The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-06-01 00:00:00

THE REV. G. GILFILLAN'S LECTURES,

On Wednesday evening last, the'Rev. George Gilfillan,
of Glasgow, delivered the first of a course of six lectures
on " Modern British Literature," at the Mechanics'
Institution. There was a very respectable audience. He

ocaa La ect was or considerable importance, as pos-
sessing certain broad and general views of that very
remarkable phenomenon which was called "modern
British literature." lie might simply notice that the-
French revolution has precedence among the causes, as
having deposited that ground from which the more cha-
racteristic portions of the future literature have arisen.
He would name nationality as the first characteristic of
our literature. In 'the 18th c,entorv_

Lucy. WOUII.I 1111 a
little distinct nationality among the higher minds ; but in
Scotland, such men as Robertson, David Hume, Ferguson,
and Lowth, all lived among the flihabitants of Scot-
land—lived in, Edinburgh as if they did not
.belong to
-it. But there was wanted a man to spring from the
Scottish people—to be the interpreter between the lanes
heart and the intellect. Such a man was Burns. He
would at present simply point to him as the first specimen
of- that nationality which is the character of our litera-
ture. Various causes besides the influence of Burns
contributed to give our literature an air of nationality.
Just then there arose a man who, even more than Burns,
was the national spirit personified, who was fully qualified
to be the solis solenden of his country. In time for Scot-
land, Scott arose ; but the nationality of Scott did more
than revive the memory of our old Scottish glory. It
communicated to• every part of Scotland an interest not
before known. Scott not only produced a set of characters
who outvie others, but bas extended his influence to Ire-
land, England, and Wales,—created and strengthened all
in national literature. He has invested the whole land
with a reflective glory. His influences were at present at
work, and are melting down the nations of Europe, and
especially. Great Britain, into one ; indeed, as his influence
proceeds onwards, national peculiarities must disappear :
such he would compare to the cities of Pompeii and
Herculeneum, which had detailed not only the story of
a dead age, but even the manifest details of the manners
and customs of the people of that day,—strange, terrible,
and instructive lessons. The genius of Scott extended
itself throughout Ireland, England, and Scotland. There
was another characteristic of literature, and that was its
breadth, or rather cosmopolitanism. The literature of
Greece was proud, exclusive, contemptuous ; it gave the
name of barbarism to all which was not written in its own
language. The literature of Rome was disdainful of all
nations of its own high degree. The French literature
much resembled that of Greece ;—it treated all others with
qual scorn. It has always been the distinction of the
German that, while preserving a warm regard for its own
countrymen, it holds out open arms to every influence and
importation. He remarked again that simplicity is
anotker_ characteristic of modern British literature, not

simplicity of style. Towards the close of the last century
simplicity of style had -almost abandoned our literature
was capable of expressing the highest thought, and sub-
serving the loftiest purposes. This style had expired, and
before another arose to supply its place, there was an
interregnum, in which prevailed in poetry as well as prose,
a variety of turgid and bad language. Dr. Johnson, with
all his intellect fell into the fault himself, and not only
so, but drew the people with him. That style has gradu-
ally died out of the age, and they foe_nd in general, that
the style of present writing is distinguished by its beautiful
simplicity, as well as by its profound depth. There were,
however, several exceptions, and those of Roman mark,
since they include the names of Chalmers, Hall, Carlyle,
Burns, and Scott. Such men, like the great changes of
the luminaries of the day, speak a language, and climb a
path peculiarly their own. Earnestness is the last charac-
teristic of the age of literature which he would mention.
It was a certain intensity of purpose—a reverence and
respect ,Cor the religious principles around them. An
earnest man might be known in his very laugh ; an earnest
clown might be detected in his very jests. Think of that
weekly periodical called Punch : many read it to be
amused, and he must say the people of the age were the
better for it ; but that was only supposition. There was
something in its matter calculated to make them reflect
afterwards ; he spoke not of the political, but of its moral
power and purpose. That was to expose the giant hum-
bugs of the age, who strive to evade its pompous nothings.
The authors of the French encyclopedias had thrown
down a throne ; shook off the head of a king, but
the mirth of that periodical is milder, and under the
guidance of better principles ; it had a distinct moral
purpose,—a noble resolution. In higher places, its in-
fluence was beginning to be felt; and resuscitations ma-
nifest then]selves. Science, Literature, and Religion, were
closely connected together ; they figured themselves as
three sisters. The first was attired with simplicity ; her
eyes were piercing ; her hair was plain.; one hand rested
upon a terrestrial globe, the other pointed a telescope to
the stars ;—her name is Science. The second is more
gaily and gorgeously attired; her chin was radiant
with a sweeter dimple; her cheeks were coloured with a
deeper blush than her sister—one hand rested upon the
open pages of Shakspeare, the other holds an open book
which seemed to be written in sentences of gold—her name
was Literature. The third, a more matured and matronly
form,—

"Grace is in all her steps ; heaven in her eye ;
In every gesture dignity and love."
One hand rested upon the open book of God; and the
other, raised upwards, points out to all brighter worlds,
and shows the way ;—her name was Religion. These
were daughters in one family, and should yet be dwellers
in one home. Science shall stoop her cottage, and drop
her telescope before the throne of the Eternal ; Literature
shall there appear in all her majestic forms before the
creation of the heavens ; and Religion shall take her two
younger sisters by the hands, and clothe them with the
majestic robe of a superior nature, introduce them to the
presence chamber of the King of Kings, and the three-
fold cord which was not easily broken, would be united
with them for ever.