professional accuracy in the words. The songs in which the words
happened to be vigorous and true--(such, for example, as Cowper's noble
ballad called the "Castaway," and the "Loss of the Royal George,") were
not set to music; but the powers of Shield, Davy, and others, were
wasted on verses unworthy of their compositions. Among these, the
foremost in excellence is the "Arethusa," a composition on which the
singing of Incledon, and the bold, reckless, original John-Bull-like
character of the air by Shield, or ascribed to him, have fixed a high
reputation. Davy's "Bay of Biscay," deserves its popularity; and the
"Sailor Boy," "The Old Commodore," and one or two other melodies by
Reeve, (who, though not much of a musician, was an admirable melodist,)
abound also in the qualities which I have already alluded to, as
peculiar to the national music adapted to sea songs.--_Blackwood's
Magazine_.

* * * * *

MAKING A BOOK.

Lady Morgan gives the following process by which her "Book of the
Boudoir" was manufactured: "While the fourth volume of the O'Briens,"
says her ladyship, "was going through the press, Mr. Colburn was
sufficiently pleased with the subscription (as it is called in the
trade) to the first edition, to desire a new work from the author. I was
just setting off for Ireland, the horses _literally_ putting to,
[how curious!] when Mr. Colburn arrived with his flattering proposition.
[How _apropos_!] I could not enter into any future engagement; [how
awkward!] and Mr. Colburn taking up a scrabby MS. volume which the
servant was about to thrust into the pocket of the carriage, asked,
'What was that?' [How touchingly simple!] I said it was 'one of many
volumes of odds and ends _de omnibus rebus_;' and I read him the
last entry I had made the night before, on my return from the opera.
[How very obliging, considering that the horses were _literally_
put to!] 'This is the very thing!' said the 'European publisher;' [how
charming! and yet how droll!] and if the public is of the same opinion,
I shall have nothing to regret in thus coming, though somewhat in
_dishabille_, before its tribunal."

_Blackwood's Magazine._

* * * * *

APPARITIONS.

Dr. Southey's opinion on apparitions deserves to be carried to the
controversial account of this ever-interesting question:--"My serious
belief amounts to this, that preternatural impressions are sometimes
c