The Sun.
London, England, 1837-10-25 00:00:00

Rogers's Poems. --------7--
~_ 4 5
years—and is got up in the same splendid style
one or to ot
and are full of grace and beauty, though
of
.them trespass rather on the fantastic, as this „rear
The embellishments are by
the poems if e sc.e
artist is apt at times to do. Among
some. lines addressed to Sir Francis Burdett for his
they
exertions in the cause of Liberty. We suspect
will be the last complimentary ones that Mr. Gar'
bell will ever address to the Hon. Baronet. Yuma,.

FINE ARTS.

GEMS OF BEAUTY.
Longman, London 1837.
It will be observed that our notices of the Annuals
that they
are usually favourable ; and for this reason,
are works, not meant to be scrutinized by the sere
eye of criticism, but to be admired, without a orAy
a wherefore, for their brief season ; and then, having,
lain a sufficient time on the boudoir, or drawing-room
table, to be thrown aside, like a last year's fashion,
and be forgotten. Annuals are " chartered Jibe'
tines" in literature", andio subject them to the ordin%Yt
laws of criticism is not to displ:tv one's sagacity, b
one's pedantry—in short, to " break a butterfly tipoinia
wheel." In the instance, however, •of the sPle`r,
did quarto volume before us, there needs no ferheave
ance on our parts. To speak favourably, we i , laall
only to speak justly of it, so highly finished are
the
its engravings, and so elegant and appropriate ;:y
poetical Illustrations that accompany them. But 'sve
_
does the Countess of Blessingtou, to whose pen
are indebted for these graceful poems, call them talo
ciful ?" ‘; Ideal," or " Imaginative," arc the ter'
she should have used. " Fanciful "is nothing mei
than a synonym for " whimsical ;" and sure we arc,far
that the Illustrations.in question are the result er a from
deeper inspiration than mere whim. They splinghlsi
the heart, not from the light caprice of the motnenb
should not have been thus misnomered. The
ings, which are twelve in number, are not less mc,
torious than the poems. The first, entitled " Aueet
Lion," pourtrays a mother, with the bloom oi youthi:jer
fresh upon her cheek, clasping two children t°
cb
bosom with all the yearning fondness with
Quentin Mastys' Miser hugs his gold. The fine :hat
pression of maternity in her countenance slows nj
the extacies of first love are at an end with her, .0:
4
;:that she has at length coma to Addison's con&s 1
that " men and women seem but sent into this wor:,
to provide themselves with successors, and the" this
make way for them." Parris is the painter of
" Gem," towhich the engraver has done VOB iurs,
tice. We subjoin the opening stanza of the Blusi.t e,
tion which accompanies it, for the sake of the last 'in
which is marked by heart-felt fervour
" Affection Seek her in a mother's heart ; „
,There dwells she shrined from worldly guile spar"
Each impulse guiding, governing each feeling,
New, tender secrets every hour revealing—
No selfish thought cornea near—no paltry care--
Her.breath is incense, and her voice is prayer!"
act.
Anger" is not serious enough for its subj
The painter should have remembered Collins's descriPd'
tion ;—.." next Anger rushed, his eyes on fire," a"
given us something more earnest. However, in °ther
respects, the picture is an excellent one. It repred
scnts a remarkably pretty young girl, pouting raancv
frowning, and striving to work herself up into ~)
with a crabbed, withered duenna, who, with a "nin-tol
of keys in her hand, has evidently just threatene" ,"
lock her up—doubtless, because she had detected t
maiden in making preparations for an elopement by
j
night. The latter's bust abounds in classic grace and
beauty, and her features are such as Canova wen
have loved to model from. " Pity" is represented by
two village lasses (both superb blondes),
who are el:
templating, with looks of painful interest, a new-n2a
widow with a child in her arms, and a tear, as big ag
a gooseberry, in her eye. These unsophisticated
peasants seem, by the expression of their counten hot
shool eu
to think it impossible that the bereaved one
ever be happy again. But they need not be aPrrte.
hensive on this score. She will cheer up in a innntill'
and marry some lusty young fellow, " well to do in by
world," the very day after her year of mourning is eSPire
Widows seldom grieve Jong in these days, for unthl"'
is so unfashionable and unbecoming as uniform athietic":
" Jealousy" is an edifying sample of the ferocious•
tall virago of a woman—whom we at first mistook f°
a man—is watching with uplifted daager in hand
tlje
slumbers of a fair maid, evidently intending to "Pin
her, as Congreve's Captain Bluffe would sap the '1:-
scant she wakes, for having robbed her of a " swee•;
heart." The vixen's features are impressive, but °icicle
expression is too exaggerated. The eye projeetS,
t r
a lobster's, and the nose is of the masculine ra°
than the feminine gender. But the Sleeping
Beauty" is admirably pourtrayed. Eve in Faradis
" iss
never enjoyed serener or holier repose. " 11°Pe!
delightful portrait. The figure is that of all arc.l'
laughing girl, who is hurrying forward with all the
ease and grace and lightness of a Camilla, witil
o
crown of laurel in her hand, intending possiblY t t
adorn the brows of some epic poet. she will
however find him in that magnificent castle whn!,,
stands direct in her path, but rather in a back-attic
Grub-street, picking a mutton-bone, or else sunt,
fins up time fumes of a cook-shop in Bow's
Despair" is pourtrayed by the figure of a foie La
arrayed in deep mourning, who is seated nil r
battle field with the • corpse of her husband 0
lover at her feet. The back-ground of this
Lure is very striking. The fight is over ; t
are
dead are strewed about the field; the watch-flap
just lighted ; the tents pitched for the night ; attei,:ee
sentinels mounting guard in front of them.
most
several details are highly finished, and produce a•
picturesque effect. The remainder of the ent'.•:ravlng
are no wise inferior to those we have just entunerPt-