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of the works, and the characters of their authors. The following extracts are given, as specimens of his judgment, and also of the manner in which he expressed his opinion.—

knew no bounds, that could call up images from every part of the creation, and give permanency to the most delicate sensations, he fell a prey to the most destructive vices, a lamentable instance of human depravity.

"1815, August 10th. "Curiosities of Literature. "When we consider the native "The plan of this compilation is greatness of Burns's soul, the brilextremely desultory. It contains, how-liancy of his wit, and the exuberance ever, a variety of entertaining things. D'Israeli seems to be a person of much reading, particularly in French, Italian, and English. Religion he appears to have none; and his moral principles, I fear, are very loose: some of his sentiments are directly opposed to Christianity."

"1816, 4th Month.

"The Life of Arthur Wellesley. "Notwithstanding the incense of adulation, which is plentifully offered in this work, it is evident that Lord Wellington must possess a great military genius. Were I to look at heroism in that light in which it is commonly surveyed, I should join my voice with the exulting millions. But, feeling a strong conviction of the unlawfulness of warring with 'carnal weapons,' I dare not follow in the triumphal procession, nor use the language of applause to the desolaters of families and kingdoms. The volume contains some very mournful passages from the private journals of officers, who were in some of the severest actions." p. 96.

The epistolary correspondence of Mr. Thompson with his friends, seems to have begun at an early age. From the date of one letter in this collection, he could scarcely have exceeded fourteen when it was written. To other kinds of composition he occasionally turned his attention, but it was in this department that he principally excelled.

In a letter to a friend, dated January 8th, 1814, he has expressed his opinion of Burns, the Scottish Bard, in the following sentences.

"In Burns, we have another melancholy proof, that virtue is not necessarily concomitant with great genius; that the most splendid talents can by no means ensure happiness to their possessors; and that, on the other hand, when degraded by criminal indulgence, they add to the weight of guilt and misery. It is with the greatest concern I contemplate his exit off the stage of life. With a mind that

of his imagination; that awful defcrence which super-eminence never fails to excite, commands us to tread lightly on his ashes, and to throw the cloak of charity over those frailties, which we ourselves with difficulty avoid. If we have but right views of ourselves, and of human nature, it will greatly weaken the malignancy of our censures. The triumph of criticism will give way to tears of humiliation; and before we exult over the weakness of a fellow-creature, we shall try and prove our own ways, that they be right in the presence of the Most High." p. 88.

In another letter, which was written July 8th, 1815, the following sentiLients occur.

"I lately read a small volume of Essays on the Nature of the Passions, &c. by David Hume. I found them very alluring, by their exceeding clegance of diction, and highly-polished style; and they also contain many pertinent classical allusions, and correct sentiments: yet their general tendency verges rapidly towards complete scepticism; and, after having insidiously undermined the fair fabric of Christianity, they leave no other asylum for the wretched and tried among the sons and daughters of mortality. As far as I have seen of the philosophical works of Hume, I do not know a more dangerous writer; he was well acquainted with the principal labyrinths of the human heart, and had narrowly watched the development and connection of the passions: yet it was his misfortune to get entangled in attempting to solve the mysteries of religion by the same process of reasoning with which we examine things belonging to the material world; and all his refinement of manner is not sufficient to expiate for the perplexity and doubt in which he leaves the minds of his readers. In every species of knowledge, it is much easier to puzzle than instruct,-to start a controversy, than to conduct it with ability. This method, so unfavourable to the common

stock of intellect, has been much practised by writers on theology, particularly since the French revolution; which event has not less influenced the opinions and creeds, than the political state, of Europe. Thus, we have had ephemeral productions without number, on the most sacred doctrines of Christianity; and writings of various constructions, calculated to mislead, from the universal pyrrhonism of Bayle, to the scurrility and abuse of Paine, and the Abbé Barruel." p. 101.

1st. During the four next years, in which the Bank is not required to pay cash at the old Mint price of gold coin, £3. 17s. 10d. per oz. If the price of gold be less than the price at which the Bank is required to issue ingots, this is, in effect, a further restriction, for no one will ask for its gold; but if the price of gold be higher, the Bank should come to Parliament to raise the price of its issues, to prevent so great a calamity as a run on the Bank, forcing a depreciation of their notes The preceding passages, which have by going into the bullion-market at not been selected with any particular disadvantage; and while the notes care, may be considered as fair speci- disappear in the Cancel-office, the mens of the author's style. His let-gold disappears by export. Either of ters, in general, display much com- these prices may occur at any time; prehensiveness of thought, and a con- for, supposing the best posture of siderable degree of acuteness; accom- Bank aflairs, and that the price of panied, on most occasions, with a gold shall be 2s. 2d. per oz. lower than sound and discriminating judgment. at present, during the four years, notHis diction, in some instances, rises withstanding the purchase of so many into classic elegance, but it rarely millions gradually in that time by the descends into meanness; and, in no Bank, as will prepare their coffers for case, has he merited the charge of any reasonable demand, and, by meetaffectation. In almost every para- ing this demand till it ceases, either graph, that nervous simplicity, which to preserve or to restore the price of seems to be the distinguishing charac- bullion to the standard of £3. 17s. 10d. teristic of his style, presents itself to still there are circumstances not within our view. His language betrays nei- the dominion of this power of the ther pedantry nor embarrassment; his Bank; and these, whenever they ocperiods are full and easy; and, in cur, must produce either restriction, general, his sentences terminate where or a contraction of currency, by loss in every reader is prepared to expect a the Bank issuing gold at disadvantage; or, on the other hand, the Bank may add to all its former profits, the profit of the bullion trade, when successful.

final pause.

That his language and his letters are wholly free from defect, is what we should hesitate to assert; but they contain very little to call forth the asperities of criticism. It is no small recommendation to this little volume, to say, that two considerable editions have been sold within one year, and that a third is just published. It is pleasing to add, that the profits of this work appropriated to the use of the Author's parents, and their surviving family.

are

Another mode, not adopted, is, to commence cash payments immediately, at the market-price of bullion, at which a certain quantity is to be purchased. As soon as five millions are bought, suppose at an average of £4 per oz. and Parliament being satisfied it cost so much at a fair purchase, (the average price of Europe,) orders it to be coined at that rate, and issued; the Mint to be shut to all other coinage. At a future time, if five or ten millions can be bought at an average of £3. 15s. per oz., Parliament may call in the former at the shortest possible notice, to prevent counterfeits; and may issue the other larger coin in its place. But it is only on gold rising, and the balance of trade being against England, that foreign exIr may be useful to consider the cir- changes will draw off the gold. This cumstances that may arise, in the pro-mode would have prevented the necesgress of the measures proposed for sity of Bank restriction; but the napurpose.tional debt, and the war requiring the

[We have been favoured with the two following articles by a friend in Dublin, from whom we shall be glad to receive further communications.]

RESUMPTION OF CASH PAYMENTS.

this

increase of debt, would not have been borne out by a paper credit, limited by its convertibility into bullion; and the same may be said, for a time, of the present state of the national debt, revenues, and expenditure.

A new problem appears: a national Bank should yield its profits to the Public. The Bank of England did little more of this than any private Bank, though enjoying superior advantages. A Government Bank attached to the Mint and Treasury, issuing notes and paying in gold as above, (either ingots or coin, it is all the same,) might contribute a million a year to the Sinking Fund, by the interest of the floating paper currency. The Bank of England would still flourish, for all commercial purposes of discounting bills, and by connection with all Sub-banks, by loans on mortgages, extend the business of discounting, through the medium of private Banks, in every province that requires it; while the Government Bank would meet all the exigencies of the State, in peace or war, famine or plenty, favourable or unfavourable commerce. Standing on the sound basis of converting its notes into gold at the real cost, and by the Mint yielding to the fluctuations of bullion commerce, it saves harmless all parties concerned, instead of forcing, by arbitrary rules, a standard of £3. 17s. 10d. ; for which there is no particular ground, unless that it happened to be the market-price when the principal coins of Europe were formerly struck; and which are now altered, though not subject to the commercial influence, so much as those of England.

The equity of this latter plan is easy to conceive: for if A. B. lent £1000 to Government, twenty years ago, at the market-price of bullion, he cannot complain of being paid now at the market-price of bullion, although different. But if the market-price, when he lent, was £3. 17s. 10d. per oz. and was now only £3. 10s. he would justly complain at being paid in guineas such as he lent.

PROPERTY TAX.

THE noble example of the Marquis of Camden is sufficient to electrify every patriotic feeling in the Nobility of England. It has always been charged against a Legislature, composed of

It

the Aristocracy, that, in laying on taxes, they are sufficiently tender of themselves, to say no more. But this corrupt feeling, which Plato has remarked, from his own knowledge of Grecian legislature, (which was the purest specimen of human liberty and equal rights,) will give way in Christian England; and the more equitable principle, which deduced the tithe, as originally mulcted from the feeholder of land, in the laws of Moses, will apportion the burden of political taxes more equally, at a time when England, after an unexampled war, is to redeem an unexampled debt. A property tax of 10 per cent. on the rental of all fee-simple estates, and on the amount of the salaries of placemen and pensioners, for five years, would scarcely be felt by the contributors; while it would extricate the Sinking Fund from its embarrassments. This would partake in nothing of the inquisitorial, arbitrary, and vexatious income tax; for it would not interfere with incomes which are not as public and certain as the daily Sun. would also permit the Legislature to enter into the relief of many grievances endured by the middle and lower classes, which could only be excused by a state of war, in which every thing dearer than property, liberty, or comfort, was at stake; and if a large portion of the Assessed taxes were abolished, especially the window, servants, and horse tax, light and life to business would follow. A good Government is bound to protect the lower classes in the easy acquirement of food, raiment, fuel, and lodging. Among the many Committees of the House of Commons, how joyfully would the labours of those be received, who were appointed to report what commercial treaties with other nations could be formed, on the basis of mutual benefit to the poorer classes! What popularity would that Chancellor enjoy, who threw out of his Exchequer the injudicious exactions that were accompanied by the bitter tears and execrations of the poor, from whom the bounty of nature, in wholesome meat, drink, clothing, and lodging, is intercepted; or by which the domestic castle is insulted, its liberty and peace destroyed! Overtaxing the inferior ranks, makes absentees of the rich, and voluntary exiles of those who have yet a sufficiency left, to establish

themselves in a country where their | means supply a support which it cannot obtain at home. To abate such taxes, will reduce the poor rates, fill the treasury by increased industry, and save from exile the king's most valuable subjects.

Important Questions.

FOR THE IMPERIAL MAGAZINE.

QUEST. 1st. How am I to distinguish the evil propensities of my heart, from the temptations of Satan?

Quest. 2d. How am I to distinguish the operations of the Spirit of God, from what is called Conscience?

An answer to these questions, by any of your Correspondents, would oblige A CONSTANT READER.

Helston, June 8, 1819.

tribute of admiration,-" Let there be light, and there was light."

It appears to me extremely probable, that this Light was an emanation from the same Sun which now enlightens the world; and which, though it did not appear in its full glory, yet produced sufficient Light to render the surface of the terraqueous globe visible. The objection to this theory, which arises from the 14th and 16th verses, is, in my opinion, of no weight whatever; although "the greater" and "the lesser light," and "the stars," are then first mentioned, it is not necessary to suppose, that they were then first created. The text does not say so; and there are strong reasons for believing to the contrary. Origen says, that " no man of a sound mind can imagine, that there was an evening and a morning, during the three first days, without a Sun;" and St. Basil ascribes the darkness that cover

[We most heartily join in the request of "A Constant Reader," and shall be glad to receive a satisfactory reply to each of the above queries.-ed the earth, before the appearance of EDITOR.]

Observations on Primeval Light.

ΤΟ THE EDITOR OF THE IMPERIAL

MAGAZINE.

SIR, THE apparent contradiction in the Mosaic account of the Creation, which occasions the question of "Omega," in your second number, has been considered by Commentators in a variety of ways; and has given birth to numerous theories, some extremely fanciful, and not a few perfectly absurd. Some persons have supposed, that the incipient primeval Light was elemental fire; others, that it was a lucid cloud, like that which directed the children of Israel; and some have asserted it to be an infant sun, not yet grown to maturity! Without attempting to reconcile or refute these contradictory opinions, I shall merely state what I consider the most rational and the most satisfactory view of this interesting subject.

The first step in the formation of the earth, and the commencement of the six days' creation, was the production of Light. The command of the Almighty was issued in that concise and energetic sentence, which has retained its sublimity in almost every translation of the sacred volume; and to which an eminent Heathen author (Longinus de Sublimitate) pays the

light, to the interposition of an obscure body between it and the heavens. To make, is often synonymous with, to appoint to a certain use. The Sun and the Planets might have existed, and most probably they did exist, before this period, although it was not till the fourth day of the Creation that the veil which obscured them was withdrawn, and the constellated canopy of heaven appeared, for the first time, in full unclouded splendour.

Allowing this hypothesis to be correct, the whole Hebrew Cosmogony appears clear and consistent. If this primeval Light emanated from the Sun, it could not, even imperfectly, illuminate more than one half of the world at one time; and, while that half was. illuminated, the other must remain in darkness: and by this we may properly understand, "separating the light from the darkness;" namely, by the ideal boundary of the horizon. But, in order to convey alternate light and darkness to every part of the globe, it was either necessary that the Sun should gradually revolve round the Earth, or the Earth turn gradually round its supposed axis towards the Sun; and this latter motion we now know to be the fact. Light and darkness being thus separated by the horizon, they would follow one another without interruption, and produce, successively, the vicissitudes of “day' and "night;" two other terms i

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the London Female Penitentiary, was numerously attended. The Right Hon. Lord Carrington, president of the society, in the chair. On this occasion, the principal speakers were, the Rev. S. Burn, the Rev. Legh Richmond, W. Wilberforce, Esq. M. P., the Rev. Dr. Winter, the Rev. Dr. Waugh, Mr. Hankey, the Rev. Mr. Hamilton, the Rev. Mr. Morrison, the Rev. Christopher Anderson, the Rev. Mr. Orme, the Rev. Lewis Way, the Rev. Mr. Piggot, and S. Smith, Esq. The meeting was highly interesting; and the various observations that were made, both respecting the victims who had been reclaimed, and the prevalence of depravity which still remained to pollute the community, strongly evinced the necessity of continued exertions.

Alluding to incidents which had particularly fallen under his own observation, Mr. Richmond, in the course of his speech, introduced the following remarks." Where is the parent who can say, amidst the uncertainties of life, and the casualties of circumstances, in what situations his own children may be placed? Myself, my

SOME years ago, a French frigate being at Boodroom, the commander expressed a great desire to see the marbles in the fortress; but the then governor absolutely refused to admit him, without direct orders from the Porte. The commander had interest; the ambassador was. set to work; and in a short time the frigate returned, bearing the necessary firman. The governor put it to his forehead, in acknowledgment of its authority, and declared his readiness to proceed. Arrived at the outer gate, "Effendi," said the governor, "the orders of my Imperial master must be implicitly obeyed." "Let me in, then," exclaimed the impatient captain. "Un-sons, and my daughters, are all intedoubtedly," replied the Turk, "for so I am enjoined to do by the firman: but as it contains no directions about your coming out again, you will perhaps forgive this momentary pause, before we pass the drawbridge." The French commandant, not chusing to put such hazardous irony to the test, departed.

Benevolent Institutions.

LONDON FEMALE PENITENTIARY.

IN many parts of England, the unfortunate objects of this benevolent institution, have, for several years, so attracted the attention of the charitable and humane, that habitations have been established for the reception of such as have shewn a desire to abandon their profligate courses; and provision has been made for their support, under such regulations as the exigencies of their case seemed to require. But although in several places much good has been done, the success of pious benevolence has not been equal to the expectations which humanity and compassion had excited.

rested in the principle of this institution. I have sat by the death-bed of parents, who have mourned the seduction of their daughters; and once my duty called me to visit a house, at the desire of the afflicted mother, under the hope that her daughter was returning home to throw herself at her feet. While I was in the house, the daughter returned: but how shall I describe the scene? An angry father-a weeping mother-and a child of seventeen on her knees before them: and I heard from her own lips her affecting tale, which would have reached the heart of any man. Before I left the room, I had the pleasure of seeing the father embrace his child, and exclaim, My child, which was lost, is found again.'

.

In the same spirit of pious commiseration, the Rev. Dr. Waugh observed as follows. "I have daughters of my own, and I never yet had occasion to weep over their aberrations from the paths of virtue. They are every thing that is good; and they are indebted for it all to the grace of God. But I will suppose a case, that one of them had fallen a victim to depravity; On the 10th of May last a Meeting forsaken by her friends, and her father held at Freemasons' Hall, in behalf of | ashamed to hear her name, (and there

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