or, Brahmin's Son, and The Last Will and Testament. The first appears to us to have been derived, in part, from a well authenticated fact, contained in a sensible pamphlet, written a few years ago, by a Mr. Bowen, and extracted from the third volume of the proceedings of the Missionaries in India. This tale elucidates, in an appalling manner, the dreadful effects of fanaticism, and the practices of Missionary zealots. Every domestic tie is broken in their rage for proselytism; and their blind zeal is here forceably exposed. It is a short and unaffected narrative of a Brahmin's son, of that order of fiery intellects that are capable of great crimes, or splendid virtues, as circumstances may direct'; full of virtuous sentiments, noble thoughts, and overwhelming enthusiasm, and entirely governed by sudden and violent emotions. In such a mind as this, the seeds of fanaticism easily took root, and rapidly grew to a frightful maturity. The duties of a son are lost in fanaticism; and the deaths of his father and mother are expiated by the suicide of their unfortunate and misguided son.

The second tale, called The Last Will and Testament, makes up by far the greater part of the volume; and although evidently written with haste, we think it by no means unworthy of the author of Mandeville, which was so much admired on the first appearance of the former volumes.

The

characters are well sustained, and drawn from nature. The style, which is perspicuous and easy, is always nervous, and at times not destitute of pathos. The fatal consequences, that often result from the sudden influx of testamentary wealth operating on an inexperienced, credulous, and confiding tradesman, are awfully described: and form a powerful moral lesson. The mode in which electioneering struggles are often conducted in counties is clearly described, and lashed with ridicule and truth. The cant, hypocrisy, and venality of low, uneducated Methodist preachers, are exhibited in a strong light. Speculations in the funds, made by great men possessed of State secrets, are boldly exposed; and the means by which men, even in the lowest situations, may accidentallyvail themselves of such secrets, ingeniously accounted for. An episode is introduced, that

powerfully exposes the folly of sacri ficing children in marriage to sordid old age. The egotism and Proteus character of a Swiss servant is happily delineated. In the Last Will and Testament there is little of love; but that little is drawn in a natural and unaffected manner, and is too rational to admit of the sacrifice of principle, duty, or honour. Our limits will not allow us to give extracts, although there are passages that well deserve such a preference. For the same rea

son we are precluded from giving an outline of the story, which we recommend to all readers who delight in a plain, unsophisticated narrative, that describes in a bold and fearless way, the common virtues and vices of mankind. We cannot, however, conclude, without remarking, that this volume contains several proofs of negligent and even culpable taste: and we would recommend the Author to consult in future his own reputation, rather than the wants of a publisher. He has talent enough to acquire reputation legitimately, if he will take the trouble. He ought not, therefore, from haste, to degrade himself. to a level with those authors, who. derive their reputation from their publishers, many of whom procure an ephemeral circulation for their cheaply acquired trash by means of disgrace. ful puffs, that fill the pages of their own venal periodicals.

Tremaine, or the Man of Refinement. In three volumes. Colburn. London, 1825.

MYSTERY and prudery are now so commonly exhibited in the production and publication of any new work, which at all aspires to popularity, that the impotent discussions between the publisher of these volumes, and the critics who have volunteered for them a particular author, afford us neither interest nor amusement. "What is in a name?" applies so forcibly to the intrinsic merit, or demerit, of works of the kind before us, that we think it beneath criticism to herald our observations with surmises as to the great, or little unknowns by whom they may have been written. A good volume will, in this reading time of peace, sooner or later command success, though its author were one

hitherto a stranger to fame; and a bad one will neither deserve or receive it, though its inventor might add the crest of nobility to his title page. We therefore dash in medias res at once, and proceed to have some talk with the "Man of Refinement," who has just stepped into the fashionable world, from the Burlington-street academy of letters.

The intent and whole bearing of the work is evidently to inculcate useful, religious, and moral lessons, through the agency of certain conversations and discussions, held by and between the several characters of different education and principles which are introduced in it. The hero, and his history, are mere adjuncts to these objects, and, like the simple air which forms the ground-work of very complicated variations, are often lost sight of in the redundancy of the players' execution, or only glide in at intervals, when the flourishes of the composer have exhausted art.

Tremaine, a man of family and fashion, and of much nobility of mind, is one" a weary of the world," that is, the gay world, its follies and its vices; and he retires from the sphere of their influence to seek relief and forget their infatuation, for a commerce with books and nature, in the quiet of the country, and at the seat of his

ancestors.

..We will give a short quotation here, which will explain the character of the hero's feelings on his arrival, and save us much circumlocution of analysis. The scene is about as good as any in the three volumes, if we except that of the dinner-party, where, under fictitious appellations, Beau Brummell, and other characters of his day, figure to much advantage. Its length alone prevents its transfer to our pages.

"It was the middle of August; the great gates of Belmont were thrown open by the obsequious porter at the lodge; a barouche and four, well appointed, drove in at a gallop, and rapidly neared the hall, the steps of which were lined with servants, and every thing denoted the arrival of a man of consequence, at his seat in the country.

"It was Tremaine, a name known in the political world for talents and integrity; in the fashionable, as an ornament in the higher circles; and in the female, as belonging to a man whom all prudent mothers wished to obtain for their daughters, and many a daughter for herself.

He was, in truth, a person of great polish, refined taste, and high reputation.

"To the salutations of his servants of the upper class, he replied as if he received their attentions kindly, but was too much self-absorbed to think about them.

"At the same time he complained of fatigue, said the roads were execrable, and the weather hot.

"Now the roads had been very good, and the weather temperate. His housekeeper, a respectable woman who had lived with his mother, and with whom he usually interchanged a few words of kindness, on his arrival at home, lingered behind the rest. 'I have no orders for you, Watson,' he said,' but that dinner should be served at eight.' The housekeeper slowly moved off, wondering, if not burt, at the reserve of a master, whose affability had always been uniform to his servants, and flattering to berseif. And how to pass the time till then,' continued he to himself, 'how to find here what Londou cannot afford,' (and he paced the room in serious musing);

these are questions after all; yes, after all,' (and he laid stress upon the words) 'not easily settled-yet serenity' (throwing up the sash, which opened upon a diversified country) seems to live in these woods; and equally' (turning to the interior of the apartment) in these rooms."

"The pictures of his grand, and great grandfathers, their wives, and a train of uncles and aunts, some in hunting coats, with dogs and fowling-pieces, some in full suits of velvet, some with distaffs, and some with crooks, caught his eye as he said this.

"They seemed all to partake of the general quiet. All the little cares and vexations of life were over with them, if, indeed, they had ever had any, so composed was their air, and so placidly did they appear to look upon their de scendant.

"After life's fitful fever, they sleep well,' said Tremaine, as he moved slowly along, and contemplated them one after another. "Without dying, I will endeavour to do so too; and here will be the best chance of it. And yet,' continued he, after a pause, and returning to the prospect, there are not wanting persons who think woods and fields dulness, and a palace in the country a prison.'

"He paused again, but added, thank God! I am not of that opinion: on the contrary, it is the world that is dull and uninteresting; or were it otherwise, only so because it is wrangling, knavish, and false.'"

The bent of Tremaine's mind will be fully understood by this quotation; ennui and disappointment attend his

schemes in pursuit of happiness, and whilst his morbid fancies from time to time lead him further in the thriftless chace, like the magician in the pantomime, he is still unable to clutch the golden ball that rolls onwards, dazzling with hope, but eluding his grasp. Dr. Evelyn and his daughter are the two other most important personages in the tale. The former is a worthy clergyman, that might have sat as a model for Goldsmith to panegyrize; he, to quote from a contemporary, "performs all his duties to a marvel; finds time for a thousand agreeable and useful occupations; is always cheerful, and never speaks without saying a wise or a kind thing. It is with him and our hero that the principal conversations and discussions we have before alluded to are carried on, and in the course of these the peculiar opinions and tenets of the younger, in argumentation, are often successfully and amusingly combated. Sometimes, however, the pertinacity of Tremaine rejects the sensible advice or assertions of his friend, and obstinately continues to declare the worse to be the better reason; it is at such hours that Georgina Evelyn, with her eloquent looks, and her gentle exposition of his self-deceit, shakes, to the very foundation, his false philosophy, and the opponent in argument soon becomes the lover in reality.

This

now gives the author an opportunity of playing off his favourite pastime of disquisition, and we accordingly have very lengthy discussions regarding the claims of religion upon the reason and faith of man, and which arise from the inquiry made by Dr. Evelyn, for the happiness of his daughter, as to the firmness and consistency of her lover's religious opinions, and the condition of his mind with regard to other than mere worldly views. They are found sad and unsettled, and Tremaine's offer of his heart and fortune to the reciprocally attached Georgina is rejected, until he can assure her that his and her religious hopes and views so far coincide, as to impress her with no apprehensions or despair for their present, or his future happiness.

On this blight being cast upon his hopes, Tremaine departs suddenly, quits the society of his friends, and flies no one knows whither. Georgina the victim of a virtuous re solution, for fifteen months pines

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away, till her father determines to visit the south of France, in the fond hope that the geniality of the climate will restore roses to the cheeks, and health to the wasted frame of his pain-stricken child. They arrive in safety, and they meet-Tremaine. He is an altered man, he begins to feel" the folly of his ways," and to give evidence of the "truth that is in him." The happy revulsion proves a balm stronger than medicine to the reviving Georgina, and the tale concludes, abruptly enough, with the anticipation, that, at no distant period, every obstacle yet remaining to the union of the lovers, will be effectually removed and entirely destroyed.

Such is "Tremaine," simple in story and brief in incidents and characters. We are quite sure it will not please the million, and those who seek for interest in tales of wonder, or chivalric histories, will hardly master the editor's preface. Yet, whilst we cannot conceal from ourselves that there is much of dry and unamusing matter, and some little of what is termed "cant" in the work, we must still admit, that the volumes contain a great deal of deep, moral interest, many wholesome truths, and some not inelegant composition. The perusal of its pages can do no harm, but may much good. We would have our readers try the experiment. S.

Delineations of Gloucestershire, being Views of the Principal Seats of Nobility and Gentry; and other Objects of prominent Interest in that County; with Historical and Descriptive Notices. Attached to the Views of the Seats are the Armorial Bearings of the Proprietors. The Drawings are all made, and the Plates Engraved by J. and H. S. Storer. The Historical and Descriptive Notices by J. N. Brewer, Esq. London, Sherwood, Jones, and Co.

We have real pleasure in introducing to the notice of our readers, one of the most elegant works on Topography, that has appeared in this age of topographical investigation. Although much has been done, in many different ages, towards an elucidation of Gloucestershire, it is well known that no work, embracing a collective display of the mansions and other

In

principal objects in this fertile district, has appeared since the time of Sir Robert Atkyns, whose history was published in 1712. The operations of time, since the date of that publication, have done much towards altering, or obliterating, the domestic architecture of this county; and the vicissitudes of fashion, or the vagaries of wealth, have done still more. deed, we speak from our own opportunities of intelligence, when we observe that the county of Gloucester presents entirely new scenery, as regards the seats of its gentry, and their attached parks and pleasure grounds, compared with its formal, but richlyornamented, aspect, in the early years of the 18th century.

The present work must therefore be peculiarly interesting to the inhabitants of this county, and the very superior merits evinced by its conductors, promise to render these graphic and literary "delineations" acceptable additions to its topographical literature.

The work is published in parts, or numbers, each part containing four engravings and one sheet of letterpress. Five parts have already appeared, and the whole of the undertaking is to be completed in twentyfive. The subjects of such of the engravings as are already before the public, afford fair specimens of the design and execution of the work, as they are not confined to the mansions of nobility and gentry, but comprise representations of the city of Gloucester and the town of Cirencester, together with a truly excellent view of the church of Fairford.

The plates are all engraved by th two Storers, from original drawings made by themselves; and the points of view most favourable to the pictorial exhibition of buildings, are selected with a most picturesque felicity of taste. The engravings are executed in their best style, and are highly vàluable as graphic productions, independent of their attractions as portraits of interesting places.

Mr. Brewer has obtained much credit, as author of the "Introduction to the Beauties of England," and other typographical works; but, if we may venture to form a judgment from the parts already produced, his best claims as a writer on topography must be founded on these Glouces E. M. Moy, 1825.

tershire delineations. Residing on the borders of the county he has undertaken to describe, and possessed of literary leisure, and an extensive connexion in the midland parts of England, Mr. Brewer has proved himself peculiarly well qualified for the task in which he engaged. His descriptions are evidently drawn from local observation, and an intimacy with the place of which he treats. Mr. Brewer's style is at once classical and elegant. We give the following as a specimen. It is his description of OAKLEY PARK, near Cirencester, THE SEAT OF EARL BATHURST.

"At the name of this mansion a train of pleasing associations arise in the mind. The shades of Addison and Steele; of Pope and Swift ;-of all we have been accustomed to admire and venerate, as the brightest ornaments of early years in the eighteenth century; press on the fancy in a glorious assemblage, and shed a lustre on the seat in which wit and worth resided with Allen Lord Bathurst.

"This noble and interesting residence is immediately contiguous to the town of Cirencester, and occupies the eastern extremity of a very extensive and beautiful imparked demesne.

In our account of the neighbouring town, we have briefly stated the descent of the manor and hundred of Cirencester, and have there traced them, through several transmissions, to the possession of Sir Benjamin Bathurst, father of the first Earl Bathurst, by whom they were purchased in the year 1695. Allen, the first Earl, shortly after he acceded to the pa ternal estate, purchased, of Sir Robert Atkyns, of Saperton, a large contiguous property, comprising the district termed Oakley Woods, which formerly belonged to the Abbey of Cirencester, and afterwards, among other proprietors, to Sir John Danvers.

"When these conjoined estates came

into the possession of Lord Bathurst, there

stood on the site of the present mansjon, à very spacious house, in the form of one half of the roman letter H., which was built in the reign of James 1. by Henry Danvers, Earl of Danby. For some time Lord Bathurst occupied, when at Ciren cester, the central division; but this uncient house was, at length, either wholly, or in much the greater part, taken down, and a mansion, constructed under his di rection, which, although apparently inand not as a specimen of architecture, ap tended merely as an occasional residence, propriate to the beauty and extent of the attached grounds and park, was still better suited to the increasing elegance of the times, and the refinement of his habits.

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The house, indeed, evidently formed a secondary object of consideration, whilst his chief attention was directed to the planting and disposal of the noble parks and pleasure grounds. The consummate taste he displayed in the execution of these designs, was applauded by Pope, in the emphatical question,

"Who plants like Bathurst, and who

builds like Bayle ?'

"The mansion of Allen, Lord Bathurst, has been greatly altered, and augmented, by the late and present Earls. Though each'alteration be confessedly an improve. ment, the examiner will look with primary, interest, on those parts that retain marks of days in which the wits of England's Augustan age, as regards its literature, were here assembled, round their general friend and tasteful patron. The

house, in its present state, is a spacious and respectable, but irregular pile. The east and west fronts are of considerable length, and the former, which looks towards the town, is a handsome elevation of freestone. We present a view of this structure, as seen from the park, with the tower of the parochial church of Cirencester, rising over the central compartment of the western front. From the position we have chosen, the building is undoubtedly seen to advantage; and, it must not be concealed, that, from such a point of inspection, a flattering idea is im-bibed respecting the site of the mansion. On other sides we cannot avoid perceiv ing, that this large and interesting structure is placed much too near the town, for the attainment of real beauty, and dignity of surrounding circumstances.”

THE Royal Academicians have, this year, presented the public with a very capital exhibition. The display of The display of sculpture is, on the whole, inferior to that we have seen in some of the former years, but the shew of pictures is probably the best that they have ever set before us: and what is still more exhilarating, is, that the principal part of the display, is-as it ought to behistorical. It is delightful to see the long neglected muse of history again look cheerful and majestic.

The hanging committee has been publicly complained of for its supposed misdoings, but surely without

reason.

As the Exhibition rooms are but ill contrived for their ostensible purpose, this is a thankless and ungracious office. The hangmen are somewhat in the predicament of the pain. ter in the fable who pleased nobody and everybody; the interests to be accommodated or conciliated are necessarily separate, and even opposite; and what dissatifies one exhibitor or his critical friends, pleases another. When the pictures are hung, as well as they are at present, the officers of the season, should surely not (in our opinion) be discommended. Some of the inferior performances might perhaps have been better disposed of, but look at the

principal pictures. Where else could Hilton's capital work of The Crowning of Jesus Christ with Thorns have been hung with half so much propriety as where we find it? Where could Mulready's Itinerant Druggist have been to more advantage than against the chimney-piece, centrally and on a level with the eye? Etty's picture might perhaps have had a more central place, (if such a one could have been found) but Thomson's beautiful representation of Shakspeare's Juliet, could no where have appeared with more eclât, than opposite the entrance. G. Hayter's masterly performance is beneath it, and very properly; as the figures are small, it demanded a place under the line. Cooper and Leslie have also good places in the Great Room, and on a level with the eye, and so has Wilkie.

But the published complaint seems chiefly levelled against the disposal of Sir Thomas Lawrence's portraits. Now we do not see that it is at all necessary that all the stars of magni. tude and lustre should shine in one hemisphere. The Inner Room, or School of Painting, is not inferior in light, and need not be so in sterling attraction, to the great room; and the portrait of Mr. Lambton's beautiful and intelligent-looking son, hangs