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tion, we do not think by any means applicable either to the apostles of Raphael, the pine of Claude, or the horse of Wovermans. Upon the first we should be inclined to bestow the appellation of sublime, and in the last beauty is certainly the most prominent characteristic.

Following our author along his amusing, but desultory track, we have next some observations on Gothic architecture; it is properly divided into two kinds, the 'one employed in the construction of castles, the other of churches or convents. With respect to the Grecian orders of architecture, the ideas which we at present entertain are derived, in a great measure, if not entirely, from an association of authority for the classical ages. It is properly remarked, that

"There is no reason whatever in the nature of things, or in the analogy of the parts, why a Corinthian capital should be placed on a slenderer shaft than a Doric or Ionic one. On the contrary, the Corinthian, being of the largest, and consequently of the heaviest proportion, would naturally require the column of the largest dimensions, proportioned to its height, to sustain it."

The general effect produced upon the mind by the Grecian and the Gothic buildings is, in many respects, very different; and it is probable that the objects respectively aimed at by the artist were equally different. Symmetry and proportion appear to be the grand characteristics of the former, contrast and striking effect of the latter. Whatever may be our opinion of the general merits of these rival modes, we cannot but admit the justice of the following remark, and we deem it the more worthy of attention, as it deviates from the view which is usually taken of this subject.

ing the house of those accompaniments which it possessed in the ancient style; he finds fault with the naked lawns that are spread around it, and the clumps and sheets of water that compose its prospects. We cannot altogether coincide with the views of our author: what has been called English gardening, we consider as one of the happiest applications of taste to a practical purpose that the world has ever experienced; but it does not follow that all those who profess to ornament grounds are qualified for their profession; and it is still more frequently the case, that the bad taste of their employers leads them into absurdities of which they would not otherwise have been guilty. It has been found by experience that, in spite of the revolutions of fashion, there are certain combinations of natural objects which have at all times been admired: the aim of English gardening is to imitate such scenery; it is no argument against the practice that it is often ill executed.

We now proceed to dramatic exhibitions. Mr. Knight strongly argues against the idea that actual deception is ever produced, even by the most perfect of them; deception indeed is not the object either of the water or the actor, and for the most part its occurrence would destroy all our pleasure. Entertaining this view of the subject, our author agrees with Dr. Johnson, that unity of action may be safely dispensed with, provided we preserve un t of subject; and consequently that many of Shakspeare's irregular dramas, which exhibit the gradual progress of the same story, during a period of some weeks or months, are better adapted for fixing the attention than the exact French tragedies, where, although the action is finished precisely in twenty-four hours, yet the mind is distracted by a kind of double story.

"In the cathedral of St. Peter at Rome, Invention is admitted to be one of the all these are, of a gigantic size, taken from a highest mental powers; it is, however, given scale, proportionate to that of the build-one particularly apt to run into excess and ing; and I have often heard this rigid aaherence to uniform proportion admired as a very high excellence; though all allow that the eflect of it has been to make the building ap pear much smaller than it really is; and if it be a merit to make it appear sina!l, it certainly was extreme folly to incur such inmense expence in building it large."

From architecture we are led to gardening; and we meet with some spirited, though unnecessarily severe observations, upon the method of adorning grounds that is usually adopted in this country. Mr. Knight condemns the practice of depriv

extravagance. This the author instances in the case of Michael Angelo; a name which we have been taught to look up to with feelings almost of veneration, but which Mr. Knight boldly ventures to assail. After remarking the simplicity that prevailed in the works of the most celebrated ancient artists, a simplicity which almost bordered upon uniformity, he proceeds:

"But, in the figures of Michael Angelo, alt is directly reversed. The characters, though remote from ordinary or individual nature, are oftener below than above it, in dignity

expression; but then their attitudes and ges tures are such, as ordinary nature never does display, under any circumstances; except such as influence it in a painter's or sculptor's study, or academy. Even in representing sleep, he could not employ a natural or easy posture; but has put Adam into one, in which, all the narcotic powers of opium could scarcely have enabled him to rest.”

We now come to the third part of the work, on the passions; this is divided into three chapters; of the sublime and pathetic, of the ridiculous, and of novelty. In conformity with his former opinion, our author attempts to prove that our interest in tragedy is always accompanied with an idea that the scene before us is fictitious, and that we should cease t› derive pleasure from the representation, were we to conceive it a reality. There are indeed some exhibitions, such as the gladiatorial shows of ancient Rome, and the elegant amusement of boxing in our times, where the tragedy is evidently no fiction; but in these instances Mr. Knight contends, that the source of gratification does not arise from the sufferings endured by the combatants, but the skill and courage which they exhibit in their defence. This view of the subject leads Mr. Knight to dissent from the celebrated dogma of Aristotle, that terror and pity are the fundamental principles of tragedy; he also warmly contends against the position of Burke, that terror is a cause of the sublime.

"All sublime feelings are, according to the principles of Longinus, which I have here endeavoured to illustrate and confirm, feelings of exultation and expansion of the mind, tend ing to rapture and enthusiasm; and whether they be excited by sympathy with external objects, or arise from the internal operations of the mind, they are still of the same nature. In grasping at infinity, the mind exercises the powers, before noticed, of multiplying with out end; and, in so doing, it expands and exalts itself, by which means its feelings and

sentiments become sublime.

"The same effects result from contemplating all vast and immense objects; such as very spacious plains, lakes, or forests; extensive ranges of extremely high mountains; mighty rivers; unbounded seas; and, above all, the endless expanse of unknown vacuity." In this view of the subject we feel much disposed to acquiesce.

We have extended this article to so great a length, that we shall be under the necessity of hastening to a conclusion. We cannot, however, pass over the following remarks on the use of the fine arts: they will probably be found less enthusiastic than might have been expected from so warm an admirer of them, yet we apprehend it will upon reflection be found

to contain a very rational view of the subject.

sult from either poetry, music, painting, or "The only moral good, that appears to resculpture, arises from their influence in civit izing and softening mankind, by substituting intellectual, to sensual pleasures; and turning the mind from violent and sanguinary, to mild and peaceful pursuits. The lovers of these arts seldom or never disturb the tranquillity either of kingdoms or families; and, if their lives are not very useful, they are always harmless, and often ornamental to society.

The human mind cannot subsist without occupation, even during its intervals of relaxation from useful or serious employment; and if it has no intellectual amusements to soothe its lassitude and inquietude, during those intervals, it will fly for relief to ruinous dissipation or gross sensuality. It is true, that excessive attention to any of these arts often withdraws the mind from the study or cultiva tion of others more important and beneficial: but it oftener withdraws it from indulgences, which are more criminal and destructive, both to the individual and society. The frequenting of theatres, and reading of romances and novels, often occupy time, which might be more profitably employed in the active pursuits of life; but which probably would be more profusely wasted in the more frivolous room, or in the more ruinous indulgences of amusements of the coffee-house or assemblythe tavern or the brothel."

In our observations upon this amusing work, we have touched only upon a few of the topics which are discussed in it; we have rather aimed at giving a sample of the materials, than a complete catalogue of them. The reader who expects to find a regular treatise upon taste, in which its principles are methodically laid down, and metaphysically scrutinized, will, we apprehend, be disappointed; but he will find a volume stored with instruction and judicious remarks upon a variety of topics connected with literature and the fine arts, highly creditable both to the candour and abilities of the author.

ART. XVIII.-Typographical Marks, used in correcting Proofs, explained and exemplified for the Use of Authors. By C. STOWER, Printer. 8vo. pp. 14.

A very useful little work, which we recommend to all young authors, as well

calculated to save trouble both to themselves and their printers.

CHAPTER XIV.

MILITARY AND NAVAL TACTICS.

THE military works in this chapter are manuals intended for the use of the volunteers, and are for the most part very meritorious publications. On the subject of naval tactics, Mr. Clark's Essay is extremely interesting, not only to professional men, bat to the general reader, as containing the principles on which almost all our splendid victories during the last and present war have been obtained.

ART. I-An Address to Volunteer Corps going on permanent Duty, being a short and compendious Address to the several Ranks of Officers, non-commissioned Officers, and Privates, of Volunteer Corps, preparatory to marching, and whilst remaining on perma nent Duty. By Lieutenant-colonel GORDON. 8vo. pp. 64.

THE practice which volunteer corps have pretty generally adopted of undertaking regular service for a short time, is certainly the best mode of informing them of their duties as soldiers: they become by this means acquainted not only with the regular field-duty, but with the other and not less important parts of the service. But as both the officers and privates are in general equally unacquainted with the regular duty of a regiment in a garrison town, much inconvenience must have arisen from the want of a work of this sort. General Dundas's book is amply sufficient to direct a commanding officer in his field duty; but it contains no information respecting the internal management, the smaller minutiæ and interior duty," of a regiment. Colonel Gordon's little publication will therefore be found extremely

useful to all volunteers who are on perma nent duty, and to commanding othicers in particular. The directions which it contains are plain, concise, and correct; and the hints which it gives are serviceable and important. The duty of every mm, from the colonel to the private, is described with clearness and accuracy; and the rules and regulations for the different pa rades and musters, as well as for the mounting and relieving guards, &c, are detailed with precision and correctness. The forms of the different rosters and returns will be found serviceable to the young officer or serjeant.

We think colonel Gordon entitled to the thanks of the volunteers in general, for his very correct and useful manual, and have no hesitation in recommending it to general notice.

ART. II.-Instruction, for the Formation and Exercise of Folunteer Sharp-shooters. Fy Captain BARBER, commanding the Dukt og Cumberland's Sharp-shooters." 12mo. pp. 126.

AGAINST an invading army good rifiemen are the most formidable troops. that can be employed. The requisites to form a good rifleman are great and many. Activity of body, muscular strength, quickness and clearness of hearing and sight, jomed to cool intrepidity and presence of mind, are indispensable: these, added to

a skill and certainty in firing, which shall insure his hitting the mark he aims at, combine to make the rifleman a most dreadful enemy. In general our volunteer rifle-corps are not composed of that class of men who would be found in case of actual service the most useful. Game. keepers, marksmen, and sportsmen, whe

tre in the constant practice of firing, are, beyond a doubt, the men who should be pitched upon for this arduous and important duty. A body of men of this sort, acting in that part of the country where they reside, knowing every road, hedge, wood, and covert, in the neighbourhood, would be able to annoy an invading army more than a similar number even of the best regular troops. The men who form the corps of volunteer sharp-shooters in the metropolis, as well as in other large towns, must be for the most part inexperienced marksmen. The art of wounding or killing with certainty, like every other art, is not learnt without considerable experience, nor kept up without constant practice. This practice and experience the inhabitants of towns are not very likely to obtain; it is not therefore reasonable to suppose that they can become perfect marksmen. Still, in the present state of tactics, the advantage of possessing a number of men who have been well instructed in the duty and exercise of light troops is very important; for, as it is justly observed in the tract before us, "they have little to apprehend from cavalry: the enemy can bring but a small number into the field; and in so intersected a country as England, a common degree of caution will be sufficient to prevent their falling within their reach. From artillery also they have nothing to fear, as cannon cannot be pointed at men scattered asunder, and seen only at intervals. Against troops regularly formed they are completely an overmatch; for the quickest manœuvres of a battalion cannot keep pace with the independant movements of light troops." p. 125.

We should think it a very advisable plan to train the small volunteer corps which are scattered all over the kingdom to the light-infantry duty, as in their present state they must be entirely useless if brought into regular service. For a body of rustics, wholly unacquainted with the, discipline, or even the appearance of a regiment, cannot with the practice of an hour or two in the week be brought to a tolerable degree of perfection in the common exercise of a battalion; and it is completely impossible for a corps, consisting, as a vast number do, of not more than one hundred men, to perform any one manœuvre of a regiment. Bring troops these to brigade with those of the line, and they would be found to be as ignorant of their duty as a company of recruits who have been only a week in the drill ser

like

jeant's hands; but teach them to act independantly, instruct them to conceal themselves behind hedges, trees, or inequalities of the ground, and from thence to annoy the detachments and convoys of an enemy, or use them to cover the movements and positions of troops of the line, and you make them of the most important and essential service.

But it is time to come to the more immediate consideration of the work before us. The first part of the book treats of the rifle, and practice of firing. The dif ferent kinds of rifles are explained, and their several advantages and defects noticed. The directions for target-firing are very good, and merit the attention of all volunteer riflemen, as well as the rules to be adopted in fixing the sights, &c. We shall give a short extract from this part of the work.

"As a sharp-shooter is obliged to take a different level at his object, at various distances, it is evidently essential, that he should be a good judge of distances, in or der that he may know which sight to make use of, or what allowance will be necessary in taking his aim. He should, therefore, be accustomed to step all sorts of distances within the range of a gun. It is an advantageous practice, for a platoon to be formed into a single rank, and for an officer, pointing to a distinct object to which they can march, to ask every man's opinion of the distance, proceeding from one end of the rank to the other. They may then be ordered to step out in ordinary time, and marched to the spot, and the measure thus ascertained. Two objects are in this way effected by one operation."

"A rifleman should practice firing in all positions; -standing, kneeling, situng, laying on the ground, on the beily and the back; for the precise terms of these differert attitudes, he may chiefly consult his own case and firmness; but it appears to me, that when standing, the position is firmest inches asunder, the left elbow in the sling: when erect, and the feet only about twelve when kneeling, the position should incline to be extended, the bow on the left knee: when sitting, a position something like that of a taylor's, I have found very steady, with

an

elbow on each knee: in laying on the belly, the fore part of the gun may rest on the man's hat, and be drawn close to it by pulling the sling with the left hand: when on the back, the sling should also be held positions may be occasionally resorted to, but tight, or the toes may be endangered: other whatever they be, ease and firmness are indispensably requisite. Loading whilst laying, on the ground should also be practised; "but

this can scarcely be done, except with cartridge."

Part the second treats of the exercise and manoeuvring of sharp-shooters. The duty is here very correctly and fully detailed; it will be found particularly useful

to the young rifleman, and may be studied with advantage by all light-infantry troops. On the whole we think captain Barber's one of the best manuals that we have seen, and we have no hesitation in giving it our entire approbation.

ART. III.-The Duties of Riflemen and Light Infantry in the Field, compiled for the Use of Je Volunteers of the United Kingdom. By JOHN KIRKE, Commandant of the Retford Volunteer Rifle Corps. 12mo. pp. 103.

IN his introduction to this work, captain Kirke has stated a fact which very much tends to confirm an opinion we advanced in reviewing the last article, that a large proportion of the volunteer force is not by any means so effectual as it might be rendered. He says, "It is very much to be lamented that so small a proportion of our volunteers are armed with rifles, since it appears, from a list of their number, that out of 460,000, there are not more than 5000 riflemen, and most of them armed at their own expence." As we have before fully stated our opinion on this subject, it is unnecessary to repeat it; we shall only add, that it is a subject which government ought to notice; for, as immense sums of money have been, and must continue to be, expended for the establishment and maintenance of the volunteer 'force, that force ought to be rendered as efficient as its nature will allow.

Captain Kirke's book relates principally to the field-duty of light troops, and their various uses as piquets, advanced guards, patroles, skirmishers, &c. which are all stated with considerable attention and ac

curacy. In the 16th chapter he treats of the duty of light infantry in an engagement. We shall extract part of it, as affording a specimen of the author's military skill and information.

"Battles are won and lost by a variety of movements. The maeuvres of light infantry in these cases must always be regulated by the movements of the line.

"In movements to the front, the light infantry is to take care to cover well the flank of the march. If the flank be attacked, the light infantry must keep its ground, protecting itself by hedges, trees, houses, and every thing which will enable it to resist. It must check the enemy at any risk, and not think of its own safety.

the

ing itself to the rear, is sufficient to produce
a great effect; and experience proves, that
retrograde movements are catching.
"As soon as the light infantry perceive
enemy retreating, it is to be the signal
for a spirited pursuit. He must be thrown
into complete confusion, and not allowed
time to rally at a short distance. Light in-
fantry, however, must halt before it enters
on open ground, where it might meet with
cavalry. It is not to proceed, until it be as-
certained that there is none at hand. Cavalry,
in an open country, is as destructive to light
infantry, as light infantry is to cavalry in a

covered country.

“The true defence of infantry against ca valry is the use of the bayonet, and in the force of a thick and immoveable body of men, pressed together on en masse. Horses can neither support nor push each other on, and the force of one horse may be checked by the united power and weight of seven or eight men.

"As the fortune of battles can be equally balanced but for a short time, if part of the line be broken, and thrown into confusion, it would be requiring too much from the light infantry to suppose that it alone could restore order, and renew the conflict: dispersed among the inequalities of the ground, these kind of troops are not capable of a decisive

effort.

"It is from the nature of the ground that light infantry, under critical circumstances, must look for resources. The commander must observe the storm, examine upon what ground the enemy advances, his own people retreat, and seize upon the first opportunity to rally and resist; for the first events of a battle are not always decisive, and fortune is often pleased to change sides several times within a few hours.

him

"On every occasion, in all dispositions and situations, the cominander of light infan try must keep in reserve a certain proportion of his men. With this reserve he will proceed to the spot where he hopes to be able to make a stand, and will cause the retreat upon self to be sounded. The first duty of light "If no enemy present himself on the flank, infantry is to discern the proper time to adto attack the troops which march, the light_vance, to resist, and to retire. It is not to infantry will join their efforts to those of the. allow itself to he thrown into confusion. line, in its attack to the front. If a village, a wood, or intrenched height, be the object of attack, the light infantry will endeavour to turn its flank. An inconsiderable body show

"A battalion which charges another with the bayonet, either throws the enemy into confusion, or falls into confusion itself. The attacks of light infantry are of a different nature;

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