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burgh, in various branches-shoemakers, BIRKBECK." The journeymen of Pittstailors, &c. earn two dollars a day, (54s. per week,)" &c.

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FEARON. "I have only to remark, that in October 1817, when I was at the place in question, the earnings per week were, according to the statements given me by the mechanics themselves,-tailors 31s. 6d. all the mechanics with whom I conversed to 458.; shoemakers 31s. 6d. to 36s. and complained of the difficulty which they experienced in getting paid for their labour, much of what they did receive being given them in orders upon shops for necessaries and clothing"!!—

there, at least, an earthly paradise was and honey, but with mighty rivers, the America (the parts at least which are poputo be found. His visions are even more Mississippi, the Missouri, and the Wa-lated) Irishmen are despised, and Englishglowing than those of the Edinburgh bash, which when, after the lapse of men are viewed with cool malignant jeaReviewers, who, simple souls, have centuries, this territory may come to be lousy and hatred." taken, or seemed to take, all Mr. Birk- amply peopled, must be of prodigious becks' trading puffs for gospel; inso-importance. With respect to its present much as to fancy "all the world and suitableness for settlement to Europeans, his wife" would go to the back woods of however, Mr. Fearon is entirely opposed America, were they not kept at home by to Mr. Birkbeck, and in weighing their some indescribable feeling, which the said testimony we ought not to forget that reviewers cannot describe. Mr. Fearon they are politically of the idem genus, paints the country as diversified, and and as writers that Mr. Fearon could the soil as fertile. Kaskaski, the chief have no object but to state the truth, town, consists of 150 houses; and forced as it has been upon him contrary Shawnee town, the second in import-to his preconceived opinions and his ance, of about 30 log houses. The wishes; while every person whom Mr. Soukies (Indians) have three villages, Birkbeck persuades to emigrate to his and amount to about 3000. The Kas- neighbourhood, adds to the value of his kaskians, Cahokias, and Peorias (other purchased land, and helps to raise his tribes) are much thinned in consequence two dollar acres to the price of 20, 30, of their wars with the Soukies and 40, or 50 dollars! But opposed as Mr. Foxes. Fearon is to Birkbeck on almost every point, he has, perhaps, in no one passage, given so fatal a blow to the idea of a peaceful and desirable residence in the Illinois, as the latter has done in his

The inhabitants of Illinois may, perhaps, be ranked as follows: First, the Indian hunters, who are neither different in character or pursuits from their ancestors in the days of Columbus. 2d, The " Squat-Notes," where he truly says: ters," who are half-civilized and half-savage These are, in character and habits, extremely wretched indeed, I prefer the genuine uncontaminated Indian. 3d, A medley of Ind jobbers, lawyers, doctors, and farmers, who traverse this immense continent, found ing settlements, and engaging in all kinds of speculation. 4th, Some old French settlers, possessed of considerable property, and living in ease and comfort.

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Concerning the state of society, my experience does not allow me to say much, or to speak with confidence. Generally, I suspect that the powers of the legislature are, as yet, weak in their operation. Small provocations insure the most relentless and violent resentments. Duels are frequent. The dirk is an inseparable companion of all classes; and the laws are robbed of their terror by not being firmly and equally administered. A general character of inde pendence, both as to the means of living and habits of society, appears universal. Here no man is either thought or called "master;" neither, on the other hand, is there found any coarse vulgarity. A cold,

selfish indifference is the common characteristic of the labourer and the judge.

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An unsettled country (such as he has occupied) lying contiguous to one that is settled, is always the place of retreat for rude and even abandoned characters, who find the regulations of society intolerable.

In short, a den of thieves and asylum for scoundrels of every sort, whom the dread of the laws ejects from civilized life. This is the neighbourhood into which, as he himself tells us, Mr. Birkbeck invites the credulous and thoughtless. No wonder that the dirk is busy in these parts, and so little regarded, that a murder by it in a quarrel is rarely taken cognizance of, (Fearon, p. 278.) Not to dwell on mere generalities, we shall oppose a few of the statements of these authors:

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result of bad political institutions, and not
BIRKBECK. "National antipathies are the
of human nature. Here, whatever their
original, whether English, Scotch, Irish, I
German, French, all are Americans; and
of all the imputations on the American cha-
racter, jealousy of strangers is surely the
most absurd and groundless."

FEARON. 66

Any Englishman who candidly observed the feelings of the inhabitants, and particularly in the old settled parts, and where the population is dense, would declare that national antipathies exist here to an extent exceeding any thing that he had ever seen, or could have conceived when in England. Between the Americans of Irish and of German extraction (in Pennsylvania) there exists the most deadly animosity, even unto the third and fourth generation. In the mind of a German American, the term Irishman" is one of the most foul reproaches with which his range of ideas supplies him. Throughout

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Well may we exclaim with Hamlet, "Look here, upon this picture, and on this," for assuredly, one or other of these painters has strangely falsified the likeness. We confess that Mr. Birkbeck is the man on whom our strong suspicions light, for he has every reason to deceive, while Mr. Fearon has not one. Justly does the latter remark on the former, that he "sets at defiance every difficulty, treating the most serious privations as a mere jest:" and that his statements are bottomed on the

Desire that the value of his lands should advance as largely and as rapidly as possible; which can only be effected by emigration being directed to that point where he has made his final election.

We could wish to extract the accounts

of wretched and disappointed emigrants
returning from this Western Eden, and
of others forced from sheer want to re-
main there against their will; but our
limits forbid. Instead of Birkbeck's in-
terested representations, let the tempted
listen to a disinterested writer, who tells
them " they can really form no concep-
required."
tion of the entire change of life that is

In going to America then, (he continues) would say generally, the emigrant must expect to find-not an economical or cleanly people; not a social or generous people; not a people of enlarged ideas; not a people of liberal opinions, or towards whom you can express your thoughts "free as air;' not a people friendly to the advocates of liberty in Europe; not a people who understand liberty from investigation and from principle; not a people who comprehend the meaning of the words "honour" and 'generosity."

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This most useful book concludes with "Advice to Emigrants,", which is its only work of supererogation, since madmen never take advice, and none other, we think, will emigrate to the back woods of America after reading Mr. Fearon's Reports.

Morier's Second Journey through Persia.
4to. pp. 435.
(Concluded.)

cimens of this extraordinary quarry, fre- | neighbourhood of Mount Ararat, although quently contain with them portions of the we made frequent plans for attempting to earth through which the water has oozed. ascend it, yet we were always impeded by The substance thus produced is brittle, some reason or other. We were encamped We have more than once had occa- transparent, and sometimes most richly before it at the very best season for such an sion to mention the monuments of Ta-streaked with green, red, and copper-co- undertaking, namely, during the month of briz marble, but the account of its for-loured veins. It admits of being cut into August, and saw it at the time that it has mation and quarry affords a picture of We did not remark that any plant except immense slabs, and takes a good polish. the least snow upon it. one of the most curious sights in the rushes grew in the water. The shortest whole range of these travels :and best definition that can be given of the ponds, is that which Quintus Curtius gives of the Lake Ascanius-Aqua sponte concrescens.

*

This natural curiosity consists of certain extraordinary ponds or plashes, whose indolent waters by a slow and regular process stagnate, concrete, and petrify; and produce The Lake of Shahee, or Maragha, an that beautiful transparent stone, commonly inland sea of about 280 miles in circumcalled Tabriz marble, which is so remarkable in most of the burial places in Persia, ference, is close to these remarkable and which forms a chief ornament in all ponds. From all the travellers could the buildings of note throughout the coun- learn, it is generally very shallow, being try. These ponds, which are situated close from one cubit to three or four in its to one another, are contained in a circum-greatest depth. A causeway was menference of about half a mile, and their po- tioned as crossing this expanse of water, sition is marked by confused heaps and which it is probable is a work of great mounds of the stone, which have accumuantiquity:— lated as the excavations have increased. We had seen nothing in Persia yet which was more worthy of the attention of the naturalist than this; and I never so much regretted my ignorance of subjects of this nature, because I felt that it is of consequence they should be brought into notice by scientific observation. However, rather than omit all description of a spot, which perhaps no Europeans but ourselves have had the opportunity of examining, and on which, therefore, we are bound (in justice to those opportunities) not to withhold the information which we obtained; I will venture to give the following notes of our visit, relying, upon the candour and the science of my reader to fill up my imperfect

outline.

On approaching the spot, the ground has a hollow sound, with a particularly dreary and calcined appearance, and when upon it, a strong mineral smell arises from the ponds. The process of petrifaction is to be traced from its first beginning to its termination. In one part, the water is clear, in a second, it appears thicker and stagnant, in a third, quite black, and in its last stage, is white like a hoar frost. Indeed, a petrified pond looks like frozen water, and before the operation is quite finished, a stone slightly thrown upon it breaks the outer coating, and causes the black water underneath to exude. Where the operation is complete, a stone makes no impression, and a man may walk upon it without wetting his shoes. Whenever the petrifaction has been hewn into, the curious progress of the concretion is clearly seen, and shews itself like sheets of rough paper placed one over the other in accumulated layers. Such is the constant tendency of this water to become stone, that where it exudes from the ground in bubbles, the petrifaction assumes a globular shape, as if the bubbles of a spring, by a stroke of magic, had been arrested in their play, and metamorphosed into marble. These stony bubbles, which form the most curious spe

The impossibility of reaching its extreme summit, even on the side where it is apparently most easy of access, was decided (so we were assured) some years ago by the Pacha of Bayazid. He departed from that city with a large party of horsemen, at the most favourable season, and ascended the mountain on the Bayazid side as high as he could on horseback. He caused three stations to be marked out on the ascent, where he built huts and collected provisions. The third station was the snow. He had no difficulty in crossing the region of snow, but when he came to the great cap of ice that covers the top of the cone, he could proceed no farther, because several of his men were there seized with violent oppressions of the chest from the great rarefaction of the air. He had before offered large rewards to any one who should reach the top, but although many Courds who live at its base have attempted it, all have been equally unsuccessful. Besides the great

The same fact which appears in the Caspian Sea, the Dead Sea, and many other lakes in the globe, is also to be remarked here: I mean the daily reception of a great quantity of water without any visible increase in the lake itself. No less than four-rarefaction of the air, his men had to conteen rivers of different sizes discharge tend with dangers of the falling ice, large themselves into the lake of Shahee; and pieces of which were constantly detaching although from the general character of Per- themselves from the main body and rolling sian rivers, I should not suppose any of down. During the summer, the cap of ice them to be so large as the Jordan, yet on its summit is seen to shine with a glow still collectively they cannot fail to make quite distinct from snow, and if the old inup a very large mass of water. Instead of habitants may be believed, this great conincrease, there are many visible signs of gealed mass has visibly increased since they diminution of the water, from which we first knew it. may conclude, that the evaporation is greater than the supplies from the rivers.

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This lake resembles in many things, to what Sandys calls that cursed lake Asphaltides," or the Dead Sea. Like it, its water seems dull and heavy, and the late Mr. Brown found that it contains more salt than that of the sea. We were informed, that as soon as the rivers disgorge any of their fish into it, they immediately die. We saw swans in the lake, near the coast contiguous to Shirameen. Like the Dead Sea, it also supplies the adjacent country with a salt of beautiful transparency, although the inhabitants generally prefer the rock salt, which is cut from quarries in the neighbourhood of the petrifactions.

Though Mount Ararat has been frequently described, there is so much novelty in Mr. Morier's observations, that

we cannot resist our desire to extract

them; and the memorable nature of the
place would, we are sure, procure our
pardon for a longer and less interesting
narrative:—

During the long time that we were in the

* Lib. xi. c. 12.

+ Shaw, vol. ii. p. 156.

§ Sandys's Travels, 7th edit. p. 110.

The snow-worms, so confidently_mentioned by Strabo as existing in the Caucasus (lib. xi.) and as generally believed by the Persians and Armenians to exist at the present day in the snows of Ararat, appea to be fabulous. We repeatedly offered rewards to those who would bring us one, but never succeeded. The Persians represent them as a small white worm, so excessively cold that one will effectually cool a large bowl of sherbet. In the month of August on approaching towards the top of Ararat, and even at the village of Akhora, the noise of the cracking ice is said to be heard during the hottest part of the day, which is from the hours of two to four. When near the snow the sound is described as most awful, but those who have witnessed the fall of a large inass of ice from the cliffTM into the chasm, declare that nothing can equal the concussion.

"Treman le spaziose atre caverne

E' l'aer cieco a quel rumor rimbomba.” The sign of the greatest heat is when the snow has entirely left the summit of Little Ararat. When encamped on the heights of Aberan, we watched its daily diminution, until it completely vanished. At this period the cultivators of melons cut their fruit, and in gereral the snows of Arara t are used by the agriculturists of Erivan tas a calendar, by which they regulate the SQV

ing, planting, and reaping of their fields. The Eelauts also are guided in their motions by the operations of the weather on this mountain, keeping to their Yelaks, or descending fro:n them according to the falls of snow.

The soil of this great mountain appears to be one immense heap of stones, confusedly thrown together, unenlivened by vegetation. Here and there indeed are a few plants; but Tournefort's circumstantial relation will show how scanty are the gleanings of the botanist. In many parts of the Little Ararat are tracts of a very soft stone, and in others a species of vitrification. Lava is also to be seen, but the soil which most frequently intervenes between the rocks is a deep sand.

The wild animals that inhabit this region are bears, small tigers, lynxes and lions. Perhaps the most dangerous are the serpents, some of which, of a large size, are venomous in the highest degree. They are reputed so fierce as to attack passengers. When we resided in the vicinity of Ararat, a tale was prevalent that a dragon had got possession of the road which leads between the small and greater mountain to Bayazid, and, like the serpent of Regulus, had impeded the passage of the caravans. This proved to be one of the large snakes. The base of Ararat on the banks of the Araxes, is girded by extensive swamps, in which are great quantities of wild boars. In these and on the banks of the river are also immense flocks of wild fowl. On the mountain itself there are many eagles, and a great variety of hawks.

The wilds of this mountain give refuge to all the rogues and outlaws of the surrounding country; and there is a cavern between the great and little Ararat, in so strong a situation, that not long since some turbulent Courds who had taken possession of it, held it in despite of the Serdar and his forces.

We cannot take our leave of this vo- It is therefore evident that this writer lume without again declaring how much feels his own powers, and is satisfied pleasure it has afforded us. It has given with his own muse; the former will us a perfect view of the country, mo- induce him to persevere, and, we trust, rally, politically, and naturally. Even the latter will not prevent him from its external forms are presented in well-improving. In “ Sensibility" we disexecuted wood-cuts, and beautiful plates; cover a larger share of tenderness and some of them richly coloured; and upon good disposition, than of such versificathe whole we may say, that we have tion as we could advantageously quote; here one of the few books where there and the " Stranger," we confess, is to is every thing to praise and nothing to us a long story without sufficient incident to render it interesting. The ballads are far below their prototype Chevy Chase, and an attempt at the ludicrous in a petition to Queen Mab from Timothy Dreamer, with considerable humour in mean images, insomuch as to be occaparts, is deformed by some excessively sionally quite nasty. The best song (page 199) has little originality to boast. From the more pleasing of the minor pieces we select two as specimens of Mr. Harvey's work.

censure.

SENSIBILITY, the STRANGER, and other
Poems. By W. C. Harvey. London,
1818. 8vo. pp. 319.
There is almost every variety of poetical
composition in this volume;-Heroic,
Spencerian, ode, ballad, elegy, song;
yet we cannot say that we have been
struck with any mastery in one or other
of these efforts. In the most successful,
there is a level merit which does not
reach a very high order; and in those
which deserve the least praise, a medio-
crity, or rather inferiority, which ought
to have weeded them from publication.

We are always loath to pronounce an
unfavourable opinion upon the produc-
tions of poets, because we have often
seen a noble harvest succeed a poor pro-
mise; and it is painful to imagine that
cold criticism might damp that genius,
which, encouraged, would become the
delight and honour of the age. In the
present instance we should not fear that
effect, since besides other reasons which
we could assign, the author appears to
possess that happy confidence in his own
powers, which, if any thing can, must
advance him in the ranks of those who
war upon Parnassus.

Having devoted so much of our space to this amusing and valuable work, we After very sensibly remarking that cannot follow the intelligent author fur-youth or haste are poor excuses for obther, even through his highly interesting truding follies or crudities upon the tour to Asterabad over classic ground; nor public, Mr. Harvey, in his preface, states repeat his admirable description of the that Sensibility is one of the earliest of public entrance of the King into Tehe- his productions; but that it has since received the emendations of more mature judgment. He thereupon adds, and it is this which convinces us of his self-security and soaring determination:—

ran.

In conclusion, we have to notice the fact of the universal decline of all the "Persian cities; what is the general character of the country, Mr. Morier thus energetically tells :

In Persia there is nothing to attach the heart-the people (with some exceptions) are false, the soil is dreary, and disease is in the climate. At a distance from civilized life, seldom hearing from our country and friends, without the resources of society, the life we led was little better than a state of exile. My regrets, which were confined to parting from those who had been my companions, were heightened by the thought that I left them to pursue that life which had been so irksome to myself.

He does not, however, presume to assert that it has not yet several defects, for these are inseparable from the works of poets of all ages, as well as of those who at the present day are so highly established in the public favour.

Again he says:—

Of the miscellaneous poems, the author has only to observe, that they were written at different periods, and that he is sanguine enough to anticipate a favourable reception for many of them, if others should be deemed objectionable.

SUNDAY.

Now six laborious days are gone

The Sabbath-bells are tolling,
With many a spirit-thrilling tone,

To pray'rs and praises knolling.
With gladden'd eyes the village see

The welcome season dawning,
Put on their Sunday-clothes with glee,
And hail the sacred morning.

Each blooming lass is proud to wear

Her newest gown and bonnet,
While dames of three-score whisper near,
And moralise upon it.

Jocund of heart they seem, in sooth,

Stout Will now 'squires his Nannie, Bald seventy takes the arm of youth, The prattler leads his grannie.

Oh, 'tis methinks, a pleasant sight,

When neighbours thus are meeting,
When ev'ry countenance is bright,

And smiles with smiles are greeting.
Thrice welcome is the day of rest,
To them a cheerful season;
Devotion fills each glowing breast,
But 'tis the fruit of reaso...
And as they leave the house of pray'r,
The solemn service ended,
They to their humble homes repair,

With hearts and morals mended.

And when at home, each breast dilates
With joys that have no measure,
And each his ev'ning consecrates
To calm domestic pleasure.

INSCRIPTION FOR A SUN-DIAL.
Mortal, while the sunny beam,
Tells thee here, how time is gliding;
Haste the moments to redeem,
For eternity providing.
Winters pass, and springs renew,
In maturity advancing,
Youth, to pleasure sighs "Adieu,"
In the fields of childhood dancing.

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ITALY AND SICILY. [Second extract from Travels of Kephalides.] THE LAZZARONI.-After the army of Murat had been entirely disorganized in the immense race from the Po to Naples, and the Imperial army, in spite of all its efforts, had been unable to overtake it, the government of Joachim naturally began to be dreadfully shaken in the city itself; and as it was really odious to the majority (since the Italians seek relief, and at least find amusement in every change,) and of course hateful to those of the opposite party, the Lazzaroni, during this intervening period when Murat was already hurled from the throne, though the Austrians had not entered the city, took advantage of the opportunity, under the pretext of replacing the Bourbons on the throne, to set Naples on fire and to plunder whatever they could. They therefore assembled under their chiefs, for each separate quarter of the city has its Capolazzarone over it, hired, beforehand, warehouses in which to lodge the fruits of their pillage, and regularly portioned out the city for the purpose of plunder. They also combined, by a secret conspiracy, with the many thousand prisoners who are collected from all parts of the kingdom in the Castle del Carmine; and if these wretches had got loose, they would as it were have torn the unhappy city to pieces. The citizens, however, immediately formed out of their own body a numerous guard, which was joined by a great many officers belonging to the broken up regiments; and these were at that time the deliverers of the city. The prisoners in the Castle del Carmine had, by the treachery of a gaoler, freed them selves from their chains, and had already got into the first court yard, when the city guard, in the greatest haste, planted some howitzers on the roof of the nearest house, and fired at these banditti, partly from the house with grenades, and partly through the grates of the windows with small arms, till those who were not killed or wounded fled back into their dens. An equally active and successful war was made upon the Lazzaroni; wherever any of these poor devils were found together, they were shot without ceremony; and it is very probable that many of them fell the innocent victims of private revenge, though they, on their side, defended themselves with stones, pistols, and daggers, and sent many of the city guard into the other world. At length, after a week's painful anxiety, the Aus

trians marched into the city, in a column
that filled the whole breadth of the Toledo,
at once drove all the vagrants out of that
important street, and then placed piquets
of Hungarian dragoons at the corners of
the streets, who also cut down a consider-
able number of the Lazzaroni, after which
the city was more tranquil. Yet still no-
thing but the Sicilian or Austrian cockade
could afford protection from their savage
fury; for instance, they tore off from the
uniforms of the military their French Or-
ders, and many of them atoned for these
disorders with their lives; the chief leader
was a fanatical priest.

which the world in general are less interested than the squabbles of authors: but as I intend to make no angry accusation, and am conscious that my assertions will be irrefragable, I may indulge the hope that this letter will not come under the above description.

You, and many of your readers, have, perhaps, seen advertised, a work by Walter Scott, entitled the "Border Antiquities of England and Scotland," in 2 vols. 4to. With what justice, however, that gentleman assumes to himself the entire authorship of the work in question, you will be able to judge, when I tell you that very THE POPE.-At this time there was a nearly half of it was written by myself. great number of Austrian officers at Rome, It is not necessary that I should retail the so that scarcely a day passed on which seve- circumstances which induced me to relinral strangers did not get introduced to the quish proceeding with it, after having comPope. Among the rest, a Bohemian lieu-pleted the first volume. It is enough for tenant, who understood not a word of any my purpose, that I did relinquish it; that language besides his own native dialect, Mr. Walter Scott afterwards completed it, wished to have an audience of His Holi- and that, upon its publication in an entire ness. The Pope, whose condescension does form,. (for it came out originally in quarnot allow any person to be refused admit- terly parts) he has placed his name in the tance to him, was previously informed how title page, as the writer of the whole, withdifficult it would be to have any conversa- out any intimation to the contrary, in any tion with this Bohemian. When the au- part of the introductory matter; which, dience commenced, therefore, His Holiness, for aught I know to the contrary, is enwith some embarrassinent, merely said to tirely his. Most persons, I apprehend, the lieutenant, at the same time clapping will consider this proceeding as not quite him on the shoulder, "Bravo guerrière, reconcileable with candour. bravo guerrière." The true-hearted Bohemian, hastily seized the hand of His Holiness, shook it heartily, and said, "Bravo Papa, bravo Papa," at which the Pope could not help laughing heartily, and so they parted.

THE CATHOLIC SERVICE.-The more we

I have been partly tempted to advance this claim, for the sake of mentioning two amusing facts, as connected with the sagacity of periodical critics. During the time that the work was publishing in detached portions, it was reviewed in one of our most respectable monthly journals, and the have had occasion to be edified by the dig-reviewer, misled, no doubt, by the nature nity and the sublime solemnity of the Ca- of the subject, confidently affirmed, from tholic service in our own country, the the internal evidence of the style, that it was from the pen of Walter Scott; and when, greater was our surprise at finding it so disfigured in Italy-its true country: nay, by an odd coincidence, it afterwards came the soul is not even elevated by tolerable forth with the name of that gentleman in music in the Italian churches; they trum- the title page, I assure you the said reviewer reminded his readers, with no little pet and pipe without reason as if for an Opera, and play the organ as for a dance. exultation, of the accuracy of his previous In Sun Luigi di Francesi, at Rome, we judgment. I need hardly add, that at the heard the complete music of an Opera per- time it was thus gratuitously assigned to formed, in honour of the Bourbons; and the pen of Walter Scott, he had not written whereas we had expected to have in Italy the finest sacred music, we had this pleasure only once, but then indeed in almost divine perfection, in the Sixtine Chapel.

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

CURIOUS LITERARY CASE.
November 4, 1818.
To the Editor of the Literary Gazette.
SIR,

If you agree with me in thinking that the
following statement deserves to be made
public, you will probably allow it a place in
the pages of your really excellent publica-
tion. I am aware there are few things about

a line of it.

Similarly unfortunate has been a more recent critic, who, in reviewing the work as Walter Scott's, has perversely enough selected most of his examples from that portion of it which was written by myself, and which are cited as felicitous specimens of Mr. Scott's style.

Now, Mr. Editor, ought I to be angry or pleased at these blunders? They who adinire Mr. Scott's prose, as much as they do his poetry, will decide for the latter: but, for myself, it is really so weighty a point, that, without your assistance, I am afraid I cannot make up my mind upon it. One thing, however, is indisputable; I have no right to be thankful for the petty larceny

he has committed upon my property.
I remain, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,
WM. MUDFORD.

ROYAL EVENING CONVERSATIONS. To the Editor of the Literary Gazette. SIR,

On reading, in your last Number, the remarks of your correspondent Ignotus relative to those Conversations, an idea strikes me, which, natural and obvious as it appears, did never before occur to my mind. It is this-that, some few copies of the original edition having eluded the vigilance of the Prussian government, and escaped the general destruction-an abridgement may have been printed from one of them; and the copy in my possession, which I had been taught to consider as the original, may, after all, be only a copy of that abridgement.

cated his new work to Voltaire, who was so much exasperated at an observation that occurred in it, as to mark him out thenceforward as an object of the most deadly and rancorous hatred. La Beaumelle's crime consisted in the following remark: "There have been greater poets than Voltaire; but never was any one so richly rewarded."Voltaire, whose self-conceit was not to be assailed with impunity, rendered his further abode at Berlin so unpleasant, that he was obliged to quit it in 1752. His hatred, however, did not stop here, but followed him into France, and even into the very dungeons of the Bastille, where he is supposed to have been mainly instrumental in confining him. La B. remained confined here for six months after obtaining his emanciAdmitting this supposition, those pas-pation, he employed himself in editing sages, which I had conceived to be inter- "Madame de Maintenon's Letters," and polations in the copy that furnished the writing the memoirs which accompany anonymous extracts, may perhaps be omis- them. This publication consigned him sions in mine. once more to the regions of the Bastille. On regaining his liberty, he retired into the country, where he married the daughter of the celebrated lawyer, Lavaisse, of Toulouse, who was implicated in the unfortunate affair of Calas. On the invitation of one of the ladies of the household, he returned to Paris in 1772, and was indebted to her for the office of King's librarian: he did not live long to enjoy his new dignity, for his existence in 1773, when he had scarcely an inflammation on the lungs terminated attained the 46th year of his age.

This, however, is bare conjecture; and,
as such only, I offer it to your readers.
I am, Sir, &c. &c.
JOHN CAREY.

West Square, November 2.

To the Editor of the Literary Gazette. SIR,

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The M. de la Beaumelle, to whom your correspondent alludes, was one of the most interesting and nervous writers of his day. His "Memoirs of Madame de Maintenon," ranks among the most perfect works of that class which exist in the French language; and the deserved reputation they acquired for him was still further established by his Letters to Voltaire" in answer to the "Supplement to the History of the Age of Louis XIV." Of these letters a contemporary critic has justly observed:-"We are not acquainted with any polemical work which abounds more than his in intelligence, vivacity, nervousness, and a flow of eloquence, which infers in its possessor as much vigour of soul as warmth of imagination. Voltaire did not think fit to venture any other reply to it but a few sallies which were injurious to his own cause alone."

I think your correspondent has confounded the "Matinées Royales" with de la Beaumelle's celebrated "Pensées, ou le Qu'en dira-t-on ?"-a little volume as replete with profound views, brilliant ideas, and just criticisms, as it is distinguished by the nervous and perspicuous manner in which the writer has expressed his senti

ments.

The story of La Beaumelle's quarrel with Voltaire is curious. La Beaumelle had quitted Copenhagen under an impression that the publication of his "Pensées" in that city, where he had been called to the professorship of French history and literature, had rendered a longer residence there inconsistent with a regard for his personal safety. He accordingly withdrew in 1751, to Berlin, where Voltaire was then the literary despot. Here he communi

Besides the works already mentioned, he
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wrote a
of which, the same distinguished critic,
Commentary on the Henriade,"
whose opinions I have cited, speaks as
being the best book of literary criticism
which can be put into the hands of youth,
in order to form their taste and judgment.

I am Sir,

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Having observed in the Literary Gazette two relations of Apparitions, and knowing how incredulous the age we live in is, through blind infatuation, and for want of more rational knowledge in these particulars, I beg to submit, for your insertion and your readers perusal, such remarks as the serious and scientific mind, at leisure for meditation, may profit by, if not ultimately succeed in demonstrating the truth of the same to the conviction of gainsayers.

The human mind is exposed to two extremes of conclusions, not convictions, I mean credulity and incredulity.

Of these two extremes of inental concludulity is certainly a more praiseworthy state sion, allow me to say, that an excess of creof thought in man than incredulity, neither of which a rational man should be too susreason to his aid, to enable him to draw an ceptible of, without calling in enlightened illustrious rational inference on such important subjects as concern futurity.

If rational inferences cannot be drawn by certain characters, for want of mental ability, surely their understandings of Holy Writ should dispose them to favour the existence and possibility of such supernatural appearances being true, while the scriptures stand before them, rather than lead them to a negation of such manifestations. I assure you, I have met with many characters in life who, because others deny such appearances, assume the same tenet, and deny such appearances also, not from any judicious conviction of their own, but in the company of infidels. because they would not look ridiculous Such men as these are in a pitiable state, because I know them to have neither intellect nor scientific attainments enough to think for

themselves.

The following strange production will probably create some surprise in those Second Sight was confined to Scotland, who have hitherto believed that the and superstition found no where in Europe now, but among the French and German magnetizers. We will confess that its novelty, we will not say absurdity, has so amused us, that we can scarcely doubt who have thought for themselves on the Now, as there are many men among us its being amusing to the majority of our possibility of the existence of Spiritual readers. At all events we put in our Vision in man, but could not arrive at conclaim to the promised proof of super-viction in their own minds, allow me to natural vision offered to us, and our friends may be assured that we shall communicate the result to them. As we shall not, however, print above one or two thousand additional Literary Gazettes on this occasion, we beg to be favoured with their orders as early as possible, to prevent disappointment!

occupy a column or two of your paper, in endeavouring to demonstrate to them the moral certainty that such vision is as real as Natural Vision, and may be acquired by two classes of persons; first, by any pious, serious, and sincere obedient and intelligent Christian; or, secondly, by any scientific naturalist, who proscribes to himself no limits to his inclinations. I will, there

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