pieces, break his flute and his skele- fine-spun theory. He disapproved ton, pull the house to the ground, and entirely of compulsion, and moved the three members of the vice society that it should be lawful only for the retire in grand ciumph, on the good churchwardens, parish officers, &c. deed they had done, and to draw up to erect schools, and provide masters, a report on the infamous conduct of on their conviction of the necessity those wicked men, who play on the or propriety of such a measure for the flute to dancing skeletons. good of the parish. Mr. S. Bourne noticed also, that several petitions had been presented against, but not one in favour of, the bill.

In the House of Commons, the debates had little interest; the public took little or no concern in them.The ministers had in the preceding Mr. H. Browne agreed in this opimonth obtained a decisive victory nion; and, giving Mr. Whitbread all over their opponents; and their mea- credit for his humane and enlightened sures were now voted with just as great designs, thought it more adviseable a majority as the exact opposite to for the present, to leave the considerthem would have been done if the ation of the system to those who were late ministry had retained their places. most likely to be affected by it. Mr. Among some important transactions Wilberforce conceived that a measure we may notice the remuneration of of this importance could be brought Dr. Jenner, for his labours in the about only by slow degrees; and cause of Vaccination, in which all wished, for the present, that it might parties agreed;-Whitbread's paro- be postponed. Mr. Whitbread did chial poor bill, which was too easily not see the matter in the same point permitted to pass the House of Com- of view; and stated, that he wished mons, but very properly stopped in only that the southern and western the House of Lords;-the Reversion- parts of the kingdom should be put ary Place Bill, which met with a simi- in as favourable a situation as the lar fate, but not on so good grounds, northern. Sir J. Newport hoped, in the same house;-Sheridan's notice of his Public-house Bill, a measure, which has been long called for to screen the honest publican from the party spirit of justices of the peace;the Irish Insurrection Bill;-Sheridan's famous speech on the state of Ireland; and a circumstance of breach of privilege, which may lead to the correction of abuses in the issuing of writs for a new election for members of parliament.

that, if the bill was to extend to Ireland, the system of education would be conducted on the most enlightened and liberal principles of toleration. Mr. G. Rose apprehended that many obstacles would arise in the execution of the plan, from the difficulty of prevailing on parents to give up so much time for education, which must be taken from the laborious pursuits, necessary to assure a livelihood to the family. The Chancellor of the Exchequer was for the amendment; and hinted that the bill might be improved by the experience and observations of members in the interval which would take place between this and the next session of parliament.

Mr. Whitbread had, in the last parliament, brought in a terribly long bill, embracing a vast variety of objects respecting the poor. This bill he cut down to less size, and introduced it into the house under the name of a Bill for the Education of Mr. Whitbread declared himself to the Poor. On the 22d of July, the be favourable to a liberal interpreHouse of Commons went into a com- tation of the word toleration; and had mittee upon it; for, on the introduc- therefore provided a clause, that the tion of the bill, Mr. Whitbread had children should be taken to church made a long common-place speech only, if they were not taken to some on the advantages of education, and other place of worship by their parents the necessity there was to compel the or other proper person. The Chanparishes to educate their poor. In the cellor of the Exchequer thought that committee, Mr. S. Bourne made a religious instruction should form a very material alteration in the bill, part of education. After more desuland what, in fact, destroyed, and very tory conversation, the amendment properly, the whole of Mr. Whitbread's was voted for, there being in its

favour 35, against it 12; the small number of persons in the house shewing how little interest the members in general took in the measure.

ry part of these kingdoms; but would not allow that Ireland was illiterate. He was a friend to the bill and its pre amble. After much desultory con versation the preamble was voted for, and there were for it 83, against it 28, and then the bill was read for the third time and passed.

On August the 12th, Lord Holland moved the commitment of the bill in the House of Lords, against which Lord Hawkesbury objccted, that the preamble was nonsense; and he would

On Aug. 5, the report of the committee on the bill was taken into consideration, when Mr. Giddy expressed his dread of the danger of corrupting the minds of the poor, by inflammatory publications, as soon as they were enabled to read them. Mr. W. Smith, on the contrary, was without any such fear on the effect of education, and was for expanding that intellect, not allow that there was less virtue and which he could not do away if he morality in England than in Scotland. would, and which he would not if he So many other amendments also were could. Mr. P. Carew was clear that necessary in the bill, that it was imthis scheme would not diminish the possible to get through it this session, poor rates; and he objected to the and he therefore moved for postponpreamble, as far as it related to the ex- ing the farther consideration of it for ample of Scotland, about which we three months. Lord Holland allowed had not the requisite information. that some amendments might be made, The advantages of Scotland might but lamented that so evident an inproceed from the attention of the tention appeared of dismissing the clergy, and other causes, distinct from subject. Lord Redesdale contended, their education in parish schools. Mr. that the education of the poor ought Windham observed, that different to be in the hands of the established people were apt to mistake the effect church, and this was not sufficiently for the cause. The education of the provided for in the bill. Too great a Scotch might be owing to their cha- power also was given to the majority racter, and not their character to their of the inhabitants of a parish; and he education; and, as to teaching the denied that the country wished for -poor to read, it should be recollected the bill, as, on the contrary, there was that there was as much bad reading as a general apprehension that it would good. Mr. Whitbread could not con- be pernicious. The Lord Chancellor sent to alter the preamble, and was thought the bill very defective, and surprised that so learned a man as Mr. likely to lead to endless parish disWindham should object to the com- putes and Chancery suits. The Archmunication of learning. With respect bishop of Canterbury did not oppose to the Scotch, he begged to refer for the principle of the bill, but thought their character before the schools to that there was not time for a sufficient one of their own authors, Fletcher, discussion of its very important conwho stated them to be thieves, robbers, tents. It was indeed a libel on the indrunkards, vagabonds, and miscreants habitants of the southern parts of the of the worst description. The change kingdom, where so many schools were in their manners was attributed by the already established. He had turned his Lord Advocate to their schools. attention to these schools, and should be enabled shortly to lay before the house such information as might excite surprise, on the extent to which the education of the poor had proceeded. He objected to that part which left the school out of the control of the diocesan, and to the words right instruction, which conveved no distinct meaning. Lord Stanhope protested against the confinement of education to the members of the church; and as to the nonsense of the preamble, that was no uncommon thing in

Sir T. Turton did not allow that sufcient information was before the house on the state of Scotland: he did not object to the poor being instructed, but was convinced that the bill would be a dead letter on the statute book. Mr. Wilberforce expressed his gratitude to heaven for the rational powers and capabilities of instruction given to him, and our object ought to be to augment, not to extinguish this glory of our nature. Mr. Grattan was of opinion, that Scotland was the most literaUNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. VIII.

X

a ts of parliament. The motion for The Chancellor of the Exchequer considering the bill three months deprecated the idea, that he wished to hence was carried; and, without withhold instruction from the cathodoubt, something decisive on this lics: yet he could not but look with a subject will take place next session. jealous eye on so distinguished a mark At a time, when our enemy is boast of public favour towards them. He ing of his unbounded zeal for religious had opposed this grant in the last partoleration, it would be unjust to be liament, but was unwilling to do it silent on the generous acts of this na- now, lest his opposition might be contion towards the Catholics. Mr. Fos- strued into spleen, by making this the ter brought in a bill for the support of only exception to the grants of the last Maynooth College, a college esta- parliament. Was it, however, prublished in Ireland for the education dent to double the number of popish of catholic priests. For this pur- priests educated at the college? Was pose, he proposed that the sum of this the way to extend the protestant 18,000l. should be granted for build- religion in that country? Only a hunings, &c. from January 1807 to Janu- dred protestant clergymen were there ary 1808. Mr. H. Browne conceived educated annually, and they proit to be a great anomaly to instruct posed to educate four times that numothers in a religion different from our ber of popish priests. If the establishown. If the Roman catholic interest ment was thus to be encreased, gohad been put to the expense for their vernment ought, he thought, to have own religion, he could not so much some hold on it, in some shape or anobject to their having a college, but other, that they might at least know the propriety of maintaining one at that they were not nourishing in their the protestant expense was to him by bosom a society of Jesuits. Lord H. no means apparent. Mr. Windham Petty contended for the necessity of replied, that the question was, whether the measure, and ridiculed the idea of it was better to have the popish reli- allowing such a seminary, and then gion, or no religion at all? for the compelling the priesthood to allow people were determined to have their our system of education. The colown religion or none. We were next lege was sufficiently under the conto consider, whether it was better to troul of government, as the act rehave priests educated at home or quired that the college should be viabroad? In consequence of our po- sited once in five years by five visitors, pery laws, we had degraded the peo- among whom were necessarily the ple, and the continuance of the cry of Lord High Chancellor and the ChanNo Popery would only sink them far cellor of the Exchequer. The comther into barbarity. Mr. Parnell read parative statement of the two endow to the house extracts from a popish ments was not placed in the proper common-prayer book, which was read light. Trinity College, Dublin, was by all the poor, and expressly denied one of the richest endowments in the the tenets, which the ignorance or world; but were it not so, that was no prejudice of protestants too often reason that the interest of the cathoascribes to their brethren of the catho- lics should be wholly neglected. lic persuasion. Mr. Windham observed, that the similarity between the two churches of Rome and England was striking. We kept as near the catholics as could be supposed. They had every principle which we professed: we happily did not profess the whole of their doctrines. Mr. W. Smith did not doubt, that it was most advantageous to the country to educate the catholic priests at home, and be willingly acceded to the belief that the catholics maintained the sentiments ascribed to them in their prayerbooks.

Mr. Foster, member for the university of Dublin, approved of the erection of Maynooth College, as an excellent substitute for that at St. Omer. The propriety of doubling that establishment might be called in question. The excellent system of education, established in Trinity College, Dublin, had induced many catholics to send their sons to that college. Its religious moderation was well known, and had been eminently displayed during the late cry. It was a protestant garrison in a land of catholics; but it would not join in any unfair cry

against that body, and by the prudence his lordship had shewn both levity and of this system it would greatly assist ignorance. Colonel Barry was against in removing religious animosity. Mr. the continuance of such a grant in fuDillon read a statement of sinecure ture, and disapproved of the wanton livings in Ireland, by which it ap- and unprovoked asperity of the noble peared that the catholics paid one- lord. Dr. Duigenan denied that the tenth of their property to the clergy late administration had been attenfor doing nothing, and he recom- tive to the interest of the protestant mended to the house to take the state religion in Ireland. So far from it, of tithes into their consideration. The they had resisted a bill, introduced Chancellor of the Exchequer assured by him, to enforce the residence of the the house, that the attention of go- clergy, with the approbation of severnment would be early directed to veral archbishops and bishops. Lord the state of glebe houses and sinecure Howick would not allow this to be livings. A measure would be intro- any proof, as they might have the duced for reducing the opulent liv- utmost regard for the protestant reliings, and out of their abundance mak- gion without entering into the docing an allowance for poorer curates. tor's views. Mr. Grattan was for the He regretted much, that the late go- measure, which was agreed to; and vernment had not paid more attention thus the catholics cannot complain of to the church of Ireland. a nation, which contributes so much

The last sentiment roused up Lord more to the support of their religion, Howick, who totally denied the charge than it does for that branch of the brought against the late government, protestant religion, which is not so which he challenged the Chancellor repugnant to the established church, of the Exchequer to prove, and adverting to the conduct of Mr. Foster, in bringing in the bill without proper documents, he charged him with levity, Mr. Foster retorted upon the noble lord, that in charging him with levity policy approve.

and so numerous in this country, The methodists require nothing from the state; and the privilege of erecting a college seems to be as much as dissenters of any kind can desire, or sound

APOLLONIAN CRITIC,

66 SEMPER FIDelis."

VAUXHALL SONGS.-1807.

COME

MOME Jockey, sweet Jockey; sung by Mrs. Bland-Hook, is, 2. The Squeeze of the Hand; sung by Mrs. Bland-Hook, 1s.

3. fle's gone away from me; sung by Mrs. Bland-Hook, Is.

4. Beneath the Weeping Willow; sung by Mrs. Bland-Hook, 1s.

5. The Cottage that stands by the sea; sung by Mrs. Margerum-Hook,

1s.

6. Catch me if you can; sung by Mrs. Margerum-Hook, 1s.

7. Never try him; sung by Mrs. Margerum-Hook, Is.

8. The Rights of Election; sung by Mrs. Frauklin-Hook, 1s.

9. Mary of the Dale; sung by Mr. Gibbon-Hook, 1s.

10. Ye brave jolly Sportsmen; sung by Mr. Gibbon-Hook, 1s.

11. The Young Gypsey has conquered my Heart; sung by Mr. Gib. boa-Hook, 15.

12. O I am the Boy to be easy; sung by Mr. Dignqin-Hook, 1s.

18. Long time I've courted you, Miss; a comic Duet, sung by Mrs. Bland and Mr, Dignum-Hook, 1s.

19

"In days of yore," when Vauxhall presented us with "Give me Wine, rosy wine," "Lash'd to the Helm,' "Hark, hark! from the Woodlands,' "Death of Robin Gray," &c. &c. the musical world looked as eagerly for the songs sung at that most fasci nating place of public amusement, as it now does for an opera from Shield, or the debut of a new singer just imported from Italy. But for some seasons past, the very name of Vauxhall appearing upon the face of a song, has been deemed sufficient to stamp it as worthless. How is this to he accounted for? it will be asked; since the' same composer who presided then, still retains his situation. Perhaps it may be attributed in part to public

66

66

Mary

caprice; but much more we think, to us sincere pleasure to say, that taking the want of judgment in the mana- them as a collection, we consider them gers, in permitting (as they have done much the best that Vauxhall has pro-latterly) their singers to introduce duced for several years. The two, songs, composed by any Jack-a-dandy however, which seem least deserving music-master, or fiddler in a theatre, of our commendation are, "Never who has the means of bribing their try him" and "The Young Gypsey venality; though the words of them has conquered my Heart." In the sym be an insult to common sense, and phony of the former, there is a show the music betray the grossest igno- of labour and modulation, that, as an rance of the elements of the science. introduction to simple comic ballad, And yet the authors of which, are not appears almost as ridiculous to us, as ashamed to be seen nightly under the a parson in full canonicals dancing a orchestra, vehemently applauding and hornpipe. The latter is a collection encoring the compositions of their of as common-place passages as we own stupid brains. ever saw, put together for the purpose It will perhaps be said, that some of of patching up a new song. Come the late songs of Mr. Hook's, to whom, Jockey," Catch me if you can," and at least, we cannot impute ignorance "O I am the Boy to be easy," are of the science, are nevertheless of very lively pleasing ballads of the the most contemptible description. comic, as are the "Cottage that stands This we admit, and we have accord- by the Sea," and "Beneath the weepingly, on former occasions, reluctantly ing Willow," of the serious cast. But bestowed censure upon them. We the three upon which we can bestow say reluctantly, because we know of our most unqualified praise, are, no modern composer who has pro- "The Squeeze of the Hand," duced a greater number of deservedly of the Dale," and "He's gone away popular ballads than has Mr. Hook. from me." The first is remarkable for But if he will, through carelessness, an uncommonly tasteful symphony, condescend to place himself upon a and an originality in the melody, level with such wretched scribblers rarely to be met with in modern as we have noticed above, he must songs. The second is distinguished be content to share their censure. by a singularly elegant accompaniWe are aware that the managers of ment; aud "He's gone away from Vauxhall Gardens, having thrown me" is a ballad as beautifully simple open their orchestra for the admission and plaintive, as ever of any trash, that an avaricious our notice. singer may be bribed to introduce, must be highly mortifying to a man of Genius, who has presided at that orchestra for nearly thirty years: yet surely it cannot be accepted as an apology for his reducing himself to the level of the authors of such trash. We have been led to make these observations from feelings of real regret, that a place, from whence have issued, formerly, some of our best English songs, should have been suffered latterly to issue many that would disgrace even Bartholomew Fair. And we most sincerely hope, that in future the managers will not (from a mistaken liberality) suffer such stupid effusions to be foisted upon the public under the name of "Vauxhall Songs," as have for several seasons past disgraced that title.

came under T.

"The Favourite Dance in the Wood Dæmon," as performed at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Arranged as a Rondo for the Piano Forte. By J. Monro. 1s.

This rondo is from the pen of the author of "Le Retour de l'Eté," and to those who are in possession of that elegant and ingenious Divertimento, we need not say one word more in its recommendation.

T.

"Peter the Great,"-An Opera. The Words by Mr. Cherry: the Music by Mr. Jouve.

This opera is produced by the author of that pleasing melo-drama” “Va, lentine and Orson," and in our opinion does him infinite credit. Ig "Peter the Great" Mr. Jouve has We now come to speak of the songs evinced as much taste as science, and of the present season: and it affords we were glad to see such music so