctrines-as if, but for pleted work; and it would be injustice such writers having treated of these subto consider it as such. The author does jects, Mr. Stewart himself would not not unfold a system, and consequently, have been actuated to examine them. notwithstanding the suavity of his style, It is the general proof, throughout his and the perspicuity of his logic, it would works, of being thusinfluenced by others be difficult to analyse his doctrines: be in his inquiries, and the want of any has taken up, as it were, but detached material disquisition entitled to the portions of a great subject, floating in the name of primary, that will probably, works of others. The student rises when the effects of his oral eloquence are from the perusal with a consciousness of forgotten, tend to place him lower in having acquired a better knowledge of the scale of literary rank than some of many things respecting which his ideas his contemporaries--with whom it would were previously vague and imperfect; be deemed eccentric at present to combut, when he comes to apply the pare him.

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