The connection between light and magnetism, which appears to be indicated by the preceding results, has been supposed to exist to a still greater extent. In a paper published by Colonel Gibbs, in professor Silliman's Journal, he considers light as the great source of magnetism. In 1817 he visited the mine of magnetic iron at Succassanny, and was informed, that the ore in the upper part of the bed was magnetic, while that which was raised from the bottom acquired it only after exposure to the influence of the atmosphere. This effect he ascribed, without any sufficient reason, to the influence of light. In support of this opinion, Colonel

CAP

NAP. CXXXII. For raising the sum of Two Millions British Currency, by Treasury Bills in Ireland, for the Service of the Year One thousand eight hundred and nineteen.-July 12, 1819.

II. The bills, if not paid off, shall be taken in Payment of the revenue in Ireland, after such time as the treasury shall appoint and interest shall cease.

CAP. CXXXIII. For applying certain Monies therein mentioned for the Service of the Year One thousand eight hundred and nineteen; and for further appropriating the supplies granted in this Session of Parliament.-July 13th,

1819.

I. There shall be issued towards making good the supply for 1819, 3,500,0001. out of the duties of excise granted by 56 G. 3. c. 17.

II. Also a proportion of the balance remaining in the bank belonging to the public. III. 334,4871. arising from the sale of old naval and victualling stores.

IV. 244,8921. 18s. 94d. surplus of the grants for 1818.

VI. Out of the supplies aforesaid there shall be issued and applied 6,527,7811. 12s. 7d. for naval services, viz. 565,5001. for wages of 20,000 men, &c. for 13 months; 520,0001. for their victuals for 13 months; 533,0001. for wear and tear of ships for 13 months; 91,0001. for ordnance for sea service, ditto; 2,483,0131. 12s. 7d. for ordinary establishment of the navy; 1,631,6281. for building and repairs of ships, &c.; 419,3191. for provisions for troops on foreign stations; 284,3211. for transport service.

VII. There shall also be issued 8,782,4701. 5s. 7d. for land forces, viz. 2,258,7761. 11s. 2d. for land forces in Great Britain and

stations abroad, (except the East Indies) from December 25, 1818, to December 24, -1819; 749,9371. Ss. 10d. for forces in Ireland, ditto; 118,0211. 1s. 3d. for general and staff officers of hospitals serving in Great Britain and on foreign stations, ditto; 34,7841. 14s. 11d. for general and MONTHLY MAG. NO. 339.

staff officers in Ireland, ditto; 139,3331. 14s. Id. for allo vances to officers of public departments in Great Britain, ditto;

10,8941. 16s. 7d. for allowances to public de

partments, ditto; 21,6351. 1s. 11d. for medicines and hospital contingencies in Great Britain; 7,40001. 17s. 3d. for medicines for the forces in Ireland; 100,0001. for volunteer corps in Great Britain, from December 25, 1818, to Dec 24, 1819; 21,6681. 15s. 5d. for volunteer corps in Ireland, ditto; 687,6001. or half pay reduced officers on the Britishestablishment, ditto; 49,7721. 6s. 2d. for half pay to reduced officers on the Irish establishment, ditto; 42,8491. 8s. 9d. for the in-pensioners of Chelsea Hospital, ditto; 15,6811. 13s. 11d. for in-pensioners of Kilmainham hospital, ditto; 977,5821. 8s. for out-pensioners of Chelsea hospital, ditto: 196,0651. 14s. 2d. for out-pensioners of Kilmainham hospital, ditto; 380,3001. for supply of bread, meat, &c. for troops in Great Britain, and casual supplies on foreign stations, &c. 1,200,0001. for extraordinary expences of the army in Great Britain.

XV. Out of the several sums of 24,954,3001. 8,599,6001. and 3,000,0001. exchequer bills, and 4,400,0001. treasury bills, a sum not less than 5,000,0001. shall be repaid to the bank.

CAP. CXXXIV. To amend and render more effectual an Act passed in the last Session of Parliament, for building and promoting the building of additional Churches in populous Parishes. July 13th, 1819.

I. Exchequer Bills issued in pursuance of recited Acts to bear a certain Rate of Inte

he should not merrily play on.-He has, indeed, delighted his audience with some fine national airs, less of his own composing, than a collection and judicious blending of the remains of the old tunes that still vibrate in the souls of his countrymen. It will be perceived that we allude to national and political occurrences, which are still unfaded in the memory of men, and yet are sufficiently venerable and aged, to admit of strong excitements of mind, by introducing imaginary characters into the midst of them. This is the secret charm which he exercises over our feelings, and is as efficacious in loosening the purse-strings of the bookseller, as that of his hero Halbert, in conjuring up the white woman, by pulling off his shoes and making three Scotch bows. There is evidently one advantage which the present work possesses over that of Ivanhoe, inasmuch as the author has again wisely resumed his old ground, where he exhibits himself with much more grace and effect than in attempting the dangerous scheme of displaying himself in English costume. There is a power and truth of nature in him, as long as he forages on the border, attacks the draw-bridge and the bartizan, or holds a dialogue between two Scotch elders; but amongst English archers and yeomen he is comparatively a very secondary personage indeed. In the present romance he has professed to give the monastic history of the period of the reformation, and as in his other works his professed object seems to have been that which has least engaged his attention. A ghost story seems to have been the hobby which has this time run away with him, as the accompanying episode, to which he has injudiciously sacrificed the main interests of his story. As to plot, there is not the most distant sign of any, and there is neither beginning middle nor end. It is this want of invention on a grand scale, which absolutely deprives him of the power of composing either a legitimate novel, or a regular drama. Though evidently possessed of the details of dramatic composition, he is at a loss both for that strength of nature and art, to weave and unfold passions and incidents at will, which distinguished some of our very first dramatists and novel writers. His works are rather a collection of fine things huddled together without much art, and gleaned from old works of history or fiction.

His very

characters are most of them drawn ready to his hand, and they seem as they proceed to acquire the power of directing the author, rather than of being moulded by him. It is thus that he never knows how to dispose of them in the end, and we find him particularly puzzled at the conclusion of the Monastery. There is no history

of its decline and fall, any more than of the Knight Templars in Ivanhoe, and even his incidental hero Halbert, whom he meets by the way, is left totally unpro vided for, in honour and achievement that befits a hero. Yet on him and the white lady of Avenel rests the excuse of not doing justice to the story of the Monastery. In all minor qualifications, the romance is nearly faultless. The descriptions are good, the dialogues animated and well sustained, the characters not without humour, though not consistent We cannot too much admire the religious controversy between the champions of the different churches, the picture of the easy old Abbot, and the Sub-Prior, with the description of the Castle of the Marauder Julian of Avenel. With all their defects Sir Walter's ghost stories are good (for those romances are little more); but we wish he would not tell them in quite so serious a

manner.

The Life and Adventures of Don Quixote De La Mancha, a new edition, with engravings, from designs, by RICH. WESTALL, esq. is another of those literary efforts of the age to embody as much entertainments for the understanding and the eye in as small a compass, and at as cheap a price as type and paper will allow. It is, however, too palpable an imitation of a finer edition of the same book, with designs, by Smirke, and we think the inferior value of the work by no means compensated by its comparatively low price.

The beauty of illustrations depends greatly upon a corresponding size and quality of paper, type, and excellence of execution; and we have not a moment's hesitation in pronouncing, that where the efforts of the artist are required to elucidate those of an author, the union of them should be displayed in as noble a manner as possible.

The Private Correspondence of Horace Walpole, Earl of Orford, now first collected, is merely a compilation of what has been recently published in a variety of forms relating to the minute gossipping of the trifling genius whom it commemorates. The multitude of private memoirs, and literary correspondence daily growing upon us, is becoming an absolute nuisance, and we think some post obit law should be enacted, that the writing desks and cabinets of deceased authors should not be ransacked at the pleasure of injudicious survivors. These very refined letters are likewise becoming unfashionable. As the noble author erected a printing press for his own weak lucubrations, he has surely given the world sufficient proof of his little genius, without the necessity of raking up his ashes continually.

Among the feeble satirical efforts of the

age,

age, we may notice as something superior to the common place with which we are periodically deluged, Patronage a Poem; an Imitation of the Seventh Satire of Juvenal; by Mandanis. This of course is a reiteration of the old hacknied complaint of authors against the neglect of the great, who in consequence attempt to "Bare the mean heart that lurks beneath a star." and our anonymous satirist appears to stick very close to his text by laying about pretty sava gely on all sides. The diadem, the ermine, and the long robe, nobles, and princes, are all reduced to the levelling system which this new Juvenal has adopted. With the exception, however, of being a little too rough, there is much talent displayed, mingled with caustic, rather than attic wit.

L. SMYTH, esq. of the Royal Navy, has lately published Slavery, a Poem, in Two Parts, a little work which we fear cannot claim a very high station in the poetical ranks, which are daily filling up faster and faster. Though deficient in interest as a story, and without much determinate object, there is some pleasing description, and a strain of feeling and humane tenderness, which tend to redeem its defects of composition. So much, however, has been said, or sung upon similar topics, that now our country has relieved its conscience from the crime of having parti. cipated in it, a work ought to possess very superior claims indeed to poetic excellence which pretends even to anathematize so odious a name. Let us beware of it at home.

WILLIAM HAZLITT, esq. has recently published Lectures chiefly on the Dramatic Literature of the Age of Elizabeth, delivered at the Surry Institution. These, like the former writings of this gentleman, are characterized by a bold and original spirit of criticism, no less distinguished for taste and judgment, than for a keen perception and relish of the beauties of the noble subject of which he treats. There is a strength and freshness

in his manner, with a singular power of illustration which impresses his observations upon the mind more strongly than the style of feeble and common place disquisition with which we are generally loaded. His remarks are evidently dictated by genius rather than by study and observation, and though this genius be not free from the faults of the age in which he lives (some affectation and mannerism) yet compared with that of other living commentators, we are of opinion, that if not the first, it stands boldly forward with a few of the choicest growth. While Campbell, Jeffrey, Coleridge and Lambe, have variously occupied the same ground which Mr. H. has latterly

assumed, they still left it unexhausted to those powers of mind, which united to an enthusiasm for their subject, render him as conspicuously eminent for a critic, as the authors he treats of were for genius and wit. We may safely appeal to the judgment of the literary public, whether the articles contained in the Quarterly Review upon similar subjects, are at all comparable to the enlightened spirit of truth, and critical discrimination which abound in the single volume before us. Let us for a moment turn to the vapid and dull article of Mr. Gifford in the last No. upon Sheil's Evadne, and Payne's Brutus, written with all the elaborate persiflage, and artful emptiness in which he is so successful, and we shall be necessarily convinced of the difference.

A second edition of the New Whig Guide, has been recently published, containing Political Pasquinades in the shape of poetical caricatures of the chief memhers of the opposition. These are rank Tory effusions, though very humble ones, as the Pseudo-Pasquin himself avows. It is of course in the satirical vein, and if talent and cleverness in the production could atone for ribaldry and low language, it would be entitled to rank amongst the witty things of the day. They have some of them made their appearance, if we are not mistaken, in a notorious periodical journal of the North. They pretend to afford some amusing, though exaggerated information of the peculiar habits and manners, and often of the motives of public men, which cannot be found elsewhere. We agree with the editor, that the portraits are for the most part exaggerated, but not that there is a general resem. blance. The personal ridicule is carried too far, and the political picture overcharged, and too warmly coloured, to admit

of admiration from the lovers of classical satire, and judicious raillery. Among the best finished, however, of the state portraits, we observe the candidates in "The Choice of a Leader, The Countess of Jersey's Masquerade, Severe Battle, English Melodies, &c. &c." which have as much of the humorous as we can reasonably expect in state affairs. We cannot, however, stey's Pleader's Guide, The Fudge Family, compare them with descriptions in Auand other more legitimate satires of the age. To give an idea of the characters in play, we shall just quote a specimen of a sort of Bill dialogue of some members of the house. "Gen. Thornton. Bill to compel hackney and other coachmen to be more civil towards female passengers, and likewise to amend the acts relating to the uniformity of the common prayer. Mr. Bennett. Move for leave to bring in a bill to regulate the office of necessary women to the state apartments at St. James's. Mr. Barham. Bill to make it

felony

felony without benefit of clergy, to intermarry with the descendants of persons carrying on, or related to persons carrying on, the slave trade. Mr. Wm. Smith. Move for leave to bring in a bill to amend the doctrine of the Trinity. Mr. M. A. Taylor. Bill to regulate the size of paviors, and to prevent parish vestries from employing such men below a certain stature."

The English Melodies are good parodies of some of our best songs, particularly that imitated from Moore, "Oh the days are gone when beauty bright."

"Oh the time is past, when Quarter day
My cares would chase,

When all in life that made me gay
Was place,-still place;

New hopes may bloom,

New offers come,

Of surer, higher pay,

But there's no hing half so sweet in life

As Quarter day," &c. &c.

But we must content ourselves with referring the whole to ministers and state pen. sioners of all descriptions.

Amongst the poetical works of the last month, we notice a small publication entitled Chevy Chase, with other Poems, written in a more spirited and interesting style than any thing we have met with

since Scott

"Awoke the border echoes with his song."

The Chase is a poem founded on the an. cient ballad, and presents a very pleasing picture of the sports of the field, combined with the more striking incidents of warfare, and contrasted with much dramatic effect. The sudden tramp of the Scottish spearmen, heard in the midst of the woodland feast, the appearance of Douglas, and the mortal defiance of the earls, are all described in true poetical language, and with an intenseness of feeling that none but a poet could possess. We do not, however, think it equal to some of the miscellaneous pieces which follow it. The fine spirit of poetic enthusiasm which characterises the poem to the Sea Bird, approaches nearer the genius of Milton than any single piece of any modern poet we remember to have read. There is an Ode to Time, Walcheren, and a few noble sonnets, little inferior to this.

The 3d volume of the Periodical Novellist, or Circulating Library, recently published, is one of the most interesting and animated little works of the narrative kind we have lately seen. It consists of two stories from the Italian and the SpanishAndrew of Padua, The Improvisatore, a tale from the Italian of the Abbate Furloo, and The Vindictive Father, from the Spanish of Leander of Valladerras. They combine much of the various excellence of the novel, as the former is of the narrative and adventurous cast, while the latter is of a more sentimental description. The adventures

of the Improvisatore, related by himself, are little inferior in nature and genuine humour to the exploits of Gil Blas, and the best itinerant heroes of Fielding; Andrew is a true son of Fortune, but bears her vicissitudes in so good humoured a manner, and relates them with so much grace and nature, that (which is now seldom the case) we laid down the book with an actual feeling of regret.

Mr. CHARLES SWAN, author of Omar, an eastern tale, &c. &c. has lately published Retribution, a Poem, addressed to Woman, which amongst much common-place, occasionally displays a few superior passages of poetry. Still, however, we think it inferior in point of style to the Epistle Dedicatory, with which it is ushered into the world, couched in such a figurative grandeur of sentiment and language, that Dr. Johnson himself would have envied it. There are a few miscellaneous poems which follow Retribution, containing more spirited touches of thought and tenderness of feeling, than we could have supposed from the monotonous tameness of the chief poem.

The public have just been presented with the second volume of Chefs D'Euvre of ·French Literature, consisting of interesting extracts from the classic French writers, in prose and verse, with biographical and critical notices of the authors and their works. These are specimens more judiciously selected from the poets, than the former volume of extracts from the prose .writers; and read much less abrupt, and interrupted, as the style and language of poets are easily understood from the lightest pieces, while essays and subjects in prose require a more full and complete display, without breaking the line of arguIment which is essential to the merits of disquisition on general subjects of taste and morals. With a laudable desire of embracing as numerous a portion of the beauties of French literature as could possibly be interesting to the public, we think the Editors have endeavoured to comprize rather more than the limits of the work would allow, and it thus leaves too faint an impression of individual excellence upon the reader's mind. Slight and frivolous as the modern taste for reading is, we should still endeavour to feed it in as substantial a way as it will bear, and the "Membra disjecta Poeta" of such men as Scarron, Malherbe, Corneille, Rousseau, and Gresset, will do little to satisfy the lovers of true poetry,-sublimity, tenderness, and beauty. We are aware that a craving for a chemical preparation of the essence of books is growing stronger every day, and that we are in a great measure to ascribe the decline of true taste, and a contempt for the laborious productions of older writers, to the modern practice of pampering the diseased appetite for novelty, by

eloying