o one નો સંકલ FORTUNES OF FRANCESCO NOVEllo da CarrarA, LORD | been given up by the present Magistracy to Mr Short's daughter, OF PADUA, an historical tale of the fourteenth century, from the who, unable to find a purchaser, is obliged to dispose of it by raffle. Gataro Chronicles, with notes, by David Syme, Esq. advocate. We recommend her and her little scheme to the patronage of the Mr Sweet has in a forward state for publication à second edition amateurs of science, and lenge, and of the humane in the humane in general, as the destitute of his " Hortus Britannicus," which will contain all the new plants descendant of two of our most ingenious scientific artists. The teup to the time of publication. The names will be accentuated, and lescope itself, even independent of this consideration, is an object of the colours of the flowering plants will be added. interest, as the last which proceeded from the hands of its able constructor. A second edition of Retirement, a Poem, by Thomas Stewart, Esq. is in the press. A new edition is in a state of forwardness for publication of Rosarum Monographia, or a Botanical History of Roses, with, coloured plates. By John Lindley, Esq., F.R.S., Professor of Botany in the University of London. Royal octavo. There is preparing for publication, the Fossil Flora of Great Britain; or, Figures and Descriptions of the Vegetable Remains found in a Fossil State in this Country. By John Lindley, Esq., F. R.S., and William Hutton, Esq., F. G. S., &c. To appear in quarterly parts. Each part will contain ten copperplates, and about forty pages of letter-press. Theatrical Gossip.-By all we can learn, the Pantomimes, both at Covent Garden and Drury Lane, are comparatively failures; the one has no tricks, and the tricks of the other go all wrong. The Pantomimes at the Adelphi and the Surrey are better. The plot of the Surrey extravaganza, which is called "Harlequin Apple Pie," is as follows:-"The Princess Peppermintdrop is betrothed to Prince Sugarplum, ( Sweets to the sweet!") whose rival, the Baron of Barleysugar, Prime Minister to King Lollypop, the ninety-ninth sovereign of the dynasty, is banished for his presumption in aspiring to the hand of the Princess. An Apple Pie, of the most formidable dimengions, is to constitute the wedding-feast, but it becomes the object of THE NORTH BRITON.-A new paper, beating this title, is about a furious attack and defence between the rivals and their respective to be set on foot under what appear to be very favourable auspices. armies. The Pie, however, is suddenly transformed into a Diamond It is to be conducted by Dr James Browne, late Editor of the Cale-Temple, out of which issues the Fairy, who transforms the Baron donian Mercury, a gentleman of, varied information, of an acute and the King into Pantaloon and Clown, while the Prince and Prinand original mind, and of a ready and popular command of almost cess become Harlequin and Columbine."-Miss Kemble's third chaevery subject necessary to be discussed in a public Journal. The racter is to be Lady Constance, in King John.-Fawcett, it is said, is paper is to be published twice a-week; and from the known energy about to leave the stage. The Italian Opera, which is to open soon, of Dr Browne's character, we have no doubt that he will speedily does not seem to promise a very brilliant season. Neither Pasta, nor secure for it an extensive circulation, and a more than ordinary re- Sontag, nor Zucheli, nor De Begnis, are to be of the company. putation for spirit and independence. Malibran is engaged; but Mile, Blasis, a very second-rate singer, is EDINBURGH EVENING POST AND GAZETTE. We have been re-medal by her enthusiastic admirers at Bologna, bearing the following to be prima donna for a while,-Pasta has been presented with a gold quested by Mr Crichton, late of the Evening Post and Gazette, to inscription:—"To Giuditta Pasta, in the mystery of Song, by the destate, that he has resigned the Editorship of these papers, and has now no further connexion with either of them. cision of Italy,in the Histrionic Art, by the acknowledgment of France, most admirable, the members of the Cassino gratefully applauding." Upon this inscription the Court Journal remarks-All we have to object in relation to the above is, that of all places in the world, France should have been made the touchstone of merit in the The United Service Journal, and Naval and Military Magazine, will, in addition to its numerous other attractions, in future contain a new feature of peculiar interest, under the head of Foreign Miscellany. The 1st Number for the present year, just publish-histrionic art,-France-where Miss Smithson is at least as much ed, is more than usually interesting. → THE KING'S SIGHT.-A great deal has lately been said about the eyesight of our gracious Sovereign, George the Fourth. The antiministerial papers contend that his Majesty is all but blind, while the ministerial papers, on the other hand, allege that his sight is excellent, and look on the various reports as mere bugbears. The real fact is, that neither party know any thing of the matter. We had an opportunity of seeing very lately the King's signature to a government paper, and are able to state, that the formation, freedom, and beauty of the letters, were as good as in his Majesty's best days. Of course, he may sign well enough with one eye, but it is a pleasure to know that he has at least one, satu felvi A TITLE-PAGE OR FRONTISPIECE FOR SCRAP BOOKS. This is an ingenious trifle, and a very pretty specimen of ornamental engraving The title consists of words in large and in small characters. If the large words alone are read, you have an account in prose of the contents of the supposed scrap-book; but if you read the small words likewise, which are interspersed among the large ones, then you have a pretty long poem concerning such works. We do not know that any young lady who keeps a Scrap-book could find a more appropriate embellishment for it. admired as Pasta-and where Georges and Duchesnois are more admired than either!"-Sontag, it is said, has been nearly suffocated by a German plasterer.-Vestris has been playing in Southampton; the curtain drew up one evening to ten persons in the boxes, and three in the pit.Ducrow is at Liverpool in great strength, and drawing very crowded houses,Munden and Quick, the retired and admirable comedians, have expressed a wish to act together, in the same play, once more before their final exit. Old Dornton and Silky, in "The Road to Ruin," are the characters these sexagenarians have fixed upon. Covent Garden Theatre, where the comedy was originally produced, has been selected for this interesting representation. →Mr Murray's arrangements for the next month are as follows:have a short visit from Braham; he is to be succeeded by Matthews, On the termination of Miss Jarman's present engagement, we are to and, early in February, we are to have Vandenhoff. The Belle's Stratagem, & The Twelfth Cake. The Soldier's Daughter, & Do. The Point of Honour, The Youthful Queen, & Do. SAT. MON. JAMES SHORT, F.R.S., OPTICIAN. This ingenious artist was TUES. born in Edinburgh, 10th June (O.S.) 1710, and died somewhere near WED, London, 15th June, 1768. Being left an orphan at an early age, he THURS, was entered on George Heriot's foundation, whence he was trans- FRO ferred to the High School. He was afterwards sent, by the exertions of some relations, to the University, with a view to his entering the Church of Scotland, and he complied in so far with their wishes as to pass his trials for a preacher. The natural bent of his mind was, however, more turned towards the pursuits of mechanical science, and this tendency was fostered by the judicious patronage of Maclaurin. Under the protection of that eminent philosopher, and with the use of his apparatus, Mr Short made great improvements in the construction of the Gregorian telescope. To this branch of art he devoted his future life, with the exception of a short interval in the year 1736, when he was called to London, at the desire of Queen Caroline to give instructions to William, Duke of Cumberland, in mathematics. The excellence of his large telescopes is evidenced by the great demand for them throughout Europe, and by the express testimony of Maclaurin. His brother Thomas, who followed the same profession, was one of the first who projected the establishment of an Observatory on the Calton Hill. With a view to the furtherance of this institution, in which he was to have had some share, James presented to the city a large equatorial mounted reflecting telescope, the specula of which were made by his brother, and for which he had been offered L.1200 by the King of Denmark. The plan did not succeed, and Mr J. Short's finances suffered considerably by the failure. The instrument, which is said to be in good preservation, has Cortes, for "Hascala," read Tlascala, passim. 15.1" TO OUR CORRESPONDENTS. SEVERAL interesting Reviews and Articles are still unavoidably postponed. We have received a copy of May Flowers," which we shall peruse with pleasure. We entirely coincide with our Haddington Correspondent, in his remarks upon Mr John Stewart's theory of sound, which appears too unscientific to require any refutation. We shall be glad to receive another communication from Old Meldrum, by the Author of the " Sketches of Rural Life."-An answer to "Proteus" next Saturday." Evangelieus" is inadmissible. "The Contents of my own Pocket" are still sub judicio.-The its present detached state-The "Song" by "N." and " "Singular lucubration about Giants" appears to us unintelligible in Fit," by "Rory M'Donald," will not suit us. My First ERRATUM IN OUR LAST.-In the Review of the Life of Hernan LITERARY CRITICISM. An Historical Account of my Own Life, with some Reflec- sect. PRICE 6d. of the early nonconformists, and was regarded as one of His Under the name of Dissenters from the English church, was comprehended at the time of the Revolution almost every shade and variety of opinion; but the most numerous and respectable sects were the Presbyterians, the Independents, and the Anti-pædobaptists. These three presented a joint address to Queen Anne, on her accession, and have ever since continued to hold together. Under these denominations, also, although perhaps not strictly belonging to any of them, were comprehended the Non-conformists the survivors and descendants of those who had been extruded from their churches by the Act of Uniformity. As we are not at present entering upon a history of the sects, this brief account must serve to point out the class of men, to the arrangements of education among whom we wish to direct our readers' attention. THE exclusively theological character of the English Universities, and the manner in which their doors are sealed against all who are not members of the Established Church, have caused a violent and unnatural separation between their history, and that of the progress of general science in the country. In other lands, government seeks to compensate to the people their want of political freedom, by extending the benefits of scientific education to all who seek it by conferring privileges upon the learned, and thus creating a class of freemen into which all may be received. In England, on the contrary, in that country where alone, in the old world, personal freedom and the institutions of government are so firmly grounded, and so justly balanced, that each feels strengthened by the power of its rival,-the public foundations for the higher branches of knowledge are jealously circumscribed, both in what regards the subject-matter of what is taught, and the persons to whom it is communicated. Even the pale dastards of Austria, who tremble before the most trivial speculation on politics, can play with the lightning of science unharmed, as the Indian juggler with the fangless snake, while our dignitaries of church and state stand dazzled and abashed in its presence. We are aristocrats and loyalists, but we cannot for the life of us see why this should be any hinderance to our wish for the admission of every Briton into the Universities of the land. We cannot see any danger threatening either church or state, although every denizen of England, let him belong to what sect he will, were allowed to cultivate to the utmost every faculty by which he may one day serve or ornament his native country. But it is not upon this im-versities. Others, as the Scotch Universities became betportant question that we are now about to enter. We advert to the lamentable and absurd fact, that one might compose a history of England's achievements in science, wherein the names of her two Universities would scarcely appear, simply as an apology for recommending to our readers, as an interesting branch of literary history, the state of education among the dissenters during the eigh-mies, chiefly at the risk of the individuals undertaking teenth century. Both of the men whose Memoirs have suggested these reflections, occupied an eminent station in the dissenting communion. Calamy was the historian of the sufferings For a considerable time after the passing of the Act of Uniformity, a good many of the young dissenters were accustomed to pass a few years at Oxford, conversing with the members of the University, and making use of the libraries. Some of them studied at the Dutch Uni ter known, were sent there for their education. Still, as it was but a small proportion of the great body of dissenters who could avail themselves of these opportunities, it was necessary that they should have among themselves some provision for the education of their youth. The method adopted was the establishment of private acade them, but patronised and supported, according to their respectability and efficiency, by the more influential dissenters. The reader will find notices of these establishments in Wilson's Memoirs of De Foe, and in the two י. works whose names stand at the head of this article. The professes his sentiments. It is therefore entitled to our Act of Uniformity had thrown into the ranks of dissent approbation as critics, and we are not sitting in judgment many of the most learned clergymen of the church! An as politicians, bas tends to g occasional student from Leyden or Utrecht served to keep Mr Forsyth is a strenuous, laudator temporis acti; he up a succession of such men. Their plan of tuition was is opposed to almost all the principles, which at present to receive young men-(those destined for secular profes-regulate our political relations, both internal and external. sions, as well as aspirants to the ministry) into their houses, where they remained for four or five years, until they had gone through a regular course of study? This included mathematics, and a smattering of physical vélèrice -logic, moral philosophy, and natural theology the classical and Hebrew languages and divinity in all its branches. The plair of study deemed necessary wiis liberal and 'compréhensive." "The system of tuition Wað, however, two radical defects. to In the first place, there was but one teacher, who was to conduct the young men through every branch of learning. This required that he should be a ma that general knowledge of branches scholars, therefore, did not learn from one who was an adept, but from one who repeated on trust what adepts had told him. There was a want of vitality in the scientific knowledge infused into them. It was acknowledge somewhat analogous to wiatoweFind ineffateband wordsout nations, survivingħall intellectual autivity bum traditional enumeration oftimere results. In the second place, the students did not study for the sake of knowledge, for the sake of cultivating their own ininds, but merely for the ment, sake of acquiring such a superficial degree of information | Advocates all which necessarily no great profundity in anyos The Helis hostile wodgræsstiudefrohe denounces the resumption of cash payments, under Mr Peel's bill, as unseasonable and pernicious Not content with merely controverting the opinion now so common, that there ought to berib usury laws, the argues that a farther reduction of the legal rate of interest is called for by the situation of the country; His short observations on the subject of |-income:thx79 which he characterises as a “barbarous and unskilful mode of exxation,” are particularly worthy pofnoticeriHe cbwtends? that all improvements, such as roads, bridges, harbolads, machinery, and disprovement of landareeffented by the accumulation of wealth; that the binebimo-tae luffécis equally that portion of the national income which would be saved, and that which would be spent, and thus discourages the accumulation of capital. In his opinion, faxes should be imposed only on articles of luxury or vanity. But to this rule an exception is admitted ip the case of absentees, whose incomes, he thin whose incomes, he thinks, ought to be taxed. it is the subject of Popery that Mr Forsy Where It was stated In Parlia a Forsyth 'a few exceptions, the Faculty of a the petition from the Bamburgh as was requisite, before they could assume their station ProCatholfes, while only two or three signatures from in society, or be admitted into the clerical profession. that feathed body appeared at the opposite petition. Of They learned slike schoolboysp motolike mens.Theyla that number, as was well known at the time, and (as is boured at task work, instead of pursuing, from their own now avowed by himself, was the name of Mr Forsyth. internal impulses, knowledge with a generous love. The But MF Forsyth's strong and self-relying mind was tot dissenting academies have spread and kept alive a dim to be haken by the absence of support. He has, in his glimmering of learning, which has occasionally given the Political Fragments," given the grounds of that vote, first impulses to some more happily donstituted ninds, with decision of sentiment which shows his opinion to but they have never produced altruly great mam shot Have been confirmed by the adversity of His party, 1269 this a state of things which dalls loudly for amendment? It may be thought that a discussion of the Catholic to samites 1990s gaibrofts, usttitw 1938794 Question Wasi on was never more out of place than at present. The 919. gulob n Dus (19195 151 tons esitilida ¿'quoi matter iss s settled beyond the possibility of Tetractation; and sadi ve bodzilqmong need oved blooɔ aan: 710090 | We must now wait until we can judge of it by its fruits. Political Fragments. By Robert Forsyth, Est Adyo tereste cater 1830. PP. enquiry, how may we best comEdinburgh William Blackwood, port burselves under the Change of circumstances? On 225. 99726 Vlit189Å this legitimate und Important subject, Mr Forsyth's obIr is pleasant to see a veteran author, after an intervalservations are highly forcible und deutes Into such an more than twenty years, once more setting lance in enquiry the propriety of whit d® Habe done, will, no Wen on this much rest. This period has elapsed since Mr Forsyth wrote doubt, Inevitably dbtrude itself! 8914 9200 499 oral who have takenlowing eloquent eulogy 70seid als one of pronounces the i his voluminous and highly esteemed "Beauties of Spot-hackneyed theme, My Forsyth's Hicubrations will be found land, and his Practical Trentise on Agriculture, the interesting, from their origfakty, learning, and spirit. great utility of which was not found to be affected by the 19ASH specimen of Mr ForsythY style, we present our author's purely theoretical atquafitimice with his subject.readers with the following p passage. Speaking of those He is also known as the author of a work Protestant site of the question, he Science, and as a successful pleader at the few who have made fortunes by that profession, inqTo many it is hatter of ever happy fortune, that the Spirit of evil has bestirred itself in their timeos Danger to Scotland. Ju triomu zid 976ted andt botol The present performance is well worthy of Mr For-religion and liberty is one of the forms in which the Divine syth's reputation. It is clear, vigorous, and fearless and bounty scatters blessings among thousands. How many were passing through life with lukewarm indifference to in its style we occasionally meet with an air of qualht- every exalted interest, whose winds have begu roused, and and their hearts made to burn within them, when they learned ness, which, within moderate bounds, gives character that the serpent which their fathers had trodden down still spirit. Not at we recommend quaintness, or ny aberration from classic purity of diction, but, in the pre-lived, that its deadly wound was healed that while insent age, when the classic style is by so many considered troducing famine into every cottage; it had glided into high insipid, and when bombast in a thousand forms insults places, had broken down the buriers of religion and liberty, and lifting its head was overlooking the land as the understanding terseness and brevity may be excused, 'boonce more, its prey Those events try, and, in trying, they even when they occasionally border on quaintness 99do of thos whether in the Without entering upon the question of the correctness cottage of the palace, the city or of high or low of Mr Forsyth's political opinions, province scarcely estate, whom Heaven has chosen, to resist & for to reproach a included within the flowery limits of our literary demesnes, guilty people, to become the vessels in whom the sacred fire and which we gladly leave to more appropriate superin-is to be preserved What would uden the Earl of Eldon himtendence, we think it most desirable, that, in contested questions, the highest ability should be brought to either side of the discussion. Mr Forsyth has advocated his own opinions most ably; and his performance will, no doubt, be very acceptable to that party in the state which self have been, but for the present timeofitrial? No doubt an able laborious and successful, lawyer and judge; but still mere tradesman, who had spent a life of toil amidst the yulgar technicalities and drudgery of a most artificial system of law. Enemies he had, and errors and wrongs from | human weakness, like others, he had committed. But there the various geographical details are here combined, in the mode of marking the various routes and stations, and in discriminating ancient and modern names-for, in the chief maps, both are properly, introduced. As respects the literary merits of the undertaking, great pains have been taken in correcting the innumerable errors in the references and quotations, with which late editions are so generally deformed, To assure the purchaser of came a day of grace and of high acceptance, when he was called to loftier duties; enabled to stand forth to his country, and to after times, as a champion of Protestantism-a cause which could ennoble the meanest and honour the highest. All who joined him will hereafter look back to that as to them a proud period, whatever it may prove to their country and to futare times. Let them persevere, and be assured, that bere and hereafter their labour will not be in vain."-Pp. 181, 2445] 11/ In Mr Forsyth's opinion, “the world is in a revolu-elegance and accuracy of typography, not to be surpassed tionary state." He dreads the progress of superstition and oppression, promoted by the advance of Catholicism in Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, onay evens ins Britain herself; although he doubts not that, at whatever expense, and after what struggles and sacrifices soever, Protestantism and liberty must triumph in sour own, country. Events will pass onward, and the truth of error of these predictions will appeara To us belongs the gentler and at this moment in the British empire, we have only to inform him, that the volumes are from the press of our own printer, Mr Ballantyne. Each volume, too, is strongly bound in green cloth, with gilt back-titles; so that, from the shelyes of the bookseller, the work may at once be transferred as a useful, and, not unornamental addition to any library. or the Sce Alexander Balfour, happier task of watching, and fostering, and dissemina-Weeds a and Wildflowers. By the late ting, those peaceful and elegant arts which adorn civilized onl author of Campbell, manu va donte dad bus „barcax sa bow dude m sous buk Ausq History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. By Edward Gibbon, Esq. Vols. I.-V. Illustrated with a series of Maps, designed for the work. Edinburgh. John Thomson. 1829-30. Probationer," &c. I'S &c. With a Memoir of the Author. Edinburgh. 06. Daniel Lizars. el Lizars. 1830. 8vo. Pp. 28 Pp. 280, THESE are the last relics of an amiable, honourable, and well-informed man. i Mr Balfont was born in Forfarshire in 1767, and died in Edinburgh on the 12th of September, 1829.no No events of a very striking nature distinTHE present can be considered in the light neither of a guished his career For the misfortunes incident to a periodical publication, nor of a finished series, and only mercantile life, he sought and found consolation in the as an original work, in regard to its valuable illustrations; pursuits of literatures Though not exactly eminent, he yet as we hold in our view all meritorious attempts, of was always respectable casyadwriter, and his name was the Scottish press particularly, we think it right thus well known beyond the immediate circle of his own acearly to call public attention and approbation to this spi-quaintances Qué or two of his novels are favourites with rited and praiseworthy endeavour to give a complete edi-the reading publics and his poetry, without being partition of the above standard work. Seven, yolumes of the cularly distinguished for its brilliancy or vigour, possesses proposed twelve are now published, an eighth being nearly many quiet and unobtrusive meritsin His "Characters ready, which is at the rate of six volumes a-year. Asbmitted in Crabbe's / Parish Register", would have done far as it has now proceeded, we can have no hesitation in no discredit to the ffcRegister itself ofThe memoir presaying, that the present is the most perfect edition of the fixed to the present volume, and which, we are told, is "Decline and Fall" which has yet appeared. It is a from the pencofyMrD.MM. Moir, is judiciously and temsingular fact, singular, because, the defect, though from perately written, affording a correct estimate of Mr Balthe first acknowledged, was not before attempted fully to four's abilities and character, and thus doing more for his be remedied, and of which many of our readers may not be have been accomplished, the aware, that of the numerous editions of this most popular of British historians, even the original quartos and octavos, published during the lifetime, and, in some measure, under the inspection, of the author, not one was completed Having siven an outline in all its necessary apparatus, Every one, in a very slight ander Balfour, degree studious of history, knows the importance of acfrom it, rest flattery. The Biograpiter gums pip his narrative with glean his Alexcharacter e of the life at Mr curate geographical accompaniments in particular. To a good without much difficulty. If, as Seneca observes, af struggling with adversity be a sight worthy the necessity of such appendages, no one could be more Mr Balfour afford a noble moral lesson. From the time The admiration of superior intelligences, the latter years of alive than the illustrious author himself, and we learn,that palsy deprived our author of his locomotive powers, from his published correspondence that, he had engaged crippled bis handwriting, and nearly deprived him of speech, the celebrated D'Anville to construct, an atlas, purposely he composed four volumes of poetry, of which two were for his history. The task was undertaken, and, if ac- published sixteen of which thirteen complished, would have precluded all subsequent attempts; were published: Besides pieces in a variety of periodicals, but the geographer died before it was commenced, and Mr which would fill a nearly equal number. Let it be récolGibbon was obliged to supply the deficiency from resources lected, that before this unfortunate son of genius commenat hand, seemingly little to his private satisfaction. Suc-and his spirit damped, not only by the sudden overcasting of ced in earnest his literary career, the heyday of life was past, ceeding publishers have only repeated what was from the his worldly hopes, but by the pressure of adversity. A mind beginning thus imperfect. The edition which we now constituted like his is keenly alive to joy, and consequently, review, with the superior advantages of extended know- equally alive to the sorrows which chequer existence, ledge and improved workmanship, has taken up the idea and of the latter he had his share. When, added to his being of the original author, fulfilling his intention in a manner shut out from the ever-varying aspects of that fair creation, which, we have no doubt, would have satisfied-even his which for him had so many charms, we find long years of {adverse fortune, with the innumerable eviis directly or inanxiety and intelligence. The mips are numerous, and directly following in its train, and yet that he bore up with exceedingly well selected, embracing both classical and cheerful, hope and pious resignation, unweariedly exerting middle-age geography. Infinitely superior in point of the faculties, which were left him, we may be able to form execution to those of Cellurius and Cluverius, these charts some idea of the noble strength of his character. Instead of are equal, in correctness and fulness of detail, to those of becoming sullen, morose, and envious of the felicity of which D'Anville himself, while they surpass his best works, he could be only a spectator, his countenance bore a perpenow so scarce, in beauty. The principal proprietor, and, tual smile; and the benignity of his heart continued to diwe believe, original projector, of the edition, is already and their actions. He entered cordially into the society of vulge itself in the lenient judgments he passed upon men well known to the public as having paid especial attention the young and happy; and never lost his relish for iunoto geographical publication; and the careful examinator cent amusements. will find much to praise in the practical skill with which स 7 "Little else remains to be noticed of a life, which, al though sufficiently eventful to its possessor, and those connected with him by the closest and tenderest of human ties, had little to recommend it to the attention of readers who delight in enterprise and bustle. It is more to be regarded as a history of mind, of a mind, unsubdued by the wreck of a bodily frame, and almost heroically persevering in its daily exercise. Let it also be remembered, that that exercise was always in defence of virtue, and that he disdained to pander to the taste of the vicious. To his grave, Mr Balfour carried the admiration of many the respect of all who knew him; and of his writings, it may be affirmed, with equal truth as of those of Thomson, that he left no line, which, dying, he could wish to blot.""-P. 88-944 As to the contents of the volume, before us, they are such as will not disgrace the author or his friends. veral of the prose Tales and Sketches possess much inte rest; and the Poetry, which is miscellaneous and diver sified, is more than respectable. We are inclined to consider the address "To a Canary-Bird, escaped from its Cage," which originally appeared in the Literary Journal, as among the best poetical pieces. The work is hand somely printed, and has our best wishes for its success. A View of the Court of Chancery. By the Hon. Wil liam Long Wellesley. 8vo. Pp. 84. London. James Ridgway. 1830. We neither know nor care any thing about the Hon, William Long Wellesley. He may be as black as his adversaries represent him, or as innocent as he declares himself to be. The present pamphlet, and indeed his whole conduct during the painful proceedings in the great case Wellesley versus Beaufort, prove him to be no very wise man but that is no business of ours. There is, how ever, a principle involved in these discussions, which deeply interests every one who is, or may one day become, a father every one who regards the inalienable rights of humanity—every one who takes pride in the moral character of his country: and but for this circumstance, we should not have soiled our paper with the most distant allusion to a case in which it seems to have been the great object on both sides publicly to bespatter each other. courts; or inflict pain and suffering on their persons beyond what is justifiable under the plea of necessary correction-in which case he becomes amenable to the criminal courts. And this is rightly ordered, both in respect to the moral character of the parent, and to the moral training and happiness of the child. It is rightly ordered in respect to the moral character of the parent, for only the man who acts from the free impulses of his own heart, and under the control of his own reason and moral sense, is virtuous. The freeman may act wrong, but the slave cannot act right. That outward show of correctness, which may be produced by the rigid enforcement of legal Se-enactments, is not virtue-it is but the soulless motion of the state, to control the actions of its citizens, to conform an automaton. Any attempt, therefore, on the part of them to an outward etiquette, further than is necessary for preserving the peace of society, is degrading and demoralising to the national character. Laws, which would prescribe to a man that he must hold such opinions, and act in such a manner, (not only in public, but within the walls of his own household,) may make him a more accomplished hypocrite, but never a better man. But we go further, and maintain that, even with regard to the happiness and moral training of the child, the interference of the state is inexpedient. The severest blow that can be inflicted upon a child's morale, is separating him from the family circle, or diminishing, by the intrusion of a third party, the warm-hearted confidence with which he clings to his parent. There is a time of life when the mind emancipates itself by a spontaneous effort, and seeks to form its judgments independent of the authority on which it previously relied. But every thing that fore stalls this period, and forces the child to judge between those to whom nature has attached him, and an abstract standard of right, before his faculties are sufficiently developed, deadens the affections, without enlightening the mind. It is a like perilous operation in the moral world, to the untimely extraction of the fruit from the parent in the physical. No artificial fostering can compensate the chilling of the vital heat, which is its natural consequence. We would even go so far as to say, that no example, however immoral, and no principles, however dangerous, could be half so detrimental to an ingenuous child, as a blow so stunning to all his natural feelings. But we are not obliged to rest upon such an extreme argument. The law can only speak in general terms; its special application must always remain with the judge. The law can only declare, that a parent of gross immorality, or pernicious opinions, shall not be intrusted with the education of his children; and it must be left to the conscience and inIn the first place, we would enquire how far such an telligence of one irresponsible man, to decide on the deinterference is justifiable on the principles of abstract jus-' | gree of immorality or error which deprives a man of his tice. Courts of law are either civil or criminal. The dearest and proudest privilege. In determining for the former are entitled to pronounce what is law in questions adoption or rejection of a law, we must often be guided of disputed property, and to enforce, by the aid of the ex-by merely comparative preference. In this case, thereecutive power, obedience to their decisions. The latter | fore, even though we should admit the possibility of such are entitled to pronounce the sentence of the law upon | depravity in a father as would render the interference of those gross outrages against the peace and well-being of a judge expedient, (a possibility which the advances of society, from the perpetration of which it has been deem- the age in every sort of mental culture is rendering every ed expedient to deter men by the infliction of punishment; day less probable,) still the danger accruing from the reand to insist that their decrees shall be carried into exe-posing such a fearful power in the hands of one man must cution. The authority of neither the one nor the other decide us against it." extends beyond these limits. They have no right to watch over our speculative opinions, to intrude into our household arrangements, nor even to interfere with our moral conduct, however questionable, as long as we do nothing contrary to the express laws of the land. By the constitution of the country, every man is entitled to hold his speculative opinions, in morals or religion, unchallenged, provided he does not publicly attack the established church. By the same constitution, he is entitled to manage his household affairs, and educate his children, as he thinks best, as long as he does not waste or alienate such property as they may have acquired independently of him--in which case he becomes amenable to the civil This is now the second time that the Court of Chancery has seen fit to arrogate to itself the right to interfere between a father and his children; and, under the pretext that the former was, from his moral and religious opinions or conduct, unfit to have the charge of the latter, to withdraw them from his superintending care. We wish to enquire, whether, in this intrusion into the sacred privacy of domestic life, Chancery be borne out either by the principles of abstract justice or the law of England. t | But we likewise proposed to enquire, whether the law of England recognised any such power of interference in the Chancellor. On this question, of course, we do not feel ourselves so free to speak as on the other. ́ ̈ It is a question of a difficult and complex system of law, to which we are in a great measure strangers. Still we would venture to say, after careful enquiry, and with all diffidence, that it does not appear to us that the Chancellor, or any English judge, has a right to remove children from the care and education of their parent, on any other plea than that of their being exposed to personal violence. Lord Eldon claimed a right to interfere in the case of Wellesley against Beaufort, on the ground that the Chan |