1821.] Remarks on the Poetry of Thomson and Young. sense which should recognize in the author a congeniality of soul and thinking, would indeed be inexplicable. The "Seasons," the "Il Pensoroso" of Milton, the "Pleasures of Melancholy" of Warton, many of the exquisite compositions of Gray, of Collins, and of Mason, and of various other Poets of name in our language, it is easy to imagine, may find among our brethren alluded to, not only many admirers, but many whose souls are capable of imbibing and assimilating with the genuine spirit which moved in their respective writings. But to the stern moralizings, and the lofty speculations of Young, their genius, in a national point of view, seems opposed. Not characterized on a wide scale by those distinctions, perhaps, in intellectual associations which, from whatever sources generated, are observable among ourselves, they, may it not 'be assumed? could not easily imagine the frame of feeling, or tone of speculative thought which could dictate these compositions. Such habits of thought, and such assimilations, however, are by no means foreign to British soil, and the admirers of Poetry of a devotional class and character have ever since found a high and adequate intellectual recreation in the wildness and grandeur which strike so powerfully upon the mind throughout these poems. The language and spirit of Religion, the noble enthusiasm of the Poet, the frenzied feelings of poignant grief, and the classical skill of a polished writer, have here combined to astonish and gratify the man of contemplative habits of mind, who can fully appreciate the conceptions of an exuberant and well-stored genius, when associated with the high truths of Revelation, and elevated by the fervour of devotion. In thus speaking of the writings of Dr. Young, it may be thought that Criticism is again enlisting the sentiments of more than half a century back in its retrospections, and superfluously expatiating on particular merits which are sufficiently acknowledged. Although, however, the compositions here alluded to, have, from their extraordinary character and classical pretensions, repeatedly pass ed the rigid ordeal of established authority, and have long obtained a set 803 tled and permanent name amongst those who constitute the vast mass of promiscuous readers, their scope and character, as illustrating particular opinions, must ever be open to animadversion and discussion. The rank which this eminent Poet has held in our Literature, although confessedly high, has not, among certain criticks, been commensurate with his merits, perhaps have not been clearly or distinctly defined. While, it may be said, we look on every side among the extended circle of our native Bards, and see sweetness, pathos, and melody, combining their powers with originality, vigour, and sublimity, in order to raise the British Muse to an elevation not surpassed in any nation or period of history, the ingenuous mind, notwithstanding the strained conceptions and obscurity of similitude, or of allusion, which Young sometimes employs, will recognize in him the mighty features of a master genius, and is tempted, for the nevertiring flight of his restless imagination, the varied store of his imagery, and the boldness and nerve of his metre, to assign him a place far beyond the suffrage of these criticks, in the essentials and qualifications of a great Poet. But Young, as observed just now, if he has become a favourite author with multitudes, from the religious aspect of his writings, has again, from that very circumstance, been regarded by many of competent judgment and leading authority, through a veil disadvantageous to his general merits; an error too frequently adopted, as though religious feeling, and the beauties of Literature or Piety, and the fine conceptions of the Poet, were not perfectly compatible with each other. His particular mode of illustrating these subjects likewise contributes to spread over his speculations a certain air of wildness and sublimity, which in an equal degree are scarcely discoverable in any other perform ance. If the charge of obscurity has been brought against Young with considerable appearance of reason; if his occasional offences against literary propriety, unity, and several of the minor rules of composition, as it regards Poetry in general, have been urged against the poems in question, as in validating 304 Literary Retrospections.-St. Paul's Cathedral. [Oct. validating their claims to any thing which may compete with the immortality which his countryman Milton enjoys (and whilst Literature is appreciated, must ever enjoy); it must be owned that the mysterious dress which often clothes alike his subjects and his meaning, is sometimes big with an importance to which his words are not adequate to give utterance and effect. The mind of the author seems often to be labouring under an idea too mighty to be embodied under objects of sense. The expression gains birth, but the sentiment shrinks from his grasp; language loses its signification in attempting to create images which human language must ever fail in actually and clearly representing to the mind. Notwithstanding the general precedency which Milton has always taken, and to which, in most respects, he is fully entitled, they both adventured alike into regions far removed from the views and speculations of most other Poets, and in their respective though different capacities, peculiarly exact in producing sublimity. Young occasionally strikes the mind of the reader with an indescribable feeling of awe; he launches to regions inaccessible and unknown among the spheres, and expatiates in fancied worlds immeasurably distant; he would fain o'er-peep the limits of the invisible universe, and trace out the remote barriers of creation.-If Milton, with gigantic capacity of language and of thought, leaves far at a distance the humble conceptions of most other men; Young often steals upon the soul with an irresistible expansive force; raises it to inexpressible heights, and exercises for a time a power which defeats all sober calculations of criticism. Although, therefore, the compositions of this well-known author, when measured by the rules of any established standard of poetry, will rank far below others whose pretensions in most respects soar not very far above mediocrity, the glow, ardour, and enthusiasm, under which he often evidently writes, and the energy and impetuosity of his thoughts, greatly enhance the general effect upon the human mind which, notwithstanding the frequency of passages to which the student can attach no specific image, T must afford the highest satisfacthat effectual measures are now taking to restore our noble Metropolitan Cathedral to a state of cleanliness and decency, so that it may no longer blend our "glory" with our “shame," nor excite the mortifying surprise and contempt of foreigners. To whatever quarter we owe this great undertaking, too much praise cannot be bestowed on the patriotic energy in which it has originated. Upwards of one hundred men are daily at work, repairing the whole of the interior up to the whispering gallery: it is only to be hoped that, when completed, and after so heavy an expense incurred, it will not again be suffered to fall into neglect; but that those who are in authority, will see that all the officers strictly perform their respective duties, and that there be a sufficient number to keep it in the state becoming a sacred edifice. It is also to be wished that effectual measures may be taken to prevent the mischievous and thoughtless from writing on and disfiguring the monuments; and that the persons stationed within the Cathedral, at all times sufficiently eager in receiving the fees of admission, be directed to watch and prevent any attempts of the kind. It is further suggested, whether one man or more, as might be found necessary, might not, with great advantage, be constantly employed in the front area and in the churchyard to weed and keep the whole in order but particularly to prevent the intrusion of disorderly boys and others, so that when the disgraceful mutilations on Queen Anne and the four quarters, "so long the scorn and wonder of our days," are repaired, they may not again be subjected to such wanton or accidental disfigurement. A desire to see this great national Edifice distinguished for that cleanliness, order, and decorum, so befitting the sanctity of the place, has elicited these suggestions, with the hope that, under the sanction of your pages, they may not be thought unworthy of consideration. J. S. BOLINGBROKE 1821.] THE Account of Bolingbroke Castle, Lincolnshire. BOLINGBROKE CASTLE. HE annexed engraving (see Plate II.) represents the ruins of Bolingbroke Castle, in the county of Lincoln, as they appeared prior to the year 1815. The scite of this ancient castle is on the South side of the town of Bolingbroke, and at this day is only distinguished by the traces of its foundation, encompassed by a moat. It was built in the early part of the reign of King Stephen, by William de Romara, and has been an important station in the early periods of British history. At this castle was born the celebrated Henry of Bolingbroke, son of John of Gaunt, who married Blanche, the daughter of Henry Earl of Lancaster. On Bolingbroke's accession to the throne, the whole patrimony of the manor, through the line of Lancaster, was invested in the crown. The most authentic description of the Castle, which we have on record, is that given by Mr. Gervase Hollis, a native of Grimsby, and a representative of that place in several Parlia ments. It was written about the year 1640; and as the whole is curious and interesting, we present the following extract from the Harleian MSS. No. 6829, p. 162. "The Castle of Bulingbrooke was built by William de Romara Earle of Lincolne, and ennobled by the birth of King Henry the 4th, who from thence took his sirname. Heretofore it was a famous structure, but now gone much to ruine and decay. The towne standes in a bottome, and the castell in the lowest part of it, compassed about with a large moat fed by springs. It is most accessible on the South-west part, the rest being encompassed by the hills. As for the frame of the building, it lieth in a square, the area within the walls conteyning about an acre and a half, the building is very uniforme. It hath 4 stronge forts or ramparts, wherein are many roomes, and lodgings: the passage from one to another lying upon the walles, which are embattled about. There be likewise 2 watch-towers all covered with lead. If all the roomes in it were repayred, and furnished [as it seemes in former tymes they have bin] it were capable to receyve a very great prince with all his trayne. The entrance into it is very stately over a faire draw-bridge. The gatehouse a very uniforme, and strong building. Next within the porter's lodge is a payre of low stayres, which goe downe GENT. MAG. October, 1821, 305 into a dungeon, in which some reliques are yet to be seene of a prison-house. Other 2 prisons more are on either side. The building itselfe is of a sandy stone bewen of a great square out of the rockes thereby, which though it abide the weather longe, yet [in processe of tyme] it will moulder, especially if wett gett within it, which hath bin the decay of many places. of the wall where the roofe is uncovered. There be certaine roomes within the castle, [built by Queen Elizabeth of free-stone] amongst which is a fayre great chamber with other lodgings. In a roome in one of the towers of the castle they usually kept their auditt once by the yeare for the whole Dutchy of Lancaster, having ever bin the prime seate thereof, where all the recordes for the whole countrey are kept. The constable of the castle is Sir William Mounson Lord Castlemayne, who receaveth a revenue out of the Dutchy lands of 5007. per annum, in part of payment of 1000l. yearely given by the king to the Countesse of Nottingham his lady. "One thinge is not to be passed by affirmed as a certaine trueth by many of the inhabitants of the towne upon their is haunted by a certain spirit in the likeowne knowledge, which is, that the castle nesse of a hare; which att the meeting of the auditors doeth usually runne betweene their legs, and sometymes overthrows them, and soe passes away. They have pursued it downe into the castleyard, and seene it take in att a grate into a low cellar, and have followed it thither with a light, where notwithstanding that they did most narrowly observe it [and that there was noe other passage out, but by the doore, or windowe, the roome being all close framed of stones within, not having the least chinke or crevice] yet they could never finde it. And att other tymes it hath been seene run in at iron-grates below into other of the grotto's [as their be many of them] and they have watched the place, and sent for houndes, and put in after it; but after a while they have come crying out." In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the castle was considerably improved by elegant and extensive erections, and remained a place of great importance down to the time of the civil wars. The peculiar situation of this castle always rendered it an advantageous place of defence, and it was consequently the theatre of many sanguinary contests betwixt Charles I. and his Parliament; but after the defeat of the Royal army at Winceby, it was compelled to yield to the Parliamentarians, by whom it was entirely |