στένομεν μεμνημένοι From the New Monthly Magazine. ἐβης ἐκείνης, νοῦ τ' ἐκείνου, και φρενῦν. STOв. Adolescens, tamen etsi properas, hoc saxum rogat, Uti ad se aspicias: deinde quod scriptu'st Hic sunt poete Marcei Pacuviei sita MR. EDITOR, DE EPARTED genius meets at length with its reward, and the admirers of the immortal BURNS hear with feelings of singular satisfaction that a splendid monument is now erecting to his memory at Dumfries in Scotland, where he resided during the greater part of his life, and where his remains were buried. The promoters of this benevolent plan are entitled to the public gratitude, and by this act of generosity they derive some reflected glory to themselves from the Just re of his genius Non hæc urna tua, Euripides, sed tu magis hujus, 1803, I shall gratify their taste by producing it, first giving our author's preliminary observations. "As I profess myself a great admirer of the writings of Burns, and should think that I had no knowledge or taste -in poetry if I were not, I endeavoured to stimulate the exertions of his countrymen when I was at Dumfries, by writing two short pieces of poetry, and fixing them as well as I was able on the turf of his grave. I cut some small hooked sticks from the ash-trees that sprung up among the tombs, and by means of these I pegged the papers down upon the grass. The epitaph I carried with me to the place, and the other I wrote with a pencil on the spot, making use of one of the monuments for a table. The epitaph was as follows: INSCRIPTION ROBERT BURNS. Namque tua hanc urnam gloria condecorat. The inscription that commemorates the burial-spot of this very beautiful poet is written in Latin, and has already appeared in more than one publication. As some of your readers, Mr. Editor, may perhaps be unacquainted with an epitaph which was written for the same purpose by a very amiable and accomplished man, in his tour to the Western If Pity touch thee, drop one friendly tear; Highlands of Scotland in the summer of If blameless, censure him; for BURNS lies Eng. Mag. Vo), A 2H mire; For here he rests who well could strike the lyre; here." 149] Mausoleum of Burns, the Poet. [444 How superior is the language of these point worthy of its subject-nay, worthy es to the trite expressions generally to be inscribed on the monument which ised in subjects of this kind! The above is now erecting to the memory of Burns. pitaph recommends itself to the taste That its elegant author may give addiof every reader by its chaste simplicity; tional proof of his poetical talent is the and I need not add that it is in every fervent wish of N. N. DESCRIPTION OF THE MAUSOLEUM OF BURNS, THE AT DUMFRIES, IN SCOTLAND. (WITH A PLATE.) From the Monthly Magazine. HE elegant and classical tribute not only from various parts of the Unitto the memory of departed genius, ed Empire, but from the East and West which is represented in the plate, is now Indies and America, the committee aderecting at Dumfries, in Scotland, where vertised for plans and drawings of a Burns resided during the greater part of suitable architectural monument. Many his life, and where his remains were eminent architects accordingly became buried. competitors for the honour, and, after a due examination of the merits of the various drawings, the palm was awarded to the plans which, on opening the sealed envelope transmitted therewith, appeared to be executed by Mr. Hunt. The fands for defraying the expence of this splendid monument are raising among the friends and admirers of the bard, by a subscription, which originated with a few public-spirited inhabitants of Dumfries scarcely two years ago, and A grand masonic and military procestheir exertions have been attended with sion ushered in the ceremony of laying the most gratifying success. The arch- the foundation stone; and the attention tectural part of the mausoleum was de- of the numerous spectators was called to signed by Mr. THOMAS FREDERICK the solemnity in an elegant and pathetic HUNT, of London. eulogium on the merits of the deceased Poetarum :-- In Aeternum Honorem The first meeting of the subscribers bard, by the provincial grand-master of was held at Dumfries on the 6th of Ja- this part of Scotland, WILLIAM Miller, nuary, 1814, and after stating their opi- esq. of Dalsminton. The foundation nion "that it has long been a subject of stone was then laid with due masonic regret, and indeed a reflection against formalities, and the following elegant their country, that no public tribute of inscription was deposited, along with respect has yet been paid to the memory the usual memorials of the age in which of the man who employed his unrivalled we live :powers in giving grace and dignity to the Lowland language of Scotland, and in illustrating the simplicity of the manners and character of the Scottish peasantry," the meeting resolved," that a mausoleum ought to be reared over the grave of Burns ;" and a subscription was opened to defray the expences. committee selected from among the nobility, gentry, clergy, and principal inhabitants of the town and county of Dumfries, was appointed to superintend the erection of the monument, and to receive and solicit subscriptions. Encouraged by the liberal and handsome manner in which the admirers of Burns came forward with contributions, Caledonia sui ævi longe principis Cujus carmina eximia, patrio sermone scripta, Animi magis ardentis, ingeniique-vi, Quam arte vel cultu conspicua, Facetiis, jucunditate, lepore affluentia, Omnibus literarum cultoribus satis nota ; Cives sui, necnon plerique omnes Musarum amantissimi, memoriamque viri Arte poetica tam praeclari, foventes HOC MAUSOLEUM, Super reliquias poetæ mortales, Georgio Tertio regnante, Thoma F. Hunt, Londinensi, Architecto, Nonis Juniis, Anno Lucis VMDCCCXV. TRANSLATION. In perpetual honour of more than for the acquired accomplishments his townsmen and others, who love polite and cherish the memory of so eminent Of this edifice, planned by Thomas F. Hunt, esq. of London, architect, the first stone was laid by William Miller, esq. Provincial Grand Master of the Southern District of Free Masons in Scotland, Joseph Gass, esq. being Provost of On the 5th day of June, In the year of light, 5815. 446 The mausoleum is now nearly completed, and already attracts the admiration of all who view it; for symmetry and chasteness of design it has scarcely its equal in the sepulchral monuments of any age or country, while the situation in which it is placed is excellently calculated to arrest the attention of the passing traveller. It is intended to adorn the interior with a piece of sculpture, in alto-relievo, from the chisel of Turnerelli; and the subject which the artist has chosen may be considered as the apotheosis which the bard selected for himself. In the dedication of the first edition of his poems to the members of the Caledonian Hunt, Burns observes, "the poetic genius of my country found me as the prophetic bard Elijah did Elisha, at the plough, and threw ber inspiring mantle over me." The alto-relievo of the sculptor will embody this elegant thought on marble, and the effect of the whole cannot fail to be heightened by the sublimity and grandeur of an idea so highly poetical. PRESCIENCE; OR, THE SECRETS OF DIVINATION. A POEM. By EDWARD SMEDLEY, junior. From the Monthly Review. AFTER the mass of nonsense which, reader. Such are the several "Pleain the discharge of our literary duty, sures" of "Imagination," of "Hope,' we are so constantly compelled to peruse, and of "Memory," which have been it is indeed a relief and a refreshment to deservedly admired and esteemed in witness the gradual improvement and the their day; and which bid fair to possess corrected labours of a genuine English a permanent reputation in the annals of writer. To no department of criticism our poetry. does this remark more forcibly apply. In the first part, the author describes than to that which is occupied in the the famous scene that is said to have examination of modern poetry. taken place before the battle of Phil Mr. Smedley's object seems to have ippi: been to tread in the steps of those successful writers who have chosen some passion or power of the human mind as the favourite ground-work of their compositions; and who have built on this foundation an edifice of moral reflection, historical illustration, and fanciful embellishment, calculated to instruct and to please the thoughtful and the classical His thirsty spirit drank ambition's blood; awhile. Then, as they tell, the sorrowing lord of day "The fight was near---already on the plain, Thousands had slept, who ne'er shall sleep again, Unless that dreamless nothing sleep we call Unfolds her dusky wing to fly from light; And o'er the slumber's fancy-wilder'd view, The chilling smile which sated vengeance It rais'd the purple which was folded round, Pointed the battle-plain, and sternly strode 'Calm sate the hero; once before his eye The following attempt to pourtray a character of which so many have confessed, 448 Breathes to his soul the rich perfume of fame, And thought outruns each image it supplies. And bars the waters from the firmament. two beautiful extracts (so indeed they Nor these alone, but gentler hopes belong There Fancy paints to his enamour'd gaze Visions of happiness in coming days; Portrays some image of the yet unknown, And shews the spirit destin'd for his own; Half veils and half reveals ber to his sight, And pours o'er all a dimly shadow'd light, Till, in his own creation rapt, the boy Clasps with fond arms his unsubstantial joy; Which fans the slumbering spark of minstrel And give unreal substance to a shade. Hangs o'er the imagin'd form himself has made, --nequo monstrare, et sentio tantùm,” is far from unsuccessful: "Oh! for that holy hope, that keen desire, fire; 'Pass'd is the spell, the talisman unbound, 'Yet o'er his search some hand unseen Weans from the false ones, to the real guides; 'Soon as her first light whisper steals around, So like, we almost greet him by his name, [450 The lines on the Loss of a Friend, must close our citations. 'Tis this which whispers solace from the bier Where moulders all the heart bath cherished 'Tis this which gilds the twilight of the tomb, The kindred nature whom his bosom claim'd; Their dream--ah! who that dreaming can The one for whom he felt his being framed.' relate! |