The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-03 00:00:00

lar

THE

CZi 11.

.1 • "• , 6ptcruiut.
o:er, with Mr. 10/iiis's very accep,abie at,d t•eilt
rntJuuS
notes by Vk ay of illutqr:ilion. Twenty-six chapters
complete the whole narrative of the life and death of
dear old Sir Roger de Coverley, and these twenty--
six chapters are here given in their entirety with
every desirable information about their authorship.

LIT IeaIIATURE.
POETICAL LITERATURE of the PAST
11.4 L F- CENTURY. By D. AI. Moir. Black•
wood and Sons.
Delta has heen associated so long and so favourably
with the brilliant epoch here celebrated that his ap-
pearance in his present charadter as critic is scarcely less
agreeable than that which he has uninterruptedly oc-
cupied as contemporary. He: ce it is that lee wel-
come the beautiful volume lying before us with a most
genuine and earnest cordiality. From his prefatory,
remarks it becomes apparent that the work just pub-
lished by the Messrs. Blackwood originated in cer-
tain lectures delivered during the past session before
the Edinburgh Philosophical Institution. The fact
might have been safely conjectured without any such
announcement, from the synopsis prefixed tecthe va-
rious portions of the composition, partaking less of
the nature of an ordinary index than of a singularly
attractive and comprehensive syllabus. Beeides which
the circumstance is yet more brilliantly emblezoned
on the pages by the popular and genial spirit diffused
over the whole effusion. Delta adventures
upon the inquiry here marked out for inves-
tigation with a scrupulous attention to ex-
actitude, together with a most delicate appre-
ciation of the really true and beautiful, as well as a
strangely eclectic perceptivity in regard to the most
multiform and manifold excellences. All this,
though requisite in the reviewer, is nothing less than
noble and magnanimous in the competitor. No petty
jealousies, no despicable prejudices, no shallow or
egotistical predilections are visible on the part of Mr.
Muir in his treatment of the subject selected for the
display of his powers as a critic, but, on the contrary,
there ate everywhere manifest throughout a generous
enthusiasm for the merits of writers whom he consi-
ders not in the narrow aspect of rivals, but in a large-
minded and large-hearted mood as his brethren and
associates. We like this. It is befitting his position
in letters and consonant with every phase of his repu-
tation. It cannot' fail, moreover, to endear him to
the reader, while it elicits our very warmest expres-
sions of admiration. Introducing his disquisition by
a sketch of the state of poetical literature as
it was in this country at the commencement
of the nineteenth century, Delta comments very
judiciously on the long mastery maintained by the
school of Pope and Dryden, a mastery which was
ultimately modified by Thomson, Cowper, Burns, and
Goldsmith. The evanescent successes achieved shortly
afterwards by Bayley, Darwin, and the Della
Cruscans are shown to have evidenced in a remark-
able manner the fact that literary tastes are influenced
by social transformations. Reference is then, of
course, made to the tendencies of the supernatural
school under the conduct of its undisputed chieftain,
Matthew Gregory Lewis, and illustrations are given of
its fantastic peculiarities and mysterious characteristics.
After an allusion to the pensive muse of Kirke White
and to the religious enthusiasm of James Grahame,
come some capital definitions of the merit to be dis-
covered in the satirical and humorous poetry of
Cunning, Frere, Gifford, Metbiae, and George Col-
man the Younger. Sul joined to these are charming
sketches of Leyden and Bloomfield, with remarks on
the female writers of the period, Charlotte Smith,
Amelis Opie, Mrs. Hunter (not the Mrs. Leo Hunter
of "Pickwick," but the authoress of the death song
of the "Cherokee"), Mrs. Grant, and Mrs. Tighe the
gifted celebr )nt of " Psyche." Various poets and
translators of the same generation, in most instances
long since forgotten, tire recalled to popular remena-
brance, in order that a general estimate of their merits
may be given by the poet-lecturer. A warm eulo-
gium upon the homely pathos of Crabbe is indulged
in immediately afterwards, especial regard being bad
to his unquestionable title to originality. Commen-
dations are next pronounced on the elegant and ar-
tistic effusions of Lisle Bowles, and yet more so on
those of the veteran Samuel Rogers. Hereupon we
arrive at a consideration of the peculiarities of the
lake school cultivated by Lloyd, Lamb, and Lovell,
but led by such powerful minds as those of the indee
fatigable Southey, the indolent and dreaming Cole-
ridge, and the severe but sometimes puling Words-
worth. Under this same comprehensive survey we
find ludicious commentaries on the productions of
tValter Savage Landor, James Hogg and Allan
Cunningham. Ballad poetry introduces us to the re-
vival of the romantic school, as was evidenced most
especially in the advent of Sir Walter Scott.
The classical elegance of Campbell, the ori-
ental splendour of Professor Wilson, and the
humanising suavity of James Montgomery are next
particularised. Then, likewine, we rejoice to arrive
with our author at the period rendered memorable by
the succession of Lord Byron to the poetical supre-
macy. Having celebrated with due emphasis the
remarkable energies of that splendid and transcendent
genius, Mr. Moir directs the attention of his hearers,
or we should now more properly call them his read-
ers, to the "Palestine" of Bishop Heber, the " Samar" of
Dean Milmau, and the " Sebastian" of Dr. Croly, toge-
ther with supplementary allusions to the Icelandic
translations of the Honourable W. Herbert, to
the " Austin Fair" of William Tennant, to the
" Whistlecraft" of Frere, the "Ingoldsby Le•
gends" of Barham, and the " Rejected Addresses"
of James and Horace Smith, not forgetting
the improvisatorial powers of Theodore Hook, the
mingled wit and passion of Thomas Hood, and the
exquisite skill of Moore in amatory compositions.
Another phase of the poetic mind is then delineated,
that gorgeous phase which was at first indicated by
Leigh Hunt, but rapidly perfected by its illustrious
masters John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley.
Thereupon Procter obtains his deserved share of at-
tention, under his more celebrated pseudonym of
Barry Cornwall. The criticism then extends suc-
cessively to Robert Pollok, to Thomas Aird, to
William Kennedy, Ebenezer Elliott, and William
Motherwell. Under the significant designation of
Female Constellations, we next come upon a de-
lightful catalogue of names, such as those of Joanna
Baillie, Felicia Hesnans, Caroline Bowles, Maria
Jewahury, Mary Howitt, Caroline Norton, Harriet.
Drury, Camilla Toulmin, Lady Flora Hastings,
Mary Fussell Mi:ford, Elizabeth Barrett Browning,
and Letitia Elizabeth Landon, cursory reference
being subs quently made to the verses of Professor
R. C. Trench, Thomas Pringle, John Clare, Bernard
Barton, Aleric A. Watts, T. K. Hervey, Charles
Wolfe , Jane Taylor, and Thomas Haynes Bayley.
Comprised in the final lecture, also, we eio
counter passages of very trenchant criticism on
the poetic effusions of Lockhart, on tl:e Roman
Lays of Macaulay and the Scottish Lays of Aytoun,
with minor commentaries on Mrs. Stuart Monteith,
Mrs. Ogilvy, Rev. John Moultrie, Mrs. Downing,'
and Miss Agnes Strickland. The observations on Sir.
Edward Bulwer Lytton we cannot but regard as the
least effective and meritorious portion of the volume,
the preference given in it to his translations of Sail-,
ler being particularly ungraceful when it is remem-
bered by what firm that work of his was published.'
Finally the book closes with particular reference to
the last poetic school, which is here designated not
inaptly the Metaphysic Romantic. Alfred Tenny-
son is naturally recognised at once as its leader,
Robert Browning as its high priest, and the " Festus"
of Philip James Bailey as its crowning exaggeration.
Delta takes occasion at this stage of his inquiry into
the state of recent poetry to protest against mysti-
cism, and olecurity as its supreme and pervading
bletm'hea• Together with the names of their
contemporaries he blends allusions to those
of Charles Mackay, of John Sterling, of
Henry Taylor, and of Richard (not Robert, as be
calls him) Monckton Milnes, not forgetting an inci
dental mention of the dramatists' Meturin, Sheridan
Knowles, Westland Marston, White, Horne, Samuel
Browne, Lovell 13eddues, William Smith, and Thomas
Noon Telfourd. Besides these, moreover, we find
enumerated the names of our young aspirants in the
realmsßuoefppoeets?:--Burbidge, Cassels, Clough, West-
wood,Paton, and Allingham, to which we
it,ichard Selous,
would add those of Sydney Yendys,
of
of George Meredith, of Henry Inglis, of Charles
Kingsley, of Denis Macarthy, and of Viscount
Maidstone. Altogether, the Work before us is entitled
to a large share of approbation from the reviewers,
and from the public at large an extension of the au•
thor's already wide-spread popularity.

DISGRACEFUL CONDUCT OF A TRAINING MASTEf
AT TIIE LEEDS PAUPER INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL''—This scfor hotheol,
built by the Leeds Poor-law Guardians, was open
educating and training of orphan children; but since its
ed
establishment the want of harmonious co-operation amongst
the ()Ulcers has been a source of constsnt trouble to the
gu,ardiana. Irregularities, from some cause or other, have
continued, and on Monday evening the Board of
Guardians assembled at the establishment to investigate
them. The first thing which occurred on the board assem-
bling was the presentation of a letter of resignation from
Mr. Alfred Leggett, the second training maAer of the
school. Some or the guardians expressed their surprise at
this, and having heard some rumours ot misconduct on the
part of Mr. Leggett, they determined to investigate them.
The result was the most satisfactory proof that the second
master had been guilty of the most grossly immoral conduct,
and that he had corrupted the mind of one of the pauper
children, a girl of 15 years of age. It came nut in the course
of the investigation that he had taken her with him to
various places of resort in the neighbourhood of Leeds, and
TRAVELLER'S LIBRARY. had had trequentititerviews with her. At first. Mr. Leggett
denied the truth of the most grave part of the charges, but
illessrs. Longmans and Co. , afterwards, through the chaplain, made a full cot.tesbion or
A re •
rece_ print of the literary portion of the work ! his guilt. T m
he ginirdia s, after hearing all the circu-
vi,,ntlY brought out in a more expen4vo form, stances ot the cave, determined not to accept the resignation
illUstrations, under the editorship of Mr. of the party impl.cated, but to apply to the Poor-law Board
to order his dit•tnis,al forthwith ; and in the meantime sus-
the Henry Wills, has 'been 11,-re given to pended bins from office, ordering him to leave the establish-
Mho by these distinguished and cuts rpaiS- meat the same night.
their
_publishers. As a Specimen number of
REGISTRATION OF ASSURANCES BlLL.—This Bill,
...!"-..11_ periodical, this fourth instalment is really
gutted which was brought from the House of Lords 26th June last,
to every commendation, giving us, as it dues, has been printed, by order of We HORN of Commons,