approbation of it, which I can look upon only as ye effect of that Benevolence you have ever been so ready to show to any, who but make it their endeavour to do well. But as a little Rain revives a flower, which too much overcharges and depresses, so moderate praise encourages a young writer, but a great deal may injure him; and you have been so lavish in this Point, that I almost hope (not to call in Question your Judgement in ye Piece) that 'twas some particular partial Inclination to ye Author which carried you so far. This would please me more than I can express, for I should in good earnest be fonder of your Friendship than the World's applause. I might hope too to deserve it better, since a man may more easily answer for his own sincerity than his own Wit. And if ye the highest Esteem built on ye justest ground in ye World, together with Gratitude for an obligation so unexpectedly conferred, can oblige a Man to be ever yours, I beg you to believe no one is more so than, Sir, your most Faithful and obt. servant,

A. POPE.

Our next extract gives the biographer's version of Addison's temperate political consistency, as opposed to Steele's violence, on the peace of Utrecht; and also of a confidential interview with Bolingbroke :

While Addison chid, without being able to moderate, the headlong zeal of his old associate, and lamenting in vain the ruin in which it was contributing to involve him, his own moderation, which was in reality the result of good sense, not indifference, inspired one of the opposite leaders with hopes of his conversion. The value of such an accession to a party now. shaken at once by assaults from without and dissensions within, justified a decided effort; and Bolinbroke, to whom he was previously no stranger, asked of him a confidential interview. They conversed freely together for two hours, but parted with the full knowledge that "they differed toto cœlo in politics." Addison indeed, had long since penetrated into the true character of this accomplished man, but ambitious, resentful, and totally unprincipled politician. Spence relates from Pope, that on Parnell's having been introduced into Lord Bolinbroke's company, and speaking afterwards of the great pleasure he had in his conversation, Mr. Addison came out with his usual expression, "If he had but as good a heart as he has a head," and applied to him that "cankered Bolinbroke" from Shakespeare.

Was Addison the author of "The Drummer?" Our closing extract will present Miss Aikin's reasoning on the question, and exemplify the painstaking and neatness with which she discourses of the merits and honour of her hero.

It was coldly received, although it was said to have been "exquisitely acted;" but Steele, believing it, from the delicacy of its strokes of humour, better fitted for the closet than the stage, published it soon after with a laudatory preface. No hint of the author was given to the public, but Tonson paid what was thought the high price of fifty guineas for the copyright, under the impression that it was by Addison, after whose death Steele appears to have made a direct assertion to that effect. When therefore this comedy

was found to be omitted in Tickell's posthumous edition of Addison's works Tonson complained of having been imposed upon by Steele, who made his defence in that letter to Congreve, already cited, which he printed as an introduction to a second edition of the Drummer. In this piece, after making the general assertion that "no one who reads the preface which I published with it will imagine I could be induced to say so much as I then did, had I not known the man I best loved had had a part in it, or had I believed that any other concerned had much more to do with it than as an amanuensis,”he proceeds to defend this judgment on the ground of internal evidence, affirming that had he known nothing of the circumstances, he should have seen the humour of his friend in every page of it. Then after digressing to some il-founded censures of Tickell's account of the author's delays in the completion of Cato, he thus proceeds: "If I remember right, the fifth act was written in less than a week's time; for this was particular in this writer, that when he had taken his resolution, or made his plan for what he designed to write, he would walk about the room, and dictate it into language with as much freedom and ease as any one could write it down, and attend to the coherence and grammar of what he dictated. I have been often thus employed by him; and never took it into my head, though he only spoke it, and I took all the pains of throwing it upon paper, that I ought to call myself the writer of it. I will put all my credit among men of wit for the truth of my averment when I presume to say, that no one but Mr. Addison was in any other way the writer of the Drummer; at the same time I will allow that he sent for me, which he could always do, from his natural power over me, as much as he could for any of his clerks when he was Secretary of State; and told me, "that a gentleman then in the room had writtten a play that he was sure I would like; but it was to be a secret; and he knew I would take as much pains, since he recommended it, as I would for him." This it will be observed, is no very cogent assertion of Addison's claim to the piece; but we have in corroboration both the plot, which has a striking point of resemblance with that of Rosamond,-there being in each a husband who visits his wife when she believes herself his widow,-and the style, in the humorous scenes, which bears strong marks of Addison. What is still more conclusive, Theobald has recorded, that he himself told him, that he had taken the character of Vellum from the steward in Fletcher's Scornful Lady, to which the similarity is very conspicuous. It might indeed be a joint work; but the total silence of Tickell on the subject during his life, and the fact that no hint to this effect exists among his papers, or in the traditions of his descendants, seems to award the authorship to Addison solely.

NOTICES.

ART. XVI.-Hints to Servants; with twelve Illustrations. By KENNY

MEADOWS.

Not any unworthy version of Swift's celebrated advice to servants. The satire is keenly as well as amusingly pointed by the clever illustrater.

ART. XVII. Felix Summerly's Recreation Hand Book Guides.

Mr. Summerly has writen a series of Hand-books to some of the more remarkable buildings, and most distinguished national exhibitions in this country. "Westminster Abdey," and the "Temple Church" are of the number, there being for several of the subjects of these elegantly got up, and well illustrated works, editions of larger and smaller dimensions and price, to suit the pockets of purchasers. A general observation will hold good of every one of the Guides that we have looked into: the historical notices, the descriptions, explanations, and criticisms, are sufficient; the remarks pertinent and tasteful; and the tone all that could be wished-neither too smart nor too sentimental.

ART. XVIII. A Dream of a Queen's Reign.

Adopting the threadbare fiction of having discovered a manuscript some two centuries old, containing a narrative of the Dream, the author touches on sundry occurrences in Queen Victoria's reign, which appear to him to offer salient points for the display of his humour and a lavish use of compliments to her Majesty. The effort looks like one of labour rather than of spontaneous satire, and is therefore pointless and tiresome.

ART. XIX. The Teeth Physiologically Considered, their Development, Diseases, Preservation, and Replacement.

A little treatise presenting a plain and popular exposition of the matters indicated by the title. We have not met with anything that is very new in it; but that which is stated, has the merit of being sensible and satisfactory, and is altogether removed from quackery.

ART. XX. The Christian Philosopher; or, the Connexion of Science and Philosophy with Religion. Illustrated with engravings. By THOMAS DICK, L.L.D. English Edition.

A revised, corrected, and greatly enlarged edition of a work that has not only obtained extraordinary repute in this country, but in America, where it has been stereotyped. Were it merely the clearness with which it expounds natural science, for the benefit of the general reader, the book would merit all the popularity that it has acquired. It has, however, other and higher excellences; for it plainly and forcibly shews how the study of nature properly pursued, becomes subservient to a knowledge, and the practical interests of revealed religion. Electro-Magnetism, Geology, and some other departments have received that additional attention and illustration in the present edition, which recent discoveries and progress demanded. The work is calculated to be of the most lasting service to two classes: those who despise the study of scripture on, the presumed ground that its doctrines and statements are incompatible with scientific truth; and those, on the other hand, who shun science and the study of the laws of nature, from the dread lest their faith in the sacred records may be thereby staggered.

ART. XXI.

1. The Works of Burns, with Notes and Illustrations.

2. The Book of Scottish Song.

We have received the fourth, fifth, and sixth parts of the former of these publications, and, of the second, parts five to ten inclusive; Messrs. Blackie, quite in accordance with their usual principle and attention, keeping prompt faith with the purchasers of first numbers in regard to regularity of appearance on each succeeding month. We must refer our readers to our Reviews for January and February, for an account of the plan and peculiar attractions of these works. All that was promised continues to be fulfilled; so that when finished, the Burns and the Book of Song, are sure to maintain the superiority laid claim to.

ART. XXII.-Ancient Irish Pavement Tiles;

with Introductory Remarks.

By T. OLDHAM, A.B., F.G.S.S.L. and D.

THIRTY-TWO patterns of figured tiles are here illustrated by engravings "after the originals existing in St. Patricks Cathedral, and Howth, Mellifont, and Newton Abbeys." They are of three distinct kinds, --the Impressed, the Encaustic, where the pattern is produced by a differently coloured substance inlaid, the surface of the tile continuing flat and smooth,

and the pattern in low relief. Into the probable dates of these varieties Mr. Oldham goes at some length; fairly confessing that with regard to the two first at least, there has not yet appeared any positive evidence. However, his researches and judicious inferences from collateral circumstances are to an approximating degree satisfactory. He speaks of the era of the third variety with more assurance, placing their date,―at any rate as regards general use, not before the early part of the sixteenth century, instead of in the twelfth as some antiquaries have fixed them. It appears, indeed, that although attention has been paid to this archæological subject for the last few years in England, suggested in the course of restoring churches, where tile pavement has been revived,--the old examples being copied for that purpose,—not a single published notice of such tiles, as occurring in Ireland, can be named prior to Mr. Oldham's richly illustrated work; a work which both in an artistic and historical sense has adequate importance and sufficient interest to merit investigation and study. The shapes, the colours, and the condition of the present illustrated specimens ; as well as the figures, devices, and emblems which they bear are subjects for a generous curiosity, and will reward patience and intelligence. It is worthy therefore of Mr. Oldham to proceed with his inquiries as far as the Irish tiles are concerned ; and he expresses anxiety to bring together as complete a collection as possible in order to arrive at the most satisfactory conclusions that can be derived from these ornamental relics. We wish him all success, and hope to meet with him again, as he half promises, in the further pursuit of the desired data. He already possesses many pavement tiles which he has not been able to give in the publication before us; while, he also intimates, numerous other specimens still exist in many of the old, and, he regrets to add, ruined

churches of the country. The subject touches closely the adornment of ecclesiastical buildings during the middle ages, and therefore addresses itself to the restoring and renovating spirit that has recently quickened in England. May a like reviving spread through the sister-island.

ART. XXIII.-Etchings.

By WILLIAM COLLING, R.A. Part 1.

Mr. Colling is rightfully regarded as a master in the purely English School of Art. How natural and truthful, how graphic and picturesque are these Etchings, even the smallest of the six which make up the complement in this first part! The subjects belong to a fishing village, and are really everyday figures, presenting without exaggeration or an apparent effort, just such little incidents and scenes as everybody can in a moment recognize as perfect, who has ever been in a locality of the kind mentioned, that is to say, on the beach of old England. Nothing can be more genuine than the entire expression of face and figure; more native than the purpose, the attitude, and the costume, whatever be the age or the sex of the figures, the branch of their calling, or the occasion on which they appear. 'Buying Fish" is a complete performance telling its own business and attractive story at the first glance. But along with all this simplicity and unforced feeling or eflect, there are such adjuncts as lend a fuller tone than the actual can ever reach, and which carry the pure satisfaction alone to be derived from the ideal, the essence of pictorial truth. While so chaste and simple is the conception in these Etchings, the execution is of a worthy style, being free but firm, delicate but decided.

66

We have not learned to what extent the series is to reach. However, let collectors and amateurs bear in mind that only 500 impressions will be taken, after which the plates are to be cancelled.

ART. XXIV. Hydrotheraphia; or the Water Cure. By THOMAS SME

THURST, M.D.

It needs little more than to quote in full the title-page, to describe the contents of this publication. There we are told the book gives "a practical view of the cure in all its bearings, exhibiting the great utility of water as a preservative of health and remedy for disease, founded on observations and experience made at Grafenberg. To which is added, a description of Grafenberg, and the system there, as practised by Vincent Priessnitz. Illustrated with a portrait, several engravings, and many cases; together with a short history of the water cure from the remotest antiquity, and remarks on seabathing." Wonderful, both as to variety and inveteracy, are the cures wrought by the proper use and application of water, according to our disciple's account; and these miracles have taken place from the days of Moses downwards.

ART. XXV. Church Poetry; or, Christian Thoughts in Old and Modern Verse.

Really a choice selection from a wide range. There is nothing here that is not sterling.