this disguise, Vincent relieves the widow of an officer, and one Bertrand, an unfortunate grocer. In the mean time, Colonel Francarville, the nephew of Madame de Gervilliers, a man of quality, and of a romantic and susceptible disposition, sees and admires Fanchon; and, in order to try her affections, introduces himself to her in the character of a young painter. She admires his talents and his sensibility, consents to retire with him into the country, and, renouncing the gay world, to pass the rest of their lives together in rural privacy and domestic peace. She gives him a paper, by which she has conveyed to him a pleasant hamlet, situated in Savoy; and she says, "Vous serez au milieu d'un peuple, pauvre, mais laborieux; vous en serez l'ami, le dieu tutelaire; car je vous en previens, vous aurez beaucoup d'or à repandre. Vous trouverez pour vos pinceaux des sites charmans, des villageoises fraîches et piquantes. Dans mon pays, il y en a de fort jolies. Je me suis apperçue que vous n'aimiez ni le tumulte, ni le grand monde; votre terre offre la solitude la plus amiable: vous pourrez y promener les plus douces reveries. Enfin si par delicatesse vous aviez refusé de venir chez Fanchon, c'est maintenant chez vous qu'elle vous demande un asyle et la permission d'y passer la reste de sa vie." In the midst of these scenes of love and affection, Madame de Gervilliers enters, to reproach Fanchon for having assumed her name in the exercise of her acts of charity. She discovers her nephew, and his new attachment, and this again excites her censures. Fanchon gives her the paper, and Madame de Gervilliers at length retires, convinced that the girl has an amiable heart, but is still averse to their union. The colonel, however, procures an interview with Fanchon, and after some tender and interesting discourse, he determines to retire with her into the country, according to the agreement. This piece is agreeably diversified with other characters. Among them is Ducoutis, an upholsterer, who is in love with Adèle, the daughter of Bertrand, the grocer mentioned before. She, however, slights him, and cherishes an affection for her cousin, Augustin. Then St.Luce, a captain of light horse, enters on the stage, and relates that he had just rescued a young girl (who proves to be Adèle) from the hands of one M. Forcebrunne, who was conveying her away in a carriage. A duel in consequence ensues between him and this Forcebrunne, au bois de Vincennes; and Colonel Francarville (then known as Edouard) attends as his second. St. Luce wounds his antagonist, and retires without injury from the field. Bertrand enters with Ducoutis, and, enraged, accuses Fanchon with having seduced his daughter; but is surprised to find in her the benefactress of his family; upon which he salutes her with acclamations and blessings. Finally, all parties are reconciled. Augustin is married to Adèle, and Francarville retires with Fanchon to her beloved mountains, accompanied by her brother, Andrè, who had lately arrived in Paris to see her, and whose Patois pronouncia tion is as amusing as the Irish brogue. The language of this petite Vaudeville discovers both animation and judgment, and the style is much superior to the general class of these minor pieces. In the discourse which ensues between Colonel Francarville and Fanchon, when she makes the discovery of his rank, she uses some expressions on the subject of unequal marriages, which would have reflected no discredit on the matrimonial axioms of the sage in Rasselas." Que ne puis-je, aux dépens de ma vie assurer le bonheur de la vôtre, il me serait plus facile de la sacrifier que de consenter á une union impossible.- Oui, Colonel, impossible. Voyez Fanchon au milieu de votre famille, exposée aux demi mots inju

rieux, a mille regards humilians, souffrant des reproches qu'on vous fait, craignent quils ne vous conduisent par dégrés à l'indifférence, et peutêtre n'eveillent chez vous un repentir. Voyez moi en public, n'osant me donner le titre de votre epouse, sans voir le sourire aimer de tous ces grands qui vous entourent, sans entendre ces felicitations equivoques et mordantes, dont l'art leur est si familier. Oh! que je souffrirais! Non, non si je suis assez sage pour ne point m'elever jusqu'a eux, je suis trop fière pour supporter leurs dedains."

PARISH RECORD.

An Extract from the first leaf of the Register at East Ham Church, Essex.

Eternity, what art thou? my poor mind
Ranges in vain thro' regions of deep thought,
To seek a fitting 'semblance of thee!-nought

Can I collect !-'tis vain!-I cannot find

Ideas with which I might thine image bind.

What are the ages that old Time hath brought,
Compar'd with thee? the fame of battles fought,

Tho' living as the world?-a gust of wind,
That sweeps along, and then is heard no more.
And what is boasted Time itself to thee?

A flame that for a moment bright will soar,
Leaving deep gloom thro' which no eye can see.
Or 'tis a wave that ripples to the shore,
And dies upon thy rock, Eternity

L

RESEARCHES IN THE SOUTH OF IRELAND, by T. Crofton Croker. 4to. Murray. Plates.

Of the different subjects associated with the ideas of country in English minds, few have a stronger claim on our attention than those connected with the Sister Island. The richness of her soil in the level parts, the interesting scenery of the hills, with the romantic Dargle, the varied beauty of her lakes and rivers, the number and capacious bosoms of her harbours, the multitude of her population, and their very peculiar character-all unite in giving her an interest in our feelings. The work before us is the production of an Irishman. His intention is to present his readers with observations made on the country and inhabitants, during a course of tours through the Southern parts of the island. The frequent renewal of visits to a country is an excellent plan for gaining correct information on subjects of a local nature. The first journey has often little effect but to produce a vague and indistinct impression on the mind of the tourist. But if he possess a reflecting mind, it will suggest to him topics of inquiry which he never anticipated when he left his own country, but which he is prepared to examine on a renewed excursion. The information thus collected by Mr. Croker, is extremely well arranged. A topographical description is given of all the principal places in his route, with much of their local history: but knowing that the continued detail of such matters, if interesting to a particular class, is tedious to the generality of readers, he arranges the observations on manners, customs, literature, &c. in distinct chapters; and by judiciously interspersing these throughout the work, he relieves the attention from the fatigue of contemplating at too great a length a solitary subject; and yet by this collected form a variety of useful and pleasant instruction is conveyed to the mind of the reader, very different from the desultory method, or total absence of method, which too often occurs in volumes of travels and researches.

From many passages which could not fail to gratify our readers, we select the following from the chapter on Travelling in Ireland :

"The higher classes in Ireland are ever willing to entertain the traveller, and assist in the advancement of his journey, when he has clearly proved it absolutely necessary to proceed; for it is not a matter of question how to get admission to the first houses in the country-the dilemma is how to leave them. To a tourist, with sufficient time at his disposal, this may be agreeable enough; if otherwise circumstanced, he will find it requisite to avoid the delivery of letters of recommendation; for however gratifying a warm and hospitable reception may be, the sacrifice of time to be made in return is beyond all calculation. The over-abundant kindness of the host (for an immediate invitation always follows an introduction) seldom permits his guest the free use of his own senses, and to expostulate is vain. If, Dr. Syntax-like, he travels with a sketchbook, and states himself in search of the picturesque, he is hurried from one eminence to another, and assured it affords the best view in the country, as extent and beauty, when applied to the landscape, are generally confounded. A party is arranged to meet him at dinner, each of whom requests a visit. One assures him that a most celebrated castle is on his grounds; while another urges the charms of a glen near his residence, in a tone it is impossible to refuse. After a journey of some miles, and the loss of an entire morning, this renowned castle may prove but the naked walls of an old tower, dismantled of even its ivy garb; and the charming glen' perhaps turns out to be nei ther more nor less than the best fox earth in the country. Thus the circle of acquaint ances caused by a single introduction, every one leading to others, goes on increasing, like the circles produced by a stone when flung into the water.

"Letters, however, are needless in obtaining all the attention and assistance requisite : a respectable appearance is a sufficient recommendation to the nobility and gentry; but towards the cottagers a certain courteousness of approach must be observed, ere you can win them to usefulness. If you seek information, the tone of interrogation must be conciliatory, not dictatorial; if shelter or protection, throw yourself at once on their hospitality, and you secure a warm and welcome reception. The most romantic parts of Ireland are little frequented, and travellers unlooked for; hence it becomes necessary to study the art of pleasing, which is in this case more valuable than house and land. The poorest peasant will freely offer to share his cabin, and divide his potatoes with you, though at the same time eyeing you very suspiciously, inasmuch as, being unable to account for your appearance, he usually supposes you belong either to the army or to the excise-two bodies equally disliked by them. Yet their greatest fears never destroy the national spirit of hospitality.

"Having hired a car at Lismore, to taka us to Fermoy, and wishing to walk part of the way along the banks of the Blackwater, we desired the driver to meet us at a given point. On arriving there, the man pretended not to have understood we were three in party, and demanded, in consequence, an exorbitant addition to the sum agreed on. Although we were without any other means of conveyance for eight Irish miles, it was resolved not to submit to this imposition, and we accordingly withdrew our luggage, and dismissed the car, intending to seek another amongst a few cabins that appeared at a little distance from the road-side. A high dispute arose with the driver, who of course was incensed at this proceeding, and endeavoured to enlist in his cause the few straggling peasants that had collected round us; but having taken refuge, and placed our trunks in the nearest cabin, ourselves and property became sacred, and the disposition to hostility, which had been at first partially expressed, gradually died away. When we began to make inquiries for a horse and car, of any kind, to take us into Fermoy, our endeavours were for some time fruitless. One person had a car, but no horse. Another, a car building, which, if Dermot Leary were as good as his word, would be finished next week some time, God willing. At length we gained intelligence of a horse that was only two miles off, drawing turf. Sure he could be fetched in less than no time' But then, again, that big car of Thady Conner's was too great a load for him entirely. Sure the baste would never draw the car into Fermoy, let alone their honours and the trunks After some farther consultation, a car was discovered, more adapted to the capabilities of the miserable animal thus called upon to leave work and carry wood;' and though of the commonest kind, we were glad to secure it. By means of our trunks and some straw, we formed a kind of lodgment on the car, which being without springs, and on the worst possible of roads, was not exactly a bed of down. The severe contusions we received, on precipitating into the numerous cavities-though no joke-caused some laughter; on which the driver turned round with a most facetious expression of countenance, suggesting that 'May be the motion did not just agree with the lady; but never fear, she would soon get used to it, and be asleep before we were half way to Fermoy. This prediction, it will readily be supposed, was not fulfilled; and I believe it was three days before we recovered from the bruises of that journey."

The author has carefully abstained from expressing any political sentiments. His style is clear, simple, and unaffected. These Researches are a valuable addition to our sources of information respecting the Irish character; and we sincerely hope that Mr. Crofton will extend his useful labours to other provinces of the Emerald Isle.'

In the appendix we find an interesting narrative of the occurrences in Wexford and its vicinity, during the late Rebellion. It it drawn up by a lady who witnessed most of the transactions which she records,

BATAVIAN ANTHOLOGY; or Specimens of the Dutch Poets. 12mo. Taylor and Hessey.

THE existence of poetic taste seems so incompatible with a sordid love of gain, which has generally been considered the ruling passion of a Dutchman, that we never expected to derive from them any pleasure like that afforded us by this little volume. It presents us with specimens of the Dutch poets from the thirteenth to the seventeenth centuries inclusive; and displays examples of taste and feeling we never could have looked for in a land of frogs and marshes. The translator appears to have discharged his task with ability. He has imitated the style and manner, as well as communicated the ideas, of his original with fidelity. We are pleased with the sweetness and simplicity of Cats, Kamphugzens, and De Decluer; but the sublimity of Vondel, when celebrating the glories of his Creator, fills the mind with awe and veneration. The Chorus of Angels, in his tragedy of Lucifer, is replete with images of the most exalted kind; such as cannot fail to excite a devotional feeling bordering on rapture.