Here sits a helmet, and there lyes a shield: The wide annals of European history are but as a drop in the ocean of his limitless research. His spirit has been familiarly present at every varied scene of enjoyment or misery since the happy wanderings of our first parents in the radiant solitudes of Eden. He has feasted with Apicius, and fought with Alexander; melted pearls with Cleopatra, and lunched on raw herbs with Cincinnatus. He has gazed on the triumphal chariot of Julius Cæsar, and reflected his form in the glowing shield of Achilles. Nay, his wily and well-instructed fancy has even enlisted him into that terror-striking band that leapt from the bowels of the Trojan Horse at the dead of night, and carried brand and glave to the bed-side of the hapless sleeper! The confusion of tongues at Babel is, in his shrewd recollection, an event of yesterday. In sooth, his mind may be compared to the form or semblance of a stupendous giant, whose head is seen to pierce through the loftiest clouds, and whose shadow overspreads the whole land; even so does his vast and penetrating spirit extend itself over the obscure revelations of the past, and invade also the solemn sanctuaries of the future. We must refrain from citing more, whether in the shape of prose or poetry. Enough has been shown, we think, to make good our opinion of the merits of the volume. That Dr. Bigsby's soul and heart have in them, by original gift, a rich minstrelsy, cannot be denied. That real and persevering devotion have strengthened and greatly polished that which was in-born, we in no manner doubt. He has, too, made all the branches which go to the accomplishment of a man of letters subservient to his purpose; but never, unless for the bettering of human nature, by sublimating, refining, and melting in turn. His style is ornate, and charged with images, but not to finical feebleness or gaudy floridity. In short, the man and the manner become each other well. We set out with certain observations relative to the state and prospects of poetry amongst us; and it would gratify us highly could we foresee what influence an extensive circulation of Dr. Bigsby's tone and utterances would have in working out the regeneration in taste for sterling compositions, which is so much to be longed for. We think there are some indications of a movement at the present time, from the literal to the imaginative, that may terminate happily. The opening of galleries, museums, &c., for the benefit and enjoyment of the people at large, is a pleasing symptom; and not less so the greediness with which multitudes rush to such collections of the fine arts and other objects which address themselves strongly to the better principles of our nature. The talk about holidays and holidayrecreations, denotes something in a like direction. Speculation is abroad; although, after leaving the earth, it frequently gets be wildered in the clouds, or is a confused dream rather than a clear inspiration. But the feverish recklessness that characterises society in many of its phases, showing that the divinity within us is not to be kept bound by any mechanical power, nor crushed by any material load, nor permanently blinded by coarse screens, may result in a reformation and a new development in that fane in which it is the poet's privilege and province to act as high-priest; and then peradventure the sons of song may string new harps and call forth notes that were never listened to before; putting to utter shame the drivillers who have for an age been but filching from long-departed masters, and hammering to miserable attenuation their fine gold. . In conclusion, we cannot but think that Dr. Bigsby's poetry is not merely of a healthy and unborrowed nature, and as genuine and sincere as it is musically impressive; but that it is calculated to awaken and purify to such a degree, that his name will live in honour when the era arrives that gives birth by its pressure to new fire, irradiating the earth, and bringing down by the invocation of mighty genius, the light that dwells in the skies. NOTICES. ART. XV.-Elements of Universal History on a New and Systematic Plan. By H. WHITE, B.A. THESE elements extend from the earliest times to the treaty of Vienna. There is added a Summary of the leading events since that period. One wonders how any distinctness and adequacy can be found in a single volume, the subjects of which are so comprehensive as that of the one before us. But simplicity of plan, careful classification, digested generalization, concise style, and the various resources which ability and skill can bring to the execution of the largest and apparently most impracticable undertaking have all been united in the present instance, to the production of the best work of the kind that we have yet seen. Mr. White has manifestly been confident that he not only understood what were the demands of his vast subject, but conscious that he could dispose of its parts in as satisfactory a manner as is possible. His views are broad, and his opinions are commanding. When he enters into commentary there is ease, and his narrative is neat yet flowing. His arrangement is that of making epochs the heads of history, under which are ranged in order the occurrences of the ages they include. This, we think, is the best plan that can be adopted for assisting the memory and enabling the mind to form an estimate of the matters in the respective divisions. He has also made use of typographical distinctions to advantage. The work will not supersede large and detached histories; but it will, as intended, do much in the way of preventing that confusion of dates and occurrences so common with those who have read history in detached portions. Not only therefore as a well digested class-book that omits no material fact, although the notice must needs be often so brief or allusive as to fail of producing a sufficiently strong and full impression, but as a guide and remembrancer to those who have read many histories, these Elements are deserving of the highest commendation. ART. XVI.-A Collection of Old English Customs, and Curious Bequests and Charities. By H. EDWARDS. This collection has been extracted from the Reports made by the Commissioners for Enquiring into Charities in England and Wales. Much has been said of the abuses that have perverted many a well-intentioned bequest and charitable institution, turning them from their original purpose to the positive injury of society, and in fact rendering them nuisances instead of being blessings; and not a little disputation has occurred about the appointment of the Commissioners and the expenses of the Board immediately alluded to, as well as the practical results of their Enquiry. We believe, however, that their investigations have led to much good. But into this question we do not enter; being desirous on all occasions to confine ourselves as closely as possible to subjects and views which steer clear of controversy, especially when, as in the present case, there is abundance of matter, besides a variety of views, belonging to and inseparable from the collection before us, to interest, entertain, and inform the general reader. No country is so distinguised as England for charitable deeds and establishments; no people are so bountiful as the English; and therefore nowhere in the world could there be collected such a number and variety of characteristic cases of the sort spoken of. Why, the history of the nation, its manners and feelings, might be very distinctly read in the "Reports made by the Commissioners," and far less laboriously in the collection published by Mr. Edwards; a compilation, we must add, done in a right English spirit. The publication, in fact, while furnishing many amusing and even whimsical instances of trying to do good, and often at the same time, of pepetuating the donor's name, lends an insight into particular periods of the nation's history, as well as into the modes of localities and the eccentricities of individuals. Christmas has always been a principal season for donations and generous outpourings beef, plum-pudding, mince-pies, ale, and so forth, having long been lavishly distributed to the poor at this festival. Yet how small do many of the givings appear, when calculated according to the standards of the present day! Why, the collection before us frequently mentions a few shillings annually for some particular purpose, and this in the way of clothing as well as food. Mrs. Ware holds a small piece of ground in the parish of Stockton-in-the-Forest, Yorkshire, called Petticoat Hole, "subject to an ancient custom of providing a petticoat yearly for a poor woman of Stockton." "There is an ancient payment of 3s. 4d. as the value of a pound of pepper, made out of the chapel-lands, as due to the occupier of a certain farm in Yapham, for taking care of the parson's horse, which he is bound to do whenever the parson goes there to do duty." This and other cases, however, are curious rather as modes of remunerating labour, than for charitableness. We find, for example, that a yearly payment of 8s. is to be made, as mentioned in a certain feoffment, "to a poor man who should undertake to awaken sleepers, and to whip out dogs from the church of Claverley during divine service." But many charities occur on a large scale, and suggested by considerate and enlightened individuals. We must quote one instance before dismissing the "collection." One of the most noble and comprehensive was that of the Rev. William Hanbury, rector of the Church of Langton, bequeathed for the benefit of the parish and in the following ways: "To establish schools for ever. The founding, &c. an organ for ever. Provide beef for Church Langton poor. Beef for ever. Provide for a public library. Provide for a picture gallery. Provide a printing-office. Provide an hospital at Church Langton. Establish professorships of Grammar, Music, Botany, Mathematics, Antiquity, and of Poetry." "In the final or explanatory decd, it was witnessed that the trustees named by the founder were to defer building of lodges, &c. for the respective professors, &c. when the income was sufficient for their salaries, but to keep it accumulating until it should bring in 10,000l, a year, at the rate of 47. per cent. At a certain period, a grand and stately church should be built at Church Langton, with proper stalls for the trustees, professors, &c., as grand an organ as could be made, a peal of twelve bells at the least, with chimes, chandeliers, ornaments, painted windows, table and altar-piece of the finest marble, paintings by the best master then living, &c. The Church was to be Gothic, built as much like a cathedral as possible. No less than three steeples, the tallest of which should be not less than one hundred yards high, and every becoming dignity and ornament added. 100,000l. were to be expended on this fabric; and, that completed, another should be built, which should be named the Temple of Religion and Virtue. A noble mu seum was to be erected. These being effected, proper lodgings, &c. for the professors, schools, hospital, printing-office, &c. were to be finished, and the founder was desirous if it could be contrived to make the whole of these buildings form a square of two hundred yards on each side, &c." ABT. XVII.-L. S. D., or Accounts of Irish Heirs, Furnished to the Public Monthly. By SAMUEL LOVER, Accountant for Irish Inheritances. London, F. Lover, Parts I. to III. HANDY ANDY introduced Mr. Lover to the public as a serial writer, and the public acknowledged the introduction with very heartfelt pleasure; Mr. Lover's popularity vastly increased, and Handy became a general favourite, having, however, with the close of the year, brought Andy to the climax of his mistake, and made the result of his blunders a fortune and a title,—a most felicitous mistake-he leaves him alone in his glory, and with the New Year presents us with that loadstone of magnetic influence, L. S. D. Mr. Lover preludes his tale with a very amusing but no less true account of the mighty dominion of these magical letters over the greatest, as well as the humblest of poor frail mortals. He then commences his tale in the ancient and hitherto commercial town of Galway, where the scenes laid before us are depicted with all that graphic power which distinguishes his much admired romance of "Rory O'More." Within the short province of a notice it is not our intention to enter into a detail of the plot; suffice it to say, that, having brought his hero into a scrape, in his native city, and also inoculated him with the sweet touch of Cupid's lance, he obliges him, through the double influence of love and trouble, to flee (at least for the time being) the home of his fathers, whence following the mistress of his heart, he arrives in Hamburgh, where by chance he encounters her, with the eye of a hawk he tracks her footsteps, and eventually arrives in French Flanders, whither, in company with her father, the Count Nellinski, she has proceeded, but we have observed, a development of the plot is not our intention, we can only say the perusal, so far as the tale has already proceeded, has afforded us infinite pleasure; all Mr. Lover's wit and humour, and purely natural pathos, are here brought into full play. In conclusion, we can with the most pleasurable feelings recommend the public to give this highly interesting serial a perusal, and judge for themselves. The illustrations, (by the author) are in the first style of art, pregnant with character; and while possessing all the charms of originality, can with safety lay claim to an acquaintance with the inimitable Cruikshank. ART. XVIII.-Poems by Ben. Fenton. "Tributes to Scarborough, Odes on Wellington and Napoleon, Haddon Hall, Ode on the Ruins of Conisbro' Castle," &c. are the titles of these occasional poems. Mr. Fenton appears to have wooed the Muse for many years, judging by the dates of his pieces. He must also have read a great deal of good poetry, if flow and finish of style can indicate artistic knowledge. There is poetry too in his verses. In short he may be pronounced a minor, but one not of the feeblest class. ART. XIX.-War and Peace. By WILLIAM Jay. "War and Peace: the Evils of the First, and a Plan for Preserving the Last," in an essay by the Hon. Judge Jay, of West-Chester, near the city of New York, and son of the late Hon. John Jay, LL.D., the distinguished second President of the American Bible Society. The essay has had an extensive circulation in the United States, and has been republished here by the Peace Society. On the evils of war as a general subject, the Judge |