The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-06-04 00:00:00

ii, iterature.

POETRY.

WHERE IS HE NOW?
written on hearing of the death of the Ilon. R. B. Wilbraham,
late 111 I' for South Lancashire.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE ISLKS ARE AWAKE."

0 ! heard ye that knell ,s it boomed on the ear,
And saw ye the mourners round ‘Vilbraham's bier !
What a c,iarige Iron' the day, when—dis4nsted at length
With the self-styled Retort-a rs—ye rose in your strength
And called upon him, as a leader, to burst
The fetters ye wore. and had vaunted at first ;
When he came at your call, and with pleasure and prld:?.
Conducted your battle at Egerton's side !
Bow bright was the wreath that ye pliced on his brow !
"low proudly he bore it !—and where is he now?

St. Stephen's had advocates noisier by far,
More fond of, more skilled in, the long wordy war,
But none more distinguished for high-minded zeal
In all that affected his native land's weal,
end none of more deep and continuous thought
To trace the right line, and to prom:it the right vote.
He clung to a arty, but that w,s, he saw
The party of old English order and law;
His promise was sacred, his word was a vow;
Ye loved him, ye tru,ted.—And where is he now ?

Ye feel—but your sorrowing time must be brief,
Your sympathy checked e'en with Skelmersdale's grief,
Though the light of his house and his name is extinct,
And the brilliant chain broken by wh ch ye were linked 1
A duty is yours to perform, that will show
Respect for the de-,d more availing than woe ;
Choose a man to tits PRINCIPLES zealously true,
One worthy of k:g,e, ton—worthy of you—
And ye pay the best tribute your fortunes allow
To Wilbraham—Ah! no—not Wilbraham now !

THE WATER-DRINKER.
(AS RECITED BY PROFESSOR GREENBANK.)

Oh ! wat-r for me water for me,
And wine for the tremulous debauchee !
It cooleth the brow, it cooleth the brain,
It maketh the faint one strong again ,
It comes o'er the sense like a breeze from the sea,
All freshness, like infant purity.
Oh ! water, bight water, for me, for me
Give wine, give wine to the debauchee !

Fill to the brim I Fill, fill to the brim !
Let the flowing chryctal kiss the rim !
For my hand is steady, my eye is true;
For 1, like the flowe s, drink nought but dew.
Oh! water, brikht'water 's a mine of wealth,
And the ores it yieldeth are vigour and health
So water, pure water for me, tor me
And wine for the tremulous debauchee!

Fill again to the brim! again to the brim!
For water strenetheneth life and limb :
To the days of the aged it added' length ;
To the might of the strong it addeth strength;
It freshens the heart, it brightens the sight,
'Tis like qu t.ting a goblet of morning light.
So, water, I will drink nought but thee,
Thou parent of 11, alth and energy !

When o'er the hills, like a gladsome bri 'e,
Morning walks forth in her be,,uty's pride,
An I, leading a band of laughing hours,
Brushes the dew from the nodding flowers;
Oh ! cheerily then my voi• e is heard,
Mingling with t at of the soaring bird,
Who flingeth abroad his matins loud,
As he freshens his wing in the cold, gray cloud.

But when Evening has quitted her sheltering yew,
Drowsily flying and weaving anew
Her dusky meshes o'er land and sea—
How gently, 0 sleep, fall thy poppies on me !
For I drink water, pure, cold, and bright,
And my dreams are of heaven, the livelong night.
So, hurrah for thee, Water ! hurrah, hurrah !
Thou art silver and gold, thou art riband and star :
Hurrah for bright Water ! W ter ! Hurrah, hurrah !

NOTICES.

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine.

We do not remember to have perused a more interest-
ing number of this well-conducted periodical than that for
the present month, whether as regards articles of a literary
and amusing or of a political and instructive character.
The first paper," Traditions and Tales of Upper Lusatia,"
besides a curious disquisition on " Fairies," in every Eu-
ropean country, contains a number of traditions, each con-
veying a moral, we have introduced for the first time to
the English reader in these pages, " The Fairies Sab-
bath," or the story of the beautiful and virtuous " Maud,"
the stonemasons daughter of Lusatian Mountains, by
Ernst Willkomm, an elegant German writer, a well-told
and truly beautiful legend. In the next article, " The
Diligence," there is art affecting story of a widow lady in
Yrance, and another of a deserted wife—furtherillustra-
tions of the mysteries of life in Paris. The paper " Who
wrote Gil Blas ?" is learned, but somewhat lengthy. The
able writer sets the question at rest, proving (to our satis-
faction, at least) that Le Sage was not the author of that
celebrated novel, but that he merely compiled and ar-
ranged it from one or more Soanish M.SS., of which he
had obtained possession. The most important article is,
we think, that entitled "Africa—Slave Trade—Tropical
Colonies." In this the author (Mr. M`Queen) describes,
from the best recent authorities, that large and prolific
portion of the African continent, south of Abysinnia and
Sea of Bab-el Mandeb, (from the equater to 13° north
latitude, and extending from the coast Ajan far to the
westward,) describing the several countries and tribes,
rivers, productions, &c. He arrives at the valuable con-
clusion that much of this territory may be made available
for British enterprise, not only to the advancement of our
commerce to a high degree, but by civilising and christi-
anising of the natives in their own country, be the surest
means of abolishing the slave trade. We strongly recom-
mend a perusal of the valuable facts and suggestions of
this valuable writer. The "Narration cf certain Uncom-
mon Things that did formerly happen to me, Herbert
Willis, 8.D.," is a well wrought narrative of strange
events connected with, and immediately preceding, the
Revolution of 1688. It is told with delightful simplicity,
and the characters and incidents are full of the deep and
spirit-stirring interest of romance. We have also a re-
view of Captain Jesse's, "'1 he Life of George Brumtnell,
Esq.," (otherwise " Beau Brurnmell,") embodying, we
should think, the very pith and marrow of that able and
entertaining piece of biography. " The Actual Condition
of the Greek State," at the end of the number, gives a
full account of the revolutionary movements in Greece in
Septerni-.er last, by which that weak monarch, Otho, was
compelled to accede to his subjects the long-promised
Constitution. The author points ant the principal barrier
to the prosperity of that country—the inadequate nature
of the tenure of the land, and the iniquitous manner in
which it is taxed ; and points out by what steps, through
the measures that may be taken by Great Britain and
France, the evil may be removed. There are some other
good papers in this number, as well as two admirable
pieces of poetry by B. Simmons, but we have not room
to particularise. We shall furnish some extracts next
week.

An Address on tlee Position of the Jews in Great Bri-
tain, with reference to their Literary, Political, Civil,
and Religious Condition. By Moses SAMUEL, of
Liverpool.
The author of this pamphlet, which is written in a spi-
rit of kindliness to all denominations of Christians, is an
enthusiastic admirer of Hebrew literature; and after no-
ticing the gratifying efforts now being made by his brethren
in various parts of the continent of Europe to revive and
cultivate the works of ancient Hebrew poets, historians,
and philosophers, strongly urges upon his fellow-Israelites
in En_Jand similar efforts to promote and cultivate He-
brew and Rabbinical learning. " I hope," he states, "to
see this Jewish and philanthropic feeling manifested
amongst our brethren in Grert Britain ; that Jewish or •
thodox periodicals will be properly patronised with money
and talent. I h-ed not who may be your editors, and
whether of weekly, monthly, or quarterly journals. En-
courage them ! By increasing the matter with versatile
talent, set-king for, and finding some, who may aid in your
glorious cause of true reform and earnest regeneration,
you will increase the interest in your publications ; and by
increa-ing the consumption, you will have to offer them at
low prices. Happy days, when the sons and daughters of
Judah, after prayers and a comfortable repast on Sabbath,
forgetting all trouble and anxiety, will read their own pe-
riodicals; the composition of their own flock, breathing
feeling in every line responded to by every Jewish heart.
flebrew poetry, Hebrew biography, Hebrew learned con-
troversy, Jewish history, pieces of Talmud copiously ex-
plained in good plain English, for the aid of students
struggling with and stumbling over apparent obscurities,
will, I hope, be comprised in our Jewish periodicals."
The author, after urging his views on this point with
much energy, states his regret that he is prevented at pre-
sent from contributing his quota to suolt a cause, owing
to his being engaged in an elaborate work, of 1300 pages,
the prospectus of which he purposes shortly to publish.
He next takes a view of the social and political position
of the Jews in this country, which he considers capable of
improvement, while he congratulates them on the recent
kindly feeling manifested towards them by their Christian
fellow-men in various parts. " The sun of liberty," he
exclaims, " is dawning upon us, and may, with God's will,
soon arrive at its meridian; the genius, the integrity, and
the philanthrophy of Hebrews being made manifest, must
shake the prejudices the world ; they will be considered
as men and as fellow-citizens." He strongly approves of
the introduction of English lectures into the Synagogue
in Liverpool, which were commenced some few years ago,
and have been attended with the hoppiest results, not only
here, but by the example being followed in other towns,
as well as in Jamaica, New York, &c. He thus alludes to
the desire manifested to convert the Jews :—" I cannot
conclude this letter upon our position in England, without
adverting to the great desire manifested by some of our
Christian friends to regenerate us according to their views
—to convert us to their faith. I cannot but suppose that
this proceeds from a good feeling, engendered by a con-
viction in their own minds of the truth of their doctrine,
and a positive injunction contained in their charter, to
preach up their mode of salvation to every soul through-
out the earth. Avoid polemics if you can ; but if you are
forced into the arena of controversy, argue mildly and
patiently. We live amongst a stirring, an enlightened
people, the Christians of Great Britain. Our entire si-
lence when questioned upon religion would be construed
into ignorance, whilst a pushing, meddling, provoking
fullness of zeal for controversy, would savour of presump-
tion."

Remarks on the Efficacy of iiiatico as a Slyptic and
Astringent. With additional Cases, mode of Exhibi-
tion, &c. Second edition. By Thomas Jeffreys M D
Longn.an and Co., London ; Grapel, Liverpool.'
The author of this second edition of a pamphlet,
setting
forth the valuable properties of the South American plant
"Matico" or " Piper Augustifohum,." states in his pre-
face that the fa, ourable manner in which his medical bre-
thren received the introduction of that p)werful vegetable
stringent, made known to them through the medium of