"I sometimes fancy, as I gaze upon These specimens will be sufficient to convince our readers that Mr Sandford Earle is blest with a poetical temperament. His chief faults seem to be, that he at times writes too carelessly and hastily, and that in his blank verse he has a tendency to imitate Miss Letitia Elizabeth Landon. to point and adorn a history, we know no period more rife in fearful lessons than the period we allude to. But the truth of the matter is, Sir Walter's history was to be comprised in two volumes; and finding that he had already rather overfilled his space by the time he arrived at the death of Elizabeth, he availed himself of this opi nion as an apology for abruptly breaking off there. That part of our history contained in the volume now before us, is not one so well calculated for the display of Sir Walter's peculiar talent, as the earlier scenes of our Scottish story. He seizes and represents most graphically the picturesque outside of life, but he is at a loss when called upon to pourtray the conflict of intellects under the influence of passion and principle. Yet it is from this conflict that the stormy period of the Reformation in There Scotland derives what interest it may possess. are battles enough, but they do not depend, as formerly, upon individual prowess; tactics (although yet in their infancy) have made some progress, and Sir Walter is not sufficiently master of the art of war, to give variety and character to the different encounters; nor perhaps do their rude manœuvres admit of it. Another defect in his history is this, the body of the people have now become more powerful, and obtained in some sort a voice potential, yet we have not one hint from which we can infer their economical or moral condition-not one sentence of statistical detail, or one reference to the progress of learning in the country. The style of the work is equable and pleasing, but garrulous and diffuse. There is also visible throughout the whole book, an extreme anxiety on the part of the author to avoid committing himself by the expression of a decided opinion. He balances and see-saws, goes half-way, and retreats again. Witness, in particular, his account of Queen Mary. In short, the more narrowly we look into the work, the more convinced we become of two things. The first is, that Sir Walter, great though his genius be, is not qualified for a historian in the high sense of the word he wants penetra. tion and the power of condensing. The second is, that his history, such as it is, has been got up rather slovenly, and is left unfinished. Although we have thus given vent to our disappointThe History of Scotland. By Sir Walter Scott, Bart. ment in plain language, we are quite ready to admit, Vol. II. (the fourth volume of Lardner's Cabinet what all will be ready to believe, that there is much good Cyclopædia.) Pp. 438. London. Printed for Long-writing scattered through the work. man, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green. 1830. THIS volume contains the reigns of James V., Mary: The Foreign Quarterly Review, No. X. February, 1830. London: Treuttel and Co. Edinburgh: Cadell and Co. and James VI., bringing down the history of Scotland On the whole, this number is calculated to support the character of the Review. The first article, which contains a pretty full statistical account of the kingdom of the Netherlands, is valuable, although it scarcely bears the same strong internal marks of authenticity, and thorough acquaintance with the subject, that we found in the article on Spanish Statistics in the preceding number. The second article, on the mystical meaning of the Divina Commedia of Dante, is learned and sensible, although on a subject not much to our taste. The value of Dante's works consists in their lofty and severe tone, in their bold imagery, and, in short, in what they contain of imaginative or poetical. To leave the obvious and valuable beauties of his poetry, and search after the ignis fatuus of a recondite and mystical theory, is, like the dog in the fable, The to leave the substance and snap at the reflection. third article contains some interesting notices respecting The fourth is an attempt to the kingdom of Brazil. prove that the Medici family were a parcel of weak rasThe authority upon which the argument is based, an historical romance, is insufficient; and the opinions Article fifth supported are erroneous and invidious. is an interesting account of the labours of the Catholic Missionaries in China. Article sixth is a review of the popular French novelist, Paul de Koch, written in a spirit eminently Cockney. The seventh article, on the cha racter and writings of the Spanish patriot, Jovellanos, is The Lost Heir, and the Prediction. In 3 vols. London. gian in its original, consisted of 16 or 17, to which were af- ARCHERY. The art of shooting with a bow; formerly THE first of these tales is the best. It is told with considerable art. There is a mystery around its opening, which gradually disperses, but it is only at intervals, and partially, that the light is let in upon us; so that while we see the truth is coming out, enough of uncertainty remains The author's to excite our curiosity and carry us on. chief object seems to have been to make his novel a compendium of all the different kinds of style at present in He rolls into one-the fashionable novel, whose vogue. scene is London or Paris,-the Irish novel, whose scene is Ireland or Paris,-and the American novel, whose scene is a Yankee town or forest. The hero and heroine, with all their friends, are of the Hiberno-Gallic race; the villain who does all the mischief, and is killed in the end, is a Bond-Street lounger. The tale opens with a scalping scene in America, and is afterwards transferred to France, AUTOMATON." A self-moving engine, more particularly where we are treated to a full-sized panoramic view of If we the figure of any animal, having the principle of motion the Bastile. The second tale is a bloody bad one. within itself by means of wheels, springs, and weights; those in the figure of a man are called Androides, as the me recollect right-for, having supped full of its horrors, we are loath to open up the book again-only two of the dra-chanical chess-player, &c.; those of animals are properly The work is from the pen called Automata. It is said that Archytas of Tarentum, 400 matis persona are left alive. of Mr Power, the Irish comedian, and, we believe, has years before Christ, made a wooden pigeon, that could fly; and that Archimedes made similar Automata. Regiomonsold well. tanus made a wooden eagle, that flew forth from the city, met the emperor, saluted him, and returned; also an iron fly, which flew out of his hand at a feast, and returned Dr Hooke made the again, after flying about the room. model of a flying chariot, capable of supporting itself in the air. M. Vauçanson made a figure that played on the flute; also a duck, capable of eating, drinking, and imitating exactly the voice of a natural one; and, what is still more surprising, the food it swallowed was evacuated in a digested M. le Droz, state; also the wings, viscera, and bones, were formed so as strongly to resemble those of a living duck. of La Chaux de Fonds, presented a clock to the King of Spain, which had, among other curiosities, a sheep that made a bleating noise, and a dog watching a basket, that snarled and barked when any one offered to take it away." A Dictionary of General Knowledge; or an Explanation of Words and Things connected with all the Arts and Sciences. Illustrated with numerous Wood-cuts. By George Crabb, A. M., Author of "English Synonymes," &c. &c. London. Thomas Tegg. 1830. Post 8vo. Pp. 364. THIS work combines elegance and utility in no ordinary degree. It is beautifully printed in double columns, and many of its definitions and explanations are illustrated by means of neatly executed engravings-mechanical, architectural, zoological, botanical, and miscellaneous. For the juvenile and less informed reader, the book teems with information; while even the scholar and man of liberal acquirements cannot fail to derive benefit from it as a work of occasional reference. It has been drawn up with a due regard to brevity; but, at the same time, such explanations have been added to almost every definition, as serve to convey something more than the bare meanAnother recommendation is, that it ing of the word. contains a vast number of words and phrases which are not to be met with in any other Dictionary, but with which it is scarcely less necessary to be acquainted than We have been so with those used in ordinary discourse. much pleased with this work, that, both with the view of enabling our readers more completely to understand its nature, and of transferring to our pages some of the information it contains, we have selected a few definitions, which will give a general idea how the rest are handled : ALPHABET.-"A series of the several letters in the language, which vary in number in different languages. The Hebrew contains 22 letters, as also the Chaldee, Samaritan, Syriac, Persian, Æthiopic, Saracen, &c.; but the Irish, which is the same as the Pilasgian, or Scythian, still retains only 17; the Greek alphabet, which was brought by Cadmus into Greece from Phoenicia, and was also Pelas-all that belongs to coats of arms. BANNS OF MATRIMONY." The publishing of marriagecontracts in the church before the performance of the marriage ceremony. By the ordinances of the church, when persons are to be married, the banns of matrimony shall be published in the church where they dwell three several Sundays or holidays, in the time of divine service; and if, at the day appointed for their marriage, any man do allege any impediment or pre-contract, consanguinity or affinity, want of parents' consent, infancy, &c., why they should not be married, (and become bound with sureties to prove this allegation,) then the solemnization must be deferred until the truth is tried." BENEFIT OF CLERGY." A privilege in law, at first pe culiar to the clergy, but in after times made common to the laity. When any one was convicted of certain crimes, he had a book given him to read, and if the ordinary or his deputy a clergyman or scholar, he was only burnt in the hand, and pronounced these words, Legit ut clericus,' he reads like set free for the first offence, otherwise he was to suffer death." BILBOES." A term at sea, for the long bars of iron with which the feet of offenders are confined, the irons being more or less heavy, according to the nature of the offence. BLAZONRY, OR BLAZONING." That branch of the art The word comes from of Heraldry which consists in expressing, in proper terms, National Portrait Gallery of Illustrious and Eminent Personages of the Nineteenth Century. With Memoirs, by William Jerdan, Esq. London. Fisher, Son, and Co., &c. 11 Numbers. 1830. the German blasen, to blow; because a trumpet used to be ecuted it with great ability. We may mention in conblown at justs, &c., previously to the heralds recording the clusion, that not only are definitions given of the differachievements of the knights." ent sciences, but short historical essays, very distinctly CARDS." Pieces of pasteboard, of an oblong figure and different sizes, made into packs of 52 in number, and used, written, are added, which serve to show the progress of by way of amusement, in different games. They are paint-arts and science from the earliest periods to the present ed with various figures, namely, hearts, spades, diamonds, time. clubs, and kings and queens. They are said to have been introduced in the fourteenth century, to divert Charles VI., King of France, who had fallen into a state of melancholy. By the hearts, cœurs, were meant the gens de chœur, choirmen, or ecclesiastics, instead of which the Spaniards use chalices. The spades, in Spanish, espadas, swords, were intended to represent the nobility, who wore swords or pikes. The diamonds, or carreaux, designated the order of citizens or merchants. The trefle, trefoil leaf, or clover grass, was an emblem of the husbandman; this is called clubs with us, because the Spaniards have bastos, clubs, on their cards. The knaves represent the servants of the knights. The four kings were intended for David, Alexander, Caesar, and Charlemagne, who established the four great monarchies of the Jews, Greeks, Romans, and Franks. The four queens were supposed to represent Argine, i. e. regina, the queen by descent, Esther, Judith, and Pallas. The moulds or blocks used for making cards, were exactly like those which were shortly afterwards used in the making of books." CHILTERN HUNDREDS." A hilly district of Bucking-hour's occupation, than in turning over the leaves of a hamshire, which has belonged to the crown from time immemorial, having the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds attached to it. By the acceptance of this office, any Member of Parliament is enabled to vacate his seat, and is obliged to do it in this manner; that is, in the usual phrase, accept the Chiltern Hundreds." SINCE We last noticed this excellent popular work, which appears regularly in monthly numbers, the editorship has been transferred from Mr Stebbing, whose other avocations obliged him to resign it, to Mr Jerdan of the London Literary Gazette. The engravings continue to be beautifully executed, (with the exception, by the by, of Dugald Stewart in No. 11,) and the memoirs are written in a distinct and agreeable style. In reference to this work, we avail ourselves of the following remarks from our ingenious contemporary, the Dublin Literary Gazette:-"We cannot conceive a more pleasing occasional volume of this kind, and making ourselves intimate with the most characteristic of all autographs of eminent men —the unerring index which mind has given of itself in the countenance. An examination of this sort, if we have ourselves a physiognomical perception, will satisfy us that there is truth in Lavater; for, however weak and undecided the physiognomical expression of character may be in the case of minds of little eminence, those of great vigour and power are invariably strongly marked and historical. If the reader doubts the fact, let him turn to the portraits of Benjamin West, the painter, Sir Humphry COPYRIGHT (in Law)." The exclusive right of printing Davy, Doctor Woolaston, Bishop Heber, and some others and publishing copies of any literary performance, which is in this volume, and then look at those of the Duke of now confirmed by statute, to authors or their publishers, B. and others of the nobility. He will at once perfor a certain number of years, that is to say, for twenty-ceive the difference to which we allude. The latter look exeight years in all cases, whether the author survive that pe-tremely well for Lords, but their heads would not do at riod or not; and to the end of the author's life, if he live all for great philosophers, painters, or poets. These form beyond that period; besides, as an action lies to recover damages for pirating the new corrections and additions to a class of nobility, holding their titles by a patent higher an old work, publishers may acquire almost a perpetual in- yet than even majesty itself. 'Of seven peasants,' said terest in a work, by republishing it with additions and an- Henry of-the-six-wives, I could make seven lords, but of seven lords I could not make one Holbein'-nor of seven kings either, he might have added—and yet Holbein was hardly a first-rate painter." CINQUE PORTS."The five ancient ports on the east coast of England, opposite to France; namely, Dover, Hastings, Hithe, Romney, and Sandwich; to which are added, as appendages, Rye and Winchelsea. They have particular privileges, and are within the jurisdiction of the Constable of Dover Castle, who, by his office, called Warden of the Cinque Ports." notations." ECHO." A sound reflected or reverberated from some body, and thence returned or repeated to the ear. Echoing bodies may be so contrived as to repeat the echo several times. At Milan, there is said to be an echo, which reiterates the report of a pistol 56 times; and if the report be exceedingly loud, the reiteration will exceed that number. The celebrated echo at Woodstock, in Oxfordshire, repeats the same sound fifty times. But the most singular echo hitherto spoken of is that near Roseneath, a few miles from Glasgow. If a person, placed at a proper distance from this echo, plays eight or ten notes of a tune with a trumpet, they are correctly repeated by the echo, but a third lower; after a short pause, another repetition is heard in a lower tone; and then, after another interval, a third repetition follows, in a still lower tone." HABEAS CORPUS." A writ which may be made use of by the Courts at Westminster for removing prisoners to answer any cause, as a Habeas Corpus ad respondendum, ad satisfaciendum, &c. ; but the most celebrated writ of this kind is that of Habeas Corpus ad subjiciendum, which a man who is, or supposes himself to be, aggrieved by an unlawful imprisonment, may have out of the King's Bench, directed to the person detaining him, and commanding him to produce the body of the prisoner, to submit to, or receive, whatever the court shall consider in that behalf. This writ was founded on the common law, and secured by many statutes, particularly that of the 31st Charles II. which is, by distinction, called the Habeas Corpus Act." We do not say that all the definitions and explanations are equally interesting with those quoted above, and we could point out several particulars where we think there is room for improvement in a second edition; but, on the whole, we are satisfied that Mr Crabb, the ingenious editor of this work, has hit upɔn a very happy idea, and ex Adventures in the Rifle Brigade in the Peninsula, France, THIS is an excellent and amusing book; and although it neither gives, nor pretends to give, lessons in strategy, or a true history of the great operations of our armies, we hold it to be a very instructive work. Napier, it is true, continues to be our text-book in the art of war; but even in his work there is something awanting, something which a due attention to historical etiquette prevents his conveying to us. He shows most satisfactorily the talents of our generals, and the morale of our army; but there is an insight into its composition which he cannot give us, and which, indeed, nothing can give but a wide personal acquaintance with military men, and lots of volumes like the present. The rifle brigade was among the bravest regiments in in an army where all were brave. And well it might be so, if custom have any effect in confirming dispositions naturally valiant ; for from 1809 to 1815 it was scarcely ever out of hearing of musket-shot; and during the whole of the Peninsular war it was constantly in advance of the army, "feeling for the enemy,"-by no means the most pleasing kind of groping in the dark. A competent judge has said of this regiment—“ I never saw such skirmishers as the ninety-fifth, now the rifle brigade. They could do the work much better, and with infinitely less loss, than any other of our best light troops. They possessed an individual boldness, a mutual understanding, and a quick. ness of eye, in taking advantage of the ground, which, taken altogether, I never saw equalled. They were, in fact, as much superior to the French voltigeurs, as the latter were to our skirmishers in general. As our regiment was often employed in support of them, I think I am fairly qualified to speak of their merits." 66 as, had our late worthy disciplinarian, Sir David Dundas, himself been looking on, I think that even he would have admitted that he never saw any one stand so fiercely upright as I did behind mine, while the balls were rapping into it as fast as if a fellow had been hammering a nail on the opposite side, not to mention the numbers that were whistling past, within the eighth of an inch of every part of my body, both before and behind, particularly in the vicinity of my nose, for which the upper part of the tree could barely afford protection." The Captain must be a sensible man, for his opinion of the Duke of Wellington exactly coincides with our own: Yet this very regiment, when it landed in Portugal, consisted almost entirely of boyish recruits." Lord Wellington's retreat upon the lines of Torres Vedras," says "From the moment I joined the army, so intense was our author, was a measure that ultimately saved the my desire to get a look at this illustrious chief, that I never could have forgiven the Frenchman that had killed me becountry, though ruinous and distressing to those concern-fore I had effected it. My curiosity did not remain long ed, and on no class of individuals did it bear harder than ungratified; for, as our post was next the enemy, I found, on our own little detachment, a company of rosy-cheeked, when any thing was to be done, it was his also. He was chubby youths, who, after three months' feeding on ship's just such a man as I had figured in my mind's eye; and I dumplings, were thus thrust, at a moment of extreme ac- thought that the stranger would betray a grievous want of tivity, in the face of an advancing foe, supported by a penetration who could not select the Duke of Wellington Again he pound of raw beef, drawn every day fresh from the bul- from amid five hundred in the same uniform." lock, and a mouldy biscuit." It is really wonderful what lington, as we would rather see his long nose in the fight says, "We anxiously longed for the return of Lord Wela couple of campaigns and such training made out of these than a reinforcement of ten men any day." fellows. Speaking of a review in May, 1813, as the army was about to break up from winter quarters, "It did one's very heart good," says our author again," to look at our battalion that day, seeing each company standing a hundred strong, and the intelligence of several campaigns stamped on each daring, bronzed countenance, which looked you boldly in the face, in the fulness of vigour and confidence, as if it cared neither for man nor devil." can The following is a specimen, which occurred at Victoria, of the Duke's omnipresence in the fight, and the effect of his slightest word: "One of their shells burst immediately under my nose, part of it struck my boot and stirrup-iron, and the rest of it kicked up such a dust about me, that my charger refused to obey orders; and while I was spurring, and he was capering, I heard a voice behind me, which I knew to be Lord Wellington's, calling out, in a tone of reproof, Look to keeping your men together, sir;' and though, God knows, I had not the remotest idea he was within a mile of me at the time, yet so sensible was I that circumstances warranted his thinking that I was a young officer cutting a caper, by way of bravado, before him, that worlds would not have tempted me to look round at the moment." "The Captain Kincaid starts upon the following principle: "Every man may write a book for himself, if he likes, but this is mine; and as I borrow no man's story, neither will I give any man a particle of credit for his deeds, as I have got so little for my own that I have none to spare. Neither will I mention any regiment but my own, if I After crossing the Garonne, a party of Spaniards were possibly avoid it. With regard to regiments, however, I beaten back in attempting to storm the heights, and rebeg to be understood as identifying our old and gallant as-treated farther than military etiquette admits of. sociates, the forty-third and fifty-second, as a part of our-only remark Lord Wellington is said to have made on selves; for they bore their share in every thing, and I love their conduct, after waiting to see whether they would them as I hope to do my better half, (when I come to be stand after they got out of reach of the enemy's shot, was, divided.) Wherever we were, they were; and although the nature of our arms generally gave us more employment in the way of skirmishing, yet, whenever it came to a pinch, independent of a suitable mixture of them among us, we had only to look behind to see a line in which we might place a degree of confidence, almost equal to our hopes in heaven; nor were we ever disappointed." The consequence of this doughty resolution not to go beyond his own last is, that, before we finish the book, we get as well acquainted with Captain Kincaid, and all round about him, as if we had made the campaign along with them. We think the Captain worthy of his regiment, and are at a loss whether we should admire him most dancing the Highland fling in a cool morning, to warm himself after a bivouac, or kissing nuns, or criticising generals, or hunting pigs, or fighting, or making philosophical remarks, or lying down in a field covered with eight inches water, when the word is given to make themselves comfortable for the night." If, however, his picture is to be prefixed to the second edition of his work, we recommend the following passage to the artist's attention, as affording a good hint for a striking situation : 66 'Well, d―n me if ever I saw ten thousand men run a race before."" One story more, and we have done: "I was told that while Lord Wellington was riding along the line under a fire of artillery, and accompanied by a numerous staff, a brace of greyhounds, in pursuit of a hare, passed close by him. He was at the moment in earnest conversation with General Carstairs; but the instant he observed them he gave the view hallo, and went after them at full speed, to the utter astonishment of his foreign accompaniments." All this is in excellent keeping with the Duke standing with his back to the stove in the House of Lords, his coat-tails tucked up under his arms, telling some noble lord to speak up. He would be as great a man without "this way of his own," but not half so much to our taste. We heartily recommend Captain Kincaid's book. Edin Sermons on the Seven Churches in Asia, &c. By the Rev. Dr Muir, Minister of St Stephen's Church. burgh. Waugh and Innes. Pp. 288. "Be it known, then, that I was one of a crowd of "ONE design," says Dr Muir, in his advertisement, skirmishers who were enabling the French to carry the "in publishing this volume, will be answered, if the pernews of their own defeat through a thick wood, at an in-usal of it shall strengthen this conviction in the minds of fantry canter, when I found myself all at once within a few yards of one of their regiments in line, which opened such a fire, that had I not, rifleman like, taken instant advantage of the cover of a good fir-tree, my name would have, unquestionably, been transferred to posterity by that night's gazette. And, however opposed it may be to the usual system of drill, I will maintain, from that day's experience, that the cleverest method of teaching a recruit to stand at attention, is to place him behind a tree and fire balls at him: any, that the Book of Revelation, instead of being employed for the purpose of exercising curiosity and fanciful conjecture, may be read exclusively for a religious and moral use." Agreeing as we do with Dr Muir, that this latter is the most important use which we can make of the Apocalypse, we take the present opportunity of saying a word or two about a class of expositors, whose writings on this difficult portion of Scripture we are inclined experience and from analogy, the causes which contribute to the formation of such particular character, and the proper means for establishing a good, confirming an uncertain, and shaking off a drowsy and ungodly, habit of mind. We forbear making any extracts from a volume, which is less remarkable for containing brilliant passages than for its general good sense; but we heartily commend the volume itself to the perusal of all whose taste has not been so much vitiated as to make them reject the plain, wholesome doctrines of religion, as applicable to the common business of life, and the formation of the Christian character. Nevertheless, we have somewhat against Dr Muir. It is this,-that, although his style is, in general, correct, and his composition elegant, his book is sometimes disfigured with affected prettinesses of expression, and an ambition of language, which displeases because it is unnecessary, and is obviously a straining at effect. We are the less disposed to tolerate these violations of good taste in the present instance, because we understand that, to the virtues of an amiable and pious mind, Dr Muir unites, in an eminent degree, the accomplishments of the distinguished scholar. to consider as singularly injudicious and unprofitable. We allude to those prophets, of whom the Rev. Edward Irving is the modern representative, who, seeking to be wise above what is permitted, have devoted much time, and no inconsiderable talents, to a vain attempt at unveiling futurity by fanciful glosses on the mysterious visions of the inspired apostle. We say a vain attempt, because we consider the legitimate use of prophecy to be this, to prepare us in a general way for the future manifestations of God's providence,-to sustain the constancy of saints by shadowing out to them the general features, the trials, the prosperity, and the final triumph of the church, --and to furnish, as soon as the prefigured events shall have actually come to pass, incontrovertible proof of His authority by whom they were revealed, and of the truth of that revelation with which they are inseparably connected. If we look to the Old Testament prophecies concerning our Saviour, we shall find that they were calculated to serve this very purpose; to us, these prophecies are clear as noon-day, and even a child can trace their pointed application to our Saviour's character, and their striking accomplishment in the circumstances of his life, and death, | and resurrection: and yet to the Jewish doctors these very prophecies were so difficult, as to give rise to theories as unsound, and as absurd, as the speculations of the Millennium doctors of our own day. But we not only hold On Financial Reform. By Sir Henry Parnell, Bart., that the prophecies of the Apocalypse were not meant to be fully understood before they were accomplished, and therefore, that it is idle to speculate about particular time, and place, and circumstance, and special character, in regard to them; but we maintain farther, that even if we were able to ascertain all these points satisfactorily, still it would be wasting our time unprofitably, and using the Revelation of God unworthily, to occupy ourselves in the idlest of all human employments, prying into a future which does not concern us, while we necessarily sacrifice to this silly curiosity some of our valuable opportunities of progressing in actual holiness. What is it to us whether or not Mr Edward Irving is to lead the saints at the battle of Armageddon? We speak seriously when we say, that we think it quite as legitimate a subject of curiosity to speculate on the probability of his wearing, upon that occasion, the outrageous costume in which he made his appearance last year at the General Assembly. Scripture has been given for a much nobler purpose than gratifying the impertinent curiosity of idle dreamers; and we do not think that a Christian minister employs his own time, or the time of his congregation, profitably or properly, in broaching theories, however ingenious, upon a subject which has been designedly wrapped up in mystery, and with regard to which he must be as ignorant as the least learned of his hearers. M.P. London. John Murray. 1830. Ir is really ludicrous to observe the desponding apprehensions avowed by certain individuals regarding the present state of the country. Ignorant of historical facts, and of the true maxims of economic science, they mistake temporary interruptions for confirmed symptoms of decline; and, of course, whenever the country emerges from its difficulties,-which must eventually happen,— they will ascribe those consequences to supernatural agency, which can be accounted for on the most ordinary principles of supply and demand. To such persons we recommend the perusal of Sir Henry Parnell's work, in which they will find not only a satisfactory solution of their doubts, but an able exposition of some of the most intricate questions connected with Financial Reform. Yet, gratified as we have been with the general character of the present work, there is one part of it to which we cannot altogether assent. Our author frequently overlooks the distinction between the primary or apparent, and the real or ultimate, incidence of taxes. Judging from Sir Henry's statements, we might be apt to conclude, that the tax on a commodity fell, not on the consumer, but the producer. This is, however, erroneous. No doubt the producer ostensibly pays the tax, and by him it is conveyed into the From the speculations of such prophets, we willingly treasury. But so truly does it emanate from the consuturn our attention to the modest and practical volume be- mer, that whenever his wealth no longer permits, or his fore us. Dr Muir was already known to us by his pub- inclination no longer prompts him to purchase the comlic reputation as a judicious and very popular preacher; modity, the trade ceases, and the tax remains unpaid. and these Sermons on the Seven Churches prove, that his Suppose, therefore, that the producer be possessed of a popularity rests upon a better foundation than the unin- certain capital, a fourth part of which he has to advance telligible flights and dangerous mysticism by which some for the tax, of course a fourth less of the commodity will of our modern pulpit orators have acquired a high repu- be produced. Still, however, the replacing power, which tation. We do not mean to say, however, that these Ser-originally met the whole, now meeting the remaining mons are distinguished either by much novelty or depth of thought;—this is not their character; but we conceive that we bestow on them much higher, as well as juster, praise, when we say that, in pure evangelical doctrine we think them unexceptionable, and that they point out our duty so clearly, and enforce it with so much justice of reasoning and felicity of illustration, that we can safely recommend them to the public as practical and useful. Dr Muir dwells at no great length on the history and circumstances of the Asiatic Churches, which were the immediate objects of the Apostle's address; his principal design is, to consider the characters given of the Seven Churches, as belonging to individuals or classes of professing Christians in our own day; and to illustrate, by three-fourths, the price is increased just in proportion to the whole amount of the deficiency, or, in other words, by the whole amount of the tax. So long, therefore, as the producer determines to maintain the same standard of enjoyments after, as previous to, the imposition of the tax, we contend that, while the supply of the commodity may diminish, the price must increase, and the tax be levied from the consumer. With these very hasty remarks, we recommend Sir Henry Parnell's work to the attentive perusal of our readers. One great merit of the book is, that, in general, its conclusions proceed, not on mere vague speculation, but on that sound practical analysis which ought ever to regulate our investigations of financial reform. |