AND Journal of Belles Lettres, Arts, Sciences, etc. This Journal is supplied Weekly, or Monthly, by the principal Booksellers and Newsmen throughout the Kingdom: but to those who may desire No. 204. NEW ROYAL SOCIETY. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1820. We have the highest gratification in stating that a great literary establishment is about to be formed, under the patronage of the King: the following plan has been published. Royal Society of Literature, for the encouragement of indigent merit, and the promotion of general literature. To consist of Honorary Members, Subscribing Members, and Associates. The Class of Honorary Members is intended to comprise some of the most eminent literary men in the three kingdoms, and the most distinguished female writers of the present day. An annual subscription of Two Guineas, will constitute a Subscribing Member. Subscribers of Ten Guineas, and upwards, will be entitled to privileges hereafter mentioned, according to the date of their subscription. The Class of Associates is to consist of twenty men of distinguished learning, authors of some creditable work of literature, and men of good moral character; ten under the patronage of the King, and ten under the patronage of the Society. a manly, wise, and noble suggestion: The polite literature of England has long felt the necessity of a rallying point, of being enabled to come before the country with something of the corporate and acknowledged form which has been found essential to all its leading institutions. Eminently calculated to be a great public agent, it has desired to have the stability and the honours that must give it public power, and excite public emulation. The Sciences have had royal patronage for more than a hundred years; the Arts have had it for half a century. But general literature, in its extent of history, philosophy, poetry, and political writing, is above all other movers of the national mind, and deserves and requires in all intelliHis Majesty has been pleased to express, in gent views of the public service, to rethe most favourable terms, his approbation of ceive the most liberal and dignified the proposed Society, and to honour it with his protection. Without this protection, munificent patronage, by assigning the annual this honourable and solemn summons sum of One Hundred Guineas each, to ten of the Associates, payable out of the Privy Purse; to the service of the country, literature and also an annual premium of One Hundred will be either neutral or adverse. We Guineas for the best dissertation on some inter-are not speaking in the confidence of the esting subject, to be chosen by a council belong-promoters of the present plan, and thus ing to the Society. PRICE 8d. his part in the hurry of the world, but Oh! for a lodge in some vast wilderness, His penetration shows him the hollow- It is remarkable how little the higher Teu Associates will be placed under the pa. we implicate no man in our opinions; Itterature has mingled itself in the distronage of the Society, as soon as the subscrip- but we cannot persuade ourselves to turbances of late years. The country tions (a large portion of which will be annually draw any other conclusion from its suc- has been in great agitation. The minor funded for the purpose) shall be sufficient, and cess, than that of turning the genius of agents of mischief have been busied in in proportion as they become so. An Annual Subscriber of Ten Guineas, continued for five England into the current of English dismantling, fragment by fragment, the years, or a Life Subscription of One Hundred loyalty. The process may have been un-constitution; the war on morals and Guineas, will entitle such subscribers to nominate intentional. There may yet be no result the healthful allegiance of the English an Associate under the Society's patronage, ac-of the kind in the contemplation that mind, has been desperate and unrelaxing; cording to the date of their subscription. The Associates under the patronage of the formed the society. It may have been it has come, like the battle of the TroKing, will be elected by respected and competent a mere generous zeal for the sufferings jans, with its tumultuary array, trampJudges. The Associates nominated by subscri- of obscure merit; and there have been ling and triumphing to the very trench; bers must have the same qualifications of learn- instances of liberality in its illustri- but no magnificent champion has been ing, moral character, and public principle, as those who are elected, and must be approved by ous patron, enough to give such aroused from his indolence, and come the same judges. complexion to the design. It may forth; no Achilles has flung down his Every Associate, at his admission, will choose have also been from the enlightened zeal idle lyre, and shouted, and turned the some subject, or subjects, of literature for dis-and national feeling, which, know-day. The battle has been nobly fought cussion, and will engage to devote such discussions to the Society's Memoirs of Literature, of ing that literature is the glory of a king-in the senate; great ability has been which a volume will be published by the Society, dom, is desirous of adding that last united with great zeal, and there has from time to time; in which Memoirs will like wreath to all its wreaths of wisdom and conquered. But the true place of comwise be inserted the successive Prize Disserta-valour. We have no knowledge that tions. From the months of February to July, it is purposed that a weekly meeting of the Society whall be held, and a monthly meeting during the other six months of the year. This is the suggestion of His Majesty, and we do not hesitate to say that it is VOL. IV. bat is without the walls of the legislathe idea looked farther. But we are full ture. It is in the fields and marketof the conviction that this measure will places, and highways, and dwellings of be the source of a renovated vigour in the multitude. And this battle must constitutional loyalty. The nature of be fought, not by the sword, nor even the higher literature is to be tranquil. by the tongue, but by the pen. The The poet, or the philosopher, may bear few poets who have taken a part in the heat of the day have been on the dis- What mighty spirits may be commanded ject of true importance is to give the affected side, and have, to the disgust from the sleep where they have lain as scattered genius of England a collect. of all good men, and the disgrace of in the grave; to put on wings, and form; to gather it, like the steam, from their art, levelled their chief attacks pass over the face of the people in light, wasting itself on empty air, and to cor at the individual to whom duty and feel- and speak with the voice of the trum- bine and direct its irresistible ebulliti ing should have offered their first ho-pet: must be told by time. But to this to purposes of grandeur and utility the mage. The other able writers have institution we look for results of which baffle all other strength. It should a: kept aloof from the tumult, which they we must not presume to limit the ex-be the prize for a few highly favour might have subdued, but which they panse, the duration, or the splendour. and envied men, but a rational expecte waited for the command to subdue. The prospectus at the head of this tion and cherished honour for the whe We are strong in the belief, that the article, sufficiently details the more im-multitude of accomplished minds; literary mind of the nation, concentrated portant features; and we have but few the pinnacle of a rock to which no ne by the royal encouragement, would remarks to add. It strikes us, that the adventurer could climb till the stand have scorched up and exhausted the number of the associates is too narrow. on it was flung from its barren a malignity which has grown pestilent It ought to comprehend all who have solitary eminence, but the gate of only by being left unvisited by the light. distinguished themselves in the litera-temple, into which the whole intellect There is no exaggeration in this belief ture that impresses the general mind, the pomp might march together, and wa of the potency of even the gentler lite-eminent divine, the poet, the historian, ship in hallowed and high-thought rature. History is crowded with ex- the political writer, the great critic, the unity. There should be no exceptin amples of the wonders of popular poetry; master of ancient literature. It ought but for disloyalty, or licentiousness. Th factions have been beaten down, and further to have room for those persons writer of studied insults to the throne, thrones sustained by its vigour. In all of birth, or rank in the state, whose to religious, or moral order, shou the great commotions of states, the pre-presence would add to the public respect be rigorously excluded, whatever migh sence of literature has instantly been for the body. Such men will command be his ability. And this, not simply for felt, as swelling or abating the storm-admission. But on the present scale, it the punishment of the individual, but fe a mighty and superior influence, that must be by the exclusion of the true ob- a caution to the whole body of candi speaking with the voice of man, has jects of election. By confining the dates. It is of the highest consequence more than the power of man, and "it number to twenty, literary jealousy may to teach early circumspection, to the me calleth to the winds and the sea, and lo! be roused, not conciliated: the excluded in whose genius is laid so large a powe they obey him." What this magnificent will be the hostile. The Institution of good and evil. Loyalty and more. principle can do under the command ought to comprehend every man who must be inculcated by hope, till they tr of kingly authority, under the en-has written with merit. The pensions come habitual from principle. We couragement of national honours, with may be but twenty; the honour of ad- not altogether approve of the title of the the eyes of the country turned on it, mission, with the right of succeeding to Institution. "For the encouragement r and the pre-eminent cause of morals, the pension, ought to extend to at least indigent mérit, and the promotion ofg loyalty, and patriotism committed to its a hundred. In twenty, the vacancies neral literature." We would omit defence, is yet to be shewn. But by will be so rare, and the canvassing former clause. It unintentionally thro this Institution the first grand advance so difficult, before a year is past, that something like humiliation over t will have been made. We live in an a writer unassisted by powerful con- society. Ridicule will be busy, and t age of aspiring literature: the poetic nexion, might as well expect to be-associates will be classed among the mind of England has surrounded itself come a minister of state. The ap-digent. The justifiable pride of ges with a new offspring. But we have yet pointment on its largest scale ought not may be thus insulted, and the honour ascertained no limit to its capacities of to wait for the accumulation of funds*. the appointment will certainly be din production. How many master-minds The pension is valuable as a royal nished, by the stigma of the title. D may be in reserve for the day when honour, but unimportant as an income. affection will call them the "King literature is to take its place among the No man with talent enough to live by Paupers ;" and no man is insensible: honoured of the earth; to wear the em- his pen, can set any serious considera- perpetual popular derision. The t blems of that service which is the tion on an addition of 100 pounds to his ought to be changed; the object may b proudest freedom; to stand in the shel- revenue. No such writer could place it equally preserved. It might be fatal ter of the throne which it secures; and in competition with the honour; none the institution to commence by offendic share the national gratitude to the sove-would chuse to be excluded from the the delicacy of men, generally caution reign by whom that throne is filled in society, till they could receive the pen- of appearing to be dependent in pr honour, and justice, and noble triumph sion: all precedent is in our favour. portion as they are humble in fortuar over evil times! What intellectual in- The French Academy had forty members. and it is for these, that the society shoc flux may come when the royal libe- Yet, even in this extension, the literary be constituted. rality pauses in its orbit above" that men were overwhelmed by the compe- The encouragement of indigent men tide divine," and shoots down its ray tition of men of rank. Cardinals, and is a charitable object. But in Englat direct! What chosen multitude may Princes of the Blood, crushed out the the instances of merit totally destitut gather from the east and the west, to life of the society. A hundred seats are rare; and they are never known b fill up the seats that are still empty at might have left room for all. The obthe great intellectual table! What "mute inglorious Miltons" may be suimoned from the mountain and the valley to" vindicate the ways of God to man!" It is, however, our earnest advice to every lover of literature, possessed of the means, to step forward promptly and co-operate with the King in this splendid design. That excellent Institution, The Latera Fund Society, occupies this ground; and we joice to know, that its exertions and success .* likely to be greatly increased at the next and versary. B to be patronized. From Stephen Duck, measure which we strongly advocate. discontent, for it points its view to down to Clare, there is no instance of a Whether candidates are to be allowed conquests and honours, in the very want of public generosity. To give a pro- to canvass for admission; a mode of competition for which a new and musvision to all the rustics who would de- which we fully disapprove, as tending to cular energy is elaborated in the mind. mand it on the ground of making infinite meannesses and dissatisfactions. The common trophies of empire pass rude verses, would exhaust ten times the Whether memoirs of the deceased mem-away by the inevitable law of nature. funds of the society. But by another bers are to be read by their successors, Victories are forgotten in the dimness method, great service might be done. or read at all, &c. &c.; a matter which of years, or reprobated as a melancholy The difficulty with a young writer, is to produced great excitement in the French waste of human happiness; but the appear before the public, The expense Academy, but which might be in some triumphs of literature are without reof printing is beyond his means; and degree adverse to our habits. All may grets, and imperishable. They are the few printers will adventure on an un- be the subject of future discussion. But generous wealth that may be lavished tried name. The society might receive on all possible publicity we insist, as on all the earth, through all its genera all such works, subject to the decision the life-blood of the plan. The nation tions, without diminishing the treasure of a Committee as to their hope of suc- takes no interest in proceedings with of the bestower; the great legacy of nacess, and print them; give the profits to closed doors. Private meetings and tions, that makes the giver only the more the author, with perhaps a small dona-consultations are of course necessary; opulent, and superior to the tomb; the tion, as a prize and an assistance, and but the public must have the power of illustrious liberality that falls nowhere thus launch him into the world. Authors being occasionally present, as in the Fo-in vain, but returns like the rain from of valuable works too costly for the reign Academies, or even the spirit of heaven, to its original source, after havhazards of the publisher, might also be the members perishes. There is some ing gone through its mighty round of assisted in their publication. This rule frivolity undoubtedly in these promiscu- fertilizationt, Attica is a haunt of barwould cheer many a venerable labourer ous admissions, but there is also solid barians, and its triumphal arches are in the literary field, while it secured the service. The secret of the superior dust and ashes. But what civilized man benefit of his labours to the public. A activity of the French Literary Societies, treads upon the soil, but as on the place isimilar árrangement would be well lies in those crowded displays. The of a supernatural presence? The land worthy of the other royal societies. object is to bring the nation to feel an is haunted to him by the spirits of the An important service might be ren-interest in this assemblage of its litera- mighty; there is a charm in the name dered, by taking under their patronage ry champions; and the interest is to be of Greece; and its freedom is among some of those poor and singular boys of maintained in no other way than by the hopes and prayers of all the nobler genius, who distinguish themselves at suffering them to be seen. Observa- minds of the world. The day of vicisschool, and superintending their edu- tions still crowd upon us; but we must situde has not come upon England; but cation. have done. If we have an additional she has her trials, and must not abandon The arrangements of the society satisfaction, it is that of recollecting the a single source of stability and confiwould be a matter of further and easy source from which this design emanates.dence against the future. consideration. All the officers con-It enables us to pay a new homage to nected with its literary concerns, ex- the altar and the throne, We have taken cept the president, should be provisional, no part in the late convulsions of public for the first year, or until the society opinion. Our business is with books; assumes its settled shape. The Se- we leave the mob to more ardent aincretaries are of the utmost importance:bition. But it is a high gratification to For in a short time all the vital business feel that the first work of the Royal + His Majesty has, we believe, intrusted the comes into their hands. They are vir- mind, after this season of offence, has formation of the Institution, (The Royal Sotually the directors. They must be of been to exhibit patriotism in its most ciety of Literature,) which has called forth these decided literary powers. The French unquestioned form, to answer unmerited remarks, to the learned and eminent Prelate, Academy rose or sank with the reputa- imputations by kingly liberality, and in Thomas Burgess, the Bishop of St. Davids. whose name we have already mentioned, Dr. tion of the secretaries. The most im- the hour when fools and traitors insult-The names of several individuals who have taken portant part of the readings before the ed the majesty of the throne, to show part in bringing the design to its present matusociety was of their composition. its forgiveness in ministering to the rity, have been mentioned to us, but we do not D'Alembert's volume of Discourses on present and perpetual glory of the fice it to say, that other branches of the Royal feel as yet at liberty to make them public. Sufthe eminent members, is a striking mo-nation. We are also glad to find, that Family have become subscribers; that Ministers nument of the labours of his place. Be- to the detail of this design the aid of give their aid; that many of the most distinsides those, he left not less than sixty in the altar, has been summoned; and that guished among the clergy concur in promoting manuscript. At all the sittings, it de- what was conceived in patriotism, is to universities are among its friends. The funds the plan; that the leading members of both the pended on this able and versatile man to be completed in learning, wisdom, and are already considerable, and we are sure this sustain the interest of the assemblage. piety. The prelate to whom the ar- public notice will raise them considerably; as The secretaries must be not mere rangements are committed, is a man beretofore, the only question has been “ scholars, nor mere men of business; honorable by every title of literature auspices formed, and where the subscriptions to whom the Society was projected, under whose their chief requisite is eloquence as and religion. The civil fabric is thus establish it in splendid sufficiency were to be writers. consecrated. We look to the commence-made?" Having shewn that the highest authoment of this magnificent Institute with strong anxiety. It is the true way to draw off the general mind from petty The Bishop of St. Davids. * Ιθι μας, πότοις, πολιν τα δε, EURIP. by It is yet to be settled, whether the society is to have periodical meetings yearly, or within any other limit, to which the public are to be admitted; a. rity not only sanctions but zealously favours the design; that his Majesty may be considered as its are certain that men of every rank and station personal as well as royal founder and patron; we in the community will press forward to have the REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS. IR t Amarynthus the Nympholept; Lucy Milford, and other Poems. 12mo. pp. 232. London, 1820. There is an American bird of singular qualities. It is called The Mocking Bird, and has the power of imitating the notes of every chorister in the grove, from the dulcet twitter of the humming bird, to the harsh scream of the Macaw; while its native song is undistinguished by any peculiar harmony. Were we to imagine a human creature of this genus, we should fancy a poet to whom it was alike easy to assume the chirping of the honourable Mr. S., the melody of Moore, the intensity of Byron, or the swelling tones of Scott; but who, when he attempted original verse, did not produce any thing strikingly different from the more common descants of the day. Such would be Mr. Horace Smith, one of the authors of the justly famed Rejected Addresses, and the reputed writer of The Nympholept. The Nympholept is a pastoral drama, in three long acts; but before drawing up the curtain, we had better inform our readers what the name means; for the disease of Nympholepsy has either become extinct, or is, in our times, attended by other symptoms and results. It seems then that The Nuoro of the Greeks, and the Lymphati or Lymphatici of the Romans, were men supposed to be possessed by the Nymphs, and driven to phrensy, either from having seen one of those mysterious beings, or from the maddening effect of the oracular caves in which they resided. Plutarch particularly mentions, that the Nymphs Sphrahonour of contributing to its endowment and completion. We have obtained a copy of the first prize questions to be proposed (which, we understand, will soon be officially announced) and take the liberty of anticipating their promulgation, they are as follows, 1st. For the King's premium of one hundred guineas. On the age, writings, and genius of Homer; and on the state of religion, society, learning, and the arts, during that period, collected from the writings of Homer. d. For the Society's premium of fifty guineas. Dartmoor, a poem. ' 34. For the Society's premium of twenty five guineas. On the history of the Greek language, on the present language of Greece, and on the differences between ancient and modern Greek, g gitides haunted a cave on Mount Citharon, the minute, which all true poets have re- quite sufficient to inflame the combustible Phoebidas and Amarillis! The versification of the entire drama is of every measure, the transitions being as rapid as they are sometimes out of all rule." But it is generally smooth, though not a few instances might be quoted with which no musical ear can fail to be distracted. A line like the following is intolerable. "I must haste bring "Water from the holy well for our lustrations." Upon this basis, the author has constructIt is truly surprising to meet with so ed his drama; in which Amarynthus, a mor- much sweet poetry, coupled with 30 many tal, is seized with Nympholepsy, and cured proofs af bad taste-so many clear maniby (Dryope) a wood-nymph's marrying him, festations of true genius, linked to examples by which act she becomes also mortal, and of the merest meretricious glitter. We nia,) whose doom was involved in this event. thesis, that the author has mistaken his vein releases to the sky a nymph of the air, (Ura- cannot account for it except on the hypoThe other characters are, Theucarila a vir--which to us appears to be the humorous, gin priestess of Pan; Enome, a Delphic with bursts of pathos, and not the sustained girl, endued with a prophetic spirit; Ama sentimental. And yet it is in the more farillis, a shepherdess beloved by and loving miliar scenes that the greatest failure is Phoebidas; Phoebidas; Celadon, a rich Athe- obvious: they are almost invariably mean, nian of a vicious character; and one or two though the serious and higher efforts are other unimportant personages. some of them excellent, while others are no farther blemished, than by the employ ment of some poor word or common-place combination of language. In the plot the whole circle of heathen mythology is ransacked, and the scene, "Arcady the blest," is peopled by all the agricultural divinities of early Grecian theogony. However, as it is more as a poem than as a play, that Amarynthus presents itself for judgment; we shall refrain from inquiring into its dramatic pretensions, and look at it simply as a pastoral in dialogue. In this point of view, it appears to us to be of a description, as mixed and full of contrariety as almost any production which we ever read. The gold and the clay are conjoined as in Nebuchadnezzar's image. There are passages of extraordinary beauty, and there are others as mean as possible. We shall, we trust, be enabled to communi- The prevailing fault is a decided tendency oate further details as they arise, respecting a towards the lowest species of poetical complan so important to Britain and British litera- position of the present period that which ture, in sequent Numbers of the Literary Ga-mistakes vulgarity of phrase for simplicity, ין For example, we are told of "the fall of reverend knees;" of "showering of golden sashes elsewhere;" of persons walking in a corn-field being "zoned by waving sheets of gold, embossed with Flora's rich embroid breezes that with beaks resounds of flying offluent lips being tasted" of in "a shuddering shiver" of unfurling the book of fate;" of a "heart throbbing a peal; and of a multitude of circumstances spoilt by such forced or conceited epithets. A few brief quotations will further expose this preposterous system. Celadon is endeavouring to rouse Amarillis' jealousy, touching one "plump Tilphosa ;" and she replies The first has already, if we remember rightly, been a subject of learned discussion, as well as of a recent work, by Mr. Payne Knight. The second is by no means so barren of incident for the highest poetical illustration as its name might seem to imports. And the third is replete with interest. Seste. Hold and affectation for grace; and the use of Thy poisonous tengue, unmannerly deceiver ! To his known falsehood; but no longer worry Thy soul about him. Is not his desertion Base? Is not absence infidelity? And doth it well become a modest maid To follow one who holds her in aversion? Amarillis. Traduccr, he does not. OI could ery Amarillia. Ohare shall feel my blow. too near, Lest she should gore thee :-recollect thewoes About your dog. And nibbled every green and tender tip; Limp'd home, and cannot walk even now. me Next burst his wrath. This reminds us of the ballad ditty- Ob, thither went my dog and I. We wish however to get to the end of the disagreeable part of our task; and, instead of pointing out what we cannot help censuring in this production, indulging in the quotation of its beauties. We shall therefore with the utmost brevity advert to the remaining blemishes. The following touch at simplicity, conveys an idea eminently ludicrous: an enthusiast of nature exclaims, How sweet are the remembered smells We now give an example of a fine image being pursued till it becomes absurd. 3 In the sea's depths. No wave of ocean new To hear him thus abused! und vo This "worry" is a favourite word. Phabidas. Ay; he with heat oppress'd Haunted with nympholeptic dreams, that dull Back, base man! Or I will set my dog at thee By Pan! brook [Exit. Down in the vale. Thou wealthy wooer, keep I'll lie, and plot revenge for slighted love. [Exit. Amarillis. Gather up your kine! ·་ག ི། ོ་ For see, my sheep have sought the hazel shades. Beside you will I listen to your tale. You know I was a goat-herd in the vale trong What! think'st thou that the whistling wind drove, And sat and piped beneath an almond tree, reap The wind. Far happier is the goat-herd's lot, Unto the moon, and, with a gushing sigh, 23: But is commission'd, and that parting breath, Their races odorous. This woody realm The answer to this declamation is equally far fetched. We shall but mention, that the when he makes the shepherds of Arcadia author is guilty of some anachronisms, as talk of "Lucifer" as an evening star; and a priest of Pan call for his "Alb and Amice," the last-mentioned garment being so peculiarly Romish. But we now approach pleasant ground. The Nympholept is thickly studded with gems of the purest lustre; and has many splendid parts which breathe the very soul of poetry, without an alloying taint. The former it is difficult to detach; but we shall endeavour to pick out a few of them as examples. Contrast between luxury and nature. climb, And pour down lighted music from above? Is dyed to amethyst and ruby? afly? ba At dumbest midnight, to the green-wood glade, ing, As if the grass lay fast asleep, and breathing. There is perhaps some grandiloquence in the annexed comparison, but it is beau tiful. Amarillis expecting her lover, watches the usual approach of his dog, and says→→→ |