the twenty others are of antique beauty, the most overpowering, and, in our opinion, surpass even the most beautiful English women. English beauty seems avaricious, without soul and life, beside the divine eyes which Heaven has given to Italy.

The form of the bones in the hand is ugly at Paris; it approximates to that of the monkey, and it prevents the women from resisting the attacks of age. The three most beautiful women of Rome are certainly more than 45. Paris is farther north; and yet such a miracle was never yet observed there. I observed to the Russian general, that Paris and Champagne were the parts of France where the configuration of the head partakes least of beauty. The women of Pays de Caux, (in Normandy,) and of Arles, (in Provence,) approximate more to the beautiful forms of Italy. Here and there is always some grand feature, even in the heads of the most decidedly ugly. Some idea may be formed of this, from the heads of the old women of Lionardo da Vinci, and of Raphael. Pose

As to male beauty, after the Italians, we give the preference to young Englishmen, when they escape clumsiness.

A young Italian peasant that happens to be ugly, is frightful; the French peasant is silly; and the English is vulgar.

THE ARCTIC THE discovery of a new colony on the northern shores of Baffin's Bay, has given rise to a variety of speculative opinions. The information we shall obtain from the work which is promised from the pen of Captain Ross will be most important. In the mean time, a few observations, founded upon a conversation with several of the persons who accompanied the expedition, may not be uninteresting. It is quite clear, that upon a part of the northern coast of the Bay, which there was no previous reason to suppose was inhabited, seven or eight persons were seen and conversed with. The intercourse was carried on through the medium of John Sackehouse, an Esquimaux, who accompanied the ships through the whole of their voyage. This John Sackehouse is described by all the persons on board, to have proved himself, during the voyage, an enterprising and intelligent man. His own history is eventful, having been found far at sea, in his canoe, driven out by the wind, and unless he had providentially been picked up by one of our ships, he must have perished. We have seen some of the

AFFECTING,

[Jan. 1,

BUT UNCONSCIOUS RBPROOF OF A CHILD TO HIS MOTHER.

Lady Strathmore, who broke her first husband's heart by the violence of her temper and her want of feeling-a conduct which her second spouse, Mr. Bowes, punished by nearly breaking her bones through a more manual exercise of qualities similar to her ownlavished all the affection with which nature had endowed her, on a large black cat. This animal was her bosom friend, her constant companion, the object of all her caresses, and a never-failing guest at her ladyship's breakfast, dinner, tea, and supper-table; where, when en famille, it was not only served first, but served of the best and rarest dainties, in preference to her child. It happened one day, when she had bestowed even. more than her usual fond attention on Grimalkin, that her son, a strikingly fine boy, sighed deeply, and sorrowfully fixing his eyes on the dingy favourite, exclaimed, in a voice pathetically impressive, "O! how I wish I were a black cat!""A black cat!" every one reiterated-" What can you mean, my dear boy, by so strange a wish?"-" Because," replied the child," my mother. would then love me!"

Guess the feelings of the company at a reply so full of affection and simplicity. They could not at the time be expressed, by those who composed it, nor can words be found to do so now.

EXPEDITION.

pictures drawn by Sackehouse, as a representation of his first interview with these newly-discovered inhabitants of the northern regions, and they described, perhaps better than he could do, in words, the meeting as it took place. The natives are shewn in their sledges, drawn by four dogs. Sackehouse himself is depicted on the ice, setting up a pole with a flag upon it, to which were attached some beads and other trifles, intended as conciliatory presents. The dress of the natives consisted of a skin, covering the body as far as the loins, and breeches of the same material, fastened so as to meet the body covering. A small space (through which the flesh is seen) is observed in all the figures at this part, where the upper and lower coverings meet, arising from their imperfect mode of attaching them to each other. In these drawings, the astonishment of the natives, upon examining the different parts of the vessel, is very characteristically depicted. One of them is viewing the anchor, another the mast; and the countenances very faithfully describe the surprise occasioned by these new objects of vision. In

ར་་་

1819.]

527

inserted. These appear to have been beaten flat with stones; and, as they present an irregular serrated edge, it should rather be called a saw than a knife. The bone handle smells insufferably strong of rancid oil, from the saturated state in which it has been used, and every common means to discharge this taint has been unsuccessfully attempted. We have likewise seen one of their spears. It consists of several pieces of the horn of the sea unicorn, tied together with thongs of skin; about one-third from the end is a stop for the thumb to press against in throwing it. This, like the knife, is of the most rude contrivance. It is not even straight in its form, but is curvilinear. This partakes of the same offensive smell as the knifehandle. Their principal food consists of birds, of which, it appears, the number is astonishing. These they eat raw. The flesh of seals, and of the sea-unicorn, is also a part of their nourishment. Unlike the Esquimaux on the coast of America, they have no canoes, nor did they seem to know the use of vessels of any description; and if they do form a distinct, separate nation from the rest of the world, they are probably the most uncivilized of the earth's inhabitants. On board the discovery vessels were several dogs, apparently of the Danish breed: rough,wiry hair, fox face, and brushy tail, being the principal characteristics. They do not bark, nor in common make any particular noise. The only dog which Captain Ross obtained from the natives is stated to have been lost overboard in a gale of wind, off Cape Farewell; but, from the description given of it, it was not unlike (though larger in size) the dogs which were brought from the coast of a more southern latitude. In one of the drawings beforementioned, John Sackehouse, the Esquimaux, is represented with his arm in a sling, and upon asking the cause, he said it was done by the concussion of a fowling-piece,a which he had loaded upon the principle of "the more fillee more shootee:" by the L blow his collar-bone was broken. He had never learnt to draw when he put to paper the subjects he has depicted; but his representation has probably a more faithful re semblance to the scene he describes, from its very rudeness, than the more finished drawings of our officers would possess.

questioning Sackehouse upon some points of the interview, he states the natives to have appeared docile, and ready to give such information as he was desirous of obtaining from them. His language was sufficiently analogous to theirs, to allow of keeping up a conversation with them. He inquired, amongst other matters, as to the number of their nation; but they seem either to have no idea of numbers, or, what is more probable, no corresponding term by which they could reply to the enquiry. Their general conduct gave reason to suppose that they had, like their more fortunate discoverers, fixed principles of social conduct. When chips were thrown over the vessel's side upon the ice, each collected as much as he could, but no one appeared to infringe upon the bundle of another. He who had gathered any little stock, seemed to be recognized as the proprietor, although he left it to proceed in his further collection. It is not very astonishing that they endeavoured to appropriate some of the objects of wonder which they saw about the vessels, but their very mode of attempting to pilfer was a proof that they had not acquired dexterity by practice. In a few instances they took articles from the ship with a view to purloining them; but they were necessarily unsuccessful, for they did not understand concealment, some part of the pilfered property being always left uncovered, and in sight. The circumstance which excited the most attention on the part of the discoverers, was the finding in the possession of the natives, knives, the blade part of which was of iron. They had already ascertained that wood was unknown to these newly-found beings, and that the only fuel which they had, if fuel it could be called, was a species of moss-and the use made of this moss seemed to be confined to the dipping it in oil, and burning it as a torch, or candle. Through the medium of Sackehouse, however, it was dis covered, that two blocks of iron, in its pure state, situated at no great distance from the shore, were known to the natives; and that, for making their knives, they hammered off pieces of it by means of heavy stones. One of these knives we have seen. It was formed of a piece of bone, about six or seven inches long; the upper part, to which the iron is attached, being grooved. In this groove, several irregular shaped pieces of iron are

LXXXIII. An Act to amend and reduce into one Act, the several Laws relating to the manner in which the East India Company are required to hire ships.-June 5.

4337

LXXXIV. An Act to remove doubts as to the validity of certain Marriages had and solemnized within the British Territories in India.-June 5.

LXXXV. An Act to carry into ex.

"

ecution a convention made between his Majesty the King of Portugal, for the preventing traffic in Slaves.-June 5, LXXXVI. An Act for raising the sum of eleven millions six hundred thousand pounds by Exchequer Bills, for the service of the year 1818.-June 5. LXXXVII. An Act for raising the sum of eight hundred thousand pounds by Treasury Bills in Ireland, for the service of the year 1818.-June 5.

LXXXVIII. An Act to amend two Acts made in the last Sessions of Parliament, for authorizing the issue of Exchequer Bills, and the advance of money for carrying on public works and fisheries and employment of the Poor, and to extend the Powers of the Commissioners appointed for carrying the said Acts into Execution in Ireland.-June 5.

LXXXIX. An Act to repeal so much of an Act passed in the Forty-third year of his present Majesty, as requires the attendance of Magistrates on board vessels carrying Passengers from the United Kingdom to his Majesty's Plantations, or to Foreign Parts.-June 5.

XC. An Act to alter and amend certain of the Provisions of an Act passed in the Fifty-first year of his Majesty's reign, intitled, an Act to Provide for the Administration of the Royal Authority, and for the Care of his Majesty's Royal Person during the continuance of his Majesty's illness, and for the resumption of the exercise of the Royal Authority by his Majesty.

June 5.

[Jan. 1,

In case of the demise of his Majesty, or of the Regent, subsequent to the Dissolution or Expiration of a Parliament and before the Day appointed for the Meeting of the new Parliament, the writs of summons shall be superseded and discharged.-37 G. 3. c. 127-51 G. 3. c. 1.

Not to affect the provisions of any other Act providing for the Meeting of Parlia ment.

XCI. An Act to appoint Commissioners to inquire concerning Charities in England for Education of the Poor.June 10.

XCII. An Act to consolidate and amend the Provisions of several Acts, passed in the Fifty-first and Fifty-second years, respectively in the reign of his present Majesty, for enabling Wives and Families of Soldiers to return to their Homes.-June 10.

XCIII. An Act to afford relief to the bona fide Holders of Negociable Securities without Notice, that they were given for a usurious consideration. - June 10.

XCIV. An Act to continue until the Twenty-ninth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, and to amend an Act passed in Ireland in the Thirty-sixth year of his present Majesty, for the improvement and extension of the Fisheries on the Coasts of Ireland-June 10.

XCV. An Act to regulate the Election of Coroners for Counties.-June 10.

XCVI. An Act to continue for the term of two years, and until the end of the Sessions of Parliament in which that term shall expire, if Parliament shall be then Sitting, an Act of the Fifty-sixth year of his present Majesty, for establishing regulations respecting Aliens arriving in or resident in this Kingdom in certain cases.- - June 10.

XCVII. An Act to prevent Aliens until the Twenty-fifth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, from becoming Naturalized, or being made or becoming Denziens, except in certain cases.-June 10.

XCVIII. An Act to explain and amend an Act passed in the Fifty-first year of his Majesty's reign, for rendering more effectual an Act made in the Forty-seventh year of his Majesty's reign, for the Abolition of the Slave Trade.-June 10.

XCIX. An Act for altering and amending an Act made in the Fiftyfifth year of his present Majesty, to amend an Act made in the Forty-eighth

Florence Macarthy: an Irish Tale, by Lady MORGAN, Author of " France," "O'Donnell, &c."

WE sat down to the perusal of these volumes with our "expectation wound to the highest pitch." The intrinsic merits of Lady Morgan's productions, added to the merciless revilings with which she has been assailed by certain celebrated journalists of the day, for the freedom of her political sentiments, have procured for her a degree of popularity, seldom, if ever equalled, under circumstances similarly discouraging. We should be among the last to deprecate fair criticism, how ever severe in its application, more especially at a time when the extreme licentiousness of the press requires the "iron mace" to keep it within due limits; but we do protest, and that most positively, against the coarse invectives, the scurrilous generality, which, in the form of strictures on her writings, were directed against Lady Morgan on the publication of "France." As for the political opinious which she has occasionally, and, we think, very unnecessarily, obtruded upon the attention of her readers, though they are such as we consider entitled to our decided reprehension, still we do not see how they can justify the unqualified depreciation of her literary character, since it is surely possible to entertain extravagant notions on one subject, and yet be eminently deserving of commendation for clearness of perception on others. Lady Morgan was not of a disposition likely to remain silent, whilst any question, which appeared to concern the interest of her country, was pending. Her views, however, on the state of political affairs, both in England and in the sister kingdom, have been taken for the most part, through the exaggerated medium of a lofty, but misplaced enthusiasm-a feeling, of which, whatever may be our dislike to its reNEW MONTHLY MAG.-No. 60.

sults, we certainly revere in the general principle;

"As sunlight broken on the rill, Tho' turn'd astray, is sunlight still."

But we cannot prevail upon ourselves to pass a sweeping sentence of condemnation on authors, for the venial crime of differing with us in their ideas of patriotism; though we may feel it our duty to expose the fallacy of such of their arguments as seem likely to prove prejudicial to society. We may appear singular, but the poetry of Lord Byron and Mr. Moore does not sink in our estimation because those illustrious individuals have chosen to exhibit a party spirit entirely inconsistent with our conceptions either of propriety or decency; nor has the "Paradise Lost" of the immortal Milton less claims upon our interest and admiration, because the principles of its high-souled writer were strongly tinctured with republicanism.

Had such been the impressions of Lady Morgan's ungentle reviewers, they might have spared themselves the mortification of seeing their efforts, to destroy her literary fame, turn to no better account, than that of bringing her into infinitely greater request than was the case before they honoured her with such marked distinction: for it is a notorious fact, that the very writings and opinions to which they professed themselves so hostilely opposed, they have, by the overcharged vehemence of their censure, been particularly instrumental in introducing to the notice of the public; who doubtless considered, that a book which could combine "all the ter rific, heterogeneous, qualities imputed to France, and yet be read, must be very odd and extraordinary, pour le moins." Not content with taking her critics stepping-stones to popularity, Lady Morgan has sought a still further revenge, and, if report says true, has VOL. X.

3 Y

530

THY

We are not sufficiently acquainted "with the parties, to be aware how far the portraits in FLORENCE MACARare accurate resemblances; but this much we can take upon ourselves to affirm, that they are executed in so masterly a manner, that considering them merely as fancy pieces, they cannot fail to excite the admiration of the connoisseur. The story is quite as intricate and mysterious as the most romantic novel reader could wish, though, from the magic-lanthorn-like effect with which some of the personages are pushed upon the view, it is not altogether as perspicuous as it might have been. The author appears to have devoted her time too exclusively to finishing off particular groupes and scenes, and to have neglected, in some measure, the valida junctura of her narrative, for the purpose of rendering the members themselves more than commonly attractive. This is an omission which we shall not visit with a very heavy share of our disapprobation; for, as "Mr. Terence Oge O'Leary" would have observed, "Sure, 1. and ar'nt we gainers by the loss?"Combination in a work of fiction is, we think, of minor importance, compared with the management of its successive incidents; and though it is a grace which ought always to be aimed at as much as possible, we had rather a book should be deficient in this point than any other; for the same reason, proba bly, that we would sooner listen to the impassioned tones of Miss O'Neil in the undecorated barn of a strolling comFupany, than give our attention to a peret former of inferior merits on the boards * of the most splendid theatre in the me-tropolis. We shall now, by a brief detail of the plot, and one or two extracts, enable our readers to form some judgment for themselves as to the merits of Lady Morgan's Irish Tale." ang

Early in the nineteenth century, in an autumnal month, a light-built Spanish cor

[Jan. 1,

vette, with all her canvass crowded, rode gallantly into the Bay of Dublin. She had been originally destined to a southern port of Ireland, but was driven up the Channel by stress of weather; and sustained so much injury in her unequal contest with the elements, that it was necessary she should uncoasting voyage. On board of Il Librador dergo repair before she proceeded on her (for by that name the vessel was designated?) were two gentlemen, previously acquainted with each other; the one, a renowned Guerilla chieftain from among the South American Independents,who was also commander and proprietor of "The Liberator;" and the other, a young Englishman, calling himself De Vere; of whom it would have been difficult to have decided, whether he was more fop, philosopher, dandy, or poet, eccentricities of each in his composition. as he seemed to have an equal share of the Arrived at Dublin-their progress to which place, from the pier, is described with infinite humour and fidelity-the two strangers agree to travel together as far as Buttevant, and refuse the proposition of an old lady with a red nose and green spectacles, named Magillicuddy, who offers to take a third of their chaise. To their very great annoyance, however, they frequently encounter this disagreeable person on the the insult implied in their rejection of her. road, who seems on no occasion to forget They contrive to while away their time with conversations on the miserable and degraded state of the "Emerald Isle," without encountering any adventure worth mentioning till they reach the southern part of the country, where the Commodore, who is known to his compagnon de voyage by no other appellation, wishes to become the purchaser of a seat advertised for sale, entitled Court Fitzadelm; and for that purpose calls upon the agent, Darby Crawley, an attorney, who with his brothers and sons are represented as having attained to wealth and power by the most servile devotion to government, and the vilest oppression of the people. Mr. Crawley, senior, happened

to be from home when the Commodore

paid his first visit, and he was accordingly invited to meet him at dinner the same day, at his house, Mount Crawley, by a fantwinkling spinster of 50, who was sister to the attorney, and who had other objects in view besides that of fixing a customer for Court Fitzadelm. The conversation which takes place previous to the arrival of the stranger, presents an admirable speci men of the comic powers of Lady Morgan:

"The commissioner (a brother) observing that no verbal announce of dinner followed the sum mous of the bell, turned to Mr. Crawley impatiently, and asked,

"What do we wait for?-Do you expect any oue to dinner, Darby?"

"Not a Christian," returned Mr. Crawley. “Thady, dear, give the bell a touch, and bid them dish."