house during 24 hours, quite alone, without going to see his
dear Columbine, the daughter of Cassander the fine-drawer,
from whom he is only separated by a party-wall; and he is deter-
mined to make this sacrifice, that he may gain the 50 crowns,
of which he is in great want, in order to smooth some difficul-
ties. The question is, how to fill up three tiresome quarters of
an hour which still remain of the stated time; and how to in-
form his mistress of the motive of his absence. All that the
ingenuity of love can suggest to an imprisoned lover is per-
formed. At first, he contrives to make Giles himself carry a
copy of the treaty to Columbine in an empty patty-pan. While
this is doing, and Columbine is contriving to let him know
that she has received the information, Harlequin employs his
time in talking to her portrait à la silhouette, (in shadow,) and
in singing the most lively witty things on the subject of soli-
tude, on love, and on the heart. Among other spirited strokes,
the following couplet, on the different places in which the heart
is stationed in different people, has been much applauded:
"Bien peu d'amis l'ont sur la main,
"Beaucoup d'amans l'ont dans la tête."

Few are the friends whose heart in hand is bred,
But many lovers wear it in the head.

Harlequin soon hears the rope of the draw-well which is common to both houses. He flies, and sees the image of his mistress reflected on the surface of the water; he says a thousand gallant things to it, and finishes on espying a letter suspended to a string; which he contrives to seize and draw towards him. This letter acknowleges the reception of his own: but it also informs him that Giles has availed himself of Harlequin's absence to blacken him in the opinion of Cassander, and to gain for himself the consent of the latter; and that, in short, if he does not soon appear, all is lost. Harlequin is on the point of giving up the wager, and climbing up the wall to shew himself to Giles, when he over-hears very distinctly their conversation, in the wood supposed to be at the front of the party-wall, by the help of a pair of double steps, of which he avails himself. He now tries to make Columbine acquainted with this, for which purpose he writes another letter: after which he is supposed to see his mistress at a distance, and, throwing his arms in the form of a telegraph, counterfeits its movements, and gives her to understand that he has another letter to send. A string is then thrown over the garden wall, to the end of which is fastened his letter.

His mistress then speaks to him by musical notes, as if she was talking with her singers; telling him what is doing, and

002

what

what he ought to do. At length the time allotted for termi nating the wager arrives: he gains the 50 crowns; shews himself on the wall; speaks to Cassander; is furnished with a ladder; the artifice of Giles is exposed; the 50 crowns are paid to Harlequin; and he descends to his dear Columbine to conclude the match.

Nothing but the uncommon resources of a great actor can make this kind of pantomime, or rather child's-play, supportable. Laporte, the Preville of the present day, at Paris, had the ingenuity to render this language of signs intelligible and amusing to the audience. Here, many personages are compressed into one. In our Garrick's Lethe, an individual is multiplied into many.

The French reviewer of this piece complains of the obscurity of the following couplet, and calls it an unintelligible arith metic:

Lorsque comme quatre l'on s'aime

Trois fois heureux, deux s'en font qu'un.

To do any thing four times as much as another is a common expression in French, as manger comme quatre:-thrice happy, felices ter et amplius, is classical ;—and two fond hearts united in one has been a common metaphor at all times and in all places. It is not the darkness, but the childish play on words, to which a sober critic would here object.

Besides plans, extracts, and abridgments of new dramas, we have an entire piece in this No. called The Prisoner: with much lexicographical criticism concerning a new edition of the Dictionary of the French Academy. Among the metrical pieces in this No. is a pretty poem by Gouvé, entitled Reminiscences, or the Advantages of Memory. This piece has considerable merit, but will not efface the impression made on English readers by the beautiful poem on the Pleasures of Me mory by Mr. Rogers.

The Number is terminated by an interesting account of a beautiful antique Colossal statue, discovered at Veletri in Italy, soon after the invasion of the ecclesiastical states by the French. The workmanship of this magnificent figure is said to be equal to that of the Apollo Belvidere. It is of white marble, eleven feet in height, and appears to be the representative of Pallas. She is in a martial dress, the drapery descending to her feet.

No. CLXXIV. News from Egypt during the most auspicious period of Bonaparte's expedition. Finances of the Republic. Finances of England. Speech of Lord Auckland on the Income Tax. Affairs of Italy at the beginning of 1799.-We

4

have

have neither poetry nor other species of literature in this No. which terminates the 20th volume.

Vol. XXI.-No. CLXXV. This volume begins with an introductory account of the deplorable state of Italy, previously to the re-commencement of the war between Austria and France; with an Appendix concerning the Order of Malta, and the Emperor of Russia's acceptance of the title of Grand Master-containing also playful poetry-Notices of new French publications-a beautiful fragment on the cultivation of Flowers-English and French Politics.

No. CLXXVI. Political Sketch of the Events which took place in January and February last: Miscellaneous Literature: Account of a very profligate new publication in France, called La Guerre des Dieux Anciens et Modernes, War of the Gods Antient and Modern. M. PELTIER has treated this most licentious publication with proper indignation-but, though it must excite horror in the breast of every Christian, or every Deist, it has been printed in three several forms, in a most splendid manner, by Didot, printer to the State, and recommended to young people at the Institute by the Director of Public Instruction. We have not seen the book: but it is said that, since the appearance of Voltaire's burlesque poem, La Pucelle d'Orléans, nothing so abominably atheistical, immoral, and indecent, has issued from the press.' The design of the author, the ci-devant Chevalier de Parny, appears to have been nothing less than the turning equally to ridicule the gods of paganism and the mysteries of Christianity. The action is stated to be in the fourth century, when Constantine is at the head of the Roman empire. The Catholic religion, had then begun to shake paganism. The scene is laid in Olympus, at a festival given by Jupiter to all the gods. They were at table when the Eagle came to inform them, that he had seen strangers of a very mean appearance glide quietly by thousands into the sacred precincts of the heavenly abodes. Jupiter sends Mercury to reconnoitre; he returns, and informs them that there are other gods already in high favour with the Romans, furnished with a passport by Constantine, who had assigned to them half of the celestial regions. A general cry is raised; some desired to resist and fight them :-but Jupiter imposes silence, and consults Minerva, who is of opinion that these new guests should be admitted; and Apollo is even for inviting them to dinner. Mercury then sets off, and brings them to table; and here orgies are performed, which are too impious and indecent to be described. The modern gods afterward take possession of that part of heaven which is called paradise. Jupiter, however, alarmed, makes dispositions in Olympus in case of an attack, distributes

003

distributes posts to all the martial gods, and places the satyrs as centinels on the frontiers, but charges them not to make the first assault. The new paradise is organized. The new gods, recollecting that they owe a dinner to their neighbours, send twelve archangels to invite them, and the antient gods accept the invitation. They partake of a very bad dinner, and are then entertained with such gross and coarse representations as were exhibited in the 12th century: such as the Mysteries, the Fall of Adam and Eve, the History of the Old Testament, the Passion, &c. (Here, new abominations.)

ence.

The heathen gods now begin to want the means of subsistIncense fails them: a perfumed cloud ascends the skies the satyrs on guard snuff it in hope. Some saints, commanded by an angel, convey it into paradise. They pass it under the nose of the satyrs, who are offended with this plea santry, and, in spite of the orders of Jupiter, fall on the escort, A general engagement ensues, and Sampson and Hercules, Judith and Apollo, distinguish themselves.-In this canto, the author has surpassed all bounds of immorality. It cannot be read without horror. It is impossible to pursue this extract, says M. PELTIER, without the pen dropping from the hand. It is sufficient to, know that the poem ends with the taking of Olympus by storm; that Constantine's edict arrives during the action; and that the pagan divinities are suppressed. The fatal sentence is read, and they are informed that their altars are everywhere thrown down, their temples destroyed, their goods confiscated, and their priests hooted. The astonished gods, weak and trembling, submit to necessity without a murmur, and descend to Parnassus, which has been granted. to them for a retreat, as Dionysius went from Syracuse to Corinth. Thus ended the quarrel, which left the modern gods in the entire possession of the cœlestial abodes.-Apollo con soles the pagan divinities in the following manner :

"Though from Olympus' height sublime we 're chaced,
On mount Parnassus since our heav'n is placed,
We there unrival'd may in peace remain,
With wit, arts, loves, and graces in our train.
Within our empire still will be combin'd
The power to polish, please, instruct mankind.
Disgrac'd and driven from our thrones sublime,
Fate will avenge our cause in future time;
Human inconstancy will crush our foes,
Let them not slumber in a long repose,

But drive them, like ourselves, from bright abodes,
And fill their niches with new-fangled gods."

These lines (says M. PELTIER, speaking of the original) are all that we shall allow ourselves to quote. He has censured this licentious publication with considerable force, and a be

coming zeal for religion and morality. He has not only cited the severe Boileau, the sublime Bossuet, and the tender and piou Racine, in favour of religion, but has obliged Montesquieu Voltaire, and Rousseau, to bear testimony in favour at least of its secular utility.

An entire poem, entitled Melancholy, by Gouvé, is inserted in this No. The author has avoided the gloomy imagery of Young in his Night Thoughts, but has not approached the simplicity, the short touches, and the delineations of nature, of Milton's Penseroso. There are, however, beautiful lines and ingenious sentiments in this composition, more in the taste of Englishmen than the generality of French poetry.

No. CLXXVII. Miscellaneous Literature. Account of Mad. de Flahaut's new novel of Emilia and Alphonsus-some well chosen fragments of poetry-Carnot's Answer to Bailleulnew Pieces at the Theatre at Paris-the Dramatic Piece's performed on the private Theatre of the Hermitage of the Empress Catherine II.*-Political Miscellanies, &c. Many of these articles were curious and interesting at the time of pub lication, though chiefly selected from English and foreign journals.

No. CLXXVIII. Among the literary and political miscella nies, are inserted several Letters from the second part of those which have been intercepted from Bonaparte and his Officers in Egy-New Foundation of the Order of Malta, by the Emperor Paul--Impertinent Visits; a pleasant satirical poem, in composing which, the author, Vigee, has had Pope's Epistle to Arbuthnot in his eye: "Shut, shut the door, good John, fatigued, I said”:-Reflections on the Chevalier Parny and his poem, admirably written:-Theatrical exhibitions at Paris Arrival and performance of the famous singer Garat, from Madrid. The vocal taste of Spain must be very much degenerated, or that of France improved, if the same singer can excite equal rapture in the capitals of both countries.

Among the new books mentioned in this No. we have a prefatory account of the "Travels of Pythagoras into Egypt, Chaldea, India, Crete, Sparta, Sicily, Rome, Carthage, Marseilles, and Gaul: with a detail of their laws, political and moral." 6 vols. 8vo. The man of letters who has digested this work has been occupied during 25 years in a great public library. He there conceived the plan of the Travels of Pythagoras, before those of Anacharsis were published.

A new edition of the Travels of the younger Anacharsis, with the corrections and additions of the author, in 7 vols. 4to. is announced.