has loft all its vignily; written for the Amusement and Ingether corrupte Young Perfons. By Charlotte Sanders. their father was. Dilly. vivacity an fummop m work appears well calculated to answer the ends they or which it was compofed. Its ftyle is easy, and contents fufficiently diverfified. In fpite of a few naccuracies, which are difcernible, the amiable defign of its Authorefs fhould fecure it from the feverity of criticism. TO CORRESPONDENTS. We are obliged to F. S for his Remarks on the Reading of Novels, and to P. for his Effay on the Influence of Habit in the Formation of the Human Character. They fhall be inferted in our next Number. Lines to Almeira.-Retribution.-Good Friday, and the Epigram, by Sciolulus, are too imperfect to be admitted into the Garland. Ode to the Zephyr.—To Cynthia.-To Cheerfulness.-To the Mufe, and the Complaint, together with fimilar favours, coming too late for a more particular acknowledgement, are under confideration. Remarks on the Verfification of Modern Poetry, shall be given in our next Number. We beg leave at the fame time to fuggeft to its Author a closer attention to ftyle. He is certainly poffeffed of ability, but does not always communicate his ideas after the most accurate manner. We are perfuaded it is for want of greater attention, fince many of his fentences are well written. He will therefore excufe this hint dictated in the fpirit of friendship. The remark is applicable to fome other of our Correfpondents, whom we hope will alfo profit by it. We fhall thank the Author of the Ode to Knowledge, (which fhall have a place in our Number for July), for Profe commu nications. From the favourable fpecimen he has fent us of his Poetry, we are of opinion that he may also become an acceptable contributor to our Profe Department. We are defirous of ftimulating, by means of our Mifcellany, promifing young men to the affiduous cultivation of their talents. THE MONTHLY VISITOR. JULY, 1798. MEMOIRS OF LORD VISCOUNT DUNCAN. As long as the paffions and vices of men render hoftilities neceffary, fo long muft it be neceffary to procure able and gallant leaders of the conteft, in order to enfure fuccefs. A furvey of hiftory, joined with the dictates of common fenfe, fhews the propriety of this obfervation. But in various ages, and in different nations, the qualities of a leader vary with the circumstances in which he may be placed. It is, however, on all hands, agreed that there are certain qualifi. cations in the general of an army, or in the commander of a fleet, which are deemed indispenfible. A sound and vigorous understanding, an humane and generous attention to thofe committed to his fubjection, a profound knowledge either of military or of nautical affairs, together with an ardent defire to promote the interests of his country, are traits of character requifite to fo exalted a station. We may, indeed, behold individuals of this clafs in whom these qualities are not centered. But the truly eminent man, he, to whom his country will look up with expectation, nor look in vain, must rise above the ordinary herd of mortals. Beloved and refpected, HE will atchieve deeds of high renown. His ability and inclination will go hand in hand. In a fituation where others would probably do nothing, his exertions would be the greateft, and thus he himself encirVOL. IV. T cling cling his own brow with laurels, would hand down his name to diftant generations. To thefe reflections we were led by the fubject of the prefent memoir, which though fcanty will, we truft, afford fome juft idea of this illuftrious character. In this our Mifcellany, we are anxious to bring forward a sketch of the hero whofe portrait decorates our prefent Number. His name has been long known to Britions. His actions will endear him to pofterity. Of the juftice or injuftice of the war in which we are engaged, we fay nothing. But it must be acknowledged by every candid man, that whilft hoftilities continue to laft, the law of felf-prefervation dictates ftrenuous exertion against the foe. This exertion Lord Duncan has effected, and to our best thanks is he entitled for his eminent fervices. We have endeavoured to procure the particulars of this great man's life, but we have not been to fuccefsful as we could have wifhed. No account hath been laid before the Public from which ample materials might have been derived. One short sketch respecting him, was given in a print of refpectability at the time of his late victory over the Dutch on the coaft of Holland. It has all the marks of authenticity, and may be depended upon for the truth of its facts. We accordingly prefent it to our readers, affured that it will give them a degree of fatisfaction. "Lord Vifccunt Duncan is a younger fon of the very ancient and refpectable family of Lundie, in the county of Perth, in Scotland. By the death of his elder bro. ther, the late Colonel Duncan, of Lundie, about 15 months ago, the gallant Admiral became poffeffed of the family eftate, worth about one thoufand per annum. He married a paternal fister of the prefent Lord Advocate of Scotland, and niece to Mr. Secretary Dundas, by whom he has a family of several children. His eldest fon is a promifing young man, of an amiable_difpofition, and at prefent a ftudent at the University; Mifs Jane Duncan is very young, and beginning to make |