399 Observations on New-Zealand. 400 the sting is blunted, if sympathy extend her aid. But for the assistance of kind friends, many a one could hardly have sustained the heavy burden. So strong is the desire of sym may be circumstances to cause the variations. Prosperity elates us; we should, therefore, remember that we do not exceed proper bounds; nor indulge so much in our joy, that we should be unable to bear sorrow when-pathy, that we often hear people reever it may come. Adversity depresses us; Christians can bear it with patience, knowing that this world is not their home and resting place: others can tell better than we can, how they endure it. People are too often apt to lay their losses and gains to fortune: I think that a good and wise Providence ordains what shall befall a man; that there is no acting at random. Sometimes a man has to blame his own negligence, when adversity overtakes him. Act with a good conscience in all things; humbly rely on the Almighty; act up to the great doctrines of Christianity, and the precepts of our blessed Redeemer; and you will be his care, and he will give you needful things for body and soul. Those who despise our holy religion, have no consolation afforded them in the season of adversity: they are worse off than even the Roman moralist, who was a heathen. He could with rapture adopt those words so consoling to his mind, "O præclanum diem, cum ad illud divinam animorum, consilium cœlumque proficiscar; cumque ex hac turba et colluvione discedam." It would be too much to contemplate at present the difference of motive, occupation, and workings, which exists between the mind of one individual and that of another. The varieties which are evident within one individual mind, are enough to astonish. At one time eager after one pursuit, it climbs its difficulties with agility: then comes the moment of reflection; this object is not worth its consideration; or another starts up in its place, which is liked better, and which pleases, perhaps, merely on account of its novelty. And, when old age comes to sum up the time it has occupied, taking into the account all the events intervening between the day in which the man was born and the present, it appears like a dreamit is scarcely believed to have been realized. There is one passion so closely knit with the human heart, that I cannot forbear mentioning it; viz. sympathy. In misfortunes, as they are called, half count their troubles, I could almost say, with a sort of satisfaction. In fact, the desire of it is inherent in human nature; and all must allow its beauty. We have those two golden sentences recorded in the Scriptures: Weep with them that weep;" and, "Rejoice with them that rejoice." 66 What is in opposition to this sentiment is disagreeable to both the parties. Who, that has experienced the burden of ill-timed mirth, would wish to feel it again? There is a season for every thing, both for mirth and sorrow. Nature will have her way in this imperfect state. Perfection will not arrive till the immortal spirit, unfettered from the shackles of flesh and sense, shall enjoy its primitive freedom and blessedness. A. H. OBSERVATIONS ON NEW-ZEALAND. London, Feb. 28th, 1821. MR. EDITOR. MANY of the New-Zealanders with whom I am acquainted, possess fine tempers and natural dispositions.From this, we, as having a concern for their souls, and breathing a missionary spirit, may derive great encouragement to labour among them, and for their benefit, both in temporal and spiritual subjects. The awful customs, and cruel superstitions, with which the minds of this people are enveloped, call aloud for Christian zeal and benevolence, in order to rescue them from the grand enemy of man's salvation. New-Zealand must rise in importance in the eyes of the nations of Europe. Its situation is favourable. Its climate and soil are very encouraging. Its natural productions are inviting; and the noble inhabitants are calculated to inflame the hearts of Christians with spirits of enterprise, especially in the missionary department, which has for its object the universal spread of the gospel of peace, and the salvation of every tribe and race of men. New-Zealand is, and will be more 401 Letter from New South Wales.-Fooleries of Olden Time. 402 and more, a place of importance to the South-sea whalers. While I continued in the island, a ship came into harbour to procure provision for their passage home; which was done without any difficulty, and at a very small expense. This was a saving of 150 pounds, if not 200; for if the captain had gone to Sydney in New South Wales, he would have had harbourage to pay, and provision to procure at a dear rate; besides, the ship being at New-Zealand, the captain was a fortnight's sail nearer home, then he would have been had he put into Port Jackson; and provided the ship had not been full, she was within one day's sail of the whaling district. road will be clear in a month. The country is beautiful, and fully equal to my most sanguine expectations, for all the necessary purposes of colonization. Picture to yourself large extensive downs, not plains, some as large as from fifty to sixty thousand acres, without a tree, and well watered, partly by rippling streams, partly by chains of ponds in all directions. There are many plains of different sizes, and the hills and broken country around are thickly clad with excellent timber. It is in fact a most desirable country; and before next Christmas I confidently anticipate, we shall prove that the snow and rain which fall on the mountains and high I have no doubt of the safety of country seen to the S. W. have an ships, when lying at anchor at New-outlet to the sea. The lake is called Zealand, provided captains and crews by the natives Warrewaa, and is stated treat the natives with humanity and by them to empty its waters in a kindness; if they do not so, the New-southerly direction, where we perZealanders will be revenged. If a ceive an opening in the high land, on European should kill a native man, its west margin, by a river they call the brethren of his tribe will demand | Murrum-hid-gee. The lake runs from an European to be put to death on his N. to S. about 30 miles, and extends account. However, I can say, that in breadth from two to ten miles, its the great kindness and hospitality of margin abounding in the most picthis people towards me, during my turesque bays and points." stay among them, far surpassed my most sanguine hopes and expectations. They are in my view a noble race of people. I am Sir, your's, &c. LETTER FROM NEW SOUTH WALES. London, Feb. 28th, 1821. MR. EDITOR. I am, Sir, your's, &c. "You will see I am in a fair way of FOOLERIES OF THE OLDEN TIME. MR. EDITOR. SIR,-The following extract from Evelyn's Memoirs will show that the art of rope-dancing has not made a great advance since the period in which he wrote, although its professors at the present day belong nominally to a higher class of creation: "Sept. 16th, 1660. I saw at Southwark, at St. Margaret's Fair, monkeys and apes dance and do other feats of activity on the high ropes; they were gallantly clad a la mode, went upright, saluted the company, bowing and pulling off their hats: they saluted one another with as good a grace as if instructed by a dancing-master; they turned heels over head with a basket having eggs in it, without breaking any; also with lighted candles in their hands, without extinguishing them; and with vessels of water, without spilling a drop. I also saw an Italian wench daunce and performe all the triks on the high rope to admiration: all the court went to see her.-Likewise here was a man who took up a piece of iron cannon of 403 Taste and Criticism. about 400lb. weight, with the haire of his head onely. 404 imagination; but they lose their relish gradually with their novelty; and are generally neglected in the maturity of life, which disposes to more serious and more important occupations. To those who deal in criticism as a regu ples, and giving scope to judgment as well as to fancy, the fine arts are a favourite entertainment; and in old age maintain that relish which they produce in the morning of life. “June 16th, 1670. I went with some friends to the Beare Garden, where were cock-fighting, beare and dogfighting and beare and bull-baiting; it being a famous day for all those but-lar science, governed by just princicherly sports, or rather barbarous cruelties. The bulls did exceeding well, but the Irish wolfe-dog greatly exceeded, which was a tall grey-hound, a stately creature indeede, who beate a cruel mastiff. One of the bulls toss'd a dog full into a lady's lap, as she sat in one of the boxes at a considerable height from the arena. Two poor dogs were killed, and so all ended with the ape on horseback, and I most heartily weary of the rude and dirty pastime, what I had not seene, I think, in twenty years before." HELOT. OF TASTE AND CRITECISM. A philosophical inquiry into the principles of the fine arts inures the reflecting mind to the most enticing sort of logic; the practice of reasoning upon subjects so agreeable tends to a habit; and a habit strengthening the reasoning faculties, prepares the mind for entering into subjects more difficult and abstract. To have in this respect a just conception of the importance of criticism, we need but reflect upon the common method of education; which, after some years spent in acquiring languages, hurries us, without the least preparatory discipline, into the most profound philosophy. A more effectual method to alienate the tender mind from abstract science is beyond the reach of invention; with respect to such speculations, the bulk of our youth contract a sort of hobgoblin terror, which is seldom, if ever, subdued. THE art of judging with propriety concerning any object, or combination of objects, is what we call taste and criticism. But in a more limited sense, the science of criticism is confined to the fine arts. The principles of the fine arts are best unfolded by studying the sensitive part of our nature, and by learning what objects are naturally agreeable, and what are naturally disagreeable. The man who aspires to be a critic in these arts, must pierce still deeper: he must clearly perceive what objects are lofty, what low, what are proper or improper, what are manly, and what are mean or trivial. Henee a foundation for judging of taste, and for reasoning upon it: where it is conformable to principles, we can pronounce with certainty that it is correct; otherwise, that it is incorrect, and perhaps whimsical. Thus the fine arts, like morals, become a rational science; and, like morals, may be cultivated to a high degree of refine-gradually from the simple to the more ment. A thorough acquaintance with the principles of the fine arts redoubles the entertainment these arts afford. To the man who resigns himself entirely to sentiment or feeling, without interposing any sort of judgment, poetry, music, painting, are mere pastime; in the prime of life, indeed, they are delightful, being supported by the force of novelty and the heat of Those who apply to the arts are trained up in a very different manner; they are led, step by step, from the easier parts of the operation to those that are more difficult; and are not permitted to make a new motion till perfected in those which regularly precede it. The science of criticism appears then to be a middle link, connecting the different parts of education into a regular chain. This science furnishes an inviting opportunity to exercise the judgment: we delight to reason upon subjects that are equally pleasant and familiar: we proceed involved cases: and, in a due course of discipline, custom, which improves all our faculties, bestows acuteness upon those of reason, sufficient to unravel all the intricacies of philosophy. Nor ought it to be overlooked, that the reasonings employed upon the fine arts are of the same kind with those which regulate our conduct. Mathematical and metaphysical reasonings 405 Taste and Criticism.-Jews. have no tendency to improve social intercourse; nor are they applicable to the common affairs of life: but a just taste in the fine arts, derived from rational principles, furnishes elegant subjects for conversation, and prepares us for acting in the social state with dignity and propriety. The science of rational criticism tends to improve the heart not less than the understanding. It helps, in the first place, to moderate the selfish affections; by sweetening and harmonizing the temper, it is a strong antidote to the turbulence of passion and violence of pursuit; it procures to a man so much mental enjoyment, that, in order to be occupied, he is not tempted in youth to precipitate into hunting, gaming, drinking; nor in middle age to deliver himself over to ambition; nor in old age to avarice. Pride and envy, two disgustful passions, find in the constitution no enemy more formidable than a delicate and discerning taste: the man upon whom nature and culture have bestowed this blessing, feels great delight in the virtuous disposition and actions of others; he loves to cherish them, and to publish them to the world: faults and failings, it is true, are to him not less obvious; but these he avoids, or removes out of sight, because they give him pain. On the other hand, a man void of taste, upon whom the most striking beauties make but a faint impression, has no joy but in gratifying his pride or envy by the discovery of errors and blemishes. In a word, there may be other passions, which, for a season, disturb the peace of society more than those mentioned: but no other passion is so unwearied an antagonist to the sweets of social intercourse: these passions, tending assiduously to their gratification, put a man perpetually in opposition to others; and dispose him more to relish bad than good qualities, even in a companion. How different that disposition of mind, where every virtue in a companion or neighbour is, by refinement of taste, set in its strongest light; and defects or blemishes, natural to all, are suppressed, or kept out of view! Nor does delicacy of taste tend less to invigorate the social affections than to moderate those that are selfish. To be convinced of this tendency, we need only reflect, that delicacy of taste 406 necessarily heightens our sensibility of pain and pleasure, and of course our sympathy, which is the capital branch of every social passion. Sympathy, in particular, invites a communication of joys and sorrows, hopes and fears: such exercise, soothing and satisfactory in itself, is necessarily productive of mutual good-will and affection. One other advantage of rational criticism is reserved to the last place, being of all the most important; which is, that it is a great support to morality. No occupation attaches a man more to his duty than that of cultivating a taste for the fine arts: a just relish of what is beautiful, proper, elegant, and ornamental, in writing or painting, in architecture or gardening, is a fine preparation for the same just relish of these qualities in character and behaviour. To the man who has acquired a taste so acute and accomplished, every action wrong or improper must be highly disgustful: if, in any instance, the overbearing power of passion sway him from his duty, he returns to it, upon the first reflection, with redoubled resolution never to be swayed a second time: he has now an additional motive to virtue, a conviction, derived from experience, that happiness depends on regularity and order, and that a disregard to justice or propriety never fails to be punished with shame and remorse. 407 Fragment of a Day-Book. FRAGMENT OF A DAY-BOOK. (Continued from col. 370.) "Moscow, 1st May, 1797.-THE king has profited by the absence of the court, to look at all the curiosities of the Kremlin. Here one meets with all the splendour of the ancient czaars and patriarchs. Amongst the dresses, richly embroidered with pearls, there are some which weigh exactly as much as the armour of the present knights of the imperial guard, viz. 60 pounds. one showed also to the king a parchment rolled up in a cylindrical form, which contained a kind of law codex of the czaar Alexei Michailowitch, father of Peter the Great, and which was preserved in a golden box, according to the express command of Catherina II. The same empress has bestowed many ecclesiastical ornaments and golden vases on the cathedral, and these objects are not only covered with precious stones, but the enamel-painting and the beauty of the workmanship surpass every thing that France produced of the kind. The monument in silver, which she had made for a lately canonized saint, and the picture and the surrounding ornaments, bear the marks of a very different taste from that which prevailed under the Grecian emperors. The king has also seen the crown of Wladimir the Great, who laid the foundation of the Russian monarchy at Kiew: the most antique dresses are ornamented with little bells, which remind one of Aaron's costume. Amongst the furniture of the czaars, there are also long silver chains, with which the horses were yoked to the chariots on days of ceremony. One of the largest rooms in the Kremlin is filled with the model of a palace (by a Russian architect) which was to contain the whole of this kind of fortress, with all its different courts and churches; because, according to the laws of the Russian church, no temple which has been once dedicated to God can ever be removed. "The coronation took place in the largest of these churches, where one shows, amongst other curiosities, which have been brought from Constantinople, one of the nails of the holy cross. Near to this church are the tombs of the czaars, covered with rich stuffs: the grave of Iwan Wasilewitch, surnamed the Severe, is covered with black velvet, in remembrance of 408 his having worn a monk's cowl during his last illness. The king ascended the steeple of Iwan Welike (John the Great) from whose top one can overlook the whole immense city. There hangs a bell upon it, which was cast under Elizabeth, and which is nine Polish ells in diameter. It is still in use, but it is much smaller than that which the empress Anna had made, and which, falling down, stuck so deep in the earth, that one was obliged to dig around it, in order to show it to the curious. By the piece which was knocked off by the fall, one may perceive the thickness of the metal, which amounts to more than half an ell; the diameter is almost twelve ells, and the height is fifteen: it must have cost at least 100,000 rubles. "Not far from this buried bell is a battery of seven immense cannons, directed on the river, but long out of use, for fear of shaking the neighbouring buildings. The largest amongst these cannons is said to date from John the Severe, and would fire a ball of 150 pounds. In the armoury one finds amongst others, two swords of Peter the Great, whose length and weight are in proportion with his size and strength; there are also a pair of his boots, and near them the boots and the sword of his grandson Peter II. whose property cuts, however, but a puny figure, as he died at the age of fifteen. By the dress, which is according to the French fashion of that time, one perceives, that the star of the order of Alexander was fastened on the waistcoat, and only that of Andreas upon the coat. Amongst the numberless vases and pieces of furniture of the ancient czaars, a clock may be distinguished, of which the grandson of John the Severe is said to have made use, and another on which a cock crows quite as well as that of gilded bronze in the Taurish palace, which is looked upon as a curiosity." "6th May.-To-day the king rode on horseback up a hill, which is called Worobziwa Gora (Sparrow-mount) and from which one has the best prospect of the town. Catherine had transported there a wooden palace, which had been erected in town to serve during the celebration of the festivities after the first peace with the Turks, but which is now decaying very fast: this is a pity; because the declivity is so soft, and the situation |