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"The pains of Sleep" shews the vividness of the author's conceptions, mingled with that peculiarity of thought" the most perfect system ever pre

[566 being, as the author confidently asserts, So far is this, in our opinion, from

and diction which the mountain scenery of our lakes seems to inspire in all who court its influence. That Mr. Coleridge possesses strong powers of thought, with a command of original and striking images, united to those softer touches of nature which speak at once to the heart, our readers have not now to learn.

sented to the public," that without he sitation we pronounce it more burdensome than Taylor's, or Mavor's, and incomparably less scientific than By rom's.

either of the former systems, because, It is more burdensome than among other reasons, it requires 319 words and parts of words to be retained in the memory; while Taylor's requires The Ready Writer, whereby more may is decisive on the capability of being but 57, and Mavor's 143. This alone be written in forty minutes, than in one hour by any other System of Short-scientific than the latter, because among "read distinctly at any distance of time after it is written."-It is less band hitherto published. By the new other reasons, any individual interme method laid down in this book, (which diate vowel cannot be discriminated; is more easy and legible than any other) and because, "to render the system and without the assistance of a teacher, more comprehensive," and being "of any person who can but tolerably write so much service, that the student is adhis name in common writing, may, with vised to make himself master of them," the greatest ease and certainty, take a table of twenty "arbitrary characters" down from the speaker's mouth, is given, against which are set forty sermon, speech, trial, play, &c. word by the simple and sound principle of " words, while Byrom's system rests on word, and may likewise read it distinct-right alphabet once established, and ly at any distance of time after it is always kept to, and suitable directions written. Invented and perfected by for the use of it." A mere notice is J. H. LEWIS. 8vo. pp. 105. Price One sufficient of the ridiculous appearance Guinea. Coxhead, London. 1815. presented in the "Exemplifications of figures," p. 93. But we take a pleathe mode of joining the short-hand sure in confessing that Mr. L. is intitled to full credit for some impressive senti We extract as follows from p. xiii. ments conveyed in the "Introduction."

any

a

WE lately embraced an opportunity of animadverting on the high pretensions of framers and publishers of systems of short hand; on which occasion we introduced one title of the treatise before us, accompanied with remarks. (Lit. Pan. Nov. 1815, p. 242.) We say porter of debates, to the students in the "The utility of Short-hand to the reone title, because the copy then used, Courts of Law, to the intelligent historian, bears the date of 1812: that which has to the private scholar, to the man of busisince come to hand, and is the subjectness, and to every individual whose conof the present article, bears a later date. venience may be promoted by a mode of There is unspeakable satisfaction in writing at once easy, secret and expedicomplimenting the increasing modesty and is in itself too evident, to demand the tious, has been too long acknowledged, of great merit; and we hint at this, be- further exposition of the Editor: but its cause the withdrawment of the words, indiscreet uses are not less evident than its “Ne plus ultra," &c. which appeared direct application to all the purposes of in 1812, cannot otherwise be accounted life. The immediate utility of the mathe -for. There is yet, however, room for a further display of this amiable to inure the mind to habits of intense and matics is less evident than their tendency virtue, and if the author had lowered persevering study, and to train it to a rehis pretensions a little more, we should gular and systematic method of investigahave had to meet him on ground less tion. In the same manner the practice of questionable than that which he still re-facility of conception; to accuracy of ob short-hand may powerfully contribute to olves to occupy.

X 2

servation; and to that rapidity of appre

567]
hension and execution, which of all other
qualifications are the most necessary in the
general intercourse of society. By its re-
ference to the general principles of gram-
mar, it accustoms the mind to the minutiæ
of construction, and to all the varieties of
etymological analysis.”

The two pieces of versification in pp. 1, 3, are in an antiquated and generally bad taste, but that in p. 101 is ereditable to the author's friendship.

We close this article with an extract from the Preface to an "Abbreviation of Writing by Character, by Edmond Millis, 1618." Whether that writer's observations were prophetic, as well as historical, and of whom he prophesied, we must leave to the decision of the intelligent.

Forty-second Royal Highlanders; he,
with his corps, serves in America, and
is not heard of after the action under
General Wolfe, on the heights of Abra-
ham. The Laird St. Clyde, soon after
the news of his son's fate, is found
drowned in a loch: his wife and one of
his daughters die. The only remaining
branch of this family, Ellen St. Clyde,
is deprived of her patrimony, (which,
by the Scottish law, descends to "heirs
general") by her uncle Mons. Villejuve,
an emigrant, who had followed the for-
tunes of "Prince Charles," commonly
called the "Pretender". Colin, how-
ever, after many escapes, returns home,
claims his patrimonial estate, and the
murderers of his father are detected:
among them is Mons. Villejuive, who
commits suicide. Ellen marries a fel-
low-student of Colin; who himself mar-

"There are who have laboured to shew their skill, and with their Bills have be-ries Eliza Stewart, to whom he was presprinkled the posts and walls of this cittie; viously attached: and the drama closes. insomuch, that it hath grown into some The merit of this work is its descripcontempt among those that are judicious : for as the old saying is, Good wine needs notion of Scottish manners:-they are bush. And as he that is a learned Physiaian, or skilful Chirurgion, needeth not like a mountebanke, or quacksalver, set up his stall at the corner of euerie-street: so this Art, if it be but once made manifest to the world in print, it will (amongst the wisest sort of men) be soon approued of, or disliked, and then what needs there any fur ther demonstration of it, either by Billes or idle Chalenges ?"

St. Clyde. A Novel, 3 vols. Price 15s.

Gale and Fenner, London. 1816.

THIS work had been announced while

in the press, as "Colin St. Clyde, a Novel;" and the author might as well have kept to that title. Whoever is ac

quainted with " Waverly" and "Guy Mannering," is, in some measure, prepared to read this "Scottish Novel," which offers more of the dialect of the North, than some may be disposed to relish; yet no more than is necessary to enable the artist to exhibit his characters conformably to his imagination, or to the local circumstances in which he has placed them. The tale is simple: Colin St. Clyde, a promising student at the University of Edinburgh, obtains, through the friendship of the Marquis of Bute, a commission in the immortal

drawn, not we presume, from personal observation, entirely, but from sufficiently authentic tradition and report. The style will be best developed by a few extracts:-The first is from a description of the marriage of the fosterbrother of Colin St. Clyde.

The breakfast was one of those our great lexicographer and moralist would have thought worthy of that name; and except Peggy and her mother, Andrew's sisters and his mother, the guests did honour to the ling fish and dried haddocks, to the white puddings, the eggs, and the ham: the tea and the coffee were made by Lucky Mackinlay; and Lucky Mackirdy, the wife of the change-keeper at the Ferry, dealt around the unadulterated whisky to the last cup of tea.

When the company had returned from church,

The female part of the company had but time to arrange, or change, their wedding dresses, for what was more suitable for the occasion, when Robin Glenderoy announced with his bag pipe, that dinner was ready; and the barn was soon filled; but nobody offered to sit down till the Minister was seated. The parents on both sides insisted that the Minister should take the centre seat at the head of the table. Neither Mr. Gillies, nor Peggy's father,

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St. Clyde. A Novel.

would take it when Mr. Thornhill was
there; and the Laird St. Clyde was not
entitled to that seat, when the servant of
the Lord was at the wedding.

Robin Glenderoy began to tune his
bag-pipe-it was the signal for dancing
the young lads and lasses began to pair for
the first country dance-Who was to be
the bride's partner? The best man.-With
whom would the bridegroom dance? With
the best maid.-But where could young St.
Clyde get a partner? He will find some-
body, said every young lassie, to whom the
question was put; hoping, with throbbing
breast, it might be herself."

There is much nature in the author's description of the march of a number of recruits, raised for St. Clyde, the hero of the tale; and of the temper in which some of them enlisted.

"When the company got to the Ferry, all was bustle and confusion. The Serjeant had got his complement of men; one of the three that made it up was the officious Dominie's son, who had left the wedding in a pet. What was the Dominic's horror when he saw Fergus (his son) with the Serjeant's bonnet on, presiding at the pint stoup? Fergus had freely taken the shilling: it was all his father's fault: The Dominie had himself to thank for it: Fergus Maclean would not be called worse than he was; and since his father publicly declared him" an unco loon", the sogers

were the best friends he could get; they might all say what they liked, all the wed ding people knew whom the Dominie had to blame for Fergus taking on for a Twa and Forty mon: he thought he could handle the claymore as well shears; and the bayonet he would soon as the earn to use as easily as he took up the bodkin." It was in this strain Fergus went on, before the poor distracted father could open his mouth. The honest Serjeant took Mr. Maclean by the hand, and declared he was guiltless. Fergus came of himself and threatened if he did not enlist him, to tell St. Clyde when he returned from the wedding. The tears trickled down the old father's cheeks, and every body there, but Fergus felt pity. Nothing would move Fergus's resolution: next day he was sworn in with the other two; and the Serjeant announced to bis recruits that St. Clyde had got his complement of men and they should march on Friday. Friday Came: all the men were at the rendezvous; but there were many there besides them, The recruits" (20 in number)” were all the sons of poor men, but respectable people;

(570

and poverty did not shut their hearts against parental affection. The sons too, when the parting morning came, felt they had the hearts of children. Every mother was there weeping and bemoaning the lot of her bairn; every father was there; and there was no brother or sister staid at home. The Serjeant was the only man going, for whom tears were not shed: they had fallen for him when he left Dumbarton, fifteen years before that time. The march commenced: the recruits supported in one arm their aged and weeping mother; a sister, or sweetheart clung to the others in some instances, the father, and his reson, or by his side, or between the single maining family, walked in the rear of the files on the road. It was in this manner they marched to Rothsay, a journey of four miles. The piper of the regiment was not there; Rob. Roy got half a crown to cheer the King's men to the boat."

the recruits come up to the Manse
We pass over the affecting scene where
and receive the worthy Clergyman's
blessing; with that before the house
of the father of their commander. The
humane and sympathizing disposition of
the Scottish people, and their respect
for their Chiefs are well described, on
various occasions, especially, or that of
the funeral of the Laird St. Clyde. Not
less was their attachment to their Reli-
gious Instructors: and, if any inquire,
by what means the Scottish Clergy
contrived to exist, and to bring up
their families, in those days, the follow
ing may be accepted as a partial expla
nation of the mystery.

"Elien remained in her native isle, on
friendship marked the goodness of their
the bounty of a family, whose generous
hearts. Indeed this young lady was looked
upon both by Mr. and Mrs. Thornbill as
their own child; and her amiable, and
grateful heart left no room in the bosems
of her good and kind hostess, to wish she
had never entered their door.
even blessed the good man in his out-
goings and his in-comings; in his uprisings
Heaven
and his downlyings; for the presents of all
things in their season which came to his
all around. When any of the neighbours
house, proved there were friends to Ellen
killed a sheep or a heifer, that part which
they knew the minister liked, was sure to
be sent by a fine little white-headed boy
with his mither's respects to Mrs. Thorn-
hill. And another would come saying,
or cheese, and she sent me oure with this,
My mither has been making butter,

and to speir how Miss Ellen is.' And a young lad had just taken his gun in his hand, and he hoped,' as he entered the manse, there had naebody been before him that morning with a hare; the ducks were not sae guid as the muir fowl, but Duncan Munn killed all the grous:'-And another "had a leizure hour and just took his wand in his hand gaed up the glen a wee bittie, and forgathered wi' some fish i' the burn, and the trouts were a' twae inches lang. The lads' from the shore, 'sent me up,' said Sandy Mactaggart, 'wi' their best respects to the minister's lady, and wad she accept o' a string o' whittings, and twa three lobsters?' and again, 'They are the first herrings my father tuke the year, and he hopes Mrs. Thornhill wad find them unco' nice.'-So also, The bees had nae done sae well the year as the last, and my mither was frichtet the honey wad na be sae guid as what Mrs. Thornhill gat j' her ain sceips; but she wad be kind enough to oblige my mither by accepting twa pots. And in hay time, Mr. Thornhill, I'll send oure my sons the morn, and they will cut your field in a day; they are four stout lads, and they winna work less for you than for me-Another, 'The minister's crop is ripe, lads; go oure, James, and ask him if he'll let us cut it down and put it in, and syne thresh it this year'— Still it ceased not, our carts are going to the town the morn; gang oure, Sandy, and speir gif Mr. Thornhill has ony thing coming frae the town'-And before the winter set in: Mr. Thornhill, it is nae Sunday's talk, but ye'll excuse me speiring gif my sons are to have pleasure of carting home your coals this year-and this being overheard, another is emboldened to beg, The minister might oblige him as weel as ithers, and send oure his corn to the mill afore the frost set in and there be nae water.'

When the author shifts the scene from

Scotland to London, he descends to ape

66

the mere novellists who labour for our Circulating Libraries. His devices are "stale, flat, and unprofitable." The whole stock and series of lovers in disguise, acting Romeo and Juliet," have been consigned long ago "to the tomb of all the Capulets." He could scarcely have filled up an interval necessary to his story, with less expense of genius. Returned to the North, his portraits of a gang of Smugglers are good; such things were: the agency of their chief is useful in pursuing, and detecting, greater criminals than himself the local incidents, superstitions, customs,

and prejudices, partly the effects of a certain shrewdness and promptitude of apprehension, partly derived by tradi tion handed down from father to son, during many ages, introduced in the narrative, will, we doubt not, obtain from natives of the Northern portion of our island, a pardon for the anachronisms of which the author is guilty, and which betray a writer sixty years later than bis story. Enough will remain to enable them to recognize in events introduced, the true spirit of the Highlanders, whose dirge was the yell of victory, and the shrieks of the flying foe."

A Historical Account, interspersed with Biographical Anecdotes of the House of Saxony, &c. with a memoir of the Life of his Serene Highness Leopold George Christian Frederic, Duke of Saxony, Prince of Saxe-Cobourg Saalfield. By Frederic Schoberl. 8vo. pp. 200. price 7s. 6d. Ackermann, London. 1816.

SCARCELY any thing could be more interesting to the British nation, at the present moment, than the choice of a consort to the future Sovereign, that Sovereign a female. Those who fancy, that the difficulties of the times are over, because the late struggle against unprincipled ambition has terminated happily, have small claim to the gift of foresight. There remains much to be done, to raise Britain to that height of prosperity of which she is susceptible: -we mean by this, that general diffusion of happiness and satisfaction, which may, without arrogating too much, be hoped for, as time affords opportunity.

But, in vain may time afford opportunity, if wisdom and discernment be not at hand to improve it. The favourable moment may escape, and the loss of it may reduce whatever hopeful auguries have been drawn by the observant, to mere words without meaning, and good wishes without consequence. Neither are these opportunities distant; the rising generation will see them either realized or rejected. When we consider the general diffusion of knowledge, in

1

which our own country takes the lead ; | The present instructive tract, is in-
the evident depression of intolerant tended as a compliment to the Consort
principles, produced by public opinion, of the Princess Charlotte.
It places
and supported by the diffusion of know- his house and himself in the most fa-
ledge; the general freedom of thought, vourable light. Such a publication is
discourse, and discussion; the expo- proper, for the information of the pub-
sure of Jacobinism with its concomi- lic, which cannot but desire acquaint-
tants, and the miseries it has scattered ance with the early character and
among mankind, it must be acknow-conduct of this Illustrious Personage,
ledged that causes are in activity, the now one of themselves. It is a kind of
result of which may be most felicitous. memorial of services, very proper were
It is impossible not to perceive in the promotion in question: which, indeed,
general desire to repel the charge of it is: for in our judgment, to stand
bigotry, for instance, a tendency to- high in the esteem and favour of the
wards that universal admission of reli- people of Britain, is a promotion of no
gious freedom, which hitherto has not little dignity, at all times, and whoever
been enjoyed by every country.
be the subject of it.
And when we look at the progress this
Prince Leopold was born Dec. 16,
has yet to make in the United King- 1790. He is the third son of Frederic
dom itself, the consequence of having Josias, the celebrated Commander of
a wise conductor, in a high station, is the Allied Armies, in the early part of
only short of infinite. We would snp- the war, against the French revolu-
port the Protestant ascendancy, not by tionists; who honoured him, by uniting
force, or by fraud, but by talent, judg-him as an object of hatred, with the
ment, virtue, wisdom, generosity, and
firmness. The house of Saxony is
Protestant: it has produced some of the
most vigilant and active supporters of
Protestantism. The Prince of Saxe-
Cobourg has been nursed in the lap of
adversity he has been taught in a
school, the lessons of which are severe,
therefore not easily forgotten. The
property of his house was sequestrated
by Buonaparte: that must be a me-
mento in perpetual recollection.

:

We might trace other particulars, with which the welfare of nations, and of this nation especially, is combined; but, this is not the place for speculations so extensive and so complicated. Hope is essentially different from enjoyment; and it is still hope, though it do not fix the place, or the period, in which to expect its completion. But, Hope cannot be realized without the agency of proper instruments; and this we say, that if his Serene Highness be the hoDoured instrument in the hand of Providence of realizing those blessings still necessary to the prosperity and happiness of a great people, the importance of the choice is so much the more apparent; and our opinion, that scarcely any event could be more interesting to the nation, at this moment, receives additional and incontrovertible support.

British Minister: and the accusation of being Complice de Pitt et Cobourg was the terrible form under which fell thousands of innocent victims.

The house of Saxony becoming connected by marriage with the Court of Russia, it was natural that some of the sons of the reiguing Duke should enter the Russian service. In this service Prince Leopold was'enrolled, accordingly. When he was only fifteen years of age, (in 1806) he saw his principal town, with the palace of his ancestors, plundered by the French, in the characters of intendant and commandant. castle was stormed; and the ducal family exiled. During this period of distress, says Mr. Schoberl, Prince Leopold remained with his afflicted mother, (now a widow; for her husband had sunk under his misfortunes) who, but for him, would have been entirely

deserted.

The

The family experienced a partial restoration at the peace of Tilsit: but, to a country ruined, and utterly impoverished. The well-known patriotic sentiments of these Princes, induced Napoleon to insist on the expulsion of Prince Leopold from the army of Russia, and of his brother, Prince Ferdinand, from that of Austria.

In 1813, the three brothers of the house of Cobourg exerted themselves to

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