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NOTICES.

ART. XII.-Adventures of an Attorney in Search of Practice. London: Saunders and Otley. 1839.

AN Attorney in Search of Practice! What a rascally fellow that must be! and what offensive stories must he have to tell who relates his tricks, adventures, and exploits in this line of business! But slowly, gentle reader. You, at least we, have been acquainted with attorneys who would not do a wrong thing in the course of practice any more than the most high-minded merchant; who would not take advantage of the ignorance, or the disordered condition of a client's affairs to pocket spoil; who would not cringe or take tortuous methods to obtain the richest clients patronage and business; who would not even in the heat of litigation wound his own conscience by taking an undue advantage of an opponent's slips and errors. There are such men; individuals who, as regards every moral, intellectual and elegant attainment are eclipsed by none in society. Why, the very resistance of the temptations which every day are before a lawyer's eyes, and of which the sort of person we speak of keeps clear, must be a more purifying and sublimating process, in training the mind and the feelings, than what the priest encounters in the course of his holy avocations. Then think of the strange vicissitudes in life, the family perplexities and misunderstandings, the delicate and unmeasured confidings with which he is conversant: and next say where is the man whose experience can be so exciting and varied! Adventures too, in the strictest sense and of a matter-of-fact kind, that are bold and hazardous, he is constantly destined to undertake. Is it nothing that his judgment and skill is oft put to the test,—that the humane feelings of the character we are supposing are more or less wrung in almost every case, that the happiness and prosperity of a family may depend upon the wisdom of his advice, the soundness of his discretion when hurriedly called to decide, the moral influence of his bearing and example, when the balance may be between life and death?

Such is the character of the Attorney that is developed in the volume before us, which, although much indebted to the creations of imagination, carries with it so much of the strength of just principle, sound judgment, accurate observation, and manly sentiment, as is calculated to do positive good, and produce practical results, whether the reader be one of the same cloth with the alleged writer, or one whose only probable connection with the law, will be that of a client. But we shall say no more; we shall let the Attorney shortly speak for himself:

"I only wish to explain how it happens, that in a profession which is now justly esteemed a liberal one, and in which we daily meet with men well qualified to adorn any rank of life, we should yet more frequently fall in with others whose manners would exclude them from our servants' hall, and whose characters would compel us to count our spoons, if by any accident they gained admission there. It is but too true that we have among us a large body of adventurers, who have little education, less principle, and neither capital nor connexion. It is probable that, in some instances, their friends have selected them for attorneys, because they have exhibited a pre

dilection for that speculative inquiry into the rights of property which, by a more summary process, leads those who have no relatives to the gallows. There are various ways by which these adventurers contrive to work out a livelihood in a 'respectable' manner. The secret of their art is to establish a familiar acquaintance with any humble class, where the ceremony of special introduction is of small account, and, in the words of the play, to 'push it as far it will go.' There are many classes of this description daily to be found in our crowded metropolis; and all of them, either from their helpless ignorance, or dishonest pursuits, stand in daily need of a 'professional adviser.' Among the helpless may be enumerated the thoughtless sailor just returned from sea-the inferior tradesman trembling on the verge of bankruptcy-the pigeon who, after plucking, hesitates between reform and desperation the ruined spendthrift, but expectant heir-and yet more frequently the beggared gentleman, that prefers enjoying his last hundred within the prison walls to dividing it among fifty creditors at the rate of sixpence in the pound. The dishonest class is perhaps, less accessible, but far more profitable: it consists of cent-per-cent money-lenders and annuitymongers; of brokers who will discount a six months' bill on the security of a watch or a well-secured post-obit; hell-proprietors and blacklegs of Regent Street and St. James's; swindlers of the turf; smugglers by profession; 'fences' of the lanes and alleys of the town, including of course ninetenths of the pawnbrokers and dealers in marine stores; and finally, all the thieves and pickpockets in the bills of mortality."

ART. XIII.-Poems, now First Collected. By Lord LEIGH.

Moxon. 1839.

London :

WE presume that the claim to the title of a Peer of the realm does not often rest upon poetic accomplishments; but yet had we the power of distributing honours, such rare attainments should not be overlooked, other things being equal. We believe that Mr. Chandos falls not behind any one whom recent Creations have distinguished, as regards ability, and straight-forward political conduct; while as an wooer of the muse, we are not aware that he has a superior in the Upper house. Certainly the present collection of pieces that have been previously published, though separately, together with some that are new, displays throughout decided excellence. And yet it is only by taking the whole, and comparing one class of them with another, that the versatility of the author can be perceived, and the facility with which he can throw himself upon any theme and into any humour. Whether it be description, lightsome or pathetic feelings, satire, or arousing sentiment, Lord Leigh appears to be at home. In the "Epistles to a Friend in Town," we find the accuracy and finish of Pope, with much of his knowledge of existing character in public and private life; while in others we have the power and the loftiness of Byron, without his misanthrophy or contemptuous spirit. From one of the " Epistles" already mentioned, the reader will, among other happy specimens of pointed allusion and characteristic portraitures, discover a heartfelt and an impressive tribute paid to one of the greatest statesmen that ever was at the helm of British affairs. Canning would have felt himself honoured by what a generous admirer throws into the delineation that concludes the following sketches of character:

"Orfellus gives you feasts to glut his pride;
You ask a loan of him, he turns aside.

While Bavius prates of friendship in his verse,
Yet from the dearest friend withholds his purse.
The generous man-he whom the world commends-
Fills high the sparkling wine-cup for his friends;
And yet this hospitable reveller lives

For self-for self alone his banquet gives.
What though this Pharisee exalts his horn
On high, and views a brother's woes with scorn;
When placed before the judgment-seat of Heaven,
The scorner may be lost, the scorn'd forgiven!
Fame cries that Appius, generous wight, but lives
To bless his neighbour: all he has he gives.
Though in subscription be his name enroll'd,
His virtue glitters-'tis not sterling gold:

No

prayer of those he has relieved by stealth
Consecrates alms that trumpet forth his wealth.
Croesus for unimagined pleasure pants;
His very pain is that he nothing wants:
His life, a calm so sick'ning to the soul,
Were worse to many than the tempest's howl.
'Tis the pursuit that cheers us; when attain'd,
The object is as speedily disdain'd;
Of wealth unbounded, as in rank the first,
Croesus with fulness of enjoyment's curst.
Crassus, rich child of dulness, lives among
High orators and mighty sons of song:
Admitted to the table of the gods, he's hit,
Like Vulcan, by their frequent shafts of wit.
Strange are the qualities in Man commixt!
Firm in some things, in others how unfixt!
Can that Valerius, whose high worth is seen
In public actions, be in private mean?
Or can Ambrosius point beyond the grave
A hell for sinners, and become a knave?
How the arch-tempter loves within his toils
To catch reluctant dragons-they are spoils.
The same imaginary sorrows vex
Unquiet spirits, the same cares perplex;
Go to the court, what characters are there!
The same by Pope described, La Bruyère.
Eugenius daily with unwearied zeal
Resumes his labours for the common weal;
Neglects his fine estate, with study pale
O'erworks his brains, and what does all avail?
The dullest idler may in public speak

Better than he-our patriot's nerves are weak!

Ascanius, for his trade too honest, dives
Into the depths of policy, and strives
In sabbathless pursuit of fame to be
What never with his nature can agree.

Too good, though train'd up in the statesman's school,
To see through those whom selfish passions rule;
Too sensitive to bear against the blast

Of faction till its rage be overpast.

Each flying shade, each transient light, will throw
Young Flaccus into fits of joy or wo;

The breath of censure, frown of scorn, will shake
His frame until his heart-strings almost break.
If but a feather's weight oppress his nerves,
The mind disjointed from its purpose swervės.
Scarce on his self-raised eminence appear'd
Publius; the harass'd sons of freedom cheer'd.
To him, as to the pillar'd fire that burn'd
At night before the Israelites, they turn'd,
Struggling 'gainst Tyranny's recurring wave
They heard his voice, all-powerful to save;
(A voice that fulminating o'er Europe shamed
Power from attempting schemes that cunning framed),
With energy renew'd, then upwards sprung,
And firmly to their rock of safety clung.
As falls the mighty column in its pride,

Publius had reach'd Ambition's height, and died!
Perish'd a statesman as erect and great

As from its watch-tower e'er o'erlook'd the state."

In the way of description, take a glimpse of the Alps :

""Tis the sublime of desolation! far

Spread wreck of the elements' primeval war.
(How different from the landscapes seen of late,
Gayer than any fancy might create!

Vineyards on vineyards rising in due grades,
Beautiful dells, groves prodigal of shades.)
There saw Saussure a universe deprived
Of life, and felt that he alone survived!
Sails through mid air a solitary cloud,
Like to a spirit, seeking its abode
Above the silent, shadowy vale of death;
Such seems the rugged continent beneath.
In all his naked strength there, face to face,
Is Power beheld-there man forgets his race :-
There only, for in forest depths may live
Some hermit whose rude hut may shelter give ;
Some pilgrim's foot the arid sands may press
Of the inhospitable wilderness.

War-ravaged lands and cities desolate,
Uncultured plains, and wrecks of regal state,
Are still memorials of heroic crime,

The spoiler man, his gewgaws spoil'd by time."

It will be seen that fluency and smoothness of versification are here felicitously wedded to knowledge of life, various observation, and feeling; nor have we discovered in the collection less correctness or graceful taste than what distinguishes these specimens.

1839.

ART. XIV.-Costanza of Mistra: a Tale of Modern Greece; in Five Cantos. London: Whittaker. OUR readers may take it for granted that "a Tale of Modern Greece," will have something to tell of Turkish oppression and cruelty; and that Costanza must be a heroine, whom revenge fires, without our going more minutely into the story, or quoting any of the Spensarian stanzas which spins it out till we have become weary in passing the eye over them. Words! words! often flowing and rhythmical; but spirit and arousing poetry are wanting.

ART. XV.-Second Additional Supplement to Loudon's Hortus Britannicus. London: Longman. 1839.

ANOTHER Supplement to a national work; a work including all the Plants introduced into Britain, all the newly-discovered British Species, and also all the kinds originated in British-Gardens, up to March, 1839. On important, indeed an indispensable portion of this addition is a new General Index to the whole work, including all the Supplements. Mr. Don has lent a revising hand.

ART. XVI.-Etymology of Southwark. By Ralph Lindsay. F.S.A. Third Edition. London: Smith and Elder.

1839.

A CURIOUS tiny publication, containing a great deal more of antiquarian facts and notices than the title prepares the reader to expect.

ART. XVII.-An Etymological and Explanatory Dictionary of the Terms and Language of Geology. By GEORGE ROBERTS. London: Longman. 1839.

THE technical phrases continually occurring in Geological books, render the study of the science most perplexing to tyros. So far as we have had time to examine the derivations, very many of which are, as in all other sciences, from the Greek, the work is what it professes to be, that is, for the young student."

ART. XVIII.—A Reply to the Rev. Dr. Turton's "Roman Catholic Doctrine of the Eucharist Considered." By NICHOLAS WISEMAN, D. D. London: Dolman.

THE subject of this Reply is too solemn and mysterious for our handling. We can only say that Dr. Wiseman displays extensive learning and much skill in the controversy, and in defence of the Catholic Doctrine.