tracted by enactments and rules, conferring upon bills extraordinary privileges, and, under certain circumstances, rendering them invalid, or operating their extinction; while the questions which arise out of bill-transactions occasionally become involved with others; so that the law of bills has often to be considered with reference to other laws of the same country. While, therefore, the present work instructs the young merchant and banker in the whole science of bills, as understood and acted upon by the commercial world, to the more experienced it explains what is the law in relation to them, under every combination of circumstances which has hitherto occurred; and puts him on his guard against the consequences of acts of omission, whether proceeding from negligence or ignorance. In truth, no countingroom should be without it. We cannot conclude without noticing, with a feeling of pride, the superiority which the Scotch law of bills, in one respect, possesses over that of other countries. We allude to the facility with which payment may be enforced by the holder, simply by recording the protest, within a given time, and suing out the necessary writ,-thus avoiding all the expense and plaguery of an action at law. The Acts which first authorised this summary proceeding, and, by so doing, struck the severest blow ever aimed at the tediousness of litigation, were passed in the reign of Charles the Second; at which era in our history, it does not appear that the Perthshire Freeholders overshadowed, as they now do, the whole of Scotland with their mighty importance, or acted the dignified part of "My Public" to the Lord Advocate, whenever he had an abuse to defend, or a reform to oppose *. Those Acts were passed, in the most piping times of legitimacy, without any opposition, for the inestimable value of the law's delay had not then become part of a political creed; and but for the simplicity which they introduced into the recovery of commercial debts, it is impossible that Scotland, with the cumbrous forms of her Courts of Law, could have advanced a single step in improvement. Of such advantage is this simplicity, that we would earnestly recommend to our friends, who have a reasonable dread of being scratched and torn into raggedness, and a distaste of life, by the thorns and briars which beset the avenues of law, to wind up all their transactions in which they happen to stand creditor, by bills or promissory notes. • We observe that this corporate body has been put in motion to oppose the improvements suggested by the Scots Law Commission,-improvements which, it is said, "threaten the liberties of Scotland." As was said of the virtue of Mrs Deborah, in Tom Jones, the patriotic zeal of the "good men and true" of Perthshire is like the valour of the train-bands-most rampant when there is the least danger. Out of the profession and the Perthshire Roll, there is not one man in fifty who would think the national liberties the less secure, or feel the least regret, were the whole courts in the kingdom radically remodelled. After all, however," where there is shame there may yet be virtue," as Dr Johnston observes; and the late turn-out is so far creditable to Perthshire. At one time, danger to the liberties of Scotland would have drawn together all her chivalry to repel it; but on this occasion, though the fiery cross was sped from freeholder to freeholder,—though secure in the panoply of their own insignificance from popular groans, and even paper pellets, only ten out of the whole body could be brought to assemble. The silence in which their cry of danger to the public liberty has been listened to by the rest of Scotland, is truly edifying. The tale of the cry of "Wolf!" conveys not half so good a moral. The junta who did assemble and resolve, are precisely the sort of men who would exclaim against the presumption of popular bodies discussing subjects above their capacity; but it does not appear to have occurred to them, that it was a little presumptuous on their part to oppose their opinion, in a question respecting the forms of judicial proceedings, to the judgment of the first lawyers in the two kingdoms. Sonnets. WRITTEN AFTER SEEING HAYDON'S PICTURE, "THE RAISING OF LAZARUS." Lo! where, in conscious pow'r sublime And, lo! forth from his rock-bound tomb, Obedient to th' omnific word, Lazarus comes! give him to see, To know, and to confess his Lord. Appaling form! save in that hand Eager to tear the veil away, No,-all is fix'd and deathy clse, As if in the uncertain strife, No other hold had yet been won, And death were victor still o'er life: But soon to yield for see, where near Ah! give him to her fond caresses. Lo they, too! Mary, joy to thee, Wake from despair's deep trance and look! WRITTEN IN A BLANK LEAF OF "THE MORNING AND EVENING SACRIFICE." Presented to a Young Lady. WORKS PREPARING FOR PUBLICATION. LONDON. The History and Antiquities of the Ward of Bishopsgate, by Samuel Bur gess, jun. is preparing for the press. In the ensuing month, Mr G. Carey will publish a new edition of "Every Man his own Stock-Broker," considerably enlarged, including the Foreign Funds as well as our own. The Rev. W. Eastmead has nearly ready for publication, a Memoir of the Hyæna's Den, lately discovered at Kirkdale, near Kirby-Moorside; with a History of the latter place, and its vicinity, to the distance of fifteen miles. A Journal of the Sieges of the Madras Army, in the years 1817, 1818, and 1819, is nearly ready for publication, with Observations on the System according to which such Operations have usually been con ducted in India, and a statement of the improvements that appear necessary. By Edward Lake, Ensign in the Company's Madras Engineers; accompanied by an Atlas of Explanatory Plates. Early in the ensuing winter will be published, a Description of the Island of Madeira, by the late F. Edward Bowdich, Esq., Conductor of the Mission to Ashantee to which are added, a Narrative of Mr Bowdich's last Voyage to Africa, terminating at his death; Remarks on the Cape de Verd Islands; and a Description of English Settlements on the River Gambia. By Mrs Bowdich. A very imperfect work on Bibliography having appeared within the month, whose chief object is to recommend obsolete and black-letter books, the public are advised, that a full and perfect Catalogue Raisonnée of English Literature, or a guide to students and libraries in the purchase of the best books, which has long been in preparation, will be published in the ensuing winter, at a very moderate price. Dr Uwins is preparing a Compendium of Medical Theory and Practice, founded on Dr Cullen's Nosology, which will be given as a Text-Book, and a translation annexed. To which will be prefixed, a brief Dissertation on the nature and objects of Nosology; with a succinct account of the treatment of each disorder, an estimate of modern improvements in pathology, and an enumeration of the best authors for the student of medicine to consult. Mr E. A. Crouch is about to publish Illustrations of Conchology, according to VOL. YV. the system of Lamarck, in a series of Twenty Engravings, on royal 4to., each plate containing many specimens. The new volume of the Annual Biography and Obituary (the ninth) is in preparation, and the friends of those eminent persons whose decease has occurred in the present year, are requested to forward communications without delay. Mrs Frances Parkes is about to present the female world with a little work entitled "Domestic Duties," conveying instructions to young married ladies on the management of their household, and the regulation of their conduct in the various relations and duties of married life. Amongst the novelties in preparation for the approaching literary season, is an additional volume of Letters, by Anna Seward; developing the progress of an early attachment, disclosing her more private opinions on various subjects, and embracing numerous anecdotes of her contemporaries; to which will be prefixed, an Essay on Miss Seward's Life and Literary Character. By Mr Harral. The work will be further illustrated by Notes, a Portrait of Miss Seward, a fac simile of her hand-writing, &c. Early in the ensuing winter will appear, Amaldo, or the Evil Chalice, and other Poems; by the author of " Lyrical Poems," "The Siege of Zaragoza,' "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage to the Dead Sea," &c. 19 Mr Fisbroke, Resident Surgeon at Cheltenham, is about to publish some observations on the treatment of Deafness, on improved principles, illustrated by one case of twenty years, and others of long standing, successfully treated. In the press, and speedily will be published, Death-Bed Scenes, or the Christian's Companion on entering the Dark Valley; by the author of the Evangelical Rambler. Shortly will be published, in a neat pocket volume, the History of Origins, forming a collection of antiquities, important historical facts, singular customs, political and social institutions, and national peculiarities, combining a copious fund of amusement and instruction. In a few days will be published "Commentaries on the Diseases of the Stomach and Bowels of Children. By Robley Danglison, M.D., &c. &c. In the press, "Lasting Impressions,” a Novel, by Mrs Joanna Carey. Y y EDINBURGH. Preparing for publication, Claims of the late Patrick Miller, Esq. of Dalswinton, as Inventor of the Steam-Boat, vindicated. By William Miller, late Major in the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards. An Account of the Life and Writings of Dr William Cullen, and also an Edition of his Physiology, and of his First Lines of the Practice of Physic; to which will be added various original papers, taken from the unpublished Manuscripts of that Author. An Historical sketch of the Town of Hawick, and its vicinity, including a number of Circumstances and Anecdotes, illustrative of the manners and Character of the Inhabitants, with occasional observations. By a Trader in the Town. In the press, and speedily will be published, with embellishments, in one volume, large Svo., Saint Baldred of the Bass, a Pictish Legend; the Siege of Berwick, a Tragedy; and other Poems and Ballads, descriptive of East Lothian and Berwickshire. By James Miller. MONTHLY LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. LONDON. ARCHITECTURE. Observations on the rebuilding of London Bridge. By John Seward, Esq. 8vo. 12s. BIBLIOGRAPHY. The Library Companion; or, the Young Man's Guide and Old Man's Comfort in the Choice of a Library. By the Rev. T. F. Dibdin. 8vo. £17s. Watts' Bibliotheca Britannica complete, in 11 Parts. £.1111s. BIOGRAPHY. Marshall's Royal Naval Biography. Vol. II. Part I. 8vo. 15s. Memoirs of the Rev. Thomas Halyburton. 12mo. 4s. Self-Advancement, or Extraordinary Transitions from Obscurity to Greatness; exemplified in the lives and history of Eminent Men. 7s. 6d. Memoirs of the Life and Writings of the late Rev. 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