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Literary Intelligence.

LONDON

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INTELLIGENCE IN LITERATURE, AND THE ARTS AND SCIENCES.

Miss HOLCROFT's novel, Fortitude and Frailty, will appear in a few weeks.

Dr. BURROWES, of Gower-street, is preparing for publication, Commentaries on Mental Derangement.

The PASTOR'S FIRESIDE, by Miss PORTER, author of Thaddeus of Warsaw and Scottish Chiefs may be expected in a few days.

A new and enlarged edition may be expected, in a few days of the Letters and other works of Lady Mary Wortley Montague, in 5 vols.

Mr. Walker, of Dublin, has nearly ready for publication, Selections from Lucian, with a Latin translation and English notes; to which will be subjoined a mythological Index and Lexicon.

A novel called Ponsonby, will appear in a few weeks.

Shortly will be published, a work of fancy, entitled Half-a-dozen Day Dreams; intended to illustrate the connexion of imagination with character.

Two works in Biography have lately been published in London, The Private Correspondence of Dr. Franklin, and the Memoirs of Sheridan. The value of the first of these works is undeniable; and it is pleasant at this time of day to contemplate the acknowledged superiority of a man who acted a part so honourable to the cause of general freedom, though partially injurious to the country which pays the homage, and which is therefore doubly honourable for paying it. These letters (which, by-the-bye, are published at a price much too high in relation to quantity,) exhibit Franklin to great advantage; as an individual uniting, in an eminent degree, philosophical specula tion with practical ability.

The Memoirs of Sheridan appear from two quarters; one of them is edited by ‘a Constitutional Friend, and comprises his speeches. The other has been compiled by Dr. Watkins, and presents a curious specimen of book making ingenuity, being advertised as a complete work, and yet ending with an announcement of another volume of the same size.

A Life of Raphael has also been given to the world; it appears judicious and faithful; but possibly, at this time of day, should have been written by one who could exclaim, with respect to Raphael, as Corregio did, “I also am a painter."

A new and elaborate attempt has been made to prove that SIR PHILIP FRANCIS wrote the Letters of Junius. We conceive that that gentleman set the question at rest by his Letter to the Editor of the Monthly Magazine; but, if any doubt should remain, no better evidence could be adduced than Sir Philip's Letter Missive to Lord Holland, published in the summer, which, though able and interesting, is as unlike Juuius as Clarendon is unlike Blair. These investigations lead, however, to the developement of much curious anecdote, and in that sense the new enquiry merits attention; but, in comparing the pretensions even of De Lolme, as so ingeniously asserted by Dr. Bus

by, we confess we think the balance of arguments, in regard to these two persons, to be against the hypothesis which ascribes them to Sir Philip Francis.---Month. Mag.

In Medicine, or rather Physiology, the pubdon for a work entitled, Observations on the lic is indebted to the sound science of Dr. GorStructure of the Brain, comprising an estimate of the Claims of Drs. Gall and Spurzheim to discovery in the Anatomy of that Organ; which seems likely to put an end to that illconcocted mass of fact and inference known by the term---Craniology; at least as far as taking away the support of loose and inaccurate experiment on the brain can effect it. It is strange how such a jumble of physics and metaphysics can have been sustained on the surface so long.

Under the head of Travels may be noticed, Legh's Travels beyond the Cataracts of the Nile,--a work of considerable interest; and Memoirs of a late Residence in France, written by a professional gentleman.

Lord Byron has indulged the poetical world with a small collection of minor effusions, published under the title of The Prisoner of Chillon, and other Poems. It is to be regretted that they have come out under such a designation, as it led the public to expect an elaborate effort in the Prisoner of Chillon; whereas it is a mere fragment, and by no means either so good or so interesting as some of its companions. Neither had it any direct connexion with the celebrated Castle of Chillon, on the Margin of the Lake of Geneva, from which it is called, being, in fact little more than a rhapsodical description of the effect of merciless captivity in a dungeon on three youthful brothers,suppo sed to be confined therein on a religious account, at the era of the Reformation. The most beautiful of the other poems, is an Incantation, and the most curious of them, a nondescript, in written some years ago for a Witch Drama; blank verse, intitled, the Dream, which is allusive, from beginning to end, to his lordship's first amatory attachment, and the fate of the object of it and himself in marriage.

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The author of Waverley, Guy Mannering, furnished the readers for amusement with anoand the Antiquary, for it is certainly he----bas ther work, entitled, Tales of my Landlord,' which, though extending to four volumes, contains two tales only. The second of these, which takes up three quarters of the work, possesses merit of a very high order, and affords an admirable lesson to bigots of opposing sects, by shewing the existence of a persecuting spirit in every extreme, and its horrible accordance with the dictates of a perverted conscience. The opposing pictures of oppression, and cold-blooded cruelty on the part of the episcopalian leaders of Scotland, under Lauderdale, during the latter part of the reign of Charles II. and its operation on a spirit of fiery and intolerant zeal in the Presbyterians and Cameronians, with the consequent excesses on each side, are painted with great force and genius. These are a kind of fiction which really aid the study of history, and, as such, may be perused with general benefit

SIR,

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

renders the ideas in some degree his own. AMONG the causes which have tend- A spirit of investigation is excited, and a ed to enlarge the boundaries of stimulus is given to intellectual exertion, science, and promote the general diffu- in order to appear before the public with sion of knowledge, the rapid circulation credit. of periodical publications claims a distinguished rank. Every department of the arts and sciences is indebted to this source for the discovery and promulgation of valuable facts, and the detection and correction of numerous errors. The peculiar advantages the periodical press possesses over other vehicles of intelligence, and which prove its claims on public patronage, are—

2d. The more extensive circulation that a person may obtain for his sentiments, by inserting them in a periodical work, than he could easily obtain by any other medium, has been justly noticed by Dr. Johnson :-" As long as those who write are ambitious of making converts, and of giving their opinions a maximum of influence and celebrity, the most extensively circulated miscellany will repay, with the greatest effect, the curiosity of those who read, whether it be for amusement or for instruction." A third instance is in its allowing a correspondent to express himself with energetic brevity: he is not tempted to spin out his arguments, and dilute his ideas with a tedious circumlocution, in order "to make a book;"-a fault frequently, and with too much justice, complained of in monographic publications.

1st. The superior facility it affords a writer to communicate his thoughts to the world; an opportunity is thus given to individuals to make known their discoveries, and to offer their observations, which otherwise must inevitably have remained latent. It is not the reader only who is thus benefitted, but the powers of the writer are called forth; and, to correct his ideas, and to embellish his communication, he is induced to refer to books, which might have been The validity of these remarks is now neglected, or, if opened, read in a cursory sufficiently acknowledged, and the inmanner, without reflection: he now stu- creased number of periodical journals is dies their contents, and, examining the commensurate with the improvement of arguments of the author with attention, the times, and proves that their utility is Eng. Mag. Vol. I.

G

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Tales of My Landlord.

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It has been urged that periodical works too often contain the undigested

duly appreciated and encouraged by an may be justly assigned the considerable enlightened and discerning public. The increase in the population of this kingmotion of literature is constantly pro- dom during a period when a war, unpagressive; and many of the valuable addi- ralleled in sanguinary destruction hutions, daily augmenting its stores, are man life, made incessant demands on its brought into light by the various works most efficient inhabitants. of this nature. Who will deny that the present advanced state of chemistry has been greatly owing to this source. In observations of inexperienced writers. medicine, the complete renovation that In a great variety of correspondents, has taken place may be greatly attri- there must inevitably and necessarily be buted to the same cause. By this different gradations of merit; but of its powerful literary engine, the vague theo- injustice, as a general maxim, the pages ries and absurd hypotheses of the an- of every Magazine, will bear satisfactory cients have been overturned, and the and decisive proof. science of medicine, enriched by an in- It is not in the arts and sciences alone valuable mass of practical information, that the advantages of a periodical press. has been constructed on rational and are perceptible-but in political and ciconsistent principles. Although it does vil affairs its effects are equally benefinot seem to have entered into the cal- cial; it keeps a check on the conduct of culations of statistical writers, I think the ruling authorities, and, by preventing that to the advancement of medicine as the tyrannical exercise of power, nd the a science, and the greater superiority of intolerant principles of religious persethe modern Esculapii, together with the cution, becomes the guardian of the more general practice of vaccination, common weal.

"TALES OF MY LANDLORD."

By the Author of Waverley, Guy Mannering, and the Antiquary.

Continued from p. 8.

twice, and discharging first one of his

HENRY MORTON returns to his pistols, and then the other, rid himself of

native country with the Prince of the one pursuer by mortally wounding Orange, and discovers the retreat of Bal- him, and of the other by shooting his four, who had taken refuge in the fastnes- horse, and then continued his flight to ses of the Highlands, and who afterwards Bothwell bridge, where, for his misforbreaks from his retreat to prosecute re- tune, he found the gates shut and guardvenge against Lord Evandale, who had ed. Turning from thence, he made for been a successful opponent of the Cove- a place where the river seemed passable, nanters he is shot by Balfour, who is pursued by some troopers to a river, into which he plunges on horseback: The description of his death is very powerful, and well suited to the character and temper of the man.

and plunged into the stream, the bullets from the pistols and carabines of his pursuers whirring around him. Two balls took place when he was past the middle of the stream, and he felt himself dangerously wounded. He reined his horse "A hasty call to surrender in the name round in the midst of the river, and reof God and King William, was obeyed turned towards the bank he had left, by all except Burley, who turned his waving his hand, as if with the purpose horse, and attempted to escape. Several of intimating that he surrendered. The soldiers pursued hi command of troopers ceased firing at him accordingly, their officer, but ben well mounted, and awaited his return, two of them ridonly the two head most seemed likely to ing a little way into the river to seize gain on him. He turned deliberately and disarm him. But it presently ap