AMERICAN SCENERY- -FOR THE PORT FOLIO. VIEW OF THE LOWER FALLS OF SOLOMON'S CREEK IN PENNSYLVANIA. THE lower falls of Solomon's Creek are immediately below the upper, of which a sketch and accompanying description will be given in a future number of this work. Though not above a fourth the height of the latter, it possesses a placid beauty that finely contrasts with the tumult of the fall above. The chasm, through which the water pours, is filled with a mist arising from the upper fall, on which the aerial tints of the rainbow occasionally sparkle and disappear. It is such romantic scenery-it is these picturesque and sequestered spots, that the poets have ever been accustomed to fancy, the retreats of the Loves and the Graces. The painter too has here pictured the goddess of the silver bow, accompanied by her sylvan nymphs reposing, after the fatigues of the chase, near the murmuring fountain, or bathing their limbs in the cool refreshing stream; while peeping from behind some tree or rock, the lascivious satyr has dared to prophane the sacred haunts of the chaste Diana. Such is the spot selected by Zuccarelli in his picture of Cynthia and Endymion, for the nocturnal visit to the Carian shepherd. Sogna boschi, covili, aguati e fiere J. C. REVIEW. Lettres et Pensées du Maréchal Prince de Ligne, &c. Letters and Thoughts of the Marshal Prince de Ligne, published by the Baroness de Staël Holstein. Containing original Anecdotes of Joseph II, Catharine II, Frederick the Great, Rousseau, Voltaire, &c. &c, and interesting remarks on the Turks. 2 vols. 12mo. Republished by Bradford & Inskeep, Philadelphia. THE political records of our own times have made the Marshal de Ligne advantageously known as a skilful and brave officer in the field, and as a faithful and sensible counsellor in the cabinet; while the annals of wit and gallantry have at least equally distinguished him for the charms of his conversation, the fascination of his manners, the lively brilliancy of his convivial talents, and a degree of success with the fair sex, resulting from the combination of a thousand agreeable qualities, which his person alone could never have obtained. The circumstances in which he was placed were also peculiarly favourable for the development and display of a character like that which he possessed. Educated in the Austrian court, in habits of early familiarity with Joseph and Marie Antoinette, he afterward became the favourite of Catharine the Second, and the intimate friend of the kings of Poland and Sweden. His correspondence with his royal master is conducted with a spirit of frankness which is highly honourable to both parties, while the letters addressed to her 'Imperial Majesty abound with loyal gallantry and dextrous compliment, rather elaborate in the composition than happy in the effect; and always betraying, through the cloud of chivalrous adoration, the consciousness of possessing stronger and more immediate claims on the partiality of Catharine, than those which are conferred by the services of a statesman, or the delicate flattery of an accomplished courtier. Unquestionably the prince was endowed with such talents as would have qualified him to act a distinguished part in an important scene: but, the times in which he flourished were not calculated to afford scope to his powers. The only historical events which these letters elucidate, are the journey of Catharine the Second to the Crimea in 1787, and the campaign in which Russia and Austria were jointly engaged against the Turks in 1788. Even of these facts, so inferior in importance to the incidents of every succeeding year, no regular details are preserved: but the anecdotes, the traits of character, the observations, and the sentiments, are worthy of the greatest attention, and cannot fail to impress every reader with respect and esteem for the author. He is acute, sagacious, unaffected; and he uniformly establishes the best claim to our good will by a manner full of urbanity, a liberality of thinking on every subject, and a kindness in passing judgment on others which are highly characteristic of the most amiable qualities that belong to a gentleman and a soldier. From a work of this nature we shall not pretend to make any abstract of contents. It will be sufficient to'lay before our readers a few passages of an amusing or interesting, nature: but, lest we should raise their expectations too high, it may be proper to state a circumstance which must operate as a drawback to our wishes and our means, as indeed it has actually prevented us from attempting to render some portions of the marshal's letters, which are in other respects well worthy of notice. This cannot be better done than in the words of the ingenious editor, the commencement of whose preface will remind our countrymen of Lord Holland's just distinction between the oral and the written style of his illustrious kinsman. In the instance before us, the effect is considerably more unfortunate than in the application of oratorical language to history. 2 "We must always regret (says Madame de Stael) that we did not enjoy the company of men who were famous for their wit in conversation, since that which is quoted from them gives but an imperfect idea of it. Phrases, bon-mots, all that is capable of being retained and repeated, must fail to paint that continual grace, that justness in expression, that elegance in manner, which form the charm of society. The Prince de Ligne has been acknowledged by all the French as one of the most amiable men in France, and they rarely allow that character to those who are not born among them. Perhaps, indeed, he is the only foreigner who has become a model, instead of copyist, in the French style of manners. He printed many useful and profound essays on history and the military art. He published works in verse and prose, dictated by the circumstances of his life. We constantly find wit and originality in all that proceeds from him but his style is often the spoken style, if the expression may be allowed. We ought to form an idea of his handsome physiognomy, the characteristic gayety of his stories, the simplicity with which he abandons himself to pleasantry, in order to love even the negligencies of his manner of writing: but those who are not under the fascination of his presence, analyze him as an author, whom they ought rather to have heard than read: for even the faults of style occasionally add grace to conversation. That which is not always grammatically quite clear will become so by its connexion with what passes in discourse, by an expressive look, an inflection of voice, every thing, in short, which gives to the art of speaking a thousand times more resources and charms than that of writing.' |