fine, unwilling to understand her in a literal sense, and hoped that, like the Prophets of old, she might have hinted her mind in a kind of parable, or proverbial way of speaking; as thus-That one time or other I might, on due application, have the honour of taking the length of her foot. "Mr Locke mentions another set of people that despatch their children, if a pretended Astrologer declares them to have unhappy stars. Perhaps my mamma has procured some cunning man to calculate my nativity; or, having had some ominous dream, which preceded my birth, the dire event may have appeared to her in the dark and dreary bottom of a china cup, where coffee-stains are often consulted for prophecies, and held as infallible, as were the leaves of the ancient sybils. To be partly serious: I am rather unwilling to wrong her judgment, by suspecting it to be tainted a little with the tenets of superstition, than suppose she can be mistress of a seared conscience, and act on no principle at all."

Such is the "humorous" Preface, which we leave without comment to our reader's digestion. "En avant!"

In the text of the first edition (pp. 100-1-2,) is inserted a Poem by Savage, entitled "The Volunteer Laureat, a Poem on the Queen's Birthday, humbly addressed to Her Majesty;" being the first of a series of adulatory annual productions, for each of which the Queen remitted the unhappy author fifty pounds. Perhaps his birth-day effusion was judiciously omitted in the subsequent editions of "The Life of Savage;" yet, in the case of omission, the expressions which commence the following paragraph ought certainly to have been altered or modified. At the close of the poem, the biographer proceeds" Such was the performance," &c; and these precise words are retained in the separate editions of the "Lives," from which the poem itself is excluded. A similar observation may be applied to another passage in this work, where a poem, that was inserted in the first, is omitted in other editions of the "Life of Savage." We allude to the satirical poem, entitled "Lon

don and Bristol delineated," which was written by Savage when in high dudgeon with the Bristolians. This performance is banished from the text in the collected "Lives;" yet the paragraph which should immediately follow it is rendered somewhat unintelligible, by an expression that refers to the satire as inserted. The author, having transcribed the poem, goes on-" When he had brought this poem to its present state, which, without considering the chasm, is not perfect," &c.; and so it stands, rather incoherently, in the "Lives." The satire in question is a very spirited performance, so far as it goes. It is supposed to have been its illfated author's last poetical effort; and Doctor Johnson justly remarks on it, that, though unfinished in the main, "the first and last parts are worked up with great spirit and elegance." We shall conclude this paper with some extracts from the satire, which is as bitter and rancorous a production as can well be imagined :—

"Two sca-port cities mark Britannia's fame,

And these from commerce different ho

nours claim.

What different honours shall the Muses

pay,

While one inspires and one untunes the lay?

Now silver Isis bright'ning flows along, Echoing from Oxford's shore each clas◄

sic song;

Then weds with Tame; and there, O London, see,

Swelling with naval pride, the pride of

thee!

honours claim?

Still spare the catamite, and swinge the whore,

name.

fore!"

fate,

Love's charming company! Each wish, each sigh,

Oh, maiden dear! young Hymen treasures it ;

'Tis his best joy to see his altars blaze; We will not teaze him, will we, by delays?

Lady-though few the years I yet have told,

Though manhood's signet scarcely seals my brow,

I could to thee soft tales of love unfold,

With joy's anticipation,-so to thee,

Life of my heart! I turn enraptur'd

now :

For oh! with thee, I fondly trust to find Transport at once, and tranquil peace of

mind.

May Time, advancing in his onward flight, Strew, love, our mutual path with thornless flowers,

And still be wing'd with ever-new delight,

The beckoning, bright, prospective, Far from our skies be every hue of night; nuptial hours!

Peace, joy, and love, dispel life's gathering showers!

Lost in each other, be it our's to prove The soul-felt harmonies of wedded love.

heart ere now!

But Love inflames all bosoms-save the

cold

voice

Of childhood, gladdening life's domes tic years,

thou

Had'st been the object of a flame less

choice,

strong

and song.

hath made

seize,

shade.

United hearts make home, so we shall

share

A home within ourselves-for ours are

one.

wave-beat frow, ~

P.

tution of the English Courts, and the system of administering the laws of England. The Scots people even have a material interest in the im

civil liberty extended itself into the southern parts of the Island. It is, therefore, not impossible that the English people may, ere long, come to regret their indifference about their Scottish neighbours,

or even have to thank them for some new improvements on their own institutions, still capable, as we, here, think of being in many respects bettered."-Letter to Mr Peel on Scots Law Courts.

IN our Number of July last we called the attention of our readers to the report of the Parliamentary Commissioners upon the Scots Courts, and to the Scots Judicature Bill. The subject far surpasses, in importance, any other object of public discussion, relative to Scotland, that has been introduced since the Union. It is proposed to regulate the whole course of proceedings in the Scots Courts of Justice, from the origin of the cause until its termination, and the sentence of the Judge be put in execution, by attachment of the real or personal estate of the debtor, or of his person.

It is not merely as to Scotland that we view the measure as likely to lead to beneficial consequences and improvements. The extraordinary sensation, and the spirit of public inquiry and discussion to which it has given rise in Scotland, we hope will soon be extended to the consti

tion, forms of proceedings, and principles of law, followed in England and Ireland. By the treaty of Union, the Scots were admitted to a participation of the benefits of the trade and navigation of England; and that measure must be imperfect until the Scots, in their transactions with the English people, can derive benefit from the Courts and Laws of England. At present, the Scots have almost no access to or benefit from the English Courts. Both countries are considered in law as foreign to each other. In the REPORT of the Committee of Procurators before the High Courts of Admiralty, after noticing some of the defects of the English Courts, it is stated, "At present, according to the footing in which the jurisdictions and forms of proceedings of the English Courts are placed, no Scots merchant would think of resorting to them, so great is the apprehension of the difficulty and expense of conducting a process in an English Court. It is believed, that a similar prejudice is sometimes entertained by English merchants relative to the Scots Courts. But this prejudice would be in a great measure re moved, if the jurisdiction of the Admiralty Courts of England, Ireland, and Scotland, were placed precisely on the same footing, and the rules of

VOL. XV.