which cannot be dispensed with. But the superficial way in which even this light information is frequently acquired, by no means calculates it either for "ornament or use." Far from being like that convenient piece of furniture of Goldsmith's, “A bed by night, a chest of drawers by day," it furnishes their heads with nothing that is valuable to themselves, or amusing in the company of others. Indeed this very light reading ought rather to be deprecated than encouraged. A young man looks over a Review, and is then ready to pass speedy sentence on a work he has never read. Then he gains a smattering of knowledge from our poorer Magazines, and such other periodical publications as have the chance to reach him in a sea-port town; which is in reality of no other use than to give him a mistaken confidence, and consequence, in his own eyes and opinions. little be acquired the first object of a young person ought to be to acquire it well-to examine, investigate, and, if possible, understand whatever subject he attempts. Whether easy or intricate, this kind of application is, however, very rare, and the temptations of public amusements, field sports, aquatic or equestrian excursions, with other business and pleasure, are sadly too great to be resisted by the young men of Liverpool. Those precious opportunities of improvement and honourable distinction, which will never return to them, are thus lost. "Nihil semper floret, ætas succedit ætati." In after years, when the ardour of youth has vanished, and the habits of business are confirmedwhen the accumulation of wealth, and the absorbing claims of interest, have torporized the feelings and the imagination-when emulation is quenched, and the worst species of pride, the pride of money, has succeeded to the desire of fame, and the laudable ambition of mental improvement, what stance; and to a really well informed change can then be effected? The seamind, the picture of presumption, ed, the hope is extinguished. By son is gone by, the character is formpremature decision, and the affecta- that time, a man settles down into a tion of literary taste which it exhibits,"respectable, perhaps a clever meris often more disgusting than ignorance itself. And this comes of not wishing to give ourselves the trouble of studying any thing for half an hour at a time, of not examining a subject boldly and thoroughly. "Truetse non foliis arborem æstima." It is the shadow without the sub chant, a good calculator of profit and loss, a person whose chief honour is in atchieving a bold speculation, like a good hunter, without missing his leap; his heart is where his treasure is also, in the funds, in the sight of a good table, and in studying with devout attention the "morality of trade." But let us not be misunderstood! Of persons once satisfied with skimming over the surface of knowledge in this way, it may be truly said, "there is more hope of a fool than of him," for it is easier to enlighten the dark-Nothing can be more truly creditable ness of a savage, than to make the than the performance of duty in any superficial man sensible of his own station, whatever that station may be ; deficiencies. We may apply to him but one who does not season the newhat a shrewd observer of life did to cessary drudgery of life when he has a certain great professor of the mnean opportunity so to do, with science monic art, and literature, with pure tastes and elevating recreations, that man must meet, and does meet, with moments of intolerable ennui, besides a considerable portion of contempt. "You would teach me to remember, Sir, not yet I would rather you would teach me to forget." And undoubtedly his first business is to unlearn, as fast as possible, like the pupil of Socrates, all that he had previously so wretchedly acquired. There is so little mental effort required in such a course of study, yet so much exhibition for a very small degree of trouble, that this habit is as dangerous as it is despicable. It matters not, in fact, how much or how 66 In justice to the society of Liverpool, however, let us observe, that instances of this nature are rare, and that we all of us, in a literary point of view, endeavour to keep up a shew of virtue, if we have it not.' Besides, we keep one another in countenance, and, not to be thought unreasonably severe, the state of society calls for it, REVIEW. Scripture Similitudes, con- In our reviews of books, we endea- same time, so simple and comprehensive, that the most ordinary understandings can reach their highest conceptions. Here is a sky serenely gay, where the brightest genius of the poetic muse might employ his minstrelsy, and sing and roam for the whole period of his mortal existence; and after his "threescore years and ten" should have revolved, he would leave the greater part of these celestial regions 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 accompanied a perusal of them. With 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 at tention were the following, the grammatical accuracy of which we are not much disposed to admire. "Frogs exist in marshy lands, Fit emblem of the croaking tribe, Of Romish monks and priests, 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 "Sacred Metaphors," but he has had recourse to a third expedient in compound tautology; and added, "Selected from the Holy Scriptures." This We have looked forward with no mode of expression, we presume, Mr. small degree of pleasure to the peruG. would call 66 '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 extracts will prevent our readers, amidst his literary carnage, from charging him with "extreme diffidence :" "Christ was the angel who appear'd P. 3 "Absurd and foolish is their pains p. 22. 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 stanza. We pass on to quote a few specimens of these poems, as they almost indiscriminately occur; not intending to offer many remarks upon their defects, for they must be so glaring to the most inattentive reader, that it will be impossible for them to escape detection. "A woman that's immodest, Invites the gazing view, But when a wife is cover'd With modesty and grace, p. 34. What an incalculable benefit would Mr. Gale confer upon all the inhabitants of the world, if he would make known where these candlesticks of such singular and useful properties could be purchased! We had the misfortune while writing the above quotation, as if some fatality had hung over us, to snuff out our candle, and we should have felt much pleasure in seeing Mr. Gale's position verified; but, alas! we found that our candlestick was not of the same luminous manufacture! In contemplating the destruction of the world, Mr. G. says: "Earth's axle-tree shall then turn round In flaming folds securely bound, p. 117. Amidst the variety of quotations which we have made from this work, "A wife that loves to scold, is often very bold, (not tending, we confess, to elevate Supposing that her husband should submit, Mr. G. to a very distinguished place To bear it day by day, until he pines away, among the British Poets,) we must Beneath the chagrin of each talking fit. not forget one on Day Spring, which, "Tis like the drops of rain, to stop it is in vain, though not above mediocrity, is greatIt must have vent, and will in streams de-ly superior to any other in the vo scend, Until the storm is spent aroused by each event, "He bore with ignomy and shame, We presume that Mr. Gale's poetry costs him little trouble; for it appears, from the above quotation, that when a line extends beyond its proper length, lume. "Tis when the blushing east To solace man and beast, Proclaims the near approach of morn and day; The phantoms all retreat, And seek their native seat, Nor longer in the moonlight radiance play. So Jesus first employs A morning break of joys, he has the surprising facility of reduc- The mind and will majestic to controul." "With our eyes and our ears we behold p. 41. We have thus taken a more extended view of this work than we had originally intended; and we cannot but feel surprised, that any person who had the foundation of his superstrucThis is the first time we ever knew ture securely laid, with education that we can behold with our "ears." however limited, could have executed We apprehend that Mr. Gale has a task so badly as Mr. Gale has done. made some fresh discovery in the sci- The only essential qualification for ence of Optics, which, if he will commu-poetry, in his view, appears to be 66 a jingling rhyme ;" and if this were the only requisite, we should say, that he 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 Similitudes," is to utter little less than profanation against the sacred volume. So far are these poems from being calculated 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. 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. REVIEW.-Gordon, a Tale. A Poetical Review of Don Juan, 8vo. p. 80. London: Allman, 1821. THE author, in his preface, informs his readers, that "the following poem is partly a burlesque parody on the style of Don Juan; partly a sacrifice of praise offered at the shrine of talent; and partly arguments proving its immoral tendency." In the imitative part, the author has in most places happily succeeded, even to an exhibition on beautiful paper, and the causing of a stream of text to flow 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. The author having examined a catalogue of books which he had procured for inspection, proceeds as follows: 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, Wrote by Lord Byron, Beppo, and Don Juan, That in my list I had omitted some 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 found that I most certainly mistook, At what I thought must surely be a prize: For nought alighted on my eager eyes But white-white-white; and scarcely thro' the book, Could I perceive one ray of black arise: And what the rest is for I can't unriddle. But now and then I found some in the middle, I closed the book, and viewed it round and Exclaiming thus: Cette guinee et une demie, round, 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 As I should think, must want some "good old -he, vice, "And so has taken up with avarice." 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; But to return. I read the poem through, And Haidee's sad condition; all sedate, I bowed-he bowed. My name, Sir, is not known "To you, I am aware.""Be seated, Sir, "I pray you will. Bring up the candles, John.' Both then sat down, I gave the fire a stir; And then remarked, "The weather's undergone Such changes lately, we had need wear fur; "Indeed, the changes are so sudden here, "From hot to cold, we need it all the year." "In many cases, Sir, that may be true, "But not in mine."-" Indeed, Sir, how is that? "Climate affects us all, then surely you "Are not exempt? Pray, Sir, put down your hat." He answered not; I looked-his lips were blue, The sofa seemed to tremble as he sat; I thought it strange he neither moved nor spoke, Nor deigned to notice me save by his look. I looked again his cheeks were pale and wan, His languid eyes deep sunk within his head, His body gaunt, just like a skeleton, In short, he seemed as risen from the dead: This was not pleasant, I must frankly own; I felt, I know not what, a kind of dread, Such as 'tis said ghosts cause when they appear; 1t glanced on me a galling, piercing look: "I so admire this work, that not one page, "One letter, should be taken from this book: "Though I am past my strong meridian age, "The height of passion, yet I could not brook [flung "To see this work diminished,"-down he The poem, and the room resounding rung. p. 35-37. From the preceding lines, the character and name of this extraordinary personage, who thus comes forward to admire and defend Don Juan, will be easily understood by our readers; but although his applauses seem to be unbounded, few among them we conceive would wish to have so warm an admirer. In a manner similar to that which the preceding stanzas describe, the dialogue continues till The stranger's patience now was gone completely: He rose at once, and to exasperation, Hellish and harsh, gave way—not quite discreetly, Though he had perfected his preparation, He might have had it blazen forth more neatly: His rage produced the dreadful aberration Which happened afterwards-it came like thunder, Filling my heart with horror, fear, and wonder. Up rose the stranger, and at once appeared A dreadful goblin full before my view; Sounds superhuman I distinctly heard, Which every moment louder-louder grew : My anxious mind was suddenly transferred To some development entirely new, The boards below began to crack and shake, Then all entwined beneath me, like a snake. My fire and candles burnt both blue and dim, And I was motionless on the small space I had to stand on; I looked up at him Who was my guest-how dreadful was his face? Dark, sallow, hideous, and every limb So altered and disfigured, none could trace A semblance of my guest; around me stood A host of sprites in threatening attitude. The room was dark, and all around the walls Echo beneath, because they did not bring |