enemies, admirers and critics, appeared on all sides; but its success was owing as much to the sacredness of the subject as to the beauty of the poetry. Divines quoted it from the pulpit; and Christian readers loved it as a book that afforded them, amidst the rage of controversy, some scope for devout feeling. By some of the clergy it was condemned, as a presumptuous fiction. The partizans of Gottshed raised still greater clamour against the work, on account of the language; while the Swiss critics, on the other hand, extolled it in the highest degree. Bodmer, in particular, the translator of Milton, embraced the cause of the German epic bard with enthusiastic ardour, and contributed greatly to accelerate the celebrity of the poem. Klopstock suffered his friends and his enemies to write as they pleased, while he was silent, and followed the bent of his genius. In the summer of 1750, Klopstock went to Zurich, on an invitation from Bodmer, at whose house he resided, and with whom he had previously carried on a correspondence. He was received in Switzerland with the most flattering marks of esteem and respect. The sublime and enchanting beauties of that romantic country, the friendship of some highly-cultivated minds, and the uncorrupted manners of that virtuous nation, would, perhaps, have induced him to settle there for life, had not an unexpected circumstance opened to him very different prospects. The illustrious Danish Count Bernstorff, whose capacious mind traced in the very commencement of Klopstock's work the fature glory of the poet, resolved to take him under his patronage, and was recommended by him to the favourite minister of Frederic V. and through him to the king himself, by whom he was invited to reside at Copenhagen, on a pension which set him above pecuniary cares, and left him at liberty to complete the Messiah. This offer he accepted, and in the spring of 1751 set out for Denmark, by the way of Brunswick and Hamburg. At Hamburg, during this journey, he became acquainted with the lovely and accomplished Margaretta Möller, who afterwards made him the happiest of men. After his first meeting with this lady, Klopstock continued his jour ney to Copenhagen, where he lived in the enjoyment of tranquillity and leisure, beloved and respected by all who were friends to science and virtue. The letters which constantly passed between him and his beloved Margaret, knit still closer the bonds of affection; but domestic circumstances obliged them to delay their union to a distant period. In the year 1752, the king having determined to spend, the summer in Holstein, Klopstock took that opportunity to return to the object of his affection at Hamburg, and consecrated this happy interval to love and the muses. To this circumstance we are indebted for his captivating songs to his Margaret, under the title of Cidli, the name which he had given to Jairus's daughter in the Messiah. His matrimonial alliance was, however, still deferred, and he was obliged to leave her once more, in order to return with the king to Copenhagen, where he continued during the whole of the following year. In the summer of 1754 he again visited Hamburg; and at length, on the 10th of June, he was united to the amiable object of his affections. After his marriage, he went with his bride to Quedlinburg. He was destined, however, to enjoy but for a short time the bliss of connubial affection; for in the year 1758 the beloved partner of his heart died in childbed. He cherished the remembrance of this charming woman to the last moment of his life, and always found a melancholy pleasure in visiting her grave, in the village of Ottensen, near Hamburg, where he directed that his own remains should be placed by her side. Klopstock continued to reside at Copenhagen till the year 1771, when his protector and friend, Count Bernstorff, retired from office. Our poet then returned to Hamburg, where he still enjoyed a pension from the king of Denmark, by whom he was much esteemed and loved. In 1775 the Margrave Frederic of Baden, sent him a pressing invitation to Carlsrhue. Here he remained about a year, and then returned to Hamburg, where he resided during the remainder of his life. Klopstock, though of a serious turn of mind, was, notwithstanding, fond of society, and was very lively and agreeable. His countenance was extremely pleasing, though not remarkably handsome. His eyes were blue, full of animation, but chiefly expressive of softness and benevolence; his voice uncommonly sweet, and when he first addressed a stranger, it was in a low, gentle, entreating tone. Animated with all the fire of genius, but always gentle and unassuming, there was no harshness in his look or manner; nor were his extraordinary talents marked by any strong lines or remarkable expression of countenance; so that where he was not known, his figure would probably have attracted no notice, till he entered into conversation. Klopstock's merit as a poet is now universally acknowledged by all who are capable of forming any judgment on the subject. His divine songs breathe the genuine spirit of Christianity; zeal in the cause of truth, fervent piety, and active benevolence. All is grand, sublime, and original.* His Messiah has raised the fame of his native country in the highest department of epic poetry, to a level with that of every other nation. In Horn's "Critical History of German Poetry and Eloquence," it is ob An English gentleman, of the name of Eaton, a young man of an excellent understanding, and acquainted with the German language, as well as with the Arabic and Persic, relates the following singular anecdote respecting the effect of the Mes. siah. He once attempted to translate to an Arabian priest, as accurately as the great difference between the languages would permit, a passage in a hymn to CHRIST. He said that it was impossible to describe the attention with which the Arab listened to it. At length the blood rose into his face; he stood up and exclaimed with vehemence, "Excellent! but Allah pardon him for having so highly exalted the Son." He then begged Mr. Eaton to proceed, and again rose hastily, with a sort of indignant admiration, continually repeating, "Allah pardon him for having so highly exalted the Son." served of Klopstock, that there are "three equally excellent traits of character displayed in his poems,-patriotism, warmth of friendship, and pure religion. Klopstock alone had the courage to awaken the attention of his sleeping countrymen, by his noble compositions, full of ardour and tenderness; in order that they might resume their ancient force and energy, and that calm dignity, which confides in itself, and is unwilling to borrow from others. Friendship inspired him with many of his finest odes. It is a thought which fills us with the most pleasing sensations, that this man, who must have felt so firm a confidence in himself, yet constantly lived on the sentiments of friendship, and even had the art of warming many cooler hearts with the overflowings of his affection. Klopstock's piety, in its full extent, as it influenced both his heart and his understanding,may clearly be discovered in his odes, entitled, "The Omnipotent,"" The Contemplation of God," &c. and in the plan of the Messiah. When we contemplate this last in all its dignity and grandeur, and, at the same time, consider the courage which was requisite in order to adopt it, as the subject of an Epic Poem, we shall, even on this account alone, bestow on Klopstock the title of a great poet." The remaining years of Klopstock's life afford few events. In 1791, when he was in his o8th year, he married Johannah von Wenthem, who was nearly related to his first wife; and much of the happiness of his cheerful old age was owing to his union to this lady. To che close of life he retained his poetical powers; and his sacred harp still sent forth strains of sublime and heartfelt piety. His Klopstock died at Hamburg, on the 14th of March, 1803, in the 80th year of his age, with a firm expectation of happiness beyond the grave. strong feelings of religion shed a lustre on his last moments, when he displayed a noble example of what he had often sung in his divine poems. He fervent piety, and the admirable unity preserved his gentle animation, his of his mind, till the close of life. He spoke of death with the most cheer ful composure. The pleasing images of immortality sung by his own lofty muse, recurred to his mind in the moment of trial, and whispered comfort to his spirit as it fled. His strength was greatly diminished in the winter of 1802, but he was still pleased with the visits of his friends. He frequently read his Messiah, but "think not," he once said to a friend, "that I now read it as a poet, I only occupy myself with the ideas it contains." To the last he loved to speak of his Meta, and pleased himself with planting white lilies on her grave, because the lily was the most exalted of flowers, and she was the most exalted of women. In the last weeks of his life he secluded himself entirely even from those who were most dear to him. He sent them many kind messages, but declined seeing them. Tranquillity of mind, resignation to the will of God, warm emotions of gratitude for the happiness he had enjoyed in life, gentle endurance of the pains of death, a calm prospect of the grave, and joyful expectations of a higher existence, these were now his sensations. In the 12th canto of the Messiah, he has sung the happy close of a victorious life, with unparalleled grandeur of description. Such Christian triumph attended him in the hard struggles of dissolution, which grew more painful on a nearer approach. In the last and severest conflict he raised himself on his couch, folded his hands, and with uplifted eyes pronounced the sacred words so finely illustrated in one of his odes,-"Can a woman forget her child, that she should not have pity on the fruit of her womb? Yes, she may forget, but I will not forget thee!"-The struggle was now over, he fell into a gentle slumber, and awoke no more. A solemn funeral, such as Germany had never witnessed for any man of letters before, honoured the venerable remains of Klopstock. The following account of the awful ceremony was written by one of his friends, and in serted in a Hamburg newspaper, dated March 22, 1803. "At ten o'clock this morning, above seventy coaches assembled before the house of the deceased. This respectable train consisted of the Diplomatic Corps resident in the circle of Lower Saxony, the members of our Senate, the Ministers of our Church, the teachers of the Gymnasium and of St. John's, Literati, Merchants, &c. Notwithstanding the immense concourse of people, amounting to at least fifty thousand in the streets and marketplace, all interference of the police was unnecessary. An universal sentiment of awe supplied its place, and imposed silence on an innumerable multitude of people. The procession, preceded and followed by a guard of cavalry and infantry sent by the Senate, followed the open hearse, drawn by four horses, on which stood the simple coffin, and proceeded through some of the principal streets to the gate which leads to Altona. At the gate, the body was received by the first President of Altona, preceded by ten Marshals, and followed by many citizens and inhabitants, among whom were many members of the Senate, as well as celebrated Literati, foreign Generals, and other persons of distinction. They joined the respectable train from Hamburg in the following order. An escort of Hussars; too Marshals in carriages, with a train of forty-five coaches. Between the Marshals went three young ladies, dressed in white, crowned with oak leaves and white roses, and carrying wreathes of roses, myrtle, and laurel. The procession passed through the principal streets of Altona, to the grave in the church-yard of the village of Ottensen. The corps were every where met by open demonstrations of respect and love, and of grief for such an irreparable loss. The guards, by whom the procession passed in both towns, paid military honours, and the ships in the harbour had mourning flags. When the procession arrived at the grave, where it was received by music of wind instruments muffled, the coffin was taken off the hearse, and carried into the church, and placed before the altar. The noble poem of the Messiah was laid on the coffin: a young man stepped forward, and covered the open book with a laurel crown, while tears. His second loving and beloved Spouse, Erected this marble to the Guide of her JOHANNAH ELIZABETH, Youth, her Friend, her Husband. She waits in tears the hour that will, where death shall be no more, where the Lord will wipe off the tears of his beloved, unite her with him, and those whom she loved. Adore HIM who for us lived, died, and arose from the dead. the young ladies from Altona laid A Golden Holy Cup* filled with Christian theirs on the bier. Then began the musical celebration, performed by above an hundred musicians, together with many female singers, from different families in Hamburg. Stanzas and chorusses out of Klopstock's paraphrase of the Pater-noster, and his spiritual songs, set to music by Romberg and others; and out of Mozart's mourning cantata, resounded through the aisles, and added a melting solemnity to the scene. During a pause in the music, Dr. Meyer took the book from the coffin, and read, from the 12th canto of the Messiah, the description of the death of Mary the sister of Lazarus:-comforting, animating images of death and immortality, which had hovered round the death-bed of the pious poet! exalted thoughts of religion, with which his soul departed from this world. Then burst forth the chorus, "Arise, verily thou shalt arise!" during which the coffin was taken up and carried into the churchyard, and after every sacred rite was performed, it was let down into the grave. "A noble lime-tree overshadows it. Flowers, the firstlings of the newawakened spring, were scattered over it. Peace, heavenly peace, shall hover over this beloved grave. Ye men of future generations, men of genuine taste and feeling, ye will make a pilgrimage to this grave, and pay to the manes of a man, who was the glory of his age, and the pride of his nation, the offering of admiration and gratitude, which we his friends and contemporaries by this day's ceremony can but faintly express for our dear departed friend." His Epitaph. Extract from a Sermon preached at THE King of Terrors is indeed every day presenting himself in various shapes before us; and it were well if he never presented himself in vain. But he speaks to us in a louder tone of warning; he reminds us of his dominion more imperiously and more awfully, when, in the pride of destruction, he tramples crowns and sceptres under his feet; and proves to us, that those elevated mortals, to whose grandeur we had been almost tempted to attach the idea of permanency, are, in truth, though statelier, yet not less fading flowers, though broader, yet not more continuing shadows. There may perhaps be some here present, who can call to mind that period, when she whose removal from our sight has clothed us with the garb of mourning, was just setting her foot in her newly acquired kingdom, welcomed by the smiles of an affectionate people, and with long and dazzling prospects of prosperity and greatness before her. At such a period they would probably have deemed it a fore By the side of his Meta and his child, rests sight of unnatural and gloomy extent, FREDERIC GOTTLIEB KLOPSTOCK. He was born July 2d, 1724. Germans, approach with veneration and which should have looked forward over the apparently wide interval, to the time of her total and ultimate relinquishment of all with which she had just been invested. Yet now that this time is actually come, their view of the matter is doubtless greatly changed. One of the ancient ornaments of This relates to one of Klopstock's odes, inscribed " To the Redeemer." * our Church has expressed himself on this trite, but most affecting subject, with such impressive simplicity, that I cannot refrain from quoting his words. "Threescore, or fourscore years make a great noise, and sound high, and whilst they are before us, look big, and seem to be a long time of duration. But one year steals away after another, and when the whole term is out, we wonder, and are vexed at our false arithmetic; the vast number of years seems as a cypher, and the time that is past appears as a dream, yea, a mere nothing." Anecdote of Pope, Garth, and Lord Halifax-related by Pope. THE famous lord Halifax was rather I a pretender to taste than really possessed of it. When I had finished the two or three first books of my translation of the "Iliad," that lord desired to have the pleasure of hearing them read at his house. Addison, Congreve, and Garth, were there at the reading. In four or five places lord Halifax stopt me very civilly, and with a speech each time of much the same kind, "I beg your pardon, Mr. Pope; but there is something in that passage that does not quite please me. Be so good as to mark the place, and consider it a little at your leisure. I am sure you can give it a little turn." returned from lord Halifax's with Dr. Garth, in his chariot; and as we were going along, was saying to the doctor, that my lord had laid me under a great deal of difficulty by such loose and general observations; that I had been thinking over the passages almost ever since, and could not guess at what it was that offended his lordship in either of them. Gath laughed heartily at my embarrassment; said I had not been long enough acquainted with lord Halifax to know his way yet; that I need not puzzle myself about looking those places over and over when I "All you need do, says got home. he, is to leave them just as they are; call on lord Halifax two or three months hence, thank him for his kind observations on those passages, * Bishop Bul. and then read them to him as altered. I have known him much longer than you have, and will be answerable for the event." I followed his advice; waited on lord Halifax some time after; said I hoped he would find his objections to those passages removed; read them to him exactly as they were at first; and his lordship was extremely pleased with them, and cried out, "Ay, now they are perfectly right; nothing can be better." Abstract of the Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the Diocess of North-Carolina, held in St. James's Church, Wilmington, on the 22d, 23d, and 24th of April last. THE Convention was composed of the Right Rev. Bishop MOORE, of Virginia, who has also Canonical superintendence of this Diocess, four Presbyters, one Deacon, and Lay Delegates from five parishes. The Convention was opened by Morning Prayer performed by the Rev. GREGORY T. BEDELL, Rector of St. John's Church, Fayetteville, and an appropriate discourse by the Right Rev. Bishop MOORE.. The Rev. ADAM EMPIE being obliged, from indisposition, to decline the office of Secretary, the Rev. GREGORY T. BEDELL was elected. elected the Standing Committee for The following gentlemen were the ensuing year: Rev. Adam Empie, Rev. Gregory T. Bedell, Mr. John Winslow, Mr. John A. Cameron, Mr. Paris I. Tillinghast, sen. Mr. Charles Mallet, and Mr. Newman Kershaw. the Episcopal Congregation in WilTrinity Church, Tarborough, and liamsborough, Granville county, were admitted into union with the Conven |