world that these exceptions are by no means so rare as is imagined, and, if ever the honourable views, the generous wishes, of the British nation are realized, civilization will, I am sure, mature and create very many more. Indeed, we are not sufficiently acquainted with the negroes of the interior to decide upon their characters en masse.' -Reply, p. 72. As to the accusation of Mr Bowdich having" offered his services to the French Institute," the following statement in his Reply will show, that the very reverse is the fact. "As to the offers of my services to the French, Baron Humboldt, Baron Cuvier, Sir Sidney Smith, Biot, and all my friends know and will attest, that such a thing was never even suggested; although, as one of the Secretaries of State of my own country observed, I should have been perfectly justified if I had. Unhappily for Mr Murray's geographer, I have a voucher to shew that overtures were made to me, and, as the friends before mentioned can prove, declined, from a feeling which they commended; although others, equally zealous for my interest, called it a foolish enthusiasm. I hope the continued neglect of my own government will not give me reason to think so too. This voucher is the note of M. Dupin, a gentleman whose account of his mission to England has lately come under the notice of the Quarterly Review, and who, fortunately for me, is a public character well known in both coun tries. "Paris Mercredi, 17 Novembre 1819. "MONSIEUR,-Son Excellence le Ministre de la Marine et des Colonlés, qui désire beaucoup vous connaitré, vous prie de venir demain matin, avec moi, déjeuner chez lui. "Si vous voulez avoir la complaisance de venir me prendre à 10 heures précises, j'aurai le plaisir de vous conduire. "Veuillez croire à tout le désir que j'ai de vous étre, à la fois utile et agréable. J'ai l'honneur de vous saluer, (Signed) "CH. DUPIN. "I did not know M. Dupin's person even, before he visited me on the part of the Minister. I was given to understand, that I might have a carte blanche given me for my scientific expeditions, that I should be attached to the Senegal establishment, and for the twelve months or the period preceding my sailing, be adjoined to the Colonial Board. M. Biot, who conversed with M. Dupin on the subject in my behalf, can and will attest, that, expressing my sense of the compliment, I urged my aversion to undertake any thing inconsistent with my feelings as an Englishman, or which might place me in an invidious point 66 Having thus selected from the work before us what appears to us to be a satisfactory refutation of the only serious charges brought against Mr Bowdich by the Quarterly Review, we must add, that the manner in which that gentleman conducts his defence is by no means commendable. We conceive, indeed. that the vigorous and energetic character of mind which fits a man for enterprises of difficulty and danger, is hardly compatible with the caution and circumspection which are required in the management of a Mr Bowdich, literary controversy. feeling strongly what we must confess appear to us unmerited wrongs, has been led to use such rash and abusive language, as cannot but offend the taste of the cool and dispassionate reader; and seems to us to stand somewhat in need of the warning of Lord Byron, that there is one suband none agrecable." The best thing on which all men are fluent, ject, we can say in his defence is, that if he had possessed that coolness of temper which would have enabled him to manage this controversy with more address and judgment, we should have had less hopes than we now have, of his ultimately silencing all his enemies by successful enterprises on a theatre where he need not fear their competition. We understand, that under the friendly direction of the most illustrious traveller of the present day, and of the most distinguished scientific men of Paris, he has been industriously fitting himself for making more scientific observations on his next journey in Africa, than any other traveller has yet made in that Continent. We cannot suppose, that after he has acquired all this knowledge, an opportunity of applying it will be find that he has friends on whom the long denied him; and we rejoice to public may depend for procuring him such an opportunity. The two following letters, from two of our most celebrated naval heroes, may well console a man of his enterprising spirit, for the ill humour of many critics. "I reckon on you, as I have ever since the first notice of your penetration into the interior, as an instrument under Providence for the introduction of civilization and hu manity amongst the barbarians that now (Signed) Reply, pp. 42, 43. "I mentioned in my letter a few days since, that I had enclosed Mr Bowdich's papers to my brother,* and to-day I have them returned by him, with the following remark, to use his own words:- I have read all Mr Bowdich's letters, and I think as I did; the subject is very interesting, and he has been very ill used, and that our affairs in Africa are in very bad hands. I was present at a Trinity House dinner with Lord Liverpool, when he spoke of Mr Bowdich's work in the highest terms, as the most interesting he had ever read, and the most extraordinary. Mr Bowdich will have a very difficult task to get heard as he ought to be; but he will succeed at last, either here or in France. Truth and reason are his own.' "You will carry all this back to my friend. Believe me, dear Madam, &c. (Signed) "S. PELLEw. "Mrs Bowdich."-Reply, pp. 43, 44. hitherto for the sake of those whom it is my duty to support and protect, and I will struggle still no privation, no persecution, no suffering, can drive me to despair. There is but one in the bitter catalogue of the necessities of life that appals me that of suing for favour, for the means of existence, from those who have slandered and insulted me. If, as an Englishman, I can by any possibility be reduced to this, I may, perhaps, forget myself as a Christian. To drive me from the determination of returning to Africa is impossible, for that would be to desert the cause to which I have pledged my life; to seal the triumph of my enemies; and I hope, I pray, that the benevolent feelings of the present members of the British Government may not be afflicted by the recollection that they have been persuaded to be unjust to me, when it is too late to take me by the hand and tell me so; when a family which depends on my exertions for support will reply, that I have fallen in the interior of Africa, the victim of disinterested zeal and unsupported enterprise.' "But this must not be my conclusion; it would look like seeking that pity which 1 regard as little better than insult; rather let me recal my firmness, my pride, and my disdain, to tell my enemies to pursue their honourable course, if it pleases them; to unite against an unpatronized individual who never injured them. I can ask a fafriends-it is, to attack me openly: I am vour of them when I cannot ask one of my ready to reply."—Reply, pp. 108, 109. REMARKS ON THE FALL OF JERUSA- MEN of mediocrity and self-conceit have been heard to complain, that it had fallen to their lot to live at too late a period of time to attain eminent distinction either as philosophers or as poets. Discoveries, say they, in any of the sciences, are no longer to be It were almost an insult to our counexpected; the walks of literature have try to apprehend, that one of whom been all pre-occupied; and both the such men think so highly, can be subjects and the imagery of poetry doomed to so melancholy a destiny, as have been all appropriated. The inthat which the neglect of his former ference, which persons of this descrippatrons has led his imagination to pic-wish their hearers to draw from this tion-and they are a numerous race ture. "My country has abandoned its interest in my life, and it is now my own. My feelings are altered by injury and adversity; they are become more independent, and are prouder. I have struggled *Lord Exmouth. mode of talking is, that, had they lived at an earlier period, they would have obtained a conspicuous niche in the Temple of Fame, and been revered by successive generations of posterity for the splendour and utility of their * London: John Murray, 1820. mental achievements. The vast accessions of knowledge which, of late years, have rewarded investigation and enterprise, and still more the truly "beautiful and sublime" displays of original genius, which are daily appearing to charm and transport all who have imaginations to captivate, and hearts to feel, ought for ever to shame such persons into si lence, and lead them to estimate their limited talents more justly. The names of Davy, Scott, Byron, and other gifted individuals, will here occur to the recollection of our readers -persons who have commanded the admiration and the gratitude of their countrymen, for the noble use their genius has enabled them to make even of the objects with which we are most familiar and daily conversant-who have constructed for themselves monuments of deathless fame from materials deemed by men of ordinary minds too worthless or insignificant once to draw their regard. And yet, when we see so much made of them, we are apt to wonder why they could be so long overlooked. The same praise, we think, is due to Mr Milman, who has been fortunate not merely in the choice of a consecrated, an unappropriated, and withal a well known theme, but has been equally happy in the execution of his design. Numerous and great as are the rivals with which a poet of the present day must cope in his way to distinction, we hesitate not to affirm, that, in point of elevation of sentiment, dignity of language, developement of character, and, above all, the energy of the lyrical strains with which the piece is diversified, the author of " The Fall of Jerusalem" is fully entitled to take his station in the first rank of poetical eminence. The opening of this drama is well fitted to command attention. At the close of the day, Titus, with his officers around him, stands upon the Mount of Olives with Jerusalem full in his view, and directs Caius Placidus to advance the eagles even to the walls of that" rebellious city." The description of the city is given in the following splendid strains. And barren salt be sown on yon proud city. As through a valley sacred to sweet peace, sumptuous palaces, With cool and verdant gardens interspers'd; Here towers of war that frown in massy strength. While over all hangs the rich purple eve, A mount of snow fretted with golden pinnacles! The very sun, as though he worshipp'd there, Lingers upon the gilded cedar roofs; coes, On every flowery sculptur'd capital Titus, however, feels himself borne against the devoted city by an overpowering impulse, which, though finely imagined, and justifiable, both by and the predictions concerning the a reference to the tenets of Paganism, destruction of Jerusalem, ought, we think, to have been less perceptible to himself, and the commander of the mitted to feel that he retained his free Roman legions might have been peragency. The resolute obstinacy with which the Jews withstood the authoed sufficient to account for his deterrity of Rome might have been deemmination to devote them, with their capital city, to destruction. The exquisite beauty of the next scene must plead our excuse for giving Javan, a Christian, who had left the so long an extract. The speakers are city, and Miriam, daughter of Simon, surnamed the Assassin, one of the chief leaders of the Jews. The Fountain of Siloe.-Night.. JAVAN. Sweet fountain, once again I visit thee! And thou art flowing on, and freshening still 3 x Stands conqueror: and how the Roman conquers, Let Gischala, let fallen Jotapata They slew them, Miriam, the old gray men, From mine own heart, my life-blood's dearest drops) They slew them, Miriam, at the mother's breast, The smiling infants ;-and the tender maid, The soft, the loving, and the chaste, like thee, They slew her not till Mir. Javan, 'tis unkind! I have enough at home of thoughts like these, Thoughts horrible, that freeze the blood, and make A heavier burthen of this weary life. I hoped with thee t' have pass'd a tranquil hour, A brief, a hurried, yet still tranquil hour! -But thou art like them all! the miserable Have only Heaven, where they can rest in |