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soldier. His petition was triumphantly and virtue, meet such unmerited misfor

voted to be referred to a committee, who should be called to scrutinize the sources of the late disorders. From the assembly, La Fayette repaired to the palace of the Thuilleries, where he received some affect ed symptoms of regard from the royal family and in return, he offered to devote himself to their deliverance. But it cannot be denied that the royal family, most fatally for themselves, retained a hatred for the father of the revolution, which ought well to have been stifled towards a present benefactor. The court showed an alie.

nation which thwarted all the general's intentions. Nor did the national guards seem more devoted to him, who had been once their idol. They remained undecided and silent. When Fayette returned to his house at night, he was honoured with some triumphant acclamations; but a few officers of his army, and two or three hundred national guards formed his whole retinue, which was unprofitably increased by a few curious spectators. He showed satisfaction in his countenance, but the coolness, or rather cowardice of the national guard had struck a deep despair to his heart. Had he seen in the national guard any eagerness to follow him, his design was to have marched immediately against the jacobins, to have dispersed them with disgrace, and to have shut the doors of their assembly. These savages themselves trembled for this event; the people on whom they counted, had abandoned them. Robespierre shrunk back into all the natural cowardice of his character, and abandoned himself to monotonous lamen tations for the evils of his country. Their fears were unhappily never realized. At the moment, when some officers spoke of marching against them, the train of La Fayette insensibly diminished. He remained some days at Paris, and still found the same backwardness among his friends, and the same stupor among his enemies. Repeatedly were parties of the national. guards invited to different points of rendezvous; as often they broke their promise, or arrived irresolute or discoura ged. The court continued equally languid; and either felt or feigned complete dispair. Convinced that the king could no longer be safe in a city, which showed so little interest in his dangers, La Fayette suggested a plan of conducting Louis to the army; but the king and queen dreaded the attempt; the latter especially regarded it as the consummation of her misfortunes, to be indebted for her safety to La Fayette.

"Mortified, and at last, tired with his useless efforts, the general quitted Paris.. Never did a project of so much courage

tune."

It will be apparent, from what we have said, that the author of this book is better qualified for emphatick delineation than laborious research; and if he should come again before the publick as a historian, we would recommend it to him to keep this distinction in view in making choice of his subject. His intentions appear the advocate of liberality; and his to be irreproachable; he is always errours never bear the stamp of wilful misrepresentation. Notwithstanding his predilection for liberty, he takes part, in his account of the troubles in Holland in 1786, against the patriots, or opponents of the prince of Orange; an inconsistency with his general opinions which must proceed, we conceive, from his being imperfectly acquainted with the history of Dutch parties, and from confounding enmity to the House of Orange with attach ment to France. Fortunate 'would it have been for the popularity of the British government in foreign countries, if it had at all times been alike attentive to the dictates of a liberal policy towards them. We learn from this book that in 1762, when we declared war against Spain, government began by releasing the vessels of that nation which were lying in our ports in the confidence of continued amity: but in 17951 when we found it necessary to resort to hostilities against Holland, we were not equally scrupulous in regard to the ships of our former ally, although they had been led into our harbours for no other purpose than that of traffick, or that of seeking our protection.

We conclude this review with a short quotation expressive of that be found to subsist between deconnexion which will almost always pravity of morals and depravity of taste:

"The jacobins were the habitual speakers of the convention; but, in their

speeches, there was as little eloquence as morality. They had a style, it is true, which aimed at extraordinary force and gigantick expressions; but their taste was, if possible, as horrible as their dispositions. Phrensy and extravagance were substituted for inspiration; and, from the poverty of their conceptions, their routine of metaphors was hackneyed and unvaried. Should history deign to preserve the archives of their debates, they will be

found to contain every thing that can be called the bathos in bad taste, as well as in moral feeling."

Report has assigned this producauthor of the "Pleasures of Hope,' tion to the pen of Mr. Campbell, and, alas! of "Gertrude of Wyoming."

FROM THE BRITISH CRITICK.

The Farm House, a Tale. With Amatory, Pastoral, Elegiack, and Miscellaneous Poems, Sonnets, &c. By James Murray Lacey. 12mo. 68. 1809.

THERE are a number of elegant and pleasing poems in this volume, but the author would better have consulted his reputation if he had collected resolution to have made them more select. We are well aware, however, that to a young poet this is no easy task. Some local circumstance or other intervenes to make every one of his poetical effusions of consequence in his esteem; the frown, the sigh, the smile, the tear, and, if cynical old criticks may venture to use the word, the kiss of his mistress, afford subjects to the muse, each in their turn of inestimable value. It is fair to give a specimen.

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FROM THE BRITISH CRITICK.

alluded to, and warranted, in some degree, by the popular tale from which it is derived.

Bonifacio and Bridgetina; or, the Knight of the Hermitage: or the Windmill Turrett; or, the Spectre of the North-East Gallery. A new grand Comick, Tragick, Operatick, Pantomick, Melo-dramatick Extravaganza, altered from the French of M. Martainville, and adapted to the English Stage. By T. Dibdin, Author of about twenty Pieces enumerated in the Title page. 8vo. 49 pp. 2s. 1808. We did not attend the performance of this whimsical burlesque piece; but understand that it was not ill received. The title of it sufficiently shows its intention; which is to ridicule the melo-drames (as they are termed) and other extravagant dramas produced of late years; some of which appear, by the title page, to be the productions of this same au

thor.

Much of his ridicule is, however, directed against the successful entertainment of the Forty Thieves, one of the best, we think, of the pieces

Of the burlesque drama before us, the best that can be said is, that the author has "out-Heroded Herod," and contrived to be even more ludicrously extravagant than the absurd pieces which he exposes to ridicule. But, recollecting several of his own dramatick performances, we must warn him against depreciating wares in which he is so great a dealer: "Tua res agitur paries cum proximus ar

det."

SPIRIT OF THE MAGAZINES.

CHARACTER OF THE MAHRATTAS.

THE Mahrattas, whether considered as a nation or as individuals, .constitute a peculiar phenomenon in the history of human society. Superstitiously addicted to the mild rites of the Brahman religion; never eating of any thing that has life, and by their belief in the metempsychosis, restrained from killing even the most noxious reptile that molests them, yet barbarously mutilating, and in their sanguinary warfare, putting to death thousands of their fellow creatures, and that often, with aggravated tortures, they exhibit a contrast of character wholly unparalleled. The engines of that torture which they are said to carry with them to force confession of concealed treasure, are of a terrible description. The iron chair in which, heated red hot, the offender is placed, and the envelope of the same metal, also -heated red hot, to encircle his head, are among a few of them. These are particularly mentioned by the missionaries who resided in the Carnatick at the time of their grand eruption there, in 1740; and, in fact, for one of them, Pere Madeira, after having been first severely flogged, and exposed several days naked to a vertical sun, to make him discover hidden treasure, that chair and that envelope were heated red hot; but by the interposition of one of the generals he was respited. Their more lenient punishments are slitting the nose, and cutting off the ears. But Bernier, who was an eye witness of their cruelties during the plunder of Surat, in 1664, says, that to make the rich inhabitants discover their wealth, they were guilty of more horrid cruelties, cutting off the legs VOL. III.

P

and arms of those who were suspected of secreting it.

If it were only against the Moors, the ferocious invaders of their country, the despoilers of the Hindoo temples, and the remorseless murderers of the priests of Brahma, that these cruelties were directed, it would be less a subject of wonder, since Sevajce publickly announced himself the avenger of the gods of Hindoostan, against the sanguinary violators of their shrines, meaning Aurungzeb and the Moguls. But their rage is indiscriminating, and Hindoos and Mahomedans are alike the victims of their unrelenting barbarities. How astonishing must this conduct appear to every reflecting mind! Scrupulous minutely to observe all the prescribed duties of their cast, with respect to diet and ablutions, even amidst the tumult of war, and often to the obstruction of the business of a campaign, yet practising every species of brutal inhumanity. How strange the transition from the meekness of prayer to the rage of plunder; from ablution in the purifying wave that washes away sin, to bathe in torrents of human blood. From all this pollution, however, the Brahmans, who share in the plunder, have the effrontery to tell them they are purified by the sacrifice of a buffalo, accompanied with many mysterious ceremonies, and, with this wretched salvo, their consciences are appeased,

Making war their sole profession, and letting themselves out to the best bidder, they are to be found in all quarters, and are alternately engaged by all parties. It is dangerous, however, to employ them, for the offer

1

of better terms, generally induces them to change sides, and, plunder being their grand object, they often devastate the very country which they were hired to defend. Their principal strength lies in their numerous cavalry, which they cherish with the greatest care, and their horses, like themselves, being inured to privations, and perpetually in exercise, are of a hardier nature, and more capable of bearing fatigue, than any brought into the field by the princes of India. Rapid in their movements, and unincumbered with baggage, they render themselves formidable to the Mogul armies, by harassing their rear, by ravaging the country, and by cutting off their supplies. They avoid, as much as possi

ble, a general engagement, but when it takes place, they combat with resolution; and in the use of the sabre, are dreadfully dexterous. If, however, their arms are crowned with victory, their principal attention is instantly directed to plundering the camp of the vanquished, instead of pursuing them to extermination. Were they firmly united under one able commanding chief, as under Sevajee, they would be formidable indeed, and must soon be the sovereigns of Hindoostan; but their go vernment being feudal, divided among many chiefs, mostly at vari ence with each other, their power is weakened in proportion, and it is only from their devastations that Hindoostan has to fear.

OF THE PAGODAS OF HINDOOSTAN.

THE most durable monuments of human industry are publick buildings. The productions of art formed for the common purposes of life, waste and perish in using them; but works destined for the benefit of posterity subsist through ages, and it is according to the manner in which these are executed, that we form a judgment with respect to the degree of power, skill and improvement to which the people by whom they were erected had attained. In every part of India monuments of high antiquity are found. These are of two kinds, such as were consecrated to the offices of religion, or fortresses built for the security of the country. In the former of these, to which Europeans, whatever their structure may be, give the general name of Pagodas, we may observe a diversity of style, which both marks the gradual progress of architecture and throws light on the general state of arts and manners in different periods. The most early Pagodas appear to have been nothing more than excavations in mountainous parts of the country, formed probably

in imitation of the natural caverns to which the first inhabitants of the earth retired for safety during the night, and where they found shelter from the inclemency of the seasons. The most celebrated, and, as there is reason to believe, the most ancient of all these, is the Pagoda in the island Elephanta, at no great distance from Bombay. It has been hewn by the hand of man out of a solid rock, about half way up a high mountain, and formed into a spacious area, nearly 127 feet square. In order to support the roof, and the weight of the mountain that lies above it, a number of massy pillars, of a form not inelegant, have been cut out of the same rock, at such regular distances, as on the first entrance presents to the eye of the spectator, an appearance both of beauty and of strength. Great part of the inside is covered with human figures in high relief, of gigantick size as well as singular forms, and distinguished by a variety of symbols, representing, it is probable, the attributes of the deities whom the sculptors worshipped, or the actions

of the heroes whom they admired. In the isle of Salsette, still nearer to Bombay, are excavations in a similar style, hardly inferiour in magnificence, and destined for the same religious purposes. These stupendous works are of such high antiquity, that as the natives cannot, either from history or tradition, give any information concerning the time in which they were executed, they universally ascribe the formation of them, to the power of superiour beings. From the extent and grandeur of these subterraneous mansions, which in telligent travellers compare to the most celebrated monuments of human power and art in any part of the earth, it is manifest that they could not have been formed in that stage of social life where men continued divided into small tribes, unac customed to the efforts of persevering industry. It is only in states of considerable extent, and among people long habituated to subordination, and to act in concert, that the idea of such magnificent works is conceived, or the power of accomplishing them can be found.

That some such powerful state was established in India at the time when the excavations in the islands of Elephanta and Salsette were formed, is not the only conclusion to be drawn from a survey of them; the style in which the sculptures with which they are adorned is executed, indicates a considerable improve ment in art, at that early period. Sculpture is the imitative art in which man seems to have made the first trial of his own talents. But even in those countries where it has attained to the highest degree of perfection, its progress has been extremely slow. Whoever has attended to the history of this art in Greece, knows how far removed the first rude essay to represent the human form, was from any complete delineation of it. But the different groupes of figures which still remain entire in the Pagoda of Elephanta, however low they must rank if they be com

pared with the more elegant works of Grecian or even Etruscan artists, are finished in a style considerably superiour to the hard, inexpressive manner of the Egyptians, or to the figures in the celebrated palace of Persepolis. In this light they have appeared to persons abundantly qualified to appreciate their merit, and from different drawings, particu larly those of Niebuhr, a traveller equally accurate in observing, and faithful in describing, we must form a favourable opinion of the state of arts in India at that period.

It is worthy of notice, that although several of the figures in the caverns at Elephanta be so different from those now exhibited in the Pagodas as objects of veneration, that some learned Europeans have imagined they represent the rites of a religion more ancient than that now established in Hindoostan, yet by the Hindoos themselves the caverns are considered as hallowed places of their own worship, and they still resort thither to perform their devotions, and honour the figures there, in the same manner with those in their own Pagodas. In confirmation of this, we are informed by an intelli`gent observer, who visited this subterraneous sanctuary in the year 1782, that he was accompanied by a sagacious Brahman, a native of Benares, who, though he had never been in it before that time, recognised, at once, all the figures; was well acquainted with the parentage, education, and life of every deity or human personage there represented, and explained with fluency the meaning of the various symbols by which the images were distinguished. This may be considered as a clear proof that the system of mythology now prevalent in Benares, is not different from that delineated in the caverns of Elephanta. Mr. Hunter, who vi sited Elephanta in the year 1784, seems to consider the figures there as representing deities who are still objects of worship among the Hindoos. One circumstance serves to

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