ARTHMILL-Houfe, Mont gomeryshire (Plate 1.) is a very antient and venerable manfion; its fituation is greatly celebrated, being in the beautiful vale of Welth-Pool. From Pen y bryn bank, an eminence about a mile from the house, in front, the admirer of picturesque scenes will be highly gratified. The inequality of the ground, covered with the fineft timber, on the left towards Pennant; the windings of the Severn from thence to Newtown, under a noble fhore of hanging woods; and, above the whole, a range of inclofures; are peculiarly ftriking. To the right, a diftant view of Powis-caftle and park, with the majestic rifing of the Bri den-hills (upon the top of which is a pillar, with a tablet recording the glorious victory of lord Rodney over the French in the Weft Indies, on the 12th of April, 1782,) form a very interefting part of this noble view. Still more to the right, is the long mountain over which is the road from Pool and Montgo mery to Shrewsbury, through the village of Forden, which is very confpicuous; and, alfo, the magnificent house of industry lately erected there. Between Forden and Montgomery are to be feen from hence the Gear and Cahowel man fions; the new bridge over the Severn, which, with the hanging woods above and Truftaweiling houfe, complete one of the moft beautiful scenes in the Principality. Dec. 1798. W. P-w.

Mr. URBAN, Jan. t. The I been written by the late good THE following paper having bifhop of Norwich, Dr. Horne, and inferted in the Olla Podrida, was originally intended for your Magazine; and you will oblige the admirers of Dr. Johnfon by giving it a place in your Mifcellany. O.Z. "WHEN a friend told JohnYou that he was much blamed for having unveiled the weakness GENT. MEG. Jannity, 1809.

of Pope, "Sir," said he, "if one

another, he undertakes to exhibit his true and real character: but this can be done only by a faithful and accurate delineation of the particulars which difcriminate that character."

"The biographers of this great man feem confcientiously to have followed the rule thus laid down by him, and have very fairly com municated all they knew, whether to his advantage, or otherwise.. Much concern, difquietude, and offence, have been occafioned by this their conduct in the minds of many, who apprehend, that the canfe in which he flood forth will fuffer by the infirmities of the advocate being thus expofed to the prying and malignant eye of the World.

"But did these perfons then ever fuppofe, or did they imagine that the world ever supposed, Dr. Johnfonto have been a perfect character? Alas! no: we all know how that matter ftands, if we ever look into our own hearts, and duly watch the current of our own thoughts, works, words, and actions. Johnfon was honeft, and kept a faithful diary of these, which is before the publick. Let any man do the fame for a fortnight, and publish it: and if, after that, he fhould find himself fo difpofed, let him "caft a ftone." At that bour when the failings of all fhall be made manifeft, the attention of each individual will be confined to his own.

"It is not merely the name of caule. It is his genius, his learnJohnfon that is to do fervice to any ing, his good fenfe, the ftrength of his reafonings, and the happiness of his illuftrations. Thefe all are precifely what they were: once good, and always good. His arguments in favour of felf-denial do not lofe their force, because he fafted; nor thofe in favour of devotion, because he faid his prayers. Grant

his

Mr. URBAN, *****NOTHER

A

Jan. 1. NOTHER year is gone! and, if our hearts be not devoid of that gratitude to the Almighty which **** fhould ever fill the breaft of a mortal, can we fuffer the remembrance of the bleffings which we, as individuals, and as a collected people, have received at his beneficent hands, to pass without due reflection? Whilft we behold the other nations of Europe groaning beneath the merciless hands of their conquerors, or labouring under the horrors of the devouring fword, whilft bravely encountering an unprincipled and inveterate foe; Britain remains tranquil bleft with all that a mortal holds dear, in an equal administration of juftice and liberty; a Monarch on her throne, beloved by his people; equally faithful to his Creator, as tenderly affiduous for the welfare of his meaneft fubjet; Religion reviving under his fimiles; the arts and fciences flourifhing; commerce extending her wings to the remoteft corners of the globe; and a navy triumphant, throughout the world!

I conceive, that it is not only the bleffings of the past year, which demand our confideration; but, as another Century is now about to clofe upon us, it may not be unprofitable to take a retrofpect view of the fame; for it has undoubtedly been unequalled, not only in the annals of Europe, but of the world; and I should fuppofe that zrecapitulation of fome of the monentous tranfactions which have occurred within that circle of time may not only be entertaining, but

ferve as a memento to revive our drooping gratitude to that gracious Being, who hath, amid the wreck of kingdoms, nations, and empires, preferved unfullied the liberty, glory, and religion, of our native land.

To prove that this Century is unparalleled by any of the preceding ones, efpecially as it refpects England; we need but remark, that it has to boast the existence of a New ton, a Locke, a Johnson, a Han del, a Wren, a Chambers, a Rey. nolds, a Hanway, a Howard, and many other worthies, who have paid the debt of Nature; as well as numbers who ftill furvive, to purfue the fame path, which led their predeceffors to honour and fame. Blended with thefe, we have to enrol, in the annals of this Century, a number of patriotic ftatefmen, intrepid and fuccefsful warriors, and of learned and pious divines.

But the confideration of the labours of thefe eminent men, exclufive of the momentous concerns in which this nation of ours has been moft deeply interefied during the period alluded to, would fo very far exceed the limits of a letter, that (with your leave, Mr. Upa ban,) it fhall form a series of effays; whofe object fhall be, to comprise within a fmall compafs fome of the most prominent occurrences which have tranfpired during that lapfe of time.

Leaving, then, the commencement of thefe eflays to your next number, I fhall conclude this intro duction with a few reflexions on the past year. And who of us but has feen the fuperintending providence of the Moft High, wonderfully dif

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