308 Monthly Review of Literature.* 



the temporal power to control their lives ; and we shall see hereafter, that, in 

 the thorough reform undertaken by Charlemagne, he was induced to favour 

 the hierarchy from a conviction of its necessity. 



" Charles Martel had imposed military service on the church, as well as on 

 the other fiefs, and left it to the choice of the ecclesiastics either to resign 

 their temporalities, or to perform the obligations under which they held them. 

 The greater part preferred retaining them by this disgraceful tenure, to the 

 alternative of being deprived of their possessions. Charles Martel even re- 

 warded many of his adherents for their services in battle, with lands and 

 offices belonging to the church, and appointed bishops who had neither capa- 

 city for their charge, nor any conception of its dignity." 



Some Observations on the Present State of Ireland. By Sir FRANCIS 

 WORKMAN MAC^AGHTEN, Bart, of Bushmills House, in the 

 , County of Antrim. Ridgway. 



A Voice from Ireland upon Matters of Present Concern, addressed to 

 the Legislators and Ministers of State. By DANIEL O'RouRKE,Esq. 

 Ridgway. 



During the past month the Press has unceasingly teemed with dissertation 8 

 on Ireland, and these, among the number, are deserving of a passing notice. 

 Sir Francis opens his Pamphlet with a very long and very unnecessary per- 

 sonal disquisition touching himself, and the disinterestedness of his views ; 

 but there is much in the latter that entitles him to that which a neutral on 

 this question at least need not be very sanguine of obtaining creditlfor the 

 sincerity of his professions. But, on a subject such as he undertakes to 

 handle, we require some originality of conception, or suggestion ; and in these 

 pages we look in vain for either. For instance, at page twelve, and subse- 

 quently, he gives utterance to a mass of contradictions ; simply because he 

 repeats the hacknied sophistries of Lord Mulgrave's eulogists and calumniators 

 in a breath, because of his (Sir F.'s) "great anxiety to be thought dis- 

 passionate. Then, the little he does say that is worth being told, is so 

 studded with antique jokes and stale attempts at smartness, that one gets 

 weary before the worthy Baronet well begins to explain himself. In fact, it 

 is not very easy to discern what his leaning, if he have one, really is he may 

 be considered a sort of political phenomenon from the fact of his abstaining 

 almost altogether from ike mention of Mr. O'Connell's name ; though he is 

 certainly no admirer erf that gentleman, as may be gathered from the following 

 encomium of a very able man. 



" It is impossible to speak of the General Association without reference to Mr. 

 Sharman Crawford, and I hope he will pardon me for having introduced his 

 name. I deprecate his conduct. In my humble judgment, it has been unwise 

 and I lament that, with a reputation which must protect him from the con- 

 viction of guilt, it should be necessary to have recourse to his character for 

 acquittal. It has not been my fortune to become personally acquainted with 

 him, but I have heard him spoken of in many respects with approbation. I 

 believe him to be an honest and a single-minded man an excellent landlord, 

 and an estimable country gentleman. For his sake, I could wish he would 

 keep better company ; but for my own, I am not displeased to see him among 

 his agitating associates, because he will not be voluntarily obedient to the 

 mandates of any man, but be willing to insist upon his own co-ordinate autho- 

 rity. He has infinitely the advantage, in public estimation, over his compe- 

 titor for fame. Dolosus versatur in generalibus, but he shows us the point at 

 which he wishes to arrive. He will be no party to chicanery or imposture ; 

 he will not pretend to understand such jargon as peaceful agitation,' an 

 every thing and a nothing a calm hurricane and a horizontal cataract. But 

 what can he do f His efforts may amount to what in the dialect of agitators 



