1804s] 
to render him a fitter recipient for the fe- 
licities of another world, and a brighter 
example for the edification of this. 
We would gladly indulge in the melan- 
choly fatisfaction arifing from the detailed 
contemplation of excellence fo diverfified. 
But the matter is too abundant, and the 
propofed limits too contraéted for fuch 
delineation. We muft, therefore, take 
cur leave of this exemplary charaéter 
with this fhort and imperfect.fummary. 
He was an author without vanity, a 
philofopher without pride, a fcholar with- 
out pedantry, a ftudent without feclufion, 
a moralift without morefen@{s, a patriot 
without faétion, and a Chriftian without 
guile. Affable in his manners, courteous 
in his converfation, dignified in his de- 
Original Poetiy. 
82h 
portment, cheerful in his temper, warm 
in his affeStions, fteady-in his friendthips, 
mild in his refentments; and unfhaken in 
his principles. The grand object of his 
life was ufefulnefs, and the grand {pring 
of all his aétions was religion. With 
fuch a fingular union of eftimable endows 
ments, and with fcarcely one diftinguiffi- 
able failing to caft a fhade upon their col- 
letive {plendor, who that knew him can 
avoid dwelling upon his memory with 
pleafure? a pleafure indeed accompanied 
with fenfations ofthe mot poignant re+ 
gret, yet fill fuch as prompts the heart 
to vent itfelf in the exclamation— 
é¢ Heu! quanto minus et cum reliquig 
6 verfari quam tui meminifie !” 
ORIGINAL POETRY. 
THOUGHTS ON APPARITIONS: 
Scene——The Ruins of FARLEY CASTLE. 
Time -—Midnight. . 
“VE fpirits who inhabit worlds unknown! 
Terrific {peétres ! whither are ye flown ? 
Oft have I heard, ye love at this dread. hour - 
To haunt the ruin’d aifle, or mofs-grown 
tow’r 5 . 
To flit in fhadowy forms along the glade, 
Or ftalk gigantic *midft the gloomy fhade. 
et here alone with filent fteps I tread, 
Where broken walls their mouldering ruins 
{pread 5 
Where the cold afhes of the fair and great, 
Vainly enfhrin’d, repofe in awful ftate ; 
Where the dark ivy clafps the embattled 
tow’r, 
And lengthens out awhile its final hour j—- 
But all is ftill! no frightful ghoft appears ; 
No ghaftly phantom its huge form uprears ; 
No white-rob’d fpirit glides acrofs the gloom ; 
Wo hollow groan low mutters from the tomb ; 
But death-like Silence fpreads an awe pro- 
found, 
And Darknefs flings her fable mantle round. 
Then whither are thefe fhadowy fpeétrés - 
fled, 
That nightly guard the relics of the dead? 
And where is pale-cheek’d Terror’s hideous 
train, 
That o’er the midnight hour is faid to reign? 
Ah! let grim Fear and Superftition tell 
A tale of horror from their murky cell ; 
Where by the glimmering taper’s pale-blue 
light, 
They pafs, in fullen mood, the dreary night ; 
Starting with frenzied looks at every found, 
- While vifionary phantoms float around. 
VYes—-they may tell of deeds with horror 
fraught, 
And dreadful fights that mock the labouring 
thought 5 ° 
Montary Mac, No. 421, 
Yet will I fcorn the vain deluding tale, 
Nor let their voice o’er Reafon’s felf pras 
vail. : : 
But can I ftill a hardy fceptic ftand, 
Rejecting truths rever’d in every lands 
While undifputed facts their force unite, : 
To prove that fpirits haunt the fhades of 
night ? . 
Ah no! I muft fubmit—I pleadin vain 
Imagination’s wild defpotic reign; 
Or fay that Fear by Fancy’s magic aid 
May fill with airy forms the dubious fhade 3. 
And bid the trembling heart, in manhood’s 
fpite, 
Start from a wavering bufh with pale afs 
fright. 
Yes—'tis in vain! for while with fad furg 
prife 
Q’er many a dreadful legend Pity fighs, 
Some well-attefted facts the mind perceives, 
And with difcriminating power—believes. 
Yet fhall I dread at this dark hour to rove, 
Amid the folemn ftillnefs of the grove ; 
Or where the time-worn battlements arife, 
Or the proud turret low in ruin lies? 
I fcorn the thought—=affur’d that Sov’reign 
Pow’r 
Governs alike the darle, or noontide hour 5 
And here as free from rude alarm I ftray, 
Amid thefe fhades, as in the blaze of day 5 
While to thy care, O thou Almighty 
Friend! 
By night, or day, my fpirit I commend. 
But oh! my heart delights while thus I rove, 
To indulge the pleafing thought, that fome 1 
love, 
Who now have gain’d the radiant feats of 
blifs, 
Attend my wand’rings o’er a fcene like this. 
Oh yes—methinks I fee] her prefence nears | 
Whofe memory claims afieCtion’s grateful 
fear 3 
Gua W hofe 
