REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 1. Consolatory Verses, addressed to Her Royal Highness Madame, Duchess of Angoulême; and dedicated to His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of England. By the Rev. Sir Herbert Croft, Bart. Paris, printed by P. Didot, senr. 1814. Quarto, pp. 18. E rejoice to find that our old Ward much respected friend and I don't deny the sources of your grief; "Stranger! yet Hartwell's bowers You do not term the British Muses so. valuable Correspondent (who has been long detained in France) has recovered sufficient energy to pursue his literary labours. The present elegant There Thomson prov'd how each kind tribute of consolation to an august Personage, is introduced by the following short, but loyal Address. "To His Royal Highness the PRINCE REGENT of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. "May it please your Royal Highness to accept these lines, as a small mark of gratitude for the favours conferred by your Royal Highness, through a long series of years, upon Lady Croft, and upon, Sir, your Royal Highness's most dutiful and most devoted humble servant, HERBERT CROFT. Paris, 30 May 1814; the day of the signature of your Royal Highness's European Peace." The Poem not having as yet been published in this country, our Readers will not be displeased by a perusal of the introductory lines: Season fills lov'd France. "You 're, now, come back to your lov'd Country; brought Oblivion's waters wash all tears away If they should let the Royal Infant live; "I delayed the printing of these verses, expecting from England a drawing of Hartwell, which I meant to have used as a frontispiece. The present trifle might, so, have been more worthy the beautiful characters of Mr. P. Didot; well calculated, spite of the justice he always renders others, to succeed to the reputation of the late Bodoni, as type-founder and as printer. I know that these useful talents are hereditary in this honourable family, and how justly celebrated the younger brother, Mr. Firmin Didot, is; for I possess his elegant octavo editions of Juvenal and Persius. in the preface to the latter of which his learned Editor thanks me for my little aid. But Mr. Firmin Didot's modesty would be shocked to see his name placed before that of his illustrious elder brother, to whose various talents France and Europe owe the famous folio editions of Virgil, Horace, Racine, and La Fontaine. Mr. P. Didot is, now, preparing a similar folio edition of Boileau; and is continuing his two most beautiful and correct collections of French Classics, one in octavo, for male readers, and a different one, in a smaller size, for ladies. These two patriotic collections were begun and carried on with uncommon courage, when the Corsican's tyranny had dried up every possible source of commerce. Since the Restoration, the female collection is taken under her Royal patronage by the Princess to whom these verses are addressed." +"The Night-Thoughts of Young, whose Life my friend Johnson permitted me to write, among his Lives of the English Poets, almost forty years ago." "The Seasons, one of the favourite books of the unfortunate." "I speak as a man, and not as an Englishman, when I say that France has obligations to Lewis the XVIIIth for consenting to reign, and to quit Hartwell for GENT. MAG. January, 1815. the After many appropriate compli ments to the weeping Princess, Sir Herbert Croft thus apostrophizes: "Oh! France, be happy! This sincere request [nest breast: Comes from an Englishman's frank, boAll England, now no more a rival state, Wishes to see France happy, free, and great. "France, England! what! is one, then, The other Country's constant Enemy, vie? sess Both envied Nations! yes, we both pos- The public character, on either side. "No, no! each wave that flows be- oar, Our Sister Nations joins, not separates: air-hung boat, [high, to float? "Tween the two countries ceas'd, on Twice sixty minutes wafted Lewis over, To happy Calais, from delighted Dover; While Calais, as it shook with loyal joy, Seem'd to hear Dover join in VIVE LE Roi!" The Reverend Baronet has subjoined several excellent notes; some of which accompany our extracts. "I will finish these notes," he says, "with a quotation that will be seen with pleasure, I hope, by all French and English readers of verses, the second object of which is to contribute to do away all mean enmity between the two greatest nations in Europe. I would be the first to blush for my own Nation, if it deserv ed the reproach from which it is so honourably and so completely cleared by this testimony of the gallant Comte de St. Morys. My noble friend, one of the officers of his restored King's guard, finishes, with this philanthropic passage, his little work which was printed and published April 9, 1814, which produced a great effect, and of which the title alone (Reflexions d'un sujet de Louis XVIII.) did the highest credit to his courage, his loyalty, and his good sense, at such a moment. Ten days before it appeared, not to say almost at the very moment, Buonaparte was still the tyrant of France and of Europe. "Dates are of importance, when so many honest subjects of Lewis the XVIIIth cannot help using the language of the indignant Alceste: 'Hé, madame, l'on loue aujourd'hui tout sur la reconnaissance due au Prince the Louvre. Montaigne quotes the saying of an antient King: That any man, who knew the weight of a sceptre, would not pick one up, if it lay before his feet. Every French reader's heart will be touched by the first words of the following extract from the most sublime will and testament of Lewis the XVIth all wise heads will subscribe to the good sense and useful truths of the conclusion: : Je recommande bien vivement à mes enfans, après ce qu'ils doivent à Dieu, qui doit marcher avant tout, de rester toujours unis entre eux, soumis et obéissans à leur mère, et reconnaissans de tous les soins et les peines qu'elle se donne pour eux; et en mémoire de moi, je les prie de regarder ma sœur comme une seconda mère. Je recommande à mon fils, s'il avait le malheur de devenir roi, de songer qu'il se doit tout entier au bonheur de tous ses concitoyens ; qu'il doit oublier toute haine et ressentiment, et nommément tout ce qui a rapport aux malheurs et aux chagrins que j'éprouve; qu'il ne peut faire le bonheur du peuple qu'en régnant suivant les lois, mais en même temps qu'un roi ne peut les faire respecter et faire le bien qui est dans son cœur qu'autant qu'il a l'autorité nécessaire, et qu'autre ment, étant lié dans ses opérations, et n'inspirant point de respect, il est plus nuisible qu'utile.'”’ F Il était en guerre, un systême d'imposture si vaste, qu'une grande partie des faits historiques les plus importans de notre temps, aété altérée, ou reste encore inconnue pour les Français; c'est surtout l'opinion sur la nation Anglaise qui a été égarée par les artifices du gouvernement de ce tyran. Je me rappelle avoir lu dans le Moniteur, à l'époque où il fit étrangler le général Pichegru, assassiner Monseigneur le duc d'Enghien, et où j'étais aussi incarcéré par son ordre, que les Anglais avaient envoyé la peste à Boulogne dans des ballots de marchandises jetés exprès par eux sur le rivage. Il se trouva alors des fonctionnaires publics assez vils et assez bêtes pour certifier qu'un chien avait été frappé de mort en leur présence à l'ouverture d'un de ces ballots. Je me rappelle aussi avoir vu, dans le catalogue d'une exposition des tableaux du salon, une description de celui qui représentait la défaite des royalistes à Quiberon, dans laquelle il était dit que les éternels ennemis du continent tiraient sur les émigrés, au lieu de chercher à les sauver. On voit qu'aucun moyen n'était oublié pour parvenir à tromper la France, et Buonaparte n'y réussissait que trop bien par cette infame calomnie, qui, à force d'être répétée, a fini par obtenir quelque croyance. Je dois donc à la vérité, de dire que mon père fut sauvé à Quiberon par les Anglais, avec plusieurs émigrés de distinction que je pourrais nommer, et qu'il n'a péri qu'après avoir été déposé par eux, suivant son desir, à l'ile de Houat, près la presqu'ile de Quiberon. Certes, aucune considération ne pourrait m'induire à vanter la générosité d'une nation à laquelle je devrais reprocher la mort de mon père et de plusieurs de mes amis; mais je n'ai connu de la part de la nation Anglaise que ses bienfaits répétés envers mes concitoyens. "De ce qu'à diverses époques de l'histoire, les Anglais ont été nos ennemis les plus dangereux, il ne s'ensuit pas que nous n'ayons trouvé en eux, dans ces derniers temps, de généreux amis. "De ce que le grand comte de Chatam avait une haine aveugle contre les Français, dans un temps où les idées libérales n'étaient pas aussi dominantes qu'à présent, il n'en est pas moins vrai que Lord Wellington offre un des plus beaux caractères de l'histoire moderne, et que la postérité consacrera avec ceux des Turenne et des Bayard. "De ce que les Anglais ont été quelquefois oppresseurs dans leurs colonies, il n'en est pas moins vrai que c'est à eux qu'est due l'abolition de la traite des Nègres. Enfin, de ce que dans les commencemens de la révolution, les Français ont été emportés au-delà des bornes par la noble passion de la li berté, et de ce qu'après ils ont été forcés de courber la tête en esclaves sous le joug de fer de Buonaparte, il ne s'ensuit pas qu'ils ne puissent être d'excellens citoyens sous le gouvernement lé gitime et paternel de Louis XVIII. E en effet, quand nous crions Vivent les Bourbons! Vive Louis XVIII! nous avons le bonheur que la raison la plus sévère applaudisse à tous nos mouvemens d'amour et d'enthousiasme." 2. Réflexions soumises à la Sagesse des LIKE a true Patriot, and a Wellwisher, both to his native and adopted Country, Sir Herbert Croft ventures in this little volume to offer his advice to the illustrious Ne gotiators, who are settling, we confidently hope, a permanent Peace to the wearied world. Leaving the worthy Writer's arguments to the judgment of those for whose use they were more immediately intend ed, we shall content ourselves with extracting a second address to the Son and Representative of our own revered and justly beloved Sovereign, "A son Altesse Royale le Prince Régent d'Angleterre. "Mon Prince, j'ai eu l'honneur de vous dédier, comme une faible marque de ma profonde reconnaissance, mes vera Anglais adressés à MADAME, Duchesse d'Angoulême: je desire encore que votre auguste nom paraisse à la tête de l'ouIl n'a vrage que je publie maintenant. pour but que l'espoir d'être utile; et l'on ne soupçonnera jamais un baronnet Anglais et un ministre du culte, d'avoir pu, sans cet espoir, écrire et encore moins dédier son livre au Prince Régent d'Angleterre. "Le sujet de mon ouvrage me rappelle heureusement ici les mots dont Votre Altesse Royale se servit dans une lettre adréssée, il y a plus de onze ans, au Roi votre père; mots si justement applaudis par le public, et qui feront réfléchir, sans doute, dans des circonstances si critiques, les Souverains rassemblés à Vienne. 'Dans Dans ces temps malheureux, Sire, * disiez-vous, on scrute avec des yeux sévères et jaloux la conduite des Princes. Personne n'est, plus que moi, attentif à ces dispositions.' -"Que l'histoire et la postérité, qui scrutent si bien tous les Princes, disent du fils aîné de GEORGES III. tout ce qu'ambitionne Votre Altesse Royale, tout ce que je desire, non seulement pour Votre Altesse Royale, mais aussi pour tous mes compatriotes et mes semblables! c'est là le vœu le plus sincère et la prière la plus constante, Mon Prince, Parishes. We flatter ourselves that the result may be favourable, and that future Historians of undescribed Counties in England will not circulate their inquiries in vain. Mr. Mason must feel an uncom mon degree of satisfaction in offering his Statistical Account of Ireland to the United Kingdom, as he is exempt from the charges which might be applied to his work, had he compiled it from such information as he could collect in hurried visits; and as he may confidently assert that those best qualified to correct any errors he might have been led into in this way, have themselves pledged their names to its accuracy. Besides, the official situation he holds gave him an opportunity of bringing forward num berless curious facts, which would be procured with difficulty and much expence by persons less fortunately circumstanced: and to these advan tages we may add his own abilities, in making use of his materials, and giving the whole a connexion highly worthy of imitation. As the dedication to the Right Hon. Robert Peel, is in some degree explanatory, we insert it at length: A MORE excellent or decidedly satisfactory species of Topography cannot be devised than has been "On laying before you the First Voaccomplished in the volume before lume of the Statistical Account of Ireus; but it requires many powerful land, permit me to take the opportuand concurring circumstances to en- nity of expressing my grateful acknowable an Author to avail himself of ledgements for the liberal and zealous such assistance as the Clergy and encouragement with which you have other residents in particular Parishes honoured me in the prosecution of this are capable of affording. It is not work. However sensible I might have enough that a Topographer shall obbeen of the great advantages to be detain strong general recommendations, rived from a compilation containing acor that he shall circulate queries curate and authentic details of the prewhich may almost be answered in the sent state of Ireland, I could not but study, and without research: he must be equally impressed with a consciousness that such an undertaking was a conquer indolence, overcome indiftask too weighty for the exertions, hówference, and wait with years of pa- ever well intended, of an unassisted intience for the labour of a day; and dividual. From this difficulty I have when he would arrange his materials been relieved by your kindness;-you in the sequel, there are fifty chasms saw the utility of such a developement to be supplied, and a personal exa- of the interior of the Country; and you mination is as necessary as when he approved of the mode I had adopted for began. We should consider ourselves its attainment. To find that my views, happy were it in our power to pre-future welfare of Ireland, coincided with on a subject of such importance to the vail on the Amateurs of County History to examine the work before us, and reflect how readily they might supply the most authentic information, by imitating the example of the Irish Clergy, who have thus convinced their countrymen of their liberality, and their general knowledge of the state of their respective those of one who had surveyed it with a Statesman's eye, encouraged me to proceed with energy. Your continued the work at its present state, and afpatronage has facilitated the arrival of fords a prospect of its final accomplishment. If my ardent wishes for this desirable end be crowned with success, my gratification will be considerably heightened heightened by the reflection, that the stock of materials thus collected may be serviceable in any future arrangements, which you may deem necessary for the prosperity and happiness of this part of the British Empire." Taking the work in the point of view noticed in the conclusion of the dedication, we cannot omit our meed of praise to this enlightened Statesman, who, in wielding the mighty arm of Government, directs part of its energy to discover the actual situation of the Country and that of its inhabitants; thus enabling himself and his colleagues to judge in what way it may be ameliorated, and how the necessary burdens of the State may be imposed with the least injury to the general prospeTity. We now turn our attention to the Preface, which we shall analyse, to render the account of Ireland as familiar to our readers as this portion of the book is intended to make it. Mr. Mason begins by defining the word Statistics (a term of recent iuvention) to be of that department of science which exhibits the state of a country as it actually exists within itself and not, according to the German definition, as applying to relation with its neighbours: and it is in the former sense he wishes it to be applied in his own case. This science he considers as unattainable in any other way than by an accurate investigation of every part of a country, to ascertam its resources physi any cal and moral. "Statistics become, therefore, the basis of Political Economy, as they furnish the facts on which that science is raised and hence their study becomes an object of primary importance to the Philosopher and Statesman." A note in this part of the preface expresses high respect for Sir J. Sinclair, and quotes a passage from his address to the literary characters of the Continent, inviting them to illus trate their native places as he had done in Scotland; and in proceeding with bis text, Mr. Mason again adverts to the above gentleman, gratefully acknowledging the obligations of the publick at large, and his own, for assistance on this occasion, "To bestow upon this undertaking, and the information it contains, the essential characters of accuracy and truth, it was necessary to analyse the country, and by separating it into its smallest divisions, to place each completely within the scope of a single individual, so that nothing material could lity and exerted by common industry. escape the eye, excited by common abiIt was also necessary that, in each of these sub-divisions, there should be some person qualified, to a certain degree at least, by education, literary habits, and continued residence, to collect, methodize, and report whatever was worthy of notice in such district." the best The parochial divisions, and the clergy attached to them, naturally suggested themselves as means of attaining the ends of the Author: accordingly, letters were ad dressed to the latter throughout Ireland, " soliciting their assistance in an undertaking which, if well conducted, would heighten the charac ter of themselves and of their profession, by uniting both with the be neficent objects of the present inquiry." A series of queries, systematically arranged, was attached to each letter; and the accounts of the parishes of Thurso in Scotland, and Aghaboe in Ireland, were inclosed, as directions or models how to proceed with their labours. It gives us pleasure to add, in Mr. Mason's words, "that the trouble and expences incurred by a correspondence so extensive and voluminous, have been fully repaid by the result;" and our pleasure is equal in transcribing the hand some compliment paid by the Author to his fellow labourers: "The Clergy in every part of Ireland have stepped forward with alacrity and spirit; they have felt that, in promoting a scheme for the general improvement of the country, they were but fulfilling an essential part of the duties of their own profession; they felt, that it placed them on high ground, and they determined to rest upon it; they were actuated by the same spirit of enlightened philanthropy which guided the conduct of the Scotch Clergy, respecting whose labours an able political Author (Malthus) has recently declared, that the very valuable accounts collected in it will ever remain an extraordinary monument of the learning, good sense, and genuine infor mation, of the Clergy of Scotland." A note at p. xii. contains a letter from Sir John Newport, bart. which truly characterises Mr. Mason's work, though |