THE METROPOLITAN MAGAZINE. VOL. XIX. MAY TO AUGUST, 1837. LONDON: SAUNDERS AND OTLEY, CONDUIT STREET; BELL AND BRADFUTE, EDINBURGH; SMITH AND SON, GLASGOW ; 1837. THE METROPOLITA N. LECTURE ON THE BRITISH POETS. DELIVERED AT THE ROYAL INSTITUTION, APRIL 11, 1837. BY JAMES MONTGOMERY, ESQ. "THE age of chivalry is gone; that of economists and calculators has succeeded." This indignant lamentation of Edmund Burke over the fall of monarchy, with all its gorgeous and antiquated appendages, in France-may, with the variation of a single word, be taken up, at this day, by the lovers of literature, who have melancholy cause to exclaim "The age of poetry is gone; that of economists and calculators has succeeded." The announcement of no new publication excites less attention than that of a forthcoming poem; in which, indeed, almost the only person interested is the author himself; and almost the only person who feels either surprise or regret at its early and utter failure, is the same individual. Nor does this apply solely to young, inexperienced, and unknown adventurers, who, at all times, find it difficult to obtain a hearing-but, among the few surviving veterans of the late brief but splendid era of their art, there seems to be not one, who has the courage to hazard the renown he has already acquired by producing some transcendent work to crown his former triumphs. In every case, it may be said without hazard, of every living and established reputation, that its destiny, whether of remembrance or oblivion, is decided; and that, beyond the mark which it has attained, no higher celebrity can be achieved by its possessor. While, on the other hand, numberless and meritorious in their degree as are the rising candidates for poetic honours-falling in most instances as they rise— it would be hard to name one, who has given promise so clear as to warrant expectation, that he will ultimately secure a place for himself among the more illustrious of his aged contemporaries, or the departed luminaries of the generation before him. There may be no defect of original power in the youth of our day-there is, in fact, an exuberance of such power developed in a thousand other ways-but there is no prevailing influence abroad to awaken it, or if awakened to foster and uphold it. As soon might tropical flowers and fruits be expected to blossom and ripen in our cold northern latitude, as the May 1837.-VOL. XIX.-NO. LXXIII. B |