Obrázky stránek
PDF
ePub

"Why need my pen the various sweets express,
That few are ign'rant of, and all may guess !"

"Thou long hast sway'd me, but thou shalt no more."
"To-morrow's morn may mighty difference make."

"If freely I my thoughts may utter here,
With unoffending voice and soul sincere,
I speak for war! why should we fear his might?
Perchance in this ye may not deem me right:
Yet weigh th' occasion well, I but advise

As one who on our native strength relies."

These last words are extracted from the speech of a young chief, who is eager to attack the enemy; how different is the cautious candour they display from the inconsiderate turbulence usually attributed to impatient warriors.

"And when he dies, may vilest things accurs'd

Riot and revel in his hated dust."

"Long have we had good reason to complain,
Long have our people groan'd beneath his chain."
"'Tis fit we now should some resistance make,
The reed, too often bow'd, at last will break."
"While he is fighting but to hand his name,
Stain'd with a nation's blood, to future fame."
"Let us not tamely to his summons yield,
'Tis time enough when conquer'd in the field.
To combat for our freedom is but right,
Warriors! my resolution is to fight.'

[ocr errors]

"Azeni, Tekoa, Lachish, Maresha,
Dor, and Adullam, rush with her to war."
"Oh, human beauty, what art thou but dust!
Oh, human pride, who bears thee is accurs'd!"
"He ceas'd! and admiration on each breast
A pleasing stillness o'er the scene impress'd."
"When that vast mind hath moulder'd in the tomb."
"And whom they slighted living, insult dead."
"When not a cloud or star is in the sky,
But all looks vast, and blue, and beauteously."
"Thither the seraph flew, and saw amaz'd,
A mighty throne, that rich with jewels blaz'd."

A seraph amazed at a throne rich with jewels! What daring sublimity of imagination! Is it some new insult he meditates?

"Ahab was not wont

To see his foe in arms, and ponder on't."

This last quotation is almost overwhelming. We must take a little time to ponder on it.

"O ever good! for thou didst never yet

Upbraid me, than thou could'st not but regret."

We do not quite understand this; but in a work of so much

genius, we must expect to meet with some flights beyond the pitch of an ordinary comprehension.

"Why staidst thou ?---What hath kept thee from my sight?”

"See, the repast thou lov'st invites thy taste."

This is no mortal music.

"Yet, wert those false, if that too maddening sense

Of blighted hope, mistaken confidence,

Were mine."

"But rapture like to this stern fate denies,

And in its stead this kiss must now suffice."

Such are Mr. Jackson's merits; yet in his preface we find the following astonishing assertions:

"Thrice have the waves of neglect passed over me." "I have tried, and could not get a purchaser."

There is a little obscurity here. Is something omitted? Are we to consider his readers as the objective? or Lindley Murray? He himself accounts for his failure by the following ingenious and poetical supposition :

"At this season, when the leaves are falling fast, booksellers, as well as trees, get cold hearted."

He also says,

Dry prose is better lov'd than is sweet song."

We confess we do not think this a sufficient explanation of the mystery; but it is not only Mr. Jackson's want of success, which we find surprising on reading the poem of "Ahab." We feel a considerable portion of astonishment at the occasional appearance of such lines as the following in its pages:

"And manhood's wreck but strews the tide of age."

"Rouse then, my friends, let morning's breezes show
The banner of our battles to the fue."

"When broken is the mighty wand that gave,
The buried dead of ages from the grave,
To walk with them, and in their barren ways
Scatter the glory of departed days ;"
"So let it be, it does not argue much,

I am unbless'd, and there are many such."

A satisfactory answer to the problem may perhaps be found by better metaphysics or memories than our own. We will return to our author's preface.

[ocr errors]

During the printing of this work, one has criticized a rough rhyme, another cried,Ha! what you turned poet?' and giving his head a significant shake, said, better mind Cocker.' 'So I would,' I replied, but Cocker won't mind me.'--In all the various changes of my life, the Muse has not deserted me: beloved ones have vanished---friends have deceived---but she has remained faithful. One critic has advised this addition, another that curtailment; but remembering the story of the old man and the boy, and the ass, I plod on; not that I am indifferent to opinion, far from it; but there are persons whose advice one cannot take, who find fault merely for the sake of talking, and impale an author from mere spleen.”

Mr. Jackson's indulgent opinion of his muse merits her fidelity, at all events; nevertheless, however, we will not "find fault, merely "for the sake of talking."

His present work is published by subscription. On this subject he says:

"It has been customary to print subscribers' names, and this would have been done here, but from general objection to it; yet I cannot refrain from honorable mention of a few, whom I trust I shall not offend by the distinction."

Then follow four or five letters, placed out of alphabetical order, and preceded by the titles of Miss and Mr. Is this the honorable mention to which Mr. Jackson alludes? We do not, ourselves, see how it can be deemed a very offensive distinction.

But we imagine the contemplation of Mr. Jackson's poetry must by this time have lulled our readers into “a pleasing stillness of admiration ;" we will leave them to its enjoyment,

"As sweet repose and rest

Come to their heads, as that within our breast."

History of the Peninsular War. By Robert Southey, Esq. LL.D., &c. 2nd volume. Murray.

We received this volume so late in the month, that it is absolutely impossible for us, in justice to its merits, to attempt any thing like a lengthened review. A hasty glance enables us to ascertain, that it is by no means inferior to its predecessor, in sustained dignity of style; in concise but comprehensive accounts of the diversified events of this eventful war; in the masterly delineation of the characters of those noble spirits, such as the Romans and Albuquerques, who half redeemed the fallen chivalry of Spain; nor in any of those qualities which should distinguish the history of events no less interesting in their progress, than decisive in their ultimate results upon the destinies of Europe. There is, perhaps, too much bitterness of resentment displayed by the author against the party of the English nation who were opposed to the prosecution of the war in Spain, and which, though it would be properly displayed in the Quarterly Review, is scarcely compatible with the elevation above party spirit which ought to be the characteristic of the historian. Nevertheless, it is impossible not to feel, that this History of the Peninsular War is a work which it would be disgraceful to any English gentleman not to possess, as one of the most precious ornaments of his library. Poor as we are, at the present day, in historical writers, it is a splendid consolation to find that the grandest national exploits performed since the days of Marlborough, have been described by one who was worthy of the task, and that the deeds of the greatest warriors of our time have been narrated in fitting language by one of the greatest of our poets.

The volume before us embraces those transactions which took place in Spain, from the retreat of the British to Corunna, to the

retreat of the French from Santarem; transactions exhibiting on the part of the Spaniards, a strange mixture of indomitable bravery and disgraceful cowardice; the most heroic fidelity, and the basest treachery; wisdom and folly; conduct and incapacity; the noblest virtues, and the worst of vices: on the part of the French, valor, conduct, and masterly genius, sullied by the perpetuations of crimes revolting even to imagine, and for which the soldiery of France have by no means paid a sufficient penalty, although the vengeance of the nations whom they oppressed in the Peninsula, was as stern as the offences which called it forth were horrible. It is to the operations of the British army which we turn with feelings of almost unalloyed delight, guided by skill not equal to that of the French-acting with bravery far more conspicuous-displaying on almost every occasion a spirit of discipline, mercy, and justice, far superior to that of their opponents and allies. The pain occasioned to us by the perusal of the disasters which so long impeded their success, is alleviated by the moral satisfaction derived from the glorious light in which they appear, contrasted with the two nations whom they came to combat or assist.

We do not pretend to give any thing like an abstract of these events, but shall content ourselves with a few extracts relative to those occurrences which are the most interesting to Englishmen. The first chapter narrate the departure of Buonaparte from Spain, and the dispersion of the Spanish troops in Catalonia and Arragon. These melancholy details are enlivened by the following account of Lord Cochrane's defence of Fort Trinidad; and it should be observed, to Dr. Southey's credit, that he gives the proper meed of applause to persons, whom, from his political prepossession, he might be suspected as willing to pass over :—

"The citadel was soon in a desperate state, and the fort might have been considered so; for it was at this time battered in breach, and a passage to the lower bomb-proof being nearly effected, the marines of the Fame were withdrawn. At this juncture Lord Cochrane arrived in the Imperieuse. During the month of September this gallant officer, with his single ship, had kept the whole coast of Languedoc in alarm, destroyed the newly-constructed semaphoric telegraphs (which were of the utmost consequence to the numerous coasting convoys of the French) at Bourdique, La Pinede, St. Maguire, Frontignan, Canet, and Foy; demolished fourteen barracks of the gens-d'armes; blown up a battery and the strong tower upon the lake of Frontignan; and not only prevented any troops from being sent from that province into Spain, but excited such dismay there, that 2000 men were drawn from Figueras to oppose him. The coasting trade was entirely suspended during this alarm; and with such consummate prudence were all his enterprises planned and executed, that not one of his men was either killed or hurt, except one, who was singed in blowing up the battery.

"Lord Collingwood, with his wonted prudence, had entrusted Cochrane with discretionary orders to assist the Spaniards wherever it could be done with most probability of success, and he hastened to the Bay of Rosas as soon as he knew of the siege,..too late, and yet in time to signalize himself. Captain Bennett, though he had withdrawn his own men, did not alter Lord Collingwood's orders, and Cochrane threw himself into Fort Trinidad with eighty seamen and marines, at a time when the garrison, amounting to the same number, would else have surrendered, perceiving that further resistance had been thought unavailing by the English themselves. This garrison was changed, and the new men brought with them fresh hope and unexhausted strength. Cochrane formed a

rampart within the breach of palisadoes and barrels, ships' hammock-cloths, awning, &c. filled with sand rubbish; these supplied the place of walls and ditches. Sanson, the commandant of the engineers, pronounced the breach practicable. His opinion was relied on with the more confidence because he was well acquainted with the place; but the Captain who was ordered to lead the assault thought otherwise; he had been in the Spanish service, and in garrison at that very fort, and he said that it was not possible to enter there nevertheless he would make the attempt if he were ordered, with the certainty of perishing in it, and leading his party to destruction. Under such circumstances it requires more firmness to give the order than to obey,..but it is of a different kind. The order was given, and the officer perished as he had foreseen and foretold. Two of his companions escaped by the humanity of the English, who, instead of killing four men whose lives were at their mercy, suffered two to retire, while they drew up the others by a rope, to secure them as prisoners. When the breach had been rendered practicable, a more formidable assault was made. Lord Cochrane had prepared for it with that sportiveness by which English sailors are as much characterized as schoolboys. He not only stationed men with bayonets immediately within the breach, to give the assailants an immediate greeting, but he laid well-greased planks across the breach, upon which many of the French slipped and fell in endeavouring to pass: and he hung ropes there with fishhooks fastened to them, by which not a few were caught in their retreat. The enemy suffered a severe loss on this occasion. There was in Lord Cochrane's conduct here, and in all places, that contempt of danger which in former ages would have been imputed to a reliance upon charms, and which never fails to inspire confidence. Once, while the besiegers were battering the fort, the Spanish flag fell into the ditch: he let himself down by a rope through a shower of balls to recover it, returned unhurt, and planted it again upon the walls. The citadel at length having been battered in breach till was no longer tenable, capitulated, and the garrison, marching out with the honors of war, were sent prisoners into France. Two thousand men, who had given proof of steadiness and courage, were thus lost to Spain. Lord Cochrane then saw that any farther resistance in Fort Trinidad was impossible; and having maintained its shattered walls twelve days after they had been deemed untenable, he embarked all the men, and blew up the magazine.

The 17th chapter is an afflicting account of the dissensions and incapacity of the Spaniards, which led to the defeats at Ucles, and the disasters of Cuenea ;-the services of Sir Robert Wilson, and the jealousy of the Spaniards at Cadiz. The 18th contains the second siege and fall of Zaragoza, which is perhaps the most painfully interesting of the volume; the 19th, the second invasion of Portugal by Soult; the 20th, the total defeat of the Spaniards at Medellin; the 21st is an abstract of the proceedings in England relative to the war, and brings us at last to the embarkation of Sir Arthur Wellesley for Portugal, whose coming was the harbinger of better and more successful days.

The following general observations are at this moment particularly interesting.

"There were members who boldly asserted in Parliament that the Portugueze did not like the English. A more groundless assertion has seldom been hazarded there. The connection between England and Portugal was not an ordinary one, built upon immediate interests, and liable to change with the chance of circumstances. There were nations with whom, during the long struggle against Buonaparte, we were in league one day, and at war the next, the hostility being without anger, and the alliance without esteem. Our friendship with Portugal was like our enmity to France, founded upon something deeper. From the day when Portugal first became a kingdom, with the exception of that unfortunate period when the Philips usurped its crown, England had been its tried and faithful friend. When Lisbon was conquered from the Moors, English crusaders assisted at the siege; English archers contributed to the victory of Aljubarrota, which effected the first deliverance of Portugal from Castile; an Englishwoman, 27

VOL. II.

« PředchozíPokračovat »