which the poet of all circles, and the idol of his own,' was wont to pay to his ghostly adviser the mountain hermit My child,' did Prout say to him, 'believe me, all this metaphysics about blending of souls and all their reflections from And looks that we love, must be resolved into You may talk about songs while the kettle is singing- Och! 'tis you're the bright angel, sweet Molly asthore !' I view the cruiskeen, full of stuff to my mind; Oh! 'tis all very well in the sunshine of summer Inniscattery was formerly the residence of St. Senan, whose inhospitable treatment of the fair St. Canera, who had come to visit him in his holy island, has suggested the subject of one of Moore's lyrics. The stern hardheartedness of the Saint is the subject of a pleasant disquisition of some four or five pages. "A single act of rudeness, or indeed an isolated act of almost any sort, may by the mere exercise of human charity, be excused or accounted for. But when unkindness seems associated with our nature-to' grow with our growth, and to strengthen with our strength,' it admits of no defence. We appear not, then, as apologists for Senanus, the first act of whose official career was an outrage upon the sympathies of nature: Qui ad abbatis imperium When so it chanced, one day while praying Another of our Saint's miracles was not much less cruel and unjust than this, upon which Crofton Croker suggests, with much appearance of reason, that the miracle arose more from the feeling of the Saint's staff than from its look, and that the Saint might actually have been pronounced guilty under Martin's Act. "There is no wish on our part further to investigate the conduct of Senanus. He is admitted to have been rude and inhospitable. We have advanced sufficient to convict him of cruelty under the 3d Geo. IV. cap. lxxi.; and we question if a most plausible indictment against the Saint could not be framed upon the following statement of the informal manner in which he empounded the horses belonging to a neighbouring prince, who, in a very quiet way (for an Irish prince) caused a few to be ferried over from Kilrush, or somewhere thereabouts, just to fatten a little upon the pasture of Senan's island. The Saint's mode of pounding cattle for trespass, was truly a summary proceeding. We will copy the poet's ac count of the transaction, which we recommend to the attention of geologists; prefacing it with what he says of the provocation : Jubet equos ad pascua Sed nihil contra Dominum "Which in our jingling way may be rendered: "Then horses sent he from the strand And gulped the horses at a swallow; One other miracle of St. Senan, and we leave him. A description of the isle of Inniscattery having been quoted from "Dr. Mac Slatt's Pilgrimage,' who wondered how sufficient light could have been admitted through the small apertures of a building said to have belonged to the Saint to serve his purposes, the Commentator proceeds "But the learned Mac Slatt's wonder, and the somewhat tedious train of reasoning into which he falls in consequence, might have been spared to his readers, had he studied more closely the metrical legend of Senanus preserved by Colgan, and from which he quotes, as, according to it, a brother belonging to the pious community, wondering, like the Doctor himself, at the Saint's power of reading in so gloomy a cell Per fenestram ædiculæ Meaning, in plain English, that "Peeping through the narrow casement, He beheld, with great amazement, The Saint's left hand as five wax tapers, Each finger tipped with gas-like vapours. "How curious it is that this miracle, which seems to have escaped the notice of so grave a commentator, should illu minate the Comic Annual for the present year (1835), where it appropriately ap-› pears as a light-fingered illustration,for not one word is said in the way of acknowledgment; and an attempt, moreover, has been made to identify the Saint with a London pick pocket- one of the light-fingered gentry.' Let Mr. Hood look to this matter while he may; remembering what befel the original disco verer: Grus qui ibi fuerat, Ut Senanus prædixerat, Fecit in eum impetum,Eique avulsit oculum. "That is: 'So, as Senanus had foretold, A crane, who thereabouts was flying, Attacked the peeper, and behold! Poked out his eye to check his prying."" The third plate, a view of St. Kevin's bed, and the lake of Glendalough, introduces to our notice a Saint in every respect the reverse of the hard-hearted and inhospitable Senan : "To the stranger who converses with the peasant-guide whom he accidentally meets in the valley of Glendalough, various are the anecdotes told, illustrative of the affectionate spirit of St. Kevin. These traditions assume even greater beauty by contrast with the wild and rugged scene to which they are attached-the retreat of wolves and the den of outlaws. the sunny moments of an April day amid the rigour of wintry showers, these gleams of the benignant heart appear more bright from the surrounding darkness. Like "Cessa la pioggia al fin e torna il sole, Ma dolce spiega a temporato il raggio, Pien di maschio valor siccome suole Trà il fin d'Aprile e il commenciar di Maggio." 6 "'Covered with brown heath, or more sable peat,' to use the expression of Dr. Ledwich, the summits of the stupendous mountains, by which Glendalough is encompassed, reflect no light,' and, the sides being almost perpendicular, the gloomy shadows fling a solemn and broad repose over the Valley of the Seven Churches its ancient round tower, like the gnomon of a dial, marking to the pensive mind, by the motion of its shade, the quiet progress of days into the revo. lutions of centuries." Were it not that our time and space are decreasing, we would quote the amusing remarks, and the facetious conversation between Lord Norbury and his guide, with which the account of St. Kevin's Bed concludes. The same cause forces us unwillingly to pass over the interesting history of the Wicklow Gold Mines, of the singular manner of their discovery, and of the sensation produced by the" auri sacra fames" upon the Irish peasantry, as well as the beautiful ballad by L.E.L. which is introduced in this concluding chapter of the present part. We have no fear of the success of this publication, and shall look out anxiously for the second part, a part by the way which promises us some most interesting matter. First there will be the Lake of Killarney, with the Castle of O'Donaghue, which we doubt not will be enriched by some of its legends told in Crofton Croker's best style. Then we shall have the Isle of Innisfallen, followed by the Boyne Obelisk, illustrated by "extra curious comments upon the celebrated battle which it commemorates, derived in part from original documents, which have not hitherto been consulted. And, lastly, the romantic Glengariff. Heartily do we wish success to Mr. Power, and his efforts to make us agreeably acquainted with "the land of song." History of the British Colonies, by R. Montgomery Martin, F.S.S. &c. in five volumes, Vol. III. Possessions in North America. 8vo, pp. 604. THE volume before us comprehends Upper and Lower Canada, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, &c.; together with New Brunswick, Prince Edward's Island, and Newfoundland. It contains, like those which preceded it, a great quantity of historical, fiscal, and general information, drawn from the best available sources, and condensed into a small compass; with a general map of the British possessions in North America, and separate maps of the different provinces, and of the townships in Upper and Lower Canada. Of these possessions the dates and modes of their acquisition are thus stated by Mr. Martin : Their total population is estimated at only 1,819,000 souls, while their area in square miles is stated at not less than 4,174,490; of which the N. W. Territory surrounding Hudson's Bay, contains about 3,700,000 square miles, with an estimated population of not more than 500,000 souls. This amazing extent of comparatively unpeopled territory in the possession of Great Britain, of course includes much that is barren, cold, and uninhabitable; but it also includes immense districts which are capable of being rendered very productive, and nearly as favourable to human life and social comfort, as the northern parts of our native country, and which offer an eligible retreat for some portion of our surplus population, to which subject, emigration, Mr. Martin has devoted his tenth chapter. It has almost ceased to be a question whether it be the duty of a Government to endeavour to relieve the State by encouraging and promoting, so far as the Government of a free country can promote, emigration. In every country, but more especially in a Christian country, vagrancy is a discredit to the institutions of society, and English travellers and writers, when they have observed vagrancy in other countries, have not hesitated so to designate it: but for this evil there appears to be no remedy, or at least no suitable and effectual remedy, except emigration conducted judiciously, on sound principles of political economy. By emigration so conducted, a portion, not of the infirm and helpless, but of the healthy, able-bodied, and efficient population of an overpeopled state, may, from time to time, be drawn off, in order to people colonies which offer space for improvement, and motives for industry and exertion. By a comparison of the geographical extent, and present population, of the American colonies of Great Britain, with the extent and population of European states, or of India, and more particularly of China, our readers will be enabled to form some judgment of the capability of the former to receive an additional population. Population. the "clergy reserves." 360,000,000 parate establishments of Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, &c. all which enjoy equal protection and support from the Go 1,819,000 The general diffusion of knowledge at home by means of an extended education, and the legislative abolition of slavery, are among the circumstances which are at the present time favourable to emigration; and which, notwithstanding Mr. Martin's opinion to the contrary, have occupied a considerable share of the attention of the Government, and will, we are persuaded, still occupy its attention, into the hands of whatever political party the reins may chance to fall. On reading the note which terminates the introduction to the present volume, we felt some regret at its appearance; because that note and a few other paragraphs in the book, appear to have a political character, not quite consistent with the professed object of the author, and which might therefore have been well spared. We presume it is intended that Mr. Martin's work should survive the temporary fluctuations of party; for which reason its author would have done wisely had he omitted to notice them. There is one regulation, which, as it appears to us to be of importance, and calculated to promote emigration, we venture to suggest ;-it is that the expense of intercourse by letter, between the emigrants and those friends whom they may have left behind them in the mother country, should be fixed on the lowest possible scale. Many important considerations, which our space will not allow us to specify, show the expediency of such an arrangement. com It is due to Mr. Martin to acknowledge, that on the various topics of history, general and natural statistics, religion, education, revenues, merce, and government, he is highly interesting and instructive. The government of these colonies, it appears, is committed to governors and lieutenant-governors, with the aid of legislative councils and representative assemblies. There is in each colony a Protestant episcopal Establishment, well endowed; those of Upper and Lower Canada in particular, have received for their exclusive use, oneseventh part of the territory called vernment. The state of education in these colonies appears also to be highly respectable; and, in all of them, the press is free, and newspapers abound. Their cost to the nation is not inconsiderable, and is provided for by parliamentary grant; but in return they materially aid the national revenues, by an extensive commerce, chiefly in timber and corn, with the pro duce of mines and fisheries. Those persons who have read Mr. Martin's former volumes will not want information respecting his style: we therefore forbear from quoting any of the very descriptive paragraphs contained in the present, in which the general reader will find, among other details, a brief narrative of the conquest of Canada, and death of General Wolfe; a description of Niagara, and its Falls; of the earthquake in Canada in 1663; of the effects of cold in the northern districts, and of the ice-roads, ice-boats, snow storms, and modes of travelling in those districts; with various geological notices, and descriptions of the state of society in the colder regions. It may be some recommendation of this work that, before the publication of the fifth and concluding volume, the first is undergoing a second edition. Greenwood's Picture of Hull. With seventy illustrations. 8vo, pp. 207. 1 "IN a literary point of view, the claims of this book to public approbation" are not, in our judgment, quite so humble as its author would assume. It appears to us fully to answer to its title, and to be a picture, and a good picture, "in which no interesting or important point is omitted." Kingston, or Kingstown, upon Hull, (so named by King Edward I. as appears from the history, of which Mr. Greenwood has given a very_condensed summary, compiled from Frost, Tickell, and others) was placed under a warden and bailiff, in 1293, and in 1299 was constituted a free borough. It was even then regarded as one of the principal towns on the northern coast. From that date its growth appears not to have been very rapid, until the extension of the maritime power and commerce of Great Britain gave it importance as a port; for which its situation on the Humber, and at the confluence of that river with the stream called Old Harbour River, peculiarly adapted it. Speed's map, which Mr. Greenwood has re-engraved, compared with a more modern and well-executed survey, prefixed to the volume, will show the reader the nature and extent of the enlargements and alterations which took place during the two last centuries. The docks, in particular, are of comparatively recent origin. They enclose the old town on the inland side, and separate it from the new; and would, were there need of such defence in that direction, abundantly supply the place of the ancient wall and ditch, with which the town was formerly separated from the marsh. The citadel stands on the opposite shore of Old Harbour River, and is of modern erection. There are three churches in the old town, and three in the new, besides chapels and meeting-houses. Delineations of these, together with engravings of the public offices, schools, almshouses, and other objects of interest, and particularly neat portraits of some distinguished natives of the borough, form the embellishments of the work. The biographical notices include names of some note; and among others, those of Luke Fox, the voyager; Andrew Marvell, with his autograph; Sir George Lawson; Commodore Thompson; John Mason the poet; and last, though not least in public estimation, the late William Wilberforce, with a view of the house in which he was born. We are glad to learn that his townsmen intend to do themselves honour by erecting a column to his memory. The municipal government of this town consists of a mayor, recorder, sheriff, and twelve aldermen, who are justices of the peace. By the charter granted to them in the 18th year of King Henry the Sixth, the mayor is empowered to have a sword carried erect before him. After a careful examination of this "Picture of Hull," by Mr. Greenwood, we venture to pronounce it a work of considerable merit. Its typography and embellishments are excellent. In addition to the old and modern plans of Hull, it contains a third plan which describes the limits of the borough under the Reform Act. Memoirs of the Life, Character, and Writings of Sir Matthew Hale. By J. B. Williams, Esq. LL.D. F.S.A. 8vo, pp. 408. BISHOP BURNET'S Life of Hale stands upon a par with Walton's admirable biographies. It has attained the rank of an acknowledged English Classic, has been made familiar to the public by republications in various forms and sizes, and has acquainted all the classes of readers with the particulars of Hale's uneventful life, his high reputation as a lawyer and a divine, and, above all, with the blameless purity of his Christian character. So satisfactory has this biography been considered, that amidst the multitude of books no other author has attempted a life of Hale as a separate publication, nor indeed could any other work be made better worthy the attention of the world; for the very few other particulars respecting Hale, which are scattered throughout his own writings and those of his contemporaries are, generally speaking, extremely unimportant. Baxter's narrative of his conversations with Hale is the only exception, and that, however interesting in itself, furnishes no foundation for a new biography. work before us the author has thrown together Burnet's Life, Baxter's Narrative, and the few other minute particulars he could glean elsewhere, and out of them has written a new biography. Burnet's work is the ample foundation, and two-thirds of the volume are nothing more than Burnet's facts, presented to the public in language slightly altered, and in a different arrangement. Burnet's style in this biography, although not probably the best that could possibly be devised, has a quaint simplicity which In the |