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at the summit. And yet there is never or, if mad, it is a fine and terrible frenzy, anything erratic or ungraceful about the partaking of the character of inspiration, motion of the thought or style. If there and telling, through all his blasphemy and be not classical repose, there is classical blood, some great truth otherwise a word rapture. It is no vulgar intoxication- unutterable to the nations. What said it is a debauch of nectar; it is not a New- that first revolution of France? It said market, but a Nemean race. that men are men, that "God hath made Dr Croly's intellectual distinction. is of one blood all nations who dwell upon less philosophic subtlety, than strong, ner- the face of the earth," and it proved it, vous, and manly sense. This, believed alas! by mingling together in one tide with perfect assurance, inflamed with pas- the blood of captains and of kings, of rich sion, surrounded with the rays of ima- and poor, of bond and free; it destroyed gination, and pronounced with a dogmatic for ever the notion of men being dust force and dignity peculiarly his own, con-under the tread of power, and showed stitutes the circle of his literary cha- them at the least to be gunpowder, a racter a circle which also includes large substance always dangerous, and always, and liberal knowledge, but which has been if trod on, to be trod on warily. What somewhat narrowed by the influence of said the three days of July, 1830? They views, in our judgment, far too close and said, that if austere, unlimited tyranny conservative. Especially, as we have else- exceed in guilt, diluted and dotard deswhere said, whenever he nears the French potisni excels in folly, and that the conRevolution he loses temper, and speaks of tempt of a people is as effectual as its it in a tone of truculence, as if it were a anger in subverting a throne. And what virulent ulcer, and not a salutary blood- is the voice with which the world is yet letting to the social system-the stir of vibrating, as if the sun had been struck a dunghill, and not the explosion of a audibly and stunned upon his mid-day volcano-the effort of a few earthworms throne? It is that, as a governing agent, crawling out of their lair, and producing the days of expediency are numbered, and a transient agitation in their native mud, that henceforth not power, not cunning, and not a Vesuvius, moved by internal not conventional morality, not talent, torments to cast out the central demon, but truth has been crowned monarch of and with open mouth to appeal to Hea- France, and, if the great experiment sucven. To Croly this revolution seems ceed, of the world.* more a retribution of unmitigated wrath, It is of Dr Croly as a prose writer printhan a sharp and sudden surgical applica- cipally that we mean to speak. tion, severe and salutary as cautery itself. poetry, though distinguished, and nearly Now that we have before us a trinity of to the same extent, by the qualities of such revolutions, we have better ground his prose, has failed in making the same for believing that they are no anomalous impression. The causes of this are variconvulsions, but the periodical fits of a singular subject, whom it were far better to watch carefully and treat kindly, than to stigmatise or assault. Bishop Butler, walking in his garden with his chaplain, after a long fit of silent thought, suddenly turned round, and asked him if he did not think that nations might get mad as well as individuals. What answer the worthy chaplain made to this question we are not informed, but we suspect that few now would coincide with the opinion of the bishop. Nations are never mad, though often mistaken and often diseased;

His

ous. In the first place, it appeared at a time when the age was teeming to very riot with poetry. Scott, indeed, had betaken himself to prose novels; Southey to histories and articles; Coleridge to metaphysics; Lamb to "Elia;" and Wordsworth to his "Recluse," like the alchymist to his secret furnace. But still, with each new wound in Byron's heart, a new gush of poetry was flowing, and all eyes were watching this bard of the many sor

*Alas! alas! This was too evidently written in 1848.

rows, with the interest of those who are beauty of Italian light and landscape, waiting silent or weeping for a last breath; may be called an unrhymed "Lara." His and at the same time a perfect crowd of Marston; or Memoirs of a Statesinan," true poets were finding audience, "fit is chiefly remarkable for the sketches of though few." Wilson, Barry Cornwall, distinguished characters, here and in Hogg, Hood, Clare, Cunningham, Mil- France, which are sprinkled through it, man, Maturin, Bowles, Crabbe, Montgo- somewhat in the manner of Bulwer's mery, are some of the now familiar names" Devereux," but drawn with a stronger which were then identified almost entire-pencil and in a less capricious light. To ly with poetical aspirations. Amid such Danton, alone, we think he has not done competitors Dr Croly first raised his voice, justice. On the principle of ex pede and only shared with many of them the Herculem, from the power and savage fate of being much praised, considerably truth of those colossal splinters of expresabused, and little read. Secondly, more sion, which are all his remains, we had than most of his contemporaries, he was many years ago formed our unalterable subjected to the disadvantage which in a opinion, that he was the greatest, and by measure pressed on all. All were stars no means the worst, man who mingled in seeking to shine ere yet the sun (that woful the melée of the Revolution—the Satan, blood-spattered sun of "Childe Harold") if Dr Croly will, and not the Moloch of had fairly set. Dr Croly suffered more the Paris Pandemonium-than Robesfrom this than others, just because he bore pierre abler—than Marat, that squalid, in some points a strong resemblance to screeching, demon, more merciful—than Byron, a resemblance which drew forth, the Girondin champions more energetic both for him and Milman, a coarse and wit--than even Mirabeau stronger and less less assault in "Don Juan." And, thirdly, convulsive; and are glad to find that Dr Croly's poems were chargeable, more Lord Brougham has recently been led, by than his prose writings, with the want of personal examination, to the same opicontinuous interest. They consisted of nion. The Danton of Dr Croly is a hisplendid passages, which rather stood for deous compound of dandyism, diabolism, themselves than combined to form a and power-a kind of coxcomb butcher, whole. The rich "bugle blooms" were who with equal coolness arranges his trailed rather than trained about a stick, scarce worthy of supporting them, and this, with the monotony inevitable to rhyme, rendered it a somewhat tedious task to climb to the reward which never failed to be met with at last. "Paris in 1815," however, was very popular at first; and "Cataline" copes worthily, particu-to grow into armour, into power, and the larly in the closing scene of the play, with the character of the gigantic conspirator, whose name even yet rings terribly, as it sounds down from the dark concave of the past.

moustaches and his murders, and who, when bearded in the Jacobin Club, proves himself a bully and a coward. The real Danton, so broad and calm in repose, so dilated and Titanic in excitement, who, rising to the exigency of the hour, seemed like Satan, starting from Ithuriel's spear,

weapons of power-now uttering words which were "half battles," and now walking. silent, and unconscious alike of his vast energies and coming doom, by the banks of his native stream-now pelting His prose writings may be divided into his judges with paper bullets, and now three classes: his fictions, his articles in laying his head on the block proudly, as periodicals, and his theological works. if that head were the globe-was long We have not read his "Tales of the Great since pointed out by Scott as one of the St Bernard,” but understand them to be fittest subjects for artistic treatment, powerful though unequal. His "Colonna either in fiction or the drama, "worthy,' the Painter" appeared in "Blackwood," says he, "of Schiller or Shakspere themand, as a tale shadowed by the deadly selves."

lustre of revenge, yet shining in the Dr Croly's highest effort in fiction is

period at most to wander a few thou

unquestionably "Salathiel." And it is great men thereof! Could one but get verily a disgrace to an age, which devours up behind him, what "pencillings" could with avidity whatever silly or putrid trash one perpetrate by the "way!" What a popular authors may be pleased to issue triumph, too, has he over the baffled —such inane commonplace as "Now and skeleton, death! What a new fortune Then," where the only refreshing things each century, by selling to advantage his are the "glasses of wine" which are poured rich "reminiscences!" What a short out at the close of every third page to the actors (alas, why not to the readers!), na-sand years! And what a jubilee dinner turally thirsty amid such dry work, or the might he not expect, ere the close, as the coarse horrors which abound in the all- "oldest inhabitant," with perhaps Chrisdetestable "Lucretia"-that "Salathiel" topher North in the chair, and De Quinhas not yet, we fear, more than reached cey (whom some people suspect, however, a second edition. It has not, however, of being the said personage himself) actgone without its reward. By the ordinary ing as croupier! Altogether, we can fry of circulating library readers neglected, hardly, without ludicrous emotions, conit was read by a better class, and by none ceive of such a character, and are astoof those who read it forgotten. None but nished at the grave face which Shelley, a "literary divine" could have written it. Wordsworth, Mrs Norton (whose "UnIts style is steeped in Scripture. dying One," by the way, is dead long ago, in spite of a review, also dead, in the "Edinburgh"), Captain Medwyn (would he too had died ere he murdered the memory of poor Shelley!), Lord John Russell (who, in his "Essays by a gentleman who had left his Lodgings," has taken a very, very faint sketch of the unfortunate Ahasuerus), and Dr Croly, put on while they talk of his adventures.

But Croly does more than snatch "live coals from off the altar" to strew upon his style; his spirit as well as his language is oriental. You feel yourselves in Palestine; the air is that through which the words of prophets have vibrated and the wings of angels descended-the ground is scarcely yet calm from the earthquake of the crucifixion-the awe of the world's sacrifice, and of the prodigies which at- The interest of "Salathiel," beyond the tended it, still lowers over the land-still first splendid burst of immortal anguish gapes unmended the rent in the vail- with which it opens, is almost entirely and still are crowds daily convening to irrespective of the character of the Wanexamine the fissure in the rocks, when dering Jew. It is chiefly valuable for one lonely man, separated by his proper its pictures of oriental scenery, for the crime to his proper and unending wo, is glimpses it gives of the cradled Hercules of seen speeding, as if on the wings of frenzy, Christianity, and for the gorgeous imagery toward the mountains of Naphtali. It and unmitigated vigour of its writing. is Salathiel, the hero of this story-the Plot necessarily there is none; the chaWandering Jew-the heir of the curse of racters, though vividly depicted, hurry a dying Saviour, "Tarry thou till I come." past, like the rocks in the "Walpurgis As an artistic conception, we cannot | Night”. are seen intensely for a moprofess much to admire what the Ger-ment, and then drop into darkness; and mans call the "Everlasting Jew." The the crowding adventures, while all ininterest is exhausted to some extent by teresting individually, do not gather a the very title. The subject predicts an deepening interest as they grow to a clieternity of sameness, from which we max. It is a book which you cannot read shrink, and are tempted to call him an quickly, or with equal gusto at all times, everlasting bore. Besides, we cannot well but which, like "Thomson's Seasons," realise the condition of the wanderer as "Young's Night Thoughts," and other very melancholy, after all. What a fine works of rich massiveness, yield intense opportunity must the fellow have of see-pleasure, when read at intervals, and in ing the world, and the glory and the moments of poetic enthusiasm.

Dr Croly's contributions to periodicals | after a careful perusal of them, we would are, as might have been expected, of va- suggest, even without a public phrenorious merit. We recollect most vividly his logical examination of those auditors' papers on Burke (since collected), on Pitt, heads, that, whatever be their situation and a most masterly and eloquent outline in life, they are, if unable to understand of the career of Napoleon. This is as these discourses, incapable of their duties, rapid, as brief almost and eloquent, as are endangering the public, and should one of Bonaparte's own bulletins, and be remanded to school. Clearer, more much more true. It constitutes a rough, nervous, and, in the true sense of the red, vigorous chart of his fiery career, term, simpler discourses have not apwithout professing to complete philoso- peared for many years. Their style is in phically the analysis of his character. general pure Saxon-their matter strong, This task Emerson lately, in our hearing, manly, and his own-their figures always accomplished with much ingenuity. His forcible, and never forced-their theology lecture was Napoleon in essence. He in- sound and scriptural-and would to God dicated his points with the ease and pre- such sermons were being preached in every cision of a lion-showman. Napoleon, to church and chapel throughout Britain! Emerson, apart from his splendid genius, They might recall the many wanderers is the representative of the faults and the who, with weary heart and foot, are seekvirtues of the middle class of the age. ing rest elsewhere in vain, and might We heard some of his auditors contend counteract that current which is drawthat he had drawn two portraits instead ing away from the sanctuaries so much of one; but in fact Napoleon was two, if of the talent, the virtue, and the honesty not more, men. Indeed, if you draw first of the land. the bright and then the black side of any character, you have two beings, which the skin and brain of the one actual man can alone fully reconcile. The experience of every one demonstrates at the least a dualism; and who might not almost any day sit down and write a letter, objurgatory, or condoling, or congratulatory to "my dear yesterday's self?" Each man, as well as Napoleon, forms a sort of Siamese twins-although, in his case, it was matter of thankfulness that the cord could not be cut.

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Dr Croly, as a preacher, in his best manner, is faithfully represented in those discourses, particularly in his sermons on "Stephen," the "Theory of Martyrdom," and the "Productiveness of the Globe." We admire, in contrast with some modern and ancient monstrous absurdities to the contrary, his idea of God's purpose in making his universe-not merely to display his own glory, which, when interpreted, means just, like the stated purpose of Cæsar, to extend his own name. Surely to circulate his essence and image Of Dr Croly's book on the "Revela--to proclaim himself merciful, even tion we have spoken formerly. Under through punishment-and even in hellthe shadow of that inscrutable pyramid flames to write himself down Love, is, it stands, one of the loftiest attempts to as Dr Croly proclaims it, "the chief end" scale its summit and explain its construc- of God! His sermon on Stephen is a tion; but to us all such seem as yet in- noble picture-we had almost said a effectual. A more favourable specimen daguerreotype of that first martyrdom. of his theological writing is to be found His "Productiveness of the Globe" is in his volume of "Sermons," published richer than it is original. His "Theory some time ago. The public has reason to of Religion" is new, and strikingly illuscongratulate itself on the little squabble trated. His notion is, that God, in three which led to their publication. Some different dispensations-the Patriarchal, conceited persons, it seems, had thought the Mosaic, and the Christian-has deproper to accuse Dr Croly of preaching veloped three grand thoughts-first, the sermons above the heads of his audience, being of God; secondly, in shadow, the and suggested greater simplicity. Now, doctrine of atonement; and thirdly, that

we are not entirely satisfied, but reserve our objections till the "conclusion of the whole matter," in the shape of three successive volumes on each of these periods, and the idea of each, has appeared, as we trust it speedily shall.

of immortality. With this arrangement ful and commanding. Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, we remember, describes him as rather disposed to take the lead, but so exceedingly intelligent that you entirely forgive him. He has been, as a literary man, rather solitary and selfasserting has never properly belonged to any clique or coterie-and seems to possess an austere and somewhat exclu

We depicted, some time since, in a periodical, our visit to Dr Croly's chapel, and the impression made by his appear-sive standard of taste. ance, and the part of his discourse we heard. It seemed to us a shame to see the most accomplished clergyman in London preaching to so thin an audience; but perhaps it is accounted for partly by the strictness of his conservative principles, and partly by the stupid prejudice which exists against all literary divines. Latterly, we are told, his attendance has greatly increased.

We are sorry we cannot, ere we conclude, supply any particulars about his history. Of its details we are altogether ignorant. In conversation, he is power

It is to us, and must be to the Christian world, a pleasing thought to find such a man devoting the maturity of his mind to labours peculiarly professional; and every one who has the cause of religion at heart must wish him God speed in his present researches. Religion has in its abyss treasures yet unsounded and unsunned, though strong must be the hand, and true the eye, and retentive the breath, and daring, yet reverent the spirit of their successful explorer-and such we believe to be qualities possessed by Dr Croly.

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SYDNEY YENDYS.

little interest, being decidedly subjective rather than objective; and, secondly, its writing is not, as a whole, so clear. In "The Roman," he was almost always distinctly, dazzlingly clear. The Monk was never in a mist for a moment; but Balder, as he has a Norse name, not unfrequently speaks or bellows from the centre of northern darkness. We speak, we must say, however, after only one reading; perhaps a second may serve to clear up a good deal that seems obscure and chaotic.

THIS book* we hesitate not to pronounce In two things only does "Balder" yield the richest volume of recent poetry next to "The Roman." It has, as a story, to Festus." It is a "wilderness" of thought—a sea of towering imagery and surging passion. Usually a man's first book is his richest, containing, as it generally does, all the good things which had been accumulating in his portfolio for years before he published. But while "The Roman was full of beauties, "Balder" is overflowing, and the beauties, we think, are of a rarer and profounder sort. There was much poetry in "The Roman," but there was more rhetoric. Indeed, many of the author's detractors, while granting him powers of splendid eloquence, denied The object of the poet is to show that him the possession of the purely poetic natural goodness, without the divine guidelement. "Balder" must, unquestion-ance, is unable to conduct even the loftiably, put these to silence, and convince all worth convincing, that Yendys is intensely and transcendently a poet.

* "Balder." By the Author of "The Ro

man."

est of the race to any issue but misery and despair. This he does in the story of Balder-a man of vast intelligence, and aspiring to universal intellectual power -who, partly through the illness of his

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