Star.
London, England, 1826-06-24 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

The Political Primer ; or, Road to Public Honours.—
Post Bvo. p.p. 196. London, 1826,
Without sortie portion of ambition, no important dis-
cover y would be matured, and no public good effected ;
and though when carried to an excess it may become a
crime, yet exe•cised in moderation, ambition is nearly
allied to virtue. Milton charges one of his heroes 44 to
fling 2Vtay ambition, since by that sin fell angels;" but
thfs wassthe vaulting ambition which another bard justly
observes o'erleaps itself. But we think we hear nut
liea&rs say, what has this to do with the Political
Primer? the author shall answer the question. "To
those," says he, in the Preface, "who feel that they pos-
sess ambition, the 1:11owing pages are addressed; their
object is to place before the-view of aspiring and ineape
rienced miods, the road to public honours in a nation
like Great Britain."
The hoirmrs alluded to art thote7 of public life; but
the young aspirant is in the outset honestly cautioned
that "he sliouid carefully consider, berme 1;e entzrs on
the career of publ c lute, whether his character is cap:
ble of the perseverance which can alone command
success ? Ile is also further warned, " that he will be
happier in .domestic life ; and even if he should attain
the object of his wipirations, he will often bitterly feel
that they are far inferior to those tranquil enjoyments
which have obtained the suffrage of the wise and good
of every age."
In the candour and justice of those remarks, every
thinking person will concur ; and there is also much
truth in the observation, th,t the young rolitician must
labour to obtain the public confidence as the most cer-
tain passport to d stinction and reward ; since, although
the Crown is the fountain of honour, and it is the pre-
rogative of Majesty to cause it to flow, yet " opinion
of the middle classes is the paraa.ount authority ; and
the King can no more confer the highest honours in
decided opposition to its dic.ates, than a natorai foun-
tain can distribute water to the soil, if unreplenished
by the clouds."
Such are the principles on which the advice in the
Political Primer is founded. That advice commences
with directions to a Candidate for legislative honours ;
how to prepare his adver tisentent, conduct his canvass,
husband his resources, address his friends at convivial
meetings or on the hustings, &c. These hints ate fol-
lowed with suggestions as to speaking in Parliament;
&c. In the chapter on speaking at convivial
meetings, vie author quotes at length Mr. Secretary
Canning's cerebrated speech at Ply mouth, in 1823, whet
he so clearly proved that the pacific attitude of Great
Britain was no proof of want of energy or power. Oi
this speech i. is truly observed, that there could not b_
produced frr m the store of ancient or modern eloquence
a more striking instance of the faculty .of apt illu
tra-
tion, and of fertile fancy, it speech suppl es.

There is much good sense and acute obseWration in this really
clever little work, which is enlivened by many well-turned witicisms
and appropriate anecdotes, very happily introduced. In the Ap-
pendix there is a collecti n of occasional political 'lnnis, which a
dexterous candidate will readily apply is his own case or that of
his opponents.
IMPROMPTU,

ON SUING OHL STATE OF THE ?DLL AT !LOADING ON MONDAY LAST !

- If Painter perchance, now standing for Reading,
Could manage as Member to just pop his head in,
It is plain, nay quite certain, to all men of sense,
As colleague with Monck, he'd not mind the E.elpenoe.

The contest for Nlattion let Initiated on Friday after-
noon, after a more severe contest than had ever taken place for that
'borough. Dreadful contusion prevailed at.t.lte Cior of the poll, the
whole town being iti a state of uttrtr.r. The I ktn. Mr. WINN and
Mr. I.evnann v./vie declared duty utt-cted. 14,1 i said that a scttiliny
wili be Jenauded.