In another page Mr. Sillery says,- 'I have stood on the rough rocks when the wrathful billows were foaming at my feet, and the wild sea-mew screaming above me--I have climbed the hills of a foreign land, when the lightnings were playing over-head and the thunder-echoes rolling down the sides of the rattling mountains,—I have stood on the brink of the volcano, and descended into the bowels of the earth through its crystalled-portalled caverns and grottoes,-I have clung to the quivering masts, and hung upon the dreary shrouds when the tempest was howling around the labouring bark,-I have seen all descriptions of people, climate, and country-heard all varieties of tongueenjoyed every pleasure that this world can afford. And what have I learned? -what conclusion have I drawn from the retrospect of the whole? That there is no real happiness-no quiet resting-place on earth-that all is but a chequered scene of sin, and vexation, and disappointment, and follyand to sigh, from my soul, for " the wings of a dove to flee away,"-far, far away from this melancholy world-" and be at rest," in the bosom of my God!'-p. 20. In many an amiable heart, agitated by noble, but impracticable schemes of self improvement, Mr. Sillery's sanguine eloquence will find a prompt echo. The philosophy of his resignation, his cheerfulness under the pressure of a fate which seems to oppose his cherished designs, offer instruction to the best of us at times, and under circumstances when we may least expect to bear up by means of our own unaided resources. In a recent notice of a number of poems we are happy at the recollection of having distinguished Mr. Sillery's "Vallery" by terms of praise. NOTICES. ART. XVII.—Discourses on the Millenium, the Doctrine of Election, Justification by Faith, &c. By the Rev. Michael Russel, LL.D. 12mo. PP. 443. A MORE sensible and judicious guide for the human mind through that wilderness of doubt and fear, which it enters when it begins to contemplate the subjects specified in the title of this work, could not be recommended, than the one before us. Mr. Russell boldly asserts, that the Millenium, in its primitive and proper acceptation, is an event that has long passed away; that we as Christians have nothing whatever to do with it; and that it applied only to the Jews. Our author's elaborate examination into this great historical question, will be read with as much pleasure as profit. The Discourses on the Doctrine of Election and Justification by Faith, are well-digested compendiums of the most orthodox opinions on these subjects. The last discourse on the historical evidence for the Apostolical Institution of Episcopacy, is strongly recommended to the attention of those who have been wearying the press of late with tirades in o pposition to such a doctrine. The work is neatly printed, and very well calculated for that impaired state of vision which age or hard study may have brought on. ART. XVIII-A Synopsis of Roman Antiquities, &c. By John Lanktree. Second edition. 12mo. pp. 217. Dublin: Curry and Co. 1830. FOR the youth whom it is thought necessary to instruct in the Latin language, this little work will prove a most useful companion. It is a simple and familiar explanation of those terms which are found in almost every page of Roman authors, and which are the names either of daily customs, of political proceedings, of articles of domestic life, and of amusement amongst the ancient Romans. To enumerate the contents of such a production is really to recommend it; and it is with mingled feelings of envy and regret that we express a wish that some Mr. Lanktree had lived in our juvenile days, to save us many a headache, and many a discontented hour. ART. XIX.-Essays on Interesting and Useful Subjects, with a few Introductory Remarks on English Composition; designed to assist Youth in the Style and Arrangement of Themes. By E. Johnson. 12mo. Pp. 247. London: Rivingtons and Co. 1830. ALTHOUGH modestly pretending to be but an assistant to youth in their attempts at English composition, the essays in this little work are well worthy the attention of the maturest and most experienced amongst us. They are, however, well calculated to give to young writers a taste for those more solid and lasting qualities of a prose style, which the fripperies and trash of the magazines in our days have gone much too far in supplanting. The work will be a very useful example to boys who think. that because they may labour under a paucity of ideas upon a given subject for composition, the subject is not susceptible of many-inasmuch as its pages will shew how much can be said -and well said too, upon questions that are apparently the most unfruitful in the world. 12mo. pp. 259. ART. XX.-Stories of Travels in South America. London: Whittaker and Co. 1830. THIS is a second edition of a little work which we have already noticed, and which we are glad to see has attained all the popularity we predicted for it. This impression contains a brief outline of the history of South America and, in order to make room for an account of Lieut. Maw's descent of the Maranon, or Amazon river, the story of Ward's Travels in Mexico has been omitted. The alterations in both respects are judicious, A more pleasing volume, for a present to the minor members of a family. has not been published this season. ART. XXI.-A Statement of Facts in the nature of a Memoir leading to and connected with the Great Battle of the 12th April, 1782. By an old Naval Officer. 8vo. pp. 52 and xxxv. THIS is a warm hearted and strong testimony to the merits of Lord Rodney, by one who retains, after many years of strange vicissitudes, a grateful recollection of the kind and endearing character of the illustrious hero. Those professional men who are interested in discovering the real author of the naval manœuvre of "breaking the enemy's line," of late so much discussed, will do well to examine the contents of this small pamphlet, as being the evidence of a sensible, acute, though we must say, rather partial witness. ART. XXII.—The Vale of Obscurity, The Levant, and other Poems. By Charles Crocker. 8vo. pp. 120. Chichester: W. Mason. London: Longman and Co. 1830. WE are assured by a most respectable correspondent, that these poems. are the genuine productions of a shoemaker. Our correspondent's testimony is amply confirmed by a long list of subscribers, several of them of the highest rank, who have generously come forward to encourage the genius which they have discovered in one of the humblest walks of life. Indeed, without these recommendations, we should have found no difficulty in yielding implicit credence to the modest account of himself which the author has given in his preface. He has, he says, for many years found a pleasing gratification in the composition of verses, and though he had, at times, been told that they were not destitute of merit, yet he never, until a few months ago, entertained an expectation of seeing them in print. They happened to fall into the hands of persons capable of judging of such things, and were pronounced by them not unworthy of publication. Their patronage, added to that of others, enabled him to appear before the world in a new character. At the same time he assures us, with more of good sense than usually falls to the lot of the "irritable race," that he has no idea of becoming an author by profession. The occupation by which he has hitherto procured subsistence for his family, is, in his opinion, not less honourable (considering his condition in life), and far more likely to be attended with success, than the precarious pursuits of literature. He is perfectly right. Literature, like all other trades, for a trade it has become, has been sadly overstocked. Bad novels and worse poetry, and trashy "libraries," have been produced in such abundance, that we should not be surprised to find reading go in a short time altogether out of fashion. Our poet then proceeds to give a short sketch of his life, which is not without interest. He was born in June, 1797, at Chichester, where he received an elementary education at the Grey-coat school. As soon as he could read, he became very fond of books. The Bible, Robinson Crusoe, and the Pilgrim's Progress, especially the latter, were his favourites. For poetry he cherished a particular regard. After reading some of the best productions in our language, and hearing Mr. Thelwall lecture on Shakspeare and Milton, he possesed himself of Blair's Lectures and Beattie's Minstrel. His imagination was expanded by a visit to Dorsetshire, the scenery of which impressed his mind with indelible recollections. Cowper, Goldsmith, Collins, and Milton, were added to his store of books, and having married he set up for himself as a shoemaker, having regularly gone through his apprenticeship. His first wife died at the end of the second year of their marriage. He was fortunate enough to form a second union, the results of which are two daughters and a son. With respect to the character of his poetry. it will be seen from the specimens which we shall give of it, that it has more of art than of nature, more of imitation than of originality. The Vale of Obscurity' is a poem in fifty-one stanzas, in the measure of Beattie's Minstrel. Its object is to paint the happiness which may be found in humble life. Its successive scenes present themselves to the poet in a dream, the introduction to which will sufficiently indicate its general style, "Content! of all the blessings I possess, Than thou, sweet maid, whose smile gives zest to all; With thee would hide me from the world's rude strife; "Tis peace of mind that makes the bliss of life- To find in thee a comforter and friend: Be then my heart on this one purpose bent- SLEEP charm'd, at once, each restless thought away Soothing as those around th' expiring christian's bed.'-pp. 19-21. The Lavant' is an address to the poet's native stream, in a similar measure. We like it much better than the preceding poem, as it breathes infinitely more of natural feeling. ''Tis sweet in manhood's prime to feel the glow Of youthful joy revisiting the heart: Sweet as when o'er the dreary landscape blow Spring's first warm gales, and milder sunbeams dart I feel its warmth, unchill'd by life's advance, 'Oh! I can ne'er forget those sunny hours, In many an arduous lesson had display'd; The same glad notes from woodland songsters gay; While, musing on the past, once more I tread Thy peaceful borders green, by pensive Fancy led. 'It seems to me as if Time's mighty wing, That sweeps great empires from their base, o'er thee Just as when life's bright morning smiled on me, Yet, in thy wanderings, what diversity, What varying aspects hast thou undergone! Nor varied less hath been my fate, though more unknown. 'I've gazed upon thee with delight, when smooth And glistening in the beams of spring's bright reign, Those visions which through life Remembrance holds so dear. But not alone from buoyant health and youth Sprung all the transports that then thrill'd my breast; For on my mind, e'en then had heavenly Truth That deeper sense of happiness imprest Rich healing balm. Her cheering influence too The charm of song upon my spirit's gladness Bright dreams of which I strove in vain to tell; |