blame the authors of those restrictive measures, which the profaneness and infidelity of a few obscure, but mischievous and needy adventurers provoked, by reiterated attacks on whatever we hold sacred. My production is comparatively innocent, though several of the observations are rather severe on certain public characters, who have obtained temporary celebrity." "I have no doubt but I shall be much amused, if not instructed by your production, Sir," said Edmund, " and shall avail myself of the present opportunity, to request that you will read it to me." Brownlow assented, and arranging his manuscript, read as follows:

SATIRE MADE EASY; OR, INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ART OF POLITE CENSURE.

Among the useful and ornamental arts which contribute to the gratification of mankind, the art of satire, as it is the most general, is also most popular. Indeed, so universal is the propensity to this delightful recreation, that it can scarcely be termed an art, but seems in a great degree to be the instinctive or natural bias of an active and ingenious mind, capable of perceiving, and prompt to ridicule the errors of others, while it kindly overlooks its own. But however strong the aptitude of the youthful tyro, engaged in the

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acquisition of this fashionable accomplishment, may be, much scientific information respecting the principles and practice of refined scandal is obtainable from satirical books, and still more from polite conversation.

The antiquity of satire is unquestionable, insomuch that it claims priority of all the other sciences. If we examine the pages of ancient history, we shall find that all the celebrated philosophers, poets, and orators of Greece and Rome were arrant libellers. What were the animadversions of Socrates, Diogenes, Seneca, and other sages, against existing vices and follies, but the censure of indignant truth? And the more just the application of blame to the delinquent, the more fatal to him the satire, for according to the axiom of one of our English luminaries of jurisprudence," the greater the truth, the greater the libel."

Since the modern and accelerated diffusion of knowledge in all its branches by the instrumentality of a free press, no art seems to be promulgated with such ardour and success as the science of satire. From the nature of things, it must ever be popular, as it is at once so grateful to our vanity, and may be so easily pursued. By its aid we are enabled to depreciate an enemy, and even sometimes to aim a shaft of censure at the bosom of a friend. Our ancestors were not,

it appears, complete adepts in this excellent art, but simply preferred benevolence and neighbourly sympathy, to that exquisite zest for censure, which in the present enlightened era, constitutes one of the most delicious gratifications obtainable at a fashionable fête.

Ancient bards, particularly the comic poets, for a long time usurped the empire of satire, and nobody was allowed to have a rightful claim to the honourable appellation of satirist, who could not censure, or defame another in sonorous verse. But modern authors have broken the trammels of metrical composition, and admitted the term satire to be equally significant of censorious productions whether in prose or verse. The exhilarating and cordial influence of tea, essentially promoted this fascinating art; and the eloquence of beautiful young ladies and their attendant ́beaux on the proper subjects of scandal, suggested the propriety of exalting prosaic, and especially colloquial disquisitions on characters and manners, to the rank of genuine satire.

Some of the most popular productions of modern literature are strongly satirical, particularly polemical and political tracts, novels, poems, and even biography. Descriptions of modern manners and characteristics, are mostly censorions, and some of them ludicrously satirical. The charges of certain judges to juries, are remark

able for the caustic, if not misanthropic spirit of their satire, especially when animated by ardent hostility against such literary offenders as have the temerity and presumption to censure statesmen invested with power.

Satire being thus held in such general and deserved estimation by persons of all ranks in civilized society, and so profitable, if not honourable to the ingenious practitioner, the study of this elegant art may now be considered as indispensable to the complete accomplishment of a young lady, or gentleman, as the arts of dancing, singing, playing upon the piano-forte, or conversing in broken French. Hence the author of this elementary work anticipates success, and considers himself in some degree a public benefactor, by communicating the precepts and examples which he collected, while engaged in the study and practice of satire during several years.

Censure is considered by some scrupulous moralists, as the offspring of vanity and malice; but although we are all willing to satirize the actions of others, we should be offended with the charge of being vain or malicious. From the gossipping disposition to defamation sprung satire, or the public exposure of vice and folly in a high station. By degrees, power prevailed over truth; satire was condemned as libellous, and the satirist punished as an invidious vilifier.

It may appear paradoxical to the honest and unsophisticated admirer of genuine satire, when he is informed that a simple statement of facts is considered the most dangerous, if not atrocious kind of libel. For instance, if a young lady has been guilty of a slip in her moments of levity, the censor who should expose her folly, even if he had ocular demonstration of the fact, would probably be condemned to imprisonment, by the verdict of a dozen of his peers! He must, therefore, by a kind of literary, or colloquial circumlocution, beat about the thicket with due caution, if he hopes to start his game with impunity, otherwise he will incur the penalty inflicted on a poacher. If the subject of satiric investigation be a notorious knave, a pettifogger for instance, who incites litigation in the neighbourhood where he resides, there must not be the slightest insinuation thrown out, that the gentleman is dishonest, malignant, or mischievous. No, the censor must by rhetorical ingenuity praise him for his activity in enforcing just claims, and protecting the property of his clients. His disinterestedness may be commended, by stating the moderate remuneration required for his patriotic exertions, to set his neighbours together by the ears; and even the occasional severity exercised by this active limb of the law, when he arrests his dupe for the amount of his bill, must