Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

and "Madoc," will ever immortalize Southey, and his "Tale of Paraguay," will not lower his fame. Hogg is the most unequal poet now existing. He is often sublime, and often ridiculous; and thirty lines cannot be quoted from his "Queen Hynde" that do not contain something beautiful, and something to put the risible muscles in motion. If his friend Sir Walter Scott would deign to correct his works, there is no doubt but he would become popular.

The prevailing characteristic of the poetry of the two last years is, that it is too feminine. Indeed most of the writers of this class are at present of the weaker sex, and the popularity they gain induces others to imitate the puerilities and luxuriances which are their worst faults. In the productions of Mrs. Hemans, of Miss Landon, and of Mr. Alaric Watts, there is a continual straining after delicacy, which in a little time "palls upon the taste," and can scarcely be redeemed even by the beauties with which they abound. A beautiful woman is never mentioned but as a "lovely thing," and the "blue skies" of Italy are the continual objects of adoration. Love too is the only passion ever described; "banks of flowers" are ever present; and "thoughts too deep for tears" may be found in every page. This might easily be amended, and it is to be regretted that many of our best poets should be spoiled in this manner. The talents of Mrs. Hemans and of Miss Landon are very considerable, and Mr. Watts's productions have been sometimes mistaken for those of Byron.

Of the hundreds of inferior poets, who are continually offering their sonnets and addresses to the Moon, (or to the public instead of that luminary,) Wade, Barton, Wiffen, and Bailey, are the most conspicuous. Wade is a new aspirant, but gives strong prognostications of genius. Barton and Bailey are above the mediocres, and Wiffen tolerable. But there are others claim ing stronger attention than these Montgomery and Clare. The former is rather among the list of bygone poets, but his late productions in the "Literary Souvenir" have directed general attention to him, and he is universally acknowledged to soar above many of his companions. Clare is a wonderful self-taught genius, and superior to Bloomfield.

197

We are conscious of not having enumerated a tithe of those who "strike the lyre;" but their number must plead our excuse, whilst we hasten to the TRANSLATIONS. Lord Levison Gower's "Faustus," from the German of Goethe, and Ballads from the same language, are deserving of much attention; though the latter are not so bold and animated as Lockhart's Translations of a similar nature from the Spanish, which are by far the best of the kind our language can boast. Bowring's "Anthologies" are deserving of commendation; but he only exposed his weakness in endeavouring to compete with Lockhart in Spanish Ballad-Literature. Rose's "Ariosto" is the most literal poetical translation ever made; every word is exactly rendered without the least change to suit the rhyme or the caprice of the translator, and Wiffen's "Tasso" is a clever work. Neither of them is yet, I believe, completed. Blackwood's Magazine abounds in excellent translations from the German and Spanish. Amongst prose translations Wilhelm Meister, Roscoe's Italian Novelists, and the Devil's Elixir, are well executed; but the latter was not worth translating.

We now enter on NOVELS, the department of Literature which is at present the most cultivated and most popular. To praise the "Author of Waverley," would be but "to gild refined gold;" we will, therefore, pass on to his countless herd of imitators, Galt's "Spaewife" and "Rothelan " are infinitely inferior to his novels of the present period, and by far too rambling, discursive, and unconnected. His knowledge of the pathetic is also very small indeed-in these two last works there is not a single scene of any excellence in that point. One of the seven sons of Mr. Roscoe is reputed to be the author of "The Cavalier," Malpas," and "The King of the Peak,"-three excellent romances of the historical kind; but he has not published a new work lately: we hope it is not for want of encouragement. "St. John's Town" is also a tale abounding in interest and powerful sketches of character. The American Novels of Cooper, namely "The Spy," "The Pioneers," "The Pilot," and "Lionel Lincoln," are all in imitation of the "Wizard of the North," and far superior to other transatlantic

[ocr errors]

works

193

Present State of Literature.

works of the same kind, especially "The Spy," in which the characters of Captain Lawton and Doctor Sitgreaves are depicted with both truth and humour. "A Peep at the Pilgrims in 1642," although inferior to these, is creditable to the author.

The attention of Novelists seems lately to have been directed towards Ireland. "The Eve of All-Hallows," "The Adventurers," and "Thomas Fiz - Gerald, Lord of Offaley," all relate to the ancient state of that unhappy country. The former by Matthew Weld Hartstonge, Esq. is dull and ridiculous; and one of his characters, Sir Patricius Placebo, seems to have been borrowed from a little novellette, entitled "ShanO-Neale," which possesses considerable merit. "The Adventurers" I have not yet read. "Thomas FitzGerald" is very poor, and the author so utterly destitute of invention, that he has implicitly followed history in almost every case but the making of Lambert Simnel captain of a band of pirates.

Tales of the O'Hara Family," and "To-day in Ireland," with "O'Halloran," relate, on the other hand, either to the present time, or to a very recent date. The two former are almost equally good, and merit in a great degree the public approbation. The latter is by no means equal to them. Besides those I have enumerated, scores of others have lately seen the light, which your limits would not permit me to name.

TRAVELS are in abundance; but though some are interesting, the elegance of Dr. Clarke is wanting in all. He would render even the dullest scenes amusing; but the present race of voyageurs are only tolerable when they cannot avoid it; nevertheless, Lyall's works on Russia are deserving of purchase. Cochrane, who travelled on foot throughout that vast empire, would, according to general opinion, give the publick an interesting book; but, alas! his account is as dull as the "London Directory," and is a mere narration of the places he visited, save in a few scattered parts which are worthy of extract. Holman's "Trayels are rather extraordinary, the author being a blind man; it was probably this circumstance that pushed them on to a second edition; for they are mediocre enough.

[Sept.

MEMORIALS. So must I entitle those works which are devoted to an account of the conversation and manners of a deceased great man; such as Boswell's Johnson, and Medwin's Byron. The poet of the "Corsair" has had probably more books already published about him when dead than when alive. It would be a commendable speculation to collect all the valu able information they contain into a volume. It is to be lamented that no complete edition of the Works of the illustrious poet has yet appeared, or has any prospect of appearing; his poems having been published originally by four different booksellers, Cawthorn, Murray, and Hunt, with some other who first sent forth "Hours of Idleness They might easily meet and arrange the business.

Amongst many other memorials, there is a catchpenny in three volumes, against which the publick ought to be cautioned, entitled " Memoirs of Lord Byron," professing to contain Recollections from his Life, written by himself, which Mr. Moore so inconsiderately destroyed, defrauding the publick and the memory of his illustrious friend, to "please the ladies." The exculpation of Byron from the charges brought against him is now irretrievably lost, unless by some fortunate chance a copy remains in some one's possession, or Lady Burghersh retains sufficient recollection of the manuscript. The above work is a mere compilation from Medwin, &c. and is not sufficiently authoritative to authorize the scanty original particulars introduced.

LECTURES. Literature consists not in books only. Any thing in the way of original public recitation or reading has a claim to the denomination; as for instance, the Improvisations of Pisani, or (to come nearer) the Lectures of Birkbeck, Partington, and Macculloch. The two former are highly accomplished gentlemen, who devote a great part of their time and trouble to the promotion of the good of the operative part of society. To the latter it is impossible for those who have heard him to assign a similar high character.

THE STAGE is at present (we hope) at the most disgraceful part of its

This juvenile volume was printed at Newark in 1807, by S. and J. Ridge.

career;

1825.]

On the Repairs of Frindsbury Church, Kent.

career; for if it be destined to be
worse, it will become unworthy of
the notice of aught save the classi-
cal applauders of melo-drames. Not
a single author of any repute, with
the exception of Miss Mitford and
Mrs. Hemans, has of late years
turned his talents into this course.
Grovelling and neglected, the drama
is supported by splendid scenery
and gaudy processions. Alas! how
fallen from the days in which all
the existing genius flowed in this
channel. The tragedies are deficient
in force, energy, incident, or passion;
the comedies are five act or three act
farces (for it is long since a five act
comedy made its appearance); and
the farces abound in “brilliant re-
partees of chairs and tables," thread-
bare puns, and thread-bare situations.
Well may we say of the stage, with
reference to its present and its for-
mer state- -Quantum mutatus ab illo.
I have now, Mr Urban, run through
the most popular branches of modern
Literature. A few still remain, which,
with your permission, I shall hereafter
notice, when perhaps some additional
remarks will be made on those already
mentioned. Yours, &c.

Ω.

"E. S." (page 6), is mistaken in a few particulars. "The Hive," a work of exactly the same plan, preceded "The Mirror" by at least a dozen numbers. "E. S.'s" supposition that "The Indicator" was the origin of all, is not well-founded, as Mr. Hunt's work was on an entirely different plan. His statement also that it was sold for more than two-pence is wrong-two-pence was the price, but each number contained only eight pages.

Mr. URBAN,

SUCH

Sept. 13. UCH of your Antiquarian friends who have visited that noble monament of early English architectural skill, the Keep of Rochester Castle, will no doubt recollect Frindsbury Church*. It is in good faith a visible church, and from it a fine view of the adjacent city may be taken. The building, contrary to antient custom, does not stand due East and West, the altar being much nearer to the South. It consists of a nave, and one aile on the South side. At the West end is a massive tower in three stories, with

* See a view of it in vol. LXXIII. p. 901. -EDIT.

199

narrow single light openings in the taste of the 16th century, and is terminated with an octangular slated spire of no great height. The South aile had two windows curtailed of their arches by the lowering of the roof, an alteration too common in country churches. The East end of the aile possessed a mullioned window of three lights, its weather cornice resting on decayed corbels carved into busts. The tracery of the East window was destroyed. The North side resembled the South, except in having an attached modern room communicating to the Church through a Pointed arch. The nave and aile are separated by three plain Pointed arches resting on octangular columns. The chancel is divided from the nave by a plain circular arch. The impost cornice is a fine specimen of Norman moulding in relief; it consists of a strong course of double billet moulding, below a series of interlaced arched fillets. On the East side of the South pier, attached to this arch, is a niche with a circular head covering,-I presume a holy water basin. These particulars are the only remains of the original edifice, built by Paulinus Sacrist of Rochester, within thirty years after the death of the memorable Gundulph. The pulpit and altar screen of the Church are modern. The font is large and octagonal, of a reddish stone, bearing a letter on each face, and almost a counterpart of that at St. Nicholas's Church in the City. But the most curious part of the Church was the ceiling of the nave. Some benefactor had gone to great expence to construct a ceiling, which, however at variance with the style of the Church, was in itself an elegant and handsome object. In the centre were three cupolas in a line with each other, their inner surfaces painted with representations of sculpture in relief, angels, statues, &c. in pannels, the intermediate spaces coloured in imitation of a sky. The flat part of the roof was painted in compartments representing, between architectural decorations, an azure-coloured sky, sprinkled with gilt stars. The whole had been painted with great taste, and must at its construction have been an expensive ornament. When I saw the Church in May 1822, it was in the state I describe. The ceiling appeared in excellent preservation, and the building in good re

200

Frindsbury Church, Kent.-Church of St. Mary Aldermary. [Sept.

pair. An inscribed board, at that time attached to the South side of the Church, was as honourable to the literary abilities of the parochial authorities, as the repairs of which I am about to speak, are to their good taste; the said board offered a reward of three guineas, and set out with this learned preamble,Whereas there has been a great number of times depredations committed," &c.

I visited this Church again in the early part of last month. A thorough repair had lately taken place, and never was one more disgraceful to a parish ever witnessed. The windows have

all been altered into uniform dwellinghouse windows, with a sort of square headed weather cornice, to give a sort of "Gothic character;" the few remaining sweeps in the tracery of the former windows, which had escaped the hand of other repairers, are entirely knocked out, and lay scattered about the church-yard; and, above all, the elegant ceiling whitewashed!!! The walls of the Church have not escaped this operation, and the whole edifice now possesses as cold, uncomfortable, and miserable an appearance as could be desired in any country church, and which is increased by the ground glass panes in the woodensash style, defying all cheerfulness, and diffusing that dull soporific air over the building, so foreign to an edifice of this description, at least one that has escaped the hands of the innovator.

To whom, I would ask, are we indebted for these elegant repairs? I will not charge a parish carpenter or mason with having superintended the work, the hand of a London architect is plainly indicated in the whole of these tasteless alterations. A care

less survey of the building, performed perhaps by a deputy just set down by the coach to look over the old building, and whose genius seems to have aim ed at giving it the air of a barn. Of course "whitewash the ceilings" stood at the head of the survey, and the orders were performed, while the proper guardians of the building supinely suffered the havoc to proceed without an effort to resist its progress. Was no humble artisan in the village to be found who would have repaired without altering? Even a mason from the tunnel of the adjacent canal could not have performed the repairs in a worse style.

In the church-yard is a low stone pedestal, with a sun-dial inscribed on its surface, and near it is set up a rude piece of stone, rough from the quarry, in the situation and about the size of a grave-stone. One side is painted, black, the other white; whether there is any thing uncommon relating to this stone, except its appearance, I am not informed.

Mr. URBAN,

E. I. C.

Sept. 5.
EVERAL houses having been

SEV
the East of the Church of St. Mary'
pulled down in Watling-street, to
old church has been brought to view.
Aldermary, part of the crypt of the
It runs North and South about fifty
feet, and is in breadth about ten feet.
and one at each end. The roof of the
There are five arches on each side,
crypt, of which there are no remains,
appears to have been vaulted and
groined; the ribs, five in number, and
springing from their imposts between
each of the arches, and finishing in a
corresponding manner at the opposite
side. The key-stones of the arches
are large, and perforated underneath,
as if to form the capitals of pillars,
which they greatly resemble. From
the tops of these key-stones other ribs
probably sprung to the vaulting. On
the East side, about 15 feet from the
crypt, were dug up some pieces of
clustered columns; which the work-

men said had once been a door.

The Church of St. Mary Aldermary was rebuilt about 1518, under the auspices of Henry Keble, grocer and Lord Mayor, and it is probable that the crypt

of the Church then erected is now

brought to light. The great Fire of London having destroyed this buildby the munificence of an individual, ing, the present Church was erected Henry Rogers, esq. who, influenced by motives of piety, and affected by the loss of religious buildings, left

5000l. to rebuild one church in the City of London; and his lady, who was his executrix, made choice of St. Mary's. It is of the later order of Gothic architecture. The handsome steeple was erected with the produce of the duty on coals; the altar-piece was presented by Jane, relict of Sir John Smith, Alderman; and the pews only were provided at the expence of the united parishes.

Yours, &c.

A. Y.

Mr.

[ocr errors]
« ZurückWeiter »