letters which describe her filial attentions to an aged parent, and many others wherein she deplores the illness or the loss of friends, in terms much more warm and energetic than appear in her keenest strokes of criticisin. Upon the whole, we are convinced that the genuine merit of this epistoJary work will recommend it to the possessors of the best libraries, where it will long remain one of the bright est ornaments. 33. Tales, by the Rev. George Crabbe. (Concluded from page 245.) WE have perused the remaining Tales in this Volume with equal plea sure and attention; and find all so excellent, that it is difficult to say which is the best. Perhaps, the Sixteenth, "The Confidant," is one of the most highly finished in general effect; the Eighteenth, "The Wager," cannot fail of being considered as a faithful picture of many a wedded pair; and the Twentieth," The Brothers," we fear, is too faithfully sketched from actual occurrences in life. We shall close our extracts, however, by a Local Description from the Tenth, “The Lover's Journey," as we have more than once traversed the identical spot so faithfully and so exquisitely delineated by Mr. Crabbe: "First o'er a barren heath beside the "How lovely this!' the raptOrlando said, With what delight is labouring man repaid! The very lane has sweets that all admire, [brier; The rambling suckling, and the vigorous See! wholesome wormwood grows beside the way, [bends the spray; banks adorn, Where, dew-press'd yet, the dog-rose Fresh herbs the fields, fair shrubs the [the thorn; And snow-white bloom falls flaky from No fostering hand they need, no shelter ing wall, [for all. They spring uncultur'd, and they bloom "The Lover rode as hasty lovers ride, And reach'd a common pasture wild and wide; [hunger keen Small black-legg'd sheep deveur with The meagre herbage, fleshless, lank, and lean; [stray, Such o'er thy level turf, Newmarket, And there, with other Black-legs, find their prey! [pil'd He saw some scatter'd hovels; turf was In square brown stacks; a prospect bleak and wild!! Aye, this is Nature,' said the gen tle 'Squire; This ease, peace, pleasure-who would not admire? With what delight these sturdy children play, And joyful rustics at the close of day! Sport follows labour; on this even space Will soon commence the wrestling and [home, Then will the Village-Maidens leave their And to the dance with buoyant spirits the race; He on whom Laura her regard bestows.' "On rode Orlando, counting all the while [mile; Far on the right, the distant sea is seen, Near it a sunken boat resists the tide, Nor wears a rosy blush, nor sheds per- fume; Partake the nature of their fenny,bed; Nor chirp among the reeds where bitter waters run. Exclaim'd Orlando; all that grows has All are appropriate and fen, Are only poor to undiscerning men ; [grounds But well repay th' attention they requires [take. wide And sandy road has banks on either side; When two brown boys just left their The early trav'ler with their pray'rs to [hand, Prepar'd the force of early powers to try; race ; * "The ditches of a Fen so near the Ocean are lined with irregular patches of coarse and stained laver; a muddy sediment rests on the Horse-tail, and other perennial herbs, which in part conceal the shallowness of the stream; a fat-leaved pale-flowering Scurvy-grass appears early in the year, and the razor-edged Bullrush in the summer and autumn. The Fen itself has a dark and saline herbage; there are Rushes and Arrow-head, and in a few patches the flakes of the Cotton grass are seen, but more commonly the Sea-aster, the dullest of that numerous and hardy genus; a Thrift, blue in flower, but withering and remaining withered till the winter scatters it; the Saltwort, both simple and shrubby; a few kinds of grass changed by their soil and atmosphere, and low plants of two or three denominations undistinguished in a general view of the seenery such is the vegetation of the Fen when it is at a small distance from the Ocean; and in this case there arise from it effluvia strong and peculiar, half-saline, half-putrid, which would be considered by most people as offensive, and by some as dangerous; but there are others to whom singularity of taste or association of ideas has rendered it agreeable and pleasant.” The [years, Tracing the lines of life; assum'd through Each feature now the steady falsehood [food, wears; With hard and savage eye she views the And grudging pinches their intruding brood: [sire sits Last in the groupe, the worn-out GrandNeglected, lost, and living but by fits; Useless, despis'd, his worthless labours done, And half protected by the vicious Son, Who half supports him; he with heavy glance, [him dance; Views the young ruffians who around And, by the sadness in his face, appears To trace the progress of their future years; Through what strange course of misery, [cheat; Must wildly wander each unpractis'd What shame and grief, what punishment and pain, [sustain vice, deceit, Sport of fierce passions, must each child Ere they like him approach their latter end, Without a hope, a comfort, or a friend! "But this Orlando felt not; "Rogues,' said he, [they be; Doubtless they are, but merry rogues They wander round the land, and be it true, [pursue They break the laws then let the laws The wanton idlers; for the life they live, Acquit I cannot, but I can forgive.' This said, a portion from his purse was thrown, [own. And every heart seem'd happy like his "He hurried forth, for now the town was nigh The happiest man of mortal men am I. Thou art! but change in every state is near, [may fear;) So while the wretehed hope, the blest Say where is Laura?'-"That her words must show," [know!" A lass replied; "read this and thou shalt What, gone!'-her friend in isted -fore'd to go :— [her! No?' Is vex'd, was teiz'd, could not refuse "But you can follow ;"Yes; "the miles are few, [Adieu! The way is pleasant; will you come ?— Thy Laura!" No! I feel I must resign The pleasing hope, thou hadst been here, if mine: A lady was it?-Was no Brother there? But why should I afflict me, if there were? [the way? "The way is pleasant:" What to me I cannot reach her till the close of day. My dumb companion! is it thus we speed? [freed; Not I from grief, nor thou from toil art Still art thou doom'd to travel and to pine, For my vexation-What a fate is mine!' Gore to a friend, she tells me; I commend [friend? Her purpose; means she to a female/ By Heaven, I wish she suffer'd half the pain [vain. Of hope protracted through the day in Shall I persist to see th' ungrateful Maid? Yes, I will see her, slight her and upbraid; [time, What! in the very hour? She knew the And doubtless chose it to increase her crime.' "Forth rode Orlando by a river's side, Inland and winding, smooth and full and wide, [ing tide; That roll'd majestic on, in one soft-flowThe bottom gravel, flow'ry were the banks, [ranks; Tall willows waving in their broken The road, now near, now distant, winding led By lovely meadows which the waters fed; He pass'd the way-side inn, the village spire, [mire; Nor stopp'd to gaze, to question, or adOn either side the rural mansions stood, With hedge-row trees and hills high-crown'd with wood, And many a devious stream that reach'd the nobler flood. I hate these scenes,' Orlando angry cried, [their pride: And these proud farmers! yes, I hate See! that sleek fellow, how he strides 34. An Account of Ireland, Statistical and Political. By Edward Wakefield. In 2 Vols. 4to. Longman and Co. THE large and handsome volumes before us offer a general view of the Sister-Kingdom, in a form the most satisfactory, and in a manner calculated to afford a perfect estimate of the value of Ireland to its inhabitants, and those connected with it in commerce. We naturally feel interested on perusing accounts of places which it is improbable, if not impossible, we should ever visit, from the remoteness of their situation; but it is far more natural that the subjects of any particular power should wish to be instructed, in regard to facts peculiar to their territories, which local circumstances prevent them from other wise obtaining. We could point out numerous and lasting advantages from this mode of detailing the peculiarities of soil, climate, produce, manufactures, and manners of the people, in influencing individuals as to emigration, or speculations for profit, did we not foresee our Readers would anticipate our remarks. Farther, “If we be igno rant," says Mr. Wakefield, "of the This gentleman justly thinks it the imperious duty of every friend to his country to contribute towards its strength and security, by imparting his knowledge of her resources, and stating how, in his opinion, they may be used most to the general prosperity; particularly at this unhappy period, when the distracted state of the world makes it but too probable that England must rely for years upon herself for those supplies, of various descriptions, which are necessary to support her, in a contest unexampled for duration, extent, and importance. Ireland, we are all well aware, is as essential to the safety of England as her Navy, for two obvious reasons; the products of the country, and its vicinity if in the hands of an Enemy. "Even in the time of the Romans, the possession of Ireland seems to have been considered as necessary towards securing the conquest of Brilain; and we are informed," continues Mr. W. "by a very acute and ingenious French writer (Montesquieu) that Louis XIV. when he endeavoured to reinstate James II. on the English throne, was guilty of a great political oversight, in not employing a force sufficient to secure to him that country; which, in his hands, and under the controul of France, would have enabled bim ef fectually to check the increasing power of his rival." The author, sensible that however necessary the knowledge may be of the present state of Ireland, few have acquired that knowledge, has endeavoured in this work to call the attention of the publick to its interest and energies: those Mr. W. has eagerly sought to discover, and now communicates, which he thus accounts for. In the year 1808 the House of Commons appointed a Commitee to examine into the best mode of affording relief to the West India planters; when it was suggested that sugar should be substituted for corn in the distilleries of Great Britain and Ireland. On this occasion Mr. W. was consulted, which induced him to take a much more comprehensive view of the subJect than, perhaps, he would other wise have done he conceived, in consequence," that the adoption of such a proceeding would be an encroachment on the resources for supplying the people of England, with food; and that it would violate those principles of political economy which formed the basis of that system, on which the late Mr. Pitt had acted a few years before, when the last Corn Act was introduced and carried by Mr. Western." Undoubted evidence proved that Great Britain did not produce a sufficient quantity of corn for her consumption, and that Ireland had a surplus beyond the demand for her inhabitants; it is too well-known to be repeated here, that it was determined to cause the use of sugar in distilleries, rather than to encourage the increase and improvement of til lage in Ireland. Much of the infor mation now noticed was derived from Sir William Young's "West India Common-place Book," and that work suggested the present; the idea of which being mentioned by Mr. W. to Mr. Foster, the latter gentleman concurred with him in opinion that a compilation of this nature would be highly useful, not only to Ireland, but the Empire at large; and im mediately offered all the assistance and information in his power. In this part of his Introductory remarks, Mr. W. thinks it necessary to state, that the opinions in the Account of Ireland are his own, "the unbiassed result of a patient investigation of the state of the country, from actual observation." He informed Mr. Fos ter, that if he (Mr. W.) undertook the publication of his researches, it must be unconnected with any party; and that he should consult the Duke of Bedford and the Earl of Darnley, his political opponents. Mr. Foster approved his intention; and from these Noblemen, and the Earl of Fingal, he received every aid in their power. He adds, "After mixing so much with persons of all parties and all religious persuasions in this my anxious pursuit, I have been sur prized, and I may say chagrined, to find an opinion prevailing, that this work is invariably to speak the sentiments of Mr. Foster." He wishes, therefore, to shield that gentleman from the imputation of holding opinions that may be found in the ac count of Ireland, which are at variance with those he is known to have held on other occasions. Thus Mr. Wakefield takes the whole responsibility upon himself; and even gives his authorities as he proceeds, that no part of the book may be ascribed to the wrong person. In speaking of the Union of Great Britain and Ireland, Mr. W. does himself great honour; and we are well convinced no true friend of either country will fail to applaud his sentiments. He declares himself aware that it is popular to decry the Act of Union in Ireland, and to ascribe to Great Britain every evil suffered in that country; but being no man's parasite, nor in the least desirous to obtain that most unstable of all earthly possessions, popular favour," he begs leave to dissent from such doctrines, and to leave the hateful task to those splenetic writers, who do not hesitate to gratify their particular feelings cular feelings" at the expence of public tranquillity, to destroy, if they be so disposed, the rising germs of the future happiness of her inhabi tants. Connexion with Great Britain union inseparable union - the being one and the same empire-one and the same people-to have the same interests throwing the broad parental shield of the British monarchy over the farthermost parts of Ireland, and over the meanest of her inhabitants, can alone promote the general and individual welfare of both countries." It is generally admitted that no nation excels the Irish in bravery and generous enterprize; yet it is equally well known that the popula tion of Ireland is not sufficiently numerous to defend their coasts from a powerful enemy. The proximity of England, and the long-existing friendship and alliance of families, renders the latter the natural protector of the former; and while their efforts are directed to one point, the union of interest, and self-preservation, they must be invincible. In the Agricultural portion of this arduous undertaking the Author felt bimself secure in bis own strength, as his attention had been, for many years, directed to the value and management of land in various counties of |