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who may judge of the quality of goods by the excellence of the work, not the moral character of the manufacturer. Corruptions, it is true, may be intermixed, and be not only offensive, but dangerous, and, as such, be justly proscribed.

So far to smooth our reception. We can add nothing to the endless discussions about Lord Byron. He had a most wonderful imagination, and knew that not to give it scope would be ruin, would be setting thunder and lightning to a tune to be played upon a fiddle. A true poet, the grandeur and beauty of nature was his study; and that is to be seen in the heroic savage, not in the clock-work man of business. We do not say that the former character is consistent with the existence of civilized society; no more are rocks and mountains with the formation of a good corn-bearing farm; but people who delight in the sublime and picturesque, do not seek it in Holland, but in Switzerland. They who go to see the play of Macbeth, do not expect to hear a lecturing Aristotle. Now there is in Byron every essential constituent of poetry; and especially that very rare quality of it-the sublime. Byron is, as to poets in general, the archangel ruined among the brownies, Pucks, Robin Goodfellows, and the various sorts of monkey devils. His expanded wings make an eclipse; and when he flies, we feel his presence by a supernatural awe and sulphurous atmosphere. What was not violent was to him insipid. He would have had mankind always in battle; the wind always in a hurricane; the day always stormy, without sunshine; and the night infuriated with thunder and lightning.

But, notwithstanding, we would no more part with Byron, than we would with Milton; nor do we think that he who has no feeling of the sublime could elevate our nature beyond that of a passionless machine. But where there are not passions there cannot be happiness, and where those passions are not intermixed with the mind, no abstract intellectual felicity; and what is existence worth, if, in the words of our author, it is only

"Born to be ploughed with years, and sown with cares,

And reap'd by death."-p. 264.

Of course, after what we have said,

[July,

Look vast and lifeless in the eternal eye.
Upon the foam

Who shall erect a home?"

In the love-songs, there are many of the rose tint and odour. We are particularly pleased with the following:

"And wilt thou weep when I am low? Sweet lady, speak those words again; Yet if they grieve thee, say not so:

I would not give that bosom pain. My heart is sad, my hopes are gone,

My blood runs coldly through my breast; And when I perish, thou alone

Wilt sigh above my place of rest. And yet, methinks, a gleam of peace

Doth through my cloud of anguish shine, And for awhile my sorrows cease,

To know thy heart hath felt for mine.

Oh lady, blessed be that tear!

It falls for one who cannot weep;

1831.]

Such precious drops are doubly dear
To those whose eyes no tear may steep.
Sweet lady once my heart was warm
With every feeling soft as thine;
But Beauty's self hath ceased to charm
A wretch created to repine.
Yet wilt thou weep when I am low?
Sweet lady, speak those words again;
Yet if they grieve thee, say not so;

I would not give that bosom pain." It is evident, by the improvement which imitation creates, that the publication of works of splendid genius is productive of public good; and the more pleasure is derived from intellectuality, the weaker will be the hold of passion and vice. The poems here edited exhibit not the goats' feet of Pan, as in "Don Juan," but the "ex pede Herculem ;" and we sincerely rejoice that real literary jewels are attainable at a price below that of common Jewimitations, of mere tyronian verse.

Lastly, we would have those who weigh Byron as Michael is said to have weighed souls, to recollect that Byron was not a coal who was burnt in a grate, but one distilled into gas; converted into flame, not cinder.

Now, without disputing the utility of the fossil under the latter process, its more glorious form is that of brilliant light. A character purely intellectual is that of a disembodied spirit; and it is not without its very important uses; for were it not for abstract ideas overpowering sense, how could man acquire superiority; or how could he think that he had an immortal spirit? The action of sense upon the soul is in such characters all that is sought from material pleasures; and that forms the difference between the philosophical and glutton voluptuary.

The Country Curate. By the Author of the "Subaltern" and the "Chelsea Pensioners." 2 vols. post 8vo.

THE "Country Curate" is the son of a clergyman distinguished by the professional character of his class fifty years ago. Such a character implied an exemplary, inoffensive, and harmless philanthropist. Wherever he could, he trained his people to reformation or wisdom, by insisting upon the misery and folly of vice. He thus did not fraternize, but enlighten them. He combated impiety with the masterly ratiocination of the old divines; GENT. MAG. July, 1831.

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and rung no changes upon texts, without elucidating them. Pure, moral, prudent, and dispassionate, he acquired a weight from dignity of cha racter, equal to that conferred by wealth or title; and that holy meekness which denoted the divine character of his sentiments, disembodied person, and gave to soul a preponderance that made of man a being not earthly. This quiet class bustling fanaticism has either now extirpated or consigned to neglect.

The Curate's history is simply this. Having become scholar and fellow of his college, he was waiting for a living; for the decease of some one who (to use a Common Room phrase) rolled over his head, an accident would die if a broad-wheeled waggon which, it has been believed, would not kill some tough old incumbents. He wished to marry a girl to whom he was attached; but she died, and he followed her, a few years afterwards, to the grave. The stories here narrated refer to adventures which he encountered in the course of his ministerial office; and they are written with philosophical discrimination of

life and character, intended to instruct and edify the observing moralist, and make the professional instructor better qualified, by uniting to necessary duty superior modes of influencing and managing people; for there is a wide distinction between the skill of a carpenter, who can make a box, and that of a surgeon, who can perform an operation.

It is not our practice to give analysis of novellettes; but to extract from them matters which bear upon moral philosophy. We think, that the following passage, though untenable in the view of sound political economy (because subdivision of property induces a ruinous increase of population in its conscquences, and obstructs the improvement of poor land,) presents a picture well worthy reflection.

"Whilst the old system of land-letting continued, and every thirty or forty acres of ground supported an honest family, it is very probable that the landlord received a less sum in the shape of gross yearly rent, and kept poorer tables, than they do at preand that the yeomanry rode poorer horses sent. But it is equally certain that the paupers to be relieved by their parishes then, came not up to one fiftieth part of

1831.]

The former, according to the admission of its friends, is abhorred by men of talents and knowledge, and the latter would drive all the wealthy out of the Church. Such would be the sure result of the main of Mr. Acaster's reforms; and, admitting, as we willingly do, that the pecuniary disposition of the Church property does require emendation, such reformers as Mr. Acaster do not reflect that in efforts to repair an old house they may only pull it down about their ears. The evils chiefly grow out of the private property in Church preferment, but then that private property has been the great cause of its preservation. To effect Mr. Acaster's reform, the owners must be indemnified either at the cost of the nation, or by sale of that Church property which is not private, and then there would be no endowment at all left-so little of a man of business is Mr. Acaster! We willingly admit, with him, that Clergymen ought not to be men of pleasure or sportsmen; but are they so, individuals excepted? In the lists of licensed sportsmen, relative to counties containing 500 parishes, not twenty Reverends will be found; and as to property, what dif ference is it to the public, whether it is held by a man in black, or a man in brown, except indeed that the former cannot spend it in vice, without losing it?

We are sorry to speak harshly, but this work is in a great part a libel upon the Bishops, because they cannot effect

Mischief, a Poem, is evidently written by a talented man of the world, who has most happily caught the manner of Byron in his familiar and humourous poetry; but we must remind him, that vice, under no circumstances, is to be treated with levity and indifference, no more than poison or disease.

The Rev. E. WHITFIELD'S Bereaved and other Poems, has many meritorious lines.

The Rev. A. T. RUSSEL'S Sermons on the principal Festivals and Holidays of the Church, are characterized by eloquence and impressiveness. We can only regret that they are not more blended with reason; for that, in our opinion, ought to form the substance of all oratory.

We recommend to the notice of Divinity Students the Rev. JOHN JONES's Translation of Isaiah. Where the received version has weakened the original, Mr. Jones has often successfully restored its native energy.

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impossibilities; and while imprudent writing cannot effect the proposed reform, it only alienates still more the people from the Church.

The King's Secret. By the Author of " The Lost Heir." 3 vols. 8vo.

THE foundation of a Novel, upon the probability of Isabella, Queen of Edward II. having had issue by her paramour, Mortimer, and concealment of it afterwards, is, we think, a happy idea, because it is in the course of things; nor do we account it at all improbable, that such an unwelcome addition of an unknown brother should cause the King to keep it a profound secret. As to the fact, we shall only say, in the phrase of Bishop Littelton, concerning an alleged intrigue between King Stephen and the Empress Maud, that we do not wish to dive into ancient scandal. The children of Sovereigns are no more born qualificationally Kings and Queens, than they are with gold spoons in their mouths, nature having in either case no such manufactories; and to pursue proverbial phrases, the King's breakage of pitchers, and the Queen's of pans, shows that they both were very careless with regard to moral pottery. We shall not make extracts, because the Novel consists of incidents. These are interesting, truly mediæval, in as good keeping as Froissart and St. Palaye, and wrought up so as to produce the excitement which we expect from Novels.

We are glad to find that the Rev. HOBART CAUNTER'S Island Bride, which has much poetical merit, has reached a second edition.

Mr. CRAMP's Text Book of Popery is au elaborate compilation, and we believe that most serious civil and political evils owe their origin to that corruption; but truly does Miss Joanna Bailie say, "that through the endless divisions of sects, in old times, people were forced to take refuge from confusion and discord in an infallible earthly guide, to the great misfortune of Christendom." The See of Rome acquired a monopoly, and we never knew a monopolist who did not cheat the public.

Mr. FONNEREAU'S Practical View of the Question of Parliamentary Reform: and the Balance of Power; demonstrating that the Reform Bill of Earl Grey is false and unjust in principle, &c. are here announced by us. Since however, according to Bossuet, La re

60

forme n'a jamais raison la première fois," we wish to wait events.

Sir John Joseph Dillon has published an elaborate pamphlet On the Expiration of the Statute 10 Geo. IV. c. 1, the Act under which Mr. O'Connell was indicted, and therein contends that the Ministers prosecuted the Agitator upon a law which had expired the previous Session of Parliament. He says, that he offered an explanation to Government, and that on le remercia de ses offres. (Pref. v.) The puzzle arose from the loose and equivocal language of the Act, viz. "that it was to endure to the end of the then next Session of Parliament;" which, says Sir John (p. 9), means immediately next, or, in other words, the earliest possible session that might occur. Really Acts of Parliament should be precisely and definitively worded.

The Story of Genevra, from Ariosto, is a successful imitation of Byron. It is noticeable, that the Celtic custom, mentioned in the Welch legend of Dubricius, of burning women alive for incontinency, is stated here, in p. 46, to have been part of the old Scottish law.

The Voice of Humanity, No. IV. exposes scenes of cruelty to animals, which cannot fail of making a strong impression. We are of opinion, that if Natural History formed an essential part of education, as recommended by Dr. Drummond, the disgusting barbarism would gradually disappear.

Mr. THOMAS STRATTEN'S English and Jewish Tithe Systems compared, is a work written with the intention of elevating Dissenters over the Established Church; that is to say, a predial tax should be transferred to the landed proprietor (who has never purchased it); that the moral and religious instruction of the people should either fall heavily upon those, who have no right to pay it; or that we should be dependent upon uneducated and eleemosynary persons for the knowledge requisite to a state of civilization.

We are glad to announce Mr. VALPY'S seventeenth and eighteenth numbers of his Family Classical Library, containing Horace and Phædrus, according to the versions of Francis and Smart.

LEIGH'S Guide to Wales and Monmouthshire, is a compilation from "Nicholson's Cambrian Travellers' Guide," and other works, without acknowledgment. In justice to poor Nicholson we state, that his work is an Encyclopedia of the subject.

Select Works of the British Poets, from Chaucer to Jonson, with biographical Sketches, by ROBERT SOUTHEY, esq. LL.D. are here condensed into one handsome thick

[July,

8vo volume, uniform with Dr. Aikin's "Selections of the British Poets, from the time of Jonson to the present period," lately published by Messrs. Longman. These two volumes, comprehending the productions of nearly all our distinguished poets, will form a valuable acquisition to every library.

The Character and Religious Doctrines of Heber, is a defence of that amiable prelate from the foolish aspersion, that he was ignorant of the Gospel, because he did not adopt unphilosophical trash concerning the utter corruption of human nature. Here then is a case, where a man, who does not know his letters, charges another, who can read, with mistaking A. for B.

Mrs. JOANNA BAILLIE's View of the general Tenour of the New Testament, regarding the Nature and Dignity of Jesus Christ, is a work becoming her well-established reputation. She says (p. 131)," that she has laid before the public what the New Testament contains regarding the nature and dignity of Christ, not to influence any class of believers, but that people may judge for themselves."

Mr. HOLLAND'S Herschelian, or Companion to the Telescope, merits the patronage of astronomical Professors and Students, who pursue the subject practically. We extract the following passage: "Several stars of the first magnitude have already been observed, and others suspected, to have a proper metion of their own; hence we may surmise, that our sun, with all its planets aud comets, may also have a motion towards some particular part of the heavens, on account of a greater quantity of matter collected in a number of stars, and their surrounding planets there situated, which may, perhaps, occasion a gravitation of our whole solar system towards it."-p. 16.

The Author of the Atonement and Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, considered with reference to certain popular objections, “does not lay claim," he says, "to any original views." We shall add, that his book is able and convincing.

We think it a very promising auxiliary to the diffusion of intellectual improvement, that Mr. VALPY has edited an "Epitome of English Literature; or, a Concentration of the Matter of standard English Authors." The volume before us, which condenses Paley's Evidences of Christianity and Locke's Human Understanding, show that the work will be most ably and satisfactorily executed.

"The familiar Introduction to the Christian Religion, in a series of Letters from a Father to his Sons," although we question the policy of discussions which may create doubts where none before existed, shows