poets enjoy their solitary thoughts unmolested; the world remedied, by giving more spangles to Columbine Numis already rich enough in their productions! Monday, January 10, 1831. THOMAS THOMSON, Esq., Senior Vice-President, in the Chair. Present,-Sir Henry Jardine; Messrs Nichol, Jardine, AFTER the curator had announced a number of dona tions, and after a very interesting collection of Anglo- There was then exhibited, by permission of Robert Hunter of Hunterston, Esq., a splendid and beautifully wrought antique brooch, or fibula, of silver, profusely ornamented with rich and elegant filigree work in gold, and in very perfect preservation. This brooch was found on Mr Hunter's property, in the parish of West Kilbride, Ayrshire. brooch. Mr T. G. Repp, F.S. A. Scot., made a few remarks on this beautiful antique, and gave translations of two Runic inscriptions, which appear on the back of the At From the inscriptions, Mr Repp argues that this ornament belongs to the 13th century at latest. the request of the Society, Mr Repp promised, at an early opportunity, to go more into detail on this subject, and to give some interesting notices, showing that the use of these brooches was very common among the Scandinavian nations, and not, as many suppose, confined to the Celts. The inscriptions, as translated into Latin by Mr Repp, stand thus,—Malorida possidet hanc fibulam, and Fibula Asfrida. The names are those of women. who was present. There was next read a very spirited and distinct account of a recent excavation at Pompeii, by a gentleman As we understand that this letter is to appear in the Transactions of the Society immediately, we shall return to this interesting subject when we come to review that publication. THE LONDON DRAMA. Regent's Park, London, It is not more singular than true, that the Covent Gar- Miss ber One, we have nothing further to record concerning The heads of the burletta are taken from a "Eccentricities in Edinburgh," now re-manufactured into tale, called the "Sun Poker," in George Colman's "Laughables for London ;" in which the whole heathen mythology figure, not merely "in their habits as they Peregrine Somerset. lived," but "with the habits they've contracted." This is really a clever piece, and well deserves its popularity. THE EDINBURGH DRAMA. But THE novelty of the week has been the revival of "The Heir at Law," with the appearance of Jones as Dr Pangloss. The whole comedy was well-nay, powerfully cast. Mackay's Lord Duberly, Murray's Zekiel Homespun, Green's Dick Dowlas, Stanley's Kenrick, Denham's Stedfast, Brindal's Henry Moreland, Mrs Nicol's Lady Duberly, and, though last not least, Mrs Pettingall's Cicely Homespun, were all, each after its kind, able and unquestionably the best of the whole was Jones's Dr picturesque representations of individual character. Pangloss. Jones looks older than when we saw him last, and if we are to judge by such parts as Lord Ogleby and Dr Pangloss, he proposes deviating into a somewhat The touch of advancing years which has fallen new line. upon him perhaps makes this necessary: and, though we still hope to see him in some of those undying coats and waistcoats, breeches and silk stockings, which made his Dr fops and men of fashion the very creatures of a perfumed bandbox, we do not expect to derive inferior pleasure from the graver but not less intellectual, carefully studied, and finished portraits which he now presents to us. Pangloss is an elderly man, wearing the dress of the divines of the Church of England some sixty years ago; his manners are scholastic and pedantic, and having spent the better part of his life in laborious and recluse studies, by which he has been able to obtain but a bare subsistence, he is wofully ignorant of the world, except in so far as his necessities have taught him, that philosophical dignity, however much to be admired in the abstract, must be whistled down the wind, and sycophancy substituted in its place, whenever personal aggrandizement is the object in view. This was precisely the sort of man into which Jones metamorphosed himself. His looks, his motions, his tones, not in the broad outline alone, but in every minute particular, were those of the poor old tutor, who reverences the classics, but feels them sink into insignificance when compared with his chance of obtaining, at any sacrifice of his own opinions, a regular income. "I've often wish'd that I had clear, For life-three hundred pounds a-year," was the sentiment which had taken entire possession of his soul, and one almost fancied that one saw the words written legibly on the hem of his garments and around the contour of his countenance. This is the great triumph of acting, not to be flashy and brilliant by fits and starts, without any decided aim, or perception of what your author means, but to take an entire and comprehensive view of a part, to step into it at once, and to remain wrapped up in it till the curtain falls. Farren does this more than any other living actor; and if Jones is second to him, he is not second to any one else. We make this remark with the full recollection that we ourselves used to feel that there was a degree of sameness in Jones's representations, when he was a regular member of the Edinburgh company. But this he could scarcely have avoided, for the majority of parts which he then played consisted of nothing but perpetual repetitions, under different names, of that most monotonous and least-varying of all animals,—the fop, or man of fashion. In these he was perfect; but to be perfect in one, of course implied that nearly the same sort of perfection should pervade the whole. He has now, however, hit upon individuals belonging to another species; and in so far as we have yet had an opportunity of judging, he is delicately accurate in his delineations of them. We trust that he will perform frequently throughout the season, for some of our best plays cannot be done well without him. If Miss Jarman has appeared this week in four of those light and elegant little pieces to which she lends so peculiar a charm ;-" The White Phantom,"- - Perfection," "The Wedding Day," and "The Day after the Wedding." The success of such pieces depends entirely upon the lady who performs the first female part. she be dull and stupid, they must necessarily appear so also; if, on the contrary, she be full of the natural vivacity of youth, with the easy grace and sprightly elegance of an accomplished woman, the effect they produce is irresistible. We may look wide, wander far, and wait long, before we meet with an actress more completely calculated to ensure that effect than Miss Jarman. Were she lost to us, the truth of this would be felt by many who overlook it now. Old Cerberus. ORIGINAL POETRY. THE POET'S DEAD LOVE. I KNOW thy early love is dead, And if thou couldst, thou knowst full well And cold this world must seem to thee, I never saw that sainted child To whom thy vows and prayers were given, For, long before I met thee here, Her spirit had pass'd home to heaven; I feel that she was good and fair, Though many friends are round my way, I should have shared her happy hours, Oh! that the power were mine to track In the bright bowers of Paradise ;—— Thy path of life thou wouldst pursue, And I along its vale would find More flowers and sunshine scatter'd too. GERTRUDE. STANZAS. To the Editor of the Edinburgh Literary Journal. SIR,-The following stanzas are taken from a Poem yet unpublished, and refer to the females of a most unfortunate family, who have sought an asylum amongst us, and who, whatever political errors may have been committed, have, as sufferers in the storms Should you think the verses deserving of a place in your excellent of life, very strong claims on our kindness and commiseration. Journal, they are very much at your service. I remain, &c. A CONSTANT READER. MIGHT I now raise my humble voice to Thee, Of thy sad life had flown, behold the snow A father-prison-doom'd! Soon doom'd to die Torn from thy arms by a most brutal crew, The very self-same blood-stain'd glave, which slew, And sent that virtuous husband to the grave, Who lived a saint, and died the good, the brave! Yes! still that heart doth beat, that bosom glows With other warmth than earthly power can give, Pure from the source whence "living water" flows, Which our Redeemer said, " Take, drink, and live !” And could a maddening discord also drive The widow'd mourner from her regal dome, With her two lovely scions?—may they thrive And grow, and flourish, and long graceful roam, And find Edina, all they sought-a home! AKBAR. O! bright, bright were the days, love, Ere we two meet again, love, Ere we two meet again, love, Our hearts will have grown old; A thousand cares and troubles, love, Will fill up our allotted time And vainly we'll remember, love, With fond affections, buoyant hopes, TO VIVIAN. THERE's not a form that Nature wears, Of fading or of bloom, Whether she glows in summer's dress, Or droops in winter's gloom, But to the poet's raptured eye A varied grace displays, There's not a tone thy spirit hath H. G. B. But flings round thee a thousand charms Unseen, unfelt before, To bind me with a deeper spell, And make me love thee more. GERTRUDE. LITERARY CHIT-CHAT AND VARIETIES. THE Bishop of Chester has in the press, Lectures, practical and expository, on the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. "Memorabilia Curliana," which has been delayed by various additional information, will be out in a few days. Vegetable Cookery, with an Introduction, recommending abstinence from animal food and intoxicating liquors, is announced. The forthcoming romance of The Tuileries, comprehends a period in the annals of French history from the first popular triumph in the fall of the Bastile, to the establishment of the supremacy of Napoleon in the victory of Marengo. Captain Beechey's Narrative of his Voyage to the Pacific, which is nearly ready, will contain, among other interesting subjects, a more detailed account of the Mutiny of the Bounty, than has ever appeared. The work will be illustrated by numerous engravings by Finden. Mr Bulwer's new production," The Siamese Twins," may be expected in a few days. Mrs Charles Gore's forthcoming work, to be entitled, The Historical Traveller, is intended to form a present for young persons. It is to consist of a series of narratives connected with the most curious epochs of European history, and with the phenomena of European countries. Mr Robert Montgomery, the author of " Satan," "The Omnipresence of the Deity," &c. has a new poem in the press, entitled "Oxford," which is on the eve of publication. Mr Montgomery is at present on a visit to Edinburgh. OUR STUDY TABLE.-New works still crowd upon us. Among others, we have this week received the first volume of the Sunday Library, edited by the Rev. Dr Dibdin, a publication of the Family Library description, to contain a selection of Sermons by eminent divines of the Church of England, chiefly within the last half century, with occasional biographical sketches and notes;-The first volume of Lardner's Cabinet Library, which commences with Military Memoirs of Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington, by Captain Moyle Sherer, a book which we mean to read attentively, the more especially as we have been accustomed to consider Captain Sherer a clever man ; -The eighteenth volume of the Family Library, containing Voyages and Discoveries of the Companions of Columbus, by Washington Irving, a book which cannot fail to be an interesting one;-The Foreigner's English Conjugator, elucidated through French examples, in which all the mysteries of "Shall and Will," and "Should and Would," are illustrated, by our old acquaintance Justin Brenan, whose books rejoice in the neat and tasteful exterior attractions assigned to them by Effingham Wilson;-Poems, Sacred and Miscellaneous, by James Gilborne Lyons, one of the Dublin publications of those spirited booksellers, Messrs Curry and Co., which we have not yet had time to read:-The Prometheus of Eschylus, edited for the use of schools and colleges, by that excellent scholar and most accurate of classical printers-Valpy;-Observations on the Duty of Sea-borne Coal, a pamphlet on an important subject, which does not, however, come altogether within the range of our studies;-A Description of the Chanonry, Cathedral, and King's College of Old Aberdeen, in the years 1724-5, a work of considerable local interest, printed in a very handsome style, from the MS. of William Orem, town-clerk of Aberdeen in 1725, preserved, since his death, in the library of King's College, and calculated to throw additional light on the earlier history of Scottish towns and universities;-The Harmonicon, a Monthly Journal of Music, for January 1831, a very respectably conducted work, the present Number of which contains, among other pieces of music, an air by John Daniel of Aberdeen, for the ballad of "Mary Jamieson," which appeared originally in the Literary Journal, and which has been still more successfully set to music by Mrs Orme, of this city;-The first Number of The Edinburgh University Magazine, the contents of which are very creditable to its conductors, and the poem entitled" The Wandering Jew," is indicative of very considerable poetical abilities ;-The fourth volume of Bell's System of Popular and Scientific Geography, the three previous volumes of which we have already had occasion to mention in high terms, and their reputation is not likely to suffer by the fourth, which, with its excellent paper, elegant typography, and carefully executed maps, and other illustrations, is calculated to reflect honour on the press of Glasgow -A Help to Professing Christians in Judging their Spiritual State and Growth in Grace, by the Rev. John Barr, already favourably known as a theological writer, and entitled now to still more estimation. FINE ARTS.-We learn that a collection of antique paintings, lately purchased by the Royal Institution, is about to be exhibited. The exhibition is only delayed because a few of them have not yet arrived; but there is reason to hope that it will open on or about the 25th of this month. Competent judges assure us that there are some valuable works among these pictures. We believe they are intended as the commencement of a National Gallery. This is spirited and praiseworthy. The Board of Trustees have also evinced a liberal spirit by throwing open their valuable collection to the public. But we shall say more of these matters in our next, as also of the high promise of a good exhibition in the Scottish Academy. LAURENCE MACDONALD.-We understand that a number of the friends of Mr Laurence Macdonald, who are desirous of testifying their high respect for his talents and character previous to his approaching departure from Scotland, have solicited his presence at a public dinner, to take place in the Waterloo Hotel, on Saturday the 29th instant, at five o'clock, and that the following gentlemen have agreed to act as stewards: The Right Hon. Sir John Sinclair, Bart. Professor Wilson. Professor Napier. C. Stewart Menteith, Esq. James L'Amy, Esq. J. Watson Gordon, Esq. We have no doubt that this dinner will be numerously attended. There is some expectation of Sir Walter Scott being in the chair, and, failing him, Professor Wilson. CHIT-CHAT FROM GLASGOW.-Ducrow, the indescribable, the inimitable, is with us. His "tableaux" are not germane to our vulgar appetites it would seem, however; for, exquisite-I had almost said, divine-as they are, the "Nobs" have not turned out to them! Pritchard accompanied him, and dressed and played Raphael admirably, in despite of the fustian he had to spout of Mr Somerset's. He seems to have thorough "bottom" in his arduous profession.Nicholson, the Prince of flute-players, has been here arranging for his concert of Wednesday next, the 19th. It will be brilliant; for all the "distinguished" of Glasgow are patrons of him and the Stockhausen, who is to be here also.-The Andersonian soirees keep up their interest. The indefatigable president read a paper on the Craigleith fossil tree last night, full of a fine and subtle philosophy; and Professor Graham told us what the scientific world had done during the last six months, in a delightful conversational way.-We have actually perpetrated the publication of a 4to this week, and a very pretty, as well as very able one it is-Mr Dobie on the Crawfurd Peerage. It has all the interest of a romance, and the accuracy of a genealogy. CHIT-CHAT FROM BERWICK-ON-TWEED.-We are so deeply plunged in burgh politics here, that our chit-chat has not much general interest. This political war is carried on to so great an extent as to have been the means of crushing a couple of mechanics' institutes, some spouting clubs, and various other societies. A weekly pocket-magazine has, however, been commenced, and promises to succeed. If we add a weekly newspaper, we sum up the whole of our literary undertakings, though, formerly, the publication of books was carried on to some extent by two or three active publishers.We do not expect any manager to try our Theatre this season, as Mr Bass's attempt did not meet his wishes in the last.-We have a casino every three weeks in our Red Lion ball-room, which is attended so numerously by fashionable-looking people, that a stranger would be somewhat surprised; but Berwick has always been famed for a speedy importation of London novelties.-Mr Thompson, the lecturer on steam-machinery, who lately received so much injury in his legs, by the bursting of the boiler of his locomotive engine, is now recovering, though at first despaired of.-Our pier has lately received the addition of a handsome lighthouse at its extreme point. Theatrical Gossip.-Novelty-novelty-is every thing in London. The great mass of the play-going people there have no opinions of their own; they care for nothing but what is new. Hence the papers teem with long puffs of the new Olympic Theatre, most of which we believe to be humbug; for, though Vestris is a smart woman, she has neither taste nor talent sufficient to conduct a dramatic establishment on an elegant, liberal, and enlightened plan. Let this be set down as our opinion, though the Cockneys blow till they crack their cheeks.-Macready's personation of Werner continues to hold a high place in public estimation.-An opera, by a British compos er of the name of Monck Mason, is to be produced speedily at the King's Theatre.-Miss I. Paton has been performing at Aberdeen, assisted, in the musical department, by her sister, Miss E. Paton.-Miss Louisa Jarman has accepted of an engagement for a limited period in Aberdeen, to play the first parts in opera.-We are informed that Mr Hooper has been re-engaged to succeed Mr Green, who is about to leave Edinburgh. We hope he will not forget to take his blue waistcoat with him, which will no doubt make an impression at the Olympic. The pantomime of "Mother Bunch" has had a fair run, and has drawn excellent half-price houses.-Last night " Masaniello" was revived, but Horncastle played Masaniello. TO OUR CORRESPONDENTS. THE ingenious papers "On the Constitution of Human Nature," we cannot find room for immediately, and we even hesitate to enter at all upon a subject so comprehensive." An Adventure in the South of France," by "J. Y." of Berwick, is a well-told tale, but too long for our pages. It lies at the publisher's till called for. The poetical communications of " Lorma," and of "Thomas Brydson," shall have a place ;—perhaps, also, those of "Thirsis," and "G. B."-The verses entitled, "An Eastern City," by "R. G." of Berwick, the Ballads by "J. L." of Langholm,-the Lines by "Pictor," and the Stanzas by "T. M." will hardly suit us. Our readers will observe, that we have given to-day an additional half-sheet, in order to overtake as many of the new publications as possible. LITERARY CRITICISM. The History of Chivalry. By G. P. R. James, Esq. (Being the National Library. Vol. IV.) London. Colburn and Bentley. 1830. ABOUT eighteen months ago, we were requested to write a History of Chivalry for one of the monthly Libraries, or Miscellanies, now so much in vogue. We promised to devote some attention to the subject, with the view of ascertaining the probable success of such a work. The result of our studies was, that no such thing could be written as a History of Chivalry, for that there was nothing definite and tangible-no principle of distinct existence in what is usually denominated Chivalry. In as far as we could perceive, Chivalry was not a concatenation of successive events clearly marked out and capable of standing by themselves, but merely a certain feature of society, varying in different countries, and modified into different shapes by the political and moral changes which, in the course of several centuries, necessarily occurred in Europe. We felt, therefore, that a History of Chivalry would be a history not of a substance but of a property, not of events but of feelings, not of realities but of ideas. Chivalry appeared to us to be somewhat of the nature of a cameleon, whose colours, though independent of itself, are of too unsubstantial and fleeting a nature to be separated from the body to which they seem to belong. In looking into the works of both ancient and modern writers upon Chivalry, to see how they got over this difficulty, we invariably found that they did not get over it at all, but that what they were pleased to term a history of Chivalry, was neither more nor less than a history of warlike adventures, of which the Crusades were the principal, intermingled with copious descriptions of the arms and accoutrements which the better sort of soldiers were expected to wear, and of certain ceremonies which those who volunteered their services in the public cause agreed to go through. These writers, and we could not wonder at it, did not introduce us to any broad stream of narrative, down whose waters Chivalry floated like a gorgeous pageant, gradually swelling into greater magnificence as tributary rivers joined its course, and as many a little fleet weighed anchor from the neighbouring shores and followed in its wake. We found, on the contrary, that Chivalry, even in its best days, sparkled like a few random gems among a quantity of dross, or like a subterranean fire pressed down and restrained by the incumbent mass, yet breaking out at intervals, sometimes where least expected, and not unfrequently where it was but slightly understood. We found that at no period was the general population of a country disposed to be one whit more chivalrous than they are at this present moment, in the year of grace 1831; and that the few more gallant spirits which occasionally arose, were then, as they are now, meteors that glittered for a time and disappeared. There were, it is true, some large military societies banded together on rather a more elegant scale than our regiments of volunteers; but no one who studies attentively the rise and progress of such bodies as the Templars and Price 6d. the Knights of Malta, will fail to perceive that these institutions were disfigured by many evil passions and turbulent actions, as unlike what we are given to understand the spirit of Chivalry would inculcate, as the excesses of a Belgian mob or the vulgar imbecilities of a Masonic Lodge. Our dream of Chivalry therefore faded, and we declined the task of attempting to re-unite its broken fragments into an harmonious whole. It is more than probable that Mr James was not disposed to take this view of the matter, else he would never have gone through so much laborious reading and investigation as he must have submitted to before he was able to prepare a work like that now before us. We have described some of the books which have been appearing in these Family Libraries, by the expressive monosyllable whack; but this is a volume evidently written with so much care, and so redolent of research in every page, that it is entirely above the chance of having so disagreeable an epithet applied to it. Still, however, much as we respect the talent which its author evinces, we must be permitted to say that it has not succeeded in convincing us, that as "I by itself I" makes a letter, chivalry by itself chivalry makes a history. What does Mr James's book contain? It is divided into fifteen chapters ;-of these the greater part of the three first is taken up with some general introductory matters concerning the origin of what is called chivalry, the education and services of a knight, and privileges and duties of knighthood; and then we descend all at once to the period of the Crusades, and from the latter end of the third chapter to the commencement of the fifteenth, the scene lies almost continually in Palestine; or, at all events, the narrative never disconnects itself from the fortunes of those princes and armies who marched in such multitudes from Europe to the Holy Land. Now, in all the crusaders' wars, if we set aside the tolerably romantic aim for which they fought, we must frankly avow that we see nothing whatever to distinguish them from any other wars, and certainly discover nothing half so chivalrous in their nature (if we must use the word chivalrous) as in the elder wars of Greece and Rome. Where was there ever a band of so devoted knights as those who fought at Thermopyle? What preux chevalier ranks higher, or so high, as Marcus Curtius, or Mutius Scavola? True, military and religious orders—the Red and the White Cross Knights-flourished in the time of the Crusades; but they did not constitute Chivalry, else why give us only occasional glimpses of their deeds among the general armaments with whom they were associated? In his fifteenth, and last chapter, Mr James informs us of the melancholy fate of the Templars on their return to Europe, and of the more fortunate career of the Knights of St John, in Rhodes and Malta; and having thus brought us down to the middle of the sixteenth cen tury, concludes a very able and interesting work, but, by his good leave, no more a history of chivalry than any other book which was ever written on the subject is a history of chivalry. Our readers will perceive that we wish to draw a distinction between the intrinsic excellence of Mr James's |
