Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

Pompeii, with other Poems. By the Rev. S. Middleton, B. D. London: Smith, Elder, and Co. 1835.

In that part of "The Analyst" for April, dedicated to the Lecture delivered by the Author of this publication to the inhabitants of Cheltenham, we quoted so largely from the MS., it not having then appeared in print, that it will only be necessary for us now to speak of the work in its present shape as a published volume. Indeed, it appears that the dissemination of these poems, in their present form, is entirely owing to the enthusiastic approbation with which their recitation was received at the Literary and Philosophical Institution of Cheltenham, and the unanimous and strongly urged desire of the Members that they should be published, the Duchess of Gloucester granting her gracious permission to have them dedicated to her Royal Highness. The proceeds, be it observed to the Author's honour, are devoted to the use of the Cheltenham Female Orphan Asylum. Neither the approbation of the members of the Literary and Philosophical Institution, the august patronage of the Duchess of Gloucester, nor the charitable assignment of the produce of their funds to the Orphan Asylum, honourable as are such indications of the talent and charitable feeling of the Author, however, have not, nor ought to have, any power over the judgment of impartial criticism. This volume is the production of a scholar well versed in the writings of antiquity, and in that metrical harmony which is inculcated by a classical education, but the true inspiration of poetry is quite a different matter-we acknowledge, in most parts, it has many of the graces, but in few instances has it the soul of poetry-that essential qualification without which rhythm is a powerless adjunct. Yet is this work a performance of no despicable stamp, and if it cannot be compared with the mighty genius of Byron, it is evidently the production of a man of letters, possessing a fertile and lucid imagination. We have little doubt of the popularity of this volume; and we wish it every deserved success.

Gems of Literature; consisting of Original Tales, Dramatic Sketches, Poems, &c., by popular living authors. Inscribed to the Duchess of Kent. London: Longman and Co., 1835.

The contributors to this small volume are in general well known in the field of literature at the present day-amongst them are Miss Agnes Strickland, C. Marshall, the Countess of Blessington, Miss Emma Roberts, Miss Mitford, Miss Sarah Stickney, Miss M. A. Browne, Miss Jane Anne Porter, Dr. Ainslie, Capt. Marryatt, the Ettrick Shepherd, &c., &c. Each of these have contributed one, and in some instances, two papers, either in prose or poetry, from which it may be deduced that it contains many amusing and interesting articles. Altogether the miscellany is extremely creditable to the Editor, Mr. Revis, we learn, of Ludlow, in Salop, who to his editorial functions, has also distinguished himself as a contributor.

In this collection, which is evidently assorted with much care, there is scarcely an article which is not marked by some emanation of genius and talent. The tale, by the Editor, intitled "The Emigrants" is very interesting, and is written with considerable ability, but as literary and moral censors, we find much to condemn in the catastrophe. All imaginative writing should be devoted to the high purpose of morality-there should be no incentives held out to meanness and profligacy. A sensible, modest and discreet heroine, therefore, such as Catherine Morton is de

scribed, has no sympathy with the good, whatever may have been her former sufferings, when she allies herself to a felon and a heartless libertine, because she had known and loved him in his days of youth and virtue. She might have assigned to him a weekly pittance to save him from the degrading habits which extreme poverty engenders-but there is a want of delicacy in a generous and high-minded female affiancing herself to a coarse, depraved, and ruthless vagabond, whatever might have been his warrantable pretensions before he had linked himself to vice and infamy. The good old mode of rewarding virtue and contemning vice is, we think, the best dénouement for all tales of the imagination; it is more in consonance with sound reason and moral feeling, and teaches a better lesson to the young and the thoughtless. The author must have had some misgivings on this point, too, for when he had completed this incongruous match, he is at a loss what to do with the happy pair, being perfectly aware that they had placed themselves out of the pale of respectable society, and had therefore no chance of spending a pleasant honey-moon in their native country-after their marriage, therefore, he starts them off, with all their kin, for America! Considered as a literary composition only, we must, however, acknowledge, that the story of The Emigrants" is entitled to much commendation.

66

Lives and Portraits of the celebrated Women of all Countries. By the Duchess of Abrantes. London: Bull and Churton. 1835.

We have, here, a work which professes to present us with "the lives and portraits of the celebrated women of all countries;" but instead of being gratified with a portly volume in royal 8vo. closely printed in double columns, like Gorton's admirable "Biographical Dictionary," we are actually served with a nutshell-a paltry duodecimo of 366 pages of very fair-looking "brevier," enlivened with the " sayings and doings" of no fewer than sixteen ladies of celebrity!!! Forming a high estimate of the fair, of their talents, their virtues, and genius-we open our eyes in astonishment, and cannot but marvel what strange apathy stole over the Duchesse d' Abrantes and her gallant coadjutor the Count Straszewics, when they wearied, yawned, and laid down their pens and their labours thus prematurely. Surely some envious Merlin-some wicked masculine elf,-jealous of the fame and glory of the feminine half of our species-stealthily distilled "poppy and mandragora" on the eye-lids of its literary advocates, and lulled them into a treacherous oblivion of duty. From the promising prospectus before us, we discover, first, that " women seemed doomed by the unjust silence of biographers to be forgotten" (ungrateful pedants, we blush for ye!); second, that the fair widow of Junot and the chivalrous Noble were "long engaged in preparing to set forth the claims of women to celebrity;" and third, that these writers intended to "devote their future labours to the biography of the celebrated women of ALL ages." We furthermore find that the collection was to " present not only the moral characters of the most distinguished females," but likewise "their portraits," and that for this purpose nearly all the public and private galleries of Europe" were to be thrown open to the artists selected. Indeed! and could the long labours of the assiduous defenders of the gentler sex, could their patient researches into the history of woman, could the written and oral records of "all ages and countries" supply them with but sixteen females of celebrity? or is it possible that a paucity of materials for illustration occasioned the untimely decease of their project? is it a fact that "all the public and private galleries of Europe"

are collectively enriched with no more than sixteen, eight pair of heads of illustrious dames, and that the heads, thus limned for the gaze of posterity, graced the shoulders of the following fair-“ Maria Letizia Ramolini Bonaparte; Anna Zingha, Queen of Matamba; Lady Jane Gray; Dona Catalina de Erauso; Beatrice Cenci; Catherine the First, Queen of Russia; Ann Boleyn; Baroness de Stael Holstein; Charlotte Corday; Josephine Bonaparte; Mary the Catholic, Queen of England; Marina Mniszech; Christina, Queen of Sweden; Lady Mary Wortley Montagu; Marie Antoinette; Mary of Medicis."

We are at fault in conjecture; the final paragraph of the prospectus unriddles the riddle; the Duchess and her amiable ally have evidently not suffered from the narcotics of sorcery; they dreamt two or three scores of numbers, but, with shame be it spoken, the community was dead on the subject, and the publishers wound up their accounts with the fourth. To speak in a graver style, we are sorry to see this palpable lack of interest on the part of the public, because the work promised well, the design was liberal and praiseworthy, and the matter would have been fruitful in material for philosophical speculation on the moral attributes of women. That the Ladies are decidedly censurable for not supporting a work consecrated entirely to their honour, is an unquestionable certainty; but we fear-and with regret and surprise we affirm it-we fear that they are generally too indifferent to that which most intimately concerns the claims of their sex; few of them exhibit any thing like a warm and heart-stirring sentiment on the subject,-so few indeed, that while the majority were shopping at "Howell and James's;" popping in at Soho Bazaar; modestly keeping a stall at a fancy fair; concerting new fashions; penning conundrums; consulting their milliner, and deciding the fate of a riband, or the tint of a flower, "The Lives of the celebrated Women of all Countries," came to a premature end at the age of four months. The Duchess wrote in vain, and the Count turned over parchments and papers, and wormeaten MSS.—yet was fain to confess that "all is vanity and vexation of spirit!" and a publication undertaken with energy, executed with grace, feeling, and fidelity; correct in its sentiments, acute in remark, and picturesque in detail, was suffered to create disappointment to both Editor and Publisher. We trust that when-if ever-a similar work is projected, the Ladies will come honestly forward, and do themselves justice by a cheering encouragement of the same. The lithographic heads are in excellent style.

A History of British Fishes. By William Yarrall, F. L. S. Illustrated by wood cuts of all the species and numerous vignettes. Part II. London John Van Voorst, Paternoster Row.

:

To the Ichthyologist the above work, of which the third number has but just made its appearance, must prove an agreeable and instructive offering. Perhaps no second department of natural history has been so partially investigated as that devoted to the inhabitants of the great deep, and yet not any department is in truth more productive of material for interesting analysis and remark. The appearance, organization and habits of fishes are equally worthy of observation, and their picturesque forms and beautiful colours have long rendered them favorite studies for the easel among the Dutch and Flemish painters were many who particularly excelled in their delineation; and we have seen some Chinese

[ocr errors]

June, 1835.-VOL. II. NO. XI.

2 z

drawings of fish painted upon rice-paper with an accuracy, a delicacy and high finish not to be surpassed. Mr. Yarrell is, evidently well qualified for the task which he has undertaken, and he has come forward in an admirable spirit to enlarge the circle of knowledge respecting the natural history of fishes.

Mr. Yarrell's descriptions are elaborate without being tediously minute, and his remarks evince a scientific intimacy with his subject: the style in which they are conveyed is polished and agreeable, but probably a degree more of animation and familiarity would enhance the pleasure of a perusal by the general reader or the incipient Ichthyologist, to whom the track should be rendered as facile and alluring as possible.

The illustrations, of which there are twenty-one in the number before us, are given with a laudable regard to detail; they are cut in wood with taste and singular delicacy; indeed for a publication designed for wide circulation, where the impressions must consequently be numerous, it would, in our opinion, be advisable to aim at more force, in order to escape the peculiar disadvantage of worn and broken-up blocks before the requisite supply is obtained. The necessity is obvious: Old Bowles, the printseller of the "Black horse," in Cornhill, the early employer of Hogarth, Laguerre, and a whole host of engravers, whose labours he purchased at little more than the cost of the copper on which they worked, was so sensible of the importance of "depth" that on the commencement of the process of corrosion, his usual cry was Bite it in deep!" and the completion of the same was sure to produce an eager inquiry of "Is it black?" alluding to the state of the etching from the latter circumstance, this hard-fisted chapman in art, was, facetiously, designated "Black Jack," a soubriquet which adhered to him to the day of his death. Now we do not wish the artist to sacrifice every thing to depth for the sake of a multitude of impressions, but we caution him not to lose sight of the fact that minute and very delicate cuts are not susceptible of the wear and tear" of any but a very limited demand, and that his professional reputation may suffer injury in consequence of an oversight.

66

The late Lord de Tabley, that munificent patron of British Art, some years back, projected a magnificent series of illustrations of British Ichthyology, to be engraved in the line manner from original drawings by the noble amateur himself; the descriptions were to have emanated from the talented pen of W. Jerdan, Esq.; but the lamented indisposition and subsequent demise of his Lordship, we believe, unfortunately suspended the publication.

A History and Description of the late Houses of Parliament, and ancient Palatial Edifices of Westminster. By John Britton and Edward W. Brayley. Parts IV. and V. London: John Weale, High Holborn.

By an Address inserted in the first of these numbers, it seems that the spirited authors have lately obtained access to some important documents relating to the ancient Palace of Westminster; and as extensive researches are now making among the national archives for further authentic materials, they are anxious to avail themselves of such opportunities, in the hope of giving additional value and increased interest to the work. The quantity of letter-press in these two numbers is in

*The plates for the Annuals are, invariably, wrought much deeper than is ac ceptable to the judgment of the connoisseur

consequence much diminished, but an assurance is held out that the promised portion of literary matter will be strictly conceded as the volume advances to completion. What is given, however, is extremely interesting, having been derived almost wholly from the original documents belonging to the Office of the King's Remembrancer of the Exchequer, and from the Chancellor's Roll of the 12th of King Edward I. in the British Museum.

The following instances (among others) of infringement on the privileges of the palace, in the reign of Edward II. with the awards made in each case, are derived from the Placita and other rolls.

"In the King's second year, Alice, the daughter of Nicholas le Ken, was summoned to answer the complaint of Walter de Bedewynde, the Remembrancer of the Exchequer, who had accused her of reviling him, by calling him "a thief, seducer, and other opprobrious names,' in the great hall at Westminster, and elsewhere within the King's Palace there, and which she denied. A jury of the court, and of persons dwelling near the palace, was consequently impannelled; and having found that the insult was given "upon the King's Bridge of his palace at Westminster," they awarded damages to the amount of forty pounds.

"In the sixth year of Edward II., a court of the palace for pleas of the Crown"Placita aulæ domini Regis de Corona". -was held at Westminster, before Hugh de Audley, steward and marshal of the king's household, when John de Redinges was arraigned for counterfeiting the king's privy seal; but he alleged that he had purchased it of Edmund de Malo Lacu, the former steward, (who was also before the court,) for forty talents of gold, and judgment was in consequence given against the latter.*

"On the eve of Ascension day, in the 8th of Edward II. (anno 1315,) Thomas de Gerdestan, Archdeacon of Norfolk, and one of his officers, were impleaded before the king and his council, then sitting in parliament at Westminster, for that they, on the eighth of March preceding, the king being then in his palace and holding his parliament, did cite Joan de Barr, Countess of Warenne, she being then in attendance on the queen consort in the chapel of the said palace, to appear in the church of St. Nicholas of Braheden, to make answer to Maud de Nerford, in a cause of divorce between her and John Earl of Warenne. The fact having been proved, the archdeacon and his officer were committed to the Tower.”

The embellishments in No. 4 are plans of the south half of the Crypt, and of the northern half of St. Stephen's Chapel, drawn by Billings, and engraved by Bellin; View of the Long Gallery, in ruins, looking north, drawn and engraved by T. Clark; View of the South Walk of the Cloisters, drawn by Billings and engraved by Clark; and View of the House of Lords, &c. after the fire, drawn by Billings, and engraved by Woolnoth :-those in No. 5 are-St. Stephen's Chapel, Interior, looking east, drawn by Billings, and engraved by Le Keux; New House of Lords, drawn by Billings, and engraved by Clark; New House of Commons, drawn by Billings, and engraved by Taylor.

With the exception of the diminution of the letter-press, which is sufficiently explained, and cannot be deemed an excuse for complaint, this work fully maintains its high ground in all its departments, and we see nothing to justify the slightest depreciating observation. When finished, it will be a most interesting and valuable history.

* Vide "Additional Manuscripts" in the British Museum, Ayscough's Catalogue, No. 4,486, fo. 52.

+ Vide Ryley's "Placita Parliamentaria," p. 543; and "Cal. Rot. Patentium," p. 75, 6: edit. 1802.

« AnteriorContinuar »