1922.] REVIEW.-Mr. Lawrence's Recantation.-Egyptian Tombs. 443 The following Retractation of the sentiments contained in Mr. Lawrence's obnoxious publication, has been circulated in the form of a Letter to Sir Richard Carr Glynn. Without wishing to scrutinize the peculiar motives for its appearance at the present time, we readily give it insertion, convinced that the cause of Christianity cannot but be benefited by the unqualified approbation which the learned Professor gives to "the distinguishing excellences of that pure Religion which is unfolded in the New Testament." "College of Physicians, April 16. "DEAR SIR,-The renewed publication by others, over whom I have no controul, of the work which I suppressed three years ago, induces me to offer to you a few observations on the subject, and to present them, through you, to the Governors of Bridewell and Bethlem. The motives and circumstances of the suppression in question are detailed in a Letter to Mr. Harrison, through whose medium it was communicated to the Governors of the two Hospitals; and this Letter, I conclude, is entered on the minutes of their proceedings. "Further experience and reflection have only tended to convince me more strongly that the publication of certain passages in these writings was highly improper; to increase my regret at having sent them forth to the world; to make me satisfied with the measure of withdrawing them from public circulation; and consequently firmly resolved, not only never to reprint them, but also never to publish any thing more on similar subjects. "Fully impressed with these sentiments, I hoped and concluded that my Lectures would in future be regarded only as professional writings, and be referred to merely by medical readers. The copies which have gone out of my possession from the time when the sale was discontinued, to the late decision of the Lord Chancellor, which has enabled all who may choose, to print and publish my Lectures, have therefore been granted only as matter of favour in individual instances to professional men, particularly foreigners, or to scientific and literary characters. "My expectations have been disappointed by the piratical act of a bookseller in the Strand, named Smith. When his reprint of my Lectures was announced, I adopted the only measure which could enable me to continue the suppression of the work, namely, an application to the Court of Chancery for an injunction against this person, being encouraged by the decidedly favourable opinions of the two eminent Counsel before whom the case was laid. The course of argument adopted by these gen tlemen in the proceedings which ensued, was that which they deemed best calculated to attain my object-the permanent suppression of the book. It is not to be regarded as a renewed statement, or defence, on my part, of opinions which I had already nued suppression of which, in conformity to withdrawn from the public, and the contimy previous engagement, was my only motive for incurring the trouble and expense of a Chancery suit. "As to the charge of irreligion, again hinted at in the Court of Chancery, I beg to repeat what I have already expressed in my letter before alluded to-that I am fully impressed with the importance of religion and morality to the welfare of mankindthat I am most sensible of the distinguishing excellences of that pure religion which is unfolded in the New Testament; and most earnestly desirous to see its pure spirit universally diffused and acted on.-I remain, dear Sir, with great esteem and respect, Your very obedient servant, (Signed) WM. LAWRENCE. "Sir R. C. Glyn, bart. President of Bridewell and Bethlem, &c. &c." 84. Memoranda illustrative of the Tombs and Sepulchral Decorations of the Egyptians; with a Key to the Egyptian Tomb now exhibiting in Piccadilly. Also, Remarks on Mummies, and Observations on the Process of embalming. 8vo. pp. 89. Boys. IT is well known, that characany ters whatever, if they have an alphabetical denotation, can, from the necessity of certain marks, according to their recurrence, signifying certain letters, be undeniably decyphered. It is, therefore, because they have a symbolical meaning only (Amm. Marcell. Hist. Aug. II. 410), that Egyptian hieroglyphics remain unintelligible; and we do not think with our author (p. 78), that "we may collect from them an alphabet of very great importance;" no more than we could collect one from the Chinese, because the letters do not represent sounds. We, however, admit that they illustrate the Bible, and may show the state of mankind before the æra of Moses. Through the recent investigations in this antient historical country, a star-light has been introduced into the dark science in question, and very fair presumptive evidence has been adduced, which books alone would never have supplied. Among the Edipi, who unravel the mysteries of this sphinx, our author has a high rank; and we have felt both admiration and pleasure at seeing him play off Egyp 444 REVIEW.-Planta on Helvetic Confederacy.-Hermit in London. [May, tian hieroglyphics with as much ease as cards at whist. His Hoyle on this occasion was the information derived from Clarke, Maurice, and Faber (see p. 45). He decyphers the mysterious figures, and explains them into a story, perhaps as consistent and as true as it is possible to make out of them at all. We shall not extract from a work which has its great claim to merit founded upon its character as a whole. We shall only mention two things. The first is concerning the whip in the hands of Osiris (p. 20). It appears, from Mills's Crusades (I. 285), to have been an Ethiopian military weapon. We presume that the foreigner (we do not recollect his name) who has written so strongly upon the modern manufacture of mummies, as scarcely to allow one to be genuine, has gone much too far. We therefore fearlessly extract the following specimen of the state of the useful arts in antient Egypt: "These bodies, also, are often enveloped in coloured silks and bandages of stained linen, of surprising brightness: they are ornamented with gilding, as fresh as when first laid on; with pieces of coloured glass, imitative of the finest gems, evidencing their knowledge of staining and cutting them in a manner which merits notice, as well as their enamels also." P. 50. We warmly recommend the book, as being ingenious and curious. 85. A View of the Restoration of the Helvetic Confederacy, being a Sequel to the History of that Republic. By Joseph Planta, Esq. 8vo. pp. 68. Longinan. WE recollect reading with great pleasure Mr. Planta's valuable History of the Helvetic Confederacy. The present small work is "a continuation down to the year 1815, published in this form," says the highly respectable author, "that he might not injure the proprietors of the former editions, by depreciating their copies.' (Pref.) Of course, the matter consists of State Papers and political events, referring to the cruelty of the French, who, improving upon the lawyer's maxim"Qui non habet in crumena, luat in corpore," made their unfortunate victims suffer in the former by requisition, and in the latter by conscription. This supplement is written in the true court manners of history, and is dignified and elegant. 86. The Hermit in London; or Sketches of One extract from an introductory paper will unfold the plan of the work. "It was remarked by my immortal predecessor, the Spectator, that a reader seldom perused a book with pleasure, until he knew whether the writer of it was a black or a fair man; of a mild or cholerick disposition; married or a bachelor; with many other particulars of the like nature, which conduce very much to the right understanding of an author: and, since he made the observation, it has been so often repeated by those who have attempted to tread in his steps, that nothing remains for me, but to subscribe to its truth, and proceed ac such facts relative to myself, as may give cordingly to put my readers in possession of them an interest in the papers which I intend to lay before them in the ensuing pages." The Author then proceeds to describe himself; and thus concludes, "Whilst the fashionable novels (for, alas! nothing is so fashionable as scandal) are hewing away, à l'Indienne, on every side, and cutting up, not only public, but private characters; it is the intention of different plan, namely, to strike at the folly, the following pages to pursue an entirely without wounding the individual-to give the very sketch and scene, but to spare the actor in each; so that, upon every occasion, personality will be most sedulously avoided to blend the useful with tho laughable, and to cheat care of as many moments as possible, being the chief and favourite views of THE HERMIT IN LONDON." That our Readers may know the treat which is prepared for them, we copy the Bill of Fare: Entering a Room; A Patron; Too late for Dinner; Hyde Park on a Sunday; On the Rage for imitating Foreign Manners; On Guard for the First Time: Time and Wedlock; The Fatigue of Pleasure; Fashion in Dress; The New Member of Parliament; Sudden Changes; The Waterloo Panorama, Female Charioteers; Female Gamblers; The Romance; A Conversazione; Just returned from College; Fashionable Advice; Fortune Hunters; A Morning Drive in a Nobleman's Curricle; Sitting for a Picture: Delicate Distinctions; A Rainy Day in the A Visit to my Friend at his Country Seat; Country; Killing Time; My Country Cousin; Giving and Receiving; Shopping; Tattersall's; Mistakes in Company; The Nabob Club; Not at Home; Learned Women 1822.] REVIEW.-Rivington's Annual Register.-Literary Intelligence. 445 Women and Accomplished Women; An Exquisite's Diary; A Belle's Diary; Gallomania; Fancy Balls; Confidence in Servants; Electioneering; Irresistibility of Manners; The Waltz; Counterfeits; Looking for Lodgings; New Inmates; A Mysterious Character; Distinctions in Dress; Lady Repulse, Lady Defiance, and Lady Endeavour; Maternity; Assignations; The Hoax; The Drill Serjeant; Courtesy; Sunday Men; The Fair Sex, Such is the World: The Boarding School Heroine; The Pedant; Conversation; Dinner Parties; The New School; Life in London; A Rout; Temper; Half-Pay; A Quality Scholar and Orator; An Alarmist; A Morning in High Life; Street Nuisances; Economy; Borrowing; Art versus Nature; Dangers of too Lively an Imagination; The Masquerade; Scandal; The Natural Child; Courage; Patchwork; a Scene in the Drama of Life; Leaving Town; London Deserted. 87. Rivington's Annual Register, or a View of the History, Politics, and Literature, for the Year 1820. "FEW works have enjoyed so long and so uninterrupted a career of popularity as the Annual Register. Its very object, that of condensing into a single volume every authentic and important fact of the year, and exhibiting at one view, the history, politics, science, and literature of the day, -was such as to recommend it in the very outset; and the manner in which the task has been executed, has ensured it an extensive patronage. The Annual Register, too, has often been conducted by the most eminent men of the day—even Burke, amid all his avocations, for a long time wrote the political part of it; and if it has not always been in equal hands, for such were not to be found, it has always been confided to men of talents. "Of the utility and value of a work like the Annual Register, there can be no doubt; there was, however, one period in which it was insufficient-we mean the period of the late war, when events of a single week would fill a volume;-that time has now passed, and the Annual Register is as competent to record the events of the year as ever. "It is by no means our intention, nor can it be necessary to enter into a description of a work so well known as the Annual Register; we shall, therefore, only observe, that the present volume exhibits a very able and impartial view of the events of the year 1820-a year the most important, so far as relates to our domestic history, since the peace of 1815. It includes the death of one monarch, who swayed the British sceptre for an unparalleled period-the consequent trial of a British Queen. The events of accession of his present Majesty, and the foreign history were by no means unimportant. While the politics are treated with the usual ability, the literary and. scientific department is better arranged and more complete than in any preceding volume."—Literary Chronicle. above transcribed, it remains only to Entirely agreeing with the notice add, that the introductory chapter of the volume, containing the Character of our late highly revered Sovereign, bears evident marks of originating with the Old School from which the Annual Register emanated. LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. OXFORD, April 27. The venerable Charles Goddard, D.D. of Christ Church, Archdeacon and Prebendary of Lincoln, and Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majesty, was unanimously elected to the Lectureship founded by the Rev. Canon Bamptou, for the ensuing year. Ready for Publication. The History of Stamford, in the county of Lincoln; with St. Martin's, Stamford Baron, and Great and Little Wothorpe, in the county of Northampton; embellished with 10 fine engravings. The Book of Fate formerly in the possession of Napoleon Buonaparte, and found in his cabinet, after the Battle of Leipsic. Translated from the German. The concluding Volume of Sir R. KER PORTER's Travels in Georgia, Persia, Babylonia, &c. The First Number of the History of Shrewsbury. By the Rev. HUGH OWEN, M. A. F. S. A. and the Rev. J. B. BLAKE- An Account of a Plan which has been successfully pursued for three Years, in the conducting of a Penny Savings Bank for Children, &c. The Duties of Churchwardens explained and enforced. A Charge delivered to the Clergy and Churchwardens of the Archdeaconry of Colchester, in the Diocese of London, in the year 1821. By the Rev. J. JEFFERSON, A.M. and F.A.S. late Archdeacon. The Classical Collector's Vade-Mecum ; containing accurate Lists of the Polyglot, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin Bibles, Greek Testaments, as also of the Greek and Roman Authors, known as Editiones Principes, Aldine, Stephens's, Delphin, Variorum, Bipont, Elzevir, with many others; exhibiting a Collection far more numerous and complete than has yet been published. A new Theory of the Tides; showing what is the immediate cause of the Phænomenon; and which has hitherto been overlooked by Philosophers. By Capt. FORMAN, R. N. Protestantism; (in Three Parts); or, An Address, particularly to the Labouring Classes, in Defence of the Protestant Principle, occasioned by the late controversial attacks of the Rev. J. Curr. By W. ROBY. The Quarterly Journal of Foreign Medicine and Surgery, and of Sciences connected with them; with Reviews (now added) of British Medical Science, and original Cases and Communications. An Inquiry into the Comparative Forces of the Extensor and Flexor Muscles, connected with the Joints of the Human Body. By JULIUS JEFFREYS. An Original Set of Psalm and Hymn Tunes. By the Rev. DAVID EVERARD FORD, Lymington, Hants. W. WORDSWORTH's Guide to the Lakes. The Historical Romances of the Author of "Waverley," in six vols. 8vo, comprising Ivanhoe, the Monastery, the Abbot, and Kenilworth. Songs of Zion, being imitations of the Psalms in Verse. By Mr. MONTGOMERY the Poet. Macurlean, a Tale of the last Century, being a Narrative of the Misfortunes and extraordinary Circumstances which led to this accomplished but unfortunate Youth's Death on the Scaffold. Dedicated to the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline, &c. By P. CROSLY, Author of the "Chamber of Affliction," &c. Preparing for Publication. Dr. MEYRICK has been many years engaged in collecting the scattered notices of Ancient Armour to be found in our old Poets, Chroniclers, Wills, Deeds, and Inventories. The work will be published in 3 volumes imperial 4to, and contain above 100 specimens of antient armour. The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Ormskirk, co. Lancaster. By W. I. Ro BERTS. A Short Character of Charles II. King of England; written by John (Sheffield) Duke of Buckingham, Lord President of her late Majesty's Privy Council. With the Conference between (George Villiers) the Duke of Buckingham and Father Fitzgerald, an Irish Jesuit, sent by King James II. to convert his then Grace in his sickness to the Romish Religion. Faithfully taken by his Grace's Secretary. A Vindication of the Authenticity of the Narratives contained in the first two chapters of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Luke, being an investigation of objections urged by the Unitarian editors of the improved version of the New Testament, with Appendices, containing strictures on the [May, latter editions of that work. And animadversions on Dr. Lant Carpenter's recent publication, entitled "An Examination of Bishop Magee's Charges against Unitarians and Unitarianism." By a Layman. An Attempt to illustrate the Book of Ecclesiastes. By the Rev. GEO. HOLDEN, M.A. author of a "New Translation of the Proverbs of Solomon," &c. This work is to consist of a Preliminary Dissertation, Paraphrase, and Notes. The Morning and Evening Sacrifice; or, Prayers for private Persons and Families. Hortus Anglicus; or, The Modern English Garden: containing an easy Description of all the Plants which are cultivated in the climate of Great Britain, either for use or ornament, and of a Selection from the established favourites of the Stove and Green-House; arranged according to the system of Linnæus; including his generic and specific characters; with Remarks on the properties of the more valuable species. In 2 vols. 12mo. By the Author of the "British Botanist." Memoirs of George Heriot, Jeweller to King James VI. with some Account of the Hospital founded by him at Edinburgh. The History of Roman Literature from the early periods to the Augustan age. la two vols. 8vo. By Mr. DUNLAP. A History of England; with Conversations at the end of each chapter, intended for young persons. By Mrs. MARKHAM. Memoirs of the Life of Charles Alfred Stothard, F.S.A. Author of the Monumental Effigies of Great Britain. With some Account of a Journey in the Netherlands. By Mrs. CHA. STOTHARD, Author of “ Letters written during a Tour through Normandy, Britanny, and other parts of France." Napoleon in Exile, consisting almost entirely of Napoleon's own Remarks in his own words, written down at the moment, during three years of the most unrestrained communication. The modern Art of Fencing, in which the most recent Improvements in the use of the Manly Foils are clearly elucidated, agreeably to the methods of the most eminent Masters in Europe. By Le Sieur GUZMAN ROLANDO, of the Académie des Armes. With a technical Glossary, in French and English, of the terms which relate to the use of the sword. The Second Volume of Dalzel's Collectanea Græca Majora. By Professor DUN 1822.] Literary Intelligence.-Arts and Sciences. Scottish Peasantry, in two volumes. By The River Derwent, and other Poems. The Poetry, original and selected, contained in the Novels, Tales, and Romances, of the Author of "Waverley," with short Introductory Notices from the Prose. A new Poem, entitled the Curfew, or the Grave of the last Saxon. By the Rev. W. LISLE BOWLES. The Poetical Works of JAMES HOGG (the Ettrick Shepherd), now first collected. Cumnor, and other Plays and Poems. By E. B. IMPEY, M. A. Student of Christ Church, Oxford. Captain Thomas Manby, who was presented to his Majesty at the last Levee, is now preparing for publication a new Chart of the South Seas, a work which will prove, that the innumerable Islands in the Pacific Ocean are all peopled from the same stock; and that the same hieroglyphical characters are known from one extreme of that sea to the other. Whilst Capt. Manby was at Otaheite, the King and Queen of the Island invested him with the highest honours they ARTS AND SOMERSET HOUSE EXHIBITION. The annual Exhibition at the Royal Academy was opened on the 6th of May to the public inspection. It consists of about the usual number of works, and, as is generally the case, the greater number of them are portraits. This is a radical defect which nothing short of a complete revolution in the taste for art, in this country, can cure, but it is one which we scarcely know how to regret, since it has opened so wide a field to the talents of our countrymen. The prima facie display is uncommonly splendid. Wilkie, as usual, forms a focus of interest; his "Chelsea Pensioners receiving the Gazette announcing the Battle of Waterloo," adds an important feature to the exhibition. Among other attractive works will be found Constable's "View on the Stour, near Didham;" Callcot's "Smugglers alarmed by an unexpected change from hazy weather, while landing a cargo;" Leslie's "Rivals," which displays a fund of comic humour; Landseer's "Rat-catchers," and a splendid little piece of colouring by Turner, called "What you will." The principal portraits are "The King," "The Duke of York," "The Countess of Blessington," "The Duke of Bedford," "The Duke of Wellington," a charming little picture of a "Little Red Riding Hood," by Sir Thomas Lawrence, and a bust of his Majesty, by Chantrey. 447 could bestow, the insignia being tattooed on him, consisting of a circle or garter below the knee of the left leg, with a star, nearly resembling a Maltese cross. These, with many other devices, neatly tattooed, related a remarkable adventure. On Capt. Manby's visiting the Sandwich Islands, near three thousand miles distant, every hieroglyphical character tattooed on him was decyphered most accurately, by an old priest belonging to King Iomahamaha, at Owy-hee, who related every circumstance with wonderful exactness, which greatly amused the King, and all his family, who made the Captain many valuable presents, and shewed him the most marked attention whilst he remained at the island. At the other islands the same translation was always given, and created the greatest mirth, wherever the story was read; and such was the amusement it afforded, that the Islanders often watched for the Captain bathing, which produced some ludicrous events. DRAMATIC COPYRIGHT.-In the matter of Murray v. Elliston, the Court of King's Bench have certified their opinion that an action cannot be maintained by the plaintiff against the defendant, for the representation of Lord Byron's Tragedy of "The Doge of Venice," at Drury Lane Theatre. SCIENCES. EXHIBITION OF Water-colour PAINTINGS. The annual Exhibition of the Society of Painters in Water-colours is open at the Egyptian Hall. Paintings in oil are now, as they were last year, by a judicious arrangement of the Society, entirely excluded, and the room is devoted to drawings alone, which are thereby allowed to maintain all the effect of which they are capable, unimpaired by the depth and richness of their more powerful rivals. small but extremely attractive, presenting a rich display of the talents of English artists, and a judicious choice and interesting variety of subjects. Fielding, Robson, and Bar. rett, whose works are already well known to the public, are the chief contributors to the Exhibition, but there are here and there some clever drawings by persons of less celebrity. The collection is |