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of the closeness of their affinity. In the course of conversation he manifested his delight in the genius of the juvenile stranger, and, when informed that he was his own son, Ah, he exclaimed, how rejoiced I am at this information! From the levity of some of his writings, or, more probably, from the rusticity of his manners, he was not caressed by his sovereign, and was the only great genius of the age, who did not bask in the sunshine of regal munificence. When our fabulist was chosen a member of the Academy, the king was not induced, till some sacrifices had been made, to ratify the election. In despite of the indiscretion of some of his writings, his life and conversation were scrupulously correct. The ladies were always treated by him with the utmost respect and deference; nay, such is the capricious incon. sistency of eccentric genius, he gave admirable advice to many a matron, with respect to the virtuous education of her daughters. After the demise of his patroness, who, with a constancy, not always to be expected from woman, persevered in her kindness. to him, for more than twenty years, he was solicited by madame Mazarin and monsieur St. Evremond to migrate to England. Accordingly he attempted to acquire the language of that country which he intended to visit, but the difficulty he found in a foreign idiom, and above all, that attachment to the natale solum for which a Frenchman, in general, is so eminently distinguished, rendered this scheme utterly abortive.

The defenders of the roman catholic faith now began to teize him; and, as it has been shrewdly remarked by a protestant infidel, it being of much more consequence, in the estimation of a papist, how a man dies, than how he lives, the monk and the priest beset the poet, with a view to his conversion. As la Fontaine, during his healthful hours, had treated religious topics, if not with profanity, at least with indifference, advantage was taken of a season of sickness to assail him with the arguments of an infallible church. The malady of our poet corroborated the spiritual strength of a pious priest, who hovered round him for the purpose of ascertaining, as a babe of grace would express it, the state of the sinner's soul. On the part of the wit, this curious colloquy was eminently characteristical. I have lately, said he,

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perused the gospel, which, egad, is an admirable volume; but it contains a certain doctrine, to which I cannot subscribe. I cannot reconcile the eternity of hell torments with my sense of the goodness and justice of God, nor comprehend how finite offences, should be infinitely punished. Embarrassed by the shrewdness, or simplicity, of this observation, the good father answered it as well as he was able, and this pious process, as we are told, terminated in the full conviction of our poetical penitent. As aplenary proof of his holy regeneration, or his nascent enthusiasm, the bard committed to the flames a comedy, which he had just composed, expressed his deep sorrow for his trespasses against decorum, and renounced all the profit to be derived from a new edition of his more mischievous verses. On the intelligence of these sublime sacrifices by this whimsical convert, the duke of Burgundy, the celebrated pupil of the famous Fenelon, after remarking that the poet ought not to be poorer for having performed his duty, generously sent him a purse of gold, which, at that time constituted the prince's whole treasure. This same illness, which threatened to be fatal, la Fontaine survived, and then resided in the house of madame d'Hervart, who proved to him a second Sabliere.— Here he attempted a version of certain sacred songs, but found himself wholly incapable of this novel exertion of his genius.— Although his conversion might be sincere, yet as Nature and Habit, in despite, of all violence, will predominate still, he could not, for his life, abstain from his accustomed levity. At the very advanced age of seventy-four, he died tranquilly at Paris; and though we do not learn that in his last moments he was persecuted by officious piety, yet, as a hair shirt, was found next his skin, when he was undressed for interment, it is a proof that he was not unwilling to submit to the infliction of monkish austerity.

Among the most illustrious of his poetical contemporaries, la Fontaine holds a front rank both as a polished Phædrus and a facetious narrator. His verse which is sometimes careless, and even incorrect, has a certain charm, the gift of genius, which all the efforts of drudging application among his associates or imitators could never emulate. The originality, the fluency, the delicacy and grace of his manner bid defiance to all rivalry. His stories are enlivened by those characteristical circumstances

which stamp all its value upon vivid description. His reflections are the most perfect specimen of that curiosa felicitas of the Romans, and of that näiveté of the French which the most precise philologist must utterly despair of adequately translating. One of those inexplicable peculiarities and contradictions in the human character, which mock all analysis, was remarkably conspicuous in him. Though almost an idiot in life and behaviour, he was a pvrfect sage in theory and reflection. He has been taxed by the austerer critics, for too much prolixity and diffusion; and they have blamed him, for indulging like Sterne, too much in the digressive style. His Tales over which some coquettes chuckle, and many prudes seem to blush, have been more than once most magnificently edited; and will continue to be perused, by the candid and the catholic, while a taste for arch humour is to be found among mankind. Ilis Fables, like the romance of Cervantes, are in the hands of boys, and men; and of the splendid editions of 1755, 1759, it has been remarked, by an excellent judge that the plates were executed with zoological precision. Among the minor editions that of La Coste is preferred. The prompt pen of our poet produced also the romance of "The Loves of Psyche" "The Florentine," a comedy, "The Eunuch" another, "Festive Odes," "Letters" and "Occasional Poems." D'Alembert, whose critical testimony is certainly worth recording, has remarked in his eulogy of Boileau, that if among the illustrious writers, during the age of Louis XIV. La Fontaine is not the most eminent, he is unquestionably the most original; an object of despair to imitators, and an author whom it might seem to puzzle Nature to reproduce. France, conscious of his genius, fondly cherishes his memory. When the prefect of one of the provinces was informed that the poet's widow had been harassed by the petty officers of the revenue, for the payment of his taxes, he immediately wrote to one of his subalterns, charging him to exempt the family of La Fontaine from every public burthen. This is now at once a precedent and a prescription. A shining proof of the sense entertained by a grateful country, of the matchless power of one of the brightest of her sons.

I trust that the liberal reader will pardon or extenuate my attachment to Horace and la Fontaine. A duumvirate of great

and original geniuses, but like many of that eccentric tribe, sometimes seduced by the wiles of Indiscretion. I make no apology for their fouler blemishes. In many instances, the pages of these poets merit the reprehension of Taste, as well as of Virtue. But surely I may be pardoned for reading and remembering pure and brilliant passages in a fabulist, perused by prudes, patronized by princes, and praised by a prelate. With respect to Fontaine's poetical predecessor, the bewitching bard of Venusium, let it be always remembered that an eulogy of one of the most illustrious of his contemporaries describes Trebatius, as a valiant soldier, a profound lawyer and a good man; beloved by Cæsar, the darling of Augustus, the correspondent of Cicero, and the companion of Horace.

THE USEFUL ARTS.

Reader, if,like Alexander Pope, you are prone to rise from the midnight couch and wisely seek your taper and writing desk, that an idea in the night may not be lost, you will be obliged to the Philosopher below, who judiciously counsels you how to obtain, in a summary manner, a little fountain of the purest radiance. The phosphorecsent flame is the best substitute for a tinder box that has yet been found, and communicates to a candle or lamp in the most easy and expeditious manner. EDITOR.

Improved mode of preparing Phosphorus bottles.

Should Mr. Nicholson think the following observations worthy of a place in his valuable Journal, they, perhaps may tend to lessen a difficulty occasionally experienced by individuals, in the prosecution of a favourite study.

It probably may be acceptable to the public to be informed of a method of preparing a phosphorus bottle, which is, in a considerable degree, free from the inconveniences attending those prepared according to the usual methods.

Phosphorus, cut into small pieces and mixed with quick lime in powder, answers the purpose very well. The phosphorus

should be carefully dried by filtering paper, a thin slice being cut may be divided into as many pieces as can expeditiously be done, and each piece introduced into a small bottle with as much lime as will surround it. Lime slacked in the air and submitted to a strong red heat, in a blacklead crucible, for twenty minutes, is in a good state for the purpose.

The bottle when full, may be exposed to the radiant heat of a fire, till some of the pieces of phosphorus have assumed an orange tint; it will then be ready for immediate use. But the heating is not absolutely necessary, if the bottle be not immediately wanted, and it will continue longer in a serviceable state.

It is almost superfluous to observe, in using the bottle the mouth should be closed with the finger, as soon as the match is withdrawn. I have been in the habit of preparing a bottle by this method at the conclusion of winter, for the purpose of lighting a lamp furnace during the summer months, when I had not convenient access to a fire. A narrow quarter ounce bottle has generally continued serviceable, although very frequently used, for four or five months.

THE defects of the roofs of buildings in general, either from the silent operation of time, or the action of the elements, are, perhaps, experienced principally by those who are careless of the materials they employ. Most of our houses, even in great towns, where it might be supposed the useful and the elegant would be studiously blended, are so slightly or so negligently covered, that they are generally penetrable in tempestuous weather. The following plan we have known to be successfully tried in America. A gentleman's villa, thus defended, has for more than thirteen years resisted the tooth of time, and the densissimus imber of VIRGIL. EDITOR.

Method of increasing the durability of Tiles; by Count Van Mellini. Translated for Nicholson's Journal, from Sonnini's Biblioth physico-econ, Oct. 1808.

Means of increasing the hardness of tiles, and consequently their durabil. ity, have been sought, without the discovering of any sufficiently cheap and simple for common use. Such is the glazing or varnishing of tiles, which is

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