from her slumber, and confidence takes an alarm. The narrative is written in a simple and perspicuous style, embellished with very few artificial ornaments; but to those who were any way engaged in the American contest, and especially to the friends and relations of such as fell on this occasion, the account will prove highly interesting. Nevertheless, from the numerous and more gigantic efforts of military ambition and prowess which have since taken place, the siege of Quebec will be placed among the common events of war, which can give but a feeble impulse to retrospection. REVIEW.-Ludolph, or the Light of Nature, a Poem. By Charlotte Caroline Richardson. 8vo. pp. 137. London. Sherwood & Jones. 1823. THIS poem contains a considerable portion of incident, which the writer might easily have wrought into a drama; and by having given a little more distinctness to her characters, and placed them in more commanding attitudes, the composition would have produced a powerful effect. We have many tragedies, and many comedies, that cannot boast such a fund of materials, and for the popularity which they enjoy, they are more indebted to artificial decorations than to intrinsic worth. In the early parts of this poem, a considerable degree of obscurity is perceptible, and it is only by perusing its subsequent portions, that light beams upon them. This, however, comes rather too late to give the reader that satisfaction which he anticipated, and unless his memory be peculiarly retentive, he will find it necessary to retrace his steps, and reexamine several passages that had already passed under his review. Much of this might have been obviated by a different arrangement of the leading events, without allowing the reader to penetrate the veil that conceals the catastrophe. That the whole narration and accumulation of incidents are imaginary, scarcely a doubt can be entertained; the fair authoress was not therefore bound in the relation to adhere to actual occurrence. Hence, a little further exertion of fancy might have communicated a more agreeable or der, and these observations might have been spared. The versification, though making no claim to metrical composition of the higher order, is smooth and harmonious, and the writer is not destitute of descriptive powers. Many affecting scenes are introduced to our notice, but we find little or no affectation, nothing that either looks like display, or aims at theatrical effect. The tale, however, is more interesting than the manner in which it is told. We forget the poet in perusing the narration, and subordinate episodes lose their effect, by the expectation of the final catastrophe which they contribute to excite. The writer gaonly grow in Parnassian climes, but thers violets and primroses which can she has not ascended those elevated regions of the Aonian mount, in which roses and carnations are entwined with immortal amaranth. REVIEW.-Maria's Legacy, or the Experience of a Suffering Christian delineated, in a Memoir of the late Miss Greeves. By John Greeves, of Lynn. 8vo. pp. 220. London. Nisbet, Berner's-street. 1824. THIS is a memorial of a pious young woman, who, in early life, being led to see the necessity of salvation, sought and found redemption in the blood of Christ. In her subsequent conduct, she exemplified the influence of Christianity; it made her life happy and her death triumphant. Her departure from time took place in her twentieth year, 1823. The volume before us, presented to the world by her brother, has been chiefly compiled from her diary and letters. These papers breathe a spirit of genuine piety, untinctured with those rhapsodies of enthusiasm, which rarely fail to disgust a well-regulated mind. Her understanding rises above the ordinary character of female intellect, and although many of her expressions might be susceptible of some literary emendation, the simplicity and sincerity that appear, both in her diary, and epistolary correspondence, more than compensate for the want of artificial ornaments. In a style equally simple and unassuming, this volume is dedicated to the mother of the deceased, by her brother, to whom her papers were consigned; but selection and arrange- | their contents. "In every page," he ment may be said to comprise his task, observes, "the poet is a libertine ; as nearly all the materials are the and the most unexceptionable pasproductions of her own pen. The life sages are mildewed with impurity. of Miss Greaves furnishes no interest-The cloven foot of the libidinous ing anecdotes, no remarkable inci- satyr is monstrously associated with dents, no unexpected events; yet the the angel wing of genius." On the artless piety which appears in every aberrations of Savage, the observaparagraph, will secure the reader's tions of Dr. Johnson were never attention, and render the work useful thought to be acrimonious, and few to all who peruse it with proper will deem them inapplicable on the views. present occasion. Hence, those, who, in the confidence of superior the common maxims of life, shall be capacities or attainments, disregard the want of prudence, and that neglireminded, that nothing will supply gence and irregularity, long continued, will make knowledge useless, wit ridiculous, and genius contemptible." REVIEW.-Lord Byron's Works viewed To ON perusing this discourse, the reader 66 REVIEW.-Bunyan explained to a BUNYAN'S Pilgrim is too well known "Be assured, my brethren, it is with sorrowful reluctance I feel myself called upon, by an imperious sense of public duty, to denounce the greatest genius of the age, as the greatest enemy of his species. I regard talents with too sincere an admiration, and I This work can hardly be said to love poetry with a devotion too enthusiastic, contain a regular narrative of Chriswantonly to impeach either the one or the other; but there are things of higher moment tian's journey, and yet, without keepthan talents, of dearer concern than poetry. ing his journey in view, many parts The purity of love, the chastity of woman, the will be rendered unintelligible. The sacredness of honour, and the glow of patriot-reader is presumed either to have the ism, are all of paramount consideration. Society may flourish without genius, and may be refined without poetry, but it cannot exist with out virtue ; and when genius arms itself against the body politic, and wages war with the whole human family, I am determined, for one, to make common cause with my country -with my species."-p. 22. Pilgrim's Progress before him, the more prominent characteristics of which this book points out, or to have the more striking features so strongly impressed upon his memory, that when these scenes appear, he knows immediately to what they exclusively refer. Its design seems to be, to amuse and instruct children, and it can hardly fail to answer the end intended. The short dissertations which explain the cuts, appear somewhat like an exposition on the parts of Christian's journey that are brought into view, taking off in some degree the veil which the allegory had spread over the subject, and bringing its spiritual import more conspicuously to light. This book points out the way to heaven by sensible representations, without materializing scriptural realities, and to the youthful mind strews the path of divine instruction with flowers. It will be extensively read in proportion as it is known, but not more so than it justly deserves. the pamphlet before us; but as they have been so lately laid before the public in connexion with bis execution, we have no occasion to follow the author through his affecting narration. Their treatment while in prison was of the most unmanly and barbarous description. During their confinement they were nearly starved, and this lingering torture was but an apparent presage of an expected violent death. It is well known that Riego suffered what both himself and the author anticipated, but the latter was unexpectedly set at liberty, while he was preparing himself for the gallows. REVIEW.-Sermons, and Plans of Sermons on many of the most important Texts of Holy Scripture. By the late Rev. Joseph Benson. 8vo. pp. 484. The account is written in a style London. Kershaw, City-road. 1824. that is at once simple and perspicuIn our number for May, col. 479, we ous; and it abounds with incidents introduced to the notice of our read, which the commotion must have reners, a work of the late Rev. Joseph | dered familiar. The perusal excites Benson, similar to the present, both considerable interest; and we drop containing sermons and plans of the pamphlet with a sigh, perceiving sermons, &c. This resemblance is that military glory is only another admitted by the publisher of the pre-name for the calamities of war. sent volume, which is called "Part II." and is announced as a continuation of the former. The subjects are forty-four in number, selected nearly in equal portions from the prophetic writings and the New Testament, each bearing an emphatical title. REVIEW.-The Camera, or Art of Similar observations to those which we made to the former are applicable FROM the plain and simple manner in to this. Piety, zeal, acute research, which the art of drawing is here delivigour of intellect, and a copious ap-neated, this book seems calculated to peal to the divine word, are among its distinguishing characteristics. Mr. Benson was well known and much esteemed when living; and these discourses, though several of them are unfinished, will not cause his name to be recollected with disrespect. By be useful to all those who want instruction in its first principles. Among the various branches of the art, the reader is directed" how to mix his colours, how to shadow with sepia or Indian ink, how to prepare tints, how to introduce the sky and neutral tint, how to colour, what materials are necessary, and how to prepare paper for drawing on." REVIEW. The last Military Operations of General Riego, &c. It is pleasant to notice, that in giving George Matthewes, First Aide-de-instructions on the preceding branches, Camp to Gen. Riego. pp. 101. Lon-no unintelligible terms are used, and don. Simpkin & Co. 1824. we find no ambiguity that is calculated to mislead the scholar. If the pages of this little volume are perused with attention, and the rules which it contains carefully adopted, the ingenious pupil will find that he can make considerable improvement without the aid of any other master. So far as scenes of misery can afford pleasure, this is a pleasing narrative. The author describes the various vieissitudes through which he was compelled to pass, in an interesting manner, and places the late patriotic Riego before us in such a light, as to command our sympathy for his misfortunes and his fate. The disasters which befell this betrayed and unfortunate leader, are clearly detailed in To assist the learner, a landscape is presented on three distinct sheets; the first is an outline, the second is shaded, and the third is coloured. These views will be found of essential | service; they illustrate the description, and are illustrated by it. We must not omit to remark, that the author endeavours to rouse the young artist to exertion by the most flattering assurances of success; and we beg to add, that unless the native energies of the mind are called into operation, and perseverance be added to industry, the pupil may rest satisfied that he will make no proficiency, either in this or any other art, though no expense should be spared by his friends, and though the first masters of the age may be ready to impart instruction. 1824. in keeping them in ignorance, and in withholding from them the means of acquiring that qualification for freedom which is granted to be indispensable. His recommendation to the planters is,-Qualify your slaves for freedom, and then they shall be taken from you! On Mr. Wilberforce's late pamphlet he is particularly severe; and "Stephen's Colonial Slavery," and " Barham's Considerations," are treated with equal hostility. He is ingenious in raising objections against every plan which he surveys, for leading the negro to freedom, and seems to imagine that things must go on much as usual, to preserve that peace which he so pathetically recommends. In the concluding pages, he proposes a plan of his own, which we doubt not every friend to slavery would wish to see adopted. Among other items, he advises "a moral education under the responsibility of the Church of England; and a non-interference with the colonial legislature in the execution of local laws." While this latter clause remains, and the master has an interest in keeping the slave in ignorance, he can always prevent his in most distant posterity the chains worn by their remote ancestors. In future we would advise the author to make an alteration in the title of his book, and call it "Pecuniary Interest, without Humanity." REVIEW.-The Common-Sense Book, Vol. I. No. I. 8vo. pp. 170. London. Lupton Relfe, Cornhill. In the professed design of the author, this book wears an interesting aspect, and the account given of the birth, progress, and vicissitudes of CommonSense, is humorous and entertaining. In the preface, the author states many important questions, into the truth of which he proposes to inquire, in the present and the succeeding parts of his work. Throughout the first forty-struction, and thus transmit to the eight pages, he amuses his readers with general observations on the three estates of the British constitution, on the condition of the nation, on its connexion with foreign kingdoms and republics, and on its alliances, commerce, and neutrality. Having dismissed these subjects, he turns to our REVIEW.-Odes, original and translatcolonial policy, and gradually introduces the question of negro emanci12mo. pp. 128. London. Underwood, Fleet-street. 1824. pation, and with its discussion the remaining part of the book is filled. THESE Odes are twenty-four in numIn travelling over these various re-ber, of which the greater part are origions, although the author cannot deny that many evils exist, yet he invariably endeavours to palliate them, and on the whole thinks it much better that things should remain as they are, than that any attempt should be made to disturb their present order. On the question of negro emancipation, be contends, that the slaves are unfit for the blessings of freedom, and that it should be withholden, until they obtain a moral qualification for its enjoyment. He admits that the property of the colonists in their negroes is little short of two hundred millions sterling, (p. 116,) consequently their proprietors have no common interest at stake, No. 70.-VOL. VI. ed. ginal; and among these, the longest is on the coronation of his Majesty, George IV. On an occasion like this, a poet may be allowed some liberty to offer a little incense on the altar of adulation, and to glow with enthusiasm in the praise of his country. Of this license the author has availed himself, but he has not launched out into any unpardonable excesses. Several principal occurrences of the late war rise before us the glory and ambition of Napoleon, are briefly touched; and we are led to survey his final overthrow, as consummating the triumphs of Wellington. The language of this Ode is strong 3 P and expressive, and though in general the lines are harmonious, yet in some places, there is a want of ease and re-ing the mind with axioms of morality, gularity. To most of the longer Odes and attempting the useless task of the same observations are applicable, making pleasure hateful to the soul; while in those that are short, harmony as upon nerving it to resist its admitprevails over vigour. Throughout the ted seductions. whole, the poetry, however, is decent and respectable; and although the author's muse cannot mount into those elevated regions, where our | Parnassian favourites take their | therefore, to enable the mind to overflight, the station which she occupies places him beyond the reach of dishonour. attention of the instructors of youth should not be so much bent upon fill-i Hope and fear are the two grand stimulants that operate on the human mind;-without these, it would remain completely stagnant. In order, come the temptations of sin, we must call to our aid these two powerful auxiliaries. And how ably does the economy of the gospel dispensation aid us in this respect! How far, on this account, does the religion of Christ excel the morality of the stoical school! and how forcibly does it prove, that the Bible should ever form the grand foundation of instruction! While reading the works of the ancient worthies of Greece and Rome, and watching their aspirings after a knowledge of the Divine Being, we are almost insensibly led to wish that these noble spirits had been reserved have found an end, and they would for our day, when their doubtings would have been enabled to enter into the sublime communion of the holy scriptures. What would not Socrates or Plato have given, could either have strengthened his reasoning upon a future state, by the declaration of revelation! How would Cicero have been delighted to exchange the uncer ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SCRIPTURE, tainty of the Academics for the convic IN EDUCATION. | | tion of the gospel! And how brightly would the stern virtue of the Stoics (which, in the absence of an assurance of an hereafter, bears the stamp of folly,) have shone, when strengthened and chastened by faith in a Saviour's love! While, however, we thus hail the possession of a revelation, as the greatest boon which could have been conferred upon mankind; how inconsistent are we in making it, in our higher seminaries of instruction, so universally give place to systems, to which we professedly prefer it. COULD we analyze the secret springs of action, and trace the rapid and sub- | tle movements of the soul, perhaps we should find, that the great variation of character, which is observable among mankind, does not arise so much from any difference in the original purity or impurity of individuals, as from the various degrees in which the quality of firmness or resolution is possessed by them: we should also discover, that all are endowed with capacity sufficient to distinguish between virtue and vice, to perceive the beauty of the These remarks have originated in former, and the deformity of the lat- reflections upon the cause of that vacilter-and that the allurements of plea-lating conduct which I have observed sure and sin operate as powerfully on in myself. This I have traced to the one mind as on another-but that the want of power upon my own mind, with difference consists in the degree offirm- which the idea of futurity should be ness with which the attacks of sin are accompanied; and I attribute the demet. If these hypotheses be correct, fect to the merely incidental mode in it will appear evident, I think, that the which that doctrine was inculcated on |