Coffin, who volunteered his services on shore. They left Malta early in September, and anchored in the harbour of Tripoly on the 11th of that month. Circumstances prevented their going farther eastward than Derna, and limited their stay in the Pentapolis, to a much shorter period than they had originally calculated upon; notwithstanding which, their researches enabled them to accomplish many points of unquestionable interest. They obtained the plans of towns and places rendered interesting by antiquity, and by the rank which they hold in the pages of history, of which, previously, we were in possession of no details; and they made drawings of every object of note which presented itself on the field of their operations. Evidently, they employed great labour and diligence; and, had they been enabled to undertake excavation on a more extensive scale, and to bestow more time on their inquiries and investigations-especially with respect to sculpture, architecture, and painting-the literary and scientific world would have been yet farther benefited by their exertions.

can

Among the numerous instances, which we observed during our stay at Bengazi, illustrative of Arab character and prejudices, we may notice one which occurred in the skeefa (or entrancehall) of our house, where a select party of the inhabitants of the town usually assembled themselves when the weather permitted. On this occasion, the women of England formed the principal subject of conversation, and the reports of their beauty, which had reached some of our visitors, appeared to have made a great impres sion in their favour. One of our party then produced a miniature from his pocket, which chanced to be the resemblance of a very pretty girl; and he roundly asserted, as he handed it to the company, that every woman in England was as handsome. We have already observed, that the subject was a very pretty girl; and they who are unacquainted with the force of custom and prejudice, will hardly conceive that an object so pleasing could be the cause of a moment's alarm. But truth obliges us to add, that the first Arab of our party, who was favoured in dismay and confusion; and all his worthy with a sight of the lady in question, started back countrymen who cast their eyes upon the picture, withdrew them on the instant, in the greatest alarm, exhibiting the strongest symptoms of astonishment and shame. The fact was, that the young lady who had caused so much confusion, was unluckily painted in a low evening dress; and her face was only shaded by the luxuriant auburn curls which fell in ringlets over her forehead and temples.

Altogether, the volume of Messrs. Beechey contains twenty-two very interesting and valuable views, charts, plans, &c. We regret that we neither follow the travellers in their route, nor even venture upon a synopsis of their antiquarian researches and discoveries, which were prosecuted in a truly classical spirit. Many of their descriptions are beautiful; their general style is easy, lucid, and even elegant; and, independently of what relates to the main objects of the expedition, their personal adventures, and their numerous and striking illustrations of the Arab character, impart to their publication almost the charm of romance. The examinations respecting the Gardens of the Hesperides, and the excavated tombs at Cyrene, are points of extraordinary interest to the literary, as well as to the antiquarian reader; but, unfortunately, they far exceed all space that we can at present afford for extract. If it should be in our power, of which we are not at present certain, we shall return to the subject in our Supplement. We sight, they could scarcely have felt or expressed now conclude with the relation of a very amusing incident:→

There was nothing, it will be thought, so exfemale beauty; and the favoured inhabitants of tremely alarming in this partial exhibition of less decorous, and more civilized countries, would spectacle. But to men who inhabit those regions scarcely dream of being shocked at a similar of delicacy, where even one eye of a female must never be seen stealing out from the sanctuary of her veil, the sudden apparition of a sparkling pair of those luminaries is not a vision of ordinary occurrence. At the same time, the alarm of the worthy Shekhs assembled, which the bright eyes and naked face, as they termed it, of our fair countrywoman had so suddenly excited, was in no way diminished by the heinous exposure of a snowy neck and a well-turned pair of shoulders; and had they been placed in the situation of Yusuf, when the lovely Zuleika presented herself, brew's love, or in the more embarrassing diin all her charms, as a suitor for the young Helemma of the Phrygian shepherd-prince, when three immortal beauties stood revealed before his

* Yusuf and Zuleika are the Mahometan names of Joseph and Potiphar's wife.

Generally, though not in detail, the public had, previously to its publication, been in possession of the substance of a "Narrative of an Attempt to reach the North Pole, in Boats fitted for the Purpose, and attached to His Majesty's Ship Hecla, in the Year 1827; under the command of Captain William Edward Parry, R.N., F.R.S., and Honorary Member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburgh; illustrated by Plates and Charts." Any outline, therefore, of the work, that we could offer, would be superfluous; but it will afford us pleasure if we find ourselves enabled to take it up again for a few illustrative extracts in our Supplementary sheets. In the interim, we cannot refrain from making honourable mention of the plates, exquisitely engraved by Edward Finden, by which the volume is embellished. The frontispiece, representing the boats off Walden Island in a Snow Storm, is exceedingly spirited and effective; and, in every instance, the object of conveying to the spectator a clear and distinct view, is fully accomplished: for instance, in the departure of the Boats from Hecla Cove in June, 1827-the Boats up for the Night-and Travelling among Hummocks of Ice; the last of which presents a scene almost terrific.

hauled

of that time in intimate intercourse with various natives, I have a different opinion of their character, to that given in several printed works." His opinion is extremely favourable to the natives, to whom he ascribes the most amiable virtues, the most grateful attachment, a capability of all the qualities that can adorn the human ation is of a practical character, and mind. Altogether, Mr. Rickards's informeminently worthy of the most serious consideration, especially with a view to the approaching expiration of the EastIndia Company's charter, and the probable effect of that event upon the trade and commerce of Britain. He fully succeeds, we think, in establishing these positions : that the natives of India are not restricted to four casts, which neither intermarry with each other, nor interfere with each other's trade, profession, or calling-that the respective casts are not prohibited from the use of animal food-that they are not averse from receiving, or allowing their children to receive, European education and instruction, even upon religious, points-that they have no objection, as well as general and miscellaneous whatever, to the importation and use of European manufactures, &c.-and that, under certain judicious regulations which may be adopted hereafter, the British export trade to India may be carried to a great and incalculable extent. shewing, from official documents, that the "value of the exports by private traders

After

The Charts and Plans, also, are very ably to India alone is more than double the executed. Altogether, the volume is produced in a handsomeness of style quite worthy of its predecessors.

In our Literary and Scientific Intelligence of last month (see page 183) we stated the outline of a then forthcoming || work, to be entitled "India, or Facts submitted to illustrate the Character and Condition of the Native Inhabitants, with Suggestions for reforming the present System of Government; by R. Rickards, Esq." Part I., "On the Casts of India, and the Alleged Simplicity and Immutability of Hindoo Habits," has appeared, and is now before us. It embraces much more than meets the eye in these words. "Having lived twenty-three years in India," observes Mr. Rickards, "and passed much

together; and that the whole of the pri Company's exports to India and China vate trade to India alone exceeds the whole of the Company's trade to India and China together, by nearly one million sterling per ammum," Mr. Rickards proceeds:→

In the discusions of 1813, I stood almost alone in strenuously asserting that the commercial intercourse with India would be, what it is now proved to be, by the opening then conceded. I certainly pretend to no prophetic inspiration; but, from my knowledge and experience of the inhabitants of the east, I do not hesitate again, as confidently, to affirm, that the present encrease is not a tythe of what our trade with India will be, if, at the expiration of the present charter, it be ridden of other restraints, and fairly laid open to the skill and enterprise, and capital of the private merchants of Britain, and

to the natural and unfettered energies of our Indian subjects.

We have room only to add that numerous passages, quoted by Mr. Rickards, from Bishop Heber's Journal, fully sustain and corroborate that gentleman's representations.

Essays on Periodical Literature, &c.,” offer much amusement and gratification to the reflective and antiquarian reader, while they are calculated also generally to please. With little of actual novelty, they present considerable information, which, scattered through numerous and Almost at the commencement of the expensive works, is not otherwise accesNew Series of LA BELLE ASSEMBLEE,* we sible. The biographical sketch of the had the pleasure of noticing the first Cliffords of Craven, from the year 1227, to volume of "Illustrations of the Public the death of the celebrated Anne, Countess Buildings of London; with Historical and of Dorset and Pembroke, in the year 1676, Descriptive Accounts of each Edifice; by is, though borrowed, replete with interest; J. Britton, F.S.A., &c., and A. Pugin, as is that of Sir Philip Sidney and his Architect." About forty-ten more than sister the Countess of Pembroke, with the first volume embraced-different edi- critical remarks on their literary producfices are here illustrated, as before, by tions. Papers on Richard Drummond, of about eighty architectural engravings, in || Hawthornden, the Petrarch of Scotland— outline. We repeat our remark: "The the Rev. Richard Hole, author of Arthur, expense of the designs must have been a once well-known poetical romance— very great, and the paper and typography Chaucer, Dunbar, and Burns-contain of the work are, in every respect, com- much elegant criticism from the pen of mensurate with the beauty of the plates." || Dr. Drake; and, with the Introductory Hitherto, we regret to learn, the patron- paper, on the Influence of an Early-acage extended to this valuable book has quired Love of Literature-a Biographical not been such in point of profit, as to Notice of Dr. Mason Good—the Character meet the estimates of its proprietors. of Ossian as drawn by the Irish bards— Convinced, however, of its sterling worth, and Milton and Galileo-form the remainwe are persuaded that, "as it becomes ing contents of these volumes. Without more known, it will be more sought for great depth or originality of idea, Dr. by the professional architect, the topo- Drake is an elegant-minded and truly grapher, and all classes of readers who amiable man; and to the possessors of seek for accurate elucidations of the new his earlier works, all of which are instinct metropolitan edifices. Amongst those with taste, as well as with the purest edifices here illustrated, we find Mr. benevolence, "Mornings in Spring" will Greenough's Villa in the Regent's Park; || prove a most agreeable accession. the Roman Catholic Chapel, Moorfields; Ashburnham House, Westminster; All Souls' Church, Langham Place; the County Fire Office, Regent Street; the University Club House; the Church of All Saints, Poplar; St. Luke's Church, Chelsea; the College of Physicians, and

Union Club House; the Terraces in the

Regent's Park; the Council Office, &c., in Parliament Street; the Law Courts, House of Lords, &c., Westminster; the Co

losseum, Regent's Park; Hanover Chapel, Regent Street; Mr. Nash's House, Regent Street; Belgrave Square, Eton Square, and Mr. Kemp's Villa, Pimlico.

Mornings in Spring, or Retrospections, Biographical, Critical, and Historical, by Nathan Drake, M.D., H.A.L., Author of

• Vide vol. ii. page 33.

"Dunwich, a Tale of the Splendid City, in four Cantos; by James Bird, author of Discovery of Madeira; Cosmo, Duke of The Vale of Slaughden; Machin, or the Tuscany, a Tragedy; and Poetical Memoirs, and the Exile," will fully sustain, if it exalt not, the fame of its writer. In Fiction, No. XIII.,* we have so fully our Contemporary Poets and Writers of characterised, and, by copious extract, the present occasion, we feel it unnecesillustrated, Mr. Bird's poetry, that, upon subject. Indeed, one or two brief passary to advance a single remark upon the from the before poem will us, prove a better eulogy than any praise, howso

sages,

Vide LA BELLE ASSEMBLEE, vol. iv.

page 191.

Wreath" will be perused with the lively In dumb despair she trembling stood the interest which the nature of its contents

outpourings of a deeply-wounded heart, yet pervaded by a spirit of the purest religion and piety. We refrain from quotation, as the chief contents of this volume have already appeared in different periodical works-with many of its gems our own pages have been graced; but we must be permitted to notice a passage in its preface. "I cannot," Mrs. Wilson observes, "but be amazed at the deliberate charge, proceeding lately from a critical work of respectability, that my writings have generally an immoral tendency." Our surprise at so unfounded a charge, is not less than that of the author. The productions of this lady have been, if we know aught of virtue, uniformly distinguished, not only by grace, elegance, and tenderness, but by their inculcation of every domestic, moral, and religious duty.

Vivid sketches of the wild scenery around the Cape of Good Hope, with animated descriptions of the animal and vegetable tribes peculiar to the trackless deserts of Caffer Land, will be found in "Ephemerides, or Occasional Poems, written in Scotland and South Africa, by Thomas Pringle." Many of the poems written in the last-mentioned country were published in Mr. Thompson's valuable and interesting work, "Travels and Adventures in Southern Africa," whence they were transferred to the pages of numerous periodicals, and, from their beauty, they have become familiar to most readers. Of those written in Scotland, many, as their author informs us, were published as far back as the year 1817. Collectively, they form a very attractive volume. Appended are some valuable notes, illustrative of the character and present condition of the native tribes of Southern Africa.

As belles must have beaux, and as belles love to see their beaux well dressed, it seems perfectly fair, that LA BELLE AsSEMBLEE, a work expressly devoted to the fair, should take due cognisance of "The Art of Tying the Cravat, by H. Le Blanc, Esq., with Explanatory Plates, and a Portrait of the Author!" In this little volume, as its elaborate and copiously-descriptive || title page informs us, the sublime art is "demonstrated in sixteen lessons, including thirty-two different styles; forming a pocket manual, and exemplifying the advantage

arising from an elegant arrangement of this important part of the costume; preceded by a history of the cravat, from its origin to the present time; and remarks on its influence on society in general.” Ah! exclaims our animated and profound historian, "L'art de mettre sa Cravate est à l'homme du monde ce que l'art de donner à diner est à l'homme d'etat!" How indispensably important, then, must be the knowledge and practice of this elevated art, the possession of which is learnedly traced back at least as far as the Romans; while we are assured, with an equal display of erudition, " that the collar of the ancient Persians, Egyptians, and Greeks, was the origin of the stock of the present day." Though he treats of colours, as well as of forms, Mr. Le Blanc, as we infer from his portrait, and in accordance with his name, chiefly patronises white cravats. Mr. Le Blanc is the very Ude of his art. And why should not Cravat-tying, as well as Cookery, have its Schools-ay, its Universities—and its Professorships? The sub||ject, we trust, will not be lost sight of by the directors of the new Cockney College.

||

NEW MUSIC.

New Analysis of Music, in which is developed a Theory of Melody, Harmony, and Modulation, in perfect Accordance with the Facts, observable in the Compositions of all the Great Masters. By D. C. Hewitt.

This is a little work, consisting of about sixty pages of explanatory letter-press, besides some beautiful specimens from the great masters of music, to prove his theory. It reminds the reader of the new system of Galileo relating to astronomy, which, when first promulgated, surprised the world by its novelty and boldness; but yet failed to convince the world of its truth, until Sir Isaac Newton felt the force of its simplicity, and by that key unlocked the whole mystery of the starry heavens. Mr. Hewitt's theory, with regard to the principles of music, seems to be equally simple; and we can but hope, for the sake of anticipated perfection, in the sweetest of all arts, that some Newton of sound will be found to assert its being true; and so we may boast a parallel discovery in the harmony of music, and of the spheres!