The Press. — 1857-02-07 (London, England)

FEBRUARY 7,1857.  Mr. M'lloughall deserves higher praise. His thoughtful and slow-running verses are very pleasant reading. " Summer Scenes " (15 are very effectively finished, and the metre excellent. We would pause longer in our remarks did the volume contain anything really distinctive. It does not do this ; though the author is better than a mere rhymester, and is evidently a man of some power.  Of a long poem entitled " Vernon, a Tale of the Sea" (6), we are sorry we can say nothing favourable. We can only wonder that it was ever written. A single specimen will explain the character of this book better than any criticism:— In those events that we will now relate, The grossest inconsistency is seen; Mere lapse of time averts the sentenced fate Of criminals—makes Justice kick the beam. Mercy, so pond'rous in the legal scale, Smiles upon whose accessories in guilt, Swung in derision to the public rail; They murder'd were—ur blood of these was spilt. Some sixteen winters may have pass'd away Since general commotion wildly stired Our sweetest, p'raps our largest, colony ; And sound of cannon's roar was often heard; And armial men in frequent motion seen, Some richly dress'd with epaulettes of gold, In coats of red, with facings some of green ; But buff and yellow, too, you might behold : But there were others differing from these, Though not the less they seeni'd on mischief bent, Their garments torn perchance exposed their knees, Or in less delicate positions rent.  Mrs., or Miss, Philipson—we have not the pleasure of knowing which—writes very pretty verses (7). The volume is dedicated to her sisters, and its contents are just of that nature to please a cultivated domestic circle. If the authoress is not a real poetess, she is at least a kind and amiable woman ; and the gentle play of the affections is not always a bad exchange for the loftiest, but frequently less agreeable and natural strains, which proceed from more ambitious aspirants. " Ugo Bassi " (8) is a tale of the Italian Revolution, written principally in the octosyllabic metre, evincing considerable facility in composition, and much of that refined sentiment which culture generates in minds of delicate organisation. These two qualities united will almost always succeed in the production of verses so like poetry as to deceive uncritical readers, and which even those who are more exacting may skim without displeasure. Such is the character of " Ugo Bassi," which we dare say will find many readers, and a certain number of admirers.  " The Rural Parsonage " (9) is the work, we should suppose, of an educated gentleman who has amused his leisure hours by committing to paper the pleasurable sensations which men of taste experience in a country lite. His mind is well stored with rural images, and he hits noted, with the scrutiny of real affection, the various aspects of Nature through all the seasons of the year. His descriptive epithets are often very happy, and his versification is generally smooth. The following phrase struck us a 3 singularly picturesque :  Though pleasing is it even now Among the farms to roam, Anil watch the steady steering plough Rippir the level loam.  " The Pleasures of Home " (10) is a poem written in the style of the " Pleasures " of " Hope" and " Memory," and displays greater mastery of the heroic measure than we are accustomed to meet with at the present day. This is its principal excellence; but it is in our opinion not a small one. In point of poetical ability all the foie• last upon our list are nearly on a par; but there is no metre so well adapted to carry off mediocrity, and to gratify by sound alone, as the heroic. Not that " The Pleasures of Home " is not full of much that is tender, and graceful, and elegant; but at the present time these words have come to mean almost as little as writing  (5) Pnevin nnd Songs. Ily James M'llougludl. London: I tall, Virtue, and Co.  (U) Vernon. A Poem. By 11. Bate. London: linli, Virtue, and co.  (7) Era. A Romance in Rhyraz. 13y Caroline Giffurd Phi• I pion. London: Mozon. •-'  '(8) Uw Bassi. By :..ikeran7.l. London : Saunders and Otlyr. (ii The nurol Parsonage. By at Clergyman. London: I fall, Virtue, and Co. (10) The Pleasures of Home. By the Boy. John Anderson. 'outrun : flail, Virtue, and Co.