Star.
London, England, 1831-04-22 00:00:00

FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 22, 1531.

LITERATURE.

Some of our cotemporaries, we Observe, continue to
Review on the first day of the month, or—as it is marked in
the Literary Kalendar—Magazine-day--all the Monthly
Periodicals—thereby showing that they possess a Royal
way to their Contents, to which few of their Readers can
make pretensions. To review a book by the perusal of the
title-page, is, we can assure our readers, not unusual ;
and we can conscientiously assure our Readers, likewise,
that such has never been our practice. We are sometimes
tardy in keeping pace with the current literature on this
account.

Frieser's Ntwasehee.
This spirited alineanny pesente is its currant number the was
massy staff Wee as the Iliaway bilk* stabs den seatendic,
ad rounik, *passe aspilay ainediak *bids hay
ft previa*. In Watanabe Yamada- Sylvenue Übe,
the samba commenem: with a kind of Cararabliwinpitais, sr a emeg
setting forth all the pod qualities of Reyna. The poftdcal
sand-
meats of the llopeine are now moderate. The lest tad& "on Par-
liamentary lieform," although not quite in accordance with our views,
contains some acute fawning on the subject. Montgomery's
" Word" forms the subject of the second. We think this
writer, whatever degree of merit he may possess, Is criticised into too
much importance. We conceive that be has poetical merit of a cer-
tain kind—that it is now and then sufficiently original, but very
unequal. He is a kind of Irvine among poea--has genius, but wea-
-1 slonally mixes up his sublime with the bathos. " thaat's Notes on
Byron's Cain" have been the subject of a long and well.reasoned me-
taphodeal comment on the important subjects discussed in Lord Byron's
bold drama.

" Some Passages in the Life of an Idler," chap. V, continue most in-
teresting. The author unites genius with learning, and with both evi-
dently a practical knowledge of life. "On Alchemy and Akhymists,"
contains curious information on an obscure subject. " The Poetry of
the Sandwich Islands," is a most amusing article, and contains many
lucky bits, in humorous poetry. " The bleans of lessening the West
Indian Distress," is an Essay by Mr. John Oak ; with " Mr. Galt on
Slavery," we completely differ ; but his present papa Is very ingenious,
and worthy the attention of all West India Planters.
The Asiatic Journal.

We never peruse this journal without deriving from its columns
much valuable instruction, which we can find no where else; and that
constitutes, we think, the highest encomium which can be paid to a
literary production at this period. This is the age for writing all our
old knowledge over again, for cutting our dramas down to farces to suit
a modern audience—and our folios down to duodedmes ; for hashing
up, as the cooks do, the dishes left from the tables of our predecessors.
When we get any scraps of knowledge, spick and span new, as solid
sustenance for the present race, we cannot but value it the more. In
the first article, we have an abstract of an answer to the Edinburgh Re-
viewer's attack on the East India Company's Charter—a tract of
which we afforded our Readers' a copious abstract some weeks ago.
—The Third Article, on the " Penal Code of China,—
presents quite enough of ingenious cruelty, and semi-barbarous refine-
ment in absurdity, to remove any of the false impressions as to the wis-
dom of the Chinese, which was so much boasted of by Voltaire and
other writers about hat rime. " The origin and meaning of the Bud.
dhu Prayer," and the Paper "on the Chaldaic Astronomy," are
papers of research, no doubt curious, but too recondite for the majority
of readers. " The remarks on Indian History," contains an seats
critique on Dr. Oleig's History of India. The article la Western
Australia conveys more apparently important and generally judiciously
selected information an the cspabilides for human amnion, to be
found on the shores of Now Holland about the Swan River, dish we.
recollect to have penned in any other place. The nest is aa Ammo
of Mr. Bume's very amusing work on Catch and Slade."
From the preceding. of Literary Societies, we could with much satis-
faction make some extracts, but must confine ourselves merely to mention
that the address to the Agricultural and Horticultural Society of New
South Wales, by the President, flir James Jamison, gives a curi-
ous mop d'ail of the improvement and discoveries going on
in that distant part of the globe. I t appals. a new unoccupied world,
opened for the convenient receptionist the swarms from crowded Europe.
Wise are they who have spirit to emigrate to: these more favoured
shores, where the lend is free to shoos who have industry to make It
fruitful, and whew, there is enterprise fitted foe all the varieties of
genius-

[ESA RETH.

This most beautiful lake so interesting to believers in the
gospel, where our Loam walked on the bosom of its waters,
and performed miracles on its borders, is thus described:
This, as we learn from the sacred volume, has passed under different
appellations, such as the " Sea of Galilee," from being in the middle of
Galilee ; the " lake of Genesareth or Gnenr," after a country or city
of that name : to these were added, these Sea of Cinneretb," after an-
other town upon its western shore ; and of " Tiberias," from another
city similarly situated, which was founded by Herod, in honour of the
emperor Tiberius. The last-mentioned of these places is often alluded
to by Jewish writers, because, after the taking of Jerusalem, there was
in it a succession of 'Hebrew judges and doctors till the fourth century.
According to some accounts, also, a Hebrew translation of St. John.
and the Records or Acts of the Apostles were kept here. I apprehend
it to have been anciently one of the fenced cities, and comprehended
ander the portion of territory assigned to the children of Naphtall. It
was endowed with peculiar privileges, was the metropolis of Galilee,
and the first town of the conquered country, called Deapeke from its
consisting of ten cities.
The picturesque sheet of water hers, to which my attention was prin.
cipally directed-, although, strictly speaking, a lake has received the
names of the " Sea of Tiberias," and the " Sea of ()alike." It is for the
sake of distinction from it, that the ocean is called in Scripture the
" Salt See ;" the Jews. indeed, wee in the pewits of giving the name
of sea to all great collections of water. In the like manner, as I for-
mally noticed, the Jordan is called a river, although merely a strum;
and the water covering the destroyed cities is named a aro. It is an
object of the highest veneration, and appears to owe its cs gla to the
waters of the Jordan, which flows from Labancia, a mountain at great
altitude, capped with snow, and not unlike, when seen from a distance,
Ben Lomond,' in Scotland. Viewed from a height, the water leeks,
amidst the surrounding mountains, like an immense reservoir. hens
the northern part being covered with lava and volamic 111111.1611119 it bin
been conjectured that t lake was at one period the maser ef* wakens.
Through it the Jordan pushes its course, which is saseltal by a siren
current, and, leaving it at the southern extremity, k 'Obtusely loses
itself in the Dead Sea, which may be calculated at eig* ar perhaps
one hundred miles distant. This toSea" is frequently to sud-
den commotion., from the winds that rush down the openings in the
n ountalna that encircle it.

A variety of opinions have been entertained as to the length, breadth,
and circumference of this water, which it Is singular bait never, at any
one period of time, been accurately ascertained, but merely conies-
tured from eye.sight; nor could any information that might be relied
on be obtained from any of the inhabitants. So far, however, as could
be judged from a view of it, I should be inclined to think it may be
about five miles in breadth, and from twelve to fifteen in length. I
bathed, and found it most refreshing after the overpowering beat of the
preceding day, and the torment which I bad experienced in every part
of my body from rennin. The water is perfectly fresh, and used by
the inhabitants to drink, and for every culinary pumate. At the
moment I stood upon its edge, there was not the slightest breath of
air, so that I could at a considet.ble depth distinctly perceive the bot.
tom covered with beautiful pebbles. Of this lovely lake it may be said
tbat—

It
Woos me with its crystal view;
The mirror where the stars seal mountains view
The stillness of their aspect, in such trace
Its clear depth yields of their fn height and hue.
Although It is undoubted that, dating the ministry of our Saviour,
vessels or boats sailed upon this lake, not only to convey penmen to
and from the towns on its borders, but for the purpose of Sabin, and
of commerce; yet I could not possibly diacovet a vessel or small craft
cf any description whatever when I passed along it, although 1 made
most particular enquiries, in the view of aiding and Wog upw Its
sacred waters, and being desirous of craning over to the other side.
It abounds In Hish, which are most plentiful in its northern
parts, where it b deep An.ong these, trout are most common, and
caught in small nets, which an not used, however, fa boats, u valid
have been the case had these existed ; but the Sabana throw these
In by wading with them to a Ibort distance from tin shwa. It is al-
moot unnecessary to remind the reader that this as sot its asisilibser-
hood were places where many highly grand seeil tithe
power of Cause, and other important events, = iisplays
it was ben
that our Lotto, to avoid the pressure of people who bed locked to bet

PftwE 71).

the Weed of GOD, embarked in • ship. and addressed them as they
stood thick as pebbles on its margin, and had afterwards proceeded to
different plates about the shores on Trends of mercy. The miracle was
also wrought of the quantities of fishes, which the fishermen were unable
to draw forth in their nets ; and he also walked upon the waters as on
the solid od under the cloud of night, when his disciples
were cowl and buffetted with the waves, cheering them with
his glorious presence, whilst at his voice the raging storm fell calm ?
He spoke, and it was done. On this lake it was also, that he chose
his earliest disciples, these humble fishermen—who, in obedience to his
call, went after him to be fishers of men ; in other words, they should
convert mankind how sin and misay to righteousness and happiness:
and how truly did their success in theb new rocatioo make gpod his
wools, et *high, indeed, the miraculous draught was an emblem. The
weadeifil palmation of the sublime doctrine of the gospel by math
:lir !sly meet inadequate
m Instruments, affords the strengost evidence
*rime akin, which it seems no less marvellous to me bow
thejayees eon fee a single momsat reeist.—lse hem*
tiledlieth and Semerls. Jose peiltsbelL
-
• 1%.7
TRINITY COLLIOV, DUBLIN.
A singeder etiolation is, we understand, under the consideiation of
the Board. It is to compel ex-Sizars to pay all the fees to which pen-
sioners are subject—in short, to violate completely, if not the letter,
the spirit of the statutes towards that meritorious body. This from the
present Provost—his first act, too—and board, surprise us not a little.
Arc Shari so wealthy. is the University se poor that it must levy a
new, heavy, and most oppressive tax on them, at the very moment that
say emoluments they may derive from College have ceased ? No decent
reason can be assigned for it, and we trust the good feeling and prudence
of the board will see the necessity of pausing before they commit an act
of complicated injustice. It has every feature of offence.—lt is ex post
facto—it is opposed to the plain spirit of those statutes on which the
University is founded, and it selects as Its object the very class which
oo every ground should be exempted from any new exaction. The
public will look strangely at this attempt from so wealthy a corporation,
which following the regulation made at the change of currency, that all
the disbursements of the College should be in the Irish, and all its re-
ceipts in English currency, would surely give a notion amain cupidity
that would we know be unfounded.

this tax as we have said is under consideration, that is, it was in.
tended to come into operation should the reform bill be carried. We
do not we confess believe that the board would attempt to frustrate the
I intentions of the legislature, and by a bye-law render nugatory the ex-
' tension of the franchise. Is it because Parliament proposes to restore
their usurped rights to the scholars, that the board will set them-
selves spinet the legislature. and for that purpose pass a most
unjust regulation? Such a power they possess, but not the slightest
moral right, and we trust the design will be abandoned. It is un-
just in itself, disrespectful to the legislature, and injurious to the
character of the University. Besides it will affect very many who an
derive no benefit from the reform measure. If we w.. even to
admit that the college is justified in mulcting a scholar in a
pecuniary way for the political advantage which he will dales hem the
bill, is it not most cruel to impose such a tax on the Catholic Sim who
is prevented front enjoying either the pecuniary or political privileges
attached to a scholarship. Again, it is well known that some excellent
classical scholars are often disappointed at scholarship examinations by
mere accident. The scansion of a single line of Tame or Euripides,
may throw out a candidate incomparably superior in classical attain.
ments to his fortunate neighbour ; although he may know ten times
as much of metre as the examiner and his successful competitor toge-
ther. The provost is as well aware of this as we arc, and yet we have
been assured that he seriously contemplates such a byelaw as we have
described, which, although perhaps intended for Sizars who may be li
-
come scholars, will affect the other two classes, to which we have ad.
mkt], most seriously and oppressively. We should rather expect frost
• man of Doctor Lloyd's end mind, a removal of those amiss
distincttons by which aims are, to the discredit of the Uol-
rushy. still locenreeicnocd. —Freeman's Journal.