IRISH LITERATURE. NATIONS, like individuals, seldom retain the good opinion of their neighbours when they cease to respect themselves. Irishmen have so long made a merit of their sufferings-so long endeavoured to convert the reproaches of their enemies into proofs of bad treatment-that the country has been insensibly degraded almost without ever having made an attempt to interrupt the progress of misrepresentation. Whenever she has been charged with ignorance, the falsehood was admitted by implication; for the reply was, 'You may attribute it to the government;' and a similar answer was returned to almost every moral and physical accusation. The consequence of this was at first universal pity, but in the end universal contempt: for pity and contempt are twin-sisters. The government, God knows, was bad enough; but, to cover it with shame and excite the indignation of mankind, it was only necessary to assert the truth-to show to the world that tyranny is impolicy; and prove that profligacy and oppression had not been able to triumph over the human mind; that, notwithstanding centuries of misrule, the people had continued to possess all the attributes of freemen, courage and patriotism, religion, virtue, and learning. Instead of this a very different course was pursued, and one more unpolitic could not have been adopted; it gradually begot a contempt in the mind of other nations, and at length brought the people to believe that this contempt was deserved. The bad effects of this self-degradation are obvious, but in nothing has it been more injurious than as it respected the literary character of the country. After our last number had gone to press, we read in a London literary journal that our publication had been discontinued, in consequence of Ireland being unable to support a single literary periodical. Of this we took immediate notice; but how could we blame our cotemporary? He only asserted an opinion generally entertained both in England and Ireland, and thought himself quite correct, though his publication does not reach one-fourth the sale which our Magazine has in Ireland alone. It is thus that pigmies insult giants-cowards brave men-and ignorant nations enlightened ones. It will, we hope, have the effect of arousing the selfrespect of the people of Ireland-of shaining them out of an unworthy silence, and forcing them into an assertion of their own merits. To prove that the charge so often and so confidently made respecting Ireland's inability to support a literary work is founded in error, we have written this essay; and, though we might content ourselves by alluding to the first names in English literature, as a proof of the intellectual character of the Irish people, we shall, on this occasion, take another method, and show that, if Ireland hitherto has had no literary journal, it was because no means had ever been taken to establish a permanent one; and that in fact, no one had ever been started deserving of national patronage. We copy from Walsh's History of Dublin' the following list of all the periodical works which have ever appeared in that city, and have numbered them for the convenience of refer ence: 1. Weekly Advice of Dublin Society 2. Exshaw's Gentleman's Magazine 3. Walker's Hibernian Magazine 4. Baratariana 5. Batchelor 7. Cyclopedian Magazine 10. New Hibernian Magazine 16. Medical Journal 18. Sentimental Magazine 19. Evangelical Magazine 20. Gleaner 21 Union Star 22. Panorama 23. Milesian Magazine 24. Minerva Magazine 25. The New Irish Magazine. Numbers 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 12, 18, and 22,were monthlycompilations from the worst species of English magazines, and several of them obtained a great deal too much patronage: for they continued to be published for several years. Numbers 5, 6, 14, 20, 24, were ephemeral weekly trash or political squibs. Number 13 died, of course; and what became of Numhers 1 and 19 we are unable to say, except that they have long since ceased to exist. Number 4 (Baratariana) appeared in 1770. It was,' says Mr. Walsh, a keen and vigorous attack on the administration of Lord Townsend.' Number 8 (Anthologia) was a monthly work, devoted to antiquities; it contains some articles of merit, but, taken as a whole, it was specially dull and uninteresting. Of Numbers 21, 11, 15, and 16, Mr. Walsh gives the following history: Union Star. This atrocious composition appeared in the year 1797. It was published at irregular intervals, printed only on one side. and was secretly posted during the night in the most conspicuous parts of the city. It commenced with the motto, Perhaps some arm more lucky than the rest may reach his heart, and free the world from bondage," and denounced by name and description such men as were inimical to the cause it advo cated. A reward of seven hundred pounds was offered by government for the author and publisher, but, though well known, he was never avowed. Antiunionist. This appeared in 1779, with a view to oppose the legislative union then in agitation. It displayed some wit, but it seemed to want the energy and spirit which alone give efficacy to opinions in great political discussions. Like the last efforts of the French under Napoleon, the Antiunonist displayed the imbecility of an exhausted subject and worn-out people. 'Irish Magazine This was first published in 1807. It was edited by an extraordinary man of the name of Cox, a gunsmith, whose father, as he says himself, was a bricklayer in the county of Meath. The magazine was almost exclusively matter compiled by himself. It contained biographical notices of the dead, and severe attacks upon the living. The work was a series of scurrility, calumny, and vulgarity; but there was withal a fund of information, in Newgate, with an increased circulation was convicted of a second, and finally agreed to transport himself to America, He has since returned, and enjoys a penand put an end to his magazine in 1815. sion from government. • Medical Journal was first published in 1807. It was the first ever attempted in Dublin, and intended as a receptacle for all medical essays and communications which might be made on the subject; but, notwithstanding the extensive hospitals of Dublin, the rising reputation of the schools of surgery and physic, and the talent supposed to exist in the respective professions, this work could only be supported for Its place is now, in eighteen months. some measure, supplied by "Hospital Reports," two volumes of which appeared in the summer of 1817; one anonymous, and the other under the sanction of the College of Physicians.' Number 23 (Milesian Magazine) was the production of the notorious Dr. Brennan, and came out at intervals. It consisted of abuse of the Dublin physicians, attacks on Cox, and praise of turpentine as a medicine. It had an extensive sale, but was discontinued in consequence of a threatened prosecution. Number 17 (Examiner) appeared in 1816, and continued monthly for nine months. It was sold for two shillings, and contained about half as much matter as our Magazine; for it was printed in large type. It consisted of badly-written reviews, dull political articles, and intolerable poetry. Yet the proprietors, on attempting to revive it, acknowledged that the sale, for some months, more than covered the expense. Such a periodical in London* would never have sold a hundred copies. The last Dublin periodical was the 'New Irish Magazine,' written with great spirit; but, singular to say, the press was never corrected; consequently it appeared with all the original errors of the proof-sheet. Such is the brief history and description of Irish periodicals: several of them, it appears, were mere timeserving publications, and the greater number piracies from English works. Cox's Magazine had an ample sale, and is alone sufficient to prove that Ireland is ready and able to support a. periodical even of dubious claims. It is preposterous, therefore, to say that a strong sense, and a humour and drollery so captivating, that its circulation extended to all parts of Ireland, and continued for some time the only periodical publication, and became even a school-book in some of the hedge schools. The usual number printed and circulated annually amounted to sixty thousand, or about five thousand monthly. The author was convicted of a libel in 1811, continued his magazine while * In London more periodicals have proved unsuccessful, in one year, than in Ireland for the last fifty. there is no encouragement for literature in Ireland because such trash as the above has been discontinued. Their failure reflects the highest credit on the intellectual discernment of the people; for, had they met with patronage, it would evince a strange want of taste and understanding in their readers. It may, however, be asked, what has hitherto prevented the appearance of a periodical work worthy the literary character of the country? The answer is, simply because it had never been attempted until the appearance of the Dublin and London;' and in the next place it may be observed that there were three causes which intimidated persons from such an undertaking. In the first place, the prevalence of an opinion of Ireland's inability to support a work completely deterred the booksellers from having any thing to do with periodicals. We believe there is not an instance of any one in the trade being a proprietor; and individuals, even in London, have never been able to establish a literary journal, when unassisted by the booksellers. This alone would be sufficient to account for the want of such a work in Ireland. The next reason is, the facility of procuring English periodicals at the London price, and the establishment of the Dublin Library and Literary Institution, in both of which all reviews, magazines, &c. are taken in. But probably the most powerful reason was the law, as it operated, until lately, on the Irish publishers. 'It is not unworthy of remark,' say the commissioners on the public revenue in 1822,* that at the time of the Union the copyright act was extended to Ireland, and the Irish publisher was then deprived of the power of reprinting British publications for the supply of the home market. This extension of the law, however just in principle, has had the effect of nearly destroying the trade of publication in Ireland; and the press at this time affords no supply beyond a few tracts *Third Report. of local interest, and some schoolbooks, used exclusively in the country. In this instance, therefore, the effect of the regulation has been wholly to the prejudice of Ireland; she has been deprived of an advantage without receiving an equivalent, and has lost the privilege of separation without acquiring the benefits of union.'+ But, while these impolitic laws were in operation, Irish publishers carried on an extensive trade in Catholic works, large quantities of which, under more than two thousand titles, are continually on sale. Other publishers carried on a singular trade in books peculiar to Ireland. It may be asserted, with truth,' says Mr. Walsh, 'that any defect in the moral state of the peasantry of Ireland does not arise either from their ignorance of letters, or their want of books.We have heard many intelligent and impartial men state it as their conviction that more than a comparative proportion know how to read, and we are assured that the experiment was tried. A certain number was taken indiscriminately from among the privates of an English and Irish regiment of militia, and it was found that a greater proportion of the latter than the former could read out of the book presented to them. We have not been able to ascertain to what shire or county the regiments belonged. From the number of Irish catechisms annually sold, it is inferred by Dr. Stokes that twenty thousand persons in Ireland are able to read their native tongue. The number of sixpenny' or Burton books' annually sold, was formerly immense. Four booksellers in Dublin used to deal exclusively in them, and one had four presses constantly employed, and published on an average fifty thousand annually; be sides these there were presses in Cork and Limerick employed on no other work. It was supposed that in this way three hundred thousand were every year printed and circulated. They were a principal commodityof hawkers + There was a contervailing and draw-back duty of threepence a pound; but, as the expense of obtaining the latter was more than the sum gained, unless the parcel was large, consequently in most instances it was entirely lost. The effect of this was to obstruct the trade; and Mr. Archer said he would rather not get any orders for periodicals, &c. &c. &c. as he could not send them back, if unsold, without paying a duty of threepence per pound.-ED, and pedlars and in every country town they were exposed on tables in the streets for sale, and the markets resembled a Leipsic fair. On the recurrence of a fair it was a practice with children to cry my fairing on you' to whomsoever they knew. The person addressed usually gave some cheap article or small sum of money. To obtain in this way a sixpenny book for a fairing was the great object of young ambition.' Whatever were the moral or literary defects of these books, the eagerness of the Irish peasantry to possess them evinces their love of reading, and shows the fault was not in them, but in the booksellers. These publications are, however, now discontinued, and books of better matter circulated. The intercourse with England is now open, and in the spirit of free trade our publishers have been the first to embrace the advantages it presents. Let Irish publishers imitate their example, and it only requires an effort to enable them to participate in the English market. Twenty years ago a Scotch book could not be sold in London, yet now there exists no prejudice whatever; and the same thing must happen respecting Ireland whenever a Dublin publisher has courage enough to venture into the London market. The silly talk about Irish printers, &c. is not worth a thought they can procure the same types, the same presses, and, if they wish, the same hands. Our Magazine (and we challenge comparison) is the work of Irish compositors: and what is to prevent Irishmen from working as well in Dublin as in London, if supplied with the sam materials? We admit that no boo has yet been printed in Ireland fit for the English market; and we mention it as a reproach to the Irish printers, in the hope that it may have its proper effect. One word now for ourselves: we have demonstrated that Ireland is able to support a literary periodical';. for, though we have as yet been scarcely six months before the public, our prospects both in England and Ireland are most cheering: and we refer to the contents of our present number as an evidence of our endeavours to deserve a continuation of support. We have no apprehension; and, in justice to the literary taste of the Irish people, we could not withhold this statement. Perhaps we should not close this article without alluding to a cotemporary, in somewhat a different walk from ourselves, though not less usefully employed. We allude, of course, to the great Captain of the age, and his Gazette.' Although Rock is not backward in doing justice to his own merits-in fact, though he sometimes acts the part of his own trumpeter-we cannot but acknowledge that we have frequently derived amusement and instruction from his weekly lucubrations, and consider it another proof of the taste for reading in Ireland that this little periodical has obtained an unprecedented sale, of which, by-the-by, it is well deserving; for it contains such a happy variety and piquant humour, that the learned inay peruse it with pleasure, and the peasant with advantage. It having been industriously circulated through England that eleven counties in Ireland were without a single bookseller, we subjoin Mr. Parnell's statement before the commissioners of revenue. We do this to show that, though there are no booksellers, there are books, and probably some individuals in these places would find it their interest to devote themselves exclusively to this trade. The gentlemen who met me this morning, were Mr. Dugdale, Mr. Keene, Mr. Mahon, Mr. Cumming, and Mr. Milliken. I have before me an abstract from the map and post towns in Ireland, prepared by those five gentlemen, who deal very largely, respecting the trade of booksellers in Ireland. I will hand it in ; it has been done in haste, but I believe it is accurate.-[The witness delivered in the same.]-From that paper it will appear, that there are eleven counties in Ireland in which there is not a single bookselier; there may be a certain description of booksellers, but I mean those that are recognised by those in the trade; I wish, therefore, to be correct in this account. I do not mean to say this contains a list of all those who sell books, because hardwaremen and grocers sell books. The common mode of getting books in Ireland, the kind of books the peasantry buy for their children, is through the means of grocers and hardwaremen; they keep a shelf for what they call Burton's, and spelling-books, and almanacks, and books of that kind. They cannot, of course, be considered booksellers.' MODERN AMUSEMENTS. THE amusements to which the bulk of the people in any country appear particularly partial may be taken in general as a tolerably correct standard for judging of the national taste-as a sort of test by which we may decide on the national character. The observation holds good as far as it concerns the majority of our Continental friends. It holds with regard to France, Holland, Germany, and Spain, and probably many other countries. The pastimes of each are distinguished by some peculiar feature that furnishes the intelligent observer with an easy clue to the general temper and disposition of the people. While we venture to judge of our neighbours upon this principle, we must observe that we should feel some uneasiness if we thought that strangers, while in England, were generally disposed to form their opinions on a similar ground. We are afraid the test would be altogether unfavourable, and the result any thing but creditable to the national character. Our favourite amusements are not such as would be likely to convey to the mind of an enlightened foreigner a very high idea of our taste or our civilization-they are not calculated to strike him as very engaging or very amiable features in the character of the people. In fact, the recreations of our prize ring, and the sports of our rat-killing amateurs, with some more of our public follies, have produced a most unfavourable impression upon the minds of many who have visited our shores with highly raised expectations.— These wretched exhibitions are calculated to lower us in the estimation of the good and the wise: they tend to spread through the entire community a spirit of heartless ferocitya disposition to the worst species of idleness-and a taste for gambling of the most unprincipled and unjustifiable description. Under such circumstances it becomes the duty of every one who wishes to support the cause of decency, taste, and morality, to deliver his sentiments freely and fearlessly. We, in our capacity of journalists, shall not hesitate for a moment in denouncing these masternuisances of our time. Tastes, of course, will differ. Many of our readers may see the matter in quite another light-they may even feel hurt at the honest earnestness with which we have pronounced our opinion; but this consideration shall not restrain us: we would sooner even offend than fail in the performance of what we look upon as a duty. In some of the late attempts which have been made to check the abominations of the prize-ring, the constituted authorities of the land had very reasonably calculated upon the aid of the periodical press. It was natural to suppose that men living by the exercise of their literary talent-that men who, from their hourly avocations, are perpetually reminded of the superiority of mind to matter-it was natural to think that such men would willingly endeavour to check the pretensions of the host of vulgar, muttonfisted heroes, who were drawing after them in their career the attention, and the applause that should be given to exalted virtue, or to intellectual superiority. This, however, was an erroneous anticipation. Two or three respectable journals commended the judges and the magistrates for the course they had taken; but the greater number of the London and provincial papers took quite a contrary direction. -Some of the scribes connected with them stood forth in defence of what they styled the Fistic Art :'-they continued day after day to detail the savage encounters that occasionally took place-dwelling upon the circumstances as if delighted with what they described-insulting public taste, and vitiating the language of the country by the introduction of what may be denominated the phraseology of the mob. The only excuse that can be offered in favour of the journalist who devotes his columns to the cause of pugilism is the old one, that those who live to please must please to live.' We are quite willing to admit that those who exist but by the favour of the public are bound to indulge the multitude in many of their prejudices or partialities. We are ready to allow, that, when one or another of these barbarous contests becomes an object of general interest |