|82J.] 



Critical Notices of Books of the Month. 



serving, and encompassed in inanuers and 

 materials with the fit sulyects of amuse- 

 lueut aud laug'hable deliueaiion. The in- 

 terest of the events is considerably heig-ht- 

 ened by the effects of a well-stored imagi- 

 )iatiou, and the style is easy and perspi- 

 cuous. 



ToMLiNE, Bishop of Winchester, tutor 

 of the last W. Pitt, has published his pro- 

 mised i>/e»iojV* of that statesman, but at a 

 price which adapts it to the purchase only 

 of those who realised fortunes under the 

 corrupt system of his administration. As 

 a seri veuer would make a fail- copy at a 

 third of its cost, the utility of printing 

 seems baffled, and the scrivener's occupa- 

 tion may soon be expected to revive. Dr. 

 T^':bas produced au interesting book, but he 

 Wi<<ently writes under the restraint which 

 is imposed on the historian of his own 

 times, who does not consign his MS. to the 

 care of posterity. 



A Christiun Biographical Dictionary, 

 by John Wilks, jun., or an account of the 

 lives of persous who have been eminent 

 for christian virtue, and distinguished 

 •themselves by their writings or their ac- 

 tions ia the cause of religion, of whatever 

 sect or persuasion they may have been, is 

 a work, the appearance of which we hail 

 ■with pleasure. A separate biography of 

 this class of persons was much wanted ; aud 

 such examples of recorded excellence cau- 

 not be exhibited without good effect. VV^e 

 are glad to perceive that the memorials 

 here submitted have not been selected from 

 among the champions of any particular 

 church, and that equal justice has been 

 douie to the Catholic and Protestant, the 

 Church of England, thePresbyterian church 

 of Scotland, aud to all who have been con- 

 tjpicuous for greatness of mind, purity of 

 liie, and activity of virtue. The volume 

 will prove extremely useful, both as a 

 book of reference aud history, the perusal 

 of TThich is highly calculated to incite to 

 Christian virtue, and the practice of ra- 

 / iiooal devotion. 



ua Mr. Hong has provided another treat 

 . ittK that part of the public who delight in 

 ■ «>eeiD^ the mask stripped from hypocrisy, 

 imposture and charlatanry, under the title 

 of tlie Political Showman at Home. He 

 has exhibited in novel points of view many 

 •Quacks aud Quackeries, whose specious 

 pretensions do much mischief in the world; 

 and in performing this task has availed 

 himself of the powerful talents of George 

 Crnickshank as a caricaturist, of much un- 

 common reading, and of strong native 

 powers of satire. 



A benevolent Society at Manchester, 

 have printed a valuable work under the 

 title of a A^eic »S//.«<eHi of Vcfftlable Cooh- 

 «ri/. An exhibition of nearly 800 prepa- 

 rations of vegetables, proves that it is a.s 

 uniieccsHary to resort to the destruction of 

 animal enjoyment for the purposes of pam- 



367 



pering a luxurious appetite, as it is unne- 

 cessary to health or strength, while the 

 practice is cruel and disgusting. Th* 

 amiable members of this society have 

 questionless liy this publication done much 

 towards the conversion of thousands to 

 their principle ; because altho' the feelinga 

 of civilized and considerate persous revolt 

 at a feast of slaughtered animals, their pa^ 

 lates get the better of their moral senti" 

 meuts. This book will therefore enable 

 them to indulge at once in sensuality and 

 benevolence. 



We have read with pleasure Table Talk; 

 or Orif/iiial Essays, by Wm. IlAZt.lTT, 

 who has again afforded proof of his admir- 

 able talents in this species of composition. 

 \\'hether he chooses as his theme the plea- 

 sure and the art of painting, the raptures 

 that none but artists know, the tricks of 

 an Indian .Juggler, the affectations of the 

 learned, or the task of sketching political 

 characters, he is equally at home, and his 

 powers ofdeliiieation are vivid and effective. 

 Mr. Hazlitt's experience, research, and 

 strong mind have given him an ease of com- 

 position which enables him to appear always 

 the master of his subject ; whilst his study 

 of the art of painting, and acquaintance 

 with the best taiode of placing an ohject in 

 a prominent point of view, have imparted 

 a faculty which may be considered as a 

 sort of literary picturing. This volume, 

 which is modestly enough designated, will 

 not lesson his popularity, or his reputation 

 as a writer. He presents us with a sketch 

 of character which isseeisoned with the true 

 sauce piquant ; and which it required an 

 able and a fearless hand to pourtray. It is 

 the character of William Cobbett, as a wri- 

 ter and a politician, di-awn with the freedom 

 of Cobbett's own manner, and with the 

 wit, acumen, and castigating spirit of Mr. 

 Cobbett's own pen. Mr. Hazlitt is himself 

 a firm frieud to political liberty and reform, 

 yet he has, in one instance, been peculiarly 

 unkind to a most venerable and laborious 

 asserter of the people's rights. Among the 

 persons who have but " one idea" or one 

 subject only to talk of, he particularly 

 distinguishes Major Cartwrigbt, and his 

 favourite theme of Parliamentary Kefonn. 

 We like variety as much as the author of 

 these Essays, but we would uot have held 

 up to ridicule a man who has devoted forty- 

 five years of his life to effect a great na- 

 tional benefit, which Mr. H. well knows 

 cannot be attained without incessant pur- 

 suit, great labour, and personal danger, for 

 all the fame that will accrue to the writer 

 of the essay on possessing only " one idea." 

 Tlie ignorance and pedantry of the 

 learned, (i. e. the schoolman) forms the 

 subject of a discussion which c.vhibits Mr. 

 ll.'s forcible and original powers of think- 

 ing in a very favourable point of view. 

 Mr. H. has himself been a student of paint- 

 ing, and iii still an enthusiast in the art. 



But 



