rection of M. Florian Klein, who is per's two pictures of Peace and War. assisted by several other able in- Vinckles and Hodges have long en

joyed the reputation of skilful engravers. Schwegman has obtained a prize, given by the National Economical Society, for a new invention of engraving, in imitation of chalk; and the society of Haelem has bestowed another on Horstock, a painter of Alkmaer, who has found out a method of rendering water-colours more durable.

There is now living at Marseilles, The Botanical Garden, at Leyden, a girl, called Rosalia-Zaccharia Fer- occupies about four acres of land, and riol, aged 10 years, and born in that is kept in excellent order. The Bocity of French parents, who possesses tanical Gardens of Upsal and of the all the characters of the Albinos. The Dublin Society, are described as greatcolour of her skin is of a dull white; ly superior in value and arrangement her hair is straight and somewhat harsh to this of Leyden. Amongst the plants to the touch, and is of a shining white are the remains of vegetable antiquity colour, as are likewise her eye-lashes in the shape of a palm, which stands and eyebrows. Her eyes are large and in a tub in the open air, supported by rolling, the iris being of a clear blue a thin frame of iron work. It is about with red streaks; and the cornea of a fourteen feet high, and was raised from bright and vivid red. The sensibility seed by the celebrated Carolus Clusius, of the visual organs is very great, the who died professor at Leyden in 1609. child not being able to bear much This plant is said to be the palm menlight, that of the sun obliging her to tioned by Linnæus in his Prælectiones close her eyes. This girl, though in Ordines Naturales Plantarum, pubmuch deformed in person, enjoys lished by Giseke in 1792, at Hamburgh, good health, and has never been af- which Linnæus suspected to be a Chaflicted with any disease, except the mærops; but which, as Dr. Smith ́obsmall-pox. She is very fond of high serves, his editor rightly refers to the seasoned food, is lively and intelli- Rhapis flabelli formis. It comes from gent: the father has chesnut coloured China and Japan, and there is a tree hair, and appears to enjoy good health; of this kind, and about as large, in the the mother is a brunette, strong, and Botanic Garden at Paris, and another neither her nor her husband have ever at Pisa. In this garden is also the been afflicted with any severe disorder; Ginkgo of the Chinese, a standard she has had five children, who are all twenty feet high; Strelitzia Regina, living, but never during pregnancy which has never yet flowered in any was indisposed more than women usually are. All her children, except the above girl, have chesnut coloured hair, and are perfectly well formed.

Holland.

garden out of England; the Olea laurifolia, a new species according to Van Royen; Royena lucida in flower as large as a moderate hawthorn-tree, and thought to be very handsome; Holland still possesses several art- and a singular plant from the Cape, ists, who maintain the glory of the an- supposed to be an Echites, with a large cient Dutch school. M. Buch, direc- tuberous root raised high above the tor of the academy of design, at Am- surface of the ground, two or three sterdam, is estimated to be a good weak stems a foot high, and large dark historical painter, The pictures of brown flowers. In the University Liflowers and sea-pieces, by De Vanos, brary is Rauwolf's Herbarium, which are spoken of with great praise. The is very magnificent, and the plants landscapes of Haag and animals of well preserved; also Boccone's Her Schouwman are much esteemed. barium of the plants described in his Kuiper has exercised his pencil with Fasciculus Plantarum, published by success in allegorical pieces; and Morison, at Oxford, in 1674-these Portman has given specimens of dis- specimens are very poor; Herman's tinguished talents in engraving Kui- Collection of Ceylon plants is also

here, and a volume of West-India in this place, which was divided into plants belonging to Herman, which three parts, one of which cousisted of are very scarce in Holland.

Italy.

nothing but the sacro catino. All the crusaders agreed that the Genoese An old national diversion has lately should be recompensed for their inbeen revived at Pisa, by order of the trepidity, in first entering the town, Queen of Etruria. It is called Giroco by having the first choice; and they del Ponte. As the river Arno divides chose the sacro catino. They kept it the town into north and south, 180 with the most sacred care, in an arinhabitants of the north quarter con- moury, made in the wall of the cathetend with an equal number of the dral at Genoa, and the keys of which south quarter for the possession of its were deposited with the most distinmarble bridge. They attack by di- guished personages of the republic. visions of 30; the struggle lasts three No person was permitted to touch it; quarters of an hour, and consists in and it was shewn to the faithful only the parties pushing against and driv- twice a year at a great festival. Thus ing back each other. Those who pe- it was not possible to examine whenetrate beyond the middle of the ther the vase was an emerald or not; bridge are proclaimed victors. The and this examination has just taken contest concludes with a splendid re- place by a commission of philosopast and a ball. Pisa having been founded by a Greek colony, this festival is thought to be a remnant of the ancient Greek games. It had ceased to be celebrated for the last 22 years. There had long been in the city of Genoa an hexagonal vase, known by the name of sacro catino, the sacred plate, which was supposed to be an emerald, and, in consequence, of an inestimable value. On plundering Italy, during the last revolution, it was sent to Paris, and deposited on the 20th of November last, by the emperor's orders, in the cabinet of antiquities, in the Imperial Library. The Baron de Prunner, a Captain This vase was considered as a precious of Chasseurs, founded in 1804, ai Carelic; and father Gaetano, a learned ligari, a society, denominated The Augustin monk, published, in 1727, Royal Society of Agriculture and at Genoa, a dissertation, in which he Rural Economy, which boasts of seveinserted all the authorities that tended ral distinguished foreigners as corto prove that this was the very vase in responding members. which the paschal lamb had been ofSweden. fered to Christ and his Apostles, on It is intended to establish in Sweden the evening of his passion. He ac- an institution for the instruction of counted for its falling into the hands the deaf and dumb, their number of the Genoese in the following man- being very considerable in that counner-These people distinguished try. In the dioceses alone of Upsal, themselves in the first crusade, and Vexio, Calmar, Ikera, and Carlstadt, particularly at the taking Cæsarea, in more than 250 of these unfortunate 1101. An immense booty was found people have been enumerated.

phers from the institute, consisting of Messrs. Guyton, Vanquelin, and Hany. They have declared that the sacro catino is nothing more than a lump of coloured glass; but they think it worthy of preservation, on account of its having been such an object of piety, and because it is a curious specimen of the art of glass making in the lower empire at such an early period. It is supposed to have been made at the time when Constantine established the seat of his empire at Byzantium.

Sardinia.

ADDITIONS TO, AND CORRECTIONS IN, FORMER

OBITUARIES.

JOHN CHARNOCK, Esq. F.A.S. whose thor seldom wants interest, or matter Death was announced at p. 466. Tis worthy of remark, that although common conjecture would be apt to imagine otherwise, the life of an au

IT

of entertainment. The notion that it is necessarily composed of a series of peaceful years, dedicated to science and the belles lettres, free from those

events which mark the story of the pamphlet, entitled The Rights of a free man engaged in the bustle of the world, People, 1792, which was written with is erroneous. Vicissitude is generally much spirit. His next was the Bioat hand to chequer, and disappoint- graphia Navalis, a faithful record of ment to blur the pages of the annals of the achievements of that class of heroes the man of genius. Egregious opi- who are indigenous to the climate of nions, or eccentricities of habit, the England only, and who continue tą, result perhaps of strong but noble as- be its great glory and protection. sions, may occasion the mind to swerve In the year 1798, Mr.Charnock pubfrom the consideration of its proper lished a pamphlet On Finance and interests; may mar the prospects of National Defence; which was followed life, or retard the fortunes of the man by an elaborate work, in three vols. of merit. The present memoir will quarto, entitled Marine Architecture, verify the truth of our assertion. on which much praise has been deservedly bestowed.

John Charnock, Esq. was born Nov. 28, in the year 1756; and was descend- Mr. Charnock's last work was the ed from an ancient and respectable Biographical Memoirs of Lord Viscount family. There was a Sir John Char- Nelson, with Observations critical and nock, a baronet, who died in the year explanatory; and perhaps never were 1680, but whose heir left the country richer materials afforded to a biograand was not heard of afterwards, unless pher than in the life of that naval in the person (which is the most pro- officer:-replete with the grandest bable fact) of a Stephen Charnock, scenery and effect, it would seem thatwho, twelve years afterwards, went the author had little else to do than from Boston in New England to Bar- describe the engagements in which the badoes, where he settled some time in hero had fought, ever glorious, and the year 1690, and from whom the sub- ever ending in victory. The nobleject of this memoir, who was the son ness of the theme, however, though of John Charnock, Esq. and Frances an advantage to a narrator on one daughter of Thes. Bootliby, of Ching- hand, demanded on the other a conford, in the county of Essex, both now siderable portion of talent and infor alive, was lineally descended. mation to do justice to it; and per Mr. Charnock was, in the year 1767, haps few, if any, were better qualified placed under the care of the Rev. Rey- for the task than the gentleman who heil Cotton, at Winchester; from is the subject of this memoir. Well whence he removed, in 1772, to the read in naval history, stored with nacollege, and was under the immediate val anecdote, a master of naval tactics, protection of the Rev. Dr. Warton, be- and himself a living witness of the ing a commoner. In the year 1779 or hero's fame; he might be said to have 1774, he obtained the silver medal an- had all the parts of his work prepared nually bestowed for elocution; and to hand, and which only required to about the latter part of 1774, he was be put together. Subjoined to this entered a gentleman commoner of volume were some original valuable Merton College, Oxford. private letters of Lord Nelson, given

The expectations of Mr Charnock exclusively to the author by a private were such as to make the pursuit of a friend, and which bear the character profession inconsequential; he was, of his Lordship's mind and manners; however, it appears, a volunteer in the plain, but not inelegant; clear, but navy in his youth, we believe with his not diffuse; and which prove suffriend the late Capt. Locker, where he ficiently that the hero of Trafalgar acquired that knowledge of naval tac- was as gentle and social in private tics which enabled him afterwards life, as in his public he was brave and to present to the world several useful full of glory. This interesting and and elegant works; and that he was well-written volume will long have a since in the army. The politics of distinguished place in the libraries, the times, also, er gaged M.Charnock's for the authentic intelligence it afattention: he had naturally a strong fords, and for the masterly manner in and active mind, full of power and which the character of the hero is discernment, and pure from venality displayed. or corruption. His first work was a

Besides the above works, Mr. Char

nock has contributed, from time to would not suffer him to preserve retime, a variety of interesting articles sentment where the slightest apology to this Magazine; the readers of which or atonement was offered, which inhave lost a valuable correspondent, stantly subdued the assumed dignity particularly in the department of naval of the offended. Mr. Charnock had biography. been often, in the society of his par

We should be happy if we could ticular friends, compared to the chapursue the narration of this gentle- racter of Sir Christopher Curry, in the man's life through that brilliant career comedy of Inkle and Yarico, and with of success which his talents, estimable which pleasant satire he was never character, and expectations might displeased. He had in his mind all justly have promised; but the duty of the dignity of an honest man, and his the biographer is to relate the truth. manners displayed the solid attainWhether Mr. Charnock miscalculated ments of the gentleman of the old his prospects, exceeded his income, school: his independent spirit, inor suffered from the natural openness deed, at times, we believe, warred and liberality of his disposition, which against his interests in the affairs of was but too inviting to the artful and the world. avaricious, we cannot pretend to say; Mr. Charnock has left a widow, a but the latter years of his life were cer- lady of many estimable virtues, and tainly obnoxious to many unpleasant for whom it is hoped some provision disappointments, and to a result which will be made. it is not necessary for us in this me moir to explain.

Mr. Charnock died on the 15th day of May, 1807, in the 51st year of his age, and was interred at Lee, in the county of Kent.

We understand that, previous to his death, Mr. Charnock was occupied in editing a new and improved edition of Falconer's Marine Dictionary, and which laborious work he left nearly completed; as he did also an ingenious invention entitled the Soldier's

Some incidents in the life of Mr. Charnock bear a resemblance to the Pastime. history of the unfortunate Savage;

bury, whose death was announced at page 477.

T

but on that subject the biographer Rev. Dr. DOUGLAS, Bishop of Salisshall touch with peculiar delicacy: certain it is, however, that even in his last illness he wanted countenance and protection where it might most nattirally have been expected. It frequently appears, in the affairs of men, that something is left, as it were, for the greater work of retribution beyond the grave.

THIS distinguished prelate and literary veteran was a native of Scotland, and was born in the year 1721. His first education was at Glasgow, from whence he removed to Oxford and entered a student of Baliol The character of Mr. Charnock was ship, and proceeded to the degree of College, where he obtained a fellowsuch as obtained him, through life, Master of Arts, Oct. 14, 1748, and acthe friendship of great and good men.. cumulated the degrees of Bachelor He was, when a youth, highly esteemed and Doctor in Divinity, May 6, 1758. by Dr. Warton; and his latter years Shortly after he had taken orders, he were soothed with the enlightened was presented to the rectory of Eaton conversation of many public cha- Constantine, in Shropshire, on the racters, among whom we may rank presentation of the Earl of Bradford. Colonel Beaufoy, Mr. Coomb, Mr. Mr. Douglas was at this time tuter to Lodge, &c. He was a kind friend, the son of the Earl of Bath, and theresocial, and benevolent; full of anec- fore did not reside much upon his dote, and not without humour: an living; he, however, commenced his honest irritability against meanness, literary career at this place, and iaid baseness, or oppression, sometimes the foundation of his future advanceindeed broke forth in his discourse, ment in life. In 177, William Lauand which at times the slight opposi- der, a native of Edinburgh and a tions of argument even would pro- schoolmaster in Scotland, a man of duce; nevertheless there was a noble- considerable talents and leaning, exness and generosit in his mind, that cited general attention by a most flaUNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. VII. 32

Such was the anxious state of the literary world, that every one wished to clear our immortal bard from the

gitious and unaccountable attempt to one who would adorn a garland with subve t the reputation of Milton, by flowers, secretly taken out of various shewing him to have been little better gardens; or a crown with jewels, stolen than a copier or translator of the works from the different diadems or reposiof others. He charged him, not in tories of princes, by which means he very gentle terms, with having bor- shines indeed, but with the borrowed rowed, or more properly speaking, lustre of surreptitious majesty." The with having stolen, the plan, the ar- admirers of Milton were astonished at rangement, the division, and indeed the boldness of his assailant, and most the whole superstructure of his Para- of them were appalied at the sight of dise Lost, from some obscure Latin the numerous passages in which the poets of modern date, without the parallel readings were too striking to Icast acknowledgment of his obligation have been casual or common to differto their superior genius. This at- ent writers. tempt, as bold as it was iniquitous and vile, was first made in a series of letters, published in the Gentleman's Magazine, in the year 1747, to which weighty charge brought against him; he gave the title of "An Essay on Mil- but it seemed to be a consummation ton's Use and Imitation of the Mo- rather to be desired than hoped for, derns." Answers were given to this when Mr. Douglas, who was too cool essay through the same channel, but an observer to be misled by evidence they failed of their object in vindicat- which appeared in many points exing the fame of Milton, because nore tremely defective, having examined of them pointed out the fraud of the subject with commendable attenwhich his calumniator had been tion found reason to conclude that the guilty. Flushed with his apparent whole was a most glaring fabrication success, Lauder ventured, in 1750, to publish his essay at large in a separate form, in which he dwelt upon the supposed plagiarisms of Milton, in a strain of triumph and impudence, which, excepting the forgery of the Skakspeare papers by Ireland, it would be difficult to parallel in the history of literary imposture.

Several long passages were specified by him, and pointed out as being little more than an English version of certain poems, by Masenius, Grotius, Staphoristius, Fox, and others, whose names were scarcely ever heard of before, as having existence in the literary world. Many became the dupes of the fraud; and among others, strange to say, Dr. Johnson himself, who, on the papers printed in the Gentleman's Magazine being collected into a volume, was so far imposed upon as to be drawn to write a preface which was prefixed to them. One passage from this scarce and curious performance may be amusing to the reader, as displaying the spirit of Lauder and his unblushing effrontery:-" And here," says he, "I could produce a whole cloud of witnesses as fresh vouchers of the truth of my assertions, with whose fine sentiments, as so many gay feathers, Milton has plumed himself; like

and imposture. He published, in consequence, in 1750, a most able and masterly reply to the Scotch critic, in a pamphlet, which appeared in the form of a letter, addressed to the Earl of Bath, entitled "Milton vindicated from the charge of Plagiarism brought against him by Mr. Lauder." In this tract, Mr. Douglas defended Milton from the alleged plagiarism, by shewing that an author may, on many eccasions, and with the greatest propri ety, avail himself of the suggestions and even adopt the very ideas of other writers without being chargeable with servilely copying and imitating them. This he shews to have been done by the first poets, by Virgil and others, without leading to any suspicion of their deficiency of original invention and poetical abilities, and justifies on the authority of Longinus and other critics of eminence.

Supposing therefore that Mr. Lau der could make good his assertion that Milton had actually borrowed the leading thoughts which form the subject of some of his books, Mr. Douglas denies that he is chargeable with plagiarism. Mr. Douglas, however, wottid not admit that Milton, in any material passage, had copied the plan and ideas of others, and therefore proceeds to