a head with a mouth open, and preposterously carved, the indication at the doors of an apothecary's residence (384); Church-paintings, so large, that they may be distinctly seen from the west end, looking down the ailes, of which in the nave there are seven (389). As the passage of æstuaries and rivers is a matter of great convenience, and a sufficiency of bridges is certainly not provided in this country; and as a similar expedient is successfully adopted at Little Hampton in Sussex, we mention the following contrivance for passing the river at Cologne: "The passage of the river is made in an excellent and safe contrivance, called the 'Brücke,' a floating bridge, which is a platform, firmly fixed on the decks of two flatbottomed boats, affording sufficient space for a number of carriages and horses, without incommoding the passengers; and the whole being railed round, is perfectly secure. In the centre are two upright pieces of timber, with a beam placed transversely upon them, strengthened by two strong chains proceeding from the end of the platform. Another chain attached to the cross-beam is of great length, and bound near the end to the masts of seven or eight small boats, the furthest of which lies at anchor near the middle of the stream. These boats, from their buoyancy, occasion a considerable spring on the chain; and when the rope, which holds the raft to the opposite pier is loosened, the current causes a great lateral pressure on the raft, which pressure being assisted by two long oars, acting as rudders, has the effect of propelling it across the river, in the space of ten minutes." P. 416. We are now obliged to conclude, but cannot do so with justice to the author, without noticing the statistical tables of the export of grain. In that concerning the exports from Riga (Appendix, No. iv.) we were much struck with the fluctuations in the quantities, e.g. in 1817, the total of all kinds of grain exported was 965,073 quarters. It continued to diminish somewhat gradually till 1821, when it dropped down to 64,574; and in 1822, to so low an ebb as 10,396, after which it rises again. These tables are good studies for the Statist. We have derived much valuable in struction and pleasing amusement from this work; and feel ourselves bound to acknowledge, that our limits have prevented us from noticing a rare mass of useful intelligence. 17. Picturesque Views of the English Cities. From Drawings by G. F. Robson. Edited by J. Britton, F.S. A. &c. HAVING always been enthusiastic admirers (and who are not?) of the magnificent productions of the pencil of Robson, and well knowing that the public spirit of the gentleman who has undertaken the task of editing and publishing this collection of cities "from their beauty, variety, fidelity, and picturesque effects," would not permit the work to appear in any other way than was calculated to enhance the reputation of the artists engaged in its production, and to afford the purchasers an unrivalled collection of beautiful prints, we hailed its announcement with feelings of much satisfaction; and the number before us has in no way diminished that degree of pleasure. The impressions which we imbibed from a hasty glance at its contents were such as cannot fail of being received by every one who possesses a soul capable of appreciating the beauties of art-all the high intellectual powers of which are brought into active exertion here and a mind "feelingly alive to each fine impulse." To him who contemplates works of art with enthusiasm, and not, as the Abbé Winkelman observes "comme cet homme, qui voyant la mer pour la première fois, dit qu'elle était assez-jolie," this collection of gems, exhibiting the "Union of Topography and the Fine Arts," will afford a considerable portion of delight: "That such an union," observes the Editor in a very well-written address, "is calculated to gratify our best feelings, and administer to rational pleasures, few will be hardy or vulgar enough to deny. In contemplating prints of this class, the mind is imperceptibly and delightfully seduced by awaken reflections on the individual and colthe charms of the pencil and graver. They lective pursuits and habitations of civilized man; for "Tower'd cities please us then, The variegated and ever changeable effects produced by clouds, which alternately and successively indicate the tranquil gray morn-the vivid mid-day-the twinkling or flaming sun-set of evening-the murky and awful storm-the prismatic rainbow-the mystic haze, and by their absence in the cloudless sky-constitute the machinery which the Artist employs to heighten and adorn the local scene, or the composed land scape. In the series of prints which now claims the patronage of the amateur, each and all of these effects will be represented Robed in flames and amber light, The Clouds in thousand liveries dight.' "The City, both in the olden and modern state,-environed with fortified walls and bastion towers :-seated on a navigable river, (London)-or Tranquil Stream: (Salisbury)—crouching in the peaceful valley: (Wells) or crowning the bold rock: (Dur ham)-with its vast and venerable Cathedral, overtopping and dignifying the crowded dwellings of its citizens, is unquestionably a place of varied and commanding interest. Its relations and associations are manifold; all giving it historical and antiquarian importance in the annals of our country. Whatever therefore tends to inform and improve the mind, through the medium of amusement or didactic instruction on such subjects, is worthy of the artist and of the author; and equally claims the attention of the well informed gentleman. Although, on the present occasion, the Author has but little share in the work, he may probably hereafter make an appendage worthy of the subject and of the engravings. But for that oppressive and unjust literary tax, which exacts eleven copies of every published book an author may produce, the Editor would have written an account of each city, to accompany and exemplify the respective representations. To avoid this heavy and unrecompensed impost, he is precluded from attempting such novel and impressive accounts of the different cities, as would at once give value to the book, and become interesting to natives and strangers. Surely our legislators must be either indifferent to the claims and charms of literature, or fancy they promote its interests and utilities, by levying a peculiar and exclusive tax on Authors. Were the whole class of writers rich, or amply remunerated for their labours, they might quietly and tacitly hear the burden: but it should be generally known that authorship is seldom paid equal to any of the other liberal professions, and that manytoo many of the literati, are reduced to the mortifying condition of claiming pecuniary aid from the Literary Fund in the decline of life." interesting reading from the able pen of Mr. Britton, we must reserve further remark for another opportunity. In the mean time we cannot but express a wish that he who has so long wielded his pen against the existence of this degrading tax,-and who has pledged himself to a continuance of his exertions while the cause existswill bring the subject once more before the Legislature; and that every friend to the progress of knowledge, to the improvement of the human mind, and thereby to the exaltation of man, will strain every nerve, and strenuously unite to effect its repeal. The views contained in this number of the work are Norwich from the east; Lichfield and Rochester from the west; Worcester and York from the south; Canterbury from the north; Chichester from the west; and Bristol from the north-west; and these constitute a fourth of the whole number to be published. They are "engraved in line from a partiality to this branch of the art, and personal friendship to some of its meritorious professors," on the part of the Editor, who has designed an exceedingly interesting title-page-composed of architectural and sculptural ornaments analagous to cities-and which is delicately engraved on wood by S. Williams. The Cathedral of Norwich, rearing its lofty embellished spire above the surrounding edifices, is a pleasing figure, while the bold hills— rugged in their appearance-gradually slope to a centre, so as to permit a view of the walls and one of the towers of the Castle, with a gentle stream laving its base, and forming a boundary line to the two divisions of this interesting picture. Lichfield, with its Cathedral and well-disposed wooded scenery, is a magnificent engraving, in which Tombleson has done justice to the pencil of the Draughtsman; as have Smith and Barber in the cities Upon the injustice of an Act-which of Rochester and Worcester. In the has the power to check the exertions of latter, how calm and tranquil is the intellect, to quench the rising genius scene! The river without one murof the nation, and to operate to the muring ripple-save that occasioned prejudice of those who, while they by the glidings of the feathery tribe; seek to yield instruction to the uninthe delicately finished pinnacles of itiated, and gratification to the enquir- the Cathedral, and the lofty monuing minds, rely upon such resources ment of uninstructed talent, St. Anfor their daily bread-we had purposed drew's spire, all combine to render to have given our opinion at some this a picture of no ordinary occurlength; but having extracted so much This and Chichester are, we GENT. MAG. February, 1827. rence. confess, our favourites; though those of Canterbury, York, and Bristol, exhibit innumerable beauties, and pourtray the varied tints and forms of Nature; but Chichester with its light Cathedral, and the arc of the receding bow, forms a contrast with the "dark and dismal" clouds which declare impending storms; and inspire us with sentiments of admiration at the talents of the artists who have successively embodied the bold touches of Nature on the canvas and the copper. It is a magnificent picture, from which we are loath to turn away-not one feature tires the eye-every thing is so blended as to relieve and heighten the effects of the surrounding objects, and we dwell with new pleasures upon each individual beauty. 18. Dartmoor, a Descriptive Poem. By N. T. Carrington. Second Edit. 8vo. pp. 206. Murray. SINCE we had the gratification of paying our meed of praise to the first edition of this production of the welldeserving muse of Mr. Carrington, we have had occasion to call the attention of the admirers of song to those sublime and vivid lines which accompanied the "Martyred Student," (Kirke White, we presume) in Dagley's "Death's Doings." These, which alone will entitle the author to hold a place in the public estimation as high as any other living poet, were quoted in vol. xcvi. ii. p. 437, and they are sure to inspire those, who may not have perused his larger works, with a desire of becoming more intimately acquainted with one who possesses the power of delineating his characters in so superior a manner. Those who were debarred from purchasing the first edition of "Dartmoor," will now have an opportunity of adorning their libraries with one of the finest poems in our language, and of indulging themselves, as we have done, with a perusal and a reperusal of it for it deserves more than usual attention. Notwithstanding the first impression was entirely sold, we are sorry to learn that the author is under the necessity of relying upon the encouragement which may be given to this new edition-for any remuneration for his labours, or a stimulus to future works. And it is to assist in procuring this well-earned re ward that we go out of our usual course, and notice a second edition. We cannot forbear mentioning the general error into which Mr. Burt (the gentleman who contributed the notes and who is since dead) has fallen in deciphering ancient dates. In page 118, speaking of Fice's well, he observes, "The date 1168 is an extraordinary one, and the whole bears the undeniable appearance of great antiquity." If this date was read 1568, its extraordinary quality will vanish. A close inspection of the original, we think, will justify our reading. 19. On the relative Importance of Agriculture and Foreign Trade. By John Benett, Esq. M. P. 8vo. pp. 53. MR. BENETT contends, that the free introduction of foreign grain would render the poor classes of soils incapable of repaying the cost of production, exclusive of rent, and occasion the loss of the capital expended in improvement; "that cheapness produced by foreign import is the sure forerunner of scarcity; and that when the import of foreign corn was restrained by very high duties, our own growth supplied a stock of corn fully ample for our consumption. For this affirmation, Mr. Benett quotes Mr. Huskisson (in p. 10.) For our parts, we solemnly believe that, if the abolition of the Corn Laws was effected to-morrow, in the very form which the empirics of that fashionable quackery, political economy, so warmly recommend, and with which they have turned the heads of our manufacturers, it would be productive of great partial injury, and of little more benefit than enriching a few speculators. We believe the outcry to originate in sore feeling caused by an excess of goods and workmen, and we think with Mr. Benett (p. 31) that an increase of population may be considered as an augmentation of wealth and strength, provided the internal supply of food shall precede it; and cheap corn be a national good, provided cheapness shall be occasioned by excess of home production, or reduction of the cost of home production. P. 32. The anti Corn-Bill manufacturer contends that he can make goods, ad infinitum, very cheap, and that if he could find customers in the exporting countries, a stimulus would be given to the trade at home; but that such senator. 20. A Petition, with seasonable Advice to the we THIS is an ironical sneer at the pretended advantages which are to result from abolition of the Corn Laws. These pretended advantages are, we believe with the soi-disant Mr. Burton, "castles in the air;" for "if buy our grain from the serfs of Poland, the Cossacks in the Ukraine, or the Sclavonians on the Black Sea, where it is cheapest, these impoverished people can take but few of our manufactures in return, as they are clad with skins, rugs, or coarse stuffs of their own, and need none of our fine fabrics. P. 56. The cheapness of corn would also throw a large portion of arable land into common and pasture. Now "This would certainly cast some millions of ploughmen and farming labourers out of employ, and as in that case they could neither buy clothing nor utensils, this would lessen considerably the demand for manufactured goods. And how the ruined people could be employed or subsisted no political economist has been able to tell." p. 57. Political economists! We consider the majority of their theories to be like Italian fruit in marble, wood, or wax; pretty things for show, but not eatable; and we heartily hope that the popularity of this new science will not induce our countrymen to act upon its notions, without making previous ex periments. 21. A Memoir addressed to the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, on the planting and rearing of Forest Trees. By Wm. Withers, jun. 8vo. pp. 42. Memoir successfully demonstrates the great advantage of deeply ploughing or trenching land previous to planting, and of keeping it clean and free from weeds for some years afterwards. In p. 8 he shows, that where land is properly preserved and kept clean, deciduous trees will make much more wood than firs; and where the holedigging system is adopted (unless the land is very good), the firs are the only trees that will succeed. He meets the objections concerning (1) weeds keeping the land moist, and shading the roots from the heat of the Sun; (2) the expence of keeping the land clean; and (3) destroying cover for game, in manner following. it, by the practice of nurserymen and With regard to the first, he confutes gardeners, who consider keeping the ground clean to be the most effectual means of promoting the growth of plants. As to the second, the expence of hoeing, he says, lings an acre for three years, compared with "What can be the object of sixteen shilthe difference in value between a good and a bad plantation,-between fine growing plants of oak, ash, and chesnut, and worthless Scotch firs?" P. 12. As to the third objection about a cover for game, he says, "I admit that heath and whins will afford better cover than land in a clean state; but this will not last many years under Scotch firs, which it is well known will destroy all vegetation beneath them. A good permauent cover is not to be had in a plantation without underwood; and this cannot be made to grow amongst heath and whins, nor unless the ground be kept perfectly clean. To hoe round plantations is, therefore, not less necessary to obtain a good able crop of timber." P. 13. cover for game, than it is to insure a profit Mr. Withers shows by tables the great advantage of his plans. We shall beg to make another use of them. In the present period, when the manufactures are overloaded with population, might not the unemployed poor be profitably occupied by the nobility and gentry in cleaning their plantations, and spreading marle or brick earth, or muck, "which much promote the growth of trees," upon poor light soils. A speedy and certain return is (says Mr. Withers, p. 27) the result of a more liberal expenditure in MR. WITHERS in the present planting. See the Appendix. 22. Mr. Christie on Greek Vases. (Concluded from p. 38.) MR. CHRISTIE gives the following account of the Etruscan Vases: "This custom of depositing vases in sepulchres is supposed to have been introduced into Sicily and Magna Grecia by the early Greek colonies from Greece Proper, and into Etruria by emigrants from the same country. The manner in which these vessels are disposed in tombs, is well represented in an engraving introduced into the second volume of the great work of D'Hancarville, p. 57, that illustrates the first collection of vases formed by the late Sir William Hamilton. The body of the deceased was deposited in the centre of the vault, or upon an embankment raised against a side wall of the structure. It was surrounded by these painted earthen vessels, some of which had particular positions assigned to them, one being placed upon the chest of the corpse, and another between the legs, and (occasionally at least) a lamp near the crown of the head. The most curious kinds of vases are found in the tombs in Sicily, those of finest manufacture near Nola in Campania. A different description of vessel seems to have been peculiar to different districts, yet some of almost every kind are found in the same tomb. P. 4. The mystic doctrine of the immortality of the soul, imparted at Eleusis, being allegorically expressed by an elegant group on the side of the vase, the painting itself was put for the religious opinion of the person, and the person was in some degree represented by the vase. P. 8. "The absence of painted fictilia from the Cuman sepulchre, examined by Mr. Joria, prevents me from supposing that the deceased had enjoyed the benefit of initiation." P. 26. If we correctly understand Mr. Christie, he means to say that the painted vases are limited to the Eleusinian initiates. Of the mythology of the Etruscans, we have very imperfect intimations. Their knowledge of the Cabiric initiation is, however, shown by Clemens Alexandrinus in the following words: "For as they style the Corybantes Cabirs, so do they term this the Cabiric initiation. For the two who slew their brother, taking up the chest in which the member of Dionysius was deposited, brought it into Etruria, and truly they were the importers of a precious freight. There these runaways took up their abode, and imparted their valuable lessons in religion to the Etrurians, by proposing to them the member and chest as objects for worship. For this reason some will have it, and very justly, that the emasculate Bacchus was entitled Attis." pp. 30, 31. What these mysteries were we know not, nor are likely to know, as will appear by the following passage, which we shall give from Pellerin. rian or Phoenician, and all that is known of "The gods Cabiri were originally Sytheir origin and actions is to be found in a passage of Sanchoniathon, quoted by Eusebius, who says that the Dioscuri, Cabires, Corybantes, and Samothraces, were the inventors of ship-building. The Greeks fabricated a vast variety of mythological tales and pedigrees concerning then; but mostly made of them Castor and Pollux, sons of Jupiter and Leda. An equal confusion prevails concerning the mysteries of these gods. All which regarded them was mystical, even to their names, says Strabo. Herodotus mentions that they had a temple in Egypt, where the priests alone had permission of ries were only known to the initiated; and entrance. Pausanias says that their mystethat the latter did not dare to divulge them without exposing themselves to the greatest misfortuues. According to that author, the mysteries of Ceres Cabiria in Boeotia were the same as those of the Cabiri in Samothracia. If the initiated took so much care from fear of punishment, than because these not to speak of them, it was doubtless less mysteries were infamous, according to the recital made of them by Clemens of Alexandria, in speaking of the worship of the Calange de Medailles, tom. i. p. 92. biri among the Etruscans."-Pellerin, Me Vases referring to the Dioscuri may be easily known by the bonnets with stars over them, according to the Greek mode of representing them. But the Etruscan mode of sepulture under discussion is much earlier than the Greek æra, having been derived from Egypt. Boissard (Antiq. sive Monument. Roman. I. ii. annexed to Antiq. Roman. pars iv. p. 34) observes that the Etruscans embalmed their dead like the Egyptians, and annexed a book full of hieroglyphical charac ters, and vases full of oleaginous liquor. The vase in the instance below was of gold. The passage is as follows: "Neque solum apud Egyptios [embalming the dead] usitatum fuit, sed etiam apud antiquos Italos hunc morem servatum animadversum est, nempe Hetruscos, qui ex Egypto in Italiam navigantes regnum tenueruut apud Tyrrhenos et Ligures. Memini me audivisse a clarissimo viro Julio Roscio S. Maria Transtiberinæ canonico Romæ, suo tempore ad Arnum ex fluminis inundatione detectum fuisse sepulchrum, in quo |