our judgment at once misleading and mischievous, Mr. M'Cullagh thus expresses himself concerning its concoctors :

""Tis idle to inveigh against such men as a class. The blame lies truly with ourselves, rather than with them. What would you have them do? The men must live. They would offer to write histories for you, instead of unromantic romances with historical titles, if you would buy the latter instead of the former,-if you sought only what might really do you good, instead of wasting your time, and faculties, and money, in literary dramdrinking. Whether the wights who drive a lucrative trade in brewing and vending such soul-rotting liquors, would be good for much as historians, we shall have a more fitting opportunity for considering."

There is something more than pepper and spice in the following, it is catering to that depraved taste so frequently found in the humbler classes, a love of depreciating the actions of their superiors, an instinctive hatred of the great,-but the learned lecturer doubtless knew how to gratify his audience, and condescends accordingly to pervert words and meanings the better to please them :

"Suppose you asked for the biography of some illustrious warrior, and you were presented with a handsome volume or two, containing an accurate list of all the persons he robbed (according to the laws of war)-the dates of his devastations-the christian and surnames of all the people of quality he put to death, and a careful average of the horses and common soldiers slain for his glory;-suppose there were added thereto an inventory of his military wardrobe, and of the castle wherein his booty was stored; and suppose you were duly informed of the weight of his sword, and where it was made,— whether in Damascus or Toledo,-the days of his birth, marriage, and death,—the cost of his coffin and width of his tomb,-would you take this as a story of the life of your hero?"

Now if "Balderdash" be what Dr. Johnson designates it, "any thing jumbled together without judgment; a rude mixture, a confused discourse," then indeed may we honestly call the last quotation from Mr. M'Cullagh's book, RANK balderdash !

He is pleased to apply to one of our most popular and standard Histories the title of "Hume's pleasant tale," and moreover accuses the learned David of" knowing little about the matter" he wrote on. It is easier far to call names than adduce proofs.

Alluding to the increase of Historical writers within the last few years, the author pays a sort of left-handed compliment to an illustrious countryman, whose works will be read and admired, centuries after Mr. McCullagh's Lectures have ceased to be used as wrappers for bacon, butter, or cheese; thus speaks he to the working-men of Dublin :

"The cold chain of Ireland's silence also has in these latter days been broken. The name of Moore needs no eulogy from me, addressing as I do an Irish auditory. Indeed he has reigned so autocratically in our literary affections since I can recollect any thing of such matters, that I feel peculiarly mischievous delight in our being able at length to show our little master, in the expressive idiom we are all familiar with, that we are no longer dependent on him for our right to be reckoned among the countrymen of great historians."

This is instilling gratitude for past services in a peculiarly Irish

method. Mr. M'Cullagh occasionally indulges in what we presume he considers" a figure of speech; a city is converted into a man with all imaginable ease, as, par exemple

"The history of Rome is the biography of the longest lived and most accomplished ruffian, that has ever played the part of plunderer and bully among nations."

Be it understood he is speaking of Ancient Rome; he would be insane to breathe anything disrespectful of the Head Quarters of Popery before the Dublin Mechanics, the majority being worshippers of the Scarlet Woman.

Sometimes, it is true, he is oblivious as to the persons composing his auditory, and pours forth such a volley of hard names and pedantic opinions, that Paudeen, the Bricklayer, or Tim, the journeyman Carpenter, might answer much to the effect of the auld Scotch wife, who, after lauding to the skies one of Dr. Chalmers's sermons, was quietly asked by her gossip

"Do you exactly comprehend a' the Docther says?"

To which her pious friend, somewhat angrily, made answer

"Compreehend! woman? compreehend? would I ha' the presumption?"

Now although Heaven knows the majority of Irish craftsmen have quantum suff. of presumption, we do not imagine that they carry with them an equal proportion of comprehension to the Mechanics' Institute.

Morley Ernstein, or the Tenants of the Heart. By G. P. R. JAMES, Esq. In Three Volumes. Saunders and Otley.

Few writers have more industriously laboured for the amusement of the public than Mr. James, and none more successfully; he has furnished some of the best Romances of the day, and has moreover dedicated his time to historical works of great value, including Lives of our "Black Prince," the "Emperor Charlemagne," and many volumes devoted to "Memoirs of Eminent Foreign Statesmen.”

We have perused, with much satisfaction, the majority of his works of Fiction, and they possess the peculiar charm of chaining the attention as thoroughly as though you were reading the records of persons all of whom had really lived. His" Man at Arms, or Henri de Ciron,” may well be compared to the Chronicles of Froissart, in its accuracy of Military details, and the fascinating style of its relation. "The Gipsy" has but one speck upon it, the fate of the hero, still such an end to so daring and reckless a spirit, comes within the bounds of probability. The characters in the story called "The King's Highway," though highly wrought, and ofttimes romantically placed, all have an air of reality about them in fact hitherto the vraisemblance has formed one of the greatest charms of Mr. James's writings,-but— and it is

-

"More a sorrow than in anger,"

that we write that depreciating little word, but, in "Morley Ernstein," the author has taken vast pains to go out of his usual course, and by

the introduction of a personage about whom a Mystery hangs, which is made still more mysterious at the end of the book, rendering it absolutely doubtful as to the author's intention of depicting a man or a Fiend, he has destroyed what would have been, without the supernatural agency supposed to exist, a very charming and clever story. There are, alas! abundance of beings as full of evil as the Count Lieberg, but when these wretches die, the forms their bad spirits have inhabited are found upon the slightest examination to be nothing more than ordinary tenements of clay. If Lieberg be intended by the accomplished author for a modern Mephistopheles, why is he represented as suffering human passions? If he be man indeed, why does he "vanish into thin air," without having been able to accomplish any one of his vile intentions? We are really sorry that a mind so powerful, and so prolific, as James's, should have been shipwrecked upon such a subject, every way unworthy his acknowledged powers.

The whole sentiment of the book has too much of the bad German school about it; the constant reference to the different emotions of the young English Baronet whilst under the contrasted influence of the Spirit of the Soul or the Spirit of the Flesh become tedious, and at length somewhat ridiculous.

very soon With the exception of the defects against which we have thus honestly taken exception, it is but an act of common justice to declare, that there will be found in these volumes a vast deal to charm and admire; the portraiture of English character in almost all its varieties of grade, prove how acute an observer the writer must be of its many phases both in high and low life.

The reformation of Henry Martin, after steeping his youthful days in crime, being effected by his admiration of female excellence, is beautifully and naturally told, and full of pure moral feeling. The early fate of the wretched William Barham affords a fearful warning to the giddy and dissipated, proving how rapid is the growth of evil, and how terrible and certain are the consequences of seeking the companionship of the low and debased.

What a fine contrast of character is afforded in the high-minded liberality of the aristocratic Banker, Mr. Hamilton, and the grasping chicanery of the retired Attorney, "Old Carr, the Miser."- One hardly knows which to love best of the two most prominent females, Juliet or Helen. The latter, poor girl, is subjected to many more trials of her moral strength than her friend; but triumphing over adverse circumstances and cruel persecution by simply doing what she feels is right, therefore should be the favourite. Lady Malcolm is an agreeable, amiable and truly good woman, a true picture of her "Order; " let those who have had no opportunities of associating with such attempt by sneers to disprove the many thousand excellent qualities to be found in circles of Fashionable life.

Of the Foreign persons in the story, the most perfect portrait is that of the Italian cantatrice, Veronica Pratesi; it is indeed drawn by a Master hand, you wish to know much more of her, yet rejoice when Sir Morley and herself are separated for ever!

This being the first time we were ever called upon to fulfil the ungracious task of dispraising any book from Mr. James's pen, we

VOL. XCVI.

H

heartily trust that ere long another of his productions may come under our notice, affording us an opportunity of bestowing upon it the unqualified approbation it has hitherto been our pleasing duty to award. The Question, What can be done for British Agriculture? answered in a Letter to Philip Pusey, Esq. M.P. By J. BAILEY DENTON. Ridgway.

This is a sensible and well written pamphlet advocating a general and uniform system of Drainage. Mr. Denton states that an immense quantity of valuable matter is lost to the farmer, by all the sewers and drains being permitted to run into rivers, or their contents being otherwise wastefully expended; the soil thus lost annually in England and Wales, alone, amounts to five millions of tons, which, if properly disposed, is capable of producing the richest possible crop from an area of one million five hundred thousand acres! This is a startling assertion, and well deserving the rigid investigation of the Legislature, as well as the immediate attention of Agriculturists.

At this critical period when the admission of Foreign corn is so much advocated, such information becomes doubly valuable.

The result of much practical knowledge connected with the importance of Drainage, will be found in these pages.

Canadian Scenery. Part XXII. Virtue.

This work continues to sustain its character both as regards the importance of the letter-press, and the beauty of the embellishments. During such weather as we have now, it is "quite refreshing" to look upon the view of "Aylmer, Upper Canada;" its houses covered with snow, and the surface of the Lake a sheet of Ice. We covet the exhilarating rapidity of the slaigh, but-on second thoughts we resolve to be satisfied with our own climate. "Indian Scene on the St. Lawrence," represents a large party of Red-skins, some conversing on the outside of their rude wig-wams, whilst others are enjoying the calm on the lovely river, in their canoes of bark. The "View over Lake Memphremagog," is truly magnificent, beautifully diversified in its features both of land and water; a chain of distant mountains fill up the background, and add considerably to the effect of this beauteous picture. "The Falls of the Ottawa at Les Chats," is a lovely scene exquisitely engraved. The Moonlight effect upon the rushing waters is most skilfully depicted.

Fox's Book of Martyrs. Part XII. Virtue.

This portion concludes the first volume of "English Ecclesiastical History." It embraces a period from the latter part of Edward the Fourth's reign, to the decease of Henry the Seventh.

In relating the assistance the usurper Richard obtained from the clergy, we meet with a certain Doctor Pinkie, doubtless meaning our old Shakspearian acquaintance, " Friar Penker."

A History of the Turks," and a bitter criticism on the Koran is introduced. The decease of Mahomet is thus contemptuously recorded by Fox :

-

"After the death of this beast, which, as some say, was poisoned in his house, succeeded Eborca."

The latter pages are enlivened with some extraordinary and droll wood-cuts, illustrative of the actions of various Popes. The artists who designed them could have little respect for the wearer of the triple diadem, as in all cases His Holiness, no matter whether it be Celestine, Gregory, or any other, is represented as singularly illlooking, with a vicious expression, and bloated features; nor is any thing approaching to flattery attempted in depicting the attendant Cardinals, Bishops, or Monks. The Proverb which states that "The Devil is not so black as his picture," does not hold good in this case; no expression of countenance, however diabolical, could be designed befitting the cold-blooded cruelty, lust, avarice, and other bad passions. that have filled the hearts of these Sovereign Pontiffs.

Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland. Part XIII. Virtue.

The Legend of the Prince of Leinster's guilty passion, occasioned by "the fatal beauty of Fithir and Daireen," is brought to a conclusion, and some interesting facts connected with

"the town of Kilkenny,"

are commenced in this part. After recounting the architectural wonders of the Cathedral of Saint Canice, of which a fine exterior view is given, Mr. Willis proceeds to state

"Many sepulchral honours are here raised to the memory of the ancient and illustrious house of Butler; perhaps that of Peter Butler, eighth Earl of Ormonde, who died in 1539, and his countess, Lady Margaret Fitzgerald, are better known to the historian than others erected to the same illustrious family. The effigy of the earl is distinctly relieved in black marble, at full length, and in complete armour, his sword laid across his body, and his feet resting on a dog. The same monument entombs the mortal remains of his haughty countess, whose memory is perpetuated by the Irish, under the name of Moryhyhead Ghearhodh? This extraordinary lady, inheriting the martial spirit of her ancestors, was always attended by numerous vassals, well clothed and accoutred, and composing a formidable army. She had several strong castles within the limits of her territory. of which that at Ballyragget was her favourite citadel, on the top of which her chair is still shown. Campion calls her a rare woman, and able for wisdom to rule a realm, had not her stomach overruled herself.' Her lord being appointed to the government of Ireland, is supposed to have discharged the high duties with honour and approbation; the latter owing to the prudent counsels of his lady, ‘a lady of such port that the estates of the realm couched to her; so politic that nothing was thought substantially debated without her advice; warlike and tall of stature, very rich and beautiful, a bitter enemy; the only means by which in those days her husband's country was reclaimed from the sluttish Irish customs to the English habits."

"The Old Weir Bridge," forms an interesting object in a highly picturesque landscape. "The Interior of Cashel Abbey," presents a melancholy picture of its past glory, but "The Vale of Avoca," does not please us so much as the other engravings; being well acquainted with the real scene, we are naturally disposed to be a little fastidious in looking at its representation. It is our pleasing duty to repeat our hearty commendations of this National work. The important and varied information it contains relating to the Sister Kingdom cannot fail to command attention, and to those particularly interested in Irish affairs, must prove most acceptable.