Emigration; or, England and Paris. EMIGRATION, in the sense of intended settlement, in either France or Italy, is not, we are persuaded, the purpose of any considerable proportion of the British travellers on the continent at the present moment. A few, certainly, did entertain some thoughts of it, till experience rendered them wiser. The notion of greater cheapness of living in France than in England, was at one time prevalent; but, it was quickly found that though some articles were much cheaper, yet, that others were much dearer; and these dearer articles were those most necessary to an Englishman's comfort. Whoever, therefore, would live comfortably, must abandon all thoughts of effecting his purpose cheaply in France. As to Italy, it is well known, that the country is infested with robbers, even on the principal roads, and on all others is absolutely dangerous for travellers. There is a general relaxation of the Police in that country, which unless it be amended, will prove extremely detrimental. [944 found prevalent; especially in France, and above all in Paris. Now let us hear our author. With regard to the political effects of no language can possibly be too strong. the system at the present serious juncture At a moment when labour is so scarce, that charitable institutions are actually engaged in discovering new modes of employing thousands of persons who are both able and willing to work, but who cannot to subtract from the demand for national procure occupation, it is no trifling offence industry, by residing in countries where none but foreign provisions and foreign surely not just or patriotic to pamper fomanufactures are of course required. It is reign artisans and labourers at the expense of our own. The periodical prints inform us that there are not less than 60,000 absentees, and reckoning that each of these, taking the average, derives from home an nation will be more than thirty thousand income of £200 per annum, the loss to the pounds sterling per day, or twelve millions a year! How this unexampled drainage is to be endured, and how the few who poor's rates, both for themselves and their are left are to be enabled to pay taxes and absent friends, is a question too serious for discussion in the limits of a preface, even were the writer competent to its solution. : Time once was fashions, is well known our countryThat we are no promoters of French men, and we add, our countrywomen, We do not mean by these remarks, tosible distance from them: but, when did would do well to stand at the greatest posimpugn the writer's patriotism; or his motives in publishing the present poet; they so? We wish our author had dated but we must be allowed to doubt the the time when British maidens shunned correctness of his calculations, as exFrench frivolities. We do not recollect emplified in the following extract from it. The passage in which this is ashis preface. We do not believe that the serted, is a specimen of the Poem. British absentees ever amounted to sixty thousand-or that each of these on the average, spends abroad £200 per ann —or, that the nation loses the expenditure of twelve millions a year ;—or that the inhabitants left at home, are so few, as to be unable to pay taxes and poor's rates. We believe, that of that mass of our countrymen who were moved by the spirit of curiosity to visit the continent, the far greater part made but a short stay, and returned, extremely disgusted with their reception, their accommodation, the manners, the principles, or rather the no-principle they When British maiden, innocent as fair, That intervening waves had fix'd her lot Usurp'd by virtue; then chaste virgin garb But who shall check' the pest when village Scarce conscious of their guilt, affect the leer That Gallie arts should smoothe the slippery war, For Gallic morals, Paris, nurse of woes, Of conscious infamy, nor dread the arms Where valour fail'd, and Gallia be revenged. The notes annexed to this poem, fully justify the author's severity:-no unpolluted mind can read Scott's Visit to Paris without being deeply shocked and disgusted. The Conflagration of Moscow: a Poem, This Poem, in its first edition, was not unfavourably received, but it was consi dered too short. It is now three times as long. Perhaps I have added many faults, to remove one. Be that as it may, the Poem is now long enough-if good for any thing, too long if good for nothing. It was written at such intervals as could be spared from the prosecution of a larger work; but although this may be some excuse for bad lines, I admit it is none for printing them. If fine themes always made fine poets, this little effort would be much more deserving of the public attention; but the converse is unfortunately the case. The subject, indeed, deserves a pen that has more leisure, and more ability than mine. The conflagration of Moscow is the most interesting event of these latter timeswhether we consider the immensity of the force that was put in array against her, the magnanimity of the sacrifice, or the incal culable importance of the results. Our modern manufacturer of Kings would certainly have issued a fresh batch from his imperial oven of the Kremlin, if it had not been overheated by some of the workmen. These Remarks from the pen of the author, in his preface, may answer the purpose of a Review of his poem. The subject is too superior to suffer contractron into poetic pamphlet compass; while our ignorance of many particulars and incidents forbids that enlargement which might confer a portion of epic dignity on more extensive effusions. VOL. V. No. 30, Lit. Pan. N. S. March 1. short Essays on the various objects of Nature, noticed throughout the year. with poetical Illustrations and moral Reflections on each subject. By Richard Lobb, 2 vols. 12mo. pp. 784, price 16s. Sherwood and Co. London, 1817. An improved edition of a valuable work which had been out of print for several years. The present editor has not deemed himself justified in making any alteration in the plan of the work, or in suppressing any of the reflections which it originally contained, but has merely accomodated it to the present improved state of science. In this work, the various phenomena of nature are successively the subject of instruction, as introduced by the seasons of the year and the different portions of the globe. Information and entertaining improvement are hereby deduced from astronomy, mechanics, botany, physiology, meteorology, entomology, metaphysics, and other important branches of knowledge; and as the young student advances in the path of science, he is interested, engaged, incited by the flowers of poetry, which the author adduces to illustrate or embellish his subject. By selecting for description, explanation, or contemplation, those subjects and circumstances which are calculated to arrest most powerfully the enquiring mind, the author adopts the surest means of exciting and gratifying a wish for useful knowledge: at the same time, by chusing those which permit adequate elucidation, without the necessity of asking the aid of recondite learning, or abstruse discussion, he encourages the student, by demonstrating at once the beauty of useful philosphy, and the facility of its acquirement. He says, I have, in particular, endeavoured to allure my young readers to these improving inquiries, by strewing, as it were, each winding path with flowers; shewing, at the same time, how much some of the finest passages in poetry are indebted for their beauty, to the gay and lively, or to the sublime, or even terrific images, which are every where so profusely scattered. But I have deemed this a consideration of infinitely less moment, than that of inculcating the principles of piety aud virtue, by occasionally introducing such religious and 2 L 947] The Home of Love.-P. Virgilii Maronis Bucolica Georgica Enis [948 expects from the Poem. This is no tion she has fulfilled all that the reader mean praise. moral reflections, as each subject had a | aimed too highly, and by this moderatendency to inspire; and pointing out, as the glorious theme of all, the irresistable indications of the Supreme Being, the Great Creator and Governor of universal Nature. Two or three smaller Pieces follow the "Home of Love," from which we extract SIGHS. There is a sigh-that half suppress'd, It is a debt justly due to a worthy and an ingenious man, to state that the Contemplative Philosopher was originally written by Mr. Richard Lobb, who, although he contributed largely to general instruction and entertainment in several works, was induced, by his great modesty, to conceal his name, and There is a sigh-so soft, so sweet, thereby to shun the justly merited commendation which was due to well-inten-Tis heard where conscious lovers meet, It breathes not from the lip of woe; tioned, and well-directed employment of his natural talents. The Home of Love, a Poem. Dedi- Price That the present is an age of liberality and kindness, few will be inclined to dispute; but if farther proof had been wanting, the reception I have thrice met with from an indulgent public has been such as to remove every doubt. There is nothing calculated to dazzle the judgment or impose upon the understanding in the name or station of a Village Curate's Wife, nor was the lustre of splendid patronage then lent to gild that lowly station. It may be easily supposed that the present bagatelle is merely a compliment to the late Royal Nuptials. Cupid, in his Paphian Bower, finds his power disregarded and his empire overthrown. There, hid beneath the myrtle shade, Retired, indignant Cupid lies; From loveless Youth, and purchased Maid And heartless, joyless pomp, he flies. Britannia, however, comes to solicit his godship's aid, in behalf of a "beautiful Princess" and a "brave Prince," and asks him to come and fix his "Home" in England: the reader may easily divine the success of this request. Criticism would be ill employed in sternly analysing a jeu d'esprit like this; the fair writer's intention was not The first faint dawn of tender care. Whilst, yet untold, young passions glow. Yet seems scarce conscious of its pain; Of bliss that ne'er must wake again. It That last worst pang, fond Love's despair. P.Virgilii Maronis Bucolica, Georgica, Eneis. Accedunt, in gratiam juventutis, notæ quædam Anglice Scriptæ. 24to p. 642. Price 7s. 6d. bound. Printed by Valpy. Law and Whittaker, 1817. 66 Of this work we shall only say that the typographical department is executed with most laudable neatness; as for its accuracy, we need only name the Printer. the Preface," that it is easy to say Heyne has observed," says much about Virgil, but difficult to say a little, well. If the difficulty were felt by this great man in the range of four or five octavo volumes, how much more sensibly must it press his humble follower, within these narrow bounds? Among the various excellencies of our poet, it has been remarked that clear ness is not to be reckoned: in elucidating his text, many renowned critics have, in successive generations, applied great acuteness and unwearied industry; and what has been the result? Not simply discordance of opinion, complete, frequent and warmly expressed, but in several instances, the suggestion of three or four widely differing solutions, too often, all doubtful. Among these, the Annotator's duty has been to select that, which in his judgment seemed the most probable, the want of space precluding him from doing justice to the different arguments. On this head, therefore, it is incumbent on him to bespeak the candor and favor of better informed men, should, by chance, these Notes attract for a moment their attention. We have all our favorite opinions and hypotheses: on disputed points, on Virgil in particular, we have many of us formed conclusions, early, and not to be shaken. Even where we privately retain some doubts, it is perhaps in human nature, on these points, even to resent any attack on opinions which we favor, and believe to be well founded." and perhaps, the present is one of those the most difficult to meet with an answer from a Catholic adversary. The first part, intitled "Hildebrand and his Age," commences with the events which followed the middle of the tenth century, at which time three Popes contended for the triple Tiara, but the whole three were set aside by the Emperor, Henry III. The Author reports succinctly the later events of the reign of Pope Leo IX. after whose death Hildebrand was sent into Germany, to propose a new Pope; for the choice depended principally on the Emperor. Nicolas II. was raised to the Pontifical throne, during the minority of the Emperor Henry IV. After his death, Hildebrand followed to his utmost his plan of rendering the mfluence of the Emperors less predominant in electing the head of the Church; but the Court of Vienna persisted in its pretensions, and went so far as to nominate a Pope of its own choice; while the clergy of Rome nominated Alexander II. The second part of the Volume preIn preparing the notes, as the design, in sents "Pope Gregory VII., (Hildesome respects, differs from that of other brand) his character and his reign." annotators of school editions, a few pre- His grand project was, to deliver the fatory words in explanation appear neces- church from all dependence on temposary. On general subjects of history or of ral power, and to obtain for it a domimythology, of chronology or of geography, nion over all secular powers; this is these Notes are not designed to give information, or to abridge the labor of the placed beyond a doubt by his own letyouthful student in consulting such a dic-ters, of which this author has availed tionary as that of Dr. Lempriere. They are meant to be confined strictly to the elucidation of the text. On every occasion, without exception, where any difficulty, either of construction, or in the sense, or in the metre, seemed likely to arise, the best information has been diligently sought and applied; with a few grammatical or etymological remarks interspersed, which may lead the youthful student to enquire and think for himself, and may facilitate his future progress in the Latin tongue. Hildebrand, or the History of Pope Gregory VII, and his age, by John Voight. 8vo. pp. 625, Weimar, 1815. We suspect that among the severest strokes which could possibly be struck at the Papacy would be a true and faithful history of certain parts of its course: himself. This plan included the means of breaking the attachments of the clergy and the bishops to the States where they dwelt; to effect this he introduced the celibacy of Ecclesiastics: he abolished the rights of feudality, of investiture, and the punishments for Simony. By the superiority of his genius, he at length succeeded, and Henry II. was reduced in 1073 to the necessity of writing a supplicatory letter to him. The authenticity of this letter has been disputed; but this writer thinks it genuine. The remainder of the Volume com prizes the history of the troubles in Germany, of the Council held at Rome under Gregory VII. and the oppositions which bis enactments met with in foreign Countries; with other events, continued to the time of his death. Literary Register. Authors, Editors, and Publishers, are particularly requested to forward to the Literary Panorama Office, post paid, the titles, prices, and other particulars of works in hand, or published, for insertion in this department of the work. WORKS ANNOUNCED FOR PUBLICATION. ANTIQUITIES. Capt. Beaufort has a Description of the Remains of Antiquity on the South Coast of Asia Minor, with plates and charts, nearly ready for publication. Nearly ready for publication, Part II. of Church of Westminster. By E. W. BrayThe History and Antiquities of the Abbey ley; with Architectural and Graphic Illustrations; by J. P. Neale. With Engravings: To be completed in Two Volumes, Folio, to correspond with the New Edition of Dugdale's Monasticon; and in imperial and royal quartos. BIOGRAPHY. The Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London Part V. will be pub-tion of the Memoirs of Buchanan; with Dr. Irving is preparing an enlarged edilished in May next. ANCIENT ENGLISH LITERATURE. In the course of this mouth will appear A Reprint of Morte d'Arthur. The Text of this Edition will be a faithful Transcript from the Caxton Edition, in the possession of Earl Spencer, with an Introduction and Notes, tending to elucidate the History and Bibliography of the Work; as well as the Fictions of the Round Table Chivalry in general. By Robert Southey, Esq. Poct Laureate. The impression will be strictly limited to 250 on post 4to, and 50 large paper. At press, Witt's Recreations, refined and augmented with ingenious Conceits for the Wittie, and Merry Medicines for the Melancholic. Printed from the Edition of 1640. To which is added, some prefatory remarks and memoirs of Sir John Menues and Dr. Smith. And Wit Restor'd, in scverall Select Poems. Also, Musarum Delica; or, the Muses Recreation, containing several Pieces of Poetique Wit. The Three Works printed in Two Volumes, with all the Cuts re-engraved by Mr. Bewick. In the course of March will be published. Select Pieces of Early Popular Poetry. Edited by E. V. Utterson, Esq. In 2 vol. post 8vo, with Wood-cut Vignettes, and to each will be prefixed a short Notice. A Glossary to the whole will be added. The impression will not exceed 250 copies at the utmost. In this Work no piece will be given which has been printed subsequent to the close of the 16th century; and as one object in view is to illustrate the literary Amusement of our ancestors, no poem can be considered as coming within the proposed arrangement, which did not, either in its subject-matter or style, arrogate to itself a claim to popularity. an appendix, which will contain a great number of original papers, At press, Annual Biography and Obituary, with Silhouette Portraits, containing, 1. Memoirs of those celebrated Men, who have died within the Year 1816. 2. Neglected Biography, with Biographical Notices and Anecdotes, and Original Letters. 3. Analyses of recent Biographical Works. 4. An Alphabetical List of Persons who have died within the British Dominions, sq as to form a Work for Reference, both now and hereafter. The 7th and 8th Volumes of Campbell's Lives of the Admirals, which complete the work, and are embellished with Portraits of Lords Howe and Nelson, are ready for delivery, price each Volume 128. demy, and 18s. royal, extra boards. Early in March will be published, Memoirs of the Life and Writings of the Rev. Claudius Buchanan, D. D. late Vice-provost of the College of Fort William in Bengal, By the Rev. Hugh Pearson, M. A. of St. John's College, Oxford. Mr. Charles Dyer has in the Press an entire new work of whole length Portraits, with Biographical memoirs of illustrious Englishmen. The first part of which will appear in the course of this month. CLASSICAL LITERATURE. The Rev. Dr. Symmons' translation of the Eneid of Virgil is nearly ready for publication, in a quarto volume. Major Rennell will soon publish, in a quarto volume, Illustrations of the History of the Expedition of the Younger Cyrus, and Retreat of the Ten Thousand Greeks, with explanatory maps. Mr. J. M. Kinneir is preparing a journey through Asia Minor, Armenia, and Kurdistan, in 1813 and 1814, with remarks on the marches of Alexander, and the retreat of the Ten Thousand. |