The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-03 00:00:00

MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

"Foreign Aids to Self Intelligence," is a long,
rambling metaphysical treatise, to read which is
as difficult a task as to toil through a ploughed
field on a wet day. The writer, it seems, is an
admirer of Swedenborg, in whose crazy specula-
tions, fit only for the meridian of Bedlam, he
discovers a world of fancy and intelligence; and
quotes with evident approbation these remarks of
an enthusiastic American Swedenborgian:—
" Man is surprised to find that things near are
not less beautiful and wondrous than things re-
mote. The near explains the far. The drop is
a small ocean. A man is related to all nature.
This perc,Ttion of the worth of the vulgar is
fruitful in discoveries. Goethe, in this very
thing, - the most modern of the modern,
has shown us, as none ever did, the
genius of the ancients." What nonsense is
this ! Yet how epigrammatic—how carefully
pointed are the sentences! Read hastily, a
man would be apt to fancy that there was some
occult, profound meaning in them; yet when
you come to consider them carefully, you find
that they are a mere tissue of words, conveying
not the slightest idea. " Resurrection of Loy-
alty" is a vigorous poem by Mr. Francis Barham.
The " Death of Care" is an ingenious and good-
humoured quiz on modern criticism, evidently
suggested by Canning's ironical review of the
nursery poem " The Queen of Hearts," in the
" Microcosm." " Notes on Sweden" is an in-
telligent article, and furnishes some acceptable
information respecting the Dalecarlian peasan-
try. " Conversation" describes the various
classes of talkers with point and vivacity. Here
are a few specimens :
There are the. prosy talkers, who run into a number of anec-
dotes of which they only know the beginning, and remember
stories sufficiently to tell you that they forget them. They
are particularly obliging with their own affairs, which they
din into all that listen to them. They undertake to tell you
where they were some ten years back, if you will only favour
them with the name of the place ; and beg you to put them
in mind of something or other which they do not now remem-
ber, and which was bought by some body or other whose
name they have forgotten, to be given to someone else of whom
they have only a dim recollection.
There are the implicit talkers, who have such a good opi-
nion of your sharpness that they do not tell you half what they
wish to let you understand. The rest. is tilled up with " You
knows" and comprehensive sentences, such as " You see, and—
a—a—a--you see !" They are not apt to trouble you with long
tirades ; but afford you ample food for meditation, if you wish
to come at their meaning.
There are the insinuating talkers, who drawl their phrases
in the most approved style, and roll their eyes and head, speak
honeyed words, and secretly congratulate themselves on their
diplomatic attainments. Their great object is to be listened to,
and the death of a lapdog is sure to call forth their powers in
the pathetic.
There are the impressive talkers, who nod their head gravely
and speak solemnly, and bury their chin in their neckcloth and
look at you earnestly. They are not always long, but they are
very moving.
There are the sentimental talkers, who have got by rote a
set number of moral maxims. These they apply to whatever
may turn up. They are altogether a virtuous race, for every-
thing that is spoken gives them an oprortunity of reminding
themselves and everyone else of what is honest and good. No
matter what. is said, they can always stitch to it some whole-
some precept of morality.
There are the Malaprop talkers, who have this advantage
above others, that they can never stand in want of words. They
manage to adapt every word to every meaning, and have only
to stir their lit).
There are the confidential or mysterious talkers, whose tone
is never above a whisper. They look very important, some-
times dismal, sometimes delighted, as circumstances may be.
They speak in snatches, and can always inform you that there
is some secret of paramount interest and importance, which,
unfortunately. they are not allowed to disclose to you.
There are the matter-of-fact talkers, who never utter any-
thing they cannot bring witnesses to vouch for. If they tell you
they went to the country a certain time, they name the day and
the date, and insist on your inquiring of such a friend if he was
not there, and of such another if he is not acquainted with the
coachman who drove them.