389 Review.-Dr. Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopædia, Vol. II. animal, they escaped through a ford in the loch, which then defended the northern side of the city. (See Dr. Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopædia, Vol. IV.; being Sir Walter Scott's History of Scotland, Vol. II.") The following brief description of a border-skirmish, between the Scots and English, will at once exhibit the animosity that prevailed, and the style in which the author records the event. "A small body of three hundred men was assembled, unequal, from their inferior number, to do more than observe the enemy, who moved forward with their full force from Jedburgh to Melrose, where they spoiled the splendid convent, in which lay the bones of many an heroic Douglas. The Scots were joined in the night by the Leslies and Lindesays, and other gentlemen from the western part of Fife; and apparently the English learned that the Regent's forces were increasing, since they retreated towards' Jedburgh at the break of day. The Scots followed, manœuvring to gain the flank of the enemy. They were joined, near the village of Maxton, by Sir Walter Scott of Buccleugh, with his followers, by whose knowledge of the ground, and experience in irregular warfare, the Regent was counselled to simulate a retreat. The English halted, formed, and rushed hastily to pursue, so that encountering the enemy unawares, and at disadvantage, they were totally defeated. The two leaders fell, and very many of their followers, for the victors showed little mercy; and the Liddisdale men, who had come with the English as friends, flung away the red crosses which they had brought to the battle, and made a pitiless slaughter among the troops whom they had joined as auxiliaries. Many prisoners were taken, on whom heavy ransoms were levied, particularly on an Alderman of London, named Read, whom Henry VIII. had obliged to serve in person in the wars, because he refused to pay his share of a benevolence imposed on the city; it appearing, that though the King of England could not invade a citizen's property, he had despotic power sufficient to impress his person. "King Henry was greatly enraged at the loss of this action, and uttered threats against Angus, whom he accused of ingratitude. The Scottish Earl little regarded his displeasure. "Is our brother," he said, " angry that I have avenged on Ralph Ewers the injury done to the tombs of my ancestors? They were better men than he, and I could in honour do no less. And will he take my life for that? Little knows King Henry the heights of Cairntable. I can keep myself safe there against all the power of England."(Dr. Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopædia, Vol. IV.; being Sir Walter Scott's History of Scotland, Vol. II.) The escape of Mary, Queen of Scots, from Lochleven, will be perused with interest. "Fate had reserved to Queen Mary an additional chance for repairing her broken fortunes. In Lochleven castle she was surrounded by those most deeply interested for the Earls of Murray and of Morton, and most inclined to support the power to which they had been raised. But there was one person among them who beheld her confinement and her distresses with an eye of compassion. This was a youth named George Douglas, brother of the lord of Lochleven, who, captivated by her beauty, touched by her sorrow, and seduced by her promises, laid a plan for her escape. This was discovered by his brother, Sir James, who expelled the plotter from the castle. "Undismayed by this miscarriage, George Douglas lingered on the shores of Lochleven, to assist the queen in any subsequent effort. Mary was not long in making such an attempt. 390 She entered a boat disguised in the attire of a laundress, but was discovered, from her repelling the endeavours by the rude boatman to pull off her veil, with arms and hands far too white to belong to one of her assumed character. "Again, the queen was replaced in her island prison, but about the same time a second ally in the garrison was won over to assist her escape. This was a lad of seventeen or eighteen, called William Douglas, otherwise the Little Douglas, a relative, probably, of the lord of Lochleven. "This Little Douglas, so named from his tender years or low stature, gave her his assistance to escape by night from the castle and island in which she was immured. He stole the keys for this purpose, set the royal prisoner at liberty in the middle of the night to prevent pursuit, locked the iron gates of the castle upon its inmates, and flung the keys into the lake as he rowed her to land. George Douglas, already mentioned, Lord Seton, and a party of the Hamiltons, received the queen on the shores of the lake, and conveyed her in triumph to Hamilton, where her friends hastened to assemble an army, and form an association for her defence."-(Dr. Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopædia, Vol. IV. being Sir Walter Scott's History of Scotland, Vol. II. The fate of the Spanish Armada, Sir Walter Scott thus briefly describes. "The fate of the Invincible Armada, as it was proudly termed, is generally known. Persecuted by the fury of the elements, and annoyed by the adventurous gallantry of the English seamen, it was driven around the island of Britain, meeting great loss upon every quarter, and strewing the wild shores of the Scottish highlands and isles with wreck and spoil. James, though in arms to resist the Spaniards, had such resistance been necessary, behaved generously to considerable numbers whom their misfortunes threw upon his shores. Their wants were relieved, and they were safely restored to their own country. The fate of one body of these unfortunate men is strikingly told by the reverend James Melville, whose diary has been lately published. He describes at some length the alarm caused by the threatened invasion, and its effects. "Terrible," he says, "was the fear, piercing were the preachings, earnest, zealous, and fervent were the prayers, sounding were the sighs and sobs, and abounding were the tears at the fast and general assembly at Edinburgh, where we were credibly told sometimes of their landing at Dunbar, sometimes at St. Andrew's, and again at Aberdeen and Cromarty."-(Dr. Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopædia, Vol. IV.; being Sir Walter Scott's History of Scotland, Vol. II.) With extracts similar to the preceding, we could easily fill the pages of our magazine. In their detached character, they appear as episodes, or isolated fragments; but in their connexion with the general history, they furnish links in the great chain of events, and communicate valuable information, while they afford exquisite entertainment to the reader. From all that we have seen and heard, this Pocket Cyclopædia is rapidly advancing in public estimation; and so far as it has proceeded, no one can doubt that it is every way deserving the popularity it has attained. Let only the same care be taken to preserve it from degeneracy, that has been used to establish its fame, and it will secure, both to itself and to its learned editor, a wreath of immortality. 391 Review.-Familiar Letters-Jones's Classical Library. 392 REVIEW-Familiar Letters on a Variety | of Mr. Dickenson, has given in his seventh of Seasonable and Important Subjects in Religion. By the Rev. Jonathan Dickenson, A. M. New Jersey. With an Introductory Essay, by the Rev. David Young, 12mo. pp. 480. Baldwin and Co. London. 1829. THIS Volume belongs to that valuable class of publications entitled "Select Christian Authors, with Introductory Essays," sent into the world by Collins of Glasgow, Oliphant of Edinburgh, and various other booksellers both in Dublin and London. Several of these volumes we have already reviewed, and, on an impartial examination, have invariably found them as so many constituent parts of a genuine Christian library. The letters of Mr. Dickenson which constitute the fifty-first volume, are in general devoted to the evidences of Christianity. These the author views in various lights, exploring the sources whence they are derived, examining the objections to which they are exposed, and drawing inferences from obvious premises, to which reason and impartial inquiry compel our assent. These inferences are at once argumentative in their character, and practical in their result. The principles of Christianity are found on strict examination to be of an operative nature, and the transformation which they produce by their influence on the heart and life, proves that they are genuine, and could have been derived from no other cause but God. The mode of reasoning adopted by Mr. Dickenson lies about midway between metaphysical profundity, and popular declamation. His arguments are always rational, and though not pursued through all their branches with logical precision, they make a powerful appeal to the understanding, as the medium through which the heart should be always affected. Among his data, Mr. D. assumes it as an indisputable fact, which all must allow, that if God were so pleased, he is capable of revealing his will to man. On this position is founded the inquiry-what kind of revelation might we reasonably expect under all the circumstances of human nature, and the moral relation in which it stands to God? This is precisely the revelation which he finds unfolded in the Bible, being at once worthy of its Author, and adapted to the condition of a responsible agent, whose sins want pardon, and whose nature requires spiritual regeneration. The author of the Introductory Essay, fully entering into the views and reasonings page a condensed epitome of what the letters contain; and in the subsequent parts, their truths and doctrines are illustrated, confirmed, and enforced by an appeal to scripture, and to the well-known character of man. Perhaps, on the whole, this essay may approximate to the province of sermonizing a little too nearly, but this can form no real objection to its intrinsic worth. In reference to the great object which they have in view, the Letters and the Essay are suited to each other, and claim for this volume an admission into the Christian library, of which it will become a worthy member. DR. JOHNSON has somewhere remarked, that choice is always difficult where there is no motive for preference." This sentiment applies very powerfully to us on the present occasion, having to compare the respective merits of two cotemporary publications so similar in design and execution as the Classical Libraries of Jones and Valpy. The size of the latter, perhaps, adapts it better to the boudoir, while it derives no trifling recommendation from the known erudition of its editor. On the other hand, the work under review, exhibits no want of tact and talent in its compilation; and the condensation of matter into the pages of these beautiful octavos, must, on pecuniary grounds, have very great weight with the public. A small portion of Herodotus is included in the second volume of the present work, the principal part being occupied by the miscellaneous productions of Tacitus, and the conclusion of his history. It is enough to say, that this part is nothing inferior to the former, recently reviewed in the Imperial Magazine. To those readers whose acquaintance with Herodotus extends no further than his name, we cannot more powerfully state his intentions, or recommend his work, than by extracting his much admired exordium. "To rescue from oblivion the memory of former incidents, and to render a just tribute of renown to the many great and wonderful actions, both of Greeks and Barbarians, Herodotus of Halicarnassus produces this historical essay." p. 1. This beautiful opening, and the inscription of the nine books to the Muses, whose names they bear, will prepare the student 393 Review.-The Family Library: Life of Napoleon, &c. 394 to meet in these annals with historical events embellished; yet he will be glad to learn, that they are not disguised by all the charms of Homeric verse. The third volume takes in the remainder of Herodotus, but we perceive with regret, that the index is incomplete, and is intended to form part of the succeeding volume. In works of this nature, the publishers may rely, it is better to leave the public at liberty to take any part or parts complete in themselves, and to discontinue them without fear of imperfection, than to bind them in any fetters which art may invent. We mention this, because the series is now in a state to admit of such an arrangement being observed. Viewed in any light, this publication is a valuable accession to the thinking part of the community, and marks very decisively the progressive advance of literature through all classes of society. REVIEW.-The Family Library, Nos. 1 & 2. Life of Napoleon Bonaparte, pp. 372-377. No. 3. Alexander the Great. pp. 414. Murray, London, 1830. THIS interesting publication is intended to include in an elegant and uniform series, the most valuable gems of literature, and to form a popular library that shall be accessible to every class of purchasers, both with respect to price, and the talent employed in its compilation. The life of Napoleon is delineated with impartiality and manly vigour; while the variety of romantic incidents it includes, invests it with an interest doubly captivating, from their historical truth, and recent Occurrence. The writer has dared to view the greatest warrior of modern times, in that light in which succeeding ages will contemplate his career of glory, and ultimate overthrow. He shews us the young soldier of fortune, possessed of no other recommendation than dauntless intrepidity and military skill, and with no other resources than that colossal strength of mind which conceived his lofty plans, and the promptitude of decision by which he at once adopted and executed them;-passing onward in his eagle flight, till he had reached an imperial throne, and achieved the conquest of the world. He exposes to us the bold fatalist, who, relying on destiny and the proud fortunes of his natal star, formed schemes that prudence would never have projected, and which required scarcely less than superhuman strength and perseverance for their accomplishment. He then exhibits the hero sunk into the despot, wrapt in undefined dreams of boundless ambition, and finally sinking beneath the overwhelm ing host, which rose simultaneously to wrest the sceptre of Europe from his iron grasp. No extract that we could make, would give the reader a just idea of these two volumes an intense interest pervades the whole history; and when, at its close, we are told, that "a hugh stone was lowered over the remains of one who needs no epitaph."-then, and only then, the climax is found to be complete. A few anecdotes connected with the early years of Napoleon we have extracted; the first of which relates to a singular incident attending his birth. "It is said that Letitia, (his mother,) had attended mass, on the morning of the 15th of August; and, being seized suddenly on her return, gave birth to the future hero of his age, on a temporary couch covered with tapestry, representing the heroes of the Iliad."-p. 2. The following anecdote shows that Napoleon despised the adventitious honour of exalted ancestry. "In after days, when he had climbed to sovereign power, many flatterers were willing to give him a lofty pedigree. To the Emperor of Austria, who would fain have traced his unwelcome sonin-law to some petty princes of Treviso, he replied, I am the Rodolph of my race," and silenced, on a similar occasion, a professional genealogist, with, Friend, my patent dates from Monte Notte."+-p. 2. In the succeeding page the following Occurs. "Being detected stealing figs in an orchard, the proprietor threatened to tell his mother, and the boy pleaded for himself with so much eloquence, that the man suffered him to escape. His careless attire, and his partiality for a pretty little girl in the neighbourhood, were ridiculed together in a song, which his playmates used to shout after him in the streets of Ajaccio: "Napoleon, with his stockings about his heels, makes love to Giacominetta."-p. 3. The following anecdote has reference to the early part of his military career. "It was during the siege of Toulon, that Napoleon, while constructing a battery under the enemy's fire, had occasion to prepare a despatch, and called out for some one who could use a pen. A young sergeant, named Junot, leapt out, and, leaning his hand on the breast work, wrote as he dictated. As he finished, a shot struck the ground by his side, scattering dust in abundance over him and every thing near him. 'Good,' said the soldier, laughing, "this time we shall do without sand." The cool gaiety of this pleased Buonaparte; he kept his eye on the man; and Junot came, in the sequel, to be Marshal of France, and Duke of Abrantes."-p. 21. When Cobentzel, chief envoy of the Emperor of Austria, had long wearied Bonaparte with the protraction of his negotiations, the latter thus strongly intimated his intentions towards that country. Rodolph of Hapsburgh was the founder of the Austian family. + His first battle. 395 Valpy's Classical Library.—Brief Survey of Books. "One day, in this ambassador's own chamber, Napoleon suddenly changed his demeanour : "You refuse to accept our ultimatum," said he, taking in his hands a beautiful vase of porcelain, which stood on the mantel-piece near him. The Austrian bowed. "It is well,' said Napoleon, "but mark me,-within two months I will shatter Austria like this potsherd.' So saying, he dashed the vase on the ground in a thousand pieces, and moved towards the door. Cobentzel followed him, and made submissions, which induced him once more to resume his negotiations."-p. 109. We must refer the reader to the history itself for his further gratification. The third volume containing "The Life and Actions of Alexander the Great," does not, for very obvious reasons, require any extended observations from the reviewer. Alexander is known to every school-boy nearly as well as the old elm-tree in the play ground and any modern history of his life can, at best, be only a judicious compilation from ancient annals. Still, there can be no ground of objection to the present performance. It is a highly respectable production, which will serve to recall in the mind of the student classical data, which he may have learned in "Academus' sacred Grove," and which ere now, perhaps, he has forgotten in Pall Mall. Its value will be felt principally by mere English readers, and these, including blues and butcher boys, form the great mass of modern literati. We shall watch the progress of the Family Library with much interest. The parts already published, having conferred a high value on the work, excite the public attention in no small degree. There is little fear of its decreasing in interest; Mr. Murray's name is a sufficient pledge for the character of any publication he may usher into the world. REVIEW. Family Classical Library No. 3. Xenophon. pp. 280. Colburn, London. 1830. THE third number of the Family Classical The Expedition of Cyrus into Persia, and the Retreat of the Ten Thousand under the guidance of Xenophon, form an epoch in ancient history; and the account which is given of them by the Greek 396 general himself, while it unfolds to us the interesting features of his own character, describes so vividly the circumstances of alternate triumph and suffering, attending the movements of his army, that the reader becomes spell-bound, and, as it were, an actual observer of events which have long since passed into nothingness. We shall, with much pleasure, notice, in a subsequent number of our miscellany, the succeeding part of this valuable series, announced for the present month, and which will contain the Cyropædia of Xenophon. BBIEF SURVEY OF BOOKS. 1. The Toy Shop, or Sentimental Preceptor, (Skill, Swaffham,) is a nice book for children, teaching them moral lessons by the toys with which they are amused. It contains nothing that is low or vulgar, and no small degree of ingenuity was required on the part of the author, to invest trifles with dignity, and engraft fruitful sentiment on so unpromising a stock. 2. A Compendium of Modern Geography, &c. &c., by the Rev. Alex. Stewart, (Simpkin, London,) we reviewed in its first edition, and spoke favourably of its claims to public patronage. This second edition exhibits the work in a revised and extended state. For the use of schools, it includes nearly all that can be either expected or desired ; and even when the pupil has left the seminary, he may occasionally consult its pages with much advantage, to refresh his memory. Many useful maps are interspersed; and the author's remarks at the conclusion of each article, are pertinent and instructive. Utility is its distinguishing characteristic ; but its elegant appearance cannot fail to command respect. 3. Serious Inquiries, by Miss Frances Colina Campbell, with Answers, by the Rev. J. Campbell, (Nisbet, London,) is a plain tract, that may be read with advantage by every sincere seeker after experimental religion. 4. The Causes of Declension in Christian Churches, (a Discourse delivered at Jewin-street Meeting House, by John Arundel,) (Westley and Davies London,) the author detects and exposes in a very satisfactory manner; tracing some of them to the minister, and others to the members of his flock. As applicable to the former, he enumerates an inefficient, ministry, from a want of mental furniture, an adaptation of talent to the sphere of labour, a relaxed attention to the great doctrines of divine truth, and a low state of personal religion. In the people he 397 Tam o' Shanter and Souter Johnny.-Apollonicon. 398 side, are preserved with the utmost exactness. The hanging nightcap of Souter Johnny, finds a counterpart in the careless negligence with which his leather apron is rumpled up, leaving one knee bare, while it conceals the other. Taken together, they are such exquisite imitations of reality, as half to induce the persuasion that they were rather casts from actual existence, than the effect of the chisel in the hands of art. traces declension to a spirit of lukewarm- | Tam's shoes, as he leans his foot on one ness and inactivity, neglect of family duties, a worldly spirit, selfishness, insubordi. nation, and self-importance, censoriousness and malevolence, indiscreet marriages, choosing an improper pastor, want of care in the admission of members, and the partial or too lenient treatment of offenders. These principles and topics speak for themselves. We feel no surprise that the congregational ministers, before whom this discourse was delivered, should request that it might be published, and none will regret that Mr. Arundel has complied with their solicitation. TAM O'SHANTER, AND SOUTER (COBLER) JOHNNY. (Now exhibiting at No. 28, Old Bond-st., London.) THESE two justly celebrated statues, founded on a tale of Burns, bearing the above title, possess an excellence exclusively their own. They are as distinct from the beau ideal, as the compositions of Wilkie are from the powerful delineations of Martin, and owe their well-earned celebrity to the daring but successful efforts of untutored genius. Mr. Thom, the sculptor, is a native of the same county that gave birth to Burns; and though nothing but a stone-mason, he has, by a felicitous combination of characteristics, the most natural and appropriate that can be well conceived, produced a work of which Scotland may be as proud to boast, as of her immortal bard, whose ideas are thus imbodied and illustrated. These statues are as large as life, and the material out of which they have been carved is a hard freestone, from the estate of R. A. Oswald, Esq. on the banks of the Ayr. The colour is the natural tint of the stone. On entering the room, the spectator's attention is not arrested by any display of artificial attitude or voluptuous grace, but by the expression of countenance, natural position, costume, uniform character, and apparently accidental circumstances connected with the comic couple before him. For aught he knows, "Tam," and his "drouthy crony" may be stone, or they may be the originals petrified by some magician's wand in the posture as they were sitting at their ale, "o'er a' the ill o' life victorious." Never, perhaps, did a sculptor more successfully conceal his art, or display character, position, negligence, and ease, to greater advantage. The articles of dress are every thing but inimitable. The Scotch bonnet, the coat, its folds, seams, buttons, button-holes, the waistcoat, small-clothes, riding-stockings, spurs, and even the wrinkles in one of "Tam o' Shanter" is seated in an oldfashioned chair, with a cup of "mine host's nappy" in his right hand, which is interrupted in its passage to his mouth by a hearty laugh to which he is giving vent, at the conclusion of the Souter's story. Souter Johnny sits very near, and almost facing his companion, with an irresistible archness and waggery in his countenance, mixed with something of triumph as he listens to Tam's uproarious applause of the queerest of his stories. Johnny holds the jug on his half-aproned knee, in a manner which distinctly marks his love for tipple and his craft; while the shrewd leer on his countenance plainly shews that Tam's laugh is not expected to be the sole remuneration for his drollery. These two specimens of genuine sculpture have been exhibited in London about eleven months, during which time they have been seen by about 70,000 persons, among whom are several of the royal family, and numbers of the nobility. We will conclude this brief description and account in the words of Baron Garrow, accidentally elicited on a trial at Cambridge, on the 5th of August, 1829. "They are two of the most interesting and perfect figures that have ever been planned by the mind of genius, or cut by the hand of skill and talent from stone. THE APOLLONICON. THIS is one of the most astonishing musical instruments ever exhibited in this country, or perhaps in the world; we mean with regard to sound, harmony, and effect, for of its machinery we can say nothing. To convey an adequate idea of its powers, is not within the reach of language. It is in itself a band, and must be heard many times to be fully appreciated. Although it has been in operation for several years, it still retains all its pristine charms, and multitudes daily flock to St. Martin's Lane, Strand, to be enraptured with its exquisite tones. On Saturday, February 27th, 1830, the day we visited it, about five hundred persons were attracted to the spot. Its customers appear to be as exhaustless as its fame. |