The Edinburgh Literary Journal: Or, Weekly Register of Criticism and Belles ...

391
Thomas CAMPBELL, Esq.-To a Jewess of Altona,
ROBERT CHAMBERS-To Love-imitated from Horace,
W. S. DANIEL- The Condor of the Andes,
ETTRICK SHEPHERD-I'm a' gane wrang, a Sang,
Robert GILFILLAN_Song,
Song to the Ettrick shepherd,

357

CHARLES GRAY, Esq.-Song,

100)

John MaLCOLM-Retrospection,

213
A Scene Abroad,

377
Farewell to the Harp,
D. M'ASKILL-The Eagle's Feast,
LAURENCE M'DONALD_To the Sea,

385
The late James Park, Esq.--Imitation from Catullus
R. Shelton MACKENZIE-Hugo and Adelgitha, Vol. vii.
D. L. RICHARDSON-Ocean Sketches,
Thomas Top STODDART--A Sketch,

Fancies over a Lonely Grave,

The Days of Shakspeare,

113

Ode to a Sea Bird,

THE AUTHOR OF SUMMER AND WINTER Hours-- A Breathing

of the Country,

SUTHERLAND (the late' Alexander)-The Death of Bolivar,

RICHARD THOMSON, Esq.-The Festival of London Rialto, 309

P. F. TYTLER, Esq.-Song

DAVID Vedder_Stanzas written on the blank leaf of Lock-

hart's Life of Burns

342

William Wilson-Midnight Sketch,

GEORGE WINTER—To a Lady who regretted she had no Voice, 246

ANONYMOUS POETRY.

'The Æolian Harp,

100

Beloved, when I am dead,

Dreams of Sickness, by Gertrade,

Dryburgh Abbey,

Epigrams from the German,

170

Epitaph on two Living Characters, supposed by the Ettrick

Shepherd,

Fragment

of a Christmas Epistle to an oid Friend,

Lines on Sailing past Castle Toward,

Lord Julian, extracts from an unpublished Metrical Ro-

mance,

Vol. VII. 25

My Adieu to Edina, by Alfred,

Nova Scotian Poetry,

Panegyric on the Minister's Mare,

Resignation, by Gertrude,

Resolution,

Song, by J. R.
Sonnet, by Gertrude,

156

Sonnet, on the Sites of the Monuments of Playfair, Stewart,

and Burns, on the Calton Hill,

208

Sonnets, from the Italian of Felicaja,
Sunmer Evening Sea View,

314
The Falcon, on a Painting by Titian,
The Fate of Sergeant Thin,

113

The Memory of the Dead, extracts from an unpublished

Metrical Romance,

Vol. VII. 26

The Orphans,

357

The Past, by GERTRUDE,

314

The Royal Coronation, an entirely new ballad,

The Shipwreck,

The true and faithful Historie of the Travelis of ane Wealthy

Man, compilit by his Oe,

287

To Dorothea,

216

To-morrow, by GERTRUDE,

141

The Victim Bride, by GERTRUDE,

Verses on the Head of Galen on the South Bridge,

ORIGINAL PROSE COMMUNICATIONS BY

Aird (THOMAS)-The Poor Prodigal in the Aisle,

AUTHOR of “ An Autumn in Italy,"-Etruscan Cities, &c.

Visit to Volterra,

AUTHOR OF ANSTER FAIR-Anecdotes of Ferguson, Burns, &c. 384
CARRUTAERS (R.)- Antiquarian Scraps,

392
CHAMBERS (Robert) Father Confessors,

200
On Turners,

212
Muttoneers,

269
New Year's'observances in Scotland, 964

EDITOR'S Annual Address,

359

ETTRICK SHEPHERD---Grizzel Graham,

374, 395

GILLESPIE (Professor) --Christmas Recollections,

367

JAYES (G. P. R)--History of an Assassin,

370

KENNEDY (WILLIAM)- The Camera Obscura,

389
MALCOLM (JOHN)-The Dream,

138
Memes (Dr)–On the Herculaneum Manuscripts,

398

The Coincidence

382

WILSON
(Professor)–Stray Leaves,

360

ANONYMOUS PROSE COMMUNICATIONS.

• 383

155

363

353

Ana, I., II., III., IV., V.,

327
Banterer Humbled (from the French of Freron)

15
Bystander, the

27, 40, 69, 110, 244, 251, 288, 281, 297, 340

Christmas Traditions,

391

Collieton Castle, an Irish Tradition,

214

Dialogue of the Dead (from the French of Fenelon),

Dramatics, by a Dramatist,

390

Essay on Smoking

166

History of a Good Old Brahmin (from Voltaire),

Interview with Archibald Hamilton Rowan,

313

John Smith,

140

Letter to the Editor, by a Professed Punster,

Lord Monboddo,

312

Meeting of the Conductors of the Edinburgh Periodical Press, 185

New Annual,

Old Jack,

151

Omissions of Mr Southey,

283, 323, Vol. VII. 2

Paganini,

244, 257
Peep at the Islands,

180
Precocity,

209
Reminiscences of a German Student,

57, 99, 11

Salnzzo, The Marquis of, or The New Beauty and the Beast,

St Ronan Games, à Rhapsody

Sutherland, the late Alexander,

Tales of the Southern Moors,

Tait's Edinburgh Magazine,

The Church History Chair,

The Classes are Open,

285

The Enchanter's Flitting,

211

The Gout on the Ist of September,

139

The Jeweller of Worms,

167

The Nightly Visitant,

169

The Sacrament Day,

270

LITERARY CHIT-CHAT AND VARIETIES.

15, 16, 30, 44, 58, 71, 84, 100, 114, 128, 142, 156, 170, 181, 203, 217,

251, 245, 259, 273, 287, 301, 315, 329, 343, 358, 379, 394, Vol. VII. 13,26.

Literary and Scientific Societies of Edinburgh,

FINE ARTS.

16, 44, 52, 182, 244, 281, 310, 327, Vol. VII. 7, 23.

Music,

222, 311, 3:28, 379, Vol. VII. 23, 25

London Musical Letters, 127, 201, 228, 271, 299, 328, 355, 378, Vol.

VII. 10.

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LITERARY CRITICISM,

quaintance with the form and structure of a ship, with a

quantum sufficit of naval slang. At one time or another On Naval Timber and Arboriculture; with Critical Notes also, it is possible that he may have been under-forester

on Authors who have recently treated the subject of to some nobleman or gentleman in the neighbourhood. Planting.

By Patrick Matthew. Adam Black, | At all events, he has now amassed a little wealth ; is Edinburgh. Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and owner of a couple of sea vessels that trade from Perth or Green, London. 1831.

Dundee to the Baltic; and, in a word, he considers himThis is a publication of as great promise, and as paltry self as fully competent to enlighten the world on “ Naval performance, as ever came under our critical inspection. Architecture and Arboriculture.” From its title, “ On Naval Timber and Arboriculture,” We have always considered it as a fortunate circum- ' it will probably attract readers; but the intelligent among stance, when an author has the talent of delineating bis them will suffer considerable disappointment in the per

own character, and especially in the front of his book, u sal, as we must say that there are not ten pages of which saves a reviewer much trouble. We shall, there- ' really new matter in the volume, on those interesting fore, give Mr Matthew's Prerace entire, as it is short, subjects. Whoever is conversaut with any tolerable trea- and conveys a tolerable taste of his style and genius. tise on ship-building, and with three or four of the best “ It may be thought presumptuous in a person who : modern works on planting (now fashionably called Ar- has never had the curiosity to peruse the British classic boriculture), will find that the book furnishes a very su- authors on planting and timber,-Evelyn, HANBURY, perficial view indeed of what they have there learned, Marshall, Miller, Postey,—to make experiment of

hashed up a-new for the booksellers, with the sauc: pi. the public sufferance. The author does not, however, - quante of " Critical Notes on recent writers ;" that is, a think any apology necessary; as, if the public lose time

Fulgar, petulant, and outrageous abuse of the most distin- unprofitably over his pages, he considers the blame atguished among them; of Sir Walter Scott, of Sir Henry tachable to them, not to him. A writer does not obtrude as Steuart, of Messrs Loudon, Cruickshank, Monteath, a speaker does, but merely places his thoughts within reach. and even of Mr Withers himself, the Norfolk attorney ;

“ As the subject, notwithstanding its great importance, which last the author has felicitously selected as the might be felt, per se, dry and insipid? by the general archetype of his genius, and the model of bis style. reader, accustomed to the luxuries of modern literature, Tith more knowledge of the subject than the atwrney the author has not scrupled to mix with it such collateral for less he could not well possess), he is a ten times worse matter as he thought might serve to correct the aridity, writer ; while, for invate self-sufficiency and conceit, he The very great interest of the question regarding species, beats the attorney all to nothing. The plan and system variety, babit, has perhaps led him a little too wide. of his tacties is this :-If I, Patrick Matthes, have cou- “ There is one advantage in taking a subject of this rage enough to treat with consummate arrogance and kind, that few professional (literary] critics can meddle syperiority such writers as these ; it I at once call in with it, further than as regards style and language, with-, question their knowledge, and reprobate their practice, out exposing their own ignorance. Yet will the author holding out practice of my own, or pretended to be my experience the highest pleasure in being instructed and own, as much better, in its stead, how immeasurably sus corrected, wherever his knowledge may be found defecperior must I not appear in the eyes of the reader, who, tive, or when speculation or misconception of facts have i nine times in ten, is gulled by fearless claims and cool [has) led him into error. Knowledge and truth is (are] ness of assurance! Thus, I shall at once dash into public mental strength and healtlı ; ignorance and error weaknotice, and must support my pretensions, with the same pess and disease. The man who parsues science for its vigour and imperturbable countenance that puffep them own sake, and not the pride of possession, will feel more off

. But this, as Partridye says, is a non sequitur, Mr gratitude towards the surgeon who dislodges a cataract Matthew, as you will perhaps find, on putting it to the from the mind's eye, than towards the one who repairs proof. We know of do virtue, no quality in a distin- the defect of the bodily organ." guished writer, so attractive as MODESTY, or the absence After marking in Italics the peculiar beauties of this of all presumption of his own superiority, real or fancied. piece of composition, we would ask what should be The illustrious author first named, Sir Walter Scott, is, thought of the scholar in similar circumstances, who we may almost say, Modesty personified. The next, Sir should pretend that he never had had the curiosity to look Henry Steuart, is distinguished by the same character into Homer or Virgil, Demosthenes or Cicero; or of istic; and from Mr Forsyth to "Mr Cruickshank, the the physician who professed his unacquaintance with latest writer in the list (the attorney always excepted), Hippocrates or Galen, with Hoffman, Heberden, or they are eminently deserving of the same praise.

Cullen? Why, we believe only this, that he was either Mr Patrick Matthew, as we understand, is a small a very impudent, or a very shallow fellowr. But we are Jandowner on Gourdie hill, near Errol, in Perthshire, old birds, Mr Matthew, and not to be caught with such an inconsiderable orchardist, if we may so speak, who chaff as this, nor with the chaff of any grain that grows has a house, with a garden and shrubbery, where he on Gourdie hill. By the goddesses! we will show this makes experiments on fruit trees. Having been engaged, author that we have some knowledge of Arboriculture in his youth, in a seafaring line of life, probably as sur. ourselves, and can "meddle with his subject without exgenn's inate to a man-of-war, he has acquired some ac- posing our own ignorance;" and since he stands in need

of a mental oculist to dislodge the thick cataract of de- on recent Authors on Planting," seemingly the main object lusion as to his own talents and acquirements, by which of getting up the present volume, that is, of bringing Mr his " mind's eye' is obscured, we shall endeavour to act | Matthew himself into notice. After erecting himself, by for him in that capacity to the best of our power.

his own fiat, into the chair of criticism, he enters on his Mr Matthew is a man of a bold, inquisitive, and na- office with great formality. “ Having taken notes," he turally active mind. He is abundantly obstinate and says, “on the more prominent matter contained in the opinionative; tolerably ignorant of what be imagines he pages of recent writers, we believe we shall do the public knows best ; ill educated, half learned, but affecting learn- a service (for he always speaks with the dignity of the ing, and endued with unconquerable self-sufficiency, and plural] by printing these notes, accompanied by slight an unequalled opinion of himself. Of general science, remarks.” The first writer who comes under his review accordingly, he knows little, and less of vegetable physio- is Monteath, the honest wood-cutter of St Ninian's, logy, and the anatomy of plants. His turn seems to lie author of the Forester's Guide. The next is Walter towards natural history and geology, and also towards Nicol, to whom we owe the “ Practical Planter,” and politics ; in which last department the wildness and con- “Planter's Calendar," and who has been dead twenty fidence of his speculations will amuse the reader. As to years at least. Then comes Mr William Billington of his style, it is at times clear, though always ungramma- | Dean Forest notoriety, whom he calls the “ Robinson tical : but, for the most part, it is full of barbarisms and Crusoe of Planters;" but Billington, for every practical unintelligible idioms, neither Scotch, English, nor Irish ; object, is a man far superior to himself. and, were it not for its dulness, we should call it "prose The fourth recent writer brought forward, is Forsythe run mad.” The entire tract resembles a new quack me- of Kensington, of the last century, the well-known indicine, full of high stimulants, ignorantly and not very ventor of the tree-plaster, once supposed capable of renosafely combined, and which, till known and aualyzed, vating vegetable life. This is not a very recent author, might prove dangerous as well as attractive to young pa- as he has been dead these thirty years. The fifth is Mr tients (i e. young planters and country gentlemen), from William Withers of Holt, Norfolk, attorney; an orchard. the i ncessant puffing of the compounder. Thus far we ist also, like Mr Matthew; but the great object of his have done our endeavour to “dislodge the cataract” from envy, and (as before observed) the model of his style. our author's mental eye; and we trust, although he may “ Mr Withers,” he says, “the experienced and practical not feel “ the highest pleasure," he will yet bestow on us Mr Withers, the complete demolisher of the Scottish “the gratitude” which he promises in his Preface, for knights (that is, of Sir Walter Scott and Sir Henry that important operation.

Steuart,] together with his junto of experienced correMr Matthew's work is divided into five parts. The spondents, know nothing at all about the matter in dispute, Ist is on the structure of sea vessels; the 2d on British namely, the durability of oak wood; but we ourselves forest trees, suited to naval purposes ; the 3d on miscel-(that is, we, Patrick Matthew] will set them all to rights, laneous matter, connected with naval timber; and the by a few lines of elucidation.” Having thus, to his own 4th contains notices of recent authors, who treat of arbori- satisfaction, established his incontestable superiority over culture. In the first part, which is very short, we find all authors, dead or living, who ever wrote on timber, he an idea given of a ship's hull and timbers, with three proceeds to give his elucidation and examples. It is alwoodcuts; as also, by means of three more, we have di- most needless to say, how easy it is to write nonsense on rections for the training and pruning of trees, so as to fit any subject; or how difficult it is for a man of Mr Matthem for the construction of vessels ; all which are much thew's self-sufficiency to believe that he can ever write better given,--the first in any elementary book on naval any thing nonsensical. Instead of entering here on so architecture, and the second in the original works on intricate a subject as the question of the general superiorplanting, from whence they are copied, namely, those of ity of slow over rapidly grown oak (of which the former Miller, Marshall, Pontey, &c., authors that Mr Matthew is maintained by Sir Henry Steuart, and the latter by never had “the curiosity" to examine! The directions Mr Withers), we shall merely refer the reader to No. 67 for pruning are borrowed from Steuart and Billington; of our second volume (February 20th, 1830), where he the principles of neither of whom our author appears to will find the question very satisfactorily settled, and the comprehend.

ignorance of Withers fully exposed. The physiological In the second part, a very meagre and commonplace corollary of the argument, governed by the great principle account is given of the oak, larch, chestnut, beech, elm, of " ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE,” we have there summed pine, and willow, the only seven forest trees used in ship-up at page 112, beginning at the words,—“ All trees have bailding. In this account, from our practical familiarity their peculiar soils and climates,” &c. And we will here with the subject, and especially with the writers above give the confused and garbled account of it, which the enumerated, we can declare, that we are not enabled to stubbornness of facts has forced our self-constituted critic detect one new idea, excepting this, that those writers, to adopt. as well as the most celebrated botanists and physiologists, “ The facts stated go to prove, that the quality of timwith Lionæus and Willdenow at their head, were all in the ber depends much upon soil, circumstance, and especially wrong in their manner of classifying, and generally treat- on variety; and that in the early period of the growih of ing these seven ship-building trees, until Mr Patrick trees, before much seeding, and when the soil is not much Matthew of Gourdie hill appeared to set them right! exhausted of the particular pabulum necessary for the kind Not only are they to be set right in these important par- of plant, that rather slow-grown timber is superior in ticulars, but even the phytological divisions of genus, strength to quick-grown ; especially when the quickness species, and variety, so long known and established, are exceeds a certain degree ; and when this degree is exceeded, all to be changed, and the more learned and felicitous the timber is not so weighty, and is well known not to ones of “breed, family, and individual,” substituted in be so durable.” And this is what is called, the “demotheir stead.— Next comes part third, containing a num lishing" the doctrines of the Scottish knights ! ber of miscellaneous observations on what he calls colla. The above five writers, dead and living, Mr Matthew teral topics, that is, tree nurseries, general planting, pru- thus summarily disposes of; but how was he to get rid ning, and even on monopolies, free trade, and the consti- of the Scottish knights themselves, and Mr Cruickshank, tation of Parliament, &c. ; topics which are surely of a the late able author of the “ Practical Planter;" Sir quite different breed, but they are all borrowed from other Walter Scott and Mr Cruickshank being on all hands writers, and introduced solely for the purpose of book- admitted to be the best practical writers of the age, and making; an art in which our author appears to be a con- Sir Henry Steuart the first writer, who, with the possiderable adept.

session also of practical skill, has attempted to apply the We now come to the fourth part, containing “Strictures sciences of physiology and chemistry to the art of Arbori

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The Edinburgh Literary Journal: Or, Weekly Register of Criticism ..., Volume 6