but it was my wish to avoid informing you of the project I had con ceived on my father's death, till it was executed. It was not the little kingdom which that event transferred to me, nor even the largest empire, that would separate me from you; my sole design, in the step I have just taken, was to make you an offer of a small number of my subjects, which is the only part of my inheritance that I can bestow. I have, at the same time, complied with the wishes of my people, in resigning my little sovereignty to the most worthy of my relations.'

Such a scene may be more easily conceived than described. Thus Forval found his wife worthy of all his affection; and the present she made him is a sort of fortune in this country.'

The chapter on the island of Madagascar contains a curious. history of a Russian princess, residing at Mauritius, extracted from the letters of Baron Grant, in the years 1750 and 1751, and from the secret memoirs of Du Clos: but, as we have not room to insert it, we must refer the lovers of anecdotes to the work.

It is impossible for us regularly to follow the author (or, rather, collector,) through the miscellaneous contents of this large volume; which includes extracts from the Registers of the Royal Academy of Marine, and from the Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences; from the Lives of M. D'Apres de Mannevillette, of l'Abbé de la Caille, of Hyder Ally Khan, and of Count Lally; from the farther Correspondence of Baron Grant; from the History of India during the Seven Years' War, &c. &c. In a chapter towards the conclusion, we are presented with a narrative of the excursion of M. de St. Pierre in the isle of France, including a description of the cavern near the great river; with observations on the island by the Abbé Raynal, by Captain Munro, and by M. de Cossigny.

In order that the work may contain every event and circumstance necessary to impart the most perfect knowledge of the isles of France and Bourbon, the Viscount subjoins, in the concluding chapter, an abstract of events relative to Mauritius, from the termination of his father's correspondence to the year 1800. Here, as an affectionate son, he takes occasion to pay an honourable tribute to the memory of his parent, by describing the exemplary manner in which Baron Grant (who died in June 1734) passed the latter years of his valuable life. He then presents us with the Proclamation of the Governor of Mauritius in January 1798-Proceedings of Tippoo Sultaun's Ambassadors in their Voyage to Mauritius-Copy of a letter from the Secret Committee of Directors to the Government in India, November 1798-Letters of Bonaparte at Cairo to Tippoo Sultaun, 1799-Orders of Lord Mornington to the Indian army

15

army-General Harris's Letter-Capture of SeringapatamDeath and interment of Tippoo, &c.

The population of the contiguous isles of France and Bourbon (this latter is now called Reunion) is said to have been 121,000 in the year 1799, and the military force 5000. Of the present (or recent) state of the agriculture of the former, we have an account from an inhabitant of the island, who arrived in London in 1800, which is as follows:

The soil of this island is very diversified. Although, by its climate, it is adapted for all colonial productions, it has not equally answered to all the different kinds of cultivation which the inhabitants have endeavoured to naturalize. The plantations of coffee, being of the most simple culture, and requiring less expence and establishments, were the first which they adopted; but other objects of culture, such as cotton, having appeared more profitable, coffee has not become so general as it would otherwise have been.

The cotton, which had promised such advantageous returns, has likewise been ne glected in its turn, for the same reason; because the cultivation of indigo was become the most popular; but the great profit which the first sugar plantations afforded, has induced them to establish some wherever they could procure a quantity of water above the level of the earth, sufficient to work a sugar mill. Several sugar plantations have already proved successful, and many others are expected equally to succeed. Unfortunately, the mountains, though covered with fine trees, have been found, in certain spots, to have a white stone or rock too near the mould; but those who have suffered from this inconvenience have indemnified themselves, for the present, by felling woods.'

As the author, to use his own words, presents this history of the island which gave him birth to the country which affords him protection,' we are perfectly disposed to extend towards him the politeness which is due to a foreigner, and to excuse the verbal errors or defects of style which sometimes occur. Some contradictions are also observable in the different accounts; and perhaps, as the Viscount is a native of the island, and therefore able to appreciate the value of his different materials, he may be induced in future to form out of them a regular and unbroken history.

The maps accompanying this volume are well executed.

ART. X. Poems, Epistolary, Lyric, and Elegiacal. In three Parts.
By the Rev. Thos. Maurice, A. M. Assistant Librarian of the
British Museum. 8vo. pp 284. 9s. Boards. Wright. 1800.

OU
UR readers and the public in general are well acquainted
with the merits of Mr. Maurice as an author, and parti-
cularly as a poet; in which branch of literature, as most con-

Mo-y.

genial to the vivacity of youth, and peculiarly so to the ardour of his imagination, he first ventured to exert his powers and indulge his fancy. Most of the principal pieces in this volume have been formerly presented to the world, and mentioned in our review;-with regard to the smaller compositions now first printed, the author speaks with modesty, as being very early efforts which claim the exercise of candour and indul gence.

It is not necessary for us now to characterise the exertions of this gentleman's muse: her powers are sufficiently known, and generally acknowleged. It may suffice, therefore, on the present occasion, if we extract one or two of the poems contained in this volume ;-and we shall first quote a production of some length, which possesses considerable merit:

6

Elegy written after sickness, and some time previous to taking orders.

I.

From the drear confines of the yawning tomb
The deep, dark vale, where boding horror reigns,
Pale as some spectre of the midnight gloom,
The blood scarce circling through these languid veins,

II.

With rapture I emerge to life-to light

And eager roll around my ardent gaze

The flowers more fragrant bloom, the fields more bright,
While vernal nature all her pomp displays.

III.

Oh! with what transport does my throbbing heart
Bound at the sight of yon blue vault on high;
To view, once more, refulgent Phobus dart
His crimson splendors through yon eastern sky

IV.

Or, when bright Hesper glimmers from áfar,
To mark the stars in radiant march advance;
And, 'midst their sparkling orbs pale Cynthia's car
In glory gliding through the vast expanse;

V.

What sudden transports, like the fever's glow,
Again, tumultuous, shoot through all my frame;
I feel my blood in brisker currents flow,
And fancy kindling with unwonted flame.
VI.

Sublime on eagle pinions soars my soul,
And now the dazzling galaxy I tread-
I see the ponderous globe beneath me roll,
And Ocean heaving on his mighty bed.

The

VII.

The splendid dream of wild illusion o'er, Forlorn, through dreary solitudes I go ;Deserted wander o'er some pathless shore, Or toil in darkness through the drifted snow.

VIII.

Hence-hideous phantom - gender'd by despair! Avaunt-and let my harass'd soul repose: Descend Hygeia! to my ardent prayer, Great Nature! all thy balmy sweets disclose!

IX.

On yonder mountain's brow that towers sublime, A thousand fragrant shrubs salubrious bloom:

With day's first beam its verdant height I'll climb, Bathe in their dew, and quaff their rich perfume.

X.

And oft at noon, through yon umbrageous vale, Secure from Syrius' sultry rage I'll rove;

Once more, sweet sylvan scenes, I bid you hail, Fair seats of pleasure, and soft haunts of love!

XI.

Snatch me, ye hills, ye streams, ye opening glades, Where lusty youth perpetual health inhales!

Oh! plunge me deep in vast embowering shades, Around me waft Arabia's fragrant gales!

XII.

Is it to hail me from that bed of pain,
Where late, with lingering tortures rack'd, I lay;
That Philomel exalts her loftiest strain,

And wilder raptures burst from every spray?

XIII.

Sweet bird! no more those thrilling notes prolong, So soft a music dwells in every sound;

My feeble powers refuse to bear thy song, And sink-amidst the dear delirium drown'd!

XIV.

Thus, in the mine's deep caverns long oppress'd, The ransom'd slave looks round with wild surpriseA flood of mingled passions storms his breast, He views the lustre of the sun, and dies!

XV.

Ah me! methought I trod that shadowy land, Where the still waters of oblivion glide;

A night of vapours veil'd the dusky strand, And horror seem'd the howling blast to ride!

XVI.

With faltering foot, sunk eye, and wither'd look, To the drear banks a ghastly train retir'd!

Some pin'd with agues, some with palsies shook, These melancholy sunk, those mania fir'd!

XVII.

All the long train of woes to man assign'd
Rag'd, midst the throng that press'd the crowded shore;
Who lame, and halt, and impotent, and blind,
Plung'd in the torrent, and were heard no more!

XVIII.

Ah! sacred light, farewell thy golden beam! And ye ætherial fires! farewell, I cried;

These are the bowers of death, and yon dark stream Shall soon ingulph me in its roaring tide!

XIX.

Indulgent heaven forbade the threaten'd doom,
Nor gave my youth to fate's dark jaws a prey:
A ray of light broke through the tenfold gloom,
And led me back to rapture, and to day.

XX.

Grav'd on my heart the awful scene remains,
Nor more shall headstrong passion fire my youth,
The charm's dissolv'd that held my soul in chains,
And Folly withers at the frown of Truth!

XXI.

When late through every pulse, resistless rag'd, The darting fever's unextinguish'd flame,

When no mild lenitives my pangs assuag'd, And fierce convulsions shook my wither'd frame :

XXII.

Oh world! how worthless didst thou seem-how vain All the gay pleasures of thy amplest range;

Then for one momentary pause from pain Potosi's treasures were a cheap exchange.

XXIII.

Wealth, power, ambition, whither fled those charms,
Whose sway resistless binds our hapless race;
Ye, that so often rouse the world to arms,

And shake contending kingdoms to their base.

XXIV.

Say, ye soft syrens of the vanquish'd soul, Ye Loves, ye Pleasures, whither did ye fly! The early vigour of my youth ye stole, Yet ah! in death your soothing aid deny.

And