ILLUSTRATIVE ENGRAVINGS. UNICORN'S HEAD, 29.-Tread-MILL, 225.-PLAN OF PEVEREL'S CASTLE, 233.-THE MERMAID, 285. A, the article 120. Adersbach, the labyrinth of 250. Adventures 261, 292, 353. Age, the Augustan 209, 218, 226, Algiers, storming of 84. Amusements of the studious 2. Anneslie, the bogle of 207. Antiq. Jeremy 40-replies to 48, 56 Appearances, supernatural 302, 342. Arts, the fine 106, 108, 170, 199, Bible, reading the 124. Biography, singular 338, 370. Bon-mot, religious 197. Canova, Hebe of 252-Life of 323. Deliverance, providential 332 Caps, lady's night 368. Catechism, hints for a 191. Cheese, epigram on Miss 4 Coats, the two 159 Colours, philosophical remarks on, Comet, new 352 Despatch, legal 52 Detraction 387 Dibdin, monument to Charles 347 Dragon, a Sussex 324 Drama, 8, 16, 24, 32, 37, 45, 53, Emery, life of Mr. 219 Frederick the great, anecdote of 280. lines to a 140 Friends, the meeting of two 165 Frog, usefulness of the 148 Garden, botanical 152, 160, 166, Garrick, anecdote of 51 Gas, from coal tar, to make 87- Gascon, the farmer's wife and the Genius, 47, 49, 129-Criticism and Gilding, factitious 91 Glenshee, Kate of 186 Gold-Coin, ode to an Indian 196 Gough, lines on Mr. 28 Gout, cure for the 164 Grammar School, the 5, 288, 296,, Grammar, remarks on Cobbett's Grasshopper, sign of the 96, 112 Gratitude, an ode 84 Grave, my brother's 260 Greece, slavery of 244 Green, Handel and Dr. 197 Greenland, Scoresby's voyage to 283; Guillotine, execution by the 165 Half-Hangit, the 273 Halifax, Marquis of 219 Engines, steam 60, 155, 189, 340, | Handel, anecdote of 285 Englishmen, eminent 302 Epigrams, 4, 20, 36, 164, 204, 252 Head, advantages of having no 239 › Epistle, poetic 371 Establishment, forming an 200 Harvest Home 365 Hay-making 212 Examination, a critic's course of Herculaneum, destruction of 81 141, 149 Executions, Fenelon on 140 Family, the holy 373 Fare thee well, 204 Farmer, anecdote of Dr. 13 Heroine, chivalrous 211 Hill, Halidon 182-Bunker's 333 Historians 374 Holland, manners in 131 Home, lines to 268 Hope, sonnet to 156 Horry, anecdote of Colonel 197 Human Life, thread of 244, 316. Imrie, anecdote of Rev. R. 21 Indiana, extraordinary cave in 50 Inebriation, letter on 22 Infant, lines to my 28-epitaph on Integrity, patriotic 229 Islands, account of Shetland 15 James, anecdotes of King 243, 253 Jews, the 172 Johnson, character of Dr. 203 Junius, Cobbett's opinion of 124 Justice, Turkish 76-criminal 306 Keppel, anecdote of admiral 132 Klaus, legend of Peter 47 on the death of a 308 Leaf, the talipot 287 Learning, magisterial 340 Library, Bonaparte's 311 Life, real 111-anecdote in high 357 artificial 4 Literature, extracts from curiosities Live, the way to 46 London, Henry V, entry into 135 lines on 244 Love, definition of 28, 284, 340, 364 Lovers, the unfortunate 108 Lucy, the lament of 109 M. lines to 268 Machinery, curious 23, 216 Maestricht, subterraneous vaults at 343 Marian, lines to 20-A fragment 158 178, 199, 318 Mason, the last sonnet of 4 Mathews, lines to Mr. 212-In Ame- rica 328 Matrimony, the hopes of 321 Mausoleum, the 141 Maxims 156 Meadows, Chertsey 271 Mecklenburg, superstitions of 376 October, address to 196 Olha, a Russian sketch, 279 Orford, anecdotes of Lord 37 Rhyme and Reason 263 Riches, the use of 286 Study 113 Suett, Dickey 284 Sufferers, protestant, 59 Summer, address to 196 Superstition, anecdotes of 45, 277, Swedenborg, defence of 200 Taste 4, 97-Genius and 106 Tattle, table 205 Tea, analysis of 21-Remarks on 139 Tear, the 36-A 92 Tell-tale, curing a 325 Tempers, unsuitableness of 308 Thalia, lines to 100 Thoughts, evening 348 Ring, Mary Q. of Scots' 4.-the 182 Thunder-storm, lines during a 164 Rolandseck, bermitage of 368 Rookery, the 174 Rose, lines to the 28 Ruby, effect of heat on the 197 Sabbath, lines on the 220, 340 Time, the third 139-An ode to 356 Tobacco, King James on 144 Town, alterations in the 292 Trade, antiquity of the slave 333 Salter, letters relative to Mr. 120, 136 Twin, extraordinary 37 Sardanapalus 9 Savage, gratitude of a 317 Scene, a state 155 Scrapiana 99, 115, 131, 149, 165, 189, 252, 267, 277, 283, 290, 301, 341, Smatterer, mistakes of a 287 Snuff-box, singular 288 Songs 4, 12, 28, 44, 76, 108, 140, 148, Sorrow, the man of 348 Spencer, wealth of Sir John 95 Sports, a cockney's rural 353, 366 Stael, Madame de 316 Stenography 260, 272, 280, 288, 293, Umbrellas 365 Unicorn, account of the 29 Unseen, the 309 Upsal, university of 287 Vandenhoff, letter of Mr. 152 Verses, query respecting, 22, 29- Visit, morning 159-Christmas 305 Vinegar, raspberry 195 Violet, apostrophe to a 68 Volatile, portfolio of 181 Volcanoes 81, 89, 103, 120, 126 Vow, the 156 Waits, origin of 365 Walk, lines on an evening 44 Waters, Dalton on 144 Watty, letter from 301 War, the Peninsular 378 Wilkie, paintings by 106, 170 Wine and walnuts 190, 194, 202, 210, Wisdom and beauty 220 Worse, something still 124 Wylie, extract from Sir A. 31 Zaris, specimens from 276 Zion, songs of 310 THE first number of the MANCHESTER IRIS is most respectfully submitted to public attention. We present it without any parade of invidious distinction, or of prospective superiority; resting its sole claim for support, on our determination-to enrich it from every ordinary source of valuable information and rational entertainment,-to use our utmost influence in obtaining ORIGINAL Literary and Scientific communications,-to pledge ourselves for its RESPECTABILITY and PERMANENCY,-and that our vigilance and attention, in conjunction with our means and energies, shall be incessantly directed towards the perfection of a miscellany, that may be at once a credit and an advantage to the town, and a source of amusement and edification to those who favour us with their patronage: Attached to no exclusive interest, we shall, as far as lies in our power, select and procure whatever may tend to promote the happiness and improvement of society; without entering into the prejudices, or peculiar opinions, which frequently obscure the virtues, and contract the understanding, of even the erudite and benevolent. Arrangements have been made which will, we hope, ensure us a tolerably regular supply of ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS: and every attention will be paid to those Correspondents who may be obligingly disposed to assist us in this very important department.-Literary and Entertaining Compositions, Poetic Effusions, and useful Observations and Queries, are respectfully solicited; and shall at all times obtain attention.-In these departments, we expect, frequently to exhibit such specimens of the taste, talent, and ingenuity of our fair townswomen, as cannot fail to excite a happy emulation in persons of refined and cultivated minds. In our SELECTIONS from expensive or popular works, we shall be careful to cull those PRICE 34d. Flowers of Poetry and Elegant Literature, | of anonymous critics--and their deficiency in which delight by their beauty, and improve by system, exemplification, and becoming defertheir style and tendency. Under the article BIOGRAPHY, we hope to enrich our work, occasionally, with sketches of the lives of our respected and departed Townsmen-who, by their talent, their integrity, their persevering assiduity, and their laudable enterprise, have acquired honorable distinction, and are now remembered as benefactors to society in general;-to hold up such as a real benefit to the place of their exertions, and as examples worthy the imitation of the rising generation, will be to us a pleasing duty; and, for authenticated articles of this description, we shall feel most grateful. ence. Upon a deliberate examination we cannot but discover in these Weekly, Monthly, and Quarterly Inquisitors, a lamentable ignorance of human nature, and an arbitrary assumption in judgement and decision, that are pitiable and unjustifiable; as well, as an evasive unsatisfactory criticism, that is frequently productive of effects contrary to those contemplated and intended. the sentiment ;---wholly unnatural and impure. Can these be eulogized? No! What then? Oh, the critic's assurance-that, aledify-is decisive;---Curiosity dissipates; and, though the piece might entertain, it cannot desire is no more! Indeed!-and is this really It short, as it is our wish to please and to edify, it shall be our endeavour to do so.-We are persuaded, that we shall not want the assistance of those, whose leisure and ability enable them to impart increased interest to our work. And we trust our publication will mani-human nature? fest, that while INDUSTRY and ART, are busily employed in promoting the prosperity of the Town, GENIUS is not remiss in the cultivation of those graces, and mental qualities, which irradiate and adorn its character. FOR THE IRIS. ON CRITICISM. FROM a superficial perusal of the popular Reviews, and more especially, of the Criticisms on those lighter compositions with which the present age abounds; one would naturally conclude, that, as regards society in general, the exercise of individual judgement was discontinued; or rather, gratuitously relinquished in favour of a few periodical writers, whose implicit confidence in their own discernment, and magisterial air in the inculcation of their own opinion, appear to be their chief and only requisite qualifications. This view would be corroborated by the increased and increasing number of Reviews---the invidious declamation, and sophistical argument, There is nothing more common with this description of writers, than pretensions to a nice discrimination--a discrimination, which is mostly too speculative for any other brain than that exercising the imaginary power. TASTE and MORAL FEELING are frequently dissevered; and a work is eulogized for a display of the author's attainments and proficiency in the former, whilst it is strongly declaimed against and irrevocably proscribed, for a total dereliction from, or hostility to, the latter!--This may be designated tasteful, oratorical, and potential, criticism; but, it is surely somewhat too refined, and rather dogmatic! To be master of a 'classical,' elegant,' fascinating,' style, is certainly desirable; and there are few, who would not make intense and vigorous efforts to attain it: but, the work in which this enviable treasure may be found, is, in a little time, denounced as being derogatory from social, domestic, and individual, rectitude and happiness! Now, if we inquire into the human mind, we shall, with very little difficulty, ascertain it's propensity to appreciate it's own strength, and to confide in it's own energy. The reasoning occurs--" Is not society much vitiated? Do I not behold irregularities, and, unavoidably notice obscenities, which must be, at least equal, in moral deformity, to any in this 'ele |