1027 Thus right and wrong, and good and ill, Poetry. Marriage in prospect may appear Surrounding shrubs tall trees become; A view like Pyraneze's Rome. Than Pyraneze's Views of Rome. Like virtue's self, sublimely grand Rise then to that stupendous height, Poor Pyraneze, and pride-swoln Rome! MR. EDITOR. SIR, Many years since I began the following piece, which, from various causes, has not received the finishing hand: such as it is, however, it is at your service. IPOLPERROC. FISHING-A POEM. And long withdrawing vales, and shady woods, And shall not one be found to paint the scene 1028 Where massy rocks o'erhang the swelling As if ordain'd to help the gazing eye Some breast that glows with love of nature's The God of nature's, who shall snatch his From scenes that rise in rude magnificence, O thou blest spirit, serving heaven's high Who o'er the silent beach and swelling tide Th' arising waters kiss the sands in peace, Winter is gone, with all its blustering storms, To hoist the sail, prepare the lengthen❜d line, Eager to launch them on the swelling floods. She bears Britannia's thunder round the world. Now from the Atlantic Ocean deep and wide, Where late they slumber'd while the tempest roar'd, Or rode, perhaps, mid-deep the troubled sea, The Scilly Isles, or Lizard's lengthen'd front, The nets in order carefully dispos'd, take But what they can is done; the taper line A scull descries the prize; they forward spring So fares it with the youth, the man, the sage; Some fancy-pictur'd joy, some shining bait, That seems to fly them-only meant to allure Excites the throbbing bosom to exert Whate'er of powers it may; till caught at last It proves to hold a deadly barb within. Now that which sprung most vigorous caught, is Perhaps the master-leader of their way, Enough to glide thee swiftly thro' the deep, Now where the sunken rocks lie deeply hid, Cloth'd with the waving sea-weed's russet groves, With green and crimson mix'd, and coral fans, maw Will feed on all alike; with choicest care Where scatter'd wrecks have lain for ages hid, To bite the line; for here the fisher's skill 1030 And shakes his head, wild rolling in the wave. 'Tis noon of night, the full-orb'd moon at length Hath waded thro' a sea of vapour chill Withdrawing like a curtain, shews the scene His near approach to land. The glowing stars Around him and within. With heaven-bred This mighty world of waters, where the fry The deep foundations of the mighty hills Till thy strong hand shall tear them up again. The morn creeps on, with thickening gloom surcharg❜d, Unswept by curling breeze; And seem to circumscribe the spacious world. comes on 1031 Historical Observations respecting Liverpool. And mann'd with Britain's hardiest crew, now mark Where in a skiff, exposed to every blast, That make the danger they would seem to shun: His skilful hands, long exercised in storms, around Eager t' engulph him in their whirling wastes. The full attention of the bravest heart, now? Who knows if they shall greet him more? that thought, A widow's aching heart, an orphan's sighs, They far remov'd, and hanging o'er their hearth Note every whistling blast that blows without. A sound is heard, that far towards the west, But scarce arriv'd where the long narrow road Winds round the precipice, to lead the foot Where safely may be view'd the bursting wave 1032 Tumbling its pond'rous weight with furious Whirl Against the pointed cliffs, then fly afar Lash'd into foam, to join the big round drops Of falling rain, and both together mix'd Wither the herbage that they light upon; When now the boat that holds her dearest part Bears round the far projecting rocky head That shelters safely; and the breast is hush'd That fear'd to look upon the billowy flood, Lest it might witness what it could not save. OBSERVATIONS, HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE, RESPECTING LIVERPOOL. (Concluded from col. 822.) THE air of Liverpool has generally been deemed salubrious; and, considering the northern situation of the town, the inhabitants enjoy the advantages of a mild temperature. These benefits arise in no small degree, from its maritime situation. Warrington, which is only eighteen miles distant, and several other places adjacent, endure through the winter, degrees of cold with which Liverpool is scarcely ever visited. To this temperature, its proximity to the sea, and the influcnce of the tides, have, in no small degree, contributed. During the year 1772, the variation from the extreme of heat to that of cold, amounted to 50 degrees, extending from 78 to 28; and its mean temperature about 54. It has been observed by Dr. Dobson, from numerous experiments which he made, relative to the soil, water, and air, of Liverpool, and from fourteen years' experience and prac tice respecting the diseases to which the inhabitants were chiefly subject, that the dryness of the soil, the purity of the water, and the mildness of the air, in connection with the antisceptic effluvia arising from pitch and tar, the exhalations from the the frequent brisk gales, and the daily visitation of the tides, rendered Liverpool one of the most healthy places in the kingdom, in proportion to the extent of its population. sea, In a more recent publication, entitled, "A familiar Medical Survey of Liverpool," the author observes in substance as follows: The situation of this town is peculiarly favourable to constitutions that require, and can bear, a sharp cold air; of which_description are those of nervous and relaxed habits. The persons to whom the situation of the town becomes un 1033 Historical Observations respecting Liverpool. 1034 favourable, are, those who are subject But although its merchants and trato coughs, asthmas, and other affec-ders have been chiefly engaged in tions of the breast and lungs, and commercial pursuits, the cultivation those who are consumptive. Com- of arts and letters has not been negplaints of this description are aggra-lected. vated and renewed in constitutions so inclined. The effect which the winds generally have on the state of the weather, may be thus stated. The north-west winds are turbulent and stormy, and from this quarter they blow more than from any other, during a considerable portion of the year. Southerly winds frequently produce rain. Easterly winds are often accompanied by a serene sky. The severest cold and frost usually come with a north or north-east wind. The soil in and near the town is dry and sandy for two miles round; and, on the northern shore particularly, a range of barren sands extends about twenty miles. But although this general character may be considered as descriptive of the soil, many exceptions are to be discovered. Between the town and Walton, there is a fine dale, which, having a rich marl under the surface, affords excellent pasturage. Several other patches and spots may also be found, exhibiting all the marks of native fertility. But barren as the soil in general is, in most places it has been much improved by cultivation; and even where this has been neglected, the soil is not unsusceptible of amendment: but it has been deemed useless to waste manure on a surface, which will, in all probability, very shortly be covered with buildings. It is well known that Lancashire has long and deservedly been proverbial for its excellent potatoes, to the growth of which, the soil is admirably adapted. In most parts this valuable root is raised in vast abundance; and the quantity demanded for shipping, as well as for local consumption, is exceedingly great. Few towns, that claim no higher antiquity, have added, within the same space of time, more exalted names, to grace the lists of science and of arts. Various publications bear witness, that literature has been cultivated with considerable ability and success. Amidst the active concerns which engage their attention, several gentlemen, whose names might be adduced, have found leisure to attend to the study of the polite arts; and many works, which have obtained a considerable share of public approbation, claim Liverpool as their legitimate origin. "The Nurse," and "The Lives of Lorenzo di Medici, and of Leo the Tenth," will ever confer an honour on William Roscoe, Esq. "The Medical Reports," and "The Life of Robert Burns," will cause the name of Dr. Currie to be long remembered. "The Life of Poggio Bracciolini," by the Rev. Wm. Shepherd, and an elegant translation of the works of Gessner, by a Lady, are productions, which the town of Liverpool will always be proud to acknowledge. Among the eminent natives who have paid the tribute of nature, the name of Deare, the sculptor, will be long respected. This eminent artist was born in Liverpool, on the 26th of October, 1759. His predilection for the imitative arts was strongly marked in his earlier years. Of this predilection, a pleasing monument is now in the possession of his brother. It is a miniature figure of a human skeleton, cut in wood with a penknife, when he was not more than ten years old. At the age of sixteen he went to London; and at twenty, obtained the first gold medal that was given at the New Royal Academy, Somerset - House. He was the youngest artist to whom On reviewing the historical obser- that honour had ever been awarded. vations which have been made, in this | This medal was given for the best and the preceding numbers, respect- piece of sculpture. The design, which ing Liverpool, it will instantly be per- is from Milton, is executed in alto ceived, that this is a town of no great relievo. A cast of this performance antiquity. From an obscure village, is now in the possession of Mr. Samuel frequented by a few vessels, and inha-Franceys, sculptor, in Liverpool. bited by fishermen, it has attained its present exalted pre-eminence in commercial importance, through the bold and enterprising spirit of its inhabitants. No. 33. Vol. III. Shortly after Mr. Deare obtained this honour, he, with several other young men of promising talents, was sent out by the Royal Academy, to pursue his studies at Rome, in which place 3 U 1035 Historical Observations respecting Liverpool. he spent the principal part of his life, and at which place he died, on the 17th of August, 1798, of a malignant fever, in the 39th year of his age. His best performances have therefore been destined to adorn foreign cabinets, on which account his name is but imperfectly known in England; but from the reports of competent judges, he has a right to claim a place in the foremost ranks of our eminent artists, and some have not hesitated to call him the first sculptor that this country has ever produced. Of this eminent artist, George Cumberland, Esq. in the Monthly Magazine, gives the following character. "And here let me pause, and drop a tear over the recollection of an artist, whose good nature, hilarity, generosity, and candour, could only be equalled by his delicate taste, profound knowledge, exquisite skill, and unrivalled exertions; a man, that, had he been encouraged to come home, or kindly treated by those who sent him out, would have reflected honour on the art of sculpture; for he made a distinct study of every part of this art, and was as recherchè in hair as in drapery, as great in drawing and modelling as in sculpture, wholly devoted to fame, to freedom, and the arts. Nor will it be considered as a slight proof of the fact which I mention, that the inimitable Canova beheld his productions with respect, and that even good painters came to him for advice and correction. 1036 instant the cloth was removed, to Monte Dagone, a deserted villa, belonging to Prince Borghese, of which I had the keys, that he might there press off one of the side locks of the famous Antinous, not having been able, from his own correct drawing of it, to give any thing like its character to the hair of a French lady, whose bust he was executing. We went thither; he stole the impression, and returned in raptures to Rome on foot the same evening. "Such, alas! was the artist whom the Academy abandoned and forgot." In the year 1724, Liverpool had the honour of giving birth to George Stubbs, who was long distinguished for his eminence as a painter of animals. Of the works which he completed, "the Lion and the Horse," "the Lion and Stag," and "the Brood Mares," were the most celebrated. Having devoted much labour to the practice and study of comparative anatomy, in 1766 he published a magnificent and highly esteemed work, on the anatomy of the horse. This publication was the result of observations made by himself during a long course of dissecting; the drawings and engravings having been all made with his own hand. At the time of his death, which took place in July, 1806, Mr. Stubbs had completed both the anatomical preparations and the drawings, for a work on the structure of the human body, compared with that of a tiger and a fowl. Of this work, containing fifteen "Such a one was Deare, whose plates, about one half only was pubchief works went to France, and whose lished. This author and artist conchisel is scarcely known in England, tinued to pursue his professional occuexcept in Sir Richard Worsley's col-pations to the close of life, which did lections, where his Marine Venus will not terminate until he was past fourshew a hand, that, when alone dis- score. closed, has often been, even among artists, taken for an antique." The following anecdote, given by Cumberland, will better display Deare's zeal for his art, than a volume of panegyric. 66 Being at dinner at Grotto Ferrata, where I passed my summer to avoid the heat of Rome, in one of the warmest days I ever remember, he arrived on foot, in company with a formatore, (a plaster caster) having carried by turns, for seventeen miles, about 20 pounds of clay, and a bag of plaster of Paris. Dinner was just served, but he would not come up to partake of it, until I first promised to drive him, the Toxteth Park, contiguous to Liverpool, had the honour, in 1619, of giving birth to Jeremiah Horrox, who, after being a student of Emanuel College, Cambridge, began, about 1633, to apply himself to the study of astronomy, in which, although he laboured under many local disadvantages, he made great proficiency, and acquired fame. In 1636 he formed an acquaintance with Mr. William Crabtree, of Broughton, near Manchester, whose kindred spirit led him to prosecute the same studies. Scarcely, however, had Mr. Horrox entered on his discoveries, before he was suddenly arrested by the hand of death, when he was |