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MINOR NOVELS* in
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POETIC ASPIRATION.*
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seventeen years' duration—a time &f-&reat abundance and strict administratioa of . justice ,. . His defeat and death were the commencement of great troubles to Scotland , -foreign Avar , ancl civil commotions . The conflict between disputed successions and the deadly strife of hostile races ,- continued , until thje reig-h of David , who inaugurated a . new po licy , which lasted happily for about two centuries . The first enforcement of tithes is traced to Iris , reign , and to him Scotchmen are indebted for the very foundation and framework of their national establishments and parochial divisions . Every lord ' s in an qr "became a mrisli , _ and the church divided the respect of the people with the castle . ± ne subject of monasteries is also treated with favour . They were suited for their time , and the vices that crept into them were due to an afterhistorical mistake to
a « -e . We are also warned that it is an spent of the extermination of a people by an invading- enemy . No such general and violent destruction has ever taken place . An error o £ Mr . Hallam ' s is also corrected—namely , that : the early burghs ot England had no municipal administration by magistrates of their own chtice ; there is now abundant evidence collected of burghal property in England before the conquest . Such towns as London , York , Liiicolu , and Winchester , full as they were of wealth and enterprise , managed their common affairs , their polite and internal economy , long anterior to that epoch ; It is also , wrong to deny the existence of common law in Scotland- ; but there is little of local and peculiar interest in it : The only facts to prove the existence of a peculiar Celtic law are connected with the institutions of succession ¦
and marriage . The chapters on the Scottish lang-uage and literature are excellent , as are also those on sculptured monuments and architecture . In a postscript the Professor tells us-that there has lately been discovered In the public library at Cambridge a MS . of the Gospels * - which bears to have belonged to the Abbey of I > eir , in Buchan . It contains , in addition , some portions and forms of church service ; and on the margins and blank vellum are entered a few charters and memoranda of grants to the church of Deir . These entries are more ancient than any extant Scotch chartnlaries . The discovery of this book ,, it appears , sets the whole discussion which excited the Scotch antiquaries of the List century on ah entirely new footing . The hope is expressed that the whole of the contents will ere long be made public .. . Different altogether in texture and quality , we associate with the above a new history iii relation to France- —a , biography of Henry IV ., by a lady who has frequently exercised her pen in historical reproductions . Miss Freer has had recourse for some of her materials to
unpublished sources , particularly MS , documents" in the Bibliotheque Imperiale and the Archives du 1 \ oyaiiine de France . The rhetorical style adopted carries the reader with ease over these descriptive and narrative pages , which it is but just to say have been compiled with evident cure and . diligence .
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A JNUjAT ana weu-toia story , representing ing ; , with-much spirit sind precision , is Jlademoiselle Mori . The heroine is a young canlatrice , Irene Mori , whose character is very cleverly drawn . There are also some vivid descript ions of papal oppression , and the state of public feeling in the year 1818 , when the heroic Charles Albert placed himself at the head of the general movement in favour of Italian independence . Before the Daion is also a tale of Austrian tyranny and Italian martyrdom . The authoress , wo are told in the' preface , was formerly a p > Hma donna at Drury Lane theatre ; but ill health
having since compelled her retirement from the stage , she expresses her . "intention of devoting herself Iienceforth entirely to literature . This work possesses sufficient merit to justify the authoress in issuing a second edition . . We now . corno , in duo course , to a series of tales by Agnes totrick-Innd ; We havo not space to enter into the details of thin elegant little volume . Suffice it to say , that it entirely justifies the former imputation of ttie authoress . We wish we could extend the same praise to Stephen Vugard , Mr . William Muclford ' a new novel . In fact , wo should udviso the reader only to open this book at midnight , in prdor that the horrors therein accumultited may tell wiLhdue effect upon his nerves .
In contrast ; to the above , we eriance at a pi'etty , refined , and interesting little tale , translated from the German , and entitled Step h / Step ; or , The Good Fight . The tone of it is religious , and we have no doubt that it will nieefc with the approbation of a numerous class of readers . . . . A series of American tales , entitled Stories of Rainbow and Jjiitilcy , arc also deserving of honourable mention . The same may be extended to The TVcaueSs Family . Alive ov Dead is the old story of missing relatives \ v \\ o , after years of absence , turn up in out-of-the-way plr . ee . % having in the interval become both opulent and enfeebled . Land Sharks and Sea Gulls is cleverly written and . well constructed , and . though a very old favourite of the public ,, is well deserving of the honour of reprint . The first number " the Poc / cet Novels , containing " Piffin the Philanthropist , " and " lly . Auui ' s Umbrella , " is well calculated , by the ability displayed in both Vj . ) e < , to procure ( ox fclus series of cheap , light literature , an extensive circulation . JLiehtenstein ; or , the Outlaw of Wurtemburg , is another added to the list of our numerous German translations , Tlie scen « is laid in the sixteenth century , and the principal personage who figures in . the ; drama i * Duke Ulric , whose struggles , and misfortunes are well kno \ vn to historical readers . The German stories are generally replete with thrilling interest , though they sometimes lose considerably in the translation . In the present instance , however , we can safely state that full justice has been done to the original by Miss Swanri . ¦ . A Life for a Life is a new and revised edition of a popular work .
* Mademolaollo Mvrlj a Talc of Modem Home . Two vole . John W . Parker and Son ; Before tho JMwii ; a Talo of Italy . By 'KaTh OlUOHTON . Second Edition , Two vols , Charles J , Skoot . Old JPriim < h ami Koto Acquaintances , liy AaNES SxiUOKLANi > . Simpkin , Marshall , and Oo . Stephen Du (/ anl ; or tho lilaoh Itooft ' ei Mouth . A Romance , by Wn .-LIAM Mudvohd . Ihomus Hodgson . Stop by Step ; or , Tho Good JTiyht . Prom tho Oforixuin of MAMA Na * IIUSIUS , ltichurd Bontloy . Stories of Bi ( , iiiloio and Ziu-bj / . By Jaooij Adhot-jp . Sampson Low and Oo . The Wwtwr ' u 3 i \ imi . ljf , By the Author of " Dives and Lazarus . " Judd and Cilass . Alive or JPcadj A Tula of St . Crispin" v I ' arish ., , By Cuaki-bs HoWKJUfc . JamoB Black wood .
fraud Sharks and Saa Qtills . By Cajptain GtAHCOOK , ll . N . Knight and Son . ' Tho Z'ovkri Navola . Illustrated by Oluvrlos Bennett . VT ,. Kent and Oo ; ¦ - friohtonstvln ; or tho Outlaw of Tfurtcmbor // . From tho Gorman of Huuff , by , Kjmnqn j \ l . Swann . James JUuckwood . A Ufa for a Ll /' o . By tho Author of fl John Halifax , Gentleman *" Hurst and * Blaokotc .
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THE spirit of poetry , like every other" immaterial essence ,, never dies , but only changes its form . In days when education , was Confined to a few , only the greater minds of the nurnber attained to expression in verse ; but in these days of general cultivation , the more sensitive intellects , though neither very lofty nor very wide , seek to relieve their feelings by indulging in metrical com position . Of these some are nir ; rely Singers , others are Poets ; but the shape is comparatively of a , inen : ir ; r type , and tlie power proportionately , sniall . ; The spirit , as it gains in universality ^ must content ' itself . with' minor agenoies , but in these , as in the major , alike merits recognition and encouragement . From the little books of verse , accordingly , that modestly clainr a place for a while on out library table , we select what seem the more worthy tor a few reniarks . .. .
~ The autlipr of Uriel demands attention as an ambitions aspirant , of a metaphysical turn of mind ; but should have beeii caiefal , Wo tliinlc , not to have * taken the' title of another man ' s work as his distinctive appell ition . A poem entitled f / rW wis published" ' with the second edition of Mr . Heraud ' s Descent into Hell- — a : ' po . ein of snob a specu ' ative character , as might reasonably have marked itself for a peculiarity , anil been protected against i . mieation . Little it might have boeu expected tli . it a second poet would have adopted the same title , sr . ul in . i'le a similar use of the theme . Nevertheless , so it has been ; and the second Uriel has been succeeded by
other similar efforts , in which with much poetical feeling a hasty and faulty execution has been shown . In The Re-Burial we find an attempt made the very opposite of tho poetical in spirit , — -however like it in its apparent embodiment . The title page has a saucy air , with it . i mottoes in Greek , Latin , Hebrew and English ; and its theological theme , adopting Ewald ' s view of the Resurrection , is , to say the least , a bold one . The subjective interpretation of such , a met ,, whether in prose or verso , must turii out most unsatisfactory ; but in the latter , it seems to us an utterly hopeless and impract i cable " attempt . Certainly , the author of The Jle ~ BurialhtLS conquered none of the difficulties that beset such a task .
Mr , Wilson bus turned his attention to n : ore practicable themes ; and has , moreover , a decided lyrical vein which might be worked to advantage . But bis verses h ^ ve not always the polish without whioh no verse can enjoy immortality , lie sometimes thinks loftily , and feels intensely ; but he is not careful to express himself with grace and ease . His car , too , is deficient , and his rhythm is not seldom * unmusical . Mr . Stigant is capable of a broad view of life , and Luis strong convictions both political and religious ; but he is occasionally rough , and should cultivate an eur for the hannbny of nmnhoi' 9 . Tlio character of liis mind is strength , rather than grnoc . Let him emulate more elegance ; and , in another volume , the chance 3 nre that he will do something that people will like to read .
Mr . Preston , on the contrary , has a finish in his verses which shows a correct tasto . Whether his geuiiis be equal to his powers of execution may ho doubtful . The verses , at any rate ; arc smooth , and the rhymes for ' tho most , part accurate . We must , however , uwait further proof , ore wo can pronounce upon the du ^ roe in which he possesses " the vision and the fnoulty divine" ¦ , Mr . Smith has judiciously collectod some dramatic scenes for tho ufioof thoso who prftctiaa private theatricals , a d for that purpose w « r . nn recommend his volume . " M . U . " has written an illustrated child ' s book , conlniuing nu fJinusing metrical story , in which dolls arc tlie heroines . Le t those works l ><> ncooptcd , equnlly with the above , as ovidencos of a gnnornl poetic aspiration . It ccrtainly ' nmounts to n socinl feoling , nnd is tho great reason why more poetry is written thnn rend . Tho prnatice must ncuds bo concurront with a diffused taste , which requires tho highest excellence before It permits any 0110 cuudidalo to claim precedence of tho multitude pf competitor !? .
* Tho Itolhtrhd ; or , Tho , &rauo hi Galilvo . By tho Author of " Uriel . ' ( Johu Chapman •) Ctathorod Toqothor . Pooms . by WiX . WHiSON , ( Longirmiifl , G . L . & I } . ) A Tltiion of IJm'ba ^ ssa , andothor I ' ooms . By ) VM . Stioant . ( 01 mi > m ( vn andHMI . ) « Jialladsand Metrical Sketches . By Georcih V . I ' RKSTON . ( AV . Kont andOo . ) , Dmmatlo Scows from Standard Authors . Vor 1 ' rtmto itoprcsotUaCioit . and Schoo l * , Hy ( jiiAUliKS \ flhMKM Bm » t » , Moutludife , ) Tho Volt's l * lu-nhfor M . U . ( Uurton iuiu < Jo . )
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March 3 , 1866 . ] The Leader mid'Saturday Analyst . 211
Minor Novels* In
MINOR NOVELS *
Poetic Aspiration.*
POETIC ASrIHATIOX . *
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), March 3, 1860, page 211, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2336/page/15/
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