All those who have distinguishsd which a reverend instruetor of youth themselves during the period of which ought not to remember with praise we speak, have been foreign to the from the chair of an academy. banks of the Arno. Tornielli is a But if Pignotti should be brought Novarese ; Quirico Rossi, a Vicentine; forward, who remains to compare with Granelli, a Genovese ; and Turchi is Savioli the Bolognese ; with Gherardo from Parma. If the Tuscans boast of Rossi and Rolli the Romans ; with SaOrsi among the Cardinals, we shall landri of Mantua ; with Minzoni of remember us of Bentivoglio;Alberoni, Ferrara ; with Bertola of Rimini ; with and Gerdil; and that, since the days Cerretti of Modena ; with Lamberti of of Leo X., no Tuscan has added the Reggio ; with Mazza of Parma ; with glory of letters to the splendour of Cesarotti of Padua, and a hundred the triple crown, and that such Popes others ? And what living Tuscan poet as have since built to themselves a can be opposed to Pindemonte of Vename as literati or politicians, have rona; to Arici of Brescia ; to Foscolo heen either Bolognese, like Benedict of the Ionian Isles ; to Paradisi (I XIV. or from Rimini, like Clement mean Giovanni) of Reggio; to Forti ; XIV., or from Cesena, like Pius the to Manzoni of Milan; and especially VI.

to the illustrious compatriot of Ariosto, The further we proceed, the strong- Monti ? er the arguments become in favour of Among the translators in verse, the my assertions. Dramatic, tragic, and Tuscans have Marchetti ; but are they comic poetry, exhibit in Tuscany a ignorant to whom we owe Porpora, mighty blank. All the reformers of the translator of Statius, and all the the Italian theatres all the greatest others, the first of their day? such as writers, the capiscuola, have flourished Manara, Bondi, Vincenzi, Solari, Gheout of Tuscany. Apostolo Zeno was a rardini,(Gio.)Leoni, Pindemonte, FosVenetian ; the alone* Metastasio was colo, Strocchi, Venini, Bellotti, Monti? a Roman ; the author of Merope, Maf. In matters satyrical, they had indeed fei, was a Veronese; the mighty Alfieri Menzini. (Settano need not be menwas from Asti; the Moliere of Italy, tioned, as he wrote in Latin.) But duGoldoni, was Venetian, as was also his ring the period which we are diseussrival Gozzi; the first of those now li- ing, they have no poet in that departving, the advocate Nota, is a Piedmon- ment to compare with Parini and Zatese; Giraud, his competitor, is a Ro- noja; and that may be said without man ; Albertoni is from Bologna, and any disrespect to D'Elci, though he, Federici from Turin. Indeed, it is among the living, is certainly good. much to be lamented that comedy, În didactic poetry, Tuscany can which might have attained so much of name neither the best, nor the good, grace from the lips of the Tuscan peo- nor the middling, and ple, more especially in the embellish

Quella cetra gentil che sulla riva ment of familiar dialogue, should have

Cantò di Mincio Dafne e Melibeo, been a field fruitful only beyond the Tuscan territory; and where the written language is not to be found, except Poichè con voce piu canora e viva in the pens of the literati.

Celebrato ebbe Pale ed Aristeo, Let us pass to the lyric poets of this when taken from Alamanni and Rucand the preceding century, and inquire cellai, from the ancient oak on which who can be put in competition with it had been suspended, was by no other Manfredi of Bologna ; with Frugoni of poet saving these two, even touched in Genoa ; with Varano of Romagna; Tuscany; and to Spolverini alone did with Agostino Paradisi of Reggio; with it answer not disdainfully. Indeed, Bondi of Mantua ; and, above all, with

so enchanted was the didactive muse Parini of Milan ? Will the Tuscans with the verses which sung, speak of their Pignotti? Their own Abate Cardella, Professor in the semi

a

a

Spolverini she passed to Betti, who murio Toscano di voci piane sdrucciole sung the praises of the silk-worm ; e tronche, a work, says the Pisan Prothen to Lorenzi, whose sweet strains fessor Cardella, “ tanto utile ai cultori made the mountains of Verona echo della volgar poesia," and the Rimario with precepts for their cultivation; Toscano itself were compiled by a Piedthen to Tiraboschi, whose songs so montese, Rosaco ; and all the best enliven the season of fowling, the great vocabularies, Italian and Latin, Itaautumnal amusement of the Berga- lian and French, Italian and English, masques ; afterwards to Ghirardelli, Italian and German, have been formthe poet of the gardens; and, lastly, ed out of Tuscany, by Facciolati and to Arici, who sung of the pastoral life Forcellini of Padua, by Alberti and and the culture of the olive.

Baretti of Piedmont, by Borroni and But as I have also accused them of De Filippi of Lombardy; so much so great penury of prose writers, 'let us indeed, that neither their academisee whether such accusation be calum- cians nor literary men knew how to nious or true. Salvini, Cocchi, Lami, be useful in the unhappy times of Giglj, these are their luminaries. But their servitude; that is, when a hard deare such the names from which Italian cree had transplanted into their official literature derives its chief honour du- chambers, and affixed to the corners of ring the period of which we treat? their beautiful Florence, proclamations, Italy is proud of greater riches; and notices, and laws, in the French lanthe Florentine Academy itself must guage, rather than in their native bend its front to the names of Pom- tongue. That appeared to have been pei, Algarotti, Bianconi, the two Gozzi, the fit moment for their philosophers the three Zanotti, Rezzonico, Maffei, to penetrate the genius of the two Mattei, Bettinelli, Cesarotti, Vanetti, languages ; for their academicians to Alessandro Verri, &c. &c., of whose institute comparisons, and to profit works editions without number are by the labours of the French in the spread through Italy, and in Tuscany arts, trades, and manufactures, and to itself. If from the dead we should provide Italy with a vocabulary, which wish to pass to the living, and inquire would serve as a guide in the nomen, who, among the prose writers of the clature of household implements and present day, are acknowledged by all plenishing, (arnesi)ofmechanical utenItaly as the most beautiful, the pu- sils, of instruments and their parts; a rest, the most correct, assuredly no labour which is still wanting, which one would search for such in Tuscany, the Tuscans owe to the rest of Italy, butin Verona, Milan, Piacenza, Parma, and which writers, not Tuscan, feel Rome, Naples, Palermo, and else- the want of every day. where. And that which further adds But who would believe that neither to their poverty, and that of their an elementary book of any value on academy particularly, is, that the Tus- the language, nor any good grammar can tongue, their own exclusive patri- had seen the light in Tuscany during mony, so to speak, even the very vo- all this period ? The best book on the cabulary of the Crusca, was neither verbs is by Mastrofini of Rome; the illustrated nor increased by them, but most beautiful work on the philosophy by us; of which the many voluminous of the language is that of Cesarotti of labours on this subject, all compiled Padua, and the Grammar of the Tusout of Tuscany, afford ample proof. can tongue, so much praised, and of Such was the great Dizionario critico- which there have been a hundred edis Enciclopedico-universale della lingua tions, is by Corticelli of Bologna ;“ il Italiana, compiled by 'Alberti, the quali (these are the words of a Tuscan, Piedmontese ; such the great vocabu- Cardella of Pisa,) ad istanza degli aclary of Bergantini, of Padua, and all cademici della crusca chi applaudirono its additions ; such the Gran Vocabo- sommamente a questa sua opera, comlario della Crusca, increased by above pilò pure il libro contenente Cento disfifty thousand articles by the Father corsi sopra la Toscana eloquenza.” By. Cesari of Verona ; such the Dizionario which it would appear, that the Acadi Marina, in three languages, by demicians, for these last 120 years, have Count Stratico of Padua; and such is limited themselves to applauding and the Gran Vocabolario, with which a ordering, rather than themselves persociety of literary men is at this time forming any useful labour. engaged at Lologna. Even the Rin But it is time to put an end to this

Vol. X.

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2 T

e

disputation, in which it is difficult to della vostra fama fondata dall' Aliavoid offending the self-love of many. ghieri, dal Boccaccio e dal Petrarca. To me it suffices to have shewn, that Il popolo di Toscano è quello che in my assertion was not without founda- Italia parla meglio, i letterati quelli tion in truth, and that although re- che scrivono peggio."

If this last senstricted in time, and bound over to tence should be the one which affords periodical labour, which is said to be least pleasure to the Tuscans, they impatient of the file, if it be not given must know that it is not wholly mine, me to aspire to the praises of elegance, but that it proceeded long ago from I seek at least not to bely those of im- the pen of one of their famous counpartiality and justice. Till such time, trymen, even a founder of their Acathen, as the contrary be proved, (not demy, the celebrated Lasca. It is thus by vain declamation) but by facts, he expresses himself: what I have already asserted will remain forever true. "Che già da qualche

La lingua nostra è ben da forestieri,

Scritta assai più corretta e regolata ; tempo i migliori poeti, i migliori proi

Perchè dagli scrittor puri e sinceri satori Italiani non sono di Toscana.

L'hanno leggendo e studiando imparata. Che

questa veritá, dura ad intendersi pei Toscani, dee aver molto contribui. With all due reverence both to the to a far perdere anche al tribunale Academician and the Academy, itwould della crusca quella autorita di cui have been difficult to express any thing godeva ai tempi del Magalotti, del more just and true, in more wretched Redi e del Salvini, ultimi sostegni rhymes.

TOM BROWN'S TABLI-TALK. Tom Brown, the Aretine of the last dence, he lost at once respectability of century, is now almost forgotten. The character and permanency of fame.wit of his writings is so essentially al. With humour which Rabelais and lied to indecency, and the gaiety of his Cervantes could hardly surpass, he humour to profligacy, that, by pander- lies neglected on the shelf, from which ing to the bad taste of a licentious æra, he is seldom taken except by those he has completely forfeited his claim whom his impurity allures : 'an exto exist beyond his day. Yet certainly ample how genius may be prodigally he was a writer of no ordinary talents. squandered, or irretrievably lost, in When we consider that the greatest misapplication or subservience to ephepart, if not all, of his productions, meral purposes. were written to supply his immediate For the reason abovementioned, his necessities, and written, too, after the works do not present us many passages intoxication of the debauch, or in the which can with propriety be extracted. sadness of returning reflection, we HisTable-Talk is, however, entertainmust be fastidious indeed to withhold ing enough for us to wish it longer. a certain portion of praise. He was a There is an acuteness in some of the scholar of no mean or inconsiderable remarks, which evinces that Brown standing, and wrote Latin with great was not deficient in practical knowelegance and facility. With his brother ledge of the world, however little he wit, D'Urfey, he contributed conti- might be inclined to put it to use. nually to the amusement of the town, We subjoin a few extracts from the not less by his various writings, than collection; and shall probably at some by his convivial powers of entertain- future time give our readers some acment. To go to London without dining count of his " Amusements of London with Tom Brown or Tom D'Urfey, and Westminster," one of the most would then have been a solecism in curious records of the manners of his manners, sufficient to make the visita. time. tion incomplete. Of the two, Brown was unquestionably the superior in Every church sets up for the best and wit and keenness of observation. He honestest. The Pope succeeded St Peter, appears to have possessed some points

as Dr Gibbons got all his practice by taking

Dr Lower's house. in common with the unfortunate Savage. Like Savage, he was the hack

A patriot is generally made by a pique at of booksellers ; like Savage, he was the enlivener and inspiriter of conversar college upon his own dungl.sil; nothing to

Nothing is so imperious as a fellow of a tion; and, like Savage, from a disrea despicable abroad. gard of the common maxims of pru- A man that gets a great estate out of a

court.

for.

a

little post, is like a man that grows fat upon devised by themselves, never practised bcmatrimony.

fore in any part of the world, and we hope It is a jest to think those that have power will never be practised again. element will not take care to support themselves Our dirines have invented new measures against all that attack 'em.

of allegiance, and new salvo's for swearing : How apt are we to flatter ourselves, and our projectors new lotteries ; the ladies a overlook our own infirmities? A drunkard new sort of tea ; the vintners new names for thanks God he has no sacrilege to answer old stum ; the physicians and soldiers new

methods of murder. The author of The Whole Duty of Man

The

of Magellan may afford concealed himself; perhaps vanity in that. new discoveries, but religion hardly any;

A woman that tells you she'll cry out, the Old and New Testament have been so il and a man that threatens to cut your throat, unmercifully beaten up by poachers of all will both be worse than their words. countries, that one can no more expect to

What signifies it, whether one is chosen start any fresh game there, than a tub of by his tenants, that dare not refuse him, or good ale at a country bowling-greeri, after come in by bribery ?

the justices have paid it a visit. The society of reformers, I am afraid, Vice passes safely under the disguise of has made no mighty progress in the extir. devotion; as, during the late war, French pation of vice; they have only beat it out wine, under another name, escaped the of one part of the town, to make it settle in custom-house. another.

There is more fatigue and trouble in a It was observed, that when the apotheca. lazy, than in the most laborious life ; who mi ries were soliciting for their bill that excused would not rather drive a wheel-barrow with

them from parish offices, that the weekly nuts about the streets, or cry brooms, than bills decreased considerably

be Arsennus ? To make a man out of love with soldiery, Montaigne, in his book of expence, pu let him see the traind bands exercise. down, Item, For my idleness, a thousand

Men reward the professions that incom- pounds. ramode them, as lawyers, &c., and give no Though we have so many cart-loads of

encouragement to those that divert them; polemic writers, yet the world has not been the reason of it is fear. Man fears to be much improved in knowledge by them; damned, therefore bribes the parson ; he when the learned Isaac Casaubon was shown fears to be sick, therefore keeps fair with the Sorbonne, says the person who introduthe physician ; he fears to be rooked out of ced him, There have been disputations kept his estate, therefore bribes the lawyer. here these four hundred years; but, replies

One that has advanced his fortune out of Casaubon, What have they decided all this nothing, is sure to be plagued with his re- while ? lations; for this reason a certain favourite A broken shop-keeper ends in an excisein France used to envy Methuselah, be- man; a decayed gentleman in a justice of cause he outlived them all.

N was bred to the law, and had no. A Pindaric muse, is a muse without her thing to live by but that; yet he who said stays on. he was no lawyer displeased him not; but He that puts on a clean shirt but once a to find fault with his poetry was an eternal quarter, opens his breast when it is so. affront.

A wise man will answer an objection be. All governments in the world will take fore it is made. Trebatius, whenever he met care to give the best outside to their affairs; a creditor, never gave him leave to dun him in the late war, our gazettes never men. first, but was sure to anticipate him. Well, tioned the loss of the East India ships, but faith, honest friend, (says he,) I am to took care to mention the taking a French blame, but thou shalt have thy money next privateer of two guns.

A man that seldom has money, takes There is not such a vast difference be. care to shew it in all companies when he tween peoples parts as the world imagines. has it, and pays his reckoning before it is A man is never ruined by dullness. called for ; we care not how deep we go Men are affected with any loss, according when we are upon tick ; when we pay ready to their different genius and temper ; when money we are more frugal.

the peace,

week.

1

ON THE PRESENT STATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT HOME.'

skill;

MR EDITOR,--Although no politi- public opinion; it displays, certainly, cian, I am yet one of those who take a great bravery of assertion, and a lofty strong interest in the general progress demeanour of loyalty, but it is far of public affairs, and, being deeply im- more vehement than the public are pressed with the conviction thata coun- disposed to sympathize with. It is fine try of such limited natural resources and beautiful, as an exhibition of art and small geographical extent as Great and genius; but it can produce no just Britain, to have acquired such domi, impression beyond that of admiration nion and mastery among nations, and at the rhetorician's and is only to have from the

exercise of individual calculated to keep up the apprehentalent and industry, conferred so ma- sion that a few weak, well-meaning are

ny boons on mankind, must, for a long minds still entertain of the power tid · course of ages, have been governed and ascendency of the radical and according to the spirit and genius of revolutionary spirit. It appears the people, I consider myself, what is me, that you have mistaken a tempo lume called, a true government man.- -I do rary ebullition of popular feeling for not mean that I am in all circumstan- the symptoms of an organized sys'ces, and at all times, a partizan of any tem of defiance and enmity to the ex. 'existing administration, but only an isting and constitutional order of adherent to that system which has be- things, and that the whole

in.

paper, come habitual in British policy, but stead of being applicable to the present from which, statesmen, both in and state of public opinion, is but a sound, out of place, are apt occasionally to ing reverberation of those old alarms, deviate." I think it necessary, sir, to which the first crash and explosion of the be thus explicit in addressing you, French Revolution naturally and justbecause, I have observed, that al- ly occasioned to every one who reflectthough in the main we are of the same ed on what was then obviously, the cast of political sentiment, still you tendency of the popular enthusiasm now and then have an ultra excess of and passion of that era. You seem to loyalty. I do not, observe, find fault think, that the same causes which with you for this; you are as justly overthrew the ancient government of entitled to the free exercise of your France, are actively at work in this opinions, as I consider myself to be country, and struggling onward to the to that of mine ; but I think it makes same issue. It may

be

SO; you liable to injure our common cause, a certain extent, it must be granted and therefore take the liberty of re that it is so; for in all times, and in monstrating with you on the subject; I all circumstances, the seeds of discondo this with the more emphasis, in con- tent exist in every community, and sequence of reading the eloquent article only require the influence of special entitled, “ THE LATE QUEEN,” in your causes to excite them to growth. last Number. But, perhaps, I may have

But, sir, notwithstanding the mani perused it under the disadvantage and festations of radical impudence, with influence of prejudice, for I am one of all the exaggerations and importance those government men who condemn- which alarmists attached to the absurd ed from first to last the whole course and shapeless schemes of that disora of proceedings directed against that derly and unorganized faction, there spirited, but foolish and unfortunate was a course of public policy regularly woman. Mark, however, it is only and gradually developing itself, which of the proceedings I speak : her guilt in its effects could not fail to weaken or innocence is another question upon the germinative principles of popular which I consider it quite unnecessary, disaffection. It now, indeed, appears

, now to offer any opinion ; and I have that both the government and the leonly alluded to the affair in order to gislature were deceived in the estimate notice the erroneous view which I con- which they were led to form of the ceive you have taken, not only of the strength and designs of the radicals

, circumstances of the Queen's funeral, and

certainly the important moral and but of the effects which you fancy are political fact

. wholly escaped them, to issue from them. The whole of your and seems still to be unheeded by you, article seems to me under the tone of that the results of the French Revo

indeed, to