"In Croker's edition of Boswell's Life of Johnson, there is a passage detailing a conversation between the lexicographer and Adam Smith, more remarkable for spirit than delicacy, respecting the celebrated letter of the latter on Hume's death. The story is materially incorMr Croker expresses himself with regard to the man- rect, as will abundantly appear from a reference to dates. ner in which he has executed his task very modestly- Dr Johnson visited Glasgow only once in his life, in much more so, indeed, than from our previous acquaint- October 1773, at which time the conversation here narance with the toue and temper of his writings we were rated must have taken place, if at all. Hume died in prepared to expect—much more so, let us add in justice August 1776, and Dr Smith's letter is dated the 9th of to him, than was at all necessary. Mr Boswell's "capri- November in that year-exactly three years after the cious delicacy,” as it is happily termed by the editor, and date at which the conversation is said to have happened. the obliterating touch of time, have already rendered many I may also remark, that, by the resignation of his profesthings obscure. Sir James Mackintosh might well re-sorship in 1764, Dr Smith's connexion with Glasgow

a

tures.

had ceased for a number of years previous to 1773. At “ It was a strange and fortunate occurrence, that one the time of Dr Johnson's visit to Scotland, Smith resided so prone to talk, and who talked so well, should be at Kirkaldy."

brought into such close contact and confidence with one It is evident from these remarks, that the story told so zealous and able to record. Dr Johnson was a man by Sir Walter must be erroneous in some of its details. of extraordinary powers, but Mr Boswell had qualities, We do not, however, concur with our correspondent, in their own way, almost as rare. He united lively who seems inclined to regard it as totally groundless, and

manners with indefatigable diligence, and the volatile to blame Mr Croker for its admission. On turning to curiosity of a man about town with the drudging pavol. IV. p. 192, of Croker's edition of Boswell, we find tience of a chronicler. With a very good opinion of himPrincipal Robertson introduced in the text as saying of self, he was quick in discerning, and frank in applauding, Johnson: “ He and I have been always very gracious; the excellencies of others. Though proud of his own the first time I met him was one evening at Strahan's,

name and lineage, and ambitious of the countenance of when he had just had an unlucky altercation with Adam the great, he was yet so cordial an admirer of merit, Smith, to whom he had been so rough that Strahan, after wherever found, that much public ridicule, and someSmith was gone, had remonstrated with him.” Upon thing like contempt, were excited by the modest assurance which passage Croker has the following note. “ The with which be pressed his acquaintance on the notorieeditor, thinking it hardly possible that Boswell should ties of the time, and by the ostentatious (but, in the have omitted all mention of Adam Smith, if Johnson bad main, laudable) assiduity with which he attended the met him at Glasgow, almost doubts whether the violent exile Paoli, and the low-born Johnson! These were scene reported to have taken place there, might not in fact amiable, and, for us, fortunate inconsistencies, have been that which occurred at Mr Straban's in London, referred to by Dr Robertson. It is clear that, after such a parting, they never could have met in society

“ Mr Boswell's birth and education familiarized him again." In vol. I., p. 441, we find Johnson remarking with the highest of his acquaintance, and his good-nature that he had met Smith once, and adding, that they did and sociality with the lowest. He describes society of all not take to each other.” It is certain, then, that Smith | classes with the happiest discrimination. Even his foibles and Johnson only met once, and that a scene took place assisted his curiosity; he was sometimes laughed at, but so violent, as to subject the latter to a serious remon- always well received; he excited no envy, he imposed no strance from a friend who was present. It only remains restraint. It was well known tbat he made notes of to be ascertained, whether Professor Miller and Smith were every conversation, yet no timidity was alarmed, no dein London at the same time, betwixt November 1776, the licacy demurred; and we are, perhaps, indebted to the date of Smith's letter about Hume, and May 1778, the lighter parts of his character for the patient indulgence date of the conversation in which Robertson related the with which every body submitted to sit for their pic. incident at Strahan's. If it turn out that they were, the only remaining difficulty will be the locality assigned in

“ Nor were his talents inconsiderable. He had looked Sir Walter's anecdote, which we have no doubt will a great deal into books, and more into the world. The prove, upon enquiry, to have been an unconscious assump-narrative portion of his works is written with good sense, tion on his part. The story is characteristic-a strong in an easy perspicuous style, and without (which seems internal evidence of its authenticity.

odd enough) any palpable imitation of Johnson. But We have stated the industry displayed by Mr Croker ; | in recording conversations he is unrivalled ; that he was we have vindicated his judgment in the only matter eminently accurate in substance, we have the evidence of where it has to our knowledge been assailed ; it only re- all his contemporaries; but he is also in a high degree mains for us to show, in order that we may fully esta- characteristic-dramatic. The incidental observations blish his fitness for the editorial office, that he is actuated with which he explains or enlivens the dialogue are by a right spirit towards the author and his hero. This terse, appropriate, and picturesquewe not merely hear point, we think, the following quotation from his preface his company, we see them." proves satisfactorily :

Would that we had the genius of Plutarch to draw a “ With respect to the spirit towards Dr Johnson him- parallel betwixt Johnson and Socrates--betwixt Boswell self by which the editor is actuated, he begs leave to say, and Xenophon! that he feels, and has always felt a great, but he hopes We have experienced only one drawback upon our not a blind admiration of Dr Johnson. For his writings, pleasure in perusing these volumes ; and that arises from he feels that admiration undivided and uninterrupted. the constant expression of a soured and petulant temper In his personal conduct and conversation, there may be in all that Mr Croker writes. Let him be as waspish as occasionally something to regret, and (though rarely) some- he pleases in his own heart, and give full vent to it whenthing to disapprove, but less, perhaps, than there would ever Miladi Morgan crosses him, or Lord Brougham be in those of any other man, whose words, actions, and keeps out of his way ; but what right has he to tease us even thoughts, should be exposed to public observation so with it in a book which we purchased in order to be nakedly as, by a strange concurrence of circumstances, amused and instructed ? It is like disturbing a social Dr Johnson's have been.

company over their wine and walnuts with peevishness. “ Having no domestic ties or duties, the latter portion We have alluded above to the bond of entire affection of his life was, as Mrs Piozzi observes, nothing but con- which has united two philosophers with tivo biographers versation, and that conversation was watched and record for immortality : The chain that rivets Lady Morgan to ed from night to night, and from hour to hour, with John Wilson Croker is of a different kind. The one zealous attention and unceasing diligence. No man, the volatile and spiteful, the other saturnine and savage, they most staid or the most guarded, is always the same in are born to be each other's torments. By a curious arhealth, in spirits, and opinions. Human life is a series rangement of Providence they are united for eternal war. of inconsistencies; and when Johnson's early misfortunes, fare. Each may address the other in the words which his protracted poverty, his strong passions, his violent Coleridge, in his “ Fire, Famine, and Slaughter,” has prejudices, and, above all, bis mental infirmities, are con- put into the mouth of the first-mentioned : sidered, it is only wonderful that a portrait so laboriously

" I alone am faithful! I
minute, and so painfully faithful, does not exhibit more
of blemish, incongruity, and error.”

Cling to him (her) everlastingly."
This is said in a generous and candid spirit-now for
Bozzy.

Gezns of Sculpture. No. I. With Illustrative Lines.

Hebe is indeed the goddess. Her element is the upper By T. K. Hervey, Esq. London. Lupton Relfe. air. She cannot tread the earth, or sink into our dense 1831.

atmosphere. Far away in the empyrean, upborne, a We learn from the prospectus of this publication, that it spiritual cloud

of beauty, she floats away, happy as the is to be published in monthly numbers, each of which will draught, which she pours out while glancing onwards, contain four subjects, executed in the highest style of makes him on whom it is bestowed. She is

, indeed, a

cupbearer, to circle the table of the majestic inhabitants chalk engraving. The proprietors do not intend to confine themselves to celebrated works, or even to those

of Olympus, her light garments floating behind her. which have already issued from the artist's studio. In Hervey has interwoven a beautiful allegorical reference trinsic merit, they say, is to be the sole recommendation oblivion of age, in the following verses, which accompany

to the forgetfulness of children, as opposed to the cold of a subject. Each part will be complete in itself, and

the engraving of this statue. may be had separately; but the whole series is intended to present a synoptical view of modern sculpture-using

НЕВЕ. the phrase in contradistinction to the ancient classical “ Immortal spirit! lady of the bowl, school, and that of the middle ages. Each subject will Which all taste once, and none may taste again! be accompanied by an illustrative poem, from the pen of Oh! for thy lost Nepenthe,—from the soul some poet of note.

To chase all sorrow, and to charm all pain ! The idea of such a work is extremely pleasing, and we The early Lethe,-ere it flows o'er graves, know one table where it will be a welcome and a cherish- That drowns not memory, while it drowns her sting, ed guest, if the subsequent numbers equal that which Beside whose course, the rose, unwither'd, waves, now lies before us. Of the Cupid and Psyche of West- And hope looks brighter when she dips her wing! macott, we can only say, “would it were worthier” of the artist and the pains here bestowed upon it!_but the three “ Immortal spirit !-may we never more subjects from Canova are exquisite, and do infinite credit Behold that valley, and that silver spring, to the publishers, for the tact with which they have Where haunt the Graces as in days of yore, known to select the works most happily illustrative of And thou as then sitt'st brightly ministring? the artist's genius, and at the same time less generally But once-but only once !--they fabled well, known than they ought to be. We are tired of his Graces Who sung 'twas but for gods that thou might'st pour -which after all are only three lovely women-rather The unwasting nectar from its golden celleof the leanest too. We abominate his Venus--she is a We quaff but once, to thirst for evermore; pert, smirking, healthy, pretty, naughty young woman. For the dark Lethe of the grave to pine, Contrast her leer, her consciousness, her angles, with the Because we never more may drink of thine ! gentle dignity and voluptuous purity of the Medicean goddess. It is as if we brought that wide brothel, modern “ And yet 'tis something thus to gaze on thee ! Italy, into immediate juxtaposition with the religious In dreams that almost lead the spirit back quietude of her oldest temples, where they stand in de- | Into thy haunted region! Can it be serted grandeur,“ between Praeneste and the sca." His That He, * alone, bad found the hidden track Theseus and other heroes again, beautiful though they be Back to thy fountain ;-there at will to dip and dignified, are deficient in character and grandeur. His crowding fancies in thy haunted stream, It was the sense of the beautiful alone that inspired To touch the waters with his wasting lip, Canova. In the other ingredients which go to consti- And commune with their lady in a dream? tate the poetic sculptor, he was entirely deficient. Was he the earthly love of thee divine ?

His Hebe, Psyche, and Dancing Girl— the three sub- Or was it pity for the weary crowd, jects in the present part--are, however, creatures within Who, having pour'd their hearts upon thy shrine, the sphere of his creative genius, and it was exquisite as Had wander'd forward on their dim, cold road, far as it went. Psyche is represented opening the mys- That made thee to his spirit stand reveald, terious box-she crouches as if listening for some one's Upon his soul the deathless vision seal'd, approach, her eyes are turned aside and downwards. This And placed thy charmed chisel in his hand, -at least in the point of view here given-is a pictu- And bade him play a Promethean part, resque statue. The figure is so placed as to bring out its And give the old a Hebe-of the heart ?" ripe beauties to the best advantage, and to catch the happiest effects of light and shade.

With the selection from Westmacott's works we have

The feeling of anxious wonder is finely—that is, not obtrusively_expressed. consideration the want of mind and feeling which cha

already expressed ourselves dissatisfied. Leaving out of In bis illustrative lines, Hervey has spoken a picture racterises his Cupid and Psyche, we are of opinion that wbich more than equals it.

it would have been better to have confined this part ex“ In the full city,-by the haunted fount,

clusively to Canova. Hervey has, however, managed to Through the dim grotto's tracery of spars,

draw poetry even from this unpromising rock. Mid the pine-temples, on the moon-lit mount, Where silence sits to listen to the stars,

“ Love, in his better, loftier guise In the deep glade where dwells the brooding dove,

The bandage loosen'd from his eyes The painted valley,--and the scented air,

The pinions from his shoulders flungShe heard far echoes of the voice of Love,

The mischief from his heart and tongue And found his footsteps' traces everywhere!

And only arm'd-as Love should be But never more they met."

With his own high divinity! Canova's Dancing Girl is one of those miracles of art

Wrapt in his nature's own excess, in which the grace of motion and buoyancy is impressed

And chain'd by passion's lureupon us by what we know but cannot feel to be a heavy

But holy in her holiness, inert mass. On elastic tip-toe, one leg thrown back, her

And pure as she is pure !

His ardour soften'd by the charm drapery clinging to and revealing her exquisite form, her

Of her transcendent light timbrelled hands upreared, she dances for ever, listening to her own music. There is the true intensity of genius

Yet shedding o'er her look and form

A blush more rich, a glow more warm, in the expression of this figure. It speaks of a soul conscious only of its intoxicating happiness revelling in blissful sounds and motions of its own creation.

That but for that encircling arm
Had been too coldly bright-
And blending into one caress

Love's ardour and Love's loveliness!"

"The words of Mercury are harsh after the songs of Apollo;" and therefore we add not a single comment.

"Their dress was a light bluish-grey jacket or coatee, with broad green half-facings; striped ticken trowsers, with a broad green braid down the outside seam; a black waist cartridge belt; and short tight-fitting laced buskins. mounted with a tall and very full green feather, which The hat was round, turned up at the left side, and sur. they exchange for branches of trees when on service in the woods. Their arms were the rifle and screw-sword; the length, when fixed, placed them on an equality with

The Staff Officer, or the Soldier of Fortune. A Tale of the regulation musket and bayonet. The officers and Real Life. By Oliver Moore.

In three volumes.

London. Cochrane and Pickersgill. 1831.

men were dressed so exactly alike, that it was only by the superior quality of the clothing-and which near in

MR OLIVER MOORE tells us in a motto (rather a back-spection alone could determine that the difference be neyed one) on his titlepage, that life is a mingled yarn; and his, we fear we must add, is a long one.

tween them could be ascertained. Not a particle of gold or silver lace, or bullion, was to be seen. Take them all in all, they were the finest body of men under arms i had ever beheld; not a man in the long line was under five feet eight, although generally two inches taller.

*

We do not deny that there are many passages in the tale which indicate high talent; we will show by and by, as far as extracts go, that it contains such. We maintain, however, that the staple of the book is a prosy, rambling narrative-a dry and arid desert of maundering, amid which a few scanty oases at times appear. But we have yet a worse charge-the work is grossly indelicate and licentious. From first to last, scarcely twenty pages elapse, in which we have not the details of some new libertine amour. The book has the grossness of Field-bottomed launches with as much quietness and regularity as if seating themselves in the aisle of a church. The convenience, and absence of all bustle with which they were embarked, reflected great credit on the naval officers to whom that duty had been consigned.

nishment than of fear, ' I'm blaw'd if she haun't hroached ced the word, wownded,) in the very first brush in which to!' In another instant he was on deck—the cabin his regiment became engaged with the enemy; and, in seemed turned upside down-the vessel was actually on consequence, was, with other invalids, (although against ber beam-ends!

his strong remonstrances,) borne off the field, and placed “ Two of us scrambled up the narrow companion ; and on board a gunboat, used as a temporary hospital; but I was struck with horror at the first glance which it THE LOVELY IDEA OF A SOLD'er !* (his constant expression afforded me of the frightful situation of our ship, which when recounting his warlike adventures,) tempted him happily, however, righted after the first violence of the to break bounds. squall had passed over us ; and already had the mate with “The moment he was able to hobble about, he contrithree able hands gone aloft to cut and clear away the ved to escape from his floating prison, and, by the help wreck of the fore-top-mast, which had snapped like a of a crutch, found means to rejoin his battalion, just as it reed on the first burst of the tornado.

was going into action at Bunker's Hill. “ The helmsman, who was one of the worst hands in “ His native courage gave him strength, and seizing the ship, had been knocked down at the wheel, and the the first vacant musket, of which, unfortunately, there vessel all but thrown up in the wind. Our situation were but too many, he took post in the ranks, and nobly was critical—a second blast, and our destruction was fought his share in that hard-contested battle, at the close inevitable.

of which, he was found on the gory field with SEVEN “ However, she was now once more before the wind, wounds, insensible to all but glory, roaring out, 'Grorge and a bold Yorkshireman-called by the crew Long Jack FOR EVER!'-' Down WITH YANKEE NOODLE!'-'0n! The

- is called to the wheel, who, taking his weather-post, LOVELY IDEA OF A SOLD'ER!' By a miracle, the gallant boxed ber about like a boat obedient to his masterly soldier was eventually restored to liberty, and-his legs ! helm! • Stradee-e-e my bow !' shouted the brave Bate- His valour was rewarded with an ensigncy in the 4th, man from aloft, whose night eye was awake to every or King's Own, which he had joined but a short time, danger.

before some act of violent intemperance brought him " • Steadlee.e-e it is,' respondeil the undaunted York- under the awful sentence of a general court-martial. shireman, as the vessel whizzed her way through a sea “ The powerful claims which his bravery and his sufof foam and fire-for the whole surface of the wide water ferings gave him on the sympathy ot' his judges, saved semed to flash with liquid flame-while her wake, re- him from iguominious disinissal from the service. Ile sembling some mighty monster, fresh from his native was, however, severely and publicly reprimanded, and hell, seemed to chase her through the boiling flood in then sent to end his days (as it was supposed) in an inburning intiections.

valid company, stationed in his native province, Ulster. “ The wreck all clear, main top-gallant-mast struck, Peace came in a few years, and poor Darcus was laid on and the ship put under snug sail for the night, the bold the shelf. mate descended to the deck, and after a watchful look, “ Desirous of an active life, he drew up a petition to cast over the taffrail, in which he swept the whole hori- the Irish Ilouse of Commons, praying for employment. zon with his keen and anxious cye, he turned to the After urging his manifold services to the state, (in his helmsinan, and wiping the salt water from his dripping own peculiar style of language, he concluded his petition face, said, “ Whoy, Jock, my bow, that was what ye call's with the bold assertion, that he 'bad received SEVEN a close gow.'

wounds at Bunker's Hill, Five of which were morTAL!!! «• Ay, ay,' replied Jack, as he eased off the vessel be. “ After the roars of laughter, which the reading of fore a Jofty sea.

this part of his petition excited, had in some degree sub“ “ Naw,' continued 'lom, “if she had been one of sided, the late Vice-Admiral Tom Packenham (uncle to yaure heavy Jamakee-men, wi' his three tiers of the Duchess of Wellington) with the utmost gravity sugar, an his hoondred pooncheons of rum, the fishes stood up, and, first withdrawing the quid of tobacco from wou'd hau had a rare stiff can of grog affore naw.' his starboard cheek, moved, ' That the House, taking into

** Yes, Tom,' replied' Jack, but ye see this here's a its serious attention the petition of the invoRTAL JAMES ligbt wabbling kind of a craft, and she came up like a Darcus, (lo humbly recommend his case to his Majesty's duck as the squall broke off. But what business have most gracious consideration and favour !" we wit' top gallant-masts on such a tool, when she's not “ On the score of his presumed immortality and vigiwithin a foot and a balf of her ballast trim ?'

lance, he was accordingly appointed a revenue officer ; but * During this colloquy, I went below and brought up his zeal in pursuit of illicit distillation having led him a couple of' bottles of rum, and with my loudest tones occasionally into some excesses, (probably the effects of sung out, “ All hands splice mainbrace, at-hoy " an order his too frequent trials of the strength of the forbidden which was very cheerfully obeyed. Dane, Dutchman, beverage, by the standard of his own palate,) his enemies and African, understood the welcome sound. A good considered his little extravagancies, such as breaking dram all round, cheered the hearts of the poor fellows; heads and chopping off ears, by a coup de sabre, as derothe forecastle men again took their stations cautiously, gatory to the honour of the revenue ; and the immorta! keeping a good look-out forward. The moon, between Jemmy was doomed to sink once more into the miserable whiles, throwing a fitful gleam of unsteady light over quietude of private life and half-pay, occasionally relieved the dreary scene, enabled us to discern many of the ves- by a warlike episode in the shape of a night-fight, either sels of our convoy ; but towering above all, like a star in in favour of or against smugglers, just as he found himthe east, the lantern of the commodore, in his mizentop, self in the vein. In the course of a few years more, the showed its steady light.”

god of war heard his prayer' ; 'the lovely idea of a sold'er'

was revived, and the year 1794, saw him once more in We have been extremely delighted with that gallant son of Mars, “Captain James Darcus, of the 6th WestIndia regiment,” whom we take the liberty of presenting ed a letter of service, raised the regiment called the

“ The present Marquess of Conyngham having obtainto our readers :

Derry Death or Glory ;' under the banners of which “ This extraordinary man, wild, and uncontrollable Jemmy Darcus became enrolled as a full ensign ; but, from his youth, was a native of Londonderry, and had being the senior of that rank in the army, he shortly after run away from his family, which was highly respectable, was promoted to a lieutenancy in another of the Irish before he reached his twentieth year, enlisting into a levies, with which he proceeded to England. regiment during the American war, which was at that “ While quartered in the county of Northumberland, time embarked for the scene of action. It was his fortane to be severely wounded, (or, as he always propoup

"Soldier,"

arms.