Whether the other gentlemen are delineated with equal felicity of discrimination, or, to speak less metaphorically, whether they have enough either to say or do, we leave it to the ladies to determine; it is a question which they will discuss among themselves when they retire after dinner. It is to be admitted that Farquarson is but too true a model of the fashionable delinquents of the present day; but he stands alone in the minority; the rest of the gallants are all very fine young men-very hopeful specimens indeed. 79. Placide, a Spanish Tale. In Two Vols. Translated from Les Battuécas, of Madame de Genlis. By Alexander Jamieson. 2 vols. 12mo. pp. 204. 206. Marshall. ALTHOUGH the whole tenor of this Narrative is better suited to the genius of the French, and to the idiom of their language, yet it is elegantly, and we doubt not faithfully translated by Mr. Jamieson; and, allowing for a few inconsistencies, the story is, upon the whole, amusing and interesting. The admirers of Madame de Genlis's Works will feel curious to read, in order to form their own opinion of, her present publication; of which she says, "I have never written any Work with more care or more reflection; and the character of Placide is that on which I have bestowed the most profound attention, At all events, I think that I offer to the publick a Work written, though in a short time, with all the application which my feeble talents would enable me to bestow upon it. "Every thing which is said in this Work respecting the Battuécas, their origin, their singular history, their character, their manners, &c. is strictly true. The description of their mysterious valley is faithfully drawn. The adventure of the Duke d'Albe, who by so wonderful an accident discovered this small colony, is also an historical fact. All these details, so curious and interesting, are to be found in the Dictionary of Moréri, and in the travels of M. de Bourgoing (an author of much celebrity from his fidelity). Several Spanish writers have also spoken of these people, and all their accounts perfectly agree. This small and fortunate Republic existed in all the happiness of its obscurity, and was blessed in being unknown to the rest of the world, even so late as 1806; but it is doubtful whether, since that epoch, it hath not been disturbed by the sanguinary war which desolated Spain." Dur The situation of the valley is thus described.-"There exists in Spain, about fourteen leagues from the city of Salamanca, in the diocese of Coria, in the kingdom of Leon, and about eight leagues from Cuidad Rodrigo, a fertile valley, enclosed on all sides by a chain of enormous rocks forming around it a rampart, which during centuries had rendered this reThis canton is treat inaccessible. called the vale of the Battuécas. It extends itself almost a league. ing entire ages the entrance to this valley was truly inaccessible; however, it hath ceased to be so nOW. It is well known by a tradition the Battuécas, preserved among that towards the year 1009 the torrent of Tormes having changed its course, blocked up the only penetrable entrance to the valley. At the end of two or three centuries an earthquake altered, suddenly, the direction of the torrent which had enclosed their asylum. The entrance of the valley, though still very difficult of access, was, however, more free: this great event made no impression on the Battuécas, for, satisfied with their lot, they resolved not to seek another residence." 80. Rachel, a Tale. small 8vo. pp.153. Taylor and Hessey. A PLAIN moral Tale, wherein we find much of unsophisticated nature, and of good common sense-tending to prove, that acquired accomplishments, and the refinements of life,16 greatly contribute to soften the manners and improve the character, without comprising in themselves exclusive excellence. creature ; Woodley, his master, prized the honest [ture. Rever'd his worth-fidelity good-naBut, ah! good-nature is too oft abused Too oft the village rustics Dash ill-us'd! They'd kick, or euff, or push him from his track; pa [bis back; This boy threw stones, that clamber'd onSometimes, by urchins teaz'd, he'd growl, affright, [bite: Would angry seem, and snarl, but never Nay, tho' his sides they'd lash, his ears oft lug, [tient shrug.' Still all by Dash was borne with "Through copse or field, in every sort of weather, [together. Woodley and Dash trudg'd on for years When Dash e'er seiz'd on prey (for he was fleet) [feet; He'd bring and drop it at his master's' And Woodley never took his food alone,' Nor relish'd it, tiil Dash had got his bone. [master, No two more happy than this dog and Till one sad night brought on a dire disaster." 82. Narratives of the Lives of the more Eminent Fathers of the Three First Centuries; interspersed with copious Quotations from their Writings, familiar Observations on their Characters and Opinions, and Occasional Refe rences to the most remarkable Events and Persons of the Times in which they lived. Inscribed by Permission to the Hon. and Right Rev. the Bishop of Gloucester. By the Rev. Robert Cox, A. M. Perpetual Curate of St. Leonard's, Bridgnorth, 8vo. pp. 402. Hatchard. "If the principal business of a Biographer be to lead the thoughts into domestic privacies, and display the minute details of daily life,' the subjects of the following Work may at first sight appear to afford a barren soil for his operations. Of some of them neither the period of their birth, nor the time nor manner of their death, can be ascertained; of others little is known, except the circumstances connected with their martyrdom; and even of those, whose actions and characters have most escaped the ravages of time, scarcely any thing can be accurately ascertained respecting their retired moments, or domestic peculiarities. After we have given, however, full weight to these objections, it may still be condently asserted that the subjects of these narratives possess some peculiar biographical attractions. The more early of the Fathers, whose lives are here recorded, were intimately acquainted with the Apostles of our Lord, were them selves deservedly styled apostolical men,' and manifested a degree of zeal and piety scarcely inferior to that of their inspired predecessors. Even those of them who were the most remote from the times of the apostles, though they rarely possessed the evangelical simpli city of their earlier brethren, still flourished during that interesting period of the Church when persecution was continually developing the character of nominal Christians, clearing the sacred inclosure of the noxious weeds of hypocrisy, and maturing the consecrated fruits of genuine Christianity. Of such persons, whilst we lament the loss of a minute detail, every cir cumstance is interesting. Every incident in their lives, and almost every expression of their writings, is important: the one exhibits the habits of the early disciples, the other their sentiments; and both not unfrequently supply a satisfactory comment on the Sacred Writings. At the same time the family likeness, which pervades the whole circle, evidently indicates that its different members, though distinguished from each other by a variety of features and complexion, are all children of the same parent."...." Whilst the Compiler feelingly laments the scanti ness of his materials, and still more deeply regrets his own inability to do justice to such as are actually in his possession, he cheers himself with the hope that his humble publication will not prove altogether uninteresting; and that even those who may justly censure its execution will candidly acknowledge that its tendency is good-a tendency to promote the interests of our common Christianity. With these pleasing-may they not prove fallacious-expectations, the public eye, as a humble thankhe submits the following narratives to offering to that gracious Being who, when the ability to provide a more suitable one was wanting, did not reject the widow's mite." The Lives here given, and on which Mr. Cox has reputably performed the task he has undertaken, are those of Simeon, son of Cleopas ; Clement, Bishop of Rome; Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch; Justin Martyr; lian, Presbyter of Carthage; Origen, Irenæus, Bishop of Lyons; TertulCatechist of Alexandria; Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage; and Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria; -names deservedly high in the estimation of good Christians of every denomination, however varying in shades of religious opinion. The The Volume is thus inscribed : "To the Hon. and Right Rev. Henry Lord Bishop of Gloucester, in whose solid Piety and active Benevolence, whilst a Private Clergyman, his friends could not but trace features of resemblance to the Presbyters of the three first Centuries; and whose holy zeal, wisdom, moderation, and effective and incessant labours in his Episcopal Office, remind the public of the Bishops of the same period; whilst all the praise is ascribed by himself, and should be ascribed by that Church which he loves and benefits, to the Grace of God, these Narratives of the Lives and Sentiments of the early Fathers are inscribed as a small token of the Author's cordial esteem and unfeigned respect." 83. Lalla Rookh, an Oriental Romance, By Thomas Moore; 4to. Longman and Co. Mr. IT seldom happens that a new book is introduced to the publick with so many auspicious circumstances as the present work. Moore's reputation has long since been very high as a lyric poet; and as soon as it was known that a new poem from his pen was to issue from the press, the public curiosity was excited, not only among the Literati, but also amongst the highest and most distinguished personages of these Realms, whose meritorious impatience urged them to make several attempts to procure copies before the book was ready for publication: in a word, the public eagerness was such, that the whole edition was sold in one day. When expectations run so high, it requires no small share of merit in the performance to prevent disappointment. In the present case Mr. Moore has greatly increased his fame, and far exceeded the most sanguine hope of his admirers by the sublimity of the pictures which he has drawn from Nature, and which cannot fail securing him a place on the summit of Mount Parnassus. The History of Lalla Rookh is written in prose; and the Oriental style is admirably well imitated; it has not many incidents, but is employed as a medium to bind the four poems together. Lalla Rookh is a princess who travels from Delhi to Cashmere, where she is to meet, for the first time the young King of Bucharia, her intended husband ; she has in her service, amongst a great number of attendants, a poet of the name of Feramorz, who at every station, to amuse the princess, relates, in her presence, the tales which are the ground-work of the romance and poems contained in this volume. At the end of their journey, the princess, to her great joy, finds that the poet, for whom she had entertained a secret passion, was the young King of Bucharia himself, who had contrived to accompany his intended bride in disguise, and had thus succeeded in winning her love by that innocent stratagem. The stories which were related during the journey are four in number: the first is called The Veiled Prophet of Khorassan; the second, Paradise and Pe ri; the third, The Fire Worshipers, and the last, The Light of the Haram. We should be very happy to give our Readers a sketch of every one of them; but our limits expressly forbid us that indulgence. To make up, however, for that deficiency, we shall readily indicate a few of the features which must stamp the seal of immortality on this most admirable work. Where every thing is good, there can be no difficulty in the choice. We shall begin by the portrait of Zelica, the heroine of the first poem : page 27. Light, lovely limbs, to which the spirit's play Gave motion, airy as the dancing spray, When from its stem the small bird wings Lips in whose rosy labyrinth when she away! [smil'd, The soul was lost; and blushes, swift and wild, ment. As are the momentary meteors sent Across th' uncalm, but beauteous firma[heart so wise And then her look!-oh, where's the Could unbewilder'd meet those matchless eyes! [withal, Quick, restless, strange, but exquisite Like those of angels just before their fall; [now crost Now shadow'd with the shames of earth By glimpses of the Heav'n her heart had lost; [troul, In every glance there broke, without conThe flashes of a bright but troubled soul, Where sensibility still wildly play'd, Like lightning, round the ruins it had made." Page 30: a beautiful simile; "Yet, one relief this glance of former years [floods of tears, Brought, mingled with its pain,-tears, Long Long frozen at her heart, but now like Page 35 a very strong passage upon the false Miracles: skies; "Ye too, believers of incredible creeds, Whose faith inshrines the monsters which it breeds; [to rise, Who, bolder ev'n than Nimrod, think By nonsense heap'd on nonsense, to the [too, Ye shall have miracles, aye, round ones Seen, heard, attested, every thing-but true. [seek Your preaching zealots, too inspir'd to One grace of meaning for the things they speak; [blood, Your Martyrs, ready to shed out their For truths too heavenly to be understood; [the lore And your State Priests, sole venders of That works salvation; -as on Ava's [to trade Where none but priests are privileg'd shore, In that best Marble of which Gods are The forced flight of Mokana is admirably described, and accompanied with the following beautiful simile: page 95. "As a grim tiger, whom the torrent's to stay!" From the Second Poem, Paradise and Peri, we shall select the Eulogy of Liberty, page 140. "Though foul are the drops that oft Oh! if there be, on this earthly sphere, We recommend also, particularly to our fair Readers, the exquisitely "Light as the angel shapes that bless Shedding a glow of such mild hue, Also the childish despair of perfect innocence: page 188. "Oh! ever thus, from childhood's hour, But when it came to know me well, And love me, it was sure to die!" A strong apostrophe to Rebellion, with an appropriate simile, page 203. "Rebellion! foul dishonouring word, Whose wrongful blight so oft has stain'd The holiest cause that tongue or sword Has sunk beneath that withering name, Whom but a day's, an hour's success, As exbalations, when they burst Page 205, the character of Hafed. Pulls Pulls down his cowl upon his eyes, And, page 222, an energetic imprecation against traitors. Oh, for a tongue to curse the slave, With joys, that vanish while he sips, Beholding heaven, and feeling hell!" The bravery of the Ghebers is strongly and shortly expressed, page 272: "The very tigers from their delves Look out, and let them pass, as things Untam'd and fearless like themselves!" Also the apathy of extreme grief, ending by heart-breaking, page 282. "No-pleasures, hopes, affections gone, The wretch may bear, and yet live on, Like things, within the cold rock found Alive, when all 's congeal'd around. But there's a blank repose in this, A calm stagnation, that were bliss To the keen, burning, harrowing pain, Now felt through all thy breast and brain - That spasm of terror, mute, intense, The heart has no relief but breaking!" "There's a bliss beyond all that the Min- And oh! if there be an Elysium on earth, We shall conclude this article by observing that Mr. Moore is not only an eminent Poet, but also an excellent Musician: like the ancient Bards, he writes, composes, and sings, with the enthusiasm of an inspired man. If any of our Readers have had the good fortune to hear him accompanying himself on the Piano, they must have observed his flashing eyes darting to heaven, his soul upon his lips, from her corporeal fetters, and the endeavouring to disentangle herself stitute pleasure and voluptuousness, infinitely small atoms, which conexuding from his beaming face: in a word, he transports us back to the old times, when Orpheus, by the melody of his Lyre, forced the most rapid rivers to suspend their flowing, made the savage beasts of the forest forget their wildness, and the mountains move to listen to his songs. 84. A Theological Hebrew, Chaldaic, and English Lexicon; entitled a Key to the Holy Tongue. In Two Parts. By the Rev. S. Lyon, Hebrew Teacher to the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Eton-College, &c. 8vo. pp. 182. Hatchard. THE name of Lyon has long been familiar in our Universities, as connected with the Sacred Language of the Holy Bible. The present Veteran Author seems not to have degenerated in industry or skill; and we cannot do him more justice than to transcribe some part of his own ingenuous statement. "The Author, impressed with a grateful sense for that liberal patronage he has experienced from a generous Publick, which has enabled him to complete the first part of his important work, begs leave to present to his Friends, his most sincere acknowledgethe same time to solicit the favour of ments for their kind support, and at its further continuation, to enable him to prosecute those his more arduous labours, in completing a compendious and entirely original Hebrew Lexicon, already advanced in its progress. To those of the learned and enlightened community, especially to that part who are intended to be initiated into the sacred functions of religion, the Author takes this opportunity of giving an outline of its value and importance. "In the Grammar already published, the Reader will find, by demonstrations duduced |