time; in which memoirs will likewise be inserted the successive Prize Dissertations. From the months of February to July, it is purposed that a weekly meeting of the Society shall be held; and a monthly meeting during the other six months of the year. In the best written recommendation of this plan which we have yet seen, it is said, that, without some such royal protection, " literature will continue either neutral or adverse to the service of the country." This is paying but a sorry compliment to the letters and literary men of the country; or rather it is casting a reflection on them which the long course of British genius repels. Is the measure of pensioning twenty writers, at the rate of a hundred a year each, absolutely necessary to enlist the talent, that takes a literary direction in this country, in the service of the best interests of society? We should think not:-though it is very possible that these pensions might attach twenty persons to ministerial newspapers. The writer of the article in question, in his enthusiasm, ventures to anticipate" another Milton," as the result of this society; "summoned from the mountains and the valley to vindicate the ways of God to man." But this anticipation suggests a question :-would Milton have probably been one of "the Associates under the patronage of the king," if the Royal Society had existed in his days? We think not. It is but fair to say, that the writer of the article condemns the narrowness of the proposed construction; wishes the pensions to be thrown altogether into the back ground; talks slightingly of them; and desires to see the Society put upon something like the footing of the French Academy, - but to be still more open and comprehensive. In proportion as his ideas take a wider and higher range, our objections to the project altogether increase. The original proposition is "for the encouragement of indigent merit ;" and this it mentions first, afterwards "for the promotion of the general literature of the country." As an association to give a hundred a year to literary persons to whom that sum is an object, it may alleviate distress; and so far it is worthy of encouragement. It is not likely to do much in the second branch of its undertaking; but the first would be always understood to be its principal object; and there would be no idea entertained of its Associates, but that of men whose fortunes required aid, and whose talents needed patronage. The Society's Memoirs of Literature," we suspect, would be considered analogous to the musters of the Chelsea pensioners: Mr. Murray would publish the annual volume of course, and put his name to the title page,-but he would not give so much for the copy-right, as for that of one of the Cantos of Don Juan. The writer of the article in the Literary Gazette himself says, that the Associates would be "called the King's Paupers by disaffection;" but is there any doubt that ten of them, at least, would be regarded as the " King's Paupers" by the affection of his Majesty and his courtiers?However, as a charitable institution simply, we repeat, we see no objection to the foundation. The labourer is worthy of his hire; and the nature of the thing would be sufficiently understood to hinder it from doing mischief. But if there be a serious idea now, at this late day, after having so long escaped the nuisance, of establishing in England a ROYAL LITERARY ACADEMY, with the King for patron, and Princes, Dukes, and Earls for members, to smile and bow with their confrères the poets and prose writers of the day, we do most earnestly pray that the good sense of the country may take the alarm in time. We really did not expect that Iwe should ever have had to argue such a measure: all our greatest literary authorities have attributed the corruption of French literature to the Literary Gazette, for Dec. 16. If this paper was written by the Editor, he is a much stronger and bigger man than we described him to be last month. If he did not write it, we think he had better leave advice-giving for the future to the gentleman who did. There was a good paper, too, the week before, in this Journal, on the Almanacks, and Pocket-Books. If the Editor wrote this, we owe him an apology; but we owe him none if he wrote the review of The Earthquake. -no: to a level of modish scorn, and companionable insincerity. Bickering is better than this: anger makes people sincere. We know it is an opinion entertained at the court of his present Majesty, and expressed by the highest person of that court, that the populace of England are naturally well-disposed, but that they are improperly managed: "they go to public houses, and there they meet with the newspapers: they ought to be induced to give more time to mirth, to spectacles, to games out of doors." The idea may have its origin in humanity; but, if the tax-gatherer did not prevent the accomplishment of the wish it conveys, we should begin to fear, that, what with a new system for the populace, and a new academy for literature, we were indeed arrived at a new era,-one fatal to old England,-to its old manners, its old principles, and its old renown. If the scheme shall be talked of again, we shall have more to say on it. The following note, taken from the Literary Gazette, contains some further particulars of what has been done, and is doing. French Academy Temple and Dryden date the decline of the French style to its existence; and they are right-while, on the other hand, the most distinguished French authors, even they who have belonged to the Academy, have spoken of it as a focus of intrigue and servility; the contrivance of a despotic minister, in the first instance,-instituted with the design of spreading and rivetting political delusion through the country,-afterwards the seat of adulation, scandal, trifling, and paltry trick. Authors of pure, simple, and independent habits, however prodigious their talents, experienced the greatest difficulty of admission,-or died excluded, that there might be place for sycophants and courtiers. But the object is "to turn the genius of England into the current of English loyalty." Indeed! What was supposed to be the influence of the French Academy on the public mind of France, with reference to those irreligious and licentious sentiments that proved the downfall of the monarchy? It was not the intention of the academy to take part with the populace:-but it was a very principal means His Majesty has, we believe, intrusted of depraving them. Any conspicuous the formation of the Institution, (The example of servility and corruption called forth these remarks, to the learned Royal Society of Literature,) which has must tend to disorganize society, and eminent Prelate, Dr. Thomas Burgess, much more than the official declara- the Bishop of St. David's. The names of tions of men, whose places warrant several individuals who have taken part in but one class of sentiment, can add bringing the design to its present maturity, to the stability of power. Can any have been mentioned to us, but we do not one, who seriously thinks on the sub- feel as yet at liberty to make them public. ject, suppose, that the cause either of Suffice it to say, that other branches of the literature, or of the constitution, or Royal Family have become subscribers; of the church, would be strengthened that Ministers give their aid; that many of by the spectacle which a Royal Aca- the most distinguished among the clergy demy of Literature would present leading members of both the universities are concur in promoting the plan; that the amongst us? The Duke of York, among its friends. The funds are already possibly president: Mr. Southey, considerable, and we are sure this public perpetual secretary; Mr. Canning, notice will raise them considerably; as Mr. Croker, Mr. Jeffrey of the Edin- heretofore, the only question has been "by burgh Review, Mr. Gifford of the whom the Society was projected, under Quarterly, Mr. Professor Wilson, whose auspices formed, and where the subLord Byron, several Bishops, and scriptions to establish it in splendid suffiLawyers, and Peers, and all the ciency were to be made?" Having shown Princes of the blood, members! The that the highest authority not only sancmere heterogeneity of the compositions but zealously favours the design; that tion would excite ridicule and disgust in the public mind: all their proceedings would be held suspected, for rather odious: having no respect for each other, yet being obliged to observe the civilities of colleagues, they would settle down their minds his Majesty may be considered as its per- We have obtained a copy of the first prize questions to be proposed (which, we understand, will soon be officially announced) and take the liberty of anticipating their promulgation; they are as follows, 1st. For the King's premium of one hundred guineas. On the age, writings, and genius of Homer; and on the state of religion, society, learning, and the arts, during that period, collected from the writings of Homer. and on the differences between ancient and modern Greek. The first has already, if we remember rightly, been a subject of learned discussion, as well as of a recent work, by Mr. Payne Knight. The second is by no means so barren of incident for the highest poetical illustration as its name might seem to import. And the third is replete with interest. 2d. For the Society's premium of fifty municate further details as they arise, reWe shall, we trust, be enabled to comguineas. Dartmoor, a poem. 3d. For the Society's premium of twentyfive guineas. On the history of the Greek language, on the present language of Greece, specting a plan so important to Britain and British literature, in sequent Numbers of the Literary Gazette. We trust there will be nothing further to detail on the subject. THE MOHOCKS. We learn that Professor Leslie, of the University of Edinburgh, has brought an action for damages against the publisher of Blackwood's Magazine; and we apprehend it is now most likely that this respectable publication will be compelled to show its modest face in open court,—an exposure which it has hitherto avoided by heavy secret payments to the parties it has injured.-The cause of the action, and some of the circumstances attending it, are indeed highly characteristic. The article of which the Professor complains, is one signed "Olinthus Petre, D.D.;" and it is dated from "Trinity College, Dublin." It forms the only reply Blackwood's Magazine has offered to the notice of it taken in our November number; and to the charge, publicly stated against it, in an Edinburgh Journal, of having attached James Hogg's name to papers he never wrote, and which were calculated to do the poet serious injury. One might have expected that the Magazine itself would have spoken out on this occasion: it seems to have concerned it so to do: setting the motives and the ability of the attack out of the question, there were facts affirmed, which, if true, are sufficient to brand any periodical work to which they may apply, with indelible infamy. A letter from a correspondent on such a subject does not seem sufficient: but, at the same time, it must be confessed, that certain advantages attended this mode of reply of which the Editor might be happy to avail himself. A real signature, with a real place of abode, and that one of the seats of learning, and, in addition, a title vouching at once for the learning and religion of the party,-must naturally be supposed to confer responsibility and respectability on the defence. The Magazine, itself, the reader might be expected to say, does not choose to appear as an advocate in its own cause; but here is a man of condition and piety, a Doctor of Divinity, resident in a college, the college of a metropolis, who steps forward in an honourable way to say-" I have done part of what you blame in Blackwood's Magazine: I am prepared to avow it, for I have done it under a sense of duty; and as no scandalous motive can attach to me, let the general justice of your charge against the Magazine in which I have written, be judged of from this specimen!" There would be much weight in this: a Doctor of Divinity residing in Trinity College, Dublin, is likely. to feel more for his own respectability than for the interests of an Edinburgh Magazine: on questions of literary merit as to the writers, either in it, or any contemporaneous periodical work, he may be supposed pretty impartial; and if he deliberately puts his name and address to a severe accusation against an individual, holding a public office of eminence and trust in one of the most famous of the British seats of learning, the first presumption is inevitably against the person accused-for who, in the situation of a Doctor of Divinity, would come openly forward to make such an attack, unless the case was one of notorious crime? Doctor Olinthus Petre, therefore, of Trinity College, Dublin, would be able to do much more for Blackwood's Magazine, with the public, than its Editor could do for it: and so the Editor thought :-and so he made the Doctor-manufactured him for the purpose! The D. D. has no existence but in Blackwood's Magazine: Trinity College, Dublin, never heard of him! This letter is another overt act of that conspiracy against character and truth, carried on by means of fraud, which we have made it our business to expose, which is now exposed, and which we trust will soon be crushed. We say nothing of the nature of the motives by which we are actuated: if the facts are as we have stated them, the prima facie evidence is in favour of these motives, for we have made out a strong and crying case of guilt, dangerous to the public, disgraceful to literature, and provocative of the indignation of honourable minds. If the writers in Blackwood's Magazine possess talents for satire and ridicule, let them exert these-but let them be fairly exerted. What we complain of is, that, by a series of tricks and impositions, unknown to criticism and literary discussion before their career, they have outraged private character, prostituted principle, insulted decency, perverted truth, and exhibited a spectacle of venal and spiteful buffoonery under the name of literature, to the corruption of taste, and the gratification of the worst feelings. One of their chief means, in this unworthy vocation, has been to fabricate and forge apparently real signatures. They have done this to give effect to some of their most malicious stabs at reputation; knowing well that the public attention would be thus eminently excited to their charges, and that more credit would be given to them, so recommended, than if they were offered in the common language of periodical works. This deception is of itself sufficient to establish the calumnious, venal, and malicious motive: it converts that, which might otherwise have been deemed criticism, into a private wrong; it gives the injured parties a claim on redress, and throws distrust altogether upon professions and doctrines offered in the tone of discussion. -- our The extraordinary usage of James Hogg's name in Blackwood's Magazine, we fully described in our last: it seems to combine more treachery towards the public, and the abused individual, than any case of fraud we can recollect. The fabrication of Doctor Olinthus Petre is about as base. As it concerns Professor Leslie, it seems to prove the malevolent motive of the attack upon him. As a mode of replying to us it is beneath contempt: its foundation in falsehood renders it as nugatory as unmanly. The creature who would adopt such an expedient, would not scruple to speak against his own conviction in characterizing writers; and we have absolute proof that he does so,-for one of those to whom he contemptuously alludes, by a signature in our Magazine, has been highly praised as an author in Blackwood's Magazine, and the very articles written by this gentleman for us, have been specified by Blackwood's people as the best in our work! We mention this only to show the utter poltroonery of these men's minds. They are without even the shadow of an excuse to their own consciousness. They have not a partition of any sort between them and infamy: it must come home hard upon them, even in the secrecy of their own hearts. We have been told that Mr. JOHN GIBSON LOCKART, having been originally included in the action now pending, has given it under his hand, that he is not the Editor of the Magazine. The people of Edinburgh are not surprised at this denial: it is well known there that Doctor Morris, under the assumed name of Christopher North, is the Editor of the work, and the author of its most malignant articles ! Would the DOCTOR have the baseness to make a similar denial? We believe he would; for all the professions of a merry, careless temper, by which it has been attempted to characterize the publication he conducts, have evidently been intended to cover an organized plan of fraud, calumny, and cupidity. The cowardice which denies a perpetrated wrong, is the natural associate of such qualities. Doctor Morris would deny just as firmly as Mr. Lockart. Miller Hedivivus. DEAR ED. Do you want any rattle-brained work to make a variety. People say you are too serious-or rather (for there is a great difference in the meaning of the phrases), they say you are not sufficiently merry. Do you think your readers would like an old Joe Miller done up now and then for them in the following style? If so, they are of course soon done, and you might command one for every number. Of serious Poetry you will always get enough, and good too, for every body writes now as well as the elect did fifty years ago; but there is a class of readers, not few in number, I believe, who care little for real Poetry, but relish a joke in rhyme. Certain it is, that comic versification is little attempted; so if you will set me down as your JESTER I shall have an easy task, and an office without a crowd ofTM competitors. Yours very truly, No. I. MRS. ROSE GROB. None would have known that Siegmund Grob But that he died, and left the job Of Tombstone-making to an Undertaker ; Who, being a Mason also, was a Poet, So he engraved a skull upon the stone, (The Sexton of Whitechapel Church will show it), FOR SIEGMUND GROB!" Grob's Widow had been christened Rose, Unless when young she might disclose, Roses, which quickly fled in scorn, To guard her lips from kisses. She relish'd tea and butter'd toast, Better than being snubb'd and school'd; Liking no less to rule the roast, Than feast upon the roast she ruled- Now, as she was a truly loving wife, As well as provident in all her dealings, Just as a little hedge against her feelings- Two thousand pounds besides her savings, No wonder then she soon felt cravings Accordingly in Mile End-Road, She quickly chose a snug retreat, 'Twas quite a pastoral abode, |