"I look'd on him, and I felt I viewed
A lofty spirit; but 'twas one
That fate, in a vindictive mood,
Had vented her despite upon.
In his stern, proud and rugged mien,
Though deeply scath'd, might still be seen
The noble cast his features bore,
His eyebrow, thickly set, bent o'er
A dark determined glance; an eye,
Though proud, that told of misery
It seemed to feel, and yet defy.
The locks that on his temples grew
Had somewhat lost their raven hue:
His form, though powerful still, was bent;
His brow with many furrows rent;
But still the eye's fierce glow and stroke
Unquench'd, undimm'd and flashing spoke!
It told the will once fixt to do,

The spirit that would dare it too:
There was that recklessness which flows,
The product of successive woes,
That harrow up the soul to dare,
And leave it nought to hope or care;
But not the dark malignant will,
By nature fiercely prone to ill:

It told of passions deep, intense;
But 'midst them the observant eye,
As oft it is found, could espy,
Of milder feelings, such as raise

The man above mere brutal sense,
That had blaz'd strong in earlier days,
Affection and benevolence.

*

One where grief had done its work
But midst whose darker traits a spark
Of brighter yet appeared to lurk.
His features shewed in many a track,
The wrench of passions fiery rack;
There times and scenes that long had flown,
As years o'ergrey the rugged stone.

Had left their furrows deep imprest;
The brands by burning sorrow thrown,
To mark the wretched as her own;
There was the haggardness she leaves
Upon his mien, who hopeless grieves;
The rent of anguish, and the wear
Of feeling's fierce contest was there;

stump it to.

Though that eye's fearless glance express't;"

With a great deal more to a like tune, even before the hero's eyes and visage is depicted; the same sort of hammering about furrows, tracks,

rents, &c. fatiguing the reader without adding a new or distinct image. We may add, as a general criticism, that, as may be seen in the extract above, the imagery is often confused and inaccurate. There is, besides, many violations of rhythm, not a little that is prosaic both in thought and dress, and sometimes simple grammatical construction is lost sight of. For example:

"I know 'twas him;"

"Ah yes! I knew her well, and ne'er

Was there a gentler soul than her.”

ART. XXI.-The Churches of London: A History and Description of the Ecclesiastical Edifices of the Metropolis. By GEORGE GODWIN, Jun. Architect. Assisted by JOHN BRITTON. London: Tilt. "Here we have the second number of this well-conceived work, which both in plan and execution is worthy of the Churches of London. These churches as regards number, variety, and, in many instances beauty, in others antiquity, furnish ample materials for a descriptive and illustrated history. The present portion of it contains two views of St. Paul's Cathedral-that majestic and beautiful temple-the glory of the city over which it seems to preside with a holy aspect. Along with the views there is corresponding literary matter, which, in point of judgment, knowledge, and taste, evinces that the conductors of the work are masters of the subjects discussed. An extract will best show the style and minuteness of the descriptions, and also afford to our country readers an inducement to visit such a magnificent specimen of architecture. "The Whispering Gallery at the base of the dome, is an object of popular curiosity and wonder. The rationale of the acoustic effect produced by the cylindrical wall and concavity of the ceiling, aided perhaps by the materials of which they are composed, is so difficult to be arrived at, that it will not be expedient to enter upon the subject in this place. The slightest sound is transmitted from one side of the gallery to the other with great rapidity and distinctness.

"Above the interior dome, in order to carry the lantern with which the Cathedral is crowned, (reputed to be of the enormous weight of seven hundred tons,) Sir Christopher has introduced a brick cone; one of the most original and skilful contrivances the building exhibits; and on this is constructed the exterior dome, which is chiefly of wood. When looking down into the church from the gallery around the opening at the top of the inner dome, whence men below seem but as children, the immensity of the structure is more than ordinarily felt, and reflections on the greatness and the littleness of man-his power and puerility-flit through the mind involuntarily,

"The Choir is separated from the central area by an organ screen, on which appears an inscription in Latin, to the following effect, taken from the tomb of Wren, whose body reposes in the crypt, below the western aisle of the choir :-Beneath lies Christopher Wren, the builder of this church and city, who lived more than ninety years, not for himself, but the public good. Reader! if you seek his monument-Look around!'"

We add the dimensions of St. Paul's as given in the work before us. Length of the church and porch 500 feet; breadth within the doors of the porticos 240; exterior diameter of the cupola 145; and height from the ground without to the top of the cross 340 feet.

ART. XXII.. The Lady's Cabinet Lawyer; being a Summary in familiar language of the exclusive and peculiar rights and liabilities, legal and equitable of Women, when unmarried, wives, or widows. By a BARRISTER of the Middle Temple. London: J. Van Voorst. In this neat pocket volume, the Ladies may have for three shillings and sixpence, an amount of condensed information that may be of eminent service to them in every condition or period of life. They have really much cause to be grateful to the "Barrister," whose considerate recognition of their best worldly interests and dearest rights is not more prominent, than are the ability and the taste which distinguish his performance. There can be no doubt of" The Lady's Cabinet Lawyer having many readers, who will make the volume their frequent and not unpleasurable study; and if it instruct and encourage but one timid or misused fair one to assert her privileges, or to guard against imposition, we are sure the gallant author will deem himself amply rewarded for his work. We recommend the small volume to every one of the tender sex, for it contains more than may be presumed even from its descriptive title.

ART. XXIII. - Indian Reminiscences; or, the Bengal Moofussul Miscellany. Chiefly written by the late G. A. ADDISON, Esq. 8vo. London: Bull.

We learn that G. A. Addison was a collateral descendant of the great Addison, that he was born in 1792, was private secretary to Sir Stamford Raffles, and died in 1815. From the contents of the present volume, there is reason for believing, had his days been prolonged, that he would have made a figure in the republic of letters. These pieces exhibit very considerable merit and variety; and though it is easy to discover that they are the productions of a juvenile writer, their defects and redundancies are such as we like to see in the style of a youthful adventurer. Still, we do not think that the fame of the deceased would have sustained much damage, though his early literary efforts had been allowed to waste themselves in India; nor do we believe, had he lived till his imagination, judgment, and taste had been matured, that he would have acceded to the proposal of their re-publication in England. As a specimen, we quote the description of a peculiar method of taking bees' nests.

"A large swarm of bees had fixed their abode on the ceiling of a verandah, and, in due time when their honey was deposited, we wished to collect it, but were for some time at a loss for the means. Hearing, however, that there was a gardener who possessed a peculiar art of doing it unhurt, he was sent for and desired to bring down the honey. I watched him closely through the whole process, and was told by him, and believe, that he used no other precaution than the following: He took some of the plant called toolsy, and rubbed it over his body, face, arms, and hands; he then chewed a little, and held a sprig of it in his mouth. With no other than this apparently slight defence, he mounted a ladder, a large dish in one hand, and a sharp knife in the other; and though as thinly clad as his class usually are, with thousands of bees swarming about his

naked body, he with the greatest sang froid cut immediately through the upper part of the comb, where it was suspended to the roof and receiving the whole of it in his dish, brought it down without having suffered from a single sting!"

The notices of this potent plant, which is the black ocyman of botanists, are not less curious. The author goes on to say, that "its aromatic odour is, perhaps the strongest there is. I know that some of the species of this genus are cultivated in England; this, therefore, might be, in all probability, if it is not so already. Sir William Jones addresses it in one of his poems

Hail! sacred toolsy, pride of plains!'

This epithet he has given to it from its particular prevalent use in the Brahminical rites: indeed, the extraordinary sanctity attached to it, is evinced, by its forming, with Ganges water, the basis of the Hindoos' most solemn oath: his mode of swearing is by touching these. The legend respecting it in the Sanscrit records is, that it was once a most beautiful nymph of the same name, passionately beloved by Chrisna, who, to perpetuate her memory, transformed her into this plant, and ordained that no worship to him should be availing, or complete, which was not graced by her presence; hence it is invariably used in all poojahs made by the followers of Vishnu. On such a metamorphosis, with the circumstance added of the bees still paying so deep a respect to her charms, how elegant an Ovidian tale might be formed!

ART. XXIV.—A View of the Law of Scotland in Intestate Succession, as compared with England, and with Suggestions for its Amendment. By J. TAYLOR, A. M. Newcastle: Finlay and Charlton.

THIS essay, the author informs us, was the first read before the Newcastle and Gateshead Law Institute-a Society which was established towards the end of the year 1835, but not confined to professional men. It contains a correct and distinct view of the law of Scotland as regards succession when intestate, both as respects moveables and immoveables, or, in other words, property personal and real; and, in treating of its anomalies, dwells chiefly on that most unnatural rule, by which a mother is totally excluded from succeeding to any property left even by an only son, however distant the other relations may be. Erskine lays it thus down-" Brothers or sisters of the deceased by the mother only, who are called uterine, are by the law of Scotland incapable of succession, either in heritage or in moveables; which is indeed the case of all cognates, i. e. relations of the deceased by the mother." Again, "The mother, though an ascendant in the same degree (as the father,) is as incapable of succeeding to her child, as any of the child's relations by the mother are." And again, "A father was preferred to the succession of his son, in lands in which the son was infeft as heir to his mother, to the exclusion of the brother-uterine of the deceased from that very estate which belonged to his own mother." The reason given for this is deduced "from the choice or delectus of a special family made by the superior in his feudal grant, which choice would be elided if the fee were descendible to the kinsman of the mother, whom the law considers as of a differ

ent family from the vassal," a reason which, though it may have been good in strictly feudal times, has no reality or application in the present state of society. The author, therefore, after showing the hardship and grossness of such an anomaly, suggests and urges that the Lord Advocate of Scotland, should, during the present session of parliament, seek for an amendment of the law, especially in so far as the point referred to is concerned. Without objecting to such a view and recommendation, we have only to say, that as a real grievance practically experienced, the anomaly pointed out, is by no means the first that should be expunged from the Scottish civil code, although the day will come when it ought to be removed."

ART. XXV.

1. A Voice from Ireland upon Matters of Present Concern. Addressed to Legislators and Ministers of State. By DANIEL O'ROURKE, Esq. London: Ridgway. 1837.

2. Some Observations upon the Present State of Ireland. By SIR F. WORKMAN-MACNAGHTEN, BART. London: Ridgway. 1837. In each of these pamphlets there are tokens of ability and penetration, and in each much forcible truth; yet they have been written by men who entertain very different opinions, it seems, upon not a few topics of vital importance as concerns their common country. Indeed, one cannot but feel, after reading their productions, that when persons of such undoubted talent, information, and patriotism are so much at odds on vital questions, that the day of repose for Ireland is not yet at hand. It is not our province, however, to endeavour to reconcile them, or to say which is the soundest judge, or the safest physician. It must suffice, if we merely indicate some of their leading doctrines and recommendations.

In the voice from Ireland Mr. O'Rourke maintains that there are sufficient causes for discontent in that country without the aid of any agitator whom it may have called into existence-that Ireland seems to be the theatre upon which are to be decided all those great principles concerning the nature of government, which have been obscured by ignorance, or perverted by selfishness and bigotry-that the ecclesiastical establishment stands in the foreground as one of the master grievances, "that requires an immediate removal," an establishment for the benefit of "those clerical idlers who draw their incomes from the country to spend in the fashionable towns and watering places of England "that" it has ever been a prevailing idea amongst Church of England Protestants, that they are the only people upon earth who are entitled to hold the reins of government,”—and that "the struggle now maintained by the aristocracy and its retainers to exclude the people of Ireland from any share in governing themselves, is but a continuation of the old exclusive system, based upon sectarian and antinational prejudices, and terminating in political favouritism." The tone of the pamphlet may easily be gathered from these fragments of its pages; but one short unbroken extract will more fully exhibit the flow of its eloquence. "There is also much hypocrisy mixed up with the matter; for in spite of all the noisy zeal for protestantism, it is quite evident that state-craft involving also church-craft has much more to do with it