the machinist, Mrs. Cowley, like the veteran Cumberland, has never deserted those banners of legitimate comedy, under which she first enlisted.

Equally at home in the sublime and pathetick, as in the humorous, she entered at once into the feelings of a hero, or a monarch, with as much success as into those of a slopseller, or a coquette. Doiley, in the farce of Who's the Dupe, is perhaps unrivalled on the stage; whilst Gradus, Doricourt, Flutter, Hardy, lord Sparkle, and the Pendragons, are all distinct and highly coloured por traits.

We must also here, in justice to departed merit, notice her peculiar excellence in colouring the female character. For proof of this we can safely rest our appeal to her Miss Hardy in the Belles Stratagem, and Olivia in the Bold Stroke for a Husband.

The last hurried effort of this lady's pen was in unison with the excellence of her heart. It was a little poem in aid of benevolence; an act of charity to one who moved in the humble sphere of sexton of the parish, and whose little property had been swallowed up by the late floods. This little poem gives a pathetick picture of the poor man's efforts, whilst his cottage was overwhelmed; describes his losses; and delicately claims attention towards one whose pride was in conflict with his poverty; one whose situation claimed that assistance which he could not bring himself directly to beg.

From her habits, Mrs. Cowley might truly be termed a most disinterested votary of the muses. Her pen was not guided by mercenary views. She wrote merely for the pleasure she felt in writing. The poem of the Siege of Acre, was given to a respectable bookseller, who asked for it. She reserved none of her manuscripts, nor did she wait to correct them. Thus her newspaper poetry was written and sent off, fre

quently within four and twenty hours after the event which had given birth to it.

Her dramatick habits had given dramatick hue to all her composi tions; and we find her occasionally assuming a fictitious signature, and answering or addressing some love sick youth, or despairing maid, where existence to her was merely ideal.

In this lady's conversation (and the writer of this article has had the pleasure of having been occasionally present) there was nothing of that proud superiority which persons, possibly of more learning, but less genius, sometimes assume to awe and intimidate. Easy and affable in her manners, it was ever Mrs. Cow ley's endeavour to raise to a level with herself, those whose timidity would have placed below it.

Sometimes, indeed, she would en liven the topick under discussion with some sprightly sallies; but these were bright without being dazzling, the spontaneous effusions of genius, emanating from an excellent heart, and corrected by a well regulated mind.

The same ease and affability which distinguished her conversation, cha• racterized her epistolary correspon dence, where the ease and familiarity of the style soothed any sense of inferiority, and rendered her letters probably not the least perfect of her compositions.

Mrs. Cowley was married at a ve ry early period to a gentleman who died in India, a captain in the compa ny's service, and brother to Mr. Cow ley, an eminent merchant of Catea

ton street.

She has left a son, now at the bar, and a daughter, married in India to the Rev. Dr. Brown, provost of the magnificent college of Calcutta.

The following is a list of her prin cipal known publications, viz.

Epic poems-The Maid of Ar gon; Scottish Village; and Siege of Acre.

Tragedies.-Albina, Fate of Sparta

Comedies. The Runaway; Belles Stratagem; Which is the Man; A Bold Stroke for a Husband; More Ways than One; A Day in Turkey; Both Ends of the Town; Second Thoughts are Best; with the farce of, Who's the Dupe.

These, as they have individually passed the ordeal of criticism, and would be an acquisition to the library, we hope to see republished in a collective shape.

ROLF KRAGE, with a party of his warriours, once entered a house in Sweden. The Swedes, who hated him, lighted a fire according to the custom of those days, in the middle of the room. But they gradually added so much fuel to the fire, that the heat became intolerable. When Rolf perceived there was no passage for a retreat from the upper part of the room where he and his friends sat; and that the Swedes, who occupied the lower part, might go out wherever they thought proper, he calmly inquired into their motives for such conduct? "We mean nothing at all," said the Swedes in a scoffing tone."Rolf and his men are known not to dread either fire or steel!" "True!" said Rolfe," we will therefore show you that we even dare to add fuel to the fire, and then to pass through it." Rolf, and his followers, then threw their shields into the fire, by which the flames were, for a moment subdued; when they leaped over it, and chastised the wanton malignity of the Swedes. Hardihood was at that time a quality so requisite in a hero, that Rolf could not have solicited them to spare his life, without disgrace. This happy thought saved both his life and honour.

IN the diocese of Aggershuus, in Norway, lived many years ago a gentleman, whose life was remarkable, though it has not excited much publick curiosity. He had been a student, and was afterwards appoint

ed to a vicarage; but feeling no in clination for the church, he resigned, and was made a justice of the peace for the province of Lower Rommerige, which situation he filled during twenty years. As he resided always in the country, agriculture soon became the principal object of his attention. He carried it on diligently himself, and encouraged others to follow his example.-It was his delight to husband uncultivated lands, and improve those already cultivated. He, therefore, greatly promoted fertility and opulence among his neighbours and others. To increase this benefit, he bestowed great pains, particularly in his latter years, in the improvement of agriculture, and in encouraging and rewarding industry. He was a gentleman of independent circumstances, had no children, lived frugally, and daily increased his store. He was, therefore, able to render services to others, in a manner which did him honour. Many benevolent traits of his life have either been forgotten, or not remarked. Some, however, are recorded, which deserve notice here.

In the year 1748, when the inhabitants of Lower Rommerige were distressed for seed corn, he lent them eighty quarters of oats of his own growth, on condition, that it should be paid, as circumstances might make it convenient. Part of it re mained unpaid at his death, in 1750, and he never attempted to enforce payment during his life time.

In the preceding year, he purchased a large, but neglected, and badly cultivated farm in the parish of Hoeland, which he improved in such a manner, that the annual seed increased from 15 to 35 quarters, and the crop from 35 to from 2 to 300 quarters. Having thus established this farm, he presented it to a poor farmer's boy (not related to himself) whom he had brought up in rural economy; and thinking him like ly to become an able manager, he further gave him 2000 dollars.

He also purchased a fourth part of a farm, which he improved greatly, and presented it to an old and faithful servant, whom he had also brought up to the study of agriculture.

Independent of these estates, he had three others in the parish of Fend, as well as other lands; and, in order to be certain that these lands, by being well cultivated, might yield benefits to those who had inclination, without means, to become purchasers, he made known, that he would dispose of them to young and industrious poor people, on such conditions, as would suit their circumstances. He proposed, that they should pay him a small sum annually during his life; and, at his decease, the property to belong to them and their heirs, without any further payment. But before this noble intention was effected, he died; and many young people had to regret their having lost such an excellent opportunity of establishing their future welfare.

The people in the neighbourhood zealously followed his worthy example, which induced Lembak to confer on them silver medals in testimony of his high sense of their exertions. He also distributed rewards for the extermination of ruinous animals, and birds of prey.

Thus this generous patriot substantially proved, how near the welfare of his country clung to his heart, by encouraging and assisting the farmers; but Lembak's zeal was not confined to that particular class of

men. Wherever he found industry, it was always sure of meeting his countenance. The female peasants in the neighbourhood never exhibited to him their work but he imme diately made purchases; and com. mending their diligence, paid them a higher price than they demanded for their goods, although he might have bought them better and cheaper elsewhere. From the poor cottagers, who were capable of manufacturing wooden ware, he bought ploughs, harrows, and other implements of husbandry, even when he did not want them. Beneficent as he thus proved himself to the industrious, be was inexorable to vagrants, whom he not only denied his assistance, but even made it a point to see them conveyed to places where they would be forced to labour.

In domestick life, he proved himself a virtuous and considerate man; paid the highest regard to religion; and acted in his situation according to the dictates of conscience. He dress ed and lived frugally; it was pleasing to him to gain in an honest way; but it was still more agreeable for him to lay out what he had gained to real advantage. Whenever he received rents, or any other certain, or uncer tain revenue, he said: "This shall be planted in the ground, and bear fruit.”

When his publick or private concerns afforded him moments of leisure, his chief amusements consisted in reading and musick. He sang songs of his own composition, and accompanied himself on the guitar. He read good books, particularly the works of the immortal Holberg, on which he placed the highest value, as he had been personally acquainted with the author.

In Lembak's country, the fruit of his individual industry, which dif fused its wholesome spirit among the inhabitants, is every where conspi. cuous, and presents the noblest memorial of his existence. It was a clause in his will: That he should

be born to his grave by twelve of the most diligent farming peasants, to whom he bequeathed a present for their trouble. His wish was accordingly indulged; and each peasant expended the sum allotted to him, on a piece of plate, which their descendants preserve in memory of the beneficent and honest Niels Lembak.

When Charles the Twelfth invaded Norway, in the year 1716, the main body of his army advanced towards Christiana, whence a detachment was sent to destroy the silver works at Konsberg. On this expedition a party of 800 horsemen, commanded by colonel Loeven, passed through a narrow defile in the Harestue wood, and quartered for the night at Norderhoug, in the neighbourhood of which a small detachment of Norwegian dragoons had been stationed to watch the motions of the enemy. The Swedish commander, who put up at the parsonage, soon after his arrival received information that the Norwegians were only at the distance of three miles, and altogether ignorant of his arrival. Mrs. Anna Colbioernsen, the wife of the clergyman, who was confined at the time to his bed, happened to overhear a consultation among her guests, in which it was resolved to attack the Norwegians by break of day, and then to march against Konsberg. She immediately determined to apprize her countrymen of their danger. In the mean time the greatest attention was paid to her guests; and, while she appeared wholly occupied in providing for their entertainment, improved her information. She displayed equal apparent benevolence towards the comforts of the private soldiers; and, on pretext of wanting other necessaries to complete their entertainment, she despatched a servant, as it were, to procure them.

The Swedish colonel, in the mean time, inquired of Mrs. Colbioernsen the road to Steen, where

he intended to station his outposts, and was completely deceived by her replies. He ordered his horses to be kept in readiness at the door; but she contrived to make the grooms drunk, upon which she put the horses in the stable and locked the door. Her next object was, under the plea of compassion, to obtain permission of the colonel to light a fire in the yard to comfort his men. This fire she insensibly increased to such a degree, that it served as a beacon to guide the Norwegians to the spot. For she had informed her countrymen that a fire would be the signal for them to advance. Every thing succeeded to her utmost wishes, and her address and intrepidity were rewarded by the arrival of the Norwegians at her house without discovery. They took the Swedish colonel prisoner, and either cut to pieces or put to flight the whole of his party. Upon which they sat down to the entertainment which Mrs. Colbioernsen had provided for their enemies.

The next morning she went out, in company with another female, to view the field of battle. The Swedes, who had fled during night, in the mean time, rallied, and being still superiour in numbers to the Norwegians, they resolved to attack them; but, being ignorant of the force of the enemy, they sent out a reconnoi. tring party, who, falling in with Mrs. Colbioernsen, the corporal rode up to her, and pointing his carabine to her breast, demanded instant information as to the position and numbers of the Norwegians. Her companion fainted away; but Mrs. Colbioernsen boldly asked: "Is it the order of your king to shoot old women?" The corporal abashed, removed his carabine, but persisted in his first question. "As to their numbers," she replied, "that you may easily find out, as they are this moment mustering behind the church in order to pursue you. More I cannot tell you, not having counted them. But this I know, they are as numerous as the bees in a hive." Re

lying upon this intelligence, the party returned to their countrymen, who fled in all directions. And such

was their confusion and disorder, that many were taken by the natives, and many lost in the forests.

paid, will be inserted free of expense. the covers at the usual price.

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A Charge, delivered at a late publick commencement, July 27, 1809, to the senior class of the Philadelphia Academy, upon their having completed the course of study prescribed by that institution. By James Abercrombie, D. D. one of the assistant ministers of Christ Church and St. Peters, and director of the academy.

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