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opinion, that paper money affords a seignorage equal to its exchangeable value; and he also believes, that the nation might gain two millions yearly, if it were the sole issuer of paper money. He wisely adds, that this would only be safe under the guidance of " missioners responsible to Parliament only." Mr Grenfell's recommendation of parliamentary interference is good. That is, indeed, the truly constitutional mode. Every exertion of the kind is so much gained towards ensuring a considerate use of the public treasure, and a strict control over it in future, as matter of duty and honest emulation, on the part of those who have been recognised, since the Revolution, as its guardians.

We have now gone over the principal matters of these questions. For the rest we refer to Mr Grenfell, who has invested the subject with attractions of manner to which we cannot aspire. To his interference in the business this country is indebted for a saving of £180,000 yearly,- a thing of greater importance than those who are occupied with the taking but doubtful schemes of a more extended patriotism could be easily led to acknowledge. Nice calculations of political arithmetic, however, and even the most refined inquiries of political economy, come now, with direct force, to the ordinary business and interests of all those who have, in common parlance, a stake in the country; and we might even add, to those also who have nothing but life and liberty to care for, and whose interest in the cause of good government is the ultimate and the extreme.

We know, from the very best authority, that Lord Grenville, much to the credit of his sense and candour, has recently taken blame to himself for not looking narrowly enough into the affairs of the Bank in 1806-7, when he was at the head of the Treasury, and Mr Vansittart secretary under him. The truth is, we believe, that ministers only overlooked this subject

no variations except such as affect the standard itself, we refer to the novel, solid, and ingenious reasons urged in Mr Ricardo's Proposals. There also the reader will find the practical developement of this fortunate conception made out with uncommon closemess, clearness, and simplicity.

during the occupation of mind so naturally produced by the vast concerns of the war. The author of these discussions, to whom all the merit is due, and who might be excused for any partiality to his own inquiries, or ardour in the pursuit of their objects, shews exemplary moderation. He has taken them up without violence or faction, but with the urbanity and decision of an English gentleman. He has not over-estimated their importance; and his statements are remarkable for perspicuity and plainness, without the least shade of laboured comment or ostentatious deduction. He deals not in splendid generalizations, nor in well-turned invectives ad captandum vulgus. We entreat the early attention of our readers to the Speech itself, and to the Appendix, in which they will find a variety of essential statement and explanation, for which we could not possibly make

room.

Mr Grenfell was a member of the bullion committee, and enjoyed the friendship of Mr Horner. In a letter written lately to a correspondent in this place, he says, "the sanction of his great authority, and his unvaried countenance and approbation of my humble exertions in this cause, inspired me with a confidence as to the correctness of my own views, which has been most essential to me." We knew, ourselves, enough of that most excellent person, to perceive that this is a great deal for any man to say. The privileges and advantages which it implies can only be equalled by intercourse with one of the most original and inventive writers on political economy since the time of Adam Smith ;* whose speculations on the great subjects of human interest with which that science is especially connected, have much of the strictness and severity of mathematical demonstration'; and who bids fair to give to its most practical deductions more shape and certainty than they have received from any writer of his day.

* Mr Ricardo, who is the friend of Mr Grenfell, seconded his resolutions proposed to the Court of Proprietors at the Bank, 23d May 1816, and speaks with respect of his exertions for the public. See Proposals for an Economical and Secure Currency, p. 42.

gravity, and many of the absurdities, which accompany the decline of life. He is serious, egotistical, and his sentences are short, and his reasonvain,- -never absolutely tedious; for

The Life of William Hutton, F.A.S.S. including a particular Account of the Riots at Birmingham in 1791; to which is subjoined the History of his Family, written by himself, and published by his Daughter, Catha-ng obvious, pointed, and, at least in his own opinion, quite conclusive.

rine Hutton. 8vo. pp. 400. don, Baldwin & Co.

Lon

THE Life of William Hutton ought to obtain a place next to the Memoirs of Dr Franklin, in the libraries of all aspiring young men who are entering upon business, or active life. If they find nothing very elegant in the composition of these volumes, very skilful in the arrangement of the incidents, or very great and striking in the incidents themselves,-they will be pleased and edified by the simple picture of human life which is there delineated, the characters of truth and nature which are impressed on every line,and, above all, by the animating confirmation which it affords of a truth

very generally acknowledged, and almost as generally neglected, that there is scarcely an obstacle placed in the path to independence and respectability, which may not be surmounted by honesty, economy, and perseverance.

The narrative is simple, perhaps to a fault, but always assumes an earnest or playful tone, with the most judicious conformity to the importance or frivolity of the incidents related. The author attempts to interest his readers by no complicated manœuvres, no political intrigues, no marvellous adventures; he gives them the unadorned history of his own struggles up a mountain of difficulties,-yet the circumstances in which he is placed are sometimes so uncommon, as to appear almost incredible. The mode in which he ushered himself into life, is perhaps unparalleled in the annals of biography. We were particularly delighted with the sly humour which characterizes his remarks on the transac

tions of his juvenile years, and which presents the interesting picture of an old man, looking back with pleasure on the years of childhood, yet regarding the foibles and frivolities of that light-hearted age with a mixture of complacency and derision. While he describes the years of youth and vanity, his sarcastic humour and self-gratulation still blend in happy unison with his theme. In old age, again, we find him represented with all the VOL. I.

We cannot make room for long extracts, but the character of Phebe Brown, as recorded by Mr Hutton, accords so well with some other characters already described in our miscellany, that we cannot resist the temptation of transcribing it at full length.

But the greatest wonder I saw was Phebe Brown. She was five feet six inches

in height, is about thirty, well proportioned, round faced and ruddy, has a dark penetrating eye, which, the moment it fixes upon your face, sees your character, and that with precision. Her step (pardon the Irishism) is more manly than a man's, and can cover forty miles a-day. Her common dress is a man's hat, coat, with a spencer over it, and men's shoes. As she is unmarried, I believe she is a stranger to

breeches.

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"She can lift one hundred weight in each hand, and carry fourteen score; can sew, knit, cook, and spin; but hates them all, and every accompaniment to the female character, that of modesty excepted. gentleman at the New Bath had recently treated her rudely, She had a good mind to have knocked him down.' She assured me, ⚫ she never knew what fear was.' She gives no affront, but offers to fight any man who gives her one. If she never has fought, perhaps it is owing to the insulter having been a coward, for the man of courage would disdain to offer an insult to a female. Phebe has strong sense, an excellent judgment, says smart things, and supports an easy freedom in all companies. Her voice is more than masculine, it is deep toned. With the wind in her favour, she can send it a mile; she has neither beard nor prominence of breast; she undertakes any kind of manual labour, as holding the plough, driving a team, thatching the barn, using the flail, &c. ; but her chief avocation is breaking horses, for which she charges a guinea a-week each. She always rides judge of a horse or cow in the country, and without a saddle,-is thought to be the best others at the neighbouring fairs. is frequently employed to purchase for

"She is fond of Milton, Pope, and Shakespeare, also of music; is self-taught, and performs on several instruments, as the flute, violin, and harpsichord, and supports the bass-viol in Mallock church. She is a marks-woman, and carries a gun on her shoulder. She eats no beef or pork, and but little mutton. Her chief food is milk, which is also her drink, discarding wine, ale, and spirits."

414

Review.-View of the British and American Constitution.

One quality distinguishes this memoir, which, in a work of fiction, would be an unpardonable fault; but which seems almost inseparable from biography, written by the subject of it himself, from recollection. It adverts constantly to the future, so that the reader, prepared for every event before it occurs, hears it without surprise, and of course without much in

terest.

Upon the whole, we have perused these volumes with much satisfaction. The man who had a perfect recollection of the incidents of every day for the long space of ninety years, must have been such a living chronicle as shall rarely be seen again. He had beheld whole generations fade away from the face of the earth, and his early and intimate acquaintance forgotten as if they had never been.

Comparative View of the British and American Constitutions; with Observations on the Present State of British Politics, and of the probable consequences of introducing into Great Britain the mode of suffrage that exists in the United States; by a Gentleman some years resident in the United States. 8vo. Edinburgh,

Ballantyne.

THIS Pamphlet is not well calculated for circulation; it is by much too heavy. It is considerably heavier even than the author's former production, "A View of the State of Parties in America." That essay could not be made to circulate, it was, "by its own weight, immoveable and stedfast." The few copies that were carried off by main force from the shop of the bookseller (in that case erroneously styled the publisher), on being removed to the houses of the several purchasers, immediately assumed a determined character, and became fixtures. Indeed, we recollect a case in which the pamphlet was considered in that light, and, along with articles of a similar kind, transferred to the purchaser of a new tenement along with the tenement itself, where it remains to the present hour, " like Teneriffe or Atlas, unremoved.'

The violence of the effort to create circulation was proportioned to the weight of the object. But nothing ould overcome the "Vis inertia.

[July

Long after its burial in the dust of oblivion, advertisements of its existence continued to infest the public prints. We believe the intention to have been good, though such behaviour on the part of the bookseller had the appearance of scorn and mockery. There is, however, in the public mind, a generous and humane feeling, which rises up indignantly against any attempt, real or apparent, to disturb the ashes of the dead. This was most strikingly exemplified on the death of that pamphlet. The whole affair was hushed up, and, in an incredibly short time, the offence was forgotten among the other enormities of the day.

There was, in truth, something rather affecting in the "simple annals" of its history. Its conception was, no doubt, accomplished by severe and arduous efforts, and its birth attended with "difficulty and labour hard;” but no sooner had it beheld the light of day, and breathed the air of heaven, than, like those mysterious animals, which, it is said, have been dug out of solid rocks from the bowels of the earth, all symptoms of life and animation fled for ever, and it sunk into the incommunicable sleep of death, from which all subsequent endeavours to rouse it have proved vain and profitless. It was consigned to the grave in the same blue covering in which it was ushered into the world, and "its name shall be its monument alone."

Indeed, but for those injudicious advertisements before alluded to, its parturition and funeral rites might have been contemporaneous, and it would have passed through this world of care and sorrow without spot, and blameless," alike unknowing and unknown." But notwithstanding the impertinent interference of the newspapers, in a matter which was intended to be entirely confidential between the author and the public, the latter, it must be confessed, behaved with unusual delicacy and honour; the secrets which had been confided to it it faithfully kept, and no further notice

was taken of the matter.

But if, as we have already stated, the weight of that pamphlet rendered it unpublishable" either by moral or physical strength," how can this one, which is certainly heavier, be supposed capable of publication? No author has a right to request impossibilities of his bookseller. Mr John Ballantyne may

seemingly acquiesce in the views of
Mr Samuel M'Cormack, and, with his
characteristic boldness, make an at-
tempt at publication. But mark our
words:-The publication will not take
place. We have seen the attempt made
upon one copy, which has for three
months resisted the most strenuous
efforts of a spirited publisher.
That
copy is not heavier than its brethren;
but there, we are afraid, "sedet eter-
numque sedebit." At first many per-
sons looked at it-some touched it-
a few attempted to lift it-and one
gentleman from Tweeddale, a man of
prodigious personal strength, actually
raised it several inches from the table.
Nothing, however, but the same seven-
horse power that brought it into the
shop will be effectual for its removal.

But to be serious. We declare, on our word of honour, that we have read this pamphlet, and think we can put any gentleman of a sound constitution on a plan by which he will be able to perform the same achievement. Let him on no account presume to read the affair in the usual way, straight on from beginning to end; but let him swallow a small dose of the beginning an hour before breakfast. Let the patient then take a sharp walk of a couple of miles, and a hearty breakfast. About twelve o'clock in the forenoon, let him take a few pages from the end of the pamphlet, the frothy and watery nature of which will help him to digest the crudities of the beginning. The middle part may be taken about an hour before going to bed: it is a soft pulpy substance, without any taste whatever; and in the morning the patient will awake fit for the usual occupations of the day.

will communicate to us a short statement of its supposed contents, we shall lay it before the public in our next Number.

We have not scrupled to mention the author's name (Samuel M'Cormack, Esq. one of his Majesty's Advocates-depute for Scotland), because he has openly avowed it. The Depute, however, is a sort of male coquette, and loves to dally with the public. He puts on his mask, and for a while wears it with an air of mysterious secrecy, till, feeling uneasy at the concealment, he takes it slily off before a circle of chosen admirers; then, sighing after nobler and more extensive conquests, he flings back his veil of foolscap, and exhibits to the public gaze features sparkling with all the fascination of conscious beauty.

The Bower of Spring, with other Poems.
By the Author of "The Paradise of
Coquettes." Small 8vo. pp. 156.
Edinburgh, Constable & Co.

THIS smart little volume strikes us as a sort of phenomenon. It has been plainly brought out to suit the season-; and, with a good deal of that elegant lightness and calm gaiety which may be caught in the atmosphere of ladies' drawing-rooms, and select literary coteries, is highly suited to the taste and habits of those happy persons who can spare no time even for such studies, until they find that almost all their decent neighbours have left town, and that the invidious long day of a forward spring has bereft them of flambeaux, rattling squares, and busy routs. Notwithstanding this favourable conThere is yet another mode of getting juncture, we are afraid that these over this affair, which we can safely re- poems run more than an ordinary commend on the authority of a judicious hazard of being overlooked by those friend, who speaks of it in the highest who may not know the author from terms. Begin boldly at the beginning, that gorgeous piece of fancy which he but instead of turning over one leaf at has chosen for his distinctive appellaa time, turn over two or more. The tion. The essential characters of both effect produced upon our friend's mind are nearly alike, allowing a little for by this mode of perusal was almost difference of subject and machinery; the same as that which we ourselves and as the author has defended his experienced from the usual straight system with much vivacity, in a preforward method; and to readers of face to the Paradise of Coquettes, exweakly constitutions we would recom- tending to fifty-six pages, and conmend it as preferable to our own. taining as much wit and beautifully flowing English as might enliven whole volumes of criticism or apology, we must make so free with him as to state our notions.

We find that we have not given a very full account of the matter of this pamphlet. If, however, either the author himself, or any of his friends,

To our plain understandings, then, it seems, that all POETRY must be pathetic, according to the good old etymology of the word, which renders it significant, not merely of a tender pity for distress, but of sympathy with all the emerging varieties of human passion, or highly descriptive of nature, in her loveliest hues and situations, or discursive, between nature and passion,-looking abroad on nature and the seasons as they are associated with human feelings, or recurring, from the contemplation of objects, to the mind, with a deep-felt impression, that, in the ceaseless march of time, nature is still as fair as if there were neither sorrowing nor crime among mankind. To what part of this category the poetry of the author of the "Paradise of Coquettes" should be referred, we know not. Nothing seems to us more decisive of the character of this restless age, than the tendency which that formerly sympathe ticrace of the genus irritabile vatum now has to separate into schools. Each school has a separate language, and separate systems and sympathies of its

own.

The grand ambition of our author appears to be, that he may become the founder and the head of a new school. It is difficult to catch the evanescent varieties of his manner; but we must try, that our readers may know what they should expect in the fulness of time, when it will be unfashionable not to be able to refer to the Paradise of Coquettes for authority.

It has all the trim gracefulness and measured vivacity of Pope, without the unconscious music of his manner; and is, to a wonderful nicety, just such a production, in every respect, as a wordy and ambitious member of that sect might be supposed to venture out with in these cloudy times, could he be produced to us with his broad hand-ruffles, and tall amberheaded cane. Times and propensities, however, are essentially altered. Pope caught the tone of society at one happy stroke. After the lapse of an hundred years, his Rape of the Lock is a model for pleasant raillery and easy satire as the letters of his friend, Lady Mary Wortley Montague, are patterns of acuteness of remark with negligence of manner. But the haut ton of soiety has now ceased to be the haut ton of letters. The moral enthusiasm

The

of our own age we do not take to be greater than that of those which have preceded it; but we venture to assert, that it has a keener taste for deeptoned emotion, and high-raised excitement. Now, as we firmly believe this, we never expect to see our author leading a school. His great work is an effort, through nine parts, to be gay. It has something of the unmeaning flutter of a very fine lady, mixed with more of the watchful and provoking acuteness of a practised metaphysician. Almost every second line contains a nicely balanced antithesis; and the wit, with which it really sparkles till the eyes dazzle, is so quick and fleeting, and so shadowed out, that the mind racks itself in attempting to grasp its intent. The epithets are for the most part exquisitely happy, and wonderfully new. verse is so uniformly adjusted, by a complete and careful rythmus, as seldom or never to offend, by a harsh note, or an unfinished cadence,-but rather to astonish by some fine breaks, and artificial collocations, more like those in the majestic blank verse of Milton, than any thing in the unvaried measure of couplets. The machinery is nicely culled from all those adjuncts and circumstances with which earthly coquettes are surrounded, or which can be supposed in that "Paradise of her kindred immortals," to which the author ultimately conducts his heroine. He could find no appropriate term for all this, but "the light and playful species of epic." Yet with this ingenious preparation, and all these negative qualities of poetry,-when we take up these volumes,

"We start, for soul is wanting there."

There is ease which does not produce ease; there is gaiety which does not excite spirits in the reader; there are no bursts of inspiration,-almost no passages that are beautiful as well as brilliant, and no occasions on which we find any thing like an easy falling in with those ordinary trains of thought that are the very staple of poetry. There is rather more of a very elegant languor,-and ready quickness of apprehension as to the developement and shadowing out of ideas which are the least tangibly related,— than of a healthful sensibility, or much freshness, as well as depth of natural emotion. There is so much purity and delicacy, and such a choice

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