of worthy citizens who walk about the their friend than for themselves. One coffee-room here, without thinking of of them with whom I supped last you or your Magazine. Nobody can night, said it was ridiculous to cry out like this sort of notoriety; and for my for a mere toothach. own part, I fully expect some day or I have now, Mr Editor, protested other to plump upon my own name generally against all personalities whatin some dark corner of your Work, ever of this nature; but you will aland to find myself publicly celebrated low me to add, that in this particular for qualities, which I would rather case, Dr Nicol Jarvie's offence is of were admired by a more limited circle. an aggravated kind. Had he been joYour Miscellany is very much read cose upon a man of wit, and humour, and admired here; do not therefore, and sarcasm-some formidable pungood Mr Editor, alarm your subscrib- ster-some mason-lodge orator—some ers in this way. If you and your cor- everlasting strutter of the Trongaterespondents must write about us folks some attitudinarian of the Tontinein Glasgow,

give us a local habita- some demigod in the misty heaven of tion,” but if you please “no name.” the Dirty Shirt (once a celebrated Believe me that there is a great deal of club in this city), his sallies would veracity in these observations. have been enjoyed by the whole of our

A question, I understand, has arisen, reading population.” But to fall how far this mode of writing is action- foul of the modest—the retiring-the able, and it is rumoured in the coffee- unassuming—the courter of the shade room, that one of the much-injured the bashful and the shamefaced ! gentlemen mentioned in Dr Jarvie’s with rude hands to grasp the leaves of letter, intends to sue the Publisher the sensitive plant ! To withdraw the for damages in the Jury Court. Many veil, as it were, from the blushing parties of ladies and gentlemen have bride! this, Mr Editor, was indeed already been formed to attend the coarse, unfeeling, and unmanly, and court on the great day of trial, and we therefore, sir, be not surprised, though hear that a public breakfast is to be the days of chivalry are gone, that a given to the spirited prosecutor, who courteous knight like myself issues comes forward to vindicate the rights forth from the bar of the Buck's head, of private citizens against the licenti- to break a lance with the “ Paynim ousness of the press. This ebullition vile,” who hath insulted modesty, inof feeling may serve to shew you on nocence, and beauty. what dangerous ground you are tread- Witty, Mr Editor, as you may think ing, and points out the propriety of an yourself and friends, more especially apology. If you are wise, you will the redoubtable Dr Nicol Jarvie, tera forth wise publish some such palinode tius, beware of retaliation. Though in as the following:

this instance the injured person may “ It having been incautiously assert- want talents to defend himself, yet we ed in this Magazine, on the anthority have other wits among us to avenge of Dr Nicol Jarvie, tertius, of the Salt- his wrongs. Duncan Whip is “ bang market, Glasgow, that Mr (here up to the mark,"--Helvidius Priscus insert the learned gentleman's name) may rise up against you, flushed with is fond of a good dinner, and tells victory over Scott, Chalmers, Malthus, witty stories ; the Editor begs his par- Bentham, and Jeffrey, and armed like don for having been duped into the Samson of old, -the Editors of the belief and circulation of such unfound- Glasgow Chronicle will harness themed calumnies.”

selves for the battle, with their faSome such manly apology as this mous prentice at their head, -and to would, I am confident, sooth that gen- secure your discomfiture, who knows tleman's wounded sensibilities, and re- but JAMES GRAHAME, Esq. Advostore him to that peace of mind which, CATE, HIMSELF,

will barbarously previously to the publication of your scribble you to death, and enshroud last Number, he apparently enjoyed. you in a winding-sheet of his own I believe that all the other gentlemen pamphlets. jocosely, but coarsely, quoted by the Mr Editor, however fond of

persondoctor, though somewhat flurried and alities you learned folks in Edinburgh flustered at first, as they might well may be, instructed as you have been be, now laugh at the whole affair as in that kind of lore, by 57 Numbers an absurdity, and feel much more for of the Edinburgh Review, unquestionVOL. III.

H

ably the most scurrilous Periodical of gabble and uplifted wings, like the the day, such writings have, at all gander aforesaid, when some impatient times, been most offensive to the bet- pedestrian turns round suddenly on ter taste of the citizens of Glasgow. the “ feathered fool,” and sends him of this take the following example. waddling back, on his great splay-feet, Last summer, your excellent towns- into the dirty puddle of the village woman, Mrs Grant, author of so many pool, to solace himself with his yellow admirable works, paid a visit to a gen- billed paramour. tleman's family in this neighbourhood. Had Dr Jarvie attacked such a perAll who know her, and I am proud to son as this-good and well. But is it be of that number, love her for her so? gentle and unassuming private charac

Mr Editor, I have donè. I may say ter, as much

as they admire the of you what Cowper the poet said of strength and originality of her genius. England, “with all thy faults I love Soon as it was known that this lady thee still !" and I may add, as Burns was in our vicinity, some unfeeling the poet said to the devil, “gif ye wad clown" began to abuse her in the tak a thought and mend," that you Glasgow Chronicle, and to drag, her, might yet get over all the little peccaday after day, before the public, in all dillos of yourself and the doctor, and the wanton insolence of ignorant bru- firmly establish yourself in the good tality. When the Editors of that graces of the people of this city, who paper were requested, in the most (though I say it that should not say it) gentle terms, to desist from such un- are as warm-hearted, upright, and inprovoked attacks, they printed in their telligent a set of citizens as any in the volumes the request itself, as they kingdom.

Mungo. received it, and then went on more grossly than ever insulting a lady! Though we pretend to no great delica

SONNET TO JOHN CARNEGIE, ESQ. cacy

of feeling in this good town, yet, believe me, that a Glasgow merchant

[We have received from Mr John Car. has his heart in its right place; and negie of Glasgow, a poem, entitled, " Larwe all, learned (will you allow me to go's Vale.” It is

, we fear, rather long for

insertion in our Magazine, though we hope use the word ?) and unlearned, flung to find room for it soon. Meanwhile we these odious Chronicles from our hands publish with much pleasure the following with loathing and disgust.

beautiful Sonnet, from a distinguished pen, I recollect, however, that there was to the Bard of the Largs. EDITOR.] one person, even here in our Glasgow Sweet Bard of Largo's Vale! yet once again coffee-room, who seemed

to delight in Strike that wild harpof thine, and to the gale, the dirty dulness of the Chronicle. I Casting the volume of its melody, think I see him sitting in his aceus- The Zephyrs on their wings shall waft the tomed chair, with all becoming state- strain, liness and pomposity, like a great gan. And the whole world shall ring with Largo's der that seats himself on a heap of

Vale. addled eggs, during the absence of his Carnegie! Yes, the Muse, on bended knee, mate who has laid them, and keeps Shall wreathe a garland of the brightest dies, stretching out his long neek, gaping Thou Bard of tender tears and gentle sighs,

Ivy and laurel deftly mixed for thee, and hissing towards every passer-by, Poet of Largs ! in whose most classic line, as if they cared for him, and the snif- That loveliest land of Scotia's wild domain fling silliness of his sedentary occupa- Sees all its long unchanted beauties shine tion. It is persons of this stamp who Muse of the West, go wipe thine eyes, yet red are most clamorous when attacked For Burns; rejoice, rejoice. All is not fled. themselves; and I have no doubt,

d. H. that if the hero of whom I now speak, and who kept daily rubbing his elbows

PETIT VOLUME” with the very itch of chuckling enjoyment, extending his chest, and leaning our duty to more recent and indiback his broad, rosy, grinning face over the vile insults heaped upon a

genous productions has led us

procrastinate, for a few months, our respectable lady,-I say, Mr Editor, that such a creature, if retorted upon “ Petit Volume, contenant quelques himself with the mere threatening of apperçus des Hommes et de la Société.”. castigation, would retreat with loud A Paris. 1817. 18mo, pp. 176.

REMARKS ON THE

* OF MONS. SAY.

to

attentions to M. Say. It is doubtless, We have looked over this little voas Milton says,

“ of greatest concern- lume, to see that there be " no offence ment to have a vigilant eye how bookes in't.” It is something in the style of demeane themselves as well as men. Bruyere and Rochefoucauld, but conFor bookes are not absolutely dead sists rather of remarks on tastes, manthings, but doe contain a potencie of ners, and opinions, than of aphorisms life in them, to be as active as that tending to a system of human action, soule was, whose progeny they are ; like Rochefoucauld,

,-or sketches of a nay, they do preserve, as in a violl, the period, and a place, and a brilliant purest efficacie and extraction of the circle of ambition, wit, and devotion, living intellect that bred them.” In like Bruyere. Bruyere had lived much the case of a writer like M. Say, all about a court, and was therefore very this applies forcibly, not only from minute and circumstantial in his delithe intrinsic reason of the thing, but neations of character. He knew auribecause of the influence which a justly cular confession, and had caught from great name like bis may be supposed it the spirit of a prying power and a to exert over those who read, not too indulgent allowance. He was caustic merely that their fancies may be and fault-finding, even to personality, tickled with light reading, but that in his discriminations. Rochefoucauld they may receive an excitement to had neither patience for those who deep thought from the speculations of were to understand him, nor interest a solid understanding like his, con- enough in mankind, generally, to veyed in an attractive yet unpre- waste many words on them. He was tending form. Before the appearance therefore condensed, enigmatical, seof his beautiful and profound Sys- vere, and not unfrequently even mystitem of Political Economy had made cal. M. Say is a man of science and of him famous all over Europe, he was the world, full of the light of modern known to the literati of France by a ideas, and much accustomed to see small work, entitled, OLBIA, or an things that had been considered as Essay on the Ways of improving the most stable turn round on their axes Manners of a Nation, It however and assume new complexions. But, had more interest as the initiatory for all that, he has more of the inesthesis of an ingenious, speculative, and timable quality of moral admiration highly informed mind, than from any than either of his predecessors. His thing actually done in it. M. Say observation may possibly not have was then (in the eighth year of the been so keen as theirs, but it has republic) a member of the notorious been better for society is better : and Tribunate ; and that tract may be if he be not so witty as they, nor have considered as his mite to the reform such an exclusive power over his mawhich was at that time the chief end terials, there is, beyond all doubt, a held in view by almost all the spe- great appearance of good faith about culative spirits in I'rance. He was lat- him. His sense is not only excellent, terly known, rather disadvantageously, but it is practical. It is not ascetic. among ourselves, as the author of a It does not smell of the cloister. It pamphlet On England and the English, is in the manner of who cannot which dealt mainly with our mistakes help sporting ideas, because he is so and embarassments. In that tract, his intellectual that he cannot be without objections against our moral and poli- them. If they do not produce their tical systems have been flippantly, but effect simply, he is quite convinced rather closely, summed up by Mr Hob- that no singularity of enunciation house. “ His complaint or pity was

could make them more valuable to chiefly directed towards us," because him, or more useful to others. we had given a pension to the family Whether, after having experienced of Nelson, an admiral killed in battle; more than Grecian suffering from the because there were no workmen des great evils with which these times @uvrés to be seen in our coffeehouses ; abound, there be something of relief because the studies at Oxford were in the very title of a little book, we un peu Gothiques, and books were get- cannot possibly determine just now. ting so dear that few could read; be- But it is clear; at any rate, that there cause there were no people in Great is a great temptation to like, as well Britain idle by profession; and, lastly, as to say, wise, and witty, and agreebecause we drank bad port."

able things, in the aphorismatic shape

*

even though, for the sake of shortness, the main point is, to see things independthey are so divested of breadth and ently of calculation ; not such as we wish explanation as to expose them to be them, but such as they really are,—in momistaken for truisms. This enigma- rals as in physics. Calculate afterwards, or

reason upon it, if that pleases you. You tical way of giving shape to an adven

may again deceive yourself, but you will turous thought or a smart observa

not begin by deceiving tion, possesses attractions for those who love the agreeable mystification 6 Moral philosophers seem to believe which there is in venting a moral that selfishness and interest direct action truth by way of antithesis. The exer- more than self-conceit or vanity. I believe, tion and the pleasure too consist in on the contrary, that vanity has more influ. couching it in such terms as cost just It is enough to observe in how many in

ence, generally speaking, than selfishness. so much trouble in the apprehension stances men act, through vanity, in a man. as to make it pass at least for wisdom,

ner opposite to their interests ; from the under the guise of a painfully and child, vexed by contradiction until he rewell-chosen contrast. There is fully fuses his victuals, to the sovereign prince, more pleasure and almost as much made to enact so many follies by dint of utility, in hunting for the thought in flattery, who sacrifices a country (I mean this way, and adjusting its relations the groundwork of his power) to avenge an

insult in the gazette. in that glancing and rapid manner which it incites, as there is in the pos

“ A translator, to understand the lan. session. One great beauty, too, is, that the thought is expressed, and the guage which he explains, ought to feel its

delicacy and beauties. How can he give an idea hit off, without any after trouble equivalent for a beauty which he does not of trimming or garnishing. The mode perceive ? He ought to write well in his speaks to our fancy ; the thing makes own language, that he may be able even a frank demand on our judgment; to read. He ought also to have a flexible and, though it may sometimes ask too turn for taking forms analogous to those

of his model, and to know when it is necesmuch, yet we are under no pain in denying it; and, having set it down

sary to replace expressions, ideas, images, as either incomprehensible or ineffec- language, and which shall excite in the

by others conformable to the genius of his tive, may pass on to the next. But

minds of his readers sentiments similar to M. Say's views must be seen.

those which the original author has raised s. The author who is a man of the world in his. After all this, are you surprised and a good fellow is rarely known to poste- that good translations are so rare ? rity. Does he want knowledge, or mind, or talent ? No, certainly; but the centre of “ The cause of several revolutions has his combinations is the taste of his circle, sprung from the finances, commencing with which he wants to please. Observe, that it that of the United States, which is dated is the same thing where the author is a man from the duty on tea.

So will others come of merit, and his private society remarkable again. Well, what do you conclude ? Shew for genius and information. Private inte- us a way of preventing them! The way is rests, attachments and opinions of the mo- simple, it is evident, but I don't mean to ment, are what each of its members has point it out. Why so ? F'or there is nothing constantly an eye to, and to which he can. so foolish as to give to all the world a piece not help attaching more importance than of advice which nobody will follow. What they are deserving of.

The world goes

then ? Take it; one word will do the busiround ; the present generation disappears ;

WHAT WE CANNOT PRODUCE other interests, new connexions, succeed to WITHOUT TROUBLE, DO NOT LET US the former.See what an immense ad

Add some accessories vantage the retired author possesses ! He to that. Change the scene whenever you has not received a glance merely moment- please ; give names to the personages; proary: he has observed in morals, and de- pose the intrigues ; and,

-the winding up scribed in physics, those natural relations will be always the same. which never change, but always interest.

“ In order to persuade in conversation, it “ Observe the mathematician: he never makes a bad calculation, nor ever forms a * “ If any one asks from me an explica. just idea. He always pushes his ideas to tion of the words produce and consume, I their rigorous consequences, from a false shall be obliged to refer to a small definition, principle. He calculates fairly upon erro. in two volumes, under the title of a Treatise neous observations. Geometry only yields on Political Economy ; or, a simple Expo. matter for calculation ; and the qualities of sition of the Manner in which Riches are the observer are by no means the same as PRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED, and conthose of the calculator. To arrive at truth, SUMED.”

*

ness.

SPEND ON FOLLY.

;

#

排

革

举

is not necessary to effect a co-ordination of merous virtues, as well as faculties, ideas,—to establish a connected and gradu- we wish we could adequately display. ated system,—which is the highest effort of We beg leave to say a few words on written eloquence. Pay more attention to

what seem to be the distinctive points the persons you address than to the subject. of their character as men of letters and Draw your argument from the opinions of the person spoken to, even allowing it to be sentiment. done by sophisms. The persuasion to be ef

They are all cool-headed men, with fected is only a mode of perceiving. Con- little imagination, and no great quickversation requires this artifice, in as much ness of apprehension,--but so clear in as we have to do with contracted minds,– the ideas which they receive, that they with personal feelings, --with prejudices. never lose sight of them if they think In writing it is otherwise. You must ex. them worth retaining, -

-nor mistake press yourself in the best language you can

one of their relations when they come get. You must be clear and candid too, for you have the impartial public for a judge, attached to knowledge, and submit to

to apply them. They are uniformly and posterity, which yet more impartial.

such labour in its pursuit as to appear “ Men are made of the same stuff,—but to like it in most instances merely for their nature manifests itself in different ways. its own sake. They would study on, The vanity of the savage consists in shewing if it were for nothing else than the his figure, and in having

his body well gratification of a vigorous and endurdaubed with uneraseable spots,---with fine ing propensity to mental exercise, plumes on his head. The vanity of the which acts with a springiness and efİtalian is manifested in wearing, if he is able, laces on the same parts. T'he vanityfect, that read hard lessons to the imaof the Englishman and the Turk lies in not ginative men of fine taste and quick compromising their national dignity,-in feelings, who have in youth cultivated wrapping themselves up in defiance and their moral affections more than their gravity,—and, above all, in never permit- intellectual faculties. They are emiting you to believe that you can be of use nently calculated to excel in the accuto them, or instruct or amuse them. They rate sciences. They are more actuatspeak, as well as think, ill of foreigners; ed, in their exertions and inquiries, and that which is valued by foreigners, is by ideas of utility, than by that undealways inferior to that which is found among fined ambition, which, although it be themselves,-disdainful silence, large strides, and a supercilious inattention to what is often of the unproductive kind, lingers, passing under their eyes. The vanity of with the last remains of their scholasthe French is not so exclusive. Without tic enthusiasm, about men of a literaseeking to humiliate others, they love to dis. ry turn, even to a pretty late period of play the advantages they have, and some life. In short, every thing that they times even those which they have not; and if convicted of boasting, they laugh among dent marks of “ appropriate probity,

say, or think, or do, bears about it evithe first, provided you do not affect to humble them. Render justice to their bravery, appropriate intellectual aptitude, and and all will be forgiven.

appropriate active talent.

They are greatly more improveable “ An Indian meeting with a Bramin, than men of fancy and feeling, -and asked him, what is it that supports the without seeming to be elated, or conworld ?' Ignorant fellow! where do you scious of any internal excitementcome from? it is an elephant! The arro

make progresses in taste, as well as gance of philosophy has left you in uncer. on the boundless road of mere knowtainty ; and I tell you truth at once.--And the other thanked him, as if he had receiva ledge, which would astonish any one

who observes narrowly and comparés ed a benefit."

attentively. These may suffice as specimens of Such is the influence of a well balthe spirit and execution of this Little anced self-possession, even on the mere Book. Any person who may take it forms of expression, that they someup will find much to amuse and in- times snatch, by chance as it were, "a terest, and nothing to fatigue or dis- grace beyond the reach of art.” The gust him. Those who are of a re- charm of unexpectedness thus produce flecting and speculative turn can get, ed, when we join to it the full and in some of its remarks on life, man- easy sequence of their ideas, enables ners, and literature, enough to excite them, as they already are the heartiest them to very serious thought. M. Say of writers, to become, on occasions, belongs to a class of men for whom without appearing even to attempt it, we have great esteem, and whose nu- the most pleasing also, They are far

#