Framed in imagination of the just, There broke a solid heart! Drop we no tears Play rebel to high thoughts, close, close his lids, In the Preface, Mr. Horne declares that "the contents of the following pages are the result of a life of impassioned thought; as the execution, however unpolished, is that of many years private labour in a similar walk." We do not clearly perceive the import of this statement, nor exactly understand, though it may convey the precise truth, how or why such facts as the former branch of the sentence communicates, can bear upon the dramatic skill and power of the author, when he sets himself down to the task of writing a tragedy. But whatever may be the advantage of having passed a life of impassioned thought, to such a labourer, we hope that Cosmo De' Medici is not the last of his productions in a similar walk; for, we are convinced that more practice and longer study will enable him to produce a much better and more highly-finished play, than even the present very creditable performance. NOTICES. ART. XV.-Poems, Original and Translated. By CH. PERCY WYATT, B. A. London: Fraser. 1837. THE original pieces in this volume consist of ballads, sonnets, and soothing effusions devoted to meditative themes, while the translations are chiefly from the German. Throughout the whole there is great sweetness of versification, and no small share of lyrical spirit. It is impossible to read any considerable portion of these poems, without experiencing the refining influence of a cultivated and reflecting mind at work. There is more of melody, generally speaking, in the verse of the Minor Poets of late years, than elevation of thought, and more of imitation than originality. În not a few instances, however, Mr. Wyatt proves himself superior to these secondary qualities, and commands while he charms. Here is a specimen from a fragment. "The old bards Hymned the bright streams that murmured to their song, A glorious debt of endless gratitude With their own strains coeval. They are gone, Lords of the lyre! and countless generations, The living, now the dead, have trodden o'er them : Yet stream and fount flow on. And thou, fair river! Wilt roll thy crystal waves when I no more 148 Shall bring to thee the homage of my lyre, These innocent flowers, those birds that in their joy And night's innumerable pageantries? O sights and sounds how lovely! Ye are they Struggles 'twixt earth and Heaven; and to his lyre Longingly, lingeringly.-Ye on earth Have been his soul's enchantments, and should be ART. XVI.-Sermons, Preached at the British Episcopal Church, Rotterdam. By the REV. C. R. MUSTON, M.A., Author of "Recognition in the World to Come." Lond: Hatchard. 1837. In our apprehension these Sermons are models, whether considered in the less important matter of art as regards their composition and style, or the all-important spirit of Christian doctrine that throughout distinguishes them. The author is master of those arguments which should be addressed first to the understanding, secondly of those heart-stirring appeals that should, on subjects concerning man's eternal salvation, be addressed to the feelings and affections, and thirdly of that cultivated taste, not merely as regards language, but the regulation of the judgment, which forbids the introduction of any extravagant representations or unauthorized uses of Gospel-truth. His zeal, in short, though warm and elevated, is according to Scripture, and shorn of austerity; his theology founded on the peculiar and all-sustaining doctrines of the New Testament. One specimen will serve to explain the author's manner and excellencies, better than any general criticism of ours. Every human creature feels that he is encompassed by innumerable dangers. He sees elements of evil at work around him which he cannot control, and prevent from acting against himself. It is true that the plea sures or busy occupations of life must frequently divert his thoughts from his real situation, and, in the buoyancy of health, in the pride of manhood, or in the excitement of the angry passions, he may have more or less of worldly courage. But still there lurks in the heart of man the feeling of uneasiness and fear, ready to be called out into action, at any moment, by a change in his views and circumstances. There is the dread of certain evils which are unavoidable, and of others, which, in bis apprehension, may befall him either in this world or in the future. He is not, therefore, in the possession of peace: and how often is he held by his own feelings in bitter and degrading bondage! But what have we to fear? Not the accidents and sufferings to which we are exposed in the present world-not the loss of property, health, or human friendship-not the wrath of man, whose power is derived, limited, and incapable of pursuing its victim beyond the narrow confines of a mortal life-not the approach of death, which, with regard to its immediate effect, is but the dislodgment of the soul from its earthly tabernacle, the separation of the spirit from its material appendage-not any of the created elements and agencies with which we may come into contact in other spheres, and in the evolutions of eternal ages, But the primary and only proper object of fear to man, and to every other intelligent creature, is the displeasure of God; or, what amounts to the same thing, it is sin, which, by occasioning the loss of His friendship, becomes the source and root of all evil, It is this, and nothing but this, that induces uneasiness, dread, or solemn forebodings of judgment to come. Operating by means of conscience-the vicegerent of Deity-it constrains us to flee from His presence, as in the case of the first pair, when, overcome by the tempter, their innocence had departed from them, it drives its victims from the guardian wings of the Supreme Parent, and sends them forth, without any effectual shelter or refuge, from the evils and perils of their alienated condition. And, since every one has sinned, and carries about, within his own bosom, the consciousness of delinquency, so the bondage of fear is more or less felt over all the world, and discovers itself in those various artifices, those cherished delusions, or superstitious usages, by which man vainly attempts to hide from himself the realities of his condition, and throw off the burden of guilt from his misgiving spirit." ART. XVII.-Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Bart. Volume the Second. London: Murray, 1837. THE Second Volume of this most engaging work has just reached us; but rather than wait to give any analysis of its contents, which, indeed, owing to their diversified and miscellaneous nature, could be little less than an abridgement of the whole, we have chosen simply to acquaint our readers with the fact, that Mr. Lockhart and the publishers have redeemed their pledge in so far as regards the regular and prompt appearance of this volume, which may be taken as a sufficient presumption that there will be no annoying delay in the publication of any of the remaining portions of the work. We only think it necessary to state that the chapters now before us bring down Scott's Life from 1804 to 1812, inclusive of portions of both of these years, and to extract one or two passages. Here is an anecdote of Lord Napier, the father of the unfortunate nobleman of the same name, who, at no distant date, fell a victim to a Chinese climate and Chinese tyranny, and trickery. The anecdote is from Mr. Lockhart's own recollections, and is illustrative of a certain fidgetty nervousness as to all points of form, on the part of the person alluded to, who, at the time, was Lord-Lieutenant of Selkirkshire, and who had taken occasion to complain of the Sheriff's (Scott's), manner of discharging his Shrieval functions. "I remember," says his biographer, "being much amused with an instance of Lord Napier's precision in small matters, mentioned by the late Lady Stewart of Castlemilk, in Lanarkshire. Lord and Lady Napier had arrived at Castlemilk, with the intention of staying a week; but next morning it was announced that a circumstance had occurred which rendered it indispensable for them to return without delay to their own seat in Selkirkshire. It was impossible for Lady Stewart to extract any further explanation at the moment, but it turned out afterwards that Lord Napier's valet had committed the grievous mistake of packing up a set of neckcloths which did not correspond in point of date with the shirts they accompanied!" Scott's Toryism was rampant, but sincere, and undisguised. On the acquittal of Lord Melville from the impeachment by the Whigs, who for a short time were in office, at that period, the poet gave utterance in verse, to his delight; to the estrangement, however, of some of his most cherished friends, whose feelings were different, and, it would appear, to his own regret afterwards. The Song has been omitted in the late collective edition of the bard's poetical works; but we now copy it, as given by his Sonin-law, because, as he remarks, it contains some of the strongest personal feelings that ever animated his verse. It was sung by James Ballantyne, at a public dinner given in honour of the event on the 27th of June, 1806. Weep to his memory; Low lies the Pilot that weathered the storm! 'And pray, don't you mind when the Blues first were raising, When villains and coxcombs, French politics praising, Drove peace from our tables and sleep from our beds? "Our King too-our Princess-I dare not say more, Sir- While there's one Scottish hand that can wag a claymore, Sir, According to this specimen posterity has no reason to lament that Scott seldom indulged in strong expressions of his political or personal feelings. Neither the poetry nor the spirit displayed in the song from which we have taken the above verses come pleasantly upon us at the present day: but yet the biographer has certainly done no more than became him in thus affording every means by which the reader can acquire a just and comprehensive view of the subject of the Memoir. The fidelity of the portraiture, the reader may be assured, is by this evidence confirmed. To those who are in any considerable degree acquainted with Scott's works, and who is there that is not, the extreme dates mentioned above as comprising the current of this volume, will suggest, that some of the most splendid of the poet's productions belong to it, and several of his most marvellous advances upon the worlds' admiration. But we must refer to the volume itself for the fullest and most refreshing account of these things, only declaring farther that it is worthy of its predecessor. ART. XVIII.-State and Prospects of British Agriculture; being a Compendium of the Evidence given before a Committee of the House of Commons, appointed in 1835, to Inquirein to Agricultural Distress; with a few Introductory Observations. By a MEMBER of Parliament. London: Ridgway. 1837. We have before had an opportunity to declare to our agricultural readers that the labours of the Committee in question, was by no means so barren of useful information and valuable suggestions as has been asserted by prejudiced or misinformed persons. The Report which they issued, however, was so voluminous that hardly any one could be expected to take |