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rary controversy, or are taken up with some other topic of merely local wonder, and long extinguished interest. We traversed with impatient step far enough into the wilderness of correspondence, before we lighted on a single paragraph which we thought worthy of being transferred to our pages. The following anecdote, communicated by a gentleman at Cambridge, of the celebrated Gray, is, as far as we remember, perfectly novel, although it is in complete unison with the whole course of the poet's collegiate life.

Gray's effeminacy was the means of making him a perpetual subject of ridicule among the young men of the university. He took it into his head once to let his whiskers grow, in order to counteract the idea of his, being less masculine than befitted the character of the sublime author of the "Bard." A wag of the same college bribed one of the scouts to let his whiskers grow likewise. As he was a large black-looking fellow he very soon exceeded Gray in the dimensions of his mustachios, and when a vulgar joke from a bed-maker was superadded to this species of ridicule, the poor poet was obliged to give up to the wits this only proof of his manhood.'-vol. i., p. 213.

We have so often spoken in the course of our literary labours of the merits of Mr. Polwhele as a writer, that we feel it unnecessary to do more at present than to state that, after deliberately revising our former judgments, we are happy in being enabled to give them all the strength which they can derive from our maturer sanction.

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ART. XX. Evenings in Greece: the Poetry by Thomas Moore, Esq., the Music by H. R. Bishop. First Evening. 4to. 15s. Power. 1827. THE title page of this volume presents no common attractions to the lovers both of poetry and music. The associated names of Moore and Bishop are quite sufficient to give the world assurance of a delightful work. Nothing can be more simple than the plan of the Evenings in Greece.' 'In connecting together a series of songs,' says Mr. Moore, by a thread of poetical narrative, the object has been to combine recitation with music, to as so enable a greater number of persons to take a share in the performance, by enlisting, as readers, those who may not feel themselves competent as singers.' The story is, indeed, extremely slender and is merely used as a slight frame-work, on which the author has chosen to suspend his floral wreaths. The scene of the story, however, such as it is, has been very appropriately laid in Greece, where the faculty of improvisation is very general. The lively imaginations of the modern Greeks turn every thing into poetry-and they have as singular a talent for the improvisation of music as of harmonious numbers*. Indeed, the Greek poets are generally obliged to furnish the melody as well as the words of their songs-it is lucky for our poets that they are not expected to be so musical. If Scott, Southey, Crabbe, Wordsworth, or Moore, were to be asked for an air "upon compulsion," and if the fame of these gentlemen were, as in modern Attica, to depend upon their inventing one, we are afraid that the last-named author would be the only individual among them, who could assert a claim to be remembered.

* See M. Fauriel's Preface to "Chants Populaires de la Grèce Moderne."

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The Evenings in Greece' open with a chorus of Greek warriors, who are quitting the Island of Zia, to fight against their Turkish tyrants. Their Zian loves resolve to wait their return, by the side of a fountain, round which they are every evening to assemble, and here they lose and beguile the creeping hours of time with poetry and music. We extract the first of their songs. The music, which is singularly expressive and beautiful, is the composition of Bishop.

'The sky is bright-the breeze is fair,

And the mainsail flowing, full and free-
Our farewell word is woman's pray'r,
And the hope before us-Liberty!
Farewell-farewell.

To GREECE we give our shining blades,
And our hearts to you, young ZIAN Maids!

The moon is in the heavens above,
And the wind is on the foaming sea-
Thus shines the star of woman's love
On the glorious strife of liberty!
Farewell-farewell.

TO GREECE we give our shining blades,

And our hearts to you, young ZIAN maids!-p. 2.

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An air full of gaiety and playfulness, called The Romaika,' is one of Mr. Moore's musical contributions to this volume. We think that those of our fair readers who have the book, and will try this song on the piano, will agree with us in voting it a most fascinating piece. The words are adapted to the strain with that felicity of art, in which Mr. Moore is quite unrivalled.

The concluding melody, Maidens of Zia,' harmonised for three voices, is also Mr. Moore's composition. It is tender, pathetic, and peculiarly beautiful, whether we consider the poetry, or the notes in which it may be said to breathe. It is pre-eminent for one charm, which is diffused, more or less, over all the songs in this collection-that of the frequent use of the mellifluous names and magical localities of Greece. We must give the words:

'Here, while the moonlight dim
Falls on that mossy brim,
Sing we our Fountain Hymn,
Maidens of ZIA!

Nothing but music's strain,
When lovers part in pain,
Soothes, till they meet again,
Oh maids of ZIA!

'Bright Fount, so clear and cold,
Round which the nymphs of old
Stood, with their locks of gold,
Bright Fount of ZIA !

Not even CASTALY,

Fam'd though its streamlets be,
Murmurs or shines like thee,

Oh Fount of ZIA!

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Thou, while our hymn we sing,
Thy silver voice shalt bring,
Answering, answering,

Sweet Fount of ZIA!
Oh! of all rills that run,
Sparkling by moon or sun,
Thou art the fairest one,

Bright Fount of ZIA!

Now, by those stars that glance
Over heav'n's still expanse,
Weave we our mirthful dance,
Daughters of ZIA!

Such as, in former days,
Were danc'd, by DIAN's rays,
Where the EUROTAS strays,
Oh maids of ZIA!

'But when to merry feet
Hearts with no echo beat,
Say, can the dance be sweet?
Maidens of ZIA!

No, nought but music's strain,
When lovers part in pain,

Soothes, till they meet again,

Oh! Maids of ZIA!'-pp. 79, 80.

We might select from almost every page clusters of those diamondlighted similes, for which Mr. Moore is usually so distinguished. We must, however, content ourselves with one example, which, though extremely rich and oriental, is finished in every part, and exquisitely happy. "At length, a low and tremulous sound

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Was heard from midst a group, that round

A bashful maiden stood, to hide

Her blushes, while the lute she tried—

Like roses, gathering round to veil

The song of some young nightingale,

Whose trembling notes steal out between

The clustered leaves, herself unseen.'-p. 57.

Mr. Moore can afford to be told of his faults-and we have the less tenderness in pointing out the defects of the present volume, as they are evidently the results of haste and carelessness. His ear is too delicately constructed, to allow him any other excuse for such lines as

Gushing, at once, from the hard rock.'-p. 78.

or the following, which are the less excusable, as being intended for music. We ought to state that the musical notation affords no authority for the false accentuation given to the words:

'Over Heaven's still expanse,'-p. 80.
• Were danc'd, by Dian's rays,'-p. 80.
• When lovers part in pain,'-p. 79.

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Answering, answering,'-p. 79.

Qualis in Eurotæ ripis, aut per juga Cynthi
Exercet Diana choros."- Virgil.

We need say nothing of the perpetual sibilation of these lines, nor of the feeble iteration in the last.

Besides the airs we have mentioned, we think favourably of the Two Fountains,' which is a very graceful canzonet. The War Dance' is also full of boldness and genius. Oh, Memory,' is the well known air of Caraffa, which begins with the words," Cara Memoria."

ART. XXI. Discourses on a Future Existence, tending to Establish the Doctrine of a Recognition of Each Other. By the late Rev. R. Shepherd, D.Ď. 8vo. pp. 70. London: W. Wetton. 1827.

To believe that we shall be able to resume, in a state of subsequent existence, those pleasing relations, and that communion with some of our fellowbeings, which formed the source of such solid happiness in this life, is so consoling, that we eagerly catch at any ground of confidence in the truth of the persuasion. The three discourses before us, present some very strong constructive evidence in favour of the hypothesis, derived from unaided reason and the authority of the Sacred Writings. It will be admitted, as a highly probable position at least, that all those means of rational happiness which we enjoy in this life will be continued to us, and doubtless in a more expanded and improved form, in the world to come. There is no property of man which so distinguishes him from the animal kind as his social disposition, and it is reasonable to presume that an attribute so peculiar will be preserved to him hereafter. It follows then, that some portion, at all events, of his happiness in an immortal state, will be derived from the indulgence of this disposition. Again, there is just ground for assuming, that all his intellectual faculties will likewise be reserved to man, after he shall have passed from this life, to a state of happiness in the next. But if by the exercise of that memory, which will then be extended and quickened, he can recollect the virtuous and pleasing connections of his earthly life, is it consistent with the benevolent order of Providence, that man shall have the power of recurring to this source of happiness, and know that he never can resume the same relations, or continue the same communion?

Another favourable presumption is drawn from the general concurrence of mankind in this belief. It is common to the most polished nations, and to the beings of savage life. “ When," exclaims Cicero (de Senectute), "shall I be able to join my beloved Cato in the assembly of the great and good!" Virgil, improving on the doctrine, represents the inhabitants of the Elysian fields, pursuing the same avocations, in which they took delight in this world:

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Armorumque fuit vivis; quæ cura nitentes

Pascere equos, eadem sequitur tellure repostos."

The poor African that is sold to slavery, is consoled by the hope of rejoining his family, as soon as death shall have released him from the fangs of his fellow-men. This is the burden of his song of rapture, when his heart is exhilirated: this is the theme of his comfort, when he sits down by the waters of captivity and weeps.

These arguments, thus supplied by reason, are quite consistent with

Scriptural testimony, as far as it goes. When we are told that the good shall be as the angels of God, it is reasonable to infer that they shall be qualified by this resemblance for, and shall actually enjoy, the communion of those angels. The whole tenor of Revelation represents the blessed in the next life as forming one society-one kingdom;-and is it probable that, with the opportunity of intercourse with each other, and possessing, as we are entitled to hope that they will, their former faculties and dispositions in a more refined and extended form, men will not have the power of mutual recognition? As far then as rational speculation can advance, as far as an argument derived from the probability of an universal instinct can avail, and as far as the testimony of Scripture can weigh, testimony that is highly important both in its negative and constructive import, we see very fair grounds for believing that a capacity as well as a desire to recognise those, who were the objects of our affection and esteem in this life, will accompany us in that state of happiness to which we shall deserve to be translated from this world.

ART. XXII. A History of Inventions and Discoveries, alphabetically arranged. By F. Sellon White, Esq. F.A.S., many years on the Military Staff of India. 8vo. pp. 547. 15s. boards. London: Rivingtons. 1827.

It is highly creditable to the judgment of a military gentleman, that he should have employed his time to so useful a purpose, as that of compiling such a work as the present for it is a species of production, to which an extensive acquaintance with books, laborious accuracy, and persevering diligence, were essentially necessary. The first materials for the work were collected by Mr. White, merely to amuse his leisure. They gradually expanded into a shape, which led him to decide upon giving the fruit of his researches to the world.

As a collection of very curious and important facts on miscellaneous subjects as an improved form of common-place book, this compilation possesses considerable value. But the adoption of a title so comprehensive as that which is prefixed to these pages, gives rise to expectations of complete and extensive arrangements, which are far from being justified by their contents. It would be an endless task to demonstrate by instances of total omission, or by examples of inadequate detail (the notice sometimes degenerating into a crude, unsatisfactory memorandum), the very slender pretensions of this production to be considered as a History of Inventions and Discoveries.' It will be sufficient to observe, that there is not in its pages even a complete enumeration of one half the interesting events, that may fairly be classed under the above designation.

However, we are enabled to state that each of the articles, as far as it goes, is carefully accurate. But the work can, under any possible view of its contents, be awarded no higher degree of praise, than that amount which is due to a very useful auxiliary towards the formation of a general Dictionary, upon the plan which Mr. White has the merit of suggesting.

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