disagreed to. In the amendment providing for the compensation of officers who would suffer loss from the passing of the Bill, an alteration was made to the effect that the Lords of the Treasury should fix the amount of compensation as under the English Bill. The further consideration of the Lords' amendments was then postponed till to-morrow.

Aug. 3.-On the order of the day being read for the Committee on the Pensions Bill, the several clauses of the Bill were agreed to, the House resumed, and the report was ordered to be brought up on Monday.-On the motion of Lord John Russell for resuming the consideration of the Lords' amendments to the Irish Municipal Bill, Mr. Ball" objected to that part of the amendments by which charitable trusts were to continue to be vested in the present corporations during their lives, or until Parliament should otherwise determine," and moved that the Committee disagree from that amendment. Lord Morpeth proposed to alter the clause thus :-" No persons, except members of the united church, shall be appointed by the Lord Chancellor trustees for trusts connected with the united church." This amendment was agreed to. The other clauses, up to 161, inclusive, were agreed to; after which "several new clauses were proposed by Lord Morpeth, for the purpose of giving power to certain towns, not included in the Act, to apply the provisions of the Act of the 9th of George IV.," which were immediately agreed to. After some further discussion, a committee was appointed to draw up reasons for dissenting from the. Lords' amendments, which were ordered to be stated in a conference with the Lords. -The Affirmation Bill, which extends the exemption from taking an oath to all those who had ever been at any period of their lives Quakers or Moravians, was passed through a committee. The Oaths Validity Bill went through a stage.-The Irish Spirit Licenses Bill was committed, and the committee to sit again on Monday. Mr. Rice obtained leave to bring in a Bill to repeal the Four-and-a-half per Cent. Duties.

Aug. 6.-The Pensions Bill was read a third time.-The Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster Bill was read a second time.-The Duchy of Cornwall's Possessions Bill was withdrawn for the present session by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.-On consideration of the Lords' amendments in the Benefices Pluralities Bill, the restora tion of clause 3rd, struck out by their Lordships, was moved by Mr. Aglionby, and negatived by a majority of 54 to 28.—The Lords' amendment, substituting 3001. per anuum for 150l. as the limit of pluralities, was negatived, and the original limitation reinstated. The other amendments were then agreed to.-The Duchy of Cornwall Tin Duties Bill was read a second time.-Several amendments were then made in the Lords' amendments of the Hackney Carriages (Metropolis) Bill, and the Bill was ordered to be returned to their Lordships.—The Spirit Licenses (Ireland) Bill passed through committee without amendment.

Aug. 7.-Lord Morpeth brought in a Bill to restrain the alienation of corporate property in Ireland, which was read a first time.-Mr. Shaw brought in a Bill to provide compensation for certain officers of the corporation of Dublin, which was read a first time. The Exchequer Bills (Public Works) Bill, and the Four-and-a-Half per Cent. Duties Bill passed through Committee. The Lords' amendments to the Royal Exchange Rebuilding Bill were agreed to.-The Slave Trade Treaties Bill, and the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster Bill, went through Committee.-The Cornwall Tin Duties Bill also passed through Committee.

Aug. 8.-On going into the orders of the day, Mr. D. W. Harvey moved for the discharge of the Committee on St. Saviour's (Southwark) School Bill sitting on Thursday, which was agreed to.-The reports of the Consolidated Fund Bill, (with the appropriation clause,) the Exchequer Bills Bill, the Exchequer Bills Public Works Bill, the Four-and-a-Half per Centum Duties Bill, the Slave Trade Treaties Bill, the County Treasurers Ireland Bill, Coal Trade (London, &c.) Bill, Church Building Acts Amendment Bill, and the Spirit Licenses (Ireland) Bill, were severally agreed to, and the Bill ordered to be read the third time on Thursday.-The report of the Duchy of Cornwall Tin Duties Bill was brought in and agreed to.The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that it was intended the duties should cease from and after the 10th of October.-The Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster Bill was read a third time and passed.-The Corporation Property (Ireland) Alienation Prevention Bill went through Committee.

Aug. 9.-Mr. F. Shaw brought in a Bill for the better registration of the voters of the University of Dublin, which was read the first and second time, but only with the view of having it printed and circulated.-The several Bills still before the House were then forwarded a stage-the Consolidated Fund ("Appropriation")

Bill, the Exchequer Bills Bill, the County Treasurers (Ireland) Bill, the Church Building Acts Amendment Bill, the Coal Trade (London, &c.) Bill (which is similar to the one that failed on account of some amendments in the Lords,) and the Cornwall Tin Duties Bill, were read the third time, and passed.-The consideration of the Lords' amendments to the Public Records Bill was deferred till to-morrow.The Lords amendments to the Court of Session (Scotland) Bill were agreed to.— The Lords afterwards requested a conference on the subject of the " Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Bill." This took place. On the return of the Committee for managing it on the part of the Commons, Lord John Russell stated what had taken place, and handed in the "reasons" that had been delivered on the part of their Lordships, adding that some of the amendments and rejections were such, their Lordships persisting in adhering to them, that he could not propose to the House to adopt them. He moved that the reasons be taken into consideration “ that day three months"-a motion for which Mr. O'Connell "begged leave most respectfully to thank her Majesty's ministers.-The motion was carried without a division, and the "Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Bill" is consequently lost for the present session.

Aug. 10.-The Dublin University Right of Voting Bill was read a second time. The Private Bill Deposits Bill and the Spirit Licenses (Ireland) Bill were read a third time and passed. The Lords' amendments to the Public Records Bill were agreed to.-Messengers from the Lords announced that their Lordships had agreed to the amendments of the Commons on the Schools (Scotland) Bill, and returned the Irish Tithe Bill with amendments.

Aug. 13.-The Cirencester Hundred Court Bill was postponed till next session. -At a conference with the Lords, the amendments made by the Commons on the Benefices Pluralities Bill were agreed to, with the exception of some in clause A.— The Canada Indemnity Bill was brought down from the Lords, and read a first and second time.

Aug. 14.-On the motion of Lord J. Russell, the Lords' amendments to the Ecclesiastical Appointments Suspension Bill were agreed to.—At a conference with the Lords, the Imprisonment for Debt Bill was agreed to with some amendments.-The Canada Indemnity Bill went into Committee, and having passed through that stage without amendments, was reported immediately, and ordered for a third reading tomorrow. -The Lords' amendments on the Registration of Elector's Bill were then considered and agreed to, with the exception of that which relates to the voting of trustees, and which was dissented from by a majority of 43 to 25.-An amendment on the Imprisonment for Debt Bill, fixing the commencement of its operation on the 1st of October, was agreed to.

Aug. 15.-The St. Saviour's Grammar School Bill was read a third and passed.— On the motion of the Attorney General, the Lords' amendments to the Personal Diligence (Scotland) Bill were agreed to.-On the question that the Canada Indemnity Bill be read the third time, Mr. Leader inquired what were the intentions of the Government respecting the twenty-three individuals, fifteen of whom had been sent to Bermuda, and eight of whom had been condemned to death.-Lord J. Russell said that he must decline giving any answer.-Mr. Finch moved, as an amendment, that the Bill be read a third time that day three months.-After some debate, followed by entreaty not to press the amendment, it was withdrawn, and the Bill read the third time and passed.- On the motion of the Attorney General, the further consideration of the Lords' amendments on the Registration of Electors Bill was postponed till that day three months.

Aug. 16. The Speaker took the chair at 20 minutes past one o'clock.—Sir R. Inglis congratulated the right hon. gentleman in the chair, and the House generally, on the termination of a session of almost unexampled duration, toil, and fatigue. He found that the House had now sat 173 days, during which no less than 1,134 hours had been occupied with public business.-Sir F. Burdett had been very desirous that some measure for the improvement of the Poor Law Amendment Act might have been passed before the termination of their sittings, but that not having been done, he trusted the country gentlemen would give their attention to the subject during the ensuing vacation, in order to see what could be done to remedy the evils so loudly complained of.

At 20 minutes past 2 o'clock the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod summoned the House to attend her Majesty in the House of Lords. The House accordingly went, and after some time returned, when the Speaker, sitting at the table, having read her Majesty's Speech, the members separated.

Arboret

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All Mr. hibited all lustrated i to all, in sl be a valua given in de mine for ref The prac ing, &c., are equally corr book, and a greatest bea bery and pla kind of know the general especially wa planting, in a picturesque, the ill-shaped Mr. Loudon grow as well i and enregister of making its Among the at which the Among the am ary matter, wh was, or who m these times. In every resp an admirable w

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Oct. 1838.

THE

METROPOLITAN.

OCTOBER, 1838.

LITERATURE.

NOTICES OF NEW WORKS.

Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum; or, the Trees and Shrubs of Britain, Pictorially and Botanically Delineated, &c. &c.; with their Propagation, Culture, Management, &c. By J. C. LOUDON.

All Mr. Loudon's books are useful and excellent. In this work are exhibited all the varieties of shrubs and trees in the kingdom, which are illustrated in upwards of 2,500 wood-cuts. To the landed proprietor, and to all, in short, who desire an acquaintance with vegetation, this book will be a valuable assistant. Every information connected with the subject is given in detail, and the volumes may therefore be considered as a perfect mine for reference, and as a most valuable addition to natural history.

The practical instructions about soils, planting, transplanting, multiplying, &c., are admirably clear and intelligible, and, no doubt, will be found equally correct and useful by those who adopt them. By the aid of this book, and a little study and practice, any gentleman may learn to give the greatest beauty to his grounds, be they a spacious park, or merely a shrubbery and plantation of two or three acres. The proper diffusion of the kind of knowledge imparted by Mr. Loudon will immeasurably improve the general aspect of the beautiful country we live in. What we more especially want are a variety of tall evergreen trees, and an increased planting, in all directions, of the Oriental plane, one of the richest, most picturesque, and poetical of trees. The plane-tree we have at present is the ill-shaped, graceless, American species, which has never got acclimate. Mr. Loudon asserts that the plane of Western Asia will, on the contrary, grow as well in England as in its native climate. We will bless his name, and enregister it among the benefactors of his country, if he be the means of making its propagation general.

Among the many useful things in the volumes there is the market price at which the different species of trees and shrubs can be purchased. Among the amusing portions is a deal of poetical, traditional, and legendary matter, wherein, if we mistake not, we recognise the hand of one who was, or who might have made herself, one of the best female writers of these times.

In every respect the "ARBORETUM ET FRUTICETUM BRITANNICUM is an admirable work, and one that we can most earnestly recommend.

Oct. 1838.-VOL. XXIII.-NO. XC.

F

Aristomenes, it will be recollected, figures in early Grecian history as a general in the first Messenian war, which commenced B.c. 743, and lasted nineteen years. This victorious commander was the first to rouse his countrymen to a sense of their degradation; and by his skill and enterprise they were enabled to throw off the yoke of the Spartans, under which they had so long laboured. With these materials, and some trifling additions, an entertaining and instructive tale has been produced. Of Greece, in general, at this early period, the author says—

“The fabolition of monarchy in Greece, soon after the Trojan war, was, singular as it must appear, a means of promoting the intellectual power of the people, though attended by many temporary evils. To trace the formation of natural or individual character is a difficult task; yet it is quite evident that Greece owes all its glory to a sudden change in the form of its government at an early period of its history. When the authority of kings was used to promote licentiousness, and to retard the progress of virtue-when kings themselves followed the dictates of ambition and avarice, trampling upon the liberties of the subject,--the patrician and plebeian rose together to shake off the yoke of oppression. A vicious monarchical government thus fell lifeless in every Grecian state, except Sparta, before the independent and illustrious virtue of the people. The evils immediately following were great; but as they were only produced by the excitement resulting from a sudden change, a more healthy state of public feeling quickly succeeded, and developed itself in acts of valour and magnanimity which established the national sovereignty in arms, arts, and literature."

Although classical tales are proverbially difficult to write, and very hard to read, Aristomenes will stand a good chance of popularity. The style is simple, straightforward, and nervous. The author trips now and then in his costume and classicalities, but, on the whole, the story is in keeping, and the ancient Greek tone well preserved. We should deem him a person likely to do much better things. He has a fine vein of moral feeling. Some of his occasional reflections on the hopes and destinies of men are true and beautiful, and beautifully expressed. We would recommend him to choose his subjects nearer home and our own times, for people are as apt to exclaim now, as in the days of that very French Horace,

"Qui nous delivra des Grecs et des Romains ?"

Cogitations of a Vagabond, by Authority of the King's Commission, during the Occupation of Paris and subsequently. Collected by the Author of "Frank Orby."

Under this rather strange title the author discourses upon the military operations in France from the return of Napoleon Buonaparte from Elba to the re-establishment of the Bourbons, dotting his serious theme, as he goes along, with all kinds of quirks and quiddities.

"Travellers," he says, "have been often described, and their objects applauded or sneered at, according to the fancy or tastes of readers. It would appear that these interesting vagabonds in the progress of time change their character; the old species disappear, and new seedlings start from the soil. Sterne describes the travellers of his day, as divided into the idle, the inquisitive, the lying, the proud, the splenetic, and the sentimental; of these, only the first two at present exist. Lying, now-adays, is quite hors de combat ; no person will take the trouble of inventing what can be so easily proved to be untrue. The proud and splenetic seldom give vent to their bile

in travelling, because nobody cares for them. As to sentimental travellers, I do not believe that such an animal ever existed, and that Larry Sterne's pretensions to that distinction were all fudge, or mere affectation. The varieties of travellers now-a-days are as great as those of geraniums, strawberries, or apples. A few specimens of misanthropy, and its antithesis; geologists, with endless numbers of all other ologists, antiquarians, classical tourists, and a whole budget of sketchers, who have prowled into every dark avenue of the continental towns to paint a ricketty garret, stuck on to the walls of a cathedral, or a dirty old woman in a picturesque night-cap. dabbling in a wash-tub. There are the utilitarians, the men of statistics, speculators in railways and steamboats; others who go abroad for the purpose of gambling, and a species of traveller which Yorick never dreamt of in his philosophy —a man running over a given quantity of foreign land and water, to qualify him for admission to a club. Then there is the whole tribe of bookmakers, male and female, who have not left a spot in Europe untouched, have gradually migrated to Asia and America, and, unless there be discovered in this age of invention some method of getting to the moon or planets, there will be nothing left for travellers to write about."

This is all very well in its way, but if we can only look for novelty from such an invention, we may look long enough. But it is our belief that novelty is to be found everywhere by those who know how to look for it. The very ground chosen by the author has been trodden over and over again in all sorts of ways; yet he has contrived to give an air of novelty to many things in it. His travelling days were stirring times, and as

such will ever be remembered with enthusiasm-will ever form the subject of debate and controversy, and serve to paint a moral and adorn a tale. In the present work there is much to interest the general reader, interspersed as it is with numerous anecdotes, and no person, we should think, will regret the time bestowed upon its perusal. There is, as usual in such flying moralists, a too confidential tone pervading the remarks, though they are often given in an off-hand, sensible manner, that is creditable to the author. A few brief extracts must suffice. Speaking of the Hôtel des Invalides as an asylum for wounded and disabled seamen, similar to our own Chelsea Hospital, he says

"I have often thought, that had I been placed in similar circumstances, and had merited a pension, how much more I should have preferred having my shilling a day to do what I like with, and go where I pleased, to be locked up in a palace, and regularly fed, and put to bed, like an animal in a menagerie; in place of repeating a twenty-times-told tale to the same circle of acquaintance, or listening to theirs, to wander about in search of relations, or long-lost friends, settled in trade or business, and to their attentive ears give the history of a chequered life, and fight my battles o'er again."

However admirable and imposing to the imagination are Les Invalides, Chelsea, Greenwich, the inmates of those palaces for the poor servants of the country are far from enjoying the average amount of human happiness, and we believe that our author has hit upon some of the causes of this. But the real great cause, as indicated by a recent writer, is, that the pensioners have nothing to hope or fear, want occupation, are alone in a crowd, friendless among multitudes, desolate in the midst of worldly comfort.

Some of our author's reflections on the Russian troops are excellent, and, to our own knowledge, correct. We shall mention, however, that we have seen some Russian regiments-not of the guards, but line-that were above the standard height of most European nations. As for the crack regiments of the guards, horse as well as foot, they are giants— the tallest men we ever saw under arms, but not the best made. All are slow-very slow, yet not slovenly, but rather over-precise in their manœuvres. After alluding to the grand review got up by the Emperor Alexander in the plains of Champagne in 1815, when it was remarked