applied to a fingle microfcope with a very strong light. The internal furface of the large eyes, examined with the microfcope, is found to be thick fet with a great num ber of fmall, tranfparent cones, of an amber colour*, the bases of which ftand downward, and their points upwards next the obfervert. The cones in general have an oblique direction, except fome in the middle of the cornea, about thirty in number, the direction of which is perpendicular. The center of every cone being the moft tranfparent part, and that through which the light paffes, on that account the perpendicular or central cones always appear beautifully illuminated at their points. In a word, they are all fo difpofed as that a certain number of them receive the light from whatever point it may iffue, and tranfmit it to the immediate organ of fight, which we may reafonably fuppofe is placed underneath them; but this laft circumftance can only be determined in a recent fubject, which I have never been fo lucky as to fee. The cones are not all of the fame length; thofe on the edges of the cornea are the longest, from whence they gradually diminish as they approach the center, where they are not above half the length of thofe on the edges. As thefe cones fo eafily tranfmit the light through their fubftance, when I first examined them I thought they were tubes; but I have fince viewed them broken in different directions, and am convinced they are folid, tranfparent bodies. If they be viewed with a deep magnifier, every cone appears divided tranfverfely by two or three internal Jepta or partitions. This appearance is owing to the cones themselves being made up of feveral cones, one within another, the fepta or partitions being nothing more than the apices or points of the external cones; but this will be further explained, by confidering that the cornea of the Monoculus may be divided into layers, the number of which, however, I cannot afcertain; but I once met with a cornea in which the internal layer and its cones was feparated from the external lamina and their cones. It is very well known, that all crustaceous animals depofit their fhells once a-year, and are left with a foft, tender covering, which, after fome time, acquires the hardness of the former fhell. As the cornea in thefe animals is a part of the fhell, it is reasonable to fuppofe, that the internal layer is left with the foft covering, containing the rudiments of the future cornea; and this is the more probable, from what I have be fore obferved, that I have met with an eye where the internal layer was separated from the more external ones. The ftructure of the fmall eyes being lefs elaborate than that of the large ones, their internal appearance, when placed in the microscope, will be defcribed in a few words. They confift of an oval, tranfparent, horny plate, of an amber colour, in the center of which ftands a fingle cone, through which and the oval plate the light paffest. Having thus defcribed, as concifely as poffible, the fingular mechanism of the cornea of the Monoculus, I fhall add a few words concerning their use. The lenticular structure of the corneæ of infects in general certainly affifts in condenfing or ftrengthening the light in its paffage to the immediate organ of fight. It is probable, that the cones in the Monoculus have the fame effect. Whether they answer that purpofe, in a more or lefs perfect manner than the lenfes in the generality of infects is what I cannot take upon me to determine. * I have made fome attempts to afcertain their number, and think they amount to about 1000. + This must be reverfed if the eye be confidered in its natural pofition. The small eyes are analogous to thofe fmall eyes of other infects which entomologifts have called Stemmata. RELIGION. O profefs Chriftianity, or to be a Chriftian in name, is all the religion of thousands, while to poffefs the internal evidence of religion, or a confcience void of offence, and the love of God in the heart, together with unaffected piety in the life, is the happy lot of hardly one in a thousand: many are called, but few chofen. MISCELLANEOUS DR MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. A CRITIQUE ON DYER'S GRONGAR-HILL. R. JOHNSON, in his Lives of the Poets, has prefented the public with a fhort narrative of the life of Dyer, whom he ftyles, with juftice perhaps, a poet not of bulk or dignity fufficient to require an elaborate criticifm. Grongar-Hill, he tells us, is the happiest of his productions. For though it is not indeed very accurately written, yet the fcenes which it difplays are very pleafing, and the mind. is always open for the reception of the images which they raife. To which we may add, that the reflections of the writer are perfectly confonant to the general fenfe or experience of mankind. So that, as the doctor observes, we believe that when it is once read, it will be read again. When we reflect, that this poem was written at the age of fixteen, we drop the pen of criticifm. The eafe of the verfification, and the train of fentiments which it exhibits, are not commonly found at fuch an age. When And there the fox fecurely feeds; } Thefe paffages are poetical, and inerit a higher commendation than they have received. Many of the verfes, however, are weak and puerile. "The flender fir, that taper grows." Every one knows, that the flender fir must be taper. The latter part of this line, alfo, fhews, as Dr. Johnfon fays of a line in Gray's Ode on the Cat, that a rhyme is fometimes refolutely made, when it cannot eafily be found. - The purple grove, "Haunt of Phillis, Queen of Love!" he is on the fummit of the hill, he This favours of the youthful poet; as, cries out: See on the mountain's fouthern fide, } The defcription of the beautiful form which removed cultivation takes, difcovers the painter, and the fimile derived from the different appearance of evils which are near, and which are more removed, befpeaks a mind fraught with poetical ideas, and no common fhare of reflection. The following paffage has great beauty: 'Tis now the raven's bleak abode, indeed, do fome other lines of this production. The fcene of this poem is taken from the vale of Towy, which derives its name from the river which winds through it, and presents a highly cultivated scene to the eye. The woodland views, however, in it are frequent, and the whole is wild and fimple. The fcenery feems precifely of that kind with which a great mafter in landscape was formerly enamoured: - Juvat arva videre, May I the tranquil meadow fhare, This vale, with all its various beauties, has lately been defcribed by a very ingenious traveller. Not contented, however, with his own obfervation on the enchanting beauties of this vale, he has examined the ufe that Dyer, as a painter, has made of the profpect which offered itfelf to his view, with no common judgement and addrefs. I fhall conclude thefe remarks with a paffage, in which the nice difcernntent of the artist will be found in affociation with the elegant tafte of the critic: "This is the fcene, which Dyer celebrated in his poem of Grongar-Hill. Dyer was bred a painter, and had fure a picturefque fubject, but he does not give us fo fine a landfcape as might have been expected. We have no where a complete formed distance; though it is the great idea fuggefted by fuch a vale as this. No where any touches of that beautiful obfcurity, which melts a variety of objects into one rich whole. Here and there we have a few accidental ftrokes, which belong to diftance, though feldom mafterly. I call them accidental because they are not employed in producing a landfcape; nor do they in fact unite in any fuch idea; but are rather introductory to fome moral fentiment, which, however good in itself, is here forced and miftimed. "Dinevawr Caftle, which ftands about a mile from Llandilo, and the fcenery around it, were the next objects of our curiofity. This caftle is feated on one of the fides of the vale of Towy, where it occupies a bold eminence, richly adorned with wood. It was ufed not long ago as a manfion: but Mr. Rice, the proprietor of it, has built a handfome houfe in his park, about a mile from the caftle, which, however, he still preferves as one of the greatest ornaments of his place. This caftle, alfo, is taken notice of by Dyer in his Grongar-Hill; and feems intended as an object in a distance. But his diftances, I obferved, are all in confufion; and indeed it is not easy to feparate them from his fore-grounds. 64 The landfcape he gives us, in which the caftle of Dinevawr makes a part, is feen from the brow of a diftant hill. The firft object that meets his eye is a wood, it is juft beneath him; and he eafily diftinguishes the feveral trees of which it is compofed. "This is perfectly right; objects fo near the eye fhould be diftinctly marked. What next ftrikes him is a purple grove; that is, I prefume, a grove which has gained its purple hue from diftance; this is, no doubt, very juft colouring; though it is here I think introduced rather too early in the landscape. The blue and purple tints belong chiefly to the most removed objects, which feem not here to be intended. Thus far, however, I should not greatly cavil. "The next object he furveys, is a level lawn, from which a hill, crowned with a caftle, which is meant, I am informed, for that of Dinevawr, arifes. Here his great want of keeping appears. His caftle, inftead of being marked with ftill fainter colours than the purple grove, is touched with the ftrength of a fore-ground. You fee the very ivy creeping upon its walls. Tranfgreffions of this kind are common in defcriptive poetry; innumerable inftances might be collected from much better poems than Grongar-Hill; but I mention only the inaccuracies of an author, who, as a painter, fhould at leaft have obferved the most obvious principles of his art. With how much more picturefque beauty does Milton introduce a distant caftle: "Towers and battlements he fees, "Here we have all the indiftinét colouring which obfcures a diftant object: we do not fee the iron-groved window, the portcullis, the ditch, or the rampart; we can juft diftinguish a caftle from a tree; and a tower from a battlement. "The fcenery around Dinevawr Caftle is very beautiful; confifting of a rich profufion of wood and lawn. But what particularly recommends it, is the great variety of the ground. I know few places where a painter might ftudy the inequalities of a furface with more advantage." To these remarks little, perhaps, can be added, as I propofe to confine my critique to Grongar-Hill. The other poems of Dyer have likewife been examined by Dr. Johnfon. Ashe has given us, however, but few traits of his private character, I cannot forbear adding, that he was a virtuous man, man, and poffeffed a very generous heart, and an excellent understanding. The author of this paper has frequently heard him mentioned with high praife, with great affection, and moft friendly regard, by a gentleman who is now, indeed, no more, but was once the school-fellow and intimate friend of John Dyer. Should any reader know the name of Ravaud, they will SIR, TH 113 join with me, in breathing a figh to his memory. If they were admitted will perufe with mingled pleafure and as companions of his focial hours, they regret, this humble but friendly remembrance of a man, whofe mind was excellently stored, whofe taste was pure, whofe learning was great, whofe knowledge was extenfive, and whofe virtues were eminent. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LONDON MAGAZINE. E. HE following letter was communicated a few years fince by a very ingenious young clergyman of the Church of Scotland to a celebrated English divine; and as it places the ecclefiaftical affairs of our neighbour nation in a very clear, if not a very advantageous light, I think the publication of it in your useful mifcellany will afford information and entertainment to your readers. REV. SIR, You OU will, no doubt, expect the performance of the promife I made, to let you know in what fituation the interefts of religion are among us here. Yet I muft own, that I enter upon fuch a task with no fmall reluctance. 'Tis very probable I can inform you of nothing that you will think new or material, because neither my business nor my inclination leads me much abroad in the world: and I am likewife heartily afhamed beforehand to confider how little I can fay to the advantage of those whom I ought to confider as my brethren and fellow-labourers in the truth. However, I fhall fimply lay before you fuch matters of fact as have either come under my own obfervation, or I have heard from good authority. Perhaps the reality of them might be controverted by many perfons who know better than myfelf. Perhaps I am mifinformed; or (it will be faid) I look upon the affairs of this church with prejudice and an evil eye. Yet I do actually believe that what I reprefent to you is the real ftate of our ecclefiaftical affairs at prefent. Allow me, however, firft to obferve, to the honour of our clergy, that many individuals among them in refpect of genius, literature, juft views of Chriftianity, and LOND. MAG. Aug. 1783. L. K. able defences of revelation, are inferior to none in the world. this is granted, I doubt it will be too But after obvious that in what ought to be one nifter they are remarkably defective:of the chief praifes of a Chriftian miI mean the teaching and avowing thofe doctrines of the bible which are fuppofed inconfiftent with the tenets of the Church of Scotland: while they neglect or are afraid to do this, they may indeed prove to great fatisfaction that the religion we profefs was fent from heaven, but it will never be clearly known what that religion is. The middle ranks of the people who are committed to their care, and are more immediately under their influence, will continue in woeful ignorance and fuperftition; expofed to the derifion and feduction of every fceptic who lies in wait to deceive. But I am wandering from the point. ready know) into TWO GREAT PAROur clergy are divided (as you alder the name of the frict party, pofTIES. One of thefe, which goes unfeffes the weft country, Perthshire and Fife:-places which have been the perpetual nurseries of bigotry and fedition. Thefe feem to be the genuine fons of the Church of Scotland; truebred Calvinifts of the house of KNOX, who who fwallow down all the favourite articles of the predeftinarian creed in the most rigid sense, and treat all who differ from them as heretics, apoftates, and knaves. They profeffedly oppofe the right of patronage and all prefentations, and ftrenuously contend for popular calls. Such were the perfons who feveral years fince perfecuted Mr. Fergufon for advancing fome opinions (unwarrantable I own) concerning fubfcription to the confeffion of faith. After being baffled in almost every general affembly of late years, they have now muftered up all their forces, fummoned a strong reinforcement of ruling elders, and threaten to carry every thing before them. Thofe of the moderate party, as they are called, are chiefly to be found in the great towns of Edinburgh and Aberdeen, and through the whole north country. Their real principles are far from being strictly orthodox. They fee the abfurdity of many of the tenets impofed upon them, and acknowledge the iniquity of fuch an impofition: but they confider it as a grievance-an abufe which time must redrefs. In the mean while they fubmit to fubfcriptions as a matter of form, or fatisfy themselves with fome of thofe various arguments with which you are doubtlefs perfectly acquainted. In their public teachings they confine themfelves very much to the inculcating the private duties of life: or if any peculiar doctrine of Chriftianity unavoidably falls in their way they reconcile it in the best manner they can with the eftablished fyftem, and declare that on thefe points we must avoid entering into fubtlety and refinement. This general account I give you only as my own opinion, and as what is commonly reported among us. But I rather choofe to reprefent to you how matters ftand in the narrower circle of this prefbytery, where I have better opportunities of information. There are really not above one or two in it whom you would call men of letters. What time the others can fpare from the neceffary duties of their function is employed in improving their glebes, regulating of their family affairs, and difpoling of their ftipends. Thofe of them who think at all, are by no means convinced that "the CONFESSION OF FAITH contains nothing but the truths of God." However, they are content to enjoy their own opinions privately, and hold themselves bound to teach and profefs what the church enjoins. Accordingly in public, in the pulpit, they are thorough Calvinists. Their fer mons are frequently as orthodox as our articles themselves; and they explain the catechifm to their parishioners according to its obvious meaning. Our preachers, indeed, do not promife much either to the honour or the advancement of religion, as you will readily own when I have told you the ufual progrefs of their EDUCATION. It is commonly as follows:-A farmer's fon, after two years attendance at college, obtains the charge of a country fchool The profits of this enable him to finish his courfe in philofophy, and afterwards to pafs a fortnight or three weeks every winter at the DivinityHall. This he calls ftudying DiviNITY! He makes a party in the prefbytery to favour him. From the hope of his affiftance afterwards, he is licenfed; paffes his trials without feruple; continues to hold his fchool and his minifterial office together, until by the intereft of his friends he be provided with a fettlement. Such are near one half of our minifters at prefent, and fuch the far greater part of the probationers both in the country and elfewhere; of low converfation, unacquainted with life and manners, too much occupied with their business of teaching or their fecular concerns to enlarge their minds by reading. From this fate of dependence they are naturally led to court the favour of the vul gar. Their fermons, therefore, are very popular; that is, very orthodox. And yet, what divinity our preachers have, is of a liberal kind enough; becaufe they read mostly the books recommended to them by the profeffors of divinity, and make ufe, as often as they dare, of the beft English fermons To trace our corruptions fill nearer to the fountain, I have great reafon to believe, that the ftudents in divinity, the rifing hopes of the church, are yet more ignorant or depraved. At Edin burgh |