that miekle-mouthed Meg and her husband were a very happy and loving pair, and had a very large family, to each of whom Sir Williain Scott bequeathed good estates, besides reserving a large one for the eldest. FITZHENRY. INNOVATIONS IN THE ENGLISH us to infinity. Can a mere English-be stated to show the effort a language They have adopted boo-lin-grin for bowling-green; and rosbif for roastbeef; and if those alone who are faultless are intitled to cast the first stone,' we have no right to commence the fray. I have given these instances as borrowed from the French, that being more generally understood than any other language, and because our litetary, commercial, and (would to God I might not add) our murderous intercourse, have exposed us most to the innovations of which I complain. Many other examples might be adduced as taken from other languages, and which are countenanced by the literary, world THERE is something in our nice conception of the exact shades of meaning in the words of a language, which every one feels (and more especially if he understands more languages than one), but which it is impossible to explain. For instance, the word mœurs has by some been translated morals, and by others, manners, while each party must have been aware that his word but imperfectly expressed the idea intended; both are right, but both deficient, as the original has an intermediate meaning, or rather includes both, with all the hair's-breadth ideas associated between them. Yet still, though so ex-perhaps ought to have been so conti-bours can rival us in similar absurdities. pressive a word, it can never be pro-nued. No small degree of ambiguity perly Anglicised, and we ought rather has crept in upon us, by pronouncing to content ourselves with our deficiency, beat, feat, meat, &c. as beet, feet, meet, than attempt to graft so heterogeneous &c. It is true, that if the old sound and crab-like a mixture upon our were continued, assimilating with bait, stock. The word ennui has lately gait, wait, &c. some confusion would made more rapid strides among us still remain, but certainly not so much than its laziness would seem to coun- as would be sacrificed. One of this tenance (and the fascinating tale which class still retains its primitive sound, bears its name has aided the adoption), and if great be allowed to rhyme with but how miserable a figure does it cut strait, surely treat has an equal right in our English uniform! Fashion pre- to the privilege. Take then your new scribes that its Gallic pronunciation fangled Anglo-gallicism trait, and it shall be preserved; and surely it is will be found not a whit behind the enough to give an Englishman the va- other in absurdity: it is totally unpours to twist his jaws to the barbarous tractable, and will no more class with attempt at ong-wee. The trial is ridi- English perspicuity, than a pig will culous, and while for our comfort we class with a zebra, or Borulaski with have lassitude, weariness, spleen, lan- Daniel Lambert. Pronounce it as gour, and the blue devils at command, you will, and you gain nothing but a I should think our vocabulary is as confusion of ideas; call it tray, and it rich and copious as the heart of me- smells of the butler's pantry, of the jalancholy itself could desire.-Some re- panner's shop; or your hearers are left to cent adoptions have highly pleased me, guess, whether you mean your dog or a as according well with the standard of tea-board; pronounce the terminating simplicity, and improving themselves, and it may then become turtle-soup, at the same time to the judgment of lolly-pop, or any other nick-nack in the linguist in their etymology; and epicurism. And why admit this illesuch words as telegraph, panorama, gitimate upstart, when our good old and kaleidoscope, will hold a deserved feature contains every tittle of the place in our dictionaries as long as other's meaning?-Feature of the face, these elegant inventions shall be of the mind, of the country, of a book, known; but never can common sense is as comprehensive and analogous in or English ears be reconciled to the every respect whatever. horrid jargon of ayd-de-caung, sangfroy, bong-tong, shay-doo-ver, bong mo, ecclaw, see-de-vaung, rong-de-voo, o-ture, day-numaung, tray, day-bu, and such like trash, which is like to delude It is useless to investigate the crowd of gallicisms that might be presented, and ninety-nine in a hundred of them would be found as useless in their application. Two or three examples may of these (to avoid prolixity) I shall only state the ill-matched and discordant terminations from the Greek and Latin plurals. We have naturalized the useful and expressive word memorandum, and why should not the s form its plural, and thus correspond with our general rule?—But no or, 'He drew his bow, and shot at random, And killed his wife for a memorandum.' as our innovating pluralists would have it And kill'd two men for memoranda.' Thus we have phenomena, stimuli, strata, fungi, errata, and a thousand more ready to fusten upon as individual caprice may suggest, and with the fatility of the vampire each one contributing his share towards the obscurity and eventual destruction of a language, which, probably, has had more varied capabilities displayed by the genius of As pines the dove when from its partner torn, When thou art far away from me, sweet maid. But if, again, his partner dear returns, Its little heart with pleasing rapture beats; With love increas'd its gentle bosom burns, And tastes, once more, of much-lov'd longlost sweets. So when again thou'rt present to my view, And when I find thou still to me art true, THE EVENING PRAYER.. SWEEP Soft, O wind of evening! Above the poet's grave,— And every tree around it In solemn honour wave! On earth no sound delighted His museful fancy more, Than thine-at awful midnight— In calm or the ocean's roar. But chief he loved thy whisper, The song he heard thee sing, When cavalierly wooing The tender-bosom'd spring. The woods and rivers hail'd thee In answering echoes round; The nightingale sung sweeter, As a rival he had found. O lovers lonely wand'ring At such a hallowed hour!What looks!-what aspirations! Did homage to its power! Sweep soft, O wind of evening! Above the poet's grave,And every tree around it In solemn honour wave! within O. F. MAC. SERENADE. Silent Night rides through the air, Wake thee, then, my beauteous fair. Now the glittering meteors blaze, In the moon-lit placid sky, And cast around their varied rays, List and hear Alonzo sigh. Now the goddess Silence reigns Where Noise so lately held his court; Listen, listen, to my strains, Strains by love and madness taught. Wake, my love, the jealous Morn Swift returns, with all his train; Soon night's stillness will be gone, And busy life return again. J. C. P. The Drama. THERE has been no change in the performances at Drury Lane and Covent Garden during the week, except in the afterpieces at the latter house, which have been somewhat varied. Some forthcoming novelties are talked of at both theatres, of which we shall give an early account. SURREY THEATRE.-That favourite little actress, Miss S. Booth, made her first appearance at this house on Monday night, in a melo-dramatic romance, entitled Mariette, the Maid of Switzerland. The piece is already familiar to the public under the name of Therese. Miss Booth sustained the character of the heroine, which is one of intense feeling, with great effect, particularly in her interviews with the Countess and the villain Carwin. The character of Carwin falls to the hands of a gentleman new to this stage. He has a good face and figure, and gives promise of being a good actor, In some of the early scenes he was rather tame; but when writhing under the tortures of guilt and accusation, in the last act, he displayed much appropriate energy. Mr. Bengough was the Pastor, and looked and acted the character extremely well. The Count and Countess had good representatives in Gomery and Miss Poole; and Herring was highly amusing in the old Far mer. MR. BENGOUGH'S BENEFIT.—On Wednesday night, this very deserving actor had a benefit at the English Opera House, when, much to the delight of a crowded audience, he introduced that phenomenon of humau intellect, Miss Clara Fisher. The impression which this child made on the public four years ago, will not easily be forgotten. She was then only six years of age, and yet sustained the character of Richard the Third with striking ef fect. She has since made the tour of the country theatres, and visited EdinOn this burgh with great success. evening she played Little Pickle, in the Spoiled Child, and was the smartest little romp we ever saw in the cha racter. Her next character was a singular one for a child, Crack, in the Turnpike Gate. We wish Munden could have seen how well one of his best characters could be played by a mere infant. Her last effort for the evening was in the Actress of All Work, in which she sustained about half-adozen as varied and strongly contrasted characters as ever were brought to gether in the same drama. In every character she undertook, she displayed a correctness and a power of delineation which might put many old actors We were happy to see, to the blush. among her audience, the first tragedian of the day, Mr. Kean, who was ardently recognized. He appeared anxious to afford his support to, and testify his approval of this extraordinary child. The Scottish Novels.-The author of the Scottish novels is the most fortunate writer of this or any age; and, if the following statement, which has just appeared in the Monthly Magazine, must be a fortune to both author and can be relied on, each of his works bookseller. His first editions are 20,000 copies (we have heard even 30,000), and to this is usually added another of 10,000. The following, then, is something like the account between him and his printer, for a novel of three volumes, of fifteen sheets each: * 1800 reams of paper, 26s. Printing forty-five sheets, at 211. Commission and other expenses Taking the returns at only 11. 1s. per copy,the retail price being 11. 11s. 6d. we have a net produce of Profit on first edition £2340 945 £3985 £17,015 If to this be added 80001. for the profit of the second edition, it appears that each of these novels of three voJumes, yields the enormous profit of 25,0151.! Mr. Rennie, after doing little more than Lactometer.-In consequence of the The Bee. 'Floriferis ut apes in saltibus omnia limant, index to her temper-sharp, peaked, sallow, and smail eyes. of whom several accounts have recently A Good Appetite. The man been published of swallowing jackknives, bullets, marbles, &c. died lately in an alms-house in consehis life to the attending physician, in quence of overloading his stomach with those articles. He gave a history of which many wonderful facts will doubttwelve knives, all shut, were found in lessly appear. On opening his body, his stomach, one of them four inches and-a-half in length and one and a quarter wide, and among then the pocket-knife of the Philadelphia physician, with his name on it. An an thentic report of this very remarkable case will undoubtedly be made in the 'Medical Repository,' with more particulars than it would be adviseable to give on our hearsay authority.-American Paper. A Persian poet takes the following liberty with the fair sex: When thou 21,000 art married seek to please thy wife; but listen not to all she says. From man's Quick Work.-Some years ago, right side a rib was taken to form the there was a woman who lived in a vilquite strait; and would'st thou straight-whose husband, with the little fortune woman, and never was there seen a rib lage in Glamorganshire, South Wales, en it? It breaks, but bends not; he got with her, bought a small farm; since then 'tis plain that crooked is wo- he had hardly closed the purchase, man's temper, forgive her faults, and when death closed his eyes; however, Monument to Mr. Rennie.-It hav-thee, nor coercion use, as all is vain to married a second husband, who sowed blame her not; nor let them anger not intimidated with this, the widow ing been proposed to erect a statue to straighten what is curved.' it; he likewise died, and she tried a the memory of the late Mr. Rennie, on Waterloo Bridge, the erection of related, as a fact: There is a very large snatched him away; she then married A French Kettle-The following is third, who reaped it, but death soon which he superintended, Mr. Dodd, cauldron in a house at Paris, which is a fourth, who threshed it, but he also the architect, who actually designed called La Marmite Perpetuelle,' followed the fate of his predecessors; this noble structure, has addressed the from its having been on the fire eighty-and she then married a fifth husband, following letter on the subject to one seven years; during which period it with whom she enjoyed the produce of of the daily papers :has boiled more than 800,000 capons; it. All this happened in less than and it boils nothing else. It is situated eighteen months. near the principal market for fowls, which have thus only a step to be carried TO READERS & CORRESPONDENTS. Culprit and the Colonel, A Comparison,' 'Lines to Mary in Death,' and a Letter on National Education, in our next. The favours of Mr. Wildernesse, E.G. B., J. R. P., Mr. Hatt, and Dramaticns have been received. Anxious to give a full view of Kotzebue's SIR,-If there is any impartiality or independence in your paper, which I presume there is, I am sure you will readily insert the following truths in vindication of those that have too often suffered by from the market into the cauldron. At THE MEDITATOR, No. I., Fragment,' The other persons reaping both the honours any hour, night or day, on applying and profit of their previous labours; for, to that succulent house, a boiled caalthough I have often contradicted the pon issues from its nutritious gulph, mis-statement of Mr. Rennie's friends re- where they are incessantly regenerated, specting the Waterloo Bridge, it appears in a wonderful manner. now too much to hear them talk of raising a statue to him on that bridge as its architect, when the real fact is, that Mr. Rennie was not the architect designer. This is well known to all the original subscribers; and it is also known that the plans and designs of it, which were approved of and sanctioned by Parliament, were not from the head or hand of Mr. Rennie, but Mr. Dodd; and an act granted for its erection, in which the present dimensions of its arches, piers, &c. were inserted as it now stands, and contracts were made with Joliffe and Banks, and other persons, for its building, and the works proceeding before Mr. Rennie had any thing whatever to do with it. Therefore, how far A Common Scold.-At Philadelphia, lately, Catherine Fields was indicted voyage in a single number, we have been comand convicted for being a common pelled to postpone a notice of M. Belzoni's exscold. The trial was excessively amus-hibition, and several other articles, until our ing, from the variety of testimony, and the diversified manner in which this Xantippe pursued her various propensities. blew a hurricane; and it was given in And Weekly Review; Forming an Analysis and General Repository of Literature, Philosophy, Science, Arts, History, the Drama, Morals, Manners, and Amusements. This Paper is published early every Saturday Morning; and is forwarded Weekly, or in Monthly or Quarterly Parts, throughout the British Dominions, No. 130. LONDON, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1821. Review of New Books. Sketches of Upper Canada, Domestic, Local, and Characteristic: to which are added, Practical Details for the Information of Emigrants of every Class; and some Recollections of the United States of America. 8vo. pp. 339. Edinburgh, 1821. WE have so frequently stated the importance we attach to the remaining British possessions in America, that we shall not detain our readers one moment with any disquisition on that subject; but merely observe, that of all the writers who have hitherto undertaken an account of our transatlantic possessions, Mr. Howison is the most minute, and, we believe, as well-informed and as accurate as any that have preceded him. He confines himself principally to Upper Canada, a colony growing rapidly into importance, and possessing advantages of soil and climate superior to the neighbouring province. Mr. Howison's information was collected during a residence of two years and a-half; and, though it is rather of a personal and domestic nature, yet the commercial, political, and agricultural state of the province is not neglected. The work assumes the form of letters, which are written in an easy and familiar style, though not altogether free from affectation. Our author dismisses Lower Canada in a single letter, from which we shall make a single extract, respecting the general character of the Canadians: I remained all night at La Chine, and, at an early hour next morning, was provided with another calash and driver. This man possessed a most happy dispo. sition, and was altogether so free and de gagé in his manner, that he afforded me much amusement. Though a carpenter by trade, he kept a calash for the accommodation of travellers, and would either drive a horse or a nail, as best suited his purpose. The Canadian post-horses are in appearance the most wretched animals imaginable, being lank, clumsy, and rough-coated; but they become both active and spirited under the influence of the whip, which their drivers generally use very freely. I believe no member of Vol IIL Price 6d. Scotch; it is not in a very flourishing condition, principally on account of the want of some capitalists; all the settlers were very poor when they commenced their labours, and few of them have more than sixty or seventy acres cleared. In sailing up to Kingston, on the St. Lawrence, the party landed on one of those numerous islands, which are to be met with in this noble river, and were gratified with what, to an English sportsman, would be a great novelty-a deer hunt by torch-light. The party hearing a noise in the night, were afraid of being surprised by some Indians, but,— the Four-in-hand Club, when mounted on 'Several of the boatmen had remained blazing flambeaux. Intending to sur I was much struck with the politeness round the deer, and gradually close upon of the common Canadians. They never them, we dispersed into a large circle, passed without uncovering; and when and sent two dogs among the brushwood, two drivers came within call, they always to ronse the game, which they soon accomsaluted each other by the word monsieur. plished, and we accordingly made regular The children make a low obeisance to encroachments upon their precincts. The every genteel stranger; and I cannot help deer, when they saw themselves thus enmentioning a trifling incident which was ironed, sprung from one side to the occasioned by this custom. A little boy, other, leaped into the air, reared upon who had apparently just begun to walk, their hind legs, and at last sunk down ap stood at the door of a cottage, with an im-parently in despair; but, upon the dismense broad-rimmed hat upon his head. charge of a couple of fowling-pieces, they When I approached, he took it off and again started, and having escaped our cirbowed, but in attempting to regain the cle, plunged into the river. erect posture, he found the weight of his chapeau too great, and fell forward on his upon the banks of the island, that they face, but without receiving any injury, might prevent the deer from taking the I thought at the moment, that it would river; but when they found this imprachave been well if the British Government ticable, they shouted to us and ran to the had furnished Lord Amherst with a hat of batteaux, and immediately unmoored this description, to be used on his first them. The remainder of the crew soon audience with the Emperor of China. It followed, with arms and torches, and they would have occasioned a prostration high- ali rowed out in pursuit of the game. ly gratifying to his majesty, and from its Nothing could be more brilliant and picbeing entirely accidental, of course quite turesque than the scene which succeeded. We saw the heads and antlers of the satisfactory to our administrasion.' The first regular settlement in Up-beautiful animals moving with graceful per Canada, is called Glengarry, and, rapidity upon the surface of the water, as may be conceived from its appella- while the brightness of their eyes rivalled tien, contains large proportion of that of the transparentdrops which sparkY Y-45 the names and dimensions of which I have and all the other lakes, seven and-a-half led around them. When the shouts of Of Kingston, which is the largest town in Upper Canada, our author gives a good account :— The Mr. Howison embarked for York on board the Frontenac, the largest steam-boat in Canada; her deck is 170 feet long, and 32 feet wide, and her burthen 740 tons. Of Lake Ontario and its periodical increase of waters, we are told: Kingston contains about five thousand inhabitants, including military. 'Lake Ontario is two hundred and plan of the town is elegant and extensive, widest part. Its waters are quite transpathirty miles long, and sixty broad at its but not yet nearly realized. Most of the rent and colourless, but vapid and unpleahouses are built of lime-stone; inexhaust-sant to the taste. Soundings are rarely to ible quarries of which lie in the immediate be met with, except near the shore; and, vicinity of the town, and are of the greatas very few islands or points of land pre The town of York is disadvantage. ously situated on the shore of Lake Ontario; it has some good houses, and contains about three thousand inhabitants. The town is defenceless at present, and the trade inconsiderable. Mr. Howison re-embarked on board the steam-boat, and when at the village of Niagara, met with an affecting incident: 'One evening,' says he, as I strolled along the beach of the lake, in front of Niagara, a woman, whom I had observed low her; and, as she seemed to be in at some distance, approached, and, after several low curtsies, requested me to foldeep affliction, I immediately complied, ducted me to a kind of cave, under a without asking an explanation. She con est importance to it, as Kingston, being sent themselves upon its expanse, it is high sand-bank, the mouth of which was barricadoed with a chest of drawers, several trunks, &c. A mattress occupied the key to Upper Canada, will always require strong fortifications. There is nothing the least interesting or remarkable. will, of course, admit vessels of the largest the floor of this wild abode, and two in either the streets or buildings of this place. The better class of people, most of whom are in the mercantile line, live ble; and there appears to be little polish in good style, but are not very hospitaamong them, and not much social communication. The natural position and local advantages of Kingston are such, that, by means of proper fortifications, it might be made almost impregnable. It lies behind a point of land, on the extremity of which there is a strong fort, that commands the town and the entrance into the harbour so completely, that although an enemy had possession of the former, he could not Occupy it with safety, nor receive any supplies by means of the latter. adapted for every kind of navigation, and this immense body of water is distinctly children played gaily with one another upon it, the one attempting to beat his raising shouts of laughter and delight merry companion with an old pillow, and every time he succeeded in giving a blow. The mother, who continued to but, being now destitute of money, they were unable to procure a lodging, and knew not where to apply for work, assisthese two boys," said the woman, “are all tance, or information. A husband and that now remain to me. My little girl died in the ship, and they threw her into The most remarkable phenomenon which this and the other lakes exhibit, is shed tears, told me, that she and her fathat increase and rise of their waters, been induced, by a series of misfortunes, mily were Irish emigrants. They had which is said to take place at regular pe- to set sail for Canada, with the intention riods. It occurs, in a moderate degree, of obtaining land, and had, after many every seven years, and to a very great ex-difficulties, got thus far in their voyage; tent once in thirty or forty. In the year 1816, the waters of Lake Ontario were setheir average height, and Lake Erie was ven feet and-a-half perpendicular above affected in a similar way. I have visited the shores of Lake Ontario several times, accompanied by a person who resides The bay affords so fine a harbour, that upon them, whose intelligence and indisa vessel of one hundred and twenty guns putable veracity made me put full confican lie close to the quay. The St. Law-dence in the information he gave, and rence, which carries one hundred guns, from whom I received proofs of the accurawas in this position when I visited King:cy of what I have stated. I likewise saw ston, and enjoyed an opportunity of the remains of a large storehouse which seeing every part of her. She is built in had been built a few years before, in a sithe plainest style, but is amazingly strong tuation that seemed quite inaccessible to and beautifully modelled. Near her lay the lake, although the waters have surthe Prince Regent, a sixty-gun frigate, rounded and nearly demolished it. the elegant form and just proportions of which have excited the admiration of the best judges of naval architecture. There were several other frigates in the harbour, This singular phenomenon affords a problem very difficult to solve. The quantity of water that must be required to increase the depth of Lake Ontario, the sea. Aye, sure, that was the worst of all," continued she, in an agony of grief. Poor babe she had neither prayers nor a wake!" ? Our author has a taste for the picturesque, and frequently describes the romantic scenery he witnessed, with much spirit : The environs of Queenston are beautifully picturesque and romantic, and nothing can be finer than the prospect up the Niagara River. Immediately aboye the village its channel narrows very |