perceive, the houses, the sandy beach, and the foaming surf on the western parts of the island. In some states of the atmosphere, the castle appears in the figure of a large cone, suspended between heaven and the ocean, forming a singular and romantic object, from which the eye cannot withdraw itself without reluctance. In exercising the powers of vision in a south-east direction from the island, Bamborough Castle, built on stupendous perpendicular rocks, overlooking the sea, twenty miles distant from Berwick by land, appears in all the solemnity of rude magnificence. From all the northern and eastern parts of the ramparts, we have a most complete and interesting view of the bay, German Ocean, the island and castles just now noticed. Across the Tweed, near its junction with the sea, the land to the southward opens for several miles upon the view, but the variegated colourings of nature, succeeding to cultivation, are lost in the distant prospect. The beauties, too, of the landscape lie in confused arrangement; and frequently the whole is enveloped and totally obscured in sea vapour. The richest prospects which Berwick has to boast of are those from the Bridge, particularly during the time of fishing salmon; the richness of these views consists, in the first place, in the transparent Tweed, with stately majesty, gliding down be tween its proud, luxuriant, grassy banks. This enchanting river, after making many artless and beautiful windings, disembogues its waters into the German Ocean, and thereby produces a conflux and seeming discord with it; the point of which may be said to be manifested in the raging and roaring billows on the bar.' The second chapter gives the history of the town, and abounds with many curious and interesting events. The 3d relates to public buildings, and offers little that can interest those who are not immediately connected with the town and the neighbourhood. The 4th contains an account of the constitution and government of Berwick. The 5th treats of the population of the town; whence it appears that, 50 years ago, the number of inhabitants amounted to 3816, and in the year 1796, from the most accurate calculations that could be made, the population did not fall short of 7930, and it is still increasing. The ecclesiastical state, which is the subject of the 6th chapter, is comprised in a few pages, containing nothing very remarkable. It must be a subject of pleasing reflection to a humane and benevolent mind, that every town in the kingdom can boast of some public charities; and Berwick appears not to have been deficient in donations. The state of the poor, however, ace cording to Dr. Fuller's account, (in chap. 7,) may admit of some melioration; although the regulations respecting diet and clothing appear to be judicious. The 8th chapter is very short, containing an account of the public schools, and places of edu cation. The 9th is confined to the revenue, and the 10th to the military department. The 11th and 12th chapters are more more generally interesting, as the former relates to manufactures and trade, and the latter to the fisheries. The following account of the method of sending salmon from Berwick to London may convey information to some of our readers: All the salmon sent to London from this place, were, till of late, boiled and put into kits; but that practice has, for some years past, been laid aside. The whole of the salmon are now sent in ice, which has been discovered to preserve the fish fresh for a long time. How this came to be first known in Berwick was owing to the following circumstance: Mr. Dempster, a member of Parliament, about twelve years ago, calling on Mr. John Richardson of Perth, at his fishery, told him, it was a practice on the continent to pack salmon in ice, as it had been found to preserve them so fresh that they might be sent many hundred miles without spoiling. This induced Mr. Richardson to make the trial; the result of which not only corroborated the fact, but also proved to be very lucrative to Mr. Richardson. The same experiment was made here, and with success, in the year 1788. Since that period several ice houses* have been built in this plan; and the quantity of ice put into them yearly is astonishing. The two Companies laid in 7600 cart loads between them last winter; expence about 4501. for ice. There are 32 salmon coopers in Berwick.' The two succeeding chapters relate to the police, manners, and customs; of which the author gives a pleasing representation. Here Dr. Fuller concludes his remarks on the town; and the remaining part of the volume consists of a short account of the present agricultural state of the country part of the district; from which we extract the subsequent particulars: The following courses constitute the general system of husbandry practised in the parish: 1. Grass land or Lee. 2. Oats. 3. Potatoes. 1. Lee. 2. Oats. 3. Turnip or potatoes. 4. Wheat or barley and 4. Wheat. 5. Turnip. 6. Barley and grass seed. * The aspect of ice houses should be towards the east, or south. east, for the advantage of the morning sun to expel the damp air, as that is more pernicious than warmth; for which reason trees, in the vicinity of an ice house, tend to its disadvantage. The best soil for an ice house to be made in is chalk, as it conveys away the waste water without any artificial drain; next to that, loose stony, earth, or gravelly soil. Its situation should be on the side of a hill, for the advantage of entering the cell upon a level.’ The subjoined course is proposed to be made trial of by one farmer in the Borough. 1. Fallow. 5. Wheat. 2. Wheat, with grass seeds. 6. Turnip or potatoes. 4. Drilled Beans. 7. Barley and grass seeds, or wheat and grass seeds. We only know of one farmer who takes two white crops after grass. This person keeps one third of his farm in grass and tw thirds in tillage.' Soil, Manures, Produce, Rent. The soil of the in-field land of the township is a deep rich loam. Barley lands get three ploughings, and, if very foul, four, but this is seldom requisite. The manures mostly employed are horse and cow dung, The lands produce very weighty crops, especially the fields which lie along the side of the river, and the grain is of an exceedingly good quality. Potatoes are raised here in great quantities. The cottagers pay from 51. 10s. to 61. 10s. per acre besides tythe. The rent of the lands is about two guineas an acre besides tythe. The Common being now divided, that perplexing, unnaturalj and oppressive privilege of inter-common is annihilated; and every person who is interested in the institution of equable laws and the cause of virtue-in personal safety and security of property, must rejoice, that, by the division of this Common, a lurking place is cut off from the profligate and abandoned.' Miscellaneous observations follow, with a dissertation on those sciences which appear to be most intimately connected with the improvement of a country, and the advancement of the human mind. In the Conclusion, on the advantages and means of improvement, we find many remarks and propositions which appear to merit the consideration of the inhabitants and magistrates of this place.-An Appendix contains a copy of the eharter of the town.-Several neat engravings, and a plan of Berwick, decorate the volume. As this is the first statistical account of any town in England, the author is certainly intitled to praise for the undertaking; and the manner in which he has arranged his materials will probably meet with general approbation. He is also to be applauded for the attention which he has bestowed on the subject, for the accuracy and importance of his information, and for a number of useful and practical observations. On the other hand, he is sometimes too prolix, seems to affect a pomp of i of language and an ostentation of learning, and his style is not unfrequently defective in perspicuity and polish. It is with reluctance, however, that we pass any censure on the work of a man who appears to be actuated by the best motives, and whose knowlege claims our respect. T ART. VII. Pictures of Poetry; Historical, Biographical, and Criti- Among the circumstances which may secure to this undertaking a favourable reception, in this age of indolent levity, is the variety which it holds out to attract attention; and which is to be found not only in the matter, but in the measure and composition of the work: some of the pieces being in blank verset, some in the common couplet measure, some lyric, and *See M. R. vol. vi. N. S. p. 401. and vol. xxi. p. 274. In the arduous attempt to write blank verse, in which so few succeed, Mr.T. has been more unsuccessful than in any other portion of his work. Of the prosaic nature of his lines, the following instances will suffice: On hearing this, his Pupils did not chuse To trust themselves within.-One of the twe Had often brav'd the shouts of enemies, And tumult of the battle.' and some exhibiting two several modes of verse in the same poem. It must be confessed, however, that another kind of variety occurs here, which is not so likely to conciliate approbation;-viz. variety of merit; passages frequently presenting themselves, which have nothing to relieve the prosaic tameness that marks both the thought and the expression, while in others certainly we find true poetic imagery, sentiment, and measure. The reader may judge of the truth of these observations from a few specimens. The first we shall take from the picture of the Utility of Poetry; in which the author endeavours to claim religion as a theme for the Muse: • In vain would critics, ev'n of highest name Who woo'd her smiles, but woo'd in rhyming prose; Would fain have soar'd to some unusual height, But dropt immediate down, and clos'd their shameful flight. let us, in haste, proceed, Till we the Portico of Pallas reach; In which, besides my ordinary band One who has long been absent from that school. An hour ere noon.' * See Dr. Johnson's strictures on this subject in his Life of Waller. Lives of the Poets, Vol. I. p. 397, &c.' + Waller's Poem on Divine Love is here alluded to.' See Johnson's Critique on the Davideis in his Life of Cowley.' Heav'n's |