nius and uninterrupted application. As a hours, this lady declares that she had ever that he at last determined to attempt passed, were in the society and conversasomething original; and had composed a tion of this "female philosopher." My long speech for the purpose, and anxiousfather, adds she, readily consented to acly waited to catch the speaker's eye, that cept of Constantia as a pupil, and gave he might take the earliest opportunity of her a general invitation to his table, by delivering his oration, adorned as it was which means we were rarely asunder. with all the flowers of his wit and fancy. Whether it was owing to her own design This gentleman just stepped into the cofor to the envy of those who survived her, fee-room to cast an eye over his compoI know not, but of her various and beau- 'Such are all the facts that are left to sition and refresh his memory. Sir Boyle tiful writings, I have never seen any pub-posterity of this high [y] gifted female; took a seat near him, and in the course of lished, excepting one poem of her's in and we cannot help regretting, that while conversation, as he darted off in a hurry the works of Mrs. Barber. Her turn, it is so many pains are taken to preserve memo-to catch an opportunity for speaking, untrua, was principally to philosophical or rials the most minute of individuals whose fortunately his speech fell from his pocket religious subjects, which might not be lives have glided away in a succession of on the floor. Sir Boyle picked it up, and agreeable to the present taste; yet could miserable follies, so little has been re- on reading it over, thought it would adher heavenly mind descend from its su- corded of a woman, whose mind was a mirably suit his own purpose;—“ it was blimest heights to the easy and epistolary casket richly stored with the gems of an-just the very thing he wanted." At a sestyle, and suit itself to my then gay dispo- cient and modern learning.' sition. We shall conclude with a whimsical anecdote of Sir Boyle Roche, who, pos- cond reading, his powerful memory rendered him master of the whole. He re'Mrs. Barber likewise gives her testiturned to his seat in the house, and took mony to the merit of Constantia, of whom the earliest opportunity of delivering the she declares, "that she was not only ment of the whole assembly, and to the borrowed oration, to the great astonishhappy in a fine imagination, a great memory, an excellent understanding, and an utter consternation of Mr. Stanley, who exact judgment, but had all these crownsat biting his nails with anguish, at heared by virtue and piety. She was too ing his elaborate performance, which cost learned to be vain, too wise to be con- 'There were some occasions where the him a week to manufacture, and which ceited, and too clear-sighted to be irreli-worthy baronet's eloquence was not pre- had vanished he knew not how, delivered gious. As her learning and abilities rais-viously thought necessary, and of course by Sir Boyle, and lost to his own fame for ed her above her own sex, so they left her no speech was prepared for him. But he ever. The worthy baronet, having fino room to envy any; on the contrary, was an old soldier, and too full of the nished this oration, amidst the plaudits of her delight was to see others excel. She esprit de corps, to look calmly on the his friends, returned to the coffee-room, was always ready to direct and advise conflict without a zeal for taking his share where he met the mortified composer; and, those who applied to her, and was herself of the battle. He sometimes, there, ven- without waiting for a formal denouement, willing to be advised. So little did she tured to volunteer an extempore philippic addressed him cordially with "my dear value herself upon her uncommon excel- of his own; and then it was that his native friend Stanley, here is your speech again; lencies, that she has often recalled to my genius shone with all its genuine splen- and I thank you kindly for the loan of it. mind a fine reflection of a French author, dour, pure from the mine, and unmarred! never was so much at a loss for a speech that great geniuses should be superior to by the technical touches of any treasury in all my life; but sure it is not a pin their own abilities."" artist; then it was, that all the figures of worse for wear, and now you may go in national rhetoric, to use the phrase of and speak it again yourself, as soon as you Junius, danced the hays through his please." The discomfiture of Mr. Stanspeech in all the mazes of metaphorical ley is easier conceived than described confusion." but the story caught wind, and excited infinite pleasantry at his expense. Constantia married a Mr. George Grierson, a printer, in Dublin, for whom Lord Carteret, then Lord-lieutenant of Ireland, obtained a patent, appointing him printer to the king, in which, to distinguish and reward the merit of his wife, her life was inserted. Upon one occasion of this kind, the worthy baronet was doomed to sit dumb, while he anxiously longed to distinguish himself in the contest. He felt his mind pregnant with ardour to shine forth. He endeavoured to collect his scattered sentiments and combine them into some shape for delivery; but in vain. He retired to the coffee-room to reconnoitre his notions, and endeavour to marshal them into some form for operation, but without effect,-all was "confusion worse confounded." A lucky expedient crossed his fancy, and he was determined to seize the opportunity. She died in 1733, at the premature age of twenty-seven, admired and respected as an excellent scholar in Greek and Roman literature, in history, theology, philosophy, and mathematics. Her dedication of the Dublin edition of Tacitus to Lord Carteret, affords a convincing proof of her knowledge in the Latin tongue; and by that of Terence to his son, to whom she wrote a Greek epigram. Dr. Harwood esteems her Tacitus one of the best edited books ever published. She wrote many fine poems in English, but esteemed them There was a ministerial member in so slightly, that very few copies of them the house, a learned Serjeant Stanley, who were to be found after her decease. What was usually in the habit of rising towards makes her character the more remarkable the end of a long protracted debate, and is, that she rose to this extraordinary emi- about three or four in the morning, amusnence entirely by the force of natural ge-ing the house with an important speech of Hutcheson's Treatise on Beauty and Order :Th' internal senses painted here we see, They're born in others, but they live in thee; O! were our author with thy converse blest, Could he behold the virtues in thy breast, His needless labours with contempt he'd view; And bid the world not read→→→but copy you.'. an hour or more, ingeniously compiled On another occasion, an opposition member had appointed a day for a popular motion, on some national subject; and, for nearly a month before, he had been daily moving for official documents, as materials to illustrate his observations. When the night for the discussion arrived, those documents appeared piled upon the table of the house in voluminous ar ray; and the orator, preparatory to his opening speech, moved that they be now read by the clerk, in order the better to prepare the house for more clearly understanding the observations he was about to submit. This operation would have occcupied the clerk, and the silent attention of the members, for at least two hours. The house was extremely full; the whole assembly stared at each other; a rueful buzz murmured from bench to bench; and several members observed, that the reading would occupy the whole night,while others shrunk silently away, unwil ling to abide.so formidable a trial of their patience. Sir Boyle Roche, however, suggested a happy expedient for obviating the dif ficulty, by rising to move that a dozen or two of committee clerks might be called in, and each taking a portion of the documents, all might read together, by which means they might get through the whole in a quarter of an hour. "This suggestion, offered with profound gravity, was so highly ludicrous, that the house joined in an universal laugh, and the question was actually postponed for the night, to give time for the mover to form a more succinct arrangement for introducing his motion.' A Poetical Review 8vo. pp. 79. Lon Gordon, a Tale. of Don Juan. don, 1821. SURELY never poem was subjected to such a fate as Lord Byron's Don Juan;' unacknowledged by its publisher, censured by the critics, turned out of reading-rooms, and yet read, admired, and abused by every body. It is not enough that it should have passed the ordeal of every periodical, in the shape of review, magazine, and newspaper; but it must be submitted to a new species of scrutiny-a poetical critique, in the pamphlet before us. Our opinion of the poetical merits and moral or immoral tendency of Don Juan is on record; and it is not, therefore, again to express our admiration of the author's genius or to lament its misapplication, that we have taken up this tale, which is partly a burlesque parody on the style of Don Juan; partly a sacrifice of praise offered at the shrine of talent, and partly arguments, proving its immoral tendency.' That the author is one who is by no means insensible to the splendid talents of Lord Byron, appears throughout the whole of his poem; and there is much vigour in the poetical character which he draws of his lordship: As a bright sun Byron conspicuous stands, And casts his glowing beams on all around; He sheds a glorious lustre o'er all lands, He warms the empire of poetic ground; His vivifying heat o'er all commands, The fields with verdure instantly are crowned: There's naught so lofty but he'll scan its There's naught so distant but 'tis ever found found, He will bring forth something unknown to light. There's naught so vile but he can show some No one so placed but he'll point out their du beauties: ties.' Again, speaking of the poem of Don Juan: "O what sweet strains of poetry are here, That none can rival him in his career: Exhibiting decisive proof to all All nature stands attentive to his call, Towering he soars above our lower sphere, He hovers in the air, nor fears a fall, He mounts the skies, and with a voice divine, As if by Heaven inspired, repeats each line. How sweetly does he sing the various quali ties Of Donna Inez, (does he mean his wife?) Recounting one by one her partialities, And how she occupied Irer passing life, Her dress, demeanor, learning, and formalities, In such expressions, such poetic strains, Her observations, virtues, and belief, The subject was unworthy of such pains. How suitable the language to the sense! And then its purity is quite enchanting: The o'erwhelming force of his bold eloquence, So ravishes the soul, that while 'tis planting, With all the power of its omnipotence, The ideas in your mind which he is chanting, Resistance all is gone, you are no longer stronger. what a genius does this man possess ! What intellect, what judgment, and what skill! There can remain no doubt of his success, Let him take up whate'er design he will; All difficulties he, with cheerfulness, Can soon surmount, and all his verses fill As you may feel, but 'tis beyond expression. From thence our transitory world he views, His light illumines, and his heat dispels dwells. Our cares or sorrows with one falling tear: Life's bitterest pains, nor even death's adieus, Can ever with his calmness interfere; He sits unmoved, and views us weeping, dying; He neither soothes nor pities, ev'n by sighing. "His eye is still throughout our nature roaming He paints its beauties in the fairest light, The boiling of the billows, and their foaming, The revolutions of the day and night, The beauties of those countries ever blooming, Filling the soul with joy and sweet delight, The rising of the sun, and his retiring, Are so well told the notes seem half inspiring. 'And from his lofty station he perceives His piercing eye at once he boldly heaves The gentle zephyrs waft them down to earth, We read, and wonder who could give them birth' Of the influence which powerful talents will have, even when exerted in an unworthy cause, our author speaks justly : 'His florid pen is dipped, alas! too deep In vicious sentiments' o'erwhelming ocean; With rolling rage it crushes in its sweep Each noble passion and each virtuous notion : Though Juan is so vicious, it will keep Its present eminence and great promotion; So deep in glory has he dipped his pen, "Twill always be preserved and read by men. "Oh! 'tis immortal, doom'd to live for ever, To see an endless round of rolling days. When shall its glories cease? oh! never, never, While there's a tongue in man to sound its praise; His brilliant powers united, cannot sever Duration and his poem, but the blaze Would that he used his talents for our good! No more would he "besmear his page with But o'er our natural frailties he would brood, Not jeer our terrors, and our hopes miscall, Not laugh at all religion-our support, Nor with our pains and deaths make jocund sport.' We are not, however, certain that Lord Byron may not, sometime hence, write and think differently from what he now does; and do not, like our author, despairing, exclaim, ❝ never will his mighty mind We have seen a considerable change in his lordship's character, with respect to his friends; and we should not be much surprised to hear of his becoming a moral writer; and that, too, before he reaches the twenty-fourth canto of Don Juan. We have quoted our poetical critic largely on the talents of Lord Byron, and even in praise of the poetical merits of this poem, and we shall conclude with a severe philippic against its immoral tendency : 'Tis like Arabia's desert burning clime, Completely free from every thing that's good: That barren wild appears the true sublime, Can flourish there; no verdure, spring, or wood; But the destructive blast, the blue simoom, Lavish of murder, is its only bloom. And there the Arabs, those detested thieves, To fill our hearts with vicious baneful Our good desires he strives to sacrifice To evil passions, which have filled the earth His poem has no moral life, 'tis dead, Like Adam's body ere his spirit came : 'Tis full of moral poison; where 'tis read It shakes and totters virtue's tender frame: Tis like a hemlock draught, o'er which is spread A decorated covering; 'tis a flame hind Its useless ashes only in your mind. "Tis like the manchinella, which allures By beauteous foliage, and enchanting fruit; It captivates the senses, and secures Convenience proper to convey acute A certain death, who, that he may recruit fioat Within its vortex, careless of their moans; Or hidden breakers, where no shoals denote Their horrid dwellings, but where all the tones Of calmly rolling waves invite the boat, It glides along-heard ye those dying groans? O shun the breakers and the whirlpool's fury, Lest to your death it should perchance allure ye "Licentiousness is his pleroma, where, The author, in describing the predica- 'A monster of such frightful mien, cessful villainy, or to familiarize the spike at the end of it, if possible, to be provided against emergencies, lest they repent of their neglect. 4. That each beggar take especial care never to presume to wear any thing torn, or patched; nothing bringing more new; that all his clothes be worn out, scandal on the profession than begging in good clothes. Be it, however, well understood, that if, in the exercise of his professional duties, a beggar chance to obtain some new garment, he is at liberty to longer. We positively will and command, deck himself out in it for that day, but no that he dispose of it the following morning. 5. To prevent any dispute that may arise between comrades for certain posts, we ordain that the more ancient possessor prevail and take precedence, without regard to persons. 6. It is permitted that two infirm or sick persons beg in company, if they provided they beg by turns and in a difplease, and call each other brothers; ferent tone, the one beginning where the other leaves off. They are to keep opposite each other on different sides of the street, each singing his own misfortunes; they may afterwards divide their profits as they please. 'The Laws of Begging.-As beggars of every nation are distinguished from each other by their different modes of imploring alms; as the Germans beg by singing, and in troops, the French by their pray- 7. It is permitted that a beggar wear ing, the Flemings by their respectful bow- an old dish-clout round his head in winings, the Bohemians by fortune-telling, ter, instead of a bonnet, that while he is the Portugueze by their crying, the Ita-protected from the cold, he may at the lians by long harangues, the English by same time appear an invalid. They are abusing, and the Spaniards by their likewise at liberty to walk with crutches, haughty growlings: we hereby command or to have one leg tied up behind them. them all to observe the following statutes, under pain of our heavy displeasure. 1. We forbid any lame or wounded beggar, of whatever nation he be, to appear in the quarters frequented by others full of health and vigour, on account of the advantage they will have over the latter. We also ordain, that all such as are in perfect health, form no manner of connexion with blind men, field-preach ers, mountebanks, poets, musicians, reHeaven scorns his rage, although he storm deemed captives, nor even with old sol Replete with this, unenvied he may dwell: 'Gainst heaven he lifts his hand, devoid of fear, Like ancient Titians, daring to rebel; Don Juan is his strongest weapon here and swell His meed on earth for such enormous pains We dare say Lord Byron will laugh at this character of his poem, but, although it is somewhat severe, it contains much truth. The Life and Adventures of Guzman 1 diers that have escaped from a rout, or 2. We ordain that beggars have cer- 3. We command that every beggar carry a good cudgel in his hand, with a 8. Every beggar may have a purse and a pocket, but must receive alims in their hats only. 9. We command, that no beggar be so indiscreet as to divulge any of the mysteries of our trade, to any but such as belong to our society. 10. Should any beggar be so fortunate as to discover any new trick in the art of begging, he shall be obliged to communicate the same to the company, which ought to enjoy in common the benefit arising from the genius of any of its members. As a recompense, however, to the inventor, and to stimulate his genius to new discoveries, we decree, that he have an exclusive privilege to make the most of his device for three months, during which time we peremptorily forbid any other belonging to our fraternity from interfering with his practice, under pain of confiscating to his use all the profits that may be derived therefrom. 11. We exhort the members of this society, freely and faithfully to make known to each other all the houses where they know that either private or public alms are likely to be dispensed; especially those in which gaming or courting is going forward; for, in such places, large receipts are certain. 12. We command, that no beggar presume to keep, or lead about with him, any hunting, setting, or other dogs; blind men being allowed to be conducted fered great injury by means of false certificates of character. How many merchants have been ruined by un by a little cur, with a string round its treated favourably, we will and ordain, neck. This prohibition is not meant to that for the future any brother who shall extend to such of our fraternity as may have attained the age of twelve years, chance to possess dogs of talent. These shall be only obliged to pass a noviciate of may be allowed to exhibit their perform-three years instead of five; and we insist, principled clerks; warehouses broken that after the said term of three years, he open by supposed confidential ware be considered a graduate in the profes-housemen; and have not householders sion, and as a subject who has duly com- been murdered in their sleep by the plied with and fulfilled all the laws of the connivance of treacherous servant girls! institution. On the other hand, where integrity is. proved, the master or mistress must be, indeed, an ungrateful being who would undervalue those services which are continually devoted to either or both. ances as usual, by making their dogs dance or jump through hoops; but they must not presume to take their station at a church-door, where other beggars of the society may be assembled, on account of the great advantage they will have over them. 13. We command, that no beggar venture to buy meat or fish in the market on his own account, except in a case of extreme necessity; very ill consequences may arise from so doing. 14. We permit all such beggars as have no children of their own, to hire as many as four, to lead about with them into the churches on festivals; they should not be above five years old, and, if possible, should appear to be twins. If a female conduct them, she should never fail to have one always at her breast; and if a man, he must be sure to carry one on his arm, and lead the next by the other hand. 15. We command, that those beggars who have any children, instruct them up to the age of six years in the best mode of making collections in churches; that, after having taught them to ask charity for their father and mother, who lie on their beds at home most dangerously ill, they ter not entirely to lose sight of them. As soon, however, as these children shall have attained their seventh year, we command that they be left to shift for themselves, as being already majors, and that their parents be content to restrict and compel them to return home at stipulated hours. allow them to go alone, though it were bet 16. Beggars of the old stamp, who consider it a point of honour to walk in the footsteps of their ancestors, who have trained them to the profession of begging, will never allow their children to take any other trade than their own, nor to degrade themselves by entering into the service of any one; and if these children wish to be thought worthy of their parents, they will hold every other condition in abhor rence. 20. At the same time we require of the said brother, that he make oath never to desert our society, but continue attached to it, and never think of withdraw. ing himself from our service without our especial leave; promising to pay due submission and obedience to our statutes, Original Communications. under pain of our highest displeasure.' 'OURSELVES.' To the Editor of the Literary Chronicle. Yatton under Roseberry Toppin, 12th October. 4 Letter, addressed to the Agricul- extract: As our 'A character is the only property which many people can call their own; and when untarnished, is the most valuable that any man can possess. I beg to be allowed to give a legal caution, by way of protection to the servant, against the malice of the master: viz. "that if without ground, and purely to defame, a false character is given, it will be a proper ground of action."-Judge Mansfield. And let me add, that, though in justice, master ought not, perhaps, to refuse to give a character to a servant who demands it, "by law he is not bound to give any character at all; although, if he do, he must take care to give a true one."' a We are certain that society has suf torment you a good while before you die, unless you make the amende honorable, and we may yet be friends, if you are not an Atheist.-I will convince you I am of some consequence, Yorkshireman; and for all that, I can though you cocknies may call me a shew you some famous errors in the text of your paper: I will only take the last few numbers; but, if you wish it, I will send you another article, containing all the mistakes and blunders your corres pondents have made, since the first. number of the Literary Chronicle. I wait your answer, which I trust will be favourable to my design. I don't like, sir, to see things done by. halves. In the number for Sept. 8th, you state the fact of a deaf and dumb boy being presented to Louis XVIII., and who had been employed three years, in making, out of his own head, a fine paste-board palace.-You should have added, in justice to the munificence of his most Christian majesty, that the king tapped him on the about the infernal cookery of a goose, shoulder, and expressed, by signs, his In your life of Mrs. Iuchbald, is a remark that George Colman said he seldom read 'five act pieces of anonymous authors; this affords me an opportunity of removing much of the odium thrown by disappointed authors on theatrical managers. No author will think, that less than a day ought to be devoted to his often illegible MS. to form a sound judgment upon it. Now, sir, the average number of pieces presented by would-be dramatists, is between twelve hundred and thirteen hundred per annum, or what would take one man four years to decide upon, or four persons constantly employed the whole year !! Break your printer's head or your own, I do not cure which, for having, (page 574) printed bras, arm-for brasses, fathonis. I perceive you have some doubt You mention four-and-twenty blackbirds baked in a pye,'-when the late Mr. Pye was made laureat, his first ode was all about birds and the vocal groves, on which George Selwyn exclaimed, and when the pye was opened the birds began to sing, and was not that a dainty dish to set before the king.' Thou unhappy king of no land, of Santerre commanded the troops at the execution of Louis XVI. I was in Paris at the time, and dined at a table d'hôte some days after with this man, who was boasting of his preventing Louis XVI. from addressing the people. I wonder,' said one of the party, that you should be such an enemy of kings, who, as I can prove, are descended from one'-'what, I descended from a tyrant! never! Yes, citizen, from a tyrant and a coward; you are descended from the King of England, Jean Sans Terre;' the whole party laughed, save Santerre, who said, my friend, the joke is a very good one, but pray do not breathe it beyond the walls of this room, for, in the present state of the public mind, it would be sufficient to send me to the scaffold. Now, Mr. Editor, I think I have given you a good article on your 'Bee," and if you don't insert it, you may get a hornet's nest about you, for I will print it and shame the fools.' Your devoted humble servant and Constant reader,' SOUR CROUT. PS. I am told the Quarterly Review gives one hundred guineas for an article. You shall have mine regularly once a week for ten guineas, which I expect you will jump at. PROCLAMATION OF CHARLES To the Editor of the Literary Chronicle. SIR,-Since the time of the Stuarts, I L. G. Whereas, the king's most excellent majesty, by his proclamation, dated the times of his healing the disease, called the 1st day of July last, did prescribe the king's evil, to be Michaelmas and Easter, or within fourteen days next, before or after those feasts; nevertheless his ma jesty being now informed, that the sick↓ |