bearing all the oppressions to which he may be subjected, with apathy and indifference; and in his own house he is kind and affectionate to his children, seldom evincing anger or ill-treatment to any member of his family. It must, however, be allowed, that the Burmese are little guided or restrained in their conduct and actions by any moral principle: selling their daughters, even to strangers, is a common practice among them; nor does the transaction reflect either disgrace or shame on the parties concerned. Government, upon political grounds, strictly prohibits any woman from being allowed to leave the country; and the unhappy females who are sacrificed to this disgraceful custom, generally return to their families, in no way slighted or degraded, but more frequently as objects of envy, from the little stock of wealth they bring back with them. "It has often been objected to the Burmese, that they are given to pilfering, lying, and dissimulation, as well as insolent and overbearing to strangers; but the remark may be, in a great measure, confined to the numerous government functionaries and their followers, with whom every town and village in the kingdom abounds: they are indeed a vile race, who exist by fraud and oppression, and who, upon numerous pretences, no matter how frivolous, are always ready to rob and plunder all who come within the influence of their authority: the poor people, on the contrary, by far the best part of the nation, are frank and hospitable, and by no means deficient in qualities which would do honor to more civilized nations. They, very generally, can read and write; are acute, intelligent, and observing; and, although frequently impressed with high notions of their own sovereign and country, show no illiberality to strangers or foreigners who reside among them. In a word, to sum up their character, their virtues are their own, and their faults and vices those of education, and the pernicious influence of a cruel and despotic government." We have not room for any extract from the concluding chapter of Major Snodgrass's work, in which he describes the commercial advantages likely to accrue to this country from the newly ceded provinces, and a friendly intercourse with the Burmhan Empire. If Major S.'s estimate is well founded, a very considerable inlet for British commodities will be opened in that quarter. Rough Notes, taken during some rapid Journies across the Pampas, and among the Andes. By Capt. F. B. Head. 1826. London: Murray. 12mo. pp. 309. THIS is really an admirable book, written in a bold, dashing, galloping style, and bearing upon its front the very impress of truth and fidelity. "Rough Notes," such as those of Capt. Head, are infinitely more valuable than the labored disquisitions of over-wise travellers, who torment their readers with never-ceasing disquisitions upon common-place topics. We had occasion lately to record our opinion of a book, which treats upon the countries visited by Captain Head, written by Mr. Miers, and we freely confessed that it contained much valuable information; but the lively sketches of our present author, depict the state and condition of the people far more vividly, and contain a very great deal of interesting matter in a much smaller compass. Capt. Head is evidently an acute, shrewd observer, quick in discovering the ridiculous and eccentric, and with a happy knack of sketching scenes to the life, whether the subject be serious or ludicrous. The volume before us contains a variety of these outlines, which richly repay the reader. Take for instance the following example : "To people accustomed to the cold passions of England, it would be impossible to describe the savage, inveterate, furious hatred which exists between the Gauchos and the Indians. The latter invade the country for the ecstatic pleasure of murdering the Christians, and in the contests which take place between them mercy is unknown. Before I was quite aware of these feelings, I was galloping with a very fine-looking Gaucho, who had been fighting with the Indians, and after listening to his report of the killed and wounded, I happened, very simply, to ask him, how many prisoners they had taken ?— The man replied by a look which I shall never forget---he clenched his teeth, opened his lips, and then sawing his fore-finger across his bare throat for a quarter of a minute, bending towards me, with his spurs sticking into his horse's side, be said in a sort of low choking voice, 'Se matan todos," (we kill them all).” What can be more forcible? The following, which is all we can find room for, is not less striking. It is part of an account of the native Pampas Indians : "The life they lead is singularly interesting. In spite of the climate, which is burning hot in summer, and freezing in winter, these brave men, who have never yet been subdued, are entirely naked, and have not even a covering for their head. "They live together in tribes, each of which is governed by a Cacique, but they have no fixed place of residence. Where the pasture is good, there are they to be found, until it is consumed by their horses, and they then instantly move to a more verdant spot. They have neither bread, fruit, nor vegetables, but they subsist entirely on the flesh of their mares, which they never ride; and the only luxury in which they indulge, is that of washing their hair in mare's blood. "The occupation of their lives is war, which they consider as their noble and most natural employment; and they declare that the proudest attitude of the human figure is when, bending over his horse, man is riding at his enemy. The principal weapon which they use is a spear eighteen feet long; they manage it with great dexterity, and are able to give it a tremulous motion which has often shaken the sword from the hand of their European adversaries. "From being constantly on horseback, the Indians can scarcely walk. This may seem singular, but from their infancy they are unaccustomed to it. Living in a boundless plain, it may easily be conceived, that all their occupations and amusements must necessarily be on horseback, and from riding so many hours the legs become weak, which naturally gives a disinclination to an exertion which every day becomes more fatiguing; besides, the pace at which they can skim over the plains on horseback is so swift, in comparison to the rate they could crawl on foot, that the latter must seem a cheerless exertion. "As a military nation, they are much to be admired, and their system of warfare is more noble and perfect in its nature than that of any nation in the world. When they assemble, either to attack their enemies, or to invade the country of the Christians, with whom they are now at war, they collect large troops of horses and mares, and then, uttering the wild shriek of war, they start at a gallop. As soon as the horses they ride are tired, they vault upon the bare backs of fresh ones, keeping their best until they positively see their enemies. The whole country affords pasture to their horses, and whenever they choose to stop, they have only to kill some mares. The ground is the bed on which, from their infancy, they have always slept, and they therefore meet their enemies with light hearts and full stomach, the only advantages which they think men ought to desire." The Lord Mayor's Visit to Oxford in the Month of July, 1826. Written, at the desire of the party, by the Chaplain to the Mayoralty. 12mo. Longman. 1827. SOME ladies of our acquaintance informed us that Mr. Dillon was "a nice young man," and we therefore anticipated as much pleasure from the perusal of this little volume, as books written by "nice" young men usually afford. But, indeed! indeed! we were woefully mistaken; never did the press send forth---never did man, young or old, nice or the contrary, indite a book of half the import VOL. II. 3 с ance or half the beauty of this production of the civic historian! Had poor Mr. Nichols lived to see it, his death-bed would have been disturbed by envy. He, cautious man, detailed with Archæological minuteness all the turnings and windings of Royal progresses; but Mr. Dillon overmasters him at his own weapons, and makes a flourish whenever the Lord Mayor condescended to convey a slice of venison or a cup of coffee to his illustrious mouth. "Oh, for an eternity of eating!" exclaims a citizen in some old play; and if we may judge from this volume, and the continued eatings which are here recorded, had that citizen lived in the present day, his wish would have been as nearly fulfilled as the shortness of human life will allow. Never, we will venture to assert, were there such doings---such breakfasts, luncheons, dinners, teas, and suppers at the Star Inn, Oxford, before; never will there be again, until some future Lord Mayor shall condescend to follow in the footsteps of the late Right Honorable Magistrate. But even then the world will lose its enjoyment, unless another Dillon be found to immortalize the stupendous achievement. If such a happy event should take place, it will become of great importance to study well the volume before us, which is a fine specimen of the civic style of composition. We have not space to devote to any long extracts; but our readers may judge of the beautiful minuteness by which the narrative is distinguished, when they learn that Mr. Dillon communicates to the world (amongst others) the following curious and highly important facts---discoveries we may say, for if it had not been for his adventurous genius, the world would still have been in ignorance of them. Mr. Dillon informs us, that the Lord Mayor has "a well looking coachman"---"That the coachman's countenance was thoughtful and reserved"---" That driving four-in-hand is a test of equestrian style"---" That the sun rises at eight o'clock in the morning in the city on the 25th of July"..-"That Mr. Thomas Roberson is Town Clerk of Oxford, and Mr. Firth first clerk to the Town Clerk” ---"That the Lady Mayoress and seven other ladies ordered dinner at the Star, and spent the evening in their own society”---" That the female attendant of my Lady Mayoress dresses with becoming neatness"--"That the Lord Mayor and the company, to the number of about twenty-five, sat down at a quarter before seven o'clock to a banquet of such a grand and costly nature, as seemed to indicate that the whole neighbouring country had been put in requisition"--"That the clock had nearly sounded within an hour of midnight, when the Lord Mayor rose from the table, and was followed by the rest of the company"--" That Coffee was handed round"---(which last fact, let it be observed, is highly illustrative of the manners of the savage people of Oxfordshire)--- That the human teeth are in a very convenient situation, the grinders being placed behind near the centre of motion, because chewing requires considerable force; the cutters are placed in front ready for their easier work!"---We make no doubt that these few extracts will fully convince our readers of the extraordinary merit of this production, which we believe is unique in its kind, and stands alone upon the very pinnacle of absurdity. NOTICES OF MUSIC. Kentish Melodies. The words and airs by an Amateur. By the kindness of a friend, we are enabled to present our readers with a notice of this volume, which is privately distributed amongst the Author's friends. It contains fourteen melodies, several of them very elegant and expresive productions. The Accompaniments are judicious, and the words in general are set with a correctness which is very little attended to in modern times. Improper names, and distorted accents, arising from a want of understanding between the musician and the poet, are too apt to grate upon our ears. The poetical part of the volume is of varied style and merit. The Author succeeds best in the simple and pathetic-there is no grandeur, no sublimity in his production, but much sweetness and propriety. His subjects are perhaps too often taken from the tender passion; by which means his powers are not allowed sufficient space for exertion, and his verses have a sameness of character.We presume the feeling which is uppermost in his mind guides his pen; and as he protests that feeling is unchangeable, we cannot be surprised to find the pen often journeying towards one point. His poetry, however, suffers from it, and much that he is clearly capable of atchieving remains undone. No. 5 appears to us to be the best musical production in the volume-there is much grace and beauty in it. Of the poetry, we shall give two or three specimens, which, as the volume is not accessible to the public, will, we doubt not, be acceptable. The following is No. 6: The evening wind came sighing through The blushing sun had sought his bride, The vines had crept from tree to tree, Their warmest, wildest notes of love; The following, which we consider a fair specimen of the Author's best manner, certainly possesses great beauty: In weal or woe, in woman's breast, There peaceful as the summer stream, Each thought, each wish glides calmly on, The type of childhood's sweetest dream, Of innocence for ever gone. The following is of a different character, it is entitled "Another Glass." This sparkling wine we're pledging round, For cares and woes like clouds will pass, And share its blessings with my lass, With woman and "another glass." To pleasures fled, I'll drink it up, Nor sigh to take "another glass." Altogether, the volume is a handsome one; the title page is very elegantly engraved. Voluntary for the Organ, composed by Esther Elizabeth Fleet, Organist of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate. Monro and May. WITHIN the last few years, Organ Music has been more cultivated in this country than used formerly to be the case. The number of players has increased, and, which is of still greater importance, there has been a more than proportionable increase of scientific players. The young lady whose composition is now before us, has lately entered the list, and certainly gives great promise of future excellence. As a player, not only upon the organ, but on the piano-forte, she deserves great praise: amongst the few things which gave general satisfaction at the late badly managed Concert for the Choral Fund, Miss Fleet's playing may be reckoned as one-that we believe was stated to be her first appearance in public. The manner of her recent election to preside at the Organ of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate, is also highly creditable to her, and shows the general estimation in which her talents are held. The Voluntary before us testifies very favorably of her abilities as a composer; some of the harmonies are scientifically constructed, and produce a very solemn effect; but there is sufficient melody to please those who cannot fully appreciate the merit of a scientific composition. It consists of three movements-the first has afforded us the most gratification, but all of them evince taste and knowledge ---several passages are very highly effective, and all lovers of sacred music will receive pleasure from its performance. Rossini's All'idea di quel metallo, arranged as a duet, by J. J. Harris. Mr. |