much success in its time, owing chiefly to the scandal and the secrecy. Now, let us suppose that an author, under the pretence of giving a sequel to this work, but with pure speculative views, should publish at present, and openly sell under the eyes of government, a would-be satirical collection; but where the chief articles are literally copied from old newspapers, and in the rest of which the compiler has not shewn wit enough to be pleasant, nor courage enough to be scandalous, such a work, we say, cannot be expected to attract the eyes of the public, nor does by any means deserve it. We read it in hopes of finding at least something worthy of being quoted, but we must own we are at a loss to select so much as a single anecdote.

Description des Maladies de la Peau, &c. - Description of the Cutaneous Complaints observed at the Hospital of St Louis, and an account of the best curative methods for the same. By T. L. Alibert, M. D. 10th Number in fol. with coloured prints; to be continued; price 50 francs each part.

We do not pretend entering into a disquisition on the merits of this work; we only mention it on account of the shocking beauty of the cuts, which surpass any thing of the sort we have ever seen; the whole work will be completed in 12 numbers.

Poésies Diverses, &c.-Fugitive Poetry. By Augustin Moufle, in 18mo. Annales de la Session, &c.-The Annals of the Session of 1817-1818. By Benja min de Constant. pamphlets in 8vo.

No. 1 and 2; two

Though these two numbers have appeared in the month of December, we have nevertheless thought fit to give an account of them, as the author promises a continuation, which may perhaps be obscure to our readers, if they are unacquainted with the beginning.

All the difficult political parties which divide the French nation are at present united against the ministry, and it opens a wide and interesting field for investigation to observe how they all draw the same conclusions from very opposite principles. Thus the ordinance of 5th September, and the election law, both strongly opposed by M. de Châteaubriand and Fievée, are highly praised by M. B. de Constant; and when the noble peer observes how strange it is to find in a royal government a strong royalist opposition, M. de Constant congratulates the nation on that same opposition, which he looks upon as a progress in the constitutional line.

The first number of B. de Constant begins with a sort of an introduction, wherein he lays down the plan he intends to follow, according to which he is only to examine such ministerial proposals as may

be looked upon as fundamental laws, or such exception laws as are in direct opposition to the spirit of the charter. We cannot help quoting here an expression which has appeared to us remarkably energetic. "The ministerial responsibility," says M. B. de Constant," that important guarantee of our rights, which every body speaks of, hovers still as in a cloud at the highest point of the skies, without any communication with our earth."

After the introduction, M. B. de Constant gives a sketch of the last election, drawn with an able hand, but of which we may be permitted to doubt the impartiality, when we recollect that the author was one of the candidates, and had, at the closing of the poll on the two first days, a however, ministers found means to baffle. tolerable good prospect of success, which,

The observations on the speech from chambers, are not of general interest; we the throne, and on the addresses of both shall only quote one strange assertion. M. B. de Constant says that the French ought not to be alone accused of the sufferings of Europe during the last war, having had in their army troops of all nations; as if a forced concurrence, dictated by an unrelenting necessity, can ever be construed as a crime.

The remainder of the first number contains some observations on the speaker's motion for altering the regulations of the chamber, and a long treatise on the law of the So much has been already said press. on the matter, that we shall not enter into any particulars, and only add that the author's ideas appear to us to be true and sound, particularly in regard to the ne cessity of judging all libels by a jury.

The second number is entirely filled with extracts of the speeches of ministers and deputies during the debates on the liberty of the press. These speeches having already appeared in the English newspapers, and M. B. de Constant's reflections, though generally rational, not offering any particularly new ideas, we have nothing to add to what we have said above.

M. B. de Constant's style is far from exhibiting the brilliancy of M. de Châteaubriand, or the deep meaning of M. Fiévée. It is nevertheless clear and solid, though a little heavy.

Essai Historique, &c.-An Historical Essay on the Liberties of the Gallican Church, and of the other Catholic Churches during the two last Centuries. By M Gregoire, late Bishop of Blois, in 8va.

This is a learned, ponderous volume, treating principally on the declaration of the four articles, made in the name of the French clergy by the celebrated Bossuet in the year 1682, by which they disclaimed the personal infallibility of the pope, chiefly

in all points not regarding doctrine. The author pretends that the French Government never kept true to that declaration, and that not only the new published concordate, but even the one made by Buonaparte in 1801, are both in direct opposition to the acknowledged liberties of the Gallican Church. M. Gregoire has played an active part in the Revolution, from the Constituent Assembly down to the Imperial Senate, of which he was a member. He also took the oath, which so many French clergymen refused, and was created Bishop of Blois. It may therefore be easily supposed that his work contains more than one acrimonious remark on his antagonists. We give this very succinct account of it, only because the name of the author will probably cause it to have some run, at least among his adherents. For the rest, we neither desire nor have sufficient abilities to judge in a matter of such importance, and we say

"Non nostrum inter vos tantas componere lites."

Mémoires de Madame Manson, &c. The Memoirs of Madame Manson, intended to explain her conduct in the Trial of the Murderers of M. Fualdes; written by herself, and addressed to her mother; in 8vo, with a portrait, vignettes, and a facsimile of the author's hand-writing.

The trial of the murderers of the late M. Fualdes of Rhodez, department of the Aveyron, has so long filled all the columns of our newspapers, and has been during so long a time the chief subject of conversation all over France, that the report of this memorable trial has undoubtedly reached England. We find it therefore unnecessary to enter into the particulars of this horrible affair. Our readers will perhaps recollect, that, among the witnesses, appear. ed one Madame Manson, who, after having publicly declared that she had been present at the murder, and was hid in a small closet near the place, retracted afterwards her whole evidence, and has since positively sworn that she never knew any thing of the business. The court, at a loss how to reconcile her contradictory assertions, is sued a warrant against her for false evidence, as the only means of coming at the truth. The verdict of the jury, by which the murderers were condemned, having been annulled by the Court of Cassation for some flaws in the process, they are to appear before a new jury at Alby, depart ment of the Tarn, on the 15th of March, where Madame Manson will also appear, no more as evidence, but as impeached. In the meanwhile, she has written the above-mentioned memoirs, addressed to her mother, in which she explains very plausibly her singular conduct. It seems that she is a weak and enthusiastical wo

man, who has been frightened into a confession of an untruth. There is undoubtedly in this whole affair a deep mystery, which the assizes at Alby can alone clear up. All France is in expectation, and so great is the curiosity of the public for every thing which relates to it, that since 4th January, when these memoirs first appeared, to the day we write this, 6th February, six editions of them have already been published. There exists no doubt of their being truly Madame Manson's work; they are well written, full of originality, wit, and energy.

Du Systéme Politique, &c.-On the Political System pursued by the Administration; or, a Reply to the Work of M. de Chateaubriand on the same subject. By M. Azaïs, in 8vo.

It was to be expected that M. de Chateaubriand's work, from which we have already given extracts, would stir up the zeal of more than one reclaimant. To read them all would have been an unnecessary loss of time. We therefore chose M. Azaïs, as, by the situation he occupies under government, his work may be looked upon as partly official, and containing the true

sentiments of ministers. We own that it would have been difficult to find a person whose style and talents might have made him a worthy antagonist of M. de Châteaubriand; but in a good cause a brilliant style is not absolutely necessary. Clear language and sound arguments are all that are required. What are we then to think of M. Azaïs, who has neither the one nor the other? His language is a continued ludicrous attempt at pathos, and his arguments the old hacknied ones so often produced. Government cannot head a party; must keep all parties in equilibrium; Buonaparte stopped the Revolution; the king must complete it; ministers must be in the right because every body is against them, &c.

Twenty thousand copies of M. de Châteaubriand's work have been printed and distributed. It is surprising that ministers should not have found the means of refuting it by an abler hand than M. Azaïs. They could scarcely find a weaker.

Correspondance Politique, &c.-Politi cal and Administrative Correspondence. By T. Fiévée. No 9, in 8vo.

In our last review, we have given an account of Mr Fiévée's 8th number. The 9th opens with some considerations on the political situation of the interior of France. The author's intention is to prove, that France is at present suspended (we make use of his own words) between an impracticable despotism, and an unenjoyable liberty, owing to the constitution being favourable to the latter, and the system of admi

stration to the former. The charter granted by the King contains the elements of a free and liberal constitution, but all the wheels by which government is set in motion, are still exactly the same as they were under Buonaparte. This circumstance causes a contradiction to arise between the means and the end to be attained. Despotisin, says M. Fiévée, acted consistently under Buonaparte. Every power, in fact, depended on him alone. The legislative body not only was not elected by the people, but received even pay from government. It was never called upon to vote the general taxes, and the departmental taxes were levied by the general councils. But now that the Chamber of Deputies is freely elected, and that an article of the charter positively declares, that no taxes can be laid on without the assent of the Chambers, by what right do the general councils of the departments, named by government, continue to add per cents to those same taxes, without any communication to the Chambers? From that argument, M. Fiévée descends into many other particulars, into which time does not permit us to enter, but all of which support strongly his assertions. While speaking of the Chamber of Deputies, he remarks, that no political majority can exist among a small number of members, and that where ministers are obliged to juggle to gain a majority of ten or twelve votes, the public opinion naturally forms itself out of the Chamber, and the debates attract no further notice from the nation than as far as curiosity prompts.

The second part of this number is entitled "The true State of the Question." In our opinion it is nothing more than a continuation of the first.

In the third, M. Fiévée treats of the newspapers, and of the ministry of police; and in the fourth he gives some preliminary observations on the budget. The latter has no sort of interest for foreigners. Of the former we shall translate a paragraph, which may serve as a specimen of the author's style:

"In the present state of society, newspapers are grown an object of greater necessity than the administration of the police itself. There were newspapers in France before the nation had conceived the idea of creating a ministry of general police, which was a whimsical idea, because, as we shall prove hereafter, there does not and cannot exist a general police, a foolish idea, like all those that owe their existence to the revolution, and, at the same time, the most fatal present our generation has received from that revolution. There will still be newspapers in France when the ministry of police shall no more exist. There are newspapers in all the parts of the old

and new world, although there be no ministry of police. Daily papers are, therefore, an imperious want, inseparable from the present state of society. Those who seek nothing else in them but the day of the month, find it correctly printed at the head. The loungers find the play-bills; the jobbers, the price of stocks; the politicians, news. There are people in the world who have no ideas of their own, and whose memory will not permit them to retain those of others. Such persons may draw out of a newspaper ready made ideas that may serve for an hour, and be afterwards forgotten, without any material loss. But in all nations not swayed by an absolute power, and when the discussions on the general interests are public, these same papers serve to satisfy the desire of the people, to learn whether their interests are well understood and well supported," &c.

Du Systeme adopté, &c.-On the System adopted to arrive at the Ministry; in answer to M. de Châteaubriand. Pumphlet, Bro.

Tribut Lyrique, &c.-Lyric Tribute of a Minstrel to the Soul of her Royal High ness the Princess Charlotte of England, in 4to. 2 sheets.

We would have wished to give some account of this production, but having been printed at Marseilles, we have not been able to get a sight of it.

Reflections sur, &c.-Considerations on the Manner of recruiting the Army. By the Count de Sesmaisons, Chief of the Staff of the First Division of the Royal Guards,

in 8vo.

The high respectability of the author of this pamphlet made us hope to find in it some new and valuable ideas, some deep and interesting reflections, not confined merely to the law at present under deliberation before the chambers, but offering, perhaps, a general survey of the military laws in France and in foreign countries, and leading, by that means, to the decision, whether the project presented by ministers be well or ill adapted to circumstances and the customs of the nation. If our expectations had not been deceived, this production would have been equally interesting to English and French readers. But in its perusal we found a dry discussion upon a few articles of the above-mentioned law, some ill combined amendments, the whole intermixed with expressions, in our opinion very opposite to the spirit of a representative government. may serve as a specimen.

The following

"It cannot be too often repeated, nor too candidly acknowledged! All promises are idle when necessity commands."

THE EVENING LANDSCAPE.

ON lower regions from the west

The sun in cloudless glory gazes,
While in the beechen shade I rest
Upon a bank of daisies.

It is the sabbath of the day,
Which every forest leaf is keeping;
The hum of life hath died away;
The passions all are sleeping.
It seems as conscious Nature yields
At her Creator's shrine devotion;
There comes no music from the fields,
No murmur from the ocean.

A silent joy--a holy pride

Steals on my swelling heart, and o'er me; The visions of my boyhood glide

In long review before me.

One lovely eve, at such an hour,

The woods were green, the sun was shining;

And I, within this beechen bower,

Upon the bank reclining;

When up yon path my loved one came,

In all the pride of vernal brightness, With brow of snow, and lip of flame, And form of fairy lightness.

I clasp'd my seraph to my breast,

With ecstacy my heart was beating, And hers, within its joyous nest,

Was throb for throb repeating. We roamed about this woodland scene, And down the hill, and through the meadow,

Till lowering, sombre and serene,

The evening threw his shadow. And dews unheard were falling round, And in the south a star was twinkling; And from afar with fitful sound,

The curfew bell was tinkling.

I pressed her hand in mine; the blush
Of meek and maiden perturbation
Came o'er her features, like the flush

Which crimsons the carnation.

I caught her gaze-it thrilled my heart-
In silence eloquently pleading;
From her my thoughts could not depart,
And of nought else were heeding.
We parted with a fond embrace-

I stood and gazed in melancholy,
Even as the pilgrim turns his face
To Mecca's temple holy.

But ere yon hedge-row from my sight
The Peri of my hope had banished,
She waved her hand of lily white,
And like a spirit vanished !---

Three summers since have fled; and all My hopes divine, and dreams Elysian Have passed, like sunshine from a wall, In mockery of vision.

But fair is Nature-oh! how fair

Are all her beauties spread before me; The tearful star, with dewy hair,

Beams tremulously o'er me:

The shades are darkening o'er the dell ;
The night-fog hangs above the river;
Beloved scenes, farewell-farewell!
For ever, and for ever.

A NIGHT PIECE.

UPON this column, overthrown
By giant Time's resistless hand;
Where lichens spring, and moss is strewn
Upon the desart land,

I rest; and fix my ardent eye,
With rapturous wonder and delight,
Upon the studded canopy,-
The azure arch of Night.
The distant Ocean's tongue is heard
Declaiming to his rocky shores ;
And wails the lonely water-bird,
Upon the marshy moors.

This is the realm of solitude;
A season and a scene for thought;
When melancholy well might brood
On years that now are not:
On syren years, that sweetly smiled,
Fre time had leagued the heart to strife,-
The Eden of this earthly wild,
The paradise of life!

Though pleasure's smile and health remain,

And friends unchanged and faithful prove; The heart can never throb again,

As when it learned to love.

Through years of grief that intervene,
That with these hopes did ill agree,
Yet fresh they seem, as they had been
But yesterday to me.

The first fond look of tenderness;
The hope alternating with fear;
The bosom's vacant gloom, unless
The idol of the heart was near!
And then the lone walk through the wood,
Inhaling Autumn's fragrant air;
How could it seem a solitude,
When all we loved was there!
There is an ecstasy in thought,
A pleasing warmth-a soothing pain ;-
Away!these dreams were well forgot,
They shall not rise again.

TO A LADY.

Inclosing some MS. Poems.

DEAR Alice, many a year has fled
Since friendship first your footsteps led
To where my childhood grew,
In that lov'd home my fathers reared-
And sweetest aye that home appeared
When it was graced by you.
"Twas not the griefs of loneliness
That caused us still your coming bliss
Or pain'd us so to part,

But seemed as we had found in you
The friends enraptured Fancy drew-
Companions of the heart.

And oft as o'er our moorlands brown
The year relax'd his wintry frown,
And welcomed joyous May,
To wanton in the mountain gales,
And warble through the broomy dales,
'Mong infant flocks at play,-
To wake the lark upon the wold,
And weave her robes of blossomed gold,
O'er furze-clad uplands lone,-
We bless'd the hours that brought again
Our cousins Alice, Margaret, Jane;

Three Graces of our own.
Then from my schoolboy haunts I hied
To bid the garden of my pride

Breathe forth its sweet perfume,
And twine around my favourite bower
The gay laburnum's golden flower,
And honeysuckle's bloom.
Then sweet at silent eventide,

To roam where winding strea:nlets glide
Through fairy dells afar,
And list the wildly-warbled song
Rising the mossy banks among

Beneath the evening star.

And sweet, in solemn musing mood,
To walk beneath the leafy wood

Stirr'd by the breath of June;
Or wander through the yellow vale,
While jocund hinds exulting hail

The bright broad harvest moon, And welcome was the social mirth That circled round the harvest hearth, And cheer'd the farmer's toils; While heart-felt glee gave double zest To humour-and the simplest jest

Renewed our ready smiles. Dear Alice, though my rustic rhymes Thus love to linger o'er the times

And pleasures long gone by, And youthful feelings faded nowI would not cloud your gentle brow, By one regretful sigh. Although we all may never meet With hearts so light and hopes so sweet As once our bosoms knew, Yet long as life and friendship last, With sunny glimpses of the past We'll gild fate's darkling hue.

While memory thus recalls again
Departed joys, with all their train
Of mingling hopes and fears,
How ill the swelling heart can brook
The selfish crowd's unkindly look--
To freeze affection's tears!
When next we meet my early friend,
Be it where kindred feelings blend

Checked by no worldly mind,-
Some friendly hearth or peaceful glade,
Where all we feel is frankly said,
And all that's said is kind.
Farewell! and if in partial eyes
A smile, perchance a tear, should rise,
Waked by these boyish lays,

That smile that tear-I'd rather claim
Than sweetest blandishments of Fame,
And all her boasted bays!
January 1813.

SONNET,

On the Grave of a Young Lady.

I SAW not on thy check the fading bloom, Nor mark'd the chilling hand of death despoil

Thine eyes' bright lustre, or thy rosy smile;

Enough, I saw thee laid within this tomb→→ Oh! Arabella, thou wert ever dear!

Thy fascinating form, thy lovely mind, Gentle and feeling, innocent and kind, Remember'd, claim a tributary tear: Yes! thou in Nature's fairest mould wert cast

But, in thy soul, sincere, and void of art, Dwelt every noble virtue, and thy heart Was like a holy shrine-so pure thou wast! Had I not known thy feelings warm and strong,

I had not loved so much, nor mourned so long!