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VII.

Why should'st thou learn of love, hate, strife, or care;
Dark deeds and thoughts thine infant bosom shock?
Why should those little legs the buskin wear-
Scarcely as yet emerging from the sock.
VIII.

Affect no longer Richard and Macbeth;
Far other king and warrior suiteth thee :-
Deal, as Tom Thumb, heroic blows of death,
And as King Pippin, most majestic be!

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CHIT-CHAT, LITERARY AND MISCELLANEOUS.

We are happy to learn that a new poem from the pen of Mrs. Hemans is almost ready for publication, entitled 'The Forest Sanctuary, with Lays of many Lands, and other Poems.' The Forest Sanctuary' is said to narrate the history of a Spaniard who flies from religious persecution in his own country to the wilds of North America. Reports speaks of this poem as one of the most successful productions of the pen of its deservedly popular authoress. Mrs. Hemans requires only to be read to be properly appreciated by all who have the slightest pretensions to poetical taste.

Some people have affected to doubt that Sir Walter Scott is really engaged in writing a Life of Napoleon Buonaparte. Strange, however, as it may appear, it is no less true than strange. The work, which is expected to be comprised in five post octavo volumes, is already far advanced, and will probably make its appearance some time in the autumn. Report states it to be written, so far as it has proceeded, in a fine vein of philosophical impartiality, and to breathe throughout the most perfect candour and good temper. The style is also spoken of as having been carefully attended to, and as a chaste example of historical excellence.

A series of very beautiful poems is being published, from week to week, in the Literary Gazette, by L. E. L. under the signature of Iole.' The worthy editor would fain have us believe that these verses are indeed by a new hand, but an admirer of the "Improvisatrice' will have no difficulty whatever in falsifying the insinuation from internal evidence alone. This is a very pardonable species of humbug,—but still it is humbug.

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Charles Lamb has, we perceive, become a contributor to the New Monthly Magazine. His first paper, however, Popular Fallacies,' is by no means in his happiest style. The article on the late Emperor Alexander, in the same Magazine, is said to have been furnished by Dr.Lyall,,a very ominous name for a traveller.

The elegant translator of Tasso, Mr. J. H. Wiffen, announces, we perceive, a version of the choicest specimens of the Spanish Poets; with notices, critical and biographical. This work will be published uniformly with the works of Gurcilasso de la Vega.

The editor of Friendship's Offering, Mr. T. K. Hervey, is, we understand, about to publish a volume, entitled Sketches from the Note Book of Charles Hamilton, Esq.' The work advertised by one of the authors of the Rejected Addresses' is, it appears, a novel, entitled Brambletye House.'

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Mr. Bowles's new pamphlet on the Pope Controversy, has just reached us. He gives the Liverpool Historian' some desperate facers; but as an able correspondent has promised to furnish us with the pith of the twenty or thirty pamphlets which have been printed on this subject, in a brief and popular form, for our next number, we shall only observe, for the present, that these additional last words' were unnecessary, since every individual, save the Quarterly Reviewer and Mr. Roscoe, not stark mad, is on the side of Mr. Bowles. This dispute has certainly been carried to most extraordinary lengths on both sides, and ought now to be suffered to drop. In spite of Mr. Roscoe, it must be universally admitted that the poetry of art is inferior to that of nature, and that Pope was not that rigid purist in morals which his blind idolaters would fain have us believe. Some of his letters to the Misses Blount and Lady Montague, and one or two of his lampoons, are of a most disgustingly obscene character. On the whole it may be remarked with truth, that his late eulogists have greatly injured his fame with the present generation, by compelling their opponents to produce proofs with which the public would never otherwise have been made acquainted.

Mr. Blanco White, the author of the interesting Spanish Novel, entitled ، Don Esteban.' and of the still more admirable Preservative against Popery,' is, we are happy to learn, about to produce another work, to be called Sandoval, the Freemason,' the incidents of which are said to be founded on facts.

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Mr. Colburn, ever on the alert to minister to the public amusement, is, we see, about to publish ، The Adventures of a Young Rifleman;" an imitation, of course, of the interesting series of papers published in Blackwood,' under the designation of 'The Subaltern,' and since collected into a handsome post 8vo. volume.

Mr. Croly's book on the Prophecies, of which report speaks in very high terms, is at length about to make its appearance.

Miss Roberts, the authoress of some very able sketches in prose and verse in some of the leading periodicals of the day, is preparing for the press a History of the Wars of

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the Rival Houses of York and Lancaster.' From what we have seen of the productions of this young candidate for historical fame, we are led to expect that her two Roses will not prove deficient either in bloom or odour.

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Some months ago Leeds sported a new periodical work, of a very inferior character, entitled The Provincial Magazine,' which was gathered to the Tomb of all the Capulets' after three or four publications. We are far from thinking that Leeds, or any other town of similar magnitude, is not equal to the production of a respectable publication of this class; but the work in question, with the loftiest possible pretensions, was really a most contemptible affair, and by no means calculated to impress the Southern public with a favourable idea of the literary taste and intelligence of the place from which it emanated. A new monthly work, of the Magazine genus, is, we understand, on the eve of making its appearance in Manchester, but under what auspices we are ignorant. If publications of this class would not aim at more than a local circulation, there might be some chance of their success; but considering the number and quality of their Metropolitan competitors, they have little chance of circulation out of their own neighbourhood. If diligently conducted we have little doubt of the success of a monthly periodical in Manchester, but then it ought to devote its pages to discussions calculated to interest mercantile as well as literary and scientific readers.

It is a curious fact that notwithstanding the great competition this year among the Annual Literary Works, a very much larger number of the Literary Souvenir ; or Cabinet of Poetry and Romance,' and Forget me not' have been sold than on any previous occasion. Had the former of these volumes been published along with its rivals it would most certainly have had a still further circulation of several thousands. The King of France has appointed a commission to prepare a law for the protection of literary property. A great number of the most eminent noblemen and literati in the country have been included in this body. A long projet of a law has been submitted to the consideration of the commission, divided into twenty distinct heads; which, after they have been thoroughly discussed, will be formed into the four following chapters-On the property of literary works in general; on the property of dramatic works; on the property of works of art; on the property of musical compositions. We want something of the same kind in this country very much. In England literary property, which ought to be held quite as sacred, if not more so, than personal property, is only afforded a temporary protection. Why should not an author's works descend to his heirs in the same manner as landed property? The time and talents of a literary man are said to constitute his estate. It is the limitation of the term of copyright that makes all modern publications so expensive; remove this and they would be printed in a cheaper form, and enjoy (those that were worthy of being read) a popularity to ten times the extent they do now.

The King of France has given orders for a new voyage of discovery; the direction of which will be entrusted to three very able and experienced persons. The particular object of the voyage is to explore more accurately several of the islands in the Pacific, and especially those among the shoals of which it is presumed that the unfortunate Perouse perished.

A very admirable Caricature,not unworthy the pencil of Hogarth, designed by one of the authors of Odes and Addresses to Great People,' has just made its appearance. It is certainly one of the most humorous productions we ever remember to have seen.

A volume, which, from its title, we should judge to be of a very useful character, is in the press, entitled The Father's Guide in the Selection of a School for his Son;' being a brief account of all the schools in England from which scholars have a claim to fellowships, scholarship exhibitions, or other honors and emoluments in the two Universities.

A Life of the late Emperor of Russia, (a vamp of course,) is announced for immediate publication, in one large volume, octavo.

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The seventh and eighth volumes of Madame de Genlis' Memoirs' have just issued from the press, and are not inferior in interest to their predecessors. The supplement contains the Madame de G's opinions of the authors of the day, French as well as English.

The admirable pen of Miss Benger is, we are happy to hear, engaged on a History of the reign of Henry the Fourth of France. The period is one of surpasing interest, and the work will, we doubt not, be worthy the fame of its distinguished authoress.

The Rev. C. B. Taylor, author of May you like it,' announces a volume under the scarcely less singular title of 'Is this Religion? Or a Page from the Book of the World.'

Mr. Mackworth Praed is, we learn, about to present the public with a volume, to be called the 'Labours of Idleness; or Seven Night's Entertainments.' It is to contain seven prose tales, viz. Contents:-Epistle Dedicatory.-1. The Enchanted Lyre.— 2. Love's Devotion.-3. Pedro Ladron, or the Shepherd of Toppledown Hill.-4. Aileen Astore; or the Glen of the Grave.-5. The Dead Man's Dream.-6. Ellinore.7. Lilian.

Mrs. Cornwell Baron Wilson is on the eve of publishing a collection of her best poems, in one volume, with numerous additional pieces, under the title of Hours at Home.' Mrs. W. has written a great deal of very sweet and touching poetry which, if published in a popular form, cannot fail of being duly appreciated.

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We are glad to see that our friend John Clare, the Northamptonshire Peasant, has a volume in the press, christened The New Shepherd's Calendar, with Village Stories.' Clare is a very original poet, and approaches nearer to Burns in the feeling and character of his Songs than any other writer of the present day. There is a production of his in the Literary Souvenir for the present year, entitled 'First Love's Recollections,' which is one of the most touching and beautiful poems with which we are acquainted. We shall pay our early respects to his volume when it appears.

The announcement of Mr. Murray's new daily newspaper, The Representative,' seems to have created a considerable sensation among his political opponents. The sta temeut, however, that Mr. Lockhart is to edite it, is quite premature.

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Mr. Hallam, of The Middle Ages,' has a Constitutional History of England,' in two big quartos, just ready to hurl at the heads of the 'reading public.'

The title of Mr. Southey's forthcoming volumes, alluded to in our last number, is Sir Thomas More; a series of Colloquies on the Prospects and Progress of Society.' The second volume of the 'History of the Peninsular War' is also nearly ready. For the continuation of this important and most interesting work, the public is looking with great anxiety.

The Rev. Mr. Polwhele announces, in two volumes 8vo, Traditions and Recolcollections, Domestic, Clerical, and Literary; including anecdotes, and the original correspondence of a great number of distinguished persons.' Having been favoured with a sight of the manuscript of these volumes, we are enabled to state that they contain a great deal that is curious and interesting.

Whittaker's new Series of the Monthly Magazine has not disappointed the expectations we had been led to form of its merits. It contains some very excellent papers, among which may be mentioned Tasso and his Sister,' a beautiful copy of verses from the pen of Mrs. Hemans; The Gipsey,' a clever sketch, by Miss Mitford; 'The Rat-trap,' by Mr. Hood; and a few admirable remarks on the subject of a plan for the gradual abolition of Negro Slavery. Of the Literary Criticism we can say but little. The outrageous puff of Dr. Kitchener is out of time and place, and some of the minor notices of new books, remarkable rather for pertness and flippancy than reviewer-like acumen. The verses on autumn are by Miss Porter. The late editor of this Magazine, Mr. Orator Thelwall has taken his dismissal in great dudgeon. He announces a new monthly work to be published by Mr. Relfe, viz. The Panoramic Miscellany!' The more the merrier, say we !

A new novel, from the pen of the author of that admirable workTo-Day in Ireland,' is in the press. It will be entitled, 'Yesterday in Ireland.' Mr. Crowe is undoubtedly a man of first-rate talent, and his book cannot fail of proving extremely popular. Mr. Colburn, who seems to have got hold of all the good things this season, is his publisher.

A new periodical, called 'The Time-Piece,' warranted to go well, commences in March.

We have the melancholy task of recording the death of another enterprising traveller in Africa: Captain Beaufort, of the French Navy, who returned to Senegal in 1822, has just been snatched from our hopes. He thought himself well inured to the climate after two voyages, and five years' residence; but the efforts which he has been making for a year past, in three different attempts to advance to the river Timbuctoo, enfeebled his health, and brought on a fatal crisis, just as he was going to ascend the upper Senegal, and then to proceed directly to that great river.

The Vigo Bay Joint-Stock Company, for weighing up treasure from the bottom of the sea, have during the last season actually fished up one piece of silver plate (a saltcellar, we believe.) Mr. Dixon, one of the directors, is on his return for machinery of greater power!!

The excellent Octagenarian, Mr. Cradock, is so well pleased with the success of the volume of his memoirs just published, that he is likely to be induced to present the public with one or two more.

Mr. Prowett, encouraged by the great success which has attended the publication of his outlines of Canova, announces a third volume, to consist of six double parts.

Mr. N. T. Carrington, the author of a very elegant poem, entitled, 'The Banks of the Tamar, and of some very pleasing fugitive poetry, under the signature of N. T. C. in the Literary Gazette and other periodicals, will publish early in the spring a descriptive poem, entitled Dartmoor,' embellished with several interesting views of scenes mentioned in his book.

A splendid quarto volume is announced, to be entitled 'British Ichthyology,' with engravings of the principal fish of Great Britain, from drawings by Sir John Fleming Leicester, and several of the first artists of the day; with a preface and occasional remarks by William Jerdan, Esq.

A Mr. Whatton, of Manchester, has nearly ready for the press 'Historical and Biographical Memoirs of Illustrious Natives of the County Palatine of Lancaster.'

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The publication of the new volume by the author of Waverley, Woodstock, a Tale of the Long Parliament,' is, we hear, likely to be delayed a few days beyond the time specified for its appearance.

An unusual number of Catalogues of Old Books have been published during the last month, by booksellers in all parts of England.

Notices to Readers and Correspondents.

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A CORRESPONDENT who signs himself J. D. B. or T. D. B. (we cannot say which), and dates his communication from Birmingham, appears to have put himself to considerable trouble on our account. To notice his complaints seriatim: part of a sheet of the copy of the Literary Magnet for January with which he had been furnished, has, it seems, owing to the neglect or inadvertence of the binder, been omitted. He adds, too, that other copies in the possession of his friends,' are in the same predicament. We never yet heard of a querulous correspondent, either of a Newspaper or Magazine, who did not, by some remarkable coincidence or other, happen to have a host of 'friends' who sympathised with him in his grievances. We are sorry for the omission to which J. or T. D. B. refers, and if he and his friends' will send their respective numbers to the publisher, through the medium of the bookseller from whom they may have received them, they will be furnished with others in their stead. But our correspondent has further grounds of dissatisfaction. It is a ques tion with several subscribers' to the Literary Magnet, with whom he is intimate,' whether the articles purporting to be from the pens of Messrs. Alaric A. Watts, Wiffen, Bowles, and Mesdames Rolls, M. J. J. and Spence, were written expressly for the work.' On this point we are happy to have it in our power to calm the doubts of our sceptical correspondent, and his equally incredulous associates. If they were not all written' they were all furnished expressly for our pages by their respective authors, and have never, as far as we are aware, appeared in print before. What is better still, is, that we are promised many more original contributions from the same pens. The next groan of this Birmingham Smell-fungus' is, that some remarks on the Poetry of Wordsworth were given in a former series of the Literary Magnet.' We are, of course, to infer from this hint that we ought to have left him out of our projected Series of Papers on the Living Poets of England. We think differently on the subject; and such of our readers as have perused the very able essay in question, will, we feel assured, sympathise with us in our opinion. Besides, the present Editor of the Literary Magnet, has no wish to identify himself with any of the opinions, critical or moral, of which the series of the work closed in December last may have been the medium. Another groan refers to two or three typographical errors too obvious to need correction. The next time this Birmingham

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