at one pound three shillings, and one pound three shillings and sixpence: at present it is at one shilling, which is low. Small bank of England notes from one to ten pounds, are at a premium proportionate to guineas, being equally useful to travellers. Larger bank of England bills bear the same price as merchants' bills on London.. The want of silver specie is more particularly lamentable and embarrassing beyond imagination. Many of the great quantity of base shillings in circulation are not intrinsically worth fourpence; but if they are of sufficient weight, or what is admitted to be so by tacit consent, viz. two penny-weights and sixteen grains and a half, and do not present too brazen an appearance of their felonious origin, they are permitted to descend into the till, to prevent a total stagnation of trade. Even these shillings are rare, and their rarity is frequently disastrous to business. After having been detained half an hour for change, I have more than once been told by the shop-keeper with great regret, that he had sent to all his neighbours for change, but could not obtain any, and consequently the article purchased resumed its former place upon the shelf. It is worthy of observation, that the mint shilling weighs three pennyweights and twenty one grains, so that even in mere weight, an Irish shop-keeper is compelled to submit to a deduction of rather more than one-third. In some parts of Ireland, the people are so embarrassed by the immense effusion of the notes of small banks, that a premium of three-pence in the pound is frequently paid for an Irish bank note, although it is in all parts in a state of depreciation, and many of these bankers have been known to refuse their own notes in payment for rent, without a discount being allowed. The man who goes to market in Dublin, with a guinea in gold, has an advantage to the extent of the premium over another going to market with a guinea in paper, for the former calls at a specie shop, and sells his guinea for a paper guinea and the premium. This depreciation must arise, I should sup pose, from an excessive issue of paper, which in the time of the restriction upon the issue of gold, increased from £600,000 to £2,600,000, in addition to the vast augmentation of private bankers' notes in Dublin and other parts of Ireland. pp. 59 to 71. passim. A lady at the inn where I was, assured me, that she had been detained a whole day in the country, because having no money, and no other than local notes, the keeper of the turnpike refused to let her pass. Notes for eighteen-pence are abundant. Bankers are almost as common as potatoes in the counties of Limerick, Kerry, and Cork. At a village At a village not for from Limerick, a blacksmith issues sixpenny notes, which circulate in the village, and no farther., p. 348. Let us now direct our attention to those indications of improvement, which appear in the disposition and character of this people; and in the state and cultivation of their country. We learn with great pleasure that duelling is fast declining. "It has," says Mr. C. "effected more injury to the Irish character than any other cause-it is subsiding; but truth calls upon me to say, that it still has too wide a latitude of action," p. 239. Also p. 241. "I found that duelling had very much subsided, and that it was far from raising those who engaged in it in the opinion of their brother officers. From one regiment, the officers of which I knew, an Irish officer was dismissed for quarrelling and challenging, and a resolution was entered into, that any gentleman of that regiment who accepted a challenge from such expelled officer, should be sent to Coventry by the whole mess." Mr. C. also mentions, with great sensibility, various charitable institutions, in which the young of both sexes are instructed; some are established by individuals, who, greatly to their honour, enjoy this way of doing good; others are public, and recently opened: these promise much advantage. Our traveller repeatedly defeat their own intention, as the poor insists, that schools absolutely gratuitous, will not send their children; the " native pride" of the Irish "revolts at eleemosynary aid." Indeed, he goes so far, as to advise that, whatever may be projected on this article, the parent should always be understood to contribute something in part of payment. Mr. C. speaks with great severity of the charter schools, calling them "most infamous jobs," p.493. The present state of these, therefore, cannot be reckoned among indications of improvement; but they may be the basis of superior things at some future time; and the sooner the better. A yery favourable circumstance, more than once mentioned by our author is, the state of marriage among the Irish. "The low Irish," says he, " are not only remarkable for their early marriage, but for the inviolate sanctity with which the marriage contract is kept, and hence, among other causes, the number, and health of the children which are crowded : in every cabin," p. 405. This is an excellent sign licentiousness is the inevitable road to ruin, but connubial fidelity encourages the hope that other virtues may be engrafted upon it, with great advantage. Our traveller's gallantry leads him to speak highly of the Irish ladies: that he was favourably received by them, we learn from himself: and he thus returns the compliment. The ladies of Ireland possess a peculiarly pleas ing frankness of manners, and a vivacity in conversation, which renders highly interesting all they do and all they say. In this open sweetness of deportment, the libertine finds no encouragement; for their modesty must be the subject of remark and eulogy with every stranger. I have been speaking of the respectable class of female society, but the same virtue is to be found in the wretched mud cabin. The instances of connubial defection are fewer in Ireland, for its size, than in any other country of equal civilization. They are more highly accomplished in instrumental than in vocal music: a greater musical treat, can scarcely be enjoyed, than to hear some of them perform their own Irish airs, which are singularly sweet, simple, and affecting, pp. 236, 238, passim. . The modesty of the Irish ladies is the effect of principle. ... Instances of ladies" living and dying in single blessedness" are rare in Ireland. I saw only two old maids, and they were too amiable and pleasant not to convince me that their situation was their choice. The upper classes of Irish women are very handsome, and finely formed. The lower Irish country women are so disfigured by the smoke of their cabins, and their feet are so enlarged by being exposed without either shoes or stockings, that I think them inferior in complexion and form to the female peasantry of England. The commonest women in Dublin are, however, in general remarkable for delicacy of the hand, and the whiteness of the bosom. They are also in general powerfully made, and able to protect themselves. : 66 The state of manufactures Mr C. thinks is improving: in some places agriculture is practised with increasing success and vigour, on scientific principles, p. 504. The effect of the Union, has been beneficial but much greater effects are expected from it. Since the Union the price of land has increased very considerably:" exhibitions of cattle have taken place; and other marks of spirit are not wanting. "The average price of labour is eight-pence per day; except in harvest time when it is double or trebled," p. 805. The rearing of cattle and sheep is, at present, the great manufacture of Ireland; hereafter, this country may produce other commodities, which, in their progress, may more actively employ its inhabi tants. We learn that, in the year 1801, there were but four mail coaches in Ireland, viz. to Cork, Limerick, Belfast, and Longford: now there are 304 post towns, to 200 of which the mails are conveyed six times a week, to 104 three times in each week, p. 85. The roads of Ireland are excellent "One great cause of the roads in Ireland enduring so long when once constructed, is owing to there being no ponderous waggons or other heavy carriages,the cars which are alone used for the conveyance of articles are too light, and their wheels too broad in proportion to do any injury." p. 211. We cannot help wishing that the general intercourse of the kingdom, may speedily prove fatal to the beauty of these roads. Speaking of bogs, Mr. C. informs us, that, The bog is cut with an instrument called a slane, a spade of about four inches broad, with a steel blade of the same length, standing at right angles with the edge of the spade: the turf is piled up in pyramidical heaps on the margin of the pits out of which they are dug, each piece being about the size and shape of a brick. The mode of reclaiming bogs is now very well understood, and it is ascertained that bogs must be kept drained, otherwise they will relapse; it is a curious circumstance, that when they are once reclaimed, they are con vertible to any purpose of agriculture. The bogs in Ireland are rapidly reclaiming. Nature is throwing off her covering of russet for a robe of green or yellow. I saw considerable tracts of bog that had been reclaimed, and which appeared to be very productive. The turf, when thoroughly heated, makes a good fire, and is an admirable substitute for coals. Page 310 311. The last article which we shall quote, under this division, is, that of the Linen manufactures, the great staple of Ireland; concerning which Mr. C. writes that they Are rapidly improving and extending in the north of Ireland. They have doubled within ten years: they have an immediate tendency to civilize and enlighten those who are em ploved in them, by producing an intercourse of the ignorant with the informed, and renderinga habit of calculation and negociation in bu siness indispensible; as they are at present con. ducted they are injurious to agriculture; but this arises solely from their being in a state of infancy. The manufacturers in the north, are all cottiers, who are scattered over the country, and they grow their own flax and potatoes; each of them generally has about half aa Irish acre of corn, (oats) a rood of potatoes, and half a rood of flax, and a cow's grass, that is, permission for his cow to graze with the landlord's cattle, and turf-fuel sufficient for one fire: these people never attend to agriculture but when they have no demand for their manufacturing labour. As the linen manufactures continue to increase, it will be found necessary for the petty manufacturers to aggregate in towns; from their present dispersion one advantage arises, the manufacturing cottier is more healthy than if he were shut up in a crowded workingroom. Page 526 527. Our judgment on the whole is, that Mr. C. has indulged himself in viewing this country to the greatest advantage; that be has collected a considerable mass of information, which, if it were not intermingled and debased by stale jokes, and old bulls, by lists of literati, specimens of literature, natural philosophy, and various other augmentations, would lay us under considerable obligations, to his attention and sagacity. Very few persons in the course of a summer's rapid excursion, could have told us so much; and not many would have told it better. Yet we could point out a few passages, which certainly required revision. They are either defective Irish currency, or English basemetal. The aquatinta plates to this work are very pleasingly executed; they are mostly interesting by their subjects and their management. We hope they are faithful; but to the best of our recollection, we think thein favourable. In this they do but agree with the general character of the book: the error, if it be one, is less likely to give offence than a contrary bias would have been. In another part of our work, will be found the report of the Hibernian Society, instituted in London for the promotion of knowledge and piety in our sister Island. To this undertaking Mr. Carr heartily wishes success; and so will all who coincide in opinion with the royal sage, that "for the soul to be without knowledge is not good." The British Flag Triumphant! or the Wooden Walls of Old England: being copies ot the London Gazettes, containing the accounts of the great Victories and gallant Exploits of the British Fleets, during the last and present War; together with correct lists of the Admirals and Captains in the several Engagements to which is prefixed, an Address to the officers, seamen and marines, of His Majesty's Fleet. Hatchard, Piccadilly. It has long been our opinion, that in certain manœuvres the French are greatly our superiors-nay, start not, gentle reader, we do not mean in manœuvring of fleets, or in fighting by single ships; but they take more advantage than we do, of the power of the press, to communicate to all the world. what inforination they think will answer their purposes. They reason away our commerce, prove that we have very little, and ought to have less: they are never defeated, by our army; accidentally, to be sure, some irregular corps of their's are obliged to take up a new position; but that only demonstrates the skill of the general who takes it: and as to our navy, which we make so much noise about, there is not a well-built ship in it--except what France has furnished us with; by absolute inadvertence, or disobedience of orders, in it's commander. Such are French manœuvres: and though every day detects their fallacy, yet every day beholds the same deceptions repeated, in some shape or other, to be retailed among those nations, which groaning in chains and shackles under French despotism, are bound to believe whatever impositions their tyrants ordain. By what can Britain counteract these delusions? By employing the same medium, the press, in propagating TRUTH: let foreign nations read, each in its own language, the history of events; and learn to respect that power which stands, unappalled, though alone, in the attitude of self-defence; and desires that every state in Europe might be as free as herself. We repeat our decided opinion, that the British government peither did, while they are at present, nor does now, do justhe foreign presses were more free than tice to its cause by means of this powerful auxiliary which Buonaparté converts, rather perverts, with much greater address, and very superior management, to accomplish his schemes. We do not indeed advise that every detachment of our army should carry with it a printing press to announce its own victories, as several French armies did; but surely there is a medium between vain glorious boasting and supine indifference. If such be our conviction, we cannot but be pleased with every endeavour to engage the press in the service of our country, and among other instances, we are gratified by the intention of the present compilation, which is addressed immediately to the hearts of our seamen, and presents them with official reports of those incomparable actions, to the truth of which many thousands of them can testify. Not one in fifty of our sailors, says the worthy editor, has the means of reading these public papers; yet it must be acknowledged, that the sentiments entertained by our compatriots, respecting our public deportment, are extremely likely to affect our future conduct. The same sentiments, as to honour and renown, which animate the breast of the officer, are felt in their full vigour by our soldiers and sailors: and if it were possible, that the guilt of cowardice could be proved on an individual, the reception he would meet with among his mates, must be worse to him than a thousand deaths. It follows, that this sensibility of spirit should be cherished, and directed to the most beneficial purposes, on behalf of the nation; with which, at the present moment, the idea will connect itself, of the support of humanity, and of general liberty. It is proper that the crews of our men of war should know what their country says of them, and not be left to the slightest suspicion that they are serving ungrateful compatriots. It is proper, also, that they should be informed of the exploits of others; partly, to excite emulation in those who have not yet distinguished themselves; partly that each may congratulate others on their respective successes, and thereby augment each others felicity; and, we may be allowed to add, that none may plume themselves too much on their good fortune, since they may see in others no less valour or skill, or determinate perseverance in duty than in themselves. If moralists are right in their opinion that it is more difficult to bear prosperity with moderation than to bear adversity, our hint will not be thought misplaced, and the same proposition will add peculiar propriety to the religious advice in the address which opens the work before us. It is too common to think of religion only under suffering: strange infatuation! for when the body is in pain, and the mind sympathizing with it, distracted by solicitude, or anguish, anxiously seeking relief, and adverting to every appearance, or probability, for or against ;-how can a sett of ideas totally new be engrafted on the reasonable principle of man? That religion can soothe and comfort, is true: but this is a degradingly partial view of religion. Her power extends to controul and conduct and be it remembered, that the person who amidst the flow of animal spirits, the exuberance of health, or the intoxication of success, is calmed, moderated, guided, and finds in religion a sedative, gives no less proof of her power on his mind, than the wretch who under torture of body experiences the consolating influence of the same heavenly principle. We perfectly agree, therefore, with the language of the worthy editor: Be not ashamed, my countrymen, of shewing that you thus fear God; and be it ever your boast to acknowledge that "the victory "was not obtained by your own sword, net"ther was it your own arm that saved you." If there be any one man to whom religion is more necessary at all times than it is to another, a sailor is that man. His life is always in God's hands; always liable to be taken from him by ways to which landsmen are not exposed; therefore should he not forget God. True religion never appears to more advantage than in that character; the fear of God is, in his case, peculiarly attractive, and of peculiar use; because, he who fears God, as he ought to do, will never fear the face of man. courage, therefore, is ever founded in true religion. If Christian warriors do not feel these sentiments, and act up to them, a heathen commander shall rise up in the day of judgment, and condemn them; for he declares "that a soldier, who first serves God, and "then obeys his captain, may confidently 66 True hope to overcome his enemy." Therefore, listen to this illustrious heathen, and then turn to the more sure word of Divine Revelation, and learn from thence, "when your hosts forth against the enemy, to "keep yourselves from every wicked thing." go * Xenophon. ↑ Deuteron. xxiii. v. 9.. Whither, indeed, shall we look for true genuine piety, if not among those “who go down to the sea in ships, and who occupy "their business in great waters, who see the "works of the Lord, and his wonders in the "deep?" If those who are the constant objects of his power, and of his goodness, are not always ready to exclaim from the bottom of their hearts, and in the sincerity of their souls. "O, that men would therefore praise the "Lord for his goodness, aud declare the "wonders that he doeth for the children of ment;" where, shall we find religious gratitude upon earth? This address also commemorates the names of Howe, Duncan, Collingwood, Strachan, and others: and repeats several of their sentiments with energy and effect. In particular, as might be expected, it venerates the memory of Nelson; and as every instance of piety in that great man is peculiarly interesting, we extract, with pleasure, a communication for which the editor is indebted to the condescension of the Earl of Nelson. It is an entry in that Hero's diary, October 21, 1805 :— that memorable day! "At the day light saw the enemy's com"bined fleet from E. to E. S. E.-bore away "-made the signal for order of sailing, and 86 to prepare for battle, the enemy with their "heads to the southward-at seven the enemy wearing in succession. 46 66 May the great God, whom I worship, grant to my Country, and to the benefit of Europe in general, a great and glorious Victory! and may no misconduct in any one tarnish it! and may Humanity, "after Victory, be the predominant feature "in the character of the British Fleet! "For myself, individually, I commit my "life to Him who made me, and may His blessings light upon my endeavours for serving my King and my Country faithfully! To him I resign myself, and the just cause which is entrusted to me to "defend.Amen, Amen, Amen!" 66 The contents of this work are, the Gazette accounts of Lord Howe's victory, June 1, 1794, with the order of battle, &c. number of guns, and men, &c. Admiral Cornwallis's retreat, June, 19, 1795. Lord Bridport's action, June 23. Lord St. Vincent's February 16, 1797. Lord Duncan's, October 13. Lord Nelson's at the Nile, August 2, 1798. Sir Sidney Smith's discomfiture of Buona Psalm cvii. v. 23, 24, 25, 29, 31. parté at Acre, March and May, 1799: Lord Nelson's off Copenhagen, April 3, 1801. Sir J. Saumarez's, July 13. Lord Nelson's off Trafalgar, October 21, 1805. Admiral Strachan's Nov. 4. Admiral Duckworth's at St Domingo, February 7, 1806. It concludes with an account of the public funeral of Lord Nelson. This compilation was printed with the intention of distributing 50,000 copies. among our seamen. The idea is excellent such books, with others of devotion, and circumspect cheerfulness, are truly patriotic donations. Substance of the Debates on the Revolution for the Abolition of the Slave Trade; which was moved in the House of Commons, June 10, 1806, and in the House of Lords, June 24, 1806, With an appendix containing notes and illustrations. Crown 8vo. pp. 210. Price Is. 6d. Phillips and Fardon. London, 1806. This little volume contains, as it professes to do, the substance of the debates on a question in which humanity has been, and continues to be, peculiarly. interested. We are aware that the book is published by friends to the abolition; yet we believe it is not chargeable with partiality to the arguments of its patrons, or injustice to those of its oppo nents. : As we consider the question of the existence of the Slave Trade as disposed of, and likely to give little further trouble, if any, we shall not enlarge on the subject but merely state that the motion made by the Rt. Hon. C. J. Fox, was, "That this House, considering the African Slave Trade to be contrary to the principles of justice, humanity, and sound policy, will, with all practicable expedition, take effectual measures for the abolition of the said trade, in such manner, and at such a period, as may be deemed adviseable." This resolution was carried: Ayes 114, Noes 15-Majority 99. In the House of Lords, the agreement of the House to the Resolution of the Commons, was moved by Lord Grenville. The resolution was carried: Contents 41, Not Contents 20-Majority 21. The notes and illustrations are instances of cruelty, &c. practiced in this trade. 2 A |