LITERARY CRITICISM,

quaintance with the form and structure of a ship, with a

quantum sufficit of naval slang. At one time or another On Naval Timber and Arboriculture; with Critical Notes also, it is possible that he may have been under-forester

on Authors who have recently treated the subject of to some nobleman or gentleman in the neighbourhood. Planting.

By Patrick Matthew. Adam Black, | At all events, he has now amassed a little wealth ; is Edinburgh. Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and owner of a couple of sea vessels that trade from Perth or Green, London. 1831.

Dundee to the Baltic; and, in a word, he considers himThis is a publication of as great promise, and as paltry self as fully competent to enlighten the world on “ Naval performance, as ever came under our critical inspection. Architecture and Arboriculture.” From its title, “ On Naval Timber and Arboriculture,” We have always considered it as a fortunate circum- ' it will probably attract readers; but the intelligent among stance, when an author has the talent of delineating bis them will suffer considerable disappointment in the per

own character, and especially in the front of his book, u sal, as we must say that there are not ten pages of which saves a reviewer much trouble. We shall, there- ' really new matter in the volume, on those interesting fore, give Mr Matthew's Prerace entire, as it is short, subjects. Whoever is conversaut with any tolerable trea- and conveys a tolerable taste of his style and genius. tise on ship-building, and with three or four of the best “ It may be thought presumptuous in a person who : modern works on planting (now fashionably called Ar- has never had the curiosity to peruse the British classic boriculture), will find that the book furnishes a very su- authors on planting and timber,-Evelyn, HANBURY, perficial view indeed of what they have there learned, Marshall, Miller, Postey,—to make experiment of

hashed up a-new for the booksellers, with the sauc: pi. the public sufferance. The author does not, however, - quante of " Critical Notes on recent writers ;" that is, a think any apology necessary; as, if the public lose time

Fulgar, petulant, and outrageous abuse of the most distin- unprofitably over his pages, he considers the blame atguished among them; of Sir Walter Scott, of Sir Henry tachable to them, not to him. A writer does not obtrude as Steuart, of Messrs Loudon, Cruickshank, Monteath, a speaker does, but merely places his thoughts within reach. and even of Mr Withers himself, the Norfolk attorney ;

“ As the subject, notwithstanding its great importance, which last the author has felicitously selected as the might be felt, per se, dry and insipid? by the general archetype of his genius, and the model of bis style. reader, accustomed to the luxuries of modern literature, Tith more knowledge of the subject than the atwrney the author has not scrupled to mix with it such collateral for less he could not well possess), he is a ten times worse matter as he thought might serve to correct the aridity, writer ; while, for invate self-sufficiency and conceit, he The very great interest of the question regarding species, beats the attorney all to nothing. The plan and system variety, babit, has perhaps led him a little too wide. of his tacties is this :-If I, Patrick Matthes, have cou- “ There is one advantage in taking a subject of this rage enough to treat with consummate arrogance and kind, that few professional (literary] critics can meddle syperiority such writers as these ; it I at once call in with it, further than as regards style and language, with-, question their knowledge, and reprobate their practice, out exposing their own ignorance. Yet will the author holding out practice of my own, or pretended to be my experience the highest pleasure in being instructed and own, as much better, in its stead, how immeasurably sus corrected, wherever his knowledge may be found defecperior must I not appear in the eyes of the reader, who, tive, or when speculation or misconception of facts have i nine times in ten, is gulled by fearless claims and cool [has) led him into error. Knowledge and truth is (are] ness of assurance! Thus, I shall at once dash into public mental strength and healtlı ; ignorance and error weaknotice, and must support my pretensions, with the same pess and disease. The man who parsues science for its vigour and imperturbable countenance that puffep them own sake, and not the pride of possession, will feel more off

. But this, as Partridye says, is a non sequitur, Mr gratitude towards the surgeon who dislodges a cataract Matthew, as you will perhaps find, on putting it to the from the mind's eye, than towards the one who repairs proof. We know of do virtue, no quality in a distin- the defect of the bodily organ." guished writer, so attractive as MODESTY, or the absence After marking in Italics the peculiar beauties of this of all presumption of his own superiority, real or fancied. piece of composition, we would ask what should be The illustrious author first named, Sir Walter Scott, is, thought of the scholar in similar circumstances, who we may almost say, Modesty personified. The next, Sir should pretend that he never had had the curiosity to look Henry Steuart, is distinguished by the same character into Homer or Virgil, Demosthenes or Cicero; or of istic; and from Mr Forsyth to "Mr Cruickshank, the the physician who professed his unacquaintance with latest writer in the list (the attorney always excepted), Hippocrates or Galen, with Hoffman, Heberden, or they are eminently deserving of the same praise.

Cullen? Why, we believe only this, that he was either Mr Patrick Matthew, as we understand, is a small a very impudent, or a very shallow fellowr. But we are Jandowner on Gourdie hill, near Errol, in Perthshire, old birds, Mr Matthew, and not to be caught with such an inconsiderable orchardist, if we may so speak, who chaff as this, nor with the chaff of any grain that grows has a house, with a garden and shrubbery, where he on Gourdie hill. By the goddesses! we will show this makes experiments on fruit trees. Having been engaged, author that we have some knowledge of Arboriculture in his youth, in a seafaring line of life, probably as sur. ourselves, and can "meddle with his subject without exgenn's inate to a man-of-war, he has acquired some ac- posing our own ignorance;" and since he stands in need

of a mental oculist to dislodge the thick cataract of de- on recent Authors on Planting," seemingly the main object lusion as to his own talents and acquirements, by which of getting up the present volume, that is, of bringing Mr his " mind's eye' is obscured, we shall endeavour to act | Matthew himself into notice. After erecting himself, by for him in that capacity to the best of our power.

his own fiat, into the chair of criticism, he enters on his Mr Matthew is a man of a bold, inquisitive, and na- office with great formality. “ Having taken notes," he turally active mind. He is abundantly obstinate and says, “on the more prominent matter contained in the opinionative; tolerably ignorant of what be imagines he pages of recent writers, we believe we shall do the public knows best ; ill educated, half learned, but affecting learn- a service (for he always speaks with the dignity of the ing, and endued with unconquerable self-sufficiency, and plural] by printing these notes, accompanied by slight an unequalled opinion of himself. Of general science, remarks.” The first writer who comes under his review accordingly, he knows little, and less of vegetable physio- is Monteath, the honest wood-cutter of St Ninian's, logy, and the anatomy of plants. His turn seems to lie author of the Forester's Guide. The next is Walter towards natural history and geology, and also towards Nicol, to whom we owe the “ Practical Planter,” and politics ; in which last department the wildness and con- “Planter's Calendar," and who has been dead twenty fidence of his speculations will amuse the reader. As to years at least. Then comes Mr William Billington of his style, it is at times clear, though always ungramma- | Dean Forest notoriety, whom he calls the “ Robinson tical : but, for the most part, it is full of barbarisms and Crusoe of Planters;" but Billington, for every practical unintelligible idioms, neither Scotch, English, nor Irish ; object, is a man far superior to himself. and, were it not for its dulness, we should call it "prose The fourth recent writer brought forward, is Forsythe run mad.” The entire tract resembles a new quack me- of Kensington, of the last century, the well-known indicine, full of high stimulants, ignorantly and not very ventor of the tree-plaster, once supposed capable of renosafely combined, and which, till known and aualyzed, vating vegetable life. This is not a very recent author, might prove dangerous as well as attractive to young pa- as he has been dead these thirty years. The fifth is Mr tients (i e. young planters and country gentlemen), from William Withers of Holt, Norfolk, attorney; an orchard. the i ncessant puffing of the compounder. Thus far we ist also, like Mr Matthew; but the great object of his have done our endeavour to “dislodge the cataract” from envy, and (as before observed) the model of his style. our author's mental eye; and we trust, although he may “ Mr Withers,” he says, “the experienced and practical not feel “ the highest pleasure," he will yet bestow on us Mr Withers, the complete demolisher of the Scottish “the gratitude” which he promises in his Preface, for knights (that is, of Sir Walter Scott and Sir Henry that important operation.

Steuart,] together with his junto of experienced correMr Matthew's work is divided into five parts. The spondents, know nothing at all about the matter in dispute, Ist is on the structure of sea vessels; the 2d on British namely, the durability of oak wood; but we ourselves forest trees, suited to naval purposes ; the 3d on miscel-(that is, we, Patrick Matthew] will set them all to rights, laneous matter, connected with naval timber; and the by a few lines of elucidation.” Having thus, to his own 4th contains notices of recent authors, who treat of arbori- satisfaction, established his incontestable superiority over culture. In the first part, which is very short, we find all authors, dead or living, who ever wrote on timber, he an idea given of a ship's hull and timbers, with three proceeds to give his elucidation and examples. It is alwoodcuts; as also, by means of three more, we have di- most needless to say, how easy it is to write nonsense on rections for the training and pruning of trees, so as to fit any subject; or how difficult it is for a man of Mr Matthem for the construction of vessels ; all which are much thew's self-sufficiency to believe that he can ever write better given,--the first in any elementary book on naval any thing nonsensical. Instead of entering here on so architecture, and the second in the original works on intricate a subject as the question of the general superiorplanting, from whence they are copied, namely, those of ity of slow over rapidly grown oak (of which the former Miller, Marshall, Pontey, &c., authors that Mr Matthew is maintained by Sir Henry Steuart, and the latter by never had “the curiosity" to examine! The directions Mr Withers), we shall merely refer the reader to No. 67 for pruning are borrowed from Steuart and Billington; of our second volume (February 20th, 1830), where he the principles of neither of whom our author appears to will find the question very satisfactorily settled, and the comprehend.

ignorance of Withers fully exposed. The physiological In the second part, a very meagre and commonplace corollary of the argument, governed by the great principle account is given of the oak, larch, chestnut, beech, elm, of " ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE,” we have there summed pine, and willow, the only seven forest trees used in ship-up at page 112, beginning at the words,—“ All trees have bailding. In this account, from our practical familiarity their peculiar soils and climates,” &c. And we will here with the subject, and especially with the writers above give the confused and garbled account of it, which the enumerated, we can declare, that we are not enabled to stubbornness of facts has forced our self-constituted critic detect one new idea, excepting this, that those writers, to adopt. as well as the most celebrated botanists and physiologists, “ The facts stated go to prove, that the quality of timwith Lionæus and Willdenow at their head, were all in the ber depends much upon soil, circumstance, and especially wrong in their manner of classifying, and generally treat- on variety; and that in the early period of the growih of ing these seven ship-building trees, until Mr Patrick trees, before much seeding, and when the soil is not much Matthew of Gourdie hill appeared to set them right! exhausted of the particular pabulum necessary for the kind Not only are they to be set right in these important par- of plant, that rather slow-grown timber is superior in ticulars, but even the phytological divisions of genus, strength to quick-grown ; especially when the quickness species, and variety, so long known and established, are exceeds a certain degree ; and when this degree is exceeded, all to be changed, and the more learned and felicitous the timber is not so weighty, and is well known not to ones of “breed, family, and individual,” substituted in be so durable.” And this is what is called, the “demotheir stead.— Next comes part third, containing a num lishing" the doctrines of the Scottish knights ! ber of miscellaneous observations on what he calls colla. The above five writers, dead and living, Mr Matthew teral topics, that is, tree nurseries, general planting, pru- thus summarily disposes of; but how was he to get rid ning, and even on monopolies, free trade, and the consti- of the Scottish knights themselves, and Mr Cruickshank, tation of Parliament, &c. ; topics which are surely of a the late able author of the “ Practical Planter;" Sir quite different breed, but they are all borrowed from other Walter Scott and Mr Cruickshank being on all hands writers, and introduced solely for the purpose of book- admitted to be the best practical writers of the age, and making; an art in which our author appears to be a con- Sir Henry Steuart the first writer, who, with the possiderable adept.

session also of practical skill, has attempted to apply the We now come to the fourth part, containing “Strictures sciences of physiology and chemistry to the art of Arbori

a

seat.

culture ? So that, without “ demolishing," or at least or patch up the body of our second childhood, is infinitely vilifying those three writers, it was plain, that Mr Mat- more useful to the discoverer, and meets with higher pathew could not supplant them, nor rise to the head of the tronage and more eclat, than what is of a thousand times living professors of the arboricultural art. To attack more consequence to the young [e. g. the writings of the practice of Sir Walter and Mr Cruickshank with Mr Matthew.] Now, if this were the fruit of filial love, success was not easy, as it stood bottomed on the expe- all would be very well; we would idolize the picture; rience of nearly a century. To attack the science of Sir 1 but when we see these discoveries only patronised by the Henry seemed still more difficult, as that would be to old themselves, in the merest egotism, we blush for our controvert the laws of nature, and reject our knowledge patriarchs, and wonder if time and suffering will be spent of the anatomy of plants. Besides, these friendly planters as unprofitably upon ourselves. had happened to commend one another in their writings- “We wonder much what fascination can exist to a an offence which the waspish spirit of Mr Matthew mind of so much ability and culture, as that of Sir Henry could by no means digest. To give any idea of the Steuart, in decorating a few dull unprofitable acres; caucoarseness, the virulence, the malignity, and utter ab- sing a few bushes, and bush-like trees, to change place, surdity of the style of attack that is here opened upon from one side of a dull green to the other !-laying dithem, is impossible ; but a few specimens, we think, will gested plans of action, embracing a great number of years amuse the reader. The great object is to show that the to accomplish this very important feat, which, most prostudy of the fine arts, and that of ornamental planting, bably, the next heir will make the business of his life to and landscape gardening in particular (which last Eng undo, by turning them back to their old quarters, if he land claims as her own, and both Sir Walter and Sir does not, with more wisdom, grub them out altogether, Henry have recommended to the study of country gen

as cumberers of the soil. For ourselves, we would rather tlemen), is effeminate, useless, contemptible, and even baa with the silly sheep, and nibble the turf, than pass our pernicious, reflecting nothing but discredit on the pro- time in acting over this most pitiful trifling, or in pubfessors, as well as the pupils !!! Further, that the rules lishing a memorial of our shame! We know not how of practical planting, as laid down by Sir Walter Scott others are affected, but there is no place on earth, where and Mr Cruickshank, and the principles of vegetable we have felt such oppression and weariness, as in the physiology, as given by Duhamel, Keith, Ellis, and Sir extensive smoothed park and lawn around the country Henry Steuart, are erroneous, because they are con- We sicken under the uniformity of the heavy-look- : demned by Mr Patrick Matthew; and finally, that it is ing round-headed trees, the dulness of the flat fat pasture, to the said Patrick Matthew that the rising generation undecorated by a single weed, the quiet stupid physiognomy are to look up for information in all matters of physio- of the cattle, the officiousness of the sleek orderly menidl. logy, arboriculture, geology, chemistry, and even politics! It may be we are very destitute of taste iu this. Here From some rather lengthy details given in the book (from every thing is experiencing satiety of sensual enjoyment, is p. 235 to p. 215), it appears that we ourselves, Patrick full to repletion ; every thing has been sedulously arranMatthew, at one time condescended to remove trees pretty ged to please, and we ought certainly to admire; but we extensively, notwithstanding the folly, contempt, and dis- have no sympathy with such a scene." grace, which we have justly attributed to the practice. “ On looking back on what we have written, we are That we did it very ignorantly is true, as ignorantly as almost disposed to accuse ourselves of being splenetic; but any planter, ancient or modern ; but we meant, never- the truth is, we regard the whole art'as very unimport- ! theless (wbich we fear the reader has discovered), to ant, if not positively pernicious, at least in the way in have enlightened the world on the business, had not which it has been exemplified by Sir Henry, as a throwthose luckier fellows, Sir Henry Steuart and Mr Cruick- ing away of valuable labour to no purpose, if it ought not shank, with their physiological and other discoveries, * indeed to be considered as a mete pander to lurury and anticipated, and fairly cut us out ; for which act of pre- caprice. We have no sympathy with the aristocratical *umption we never can forgive them as long as we live.object of the book, and as little with the aristocratical tone

It is now full time that some specimens should be given in which it has been praised by Sir Walter Scott.: We : from the work, in which a curious, though unwilling, should also bave no greater pleasure in the discovery of acknowledgment appears prominent, of the scientific a royal road to virtue, than we should have to the discovalge of these rival publications.

very of one to science.

While, however,

we thus state our opinions with freedom, we do not hesiIPFEMINATE, PERNICIOUS, AND ARISTOCRATICAL CHARACTER tate to add, that Sir Henry's volume bas afforded us more

OF THE FINE ARTS IN GENERAL, AND OF THE STUDY OF information, or at least more materials for reflection, than PICTURESQUE SCENERY IN PARTICULAR..

any other of the works which we have brought under “ It may seem unnecessary to direct the attention of the notice of our readers.” Or, in other words, that we the public again, either to this volume or its subject, are indebted to this author for nearly all we know of both of which have already engaged the public attention, vegetable physiology and the anatomy of plants, although to a degree greatly beyond their value and importance ; we need not just acknowledge it. but Sir Henry, with all his foppery and parade of deco rating parks, approaches, and lawns, and all that sort of

ABSURDITY OF ALL OCCUPATIONS THAT INDUCE COUNTRY chateau millinery, has now and then risen above his subjed, and not only given us several hints useful in rural “ In the first part of this article, Sir Walter gives the economy, but has also pretensions to have brought out history, and describes the varied character of landscape some facts, hitherto but imperf ctly known, and to have gardening, in a very imaginative and felicitous manner, traced them to general principles.

which, as depending on genius and literature alone, was “ It is curious enough to remark, of how much greater to be expected ; but, in the latter part of the essay, when importance the elder part of society, those upon whom he comes to treat of action and facts, and Sir Henry's wealth has at length devolved, are [is] generally held discoveries, the deficiency in practical knowledge and than whom?] Any device, however trilling, which can judgment only forms a contrast to the fancy, elegance, and any way divert the fancy, pamper the lingering senses, erudition of what goes before.

“ Sir Walter, apparently not quite unconscious of the

ridicule attaching to the subject, to this mighty scientific • It is singular that Mr Matthew, in his account of Mr Crnick. bank's work, takes no notice of his iinportant naval discovery of

and historic parade, in teaching country gentlemen to the method of making ships' knees of the roots of the larch. But, amuse themselves, by transferring grown trees as they in his own book, he very amply details the method, and in such terins, as to make an uninforined reader believe that he is the dis

list, from one place to another, without entirely destroying fourter Aimeelf!

GENTLEMEN TO STAY AT HOME.

in

MR MATTHEW A BETTER CHEMIST AND PHYSIOLOGIST THAN

STEUART.

to sustain its consequence, by pointing out the immense phant, and other game at the Cape, and study the botany advantages to a district, by the squire's residing in it; and natural history of these prolific wilds. Let their insinuating, that every thing that may amuse him at ideas shoot, while they recline under the lone magnificence home, and thus induce him to stay, although of itself of the primeval forest; while they gallop over the unapchildish or infamous, becomes of the highest importance, propriated desert, free as the Bedouin ; or lie down combeing ennobled by the end. The following courtly quo- posedly to sleep, serenaded by the hyena's and jackal's tation is from Sir Walter's proemial observations :--'A howl, and lion's roar ! Let them learn geology and celebrated politician used to say, he would willingly bring mineralogy on the Andes and Himalaya, and around in a bill to make poaching felony, another to encourage every shore, where the strata are denuded. Let them the breed of foxes, and a third, to revive the decayed wind about among those abrupt rocks and craggy preciamusements of cock-fighting and bull-baiting ; that he pices, where they may contemplate the sea-bird's household would make, in short, any sacrifice to the humours and economy; the wild herbs of the cliff; the vegetation, and prejudices of country gentlemen, in their most extrava- shells, and monsters of the ocean! the solitary white sail gant form, provided only he could prevail on them to from distant land; the vestiges of olden time; the erutiæ dwell in their own houses, to be the patrons of their of former worlds in the exposed strata ; the abrasion of own tenantry, and the fathers of their own children.' the rocky land, by the continued battering of the numberSir Walter does not attempt to describe or analyze the less pebbles moved backwards and forwards by the heaving humours and prejudices, necessary to render the above of the ceaseless wave! Let them study the currents and rules efficacious. Does he infer, that such dishonourable winds, and meteorology on the ocean, and enjoy the power over their fellow-men, or that the opportunity of sublime feeling of riding over it in its wildest mood !” 'Ohe ! indulging in such low despicable practices, would induce jam satis est ? the country gentlemen to sojourn in their father-land ? When we had finished the extracting of this extraorIt is impossible to say any thing more insultingly cut dinary description of a new school for youth, wbich is ting !"

certainly conceived in "a wild enough mood,” and is more, like the ravings of a madman, than the published com

positions of a person of Mr Matthew's sound sense and RUCHERT, SENEBIER, ELLIS, JOHN HUNTER, OR SIR HENRY judgment in other things, a much respected physician,

a friend of ours, a scholar, and an admirer, in certain “ Sir Henry states, that trees certainly possess some complaints, of the practice of the ancients, accidentally heat, otherwise they would be killed during severe frosts.' | looked in upon us. On reading what is above tranOur belief is placed on a much better foundation than scribed, he significantly shook his head, and wrote down this otherwise; otherwise our credence would be far from with a pencil the following prescription :philosophic. [Query, What is philosophic credence ?] Freezing cold affects many vegetables, as well as some of

" Rec. Tinct. Helleb. nig. Zss. the lower animals, only by mechanical injury, in rending

Aloes Soccot. Ziss. the vessels, by means of the expansion of the contained

“ Syr. Sacch. alb. 3ss. fluid. Now, if these vessels are not quite full of fluid,

Aquæ Cinnam. 3i. Misce, if the Auid be of such a nature as not to congeal into greater size, or if the body be small, and the vessels Mixture, to be taken about the time of the full moon.'"

“ Fiet Haust. Hor. Somni sumend.- Sig. Sedative elastic, to yield to expansion without fracture, the vegetable or animal will often resume vitality, on being Mr Matthew concludes his strictures on authors, by thawed from thorough congelation. We (that is, we, observing as follows :-“ As a friend, we have stood on Patrick Matthew] have rendered potatoes, turnips, and no ceremony with our brother arboriculturists. We have fruits, frost-proof : at least, unless the frost was intense, laid ourselves open to their criticism, and we hope they by a slight desiccation, caused by exposing them a short will show as little ceremony with us.” Albeit, Mr Mattime to the air, after being taken from the ground or thew, we concur in your remark respecting your own

“ With regard to trees, we have conduct, as your “ mental oculists” we earnestly trust, heard [or, in other words, we have learned from Sir that the living portion of these your distinguished Henry's Notes, although there is no use in confessing it] brethren will show more sense and tact, than to lend that intense frost often splits the trunks of some of our their aid in writing you into notice, as you so clearly wish; indigenous kinds by congelation ; but these trees retain or yet to take the surgical office, which we have so kindly vitality, and only suffer from the consequences which may performed to you, out of our hands, ensue from the fissures," &c. &c. THE BEST METHOD OF FINISHING THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG MEN OF FASHION AND FORTUNE.

Spain in 1830. By Henry D. Inglis, author of “ Soli

tary Walks through many Lands, A Journey “ We have not much sympathy with Sir Walter Scott's

through Norway,” &c. &c. 2 vols. London. taste for home-keeping squires, those Shallows and Slenders

Whittaker, Treacher, and Co. 1831. with whom our great dramatist has made himself so merry. We would have our landed gentlemen to know,

“ Spain in 1830" is at once either the widest or the that they are the countrymen, many of them perhaps of most concise, the most perspicuous or the most mystical the blood, of the Raleighs, the Drakes, and the Ansons. of titles. It reminds us very vividly of the human Let them, like our Wellington, our Nelson, our Cochrane, tongue, which can now be expanded over the surface of Wilson, Miller, and many others, she has forgot Patrick a plate, and anon is contracted, till it even finds entrance Matthew,] continue to set before the world some little within a tbimble. I was in “ Spain in 1830,” is a very assurance of British manhood! Let them, like our no simple proposition, and intelligible to the pupiest underless honourable Penn, and Baltimore, and Selkirk, lay standing. It implies no promise, and awakens no expec-, foundations of future empires. We would have our young tations of future interest to be carried home to the breast men of fortune go abroad into the world as soon as their by eloquent expositions of philosophy, or animated tascholastic education is completed ; not to spend a few idle bleaux of scenery and manners. The simple fact stands years in Paris, Rome, or other of the common enervating before us, and, whether it be very important or not, we haunts—they might as well remain in mother's drawing can at least appreciate all its bearings, with a partial room or father's stable--but to view man and nature feeling of surprise, perhaps that its announcement should under every appearance. Let them acquire horsemanship be sufficient matter for two stout octavo volumes, pp. on the Pampus of La Plata; hunt the lion and the ele- 400 each. It is a different matter, however, to signify

tree !"

m

that I will bestow on the reader a large body of infor- equal readiness, and, to our amazement, occasionally, ination respecting “ Spain in 1830,”-that I will gather without telling us, in the end, much about any one of together all that is most prominent in the condition of them. His account of Spain, for the most part, is evithe country itself, and in the character of its”people,-and | dently collected from the dialogues which he has held will concentrate these various features in a general pic- by the way with the travellers of any respectability ture, from which I now draw aside the veil. Notwith- whom it was his good fortune to encounter. For, alstanding the famous warning on record, we fear that though there is very often an insinuation of our author's many still forget to illuminate their magic lanterns be- having always been received as a guest in the best society fore they exhibit them.

of Spain, and consequently of his opportunities of judging However lavish the poets may have been of golden and of Spanish character, and of the national feeling more silver lyres to Apollo, his first note of melody, we know, generally, we are never made secure of the fact with any arose from a far ruder instrument, and we' are not at satisfactory description of such scenes.

We cannot say, liberty to suppose that the god did not arrive at the full indeed, that we much lament the absence of the opinions diapason of perfection on the earliest essay. Nor was he of the noblesse of Spain, who have been, on no occasion very particular himself, we dare say, in specifying the very sympathetic with the body of the people. construction of his instrument, and the audience pro- The accounts of the landlord of a Spanish inn are bably left his concerts without a thought of enquiring hardly worthy of more credit, as his answer must be whether an empty shell, picked up on the sea-shore, or, modified in obedience to the tyranny of the government; to parody the words of Milton,

and, in fact, it rests with the good sense and discretion

of the traveller himself to bring out of this land of fiction any mortal mixture of earth's mould Breathed such divine enchanting ravishment.”

to the present hour, any fair report of wbat appearance

it presents, stripped of its ornaments of past recollection, Mr Henry David Inglis, however, either by way of and of its darker, but existing, trappings of oppression. contrast, or more truly perhaps, because he is no poet, is That all this is not to be effected in one short residence, determined to be particular ; and as we have no wish to and far less where this residence is varied every day and quarrel with the private comfort of any individual, we every hour, is sufficiently obvious ; and it does not evince, willingly allow him to take his seat before starting for

we think, an overstock of modesty, to pretend to bave the Peninsula, after his own fashion, and in his own accomplished this task in a continuous journey through words. “ It was,” says he in bis Epistle Dedicatory to some of the “ many lands” of Spain. Not that our authe Earl of Buchan, “ in these daily and delightful thor is an inefficient observer, but that his attention has strolls on the banks of the Meuse, that you inspired me been directed rather too exclusively to the comforts of with the desire of bunting the wild boar in the forest of travelling, and too little to its object. No one, we are Ardennes ; and when I went to bury myself there--at the convinced, could afford more correct and satisfactory in. time that your lordship sought the busier scenes of Paris telligence concerning the condition of the roads, the sound-I carried with me that little green writing-desk and its ness of the vehicles, the justice of the charges for a bill golden key, the gift of the lamented Mrs Erskine. Figure of fare, and the purity of Spanish bread; but we are a to yourself, my lord, my isolated dwelling, with six feet little sceptical how he might stand to be probed on subof snow around my doors-no companion but my great jects of more moment to the consideration of “ the trashaggy dog and my blazing faggots, and the little green veller” par excellence. He is, we should imagine, a lover writing desk upon a table by my side, and your lordship of society, and the features which are commonly most will admit, that I could not do otherwise than use the regarded in the circles of those who meet to talk and disgolden key and blot my paper.” We are not sure that cuss all the little varieties of life which are passing around we should be so ready as his lordship probably may be to them without venturing on any very lofty flight of speadmit the conclusion from the premises ; but as Mi Inglis culation, we observe to be the principal objects of attrac

formed his resolution and carried it into effect long before tion to our author. bi he ever asked our admission, or that of his noble cousin, He enters Spain by the north, and advises all who take

of the propriety of such a step, he must pardon us, if, this route of travel for the first time to follow his exwithout farther ceremony, we proceed to use our writing ample. The character of the Spaniards in this way gra

desk (a very plain brown one, without any lock at all), dually opens, like a swelling landscape, on the view, from 5 and to blot either his paper or our own.

the rough and hardy mountaineer of Biscay, to the indoAn unfortunate remark, at the very commencement of lent and luxurious Andalusian. Mr Inglis is evidently his expedition, almost induces us to suspect that our very favourably inclined towards the Biscayans, and author ought to be ranked among those who have so often passes many eulogiums on their courage and even honesty. been the source of amusement to us and to every one in As we go south, the standard of worth falls, and on the concert and exhibition rooms, whither they repair reaching the opposite coast, from the intermixture of with the knowledge that something is to be 'admired Moorish blood, and the temptations and incitements of some song is to be applauded-some picture is to be ob- commerce, it has sunk to its lowest grade. served with infinite respect—but what, they cannot with There is something very striking in the first appeartheir utmost exertions discover. The virtue, however, ance of the capital of Spain : must be assumed, and they play the parrot to the censure “ From the Somo-Sierra to the gates of Madrid, a disor approbation of their critical neighbour with an awk- tance of nearly thirty miles, there is not a tree to be seen ward, yet often very passable grace. “ When I had —not a garden—not one country-house; scarcely an isocrossed the Bidassoa, I knew that I was in Spain, and lated farm-house or cottage, and only three or four very every object assumed a new interest.” We are surprised inconsiderable villages. Great part of the land is uncul. that our author was not far more overcome than he seems tivated, and that part of it which is laboured, and which to have been by this sudden transition. What a singular produces grain, is mostly covered with weeds and stones. sensation it must be to stand with one's heel on dull and In the midst of this desert stands Madrid, which is not uninteresting soil, and to feel the toes “ringing” with | visible until you approach within less than two leagues ecstasy at the recollection, on the spot which they now of the gate. Its appearance from this side is not striking; press, of the scenes “ of Carthaginian enterprise, and the city seems small; and although we may count upRoman ambition, and Moorish grandeur.” Once in wards of 50 spires and towers, none of these are so elevam Spain, however, every object certainly does assume a new ted or imposing, as to awaken curiosity like that which interest with him, and, from the fan to the picture gal- is felt when we first discover the towers of some of the lery, from the price of a chicken to the most important temples dedicated to religion, in others of the Spanish measures of finance, we have Mc Inglis discoursing with cities. If the traveller turned his back upon Madrid

!