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utmost perfection, Ireland is, no doubt, equalled by several other countries, and even surpassed by some. But with respect to the aggregate of these advantages, and to the more important ones among them, there can be little risk in affirming, that Ireland tanks considerably above almost any known country in the world. Yet it is a melancholy truth, that, owing to a tissue of political circumstances of an unpropitious nature, she has ever been greatly surpassed, in point of national conspicuity, and the blessings resulting from that general civilization which ordinarily accompanies increasing national wealth, by other countries much less bounteously endowed by the Almighty.

"A View of the Political Situation of the Province of Upper Canada; in which her physical Capacity is stated, and the Means of diminishing her Burthens, increasing her Value, and securing her Connection with Great Britain, are fully considered," by JOHN MILES JACKSON, is a work which appears to have been written by one, who was well acquainted with the subjects of which he treats, and is a good supplement to the full Account of Canada, lately published by Mr. Heriot. Memoirs of the King's Supremacy, und of the Rise, Progress, and Results of the Supremacy of the Pope, in different ages and Nations, as far as it relates to Civil Affairs," by THOMAS BROOKE CLARKE, D.D. is a learned and judicious treatise, comprehending a more full account of that prerogative, which the King enjoys as supreme head of the Church of England, than is to be found in any preceding work.

"Six Letters on the Subject of Dr. Milner's Explanation, relative to the Proposal in the last Session of Parliament for admitting the King's Veto in the Election of Roman Catholic Bishops; and the Royal Veto in the Appointment of the Irish Roman Catholic Prelacy, considered, in Reply to the Right Rev. Dr. Milner," will be found interesting to those who take a concern in the Catholic Question, or who have attended to the controversy to which the pamphlet before us more particularly relates.

The Investigation into the Conduct of his Royal Highness the Duke of York has, as might have been expected, given rise to an abundant crop of publications. The Speeches of the most distinguished Members of the House of Commons, who spoke on that occasion, have been published in separate pamphlets. Of MONTHLY MAG. No. 187.

these, the Speeches of Mr. BURTON and Mr. PERCEVAL will be found to contain the strongest vindication of the Royal Duke; and those of Mr. WHITBREAD and Sir FRANCIS BURDETT, the most cogent arguments against him.

There has appeared also, "A Correct and Authentic Copy of the Evidence taken before the House of Commons, on the Charges exhibited against his Royal Highness the Duke of York."-As this is a copy of the Reports which were printed by order of the House of Commons, for the use of its Members on this extraor dinary and interesting occasion, it may be regarded as official.

The Orders in Council, and the Affairs of India, have both given rise to some minor publications; but nothing has appeared on either of the subjects of sufficient consequence to entitle them to notice.

DRAMA.

Owing, probably, to the destruction of the two winter theatres by fire, the drama has yielded an unusually scanty crop for the last six months.

Mr. ARNOLD'S "Man and Wife, or, more Secrets than One," is equal to the general run of modern comedies; but it possesses no striking qualities, to recommend it to particular notice.

Mrs. INCHBALD has completed her selection, called the "British Theatre," in twenty-five volumes. The typographical execution, and decorations of the work, demand our warmest approbation; and it would be injustice to the fair editor, not to say, that she has performed her part with as much skill and taste, as could be expected from a contemporary writer, herself an author in the same department of literature.

NOVELS.

The most popular work in this class, which has appeared since our last Supplement, is, Calebs in Search of a Wife," a novel, of a methodistical cast, which has acquired a temporary degree of celebrity; and is attributed to the pen of Miss HANNAH MOORE. The work is not to be considered so inuch as a fictitious tale, as a velucle for conveying those sentiments, principles, and observations, which, for a series of years, Miss Moore has been in the habit of recom mending to the public, in a more serious form. It is difficult to quarrel with good things, let us find them where we may. Piety and religion are entitled to our veneration, wherever we meet with them. But, surely, there is something Incongruous,

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incongruous, in making a novel a medium for conveying to the world disquisitions on controversial divinity. We will not venture to touch on those points of Mrs. Moore's religious faith, which she has introduced into her work. Such topics, as they are unsuitable to the place where she has introduced them, so it would be indecorous to mention them here; where we could not have an opportunity to discuss them with a gravity, a decency, and solemnity, equal to their importance. We shall confine ourselves, then, to a very brief outline of the story itself, and leave the parts that are ob jectionable in the management of it to those, to whom subjects so grave more naturally belong. The great object kept in view, throughout the whole of Miss Moore's novel, is the enforcement of certain religious principles; of which, it is well known, she has long been one of the most adinired, and indefatigable supporters; and next to that, the condemnation of certain fashionable pleasures, and relaxations; which, from the first appearance of the sect, to which Miss Moore belongs, have always been peculiar objects of the disapprobation of that sect. We have imposed upon ourselves a restraint from going into the thorny paths of controversy, otherwise we could very easily shew, that in the best times, in what we may call the pri mitive and apostolic age of the English church, there was none of that rigour and sourness which Miss Moore recommends. But again, the present is not a fit place for such controversies; at the same time, we must observe, that methodism, in religion, is synonimous with empiricism in medicine; and that the quacks in one profession, are as dangerous and mischievous as those in the other. The hero of Miss MOORE's piece, "Calebs," is a young man of independent fortune, in search of a virtuous partner, with whom he may unite himself for life. He meets with various ladies of different qualities, but none suitable for a wife, till he finds Miss STANLEY, who had been educated in that sort of religious methodism, which Miss MOORE, in her works on female education, has recommended; and who is a perfect model of that system. The story is simple, and the characters that are introduced, are not numerous, but they are well and skilfully drawn. As a general specimen of the work, we are tempted to introduce the following description, protesting, however, for ourselves, as well as for all

fathers and mothers in the United King dom, against that fastidiousness, which would banish from our desserts the sweetest flowers of our houses, and the best pearls and jewels, with which our wives can be adorned. Of his first introduction into fashionable life, Calebs tells his own story in the following words:

"On the tiptoe of expectation, I went to dine with Sir John Belfield, in Cavendishsquare. I looked at my watch fifty times. I thought it would never be six o'clock. I did not care to shew my country breeding, by going too early, to incommode my friend; nor my town breeding, by going too late, and spoiling his dinner. Sir John is a valuable, stood highest in my father's esteem, for his elegant-minded man, and, next to Mr.Stanley, mental accomplishments, and correct morais. As I knew he was remarkable for assembling at his table, men of sense, taste, and learning my expectations of pleasure were very high. Here, at least,' (said I) as I heard the name of one clever man, announced after another, here, at least, I cannot fail to find

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The feast of reason, and the flow of soul:

Here, at least, all the energies of my mind
will be brought into exercise. From this
society, I shall carry away documents for the
improvement of my taste; I shall treasure
collect aphorisms for the conduct of life.
up hints to enrich my understanding, and

introduce any conversation beyond the topics
"At first, there was no fair opportunity to
of the day, and to those it must be confessed,
this eventful period gives a new and powerful
interest. I should have been much pleased
to have had my country politics rectified, and
any prejudices, which I might have con-
tracted, removed, or softened, could the dis-
cussion have been carried on, without the
frequent interruption of the youngest man in
the company. This gentleman broke in on
every remark, by discanting successively on
the merits of the various dishes; and, if it be
true, that experience only can determine the
judgment, he gave that best right to pe
remptory decision, by not trusting to delusive
theory, but by actually eating of every dish
at table.

"His animadversions were uttered with the gravity of a German philosopher, and the science of a French cook. If any of his opi nions happened to be controverted, he quoted, in confirmation of his own judgments

Almanac des Gourmands, which he assured ut was the most valuable work that had ap author of this book he seemed to consider peared in France since the revolution. The as high authority in the science of eating, at Coke or Hale in that of jurisprudence, or Quintilian in the art of criticism. To the credit of the company, however, be it spoken,

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he had the whole of this topic to himself. The rest of the party were, in general, of quite a different calibre, and as little acquainted with his favourite author, as he probably was with theirs.

"The lady of the house was perfectly amiable and well bred. Her dinner was excellent; and every thing about her had an air of elegance and splendor: of course, she completely escaped the disgrace of being a scholar, but not the suspicion of having a very good taste. I longed for the removal of the cloth, and was eagerly anticipating the pleasure and improvement which awaited me.

"As soon as the servants were beginning to withdraw, we got into a sort of attitude of conversation; all, except the eulogist of l'Almanac des Gourmands, who, wrapping himself up in the comfortable consciousness of his own superior judgment, and a little piqued that he had found neither support, nor opposition, (the next best thing to a professed talker,) he seemed to have a perfect indifference to all topics, except that on which he had shewn so much eloquence, with so little effect.

"The last tray was now carried out, and the last lingering servant had retired; when I was beginning to listen with all my powers of attention to an ingenious gentleman, who was about to give an interesting account of Egypt, where he had spent a year, and from whence he was lately returned. He was just got to the catacombs,

When, on a sudden, open fly, With impetuous recoil, and jarring sound, the mahogany folding-doors, and in at once, struggling who should be first, rushed half a dozen children, lovely, fresh, gay, and noisy. This sudden and violent irruption of the pretty barbarians, necessarily caused a total interruption of conversation. The sprightly creatures ran round the table, to chuse where they would sit. At length, this great diffi culty of courts and cabinets, the choice of places, was settled. The little things were jostled in between the ladies, who all contended who should get possession of the little beauties. One was in rapture at the rosy cheeks of a sweet girl, she held in her lap a second exclaimed aloud, at the beautiful lace with which the frock of another was trimmed, and which she was sure mamma had given her for being good. A profitable, and doubtless, a lasting and inseparable association was thus formed, in the child's mind, between lace and goodness. A third cried out, 'Look at the little beauty, do but observe, her bracelets are as blue as her eyes. Did you ever see such a match? Surely, lady Belfield, cried a fourth, you carried the eyes to the shop, or there must have been a shade of difference.' I, myself, who am passionately fond of children, eyed the sweet little rebels with complacency, notwith standing the unreasonableness of their interruption.

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"At last, when they were all disposed of, I resumed my enquiries about the restingplace of the mummies. But the grand dispute, who should have oranges, and who should have almonds and raisins, soon raised such a clamour, that it was impossible to hear my Egyptian friend. This great contest was, however, at length settled; and I was returned to the antiquities of Memphis, when the important point, who should have red wine, and who should have white, who should have half a glass, and who a whole glass, set us again in an uproar. Sir John was visibly uneasy, and commanded silence. During this interval of peace, I gave up the catacombs, and took refuge in the pyramids. I had no sooner proposed my question about the serpent, said to be found in one of them, than the son and heir, a fine little fellow, j st six years old, reaching out his arm, to dart an apple across the table at his sister, roguishly intending to overset her glass, unluckily overthrew his own, brim-full of port wine. The whole contents were discharged on the elegant drapery of a white-robed nymph.

"All was now agitation and distress, and disturbance and confusion, the gentlemen ringing for napkins, and the ladies assisting the dripping fair one; each vying with the other who should recommend the most approved specific for getting out the stain of red wine, and comforting the sufferer by stories of similar misfortunes. The poor little culprit was dismissed, and all difficul ties and disasters seemed at last surmounted. But you cannot heat up again an interest that has been so often cooled. The thread of conversation had been so frequently broken, that I sorrowfully gave up catacombs, pyramids, I despaired of seeing it tied together again. and serpent, and was obliged to content myself with a little desultory chat with my next neighbour. Sorry and disappointed to glean only a few scattered ears, where I had expected so large a harvest; and the day from which I promised myself so much benefit acquisition of either." and delight, passed away with a very slender

Ranby, one of those that "thought hardly The following characterestic trait of Mrs. any body would be saved," is excellent in its

kind.

"In the evening, Mrs. Ranby was lamenther own exceeding sinfulness. ing in general, or rather customary terms, Mr. Ranby said, You accuse yourself rather too harshly, my dear; you have sins to be sure." 'And she, turning upon him with so much quickpray what sins have I, Mr. Ranby?" said said he meekly, I did not mean to offend ness that the poor man started. Nay, demn yourself so grievously, I intended to you; so far from it, that hearing you confaults-, And pray what faults?' intercomfort you, and to say, that except a few rupted she, continuing to speak, however, lest he should catch an interval to tell them.

I dery

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I defy you, Mr. Ranby, to produce one. My dear,' replied he, as you charged your. self with all, I thought it would be letting you off cheaply by naming only two or three, such as Here, fearing matters would go too far, I interposed; and softening things as well as I could for the lady, said, I conceived that Mr. Ranby meant, that, though she partook of the general corruption,'-here Ranby interrupting me with more spirit than I thought he possessed, said, General corruption, sir, must be the source of particular corruption. I did not mean that my wife was worse than other women.' Worse, Mr. Ranby, worse!' cried she. Ranby, for the first time in his life not minding her, went on. As she is always insisting that the whole species is corrupt, she cannot help allowing that she herself has not quite escaped the infection. Now to be a sinner in the gross, and a saint in the detail-that is to have all sins and no faults-is a thing I do not quite comprehend.'

"After he had left the room, which he did, as the shortest way of allaying the storm, she apologizing for him, said, He was a well meaning man, and aced up to the little light he had ;' but added, that he was unacquainted with religious feelings, and knew little of the nature of convertion.'

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"Mrs. Ranby, I found, seems to think Christianity as a kind of freemasonry, and therefore thinks it superfluous to speak on serious subjects to any but the initiated. If they do not return the sign, she gives them up as blind and dead. She thinks she can only make herself intelligible to those to whom certain peculiar phrases are familiar; and though her friends may be correct, devout, and both doctrinally and practically pious, yet if they cannot catch a certain mystic meaning-if there is not a sympathy of intelligence between them and her, if they do not fully conceive of impressions, and cannot respond to mysterious communications, she holds them unworthy of intercourse with her. She does not so much insist on high moral excellence as the criterion of their worth, as on their own account of their internal feelings."

The following character is drawn with great discrimination and spirit, and for the moral it conveys, we are glad to give it a place in our pages. Sir Jolin carried me one morning to call on Lady Denham, a dowager of fashion, who had grown old in the trammels of the world. Though she seems resolved to die in the harness, yet she piques herself on being very religious, and no one inveighs against infidelity or impiety with more pointed censure." She has a gran daughter," said Sir John, who lives with her, and whom she has trained to walk precisely in her own steps, and which she thinks is the way she should go. The girl,' added he, is well-looking, and will have a handsome for

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tune, and I am persuaded that, as my friend, I could procure you a good reception."

"We were shewn into her dressing-room, where we found her with a book lying open before her. From a glance which I caught of the large black letter, I saw it was a Week's Preparation. This book, it seems, constantly lay open before her from breakfast till dinner, at this season. It was Passion week. But as this is the room in which she sees all her morning visitors, to none of whom she is ever denied, even at this period of retreat, she could only pick up momentary snatches of reading in the short intervals between one person going out and another coming in. Miss Denham sat by, painting flowers.

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"Sir John asked her, If she would go and dine in a family way with lady Belfeld. She drew up, looked grave, and said, with much solemnity, That she should never think of going abroad at this holy season. Sir John said, as we have neither cards nor company, I thought you might as well have eaten your chicken in my house as in your own. though she thought it a sin to dine with a sober family, she made herself amends for the sacrifice, by letting us see that her heart was brimful of the world, pressed down, and running over. She indemnified herself for her abstinence from its diversions, by indulging in the only pleasure which she thought compatible with the sanctity of the season-uncharitable gossip, and unbounded caluminy. She should not touch a card, but she played over to Sir John the whole game of the preceding Saturday night; told him by what a shameful inattention her partner had lost the odd trick; and that she should not have been beaten after all, had not her adversary, she verily believed, contrived to look over her hand.

Sir John seized the only minute in which we were alone, to ask her to add a guinea to a little sum he was collecting for a poor tradesman with a large family, who had been burnt out a few nights ago. His wife,' added he, was your favourite maid Dixes, and both are deserving people.'-' Ab, por Dixon! She was always unlucky,' replied the lady. How could they be so careless! Surely they might have put the fire out suoner. They should not have let it get a head. I wonder people are not more active.'-' k is too late to inquire about that,' said Sir John, the question now is, not how their loss might have been prevented, but how it may be repaired. I am really quite sorry," said she, that I can give you nothing. I have had so many calls lately, that my cha rity purse is completely exhausted—and that abominable income-tax makes me quite a beggar.'

While she was speaking, I glanced on the open leaf at Charge them that are fich in this world that they be ready to give—, and directing my eye further, it fell un➡ Be

not deceived. God is not mocked. These were the awful passages which formed a part of her Preparation, and this was the practical

use she made of them.

"A dozen persons of both sexes "had their exits and their entrances" during our stay; for the scene was so strange, and the character so new to me, that I felt unwilling to stir. Among other visitors, was Signor Squallini, a favourite opera singer, whom she patronized. Her face was lighted up with joy, at the sight of him. He brought her an admired new air in which he was preparing himself, and sung a few notes, that she might say she heard it the first. She felt all the dignity of the privilege, and extolled the air with all the phrases, cant, and rapture, of dilettanticism.

"After this, she drew a paper from between the leaves of her still open book, which she shewed him. It contained a list of all the company she had engaged to attend his benefit. I will call on some others,' said she, to-morrow after prayers. I am sorry this is a week in which I cannot see my friends at their assemblies; but on Sunday, you know, it will be over, and I shall have my house full in the evening. Next Monday will be Easter, and I shall be at our dear Duchess's private masquerade, and then I hope to see and engage the whole world. Here are ten guineas,' said she, in a half whisper to the grateful Signor, you may mention what I gave for my ticket, and it may set the fashion going. She then pressed a ticket on Sir John, and another on me. He declined, saying, with a great sang froid, 'You know we are Handelians. What excuse I made I do not well know; I only know that I saved my ten guineas with a very bad grace, but felt bound in conscience to add them to that I had before subscribed to poor Dixon.

"Hitherto I had never seen the gnatstrainer, and the camel-swallower, so strikingly exemplified. And it is observable how forcibly the truth of Scripture is often illustrated by those who live in the boldest opposition to it. If you have any doubt while you are reading, go into the world, and your

belief will be confirmed.

"As we took our leave she followed us to the door. I hoped it was with the guinea for the fire; but she only whispered Sir John, though he did not go himself, to prevail on such and such ladies to go to Squallini's benefit. Pray do,' said she, it will be charity. Poor fellow! he is sadly out at elbows; he has a liberal spirit, and can hardly make his large income do.'

When we got into the street, we admired the splendid chariot and laced liveries of this indigent professor, for whom our charity had been just solicited, and whose liberal spirit, my friend assured me, consisted in sumptuous fiving, and indulgence of every fashionable

vice."

We shall conclude our extracts from this werk, with what may be considered as Miss

MOORE's defence of herself and the party to whom she belongs. "I have sometimes amused myself (says Mr Stanley) with making a collection of certain things, which are now considered and held up by a pretty large class of men, as an infallible symptom of methodism. Those which at present occur to my recollection are as follows. Going to church in the afternoon, maintaining family-prayers, not travelling nor giving great dinners or other entertainments on Sundays, rejoicing in the abolition of the slave trade, promoting religious instruction of the poor at home, subscribing to the Bible Society, and contributing to establish Christianity abroad. These, though the man attend no eccentric clergyman, hold no one enthusiastic doctrine, associate with no fanatic, is sober in his own conversation, consistent in his practice, correct in his whole deportment, will infallibly fix on him the charge of methodism. Any one of these will excite suspicion, but all united will not fail absolutely to, stigmatize him. The most devoted attachment to the estab

lishment will avail him nothing, if not accompanied with a fiery intolerance towards all who differ. Without intolerance, his charity is construed into unsoundness, and his candour into disaffection. He is accused with assimilating with the principles of every weak brother whom, though his judgment compels him to blame, his candour forbids him to calumniate. Saint and hypocrite are now, in the scoffer's lexicon, become convertible terms; the last being always implied where the first is sneeringly used."

Miss MOORE's novel, as might have been expected, has given rise to some imitations, such as " Celia in Search of a Husband," &c. &c. bat like the generality of imitations, they are very much inferior to the original.

Athens," and Mr. CUMBERLAND'S "John MISS OWEN'S "Woman, or Ida of the novels of note published in the last de Lancaster," may be mentioned among six months; they are, however, so unequal to some former productions of the same writers, that the sooner they are forgotten the better.

public mind from the "Batchelor" of Some expectation was raised in the Mr. MOORE, better known by the name of Anacreon MOORE; but it would be difficult, even amid the mass of modern publications, to point out one so destitute of every qualification to render it worthy of notice.

FINE ARTS.

The last half year has been more than usually fruitful in publications connected with the Fine Arts. Under this class, Art; a Poem, in Six Cantos, with Notes we prefer arranging the "Elements of and a Preface; including Strictures on

the

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