1922.] REVIEW.-Pugin's Gothic Architecture. ed; and as no one was willing to sink capital, or separate himself from his family, in such critical circumstances, the means of subsistence were in a little time so diminish ed, as to threaten an absolute famine." P.79. In the West Indies, after a transfer, houses which have opened concerns with the merchants, &c. of the preceding nation, are placed in situations of great difficulty and vexation; and if they have previously tasted the inestimable sweets of the British Constitution, their palates naturally acquire a strong disrelish to the fare of the prodigal sons, the husks given to swine, which foreigners dole out to them with utter disregard of wry faces on the occasion. We only allude to such cases in general, not to Parga in particular, for that a nation can retain after peace, all the places which it thinks necessary to occupy during war, is out of the question; and, unfortunately, we find from the conduct of even our refined French neighbours, concerning the Slave Trade, that British ideas and feelings are not transferable. As to the case before us, it is evident that in the event of disagreement, from whatever cause it may proceed, between the Commander-in-Chief and one or more of his principal subordinates, the public service is in risque of sustaining injury, if they be not separated. It appears plainly, that Government considered Colonel de Bosset as a meritorious officer, but had latent grounds of disapprobation, whether growing out of his disagreement with Sir Thomas Maitland, or not, it is not our province to enquire. This only we know, that when two parties. quarrel for a length of time, the passions interfere, and both parties are sure to be in the wrong; and also, that when an inferior officer cannot conciliate his superior, the former is most likely to be the sufferer; and that Government, very properly in military matters, requires a case of more than personal bearing, before it will take part against the latter; nor has publick feeling any right to interfere further than regards the conduct of the respective persons. We shall relate a pleasant anecdote on this head. Lord Howe used to drink berb-tea. His worthy captain ordered the same. On the day following the Earl's departure from the ship, the Captain's servant brought him herbtea. "How is this?" exclaimed the GENT. MAG. May, 1822. 433 Captain, "why did not you bring common tea?" "Sir, you used to drink herb-tea." "Pooh, you fool, Lord Howe has left the ship." Fero in Latin, signifies to bear or suffer, and it ought to be as much the motto of every man, who enters a warlike profession, as of a boy who has to go through the situation of a fag at a publick school. Discipline absolutely requires the most complete subordination. Thus far only can we go into the case; and we have but to add, that the work furnishes most satisfactory attestations of the merits of Colonel de Bosset; and that he received his knighthood, after the dispute. 72. Specimens of Gothic Architecture, selected from various antient Edifices in England; consisting of Plans, Elevations, Sections, and Parts, at large; calculated to exemplify the various Styles, and the practical Construction of this Class of admired Architecture; accompanied by Historical and Descriptive Accounts. By A. Pugin, Architect. 4to. pp. 60. With 60 Plates. Taylor, Architectural Library. THE Gothic is a species of Architecture congenial to this climate, and interwoven with the opinions, the affections, and the reminiscences, of the Christians of Northern Europe. Its adaptation to the edifices of religious worship, contributed to the perfection which it attained in those sacred mansions; and the appropriate and imposing sublimity of the works of one age cherished the sentiments and taste which brought forward improvements of ecclesiastical Architecture in the next. Hence our ecclesiastical buildings, commencing with the massiveness and simplicity of the Anglo-Saxon semicircular arch and ponderous column, arrived at the elegant principle of the Pointed style, and pursued the clue suggested by that innovation into an infinity of beautiful and diversified forms, of which an astonishing multitude is extant, and which might be extended in endless variety. It might have been hoped,-it was demanded by those whose opinions were most deserving attention, that this Christian and English species of Architecture would have been extensively adopted in the present churchbuilding age. The difficulties which might formerly have impeded such a project, no longer exist. Gothic (as applied Pugin's Gothic Architecture.—Barton's Poems. [May, applied to architecture) has ceased to be a term of reproach: the imbecility, of the first efforts at restoring it, has given place to research and comparison, which have produced a scientific and accurate familiarity with the subject. Inventive ingenuity has contributed in our days, as in those of our forefathers, to abridge the labour and diminish the expense of executing designs of this class; and we have recent instances of uniform and appropriate Gothic edifices erected at a moderate charge. How far such works are to be preferred to tedious and unmeaning repetitions of Grecian and Roman temples, surmounted by anomalous towers, ornamented with heathenish statues and symbols of pagan worship, adapted to a scorching Sun and a glaring light, no man of taste or information can doubt. Nothing can tend more effectually to diffuse these just sentiments, and to restore a national and significant character to our Architecture, than works which facilitate the execution of Gothic buildings by accurate measurements and geometrical drawings, calculated for the use of the practical architect. Of this description is the publication before us. It comes recommended by names of no small authority in the department of science to which it belongs. The subjects are selected, measured, and drawn, by Mr. Pugin, whose accuracy and taste, as well as his experience on these subjects, are well known. The introductory remarks on Gothic Architecture, and the description of the plates, are principally by Mr. E. J. Willson, of Lincoln. As the specimens are almost wholly taken from originals, of which the dates are well ascertained; they exhibit the principles of a variety of arches, and examples of all the constituent parts of buildings from the earliest to the latest styles of Gothic Architecture. There is some inequality in the execution of the plates; and there is a want of classification in the subjects which ought, we think, to have been arranged either chronologically, or by bringing together all the doors, windows, arches, &c. H The specified number of sixty plates was, however, far too limited to afford a sufficiently comprehensive view of the varieties and beauties of this species of architecture; and we find that a second series has been called for, and is in a course of publication. We also look forward with anxiety for the promised Dictionary of technical terms, which has long been a desideratum in Antiquarian literature. 73. Napoleon, and other Poems. By Bernard Barton. 8vo. pp. 256. Boys. FOLLOWING (and pari passu) the praiseworthy example of our old and worthy Correspondent, Mr. Scott, the Bard of Amwell, another respectable member of the Society of Friends here pours forth his poetic strains; and emulates our early Correspondent, the moral and plaintively elegant Cow per. From these specimens of Mr. Barton's Muse, it is probable that he could have written neither " Manfred" nor "Don Juan;" nor would it have comported with the colour of his cloth, nor the breadth of his beaver, to have done it, if he could. But in the earlier annals of our career as public Journalists, before Queen Mabs or Cain's were considered necessary stimulants, especially for the youthful and susceptible readers of poetry, Mr. Barton would have been considered a Poet who could appeal most simply and most profitably to the guileless heart and the unphilosophized head. We do not say that some formality be the result; but we hesitate not to and insipidity might not occasionally assert, that we are no gainers on the whole by all the monstrosities (if we and contortions of passion, on which may use such a word) of imagination, it has of late years been fashionable tion, some feeling, are essential in to rely. Some fancy, some imaginapoetry; but the two former ought to be pure, the latter natural and simple; and if plain common sense be conbined, and a vein of quiet, sober recontemplation, be superadded (as in flection, at times leading to devotional the Volume now under review), our beau ideal of a poet of the true old English school is made out. For the subject which forms the principal features in the Volume, Mr. Barton thus apologizes: the designation of " Napoleon," may sug "The author is aware that a poem under gest anticipations which his performance was never intended to realize: and, should he be compelled to plead guilty to a misnomer, he trusts his more candid readers will accept, as his apology, the simple state ment 1822.] REVIEW. Barton's Napoleon, and other Poems. ment of the fact, that the death of Napoleon actually gave rise to the reflections contained in the poem; and that its design was less to adorn a tale,' than to point a moral,' which the chequered lot of this extraordinary man had strikingly suggested. With regard to the sentiments expressed in the poem on the subject of war, the author rather wishes to submit them to the indulgence of his readers, and respectfully to request for them their serious reflection, than argumentatively to attempt their defence. He admits them to be the sentiments of one to whom ALL war, under the Christian dispensation, is unlawful. But as this opinion is the avowed and well-known tenet of a religious society, with which he has never concealed his own connexion, and whose faith and doctrine on this important topie is cordially assented to by him; he can hardly conceive it possible for what he has written either to excite surprise, or to give offence." Our limits will not permit an analysis of this Poem; but we shall extract a stanza or two from its conclusion: "Yet unto thee, Napoleon! once again set And unto ages yet unboru proclaim That he who builds, in fortune's brightest hour, [frame And with a master's skill, the monstrous Of arbitrary will, and lawless power, Toils in a worthless cause, and rears a tottering tower. Like his, who built his house upon the sands, Foolishly trusting such foundation sure, To honour despotism, and allure It falls, because its base is insecure ; Unblest alike its origin and end,— That to no joys gave birth, on this no griefs attend." The Minor Poems are numerous, and evince a mind harmonized by the purest feelings of Christianity and orality. Some of them are of a lo 435 cally descriptive nature; particularly Verses on the Gateway still standing in "Thou art noble yet, for thy ruins recal Still spares thee to tell of its story. In spite of spoil's bereavement, eye Their emblazonment shone forth brightly; And thinks of their legend lightly. And leave but a wreck to outlive them, Who trust in what pride can give them. From Pride's departed splendour; The heart, with its griefs, joys, hopes, and Changes little in passions and powers; Cherish'd feelings the same as ours! For they liv'd, and they lov'd like us; and this Was their HOME, in pain and pleasure; And the best of them hoarded here their bliss, As the miser his hidden treasure. Are to Memory's eye unclouded. To the heart, to the heart, we must turn at For all that endures the longest ; For their strength is in storms the strongest. But in storm, or sunshine, 'tis theirs alone For the trophies of fame enwreathe thee; But that fame is not worth one tear, or [thee." smile, Of some who have pass'd underneath 436 REVIEW.- Harness's Sermon.-Retrospective Review. in number, are in general neatly elegant, replete with moral and religious sentiment, and some of them showing an intimate knowledge of classical Literature. We shall hereafter transplant a specimen or two into our Poetical Department. 74. The Wrath of Cain; a Boyle Lecture, delivered at the Church of St. Martin's in the Fields, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 1822. By the Rev. William Harness, 4. M. alternate Morning Preacher at Trinity Chapel, &c. 8vo. pp. 109. Rivingtons. THIS Discourse forms part of a series under the will of the Hon. Robert Boyle, who particularly desired that the Lecturer should "be ready to satisfy such real scruples as any may have concerning matters of religion; and to answer such new objections and difficulties as may be started." And Mr. Harness has in consequence very ably and properly in this Lecture directed his attention to a late widelycirculated publication of a noble Peer: "In those parts of my Sermon which relate to Lord Byron's Poem, I have regarded Cain and Lucifer simply as dramatic characters, uttering their appropriate sentiments; and, whenever they are mentioned, it is of Cain and Lucifer only that I speak. Their representations, I understand, are occasionally quoted as authorities, in the new code of religious opinions.-To be consistent, the disciples of such a faith should frame their actions by the example of Shylock; and study ethics in the maxims of lago." 75. The Retrospective Review, No. IX. 8vo. pp. 187. C. Baldwyn. TO this Number belong the principal attributes of its predecessors, although improvement is manifest; we shall, therefore, notice the different es says in successive order. I. Cavendish's Life of Wolsey. This curious piece of biography would have supplied matter for an excellent article, had it not been recently reprinted in Dr. Wordsworth's work. To make any extracts on our part would be useless and unfair, nor do the remarks afford any thing worthy of recapitulation, except a supposition that Cavendish's composition had been perused by Shakspeare; but conjectures relative to the Dramatist are so common, that none, unsupported by direct evidence, merit consideration. II. Sir John Davies's Poems. From this article we can only ascer [May. tain, that law and poetry are not incompatible, Davies being respectably spoken of in either profession. III. Hutten's Epistolæ Obscurorum Virorum. We are surprised, considering the object of this Review, at its want of bibliographical information. An edition of the "Epistolæ," published in 1710, in two volumes, is dedicated to Sir Richard Steele, under the assumed name of Isaac Bickerstaff: he notices it in the Tatler (No. 197), ungratefully calling it "a collection of Letters which some profound blockheads who lived before our times, have written in honour of each other, and for their mutual information in each other's absurdities." Sir Richard appears not to have been aware that its purpose was satirical. The essay is interesting and well-written; but we cannot comprehend how Hutten's exertions might have given Germany a "more united attitude among the nations of Europe." An attitude, being of necessity individual, can hardly be said to possess unity. IV. The Courts of Love. The reader will find, in our Magazine, an essay on the same topic, but entirely different in its object. The article before us is more interesting; but ours, we suspect, is the more authentic: indeed, the work reviewed has the appearance rather of a jeu d'esprit than a record; it is entitled "Les Arrets d'Amours, avec l'Amant rendu Cordelier à l'Observance d'Amours. Par Martial d'Auvergne, dit de Paris, Procureur au Parlement," &c. Amsterdam, 1731. We shall extract a case, by way of illustrating our former notices : "An action was brought by the plaintiff him with a pin whilst she was giving him a against the defendant, for having pricked kiss. The defendant denied ever having given the plantiff a kiss, but, on the contrary, said that the plaintiff had taken it and she said that the wound, if any, had happened only by mischance and accident. Certificates from several surgeons were produced of the nature and extent of the wound, and the Court sentenced the defendant to kiss the wound at all reasonable times, until it was healed, and to find, linen for plais ters." P. 83-4. Having occasion to quote "the petticoat case," reported in the Tatler, the reviewer mentions it "we believe, No. 416." The Tatler is attainable to every one, and a perusal of it would have informed the writer that 116 was the number 1822.] REVIEW.-Expedience, a Satire.-Brady on Names. number in question: besides, the papers closed at No. 271. The parallels adduced from modern law are illustrative and judicious. V. Witchcraft. This article is formed in a strange unmethodical manner from most excellent materials. From the 15 tracts "reviewed," a perfect and standard disquisition on witchcraft might have been produced, instead of the " thing of shreds and patches" before us. A little "sour whiggism" occasionally peeps from beneath inquiry, and the sarcasms on James I. are illiberal. VI. Lives of Sir Dudley North and Dr. North. An amusing piece of biography well reviewed, except where the critic speaks of "the mercantile youth, who have as yet their course to carve." The bibliomaniac will find this article interesting, from the information it conveys relative to the booksellers of Little Britain. VII. Robert Herrick's Poems. The reviewer's language is the very quintessence of that style at which we have before had occasion to smile. Our readers shall not be defrauded of their due: "And now farewell, young Herrick! for young is the spirit of thy poetry as thy wisdom is old: and mayest thou flourish in immortal youth, thou boon companion and most jocund songster! May thy poems be piped from hill to hill throughout England; and thy spirit, tinged with superstitious lore, be gladdened by the music! May the flowers breathe incense to thy fame, for thou hast not left one of them unsung. [Hear this, ye botanists!] May the silvery springs and circumambient air warble thy praises, as thou hast warbled theirs! And may those, who live well, sing, and those, who love well, sigh sweet panegyrics to thy memory! Ours shall not be wanting, for we have read thee much, and like thee much, and would fain hope that this our paper, being nearly all made up of thy thoughts and language, may be liked as well as we like thee." VIII. Quarles's Enchiridion. This essay does not merit any particular notice, except that in a laboured discussion of Quarles's poetry, it makes no mention of his " Argalus et Parthenia," which we recommend to the reviewer's notice. 76. Expedience, a Satire. By Julius. B. i. 8vo. pp. 35. PARTY and electioneering writers conceive that every thing is fair; and 437 there are strong Juvenalian lines, im- 77. A Critical and Analytical Dissertation THIS serio-comic little Volume will amply repay the attention of the curious; and forms an admirable companion to the late learned Mr. Pegge's "Anecdotes of the English Language." Mr. Brady is the son of the late ingenious author of the "Clavis Calendaria," and is the same individual who translated "Gusman d'Alfarache, or the Spanish Rogue," reviewed in p. 61. And indeed he seems himself inclined to roguery; for, in his preface, he threatens the whole critical tribe with his vengeance if any of them should attempt to run him down." He gravely warns each Reviewer "to consider seriously of what his name is composed; for should there be found any thing in it ridiculous, or expressive of any part of his real character, which he would not choose to see in print, he may be assured, that he will take ample vengeance upon him, by publishing a second edition for the express purpose of introducing him to the public in a true light." Notwithstanding this threat, we venture to affirm, that, though Mr. Brady has evidently read much, and digested what he has read, yet a more deliberate research in our public libraries would have procured matter on the same subject, sufficient to form a respectable octavo volume; and if the author should determine on the publication of a second edition, we hope he will adopt the hint; as the subject is a curious one. Some |