^5^ ^ CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY THE WORDSWORTH COLLECTION ""^ Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924103990317 THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED; OR M^EMARKS ON THE EDINBURGH REVIEW BY AN AMERICAN. BALTIMORE: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY BENJAMIN EDES, Corner of Market and Gay-streets. 1816. AP 3^'/ Xfifi 91/. THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. We have always professed a vast reverence for those wonderful men, the Scotch Reviewers; and have ea- gerly seized every opportunity of paying them the ho- mage of our profound admiration. Nor can we suf- ficiently express the oMigations we feel under to them for the light which they have shed upon our dark and benighted country. We have overlooked up to them as oracles in politics — and snch they have proved themselves — as the only legi- timate arbiters of taste, and the true purifiers and refi- ners of the English language. But as all great men have some prominent excellence, which particularly distinguishes them, that for which these reviewers are most remarkable, is their wonderful modesty. This quality is the never failing concomitant of true merit; aud, together with its twin sisters,Candour and Impartiality — which they also possess in an eminent degree — have so endeared tiiem to us, that we had onc« 4 THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. thought of writing a professed panegyric upon them. Indeed what we now propose can be little else; for we may justly say— "Those who paint them truest, praise them most." We sliall, by presenting a short analysis of their va- rious merits, shew huw eminently entitled they are to all our praises. And first, as judgment is that quality which more than any other mariis the superiority among men, we sh ill, by ciiing divers of their opinions, political predic- tio IS, judgments of authors, ^c. &c. s'lew that their jiid :,inents are not merely profound — which for them Vio ild be slight praise — but absolutely infallible. We shall likewise, by various extracts from their great work, prove their unquestionahle title to the sta- tion — wiiicli it has seemed meet to them to occupy — of tsse arbiters of taste and the true standards of the En- glisi) la.,guage. We think, that we cannot render our countrymen a gre iter or more acceptable service, than by thus calling off their attention from the vulgar and barbarous writ- ings of their own country — from the works of such infe- rior men — inferior, we mean, when compared with the fecotch Reviewers — as tlamilton and Jay, Washington and Ames; and even from those second rate British au- thors, which they have heretofore been so much in the habit of reading, Addison and Swift, Boiingbroke and Burke. Political Opinions and Predictions* We will first present our readers, with a few speci- mens of the fjoliiical opinions and predictions of these political and literary oracles. '• We may now rest assured, that no effort of ours can ward off the fate of our ancient ally, [Austria] and that t\\e completion of THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. 5 the Spanish campaign, will only be interrupted for a season by a series of victories on the Danube. In this hopeless state of alt'airs, the result of our rupture with Spain, and our alliance with Russia, in 1805," &c Vol. 14,_/7. 264. "If, which seems but too certain, France should establish her power in the Peninsula," Slc. — Vol. 14, jj. 457. "With respect to Spain, surely the common feelings of humani- ty, as vvell as the soundest views of policy, should incline us to wish, that when the strugii:le of that gallant people is over, peace may as speedily as possible be restored to them. Their spirit has already been suiFiciently exert^^d to secure them a reign of miti. gated severity. For the present, this is all they can e.xpect. It would be blood-thirsty and cowardly in us, to foment petty insur- rections, after the only contest is at an end, from which any good can spring, in the present unfortunate state of tilings. Noi' will it be of any avail, to cry out against the doctrine, as pusillani- mous; and to abuse us, as recommending a base submission to France. France has conquered Europe. This is the melancholy truth. Shut our eyes to it as we may^ there is no doubt about ihe matter.^^-^Vol. 14, j). 471. So in Vol. la, p. 293-4, after observing, it is really idle to think of ascertainiiigj by argument, a ques- tion which is already too clearly settled, &;c. iiiey say: "In these circumstances,whcn the North of Europe is conquer- ed, is it allowed us to hope, that Spain may yet be delivered, or that any co-operation of ours, can do more than aggravate her subjugation.^" " The states that border upon France are ruled either by the Icinsmen, or by the vassals of Bonaparte; all but the SpMni:-.h chiefs, who have only a little hour to strut and fret. The more remote Empire of Russia is still in peace, and in peace she myxst remain, or be crushed without mercy, and ivithout hope or restoration: for she seemed powerful o)ily by the prudent leserve of Catiiarine. The succeeding governments have expeiimentally shewn us how much we over-valued the resources of that country. What, then.'' it may be saiel — as'e we to congratuUde. onrselvcs on the helples.«ness of all the states, that might make head against France.^ Certainly, if we are convinced, as it appears we should be, that nothing can be expected from their exertions,^'' i^c— Vol. 16, p. £6-7. "Now that she [Prussia] has been torn from the European body, 6 THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. another illusion is wanting: we must needs feed our new hopes upon Moscow. .Wow whgt we pretend to maintain, is, that we should once for all give up every expectation of conquering France, or seeing her exhausted in ivar,''^ ^c. — Vol. 9, p. 431. "Let us fairly look at our case, and not talk of War, as the means of humbling our enemy. If we laust make war, let us de- plore the hard necessity; but if we wish to avoid disappointment, and indeed disgrace too, it will be prudent not to conceive the least hope of bettering our condition by it."-— FoL 9, p. 427. Again: — "'■It cannot be denied, that the people of this country are still hlind to their real situation; that they have not given over the hopes of conquering France by a continuation of the vvJir; that they have rejoiced in the last and greatent of our calamities — the failure of our attempts to save Europe by a peace." — Vol. 9, p. 278. We sliall close, with a pvopliecy of the subjugation of Great Britain, these politiciii prediclious; v hich might easily be enlarged to a far greater extent^, did we not suppose that what we have cited, suilciently establishes our Keviewers' title to that prophetic sagacity, to which they so justly lay claim — and of which they have made so modest a use. ^'From a conduct so infatuated as this, we foresee, at no great distance, the approach q/ confusion and dismay, in every branch of our alfairS' — and the final conquest of an empire," &c. — Vol. 14, p. 482. Well miglii tfiese gifted Sep.rs^^ exclaim, ^^verily it is an easier trade to prophecy than ordinary mortals are apt to imagine." Tliey have abunthintly shewn that to them nothing is easier than to propliccy. It is as ea- sy as it was for the great Olendower, to *^call up spirits from the vasty deep.^* — "^'It is as easy as lying," as Ham- let says. Who can read iho. extracts which we have given and not reverence Ihe profound political wisdom of these sa- *■ Gifted we mean with .second sig-lit— a privileg-e peculiar to Scotclimen. THE HEVIEWEKS REVIEWED. 7 pient Reviewers? Let no one hereafter talk of the saga- city ofMachiavel, the profoundness of Montesquieu,* or the prophetic spirit of Burke! Wliat a happiness for England, and the worlds had these admonitions been re- garded! Opinions respecting Itussia, We will now give a few examples of the correctness and consistency of our Reviewers upon various other subjects- — upon whole nations, as well as individuals; — and shall begin with their liberal and enlightened opinions respecting Russia. We take the following extracts almost at random from their review of Clarke's travels in Russia. The same tone is held throughout their whole work, whenever the Russians are mentioned: "As we are led to the general subject of Russia, and its inha- bitants, we may as well take this opportunity of noticing the very interesting and even original view, which Dr. Clarke gives of their character and manners. No traveller who had seen that people could describe them as refined, or in any light entitled to our esteem and respect, &c. But at the same time we think Dr. Clarke is the first who has given us a full view of their barbarism, and placed in its real light the debased and groveling character of the whole people." — >Vol. ] 6, p. 343, Bevieiv of darkens travels. Again: — «We are now to take a view of the Nobles. The character un- der which they are best described, is that of overgrown childrenC'^ — Ditto p. 344. Again: — "The following picture is more general. It is a full length of a Russian Nobleman's character and habits, (if we may so speak;) * We beg pardon; it seems that the world has been mistaken in Montesquieu., and that he is, after all, a svperfcial, fantastical writer, — See Vet. 15, p, 464, of the Rev. 8 THE REVIEWERS REVIEWEB. and however disgusting, must be contemplated by those English readers, who would know what sort of a nation it was, that, about three little years since, we all looked to as the deliverers of Eu- rope, a.nd the great barrier against French oppressions^ — Vol. 16, p. 344, Review of Clarke's travels. A long extract is then given from Dr. Clarke's book, representing the Russians, one and all, even the highest classes of theoi^ as the meanest, the most brutal and de- testable of human beings Upon which our Reviewers make the following reflection: ''We have seen what the nobles are, and what the people. The probability is, that even the monarch and his family, but at any rate his chief counsellors, should be taken from the first of those classes; his armies must necessarily be raised from the other — we may easily conjecture, i\\tn,what is to be expected from a court so constituted, sending forth such troops."— PbL \^,p. 352. Very little, undoubtedly, could be expected from ei- ther the monarch or his army. ^ Again: — "But the proofs which later events have adduced of the barba- rism of Russia, and its unfitness to support a great and useful part in European aff drh^ were in truth not wanting to convince zison this point." — Vol. 16, jj. 354. Then, after saying that Dr. Clarke's representations of Mussia, gave full confirmation to their own doctrines, they proceed: "We return him our thanks /or the boldness with which he has spoken out on this subject — for daring to call things by their right names — for opposing the feelings originating in gross ignorance, we verily believe, which prompt the people in this country still to hanker after Russian alliances— /or denouncing that nation as perfectly barbarous,'^ ^c.—>Vol. 16,jj. 354. They close their review of Clarke, in the following words: "Such is the picture presented to us of the Russian empire, under the most enlightened and renowned of its Sovereigns, (Ca- THB REVIEWERS REVIEWED. 9 tharine 2d) and such are the deeds of the people, from whose in- terference in the concerns of civilized nations, so mighty a check has been more than once looked for, to the progress of French in- justice and oppression. It is melancholy to rejiect on the preva- lence of this grand delusion. Still more painful to think over what superior minds it has at different times borne sway. Mr. Fox, eminently gifted as he was, and distinguished above other statesmen, by sound and enlightened views of continental policy, fell into the grievous error of placing his confidence in cabinets of Moscovites, and forming expectations of opposing, by means of that barbarous state, a resistance to the power of France." — Vol. 16, |j. 361, darkens travels. We have taken these extracts almost at random from the review of Dr. Clarke's travels in Russia, a work which we should not hesitate to pronounce unparalleled^ did we not recollect the travels of x\.sh, Weld, Parkin- son, Davis, Jansen, and a host of British worthies — among whom we may reckon Mr. Jeffrey himself — who have honoured our own country with their notice. We will give but one or two extracts more to illus- trate the correctness of their opinions, the soundness and solidity of their judgments, respecting Russia. This is a favourite theme with them, and une upon which they speak with all their characteristic confidence. "We shall stop to m ke one or two observations in support of the low estimate we are disposed to make of Russia as a European, ally."— Fo^9,;j. 273. "It does not appear certain that the ambition of France, will ever then be pointed toward a Russian throne. But considering how little that power has shewn itself capable of effecting for tlie salvation of Europe — how wretched the state of its subjects is un- der the present government — how trifling an acquisition of strength the common enemy could expect to obtain from the entire posses- sion of its resources; — we acknowledge that we should contem- plate with great composure, any change which might lay the foun- dation of future improvement, and scatter the forces of France over the dominion of the Czars." — Vol. 14, /?. 460. Opinion of Peter the Great "He makes a variety of remarks upon the mistaken eflforts of Peter, to elevate and polish his subjects; but he does not point B 10 THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. out with sufficient force, the radical error and absurdity of these preposterous plans of reform, once the theme of such extravagant praise." — Vol. 14, p. 39. How much more enlightened the world has become respecting the brutal and barbarous Russians, and their absurd and preposterous Peter, since the Edinburgh Reviewers wrote, and Clarke travelled! And what do the opinions of such men as Voltaire or Thompson weigh, when balanced against that of "great Jeffrey/' Liberal and enlightened and consistent opinions, re- specting America. "We have dwelt longer upon this article than iti> merits justify; not so much for the sake of the work, as foi* the purpose of stating and exemplifying a most curious and unaccountable fact — the scar- city of all hut mercantile and agricultural talents in the new world.'''' — Vol. 2, p. 354—5. "They (the Americans) have never passed the limits of humble ^■mediocrity either in thought or expression."* — Vol. 15, j}- 445. Nevertheless, in vol. 3, p. 448, they thus speak of us; — "The truth is, American genius has displayed itself wherever inducements have been held out for its exertion. Their party pamphlets, though disgraced with much intemperance and scur- rility, [how diiFerent from the party writings of Great Britain!"] are written with a keenness and spirit, that is not often to be found • How profoundly ignorant was Lord Chatham, of the Americans, when he pronounced the following eulogium: "When your Lordships look at the papers transmitted us from America; when you consider their decency, firmness, and wisdom, you cannot but re- spect their cause, and wish to make it your own. For myself I must declare and avow, that in all m / reading and observation, and it has been my favourite study — I have read Thucidydes, and have studied and admired the master states of the world — that for solidity of reasoning, force of sagacity, and wis. dom of conclusion, under such a complication of difficult circumstances, no nation or body of men, can stand in preference to the General Cong-ress at Phila- delphia." — Vide Chatham's speech, delivered in tlie House of Lords, Jan. 20, 1775. THE RKriEWEES KEVIEWED. 11 in the old world; and their orators, though occasionally declama- tory and turgid, [a fault into which the English, Scotch, and more especially the Irish orators of the present day, such as Curran and Philips, for instance, never fall] frequently possess a vehemence, correctness and animation that would command the admiration of any European audience, and excite the astonishment of those philo- sophers, who have been tanght to consider the western hemisphere, as a grand recepticle for the degeneracies of nature.''— -jfferiete'o/ J) avisos travels, Vol. 2, p. 448. Yet in reviewing a book, written by John Qniacy Adams, (his travels in Silesia, we think) they say: "The style of Mr. Adams, is in general, very tolerable English^ which for an American composition, is no moderate praise — A few national peculiarities, perhaps we might ventur<^ to call them pro- vincial, may be detected; but it is upon the whole, remarkably free from those affectations and corruptions of phrase, v/hich over- run the productions of tluit country — even those in which we should least expect them, the enlightened state papers of the two great Presidents" — [Washington and Adams.] «If the men of birth and education in that other England, which they are building up in the West, will not diligently study the great authors,* who purified and fix^d the language of our com- mon forefathers, we must soon loose the only badge, that is still worn, of our consanguinity — a spurious dialect, it i^ probable, will prevail even at the Cojirt, and in the Senate," &c. Again: — T "We have often heard it reported, that ourtransatlanticbrethren were beginning to take it amiss, that their language should still be called English. As this is the first specimen that has come to our hands, of any considerable w.ork composed in the American tongue, it may be gratifying to our philological readers, if we * From this and several other passages, the Scotch Reviewers seem to sup- pose that the great British authors, even such of them as Addison, Swift and Robertson, are not read in. this country. This— with ail due humility we suggest it— is a sliglit mistake— The writings of those authors are almost as much read and admired in this country as the Edinburgh Review: which is an additional proof, no doubt of our'uiter want of taste— for, compared to these great critics, \ddison and Swift are but "mediocre" writers— to borrow a beautiful word from our critics. There is also anotl.er work wluch they have not recommended to us, and of which perhaps tht\' Iiave never heard, 'tliat is nuich read in this country— a poem, by out Lord Bvron, called "English Bards and Scotch Reviewers." 1^ THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. make some remarks upon it. It is distinguished from the original English, by a great number of words which are radically and en- tirely new, and as utterly foreign as if they had been adopted from the Hebrew or the Chinese," &c. — Vol. 15, p. 28. "Before closing these hasty and imperfect notices, of the cha- racteristics of this new language, it seems proper to observe, that (if Barlow's authority is to be relied on) it may be known from all other tongues, by an utter disregard of all distinction, between what we should call lofty and elegant, and low and vulgar expres- sions. '*These Republican literati seem to make it a point of conscience to have no aristocratical distinctions — even in their vocabulary. They think one word just as good another, provided its meaning be as clear; and will know no difference but that of force and perspicuity."— Fo^ 15., p. 29. "That the Americans have great and peculiar faults both in their manners and their morality we take to be undeniable." — Vol. 15, p. 442. Nevertheless, in No. 47? page 2Q% they thus write: "Why the Americans are disliked in this country, we have nev- er been able to understand; for most certainly they resemble us far more than any other nation in the world. They are brave and boastful, and national and factious like ourselves; — about aspolisJi- ed a,s 99 in 100 of our own .countrymen in the upper ranks — and at least as moral and well educated in the lower. Their virtues are such as we ought to admire.— ^for they are those on which we value ourselves most highly: and their very faults seem to have some claim to indulgence, since they are those with whicli we are also reproached by third parties. We see nothing, then, from which we can suppose this prevailing dislike of them to originate, but a secret grudge at them for having asserted, and manfully vindicated their independence." "This, however, is too unworthy a feeling to be avowed: and the very imputation of it should stimulate us to overcome the preju- dice by which it is suggested." This testimony to the morals and manners, and man- ly character of the Americans might well satisfy us. But in No. 40, page 460, they further testify in our be- half, and vindicate us from the aspersions so unjustly cast upon us by their countrymen : where speaking of the Americans, they say: — !yHE REVIEWERS TIEVIEAVED. 1$ "Their youths of fortune, already travel over all the countries of Europe for their improvement; and specimens are occasionally met with, even in these islands, which, ivith all our prejudices, would do no discredit to the best blood of the land from \\hich they originally sprung. Mr. Weld, indeed, and farmer Parkin- son, give a very uninviting pictuie of their society; but Mr. Tal- leyrand and the Due de Liancourt, are by no means so fastidious; and we cannot help suspecting^ that, upon a point of this nature, their opinion is entitled to full as much weight as either of those English authorities.^' To the spirit and intplUs:;ence of the Americans^ they also bear this further honourable testimony. "With the spirit and intelligence, and the long halit and prac- tice of liberty which exists in America, we do not exactly appre- )iend that they will ever fall into a state of political servitude." — Vol. 2, p. 477. Higher praise could not be bestowed — a more lofty opinion cannot be entertained of Amtricans, than to believe that tbeir spirit and intelligence will save them from what even Greece arid Rome finally fell into. But lest we should exult too much, we are not only informed that we 'Hmve never passed the limits of hum- hie mediocrity, either in thoiis;ht or expressions^ — But ^'in short," say they, "federal America has done Jiof/jf??^ either {{^extend^ diversify, or embellish the sphere of hu- man knou'leds^e.^s "The destruction of her whole lite- rature would not occasion so much regret, as we feel for the loss of a few leaves of an ancient classic.'' — Vol. 15, p. 445-6 That we need not despair, however, the account is as;ain balanced, by the following commendations of American authors, and their works: Of Franklin they say: — "There are not many among the thorough -bred scholars and philosophers of Europe who can lay claim to distinction in more than one or two departments of science or literatuie. The unedu- cated tradesman of America has left writings that call for our at' tention, in natural philos<'phy— in politics — in political economy -^and in general literature and morality"— with much more to the same e^'cct—JIeview of Franklin- s works, Vol. 8, p. S31, ^c. 14 THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. So of Walsh they say: — "Here is a stout Republican who praises England and declaims against France^ with more z-eal and intelligence than any of our mvn politicians — Who writes better, and shews more good learning than most of ourmen of letters."— -Fb^. 16, jd. 1. Still higher praise is bestowed upon that work which is known to be the joint production of Hamilton, Jay, and Madison. — In vol. 12, p.47Uthey say — 'Hhe i»est account of this constitution is to be found in a publica- tion called the Federalist, written principally by the late general Hamilton; — a work little known in Europe, but which exiiibits an extent and precision of informa- tion; a profundity of research, and an acuteness of un- derstanding, which wovM have done honour to the most illustrious statesmen of ancient or modern times." We shall close their opinion of America, by a short extract, or "excerpt,'' as they would more elegantly call it, from a speech of Mr. Brougham; one of the great writers in the Edinburgh lieviev*^,which is of course high- ly lauded by his colleagues — or himself. — In 18 12, this oracular statesman and critic thus exclaims — " Jealous of America! wdiose armies are yet at tlie plough, or making, since your policy has willed it so, awkward, (though improving) attempts at the loom — whose assem- bled .N'avies could not lay siege to an English sloop of war.^' — A'o. 39, /a S40. The captures of the Guerriere and the Macedonian — the victories on Lake Erie and Lake Champlain, with some half dozen other Naval victories, furnish the best commentary upon this speech. Opinions of Great- Br itai7i» We have seen with what candour and consistency they speak of other nations: see now^ in what manner they speak of their own. THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. l5 In vol. 16, p. 4j they make this highly becoming ad- misisiuu: '^FFe are still the freest, the most moral, most ojmlent, and most (Comfortable people of which there is any memorial.^'' This very candid and modest avowal reminds one of the avowal, equally candid and modest, of the French Dauphia, recorded in Shakespeare's Henry 5th. Orleans 'I know him to be valiant. Constable. — 'I was told that by one who knows him better than you. Orleans. — 'What's he? Constable. — 'Marry he toldme sohimselfj and he said he car- ed not who knew it.' A difficulty has, however, occurred to us, how it should happen, that 'Hhe most moral and the freest people of which there is any memorial" should be guilty of ti.e atrocities ascribed to them by these Revieweis; or should select, or even tolerate such rulers — whose characters are so exquisitely drawn by the same masterly hands — ru^ lers who are compared to the wretches that tyrannize over the piratical States of Barbary — and who it would seem arti fools as well as knaves. That we give no exagge- rated account of their representations, may be seen from the following extracts: "Let us ask, too, if the Bible is universally diffused in Hindos- tan, what must be the astonishment of the Natives to find that we are forbidden to rob, murder, and steal — we, who in fifty years have extended our empire from a few acres about Madrass over t'le whole peninsula, and sixty mil ions of people, and exempli- fied in our conduct every crime of which human nature is capa- ble. What matchless impudence to follow up such practice, with such precepts! If we have common prudence, let us keep the s'os- pel at home, and tell them that Machiavel is our prophet, and the (rod of the Manicheans our God." — Vol. 14, p. 48. "In truth, there never was a period when so favourable an oppor- tunity offered of cultivating the good will of the Barbary powers. There is something; peculiarly striking in the similarity between 46 THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. our rulers and their's. Our vigorous statesmen have a turn for pi- racy, which would do honour to the privy council of Morocco or Tunis. The admiralty of Salee must view with astonishment and envy the large scale on wtiich its favourite system hath, of late been carried into etfect by our naval power," &c.— Fo^ 14,^.314. After giving a detail of facts, they proceed: — «To those who believe that fools enjoy the special favour of heaven, there is every reason to think that our Cabinet could not apphj in vain.^^ "And as for the difference of Religion, nothing will be easier than to persuade the Moor that our government has rejected the abominations of Christianity,* by laying before them a history of the pashalick of Ireland, or the correspondence with the Beys of Calcutta and Madrass." " From a negociation commenced under such happy auspices, by powers so congenial, the happiest result may be expected. The Moor has only to take care that his vessels do not find their wa,y into our ports, and to keep our residents out of his to ■ ns, and there is no intimacy of Union, in peace or in war, for which both parties are not fully prepared." — Vol. 14, p. 314. We have seen the opinions of the Scotch Reviewers, upon the great political questions which came before them; as well as upoa several nations who have received j Lid lament at titeirhiga tribunal, and find them wise, profound andconsisient. Let us now advert to their manner of treating some of the most prominent aatiiors whose writings they have reviewed. Judgment of Lord Byron. "Lord Byron has clear titles to applause in the spirit and beauty of his diction and versification, and the splendour of many of his descriptions; but it is to his pictures of the stronger passions that • No one can believe tliat the Edinburgh Reviewers have rejected the "abominations of Christianity" who reads their e^iZojj/ upon the Christian, Ffithers, &c, &.c. THE EEVIEWEns REVIEWED. 17 he is indebted for the fulness of his fame. He has delineated with unequal force and fidelity the workings of those deep and power- ful emotions which alternately enchant and agonize the minds that are exposed to their inroads; and represented, with a terrible energy, those struggles, and suiferings, and exaltations by which the spirit is at once torn and transported, and traits of divine in- spiration, or demoniacal possession thrown across the tamer fea- tures of humanity. It is by this spell chiefly, we think, that he has fixed the admiration of the public; and while other poets de- liirht by their vivacity, or enchant by their sweetness, he alone has been able to command the sympathy even of reluctant readers, by the natural mai:ac of his moral sublimity, and the terrors and at- tractions of those overpowerinfi; feelings, the deeps and heights of which he seems to have so successfully explored. Ail the consi- derable poets of this age, have, indeed, possessed this gift in a great- er or lesser [less] degree: but there is no man, since the time of Shakespeare himself, in whom it has been made manifest v>'ith greater fulness and splendour, than in the noble author before us." —jYo. 45, J). 108-9. See now ^^ the moderate castigation" which a few years before they thouj^ht proper to give "tiie minor poet:'^ "The poesy of this young Lord belongs to the class which neith- er Gods nor men are said to permit. Indeed we do not recol- lect to have seen a quantity of verse with so few deviations, in eith- er direction, from that exact standard. His effusions are spread over a dead flat, and can no more get above or below the level, than if there were so much standing water."— ^erJgM; of Lord Byron's poems, — Vol. 1 1, p. 265-6. Bat this wholesome chastisement is happily balanced by the following eulogiuni;, which they bestow on the noble poet: "Greece, the mother of freedom and of poetry in the west, which had long employed only the antiquary, the artist and the philolo- gist,was at length destined, after an interval of many silent and in- glorious ages, to awaken the genius of a poet, [videlicit. Lord Byron.] Full of enthusiasm for those perfect forms of heroism and liberty, which his imagination had placed in the recesses of antiquity, he gave vent to his impatience of the imperfections of living men and real institutions in an original strain of stiMime satire, wliich clothes moral anger in imagery of an almost horrid C 18 \ THE REVIEWERS REVIEWEB. grandeur; and which, though it cannot coincide with the estimate of reason, jct could only flow from that worship of perfection which is the soul of all true poetry. — JVb. 43, p, 37. We ih'mk thit his most subVinis satire, is his English Bards and Scotch Reviewers, which (strange to teil) these great critics never noticed, notwithstanding the author was a Nohleman; which, it seems, is with them an important consideration; for they say, in reviewing his fust work, "it is t'Hs consijieration only, that in- duces us to dve Lord Byron's Poems a place in our Re- view; besides our desire to counsel him, that he do forth- with abandon Poetry.'' What a pity that Lord Byron had not listened to their sage counsell what failures and disgraces would it not have saved him! — But to resume the admonitions of our lleviewers: "With tills view, we must beg leave to assure him, that the mere rhyming of the final syllable, even when accompanied with the presence of a certain number of fe(^t; nay, although (which does not always happen) those feet should scan regularly, and have been all counted accurately upon the (in;^-crs — is not the whole art ofFoetry. We would 'entreat him to believe that a certain portion oi' liveliness^ somewliat of fancy.isneccsaary to constitute a poem; and that a poem, in t1ie present day, to be read,muit con- tain at least one thought either in a little flegree different from the ideas of former v/riters, or differently expressed." — Vol. 11^ We will close the extracts which we have made from their opinio!iS of Lord Byron, and which might easily be inMltif>iied, with the ft'-llo'-ving exhortation, somewhat diircreni, it must be. confessed, from the last; — 1/, IV liSLiOi/ Kl-J \.«Ji.Jl»_O0'^U, "We iiope he is not in enrnest in meditating even a temporary di- vorce from l>is Muse — and v/oiild humbly suggest to him to do av.aythe repioacli of tiie age, by producing a tragic drama of the old Engiis'i school of poetry and of pathos. lie has all the air wc think of bcini!,- the knight for whom the accomplishment of tluit great adventure is reserved."— JTo. 45, p. 229. THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. l9 Judgment of Southey, In the review of the curse of Kehama, it is thus written:— "We admire tha genius of Mr. Southey; we reverence the lofty principles, and we love the tenderness of heart, that are visible iu all his works."— FoZ — ,jj. 429. In the review of Madoc, it is also said: "Mr. Southey we think has great talents for poetry, and more learning and industry than commonly fall to the lot of those who devote themselves to tlie service of the Muses." — Vol. 7,p.l. All this, and much more to the same effect, was said of 3lr. Southey before he wrote his Roderick, unques- tionably the best by far of all his poems. Now hear the foUowina: terrible sentence of condem- nation which Mr. Southey incurred for his disrespect of their awful tribunal — Hear it and tremble, ye pre- sumptuous and hardened few who dare to question the infallibility of Scotch critics :^ — "For Genius and PoetriL we really do not know how to name their names in the face of such a strange farrago oi bad psalmody^ and stupid newspapers — ^of such base imitutiou of Sternhold, and the Daily A Ivertiser, as now lies before us" — Iteview oJSoiiikey''s Carmen Triumphale, JVo. 44, p. 448, Again: — "We have said that instead of kindling with his n»ighty theme to a true lyrical sublimity and rapture, he has handled it in the trite and creeping style of a dull daily newspaper — and we appeal to any competent judge of these matters whether he would ever have suspected that a Poe^ had gotin among that meritorious race of Journalists, if the dullest of them had taken a review of the Span- ish war in such a -sentence as the following." — ^Vo. 44,^. 449. This tremendous judgment was pronounced upon Southey, after he had, tlieysay, called them — the ir- reverent age! — ".i&'ses;" and had "intended to make them very angry, and very ridiculous." in the foriner of which objects, they assure ug that he failed as egre^ 20 THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. giously as be did in his Poem; and as to the latter, it was indeed a vain attempt! And we should require no other or better evidence of the decay of Mr. Scuthey's once powerful talents, than his engaging in so fruitless an undertaking We assure these great critics, that after so convincing a proof, they need assiirn no reasons to persuade ns of his '^'marvelious falling off;" though we think ihe one they have assigned, that "the Laurel pos- sesses the quality of rendering the head that wears it impervious to the subtle fluid in which poetical inspira- tion consists," truly ingenious and philosophical. If any, after thi«, should think there is a contradiction or inc(tnsistency in the above opinions, all that we shall say, is, that they are very much mistaken: — for that a man should at one time possess great poetical talents, and by and by become a mere dolt and ,lriveller, is not so very strange as some may suppose — for Pope assures us of what is still more strange, that «?'onie have for wits at first, then poets passed, <'Turned critics next, and proved plain fools at last." Judgment ii]ion Madame de Stael. In their review of Madame de Stael's Delphine^ these iofallibie critics thus write: — "This dismal trash which has nearly dislocated the jaws of eve- ry critic aiDong us ivith gaping, has so alarmed Bonaparte, that he has seized the v/hole impression, sent Madame de Stael out of Paris, and, for ought we know, sleeps in a night-cap of steel, and dagger proof blankets." "To us it appears rather an attack against the ten command- ments, than the government of Bonaparte, and calculated not so much to enforce the rights of the Bourbons, as thebenefits of Adul- tery, Murder, and a number of other vices, which have been some- how or other strangc/y neglected in this country, and too much so according to the apparent opinions of Madame de Stael) even in France. It happens, however, that her book is as dull as it could have been, if her intentions had been good."— «Fo/. 2, j?' 1^2. THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. gl "To conclude, our general opinion of this bookis,tliat it is cal- culated to shed a mild lustre over Adultery; — hy gentle and con- venient gradations to destroy the modesty and caution of women; to facilitate the acquisition of easy vices, and encumber the diffi- culty of virtue. What a wretched qualihcation of this censure to add, that the badness of the principles are alone corrected by the badness of the style, and that this celebrated iady would have been ■very guilty, if she had not been very dull. — Vol. 2, p. 177. This, it must be owned, is severe; and affords a strik- ing illustration of the strength of that satire, whicli — not- withstanding their native urbanity — they sometimes employ. See now in what flattering terms they can — when they choose — speak of this lady ^In review- ing her work, on Literature, written before her Delphine, and as they say, Ijrought '*into notice by the happier fortune of the Novels with which its distinguished au- thor has condescended to favour this frivolous i^enera- tion; and which,'' they add, ''we should be apt to sus- pect the ingenious frequenters of Circulating Libraries, and the lively enquiries after new books in duodecimo, will find very dull in comparison of their native favou- rites — and that the bolder among them already venture to insinuate that the author of Delphine and Corinne, is falling fast into dotage," bic — They proceed : "We look upon her as beyond all comjjarhson, the first female writer of her age," &c. &c jVo. 41, j). 2, " When we say that Madame de Stael is decidedly the most eminent Literary female of her a.^e, we do not mean to deny that there may be others whose writings are of more direct and indis- putable utility — who are distinguished hy greater justness and sobriety of tiiinking, and may pretend to have conferred more practical benefits on tlie existing generation. But it is impossi- ble, we think, to deny that she has pursued a more lofty, as well as a more dangerous career: — that she has treated of suDJects of far greater difficulty, and far more extensive interest; and even in her failures, has frequently given indications of greater powers than have sufficed for the success of her more prudent contemporaries." JS''o. 41, p. 2. They have much more to the same effect in review- ing her different Avorks, They now also — recoilecting, THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. no (loabt, the politeness that is due to a lady — relax somewhat of their former severity upon her Novels, which they condescend to praise in the following hand- some terms: "Her Novels bear testimony to the extraordinary accuracy and minuteness of her observation upon luunan character, and to her thorough knowledge of those dark and secret workings of the heart hy which misery is so often elaborated from the pure elements of the affections."— JVo. 41, p. 3. Judgment upon Moore. In JSTo. 43, p. 37-8 our Reviewers speak of Moore In the following lofty strain: — *'WhiIe the Scotch middle age inspired the most popular Poet, perhaps, of the 18th century, the i.ational genius of Ireland at length found a poetical representative, whose exquisite ear and flexible fancy, wantoned in all the varieties of poetical luxury, from the levities to the fondness of love, from polished pleasantry} to ardent passion, from the social joys of private life to a tender and mournful patriotism, taught by the melancholy fortunes of an illustrious country; witli a range adapted to every nerve in the composition of a people susceptible of all feelings wiiich have the colour of generosity, and more exempt probably than any other from degrading and unpoetical vices." Mark now, gentle reader, the exemplary justice with which these Reviewers treat this self-same xVnacreon !^|oore, when it seemeth meet to them to be just, rather than generous: "We consider his book, indeed, as a public nuisance, and would willingly trample it down by one short movement of contempt and indignation.— J/oore's Poems, Vol. 8, jj. 456. " On looking back to the volume with a view to estimate its jioztical merits, impartially as separated from its sins of morality, we are surprised to find how little praise it can lay claim to; and are more and more convinced that its popularity is owing almo&t entirely to the seduction of the subjects on which it is employed THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. 23 ' — We shall not stain our page with any of the passages to which the preceding censures areintended to apply." They then accuse him, 1. Of writinji ^'nonsense." 2. Of writing "unintelligibly." 3. Of "having adopted ideas equally remote from common sense and from truth." - 4. Of "insanity." 5. Of "childishness." 6. Of "want of judgment." — p.47Q. 7. Of "being unnatural."' — f. 473. 8. Of "insipidity"— FoL 8,jj.473. 9. Of being "effeminate and childish." — 474. 10. Of being a poet, fit only for the bagnio — 'p. 476 — and much more to the same effect, as may be seen by referring to their re- - view of Moore's Poems, and translation of Anacreon. Speaking of the former,^ they say — "By this change of title we conclude Mr. Moore i^ieans to intimate that he has now attained that ma- turity of genius which may enable him^ to meet the decision of the public in his own person; and that he will not hereafter plead insignificance in mitigation of his offences, or seek shelter in ob- scurity from the punishment which morality and criticism must concur in awarding to the peculiar vein of inspiration by M'hich he is distinguished" — Vol. 2, p. 462-3- They close their review by expressing a wish to see the publication "consigned to univer- sal reprobation."— FoZ. 8, p. 465. In closing our extracts from the review of Moore's Poeras,we must be allowed — semi-barharians though he deems us — to express our regret that any difference should ever have existed between him and the great ^^Alpha" of the P^dinburgh Keview: for we think them kindred spirits: equal in honour, equal also, and who can be superior, in candour and truth. This country has been honoured witli a visit from both, and has experienced from each of them similar re- turns of gratitude for the hospitality they received. * • See Moore's Epistles, and Jeffrey's Journal. The latter is thought by some to be a spurious production: the reason they assign is — it is so paltry. But as it has circulated so long with Mr. Jeffrey's name, and never been dis- owned by him, we have the same authority for considering it genuine as we have for considering the other work circulated as Moore's genuine. — If it is a forgery it was undoubtedly Mr. Jeffrey's duty to expose the forgery, and not suffer a iibel to receive the sanction of his name. But we have other reasons for believing it genuine: we have good authority for saying it is written in the same spirit which he indulged in his oral re- marks while in tliis country. We may therefore justly exclaim "par nobile fratrum. S4 THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. And not Lord Byron himself, v\^lio has celebrated in immortal verse, their "Ever glorious almost fatal fray," could more lament than vi^e that such fury should have found a jdace in heavenly minds. For had not "the lead in their pistols evaporated," what a loss might not the world have sustained! Opinions of Wordsworth, "Nobody can be more disposed to do justice to the great pow- ers of Mr. Wordsworth, then we are; and from the first time that he came before us, down to the present moment, we have uniform- ly testified in their favour."— JV^o. 47, p. 29. Gentle reader? this is that Wordsworth who "is known to belons; to a certain brotherhood of Poets who have haunted for some years about the lakes of Cumberland'' — vol. 11, J). aJ14 — Some of whose poetry "is silly sooth," antS some "di wnright raving"— rf/^^o, jj. S^O — the author of "the story of Alice Fell and her duflle cloak" — of '^Andrew Jones and the half crown,'' — of ^'Little Dan without breeches, and his thievish Grandfa- ther," — which we are told that the powerful n)ind of Burns would have perused with so much coutempt: and whose "fantastical personages of hysterical Schoolmas- ters, and sententious leech-gatherers, ' we are desired to *^contrast with the authentic Rustics of Burns' Cotters' Satnrday night, and his inimitable songs.'' — Vol. 13, p. 2y6. — Of his Leech-gatherer, the lleviewers thus speak: — "We defy the bitterest enemy of Mr. Wordsworth, to produce any thing at all, parallel to this, from any collection of English Poetry." But to return to our E^eviewers, one inference cannot fail to occur to every person who reads these extracts — THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED, 25" the vast importance of the praise or censure of critics so remarkable for candour and consistency. Were we not apprehensive of fatiguing our readers, we could easily multiply examples to prove — what they must now think mere supererogation — the candour and impartiality, the consistency and correctness of our Scotch critics. In casting our eyes over their work, we were parti- cularly struck with their judgments upon several men, whose characters we ignorantly supposed settled in his- tory: But they have had the kindness to correct the absurd opinions which the world has heretofore enter- tained. Upon the character of Montesquieu, they thus decide: — "An author who frequently appears profound, when he is only paradoxical, and seems to have studied with great success the art of hiding a desultory and fantastical style of reasoning, in imposing aphorisms, and epigrams of considerable effect."— Fbi. 15, p. 464. How stupidly ignorant was Edniund Burke, of the genius and character of Montesqideu, when he wrote the following lofty eulogium: — "Place, for instance, before your eyes, such a man as Montes- quieu. Think of a genius not born in every country, or every time; a man gifted by nature with a penetrating aquiline eye; with a, judgment prepared witli the most extensive er 'dition; with a herculean robustness of mind, and nerves not to be broken with labour; a man who could spend twenty years in one pursuit. Think of a man like the universal patriarch in Milton, (who had drawn up before him in prophetic vision the vvholp^ series of gene- rations which were to issue from his loins,) a man capable of plac- ing in review after having brought together, from the east, the west, the north, and the south; from the coai-seness of the rudest barbarism, to the most refined and subtle civilization, all the schemes of government which had ever pre/ailed amongst man- kind, weighing, measuring, collating, and comparing them all, joining fact with theory, and calling into council, upon all this in- finite assemblage of things, all the speculations which ha.\& fatigued the understanding of profound reasoners, in all times." — Appeal from the new to the old TVhigs, Burkes works ^ vol, 5, p. 436. B 62 THE BEVIKWERS REVIEWED. And what a paltryjadge of characters, was this same Burke, who, in his speech on the trial of Hastings, could break out into the following rant about Lord Bacon — "Whose name to mention is to speak of every thing in science the most prof ound, whose least distinc- tion was that he was Lord Chancellor of England, and the son of a Peer," &c. Hear now the wise men of the north, and learn to estimate more correctly the boasted science of Lord Bacon. "This last volume" — say they, in reviewing a work of Sir John Sinclair, 'ns dedicated to British authors, who have treated of health and longevity, and is chiefly occupied with a republication of Lord Bacon's most insane and credulous quackeries." — Vol. 1 1, p. 213. Of the famous Sir Thomas Moore, the pride and boast of his age, and whom Englishmen have, one and all, delighted to honor — whom Thompson eulogized in poetry, and Addison in prose, our Scotch oracles thus respectfcilly speak: — "But with the exception of the life of Picus Mirandula a youth- ful production, and the history of Richard the 3d, the genuineness of which, is somewhat doubtful; this enormous volume contains scarcely any thing but the acrimonious invective of Religions controversy, or the doctrinal drivelling of superstition.^^ — Me- moirs, <§*c. of Sir Tliomas Moore, vol. 14, p. 266. No one will accuse our Reviewers of superstition, who reads their work with common attention. That Lucretius is superior to Virgil. Of the poei;n of Lucretius, they say: — "It is full of genius; and contains more poetry, we are inclined to think, than any other production of the Latin Muse. — ■With less skill— less uniform propriety — and less sustained dignity than Virgil, it has always appeared to us, that he had more natural THE REVIEWERS REV^IEWED. S7 genius and original spirit; that his diction in his happier pas- sages, was sweeter and more impressive; and all the movements of his mind, more free, simple, and energetic." — Vol. 10, p. 222. Who would think that this is the poem to which one of the writers of the Spectator, Addison we believe, has given 8ir Richard Blackmore's poem on the Creation, the preference. But why do I mention the opinion of Addisun, in competition with our Scotch critics, — Addison "^was famous in his time,^'* but he was not a Jeffrey, or a Lamb. Opinions upon subjects of Criticism. Both the style of Dr. Robertson, and that of his Biog- rapher would have been improved by a little negligences even a little roughness and occasional hastiness of ex- pression; by now and then displaying those careless efforts of strength, which mark the strength of a master genius, and live and thrive, disclosing a brave neglect, which would alarm an ordinary mind." — Vol. 2, p. S46, Stewart- s account of Dr. Robertson They had previously, in their review of Hayley's Life of Cowper, stoutly combatted the same sentiment, when expressed by Cowper. They observe, it is im- possible to say any thing of Cowper's writings, without taking notice of the occasional harshness, and inelegance of his versification. From his correspondence, however, it would appear, that this was not with him the effect of negligence merely, but that he really imagined that a rough and incorrect line now and then^ had a very agreeable effect in a composition of any length. This prejudice, we believe, is as old as Cowley, among English writers; but we do not know that it has of late received the sanction of any poet of eminence. In truth *" The Dean was famous in his time, "And had a kind of knack at rh3'me," &c. &c. &c. Verses on the death of Dr. Stvift. S8 THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. it does not appear to us, to be at all capable of defence. It mast afford the same gratification, we should imagine, to have one of the buttons on a coat, a little larger than th^ rest, or one or two of the "pillars in a colonade, a little out of the perpendicular. If variety is Wanted, let it be variety of excellence, and not a relief of imperfections. Itcan afford no pleasure, we imagine, to a reviewing General, to see a miserable, rickety, and distorted creature, staggering along in uniform, amidst the tall and stately battalions that march past, in splen- did regularity before him." — Vol. 2, p. 83. Specimens of fine writing* We shall now, by a few extracts, shew their unques.. tionable title, to the office which they have assumed, of the arbiters of taste, and the true purifiers and refiners of the English language. In order to do justice to these great critics, we have selected some of the choicest spe. cimens of fine writing, to be found in their works; but we would not be understood to say, that we have selected all, or the tenth part. — Similar examples might easily be multiplied to a much greater number, than our readers would find patience to peruse. Let any one, who wishes to see a union of grace, elegance, and correctness, read the following exquisite sentences:— "FF? dcn^e to say, Sir John Sinclair could have told it him?^ — Vol. 7, jj. 35. ^ "The Leather matle in America is bad, though tanning is reck-r oned profitable; but people make rich by importing Leather from England." — Vol. 7, p. 2,5. "jB^e begins observing, that the right of interferiug in the ^ffair^ of any foreign state." — Vol. 9, jj. 262. "When in addition to these dangers, we reflect also upon those with which gur national happiness is menaced, by the present THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. S9 thinness of ladies petticoats, temerity may hope our salvation^hvit how can i-eason promise it." — Vol. 1, jj. 97. The last sentence is not less remarkable for refine- ment of wit, then refinement of style, "For the first ten days the labour was tolerable, and his progress fully more rapid then he had expected."—- FoZ. 1, p. 151. "In short, to he fully more likely to beat their wives and cheat their benefactors, than any other set of persons.— JVb. 40, , y. 256. "The imitation of the diction and measure, we think, is nearly almost perfect.^— JS*o. 40, p. 440. "They hear to he memoirs of a Princess of Prussia, written by herself. "^JVo. 40, p. 257. "In modern nations, more particularly in England, the state of public credit, the operations of budget, the means of supplying the armies, the effect of different systems adopted in war and peace, are all of the highest importance." — 'Review ofMolphus's history of England, in vol. 9, p. 17. How classical and elegant is the following phrase — ^^ Open up an intercourse with the country." So again in page 18, we have *'ito ojjen up an interview, so obviously beneficial to both coun- tries" — "May teach him some lessons, and open up to him soine views," &c.— JV*o. 40,^. 257. "We differ with him, in every one sentiment, which he pro- poses on this grave subject," &c. — Vol. 9, p. 425. It was heretofore supposed, that we might differ from a person in sentiment, or agree with him; but we are now informed, that we m^iy differ with a person, or aj^ree with him at our option. With what ease and elegance do the following sen- tences move: — - "The natural operation of such an institution, is so diametri- cally opposite to, and incompatible with, the strongest principle? of our nature."-— Fof. 4, p. 316. 30 THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. "though that class is very different/row and inferior to the other."--JV'o. 48, p. 325. "The evil of such discussions is, that they are apt to leave an impression on the mind, that the obligations of duty rest on some- thing different/rojji, and independent o/, the will of God." — Vol. 17, p. 472. This separation of the preposition, from the noun which it governs, is a manifest beauty, and ought always to be adopted when practicable. It is one of those minor graces — those finishing touches, which mark the man of taste, and the fine scholar. "The inhabitants amount toT.400, and when the abundance of food, and mildness of climate are considered, their residence can- not date from a remote period."— -n^siafic Researches, p. 28-9, ir 'The popular antipathies have been pointed of new, [of latej exclusively against France." — Vol, 14,p. 481. "No ordinary shares of genius and taste, may be allowed to Warton.".— Fo/. 2, p. &56. "There are few literary men in Scotland who do not come to regret that unclassical [unclassick] negligence, which almost ex- cludes Greek literature from our present system of education." — Vol. l,p.94. "If Mr. Lewis is really in earnest, in pointing out the coinci- dences between his own dramatic sentiments, and the gospel of St. Matthew, such a reference (wide as we know the assertion to be) evinces a want of judgment, of which we did not think him capable." — Vol. 1, p. 316. Capable of a want of judgment! — how correct and beautiful ! «'The same process is very often repeated, especially at Paris and Constantinople, and in no part of the route more frequently than in the unexplored country of Hungary, and the military frontiers of the two Emperors." — Vol. 4, p. 213. An ordinary writer would have said, the military frontiers of the two empires.. THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. 3£ "In the year 1595, to omit lesser particulars, the next three books of the Fairy Queen made their appearance. — Vol. 7, p. 210- It is true that Dr. Johnson, censured the use of lesser as **a corruption of less;'' but no one can place the authority of Dr. Johnson, in competition with those "northern lights," the Scotch Reviewers, who use it constantly. The Doctor's prejudice against the Scotch ought, we think, alone, to destroy all respect for his judgment upon any subject. We have no doubt, that were he now alive, he would have the hardihood to growl at our great critics themselves. What admirer of that beautiful figure of speech, called TAUTOLOGY, can fail to be delighted with the fol- lowing exquisite example of it: — <'Hassan comes in profound silence, with a iileat band, bearing g;ently among them, a silent and heavy burden in a white sheet. — They row out in a still golden evening from the rocky shore, and silently slip their burden into the water."— .AT?. 42, p. 302. Any one who wishes to see an example of the most happy obscurity, will do well to read the following sen- tence: — "The remarks made above apply to those subsidiary obligations entered into by nations, not strictly concerned in the stipulations, in which the acceding parties guarantee [guaranty] the treaty or bargain to support the party implementing against all infractions by the other. These are generally modified by the disposition of all parties at the time of the requisition to fuljil being made, to the parties guarantees."— "FbZ. 1,^. 369. What a happy union of obscurity and false grammar is here! This is an admirable specimen of the true profound, so strongly recommended by Martinus Scrib- lerus, who sagely observes — "The expression must not always be tt30 clear, for fear of becoming vulgar; for obscurity bestows a cast of the wonderful, and throws an oracular dignity upon a piece that has no meaning." S2 THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. The above sentence is indeed so oracular, that we read it over three several times, before we could even guess at the meaning. Nor are we at all certain, that we have yet fathomed it. We should, however, conjecture, that the pronoun "these"* at the beginning of the second sentence, is intended to refer to "subsidi- ary obligations" in the first part of the preceding sentence: though in grammatical strictness, it refers to infractions. We may be mistaken however, in our supposition. *^These»' may be meant to refer to "nations," or "stipu- lations," or "parties," to either of which it may just as well refer as to "subsidiary obligations." The Polite or Elevated Style, We will now give some examples of what may pro- perly be termed, the polite or elevated style: — "It is common to speak of the balderdash which men must talk at public meetings."— ••yVo. 40, p. 419. *'Yet, we' not onlj"^ feel neither respect nor aftection for Dide- rot — ^but can seldom read any of his lighter pieces, without a cer- tain degree of disa"ust. There is a tone of blackguardism,''^ &c. &c.— JVo. 42, p. 283. "they all of a sudden, began to feel themselves great commanders, because the pompous Spanish functionaries, their equals, perhaps their inferiors, conferred an unmeaning rank on them — and to fancy themselves transmogrified into diplomatic characters."— FoZ. 15, p. 392. "But our author is not Frenchified, upon points of gallantry alone."— FoL 8.;?. 416. Again: — "The story is that of a wise, virtuous, well-bred English hus- band, who is seduced from the most amiable wife in the world by the arts of a Frenchified coquet."— Fo^ 8. p. 20r. THE ItEVIEWERS REVIEWED. SS «This attempt was successful, and he set out with the family as usual, in the capacity of what is vulgarly termed a/ac-toiMm," &c. — Vol. S,p. 354. "but as he has thought fit to stir the question." — Vol. 16, p. 186. 'wherever, the question is stirred, as to whose claims shall be renounced."— .JVo. 41, p. 13 "So very little could be gained by the fullest exercise of those rights, that it is impossible sufficiently to regret the stirring of the question. — Vol. 14, p. 466. The beauty and delicacy of this phraseology was so pleasantly pointed out by Addison in the Spectator, that we are glad to see our Keviewers sanction it by their higher authority. "The natives for a long time did not at all comprehend the mean- ing of his "insults," as they termed it, and could not imagine how any one could be so stingy, as to prevent them from "taking a few peaches and-apples in a friendly way." — Vol. 7, p. 37. "The language of passion, indeed, can scarcely be deficient in elevation; and when an author is aivanting in that particular, he may commonly be presumed to have failed in the truth, as well as in the dignity of his expression." — Review of Southey^s Thalaba, Vol. 1. We also greatly admire the following polite phrase- *iGod send that our wishes be not in vain."—- Foi!. 11,^. 362. As also that of the three following sentences: — "Surely scholars and gentlemen can drink tea and eat bread and butter together, without all this laudatory cackling -^Vol. 14, p. 358. ' "We were highly amused with this proof ab ebriis siitoribus, of the prostration of Europe, the last hour of human felicity, the per- dition of man, discovered in the crapulous eructations of a drunk- en cobler." — Vol. l,p. 97. E S^i THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. — «We are quite determined, if we can prevent suchaii evil, that it [Religion] shall not be eaten up by the nasty and nmnerous vermin of Methodism." — Vol. 14, p. 40. ^rom the foregoing sentences it may be seen what peculiar elevation and refinement a single word will sometimes give to a sentence. Wit and Satire. We will now give a few examples of genuine Attic wit, and refined courtly satire. "But our author gets warm and cackling^ and when he has iaid his little truism, makes such an intolerable riot, that we might suppose he had produced a diamond instead of an eg-^."— FbZ. 16, 23. 181. ''But it is not merely against the doctrines, or the indescriba- ble stuff in the name of doctrines, afforded by the Grecian sagesy that the German hog, makes the disagreeable noise which it is natural to beasts of his species tc/ make, when annoyed by any thing offensive. He squeaks, whicli is louder than grunting, against their lives.-' — Vol, 14, j;. 195. How polished and refined is the satire in the follow- ing sentence — We take this — if Republicans like us may be allowed to have an opiision upon such a subject — to he the true courtly style; and as such recommend it to thoseof our countr^ymen, who, (agreeably to the ad- vise given them by the Scotch Reviewers) are desirous of cultivating "-'^a certain fastidiousness of taste." "but Mr. Styles should remember, that it is not the practice with the destroyers of v^rium, to allow the little victims, a ^•efoupon the weapon?, used against them. If it were otherwise, we should have one set of vermin banishing small tooth-combs;^^ another, &c. — a third protesting against the finger and thumbs and a fourth, exclaiming against the intolerable infamy of usino- soap ar,d water. It is impossible however to listen to such pleas. They must all be caught, killed, and cracked, in the manner and by the instruments which are found most efficacious for their de- struction," &c. — ■Vol. 14, J7. 41. THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. ^5 Since copying the last paragraph^ we have thought that we might perhaps be mistaken — illiterate plebeians as we are — and that this is not the true courtly style; but that these illustrious Reviewers, intentionally adopt- ed the language and manner of the ^^consecrated coblers,'' whose "nest," they say, they have been "rout- in^-out:'' and like Congreve's critics, meant to ^'shew us what is bad, by what they write."* But however it may be as to the last, no one can doubt, that the fol- lowing is an admirable specimen of pure attic salt: — "Whoever has had the good fortune to see Dr. Parr's wig, must have observed that while it trespasses a little on the orthodox magnitude of Perukes in the anterior parts, it scorns even epis- copal limits behind, and swells out into a boundless convexity of Frizz,'" &c.— -the mya Qaunx of Barbers, and the terror of the lite- rary world," — Parvus spital sermon, vol l,p. 18. How pure and unaffected is the wit, as well as the language of the following sentence, in which they thus respectfully speak of the Clergy generally: — 1 «0f ikie propriety of the last epithet, our readers may perhaps be more convinced, by calling to. mind, a class of fops, not usually designated by that epithet—men clothed in profound black, with large canes, and strange amorphous hats- — of big- speech and imperative presence — talkers about Plato—great affec- ters of senility — despisers of women, and all the graces of life ' — fierce foes to common sense — abusive of the living, and approv- ing no one that has not been dead for at least a century,'" — VoL 7, p. 222. —"and might have brought us back, not anile conjecture, but some evidence," &c. — Vol 2, p. 330. This word frequently occurs, as where they tlius re- verendly speak of the Christian fathers: — -"abundantly proves, that the mo?'a7 tenets of these /. 360. 48 THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. So we have the adjective ennuyee:-— «We have already said something of the state of society. In addition to the fault of being too artificial and too recherche, it was evidently too profligate and unprincipled." — Vol. 7, p. 383. "There is something truly dechirant in the natural and piteous iteration of her eloquent complaining.'' — Vol. 15, p. 481. M. Thiebault, was one of the many French savans, whom Frede- rick the 2d, invited to settle in his capital.'' — Vol. 7, p. 218. "on one of these occasions, the savants in waiting were,'' &c. — Vol. 7, p. 232. "M. Thiebault affirms, that when he pursued his pitiless system after the termination of the seven years war, only one roturier was left in commission," &c, — Vol. 7, p. 236. "And his extraordinary familiarity, with the best models has endowed him with that tact and quickness of perception, which instinctively rejects whatever could offend against refinement and propriety."— .JV*o, 49, p. 152. ——"a certain tact which informs us at once." — JVo. 47, p. 3* "The author seems to disdain giving himself en spectacle to his readers." — Vol ,p. 275. "The general and peremptory proscription of the bourgeois excluded no doubt, a good deal of vulgarity and coarseness."— Vol. 15, p. 459. "Her tone is admirable; her wit flowing and natural; and though a little given to detraction, and not a little importunate and exi- geante towards those, on whose complaisance she had claims," &c. '-^Vol.l5,p.474. "She is also recorded to have frequently declared, that she could never bring herself to love any thing— though in order to take every possible chance, she had several times attempted to become rfeiJoie— with no great success.— This we have no doubt was the secret of her ennu't.^^ — Vol. 15, p. 474. "His work consists only of MorcMux—'O^ brilliant passages." ^ — JVo. 48,;?. 333. "another quality which he confesses is mmivaisse-honte.'^ — Vol. S,p. 354. THE REVIEWERS REVIEWJID. 49 "The whole of this dreadful plot we are assured, Avas revealed to the King, with its particular ites, &c. — JVo. 4, p. 260. "He was very stupid, she says, with great airs of wisdom — ^liad no generosity but for his favourites and mistresses, by whom he let himself be governed — spoke little and took no pleasure in hearing any thing but niaiseries.'—J\ro. 40, p. 262. "The truth of the matter is, tlie Princess assures us, that George the 2d was himself desirous that the match should be con- cluded without waiting for the uncertain sanction of Parliament, and had suggested this devise of a seeming etourderie on the part of his son," &c. — JVo. 40, p. 264. *'Their domestic life, when these galas were over, was nearly as fatiguing and still more lugubrious," — JVo. 40, p. 272. "but such elaborate doceurs, as occur in the following let» ter to Mrs. Montague—look too much like adulation." — Vol. 10, jp. 190. "and the tone in which M. Grimm notices it, as a mere foiblesse on the part of Le Grand Maurice." — JVo. 4Q,p. 94. » "Whatever the partial biogi-apher say to the contrary, this was a post of little more than mere faste, and its duties confined solely to representation." — Vol. 11, p. 305. ' "this spot, more sombre and triste than the rest of Italy," Sac— Vol. ll,p.lS7. "Even if it were possible for a mere dilettante to avoid, &c."— Vol. 11,77.213. "The Abbe de Delille, seems to have feared this, and two vast bundles of verse, each divided into twelve fasciculi, have been published in France as poetical versions of the ^nied and Para- dise Lost."— 'Fo/. 15, p. 555- "However little we may prize the loose rhapsodies and senti- mental effusions of a middling person like M. Kotzeb'^e, they are likely to interest us more strongly than a bare repetition of what all former travellers had said in a better style; or a collection of the cognocenza, which is poured out by Ciceroni, for a couple of piastres a day."— .Fb/. 7, p. 459. "It is in some measure ludicrous, and in some measure melan- choly to see a clumsy saturnine man of letters, giving himself the airs oi Q, gourniand and ^ou4.^\ G 50 THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. "All this we must confess ratlier disheartened us, but our aston- ishment it will naturally be believed was extreme, when we dis- covered as we went on that our plodding pedantic archcelogist Avho left this country with a confirmed character for all these ac- complishments in 1812, was in the course of three little years, transformed into a strange likeness of a Parisian ^eiri maitre; was become a profound critic in wines, dressed dishes, and ornaments of the table; was in raptures witli the freedom and gallantry of the French ladies; prattled pieces of sophism, about adultery and the laws of aivorce; and affecting an air of the most amiable etour- derie, indicated the profoundest contempt for the usages and fashions of this melancholy island." — Vol. 8, p. 414. Those who are struck with the purity of the style in the last sentence, cannot fail to be equally struck with the ex- quisite wit and humour of the sentence which follows: — "Yet after all, we think that most readers must be a little start- led, when the example of d bas-relief, of a young woman looking for a flea upon her chemise, as a striking example of the elegant fancy and amiability of the French artists."— Fbi. 8,^. 418. The Scotch Reviewers very properly advise one of our authors to ^'pay some attention to purity of style and simplicity of composition, and to cherish in himself a certain fastidiousness of taste — which is not yet to be found we are afraid" — say they — ^'even among the bet- ter educated Americans." — Vol 15, p. 39. Now every person who reads the extracts which we have given, must be convinced that this cannot be more successfully accomplished than by the frequent per- usal, and constant study, of their great work. Yes, these are the men, who are to oppose a barrier to those corruptions of the English language, vrhich have been so rapidly gaining ground for some time past, and threat- en to rencier the writings of Addison, and Swift, and Pope, in a very short time, obsolete. But to constitute purity of style, it is not at all nec6s sary (as has been seen) that the style and language should be piirehj Unglish, On the contrary it may, without injuring its pvivity, be interlarded with words and phrases borrowed from any language — the French, the Italian, or the Spanisli; the Persic, or the Sanscrit. THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED, 51 And if they are not understood by the mere English Scholar — so much the better: it will ^'raake the ignorant stare'' — as Hamlet says. We certainly feel under vast obligations to the Scotch Reviewers, for having so marvelously improved the En- glish tongue. We hope they will go on in the good work which they have so prosperously begun, and enrich our language with spoils from "every kindred, and nation, and tongue." Thus in time we may hope to see the language of Babel — so celebrated by ancient authors for its copiousness — revived among us. It must be remembered, however, by our learned — or perhaps we ought to say our unlearned readers, that these great literary potentates have very properly reserved to themselves, as a branch of their royal prerogative, the right of coining new words, or giving currency to those which are foreign and that they would not per- mit a subject, though "an Earl and a Colonel of Cavalry," and what is still more a Scotchman, to manufacture — or? as they elegantly and wittily express it, "to raise a single new word:" — Though all that this distinguished person did, was in imitation of the example of the Reviewers, in using ^'peoples" for people, to use the word "arm'' instead of arms, to denote a^piece of armour. — See vol, 15,2) 506. So reproving the same liberty when taken by Sir Robert Wilson, in his book on the Russian army, they indignantly exclaim — "What will our readers think of a vocabulary, in which are to be found chivalresque, disunitable, evitate!"— .To/. 18, jp. 232. And they even rebuke— and in pretty severe terms — their now loving friend Lord Byron, for trespassing upon their prerogative, and daring to usurp a privilege which they willpermitno one but themselves to exercise: "We do not think it absolutely necessary— 'Sa,y they — that every one should follow up the example of the noble author, to whose 52 THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. poems Meninskj's 'Lexicon Arabico-Persico-Turcicum' forms such an indispensable appejidage; and who listens to the hulbulj when Christian folks would have been better pleased with the strains of the Nightingale."— JVo. 49, p. 167. And this too, after having bestowed no light censure upon him, in their review of his Giaour, for his "untrans- lated words, and unchristian appellations.'' — Ho in reviewing Southey's Roderick, they say: — "the diction is still too much affected with strange words; which, whetlier they are old or new, are not English at the present day — and we hope never will become so.''^ — JS'*o. 49, p. 30-1. And tliey give our poet Barlow,* one of those ^^mode- rate castigations*' which they erst bestowed upon the *''minor poet,'' Byron, for having presumed to borrow from these obscure, unheard of authors, Shakespeare, Milton, Brown, Burnet, and Woodward, such words as *^'crass, conglaciate, 2;ride," the verb to "gyve,'' and the adjective "mfUenial," &c. which they say "are as utterly foreign as if they had been adopted from the Hebrew or the Chinese."— Fo/. 15, ji. S8--9. The length to which v\ e have already extended cur remarks upon the Edinburgh Review, renders it neces- * In mentioniH^ Barlow, wliom some one has called the "American Epic Poet," we will merely say, that we have never read — though we have occa- sional!', looked into his Coliunbiade: — and while we have Homer, Milton and "Virgil, we hope we never shall read it. Still between the poet Barlow — low as we are disposed to rate him — and by far the greater number of poets who now adorn tlie British isles, we really tliink there is no comparison: — and that among all the countless epic poets of the present day — though so numerous in (I'reat Britain as to furnish six to a country "tea-drinking." — ( Edin. Bevieiv, vol. 11,/), 362)--Joel Barlow is decidedly the first! But why need we give our opinion in his favour, when he has the great Scotch cv'V- ics tliemselvts, in much stronger language, "We have no hesita- tion in sajiag, that we consider him_§Teaif in comparison with many of the puling and paltry rhymsters, who disgrace our English Literature by their occasional success." — J7evie-w of Burloiu's C()lv)n^iado, vol. 15; p. 39. IMi: 15:iriow has never disgraced t'tie American literature by his success; — he pubii^-h^d a splendid edition of his poem at his own expense, which we believe was ahp.ost entJiely bestowed by him in presents — and there the cir- culai ion ended. We will lake upon oiu'seives to say, that where there has been one volinr.e of the Columhiade sold in this country, there has been ten thousand of the Paradise Lost, THE REVIEWERS REVIEWED. 53 sary for us to draw to a close; which we cannot do without earnestly recommending it to the study of all the "inge- nuous youth of our country^^ who are desirous to acquire purity of style, and to "cherish in themselves a certain fastidiousness of taste — which is not yet to be found'' — we are told by our great masters — "even among the bet- ter educated of the Americans." But what is still more important, the study of the Edinburgh Review will tend to give them that dignified and becoming contempt for their own country, which is the foundation of all national greatness; and with which those enlightened philanthropists, the British travellers, have so long laboured to inspire us. A familiar acquaintance with the Edinburgh Review will also free the youthful mind from all narrow bigotry, weak superstition, and foolish fanaticism; and instil into them the religious opinions of Hume and Gibbon, and the pure morals of Bolingbroke and Yolfcaire. And lastly, as the profound speculations of sapient politicians and oracular statesmen — in this country of politicians and statesmen — their writings are invaluable. What a privilege that, from their extensive circulation, all classes of our countrymen can drink wisdom from the fountain head! We here close what we had to say, — These great critics — marvellous to relate — make it a grountl cf griev- ous accusation against the pcet Southey, that "he has actually taken the pains to pore over their political spec- ulations for five years." Nothing but that wonderful modesty, of which they have given so maj)y and such signal proofs, could render this, in their eyes, matter of blame. For ourselves, we take a prkle in avowing, that Hheir most edifying volumes'— to borrow the lan- guage of Swift, when speaking of the great critics of his time — ^we turn indefatigably over day and nigSit, for the improvement of our minds, and the- good of our country.' ERRATA. — In page 23, line 7, from the top, for ^Hnsani- ty,^* read inanity ^ — page 27, line 1 0, from the top, for ''Lamb" read Lambe — page 39, lines 4 and 5, from the hottom, for *'blackardisnif" read blackgiiardism; and for desultriness,* read desultoriness — page 40, line 2, from the hottom, for "coo:- cowbryf" vesiA coxcombry, — In page 3, last line, for "have.y" read has.