and a half, each hour, since our departure from America. The Vestal being supplied with oxen, fruits, and vegetables, sailed for Newfoundland, Sept. 1, and anchored there, Sept. 19: weighed anchor October 26, for Portugal, with convoy; cruised in the Bay of Biscay; took two prizes; and anchored at Spithead, Nov. 25." The few incidents which occurred to the author in the course of this excursion, he has well described and made the most of: and his description of the Fournas, or Hot Waters, on the island of St. Michael's, the chief of the Azores, is well worth attention. The volume is illustrated by a neat chart. "Travels through the Empire of Morocco. By John Buffa, M. D. &c." 8vo. We have still to learn much concerning this extraordinary people; yet the author before us has added considerably to our stock of knowledge, and as amply availed himself of the advantages resulting to him from having attended, in his medical capacity, his Moorish Majesty, and his principal Sultana, as well as several of the Moorish grandees at Fez: he took an opportunity of travelling to Morocco, and still further south; and the volume before us contains the fruit of his observations. The whole is agreeably, and, we believe, accurately, drawn up, and the map that accompanies it is a useful and valuable index. "History of Brazil: by Robert Southey. Part I." 4to. There are few writers so rapid as Mr Southey; and still fewer that write so rapidly who write so well. The author is richly qualified for the task he has undertaken, by his knowledge of the Portuguese language, of which he has already given the public sufficient proofs: he is also richly qualified in another sense, we mean in being in possession of a variety of original MSS. which he affirms to be of very high importance to the illustration of Brazilian history; but which, in the volume before us, do not seem to be had recourse to. The following extract from his preface will put the reader into full possession of the author's scope, and general pretensions. "Something more than the title promises is comprised in the present work. It relates the foundation and progress of the adjacent Spanish provinces, the affairs of which are, in latter times, inseparably connected with those of Brazil. The subject may, therefore, be considered as including the whole tract of country between the rivers Plata, Paraguay, and Orellana (or the Amazons), and extending eastward, towards Peru, as far as the Portuguese have extended their settlements, or their discoveries. The only general history of Brazil is the America Portugueza of Sebastian da Rocha Pitta, a meagre and inaccurate work, which has been accounted valuable, merely because there was no other. There are many copious and good accounts of the Dutch wars. Earlier information is to be gleaned from books where it occurs rather incidentally than by design. Authorities are still scarcer for the subsequent period, and for the greater part of the last century printed documents almost entirely fail. A collection of MSS. not less extensive than curious, and which is not to be equalled in England, enables me to supply this chasm in history. The collection was formed during a residence of more than thirty years in Portugal, by the friend and relation to whom this work is inscribed, (the Rev. Herbert Hill,) without the assist ance The steed shook wild bis ruffled mane; around With livelier cheer the traveller wound the glade, Whose light had glimmer'd thro' those forests deep; That, flank'd with lofty towers, o'ertopp'd th' inferior wood. Beside the gate was bung a brazen horn; The pediment was gravd with golden scroll; "Here food and shelter wait the wretch forlorn, "Who owns the treasure of a grateful soul." The merchant to his lips that horn applied, The hollow mountain-glens re-echoed far and wide. Straight quivering streaks illume the granite walls, Thence o'er a smooth mosaic floor he treads, A crystal lamp its chequering lustre sheds, As o'er some valley shines the shadowy moon; His foot on cushion rais'd of cloth of gold, Knights in gay green appear'd; and clad in rose And plac'd the merchant in a golden chair; Full opposite the duchess thron'd was seen; Soft was her pensive smile, and chaste her modest mien. But But oh! how tempting fair; her hazel eye None may that bosom's orb'd luxuriance tell, As marble firm, and dazzling as the snow; And oh the moisture of the scarlet lip, Apart she sat, distinguish'd from the rest, A violet mantle from her shoulders flow'd; Here gaz'd Basilius; nor the lady's gaze Disdain'd to melt and mingle with his own; His pulses throbb'd with tumults yet unknown; But still, whene'er he turn'd his eyes aside, The Duke's stern glance would seem to read his soul; Then through his heart would icy terrors glide, Till once again her gaze electric stole On his attracted gaze, and once again The guilty flames were shot through every shivering vein. Now to the trumpet's silver sound behold The banquet serv'd; the golden beakers shine; The viands rich are pil'd in massive gold, Reddens in golden cups the sparkling wine; The merchant swims in bliss; the duke demands Then smiling bends the guest his wishful eyes In her white hand she held a human skull, 1810 T She She bows, and lifts it to her smiling lips, But her smooth brow is ruffled by a frown; O'er her high-heaving breast run trickling down. Ill far'd the traveller through that horrid feast, Fain would he fly from that enchanted ground; The plumes of ostrich nodded o'er the bed, And wav'd the walls with pictur'd tapestry; There from the book of Troy was wrought the tale, There too the mighty Agamemnon bled Within the marble bath, by ruffian sword; His arms in musing thought the Merchant folds, As with slant gleam the lamp reflected falls; Who may the stranger's shuddering anguish paint, He sought his couch; and lay, but not repos'd; The: more or less, into a state of mutiny, and the whole of British India is reduced to the most perilous state. Nothing, as it appears to us, can have been more indiscreet than the whole conduct of Sir George Barlow from first to last; and nothing but the moderation of the insulted officers themselves can have saved the country from utter perdition. We gather all this from the three pamphlets now before us; the first of which is understood to be written by an agent of Sir George Barlow, sent over for the express purpose of defending his measures; the second is most probably the production of some one of the dismissed officers, or at least, founded upon their representations: the third statement, by Mr. Petrie, appears drawn up from the best motives, by a gentleman who, from personal knowledge and comprehensive understanding, is entitled to give a very weighty opinion. It condemns the conduct of the governor-general, in the most pointed terms: but, at the same time, it is peculiarly characterized by moderation, and a sense of public duty. The chief publications on the Catholic question are the following: 1. "Elucidation of the Veto, in a three-fold Address to the Public, the Catholics, and the Advocates of Catholics in Parliament: by the Rev. J. Milner, D.D. &c." 2. Two Memoirs upon the Catholic Question, &c. By J. J. Dillon of Lincoln's Inn, Esq." 3. "Observations on the Roman Catholic Question. By the Right Hon. Lord Kenyon." 4.-5. “ Speech of Lord Borringdon in the House of Commons, June 5, 1810:" and "Substance of the Speech delivered by Lord Viscount Castlereagh, May 25, 1810." 6. "Columbanus ad Hi bernos: or a Letter from Columban to his Friends in Ireland, on the present mode of appointing Catholic Bishops in his Native Country." In the political expediency, or inexpediency, of granting the relief applied for, this much debated question seems to remain very nearly in statu quo, for we can perceive no new argument advanced on either side. But there is a very great inexpediency, as it appears to us, in any application upon the subject on the part of the Catholics, before they have settled in their own minds the previous expediency or inexpediency of allowing a veto to the English crown: and we do not think that the late opposition made to this very necessary measure, and their own implied assent to it, has by any means tended to accelerate their object, or to render the grant less dangerous, let the regal power of the country be lodged where it may. The financial publications are chiefly as follows: 1. "On the Public Expenditure and Influence of the Crown. By the Right Hon. George Rose, &c." Evincing much close attention to the subject, and as an intimate acquaintance with it; and drawing a far more favourable picture than most politicians will admit the present state of affairs to justify. 2."The high Price of Bullion a proof of the depreciation of Bank Notes. By David Ricardo." 3. "A Defence of Bank Notes, &c. By John Grenfell.” 4. "An Inquiry into the Effects produced on the National Currency, and Notes of Exchange, by the Bank Restriction Bill. By Robert Musket of his Majesty's Mint." 5. "Reflections on the Abundance of Paper in Circulation, and the Scarcity of Specie. By Sir Philip Francis, K.B." 6. "The Real |