MYSTERIOUS Thoughts! say, whither When trusting in his goodness and his pow'r! course Still as in ages past, nor devious yet Dispute the feebler wonders of thy God, Of rigid Virtue, and exalting high Elate and tow'ring as in Freedom's joy, name Pronounce thee fit, unaided and alone, maze, The thorny lab'rinth of bewild'ring Doubt, Of Myst'ries seeming dark, and hidden things That stagger each enquirer, not confirm, On ev'ry side, equal or greater far seek As trials of that Faith we justly owe, And shedding down thy radiance, scatter Full on my darken'd soul thy kindling ray, So rule my heart that I may learn to bow estrang'd Our trust in Him, whose goodness and whose pow'r, Confest thro'all his wonders,reign supreme. PREFACE TO THE FIRST PART OF THE EIGHTY-THIRD VOLUME. K Magnos motus rerum circa se frementium securus aspiciat, et dura placidè ferat, et secunda moderatè."-SENECA. THE above is one of the characteristics which Seneca gives of Wisdom; and certain it is, that they whose situation in more recent times has exposed them to any degree of responsibility, must necessarily have been involved in the universal agitation which has disturbed the World. We are not at all disposed to use the language of ostentatious vaunting; but we may securely appeal to our Prefatory Addresses to our Friends and Correspondents for many preceding years, in proof, that, notwithstanding the triumphs of Despotism, and the dark rollings of many a tempestuous storm, which ever and anon threatened to burst over our heads, we never flinched from the firmness of our confidence in that All-wise and Almighty Being who regulates the affairs of Nations. We have invariably felt and expressed the honest confidence of Britons, rejected all emotions of despondency, and encouraged the golden vision of Hope; nor have we been disappointed. The British Eagle once more towers aloft above its foes; the Leopard, which was to have fled at the sight of Napoleon's Banners, has sprung upon his aggressors, and inflicted no common vengeance. But we forbear too unlimited an indulgence of our emotions; and rather incline to contemplate the probable result of these triumphs and victories with the complacency inspired by our love of Peace, and attachment to the Muses. Unus idemque inter diversa. This is our chief delight, and proudest distinction; though we should ill deserve the patriotic character to which we have always aspired, were we to pass with little, or with cold observation, the great and proud events which have of late so splendidly contributed to adorn our Annals. A most consolatory circumstance it must surely be to Englishmen to have observed, that the thunder and tempests of War have never with us impeded the progress of Learning in any of its various branches. The studious pursuits of our Countrymen have proceeded without molestation and interruption; and we have continually to boast of new discoveries in Philosophy, greater progress in the Arts, novel and important information in Geography; and, to sum the whole at once, in all the circle of the Sciences. To these, collectively and individually, we continue to lend our humble, but strenuous and unremitting assistance; and, with some pride we may be allowed to say, our assistance has not been in vain. It only remains with us to repeat our customary acknowledgments of gratitude; and our respectful solicitations for a continuance of that patronage which has been so long and so effectually bestowed. "Nemo non benignus est sui judex; inde est ut omnia meruisse se existimet, et in solutum accipiat, nec satis suo pretio se estimatum putet.” Such are not our sentiments; on the contrary, we are zealous to confess that the public favour may, perhaps, have exceeded our merits; but this only operates with us as an additional stimulus for our exertions. June 30, 1813. THE Meteorological Diaries for Dec. & January 2, 8 Robt. Preston's Epitaph.-CambridgeCritics 83 Conjecture respecting Author of Junius, &c. 3 Price of Gold and Silver.-Henry's Chapel ib. Account of "The British Gallery of Pictures" 6 Portraits.-Almanack.- Register Bill, &c. 34 Epitaph at Dorchester, 7-Mr.Tyson? &c. 8 ARCHITECTURAL INNOVATION, No. CLXX.. 36 View of the Roman Wall atWroxeter,Salop 9 Literary Intelligence,39.-Indexindicatorius 40 CLIst Psalm.-Remarks on English Liturgy 10] REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS; viz. Comment on Zeph iii. 8.-Hebrew Points 11 Defence of Poesy.-Lord Thurlow's Verses 41 Letters from eminent. Scholars to Dr. Busby 12 Beloe's Anecdotes of Literature, vol. VI.... 42 Epitaphs for Mrs. Mason & Lady Palmerston 14 General Biographical Dictionary, V.-VII. 43 Hints for ameliorating the Condition of Poor 15 Evans's Funeral Sermon on J. Brent, Esq. 44 Zechariah. - Heraldry.-'Visiting on Sundays' 16 Speeches, &c. of Mr. Canning at Liverpool 46 St. Martin's Church, Canterbury, described 17 Brady's "Clavis Calendaria," concluded... 47 Proclamation, emp. Eliz.onSports on Sundaysib. Chamberlaine's "Tirocinium Medicum," &c. 49 St. Helier's, Jersey.-Dress of antient French 18 Spence's Sketch of Manners, &c. of Scotland 51 Industry of Monks. Fire at Buckingham 1726 19 Nolan's "Objections" to Uniting with BibleSoc. 54 Bernadotte.Voltaire on Female Warriors 20 Halpin's Poem on 50th year of George III. 56 Church at Honduras.-Wycliffe Family..... ib. Nightingale's Portraiture of Catholic Religion ib. Capt. Layman on Means of supporting Navy 21 REVIEW OF MUSICAL PUBLICATIONS......... 59 Strictures on Dr. Symmons's Life of Milton 25 SELECT POETRY for January 1813, ......61-64 Courayer's Tract on the Divinity of Christ.. 26 Regent's Declaration against the United States 65 Luke xvi.9.-Churching Sing "Old Rose," 26 London Gazettes, 71.-Foreign Occurrences 75 Church at the Cape.-Island of Acunha.... 28 Country News, S0.-Domestic Occurrences 81 Leopards' Faces.-H. Burlton.-Sir R. Ellys 29 Preferments.-Births. Marriages, &c...... 82 Beautiful MS. of Hobbes's "Leviathan"... 30 Obituary, with Anec. of remarkable Persons 83 Medley of Epigrams, &c.-The word Aches 32 Canal, &c. Shares94-Prices of Markets, &c. 95 Funerals from Livery Halls in the City..... ib. Prices of Stocks each Day in January....... 96 |