as I lay on a gentle bank which sloped its easy and springy turf down to a fresh and gallant rivulet. The blossoms were bright and fragrant, and leaned in lustrous beauty towards and over the lively waters. The rapid stream gambolled along, as though it were sufficient to itself, its own reward;" and it brake the reflected images of the lilies into a million white and green fragments of restless colour. A mountain was in sight, and the sky over my head bent its peaceful blue around, as seeming to bless and protect. Í reclined with my head upon my hand, drinking in the beauty of the world. For ever could I have so reclined; for ever could I have so drunk at that bounteous and noble spring, and still should I have thirsted, still taken the waters of beauty to my heart :-but the inconstancy of dreaming disturbed my fascinated reverie, and forced on me other sounds and other sights than those which so spelled and soothed me. It was evening-a sunny, still, Grecian evening, and suddenly I heard a dim, airy music coming up the valley, stealing along like a summer mist. It seemed to be born of no instrument, to be no decided sound, but rather to be the harmony of the world made audible.

I heard this divine music, and lifted up my head to ascertain from what quarter it came, when I saw the water before me trembling and shuddering in redoubled brightness-leaping and moaning like the Lady Christa belle in her sleep-coiling and writhing in its silver lustre, even as a playful fascinated snake in the sun. In a moment a mist arose from the waters, and through it I could dimly distinguish a beautiful female figure, light as the thistle-down when it first quits its parent stalk, radiant as a vase illuminated. She approached me, the mist still continuing to follow and to veil her. Perhaps this was in pity to the poverty of mortal eyes, which might not endure the unshadowed lustre of the immortals. Still, however, the jewels trembled in her hair, and shot their lights around in a thousand fanciful ways. Her bounteous and golden hair ran in glowing waves about her shoulders, and never, methought, had I seen a form so beautiful, so visionary, so light. Her eyes, mercy be praised! were shaded by

VOL. VII.

soft and drooping lids, and by the sweetest fringe of smoothed lashes that I had ever looked upon; but still they melted a softened light over the countenance, which seemed to show, yet shade, a forehead more than fair.' But I am becoming romantic in my description, and, lest I should be taken to task by old Mr Gifford in the Quarterly Review, in the same way that Lady Morgan was reproved for " writing lies," I shall desist,-merely referring those young ladies who enjoy the poetry of pretty faces, and who love to read tender extravagance in the shape of tumultuous descriptions, to the novels of two worthy booksellers near the East India House, who are celebrated for their five vo lumes of marble-covered immorality and passionate trash. To proceed

The form advanced, in its veil of silvery and transparent mist, towards me, and became more distinct and more beautiful as it approached. could make out a shape more clearly, and have a perfect perception of the face. While I was gazing with all my soul at this singular and sweet presence, she brake silence, with a voice so soft and charming, that it could scarcely be said to break it. I cannot recollect the precise words she spake to me, for I was so awed and enchanted that I felt plunged in a tenfold charmed sleep. But the purport of her address was, that she had permitted me to approach her sacred stream, of which she was the guardian spirit; that the waters which ran, mad with light and music, at my feet, were the real waters of poetry, of which" so many rave, although they know them not." She informed me, that, on that very evening, and at that very hour, the living poets performed their pilgrimage to fetch water from the stream of inspiration, and, in return for my love of the tribe, she granted me permission to see, myself unseen, the wondrous sight. As she spake, her hair heaved its gentle waves, like the sunny waters of an evening sea, over her shoulders, and her eyes lightened as with glorious poesy. I looked her my thanks, as well as I was able, though they took more the semblance of adoration, and bowed my face on the grass before her. I should not forget to state, that she likewise informed me that the poets were compelled to tell her, as they re

S

ceived the waters, to what use they intended to apply them. I raised my head, looked once more on the stream, and truly it seemed to trip on with a pleasant dactylic motion. Suddenly I heard the sound of approaching feet, and a melodious murmur of mingled voices. The Spirit said to me, “Sing to their approach-Welcome them!" And, on the instant, though I had never before ventured on verse, my lips broke silence, and I lifted up my virgin song. I fear that persons awake will not see much meaning in it, but, as it was my first and last attempt, done into English at the inspiration of the moment, and fashioned in the presence of such an awful company, I trust that its beauties, and not its defects, will be sought for and eulogized.

They come! they come !-All the lordly

branch over me, passed slowly in her mantle of mist to the middle of the stream, over which she now appeared to preside.

In a little time the poetical crowd advanced within an ode's length of the water, and then halted. They then chaunted a hymn to the Spirit, written expressly for the occasion by Moore, and set by Sir John Stevenson in his best manner, as I was afterwards informed. I could perceive that each poet held in his hand a vessel to bear away his portion of the inspired waters. The Spirit now beckoned with her laurel branch, and each walked singly from the throng, and dipped his vessel in the blue, wild, Castalian wave. I will endeavour, as well as my recollection will allow me, to describe the manner and words of the most interesting of our living poets on this most interesting occasion. The evening became more joyous-Pegasus might be seen courting the winds in wild rapture on one of the neighand viewless wings were heard waybouring mountains-sounds of glad ing and fluttering high above the

stream and "all the air was filled with pleasant noise of waters."

And first I saw a lonely and melancholy figure slowly move towards the brink. I knew, by its noble air and peculiar carriage, that it was Lord Byron. He filled a Grecian urn. He plunged it into the stream with a turbulent and rash hand; but he drew it forth with sorrow and cold serenity. He declared he would keep the urn and its contents by him "for some years;" but he had scarcely spoken ere he had sprinkled forth some careless drops on the soiling earth. He retired, but did not join the crowd.

There then advanced a polite and comely personage, of a pleasant visage, and a northern accent, yet withal very oddly clad. He had a breast-plate on, and over that a Scottish plaid,-and, strange to say, with these, silk stockings and dress shoes. It was Walter Scott, as I guessed. He brought an old helmet, which had been newly gilt and embossed for the occasion, as his vessel. It did not hold enough for a very deep draught, but the water it contained took a pleasant sparkle from the warlike metal which shone through its shallowness. He said he had disposed of his portion on advantageous terms. The Spirit, with

a

it was a homely and natural vessel borrowed from the utensils of daily life, and, therefore, fitted for poetical use. Lamb and Lloyd dipped in a bright but in a shallower part of the stream. Coleridge went to the depths, where he might have taken the purest water, had he not unfortunately clouded it with the sand, which he himself disturbed at bottom, by dipping too deeply. Lamb and Lloyd stated, that they should take their porrengers home, and share the contents with the simple and amiable hearts that were dear to them there. Coleridge was not certain as to what use he should apply his portion of the waters, till he had ascertained what were the physical reasons for the sand's propensity to mount and curl itself in the stream. The Spirit declared he might and could do what he pleased with it, -and then uttered to him with a smile-" Remember poetry!" Coleridge, Lamb, and Lloyd, separated by mutual consent, when they quitted the margin of the water.

Wordsworth, with confident step, next advanced. The Spirit said, as she saw him, that no one had a greater right to approach her than himself,that no one had so great a natural right to the water, but that he applied it to such inferior purposes, and calumniated her favours by such fits of childishness and vanity, that she loved and yet regretted to see him. He began a long and very prosaic defence of his system; but in the course of it he became so egotistical, mystical, and abusive, that she reproved and silenced him. He made a bowl of the crown of his hat,* (it was so natural!) and scooped up the water with it. The Spirit smiled at his folly, but the poet preserved a serious countenance, and pronouncing certain lines from his own Excursion, he quitted the place.

The sound of stirring wings now subsided, the air became less bright, and the flowers on the bank became less odorous and less beautiful. No other poet approached to obtain water from the Castalian stream. But still it sparkled and played along with a melodious and a soul-like sound. On a sudden I heard a confusion of tongues behind me. On turning round, I found

*See the Excursion.

that it arose from a mistaken set of gentlemen who were chattering, and bustling, and dipping at a brook, which they believed to be the true Castalian. Their splashing, and dabbling, and gabbling, can only be ima-gined by those who have seen a flock of geese wash themselves in a pond, and plume their quills with chattering importance. There was the Honourable Mr Spencer with a goblet lent him by Lady Elizabeth Mug,-and Hayley, simpering and bowing, and reaching with a tea-cup at the water,

and Bowles, laboriously filling fourteen nutshells, and Lewis, pompously, mysteriously, and solemnly plunging an old skull in the brook,-and Admiralty Croker swimming a little cock-boat, " by order of the Board,"

and innumerable ragged young gentlemen fussing, and fuming, and fidgetting, with leaves of the Gentleman's Magazine in their hands, and all to no purpose! Poor Cottle was all abroad; and an obscure youth, of the name of Wiffin, was lost in a maze of bad grammar. There seemed now no encouraging signs in the elements,— no delightful sounds of attending spirits, -no springing up of flowers to cheer these worthies in their pursuits. They were satisfied with their own greatness, and flattered into bustle by their own vanities. I could only hear Folly shaking the bells of her cap to encourage them on. The continual activity of tongues soon fatigued me, and I turned myself from them to look again upon the Spirit. She had put off her bedimming veil, and stood before me bright with excessive beauty. One glance of her eye scared the silly multitude from the brook,-and she ascended into the silent heavens. There, to my astonished and delighted eyes, appeared Shakespeare, surrounded with light, with Spenser on the one hand and Milton on the other, and with the best of our early poets thronging around him. Amidst unearthly music he received the Spirit,

and they became all lost in light! I raised my imploring and enraptured hands-and in so doing,-I dropped my common-place-book,-which awoke me. The fire was out, the room was dark, I was excited and happy!-Such is dream the second!

P. S.-I have a third very good dream in my head.

BOARD OF HEALTH FOR IRELAND.

THE establishment of a General Board of Health is as interesting to the community at large, as it is to the medical profession. In its operation every one is deeply interested, and it may be productive of much inconvenience or of great advantage, accordingly as it is established upon just or false principles. Medical Police is in fact not so much a professional study, as a branch of the science of Political Economy. Its object is the preservation of the general state of health, by obviating the general causes of disease. The state of Medical Police in this empire and in Germany is strikingly contrasted, and in neither is it founded upon sound principles. Except our quarantine regulations, and the inefficient corporation privileges of the various branches of the profession, we have no permanent medical police, and local or occasional circumstances influence its application; while in Germany, a mistaken policy of regulating every thing connected with health, has led to the formation of a cumbrous code of contradictory, and often hurtful enactThe philosophy of Medical Police does not differ from that of the other branches of Political Economy, and its objects are to be obtained by facilitating the acquisition and dissemination of the relative information, with as little enactment as possible, and no tendency to extend, or create, monopoly. We cannot therefore adequately express the satisfaction with which we have perused the first fruits of the General Medical Board established in Dublin upon the soundest principles of political science. The Board is of a mixed nature, neither consisting entirely of professional men, nor excluding them altogether. The lay members, if they may be so called, are not selected on account of their holding high official situations, which would interfere with their attending to its business, but from those individuals who have, by their past zeal in the service of the poor and the public during the late epidemic, given the strongest guaran tee of their future exertions, and whose rank in society is sufficient to give them due effect.

ments.

The professional members consist

of the heads of the Medical Department, for reasons sufficiently obvious, and of some others distinguished by their zeal and activity. It is not a little recommendation of this Board, that, except a bare remuneration to the Secretary for time and labour, it costs the public nothing. It may do much good; it cannot do any harm; for it has no control over the profession, it enjoys no patronage, nor possesses any exclusive rights. But its objects, and the means which it has devised for attaining them, cannot be so well explained as by reprinting_both the instructions furnished to the Board by our enlightened countryman, the present Secretary of the Irish Government, and the Queries circulated by the Board; and we trust that, ere long, similar Boards will be established both in Scotland and England, which they might be at no other expence than enabling them to conduct their correspondence free of expence. In the mean time, we shall feel gratified if the circulation of the queries should procure from the readers of our Magazine communications on the causes, progress, and decline, of epidemic diseases in various districts in Scotland, which, if they should seem too professional for our pages, we shall transmit to the Editor of the Medical Journal.

Plan of Regulations for the Guidance of the Board of Health; as communicated to the Board by Mr Grant.

1st. To obtain the earliest information

respecting the appearance of Epidemic disease, either of foreign or domestic origin; to trace it in its progress, and to ascertain the causes of its rise and diffusion..

2d. To collect information from intelli

gent individuals in every part of the kingdom, including Members of Parliament, the Clergy of different denominations, Magistrates, and Governors of Hospitals, and Dispensaries, on the actual condition of the Poor, and the circumstances which affect their health, as to locality, occupation, state of dwellings, supply of fuel, food, clothing, or education.

3d. To digest the information thus collected into a methodical form, so contrived, different districts, it shall afford a just esthat, by contrasting the state of the poor in timate of the operative causes of disease.

4th. To obtain authenticated reports on the measures used in other countries, to secure the public health, together with an account of their success, so that, if it shall