and anointed. The same bonour is now common to the wives of European Sovereigns, Those of France are not crowned with the Kings, but at the Abbey of St. Denis, near Paris. The Consorts of our English Princes have been graced with all the royal makings of a Queen' from very early times, Before the Conquest they were anointed and crowned, and sate with the Kings in seats of state.' 123. Comic Tales in Verse, &c. By Two Franks. 12mo. pp. 155. THIS amusing little Volume partakes a good deal of the spirit of leries, with this exception, that Colman the Younger's eccentric drolthough it not unfrequently rivals its laughable prototype in the quaintness of its wit, it is always infinitely more decent. We are happy in hav In one of the additional notes,' ing it in our power to make this reMr. Taylor says, "With regard to the real period when the inaugurative ceremonies were applied to the Consorts of our Kings, we have nothing more determinate than the later times' of Mr. Selden, but certainly they had no Coronations in 955, if Elgiva were really the wife of Edwy: nor is it likely that the Bard who recorded the hallowing of Edgar in 973, would have omitted to notice the honours paid to the royal Con. sort, had she partaken of the sacred unction. With the ritual assigned to the age of Ethelred II. begins our actual knowledge of feminine consecration: he was elected in 978, and all before this period is at best uncertain." In our volume for 1761, will be found many particulars relative to the Coronation, to which it may be interesting to our Readers to refer; among others, 1. An abridgement of Sandford's History of the Coronation of King James II. and Queen Mary, with an account and plate of the Coronation Robes, p. 346.2. Claims at the same Coronation. p. 323.— 3. Account of the Coronation of their late Majesties George III. and Queen Charlotte, with a plate of the Procession, p. 418. 122. Coronation Ceremonies and Customs, relative to Barons of the Cinque Ports, as Supporters of the Canopy. By T. Mantell, Esq. F. S. A. and F.LS. 4to. pp. 55. Ledger, Printer at Dover. They that bear the Cloth of Honour over Are Barons of the Cinque Ports." MR. MANTELL has been introduced to our Readers in vol. LXXXI, ii. p. 51. as the learned and elegant Historian of the Cinque Ports; to which the present well-timed and ac curate publication, which contains much useful and original information, is a suitable companion. GENT. MAG. June, 1820. mark, because we have too often felt ourselves called upon to censure productions of this class, in which grossuess and obscenity have been made to stand proxies for wit and humour. AnAuthor's intellectual resources must ebb very low indeed, when he is compelled to offer such a substitution; when he is driven to the necessity of spreading ordure where he should scatter flowers. The pages before us are reported to have been written by a gentleman and his son; and we must confess we care not how many similar combinations are planned to take Parnas. always as agreeable as in the present sus by storm, provided the results be plained of the extreme dolorousness instance. The critics have long comof modern poets; our two Franks the age from this terrible reproach. seem determined to assist in rescuing For ourselves we do avow, that our sides have undergone sundry and vio lent heaves from the retortion of our rused this book; and that we may tender sensibilities, since we have pe share which our Readers will expect not monopolize sensations into a to be admitted, we shall cite a specimen or two for their edification. The following apostrophe is from the protest against Oblivio Shelf, esq. which forms a sort of vestibule to this tomical little fabrick. "Oh! Pater Nosler! must we go, O, dirt, O, dirt, and poverty! forfend That we should ever so descend! That we should e'er despise our garret¡— That we should ever sport a char'ot! Farewell to Genius-it would warp it, •To study on a Turkey carpet! Farewell to Genius—it would kill it, To feast each day ou leg or fi'let! *Farewell to Genius-it would choke it, Close to a sea-coal fire to smoke it! Farewell to Genius, we must lose it. Should port or sherry make us booze it, Far hence be all such treacherous plea sures, If they would thus cut up our measures.” Independent of the Poetical Protest-a smart song on the Essence of Punning, and a piece of a higher order, entitled, Time, there are thirteen Tales in the Volume; and though several of them are old-very old friends, yet as they make their debut on this occasion with new faces, and have undergone a sort of poetical regeneration, the lovers of novelty will have little to regret in their re-appearance. There is some humour in the following definition of the Essence of Punning: Peter Pun, at a party, one day was be set [bet, By a jockey who offered five guineas to That habit had put it quite out of his power To remain without puuning the space of an hour. Peter thought to this bet, he had better cry done, But candidly own'd to steer clear of a pun, He must shut close his ears, and be silent as sleep, [creep. Or out the young urchins would certainly Peter nibbled his thumbs-Peter played with his chin. [win; Resolv'd if he could the five guineas to wood laddie!" to the work, for, though the satire is Ingenious, yet the ridicule will be thought by many to have been levelled at a class of individuals too low for the purposes even of the comic poet. Time, or the Pugilist," is unquestionably the best piece in the volume. It is, in fact, as good a Serio-comico fable as we have ever met with, and we would willingly cite it, did not the limits we usually prescribe for ourselves, forbid it. Of the miscellaneous tales we prefer "Nott," "Roger Hogman and his Pigs," and "Dr. Larrup." We shall conclude our remarks with three epigrams by "Old Frank," who, netwithstanding his avowed senility, is a very facetious and good humoured fellow-and for the young one, we will take our leave of him with this simple wish—namely, that as the wit of his family seems to be an inheritauce, he may, some twenty years hence, become the Old Frank of a new series of Comic Tales. 124. A Word for the King, and a Word to the Queen; being a dispassionale Exemination into the Causes of Their Majes ties' Separation, with a Suggestion for an amicable Settlement without resorting to the painful expedient of a Public Dis cussion. Svo. pp. 43. Williams. the appointment of a Committee, lo THE plan here recommended is Peers, twelve Commoners, and two consist of the Lord Chancellor, four Judges from each of the Courts of King's Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer; to whom the whole matter ia dispute should be referred; sød their discussion to be final. LITERARY LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. " CAMBRIDGE. May 29. After a long investigation, the Hebrew *Scholarship, at the University of Cambridge, has been adjudged to Mr. George Attwood, of Pembroke Hall, and a premium of 201. was voted to Mr. John Jow. ett Stevens, for the knowledge he displayed in the examination. Mr. George Irving Scott, of Trinity Hall; is the fortunate candidate for the Chancellor's Gold Medal; the subject Waterloo. June 16. Sir WILLIAM BROWNE's three gold medals for the present year were on Saturday last adjudged as follow:-For the Greek Ode and Latin Ode, to Mr. Henry Nelson Coleridge, scholar of King's ColJege; and for the Epigrams, to Mr. Riebard Okes, scholar of the same society. Subjects-For the Greek Ode:-"Mm. Mon. For the Latin Ode: "Ad Georgium Quartum, Augustissimum Principem, Sceptra Paterna accipientem." For the Greek Epigram: Inscriptio, "In Venam Aquæ ex imis visceribus Terræ Arte eductam."-For the Latin Epigram: "Impransi disquirite." Ready for Publication. The following Tracts on the questions of Deism-1. From LELAND's Work on the Deistical Writers-On the general mischievousness of Deism as a system. 2. From LESLIE's Short and Easy MethodOn the External Evidence of the Old Testament. 3. From DODDRIDGE'S Three Sermons-On the External Evidence of the New Testament. 4. From Bishop WATSON'S Apology for the Bible-In answer to specific Objections to both Testaments. 5. From Bishop BUTLER's Analogy -Simplified in Three Familiar Dialogues. 6. From S. JENYNS and PALEY-On the Internal Evidence of Christianity. And 7. From WATTS's Three Sermons-On the Inward Witness to Christianity in the Breast of the Believer. This Collection completes the cycle of testimony. Memoirs of Granville Sharp, by PRINCE HOARE, Esq. composed from his own Manuscripts and other authentic documents in the possession of his family, and of the African Institution. To the Memoirs will he subjoined Observations on Mr. Sharp's Biblical Criticisms; by the Right Rev. the LORD BISHOP of ST. DAVID'S. The Preparations for the Coronation of King Charles II.; now first printed from a MS, in the hand-writing of SIR EDWARD WALKER, Knt. then King at Arms, illus trated by Engravings. A Supplement to WILKINSON'S Londina Illustrata, consisting of several plates of Bermondsey Abbey, and of other edifices. with appropriate letter-press descriptions. Views of the Remains of Antient Build. ings in Rome and its vicinity. By M. DUBOURG. An Encyclopædia of Antiquities; being the first ever edited in England. By the Rev. T. D. FOSBROOKE, M. A. Author of British Monachism, &c. A Narrative of the operations and recent discoveries within the Pyramids, Temples, Tombs, and Excavations in &. gypt and Nubia: and of a Journey to the Coast of the Red Sea, in search of the Antient Berenice, and another to the Oasis of Jupiter Ammon. By G. BELZONI. The Narrative of a Chinese Embassy, from the Emperor of China, Kang Hy, to the Khan of Tourgouth Tartars, seated on the Banks of the Volga, in the years 1719, 13, and 14. By the Chinese Ambassador, and published by the Emperor's autho rity, at Pekin. Translated from the Ori. ginal, by Sir GEORGE Thomas Staunton, Bart. LL.D. F. R. S. The authentic Life of Augustus Von Kotzebue, from the German; containing many interesting Anecdotes illustra tive of his character, the influence of his writings upon society in Germany, and its consequences. RETSCH'S Series of Twenty-six Beautlful Outlines to Goethe's Tragedy of Faust. Engraved from the Originals by H. Moses An Analysis of the Tragedy of Faust. A Treatise on Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the Lungs. To which is prefixed, an experimental inquiry re specting the contractile power of the Blood Vessels, and the nature of Inflam. mation. By CHARLES HASTINGS, M. D. Preparing for Publication. Sacred Literature; comprising a Re view of Principles of Composition laid down in the Prælections and Isaiah of the late Robert Lowth, D. D. Lord Bishop of Londoa; and an application of the Prin ciples so reviewed, to the illustration of the New Testament, in a series of critical observations on the style and structure of that sacred volume. By the Rev. T. JEsa. Sermons, doctrinal, practical, and 'oo. casional. By the Rev. WILLIAM SNOW. DEN, perpetual Curate of Habury, near Wakefield. A Course of Morning and Evening Prayers, for four weeks. By the Rev. JOSEPH JONES, of Newchurch, near Warrington. The Works of the Rev. Thomas Zouch, D. D. F. L. S. Rector of Serayingham, and prebendary of Durham ; with a Memoir of his Life. By the Reva-FRANCÉS WRANGHAM, M. A. F. R. S. and Chaplain to his Grace the Archbishop of York. Ariconensis, Ariconensia, or Archæological Sketches of Ross and its vicinity; including an account of the obscure station Ariconium, the Roman roads connected with it, a disquisition whether the last battle of Caractacus was fought at Caradoc near Ross, or Caradoc near Church-stretton, &c. By the Rev. T. FOSBROOKE. An Account of a Residence during three months in the mountainous country East of Rome, with engravings of the Banditti and Peasantry of the Country. By Mr. GRAHAME, Author of "An Account of a Residence in India." Royal Coronation Claims; a Comic Poem. By J. BISSET. Esq. Author of "The Descriptive Guide of Leamington Priory," &c. &c. Letters written for the Post and not for the Press. Travels in Europe during the Pontificate of Leo the Tenth-a Work similar in plan, but different in subject, to the Abbé BarthoJomew's Travels of Anacharsis. By Mr. CHARLES MILLS, Author of the History of the Crusades. Outlines of Midwifery, developing its principles and Practice. By J. T. CONQUEST, M. D. F. L. S. &c. A Map of the Thames, from London to Margate, printed from English Stone. MR. CAMPBELL'S LECTURE. On Wednesday the 19th of April, Mr. Thomas Campbell commenced a series of Lectures on Poetry, at the Royal Institution. There is perhaps no poet more competent to expatiate on the subject of his delightful pursuits than the Author of the Pleasures of Hope, of Hohenlinden, and Lochiel; who to the most ardent enthusiasm, unites the utmost correctness of judgment and taste; and who at his first outset in literature, started from a goal of excellence which few of his contemporaries have even sought to reach. it is impossible, without sacrilegious mutilation, to offer an analysis of his introductory Lecture, we shall endeavour to communicate the spirit of Mr. Campbell's eriticisms, which, unlike some eccentric systems of the present day, are founded on the purest principles of classical taste. Although The first object of Mr. Campbell was to trace the affinity of Poetry to certain elements of the human mind. Experience proves that the exercise of the imagination is, even to unlettered and unpolished rustics, a source of pleasurable emotion. Through the medium of this faculty, all are busied in constructing little plans of bappiness-in creating visions of futurity. It is this faculty that the poet addresses ; and, even in the rudimental stages of civilization, it is not insensible to the iuvocation. But what is poetry? This question so often evaded or misinterpreted, is admirably elucidated by Mr. Campbell. That it is highly intellectual cannot be doubted, since it engages the most refined and exalted faculties of the mind, but its distinctive attribute is to impart delight. It may be for the Orator to convince, the Philosopher to enlighten, the Historian to inform: the first requisite of the Poet is to please to instruct is an auxiliary, but uot a primary object. The first question to be considered is, what may or may not be poetry. It was the saying of Fletcher of Saltoun, that there was many a soldier who had never worn a sword; in like manner it had been argued, that beautiful imagery and vivid passion required not the metrical form to assume the character of poetry. In opposition to this latitu dinarian criticism, Mr. Campbell main tained that the charm of numbers is included in those circumstances by which poetry imparts pleasure. He dwelt on the dissatisfaction always experienced when a passage of Shakspeare or Dryden, or any other writer of rhyme or blank verse, is deprived of its measured hatmony. If there existed a difference in the external form of prose and verse, there was a still greater dissimilarity in their essential elements. Poetry changed its nature in losing its ideal character. The Novelist was distinguished from the Bard by the local limitations of his subject: or tangible reality of his pictures: his most brilliant passages were rather biographi cal than imaginative. His canvass was the camera obscura, exhibiting the movements of the living world, whilst the Poet speaks to us of the world within, excites to action our latent feelings, lends a quick perception of moral beauty, and inspires the consciousness of possessing faculties and sympathies that exalt our nature. Hence the pleasure derived from tragedy, and from those affecting pictures of distress which, when ennobled by magnani. mity, form the most interesting and delightful subjects for the imagination. It has been often argued that the progress of society is fatal to the cultivation of Poe try. Mr. Campbell admits that there is not in the Fine Arts, as in the Sciences, an illimitable principle of improvement. Poetry has started to sudden maturity in a barbarous age, Homer, in Greece, affords the first and most striking example. Dante, is perhaps, the second. Shakspeare, an exception to all other rules and examples, was the pupil of Nature in a learned and pedantic age: he is, perhaps, to be distinguished from all other writers by the universality of his genius. Milton is more sublime. Otway is, perhaps, more tender; but Shakspeare is, in a manner, the Catholic Poet, belonging equally to every age and country. The alarmists of modern literature have predicted a speedy and inglorious termination of our poetical career. It is not indeed to be denied that the marvellous that secret source whence elder bards derive their sacred treasures-is laid open by reason and truth, philosophy has exorcised the spells that once held supremacy over the mind; the day-light of Geography has broken upon our legendary dreams; Chemistry and Mineralogy have not left one solitary fountain or cabalistic grotio, to the empire of superstition. All that the Author can now do, instead of calling "spirits from the vasty deep," is to exhibit some palé flitting figures, or phantasmagoria mechanically compiled, from the descriptions of a departed age. Having conceded this point, Mr. Campbell rejects the idea, that the ministry of Poetry must therefore cease, and that truth is to extinguish the imagination: the human mind must remain the same: society may ANTIQUARIAN AND PHILOSOPHICAL RESEARCHES. A quantity of curious old coin was lately as more than fifty of the groats that were coined previous to his 16th or 18th year, with the fleur-de-lis, pheon, and rose mint marks, are nearly in as prime condition as when issued from the mint, and none are later than 1545, the 36th of that King's reign. The collection has been purchased by Mr. Shirley Woolmer, of this city. The groats are about the size of the present shillings, but not so thick. HERCULANEUM MANUSCRIPTS. In addition to former notices respecting the MSS. found in Herculaneum, we have to aunounce the enrolling of eightyeight; most of these consist of works by the Greek philosophers, or subjects; nine by Epicurus, thirty two bear the name of Phylodemus, three by Demetrius, one by Calotes, one by Polystratus, one by Carmades, and one by Chrysippus. These works, with like others, the Authors of which are unknown, treat of natural or moral philosophy, of medicine, or arts, manners, and customs. At Pompeii, there have been recently discovered fresh buildings, in the line of the beautiful street that leads to the Temple of Isis, to that of Hercules, and to the Theatre. In a house which doubtless was the residence of some experienced medical practitioner, chirurgical instruments, of a highly-finished workmanship, have been found, with a number of excellent paintings, representing fruits and animals. ARTS |
