stillness was disturbed once more by a clamour of 46 plump pet poodle upon the hearth-rug-these were among the by no means curta supellex,' of this more mundane thinking shop.'-A gay-looking junior the Head himself, a rubicund old gentleman in fellow and chaplain was caressing the poodle, and grand canonicals and a grizzle wig, was seated in a dignified posture in a superb fauteuil, while a padded footstool sustained in advance his gouty left leg." A dinner in the college hall is circumstantially and somewhat temptingly set forth. night-cap to the alarum of-Town! Town!' Long | and loud the tumult continued in its fearful rage, and much excellent work was accomplished.' * * * fellow, broad in the chest, narrow in the pelvis, "Reginald, although a nimble and active young thick in the neck, and lightsome in the region of the bread-basket, a good leaper, and a runner In short, by this time the High-street of Oxford among ten thousand, was not, as has been formerly exhibited a scene as different from its customary mentioned, a fencer; neither was he a wrestler, nor solemnity and silence, as it is possible to imagine. a boxer, nor an expert hand at the baton. These Conceive several hundreds of young men in caps, were accomplishments of which, his education or gowns, or both, but all of them, without excep- having, according to Mr Macdonald's taunt, been tion, wearing some part of their academical insig-negleckit,' he had yet received scarcely the slightest tincture. The consequence was, that upon the nia, retreating before a band rather more numerous, made up of apprentices, journeymen, labourers, whole, though his exertions were neither few nor bargemen―a motley mixture of every thing that, far between, he was, if mauling were sin, fully in the phrase of that classical region, passes under more sinned against than sinning. The last thing faint and faded image of the glories of eld.' the generic name of Raff. Several casual disturb- he could charge his memory withal, when he afterances had occurred in different quarters of the ward endeavoured to arrange its disjecta fragmentown, a thing quite familiar to the last and all pre- ta,' was the vision of a brawny arm uplifted over ceding ages, and by no means uncommon even in against him, and the moon shedding her light very the first time, is partaker in the feast-and it was those recent days, whatever may be the case now. Of the host of youthful academics, just arrived for the beginning of the term, a considerable number had, as usual, been quartered for this night in the different inns of the city. Some of these, all full of wine and mischief, had first rushed out and swell ed a mere passing scuffle into something like a substantial row. Herds of town-boys, on the other hand, had been rapidly assembled by the magic in fluence of their accustomed war-cry. The row once formed into regular shape in the Corn-market, the clamour had penetrated walls, and overleapt battlements; from college to college the madness had spread and flown. Porters had been knocked down in one quarter, iron-bound gates forced in another, and the rope-ladder, and the sheet-ladder, and the headlong leap, had all been put into requisition, with as much eager, frantic, desperate zeal, as if every old monastic tower had been the scene of an unquenchable fire, every dim cloistered quadrangle of a yearning earthquake. ** "The external features of an old English monas tery are still perceived in our academical hospitia, but, alas! a dinner there is now shorn of much of its fair proportion, and presents, at the best, but a "Enough, nevertheless, of the ancient form and circumstance is still preserved, to impress, in no trivial measure, the imagination of him who, for distinctly upon the red spoke of a coach-wheel, so with our hero. The solemn bell, sounding as if with which that arm appeared to be intimately some great ecclesiastical dignitary were about to connected." be consigned to mother earth-the echoing vestiThe apartments of a learned and labori-bule-the wide and lofty staircase, lined with servous Fellow of the College, are contrasted ing-men so old and demure that they might almost with those of its indolent and luxurious have been mistaken for so many pieces of grotesque Head, who had obtained his office by means statuary-the hall itself, with its high lancet windows of stained glass, and the brown obscurity of not altogether the most honourable. its oaken roof-the yawning chimneys with their blazing logs-the long narrow tables-the elevated dais-the array of gowned guests-the haughty line of seniors seated in stall-like chairs, and separated by an ascent of steps from the younger inmates of the mansion-the Latin grace, chanted at one end of the hall, and slowly re-chanted from the other-the deep silence maintained during the repast-the bearded and mitred visages frowning from every wall-there was something so antique, so venerable, and withal so novel in the scene, that it was no wonder our youth felt enough of curiosity, and withal, of a certain sort of awe, to prevent and fork quite a la Roxburgher. "A terrible conflict ensued-a conflict, the fury the apartment were every where clothed-the bare him for once from being able to handle his knife half a bosom and a side! A sight to dream of, not to see.' It was now that there was no need for that pathetic apostrophe of another living sonneteer "These feelings, of course, were not partaken by the rest of the company, least of all, by the senior and more elevated portion of it. The party at The High Table' of ** was as usual an ac "He began writing eagerly, and continued to do so for perhaps a quarter of an hour, without taking any further notice of Reginald's presence. The boy, meanwhile, full of serious thoughts and high resolutions, perused the chamber of the learned hermit round and round, as if he had expected the inspiration of lore to be breathed from its walls. The room was part of a very ancient building, and every thing about it was stamped with antiquity. The high roof of dark unvarnished oak-the one tall, narrow window, sunk deep in the massy wall -the venerable volumes with which the sides of of which might have inspired lightness, vigour, and wainscot floor, accurately polished, but destitute of elasticity, even into the paragraphs of a Bentham, carpeting, excepting one small fragment under the or the hexameters of a Southey-had either or table-the want of furniture-for there were just both of these eminent persons been there to wit-two chairs, and a heap of folios had been dislodgness-better still had they been there to partake in, ed, ere he himself could occupy one of them-the the genial frenzy. It was now that The Science, chilliness of the place too, for, although the day was tive, and, as it happened on this day, it was by no (to use the language of Thalaba,) 'made itself to means a small one. Red faces grew redder and be fell. It was now that (in the words of Words-frosty, there was no fire in the grate-all these, toredder as the welcome toil proceeded-short fat worth,) the power of cudgels was a visible thing.gether with the worn, emaciated, and pallid countenance of the solitary tenant, and the fire of necks were seen swelling in every vein, and ears It was now that many a gown covered, as erst that learned zeal which glowed so bright in his fixed half-hid by luxuriant periwigs could not conceal of the Lady Christabel, and steadfast, but nevertheless melancholy eye, their voluptuous twinklings; vigorously plied the impressed Reginald with a mingled feeling of sur- elbows of those whose fronts were out of view; prise, of admiration, of reverence, and of pity. **the ceaseless crash of mastication waked the end"The apartments of the Head of the Society less echoes of the vaulted space over-head; and presented a very different sort of appearance from airy arches around mimicked and magnified every those of the recluse and laborious senior fellow of gurgle of every sauce-bottle. The stateliness of ***. Reginald was conducted, in short, into a the ceremonial, and the profoundness of the genervery handsome house, furnished in every part in a al silence all about, gave to what was, after all, no style of profuse modern luxury, such as perhaps more than a dinner, something of the dignity of a did not quite accord either with the character of festival-I had almost said something of the solemthe edifice to which it belonged, or with the form nity of a sacrifice. A sort of reverend zeal scemand structure of the different apartments them-ed to be gratified in the clearing of every platter, selves. After waiting for a considerable time in a and the purple stream of a bumper descended with large and lofty room, where chintz curtains and the majesty of a libation. ottomans, elegant paper-hangings, and splendid In the under-graduates' part of the hall, the pier-glasses, contrasted strangely enough with a feast was, of course, less magnificent; and among great Gothic window, of the richest monastic them the use of wine is altogether prohibited-a painted glass, a roof of solid stone, carved all over distinction, on this occasion sufficiently galling, with flowers, mitres, shields of arms, and heads of considering how incessantly they were passed by martyrs, and a fire-place, whose form and dimen- the manciple bearing decanters to the superior resions spoke it at least three centuries old--they gion. But the dinner itself was no sooner over were at last admitted into the presence of the pro- than the fellows rose from their chairs, and another vost. He received them in his library-what a Latin thanksgiving having been duly chanted, dedifferent kind of library from that which Reginald scended in solemn procession from their pride of had just left! New and finely bound books, arrang-place, and followed the guidance of the manciple, ed in magnificent cases of glass and mahogany-who, strutting like a Lord Mayor's beadle, marthe Courier, a number of the Quarterly, and a nov-shalled the line of march to the common room. el of Miss Edgeworth, reposing on a rose-wood table covered with a small Persian carpet-some of Bunbury's caricatures, coloured and in gilt frames -a massive silver standish, without a drop of ink npon its brilliant surface-deep soft chairs in red morocco-a parrot cage by the window-and a Away all specious pliancy of mind In men of low degree!' For it was now that the strong bargeman of Isis, and the strong bachelor of Brazen-noze, rushed together like two clouds with thunder laden,' and that the old reproach of Baculo potius,' &c. was forever done away with. It was now that the proctor, even the portly proctor, showed that he had sat at the feet of other Jacksons besides Cyril; For he that came to preach, remained to play.' In a word, there was an elegant tussle which lasted for five minutes, opposite to the side porch of All-Souls. There the townsmen gave way; but being pursued with horrible oaths and blows as far as Carfax, they rallied again under the shadow of that sacred edifice, and received there a welcome reinforcement from the purlieus of the Staffordshire canal, and the ingenuous youth of Penny-farthing street. Once more the tide of war was turned; the gowned phalanx gave back-surly and slow, indeed, but still they did give back. On rolled the adverse and swelling tide with their few plain instincts and their few plain rules.' At every college gate sounded, as the retreating band passed its venerable precincts, the loud, the shrilly summons of 'Gown! Gown!--while down each murky plebeian alley, the snoring mechanic doffed his Thither no non-graduate eye might follow the learned phalanx-there, might no profane ear catch the echo of their whispered wisdom. The moment they were supposed to be beyond reach of ear-shot, there arose as loud a gabile as if publicans and sinners had, by a coup-de-main, The Pilot: a Tale of the Sea. By the author of the Pioneers, &c. &c. New York, 1823. 2 vols. 12mo. aken absolute possession of The Temple-leaping, light upon their motives, purposes, and Randolph-a Tale. By the author of Logan dancing, shouting in every direction-whistling, characters. Many novels, and pretty good and Seventy Six. 2 vols. 12mo. sparring, wagering, wrestling-a Babel of Babels !" ones too, are written as if interesting situa- Errata, or the Works of Will Adams—a tions or incidents must be introduced by an Tale. By the author of Logan, Seventy array Six, and Randolph. 2 vols. 12mo. stupid chapters alternate with considerable THE first of these books is remarkably foolof very dull ones, and the bright and regularity. It is, perhaps, no slight proof ish and impudent. It pretends to be a novof the extraordinary talents of Mr Cow-el, and the various incidents have about as MR COWPER has one valuable faculty, per, that he has skill enough to lead his much coherence as the thoughts of a mawhich is generally an endowment of the heroes and heroines from circumstances niac. It is absurd, unnatural, impossible; finest intellects, but seems to be sometimes which strongly excite the imagination, into and could not be endured, but that the withheld, when almost every other talent others of equal interest immediately and author has made it the vehicle of much imand power is given;-the faculty of im-yet naturally. pertinence about living men and passing provement. Precaution was a poor book; It has been said of the works of this events, and occasionally scatters through the Spy was a very good one, though not author, as a reproach, that many pages are the dreary expanse of its intolerable folly so good as the Pioneers; and the Pilot we usually occupied in detailing the occurren- some passages of great power and elothink better than either. It was prophesi-ces of a short period. Novel readers may quence, and a few good thoughts well exed in some of our newspapers and literary be displeased with this, because they are pressed. In general, he talks about every journals that this last production would dis- accustomed to find in their favourite works, thing like a madman or an ideot, but someappoint the sanguine and impatient expec- a history of the hero's life and conversa- times utters observations and criticisms, retation raised by its predecessors;-but the tion during his youth at least, if not his markably original and just, and throughout Pilot has appeared, and every pledge, which manhood; but we are not disposed to find the book seems frequently assailed by an the previous works of Mr Cowper had giv- fault with Mr Cowper's fashion of manag- uncomfortable conviction, that he is playen, is fully redeemed. ing this matter. A novel is something be-ing the fool. The scene is almost always on the ocean, tween a poem and a drama, and is not alto- There exists some question about the and the principal characters are seamen; gether without the jurisdiction of the laws, authorship of Randolph. We do not know, of course a very large and valuable part of which should govern them. Upon the ques- but we confidently believe, that John Neal, the book must lose much of its charm with tion of the unities, we are more persuaded of Baltimore, was guilty of this work. He those who have no acquaintance with sea by Dr Johnson's arguments than by Shaks says, at the end of the second volume, in a terms or sea manners. From this circum-peare's example; that is, while we admit sort of appendix, that he did not write the stance, it may not be universally preferred that good poems and plays have been writ-book, and assumes a very lofty and rather to the Pioneers or the Spy; but we think ten without much observance of the unities threatening air about it. Something more, it richer than either in passages of original of place, time, or action, yet we think any however, than his bare assertion is necessaand true humour, of genuine pathos, and of work of the imagination may be the better for ry to rebut the internal evidence, which just and natural eloquence. The language some regard to them. Of our author's prac-identifies Randolph with other works, acis uniformly good, and suited in its charac- tice in this particular, it will be enough to knowledged by Neal. Besides, no one ter to the occasion, and few books exhibit say, that to the last chapter of the second would have thought the works, person, hismore accurate and felicitous sketching of volume, the story has advanced but very tory, character, and habits of John Neal human character and conduct, or more few days, and the characters scarcely wan-worthy of such repeated and elaborate nographic pictures of the beauty or terrors of der out of sight of the spot where they are tice, but John Neal. We understand he inanimate nature. "Long Tom" is perfectly first introduced. The last chapter goes on has been much beaten in Baltimore by genoriginal, and is drawn to the life. He is for ten or twenty years, and conducts to tlemen, who felt themselves outraged by one of a class of men who are peculiar, not their last rest, the Pilot and many of his some parts of Randolph; and an opinion merely to this country, but to a very small subordinates. has gained ground there, that William B. part of our country; who leave the little We think Mr Cowper fails most in the Walter, of Boston, recently deceased, left island, which cradled them amid the waves, management of the Pilot's historical char- this work among his papers, and that Neal and wander over the ocean, until it is to them acter. If he intends him to be Paul Jones has been only its editor. This may be so, as a home, and dry land becomes a strange indeed (which we infer from the preface but we do not believe Walter, by any effort thing-and his person, habits, tastes, and and not from the work itself), more should or discipline, could have enabled himself to thoughts are portrayed with great power have been said of his origin, connexions, reach certain passages of Randolph. We and success. The evolutions on shipboard and early history, that the personal identity happen to know that Neal wrote, as his in storm and danger, and the appearance of of the character might be more obvious. own, in the album of a lady in Portland, the sea, convulsed and foaming under the If this was impracticable, we think it would some poetry which is printed in Randolph, lash of the tempest, are all described with have been better to have omitted all allu- and we have heard him relate, with great the same remarkable skill and effect. sion to this remarkable name. emphasis, as a circumstance which mortifiThere is a striking difference between There is nothing new in the female char-ed him exceedingly, an incident told, pages this novel, and the other works of the same acters; the soft sweetness of one is con- 256, 7, and 8, vol. 1, as befalling the hero of author in one important particular; the skill trasted with the fire and vivacity of the the novel; and the initials of the true names which constantly sustains the interest we other, but there is little in either, which are given. feel in the story from the first to the last novel-heroines have not almost worn out. "Errata" is not so impertinent as "Ranpage. In the Spy and the Pioneers passaIt is rather a prevailing folly among liv- dolph," and contains more passages of good ges of great power and beauty are separat-ing writers of note, to be vain of writing wit and humour. As a story, it is about as ed by rather dreary intervals. In the Pilot easily and rapidly; and we are glad to find feeble and incoherent as the other, but may the attention is kept awake and constantly some reason for thinking our author ex-be considered, on the whole, as the most fixed upon the story. Excepting a few too empt from this delusion. The whole work long conversations, which, occuring at very has the appearance of having benefited someinteresting moments, we are too impatient what by careful revision. There is little to read very carefully, there is scarcely a indication, in the story or the languege, of paragraph in either volume that does not the foolish haste and negligence, which help forward the story, or bring out into have left much imperfection in the best of stronger relief the scene described, or ex- the lighter works of these days. In this hibit the persons of the drama so circum- respect the Pilot is better than its predestanced and occupied as to throw a vivid cessors. tolerable book which Neal-or the author of "Seventy Six" has written. At the close of this work also, there is a long appendix about Neal, containing, among other things, a denial of his having been thrashed, and a copy of the card or handbill which Mr Pinkney posted up in various parts of Baltimore, and which speaks most contermptuously of Neal. We applaud Mr Neal for refusing to fight with Mr Pink- We think Mr Neal a man of unquestionable and inexhaustible resources. We know him personally, and have wondered at his energy and power of achievement. We always believed him possessed of a moral and intellectual nature, which, with due culture and discipline, might have borne most rare and valuable fruits. But it is too late; it is certain that he cannot be now, all he might have been; and his faults and follies, and the ruin, to which they lead, have been shown him so plainly, with so little good effect, we cannot resist the conviction, that either from some inherent defect in his disposition or faculties, or from the irresistible dominion of confirmed habit, he never will be other than what he isa man whose talents are various and powerful, but perverted and worse than useless. that of rain. Ocean would have gone up It embraces all that can be fairly con. in one wave, and rolled the mountains be-densed into the small compass of an elefore it, as a gushing rivulet plays with its mentary treatise, and experience has provpebblestones. Moreover, we understand ed that the arrangement and the style are uncommonly well adapted to interest the scholar, and render the science easy of attainment. We think this book decidedly better than any other school book upon the same subject, and are disposed to award to Mr Wilkins, the fullest measure of commendation; but the nature of his work does not require nor even permit us to give an analysis of it, with extracts. We have noticed but one error of any consequence; in No. 114, page 60, of the second edition, the author gives the reason why the warmest weather does not occur when the days are longest, and why the middle of the day is not the warmest part of it. As a systematic view of the action of a central fire in the formation, destruction, and reproduction of the earth, this New Theory is decidedly inferior to several, which have grown out of the opinions first advanced by Hutton. Hints on Extemporaneous Preaching. By Church in Boston. Boston. 1824. 18mo. "The atmosphere derives heat chiefly, if not enFEW pamphlets of such small size and pre-tirely, by reflection from the earth; so that when tensions as this, contain as much good sense the earth is warmest, the atmosphere is warmest, and just reasoning, clothed in language at coolest; but the earth continues to accumulate and when the earth is coolest, the atmosphere is once so chaste and beautiful. It is certainly heat for some time after the sun's rays are most an able and interesting, and ought to be a powerful." very useful work. Now a heated substance radiates heat, Mr Ware states with great force the but no more heat is reflected from the same An Abstract of a New Theory of the For arguments in favour of extemporaneous surface when it is warm, than when it is mation of the Earth. By Ira Hill, A. Mpreaching, but seems perfectly aware of all cool. The truth is, that the atmosphere is Baltimore. 1823. 12mo. 211 pp. the objections, which are or can be urged not heated principally by reflection from MR HILL supposes, that the eastern conti- against this mode of pulpit address, and the earth, nor by the rays as they come nent was all the land appropriated to the he meets them all candidly but victoriously. through the atmosphere from the sun;use of mankind, until the days of Noah. He does not wish that habits of written that is, neither by the reflected nor by the At that time the central fire urged with composition should be abandoned by minis- incident rays. It is heated almost entirely excessive heat, exploded, and raised the ters of the gospel; on the contrary, he re- by coming in contact with the earth. best part of America above the waves; gards frequent, careful, and laborious writ-There is a constant circulation between the thence the universal deluge. Four hundred ing as the most efficient and most necessa- higher and lower strata of the atmosphere; and fifty-two years afterwards, the lands ry means of creating a power of preaching for, while the earth is growing warmer, the now covered by the Mediterranean sunk, extempore with care, accuracy, and im-air which touches it, thereby receives heat, and caused the flood of Ogyges. One hun-pressiveness. The rules laid down by Mr and being expanded and so rendered lightdred and eighty-eight years after this, New Ware appear to be well calculated to give er, ascends; of course that which is specifHolland came up; many vapours arose, this powerful and therefore important facul-ically heavier descends and is in like manwere driven upon the mountains of Africa, ty. We shall not make extracts from his ner heated. By this constant circulation there condensed into rain, and caused the pamphlet, nor attempt to give a minute ac- the atmosphere is warmed; the heat thus flood of Ethiopia, mentioned in the Chroni- count of his course of reasoning. The ar- received from the earth not being commucle of Axium. Eighty-six years after this guments could not be condensed into brief-nicated from one particle to another, since flood, that part of Africa, which was be-er space than that they now occupy without each one must come in contact with some tween capes Bon and Razat, descended; doing them an injury. more solid body, or its temperature will be the waters were repelled and flowed in a We will add that we perfectly agree little raised. The remainder of the paradirect line to Thessaly, deluged that coun- with the reverend author, in thinking that graph quoted, is correct, and by the princitry, and caused the flood of Deucalion; a change in the customs of our preachers ples we have stated explains the phenomand finally, at the crucifixion of our Sa- in this respect is very desirable,-and in enon. We will fully discharge our task of viour, the northeast part of America came resting our preference of extempore preach-faultfinding, by suggesting that the paraforth, and poured a deluge over the remain- ing chiefly upon the truth, beautifully exder of the continent. It will be observed, pressed by Milton. that the author is very particular in his dates and localities,-and that he has had the good fortune to ascertain with exactness, facts and periods about which the learned have hitherto doubted. The merits of this New Theory are not very obvious to us, but we are not disposed to discuss them at much length. We would suggest to the author, that there is no direct and distinct evidence of an universal deluge, except in the Scriptures, and they do not assert more plainly, that a deluge covered the. earth, than that the deluge was caused by forty days' rain. Now if we can imagine America thrown up from the roots of the deep, surely the multitudinous waters must have recoiled upon the opposing shores of the old world in a shape very different from True eloquence," says Milton, "I find to be none but the serious and hearty love of truth; and that whose mind soever is fully possessed with a fervent desire to know good things, and with the dearest charity to infuse the knowledge of them into others,—when such a man would speak, his words, like so many nimble and airy servitors, trip about him at command and in well ordered files, as he would wish, fall aptly into their places." graph, explaining the aberration of light, may not be perfectly intelligible to a young reader. We must be indulged in a few remarks upon the science, of which this book would teach the elements, however trite the subject, or what we have to say upon it, may seem. They who have little knowledge of astronomy are apt to think it of no practical importance; little connexion is seen between the ordinary duties of life, and a knowledge of other worlds and of the relations which exist between them and our own. We are not about to declaim against this ignorance and stupidity, but would show them, who have it yet to learn, that this science is eminently calculated to effect important practical uses. We would not open too wide a field, and therefore stop not to show how much the 8 study of Astronomy involves of the most useful principles in Natural Philosophy; but every one at all acquainted with the science, has remarked upon its tendency to elevate and ennoble the mind. What does this mean? That it fills the imagination with sublime and exalted views of Him, who built and rules these countless worlds? This it surely does, but it stops not here; its tendency to purify the heart, by correct-id, and resolute, patient labour? Mr Bryant does not seem to be wanting ing our selfishness, is no less to be valued than its power of enlarging the understand-in ambition, or in the disposition to attempt ing. In our early years we regard this lit- arduous things; but he sustains himself at tle globe as the greatest and most import- his loftiest height with so strong a wing, we cannot but think he might have gone Most of the pieces are very short, and all ant in the universe, and consider the sun and moon and stars as merely its servants. higher. We hope he is not lazy; we hope are upon subjects sufficiently trite; yet there Just so, we regard ourselves as the centre he is willing to do what no American has is very little of commonplace in any of them. of living beings, and consider all others as done; what no one but himself has given This is a striking characteristic of Mr more or less useful and important in the presumptive proof, that he can do. We Bryant's poetry, and seems to arise, not system of life, as they promote our objects trust he will attempt, with earnestness and from a determination to be eccentric, when and are subservient to our wills. Some- determination, to make one poem, long he can be nothing better, but because his thing of this utter self-conceit necessarily enough to task all his powers, and good mind has its own character, and will imleaves us as we advance in life, and more enough to reward his severest toil. Parts of press it upon all its works. He is a good uses fine words to of it becomes concealed, even from our- this volume are truly admirable, and have thinker, and never selves; but much, far too much remains. already won for their author an exalted adorn or conceal thoughts, which have no There are, however, few men and certainly and extended reputation; but he must intrinsic value or beauty. In this country there is no lack of poetno children, whose selfishness is so obdu- know, that it is regarded as a promise rate as not to yield in some degree to the rather than a performance; as indicating ical talent or of poetical aspirants; and it influence of a science, which at once car- rather the possession of extraordinary pow-grieves us to see the powers that are ries their thoughts away from themselves ers, than their exertion. Though the Eng-wasted in imitation of Goldsmith, of Scott, and the narrow world about them, and lish critics say of him, that their poets must of Byron, and, worst of all, of Moore. This places them in other centres and surrounds look to their laurels now that such a com- will not do; a mere imitator cannot be a them with other spheres, and discloses to petitor has entered the lists, yet let him poet; indeed, so much had we been sickthem a universe expanding into infinity, and remember, that a few jousts in the ring, ened by the "crambe recocta" of most of shows them how assuming and profane is never established the reputation of a knight. our versifiers, that we had begun to despair that self-love, which says, "I, and none If he adds not to the talents he has already of seeing an original poet formed on this exhibited, a capacity for more sustained side of the Atlantic; our pleasure was and persevering effort, than so small a equalled by our surprise, when we took up work,-elaborate as it is,-could require, Bryant's poems, listened to the uncommon he may make more odes and songs, beau-melody of the versification, wondered at the tiful as such things well can be, but will writer's perfect command of language, and never build up a lasting monument of found that they were American poems. mighty power, strenuously, resolutely, and We were not pleased with all alike, for the successfully put forth. construction of some lines in "The Ages," more pretension, have given the world power, which constitute a poet, would be abundant proof, that political and economic impatient of deformity. He could not sufwisdom came across the waters with our fer a false and gaudy glitter to mingle its fathers and are no way stinted in their ray with purer light, nor be satisfied, while growth in this new soil; but how many beautiful conceptions were clothed with books have we, which exhibit, like every inadequate and clumsy expressions. He page of Mr Bryant's poetry, an union of must, by the very condition of his poetical fine taste well taught and disciplined, with existence, do as Mr Bryant has done; an imagination, prompt, original and splend-labour on that, which he has written; scrutinize and meditate upon, not only his thoughts but the forms they assume, until it would not be easy to improve a single page, by striking out one idea or changing one expression. else beside me." Another moral use to be derived from this study results from the fact, that some sort of analogy between the material and spiritual heavens is perceived by every person, and is recognised in the Sacred Scriptures, and in the languages of all nations. This analogy is naturally and almost necessarily kept in view, while surveying the marks of wisdom and beneficence, displayed in the material heavens; and it is this which gives to the science that teaches "by this stupendous scaffolding, Creation's golden steps, to climb to Him," a dignity which illustrates no other ence, and almost invests it with the sanctity and the influence of religion. Poems, by William Cullen Bryant. Cam guage of Wordsworth, have been soothed by the deep and quiet tone of moral sentiment, which pervades many of the works of Southey, and delighted with the skilful adaptation of epithets in the odes of Collins; but we do not remember any poem, in which these high excellencies are more happily united, than in the short ode mentioned above. We are very far from complaining, that and in "Thanatopsis" reminded us rather the poetry now published by Mr Bryant, is too strongly of the Lake School; but the not sufficiently laboured; its defects, if anyode "To a Waterfowl," is a beautiful and it has, arise only from excessive fondness harmonious blending of various beauties into for certain models or styles of poetry. Our one. We have been awed with the boldnational fashion of doing every thing, is, to ness and sublimity of the metaphoric lansci-despatch the matter in hand, rather rapidly than thoroughly. A young man, therefore, toiling with persevering care upon a few pieces of poetry written in the intervals of professional exertion, is quite a strange sight. The poetry in this volume, is strongly marked with every characteristic which could be impressed upon it, by the most watchful, laborious, and repeated revision. We may have readers, who will think this, "The Ages" is the first and longest nothing in its favour; but we differ from poem, and was delivered before the B K them altogether. No valuable result can Society, at Cambridge. It is in the Spenrepay slight efforts for every great serian stanza; the following extract may thing must "be born of great endeav-serve as a specimen. ours;"—and this is as true of poetry as of all other things. A fortunate accident may throw into a poet's head, or upon his paper, some bright thoughts or happy lines; but it is not thus those things are written, over which time has no power. bridge, 1821. 12mo. 44 pages. WE are not afraid of praising Mr Bryant too much, but of praising him injudiciously. We are in little danger of giving the public too exalted an opinion of his poetic powers and works; but we feel that there is much in this little volume, which it is difficult to measure by any usual criterion, or to class with other works of kindred character. We have no hesitation in saying, that no American, whose productions are within our knowledge, has written so good poetry as Mr Bryant; and we confess, that in our opinion, no volume can be indicated more honorable to the literature of our country than this thin duodecimo. Other works of greater magnitude and Indeed, a true poet cannot be satisfied with imperfection; that exquisite perception of beauty, and the sensibility to its Has Nature, in her calm majestic march, Faltered with age at last? does the bright sun Grow dim in heaven? or, in their far blue arch, Sparkle the crowd of stars, when day is done, Less brightly? when the dew-lipped Spring comes on, Breathes she with airs less soft, or scents the sky "Look on this beautiful world, and read the truth "Will then the merciful One, who stamped our race With his own image, and who gave them sway Forget the ancient care that taught and nursed "Oh no! a thousand cheerful omens give Through the still lapse of ages. All that tread * * So shalt thou rest-and what if thou shalt fall His favourite phantom; yet all these shall leave come, And make their bed with thee. As the long train summer's heat; and both in summer and winter we clothe ourselves rather for an English than an American season. But a much more serious misconception is that, which takes for granted a similarity in political and moral condition. The books, which we read and approve, on theoretical politics, were written in countries wholly The political maxims, which pass undisputor nearly stationary in numbers and wealth. ed into our minds, have been established under a different kind of experience, and therefore furnish no guide to us. Nay more, as our situation and circumstances are constantly changing, our numbers rapidly multiplying, and our resources daily disclosing themselves, it is difficult rightly to interpret even our own experience. Far from listening merely to the truth and To the pale realms of shade, where each shall take the fact of today, we cannot thoroughly His chamber in the silent halls of death, POLITICS. Among the smaller pieces, we are most pleased with that "To a Waterfowl;" but it has been so often quoted, we dare not ON THE GROWTH OF THE UNITED STATES OF extract it. Perhaps we have quoted enough already; the book must be in many of the hands into which we should wish our Ga zette to fall, but there cannot be any who "To him who in the love of Nature holds Of the stern agony, and shroud, and pall, Yet not to thy eternal resting place all, Old ocean's grey and melancholy waste,- Of the great tomb of man. The golden sun, AMERICA. reason on American politics, without wisely calculating what will be the fact and what will be the truth fifty or one hundred years hence. In Let us make the application of this remark to the subject of our national debt. No one needs be asked to reflect, that the burden of a debt depends upon its relation to the resources of the debtor. hangs round one man's neck like a millprivate life, a debt of one hundred dollars stone, while his wealthy neighbour borrows THE rapid increase of population and the a hundred thousand dollars, to help make The little debt great accumulation of wealth, in this coun- up a profitable voyage. try, have been often enough the topics of may be ruinous to the one, the great debt remark. We have all frequently heard that may be advantageously contracted by the our population has doubled in the period of other. If by any turn of the wheel of forabout twenty-three years, since the earliest tune, the poor fellow, who is ruined by his settlement of the country. We have all, debt of one hundred dollars, could come with more or less attention, contemplated into possession of one hundred thousand, his the tide of emigration, which is constantly former debt of course would be in the last carrying this population westward, filling degree insignificant. Now our country is in the new States and yet not exhausting the possession of a fund of rapidly increasing old. We have become familiar with the national wealth. This fund consists in the spectacle of regions, which, but a genera- almost indefinite capacity of increase in tion ago, were an almost uninhabited wil-numbers and of multiplication of resources. derness, now not only the abode but the nursery of men, from which other regions, farther distant in the boundless west, are in their turn receiving their inhabitants,-to a degree to authorize the striking remark in the late powerful speech of Mr. Clay on internal improvements, that "the greatest migrating States in the Union at this time, are Kentucky first, Ohio next, and Tennessee next." In the year 1850, there is no reason to doubt that this country, instead of ten millions of inhabitants, will contain twenty millions, each of whom will, in the average, be as wealthy as each one of the present population. There is no reason to doubt this; and the whole experience of the country furnishes reasons to admit it. Thus then, in the year 1850 one half of the debt of the United States will be paid off, But though the United States have been though its nominal amount may remain the and still are in a state of astonishing pro- same as it is now; that is to say, the peogress, to which the world affords no paral-ple of the United States, who owe this lel,-a progress impossible, under institutions less free, or geographical conditions less propitious,- -we think that the influence of this growth, actual and prospective, has not been sufficiently studied. It we mistake not, several consequences of high practical importance result immediately from it, which have not been as yet duly estimated and borne in mind. It has been justly said that, as far as climate goes, our forefathers brought with them, and their children have preserved, the manners and modes of life of a different region. We build our houses too slightly to resist the winter's cold or the sum, will be a body twice as numerous, and composed of individuals, on the average, each as wealthy. This one reflection, of a nature obvious enough to approve itself even to a hasty reader, will suffice to show the wonderful felicity of our situation. Could any statesman lay claim to the glory of having, by an act of policy, a judicious investment, a fortunate commutation of stocks, reduced a public debt of one hundred millions to fifty millions, in the space of twenty-three or four years, without any tax upon the people, direct or indirect, and without the appropria |