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"another quitting, may be an inn, but is the palace or fixt habitation of "no man!"

In No. 289 of the Spectator may be seen Addison's admirable imitation of this parable.

One other apologue is that of Bustan iv. 2. containing in five columns of the original, that most poetical and beautiful sentiment of humility, which the man of classical taste has only to read and admire, and no longer be led astray by the vulgar European notion, that the language of Persian poetry is not something better than verbiage! Addison's elegant imitation may be read in No. 293 Spectator:

A solitary drop of water, as it was falling from a cloud, blushed when it saw the huge extent of the sea; saying "Where the ocean ex"ists, what place is left for me to occupy, if that immense body of wa❝ter be present, my God! what an inconsiderable atom of matter am I?" While it was after this manner reviewing itself with an eye of humility, an oyster took it into the bosom of its shell, and nourished it with its whole soul: the revolution of fortune raised it into an exalted station, for it ripened into a precious pearl, and became the chief jewel of the imperial diadem of Persia: it rose into dignified eminence, because its walk was humble, and knocked at the gate of annihilation, till it was ushered into an illustrious existence.'

ART. IX.-Notoria; or Miscellaneous Articies of Philosophy, Literature, and Politics.

THE EDINBURGH MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

THE first number of this publication, came out on the first day of April, in the present year. The plan on which it is conducted, seems much like that of other magazines; consisting, as to the larger portion in bulk, of original communica. tions, selected essays, and poetry: then follows a review of periodical works: notice of new publications: literary and scientific news: a political register of British and foreign affairs: a chronicle: monthly reports of commerce and agriculture: and lastly, an account of marriages and deaths.

The original communications are interesting, as we might expect in the commencing number of such a work. So are the selections under the head of "Antiquarian Repertory," particularly to readers in North Britain. There are two titles comprised in the present work, which seem to characterise it; that is, a review of Periodical Works, and a more full account of foreign politics and intelligence, than is customary in publications of this kind. But we were somewhat surprised in looking over the review of periodical publications, to find none of the numerous periodical pamphlets furnished by the press of Great Britain, deemed worthy of observation but the Edinburgh and the Quarterty Reviews; to the analysis of whose contents, about five pages of close print are dedicated in the present magazine. This is an article that to many readers will be acceptable, and from the opposite political character of these two publications, we may augur, that the editors of the Edinburgh Magazine mean to take neutral ground with respect to the politics of the day. The Edinburgh Review, conducted by Mr. Jeffries, as our readers well know, is favourable to the politics of that party which Mr. Burke

termed the new whigs, in opposition to the ancient whig aristocracy of the great, titular, landed proprietors of the kingdom, whose influence rested on long descent and wealth; the Percys, the Howards, the Portlands, the Devonshires, &c. But long descent and great wealth, are very seldom accompanied by great talent or acquirement; and still less by the persevering industry necessary to success in politics, as well as in every other pursuit. Hence, the opposition-aristocracy of the English nobility, from the close of the American warto the prevalence of the French revolution, were fain to connect themselves politically with the novi homines--the new whigs-the men of no rank, no fortune, but adventurous talent, and active acquirement, of which phalanx Mr. Fox was the leader. From this party, Mr. Burke, who belonged to it originally, was induced to secede. The party to whom his talents were necessary, took care to apply 'persuasion in a tangible shape,' and with great success. But Mr. Burke's opposition to his old friends, was too sudden and too virulent; and notwithstanding the beauty of his language, and the prophetic force of many of his observations, he made little impression upon the public: as a speaker, his prolixity wearied, and his virulence disgusted his auditors---as a writer, he had too much pomp of expression, and too little arrangement of argument: all were amused, none were converted: with literary men he was, and will be, regarded as the most eloquent of British authors; but with the nation at large, be settled down under the character given by Sallust, satis eloquentiæ, sapientiæ parum. The new whig principles, bequeathed by Mr. Fox, are those of the present lord Grey, and of lord Holland's politico-literary coterie; and are countenanced throughout, by the political character assumed in the Edinburgh Review.

The mantle of Mr. Pitt, and Mr. Burke, like that of Mr. Fox, has descended to no one. They have followers, impari passu, but they have none capable of taking their respective places in the political warfare.

The Quarterly Review, set up to counteract the influence which the Edinburgh Review, conducted with great ability, was gradually acquiring, is managed chiefly by Wm. Gifford and Robert Southey, the poets, or verse writers; for the former can hardly be considered as having any claims to the first high character. Gifford was, for many years, a protege of lord March duke of Queensbury, and of course attached to the politics of the court, and of the old aristocracy, now completely amalgamated. Southey, a few years ago, an outrageous reformist, has joined Gifford, and now wars against the tenets of his former creed, with all the virulence of a renegado. This Review cannot admit that any thing is wrong in the present beautiful order of things in Great Britain; and is furious against those whose distempered activity would put in jeopardy the Corinthian pillars of civil society: Gifford and Southey adopt as their motto, that of the bishops:

Touch not a cobweb in St. Paul's

Lest you should shake the dome!

Each of these conflicting reviews, aid indirectly, but with great effect, the political party to which they are attached, by the talent displayed in their respective publications. In every other species of literary merit, except that of alassical acumen―an accurate, a minute, and critical knowledge of the Greek

and Roman languages and classics-wherein the Quarterly Review certainly has the advantage, the Edinburgh is superior. In virulence, not to say inso lence, they are equal. Each of them strives to give a zest to their literary feast by throwing in the Seasoning of Controversy,' with an unsparing hand. But the talent of these writers has forced them upon the public notice, and both the Edinburgh and the Quarterly Reviews, stand at the head of miscella neous periodical literature, in the island of Great Britain. The Monthly and the Critical, are falling into disrepute: the Analytical is no more. But a new one, conducted with the same political complexion, but with features not quite So sour as the Quarterly, is rising into notice under the title of the British Review; and which, if it continue to be conducted as it has been, will claim a full portion of the public attention.

In the scientific department of the Edinburgh Magazine, now under consideration, the news, can hardly be called the news of the day: the experiments of professor Leslie for instance, and of Dr. Clarke of Cambridge with the compound blow-pipe, have been known here for some time previous to the date of the Edinburgh Magazine.

It is strange, that the British publications should not notice the very reprehensible character of the claims to novelty in the experiments of Dr. Clarke; when every scientific man in England, (I might almost say in Europe) well knew that Mr. Hare of Philadelphia first conceived and first executed the idea of burning together, hydrogen and oxygen in the proportions proper to form water. The simplification of Mr. Hare's complex apparatus by Mr. Cloud, made experiments of this kind familiar in this country long before the attempts of Mr. Brooke, Mr. Newman, or Dr. Clarke. Nor is there any thing now in the principle of condensation, which Mr. Cloud's neat and simple machine is calculated to give with at least as much effect as the common condenser used by Mr. Newman.

We observe that the Marquis Ridolphi of Florence, has repeated some of Dr. Clarke's experiments, with what he pleases to call phlogogene and therm-oxygen. But until the scientific gentlemen of London shall be able to perform with success the experiments described by Dr. Clarke, we must take the liberty of remaining sceptical as to the accuracy of those detailed by the Marquis Ridolphi.

"The experiments (of Dr. Clarke) says professor Brande, have been made in this (the Royal) Institution, and were repeated a few days since in the presence of the most distinguished chemists now in the metropolis, but, without success." No one has yet complained that he could not repeat Mr. Hare's. See Journal of Science and the Arts. No. IV. p. 461.

It is likely that we shall adopt the practice of the Edinburgh Magazine, and dedicate a few pages hereafter, to the analysis of some of the best English and foreign periodical publications.

PERIODICAL WORKS.
The Edinburgh Review. No. 54.
1. "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage,
Canto the Third, and The Prisoner of
Chillon, and other Poems. By LORD

BYRON."-In this article the Reviewers do not confine themselves altogether to these two publications, but the Corsair being the last work of lord Byron of which they had given a particular ac

count, they introduced their examination of the present works by notices of Lara, The Siege of Corinth, and other intermediate pieces. This Third Canto of Childe Harold, the Reviewers are persuaded will not be pronounced inferior to either of the former; and they think that it will probably be ranked above them by those who have been most delighted with the whole. Of The Prisoner of Chillon they speak in the language of praise; but the rest of the poems are said to be less amiable, and most of them, the Reviewers fear, have a personal and not very charitable application.

2. "A Letter to the Roman Catho-. lic Priests of Ireland, on the expediency of reviving the Canonical mode of electing Bishops by Dean and Chapter, &c. By C. O."-There is no further notice of the book or its author. It is a dissertation on the Catholic question, in which the Reviewer endeavours to show that no securities whatever should be required from the Catholics as the condition of their emancipation.

3. "Defence of Usury: showing the impolicy of the present legal restraints on the terms of pecuniary bargains, in Letters to a Friend. To which is added, a Letter to Adam Smith, Esq. L. L. D. on the discouragements opposed by the above restraints to the progress of inventive industry. The third edition: to which is also added, second edition, a Protest against Law Taxes. By JEREMY BENTHAM, Esq. of Lincoln's Inn."-In this article the Reviewer begins with examining the reasons that have been urged in defence of the usury laws, and finds that they produce none of the good which they pretend to have in view; and then proceeds to point out the mischiefs which they create in all directions. These laws are considered to be also insufficient, and inconsistent with their avowed purposes, as they allow of transactions substantially usurious. The penalties imposed upon all who assist suitors in courts of justice, with the means of enforcing their rights, stipulating for a certain premium, which the law of England denominates maintenance and champerty, are reprobated as the growth of a barbarous age; and a very strong case is extracted from Mr. Bentham's treatise to show the ruinous conse

quences of this law to needy suitors, The repeal of the usury laws, however, is held to be imprudent, at this particular crisis, as "all persons now owing money would inevitably have their creditors coming upon them for payment." It is to be wished the Reviewer had taken into consideration the effects which this repeal would produce upon the terms of loans to government, and upon the price of public funds.-The Protest against Law Taxes is highly extolled. The privilege of sueing in forma pauperis is shown to be of little value. Stamps on law proceedings are censured; and the vulgar argument, that such taxes operate as a check to litigation, is said to be "triumphantly refuted" by Mr. Bentham.

4.

"Wesentliche Betrachtungen oder Geschichte des Krieges Zwischen den Osmanen und Russen in den Jahren, 1768 bis 1774, von RESMI ACHMED EFENDI, aus dem Turkischen ubersetzt und durch Anmerkungen erlardert von HEINRICH FRIEDRSCH VON DIEZ."This book is a history of the war between Russia and the Ottoman Porte, in the years 1768-1774, originally written in Turkish by Resmi Achmed Efendi, and translated into German by M. Von Diez. The Reviewer has contrived, by the playfulness and pleasantry of his style, to render this short article very amusing. The work itself, he says, is dull enough in all conscience, but it is a literary curiosity.

"the

5. "National Difficulties practically explained, and Remedies proposed as certain, speedy, and effectual, for the relief of all our present embarrassments."-The questions proposed for discussion in this article are, 1st, In what manner were the people of this country, who are now idle, formerly employed? The substance of the answer is, that foreign trade was source from which employment flowed to all classes of her industrious inhabitants."-2d, By what means were they deprived of this employment? The answer is, that this commerce was suddenly pent up, partly by a train of ill concerted measures at home, and partly by the policy of the enemy abroad, within the narrow bounds of the British territory. "We sought to ruin the enemy's trade, and we have succeeded in ruining ourown "—And, 3d, whether

160

there is any probability that it (employ-
ment) ever will be regained? This is
"We
the most important question.
have no proof," the Reviewer says,
"that the consumption of our manufac-
tures, either in Europe or in America,
has fallen off." Our error has been in
overstocking these markets; but the
goods will be consumed, and trade re-
vive. The most important of the other
causes of the distress which prevails
are, the decline of agriculture, and the
increase of taxation.

6. "The Works of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, and of Sir Thomas Wyatt, the Elder. Edited by GEORGE FREDERICK NOTT, D. D. F. S. A. late Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford." For one of these quartos, that which contains the works of the Earl of Surrey, the Reviewers are inclined to make every allowance, and to muster up every thing favourable; but Sir Thomas Wyatt "was in no true sense of the word a poet;" and as their object is to consider poets and poetry, they take leave of him at once. This article contains a summary of the Life of the Earl of Surrey, and a critique on his poetry.— "We see not the slightest ground," say the Reviewers, "for depriving Chaucer, in any one respect, of his title of Father of English Poetry," and "we are heartily ready to allow that Surrey well deserves that of the eldest son, however he was surpassed by the brothers that immediately followed him.

7. "Narrative of a Journey in Egypt, and the Country beyond the Cataracts. By THOMAS LEGA, Esq. M. P.”—The Reviewers speak well of this work.After accompanying Mr. Legh on his journey, and extracting a very interesting part of the narrative, they conclude with some account of the Wahabees of Arabia, chiefly taken from the Travels of Ali Bey.

8. "The Statesman's Manual; or the Bible the best Guide to Political skill and foresight; a Lay Sermon, addressed to the higher classes of Society; with an Appendix. By S. T. COLERIDGE, Esq." This article abounds in ridicule and metaphor as well as in argument. If any one delights in seeing a poor author cut up, he must be amply gratified by this indignant and scornful per

formance.

9. "Letters from St. Helena. By WILLIAM WARDEN, Surgeon on board

the Northumberland."-The Reviewers point out some mistakes in Mr. Warden's historical recollections, but observe, "that there is an air of plainness and sincerity in his account of what he saw and heard, that recommends it strongly to the confidence of his readers." Only a small portion of the article is devoted to Mr. Warden's book. The greater part is occupied "with a short and general view of the public and political life of Napoleon, with such facts and anecdotes interspersed, as have been furnished to us, on good authority, from persons familiarly connected with him at different periods of his fortune, or obtained from some of our countrymen, who saw and conversed with him during his residence in the Isle of Elba." This delectable compilation would have done honor to M. Bertrand himself. It is distinguished throughout by an exaggerated representation of what is praise-worthy in the character and conduct of Napoleon, and, what is infinitely worse, by a palpable anxiety to apologize for his greatest enormities.

10. "Della Patria di Cristoforo Colombo. Dissertazione pubblicata nelle Memorie dell' Accademia Imperiale delle Scienze di Torino. Restampata con Quinte, Documenti, Lettere diverse, &c. and Regionamento nel Quale si conforma l' Opinion Generale intorno alla Patria di Cristoforo Colombo,— Presentato all' Accademia delle Scienze, Lettere, e Arti di Genova,— Nell' Adunanza del di 16. Decembre 1812, dagli Accademici Serra, Carrega e Piaggio."-The object of the first of these works is to prove that Columbus was a Piedmontese, and of the latter, that, as has been generally held, he was a Genoese. The Reviewers are of this last opinion. To this discussion is subjoined a most interesting letter,* written by Columbus upon his return from the first voyage in which he discovered the New World, and despatched from Lisbon, where he landed, to one of the Spanish king's council. It has been almost entirely overlooked by historians.

11. "Statements respecting the East India College, with an Appeal to facts, in refutation of the charges lately

* See Analectic Magazine of June 1817-vol. ix. p. 513.

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