to reason that he will not make use of more of the former than he considers requisite to preserve the wine. The report states, that "British merchants export nearly three-fourths of the wine sent to England;" which is correct: but not what follows. It then states that the Agricultural Wine Company is practically bankrupt. The old company was so, for all their wines were destroyed; but the present is carrying on business, though with the aid of an annual grant of 150 contos from government. It then affirms that they have the monopoly of the export of port wine!! What does Mr. Macgregor mean by making so absurd an assertion, when it is universally known that the export is free to all? He first states, that British merchants export nearly three-fourths of the wine sent to England, and then that the company have the monopoly of the export. We have before stated, that the company have no monopoly whatever. He then advances a serious charge against the shippers of port wine in the following words :-"We are informed by an undoubted authority, that the wines of Portugal have been and continue to be prepared for the purpose of the brandy being admitted at the wine duty in England; the quantity of brandy, mixed with the wine exported is four almudes or twenty-two gallons per pipe." In other words, it is not wine which is sent from Oporto, but 30,000 pipes of brandy are annually smuggled into England coloured with wine. Mr. Macgregor then states, that this brandied wine may, after paying duty, be greatly increased by the addition of water. Mr. Smith affirms, as we know to be the case, that wine will in a short time become putrid when mixed with water, and utterly unfit to bottle. We need scarcely remark on Mr. Macgregor's unjust comparison of the heavy black and spirituous wines of Oporto with the clear and wholesome wines of Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne. We may safely allow the wines of Portugal relieved from restrictive import duties to support their own character. Towards the conclusion of his report, Mr. Macgregor again says, "If, as we justly may attribute chiefly to the Methuen Treaty our greatly diminished trade with France, the importance of the value of the British trade with Portugal vanishes so far as the difference between the power of France to consume British manufactures, compared with that of Portugal, can form a basis of calculation." On the utter fallacy of which reasoning, Mr. Smith remarks, "That to constitute a purchaser, it is not enough that he should have the power of consuming or of paying for a given object; but it is necessary that he also should feel a want of and an inclination to acquire that object." The restrictions of France indicate no such inclination for the objects of British industry; and were they removed, she being able to supply not only her own wants, but those of other countries, it is impossible she should ever require our manufactures. Portugal, on the other hand, although a smaller country than France, has both an inclination for and a want of our manufactures, if we will, by taking her wines, enable her to pay for them. "Yet does Mr. Macgregor," says Mr. Smith, "in his anxiety to exalt the value of an unattainable treaty with France perseveringly endeavour to throw a dark veil over the sterling advantages shewn to have accrued to England from the Methuen Convention, which, says Mr. Macgregor, he rejoices to state 'has no longer any existence to shackle our negotiations with other wineproducing countries.' We are unshackled it is true; but the question is, whether France or Spain would propose such favourable terms to England as Portugal, notwithstanding all that has passed, is still willing to offer. We are convinced that France neither would nor can do so; and if therefore it is now too late to command a trade in our manufactures with her, it would be but wise to preserve and extend our still important trade with our old fast ally, Portugal. to reason that he will not make use of more of the former than he considers requisite to preserve the wine. The report states, that "British merchants export nearly three-fourths of the wine sent to England;" which is correct: but not what follows. It then states that the Agricultural Wine Company is practically bankrupt. The old company was so, for all their wines were destroyed; but the present is carrying on business, though with the aid of an annual grant of 150 contos from government. It then affirms that they have the monopoly of the export of port wine!! What does Mr. Macgregor mean by making so absurd an assertion, when it is universally known that the export is free to all? He first states, that British merchants export nearly three-fourths of the wine sent to England, and then that the company have the monopoly of the export. We have before stated, that the company have no monopoly whatever. He then advances a serious charge against the shippers of port wine in the following words :-"We are informed by an undoubted authority, that the wines of Portugal have been and continue to be prepared for the purpose of the brandy being admitted at the wine duty in England; the quantity of brandy, mixed with the wine exported is four almudes or twenty-two gallons per pipe." In other words, it is not wine which is sent from Oporto, but 30,000 pipes of brandy are annually smuggled into England coloured with wine. Mr. Macgregor then states, that this brandied wine may, after paying duty, be greatly increased by the addition of water. Mr. Smith affirms, as we know to be the case, that wine will in a short time become putrid when mixed with water, and utterly unfit to bottle. We need scarcely remark on Mr. Macgregor's unjust comparison of the heavy black and spirituous wines of Oporto with the clear and wholesome wines of Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne. We may safely allow the wines of Portugal relieved from restrictive import duties to support their own character. says, Towards the conclusion of his report, Mr. Macgregor again "If, as we justly may attribute chiefly to the Methuen Treaty our greatly diminished trade with France, the importance of the value of the British trade with Portugal vanishes so far as the difference between the power of France to consume British manufactures, compared with that of Portugal, can form a basis of calculation." On the utter fallacy of which reasoning, Mr. Smith remarks, "That to constitute a purchaser, it is not enough that he should have the power of consuming or of paying for a given object; but it is necessary that he also should feel a want of and an inclination to acquire that object." The restrictions of France indicate no such inclination for the objects of British industry; and were they removed, she being able to supply not only her own wants, but those of other countries, it is impossible she should ever require our manufactures. Portugal, on the other hand, although a smaller country than France, has both an inclination for and a want of our manufactures, if we will, by taking her wines, enable her to pay for them. "Yet does Mr. Macgregor," says Mr. Smith, "in his anxiety to exalt the value of an unattainable treaty with France perseveringly endeavour to throw a dark veil over the sterling advantages shewn to have accrued to England from the Methuen Convention, which, says Mr. Macgregor, he rejoices to state has no longer any existence to shackle our negotiations with other wineproducing countries.' We are unshackled it is true; but the question is, whether France or Spain would propose such favourable terms to England as Portugal, notwithstanding all that has passed, is still willing to offer. We are convinced that France neither would nor can do so; and if therefore it is now too late to command a trade in our manufactures with her, it would be but wise to preserve and extend our still important trade with our old fast ally, Portugal. ART. V.-1. The Life of Beethoven, including his Correspondence with his Friends, &c. Edited by Ignace Moscheles, Esq. 2 Vols. London: Colburn. 1841. 2. Beethoven's Concertos Complete. Edited (with Cadences) by Ignace Moscheles. Cramer and Co. 1844. 3. The Quartetts of Beethoven. Edited by Scipion Rousselot. Cocks and Co. 1845. THAT "the world knows nothing of its greatest men" is an assertion, which, by misuse, may pass into an excuse for indolence, abstinence from creation, for all the dreams and fancies, in short, of the fantastic humourist, who one hour feeds himself up into a bitter spleen against the stir and sound of life and action beyond his gates, and the next, comforts himself for his insignificance by "rising in his own opinion every hour," and appealing with pharisaical unction to Posterity. We are as far from thinking with Mr. Disraeli the younger, that revolutions are determined by quiet Colonel Wildmans (vide his "Sybil") as we are from joining Mr. Carlyle in his hero-worship of the "Can-ning" or powerful man, whosoever or whatsoever he may be. Nor are we quite so sure as both seem to be-the one all" Young England," the other all "Joscelin de Brakelond"-that society requires a new revelation, after their fashion, for the pointing out of neglected shrines, with any extraordinary parade of " trumpet and drum." The ebbings and flowings of time are pretty sure to disclose all that is precious amid the sands, without peril of the treasure being flawed by the eager digger, who, in his selfish haste, may chance to mar and sully the relic he means to rescue. Sudden unfoldings and defences, too, excite the suspicion of charlatanry and paradox. The Mighty Dead are not too sacred for enthusiasm, but they should be exempt from the praise of the special pleader, and the sacrilege of those who would rob them of their present glories, by proving them angels ere they had quitted earth. All these remarks and qualifications allowed for,-and who shall say that they are needless in a noisy and superficial age like the present?-it is a pleasant and a goodly sight to watch the reputation of great men spreading calmly and surely and sinking deep; to stand by, while, year by year, skilful interpreters unroll their oracles,-and to mark the influence of these upon Philosophy, Faith, or (in its lower sphere) Taste. We are in "the full flow of the tide" as regards Beethoven. Much misrepresented and partially admired during his lifetime, the fame and beauty of his works are now recognised throughout |