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REVIEW.-Hodgson's History of Northumberland.

seats of the clothing trade, the assessment is only from 3s. to 5s. But in the County of Middlesex, it is THREE

POUNDS THIRTEEN SHILLINGS AND

TEN PENCE, though in the County of Surrey, one arm of the London and Westminster coat, it is only ELEVEN That living is just as cheap in St. George's Fields as in the City and West end, is certain; but if, taking the Surrey ratio, the proportion on the Northern Bank of the Thames is not more dense in the proportion of nearly seven to one, there is great mismanagement in the two corpulent sisters, London and Westminster, which imperiously requires parliamentary attention.

SHILLINGS AND TEN PENCE.

Here we must end. We are acquainted with the husbandry of certain of the counties mentioned, and have been surprised at their accuracy. Our authors have exercised an undue partiality towards the agricultural systein, and we think, on the subject of emigration, that when the population is obliged to fasten, as in Ireland, upon small patches of land for support, then does the clock strike the hour for emigration; but, upon the whole, the work abounds with lessons of prudence, and precedents of improvement.

A History of Northumberland, in Three Parts. By John Hodgson, Clerk, Vicar of Whelpington, &c. Part III. vol. ii. Containing Ancient Records and Historical Papers. 4to. pp. 435.

WE do not like to see old friends with new faces, and such would be county histories without records. They are certainly dull; but what then? -they are the bones, muscles, and blood of local history. Topography without record is an estate without earth. But there are important moral and political consequences attached to such useful collections, consequences well exhibited by Mr. Hodgson, who is a writer of depth, in the following

passages.

"Anxiety for the preservation, and a deep sense of the value, of public and family muniments, are feelings that spring out of loyalty and attention to self-preservation, and are characteristic of the high-minded and patriotic people who live upon estates which have descended to them from remote ancestry-have been the reward of valour, or wisdom, or industry, and which especially have been kept unspotted by dishonourable and enthralling incumbrances. How, indeed,

[Jan.

can a generous and enlightened progeny look with indifference upon those charters of their rights, liberty, and property, which their ancestors had sealed with their blood, or emblazoned with the glory of great or useful deeds? A conqueror, who wishes to begin a new era in a country, by dividing its property among his adherents, naturally enough desires to destroy all evidences of the achievevanquished. A remarkable event of this ments and possessions of the people he has kind occurred in China about 2000 years since, when Chi-Hoang-ti, for the purpose of obliterating every trace of the feudal government that preceded his dynasty, destroyed all its books and writings, excepting such as related to law and medicine, and put to death great numbers of learned men, lest they should relate from memory any portion of the genuine memoirs or established superstitions of their country. Something similar to this may always be expected to happen, where neglect or mismanagement permits popular discontent to ripen into hatred, and to bring on a revolution: in the heat of revenge the actors in a new order of things, naturally seek security for themselves, their power, and property, not merely from those whom they had removed from their offices and estates, but from their descendants, by the destruction of such records and papers as might assist the conquered party in the recovery of their rights, Prynne asserts, that in several periods of the unsettled state of our country, "the prevailing king's parties embezzled and suppressed such parliamentary records and proceedings as made most against their interest, power, and prerogative:" and Ayloffe to this quotation adds, that "it cannot be doubted that in those times the like fate befel many other of our national muniments" that " damps, mildew, and vermin have, from time to time, deprived us of many antient and valuable records." Dugdale, in his Baronage, cites the Scottish Rolls for the 34th year of Edward the First, which records, as well as similar documents for the preceding and succeeding year of the same reign, were not existing when that copious source of historical evidence was printed by government in 1814. It is the multiplicacountries and places, and especially of useful tion of copies of the authentic histories of records and papers, which tends to avert these effects of wars, revolutions, and neglect. It is this process that keeps the most antient writings in perennial youth. It preserves the remembrance of such arts and measures as have been found to be useful and good, suitable to the climate in which they have rooted and thriven, and to the people by whom they have been adopted. It keeps truth before men's eyes, and conse

in the event of a successful re-action.

* Vol. i. p. 525.

1329.]

REVIEW. Fisher's Antiquities of Bedfordshire.

quently gives a relish for histories that are
founded on facts, in preference to works of
imagination, fables, and romance.
It pre-
vents the spread of visionary theories, by
encouraging us to protect and defend the
laws under which our predecessors have long
lived happily, rather than venture upon such
rash and vain experiments in legislation, as
usually end in democratical risings and poli-
tical ruin. 'Records, indeed, are the
treasuries and conservatories of our laws, and
the standard to which we must resort for the
resolving and ascertaining all constitutional
points; they are the testimonies of our le-
gislation and of all juridical and judicial pro-
ceedings, and the perpetual evidence of
every man's rights, privileges, and liberties.'

The same fertile mine likewise offers us a rich vein of materials for improving and illustrating our English topography, and for rendering our local history aud antiquities of essential and public use.'

In Preface, p. v. Mr. Hodgson suggests the following improvement concerning deeds.

"From the very large and inconvenient size of most modern deeds, and the great difficulty in keeping them in order and from injury, I cannot here omit this suggestionthat some statutory enactment, making every sort of conveyance of property illegal, unless it were plainly written upon parchment or paper of the foolscap or some other specified size, and the several sheets of each deed were inlaid, might be of considerable individual and national advantage. Title-deeds would then be easily accessible to the parties they belonged to; and if every deed was paged, and the contents of each clause indexed at its end, it would be rendered still more intelligible and useful. On this plan, deeds would be all of one size; and might be protected with covers, according to their owner's fancy: series of them belonging to the same estate might be bound into volumes; and copies of the whole much more conveniently made for the purpose of common reference."

In p. 171 is a copy of an ancient survey, (33 H. VIII.) relative to the niarches between England and Scotland, which appears to us very illustrative of ancient manners and customs, as far as concerns boundaries, castles,

&c.

Drawings and plans were made of castles and towns, and sent up to Government. p. 172.

Roads were made around the boundaries of towns, for the convenience of perambulating them.-p. 172.

The use of Wansdike as a boundary, is proved by the existence of a ditch

* Ayloffe's Calenders, &c. Introd. iv, and v.

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for this purpose, called "the marchdyke of old mencon."-p. 174.

A rivulet or brook was another boundary.-p. 176.

A hanging stone was a limit"To the hanging stone which ys the boundes and mere betweene the easte and

middle marches of England."—p. 178.

We might think that this was a rocking-stone; but Stonehenge (Saxum pendulum) was the denomination of Stone-henge (see Lye), and we think that the " hanging stone" merely implied a stone upon an acclivity, in the

same sense as we now use the term "hanging wood."

(To be continued.)

Monumental Remains and Antiquities in the
County of Bedford. By Thomas Fisher.

This is a very curious antiquarian work, consisting of thirty-seven drawings upon stone, executed by Mr. Fisher, and only fifty copies of each have been printed at the lithographic press of D. J. Redman.

Mr. Fisher was one of the first encouragers of lithography, or, as he termed it, polyautography, in this country; and to him we are obliged for a curious memoir of Philip H. André, the first introducer of the art in this country, which appeared in our volume LXXVIII. p. 193.

Mr. Fisher has distinguished himself also by a vigourous opposition to the illiberal Act unjustly designated for the encouragement of literature. His appeal to the legislature on this subject has been laid before the public.

This Act, it appears, has been the sole cause of stopping in their progress two very curious works begun by Mr. Fisher, and the completion of which has long been the wish of many a collector of antiquarian publications. We allude to "The Antient, Allegorical, Historical, and Legendary Paintings at Stratford upon Avon," and "The Collections for Bedfordshire." But on this subject Mr. Fisher shall speak for himself:

"The progress of these works was interrupted by that very singular measure of Parliamentary encouragement, the Copyright Act. By that Act the Curators of eleven privileged libraries acquired a legal right to demand, without remuneration, eleven copies of any and of every book which might thereafter be published in Great Britain, with letter-press; a right which, so long as it exists, will operate on the publications above

140

REVIEW.-Sweet's Hortus Britannicus.

referred to, and on all similar projected works, however intrinsically valuable or praiseworthy, as a discouragement. "But it is hoped that the impolicy of this enactment will soon be obvious to all impartial persons, and to the Legislature in particular. It is now known that the Copyright Act has, on the one hand, failed to secure to the fa voured parties much of that benefit which they had desired so inconsiderately, and laboured to obtain so strenuously; while, on the other hand, if it has not altogether banished elegant and expensive literature from this country, it has at least turned the scale very much in favour of foreign nations, where the act of publication entails upon an author no such penalties and loss of property as the Copyright Act imposes. A comparison of the productions of the British press, in almost every department of science, with those of the presses of the continent of Europe, during the last ten years, will verify

the observation.

[Jan.

It certainly is the most complete and useful catalogue that has yet appeared, as in one line it gives the systematic and English names, where described, of what country it is native, the year introduced, the months when in flower, whether hardy or tender, its duration, and reference to the books in which it is figured; and where any names have been lately changed, a synonym is given in italics to show what it is changed from. It also contains nearly double the number of plants contained in any other catalogue that we have seen, so that, on the whole, we believe it could not have been more complete. In our opinion, tural system is far preferable to that of the arrangement according to the nators, and on this account the present an artificial one, particularly for cultivawork should be in the hands of all gardeners and cultivators of plants, and the references to the figures will also

"Such being the state of facts, may it not be reasonably expected, that at no very distant period, the subject will be again brought under the consideration of Parlia-render it very useful to the botanist. ment; and that, when the impolicy of the law shall have been made apparent by a reference to the actual result of ten years' experience of its operation, this oppressive statute will be repealed, and freedom be again restored to the literature and science of

Great Britain ?"

In this wish we most cordially join. From our experience in trade we are aware of many valuable and extensive works, rather than incur so heavy a penalty, having been either given up altogether, or published without the necessary explanatory letter-press, thus evading the penalty of the law.

Hortus Britannicus; or a Catalogue of Plants cultivated in the Gardens of Great Britain, arranged in Natural Orders; with the addition of the Linnæan Classes and Orders to which they belong, &c. By R. Sweet, F.L.S. 8vo. p. 1. Ridgway.

THIS useful work must have occasioned the author great application of labour in arranging all the genera and species according to their natural affinities, a plan which we believe has never been before introduced into any -general catalogue of plants. It appears to be by far the most useful method for the cultivator, as it brings together the plants that are the nearest related; and we observe, in the same line with the generic name, the addition also of the Linnæau class and order to which it belongs.

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The author's previous works, viz. the Hortus Suburbanus Londinensis; the Hothouse and Greenhouse Manual Cultivator; Geraniacea; Cistiniæ; and the British Flower-garden; have been deservedly admired and appreciated, and have acquired for the author the most extended reputation both at home and on the continent of Europe, and happy should we feel if our tardy notice of his labours should be the means of stimulating him to still greater exertions.

The Sympathizing High-priest. Three Sermons, preached in the parish church of St. Mary, Aldermary. By the Rev. H. B. Wilson, D.D. F.S.A. Rector. 8vo. pp. 44. WE do not like such odd expressions as the thickness of our Saviour's sweats (p. 8) during his agony; but many divines do not think literary character of any moment in the composition of sermons.

Unitarianism in one view, and in comThese before us are directed against memoration of the public virtues of A pious and benevolent spirit seems to the late Archbishop Sutton in another. animate the three discourses, and we ble and excellent intentions. We agree highly respect the author for his amiawith him in his opinion, that

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Many of the dissensions which unhappily divide and distract mankind on the subject of religion, are to be traced to an anxiety to divest it of all mystery."—p. i.

1829.]

REVIEW.-Neele's Literary Remains.

The Literary Remains of the late Henry Neele, Author of the "Romance of History," &c. &c. consisting of Lectures on English Poetry, Tales, and other Miscellaneous Pieces, in prose and verse. pp. 543.

820.

LET us imagine that we are walking amidst grand forest scenery, and that our attention is caught by a fine majestic rock, at the foot of which is a "fons salientis aquæ," beautifully pellucid. We gaze on it with delight, for seeing is like feeling. The plea sure of viewing an interesting object is only a delicate and fine sentiment.* While we are thus gazing, the water becomes dim from some invisible cause. It is next agitated; the perturbation increases to boiling. We are astonished. On a sudden it sinks wholly into the ground, and not a trace of it appears. Such is the history of the genius, writings, and premature death of Henry Neele. Genius was the rock; his ideas flowing from it were pre-eminently lucid, and often surpassingly beautiful; not an opacity or cloudiness is, we think, to be seen in one of his gems; but, like Horace's "Fons Blandusiæ, splendidior vitro," of which the poet says, "Fies nobilium tu quoque fontium," just as he was known and appreciated, and beginning to shine above the lesser stars of the literary hemisphere, Insanity seized him, and held him fast, while Death assassinated him. Let us not be uncharitable, for a levis insania characterizes all poets whatever; and not only does Democritus exclude "sanos Helicone poetas," and Cicero quote Plato as saying that the true poetical character cannot exist, "sine inflammatione animorum, et sine quodam afflatu quasi furoris," but the unfortunate subject will not endure restraint from prudence, his bias is insuperable.

"Nanciscetur enim pretium nomenque poetæ [quam Si tribus Anticyris caput insanabile nunTonsori Sicino commiserit."

Neele, though he became an excellent French scholar, never displayed at school any application, or even talent for Greek, Latin, or study of any sort,

On s'exerce à voir comme à sentir, ou plutôt, une vue exquise n'est qu'un sentiment delicat et fin. ROUSSEAU. See our author, p. 345.

GENT. MAG. January, 1829.

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except poetry. But this neglect he redeemed by subsequent application. His profession was that of an attorney, in which character he may be considered rather as a machine than a man. His voluntary pursuits were decidedly intellectual; but we are inclined to think that they were much assisted by his professional studies. We allude to the singular clearness and precision of his manner of thinking and writing, -a manner which is equal to the best of the classics. In his excellent Lectures on Poetry, he not only rivals Blair, but he animates the subject with the nicest and most accurate discriminations of character; he exhibits perfect atoms as it were in a microscope, and displays their distinct features and organization; and, not only this, but to keep attention awake, he sets dry narrative to the finest music of elegant humour and delicious sentiment. Neele felt when it was necessary to shun tædium, an important caution in all viva voce oratory; and he knew that diamonds in the mine were only heaps of earth, till they were polished aud set. Johnson's celebrated preface to Shakspeare is a grand set speech, made in honour of the Bard; but it is evident that here, as in all Johnson's writings, it is himself, not the subject, who is exhibited,-the performer, not the play. In the dissection of Shakspeare, on the contrary, Neele contented himself with being the operative anatomist; and with what consummate skill he has illustrated the great master of the human character, Shakspeare, may ap pear from the following extract:

"Of Shakspeare's comic female characters, it will be sufficient to adduce two, Rosalind and Beatrice. What a fascinating creature is the first! what an admirable compound of wit, gaiety, and good humour! blended at the same time with deep and strong passion, with courage and resolution, with unshaken affection to her father, and constant and fervent love for Orlando. How extraordinary and romantic is this character, if we contemplate it in the abstract; yet how beautiful and true to Nature, if we examine it in all its details. Beatrice is a character of a very different stamp from Rosalind, although resembling her in some particulars. She has all her wit; but, it must be confessed, without her good humour. Her arrows are not merely piercing, but poisoned. Rosalind's is cheerful raillery; Beatrice's satirical bitterness. Rosa

42

REVIEW.-Neele's Literary Remains.

lind is not only afraid to strike, but unwilling to wound. Beatrice is at least careless of the effect of her wit, if she can but find an opportunity to utter it. But Shakspeare has no heartless character in his dramas; he has no mere intellectual gladiators,' as Dr. Johnson has well styled the actors in the witty scenes of Congreve. Beatrice has strong and easily excited feelings. Love is called into action by the stratagem of the garden scene; and rage, indignation, and revenge, by the slanders cast upon her cousin. We have heard the character called inconsistent; but what is human nature but a tissue of inconsistencies? or rather are not our hopes, fears, affections, and passions, linked together by a thread so fine, that only the gifted eye of such a poet as Shakspeare can discover it? The changes of purpose and passion, as developed by him, in the mind of Beatrice, are any thing but inconsistencies; abrupt and surprising they certainly are, but they

are accounted for by motives of extraordinary weight, and feelings of singular susceptibility.' pp. 91, 92,

We have not room for his diversified picture gallery of Shakspeare's Clowns, a subject which he has treated with the admirable portraiture of a Hogarth. The top of the climax of buffoon character is Falstaff; but Neele has not touched upon him, and we are sorry for it. Nonsense is wine when we are disposed to conviviality; and even Commonwealth puritans, who enacted that tailors should not sit cross-legged, through abhorrence of popery (see p. 19), relaxed their grim features, we doubt not, when the prattling pin-basket sat upon their knees. But, if Neele has omitted Falstaff, he has finger-pointed Touchstone to our notice, as the first of all clowns, past, present, or to come. He is indeed the best-tempered, pleasantest philosophical abstract clown ever known; in fact, the Shakspeare himself of the motley tribe, the Clown in the Twelfth Night is a wag, a Mercutio in low life; the Clown in Lear is a worthy affectionate dependent, laughing only professionally; the rest are bumkins, or pedants, or coxcombs, or braggadocios, but all of them natural characters, only stage-drest up to make a show.

We shall now leave Shakspeare, to give Neele's characters of certain firstrate poets.

Chaucer. Chaucer's versatility was most extraordinary. No English poet, Shakspeare alone excepted, exhibits

[Jan.

such striking instances of comic and tragic powers united in the same mind. His humour and wit are of the brightest and keenest character; but then his pathos is tremendous, and his descriptive powers are of the highest order.

P. 8.

Spenser-Spenser's hero is always honour, truth, valour, courtesy; but it is not man. His heroine is meekness, chastity, constancy, beauty; but it is not woman. His landscapes are fertility, magnificence, verdure, splendour; but they are not nature. His pictures have no relief; they are all light, or all shadow; they are all wonder, but no truth. P. 52.

Ossian, Milton.-The grand characteristic of Ossian is pathos, of Milton sublimity. P. 74.

Chatterton. His poems bear internal evidence of their being the productions of a boy, of a marvellous boy indeed, but still of a boy. There are no traces of experience, of long observation, of a knowledge of human nature, nor indeed of acquirements of any sort. What he has left behind him is full of genius; but full of inequalities and faults. P. 76.

Vanbrugh, Swift.-Such writers as Vanbrugh and Swift do not use the vices and folljes of mankind for the purpose of instruction or amusement; but standing aloof from humanity, like the Mephistophiles of Goethe, and make its weaknesses and its crimes the objects of their fiend-like derision. P. 150.

Shenstone, Phillips, Hammond. · Made up of artificial affectation, their shepherds and shepherdesses are only ladies and gentlemen in masquerade, sitting upon green hillocks, with pastoral crooks in their hands, and talking about love and Arcadia. P. 167.

Young-His genius is only seen to advantage amidst charnel houses and sepulchres. It seems as if, like the pictures of the camera obscura, it could not be exhibited, but in an apparatus of darkness. His muse is a mummy; his Apollo a sexton; his Parnassus a church-yard. He drinks from the ri ver Styx instead of Hippocrene, and mistakes the pale horse in the Revelations for Pegasus. The consequence is that, as far as a very large portion of his volume is concerned, it may be very good divinity, but it is not poetry. P. 180.

Thomson. The first of our descrip

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