The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-03-06 00:00:00

STANZAS

ON CONTEMPLATING THE HEAVENS AT MIDNIGHT.

BY MRS. CORNWALL BARON WILSON.
Tell me, ye brightly-burning orbs of night,
'Now shining down on our terrestrial sphere,
if to Tour reahns the snarl' takes it flight
=When it throws off it mortal covering here?
Does it ta!:' wing and to the skies aspire,
'And breathe forth songs in heaven to some melodious lyre ?

Tell me, moon, that sails't in ether's space,
Art THE some world, peopled with creatures free,
Where lered spirits shall meet face to face,
LifLin_ he veil of immortality ?
Shall we know, ev'n as on earth we're known,
And shall affection clasp hearts made again its own ?
Tell me, ve clouds, that o'er the azure heaven,
Float like the streamers of some bridal vest,
When, by the breeze of midnight, ye are driven,—
•Say, do ye canopy some place of rest,
Some pea'eful bourne to which the spirit flies,
To join tile lost of earth and re-unite its ties?

Ye CANNOT answer ! and it is not meet
Such mysteries should be solv'd by us. Why should man,
With blinded gaze and travel-wearied feet,
Attempt to penetrate what angels scan
With heavenly eyes but dimly?—let him bend,'
Adoring what nor sense nor sight can comprehend !

LITERARIZ NOTICES.
Blackwood's Magazine. March, 1838.
This number opens with a very elaborate article on
the subject of " The Practical Working of Trades'
Unions," in which the mischievous tendency of illegal
combinations is most clearly and satisfactorily demon-
strated, and in which the recent trial of the Glasgow
cotton-spinners is caniidly examined. The remedies
Which the writer suggests for the evils engendered by
trades' unions are, the establishment of a powerful and
well organised police force in all the manufacturing dis-
tricts, and an increase of the power of summary convic-
tinn'in all caves of combination riots. '• Guizot and
Milton" is a very able critique. The sketch of "'niers"
conveys much valuable instruction. The discrimination
of character which it evinces is truly astonishing: " The
Picture Gallery" is not quite as dull as formerly. It
contains an excellent tale under the title of " Love at
first S'ght ; or, The Fish out of Water." " Crystals
from a Cavern" are exceedingly beautiful gems of
thought. The imagery in some of them is of the most
glowing description. " Political Parallels" will be pe-
rused with considerable interest. " How to avoid fight-
ing .a Duel" is a very ingenious paper, abounding in
original ideas. " Canada and Ireland" is a political ar-
t:We of great power. The " Hymn to Ceres" and the
S.anzas on returning from Iona" are the only poetical
papers in the present number. The former is a very
spirited translation from Callimachus, and the lattercon-
tains soine very happy historical allusions. " The De-.
spatches of the Duke of Wellington" afford materials for
the closing article in Blackwood,, in which ample justice
is done to the character of " the Duke."

Fraser's Magazine. February, 1883.
This is a very brilliant number. We open upon
" Hone -Linic," which contain some admirable illustra-
tions of Chinese epic and dramatic poetry. "The Ana-
tomy of Gaming" is another of those expositions of the
" Art of Cheating" from the pen of Nimrod, (Mr. Ap-
per' " Halla-crown's worth of Cheap Knowledge"
eou,-Airis a review of fifteen of the cheap periodicals of
the day. This article contains many sound reflections
on the literary taste of the lower classes. There are
some %ery amusing and piquant remarks in. " Captain
Orlando Sabertash on, Manners, Fashion, and Things in
general." His observations on " Dress" display a very
refined and gentlemanly taste. " The Doctor" is a sin-
gular medley, very uninteresting to the general reader.
can't think how it is!" is not only an amusing but a
very instructive tale, conveying a lesson which, if at-
tended to, may save many families from ruin. The
sketch .and portrait of. Sir 'William Molesworth are
highly graphic. " Recollections of our last Parish 11,1i-
nister".do not altogether please us. We do not agree
with the writer that Melville is a plagiarist. We could
ias,:,,rime scores of passages in other authors, presenting
aei ,er resemblance to each other than any of the ex-
tra-, :rom Chalmers and Melville, which resemblance
word cl no means justify the .charge of literary theft.
" 1,1,2 I.ellow-plush Correspondence" this month con-
tains skyne very dainty " Skimmings from the Dairy
of Georaze the Fourth." " Homeric Ballads," by Dr.
Magin,,, will afford a rich treat to the classical scholar.
"Murphy, the Meteorological Quack," is a smashing ar-
ticle, Election Petitions and the Grenville Act"
is acapiLai paper, proving to demonstration the partial
conduct of the Whig-radical faction.

• Dublin University Magazine. March, 1538.
In this number we hare a larger share than usual of
poetry, some of which is of a very superior order. The
following are the several pieces :—" Sonnet—[erne;"
" The Rubi—a Tale of the Sea ;" " Translations of
Turkish Poetry ;" "Sonnets—by Dr. Mackenzie;" and
" Sonnets—by Coul Goppagh." The paper on " Lord
Mulgrave and his Special Reporters," though brief, is
extremely caustic. The continuation of " The Orphans
of Dunasker" increases in interest. "The Fortunes of
Sir Robert Ardagli" is a tale of much tragic interest.
The paper on " Canada" is an admirable review of the
circumstances in which the recent insurrection originated.
It is characterised by a very forcible style. " The Ord-
nance Survey" possesses more of local than of general
interest." " Richard the Rake—in three Snatches;" is
a very spirited sketch of a character which is but too
common in Ireland. The " Memoranda of the Month"
contain a variety of strictures on " Persecution for
Conscience-sake"—"The Trades and Mr. O'Connell"—
"Papal Usurpations"—and " The State of Ireland."
On the whole, this is a very excellent number.

Tait's Edinburgh Magazine. March, 1833.
This number opens with an article on " The Aboli-
tion of Negro Apprenticeships," which contains some
very strong ex parte statements, by no means entitled to
implicit credit, but which we have no space for noticing
in detail. " Old Aunt Anne, or the Pension List," has
some good points. " Politic Tactics" is very rich, but
rather' uncharitable. " Sketches of Life and Manners,
fiom the Autobiography of an English Opium-Eater"
are very interesting. " Defamation of the Famous in-
famous" is very just in its remarks. " Marion Camp-
bell—a Highland Story," is well worth the price of the
magazine. The incidents are of a very exciting charac-
ter. The' review of the " Diary" illustrative of the
Times of George IV." is justly severe, though strongly
tinctured with a hearty, democratic hatred of monarchy.
The " Literary and Political Registers" contain their
usual variety of notices of recent publications and con-
temporaneous events.

The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British
and Foreign India, China, and Australia. March,
1838.

The literary articles in the present number are more
varied and interesting than usual. " The Review of
Eastern News" continues to give a bird's-eye view of
the more recent events in the history of our oriental
possessions. The short paper on " The Marquess Wel-
lesley" is an admirable vindication of the character of
this great man, in opposition to the animadversions of
the British and Foreign Review. " Selections and Re-
flections" embrace short criticisms on " Hesiod, as a
Painter of Nature," and " Statius." The review of
Wilkinson's " Manners, and Customs of the Ancient
Egyptians" is extremely interesting to the lover of anti-
quarian studies. " The Vow of Sunjagta" is continued
in the present number of the Asiatic. The translator's
notes are particularly valuable. " The Persian Princes
in London" is a temperate critique upon the recent work
of Mr. Baillie Fraser. " The Adventures of Frank
Hartley" promise to be a very interesting tale. The
'• Visit to the M:shmee Hills in Assam" contai.s some
veryimportant geographical information. " Dessar—
an Episode in the Romance of Antar," is another speci-
men of oriental literature. The miscellaneous informa-
tion contained in this number is as interesting as usual.

Reminiscences from the Early Life of a Lutheran
Clergyman. By Frederick Strauss, D. D. From the
German, by Samuel Jackson. London: Smith, Elder
and Co., 1838.

This. work will be perused by the serious Christian
with considerable interest, and will not fail to edify the
reader. It contains a transcript of the author's ileas and
reflections at some of the most striking eras of his exis-
tence. The occasions which gave birth to these recol-
lections of his early life are thus enumerated in the table
of contents :—" The Eve of the Vernal Festival"—" My
Autumn D.,v"—" Christmas"—" The Change of, the
Yeer"—" The Lord's Supper"—" The Confirmation"—
" The Entrance into Ofiice"—" The Marriage Jubilee"
—"Midnight"—"The Death bed"—" Family Devotion"
—"The Week-day Evening Service"—"The Epiphany"
—"My First Sermon"—"The The Birth day"—" Easter
Morning"—" Ascension Day""Whitstintile"—" Mi-
chaelmas"—" St. Thomas' Day"—and "The Ordination."
The style and diction of this work is chaste and correct,
and, the. language of the heart is unreservedly spoken
throughout. Several passages struck us as being very
eloquent.. The volume will form a very suitable present
to,young persons. The author must not be confounded
with the notorious infidel of the same name, who, on
account of his anti-christian sentiments, has recently
been diimissed from the office he filled in the University
of
.Tibing--J..he views embodied in the work before
us ariflirlthlota )evangelical.
3Attiezr.or..,katiercise.s. By Mr. Thornborrow.
%tO4ti•.l ar ae • Liverpool, Marples and Co.,
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,at this useful manual of instruc-
edition. The respected author

.has made considerable additions to the original work,
-which have materially enhanced its value as a book of
introductory Latin Exercises. Simplicity is the leading
feature of these exercises—a feature which cannot fail to
recommend them to the notice of the teachers. They
will also be found of great use to those who are labour-
ing to acquite the knowledge of the Latin language
without the assistance of oral instruction.

Logic in Miniature. By the Rev. Dr. Vale. London,
• Groombridge, 1833.
This will be found one of the most valuable compen-
diums of instruction on the art of reasoning that ever
emanated from the press. It is trulf designated "Logic
in Miniature." It forms a complete multum in parvo of
logical rules. The illustrative examples are chiefly taken
from scripture. This little work might, with great pro-
priety, be introduced into the higher classes in schools,
as an introduction to more elaborate treatises on the
subject.

Astronomy Simplified. By a Modern Astronomer.
London : Groombridge, 1833.
This will also be found a very useful school-book. It
conveys as much instruction on the sublime science of
astronomy as will suffice for ninety-nine out of a hundred
individuals, .and, we venture to say, more information
than is possessed by five out of every hundred of the po-
pulation of this country. The language is simple, and
the illustrations apt and intelligible.

COIV7'EMPORARY PRESS.

DR. APHALE AND THE IRISH EDUCATION

BOARD.

( From the Morning herald.)
Another letter upon the subject of the national edu-
cation system of Ireland has been addressed to Lord
John Russell by the zealous and indefatigable Dr.
WHale, titular Archbishop of Tuam.
We confess we cannot but admire the diligence and
zeal with which this bigoted dignitary of the Romish
church watches over what he considers the interests of
the religious system of which he is an appointed guar-
dian. We could wish that, without imitating the Irish
champion of the polcy of the Vatican in his fiery into-
lerance of sentiment and virulence of language, the ap-
pointed guardians of the Protestant church, copied him
in his zeal and diligence to maintain his own system of
faith and church discipline in all its integrity. The Ro-
mish bishops are seldom remiss in the vigilance that
watches for, and the activity that seizes upon, every fa-
vourable occasion to advance the interests of their own
church.

The tide of popery which has been let in upon the
institutions of this country by the bill of 1829, having
formed a confluent current with recreant whiggery,
threatens to sweep away the foundations of our protest-
antconstitution. As to the "securities" which Welling-
ton and Peel provided for the protestant religion, they
have turned out, as all thinking people supposed they
would be, mere mockeries. Dr. M'Hale will not hear
of even such protestants as Dr. Whately and Mr. Car-
lile providing instruction for Roman catholic children,
and yet no less than ten protestant bishops, in support-
ing the bill of " catholic emancipation," voted for al-
lowing Roman catholics not only to legislate for the edu-
cation of protestant children, but to legislate for the
protestant church itself!
Since that bill was passed ten protestant bishoprics
have been suppressed in Ireland, to every one of which
Roman catholic bishops keep up their titular claim,
'awaiting the time when to the barren title they shall add
the substantial temporalities.
Dr. WHale says to O'Connell's truckling protege—
" Alas! it seems to be the fate of Ireland that no plan
can be devised for her improvement, whether it regards
education or the relief of the poor, that is not to be con-
ducted by individuals opposed to us by religious and na-
tional antipathies. For the education of the youth of
Ireland a board is constituted, in which the chief influ-
ence is exercised by two aliens in reality—in religion
and country—an English protestant and a Scotch' pres-
byterian." Here the cloven foot is most incautiously
thrust from the jesuitical robe of the Romish doctor.
Who does not recollect what an infuriate outcry O'Con-
nell and hie party raised against Lord Lyndhurst be-
cause of his using the word " alien" in a manner less
designedly offensive than that in which Dr. M'Hale has
used it ? Every English protestant and every Scotch
presbyterian is an alien in the eyes of the Archbishop of
Tuam. The " Sassenach," liberal though he be, must
not meddle with so sacred a thing as the education of
Roman catholic children.

In a former epistle the most rev. doctor declared that
the Pope alone must be looked -to as the supreme direc-
tor of the education of Irish Roman catholic children.
The celebrated " appropriation clause" was to confiscate
a portion of the property of the protestant church for
the education of Roman catholics, which education, it
now appears, was to have been exclusively under the
direction of the Pope and Romish priesthood, in which
no alien protestant or presbyterian was to be allowed to
interfere. Dr. M'Hale has demolished the whole system
of whig delusion on this subject.