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while his views have been invariably directed to the improvement of the extraordinary race of men amongst whom his youth has been passed,

Travels in the Interior of Southern Africa. By W. J. Burchell, esq. Vol. II. 4l. 14s. 6d.

Travels through the United States and Canada in 1818 and 1819. By J. M. Duncan, A.B. In 2 vols. 8vo. 16s.

Travels into Chile over the Andes, in the years 1820 and 1821, &c. By Peter Schmidtmeyer. 4to. 21. 2s.

FOREIGN PUBLICATIONS.

L'Exalté; ou l'Histoire de Desodry sous l'Ancien Régime, pendant la Révolution, et sous l'Empire. Par L. B. Picard. 4 vols. (The Exalté; or Adventures of Desodry under the Old Regime, during the Revolution, and under the Imperial Government. By L. B. Picard.)

M. Picard, who towards the close of the last year gave to the world, in conjunction with M. Droz, a novel called Jaques Fauvel, has now ventured to brave alone, the award of gods and men, and come forward with a new novel under the title of Desodry, or l'Exalté. The plan of this last work is similar to that of his former one: he takes up his hero in his boyish days, and accom. panies him through the various and many-coloured scenes of his life, till he deposits him in his grave. Desodry, the hero of the tale, is the nephew of a M. Lecoq, an honest, jovial, semi-philosopher of a cloth-merchant; he enters the college of Louis le Grand at the same time with his friend Aubin, and, from the influence of an enthusiastic imagi. nation, worked upon by an intriguing and hypocritical ecclesiastic-the young Abbé Falcol, he takes a religious turn, and in a short time declares his vocation for the priesthood, in which he persists contrary to the wishes and entreaties of his family and friends. This gives occasion to M. Picard to exhibit a sketch of modern ecclesiastical manners, and of the interior of the seminaries or nurseries of young priests. Desodry is on the point of taking the irrevocable vows, when he meets at the convent, where his sister Pauline is, a Madame Derblay, who is living apart from her husband, and suing for a separate maintenance. This lady is possessed of great beauty, considerable talent for intrigue, and is besides a most accom. plished coquette. Desodry's religious zeal decreases, in the same proportion as his admiration for her ripens into passion. There is here a welldescribed struggle for empire over Desodry, between the hypocritical Abbé and the coquettish Derblay; but the lady carries the day, for she succeeds in unmasking the Abbé, who had attempted to pervert the mind of Desodry's sister and get his bigoted maiden aunt to make a will in his favour. Madame Derblay has him denounced to the Archbishop, and he is sent to a provincial seminary to do penance for two years. As the moment for Desodry's ordination approaches, his horror of it increases, and he at length flies from the seminary, and abandons all idea of becoming a priest. Shortly after, Madame Derblay's husband fortunately dies, and Desodry marries her; he purchases a place at court, becomes a literary character, and keeps open house for all the beaux esprits of the day, both native and

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foreign, is attacked with the reigning malady, the Anglomania, goes with his wife to London, and after a short sojourn comes back cured; for, according to M. Picard, he found "that the English, like the ancient Romans, love liberty, but are desirous that no one should be free but them. selves; that they look upon all other men as barbarians or slaves; that they do much for their country, but little for humanity; that they esteem only themselves; that they despise the weak, aud hate those who are too powerful to be despised. "Is this," M. P. exclaims, "an enlightened patriotisin ? Is it not rather that national egotism that me still more hateful when collective than when it is individual?" This is one of those vituperative parentheses so frequently to be met with in the self-styled liberal French writers of the present day, but in which there is more of envy than truth or conviction. After Desodry's return from England, the revolution bursts forth, he adopts its principles, and, to prove his sincerity, burns his lately purchased titles of nobility. wife, on the contrary, turns aristocrat, and yet takes immediate advantage of the revolutionary law of divorce, to abandon her husband. De. sodry being too humane to be a favourite with the reigning demons of the day, is marked out for persecution, and obliged to fly into Germany. There he turns romance-writer, and takes lessons in philosophy from two professors-one a partisan of Kant, the other a disciple of Leibnitz; he is mystified and deceived by them both-sends them and their systems to the devil, and returns to France through the interest of his friend Aubin. In Paris he meets with a former acquaintance, the advocate Duclair, who is high in the confidence of Bonaparte. He is prevailed upon by Duclair, to second the views of the aspiring general, and is rewarded by being made prefect of the palace to the King of Holland. After the prince's abdication, Desodry returns to Paris, and is named one of the legislative body; he is afterwards made a baron and master of requests-marries his daughter to a general, and sends his son to the army. Shortly after he hears of the death of his son in battle, but is consoled on being told that the Emperor said "The son has died like a brave man-what can I do for the father?" The battle in which the son fell, has been glorious for France, and there are fêtes given to celebrate it at St. Cloud. Desodry thinks it his duty to be present, and while attending on the Emperor in the Park during a heavy shower of rain, he gets wet through, and remains in his damp clothes so long that he returns home with a burning fever, and in a few days gives up the ghost. Such are the outlines of the principal character in this novel of M. Picard. There are of course numberless minor

details, and some episodes-the love and marriage of Desodry's sister and his friend Aubin-the character of the gallant Abbé de Prevannes-the history of the unfortunate priest, Charles Dubourg, &c. together with a great deal of what may be called serious and solemn bavardage, relieved from time to time by some judicious observations and piquant remarks. But the crying sin of this production, like that of the former one, Jaques Fauvel, is the unvarying character of commonplace and matter-of-fact that pervades it. incidents are all probable-they are sagely combined the characters are gradually drawn out secundum artem,-there is a beginning, a middle, and an end-the style is not objectionable; and yet the reader continually feels the absence of that certain something that gives a charm to this species of composition, and which absence proves that M. Picard is writing romances in spite of his stars, and that his vocation is decidedly not in this walk of literature.

The

Les Veillées de la Chaumière. Par La Comtesse de Genlis. 1 vol. 8vo. (Cottage Evenings. By the Countess de Genlis.)

Madame de Genlis wrote several years ago a book entitled "Les Veillées du Chateau," which had in its day considerable success :-the present publication seems meant as a pendant to the former work. The chief aim of Mde. de G. in this book is to prove, that before the Revolution the lower classes were much more remarkable for the morality of their manners and the probity of their principles, than they have been since that epoch. According to Mde. de G. before that period all the servants in France were polite, faithful, and attached to their masters; but at present they are insolent, lying, ungrateful, and even something worse. In fine, Mde. de Genlis bewails, or affects to bewail, the departed glories and benefits of the ancien regime, and is determined to see nothing in a favourable point of view until its return. She exemplifies the words of the poet-as heing

"An ill-natured censor of the present age, And fond of all the follies of the past." The Veillées de la Chaumiere contains a series of tales, the first of which is devoted to proving the above-mentioned opinions. The most signal and unerring evidence she brings forward of the degeneracy of the times and the misery of the people, are the costly and well-made dresses and elegant manners of the milliners' apprentices and shopboys, who are seen dancing in the Champs Elysees, and other environs of Paris, on Sundays and festivals. She feels an aristocratic shudder at seeing merchants' clerks dressed and behaving themselves like gentlemen; and is quite scandalized at perceiving that the pretty and piquant Parisian grisettes have the presumption to dance like ladies, and wear gold ear-rings and bosom. pins-Quelle horreur ! But the venerable Countess is fast approaching her second childhoodthe book was written for the dowagers of the Fauxbourg St. Germain, and is dedicated to a young Seigneur of ten years of age, Monsieur Leon de Montesquiou. In another passage, Mde. de G. represents another young Seigneur

persuading a peasant to burn the works of Voltaire, whom she describes in the following terms. "He was a frightful, wicked, flattering, lying, hypocritical, persecuting man; all which is incontestably proved by his writings." But even still, when Mde. de G., veteran as she is, lays aside her prejudices, real or pretended, she can still be both amusing and attractive. The tale called "La Providence" is pathetic, and interesting; and there are several comic and amusing traits in the story called "La Cuisiniere Romanesque," in which a romantic and tender-souled cookmaid delivers her melting effusions in a most ludicrous jargon of culinary phrases, and bombastic and ultra-pathetic epithets, caught up from melodrames and bad romances.

Tableau de l'Intérieur des Prisons. Par M. Genouvrier. 1 vol. 8vo. (Picture of the Interior of the Prisons. By M. Genouvrier.)

The author of this work seems to be a wellmeaning and pains-taking person. The information contained in it, much of which is curious and interesting, was collected by him in person, during visits to several prisons both in the capital and the provinces; but unfortunately its effect is greatly diminished by the medium through which it is couveyed, for the author is most unfortunately profuse in his display of lachrymose eloquence, puling sensibility, and threadbare and worn-out rhetorical flourishes. However, those who may have perseverance enough to help them over this ill-constructed style, will not go unrewarded for their pains, There are many curious secrets of the "prison-houses" of France brought to light. M. Genouvrier goes very methodically to work; and according to Mrs. Glasse's approved direction, he first catches his prisoner and then incarcerates him in the first chapter-the second treats of prisons in general-the third is devoted to the concierges, or gaolers, a species of monster, for whom M. G. seems to have a most lively and unconquerable antipathy: in pourtraying them, he lays on his deep tints with a most unsparing hand. The fourth contains an interesting description of the internal police of the prison; of solitary confinement, and of the employment of spies, who, under the guise of fellow-sufferers, endeavour to win the confidence of the prisoners, for the purpose of betraying it. The fifth and sixth chapters treat of the police de Bienveillance, or charitable societies for the relief of prisoners. The seventh and eighth relate to the morals, manners, and religion of the prisoners, in which there are some most revolting facts disclosed. The ninth describes the departure for trial, the manacling, and the return to prison after condemnation. The tenth is a disquisition upon justice and criminal law. The eleventh relates to the execution of the judgement; and the twelfth and last treats of the acquittal and leaving the prison. Such are the principal dishes served up by M. Genouvrier, many of which deserve to be tasted and discussed, notwithstanding the mawkish sauce which M. G. has unfortunately thought proper to lay over them.

LITERARY REPORT.

Mr. WM. HAYGARTH, A. M. is preparing for publication the History of the Roman Empire, from the Accession of Augustus to the Death of the younger Antoninus.

In the press, Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Mrs. FRANCES SHERIDAN, mother of the late Right Hon. R. B. Sheridan, and author of "Sidney Biddulph," "Nourjahad," and "The Discovery;" with Remarks upon a late Life of the Right Hon. R. B. Sheridan; Criticism and Selections from the works of Mrs. Sheridan; and Biographical Anecdotes of her Family and Contemporaries. By her Grand-daughter, ALICIA LEFANU. In

8vo.

Rameses, an Egyptian Tale, with Historical Notes of the Era of the Pharaohs, will shortly appear.

A Sketch of the System of Education at New Lanark, by ROBERT DALE OWEN, is in the press, and will be published in a few days.

Mr. A. G. A. SCHLEGEL'S Prospectus of Ramayana, by the ancient Sanscrit poet Valmike, has made a strong impression in our literary circles, and excited high expectations. In a conversation with the learned author, he mentioned to us his opinion that the Sanscrit would be found the root of all languages, except the Arabic and its derivatives. The Arabic is entirely different.

Dr. Cox will shortly publish Remarks on Acute Rheumatism and the Importance of Early Bloodletting in that disease, as preventing Metastasis to the Heart, &c.

In a few days will be published in 18mo. A Narrative of the Sufferings of a French

WORKS IN

Milburn's Oriental Commerce, or the East India Trader's complete Guide; abridged, improved, and brought down to the present time, by Tuos. THORNTON.

A new edition of PRYNNE's "Brevia Parliamentaria Rediviva; or a complete Register of Parliamentary Writs;" with additions and alterations, and copious Notes, historical, legal, aud explanatory.

Plain Instructions to Executors and Administrators, shewing the Duties and Responsibilities incident to the due perform ance of their Trusts; with Directions respecting the Probate of Wills, and taking out Letters of Administration; the method of recovering Probate and Administration Duty, if overpaid; of amending

Protestant Family, at the period of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, written by JOHN MIGAULT, the Father. Translated and now first published from the original manuscript, in the possession of a descendant of the family, resident near Spitalfields. Published at the request of Members of the Spitalfields Benevolent Society.

In the course of the first month of the new year will be published, Tales and Sketches of the West of Scotland, by a Gentleman of Glasgow; to include a View of the Changes which have occurred in Society and Manners in that part of Scotland during the last balf century.

Mr. DE LA BECHE will shortly publish a Selection of the Geological Memoirs contained in the Annales des Mines; together with a Synoptical Table of Equivalent Formations, and M. Brongniart's Table of the Classification of Mixed Rocks. In 1 vol. 8vo.

Mr. C. CHATFIELD has in the press, a Compendious View of the History of the Darker Ages, with Genealogical Tables. To form 1 vol. in 8vo.

Shortly will be published, the First Part (to be continued Quarterly, in Parts) of The Animal Kingdom, as arranged conformably with its Organization, by the Baron CUVIER, with additional Descriptions of all the Species hitherto named, and of many not before noticed. The whole of the Règne Animal" of the above celebrated Zoologist will be translated in this undertaking; but the additions will be so considerable, as to give it the character of an Original Work.

THE PRESS.

the Probate or Letters of Administration, if too little duty shall have been paid thereon, by mistake or otherwise; and of obtaining a return of duty on the ground of Debts; of dividing the Residue, &c.

The Miscellaneous Works of Gilbert Burnet, Bishop of Salisbury; with Memoirs of his Life and Writings, including some original Documents not hitherto published.

The Plenary Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures asserted, and Infidel Objections shewn to be unfounded, by new and conclusive Evidence. In Six Lectures now delivering at Albion Hall, London Wall, by the Rev. S. Noble.

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A short time since, at one o'clock, a parhelion or false sun, was observed at Knaresbro', at the western edge of a halo 44° in diameter, of the same altitude, and nearly of the same magnitude as the real sun. The parhelion had not a very accurately defined disk, but was finely tinted with the primary colours, the red and orange predominating, and displaying a long and colourless train, like that of a comet, streaming 15° towards the west, while a luminous spot upon the corre

sponding eastern margin of the halo indicated another but imperfect parbelion; and a large segment of a brightly iridescent circle was seen like an inverted rainbow around the zenith. Some light flocculent clouds passing over the sun, put an end to this curious phenomenon, after it had lasted about a quarter of an hour; and the day, which had been fine, but cold and slightly hazy, became dark and lowering, and the barometer sank considerably.

AGRICULTURAL REPORT.

In the customary routine of the farming operations of the season we perceive nothing which requires especial observation at the present moment. The farmer can scarcely have failed to profit by the facilities which fine open weather has afforded him for expediting the labour of his fields, or the growing crops to participate in the genial influence of the time; consequently, the plants of wheat and winter tares are vigorous and luxuriant without exception— the layers remarkably strong and healthy. The turnips are greatly improved, though partial, and in many places deficient of plant.

Cattle food is expected to be short towards the spring of the year, not only in consequence of the failure in the turnip crop, but from the inferiority and probable scarcity of hay also; consequently, artificial food (such as oil-cake and cornmeal) is already in considerable request, and rising in value.

VOL. XII. NO, XXXVI.

As a large portion of the agricultural embarrassments are now happily removed, it is highly gratifying to observe that the spirit of improvement, so far from being extinguished by the late depression, is proceeding with vigour, and has already made rapid advances towards the perfecting of one of the greatest sources of our national prosperity-a superior, liberal, and, we should be glad to add, profitable system of agriculture. It is sufficiently evident that one cannot be long supported without the other; yet we fear the latter is still only hoped for in the distant prospect. The husbandman has returned to his "never-ceasing round of annual toil" with a hearty and indefatigable perseverance, which deserves more ample remuneration, and which the community is scarcely able fully to appreciate. He proceeds in his peaceful avocations, unconscious of the gathering storm-he hails with joy the rising markets, by which he

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calculates on being enabled to reduce the incumbrances which unprofitable years have saddled upon his finances; but he is not without his fears that the garners of

the north may pour forth the accumulated produce of many harvests, and overwhelm him once more with ruin and dismay.

CORN RETURNS.

Aggregate Average Prices of Corn, Nov. 15th, 498 8d-22d, 50s 5d-29th, 51s 4d-Dec. 6th, 51s 10d

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trade. Good melting lumps have fallen 1s. per cwt. Foreign Sugars are without alteration. Havannah yellow brought from 40s. to 42s. 6d.

In Coffee not much has been done, but the prices have kept up generally from 75s. 6d. to 80s.

COMMERCIAL REPORT. London, Dec. 22, 1823. THE apprehensions entertained by the mercantile interest with respect to the interference of the Holy Alliance with the Spanish colonies, have somewhat subsided. Ministers have signified their belief, that there is not the smallest ground for imagining that the reconquest of these independent States is in contemplation by the Continental powers. It is therefore probable, that this field of enterprise will remain open to the industry of our merchants, and continue to add, by the wealth of honest commerce, to the resources of the country.

There has been little done in the Cotton line in London since our last; but there have been considerable sales at Liverpool, and the demand has been pretty good, though Brazils declined from 1s. 8d. to 1s. 4d. per lb. and Bowed a little, though American was in general much as before.

Rum has rather increased in price, and may be quoted at 1d. to 2d. per gallon dearer. Brandy remains much the same.

The sales of Plantation Sugar have been made rather at a depression, though so slight as scarcely to affect the prices. Refined Sugars have a heavy sale,and had but few buyers either for the home or export

Tobacco is in future to be governed by regular weekly sales. The prices of the light leaf for town trade have been well supported, though the other kinds have not met equal buyers. There has been a great demand at Liverpool for strong Virginia for the Irish market.

In Tallow there have been large sales at very reduced prices, and a considerable depression. In Liverpool the sale has been very dull, affected by the state of the London markets.

In Silk there has been rather a slackness of sale, in expectation of a fresh assortment of thrown and raw at approaching sales. This dulness will continue for the present, and until after the Company's sale of China and Bengal, which takes place on the 16th February.

The demand for Oils is much as before. The holders of Gallipoli generally demand higher prices. Little can be bought under 511. 10s. to 521.

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