as fast as sound learning decays. We | same time, so simple and comprehencommenced our remarks with a sin-sive, that the most ordinary undercere desire to contribute our mite to-standings can reach their highest conwards the promotion of a better state ceptions. Here is a sky serenely gay, of things. How far our philanthropic where the brightest genius of the pointentions will be ultimately crowned etic muse might employ his minstrelsy, with success, we cannot pretend to and sing and roam for the whole period say, as it must depend upon others of his mortal existence; and after his more than ourselves. And as we do threescore years and ten" should not presume to prophesy as well as to have revolved, he would leave the preach, we cannot perhaps do bet-greater part of these celestial regions ter than close our paper, and try to mend our pen.

A TOWNSMAN.

to be traversed by those who should feel disposed to retouch the consecrated lyre.

But, however high our expectations respecting these poems were raised by these auspicious prognostics, they were fully counterbalanced by the disappointment which ac

REVIEW. Scripture Similitudes, con-
sisting of about 450 short Poems, on
Sacred Metaphors, selected from the
Holy Scriptures. By Thomas Gale.companied a perusal of them. With
Longman & Co. pp. 156. 1821.

In our reviews of books, we endeavour always to be governed by three motives, viz. candour to the author, fidelity to the trust reposed in us, and justice to the public at large. We, however, find, in adhering to these principles, that difficulties will frequently occur, which, without either giving offence, or acting inconsistently with our station, we cannot easily adjust.

two or three exceptions, though 450 in number, these poems consist of no more than two verses each, and of these, the first which caught our attention were the following, the grammatical accuracy of which we are not much disposed to admire.

"Frogs exist in marshy lands,
Where mud and filth abounds,
And spread abroad like human clans,
O'er all the verdant grounds.

Fit emblem of the croaking tribe,

Of Romish monks and priests,
Who o'er the souls of men preside,
Aud on church livings feasts."

p. 63.

It would at all times give us pleasure, could we recommend an author to the particular patronage and regard of a liberal public, for his meritorious services in the cause of literature and Mr. Gale, as if conscious that he usefulness; while, on the contrary, could not urge the scriptures as the it is no less a painful duty to dis-basis of his poems too often, has not charge, when we feel ourselves imperatively called upon to hold him up to receive that public chastisement, which his folly, his ignorance, or his presumption, might have taught him to expect.

contented himself with using tautology in "Scripture Similitudes," and

66

Sacred Metaphors," but he has had recourse to a third expedient in com"Sepound tautology; and added, lected from the Holy Scriptures." This We have looked forward with no mode of expression, we presume, Mr. small degree of pleasure to the peru- G. would call "exhausting idea in sal of this work, which, published by language." He sets out in his preone of the first booksellers in this face with great professions of "difficountry, and bearing a title announc-dence;" and it would have given us ing 450 Poems on Scripture Similitudes, was adapted to excite considerable interest and expectation. We are aware that a book of this nature has been long wanted, calculated as it would be, if composed with talent, to produce the most beneficial consequences.

The metaphors and imagery of scripture, are, at once, the most sublime that were ever penned; and, at the

much pleasure to have found those
professions realized in the work; but
we conceive that the following ex-
tracts will prevent our readers, amidst
his literary carnage, from charging him
with "extreme diffidence:"

"Christ was the angel who appear'd
To all the ancient saints,
Him whom the patriarchs rever'd,
And sought in their complaints."

P.

Had Mr. Gale understood the first elements of the English language, he never would have evinced so much ignorance of them as he has so unfortunately displayed, in using the objective case instead of the nominative, to the first word "Him" in the third line of the first stanza; and the singular verb "is" to the plural nominative “pains” in the first line of the second

Amidst the variety of quotations which we have made from this work, (not tending, we confess, to elevate Mr. G. to a very distinguished place among the Brish Poets,) we must not forget one on Day Spring, which, though not above mediocrity, is greatly superior to any other in the vo

lume.

Tis when the blashing east
To selice man and beast,
Proclaims the near approach of morn and day;
The phantoms all retreat,
And seek their native seat.
Nor longer in the mocnlight radiance play.

So Jesus first employs
A morning bress of toys,
Before he shines with lustre on the soul;
He hides affiction's star,
Before he monis dis ear,

he has the surprising fietlity of redue. The mind and wis majestic to controul."
ing words as many sy lables as he may
fnd necessary, though he make them
at last no words at all.

We have thus taken a more extended view of this work than we had originally inteeded; and we cannot but feel surprised, that any person who had the foundation of his superstructure securely laid, with education however lim sed, could have executed a task so badly as Mr. Gale has done. The only essential qualification for poetry, in his view, appears to be

a jingling rhyme ;" and if this were the only requisite, we should say, that be has shown himself a very bad musician. Instead of that easy, flowing vein of beautiful and lofty conception, which pervades all scripture imagery, he has substituted what is vulgar, inconsistent, and absurd. To say that these poems are "Scripture SimiliThe author having examined a catudes," is to utter little less than pro-talogue of books which he had profanation against the sacred volume. cured for inspection, proceeds as So far are these poems from being cal- follows:culated to lead youth to the fountain, to "drink of the pure unadulterated stream;" that they present every stimulus to a distaste; and to cause them to turn aside with disgust and abhorrence. We do not charge Mr. Gale with this intention: we think his motives truly laudable; but unfortunately his poetic abilities are not commensurate with the purity of his intentions. He has done little for his muse, and the muse seems to have done as little for him.

through a field of margin. We do not, however, intend by this remark to intimate, that he has done this with a design to levy a tax on the pockets of his customers. It falls in with the plan he has adopted, and unites with his language to satirize the folly of the age.

We are entirely unacquainted with Mr. Gale personally; and can have no invidious object in the publication of these remarks. It would have been more congenial to our feelings had we not even known him now by his name; but we have only to hope that this may be a fictitious appellation, or a "similitude;" by which he may learn prudence and wisdom, in private, without exposing his feelings to the darts of those who are acquainted with him in public. At all events, it would have been well had Mr. G. received a little judicious tuition from his printer, as it regards the insertion of his name in the title-page: he would, no doubt, have advised Mr.G.to follow a similar course which he had marked out for himself, viz. the omission of it altogether.

With eager mind I had already marked

Full twenty books for John to fetch me home;

When I perceived (just then the yard-dog
barked,

I looked, and saw his mouth began to foam)
Well, as I said, I had just then remarked,
That in my list I had omitted some
Wrote by Lord Byron, Beppo, and Don Juan,
So I destroyed my list, and wrote a "new

one.'

I rang the bell, and John that instant came : "I like to be particular in" all;

If he had not he would have been to blame; Servants should always mind their master's call:

I would have gone myself, but I was lame,

The splinter had so hurt me, though 'twas
small:

"Go, John," said I," and purchase me these
books:"
I saw John thought this curious, by his looks.
John soon returned, and I began to look

I

At what I thought must surely be a prize: found that I most certainly mistook,

For nought alighted on my eager eyes
But white-white-white; and scarcely thro'
the book,

Could I perceive one ray of black arise:
But now and then I found some in the middle,
And what the rest is for I can't unriddle.
I closed the book, and viewed it round and

round,

Exclaiming thus: Cette guinee et une demie,

Has sent but little back, 'tis well I've found
So nice a way, where none can sure condemn

me,

To rid myself of any idle pound:

Lord Byron's works are precious as a gem -he, As I should think, must want some "good old

vice, "And so has taken up with avarice." p. 12.

After many unnecessary digressions, promises of amendment, relapses into trifles, and chidings of himself in a strain of admirable imitation, the author contrives to get through the poem, and, having laid it on his table, and fallen into a train of serious reflection on its tendency, and the debasement of the human intellect, he is interrupted by the entrance of a doubtful stranger, who is thus introduced;→