children may be superseded in nine cases out of ten are they in such cases employed? Is it made an object, to discourage as far as possible the inhuman degradation of children? We put the question to the conscience of every reader. If any one has any specious argument to urge in defence or extenuation of his connivance at the evil, short of absolute necessity, it is at least his duty to read this volume, if not for the poetry, for the facts. Art. IX. Conversations on the Bible. By a Lady. 12mo. pp. 438. London, 1824. talk of Scripture doctrines in our social circles now," we are told in the Preface to these "Conversations, is just as fashionable as it is to be a member of a Bible Society; for in our age of wonders, we are all philosophers and philanthropists. From this we are to infer, we presume, that to talk of Scripture doctrines, is to affect to be a philosopher; to be a member of a Bible Society, is to be a philanthropist. But this Writer disclaims being either. The pancy and temerity,' it is added, with which the most ab'truse questions of Scripture are introduced into familiar conversation, is as irreverent as it it is absurd, and ought to be discouraged. Our readers will learn with surprise, that too large an infusion of theology into familiar conversation, is one of the crying sins of the day; but the Author must be allowed to have hit upon a curious antidote, in composing Conversations on the Bible! This work is, we doubt not, well meant, and we regret that we cannot commend the execution. The style is very deficient in simplicity, and the young ladies converse in a language which sounds much too lofty for their years. What I want, says Miss Fanny to her Mother, is a synoptical elucidation of the story, with its general relation to the several parts of the Bible.' A young lady who could understand the use of these terms, ought to have read her Bible. Her Mamma replies and W susgo Il I will endeavour to give you such a view, though I may not accomplish it as well as I could desire. The subject is exceedingly interesting, for the Bible is not only the oldest book in existence, but it contains an account of the creation of all things, and a history of mankind from the beginning.' It is but just to add, that other and better reasons for studying the Bible, are afterwards intimated. But Mrs. M. is evidently not at home on the subject of religion. The design 52 seems to have been, to present the Old Testament history in a1 connected and unexceptionable form. Mrs. Trimmer and Miss Neale have anticipated the idea; but, had the present work! been competently executed, we should not the less have given it our cordial approbation. In a work for young persons, we look at least for correct and intelligible composition; yet, what can we say for such sentences as the following? Prophecy is unquestionably the most obscure portion of the Scriptures; yet is it sufficiently plain to form the great palladium of their origin, the chief argument of their divinity. Its predictions are so far beyond the penetration of human intellect, and the accomplishment of these predictions are so multiplied and exact, as no art of man or combinations of men could achieve. The most hardened infidelity is compelled to refer both the prescience and the power to Some more than human.' Art. X. The Star in the East; with other Poems. By Josiah Conder. 12mo. pp. 195. Price 6s. London. 1824. CIRCUMSTANCES probably well known to the majority of our readers, embarrass us exceedingly in the criticism of this publication. Conscious that our warm admiration is the result of impartial and even of severe examination, we feel that there is something almost unmanly in shrinking from the full responsibility of avowing and sustaining it; nor should we suffer, in such a case, any thing short of a specific injunction to interfere between our feelings and their entire expression. Happily, there is an alternative, far more satisfactory in the present instance, than in others more doubtful: if we are forbidden to praise, we can at least produce examples, and we may venture on these somewhat the more largely, since we shall, though most reluctantly, abstain from every thing in the shape of eulogy, and confine ourselves to simple analysis and extract. The first and principal poem 'The Star in the East,' commemorates the progress of the Gospel, and anticipates its final triumph. It opens with the Song of the Angels at the Messiah's advent. O to have heard the unearthly symphonies, Which o'er the starlight peace of Syrian skies. Came floating like a dream, that blessed night When angel songs were heard by sinful men, Hymning Messiah's Advent! O to have watch'd - That night with those poor shepherds, whom, when first I The glory of the Lord shed sudden day, h Day without dawn, starting from midnight, day vibobook When from the angelic multitude swell'd forth From their bright orbs, those heavenly ministries, Hailing the new-born world with bursts of joy, pp. 3, 4. The poem then passes to the massacre of the Innocents, the destruction of Jerusalem, and its modern state, the predicted restoration of the Jews, and, after an animated apostrophe to England as the chosen Evangelist of nations,' breaks forth in the following indignant strain : 'There was a nation-whisper not its name Lords of the realm through which old Ganges rolls Of blood-stain'd lewdness. Bear thou witness too, Dark sanctuaries, whence shrieks, with laugh obscene To reign. Lift up your heads, ye fortress gates! Ye long-closed barriers of the East, give way!' pp. 9, 10 Persia, China, and Taheite, presented: objects too decidedly poetical to be neglected. • Land of the Sun, once thy fond idol! Land Of rose gardens, where aye the bulbul sings His most voluptuous song! Thou mother land And cradle of the nations! Land of Cyrus! (Shall e'er a second Cyrus spring from thee?) Thy palaces have heard a heavenly voice: A prophet's feet have trod thy burning soil: A“ man of God" has left his name with thee. for Thy sage Mollahs, say, have they yet resolv'd The Christian's knotty interrogatives? Go, send for aid to Mecca. Ha! the Arab! Shrunk to the shadow of a name, survives 5.3 k Sees Egypt lost, and quails before the Greek. Rouse thee! shake off the trammels of a creed Forged to enslave thee. From thy Soofish dreams Call up thy ancient Magi from their rest, To lead the to His rising, who returns To gladden thee with healing in his beams, The SUN whom thou mayst worship. Thy Euphrates A passage for the monarchs of the East. And thou," Celestial Empire!" teeming hive Of millions! vast impenetrable realm! The hour is writ in heaven, thy yellow sons Where, in the furthest deserts of the deep, 10 What unaccustom'd sounds come from those shores, Now first articulate divinest sounds.' pp. 10-13. pass Greenland, the Indians of North America, Africa, then along the field of this poetical magic-lantern, and are followed by an apostrophe to the Star of Bethlehem, that will not be overlooked. O Star! the most august of all that clasp The star-girt heav'n, which erst in eastern skies " All shadowless, even to the poles shall reign.' pp. 16, 17. The Scriptures and the progress of knowledge claim an emphatic notice, and the signs of the present times afford an appropriate subject for the conclusion. The Sacred Poems' consist chiefly of versions of the Psalms, and of stanzas suggested by different passages of Scripture. There are a few of a more general cast, among which we were well pleased to recognise the Reverie," from the additions to the second edition of the Associate Minstrels.' The 145th Psalm is versified in a measure of which we do not, at the present moment, recollect a previous instance, and which, we think, produces a very impressive effect. It is the heroic rhyme alternated. We shall give a part. • I will extol thy name, O God, my king For ever will I bless Thee. Day by day Great is the Lord, unfathomably great: His deeds of might, the goodness of his ways. |