power of prediction; for they were enabled to combine the truth of History with the romantic effusions of the imagination. Their's is the voice of God; and who can contend with him? Our wonder therefore will be considerably diminished, when upon comparison with the Classics, we are obliged to acknowledge their transcendant superiority, both in conception and expression. Let the Pollio of Virgil, which almost miraculously coincides with several prophecies relative to the future Advent of the MESSIAH, which are scattered through the writings of Isaiah, be fairly considered, and not a doubt will remain of the Prophet's truth and inspiration.

The Revelations of St. John display a more wild and awful scene of poetical imagery. The reader appears to walk upon enchanted ground; every object is, as it were, concealed in excessive splendour, and the eye is at once enraptured and overpowered! Curiosity is raised and suppressed at the same moment; and our hearts, with fear and trembling, bow before the omnipotent providence of God.

Pindar may charm and exalt our minds by presenting to us the Islands of the Blessed; Virgil may lead us through the ever blooming fields of Elysium, where all is peace, joy and tranquillity.

But behold! St. John unfolds the gates of the HEAVENLY JERUSALEM! With what enthusiastic devotion do we gaze upon its glorious magnificence; with what rapture do we already anticipate the joys of eternal life?—I saw no temple therein; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

The Scriptures also are by no means deficient in examples of the most masterly and energetic eloquence. But passing over the Old Testament; let us consider the plain and unadorned language of our Saviour, and the ardent, nervous, and dignified elocution of St. Paul. The former, who spake, as never man spake, had the wonderful power of at once instilling into the hearts of his audience conviction of their errors, and admiration of the Divine Teacher. With regard to the latter, it is enough to say, that Longinus has enrolled him among the most eminent and admired Orators of Ancient Greece. It may also be some additional proof that one of the learned Fathers of the. Church, being asked what he should most particularly desire to see, where he able to command three wishes, replied: Petrum

1

in Cathedra, Paulum concionantem, et Christum

in carne.

Moreover, it is not only the religious, or learned that should study the writings of the inspired authors; but even the narrow-minded self-interested man of the world would learn more from hence, than from all the elegance and artifice of Lord Chesterfield, and his followers. If he wishes thoroughly to understand the manners of mankind, and the deceits of that World, which he worships, let him study the Proverbs of Solomon, and the sayings of the Son of Sirach. I do not mean that he can from thence learn to adjust his neckcloth, or shoestrings, according to the nice regulations of fashion. But he may at least adopt those arts, which are best calculated to delude the ignorant, and to conceal the viciousness of his heart, in defiance of the curse of God, and the denunciation of these divine Masters.

E.

THE

MINIATURE.

NUMB. XXXIV.

MONDAY, April 1, 1805.

O dulces comitum valete cœtus!

CATULLUS.

Farewell, my much lov'd friends! a long

farewell!

MR. GRILDRIG is gone! The Fates have torn him from the beloved haunts of his childhood, and he has for ever bid adieu to the society of his Fellow-Citizens! A short account however of the circumstances attending his departure, may perhaps not be uninteresting to the Public.

This morning at an early hour, the stage, in which Mr. Grildrig had previously taken a place, was announced. In a few minutes, his baggage, which was by no means on an extensive scale, was deposited in the boot; and the passengers were waiting for their unfortunate companion. Mr. Grildrig appeared to view the vehicle with as much dissatisfaction, as a condemned

malefactor would the cart, which was to carry him to the gallows. He still lingered in the shop,-He looked mournfully around,—a tear glistened in the corner of his eye,--The Printer stretched forth a proof-sheet, which he was holding in his hand, and caught the precious drop,It fell upon the word Eton,-the allusion was striking, it was too much,-we all burst into tears,—a silence of some moments ensued,-but it was too. delightful for continuance. A discordant voice screamed from the inside,-a dog put its head out of the basket and barked,-the guard blew his horn,-the coachman swore."Alas! Mr. Gexclaimed I, we must

part, let us employ these last moments in a mutual embrace,”—we did so, he then shook hands with the printer,-slipped half a crown into the devil's hand-and leaped into the coach with an air of affected ease and unconcern,-I still followed him with my eyes,-he thrust his head through the side-window,-gazed once more upon the well-known objects, then seemed to swallow his grief at one gulp, and sunk back into his seat!!

Overcome with melancholy, I retired into my back-parlour. I recalled his many good qualities into my recollection, his mirth, his wit, his affability. I tried to remember every direction