of thofe fupplemental Tales is that of Il Bondocan, which has been dramatized among us, and we believe alfo in France. It has certainly more of French intrigue than of Arabian, fimplicity and Cazotte, the pretended tranflator, was a man of unbounded imagination, and well practifed in the inven tion of Tales. A few more oriental tales, undoubtedly genuine, were publifhed by Mr. Beloe, in the third volume of his Mifcellanies, - which appeared in 1795. They were communicated to him by Dr. Ruffell, from a fmall volume which he had brought from Aleppo, and perfectly agree in ftyle with the tales of the Arabian Nights, though it does not appear that they ever belonged to that work; they are, however, extremely original and entertaining, particularly the concluding flory of Bafem the blackfmith. Though we have faid decidedly that thefe volumes do honour to the judgment of the editor, we are not yet fatisfied with them as an edition of the Arabian Nights. Thefe Tales deferve, as Oriental claffics, a more fplendid form and a more extenfive apparatus of notes. Thofe which are fubjoined to the fix volumes, are only 82 in number, and occupy about 20 pages. They are, it is true, very inftructive and valuable, but occafions might have been found, without much feeking, to render them more copious. At prefent, fome of the inferior editions are in fplendour much fuperior to this, which yet is, beyond all doubt, the belt. ART. III. The Life and original Correspondence of Sir George Radcliffe, Knight, L.L.D. the Friend of the Earl of Strafford. By Thomas Dunham Whitaker, L.L.D. F.S.A. Vicar of Whalley, in Lancashire. 410. 296 pp. 11. 1s. Longman and Co. 1810. EVERY publication that tends to throw light on the dif puted or obfcure parts of our national hiftory is valuable; and by those who have leifure to perufe and examine them, we know not where more useful information may be found than in those collections of ftate papers and correfpondence, which our hiftorical antiquaries have of late years published. The tranfactions of the grand rebellion, as it has been, perhaps fomewhat improperly called, become every day more • These notes refer only to the fixth volume. P p BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XXXVIII. DEC. 1811. interefting interesting to the prefent generation, fince we live in times, when the corruption of old English loyalty, and loyal principles, has generated a party, not inconfiderable either for talents or influence, that has more than once endeavoured to introduce the fame confufions, injuftice and tyranny, which, in the feventeenth century, deformed the pages of our annals. The more we learn of the origin of the rebellion in King Charles the Firft's time, the more hollow and unprincipled we find the actors, and the lefs foundation we difcover for thofe violent measures which overthrew the church and flate. Although, therefore, holding thefe fentiments, we would welcome every collection that contributes to our information on that difaftrous period, we cannot fay that the prefent volume holds any higher rank than that of a moderate contribution to our fores. Small particulars, and occafional traits of character, may be gleaned from the letters before us; but they are not fo highly interefting as the collection of "Lord' Strafford's Letters," to which they are intended as a fequel. We do not, however, mean to deny their utility, upon the whole. The early letters afford a pleafing picture of filial duty and domeflic happinefs; and thofe that follow bring us nearer to the fcene of national confufion, and tend very confiderably to illuftrate, often the manners, and fometimes the political principles of the age. Dr. Whitaker informs us, in his advertisement, that he owed his knowledge of the exiflence of thefe letters to the friendship and curiofity of the gentleman to whom he has dedicated them, Richard Henry Beaumont, Efq. of Whitley Beaumont, in Yorkshire; and that he obtained permiffion to make ufe of their contents from the poffeffor, Mrs. Elmfall. On a careful perufal, he thought them too valuable to be left to the fate of many fimilar collections, which, having neither been printed nor placed in any great national repofitory of ancient papers, have either perished in the changes of family property, or remain perpetually expofed to that calamity." Of his own labours, Dr. Whitaker fays, "I am fcarcely to be confidered in any other light than that" of an editor, having merely prefixed to the letters a fhort account of the writer's earlier years, and fubjoined to them some -reflections on his conduct as a public man: together with a fhort narration of his exile and death. Befides this, a few explanatory notes, where explanation appeared to be wanted, will be found to conftitute all which I can lay claim to as an author.” It is but juftice, however, in us to add, that the notes are highly ufeful, and maft frequently have coft the author much research; refearch; and the author's reflections and narrative are both judicious and elegant. "The hiftory of Sir George Radcliffe's letters, for which the reader will naturally feel fome curiofity, is briefly this "Mr. Thomas Radcliffe, the only child of the author, died at Dublin in 1679, not only without iffue, but without any very near collateral relatives on the father's fide; in confequence of which, and of that influence which fervants have formetimes the merit, and oftener the curning, to acquire over wealthy old ba chelors, he was induced to divide his property, by will, between a maternal aunt and a confidential domeftic. "The paternal eftate aud family houfe at Overthorpe were foon after fold by his executors, I believe immediately to the Elmfall family, by whom, according to the beft information I have been able to obtain, thefe letters, &c. were discovered in an old neglected trunk or bureau, and have ever fince been preferyed with the care and refpećt to which they are entitled. T.'D. W.” Sir George Radcliffe was educated at University College, Oxford, and was related to Mr. Charles Greenwood, one of the benefactors of that college; but his biographer regrets that he cannot trace any relationship to that more extensive benefactor, Dr. John Radcliffe, whofe hiftory has certainly been very much neglected, and fo long, that we are afraid little can now be recovered. The correfpondence in this volume begins with Sir George's early years; and the following will, perhaps, be a fatisfactory fpecimen of "that ancient fimplicity, minute economy, filial duty, and reverential affection for inftructors, which," Dr. W. adds, we hope too feverely, "are now no more." "GOOD MOTHER, "July 27th, 1609. "Having received your laft letters by James Briggs, I was beholden both by my duty and promife to write back by him, in answer to the fame, Wherein as touching that you thought I might as well be in the country as troublefome to friends, it is true, yet if there had been any danger I might have incurred before, I could have provided me of an horfe, whereas I might eafily have gone 3 or 4 miles out of the towne, and then have been tabled with fome of my tutor's acquaintance, so that I fhould have put them to little or no charges. But it is paft (God be thanked!) As concerninge my entertainment when I came, as alfo the kinduefs fhewed to me fince I came, it is far more than I shall ether ever deferve, or be fufficiently thankful for. I am very glad of the good newes I hear; and I pray God it may be no newes that all our friends be in health, and intreat that Dr. Lifter may be certifyed of the manner of the working of my fifter Elizabeth's phifick, whofe continuance in health I rejoice for, and her recovery, if he know not allredy, in regard of my promife to him. We are all well (God be thanked!) as we beje . you remaine. Thus, with my humble duty and commendations to all our good friends, 'I take my leave. "July, 27th, 1609. "Your lovinge fonne, "GEORGE RADCLIFFE.” "I received more than I writ for, 2 table napkins, which, with all other, I lay, to that greate heape of never-payed debts. I fhall want money, fome 41. about Michalmas, or fomething before, to pay for my meate and drinke *" "LOVING MOTHER, 3 or P. 42. "May 5th, 1610. When I confider the estate and fortune of many, revolving with myfelf the fudden motions and changes of things, I find "nothing more fraile than this mortal life, nothing more uncertaine; for we are obnoxious to fo many caufes of miferys and nourishment of grief, that our life (which, if it were well lead, would be moft happy and pleafant) is now become a forrowful bufinefs, whofe beginning is ignorance and oblivion; the progrefs, labour and forrow; the end, grief, blindnefs, and error all +. What quiet day, what peaceable, nay, what one day have we ever lead that did not fufficiently afford both trouble to the body and anguish to the mind? What morning did ever appear unto our eyes fo fecure and joyfull, that, before night, grief and forrow did not fteal upon us? of which thing I alfo have had fome proof in myfelf; for, having all things going with me as well as I could either wifh or defire-a mother carefull for my good, and tutours kind and diligent; cofins and acquaintance wishing me well both here and at home, and God's bleffing divers other ways upon me, in getting me favor in the house, in profpering my ftudies, &c. &c.-rejoicing alfo not a little at my cofin Samuel's fuccefs, who, now my tutour's office being out, hath got the The Battles" of the preceding Term.-This may ferve as a partial fcale of academical expences in 1609." "It requires no wide acquaintance with human life to dis cover that every period of it is expofed to cares and forrows; yet furely thefe gloomy fentiments would have come with a bet. ter grace from the exiled ftatefman of fixty, than the young academic of feventeen. Could his recollection fupply him with no entire days of youthful health and glee?-Oldham is not an Eton; yet, in his more chearful hours, a remembrance of that place muft furely have awakened feelings (for they are the feelings of nature) in unifon with those of Mr. Gray : "Ah happy hills, ah pleafing fhade, "Where once my careless childhood ftray'd, "One fpecies of melancholy throws an equal gloom over every period of life; another, augments the forrows of the prefent moment, by contrafting them with the exaggerated or imagined happiness of the paft." Proctorship; Proctorship ;-being peradventure too much puft up with this pleafant gale, there comes (as it pleafed God) an unexpected ftorm (though fome fuch thing was ominoufly prefaged in my mind) bluftering into myne cars--a terrible death, at one blaft→→→ my grandmother * doth now fleep in the great mother of us all, whofe life, anfwerable to her faith and profeffion, and death, ex. ceeding her life, may afford both comforth to the course of nature 4which should be unnatural if not forry at the departure of fuch a one), and allfo full affurance of her awaking fhortly to glory, where her body being partakar of those joys which her foul doth now enjoy, fhe fhall with us, and all the whole company of fait.ts and angels, have the perfect fruition of the fight of that most glo. rious God, and fing an eternal hallelujah unto the lamb. Her weaknesse of body in her latter days, by reafon of old age drawing on, was the ftrength of her foul; for, certainly, if in the full vigor of the body, the mind was able to hold talking with it in that continual combat that in all men is between them, then it muft needs be, that the adverse part, to wit, the flesh, being fub. dued, the fpirit thould triumph, that fo, it being loofe from thofe bands wherein it was fettered, it should erect itself into its native place, even to God that gave it, where it fhall reign for ever; and the body, falling to the earth from whence it came, even as a ripe apple from the tree, fhall there be preferved for God himfelf, who will unite it again unto the foul at the laft with an unfeparable union in heaven, to live with him in glory. My. uncle Savile, how foever the injurious world may tax of...... yet the poifoned tongue of envy itself can not but confeffe his faithful honefty: he was no hypocrite, neither knew he how to diffemble; and if others, that make a better fhew of their own; virtue peradventure than he did, were but known as 'well what they were as he was, I believe there would have appeared another difference. No man is without his faults, and he that hath fewest is beft. His converfation was pleasant and honest; his affection to God-ward (as, out of much private talk I had often with him, he did fufficiently declare) religious, fincere, devout (fome little opinions, indeed, he held, yet neither fundamental nor of any great moment); his hart to his friends was true and unfeined; and although the world made not fo great account of him, yet I feare it will miffe him, and with hereafter that we had many fuch; for my part, let me be forgotten when I am gone if I bury him in the pitt of ingratefull oblivion, that was fo loving to my dead father heretofore, and fo kind after to me, unto whome I was not fo much bound in alliance and deuty in that he was my uncle, as «* I cannot discover whether the excellent woman, whose. death her grandfon fo deeply deplores, were his mother's mother, or Margaret, daughter of Thomas Savile of Ecclefley, his paternalgrandmother." “This must be meant of his great uncle, Savile of Ecclesley.” "A word is obliterated." |