gative of the English monarchy, 'the toleration of four millions sus pended, to gratify the ascendancy of one-the Irish commons seduced to commit suicide upon their own delegation, the Irish nobility tamely abdicating the dignities of the peerage, and the honours of their ances tors, a rebellion protracted to subdue an independence, and at length two nations consolidated into one, to render their national distinctress the more strikingly remarkable.' pp. xliii.

The only chapter of this History yet presented to the public, commences with a slight but forcible sketch of the state of Ireland to the commencement of the last century, and a short panegyric on its situation and resources. Poyning's Act, which subjected all Irish bills, at the option of the Lord Lieutenant, to be finally modified or wholly suppressed by the Attorney General and Privy Council of England, the statute of the British Parliament in the 6th Geo. I. declaring itself competent to legislate for Ireland, the commercial jealousy of England, and the rigours of Protestant bigotry, are then briefly but severely noticed; the abject state of the Irish people is described; and the effect of the American contest, in awakening their minds to a desire of national independence, is depicted, if not with masterly strokes, yet in lively colours. At this period the author introduces a character of Lord Clare, which is extended to the end of the volume. In this particular instance, and in several similar ones that might be specified, such a method is judicious. When the course of events is much influenced, and still more if secretly influenced, by the character of an individual, it is desirable to become acquainted with the character first it is a key to the cypher. But when the character is formed or modified by the circumstances and events that attend it, a formal description of it beforehand would in a history be idle and preposterous. Sir Jonah would have spared himself the trouble of vindicating the method he has preferred, had he clearly perceived this obvious distinction, or remembered how often a regard to it may be observed in the practice of the classic historians. Considering the character of this nobleman as the occult source of heretofore inexplicable measures,' our author paints it with force, minuteness, and an evident at tempt at nice discrimination: whether he has succeeded in the likeness, we do not feel qualified to determine.

In the Earl of Clare we find a man eminently gifted with talents adapted either for a blessing or a curse to the nation he inhabited; but early enveloped in high and dazzling authority, he lost his way; and considering his power as a victory, he ruled his country as a conquest ;--warra, but indiscriminate in his friendships-equally indiscriminate and implacable in his animosities-he carried to the grave the passions of his childhood,

and has bequeathed to the public a record, which determines that trait of his varied character beyond the power of refutation.

He hated powerful talents, because he feared them; and trampled on modest merit, because it was incapable of resistance. Authoritative and peremptory in his address; commanding, able, and arrogant, in his language; a daring contempt for public opinion seemed to be the fatal principle which misguided his conduct; and Ireland became divided between the friends of his patronage -the slaves of his power-and the enemies to his tyranny.

His character had no medium, his manners no mediocrity—the example of his extremes was adopted by his intimates, and excited in those who knew him, feelings either of warm attachment, or of rivetted aversion.'

His character as a judge is thus delineated.

While he held the seals in Ireland, he united a vigorous capacity with the most striking errors as a judge, he collected facts with a apid precision, and decided on them with a prompt asperity-depending too much on the strength of his own judgement, and the acuteness of his own intellect ;-he hated precedent, and despised the highest judicial authorities, because they were not his own,

Professing great control over others, he assumed but little over himself; he gave too loose a rein to his impressions, consequently the neutrality of the judge occasionally yielded to the irritation of the moment; and equity at times became the victim of dispatch, or a sacrifice to pertinacity.' pp. 20, 21.

He investigated fraud with assiduity, and punished it with rigor ;yet it was obvious, that in doing so he enjoyed the double satisfaction of detecting delinquency, and of gratifying the misanthropy of an habitual invective for never did he poise the scale, without also exercising the sword of justice. Yet in many instances he was an able, and in many a most useful judge-and though his talents were generally overrated, and many of his decisions condemned-it may be truly said, that, with all his failings, if he had not been a vicious statesman, he might have been a virtuous chancellor.' p: 22.

It is as a statesman, however, that the character of this nobleman is chiefly of importance to our readers: for his life, as our author observes, is for twenty momentous years the history of Ireland,

In council, Lord Clare-rapid, peremptory and overbearing-regarded promptness of execution, rather than discretion of arrangement, and piqued himself more on expertness of thought, than sobriety of judgement. Through all the calamities of Ireland, the mild voice of conciliation never escaped his lips; and when the torrent of civil war had subsided in his country, he held out no olive, to shew that the deluge had receded.

* His Lordship's last will, now on record in the prerogative office of Dublin, a most extraordinary composition of hatred and affection, piety and malice, &c.

Acting upon a conviction, that his power was but co-existent with the order of public establishments, and the tenure of his office limited to the continuance of administration, he supported both with less prudence, and more desperation, than sound policy or an enlightened mind should permit or dictate; his extravagant doctrines of religious intolerance created the most mischievous pretexts for his intemperance in upholding them; and, under colour of defending the principles of one revolution, he had nearly plunged the nation into all the miseries of another. Though he intrinsically hated a Legislative Union, his lust for power induced him to support it, the preservation of office overcame the impulse of conviction, and he strenuously supported that measure after having openly avowed himself its enemy; its completion, however, blasted his hopes, and hastened his dissolution. The restlessness of his habit, and the obtrusive. ness of his disposition, became insupportably embarrassing to the British cabinet-the danger of his talents as a minister, and the inadequacy of his judgement as a statesmen, had been proved in Ireland: he had been an useful instrument in that country, but the same line of services, which he performed in Ireland, would have been ruinous to Great Bri tain, and Lord Clare was no longer consulted.

Thus the Union effected, through his friends, what Ireland could never accomplish through his enemies-his total overthrow. Unaccustemed to controul, and unable to submit, he returned to his country, weary, drooping, and disappointed; regretting what he had done, yet miserable that he could do no more; his importance had expired with the Irish Parliament, his patronage ceased to supply food for his ambition, the mind and the body became too sympathetic for existence, and he sunk into the grave, a conspicuous example of human talent, and human frailty,

Thus fell one of the most distinguished personages of the British empire. In his person he was about the middle size, slight, and not graceful-his eyes, large, dark, and penetrating, betrayed some of the boldest traits of his uncommon character-his countenance, though expressive and manly, yet discovered nothing, which could deceive the physiognomist into an opinion of his magnanimity, or call forth an eulogium on his virtues. pp. 23. 24, 25.

A character composed of such brilliant qualities as the Earl of Clare's, must undoubtedly have displayed a fascinating, as well as formidable lustre. The author candidly informs us that he was in private life generous, kind, and munificent. There are some virtues or imitations of virtue, which men possess as a necessary appendage to their vices; and we need not dispute their pretensions to the negative praise of not performing impossibilities of evil, not obeying contradictory impulses, nor pursuing opposite ends. In the composition of Lord Clare, however, there appears to have been but little of that elegance, and refinement, to which the characters of bad men are often indebted for their most seductive and mischievous charms. His wit was low, and his conversation licentious. The melancholy of his last days, we have been assured, was not wholly unaccompanied with better

feelings than a mere weariness of the world which had ceased to smile upon him, than mortified pride, hopeless ambition,

or vain remorse.

A very few words must conclude our account of this publication. It bears strong marks of honest intention, of attentive observation, and extensive knowledge. The warmth of feeling which is at least equally apparent, is at once a gratification and a caution to the reader. As Sir Jonah Barrington proceeds, we would earnestly advise him to assert nothing positively which he is not able to prove; and especially to beware of the suspicion he would incur by unsupported invectives against the dead. We anticipate much pleasure and instruction from the remainder of his performance; in which we shall hope to find the vehemence of political strife merged in the dignified moderation of history. The style is energetic, and clear; but laboured and ostentatious.

The volume is adorned with six admirable portraits, engraved by Heath, of Marquis Cornwallis, the Earl of Clare, the Earl of Moira, Lord Edw. Fitzgerald, Curran, and Bush. That of Lord Clare, we think, is inferior to the rest it certainly represents him as above the middle size.'

Art. XI. Interesting Selections from Animated Nature, with illustrative Scenery designed and engraved by William Daniell, A. R. A long folio. Price 61. 6s. boards. Proof Impressions, 127. 12s. Longman and Co. 1809.

AS

S this elegant work includes letter-press descriptions as well as graphic representations, it is strictly within the scope of a literary journal; but as the former are too scanty and inconsiderable to be a subject of criticism, and the latter constitute the substantial value and peculiar attraction of the publication, we must confess it might more properly be classed among works of art, than productions of science or literature. It is a remarkable distinction, however, of these engravings, that they are not mere works of art; that they both evince and convey scientific information; and scarcely need the assistance of verbal description. The animals are, in many instances at least, represented in such scenery, as at once determines the regions they frequent; and in such attitudes and occupations, as furnish distinct ideas of their habits and character.

The following paragraphs will give the author's account of his plan.

This volume, as the title indicates, contains a miscellaneous assemblage (of aquatinta engravings), formed chiefly from animated nature; intended to present faithful and characteristic representations of such agreeable or interesting objects as have been thought capable of a picresque illustration; to which are added some samples of vegetable pro

ductions, that, either from their beauty or rarity, appear worthy of particular attention. No scientific order has been observed in arranging it, and in making the selections from materials that are not new, it has been carefully remembered that variety is a primary source of delight. But though the matter itself cannot have the recommendation of novelty, the mode of displaying it here adopted, is not common; for by placing the different subjects apparently in situations and under circumstances where they are usually seen in nature, a new interest is communicated even to familiar objects, and an air of truth given to all, much more impressive than without such local accompaniments.

In executing this part of his task, the artist has availed himself of his knowledge of foreign scenery, acquired by a long residence abroad, particularly in oriental climates; a circumstance which, he ventures to hope, has added to the truth and variety of his illustrations. And as no 'information relative to natural history can be of any value which is not authentic, wherever it has been practicable he has himself drawn the different articles immediately from original specimens; and, in the few instances where that could not be done, such authorities have been invariably resorted to as are acknowledged to be the best.

To each engraved example a description is subjoined, briefly pointing out in what manner they [the subjects] have been classed by the learned, where they are commonly to be found, and, occasionally, some of their more striking peculiarities of character and habit.'

The work is therefore a series of elegant landscapes, including and illustrating select subjects of natural history. For example, the carrion vulture is represented floating down a river on the carcase of an ox, which it is stripping of the flesh, and to which numbers of vultures are seen flocking through the air at various distances. The nightingale is perched on a branch, near the edge of a wood at the border of a lake, singing by moonlight. The dragon-fly is skimming over the surface of a stream,-in England, as appears from the buildings, and in summer, as may be presumed from the bright distance, thick foliage, and recum bent cattle. The shepherd's dog is watching a numerous and distant flock, near Stonehenge, while the shepherd is sitting on one of the fallen stones. The tea tree is depicted in a plantation, and the figures and buildings ascertain the country to be China. The fox is seizing on a goose in an English farm-yard, apparently at dawn, for it is twilight, the barn doors are shut, and no one is stirring. A great deal of character is sometimes marked in the aspect of the different animals, especially the raven, the fox, the wolf, the condor, the otter, and several others. The landscapes. are, in general, happily imagined. The drawing, (as we had occasion to observe in reviewing a similar set of plates to Wood's Zoography, by the same artist), is elegant, yet just. The aquatint engraving is extremely good; some of