shall cease to elect and return Burgesses to serve in the High Court of Parliament. II. If, during the present Parliament, the election of the two Burgesses now serving therein for the same Borough of Grampound, or either of them, shall by Death or otherwise become void, then and in every such Case an additional Knight or Knights shall be returned to serve in the High Court of Parliament for the County of York; and that from the end of the present Parliament, and at all times thereafter, the said County of York shall return, to serve in the High Court of Parliament, four Knights of the Shire instead of two Knights of the Shire. NEW BOOKS PUBLISHED IN AUGUST, Authors or Publishers desirous of seeing an early notice of their Works, are requested to transmit copies before the 18th of the Month. NE of the most interesting publica ONE of the most interesting publica tory of the Brazil, by JAMES HENDERSON, comprehending a very full and particular account of the geography, commerce, colonization, &c. of that important country. The author, it appears, on his arrival at Rio de Janeiro, in 1819, was disappointed in his views of immediate employment, and therefore resolved to devote his time to the acquisition of intelligence respecting these vast regions. He has succeeded in collecting a very considerable mass of information on the past and present state of the Brazil, treating under distinct heads of the twenty-two provinces which it comprises. The picture which is presented to us of the external aspect of the country is highly magnificent and rich; but this writer concurs with all his predecessors in deploring the state of society at Rio de Janeiro, which he represents as being centuries behind in the comforts and enjoyments of civilized life. Even hospitality, the virtue of an uncultivated people, is here unknown. Living is as expensive, or more so, than in London, with none of the comforts which the latter affords. A moderate sized house will let for two hundred and fifty or three hundred pounds per annum; and provisions, with the exception of vegetables and fruit, are neither cheap nor good. Books are prohibited, and the state of literature is consequently very low. Only two gazettes are published throughout the whole empire. Assassination is frequent; the inhabitants carrying knives hid under the sleeves of their coats, which they throw and use with great dexterity; and these knives, we are ashamed to say, are manufactured in England expressly for that purpose. The deplorable state of the government has counteracted the advantages of nature, which would otherwise have rendered this nation one of the richest in the world. Even the diamond mines are not worked to advantage. The produce of these is selected, in the first instance, by the royal family; and it is said that the King possesses the best collection of gems in the world, worth upwards of two millions sterling. From the mine, the diamonds are conveyed by a strong military guard to the treasury, till dispatched for London, which is now their great mart. Agriculture is in a very degraded state, and the present system of landed tenure is so bad, that the soil seems likely to remain covered with wild grass and forests till doomsday. When it is moderately cultivated, the returns are quick and bountiful. From the recent establishment of a free constitution in this colony, the warmest hopes of its speedy improvement, in every respect, may be entertained. And having escaped from political slavery, we may reasonably expect that the system of domestic bondage will not much longer be allowed to disgrace a nation calling itself free. In an appendix to the volume, we find a zoological account of the animals peculiar to the country, amongst which the reptiles are the most formidable, being exceedingly numerous, and for the most part venomous. Clouds of insects people the air. A collection has been already made of above sixteen hundred different sorts of butterflies. Perhaps no other region in the world equals the Brazil in the innumerable species of birds which it possesses, of incomparable beauty of plumage and variety of song. This work is illustrated with twenty-eight plates, executed with good effect upon stone, after sketches taken by Mr. Henderson on the spot, and with two maps. The style is plain and unaffected, and the author's information appears to be drawn from authentic sources. We think considerable credit is due to him for the judgment and ability with which he has embodied the result of his researches, which we regard as a valuable contribution to our stock of. knowledge respecting this important and advancing country. LAURENT'S Classical Tour through various parts of Greece, Turkey, and Italy, is a work in the perusal of which we have felt considerable interest. The author is very minute in his descriptions of the various various adventures he met with illustrative of the manners and customs of the inhabitants, and offers only short notices of the different architectural remains in the countries through which he travelled. In this, as the latter have been so often and so particularly described, he has, we think, acted judiciously, especially as he appears to have been much limited in his time, and the subjects of which he treats have been, generally speaking, but little noticed by travellers. His work is well adapted to supply that sort of information, and will reward the diligence of its readers, especially as the scene of this excursion lies in a country to which the public attention is at present, and may probably continue for some time to be strongly directed. One of the most powerful of the many corrupt and unconstitutional means generally used at present, on the election of borough representatives, consists in the votes of non-resident electors. The admission of those votes was the first innovation on the original method of election, and has materially contributed to the establishment of the present detestable system. From An Essay on the Elective Franchise with reference to the original and common Law Right in Residents, by ARTHUR KELLY, Esq. Barrister at Law, we find that this innovation first arose from the necessity of the members being freemen of the city they represented, and as they were originally paid for their services, in proportion to their distance from the seat of parliament, it was the interest of the boroughs to have a representative residing as near it as possible. In this way almost all the distant boroughs had non-resident representatives. The custom of making conspicuous men honorary members, as a matter of compliment, soon became prevalent, and this has led to the most dangerous consequences. This evil is traced from its source, to its present alarming state, in this interesting tract, which we earnestly recommend to the perusal of our readers. It is accompanied by an appendix, contain ing lists of the boroughs and their various rights of voting, distinguished under separate heads. Although the science of medicine in England has at least kept pace with its progress on the continent, there is yet one branch of it in which we have long been confessedly inferior to our neighbours. While in Germany many voluminous and important works on forensic medicine have been long before the public, and while in France the attention of the professors of medicine has been much engaged on this subject, it is only within these few years that any work of the kind has appeared in England. Dr. Farr's Elements is said to be the first production on this subject which we possess, and this volume made MONTHLY MAG. No. 358. its appearance no earlier than thirty years since. Since that period the medical world has been favoured with Dr. Bartley's Treatise on Forensic Medicine, and Dr. Robertson's Treatise on Medical Police. Another volume has been lately added to these, entitled The Principles of Forensie Medicine, systematically arranged and applied to British Practice, by JOHN GORDON SMITH, M.D. and we do not hesitate to say that this work will be found of great utility to those whose avocations require a knowledge of this very important branch of the medical science, upon a correct acquaintance with which the life and liberty of individuals frequently depend. However skilfully a work of this kind may be written, as to every thing relating to that portion of it which is more peculiarly connected with the medical art, it is evident, that the application of that knowledge involves a considerable acquaintance with legal learning. It is only in this view that we think Dr Smith might have rendered his work more useful, especially to his legal readers, to whom, however, we have no hesitation in recommending it as an useful manual in the course of their practice in criminal cases. The Legend of Argyle is a novel founded on the attempt made in favour of the Pretender in 1715. We do not pronounce an undeserved opinion of this work, when we say that it does not rise above the ordinary level of the contents of the circulating library. It may be skimmed over for the amusement of the passing moment, hut wholly fails in making any permanent impression on the fancy or the heart. Miss LETITIA MATILDA HAWKINS has recently published a new novel called Heraline. This lady has before displayed considerable ability as the author of The Countess and Gertrude, and other works. Her present effort will, we think, contribute to increase her reputation. It appears to be her object to make her pages the vehicle of moral and religious improvement; an effect which may be reasonably expected from the good sense and correct sentiment with which they abound. Mr. MAWE's Descriptive Catalogue of Minerals has reached the fourth edition, and is now offered to the public in an improved and enlarged form. The author has availed himself of the labours of Haüy and of Professor Clarke, of Cambridge, and has entered more particularly into a detail of the physical and chemical characters of minerals. Considerable credit is due to Mr. Mawe for the professional ability displayed in this elementary work, which is eminently calculated to answer its intended purpose by assisting the student in the classification of minerals and the management of collections. Amongst the works of imagination lately X offered offered to the public, the romance of The Cavalier is entitled to a place in the first rank. It is a production of the Waverly school, and is evidently the offspring of no mean disciple. In character, incident, and style, it bears no distant affinity to the legends of the unknown author; but it may be easily distinguished from them by an occasional awkwardness and want of polish, from which the original is completely free. The scene is laid in the time of the great rebellion; and the character of the hero, Colonel Sydenham, afterwards Lord Falconridge, is touched with a very spirited hand. The principal portrait of the adverse faction, is taken from Jonathan Snell, a puritan adventurer, and it is certainly drawn with great power, though in somewhat exaggerated proportions. We augur very considerable success to these interesting volumes, which cannot be perused without impressing the reader with a conviction that they are the fruit of an ingenious and superior mind. We cannot speak, without feelings of a mingled nature, of Mr. C. WEBB's little volume, entitled Summer, and other Poems. We can praise, with great sincerity, the poetical fancy and the love of nature which pervade all his compositions; and there is a tenderness and delicacy of thought in some of his smaller poems, which render them very pleasing. On the other hand, we have to complain of a want of correctness and good taste; and of an affected quaintness of style and phraseology, which, although it may for a while excite attention, cannot fail to be tiresome and repulsive in the end. For this reason, his shorter poems are those which we like best. On the whole, while we allow that Mr. W.'s performances are not of such a nature as to excite any high hopes of his future eminence, we are very sure that he by no means deserves the contemptuous treatment which he has received from some northern critics, who are apt to estimate literary labour, by any thing but its intrinsic merit. If any thing were wanting to convince the advocates of war of the horrors which attend such a system, we would recommend to their perusal The Personal Narrative of a Private Soldier, who served in the Fortysecond Highlanders for Twelve Years during the late War. This little work has probably made its appearance in consequence of the success which attended another production of the same kind, and which it seems to us to equal in interest and originality. The writer is represented to be a Scotchman, who entered into the army when young, and who encountered all the disastrous horrors of the Walcheren expedition, and the accumulated dangers and privations of the Peninsular war. The miseries which the army suffered at this period seem almost incredible, and we feel indignant that the amazing energies which our countrymen then displayed, should be employed in slaughter and destruction. The narrative contains many free reflections on the conduct of those in command, and many curious anecdotes illustrative of a soldier's life. The style is simple, and sometimes singular; and, on the whole, the narrative appears to us to bear the stamp of truth. We feel a pleasure in directing the attention ofthe lovers of poetry to the second part of Poems for Youth, by a family circle. The reception given by the public to the first part of this work was very flattering, and its readers will not,we think,find any diminution of interest in the continuation now offered to their notice. A considerable portion of this delightful volume is occupied with a pastoral masque, entitled Amaryllis; and the remainder consists of smaller pieces, from which we select, as an agreeable specimen, the following stanzas: I'll be a fairy, and drink the dew, And creep thro' the honied flowers, Which sigh thro' the dark green trees, The glow-worm shall be my gentle light, And I'll warm me in the sweet moon-light, And ever fresh the grass shall grow And little murmurs, sweet and low, And I will hold a fairy court, And call each slumbering lay, I'll be a fairy, and drink the dew, And creep thro' the honied flowers, And dance in the evening hours. If a congregation of horrible ideas and phrases can lay claim to the title of poetry, there could not be two opinions about The Last Days of Herculaneum, by EDWIN ATHERSTONE. The author seems to have racked his imagination for the most revolting and disgusting pictures; and to have exhausted the language in seeking for appropriate phraseology. Spirits of horrors-from the tongues of hell; "Ten thousand bolts Fall every instant." With the general overthrow, the writer mixes up incidents of the most horrid and improbable nature. We quote an example: "There stood within a square a bloody man, Who with bar'd arm was brandishing an axe; And came to die in turn, till all were slain Save the blood-spatter'd slayer." Such scenes as these are neither awful nor affecting, but can only shock and sicken the reader. The whole poem is in the same spirit of exaggerated and overwrought effect. The poem of Abradates and Panthea, which follows, has more merit; and proves that the author possesses talents of a very respectable order. Mr. HONE has produced another of those political and moral satires which will ever rank as chefs d'ouvres, and which are altogether sui generis. His Butt is the ultraroyalist conductor of a Tory newspaper, known by the name of Dr. Slop; and who appears to merit the severe castigation he has received, not merely for his violence, but for his tergiversation. But the satire applies generally to all the political and theological pharisees of the time, and cannot fail to be attended with the happiest effects. We have been much interested by a little pamphlet, entitled Brief Observations on the present State of the Waldenses, &c., by G. LowTHER, Esq. It will be recollected by our readers, that the Waldenses, a protestant sect inhabiting a district of Piedmont, were the first body of separatists from the Papal supremacy, after the schism between the Greek and Roman churches. The present account is the fruit of the author's personal researches, and we may confidently rely on its accuracy. We regret that he has not given us a connected view of the origin and progress of this sect, whi ch would be highly interesting and instructive as the first link in the history of Protestantism. EDUCATION. The French Speaker; or, the Art of Speaking and Reading the French Language: exemplified in a course of lessons illustrative of the Phraseology and Literature of the Language, accompanied by a Selection of Idioms, and Instructions for conducting Epistolatory Correspondence; with suitable Specimens, and a Dictionary of Synonymes; by M. S. A. Simeon, 12mo. 8s. 6d. bds. An Irish-English Dictionary, with copious Quotations from the most esteemed Ancient and Modern Writers, to elucidate the meaning of obscure words: and numerous comparisons of the Irish Words with those of similar orthography, sense, or sound in the Welsh and Hebrew Languages; to which is annexed a Compendious Irish Grammar; by Edward O'Reilly, 4to. 21. 12s. 6d. bds. An Introduction to the French Grammar; or, the Accidence of that language made easy with gradual exercises on every declinable part of Speech, intended to prepare the pupil for the study of the French Syntax; by J. B. Mallett, 18mo. 4s. half bound. Tales of the Academy. 2 vols. 18mo. 6s. half bound. A Greek and English Manual Lexicon to the New Testament, with examples of the Irregular Inflections, &c.; by J. H. Bass. 4s. Lives of Learned and Eminent Men, taken from authentic sources, adapted to the use of Children of four years old and upwards. 18mo. 2s. 6d. half bound. A Key to the Latin Language, embracing the double object of qualifying Students to make make Latin into English, and English into Latin; by John Atkinson, 8vo. 4s. A Manual of Logic, in which the Art is rendered practical and useful upon a principle entirely new, 18mo. 3s. Morale Poetica Italiana, ossia Scelta di Massine e Sentenze tratte da piu Classici Poeti Italiani; da P. L. Costantini, 12mo. 4s FINE ARTS. Illustrations of Kenilworth; a Romance, in seven prints; engraved by Heath, Scott, Engleheart, Romney, and Rolls, 8vo. 16s. proofs 4to. 11. 4s. The Rabbit on the Wall; engraved by John Burnet, from the celebrated picture by David Wilkie, R.A. 11. 1s. proofs. 31. 3s. Vol. V. of a Voyage round Great Britain, undertaken in the summer of 1813, from the Land's End; by William Daniell, A.R.A., 28 coloured plates, royal 4to. 71. 10s. bds. Part I. of Denmark Delineated; or, Sketches of the Present State of that Country; Illustrated with Portraits, Views and other Engravings by Eminent Danish Artists, royal 8vo. 10s. 6d. GEOGRAPHY. 'Part II. of a System of Universal Geography; by M. Matt. Brun, 8vo. 7s. 6d. The Elements of Modern Geography and General History, on a Plan entirely new; by G. Roberts. 6s. Bd. Geographia Sacra; or, a New Scripture Atlas, comprising a complete set of Maps, adapted to elucidate the events of Sacred History, and which point out the situation of every place mentioned in the Old and New Testaments. 11. 11s. 6d. plain, or 21. 2s. col. HISTORY. Historical Account of Discoveries and Travels in Asia, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time; by Hugh Murray, F.R.S. Account of the Shipwreck of the Medusa Frigate, the Sufferings of the Crew, and the various Occurrences on board the Raft, in the desert of Zahara, &c.; by two of the survivors, 8vo. 10s. 6d. LAW. A Letter from a Grandfather to his Grandson, an Articled Clerk, pointing out the right course of his Studies and Conduct during his Clerkship, in order to his successful establishment in his profession; by Jacob Phillips, barrister. 7s. MEDICINE AND SURGERY. The Principles of Forensic Medicine, Systematically Arranged, and applied to British Practice, with numerous Illustrations and examples; by J. G. Smith, M.D. 8vo. 14s. bds. A Treatise on Indigestion, and its consequences, called Nervous and Bilious complaints; with observations on the Organic Diseases in which they sometimes terminate; by A. P. W. Philip, M.D. F.R.S. 8vo. 9s. bds. Part II. Vol. XI. of Medico-Chirurgical Transactions, with plates. 9s. bds. A Few Hints relative to Cutaneous Comdlaints; by T. M. Kelson. 2s. An Illustration of the Genus Cinchona; comprising descriptions of all the Officinal Peruvian Barks, including several new species, &c.; by Aylmer Bourke Lambert, esq, F.R.S. &c. 4to. 11. 10s. A Treatise on Dyspepsia, or Indigestion; with Observations on Hypochondriasis and Hysteria; By Jas. Woodførde, M.D. 8vo, 5s. An Essay on Ring Worm, Scalled Head, &c.; by Samuel Plumbe, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, &c. 8vo. 7s. 6d. MISCELLANIES. No. I. of the New Edinburgh Review, (to be continued Quarterly.) 6s. The Edinburgh Annual Register for 1817, 8vo. 11. 1s. bds. Malay Annals, translated from the Malay Language, 8vo. 10s. 6d. bds. Views of Society and Manners in America, in a series of letters from that country to a Friend in England, 8vo. 13s. bds. The System of the Weather of the British Islands; by George Mackensie. 8vo. 8s. bds. Three Enigmas; 1. the Import of the Twelve Signs; 2, the Cause of Ovid's Banishment; 3, the Eleusinian Secret, 8vo. 6s. No. I. of Flights of Fancy, a series of Illustrations from familiar phrases, exhibiting Life and Character, and adapted for the amusement of the Snap Book; by an Amateur. 7s. 6d. in colours. The Rambles of My Uncle, foolscap, 8vo. 2s. 6d. |