a could uninterruptedly pursue his studies. But his disposition was restless, and packing up his books, which were increased by Pagninus's Thesaurus Linguæ Sanctæ, Erpenius's Arabic Grammar, and Bythner's Lyra Prophetica, he returned to Aberdaron. His father for a time "was not so fierce against him ;” but when his little cash was exhausted, his former barbarous treatment was ren ed, and he sought refuge once more in Liverpool. Here “his ambition,” as he says, “ brought upon him many troubles and offences, almost inextricable and innumerable:” and in the course of these, he was obliged to part with his Hebrew Bible. To replace this, and to obtain instruction in Chaldee and Syriac, he resolved upon a journey to London; and, accordingly'in the summer of 1807, deposited his few remaining books in the folds of his dress, threw a small package over his shoulder, and with a long pole in his hand, round which was rolled a map of the roads, set off for the great city on foot. But-Quid Romæ faciat? He could find no employment, nor obtain assistance" by any means whatever.” So he made his way to Dover, perhaps with the intention of passing to the Continent. Fortune however threw him in the way of the superintendant of the Dock-yards; who allowed him breakfast, gave him a chest to keep his books in, and paid him 2s. 4d. a-day for sifting ashes, like a He-Cinderella. His earnings enabled him to engage the Rabbi Nathan, as his Hebrew Master; and he remained no less than three years in a state of happiness and tranquillity, during which he has recorded little more than the following dream, which is illustrated by a drawing. " " Before my continual disappointments and troubles in learning, I dreamed, and saw myself in my dream upon the plain near the river of Babylon, where I saw the harps of the captives of Israel hung upon the willows; and I saw the willows grown to an exceeding great height, and the harps were hung upon them in the night when being rainy weather.' P. 18. In 1810 he returned to London, and fell into the hands of the Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews. Considering the liberal protection which this sagacious and salutary institution has from time to time afforded to Judah Catarevus, Hyam Isaacs, John Myers, Lazarus Leon, Schlusselburg, Josephson, Marinus, and the inimitable Joseph-Samuel-Christian-Frederick Frey, we are by no means surprised to hear that its kindness to simple and unfortunate applicant, who possessed no recommendation but that of honesty and learning, was of short continuance. Mr. Lewis Way perhaps may tell the public why it was converted into “ hostility and oppression;" insomuch that Richard, was “reduced to the utmost distress, and compelled to sell his books, to prevent his being starved to death." His beard, his want of personal cleanliness, and his broken English, would have formed admirable saint-traps for an anniversary meeting; but probably Richard had too much single-heartedness, to lend himself as a tool to folly and fanaticism. The bounty of the Welsh Bardic Society, enabled him to return to Bangor, where he lived for six months with the Rev. Richard Davies; and, during that time, “copied for his patron all the Hebrew words in Littleton's Latin Dictionary, and corrected several of the errata in them, according to the 'Hebrew Lexicon of Sanctes Pagninus, abridged by Raphelengius.” Soon after he was placed with a printer at Liverpool; but it was of no avail; he could learn nothing. In an a Irish lodging-house he was robbed of Martin's Chaldee Grammar, and several other books, and the remainder were thrown through the window into the street. We do not learn the offence which he gave his landlady; it might be asserting the antiquity of the Jews above the Milesians. One of his friends withdrew to London; " consequently” he says, the Hebrew words which he had copied from Littleton's Dictionary, were stolen from him. . To complete his misfortunes, he was at length obliged to pawn Schrevelius, Erpenius, and his Hebrew Grammar. Since this time he has passed a year or two at Baghillt, in the county of Flint, where in full accordance with his love of Hebrew lore, he learnt to blow a ram's horn, to the great annoyance of the neighbourhood; to this musical acquirement, he has since added a knowledge of the French horn, and his native harp. Liverpool at present is his chief residence, where he may be seen at times, walking with a book under his arm, without money, or speaking to any one. " If any gratuity be offered to him (for he never solicits it), he receives it with a degree of hesitation, generally using the words, “I am not worthy." To any ridicule to which his dress and appearance may give rise, he is totally insensible. At one time he chose to tie up his hair with a large piece of green ferret, which gave him the most ludicrous appearance possible. Some time since, one of his friends gave him a light-horseman's jacket, of blue and silver, which he immediately put on, and continued to wear, and which, contrasted with his hair and beard, gave him the appearance of a Jewish warrior, as represented in old prints, and consequently attracted after him a crowd of children. In his present appearance, he strongly resembles some of the Beggars of Rembrandt; and if he had lived in the time of that great artist, might have afforded a good subject for his immortal pen. cil; yet there is some expression of dignity in his countenance, which is well marked in the excellent portrait of him, given as a frontispiece, and which cannot be observed without a feeling of respect." P. 24. He is particularly frugal in his habits, addicted to no vice, and temperate in his mode of living, drinking only water with the occasional Indulgence of milk. His disposition is gentle, and his manners civil and respectful. To truth he is scrupulously adherent; and in return for kindness, or as a mark of good will, he frequently gives, or offers to give, not only his books, but even the MSS. which he has compiled with infinite labour. But the most remarkable feature of his mind is, that it embraces the words of the language which he has acquired, more as being in themselves the ultimate objects of his study, than as keys to information: so that with a thorough comprehension of the grammatical construction of every sentence in any work which he has been reading, he is nearly ignorant of the facts which it contains. “A distinguished member of the University of Oxford happening to call on one of Richard's friends, at a time when Richard himself happened to be near at hand, it occurred to his friend, that the literary curiosity of the learned visiter might be gratified by a short interview with a character of such a description. Richard was accordingly introduced; and, after the first surprise occasioned by his appearance had subsided, and some explanations had been given as to the nature of his acquire. ments, he was asked several questions, both in the French and Italian languages, to which he replied with that readiness and simplicity for which he is remarkable. He was then asked, whether he understood Latin and Greek; and having answered in the affirmative, was desired to read a passage in Homer. Richard accordingly thrust his hand into his bosom, and diving down to the residence of the great poet, dragged him from his depths, and offered him to the visiter to select a passage, a who, declining a more intimate acquaintance, desired Richard would open the book, and read such passage as might first occur to him. He accordingly began with some lines in the Iliad with great deliberation and accuracy, commenting on' them as he proceeded, with many judicious critical remarks, which sbowed a thorough knowledge of the language, and surprised the gentleman to whom they were addressed. Being then requested to translate what he had read, he gave it in such English as he usually employs; slowly and cautiously, but with a sufficient accuracy to show that, as far as grammatical construction went, he perfectly understood the sense. The following dialogue then took place: “Q. Very well, Richard; you have translated this passage very well. Pray have you read the Iliad? “ A. Yes, I have. “Yes, yes; that is certainly the derivation of the name: but what do you think of Andromache, the wife of Hector? “ A. I know nothing about that.” P. 28. Yet as to his method of study, he answers very rationally; as the following dialogue will prove. “Q. As you seem to have made no little proficiency in languages, pray tell me what method you take in acquiring a language? “ A. It is according to what the nature of the language is. “ A. If it was the Spanish, for instance, I would take a vocabulary of the language, and examine what words corresponded with or resembled the words in any other language, with which I was acquainted; as, for instance, the Latin, French, or Italian; and those words I would strike out of the vocabulary, leaving only such as were the original or peculiar words of the Spanish tongue; and then, by the assistance of a grammar, I should soon be able to attain a knowledge of that lan. guage.” P. 31. His compilations consist of a Hebrew Grammar, a Greek and English Lexicon, a Collection of Hebrew Extracts, followed by a Vocabulary in Hebrew and English, and a brief Latin treatise on the music and accents of the Jews, and a Lexicon in Hebrew, Greek and English, in which he has made considerable progress. This last was intended to include the Latin and Welsh; but the want of books hitherto has prevented him from interweaving them. We sincerely trust that the little publication, to which we have directed the attention of our readers, will assist in removing the poverty against which he has continued to struggle with such unbroken perseverance. His wants appear to be few; and both as a man of desert, and as a singular phenomenon in the history of the human mind, he has a claim upon the purses of those who have the ability and the inclination to give. The profits derived from his Memoir, are to be expended in securing him a provision; and the following highly respectable Committee, in Liverpool, has undertaken to receive subscriptions, and direct their application. Messrs. W.W.Currie, A Lace, S. Parkes, W. Rathbone, W. S. Roscoe, H. Taylor, J. Ashton Yates. It will be no small satisfaction to us, if we shall in any way have contributed to the furtherance of their benevolent design. a 66 * 'Ανδρων μαχη.” FROM THE LONDON MAGAZINE. A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. By Barry E. O'Meara, Esq. late Surgeon to the Emperor Napoleoi. This work, from which, our readers will recollect, some extracts were given in our last, is on the eve of publication, but has not yet made its appearance. We will avail ourselves therefore of the copy in our possession to lay before our readers a further selection from its contents. The work purports to be a compilation of Napoleon's private observations during the first three years of his captivity at St. Helena, taken down upon the spot each day, immediately after the narrator parted from his company. It is a simple, unadorned narrative of the conversations of Napoleon, not spoiled or brought into suspicion by any attempt at finery,--it is the Boswelliana of Bonaparte, unalloyed by the certainly amusing) egotism of the northern biographer. To the work is prefixed a fac-similie of Napoleon's manuscript of the following sentence, the original of which is in the author's possession. “ Je prie mes parens et amis de croire tout ce que le Docteur O'Meara leur dira relativement a la position ou je me trouve et aux sentimens que je conserve. S'il voie ma bonne Louise je la prie de permettre qu'il lui baise les mains. “ NAPOLEON. “ Le 25 Juillet, 1818.” This speaks clearly the high confidence which Napoleon placed in the person to whom it was given, and confirms the strong internal evidence which every page presents of its authenticity. In addition to this, there is the attestation of Mr. Holmes, the agent of Napoleon in this country, that he received the original manuscript from St. Helena long before the arrival of Mr. O'Meara in England, a proof that the compilation was no afterthought. We think Mr. O'Meara has only acted justly towards himself, and respectfully towards the public, in producing those vouchers for the credit which he demands from them: but the trouble was scarcely necessary; there are so many anecdotes which none but Napoleon could tellso many phrases, which none but Napoleon could use-sach intensity of diction, and varieties of singular and interesting disclosure, that it is difficult to refuge assent. The very nature of the work renders it necess essarily most curious—there has not been a public event for the last thirty years-an actor of any distinction upon the political scene-a general of any famea minister of any eminencema battle-a courtma treaty, or in short, an occurrence of any national interest whatever, which we have not Napoleon sketching for us in his own proper person, with all the rapidity and familiarity of conversation. The most minute details of his youth, his elevation, his prosperity, and his fall the characters with whom he either combated or associated—the different members of his own family, their faults and their capabilities—the crimes of which he was accused with his own defences, the failures which he fell into, the achievements which he executed, and the plans which he had in prospect, are all developed with most interesting minuteness. One circumstance has struck us forcibly, as we have no doubt it will every one else on a perusal of this book, and that is, the facility of intercourse which Napoleon admitted, and his extreme communicativeness upon every subject; to be sure, it is natural enough that a man like him, after the surprising activity of the life he led, might wish to relieve the rigours of his confinement by a recurrence to the scenes in which he was so distinguished, thus as it were stealing a balm for the present from the memory of the past; still we did not expect to meet with so entire an absence of reserve. It is time, however, to allow the reader to judge for himself by some out of the numberless entertaining anecdotes with which these volumes abound. We should perhaps mention that the book is written in the unassuming but natural form of a diary. The following are some of his opinions of the person to whom perhaps in the world he was most attached—the Empress Josephine. “ Had some conversation with him relative to the Empress Josephine, of whom he spoke in terms the most affectionate. His first acquaintance with that amiable being, commenced after the disarming of the sections in Paris, subsequently to the 13th of Vendemaire, 1795. "A boy of twelve or thirteen years old presented himself to me, continued hc, and entreated that his father's sword (who had been a general of the republic) should be returned. I was so touched by this affectionate request, that I ordered it to be given to him. This boy was Eugene Beauharnois. On seeing the sword, he burst into tears. I felt so much affected by his conduct, that I noticed and praised him much. A few days afterwards his mother came to return me a visit of thanks. I was much struck with her appear. ance, and still more with her esprit. The first impression was daily strengthened, and marriage was not long in following: Vol. i. p. 180. And again—'Josephine was subject to nervous attacks when in affliction. She was really an amiable woman-elegant, charming and affable. Era la dama la piu graziosa di Francia. She was the goddess of the toilet; all the fashions originated with her; every thing she put on appeared elegant; and she was so kind, so humane-she was the best woman in France.' In another place he says of her,— Josephine died worth about eighteen millions of francs. She was the greatest patroness of the fine arts that had been known in France for a series of years. She had frequently little disputes with Denon and even with myself, as she wanted to procure fine statues and pictures for her own gallery instead of the Museum. Now I always acted to please the people; and whenever I obtained a fine statue or a valuable picture i sent it there for the benefit of the nation. Josephine was grace personified., Every thing she did was with a peculiar grace and delicacy. I never saw her act inelegantly during the whole time we lived together. She had grace even en se couchant. Her toilet was a perfect arsenal, and she effectually defended herself against the assaults of time." Vol. ii. p. 101. Of Marie Louise also he seems to have been very fond. The author relates that, he made him read to him three several times, out of the Observer Newspaper, an account of her having fallen off her horse into the Po and narrowly escaped drowning; an accident by which he appeared much affected. We have already seen that her own picture and that of her son decorated his mantle-piece; he had subsequently received from Europe a bust of young Napoleon, upon which he used to gaze at times with the most tender expression of affection. Napoleon seemed fully impressed with an opinion that his affection for Marie Louise was returned to the last; and if the story which he relates be true, it is indeed highly to her honour. « « I have, continued he, been twice married. Political motives induced me to divorce my first wife, whom I tenderly loved. She, poor woman, fortunately for herself, died in time to prevent her witnessing the last of my misfortunes. Let Marie Louise be asked with what tenderness and affection I always treated her. After her forcible separation from me, she avowed in the most feeling terms her ardent desire to join me, extolled with many tears both my 66 to |