intercourse with Mr. Imlay, or the gentleman to whom she was afterwards legally united; but we cannot sit in silence when motives are imputed to her which would have excited her utmost scorn and indignation. This article is already extended to a length which we did not foresee at the commencement of it, and we now feel it necessary to apologize for a still further extension of it. The little book before us is entitled "A Defence of the Character and Conduct of Mrs. Godwin:" in the course of his labour the author seems to have discovered, that a defence and an apology are two distinct things, but he does not appear to be sufficiently aware, that the conduct which requires an apology can not be defended, and that the conduct which is defensible very rarely requires an apology. We have more than once hinted our suspicion, that the author of this defence, or apology-call it which you will-is not so sincere in his regard for that character which he has summoned from the grave to stand a second time, as it were, before the bar of the public, as he affects to be; if, however, we are mistaken, if he is really and honestly anxious that the sentence which has been passed upon that ill-fortuned female should be revised and be reversed, he will think that our treatment of him requires an apology, although it is perfectly defensible. The feebleness of his defence is the strength of ours: it is that, connected with some inconsistencies that we have noticed, which first excited our suspicions; if we are mistaken, however, it is with great pleasure that we acknowledge and apologize. Let us now return from this digression. Mrs. Godwin, it is universally allowed, w a very original thinker; she prided herself, foolishly enough perhaps, in thinking differently from other people. She was not, however, singular in her opinion, that those ill-sorted matches of convenience, where the heart is not interested, are so many prostitutions of the person, to which the law gives currency. Sexual intercourse is common to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field : in man only is that connexion ennobled by the feelings of the heart and the affections of the mind, and it is these feelings alone and these affections which distinguish it from mere animal intercourse. Where they are wanting the parties become brutified and degrade the dignity of their superior nature. Te such extravagant and unwarrantable er cess did Mrs. Godwin carry this delicacy of sentiment, that as the ceremony c marriage cannot in the eye of reason sanction a mere sensual connexion, so neither did she conceive that a conner tion refined by sentiment and purified b all the affections of the heart, requires the ceremony of marriage to stamp with the seal of innocence. And yet th is the lady who is represented by her ap logist as having deliberately, and after mature calculation," commenced an intimacy" with Mr. Imlay-not because, exquisite as her feelings were, he had er cited them in his favour, not because she experienced any tender emotions, a mental attachment towards himthe connexion preceded the transfer of he affections, and was calmly set about w a philosophic view to fix them! Our author, however, thinks after a, that Mrs. Godwin's best apology f neglecting the marriage ceremony mea be sought for in the exercise of her pr vate judgment, and he introduces her pleading her own cause before an inginary Custos Morum, who calls her account for having despised the ord nances of the law. A miserable defence she makes of it. We had noted down some other c cumstances of weakness and incons ency in the defence, which tend to e borate our suspicions, particularly whe the conduct of Mr. Godwin is censure for some passages in the memoirs of wife. But the article is already ler and enough has been said, we trust, shew the weak and imprudent manne to say the least of it, in which this fence is conducted. Our object has be not to defend Mrs. Godwin, not to apologize for her conduct: it been merely to do her justice, to the imputation of improbable and honourable motives when others to be found, less objectionable in nature, and more probable because consonant with her character and ments. Most true, indeed, it is, that there certain individual points in the con of Mrs. Godwin, "over which every flecting and sympathizing heart w desire to throw an oblivious shade ever!" Knowing the generosity heart, the warmth of her affection superlative ardour and heroism of friendship, and the steadiness of her principles, it is deeply to be regretted that her conduct in many material particulars can never be held up to imitation; it was of a nature, indeed, so fraught with injury to civil society, that even those circumstances of palliation which which might be adduced in her favour individually by the man who is disposed to temper the severity of justice with the enderness of humanity, can scarcely be brought forward with impunity. But in ART. VIII. The Life of Richard Earl Howe. Let us now praise famous men, here be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported, heir seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out." We need not enter into the details of is life; those parts which do not be1g to the History of England, are such are common to all men; a few ancctes, that characterise the individual, ly be selected: Mr. Howe served on board the Burd, Captain Lushington, in 1743, when attempt was made on the town of I.a atta, upon the coast of Curacoa. The attack was made; the Burford sufd considerably; and the captain was killn the action. This attempt having failed, art-martial was held, relative to the cont of the Burford. Young Howe was parlarly called on for his evidence. He gave a clear and collected manner, till he came late the death of his captain. He could proceed no farther; but burst into tears, retired. There subsists a more intimate nce between steady courage and sensibithan the generality of men are aware of. In 1761, he acted as Captain to RearSaral his Royal Highness the Duke of , on board the Princess Amelia of 80 Spithead. In this situation he con By GEORGE MASON. 8vo. pp. 111. tinued during the remainder of the war; the Duke of York being always second in command to a senior admiral. Once, when he was in this service, the lieutenant of the watch went to him at midnight, and awaked him, saying, My lord, don't be frightened, the ship is on fire close to the magazine.' He sprung up, and replied in an angry tone, What do you mean by that, sir? I never was frightened in my life. I will be with you in a moment: but, in the mean time, give directions that nobody attempts to disturb his royal highness.' He went down instantly, and ordered wet swabs, and other proper remedies to quench the fire. He then went again upon deck, and, seeing all quiet, retired to sleep with his usual composure. This anecdote is so egregiously mis-reported in the Naval Chronicle, that the writer thought it his duty to correct that statement from Mr. L'Epine's Memoir." We recollect a somewhat similar anecdote of Lord Bridport, and relate it with the more pleasure, as that excellent admiral of the true old English school is still living. During the action of the first of June, one of his people came to inform him that the water was entering the ship fast. "Well, sir,” said the old seaman, never altering his deliberate manner of speaking," they may sink us, but they must not make us haul down that flag." Mr.Mason, with commendable warmth, notices the conduct of administration towards Lord Howe in 1793. "He always declared himself averse to the system of blocking up ports: he said, it was frequently ruinous to the shipping, and that, We allude to her noble conduct towards Miss Fanny Blood: the health of this lady be na decline, her physicians recommended her to go to Lisbon. At this time Mrs. n kept a school for her support: she heard that her friend was likely to die in a country, when, spurning every interested and prudential consideration, she bor e sum of money and instantly set off for Lisbon to catch the last breath of her expiring Say ye, whose clay-cold heads and luke-warm hearts can argue down, or your feelings, what would you have done? On her return, Mrs. Godwin found er school had materially suffered by her absence. The author of the Defence, inof dwelling on such a noble wait of Mrs. Godwin's character, has contented himself -glancing at it. from the uncertainty of winds, the possibility Ov. Met. I. v. 191.' We shall see the foul eruption strike in again; even though ministers nourished the growth of it-by their silence. They could say, after the memorable first of June, that they had always confided in their admiral; hut they chose not to say so now. This is no reflection of my own: they are the words of Earl Howe that I repeat. He had experienced the skulking principles of the same abettors in 1788." With the same feeling he comments upon their depriving him of the garter. "Public report asserted, that, anteceden to this visit, his Majesty of his own free wil had offered his victorious admiral a vacant blue ribband, or order of the garter; and that this offer so graciously made, had been a thankfully accepted. For this I quote on report, because I never heard it in terms rect from the victor's own mouth. It was not the practice of Lord Howe, to dival what had been imparted to him by his rev master. Yet neither did he contradict the report; and what he really said relative to the minister's behaviour on the occasion, to n own apprehension absolutely confirms i The minister, it seems (unknown to his no jesty) had already disposed of the vacant ater elsewhere." Mr. Mason is indeed no friend to the late minister. After sketching with friendly hand the character of Mr. Fe, he thus proceeds to delineate the r who, to the disgrace of England, has valled him in the struggle of power, and to the misfortune of the world, succeeded in that rivalry: "The other competitor for the prize. given remarkable proofs of his intimate a quaintance with the grand outlines of t British constitution. This he has manife ly evinced on the most trying occasions. Is has zealously maintained the doctrines of established government against its enemies whether designing or declares That he has equally adhered to such doctr in his own ministerial practice, is more a hermit's slight social habitude with enables him to vouch for. The write observe a total silence with regard to th rence peculiarly due from this exalted chur ter to the prescriptive rights, and knowe gulations of the elected body of legisla he can say nothing at all of the constitut probity with which this duty has been formed. But for the same person's rhett abilities, he seems to have inanifested not only in a different manner from that his rival, but different too from what has and is conspicuous in the most elon speakers of very modern date. His nata nius did not endow him with that reach imagination, which beamed so surpr on the auditors of Mr. Powis, afterwa Lord Lilford; and which still shines 1 with but little inferiority of lustre in the gant orations of Mr. Wyndham. Nor in any degree a match for the singular nancy of Mr. Sheridan (if we may argue t the only printed copies of his speeches w are given to the public). Nor does he e one much younger than himself. (L Hawkesbury,) in clear details of facts, veyed in an unvitiated style. But by ning the thread of discourse to an almost measurable length without absolutely to' to satiety the patient attention of an aud by thus making a declamation serve thr pose of confounding and leading astray the comprehension of those that are spoken to, and (lastly) by bedecking periods with a completer coat of varnish than any other colourist's of the age, the declaimer relies on ma brilliant fluency of sentences, as the substitute for depth of knowledge in almost every business that comes under considera tion. "It was long imagined by Britons in general, that one of these two competitors, or at least some eloquent person of similar disposition (that is, always ready to deliver his opinion in public upon all subjects whatever, within his cognizance or not) was an indispensable prop for supporting state-matters in their progress through a house of commons, But the closing period of the lately dissolved one should convince us, that a real man of business, good common sense, and plain elocution, may be better adapted to the purpose. Let us encourage then a sanguine hope, that the time has come, and the day at length shone forth, when our representatives are finally disenchanted from the hold of an Athenian insanity; and that they will never be fascinated more into the delirium of personal idolaters, either at the striking up of sounding brass, or of a tinkling cymbal." We do not like this work the less for the author's occasional references to himself and his own opinions. Mr. Ma son has the caustic tone of an old man and an invalid; but his understanding is healthy, and he writes like an able and honest man. ART. IX. Lives of the Ancient Philosophers: comprehending a choice Selection of their best Maxims; written for the Education of a Prince, by the Author of Telemachus. Translated from the French, illustrated with Notes, and preceded by a Life of Fenelon. By JOHN CORMACK. 12mo. 2 vols. about 280 pages each. WE are glad to see a translation of his instructive work in our own lanuage; young persons will read it, and deed will read every thing which has me from the chaste pen of Fenelon, ith amusement and advantage. The biographical sketch which Mr. Cormack has prefixed to these volumes, is chiefly taken from Chevalier's life of Fenelon, and from D'Alembert's Eloge. The few notes which are added by the translator, will be found extremely use ful. BT. X. Eccentric Biography; or, Memoirs of remarkable Female Characters, Antient and Modern: including Actresses, Adventurers, Authoresses, Fortune-Tellers, Gipsies, Dwarfs, Swindlers, Vagrants; and others who have distinguished themselves by their Chastity, Dissipation, Intrepidity, Learning, Abstinence, Credulity, &c. &c. alphabetically arranged; forming a pleasing Mirror of Reflection to the Female Mind. Ornamented with Portraits of the most singular Characters in the Work. 18mo. pp. 348. WE are by no means disposed to enurage the publication of such meagre moirs, such scraps of biography as se; they cannot affect to serve any pose of utility. The lives of courteis, fortune-tellers, adventurers, &c. are likely to improve the morals of the ag generation, or to afford them even very rational amusement; they too disseminate a poison, which no an tidote will reach, and obtain a disgraceful sale from the stimulant nature of the narrative, or the licentiousness of the language. We have carefully looked over some of those lives, where we dread. ed to find the narrative unchaste; but the compiler deserves praise for having admitted no indecent anecdote, and hav ing employed no improper language, T. XI. Lives of illustrious Seamen; to whose Intrepidity and good Conduct the English eindebted for the Victories of their Fleets, the Increase of their Dominions, the Extension their Commerce, and their Pre-eminence on the Ocean; including several Hundred Naval baracters, alphabetically arranged. To which is prefixed, a brief History of the Rise and Progress of the British Navy, and other important Particulars relative to the Subject. mo. pp. 436. THE same general objections of meaess and insufficiency, which we urggainst the subject of the preceding de, very obviously apply to the ent; where, within the compass our hundred and thirty-six octo. decimo pages, are compressed the lives of several hundred naval characters, and a history of the rise and progress of the British navy! If any one wants to know when an admiral or a captain was born, when promoted, in what actions be signalised himself, and when he died, he may refer to this little pocket volume, and probably have his enquiries correctly answered; if he expects any thing more he will be disappointed. The book ornamented with portraits of a few of the most celebrated characters. Front fides! ART, XII. The Works of the Right Honourable Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. lo cluding her Correspondence, Poems, and Essays. Published by Permission from la Genuine Papers. 5 vols. crown 8vo. THE letters of Lady Mary Wortley, during her travels and residence in Turkey, have been long and universally admired as the best models in that kind of composition which our language affords. The liberality of her grandson, the marquis of Bute, therefore, in permitting the present enlarged collection of her epistolary writings to meet the public eye, must ensure for him the gratitude of every friend to polite litera ture. Mr. Dallaway, the editor of these volumes, has prefaced them with "Me moirs" of the author, which yield to few similar performances in meagreness of information and tediousness of digression. The few facts we were able to collect from them, we shall lay before our readers as a necessary introduction to our subsequent remarks. Lady Mary Pierrepoint, daughter of Evelyn, duke of Kingston, was born at Thorsby in Nottinghamshire, about the year 1690. Her father was induced by the early promise of her genius to bestow on her a classical education. -Under the same masters with her brother, she acquired the rudiments of Latin, Greek, and French; and her further studies were superintended by bishop Burnet, who did not fail to discover and applaud her superior talents. Her youth was principally spent in literary retirement; and it was not till 1714, two years after her marriage, that she blazed upon the court in the meridian of wit and beauty, and formed intimacies with Addison, Pope, and the other wits of the age. In 1717, she accompanied her husband on his embassy to the Porte, whence she wrote those admirable letters, to the accuracy of which, in the delineation of Turkish manners, and description of Turkish scenes, Mr. Dallaway has been enabled by local knowledge to bear the fullest testimony. In 1718, she returned to England, and entitled herself to the lasting gratitude of her country by introducing the practice of inoculation. Her difference with Pope which ter minated in an open and irreconcilable enmity, about the year 27, was the most important event of many subse quent years of Lady Mary's life, zd was certainly the origin of most of the tales unfavourable to her reputation which appear to have obtained too mu credit both with her contemporaries and with posterity. Pope, mortified at f ing himself, after all his fulsome ad lation, superseded by the Herveys the good graces of Lady Mary, and eclipsed in conversation by her wit, was provoked, after several skirmishes of petulant repartee, in which he appears to have gained no advantage, to rec to that cruel and dishonourable mode s attack by which any woman, howeve respectable, may be overcome by a man, however despicable. Female bo nour is a structure so easy to be assaulted, so difficult to be defended, so impossib to be repaired, that to a inean ungerer ous adversary (and such was Pope offers irresistible opportunities of inf ing injuries which cannot be retaliated. How far any levities in her ladyship conduct might give a plausible cole to scandal, which envy, vice, and f were glad to believe of a beauty, a %. and a satirist; but which unbiassed p terity will be loth to credit on the w of an enemy, contrary to many sumptions, cannot now be ascerta The reasons which induced her to lea her native country in the year li with a resolution of passing the rest her life in Italy, are equally involved mystery:-it is by no means probab that the decline of her health, the m tive assigned by Mr. Dallaway, was real, or, at least, the only one. return to England in 61, immediate on Mr. Wortley's death, seems to at a separation from her husband as true cause of her expatriation, but this parting was amicable, and by tual consent, is fully proved by the mate epistolary intercourse kept tween them during the remaind their lives. After an absence of twe two years, Lady Mary returned a |