442 New Publications, with Critical Remarks. TOPOGRAPHY. The Terra Incognita of Lincolnshire; with Observations, moral, descriptive, and historical. In Original Letters written purposely for the Improvement of Youth. By Miss Hatfield. 12mo. 4s, The sketches of life exhibited in this little work are most agrecably blended with picturesque representations of scenery hitherto but rarely noticed or described, on the borders of the Trent. The letters are written in a pleasing and animated style, and to those persons who are acquainted with the local beauties here delineated, or to such as may be tempted to visit that part of the country, the book must prove a very useful and entertaining compa nion. A Diary of a Journey into North Wales, in the year 1774. By Samuel Johnson, LL.D Edited, with illustrative Notes. By Richard Duppa, LL. B. barrister at law. There can be no doubt of the authenticity of this fragment of our great philologer and moralist, though it would have been rather courteous in the editor to have told us how it came to be so long concealed, and by what means it fell into his hands. But the lack of this information is abundantly supplied by an itinerary at the beginning and another at the end of the volume, both taken from the book of roads. In addition to this valuable intelligence, we have more notes than text, most of them transcripts from Johnson's Letters, Boswell's Memoirs, and other rare works; besides all which an Appendix is subjoined, consisting of copious extracts from Miss Seward's Letters, the Rambler, and other books, the whole terminated by an Index full as long as the Diary itself. Such is the art of manufacturing and spinning out a meagre tract, which as a relic of Johnson is cer tainly valuable, and might have been incorporated in his Life with advantage. For the most part it is little else than loose memoranda of observations And occurrences which struck the Doctor during [Dec. 1, his journey, and which he seems to have minuted for the purpose of refreshing his memory. The only part which exhibits the powers of the author is the description of Hawkstone, the seat of the present Sir John Hill, bart. and a comparison be. tween that romantic spot and Ilam, the residence of Mr. Porte, in Dovedale. This we shall quote as a proof of the taste which Johnson had for the beauties of nature. "We saw Hawkstone, the seat of Sir Rowland Hill, and were conducted by Miss Hill over a Jarge tract of rocks and woods; a region abouuding with striking scenes and terrific grandeur. We were always on the brink of a precipice, or at the naked; in many places, oaks of uncommon magni. foot of a lofty rock; but the steeps were seldom tude shot up from the crannies of stone; and where there were no trees, there were underwoods and bushes. "Round the rocks is a narrow path cut upon the stone, which is very frequently hewn into steps; but art has proceeded no further than to make the succession of wonders safely accessible, The whole circuit is somewhat laborious; it is termi nated by a grotto cut in the rock to a great extent, with many windings, and supported by pillars, not hewn into regularity, but such as imitate the sports of nature, by asperitics and protuberances. "The place is without any dampness, and would afford an habitation, not uncomfortable. There were from space to space seats cut out in the rock. Though it wants water, it excels Dovedale, by the extent of its prospects, the awfulness of its shades; the horror of its precipices, the verdure of its hollows, and the loftiness of its rocks; the ideas which it forces upon the mind are, the sublime, the dreadful, and the vast. Above is inaccessible altitude; below is horrible profundity. But it excels the garden of llam only in extent. Ilam has grandeur, tempered with softness; the walker congratulates his own arrival at the place, and is grieved to think he must ever leave it. As he looks up to the rocks, his thoughts are elevated as he turns his eyes on the vallies, he is composed and soothed. "He that mounts the precipices at Hawkstone, wonders how he came thither, and doubts how he shall return. His walk is an adventure, and his departure an escape. He has not the tranquillity, but the horrors, of solitude; a kind of turbulent pleasure, between fright and admiration. "Ilam is the fit abode of pastoral virtue, and might properly diffuse its shades over nymphs and swains. Hawkstone can have no fitter inha bitants than giants of mighty bone and bold emprise; men of lawless courage and heroic violence. Hawkstone should be described by Milton, and Ilam by Parnell.” Some moral reflections are subjoined to the diary taken from the common-place-book of this excellent writer. Most of these are maxims upon the regulation of the mind, and those which relate to friendship are peculiarly valuable. With one of the last we shall close our notice of this volume. "Incommunicative taciturnity neither imparts nor invites friendship, but reposes on a stubborn sufficiency self-centered, and neglects the interchange of that social officiousness by which we are habitually endeared to one another. To be with out friendship, is to be without one of the Erst comforts of our present state. To have no assist ance from other minds in resolving doubts, in appeasing scruples, in balancing deliberations, is a very wretched destitution." REVIEW OF NEW MUSICAL PUBLICATIONS. Kreutzer's favourite Rondo; performed with great applause; arranged for the Piano Forte, with an Introduction. Composed by J. B. Cramer, and dedicated to Mrs. Hervey, of Hamerton Hail. Chappell and Co. 3s. 6d. It is no easy task to adapt a movement composed for one instruinent, to another of quite a different class. Having heard the piece in both forms, we prefer the original: yet it must be confessed, that as much has been done in the adaptation as could be expected; and it is further set off with some of Mr. Cramer's happiest efforts, in the way of Ca. denza. Fen ch'han dal vino, a favourite Air from Mozart's Opera of Il Don Giovanni; with variations, imitations, and coda. Composed, and dedicated to Miss Cipriani, by P. Cip. H. Potter. Chappell and Co. 4s. This elaborate performance must have cost the young composer much pains and study. As a first essay, we consider it as a wonderful effort. If the modulation is carried on to an extent bordering upon eccentricity, infinite skill is displayed in bringing it round again. We could have wished that the continual change of time in the different variations had been marked by the metronome. On the whole, this piece may be considered as an offering worthy of the acceptance of so good a judge of music as Miss Cipriani. The Nightingale, a favourite Military Rondo, with twelve variations, for the Piano Forte, with an Accompaniment for the Flute ad libitum. Composed, and dedicated to the Viscountess Hamilton, by T. Latour, Pianiste to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent. Birchall, 4s. Though we find nothing military in the notes of the Nightingale, or any thing in the variations to excite martial ardour, yet we are not less pleased, in this "piping time of peace," to hear the melli fluous strains of this warbling bird. From this simple tune the skilful pianiste has struck out a set of variations abounding in pathetic and brilliant passages, calculated to delight and improve every class of performers. The Wild Irishman, sung by Mr. Weston; the Queer Little Man, sung by ditto; the Barrel of Ale, sung by Mr. Slader; Sally Wiggins, sung by Mr. Mezzia; the Smithfield Bargain, sung Mr. Campbell; at Sadler's Wells Theatre. Written by C. Dibdin; composed by J. Whitaker. Button, 1s. 6d. each. These comic songs are formed on the plan of the elder Dibdin, being calculated for convivial parties, and are most effective when sung without accompaniments, by which mode the humour of the words is most forcibly conveyed. The Berlin Waltz, for the Piano Forte. Composed for, and dedicated to Lady Elizabeth Conyngham, by J. B. Cramer. Chappell and Co. 1s. 6d. If Mr. Cramer chuses to unbend a little now and then, and favour us with a waltz, we are grateful for it: and though he must yield the palm to Mo. zart for waltzes, and indeed all other music, yet to be second to such a man is no small praise. The Hero's Orphan Girls, a favourite Ballad, sung by Mrs. Ashe, at the London and Bath Concerts. Written by Mr. C. F. Webb; composed by J. Munro. Munro, 1s. 6d. We are happy to bear testimony to this compo ser's improvement in setting pathetic ballads. The one before us speaks a language all must understand-the language of nature, My Native Land is free, sung by Mr. Slader; Young Ivan, sung by Master Williams; at Sadler's Wells Theatre, in the Melodrame of by C. Dibdin, Esq.; composed by J. WhitaIwanowna, or the Maid of Moscow. Written ker. Button, 1s. 6d. each. portion of drums and trumpets, sufficient to animate the most stubborn, peace-loving breast. The latter is meant to be pathetic; but the unfortunate monosyllable O at the end of the line, rather borders on the ludicrous The first is in the bold martial strain, with a due "One grave their fate cementing O, O Huncamunca, Huncamunca O! Home; arranged to a favourite Air of WinThe Tuscan's Invocation to his Native ter's, with an Accompaniment for the Piano Forte, and respectfully dedicated to her Grace the Duchess of Leeds, by F. J. Klose. Falkner, 2s. We are sorry to meet with Mr. Klose so often in the humble character of compiler. His genius song he has been obliged to eke out his scanty por ought to impel him to a higher flight. In this tion of words to make them fill up the tune. Perhaps he thought that this would be better than letting the music undergo the operation inflicted on the guest of Procrustes. In this he was right; the music of Winter is beautiful, and it would be almost sacrilege to omit a note of it. The Tivoli Waltz, with variations, for the niste to the Prince Regent. Chappell and Piano Forte. Composed by T. Latour, PiaCo. 2s. for a minuet or a waltz, is so simple, that no chroThis interesting little air, which may serve either without departing from the chastity of the theme. matic harmony can be introduced in the variations A few graceful embellishments are all that can be brought in, and those Mr. Latour has availed himself of. Mozart's Sonata, for the Piano Forte, with an Accompaniment for a Violin. No. 3, from Op. 7. Bland and Weller, 3s. The larger works of Mozart are now divided into small portions, so that almost any piece may be had singly, and at an easy price. This sonata, oneof the most scientific of his works, has a separate or obligato part for the violin. The piano-forte part is imperfect without it: and in order to exe. through a vigorous course of counting time. He éute it properly, the young student must go will then feel and enjoy all the beauties of this celebrated master, and perceive what extraordinary effects are produced by judicious contrivance and skilful arrangement. OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON THE EDUCATION OF THE LOWER ORDERS OF THE METROPOLIS. Ordered to be printed, June 7th, 14th, 19th, and 20th, 1816. THE important results of the evidence collected by the Committee appointed to investigate the state of education in the British metropolis, and the prodigious mass of valuable information which it contains, cause us to regret the impossibility of transferring only the substance of the whole to our pages. We are therefore obliged to restrict our extracts to the more prominent of the facts which it comprizes, and shall merely observe, that though this document proves how much has of late years been done to amend the lower orders of society, by extending the blessings of education, it at the same time shews how much yet remains to be accomplished in order to the general diffusion of those benefits. The report of the Committee is as follows: The Select Committee appointed to enquire into the Education of the Lower Orders in the Metropolis, and to report their observations thereupon ;_together with the Minutes of the Evidence taken before them, from time to time, to the House; and who were instructed to consider what may be fit to be done with respect to the Children of Paupers who shall be found begging in the Streets in and near the Metropolis, or who shall be carried about by Persons asking Charity, and whose Parents, or other Persons whom they accompany, have not sent such Children to any of the Schools provided for the Education of poor Children ;have, pursuant to the order of the House, inquired into the Matters to them referred, and have agreed to the following Report ; Your Committee have examined a great body of evidence, which has been reported and ordered to be printed, respecting the state of education among the lower orders in the metropolis; and they have found reason to conclude, that a very large number of poor children are wholly without the means of instruction, although their parents appear to be generally very desirous of obtaining that advantage for them. Your Committee have also observed with much satisfaction, the highly beneficial ef fects produced upon all those parts of the population which, assisted in whole or in part by various charitable institutions, have enjoyed the benefits of education. Your Committee have not had time this session fully to report their opinion upon the different branches of their inquiry, but they feel persuaded that the greatest advantliament taking proper measures, in concurages would result to this country from parrence with the prevailing disposition of the community, for supplying the deficiency of the means of instruction which exists at present, and for extending this blessing to the poor of all descriptions. Although your Committee have not been instructed to examine the state of education beyond the metropolis, they have, in addition to what has appeared in evidence, received communications, which show the necessity of parliament as speedily as possible instituting an inquiry into the management of charitable donations and other funds for the instruction of the poor of this country, and into the state of their education generally, especially in the larger towns: and your Committee are of opinion, that the most effectual as well as least expensive mode of conducting such an enquiry, would be by means of a parliamentary commission. MR. THOMAS AUGUSTINE FINNEGAN, examined. Irish Free School, in George-street. How long have you been so employed? From your intercourse with the inhabitants of St. Giles's, can you speak to the state of education and the situation of the lower orders generally?-I have taken a survey of the neighbourhood, and have ascertained that there are upwards of 6,000 poor Irish in that neighbourhood, in the district of St. Giles, including the parts of Bloomsbury that are connected with it. Have you any means of informing the Committee how many children there are? Nearly 3,000. In what state are those children generally as to education?-Entirely ignorant and destitute of any information whatever, unless those that are in schools at present. In what state are they with respect to their morals?-Most depraved; they are exposed to every species of vice with which the streets abound; they generally associate with gangs of pickpockets; they are to be 1816.] Report of the House of Commons on Education. found in every quarter of the town, and particularly that quarter. Do those children belong to labourers in very poor circumstances?-Generally. Are the morals of the parents themselves very dissolute?—Very dissolute, generally; on Sundays particularly they take their children with them to public houses, and the children witness the scenes of riot and sanguinary conflict that happen among the parents in the streets. Is the whole Sunday spent in those public houses?-Entirely so; while they have a farthing left of their week's wages, they spend it at those public houses, and the children are left to the parish, for food, during the rest of the week. How many schools of all sorts are now established within the district of St. Giles and the neighbourhood?—I do not know of any other but one, which I believe is only for Roman Catholics. The St. Giles's schools are called free; they are for Irish Protestants as well as Irish Catholics: we interfere not with their opinions. How many are educated in the school of which you have had the charge?-There have been 774 received into the schools since 1813; out of that number 520 have been so far instructed as to read the scrip tures. How many on an average are in the school at any one time?-200 on an average. How many is the school capable of instructing at once?-300 boys and girls. By whom was it founded?-By the Rev. Joseph Ivimey, of Harpur-street, with my assistance. What is the nature of the establishment? -To give the children of the poor Irish proper instruction in reading, writing, and arithmetic only, without interfering with the principles of their religion. By what fund is it supported ?-By voluntary subscriptions. What is the annual income?—Not more than 2001. Do the children pay any thing for their education?-Nothing; when the schools were first established we endeavoured to as sist the funds by requesting the parents to pay a penny a week, but we found that in many instances they could not even pay that. Was it from want of means or inclination? -In many instances from want of means, particularly in winter; their supply from the parish was so very trifling and they are so very improvident in the summer, they have no savings for the winter. Are the children fed or clothed ?-They are clothed, and in the inclement season we fed them, when their parents were out of employ; they would literally have perished, had not a generous public subscribed towards their relief. You have stated, that you had room for 445 300 children, in your school, and that only 200 attended; how do you account for your establishment not being full?-From the most unprecedented opposition, by the Roman Catholic clergy, to the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. Is this opposition of late?It has been ever since the commencement; as soon as the plan and design of the schools were made known, their opposition immediately commenced; one of the priests entered the school room and demanded permission to teach the Roman Catholic catechism. This was objected to: the Sunday following he preached against the schools, addressing a Roman Catholic congregation, and the effect of the sermon was,the windows of the school-house were broken, my wife and I pelted with mud, and a few days after my child so beaten as to become a cripple, and is so to this day. The usual epithet by which we are designated is; The Protestant Bible School-as a term of reproach. How long ago is this?-Our report particularly points out the time; Mr. Gandolphy preached the sermon about two years ago. Has your number fallen off since ?—At the time the number decreased from 230 to 38 for one week; but the week following the parents, satisfied with the mode of instruction, sent their children again, and in the course of six weeks our full number was completed and it has continued at an average ever since. The violence of the priests is incessant; they go from room to room, endeavouring to persuade the parents not to send their children, and I endeavour to be as active as possible in pointing out to the parents the advantages arising from a moral education, considering there can be no true religion that is not founded on principles inculcated from the Bible. About how many are educated in the Catholic School?-About 200. Of what principle are you?-I am myself of Protestant principle. There are a number of poor Irish in Saffron Hill: I made a survey there last week and found 3,420 Irish adults; the average of the children were three to each family, making about 5,000 of all ages. What means of instruction have those children?-None; I have solicited a few friends to endeavour to establish a school there, which they are now about doing. What wages do those poor Irish in St. Giles's earn a day?-Some of them have only two shillings a day; but very few exceed three. What do they work at ?-Generally at labouring work, as paviors' labourers, plasterers' and bricklayers' labourers. What do the wives employ themselves in? The greater part of them in the morning carry loads from Covent Garden and other markets for what they can get.-Since the 446 Report of the House of Commons on Education. schools were established, a very observable amendment has been seen in the conduct of the parents and children connected with the schools; at the time they began in 1813, the language of the children was violent in the extreme; their general employment at present when they have done school is preparing their task for the next morning; they commit portions of scripture to memory each day and there are rewards distributed for their encouragement of reading the scriptures at home. Preceding 1813, their sanguinary battles were frequent, particularly on Sundays; but since that period I have not witnessed above five, which I attribute to the influence education has on their morals. MR. JOHN KELLY, examined. You are treasurer of the St. Patrick's By what funds is it supported?-By voluntary contributions. What is the purpose of the charity?-For the instruction of the poor children in St. Giles's and its vicinity, and if there is any superabundance of contributions, it is applied towards the maintenance of orphans. Do you mean by children in St. Giles's and its vicinity the children of the poor generally, or only the Irish children?-The children of the poor generally if they are Catholics; but we feel ourselves bound not to admit any persons into the school but those who are of that religion. How many children receive education? -I think there are at this moment about 400; I think it is rather beyond that number of boys and girls. The school is divided into a boys' school situate in Deanstreet, and the girls' school in Denmarkstreet; till about two years ago the number of girls used to be about 60, and I believe at present there are about 200; the boys' school has always averaged from 150 to 200. What are the expences of your establishment? I think about gool. For which about 400 are educated?—Yes, and I think about six or seven female orphans entirely provided for; it was formerly for boys and girls, but we made an arrangement with the other charity that they should take the boys and we the girls. What are they taught?-Reading, writing, and arithmetic. Upon what plan do you teach ?-We attempted to teach some. time ago upon Lancaster's principle, but not precisely on his plan; so that the number of children, however great, does not not become an inconvenience to the teacher. MR. FRED. AUGUSTUS EARLE, Examined. How long have you been clerk to the vestry clerk of the parish of St. Giles?— About twelve years. In the course of that time, have you had [Dec. 1, occasion to attend at the workhouse school? -Yes. Is there any other parish school besides the workhouse school?-There is a charity school in Queen-Street, Bloomsbury: it is for one hundred and one boys and seventy girls; there are but sixty girls at present in the school. Is there any, other school in the parish besides Mr. Finnegan's and St. Patrick's schools?-There are several schools under the management of parish officers; I am speaking of the united parishes of St. Giles' and St. George, Bloomsbury: there is one established in Eagle-Street, upon the Lancasterian plan, in which one hundred boys are educated, and fourteen pence a month is paid by the parents towards the schooling. I believe the remainder is paid by voluntary subscriptions. Do you know of any other school?-There is one established in Store-street, Bedford Square, that purports to have thirty girls, but at present there are only twenty-two, and the parents pay a penny a week for each child. There is another school likewise in Store-street, in which there are seventy children, who pay two-pence a week each; that is on Dr. Bell's principle; there is another in Wild-street, in which one hundred boys are educated. Do they pay any thing?-I believe not. There is likewise a free school in Wild-street or the neighbourhood, in which there are forty boys and forty-five girls; it is principally maintained by subscriptions from Queen-street chapel. Are there any other schools that you can speak to?-There is one in West-street, in which are three hundred boys and one hundred girls. Is that upon the National system or the Lancasterian?-I do not think it is upon either; the master has the principal management of it under the direction of the Rev. Mr. Gurney, and nine-pence a month is paid by each child. Are the funds of that school provided by charity?-I understand they are. There is another school in Gate-street, Lincoln's Inn Fields; and I am informed there are about three hundred boys and girls altogether there. Supported by charity?—Yes. There is a school now building, under a committee of parish officers, which is under the will of a Mr. Shelton, near the vestry-room of St. Giles's, in which there are to be fifty children educated; thirty-five of the parish of St. Giles, ten of St. Martin, and five of Covent Garden. Are there no other foundations of the same sort in the parish?-I am not aware of any other but the workhouse school, which contains sixty-three children. Is that school merely for the children of persons admitted to the workhouse?—Yes. |