And hell expands, upon th' eventful hour, For Royal Judah's Lion voice has ceas'd; Sharon in bloom, and Carmel o'er the Afar, effuse their lovely smiles in vain ; When, from the desert, rises on the ear, God whom ye seek shall suddenly appear, And lo! his glory vail'd in feeble clay, All unobtrusive, midst the busy throng, Messiah comes--But every beamy ray Excites aversion-Love than death more strong Reaps only rude reproach, and violence, and wrong. Why lower the heavens? why shakes the solid earth, As overwhelm'd in wrath's eternal gloom? Twas the strong pang of Nature's second birth! There Death with Sin receiv'd his final doom. The hills, the vales, a lovelier smile assume The strains of love with higher accents riseBlushes the rose imprest with deeper bloom More sweet th' expanding lily greets the skies As blazing far, the Cross, the sacred symbol flies. Rapid as thought the blissful influence glides, From land to land, and far, from isle to isle, The trembling agony of Doubt subsides, And Fear's blank cheek is lighten'd with a smile. At length, surmounting every darker cloud, And songs of highest gratulation rise- plies—.. With filthy hands, and heavy lips, unclean, How greedily be quaff's loose Pleasure's cup obscene. We omit the stanzas which speak of the Romish persecutions, the Crusades, and the French Revolution, &c. In the close, he thus apostrophises Britain. On thee the Cross its softening beam hath shed; Its precious spirit largely thou hast drunkHence, by thy light the nations have been led, When deep in darkness and in bondage sunk. Hence Tyranny's outstretched arm hath Unnerv'd, beneath the lightning of thine eye, Where Dragons and where Owls in savage concert cry. How glorious to behold thy banners fly Amid the tempest of devouring war! Drive o'er Iberian fields in flaming car! Star, Who gave his life upon th' accursed tree! That earth's remotest ends, Salvation's beam might see! From utmost Isles, counting their crowns. but dross, Already Kings with reverence deep adore→→ And in amazement, bending to the Cross, Princes approach from Lena's farthest shore, *We forgive Mr. Struthers for this harsh And shrines are shrunk, and temples imputation on the episcopal body, in consi shake-the while, Afar, is heard, with aggravated roar, ful guile, deration of the unavoidable prejudices of a Scottish education. These prejudices extend/ so far, especially among the lower classes, that all actual, and even imaginable, evil is From earth deriv'd, or hell's more fruitfu! usually ascribed to the Bishops' malign influence. Even if the dairy-maid fails in the store, a But whets the martyr's zeal—but spreads process of making butter, it is because the the flame the mere. Bishop's hand was in the churn. And where the Polar waves, in rude uproar, Th' inhospitable rocks of Labrador Hurl'd from their thrones, the Demon Gods Their rites obscene no longer can require— No longer, self-devoted, pilgrims blind, Beneath Shubudra's horrid wheels expire. Nor longer, burning with unhallow'd fire, Destructive war the madden'd nations wage Benevolence, alone, awakes the lyre- But who can tell the stars that burn on high? Or flowers in Spring's resplendent mantle worn? He on the wings of holy transport borne I, lest my artless lines awaken scorn, Vol. ii. pp. 147-160. We do not mean to deny, that in these lines, and indeed throughout the whole of these volumes, there occur many poetical delinquencies, on which it would not be difficult to enlarge; but still it will be allowed, that while they exhibit an admirable tone of moral feeling, both the language and the versification hold a rank above mediocrity. One of the most obvious defects of our poet is his love of alliteration. Take a few examples, in addition to those which the preceding lines furnish.— "Heaved huge the hills, spread smooth the valleys fair." "Despair's dark tear dim glistens in his eye.” "Grim godless ghosts, grey mists, and metcors green." "Back from the gloom she shrinking shuts the door." "Still sinking sad he sees his spouse forlorn." "Still rendering more restless the tossings of anguish, Or heightening the horrors of horrid despair." &c. &c. This is an offence against good taste, which it would be easy to correct. We find also, in some of his poems, serve no other purpose than to eke a superabundance of epithets, which out the line, and enfeeble the sense. the volumes before us, we can assure But, notwithstanding their defects, our readers, are capable of affording much gratification even to the mere lovers of poetry, but far more to those who are desirous that their lighter reading shall issue not only in amusement, but in edification. The pieces of greatest length are, the Poor Man's Sabbath," and "The Peasant's Death," each occupying about forty pages. written in the same Spenserian meaThey are sure with "the Cross," and possess and just conception, clothed in pleasthe same attributes of pious feeling ing and generally harmonious verse. In the latter of these poems, there is much of genuine pathos; and if we had not already extracted so largely, and were not desirous to reserve space to notice some of the smaller pieces, we should have gladly transcribed a part of it. Among those pieces, that " on the Abolition of the Slave Trade" deserves at the present moment, on account of its subject, to hold a distinguished place, although we do not think that, in point of poetical merit, it is superior to others that might be named. "O for an Angel's voice to swell the theme, That distant worlds might bend the listening ear! A Seraph's lyre to wake Devotion's flame, And warm to Heaven the grateful incense bear! Scatters the cloud at last, in darkness drear, That wrapt the destinies of half the world, Mercy descending dries the bloody tear, The flag of Truth is broad to Heaven unfurl'd, And from his murky throne th' oppressor grim is hurl'd. Then, Wilberforce! thy name shall fair be found, Embalm'd with Prophets and Apostles old, High-favour'd Isle! although, in arms, While, deep, in dark despondence cast, They mourn the scene deform→→ Be thine, with Truth's prevailing beams, And light him to the skies. Poor Afric, too, at bosom sick, To dark Oblivion's grave. Into her festering wounds to pour? Nor scare her peaceful slumbers more? From Bethle'm's spring, too, one small sip Would cool her parch'd and quivering lip, Would wing her soul with new desires, And warm her breast with nobler fires, Then might the songs of Zion cheer Her lonely hills, her vallies drear, Make her wild wastes, where monstera foul With carnage clotted nightly howl, To clap their hands, and, rapt'rous sing, Hosaunabs high to Salem's King. Vol. i. pp. 79–82. The description of an evening scene in a Scotch cottage will please those who can appreciate its accpracy. We can only give a part of it, and that the lighter part. With fuel, high, the hearth is heap'd, And streams the strong reflected blaze, From servers, broad, on shelf still kept, Relics of love and youthful days. Along the hearthstone, bending, low, Beneath the chimney's ruddy glow, Careless, of either thieves or storm, Tray stretches out his hairy form; And on his back, with lofty grace, First stroaking down her tabby face, Then sheathing, soft, her harps, claws, With tail laid up, and half thut eyes, Grimalkin croodling plies... The tide of conversation flows, The note is pitch'd from grave to gay, Meanwhile the children, warm, explore" O Peace! heavenly Peace! The clamour of mourning; Has darkly been streaming, And Hope, gaily, gleaming." Vol. i. p. 167. We do not think that our author's attempts at hyinn-writing have been attended with success. Indeed, we have long observed, that' excellence seems more difficult of attainment in this department of poetry than in most others,— This we say, not to discourage its cultivation, but rather to incite our best writers to exert their talents in John Cheap the Chapman with his pack. redeeming it from the discredit into Or, of the sad sack-weaver, Slack, "But whence that mingled shout I hear, Its leaves upon the passing gale. The note moves languid, solemn, slow, Who, victor, fell on Afric's shore, "Accursed Ambition! Our moments of gladness With the pale shade of sadness; To soothe cease their striving, Thus thy fire shower is driving. which it has been permitted to fall. Perhaps the worst specimens of versification which the English language affords, are to be found in our various collections of Psalms and Hymus. Many of the pieces are mere doggrel; many are grossly defective both in sense and gram offensive to sound taste, as well as to mar; a still greater number are proportion indeed is entitled to the Christian sobriety; and a very small praise of good poetry. Surely this reproach might be gradually wiped away, if such of our collectors as can discriminate between good poetry and bad would rigidly exclude from their collections all that was bald and disjointed in style, or low and vulgar and canting in sentiment. A juster taste would thus be formed in the religious world; and persons of real talents would be encouraged to turn their thoughts to the im provement of our sacred poesy, But we must now take our leave, of Mr. Struthers, with recommendof our readers;, and with suggesting ing him to the notice and patronage to himself, what we trust his own heart has often suggested to him before, that the perils to spiritual health arising from the sunshine of: public favour are far more to be dreaded and deprecated, than any which are attendant on poverty and. disappointment. 32 LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL INTELLIGENCE, &c. &c. GREAT BRITAIN. PREPARING for publication:-A Compara. tive View of the Churches of England and Rome, by Dr. H. Marsh;-A Vindication of the received Text of the Greek Testament, by the Rev. F. Nolan;-The Stranger's Guide to Paris, by E. Planta, Esq.;A new Translation of the Scriptures, accompanied by the Authorized Version, and the original Greek and Hebrew Texts, with Notes, by Mr. Bellamy ;-A Tour to Copenhagen, through Norway and Sweden, by Mr. Jens Wolff;-Travels in Greece, by Mr. Hawkins, of Trinity College, Cambridge;→ and, by subscription, a Work on the Origin of Pagan Idolatry, in 3 vuls. 4to., by Rev. G. S. Faber. In the press:-The Second Volume of the History of the English Church and Sects, by the Rev. J. Grant, containing, among other things, an Account of the Sect of Joanna Southcot;-The Restoration of Israel, by R. Joseph Crool, a Jew; with an Answer, containing the proof that Jesus is the promised Messiah, by the Rev. Thomas Scott, Rector of Aston-Sandford ;—A Volume of Sermons, on the leading Doctrines of Christianity, and calculated for Family Reading, by the Rev. W. Butcher-Bishop Horley's Translation of the Psalms of David, with Notes-Life of the Rev. T. Robinson, of Leicester, by the Rev. T. Vaughan;-and, Speeches of the late Mr. Fox. By the copy-right bill, lately passed into a law, the public libraries may demand copies of all works within twelve months of publication; all books must be entered at Stationers' Hall within three months of publi cation, and a copy on the best paper be followed by a fourth-containing a descrip tion of the most valuable part of the library of Earl Spencer; a library unrivalled by that of any individual in the world. The first, contains articles in Theology and the ancient Classics; the second, is occupied by a continuation of those Classics; the third, coun prises collections of the Classics, Grammars and Lexicons, and miscellaneous articles. The fac-similes are numerous and beautiful. The whole has proceeded from Bulmer's press, and is a splendid specimen of his ty pographic art. The arrangement of the Hunterian anatomical collection, in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, is now complete, and open to the inspection of visitors. Sir Joseph Banks and Major Rennel are said to have expressed their decided conviction, that Mr. Want's discovery of the tincture of Colchicum is identically the same as the Eau Medicinale. The total net revenue of this country, in the years ending July 5, 1813, and July 5, 1814, was as follows: Total produce 1813. 1814. L.9,640,590 of Customs L.9,689,232 Total produce of Excise. Stamps...... Post-office Assessed taxes Property tax.. Land taxes Miscellaneous 415,936 L.58,967,864 L.62.956,097 We are happy to perceive, that Parlia ment have voted a sum of money for defray given to the British Museum. The copying the expense of printing an accurate fac right is secured for twenty-eight years. Π Three volumes of a work, entitled Bibliotheca Spenceriana, have appeared to be simile of the Codex Alexandrinus, in the British Museun. The estimate is abou 75401. LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS, THEOLOGY. Remarks on the Version of the New Testament edited by the Unitarians; by the Rev. Edward Nares. 8vo. 12s, Sermon preached in the Parish Church of Walsall, June 1st; by I. C. Woodhouse, D.D. 8vo. 1s. 6d. |