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The rye eaters have universally almost been changed into wheat eaters; and, except in the county of Durham, where a mixture of wheat and rye, called maslin, is grown, the culture of rye is almost unknown. Nearly the same may be said of the consumption of barley. In the northern counties of England, at the middle of the last century, and for long after, very little wheat was used. In Cumberland, the principal families used only a small quantity about Christmas. The crust of the goose-pie, with which every table of the county is then supplied, was, at the period referred to, almost uniformly made of barley-meal. But no such thing is now ever heard of, even in the poorest houses. Almost all individuals use wheaten bread, at all times of the year. It is, in fact, the only bread ever tasted by those who live in towns and villages, and mostly, also, by those who live in the country.

"It has been the same every where throughout the kingdom. In Cornwall, from thirty to forty years ago, the small farmers, with the agricultural labourers, and those employed in the mines, almost invariably used barley; but at present they do not use it to anything like the same extent as formerly, and in many extensive districts it has been entirely abandoned. The same thing has happened in Somersetshire, and in every other county where either barley or oats was formerly made use of. Wheat is now the all but universal bread-corn of England; and in some of the manufacturing towns, within the last few years, the use of the inferior sorts of wheaten bread has been a good deal restricted; and is rejected, indeed, by all but the very lowest and poorest classes.

"The change that has taken place during the last half century, in the consumption of butcher's meat, is still more extraordinary than that which has taken place in the consumption of corn. The quantity made use of has been wonderfully increased, and its quality signally improved. From 1740 to about 1750, the population of the metropolis fluctuated very little; amounting, during the whole of that period, to about 670,000 or 675,000. Now, during the ten years ending with 1750, there were, at an average, about 74,000 head of cattle, and about 570,000 head of sheep sold annually in Smithfield market. In 1831, the population had increased to 1,472,000, or in the ratio of about 218 per cent.; and at an average of the three years ending with 1831, 156,000 head of cattle, and 1,238,000 head of sheep were annually sold in Smithfield; being an increase of 212 per cent. on the cattle, and of 217 per cent. on the sheep, as compared with the numbers sold in 1740-50. It consequently appears that the number of cattle and sheep, consumed in London has increased, since 1740, about in the same proportion as the population. The weight of the animals has, however, a good deal more than doubled in the interval. In the earlier part of last century, the gross weight of the cattle sold at Smithfield did not, at an average, exceed 370 pounds, and that of the sheep did not exceed 28 pounds; whereas, at present, the average weight of the cattle is estimated at about 800 pounds, and that of the sheep at about 80 pounds. Hence, on the most moderate computation, it may be affirmed that the consumption of butcher's meat in the metropolis, as compared with the population, is twice as great at this moment as in 1740 or 1750."

We have often listened to speculations regarding the number of

Scotch bakers that are in London, and sometimes, when one of their home-loving countrymen would boast of this circumstance, have been amused by the perhaps equally striking fact, that no Scotch butchers accompany these powdered gentlemen; the obvious meaning of the sneer being, that butcher's meat is not eaten in the north. But what does Mr. McCulloch state?

"The demand for butcher's meat in Scotland has increased in the most extraordinary manner. So late as 1763, the slaughter of bullocks for the supply of the public markets was a thing wholly unknown even in Glasgow, though the city had then a population of nearly 30,000! Previously to 1775, or perhaps later, it was customary in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the principal Scotch towns, for families to purchase, in November, what would now be reckoned a small, miserable, half-fed cow or ox, the salted carcass of which was the only butcher's meat they tasted throughout the year. In the smaller towns and country districts this practice prevailed till the present century, but it is now almost everywhere abandoned. The consumption of butcher's meat in Glasgow, as compared with the population, does not at present differ materially from that of the metropolis. We do not, indeed, believe that the command of the people of any country over food and all sorts of conveniences ever increased, in any equal period, half so rapidly at that of the people of Scotland has done since 1770."

Ireland does not furnish anything like such cheering facts or prospects as the sister kingdoms do; and the author doubts whether the condition of the labouring part of the population of that country -and this forms the great mass of the people-be materially better at this moment than in the days of Cromwell. In fact, Mr. M'Culloch's picture of Ireland is exceedingly disheartening. He admits that the middle class has been considerably increased within the last half century, and that the island has had its full share of the improvements in which all classes of the people of England and Scotland have so liberally participated during that period; but he affirms, in regard to agriculture, for instance, that the island is in a very backward state, to speak generally, and when compared with Great Britain. He says "the Irish farmer has neither skill nor industry;" that " he has no correct notion of the rotation of crops;" that there are few thrashing machines in the kingdom," &c., &c. And he thus, in part, accounts for this deplorable state of things:

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The abject poverty of the people has been said to be the real cause of the distressed state of Irish agriculture. But this very poverty has itself been mainly occasioned by the circumstances to which we have now briefly alluded. The splitting of the land into minute portions has been at once the principal cause of the excessive increase and poverty of the population, and of the wretched condition of agriculture."

The general dark doctrine which the author entertains here, is too sweepingly applied, and not quite consistent with the fact, that the exports from Ireland of agricultural produce, have greatly increased within the last quarter of a century-even trebled, we

believe. At the same time, who is there that is competent to judge, and who has traversed the sister island in its length and breadth, that will not bear testimony to a gloomy account of the wretched style of working the soil prevalent throughout-though its capabilities be for the most part so superior, that in the hands of an enterprising farmer it might be made doubly productive? It is unpleasant, however, to dwell much on these facts, when we reflect on the agitated condition of the country, the insecurity of property, and the vile manner of Irish land-letting, against all which an oppressed and poor population have to struggle. We therefore, after merely stating that our author leans too much to dark views, both as to the present and future circumstances of Ireland, offers compensation to the people of the empire, in the capacity of one great nation, not only by the following estimates, but by the full persuasion that we have not yet arrived at the pinnacle of our prosperity.

"We have already seen that the yearly value of the whole agricultural produce of England and Wales may be estimated at about 132,000,000., and that of Scotland at about 23,000,000.; making a gross sum of 155,000,000. Now, deducting from this amount 12,000,000/. for the value of seed, and the sums required to keep up the stock of horses, &c., we have the sum of 143,000,000Z., as representing the entire value of the various articles of agricultural produce annually consumed by man. At present (1836) the population of Great Britain may be taken at nearly 18,000,000, which, consequently, gives (1) 87., very nearly, for the average annual consumption of each individual; and it seems to be the concurrent opinion of those best entitled to decide as to such subjects, that this average is not very wide of the mark.

"We have estimated the value of the entire annual produce of the land of Ireland at 55,500 000/.; but we have since been assured, by gentlemen intimately acquainted with the state of that country, and on whose judgment we are disposed to place much reliance, that this estimate is above the mark, and that the annual value of the agricultural produce of Ireland does not exceed 45,000,000l. Now, if we deduct from this 6,000,000l. for the value of seed, and of the sums required to replace horses, &c., and 3,500.000/. for the values remitted in the shape of rent, &c., to absentee proprietors, we have 35,500,000l. to be distributed among the resident population; which, as the latter may be taken at about 8,500,000, gives nearly 41 3s to each."

NOTICES.

ART. XII.-Little Tales for Little Heads and Little Hearts. London: Wilson. 1836.

THIS handsome little volume forms a suitable companion to "The Story without an End," which was taken from the German by Sarah Austin, and which we noticed very favourably on its first appearance. The stories are exceedingly simple, natural, and beautiful; and are made to be the vehicle

of some of the most impressive and virtuous lessons that can be addressed to young or old. The illustrations are also embellishments in point of art; and while the whole is to be obtained for a trifling sum, few of the Christmas or New Year Gifts for children, will exceed these "Little Tales" in real value.

ART. XIII.-Floral Sketches, Fables, and other Poems. By AGNES STRICKLAND. London: Wilson. 1837.

THE exterior of this publication is equally neat and elegant with the tiny volume last noticed; and when it is announced that its contents are by Agnes Strickland, no one need question its intrinsic sweetness and worth. It really requires a very peculiar and enviable genius to write for juvenile readers that is to say, to compose a work calculated to touch the hearts of children, and to engage the feelings of persons of much riper years; for unless there be nature, and truth, and wisdom in the performance, so as to be perceived and relished by a parent, we may rest assured that the effort has failed of its primary object. By the present pieces, and indeed by all that we have seen come from this talented writer, and instructor of the young, these ends have been attained. She has a fine perception for what is beautiful in surrounding nature, and of the avenues by which all this beauty is to be made manifest to the tenderest as well as experienced observers. We present a sample of her recent contributions to our juvenile literature. We beg the reader also to bear in mind, that these "Sketches" in the department of poetry, form as suitable a present at this period of the year, as "The Little Tales for Little Heads and Little Hearts," can be in prose; and that their illustrations are not less appropriate and tasteful. Indeed the two charming 16mos. should go together, and no doubt for many long years afterwards they will be regarded as twin instructors by every ingenuous student.

Our extract is chosen on account of its moderate length and its application to the current season, rather than for its superiority in relation to the other pieces.

"THE WINTER ACONITE; OR THE NEW YEAR'S GIFT.

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Oh, the New-year's Gift a welcome flower!

For she gladdens the gloom of the wintry hour:

Amidst the dark tempests and the blasts of the North,
From her mantle of green she looks cheerly forth.

The Jonquil, the Tulip, the Hyacinth gay,
Depart with the vanishing glories of May;
And the Roses of summer with summer take flight,
But a wintry gem is the Aconite.

When the trees of the forest are leafless and bare,
And the hedge-rows are stripped of their coronets fair,

And the pride of the garden is faded and gone,
She springs from the cold earth, all lovely and lone.
When a brief gleam of sunshine dissolves the first snow,
It is pleasant to gaze on her beautiful glow;

At a time when no object in nature looks bright,
Save the golden hue of the Aconite.

Before the pale Snow-drop or Daisy may dare
To brave the rude hail, or the bleak frosty air,
Or the Crocus peeps forth, or the surest Celadine,

Like a beacon of hope does the Aconite shine.

Then speak not of friends who will shrink from our side

In moments when friendship is by sorrow tried;

Give me those whose true love through each storn sheds a light,
Like the bloom of the wintry Aconite."

ART. XIV.

1.-The Book of the New Covenant of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; being a Critical Revision of the Text and Translation of the English Version of the New Testament, with the aid of most Ancient Manuscripts unknown to the Age in which that Version was last put forth by Authority. London: Duncan. 1836.

2.-Annotations to the Book of the New Covenant; with an Expository Preface. With which is reprinted, J. L. Hug, "De Antiquitate Codicis Vaticani Commentatio." By GRANVILLE PENN, Esq. London: Duncan. 1837.

THE titles of these two volumes sufficiently explain what they are; and if we may be allowed to speak strongly on themes and performances which involve the most sacred duties as well as the prefoundest erudition, we should affirm of the present works that they ought to become the frequent study and guide of every minister of the gospel, and of every scholar in divine literature. The Expository Preface, we regard as a masterpiece in the department of critical and learned disquisition; and yet the author and editor considers all such efforts as he has here put forth, and the results of all biblical or philological labours concerning the text of the Holy Scriptures to be of no benefit worthy the consideration of the Christian philanthropist and teacher, farther than as these studies and exertions may circulate and impress upon the minds of ordinary readers and the generality of inquirers after truth, the precise mind of the Creator and Redeemer of mankind. This is, beyond all question, of infinitely higher moment than any display of scholarship. Still, these volumes confer extreme honour on the ripe scholar who has put forth his strength, and manifested the earnestness of his heart in behalf of the eternal interests of mankind.

It is not for us to pronounce a decided opinion upon the merits of the translation to be found in the former of these volumes. The version with which we have been familiar from our infancy, has necessarily obtained such an authority and an emphasis in respect of its peculiar phraseology, that we cannot well divest ourselves of the feelings of its right to be called the only form in which the word of God should appear. Now every one, at the same time knows, that the fact stands otherwise; and that although no alteration is to be tolerated which is

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