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the sharpest arrow, which anger can shoot, glide from him harmless, and whose softness neutralizes the most acrid venom. Thus, though he is utterly deficient in the marks of the real English character, and is as little like his native Irish,-though he has no honest indiscretions, no bursts of feeling, no fearless unhesitating avowals, at once imprudent and noble,-yet he is perhaps the greatest favourite, since the time of Lord North, in an assembly consisting four-fifths of Englishmen. Mr. Perceval was liked, and deservedly, as an amiable gentleman, but then he fancied himself a wit, and he really had some power of sarcasm. With this dangerous talent often has he roused the sleeping Whigs into all the rancour of party-rage at the end of a long debate, which had been for hours conducted with the prevailing apathy of the day. Thus he had almost as many political enemies as Mr. Pitt, though he was as gentle as the other was haughty and unaccommodating. Lord Castlereagh has no wit, nor power of satire; and he is too prudent or too good-natured to show the wish to strike without the energy sufficient to make the blow effectual." P. 15.

The following account of the sparring exhibitions between Sir J. Newport and Mr. Wellesley Pole, is not devoid of merit :

"It is sometimes amusing to witness the intellectual spars between the two Ex-Chancellors of Ireland, Mr. Pole, and Sir J. Newport. The Baronet, though highly respectable for his independence, integrity, and general amenity of manners, is, however, more testy than beseems a wise Statesman, especially when any reference is made to his administration:-and anger, as has been already observed, seems the element essential to the vitality of the other Legislator, who also piques himself in no small degree on the wisdom of his government. With such feelings it is not matter of surprise that the disputes of these opponents should sometimes be pushed even to exasperation; while each of them, with his own peculiar eagerness, is insisting on his own infallibility, and the other's absurdity. The spectacle is the more entertaining, because the matter in debate is generally some local Irish law, which, however important, is yet almost always regarded by the House with the utmost indifference." P. 123.

Our author appears but ill calculated to proceed a single inch beyond his immediate task. He unites the principles of a Sunday paper with the slang of the British Forum. His portraits indeed themselves are occasionally spoiled by a pert vulgarity, engendered by the habits of dictating to the folly of his readers. Upon all constitutional subjects he is lamentably at a loss, notwithstanding the vain attempt of concealing his ignorance under the froth of impertinent remark and idle declamation. If he had contented himself with merely sketching the lineaments of the parliamentary characters as they appear in the house, he would generally have succeeded; but when he at

tempts

Broughton's Letters from Portugal, &c.

217

tempts to follow them beyond, either into the rectitude of the views which they entertain, or the wisdom of the principles which they profess, he discovers only the presumption of unprincipled conceit, and the pertness of half-instructed ignorance,

ART. XVII. Letters from Portugal, Spain, and France, during
the Campaigns of 1812, 1813, and 1814. By S. D.
Broughton. 8vo.
8vo. pp. 412. 12s. Longman. 1815.

THE portfolio of a military man is ever interesting; and even
if he confines himself simply to the events which fall under his
own immediate knowledge, he cannot fail to be a most amusing
companion. The letters of Mr. Broughton were originally
intended, as he informs us, for the use of a domestic circle;
we are happy however that he has been induced to present
them to the world. They are written without any affectation,
and present a very faithful portrait of the manners and habits of
the countries through which their author passed. As a light
entertaining volume, we hope that it will meet with the en-
couragement which it deserves. Our readers will judge for
themselves from the following extract, containing a descrip-
tion of Salamanca.

The

"The situation of Salamanca for so large and populous a city, commands many advantages, and in whatever point of view it is taken, it wears the appearance of an handsome and flourishing town. The Tormes, which is a clear and wide river, but in many places very shallow, winds round two-thirds of the town, while the elevation of the western part of the city from its banks renders it an airy and very healthy place. An excellent light red wine -calledvino de Tormes' is made on the banks of this river. Vines are not cultivated in the immediate vicinity of Salamanca, the land being chiefly dedicated in these parts to corn. natural position of Salamanca is strong, and some pains have been taken to secure it by a substantial wall built around it, which in its most exposed situation is flanked by a strong bastion. The streets for the most part are narrow, but the houses are very lofty and generally pretty good. Some of the former are well paved, and kept tolerably clean. From the abundance of shops of all descriptions a great retail trade is apparently carrying The city contains also a very well supplied market, which is held in an open space where the municipal house is erected. The principal square forms one of the handsomest I have seen in Spain, the houses being constructed of white stone, built very high, with great regularity, and supplied with balconies and large green virandas to the windows, which add much to the liveliness of their appearance. Piazzas are erected over the

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broad pavement round the square, forming the great resort of fashionable society, when the weather will not permit promenading round the Prado del Toro,' situated without the eastern walls of the town. Varieties of shops, excellent coffee-houses billiard-rooms &c. are to be met with under these piazzas, which may be considered as forming the Bond-street of Salamanca. The general appearance of the city, and the number of large and handsome houses which are seen in different parts, might lead to the supposition of its being very rich and well peopled. But this is far from being the case, for on closer inspection it is found to be extremely deficient, and indeed scarcely amounts to a third of its former wealth and population. The inhabitants have become greatly impoverished, and the owners of the principal residences have either absolutely left the country altogether, and followed the fortunes of Joseph Buonaparte, or have removed to other towns of greater safety, such as Valladolid &c. so that few people of the higher ranks of society are now resident in the place.

"The towns-people are in general hospitable and communicative. They have their tertulias,' or evening assemblies, when they converse, play cards, dance or sing; and they also pretty constantly frequent the theatre, which is a light and elegant building, and fitted up somewhat in the style of the Opera-house in London, though very inferior with respect to size, while the actors and performances are below mediocrity. The present appearance of the town excites many melancholy reflections, when contrasted with the accounts which we have been accustomed to receive of its former magnificence, and high reputation as a seat of learning. Neither Oxford, nor Cambridge, I am convinced, from the appearance of the colleges (the walls of which are still standing,) equal in any point of view what this once flourishing town exhibited in better days. Perhaps you will not think me guilty of exaggeration, when I tell you that there are still the remains of nineteen splendid colleges, built of an handsome white stone, most elaborately and classically ornamented, forming once one of the chief repositories of ancient literature, which subsequently enlightened modern Europe. Several of these colleges were dedicated entirely to Irish students, numbers of whom are to be met with in the church, the army, and various other departments of the state, who have now become naturalized, and constitute perhaps the best informed part of the community." P. 141.

ART. XVIII. The Epicure's Almanack, or a Calendar of Good
Living. 18mo. 381 pp. Longman & Co. 1815.

As this little volume has been honoured by a notice in the
House of Commons, our readers will be curious to be acquaint

ed

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ed with its contents. Let them know therefore that it is a directory to every tavern, coffee-house, eating-house, bun-house, within the metropolis and its environs, bestowing upon all alike the most unequivocal, impartial, and unprovoked commendation. One would really imagine from this universal panegyric that such things as greasy chops, grimy table cloths, stinking fish, poisonous port, and pert waiters, were unknown in the Elysian eatinghouses of the metropolis. Sometimes our author indulges in a vein of poetical imagination.

"Richard's Tavern and Chop-House.

"No. 8, Fleet Street, almost facing Chancery Lane, up a pas sage, is Richard's Tavern and Coffee-House. It is a very retired, comfortable, and highly respectable place; and is frequented by gentlemen of serious dispositions from the universities, on their oc casional visits to town. Here sequestered they almost forget the fumum et opes, strepitumque Roma, and transport themselves in fancy to the groves of Isis and of Cam." P. 77.

Again we find the same animated description.

"LEICESTER SQUARE.

"Now, reader, after toiling down Piccadilly, if your appetite be either sharp-set, or delicately urgent, be you peckish or half famish ed, only go with us through Sidney Passage, and a field shall burst on your view to which the Elysium of the Heathens has nothing fit to be compared. Leicester Square! how many noble and right honourable bowels yearn at the sound! Leicester Square! once the residence of the great Sir Isaac Newton, now the theatre of Miss Linwood's incomparable talent for picturesque needle-work, the spot which Catalani's seraphic or rather angelical notes and trills. have consecrated! Leicester Square! the mirror in which the great cities, islands, sieges, battles, bombardments, sea-fights, and volcanoes, have been panoramically represented. Leicester Square! the very stones of which have trembled and turned pale under the marshal tramp and Tartarian mustachios of Ferdinand Baron Geramb, as he strode into the hotel à-la-Sablonière, curling up the said mustachios, and uttering a peremptory and irrevocable decree for dinner and wine, selon le bulletin de son excellence le restaurateur." P. 149.

Much information however may be picked up by the experienced Epicure from this little volume respecting sauces and seasons, markets and provisions, to whose study we therefore seriously recommend it.

MONTHLY

MONTHLY LIST OF PUBLICATIONS.

DIVINITY.

On Terms of Communion, with a particular View to the Case of the Baptists and Podobaptists. By Robert Hall, M.A. 5s.

The Responsibilities of the Pastoral Office: a Sermon preached in the Church of Aylesbury, on Thursday, June 1, 1815, on the Triennial Visitation of the Right Rev. Father in God George, Lord Bishop of Lincoln. By the Rev. C. J. Bloomfield, Rector of Dunton, Berks, &c. 4to.

2s. 6d.

A Brief Answer to the Charge against the Bible Society, recently delivered at Bedford by the Lord Bishop of Lincoln. 1s.

The Restoration of Israel. By R. Joseph Crool, Teacher of the Hebrew Language in the University of Cambridge, &c. and an Answer by the Rev. T. Scott, Rector of Aston Sandford, Bucks, and a Sermon preached before the London Society, May 5, 1815, in the Seventh Year of their Establishment. By the Rev. William Dealtry, B.D. F.R.S. Rector of Clapham, and Examining. Chaplain to the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Bristol.

10s.

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Au Analysis of the Sixth Chapter of the Revelation of St. John. Illustrated by Extracts from Gibbon's History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. 7s.

The Character of Moses established for Veracity as an Historian, recording Events subsequent to the Deluge. By the Rev. Joseph Townsend, M.A. Rec tor of Pewsey, Wilts. 4to. vol. II. 11. 16s.

Essays on the Mythology, Theology, and Morals of the Ancients, accompa nied with a Brief Outline of the respective Tenets of the Grecian Sectarian Philosophers. By G. S. Weidemann. 8vo. 7s.

Twelve Lectures on the Prophecies relating to the Christian Church, and espe cially to the Apostacy of Papal Rome, preached in the Chapel of Lincoln's Inn, from 1811 to 1815, being the Ninth Portion of those founded by the Right Rev., W. Warburton, Lord Bishop of Gloucester. By Philip Allwood, B.D. Fellow of Magdalen College, Cambridge. 2 vols. 8vo. 11. 4s.

Baxteriana: containing a Selection from the Works of Baxter. In Seven' Books, collected by Arthur Young, Esq. F.R.S. 12mo. 5s. 6d.

An Inquiry into the Integrity of the Greek Vulgate, or Received Text of the, New Testament; in which the Greek MSS. are new classed, the Integrity of the Authorized Text vindicated, and the Various Readings traced to their Origin. By the Rev. Frederick Nolan, a Presbyter of the United Church. 8vo. 168.

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Strictures of Eternal Import and Universal Concern. By the Author of the Temple of Truth. 5s.

A Sermon preached on Sunday, Aug. 6, in the Church of the United Parishes of St. Mary Aldermary, and St. Thomas the Apostle, previous to a Collection for the Relief of the Families of those who fell in the Battle of Waterloo. By the Rev. W. Parker, B.D. Curate. 1s. 6d. iii.

A Sermon in the Parish Church of Richmond in Surrey, on Sunday, July 30, in Behalf of the Families of those who fell, or were disabled in the same Battle. By the Rev. Edward Patterson, M.A. 1s. 6d.

A Sermon preached in St. Edmund's Church, Dudley, on Sunday, August 20, 1815, in Behalf of the Waterloo Fund. By the Rev. P. Robinson, A. M. &vo. 1s. 6d.

The Reasons of the Protestant Religion, considered in relation to the Present State of the Roman Catholic Church, a Discourse delivered to an Association of Dissenting Ministers, &c. at Islington, May 4, 1815. By John Pye Smith,

D.D. 29.

Discourses, Doctrinal and Practical, partly Occasional, chiefly Common, deli vered in different Country Churches. By the Rev. John Morley, Rector of Bradfield Combust, and Curate of St. Clement's, Ipswich. 8vo. 10s. od.

Some Remarks on the Unitarian Method of Interpreting the Scriptures, as Jately exhibited in a Publication, under the assumed Title of an Improved Version of the New Testament; to which are added, Considerations on the Manner in which the Gospel should be preached, to be rendered effectual to its intended

Purpose

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