Star.
London, England, 1831-04-08 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Mr. THOMAS CAMPBELL the Poet, having relit.quiabed
his connexion with the New Monthly Magazine several
months ago, is shout to undertake the conduct of a new
periodical, to be called The Metropolitan, the first number
of which is announced for the 2d of May. The new under-
taking is to be conducted on a footing of perfect literary
independence, and we cordially wish it success.

An Introduction to the Elements qf the Liftftealt Systems of Botany,
for Young Persoue.—By LUCY II ARDCASTLE. 10e. 6d.
Mrs. HA RDCAST LE conducts a ladies' seminary at Derby,
and, amidst her varied accomplitihments, has long been
known among her friends for her proficiency in Botany, and
her taste in depicting Botanical Subjects. At length bho
has been prevailed on to complete an elementary Treatise
on her favourite science, for the instruction of young ladies ;
and, when generally known, it will be an auxiliary in all
female schools, and also be sought by all ladies who desire
to become acquainted with the elements of so pleasing a
science.

The volume is as tasteful and elegant as the subject. In
fact as an elementary treatise it has no equal in its typo-
graphy, and in the engravings on wood of a great variety of
correctly drawn parts of plants, on a large and distinct scale.
The subject recommends the book, and the book seduces
the possessor to study its contents. It addresses at once the
eye, the curiosity, and the understanding.
Such a volume having long been wanted in education,
and this introduction possessing superior claims in matter,
manner, and execution, we cordially recommend it to public
notice, and especially to the female world.

Letters upon Church Property, and upon the Liturgy of the Church ;
together with come Miscellaneous Letters. By EIPOSTVLATOP
Two Shillings.
These letters are, polemical and doctrinal, addressed to
the Bishops of London and Winchester, and the Archbishop
of Canterbury, with some to the Duke of Wellington of a
politico-theological character. They are written avith spirit,
and expose with smartness some inconsistencies of the Right
Reverend Prelates. The common sense, however, which
pervades and conducts a newspaper, and which alone is
employed, in the perusal of one, renders the polemics of the
theological world altogether unfit for our columns. We
cannot feel any alarm about the Bishop of London's inter-
dict, about the singing, or saying, of the Magnificat. We
agree, however, with the writer, that the Church should not
scorn the allurements of music, for we know many who at-
tendCatholicChapels for the sake of the music. We can, how-
ever, assure any alarmist that they are Papists only in regard
to the music, and continue, in every other respect, as sound
Protestants as they can understand they ought to be.

Facts and Illustrations, denionstratiiig the important benefits which
have been, and still may be derived by Labourers from possessing
small portions of Land. Published by the Labourers' Friend So-
ciety. 6d. No. 1.
" The time is now arrived when the amelioration of our suffering
millions must be the care of every rank and class : and the restoration
of their circumstances and character be the signal of our returning hap-
piness and prosperity."
To redeem from a prostration incompatible with the well-
being of the entire body politic ; replace their circumstances
and character, and restore our fellow-subjects to their due
standing in our community, we look (say this Society) with
confidence to the co-operation of our country. Landed pro-
prietors, land occupiers, traders, merchants, will listen to
the universal call, which, by summoning five millions of the
citizens to the necessary condition of consumers, will be hailed
as all-powerful, and alone precursor of domestic trade, and
foreign commerce. To accomplish this object is the design
of our humble work. It will be our duty to trace the source
of evils, which, in driving Englishmen to despair, have been
thus sapping the foundation of our prosperity ; and then
point to the required remedy.
In this melancholy catalogue of causes, besides the gross
inadequacy of their wages, the progress of taxation upon
the necessaries of life ; the demolition of small farms ; the
discontinuance of yearly servants in husbandry ' - and, above
all, the loss of the privilege of common, and of those small
portions of land, which so eminently contributed to the la-
bourer's resource, have been proved to be the most important.
Taking therefore our stand amidst these ruins of humanity;
surveying the deserted farm-house and desolated cottage, we
exclaim, " All this must be restored !" Yes ; the labourer's
habitation must re-appear; his overwhelmed prospects revive

TACT THE FIRST. - -
Mr. Herod, of North Creak, near Burnham, Norfolk, a respectable
and experienced small farmer, on his own land, writes thus—" In the
year 1798, the poor rates in this lowish were Is. 9d. In the pound per
year ; at that time a quantity of cows were kept by the cottager. upon
broad commonable roads in the sutnmer, and they were assisted with
food by the farmers in their straw-yards, &e. in the winter. By this
means, those who kept a cow did not think of applying to the pariah for
relief. About this time the farmers began to plough up the roads,
without act of parliament, or any legal right; of course the quantity of
cows kept lessening every year, as their pasture was decreasing by the
plough. I perceived by the parish books, that as the cows decreased,
the rates increased. In seven years' time the taus were increased to 3s.
in the pound; at that time, only a few cows were kept by the poor
people. In a few years after, these few were obliged to be sold, and the
rates then Increased to 6a. in the pound. The rates have stood at this,
with very little variation, ever since. We have only two poor men now
that have one cow each; 1 think one has five, and the other six:chil-
dren. The man with six children hires two acres of poor land, at about
305. per acre, more than half a mile from his house ' • and after his day's
labour is done for his master, he goes with his wife and little family to
weed and till his land. The other poor man is more fortunate; his small
patch of land lies near his cottage (about an acre). These two of the
largest families in the parish, I believe, are honest, independent pa-
rishioners, earning their lbs. per week at labour, and with their cow, I
believe, are the happiest two families in the parish. lam sorry to see s 3
many poor families, with the same earnings (as to wages) but no cows,
come to the parish for relief. If they are unable to work, the magistrates
direct that they have 6s. for the man, bs. for the woman, and 2s.
for every child ; this is more than they earn when at work. I have before
stated that lbs. per week is the average of tl.eir wages, sod these
two families make no application for relief; but those with three or
four children and without land to keep a cow, we are obliged
_ to re-
lieve. These, sir, are frets, and not mere matter of opinion."

TACT THE SECOND.
Francis Cherry, Esq. of Sbottcabrook, in the county of Berke, the
generous patron of the learned Thomas Hearne, who wore hie livery
many years before he was sent to Oxford, was landlord of every house
in the above parish, one cottage of 31. a year excepted. There were
several moderate farms, one very large one ; the rest of the parish,
cottages, to every one of which belonged a good orchard ; every cottager
kept one cow, a AOll, and poultry of various kinds.
Now, it seems, that there is a clause in the original Poor Aet,
saying, , that if any parish have no poor of its own that receive
relief from a poor-rate the said parish shall help its neighbours.—
lOne of the bordering parishes on Shottesbrook, is Lawrence Wel-
-1 them, a very poor parish, with very many very rich Inhabitants.
This perish called on the pariah of Shottesbrook to help them t s
keep their poor ; the Shottesbrook farmers alarmed, as well ti ey
might be, at this, called a vestry, and ordered aU the poor men to
attend, when one man was requested to accept three shillings a week,
because he had nine children. His reply was, " On no account ! for
that, thank Goo 1 he kept his family very well, and would not on any
account be beholding to the pariah."
Another was requested to take it because be had a sickly lame wife ;
he,
e also, begged to be excused ; as in short, did all to whom it was of.
feted. At length, the farmers said, that, although old darns 'Feeley
(who died at the advanced age of 106) had three
victuals at the great house,
Ishe should be made to accept three from the parish, to deliver them
from assisting the poor of Waltham St. Lawrence; and actually re-
ceived it many years. Now, the now of these riches amongst the
poor, was owing to their good orchards, and the great goodness of the
excellent Mr. Cherry, who constantly ordered his steward to take every
man's cow into his park, or straw-yard, according to the season of the
year, and to let the grass of their orchards become hay, to feed the cow
before and at calving time. This was the stale of 13hotersbrook parish
for some years : at length, a change took place; the excellent Mr. C.
went to his Inheritance in the realms of bliss, at the age 0(40 t his
three daughters and co-heiresses sold the estate to a Dutch merchant,
who entered not into the economy of the poor; took away all their or-
chards to make a garden of thirty acres; pulled down several of the
farm-houses and many of the cottages; and the consequence was, that,
in a few years, the poet's tax became very high, and tbe poor of Shot-