verbatim in every one o f the pamphlets which the occasion has called forth !” a gross and
palpable untruth, which requires .no other contradiction than merely a reference to the
pamphlet itself, at pages 27. and 28.
Such are the means employed by a reviewer when he has predetermined, from certain
motives, to ‘ write down,’ as the term is, any particular book. What were those motives ?
Was it jealousy that any one, excepting himself, should come forward with an opinion
respecting the Cape; or did he fear that the misrepresentations of his own writings would
be exposed by another book on that country, and that his only chance of protecting them,
was by sneaking under the concealment of anonymous writing ? Was there not room
enough in the world, then, for two works on the Cape ? He has, however, quite failed in his
project^ and will in the end discover that 4 honesty is the best policy.’ The vulgarity and
malignity of his language present a true and faithful portrait o f his mind. Take from
him his pen, and he is nothing.
Whatever may be the merits, if it have any, of the volume o f Travels which now
makes its appearance, its demerits will be diligently sought for; and that reader who
wishes to know them, must look into , one of the succeeding numbers of the Quarterly
Review, as there can be no doubt that, having shown so much literary anxiety on the occasion
of a small pamphlet, this reviewer, not to let slip so favorable an opportunity, will
lose no time in setting his quill to work against a book so many times larger. Reviewing
may be a very honest way of making money; but a reviewer, equally with the hackwriter
or the bookmaker, can only deserve respect when his pen is confined within
those bounds which the feelings of a gentleman, and of a liberal mind, naturally prescribe
to it.
When Mr. Burchell proposed to himself the duty o f giving the narrative o f his travels
to the public, he resolved not to imitate the example of some preceding travellers at
the Cape, who have employed themselves in railing .at each other; and if he has been
forced to transgress his own rule, the fault lies with those who, meanly presuming on his
natural love o f peace and tranquillity, have commenced an unprovoked attack, and compelled
him to degrade his pen by replying to i t As it would be too much beneath
him to descend to a level with the reviewer, by adopting his coarse language, he contents
himself with a mere statement of facts, and leave.s the rest to public opinion.
Magna est vis veritatis, et prcevalebit.