than many countries situated in higher latitudes (which, by the way, is easily accounted for from local causes not necessary now to state); when it is known that the fertility of its soil is such that, with even very moderate cultivation, twenty millions would be far from sufficient population; when, further, it is taken into consideration that it abounds with many of the most valuable metallic and mineral productions, twenty millions more would find more than sufficient employment, in their extraction from the earth; and that, if cultivation and domestic industry were carried to the height in which they are in the neighbouring provinces of the Chinese empire, one hundred millions would enjoy a comfortable existence:* I say, when all the foregoing facts, as I may call them, are brought to view, it would, I should think, be rather difficult for some of Mr. Malthus's most rational admirers to prove his assertion, or rather leading principle, that in all countries population presses hard against the means of subsistence, (except they explain it to mean the actual, not pos

I have been to China and been much on shore, and have been very intimately conversant with the Chinese, who are found in the Archipelago, and I am enabled to contradict Mr. Malthus's assertion most completely as to their poor habits of living, and all the other doctrines he builds, as usual, on false premises. They are, on the contrary, the most luxurious people of Eastern Asia, and, at the same time, the hardest work ers; and the poorer class of them who come from China, as labourers in the mines, are bent on saving every mite for the purpose of returning as soon as they have amassed a small sum; yet even these people will think themselves starved if they cannot live as well as Europeans; and three of them will consume as much provisions, and of a more nutritive sort, than any five of the natives, and also perform their work in rather a superior proportion. This conduct forms but an indifferent support to the assertion, that they are habituated to starvation. During a stay of several months at Canton, and going on shore every day, I saw but one child exposed, and as it was in the river, it is uncertain whether it had not fallen out of some of the floating houses.

sible means, which would amount to as much information as that two and two make four,) and human institutions, such as despotism, anarchy and slavery in politics, and bigotry, intolerance, superstition and ignorance in religion, are but as a feather in the scale compared with the misery resulting from the laws of nature, that is, the laws of God.

J. C. R.

P. S. Islands of Bally and Lomboch. The first separated from the east end of Java, by a narrow strait; and the latter separated from the east of Bally by another strait: both these straits, with that which divides Lomboch from Lumbawa, the next island to the eastward, are much used by the European and American ships, as also those from Hindostan, bound to China during the N. W. monsoon, and by those returning from thence during the S. E. monsoon. After the triumph of Islamism over Hinduism in Java, its relics found an asylum in those two islands, where they have held out against the Mussulman power to this day; but they, however, tolerate Mahometanism and its professors under their government. The two islands are well cultivated and very populous, and the inhabitants more civilized than any other people of the Archipelago, except the Javanese; and were the five princes, who hold the government of those islands, to be united amongst themselves, no other native government would be able to withstand their power, for even singly they make themselves respected by their neighbours. I touched there on the last voyage, and being invited to see the Rajah in his capital, happened at the same time to have an opportunity of seeing the two widows of a deceased. nobleman burn themselves, for and with him, agreeable to the Hindoo customs; but the mode was rather different, as the detail will shew. At a hill, some distance outside the town, in a place appropriated to those purposes, three covered platforms were erected at about forty yards apart, and in a line with each other, and fronting the east, having a furnace about twelve feet long by eight broad in front, walled to about eight or nine

sense of family-honour or to a love of gain, the descendants of persons distinguished in the last century, are industriously bringing to light manuscripts which explain the characters and events of that interesting period. The historian of England, from the Revolution downwards, will, therefore, possess ample materials for his undertaking; but it may be justly doubted, whether his knowledge of the secrets of the Court and of great families, will contribute to the dignity of his sketches. In history, as well as other provinces of art and literature, a certain degree of obscurity is necessary to sublimity.

MARY LEPEL was the daughter of a military officer, and maid of honour to Queen Caroline, then Princess of Wales. She was early celebrated for her wit and beauty, which reconmended her to John Lord Hervey, son of the Earl of Bristol, whose wife she became in 1720. Lord Hervey was the foremost beau of his age, a courtier, small poet and parliamentary orator. He is unfortunately made immortal by some witty, but malignant, verses of Pope's, which he is said to have wantonly provoked; but appears in a better, though fainter light to posterity, as the friend of Dr. Conyers Middleton.

Lady Hervey was a woman of eminent accomplishments. Her Letters are not always, however, in the best taste. She affects Latin quotations, and takes upon her too much of a political character. For an Englishwoman she has an undue liking for the literature and manners of France. She wants too, that sense of religion, without which, the female character is always glaringly and offensively imperfect; for though she is politically of the Established Church, she shews

herself at heart a free-thinker. But, with all these drawbacks, we feel interested in her epistolary productions, and are persuaded, that if the present volume do not prove a popular book,

oblivion. The Letters were written at a late period of Lady Hervey's life, and chiefly after her husband's death, which may account for their exhibiting little of that vivacity and grace which fascinated the most eminent contemporaries of her youth: they are, nevertheless, far from dull, and sometimes spirited; the fair writer's criticisms on books, and her judgments on mankind, are generally characterized by sound sense; and some facts are related by her which will assist the biographer, if not the his

torian.

The person to whom the Letters are addressed, was the Rev. Edmund Morris, who had been tutor to her sons, and who, at the time the correspondence begins, was settled down, as country clergyman, in Hampshire. He was of the low church party, and looked up to Bishop Hoadly as a patron.

The Editor of this work is unknown. His "Memoir" is very scanty; his "Notes" are for the most part judicious and useful. Were they less tinctured with Toryism they would, in our judgment, lose nothing of their value.

It does not appear, whether the Letters are published by the family of Mr. Morris, or that of Lady Hervey, whose grandson is the present Earl of Bristol.

The Correspondence begins at a stormy period of our history, the year: 1742. At that time, less practical liberty was, we apprehend, enjoyed, than at the present moment. What letter-writer now thinks of saying to a correspondent, "Do not, for the future, use the formality of signing your letters: you may possibly have occasion to write such news as may be better unsigned" ? (P. 15.)

A remark of the Editor's (p. 16)

upon Lady Hervey's picture of the times, that there is little new under the sun, will frequently occur to the reader of this volume. The date of 1822, would suit the following extract as well as that of 1744, when it was penned :

"I find by your letters both to my son and me, that you are in a patriot fright, which, on this occasion, is synonymous to a panic fright on any other. I wish you were here; you would make a trio in the pathetic, political performance I hear every noon, which I sometimes hiss and sometimes parody-what should be great I turn to farce: if I did not, the tragedy would be too deep to hear repeated every day. I hope things are better than my tragedians represent them, and have one reason to hope it; which is, that above five-and-twenty years ago I heard the same dreadful prophecies from the same dreadful prophets, and was advised to sell immediately out of the stocks, for there would come a sponge in less than a year. That year and four-and-twenty more are passed without the sponge, therefore, dum spiro sperabo: my reason, my experience and my spirits, (which latter, I thank God, are not English,) all concur in enabling me to do so. Had I cried for my country as long as Lord Bristol has been telling me I ought to do so, I should not by this time have had an eye left to cry with; and now I have two, and a mouth to laugh, which I am resolved to make use of as long as I can. I don't know whether this is philosophy or madness; but, if it be the latter, I may say, with Torresmond, There is a pleasure in being mad, which none but mad folks know and if any wisely endeavour to cure me of it. I shall say with the Argive lunatic, Pol, me occidistis, non servastis. When I remind Lord Bristol how long it is since he bespoke my tears for my ruined country, he shakes his head, and says, Ay, Madam! but it is nearer and nearer, and must happen at last; therefore, according to his me thod, one should begin to weep for one's children as soon as they are born; for they must die at last, and every day brings them nearer to it. Let his Lordship be a disciple of Heraclitus if he will; I prefer Democritus, and should be glad to have you of the same sect. Ride si sapis !” pp. 80-82.

The period comprised between the accession of Charles I. and that of Geo. III., was "the reign of pamphlets." For the last half century, political warfare has been chiefly carried

on by means of newspapers. These Letters shew the interest taken in the writer's day, in the former species of ephemeral literature. She mentions, and with becoming disapprobation, (p. 19,) a political parody of the Te Deum, of which, she says, that the wit does not compensate the impiety.

Several heterodox divines and (proh pudor!) bishops are brought forward in this volume. Lady Hervey praises or blames them according to their individual merits: her Editor, who is probably a clergyman, takes uniform offence at the name of an unsound churchman. The story of Dr. Thomas Rundle is well-known. In 1733, Lord Chancellor Talbot recommended him for the see of Gloucester; but the heads of the English Church resisted the appointment, and Rundle" was obliged to content himself with the lucrative bishopric of Derry, in Ireland." Rundle is described, by Lady Hervey, as the greatest flatterer and greatest talker she ever knew. (P. 51.) Her ladyship speaks with great respect of Bishop Hoadly: not so, her Editor, who complains of Queen Caroline's being somewhat of a latitudinarian, and using her influence to raise prelates of suspicious orthodoxy to the bench. bench. Of Hoadly, he says, in this connexion,

"His Lordship was almost a Dissenter, or, at least, what would now-a-days be called a very liberal Christian. When some Free-thinking writers were mentioned before Archbishop Secker as being Christians, Yes,' said he, in allusion to the principles of the Bishop, and the title of the books printed for Winchester School, Yes, Christians secundum usum Winton ! And yet we find that the orthodox Archbishop himself has not escaped similar and even worse imputations. I have read somewhere that Secker was an Atheist !"-P. 94, Note.

Dr. Conyers Middleton has been before mentioned as the friend of Lord Hervey. To this nobleman he dedicated his great work, the Life of

Cicero. He was on terms of friendship with Lady Hervey, who appears to have embraced his principal opinions. The Letters shew an incessant interest, and even anxiety, with regard to his various controversial publications. This displeases the Editor, who will not allow Middleton to

have been a sincere Christian (p. 145, note): it might mend his charity if he would condescend to read this writer's eloquent letter to Mr. Venn, on "evangelical" defamation. (Works, 8vo. I. 421, &c.) With very censurable neglect, to say the least, this anonymous critic quotes a passage from one of Middleton's "private letters," in order to disgrace him, without referring to any publication, or in any other manner authenticating the quotation. Supposing it to be genuine, it does reflect discredit upon Middleton, but how many other dignified clergymen have there been, and are there, at whose Christian integrity it virtually glances! The Editor's remark is as follows:

"Lady Hervey would probably not have thought so highly of him if she had known that he had subscribed the Thirtynine Articles politically, merely to obtain the living of Hascombe, although he was in affluent circumstances, which ought to have put him above such deplorable meanness. His avowal, too, of this act in one of his private letters is almost as shameless as the act itself: Though there are many things in the Church which I wholly dislike, yet, while I am content to acquiesce in the ill, I should be glad to taste a little of the good, and to have some amends for the ugly assent and consent, which no man of sense can approve.' The spirit of a philosopher, forsooth!"-P. 60, 61, Note.

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Mr. Morris appears, from one of the Letters, to have recommended to his distinguished correspondent, one of the works of Dr. James Foster. She replies, that she has not so great an opinion of him as Mr. Morris expresses; and adds, most unwarrantably, "I believe he is a man of parts, but, with all his Presbyterian sanctity, as much a man of the world as any one." (Pp. 151, 152.) Never was character more mistaken, for if there were any two features of "modest Foster's" character more striking than any others, they were his freedom from all professional and sectarian affectation, and his disinterestedness. But a Dissenting minister is, we apprehend, always regarded by persons in high life, as a person to be either suspected or pitied. The orthodox Editor says, "his works are now nearly forgotten:"—this is somewhat too

much, for we apprehend, that, with the exception of the Calvinistic party, the clergy have not yet left off preaching Foster. His Sermons, we say fearlessly, are entitled to a permanent place in that class of English literature; and will, we predict, keep it, notwithstanding his having been " Dissenting minister."

Lady Hervey's own religion was of a very doubtful kind. She explains it thus: "I will think as I can, believe as I must, do as little hurt and as much good as I am able, and take my chance for the consequences." (P. 57.) On this subject, she writes from Paris, Jan. 5, 1751, a characteristic anecdote:

"I was, a few days ago, agreeably entertained by meeting, at a third place, a very deep, acute, determined Deist, who undertook me and a very sensible, cautious Abbé; after arguing, twisting and turning about our several arguments very cleverly, and shewing what he called our different, but continued inconsistencies, he very dexterously turned us upon one another; ridiculed both our tenets; and ended by saying, my antagonist, the Abbé was determined to believe more than he could; and that I was ready to give up as much as I dared. I wish you had been there to have heard it all, and to have assisted me; for I own I sometimes wanted it. Altogether, it was very agreeable and very entertaining, as there was warmth enough on all sides to keep up a spirit, and not heat enough to produce any ill-humour."-P. 184.

The uncertainty of Lady Hervey's mind upon religion, left her a frequent prey to apprehension and melancholy. She grows sad as she grows old. In 1748, she writes, "There is nothing wanting to my present happiness but the thoughts of its continuance; but the knowing how short its duration will be, is" (the italics are copied) "the cruel something that corrodes and leavens all the rest." (P. 135.) In 1767,—“I find a life after sixty is but a burthensome affair, &c. All one can do is to suffer life; to enjoy it is impossible. This is a bad prospect," &c. (P. 327.) Again,-"There is a cruel difference between youth and age," &c. (P. 328.) And in her last letter, dated June 22, 1768, (she died the 2d of September following,) she speaks miserably concerning death,