326 Monthli/ Revieiv of Literature. Skpt. 



still for the most part with Lord Gower at Wimbledon, or in town, where he 

 was often in the company of Pitt and Dundas. The position was of the most 

 favourable kind, and his talents were quickly appreciated by men so accustomed 

 to judge, and with such means at command for employing them. The throng- 

 ing of emigrants into England, and the protection given them, made the creation 

 of an alien office indispensable, and Huskisson's knowledge of the French lan- 

 guage pointed him out as a fit person for the charge of it. Though not the 

 most agreeable employment in the world, yet it was deemed advisable by Lord 

 Gower for him to accept of it, as likely to lead to more important appointments. 

 Huskisson was not in want, but on coming into possession of the family pro- 

 perty, he found it a good deal encumbered by provisions for younger brothers, 

 and resolved to sell. His connections, too, with a higher caste, naturally dis- 

 inclined him to the part of a small country gentleman. After a close attention 

 to the duties of the alien office for nearly three years, he succeeded Nepean as 

 undcr-secretary in the war and colonies department. From this period he 

 devoted himself wholly to politics, and the year after was brought into parliament. 



About this time he became the proprietor of Hayley's estate at Eartham, by 

 the death of his uncle Gem, who had a mortgage on it. On Mr. Pitt's retire- 

 ment from office, Huskisson resigned, but was induced to hold on for some 

 months by Lord Hobart, Dundas's successor in the war and colony department. 

 .When Mr. Pitt returned to office, Huskisson was made secretary of the treasury, 

 and was again thrown out by his patron's death. In the short reign of the 

 " Talents" he was in active opposition. From this time he may be regarded as 

 attached to Mr. Canning's small band ; and for the most part he followed his 

 fortunes to their close, and suflFered by so doing. Mr. Huskisson cannot be 

 considered as a fortunate man. He was outstripped in his career by Peel and 

 Robinson. When Canning went to Lisbon, Huskisson returned to office, and 

 was placed at the head of the Woods and Forests ; and on Canning's replacing 

 Castlereagh, at the head of the Board of Trade ; and finally under Goderich and 

 Wellington at the head of the Colonial department. But his career is too much 

 within the memory of every body to require further details. The successive 

 steps, with all his disappointments and successes, are recorded in the memoir, 

 if not very clearly, at least correctly. It is a source for reference. 



Mr. Huskisson was a man of great industry — a man of considerable detail, 

 and not incapable, as many such men are, of systematizing his knowledge, and 

 supporting a system. He wanted the shewy talents of his friend Canning, but 

 he far surpassed him in soundness of judgment, in tact of discretion, and pre- 

 cision of knowledge. He wanted, too, the impudence of Canning ; and was all 

 along shoved out of the place he was entitled to fill by far inferior persons. He 

 was cut off precisely at the time when his influence was beginning not only to 

 be felt, but his talents and his services to be best appreciated by the country. 

 A cry had been raised against him as the reckless and unreasoning advocate of 

 free-trade — the result of mere prejudice — or ignorance — or party interests; but 

 never was man more successful in refuting, in debate, the calumnies thrown 

 upon his measures by the silk and shipping interests. Mr. Huskisson's free- 

 trade was a reciprocal free-trade, and in no one instance went an inch beyond. 



The Soldier Boy; or the Last or the Lyals, a Novel, by Rosalia 



St. Clair. 3 vols. 12mo. 



Mademoiselle, or Madame Rosalia St. Clair, is quite a stranger to us ; but 

 she appeals, in evidence of her powers or her perseverance, to a string of per- 

 formances — at least seven, besides an etcetera, which may embrace a score 

 more — appended to her liquid name, like a kite's or a comet's tail. She must 

 be one of Mr. Newman's most laborious, if not most efficient, operatives. Of 

 course all the world knows Mr. Newman is a sort of dernier resort for despair- 

 ing novelists ; but his very name, in certain quarters, operates like a wet 

 blanket, and excludes as effectually as a black-ball at the Travellers', from all 

 admission to the " politer" circles west of Temple Bar. But even Almack's is 

 not able at all times to fence out intruders, nor can the Monthly always guard 

 against them. Perseverance, like hunger, or dropping water, makes its way 



