Page images
PDF
EPUB

Tales of Kirkbeck, or the Parish in the Fells. London: Cleaver. THIS is a small volume of "Tales" by the author of "Lives of Certain Fathers of the Church in the Fourth Century." The writer informs us in the preface that they are "mostly founded on truth: the only fault (it is modestly added) the reader will have to find, is the imperfection of the narrator." The stories, however, are sweetly and gracefully told, exhibiting a thorough Christian spirit and earnest mind. We cannot refrain from extracting a most touching sketch of a child's funeral:

"Six years had passed away since that day on which the two mothers had brought their babes to the font, and the Actons had as usual returned to Kirkbeck by St. James's day; but this time it was for a different service-a service to which the other had been but a preliminary. The evening sun shone as brilliantly as it had done that day six years ago, and, as then, caused a profusion of beautiful rainbow colours to waver upon the font; the bells had rung their usual holiday peal, and even-song had been celebrated; but, when it was over, a slow deep toll proceeded from the old tower, and the vicar advanced in his surplice towards the lich-gate, where he met a little band of mourners bearing a white palled coffin; it contained the earthly remains of that bright little one who, six years before, had been, as on this day, buried by baptism into Christ's death; and, having been planted in the likeness of his death, was now planted into the likeness of his resurrection. It was a solemn service. The burial of a little child is quite unlike all other burials: there is (thanks be to God) a certainty and reality in our assurance of its blessedness which it is difficult to grasp so surely with regard to those who have passed through the defilements of the world, although for them we have the gracious promise that to the true penitent the blood of their crucified Saviour cleanseth away all sin. But, at a child's burial, we can think of it immediately as joined to that blessed company, the 'first-fruits unto God and the Lamb, in whose mouth was found no guile; for they are without fault before the throne of God.'"

In point of composition it is vastly superior to the generality of works of the class to which it belongs. The paragraph we have quoted is a fair specimen of the style and feeling in which the work is written; and will, we think, induce many of our readers to cultivate a further acquaintance with the volume.

Female Examples, selected from the Holy Scriptures. For Young Persons. By a CLERGYMAN's Daughter. London: Hatchard.

THIS little book is admirably suited to the capacities of those for whom it is designed. The "Examples" are short; the language appropriately simple; and a spirit of piety pervades the volume.

Lays and Rhymes for the Times. London: Bell. 1848. THE design of this little brochure would appear to be to afford a vehicle for the expression of the feelings of loyalty which the late feeble and foolish "Demonstration," as it is affectedly called, has evoked throughout the length and breadth of the land. Dibdin, on a larger scale, aimed at, and accomplished, a similar object among our gallant tars by his ballads. We trust that the example thus set will call forth similar efforts on the part of our lyrical writers, and we have many and able ones-Barry Cornwall in the van. To quote to any extent from the leaves before us would be to absorb the whole into our pages for the work consists of but a few leaves. We will, however, give a specimen of the style in which it is written. It is addressed to the "Peers of England:"

"For ye are God's high almoners; the trust, if understood—

And why are vast possessions yours-but greater means of good? And if to you heaven's kingdom be of difficult access,

'Tis when you make that wealth your own which was but lent to bless;

Forget your office and your God, do your own will, and then,
The lesson he will teach is this, to know yourselves but men.
Be faithful stewards, practise here no tyranny but love,
And ye shall stand secure below-securer still above.

Then round the banner ye shall raise a muster'd host shall stand,
The chivalry of Europe, and the brave of every land;
And so the right shall prosper, that when such flag is furl'd,
A shout of triumph shall arise from a deliver'd world."

There are other lyrics of a more pathetic character. We have not space to quote a most spirited one by Mr. Martin Farquhar Tupper, entitled "God Preserve the Queen." We refer our readers to the work itself, which is a cheap shilling'sworth.

Madonna Pia, and Other Poems. By JAMES GREGOR GRANT. Two Vols. London: Smith, Elder, and Co. 1848.

WE had begun to think that railroads and utilitarianism had driven poetry from the land. Wordsworth, Croly, Moore, Procter, Tennyson, Milnes, Hervey-all are silent. When we took up these volumes our audible exclamation was— "This is a bold man!" And the more we reflect on the matter the less reason we discover for revoking our opinion. He is indeed a bold man, and bold in proportion to the amount of his poetical powers, who would speculate on the sympathy of the public in an age like this. Volumes of rhyme and verse find their way to our table in sufficient abundance; but it is long-very long-since one with any

thing like the pretensions of these before us to the high title of poetry has reached our hands. We regret that, having received the work at the eleventh hour, we have barely time or room to do more than welcome its appearance and invite attention to its merits. There are some sweetly touching passages in the principal poem, "Madonna Pia;" but these we cannot quote at sufficient length to do anything like justice to the beautiful whole. We cannot, however, forbear giving our readers a sample of the author's powers in one of the many graceful sonnets in the first volume:

SOLITUDE.

Once more alone-alone, but not in vain
Will I endure this solitude of heart—
This doom of dragging lifeless life apart
From all of mutual mind and kindred vein.
If in such prison I must still remain,
My soul shall make medicinal the smart,
And from endurance wring the subtle art
To forge my dungeon's key from out its chain;
Or to contemn the bonds I cannot break,
Until my cell a hermitage is grown,

And my lov'd books yield purer founts to slake
That thirst to loftier natures only known.
Even as "stone walls do not a prison make,"

So 'tis not solitude to be alone."

The line which we have put in italics is very striking and original.

These volumes are very gracefully got up, and are illustrated by the pencil of Mr. Mulready. We thank Mr. Grant for the treat he has afforded us.

Essays. By THOMAS M. LESTER, late of King's College, London. London: Aylott and Jones. 1847.

66

In our last number we mentioned, in terms of no ordinary encomium, a volume of "Criticisms" by a Mr. Lester. The author of the work before us, we believe, is his brother, and worthy of the relationship, albeit the " Essays" fall short of the "Criticisms" in many essential particulars. There is, probably, as much genius apparent in the one as in the other; but the "Essays" are more rhapsodical and loose in composition; and there is an affectation and over-straining in many of the epithets which greatly mar the beauty of the volume. There is no want of power or fervidness of imagination; and, if the writer be a young man, we should expect much from his more chastened judgment. A deeply religious feeling pervades the volume.

VOL. XXIV.--R

The Authorship of Junius Elucidated; including a Biographical Memoir of Lieut.-Colonel Isaac Barré, M.P. BY JOHN BRITTON, F.S.A. London: Smith. 1848.

We regret that, having only received this volume at the moment of our going to press, we have neither time nor space to afford more than a brief notice of a work, which, independently of the intrinsic interest of the subject, comes recommended to us by a name so well known in archæological literature. We are glad, however, to meet him in another field; and, though we will not go the length of stating that he has succeeded in establishing the identity of Colonel Barré with the author of the "Letters of Junius," he adduces facts and arguments which give a strong colour of feasibility to his theory. Apart, however, from the aim of the writer to set at rest this vexed question of authorship, the volume contains much valuable historical and political illustration. It is carefully and gracefully got up, well embellished, and, we may add, that if the writer has not hit the mark, he is as near to it, in our opinion, as any who have shot at the same target.

The Latin Church during the Anglo-Saxon Times. By HENRY SOAMES, M.A. London: Longman and Co. 1848. 8vo.

MR. SOAMES has acquired just claims to confidence by the accuracy of reseach which characterizes all his historical publications. His earliest production was "An Inquiry into the Doctrines of the Anglo-Saxon Church," which formed the Bampton Lecture for 1830. That work was called forth by Dr. Lingard's" Antiquities of the Anglo-Saxon Church," the misrepresentations of which were briefly exposed in the seventh volume of the Quarterly Review. As the Bampton Lecture was restricted to the doctrines of the Anglo-Saxon Church, Mr. Soames extended his researches, and in 1835 produced "The Anglo-Saxon Church: its History, Revenues, and General Character"—now, we are happy to state, in its third edition. This important historical work, every page of which is supported by references to unimpeachable authorities, called forth the animadversions of Dr. Lingard, in reply to whom Mr. Soames originally contemplated only the publication of a pamphlet. His work, however, has assumed its present form: and this review, of "the Latin Church during the AngloSaxon Times," will add to the reputation which he has justly acquired as an accurate ecclesiastical historian. The possessors of his previous volumes will doubtless procure the present work, to complete their series. But it must not be regarded

merely as a supplement to them. It is a separate and independent history, in which the author has successfully attempted to spread a knowledge of the whole Western Church during the Anglo-Saxon period; and in order that this volume may be useful to every class of readers, the authorities used in preparing it have generally been translated. Many erroneous statements of Dr. Lingard, and many false doctrines of Popery, are also incidentally and satisfactorily refuted. The following are the subjects discussed by Mr. Soames :-Gregory the Great; Conversions of the British Isles; Archbishop Theodore; Confession and Absolution; the Origin of Papal Ecclesiastical Power; Equality of the Apostles Peter and Paul; the Progress of Papal Power; Image Worship; the case of Archbishop Wilfrid; the Eucharistic Question; and "Development." Altogether, we regard this work as an important contribution to the ecclesiastical history of England, which justly claims a place in every well-selected library.

British Diplomacy in Greece. By a PHILHELLENE. London: Smith, Elder, and Co. 1848.

THIS pamphlet is evidently from the pen of a man who is familiar with Greek politics, and personally acquainted, we should say, with many of the prominent actors in the events which have agitated Greece during the last twenty years. He impugns the conduct of the British Minister for Foreign Affairs as exemplified in a recently-published despatch; and defends the character and policy of the late Minister of King Otho, Koletti. This pamphlet, clearly, cleverly, and temperately written, should be in the hands of all who are interested in the politics and prosperity of Greece.

The Dying Pillow made Easy for a Death Bed. By ROBERT HAWKER, D.D. London: Collins. 1848.

THIS is put forth as a "posthumous work"-an expression which appears to us to involve a contradiction in terms-of the late vicar of Charles, Plymouth. Of the piety of Dr. Hawker there cannot be two opinions-of the soundness of his doctrines there are many; and we are among those who differ from him on several doctrinal, though, it may be, not practical, points. The questio vexata has been so often discussed, and by abler pens than ours, that we shall be excused from entering into the wide field to which an examination of the work before us would introduce us. It is, doubtless, a welcome legacy to the admirers of the author.

« PreviousContinue »