DELILLE.

WE gladly recommend the perusal of Delille's works; no French poet is more likely to please ane 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 injure his memory. Whatever 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.

• avec plaisir ;-b lecture soignée; propre à plaire au ;-d des vers; lit de mort ; qui put accuser;-8 Quel que soit ;— qu'il traite; Géorgiques; chef-d'œuvre ;- abonde en ;-m consiste principalement; ne lui font pas moins de.

ON STYLE

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; 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 form 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 critica, and finally, to imitate good models by endeavouring to resemble them.e

u

⚫ dans les lettres ;-t clair ;-" demande ;-x un ouvrage; y style moyen a ;- brillant coloris ;- —a Pour se former;bs'exercer à écrire ;-c ses ;—d censeur;-e en tâchant de leur ressembler.

BARTHÉLEMY.

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

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

SWISS ANECDOTE.

AN inhabitant of the canton of Schwitz came on day to hism neighbour Gaspard, who was at

m

vers son.

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work in a meadow, and said to him: " My friend, you know that we are at variance about this piece of ground: I have applied to the judge, because neither you nor I are sufficiently learned to know which of us is in the rights; therefore, we must both appeart before him to-morrow."- Frantz," answered Gaspard, you see that I have mowed the whole of the meadow; I must get in the hay" tomorrow; I cannot go." "What is to be donex," resumed the other, "how can I disappointy the judge who has fixed upon2 to-morrow to decide the affair? Besides, I think it necessary to know to whom the ground belongs, before gathering the crop." They had thus disputed for some time, when Gaspard seized Frantz's hand, and exclaimed,—“ I'll tell you what, my friend: go to Schwitz alone, explain to the judge your reasons and mine; argue on both sides; why should I go thither myself!"Agreed," said Frantz; "since you trust me with* the managements of this business, depend upon it I shall act for the best."

The affair being thus settled, Frantz set off next day for town, explained his reasons, and argued pro and conk with all his might. As soon as the verdict was given, he hastened back to his neighbour. "I congratulate you, friend Gaspard," cried he, as soon as he perceived him, "the meadow is yours, and I am glad this business is at an

" travaillait; tu sais ;-P que nous avons un différend pour ;— a je me suis adressé ;-r ne sommes assez instruits;— a raison;

il faut que nous paraissions tous les deux ;-u ramasser le foin; Que faut-il faire ;-y comment puis-je manquer de parole à; choisi; pour décider de cette;-b avant de ;Ils avaient-d Je vais te dire ce qu'il y a;e argumente des deux côtés; Ainsi conclu;— la conduite; sois assuré ;— I de mon mieux; pour et contre; de toute;m jugement fut prononcé';il se hâta de retourner vers; t'appartient.

end." From that day, (says the Swiss Chronicle, from which this anecdote is extracted,) the two peasants lived in perfect friendship.

No country hast preserved the simplicity of ancient times like Switzerland: the manners of the golden age are still to be seen in many anAlpine valley. Attached to the customs of their ancestors, these mountaineers think it2 a crime to deviate from thema. Improvements among such men are slowly progressive, but their virtues stand unshakend, and become the certain inheritence of their posterity.-CONSERVATEUR HELVÉTIQUE.

P soit finie;- Depuis; d'où ;- tirée ;- Aucun pays n'a; de l'ancien temps; se voient encore;-y dans plusieurs vallées des Alpes; croient que c'est; de s'en écarter;Les améliorations, font peu de progrès ;— sont inalterables.

c

LA BRUYÈRE.

He has displayed the follies of mankind and the manners of his age in his characters, after the manner of Theophrastus: they will always be read with pleasure. Their success was very great when they appeared, these characters being not always imaginary, but drawn after nature, and from known persons.

· développé ; les hommes ;- Théophraste ;-h tracés.

PORTRAIT OF MAN.

EVERY thing in man pronounces him the sovereign of the earth, every thing in him shows his superiority over all living beings; he supports himself straight and erect, his attitude is that of

1montre; maître ;-- marque ;— se soutient.

command, his head is turned towards the heavens, and the character of his dignity is impressed" on his noble countenance; the image of his soul is painted there; the excellence of his nature penetrates through his material form, and animates his features with a divine fire. His majestic deportments, his firm and proud gait, announce his superiority and his rank. He touches the earth with his extremity only". He views it at a distance*, and seems to despise ity; his arms were not given him to serve as pillars to support the weight of his body, his hands were nota to tread the earth, and lose by repeated friction the delicacy of feeling. His arms and hands are formed for purposes1 more noble, namely,* for executing the commands of his will, for taking hold ofs distant objects, for removing obstacles, for preventing the shock of what might hurt him, for seizing and retaining what may please him.

When the mind is at ease1, all the features of the countenance are in a state of tranquillity. Their proportion, their union, point out the sweet harmony of thoughts, and agree with the calm that subsists within". But, when the soul is agitated, the human face becomes like a living canvass upon which the passions are represented with as much delicacy as energy; where every impulse of the soul is expressed by a corresponding feature, where every expression anticipates the will, and

" imprimé;- visage auguste;—P y;-4 perce à travers;- les traits de son visage de ;- port;-t démarche ;- Il ne touche à la terre que par ses extrémités ; de loin ;- la dédaigner; pour servir de;- ne devaient pas ;-b fouler ;- par des frottemens réitérés ;- finesse ;- faits ;-f pour servir à des asages;- saisir les; écarter;- tranquille ;-k marquent; - répondent au;- de l'intérieur ;- tableau ;- où ;—P un trait qui y correspond ;-9 devance,