The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-07-13 00:00:00

LITERARY GLEANINGS.

Da. JOH sum—Alas ! lain not fit to paint his charac-
ter; nor is there nerd of it; taunt. morlurfs logmilur :
every man who can buy a book has bought a Boswell;
Johnson is known to all the reading world. I also knew
him well, respected him highly., loved him sincerely: it
was never my chance to see him in those moments of
moroseness and ill humour which are imputed to him, per-
haps with truth, for who would slander him? Hut lam
not warranted by any experience of- those humours, to
speak of him otherwise than of a friend, who always met
me with kindness, and from whoin I never separated with-
out regret. When I sought his company he had no ca-
pricious excuses for withholding it, but lent himself to
every invitation with cordiality, and brought good humour
him, that gave life to the circle he was in. He pre-
sental himself always in his fashion of apparel ; a brown
coat with metal buttons, black waistcoat and worsted
steekia, with a flowing bob wig, was the style of his
wardrobe, but they were in perfectly good trim, and with
the lade.., which he generally met, he had nothing of the!
slovenly philosopher about him ; he fed heartily, but not
veraciously, and was extremely courteous in his commen-
ilations of any dish that pleased his palate ; he suffered
Lis next neighbour to squeeze the China oranges into his
wine glass after thinner, which else perchance had gone
aside, and trickled into his shoes, for the good ican had
neither straight sight nor steady nerves. At the tea table
he had considerable demands on his favourite beverage, and I
1 remember when Sir Joshua Reynolds at my house rei-
minded him that he had drunk eieven_cups, he replied,
" Sir, I did not count your glasses of wine, why should
you number up my cups of tea ?" And then laughing in
p.rfect good humour he added-.." Sir, I should have re-
leasetfthe lady from any further trouble, if it had not been
for your remark ; but you have reminded me that I want
one'of the &lien, and I must request Mrs. Cumberland to
round me up my number." When he saw the readiness
and complacency with which my wife obeyed his call, lie
turned a kind and cheerful look upon her, and said-1
Madam, I must tell you for your comfort vou have
escaped much better than a certain lady did awhile
a^u, upon whose patience I intruded greatly, more than I I
Wave done on yours; but the lady asked me for no other
purpase than to make a zany of me, and set me gabbling to
a pare.' of people I knew nothing of: so, Madam, I had
my revenge of leer ; for I swallowed flvc-and-twenty cups
of her tea, and did not treat her with as many words." I
can only say my wife would have made tea for him as
long as the New River could have supplied her with
wa:er.—Mr. Cumberland's Memoirs of himself:

GEORGE EDWARDS, rnr. NATI:AALIST.--.Tbill
brated naturalist exhibited to the world an admirable ape-
&men of his labours, in the appearance of the first volume
of die ilistory of Birds. It was published in quarto, on
royal paper, and contains sixty-one birds, and two quadru-
peds, most of which had not either been delineated or de-
scribed before. They are engraved on fifty-two plates,
from original drawings, exactly coloured, with full and
accurate descriptions. This volume is dedicated to the
President and Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians ;
whose favours and assistance are acknowledged by the
author with the utmost gratitude. The descriptions were
published bkewise in the French language, for the use of
foreigners, as is the ease in the succeeding volumes. Mr.
Edwards's subscribers having exceeded his most sanguine
expectations, a second volume of the 4 Birds ap-
peared in 1747 dedicated to Sir Hans Sloane, then phy-
sician to his kiajesty, and whose merit as a naturalist is
too enlversally known, both at home and abroad, to re-
quire any distinct specification in this place. Sir Ilans's
friendship to our author is mentioned in the dedication
with all the warmth of a grateful and feeling heart. The
volume contains sixty-one birds and two quadrupeds, en-
graved on fifty-two copper plates, with descriptions. In
1730, was published the third volume, containing the
same number of plates, and tifty-nine birds. It was de-
dicated to the President, Comic], and Fellows of the
Royal Society. Our author's fourt'h volume came from
the press in 1751, comprehending thirty-seven plates, on
which are engraved thirty-nine birds, and to which are'
added s:xtecti plates of serpents, fishes, and insects. This
was the last volume which Mr. Edwards at that time in-
tended to publish, end be seems to have considered it as
the most perfect of his productions in Natural history;
n rhich account he dedicated it to the Supreme Being.
The dedication was, without doubt, very piously designed,
but the wisdom of it cannot be commended. Such an
sssurnption is too great for any human creature, and the
few instances of the kind that have occurred in the history
of literature have always been justly disapproved. Perhaps
some of our readers may wish to see in what manner our
naturalist expressed himself in this extraordinary dedica-
tion. It was as follows:

"To Ural, the One Eternal ! the incomprehensible 1 the Om.
ripretatit, the Ouiniseienr, and Almighty Creator of all things that
exist ! from Orbs immeasurably great, to the minutest points of
matter, this Mom is dedicated and devoted, with all possible ga.
t' tude. humiliation, worship, and the highest adoration both of
and mini', By
" His most resigned, low, and hu►tble Creature.
" CillolttrE ElllV ARDS."
Blarraphia Britannica.

lIAZLITT'S PARALLEL BETIEELN GODWIN AND COLE-
nintie.—No two persons can be conceived more opposite in
character or genius than the subject of the present and pre-
e,Y.ing sketch (Goelvrin and Coleridge). Mr. Godwin, with
less natural capacity, and with fewer acquired advantages,
by concentrating his mind to some given object, and doing
what he had to do with all his might, has accomplished
:ouch, and will leave more than one monument of a power-
Jul inn:lkea behind him. Mr. Coleridge, by dissipating his,
and dallying with every saiject by turns, has done little cr
nothing to justify to the world or to posterity the high
opinion which all who. have ever heard him converse, cr
known him intimately, with one accord entertain of him.
Mr. Goilwin's faculties have kept house, plied their
task in the workshop of the brain diligently and effectually.
Mr. Coleridge's have gossiped away their time, and gadded
about from house to house as if life's business were to melt
the hours in listkas talk. .Mr. Godwin is intent on a sub-
ject, only as it concerns himself and his reputation ; he
works it out as a matter of duty, and discards from his
mind whatever does not forward his main object, as iniper-
t:nent and vain. Mr. Coleridge, on the other hand, de-
lights in nothing but episodes and digressions, negleete
whatever he undertakes to perform, and can act only on
spontaneous impulse without object or method—" He can-
not be constrained !y mastery."—While he should be occu-
pied by a given pursuit he is thinking of a thousand °ens
things—a thousand tastes, a thousand objects tempt him,
and distract his mind, which keeps open house, and enter-
tains all earners ; and after being fatigued and amused
with morning rs!ls from idle viaiters, finds the day cen-
sumed, and its business unconeluded. Mr. Godwin, on
the contrary, is somewhat exclusive and unsocial in his
habits of mind, entertoos no company but what lie gives
his whole time and attention to, and wisely writes over the,
doors of his understanding, his fancy, and his senses, "no
admittance except on business." He has none of that fasti-
dious refinement and false delicacy which lead him to ba-
lance between die endless variety of modern attainments.
' • • Ile has the happiness to think an author the
greatest character in the world, and himself the greatest
author in it. Mr. Coleridge, in writing an harinonion
stanza, would stop to consider whether there was not mots.
grace or beauty in a pas de fruit, and. would not proceed
until lie had resolved this question by a chain of metaphy-
sical reason without end. Not so Mr. Gadwin. That is
best to him which he eau do best. Ile does not waste him-
s•l.' in vain aspirations and effeminate sympathies. He is
Wind, eh a', and insensible to all but the trump of fame.
P ays, rte as, painting, music, ball-rooms, wealth, fashion,
titles, torch him not. All these are no more to him than
t r the magician in his cell ; and he writes on to the end of
the chat ter through good report and evil report—Pingo in
eterni!a•ern in his motto, &c.—Spirit of tbe Age, or Con-
temp r, ry Portraits.

PORTSMOUTH, JULY 11.
A Court-Martial this morning assembled on board his
Majesty's ship Victory. Sir George Martin, President, for
the purpose of trying Lieutenant James Campbell, of his
Majesty's ship Tyne, on the charge of imputed cowardice,
in not boarding a pirate schooner. in March 1823, off Cuba,
when ordered by his Captain. The irestigation had been
demanded by Lieutenant Comply'', in order to vindicate
his charact..T.

It appears that Ciptsin Walent headed the enterprise in
his gig, and that the boats were kept at bay, and 'exposed
to a galling fire for three quarters of an hour, both from
the schooner and the shore. When Captain Walcot
saw a favourable opportunity to board, he sent orders for
Lieutenant Campbell to push on, which orders were not
understood by Lieutenant Campbell, who was taken up in
firing the boit's carronade. When his ammunition was
expended he gallantly led the party on, and was the first
to board and haul down the black flag. Captain Wit!cot
spoke highly of all concerned in his Gazette Letter. The
prosecution closed this afternoon, and the prisoner enters
on hie defence to-morrow.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.