1816.]

"Let, then, those who associated themselves with the African Institution from the best and purest motives, and whose rank and character give a sanction to their proceedings, but who at present are only sleeping partners in the concern, open their eyes to the manner in which those specious men who direct its councils have pursued their own private objects of interest or popularity, and perverted the influence of the society to purposes so foreign to those laudable objects for which it was originally established. Let parliament and the public too be guided by reason, not led away by fanaticism. So shall Great Britain continue to flourish in the possession of those sources of wealth and power for which Buonaparte sighed amidst all his conquests.-ships, colonies, and commerce; and the inhabitants of the West Indies be freed from the danger with which they are

now menaced, by the projects of modern philoso

phers and visionary enthusiasts."

Postscript to a Letter to the Editor of the

Edinburgh Review. By the Earl of Elgin.

8vo. 1s. 6d.

"More last words" of the noble diplomatist, from which we learn that either the memory of his lordship or his inventive faculty improves very much every day. In his former recollections he was confident that the packages belonging to Mr. Tweddell were sent to England in the Lord Duncan; but as it appears that nothing of the kind found their way into that ship, the noble earl has happily hit upon another conjecture, and says in the present pamphlet: "Upon tasking my memory to the uttermost, I have now a striking conviction and belief that the packages for Mr. Tweddell were put on board the New Adventure, an armed transport, which was sent home in 1800, by General Koehler; in which also I shipped some very valu, able effects of my own. The transport, I understand, was wrecked, and my effects, aud, I believe, every thing else on board was lost." This is lucky enough, in one respect, but how does it account for the separation of the effects, and the actual arrival of some of the effects in England? His lordship makes some very severe reflections on the late Professor Carlyle, who is called "a prejudiced witness;" and he more than insinuates that Mr. Spencer Smith is the proper person to give an account of the lost property. As the last-mentioned gentle man is capable of giving a very full explanation on the subject we shall suspend all observation till bis evidence appears.

A Review of the present ruined Condition of the Landed and Agricultural Interests, with Observations on the Extent of their Losses and Distresses-the Origin and History of these Distresses--the Funding System-the Sinking Fund-the Burthen of the Poorthe System of Tythes in Kind-Stock Jobbing-Usury through the Medium of Redeemable Annuities-Employment of discharged Soldiers and Sailors-the Public Debt, and the Expediency of supporting the Public Faith to its Creditors-the Reduction of the Legal Rate of Interest of Money-the Reduction of Rents. By Richard Preston, Esq. M.P. 8vo. 2s. 6d.

We might on every principle of justice dispatch this coarse and heavy pamphlet by demurring to the title-page, where the landed and agricultural interests are roundly said to be in a ruined condi tion, which is not true. That these interests, in common with those of the manufacturing and com.

147

mercial branches, are pressed with difficulties, and labouring under a temporary embarrassment, must be readily admitted; but all this is the necessary consequence of the long and eventful struggle in which the country has been engaged. Time and prudence will ameliorate those evils without the immediate application of quack medicines; and if the people of this nation will only have patience and fortitude enough to submit to self-command, instead of listening to grumblers and empirics, they will find their condition improving every day though not with the rapidity which inflames the imagination of the speculator, and fills the coffers of agents and contractors.

The Speech of Charles Phillips, Esq. Barrister, as delivered by him in the Court of Common Pleas, Dublin, in the case of Guthrie versus Sterne, for Adultery, with the original Introduction considerably enlarged, and with Remarks upon a recent Critique in G. White, A. M. the Edinburgh Review. By the Rev. Henry 8vo. 1s. 6d.

This speech having attracted considerable notice when published, occasioned a very laboured ar. ticle in the Edinburgh Review upon the general characteristics of Irish oratory, which the critic censured in terms of great severity, but with considerable ability. The metaphorical style of Mr. Phillips's oration certainly merited animadversion; but at the same time it must be admitted that the reviewer had a greater duty to perform than that of detecting verbal inaccuracies, and of exposing flaws in composition. In the introduction to this edition, therefore, the author of this critique is himself very properly chastised for neglecting to dwell in a forcible manner upon the subject of the speech, and for confining his attention to what is of little comparative importance, the language of the speaker. "When such indifference is manifested by persons of intelligence," says Mr. White, "is it to be wondered at that the same frigid insensibility should be evinced by the general mind? and that the common notice of the deplorable fact should be confined to some transient expression of regret, a slight reflection upon the parties, and an every day conclusion that "such things are?"

Thoughts on the Causes and Consequences of the present depressed State of Agricultural Produce, addressed to the Consideration of those who have Property in the Funds. 8vo. PP. 16.

All that we can gather from the thoughts of this writer is, that the agriculturists are in a very depressed condition compared to that in which they were a few years ago, when provisions of every kind were so high as to occasion bitter complaints in the other classes of society. But with all due submission to the ingenious author of this tract, who shows abundant learning by the profusion of his metaphors, and the elegance of his quotations, the primary cause of the grievances here displayed and lamented, is to he traced to the owners and occupiers of the lauds, the one in screwing their rents as high as possible, and the other in becoming so far the dupes of avarice as to think that the artificial state of things which gave them a mo mentary advantage over their fellow subjects was to last forever. Both have been disappointed, and though we have no right to mock at the mi-fortunes and imprudence of others, we shall contend that the rest of the community ought not to be burthened to relieve them from the consequences of their errors.

1816.]

when his own was composed. This vindication of himself from the suspicion of plagiarism is ludierous enough, when we read in the second poem the following lines, without any reference to Mr. Burke's well-known picture of the unfortunate Marie Antoinette :

Then had her eye in sorrow wept,

A thousand warriors forth had leapt ; A thousand swords had sheathless shone, And made her quarrel all their own. Here we have the exact words of Burke turned into verse without the slightest acknowledgment, though in the same publication the scrupulous au thor feels it an act of duty to insert an apologetical note to justify himself from a charge which never could be made, and that for no other purpose than to pay a compliment to his friend Coleridge for having discovered, what no one ever witnessed, that the sigh of a ghost is like the whistling of the wind through a hollow stone.

149

Undoubtedly Pope never produced any thing to equal this; but we can tell Lord Byron that, if the present poem has been printed in consequence of his sanction, he is accountable for giving a false character.

Prescience; or the Secrets of Divination. By Edw. Smedley, jun. sm. 8vo. 7s. 6d. Infancy; or the Economy of Nature in the Progress of Human Life. 8vo. 5s. 6d.

Ocean, Stella, and other Poems. By John Mackenzie, D. D. minister of Port Patrick. fc. 8vo. 6s.

The Poetical Satirist. 2s. 6d.

The Poetical Works of Robert Southey, esq. Poet Laureate. 13 vols. fc. 8vo. 41.16s,

POLITICS AND POLITICAL ECONOMY.

A Letter to William Wilberforce, esq. M.P. on the Subject of Impressment: calling on

Hunt. 12mo.

Poetry like poverty brings a man into strange company; and of this a notable instance happens just now in the noble author of the Corsair, who has, by his popularity and condescension, brought himself into a state of great familiarity with the sons of song. In the by-gone days, as our northern neighbours would say, there was much friendship between bards of high and low degree, of which the intimacy between Prior and Dorset may be ad. duced as a proof: but even in those times the freedom of private intercourse and correspondence never made the commoner forget his distance in public. Thus far, then, it appears, that a great improvement, or rather change, in manners has taken place; for the relator of this story, which he calls a poem, ushers it into the world in a very pleasant piece of chit chat, the object of which is, to shew on what a footing he stands with some of the nobility. His dedication opens thus:

"My dear Byron,-You see what you have brought yourself to by liking my verses. It is taking you unawares, I allow; but you yourself have set example now-a-days of poet's dedicating to poet; and it is under that noble title, as well as the still nobler one of friend, that I now address you, &c."

The easy impudence of this address, and the ungrammatical vulgarity of the language, cannot but bring to our recollection the polished manners of Tom Shuffleton in the comedy; but if right honorables will give encouragement to such persons, they have no right to complain of behavior which is natural in the society they have chosen. Of the book itself we shall only say, that the subject is taken from an episode in Dante; but most miserably expanded in the prescut version. Mr. Hunt in a preface, which we suppose is intended to rival Dryden's critical pieces, treats Pope with the most audacious severity, and elegantly compares his versification to the monotonous sound of a parish bell; after this who would expect such poetry as the following:

For in this manner is the square set out ;--
The sides, path deep, are crowded round about,
And faced with guards, who keep the road entire;
And opposite to these a brilliant quire

Of knights and ladies hold the central spot-
Seated in groups, upon a grassy plot;
The seats with boughs are shaded from above-
Of early trees, transplanted from a grove,
And in the midst, fresh whistling through the scene,
A lightsome fountain starts from out the green;
Clear and compact, till at its height o'errun,
It shakes its loosening silver in the sun.

to prove those feelings they expressed in the cause of humanity on Negro Slavery, by acting with the same ardour and zeal in the cause of British Seamen. Published for the Benefit of the Maritime Society. By Thomas Urquhart.

The system of impressment for the service of the royal navy has too long been a disgrace to our country, and we cordially agree with the author, who, as a seaman, speaks from experience on this subject, that had only part of the ardour and ta lents, bestowed on the question of Negro Slavery and other topics, been exerted in behalf of our sailors, this anomaly must long since have been banished from a country whose inhabitants justly pride themselves upon the high degree of civil liberty which they enjoy. We trust that the present pamphlet will have the effect of stimulating some public-spirited mind to the laudable attempt of applying a remedy to this evil. In treating of the Negroes, Mr. Urquhart mentions a curious fact, which we shall beg leave to quote:

"I shall produce another circumstance, as shewing the gross delusion practised upon the public on the subject of the treatment of negroes in the West Indies:-in the print-shops in London a negro is represented with an iron mouth-piece, with a view to make the public suppose, that this mouth-piece is put on to prevent the slave from eating sugar or cane; yet the whole of the inference intended to be drawn from this subject is false. There is a distemper to which negroes are subject, and at which time they are in the habit, unless forcibly prevented, of eating earth; at this time their mouth is covered until a cure can be effected. This is the secret of the terrific mouth-piece, which has been the topic of so much invective against West Indians."

Columbanus ad Hibernos, No. VII. 6s, A Short Review of the Reports of the African Institution, and of the Controversy with Dr. Thorpe, with some Reasons against the Registry of Slaves in the British Colonies. By Gilbert Mathison, esq. 3s. 6d.

Proposals for an Economical and Secure Currency, with Observations on the Profits of the Bank of England, as they regard the Public and the Proprietors of Bank Stock. By David Ricardo, esq.

Letters addressed to the Proprietors of Bank Stock. By an old Proprietor. 1s..

Address to the Proprietors of Bank Stock, on the Management of the Governor and

150

Directors of the Bank of England, and on the
Laws clating thereto. By Dan. Beaumont
Payne, esq.
2s. 6d.

Letter to a Member of Parliament on the Slavery of the Christians at Algiers. By Walter Croker, esq. R. N. 1s.

Observations on the Income Tax; setting forth its injustice and impolicy, and its inquisitorial nature, &c. 15.

An Address to the House of Commons on the State of the Nation. By a Yorkshire Freeholder. 8vo. 1s.

An Argument on the Case of Marshal Ney

with reference to the 12th Article of the Convention of Paris, and the Treaty of the 20th Nov. 1815. 8vo. 25.

An Inquiry into the Causes that have impeded the Increase and Improvement of Arable Farms, and have principally depressed the Landed Interest. 1s. 6d.

Notes, intended as Materials for a Memoir on the Affairs of the Protestants of the Department du Gard. Printed by order of the Committee appointed by a General Body of Protestant Dissenting Ministers in and about London and Westminster. 1s. 6d.

Juvenile Pieces in Prose and Verse, with Lessons for Spelling. By William Angus, A. M. 2s.

A Grammar of the English Language. By John Grant, A.M. 12mo. 6s.-Au Abridgement of the Grammar, 18.-A Key to the Exercises in the Grammar, 3s.

Horace, collated from the best editions; with the objectionable Odes and Passages expunged. By A. J. Valpy, A.M. зs. 6d.

Astronomical and Philosophical Lessons, for the use of Young Persons. By Dr. Olinthus Gregory. 5th edition. 12mo. 5s.

TOPOGRAPHY.

The History and Antiquities of the County of Hertford; compiled from the best printed Authorities and orginal Records, preserved in Public Repositories and Private Collections. By Robert Clutterbuck, of Watford, esq. F.S.A. Folio, sl. ss.; on large paper,

151. 155.

History of the Manor, and Manor House, of South Winfield, in Derbyshire. By Thos. Blore, esq. of the Society of the Middle Temple, and F.S.A. Author of The History of the County of Rutland. Second edition,

4to. 15s.

VOYAGES AND TRAVELS.

Paris revisited in 1815, by way of Brussels; including a walk over the field of battle at Waterloo. By John Scott. Svo.

[March 1,

Of the former tour of this lively and ingenious writer we spoke in terms of becoming respect, and therefore glad are we now to renew our acquaint ance with him, especially in passing over the interesting spot where the redemption of Europe was accomplished. Instead, however, of giving a general character of this volume, which in no respect stands in need of our recommendation, we shall be content with a few extracts relating to the battle of Waterloo and our illustrious commander.

"The Duke of Wellington, during the whole of this desperate fight, expressed to the officers about him great confidence in the result, founded on his troops. In resolving, however, to receive the ene knowledge of the thorough bravery of the British

my's battle in his position at Waterloo, he took into account the assistance which he required, and was assured he should receive frem Prince Blucher. That assistance was delayed till late in the day, and of course the fiery trial was of longer duration than was at first expected. It may be said with truth, that British soldiers alone could have supe ported it. The day frequently bore a very serious and even alarming aspect, our troops were tried, to even beyond the strength of man; a moment's relief for refreshment could not be granted, when it was asked for the scanty survivors of the almost destroyed 33d-every thing depends on the firm

countenance and unrelaxed steadiness of the British-they must not move;' was the reply: to which a few simple words of heartielt sympathy were added by his grace, and some short compliments, But whatever

well earned and honestly meant.

the, superior numbers of the enemy might have enabled them to effect the next day, there can be but very little doubt that we should have maintained ourselves on the field during the night of the 18th, and that the battle of that day would have terminated with the overthrow of every attack made on our positions by the French, even if the Prussians had not come up. Buonaparte has let us know himseli, and several of his officers have confirmed the fact, that, in his last dreadful charge, made with the old Imperial guards, now first brought forward, fresh in bodies, keen in spirits, and in numbers far exceeding our wasted ranks, he was influenced by a conviction, that the matter might

be settled with the British before the Prussians could take any material share in the engagement: -and the British did settle it before their nieuds came up. In the official account which he gave of his defeat, he does noc, in any degree, attribute it to the Prussians: he says, that the young guard were charged by squadrons of English, and that their flight spread contusion and terror among the other French regiments. The fact, I believe is, that the last attack made by the enemy, about seven in the evening, was the most terrible of any; it burst like an inundation to the top of our position; it caused our artillerymen to with. draw their guus: but on the elevation of the ridge our brave remnants of regiments met it, and stemmed it. It was at this moment that the few Scotch left of the ninety-second drove back an enormous column--it was at this moment, that the heavy dragoons of the French rode in small bodies about our infantry, watching for opportu. nities to plunge into their rauks, and occasionally fighting hand to Laud with parties of our cavalry; -it was at this moment that devotion took the

place of animation, and each individual of Wel

lington's army felt that he had but to fall without flinching;-it was at this moment that the Duke is said to have prayed for the Prussians, or for night, and to have exposed himself as much as the most forward grenadier of a crack corps-ral,

1816.]

lying the Brunswickers in person--throwing himself into the infantry battalions, charged by ca. valry; and giving a few encouraging words to the exhausted soldiers, as he sat on his horse, exposed to the shower of all sorts of bullets, watching for the proper instant to give them command for them to rise from their place of partial shelter, to stand to their arms, as the enemy's column approached near. Up, guards! and at them again,' was his exclamation on one of these occasions: We must not be beat, my friends-what would they say in England-was another of his short and pithy addresses. This moment, as I have said, was a trying and even a doubtful one: but its fury was encoun tered and repelled by the British unaided:---the last charge made by the enemy was completely repulsed-the French retired from before us alone; and the arrival of the Prussians had only an influ ence on the future operations. This influence was certainly very valuable. To be sure, it was hardly likely that the light would have lasted long enough to permit Buonaparte to form fresh columus of attack against the British; but he had men enough to do so he continued to outnumber us greatly; and we were dreadfully exhausted. If he could have arranged another great charge before nightfall, the consequences might have been very serious; but the Prussians came up just as he had been again roughly dashed back from the immovable British lines;--just as he had received his last lesson as to the matchless quality of the troops by whom his generals had been often beaten, and against whom he had to-day been, for the first time, opposed. The arrival of our gallant allies, under such circumstances, destroyed him. It is necessary, however, to observe, in consequence of some reports that are abroad.-that the Duke never despaired as to the battle. It is said that a very distinguished British general made some rather melancholy representations to his grace towards the end of the day. You are wrong,' he replied, and then pulling out his watch, added-You will see that in half an hour I shall have beaten them. I know both iny own troops, and those with whom hey are fighting."

151

In describing Mont St. Jean, and that part where the battle aged with greatest fury, our author takes particular notice of an old picturesque tree, which bears the name of Wellington, from the cir cumstance that our illustrious commander stopd near it during part of the action. "I found it,? says Mr. Scott, "much shattered with balls, both grape and musket; all of which had been picked out by visitors. Its branches and trunk were teribly splintered. It still retained, however, the vitality of its growth, and will, probably, for many future years, be the first saluting sign to our chil dren, and our children's children, who, with feel ings of a sacred cast, come to gaze on this theatre of their ancestor's deeds. We who now describe them, must soon join those whose fall we com memorate; and other generations will have their curiosity excited, only to follow us where all human interests cease: but this venerable tree will remain a long survivor of the grand battle, in which it was no slight sufferer-a monument of its circumstances -a conspicuous mark to denote and to impress. Its old head rising over the graves of so many gallant men, who dropped under what it withstood, struck one as conveying a mortifying reproach of the weakness of our species. An empire has withered under its shade; the hopes of ambition, the prayers of affection, the strength of the brave, and the skill of talent, lie abortive beneath its branches: yet it will continue to put forth its leaves in the spring-to break the winds of autumn -and to sustain the snows of winter;-to overhang succeeding crops, as it overhung the thinning ranks of armies;-to shelter the bird, whose note shall echo over fields that groaned under the crashing wheels of cannon, and shook under the thundering tramp of charging squadrons."

"

Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa. By Edw. Dan. Clarke, LL. D. Vol. iv. 410. 41. 14s. 6d. large paper, sl. 8s.

Paul's Letters to his Kinsfolk, being a Series of Letters from the Continent. Svo.

125.

86.

The slight texture of the Overture, a very cur sory view, will discover solos for oboes, flutes, elarionets, bassoons, and trumpets, follow each other successively; and when the ear begins to be cloyed with these individual exertions, a crash altogether terminates the whole. Mr. Whitaker is more at home in the songs, particularly where Comic humour is pourtrayed. In that departmenthe is excelled by few "The Boy and the Batterfly," by Miss Kelly; and "Ah! well a day," by Mrs. Bland, are excellent ballads. Mr. Bellamy's "Dido and I," may rank with the best hunting Sougs of the present day. We have likewise a comic Trio by Mrs. Bland, Miss Kelly, and Mr. Barnard, well worked up, and producing admirable stage effect. The Glee of "Humming Ale," for three voices, is very striking, and bids fair to become a favourite in convivial parties. On the

whole, this agreeable Farce will add another laurel to the brow of the composer of Paddy Carey.

A Grand Sonata for the Pianoforte, with an Accompaniment for the Violoncello; composed and dedicated to Mad. Moreau, by Bernard Romberg. Platts.

8s.

N.B. The Violoncello part is arranged for the Violin.

This Sonata bears evident marks of having beca written for the harp, though not mentioned in the title page. The passages are harpic; and all the passages are marked as for a irarp. It is, neverthe less, what it expresses, a grand sonata. It lies well for the pianoforte, and has an obligato part for the violoncello, but which can only be executed by a good performer. As Mr. Platts is a collector of good things, and Madam Moreau seems tond of the grand and the sublime, we hope he will favour her and the public with more sonatas of this cast,

Jacky Horner, a favourite Air, arranged as a Rondo for the Pianoforte, with an Accompaniment for a Flute (ad. lib.) Composed and inscribed to J. G. Graeff, Esq. by Samuel Wesley. Clementi and Co. 28. od.