"What could possibly be the matter in the work house of this busy world, I could not clearly conceive: however, sitting up in my bed, I opened the letter; which, to my utter astonishment was from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, expressing a wish that I should accept the government of Upper Canada; and that, if possible, I would call upon him with my answer at half-past eight the following morning, as at nine o'clock he was to set out for Brighton to see the King.

"As I was totally unconnected with every member of the Government, and had never had the honour even of seeing Lord Glenelg in my life, I was altogether at a loss to conceive why this appointment should have been offered to me. However, as it appeared there was no time to be lost, I immediately got up, and, returning to London in the chaise of the King's messenger who had brought me the communication, I reached my own house at Kensington at six o'clock; and having consulted with my family, whose opinions on the subject of the appointment I found completely concided with my own, I waited upon Lord Glenelg at his residence at the hour appointed, (half-past eight,) when I most respectfully and very gratefully declined the appointment."

We suspect that had either the King or Lord Glenelg supposed that Sir Francis could thus ludicrously treat of the pressure of any State affair, he never should have had the opportunity of declining to accept of the very paltry appointment.

ART. XVII.-Illustrations of Mechanics. By the REV. H. MOSELEY, M.A. &c. London: Longman. 1839. MR. MOSELEY, who is Professor of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy in King's College, London, has here come forward with the first of a series of works illustrative of Science, which are at short intervals to be published by the Professor, in the institution to which he belongs. It is the object of the series to promote the great business of Practical education, by supplying to the instructors of youth a system of elementary science, adapted to the ordinary forms of instruction: thus rendering those branches of knowledge which are to be identified with the business of after active life, subjects of early tuition. In the volume before us, the illustrations of the mechanical properties of matter and the laws of force are drawn promiscuously and almost equally from Art and Nature; and thus the relations between the two domains are made to enforce lofty views of the Divinity, to let him be seen working with us, and in us, in the daily occupations of our hands, wherein we do but reproduce, under different and inferior forms, the results of his own wisdom and creative power. This is turning to the noblest account those mechanical operations which may at the same time be essentially subservient to our daily and temporary wants. Nor has cur author failed to accomplish what he has proposed and desired to perform; his illustrations being not only wonderfully diversified and exceedingly numerous, but beautiful and interesting in the highest degree.

The infinite minuteness of Matter and the various conditions of which it is susceptible, the sciences of Equilibrium and Dynamics, &c. &c., are largely illustrated. But the neat and condensed volume must be examined before an adequate idea can be formed of any of its chapters. We

shall only quote a short passage as a specimen, viz., on the "Colours produced by the Attenuation of Transparent Bodies." Here we read that "The extreme attenuation which may be given to certain forms of matter is a proof of the extreme minuteness of their elementary particles. In the case of transparent bodies, there is a method of measuring the degree of this attenuation, founded on the principle of optics,-that all transparent bodies become coloured when they are formed into plates, attenuated beyond certain limits, and, moreover, that the particular colours, which under these circumstances they show, are dependent upon the degree of their attenuation;-thus serving as a delicate test and measure of it, so that, knowing the colour which, by being attenuated, a transparent body is made to show, we may know how thin it is."

Accordingly the thickness of a soap bubble has been determined by Newton, its top, which is the thinnest part when the colours are first seen in it, being about the twenty-five-thousandth part of an inch in thickness, whereas, before it bursts it has reached an attenuation of at least the four-millionth part of an inch.

ART. XVIII.-Letters on the Spanish Inquisition. By the Count JOSEPH DE MAITRE. With Notes by the Rev. JOHN FLETCHER, D.D. London Keeting. 1838.

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COUNT JOSEPH DE MAITRE was a statesman of considerable celebrity, and the author of several elegant and eloquent works, not only of a political character, but in the walks of more popular literature. Relative to the present work, we quote as follows from Dr. Fletcher's Preface. These Letters, he says, were addressed to a Russian nobleman, who, it appears, entertained all the same notions, and that same abhorrence of the Inquisition, which, in this country, are so deeply imprinted on the public mind. He wrote them at the request of his noble friend, who, although so strongly prejudiced against the Tribunal, was still willing and desirous to be instructed. They were written in the year 1815, that is, three years after the suppression of the Inquisition by the Revolutionary Cortes; and in the year of its re-establishment by Ferdinand :-Whence also he speaks of it as at that time actually existing. But in order to satisfy his friend, that the accounts which he gives of it, are not the dictates of any partiality, he borrows a great part of the authorities and documents which he cites from the official Reports themselves, of the Committee of the Cortes, that is, from the testimonials of the men who had abolished the Institution, and who, therefore, were its bitterest enemies. The concessions of such persons in its favour are, of course, arguments, which cannot reasonably be doubted." Why then "its bitterest enemies?" But we are not going to meddle with questions which have divided religionists professing different creeds; and shall only quote a few sentences from this strenuous defence of the Inquisition to shew that it is not likely to meet with general sympathy in this country.

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Of its own nature, the Inquisition is a good, mild, and conservative tribunal. Such, in fact, is the universal, the unvarying, and the indeli ble character of every ecclesiastical tribunal." "The English reason strangely. Under the spacious name of liberty of conscience, they esta

"The

blish an absolute indifference, in regard to the doctrines of religion." present state of England has cost the nation, not only torrents of blood; but what is still far worse, the loss of faith. England never ceased to persecute until she ceased to believe." "And since faith has thus visibly declined, or since rather, it exists no more,-so has this nation, in all other regards so highly repectable,-no right to criticise, or condemn, one, which, looking upon the loss of faith, as the greatest of misfortunes, adopts, therefore, certain measures to preserve it."

These and many similar passages, we believe, are not likely to meet with a cordial reception in this country at the present day. The Catholics themselves will generally repudiate the doctrines of intolerance that characterized the darker ages, or when the principles of liberty of conscience were less generally understood than at present both by the ancient and the reformed churches.

To which are

ART. XIX.-Consideration on the State of the Nation. added, Two Letters relating to the Wellington and Nelson Tribute. London Saunders and Otley. 1839.

THE garrulous and opiniative author of this pamphlet deals at one time in the plainest truisms, and at another in the most whimsical assumptions and visions that we ever encountered. That he is sincere and positively conceives that neither prejudice nor absurdity attaches to his modes of thinking, may readily be granted. How other than honest can he be? since he tells his readers that "My grandfather was Scotch my grandmother Irishmy father born in England, though early abroad- my mother of a French Refugee family-I born in England, but brought up in Ireland until, at a very early age, I also was called into very early and very active life. I have held property in the three great Divisions of the British Empire at home, as I may say and still hold in two, viz. England and Ireland-not in land however-am in perfectly independent circumstances, and under no obligation, directly or indirectly, to any party in the State, the leading individuals of which are personally unknown to me. I am verging upon sixty, and without children," &c. &c. The author's inference from all this is that he must be singularly free from prejudices, that he may see some things in a different light from many," and that his "views may be worth noticing."

It may be excusable in one who has sucked in knowledge from such a combination of sources, to be an extraordinary rambler when he comes to spread his gatherings before the public. Accordingly we find him touching in the most flighty manner on every sort of public question, domestic and foreign, in church and state. The church, however, he takes under his particular care, and now for two or three of his dicta :

"I have said, still say, and always shall say, that our religious feuds, to use an intelligible expression, give the unfortunate answer to this truly important question; and yet wherefore? I speak, and only speak, of Great Britain, on which empire the light of heaven now shines strongly, destined, if it is deserving, to cast an effulgence throughout the world, to the fulfilling of the higher and better destinies of mankind, even on this earth!

"The present state of religion is actually damnable! We are a divided

people; the division increasing; the falling to pieces inevitable, unless we bethink ourselves, and be wise to-day, 'tis madness to defer.' Now, let us reflect upon the absolute nothingness, to unprejudiced minds, that stands in the way of the re-union of Christians in Great Britain. Other nations are not yet ripe, but there must be a beginning somewhere; and, as observed, where so promising as with us? Should it please God, through our called for exertions, to prosper, then, in due time, will even the schism, or errors of the Greek Church, be subdued, and there will be peace and good-will amongst the followers of Christ, whose doctrines may then become universal."

"The absolute nothingness, to unprejudiced minds, that stands in the way of Christians in Great Britain !" Pray Sir, our readers may ask, what sort of religion is it which you call perfect,-so demonstratively perfect as that its beauty and symmetry must banish prejudice from the empire? Why, that of the Church of England; or the "Reformed Catholic Church,” as this Solomon calls it, into the bosom of which he sees no reason or difficulty why all religionists should not simultaneously fall, whether Roman Catholics or Dissenters; among the latter placing the kirk of Scotland. He declares and prays or anticipates as follows,

The true Reformation began when the wisest and best among Catholics gathered together under the auspices of an excellent young monarch, to purge Catholicism of its impurities, and fit it for the greater light of intellect vouchsafed. What a happy, I may say divine, coincidence, if the consolidation of the Reformation, and the re-union of Christians should take place in the reign of our present estimable and youthful Sovereign! What a jubilee might then be celebrated throughout the empire!"

But it is not exactly as the "Reformed Catholic Church of England” at present appears and is regulated, that there is absolute perfection, according to our Pamphleteer, who enjoys the most enviable skill at rapid carving and legislating we ever witnessed; for he proceeds to say'

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Let us consider how the Reformed Catholic Church of England can be filled with worshippers of one feeling, as regards the love of God and each other. I can conceive only by prayer, worship, and thanksgiving. PREACHING should be abolished in these realms by the voice of the nation and the nation's law!"

Or, if the Church of England must resort to preaching, then

"The sermon, or discourse, to be delivered, should be prepared by the Heads of the Church government-the same for all. The reason is obvious-viz., that no extraneous matter be introduced by individuals. I now take leave to say, that the service throughout the land should be but once on the Sabbath (or Sunday), and certain Holydays, to be promulgated, between the hours of eleven and one, in the day time: when people know what they are about, are fresh in body and mind, and when most good and least mischief must ensue."

We conjecture that our readers must still despair of witnessing perfect unanimity in matters of Faith throughout the British empire, in spite of all the cogent, sensible, and persuasive efforts of our author.

De

ART. XX.-Trials of the Heart. By MRS. BRAY, Author of " Foix," "Trelawny of Trelawne," &c. &c. 3 Vols. London: Long.

man. 1839.

MRS. BRAY is not only a voluminous, but a variously gifted writer. She has charmed us with her sketches of scenery; her delineations of human character have frequently appeared to us not only truthful, but original; while her antiquarian researches and records have a patriotic purpose, that confers upon them an interest not less engaging than if the whole were the creation of a romantic imagination. It appears to us that in her very novels she ever contemplates a permanently valuable end; that a foundation is thus laid, and a beacon thus erected, that are strengthened in every scene. Hence her earnestness and her avoidance of trifling: hence, also, we suspect, the overworking of sentiment, the reluctance to let an idea go without elaboration. Her writing is richly diversified, her feelings intense, her appreciation of the workings of the human bosom subtle and searching. Still, more force, fuller and therefore truer effect, we think, would be the result of more rapid and frequent transitions,-of simpler and more steady or clearly defined pictures. But we can neither do justice to Mrs. Bray's powers, nor afford a specimen of her manner, nor illustrate our own meaning, without introducing an extract of considerable length, and in a form as little broken as our limits will permit. To serve the purposes contemplated by us, we go to a tale laid in La Vendée during the great revolutionary struggle. The authoress has travelled in that country; its scenery, its localities, the character of its people, and their recollections of the disastrous and terrible period alluded to, are familiar to her. Accordingly, she has served up certain historical facts in a way of which the following fragments will afford a specimen :—

Pierre Lobin is an orphan Vendean youth who has been made a prisoner, and is condemned to be shot by the republican General Varras; and Jeanne, the loyalist victim's sister, passionately pleads for a reprieve, for his life. But

"Varras turned to speak to an officer in attendance; Jeanne heard the words-Bid the men prepare in the courtyard.' 'No!' she cried, 'You must not, you must not,-you dare not, give the order for his death.' The drums again rolled. Oh, stop that dreadful sound!' said Jeanne. It is no other to my ear than the call to the last judgment—the last judg ment, Varras; do you believe it will come? Believe it or not, yet it will come, and where will you then stand? Where shall I stand? Even as I do now before you, boldly; and at the foot of God's throne I will call upon you to account for this day's deed. I will appeal to saints and angels to bear me witness that I asked a brother's life, and you denied it to me. You may need some comfort then; some record that may cause the book of blood, which you have helped to fill, to be closed; and in its stead, to open for you the book of mercy. Blood, Varras, blood !—it is a fearful thing: its cries reach from earth to heaven.'

Varras exclaims,

"You are frantic. Take away this woman; nor longer let her interrupt my order.' 'Speak it,' cried Jeanne, 'speak it; is it for life or death?" For death,' said Varras. Lead out the prisoner.' The wretched Jeanne, on hearing this, clasped her hands together and raised them above her head. There was something fearful and wild in the expression of her whole countenance-something convulsive in every movement of her VOL. 1. (1839.) No. IV.

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