THE LITERARY GAZETTE, AND astonished at discovering his shirt washed to attend the church in which the body ought tered, and remedied by the promptitude of clean, with half a crown enclosed in it, for to have been found, perceived, on entering, a Michieli; and history presents few specimens which he was indebted to the little beings. At fragrant odour and a brilliant light which is- of more chivalrous self-abandonment than that Llandrwgan, in the same county, a woman had sued from a particular column. The simple upon which he resolved. Stripping the entire twins, to which the fairies took a fancy and priest imagined that there was a fire, and ran fleet of its equipments, he ordered the rowage, bore away, substituting two of their own chil-up in affright to extinguish it; nor was his masts, sails, and rudders to be borne with him dren in the cradle in lieu of them; but the alarm diminished when he saw a human arm to the camp. resemblance between them being so great, the protruding from the column. He hastened to burdens of his attendants, are the pledges of woman never discovered the trick until several the doge and announced this marvel, and the our fidelity and of our participation in dangers months had elapsed, when not perceiving the Bishop of Olivolo and the other clergy, having which ought to be common to all. We can no 'These,' he said, pointing to the children grow, she imagined that something been summoned, repaired with profound devo- longer have it even in our power, if it could be was wrong, and accordingly took them to Gwr tion to the church. There, as they knelt before supposed to be in our will, to quit the walls, Cyvarwydd, or village oracle, who told her to the pillar, the arm dropped a ring from one of and the slightest gale will expose us to far procure an egg-shell, and having filled it with the fingers of its hand into the bishop's bosom; greater peril than that of mortal combat!' wort and hops, to lay it in the way of the and at the same time the column opened and This substantial proof of sincerity, and the little folks, and particularly to observe what displayed an iron coffin enclosing the remains politic advance at the same time of one hunthey said respecting it. She acted conformably of the evangelist. The holy corpse wrought dred thousand ducats for the payment of the to his advice; and when the fairies beheld the numerous miracles; and a feast was instituted soldiers, restored confidence at once among the egg-shells, seeming much astonished, one of to commemorate its invention. On each 24th allies. A general voice deprecated the useless them exclaimed, I can remember yon oak of July, while the magnificat was being chant- exposure to danger which the Venetians profan acorn, but I never saw in my life people ed, the congregation was sprinkled with rose-ferred; and all hands assisted in refitting the brewing in an egg-shell before.' Upon hear- water, in memory of the sweet odour, and two fleet, the active services of which might soon be ing this, the woman became infuriated,-her tapers were lighted before the pillar. Among demanded." Cambrian blood was roused, and seizing a whip the other relics which on this occasion were that was near, she began to let the surprised borne abroad in splendid procession, was an of Ancona, heart-broken by the exhaustion of fairies taste it; but the old ones, hearing the autograph of his gospel from the evangelist's her two sons, and hopeless of other relief, Incident at the siege of Ancona :-"A woman cries of their offspring, interfered, and the next own pen, in which, unhappily, learned men opened a vein in her left arm; and having day the woman was much gratified and pleased are undetermined whether the character is prepared and disguised the blood which flowed at seeing her real babes again." With this extract we conclude; and have paper or parchment. The ring was sacrilegi- luxuries still abounded, as if to mock the crav Greek or Latin, and whether the material is from it with spices and condiments (for these only to add, that the style is in general faulty, ously stolen, in the year 1585, and, perhaps, ings of that hunger which had slight need of and that sad havoc is made with scraps of the body has undergone a similar fate. Having any further stimulant than its own sad necesforeign languages. Where did the author dis-been placed in a receptacle more worthy of it, sity), presented them with the beverage—thus cover, page 8, that the Druids, or their prose- the secret of which was intrusted to none save prolonging the existence of her children, like lytes, worshipped their demlan maen, or stone the doge, and the provveditori officers especi- the bird of which similar tenderness is fabled, temples; or where did he find, page 62, that ally appointed for the saint's guardianship-a even at the price of that tide of life by which caro sposo was the Italian plural for sweet- magnificent church was decreed and built over her own was supported." hearts? We are sorry to see this foolish affec- this mysterious tomb. Yet a modern traveller, tation diffusing itself beyond the region of who was by no means likely to approach this universal in that age. trashy novels. The belief in omens and prophecies was legend with an eye of scepticism, roundly taxes forced to fly from Constantinople when it was for a short time usurped the throne, with a Carossio, who, about twenty years afterwards, taken by Baldwin. Mourtzouphlus was private sale of the relics. PICTURESQUE records from one of history's St. Mark has never been publicly ascertained. Gate. "Having in vain attempted to rally his says Eustace, the existence of the body of Thrace, after escaping through the Golden 'Since his time,' adherents, he took refuge in the fastnesses of most picturesque records. Never was city more The place, however, where the sacred deposit hundred years; and it bore engraven on it, an rich in romantic association, and never were lies, is acknowledged to be an undivulged secret; inscription, long beforehand regarded as proromantic associations more fortunate in being or, perhaps, in less cautious language, to be phetic, and afterwards believed to have been That gate had been closed for two chosen for themes whereon "the mighty of utterly unknown." " the mind poured forth their spirit." And yet, while the name of Venice has been familiar to presented an amusing picture of the luxurious I shall open of myself!' Another prediction Venetian luxury:-" The chroniclers have the fair-haired King of the West shall come, fulfilled in this flight of the emperor. When us as a "household word," a connected English habits of the Constantinopolitan fair one, who had ensured the city from capture, unless history has hitherto been wanting. This want shared the crown of Dominico Silvio, a later through an angel; and we are informed by an is now well supplied-these Sketches of Vene- doge. Such, we are assured, was the extent of authority not remote from these times, that tian History are written with equal animation her refinement adeo morosá fuit elegantia the rumour of the Latin conquest was disand elegance. The author seems to have en- that she banished the use of plain water from believed, for many days, in the surrounding tered con amore into his subject, and brought her toilet, and washed herself only with the country, until it was ascertained that the walls to his performance that best industry-vivid richest and most fragrant medicated prepara- had been scaled at a spot on which an angel interest in the pursuit to which it is directed. tions. Her apartments were so saturated with was painted.' Full of curious and little-known anecdotes, we perfumes, that those who were unaccustomed to cannot do better than make a brief selection. such odours often fainted upon entering; and fate :-" The sad fate of the first sovereign of The reception of St. Mark at Venice is better as the climax of sinful indulgence (for such it Constantinople requires some brief notice. The known than his after adventures. Romantic legends, founded on Baldwin's "Notwithstanding the splendour of his re- of her evil heart, she refused to employ her nice by Pope Innocent; and the barbarian conappears to the narrator) in the inordinate pride release of Baldwin was demanded from Joanception, and the many subsequent testimonies fingers in eating, and never touched her meat tented himself by replying that his illustrious of high honour which he received, the saint unless with a golden fork. Her end was in captive had died in prison. More than one occasionally proved capricious, and did not al- miserable contrast with these Sybaritic man- version of his catastrophe has been given; and ways deign to shew himself even to his most ners. illustrious visiters. above translation (1094), when the Emperor and her sufferings, which were long protracted, his arms and legs, and exposed him to wild Two centuries after the considered, no doubt, as an especial judgment; after long confinement, the Bulgarian cut off She was stricken with a sore disease, each abounds in horror. Nicetas states that, Henry III. made an express pilgrimage to his were of such a nature, as to exeite rather the beasts. Acropolita adds, that his skull, set in shrine, the body had very petulantly disap- disgust than the pity of her attendants." peared. The priests had recourse to prayer and fasting for its recovery, and the whole" The troops investing the city by land mur-vengeance to jealousy, excited by his queen, Heroism displayed at the siege of Tyre:- more romantic tale attributes the Bulgarian's capital was engaged in tears, abstinence, and mured at their unremitted hardships; and, who, becoming enamoured of the prisoner, gold, was used by the tyrant as a goblet. A yet supplication. At length the saint relented. contrasting their own daily perils and labours offered him herself and freedom as the price of One morning the sacristan whose turn it was with the ease and security of those who were his love. The examples of Bellerophon and Daru's delightful work would, we think, well repay evil and suspicious eye upon their Venetian the disdainful Baldwin; and the disappointed engaged in the blockade by sea, looked with an Hippolitus were unknown or unregarded by allies. This danger was observed, encoun-fair, incensed at his cold rejection, falsely The Family Library; Vol. XX. Sketches of # an English translation, general as is its popularity in the original.-Ed. L. G. denounced him to her husband, who, in a pa- incident open to our view! What changes in to suppose themselves under the immediate roxysm of fury, heightened by intoxication, the history of mankind might not the adoption protection of Heaven. We like the author's own remarks in our next. 6 slew him and cast his body to the dogs. The of Ziani's project have occasioned! Would "It must be borne in mind that the legend circumstances attendant upon his death, no the existence of the Latin empire have been which we are about to produce is recorded by doubt, are obscure; but the fact itself is sup- protracted by it? Would the conquests of the more than one authentic chronicler, and that it ported by strong evidence-it was accredited, Turks have been diverted into another chan- was sufficiently believed to give birth to a pubthough far from hastily, by the barons; and nel? Would Christianity, instead of Moham-lic religious ceremony. In the year 1341, an it is not easy to assign any reason why Joan-medanism, have been the dominant religion of inundation, of many days' continuance, had nice should assert it if it had been untrue. the East ? Compared with these far mightier raised the water three cubits higher than it Nevertheless, at the expiration of twenty years, questions, the fate of Venice herself is disre- had ever before been seen in Venice; and when the sovereignty of Flanders and Hainault garded; and we almost forget to inquire what during a stormy night, while the flood appeared had devolved on Jean, the eldest daughter of would have been the fortunes of her deserted to be still increasing, a poor old fisherman the supposed deceased prince, a claimant ap-islands." sought what refuge he could find, by mooring peared, asserting his identity with the lost his crazy bark close to the Riva di San Marco. Baldwin. He maintained, that after his capThe storm was yet raging, when a person apture at Adrianople, he had been mildly treated "Of the six emperors who had struggled proached, and offered him a good fare if he by his conquerors, till, having effected his es- through the half century which succeeded the would but ferry him over to San Giorgio Magcape from them, he fell into the hands of an- conquest of Constantinople, the second Bald- giore. Who,' ,' said the fisherman, can reach other tribe of barbarians, to whom his rank win was by far the least qualified to encounter San Giorgio on such a night as this Heaven was unknown, and who sold him as a slave the perils which surrounded him. He had forbid that I should try! But as the stranger into Syria. There accident enabled him to thrice made the circuit of Europe as a sup-earnestly persisted in his request, and promised discover himself to some German merchants, pliant for assistance, and he now returned to to guard him from harm, he at last consented. who ransomed him at a small price; and as his eastern capital impoverished and disho- The passenger landed; and having desired the the throne of Constantinople, by the death of noured. It is unnecessary to speak of the boatman to wait a little, returned with a comhis brother, had then passed into another line, countless sordid littlenesses to which poverty panion, and ordered him to row to San Nicolo the recovery of his hereditary dominions ap- reduced him; but there are two facts par di Lido. The astonished fisherman again repeared to him an easier attempt than that of tially connected with the history of Venice too fused, till he was prevailed upon by a further his eastern rights. The populace, ever credu- remarkable to be omitted. Philip, a son of confident assurance of safety, and excellent pay. lons of wonders and open-eared to novelty, this last Latin emperor of Constantinople, was At San Nicolo they picked up a third person, eagerly devoured this tale, which gained ad-pawned by his father to some burghers of his and then instructed the boatman to proceed to mission among several even of the nobler Flem-capital, as the only security which they would the Two Castles at Lido. Though the waves ings. It was rejected altogether by the reign- accept for a loan incommensurate with the ran fearfully high, the old man, by this time, ing countess; who, finding herself endangered pledge; and the prince was transferred by had become accustomed to them; and, moreby the pretender, claimed and received protec- them to the custody of some Venetian mer-over, there was something about his mysterious tion from Louis VIII. of France. The king chants, for greater safety. To other monied crew which either silenced his fears, or diverted in person examined the nominal emperor; and, usurers of Venice was intrusted a deposit, them from the tempest to his companions. though convinced of his imposture, in con- which, whatever in our present estimation Scarcely had they gained the strait, when they sideration of a safe-conduct which he had pre- may be its genuineness and intrinsic value, saw a galley, rather flying than sailing along viously granted, contented himself by ordering was considered, at the time of which we are the Adriatic, manned (if we may so say) with him to quit his dominions. Detected in his writing, as beyond all price. The frequency devils, who seemed hurrying, with fierce and fraud and abandoned by his former adherents, of imposture has, no doubt, attached much threatening gestures, to sink Venice in the the pseudo-Baldwin, nevertheless, renewed his both of ridicule and suspicion to the generality deep. The sea, which had hitherto been fuprojects; till, having been betrayed into the of relics; and the silly pretensions to miracu-riously agitated, in a moment became unruffled; hands of the countess, he is said to have con- lous virtue which have been asserted for them, and the strangers, crossing themselves, conjured fessed, under torture, that he was a Cham- have increased these unfavourable impressions. the fiends to depart. At the word, the demopagner, named Bertrand de Rayns. He was But I know not why those vivid emotions, that niacal galley vanished, and the three passengers exhibited awhile to public scorn in the chief glow of affection, that veneration and love, with were quietly landed at the spots at which each towns of the Netherlands, and then ignomini-which we contemplate other monuments of wis-respectively had been taken up. The boatman, usly banged at Lille. Little doubt can exist dom and of virtue, should be repressed and it seems, was not quite easy about his fare, of the justice of his fate; yet such is the fond- chilled when we turn to like memorials of our and, before parting, he implied pretty clearly ness of the human mind for mystery, so perti- faith. If the reputed crown of thorns was that the sight of this miracle, after all, would Eaciously, in despite of truth, does it cling to really that borne by our Lord during his suf- be but bad pay. You are right, my friend,' the marvellous, that there have not been want-ferings, or (what in the present instance is the said the first passenger; go to the doge and ing writers who prefer to believe the Countess same thing) was really believed to be such, the Jean guilty of an atrocious parricide, rather than to admit that an adroit knave practised a daring but not very difficult imposture." What a magnificent subject of debate is the following !— the procuratori, and assure them that, but for piety which coveted its possession demands not us three, Venice would have been drowned. I our sarcasm, but our respect. On the credit of am St. Mark; my two comrades are St. George this treasure, a sum, amounting to about 70001. and St. Nicolas. Desire the magistrates to pay of our money, had been borrowed by the em- you; and add, that all this trouble has arisen pire: the time stipulated for its redemption from a schoolmaster at San Felice, who first approached; and, if not redeemed, its property bargained with the devil for his soul, and then would become absolutely vested in Querini, a hanged himself in despair. The fisherman, Venetian who had advanced the loan. Louis who seems to have had all his wits about him, of France, who has been canonised for his de-answered that he might tell that story, but he votion, profited by the opportunity, and, after much doubted whether he should be believed : an agreement with Baldwin, discharged the upon which St. Mark pulled from his finger a debt, and conveyed the relic to Paris. The gold ring, worth about five ducats, saying, Sainte Chapelle was built and consecrated for Shew them this ring, and bid them look for its reception. It was jealously guarded, and it in my treasury, whence it will be found mismagnificently enshrined; and, after the lapse sing.' 'On the morrow the fisherman did as he of four centuries, on one of those occasions by was told. The ring was discovered to be absent which, as a corrective to human pride, the from its usual custody, and the fortunate boatweakness of the good and the follies of the wise man not only received his fare, but an annual are permitted to exhibit themselves in strong pension to boot. Moreover, a solemn proceslight, by being produced as a voucher for en- sion and thanksgiving were appointed, in gra thusiasm it excited the surprise and curiosity, titude to the three holy corpses which had the credulity or the scepticism, of all the Chris-rescued from such calamity the land affording tian world." If we may believe the MS. chronicles of Barbaro and Savina, a project of general emigration to the East was at one time contemplated. Ziani is said, during the troubled reign of the second Courtenay, to have convoked the great council and all the chief functionaries of state; and, after pointing out the precarious condition of the empire under its existing feeble and divided rulers, to have proposed the abandonment of Venice, and the transfer of her Lale population to Constantinople. The brilant prospects which he displayed as likely to esult from this important change dazzled many in the assembly; and it is added that, notwithanding an eloquent and impassioned appeal their affections and their patriotism, by the Procuratore Angelo Faliero, the proposal was egatived, in the division which ensued, but by a single voice, which was not unaptly termed The ensuing anecdote is very characteristic the voice of Providence.' How wide a field of of the times; but we must observe, it was peculation does this now scarcely remembered the obvious policy of rulers to lead the people them burial." "Where age or infirmity rendered personal THE LITERARY GAZETTE, AND service impossible, entire fortunes were surren-fully to study this important and well-timed | Henry V. is in the Norman-French language; dered to the state; vast debts were remitted documentary history. by creditors; plate, jewels, and treasure, were heaped into the public coffers; the doge mort-very difficult to select fair and characteristic ruled and governed by your laws, used in your From works of a comprehensive nature, it is-Your said lieges shew, that whereas they are of which the following is a translation. Item, gaged his revenues; the ecclesiastics bore arms. extracts, and to quote garbled passages is at realm of England, to acquire the knowledge of One holy band alone was found wanting to its once an injustice to the author and the subject. which laws, and to be well informed therein, country, and the Minorites excused themselves. We, therefore, of necessity, prefer, as most your lieges have sent able persons of English It was written, they said, in their statutes, that suitable to our columns, such portions as we blood, born in your said land, to certain inns of no one of their brotherhood, whatever might be can most easily insulate, although affording court, where, from the time of the conquest the occasion, should handle any weapon of of- slight illustrations of Sir William Betham's of your said land, they have ever been received, fence. Their cowardly hypocrisy received its researches, or of the nature of his work. We until lately, that the governors and company deserts, and they were banished from the Do-prefer too taking the Ulster King of Arms of the said inns have refused, and would not gado. Among the traders, we hear of a furrier upon his own ground, Ireland; ground which, receive the said persons into the said inns, as who undertook the maintenance of one thou- if he relax not in his meritorious exertions, he they had been accustomed to do. Therefore, sand armed men; of an apothecary who equip-is likely to keep with honour. Who but will may it please your most gracious lordship, to ped a galley; of plain mechanics and simple admire the gallant bearing and courteous de- consider this matter and ordain due remedy; artisans who associated to defray similar ex-meanor in which he tilts at the Federa? And that your laws may continue, and not be forpenses. One, perhaps, of the most touching prithee, gentle reader, mark the demeanour, in gotten in your said land.'"† offers which this great crisis called forth, was contrast to that which has been recently exthat made by Matteo Faseolo, a townsman of hibited. Chiozza, whom its loss had reduced from opu- William Betham stand forth. Let the trumpets sound, and Sir lence to beggary. Carrying with him his two sons, he presented them to the magistrates. good reason be discovered why, in the printed Thus saith Sir William-" Neither can a If my estate,' he said, were such as I once Foedera, a majority of the entries on the early possessed, all of it should be contributed to the rolls in the Tower, particularly those respecting public exigencies; but life is now the only pro- Ireland, are omitted. Many Irish articles are perty which is left to me and to these. Dispose inserted, otherwise we might suppose it had of it as you think best. Employ us either by been intended to form a series of volumes land or sea, and gladden us by a consciousness respecting Ireland especially and particularly, that what little we still retain is devoted to our which would have been an object well worthy country.' We regret not having room for the sketch of but as the case now stands, it would be better the consideration of the record commissioners; the heroic Pisani; but his ought to be a full-to print, in supplemental volumes, all the length. This portion brings the narrative down omitted entries, whatever may be their subject to the execution of the last princes of the house of Carrara. We recommend this most varied and interesting volume warmly few of its companions, if any, have better claims on public favour. Dignities, Feudal and Parliamentary, and the Constitutional Legislature of the United Kingdom. By Sir William Betham, Ulster King of Arms, &c. Vol. I. 8vo. London, 1830. matter, as they are of fully equal value and interest with those printed. This has been demonstrated by Mr. Bayley, the able and intelligent deputy-keeper of the records in the Tower, who printed the omissions in the sixth pages of folio. The latter volumes are more year of John; and they alone amount to nine complete, and the principle of exclusion of Irish documents has not been carried to such an extent, but many are omitted. Why should HEROES and heroines of romance! ye who, charter, or letter, has its historical interest and there be any omissions? Every state paper, seated on imagination's throne, have basked in value, and the Foedera is imperfect and comthe sunshine of popular favour, look not down paratively useless without the complete body from your airy height with too much self-con- of documents. They consist, in part, of infidence. The march of revolution and reform structions to officers, charges against them, may proceed with rapid strides along the shelves and their defences: in such cases, it is not of the Ebers's, the Hookhams, the Andrews, and the Saunders and Otleys; and ye may be hurled to the dust, or, as the old poet has it, Boone. "In a trice sufficient to give one or two articles of a series as a specimen, the whole ought to appear; ea amples of what the records consist are not Condemned to Hoods to make up spice." wanted; as evidence and materials of history, We raise our warning voice to awake you to that respect, they are inestimable. When we they are alone valuable, and one may say, in the consciousness of your danger, and we have consider the character, learning, and liberality done our duty! In this revolutionary age we of the individuals, under whose control, dishould not be surprised if the grave antiquarian rection, and management, the new Fodera is and heraldic Sir William Betham were to rival now compiled, it is, indeed, difficult to account Sir Walter Scott in circulating-library popu- for the omission of those important articles; larity. However, seriously speaking, it is not improbable, in these days of inquiry into constitutions, and clamour about parliamentary reform, that Sir William Betham's valuable work (the second and concluding volume of which is to be published at the end of the year) will obtain a circulation far beyond that for which it was evidently intended. national hostility, contempt, and jealousy, are specting Irish law students in England :- "The parliaments of Ireland, held in the The subject, and the character of the author, made representations to those kings; among 9th of Henry V. and the 7th of Henry VI. make these volumes essential for the library of other grievances of the hindrances which Irish the statesman, the lawyer, the scholar, and the students of the law met with at the inns of gentleman; but (we of course speak judging court in London, when they went there to from the contents of the volume before us) as study, in which the unity of practice of the they will contain the very spirit of our history, laws in both countries is set forth. an account of the origin and progress of our statements are given hereafter in full, from the "free and glorious constitution," it behoves close rolls; but the passages referring to the These all, (for every one is now a politician), care-students at law are here inserted. That of 9 the reign of Henry VI., Sir William Betham Upon this, and the representation made in subject at all times of importance, but never servations on the government of Ireland,—a proceeds to offer the following interesting ob before the present, a political point to which the whole gaze of Europe is anxiously directed. taken to preserve the uniformity of the Irish and English law; no change could have taken "Special care seems at all times to have been place in the former, but what, from time to time, had been made in England; and the to administer the English law in its purity. early judges were mostly Englishmen, sent over The viceroys were also English, or, what might be considered the same thing, Irish noblemen, in possession of large estates in England, as, the Earls of Ormond, &c. &c. They generally held the sword but a very few years: from the year 1173 to 1200, there were no fewer than seventeen chief governors; in the thirteenth three; in the fifteenth, eighty-five; in the century, forty-six; in the fourteenth, ninetysixteenth, seventy-six; in the seventeenth, seventy-nine; in the eighteenth, ninety-four! All were, naturally, attached to the English so short a time on an average not more than laws and customs, but held the viceroyship for two yearsIreland to form laws or customs in accordance with their own notions. The customs of the that none were long enough in mere Irish were indeed different; but they had no influence on the administration of the laws. Where the Irish had power, they superseded the English law altogether, and introduced the Brehon, or Irish law; but where there was English rule, there was English law. The toms but those of England; and when that viceroys and the judges knew no laws or cuswas the case, no arbitrary variations could have occurred in the administration of the English law in Ireland." value of Sir William Betham's work, in a hisWe need not extend our extracts to shew the lications of the present day which will be quoted torical point of view. It is one of the few pub and referred to as an authority. The Life of Fuseli. IN our very brief introductory notice of this (Second Notice.) chiefly relative to the Fine Arts, as forming a publication, we mentioned a series of aphorisms, component part of the second volume. these pithy saws of the late eminent artist we shall confine this paper: some of them striking, and most of them replete with high lowing! and intellectual ideas. How true is the fol Hostelles de Courte. Rot. Claus. Hib. 9 Hen. V. To are "Some enter the gates of art with golden| keys, and take their seats with dignity among the demi-gods of fame; some burst the doors and leap into a niche with savage power; thousands consume their time in chinking useless keys, and aiming feeble pushes against the inexorable doors." And again : "He who pretends to have sacrificed genius to the pursuits of interest or fashion; and he who wants to persuade you he has indisputable titles to a crown, but chooses to wave them for the emoluments of a partnership in trade, deserve equal belief." "Distinguish between genius and singularity of character; an artist of mediocrity may be an odd man: let the nature of works be your guide." "Know that nothing is trifling in the hand of genius, and that importance itself becomes a bauble in that of mediocrity :-the shepherd's staff of Paris would have been an engine of death in the grasp of Achilles; the ash of Peleus could only have dropped from the effeminate fingers of the curled archer." "Genius may adopt, but never steals." "All mediocrity pretends." "Sensibility is the mother of sympathy. How can he paint Beauty, who has not throbbed at her charms? How shall he fill the eye with the dew of humanity, whose own never shed a tear for others? How can he form a mouth to threaten or command, who licks the hereditary spittle of princes ?" The annexed is quite as applicable to literature as the arts; we should suspect rather more so. "If you wish to give consequence to your inferiors, answer their attacks. Coroll. Michael Angelo, advised to resent the insolence of some obscure upstart who was pushing forward to notice by declaring himself his rival, answered -Chi combatte con dappochi, non vince a nulla: who contests with the base, loses with all!" We do not so entirely agree with the next. "Genius knows no partner. All partnership is deleterious to poetry and art: one must rule." Perhaps, however, such exceptions as Beaumont and Fletcher only prove the general accuracy of the remark. We like the discrimination of the subjoined. "Art among a religious race produces relics; among a military one, trophies; among a commercial one, articles of trade." "Modern art, reared by superstition in Italy, taught to dance in France, plumped up to unwieldiness in Flanders, reduced to chronicle small beer' in Holland, became a rich old woman by suckling fools' in England." The next is a pretty thought: "The colours of pleasure and love are hues." 66 The next we recommend to all the artists, that when the excellent Mr. Jeremy Bentham authors, &c. who come under the remarks of opened his famous communication with the the Literary Gazette. Emperor of Russia, he had an eye to some Modesty. The touchstone of genuine mo- similar employment in the same capital? We desty is the attention paid to criticism, and the know of the Abbé Barin, on the best authority, temper with which it is received, or its advice that "son grand but était de juger par le sens adopted; the most arrogant pretence, the most commun de toutes les fables de l'antiquité;" fiery ambition, the most towering conceit, may while Mr. Jeremy Bentham has written a book fence themselves with smoothness, silence, and for the express purpose of exposing popular submissive looks. Oil, the smoothest of sub- fallacies, that is, moral political and metastances, swims on all."" physical untruths; in other words, fables, which have blinded and perverted the minds of men from a remote antiquity. As a contrast:-" Vanity. The vain is the most humble of mortals: the victim of a pimple." And with this we must, for the present, Observations on the Registration Bill, addressed 1831. His Majesty's commissioners on the law of real It seems, however, that Mr. George Bentham We have not been able to ascertain that any one, except ourselves, has read Mr. B.'s pam. phlet, and we have no reason to believe that any one else ever will: Mr. Bentham will, therefore, please to consider that the trouble we take in this matter is designed solely for his benefit. His publication assumes that he is qualified to instruct the commissioners: we do not think that we are qualified to instruct those gentlemen; but if we do not shew that we are better entitled to instruct him than he is to instruct them, we admit that he is not the most impudent man in England. Once more; M. Barin (the uncle) was "très respectueux pour les dames, et zélé pour les loix :" now, our authorities say nothing as to Mr. Bentham's respect for the ladies; but with his numerous French connexions (the nephew himself learnt, he says, the beauties of registration by residing as a landowner in the south of France), it cannot be imagined for a moment that he is wanting in a quality so highly valued by the great nation: and as to zeal for the laws, why Mr. Jeremy Bentham has spent a long life in framing codes of laws for people who were stupid enough not to adopt them, and abusing laws which (whether good or bad) it is strongly surmised he does not understand. The abbé's nephew exclaims," Que M. Barin était chaste!" Mr. Jeremy Bentham has lived a bachelor to the age of fourscore. Lastly, when it is remembered, that the Abbé Barin detested a bishop of Gloucester above all other men; and that the respectable Mr. Bentham, in his excellent work entitled Church of Englandism, betrays a similar animosity against the episcopal order; it is impossible any longer to doubt that the one uncle is the counterpart of the other. They are duplicates of the same thing; in the language of the register bill, duplicate originals. We have directed inquiries as to the death of the Abbé and the birth of Mr. Bentham: if the registers tally, if the chronology bear us out, we shall bring this forward as a case of metempsychosis, proved by internal evidence. Considering, then, how ably Mr. Bentham was defended in a former state of existence by his then nephew, Mr. George ought to have felt it a sacred duty to make the Défense de mon Oncle, which he has undertaken, equally complete. The former defence was written against one who cribbed the uncle's title-page, Adverting to the fact, that the pamphleteer comes forward as the champion of his uncle's croyant que ce seul titre supplément aux MS. doctrines, and the censor of all contra- idées de mon oncle lui attireroit des lecteurs." veners, we are naturally led to think of the Now, we appeal to the whole world, whether memorable Défense de mon Oncle by the ne- the conduct of the present nephew be not more phew of M. l'Abbé Barin. The points of re-like the conduct of the enemy than of the semblance between the venerable relative of defender of his uncle; whether the mention in the pamphleteer and the abbé are numerous his pamphlet of the "idées de mon oncle" be and striking. The nephew of M. Barin ex- for any other purpose but " pour attirer des pressly says, mon oncle savait parfaitement lecteurs ?" l'Arabe et le Cophte" Now it is well known Mr. George Bentham boasts of being the posthat some of the later works of Mr. Jeremy sessor and (O shade of Dumont !) editor-elect of Bentham are written in some language which his uncle's MS. treatise; he must therefore be is not English: it has never been made out to presumed to have derived all the improvement which a thorough study of that work can impart: if, then, his pamphlet be a blunder, and prove him to be a dunce, what will the world say of my uncle's Nomography? 66 It is curious to read the following at a period when the subject has had so remarkable a commentary in the actual state of things. "The invention of machines to supersede manual labour will at length destroy population be any other known tongue, and we have and commerce; and the methods contrived to failed in ascertaining that it was not Coptic or shorten the apprenticeship of artists, annihilate Arabic, or both. From these premises, we art." conclude that the strange, words which have The ensuing is a palpable hit at hypocrisy :-puzzled the world are, in fact, Coptic or Arabic. "Expect no religion in times when it is easier Surely this fact argues a strong similarity in to meet with a saint than a man; and no art the genius of the two uncles. in those that multiply their artists beyond their labourers." Then M. l'Abbé, as we know on the same authority, "s'établit à Petersbourg en qualité d'interprète Chinois." Can any man doubt "Sineret se plebeculam pascere,' said Vespasian to the artist who had contrived a machine to convey some It is because we most cordially approve of practical large columns with a trifling expense to the capitol, and and effectual reforms, that we as heartily set our face rewarded him without accepting his offer." against the visionary projects which would impede them. The world, however, must not judge too hastily; Mr. Jeremy Bentham's sole error may be that he has committed his Nomography to incompetent hands. With all his faults, and all his little absurdities, he is a man of real talents; and we shall never believe that a veteran precisian in logic and language like him, has taught his nephew to begin a work published to exemplify as well as to advocate the advantages of precise and correct expres- the Iliad; because we are obliged to claim the of his native county. The materials which sions, by such a phrase as "some general mo- space of a week, in order to compare it with he thus collected, his close and extensive condifications of the style of the whole act," which the original, as well as with Pope's, and other nexion with the county has enabled him conis pure nonsense; and to follow that up by an versions, before we can offer a criticism upon tinually so to increase, that they form a store intimation that it is essential that "every it. At present we shall only say, that the more rich and varied, perhaps, than is poscountry gentleman should understand the re- portions we have read give us a high opinion of sessed by any other individual in the kingdom, gister bill;" when it is not only not essential, but Mr. Sotheby's fidelity. Of his competency and on the subject of Lancashire history; and he is morally impossible that any man who is not a talent, no doubt could be entertained: the poe- now submits to his readers, in a connected and lawyer should understand it, or any other bill try of Wieland's Oberon stamped him a true condensed form, a work comprising all the embodying the same plan. The uncle never poet; the Georgics of Virgil, à classic of the valuable and various matter which is scattered would have said that this bill was to be in any right feeling; and Saul, Italy, &c. &c. added through piles of detached volumes, or locked sense the groundwork of a new system of laws, flowers of no slight bloom to the chaplet with up in the numerous unpublished pedigrees and projected by two sets of commissioners; when which these greater efforts had adorned his other MSS. in his possession, or to which he it is notorious that there is no new system pro- brow. Altogether, if so brief an examination may have access.' jected at all: and whatever alterations may may entitle us to say so, we would speak of Judging from the specimen before us, we be made, it is impossible that they can be a this performance as an honour to the present have no doubt that this will prove an exsystem projected by the two sets of commis- age of English literature. The poem appears ceedingly valuable topographical work. sioners, as those commissioners do not even to be in extent between eighteen and twenty present part is illustrated by a portrait of communicate, but become acquainted with each thousand lines. Humphrey Chetham, the founder of Chetham others' labours by the same means, and only by Hospital, in Manchester, and by a very beauthe same means, by which those labours are tiful view of the town of Lancaster, engraved given to the public at large. by W. Finden, from a picture by J. Henderson. The German Poetical Anthology; preceded by a concise History of German Poetry, and Notices Neither do we believe that Mr. Jeremy of the Authors selected. By A. Bernays. Bentham taught his nephew to quote another Second edition, with additional Notes, &c. man's work, as he does at page 4, and to have Pp. 420. London, 1831. Treuttel and Co. Dependence. By the Author of "Little Sothe boldness to put a false construction upon his WE are glad we have not been mistaken when phy." Pp. 354. Derby, 1830, Mozeley and own quotation. We also acquit the uncle of we recommended this handsome and useful Son: London, Cowie and Co.; and Harris. using such phrases as "adding into the heart book on its first appearance. The compara- HAD at least one third of this volume been of," ""malâ-fide lawyers," &c. in the very same tively short time in which the first edition was omitted, the rest would have been greatly benepage in which he lays down his ideas as to exhausted, is a good proof that the students of fited. Under the idea of being easy, the writer what correctness of expression is. We doubt the German language, and the lovers of Ger- is very diffuse. Opinions of all sorts and on whether the uncle would use the phrase "ge-man literature, were of the same opinion as all subjects, bishops, socinianism, literature, neralise a clause," when he means extend it ourselves. We are nevertheless pleased that preaching, &c. &c. are most heterogeneously whether he would lay down a rule, "always the author has not rested satisfied with his blended, and somewhat freely expressed. Great to apply the same names to the same ideas;" success, but has rendered this new edition still part of these letters can have no possible inand begin his pamphlet by applying the name more worthy of public approbation. The pieces terest for the public, which can scarcely be supof bill in the second line to the same idea to selected are generally the best of the best Ger- posed to care much for the Rev. E. T. V.'s flirwhich he applies the name of act in the fourth man writers, and the work is by this, and the tations before he made his choice of the fair line; and further exemplify his own rule by clear and forcible historical sketch with which writer, at the risk of “breaking some half applying the names "special" and "specific" the selection is preceded, well worthy of a place dozen hearts." Nor can it be a matter of much to the same idea, and that in many cases in in the library; while the notes and gramma- consequence that she, as it is elegantly, exwhich neither is the proper name; whether he tical references by which the extracts are ac- pressed, is likely to get her trimmings" for would also shew his feeling of the importance companied, will prove eminently useful to the speaking disparagingly of a favourite child's of his own rule by using the terms "entering a caveat" and "registering a caveat" indiscriminately, and that in his own bill. We are quite sure that the old original nomographist himself, however anxious to de student. German Prose Anthology; with Grammatical temper. The author has left on us the impression of an amiable and clever woman-and one very likely to inspire that partiality in her friends which has misled her in the present inTo connexions and relatives only are stance. preciate the bill of the commissioners, would THIS is also a very good selection, but it is not the greater number of these letters suited. The not have charged the bill with being obscure, by the author of the Poetical Anthology; who, narrative part is good, and has an air of truth and made good the accusation by misprinting it. In the only instance in which we have we have no doubt, would, to judge from the which must interest the reader in the fate of, consulted the pamphleteer's reprint, we found knowledge he displays in this work, have been certainly, one of the most dependent beings in a clause made utterly unintelligible by his able to collect a nosegay of greater elegance the world, a young female, who, by her own substitution of the word "reference" for and variety than the one here presented. exertions, must make her way through a harsh, Nevertheless, in consideration of the useful or at least an indifferent world. Truly a goFinally, we are certain that our old friend hints to the reader of German, given by Mr. verness is expected to have all the amiabilities would not have written a pamphlet of skimble-Bernays in the introduction, and the excellent of the country, and the accomplishments of the they must too often be their own reward. town; and, after all, to find, that, like virtue, entry." skamble stuff, setting sound sense, law, logic, and grammar, all equally at defiance; and that if he had framed a register bill, he would not have framed one through every other clause of which you may (in Irish phrase) drive a coach and six. The Iliad of Homer. Translated by William known by the German title of Prosaische Anthologie, we would recommend it as an History of the County Palatine of Lancaster; IT has been our good fortune to be able to lay The publication is appropriately dedicated to the learned President of the Society, the Bishop of Salisbury, and to the author's brethren, the members of that body. to his inspection: thus encouraged, his views Bourrienne's Memoirs of Napoleon. Trans- Select Library. Vol. I. Polynesian Researches. |