4* de flower is white, and the fruit is a also confessed to have been written in small red berry. I cannot agree with haste, indeed in a less period than a your correspondent, in supposing month, though there is no indication that Johnson used the expression of this haste in the composition or figuratively; for, when we consider execution. The book must be allowthat his vision was defective, that his ed to be respectable, (excellent crilife was metropolitan, and his taste tic!) and may be perused, even after no way directed towards nature in Colebs, (generous concession !) withany of her works, it is extremely out exciting fastidiousness. The auprobable that he was totally ignorant of thor seems calculated for higher what the laurel was, and wrote about things, and in this particular to have it from books rather than from inspec- hastily taken up time which might have been better and more effectually employed." tion. I remain, Sir, Riegate, Dec. 20, 1810. P. P. The BRITISH CRITIC and NUBILIA. SIR, IN N the eleventh volume of the Universal Magazine, for April, 1809, p. 308, a correspondent détected and exposed a shameful instance of tergiversation in the conductors of the British Critic: such an instance, as ought, one might suppose, have rendered them more circumspect for the future. But it did no such thing, as the following will prove: In their number for August, 1809, p. 187, they gave the following criticism upon Nubilia in Search of a Husband. I shall quote it word for word. Now, Sir, in their number for February, 1810, p. 187, they review this same book again, the fourth edi tion of it; instigated thereto, it seems, in consequence of " a violent remonstrance from a correspondent, coupled with some observations dropped in private society" and this second edition of their opinion runs thus : "We have read the book with careful attention. A heavy task indeed it was! For a more tedious tissue of empty declamations was never encountered. The author is extremely ambitious of being original, but is so very seldom. He is, we pronounce, VERY YOUNG AND VERY CONCEITED. He has no style, but an endless effusion of sounding words, sometimes incorrect, which, when he would raise them to sublimity, fall into blank verse; one of the strongest proofs of a want of style. His rant against social worship (hinc ille lacrymæ !) compared with solitary meditation, is equally foolish. "It is not certain that the author will not be offended* with our placing his book in the class of novels, "At the same time, there are good because he tells us it has no title to things in this book. (I am ashamed the name. What we have done, to copy their praise Now, but will go however, we have done. (Really! on). His arguments in chap. 3, who would have suspected such a against conversational politics, is adtruth, if they had not been told it?) mirable, (and yet, the book a " tediThe book is very sensibly written, and contains some interesting incidents and remarks: but the whole is so very obviously founded on the recent and popular publication of Mrs, Hannah More, and indeed is so acknowledged by the author himself, that all praise of originality of contrive for higher things." Vide first edition, ance is immediately excluded. It is An harmonious, collocation of words in this part of the sentence ! "The book is very sensibly written, and contains some interesting incidents and remarks." Vide first edition of their opinion. &c. "The author seems calculated 66 The work is confessed to have been written in less than a month, but there is no indication of this haste in the composition or execution." Ibid. : Seventh Scene. ous tissue of empty declamations!!)" and his censure of the love of dispu- Adam (solus). What is this undetation is very just. But, on the other finable feeling which now pervades hand, his poetical opinions are brought me? I am become calm, now that in most absurdly and his praise of my misery is risen to its height; or is Schiller's Robbers is such as never it possible that the misery of a mortal should be given to a piece of such can rise still higher? O thou cool abominable tendency. (Candid, im- and silent grave! receive the weary partial critics!!) wanderer soon into thy peaceful lap, "If this author, however, will and thou soul of my son Abel, among write with more care and delibera- the souls of men the purest, if thou tion, and with a less impetuous de- now hoverest over thy father's grave, sire and conceit of originality, he O then meet my soul when it starts may, sometime hence, produce a good from the darkened eye, or the falterbook. (Gentle souls how they strive ing lip. Ah! thou didst not die as I to encourage this " young and con- shall die. Thrice a heavy sigh broke ceited author!!") We have said HE from thy breast. Thou writhedst in throughout, careless whether the thy blood, and slumbered in the arms writer be male or female. (What of death. courage!) Ir may be either." (What wit!) Eighth Scene. ADAM. SETH. Seth. I have found Cain; he lay on I forbear, Sir, to indulge in any invective against this mean and despicable proceeding. It speaks for itself the ground outstretched. As he saw better than a hundred tongues could me he slowly raised himself, and exdo for it. I would truly suggest to the claimed, give me a draught from that wise and dignified, and learned, and fountain, give me one drop, or this candid conductors of this miscellany, instant I shall die. I gave him some the propriety of appending to each of water, and he drank; and I then imtheir criticisms in future, some such parted to him thy commands. He then raised himself higher, and looked me full in the face. He appeared as if he wished to weep, but alas! he could not weep. At last he said, he is my father, God will forgive him as he has forgiven me. notice as this: We caution our readers not to believe this opinion: in six months we shall give another, and they can take which they like, I remain, Sir, Dec 7, 1810. Adam. It is enough. Adam. I am tranquil, my son. Seth. I know not now what passes within me. Am I strengthened by a superior power? I too on a sudden an become tranquil. Adam. Let us distinguish if that tranquillity be in our hearts, or if it be only an emotion which passes like a morning mist. On thy return didst thou behold the sun? Seth. It was enveloped in clouds, yet it was not wholly obscured. If my eye did not deceive me, it was bending fast to its setting. Adam. Bending fast? Look, my son, if the clouds be not yet dispersed, and tell me if thou seest thy mother. The terrors of death again environ me. O woe! if I should never behold her again. Shall I call her? of shail I exclude her from my hut? Seth. The clouds are not dispersed, nor do I see my mother. Adam. What shall I do? In his hands I will leave it. Who gave the sun its course, and who gave his orders to the angel of death, his will be done! Seth, my son, my first born, (for Cain has cursed me, and Abel is no more) when thou art grown old and grey, and thy children's chil never comes alone. She is always attended by her children. It is she-it is she. O my heart-my burthened heart, what are now thy feelings? I will hasten away and conceal myself. I will summon all the powers of a man to bear this trying scene. THIRD ACT. First Scene. dren, and the children of my grand EVE and SELIMA (from different children are gathered together around thee, and ask of thee, Didst thou behold our father Adam die? and when he died? what said our father Adam to thee? Then, my son, do thou answer, (my heart breaks whilst I tell it thee) then answ them. On the evening of his death, he reclined up on me, and said, Ah! my children, my curse is also become your curse; it was I who brought it on you. He who created me immortal gave me the choice of life and death. I wished to be more than immortal, and death was my choice. What weeping is heard in the mountains? What grief is heard in the vallies? The father has buried his daughter, the mother her son; the children have buried their mother; the husband the wife; the sister the brother; the friend weeps over the grave of the friend; the bridegroom over the tomb of the bride. Avert not your eyes from my grave when you view it, nor curse ye my bones. Have compassion on me, my children, when ye see my grave, or when ye think of me. Have compassion on me, nor curse ye the dead. Yes, they will have compassion on me, For God, who will become man, the hope and saviour of the human race, he has taken compassion on me. Tell them, without his aid I should have fallen under the terror of my death. (He seats himself on the altar close to his grace). Seth. His head sinks stiffened down. Ah! is he dying? Adam, my father! my father! dost thou live, my father? Adam. Leave me, my son. It as suages the agony of death. It is my last sleep on earth. sides). Selima. Oh! my wretched mother approaches. I cannot support her look. Exe. Every thing is here so lonely. Where is Adam? Where is Seth? Where is Selima? O where are they all that I may relate to them all iny joys; all the bliss which is this day showered on me. Oh! I am the most happy of mothers. Second Scene. SETH. EVE. Seth (before Eve perceives him). O my grief, be hushed. Assist me, ye angels, to support her sight. Eve., Welcome my son, Seth, thou seest the happiest of mothers. Where is Adam? He must share my joys? Seth. Adam sleeps, my mother. Eve. Where is he? Where does he sleep? Let me awaken him, that [ may relate all the joy I feel. Seth. A few minutes are but elapsed since he fell asleep. Awake him not, my mother. Eve. Detain me not, my son. I must awaken him, my happiness is so great. Seth, No, my mother, disturb him not. It was his last injunction that he should not be awakened. Ecc. He will not be able to sleep long in the proximity of so many joys. He will awaken spontaneously. Ah, my son, I have found thy younger brother: I have found my Sunim. In journeying to the huts of his brother, he lost his way, and for a long time he has been wonderfully preserv ed in a cave; but he himself shall relate it to thy father. O, how will the Seth. How quickly he has fallen to heart of Sunim beat when he is again sleep. How soft are his slumbers. I clasped in his father's arms. He is will cover his sainted head. Ah!1 soon coming with the three mothers. will not curse thy bones, thou best of It was my wish, first to inform Adam fathers. O how low the sun has set. of the joyful event,, that the joy in Who approaches there! My mother seeing the infant on a sudden before him, might not affect him too much, and this day I am to lead my Heman and my Selima to the bridal arbor. Ye did not think, my children, that Sunim would be present to bear the bridal torch. Seth. O my beloved mother. Eve. Why, my son, dost thou regard me with such a serious eye. Dost thou not join in the joy of thy mother? Seth. So many joys at once make me serious. Eve. I see the mothers approaching. I must go and waken Adam. Seth (raising his hands to heaven.) (aside). O thou most miserable of mothers, (to Eve) Adam is not there where thou seekest them, Eve. Where is he then, my son, when he sleeps? Seth. By the altar. Eve. Sleeps Adam by the altar? Seth. He has there prepared himself a resting place, and there he will for ever sleep. Third Scene. EVE. ADAM. SETH. Ece (withdrawing the covering from the altar). Ah! it is his unconquerable grief for Abel? Why has he covered his face my son? What cavity have ye there been digging? Has Adam been in search of the bones of his son? The grief for Abel will be the death of Adam. Why dost thou not answer me, my son? Seth. It is a grave, my mother. Eve. Let me not see the bones. Shew me not the bones of my son; my heart would break were I to see them. Seth. There are no bones to shew thee. Eve. Are they mouldered to dust? Seth, my son, thy father's sleep is not composed; and these hands, O Heaven! these pale hands— Adam (awakening). Troublesome has been my sleep; it will be sweeter in the grave. Hast thou brought Selima to me, my son? Be not so depressed, Selima, thy mother still lives. Ere. I am not, Selima. O, Adam, thou wilt recognize my broken voice: I am not Selima. Adem. O, this is death indeed. Seth. Not yet, my father. Eve. Did not the angel of death pronounce my name with thine? Am I not to die with thee? It was always my last resource; in my sorrowful hours, it was always my only comfort, that I should die with thee. With Adam was I created, and with Adam shall I not die? Adam. O thou most beloved of mortals; on this terrible day, thon more beloved still. O Eve, thou cocreated! my eyes can no more behold thee, but they still can weep. Leave me, O leave me; death is more than death when I hear thy voice. Seth (aside). To crown this scene of woe, the mothers come. Adam. What steps are they which strike my ear? Seth. The three mothers and Heman approach. Fourth Scene. The three mothers, with their sonsSunim from the one side, Selima and Heman from the other. Selima. Now I will accompany you. I will also enter. Heman. And I too, my Selima. No: I can scarcely credit what I have heard. One of the Mothers. Come, Sunim. Second Mother. What do my eyes behold? The third Mother. Is that our fa• ther? Seth (returning from the further end.) (Aside The sun approaches the wood (to Ece). My mother I can no longer conceal it from thee (he hides his face). It is Adam's grave. He will die, ere the sun has set behind the cedar wood. I myself have heard Adam. Go to them, my son Seth the angel of death. He will return, Seth (addressing himself to the Mor and soon-then will the rocks by the thers). Dreadful is the intelligence huts fall together-and then-Ete which I have to communicate. Ere falls on the opposite side of the altar). the sun has set behind the cedar wood, Adam dies. An angel of death has behold not his grave. Adam. What voice is that which strikes upon my ear. I know it well, yet cannot recognize the person. It is not one of the mothers, nor is it the voice of Selima, nor of Heman. Seth. Rejoice, then, once more in life, my father. It is Sunim's voice. Thy son Sunim is found again. Adam. Will my son Seth deceive me in my death, who never deceived me in my life? Know, my son, on earth, there are no more joys for me. Seth. My father! Seth. O thou sentence of death, which has been pronounced upon thee. Raise thyself, my Sunim. My father now demands my care (to Adam). My father! this is no day of forbearance, no day of silence; the sun is almost set; the cedars already obscure it from our view. Give us thy blessing, my father. Adam. Almost set, saidst thou, my son. Come, O death, come with all thy terrors. I cannot bless you, my children. He who created you will bless you. I cannot bless you, the but it only falls to shew me the plains of death. O, ye fixed eyes, look not on me. Ye call for blood-blood of the murdered. O, that those mountains would cover it. O, that mother! she wrings her hands, and looks to Heaven-another murdered youth. Thou wert her son. Look at that fractured skull—those smoking brains. Fly, fly, my children-have compassien on me-lead me, lead me, from this hateful spot. Seth. My heart will break. Adam. Is Seth, my son, so near to me. I heard thy voice, Seth. Oh! I have slept so sweetly. Seth. O, ye angels, he smiles. Come, come Eve, come Heman and Selima, and thou Sunim. Come ye mothers, let us view his last smile; we are all here-bless us, my father. Adam. Come here, my children. Where art thou, Seth, that I may place my right hand upon thee, and Heman, my left upon thee. Come, ye mothers, and bring your sons hither. Eve bless your children with me. (They kneel around him). Eve (who kneels the last). Thou wilt also bless me, Adain? Adam. Thou has my blessing, Eve. Follow me soon. Thou wert soon created after me-thou mother of mankind--and, thou must soon die after me. Here is my grave. Ece. There thou spokest like an angel, Adam. Adam. This is my blessing, my children-this the blessing with which bless the children of your children, and the whole race of man. May the God of your father, who of dust created man, and who breathed into him an immortal soul, and who has blessed and judged me, may he give to you the joys of the earth; and often do ye remember that ye must die to become again immortal. Be wise that your hearts may be noble. Love one another, for ye are brethren. humanity and charity be your joy, He is the greatest amongst you who is the most humane, and when the God Adam. I have no blessing. The of your father and your God calls you agony of death seizes on me. My from this nether world, raise your former life, with all its blissful days, eyes to Heaven-adore the Almighty, now rally on me. My former immor- and think that you were created-that tality; it is that which trembles in my you are dust-and must to dust return. bones. Whither shall I be carried? In pronouncing these last words a holThe veil falls from before my eyes, low sound is heard at a distance. curse is on me. All. Give us thy blessing, give us thy blessing. Let |