though offered by way of advice be fore the compilation was arranged. The advice is extremely judicious and proper; and it is much to the honour of the Compiler, that it has been scrupulously followed.

"I am obliged (says Sir John) by your communication of the re-print of the Statistical Account of Thurso, to gether with Dr. Ledwich's interesting sketch of the parish of Aghaboe; as well as for the information that you have undertaken the highly useful task of becoming the Parochial Historian of Ireland. It is a duty which I consider as calculated to produce the most beneficial consequences to the country, more especially if it be conducted (as i have no doubt it will be by you) with candour and impartial exactness, excluding from its pages every thing extraneous to its avowed and most valu

able object, the collection of regular statistical information, pointing the inquiry of public men, intent on public objects, to the great and permanent improvement which may be expected in a country where, as Mr. Grattan has truly said, God has done so much, and man so little."

The consequence of the circular letters was an ample supply of materials, the selection and arrangement of which seemed the only difficulty; in discharging this part of his duty, the Compiler was chiefly influenced by priority of communications. As he conceived the work would be used as a book for reference, a facility of developing the information it contained should be considered as a pri mary object; and be therefore determined on a division of the subjectmatter of each return, into a uniform series of heads or chapters. Those accounts which first arrived, after having been thus modified, are now presented to the publick in alphabetical order; the remainder are ready for successive publication, according to a similar plan. "In an undertaking hitherto attempted with out success, extensive in its communications, and often complicated in its details, the Author is conscious that defects and inaccuracies have occurred :-for those which appear in the present volume, he appeals for his excuse to the liberality of the gentlemen to whose spirited exertions he is indebted for its completion. The same cause will form an apology for the appearance of the

present volume having been delayed some time beyond the intended period of publication. As to those in progress, he trusts that the improve ment in the practical part of his ar rangements will secure him from repetition of error."

"The Statistical Account of Ireland will, it is hoped, convey much use ful knowledge respecting the internal state of the country; and such knowledge, where there is wisdom to apply it, must necessarily lead to national improvement. To the real friends of Ireland, therefore- to those who wish to establish her prose perity upon the only solid basis, ob servation and experience the Author now intrusts this volume. Their candour will give him full credit for what has succeeded; the same can dour will throw a veil of benevolence over its unintentional, he might almost say, its unavoidable, defects."

An historical and useful account of the various attempts which have been made to accomplish what Mr. Mason has so happily succeeded in, appears in a note, p. xv; and at the conclusion of the Preface the Au thor introduces a Synopsis of Political Economy addressed to him by Walter Thom, esq. late of Aberdeen, "whose talents," Mr. Mason says, were they not already known in the literary world, could not be exhibited in a more favourable point of view, than by a reference to the following analysis."

The sections, according to which the account of every parish in the volume is arranged, are thus dis tinguished:

"The name of the parish, antient and modern; its situation, extent, and division, climate and topographical de scription. Mines, minerals, and all other natural productions. - Modern buildings, both public and private, including towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, inns, &c. the roads, scenery, and superficial appearance of the parish.

Antient buildings, monastic and castellated ruins, monuments and inscripPresent and former state of population; tions, or other remains of antiquity the food, fuel, and general appearance; mode of living, and wealth of the inhabitants; diseases, and instances of longevity. The genius and dispositions of the poorer classes; their language, manners, and customs, &c.--The education and employment of their children,

schools,

schools, state of learning, public libraries, &c. Collection of Irish MSS. or historical documents relating to Ireland. -State of the religious establishment, mode of tithes, parochial funds and records, &c.-Modes of agriculture, crops, stocks of cattle, rural implements, chief proprietors' names, and average value of land, prices of labour, fairs, and markets, &c.-Trade and manufactures, commerce, navigation and shipping, freight, &c. Natural curiosities, remarkable occurrences, and eminent Suggestions for improvement, and means for ameliorating the situation of the people.-Appendix, consisting of statistical tables, containing the value of the stock, annual produce of the parish, &c. &c."

The twenty-nine Parishes noticed in this volume occupy 646 pages, and it is illustrated by plates of monumental inscriptions and antient coins, several maps and plans, and views of the Abbey of Aghaboe, the gable of the chancel of Dungiven, the Church of the same place, and Castle of Lea.

4. Lavoisne's Complete Genealogical, Historical, Chronological, and Geographical Atlas: being a general Guide to History, both antient and modern, exhibiting an accurate Account of the Origin, Descent, and Marriages of all the Royal Families, from the beginning of the World to the present Time: according to the Plan of Le Sage, greatly improved. A new Edition, enlarged with Eleven new Historical, and Twenty-five Geographical Maps; the whole forming a complete System of History and Geography. By C. Gros, of the University of Paris, and J. Aspin, Professor of History, &c. Dedicated with Permission to Her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte of Wales. Printed by and for J. Barfield. Imperial folio. THIS is a new and much enlarged edition of a valuable work which first appeared in 1807; and of which both the editions are particularly creditable to Mr. Barfield, who is the proprietor, printer, and publisher. It would be difficult to name a single volume in which 30 great a va riety of information can be found, in matters relative to Geography, Chronology, History, and Biography.

The volume contains no less than LXIV Maps, all neatly coloured; the whole illustrated by a copious description very beautifully printed on the sides of the several maps.

The following explanation of the map No. 30, intended to facili tate the use of this Atlas," will give a good idea of the whole work.

"As a specimen of the utility of the Maps now presented to the publick, we insert the following explanation of the manner in which they should be used. The Map No. 30, has been selected, as affording a greater variety of subjects, than many others, and as leading to the history of the reigning House of Brunswick. The first part of this map presents the reader with the Family of Tudor; from which it appears, first, that Henry VII. was the head of that family; (whose two-fold right to the crown-in himself as a descendant of Henry III. and by his marriage with Elizabeth, the daughter of Edward IV. is clearly described in the preceding map, No. 29.) Secondly, That the family of Tudor gave five sovereigns. to England, and then became extinct in the elder branch. Thirdly, That Mary of Scotland was next heiress to the crown after Elizabeth. Fourthly, That Lady Jane Grey, proclaimed Queen in 1553, was only the fifth in order of succession after the death of Edward VI., and that consequently her title to the crown, was very remote. Fifthly, That the existing families of Somerset, Hertford, Seymour, Bridgewater, Moira, Cobham, and Derby, are descended from the family of Tudor through the Female line. The second part of this map presents the family of Stuart; and shews, First, That James VI. of Scotland was on the death of Elizabeth first in order of succession, through his great-grandmother Margaret, daughter of Henry VII. Secondly, That the family of Stuart gave six sovereigns to England, besides William III. who reigned jointly with Mary. Thirdly, That William was the first in order of succession after the children of James II. Fourthly, That from the four natural children of Charles II. are descended: the eight illustrious families, Buccleugh, Delorraine, Richmond, St. Albans, Grafton, Southampton, Harrington, and Newcastle. Fifthly, That the direct

line of James II. is now extinct. The uncoloured part of the map, between the families of Stuart and Brunswick, presents the several families in the female line which could claim the crown of England; whence it appears, First, That the Houses of Savoy, France, and Spain, were next in order of succession after the exelusion of the male line of James II., as descendants from that Prince's sister Henrietta, Duchess of Orleans.

Secondly,

Secondly, That those three branches being excluded as Catholics, the issue of Elizabeth, sister of Charles I., was next in order, Thirdly, That of eight branches which issued from Elizabeth Stuart, the seven elder were excluded on account of their religion, by the law of succession. Fourthly, That the House of Brunswick, though last in order, was the only one, which, being Protestant, could lawfully ascend the throne of England. Fifthly, That the family of Brunswick has given three Sovereigns to Great Britain.-From a single inspection of this map (and indeed of any of the others) it will be seen that several important questions may be readily answered by the student, as Who was head of the family of Tudor? What were the rights of Henry VII. to the crown? How many Sovereigns were there of the family of Tudor? Who was heir apparent after Queen Elizabeth? What claim had Lady Jane Grey on the crown? What existing families derive their origin from the House of Tudor? What was the right of James I. to the crown? How many Sovereigns were there of the family of Stuart? What right had William III. to the crown after the abdi

cation of James II.? What existing families are descended from the natural children of Charles II.? What is the present state of the family of James II.? What houses were next in order of succession after the posterity of James II.? What families were next after the issue of the daughter of Charles I.? What branches of the posterity of Elizabeth Stuart were excluded from the succes

sion to the throne of England? Why were they so excluded? What right had the family of Brunswick to the crown? How many Sovereigns have there been of that family?-Many other questions might also be put, and answered upon the same principle: as, for instance, the length of each reign; the number of children of each Sovereign; and others very easy to be discerned by an intelligent teacher; and, to repeat what we have already observed, as facts presented to the eye make a much deeper impression on the mind than when committed to memory by reading or report only, it is most certain, that this mode of learning History, by the inspection of Maps, will save much time and labour both to the tutor and the scholar,"

Mr. Barfield, the industrious and intelligent printer to the Prince Regent, thus proceeds:

The great and glorious events which, in consequence of the magna

nimous exertions of the Allied Sove reigns, have recently taken place, in Europe, and which so immediately pro duced the emancipation of Holland, and the recal of the illustrious House of Orange to the government of that coun try, have induced Mr. Barfield, the publisher of Lavoisne's Atlas,' at a very considerable expence, to print an additional genealogical map of that family, in order to render complete the genealogy of all the reigning Sovereigns of the world, and which he presents: gratuitously to those who have so early and liberally patronized the Work.Contents of the additional Map.-Nassau and Orange-Genealogical, Histo rical, and Chronological Map of the Houses of Nassau and Orange, from the beginning of the Fifth Century to the present time, including an Historical Account of the Stadtholders front 1559 to the Restoration of William Frederick, Sovereign Prince of the United Netherlands, and the appointment of his son, the Prince of Orange, to be Commander in Chief of the Armies, 1814."

Messrs. Gros and Aspin, the Editors of this magnificent volume, as we are informed by an advertise ment, teach History according to the plan of the Work.

5. L'Angleterre au Commencement du XIX Siècle. Par M. de Levis.

AT the conclusion of a sanguinary war, which, in duration, has twice exceeded that of Troy, we are naturally anxious to learn in what degree of estimation we are held on the Continent; but more especially by our neighbours and rivals the

French.

families of the first distinction in the Political world, both of the Ministry and Opposition. From these circumstances he has been enabled (he says) to obtain correct information upon the various subjects discussed in his work; the first volume only of which is as yet published, and it being but little known in this country, a few extracts may be amusing to our Readers.

DISTANT VIEW OF THE METROPOLIS.

la

un

"Lorsque l'on est parvenu au haut de Shooters-hill, colline assez élevée, on jouit d'une vue magnifique; la Tamise paroit couverte d'une multitude d'embarcations de toute espèce; blancheur de leurs voiles contrasté avec l'azur des eaux, & les beaux arbres qui ombragent ces rives verdoyantes, deploient un luxe de végétation inconnu dans les climats moins humides: grand nombre de maisons de plaisance auxquelles les Anglois ont donné le nom Italien de Villa, et qui, sans être d'une architecture aussi riche et aussi pure que leurs modèles, ne manquent point d'élégance, ont été bâties dans les situations les plus favorables pour jouir de ee beau paysage, et contribuent à l'orner." (Chap. 3. p. 27.)

Speaking of the immense number of Carriages of all descriptions constantly met with in all the avenues of London, he says,

"Les Anglois aiment beaucoup l'air, et ne craignent ni le vent ni le froid; ee goût est commun aux deux sexes, et l'on voit les femmes les plus delicates s'exposer sans crainte aux intempéries d'une atmosphère humide. Il est cer

tain que chez un peuple aussi sujet aux vapeurs et aux maux de nerfs (soit que cette incommodité tienne au climat ou au mauvaise régime) l'exercice en plein air est nécessaire à la santé. En conséquence, dans les classes aisées, tout le monde sort et va prendre ce que r'on appelle un airing, lors même qu'il fait un ouragan." (Chap. 3. p. 29.)

ROYAL HOSPITAL, CHELSEA. "Il est située à Chelsea le plus occidental des fauxbourgs de Londres, dans une belle position sur les bords de la Tamise, mais qui déja ne porte plus de vaisseaux. L'edifice est vaste et reguker sans être d'une architecture remarquable. Il est cependant l'ouvrage du Chev. Wren; mais en comparant cet établissement avec celui de Greenwich, on reconnoit aisément que les Anglois attachent plus d'importance à leur flotte GENT. MAG. January, 1815.

RANELAGH.

"Le Voyageur éprouvera une impression très différente en visitant le Ranelagh. Celui-ci est bien le plus insipide lieu d'amusement que l'on ait pu imaginer. Il consiste dans une immense rotonde, dont le plafond est soutenu par un gros pilier, autour duquel est placé un orchestre. Les musiciens, mauvais ménétriers, jouent continuellement le même air, tandis que la foule circule dans la salle. Comme la vitesse de la marche est nécessairement uniforme, il en resulte que l'on tourne souvent dans ce manège pendant une heure sans pouvoir joindre des personnes de sa connoissance qui ne sont qu'à quelques pas de soi. Ce prétendu amusement seroit pour une nation vive et gaie, une espèce de tourment: et je me persuade que si le Dante l'avoit connu, il l'auroit placé dans son purgatoire. Les Anglois en jugent autrement; le Ranelagh leur plait beaucoup; il reçoit même l'épithète de fashionable, expression emphatique dont on se sert pour designer tout ce qui est à la mode dans le grande monde." (Chap. 9. p. 195.)

THE PANTHEON.

"Le Pantheon est situé dans l'inté

On ne

rieur de la ville: c'est également une rotonde très richement décorée, dans laquelle on donne des bals masqués. Ce genre de divertissement plait beaucoup à la bonne compagnie de Londres, et le haut prix des billets en exclut presque entièrement la classe inférieure. s'y montre point, comme à Paris, sous des dominos simples, dont l'uniformité peut servir à couvrir des intrigues galantes. Les Anglois y portent communément des habits de caractère, et s'efforcent de prendre le langage et les maniéres des personnages qu'ils réprésentent. Ce qu'il y a de singulier, c'est que les journalistes rendent compte de ces réunions comme d'une pièce nouvelle. Dès le lendemain, les papiers publics apprennent à toute l'Angleterre que Lord un tel a très bien joué le rôle d'un Matelot ou d'un Arlequin, et que Lady

N

N (ils la nomment) a été très aimable sous le costume d'une Laitière ou d'une Religieuse."

VAUXHALL.

"Le Vauxhall est un jardin public sur la rive droite de la Tamise, à l'extremité occidentale du Borough. Il a été imité dans toute l'Europe avec les modifications que les mœurs et les goûts des différens peuples ont exigés. A Londres, on ne danse point au milieu du jardin ; on y a construit un orchestre couvert et decoré avec beaucoup d'élégance dans le style Oriental; lorsqu'il est illuminé, il produit un effet très agréable; on y donne des concerts fort médiocres, mais les Anglois ne sont point grands connoisseurs; d'ailleurs ils viennent au Vauxhall pour se promener, et pour y souper, plutôt que pour entendre la musique. D'immenses galeries divisées en niches sont garnies de tables; et le nombre des personnes qui y mangent excède quelquefois dix mille. Les mets qu'on leur sert, de la viande froide, des poulets et des gigots, parditroient bien grossiers à des habitans du midi accoutumés à ne prendre le soir que des glaces et des sorbets; en revanche les bourgeois de Londres rejetteroient avec dedain ces refraichissemens, qu'ils croiroient ne convenir qu'à des hommes sans vigueur et sans énergie. Chaque peuple méprise les coutumes opposées aux siennes, sans songer que c'est le climat qui en fait toute la différence. Au reste, cette multitude de lampions de couleur suspendus en guirlandes aux arbres et aux batimens, ce grand concours de personnes vêtues avec élégance et qui s'amusent paisiblement, offre un spectacle agréable et qui reste dans la mémoire." (Chap. 9. p. 199.)

In

In a subsequent chapter M. De Levis says, that we had only one great Minister since the Revolution, and that minister was Lord Chatham. With respect to his son Mr. Pitt, he considers him as a man of limited talents and mistaken views. These accusations against Mr. Pitt are to be proved in another volume. the mean time, as the Gentleman's Magazine finds its way regularly to Paris, it may be requisite to remind M. de Levis, that the system of politicks pursued by Mr. Pitt is considered, by nine-tenths of regenerated Europe, as having been the means, under Providence, of effecting the of the late glorious termination

struggle, in the prosecution of which he sacrificed his valuable life; leaving to his afflicted fellow-countrymen aud to Europe, the highest veneration for

5. Dr. Clarke's Travels, concluded from Vol. LXXXIV. Part ii. p. 554.

POMPEY's Pillar* is the next object in Dr. Clarke's volume to arrest the attention and curiosity of the Reader. This has of late years been very much discussed; and it is to the persevering diligence and sagacity of our Countrymen, that it has been finally ascertained in honour of what Roman Emperor it was erected. There seems to remain but very little doubt, that it was to Diocletian to whom this tribute of respect was paid. Whether this Prince ordered this beautiful monument to be raised, must still remain matter of conjecture. Dr. Clarke, however, who seems to take every opportu nity of bringing his critical powers and acumen into exercise, has proposed for consideration another and very different name, to be substituted for Diocletian; and this is Adrian. His arguments, as may be readily supposed, are ingenious and specious. They occur at pp. 264. et seq.

The extravagant behaviour of General Menou, his rudeness, threats, and foolish challenging of Lord Hutchinson, will not fail to excite the reader's contempt and ridicule, at p. 273. The contrast of the conduct of the Members of the French Institute, and the liberal forbearance and indulgence on the part of the English, who would on no account touch the private collections or journals of individuals, is detailed with much vivacity and interest at p. 277.

A most excellent delineation of the Catacombs of Necropolis at Alexandria is introduced at p. 286, accompanied by a very learned discussion on these extraordinary remnants of antiquity.

The part which now succeeds is, in our judgment, the most curious, entertaining, and interesting of the whole; namely, the Voyage from Alexandria to Cos, and the Visits to the Greek Islands, We cannot forbear relating one fact, most highly

Engraved in our vol. LI. p. 17. honourable