The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-11-25 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

dem in innocence and h.mour, that they may wire away the stain
:hat sullies their father.' "

We have only space for another extract, which we take
at random from the " Introduction to London." It is part
of a 'perch made by a young Irish adventurer on the me-
rits of au essay written by his friend, called " The Irish
Man of the World."

! •I am sure we are all ready to confess that our fine but unrortu.
nate country products more • min of the "mild' than all the other
parts of the empire put together; nor is this fact a matter of dis..
grace to us. Oppressed as we are at home—prevented by the
numberless impediments which rise up against us from pursuing a
hopeful carter on our own green isle; and blessed or cursed as it
nay happen to be with that spirit of enterprise which generally ac.
companies the consciousness of oppression— is it to be wondered at
that we seek tither shores, where our energies will not be thwarted ;
or where. at least, if we do not meet a fricedly greeting, we shall
be spared one pain—that of beholding a warn and generous peo-
ple (and those people our countrymen) broken in their spirit, and
blighted in their hopes by the withering hand of power I. But it is
frequently said against us, that we are designing atibenturers, and
heartless fortune.hunters, without mural restraint or domestic vir-
tues ;—that indeed, we are men of pleasure, and therefore inert of
vicious habits. lam aware (too well aware for my own peace) how
short a step it is from the path of pleasure to that of guilt ; but I
know likewise, that the errors of my countryane t arc generally
those which result front a sanguine temperament and a warm ilia-
gination. I don't know how it happens, that the men of our
istmil, on near as It is to this country and &mimic:, should bo so
widely distinguished in their feelings and habits nom their brethren '
aaoss the Irish Channel. Take a Scutchman and put (tint on his
journey. ' frae the North,' you see him move along in a calm
calculating mood. practising at every step that sober self-denial
which lays the foundation of his success in nfter-tile. lie aepears
unmoved by passim, undisturbed by circumstances ; a:A true it is,
I that his life atTuctis an example of patient perseverance and progress
sive well doing. Ilan, perhaps, when contemplating the moral
and intellectual energies of Seinchnien, some consideration should
he given to the don.tstie situation of their country ; for we are Ma
great degree influenced hi character by the institutions around us..
In Scotland, thine institutions are congenial to the great majority
of the people, whose feelings therefore are not roused into hostility
at every step, by the gnawing reflectien that their holiest opinions
are proscribed, and their most sacred convictions only made the
excuse for new oppressions. Our career in Me mainly dept ids*
upon the impressions we receive in our young days : in Scotland,
the people arid their institutions being in unison, no heart.bur..ings
are erg nilered with the first exercise of reason. arid tine mind
is consequently left free to pursue its peaceful trA philosophic
course, and to acquire a moral tour and consistency which it would
never gain in the midst of untoward and inflaming associations.
Now look at our own island, with its institutions and people eon-
tir.ually at war ; to speak generally, the first truth mat strikes
upon a young Irishman is, that he lies the mink of proscription
upon him, that the intolerant
.fr.s have subjected the maLy to their
sway, and that learning, virtue, genius, are qualities that pass
unrewarded, and only enable their possessor to feel hew sad a thing
it is to be a slave at home. an alien in one's own land.'

lu " Poor Parents," there will be recegnieel by many
who have had to struggle against the prijoilices and cold
unsympathising selfishness of the world, in their rites from
obscurity to a station honourable and independent, a truth
of description, and a justness of remark, that woul.l induce
a suspicion that the author himself had not hi en altogether
inexperienced in the feelings he so ally delineates.
" Fanny We at" is a tale of the purest pathos. The account
of the author's meeting this beautiful but fallen en ature
in the Park, and of their subsequent interview at her
ledging,s, is complete of its kind, and at once confirms our
opinion of the writer's originality and power.
In parting, we hail Mr. Wilson as an honourable acqui-
sition to the long list of names that afford us pleastire in
the very mention of them ; and as he Fins us hopes of our
again meeting in the fair field of literature, we are anxious
to enjoin hint to be less restrained in Isis efforts, to dispens..t
with a portion of that ►iilfidencc, which, how v. r becoming
in a young author, eperates too frequently as a trammel to
the free exercise of thought; and Ly being more concen-
trated in his main design, we venture to predict that much
real fame awaits him, and that an honourable success will
attend upon his labours.