tioned, as entirely new to the historical reader, the MS. History of Armenia, by Matthew of Edessa. We cannot refuse ourselves the indulgence of noticing another MS. for the sake of the particular anecdote which has been selected from it, although that anecdote bears no immediate reference to the crusade itself. It

is in speaking of the state of "the science of legislation," at this epoch, that M. Michaud mentions the ordinances which Gaston de Béarn, one of the heroes of the crusade, had drawn up, previous to his setting out on the expedition, for the regulation of his states during his absence.

"Among these," says our author, "we meet with some dispositions which deserve to be recorded by history, because they present to us the feeble commencements of a legislation which it required a length of time and fortunate circumstances to bring to perfection. • The peace,' says this legislator of the eleventh century, shall at all times be preserved towards the clergy, monks, travellers, ladies, and their attendants. If any man takes refuge with a lady, he shall be secure in his person on payment of damages. Peace be with the peasant: his oxen and his instruments of agriculture shall not be liable to seizure.””

This valuable extract is from a manuscript history of Béarn, "qu'a bien voula nous communiquer, un de nos magistrats les plus distingués, qui consacre ses loisirs à la culture des lettres. Cette histoire, remarquable par une sage érudition et une saine critique, doit jeter une grande lumière sur les temps reculés dont nous parlons." (Note p. 480.) We earnestly entreat Field Marshal the Marquis Wellington, in his projected invasion of the southern provinces of France, to take good care not to hurt either this respectable magistrate or his manuscript.

In the "Pièces Justificatives," collected at the end of this volume, the reader will find a mass of curious anecdote, and many important documents well worthy of being brought to light and preserved; but we have not space nor leisure left us to analyze their contents, or give any further extracts. We hope it will not be long before we shall have to announce a continuation of the work.

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Observations on the Character, Customs, and Superstitions of the Irish; and on some of the causes which have retarded the moral and political improvement of Ireland. By Daniel Dewar. 8vo. pp. 363.

[From the Monthly Review.]

MR. D. has occupied his first chapter with the illustration of some general views of national character: but the better plan for an author, in our opinion, is to postpone these general disquisitions; availing himself of opportunities of interweaving them with his particular details, or of bringing them before the reader when the latter has become familiar with the facts and circumstances constituting the subject of the book. One of Mr. Dewar's first remarks is the superior influence of moral and political over phy sical causes in the formation of national character. Adverting to the peculiar condition of Ireland, he dwells on the permanency of evil arising from any false political institution, after the institution itself has been swept away. A chief cause of the misery and

backwardness of our sister island is the unfortunate want of harmony among the several divisions of its population, which are three in number; the native Irish, the descendants of English settlers, and the descendants of Scots who are established in the province of Ulster. The Anglo-Hibernians, though warmly attached to Ireland, entertain in general a most unkindly disposition towards the aborigines; despising and disliking their religion, their language, and their habits. Among the descendants of the Scots, the spirit of antipathy is directed chiefly to the religion of their Irish countrymen. The province of Ulster is remarkable for containing a mixture of the three classes; the English settlers being chiefly landed gentry; the Scots linen manufacturers, as well as proprietors or tenants of land; and the Irish being confined to the humbler sphere of tenants and servants. No part of Ireland is more improved than the principal counties of Ulster: but nowhere is the influence of religious animosity and prejudice more apparent. The disposition of the aboriginal Irish is described by Mr. Dewar in those striking colours which are to be supplied only by actual intercourse and confidential conversation. He seems to be fond of comparing them with the Highlanders of Scotland, and of explaining the causes which, in the progress of ages, have produced different shades of character.

"There is no mark by which the native Irishman is more distinguished than inquisitiveness. He will walk miles with you to discover where you come from, where you are going, and what is your business; he will appear merry to make you frank, and perfectly untu

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tored and simple with a design constantly in view."—" An inquisitive turn of mind is generally accompanied with some degree of thoughtfulness. A Highlander is both inquisitive and thoughtful, so is an Irishman; though I am inclined to think that he has not got quite so much of the pensive philosopher in his nature. easily become jocular than a Highlander; nor is he so apt to make He can much more those moral reflections on the common incidents of life." the Highlander generally passes his life more retired and in a manner much more solitary than the Irishman, and is often left altogether to "Besides, his own reflections, and to the impressions which a wild and mountain scenery produces. In Leitrim, and in some parts of the county of Donegal, the character of the natives approximates nearer to that of a Highlander, than elsewhere. The scenery of both these counties is wild and romantic."

"The Irishman like the Highlander must often go from home; he must go in search of that bread which his country denies him, but he can never forget the cottage of his early years: whether in the east or west, though even buried amid the ignorance and vice of St. Giles's, the lovely valley in which he first began to live, and the green hills of his native isle, with all the soft and endearing associations which they awaken, never cease to warm his imagination, nor, to his latest hour, do they depart from his memory."--" I have witnessed a considerable share of this even among the low and uneducated part of that people in London. When I spoke to them in their own language, their national enthusiasm was kindled, and for a while they seemed to forget that they were in the land of strangers."

"The hospitality of the Irish, like that of the Scottish Highlanders, is proverbial; and never surely has a stranger visited the neighbouring isle without having had satisfactory proofs of it. The poor la bourer, who has only potatoes for himself and his children, will give the best in his pot to the guest, from whatever quarter he may come: he bestows his simple fare with a kindness that has often delighted me."

"I must next advert to that susceptibility of gratitude and resentment, so observable in the Irish. They are prone to extremes in their prepossessions, or their antipathies, their love or their hatred. They have no idea of the heartless neutrality of indifference, of the frigid torpor of insensibility; and it is with difficulty they can maintain that equanimity of mind, which accords with the happy medium of moderation. They are ardent and high spirited; and though not so proud as Highlanders, they have got all their impetuosity. No people in the world can be made better friends, and it is not easy to conceive of worse enemies. They have got some vanity, and they may be flattered; they possess warm affections, and they may very easily be secured; but they have a degree of resentment that will not suffer them with impunity to be injured or insulted. This character appears to me extremely valuable, since it may be turned to the best account: little can be done in improving a people dull and stupid; but much may be accomplished with those who are alive to every impression, who are acute, and generous, and ardent. After all, the character 58

VOL. III. New Series.

which I have been delineating must be allowed to have many faults, These, however, should, I think, be ascribed to the moral and politi cal circumstances in which the Irish have been placed. The constituent parts of this character are certainly good: and, if under proper direction, would undoubtedly produce the happiest results."

On considering the very limited information of the native Irishman, we might be apt to suspect that his character for shrewdness has been overrated; but Mr. Dewar maintains, that however illiterate, he will be found to possess both facility of comprehension and aptitude for acute remark. It has been said by the other classes of their countrymen, that the native Irish are deceit ful, and will betray a friend to serve themselves: but this opinion proceeds more from an observance of their conduct in history towards oppressive intruders, than from an attentive analysis of their peculiar habits; for, when they are once convinced that a person is their friend, their attachment knows no bounds. At the same time, the moral texture of the Irish character has been prejudiced by several unfortunate circumstances, for which we must go a long way back. The chief of an Irish clan or tribe was succeeded not necessarily by his direct heir, but by the relation who was deemed best qualified for discharging his duties; and this cus tom was, in other words, opening the door to perpetual dissension and hostility among the members of a tribe. Moreover, in Ireland, the condition of the chief and of his family was much less calculated to set an improving example to his dependants than in the Highlands of Scotland; the ancient families being in a great de gree extinguished or degraded by their frequent hostilities with the English settlers. If to these circumstances we add the hatred and contempt which are entertained for the native Irish by the English who had acquired possession of their lands, we need not be surprised at the instances of infidelity of which the latter so much complain. They were the natural consequences of the sentiments of suspicion and revenge that were connected during successive ages with the relative situation of the parties; and the native Irish, oppressed by intruders, regarded all means as lawful for their deliverance. Hence their atrocities and violations of solemn engagements towards their enemies; and hence, also, à ferocity of character, engendered and confirmed amid frequent scenes of bloodshed.

We are next to advert to a topic of a local and peculiar charac ter. The fall of the Irish chieftains appears to have had a bad effect on the composition of their national poetry. The bards, as long as they were supported by a powerful lord, drew the subjects of their recitations from the gallant exploits, or the virtuotis loves, of their ancestry. "I have caused," says Spenser, "divers

of these poems to be translated to me, that I might understand them, and surely they savoured of sweet wit and good invention; but skilled not of the goodly ornaments of poetry: yet were they sprinkled with some pretty flowers of their natural device, which gave good grace and comeliness unto them." After the impoverishment of the chiefs, however, the bard became dependent for subsistence on the multitude, and was obliged to accommodate his songs to their taste. Both poets and people fell likewise under the government of priests, whose ignorance and total want of taste contributed to aggravate their degradation; and, in consequence, the miracles of ambiguous saints, and the wonders of St. Patrick's purgatory, became frequent themes of the compositions of the bards. Unfortunately, the situation of their countrymen relatively to the English settlers continued age after age to suggest baneful subjects to the imaginations of the poets; and the laws enacted against them, under the reign of Elizabeth, redoubled their invectives on the cruelty and avarice of these intruders.

'

"These Irish bards,' says Spenser, are for the most part so far from instructing young men in moral discipline, that they themselves do more deserve to be sharply disciplined; for they seldom use to choose unto themselves the doings of good men for the arguments of their poems; but whomsoever they found to be most licentious of life, most bold and lawless in his doings, most dangerous and desperate in all parts of disobedience and rebellious disposition: him they set up and glorify in their rhythms, him they praise to the people, and to young men make an example to follow.'-Thus 'evil things being decked and attired with the gay attire of goodly words, may easily deceive and carry away the affection of a young mind that is not well stayed, but desirous by some bold adventures, to make proof of himself.""

In the Highlands of Scotland, the situation of the bards was very different. Their protectors, the chiefs, remained in power; and the regal authority, though often opposed, was never stigmatized as illegal; nor did the priests acquire any undue influence in this part of the kingdom. Accordingly, we seldom meet with either saints or miracles in the Highland poems. The conflicts of clans, the faith of lovers, or the destiny of the maid who mourns the early fall of "the dweller of her secret soul," are the favourite themes of their compositions. The moral effect of these admired recitations was of great importance, and may be considered as a leading cause of the integrity and comparative urbanity of the Highlanders.

The difference in language between a native Irishman and a Scotch Highlander is not such as to prevent them from easily understanding each other; though this remark is not equally applica ble to all parts of Ireland. In this country we have generally un