ferent names, of that most monotonous and least-varying of all animals,—the fop, or man of fashion. In these he was perfect; but to be perfect in one, of course implied that nearly the same sort of perfection should pervade the whole. He has now, however, hit upon individuals belonging to another species; and in so far as we have yet had an opportunity of judging, he is delicately accurate in his delineations of them. We trust that he will per-lished, and refer to the females of a most unfortunate family, who form frequently throughout the season, for some of our best plays cannot be done well without him.' it

Mrs Charles Gore's forthcoming work, to be entitled, The Historical Traveller, is intended to form a present for young persons. It is to consist of a series of narratives connected with the most curious epochs of European history, and with the phenomena of European countries.

Mr Robert Montgomery, the author of "Satan,"." The Omnipresence of the Deity," &c. has a new poem in the press, entitled "Oxford," which is on the eve of publication. Mr Montgomery is at present on a visit to Edinburgh.

OUR STUDY TABLE.-New works still crowd upon us. Among others, we have this week received the first volume of the Sunday Library, edited by the Rev. Dr Dibdin, a publication of the Family Library description, to contain a selection of Sermons by eminent divines of the Church of England, chiefly within the last half century,

with occasional biographical sketches and notes; altry 1

their interest. The indefe philor a dad and subtle philosophy; Craigleith

tree last

vulgar appetites it would seem, however; for, exquisite--I had almost said, divine-as they are, the "Nobs" have not turned out to them! Pritchard accompanied him, and dressed and played Raphael admirably, in despite of the fustian he had to spout of Mr Somerset's. of the fastian he h He seems to have thorough "bottom" in his arduous profession.Nicholson, the Prince of flute-players, has been here arranging for his concert of Wednesday next, the 19th. It will be brilliant; for all the "distinguished" of Glasgow are patrons of him and the Stockhausen, who is to be here also.-The Andersonian soirees keep up paper on the and Professor Graham told us what the scientific world had done during the last six months, in a delightful conversational way.-We have actually perpetrated the publication of a 4to this week, and a Some very pret well as very able one it is-Mr Dobie on the Crawfurd It all the interest of a romance, and the accuracy of a genealogy. CHIT-CHAT FROM are so deeply plunged in burgh that our chit-chat has not much general interest. This political war is carried on to so great an extent as to have been the means of crushing a couple of mechanics' institutes, some spouting clubs, and various other societies. A weekly pocket-magazine has, however, beep commenced, and promises to suc ceed. If we add a weekly newspaper, we sum up the whole of our though, formerly the was carried on to some extent by two or three active publishers. We do not expect any manager to try our Theatre this season, as Mr Bass's attempt did not meet his wishes in the last.-We have a casino every three weeks in our Red Lion ball-room, which is attended so numerously by fashionable-looking people that a stranger would be somewhat surprised; but, Berwick has always been famed for a speedy importation of London novelties. Mr Thompson, the lecturer on steam-machinery, who lately received so

of Lardner's Cabinet Library, which commences with
moirs of Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington, by Captain Moyle
Sherer, a book which we mean to read attentivelytrer d elever man;
more especially

as we have been accustomed to consider Captain
-The eighteenth volume of the Family Library, containing Voyages
and Discoveries of the Companions of Columbus, by Washington Irving,
a book which cannot fail to be an interesting one: The Foreigner's
English Conjugator, elucidated through French examples, in which
mysteries "Shall and Will," and Should and Would," are
illustrated, by our old acquaintance Justin Brenan, whose books re-
joice in the neat and tasteful exterior attractions assigned to them by
Effingham Wilson;-Poems, Sacred and Miscellaneous, by James
Gilborne Lyons, one of the Dublin publications of those spitited
booksellers, Messrs Curry and Co., which we e not yet had time
to read:-The Prometheus of Eschylus, edited for the use of schools
and colleges, by that excellent scholar and most accurate of classical
printers-Valpy;-Observations on the Duty of Sed-borne Coal, a
pamphlet on an important subject, which does not, however, come

altogether within the range of our studies: A Description of the his legs, by the bursting of the boiler of his locomotivery in

Chanonry, Cathedral, and King's College of Old Aberdeen, in the
years 1724-5, a work of considerable local interest, printed in a very
handsome style, from the MS. of William Orem, town-clerk of Aber-
deen in 1725, preserved, since his death, in the library of King's
College, and calculated to throw additional light on the earlier his-
tory of Scottish towns and universities:-The Harmonicon, a Monthly
Journal of Music, for January 1831, a very respectably conducted
work, the present Number of which contains, among other pieces of
music, an air by John Daniel of Aberdeen, for the ballad of " Mary
Jamieson," which appeared originally in the Literary Journal, and
which has been still more successfully set to music by Mrs Orme, of
this city;-The first Number of The Edinburgh University Maga
zine, the contents of which are very creditable to its conductors, and
the poem entitled The Wandering Jew," is indicative of very con-
siderable poetical abilities;-The fourth volume of Bell's System of
Popular and Scientific Geography, the three previous volumes of
which we have already had occasion to mention in high terms, and
their reputation is not likely to suffer by the fourth, which, with its
excellent paper, elegant typography, and carefully executed maps,
and other illustrations, is calculated to reflect honour on the press of
Glasgow ;-A Help to Professing Christians in Judging their Spirit-
ual State and Growth in Grace, by the Rev. John Barr, already
favourably known as a theological writer, and entitled now to
led now to still
more estimation."
FINE ARTS.-We learn that a collection of antique paintings, lately
purchased by the Royal Institution, is about to be exhibited. The
exhibition is only delayed because a few of them have not yet ar
rived; but there is reason to hope that it will open on or about the
25th of this month. Competent judges assure us that there are some
valuable works among these pictures. We believe they are intend-
ed as the commencement of a National Gallery. This is spirited and
praiseworthy. The Board of Trustees have also evinced a liberal
spirit by throwing open their valuable collection to the public. But
we shall say more of these matters in our next, as also of the high
promise of a good exhibition in the Scottish Academy.

LAURENCE MACDONALD.-We understand that a number of the friends of Mr Laurence Macdonald, who are desirous of testifying their high respect for his talents and character previous to his approaching departure from Scotland, have solicited his presence at a public dinner, to take place in the Waterloo Hotely on Saturday the 29th instant, at five o'clock, and that the following gentlemen have agreed to act as stewards:

The Right Hon. Sir John Sinclair, Bart.
Sir Alexander Muir Mackenzie, Bart.
The Solicitor-General.

Professor Wilson.

Professor Napier.

C. Stewart Menteith, Esq.

4. A st
James L'Amy, Esq.da
J. Watson Gordon, Esq.,
George Combe, Esq.
William Simpson, Esq.
W. Weir, Esq.
Henry G. Bell, Esq.

We have no doubt that this dinner will be numerously attended. There is some expectation of Sir Walter Scott being in the chair, and, failing him, Professor Wilson.

CHIT-CHAT FROM GLASGOW.-Ducrow, the indescribable, the inimitable, is with us. His "tableaux" are not germane to our

engine, is now recovering, though at first despaired of.Our pier has lately received the addition of a handsome lighthouse at its extreme point. Theatrical Gossip.-Novelty-novelty is every thing in London. The great mass of the play-going people there have no opinions of their own; they care for nothing but what is new. Hence the papers teem with long puffs of the new Olympic Theatre, most of which we believe to be humbug for, though Vestris is a smart woman, she has neither taste nor talent sufficient to conduct a dramatic establishment on an elegant, liberal, and enlightened plans bet this be set down as our opinion, though the Cockneys blow till they crack their cheeks.-Macready's personation of Werner continues to hold a high place in public estimation.-An opera, by a British compos er of the name of Monck Mason, is to be produced speedily at the King's Theatre.-Miss 1. Paton has been performing at Aberdeen, assisted, in the musical department, by her sister, Miss E. Paton. Miss Louisa Jarman has accepted of an engagement for a limited period in Aberdeen, to play the first parts in opera.-We are informed that Mr Hooper has been re-engaged to succeed Mr Green, who is about to leave Edinburgh. We hope he will not forget to take his blue waistcoat with him, which will no doubt make an impression at the Olympic. The pantomime of "Mother Bunch" has had a fair run, and has drawn excellent half-price houses. Last night Masaniello" was revived, but, Horncastle played Maraniello, in w in shatgos daw habuimetri fagh

SAT.

EEKLY LIST OF PERFORMANCES.

mur 749 17 179) JANUARY 814. 97*
Todt brysthofov miw wod
Barber of Seville, & Raphael's Dream.
The White Phantom, Perfection, & Gilderoy.
TUES. Barber of Seville, The Day After the Wedding, & Mother
Bunch.

MON.

WED.

The Heir-at-Law, The Wedding-Day, & Do
THURS. The White Phantom, Perfection, & Das
FRI.Masaniello, & Do,

watch me out W • ali i hus
wal & wil mixinge end read sai ni 99,73,
tos & said to eth to glomeup & game
TO OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
sprint to gif 4891

THE ingenious papers On the Constitution of Human Nature," we cannot find room for immediately, and we even hesitate to enter at all upon a subject so comprehensive. An Adventure in the South of France," by J. Y." of Berwick, is a well-told tale, but too long for our pages. It lies at the publisher's till called for.

The poetical communications of "Lorma," and of "Thomas Brydson," shall have a place :-perhaps, also, those of "Thirsis," and "G. B."-The verses entitled, "An Eastern City," by "R. G." of Berwick,-the Ballads by "J. L." of Langholm,-the Lines by "Pictor,"-and the Stanzas by "T. M." will hardly suit us. Our readers will observe, that we have given to-day an additional half-sheet, in order to overtake as many of the new publications as possible.

LITERARY CRITICISM.

The History of Chivalry. By G. P. R. James, Esq. (Being the National Library. Vol. IV.) London. Colburn and Bentley. 1830.

Price 6d.

the Knights of Malta, will fail to perceive that these institutions were disfigured by many evil passions and turbulent actions, as unlike what we are given to understand the spirit of Chivalry would inculcate, as the excesses of a Belgian mob or the vulgar imbecilities of a Masonic Lodge. Our dream of Chivalry therefore faded, and we declined the task of attempting to re-unite its broken fragments into an harmonious whole.

It is more than probable that Mr James was not disposed to take this view of the matter, else he would never have gone through so much laborious reading and investigation as he must have submitted to before he was able to prepare a work like that now before us. We have described some of the books which have been appearing in these Family Libraries, by the expressive monosyllable whack; but this is a volume evidently written with so much care, and so redolent of research in every page, that it is entirely above the chance of having so disagreeable an epithet applied to it. Still, however, much as we respect the talent which its author evinces, we must be permitted to say that it has not succeeded in convincing us, that as "I by itself I" makes a letter, chivalry by itself chivalry makes a history. What does Mr James's book contain? It is divided into fifteen chapters ;-of these the greater part of the three first is taken up with some general introductory matters concerning the origin of what is called chivalry, the education and services of a knight, and privileges and duties of knighthood; and then we descend all at once to the period of the Crusades, and from the latter end of the third chapter to the commencement of the fifteenth, the scene lies almost continually in Palestine; or, at all events, the narrative never disconnects itself from the fortunes of those princes and armies who marched in such multitudes from Europe to the Holy Land. Now, in all the crusaders' wars, if we set aside the tolerably romantic aim for which they fought, we must frankly avow that we see nothing whatever to distinguish them from any other wars, and certainly discover nothing half so chivalrous in their nature (if we must use the word chivalrous) as in the elder wars of Greece and Rome. Where was there ever a band of so devoted knights as those who fought at Thermopyla? What preux chevalier ranks higher, or so high, as Marcus Curtius, or Mutius Scavola? True, military and religious orders-the Red and the White Cross Knights-flourished in the time of the Crusades; but they did not constitute Chivalry, else why

ABOUT eighteen months ago, we were requested to write a History of Chivalry for one of the monthly Libraries, or Miscellanies, now so much in vogue. We promised to devote some attention to the subject, with the view of ascertaining the probable success of such a work. The result of our studies was, that no such thing could be written as a History of Chivalry, for that there was nothing definite and tangible-no principle of distinct existence in what is usually denominated Chivalry. In as far as we could perceive, Chivalry was not a concatenation of successive events clearly marked out and capable of standing by themselves, but merely a certain feature of society, varying in different countries, and modified into different shapes by the political and moral changes which, in the course of several centuries, necessarily occurred in Europe. We felt, therefore, that a History of Chivalry would be a history not of a substance but of a property, not of events but of feelings, not of realities but of ideas. Chivalry appeared to us to be somewhat of the nature of a cameleon, whose colours, though independent of itself, are of too unsubstantial and fleeting a nature to be separated from the body to which they seem to belong. In looking into the works of both ancient and modern writers upon Chivalry, to see how they got over this difficulty, we invariably found that they did not get over it at all, but that what they were pleased to term a history of Chivalry, was neither more nor less than a history of warlike adventures, of which the Crusades were the principal, intermingled with copious descriptions of the arms and accoutrements which the better sort of soldiers were expected to wear, and of certain ceremonies which those who volunteered their services in the public cause agreed to go through. These writers, and we could not wonder at it, did not introduce us to any broad stream of narrative, down whose waters Chivalry floated like a gorgeous pageant, gradually swelling into greater magnificence as tributary rivers joined its course, and as many a little fleet weighed anchor from the neighbouring shores and followed in its wake. We found, on the contrary, that Chivalry, even in its best days, sparkled like a few random gems among a quantity of dross, or like a subterranean fire pressed down and restrained by the incum-give us only occasional glimpses of their deeds among the bent mass, yet breaking out at intervals, sometimes where least expected, and not unfrequently where it was but slightly understood. We found that at no period was the general population of a country disposed to be one whit more chivalrous than they are at this present moment, in the year of grace 1831; and that the few more gallant spirits which occasionally arose, were then, as they are now, meteors that glittered for a time and disappeared. There were, it is true, some large military societies banded together on rather a more elegant scale than our regiments of volunteers; but no one who studies attentively the rise and progress of such bodies as the Templars and

general armaments with whom they were associated? In his fifteenth, and last chapter, Mr James informs us of the melancholy fate of the Templars on their return to Europe, and of the more fortunate career of the Knights of St John, in Rhodes and Malta; and having thus brought us down to the middle of the sixteenth cen tury, concludes a very able and interesting work, but, by his good leave, no more a history of chivalry than any other book which was ever written on the subject is a history of chivalry.

Our readers will perceive that we wish to draw a distinction between the intrinsic excellence of Mr James's

work, and the appositeness of its title. The former secures our high respect; the latter, we think, misleads. We are almost inclined to hope that Mr James will himself admit the truth of these remarks; and to show, at all events, that he was not unaware of the difficulty he had to encounter, we shall quote the three first pages of his book, in which he boldly, and with the praiseworthy precaution of a clear thinker, attempts a definition of chivalry. It will be seen, however, by the last paragraph of our extract, that he is obliged, after all, to have recourse to something vague, shadowy, and unseen, which he calls, not chivalry itself, but the spirit of chivalry:

A DEFINITION OF CHIVALRY.

"The first principles of whatever subject we may attempt to trace in history are ever obscure; but few are so entirely buried in darkness as the origin of chivalry. This seems the more extraordinary, as we find the institution itself suddenly accompanied by regular and established forms to which we can assign no precise date, and which appear to have been generally acknowledged before they were reduced to any written code.

"Although definitions are dangerous things, inasmuch as the ambiguity of language rarely permits of perfect accuracy, except in matters of abstract science; it is better, as far as possible, on ail subjects of discussion, to venture some clear and decided position, that the subsequent reasoning may be fixed upon a distinct and unchanging basis.

"If the position itself be wrong, it may be the more speedily proved so, from the very circumstance of standing forth singly, uninvolved in a labyrinth of other matter; and if it be right, the arguments that follow may always be more easily traced, and afford greater satisfaction by being deduced from a principle already determined. These considerations lead me to offer a definition of chivalry, together with some remarks calculated to guard that definition from the consequences of misapprehension on the part of others, or of obscurity on my own.

"When I speak of chivalry, I mean a military institution, prompted by enthusiastic benevolence, sanctioned by religion, and combined with religious ceremonies, the purpose of which was, to protect the weak from the oppression of the powerful, and to defend the right cause against the

wrong.

sessed the spirit, should be distinguished from the other classes of society. The ceremonial was merely the public declaration, that he on whom the order was conferred, was worthy to exercise the powers with which it invested him. But still, the spirit was the chivalry."

We here find our author confessing at the very outset, that chivalry was "more a spirit than an institution ;" consequently he must have felt, and the sensation would be an odd one, that he was about to write the history of a spirit.

Be this as it may, we shall not dwell on the matter any longer, but gladly turn to the more pleasing task of bearing our unhesitating testimony to the luminous and energetic style in which Mr James conducts his narrative, and to the great mass of correct and solid information which his work contains. We have seldom seen so much condensed, with equal perspicuity and elegance, into so small a space. The whole events of the Crusades are made to pass in panoramic review before us; and without any ambitious parade of fine writing, a series of graphic and vivid descriptions, intermingled frequently with sound philosophical observations, and comprehensive views of the state of society, prevents the reader's attention from flagging for a moment. We select at random the following specimen of the work, which will be read with interest:

ANECDOTES OF THE EARLY CRUSADERS.

"Many anecdotes are told of the first crusaders by their contemporary historians, which, though resting on evidence so far doubtful as to forbid their introduction as absolute facts, I shall mention, in exemplification of the manners and customs of the time.

"The number of women and children who followed the first crusaders to the Holy Land, is known to have been immense; but it is not a little extraordinary, that in spite of all the hardships and dangers of the way, a great multitude of both arrived safe at Jerusalem. The women we find, on almost all occasions, exercising the most heroic firmness in the midst of battles and destruction; and Guibert gives a curious account of the military spirit which seized upon the children during the siege of Antioch. The "Its military character requires no proof; but various boys of the Saracens, and the young crusaders, armed with mistaken opinions, which I shall notice hereafter, render it sticks for lances, and stones instead of arrows, would issue necessary to establish the fact, that religious ceremonies of from the town and the camp, and under leaders chosen some kind were always combined with the institutions of from amongst themselves, who assumed the names of the chivalry. principal chiefs, would advance in regular squadrons, and "All those written laws and regulations affecting knight-fight in the sight of the two hosts, with a degree of rancour hood, which were composed subsequent to its having taken an acknowledged form, prescribed, in the strictest manner, various points of religious ceremonial, which the aspirant to chivalry was required to perform before he could be admitted into that high order.

"What preceded the regular recognition of chivalry as an institution is entirely traditional; yet in all the old romances, fabliaux, sirventes, ballads, &c., not one instance is to be found in which a squire becomes a knight, without some reference to his religious faith. If he be dubbed on the battle field, he swears to defend the right, and maintain all the statutes of the noble order of chivalry, upon the cross of his sword; he calls heaven to witness his vow, and the saints to help him in its execution. Even in one of the most absurd fables of the chivalrous ages, wherein we find Saladin himself receiving the order of chivalry from the hands of Count de Tabarie, that nobleman causes the infidel sultan to be shaved, and to bathe, as a symbol of baptism, and then to rest himself upon a perfumed bed, as a type of the repose and joy of Paradise. These tales are all fictitious, it is true; and few of them date earlier than the end of the 12th century; but at the same time, as they universally ascribe religious ceremonies to the order of knighthood, we have every reason to suppose that such ceremonies formed a fundamental part of the institution.

"Before proceeding to enquire into the origin of chivalry, I must be permitted to make one more observation in regard to my definition-namely, that there was a great and individual character in that order, which no definition can fully convey. I mean the spirit of chivalry; for indeed it was more a spirit than an institution; and the outward forms with which it soon became invested, were only, in truth, the signs by which it was conventionally agreed that those persons who had proved in their initiate they pos

which showed to what a pitch the mutual hatred of the nations was carried. Even after the crusaders had fallen in battle, or had died of the pestilence, their children still pursued their way, and getting speedily accustomed to fatigue and privation, evinced powers of endurance equal to those of the most hardy warriors.

"With the army of the Cross also, was a multitude of men-the same author declares-who made it a profession to be without money; they walked barefoot, carried no arms, and even preceded the beasts of burden in the march, living upon roots and herbs, and presenting a spectacle both disgusting and pitiable. A Norman, who, according to all accounts, was of noble birth, but who, having lost his horse, continued to follow as a foot-soldier, took the strange resolution of putting himself at the head of this race of vagabonds, who willingly received him for their king. Amongst the Saracens these men became well known under the naine of Thafurs, (which Guibert translates Trudentes,) and were held in great horror, from the general persuasion that they fed on the dead bodies of their enemies; a report which was occasionally justified, and which the King of the Thafurs took care to encourage. This respectable monarch was frequently in the habit of stopping his followers, one by one, in any narrow defile, and of causing them to be searched carefully, lest the possession of the least sum of money should render them unworthy of the name of his subjects. If even two sous were found upon any one, he was instantly expelled from the society of his tribe, the king bidding him contemptuously buy arms and fight.

"This troop, so far from being cumbersome to the army, was infinitely serviceable, carrying burdens, bringing in forage, provisions, and tribute, working the machines in the sieges, and, above all, spreading consternation amongst the Turks, who feared death from the lances of the knights