buzzing in your ear to the sublime mystery, It is, however, a curiosity which deserves of the angler? For there are many well- inspection, inasmuch as it is a most perfect dressed, well-behaved persons, with man- specimen of a Cockney fiction, and an exact ners bearing the polish of good company, image of a Cockney mind. Without fear and shoes that of Day and Martin, who, in of contradiction, we assert, that the author, the foolishness of their hearts, have called it if he ever travelled out of the sound of Bowan idle amusement. Idle!! to wander by bell, got no farther than Edmonton. The river, wood, and fell, amidst all the harmo- dialogue is something in the manner of nies of the universe, the noontide hum, that, Dean Swift's Polite Conversations, the wit like an air of Handel, lulls the soul into de- and humour of the model, however, having vout contemplations, the murmurs of brooks evaporated in the process. But as a conand rivulets, their little waves, playful as servatory of the sentimental talk of midchildren, chasing each other over a clear dling life in London, though the scene is pebbly bottom,-idle! to watch in the early laid in high life, and in what the late Lord season of the year (for then begins the ang- Kenyon used to call "the great squares," ler's occupation) the first tender buddings of it will be hereafter invaluable. In the awthe hawthorn, for the future destinations of ful vicissitudes of human things, it may his being are unfolded to him as clearly in happen that this dialect may become exthe renewal of the leaf and the return of the tinct. But "Chatsworth" may transmit its verdure as in a page of Bishop Butler's An- remains for the gratification of future analogy,-idle! to see the fitful shadows flung tiquaries, in the same way as the Punic by every passing cloud upon the stream he scenes in Plautus preserved for the delight loves, giving him as ecstatic a delight as the of General Vallancey the charming and inchange of scenes in a pantomime to a child telligible diction of Hannibal and Hamilcar. on his first visit to a theatre; and, above all, the deep and still deeper shade cast on its surface by the stunted elm on which he leans his back-the shade where the speck-dered the curricle to be here in an hour-will led lord of the brook waits half asleep and half awake for the May-fly as it skims over his head. No; this is not idleness. It is good for man to be amid such scenes, They are those bright pages of creation from which folly would retire wise, or, at least, less foolish, and avarice and worldly wealth derive a hint by seeing how bountifully Nature has done her part to second, as far as they can, her holy ministrations.

COCKNEY SPECIMENS.

"The duke gazed on her with delight. 'I oryou go a drive this morning?'

"Your ladyship seems to forget how much you are concerned.'-'No, no; depend I shall lose no opportunity of retaliating on the duke.'

"On the fourth morning, Mrs. Grey and Irene reached the metropolis in safety, and proceeded straight to Caroline's residence at the west end. "Mrs. Wise would frequently say, her house was not like home if some of the Misses Gar

lands were not with her.

"I was married at Colnbrook by a friend of the duke's, the Reverend George Bates.' "I shall come for you to go to the theatre to

But we will not trust ourselves any further with the subject. Yet we must re-morrow. mark, in justice to the author, that many new hints are thrown out which an angler would do well to mark and inwardly digest. One we think extremely useful respecting the absurdity of playing too long with your trout to hook him the more effectually; for you frequently enable him, by this dexterous manœuvre, to disengage his jaws from the hook, and return quietly, perhaps with little more inconvenience than a tooth-ache, to his old quarters. And the lesson may be well applied to the schemes of life. Letor is she gone a walk?" the Miss who is inclined to be coquettish be cautious, when the hook has been fairly swallowed, of playing with her fish.

from my word. Besides, he is so tenacious, he "Having given my promise, I must not go would never forgive me.'

"Now, Irene, here is the end of our drive. Fasten your tippit, my love, or the draught may give you cold!'

and find I shall soon have to congratulate you on "By the bye, I saw the Silvertons the other day, your prospects in the matrimonial line.'

The illustrative designs have considerable humour. It is said, indeed, that they are from the pencil of the great sculptor, Chantrey.

Chatsworth, the Patrician.

We will venture to say that such a novel as Chatsworth is not to be found even amongst the most monstrous superfœtations of the press.

"None but itself can be its parallel."

"I think you said your sister was engaged out to-morrow.'

"Yes, yes, I promise. So don't tease me any that's a good soul.'

more,

"Shall I ring for her,' demanded Sir Edgar,

When such things are printed, might we not be allowed to sigh for another caliph Omar, who set fire to the books at Alexandria?

Poems by Hartley Coleridge.
"Father and bard revered! to whom I owe,
Whate'er it be, my little art of numbers,
Thou, in thy night watch o'er my cradled slumbers,
Didst meditate the verse which lives to show
(And long shall live when we alike are low)
Thy prayer how ardent, and thy hope how strong,
That I should learn of Nature's self the song,
The lore which none but Nature's pupils know!

Such, however, is not the spirit in which Mr. Coleridge has written; nor, indeed, the We have now to mention the few faults spirit which is now beginning to shed a which have struck us in this elegant volume. more peaceful character over the general These are, principally, a tinge of affectation style of our current literature. He is an in manner, and the want of a fixed and deinterpreter of Nature in her most winning terminate object, in several of the poems. dress, looking upon her in her true charac- Mr. Coleridge has all the imagination which ter of a faultless reflex of immaterial wis-raises a poet from the smoke and stir of this dom and goodness holding intercourse, dull spot into a purer and more exhilarating through the medium of palpable symbols, atmosphere; but he is still in want of the with the immortal and invisible part of man. nerves and sinews requisite to sustain him In pieces of quiet pathos, too, he is possess-in a prolonged flight. This may be attribued of no ordinary power, as the following table to a want of confidence in his own stanzas, which we cannot refrain from strength, which a second essay will probably quoting, will sufficiently prove:

sensible, and which he has so happily expressed in the conclusion of his lines "to an as to success. GUZMAN THE GOOD-equal to unknown Sister-in-law." We cannot help transcribing the whole passage as a fitting specimen of the author's best style, wherewith to conclude our review.

"Dearest sister, I

Am one of whom thou doubtless hast heard much,
Not always well. My name too oft pronounced
With sighs, desponding sorrow, and reproach,
By lips which fain would praise and ever bless me.
Yet deem not hardly of me: who best know
Most gently censure me; and who believes
The dark inherent mystery of sin,
Doubts not the will and potency of God
To change, invigorate, and purify
The self-condemning heart.

Good night: e'en now,
Perhaps, thou art sleeping by my brother's side,
Or listening gladly to the soft, sweet breath
Of thy dear babe, while I must seek a couch,
Lonely, and haunted much by visions strange,
And sore perplexity of roving dreams,
The spectres manifold of murdered hours.
But yet, good night; good be the night to thee,
And bright the morrow. Once, again, good night!"

Lives of Celebrated Spaniards. Translated
from the Spanish of Quintana, by T. R.

Preston.

to the indomitable strength of heroism, as well by his patriotism and magnanimity. ROGER DE the most distinguished personages of antiquity, LAURIA-the greatest mariner possessed by Europe from the days of Carthage to Columbus. The PRINCE OF VIANA-SO interesting from his character, from his learning, and his talents; so worthy of compassion by his misfortunes; and who unites in his destiny, to the dignity and exfortune of a private individual, unjustly persecutpections of a royal birth, the example and mised and barbarously sacrificed. And, lastly, GoNZALO DE CORDOVA, the most illustrious general of the fifteenth century;-he who, by his deeds and discipline, gave to our soldiery the superiority. they maintained in Europe for nearly two consecutive ages; and who, both in his character and conduct, presents a dazzling mirror, wherein to behold themselves, to all such warriors as blend not philosophy with heroism."

If this bill of fare attract not numbers to the feast, we should address the public in language analogous to that of a musical friend of ours. When Lady approach

ed the piano, on which a gentleman was playing with tasteful skill, for the enjoyment of her ladyship's guests, and had just reached the middle of an imposing concerto,and said, "Thank ye, sir-very delightfulthat will do-much obliged t'ye,' our friend, who had been turning over the leaves, exclaimed, in a deep-toned growl of contempt, "I pity your taste, my lady!"

Every one knows and acknowledges the value of biography as a department of Pensieri e Poesie di Guido Sorelli. literature; every one can attest from ex- This small volume, consisting only of perience its absorbing interest and lasting eighty-six pages, contains as much true influence on the mind: the only point, poetry as most modern writers would contherefore, upon which it is necessary for us trive to spread over three hundred. Signor to touch, in reference to these Lives, is the Sorelli's last work was a masterly translamanner in which they are executed; and tion of our divine Milton's "Paradise Lost;" here we willingly and freely use the lan- and it is a bold affirmation that the original guage of praise, not only because the work beauties of that splendid production were possesses positive merit, but because, also, little, if at all, dimmed by their foreign garb. we are anxious to promote the importation Sorelli is not one to paraphrase words: he and naturalization of all that is good of for- does not write only, he feels; every fine eign growth. Sincere thanks are due, and idea, every brilliant conception, finds an will be readily given, to Mr. Preston for echo in his peculiar and powerfully-organpresenting us with so pleasing an addition ized mind; and he transcribes at once the to our literature. These Lives are por-expression and the inspiration of his author. trayed with a fidelity and skill by no means The might and mysticism of poetry are both common. The author exhibits an intimate upon him; his world is evidently one of acquaintance with the springs of human imagination and feeling, with which the actions: he traces every manifestation of every-day clamour of life has nothing to do. character to its true origin; paints every The "Paradise Perduto" was dedicated, feature in its natural colour; prevents the by permission, to her Majesty, and is, if we misappreciation of facts, assigning to deeds mistake not, the only instance of such an their strict moral value; and invests a nar- honour having been ceded to a foreigner rative of events with the alluring charms of since she became queen. It is gratifying to romance. We cannot better give an idea know that such distinguished favour was not of the heroes whose lives are here described shown to an author unworthy of the boon. than in Quintana's own words; they are- The Florentine Sorelli is essentially a poet; "Those whose celebrity is attested alike by in the little volume which is now beside us the voice of history and of tradition; and he he has inscribed "Thoughts and Poems" (Quintana) believes that not one of the lives to which no common mind could have given which he now offers to the public can be im- birth. We could extract twenty passages pugned as being in contravention with the title of

the book itself. EL CID CAMPEADOR, for in- which would justify our opinion; but we stance-a name which, among us, is synonymous forbear to mutilate, and we cannot afford

space to give one of the poems entire. We, time our means of support will perhaps be can only advise such of our readers as love chiefly supplied by our farms beyond the la lingua Toscana (and who does not?) to Atlantic and Indian Seas, which may stand obtain this little book, and to turn to "La in the same relation to our children as SicDonna," the Sonnet to Jessica," "L'Addio," ily and Africa to the swarming population of and the "Ode to Hope." Neither the au-Rome at the height of her power. It is unthor nor ourselves need dread the result.

Tropical Agriculture.

region are so infinitely diversified by the exuberant fertility of the soil, and so entirely different, both in character and culture, from our own, that little to be envied would be either the heart or head which could contemplate so many mighty and novel adaptations of wisdom to circumstances without gratitude and admiration.

Mr. Porter's work contains accounts drawn from the best authorities, and supplied by persons of experience in the management and use of almost every tropical plant con

necessary to add a word more to prove the utility of such a work as Mr. Porter's, which will no doubt be appreciated by every one Considering the immense influx of our connected by commerce or interest with colonial produce into the mother country, the countries of whose cultivation it treats; considering, also, the avidity with which while to the man of science it will open a every department in science and literature field of the most exciting inquiry. Even in has been ransacked in these latter days, for our own land, agriculture, as a science, always the purpose of furnishing a new topic,-it is repays the interest it engages; but in those astonishing that the agriculture of tropical climates where the perils and profits of the climates has, till the present moment, receiv- pursuit are incalculably increased, where ed comparatively little notice. True it is Nature, acting ever on the same gigantic that a residence in those regions is almost scale, either bestows with the munificence an indispensable qualification, or at least an of a gratified monarch, or desolates with the intimate acquaintance with those who have fury of an avenging conquerer,-the conbeen instructed by actual experience in sideration of an agency which may best such matters. True it is, also, that the sub-improve her gifts, or moderate the effects of ject requires something more than the her anger, rises into proportionate importsketching and witticising talent which char-ance: besides, the productions of a tropical acterizes so many of our modern travellers. Notwithstanding all this, it is certainly surprising that a branch of knowledge so intimately connected with the daily comforts of the community at large should be suffered to remain unimproved in a time of general observation and universal authorship. The public attention has been latterly much directed to our colonial interests, and with reason. Colonies are at all times of vital importance to a commercial country; but the misfortune is, that their true use is little understood; and when mismanaged, accord-sidered of importance in a commercial ing to a general law of nature, they are as injurious to home interests as they are beneficial when governed by salutary regulations. That mismanagement has existed on the part of the British Government on this very essential head must be universally acknowledged; but we have, at the same time, reason to hope that the day of short-sighted policy is past, and for ever: indeed, the relations between ourselves and our foreign possessions, which are daily assuming a more important character, no longer suffer ignorance or indifference on either side to be a matter of unimportance, or even of possibility. While the agricultural interest at home wanes, and seems likely to continue waning, before its hundred-handed rival, the genius of manufactures; while the increase of population is manifested by the growth of houses, and streets shooting forth in every direction with the rapidity of crystals formed under the microscope of the philosopher, it does not seem either absurd or inconsistent with the evidence of facts to anticipate a day when the farmer will be fairly pushed out of the country, and the shepherd become as scarce an object in England as in Egypt of old. At such a

sense; amongst several others, of cotton, tea, cocoa, millet, maize, tobacco, the several spices, opium, and indigo. Each of these well deserves a separate review; and we regret that the little space we can devote to the present notice prevents us from dwelling as we could wish upon each. The chapter upon Cotton is rendered particularly interesting by the increased demand for that article upon America; and we have a very clear statement of the means by which the United States have been able to drive our own planters from the market. That upon Tea, also, may be very advantageously consulted towards forming a clearer conception of that great political mystery-the China trade, which it seems decreed that nobody should understand and everybody talk of. Mr. Porter thinks, with Cobbett, that maize might be introduced with great success into our own country, and quotes from Dr. Franklin a list of its uses, the bare enumeration of which any one would suppose might secure it a place on every estate, if he were not at the same time aware that, of all prejudiced animals under the sun, there exists no one so essentially and entirely bigoted to a previously conceived

National Portrait Gallery. Nos. 49, 50

and 51.

hear without a feeling of regret for the still recent removal from the scene of their trial of as brilliant, intellectual, and moral qualities, as ever distinguished the internal con

opinion as an English farmer. Maize, as a foreign and strange-looking grain, was at once voted to be fit only for the sustenance of hogs, and to their sole use and benefit it has accordingly been assigned. The ac-stitution of man. The life of Mr. Hall, it is count of the cocoa-tree is elegantly written, well known, was one long scene of personal and that of tobacco contains many interest- suffering, and even if uninteresting, in any ing particulars. On the subject of indigo, other view, it would be deserving of earna comprehensive exposition of the different est attention, as affording a most singular methods used for preparing the dye in the instance of the triumph of mental power East and West Indies is given, with the rel-over the most formidable physical impediative advantages of each. In the chapter ments. The writer of the present memoir on Opium we are made acquainted with the has given us a striking, and, it is to be hoped, astonishing fact, that the revenue obtained not uninstructing picture of what may be from the growth of this pernicious plant, performed under every discouraging cirin our East Indian possessions, amounted, cumstance, by a principle only equalled by in 1830, to the sum of two millions sterling. the genius which formed at once its ornament With these remarks, made "currente and support; and if the portrait is at times calamo," we must now close our notice of distinguished by a warmth of colouring perMr. Porter's excellent book. It will need haps not strictly justified by the facts adno recommendation on our part to become duced, this will be acknowledged as a degenerally popular, as every means of ob- fect which certainly "leans to virtue's side." taining accessible information appears to It is, moreover, one which we regret the less, to have been followed, and both utility and as it affords us a favourable specimen of entertainment have been equally and suc- the author's ability in eulogy, a quality of rather uncommon occurrence in these cencessfully consulted in its compilation. sorious days. The remaining memoirs are devoted to Sir William Jones, the present Earl of Shrewsbury, Dr. Adam Clarke, ProFew works, issuing periodically from the fessor Leslie, and the Marquis of Lanspress, have a stronger claim than the above downe. With respect to these, we have upon the public attention, from the object only space to observe that they are written, professed-few have earned a better right to to the best of our knowledge, with fidelity the public patronage, from the spirited and as well as with discrimination and judgment. successful manner in which that object is The life of Sir William Jones is, perhaps, endeavoured to be attained; and, to these the best, on whom a suitable panegyric has recommendations is added that of a price been pronounced, though, at the same time, so moderate, that we are astonished how so we fully agree with the writer that the imlarge a quantity of matter, and such superi-portance of his testimony to the truth of or embellishments, can be issued without Revelation has been egregiously overrated. injuring the proprietors by the necessary No man in his senses could possibly have outlay. As our attention will be rather di-spoken otherwise. Thus much for the latest rected in the present notice to the literary numbers of the "National Portrait Gallery," portion of the work than its engravings, we which, as we have perused them with intermerely state of the latter that they are ex-est, we now lay aside with regret. We ecuted in the first style of the art, and that have no doubt that the work will be properthey are taken from the best original por-ly appreciated by a discerning public, and traits which can be procured. The lives meet with that encouragement which the contained in the three parts last published zeal and ability of all engaged in its proare as usual nine in number. Among these, duction deserve. first in interest as in importance, stands the name of Edmund Burke, among the numerous memoirs extant of whom, we do not remember to have seen one written with more elegance and truth than the concise KING'S THEATRE. TAGLIONI is gone;-the biography before us. It contains a just lady light of foot, the creator of poetic visions of analysis of the mind of that eminent states- fairy beauty, has left the Opera to the dreariness man, in whom the spirit of eloquence shows of her inferiors. Pasta still remains to support Norma, and give intensity of interest to a piece itself to a degree which has certainly never that could not be supported without her. "Censince been equalled within the walls of a erentola" and "Somnambule" have been atBritish Parliament, and of that great philos-tractive as hitherto, for Malibran does not cease opher than whom none ever made further to be fascinating. There have been no novelties.

THE DRAMA.

advances in the intricate paths of mental DRURY LANE.-Paganini has given four conscience. The next memoir which appears to us deserving of high commendation is that of Robert Hall, a name which few can

certs at this theatre, and they have been attended by a brilliant and overflowing audience. At the rising of the curtain, sounds of unequivocal dis