of no mean account; and in the distance, the spot consecrated by the blood of the early martyrs, which gave the city the name of "a field of dead bodies;" he stands on the spot once occupied by the splendid hall of the noble Langton, one hundred feet long by fifty in breadth, enriched with the portraits of kings and leaders; near the site of that apartment in which Richard the Second entertained his guests; within the walls of that fortress which he afterwards passed as captive; and near to which rests the dust of monarchs and of saints." Of Fisherwick, in St. Michael's parish, it is related that, soon after 1758, "It became the property of the first Marquis of Donegal, who took down the ancient house, and erected a princely mansion, with a beautiful Ionic portico, along the frize of which was inscribed, A.A.D. ANNO. MDCCLXXIV. "This noble building, to the regret of the whole country, and the irreparable less of the neighbourhood, was taken down in 1817, and the materials sold by public auction; the beautiful and extensive park is enclosed, the pools choaked up with mud and weeds, and the whole scene such as was predicted by Pope of Cannons. 'Another age shall see her glittering car Embrown the slope and nod on the parterre; Deep ruin bury all his taste had plann'd, And laughing Ceres reassume the land"," "The first Marquis of Donegal erected a spacious mausoleum adjoining the chancel of St. Michael's Church, and is there buried, as are two of his wives, two children, and one of the Sheffington family, for merly owners of Fisherwick." 39. Tour of the Grand Junction, illustrated with a Series of Engravings; with an Historical and Topographical Descripfion of those Parts of the Counties of Middlesex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Northamptonshire, through which the Canal passes. By J. Hassell. 8vo. pp. 152. Sold by the Author, and by all Booksellers. THIS elegant Volume is ornamented with XXIV beautiful Views of the country through which the Grand Junction Navigation winds its way. Of the entertainment they afford, the Reader may judge, from Mr. Hassell's introductory description of the Canal: "The beautiful scenery which accompanied its banks, determined us to retrace our steps as far back as the town of Tring, to observe if a continuance of interesting scenery was likely to attend the stream, in its further passage from that town; to our gratification, we found it from thence, mean-、 dering through a country profuse with the picturesque, lined on its right with the Chiltern Hills, and on the opposite side of the valley with a succession of wooded eminences, terminating the prospect with the bold knolls in the vicinity of Leighton, The abundance of timber, with church towers and spires, rising above the summit of the woods, gave a cheerful variety to the vale beneath. We afterwards found the navigation directing its course through scenes of undiminished beauty, and replete with delightful prospects, uniformly picturesque, and sometimes grand. "Deviating from the tedious monotony of the turnpike road, the course of the stream destined for inland navigation, must necessarily be directed through a succession of the richest scenery-whether stealing through the glades and glooms of rural retirement, winding round the brows of hills, or gliding through the vallies by which they are surrounded, alternately visiting the recesses of pictorial abode, or the populous town, and the busy "hum of men." "Such are the particulars of the Grand Junction Navigation, we have undertaken to describe; which embraces a variety far exceeding that afforded by many rivers, as combining all the beauties of landscape -the elegance and splendour of the mansion and the villa-and the venerable remains of antiquity; nor have we omitted to combine the biographical anecdote, the historical record, or the critical researches on antiquarian topography. "In 1818, the annual gross revenue of the Canal amounted to the sum of 170,000%; it possesses 1400 proprietors; and its shares of 1007. have recently sold at from 2401 to 250%. each. Many of the first capitalists in the kingdom are its proprietors, and its usual routine of business is so conducted as to give satisfaction to all who are connected with it. "We have exerted ourselves to combine the utile et dulce, and to embellish our descriptions with accurate delineations of the scenery which we have sketched on the spot." 40. A Literal Translation of the Saxon Chronicle. 12mo. pp. 324, and 96 of Without disparagement to the talents of the Saxon Professor; but, on the contrary, anticipating much entertainment and instruction from his learned and elaborate Commentary, we cannot withhold our commendation of the neat little Volume now before us, and of the meritorious in dustry dustry of the Translator, and the faithful manner in which she has performed her task, with no other assistance than the printed text afforded. "The present version was far advanced towards its completion before she was informed, that the Publick was speedily to be indebted to the Rev. Mr. Ingram, for a Collated Edition of these singularly valuable Annals, accompanied by a Translation and Notes. "Under the expectation of the appearance of a work so much more complete in all its circumstances, the present very li mited impression is intended for private circulation, and executed in a form, which, it is conceived, may render it convenient for reference." As a specimen of Miss Gurney's Translation, and to mark the period to which the Chronicle extends, we select the earliest and the latest entries: "Octavianus reigned 56 years, and in the 42d year of his reign Christ was born: then astrologers came from the Eastern parts that they might worship Christ, and the children of Bethlehem were slain in Herod's search after him.” 1154. This year King Stephen died, and be was buried with his wife and his con at Favres field (Feversham); they had built that monastery. When the King died the Earl was beyond sea, and no man durst do other than good for very dread of him. When he came to Eng. land he was received with much honour, and was consecrated King at London on the Sunday before Christmas, and he held a great Court there and on the same day that Martin Abbot of Peterborough should have gone thither he sickened, and he died on the 4th of the nones of January. And that day the Monks chose another Abbot from among themselves. He is named William de Waltville, a good clerk, and a good man, and well beloved of the King and of all good people: and they buried the Abbot honourably in the Church, and soon afterwards the Abbot Elect and the Monks went to the King at Oxford, and the King gave him the Ab. bacy, and thus he departed." 41. Enchiridion Roma: or, Manual of detached Remarks on the Buildings, Pictures, Statues, Inscriptions, &c. of Antient and Modern Rome. By S. Weston, F.RS. SA. pp. 183. 12mo Bald. win & Co. TO the generality of our learned Readers the name of the respectable Author of this Manual is sufficient recommendation; and to the publick is general the book itself cannot fail of being an acceptable present. Few travellers have visited Rome with a mind better calculated to appreciate the value of its rich store of classical remains. In a brief Introduction Mr. Weston observes, that "A great change of feature in the face of antient Rome, and no small improvement in its topography, took place in the year 1780, not long after the visit of the Author of this small Manual to the Imperial city, and a considerable time before the French Revolution, and the conquest of Italy by Buonaparte. "The discovery of the Tomb of the Scipios solved a grammatical problem for the antiquaries, who had contended that a fragment, which it now appears had belonged to this tomb, and had been found in a detached state in the year MDCXY with an inscription to Lucius, son of Barbatus Scipio, was a forgery. The stone was discovered near the Porta Capena; and the advocates for the bad Latin brought Cicero to prove that the tomb of the Scipios must be without the Porta Capena, not recollecting that the Aurelian wall bad brought forward that gate beyond the sepulchre mentioned by the Roman orator. The opinion was by no means general that the inscription was spurious, and it was quoted by Winkelmann and others as genuine. The difference of language between the second Punic War and the time of Cicero, about two hundred years, is as great in the Latin, as from Chaucer to Dryden in the English, which may be seen by inspection. HONC. OINO. PLOIRVME. CONSENTIONT, R. Hunc unum plurimi consentiunt Romæ, "The remainder of the inscription is in Grævius, tom. iv. p. 1835, Romæ, 1616; and in Mr. Hobhouse on the ruins of Rome, whose Dissertations for their excellence may be placed inter admiranda. Nardini mentions the tomb of Scipio Africanus, and places it, according to Acron the Scholiast on Horace, between the castle St. Angelo and the Vatican." This volume (which every Englishman who in future visits Rome should carry in his pocket) concludes with a few instructive Notes, for which the Author is indebted to his friend Mr. Holwell Carr. Contents, and a contemporary List of Princes, at the end of each King's Reign; with an Appendix, containing a slight Sketch of the Political Arrangements of Europe as settled by the Treaty of Paris. And Notes. By Frances Thurtle, Author of Ashford Rectory, &c. 12mo. pp. 307. Hailes. THIS compendious epitome of the History of France will be found a very useful companion to the juvenile students; and the Chronological Lists are particularly acceptable. Nearly half the volume is taken up with the important events of the last 40 years, and the whole is thus concluded. “Buonaparte having formed a conspicuous character in the latter part of these pages, and having appeared upon most occasious in an unfavourable point of view, it will be but justice to take an im partial review of his life, and to point out his principal actions, good as well as bad. "It has been observed, that there is no character so uniformly bright, as not to possess some dark shades; but while we assent to the general truth of this ob servation, that charity which hopeth all things,' the distinguishing characteristic of our holy religion, should teach us to believe that there are no hearts so darkly vicious, as not to be illumined by some beams of the light of virtue. To sup. pose Buonaparte an exception to this rule would be illiberal. We are not, however, his apologists: we are but simple narrators of truths and facts, as far as they are attainable; and to posterity (who are the proper judges, as being impartial) we leave the judgment of his motives. There are, however, certain points in his character which are clear to every one, and upon these we may be permitted, with all due humility, to comment. "Buonaparte was extremely indignant at not being allowed to take up his abode in England as a private person. He surely forgot that those who will openly sanction dishonour in others, may be suspected, and that without any great lack of charity, of paying but little regard to honour themselves. The French officers who broke their parole in this country were received by Buonaparte with the greatest kindness and respect. one instance General Le Fevre. Take as "Buonaparte, like most other conquerors (among the few exceptions, Henry IV. of France, and Prince Eugene *, are conspicuous), was profuse of human blood; and in many instances wantonly so. The death of the Duke d'Enghein will be an eternal blot upon his character, as well as that of Toussaint and his family. Of the crimes of the former there is not only no proof, but what they were pretended to be is scarcely known: he is accused of traitorous designs; but the particulars of these designs are not brought forward. His judges were ignorant to the last moment of him whom they were going to try; the decree of his condemnation was signed by them with trepidation aud dismay; and his grave was ready dug before he arrived at Vincennes; thus affording a complete proof that his trial was but a mockery. Such a proceeding as this admits of no palliation; but must ever be looked upon with abhorrence. Murat was President at this disgraceful trial. Surely when he was afterwards overtaken by the same sort of summary justice, conscience must have brought the death of the Duke d'Enghien forcibly to his recollection. Toussaint's crime we know. He loved his country too dearly to sell it to slavery. "The unbounded licence Buonaparte ever allowed his soldiers upon all occasions, greatly aggravated the miseries of war, and eventually contributed to his own downfall, by arming against him the peaceable inhabitants of those countries he had conquered, who might perhaps have submitted to his sway as willingly as to that of their natural princes, had mercy and justice been his guide. But of the mild virtues of justice and mercy, which so conspicuously adorn the character of Louis XVIII. Buonaparte had but a small share. They are, indeed, virtues of the shade, and in the former had been taught and cultured by the stern rugged nurse,' Adversity. "His cruelties in Syria, and his departure from Egypt, sullied his laurels in that country; and bis subsequent and unfortunate campaign in Russia, where he left the wreck of his army in the greatest distress, and found selfish safety in flight, is a blot on his character as a military man, that cannot be wiped out. The battle of Waterloo winds up the account of his ingratitude to the soldiers of France, who even now forget his faults, and think only of him as the conquering leader who led them on to victory at Jena, Austerlitz, &c. The soldiers at the battle of Waterloo were enthusiastically devoted to him. The wounded, who were conveyed to Brussels, gave astonishing proofs of * "A General officer having pointed out to Prince Eugene a post of considerable importance, which he assured him would not cost him above twelve grenadiers at most. • May be so,' replied the Prince; but the lives of twelve grenadiers are much too valuable to be thrown away upon this occasion. Now if it were twelve Generals, indeed, that would be a different matter.' unshaken unshaken a'tachment. One of these brave fellows, after suffering amputation, with the most perfect unconcern, cried, Vive l'Empereur! and expired. Another told the surgeon, who was probing his wounds, to go deeper, and he would find the Emperor. These were the soldiers Buonaparte forsook! and, by forsaking them, gave convincing proof that he was deficient in that true and noble courage which arises with difficulty, and becomes more collected and firm as the hour of danger approaches. His detention of all the English who were in France at the time Lord Whitworth took his departure, previous to the last war, was cruel and wanton. It was not only contrary to all the laws of nations, but even of humanity. His duplicity towards the house of Bourbon, in Spain, is perhaps, less reprehensible; because we cannot help thinking the Royal Family of that country shewed so little respect for themselves and each other, that they had no reason to look for it elsewhere. Buonaparte has been often compared to Charlemagne, and in many instances with great reason. There is also one striking resemblance between him and the Emperor Charles V. Charles V. always professed the greatest moderation, and the most pacific intentions, when he was decidedly bent on war. So did Buonaparte: and if the latter employed unfair means to attain his ends, so did the former, "These, we believe, are the most glaring defects in his character. Of his good deeds, the entire abolition of that dreadful tribunal the Inquisition, stands conspicuous. It has since been restored by Pope Pius VII.; and Ferdinand VII. King of Spain, has allowed it to be again established in his dominious. "Napoleon's general toleration of all religions, and the kindness he shewed the Jews, who are in general much oppressed on the Continent, is another instance that he could sometimes feel as a man should feel. His habits are abstemious; and, it is almost needless to say, his mind and body active. He was also, as Shakspeare says of Wolsey, fair spoken and persuading; Lofty and sour, to them that lov'd him not; But to those men who sought him, sweet as summer.' In his way to England, and during his stay at Plymouth, he gained the good wishes of most of those who approached him; and while he had the unreserved privilege of seeing different persons at St. Helena, he made himself many friends. With the English officers, who are his immediate and personal attendants, he is familiar, communicative, and gentlemanly. "The bustle and ferment in which he kept the Parisians suited their disposition well. He was like Prester John, always to be sought. The question of Où est l'Empereur,' was as difficult to resolve as to decide on the colour of the Camelion. If one person affirmed, he had seen him at the Palais Elysée a quarter of an hour ago; a second would say, Cela ne peut ; mais je viens de le recontrer à deux ou trois lieues de Paris; while a third would cut the matter short, by saying, Messieurs, vous avez tort, tous les deux. L'Empereur est maintenant avec ses ministres aux Thuilleries. "He improved Paris wonderfully, and certainly would have made that city the finest in the world. Some parts of it, indeed, as it now is, stands unrivalled. Prince Blucher said, upon seeing London, that there was but one London in the world. Buonaparte wished to make but one Paris. The superiority of the two cities, it is presumed, will never be yielded by the inhabitants of either. To John Bull's broad paved streets, to his small comfortable house, occupied by himself alone, and endeared by that comprehensive word, home, the Frenchman would oppose the splendour of his palaces, the loftiness of his houses, and la totalité de rues. "The spoils with which Napoleon Buonaparte enriched Paris were matter of great exultation to the Parisians: and when the great work of restoration began, the regrets and murmurs were loud and repeated. The departure of the Venus de Medici caused quite a sensation. Ah, Monsieur, elle est partie!' said a Frenchman upon this occasion, without at all indicating who was gone; no one could possibly doubt who was meant by elle. Con "Some have exclaimed against this act of restitution as an act of injustice. quest and treaties gave these works of art to France, it is said; then, surely, it may be answered, conquest had equal right to reclaim them. The allies took their own; they did not retaliate upon the French people, and rob them of their treasures, though they certainly had the power of so doing, and the same right as the French had, to plunder the nations they had conquered. But to return to Buonaparte. He was much beloved by his own family, to whom he was himself strongly attached, at least if we may judge from the profusion with which he scattered crowns and sceptres among theni. "His Generals were not forgotten by him. Murat he made grand Duke of Berg, afterwards King of Naples. Bernadotte is now King of Sweden. Many of the rest he made Dukes and Peers of France, and loaded them with wealth and honours. By one class of men he is very generally regretted; we mean men of ge mus nius and letters, to whom he was a liberal patron. "His refusing to admit into his army the guard of honour who forsook Monsieur at Lyons, and his sending the cross of the legion of honour to the only soldier who remained faithful to his master, is a proof that he can duly appreciate acts of truth and loyalty even in an enemy. "This extraordinary personage, who rose gradually from the middling ranks of life to be monarch of an empire, not far inferior to that of Charlemagne, suddenly fell from this immense height, not merely to be a private individual, with the title of General Buonaparte; but to be a prisoner on a lonesome rock, which forms but a speck in the vast expanse of the world of waters. Such is the uncertainty and vanity of all human greatness !" 43. Tales and Historic Scenes in Verse. By Felicia Hemans, Author of the "Restoration of the Works of Art to Italy, Modern Greece, &c. &c. 800. pp. 955. Murray. WE have often been led to reflect, what difference, if any, the female character, as distinguished from the male, tends to introduce into poetry. Favouritism, the usual distinction in the conduct of life, does not operate in this abstract pursuit, nor that sublime and noble indifference to self, which characterizes the maternal and conjugal character of the best and most valuable donation of Deity, the lovely companions of our pleasures, and the sincere participators of our sorrows. By their admiration of beroic qualities they strongly support bravery by their meekness and patience under pain they hold out a bright example of philosophy, which far exceeds that of the boasted lords of the creation, by their sensitive delicacy they banish rudeness from society by their taste they clothe it with grace, and by their sentiment they introduce soul and feelings into persons who would otherwise he often only animated counting-houses, or wine-casks, absorbed in mere calculations or gross pleasures. Of these several qualities of admiration, of bravery, meekness under pain, deli. cacy, taste, and sentiment, we may therefore suppose their works chiefly to consist; and accordingly we expect to find the Corinthian, rather than the Doric order in their poetry. In the qualities mentioned the poetry of this fair Authoress abounds. From her command of language, she is precise and energetic, and from her close inspection of nature, impressive in her ideas. Numerous lines fix the brilliant gaseous flame of the epic or the ode, and the softness of the lunar beam appears in the pathetic: We see no dull November morning verses-all is steady summer lustre. We shall select one specimen from the Wife of Asdrubal. At the downfall of Carthage, that mean-spirited General solicited mercy, by privately retiring from the scene of misery to the tent of the conqueror. His highsouled wife flew to the roof of the burning temple, arrayed in her best apparel, stabbed her children, and then threw them and herself into the flames. The scene is thus described by our fair Authoress in high drama: "But mark! from one fair temple's loftiest height, [sight, What towering form bursts wildly on the All regal in magnificent attire, And sternly beauteous in terrific ire; She might be deem'd a Pythia in the hour of dread communion and delirious power; There dwells a strange and fierce ascenA being more than earthly, in whose eye dancy. The flames are gathering round-intensely bright, [light, Full on her features glares their meteor- Flush'd is her cheek, inspired her haughty mien, She seems th' avenging goddess of the P. 194. scene." |