Star.
London, England, 1830-03-01 00:00:00

THE REPROOF OF BRUTUS: A POEM.

LONGMAN: AND EFFINGHAM WILSON.

In this production, we meet again the author of a very
ingenious and interesting essay—" The Revolt of the
Bees,"—already honourably known to the public. He
has used poetry in this case, only to be the vehicle of a
high philosophy—no less than the Owenian principles of
society. The book is divided into seven parts, which we
have scarcely time or space to enumerate—much less to
analyse : in the first, however, of these parts, we are
presented with the Vision of Brutus, and his Reproof
which is addressed amid the ruins of the Coliseum, in
Rome, to the Aristocratical Absentees of England. The
poem is conducted in dialogue. BURDETT, PEEL,
HUME, HORTON, SADLER, HUSKISSON—and the sys-
tem of free trade—are all criticised in this first part, and
the errors in their several doctrines and advocacies—
chiefly as they bear against the proposed reconstruction
of society—are exposed and reprehended. Take, as a
sample, PEEL and BURDETT:

What unremitting pains has PEEL bestovid
To strengthen justice, in the penal code !
Now mends the juries, then improves police,
And wonders still that all our crimes increase !
Watching the surface, sees no deeper cause
In youth neglected and unequal laws

In ponderous speeches, lightly sprinkled o'er
With apt quotation and with classic lore,
(Tho' scarce one Attic spark inflames his soul,)
Declares the evil lies beyond controul :
As if there lurk'd some wonder-working elf,
Hints that the evil soon will cure itself !

The flaming Patriot, sinking in the west,
With chasten'd ardour seeks ignoble rest
No more demands Reform in lofty tone—
Degenerate
senates claim him as their own.
And why, Bu RDETT, w renounce the people's cause ?
Is Britain blest with more benignant laws ?
Have artisans, or those who till the soil,
Ampler rewards, or mitigated toil ?
When abject misery lifts the languid eye
As Wealth unwieldy proudly passes by,
Do Pity's accents soothe her poignant grief?
Has Want corroding found a prompt relief ?
Is Hope with heavenly Charity combin'd,
To calm the anguish of the troubled mind;
Or Poverty, with all her tribe of crimes,
Banish'd by Faith in these more righteous times ?
Go search the poor-house, search the prison too,
And loathing wretchedness in mercy view ;
Nay, as you pass each crowded street along,
And mark the wants and vices of the throng,
Say if these scenes no patriot voice demand
To drive Oppression's ills from out the land ?
When list'ning senates on thy periods hung,
And echoing walls with loud applauses rung ;
With Tully's grace and more than Tully's fire,
In Roman grandeurflow'd th' impetuous ire;
Oh, then how eminent thy virtue shone...
The people's champion brav'd the storm alone !

In the second part, we have the Political Economists
MALTHUS, MACCULLOCH, MlLL—Population and
Competition—BßOUGHAM, ELDON, DENMAN, SCAR•
LETT, EIRKIIECK, and THOMPSON. Of these, we can
only afford to give MACCULLOCII I

ATTICUS.
What painful sounds, In Caledonian twang,
Grate on the ear !

AUTHOR.
MACCULLOCH'S t harsh harangue ;
That cold disciple of a wavering school,
Where Truth and Error hold alternate rule ;
Where Truth to-day in native grace attracts,
To-morrow Error in a maze distracts
Ingenuous youth, and leaves th' inquiring mind
Perplex'd by fallacies—by doubts confined.
Fair Science' name this totering school adorns :
Presamptuous bout ! the futile claim the scorns ;
Though turgid sophistry their themes may swell,
Immortal Truth alone with her can dwell.
Say, wouldst thou right from wrong with skill divide ?
With modest steps take Bacoir foi thy guide,
Who truths unerring by induction draws—
Secure, defines unchanging Nature's laws.
Oh that the temple rear'd to simple Truth,
To give at least one college to our youth
Where man unprejudiced a brother own'd,
Whatc'er his creed, and where no bigot frown'd,
Should soon with error's wild discordant note
Deficient judgment in its seers denote !
Retire, lilaccuLtocu ; from your toil desist,
Nor bring to happier climes your native mist
Add one rare blunder to your gross mistakes—
A Scot returning to the land of Cakes !

In part 111. we havo the Poets—SHELLEY , CAMP-
BELL, SOUTHEY, WORDSWORTH, SCOTT, WILSON,
COLERIDGE, and MOORE—and in some of these pas-
sages our author transcends himself. The appeal to
SCOTT—though simple, and very often not strictly poe-
tical in its diction—will be much admired by all who can
appreciate such a noble summons, and the high and preg-
nant philosophy which pervades it. And with this ex-
tract—we regret to say—we must close our first notice
of the Reproof of Brutus :

AUTHOR.

SFr Wawriest, leave to those of weaker pow•n
Th• Ignoble task of wasting vacant hours ;