THE PROPRIETORS” ADVERTISEMENT TO THE FIFTH VOLUME OF THE MONTHLY MIRROR, NEW SERIES. AFTER the splendid success, and high reputation, which our New SERIES has acquired, during the progress of four volumes, we have, at the commencement of the fifth, little to ask, but much that demands our best expressions of gratitude. When we cease our exertions to deserve the patronage of the public, we shall then, perhaps, imitate some of our neighbours, and vehemently intreat it on the score of merit. At present it would, indeed, argue a poverty of spirit, and countenance, as it were, an insult to the learning and talents of our CORRESPONDENTS, to allow, for an instant, that the encouragement received is by us considered in any other light, than as a most pleasing confirmation of the desert of our work, presumed from the character of our forces, regulars and irregulars. To the latter, which should, perhaps have been mentioned first, we are greatly indebted; for, to their elegant and ingenious lucubrations in prose and verse, we owe the rare excellence of originality throughout the whole of these volumes. We shall not stay here invidiously to particularize, but with grateful feelings return our thanks in common. The commendations, which our THEATRICAL CRITICISMS excite, afford us sincere satisfaction. The new motto to the head BRITISH STAGE, is taken from PLAUTUS, and fitly urges, that the Actor should seek reward through merit and not favour; for he has always partisans enough who acts well, if the Critics are worthy of their trust. We have quoted the last verse, Si illis fides est, quibus est ea res in manu, without fear, for we are conscious that we have maintained the character with honour. SHAKSPEARE has said of the PLAYERS" After your death, you were better have a bad epitaph, than their ill report while you lived." This risk we are ready to run, and it grieves us to say, that, generally speaking, we have found the applause of those, who are most estimable in our opinion, following close on the heel of the Players' "ill report." With several, however, of better education and of liberal minds, who possess the little perfection there is, and know how small a proportion it bears to the quantity of presumption and conceit, which every where obtains, we have no reason to be discontented. We know our. selves, and we know each other; and are alike agreed to know him for a fool, who desires, or is pleased with what, in the new-fangled language, is called unqualified praise. We shall still steadily and strenuously endeavour to retain the enviable distinction of being commended by men, who are themselves found worthy of commendation. THE LIBRARY THE MONTHLY MIRROR, FOR JANUARY, 1809. MR. D'EGVILLE. WITH A PORTRAIT. THE Memoir, which should have accompanied the striking like ness here given of Mr. D'Egville, is unavoidably deferred till next month. ENDYMION THE EXILE. LETTER XII. En THou sayest true, Ambrose. In all my perambulations I may well take shame to myself for having omitted to visit the English Courts of Law. Thy letter, however, no sooner reached me, than I determined to atone for my negligence in that particular. glish law, as thou hast well observed, is the envy and admiration of the Continent, whose natives can only gaze at so costly a com modity at a distance. Yet where, my friend, shall I begin, and how give you any insight into the principles and practice of such an intricate science? If, after marching to the extremity of Westminster-Hall, I take the right-hand road, I there find it laid down as a principle of equity, that men may give written evidence in their own cause. If I prefer the sinister path, I enter a Court, where it is held as a principle of law, that no man shall speak in his own cause, and that all evidence shall be viva voce. If, like the Captain in the Opera, I determine to have nothing to say to either of these beauties, but steer between both, behold me at the door of St. Stephen's Chapel! In short, my friend, the ways of the law are well exemplified by the puzzling inlets and outlets of the huge mansion, under whose roof it is administered. Ariadne complimented her beloved Theseus with a clue to guide him out of the labyrinth; and I would advise every man, who is enamoured of his Solicitor, to adopt a similar expedient in Westminster-Hall. What with dark passages, zig-zag alleys, coffee-houses, and custos-breviums, it is almost as impossible to get into a court of law as to get out of one. If you wish to peep at an Exchequer Baron in his ermine, 'tis odds but you encounter an old woman selling apples; and if the gallery of the House of Commons be the object in view, I will lay thee a wager that thou breakest thy nose against a pillar in the Court of Common Pleas, with no other remedy for the wound, than the black patch of a King's Serjeant. Fraught with these reflections, and sipping a tumbler of lemonade in the Exchequer Coffee-house, one Mr. Hilary, by proffering the Times newspaper and a pinch of snuff, introduced himself to my acquaintance, and finding me as ignorant of modern Courts and practitioners, as old Canute in his arm-chair by the sea-side, insisted upon ushering me into the Courts as a Dilettante spectator, previously to my appearing in the more imposing character of plaintiff or defendant. I will introduce thee to this Jackall of John Doe, with as little ceremony as he introduced himself to me. Mr. Hilary is as smart, spruce, smirking, a Termtrotter, as ever paraded Westminster-Hall in black stockings and white buckles, with a bag of combustibles under his arm. He is by far too discreet ever to give a decided opinion,—dissents by a shrug, and assents by a nod. He is induced to think that ink is black, and supposing the case of one man kicked by another from the top of the Monument, is rather of opinion that such a casualty would endanger the necks of both parties. In short, Hilary is so prudent a man, that though he has carried a blue bag these twenty years, he was never once known to let the cat out of it. Why this gentleman should offer any service to me, who could not even pay for the service of a latitat, I must leave it to wiser heads to guess. Perhaps he inherited the feelings of the Lombardstreet Banker, who, to bring grist to his mill, was wont to give a book gratis, and lend a man five shillings to open an account in it. My new acquaintance was in the very act of extending his snuffbox a second time for my use, when his clerk entered in a great hurry, and informed him that the cause of Wrangle v. Tollman, stood next. 66 Odso," cried Hilary," we must be off then. Come along, Mr. What-dy'e-call-'em, I'll get you a seat, I'll warrant." So saying, he snatched up his bag of tools, and, followed by me, scampered across the hall to the Court of King's Bench. When we had squeezed our way in, we found that two previous sufferers were yet unexecuted; so Mr. Hilary had time to arrange his budget, and informed me in a whisper, while so doing, that he was concerned for the plaintiff in an action of detenue, (that I think was the name) for a cart horse, which the defendant, a turnpike-man, had thought fit to detain for toll. I cast my eye over the paper containing the alleged grievance, and found that the defendant was a monstrous offender indeed! he having seized, taken and detained divers, to wit, five hundred horses, mares, and geldings. "Mon Dieu!" said I to Hilary, " why, I question whether the Prince of Condé's stables at Chantilly, could have contained all this plunder! why, the fellow has pocketed a whole regiment of cavalry!"-" Pooh !" answered Hilary, "C we only go for |