Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-08-12

SHAKESPEARE.
The British reviews, though they often
convey to US information of the most de-
lightiul as well as important nature, nave
never. that we can remember, brought TO
our shores more interesting matter than is
contained in those of the first quarter OF tne
present year, in critical observations on
two books then lately published in London
ON the subject of some recent discoveries
made on the west coast OF Corea by Tue
sbips of war which accompanied the late
embassy from the court of St. James's 10
the emperor of China and particularly on
the subject of a vast number OF Islands, ana
among the rest of that called the great Loo
Caoo. or as it has been written by The au-
thor of one of the books, LeD-CheU island.
The first OF those books is entitled " An
account Of Voyage OF Discovery to the
west coast of Corea, and the Great Loo
C.oo Island, with an Appendix containing
Charts al various Hydrographical and
Scienti6cal Notices. By Capt. Basil Hall,
of The Royal Nary, F. r. S. London and
scarborough, Member Of the .4s'at'c DO
ciety of Calcutta, Of The Literary Society
of Arts and Sciences Of Batauia. And a
Vocabulary of the Loo-Choo Language
By II. L. Clifford, esq. Lieutenant Of the
Royal Nary" The title of the second is
"Voyage of his Majesty's Ship Alceste,
along the Coast OF Corea TO the Island OF
Loo Choo, with an Account of her subse-
quent Shipwreck. By John Mcleod, Sur
geon of the Alceste."
Most living creatures, but above all those
of the human race, feel for others OF their
kind strong sympathy. In man, this pas
sion is so constant and powerful, that it has
become the source of many Of his most ex-
quisite enjoyments and poignant miseries,
and above all, those pains and pleasures
resulting from the intense curiosity with
which he examines his own nature, as II Is
developed in the boundless variety OF &C
ton, sentiment and character that passes
before him through life. OF this curiosity
every man of reflection must be conscious;
though being met by hun in others, it, like
every other circumstance Of habitual ire
quent occurrence, escapes the particular
observation of the generality Of mankind.
Every man is occupied, more or less, in
tracing amongst those he converses with,
the varieties of temper and intellect which
constitute the characters Of men; and re-
ceives great pleasure from every stroke OF
nature that unfolds to him any Of those va
rie,ies. The influence Of this sympathy
is discernible in most Of our pursuits and
desires. II is that which gives birth TO the
drama, and that affords the theatre such
control as it possesses over the feelings oil
all classes and conditions OF men.-ltis
that which imparts TO novels such charm;
and it is that which supplies history with
its attractions, and imparts to biography
its fascination.-It is that masteriess pas
sion which at one time draws men to ira
gedy, and at another to public execution,
for which none have more irresistible APP
petite than persons of the most benevolent
hearts, Few are they who have not per-
ceived either in themselves or others the
eagemess with which we examine the ac-
lions, the involuntary motions. the minute
working of the face of human being when
exposed TO some trying, terrible circum-
stances. The natural (Pope says, Ike pro-
peri study of mankind is man-not in any
of The lal Sc, artificial characters he so con-
stan,ly assumes in society; but in his own
native unsophisticated state--We all. there
fore, love more or less TO accompany the
diable boiteur while he lifts of the roofs OF
the houses, and to take peep al Our fellow
beings in those hours when disguise rs re-
moved, and above all to view Our species
in circumstances perfectly new--or before
unknown to us and this is the root OF that
passionate fondness which all men have for
reading accounts of travels, voyages, and
above all, of new discoveries. None but
those who were attentive rcmarkers OF the
times in which they occurred can possibly
conceive the impression made upon the CT
vilized world by the discoveries OF captain
Cook. The interest excited by the ship
wreck Of Pierre Viaud Though the authen-
ITCHY of his story is thought to be doubtfuO
first preached that appetite for such things,
which the shipwreck and hardships Of By
ron on the Wager Island, described in his