meagre, and anxiously selected), and on the descriptions of certain literary aspirants, who have of late disported themselves by drawing lively and sparkling sketches of London, in which the fancy has been far more employed than precision of detail, or solicitude about the exact truth. Who indeed, who seeks to amuse either by pen or pencil, ever thinks of presenting his subject in other than effective lights? Would our readers believe it, that Mr. Harris has taken many of his statements from the work called "The Great Metropolis," and from Mr. Webbe's "Glances at Life in City and Suburb ?" As to the character of these books we need not now utter a word, but refer the reader to our late reviews of them. One indisputable thing can be asserted of them however, which is, that whatever may be their literary merits as works of sentiment or fancy, no reliance can be placed in them as statistic records.

But to return to our objections to the author's picture, as given in the passages we last quoted from his Sermon, we say, that it is contrary to the truth, and that every competent and impartial party that has been examined particularly, has declared that London is far more orderly and moral in its external appearance than it was in past times, especially in respect of the Sabbath-day. Why did not Mr. Harris quote from Mr. Webbe's Glances a strong passage to this effect? Because one object rather than the whole truth was to be served. We demur to the author's style of inflation, both of language and ideas. When speaking of gaming-houses for example, was it becoming to designate them from the pulpit, by their slang or flash title, Hells? However bad these places may be, and we defy the reverend gentleman to represent them in all their deformity, it is not the truth that "on the breast of each of those entering must be written, in letters of fire, Hell." Again, who can tell how many are infidels, or heterodox, and orthodox in London? One thing is to be presumed, that while hypocritical professors of religion are fond of ostentation, the contrite, and the pious are humble and unobtrusive. And at last, to return to our preliminary ground, we confidently entertain the opinion that the author has been unjust to his subject, not so much by positive as by negative error, consisting in that want of light to his shades before insisted on.

Our concluding paragraph will contain our general and shortest method of replying to Mr. Harris, and all such painters. We say, if the metropolis of England were so dead and so rotten at the core as they represent, it could not for any considerable length of time adhere as a social community-that if it were so worthless and unprincipled, it could never have attained, and could not longer maintain, the matchless character, which, in the Discourse before us, has justly been allowed it-and that although many citizens who neither profess nor believe in the Christian religion, are, in their public dealings, and in private, men of good character, yet

that to the spirit and influence of Christianity shed abroad over society much of this decency, much of the unacknowledged obedience to Divine truth is to be attributed. We therefore believe that those, who in this city form its salt, are neither few nor poor in point of virtue. When prophets and priests venture upon counting the numbers of those who "bow the knee to Baal," they are ready to be uncharitable and disheartened.

What our author says of the indecencies which characterize the London theatres, may be heightened; it cannot be contradicted. His reference to the Sunday publications we leave to those journals. The charge concerns not us; we will not be their advocates. His strong appeal in behalf of the " London City Mission," whose cause he pleads, speaks for itself. The institution is one which, in principle, in promises, and past performances, deserves to be universally applauded, encouraged, and imitated; it is one of the best, even in this charitable, enlightened, and improving metropolis, without which and other benevolent establishments London would soon become a city of the dead. May this Mission, and similar associations, be the speedy means of removing from its bosom all taint of moral disease and death!

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In imitation of Him who chose to move in a humble rank, that he might identify himself with the people, this society proposes to employ, as its agents, a class as little as possible removed from the rank of the class they visit. But, at the same time, they are to be men of good understanding and especially men of approved piety, and familiar with the Scriptures; men imbued with a tender compassion for souls, and with an earnest desire to win them to Christ. These agents it sends from house to house, and from family to family, to read to the inmates the word of God-to induce them to an attendance on public worship-to supply those who are destitute with copies of the Scriptures---to introduce children into Sunday, and other schools---to circulate tracts and approved religious books---and to hold religious meetings; and thus it seeks to domesticate the gospel---to erect the cross in the centre of every habitation.

"Christian Brethren, what is your impression of this plan? Does it not commend itself to your judgment? Are you not constrained to admit its necessity? Have you sufficiently considered its merits? Remember, that in taking the gospel from house to house-which is its distinctive principle it is only leading us back to the apostolic plan of diffusing the gospel. The first ministers of Christ taught the gospel, not only in the sanctuary, but also from house to house. And they doubtless felt that an obligation to do this was involved in their Lord's command, to preach the gospel to every creature: that while some would not, others could not, hear of salvation, unless it should be thus conveyed to them. The principle, then, is no novelty. It is as old as Christianity. It is a part of Christianity. It is Christ's own ordinance: as much so, I submit, as preaching the gospel in the sanctuary. And the church has been guilty, in allowing it to fall into disuse. From the period when it was discontinued, the mode of propagating the gospel became incomplete; and to the

present time has remained incomplete. Can we wonder at the little progress which the gospel has made, when we remember that, of two methods for diffusing it-public preaching, and domestic teaching---one of them has for ages been laid aside and forgotten? Could the heathenish parts of the metropolis have sunk into their present degraded condition, had this plan always been acted on by the Christian church? Then, as the continuance of the plan would have preserved them from that degeneracy, let us feel assured that, by the Divine blessing, the resumption of the plan can yet recover them from it. And while carrying the principle into operation, let us be quickened and encouraged by the recollection, that we are only resuming the apostolic plan; that now, at the eleventh hour, we are simply filling up the outline of the plan, prescribed in Scripture, for the diffusion of the gospel.

"Another recommendation which this plan possesses is, that it enables the Christian church to keep just ahead of the world, in its methods of activity. It will, I think, be found, that almost every other plan is imitated. Infidelity has mimicked some of them. Science has copied nearly all but this. It has its societies, and schools, and tracts, and missionaries, and Sunday lectures. The church has adopted scarcely a single method of activity, but the world have done the same with their enchantments. But in this excellent plan of domiciliary visitation, the church stands alone; this, at present, is all her own.

"As a further recommendation, let me remark, that it is a tried plan; and that wherever it has been fairly put to the test, it has eminently succeeded. It has taken possession of some of the worst districts of this great city; and, already, its Reports inform us of tears which it has been the means of wiping away-of dark haunts of depravity where it has kindled the light of life-of men reclaimed from the last stages of vice, and made new creatures in Christ Jesus. It has made itself friends among the ministers of Christ, solely on the strength of its evident usefulness; ministers, who attest an increased attendance, in consequence, both at their Sunday-schools, and on their own religious ministrations. It is an invaluable auxiliary to other religious societies. It has been the means of originating collateral methods of usefulness; for like an elementary principle in the natural world, the parent principle of this society branches off, and puts itself forth in an unceasing variety of useful forms. All its fertility is not yet developed; it is only awaiting your consent, your earnest supplications, to make itself be felt in additional forms of practical application."-pp. 40-44.

"And do you not see that success in this respect, will include success of every other kind, and to an indefinite amount?. The churches of Christ will be filled and multiplied. Other religious societies will glorify God in you-for you will be enlarging their sphere of operations, providing them with agents, and replenishing their funds. The country at large will bless you; for, besides that your example will lead to general imitation, the heart of the empire being renewed, the whole of the body poltic could not fail to reap the advantage. The government itself will be benefitted for you would be doing more than any parliamentary enactments to secure the real sanctification of the Sabbath, and to promote the ends of a true political economy. The self-sufficiency of human science

will stand rebuked in the presence of your spiritual triumphs; and then you will be proclaiming in the halls, not merely of British, but of continental science, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.' And they shall call thee, the city of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.'"-pp. 53, 54.

ART. VII.-Correspondence of Horace Walpole. A New Edition. 3 vols., 12mo. London: Colburn. Î837.

LITERATURE, politics, fashion, and scandal, which are ever varying in their forms, were, during a period that extends considerably beyond half a century, the themes which engaged, and by turns engrossed, the taste of Horace Walpole. He is also acknowledged to be a prince among letter-writers, although, we think, in Lady Mary Montagu a rarer and more exquisite genius for this same epistolary trade is to be found. These Letters have been long and extensively read, and therefore it is unnecessary to say much about their merits or their style. They present to us in lively colours the trifling, the sensitive, the worldly-minded, sensible, and accomplished gentleman, from his youth to old age. But their chief value consists in the chronicle and the picture they give of manners-of kings, warriors, statesmen, beauties, authors, and artists, for upwards of sixty years-embracing some of the greatest names in English history, and pointing to events of no common interest in the annals of nations. Walpole wrote before Johnson was generally known, while Swift and Pope were living wits. Before this Correspondence closed, Rogers, Wordsworth, and other names dear to fame, and who are still amongst us, were giving promise of their brilliant career. He witnessed the triumphs of the two Pitts, and could record the loss and gain of colonies, as well as the horrors of revolutionary hurricanes.

One of Walpole's excellencies is, that the reader feels himself irresistibly carried back to the days and the scenes described in these Letters-to Strawberry Hill and to Ranelagh—to listen to the bon-mots of George Selwyn, and to gaze at the beauty of Lady Aylesbury. Then, as regards the character of this new edition, we must praise it for certain omissions, which modern refinement and ears required, and also for the numerous notes, treasured in the memory of the writer, and originally poured forth to amuse a sick friend, but now enlarged from various sources to enrich the present publication. These notes are generally extremely curious, and not less frequently valuable illustrations of the past.

Of a reprint of the present kind, little more is required at our hands than such short notices and remembrances as those we have offered. The author of the Correspondence, and the furnisher of the notes ought now alone, to be heard, and from them we select a

few specimens from the former taking such as struck us most forcibly when hurrying over its pages, and from the latter that which appeared most illustrative of the text, and of the times and persons it treats of.

We have already hinted at a comparison of Horace Walpole with Mary Montagu. It is interesting to see how one wit treats another; but perhaps our readers could not name any other two rivals, whose reciprocal estimate would be more worthy of attention, than that of the pair we have been alluding to. We are enabled by these volumes to show what sort of figure the gentleman would have made in such a contest; but had we the versatile and brilliant Sappho to reply, we augur that though the exhibition might remind us of the "diamond-cut-diamond" retort, the latter would be the keener gem. The sketch now to be introduced was taken when the lady was turned of fifty. The scene is in Paris.

"But for the Academy; I am not of it, but frequently in company with it; 'tis all disjointed. Madam ***, who, though a learned lady, has not lost her modesty and character, is extremely scandalized with the other two dames, especially with Moll Worthless, who knows no bounds. She is at rivalry with Lady Walpole for a certain Mr. ***, whom perhaps you knew at Oxford. If you did not, I'll tell you; he is a grave young man by temper, and a rich one by constitution: a shallow creature by nature, but a wit by the grace of our women here; whom he deals with as of old with the Oxford toasts. He fell into sentiments with my Lady W., and was happy to catch her at Platonic love; but as she seldom stops there, the poor man will be frightened out of his senses, when she shall break the matter to him; for he never dreamt that her purposes were so naughty. Lady Mary is so far gone, that to get him from the mouth of her antagonist, she literally took him out to dance country-dances last night at a formal ball; where there was no measure kept in laughing at her old, tawdry, painted, plastered personage. She played at pharoah two or three times at Princess Craon's, where she cheats horse and foot. She is really entertaining. I have been reading her works, which she lends out in manuscript; but they are too womanish; I like few of her performances. I forgot to tell you a good answer of Lady Pomfret to Mr. ***, who asked her if she did not approve Platonic love? Lord, Sir,' says she, I am sure any one that knows me never heard that I had any love but one, and there sit two proofs of it'-pointing to her two daughters."

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We have alluded above to the process which proverbially goes by the title of diamond-cut-diamond;" and from the notes to this Correspondence find a happy instance of its application, by certain rival caricaturists.

"Lord Townshend was very fond of drawing caricatures, in which he excelled. He published a set of twelve, to which he affixed the name of Austin, a drawing-master; but well known not to have been done by him. Whilst Lord Townshend was lord-lieutenant of Ireland, he had an aide-de-camp, who was not far inferior to his lordship in drawing carica