degree of sagacity and a depth of reflection which cannot be contemplated without more than usual admiration. If we were to deduce our opinion of Sir Thomas More solely from the perusal of his Utopia, we should suppose him to have been a man of the most enlarged philanthropy and the most comprehensive views. But we find that the abstractions which he formed in the closet were often at variance with his conduct in the busy detail of life. Here we often, find him a prey to superstition; and submitting to a variety, of corporeal mortifications of which his philosophic mind, when insulated by its own reflective powers from the errors and prejudices of his contemporaries, did not want sagacity to discern the insignificance and to condemn the absurdity. But the distinguishing feature in his moral character, and in which he may challenge a comparison with the brightest names in Grecian or in Roman story, was his incorruptible integrity. This was superior to temptation; and could never for a moment be shaken by ' any consideration of interest or of fear. By a slight deflec tion from his principles, which few would have had the courage to refuse, he might have preserved his fortune and his life; but he nobly disdained to yield even a feigned assent with his lips to what he abominated in his heart. He rather parted with all that the world holds dear, than with the secret but sweet congratulations of an approving con-. science. Compare his conduct in this respect with one who afterwards sat on the same bench, and who was, perhaps, his superior in intellectual endowments, Francis Bacon,, Lord Verulam. Bacon was greedy of political distinction, and scrupled not to practise any means by which it might be obtained; he was a fawning courtier, a supple parasite, and a perfidious friend; ostentatious, insolent, and domineering in prosperity, and mean, servile, and prostrate in misfortune.. But More was the reverse of all this; he was plain-spoken, ingenuous, and sincere in the extreme. When he was most elevated in station, he was most lowly in heart; he was more fearful of wealth and power than others are of obscurity and indigence; but when we see him most persecuted by the malice of fortune, when stripped of all that could excite external consideration, we most admire the constancy of his temper and the sublimity of his reso lution.

ART. IV. Scottish Historical and Romantic Ballads, chity ancient; with explanatory Notes and a Glossary, to which are prefized some Remarks on the early State of romantic, Composition in Scotland. By John Finlay. 2 Vols. 148,

Millar. 1808.

IF we are not mistaken, Mr. Finlay has already appeared before the public as a poet and obtained some credit by his labours. He now comes forward only as an editor of the works of others, and generally speaking, of such as are very well known already. As records of the manners and language of past ages, it is both interesting, and in some degree important, to preserve the scattered reliques of popular poetry. Yet in the eye of sober criticism, however enthusiasm may spura the suggestion, the intrinsic merit of those pieces is generally small; and, curiosity once gratified by their perusal, there remains little that is worthy the attention or investigation of genius and science.

We have read all the original part of the present publication, that is to say, the preface and commentaries, with some attention, and are yet unable to discover what are the motives which induced the editor to usher it into the world. From his preface, which is clear and sensible, we' should have been disposed to pronounce him free from that excessive nationality which distinguishes so many of his literary countrymen of the present day. He denies the proof, and even the probability, of any romance of a Scottish origin, and combats, very successfully as it appears to us, Mr. W. Scott's Theory respecting his favourite work of Thomas the Rhymer, to which he assigns an Anglo-Norman parent. The romances of Sir Egeis' and the Awntre of Gawain,' which Mr. Scott also would fain ascribe to his dear native land,' Mr. Finlay allows to betray their Norman origin at the outset. Two others, which at first sight one would be inclined to pronounce original Scottish, Mr. Finlay proves to be likewise subject to very consider able doubts at least; and with these end all the pretensions of his countrymen to invented romance.

The second class of poems which Mr. Finlay proposes to discuss is, the historical ballad, of which it cannot be doubted that the Scottish, in common with other nations, contained the sources in its own popular traditions. The earliest of these ballads now extant appears to be that of 'Sir Patrick Spens,' preserved in Dr. Percy's collection,

and reprinted here. Those relating to Wallace, Mr. Finlay seems to place next in chronological order.

The history of our romantic ballads,' proceeds Mr. F. admits of more doubt and enquiry. They appear to have been derived from various sources. Some, it is probable, are to be referred to the minstrel romances; episodes, and interesting fragments of which would find their way to the people, and either degenerate into ballads in their progress through a race of unlearned reciters, or be at first translated from the quaint Inglis' of the minstrels, into a language intelligible to the ruder audience for which they were' intended. Of this derivation, however, much less evidence remains than might have been expected.' P. xxi.

One ballad only, that of Burd Helen,' can, he thinks, be named, of which the origin may be ascribed, with any certainty to the minstrel romance.

The remainder of the preface is taken up in combating, or at least restraining the application of, Mr. Jamieson's assertion, that Scotland owes much of her romantic ballads to the Scalds who attended the camp of the Scandinavian invaders of Britain.'

After this introduction, a great part of which evinces considerable learning and ingenuity, we fully expected something new and interesting in the work; and when, on turning to the table of contents, we found that our expectation would be, probably, disappointed, we still hoped that the arrangement might at least be such as to throw some new light or produce some satisfactory conclu sion. So far, however, from that being the case, the first and longest poem in the collection is that of Hardy knute." which has no pretension whatever to antiquity, being the avowed production of a lady who died in the year 1727. for this reason, though, as an imitation of the old ballad, and even in regard to its intrinsic merits, it possesses claims to notice, we cannot imagine why it has been reprinted by Mr. Finlay unless to introduce his quotation from the Danish account published (by Mr. Johnstone) of the battle of Largs.

Besides Hardyknute,' 'Sir Patrick Pens,' Edom o' Gordon, Sir Cauline,' and 'Glasgerion,' were all published by Dr. Percy, and most of the-other poems in these volumes. have appeared in Mr. Scott's 'Minstrelsy of the Borders,' or in some one or other of the numerous collections of ballads with which the world has been of late years deluged.

With regard to the few which are printed from MSS. or

oral tradition, we cannot imagine that many persons will conceive themselves much indebted to Mr. Finlay for their production. Let our readers judge from the following specimen.

Open the gates,

And let him come in;
He is my brother Huntly,
He'll do him nae harm.

'The gates they were opent
They let him come in,
But fause traitor Huntly
He did him great harm.

'He's ben and ben

And ben to his bed,
And with a sharp rapier

He stabbed him dead.' &c. &c. Vol. 2. p. 21.

Three original poems are added to the collection, which we conclude are to be ascribed to Mr. Finlay himself, although be assumes only the modest title of editor. They are professed imitations of the old historical ballad of his country; and, as far as a profusion of unintelligible words, and a lamentable dearth of poetical expression and imagery can entitle them to the praise of successful efforts, they appear to us as deserving of it as any of the numerous similar compositions which we have from time to time had the misfortune to witness. They are, however, introduced by a few lines which are tather above the common standard of merit.

'O, in this deep and lonely glen

So lovely in its solitude,

Can thoughts of woe the soul o'erflow,
Or ought on dreams of peace intrude ?

'O, can the gentle stir of leaves,

The sleepy notes as of a dream-
That winds below the green-wood bough,
The murmur of the lovely stream;—

'Can they of grief and sorrow tell ?

They can and deeds of blood recall;

For the tree waves o'er black Creichtoun's tower,

And the stream runs by its silent wall.' Vol. 2. p. 111.

In giving our opinion of this publication, we have spoken the language which sound justice appears to us to demand. CRIT. REV. Vol.14. July, 1808. S

But, notwithstanding our disapprobation, so long as the literary part of the Scottish nation continue to be blessed with the same undaunted perseverance in favour of every. thing Scottish, and so long as their southern neighbours retain the same facility of receiving the impressions which they strive so zealously to communicate, Mr. Finlay's present labours will no doubt meet with sufficient encourage. ment; and we will add that they are more deserving of it than many other works of the same description of which the popularity is already established.

ART. V.-The History of the ancient Borough of Pontefract, containing an interesting Account of its Castle, and the three different Sieges it sustained during the Civil War. With Notes and Pedigrees of some of the most distinguished Royalists and Parliamentarians, chiefly drawn from MSS. never before published. By B. Boothroyd. 8vo. pp. 520. 15s. Longman. 1807.

'I LOVE Pomfret' said Swift; Why? 'Tis in all our histories they are full of Pomfret castle. And it is true that that fortress appears to have been one of the strongest and most important in the kingdom, though it was bestowed by the conqueror on one of his followers, and long continued to be private property in the hands of powerful barons, who were enabled by the possession of it to make formidable The Lacies, the feudal lords of the head against the crown. burgh and its lands, were vigilant observers of all their sovereign's measures, and were bold in their opposition to all his encroachments or other misdeeds; and when Henry de Lacy, having no prospect of issue, rendered up his castle ard barony of Pontefract to Edmund earl of Lancaster, the brother of Edward the first, and the heirs of his body, he raised up, in this branch of the royal family, one of the most patriotic leaders of a popular party, that England ever saw. It is said, indeed, that, in his last moments, he charged Thomas of Lancaster, who had married his daughter and was to succeed to his estates, (his father Edmund being dead), to watch the conduct of Edward the second and his favourites, and under all circumstances to defend with

In one of his letters, if we are not mistaken. prefixedasthe motto to this work,

His remark is appropriately