New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-07
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THE BRITISH POETS Boston; Little, Brown n Co.
Newly ok: James :. Dicterson.
The latest issue of this beautiful edition Of
"The British Poets consists of the Poetical
Works of Shelley in three volumes and of
George Herbert in one volume. An original
memoir of Shelley is furnished, containing such
facts as were omitted in the biographical notes
By bis wife "ether from a natural reserve or a
very pardoDable delicacy." With regard to
Sheleys domestic relations, which exercised
sach decided Influence on his life, the writer
gives the following facts and comments:
1t Is little odd, considering Shelley's opinions
about marriage, that he should have been married
twice to bis first wife. After their return from Grena
Green the ceremony was performed again at tuck
field in Sussex. For time he seems 10 have led
a rather mi. ratory life We find him for time al
Ktswick where he became acquainted with SOuthey,
for wbose poetry he had at this tine an extrayagent
admiration; then in Dublin projecting histories OF Ire
land which result in a small political pamphlet now n
recoverable: then in the Isle of Man, "a kind OF Al
sstia sacred from the foot Of baili and last IN aes
whence he al pears to have come to London again.
The results OF this marriage were two children,
daughter and a son, and a separation The cream
stances of the disagree Lent between Shelley and his
wife have never been cleared up Perhaps u would
have been quite noble if Shelley had continued the
martyr of a youthful misstep nsteat OF making hls
the victim OF notions about mafrlA4c III WHICH
there is DO evidence that she shared However this
NAV be- be made himself acceptable 10 Miss God
win dauehtr Of the novelist and Mary WOstone-
craft that she consented 20 eOpe with hum to Switzer-
land in July lsl4. They crossed to Calais IN an open
boat rot without danger Of being lost Mss Clare
mont went with them. She also was a deacOness IN
lie Church of the Elective Atiimtes and Lord Byron
bav Joined tie party became the mother of the Al
leera mentioned in his will This however seems 10
have been on second visit to the Continent the fun
tive. having meanwhile returned for short time To
England This last continental tour occupied but a
Il W months, during which the northern part OF laly
Was ysited. 60
shelley came back TO England again, bringing with
him child by his new connection, aud went 10 BAN
But now was to come the terrible recoll which almost
inevitably results from an aitemp 20 oeun an en.le
single man. However the brain may philOsophizei
the heart remains loyal 70 It's traditions, AMI though
Mrs. Shelley NAV lave been capuyates with the doc
rre OF attractions while il drew her husband 20 her
she was not preI AIRED for the liberal application
OF il which drew him away. No theorzing can
swteion deseriOu; and the unhappy woman, dl5en
clauted Of the dream and orsaken by thu substance
,ougLt shelter in death.
The lovers of Shelley as man and poet have done
wi at they could 20 palliae his conduct in this mat
ter But uestiou OF morals as between man and
ETY. cannot be- reduced 20 any Individual tehda
however exalted. Our pGrlsity for the man only
licttcEs our detesation OF the error. Inc greater
Sielev's geuiue. he nObler his character AMI ln-
pulses 50 much The more startling the warning II
We make our own incinatiOus tie measure OF what u
right, We must he the sterner in curbmg them. A
WouaI's Leart l. too delicate thing 70 serve az ful
cTum for the lever with which man would oyerturn
any sys.m. however conventional. The misery OF
tie eltctye-aniiy scheme Il that men are not chem
zeal suhst6pces and that in nine cases IN ten the force
OF the attraction works more constantly and lasungy
upon the woman than the man. There Is no stronger
argument aeans' il than the Memoirs OF Mary VOL
stoLecrsfi. The Mormon pOlygamy Il no hing more
than plant from the same evil seed sown II Oe,rI
soil and j. an attempt 10 compromise between the
b. her instincts II mankind organized in Their ms Il
tuuons and the bestia propenstes Of seusualzed 10
diyiduGs.