even to the eye, on exposing the abdomi- York. In the third or last instance, he nal surface. observes that it was connected with general feebleness, and probably depended up. on an augmentation of nervous irritability, the effect of great exhaustion, from too long lactation in a woman of the nervous temperament. The Records of Medicine do not yet afford a sufficient number of well authenticated facts, to establish any certain conclusions, with regard to several of the phenomena of this increased pulsation of the aorta. Its causes in particular are en- The complaint appears to be wholly inveloped in much obscurity. It appears, dependent of any change or diseased struchowever, to be often a symptom of deep- ture in the vessel itself, which, by examiseated disorder of some of the neighbouring nations after death, of several persons in viscera. It is easy to perceive, that a symp- whom the symptoms had existed, did not tom of this kind may be produced by what- display the slightest morbid appearances. ever prevents the blood from finding a According to the experience of Dr. Baillie, free and ready passage forward through of London, (who has published some acthe aorta, or the large vessels connected count of this affection, in the 4th volume with it. Under such circumstances, this of the Medical Transactions of the College fluid will be retained, or rather thrown of Physicians,) it is more apt to take back upon the aorta, and thus tend to pro- place in the middle period of life, than at duce an increased pulsation. It may, any other; but, I have known, (continues therefore, occur from a mechanical com- he) one or two instances of it in persons pression of the vessel below, a case of about the age of 30. It occurs both in men which is mentioned by Bonetus. Hence it and women, but more commonly in the may be caused by an enlarged or indurated former than in the latter. In one individuliver, or some other viscus, either pressing al the pulsation is much more strongly on the aorta, or resisting the flow of blood marked than in another; and in the same from the cœliac,or the other large branches. individual it varies a good deal in its Sevarinus and Bonetus have recorded it as strength at different times, In some inoccurring from an aneurism of the cœliaca; stances the pulsation is more strongly to and Weisborn, from the aorta being press- be felt when the patient is in the horizoned from its place. It has been noticed in tal posture; and sometimes the pulsation a case of Hæmoptysis, of a stricture and is so strong as to be visible to the eye, thickening of the ileum, of an ulceration of even as some distance, when the surface of the stomach, and of a tedious typhus fever, In some instances it appears to have been symptomatic of weakness and great irritability: but in the majority of cases it has associated itself with an impaired digestion, or some derangement of the hepatic organ. Of the cases of this disorder which have fallen under the observation of Dr. Hosack, he states, that in one instance it occurred in á female near the middle period of life, in whom the catamenia were regular; but she had for some time been affected with an hepatic disease. In the second case in which it existed, the patient died of a stricture and ulceration of the œsophagus. Upon a minute examination of the body, no marks of disease were found, either of the aorta itself, or of its branches; but besides the morbid appearances of the esophagus, the lungs were discovered to be in a state of induration, the pancreas partly so, and the stomach, as well as the duodenum preternaturally contracted. A detailed account of the diseased condition of these several parts may be seen in a paper by Dr. Francis, in the first volume of the Literary and Philosophical Society of New. the epigastric region is exposed to view. In some instances the boundary of the artery while it pulsates, can be very distinctly felt, and it may even occasionally be traced nearly as low as the navel. I do not recollect that there is any peculiarity in the pulse of persons affected with this complaint. It is commonly neither intermittent, nor remarkable either for frequency, strength, or weakness." He further observes, that, in most instances, it will be found to be connected with an imperfect digestion, and irritable constitution; and that when it has once taken place, it seldom subsides entirely, although it will vary in its degree at different times. He gives the following as the diognostic symptoms by which this pulsation may, in most instances, be distinguished from aneurism of the aorta. "When the boundaries of the artery can be felt distinctly, and the artery can be ascertained to be of the usual size, it is clear that, notwithstanding the force of the pulsation, the disease is not aneurism. When a round circumscribed tumor pulsates against the fingers applied to the epigastric region, there can then be little doubt that the disease is aneurism either of the aorta or of the cœliac artery. the means most likely to succeed in mitiWhen the pulsation has continued for se- gating or removing this complaint, menveral years without the health being mate- tion is made of improving the digestion, rially impaired, even if the boundaries of diminishing the irritability of the constthe artery should not be distinctly felt, yet tution, and, above all, relieving the mental there is the strongest reason to believe that anxiety of the patient. the pulsation of the artery does not depend upon an aneurismal swelling in it." As JACOB DYCKMAN, M. D. New-York, May 31st, 1817. ART. 16. MISCELLANY. For the American Monthly Magazine. HAVE lately been reading two works of a very different description, both as to matter and manner, viz. The Pastor's FireSide, by Miss Porter, and the Narrative of Captain Riley; and as they are both written in the English language, and have occasion, in one or two instances, to relate circumstances of a similar nature, I have been not a little amused by the difference of style and diction between a fine accomplished lady, and a rough, or rather plain unlettered mariner. I have therefore taken the liberty to send for insertion, in your entertaining Magazine, a couple of little specimens extracted from each of the above-mentioned publications, and which may be thus entitled The Style Superb, and the style simple; or the Magnificent Miss Porter, contrasted with the plain captain Riley. 66 The first subject of comparison is the process of making tea, and the business of serving it out to the company. "Early in the morning," says Captain Riley, "Rais desired me, in Arabic, to make some tea; so I took out the kettle, had it filled with water, and made a fire with a few sticks, and soon had the tea ready for drinking. The men and boys, in and near the village, came now to congratulate Sidi Mohammed, who directed me to pour out for each of the men, a cup of tea, which he made thick with sugar." Now let us see how this same process is managed by the elegant Authoress of the Pastor's Fire-Side. "Mrs. Connigsby presided over the dispersion of her fragrant tea, whilst her daughters, blooming with the freshness of the dewy flowers, did the honours of the coffee, and kneaded cakes." How dignified, fanciful, and brilliant! the very cakes seem to be rising under our eyes, and we imagine ourselves inhaling "the fragrant quintessence of tea," as Dr. Darwin beautifully expresses it. It should not be forgotten, however, that Miss P. has the advantage over Captain R. from the circumstance of her having more materiel, as the French term it, for her description, viz. coffee and cakes. Unfortunately, however, she has, in one particular, made a little mistake, and to use a vulgar saying, has put the cart before the horse, by dealing out her coffee first, and kneading the cakes afterwards. The second specimen is a description of a man's getting up at sun rise. “The night," says the author of the Narrative, daylight began to dawn in the horizon and “passed slowly and tediously away; when chased darkness before it; not to usher to our view the cheering prospect of approaching reljef, but to unfold new scenes of suffering, wretchedness, and despair." How beautifully, and with how much unaffected diction is the same circumstance described by Miss Porter; " After a night of profound sleep, the bright smile of the awakened sun played on his eyelids, and starting from his pallet with his brilliancy of the opened day." usual morning spring of joy, he hailed the might possibly be objected to this metaphor of the "awakened sun," that it presupposes him to have been asleep, it may be answered, that there is good reaof the author of Hudibras. son for this supposition from the authority "The sun had long since in the lap As it did this proverb arise: Under the rose be it spoken?" "The rose being dedicated by Cupid to Harpocrates, the god of Silence, to engage him to conceal the amours of Venus, was an emblem of silence; whence, to present it or hold it up to any person in discourse, served instead of an admonition that it was time for him to hold his peace; and in entertaining rooms it was customary to place a rose above the table, to signify what was there spoken should be kept private. This practice is described in the following epigram: "Est rosa flos Veneris, cujus quo facta late rent, Harpocrati, Matris dona, dicavit Amor. Inde rosam mensis hospes suspendit amicis ; Conviva ut sub ea dicta tacenda sciat."" POTTER'S Antiquities of Greece, vol. iii. p. 381. ELECTRICITY. The following article taken from the New [London] Monthly Magazine, relates to a meteorological phenomenon, which seems to have been synchronous with an occurrence of a similar kind in Vermont, which is noticed in the Miscellaneous department of our Magazine for May: "Being out on horseback in the dark fierce squalls and showers of Saturday night, (Feb. 15th,) with the wind direct in my face, I observed on the edges and extremities of the ears of my horse, during the heaviest rain and most violent wind, a luminous appearance, as if the ears had been smeared with some phosphoric matter, or traced by the course of a glow-worm. I have heard and read of this phenomenon, but never before saw it, and I shall be much obliged to any of your travelling correspondents to inform me if they have observed the same appearance on that or any other night, and to any of your philosophical correspondents to explain how so curious an effect is produced. Monday, 17th Feb. 1817. LUXURY. H. EDON. The progress of luxury in the last century is strongly marked by the facts furnished in the following paragraph from a British Magazine. "It is recorded in a Review of London, published near a century since, that the first coffee-house ever established in England was kept by a barber, named James Farr, at the sign of the Rainbow, opposite Chancery-lane, which still goes by the same name. In 1708, he was presented by the inquest of St. Dunstan's in the west, for making and selling a liquor called coffee, as a great nuisance, and prejudicial to the neighbourhood. Who would then have imagined, that in the progress of fifty succeeding years, such nuisances should have increased to no less a number than 3000 ? In 1768, when the signs were taken down, to give free circulation to the air in the streets of the metropolis, and the numerous taverns decreased, coffee-houses continued to multiply, in consequence of the opinion of the College of Physicians, who stated publicly, that coffee was a wholesome beverage. It was then received into general estimation, and continued to be drank with avidity until the present day, when it appears by the register at the licensing office, that there are upwards of 9000 coffee-houses existing in London and its environs. TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. It will be perceived by the variety of signatures and ciphers with which the different articles in the different departments of this number are marked, that the Editors have received the assistance of several able hands. Such aid they earnestly solicit, and for such services they will not confine their gratitude to thanks. It may not be amiss to observe, that the Editorial designations are uniformly E. and L. are Several Communications have been received, which for various reasons omitted.-Among other contributions are two attempts at blank verse, of which it is enough to say, that they are not above mediocrity. In this species of composition, indeed, there is hardly a medium between good and bad,-what does not decidedly belong to the first should be ranked with the last. The Editors particularly invite Agricultural Communications and Essays, relating not only to modes of culture, but to the history of insects that have injured the crops, and the indication of means of destroying them. It is hoped some valuable information may be obtained on these points. Statistical accounts will, also, be very acceptable. Hereafter, a monthly list of Patents granted in the United States, with a notice of the nature of the improvements for which they are claimed, will be published in this work, the Superintendant of the Patent Office having obligingly consented to furnish it at the request of the Editors. THE AMERICAN MONTHLY MAGAZINE AND CRITICAL REVIEW. No. IV......VOL. I. AUGUST, 1817. ART. 1. The Sylphs of the Seasons, with other Poems. By W. Allston. London, W. Pope. 1813. 12mo. pp. 164. POETRY and painting are kindred tive, are the mechanical branches which arts. A refined sensibility to beau- constitute the difference of their arts. ty and deformity, a voluptuous relish The rank of painting is, however, for the luxury of nature, and an ex- subordinate to that of poetry. Its quisite perception of the shades of powers are restricted by the laborious character and sentiment, are essential to the attainment of excellence in either. The same fervour of fancy is requisite to both. The painter's, as well as The poet's eye, in a fine frenzy rolling, process of their exhibition, and when drawn out with the utmost skill and force, are still limited in duration of scene to an instant of time. It is for this reason, probably, that poetry is al Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to ways in advance of painting; and that heaven, And as imagination bodies forth The forms of things unknown, the artist's pencil no less than the poet's pen, Turns them to shapes, and gives to airy nothing A local habitation, and a name. it is so, is, again, the motive which induces the latter so often to borrow hints from the creations of the former. Considering the proximity of these two links in the commune vinculum of the arts which humanize society, it is The resemblance between the pro- somewhat remarkable that instances of fessions, holds, too, in another point,their combination in individuals should mere enthusiasm is incompetent to por- so rarely occur. That it is the business of tray its own conceptions however vi- an ordinary life to attain to eminence in vid, a great painter and a great either line, is, to be sure, a strong ground poet must alike be formed by study and with the candidate for fame for confining institution. The elementary course of his efforts to effecting a proficiency in their education is parallel. Expansion the single path he may have selected, is given to the same powers of mind; by which to reach the summit of his the same models are held up to their ambition. But when we reflect that it admiration ;-similar passions are to be is not common minds that court renown, delineated by each, and both are intent and that talent alone can ensure it, we to catch the living features. It is only cannot but wonder that the elastic in the application of principles to prac- bound of genius does not oftener overtice, that their paths diverge. Ver- leap the slender barrier that separates sification and colouring,plot and perspec- these congenial pursuits. MichaelAngelo, VOL. 1. NO. IV. 21 indeed, was not content to be the great- "The Sylphs of the Seasons," which est painter and statuary in the world. To gives its title to the volume, is a plea show what he might have been, would sing little allegory, in which the charms he have resigned his pallet and his chi- of the varied year' are fancifully desel, he has left a collection of sonnets picted. The poet recounts a vision, and canzonets not unworthy of Petrarch. wherein he had been transported in His imitators, however, are as few in imagination to an enchanted castle, in a this respect, as they are numerous in fairy land, where all the Seasons reignevery other. ed in gay confusion, and— Where every Season seemed to shed 6 a bright saloon, High-flashing through the night. Transfix'd me to the ground. And thus the foremost of the train: These observations have been excited by the volume before us, which. Her own peculiar hue. brings with it two recommendations, to On blowing the bugle horn,' the 'porneither of which can we ever be indif- tals' open and the poet enters. He is ferent, it is the production of a coun hailed on his arrival, in a seraphic tryman and an artist. And here we voice, as Nature's chosen Child,' descannot refrain from congratulating our tined to rule over this lovely domain. selves on the high distinction in the Proceeding through glittering halls' he Fine Arts, which American genius has reaches, at last, achieved in the British metropolis. Our compatriots West, Copley, Stuart, and Trumbull, occupy the first rank in the phalanx of living painters, whilst Allston, Leslie, &c. keep pace with the proudest of their competitors in the ho nourable career of their profession. Nor are we ashamed of Mr. Allston as a bard. Poetry appears to have been resorted to by him as a recreation,-laborum dulce lenimen,-and his pieces partake, principally, of the character of elegant amusement. The delicacy of his tact has kept him back from the vulgar extravagances of the fashionable metrical romance writers. He saw that freebooters, ravishers, and assassins, ignorance, atheism, and profligate atrocity, were equally unworthy objects of representation on paper or on the canvass. He knew that agreeable imitations of nature were the only legitimate objects of the fine arts, and scorned to prostitute a handmaid of the muses to ruffian desires. Mr. Allston's effusions are sportive but chaste, lively but mo ral; and are every where indicative of a purity of feeling, that sometimes approaches to fastidiosity. His poetic fame will not probably eclipse his professional reputation, though we are much deceived if his poetical studies have not materially contributed to his proficiency in the graphic art. But ere thou rulest, the Fates command,- To serve ungrateful man; Shall rectify the plan. The Sylphs then, in order, enumerate And now, in accents deep and low, The Sylph of Autumn said: We |