246 - Original Poetry. uncommon heat of the summer months. It is the damp and cold of the autumnal evenings, contrasted with the high temperature of the day-time, at this season of the year, which have the greatest share in the excitation of those severe, and sometimes serious, disturbances of the biliary organs, that are proverbially present when plumbs are ripe. To these fruits are bilious affections by far too largely referred. Our solic itude, then, to prevent the occurrence of such maladies ought to have at least as much bearing towards preserving an equality in the temperature of the body's surface, as to the ensuring an integrity in the articles of diet; although this last is a consideration of no mean moment, at a time, especially, when digestive derangements are so readily induced. The splendid dessert, and the slender evening dress, are both of them mighty auxiliaries to the baneful influence of autumnal vicissitudes."* It is well to see the complexion of modern works, tending more than formerly, to the important connexion between the external surface and interior organs in the production of disease; and the consequent care that is beginning to obtain among us in respect of an equable and warm clothing. It is presumable that improvements in this and other particulars will, in no great length of time, come to lessen the annual number even of our most formidable and fatal disease,---pulmonary consumption. The reader may consult, with advantage, "Johnson on the Atmosphere," in reference to the important connexion between the state of the skin and affections of internal parts. With regard to fruits, it is, in some measure, a work of supererrogation to dwell upon their baneful qualities when used to excess, or under some circumstances, when employed at all. On this head the public for the most part, is quite as knowing as the profession. A modern writer has, however, somewhat facetiously proposed, that some of the most noxious of these articles should be nosologically named, according to their more com [VOL. 4 Since writing the last Report, the author has been called to the death-bed of a fine youth, whose life, it is more than probable, depended on what was done, or left undone. in the space only of a few preceding hours. Seasonable evacuants had been neglected; the die was now cast; and, to order remedies in the present state of things, would have been equally inefficacious as Canute's commands at the shores of the sea: the tide of dissolution was flowing in fast and full, and visibly overwhelming the sandy fabric of the body by successive and irresistible waves! Let not the writer of these cautions be charged with a wish to hang a drawn sword over the heads of his readers, in order to force them into the circle of professional control. So far from being actuated by this feeling, he hesitates not to express it as his opinion, that there have, in some instances, been evidenced too much of dogmatism and display in dwelling upon the destructive consequences of domestic dabbling in drugs." A sensible parent may, by the seasonable use of preventives, often blight the buddings of disease in her offspring with perfect ease and safety; but there are at least two points at which powers adverse to life invade the body, where they are likely speedily and fatally to make good their lodgment, unless immediately forced from their holds by vigorous and practised resistance. To lose or misemploy a single hour in incipient intestinal inflammation, or commencing croup, is often to permit an individual to perish, whose existence might almost certainly have been preserved by the timely interference of art. D. UWINS, M. D. mon effects; so that the mistress of a table should have to address her guests somewhat after the following sort :-"Will your ladyship allow me to help you to a cramp in the stomach ?"--" My lord, I insist upon your trying some of that diarrhoea." Colonel, there is a fit of the gout at your finger's ends,---do help yourself to it." POETRY. From the London Literary Gazette. SKETCHES TAKEN FROM DOVER CASTLE DURING A STORM. I. THE COMING ON OF THE STORM. Threescore and ten I can remember well, Wan'd like the blush that warms a virgin's cheek, Till all was lost: then twilight drew her bood, Like a dim spectre, on the eastern hill, Hours dreadful, and things strange; but this sore The vex'd wave dung his silver crest on high-- night Hath trifled former knowings.-Macbeth. Whose flag has brav'd, a thousand years, THE went The sea-gull shriek'd on rapid-wheeling wing ---The steed prick'd up his ear, as heark'ning To far, far sounds---neigh'd, started, toss'd his head, HE sun went down in splendour---as he Then, bounding off, gaz'd fierce and spirited; A crimson glory streak'd the occident, ing, bright As ruby islands in a sea of light: There was a calm petition in his eye: ried on, The Moon look'd out unsullied: while I Athwart her path the vivid meteor blazed; She heard the rebel deep disown her sway, From Snowdon's altitude ;---the thunder In deep, persuasive, peals--so near, that Shook as it threaten'd a volcano's birth: In letters of unutterable light! - It seems as OCEAN, weary of repose, Convulsed with rage, the eye grows tremulous skill Had brought by spells some spirit to his will; turn 205 And there be some to whom this morning's sun Through exil'd years; and bade, all peril past, In wrath upon himself, and fiercely spurn Swarm That made all earth an Egypt! our Ally The sun of glory spotless and unshorn! ---cease, Yet fond, fair arms shall yield the clasp they sought-- Yea, wildly clasp,---but they shall heed it not! And all, but only thou, repose in peace : -- Now faint, and far, comes on the wail of death-- Heard as the tempest seems to stop for breath; A crash--a shriek-- the ocean is their grave! blast! Ob no---the cry of death is deepening fast; But Friendship is a holier name, It is a tie binds soul to soul Across the foaming main; Yearsere they meet their course may roll, But cannot break the chain. When prosp'rous days are gone and past, And who can look for more When bliss is fled, and woe and night The spark of Friendship burns more bright In sympathy with ours? And some have lov'd---as guilty these Through many a changing scene; It flies not with the days of bliss, But with each youthful grace. LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL: WITH CHITICAL REMARKS. ABookseller announces himself to be in per month are now sold of Mayor's well Mr. Southey has nearly ready for publica possession of a manuscript volume, con- known Spelling-Book, and Pelham's Lontaining the juvenile unpublished poetry of don Primer. our illustrious Thomson, in his own hand. Whatever may be their merit, they cannot fail to be received with great interest by the tion, Memoirs of the life of John Wesley, the founder of the English Methodists. It public, as reliques of one of the first of poets, will be printed in two volumes octavo, and whose good principles endear him to every be illustrated by portraits of Wesley and friend of liberty. This discovery, proves Whitfield. how many precious reliques still exist in private collections; and how numerous are the privations of curiosity owing to the apathy, ignorance, or want of taste, of their possessors. We need not repeat to our friends the pleasure which we always feel in becoming the means of laying such curiosities before the world; nor express our anxiety to be favoured with notices of such discoveries, and with copies of the originals, as often as convenient. A new novel, from the pen of Miss Anna Maria Porter, author of "The Knight of St. John," &c. will appear shortly, entitled The Fast of St. Magdalen. A Year and a Day, a novel in two volumes, is printing by Madame Panache, author of "Manners." The Iron Mask, a poem, is preparing for publication, by the author of "The Recluse of the Pyrennees." A novel, entitled "The Mock Moralist, or a Dressing for Dissenters, is announced. The Cumberland Cottager; a story, founded on facts, by Miss Broderich. 3 vols. 12mo. Miss Renon, of Landsdown Crescent, Bath, has furnished an elegant and interesting poem, in several cantos, under the title of the "Temple of Truth." A novel, in three volumes, entitled, "Lamioli," from the pen of C. F. Wieles, Esq. may be expected in November. Count Volney, author of the celebrated "Meditations on the Ruins of empires,” which have been popular in nearly all printed languages, has, for many years, been engaged upon an important work on History, It bears for its title, Modern Researches on Ancient History; and, having recently appeared at Paris, a translation, made under the superintendance of the author, is printing in London, and will speedily be published. The work is written in the highly-finished and philosophical style of Count Volney, and abounds in original reflections, made in a manner all his own; while it exhibits a learned comparison of ancient aucalculations. It may be satisfactory to mathorities, and the most curious chronological ny admirers of this writer to know, that, noder the Bourbon government, he has been called to the Chamber of Peers, and continues a member of the Institute; and that he lives in high respectability in Paris, enjoying vigorous health and mental energy at seventy. Count V. has also been lately engaged in revising a new edition of his "Ruins," in French and English; the latter being executed under his own eye, by the pen of the equally celebrated Joel Barlow. A philosophical romance, called Charenton, or the Follies of the Age, translated from the French of M. Lourdoueix, will soon appear. Charenton is a well-known estabIt appears, that no less than 22,434 children lishment near Paris for insane persons. Some are instructed in Sunday schools, in Mai ches- supposed inhabitants of it are the author's ter alone; and in the whole United King- dramatis persona. The work gives a view dom 550,000, attended by nearly 60,000 teach- of the political state of France, and of its ers. The progress of education may be judg- parties,---Mon. Mag, Oct. 1816. ed from the fact, that above ten thousand S there must be considerable interest the collection of Juvenile Pieces had of tions of the author of The Seasons, we Seasons," at the age of fourteen. Havcheerfully admit into the Literary ing been thus impressed with a belief Gazette the following communication, that the MS. collection contained a addressed to us by a friend to the pos- copy of the earliest of Mr. Thomson's sessor of an " Autograph MS. of un- pieces, as a matter of course I stated, in published Poems," written, as appears the article inserted in the "Observer" from this statement, by THOMSON. A of the 19th inst. every circumstance note or two will explain our sentiments that had been related to me without on the points most worthy of regard. addition or embellishment. Our correspondent says, “The first perusal, however, of the "This interesting collection of poems, MS. convinced me that an erroneous descended from Lord George Graham, impression had obtained, and even Miss brother to the then Duke of Montrose, Graham been deceived; and that the to his son, and thence to his Lordship's chief part, if not the whole, had been grandson, and at his death to his sister, composed after the young Poet had Miss Graham, an elderly single lady of passed the age of adolescence, and fortune, by whom, about a year since, others when nature bad finished her it was given to Mr. Goodhugh, its work and stamped him man. Some of present owner, who is about to publish his amatory pieces display the swelling the collection, together with such other original and interesting particulars as may be procured, illustrative of the subject. passions of an ardent youth of 18 or 20, rather than the puerile effusions of a boy of fourteen. The fifth of these pieces, as to the order of selection, is a "When Mr. Good hugh shewed the paraphrase of the 104th Psalm: a perMS. he told me it had been presented formance which the Poet delivered in to Lord George Graham by Mr. James the Divity School of Edinburgh, Thomson, when on a visit at his Lord- about a year after his matriculation, ship's house, and that the pieces had and of which piece both Mr. Murdoch been written before the Poet had at- and Doctor Johnson speak in high tained to the age of fourteen; which terms of commendation. This cer account was further corroborated by an tainly was not one of the boyish pieces, indorsement on the cover, stating, that mentioned by his biographers, that he ATHENEUM. Vol. 4. committed to the Яames! 2H 250 MS. Poems of Thomson the Poet. [VOL. 4 pro "The MS. is paged, and contains tween his first rude essays and the fifty-five folio pages; an Index is duction of those noble poems which placed at the end. From which cir- have immortalized his name.t cumstance it is feasonable to suppose, "The following little piece shews the that at whatever period it was written, preference given by the Poet to a counit contained, what the Poet conceived try residence : to be, the best of his pieces. THE MORNING IN THE COUNTRY. "The Biographers already alluded to have stated, that, doubtful of his When from the op'ning chambers of the East, po tical talent, certain critics, into whose hands a few of Thomson's first Essays had fallen, neglecting, or not having sensibility to feel the fire and enthusiasm of the Bard, dwelt only upon his inaccuracies, and those luxuriances which it is extremely difficult for a young writer to avoid. 66 * The morning springs in thousand liv'ries drest, Their painted leaves the unblown flow'rs expand, The herd his plaid around his shoulder throws, Grasps his dear crook, calls on his dog, and goes: Around the fold he walks with careful pace, And fallen clods sets in their wonted place; And sings some charming Shepherdess's praise. From the New Monthly Magazine, Oct. 1318. "Those pieces certainly were not his first Essays, more probably they were the identical poems now under revision, not one of which has appeared in any edition of Thomson's Works that I have seen; and it was very natural the poet should feel disgusted, not alone with the critics, but with those produc- This MS. carries with it internal tions which bad called forth their censure. marks of authenticity, and the pieces of "These events occurred whilst Mr. poetry are twenty-five in number, of Thomson yet remained in Edinburgh. which the following is a catalogue: viz. Upon the arrival of our Poet in 1. Upon Beauty.-2. Pastoral beLondon, to use the elegant phraseology twixt David, Thirsis and the Angel of Doctor Johnson, "he found his Gabriel, on the birth of our Saviour. way" to Mr. Mallet, at that time pre--3. One to his mistress upon receiving ceptor to his Grace the Duke of Mon- a flower from her.-4. Psalm 104 Partrose, and his brother Lord George aphrased.-5. The Yielding Maid.-6. Graham and it was from the grand- Upon Marle Field.-7. Complaint of daughter of the latter that the autograph the Miseries of this Life.-8. A PoetiMS. passed into the hands of Mr. cal Epistle to Sir Wm. Bennet.-9. UpGoodhugh. There is no evidence be- on May.-10. Upon the Hoop.-11. fore the world to prove that Thomson was patronized by the Montrose family. There is no tribute extant rendered them by the Poet. Hence the inference which I draw from these circumstances, is, that the MS. collection given to Mr. Goodhugh is one which he upon his arrival in London gave to Mr. Mallet, by whom it was presented to his noble pupils. Admitting this to be a plausible hypothesis, its production must have occupied the middle point of time be • Whence this certainty? There are now unpublished early poems by Thomson, in the possession of an individual near the place of his birth. If our memory does not deceive us, one clergyman has, or had,a collection so large,as to lead to some idea of its publication, about twenty years ago.-Ed. A Hymn to God's Power.-12. A Pastoral betwixt Damon and Celia parting.-13. A Morning in the Country. 14. A Pastoral upon the Death of This does not follow. "Winter" was written previous to this period, during the vacations, when Thomson retired from Edinburgh to Roxburghshire; where it is a current tale that he composed the awful picture of the man perishing in the snow, while on a visit to a friend among the wild hills about Yetholm, eight or nine miles from Kelso, and Ednam the place of his birth.-Ed. This example, we fear, is not very favourable. The grammatical errours in the third and ninth lines, are very obvious defects. Yetit is as absurd to imagine that any indifferent, or even bad poems of his composition, could injure the reputation of the author of the Seasons and Castle of Indolence,as that the mediocre pieces by "Lord George Gordon, a Minor," could hurt the fame of Byron,-Ed. |