The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1806-01-21 00:00:00

MEMOIR OF JOHN FRANCIS DE Lai
MARPE.
Jolla Francis de la Harpe was horn at Paris in
1739 ; his father was a Swiss, and a Captain of Ar-
tillery in the service of France. He had no frame
in prospea, and owed his education to the kindness
of the Principal of the College d'Harcourt. The
young La Harpe carried away the university prizes,
and soon distinguished himself by his produaions.
At the age of twenty-five, he gave to the stage his
tragedy of Warwick, which mut with great success ;
but bis future essays in the same way did not an-
ti:me the public expeaations ; with the exception of
Philenetes, translated from Sophxles. The absence
of ;he female cbara&er is a singular trait in this tra-
gedy ; without love, the performance interests by its
noble simplicity, and, by bringing to our recolleaion
the high state of the tragic art in Greece. livery
year, besides his tragedies, this writer produced pieces
of poetry, and prose essays, which were crowned
with the prises of the different academies. This
honour was conferred on his eulogioms on Fenelon.
Racine, Catinat, and Charles V. He had for along
time the charge of the literary part of the Mercer?.
Havieg shown himself a good poet, and a good ora-
tor, he appeared with great eclat as a critic ; he dis-
played a profound acquaintance with criticism, and
a correit taste ; of which his 'satires at the Lyceum,
or Gera (maple: de Liiteratare, furnish illustrious
proofs. On this laborious work bis fame is princi-
pally founded. Authors, it is true. are there some-
times treated with too touch severity. but it every
where discloses views favourable to the advancement
of letters. Ordinarily in Isis literary judgments, we
Meet with that purity of style to which helsad reach-
ed. sound principles of taste, and a remarkable talent
for discussion, as well es close and forcible reason.
ing ; could he have commanded his passions, when
misting of Isis comemgoeseies, sod bed he adopted a
stile less insperimi sold ditieielblse Well have Bed.
with dignity. the Alit of Quintilian. His powers
were Mesiderable. bat it was his misfortune speedy
to over-tate them. When the Revolt:l6m broke's,.
hi cherished notions of reform, without coning
them' to extremes; but when the reign df terror
Mask him that all was capable of being abused;
Area he saw the ideas of liberty, equality, and jus-
tice. become rallying points for the radios ; and
%dies he had been confined in one of the prisons Of 1
the capital, as a suspeted person, he cadre out of it, I
filled with indignation against tyranny, and inspired.
with teal for that holy religion. which it was at-
leaspted to osmium, by ridiculing its worship, and
prescribing its ministers Ho had been the disciple
and great idndret of Voltaire, who had rewarded
width eulog-aims his auschment to the party of the
modern philosophers r he now declared fantail their
moony, sod attacked their principles in all his wi it-
ins, from this period to bis death. On the 18th
Fruaidnr (4th September ) he was condemned to
deportation ;.but he had the good fortune to cos-
- cital himself in a secure whirls.. and to escape the
priticription. He died ia the Wioter of 1803, at the
at, of sixty-four. In his hill thine Mardsoccor ;
" I implore Divine Providence to anliter the prayers
s•hich f have offered for die happiness ofitny country;
May it kink er.joy peace and tradqualy I May the
holy maxims di the Gospel be generally followed for
the good of sectety 1" M. de Fontaine., in a short and
brilliant eulogium on him, says. " Letters and France
hi". lost, in IA llsrpe, ti poet, an orator, and an a.
Nations critic." He patagyrised the great men of.:
the brisht days of eloquence and poetry ; whole
their spirit and theif language are to be found in
the writings of a disciple, Who had formed himself
op their model. It wis in their name that be at-
tacked. to his last moments, false literary doarines;
and in this kind of combat his life was employed, to
secure the triumph of true principles. If this cou-
rageous devotion secured him fame, it did net insure
him ba2piness. I cannot dis,fmble. that the frank-
ness rif his charafiler' and the impartial rigour *ibis
• censures, tee often alienated benevolence from his
name and his labours; so that he acquired only,
esteem, where others would have obtained embus-
mtic sittaehmeat. He expired at as age when the
thoughts have lest nothing of 'their vigour, and when
his talents had been strengthened and increased by
the extraordinary events oi the last twelve years. It
is' known that be had become a proselyte to those
vitriol and consolatory opinions, on which the social
a'stem reposes ; these not only enriched his ideas
ail his style with new beauties, but they mitigated
ties sufferings of his latter days. The God whom
Fe ielon and Racine adored, comforted, on the bed
of death, the eloquent panegyrist of these great and
pious meh. The weeks of De La Harps have been
• clilleaed in six volumes, eve. ; but this edition is
vet y incomplete, and renders it desirable that ano-
trier should be given to the public.
-- a.
-Mr. FA i a IL, of the Ceylon Cirri Service, and sit-
Ong Nlagistrate at Columbo, was .lately Mot
1 by softie person nhkhown, while sitting in his Mies
dais, 'flue report of.a-gon Wait heard. lOylis dtidlifs;
lies, Mad, on battening to the'spot, They found hien
bleedintrandslifeless oo the floor. A considerable
reward has been offered for the discovery of the of-
fender, but, to the date of the last accounts, without
1
success. . i
On Thursday, the lower part of the town of Wake-
field was ihundeted, and the mud over the bridge
rendered impassible for several hours., Two vessels
were driven from their moorings. carried over the
weir, and lodged against the bridge. where one of
them, Wee with corn, went to the bottom.'
M'snday se'neight, by order of the Mayor of Li-
gnites, three persons wire put in the stacks; er re-
fusing to accept real mint halfpence. We hear that
came shopkeepers were fined for similar offences.
ik-On Sunday last, as the Eastharn boat was pro-
eeediag down the river, at Liverpool, with very se- 1
vere weather, 17 of the passengers being alarmed 1
for the .afety of the boat, desired to be put on board
. e'vessel then performing quarantine IMO' the Che-
shire shore. They were all detained on board,
egeeceably to the regulations tesp.aing vessels .o
" ctrcittstaneed, and were not released tillreidas;
4 10orr.ing. ..
The first dew of cattle at Sherhornr, on Thurs.
le
- dry last. was very considerable, and would have
' beer. t.uch rocre so, but for the extreme ontavuur-
' efoleners, of the weather. Buyers were also numerous,
a' and very 4sspe&abie. The whole ..,f the cattle met
- . lerith a ready sale aind rod pii.m. ,
s.,
i
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. itia , • -I iti ,L 1 . Lt., ,' $O(4.
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