Till all was peace again within that dwelling, -His haunt, his den, his any thing but home! Peace-no, till the new-comer were dispatch'd Whence it should ne'er return, to break the stupor Of unawaken'd conscience in himself. "She pluck'd the baby from her flowing breast, And o'er its month, yet moist with Nature's beverage, Bound a thick lotus-leaf to still its eries; p. 121-123. The scene which introduces us to the grandsire and the child is full of tenderness. There is an exquisite beauty that runs throughout the whole, but we have room only for the following highly poetical paragraph, which seems true to nature in every line. "The little one was dancing at his side, And dragging him with petty violence Hither and thither from the onward path, To find a bird's nest or to hunt a fly: His feign'd resistance and unfeign'd reluctance But made the boy more resolute to rule The grandsire with his fond caprice. The sage, Though dallying with the minion's wayward will, His own premeditated course pursued, And while, in tones of sportive tenderness, He answer'd all its questions, and ask'd others As simple as its own, yet wisely framed To wake and prove an infant's faculties; As though its mind were some sweet instrument, And he, with breath and touch, were finding oat What stops or keys would yield the richest music: -All this was by-play to the scene within The busy theatre of his own breast. Keen and absorbing thoughts were working there, And his heart travail'd with unutter'd pangs; Sigh after sigh, escaping to his lips, Was check'd, or turn'd into some lively word, To hide the bitter conflict from his child."---p. 152. The miscellaneous poems are twenty-eight in number. Among these, one entitled "The Stranger," and another supposed to be an "Inscription under the picture of an aged Negro woman," are worthy of particular attention. The latter of these, which will delineate its own merits better than any language of ours, we here subjoin for the gratification of the reader. "Art thou a woman ?---so am I ; and all That woman can be, I have been, or am; A daughter, sister, consort, mother, widow. Whiche'er of these thou art, O be the friend Of one who is what thou canst never be ! Look on thyself, thy kindred, home, and country, Then fall upon thy knees, and ery, "Thank God, An English woman cannot be A SLAVE!" "Art thou a man?---Oh! I have known, have loved, And lost all that to woman man can be; Gather thy little children round thy knees, Throughout all these compositions there is a high tone of moral feeling uniformly kept alive. The muse in her excursions rarely fails to discover God, a future state, and the importance of those actions on which the felicities or miseries of a future state depend. But we must take our leave of this volume, strongly recommending it to the attention of our readers, and to all lovers of genuine poetry. By his former productions, Mr. Montgomery has attained on the Parnassian mount, a niche of considerable elevation. Here, as in his native element, sustained on buoyant pinions, he has again been enabled to soar and expatiate, and in the archives of his future fame, his "World before the Flood," will find a rival of its imperishable character, in the immortality of his Pelican Island. 1 + 1 ין REVIEW. Idolatry; a Poem, in four Parts. By the Rev. William Swan, Missionary at Selinginsk, and Author of Memoirs of Mrs Paterson. 12mopp. 160. Glasgow. For Holdsworth, London. 1827. THE attachment which a man feels to the production of his own mind, and the commendations which friends are willing to bestow, are generally sufficient reasons for the publication of a work. In the present instance the unanimous wish of friends is stated to have been the cause of publication. The author, however, has been relieved from the necessity of giving his own attestation to their partiality, since they may be considered as coming forward with Dr. Greville Ewing at their head, to declare their approbation of the poem. Dr. Ewing is the writer of the preface, where the occasion of the work, and the circumstances in which it is offered to the public, are briefly stated. In the beginning of the year 1826, Mr. Swan sent to his friend a picture of the Mongolian god, Shigemoni, surrounded by a group of inferior gods; and his chief motive in sending them home, was "to excite in the minds of Christians greater abhorrence of idols, and tenderer and more operative compassion for their deluded worshippers." The manuscript of the poem before us was received in the end of the same year: the following extract is taken from a letter which accompanied it :— "The sheets herewith sent, may be considered as an accompaniment to the pictures of the gods formerly transmitted to you; and, as my intention in sending these, was not merely to gratify curiosity, but, by the actual exhibition of the objects of heathen worship, to excite in the minds of Christians a deeper abhorrence of the evils and absurdities of idolatry, and to rouse them to greater zeal in the cause of Christianity-so it is with the same view I presume to send you this production. Some of the friends to whom you have shewn the gods, may perhaps have their conceptions assisted upon the subject, by the perusal of the descriptive parts of the sketch. I am aware, indeed, that there are some who have no taste for any thing in the shape of poetry; to whom, therefore, it would be doing neither themselves nor me a kindness to shew them. But I am more afraid that those, who can appreciate true poetry, will be able to give me credit for little more than good intention; and in that case, the circumstance of my descriptions of idolatrous scenes, and reflections upon them, wearing a poetical dress, will be a real disadvantage, and take away all their chance of usefulness."-p. iii. It has been observed, that the motives of a writer must ever remain a secret, but the tendency of what he writes is capable of being ascertained. Perhaps the evident tendency of a work is some proof of an author's design, whilst it certainly affords a confirmation of his professions. If the design appear praise-worthy, a candid and serious reader feels a disposition to approve, admire, and commend. If, moreover, a perusal of the work excite admiration, the strength of that admiration grows in proportion as worthiness of intention appears in the writer: a discovery of virtuous motives in the whole plan and main sentiments, ought to exhilarate the reader's mind, to invest every beauty with additional charms, to rebuke severity even when exercised towards defects. On this ground the poem before us deserves a kind reception at the hands of the religious; for it appears to be the offspring of a compassionate mind, the effort of a Christian to animate the hearts and increase the zeal of his brethren, in the cause of missions. "I have often, (he observs,) thought, that, were it possible to bring the idolatrous practices-the low depravity-the gross ignorance-the unblushing sensuality-of the heathen actually under the eye of Christians in general, a very different degree of impression would be the effect; and a very different measure of exertion from that which obtains at present, would become the standard of sincere and consistent attachment to the Christian cause.---p. v. "I shall be glad if what I now send you shall have the effect to assist any one in acquiring a better knowledge of this part of Satan's usurpation, (I mean this country,)-and impress a deeper conviction of the obligation, resting, upon every Christian, to labour, according to his ability, to dispossess the enemy, and publish the news of freedom to his captives."-p. vi. The subject which Mr. Swan has chosen for his poem, and which has been in some measure forced upon him by his allotment in life, does not in our opinion derive from poetry much power to move pity in the mind of a sincere and ardent Christian: the interest excited by spiritual degradation and misery, rises out of a simple knowledge of the matter; and wretchedness so horrible as that of heathen idolatry, which presents features of deepest depravity, and subordinates to itself whatever is 'earthly, sensual, devilish,' need only, be stated in plain words, and it will communicate with the heart of a true Christian as speedily as through the medium of poetical embellishment. Idolatry viewed in some aspects, as a state of apostacy from God, and as an infringement of his command, is scarcely fit for the exercise of human taste: considered in such a view, whatever splendours of imagination may be directed towards it, the subject has a character far too dark and gloomy to reflect their brightness. But all have not that sensibility in respect to human misery, which is inflamed and hurt by a simple knowledge of human depravity; and it is necessary to please, in order to move and instruct such as are indifferent. We imagine it is for these characters that Mr. Swan has put his thoughts into "the shape of poetry." Topics are introduced in the poem which generally find an easy access to the heart. When the author enlarges on the impressions made by the objects of nature, the reader will probably recur, and perhaps with increased attachment, to Beattie's minstrel. Much of what is said on the connexion of idolatry with sin, may be thus summed up, with reference to the idolaters, "In whom all turbulent vices were let loose; 1 Although it would be wrong to claim for Mr. Swan that admiration which is due to one, in the riches of whose intellect we witness "the pomp and prodigality of heaven," yet there are many parts of his work characterized by vigour both of sentiment and language. There are forty-nine notes appended to the poem for the sake of illustration. They are instructive and important, and must interest all who feel with earnestness in the missionary cause. The following extract from note 27, page 134, is forcible, and affords an urgent motive to zeal and perseverance in propagating the gospel : 861 Review.-Elements of Biblical Criticism and Interpretation. 862 "I have often been vexed and astonished to find that Christian authors, and some of them of the very first rank, express themselves so improperly on the subject of the present state and character of the world as contrasted with the past. How common is it for the christian writer to congratulate himself and his readers that the times of ignorance have passed away-that "the light of science, and the purer and brighter light of religion, now illumines the world"-and so forth--as if Great Britain and one or two of the neighbouring countries were the whole world! It would be well for such writers to sit down and calculate the comparative extent and population of countries blessed with the light, and of those sitting in darkness even at this very day; and then let them set them elves with all their might to promote the shining of the light, instead of vaunting as if the darkness were already past." We give these two verses as a specimen of our author's manner. Like the now mellowing---enchanting hues, been. For then all things were lovely, and to me, We think that whoever reads this little work, though he may be pained by the miseries described, will be pleased with the author; that he will read a forcible lesson in the science of human nature, and be incited to adore the Supreme Being for the advantages, which, in this country, are so full and so accessible. REVIEW. Elements of Biblical Criticism and Interpretation, translated from the Latin of Ernesti, Keil, Beck, Morus. By Moses Stuart, (America,) and republished with additional notes. By E. Henderson, Theological Tutor, Hoxton. 12mo. pp. 168. Holds worth. London. 1827. WHATEVER opinion may be formed of the work itself, no one can doubt, that "elements of Biblical criticism and interpretation" are of the utmost importance to every lover of revealed truth; and if the religious world could be persuaded that these elementary principles were to be found in any publication, free from obscurity and alloy, no composition within the range of literature would be sought with greater avidity, or hailed with more undissembled joy. Every one, however, must acknowledge, that before any book can be allowed to ascend this chair of state, its pretensions must undergo a rigorous scrutiny. Deficiency and ambiguity in its rules, will generate suspicions of its character, and the least tincture of a sectarian cast will sign the death-warrant of its claims to infallibility. We are not aware, that either the author, the translator, or the republisher of this volume, places it in a situation so exalted, and so responsible; but its title is calculated to awaken high anticipations, and unless our hopes are moderated, expectation will be sure to encounter disappointment. On a subject so complicated in its nature, and so diversified in its branches, as the elements of biblical criticism, it cannot be expected that the wishes of every reader will be met, or that the rules which the author has laid down should be received without the most minute examination. To this, however, the work before us may fearlessly submit, and when due allowance is made for human infirmity, and the unreasonableness of expectation, we have no hesitation in predicting, that, on the whole, it can hardly fail to give very general satisfaction. In his elements of criticism, the author has touched on nearly two hundred topics, making on them observations, that are more or less extended, as the subject appeared to require a greater or less degree of elucidation. In nearly the whole of these, his remarks are judicious, and well applied, and from many of them scarcely any seet or party can reasonably lift a dissenting voice, Several occasions indeed may occur, for which no rule is produced, and this, without all doubt, would have been the case if the volume had been five times as large. Much, however, is contained within a narrow compass; and we have more reason to admire the author for what he has done, than to regret that he has not accomplished more. The author has brought to his task a mind distinguished by vigour of intellect, an almost unbounded range of thought on the subjects of critical interpretation, a considerable portion of learning, and a heart beating in unison with the sublime truths of Christianity. His rules appear to merit a considerable degree of confidence from every Biblical student, and were they more generally adopted, controversy would be confined within more narrow limits, and perhaps in many cases be brought to a more speedy and amicable termination. What Ernesti has written in German, is well worthy of the translation it has undergone by Moses Stuart of America, and of Ir is scarcely possible to look at this Memoir, and at the neat portrait which is prefixed, without calling to recollection the life of Henry Kirke White; so striking is the resemblance between their talents, piety, pursuits, and learning; and the similitude is borne out by the coincidence in their perseverance, age, and death. 1 John Urquhart was a lad of extraordinary attainments, as may be gathered from his numerous letters and essays, with which these volumes are enriched. Mr. Orme has traced his progress from infancy, through the various stages of his acquisitions, in a manner that is at once creditable to himself, and honourable to his subject. This narration he has rendered still more valuable by the multifarious and pertinent observations with which it is interspersed. From these, as well as from the letters and essays, many valuable selections s might be made, but these are omitted, to make room for the article subjoined. He died on the 10th of January, 1827, aged eighteen years, leaving behind him the following character, which, from the pen of Dr. Chalmers, in a letter to the biographer, we copy from his preface: "St. Andrew's, Feb. 12, 1827. "My dear Sir; "I received your letter some days ago, but have been prevented, by various engagements, from replying to it so soon as I could have wished. "I had been previously applied to, from another quarter, for a Memoir of John Urquhart; and felt myself obliged to decline, in consequence of other engagements. I have less difficulty in pleading the same apology to you; for your superior opportunities, and earlier acquaintance with him, point you out as the person on whom the task is most properly devolved. He is altogether worthy of the biographical notice which you purpose. My first knowledge of him, was as a student, in which capacity, he far outpeered all his fellows; and in a class of uncommon force, and brilliancy of talent, shone forth as a star of the first magnitude. "I do not recollect the subjects of his various Essays; but the very first which he read in the hearing of myself, and of his fellow students, placed him at the head of the class in point of estimation: a station, which he supported throughout, and which was fully authenticated at the last, by the highest prize being asssigned to him for those anonymous compositions, which are submitted to my own judgment, and among which, I decide the relative, and respective merits, without any knowledge of their authors. شار "For several months, I only recognized him as a person of fine taste, and lofty intellect; which, teeming forth, as they did from one who had not yet terminated his boy-hood, gave the indication, and the promise, of something quite superlative in future life. It was not till after I had, for a time, admired his capacities for science, that I knew him as the object of a far higher admiration, for his deep and devoted sacredness. "It was in the second session of my acquaintance with him, that I devolved upon him the care of a sabbath-school, which I had formed. In the conduct of this little seminary, he displayed a tact, and a talent, which were quite admirable, and I felt myself far out-run by him, in the power of kind and impressive communication; and in that faculty, by which he commanded the interest of the pupils, and could gain, at all times, the entire sympathy of their understanding. Indeed, all his endowments, whether of the head or of the heart, were in the best possible keeping. For example,→→ he was alike literary and mathematical, and combined the utmost beauty of composition, with the rigour and precision of the exact sciences. But his crowning excellence was his piety; that vir tue, which matured him so early for heaven, and bore him in triumph from that earth on which he hath so briefly sojourned. This religious spirit gave a certain ethereal hue to all his college exhibitions. He had the amplitude of genius, but none of its irregularities. There was no shooting forth of mind in one direction, so as to give a prominency to certain acquisitions, by which to overshadow, or to leave behind, the other acquisitions of his educational course. He was neither a mere geometer, nor a mere linguist, nor a mere metaphysician; he was all put together; alike distinguished by the fuiness, and the harmony of his powers. "I leave to you, Sir, the narrative of his higher characteristics. I have spoken, and fully spoken, of the attainments of his Philosophy, to you it belongs, to speak of the sublimer attainments of his faith. "Had I needed ought to reconcile me to the transition which I have made, from the state of a Pastor, to that of a professor, it would just be the successive presentation, year after year, of such students as John Urquhart, nor, in giving up the direct work of a christian minister, can I regret the station to which Providence has translated me, at one of the fountain heads of the christian ministry in our land. "Your's very truly, THOMAS CHALMERS." REVIEW.-Memoir of the late Mr. Thomas Holloway, by one of his Executors, and most respectfully dedicated to the Subscribers to the Engravings from the Cartoons of Raphael. 8vo. pp. 80. Bagster. London. 187. ANY notice of the Life of the very eminent engraver of the resplendent Cartoons of Raphael, cannot but be interesting to the artist, as well as to the general reader. The volume before us contains a brief but pleasing sketch of the biography of this distinguished individual, who, it appears, was born in the year 1748. His parents were both imbued with strong religious feelings, which early influenced the character of Mr. Holloway, the subject of this notice. When very young, he manifested a predilection for drawing; and though he was apprenticed to a seal-engraver, he left it, and betook himself entirely to line engraving on copper, and adopted this species of art as the future business of his life. His first great undertaking, was the publication of Lavater's Physiognomy: which was executed with such uncommon excellence, and we may add splendour, as soon brought him into public estimation.After detailing the circumstances connected with this work, the remainder of the volume is occupied-with a very interesting account of his engagement at Windsor, to engrave the magnificent Cartoons of Raphael. His success is known to every lover of the fine arts: and it ensured him the high patronage, and even the favour of royalty. But we must refer our readers to the work itself. It is throughout interspersed with excellent sentiments, pressed in language very elegant and touching; as a specimen, we have room for only the following brief extract :— ex "Wherever he went, he never departed from the character of a conspicuous Christian; and never lost an opportunity to interpose the inculcation of a christian's faith; but his zeal was well regulated, and, as already stated, he was without bigotry. This is no slight praise, when it is considered how often religion, which, in descending from heaven, appears like an angel illustrious with light and beauty, is, on her touching the earth to inhabit with men, transformed by their ignorance and violence into a spectre to affright, or a demon to avenge. So dark often is the gloom of superstition, and so great the vindictiveness of the divine gift which is bestowed to improve, passion in the conflict of opposite opinions, that adorn, and diffuse universal benevolence, is converted by infirmity to prejudice, deformity, and malice. How many either lock the secret treasure in their unparticipating bosoms, cherish exclusive and austere doctrines, or openly wage, even in familiar society, the war of intolerance! Such was not the disposition of Mr. Holloway. To the milk of human kindness he added the oil of heavenly charity. If he felt anger, it was soon checked if improper, and allowed only when its object was vice, impiety, or absurd levity." REVIEW. Tales of all Nations. 12mo. pp. 316. Hunt & Co. London. 1827. THE tales which this volume contains are ten in number, but independently of their intrinsic merit they derive a recommendatory passport from the celebrity of the authors whose names they bear, and whose other writings have procured for them a rank of high distinction in the walks of periodical literature. The tales in themselves are of the romantic character, but so far as their facts and incidents have a bearing on actual life, they appear to exhibit faithful delineations of our great terrestrial drama. They are sketched with a bold but discriminating hand; and scarcely any one can peruse them without perceiving their tendency and application. One tale, entitled "The Heir Presumptive," furnishes a genuine picture of an ex 105.-VOL. IX. travagant young couple living on expectation, and of the mean and dishonourable subterfuges to which they resorted to hide their indiscreet expenditure from those on whom they were dependent. In this tale the character of a fretful, peevish, old maiden aunt, and that of an avaricious uncle, are finely depicted. Their features rise before us in succession, and excite by turns, our pity, censure, approbation, indignation, and contempt. "The Ring" translated from the Spanish, is, from first to last, an outrage on probability, and even on common sense. It consists of some humorous experiments made by three ladies to reform their husbands, in which they prove ultimately successful. We fear, however, that if bad husbands are not to be reclaimed until their suffering wives resort to such expedients as can persuade one that he is dead, and another that he is dreaming, they must be doomed to sustain their burdens through life. The other stories partake more or less of this romantic spirit. Their authors, however, have contrived to render them interesting, and the reader proceeds onward incidents, and occurrences, which he is well from page to page, pleased with adventures, aware can never be fully realized in actual life, and derives amusement from the perusal, even where he obtains but a small por tion of instruction. Though not wholly free from typographical errors, the volume is neatly printed, the paper is good, and its exterior presents an elegant appearance to the eye. In their final result these tales have nothing immoral, nor is the reader conducted through dirty paths to his journey's end. They are calculated to afford innocent entertainment to a numerous class of readers, particularly to those to whom thinking is laborious, and reasoning an arduous task. REVIEW.-Sinners' Tears, and Devout Breathings after God. Revised and Edited from the Rev. Thomas Fettiplace. By John Burdsall. 12mo. pp. 167. Stephens. London. 1827. NOTHING has hitherto come from the pen of Mr. Burdsall, an excellent, well-informed, and experienced minister of Christ, that has not claims to public respect; and we have great pleasure in recommending to our readers the volume before us, as one of the most excellent, heart-searching, vigorous works on experimental and practical religion that we have met with for years. There is about it a certain freshness of feeling, and depth of devotion, conveyed in language very 3 I |