The National Register.
London, England, 1813-02-14 00:00:00

FEW 11.

quent spots of healthy verdure in a field, otherwise withered, '
whose speckled appearance gives to the distant beholder
distinct notion of barrenness or of fertility, they leave the
mind undecided whether to approve or to blame. They do
not form a landscape of their own, and are not considerable
enough to yield striking beauty to that to which they be-
long. A bush may be well drawn in a picture, but when its
object is to represent a castle, the excellence of an inconst
derable feature will not counterbalance the faulty delineation
of the principal. So it happens in many descriptions in
Rokeby. To say in all, would be unjust. There are some
which remind us that Mr. SCOTT is a great master; but
there arc many which make us regret, that in his unceasing
industry he should neglect to replenish his pallet, as no vi-
gour of outline can competisate for feebleness of colouring.
—ln f) mer works his descriptions were striking, and
much admired, because he drew from nature herself, the
lines with which he depicted her. In his present poem, as
though he had exhausted his fund of images, he frequently
attempts to illustrate material and visible scenes and ac-
cidents, by comparisons with intellectual or invisible affec-
tions; thus reversing the usual and more reasonable practice:
for immateriality may be rendered plain, by comparing it
with objects that fall under our senses, whilst it is
next to impossible to add clearness and effect to what
we see by referring it to an invisible standard. It is,
perhaps, to this adoption of a new source of images
that we are to attribute the occasional weakness of Mr.
SCOTT'S descriptions in Rekebu. When, at the opening of
this poem, he compares the different hues which the moon
assumes through the accidents of nOsts and clouds by which
it is affected, to the changes of the mind, through the influ-
ence of the passions, he certainly does not give a satisfactory
illustration, and only produces a passage remarkable for con-
ceit and stiffness, It may be said also, that the soul of feel-
ing which animates all his other poems, and glows in almost
every line, bas shrunk, in Rokeby, within particular limits,
and only sheds an occasional beam. This is evident in most
of his songs. Allan a Dale is a spiritless imitation of his
own Young Lochinvar, and no better than many of our street
ballads.

(To be continued.)

LA JV INTELLIGENCE.

S.\TURDAY, Fl.ll. 13.

MAYOI: V. JOHNSON AND ANOTHVR.

71113 was an action brought to rec.iver 51. on a promissory note of hand,
drawn by the defendants, Country "'ankers at Stannord, payable 00
demand by themselves, or by Rzunsbottom and Cu. of London. This
action was interesting, inasmuch as it went to try the y cf Bankurs
to pay half notes, in the event of the dexter halves being lost.
It appeared that one half of the note in questi.m had been lost, it
being contained in a letter which had been in the mail-bag recently
stolen ffom the Leeds noiil.coach. The letter also contained the halves
N* other bank notes which were of course also lost, but the halves that
bad afterwards come to hand had been paid by the several Bankers, as
was usual in such cases to do, on their being indemt:itied against any
denuind that might he made on them. The present defendants, how-
ever, resisted the payment 4 the one half•note without the other being
produced, although indemnity was offered t., them.
Lord ELLEN BOROUG ti interrupted the course of evidence, by ob-
serving, that there could be no legal demand on the di:fendants, what-
ever they might be hound to do in honour, to pay the note, except it
was entire as they had sent it forth to the world. If they wen to pay
this half of the note, they might be hereafter called upon to pay 51.
for the other halt' to some bona:fide holder of it. The plaintiff must be
sionsuited.

A nonsuit was accordingly enterer.
Sir W. GARROW, the plaintiffs
result would only have the effect
country bank nutes ; and he did no)
squriutil to the general interests,