destruction; secondly, that it cannot abate his inclination to use them; and thirdly, that it can bring us no pledge or security whatever, against his pursuing the most hostile and treacherous conduct. Mr. Stephen discusses this point with all the ability of a statesman. As an effectual means of security, he insists upon a great increase of our military force, and with this view proposes several new measures for the better regulation of the army, and particularly of our volunteer corps. "To advance the discipline, meliorate the physical character, and enlarge the number of the latter, are beyond doubt, the best defensive expedients we can possibly resort to, if such improvements can be made." The youth of soldiers he considers a quality of the utmost importance.

To those who have felt indignant at the contempt with which the volunteers have been treated, or who themselves think that their exertions would be very insignificant in the field of battle, the following quotation will afford no small satisfaction.

"To suppose that these patriotic bands are not capable of being made fit for the secure defence of their country, because they can have no actual employment in war till the event of an invasion, is to adhere to old theories, in contempt of the most decisive experience. The French officers, are said to express astonishment at our having a diffidence in our volunteers on this exploded principle; and so they reasonably may; for by whom have the most brilliant exploits of their own campaigns been performed, but troops that had never seen service? We ourselves, however, might have learnt to correct the old prejudice earlier, by our experience in America; and what a glorious refutation was lately given of it by the 78th regiment at Maida!

"The brave young Scotchmen who composed that corps, were raised in 1805, and sent to the Mediterranean in September of that year. Till they landed in the Bay of St. Euphemia from Sicily, on the first of July last, they had never seen a musket-shot fired in actual service; and yet they confounded by their steadiness, as well as by their intrepidity and ardour, the bravest battalions of France."

Reformation he considers as another essential basis of our national safety. Not the correction of abuses of a financial or constitutional kind, because a wish to reform such abuses, where they admit of safe correction, is not wanting in His Majesty's Councils; but a reformation which we have too long owed both to God and man; the abolition of the slave trade. Considered

morally, religiously, and politically, Mr. Stephen contends, that the abandonment of this horrible traffic, would be more essential to the salvation of the country, than her volunteers, her army, or her navy. Upon this interesting subject, as well as upon all the others which have occupied his attention in these pages, he expatiates with admirable ingenuity, and with an earnestness that does honour to his feelings; "it is good to be zealous in a good cause." Few will go all the length of Mr. Stephen's argument with respect to this trade, but no one can fail to be struck with the instances he has adduced in support of his hypothesis. The calamities of other nations, and some that have befallen this country he looks upon as providential chastisements for the slave trade, while the United States of America which have long since (one of the States excepted) finally delivered itself from the guilt of this trade, have been distinguished with unusual blessings.

"Let us turn our eyes (says our author, in this fine passage) to the rising Western Empire, and we shall see a people, whose fortunes furnish a striking contrast to the calamities of European countries. As the autumnal storm, while it strips the grove of its leaves, and lays prostrate some of its more ancient trunks, favours the young and hardy pine, by opening to its aspiring point and expauding base, a freer course, and more copious sunshine; so have those revolutionary tempests which have laid waste the ancient realms of Europe, given an accelerated growth to the United States of America, both in their strength and staturePopulation, agriculture, commerce, maritime power, how rapidly have they all increased in that country!"

The legislature having, since the publication of the Dangers of England, passed a vote for the extinction of the African trade; if we admit the justice of our author's reasoning, we may now hope with him that the measures to be adopted for the security and defence of the nation will be truly efficacious!

Socrates: a Dramatic Poem. Written on the Model of the Ancient Greek Tragedy. 8vo. Ss. Wilkie, 1806.

This drama is neither written in verse nor prose, and if the ancient Greek tragedy be the model on which it has been written, the names of Sophocles and Euripides must be expunged from the catalogue of Greek poets.

CHORUS,

"Heaven in its great justice sends
To impious meu innumerable torments-
Torments not to the body confin'd

But more severe of the mind."

Whether it is intended that torments should be the countersound to sends, we know not, but this is a specimen of the author's rhyme, taken from one of the chorusses; of his verse that is not rhyme, the following passage will give a just, if not a favourable idea.

CRITO. Much we in charity should impute to example (Not turpitude of soul) sanctioned as they think by ages. Would men were sensible that what they deem strength is

weakness

After this our readers will not need to be reminded that this play is written on the model of the ancient Greek Tragedy.

REVIEW OF MUSIC.

Rouge et Noir de Musique, or Harmonic Pastimes, being Games of Cards constituted on the Principles of Music; intended as well for the Amusement of the Musical World in general, as of those who are totally unacquainted with the Science. Invented by Thomas Dancers Worgan.

Cards and Music-no very natural combination certainly, and to us the utility of their being now associated is not very ap parent. If Mr. Worgan hopes to lure young ladies and gentlemen into "the wilds of harmony," we think he might have adopted a much simpler and clearer method; but he promises that his pupils may become perfectly acquainted with the whole of these games, without subjecting themselves to the penance of making the least advance in the knowledge of music." If then his book merely describes a new game of cards, we are afraid it will be found rather a dull one.

Monthly Minstrelsy, a periodical Work in twelve Numbers; containing short Essays in Poetry and Music, written and composed by T. D. Worgan.

Lines on the memory of Lord Nelson, a song, a sonatina, and all for a shilling! enough for money certainly as times go; but "non que sed quomodo " is the question for us to determine. As in this department of our work we do not profess to be reviewers of poetry, except as it is connected with music, we pass the "lines" and proceed to notice the song. Mr. Worgan, like Mr. Kemp, has been guilty of the imprudence of resetting the

words of a favourite air

he certainly has produced an elegant and well-accompanied melody, but such a one as must sink in comparison with that which we have so long been accustomed to admire. The Sonatina is worthy to be about Lesson, No. 4, in Mr. Hook's "Guida di Musica."

Three Sonatas for the Piano Forte, with Accompaniments for a Violin and Violoncello; composed by J. F. Hering. Op. 3.

Mr. Hering is a composer of very considerable respectability. These sonatas bespeak a correct taste, a cultivated fancy, and an intimate knowledge of the various styles of harpsichord and piano forte music. The first opens with a bold preludio in C minor, evidently formed on the style of the first movements of many of Handel's vertures and concertos: it introduces with considerable effect a sprightly modern vivace. The subject of the andante is easy and flowing, and the concluding rondo lively and animated. The second sonata in D minor will not be found so generally pleasing as the first; it nevertheless possesses many striking passages, and some bold modulation. The first movement of the third sonata is a good deal in the florid style of Pleyel a thema follows with variations which display much fertility of invention, and will be found excellent practice. The accompaniments are adapted with care, and with every attention to effect. Points led off by the piano forte are judiciously answered by the violin, and vice versá: an obligato passage for the violoncello, is also well introduced in one of the variations of the last sonata. On the whole we feel justified in recommending these sonatas to the attention of the public, as displaying mauy proofs of genius, of judgment and of science.

No. 2.

The Vocal Magazine, consisting of Canzonets, Madrigals, Songs, Duetts, Trios, Quartetts, Quintetts, Glees, &c. Composed by Joseph Kemp.

The present number justifies the opinion which we gave of this work at its commencement. We shall separately examine each of the pieces it contains. The first, is a song in a pastorale style, which if not distinguished for novelty of design, is at least pleasing, and assisted by a judicious accompaniment ;-it is a good deal in the manner of one of the songs in the first number. The second song O nymph of fortune's smiles beware" is rather common; it ranks with that class of compositions in which there is nothing to censure, and not much to commend. The ballad, "Farewel Harry," which follows is not of this cast: simple, yet elegant and expressive, it is sufficient to establish Mr. Kemp's claim to superiority as a composer of ballads: perhaps it is not fair to decide after so short an acquaintance, but we are quite of opinion that this style of composition is Mr. Kemp's forte-we advise him to cultivate it. The last piece of this number is a pastoral canzonet for two voices. It is a bold experiment for a composer to reset words which have been long sung to any popular air. Jackson failed more than once in this attempt; his "Black ey'd Susun" has been long forgotten, while the original air is as popular as ever. In the duett before us Mr. Kemp has chosen the ballad of "Dear is my little native vule;" now though we never saw much in that

ballad to admire, yet among the class of amateurs to whom Mr. K's. work will be most acceptable, it certainly has been popular, and is not yet forgotten: we think therefore he would have acted more judiciously to have chosen some other words, especially as his duett does not possess any strong claim to general approbation. We expected that this number would have contained a glee, a trio, or a quartett. Mr. Kemp must not give us too much of one dish. Overture, No. 15, for the Piano Forte, in which is introduced the admired air of "With lowly suit," composed, and dedicated to Lady Caroline Bertie, by Mr. Latour.

We cannot find any thing in this overture, as it is called, but a repetition of common passages, lengthened out to eight pages. Storace's elegant air of "With lowly suit" is introduced in the midst of a rondo, as if it had been dropped there by accident, or inserted by a blunder of the engraver; it certainly would have come in with equal effect at any other part of the overture. Nos. 5 and 6. Recreations for the Piano Forte composed by Mr. Latour.

Both of these recreations, and especially the latter, we prefer to the overture just mentioned. No. 5 is a pleasing rondo, and No. 6 an air from "The Travellers "with variations, which are well conceived and skilfully arranged. We can recommend both numbers as useful exercises for young performers.

Pretty Susan the Water Cress Girl, a favourite Ballad, as sung with the greatest Applause at Bath; composed and dedicated to Lady Eliza beth Richardson, by J. Terrail, jun. the Words by W. Miele. If "Pretty Susan" was personated by a pretty woman, prettily dressed, a Bath audience could do no less than applaud her, but we unfortunately have not had the advantage of hearing Mr. Terrail's song so performed; in despite therefore of the opinion which he quotes in his title, we must withhold our applause. Nevertheless, to give "Pretty Susan" her due, we think her quite equal to "Lovely Kate who sells sweet briar,' ""Sweet Polly, the Marjoram Girl," or indeed any of the fair venders of herbs who have from time to time made their appearance.

A Recreation, composed of a Scene or Introduction, an Aria and a Rondo, for the Piano Forte, with an Accompaniment for the German Flute, dedicated to Miss Caroline Cole of Bath, by L. Von Esch. This recreation opens with a movement in B minor, which introduces the simple and elegant air that follows with peculiar effect; the style and the subject of this movement are pleasingly varied in the minor, which again introduces the original air. The concluding rondo is lively, and is considerably improved, as indeed is the whole sonata, by the addition of a flute accompani

ment.

A Collection of Madrigals is about to appear under the care of the Rev. R. Webb, of St. Paul's. The publication will contain twenty madrigals for three, four, five, and six voices, selected from the works of Bennett, Wilbye, Morley, Prenestini, Weelkes, Gibbons, and other celebrated writers, as they are preserved in the books of the Madrigal Society.

(Notices of musical publications will be thankfully received, and inserted in this department of our work.)