symptomatic of coarseness and simplicity, are not sufficiently characterized by that native shrewdness which gives such comical effect to the original portrait of Sancho Panza. Those persons who are disposed to relish all manner of fictitious narratives will, no doubt, peruse the present imitation with some degree of interest: but others, who can appreciate the graphic painting and the incomparable humour of Cervantes, will yawn or sigh over the pages of his unsuccessful rival.

Two episodes, intitled the Wealthy Unfortunate,' and the Happy Lovers,' are related with some effect; and they incline us to believe that, if the author had not aspired to imitate, he might have attained to celebrity in the department of tragical romance.

The translator, who seems to have executed his task with fidelity and skill, frequently evinces a happy adaptation of the English to the Spanish idiom: but his publishers have disfigured his text, and especially his notes, by slovenly typography, and careless punctuation. His explanation of a Calepino is incorrect: the Dictionary, to which he alludes, is not biographical, like those of Moreri and Bayle, but polyglott and explanatory.

Art. 35. Miscellanies in Prose and Verse. By Alexander Molleson. 12mo. pp. 225. Glasgow. 1806.

As the principal essays in this collection, namely, Melody the Soul of Music,' the Sweets of Society,' and several of the minor compositions, have been formerly submitted to the ordeals of public criticism, we forbear to re-canvass their deserts. The author, indeed, formally impugns our strictures on his rage for simple melodies: but we may now very patiently leave the decision of the question to competent and impartial judges.

We observe, with pleasure, that Mr. Molleson shrinks not from the task of revision and correction; and he will excuse us for reminding him that, though his style be generally easy and simple, it is still deficient in nerve and accuracy. The face of things WERE, WHO are que to believe?—a considerable parcel WERE purchased, &c. are obvious violations of the ordinary rules of grammar; and such lines as the following can claim no kindred with the Soul of Music:" • Far different the Christian's review.'

Thus Campbell, on his shipwreck'd voyage at Ind"
When life in tenderest members feels an wound.'

In Mr. M.'s epitaph on his mother, though consisting only of tes lines, we perceive much flatness, and some exceptionable phraseology. What is meant, for example, by glancing the sadd'ning eye? To benumb fire is quite a new figure; and if the tear burst at any rate, why * put parting death to the trouble of extracting it?—The Glasgow sons of the clergy may form a very respectable society; and we sincerely hope that their deeds of charity will cover the sins of their poet laureate. Their anniversary dinner in 1902 and 1806 appears to have inspired this author, not with poetry, but with an aukward adaptation of two old Scottish songs to the celebration of the festival.

The short effusion on Highland emigration, and the observations on divulging private letters, on the war with France, and on intoxication, though feeble, and sometimes declamatory, breathe an amiable spirit of benevolence, piety, and loyalty. We fear, however, that Mr. Molleson is not destined to rise above the praise of mediocrity;

and

and his time would perhaps be more usefully employed in selecting and compiling from the writings of others, than in publishing his own. Art. 36. La Floresta Espanola; ó Piezas escogidas en Prosa, &. i.e. The Spanish Grove, or select Passages in Prose, extracted from the most celebrated Spanish Authors antient and modern; to which are prefixed Observations on the Origin, Progress, and Decline of Literature in Spain. 12mo. pp. 187. 38. 6d. Boosey. 1807.

This little volume consists of judicious extracts from Cervantes, Quevedo, Antonio de Solis, Garibay, Lopez de Gomara, Feijoó, Pellicer, Isla, Clavijo, &c. The collection would have been rendered more valuable, if greater attention had been paid to arrange the picces in such a manner as to meet the progressive improvement of the learner; and had a few explanatory notes been added, particularly to the passages selected from the ingenious but very obscure Quevedo. In its present form, however, this publication will prove an entertaining assistant to the Spanish student.-The prefatory observations contain a rapid, but correct and interesting view of the history of Spanish Literature.

Art. 37. Oddities and Outlines. By E. M. Crown 8vo. 2 Vols. 8s. Boards. Carpenter.

The lovers of light reading will be amused with the perusal of these volumes, which consist of thirteen letters, containing observations made in different parts of France and Swisserland; diversified,' says the author, by the story of an odd and interesting man.' The ob servations, if not profound, are however entertaining and the story, though neither intricate nor surprising, possesses interest, and is regated with vivacity.

:

Art 38. An historical and picturesque Guide to the Isle of Wight: By John Bullar, Author of the Tour round Southampton, &c. Cr. 8vo. PP. 134 5s. Boards. Baker, Southampton; Ostell, London. This is a very neat little volume: but we think that the price is too high for a compilation of this sort; and particularly when we ourselves recollect to have received more useful information, for less money, from the common Guide published in the island.

Art. 39. Three Letters (one of which has appeared before) to the Planters and Slave Merchants, principally on the Subject of Com pensation. By Thomas Clarkson, M. A., Author of several Essays on the Subject of the Slave Trade. 8vo. 1s. Phillips and Fardon. 1807.

In these letters, Mr. Clarkson strenuously resists the claim to Compensation urged by the Planters and Slave-Traders in consequence of the Abolition of that commerce He observes that, if Compensation be due anywhere, it is due from them to Africa. As to the Slave Merchants, he contends that they have no right to such a claim, since they have violated the stipulations of Parliament; and as to the Planters, their case may be very easily decided; for they who have treated their Negroes with kindness will have no occasion for compensation, and they, who have treated them otherwise, do not deserve it.' In conclusion, this humane writer offers some excellent advice to Planters respecting the treatment of their Slaves.

CORRES

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the MONTHLY REVIEWERS.

Dear Friends, Learnt from your Review of last month, "that I was dead." I cannot say I was very sorry, though I had a great respect for the man. Your kind expressions will not be charged with insincerity. for praise is lost upon the defunct. You may as well, by these presents, bring me to life in your next, for I cannot attain my former rank among the living. Your frat, like a subpoena, musters my friends about me, some in tears, but all terminate with a smile. Others, as I walk the street, cast at me a significant glance, as if surprized to see me above ground, and uncertain whether the ghost or the body moves, but a moment determines that the ghost holds its proper place. Three verses addressed to you, will probably appear in the Gentleman's Magazine, inoffensive as your remark.

From my Shades at Bennet's Hill, near Birmingham, Aug-13, 1807.

I am, with sincere respect,
Yours, till a second death.
'W. HUTTON."

We insert the above with much pleasure; and as we have now a contradiction of the report to which we alluded, under our venerable friend's own hand, we will engage, if he requires it, never again to state an event which we hope is yet distant, till we have in like manner his own certificate of it.

Veritas is intitled to our thanks for his communication in reply to Philo's late letter respecting some opinions of the Quakers, and we should print it with great readiness, since it certainly places the matter in a clear light, if we could at present find room for it, and if we did not feel it necessary to abstain from a prolongation of the argument. Reviewers must, in one sense, be

"All things by turns, and nothing long."

The acknowlegement from Belfast is accepted with satisfaction. We hope that the writer of it, and every other person, will always have reason for asserting that the Genius of candid Criticism has found a sanctuary with the Monthly Reviewers.'-That fair personage has been courted by them for nearly threescore years; and they may surely presume on being on a tolerable footing with her, since Time, in such an intimacy as this, produces strength rather than decay.

The remote date of Glendalloch precludes us from paying our respects to it.

W. N's letter is received, and will be considered when we have leisure to attend to the subject of it, which requires deliberation.

The APPENDIX to this Volume of the Review will be published with the Number for September, on the 1st of October, and will contain a variety of important articles in FOREIGN LATE

RATURE.

ART. I. Nekrolog der Teutschen, &c. ; i. e Necrology of the Germans, for the Nineteenth Century. By FREDERIC SCHLICHTSGROLL. 4 Vols. 8vo. Gotha.

AT T the commencement of the last ten years of the 18th century, M. SCHLICHTEGROLL, Professor at the college of Gotha in Saxony, began to publish an annual Necrology; in which he intended to collect memoirs of remarkable men who had died during the preceding year, particularly in his own country, and at the same time to preserve the memory of those whose private virtues and useful lives rendered them worthy of being brought before a larger circle than that in which they had moved. Sincerely applauded by the public, and warmly supported by the friends of departed worth, the author has been enabled to form a gallery of portraits, which, though its pieces vary considerably with regard to intrinsic value and beauty of execution, will be contemplated with pleasure by the philanthropist, and be consulted with advantage by the inquirer into past time.

With the present century, a new series was formed; in which the original plan was so far altered, that in future the work is to be devoted to the memory of Germans exclusively; and the volumes are no longer to be confined to certain years, but will furnish notices of those remarkable or peculiarly exAPP. REV. VOL. LIII. cellent

Gg

cellent persons, whom Germany has lost in the course of this century, without strictly adhering to chronological order. The nature of such a work, if it be executed with only tolerable skill, will recommend it to a very numerous class of readers; and it must be peculiarly acceptable in a country in which, on account of its great extent, its numerous divisions, and its more numerous provincial publications, biographical memoirs circulated in one part would probably be little known in another. The writer, however, has not trusted alone to the attractions of the matter which he had to communicate to the public, in order to insure a favourable reception of his production, but has evidently bestowed on it respectable talents and laudable pains. In the first volumes of the collection, too much art and a laboured style betrayed the young biographer: but practice and improving taste have remedied these defects as the work proceeded. The different pictures, however, are not more unlike one another in their matter than in their form; though by far the greater number of the memoirs are composed by the editor himself, principally from private accounts, with which the friends of the deceased were ready to furnish him at his request. They bear evident proofs of authenticity, are practical without moralizing, are equally free from bitter censure and fulsome praise. Many are more than mere sketches, though perhaps. but a few can claim the rank of biography in the higher sense of that term.

It must be expected that a great part of the interest attached to compositions of this nature is only local, or at most national. The man of business, who, in a more or less extended circle, became by persevering attention and well directed activity the promoter of the happiness of those connected with him ;-the scholar, who in possession of eminent talents and extensive knowlege applied them either to practical purposes in an ac tive station, or to improve the knowlege and the taste of his countrymen by productions of his mind, peculiarly adapted to and destined for them;-the popular teacher, who, in the retired abode of a village, produced by his exertions and example happy changes in the morals and enjoyments of those who were intrusted to his care;-all these deserve places in a national gallery, the object of which is as much to reward re. tired worth, and to encourage the cultivation of the humble virtues of private life, as to transmit the names of distinguished characters to posterity: but their history generally loses its greatest attraction when it goes beyond the limits of country, when it is read without patriotism, or the feeling that these departed worthies were connected with us by some closer tie than that of a common species, or when our situation seems

to