anticipate her in this precious contribution to Literature, it was not slow in doing what could be done by way of amends. A translation was immediately undertaken by a Professor of the University at Gottingen, and the valuable work soon appeared in a German Dress.-The translator was no other than the poet Burger so precious, for his Leonora, to the lovers of the horrible; and that fine genius, who had enriched poetry with this frightful pilgrimage of the poor Damsel to the graveyard in Hungary, now bestowed on Biography the memorable suspension of the horse to the steeple, and the musical accumulation in the Post-boy's horn.--Our Baron however appeared to think himself less favoured than his neighbours, by this edifying production; and threatened Dietrich, the publisher, printer to the University of Gottingen, with a process. This however never took place, and in the course of time, notwithstanding the moving perils he had encountered, and the Biographer had described, the Baron died.-The name however is by no means extinct, and it is among the most famous in Hannover.-Munchhausen was the celebrated minister, for Hannover, of George the II, and it was he who founded and reared the University of Gottingen, and caused it in a few years to take rank of the establishments, which have stood for centuries.

"I do not know, my dear Sir, whether it will be interesting to the American publick to hear, that the second volume of Professor A. Boeckh's Pindar has appeared. It is a sizeable quarto volume. The first contained the text the present treats of the metres, and is thought in Germany the most successful investigation of this subject, that has appeared. The metres are illustrated by their connexion with the musick, to which the Odes were adapted; and the whole inquiry of Professor Boeckh into the subject of the Greek musick and its metrical relations is equally masterly and original. It is understood that he is aided, in this edition, which quite surpasses all former editions of Pindar, by Professor Dissen of Gottingen.-Professor Beockh is of the University at Berlin and is employed in conjunction with other learned men, and under the patronage of the Prussian government, on a new edition of all the Greek Inscriptions. He is also engaged with Heindorf, and Schleiermacher, the latter so celebrated for his German translation of Plato, on a complete edition of this Author."

THE NORTH-AMERICAN REVIEW.

Rhoda-A novel.-By the author of "Things by their right names," "Plain Sense," "&c. 2 vols. 12mo. Boston-Published by Wells & Lilly.

THIS novel presents a lively and pretty faithful picture of fashionable life. Its moral influence is favourable to virtue. The first deviations from principle are well delineated in the most conspicuous character, and the progressive steps, from brisk animal spirits to levity, folly, disregard of obligations, imprudence, and finally to remorse and misfortune, are skilfully traced. This character is a susceptible, brilliant, fanciful woman, whose dispositions are always good, but her conduct often wrong. She makes just reflections, but has not sufficient strength of character to execute her good purposes, and is continually liable to be diverted from propriety and rectitude, by the artful, who are her inferiours in point of understanding. She is, in short, one of those lovely bewitching creatures, whom every body admires and excuses, but whose conduct nobody approves.

The work is not remarkable for spirit and animation. We cannot promise the reader that his interest will not flag a little in the first part of the second volume, but we can assure him, that he will be well compensated for persisting in the persusal. It belongs to the numerous and constantly increasing class of productions, in which fiction is brought home to daily occurrences and observations. Readers are apt to complain of such, that they are monotonous and ordinary; they do not sufficiently abound in "moving incidents," frightful situations, and apprehensions of direful events which never happen. We do not affect to proscribe all the agitating fictions, with which the novel-reading fair daily distress themselves. Feigned as well as real sufferings may sometimes have a salutary influence, and variety is desirable for its own sake, and then an occasional interruption of the more gentle undulations of emotion, by the

whirls of transport, or the storms of the turbulent passions, may leave the mental atmosphere more lucid and serene. But we would not always be tossed and tempest-driven-let us sometimes be satisfied with the face of nature in its more usual state, not violently agitated, nor yet perfectly tranquil. It requires greater progress in the arts to exhibit with this aspect, it demands greater skill and delicacy of execution in the artist, and an improved susceptibility and taste in the observer. This truth is no less apparent in other arts, than in that of writing novels. Young belles, who have not been trained into a perception of real beauty and elegance, by judicious mothers and governesses, flutter out of the boarding school in the most brilliant hues, and by their glitter, dazzle the eyes, and turn the heads of the poor beaus, not yet far advanced in their teens. Painters, in the early period of their art, are apt to choose extravagant subjects and situations; and having set them forth in glaring colours, astonish the well-meaning multitude. In every art, the sort of specimens which children and the unskilful most admire, is the same with the masterpieces of a ruder state. The writers of fictitious narratives began with superhuman characters, and preternatural incidents, and thus kindled the admiration and curiosity of their rude readers, who would have gone to sleep over a probable story, elegantly told. Authors and readers early quitted the wild regions of giants, and dragons, and enchantments; but a great distance was to be passed over, before they could arrive at their proper home, among natural objects and real persons. Each alternately led the way, the author now guiding the publick tasteand now being directed by it. Their perils and disasters, by the way, have not been few; for they have often been shut up in Gothick towers, thrown into uncomfortable dungeons, pursued by apparitions, and were very ill used by monks in convents, and by robbers in deserts. Even after infernal personages and miraculous events had been abandoned, and it was required of an author to account for what he caused to take place in a more satisfactory way, the imaginations of men were for a long time affected by the terrours with which they had been surrounded, and they often mistook a figure in a piece of tattered tapestry for a spirit, fresh from the nether world, and would convert a crazy chateau into an enchanted castle, and indulge for a time in Vol. III. No. 8.

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the illusion, that there was something beyond the laws of nature, in their surprises, successes, and failures. At length all pretence of mystery ceased, and writers, who do not professedly lay their scenes beyond the limits of experience, must accept for machinery, such as they are, the laws of nature, and the passions of men. They are not confined to what is common and familiar. Strong passions still exist, and extraordinary events occur, and whatever is real, may well find a place in fiction. Many are led, by boldness and energy of genius, to prefer them, while others resort to them through weakness, and make use of them-that they may create that interest by their incidents, which they are unable to produce by a skilful management; they dress what they serve up, but rudely, but then they make up, as well as they can for this defect, by the number and profusion of dishes. The modern novels are generally better calculated to produce delight and improvement, than wonder and agitation. They answer all the useful purposes of a lesson, without its formality and tediousness. In them, we have the most minute and finished representations of manners. The privilege of using narrative or dialogue, and the liberty of detailing the most minute incidents, and marking the most trifling occurrences, provided a regard be had to grace and propriety, give the writer more freedom and play, than he is allowed in any other kind of composition, and enable him to bring out, and exhibit those subtle and evanescent accompaniments, to which characters and actions owe a greater part of their beauty and deformity.

We shall not proceed to analyze and review this book, as we can say nothing of it which will not occur to almost every reader, and our purpose in making it the occasion of these few remarks, will be accomplished, if we shall add something towards drawing to it that attention, which we think it deserves.

2. Judor,

Natural and Statistical view, or, picture of Cincinnati and the Miami country, illustrated by maps. With an Appendix, containing observations on the late Earthquakes, the Aurora Borealis, and the South West wind. By Daniel Drake: Cincinnati, printed by Looker and Wallace, 1815. 12 mo. pp. 251.

We have perused this work with much satisfaction. The fine country which it describes, has generally furnished a theme for vague declamation, and extravagant praise. Its natural advantages are so considerable, and its prosperity so rapid, that even a just picture of it would appear like flattery. Though a very favourable, it is a fairer delineation, than any we have seen of the Western country; its advantages are displayed without concealment of its defects, and as a general description, it will be valuable to those who wish to form a correct idea of that region. Its geographical, civil, physical and progressive state, are described with judgment and intelligence; and an account of its soil, climate and productions, are given in sufficient detail for all the purposes of common inquiry.

In looking at the map of those vast plains, between the sources of the Missouri and the Mississippi, and the Mountains of the Atlantick sea coast; and imagining them covered with a population free and civilized, which will probably happen in the course of another century; the mind is lost in reverie, on the immensity of the subject. One reflection must strike every one: the English Language and the Christian faith are destined to be spoken and professed by a larger portion of mankind, than ever yet expressed themselves in any one language, or ever worshipped under any one form of religion. Here will be a contrast to the population of Asia, as numerous as that, yet enjoying freedom, civilization, a beneficent religion, and all the stores of science and learning. These future states may go on in security, multiplying their riches by their industry, and enjoying all the refinements of civilization, without fear of any external invader. There will be no store-house of barbarians in the North, to ravage their fortunate country; and if they can avoid civil war among themselves, they will have no other war to fear. But we must abandon these excur◄ sions into futurity, to take up the work before us.