ON A PIPE OF TOBACCO. new The following is absolutely Sabæan--spicy and sweet Lives of Illustrious and Distinguished Scotsmen, from the at once : Earliest to the Present Time. Arranged in alphabeti cal order, and forming a complete Scottish BiographiBy Isaac Hawkins Brown, Esq. cal Dictionary. Part I. 8vo. By Robert Cham bers, Author of “the Picture of Scotland." Glasgow. Pretty tube of mighty power! Blackie and Son. 1832. This book, dedicated, by especial permission, to the King, is most justly entitled by its spirited publishers a And thy snowy taper waist, national work.” It is to be completed in twenty numWith my fingers gently braced ; bers, and embellished with portraits. The number now And thy lovely swelling crest, before us contains a well engraved likeness of Duncan With my bended stopper prest; Forbes. The biographical sketches are executed in the And the sweetest bliss of blisses, author's happiest manner-characterised by that unfail. Breathing from thy balmy kisses; ing tone of kindness and good-humour which is the finest Happy thrice and thrice agen trait both in his character and writings-and not unHappiest he of happy men ! frequently evincing an advance in candid liberality, in Who, when again the night returns, judging of adherents of the popular cause, beyond what When again the taper burns ; his earlier writings prepared us to expect. His mateWhen again the crickets gay, rials are, we know, abundant; consisting not only of Little crickets full of play; collections which he had for years been silently making, Can afford his tube to feed, but also of those which his publishers, unaware of his With the fragrant Indian weed ; intentions, bad accumulated for a similar work. If Pleasure for a nose divine, these biographies go on as they have commenced, and of Incense of the god of wine! this we entertain not the shadow of a doubt, they will Happy thrice and thrice agen form a most entertaining and useful compendium of the Happiest he of happy men !” records of Scottish genius-2 colleetion indispensable alike in the libraries of the educated classes, and by the ingle The external appearance of this little book is worthy neuks of the peasantry-a work which will teach all hearts of its contents as was to be expected from any work in to beat high with a patriotic pride, at once enthusiastic the publication of which Effingham Wilson had a hand. and well founded, and nerve all minds to high emprise. It is elegantly illustrated with a view of a “cigar divan” In short, we look confidently to its becoming in the new --the smoker's true Paradise in the interior, and two age what “ Wight Wallace" and the “Scottish Worthies" portraits, expressive of the charms of tobacco, on the were to our fathers. This is a proud thought for the cover. The one is Sir Walter Raleigh-calm, sedate, author, and ought to stimulate him to outdo even him, selective, nursing high fancies-with the tip of his long self. The most interesting memoirs in the part just pipe in his mouth. The other is Lord Byron, puffing published, are those of Arbuthnot, Dr Baillie, Sir Ralph away with protruded lips at a "naked beauty," and ap- Abercromby, Anderson (the founder of the institution parently in an agony of dread at the prospect of its nigh in Glasgow which bears' his name,) Anderson (Walter, extinction, and the consequent intermission of his happi- the strangest example of the Cacoethes Scribendi we have hess-exclaiming, in a tone half pouting, half impera- met with in the course of our reading,) Baillie of Jervisa tive wood, Armstrong, and Hugo Arnot. 7 We quote the sketch of David AHan, as containing an interesting acGIVE ME A CIGAR!" count of one of our earliest painters, and also for another No man who has any pretensions to taste or spirit special purpose, which we may one day disclose to the lare renain unfurnished with “ Nicotiana" after the reader. enth of next month. We, in the mean time, take leave “ David Allan, a painter of great merit, was born at of the subject in the words used by the greatest of To. Alloa, February 13th, 1744. He was the son of Mr apoo's laureates, when obliged to forswear its use. David Allan, shore-master at that small port. The « For I must (nor let it grieve thee, mother of Allan, whose maiden name was Gullan, brouglit Friendliest of plants, that I must) leave thee. bim prematurely into the world, and died a few days after For thy sake, Tobacco, I his birth. ' The young painter had so small a mouth that Would do any thing but die, no nurse could be found in the place fitted to give him And but seek to extend my days, suck : at length, one being heard of, who lived at the Long enough to sing thy praise, distance of sume miles, he was packed up in a basket But as she, who once hath been amidst cotton, and sent off under the charge of a man A king's consort, is a queen who carried him on horseback, the journey being renderEver atter, nor will bate ed additionally dangerous by a deep snow. The horse Any tittle of her state, happened to stumble, the man fell off, and the tiny wretch Though a widow, or divorced was ejected from the basket into the snow, receiving as So I, from thy converse forced, he fell a severe cut upon his head. Such were the cirThe old name and style retain, cumstances under which Mr David Allan commenced A right Katherine of Spain; the business of existence. And a seat, too, 'mongst the joys “Even after having experienced the tender cares of his Of the blest tobacco boys; nurse, misfortune continued to harass him. In the allWhere, though I, by sour physician tamn of 1745, when he must have been about eighteen Am debarr'd the full fruition months old, a battery was erected at Alloa, to defend the Of thy favours, I may catch passage of the Forth against the attempts of Prince Soune collateral sweets, and snatch Charles's ariny. While the men were firing the cannon Sidelong odours, that give lise for experiment, the maid intrusted with the charge of Like glanees from a neighbour's wife; young Allan ran across the open space in front, at the And still live in the by-places, moment when they were discharged, and he only escaped And the suburbs of thy graces; death by a hair-breadth. And in thy borders take delight, " His genius for designing was first developed by acAn unconquer'd Canaanite." cident. Being confined at home with a burnt foot, his 66 a a father one day said to him, “ You idle little rogue, you from his pictures, as, · The Origin of Painting, or the are kept from school doing nothing ! come, here is a bit Corinthian Maid drawing the Shadow of her Lover,' and of chalk, draw something with it upon the floor.' He four in aqua-tinta by Paul Sandby, from drawings made took the chalk, and began to delineate figures of houses, by Allan when at Rome, representing the sports during animals, and other familiar objects; in all of which he the carnival. Several of the figures were portraits of succeeded so well that the chalk was seldom afterwards persons well known to the English who visited Rome out of his band. When he was about ten years of age, between 1770 and 1780. There is one caricature by his pedagogue happened to exercise his authority over Allan, which is well known to Scottish collectors: it some of the boys in a rather ludicrous manner : Allan represents the interior of a church or meeting-house at immediately drew a caricature of the transaction upon a Dunfermline, at the moment when an imprudent couple slate, and handed it about for the amusement of his com- are rebuked by the clergyman. There is a drollery about panions. The master of the ferale, an old vain conceited the whole of this performance that never fails to amuse. person, who used to strut about the school dressed in a The alliance of his genius to that of our national poels, tartan night-cap and long tartan gown, got hold of the led Allan, in 1788, to publish an edition of the Gentle picture, and right soon detected that he himself was the Shepherd,' with characteristic drawings. He also pub- * most conspicuous and the most ridiculous figure. The lished a collection of the most humorous of the old S-1 satire was so keen, and the laugh which it excited sunk tish songs, each illustrated by a characteristic etching, so deep, that the object of it was not satisfied till he had At his death, which, happened on the 6th of August, made a complaint to old Allan, and bad the boy taken 1796, he left a series of drawings, designed for the poems from his school. When questioned by his father how he of Burns, in an equally graphic and humorous style. had the effrontery to insult his master, by representing There is one property which runs through all the designs him so ridiculously on his slate, his answer was, “I only of Allan, and by which his productions may be disticmade it like him, and it was all for fan!" guished at the most casual glance: this is a peculiar “ The father observed the decided genius of his son, elegance of form which he always gives to the limbs of and had the good sense to offer it no resistance. At this his figures-elegance to such a degree, that, in maus time, the establishment of the Messrs Foulis' academy of cases, it may be pronounced out of nature. Arts at Glasgow was making some noise in the country. Allan, by his wife, whom he married in 1789, left Allan, therefore, resolved to apprentice his son to those one son, bearing his own name, and who was sent out as gentlemen upon the terms given out in their prospectus a cadet to India, and one daughter named Barbara. 14 of the institution. On the 25th of February, 1755, person, our Scottish Hogarth, as he was called, had n? when exactly eleven years of age, the young draughtsman thing attractive. The misfortunes attending his entral was bound apprentice to the Messrs Foulis for 'seven into the world were such as nothing in after life could years, to attend their painting academy in the university repair. • His figure was a bad resemblance of b's of Glasgow. In Newhall House there is a sketch in oil, humorous precursor of the English metropolis. He wa done by him, representing the inside of the 'ncaderny, under the middle size; of a slender, feeble make; with with an exact portrait of Robert Foulis in the act of cri- a long, sharp, lean, white, coarse face, much pitted by ticising a large picture,' and giving instructions to his the small-pox, and fair hair. His large prominent eyes principal painter about it. of a light colour, were weak, near-sighted, and not very In the year 1764, some of his performances attracted animated. His nose was long and high, his mesti the notice of Lord Catheart, whose sent, Shaw Park, wide, and both ill-shaped. His whole exterior was situated in Clackmannanshire, near Alloa. "Lady strangers appeared unengaging, trilling, and mean; Cathcart introduced him to the notice of Lady Frances bis deportment was timid and obsequious. The prijs Erskine, daughter of the insurgent Earl of Mar, and dices naturally excited by these disadvantages at intrmother of the gentleman to whom the peerage was re- duction, were, however, dispelled on acquaintance ; an stored in 182+; as also to Lady Charlotte Erskine, to as he became easy and pleased, gradually yielded to Mrs Abercromby of Tullibody, mother of Sir Ralph, agreeable sensations; till they insensibly vanished, and and to some other personages of distinction in the neigh- at last, were not only overlooked, but, from the elfát is bourhood of his birthplace. By the associated purses of contrast, even heightened the attractions by which they these kind patrons, Allan was enabled to go to Italy, were so unexpectedly followed. When in company where he studied with unremitting application for eleven esteemed, and which suited his taste, as restraint *c*: years. During his residence there, Lady Cathcart used off, his eye imperceptibly became active, bright, and to write to him with all the care and affection of a 'mo- penetrating ; his manner and address quick, lively , av: ther. In 1773,' while living at Rome, he gained the interesting-always kind, polite, and respectful; L. prize medal given by the academy of St Luke for the conversation open and gay, hunorous without satire, ar. best specimen of historical composition ; being the only playfully replete with benevolence, observation, Scotchman who had ever reached that honour, besides anecdote.' --Brown's edition of the Genile Shepher: Mr Gavin Hamilton. 1808. “ After his return, in 1777, Allan resided for about “ The author who thus forcibly delineates his exterr:? two years in London ; but, falling into a bad state of appearance, gives the following character of his gent. health, he was ordered home to Scotland for a change of As a painter, at least in his own country, he neitten air. Soon after his arrival in Edinburgh, he was ap- excelled in drawing, composition, colouring, nor elfast pointed successor to Runciman (deceased), as master and Like Hogarth, too, beauty, grace, and grandeurs director of the academy established by the Board of individual outline and form, or of style, constitute *** Trustees for Manufactures and Improvements, for the part of his merit. He was no Correggio, Raphael. of ! purpose of diffusing a knowledge of the principles of the Michael Angelo. He painted portraits as well as 11.fine arts and elegance of design in the various manufac- garth, below the middle size ; but they are void of ă tures and works which required to be figured and orna- charms of elegance, and of the chiaro-obscuro, and an mented ; a charge for which he was peeuliarly well recommended by nothing but a strong homely ress: qualified, by the extensive knowledge he possessed of blance. As an artist and a man of genius, his cbarse every branch of the art. He retained the situation till teristic talent lay in expression, in the imitatia uf his death. nature with truth and humour, especially in the temple “ Allan was much admired for his talents in composi- sentation of ludicrous scenes in low life. His eye tion, the truth with which he delineated nature, and the ever on the watch for every eccentric tigore, every many characteristic humour which distinguished bis pictures, group, or ridiculous incident, out of which bin peach drawings, and etchings. There are several engravings I his needle could draw innocent entertainment and mintha and 1 $ About six bells of the first watch, the lieutenant The Annual Biography and Obituary, Vol. XVI. 8vo. flew into the cabin and announced to Yorke, that the Pp. 476. London. Longman and Co. 1832. men had formed two lines on the main-deck, that Tue nature and the general character, in regard to some of them were even brandishing their knives as ready genius, displayed by this work, are well known to the for action. 1. Yorke, with the natural intrepidity of his public. It is pleasing to have at hand a record of such character, flew to the scene of danger ; and I never shall persons as have interested us during their lives, yet have forget his large figure boldly and rapidly advancing, and not been long enough removed to allow time for the pre- seen only dimly by the two or three lanterns that were paration of a natured biography. Such a work as this burning. , Coming totally unarmed to the head of this is your true test of eminence. Admission is not granted double line of ruffians, he uttered, with his sonorous full to conventional, but to real eminence." The statesman, voice, a few of his usually imperative and almost wild Jawyer, soldier, artist, actor, and author, jostle each other sentences, and instantly knocked two men down, on the after the most edifying fashion. Sir Joseph Yorke stands right and left, with his double fists. Seizing the two beside Mr Roscoe Mrs Siddons beside Dr Abernethy next (men of very large stature), he drove their, as he Robert William Elliston beside Walker, the philanthro- called them, lubberly heads' together, with a force pie soldier-Strahan, the printer, beside the Earl of that rolled them stunned and stupified on the deck. He Northesk—Greatorex beside Lord Norbury. We select then collared two others, and passed them aft to the a few passages illustrative of the peculiarities of an old officers, who by this time were assembling with sidefavourite—Sir Joseph Yorke. The first exhibits him in arms, and, having thus secured about a dozen, he walked a pleasing light, as a mild enforcer of discipline: fearlessly through the long line of the remaindera abu" Sir Joseph took the command of the Ca in 1801, sing them with every epithet, and ending his abuse by from an Irish captain, whose officers, petty and quarter. I would hang such a lubberly set of exclaiming--' Have you the impudence to suppose that deck, were all Irish, and who had succeeded to an officer, No, by I will dog every ringleader like as you are ? and of all men in the service the most known for keeping a ship's company in a state of the most'admired disorder." not put the fleet to the disgrace of a Court-Martial to I recollect when this Anglo predecessor of this Anglo-, mastery of his manner; and in two or three cases, where try, such a set of some? The men were awed by the Irish captain' would not permit a pretty large body of French prisoners to be confined in the hold, or placed his steps, he knocked him down, and in one or two in one, 'the bravest of the brave,' showed a desire to impede under a sentry. One day, after a long chase of a French stances kicked him soundly as he lay on the deck. Thus line-of-battle ship, during which the prisoners were allowed to look out of the port-holes, and even from the less ruffians ; and by dint of his physical powers, his pre did he pass forward between the line of sanguinary lawchains, at the chase, the drum beat to quarters. On clearang the ship for action, it was found that every breech- sence of mind, and dauntless intrepidity, he quelled, at Eng of the main-deck guns was cut through, and several which might have occasioned many executions and Aog: the expense of a few dozen at the gangway, a mutiny of the lanyards of the main and mizen shrouds were cut gings round the fleet. · The mutiny, existed only among eren to a few yarns with sharp knives. To this antidisciplinarian succeeded a captain of real Irish character, a large body of Irish pressed men, and several of the old such a one as Miss Edgeworth herself would have liked seamen, when they saw the success of suppressing it, ento have drawn; and many of the old jokes told about joped most heartily the humorous beraism of the captain. Tommy Pakenham's boys,'' the flogging of the pigs'cept by a knowledge of the individual, never forsook This humour, of which no idea could be conveyed, ex, on the quarter-deck, 'the starboard-watch bating the lar. him." board, and the captain 'bating both with a big shillelah,' istit ont wind 699110: 1 until, like Newfoundland dogs, they became dangerous The last proves that mastery in his profession, as well to their master,-were realized among this wild crew. as the power of subduing' men's' minds to his will, fitted Şir Joseph did not make himself popular by bring- him for command. ing with bim myself and other officers, who were mere English.? Probably no other man in the service could “ Sir Joseph was every inch a sailor.: The master athave reduced such a ship's company to so perfect a state tendant, shipwright, and head officers of 7 yard, were of discipline, and in so short a period; albeit the means but I was struck that, amidst their confieting opinions, once discussiog naval qualifications. I was then a boy ; and appliances' savoured of the old school. The vices to they were all agreed that Captain Yorke understood be cured were drunkenness, riots, and fighting; a most scientifically and practically more of naval architecture, lubberly performance of every duty; and an insolence to the quarter-deck. These offences were never spared ; ing and fitting a ship, than almost any man, they had and of the theory and practice of all that related to buildbut punishment was accompanied ' by such salutary seen. addresses to the ship's company, that they contained not 'a was an excellent helmsman and pilot. On one community, but it was illustrated and rationalized to the Cherbourg, he beat the Jason through the Needles, at occasion, anxious to prevent the escape of the enemy from men in a manner so admirably adapted to a sailor's night, with a hard gale almost in her teetha, habits and notions, that the effect was incredible. A sort of nautical patriotism was infused into the crew, hours in the roughest weather, and his coxswain was “In a chase, I have seen him at the wheel for four and for this , object no mcans were spared. When desertion became even alarming, Sir Joseph (no chaplain the only man in the ship (the Jason) to whom he would resign his post. So intuitive and nice were his percepbeing on board) performed the Sabbath-church service, aud taking his text— Sball such a man as I fee ?'-he tions in all that related to the shipman's art,' that I re collect his sending for the officer of the watch, on an gave a practical sermon, full of sound common sense, upon the vice of desertion, and on the duty of serving the extremely fierce night, after he had turned in for an hour, country--and fools that came to laugh, remained to exhausted by his long station at the wheel, in a very anxious, chase, of six-and-thirty hours. Who is at the pray: wheel, Mr - ? was the first question. Askew, the 1. The second shows the lion roused. coxswain,' was the reply. That's impossible-Askew * At subsequent period, in the line-of-battle never steered the ship in this manner-it is some lubberly ship, w veriy alarming disposition prevailed among a great quarter-master ;' and this was the fact, for the coxswain part of the ship's company; and the old mutineer's toast had left the wheel; and Yorke, when he awoke in his of " A dark night, a sharp knife, and a bloody blanket,' cot, perceived the inferiority of the steering by the motion had been revived among the men. of the sbip: a “ It is a pity that bis admirable method of training his The silk he will save! the blonde he will spare Is a luxury wholly denied to a throne ; And this is your future-how soon time will trace whose name was long familiar to the reader of Parlia- Methinks the best wish to be offer'd thee now, mentary debates, and who, if he did not always secure Is God keep the crown long from that innocent brow!" our admiration as a legislator, was ever certain of our liking as a man. Of the sentimental portion of the work, we have been most pleased with THE WATER PALACE OF MANDOO. " He built it, for he was a king, And wealth was at his will : He had another mountain hold Upon a mighty hill:: But that was built in times of war “ The British Naturalist," &c. London: Cochrane With high and armed walls, and Co. 1832. With midnight watchers in its towers, These are surely the last of the Annuáls, (for this sea And warriors in its balls ; son we mean,) and one of them, at least, sings a swan- But this sweet palace was for peace, like dirge. The “ Drawing-Room Scrap-Book” is ad Built by the water-side, mirably named. Its engravings are of that grade of ex- When Zerid sheathed the sword and won cellence, and handle those subjects, which are best suited The Persian for his bride. for the appreciation of the inhabitants of that region. Some of them are better--two of Stanfield's landscapes “ And beautiful round Ispahan (for example)-viewed as works of art, and many more Spread gardens of the rose, from the associations they suggest. Through these scenes And 'mid her guarded solitude the stream of L. E. L.'s verse winds its way in melan. The young queen pined for those ; choly murmurs. She is, on this occasion, sad even be- The conqueror sought a lovely spot, yond her wonted sadness. We can only tax our memory And built a lovely home; . with two exceptions to her mourning mood—the elegant Of porphyry was the shining floor, and playful stanzas to the Princess Victoria, (to the con Of crystal was the dome. cluding wish of which we heartily say amen); and the But lovelier were the cypresses instructive essay on "blarney." We quote the former : That hung the lake beside ; As beauties o'er their mirror bend, So bent they o'er the tide. “ Those giant warriors of the wood, When a young queen'sat on an ivory throne Palms with their leafy crest, In a shining ball, whose windows shone Like waving feathers caught each breeze, With colours its crystals caught from the sky, That wander'd from the west; Or the roof which a thousand rubies dye; And every breeze of red rose leaves Where the summer garden was spread around, Brought down a crimson rain, With the date and the palm and the cedar crown'd ; And fields of rice and scented grass Where fountains play'd with the rainbow showers, Madey green dach distant plain ; Touch'd with the hues of their comrade flowers; And cool and bright adown the stream Where the tulip and rose grew side by side, The water Jilies swopt, One like a queen, and one like a bride ; As if within each silvery hold The god Camdeo slept "She came, the young and royal bride,' And the citron was served on a plate of gold ; And if the place was fair' "1" When perfumes arose from pearl caskets fill'd *** Before her eyes shed sunshine round, With odours from all sweet things distillid ; How fair when she was there ! When a fairy guarded the throne from ill, An hundred maidens and their lates And she knew no rule but her own glad will: Came with their queen along; Those were the days for a youthfal queen, The mornings pass'd, the evenings pass'd, And such, fair Princess, thou should'st have been. With story and with song: His sword the conqueror forgot, « But now thou wilt fill a weary throne, Her early bome bis bride What with rights of the people, and rights of thy own: Whenever they and summer sought Their palace by the tide.” On the whole, this collection, although many pieces On the progress of knowledge, the mind of the nation ; bear marks of having been hastily thrown off, will be Lord Grey one yet longer, to state that his place derogate from Miss Landon's reputation. The plater m Is perbaps less dear to himself than his race; such as have been rarely offered to the public at se cheap O'Connell will tell Ireland's griefs and her wrongs, And the external garniture of the book is esIn speech, the mae-adamized prose of Moore's songs; tremely elegant. It cannot fail to receive an extensirs Good patience! how weary the young queen will be patronage among those circles to whom its title addresses Of the flower of the earth, and the gem of the sea !' itself, Mr Hume, with his watch words, Retrenchment and THE “ Botanic Annual” is too profound for at eget Waste,' ment, and too shallow for instruction. It is pedantry Will insist that your wardrobe in his care be placed ; Tin masquerade. a rate. 6 children with a volume at once to interest, amuse, and OUR STUDY TABLE. instruct. A Treatise on the Propagation, Cultivation, and General Treatment of Cape Heaths, in a Climate where they re THE “Juvenile Manual" is an excellent selection for quire Protection during the Winter Months. By Wil-young readers, -- upon the plan of Mr Innes's “ Exciteliam M'Nab, Author of “Hints on the Treatment of ment,” and similar in form and size. Evergreens.” Edinburgh. Thomas Clark. 1832. Constable's Miscellany, LXXIII., LXXIV. (Civil Wars of Ireland. By W. B. Taylor, Esq.) Edin Gallery of American Portraits. By George Waterston. burgh. Constable and Co. 1831, 12mo. Pp. 123. Washington : P. Thompson. GlasThe Family Library, XXVI. (The Reformation in gow : John Reid and Co. 1831. England. By the Rev. J. T. Bìunt.) London. John We this week conclude our extracts from Mr WaterThe Republic of Letters. Part IV, , Glasgow. Blackie ston's American portraits. and Son. 1832. WILLIAM H. CRAWFORD. “Mr Crawford, Secretary of the Treasury, is the Charlie Seymour ; or, the Good Aunt and the Bad Aunt. same gentleman to whom you were introduced at Paris, A Sunday Story. Edinburgh, Waugh and Innes. and though he possesses great dignity, wants the graceful 1832. elegance of manners of which I have previously spoken. Jurenile Manual of Interesting, Instructive, and Serious What he was thought of in France I cannot inform you ; Reading. Selected and Original. Edinburgh. Wil- but it is impossible he could have succeeded amidst the liam Whyte and Co. 1832. , polite and splendid frippery of the Parisian circles--the courtly nonsense, and graceful and elegant nonchalance of The first of this long catalogue shows that Mr M‘Nab a French politician, must have been strikingly and ludiis determined not to rest upon his “ laurels." We re- crously contrasted by the republican simplicity and awkcommend his new treatise to the attentive study of all ward movements of the American minister. Mr Crawlovers of flowers during the interval which must elapse ford has risen from obscurity to the situation he now before the return of spring calls their attention to the holds, by the force of native genius. It appears he was replenishing of their bow windows-and more particu-employed in his early life in an occupation which is now larly of that intelligent portion of the community which unfortunately too much degraded, but which ought to be supplies us with those iunocent and amiable luxuries. more highly esteemed. I mean that of 'teaching the Mr M‘Nab treats at considerable length of—The pro- young idea how to shoot.' His next career was at the pagation of Heaths ; the soil best suited for their growth; bar, at which he rapidly acquired both emolument and the different shiftings necessary; and the general treat- reputation. The excellence of his understanding, and ment of heaths when in the house or out of doors. His the superiority of his intellect, soon brought him into remarks are characterised by great caution and good public life, where he displayed to advantage those sense, and also by the most prepossessing candour and powers with which nature had so eminently gifted him. fairness. His guarded statements of facts which he has He became ambassador to France, and while in that caobserved, as they are always deserving of credit, so will pacity, was appointed Secretary of War, and lastly they, in more than one instance, be found to suggest im- chosen Minister of Finance. In all these various situaportant trains of thought to the philosophical naturalist. tions, he has never failed to discover the same powers Mr Taylor's “ History of the Civil Wars of Ireland," and energies of mind, and the same acuteness and depth is a work which bears the most honourable testimony to of penetration : he has literally the mens sana in corpore his industry, sagacity, and correct feeling. It is a book sana, and the vigorous and athletic appearance of his which ought to be studied by all who are imperfectly ac body, serves as an unerring index to the force and energy quainted with the relations in which that island has of his intellect. It is invidious to make comparisons; hitherto stood to the rest of the empire. but it is by comparisons we are often enabled to arrive at truth. I will, therefore, endeavour to draw a parallel THE “ History of the Reformation in England,” is a between two of the gentlemen of whom I have been work that does but little credit to the Family Library. speaking, Mr Monroe and Mr Crawford are alike disThe author is continually attempting to philosophize, and tinguished by integrity of understandiug; but the latter a more inconsequential reasoner never existed. He has, has more quickness, and perbaps equal range of mind. nevertheless, stumbled upon two discoveries :--That the In the specimens of parliamentary eloquence, which are, punishment of incremation ought not to be abolished, (p. for the most part, preserved here only in the ephemeral 198, 1. 22 ;) and that the Church of England is in a and fugitive columns of newspapers, and which I have * forlorn condition as to temporals,” (p. 321, ad im.) taken the trouble to examine for my own amusement, Mr Crawford evinces some vigour of imagination, and The “ Republic of Letters” continues, if possible, to occasionally some brilliancy of thought. Mr Monroe's improve. compositions display only the soundness of his judgIt is a pity that the winter threatens to be so mild; ment, and the excellence of his sense, without any of otherwise, with such an able instructor as “the Art of the frippery and festooning of rhetoric, or the mereSkating," there would not have been a man in Great tricious and gaudy drapery of imagination. Mr Monroe Britain ignorant of all the niceties of that exercise by the had more practical knowledge, but was less prompt in bis decisions. Mr Crawford bad greater powers of | first of February invention, but was less skilful in combination. Mr In turning over lately some score of volumes of im- Monroe had more experience, but Mr Crawford, from becility, while looking out for a New Year's Gift for our a better memory and a superior quickwess of comprelittle grandchild, we were much struck with the superior hension, had treasured up as many results, and acexecution of the Sunday Story, entitled, “ Charlie Sey- quired as many facts. Mr Mooree's knowledge of mour.” Though level to the comprehension of children, mankind was more correct and more practical, but he the style is clear and agreeable-the incidents unforced wanted Mr Crawford's energy to render it extensively and interesting; and the moral principles of which it is useful. In political shrewduess and moral integrity, (the vehicle, are excellent and scriptural. We, therefore, they were supposed to be nearly equal. With this brief recommend it to all parents who wish to present their parallel, I shall dismiss these gentlemen, and proceed, |