Mr. Miller is a poet of a different class. His is the world of imagination. He lives among seanymphs and fairies. He clothes abstractions in forms of beauty, and gives them a local habitation and a name. The only marvel is, how, under all the soul-depressing circumstances of their lot, these two men should have been able to produce works of such an order as to entitle them to take so high a place among the poets of the day. We scarcely know how to congratulate them. If they struggle to live by their occupations, and abandon them for poetry, we fear they will make a poor exchange. If they attempt to unite the two, they will injure both. To the liberal institutions of the age we wish we could add one, to whose fostering shelter the scions of talent and genius, when sickening under the withering blasts of poverty, might be transferred. What is individual patronage? and what the favour of the public?

Burns and Bloomfield, and all who have ventured on the treacherous sea, can tell. Their names were honoured, but their families starved. Blighted hopes and broken hearts have hitherto been the earthly allotment of those gifted beings whose minds have towered above their condition. Yet, who can blame them? We sigh, and wish them a better fate; and in the present case would readily weave the laurel to grace the brow of these most worthy aspi rants after an honourable fame, did we not fear to see it displaced by the cypress.

Speech of George Richard Robinson, Esq., in the House of Commons, May 22, 1832, on the Trade, Commerce, and Navigation of the British Empire.

According to the notions of a certain class of statesmen, free trade is to the [depression of commerce and the decline of navigation-and, indeed, to all the political and national evils which we deplore-what Tenterden steeple was said to be to the Goodwin Sands, the cause which produced them-and with about as much reason. Mr. Robinson does not go the whole of this length. He admits the principle of free trade in the abstract, and le condemns the policy of foreign nations, whose restrictions are opposed to it, as illiberal. If we understand him aright, he only compiains that, as far as it regards Great Britain, this principle has not been judiciously applied; and he accuses the present administration of intending to carry it to its utmost extent, in utter contempt of the interests of our own country, which, he says, are deeply suffering because it has been already carried too far. As the question will ere long again come under discussion, we no further notice Mr. Robinson's Speech than to remark, that, according to the views which he entertains, it is a very creditable record of his opinions, and may per haps serve him in his canvass for a seat in the reformed Parliament. We say perhaps-time

will show.

A Letter to the Right Hon. Lord Brougham and Vaux, on the subject of the Magistracy of England.

This Letter deals in facts and arguments; and we are persuaded the appeal which it makes

out.

will not be lost upon the noble and learned person to whom it is addressed. The evils of the present system are forcibly exposed. We are afraid the remedies will not be so easily pointed With the writer, we cordially deprecate the appointment of clerical magistrates. We think his remarks just and pertinent, and introduce them into our pages that they may have as wide a circulation as it is in our power to give them.

"I would have the clergy honoured and respected; and I know of no more effectual means to render them so, than to detach them from avocations which cause them to become the castigators and persecutors of the body rather than the comforters and healers of the soul. The duties of a clergyman and a magistrate are totally incompatible. It is the duty of the one to reform -it is the business of the other to punish. The clerical magistrate becomes a terror to those whom he should conciliate in order to amend: with him fine and imprisonment supply the place of precept and admonition; and the pure doctrines of morality are exchanged for the jargon of an act of Parliament. The visit of the pastor to the delinquent is no longer to turn him from his wickedness but to convict him of his crime. The justice and parson of the established church cannot utter these benign words, Go and sin no more;' but says, if you have sinned, it is my duty to find the fit penalty in the statutebook.'"

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Letters for the Press; on the Feelings, Passions, Manners, and Pursuits of Men. By the late Francis Roscommon, Esq. M.A.

If a well-stored mind, a classical taste, purity and elegance of diction, all devoted to the illustration of subjects that never fail to create a lively interest, and to extend the circle of rational enjoyment, be any recommendation to a work, then the present cannot be neglected. It may well take its place among our best English Essays-for few, indeed, among them all, surpass in excellence these Letters for the Press,' by whomsoever written. Notwithstanding the announcement in the preface, we cannot help thinking that the author breathes the air of this living world-and that we shall, ere long, by another literary fiction, hear of Francis Roscommon, Redivivus. We can only say, that in any guise, in any form, it will afford us pleasure to meet him.

The Entomological Magazine. No. I.

The study of insects is rapidly advancing in this country: we have now an excellent and spirited Magazine devoted solely to its promotion. The Editor is anonymous; and we feel some little curiosity to know who and what he may be : that he is a veteran in the cause we learn from his own confession-he speaks of "thirty years' experience in collecting insects;" and it is equally evident he has visited the intertropical regions of South America, where alone an insect is to be found which he describes as having seen in a natural state.

The contents of the first number form a happy combination of the scientific and the amusing: Mr. Curtis, the author of "British Entomology," and, without exception, the first entomologist in this country, and Mr. Newman, the writer of "Sphinx Vespiformis," an essay on System, which has lately created a great sensation in the scientific world, each contribute a paper of high character; but, however valuable these may be to the cognoscenti, to us they yield in interest to the exquisite article on Blight, signed Rusticus, an article which we are sure will be read with delight by all. We most cordially concur in this writer's idea as expressed to the Editor"If you admit all manner of crack-jaw, and register the invention of systems ad libitum, it would surely be unfair to deprive your readers of a little humble English and plain statements of facts recorded by a faithful and attentive observer of Nature." We recommend the Editor to scatter such papers as these with a less sparing hand, as we are sure they will be more generally relished than those purely scientific ones, which we think occupy rather too great a portion of his pages. The Number concludes with a dialogue, which is carried on with a briskness and spirit that give it all the appearance of a real conversation; we find in it many bold, wild, and truly original ideas, to some of which we should, however, hesitate to subscribe without considerable qualification.

The work is got up with great attention to accuracy, neatness, and elegance; and, without any further recommendation on our part than this slight sketch of its contents, we have no doubt will meet with that general encouragement which we can honestly say we consider it richly deserves.

MUSICAL PUBLICATIONS.

"This is my eldest daughter, Sir." Words by T. H. Bayly, Esq. Symphonies and Accompaniments by H. R. Bishop.

We remember being much struck with this pretty ballad on its first appearance, before it was wedded to "sweet harmony," and we are sure its popularity will be increased by Mr. Bishop's arrangements.

"I would not be left to my sorrow." A Ballad. By T. H. Bayly, Esq. The Music by Alex. D. Roche.

The poetry of this song is in Mr. Bayly's happiest style-touchingly and elegantly expressed; and the image in the third verse, of "affection throwing a veil over the records of care," is every way worthy of the poet. We are not acquainted with any composer who so perfectly enters into the soul of melancholy, and sends forth its true pathos in sweet sounds, so completely as Mr. Roche.

The spirit of ballads-of those ballads that draw sympathy from the heart, and tears from the eyes-is upon him, and everything he touches becomes melody. We congratulate Mr. Roche on his good fortune in having a subject worthy

of his talents.

"Oeo! Oeo!" and "Shades of the Heroes." Glees. The first for four; the other for five voices. The music by T. Cooke.

We love glees. There is something strongly savouring of union and happiness in a joyous chorus; and for some of our best modern glees we are indebted to Tom-we beg his pardonMr. Thomas Cooke, or rather Thomas Cooke, Esq. There is an hilarity about his music which would always make it popular, without the drum and trumpet accompaniments he is over-fond of introducing in his songs, as well as his concerted pieces. "Oeo! Oeo!" gained the prize at the Catch Club, and deserved it; for nothing can be more in keeping and good taste than the short adagio, as well as the allegro movements. The poetry is much better than that usually bestowed on glees. Whose is it?

"Lillian May;" a Ballad. The Poetry and Melody by W. Bull. Symphonies and Accompaniments by I. Moscheles.

This is an exquisite story in verse, of one who died in the first spring of life, when everything was blooming and happy around her! And the simplicity and grace of the melody is every way worthy of the sweet and gentle tale. We cordially recommend it to our fair musical friends.

THE moment is at hand which either "makes" the great houses, or "undoes them quite"; and those who have watched the progress of theatrical matters during the last three or four years, will be at no loss to guess which alternative to look for. In fact, the day for patent rights, monopolies, and the "regular drama," in the managerial sense of that phrase, is past; and if, practically speaking, a better system is not exactly prepared to supply the place of the old one. at least the prejudices and habits, and what was more effective than all, the interests, that held it together are broken up, and the public know what they want, and why they have it not: which latter are great steps towards its attainment. Still there is much to do before the desired end can be obtained. The public know what they want, and why they have it not, but they do not know how to set about the task of obtaining it ;-and the office of teaching them is an invidious one -to say nothing of its delicacy and its difficulty. For our parts, feeling that, during a consistent and uninterrupted series of observations on this subject, we have contributed at least our share towards bringing about the gratifying state of things that is now at hand, we are disposed to rest content with leaving its completion to those hands which have now taken it up, and have so fortunately commenced by giving the coup-de-grace to the remnant of life that was left in the old system: not forgetting that the promoters and supporters of the latter have been among the most active and successful agents in its downfall. If the patentees and monopolists had not prosecuted the minors into the universal perform ance of the regular drama (fitly so called, and not in Mr. Winston's sense of the phrase), we should have had no such drama left among us: if the same unconscious abettors of their own merited ruin had not turned their houses into more open and shameless marts for prostitution than the most shameless of our public thoroughfares, every theatre in London would have remained what all were, and most are, but what now, no theatre can remain much longer-an open outrage upon public decency, such as no other country in the world has exhibited for the last two centuries past :-finally, if the egregious persons in question had not been at once impudent and stupid enough to keep up the monstrous prices

See the evidence of Mr. Winston on this point.

of their commodity to the same level which they maintained when all the other necessaries of life were high (for public amusements are among the "necessaries of life" of a great city, second only to bread itself—" bread and shows, ") the most patient "public" in the world would never have found out what those most persevering of self-dupers in the world-theatrical managers-never will find out till they are forced to it,—namely, that half may be more than the whole.

With respect to novelty, we have literally nothing to report on, except the opening of Drury Lane Theatre, with a tolerably efficient company, who play nightly to empty benches.-Braham in Masaniello, Power in Dr. O'Toole, and "the late Miss Mordaunt " in a new character, not being able to attract more than the tenth part of a house. This is as it should be; because nothing but this will bring managers to their senses.

Laporte opens at Covent Garden on the 1st; and from his enterprise and cleverness we expect something still more injurious to the ultimate interests of the drama than even the imbecility of his rivals; for though he announces many things that are decided improvements, the most conspicuous and judicious of which is that of commencing the season attractively, instead of repulsively-we mean, with novelty instead of staleness,

he does not announce a change in the system of prices-rating them on the continental plan, and according to the relative value of the places occupied. On this plan the great houses may still retain a portion of their high prices, with advantage to all parties: on any other, they must reduce them greatly, or fail more conspicuously than ever.

We anticipate a bustling season, and one that will work important results on the prospects of the drama; and we shall prepare ourselves for it accordingly; for on the interpreters of the public voice in these matters, much, if not all, depends. In the mean time, we shall only add, that Drury Lane announces The Hunchback; that the English Opera has closed; that the Adelphi is on the point of openinghaving engaged the most pleasing new actress that we have seen for years, Mrs. Honey; and that the Strand keeps open, having lost the last-named lady, but still retaining the most agreeable and effective company, and the most attractive performances, of any theatre in London, great or small.

Sketches in Italy; drawn on Stone. By W. Linton. Parts XI. and XII.

This admirable work is now concluded-Parts Eleven and Twelve, according to the plan originally circulated, completing the series of ninetysix sketches; a map, &c. being added to render the publication more perfect. We have rarely, or never, seen so interesting and valuable a collection of views in Italy-a country so full of the sublime and beautiful, that every artist who has been to boorrw of its wealth, returns with ample means to furnish for himself fame, and enjoyment for all who can appreciate art and worship nature. Mr. Linton has increased a very high reputation by the results of his labours. His sketches are altogether the most artist-like, the most spirited, the most easily understood of any we have ever seen. To the amateur and to the student, as well as to those who have worked out success in art, they will be welcome guests; in the studio and in the drawing-room they will give information and enjoyment. The written descriptions are brief, but tastefully and elegantly penned. The artist must have read as well as painted, and have exercised thought as well as observation.

Views of the Old and New London Bridges the former in its last state and demolition; the latter during its erection and in its finished state. Drawn and Etched by Edward William Cooke. Part I.

This is a very interesting and ably-executed collection of prints. The name of Cooke has been

Scraps and Sketches. By George Cruik shank. Part IV.

"And Laughter holding both her sides"-such should be the motto of the inimitable George Cruikshank. He has had many competitors of late, but not a single rival. He remains-and is likely to continue-the master spirit of merri. ment; and is a welcome visiter at any hour and in any place. We can never be sad in his com pany-it is his especial province to

"Drive dull Care away."

Illustrations to Friendship's Offering for 1833.

We have left ourselves but small space to speak of the Illustrations of this Annual-as usual, the first in the field-the herald of a bright assemblage of elegant and beautiful works. We shall take occasion to speak of them when others of the gay family are upon our table. At present we content ourselves with observing, that it is a very agreeable collection, although not of first-rate excellence.

MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

Professor Millington has been delivering at this institution a series of lectures on Practical Mechanics. From one of them, "On the Construction of Roofs and laying of Floors," a very important subject, we extract the following:

"A point which claims especial attention was the method of preventing lateral pressure, which would arise from the weight resting upon the roof, and also from falls of snow, each of which would tend to draw the pressure upon the kingpost, and cause the principal rafters to swing. To avoid this, diagonal braces must be used, one end being fixed upon an abutment placed at the lower end of the kingpost, and the other extending to the weak part of the principal rafter. These diagonal braces, however, could be of no use to the tie-beam, which, in consequence of the size of some buildings, required additional support to that afforded by the king-post. Two other posts therefore, called queen

posts, were placed in a similar direction to the king-post. The Lecturer here exhibited the model of the roof of St. Martin's Church, and pointed out the queen-posts, and the manner in which, by diagonal braces, the weight was transferred from the tie-beam to the king and queen post. In those roofs where a space was not required to be left for any particular purpose, the tie-beam could be conveniently used, but where it was necessary to arch up the ceiling, as in the case of churches, the tiebeam must necessarily be dispensed with. In this case it was customary to introduce diagonal braces, which were attached to a collar-beam, and which, by drawing in two opposite directions, afforded room for the arch; but to this method several objections might be urged, the principal of which was that several parts would thus run parallel, and whenever this was the case, strength could not be obtained. The collar-beam was very common in old buildings, and where no great weight was

required to be sustained it might answer, but it would not do for large edifices. Among the new contrivances to obtain an arched roof was that of Carbonell's patent, but of this he (the Lecturer) disapproved, inasmuch as it tended to transfer the weight from the foot of the principal rafter to the weakest part of the beam. An excellent roof has been invented by Mr. Nicholls, which was near forty-eight feet in the span. A tie-beam ran across the building, instead of a collar-beam; but was formed of such a height as to permit a semi-circular arch to pass under the roof. A king-post was introduced into the centre, from which proceeded diagonal braces into the two principal rafters, which descended a considerable way down the walls. In mills, breweries, &c., openings were sometimes required in the roof for the sake of light. Other roofs, therefore, must be adapted for them. The Lecturer next exhibited a drawing of the roof of Dorset-street Gas-works, which required heavy weights to be attached to it, and pointed out the mode of its construction, as also of the late and present Drury-lane theatre. The largest and yet the lightest roof that had ever been constructed, was that which covered the King's ships at Deptford; the whole weight of it supported by a series of stay-posts, without any other beams. Of late it was not an unusual thing to form a cast-iron roof. The first of that kind was erected by Mr. Watt of Soho. Subsequently to that period, several of the water-works were formed of the same material, and in that case the strength depended upon the curve, instead of the tie-beam. Hitherto he had only spoken of the principal rafters, only a few of which need be introduced to sup. port a large building. Purlins were used for the purpose of supporting the external covering of the roof, and these must be laid from one principal rafter to another. In old roofs they are generally mortised into the rafters; but by thus cutting the rafter away, the strength was diminished. To avoid this, it would only be necessary to place it upon the principal rafter, securing it by a notch; but the greatest care should be taken to place the purlin

where it would be best supported. These purlins applied only to those places where suspension took place from above, and to all situations where rafters or connecting posts were not inconvenient, as was generally the case in roofs: but in the construction of large floors of rooms and wooden bridges over rivers, where they would be incompatible with convenience, a flat surface being necessary, the desired end must be obtained by laying timbers over the ends of others. If the distance from one support to another did not exceed twelve or fourteen feet, then small strips of timber called joists might be laid upon them; but if the opening was greater than that, the joists must be laid across the strong timber, or let into it. In old houses it was usual to lay one piece across the other; but in modern erections, to avoid the unseemly appearance arising from timber being so situated, it was customary to let the girders into the joist. This was effected by mortising the one and tenoning the other, to make them fit. In performing this work, care was requisite to determine the proper size to cut the mortise, otherwise the girder or the joist would be improperly weakened. Now, as fractures in a horizontal beam took place about one-third from the top, if the mortise were cut too low, it would take away the power to resist tension; or if it were cut too high, it would decrease the power to resist compression. As the fracture, therefore, took place one-third from the top, the strongest place for the mortise was twothirds from the top. Sometimes, instead of cutting the tenon in the usual way, it was necessary to make a sort of double tenon, or notch, which would add considerable strength to the building. It sometimes happened that the frame could not be sustained without another support; it would then be necessary to use a column: but in instances where this would be detrimental, or take up too much room, or impede the view, the frame must be formed of the timber itself. The lecturer then announced the subject of his next lecture, and retired from the platform with several professional friends amidst the plaudits of the assembly."

The Poor-Law Commission.-The officiating ministers and the vestry clerks of the metropolitan parishes have received, from his Majesty's Commissioners, sets of queries relative to the administration and practical operation of the laws for the relief of the poor in their several parishes.

The Commissioners, in their circular, express their desire that the vestry clerks, after answering the question of statistical details, will consult the overseers or others concerned in the management of the poor of the parish, and state in their answers the result of their joint opinions. The