REVIEW. A New Year's Gift: or Cuddon's Universal Pocket Book, for 1824. pp 177.-Ambrose Cuddon, London. We have long wished to see our Catholic brethren come forth more boldly, and appear at least on a level with the swarm of sectaries in this country. Almost all other religions denominations have long possessed such publications of their own; or have at least had a fair treatment in other productions. We have year after year seen Evangelical, Baptist, Methodist and other Pocket Books, with portraits of preachers and godly ministers staring us in the face in every bookseller's window. Catholics have all this time been without such a yearly source of advantage, intelligence, and amusement; and have been obliged to put up with the scanty and erroneous calendar of the Church of England, besides carrying about with them abundance of evengelical rhapsodies, missionary edification, and copious abuse of popery from all quarters, and for every month in the year. Such has been the supineness of our body, that nothing has been hitherto attempted or even thought of, in the inviting shape of a yearly Pocket Book which we could call our own. The present publication we consider as a valuable desideratum to the Catholic public; and though it may be found to have its imperfections, yet it is highly creditable to its Publisher, and will, we venture to predict, be highly satisfactory to Catholics in general. It must occur to every Catholic, that a Pocket Book may be made to him extremely interesting. There are so many subjects connected with our body which may be presented annually to our view in a collected form; and so many advantages to be derived from accurate accounts of our various institutions, chapels, clergy, &c. that a judicious arrangement of all these must be acceptable, and the undertaking very deserving of enccuragement. The New Year's Gift exhibits a plate accompanied with a description of Cossey Hall and Chapel, the seat of Sir George Jerningham, Bart, in the County of Norfolk. The Publisher could not have chosen a more interesting or appropriate frontispiece; we trust it will be followed up by other views of the seats of our nobility and gentry, and we should be glad to 'see our colleges and convents appear in the same manner. After several notices of public offices, taxes, and other useful tables which are usually introduced into Pocket Books, comes the calendar for the year, containing a complete Laity's Directory, with spaces for memoranda, cash account, &c. This we think a very valuable and ingenious combination. A directory in this shape is most likely to accommodate the generality of persons, who will be less in danger of neglecting the feasts and fasts by this arrangement. We would hint to the Publisher, that it would be well to insert at the end of the calendar a dozen or more blank leaves, which we think would be found a general accommodation. The calendar is followed by a list of popes, that venerable succession which a fervent convert, the late rhetorician, Mr. Walker, used to call the back bone of Christianity; an account of the present college of Cardinals; A Comparative view of the Catholic Church and the British Constitution, showing that the latter has been modelled from the former thus exhibiting the inconstency of our protestant brethren in praising the one and decrying the other; after which follows, what we consider the most valuable part of the work, a list of the Catholic Chapels and Clergy in England and Wales, judiciously arranged in their different counties and districts. For want of such a list, Catholics may often miss hearing Mass on a journey, through not knowing where to find a chapel: and such a list renewed annually will afford a pleasing view of the progress of our holy religion in this country. We would suggest the insertion next year of the date of each Bishop's consecration, and the correction of several inaccuracies in the list of priests, which are all very pardonable in a first attempt. The Colleges, Communities and Schools follow next; then the offices and dignitaries of the Holy See, Congregations, dresses of the Pope, Cardinals, &c. All this is very useful and interesting information. There are eight pieces of poetry, most of which appear to be original productions: the justly celebrated lines on the Ivy, by Bernard Barton, the Quaker poet, should have been acknowledged as his; they are merely signed B. B. which gives them the appearance of an original communication. Of the enigmas, charades, &c. we have little to say in commendation; they are generally inferior: and we protest against all those made up of fractional parts of words, as being too easily manufactured, and partaking more of the nature of sums than riddles. We value a good enigma as an exercise for the mental powers; but if riddles cannot be good they had better not be at all. The charitable institutions in London are well placed, as is the list of Chapels building now, or lately built; but we do not see why this should be followed by a list of new Protestant churches, which can interest few purchasers of this Pocket Book. Dances and Terms conclude the work; of which we trust we have now given a fair critique. There is room for improvement, and we feel very confident that the spirited Editor will make that improvement; but he deserves much praise for what he has already done. We cordially recommend the New Year's Gift as an useful monitor, a convenient book of reference, and an entertaining companion at home or abroad. While on the subject of such annual productions, we may observe a little upon that precious old prophet, Moore's Almanack. Every year, for a long time, this work has been foretelling the death of the Pope; but in the year of his death, we find not a word about him, except some obscure hints that his dominions might be somewhat disturbed in the winter of 1822-3; which never came to pass at all. So far from saying any thing of his holiness' death, Moore inserts the name of Pius VII. as still living, in his list of the Sovereigns of Europe! His hieroglyphic for 1824, even presents us the late Pope, (the likeness is evidently meant for his late holiness) with a long saw, cutting at the root of a tree, (Protestantism of course) which a lion with two winged boys on his back, and a warrior are advancing to defend. The pope is represented by a goat with a human head and a tiara, and mosette and cross. So much for this oracle's penetration. No doubt he will assert next that this was meant for the new pope, though the caricature likeness is plainly intended for his late holiness. year Dec. 5th. 1823. Poetry. CHRISTMAS, No. 7. (Written for German Music.) Stars of glory! shine more brightly, Bring the hour that banished sadness, See a beauteous angel, soaring Fear not, cries the heavenly stranger, See the shepherds quickly rising, Lowly now they bend before him, Hark! the swell of heavenly voices, Peals along the vaulted sky, Angels sing while earth rejoices, The following Lines were written at the request of a Young Lady, whose friend had taken the veil. To you-whose downcast modest looks denote With ev'ry charm that can attract, or please, Nor mother's tears, nor lover's could inspire, C. J. MONTHLY INTELLIGENCE. On the 1st instant a highly respectable party, consisting of the Right Rev. Drs Poynter and Bramstone, the Rev. Messrs. Weld, Silveira, Tuite, Muth, M'Donnel, Doyle and Karne, James Langdale, Michael Troy, A. Burke, Wm Lescher, D. Rearden Esquires, &c. &c. with forty other gentlemen, dined at the London Tavern in Bishopsgate Street, in aid of the funds of the Southwark Charity Schools. The Right Rev. Dr. Bram stone was in the chair: he was supported on the right by the Right Rev. Dr. Poynter, and on the left by the Rev. Thomas Weld. After dinner, Non Nobis Domine was sung by the professional gentlemen present in fine style. The health of the King was then drank amid loud acclamations, the Duke of York, the Royal Family, &c. &c. Moral and Religious Education, &c. &c. The Chairman then rose to propose a toast which he knew |