or any other fruit, or comfits, are admirable illustrations of many of the operations on the slate, and are pleasing compensations for the labour which has been sweetened by the hope of reward. We ourselves often receive more practical instruction from a single lecture, aided by experiments, than we should have obtained from a very intense study of its subject. The facility, then, with which Children may be taught by means of sensible and gratifying objects is obvious."

These are very fair arguments.

78. A Defence of the Land-Owners and Farmers of Great Britain; and an Exposition of the heavy Parliamentary and Parochial Taxation under which they labour; combined with a General View of the internal and external Policy of the Country: in Familiar Letters from an Agricultural Gentleman in Yorkshire to a Friend in Parliament. 8vo. Pp. 105. Bickerstaff.

79. Considerations on the Protection required by British Agriculture, and on the Influence of the Price of Corn on Exportable Productions. By William Jacob, Esq. F. R. S. 8vo. pp. 193. Johnson and Co.

WE class these well-written Tracts in one article, as they are on a similar subject, and are evidently the production of enlightened minds. Their contents are at this time momentous; and we earnestly hope that the suggestions will be duly weighed and appreciated by the Legislature. To our Readers in general, who wish to be thoroughly acquainted with the true state of the Agricultural interests of the Country, we recommend both these luminous performances.

and

which have been indiscreetly and unjustly applied to the present case. That there are individuals in this, as in every other trade, who practice impositions,' and take shameful advantages,' I acknowledge and regret; but such conduct has nothing to do with the main question in hand: indeed, these characters, instead of striving to raise the price of Coals, are the men who profess to diminish it. Almost every instance of improper conduct in the Coal-trade may be traced to Undersellers. And here I cannot help observing, that those buyers who are unwisely eager after bargains, are the best supporters of these persons, and are peculiarly open to the designing and dishonest, who easily entrap them with the bait of under-price. Good souls! chuckling over a contract made at 5s. or, perhaps, even 10s. per chaldron under the current rate! Be no longer happy in your fancied shrewdness: either in measure or quality, or in both, you are abused and robbed. Undersellers áre the bane of the trade; from the very nature of it, it is impossible to undersell and make a profit honestly. Use com mon sense, and always suspect the dealer who offers at an under-rate. charges on delivery are well known : the market-prices are furnished in printed lists three times week; if the supply exceed the demand, you will buy cheaper; if it is less, you must be satisfied to buy dearer; resting assured that an excess of price will operate its own cure, and produce the opposite extreme; as the ensuing year will probably exemplify.".

The

81. An Historical View of the Domestie Economy of Great Britain and Ireland, from the earliest to the present Times; with a Comparative Estimate of their efficient Strength, arising from their Populosity and Agriculture, their Manufactures and Trade, in every Age. A new Edition, corrected, enlarged, and continued to 1812. By George Chalmers, F. R. S. S. A. the Author of "Caledonia," and of the" Considerations on Commerce, Coins, and Circulation." 1 vol. 8vo. Constable and Co. Edinburgh; Longman and Co. and Cadell and Davies, London.

WHEN we reflect on the vast mass of information necessary to form a work of this nature, we are not less

F

suc

Succeeded in collecting it, than we are at his having compressed it in a perfectly satisfactory manner within the compass of a volume containing only 477 pages. This we mention as a wellmerited compliment to Mr.Chalmers, as all literary men are fully aware how difficult it is to unite brevity

and extensive information. The Preface is interspersed with many valuable historical facts, amongst which are, that we are indebted to the House of Peers for the establishment of the Inspector-general of the Imports and Exports in 1696," and for the CustomHouse Ledger,which contains the particulars and value of both; and which forms, therefore, the most useful record, with regard to trade, that any Country possesses.” Mr. Pitt greatly improved and energized the above office during his first Administration.

By contrasting, in the following work, the average exports of distant years, we are enabled to trace the rise, the decline, or the progress of traffick, at different periods, even in every year. The Inspector-General, who established that Ledger in 1696, was William Culliford, who was succeeded by Dr. Charles Davenant in 1703; yet, half-informed writers have asserted that Davenant was the original Inspector General, who formed those official values in 1697."

The Register-General of shipping originated in the same age; but did not become a systematic affair till the Union with Scotland, "when it was thought fit to give it a distinct establishment, and at the same time to

extend the account, which was kept before, of all ships trading over sea, or coastways, in England, to the ships in Scotland." The Preface is perhaps

more to be studied and remembered in this "Historical Review," than in almost any other instance, as it contains hints which explain the succeeding text throughout the volume. Speculations as to the probable extent of population in any Country, by individuals actuated solely by laudable motives, cannot fail of leading to error; but when crooked-minded politicians enfeeble the efforts of their native land by reducing the number of their Countrymen, it becomes the duty of the Government to pursue the methods lately adopted, and, by giving a Census, convince the enemies of the State of the fallacy of their hopes.

"During the war of 1756, (says Mr.C.) Dr. Brackenridge published degrading accounts of our population, which were transcribed into the foreign gazettes. His example was followed by the late Dr. Price, during the American war. Seeing such doctrines propagated, durmen, I thought I saw in that coincidence ing two successive wars, by eminent a settled purpose to enfeeble the Nation, at critical periods, in the eyes of foreigners. Dr. Price contended, with more confidence than knowledge, that the population of England and Wales had declined since the Revolution, till it scarcely amounted to five millions of souls. I maintained that our numbers had greatly increased in that period; and that the population of England and Wales in 1793, was eight millions four hundred and forty-seven thousand two hundred souls. The late enumeration has demonstrated that there has been an increase, since the Revolution, of more than 2,840,000 people; and that the number of souls in England arid Wales, during the year 1801, was more than 9,340,000. This enumeration, then, has buried the degrading doctrines of Brackenridge and Price in ever-during discredit; while their spirit has taken a very different direction towards public and private credit."

It should be remembered also that the Preface informs us the present edition contains a former Chronolo

gical table, new modelled, corrected, and continued to the year 1812. The text has been corrected, and several additional chapters introduced. The concluding paragraph seems almost to have been written in the spirit of prophecy; and we are convinced there who doth not feel himself revived, in exists not a true friend to his Country reflecting that the recent events on the Continent free him from the constant tremors he has experienced for more than twenty years, originating in the threats of a relentless Enemy, supported by the croakings of our equal stability in the heterogeneous political philosophers, who foresaw Republick of France, and the subsequent Imperial Dynasty of that miserable Country.

"Demonstration will for ever de nounce those ill-timed philosophers, who, opinion, take a pleasure in frightening as they delight in dissenting from public well-meaning people with groundless apprehensions. But it doth not beseem, saith Knolles, that this most wealthy State should be terrified from

tha

that which is right, with any ebarges of War:

"The British Navy, through the Ocean vast, [climes Shall wave her treble cross t'extremest Terrifick."

The subjects treated on are necessarily multifarious, but we shall attempt a brief abstract of them. In the first place, we have observations on the physical and moral causes universally influencing population, which is followed by a view of the general state of England before the death of Edward III. The population at large, and of the principal towns, in 1377, are preceded and succeeded by the Author's reflections. The period above mentioned and the reign of Elizabeth make the second division of time for a similar review of the state of England as to population, commerce, policy, and power, and the reign of that Queen is examined to the same purpose; he then gives the state of England at the Restoration, and the number of people at the Revolution, with reflections. The reigns of William, Anne, George I. and II. undergo minute investigations, and he notices the commercial failures of 1763, gives opinions thereon, and remarks on the Peace of 1763; states the laws for domestic improvement, and shews the errors of those who maintained the decline of trade at that epoch. The Colonial revolt, and its influence on the points Mr. Chalmers illustrates, succeeds; and he turns next to the commercial prosperity of England from 1783 to 1793, and assigns the causes by mentioning various facts connected with the subject.— The strength of the Empire in 1793, as derived from population, trade, shipping, and seamen, the extent of the Navy and the Revenue, are duly estimated, with the losses of our trade, the bankruptcies of 1793, the lapse of the Bank, &c. &c. which lead him to the short Peace of Amiens, and the War of 1803.

In addition to the sources of our strength, as before enumerated, he mentions the Union of Ireland at this latter period. Ireland has an exclusive chapter, and the remainder of the work will easily be anticipated by our Readers, as all the subjects are familiar in their remembrance.

As to the Author's opinion on the

discontents of the Irish, we need only consult the following paragraph:

"Ireland, notwithstanding the reiterated outcries of her turbulent sons, and the War, which may be said to have begun with the Union, has abundantly flourished. She could not flourish faster without supernatural means. The speed of the horseman, said Dr. Johnson, is limited by the power of his horse. Nei

ther a commercial individual nor a commercial nation can advance with more correspondencies, and their other means, rapid progress than their capitals, their will easily allow, or generally adminit."

There are few works which more definitively pronounce against analysis than the present, for the reason that it is wonderfully brief and com prehensive in the words of the Author, and therefore nearly incompressible further. Under this conviction, we can do no more than commend it generally to the notice of our Readers, as a book fraught with consolation to all rational politicians, who will find in it resources against despair as to the future, supported by evidences not to be controverted; to which we will add the following very excellent remarks, composing the last pages of Mr. Chalmers's book:

"We have now run over, historically, the Domestic Economy of Great Britain and Ireland, from the earliest to the present times. We have seen both in their

infancy, and traced their progress as they severally advanced to manhood. In obeying the Divine command, to increase and multiply, we have seen the reduplication of populousness in both our Isles, We have witnessed the obstinate controversy concerning the Po

pulation of the United Kingdom closed facts, the unscriptural doctrines of a deby enumerations, which confuted, by clining populosity. We have beheld the operations and the effects of another Divine sentence. By the sweat of thy brow shalt thou live.'

'The sweat of industry would dry, and But for the end it works to.' [die,

"Under such influences we have perceived much performed, though much Kingdoms before that end can be finally remains yet to be done in the United

obtained. To draw mankind from idleness to labour is one of the hardest tasks

which human legislation has to perform. The Statute-book is the best proof how many laws have been passed, age after age, for inciting industry, for rewarding

inge

ingenuity, for protecting property, for creating and sustaining private and public credit, for executing justice, for preventing wrong. In our progress we have reviewed some of those laws. And what

the necessary effects were, in producing a flourishing agriculture, vast manufactures, a most numerous shipping, a trade unexampled in its amount and value, with a prodigious credit, both public and private. Such effects could not have been produced, amidst taxes and wars, but by the persevering efforts of a people at once free and industrious, who continually increased in numbers, and constantly re-produced new capitals, age after age, as their gains accumulated. But, if gainful prosperity should be followed by 'shapeless idleness,'' ten thou sand harms more than the ills we know, such idleness must hatch :" defiance of

law, and contempt of magistracy; profligacy of principle, and desire of plunder; a disinclination to labour, and a passion for promoting the same principles and practices in their less vicious fellows. If party should meantime enter into questions concerning our circulation and coin, our bullion and banking, our exchanges and correspondences; our pris

vate credit and

national

commerce

would be in a perilous state: and there would be cause to apprehend, with Waller,

'More danger now from man alone we [the wind.'

find,

Than from the rocks, the billows, and -But, in our Commerce, as much as in our Constitution, there is a power of resuscitation which occasionally interposes to save the State, as well as to restore our traffick. Experience justifies this observation. An impeded circulation has often distressed our flourishing manufactures, and foreign wars have sometimes deranged our over-sea trade. Yet, patient industry and ingenious enterprize have never failed to restore both to their former vigour and usual success; to their gainful intercourse, and their accustomed reduplications. Nothing more is wanting than recurrence to old habits of diligence, and perseverance in commercial courses, which success had already justified. Let us then with Milton conclude,

adapted to the Capacities of younger Pupils. By Anna Brownwell Murphy. 12mo. pp. 318. Darton, Jun.

"THE little Glossary which Miss Edgeworth bas added to one of her admirable early lessons, and which, though necessarily confined to a very few words, has been found of essential service to young beginners, originally suggested the idea of compiling a Dictionary for Children on a larger and more generally useful plan. 'Children,' Miss Edgeworth observes, are well occupied in examining external objects; but they

must also attend to words as well as

things: one of the great difficulties in early instruction arises from the want of words.' It was to obviate this difficulty that the following work was undertaken. It has been the Author's aim to unite She has

simplicity with correctness.

not attempted to give a full and accurate explanation of every word; but in general, when a term has several meanings in common use, examples are given of each. Common expletives, the names of familiar objects, together with all technical terms, and all words the know

ledge of which would be useless to Children, and those which could not well be explained in a manner adapted to the infant capacity, have been entirely omitted."

We shall give a specimen or two:

"TO ABBREVIATE, to make shorter : Tom is an abbreviation of Thomas; o'clock is an abbreviation of of the clock. Abbreviations are used to save trouble in repeating or writing; it is easier to say, or write, it is one o'clock, than if we were to say, it is one of the clock."

"To ABIDE in a place, is to stay in it. "To ABIDE with a person, is to remain with him, not to go away from him. To abide means also to suffer or bear; as, when we say, 'I cannot abide sullenness in any little boy or girl;' or, "I cannot abide that child, who is so ill-tempered and rude'."

ACID, sour, sharp to the taste, like lemon or vinegar; most fruits are a little acid."

"ACRID, hot, biting the tongue, like radishes, or mustard - cress, or waterYou find then that there is a great difference between an acid taste and an acrid taste."

* cresses.

The following pathetic Lines, by the Rev. RANN KENNEDY, A.M. were spoken by Mrs. EDWIN, immediately after the Play of the Deaf and Dumb, acted in Birmingham on the 27th of August, 1814, before his Grace the DUKE of DEVONSHIRE, for the Benefit of the General Institution for the Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Children. (See p. 630.)

IF ye, spectators of our Drama's plot, Have sympathiz'd with injur'd Julio's lot, [applause And if your breasts have hail'd with glad The warm assertors of his righteous cause, In them behold yourselves, that hither [Dumb, As generous Patrons of the Deaf and Outcasts by birth, that still might want in vain

come

Rights dearer far than Julio's lost domain, That, unacquainted with creation's plan, Might never feel the dignity of man, Yet wear his form, while, sunk in mental death, [breath. They walk the earth mere vehicles of No voice maternal sooth'd their infant hours, [powers; Or woke by prattled lore their thinking Shut out for ever from the realms of sound, With them the countless moving lips

around

Hold no communion, for beyond their reach

Are all the social blandishments of speech, All that to bearing can be told or sung, When the heart's music modulates the tongue.

Yet, as where Julio his lov'd home obtain'd,

Here may their nature's heritage be gain'd, Where, with success to De l'Epee unknown, [shown; For them a Braidwood's master-skill is 'Tis here, while Knowledge courts their tutor'd sight,

Their mouths, unlock'd, can mimic words aright.

And, though its fame is spread o'er

every coast,

Say, can this Seat of Arts as nobly boast That here each metal every shape assumes Which use contrives and elegance illumes,

As that in Woe's mute children here we find [Mind, Uprais'd and clear'd, the buried Ore of That on their gaze, to her asylum brought, Here patient Pity opes new worlds of thought, [shine With sense and feeling gives their eyes to And lights up all the human face divine, Gives them in silent prayer to lift on high The smile of conscious immortality?

Mr. URBAN,

Nov. 9.

YOU have, in several of your preceding Numbers, inserted various specimens of Clarke's " Poetry attempted;" but I do not recollect seeing in the Gentleman's Magazine her "Tasso's Conflict," which she calls "An Italian Love Tale, founded on Facts, of the Sixteenth Century;" printed, for the first time, in her new edi tion of Small Literary Patchwork," &c. pp. 67-9.

Now, as ours is, undoubtedly, an age of various loves, and of various poetry, atthough the days of chivalry, or of Homer, or of Sappho, are not yet quite returned; but as your pages are kindly favourable to the legitimate projects of all classes of Literary votaries, whether of History, of Poetry, or of Love, (witness the title, &c. of your Miscellany,) I send you a transcript of this anti-romantic Love story; which, if you so incline, you may please to insert, either in whole or in part, in one of your future Numbers.

And now we are on this ground, i. e. Love, I must just advert to the sweetlyimpressive sketch produced by Lord Byron's Muse, p. 366 of your last Number. But, with all deference due to his Lordship's distinguished rank, both as a Nobleman, and a Poet of the superior order, I venture to ask, whether the introduction of "Alla," in the sense used by his Lordship, in an English Poem, and in a Christian Country, does not, to the Christian sense, smell somewhat strong-not of the lamp-but of the Arabian School ? Yours, &c. PHILO-TRUTH. “TASSO'S CONFLICT," &c. "POOR Tasso now the Muse espies, And talks of his unhappy sighs;

With