450 
pursuits. Under’ all the disadvantages of 
the Humblest birth, the most: distressing 
‘peliury, and the almost total want of that 
instruction ‘and assistance whieh such pur- 
suits require, hé has yet scceeded in not 
only rendering himself master of the He- 
brew and the Greek»and Latin languages, 
but has become so familiar with most of the 
languages of modern Europe, as to converse 
inimany of’ them ‘with ease. From the 
earliest period of hislife he has derived his 
solepleasure from the study of languages, 
towhich he has sacrificed every other ob- 
ject, choosing rather to subsist on the 
casual charity of strangers than to aban- 
don, even to procure himself the means of 
livelihood, his favourite pursuit. Bat, 
while the mind of this “learned Theban” 
has been endowed with so peculiar a capa- 
city, all its other powers appear to have 
lain perfectly dormant, if their existence 
itself may not be doubted. He appears, in 
short, to be nothing more than a sentient 
dictionary, a sort of type of grammarians, 
an exemplar of lexicographers; and, as 
Martinus Scriblerus could form an abstract 
idea of a lord mayor, Richard Robert 
Jones may be called an abstract idea of a 
philologist. © Unfortunately for his own 
comfort, he is perfectly destitute of the 
‘slightest niedium of common-sense ; and, in 
his affection for learning he has so far for- 
gotten his love of cleanliness, as to suffer 
his personal appearance to become squalid 
and wretched to'the last degree. That his 
acquirements are solid and extensive there 
is the fullest evidence in the present vo- 
lume, which also bears testimony to the 
inoffensive disposition and honesty of this 
obscure scholar, Many highly characte- 
ristic and interesting anecdotes are given, 
from which it appears, that the sub- 
ject of the Memoir has been seen and exa- 
mined by some of our most distinguished 
scholars. From an advertisement prefixed 
tothe Memoir, we learn, that any profits 
which may arise from this publication, or 
from distinct contributions; are intended 
to be applied to make a provision forthe 
object of it, and the names of several gen- 
tlemen of high respectability are appended 
to ‘this notice. The speculations of the 
writer of this little Memoir, which is, 
we believe, correctly attributed) to Mr, 
Roscog, on the literary phenomenon which 
he has introduced to the public, are inge- 
nious. and worthy of much attention. 
Among the’ catch-pennies of) the month 
may he named the Memoirsof Lord Byron, 
by the Lord knows who 3: andan empirical 
production of the Rev: Mr: GrsBorweE, 
on the Interchurse of Friends inthe future 
State.. Both seem well adaptedto the 
usual majorities of mankind, but we cannot 
dissemble our astonishment at the appear- 
ance ‘ofthe last) work, in a°country of 
rational Christians. 
The LY: and Opinions of Sir Richand Mal- 
Kiterary°and Critical Proémiun. 
{June 1 9 
travers, an English Gentleman of the Seven- 
teenth Century; is a philosophical romance, 
in’ which ‘the author (Lor» Driion, itis 
reported) launchés into speculations/on all 
subjects, moral, political, civil) and: reli- 
gious. It is a compound of ancient preju- 
dice and modern philosophy, combining’a 
great veneration for the #ra of’ chivalry, 
and the “domination. of the old’ ‘fetidal 
barons, with a qualified predilection for 
popular rights and public freedom. °To 
describe this noble author in few words, 
he seems to be inreligion a liberal thinker, 
in morals a stoic, in metaphysics a necessi- 
tarian, and in politics an aristocrat.) For 
the style in‘which he supports these» cha- 
racters, we beg our readers to:consult his 
two volumes, in which they will find avery 
scanty account of Sir Richard Maltravers, 
but a copious overflow of his doctrines. 
The composition, as well as the matter) of 
these disquisitions, is often incorreet and 
rambling, the conclusions illogical, and the 
expression inflated, or coarse. “Adopting 
the system of fatalism to which the author 
is somuch attached, and supposing the di- 
rection, as he eallsit, of every object tobe 
fixed by destiny, we apprehend that ‘the 
line of direction which these volumes ‘are 
taking, will lead to their bemg very \se- 
verely criticized, at thésame time that their 
original tone of thinking cannot but'cause 
them to be much read. 16% 
Mr. Joun BAniM, the author of Damon 
and Pythias, has offered another proof of 
his talents in the Cell’s Paradise, the peru- 
sal of which impresses us with a’ very fa- 
vourable notion of his» poeiical capacity. 
It is written in astyle and metre which; we 
believe, is best expressed by” paraplirasis, 
as being that which the public were taught 
to relish by Sir Walter Scott. | The'dia- 
logue lies between Saint» Patrick> ‘and 
Ossian; the latterlaying claim to a paradise 
of his own, to which he had once obtained 
a partial admission, by the favour of a su- 
pernatural mistress. This subject gives fair 
scope for fancy, in which the author ap- 
pears to be by no means deficient, ‘nor in 
the other requisites for rendering an at- 
tempt of this kind creditable to himself 
and pleasing to his reader. 
Mr: Mrrimavy has just published another 
dramatic poem, entitled, Belshazzar, on 
the same plan, and partaking of the same 
character and merits, as his Martyr of 
Antioch. . The plot is interwoven with the 
incidents ‘of \ Belshazzar’s feast: and’ the 
hand-writing upon the wall, from: sacred 
writ, and the siege and destructiom of 
Babylon, from profane: history. °To» the 
former, the poet has, where it was possible, 
adhered very closely. The story is inter- 
esting, and is lengthened and elevated by 
the introduction of hymns and chorusses, in 
which Mr. Milman’s genius principally ex- 
cels.. We are sorry. that their length will 
not permit us fo present one of ‘them to 
our 
