want is now very ingeniously supplied. "My object," says the author, " is to instruct those who know how to read and write, but who are unacquainted with grammar. I propose, strange as it may appear, to show such persons how they may compose sentences, of which they may not at least be ashamed, and how they may express meaning intelligibly, without exciting a laugh at their expense." This object Mr Brenan has attained in a simple and agreeable manner, and we therefore confidently The Babes in the Wood" is also simple and pretty. recommend his book to those whose early education has been neglected, and who are now afraid to enter upon all the difficulties of grammar. We shall ourselves present copies of it to several mechanics and others in whose progress we take an interest. We think it right, however, to mention, that we hold different opinions from Mr Brenan regarding the usefulness of the semi-comma, the importance of the dash, and the proper application, in several instances, of will and shall. La Colombe et Le Ver Luisant; deux Contes traduits de L'Allemand. Suivis Des Enfans dans le Bois, Ballade traduite de L'Anglais. A l'usage des Jeunes éleves de M. Schönberg. Aberdeen. 1029. 12mo, pp. 58. THIS is a very nice little school-book, and very prettily executed. The stories from the German are interesting, and well translated. The poetical French version of Memoirs of the Extraordinary Military Career of John We noticed the first edition of this work at some length, and with the praise which it deserved. An impression of 1000 copies has been since sold, and a second edition called for. We are not surprised at this, for it is an interesting and well-written book. Some additions have been made, and, in particular, " Hints to Young Subalterns," to which, and to the observations on the pernicious effects of corporal punishment in the British army, we would especially direct attention. swered. THE DRAMA. WE conceive nothing to be more tiresome than to make remarks upon an actor or actress, which, with some slight modifications, have been made at least fifty thousand times before. The sum of all that can be said of Miss Paton, (the name by which Lady William Lennox is known on the stage) is, that for the last seven or eight years, she has been the best female vocalist on the English boards, that she is very much liked in Edinburgh, that she draws crowded houses, that she is encored in most of her songs, and that the manager has very wisely extended her engagement for another week. No doubt a few people may perhaps ask-that miserable few who have never had an opportunity of hearing her what is her precise style of singing? This is a question more easily asked than anIt is impossible to explain very distinctly the We may remark, peculiarities of any voice whatever. however, generally, that whilst the leading feature of Miss Paton's voice certainly is, that it is an exquisite soprano, it possesses, at the same time, so much compass and flexibility, that it appears to be no less at home both in contralto and mezza voce passages. Her style is full of polish, and is remarkable for lady-like delicacy, grace, and sweetness of execution, more perhaps than for grandeur or originality of conception. It has been generally remarked, that Miss Paton did not sing so well on the first night of her appearance here as she has done since, and this has been erroneously attributed to ill health. We In the note accompanying the copy of these letters, know the real cause to have been simply her agitation on with which we have been favoured, the author says; again coming before an Edinburgh audience, after an abAllow me to present you with the enclosed pamphlet sence of five years. So much did she feel this, that she on the Herring Fishing. With several faults, his dis- could scarcely get through at all with her first song, covery of which encourages the author to hope that he "Una voce poco fa," a song in which she has so often may one day write more correctly, it has the merit of elicited thunders of applause. It is to us a delightful containing some information, which, perhaps, lay beyond thing to perceive so much unaffected modesty and simple the reach of the mere literary man, and some remarks natural feeling in one who has been so long accustomed on character, which could only be made in a peculiar and to all the honours which the stage can confer, and who unusual point of observation. The circumstance of its has shone, and still shines no less conspicuously in the being the first work on the Herring Fishing which has higher walks of private life. We shall not follow Miss been written by one practically acquainted with the art Paton through all her songs; there is something more or of catching herrings, may give it a kind of claim to halfless delightful in every one of them, and we hope that a page of your interesting Journal." To this just appreciation of the merits of the pamphlet we have only to add, that were herring fishing more of a literary subject, we could very easily show that these letters contain a great deal of excellent sense, and much practical information. The style, too, is remarkably vigorous and chaste. Letters on the Herring Fishing in the Moray Frith. By the Author of " Poems written in the leisure hours of a Journeyman Mason." Inverness. 1829. Pp. 50. Recueil de Phrases utiles aux Etrangers Voyageant en This is a useful work, both for Frenchmen and those who are studying French. It is a work, too, which is not a mere servile imitation of former Recueils, but is carefully adapted to the present state of society and amusements in England. "Les Editeurs ont tâché de se mettre à la place du voyageur lui-même à son arrivée; ils se sont pénétrés des ses besoins, de ses idées, et de ses désirs." What more could a foreigner wish? when she leaves us, no long interval will elapse before she again visits her native city. If it is meant that Mr Larkin is to sustain all the first male parts in opera, we beg to state that the arrangement does not please us. When Thorne was here, it was the general opinion that he was not quite good enough for the line he undertook. Now Larkin is much inferior to Thorne. His style is more vulgar, and his notes are much more harsh, His voice has perhaps more compass than Hart's, but in the lower tones it is not nearly so rich and mellow. As a second singer, we should not object to Larkin, for he is on the whole better than Collier, but to have him palmed upon us as a first singer is particularly annoying. Thorne's place is still to be filled up, and as we have a good deal of opera in our Theatre, the sooner the manager looks about him the better. We should like also to know exactly what Hart can do? Why should he not be put into a part some night where he may have an opportunity of exerting all his powers. Old Cerberus. ORIGINAL POETRY. A SONG. By the Ettrick Shepherd. Row on, row on, thou cauldrife wave Weel may you fume, and growl, and grumbleWeel may you to the tempest rave, And down your briny mountains tumble; For mony a heart thou hast made cauld Of firmest friend and fondest lover, Who lie in thy dark bosom pall'd, The garish green wave rolling over. Upon thy waste of waters wide, Though ray'd in a' the dyes o' heaven, I never turn my looks aside, But my poor heart wi' grief is riven; For then on ane that loe'd me weel My heart will evermair be turning; An' oh! 'tis grievous aye to feel That there is nought for me but mourning. For whether he's alive or dead, In distant lands for maiden sighing, A captive into slavery led, Or in thy beds of amber lying, I cannot tell-I only know I loved him dearly, and forewarn'd him; I gave him thee in pain and woe, And thou hast never more return'd him. Still thou row'st on with sullen roar- And jabber out thy thunder, frothing. And tell me where thou hold'st my love! EDINBURGH REVISITED. I WAS a lad, a chubby lad, A curly-pated lad, When one forenoon I bade adieu And sail'd for India, with a heart We cross'd the Line, and round the Cape We toss'd beneath a tropic night, And not till five long months were past, For many a year in Indian land Still looking forward to the time At last it came, though not until "There's not a man in Edinburgh," "Will know me now, for more than half Of my old friends are dead, STANZAS TO A POET. O! WHAT a weary longing fills me now, To meet once more the heaven of thy bright face! To gaze, though but a moment, on that brow, Where Genius holds her queenly dwelling-place; Methinks, as shadows with the morn depart, So light might dawn upon my darken'd heart. The wavy tresses of thy radiant hair_ How oft they flash upon my busy dream! Now brightly-wildly floating to the air, Now sailing, tangled down some moonlit stream; Ah! round those locks, is not a halo shed, Each worth a world, that deck a Poet's head! But, oh! more glorious still-more bright by far 'Tis night—and musing by my lattice lone, I watch the silent solemn hours away; While swift as streams my wild'ring thoughts gush on, And where art thou at this hush'd holy hour?— Perchance thou wanderest on the mountain cliff Rocks to the night-wind's mournful melody; Hark! the wild music of the midnight air; His spirit whom the seas and skies obey, GERTRUDE. LITERARY CHIT-CHAT AND VARIETIES. We observe that a History of Maritime Discovery, in two volumes, is to form an early portion of Dr Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopædia. Lieutenant-Colonel Vans Kennedy, of the Bombay Military establishment, has in the press, Researches into the Nature and Affinity of ancient and Hindoo Mythology. Times of Trial, being a brief Narrative of the Progress of the Reformation, and of the Sufferings of the Reformers, by Mary Anne Kelty, author of the Favourite of Nature, is in the press. Professor Dunbar of Edinburgh, and Mr E. H. Barker of Thetford, are preparing for publication, in the course of the winter, an edition of Schrevelius' Greek Lexicon, of which the basis will be the second edition, published at Boston, United States, in the present year, by John Pickering, Esq. who has translated the Latin, and enriched the work with additions from various lexicographical and critical sources. They intend to make many alterations in the work, to supply numerous deficiences, to add examples and authorities from the Greek Classics, to accommodate it as far as possible to the present state of Greek Literature, and to render it useful, not merely to the Tyro, but to those also who are studying the higher authors. They intend likewise to add an English and Greek Lexicon, in which a number of Phrases will be introduced for the benefit of those who write Greek Exercises and Themes. The Lives of the Italian Poets, by the Reverend Henry Stebbing, M.A. are preparing for publication. PHILOLOGY.-A teacher of the Italian language at Paris has announced a grammar, in which he proposes facilitating the acquisition of his native language by deducing its idioms from peculiarities in the national constitution and character. We should think this plan more likely to confuse than illuminate a beginner.-The Philologists at Bonn have just published a new number of their edition of the Byzantine Historians-the second volume of the works of Syncellius and Nicephoras. There are still three volumes in the press, which they propose publishing before the end of the year. Constantinus Porphyrogenitus, vol. ii.-Nicephorus Gregoras, vol. ii.—and fragments of a number of writers, the bulk of whose works have perished. This last volume will contain some fragments lately brought to light by the research of Pofessor Mai. NEW MUSIC.-A very beautiful Persian air has just been published by Miss Stark, with symphonies and accompaniments, both for the piano-forte and guitar, together with words written expressly for the air by Charles Doyne Sillery, Esq. The melody is full of tenderness and beauty, and the guitar accompaniment, in particular, reflects the highest credit upon Miss Stark's musical taste. The words also are simple and pleasing, and well adapted to the music. ALLAN CUNNINGHAM.-"It is reported," says the Atlas of this week," that Mr Allan Cunningham has purchased one of the newspapers in the south of Scotland, and proposes to take upon himself the Editorship of the paper." This report is erroneous in so far, that the copyright of the Dumfries Journal-the paper alluded to-sold for £200 more than Mr Cunningham offered. here. CHIT-CHAT FROM GLASGOW.-The gay season has commenced A great deal of dancing is going on under the superintendence of those "masters of the bow," Cunningham and Lyon. An excellent new set of quadrilles, by M'Fadyen, a young and promising composer, has been published. The Ballet Company have been whisking it every night to rather empty benches.-Braham is to be here in January, to give two concerts on his own account.-The Fine Arts are flourishing among us. The Exhibition is about to close, after a great many purchases have been effected. Swan's Views on the River Clyde are going on well; and he is about to issue proposals He is also for illustrating, in a similar style, the Lakes of Scotland. engaged just now in engraving an excellent likeness of our old friend Weekes, and a beautiful view of our new Exchange.-Mr Brown has also ready another volume of his Palaces, and has put into the engraver's hands finished drawings of all the rest of these remains of Scotland's regal pride.-Mr Mayne has issued his programme, which, from its modesty, as well as from Mr M.'s genius, who is to recite his own compositions, will surely collect an audience, in spite of the hackneyed nature of recitations. -No new works have been published here since the clever volume-" Life on board a Man-of-War," which is the production of a lad, a veritable seaman, who is now a stereotype printer. His name is M'Pherson. Mr Whytlaw, the very tasteful Editor of the Casquet, looked over his manuscript, but made very few alterations.-A new Periodical, called The Thistle, has been started. It is an odd melange of Literature, Police Reports, and Dramatic Criticism.-The Author of the Lament of the Wandering Jew has in the press-Exodus, or the Curse of Egypt, a Scripture Sketch, and other Poems.-Mr Dugald Moore, another Glasgow poet, announces the Tenth Plague, or Egypt's First-born Smitten.The only other thing I have to tell you is, that I know, on the best authority, the sale of the LITERAKY JOURNAL here not only sustains itself, but increases. WILKIE'S LATEST WORK.-A London contemporary informs us, that Wilkie has nearly completed his historical painting on the national subject of the visit of George IV. to the Palace of Holyrood. It contains several portraits of exquisite truth and finish; among others, those of the Dukes of Argyle and Hamilton, in the Highland garb. The grouping is excellent, the conception spirited and cha racteristic, and appears intended to embody the cordial greeting contained in the ballad-" Carle, now the King's come!" written at the time by Sir Walter Scott, who himself figures in one of the most prominent groups of the picture. NEW DIORAMA.-Daguerre is preparing a new subject, which, if we may trust the reports we hear from Paris, is likely to prove his masterpiece. It is intended to represent the commencement of the deluge. The subject strikes us as a happy one; only we fear that motion is indispensable in the representation of a scene where the human interest preponderates to such a degree. The Parisian journals tell us "qu'il fera frissoner les plus braves." REV. DAVID DICKSON.-There is a portrait of this reverend gentleman in the Evangelical Magazine for November; but the likeness is not the most faithful in the world, and we esteem it a lucky chance that his name happens to be engraved underneath the portrait, otherwise his friends would have some difficulty in recognising him. It is somewhat curious that the names of the painter and engraver for this magazine should be Wildman and Blood! THE ANNUALS.-In the last number of that excellent family periodical, The Spirit and Manners of the Age, conducted by Mr S. C. Hall, the editor of the " Amulet," there is some curious information respecting "The Annuals." It seems that the enormous sum of L.90,000 is actually put in circulation by the publication of these books. Westley, the bookbinder in Friars Commons, has no less than 250 men at work; and it is calculated that 2000 people are kept in employment for two or three months by the Annuals alone. EDITORIAL WARFARE.-The Editors of two of the Edinburgh newspapers have gone to loggerheads; and rather a curious duel has been fought, of which we suspect the parties concerned have not yet heard the last, for the London and provincial Editors are apt to wax rather waggish upon these occasions. For our own part, we prefer pursuing the even tenor of our way, without meddling with these bold and bloody deeds. THE LITERATURE OF THE LATE FLOODS.-Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, a literary baronet of the north countrie, is busily engaged in recording the devastations of the autumnal floods in that district, measuring and calculating the extent of the individual losses, and chronicling all the anecdotes and traits of character to which they gave rise. As the interest attaching to such narratives is in some degree evanescent, Sir Thomas should remember the advice of Macbeth," "Twere best 'twere well done, and done quickly." We regret to learn that Mr Fraser of Relig, Inverness-shire, the accomplish. ed traveller, and able author of the "Kuzzilbash," has lost above £500 by these disastrous floods. MUSICAL NOTATION.-The Greeks and Romans expressed the notes in music by letters of the alphabet, which they placed above the text; and their duration was indicated by the length of the syllables above which they were written. Guido Aretinus, a Benedictine Monk of a cloister in the district of Ferrara, invented the system of linear notation, and the practice of singing the notes with the syllables ut, re, mi, &c., about the year 1028. The idea of marking the different duration of the notes by the form of the points employed, originated with John de Murs, a Parisian doctor, who flourished during the first half of the 14th century. Guido arranged a gamut of twenty-two diatonic notes, which he composed of seven hexachords. He chose for the syllables on which his scholars were to exercise the gamut-ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, the initial syllables of the first six lines of a hymn to St John, which was then in frequent use. This new system of notation was shortly after introduced at Bremen, by Bishop Herman, to whom it was communicated by the in ventor. LETTER PROM THE EDITOR OF ACKERMANN'S JUVENILE FORGET ME NOT. To the Editor of the Edinburgh Literary Journal. London, Nov. 6, 1829. The conse SIR,-The number of your Journal for October 31st, has just been put into my hands. I there find, in your review of Ackermann's Juvenile Forget-Me-Not, some remarks which seem to demand an explanation from me as editor of that work; and indeed, were it not given, you might have some ground to "suppose that silence implies culpability." I hope, however, to convince you that your conclusions are not less erroneous than the premises on which they are founded. I take it for granted that you will not dispute my friend Ackermann's right to the title Forget-Me-Not. You must be aware, too, of the success of the work to which he gave that title before any publication resembling our present Annuals existed. Speculating upon this success, a bookseller thought fit to usurp this title in the Juvenile Forget-Me-Not, not only without Ackermann's consent, but without giving the slightest intimation of his intention. quence was, that many purchased that work under the impression that it was Ackermann's publication; and some, still more uninformed on such matters, bought it instead of his original Forget-Me-Not. He, naturally enough, felt himself aggrieved, and intimated as much to Mr Hall, who, on his own behalf, and that of Mrs H., merely disclaimed any participation in the choice of the title. Ackermann at Jength determined to apply the only remedy in his power, and to give to the world a work with his own title, and stamped with his own name, to prevent the possibility of its being mistaken for the other. A ridiculous threat of proceedings in Chancery was thrown out to deter him from his purpose, and, as that had no effect, his conduct is now publicly proclaimed to be neither "fair nor honourable," and, indeed, to be "unjustifiable." For my part, I conceived it to be such as to need no apology; and I can assure you, that had there appeared to me, in this interference, any thing in the least degree "harassing and injurious," or "unfair and dishonourable," you should not have seen my name coupled with it. At any rate, with the lady's prerogative of scolding, I shall not interfere; and whether the public impeachment of my friend proceeds from Mrs Hall or her publishers, it only furnishes one more proof of the truth of the remark, that when a person has done you an injury, however patiently you may endure it, you must expect it to be followed up by slander and abuse.-Without meaning to criticise your criticism, I shall just observe, that Wilkie's opinion of the manner in which Graves has performed his part in the plate of "The Spanish Princess," differs so widely from yours, that he has, in consequence of the talent there displayed by that artist, engaged him to work exclusively for himself. -I wish I could satisfy your enquiries respecting the Howitts of Nottingham. All I know of them, excepting from their published contributions in the Annuals, is, that William is the husband of Mary, and brother of Richard. They belong to the Society of Friends, and are, I believe, engaged in trade. You are at perfect liberty to make what use you please of this communication, or of any part of it, and if printed, to affix or not the name of, Sir, yours, most obediently, F. SHOBERL [The remarks to which the above letter refers, occur in No. 51 of the LITERARY JOURNAL. They were dictated by no feeling but a de-ire to do justice to all parties, and with the same feeling we insent Mr Shoberl's letter precisely as we have received it. For Mrs Hall, however, we beg to say, that we believe her to be a lady who would, upon no occasion whatever, exercise any "prerogative of scolding." As to the manner in which Wilkie's painting of the "Spanish Pra cess" is engraved, we are inclined to think that the impression we saw was not one of the best, and that Graves is entitled to more praise than we were at first disposed to allow him, though we are still of opinion that the work might have been better executed.-Ed. Lit. Jour.] Theatrical Gossip.-At Drury Lane, a new comic piece called "Snakes in the Grass," has been successfully produced. It is written by Mr Buckstone, an actor.-Nothing very new has been gong on at Covent Garden.-Matthews and Yates have produced another clever trifle at the Adelphi, called "The Bold Dragoon."-Some discussion has taken place in the London papers, 1st, concerning the proper pronunciation of the word Rome, which Young still cas Room, in opposition to what is now the established use and wont; and 2d, as to the proper spelling and pronunciation of the word Shakspeare, which his own autograp, preserved in Doctor's Com mons, proves should be spelt as we have now written it, and which, in good society, is now invariably pronounced as if there were an e after the k-notwithstanding the attempt which has been recently made at Covent Garden by Charles Kemble and others to pronounce it Sharpeare, perhaps the original way, but altered by modern usage. -Dowton, probably the purest and most natural comedian living, is about to perform at the Coburg Theatre.-Kean, junior, and Miss F. H. Kelly are going to play at Amsterdam.-Morton's comedy of "The Dramatist," has been translated into Spanish, and has had a run of fifty nights at Madrid.-We are informed that Macrendy will appear here as soon as Miss Paton leaves us. Miss Paton is to be in Glasgow for three nights.-A new piece, called "The Robber's Bride," has this week been transferred with success to our boards from London. Miss Jarman plays the heroine. TO OUR CORRESPONDENTS. CONTRIBUTIONS pour in upon us so thickly that it is difficult for us even to read them all, much less to give them all a place. Communications from many of our most esteemed Correspondents are at this moment in types, which, for some weeks back, we have in vain endeavoured to find room for. During the present influx of new works, we are obliged to limit the space we allot to miscellaneous literature. The articles, however, both in prose and verse, by the Ettrick Shepherd, William Tennant, Esq., Dr Gillespie, and Dr Memes, shall appear at our very earliest convenience. "Scenes from the Portfolio of a Traveller,"-" Letters from India,"-" The Legend of the Rival Giants," and "Anecdotes," lie over for early insertion.-We shall not be able to find room for the "Rambles among the Hebrides.”—“ Caledonia Aonia," and the communication from Mrs Grant, Duthil, are under consideration—“ Extracts from my unpublished Life," lie for the author at our Publisher's.-A Notice of the" Ant" in our next.-We shall attend to the subject mentioned by our friend in Dundee, and will write to him. The Verses to "Ailsa Craig” and “To Alison,” shall have a place. -The Lines by "Bernard," and by "P." of Glasgow, will not su us. We advise " J. S." and "Z. Z." of Glasgow, to give up rhyming, The materials for a very interesting notice of some unpublished remains of Robert Burns have so much increased upon our hands, that we find it necessary to postpone our article concerning them til next Saturday. The unpublished verses of the poet Finlay shall ale be given in our next. LITERARY CRITICISM. UNPUBLISHED REMAINS OF ROBERT BURNS LOCKHART'S THIRD EDITION OF HIS LIFE-AC- We have always considered Mr Lockhart's Life of The verses "How many lesser romances of this order were evolved and completed during his residence at Mossgiel, it is need PRICE 6d. less to enquire; that they were many, his songs prove, for And leave auld Scotia's shore?- Burns says, In my early years, when I was thinking of "Ye banks, and braes, and streams around Green be your woods, and fair your flowers, There summer first unfaulds her robes, For there I took the last farewell he adds, After a pretty long trial of the most ardent re- "That noblest of all his ballads, To Mary in Heaven, |