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EDMUND BUrke.

political life, for which he had been industriously training himself, by becoming private secretary to the Marquis of Rockingham, when first Lord of the Treasury in 1765, and at the same time entering Parliament as representative of Wendover. At the conclusion of this ministry he commenced that long opposition to its successors, which became memorable from the tone of philosophical and constitutional wisdom with which he pleaded what, after all, was in reality the restoration of his own party connections to power. On the reëstablishment of the Rockingham administration in 1783, he was made Paymaster-general. His subsequent career is entwined with the history of the period. Its main features are his share in the prosecution of Warren Hastings, and that stern denunciation of the revolutionary progress of France, which caused his dramatic quarrel with Fox and his other old political friends. He made a large contribution to the parliamentary oratory of his day, and his speeches were remarkable for their richness of language and abundance of imagery. He died on July 8, 1797.

PASCAL PAOLI.

This celebrated orator, statesman, and philosopher was born at Dublin, January 1st, 1730. It has been much questioned whether he was from the beginning what is termed a political adventurer without means of livelihood to keep him independent, or entered on life with a considerable fortune. His family were said to be high and ancient, but his enemies, who were many and bitter, treated this as a common national boast of all Irishmen, and spoke of Burke as a sort of barbarian, who had come from a wild tribe to fight his way on in civilized life by the fierce unscrupulous habits in which he had been brought up. His early education, however, was derived in the calm seclusion of a Quaker seminary at Ballitore in Kildare, where he probably acquired much of the solemn reflective character which tempered his natural ardor. He studied, but not with any known distinction, at Trinity College, Dublin, where he took his master's degree in 1751. He was destined for the bar, and entered the Middle Temple, but legal studies seem to have had no charm for him. His abilities must have been seen in 1752, for it is known that there was then a proposal to choose him Professor of Logic in the University of Glasgow, though he does not appear to have been, as David Hume was, an avowed candidate. His first literary work, called "A Vindication of Natural Society" a close imitation of Bolingbroke, was published in 1756. Immediately afterwards appeared his well-known essay on the Sublime and Beautiful. Its originality of thought, and luxuriant flow of words and ideas, at once arrested at-pendence against the Genoese with untention; and whatever may be thought of the leading principles, so well ridiculed by Payne Knight, and others, the literary merits of the work entitled it to its high reputation. In 1757 he published his account of the settlements in America, and shortly afterwards cooperated with Dodsley in the "Annual Register." In 1763 his ability as a political partisan obtained for him a pension of £300 a year on the Irish establishment, and the event was rendered remarkable by the indig nation with which Burke repelled the claims which the gentleman known "as single speech Hamilton," made on his political allegiance, on the plea of having obtained for him this pension. He entered

This distinguished Corsican, the fellowcountryman of Napoleon I., was born in Corsica in 1726. His native island had long been under the oppressive domination of the Genoese, which the Corsicans made repeated efforts to shake off. Paoli was raised to the headship of the liberating party in 1755. He organized a regular civil and military government, and for thirteen years carried on the war of inde

varying spirit, and with general success. In 1768, the year in which Napoleon was born, the Genoese sold their right of sovereignty over Corsica to France. The French endeavored to induce Paoli to recognize their dominion and adopt their interests, by lavish offers of rank and money. But Paoli rejected all their bribes, and made a gallant though unsuccessful resistance to the troops which they poured into Corsica. After the French conquest was completed, Paoli took refuge in England, where he was received with merited respect. The British government settled a pension on him, and he passed many years in honored friendship with Burke, Johnson, and other distinguished English

men of the age. When the war of the French Revolution commenced, Paoli headed an expedition to Corsica, by which it was sought to detach that island from France, and unite it to the British dominion. This attempt, after some temporary successes, ultimately failed. Paoli returned to England, where he passed the remainder of his life in tranquillity. He died in 1807. He deserved the eulogium which the English historian Lord Mahon has pronounced on him, of being "a brave and skillful soldier, and an upright and disinterested statesman." He was also a warm and sincere friend; his literary acquirements were considerable; and he was a man of spotless integrity and pure morals in private life.

DR. CHARLES BURNEY.

This celebrated man in the musical world was born at Shrewsbury in 1726, and partly educated at the free school there, and partly at the public school in Chester. His first music master was Mr. Baker, organist at Chester; he received further instructions from James Burney, his elder half-brother, organist at Shrewsbury, and he was three years under the tuition of Dr. Arne. In 1749 he was appointed organist of a church in London, in which year he was introduced to Mrs. Cibber, through whom, besides making the personal acquaintance of the literary and scientific men, the artists, actors, and wits of the time, he was induced to compose for Drury Lane Theater three musical dramas," Alfred," "Robin Hood," and "Queen Mab." After this period, being in ill-health, he went to Lynn Regis in Norfolk, where for nine years he occupied himself in collecting materials for his great "History of Music," at the same time filling the situation of organist, with a salary of £100 per annum. In 1760, recovered in health, he returned to London, where he soon procured full employment and gained a high reputation in his profession, and where his eldest daughter, then only eight years old, attracted much attention as a performer on the harpsichord. In 1769 the College of Oxford conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor in Music. In the following year he set out on his travels with the object of visiting the great continental libraries, that he might add to the stores of matter

he had collected for his "History of Music." In 1771 he published his "Musical Tour," a work of which his friend Dr. Johnson said when he wrote his account of the Hebrides: "I had that clever dog Dr. Burney's tour in my eye." In 1776 the first volume of the "History of Music " was published, the second appeared in 1782, and the third and fourth in 1789. In this year Edmund Burke procured him the situation of organist at Chelsea College. In 1796 he published his life of Metastasio. He also contributed the principal articles on music to Reese's Encyclopedia. His other literary works were: "An Essay towards a History of Comets," "A Plan of a Public Musical School," "An Account (written for the Philosophical Transactions) of Little Crotch, the Infant Musician," "A Memoir of the Musical Festival in Honor of Handel, which was held in Westminster Abbey in 1785." In the year 1806 Mr. Wyndham procured for him a pension from government of £300, from which period he gave up his intellectual labors. He died on the 15th of April, 1815. Dr. Burney was twice married, and left by his first wife two sons and four daughters, and by his second one daughter. His eldest daughter, already mentioned, was celebrated as a musician. His second daughter, Madame D'Arblay, is known from her novels, "Cecilia," "Evelina," "Camilla," and the "Wanderer," which works commenced a new era in light literature. His eldest son, James, sailed round the world with Captain Cook, and afterwards commanded the Bristol, fifty guns, in the East-Indies. His second son was the learned Charles Burney, LL.D. Dr. Burney was on terms of intimacy and friendship with all the eminent men of his day. In all the relations of life, his character is described as exemplary, while his manners were peculiarly easy, spirited, and gentlemanly.

DR. THOMAS WARTON.

He was the son of a clergyman, who was professor of poetry at Oxford, and afterwards a vicar in Hampshire. He was born in 1728, and died in 1790. He held the professorship of poetry for ten years in Trinity College, Oxford, from 1757, and in 1785 he was appointed poet laureate and Camden professor of history. He wrote a good deal of poetry. But

OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

his valuable efforts were made in the criti- | and authorship now became perforce his cism of Early English Literature. His only means of livelihood. He drudged great work "The History of English Poe- for the Monthly and Critical Reviews, try," appeared in three successive vol- and for other periodicals; and compiled umes, in 1774, 1778, and 1781. He lived his well-written "Histories of Greece and to write only a small portion of the fourth Rome," and his "History of the Earth volume, and the work closes abruptly and Animated Nature." It was in the near the beginning of Elizabeth's reign. intervals of such toils that he produced those original works, which made him both in prose and verse, one of the classics of English literature. In 1761 he wrote, while in confinement for debt, his inimitable "Vicar of Wakefield ;" and soon afterwards appeared "The Citizen of the World." "The Traveler," which had been partly written abroad, and the beautiful ballad of "The Hermit," were published in 1765. The former of these poems gave him great and deserved fame as a descriptive poet, which was increased in 1769 by the publication of "The Deserted Village." He became yet more popular as a play-writer. His comedy of "The Good-Natured Man," which was acted in 1768, did not succeed greatly on the stage, but was highly esteemed by Johnson and other critics; and "She Stoops to Conquer," appeared in 1773, was received with universal applause. The author survived this brilliant success but a short time, and profited very little by the wealth was now accruing to him. Industrious through necessity, he was indolent by temperament: he was careless and improvident in money matters, equally ready to squander his painfully-earned gains at the gaming-table, or to spend them in charity. Gentle, amiable, and good-hearted, he was also irresolute, vain, and capricious; and, while Johnson and his other literary friends did not estimate highly enough his fine genius, his conduct. gave them much excuse for treating him, as they did, like a favorite and petted child. He died 1774.

We have room only for a brief outline of this man of genius. Goldsmith was the son of an Irish curate. He was born in the county of Longford in 1728. Lissoy, in his native parish of Formey, is said to have been the original of his "Sweet Auburn." The assistance of an uncle enabled him in 1744 to enter at Trinity College, Dublin, where he was idle and extravagant, and probably ill-used. He is said to have applied unsuccessfully for ordination, and to have been for some time a family tutor. He threw away in a gaming-house the money which his uncle had given him to aid in his study of law; but the same kind relative enabled him to become a student of medicine in Edinburgh, where he spent two years from the close of 1752, afterwards passing a year at Leyden. He next took a pedestrian tour of twelve months on the continent, traveling as far as the north of Italy; and before or after this he was an usher in a school. Both of these experiences he has described in his famous novel. In 1756 he came to London. He at tempted medical practice in a humble way, with small knowledge and no success; and, on submitting to examination at the College of Surgeons, to qualify him for an appointment abroad, he was rejected as insufficiently informed. He had already been writing for the booksellers;

LITERARY

MISCELLANIES.

BIOGRAPHY OF ELISHA KENT KANE. BY WILLIAM ELDER. Philadelphia: Childs & Peterson. NewYork: Sheldon, Blakeman, & Co. 1858. Pp. 416. With a portrait.

THE lamented subject of this well-written biography, was a remarkable man. The world has seen comparatively few like him; so pure in character, so ripe in judgment, so rich in scientific attainment, of such unbending integrity, moral firmness, and self-reliance in the difficult and trying scenes of his eventful life. His name, his character, and his renowned achievements, amid the savage climes and snows of an Arctic winter, and its ice-bound coasts, form a chapter of surpassing interest in the history of our country. His name and his fame are embalmed for perpetual remembrance in the hearts of his countrymen. Dr. Elder has well performed his part in the preparation of this invaluable biography. It is one of those books which may well claim a place in the library of young men, for its rich developments of principles and personal worth, and for the salutary influence which its careful perusal can hardly fail to effect. It is one of those books, which do not need commendation; but only to remind the reading public of its existence in order to secure its extensive perusal. We knew Dr. Kane, and felt the warm grasp of his hand in a last farewell on the deck of the steamer but a moment before it bore him away from our shores forever.

eloquent and powerful sermons of modern times. It forms an impressive appeal to public men, both in England and in this country, to follow his illustrious example of Christian principle and action. We are gratified to learn that a larger and more complete biography will be prepared and published, ere long, of this eminent man.

BIBLIOTHECA SACRA AND BIBLICAL REPOSITORY. EDWARDS A. PARK and SAMUEL H. TAYLOR, Editors. Andover, Mass.: Warren F. Draper, Publisher.

WE have received the April number of this very able Quarterly, devoted to Sacred Literature and Theology. There are few if any periodicals of this stamp in the world which equal this in the talent and learning with which its pages have been enriched in past years. It is a great storehouse of valuable thought, and its regular issues come loaded with the affluence of religious wealth. It is an honor to the country and to the men whose talent contribute to enrich its pages.

MRS. STEPHENS' ILLUSTRATED NEW MONTHLY.

The May Number is on our table, with its rich variety of articles in prose and poetry, and graphic illustrations, attractive, interesting, and instructive, inviting for itself and its literary merits invitations to ladies' parlors and ladies' society all over the country. A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SIR HENRY HAVELOCK, The ladies' treasury of fashions, needle-work, and K.C.B. By the REV. WILLIAM BROCK. New-home art is well filled in the letter-press and in the York: Robert Carter & Brothers. 1858. Pp. 305. engraved illustrations of the various forms of fashion With a portrait. and taste which that great mistress of ladies' robes, alias Madame Fashion, is continually contriving for

THE reading public, especially the Christian public, are under obligations to the Carters, for thus promptly issuing from their press, this interesting biographical sketch of so renowned a man, a great man, a good man, a brave man, and the Christian hero of British India. Peace principles have been advocated with great eloquence and power within a few years at the annual sessions of the Peace Congresses in Europe, and called sternly in question the lawfulness of war. But the late terrific struggles in India to arrest the storm of violence and outrage, of rapine and wholesale slaughter of innocent women and children, from the blood-thirsty cruelties of Pagan barbarism, would seem to vindicate, with irresistible eloquence, the lawfulness of war. For such a purpose the world can not help looking with admiration upon the career of such a man as Havelock, leading embattled hosts to the rescue of innocent women and children. His character, his Christian principles, his devoted and earnest piety serve only to enhance the feeling of admiration in the public mind. If there is any power in Christian principles, any force and influence in the example of a Christian hero, then the character and career of unflinching, unbending integrity and fidelity in the discharge of his duties to his God and his country. by General Havelock, have uttered one of the most

all her votaries.

WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR'S LETTER.-SIR: In your paper of yesterday, March 15, I find my name mentioned by Mr. Allsop as offering a sum of money for the assassination of the Emperor Napoleon. Never have I countenanced any assassination whatsoever. Assassination I consider as the basest of crimes-tyrannicide as the sublimest of virtues, it being self-immolation for a man's native country. Beyond that country it would be murder. It strikes him down who hath subverted its laws and stands above them on their ruins. Now, whoever is above them is out of them; in one word an outlaw.

The Emperor Napoleon is the most legitimate sovran in the universe, having been chosen by a greater number of suffrages than ever was one before; whereas the wretched and infamous Government which he overthrew annulled those which itself had recently called forth and consecrated. It was not he who planned and executed the invasion of the Roman State, the sister Republic, coming by stealth in the garb of amity, and perpetrating an assassination a hundred-fold more extensive than the Parisian. No, it was not he; it was those small, restless, wriggling creatures which showed their head

out of their burrows in the crevices of the old Republic. | average in the five years 1824-8, and 957,894 anIt was politicians like Lamartine and Changarnier-nually on an average in the years 1850-4. In 1854 first-rate in chatter, second-rate in literature, third- the births were 923,461 out of a population of rate in public confidence. These people had abjured 36,155,682 in France, and 634,405 out of 18,618,760 all ambition, all enroachment, all interference with in England and Wales. Thus, in France, to 1000 the territory or government of other nations; yet of the population, 26 children were born; in England attempted to wrest Savoy from Sardinia. and Wales the same population gave birth to 34 children in the year 1854.-The Registrar-General's Returns.

So far am I from desiring the overthrow of Napoleon, I should regret the loss to Europe of the most energetic and sagacious potentate that ever governed any portion of it, excepting the great Protector and the great Stadtholder. To England the loss would be peculiarly deplorable, since we may rely on him, and on him only, for the continuance of peace.

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Personally I never had intimacy or connection with democratic strangers; I detest and abominate democracy, the destroyer of republics. The political system requires an immovable center. Queen Elizabeth, in a speech before Parliament, called the Government our Commonwealth." In my opinion, the wisest was the Venetian, where gentlemen who had honor to lose and nothing to gain, were the rulers, and wise heads directed strong arms without oscillation. I never take the trouble to defend my opinions. but I will repeat them, as I have often done. Again, I declare that whoever slays unjustly is justly slain. Would Algernon Sidney, or the still greater Milton, controvert this axiom? Are the writers who pertinaciously oppose them wiser or more virtuous than they? Let me never be confounded either with the enemies or the partisans of Napoleon. Frequently, and for many years, I enjoyed his conversation, and I heartily wish him a long life and a long succession. He knows enough of me to be convinced that I care little for rank, for power, or for popularity, and that it is quite enough for me to be, as retired and obscure as any man in England.

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MARRIAGES IN ENGLAND AND FRANCE.-It is a remarkable fact that, exclusive of the metropolitan cities in England and France, nearly the same proportion. 34 in every 100, of the men who marry do not write their name in signing the marriage register; the exact proportion of the ignorant men in France is 33.70; in England it is rather more, or 33.93 in 100. The French women are even less versed in writing than English women; for of French women 55 in 100 did not write their names; of English women 48 did not write their names, but made their marks. But the proportions are deplorably high, and show how much has to be done to convey the first rudiments of instruction to the great body of the people in two of the most enlightened nations of the world As the returns for France, through some accident, do not include the facts for Paris in the department of the Seine, I have excluded the marriages in London from the English returns, as in the capitals the numbers who can write are disproportionately great. The temporary decrease of the population of France has naturally attracted attention, as it has occurred for the first time, M. Leygot states in the last fifty-four years. In considering its causes, the diminishing number of births, to which I have before adverted in my reports, has attracted attention, and given rise to controversy. It is, undoubtedly, a remarkable fact, that while the births in England go on rapidly increasing, the births of French children are not increasing, but are actually decreasing; 981,614 children were annually born (alive) in France on an

SIGNIFICATION OF LADIES' NAMES-Mary, Maria, Marie, (French,) siguify exalted. According to some, Mary means lady of the sea. Martha, interpreted, is bitterness; Isabel signifies lovely; Julia and Juliet, soft-haired; Gertrude, all truth; Eleanor, all fruitful; Ellen-originally the Greek Helen-signifies alluring, though according to the Greek authors, it means one who pities. The interpretation of Caroline is regal; that of Charlotte, is a Queen; Elizabeth and Eliza signify true; Clara, bright or cleareyed; Agnes, chaste; Amanda, amiable; Laura, laurel; Edith, joyous; Olivia, peace; Phoebe, light of life; Grace, favor; Sarah, or Sally, a princess; Sophia, wisdom; Amelia, Amy, beloved; Matilda, a noble maid; Pauline, little one; Margaret, a pearl; Rebecca, plump; Hannah, Anne, Ann, and Nancy, all of which are of the same original name, interpreted, mean grace or kind. Jane signifies dignity; Ida, the morning star; Lucy, brightness of aspect; Louisa, or Louise, one who protects; Emma, tender; Catherine, pure; Frances, or Fanny, frank or free; Lydia, severe; Minerva, chaste.-Ladies' Nole Book.

SAILING OF DR. LIVINGSTONE'S EXPEDITION.— The north-westerly gales which prevented the sailing of the screw steamer Pearl on Monday and yesterday abated this morning, and at fifteen minutes past one she took her departure for Sierra Leone, whence she will sail for the Cape, and thence for the Zambese River, up which she will steam as far as her draught of water will permit her. The little launch will then be unshipped and will commence her part of the enterprise. Besides Dr. and Mrs. Livingstone, the Pearl has on board their little son, Mr. Livingstone, (brother to the Dr., and assistantcommander,) Capt. Bedingfield, R.N., Government surveyor and nautical commander of the expedition; Dr. Kirk, Edinburgh, the botanist and medical officer; Mr. Thornton, the geologist; Mr. Rae, the engineer of the launch; and Mr. F. Baines, artist of the expedition, all of whom have signed articles under Government for two years' service. Mr. J. Laird and a few other friends accompanied Dr. Livingstone on board, and bade him a cheering "God speed!" before the vessel sailed. There seems to be a complete and agreeable change in the weather, and there is every reason to hope that the Pearl will have a favorable run down the Channel.—Liverpool letter, March 10.

FUEL.-Until the time of Edward II. London used only wood for fuel, drawn from the neighboring forests. In this reign, however, coal began to be imported from Newcastle; and the effects of the smoke speedily showing themselves, Parliament, in 1316, petitioned the king to prohibit its use in London, on the ground of its being a public nuisance. Whereupon he ordered all who burnt sea-borne coal to be mulcted, and on a second offense, to have their furnaces demolished.-Things not Generally Known.

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