past ages of the world, and of the successive advances of mankind in knowledge, virtue, and happiness, to justify us in a high hope for the future destinies of our race. In a very condensed and intelligible form, combining great simplicity and purity of style, it notices the striking points in the histories of the nations in which intellectual refinement, social virtue, or civil and religious freedom received a check, or became more widely developed, or gained a more stable and permanent hold upon the minds and hearts of the human race. This poem possesses thoughts of exceeding beauty, which are as pleasingly expressed. How naturally and sweetly he gives expression to the gloomy foreboding that arises in the mind of youth, on the death of loved and revered friends, lest, with their decease, goodness die with them, and leave the coming years." Having, in the next place, noticed the beauteous and happy aspect of Nature, the beneficence of the "Eternal Love" that holds in His "complacent arms the earth, the air, the deep," and of the impossibility of Him, whose eye "unwinds the eternal dances of the sky," forgetting the creatures stamped with His own image, he, with great beauty, announces his firm conviction of the high position mankind shall yet, mentally and morally, attain. Farther on, with a few bold, masterly strokes, he portrays, with hideous faithfulness, the terrible slough of vice and degradation into which the monks and their system had fallen in mediæval times, revealing the veritable character and position of the monastic orders of the dark ages," and the dire, demoralizing influence which, by their example, was disseminated through all ranks of society. 66 After indulging in a few thoughts on the disappearance of Pagan and other forms of false worship, he launches out into a beautiful and just eulogium on the symmetry and stability of religious truth; which, amid all the changes in the destinies of mankind, and amid all the immorality, scepticism, and false doctrine with which, at different stages of the world's history, it has been more especially polluted, that "beam divine" has ever "raised its head,”* and shone forth with untarnished lustre amid surrounding vice and corruption, till, by its superior purity, it has overcome the more glaring and specious lights. "Thus error's monstrous shapes from earth are driven; In man's maturer day his bolder sight All blended, like the rainbow's radiant-braid, Pour yet, and still shall pour, the blaze that cannot fade." We must pass on to notice some of his other poems, in which we shall find much to admire. The "Forest Hymn" is a most enchanting specimen of religious feeling, beautiful sentiment, and exquisite poesy. In it he tunes his harp to nature, as represented in the beauty and grandeur of his own interminable woods, and, through her, pours out his soul to "Nature's God." This solemn effusion displays his wondrous power of poetic description of the grand, beautiful, or sublime of his native scenery; reveals his pervading love of nature, and his deep religious feeling and reverential awe, when standing under the shade of those giant forms of the primeval forest, whose far-spreading boughs, interlacing, shut out the blue canopy of heaven, and cast a sepulchral dimness on the winding aisles beneath. He gives expression to his intense feeling of the all-pervading presence of his Maker, and, in the depths of his emotion, gives vent to those thrilling thoughts contained in this touching hymn. For beauty and grandeur of ideas, facility, and smoothness of expression, and true moral worth, it occupies, in our estimation, a very high place in the merit-order of his poetry. How beautifully he gives utterance to the sacred awe that steals over man's senses when standing in the dim windings of those mighty and venerable forests, surrounded by forms "massy, tall, and dark," whose lofty tops shoot towards heaven," presenting their "verdant roof" to the blaze of the glorious sun, and casting but a dim twilight on the modest beauties that nestle at their feet! "His simple heart 66 Might not resist the sacred influences Which, from the stilly twilight of the place. And from the gray old trunks that high in heaven Of the invisible breath, that swayed at once All their green tops, stole over him, and bowed His spirit with the thought of boundless power Again, having noticed the total absence in the forest of anything contributing to "human pomp or pride." and declaring its suitableness as a "shrine for humble worshipper to hold communion with his Maker,” he, in a solemn and loving strain, speaks of the omnipresence of his Creator: "But thou art here. Thou fill'st That from the inmost darkness of the place Comes, scarcely felt; the barky trunks, the ground,— In the tranquillity that thou dost love, Enjoys thy presence." "Thou hast not left Thyself without a witness, in these shades, Of thy perfections. Grandeur, strength, and grace, Are here to speak of thee. This mighty oak, Almost annihilated,-not a prince In all that proud old work beyond the deep, Wears the green coronal of leaves with which A visible token of the upholding love That are the soul of this wide universe." Many selections, pregnant with beauty, might be made from this Forest Hymn," but our space compels us to draw to a close. These selections, however, will fully illustrate his style, and reveal the beauties of thought and diction to be found in his works. His minor pieces, in general, possess merit of no mean order, of which we may, in passing, notice a few especially praiseworthy. The "Hymn to Death" is an attractive composition,-full of feeling and truth, and teeming with instructive and kindly thoughts. The Inscription for the Entrance to a Wood" presents a vivid and truthful forest scene before the mind of the reader. "To a Waterfowl" is a delightful little piece, touching and didactive. "Green River" ripples along, sparkling with poetic fancy, flashing with emanations of the author's gifted mind; "fairy music" gushing from its merry conceits, and captivating the ear by the unbroken flow of its harmonious numbers."The Disinterred Warrior," and "An Indian at the Burial-place of his Fathers," are peculiarly interesting, from the tender sadness that percolates every sentiment. We cannot further particularise the poems of Bryant. Let these suffice as proof of his poetic genius, and of his right to the respect and love of all who truly admire elegance of idea and purity of style. Bryant's muse is universally admired in America; but his fame is not confined to the "Land of the West;" for such is the influence exercised by the similarity of language, that no poet of ability and worth has ever appeared there who has not received his full share of praise at the hands of generous Britons. America has dubbed him a poet of inestimable value; England respects him as one whose genius is great; and on the joint decree we may safely rest. It is true his mind does not reach the highest standard of poetic power. He cannot be ranked with the great minds of our own land, who flashed like meteors on the world, scattering beams where all was obscurity, but who, unlike the star, have left a glory and a radiance behind them that will last as long as literature itself. Though not comparable with such as these, the poetry of Bryant is of a high order. It is pure and lucid in its composition, pleasant and attractive in its "moral melancholy," and imbued with a religious spirit that imperceptibly affects the reader, and leads his mind to things higher than this mundane world. His poems are marked by a native style of thinking and illustration, and especially noted for the faithful and beautiful portraiture of American scenery. His subjects are varied, but possess individuality, so that, as a writer has remarked, we might read them and say, even if they bore no name, "This is Bryant." One of his most striking peculiarities is his frequent introduction of death and flowers into his poetry. His mind seems to be tinged with a sadness that finds a congenial occupation in the contemplation of these mementos of bright and happy life, and of its inevitable and gloomy close. This peculiar trait, however, does not estrange the mind of the reader, but, on the contrary, possesses a singular charm that "inspires respect, no terror, and a gentle flood of love." Bryant has proved himself to be a true son of the Muses; has made his genius to be respected, and has won the approbation of all who have studied his poetry. He has passed the ordeal of public criticism, and may, therefore, be confidently received as one of the recognized teachers of the world. ARROW. The Reviewer. The Baptist Magazine. London: Pewtress and Co. Price 6d. JUDGING from the numbers that have reached us, we can pronounce this to be the best denominational magazine we have seen. The Temperance Spectator. London: Job Caudwell. Monthly, 2d. The Temperance Star. London: Job Caudwell. Weekly, d. THE specimen numbers of these periodicals, which have been forwarded to us, are full of teetotal articles and news. They reveal a large amount of enthusiasm and activity on the part of our temperance friends. The Wigan Mechanics' Institution Magazine. Vol. I., cloth, price 4s. Wigan: Clarke and Winstanley, Examiner Office. THE magazine, we are informed, was projected to provide "the young men of Wigan with an organ through which they could express their wants, by means of which they could cultivate any literary talent they might possess, and in which they could communicate to others what they know or think upon any suitable subject;" but notwithstanding more than an average amount of ability was brought to the management of the serial, the young men of Wigan appear to have been indifferent to its claims, and to have allowed it to struggle on for a few months and then die in debt. The thirteen numbers published constitute a very respectable volume, and contain much that may be read with interest and profit by members of mutual improvement societies generally. The Topic. OUGHT THE PUBLIC EXHIBITION OF SUCH FENTS AS THOSE OF BLONDIN TO BE ENCOURAGED ? AFFIRMATIVE. The present is pre-eminently a prac tical age, and is entirely destitute of the excitement and adventure of the past. The stream of life moves sluggishly in canal-like boundaries, and thus contrasts very unfavourably with the time when it had its birth aid mountain solitudes, rushed heedlessly along rugged courseways, and dashed madly over rocky precipices. Then the excitement arising from surrounding circumstances had a beneficial influence upon the character of man, as it roused his courage, and nurtured his reliance in self, and his hope in God. But in the dull monotony of our times, these qualities are in danger of dying out; we are, therefore, prepared to welcome anything of a harmless character that breaks up the dead level of modern life. Blondin, having excited our interest by his daring exploits over the falls of Niagara, now visits our country, to perform his feats before our own eyes, and to show us what may be accoinplished with strong nerves and by careful practice. We think, therefore, that such exhibitions ought to be encouraged, as their tendency must be very beneficial-X. Man is an imitative being. Some of Blondin's spectators will, therefore, be led to emulate him, and a few may even excel him. The ability thus acquired, though at first directed only to the amusement, may ultimately be employed for the positive benefit, of mankind.-C. That the people must have amusement is a fact which has been too frequently ignored by those who are regarded as their guides and instructors. Hence the sacred name of religion has been employed to anathematize, rather than its influence been brought to purify, the pleasures of the people This error is beginning to be discovered and to be rectified, and some little progress has already been made in the right direction. As, therefore, Blondin's exhibitions of gymnastic skill are great improvements upon the bullbaiting and dog fighting of the past, and the pugilistic encounters of the present day, we think they ought to be encouraged by all.-A. I look upon the feats of Blondin with great interest, because they indicate the progress which man is making in subjugating nature to his control, and in establishing his claim to be its head and lord.-J. I consider that such feats as those of Blondin ought to be encouraged, because, from the great self-possession of mind and courage exhibited by him, it is evident that he is perfectly free from fear; and thus his self-possession, under such extraordinary circumstances, is calenlated to promote great physical and moral courage. Moral courage is sure to follow physical courage; let a man be deficient in the latter, and to a greater or less degree he will be deficient in the former. Let a man be possessed of strong physical courage, accorpanied with religions ideas, and that inan will be possessed of strong moral courage. Therefore on this account J believe Blondin is calculated to be of real service to society, and his exhibitions ought to be encouraged.T. W. R. Exhibitions of gymnastic feats form an incentive to the practise of gymnastic exercises, and thereby contribute very highly to the maintenance of sound |