dental as it was on that of Crichton, | ornament of Parnassus, in a stúpenwe have no means of ascertaining. dous and unusual manner; and that, The time when this disastrous event in the judgment of the learned world, took place, is said, by the generality of he was the phoenix of literature; and his biographers, to have been early in rather a shining particle of the divine July, 1583; but Lord Buchan thinks mind and majesty, than a model of it to have happened one year earlier. what could be attained by human inThe difference is still greater with re- dustry. What can more exceed our gard to his age, when he was thus as- comprehension, than that Crichton, sassinated. The common accounts in the 21st year of his age, should be declare, that he was killed in his thirty- master of ten different languages, second year; but Imperialis asserts, and perfectly well versed in philosothat he was only in his twenty-second; phy, mathematics, theology, literaand in this he is confirmed by the tes- ture, and all other sciences? Besides, timony of Lord Buchan. was it ever heard, in the whole compass of the globe, that to these extraordinary endowments of the mind, should be added a singular skill in fencing, dancing, singing, riding, and in the exercise of every gymnastic art? Nature, in grief for the loss of the wonder she had produced, threatened never more to confer such honour upon mankind." Bayle says, that" Crichton was one of the greatest prodigies of wit that ever lived:" and Foelix Astolfus bears testimony to his “ wonderful memory."

There is nothing marvellous in supposing that the tragical end of Crichton should excite a very great, and very general lamentation. Sir Thomas Urquhart says, that the whole court of Mantua went into mourning for him, and continued so for three quarters of a year; that the epitaphs and elegies which were composed on his death, some of which were stuck upon his hearse, would exceed, if collected, the bulk of Homer's works; and that for a long time afterwards, his picture was to be seen in most of the bed-chambers and galleries of the Italian nobility, exhibiting him on horseback, with a lance in one hand and a book in the other. The same author, in giving a delineation of his character, observes as follows. "He gained the esteem of kings and princes by his magnanimity and knowledge; of noblemen and gentlemen, by his courtliness and breeding; of knights, by his honourable deportment and pregnancy of wit; of the rich, by his affability and good fellowship; of the poor, by his munificence and liberality; of the old, by his constancy and wisdom; of the young, by his mirth and gallantry; of the learned, by his universal knowledge; of the soldiers, by his valour and courage; of the merchants and artificers, by his upright dealing and his honesty; and of the fair sex, by his beauty and handsomeness, in which respect he was a master-piece of nature."

Romantic as the accounts which we have given of Crichton, and extravagant as the testimony of Urquhart may appear, they are rather augmented than diminished by the memoir of Imperialis, his Italian biographer. "He was,” says this writer, "the wonder of the last age; the prodigious production of nature; the glory and

As the vast learning and extraordinary abilities which have been ascribed to Crichton by his biographers, seem to partake in no small degree of the marvellous, it was necessary to introduce the names of such authors as vouch for the authenticity of the facts which they have recorded. How far their statements partake of hyperbole, we have no means of knowing with indubitable certainty. Some circumstances there are, which disfigure this luminous picture with visible shadows. His comedy has been represented as

one of the most ingenious satires that was ever made upon mankind;" and yet it does not appear that this unparalleled composition is now in existence. Neither can we learn, that any sallies of his wit, that any brilliancy of thought, or any specimens of his elegant diction, have been preserved, to amaze posterity with the brightness of their coruscations, their sublimity, or their beauty.

Several of his biographers have given to the world a formal catalogue of his works; but the only productions of his pen which have ever been committed to the press, are four Latin poems. The catalogue appears to consist of heads of the various topics on which he declaimed or disputed, in the public exhibition of his talents.

"One important method yet remains, by which we may be enabled to form a judgment of Crichton's genius; and that is, from a perusal of the four poems of his, which are still extant. It is, however, to be feared, that these will not exhibit him in a very high point of view. Some fancy, perhaps, may be thought to be displayed in the longest of his poems, which was written on occasion of his approach to the city of Venice. He there represents a Naiad as rising up before him, and, by the order of the Muses, and of Minerva, directing him how to proceed. But this is a sentiment which so easily presents itself to a classical reader, that it can scarcely be considered as deserving the name of poetical invention. The three other poems of Crichton have still less to recommend them. Indeed his verses will not stand the test of a rigid examination, even with regard to quantity.

scription. But it is truly mortifying to those who are animated with a love of posthumous reputation, to learn, that this man, who, during his short yet brilliant career, filled such an ample space in the minds of his contemporaries, should have the merit, if not the existence, of many of his most memorable achievements seriously disputed. The case seems to be, that whatever character is raised too high in one age, is sure to be sunk too low in another. Envy, under the sanctions of justice, rarely fails to demolish the fabric which the hand of friendship has raised.

The fame of Crichton, like that of an actor, was chiefly confined to those who had witnessed his achievements. He wrote little, but he performed much. The latter was soon forgotten; or so blended with fiction, that it became doubtful. He blazed like a meteor for a moment; his coruscations dazzled the eyes of the beholder; but when he vanished, the impression which he had made was no where to be found. Yet, we must again repeat, he was certainly one of the most accomplished men, who, in that age, had ever appeared.

To those who feel the aspirings of genius, he furnishes an example of the heights to which it can ascend. And to those who are less gifted by nature, his unsettled life, and his melancholy end, may at least teach acquiescence in the humbler gifts which Providence has assigned them. See British Nepos,

“ What, then, is the opinion which, on the whole, we are to form of the 'Admirable Crichton'? It is evident that he was a youth of such lively parts, as excited_great_admiration, and high expectations with regard to his future attainments. He appears to have had a fine person, to have been adroit in his bodily exercises, to have possessed a peculiar facility in learning languages, to have enjoyed a remarkably quick and retentive memory, and to have excelled in a power of declamation, a fluency of speech, and | a readiness of reply. His knowledge, p. 101. likewise, was probably very uncom- In favour of Crichton's moral chamon for his years; and this, in con- | racter, we fear that little can be said. junction with his other qualities, ena- His warmest admirers have furnished bled him to shine in public disputa- us with the means of making this retion. But whether his knowledge were flection. They have occasionally palaccurate or profound, may justly be | liated dissipation; but unfortunately, questioned; and it may equally be while softening his vices into youthful doubted, whether he would have arisen foibles, they have recorded facts, to to any extraordinary degree of emi- which posterity have given names. nence in the literary world. It will On the vanity, which in too many inalways be reflected upon with regret, stances marked his life, and the unthat his early and untimely death pre-happy manner in which it was termivented this matter from being brought nated, no comment can be deemed neto the test of experiment.' - Biogra- | cessary. In his whole history, all phia Britannica, vol. 4, p. 456.

But the shades thus introduced, to diversify the picture of Crichton's character, may, perhaps, be as much too | deep, as the previous colouring was too brilliant. It cannot be doubted, | after all due allowance is made for the hyperbole of friendship, that his merits were of the most superlative de

those, "who in the confidence of superior capacities or attainments disregard the common maxims of life, shall be reminded, that nothing will supply the want of prudence; and that negligence and irregularity, long continued, will make knowledge useless, wit ridiculous, and genius contemptible."-Johnson's Life of Savage.

VARIATIONS.

Ir is a remarkable, but an indisputable fact, that Farms in the neighbourhood of London, notwithstanding the vast population of the metropolis, are from one-third to one-half cheaper, than in the vicinity of Liverpool. Manure also can be procured in the metropolis, at from one-sixth to onefourth of the price for which it is sold in Liverpool. At the same time, a measure of potatoes, weighing 84 lb. is sold in the latter place, from 1s. 3d. to 1s. 8d.; while the same quantity, but much inferior in quality, will cost in the metropolis from 6s. 6d. to 7s.

AMERICAN CIRCUMNAVIGATION.

similar nature, we have not a correct account. We can only state, in general_terms, that they still remain in high repute, and that their circulation keeps pace with their merit.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

It was stated in the Sunday School Union Report, read in London on the morning of May 12, that upwards of 366,000 children are now under education in the Sunday Schools, established in Great Britain and Ireland.

PROGRESS OF THE BRITISH AND

FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY,

It is with the most unfeigned pleasure we state, that a Bible Society has lately been established in the French metropolis. Its primary object is to furnish the Protestant population with the word of God; and, no doubt, to cooperate with the more enlarged benevolent feelings which seem so vigorous in other countries, as circumstances may offer. This institution has not started into existence merely under the silent connivance of the civil

Ir appears that the Americans are, for the first time, about to undertake the circumnavigation of the Globe. The vessel allotted for this service is the Congress frigate, under the direction of Captain Henley. She will double the Cape of Good Hope;-traverse the Indian and Pacific oceans; and return by Cape Horn. No American ship has hitherto passed the Straits of Sunda. The Congress will take on board between twenty and thirty mid-power, but has been avowedly estashipmen, and a suitable number of seamen. The objects which they have in view are, to train their officers, to make them acquainted with difficult navigation, and to unfurl their flag in regions where it has hitherto been unknown. It is supposed that the Congress will be absent about two years.

MODERN EDUCATION.

To a mind which is capable of mounting above the fogs of superstition, the general diffusion of knowledge among all ranks of society must afford a pleasing spectacle. It is to the honour of the present age, that much attention has been paid to the rising generation; and if the sale of books, containing the rudiments of education, may be considered as a barometer, the following list will furnish no contemptible specimen. During the year 1818, there were sold of Mavor's Spelling Book, 17,000 copies; of Goldsmith's Grammar of Geography, 28,000; of Blair's Universal Preceptor, 17,000; of Clarke's Hundred Wonders of the World, 13,000; and of Robinson's Grammar of History, 11,000. Of Murray's Grammar, and other popular works of a

blished on the authority of the French government. Its presidency has been assigned to the Marquis de Jaucourt, Peer of France, and Minister of State. This auspicious event took place in the month of November, 1818; since which time, the committees have been actively engaged in concerting and executing such measures as are best calculated to give it publicity, and to promote subscriptions in its behalf, not only in the city, but throughout the various departments. The happy effects of this establishment, and of these exertions, have already been witnessed, in the numerous proofs of attachment which the committees have received from various quarters, not only in expressions of ardent wishes for its prosperity, but in liberal contributions, from distinct classes of people.

To encourage such promising beginnings, as well as to testify their friendship and approbation, the Committee of the Parent Society in England, have presented the Protestant Bible Society in Paris, with £500 in cash; and have also placed at their disposal 500 German Bibles, and 300 Testaments; 1000 French Bibles, and 1000 Testaments of Ostervald's version

that it is scarcely possible to convey, in any condensed form, an adequate idea of their importance and utility. To notice the various branches individually, would be to record a catalogue of names; and to mark their uniform, yet diversified movements, would fill a volume of no ordinary magnitude.

The Danish Bible Society, has been

from Bâsle. To these have been added 1000 Testaments of the same version, from the stereotype plates at Paris. Let it not be thought that the above sum is a lavish profusion of the public contributions, raised in this country. The object of all Bible Societies is the same;-the general diffusion of the sacred Word: and whether the Bible be circulated by the Society in London, or by that in Paris, the de-established something more than three sign of the institution will be equally answered. No person acquainted with the late or present condition of France, can doubt whether the Bible be wanted among its inhabitants. During the last twenty years, infidelity and war nearly snatched the sacred volume from the hands of many who read it; and it is too well known, that the reestablishment of Popery has not been forward to counteract these ravages of anarchy and mental dissipation.

The example of Paris has been already followed in Bourdeaux, Montauban, and Nismes; in which places provisional committees are engaged, in forming Auxiliary Bible Societies. In several other Protestant stations, a similar feeling has been manifested, so that we may hope the period will soon arrive, when England and France, instead of spreading through the nations of the earth the desolations of war, will provoke each other to love and good works. "The end," says the Noble President of the Paris Society, "which we pursue, and the sentiments we profess, are the same. It is delightful to us to think, that at the moment when peace is come to unite our two nations, the love of God, and the happiness of mankind, are forming between us a closer alliance than that which is guaranteed to us by the authority of treaties."

On other parts of the continent, the sacred Scriptures have obtained an extensive and a rapid circulation. In the United Netherlands the number of copies has more than doubled that of the preceding year. In Switzerland, although its numerous societies have supported their exalted character for zeal, activity, and usefulness, the advocates for the circulation of the Scriptures seem to have received a new stimulus to exertion.

In Germany and Prussia, the Bible Societies are now become so numerous, and their operations are on a scale of such extensive magnitude, No. 3.-VOL. I.

years. This, though comparatively small in its commencement, has been regularly increasing in respectability, in the number of its friends, and, above all, in its utility, throughout the Danish dominions. Its third anniversary exceeded, in attendance and interest, any that had preceded it. And from the report which was presented, and the speeches which were delivered, sufficient proof was given, that the object of the institution had found its way to the hearts of the Danish people. To this it is pleasing to add, from an address delivered by the President of the Society, who is also minister of state, that the Danish government views this benevolent feature in the human character with a friendly eye.

Favoured with these auspicious presages, several branch societies and associations have been formed, and others are continually forming, in various parts of the kingdom. Within the third year, 5266 Danish Bibles and Testaments have been printed. A new edition of the Creole Testament has lately left the press; and a version is also preparing in the language of the Faroe islands; a dialect into which no part of the Scriptures, had hitherto been translated. Additional measures are also concerting, for the extension and confirmation of the interest already excited; and in general it may be said, that every thing in Denmark announces a decided movement in favour of the universal dissemination of the holy Scriptures. To this comprehensive statement, it is of importance to add, that these benevolent proceedings are carried on under the immediate sanction of his Danish Majesty, who has vouchsafed his decided approbation, accompanied with a contribution of 4000 rix dollars. His royal highness the Crown Prince has likewise taken a personal interest in the affairs of the Society, by recommending the adoption of stereotype for printing the Scriptures.

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