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1821.]

REVIEW. Godwin on Population.-Agatha.

per head, as being the annual consumption of every person. Now a square mile, or 640 acres, divided by 3, leaves 213 persons, and a fraction, as the proper number for every square mile. If, therefore, we multiply the 38,251 square miles of cultivated land by 213, the product is eight millions, one hundred and forty-seven thousand, four hundred and sixty-three; and therefore, we were overstocked three millions, in round numbers, at the census of 1811. If so, there must be three millions who oppress the Poor Rates; and rating their keep at the gross return of three acres per head, eighteen pounds, the excess of cost is fifty-four millions. To redress this, we ought to break up nine millions of acres out of the waste, but that does not amount to eight millions.

Our limits do not allow us to go further; and the pretensions of the two very able gentlemen are too well known to the world, to require any character from us. The notion of population doubling in America in 25 years, is perfectly confuted by Mr. Godwin. It was the source of all the error on the subject. We have endeavoured to come to the point in a narrow compass, because we think that the exact number of square miles in Great Britain being once ascertained, we may easily calculate the due proportion of population; and what importation is requisite, under excess.

9. Agatha; or, The Convent of Saint Bartholomew. A Tragedy in five Acts. By Edwyn Andrew Burnaby, Esq. pp. 75. Longman and Co.

A TRAGEDY is certainly one of the greatest efforts of the human mind; since the writer, besides having to contend with the difficulties attendant on an attempt to pourtray the various and conflicting passions, bas also to encounter the far greater obstacles of following transcendent genius in the department which he has chosen; and of accommodating his composition to modern taste and

manners.

The Tragedy before us is from the pen of a country gentleman, who is known to the publick by his writings in the line of political economy, but who has never yet (to our knowledge) appeared in his present character. The piece, though evidently not intended for the Stage, contains many

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striking passages, well calculated to arouse public attention and excite public approbation; and we have no hesitation in pronouncing it highly creditable to the genius and feelings of the Author.

The subject of the piece chiefly relates to the case of an unfortunate female (Agatha), who having been compelled to enter into a convent in very early life, is consigned to an untimely death by the heads of her monastic order, for having violated her vows in forming a matrimonial con nection with an English officer (Captain Belmont), who had rescued her from a brutal attack during the late troubles in the Spanish territories, and at a time when the Convent to which she belonged was upon the eve of being pillaged by the enemy.The various but ineffectual efforts which were made by Belmont to rescue his adored Agatha from the alarming situation in which she was placed, are well pourtrayed. And the following answer of the unfortunate Agatha to the enquiry of a friendly nun, as to the motives which induced her to quit her peaceful retirement, while it will put our Readers in possession of some part of the history of the Tragedy, will at the same time afford them a very favourable idea of the Author's style:

"Would I had done so-would I had not

tasted

[ing ties Those joys which spring from the endearOf wife and mother-then had been unknown

Their value and their loss alike to me,Then had my life been blameless, altho' pass'd

save

In selfish solitude, and I had sunk
lo happy ignorance into my grave.
But, Clara, thou canst testify for me,
That in our walls-so long as they could
[saults
Their wretched inmates from the base ar-
Of man-I did contentedly remain:
Nor did I leave them until forc'd to fly
For safety.-not for my poor life alone,
But for what women prize above their

lives

My chastity was threaten'd. Had I staid
I must have yielded, as too many did,
To violence. Altho' no virgin then,
I still had been consider'd a pure nun.
Of our good sisters what became I know
[roam'd
I, a poor wand'ring, helpless stranger,
Till night came on, then laid me down fa-
tigued,

not.

And wept till balmy sleep befriended me.

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REVIEW.-Agatha-Portus's Lexicon.

On the approach of morn I woke, and saw
A Frenchman stand before me, whose
stern look,
[me,
To me unus'd to man, so much abash'd
That I scream'd loud, rose up, and try'd
to fly.
[arms;

He quick pursued, and seiz'd me in his
And I had fallen a sacrifice to lust,
Had not a gallant Englishman appear'd,
And bravely-nothing valuing his own
life-

Sav'd me from ruin.

As soon as I recover'd from the shock,
This gallant officer escorted me

Unto a place of safety,-where, conceal'd,
He guarded me, and treated me so kind,—
And wherewithal so modestly behav'd,
That I had not a female heart possess'd,
Had I been senseless to his kind conduct.
Soon as the battle's horrid rage was o'er,
He plac'd me under the protection
Of his good Colonel's lady, where I staid,
And sweetest converse daily had with him.
Till then I scarcely knew the face of man-
Till then I thought them brutal savages;
But when I saw this youth-so blooming,
gay,-
[good,
When I beheld him graceful, gen'rous,
And heard his daily deeds of valour told;
Man then to me appear'd a different being;
He seem'd to bear the image of his God.
Can you then, sister Clara, be surpris'd
That Love should steal upon me, and ef-
face

The very recollection of my vows?

Had you, dear Clara, ever seen my Charles, You would not wonder, to his entreaties That I did yield me, and became his wife."

The piece then goes on to represent the arraignment of Agatha before her monastic superiors; one of whom (the Lord Abbot) appears to have been a most dissipated character; but was, at the period of Agatha's misfortunes, writhing under all the agonies which a guilty conscience could produce. The speech of Agatha, in defence of her principles, at the time of her trial, is very striking. We are sorry our limits will not allow us to make further extracts from this interesting production. The whole period of time during which the transactions represented in this Tragedy are performed, is only a single day; and this adds much not only to the interest, but to the credit of the writer. The unfortunate Agatha is doomed by her Convent to the shocking death of inhumation. Belmont, attended by some trusty comrades, and a Friar, who owed his life to him, attempt her res cue, after the dreadful sentence had been put into execution, but fail in

[July,

their design just at the period when it might have been expected that success would have crowned their endeaYours.

The piece closes with the death of the Lord Abbot, Agatha, and the interesting Belmont.

In conclusion, we have only to say, that Mr. Burnaby has no cause to be ashamed of this, his first attempt at Tragedy. We hope that he will continue to exercise his talents in a line for which they are evidently well calculated both to amuse and instruct.

10. ΛΕΞΙΚΟΝ ΙΩΝΙΚΟΝ ΕΛΛΗΝΟΡΡΩΜΑΙΚΟΝ N; Dictionarium Ionicum Græco-Latinum, quod Indicem in omnes HERODOTI Libros continet, cum verborum et locutionum in his observatu dignarum accurata Descriptione, quæ varias Ionica Lingua Proprietates, Regulas que diligentissime notatas, et Herodoteis Exemplis illustratas, demonstrat. A M. Æmilio Porto. Editio nova. Svo. Parker, Oxford.

LEAVING the examination of the scholastic part of this admirable Glossary of the Ionic dialect to the Museum Criticum and Classical Journal, we are glad to see a new edition of it, the best proof that its value is undiminished. To most students it is already familiar, but the present edition has undergone some particular improvements; for, in the old copies, references were made to the lines and pages of the Herodotus printed by Henry Stephens in 1570; so that the readers of Reiske and Schweighaeuser could only arrive at examples by vexatious research; that difficulty is references made in the course of this now removed, by accommodating the work to the books and chapters of the original.

Portus, in his Preface, dated at Heidelburgh in 1602, gives the following reason for particularly endea youring to illustrate the lonic dia

lect:

[blocks in formation]

1821.] REVIEW.-Portus's Lexicon.--Literary Intelligence.

the Author says with respect to that
Historian's use of the dialects:
"Lectores tamen illud scire volo (quod
etiam suo loco diligenter a me notatur)
Herodotum non semper, nec in omnibus,
ac iisdem nominibus, verbis, aut locutioni-
bus, eodem lano constanter uti; sed
modo Ionicam, eamque variatam, modo
Atticam, modo communem, Doricam etiam
Linguam liberius usurpare; ita tamen, ut
in ejus scriptis Ionica inter alias Dialectos
palam emineat, atque dominetur. Unde
factum, ut Ionicè locutus censeatur."

The reader will find in Dr. Valpy's Greek Grammar, an enumeration of authors, arranged under the dialects in which they wrote, with which list every scholar should be acquainted. Homer contains most of them, and therefore, exclusive of poetical merit, his works are on that account valuable; but the greatest treasure, with regard to them all, is lost,-we mean the Lipogrammatic Iliad, by some ascribed to TRYPHIODORUS. Merrick, in his Translation of that Poet's "Destruction of Troy," supposes, with good reason, that in order to keep up his plan, he was obliged to employ all the assistance with which dialects and licences could furnish him, making his escape from vowels and consonants, as occasion demanded, in which the Ionic probably afforded him more service than any other. The system,

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barbarous as it was, on which he proceeded, was the weeding every book of the letter from which it took its name; as for example, in ax¤¤, rejecting the letter a; in Bata, the B, &c. It would have been interesting to know how be got over the first line of the Iliad, in which the letter a occurs no less than four times, in the last of which it begins a word not easily to be tortured into accommodation-Αχιληος.

At the close of his Preface Portus promises a LEXICON DORICUM, which, we have to lament, never appeared. As it is, we hope that the other dialects will be taken up by some of our scholars, as well for the honour of the Nation, as for the benefit of posterity. We boast the names of Elmsly, Blomfield, Maltby, and Gaisford, in classical Literature; and having experienced the benefit of their labours, hope that they will extend their views from single authors to a whole language.

But in our zeal for the unedited dialects, we have forgotten the one before us; the work of Portus, however, is too well known to stand in need of a recommendation ;-to all who have had occasion to see it, it is a treasure, and they surely know how to appreciate its value.

LITERATURE AND SCIENCE.

Ready for Publication.

The XVIIth Number of the Genuine Works of HOGARTH; including (among other Plates) the celebrated "March to Finchley ;" and a Description of it, compiled by Mr. NICHOLS.

A neat Re-print (from the Sixth Edition in 1651) of ARTHUR WARWICK's "Spare Minutes; or Resolved Meditations, and Premeditated Resolutions."

A Second Edition of "All our Glories, an Epic Poem in Two Parts, with a Lithographic Fly-leaf to Lord Byron."

A new Edition of the Eton Latin Grammar; by the Rev. J. SMITH, of St. John's College, Cambridge.

Letters on the Scenery of Wales; including a Series of Subjects for the Pencil, with their Stations determined on a general Principle: and Instruction to Pedestrian Tourists. By the Rev. R. H. NEWELL, B. D.

An Account of the Rise, Progress, and Decline of the Fever lately Epidemical in Ireland: together with Communications

from Physicians in the Provinces, and various Official Documents. By Doctors BARKERS and CHEYNE.

A Treatise on the newly-discovered White Vinegar, called Pyroligneous Acid; with detailed directions for its application to Pickling, and every other domestic purpose.

General and particular Descriptions of the Vertebrated Animals, arranged conformably to the Modern Discoveries and Improvements in Zoology. By EDWARD GRIFFITH.

A Syndesmological Chart; or, a Table of the Ligaments of the Human Skeleton. By J. DICKINSON, M. D.

Preparing for Publication.

The History and Antiquities of the Town and Parish of Enfield, in the County of Middlesex; containing, among other interesting matter, an Account of the Manors, the Chase, the Church, Grammarschool, Charities, &c. &c. embellished with numerous Engravings and Woodcuts; with Appendices. By WILLIAM ROBINSON,

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Literary Intelligence.

ROBINSON, F. S. A. Author of the Histories and Antiquities of Tottenham, Edmonton, Stoke Newington, &c. &c.

A Second Volume of the Rev. J. CAMPBELL'S Travels in Africa; containing an Account of his Second Visit to South Africa: embellished with Engravings.

Church of England Theology; or, a Se. cond Series of Sermons, printed in Manuscript Characters, for the Use of young Divines, and Candidates for Holy Orders. By the Rev. RICHARD WARNER, Author of "Sermons on the Epistles and Gospels," &c.

Letters from Wetzlar, written in 1817; developing the authentic Particulars on which the Sorrows of Werter are founded. To which is annexed, The Stork, or the Herald of Spring, a Poem. By Major James Bell, East York Militia.

Portraits of the British Poets, Part IX. containing Six Portraits, Four of which have never before been engraved.

The Greek Terminations, including the Dialects and Poetic Licences, grammatically explained in alphabetic order; by Dr. CAREY, on the same Plan as his "Young Latinist's Clue," lately published.

Theory and Practice of Latin Inflection; being Examples in the Form of Copybooks for declining and conjugating Nouns and Verbs. By Mr. HAIGH.

A Poetical Essay on the Character of Pope. By CHARLES LLOYD.

An Essay on Slander and Scandal.

A Practical Treatise on the Nature, Symptoms, and Treatment of Gutta Serena, a Species of Blindness arising from loss of Sensibility in the Nerve of Vision. By Mr. STEVENSON, Oculist and Dentist to his Royal Highness the Duke of York.

History of the Literature of Spain and Portugal, by FREDERICK BOUTERWEK. Translated from the German.

Sir GEORGE NAYLER, Clarenceux King of Arms, is preparing for publication, under the immediate sanction and by espe cial command of his Majesty, a full Account of the Ceremonies observed at the Coronation, illustrated with Plates, executed by the first Artists, of the Costumes worn by the Peers and others composing the Procession, and also with Views of the Abbey, at the time of the Crowning the King, and the performance of the Homage by the Peers; and of the Hall, during the delivery of the Regalia, the Banquet, and the Entry of the Champion. The Proceedings of the Court of Claims, and all the Arrangements previous to this great Solemnity, will be detailed at large.

A Friend of the late John Mordaunt Johnson, esq. H. M. Charge d'Affaires at Brussels, and Consul at Genoa, Member of the Academia Italiano at Florence, &c. shortly intends to present to the public a

(July,

a Selection from such parts of that Gentleman's Papers as relate to the War in Italy, and the Occupation of Sicily by the British. This Work will comprise Letters from many distinguished Characters; and, as Mr. Johnson was actively employed during the whole of this period in Sicily, Italy, and the Coast of Dalmatia, will throw considerable light on the events which distinguished it, and cannot fail to excite interest.

On Wednesday, May 28, the election for Westminster School terminated; when Messrs. Egerton Venables Vernon, Robert Hussey, William Legge, James Temple Mansel, and Frederick Alexander Sterkey, were elected Students of Christ Church, Oxford; and Messrs. William Bentall, John George Charles Fox Strangways, and John Reed, Scholars of Trinity College, Cambridge. At the same time, Messrs. Jeffreys, Phillimore, Mayue, Dunlop, C. G. Mansel, Bailey, Robinson, Ross, and Wood, were admitted Scholars of St. Peter's College, Westminster, in their room.

ROYAL SOCIETY OF Literature.

In our vol. XC. ii. p. 444, we noticed the first formation of this Society for the pro motion of General Literature. The Society having since assumed a more matured shape, it may be proper to add, that it is to consist of a President, Vice President, and Council; Fellows, Associates, and Honorary Members.

The objects of the Society are, to unite and extend the general interests of Literature; to reward literary merit by patronage; to excite literary talent by premiums; and to promote literary education by bestowing Exhibitions at the Universities and Public Schools, in cases of distinguished desert.

§1. The Fellows constitute the principal body of the Society, and contribute to its support by subscriptions and benefactions.

§. 2. The Associates form that part of the Society to which its patronage is directed, and are to consist of two classes, viz. Associates under Patronage, whether of the King, or of the Society; and Hono rary Associates; from which latter class the Associates under Patronage will chiefly be elected.

The class of Associates under Patronage is to consist of persons of distinguished learning, authors of some creditable work of literature, and men of good moral character, ten on the Royal Endowment, of whom shall be natives of the United Kingdom, and foreigners; and an unlimited number on the funds of the Society, as soon and in proportion as the amount funded shall be sufficient for the

purpose;

1821.]

Literary and Scientific Intelligence.

purpose: the whole number, both on the Royal Endowment and on the funds of the Society, to be appointed by the Council of the Society.

§. 3. The Honorary Members shall be such persons as are entitled to public respect on account of their literary characters, and are to consist of professors of Literature in the several Universities of the United Kingdom; Head Masters of the great Schools of royal foundation, and other great schools; eminent Literary Men in the United Kingdom; distinguished Female Writers; and also Foreigners celebrated for literary attainments.

ROXBURGHE CLUB.

On the 18th of June this distinguished Society held its Anniversary at the Clarendon Hotel, the usual day falling on the Sabbath. Twenty-one members were present, including the President, Lord Spencer, who is uniform in his attendance. The circle of the Club, for giving a reprint of some neglected work, being nearly completed, the only distribution was Magnyfycence, a goodly Interlude and a mery deuysed, and made by Mayster Skelton, poet laureate, late deceasyd. By Mr. J. Littledale. A print, from a plate engraved at Florence, of a regretted absent member, Sir Egerton Brydges, bart. was given; and Mr. Townley announced his intention of having a work ready, and to be delivered during the present season. Lord Morpeth promised for next year. After Mr. Jaquier's excellent dinner, the toasts passed gaily. Among them, Valdarfer for Boccaccio; Bruxella for Horace; Caxton and Black Letter; while other praiseworthy typographers in memory followed, down to Baskerville and Blue Letter. After the brisk skirmish of water marks, there was impressively given the Heroes of the battle of Waterloo. Nor was there forgot the light emanating from this torch, and now blazing at Paris, under the name of Les Bibliophiles. Then followed the Auchinlech Press, &c. &c. As the evening advanced, on the secession of the noble President, Mr. Heber was voted to the Chair by acclamation, and, as usual, maintained the spirit and hilarity of the meeting. Toasts continued with some labourers in the vineyard. A well-timed compliment was paid to the Vice President, the Rev. T. F. Dibdin, upon his entertaining and highly embellished Tour. A Lucinean toast was pledged to the long desired Shakespeare and Mr. Boswell. To Mr. Haslewood was wished a speedy call for Barnabee's Itinerary, which occasioned a repetition of the engagement, that the Fac-simile Edition would never be reprinted. Such a burst of intellectual communication and animated conversation continued through the whole Meeting, as satisfactorily evinced the Members met too seldom.

BIBLIOMANIA.

63

Under this attractive title, we beg to announce to the Book World the acquisition of the magnificent Library of COUNT MELZI, at Milan, by a young and gallant Champion, ycleped Frank Hall Standish, esq. This Library, if report speak true, was first purchased by Messrs. Payne and Foss, upon terms which did honour to all the contracting parties; and was afterwards obtained of the purchasers upon terms equally honourable to Mr. Standish and Mr. Payne. It is probably the most extraordinary Library, for selection, which

was

ever imported into this country. Among the treasures of the 15th century, are the first (Brescia) Lucretius and Virgil, and the Spira Livy of 1470, upon vellum: together with an uncut set of the Greek Capital Letter Books, and the Aldine Virgil of 1505, upon vellum.

In announcing this fact, it is impossible to withhold the meed of applause due to the adventurous and yet highly honourable spirit of the recent purchaser. Mr. Standish is, we are informed, a young man of considerable property, and high intellectual ardour; and such a feat, in the Book-world, is almost if not entirely unique. We sincerely wish such an example to be imitated, as more likely to impress foreigners with a notion of the good sense and taste of our countrymen, than the usual instances which they see of the distribution of our wealth. This observation cuts two-fold; since there are many at home who may take a salutary hint from such an bonourable application of a portion of a fine fortune. We sincerely hope that Mr. Standish was drank with "three times three," at the last meeting of the Roxburghe Club, just recorded. THE APOGRAPH.

An invention has been made by a young man belonging to Mauchline, Mr. Andrew Smith, of the Water of Ayr Stone Manufactory. This is au instrument for copying drawings, &c. called, by the learned who have seen it, an Apograph. It is so constructed, that drawings of any kind may be copied by it upon paper, copper, or any other substance capable of receiving au impression, upon a scale either extended or reduced, or the same as the original. The arts, we understand, furnish no instance of an instrument resembling this, either in its appearance or operation, save what is called the Pantograph, and even from this machine it differs materially. The beam in the former is suspended vertically from an universal joint, whereas the beam of the latter is supported on an horizontal plane. There is also a counterpoise added to the Apograph, above the centre of motion, which relieves the band almost entirely of the weight it would otherwise have to sustain, when the beam is out of the vertical position.

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