436 
Mr. WorDswortn’s Guide. to ‘the 
Lakes will appear ina few days. 
Mr. Lewis, teacher of Chess, is 
about to publish Elements of that In- 
teresting and Scientific Game, in one 
small volume, with diagrams. 
The Poetry, original and selected, 
contained in the novels, tales, and ro- 
mances, of the author of ‘‘ Waverley,” 
with short introductory notices from 
the prose, will shortly appear, ina fool- 
scap octavo volume. 
The Poetical Works of James Hoce, 
the Ettrick shepherd, now first col- 
lected, will shortly appear, in four vo- 
lumes, foolscap octavo. 
The River Derwent, and _ other 
Poems, by W. B. CLark, B.A. Jesus- 
Col.Cambridge,willappearnext month. 
Professor DuNBAR is preparing for 
publication, the second volume of Dal- 
zell’s Collectanea Greeca Majora; the 
text of Homer, Hesiod, and Apollo- 
nius Rhodius, will be corrected ac- 
cording to the principles stated in the 
Essay upon the Versification of Homer 
in the second part of the Professor’s 
“«Prosodia Greca.” 'The whole of the 
text will undergo the most careful 
revision, and will be augmented by 
one of the Nemean Odes of Pindar ; 
and a very considerable number of ad- 
ditional notes, explanatory of different 
passages, &c. will be given. 
A more satisfactory triumph of vir- 
tuous public feeling never was ob- 
tained, than by the degradation of the 
Association which, as a mask, assumed 
the name of Constitutional. It was a 
daring attempt to subject the press of 
the country, and the bounds of free 
enquiry, to the gauge of certain narrow 
and wicked minds; in truth, to esta- 
blish an inquisition above the law. Its 
specious pretensions, however, were 
exposed by the press,—its mask tor 
off,—and its horrid deformity exposed 
to the contempt of the world. The 
persons and personages who gave it 
their support ought never to be for- 
gotten, for the badness of their inten- 
tions was rendered manifest, and their 
only apology is to be found in their 
weakness. and gullibility. Suffice it 
to say, that, after bringing such odium 
upon a respectable hotel that it was 
deserted by travellers, and has actu- 
ally been obliged, in consequence, to 
be shut.up, the remnant of the gang 
were reduced to the necessity of hold- 
ing their meetings for a short time in a 
cellar; but, driven from this retreat, 
they have since, we arc told, been har- 
Literary and Philosophical Intelligence. 
[Juoe 1, 
boured by a partizan alderman, whose 
political reputation cannot suffer even 
fromsuch an association. Thisrequiem 
over the departed society is not stimu- 
lated by any personal pique, but by 
honest indignation at the arrogant 
pretensions of this Association; and at 
the daring conspiracy which its 
leaders attempted to embody against 
the liberties of the press, for the pur- 
pose of destroying all that remains of 
public spirit in the country. 
There still, however, remains ano- 
ther Society, whose principle is equally 
objectionable, though its professions 
humour certain prejudices, and are 
more specious. ‘The Society to which 
we allude is that which assumes to 
itself the guardianship of society 
against Vice, a truly pharisaical 
assumption ; but, when it was directed 
against cruelties to helpless animals, 
drunkenness, &c. it possessed claims; 
which are equivocal when it meddles 
with the press, with metaphysical 
opinions, and the rights of free discus= 
sion. In short, it becomes itself one 
of the most vicious institutions in so- 
ciety, if a narrow-minded knot of its 
members, bigots and intolerants, usurp 
the authority of the spiritual and legal 
courts, and abuse the name of Chris- 
tianity by persecutions and appeals te 
secular power, which true religion 
disdains. A meddling society of this 
description, directed by persons of no 
responsibility, and perhaps by infu- 
riated bigots, as illiterate as preju- 
diced, is a public nuisance, whatever 
be its hypocritical pretensions; and, 
as to its effects, we appeal to the expe- 
rience of every man turned of fifty, 
whether till this Society existed he 
ever heard of irreligious and obscene 
publications. Suchfworks were used 
to be kept down by public opinion; 
and nothing can give them importance 
but the industry of a society of busy 
bodies, whose officiousness is an insult 
on God and man. Let this Society 
protect helpless animals against hu- 
man brutes, and endeavour to correct 
the bestial practices of mankind, and 
it may deserve well of its country ; 
but we express ourselves hypotheti- 
cally, for it may be questioned whe- 
ther all such associations, as liable to 
great abuses, are not dangerous and 
impertinent encroachmentson our con- 
stitution, laws, and liberties. 
The author of the “ British Botanist” 
is preparing for publication, a work 
entitled, Hortus Anglicus, or — 
erik 
