of the learned chemist. 'The 'Chemical Statics' is the essence drawn from an abstract view of the whole range of chemical knowledge. In every discussion (says Berthollet) whose object is to ascertain the causes of phenomena, it must not be overlooked that it frequently happens that one or several analogous phenomena are equally explicable by two hypotheses; and that then two opinions, sometimes contradictory, may be maintained, until some modifica tion of the effects is obtained, which, at length, excludes one of the two hypotheses: this is a circumstance in which opposite opinions can be supported even by experiment, and it will be difficult to prevent the natural interest we attach to our conceptions from engaging us to multiply that species of facts which is capable of receiving one of the two interpretations: nevertheless the philosophical spirit which throws such a radiance around chemistry in particular, will ere long dissipate the want of certainty which may divide our opinions: in the annals of the human mind it will be difficult to find a period more honourable to it than that which established unanimity so quickly on a theory which had predominated like that of phlogiston. Having succeeded in distinguishing the general causes of chemical phenomena, it is still easy to be deceived in many applications of them: either because the circumstances which influence the facts are not sufficiently known; or because among the several causes which may contribute to them, that is attributed to some which depends on others. It is this concurrence of several causes to the same effect that principally occasions the apparent anomalies, which sometimes lead to doubtful explanations, or which even render them impossible: in that case, without suffering these facts to invalidate the conse quences drawn from more positive facts, we must suspend the explanation, or stop at conjecture. I am aware that in the execution of the design to which I was led by the sudden establishment of the normal schools, and by the desire I have to review the hasty occupations in which it engaged me, that they may serve me as a guide in the instruction of the polytechnic school, a much more extensive acquaintance with the inquiries which have been greatly multiplied for some time was requisite: led away for several years by engagements foreign to science, since having been permitted to resume my studies, I have only been able to accomplish imperfectly the investigations of which I stood in need.' Vol. i. r. 392. The quotations will be a sufficient specimen of the manner. -This translation is sometimes very inaccurate. Such errors as "mechanics has established," and "it is these conditions," are very disgraceful: the style too is often perplexed and wanting in perspicuity. Still ought we to be thankful for having so valuable a work in an English dress. ART. II.-Metrical Tales and other Poems, by Robert Southey. 12mo. Longman and Co. 1805. SUCH is our dislike to the subject, inetre, and in short every thing appertaining to what Mr. Southey denominates Metrical Tales,' that the very title of the book now before us gave us a prejudice against its contents, and we took it up in the full expectation, we had almost said determination, of handling it roughly. But we had not proceeded far, before we found that, in spite of ourselves, we should be obliged to praise it. The author possesses genius and fancy to a considerable extent; he has no common powers of language and versification, and is master of most of those qualities and qualifications without which there can be no poetical excellence. But however great his claims to the ivy wreath, doctarum præmia frontium, he has also many faults which are highly reprehensible, the more so perhaps because they are avoidable and voluntary. The greatest, and indeed that which contains in itself the seeds of all his other defects, is that he is an egregious poetical coxcomb. It seems to be his aim to strike out a new model for English poetry; to be as it were the founder of a new sect. But to this he has no pretensions; it is for Mr. Southey to follow received opinions. In his 'Songs of the American Indians,' as well as on several other occasions, he treats us with that newfangled and non-descript species of poetry, that prose-like verse or verse-like prose, which it is not possible sufficiently to reprobate. We must also decidedly express our disapprobation of the system of coining new words, which is too common in the present publication; such as, for instance, unharming, C unfatiguable, unrecallable,'' disbranches,'' quintessential,' brooklet,' and many others too numerous to mention. Pindar indeed ༤ Per audaces nova dithyrambos Verba devolvit, numerisque fertar but let Mr. Southey remember that he is no rival of the swan of Thebes. It is not only for making words of his own that he has a partiality he is equally fond of compounding ad li bitum. But this also he had better let alone; he is invariably unsuccessful. He gives us 'heart-sincerity,' 'heart-delight,' 'bloodbanner,' 'death-day,' &c. &c. It would be difficult to discover any beauty, in them. He is also occasionally very careless in the construction of his lines; sometimes very tame: instances of the former are to be found P. 78. P. 75. My lips pronounc'd: the unrecallable vow.' / 2. 117. Of the latter P. 66. P. 79. The bloody purpose, led by which he came.' What a ridiculous line is this! • When the black and blood-lanner was spread to the gale.' Having now given our general opinion of Mr. Southey's pro ductions, let us proceed to notice separately the variegated contents of this little volume. The Metrical Tales,' properly so called, are indisputably very pleasing. We shall begin by quoting the two last stanzas of The Well of St. Keyne,' which amused us much. "The reported virtue of this well," says Fuller, "is such, that whe ther husband or wife come first to drink thereof, they get the mastery thereby." "You drank of the Well I warrant betimes? He to the countryman said: But the countryman smil'd as the stranger spake, 'I hasten'd as soon as the wedding was done But i'faith she had been wiser than me, For she took a bottle to church.' P. 38. 'St. Gualberto' is rather too long, but the last part of it is very poetical. What can surpass the following description of 2 still evening? "Cool breath'd the grateful air, and fresher now The fragrance of the autumnal leaves arose, The passing gale scarce mov'd the o'erhanging bough, Save when a falling leaf came fluttering by, Save the near brooklet's stream that murmur'd quietly.' P. 63. In the following observation upon the Catholic custom of ringing the vesper bell, every feeling reader must acquiesce. The Catholic who hears that vesper, bell, Howe'er employed, must send a prayer to heaven. For with the calm and sober thoughts of even It well accords; and wert thou journeying there, It would not hurt thee, George, to join that vesper-prayer.' P. 64. The Monodramas' that succeed the Metrical Tales, are classical and good. Perhaps Ximalpoca' is the best of then but it concludes tamely. It ought to have ended with 'Stream'd up its life to thee!" or at least the line which follows ought to have been exchanged for something else. The Songs of the American Indians' have been before alluded to, and perhaps as much notice has been taken of them as they deserve. The Love Elegies of Abel Shufflebottom' are witty, poetical, and entertaining. The Darwinian style is successfully burlesqued in the second of these pieces. Our author next dishes up a dozen Sonnets,' which we shall pass over unnoticed. We are not of those who have an antipathy to "a gaping pig;" we are not "mad if we behold a cat;" nor are we violently affected when "a bag-pipe sings i' th' nose;" but we do dislike a sonnet. It would be painful to us to be severe upon any thing that comes from the pen of so respectable a writer as Mr. Southey; but we never will incur the guilt of praising, and thereby encouraging, sonnets and sonneteers. Indeed it is almost to be wondered at that Mr. Southey should have meddled with this species of composition: if a judgment may be formed from some lines in one of the succeeding Anomalies,' entitled "The Dancing Bear,' his opinion on this subject is not very different from our own; • Bruin Bear, Now could I sonnetize thy piteous plight, In fourteen lines of sensibility!' These Anomalies' are not destitute of wit; particularly those entitled 'The Pig,' and 'The Filbert.' Next follow some 'Miscellanies,' many of which deserve but little praise. The Battle of Pultowa' is of this number, though from the subject something above mediocrity might have been expected. But The Death of Wallace,' which comes immediately after it, though not destitute of those faults which are peculiar to Mr. Southey and his school, possesses still such dignified beauty, that we are sure our readers will pardon us if we lay the whole of it before them. We remember to have seen it some years ago in the newspapers, and to have admired it. He Joy, joy in London now ! goes, the rebel Wallace goes to death, At length the traitor meets the traitor's doom, 'He on a sledge is drawn, His strong right arm unweapon'd and in chains, The laurel wreath of scorn. They throng to view him now And faltered out a prayer. "Yes, they can meet his eye, That only beams with patient courage now; 'And that eye did not shrink What tho' suspended sense What tho' ingenious vengeance lengthened life 4 What the' the hangman's hand Graspt in his living breast the heaving heart,— He called to mind his deeds Go Edward triumph now! Cambria is fallen, and Scotland's strength is crush'd; Unrivalled, unopposed, Go Edward full of glory to thy grave! 'The Old Man's Comforts' is the last of Mr. Southey's productions which we shall particularize. Who can be insensible to the charming simplicity, to the religious beauty, of the two last stanzas? You are old, Father William, the young man cried, You are chearful, and love to converse upon death! I am chearful, young man, Father William replied, In the days of my youth I remember'd my God! And He hath not forgotten my age.' P. 169. The remainder of this little volume consists of two English Eclogues' which are by no means unworthy of the author, and of a number of inscriptions. These last mèrit no particular notice. Upon the whole we shall always rejoice when Mr. Southey's productions come into our hands, and will undertake to say that no class of readers will peruse them without gratifi cation. |