Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

AND

Journal of Belles Lettres, Arts, Sciences, etc.

This Journal is supplied Weekly, or Monthly, by the principal Booksellers and Newsmen throughout the Kingdom, but to those who may desire

No. 95.

its immediate transmission, by post, we beg to recommend the LITERARY GAZETTE, printed on stamped paper, price One Shilling.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1818.

REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS.

Sketches of the Philosophy of Life.

From this consideration, it seems highly probable that there is no basis for the By organized species to a cause different from theory, which assigns the movements of Sir T. Č. Morgan, M. D. &c. London, the general laws of matter; and which con1818. 8vo. pp. 466. siders the phenomena of life as of another This is a work which displays great re-order from those of inanimate existence. search, much instructive reading, and a good deal of original thinking. There is such a mass of various and curious information contained in its pages, so many illustrations from ancient and modern authors, and so numerous a class of interesting subjects placed in new points for reflection, as utterly to defy analytical review. To these qualities if we add not a few principles advanced, and doctrines maintained, which challenge, at least, our scruples, if they do not provoke to that length of argument which would be incompatible with our limits; it will be acknowledged that our only mode of affording even an imperfect idea of Sir C. Morgan's Sketches must be by selecting from them one or two specimens.

PRICE 8d.

In his first chapter, Sir C. Morgan treats of the character and causes of ororganization itself; in the third, of the ganic combinations; in the second, of

;

and in the fourth, of the laws of vital combination of organs and functions

In this way we are no other nor bet-action. Thus far the Essay is regularly ter than the vegetable antagonist set up episodical, and discusses "Mental Pheconnected. The fifth chapter is rather for himself by Grimaldi in the panto-nomena;" and the sixth and last is so mime, with its head of cabbage, arms insulated, that it might almost have apof carrots, &c., supposing these materials to have moved and boxed without peared as a separate pamphlet-its suba boy in the inside of the pumpkinject is the "Phenomena of Disease." body. We select both the two following passages from the chapter on Mental Phenomena, not as differing in any degree from the general quality of the work, but simply as affording within a space convenient to us, as whole and distinct a view of the particular questions they embrace, as we could elsewhere find. The first unites the mind and body together rather curiously.

With the same limit of reference to natural and not to supernatural or divine causes, we are told that it—

affect alike the whole nutritive actions.

Appears reasonable to refer the commencement of living species to some other physical aspect of nature, than that which at present it exhibits. It is a curious coincidence, which at first sight appears to bear upon this question, that almost all nations have preserved a traditional notion of The connection between the mental affecsome condition of the globe, more favourable to its productions, than that which tions and the organs from whose influence We may, however, premise, that his now exists. But this extraordinary agree-ally falls, is not always very obvious. Love, they arise, or upon which their action especiobject is, generally, to afford an insight ment is perhaps more justly explained, as into the philosophy of physiology, rather an attempt to account for the origin of evil, jealousy, and maternal affection, are atthan to attempt a distinct and ample than as a result of preserved recollections. tached to the developement and activity of determinate parts, and are necessary suppleMore certain proof of phytreatise on physiological science. He ments of their functions. But fear, courage, has done much, brought an immense sical change may be deduced from the gequantity of matter for cogitation before neral appearance of the earth, and from anger, sorrow, hatred, &c. produce changes the fossil remains of animals no longer of organic movement, which have no such us, but he has not (indeed he could not, found alive upon its surface. The relations evident foundation in utility. Joy and grief within the bounds of one or of three of these animals with nature must be pre- Fear makes the heart palpitate, drives the volumes, have) exhausted the subject; on sumed to have been so far altered by some the contrary, he has abstained from enter-revolution the globe has undergone, as to blood from the surface, and acts violently ing upon several of the most important render their longer continuance an impos- upon the intestinal canal. Courage, on the contrary, gives a more forcible heat to the inquiries, especially those of a metaphy-sibility. heart, while anger throws the capillaries of sical nature, connected with the philo- We cannot imagine under what con- the skin into strong action, and determines sophy of life. The scope of the reason-figuration of this sphere that physical the circulation more exclusively towards ing, therefore, tends strongly to mate- power could exist, from which organ- the head. Hence rage is a very frequent rialism, for every thing is referred to ized creatures and human beings sprung occasional cause of epilepsy and apoplexy, organization and function; and the at first: it is beyond philosophy; and producing phenomena, which ignorance and writer, having excluded from his plan we look to no aspect of nature for phe-bigotry attribute to the particular judgments of an offended Deity. the investigation of mind or intelligence, nomena so wonderful, but to an Almighty is consequently prevented from enter- Cause existent before nature existed. But taining those elevated views of futurity we set out by stating that we would not in which, we hope, the majority of his entangle ourselves in argument, and we readers will consider the only true phi- will stick to our promise, even though losophy of life to consist. the following paragraph stares us in the face :

The elementary materials (he truly says,) of which organic species are compounded, are not of a peculiar nature; but enter indifferently as constituents of organic and unorganized combinations. The difference between the classes is purely formal; and, in the lowest species of living beings, the forms are so simple, and the functions so circumscribed, that no firm line of demarcation can readily be drawn between them. VOL. II.

Good and evil are principles intelligible only as they relate to the laws of organic existence.

By this rule a highway robbery may be resolved into a fever; a larceny into a cramp, or a murder into the jaundice. Yet there is some proximation to truth in the assertion. But to the book.

There arise also in the human animal certain other movements, which, when excessive, are metaphorically termed passions. Amongst these are avarice, ambition, the love of play, &c. Such emotions, however, partake not of the true nature of passion, being totally unaccompanied by organic derangements. They consist in vitious associations of cerebral movements, which give an undue vivacity and force to particular with their causes, and injurious to the perideas, producing reactions, incongruous cipient.

The connection of the true passions, with their organic affections, impelled Bichat to consider the organs, thus in

fluenced, as the causes of the feelings which
disturb them; a proposition which, except
in as far as it applies to the appetites, is
perfectly gratuitous, and is not indeed very
intelligible.
The passions, once excited by an object,
may become so associated with it, as to be
afterwards roused by its recollection or re-mankind afford less certain and precise in-sanity. This organization is characterized

obviously derives his mental infirmity solely | Barry and Girton, the painters, and above
from organization. His disproportionately all, of the splendid hypochondriac Jean
small brain and distorted cranium afford Jaques Rousseau.
tangible and visible evidence of the fact.
In the dolt or fool, these external charac-
teristics subsist in a smaller degree, but are
still open to observation. The mass of

appearance, although the disposition or power of influencing the well-being of the percipient no longer exists in it. On this fact depends the beauty and the truth of Pope's impassioned epistle of Eloisa to Abelard.

dications of configuration to lead to corresponding peculiarities of mental condition. In them the influence of education and moral causes is more predominant. With talents of more general applicability, they are less capable of specific excellence than The principle of activity, which arises the individuals of higher organization, and from the necessity for functional action, they are therefore more dependant upon manifests itself in the cerebral tissue by an circumstance. The habitual exercise of avidity for sensation. Even a certain de- their faculties in peculiar directions may gree of pain is preferable to an absolute give, however, an accuracy to their prosuspension of interest. Hence idleness is cesses, which may be mistaken for genius. said to be the mother of mischief. But as Individuals of but moderate talents are thus the frequent repetition of sensations di- enabled to figure in the world by mere imiminishes their intensity, the sources of tation, and to become learned moralists, pleasure become exhausted; more espe- jurists, theologians, and commentators; to cially when forced gratifications of sense go through the ceremonies of professional are adopted to anticipate the functional re- life with an imposing gravity and regucurrence of pleasurable action. In this larity, and to run round the mill-horse circle case, the reproduction of faded appetites of routine with a scrupulous precision. and palled desires is sought in a succession Strong passions, by giving concentration to of different stimuli; producing inconstancy labour, and by fixing the mind intensely in the affections, and a restless and inces-upon its objects, will develope a greater apsant change of scene and of pursuit. The imagination, despising the present, seeks all its enjoyments in the combinations of the morrow; and life slips away unenjoyed from an inordinate and inconsiderate effort to increase enjoyment. On this principle also must be explained those extravagant and fictitious passions which debase the moral being, and form the wretched substitutes for nature's purer and more vivid delights.+

The passions founded on the wants of the organization, are appeased by their gratification; and their indulgence, if not excessive, tends to health, vigour and happiness. But the factitious passions of envy, ambition, gaming, &c. increase in intensity with their gratification; and by their unrelenting tyranny, tend necessarily and inevitably to disappointment and misery.page 299.

pearance of talent, and supply the place of
original genius. The passion of love has a
marked influence upon the intellect, and
often dispels an inertness and slowness of
understanding, when other motives fail to
rouse the animal to volition. The poetic
character of Cymon is but an exaggeration
of phenomena of daily occurrence. The man
of genius, who is calculated to lead forward
his species in the career of improvement,
is marked by a very peculiar configuration
of the head, which possesses in a high
degree that conformity to our instinctive
feelings, which is termed beauty. The brain,
without being disproportionate, is fully de-
veloped, expanding the cranium, forming
a considerable convexity of the occiput,
and elevating the forehead, so as to render
the facial angle nearly a right angle. In
individuals thus formed, the cerebral move-
ments are strong, clear, and definite, and
associate themselves with freedom and fa-

Another variety of mental condition, which has generally been acknowledged to depend upon organization, is that which is marked by an hereditary tendency to inby physiognomic signs; a fuil protuberant eye, some disproportion of shape in the cranium, to which may be added the symptoms of inordinate determination of blood to the head.

The confirmed maniac, who forms the last link in the intellectual scale, experiences a marked alteration in the visible structure and texture of the cerebral organ, which demonstrates clearly the dependance of the intellectual functions on these particulars.

Upon these grounds the universality of genius may be reasonably disputed; and the instances of encyclopædic excellence, which have in various ages been quoted, form no objection to its denial. The pretensions of a Picus Mirandola, or an Admirable Creichton, have few claims on credibility. They were made in an age of comparative barbarity, when a trifling degree of attainment was sufficient to excite admiration. If similar pretensions were advanced in the present state of knowledge, they would be of no avail, but to cover the claimant with ridicule; expansion of surface having become an infallible token of a corresponding want of profundity.

In intellect, therefore, as in body, man is altogether peculiar, personal, and individual. General rules may be drawn, and abstract ideal combinations formed as a standard of comparison; but from this standard each individual, more or less, widely differs; from this perfection every one, more or less extensively, deviates—

-Nemo vitiis sine nascitur; optimus ille est Qui minimis urgetur.

Upon the whole, this is a production calculated to attract universal attention, and to provoke, as men incline, the warmest panegyric and the severest censure. We are only pioneers for the public; and rather incline on all occa

Our last extract may almost be considered a continuation of the same sub-cility. The minutest differences of impressions to tell it fully and fairly what issues

ject:

In reviewing mankind, as divided into classes according to their intellectual endowments, it is not difficult to assign the causes which have conspired in the production of each. The born ideot, who forms the lowest degree in the intellectual scale,

sions are felt and acknowledged; by which
the judgments become accurate, at the same
time that the imaginative associations are
active and prompt.

An organization, in which the associated movements are quickened by general irritability, but in which the ideas are not precise, and the judgments therefore inaccu"C'est pour s'arracher à l'ennui, qu'au risque | rate, is very common. The disproportion de recevoir des impressions trop fortes, et par it exhibits between its reactions and their consequence desagréab es, que les hommes re-inciting causes, constitutes eccentricity. cherchent avec le plus grand empressement tout ce qui peut les remuer fortement," &c.

[ocr errors][merged small]

This bastard species of talent is accom-
panied by capricious feelings, irregular
habits, and unprofitable exertions. It forms
a constitution well worthy of commisera-
tion; a burthen to itself, and often unser-
viceable to the community. It is almost
useless here to cite as examples the names
of Savage, Dermody, and Chatterton, of

from the press, than to enter into the dogmatical assertion of our own opinion, which, though we do not conceal, we would rather have gathered from circumstances than known by its vehement

maintenance.

Narrative of the Expedition which sailed from England in 1817, to join the South American Patriots; comprising every particular connected with its formation, history and fate; with Observations, &c. on the real character of the contest. By James Hackett, &c. London, 1818. 8vo. pp. 144.

What Mr. Fearon has done so effectually for North America, Mr. Hackett has in

a great measure performed for South America. He has drawn the veil aside with which interested motives and iniquity had so darkly enveloped the struggle in that country, and, by letting in a ray of light, shewn us the real state of the war, which we trust will not be lost upon such of our fellow citizens as burn with ardour to take a part in this sanguinary and ruthless contest.

*

For that portion of the present work which relates to the Spanish Main we were prepared by the "Account of the Origin, Progress, &c. of the War, by a South American," published last year; but the matter which relates to those unfortunate Britons who were seduced into an expedition for Venezuela, is peculiar to Mr. Hackett, and now first appears in a tangible shape, though several newspapers, such as the Courier, Morning Post, Times, and New Times, have occasionally inserted letters, announcing facts similar to those stated by the author.

It is well known to the public that there are several recruiting officers, military or civil, belonging to the patriot cause, employed in London in raising supplies of men, and procuring munitions of war for the Insurgents in South America. Among these was, and perhaps is, one Mendez † (not Ferdinand Mendez Pinta, but a liar of equal magnitude) calling himself the agent for Venezuela, by whose misrepresentations and promises our unhappy compatriots were induced to embark in this service. Mr. Hackett, who does not seem previously to have been a soldier, was engaged to go as first lieutenant in a brigade of artillery commanded by a Colonel Gilmore; he was to equip himself, but to be remunerated with 200 dollars on landing in Spanish America; and was to receive the same pay and allowances as in the British service. Two advantages appear to be gained by the Independents by such arrangements: in the first place they procure a reinforcement of men, and in the second, either by the natural death or murder of these men, they at least obtain a supply of clothes, of which they are dreadfully in want. All this Don Mendez well knew, though he gave his guarantee for the performance of the stipulated conditions, and thus excited. hopes which were never to be realized. Mr. Hackett, indeed, directly accuses him

* Reviewed in the Literary Gazette.

+ This worthy, we observe, is announced to sail on Wednesday, as one of the new Expedition

under Sir Gregor M'Gregor.

"Ferdinand Mendez Pinta was but a type of thee, thou liar of the first magnitude."

Of having induced those desirous of embarking in this destructive enterprise, to believe that their services would be joyfully and gratefully accepted by the Independent Generals and their Armies; whilst he, at the same time, could scarcely have been ignorant that the strongest hostility was manifested by the patriots to the admission of foreign assistance; and that the jealousy of the British troops of those few British | officers who had been tempted actually to join their armies, was so rancorous, as to subject them to the perpetual hazard of

assassination.

gaged might ascertain accurately the state of affairs on the Continent before they proceeded thither to disembark.

The Author is a little full of self at set

ting out, but as his feelings at leaving his friends cannot interest the feelings of our readers, we shall pass over their description, and also the details of the particulars of the voyage. Suffice it to say, that the 1st, 2d, and 3d corps arrived in safety at St. Bartholomew's, and were well received by the Swedish Governor, and hospitably entertained; till In short, of vouching for the observ- the misconduct (we are sorry to state) ance of conditions, the fulfilment of of some of their own body, put them which he was aware was impracticable. all out of the pale of civilized snd hoBy such means not fewer than five dis-nourable treatment. At St. Bartholotinct corps of British volunteers were at mew's, they lay for weeks endeavouring this period persuaded to sail for South to gain authentic intelligence from VeAmerica to join the insurgent General nezuela. Only rumours reached them, Bolivar. and these were uniformly inauspicious The first of these, to which Mr. to their project. Plans for arriving at a Hackett belonged, was the brigade of certainty in this respect were concerted artillery, commanded by Colonel Gil- and abandoned, till at length Mr. Ritmore, consisting of five light six- chie, the supercargo of one of the ships, pounders and one howitzer, ten officers, proceeded to another island to procure and eighty non-commissioned officers such information as might decide him and men. Their equipments were com- whether he should or should not carry plete, their stores most ample and abund- his freight to an independent port. On ant, and their uniform superb and rich. his return it was found that his deter The latter extravagance was indeed mination was fixed not to proceed, as common to all the corps; and it is not the insurgents were alike destitute of at all improbable that the vanity of the money and credit. This naturally invictims was often excited in this direc- creased the anxiety and distress of the tion, in order that their personal spoils Expedition, and their difficulties received might be of greater value to the vile the last blow from the scandalous behaassociates with whom they were in-viour related in the following extract :veigled to unite.

The second corps was called Venezuelan Hussars; it was under the command of a Colonel Hippesley, and consisted of 30 officers and 160 rank and file.

The third was also Hussars, to be called "Red;" its command devolved on a Colonel Wilson, and it consisted of 20 officers and 100 rank and file.

The fourth was a rifle corps, its Colonel's name Campbell, and its force 37 officers and about 200 men.

The fifth, and last, was a corps of Lancers under Colonel Skeene, and consisted of about 220 individuals; all of whom perished in the wreck of the Indian transport off Ushant, within a few days of their fatal embarkation.

The round numbers amount to about eight hundred and sixty British subjects, who, together with artisans of various descriptions, armourers with a cargo of musketry, a printer with materials for cember last on this futile and perilous printing, &c. &c. left England in Deenterprise. The ships were appointed to rendezvous at St. Thomas' and St. Bartholomew's, where the persons en

The state of our affairs had now become still more critical and alarming, as we knew not how soon we might be compelled to depart from the ship, and, of course, thrown upon the island, dependent upon our own individual resources for subsistence; it having been frequently intimated to us that our rations on board could not be much longer continued.

Such was our situation when the occurtated and displeased the Governor, that he rence of the following circumstance so irricommanded us to leave the island before the expiration of the ensuing week. In relating the particulars of this event, it will be necessary to refer back to the day but one previous to our return from Saint Martin's:-On the forenoon of this day, a Spanish polacre, laden with wine, brandy, oil, and, as was also understood, some specie, bound from Cadiz to the Havannali, put into Marygott bay, and there anchored. Almost immediately after our arrival at Saint Bartholomew's, we were alarmed by the discharge of a gun in the town, and rewe found the entire garrison under arms, paired to the place from whence the report proceeded; when, to our great astonishment, theGovernor and fort-major with the troops, and the town in a perfect uproar. A small schooner, full of men, in the middle of the

harbour, appeared the general object of curiosity and inquiry; and an armed boat, which had been despatched by the Governor for the purpose of bringing those persons ashore, was soon after seen returning; and, with astonishment and regret, we beheld Colonel W――, with a number of his officers and some other individuals, conveyed on shore as prisoners, all armed, and disguised under large cloaks. It appeared that they were on the point of proceeding to Marygott bay, for the purpose of cutting out the Spanish polacre, whose arrival at that place has been already mentioned; but the Governor, having through some channel received information of their daring project, frustrated the design, and apprehended the party. The polacre, indeed, was otherwise secure from the attack, having sailed from Marygott early in the forenoon. The prize-master who came into Gustavia the day after our arrival, was likewise a conspicuous character in this enterprise. Colonel W- and his party were shortly after restored to liberty; but notice was transmitted to Colonel Elliot, stating the particulars of the late intended attack, and warning him against similar attempts. I was subsequently informed that the French admiral, on being made acquainted with the circumstance, proceeded to Saint Bartholomew's in search of Colonel W- who had, fortunately for him, left that island for Grenada.

After this piratical scheme was defeated, the vessel with Colonel Skeene's Rifle corps arrived at St. Bartholomew's, and the three ships followed Colonel Wilson to Grenada. Here, as at St. Bartholemew's, all the accounts from the Main were unfavourable to the Patriot cause, and the brigade of Artillery was disbanded by Colonel Gilmore, and the poor fellows who composed it, left destitute to shift for themselves in a foreign land and insalubrious climate. Some of them joined Wilson, others got to North America, and a few remained in a state of fearful doubt, perplexity, and sorrow. Among the latter was the Author, who was decided in this indecisive course, by the arrival of several officers, recently in the Patriot service, and who had succeeded in effecting their return. They, he thus writes,

Gave us such information of the state of affairs on the Spanish main, as clearly proved the madness of our previous decision, and convinced us that it would be preferable to risk every vicissitude of fortune, rather than personally engage in a contest, not only far more hazardous, and accompanied by infinitely greater hardships and privations, than an ordinary state of hostilities, but likewise conducted by both parties, on principles at variance with every feeling of honour and humanity; whilst the extreme difficulty attendant on a departure from the patriot service of those who once actually join their standard, renders every

innocent and unoffending inhabitants are attempt at return so nearly impracticable as to place foreigners, thus circumstanced, al- equally the victims, with those actually opmost in a state of slavery. Exclusive, how-posed to them in military strife. In action ever, of the obstructions to return, origi- the Independents display much bravery and nating in the peculiar local circumstances determination, and frequently prove sucof the country, and the hazard which must cessful, notwithstanding their want of disunavoidably be encountered in traversing cipline, deficiency of arms, and disorderly the interior, the Independents, for reasons manner of attack and defence. Unhappily sufficiently obvious, are particularly cau- the work of death terminates not with the tious of permitting individuals to withdraw battle, for on whatsoever side victory rests, the events which immediately succeed those from their armies. sanguinary struggles are such as must cast an indelible stain upon the Spanish American Revolution.

The information received from the officers to whom I have just referred, was to the following purport: They assured us, that in consequence of the extended duration of the war, and exterminating principle upon which it had been conducted, the country in general displayed one uniform scene of devastation and wretchedness. That the patriot forces were reduced to a state of the greatest poverty, totally devoid of discipline, and not one-fourth provided with proper military arms, the remainder being compelled to resort to bludgeons, knives, and such other weapons as they found most readily procurable.

In clothing they were still more destitute and deficient, in most instances merely consisting of fragments of coarse cloth wrapt round their bodies, and pieces of the raw buffalo hide laced over their feet as a substitute for shoes, which, when hardened by the sun's heat, they again render pliant by immersion in the first stream at which they chance to arrive.

:

Á blanket, with a hole cut in the middle, let over the head, and tightened round the body by a buffalo thong, has been frequently the dress of the officers and one of them who witnessed the fact, assured me, that such was actually the uniform of a British Colonel (R--) who was at that time in the Independent service. Whilst habiliments, they commented in the strongthese gentlemen thus described the patriot est language on the impolicy and imprudence of proceeding to serve in conjunction with an army barefooted and in rags, provided with such splendid uniforms as we had been obliged to procure; and ridiculed the strange contrast which our dresses and those of the Patriots would exhibit in the field; observing, that such clothes would be alone sufficient to excite the jealousy of the natives, to whose eagerness for their possession, we would almost inevitably be

come a sacrifice.

The Independent armies march in hordes, without order or discipline; their baggage consisting of little more than the scanty covering on their backs. They are totally destitute of tents, and in their encamp ments observe neither regularity nor system. The commanding officers are generally mounted, and likewise such of the others as are able to provide themselves with horses or mules, the latter of which are in great plenty. The exterminating principle upon which the war is carried on between the contending parties, render their campaigns bloody and destructive; desolation marks the progress of those hostile bands, to whose inveterate enmities the

The engagement is scarcely ended, when an indiscriminate massacre of the prisoners takes place; nor is the slaughter only confined to the captives, the field also undergoes an inspection, when the helpless wounded are in like manner put to the sword.

There does not appear to be a jot to chuse between the mutual atrocities of these butchers, as the two annexed anecdotes horribly prove.

The following instance of vindictive cruelty on the royalist side, was related to me by an officer who was present in the engagement in which the transaction originated. In this action, a young French officer, in the service of the Independents, had his arm severed from his shoulder by a sabre cut, and being unable to sustain himself from loss of blood, he sunk to the ground. His distinguished bravery had however previously been observed by his companions, who succeeded in bearing him off the field, from whence they conveyed him into the woods, and sheltered him in a negro hut; where having applied such balsams as could be procured, they departed. The armies retired to other parts of the from the effects of his wound, when Genecountry, and the officer was fast recovering ral Morillo, advancing upon the same route, discovered his retreat, and had him instantly put to death.

It is a melancholy truth, that the sanguinary and ferocious character of the warfare, which has reflected lasting disgrace on the contending parties on the Continent of South America, also governs the proceedings of the hostile navies: the indiscriminate destruction of prisoners, is most generally accomplished by compelling the illfated captives to pass through the cere mony which is technically called Walking the Plank. For this purpose, a plank is made fast on the gang-way of the ship, with one end projectitg some feet beyond the side; the wretched victims are then forced, in succession, to proceed along the fatal board, and precipitate themselves from its extremity into the ocean; whilst those who, instinctively clinging to life, hesitate prompt obedience to the brutal mandate, are soon compelled at the point of a spear to resign themselves to a watery grave, to avoid the aggravated cruelties of their inhuman conquerors.

The Independents, who (as has been be

and sailed from the Thames in Decem-
ber last, we state, on good grounds, not
one third are now alive!!!

ACASTO; or The Felon. A Poem in four

fore observed) impute the origin of this bar-
barous mode of warfare to the Royalists,
resort for their justification in adopting a
similar course of proceeding, to the neces-
sity of retaliation. How far this defence
should be received, as a palliation of their
conduct, I will leave others to determine;
but although some may, perhaps, allow
books. London, 1818. 8vo. pp. 153.
this argument, as applied to the Patriots This poetical attempt is submitted to
themselves, to moderate the indignation candour as the production of an inex-
and horror which such outrages against perienced young beginner in the art, to
humanity and feeling must naturally ex-whom the idea of the story was sug-
cite; yet surely one undivided opinion gested by the fate of Vartie, executed at
must exist, of its being totally inapplicable the Old Bailey for forgery. The author
enter the Patriot service, warm with enthu pleads for mercy in the administration of
thiasm for their cause, confident in its jus- justice, and when we consider the infir-
tice, and zealous to promote its triumph, mity of human nature, the severity of our
are still but volunteers, or auxiliaries, per- legal code, and the inefficacy of its bloody
sonally uninterested in the dispute, and enactments, tempered as they are by
strangers to the sufferings, embittered feel-making crime and punishment a perfect
tended mutually to exacerbate the hostility death or pardon at the same cost, or, to
ings, and reciprocal wrongs, which have lottery, in which the guilty may draw
of the two parties.
speak more intelligibly, for the same
offence; it may, we think, without ex-
posing us to the charge of apologizing
for vice, be boldly argued, that the life
of man is far too lightly valued in our
criminal jurisprudence.

Under such circumstances it may be asked, then, Can foreigners attach themselves even to the side of justice, without compromising every feeling of honour and humanity? The answer can scarcely be otherwise than in the negative; and this alone, without particularly enforcing the impolicy of the speculation in various other respects, is, as I humbly conceive, conclusive against British officers or British subjects identifying themselves with either of the parties engaged in the contest, which has so long ravaged and depopulated the fertile plains of the South American con

tinent.

Disease is still more fatal than all the other causes together to Europeans in this service and climate. Exposed to every vicissitude of weather, unsheltered, worn with fatiguing marches, alternately burnt by a scorching sun, and steeped in the cold dews of night, their constitution soon sinks, and they perish

miserably.

We shall not pursue this theme further. The book before us wil be and should be generally read. From its warning pages will be learnt the important lesson, that it is better to bear the ills we have, than fly to others that we know not of. As for our Author, after undergoing every privation and suffering, subsisting on unwilling charity, and being despised and rejected by all respectable men, merely because he was judged from the company in which he was found; he got to St. Kitt's, and thence worked his passage home as a common seaman in a merchant's ship.

What is our remedy against the extension of crime? How do we punish those who transgress the law? By a sort of reversal of the miserable quack specific, or Elixir Vita! We act as if the Elixir mortis were the cure of moral evil. Does a man thrust his hand through a pane of glass to rob his neighbour-he is condemned to be hanged. Does a servant steal from his master five pounds he is hanged. Does a robber take a sheep from a field-he is hanged. Does a wretch sign a false name to defraud an individual, the Bank, or revenue-he is hanged. Does a monster murder a smiling infant, nay, his own parent, what is the device to deter others from similar atrocities?-he too is hanged. And in all cases, be it observed, the more horrible the crime, the more likely is its perpetrator to be dismissed from existence with a kind of evangelical absolution, through which it is not easy to tell whether he be sinner or saint, villain or martyr.

[ocr errors]

a

Generally speaking, it is impossible to read three consecutive stanzas without perceiving that either want of polish, or a greater defect pervades the composition. Within eighteen lines (page 13) the One line begins "Bethink! O think!

word "Vice" occurs five times. And
indeed the whole betrays the inexpe-
rience of the writer, who in the conclu-
sion tells us,
66 years twice ten I can but
scarce recount." With this opinion of
his work we need not fill our page with
any further examples. Those who de-
sire to peruse Acasto's sufferings, weak-
ness, guilt, and doom, are referred to
the publication, which we fear cannot
have answered the Author's hopes.

An Historical and Descriptive Account of Air-la-Chapelle, &c. &c. Small 12mɔ. pp. 116.

This is a publication got up on the spur of the moment, to gratify public curiosity respecting a place, the present scene of so much political interest. A pretty View of it is prefixed.

favourite residence it was, and who died The memoirs of Charlemagne, whose and was buried there, are connected with the early rise of Aix-la-Chapelle, as it is called by the French, or Aken, its German name. In the religious persecutions which ensued on the Reformation, it also bore a distinguished part. After an abridgment of the history of these periods, this little work goes into a description of the site, privileges, antiquities, relics, &c. of the imperial city; and concludes with some account of the Congress, not differing from what has appeared in the daily newspapers. As there is nothing of novelty in this performance, we shall not take any extract, but satisfy ourselves with noticing that it contains as much information upon its subject as seems to be called for by the occasion, and in a neat and cheap form.

ON CICERO.

[From the Correspondence of the Abbé Galiani.] You wish to know how to form a just The opinion of the merits of Cicero. It Cicero may following are my ideas. be considered as a literary man, a philosopher, and a statesman. As a literary genius, he may be ranked among the foremost that ever existed. He knew all that was known in the age in which he lived, with the exception of geometry, and other sciences of that kind. He was a tolerable philosopher, for he was well acquainted with all that the Greeks had studied,—and he explained what he knew with admirable clearness;

With regard to the poem before us, we must observe that the will is better than the deed, -the intention more praiseworthy than the execution. opens with curious unintentional jingle:Come, Muse of Song! O from Parnassus' height! We have only to add, that he conti-O hither bend thy swift descending flight, Inspire my lay!-to these dull regions bend! nues a friend to the Patriot cause, though he has so fully proved the insanity of any British subject attempting to embark in the contest. Of the 860 men with whom he originally co-operated,

To him that doth thy soothing song attend!
Who rhyme and sense in unison would blend.
Methinks I hear, e'en now, the sounding lyre,
As if the Muse now hitherward did wend :-
E'en now, methinks, I feel poetic fire,
Such as of old did oft Apollo's sons inspire.

« AnteriorContinuar »