Pilgrim's Progress" with the prints, "Vanity | The following poems are extracted as speciFair," &c., now scarce. Four shillings. Cheap. mens from the volume for those who are not acAnd also one of whom I have oft heard and had quainted with the poetical value of the author. dreams, but never saw in the flesh-that is, in sheepskin-"The whole theologic works of Thomas Aquinas!" My arms ached with lugging it a mile to the stage, but the burden was a pleasure, such as old Anchises was to the shoulders of Æneas; or the Lady to the Lover in the old romance, who having to carry her to the top of a high mountain-the price of obtaining her clambered with her to the top and fell dead with fatigue. O the glorious old schoolmen ! GREAT BEALINGS CHURCHYARD. A Summer Evening. It is not only while we look upon A lovely landscape that its beauties please; From such, in fancy's idle reveries, Or moods of mind which memory loves to seize, It comes in living beauty, fresh as when We first beheld it ;-valley, hill, or trees, There must be something in him. Such great O'ershadowing unseen brooks; or outstretched fen, names imply greatness. Who hath seen Michel With cattle sprinkled o'er, exist, and charm again. Angelo's things-of us that never pilgrimaged to Rome and yet which of us disbelieves his great- Such pictures silently and sweetly glide ness? How I will revel in his cobwebs and subtleties till my brain spins, &c. Was the following letter addressed to Bernard Barton? or was it only found among his papers? There is a Latin letter from Lamb to Coleridge, from Enfield, but we cannot lay our hands on it at present: VIR BONE! April, 1831. Recepi literas tuas amicissimas, et in mentern venit responsuro mihi, vel raro, vel nunquam, inter nos intercedisse Latinam linguam, organum rescribendi, loquendive. Epistolæ tuæ, Plinianis elegantiis (supra quod Tremulo deceat) repertæ, tam a verbis Plinianis adeo abhorrent, ut ne vocem quamquam (Romanam scilicet) habere videaris, quam ad canem," ut aiunt, " rejectare possis."Forsan desuetudo Latinisandi ad vernaculam linguam usitandam, plusquam opus sit, coegit. Per adagia quædam nota, et in ore omnium pervulgata, ad Latinitatis perdita recuperationem revocare te 66 institui. Felis in abaco est, et ægrè videt. Omne quod splendet nequaquam aurum putes. Imponas equo mendicum, equitabit idem ad diabolum. Fur commodê a fure prenditur. Before my "mind's eye;" and I welcome them Ere breeze or sunbeam from her diadem Bear witness many a loved and lovely scene, Their silent course. And thus it ought to be, O Maria, Maria, valdé CONTRARIA, quomodo Have been too busy, and we would retire crescit hortulus tuus? Nunc majora canamus. Thomas, Thomas, de Islington, uxorem duxit die nuperâ Dominicâ. Reduxit domum posterâ. Succedenti baculum emit. Postridie ferit illam. Agrescit illa subsequenti. Proximâ (nempe Veneris) est mortua. Plurimum gestiit Thomas, quòd appropinquanti sabbato efferenda sit. Horner quidam Johannulus in angulo sedebat, artocreas quasdam deglutiens. Inseruit pollices, pruna manu evellens, et magnâ voce exclamavit, "Dii boni, quam bonus puer fio!" Diddle-diddle-dumkins! meus unicus filius Johannes cubitum ivit, integris braccis, caligâ unâ tantum, indutus-Diddle-diddle, &c. Da capo. Hic adsum saltans Joannula. Cum nemo adsit mihi, semper resto sola. In his nugis caram diem consumo, dum invigilo valetudini carioris nostræ Emmæ quæ apud nos jamdudum ægrotat. Salvere vos jubet mecum Maria mea, ipsa integrâ valetudine. ELIA. E'en from ourselves awhile-yet of ourselves Then art thou such a spot as man might choose And calm, and soothing; when the light breeze WOOS "Light thickens ;" and the moon advances; slow And now each humble, narrow, nameless bed, Ab agro Enfeldiense datum, Aprilis nescio qui To eyes that pass by epitaphs unread, bus Calendis Davus sum, non calendarius. P. S. Perdita in toto est Billa Reformatura. Rise to the view. How still the dwelling of the dead! Not ours the vows of such as plight Their troth in sunny weather, But we have loved as those who tread That thorny path, those stormy skies, Love, born in hours of joy and mirth, It looks beyond the clouds of time, By faith and hope immortal. IZAAK WALTON. Cheerful old man! whose pleasant hours were spent Where Lea's still waters through their sedges glide; Or on the fairer banks of peaceful Trent, Or Dove hemmed in by rocks on either side: Thy book is redolent of fields and flowers, Of freshly flowing streams and honey-suckle bow ers. Although I reck not of the rod and line, Thou needest no such brotherhood to give In meadows where the world was left behind; Still seeking with a blameless recreation In troubled times to keep a quiet mind; This, with thy simple utterance, imparts A pleasure ever new to musing hearts. And thou hast deeper feelings to revere, Drawn from a fountain even more divine, That blend thine own with memories as dear, With names our hearts with gratitude enshrine; Holy George Herbert, Wotton, Ken, and Donne, The pious Hooker, Cranmer, Sanderson. SONNET TO WILLIAM AND MARY HOWITT. The breath of Spring is stirring in the wood, Whose budding boughs confess the genial gale; And thrush and blackbird* tell their tender tale; *This is very classical.-"Notabile est," says a learned critic, "quod in epigrammatibus, quæ in Anthologia leguntur, semper juncti inveniuntur merula et turdus in venatione." Vide Schneideri Periculum Criticum, p. 66. Both these birds, from their song, were sacred to Apollo, and thus the κίχλη and κόσσυφος (the merle and mavis) were called iɛgot oore9es. This epithet is given in a little epigram in the Anthologia by a poet whose name is not known, which, with a great loss of the beauty of the original, we venture to translate. Concealed beneath a broad-boughed Platane's shade, I would that little songster's fate were mine; But, in his bosom laid, would weep and murmur there.-REV. The hawthorn tree, that leafless long has stood, Where Robin Hood once held his revels gay; ORFORD CASTLE. Beacon for barks that navigate the stream Seem'st to assert thy sovereign honor still. ON SOME ILLUSTRATIONS OF COWPER'S RURAL Why are these tamer landscapes fraught The heart is glad to feel? Cowper, thy muse's magic skill Has made them sacred ground: The hoary oak, the peasant's nest, The shrubbery, moss-house, simple urn, Thy verse, no less to nature true That long must linger here. Amid these scenes the hours were spent And each is now thy monument, “Here, like the nightingale's, were poured Which sought the glory of the Lord, FIRESIDE QUATRAINS To Charles Lamb. It is a mild and lovely winter night, The breeze without is scarcely heard to sigh; The crescent moon and stars of twinkling light Are shining calmly in a cloudless sky. Within the fire burns clearly; in its rays My old oak book-case wears a cheerful smile; Its antique mouldings brightened by the blaze Which shows how lovely is a peasant's home— At this still hour to me their beauties seem. One picture more there is, which should not be And young and fair, who fain would teach to read That urchin, by her patience unbeguiled, The volume open on her lap to heed. With fingers thrust into his ears, he looks As much he wished the weary task were done; And more, far more, of pastime than of books Lurks in that arch dark eye so full of fun. Graver, or in the pouts, (I know not well Which of the twain,) his elder sister plies Her needle so, that it is hard to tell What the full meaning of her downcast eyes. Dear Charles, if thou shouldst haply chance to know Where such a picture hung in days of yore, Its highest worth, its deepest charm, to show I need not tax my rhymes or fancy more. It is not womanhood in all its grace And lovely childhood plead to me alone; Though these each stranger still delights to trace, And with congratulating smile to own; No-with all these my feelings fondly blend A hidden charm unborrowed from the eye; That wakes the memory of my absent friend, And chronicles the pleasant hours gone by. ON A VIGNETTE OF WOODBRIDGE FROM THE WARREN My own beloved, adopted town! For more than forty chequered years I came to thee a stranger youth, And Friendship's solace and Love's truth Loved for the living and the dead, Here would I live till life be fled, TO THE SKY-LARK. Bird of the free and fearless wing, With thy enlivening matin lay: And hear thy numbers blithe and gay, Hath Heaven a joyous lot assigned; At day's return this lower earth, And, soaring as on wings of wind, To spring where light and life have birth. Bird of the sweet and taintless hour, When dew-drops spangle o'er the lea, Ere yet upon the bending flower Has lit the busy humming-bce ;Pure as all nature is to thee Thou, with an instinct half divine, Wingest thy fearless flight so free Up toward a yet more glorious shrine. Bird of the morn! from thee might man, Creation's lord, a lesson take: If thou, whose instinct ill may scan The glories that around thee break, Bird of the happy, heaven-ward song! Than ever genius can supply, As thou the ear, might glad the heart, SONNET. The butterfly, which sports on gaudy wing; Lives but to bask in fashion's vain display, Whose industry for future hours provides; The gentle streamlet, gladding as it glides Unseen along; the flower which gives the lea Fragrance and loveliness, are types of thee, And of the active worth thy modest merit hides. SONNET. The lamp will shed a feeble glimmering light When death has made them loveless to the sight. Light, color, sweetness; thus unto the last Seem like the lingering echo of the past. THE SEAT AT BERRY'S HIll. It was a happy thought, upon the brow Where one may watch the laborer at his plough; The song of wild birds falling on the ear, Tent-like the fabric-in its centre stands Beauteous the landscape which below expands, TO A GRANDMOTHER. Old age is dark and unlovely.—OSSIAN. At aught of which the hand of God bereaves, And hence thy fire-side chair appears to me Thy little subjects, looking up to thee From Bentley's Miscellany. THE THIRD AND THE ROYAL FAMILY WITH FROM 1776 To 1805. In August, 1794, at his majesty's suit, the cause respecting the marriage of the Duke of been solemnized in Italy, and afterwards at St. Sussex and Lady Augusta Murray, which had George's, Hanover Square, was finally determined in Doctors' Commons, when Sir William Wynne delivered the judgment of the court, that the marriage was utterly null and void, declaring that the ceremony performed at Rome was also, by the law of this country, invalid and illegal. MY LORD, I begin my letter with a thousand thanks for your very kind attention to me in offering the city living for any one of my young people. 1 hope that Lord Aylesbury has by this time informed you of the happy young man who I knew some years ago to bear a very good character at Christ Church, which was the only reason that could have induced me to name him, and I trust that he will be worthy of your protection. I have the pleasure of acquainting you, my lord, that his majesty is, thank God, quite well; that our sea-excursions proved of great benefit to him, and that in point of bodily exercise he is very careful; and though hunting is not quite given over, yet do we readily stay at home when the clouds threaten us with storms. We have also had very good accounts of my son Augustus, who must by this time have arrived at Pisa. This tour is made for precaution, for his old complaint was greatly abated since last year, and he would himself rather have chosen to stay at home. It would give me great satisfaction to receive such good accounts of you as I sent from hence, and have it confirmed that Worcestershire air proves more salutary than that of London, of which I hear you do not intend to make any trial this year, at least not for any length of time. I cannot blame you, my lord, but may pity your friends, who must consequently be deprived of your agreeable society. I wish it was not so, but as it is for your good, I sincerely wish that it may prove beneficial, and be the means of prolonging the life of an excellent man to this country, in which nobody can more rejoice than myself. CHARLOTTE. Windsor, the 23d Dec., 1789. Ir will have been abundantly apparent in the letters we have already presented, addressed by George III. to the Bishop of Worcester, that the king was a sovereign perfectly aware of his responsibilities as such-although, perhaps, he did not always wisely interpret them; that he was a sincere and attached friend, and that he was a most exemplary husband and father. Unhappily, our history shows us so few good kings, that it is but small praise of George III., when we say that no monarch ever ascended the throne of these realms with a deeper conviction of the greatness of the charge committed to him. He emphatically believed himself to be "defender of the faith y the grace of God," and he did what seemed to him best to acquit himself of the awful trust reposed in him. Too much respect cannot be accorded to his domestic character, which furnishes an example of old English sterling worth and virtue, that the succeeding regency and reign not only could not obscure, but only rendered more conspicuous; which example we now behold, not The thanksgiving which the king, in the folrevived but continued in his well-beloved grand-lowing letter, speaks of ordering, was a very soldaughter, her present majesty. The following letter from Queen Charlotte contains an allusion to the Duke of Sussex, which we must not pass over. If that prince, who "would himself rather have stayed at home," had been indulged in his wish, in all probability he would never have contracted the marriage which was the source of such disquiet to his parents. * "A good Sonnet. Diri."-C. LAMB. MY LORD, I am very agreeably employed by she has not misunderstood you concerning your Mamma in writing to you to say, that she hopes coming to Windsor to-morrow, and that your apartment is well-aired. Mamma also desires you will be so good as to answer this note; and I am happy to take this opportunity of assuring you that nobody can be happier with the idea of your intended visit to Windsor than your friend, AUGUSTA SOPHIA. emn and splendid ceremony. We know not-or rather, we think we know-what Mr. Cobden and his friends would say of it, were such a procession to take place now-a-days; but the spirit of Englishmen is not altered, who, in the last resort, will take up arms in a just cause, and who will return thanks to the Almighty when their arms have been successful. The 19th of December, 1793, was the day ap pointed for a general thanksgiving, for the three Recurring to the above letter, we would call the great naval victories obtained by his majesty's attention of the reader to the sentiments expressed fleets, under Lords Howe, St. Vincent, and Dun- in the concluding portion of it. If, during the can a grand procession to St. Paul's by the last twelvemonth, the subjects and potentates of royal family and the two houses of Parliament, Germany had been similarly impressed, we should took place. This procession was also composed never have seen with indignation and horror the of the officers of state, the officers of the house- inhuman barbarities that have been committed both hold, the municipal authorities, and seamen and by imperialists and “patriots." marines bearing the captured French, Spanish, and Dutch flags. The next letter refers to the Princess Amelia. The illness, of which the fond father fancies he As soon as the king arrived at the naval circle perceives an amendment, was most protracted and in the cathedral, he stopped and spoke for some painful. She died on the 2d November, 1810. time to Lord Duncan, who supported the captive Shortly before her death, she wished to present colors of the Dutch Admiral De Winter. He also her father, whom she tenderly loved, with a last paused to speak to Sir Alan Gardiner, who bore token of her affection, and placed on his finger a the principal French standard, taken from that ring made under her own direction, containing a enemy on the first of June. The king appeared small lock of her hair, inclosed under a crystal in blue and gold; the queen in mazarine blue, tablet, set round with a few sparks of diamonds. with a diamond head-dress; the princesses in the The loss of this his youngest daughter-so long same colored vests, with head-dresses of gold and feared, till perhaps fear began to give place to white feathers. Their majesties were received hope, so preyed upon the feelings of the king, with great applause as they passed the body of the that he sank a victim to that mental disorder under church to and fro. The gallant Lord Duncan was which he had suffered twenty years before. greeted with rapturous and repeated plaudits. Mr. Pitt and Mr. Dundas were received much MY GOOD LORD,-The entering on a new century more favorably in the church than they had been is so natural an occasion of writing to one whom I in their passage to it; for Mr. Pitt was very gross- so thoroughly love, that I cannot refrain, though at ly insulted on his way to the cathedral, in conse- the risk of breaking in upon your retirement. I quence of which he did not return in his own car- shall not add to it by unnecessary compliments on riage. The whole business was conducted (with the season, as I trust you are sensible of my feelings this exception) with the utmost order and pro- on that subject at all times. priety, and the beauty and clearness of the day greatly increased the splendor and brilliancy of the spectacle. Windsor, Oct. 19th, 1797. MY GOOD LORD,-The "Hanoverian Quarterly Messenger" has brought the annual prize essays from the University of Gottingen: I therefore send the copy I have usually forwarded for Hartlebury, but find that for 1793 was omitted; it goes with the other. I was happy to learn from Mr. Stillingfleet, at Weymouth, that your health has been better the last summer than in common. hope it remains so now. I The valor of the navy never shone more than in the late glorious action off Camperdown, on the Dutch coast, and I trust its effects will render our enemies more humble; and trust that while my subjects praise the conduct of the officers and sailors, that they will return thanks where most due, to the Almighty, who has crowned their endeavors with success. I feel this last sentiment so strongly, that I propose to order a thanksgiving on the occasion, in which I mean to join, in consequence of the success over the Dutch, the two memorable battles of Earl Howe over the French, and the Earl of St. Vincent over the Spaniards. Without true seeds of religion, no people can be happy, nor will be obedient to legal authority, nor will those in command be moderate in the exercise of it, if not convinced that they are answerable to an higher power for their conduct. But were I to indulge myself on this subject, I should certainly obtrude too long on your patience. I will, therefore, conclude, with every assurance of feeling much interest, my good lord, in your health and happiGEORGE R. Windsor, Jan. 1st, 1800. I have the satisfaction of assuring you that all my family are well; even dear Amelia is, with gigantic steps, by the mercy of Divine Providence, arriving at perfect health. She was on the 24th of last month confirmed, by her own request, by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who seemed much pleased in the preparatory conversations he had with her, of her being well grounded in our holy religion, and the serious duty she was taking upon herself. On Christmas-day he administered the Holy Communion in my chapel, with a solemnity and propriety that could not but give pleasure to those who partook of it. The sermon was preached by the Bishop of St. David's, and a more excellent discourse or exposition of the Christian religion I never heard; indeed, the five sermons he has preached at the Cathedral on the five Sundays in December, were equally admired; and all on Christianity, not mere moral subjects. I have pressed him to collect them, with such further explanations as a treatise in support of our holy religion might require, and then to publish what may be useful to others, as well as highly creditable to himself. Young bishops ought to write, that their talents may be known. I know you are no great lover of political subjects, yet the impudent overthrow of the monstrous French Republic by a Corsican adventurer, and his creating himself sole lawgiver, and executor of his own decrees, must have astonished you. Without more foresight than common sense dictates, one may conceive that his impious preeminence cannot be of long duration. My good lord, most affectionately yours, GEORGE R. P. S.-My son, the Duke of York, who is here, has desired me to express the pleasure he has reTo the Lord Bishop of Worcester, Hartlebury Castle.ceived from reading the letters I have shown him ness. |