And lows the heifer loosen d from her stall: When heaven's soft breath plays on the woodman's brow, Who, warm'd with youth's blood in his swelling veins, Shut up from all the fair creation offers ? Vol. II. Eth. p. 112. Ella. Ah, woe is me! within these castle walls; Under this very tower in which we are, There be those, Dwina, who no sounds do hear Falling from their dank roofs, in dull succession, Whilst you sing cheerly thus, I think of them. Eth. p 306. 'Mah. What sounds are these? Os. Hast thou forgot we are so near the city? It is the murm'ring night-sounds of her streets, Mix'd with the chafings of the distant waves. Mh. (eagerly) And let me listen too! I love the sound! Like the last whispers of a dying enemy It comes to my pleas'd ear. Spent art thou, proud imperial queen of nations, And thy last accents are upon the wind. Thou hast but one voice more to utter; one I like it well! the lion hears afar List! list! (Listening.) Th' approaching prey, and shakes his bristling mane, And so hear I this city's nightly sound.' Const Pal. p. 372. Miss B. is very happy in the songs which she has scattered through her plays. We must give a specimen or two. "Song of Dwina. Wake a while and pleasant be, Gentle voice of melody. Say, sweet carol, who are they Who cheerly greet the rising day? And the meek maid who binds her yellow hair, Say, sweet carol, who are they But most of all the maid of cheerful soul, 'No fish stir in our heaving net, And the sky is dark, and the night is wet; And we must ply the lusty oar, For the tide is ebbing from the shore; So kindly stored for our return. Our boat is small and the tempest raves, And now along the nearly strand, See, swiftly moves yon flaming brand; Before the midnight watch is past, We'll quaff our bowl and mock the blast.' Vol. III. p. 293. We had intended to have transcribed one or two entire scenes, for the purpose of exhibiting Miss B. more particularly in the character of a dramatist: and had marked for this purpose the scene in which Valeria is informed of the death of Constantine, and that in which an ostensible reconciliation takes place between Rezervelt and De Montford. But the length to which this article has extended compels us to hasten to a close. We cannot take our leave of Miss B. however, without expressing our regret, at the resolution she has taken of keeping whatever plays she may henceforward write, 'intra penetralia vestæ.' Why should the public be deprived of so great, and (judging by the editions that her works have gone through,) so highly prized an entertainment, because forsooth, the managers of playhouses have not thought fit to bring her tragedies forward on the stage? We have on so many former occasions entered our solemn protest against the acted drama, that to repeat it here scems needless. In criticising Miss Baillie's plays we have regarded them solely as dramatic writings. We have considered them as furnishing a high intellectual entertainment, totally unconnected with the grossness of the theatre, and its long inseperable train of evils. The fair author's partiality for the boards appears to us a weakness much to be regretted: for we are well convinced it has had, in many instances, an unhappy effect on her genius, in making her address the senses rather than the imagination, and in placing before her the mimic representations of things rather than the realities themselves. Art XI. The Star of the West: being Memoirs of the Life of Risdon Darracott, Minister of the Gospel at Welington, Somerset, with his Portrait. To which are added extracts from his Correspondence, and Mr. Darracotts Scripture marks, with Notes By James Bennett, of Romsey, Hants. 12mo. xi. pp. 172. and 62. Hamilton. 1813. WE have read this memorial of departed worth with peculiar interest. Mr. Darracott was not distinguished by any remarkable attainments in literature or science; nor was he a profound theologian. But as a Christian and a minister he has been surpassed by few; and we agree with the worthy biographer in thinking that it was little less than a duty to place upon public record such an illustration of a 'heart devoted to the divine glory, a life consumed in most successful evangelical labours, and a death pre-eminently distinguished by holy joy.' Risdon Darracott was born at Swanage in the Isle of Purbeck, on the sea-coast of Dorsetshire, on the 1st of Feb. 1717. He received the first rudiments of learning at Chumleigh in Devonshire, and was subsequently placed at South-Molton under the care of a Mr. Palk, a Dissenting Minister. From school, at about the age of fifteen, he went to Northampton, to study for the Ministry; a work to which it seems, he was destined by the wishes and arrangements of his father, though it cannot be ascertained whether at this early period of his life, he possessed that decided religion which ought to be an indispensable requisite in candidates for the sacred office, and which afterwards so eminently distinguished his character. In the choice of a seminary for his son, Mr. Darracott was hap pily directed by the public voice, to that over which Dr. Doddridge presided at Northampton. The academy exhibited at this time, the evil consequences of admitting young men to study for the ministry before they had given sufficient evidence of their regeneration, or heir call to the work. But the character of the tutor was in the instance before us a counterpoise to the coil; for Doddridge proved an eminent blessing to his pupil. While in the seminary young Darracott lost his father, but found another in his tutor. The affectionate heart of the Doctor soon formed a strong attachment to the youth in whom he perceived a soul panting for the noblest distinction. A humble diligence in his studies won the tutor's esteem, and inspired such hopes of future eminence as are supremely grateful to those who are formed for the education of youth. Some manuscript volumes written at College, equally attest the ability of the instructor and the industry of the pupil But it was the frankness of young Darracott's mind, the purity and strength of principle manifest in all his conduct, and the ardour of his devotion which so fixed the affections of Doddridge, as to induce him to say, "I hope this young friend will be the guardian of my widow and orphans should I be called away by death." As there was a vast diversity of character among the students, the reader is prepared to hear that the subject of these memoirs took into his bosom, those whose personal religion aftewards rendered them eminent among the faithful preachers of the gospel. If indeed Northampton was not the place of his new and better birth, it was while he was there, that his religion blazed forth with that seraphic ardour which distinguished his future days.' pp. 17-19. It appears, that at the academy, his particular friends were Mr. Fawcett, afterwards of Kidderminster, and Mr. Pearsal, of Taunton. With the amiable and pious Hervey, he also formed an intimate and affectionate correspondence. It is refreshing to contemplate the union of kindred minds, over-looking the minor distinctions of opinion and practice, and consecrating, in mutual and undissembled devotion, their united energies to the sacred cause of God and of truth. On his removal from Northampton, he officiated for some time at Chumleigh, the scene of his father's labours; but as the call to the pastoral charge was not unanimous, he accepted an invitation to Penzance in Cornwall. Here he laboured with great success; till a change of situation became necessary on account of his health; and in the year 1741, he acceded to the wishes and invitation of a Presbyterian Congregation at Wellington in Somersetshire, where he continued till his removal on the 14th of March, 1759, to the higher and purer services of the heavenly temple. Mr. Darracott was ordained at Wellington, on the 11th of Nov. 1741, and in the following month, he was married to a Miss Bensley, a descendant, like himself of the Puritan confessors.' In discharging his pastoral duties he appears to have maintained an uniform course of honourable and useful exertion. "Instant in season and out of season," he went about doing good; not confining his labours to his stated charge, but uniting with the fidelity of the pastor, the extensive and unwearied efforts of the evangelist. 'He did not' says his biographer, sink the public in the domestic character, reminding us of the bee whose wings have become incapable of flight by immersion in its own honey. He happily escaped this ungrateful perversion of the favours of heaven. He pursued his labours with new zeal, and the Redeemer crowned them with augmented blessings. His hearers increased to such an amount as constantly to overflow the place of worship, which however served to display the purity of his motives and his freedom from vanity: for in all his correspondence he mentions only that which is the grand end of hearing, the conversion of souls to God, and the increased dominion of religion, over the hearts of professed Christians. These evidences of his usefulness were continually inspiring him with fresh delight, so that the eight and twenty original members of the Church soon found themselves surrounded at the Lord's table by accessions far beyond their own number. He opened houses for worship in most of the adjacent villages where he preached weekly. In one, which was about a mile from Wellington, and from the character of the inhabitants was called Rogue's Green, such a change was effected, as produced a change of the name. Drunkenness, rioting, and indeed sin of every description seemed the only business of the inhabitants. Not one of them was known to pretend to prayer or religion under any form. But it pleased God to crown Mr. Darracott's preaching here with such efficacy, that after a time, the traveller heard of an evening the sound of prayer and praise in almost every house. The place lost its former name, and is now called Roe or Row-Green.' pp. 45, 46. This fact speaks volumes. What, it is natural to ask, were the leading topics of those ministrations, which, by their adaptation to the moral state of man, and their efficacious impression on the heart, were thus signally proved to be "the wisdom of God, and the power of God unto salvation? By what mode of preaching were these mighty effects produced? By that which exalts the dignity of the creature, and debases the Saviour? which rejects the mysteries of revelation, and makes human reason the standard and the test of truth? which relaxes the tone of moral obligation in proportion as it depreciates the pure and humbling doctrines of the cross? Alas! when does the system of instruction founded on such principles, become the instrument of moral conversion---change the heart---purify the passions---and regulate the conduct of those who were once "serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another?" The doctrines insisted on by Mr. Darracott, and enforced by direct and fervent application to the consciences of his hearers, were those of human depravity--redemption by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the influence of the Holy Spirit. And yet how many in the present day affect to treat these truths with contempt and derision? And how many faithful preachers are there now loaded with obloquy and reproach, for earnestly proclaiming them, who |