(BEING THE FOURTEENTH OF A NEW SERIES.)

LONDON: Printed by JOHN NICHOLS and SON, 25, Parliament-street, Westminster;

where LETTERS are particularly requested to be sent, POST-PAID;

AND SOLD BY

JOHN HARRIS and SON (Successors to Mrs. NEWBERY), at the Corner of St. Paul's Church Yard, Ludgate Street; and by PERTHES and BESSER, Hamburgh. 1321.

THE NEWDIGATE PRIZE POEM, 1821.

BY THE HON. G. W. F. HOWARD,

Of Christ Church.

PÆSTUM.

'MID the deep silence of the pathless wild,
Where kindlier nature once profusely smil'd,
Th' eternal TEMPLES stand;-untold their age,
Untrac'd their annals in Historic Page;
All that around them stood, now far away,
Single in ruin, mighty in decay,

Between the mountains and the azure main,
They claim the empire of the lonely plain.
In solemn beauty, through the clear blue light,
The Doric columns rear their massive height,
Emblems of strength untam'd; yet conquering Time
Has mellow'd half the sternness of their prime,
And bade the lichen, 'mid their ruins grown,
Imbrown with darker tints the vivid stone.
Each channel'd pillar of the fane appears
Unspoil'd, yet soften'd by consuming years;
So calmly awful, so serenely fair,

The gazer's heart still mutely worships there.
Not always thus-when bean'd beneath the day;
No fairer scene than Pæstum's lovely bay;
When her light soil bore plants of ev'ry hue,
And twice each year her storied roses blew ;
While Bards her blooming honours lov'd to sing,
And Tuscan zephyrs fann'd the eternal spring.
Proud in her port the Tyrian moor'd his fleet,
And Wealth and Commerce fill'd the peopled street;
While here the rescued Mariner ador'd

The Sea's dread sovereign, Posidonia's lord,
With votive tablets deck'd yon ballow'd walls,

Or sued for Justice in her crowded halls.

There stood on high the white-rob'd Flamen-there
The opening portal pour'd the choral prayer;

While to the o'er arching Heaven swell'd full the sound,
And incense blaz'd, and myriads knelt around.

'Tis past the echoes of the plain are mute,
E'en to the herdsman's call or shepherd's flute;
The toils of Art, the charms of Nature fail,
Aud Death triumphant rides the tainted gale.
From the lone spot the trembling peasants haste,
A wild the garden, and the town a waste.
But THEY* are still the same; alike they mock
The Invader's menace, and the Tempest's shock ;
Such ere the world had bow'd at Cæsar's Throne,
Ere proud Rome's all-conquering name was known,
They stood, and fleeting Centuries in vain
Have pour'd their fury o'er the enduring fane;
Such long shall stand-proud relicks of a clime
Where man was glorious, and his works sublime į
While in the progress of their long decay,
Thrones sink to dust, and Nations pass away,

*The Temples.

154809

PREFACE.

WE have now the pleasing satisfaction of announcing the completion of the First Part of our NINETY-FIRST VOLUME. After the expiration of so many revolving years, we necessarily feel a conscious pride on viewing the successful result of our labours. SYLVANUS URBAN has not only accumulated a mass of information more general and extended than any contemporary Magazine contains; but he still possesses, through the agency of numerous Friends and Contributors, the most ample resources in every Department of Literature.

To remove the impediments that might otherwise have existed, in discovering any particular information amongst so extensive a collection of Volumes, a complete and general Index has been recently published, which affords immediate reference to the whole series. By such an auxiliary the Gentleman's Magazine forms a species of Encyclopædia, embracing almost every subject connected with History, Literature, or Science.

In the present Volume several articles have been extended beyond the limits usually prescribed; but we flatter ourselves that the interesting information they convey will afford ample compensation. The "Progress of Anecdotal Literature" contains many curious fragments of unpublished Biography, in addition to a considerable fund of genuine amusement. The "Tour on the Continent" will always be perused with interest, as conveying a just idea of the state of Europe in the year 1818.-"The Progress of Literature in different Ages of Society" glows with bold and energetic sentiments, and is replete with ingenious and original remarks.-These papers conclude with the present Volume.

The Gentleman's Magazine was for many years the earliest and almost only vehicle for giving authentic publicity to the Parliamentary Proceedings; but, as there is now no restraint on the daily publication of Parliamentary affairs, by which they lose their originality in a Monthly Magazine, these proceedings are necessarily confined to a more limited space, Notwithstanding, when questions of public importance transpire, the speeches of the most distinguished speakers will be given; so that this department may still remain an historical record of constant reference.

The Embellishments, particularly in Wood, will be found more numerous than usual. As the art of Wood-Engraving of late years

has

has been wonderfully improved, it is our intention occasionally to introduce graphic illustrations of any curious subjects or picturesque views that are likely to attract notice.

With respect to the general interests of the Magazine, we experience considerable pleasure in stating, that, notwithstanding the powerful and extensive Rivalry that has recently existed, we still continue to receive the warmest encouragement from our Friends in particular, and the most liberal support from the Publick in general. We find our literary resources daily augmenting, not only from every department of the United Empire, but from the remotest portions of the Civilized World; and we conceive it a duty to express our grateful acknowledgements for the kind support thus extensively given.

From the progressive increase of Contributors, we sanguinely flatter ourselves that we shall still be enabled, not only to preserve the decided superiority in points which this Miscellany has so long sustained, but still further to extend its reputation as a Standard Repository of more useful and general information than any Periodical Publication extant.

On reverting to the political affairs of Great Britain, and observing the amelioration of the times, we cannot but experience the highest gratification. The Revenue, which had alarmingly decreased two or three years ago, has this year exceeded the most sanguine expectations. Government has also been enabled to issue Cash Payments, owing to the abundance of moneyed capital; and the Funds, those infallible barometers of national prosperity, have been daily rising, and now maintain a price almost unparalleled.

None can respect fair and rational discussion on public affairs more than ourselves. We admire the motives of many worthy Oppositionists, sincerely believing they have the good of their Country at heart; but we detest and abhor those unprincipled Railers, who exult over the misfortunes of their Country, and repine at her prosperity. Such men can have no other object than that of effecting a Revolution under the specious name of Patriotism, and aggrandizing themselves on the ruins of the State. Were even their own mad theories adopted, and they themselves excluded from power, they would only be exasperated that no clamour could be raised.

For our parts, we shall always, in unison with every virtuous individual, condole over the miseries of our native land, from whatever cause they may arise; and sincerely rejoice at her happiness.

We close our Preface, by hailing the bright harbingers of Peace and Plenty; fondly hoping that Britain's Isle may ever continue to be the land of Prosperity and of Freedom, clothed with the gorgeous mantle of Agriculture, and studded with the gems of Arts and Manufactures.

June 30, 1821.