1831.3 MonlMij Review of Lileraturc, 325 



sive, not only of pure and elevated sentiments, but of such sentiments as are 

 built on the basis of religious convictions. The leading characters are every- 

 where such as are influenced in conduct by the noblest and most unselfish con- 

 siderations — exposed, indeed, most of them to difficulty and embarrassment by 

 the imprudence or guilt of family connections, but all of them emerging, and 

 ultimately receiving their reward even in this life a thousand fold. The con- 

 templation is fascinating ; and we were delighted especially with the good for- 

 tune of the gentle Clara, and the good feeling of her cousin Tomkins, the tailor 

 — with that of Emma, who conciliated the good will, with a thumping legacy, 

 of a crabbed old maid, and became herself the sweetest of the sour sisterhood — 

 and with that of Mabel too, the miller's daughter, who, if she did not, like the 

 nut-brown maid, meet with a lord, become the bride of the wealthy " mort- 

 gagee." In all this, to be sure, there is mighty little vraisemblance — events like 

 these are the exceptions of common life, and occur not once in an age. But 

 still they awaken tender sympathies, encourage delicacy and refinement, and, 

 eventually, more than benevolent feelings. Mr. Harrison's tone contrasts 

 favourably with the heartless and frivolous one much too prevalent, and the 

 shewy style in which such things are generally exhibited. 



Speeches of the Right Hon. William Huskisson, with a Biographical 

 Memoir, supplied to the Editor from Authentic Resources. 3 vols. 

 8vo. 



Mr. Huskisson's Speeches — those, we mean, which discuss the measures 

 which have had any perceptible effects on the policy of the country, are too 

 well known to be reconsidered here ; and for the rest, they are too insignificant 

 to call for any consideration at all, and we can but marvel at the reprint. But 

 the collection is preceded by a memoir, which, coming with the authority, or at 

 least with the implied sanction of his family, must set at rest the absurd stories 

 that have been put forth, by political enemies, at every period of his long public 

 life. He has been described as a mere adventurer — as a man of no education — 

 of illegitimate birth — a counting-house clerk — an apothecary — a jacobin, &c. &c. 



He was, it appears, the son of a Staffordshire country gentleman, of indepen- 

 dent, but not of large property, much of which was entailed on him as 

 the eldest son. He was born in 1770; his mother died early; his father 

 married again ; and he himself at the age of thirteen, with a brother, passed 

 into the care of his mother's uncle. This gentleman, a Dr. Gem, was a physi- 

 cian, who had retired from practice, and lived at Paris, indulging there his love 

 of leisure, and mingling in the literary circles — then become most stirring and 

 potential. Young Huskisson's studies were superintended by his uncle, and the 

 cares of that gentleman were well seconded by his own activity and diligence. 

 It was impossible that he should not imbibe something of the spirit of the times 

 and of his uncle's society. He was in the very focus of political excitement. 

 Jefferson was an intimate friend of Gem's, as Franklin had been before. Hus- 

 kisson was present at the capture of the Bastile, and became a member of the 

 Club of '89 — not the Jacobin club, as has been repeatedly affirmed, but that of 

 '89 — the specific object of which was the support of a constitutional, i. e. of a 

 limited monarchy. While a member of this respectable society, he distinguished 

 himself by a speech, which denounced the consequences likely to attend an 

 excessive issue of assignats — a speech which brought him into general notice, as 

 an extraordinary display of ability in one so young — he was only twenty. It 

 was his only speech, and would do no discredit to his maturer and more Tory 

 years — it is printed in the collection before us. Upon this slender basis rests 

 all the charges of Mr. Huskisson's jacobinism. 



The same year (1790) occurred his first introduction to the present Marquis 

 of Stafford — then Lord Gower, and ambassador at Paris. It was brought about 

 in the simplest manner. 'I'he ambassador's chaplain vv-as an old acquaintance 

 of Huskisson's uncle, and introduced him to Lord Gower's table, with whose 

 family he was soon a favourite. Within a few months he accepted the office of 

 private secretary, and remained with the ambassador till 1792, when the occur- 

 rences of August obliged him to quit Paris. In London Mr. Huskisson was 



