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MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND ART. 



THE AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL MAGAZINE. J. COCHRANE 

 AND Co. 



This work is put forth by a committee entirely composed of Members of 

 Parliament, the chairman of which is Mr. Cayley, the member for the 

 North-riding of Yorkshire. We have not had time to examine its merits: 

 but any plan having for its object the amelioration of the condition of the 

 industrious population of England, ought to have the best wishes and cor- 

 dial support of society. 



JACOB FAITHFUL, BY THE AUTHOR OF " PETER SIMPLE/' " KING'S 

 OWN," &c. SAUNDERS AND OTLEY. WILL WATCH, BY THE 

 AUTHOR OF " CAVENDISH," &c. &c. COCRRANE AND Co. 



IN a nation like that of Great Britain, to whose safety and welfare the 

 empire of the sea is so indispensable, it requires no great show of reason to 

 point out the cause of that popularity which necessarily attaches itself to 

 every topic connected with the ocean. 



The works, at the head of our page, are the last novels of two of the 

 most popular naval authors of the day. The extraordinary circumstances 

 which lately coupled together in public the names of these writers, na- 

 turally induce a comparison of their productions. 



The page of the novelist the companion of our lighter hours has often 

 judiciously conveyed historical information and moral precept in the min- 

 gled yarn of fictitious narration. Thus, frequently what was taken up 

 only to amuse, has been found also to instruct. On the other hand, the 

 author who, through the instrumentality of able writing, or humorous de- 

 scription, should familiarise grossness or indecency, deserves censure on 

 his baseness, in proportion to the talent he displays in its advancement. 

 From this latter charge, the author of Jacob Faithful, the first on our page, 

 is not exempt. No one will deny to him the praise hejustly merits, for the 

 vividness of his descriptive powers, and the humour of his imagination ; 

 but this is poor recompence for the contempt of every well-disposed mind, 

 which must scorn and condemn all, who by their writings, insiduously tend 

 to gloss vice, and promulgate indecency. The low and revolting oath, 

 together with the old and filthy story, the hackneyed yet indecent song 

 changed but in words, unchanged in sentiment these, though they make the 

 foolish laugh, yet cannot but make the judicious grieve. For the indignant 

 blush of every modest female, who turns away from the inadvertent perusal 

 of the ribbald page, what compensation can be found in the smile of the 

 heartless the applause of the polluted ? With^ talents such as Captain 

 Marryat possesses, a more honourable distinction might surely be sought. 

 Grossness, however characteristic, is not to be excused where the subject 

 of the author is one of his own selection. Gladly, indeed, would we other- 

 wise recommend the perusal of Captain Marryat's works. In the nar- 

 rative of Jacob Faithful, its author enters on no metaphysical disqui- 

 sition. It is a mere sequence of common place events, given in broad 

 comic humour no display of the knowledge of the more hidden workings 

 of the human heart (if we except the underneath extract,) but a caricature 

 of low and vulgar life, interwoven with dialogues, scenes, and yarns, that 



