BIOGRAPHICAL PARTICULARS OF CELEBRATED MR. WIFFEN. THERE are circumstances in the life of this pleasing and elegant poet and amiable man which call for a peculiar notice, independent of the general themes of praise which his literary character exhibits, in common with brother-votaries of the Muses. Mr. Wiffen was a member of the Society of Friends, born of a very respectable family in the middle class. He was designed for the scholastic profession, and for some years actively engaged in it; but the literary capabilities which his hours of leisure developed were not long in bursting through all obstacles of accidental circumstances. His first poetical effusions were contributed to a volume under the title of " Poems by three Friends." These were succeeded by, perhaps, his happiest and most spirited effort—a series of stanzas, in allusion to the portraits at Woburn Abbey, in the first topographical publication of a juvenile friend, which were afterwards reprinted, with the title of " The Russells." A subsequent perusal of Clarendon induced him to take a more favourable view of the character of Charles I.; and mature experience prompted him, on a republication, whilst retaining the irrefragable praise of Lord William Russell, to soften some general rather anti-regal expressions. Mr. Wiffen was, in his confirmed character, a liberal and candid Whig; a Reformer, but an attached friend of all our valuable and sterling established institutions. In 1819 appeared his "Aonian Hours:" the "lilied banks" of a neighbouring wood, which was often haunted by beauty and talent, had for him the inspiring excitement of the groves of Enone or Egeria. "Nobis placeant ante omnia sylvæ." In pleasing reflections of literary survey and retrospect, ardent social feelings, refined lone-thoughts, and the influence of" universal Pan," under a purer appellation, this volume has few superiors. A translation of the prince of Spanish poets, Garcilasso (surnamed De la Vega, from a military exploit in the Vega, a plain of Grenada), was his next work, completed in 1822. He has smoothly rendered his elaborate pastorals, and beautifully given his sonnets and miscellaneous pieces, particularly the ode to the "Flower of Gnide." This volume was elegantly printed, with a portrait of the author, and several wood-vignettes. The biography of the poet is only inferior to his "Life of Tasso;" and there is much in the book to excite the best and most pleasant feelings. His miscellaneous Poems, at various periods, would fill two or three volumes: some of these were published in the Annuals, "Time's Telescope," &c. &c. Among these are translations from Catullus, Propertius, and other Latin authors. But these, and all his other works, including a poem on the pathetic fortunes of the devoted classical daughter, Julia Alpinula, were only subsidiary or introductory to his "Magnum Opus;" for, in the spirit of the Roman sophist, he had " dared and effected a great work, which should be for ever his own his "TASSO." By this he will live. It was the work of six or seven years; and the greater part of the hours devoted to the first half of the translation were stolen from sleep, and spent by the midnight-oil. Soon after the appearance of his " Aonian Hours," the attention of the Duke of Bedford, a steady and well-informed patron of talent and the arts, was excited towards this accomplished native of his own domain, and he made him a liberal offer of becoming his private secretary and librarian. Mr. Wiffen's bark was now anchored in a delightful and princely harbour, secure from all the storms of life. That cruel annoyance of literature, the "res angusta domi," was banished, even in imagination; and he was free to expand his talents, unchecked by the drawback so forcibly described by some Roman poet— "Nil habet paupertas durius in se, Quàm quod ridiculos homines facit." The congeniality of a free indulgence in a rich and constantly increasing library, with the household presence of splendid collections of statuary, painting, and virtu, to his tasteful mind, need not be enlarged upon. The duke's allowance was liberal; and, on his marriage, he furnished him with a pleasant house and grounds contiguous to his park. Here the poet enjoyed full content; and speaks with sincere pleasure of "His peaceful home-his garden, where the bee The duke's patronage-which was accompanied by a high degree of confidence, not unattended by esteem, on the part of Lord John Russell, who appreciated Mr. Wiffen's talents-may be said to have been truly Augustan; and it is earnestly to be wished that it may not be forgotten as an example to others "Sint Mecænates, non deerunt, Flacce, Marones." After resting on his oars for a short time, he commenced his "History of the Russell Family." On this, as well as his "Tasso," he bestowed the ap-, plication of several years; and the same result was produced, viz. a fulness, a richness of polish, and a mass of recondite illustrations. He personally searched the most curious records of Normandy; and has succeeded in establishing for this family a high and ancient origin,-having traced them to heathen princes three hundred years previous to the conquering Rollo thence accompanied them in their distinguished stations in Neustria, and related their exploits in the crusades; and subsequently brought them with William to "merry England." Their history, up to the present time, is enriched with many curious documents, not only of immediate interest to one connected with the family, but having a very extensive bearing upon the general history of England. The distinguishing feature of Mr. Wiffen's mind was suavity; and it is his highest praise that this will always be the leading circumstance of recollec tion amongst his friends. How happily different from the reminiscences of the churl, the cold, and the cruel! The object which rises most prominently on the ocean of memory, if not, as it is here, the most valuable, is always the most distinguishing characteristic of that which sleeps under its waters-for a time, but not for ever. Though not precisely holding the office of almoner, he was always ready to point out cases of merit in distress to the answering hand of the Duke of Bedford, His counsel was always diligently given when he thought it might serve; and he took much interest in furthering the career of younger and more inexperienced authors. His friendship and kindness of heart always shone pre-eminently in his epistolary correspondence. Those who regret his early and easy death, will find a lasting satisfaction in reflecting that the tenor of his latter years was gilded by the sunshine of prosperity and content-that "the lot was cast unto him in a pleasant place, and he had a goodly heritage."-(Abridged from the Literary Gazette.) DR. VALPY. The well-known master of Reading school, died at the age of eighty-two. He was a native of Jersey, educated at Pembroke College, Oxford, and took his D.D. degree in 1792. Dr. Valpy was the author of many classical, religious, poetical, and miscellaneous works, from the year 1772 till within a comparatively late period. Few men have been more respected throughout a long and an eminently useful life. Dr. Valpy was a very early member of the Literary Fund Society, and, except Alderman Birch, the senior member of the council. MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. Married.] Lady Elizabeth Toler, eldest daughter of Lord Norbury, to the Hon. Lawrence Parsons, son of Lord Rosse. At St. George's, Hanover-square, Captain Codrington, Coldstream Guards, son of ViceAdmiral Sir Edward Codrington, to Mary, second daughter of Levi Ames, Esq., of the Hyde, Hertfordshire. At St. Mary's, Marylebone, Captain Daniell, of the Coldstream Guards, to Caroline Harriet, daughter of the late Luke Crohan, Esq. At St. James's, Westminster, Edward James Dyson, Esq. to Laura Sophia, youngest daughter of the late Joseph Langton, Esq., of Farnham Lodge, Bucks. At Bury St. Edmund's, Joseph Burrell, Esq., of the Middle Temple, Barrister, to Elizabeth, third daughter of Benjamin Greene, Esq., of Bury. At Christ Church, Marylebone, Captain Sir Richard King, Bart., to Marianne, only daughter of James Barnett, Esq., of Dorset-square. At Frankfort-on-the-Maine, Henry George Kuper, Esq., Attaché to his Majesty's Legation, to Mary, widow of the late Stephen Cumberlege, Esq. At Kensington, J. H. Whiteway, Esq. to Frederica Gimbert, daughter of the late Capt. William Wilkinson, of the Hon. East India Company's Service. Died.]-Aged 77, the Rev. J. Robertson, Vicar of Great Bentley and Brightlingsea, in the county of Essex. At Pencarrow, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the late Sir Arscott O. Molesworth, Bart., aged 24 years, and sister of Sir Wm. Molesworth, Bart., M.P. for East Cornwall, At Park-crescent, Worthing, Anna Maria, widow of the late General William Stapleton, in the 77th year of her age. At the East India College, Herts., in the 65th year of his age, David Shea, Esq. At Fairfield, near Manchester, in the 79th year of his age, the Rev. Christian Ignatius Latrope. At Ham Common, the Hon. Frances, relict of Admiral Sir John Sutton, K.C.B. At his house in Upper Grosvenor street, General Milner, late Lieutenant-Colonel of the Scots Fusilier Guards. In Bryanstone-square, Maria, daughter of the late Sir James and Lady Catherine Graham. At Crawley's Hotel, Albemarle-street, Lord Viscount Lake, in the 64th year of his age. At Worthing, Charles Beckford Long, Esq. At Hombourg en Mont, Frankfort-sur-Mein, Arthur George Lambert, the youngest son of Lieut.-Colonel Sir Charles Dance, K.H. PROVINCIAL OCCURRENCES IN THE COUNTIES OF ENGLAND, AND IN WALES, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND. LONDON. THE official statements which have been published relative to the assets and liabilities of the Bank of England, and also the quarterly return of the circulation of the private and joint-stock banks throughout the country have given much satisfaction to the monied and mercantile interests in the city. It appears from these documents that the directors of the Bank of England, as well as the managers of the country banking establishments, have not in any way given encouragement to the many projects which are afloat for the formation of railway and other companies. The increase in the last quarter in the circulation of country banks, which does not exceed 313,000/., is considered to be no more than sufficient to meet the wants of the mercantile interests in conducting the trade and commerce of the country, the active state of which fully bore out the representations upon this subject, made in Parliament by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Reports which have been prevalent, of a great extension of the circulation of the country banks have therefore been completely negatived by the documents referred to. The augmentation in the issues of country notes has been confined almost wholly to the joint-stock banks. The estimate for the re-construction of the interior of Newgate, with separate cells, agreeably to the plans submitted to the inspectors of prisons, is 70,000. The average number of prisoners committed to Newgate for the last five years has been 2978; the least was in 1834; the greatest number in 1832. DEVON. A Roman family sepulchral vault, seven feet square, arched over, and containing five coarse strongly-baked cinerary urns, arranged in niches round its interior, has been discovered behind the Three Tuns Inn, Fore-street. These the workmen ignorantly broke, supposing them to contain hidden treasure, but the urns yielded simply bones and ashes; a skull was found at some distance from the urns.-Exeter Paper. HAMPSHIRE. Important to Shipowners.-The following resolution was agreed to at a meeting of the town council of the borough of Portsmouth:-"Resolved, that such cargoes as may be landed at the port from ships which put in from damage at sea, and which shall subsequently be reshipped, shall be free of wharfage and all other dues." KENT. Interesting Discovery. Recently, by the accidental stroke of a spade, in dig. ging away the soil for the purpose of repairing the foundation of part of the old buildings at Allington Castle, (formerly one of Sir Thomas Wyatt's mansions,) was discovered a thin iron chest of considerable size, greatly corroded, and containing a mixture of earth and matter produced by decayed paper and parchment. In carefully handling and examining the present contents, one small fragment of parchment alone was found to be in anything like a whole condition. After a patient and skilful process of damping and, pressing it was found possible to decipher a part of what had been written on it, and this title has been plainly made out:- The Chronicell of Giles Howstede, Bror. of the Holy Bror. hd. of Sct. Radgunde at Langton, consarning Kent land." Wreck of the Cameleon.-Another attempt is about to be made to raise the hull of this ill-fated vessel by Mr. Kemp, who, having obtained a patent for the invention of his buoying principle, has received permission from government to make an experiment on the Cameleon; and in the event of its proving successful, the wreck, as it may be raised, will become the reward of the enterprise. Mr. Kemp's apparatus consists of a number of empty puncheons, each open at one end, and having a bar of iron across, by which, after being sunk, they are attached to a chain previously passed round the wreck by the divers, who next em ploy themselves in successively applying to each cask the elastic tube through which they are filled by the air pump, and the water consequently expelled. The puncheons thus charged with air acquire a perpendicular position, and are so buoyant as to render certain the raising of any weight proportionate to the number of them employed. The operation of filling the puncheons with air will be comparatively easy in this instance, as, from the favourable circumstance of the wreck lying in less than thirteen fathoms water, little more than two atmospheres will be required, and scarcely any doubts are entertained of the attempt proving successful.-Dover Telegraph. 1.INCOLN. The newly discovered Roman city gateway, disclosed by digging near the castle, has fallen, and become a mass of rubbish. The workpeople endeavoured to prop it upright, but the damp caused by being so many centuries buried had disunited every joint, and the superincumbent pressure forced its fall. An iron head of an arrow, bent and blunt, no doubt by having been shot against the wall, was picked up, also several Roman coins. SUSSEX. Lord George Lennox stated in the House of Commons that the different railroad speculations from London to Brighton had already spent 50,000%. in their contentions with each other, and that twenty-two learned gentlemen of the law held briefs and retainers on the subject. IRELAND. The most deplorable accounts have been received from all parts of the northwest coast of Ireland, especially Sligo and Donegal, of the dreadful state of distress, the absolutely starving condition of the peasantry. The very backward state of the season, and the extreme severity of the weather for months past, have greatly aggravated the misery of the poor people, and accelerated the commencement of the periodical famine this year. THE NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. THE SIRENS AND MERMAIDS OF THE POETS. BY LEIGH HUNT. "LEAVING Ææa on their homeward voyage," says Mr. Keightley, in his excellent Mythology, "Odysseus (Ulysses) and his companions came first to the island of the Sirens. These were two maidens, who sat in a mead close to the sea, and with their melodious voices so charmed those who were sailing by, that they forgot home, and every thing relating to it, and abode there till their bones lay whitening on the strand. By the directions of Circe, Odysseus stopped the ears of his companions with wax, and had himself tied to the mast; and thus he was the only person who heard the song of the Sirens, and escaped. "Hesiod describes the mead of the Sirens as blooming with flowers (ávleμóɛoσa), and says that their voice stilled the winds. Their names were said to be Aglaiophéme (Clear-voice), and Thelxiepeia (Magicspeech). It was feigned that they threw themselves into the sea with vexation at the escape of Odysseus; but the author of the Orphic Argonautics places them on a rock near the shore of Ætna, and makes the song of Orpheus end their enchantment, and cause them to fling themselves into the sea. "It was afterwards fabled† that they were the daughters of the rivergod Achelous, by one of the Muses. Some said that they sprang from the blood which ran from him when his horn was torn off by Hercules. Sophocles calls them the daughters of Phorcys. "Contrary to the usual process, the mischievous part of the character of the Sirens was, in process of time, left out, and they were regarded as purely musical beings, with entrancing voices. Hence Plato, in his 'Republic,' places one of them on each side of the eight celestial spheres, where their voices form what is called the music of the spheres ; and when the Lacedæmonians invaded Attica, Dionysius, it is said, appeared in a dream to their general, ordering him to pay all funeral honours to the new Siren, which was at once understood to be Sophocles, then just dead ‡. "Eventually, however, the artists laid hold on the Sirens, and furnished them with the feathers, feet, wings, and tails of birds §." According to this statement of our best English mythologist, the Sirens were but two. It is not a little surprising, however, that so careful a writer has omitted to notice the various accounts of their number, and the prevailing opinion of its having been three. "Fulgentius and Servius affirm," says Boccaccio, "that the Sirens were † Apollod., i. 3. Pausan., i. 21. * Frag. xxvii. § Mythology of Ancient Greece and Italy. By Thomas Keightley. P. 246. July.-VOL. XLVII. NO. 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