218 



MontJili) Review of Literalure, 



QAuG. 



it in the memory of the student. Dividing 

 the floor, sides, and ceiling of a room into 

 comjiartments, lie encloses a specimen in 

 each, very neatly engraved, of the several 

 classes and orders, with the names also of 

 two, three, or four others in the corners, 

 and thus cleverly manages to exhibit at full 

 his introductory arrangment. The mecha- 

 nism is exceedingly simple — Feinagle's, in 

 short, somewhat modified — and not calcu- 

 lated, like many others, more to encinmber 

 than assist. The author has given English 

 names to his orders, as well as classes ; thus 

 the birds are called, Runners, Perchers, 

 Scratchers, Tearers, M'aders, and Swim- 

 mers. He suggests, moreover, a new divi- 

 sion of the animal world into three more 

 comprehensive departments, according to 

 the structure of the heart. 1. Compound 

 Heait, consisting of beasts and birds, with 

 blood warm and red ; II. Double Heart, 

 fishes and reptiles, with blood cold and red ; 

 III. Single Heart, insects and worms, with 

 blood cold and white. Tlie distinction, he 

 adds, though not strictly universal, is never- 

 theless worthy of observation. 



Oldcourt, 3 vols. 12mo. ; 1820. If this 

 be the production of a new candidate for 

 distinction in the 'lists' of fiction, the bat- 

 tle is won by tlie first onset — he may freely 

 challenge all competitors of Ids class, the 

 author of ' Anglo Irish' not excepted, to 

 whom indeed the 'manner' inclined us at 

 lirst to assign it. But the writer speaks in 

 the tone of a Catholic, and much too natu- 

 rally to be said to take it. He does so, with 

 perfect ease and unobtrusiveness — not at all 

 contentiously or offensively, but simply as 

 occasions arise, and precisely as if the claims 

 of Catholicism to superiority were univer- 

 sally admitted among rational persons, and 

 reqiured no enforcing, pleading, exculpa- 

 ting, or palliating. TliC Reformation is 

 spoken of as the prolific manufactoty of 

 creeds, and as humorously so called — but 

 still there is no bitterness, though perfectly 

 imrestrained. The scene and characters 

 are wholly Irish, and the story often merely 

 a vehicle for conveying the writer's senti- 

 ments on the pohtical condition of Ireland, 

 where every thing is given in the undoubt- 

 ing but not unreasoning style of a person 

 who is uttering nothing bu. unquestionable 

 truths. They are indeed delivered with a 

 degree of vigour and freedom tliat irresist- 

 ibly fixes attention. Considered as a novel, 

 the writer pours forth his reflections much 

 too profusely, not to say overwhehiiingly ; 

 but if the reader have time to weigh them 

 fairly, they arc v/ell worthy of his distinct 

 and deliberate perusal. The style is bril- 

 liant and felicitous, though occasionally too 

 nicely laboured — ringing with alliteration, 

 and glittering with antithesis. The story 

 itself is somewhat rudely constructed — the 

 author being far more intent upon his sen- 

 timents, than his plot or his characters. 



A family of Irish antiquity — a true Mi- 



lesian stock, in Connaught, contributes the 

 chief materials ; consisting of the Squire, his 

 wife, three sons and a daughter. The 

 Squire's estate, though once of boundless 

 extent, has been from time to time cut down, 

 by the thriftlessness, or the forfeitures of 

 his ancestors — he himself, kept down by 

 Protestant ascendancy, and unable to repair 

 the ruin, is finally content to make himself 

 as comfortable as he can, and live hospita- 

 bly at home, and at peace with Itis neigh, 

 hours of whatever commimion. Though 

 devoted to field sports, he is now too gouty 

 to do any thing but eat and drink, and dine 

 all comers and goers — high and Idw — friend 

 and foe, down to the hearth-money man, to 

 suspend his career of distraints among the 

 miserable cotters. The eldest son is look- 

 ing, as young Irishmen were then (the 

 scene is laid during the revolutionary war of 

 America) obliged to do, to tlie Austrian 

 service ; one to the bar, and the third takes 

 after tlie Squire, and loves dogs and horses. 

 The daughter, Giace, is a beauty of the 

 first water, enchanting for her simplicity. 

 Brought iq) with her brothers and a foster 

 brother, and far away from all fastidious re- 

 finements and fashionable accomplishments, 

 she has nothing but nature, cultivated by 

 an old and liberal-minded priest, to enhance 

 her personal charms. The whole country 

 admire the beautiful girl, and she has offer 

 upon offer from the bumpkins around her, 

 whom, though she has seen nobody else, she 

 instinctively rejects. In this state of do- 

 mestic and peaceful existence, in the ab- 

 sence of all materials of excitement, sud- 

 denly is introduced, in consequence of a fall 

 from his horse, a Sir William D'Arcy, a 

 young gentleman of some distinction, whose 

 estate lies in the neighbourhood, but of 

 whom the Oldcourts knew nothing. He 

 was himself, indeed, almost a stranger to 

 the country, though the descendant of an 

 old Irish family. His father had succeeded 

 to a wasted property; and driven to his 

 wit's end for the reparation of his fortunes, 

 had renounced his religion — worked his 

 interest in the county to court the favour of 

 the prevailing party — screwed up his ten- 

 ants, and was hated and detested, but, and 

 that was all he cared for, he succeeded in 

 the object of his ambition — he got into par- 

 liament and place. This Sir Av'ilham, his 

 only son, was destined by him to run the 

 same noble career, and was, accordingly, to 

 rub oft' the rust of Irish manners, and anglify 

 completely and legitimately, sent to Eton 

 and Oxford, and then into the dragoons. 

 Though possessed of qualities, which, judi- 

 ciously cultivated, might have redeemed, in 

 some measure, his worse propensities, yet 

 educated, as he was, with an utter disregard 

 of all serious obligations, he grew up a pro- 

 fligate as to religion, politics, and manners 

 — still not utterly abandoned or ur.impressi- 

 ble : he would not, for instance, like liis 

 father, cheat his creditors by plan and de- 

 sign — only by carelessness; if he had money. 



