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ed the stranger to his cottage, and, assisted by his lovely daughter, restored him to life and health. The remainder of the first book is employed by Alcestes, who, at the request of the stranger, describes the country of Montalvia, its monarch, cities, and police.

The second book contains the history of the stranger, a Roman, and a christian, whose name is Valerian; who, having fled from the religious persecution of his countrymen, after a variety of adventures, here detailed, at length embarks on board a vessel, which is wrecked, and he alone is saved, in the manner already related.

In the third book, a mutual passion is felt by Valerian and Azora.

He is introduced to the king by Alcestes; gains the royal confidence, and converts him to the

christian faith. The nation followed the example of their sovereign, abandoned their idolatries and superstitions, and embraced christianity. The satisfaction, howev

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'Azora's voice,

er, at this change of religion, was Companioning, far sweeter than its own.' by no means universal.

who is pourtrayed as

Palladon,

A wileful priest,

L. 79.

Companioning is a word invented, without taste, low, and unpoet

Hoary in years, and versed in deeds of ical. He describes Valerian, as a

blood,'

is determined to avenge the subverted altars of his country, by taking the life of Valerian. He assembles his followers for this purpose, and it is agreed on between them, that the first favourable opportunity shall be improved, of executing their vengeance on the stranger. A hunt is then introduced, and the strange adventures that follow, seem to have little or no connexion with the main design of the poem.

Such is this unfinished and strange production, of which we shall briefly point out the defects.

man bereft of life; an expression, surely, too strong for suspended animation.

And nought it has to please or interest, Unless it meet an interest in your love.' Book II. 1. 17.

These lines contain a miserable

quibble. Besides, the word interest in the preceding line is falsely accented, on the first instead of the last syllable.

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The following passage deserves commendation, as containing the natural sentiments, well exprest, of a prisoner in a foreign country, in momentary expectation of suffering execution :

Land of my fathers! scenes of infant

years!

Ye hills, and plains, ye streams and tangled woods,

O'er which I roved, in boyhood's artless days,

O shall Calestian never see ye more! Deceiving visions of the night, away! Hush not the tumults of the soul to rest, To wake again to keener pangs of woe.' L. 409.

The description of the hunt, in the third book, we shall cite as the best specimen we can find of the poet's descriptive powers, which is not without merit, though clumsi- ly introduced :

'Gondalbo's trumpet at the dawn of day

Had summoned to the chace his sportful friends:

With these came forth a troop of mar-
tial dames,

Led by Rolinda, first of all in charms.
Valerian, curious to explore the wood,
Where the magician kept his mystick
school,

Accoutred in the armour of the land,
Mounted a steed, and followed in the

His

train.

stately form, the grace with which he moved,

And checked the fury of his headlong

horse,

Struck his beholders with surprise : but most

Rolinda's eye him followed o'er the plains,

And most her tongue was lavish in his praise.

His courser bounded to the winding horn,

And to the clamours of the noisy hounds,

That echoed from the hills; he proudly pranced,

He snuffed the gale, and waved his :floating mane.

When they had reached the borders of the wood.

Valerian saw with wonder its thick And gives her back in safety to her P. 68-71.

shades,

The towering height of its deep-rooted

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friends.

We conclude our remarks by protesting once more most seriously against this practice of publishing posthumous works, which can never be justified, but where it is known to have been the design or request of the writer, where the publick demand the publication, or where there is a probability, that the community will derive some important advantage from them, by the discovery of some ingenious invention, or some political information, which otherwise might be lost to the world.

ART. 34.

Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, for the year 1800. Vol. VII. Boston, S. Hall. 1801. 8vo. pp. 280.

THIS respectable institution must not attribute the long interlications, to any intentional negruption, in our notice of their publect-Much less may they impute to us a light estimate of their labours. The tribute paid on a former occasion*, is regarded as justly due to their liberal zeal and learned diligence in promoting the knowledge of the early history and present topography of our country. Nor will we plead, as we might, that we have waited, as though bound by decorum, for a new publication to be issued by them, before we proceeded farther in reviewing their past labours. We do indeed hope, that they will ere long favour the publick with another volume; as much interest has been excited by

*See Review, &c. of Vol. V.—Anthology for Dec. 1805, Vol. II. p. 660.

some original and valuable papers in the last numbers, particularly the Ecclesiastical History of our State; for the continuation and conclusion of which excellent performance we impatiently wait. The true reason for this delay has been the multiplicity of claims on the attention of our coadjutors to more recent productions, of which the authors and publishers have been importunate for immediate attention.

In pursuance of the method, before used, we shall give some account of each separate article in the volume before us; entering into a more detailed criticism, or giving considerable extracts from the more important; and passing others with little farther comment, than a description of its purpose, ⚫and sometimes no more than a mere copy of its title.

Three pages of Remarks on a History of Salem' precede the 'Contents' of the more legitimate 'Collections.' These refer to the character, given in the last volume, of Roger Williams, which is here supposed to have been too favourable. Such as feel interested will compare this examination' with the history,' and also with Mr. Bentley's rejoinder in the succeeding volume. The result of what may be said on both sides is ably and faithfully reported in an after Collection.' See Ecc. Hist. in Vol. IX. p. 23-25.

The first article, which follows, is A History of Cambridge,' &c. by Dr. Holmes. This is a good specimen of the geographical, historical, and biographical knowledge and taste of the writer. The style is clear; the narrative easy; and the reflections generally correct and useful. This town justly excites the curiosity of travellers, and an account of it will generally

interest readers, as the seat of the most ancient and distinguished American college. The particulars of the history, and description of the institutions of Harvard University, though not so full and minute as many of her children may desire, include much useful information. The Sketches' of the ministers of Cambridge exhibit talent and judgment, and will be read with much satisfaction, not only by those more immediately concerned, but by all who are curious to become acquainted with the worthies of our land. On the whole, this communication may be considered one of the best descriptions of towns contained in the Historical Collections, whether we regard its composition, or the information it contains. The following extracts refer to topicks of common curiosity, and will enable our readers to judge of Dr. H.'s manner of writing :

In 1639, the first printing press, Cambridge, by one Daye at the. erected in New-England, was set up at charge of Mr. Glover,' who died on his passage to America.*

The first

* "The Reverend and judicious Mr. "Jos. Glover, being able both in per. "son and estate for the work, provided, "for further compleating the colonies, "in church and commonwealth, a "printer," &c.-Wonder-working Prov idence, X.

Nothing of Daye's printing is to be found. The press was very early in the possession of Mr. SAMUELGREENE, who was an inhabitant of Cambridge, in 1639, and who is considered as the first printer in America. His descendants, in every succession to this day, have maintained the honour of the typographick art. The present printers, of that name, at New-London, and NewHaven, in Connecticut, are of his pos terity. The first press was in use at Cambridge, about half a century. The it, is the second edition of Eliot's Inlast thing I can find, which issued from dian Bible, in 1685. Some reliques of

thing which was printed was the freeman's oath; the next was an almanack made for New-England by Mr. Pierce, mariner; the next was the Psalms newly turned into metre.†

The Ecclesiastical fathers of New. England, dissatisfied with Sternhold and Hopkins' version of the Psalms, then in common use, resolved on a new version. Some of the principal Divines in the country, among whom were Mr. Welde and Mr. Eliot, of Roxbury, and Mr. Mather of Dorchester, undertook the work. Aiming, as they well expressed it, to have a plain translation, rather than to smooth their verses with the sweetness of any paraphrase; and regarding conscience rather than elegance, fidelity rather than poetry,' their version, it seems, was too crude to satisfy the taste of an age, neither highly refined, nor remarkably critical. Hence, Mr. Shepard, of Cambridge, addressed them with this monitory verse:

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The following expression, in note on p. 9, surprised us much :

Chicketawbu was the sagamore

of Neponcett, which could not have been far from Boston,' &c. The river Neponsit is that which separates Dorchester and Milton.

A Review of the military operations in North-America, from the commencement of the French hostilities on the frontiers of Virginia, in 1753, to the surrender of Oswego, in 1758,' &c.

This letter, which is said, in a note, to be from the late Governour Livingston, and his friends Smith and Scott, is a masterly production. It comprizes a view of the ambitious and tyrannical projects and attempts of the French; a character of those who most ably and successfully opposed their designs; with a statement of the importance of the colonies to the mother country; in a strain of eloquence and argument, which would do honour to any statesman.

It abounds with those profound political remarks, which indicate deep wisdom and thorough reflection; and with those bril liant illustrations, which display a rapid imagination and a cultivated taste. If we consulted our own recollection, of passages which evince these powers, we should present for the gratification of our readers very copious extracts. One, we trust, will induce such, as original; and room cannot be af conveniently can, to peruse the forded to satiate the curiosity of

"was by some eminent congregations "there preferred to all others in their "publick worship." I find the cighteenth edition of this Version printed with the Bible at Edinburgh, in 1741 ; and

the twenty-third (I suppose New-England) edition, printed at Boston in 1730. The Rev. Mr. Prince revised and improved this New-Eng land Version, in 1758,

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