The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-06 00:00:00

HIGHWAYS A'!CH 12YWAY8,—Secoxn SEftiss.
Three Vols.—eolbum.

I.ITER4TURE.

This "second series." as it is called, of " Highways and
li.otrays,” was/eat:cited several weeks before its appearance,
and the public are gravely told, by a weekly Heeler, in
the preparatory pufF which preceded it, that " Mr. GRAT-
TAN, the author of these Tales, is not a descendant, and
we know not if any relative, of the celebrated Ifssav,
but he is the possessor of talents which do no discredit to his
name"--innuendo, meaning the name of him the said Henry
--meaning the celebrated lit NItT GRATTAN. We really
must beg leave to enter our protest against this insidious
sort of libel on the departed orator. So far is it from being
true, that such catchenny trash as this would " do no
discredit to the name' of that highly-gifted and most ex-
traordinary mail, that it would be difficult to cast a deeper
slur on his fame than to insinuate that he could have writ-
ten such stuff' for publication. The critic of Me two Houses,
in his profound disquisition on the excellence of these
" Highways and Byways," which, for aught that there is
appropriate in the title, might as well be named Hedges
and bitches, presents us with the following choice speci-
men ; it is cited, we are told, "as an example of the
author's descriptive powers—powers which a SALVATOR
might embody on the canvass."
This laudatory introduction certainly leads us to expect
a sample of the sublime and beautiful. We will take the
liberty of smutting the peculiar beauties of this elegant ex-
tract into italics, that they may force themselves more
strikingly on the reader's attention:—
" I had stood, early that morning, by the edge of a
chasm in the direction they spoke of, the most appalling I
hail ever beheld: one formed, as I thought, in u moment
or Heaven's deadliest toroth against the world; looking as
if the irefid stroke of a thousand concentrated thunderbolts
had split the whole body of the mountain from its summit
to its roots, and torn open, and srattered lama to the vale
the huge rocks that lay buried deepest in its heart. In my
breathless curiosity to look over the chasm, I had lain down
on my Ace, and crept cautiously along to its vast and
broken edge. With one hand twined in the roots of a thick
tuft of rhododendron, and the other grasping a jagged piece
of granite that stood out over the yawning depth, I cau-
tiously gazed down into it. Shivered fragments of rock
of immense magnitude, wrenched as it were front their hold
in the earth, first caught my view. Some appeared in the
very act of falling down, as they hung balanced in the
ocean of the air by a slight isthmus of clay and stone, which
seemed waiting the first storm-gust to sever it across.
Other enormous masses toppled over the abyss, from pro-
jecting ledges of earth, not a hundredth part of the size of
the crags they supported. A few wild jloteers and shrub",
dangling from the irregular sides, gave a horrid air of ant-
'station to the scene, and looked like living victims suspend-
'ed over the chasm. One solitary pine tree with broken
branches and withered stem, hung out over the side. Ito
roots were bare, all but three or four fibres, by which it
termed to cling tremblingly to the cliff where it had been
seY.-Panted, as if conscious that the next shower of rain
would wash away its scanty bed of earth and precipitate it
down below. 'flee whole perpendicular Ace of this gulf
imseared and shivered by the lightnings of countless ages,
and innumerable storms.'

In mercy to the reader, we will not proceed to dose
him with the whole extract, especially as we wish to make
room for a second, but of which we shall, in like manner,
only give a sample. We are told from the literary tribu-
nal in New Burlington-street, that—The ensuing sun-rise
is equally forcible:—
" It was then the month of August; no matter in what
year ; the night bad been misty, which I knew was rather
a reason to look for a bright morning. The smoidli even
path as we went along, and the deep conversation into
which we entered, beguiled our route; so that I was some-
what surprised, on casting my looks towards the east, as
we issued front a ravine about half way up the mountain's
side, to find that the dawn was beginning to break. I
stopped for a moment to take breath, for the ascent had
been very rapid. I gazed around me, and was pleased to
see the mists rising gradually upwards, and le:aing the
bre tont attic valleys elan I distinguished the little river
which bad narrowed as we mounted towards the source,
and the still smaller streatulets that trickled down towards
it, !P.e s/•einx of xilrery lisxue ham:ring on the heathy mantle
which covered the mountain. A fresh lime:: came front
, the ea:award herd: ink the ri7ing .run, and I marked ap-
pearing above the horizon Myer pre/his/4:e beams which he
sends out, ns Or:lnt-couriers, to clear his path don., the ways
(be It ooembering my disappointment of the pre-
ceding morning, on the top of the Pic du Midi, I was re-
solved to be in time at the summit of Arbizon, to see the
Vest burst ..y.te day-A7,41 as he showed his splendent face
to my portion of the world."
These are flights so far beyond the regions of common
sense, that few will feel disposed to billow the writer any
further. If he Is not g;fietl with the " multi globule verlx;
rum," he unquestionably possesses the " us muen sonata-
rum." And this is the writer who, the public arc told,
through the speaking-trumpet of Mr. Colburn, is the pos-
sessor of talents which would rank him with the great
II iNRY N!! To bring " the boast of Erin' into
such a comparison—really it is quite unconscionable.
" Why," AS Mrs. MaLaraor says, " You have no more
feeling titan one of the Derbyshire putrifadiuns."

WINDSOR, Jas. 4.—The weather being so very mild
for the season of the year, his Majesty is itill'enabled to
takes his usual exercise of driving himself in hitt pony
phaeton through the Great Park—on exercise in which the
King has, since his residence at the Royal Lodge, taken
great delight, and which has contributed greatly to the
state of good health which his Majesty eontinui s to enjoy.
The Duch, as of Kent and the Princess Feodore honoured
the performance at Drury-lane theatre yesterday evening
with their presence.
The Right Hon. Lord Graves is returned to Bishop's
Court, from a shooting excursion at the seat of the Marquis
of Angi sey.
tiir Thomas and Lady Acland have been spending their
Christmas at Holnicote, Somerset.
A fashionable party will assemble the middle of this
month, at Broadlauds, in Hants, the scat of Lord Palmer-
ston. Among the company invited, arc the Duke of Wel-
lington, Prkce Esterhazy, Count and Countess Lieven, the
['Right Hon. R. Peel and Lady, Mr. and Lady Georgians
Bulkelev, and Mrs. Fox Lane, Sir J. and Lady Shelley,
the Hon. F. Lamb, &c.
The sport shown by Mr. Osbaltleston's hounds, since his
return to Qoorn, within the last two years, after the seces-
sion of Sir B. Graham, has never been equalled within the
memory of any living fox-limiter. There are at this time
cmsiderably more gentlemen at Melton than ever before
met there, which is not to be wondered at, when it is
known that Mr. Osbahleston's hounds have killed 40 brace
of foxes this season, without diming one since September,
and have lately bad nine extraordinary days in succession.
Mr. Bayne, it seems, does not intend to move for a new

trial.
Ape Lent TUE ATRF.—The efrurts made by the active
management of this elegant little place of entertainment,
appear to be highly successful. The Lite (fun Actor pos-
sesses the double merit of amusement and instruction ; fur
while it excites repeat:ll roars of laughter, it warns the
stage-struck youth of his dangers, by an exhibition of
nmelt of the real misery and (listless intendant upon the
peregrinations of a country actor.
On IVednioday last the Rev. Thomas Godfrey was in-
stituted to the Rectory of Newbourn, un the presentation
of Sir Wm. Rowley. Bart. of Tendering Hall.
B•LLYIIINDUN EST Alt.—ThiS fine estate, worth over
4,1001. a-year, and situate within about a mile stud a-half
of Fermoy, the estate of the Lords Dc Vesci and Longford,
has not vet been sold. We understand the competition for
it is great.—Suuthern Reporter.
A loving pair on Wednesday last were about to be
joined in the fetters of holy wedlock, at l'ultitnore; the
bridesmaids and a host of friends were in attendance at the
church to witness the ceremony. After waiting a con-1
siderable time the inquiry was made " Who had requested
the attendance of the parson'" The bride of course had
not—the bridegroom hail neglected it—messengers were
dispatched in every direction to find the ltev. Curate, but
in vain ; and the expectant fair one, suffused with tears,
was compelled to retire till Thursday, when the nuptials
were celebrated.—.Lxrter Paper.

THE BRITISH PRESS.

MEXICAN CONS77TUTION.

The Republic of Mexico has adopted ►he constitution of
the North Aieerican Union as its general model—that the
Mexican Govermnent is federal, and that the republic is
entitled the United Mexican States. Like the North Ame-
rican Union, the United Mexican States possess a 'general
legislative., a general exerftive, and a general judicial
power; together with a legiSlative, executive, and judicial
power for each State. It is the General or Fedetal Consti-
tution, embracing and controlling all the States, which has
just been finished and promulgated. The Provincial
Authorities and Legislatures arc still proceeding with the
formation of their separate codes. The General or Federal
Legislature consist., as in North America, of a House of
Deputies, and a Senate. The election of the former, as in
North America, takes place every two years. The basis of
the nomination of Deputies, is the extent of population.
A Deputy is to be elected 'for every eighty thousand souls,
or for any fraction of that number which shall exceed forty
thousand. For proportioning the number of Deputies over
the Union, a census of the population is to be made every
ten years. The Senate is to be composed of two Senators
for every State, chosen by the separate State Legislatures.
The meeting of the two bodies of Deputies and Senators
is called, as in North America, the General Congress.
' The Deputies and Senators are to be paid for their attend-
ance, by a law which is to be afterwaros passed. The or-
dinary Session of Congress is every year, to begin on the
lit of January, and to end on the 15th of April. When
extraordinary Sessions are held, the specific subject of ele-
liberation must be determined in the decree by which the
Legislative Bodies are convoked. The executive power of
the Mexican Federation is to reside in a single person,
called the President of the United Mexican States. This
supreme Magistrate is to. be elected by the separate State
Legiilatures, each of which is to nominate two candidates
for the Presidency—one of whom, at least, shall not be-
long to the State which makes the return. The
names of those candidates are to be transmittal to
the General Congress, which shall declare President,
the candidate who unites in his person the greatest
number of votes. The duration of the President's
functions is limited to four years. A Vice-President
is likewise elected in the same manner, and for the same
term, to supply the Presi.lent's place, it' by physical in-
ability, or any other cause, he should be prevented from
discharging the ditties of his office. The powers and pre-
rogatives of the President are similar to those of the same
Magistrate in the North American Union. ❑e appoints or
removes the Secretaries of State ; he appoints to posts in
the army and navy ; he disposes of the armed force by
sea and land, in pace or war, by the advice of the Con-
, gress ; he convokes the Legislative Bodies to an extraordi-
nary Session ; he provides that justice be duly ad-
ministered ; he promulgates the acts of Congress, and
does other acts of supreme power. During the recess
of Congress the supreme Magistrate is provided with
a Council, cot•sisting of half the members of the Se-
nate, or of a councillor for every State of the Union. The
judicial power of the Federation is to reside in a supreme
tribunal of justice, and in circuit courts. The first is to
consist of 11 members, distributed into three halls or cham-
bers. The members of this supreme tribunal are to be
elected, like the President,• by a majority of votes of the
different State Legislatures. 'Flee duties of this supreme
tribunal are, to take cognizance of the differences which
may arise between the separate States of the Federation, or ,
between the authorities of one State and the subjects of
another ; to settle disputes which may spring up respect-
ing the construction of the acts of the Supreme Govern-
ment ;. to decide on the jurisdiction of the separate tribunals
of the Union ; anti to judge, without appeal, in the trial of
criminal cares affecting Senators, Deputies, Ambassadors,
Consuls, or any of the higher officers of the Supreme Go-
vernment. This constitutional act then proceeds to describe
the nature of the State Governments, and to fix the limits
of their separate jurisdictions, as they refer to the general
Union. Each of these State Governments moves uncon-
trolled within its own sphere, and all partake of the move-
ment and obey the influence of the general federative
system of which they form harmonious parts.