58

life without the bias of one good principle." Thus thought the Archbishop, in a sermon recommending education, and so thinks his Lordship in the sermon before us. The judicious Bishop of Bath and Wells takes the same ground, and shows that the civil and political superiority of a nation depends upon its knowledge. The Prelate of London before us, says, in reprobation of prejudices on this head, [and is not Scotland an existing contradiction of such prejudices?]

"It is marvellous and lamentable, that even at this time of day, persons should be found who maintain that the increase of juvenile delinquency, if it has not in part been occasioned by the general diffusion of education, has at least received no check from it. I would fain be told by what process of inquiry they have arrived at this conclusion; not certainly by examining the returns made from the different gaols; still less from an investigation of the books of our schools; from which it would appear, that the proportion of criminals, who have been educated upon any thing like a right system, or to any considerable extent, is very small. Unless crime itself can be eradicated, as education extends itself through all classes, the proportion of educated delinquents must increase. Surely the fair inference is this: if, unhappily, the number of offenders is so great, in spite of the advantages of education, how fearfully great would it have been had no extraordinary efforts been used to communicate religious knowledge to the poor. As long as the poor laws are administered on the present system-as long as increased facilities of intemperance are offered to the labouring classes as long as the present unnatural and unhealthy state of our manufactures shall continue-and, as long as the

revenue of the state shall be more regarded than the morals of the people-so long we must expect to find that crime will increase. It must be remembered that the result of education is not always knowledge; and that the mere mechanical process of teaching to read and write does not communicate any principle of resistance to temptation. Mr. Brown, the active and humane chaplain of Norwich Castle, remarks, ' even among prisoners, who have mechanically learned to read and write, there exists, generally speaking, a lamentable ignorance of moral and religious duties, and of the awful sanctions of religion; and of the rest, some know as little of the very first principles of religion as the wildest savage.' It is to be hoped that the clergy, within whose province it falls to superintend the National Schools, will bear this fact in mind; and not suffer the admir

able mechanism of instruction pursued in those schools, to divert their attention from

[Jan.

The fact is, that as soon as children are able to do any kind of work they are sent to work, and in a view of public and private utility, it is an obvious good. But a machine, endowed with selfagency, requires a controuling priuciple in se; and it is a duty, incumbent upon employers, to see that attention be paid to the only means of creating such controul, religious and moral education.

His Lordship (in p. 15) touches upon another important point, viz. the impolicy of commitment before trial.

"Commitment before trial, except in the case of graver offences, ought surely never to be resorted to, where the appearance of the accused, to take his trial, can be secured in any other way." P. 15.

Where there is shame, says Johnson, there may yet be virtue; and we are sure that, in the Bishop's words, 66 an indiscriminate intercourse with the most hardened and abandoned criminals" is well suited to destroy the salutary feeling alluded to.

Legends of the Lakes; or, Sayings and Doings at Killarney. Collected chiefly from the Manuscripts of R. Adolphus Lynch, Esq. H. P. King's German Legion. By T. Crofton Croker. 2 vols. 8vo. Ebers and Co.

WE opened these volumes with the expectation of being highly amused, and we can safely say that our expectations have been fully gratified. The author has already, in his "Fairy Legends," proved himself master of all the revelries and witcheries of the "good people," that fanciful, fantastic, little gentry; in truth we might say he belongs to that race himself; for that he is a good fellow every body knows, and that he is a good spirit is proved by his works, but by none more especially than that which now presents itself for consideration.

We perfectly agree with our author, that no one can intend to make a serious business of a visit to the Lakes of Killarney; and if a pleasant tour, with romantic scenery and romantic traditions, be our object, next to going with Croker himself, we should recommend being accompanied by his book, which is not only a "Guide" to the natural but the legendary beau

1829.]

59

"O'Rourke's noble fare,

(Which) Will ne'er be forgot, By those who were there, Or those who were not."

To the latter class we would most especially recommend its perusal, for they may be assured that, though their good fortune may never lead them to eat roasted potatoes or broiled salmon on Dinis Island, they may now enjoy the "imagination of a feast," and be as well acquainted with Mr. Gorham and the Hibernian Hotel as if they had lived there a month. For ourselves, our literary labours are such, that we despaired of ever quitting our reading chair or study, for so long a time as to permit a jaunt per steamer to the Isle of Thanet, much less of penetrating so far as to explore the beauties of the Emerald Isle! Mr. Croker, however, has effected this desirable end, and we are therefore more particularly bound to him for transporting us, by the magic stroke of his pen (and we are no easy weight), to the romantic banks of Killarney, and introducing us to its light-hearted inha

bitants.

These "Sayings and Doings" are every where so lively that we have some difficulty in knowing what to select. There are, however, two Irish saints that are so familiar to English ears, that our readers will no doubt be obliged to us for making them better acquainted with their history; we need scarcely say those to which we allude are St. Patrick and the aqueous St. Swithin.

We remember to have heard how, in the olden time, St. Patrick "drove out toads and frogs like a Hector," but how he bothered the varmint we never correctly knew till our sprightly author informed us.

"Sure every body has heard tell of the blessed Saint Patrick, and how he drove the sarpints and all manner of venomous things out of Ireland. How he bothered all the varmint' entirely. But, for all that, there was one ould sarpint left, who was too cunning to be talked out of the country, aud made to drown himself. St. Patrick didn't well know how to manage this fellow, who was doing great havoc; till, at long last, he bethought himself, and got a strong iron chest made, with nine boults upon it.

"So one fine morning he takes a walk to where the sarpint used to keep; and the sarpint, who didn't like the saint in the

gan to hiss and show his teeth at him like any thing. Oh,' says Saint Patrick, says he, where's the use of making such a piece of work about a gentleman like myself coming to see you. "Tis a nice house I have got made for you, agin the winter; for I'm going to civilize the whole country, man and beast,' says he, and you can come and look at it whenever you please, and 'tis myself will be glad to see you.'

"The sarpint hearing such smooth words, thought that, though Saint Patrick had druve all the rest of the sarpints into the sea, he meant no harm to himself; so the sarpiut walks fair and easy up to see him and the house he was speaking about. But when the sarpint saw the nine great boults upon the chest, he thought he was sould (betrayed), and was for making off with himself as fast as ever he could.

<<< "Tis a nice warm house you see,' says Saint Patrick, and 'tis a good friend I am to you.'

"I thank you kindly, Saint Patrick, for your civility,' says the sarpint, but I think it's too small it is for me,'-meaning it for an excuse, and away he was going.

"Too small!' says Saint Patrick, stop, if you please,' says he; you're out in that, my boy, any how-I am sure 'twill fit you completely; and, I'll tell you what,' says he, I'll bet you a gallon of porter,' says he, that if you'll only try and get in, there'll be plenty of room for you.'

"The sarpint was as thirsty as could be with his walk, and 'twas great joy to him, the thoughts of doing Saint Patrick out of a gallon of porter, so, swelling himself up as big as he could, in he got to the chest, all but a little bit of his tail. There, now,' says he, I've won the gallon, for you see the house is too small for me, for I can't get in my tail!' When what does Saint Patrick do, but he comes behind the great heavy lid of the chest, and, putting his two hands to it, down he slaps it, with a bang like thunder. When the rogue of a sarpint saw the lid coming down, in went his tail, like a shot, for fear of being whipped off him, and Saint Patrick began at once to

boult the nine iron boults.

"Oh, murder! won't you let me out, Saint Patrick?" says the sarpint; I've lost the bet fairly; and I'll pay you the gallon like a man!'

"Let you out, my darling,' says Saint Patrick, to be sure I will-by all manner of means-but, you see, I haven't time now, so you must wait till to-morrow.' And so he took the iron chest, with the sarpint in it, and pitches it into the lake here, where it is to this hour for certain; and 'tis the sarpint struggling down at the bottom that makes the waves upon it. Many is the living man,' continued Picket, besides myself, has hard the sarpint crying out, from

60

within the chest under the water, 'Is it tomorrow yet? Is it to-morrow yet?' which, to be sure, it never can be: and that's the way Saint Patrick settled the last of the sarpints, Sir."-vol. i. p. 180.

[Jan.

the country, and they had no less than right, for they lost a good friend the day he died. However, from ullagouing they soon came to fighting about where he was to be buried. His own parish wouldn't part with him if they

"Well, Tom,' said I to him, this is Swithin's day, and not a drop of rain:-you see the old saying of forty days rain,' goes for nothing.'

"Oh, but the day isn't over yet,' said Tom, so you'd better not halloo, Sir, till you're out of the wood. I'll go bail we'll have rain some time of the day, and then you may be sure of it for the forty days.If that's the way, Tom,' said I, the same Swithin must have been the thirstiest saint in the calendar; and it's quite certain he must have been a real Irish saint, since he's so fond of the drop.' -You may laugh if you please,' said Tom, resting on his spade, you may laugh if you please, but it's a bad thing any how, to spake that way of the saints; and, sure, Saint Swithin was a blessed priest, and the rain was a miracle sent on his account; but may be you never heard how it came to pass.- No, Tom, I did not,' said I.— Well, then, I'll tell you,' said he, how it

was.

Saint Swithin was a priest, and a very holy man-so holy that he went by no other name but that of the blessed priest. He was'nt like the priests now-a-days, who ride about on fine horses, with spectacles stuck upon their noses, and horsewhips in their hands, and polished boots on their legs, that fit them as nate as a Limerick glove, (God forgive me for spaking ill of the clargy, but some of them have no more conscience than a pig in a pratie garden); I give you Doody's own words,' said Mr. Lynch.That's exactly what I wish.'-And he continued, Saint Swithin was not that kind of priest, no such thing; for he did nothing but pray from morning to night, so that he brought a blessing on the whole country round; and could cure all sorts of diseases; and was so charitable that he 'd give away the shirt off his back. Then, whenever he went out, it was quite plain and sober, on a rough little mountain-garron; and he thought himself grand entirely if his big ould-fashioned boots got a rub of the grase. It was no wonder he should be called the blessed priest, and that the people far and near should flock to him to mass and confession; or that they thought it a blessed thing to have him lay his hands on their heads. It's a pity the likes of him should ever die, but there's no help for death; and sure if he wasn't so good entirely he'd have been left, and not Le taken away as he was; for 'tis them that are most wanting are the first to go. The news of his death flew about like lightning; and there was nothing but ullagoning through all

right to him; but the next parish wanted to get him by the lauve laider (strong hand), for they thought it would bring a blessing on them to have his bones among them; so his own parishioners at last took and buried him by night, without the others knowing any thing about it. When the others heard it they were tearing mad, and raised a large faction, thinking to take him up and carry him away in spite of his pa rishioners; so they had a great battle upon it; but those who had the best right to him were beat out and out, and the others were just going to take him up, when there came all at once such a rain as was never seen before or since; it was so beavy that they were obliged to run away half drowned, and give it up as a bad job. They thought, however, that it wouldn't last long, and that they could come again; but they were out in that, for it never stopped raining in that manner for forty days, so they were obliged to give it up entirely; and ever since that time there's always more or less rain on Saint Swithin's day, and for forty days after."

And for the credit of St. Swithin and Tom Doody, just as he had finished his story there came down a tremendous shower.

It has been said

"That man's an ass who thinks by force or skill

To stem the torrent of a woman's will: For if she will she will, you may depend on 't ;

And if she wo'n't-she wo'n't; and there's an end on 't."

A fact which is illustrated by a lively little bit of a domestic sketch, with which we shall conclude our extracts from this extremely entertaining, and, we may add, useful "Guide-book."

"A FAMILY TRIP TO THE SPA OF TRALEE.

"I think, my dear,' said my wife, one morning in the fine month of June, I think, my dear, a little excursion to the Spa of Tralee, would do the children a great deal of good. They could bathe in the salt water, you know, and run about the strand, inhaling the fresh breeze from the ocean.' Now, besides that this was said with one of her most winning smiles, I knew perfectly well there was no use in arguing with a woman, when once she has taken a thing positively into her head. So it is, and so it must be all the arguments in the world would not persuade her to the contrary. I

1829.]

leave it to wiser heads than mine to determine the whys and the wherefores; but, for my own part, I have always looked upon the ladies as having less of reason, and more of fancy and feeling, than those rough-hewn mortals of the masculine gender. If, therefore, you can tickle their fancies or awaken their feelings, the thing is done at once; but, if you cannot do this, and will not grant what they look for, you have nothing for it but an absolute No.

"Now, every one must know there are more Noes than one in the language. For instance, there's the No affirmative, that is, when No is uttered in such a manner as to be equal to two negatives, which are equal to one affirmative.* Then there's the No equivocal, which leaves you in doubt whether it be intended for no or yes. And last of all comes the No absolute, which I take to be the most villainous, castle-breaking, heart-galling, down-knocking, upblowing, hard-hearted monosyllable in the English language, and am therefore very much averse to making use of it.

"To be sure I did think we were just as well at home, and that it would be quite as

well to save our cash as to go and sport it in Tralee, and was, therefore, on the point of rapping out an absolute No, when, in addition to my repugnance to make use of so ungracious a monosyllable, my wife's very winning smile charged me so forcibly, that, gulping down the No absolute, I only made use of the No equivocal.

"When a man begins to give way to a woman he may as well give up at once; she's sure to conquer; and thus it happened that my No equivocal was construed into an affirmative.

"Crack! crack! went the whip- the car's at the door, your honour-hurroo,' all's bustle and confusion-Mary calling for Joaney-Joaney for Mary-my wife calling for both the children all the time squeaking like so many guinea-pigs. The box of finery was placed on the car, as also the featherbed, covered with a neat Tameen quilt, wife, maid, and children, all tumbling on the top of it. Thank Heaven! all's right at lastoh no, the large bandbox with my wife's best bonnet cannot be left behind-what should she do at Tralee without her best bonnet?-here it comes!' Crack, crack!'

went the whip; Creak, creak!' squeaked the wheels, and at last away they rolled."vol. i. p. 222.

We cannot take our leave without noticing the spirited and characteristic graphic illustrations which the author has given, by which, the "action being suited to the word" of the text, we see, as well as hear, the merry mountaineers.

• Such is the Nolo Episcopari.-ED.

61

The Annual Biography and Obituary for the Year 1829. Vol. XIII.

The materials which compose this volume are interesting, useful, and valuable; they are arranged and compiled in a judicious and pleasing manner; and in the sentiments which they convey, there is little or nothing to offend good morals or good taste, but, on the contrary, much to support both.

This tribute of commendation would, we are convinced, be awarded by any one possessing a partiality to biography at all approaching to our own; but at the same time we feel conscious that in praising this volume our praise is in great measure egotistical. For, to place our own merits in the humblest light, in almost every case we clear the way for the Annual Biography and Obituary; and, as a whole, the work is little more than our memoirs of deceased individuals collected into a volume; a score of them—we are willing and happy to admit, re-written, and considerably enlarged and improved,are printed in a larger type; and the remainder, as far as there is room,for all our memoirs are not taken, as we shall show hereafter, merely thrown into an alphabetical arrange

ment.

But we complain not, except for the purchasers of the work, for whom all our memoirs should be taken to make their book complete. On our own account, we make no complaint; on the contrary, we should be glad, if there were encouragement for them, to see collections formed from other divisions of our contents *. We only require the circumstances to be known and understood; and, satisfied with the acknowledgments made by the Editor of the Annual Obituary since the serious appeal we made about four years ago, we do not now enlarge on the subject in terms of reproach or complaint; but merely because we informed, as well as those of the Anthink our own subscribers should be nual Obituary, how highly our me

moirs are esteemed.

We imagine, therefore, we do ourselves no more than simple justice in stating that the second division of this volume of the Annual Obituary, called

* One of the topographical articles, or even a Topographical Index to our series, would be of undeniable utility.

62

the "Biographical Index," contains in all eighty-five memoirs, of which nine are stated to have been derived from the Naval, Military, or East India Military Calendars, three from newspapers, three from the Literary Gazette, twelve from our monthly contemporaries, and the remaining fiftyeight from the Gentleman's Magazine.

But we can go still further, by showing that, where the Gentleman's Magazine is not cited, in some instances it might have been consulted with advantage:

Of Colonel de Montmorency's life, the professional data are given from the Royal Military Calendar; but some particulars of his family, his character, and the circumstances of his death, in the Gentleman's Magazine for April, have been overlooked.

The memoir of Dr. O'Conor from the Literary Gazette, would have been improved, and at least one gross misprint corrected, by a comparison with our number for November.

The corrections of a correspond. ent in our March Magazine, p. 290, on our biography of Lord Oriel, are unnoticed in the Annual Biography.

In the memoir of Helen Maria Williams from the Monthly Magazine, an important correction in our May number, p. 386, has passed unnoticed, and the misstatement relative to "the Rev. F. Stone," is perpetuated by another re-publication.

These matters are of sufficient weight to claim correction in the next year's volume.

And now, having stated what the Editor of the Annual Obituary has taken from us, we should still consider ourselves insufficient champions for our Obituary, did we not also give some idea of what he has left. On turning over our numbers, we are ourselves surprised to find the uncopied more numerous than the copied. Without reckoning several brief memoirs of clergymen, and the longer paragraphs of our county deaths, which are, however, particularized in our Index of Essays, and might very properly be inserted in the Biographical Index" of the work under review; we find our longer and distinct articles, which are wholly passed over in the Annual Obituary, amount to upwards of sixty. Of these the Marquess of Northampton, the Earl of Radnor, the Hon. Philip Pusey, and other Noblemen,

[Jan.

Sir W. A. Cunynghame, and other Baronets, Lord F. Bentinck, Sir P. E. Irving, and a long list of military and naval men, have as high a claim to notice as some of those selected whom it would be invidious to mention; of literary men, we do not find the talented local historian, Archdeacon Owen, nor the Rev. Mr. Leeves, the author of Auld Robin Gray; nor the artist Theodore Lane; whilst we think that even Peter Moore the renowned M. F. for Coventry, the clown Delpini, and the spendthrift J. P. Meridyth, have at least equal claims with the crazy George Bingham, or the rag-merchant Mr. John Bishopp, our memoirs of whom have been copied. We see clearly that, from the Editor being confined to a certain number of sheets (and the same is observable in the preceding volumes) the latter letters of the alphabet have suffered retrenchment; and many an eminent character with an initial W. has been excluded, when fools or beggars under B. have escaped expulsion.

Foreigners, as in the previous volumes, are entirely omitted; but the pages of our last volume preserve rather ample biographies of the Ducs de Riviere and San Carlos, Count Lauriston, Prince Ypsilanti, Clinton the American Governor, and Dr. Gall the phreuologist.

To turn from that part of the Annual Obituary, which is almost exclusively the work of the scissors, to that in which the pen has been employed with greater activity, we must first remark that the two divisions might very properly exchange a considerable portion of their titles. It is only the first division that is "compiled in part from original papers, and in part from contemporary publications;" whilst for the second, which is (this year at least) wholly copied from contemporary publications, the plain title of "Memoirs of celebrated persons, who have died within the years 1827-1828," would be sufficient. And for what reason, a stranger would naturally object in addition, if the volume records the deaths of 1827 and 1828, is it called "the Annual Obituary for 1829"? We know ourselves the reason; it is because this anticipation of the coming year has been customary from the commencement of, the work, when, from the plan being somewhat different, the title was less inappropriate. From a