where he remained several months as a* servant. He afterwards withdrew to the Isle of Athelney, in Somersetshire, where, having heard that the Earl of Devonshire had obtaineds a great victory over the Danes, and had takent their magical standard, he disguised himself as a harper", entered the enemy's camp, and was admitted to the principal generals, who praised his talents for music. Having acquired an exact knowledge of the situation of his enemies, and finding that they were divided among themselves, he seized the favourable moment, joined the Earl, headed his troops, surprised the Danes at Eddington, in Wiltshire, and obtained a complete victory.

Having secured the peace of his dominionsa, after a great number of battles, which filled his enemies with terror, his next caref was to polishe his kingdom. Although there remain but few of his laws, England owes to him many of those advantages which render her constitution so precious. The trial by jury is said to have been1 instituted by him. He caused learning to revivek and used his utmost endeavours to excite a love form letters among his subjects. He was himself a very learned prince, and all the hours he could take from business" were devoted to study. When we consider the great qualities of Alfred, and his many virtues¶ we need not be surprised that his memory is still3 so dear to Englishmen.-BIOG. BRIT.

P vécut ;- Il se retira ensuite dans ;-r la province de Somerset; remporté;-t qu'il avait pris ;-" joueur de harpe ;- il entra dans;-y admis chez;- connaissance ;-a voyant ;-b se mit à la tête de ;-c assuré ;-d Etats ;-e de terreur ;-f premier soin; de policer;- Quoiqu'il ne reste que peu ;-i On dit que le jugement par jurés fut;k Il fit revivre les lettres ;- fit tous ses efforts pour;-m l'amour des ; qu'il pouvait dérober aux affaires ; il les vouait ;-P Quand on;-a ses nombreuses vertus; on ne s'étonne plus ;- soit encore.

VOLTAIRE.

This is the most extraordinary genius that France ever produced"; he has written both* in verse and prose on almost every* subject and generally with great success. From his earliest youthy he shewed proofs2 of the acutenessa of his wit and brilliant imagination; such was the precocity of his genius that at twelve years of ageb his poetical essays would have done honour to his riper age. His tragedies are masterpieces: although below Molière in the comic style, his comedies are replete with wit. His histories of Charles the XIIth, and Peter the Great, are models of historical composition. His Henriade is a fine epic poem, in which all the characters are well supported', the passions skilfully laid opens, the descriptions striking, and accompanied with all the enthusiasm of fine poetry. His subject, however was ill chosen1, being too neark our age; it shackled his creative imagination, and destroyed the illusion we indulge in when reading Tasso", Ariostoo, Homer, and Virgil. The most perfect of his writings are his fugitive poetrys, in which he has no rival. With so many means to bet, the brightest ornament of his age", it is painful to reflect that he obscured his glory by writings in which he sets at defiance decency and morals. He has often made use of his great talents to plead the cause of reason t C'est ;-" ait jamais produit ;-x tous les ;-y Dès sa plus tendre jeunesse ; il donna des preuves;-a subtilité;-b l'âge de douze ans ;-c âge mûr;-d quoique au-dessous de ;-e dans le genre comique; f soutenus;- savamment développées ;— h accompagnées de ;- Il a cependant mal choisi son sujet ;près de; enchaîna ;-m à laquelle on s'abandonne en ;-n le Tasse; l'Arioste;-P Homère ;— Virgile ;— ouvrages; ⚫ poésies; t pour être ;—" siècle ;-x d'avouer ;-y où il brave ;

k

pour plaider;

and humanity; but too often he has spread the principles of irreligion. As a writer, he was sometimes superficial, but always witty; he possessed the most brilliant imagination, an astonishing facility, a most elegant taste, and a great versatility of talents and knowledge.

a mais il a trop souvent répandu ; il avait ;-c le goût le plus élégant;-d variété ;-e connaissances.

ELIZABETH, QUEEN OF ENGLAND.

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ELIZABETH was tall and well made, but had a masculine shapef; she possessed many accomplishments, and was extremely learned. Her conversation was agreeable and wittyi, her judgment solid, her ideas were clear, her application was wearied, and her courage invincible. She was the bulwark of the Protestant religion. In the administration of justice she was just and impartial. She loved her people; and, by her strict economy, she took peculiar care of the public money". Although possessed of many virtues, her passions were too strong to admit of constant restraint, which caused her to commit somes injustice; but these faults were oppositet to her natural character. No woman ever" reigned with more glory; and there are few kings whose reign can be compared with hers. It is the most glorious æra2 of the English history, and it produced a great number of celebrated statesmen and warriors.-BIOG. BRIT.

f tournure; talens ;- elle était très savante; spirituelle ;* infatigable. Dans; elle ménageait avec soin;-n les deniers publics. Quoiqu' avec ;—p elle avait les passions trop vives;-4 pour y mettre toujours un frein;-r ce qui lui fit;quelquest contraires. Jamais femme ne ;-x dont le règne puisse être ;-y au sien ;- plus belle époque.

DELILLE.

WE gladly recommend the perusal of Delille's works; no French poet is more likely to please anc English reader. The beauties of his descriptions are of the first order; his style is always elegant; and he surpasses perhaps every other writer of his country in the harmony of numbers; the purest morals breathe in his writings, and, like Thomson, he could say on his death-bede that he left not a single line in his works that might injuref his memory. Whatevers the subject he treatsh he knows how to interest the heart.

Delille's works are contained in eighteen volumes. His translation of the Georgicsi is a masterpiece; that of Milton's Paradise Lost abounds with beauties; and, although it does not equal the merit of the original, the difference lies chiefly in the genius of the English language, which is better adapted to epic poetry. The Eneid is another of his elegant translations. His original poems do him no less" honour than his versions.

a avec plaisir;b lecture soignée; propre à plaire au ;-d des vers;e lit de mort ;-f qui pût accuser;- Quelque soit ;— qu'il traite; Géorgiques; chef-d'œuvre ;- abonde en ;siste principalement ;-" ne lui font pas moins de.

ON STYLE°.

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STYLE is the manner of expressing our thoughts, the choice of words requiring agreement with the laws of harmony and number, according to the loftiness or the simplicity of the subject.

The plain style is used in familiar discourses,

• DU STYLE;-P devant s'accorder ;-a relativement à l'élévation; s'emploie ;

epistolary correspondences, and fables: it ought to be chaste, distinct', and without apparent orna

ment.

The sublime style is that which requires" dignity and majesty in the work; the thoughts ought to be noble and elevated, the expressions grave, sonorous, and harmonious.

The intermediate style possesses the purity of the plain style, and admits the ornaments and the bright colouring of elocution.

In order to forma the style, it is necessary to read much, and always the works of the best writers; to practise writing on various subjects, and submit our productions to a judicious critic, and, finally, to imitate good models by endeavouring to resemble theme.

• dans les lettres ;-t clair ;-u demande ;- un ouvrage ;style moyen a ;- brillant coloris ;-a Pour se former;-b s'exercer à écrire; ses;d censeur;-e en tâchant de leur ressembler.

BARTHELEMI.

He is the author of the Travels of Anacharsis in Greece, a* classical work, in which he has displayed a vast erudition; it is the fruit of thirty years' labour, and will immortalise his memory. He was a member of many distinguished academies, and he united, to profound learning, modesty, simplicity, and amiability of temper1.

f Grèce ;- c'est;-h de travail; il immortalisera; à un profond savoir; l'amabilité du caractère.

SWISS ANECDOTE.

AN inhabitant of the canton of Schwitz came one day to his neighbour Gaspard, who was at

m vers son;

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