make you when they get you up to the regiment. I once listed, thirty years ago, for a colonel; and when I got up to th' regiment, and I told 'em what I h'd listed for, they laughed at me, and says yo're above a colonel; so I was above one, for our colonel only stood five feet five, and I stood near upon six feet, so they made me a grenadier."

"I don't care,' answered Jack Straw, I took his majester's money to he a hofficer (hiccup), an' be one I will, or else I'll not sarve according to the articles o' war. 'Now' says I, afore I took the money, 'sargent,' says I, I list for an hofficer.' Yes,' says he; 'will you be captain, lieutenant, or ensign?' Ensign,' asys I.' 'Very well,' says he, and he put it down in black and white; you may go into the parlour and ax him;' and away we went, John Straw, ensign, leading the way.

"In the parlour all was confusion: a good-looking rosy-cheeked girl was pulling at the arm of her drunken lover, and exclaiming, Dinna list, Tommy, dinna list; o' you'll brake my heart: dinna list him, Mr. Soldier.'

"I will list,' said the rough rustic; give me a shilling to sarve his most gracious majester Mr. King William: I'll not be a clodhopper all the born days of my life, and put up we your ons and offs.'

"Oh! dinna list him, Mr. Sargent!" exclaimed the girl, for his poor old mother would run stark mad if he was to go for a soldier, and I I'm sure I dare not show my face at hoam wehout him. His mother's sure to lay all the blame on me, and say as he listed for love, and then whatever am I to do?'

"I'll not list him while he's tipsy,' replied the sergeant, saying a thousand pretty things to the distressed damsel, and accompanying every sentence with a knowing twinkle of the eye."

Some readers, perhaps, will find Mr. Miller's constant employment of the pronoun 1, and frequent reference to personal feelings tiresome. But it ought to be borne in mind that his heart is deeply engaged in all that he says, and that what would be affectation in others, is quite natural and proper in him.

ART. XVI-The Metropolitan Pulpit. By the Author of "Random Recollections," &c. London: 2 Vols., Vertue.

SKETCHES of the most Popular Preachers in London, in the popular author's best style. They are full of spirit and life. The selection of the present subject is not less felicitous than that of Random Recollections of the Lords and Commons; for vast multitudes both in Town and country, are always eager to hear and to learn something of those Ministers who are held in highest estimation,-the metropolis, of course, being presumed to invite and engage the ablest and the most eloquent. We think that Mr. Grant has surpassed any of his former efforts as respects his style, care, and industry, in the getting up of these Sketches. It is not to be supposed that his facts are always perfectly ascertained, or exactly stated. Nevertheless there is everywhere manifested the most sincere desire to be accurate and just; or, if there be a leaning, it is never but to the favourable side. Above all, the

reader cannot fail to perceive, and fall in with the earnest sentiments of the author, and the strain of piety which pervade the entire work. He has written evidently under a deep impression of the effect and weight which his portraitures may have, in regard to the most serious matters, upon his readers; and not merely as one who laboured to astonish. This is as it ought to be, where the Pulpit is the theme; and this feature is that which will obtain for the publication a hearty interest on the part of the pious as well as the searchers after whatever is curious and strikingly characteristic.

ART. XVII.-Selections from the Hesperides and Works of the Rev. Robert Herrick. By the late CH. SHORT ESQ. F.R.S. London: Murray. 1839. WERE real poets not the victims of resistless impulses, surely the fate of very many of their truest predecessors would deter all such from the miserably rewarded work of throwing the creations of their imaginations, or the fruits of genius, into verse. How few of the sons of Song, whether sweet, gorgeous, or lofty, outlive a century, or even a generation! It ought to be the subject of melancholy reflection, that many of the works of those British poets whose popularity was deservedly unbounded for a season, and therefore for all time, have fallen into utter neglect, it may be, to give way to mere imitators, or the diluters of their fancies. Such, at least, has been the fate of Herrick, whose playful, graceful, and wealthy fancy, whose luxuriance, yet purity of language and of imagery, and whose wantonness of manner in thought and subject, even Moore has in vain attempted to rival. True, the former, as well as the latter, indulges in cold conceits; he is also apt to recast the thoughts of others, and to sport with his mastery of fancies and abundance of expression to the meretricious adornment of what comes to his hands classically perfect and chastened. Neither is he always free from the gross indecencies that at the present more formal and conventionally correct age cannot be tolerated. Still there is enough that is beautiful, unexceptionable, and excellent in his works to delight and engage all lovers of legitimate poetry, as the present Selections amply demonstrate; a selection that is in every respect satisfactory, and calculated to revive an appreciation of the works of one, who while his song is charming, has done good service towards the enrichment of our literature and language. We quote a specimen of his Amatory pieces, that has point and matter in it sufficient to bear many repetitions, as well as that metrical smoothness which now-a-days generally passes for poetry.

TO THE VIRGINS.

TO MAKE MUCH OF TIME.

Gather ye rose-buds while you may;
Old Time is still aflying;

And this same flower, that smiles to-day,
To-morrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,

The higher he's agetting,

VOL. 11. (1839). No. 11.

X

The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.
That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worst; and worse
Times still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time;
And while ye may, go marry ;

For, having lost but once our prime,
You may for ever tarry.

Mr. Shorts' Life of the Poet and his criticisms display the feelings of a hearty admirer, and the researches of an antiquary..

ART. XVIII.-Life and Campaigns of the Duke of Wellington. By

1839.

the REV. G. N. WRIGHT. Vol. I. Lond. Fisher. NEVER since the battle of Waterloo, unless it may have been at the passing of the Emancipation Bill, did the Duke attract so much notice, command so much consideration, or occupy so high a station in the public mind, as at this moment. His political firmness and consistency, his manly support and straightforward opposition politically speaking, his moral courage, and great weight in the affairs of the nation, have never before been more extensively felt and acknowledged, and never more honestly appreciated by all parties. Besides, he is far advanced in years, having completed "three score and ten," the wear and tear of time, and many a campaign, military, civil, and political, being understood to have lately very distinctly manifested their ravages, and given significant intimations. All these circumstances, together with the grandeur and magnitude of the subject, separately, or combinedly taken, appear recently to have set litterateurs and bibliopolists upon the elert; and no doubt they have speculated sagely and soundly in providing such fare as is now before us for the gratification of the public.

Mr. Wright's is but one of the enterprises out of several to which we allude. But so far as it has gone it will bear a comparison with any of the others, as a careful collection of anecdotes, and a just estimate of the hero's early history; while, as regards precision, purity, and elegance of style, we think he is decidedly to be preferred. In looking out for an extract, we have been anxious to find some striking and well authenticated passages identified with the boyhood or school-days of Arthur Wellesley. But we must, in all probability, wait till he has been summoned hence for any particular tracings of his youthful years. These years, indeed, may have been, as in the case of many other great men, barren of remarkable incident or extraordinary promise; so as to have secured neither autobiographical journalism, nor other faithful and authentic recordings. But any anecdotes that may be illustrative of the character of any of the Wellesley family must always be acceptable; and therefore we quote some particulars which Mr. Wright has gleaned concerning the Earl of Mornington, the father of the hero of Waterloo, and who is deservedly ranged along with several prodigies :

"

During the peaceful times in which he flourished, Garret, Earl of Mornington, acquired a singular celebrity. In him was illustrated one of those instances of precocious musical talent which antonish all who witness them, and remain inexplicable by metaphysical or other rules. While yet in the arms of his nurse, and before he was able to put a complete sentence together, he distinguished the performance of his father, who was an excellent violinist, from that of Dubourg, a professor, so nicely, that when the latter visited at Dangan Castle, the child would not suffer his father to play; and during the performance of the most difficult pieces, he beat time with so much accuracy, as to lead those present to conclude that he could not mark it untruly. At the age of nine years he was persuaded, by a painter employed in the mansion, to take up a violin and attempt to play; and, in the space of a few hours, he learned the old catches of The Christ Church bells' and Sing one, two, threecome follow me.' A neighbouring clergyman was much applauded for the composition of a new country dance; and this little circumstance secretly worked upon the feelings of the embryo musician so acutely, that he now turned composer, and, without the assistance or knowledge of any one, produced a minuet, the bass of which he wrote in treble clef. He next composed a seranata, consisting of three parts, not yet having had any instruction, nor even, having heard music, except his father's playing on the violin and his sisters' on the harpsichord, and not having attained his fourteenth year. His father, observing the extraordinary musical genius of his son, told him that he had an intention of presenting an organ to the parish-church, if his son had been capable of acting as organist. The youth immediately promised that if his father would only order an organ to be built, he would be fully prepared to play the most difficult music by the time of its erection; which promise he actually fulfilled, playing fugues extempore, the moment the instrument was set up, to the amazement of his father and friends, who had never before heard him execute a single bar, nor had he an instrument to practise on. "In process of time, his lordship read, studied, and composed music; and although he never received any instruction in that pleasing science, Rosengrave and Geminiani, who examined his compositions, declared that they were agreeable to all the established rules, and that he seemed intimately acquainted also with their proper exceptions. In the early part of his life, he was always most pleased with simple melodies, but subsequently he exhibited a strong predeliction for church music and full harmony. He was ultimately so distinguished as a musical composer and performer, that the University of Dublin conferred upon him the degree of Doctor and Professor of Music; and a chant which he composed continues, to this day, to be performed in the churches of Dublin. Amonst the most admired of his vocal compositions, are, Here in cool grot,' When for the world's repose,' "Twas you, Sir,'' Gently hear me, charming maid,' Come, fairest nymph,' and By greenwood tree.' Writers of musical biography have distinguished five from among those that were most conspicuous by a display of musical talent in infancy: they are, Mozart, Charles Wesley, Samuel Wesley, Little Crotch, and Lord Mornington."

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ART. XIX.-The Rights of Necessity, and the Treatment of the Necessities by various nations. London: Richardson. 1839.

In a rambling, and, according to our opinion, by no means conclusive manner, although many of the opinions, laws, and facts collected by the author are striking or curious in themselves, he argues, that according to the fundamental principles of society, and the immutable law of nature, every man has a right to maintenance and protection in the land in which God has placed him, "as long as food and raiment and shelter can be found." Many assumptions and assertions are put forward which not only do not rest on self-evident grounds, but which appear to us erroneous, in support of this sweeping doctrine. For instance, it is declared that "Every rightly constituted mind must feel, that the Creator never can permit of such self-abandonment, as would peril that life which is his immediate gift." If this were the principle of Providence we think it would follow that no evil of any sort would be permitted to exist, certainly not the evil of poverty, which has, there are thousands of cases to prove, been the cause of self-abandonment. But supposing the last quoted dictum to be correct both as to principle and fact, does this follow, "that as man cannot be permitted to abandon his own life, neither can he be permitted so to submit himself to the will or order or law of others, as to invest them with a power, actively or passively, of causing his destruction?" Instead of passive lycausing, we presume the author would, after reflecting upon the contradiction of terms, say passively allowing, or throw his meaning into some such congruous form. But not to tarry upon this, the author goes the length, that the lazy, the idle, and he who is a reckless spendthrift, is destroyed by the industrious if they allow him to perish for lack of food, raiment, and shelter. Is this the doctrine of the Bible, texts of which are abundantly strewed throughout the pamphlet, concerning him who will not work?

We are at issue with the author in regard to many alleged facts as well as principles. He says "it is not to be assumed, that Poverty and Want are the certain characteristics of a state of nature; or even of the early and imperfect association of mankind. Many are the authorities disproving such an assumption." He then proceeds to assert that the Esquimaux and the Laplanders have " plenty of provisions;" that in "Java there is no pauperism;" that the natives of Australia "do not suffer want;" that "in China, swarming with human beings, a seat is found at nature's board for every man ;" &c. &c.

Now, first of all here, we should like to have the author's definition of what he means by a state of nature. Probably he identifies it with the condition of savages, or of cannibals, or some very inferior stage in civilization. We, on the other hand, maintain that the natural state of man is just as rightfully identified with those developments of reason and feelng of which he is susceptible, and in which he finds naturally the highest enjoyment. The social state is a natural one, as the author of the Ethics of Politics demonstrates; and that social state necessarily does originate laws for the good of the many, that is, the stability and development of the highest capacities, the most rational enjoyments, and the best interests of the whole.