The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-24 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

THE POETICAL WORKS of D. Al. MOIR
( Delta). Edited by Thomas Aird. Blachfrowl.

2 Vols..

Under the signature o' Delta, the late David' Arac-
beth Moir has long been favourably known to the
readers of Blackwood's Magazine, and his premature
death last summer was deplored not only by the large
circle of friends who had known him and had loved
him for his admirable and endearing qualities in do-
mestic life, but by a very widely-extended list of
literary acquaintances, to whom the " triangular"
signature had long been associated with grateful and
pleasant reminiscences. In the biography prefixed
to the poems in these volumes, Thomas Aird has, in
a most interesting and very delightful manner nar-
rated the principal incidents of Delta's career, and
has done justice to his many most estimable charac-
teris'ics. His indefatigable attention to the duties of
the medical profession, left Mr. M At. few opportuni-
ties for indulging his taste for literary
pursuits, but those opportunities were seized upon
with avidity, and the multitude of his compositions
under the circumstances, quite surprising. Those
compositions, now collected together, will be perused
with general interest. Foremost among them in the
"Domestic Verses" is one little poem—"A Lament for
the Death of a beloved Child"--which has long ren-
dered the name of Delta famous. Speaking of this
poem, " Casa Wappy," Mr. Aird surmises that "it has
drawn more tears of mothers than any other dirge of
our day." In every line it is the heart that speaks,
hence no wonder its great and widely diffused popu-
larity. The late Lord Jeffrey, writing to Moir, says
of the " Domestic Verses," " I cannot resist the im-
pulse of thanking you with all my haeadrttfhe for
soothing,
and, gratification you have affordedme, n
and, I hope, bettering emotions which you have
excited. I am sure that what you have written is more
genuine pathos than anything almost I have ever
read in verse, and is so tender and true, so sweet and
natural, as to make all lower recommendations indif-
ferent." After such a tribute further commendation
is surely needless. As an evidence of the variety of
the themes which occupied Delta's muse, we may
mention that the contents of these volumes are divided
into " Domestic Verses," " Elegiac Effusions,"
" Poems on Flowers," "Poems Suggested by Cele-
brated Scottish Localities," " Occasional Poems,"
(among which are the stanzas for the Burns' festival),
" Sonnets," " Poems in reference to Childhood,'
"Echoes of Antiquity," " Songs," " Ballads,"
" Tales," and " Miscellaneous Puems"—many of
which are excellent in various degrees—all are
pleasing—and some few, such as " Casa Wappy," are
singularly beautiful. Without obtaining for Delta
any considerable reputation as a poet, these volumes,
with the memoir which they contain, must win for
him from all who examine them a very sincere re-
spect and cordial sympathy, sentiments eminently
due to his upright character and gentle heart.

TO THE SECRETARY OF THE BRADFORD

REFORM ASSOCIATION.

I (CONTINUED ON MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS.)
Sir,—On Wednesday the 19th, was the adjourned de-
bate on what was denominated the "Colonial Bishops
Bill." The Bill presented a wonderful scarcity of light
as to its objects and effects. It was to " relieve" the
Colonial Bishops from something; but what, was to a
great extent left to the imagination of the reader. In
the present temper of the pub!ic, there is little inclina-
tion to relieve the Bishops from anything, unless it were
the trouble of holding offices which they traitorously
abuse, and revenues which enable them to serve the pur•
poses of the enemy. The word passed round the
benches, that the Bill was a Puseyite proceeding; and
the feeling against it was so strongly manifested, that
the promoters were obliged to consent to passing to the
other Orders of the Day, which is a polite way of send-
ing a Bill to the tomb of all the Capulets.
The adjourned debate on Maynooth College was re-
sumed; and on its being continued till six of the clock,
Mr. Speaker adjourned the House without putting the
Question, as is the rule in like cases.
In the course of the afternoon, a question was asked
on the subject of the new Burmese War. The proper
Ministerial organ made reply, that all possible prompti-
tude had been used to give the Burmese Sovereign the
opportunity of " submission." The which was mani-
festly received by the House as a full and satisfactory
establishment of the justice of the war. No inter-
ference of a third party being permitted in cases of
questions asked, there was no opportunity for shaking
this comfortable assurance of the House by any intrusive
sifting. And thus it is, that we go on with eyes virtu-
ally closed, in courses which every now and then result
in a claim upon three millions of your earnings, and
which if history be really the old almanac out of which
must be picked the new, may end in something in com-
parison with which, the payment of three millions will
be a bed of roses. It may be a subject of speculation,
to calculate what would have been said if a Burmese
force had been transmitted to some part of the Anglo-
Indian frontier, with adjustment to a day, for leaving
room for the " submi.ision" of the Anglo dudian autho-
rities. For all this insolence, depend on it, is one way
or other, you will seine time pay.
Oa Thursday the Militia Bill was proceeded with in
Committee. A stout debate was kept up, in support of
exempting the proposed Militiamen from corporal
punishment during the periods of assembling for train-
Leg and exercise. The conductors of the movement
did not make the best of their case. They had in their
favour the fact, that certain " punishments extet,ding to
life and limb" were by the existing law rot applicable to
Militiamen in their chrysalis state of " assembling for
training," but only on arriving at the full-blown condi-
tion of being "embodied." The business-like way
therefore would have been, to try to add the " corporal
punishment" to the "lif.s and limb." As it was, the
motion was negatived by 132 to 87.
Another stand was made for limiting the age to
twenty-five instead of ttirty-five. And here a curious
fallacy was held out by the Government, and mot with ao
inconsiderable number of supporters on the opposite
side of the House. They said, "If you limit the age to
twenty-five, what an unfair thing upon the men under
twenty-five!" And mach W 23 gravely talked, of." limit-
ing the area," and increasing the liability upon the
individual." As if the question was anything, but
whether a certain number of men to be taken from the
public, are taken with least damage to the individuals
and to the public, from men of one age or of another.
I take leave to put the question in its nakedness, and
submit, that if it were proposed to limit the age to those
between eighteen and eighteen years and a quarter, with
the effect of there being exactly the demanded number
of men of that standing in the country, neither more
nor less, hardship upon the individuals would not enter
as an element at all, provided it to be substantially
proved that the total of suffering to the individuals and
their connexions would be less in this way than in any
other. Under all the disadvantages of the case, it is
not wonderful that the motion to insert " twenty-five"
was negatived by 89 to 52.

Another motion, for not quartering the Militia on
inns, &c., without consent of the occupiers, was nega-
tived by 105 to 54.
After this a question was raised, which goes far to
change the whole complexion of the Bill. The Ministry
had inserted in their Bill a clause (25) to the effect that
so much of an existing Act (42 G. 3) " as authorises
Her Majesty to order and direct the Militia, or any part
thereof, to be drawn out and embodied in cases of rebel-
lion and insurrection, shall be repealed." They had
volunteered this insertion, and gone to the House and
the country for support upon the credit of it. And now,
upon an accidental expression of opinion from a single
Member on the Opposition side of the House, they
jumped at the withdrawal of this clause. From the
glee-ful reception of the Government's move by the
agricultural portion of the House, it was clear they
looked forward to the Militia as a sort of Corn Law
Guards, in the course of the renewed struggle which is
to take place on that question. A Member on the Op-
position side (I think the medical Member for Finsbury)
told them plainly, that the abolition of the Corn Laws
had only been carried under the imminent likelihood
of popular commotion, and the present piece of prudence
was intended to prevent the operation of the like influ-
ence again. For my own part, I entirely adhere to the
opinion of this Member, as likewise to the notion which
I think I collected from some of my constituents, that
in one way or another, this Militia is to be one of the
promised " aericultural compensations." If you exa-
sniue who finally gain by it, I think you will not find
yourself wrong in the anticipation of this result.
The Ministry did cot venture for the present on more
twheauennemeFrorrviieidnnagybtyihma2toothe
againstclause
I.b e "postp o n e d . " Which
of
Spain.
When
such
hrt
on the subject of form
a
Fortafnt matter was brought before the
House, in the question from Lord Palmerston
" reported," nobody donbts dangers to the Constitution
dangersbu get the length of being
received with coldnessthe danger is real. Tl;e
subject was
with more than coldness by by the House, and
the Minist
the whole was confirmatory of the ry. The effect onthe Ministers do not mean to peril themselves
uselessly
by unnecessary energy, there
is
scarcely
retrogradation, commercial or politio.ay4any Species of
hic
would not receive with that patience whichwiah they
so supplied when the heart is with the event. The r
easily
is to involve them in the next heave of the political
ocean, and make them partakers both in the cause and
in its consequences.
On the same night was produced the postponed debate
on the withdrawal of the Ministerial proposal to repeal
the power of calling out the Militia to act against the
people at home.
It is needless to say more, than that
mark upon it was confirmed and
every pvvious ie
Ministers
rested their
case upon
strengthened. Toe .
the rieive;" and if the radiant bearing
" the feeling of
of the agricultural party may
be taken' as evidence of
feeling, there was no wanton that head. As might be
expected, the Governments own clause was expunged,
under a majority of 151 to 61.
very sincerely,‘
I am, Sir, yours
M ORMER.
AN OLD It
Blackheath, May 24,1852.

INDISPOSITION OF THE CHIEF BARON.We un-
derstand that the Chief Baron was prevented from attending
Divine service yesterday at St. Paul's with the other judges,
in accordance with the universal custom, in consequence of a
rheumatic attack, which likewise prevented him from ap:
peering at her Majesty's state ball, and at that of the Duke
of Wellington, recently given in honour of the Princess Mary
of Cambridge.
It is with sincere regret that we bare to announce
the death of the Hon. Lady Airey, widow of the late Gen.
Sir George Airey, and a sister of the late Lord Talbot de
Malehide. Her Ladyship has been for many years a resident
in Paris, whore she was respected and beloved by a large cir-
cle of friends, who deeply deplore her ion.-- Ga/ignUnes
Messenger.