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and picturesque imagery, this composition adds the more commanding graces of philosophic thought, and religious coutemplation. By connecting the progress of arts and sciences, with the delineation of rural manners, and the description of external nature, as well as by his frequent allusions to characters and events in ancient and modern history, Thomson has diversified his Poem in a manner equally new and delightful: while, by the sublime conceptions of the Author of Nature, which pervade his work, he has caused his descriptive poetry to rival the highest efforts of the Epic Muse. His "Seasons" may as truly be said to be a religious as a descriptive Poem; and, while his devotional sentiments are in perfect unison with the subject of his work, being equally remote from enthusiasm and superstition, they tend at once to elevate the mind, and to improve the heart. The sublime Hymn, which closes the Poem, and which may be regarded as bringing into one point of view, the wonders of Nature, and their great Author, is a production of such transcendent merit, and so admirably calculated to awaken the noblest feelings of our nature, that, had he never written another line, we should have conceived him to merit the gratitude and admiration of posterity.

Congenial with this devotional spirit, is the gentleness and benevolence with which his heart overflows towards man, and the whole animal creation. These qualities are so exquisitely interwoven with every part of the Poem, as to give to it the most tender interest in the minds of readers of taste and sensibility; and the concurring testimony of those who knew him, affords reason to believe, that, in this respect, the productions of the Poet were a genuine transcript of the character of the Man. Nor ought we to omit to mention, as a striking excellence in his dramatic and other poetical works, the spirit of manly independence which

he inculcates, and his ardent zeal for the liberty and happiness of his country.

The reputation of Thomson, as the author of "The Seasons," has been found to increase with the lapse of years. This fact, while it is the surest test of the truth of that judgment which his contemporaries formed of his merit, is also the best pledge of the continuance of his fame. It cannot, therefore, be doubted, that his works will form the most permanent memorial of his genius, and that the poem of "The Seasons," in particular, which is founded on the unfading beauties of nature, will be read and admired so long as the language and literature of our country shall remain.

It has been long a subject of regret to the admirers of the Poet, that. no public monument has been consecrated to his memory in the vicinity of Ednam, his native village: and, as "The Seasons" continues to be one of the most popular poems in the English language, after having stood the test of criticism for the greater part of a century, this regret is still felt with undiminished force.

The pleasure enjoyed by cultivated minds in visiting classical ground has often been remarked: and the glow of admiration is felt in its full force, when we approach the spot where the Hero, the Philosopher, or the Poet, first opened his eyes to the light of heaven. Thomson has himself expressed the influence of this association of ideas, when, near the opening of his poem of " Liberty," describing himself as contemplating the ruins of ancient Rome, he

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says,

Musing I lay, warm from the sacred walks, Where at each step imagination burns.”

There is a more than ordinary foun dation for this feeling of the mind in the case of the descriptive Poet; for as it is his business to adorn the charms of poetic diction the images borrowed

from

from external nature, and the sentiments connected with these, so it may well be supposed, that the character (as gay, picturesque, or sublime,) of

those scenes which first attract his attention, may, in some measure, give their own colouring to his fancy, and regulate the current of his genius.While, therefore, we contemplate such ›cenes as these, and view in them the objects which first inspired the youthful Bard, we are more sensibly affected, than by a narration of his life, or even a perusal of his compositions. When the mind is in a frame like this, how delightful is it to observe, that the memory of the Bard is preserved from oblivion, amidst his native haunts, and that public sympathy is there presented with an object to rivet its attention, and to command its respect! We feel, therefore, peculiar satisfaction in announcing to the public, that a subscription is at length opened for the purpose of erecting a Monument on some commanding situation in the immediate vicinity of Ednam. The accomplishment of this design, which tas been contemplated for several years by the Society of Gentlemen, who met annually at Ednam to celebrate the birth of the Poet, will now, it is hoped, proceed without further interruption or delay. But it is obvious, that to render a proper tribute of repect to his memory, cannot be expecled to be the work of the limited circie of individuals, who are either members of that Society, or whose redence happens to be in the neighbourhood of Ednam. These may indeed be expected to feel the warmest terest in the success of the plan, and to take the most active part in conducting it to its completion; but the assistance of the Public is indispenably necessary.

To the opulent inhabitants of Scothand, therefore, and to the friends of genius through the United Kingdom, hey feel themselves obliged to apply pecuniary aid; and, in doing so,

they cherish a degree of confidence in the success of their application, which naturally arises from their having observed, that the discerning liberality of the public has, in this enlightened age and country, been proportioned to the occasions which have required its exercise. No specific plan for the Monument has yet been adopted, tho' several sketches have been made; and it would indeed be premature to fix upon any, till the amount of the sums subscribed may enable the Society to proportion the undertaking to the means of effecting it.

Several eminences in the neighbour hood of Ednam command a prospect richly diversified with natural beauties, and would afford a most appropriate. situation for a Monument to the Poet of the "Seasons." We have the satisfaction also of being assured, that more than one proprietor will most cheerfully set apart such a portion of ground as may be requisite for this purpose. The accomplishment of the object may now therefore be anticipated, in a manner, which may render it worthy of being associated with the name it is meant to honour, and of being regarded as a lasting memorial of the gratitude and respect of the British public.

Lists of the Committee appointed to conduct the business, and of the Subscriptions already received, are annexed:

Members of the Committee.
Sir Alexander Don, Baronet;
Sir Henry Hay Macdougal, Bart.
Sir George Douglas, Bart.
George Baillie, Esq. M. P.
Walter Scott, Esq.

Lieut.-Col. Robertson;
Robert Walker, Esq. Wooden;
George Waldie, Esq. Hendersyde;
Dr Douglas, Kelso;

Rev. Robert Lundie, Kelso, Secretary.
Names of Subscribers, in the Order in which

they have been received.

George Waldie, Esq. of Hen-? cersyde

R. Walker, Esq. of Wooden

10 10

5 5 0 Rober

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Quantity of Waste Lands in the different Counties of SCOTLAND.

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198,934

The

Exclusive of 1000 square miles, or 640,000 acres of rock and sand.

There must be an error here. Total of the county, 4,068,649; 5 6ths of this would be 3,390,530.

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JAVING lately had occasion to read various sentiments of differ ent authors, as to the wealth and prosperity of the people of Britain, I have been induced to take up my pen to write what occurred to me on the subject, as well as on another topic much connected with it, on which I had been writing formerly.

One gentleman places the wealth and prosperity of Britain in the division of labour, and number of persons employed; another says it is produced from land, labour, and capital; and a third says, that Britain may subsist, and be prosperous without

commerce.

Without pretending to enter into ay investigation of the opinions of these different authors, which seem all are founded on theory and speculaton, than practice and experience, I all endeavour to point out what, in y humble opinion, constitutes the appiness and prosperity of any naion, and more particularly of Bri

It is my decided opinion, that neither atended commerce, nor great riches, the primary causes which make people of any nation happy; altho', a secondary object, they may be seful to promote the primary causes which lead to the happiness and prosperity of man.

The primary ingredients to happi, are contentment, an observance the rules of morality, with social tercourse, and a rational, religion, hout bigotry or superstition, Great riches, so far from promoting August 1809.

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these, are often the seeds of unhappi-
ness, by leading to pride, idleness,
high living, and many vices, which,
never would have occurred, had the
possessors not been possessed of riches.
My ideas of what constitutes national
happiness, are answered, where there
is an extended population of healthy
men and women, living in rational in-
tercourse and civil society, agreeable
to nature and the dictates of reason,
with sufficient ready employment for
maintenance of themselves and fami-
lies. Riches are very useful in so far-
as the persons possessed of them gene-
rally give employment to the labour-
ing class of mechanics, and others.
Or, if they are humane and charita-
ble, they support and cherish the poor,
the widow, and orphan. Both of these
are particularly to be observed in our
happy land.

In Britain, we have every comfort as a nation, any reasonable person would desire; our lives, liberties, and properties, are secured and protected by established and equitable laws.No one, even in the highest dignity, is allowed to oppress another unjustly; the more rigid feudal tenures of ward-holding, and the like, by which our forefathers were held in thraldom, are done away. And if there are taxes to pay, it is only by those in a state of ability to pay them, the poor being exempted; and we see the great lord and rich merchant paying their full share. Every year we are informed as to the necessity of raising the money, and see how it is expended; consequently should chearfully submit to pay what is the just proportion of each individual,

At the same time, all who are able and willing to work can get employment, and earn more than the poor. class did in ancient times, or do in. most other countries. Those who are virtuous and industrious, live in better houses, and are better cloathed. And the rich, for all the taxes they pay,

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are much more expensive and luxurious than their ancestors.

Agriculture is no doubt a primary object in every country, and more particularly should be so in Britain, where the land is not of great extent in proportion to the population. It is believed to be more attended to than formerly; but still there is great room for further improvements, and large tracts of land in many places of the kingdom, are ill cultivated, and some nearly waste. These, it should be the object of the proprietors, or even of the government or nation at large, to cultivate and improve, so as to procure plenty of provision for the inhabitants who are some years in want from a deficient crop, and the very enhanced price.

Manufactures are also certainly very beneficial. In the first place, they give employment to a multiplied population, and, by being exported, they bring a return either in gold or silver, or the produce of other countries, which we have not in our own country; which, whether enjoyed by the more opulent or middling class of the people, go always toward the support and comfort of the population in general, and make money circulate.

It is a generally allowed opinion, that nothing is worse for people than to be idle. Nature points out that employment is proper and healthful to unan from infancy, as soon as able to walk; and the more opulent, who have no occasion to work at manual labour, contrive some employment, as hunting, fishing, travelling, or other amusements, to occupy themselves, and often take as severe exercise as either the man employed in agriculture or manufacture.

The next object proposed to be considered is commerce; and I must observe, that it is well understood, not to be for the sake of wealth or riches, that Britain has, for centuries past, been promoting foreign commerce in various ways.

It has been proved by experienc from the earliest period of history that the nations who fostered and nou rished commerce, have made a figure and been respectable; partly from their communication by commerc with the other countries in the world but more especially from their alway having a large and powerful navy t protect their own dominions from fo reign invasion, and to oblige the neighbouring maritime nations to res pect them. It seems almost needles to enumerate the many nations which have been respectable by their navy the Grecians, the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, and the Romans o old: and, in mordern times, the Ve netians, the Portuguese, the Spaniards the Danes, the Dutch; and not least our own native country of Britain.— The spirit of our laws, particularly the famous navigation act, first enact ed under Cromwell, afterwards repealed, and re-enacted upon the Restoration, had, for its object, that we should confine the carrying on of commerce, both outward and inward, as much as possible, to British ships, only to raise a

multiplied hardy race of seamen. Our colonies were also planted with this view. And in almost all the articles of commerce, whatever duties are paid on importation, are drawn back upon exportation, nay, the very manufactures carried on in Britain, altho' they pay high duties when manufactured and consumed in the country, have a right to draw back also all, or the far greater part of this duty, when exported. All this is, no doubt, with a view to promote navigation, and to raise, as has been said, a multiplied race of skilful, experienced seamen.— With the same view, bounties were given to the ships employed in the whale, cod, and herring fisheries. If commerce had been encouraged merely to procure riches, we would not have given these bounties. And our colonies, in point of wealth, have been, in general, rather a drawback. Bona

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