instruction of the female sex. This endearing branch of science will always form a prominent feature in our work. On the discovery of the Photogenic Drawing, we lost no time in producing a facsimile of the effects of this very pleasing and astonishing art, and which called forth such undivided approbation. Copious instructions for attaining that accomplishment were also given, in a manner, we trust, perspicuous and satisfactory.

It would be an idle waste of time to dilate on the vital importance of Arts and Manufactures to England; we have, therefore, to as great an extent as our limits would allow, given such notices, not only of their progress at home, but also in other countries. Among the Engravings devoted to Scientific Purposes, we may mention those of the Aellopodes and the Accelerator, both furnished by the respective ingenious Inventors; as also the Six Views of Mr. Hampton's Balloon and Parachute; the Fac-simile of Photogenic Drawing; and that ingenious specimen of science and mechanical art, the Modelled View of Hecla.

To such of our readers who have not leisure, or perhaps inclination, for studying lengthened chapters, we have devoted many of our columns to short, but we ardently trust, amusing pieces of information -agreeable to the original plan of THE MIRROR.

The Editor cannot, in justice to himself, refrain from thus acknowledging the very kind assistance proffered him by numerous literary friends, not only in valuable communications, but also by the liberal offer of the use of their various private libraries; and he earnestly begs to assure them, he highly appreciates such powerful support. To the numerous and increased Correspondents, also, his sincere thanks are due, and which he begs of them to accept.

In conclusion, the Proprietor wishes to remark, that THE MIRROR will continue to be conducted on the same plan that it has been from its commencement; and he also assures his patrons, that no expense or trouble will be spared, in order that the work may keep pace with the greatly increased patronage of its friends, and the advancing state of Literature in England. Among the many intended improvements, the next Volume will be printed off an entire new type, from the foundry of Messrs. Miller and Co., of Edinburgh.

MIRROR OFFICE, STRAND,

June 26, 1839.

SIR EDWARD EARLE LYTTON BULWER, BART.,

M.P. FOR LINCOLN.

THIS clever and accomplished writer, is the son of General Bulwer, and descended from an ancient and wealthy family in Norfolk, in which county he was born in 1803. His father dying in 1806, the care of his early youth devolved upon his mother, who sent him to complete his education at the University of Cambridge, where he gained a prize for a poem on sculpture. His first production was entitled Weeds and Wild Flowers, a collection of poems, published in 1826; and was succeeded, in 1827, by another metrical attempt, O'Neil, or the Rebel. Neither these, nor his first work, a novel, entitled Falkland, which appeared in 1827, attracted particular notice.

prose

The life of an author is to be found in his works; for it is from them we can form a pretty good estimate of his private feelings, his virtues, or his foibles: few other materials in general do the memoirs of authors contain, unless it be a heart-rending recital of disappointment and want. the life of Sir E. L. Bulwer, Bart., fortunately presents none of these points. Born in the lap of affluence-nurtured with all the care concomitant with the life of a gentleman; blessed with a bountiful and classical education; and endowed with wealth-he came forth as an author, not in the hopes of gaining a competency, but for fame, and love of the Muses. It is, therefore, solely as an author that we mean to speak of Sir Edward for it is as such that he will live in the page of English history. It has been well observed, that no one can deny to Mr. Bulwer a foremost place among the names which do honour to modern literature. His readers may vary in their preferences one may like the lively and actual satire of Pelham; a second prefer the poetic imagination of the Disowned; a third, the deeper conception and dramatic effect of Paul Clifford: but the very fact of these preferences shows how much there is from which to

choose."

:

His Pelham, in 1828, was much read, and gained the author great celebrity in the preface to the second edition of which, he thus explains the grounds whereon he founded his work :-" It is a beautiful part in the economy of this world, that nothing is without its use; every weed in the great thoroughfares of life has a honey, which observation can easily extract; and we may glean no unimportant wisdom from folly itself, if we distinguish while we survey, and satirize while we share it. It is in this belief, that these volumes have their origin. I have not been willing that even the common-places of society should afford neither a record nor a moral; and it is, therefore, from the common-places of society that the materials of this novel have been wrought. By treating trifles naturally they may be rendered amusing, and that which adherence to Nature renders amusing, the same cause also may render instructive for Nature is the source of all morals, and the enchanted well, from which not a single drop can be taken that has not the power of curing some of our diseases. * * * * I have drawn for the hero of my work, such a person as seemed to me best fitted to retail the opinions and customs of the class and age to which he belongs;

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SIR EDWARD E. LYTTON BULWER, BART., M.P.

a personal combination of antitheses-a fop and a philosopher, a voluptuary and a moralist—a trifler in appearance, but rather one to whom trifles are instructive, than one to whom trifles are natural-an Aristippus on a limited scale, accustomed to draw sage conclusions from the follies he adopts, and while professing himself a votary of Pleasure, in reality a disciple of Wisdom."

In 1833, his England and the English appeared: a work rather political, and in which he was severe on the aristocracy of our country; yet it contained many excellent remarks devoid of that pestiferous subject— politics. In speaking of amusement, he gives the following just and sensible opinion "Amusement keeps men cheerful and contented—it engenders a spirit of urbanity-it reconciles the poor to the pleasures of their superiors, which are of the same sort, though in another sphere; it removes the sense of hardship-it brings men together in those genial moments when the heart opens and care is forgotten. Deprived of more gentle relaxations, men are driven to the alehouse,-they talk over the actions of their superiors."

On the character of the English people, Mr. Bulwer has the following judicious remarks :-" I think I need take no pains to prove the characteristic of the English people-a characteristic that I shall just touch upon, viz., their wonderful spirit of industry. This has been the saving principle of the nation, counteracting the errors of our laws, and the imperfections of our constitution. We have been a great people, because we have always been active; and a moral people, because we have not left ourselves time to be vicious. Industry is, in a word, the distinguishing quality of our nation, the pervading genius of our riches, our grandeur, and our power. Every great people has its main principle of greatness, some one quality, the developing, the tracing, and feeding, and watching of which, has made it great. It must be remembered how finely Montesquieu has proved this important truth, in the Grandeur et Decadence des Romains. With France, that principle is the love of glory; with America, it is the love [name] of liberty; with England, it is the love of action-the safest, and most comprehensive principle of the three, for it gains glory without seeking it too madly, and it requires liberty in order to exist."

On Detraction, Mr. Bulwer thus expresses himself:-"Shakspeare has spoken of detraction as less excusable than theft; but there is yet a nobler fancy among certain uncivilized tribes, viz., that slander is a greater moral offence than even murder itself; for, say they, with an admirable shrewdness of distinction, when you take a man's life you take only what he must, at one time or the other, have lost; but when you take a man's reputation, you take that which he might otherwise have retained for ever: nay, what is yet more important, your offence in the one is bounded and definite. Murder cannot travel beyond the grave-the deed imposes at once a boundary to its own effects; but in slander the tomb itself does not limit the malice of your wrong: your lie may pass onward to posterity, and continue, generation after generation, to blacken the memory of your victim. The people of the Sandwich Islands murdered Captain Cook; but they pay his memory the highest honour which their customs acknowledge: they retain the bones, (those returned were suppositions,) which are considered sacred; and the priest thanks the gods for having sent them so great a man. you surprised at this seeming inconsistency? Alas! it is the manner in which we treat the great! We murder them by the weapons of calumny and persecution, and then we declare the relics of our victim to be sacred!"

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