such phenomenon has yet appeared; but the band of singers whose melodious voices are heard by us across the ocean, has not very long ago received an accession in a youth of more than ordinary promise, whose latest and best work, The House by the Sea, now lies on our table. Thomas Buchanan Read, though quite unknown to those who have long been familiar with the names of Longfellow, Bryant, Edgar Poe, and James Russell Lowell, is destined, we think, to take as high a place in the literature of America as any of these, and perhaps to eclipse the most popular of them all. His first volume, published two or three years ago, gave evidence of fine poetic sensibilities, as well as a quick perception of, and a true feeling for, natural beauty. Free in a great measure from faults or weaknesses of imitation, he seemed likely to choose a path for himself, not by deviating into wild and eccentric ways, but by a quiet originality. His new poem, The House by the Sea, though very unequal, and not at all free from crudeness and occasional absurdities, is rich in gems of a pure lustre. The story is a fanciful one, in which characters and incidents of a natural kind are combined with phantoms and fanciful illusions. A fisherman's daughter, Ida, is wooed by a misanthropic lord named Roland, is carried off, after an attempted suicide, bythe spirit of a lady whom her suitor had previously loved, and is at length restored to the world of realities and of love. There is ample scope thus afforded for the exercise of the poet's imagination, and Mr Read avails himself of it, varying the rhythm of his verse and the flow of his fancy in effective correspondence with the incidents of his plot. He takes a wide range, and indulges in digressions which are sometimes tedious, but not unfrequently pardonable for the fine things they contain. We can select only a few of these; and our quotations shall be taken rather to shew the rich beauty of Mr Read's imagery, than to illustrate his management of the story. It is not difficult, generally speaking, to distinguish the pure pearl of the poet's imagination from the paste counterfeit, fingered and worked upon until it is impossible to conceal the marks of manufacture. In the case of much of the imagery in the poem before us, there is the fulness and delicacy of the true gem. Take the following as examples, the first descriptive of the echoes of wedding-bells :

Still through the breathless moments after,
Like doves beneath the sheltering rafter,
Along the roof in faint decline,
The echoes whispered with voices fine.

The next-sunset and the early moon-is still more beautiful:

An hour too soon,

Like a wedding bark await

At a Venetian palace gate,

Floated the empty crescent moon,

Moored to a crimson cloud-a barge of state
In the sunset's bright lagune.

Scattered profusely over Mr Read's pages, there are similes, the full effect of which can be felt only when they are read in their natural connection; but even when detached, they are more notable than we find in much of the poetry now written, even by good poets: thus we have the poppy among the flowers, waving its fiery bowl of rich red wine;' the sky with the starry fleets of the shoreless night;' the snow-storm

Like a maniac nurderer to and fro
Raving and flinging the scattering snow
Over the victim that mocks his despair,
With its unveiled face and tell-tale stare.

Mr Read seems now and then to have been led away by the warmth of his fancy; he occasionally flings the flowers about him, heedless of where they may fall, and forgetful that some things may almost be

said to be prosified by imagery; this, however, is a fault which time will correct; and meanwhile the poet gives promise of being able, at a future period, to present us with something still better than he has yet done.

Here, then, we close our review of the more notable books of poetry lately published. Others there are which we might have included, had we been disposed to bid the reader listen to the echoes, as from point to point in the region of modern literature they catch up a music which is not their own, and give it forth in faint and short-lived cadences.

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

IN the month of May 1855, an Order in Council was issued by Her Majesty, appointing commissioners to deal with the long agitated question of appointments in the Civil Service. Before that time, though partial and irregular forms of testing the capacity and acquirements of persons nominated to some of the government offices, had been adopted, there was no general and regular system of ascertaining that the right man was likely to find his way into the right place. The system on which appointments were formerly made was simply that of nomination by the minister, who was commonly guided in his choice by the recommendations of his political supporters; and, disguise the matter how we may, there is no question that political influence had much more to do with the matter than any peculiar fitness on the part of the candidate. Not that members of parliament invariably, or even generally, recommended persons who were notoriously incompetent; but there was a laxness in the matter which certainly gave openings for an occasional intrusion of this kind. Here a check was wanted, and this the royal commission was intended, and seems admirably calculated, to supply. Nominations, it should be observed-for there has been a good deal of misconception on this point-are still, with a few partial exceptions, made in the old way. The commissioners have no power to select a candidate, and nominate or recommend him to government for any particular office; they are concerned only with such candidates as are sent to them from the different departments, whose qualifications they are required to test. In fact, they keep a turnpike, which only lets people through when they have complied with the stated demands.

Their duties are briefly these: they are bound to ascertain that every candidate who has been nominated to any junior situation in the Civil Service, is within the limits of age prescribed by the department to which he seeks admission; that he is physically capable of discharging the duties of that situation; that he bears a good moral character; and that he possesses sufficient knowledge and ability to fill his post without detriment or discredit to the public service.

The first Report of the commissioners, which was issued in April last, puts us in possession of the history of their labours up to the previous month. It is a Blue-book of folio size, containing nearly 250 pages; of which, however, the Report itself occupies not more than twenty; the rest of the book is taken up with appendixes, which are for the most part of great interest and value,* not merely to the Houses of Parliament and public functionaries, but to schoolmasters and teachers, who may here see the kind of knowledge most in demand; and so be enabled to regulate their course of instruction, as to make it most serviceable to their pupils. Nor does its usefulness stop here. A parent who has no particular view of

The Report, with some of the more important appendixes,

has been reprinted, under the sanction of the commissioners, by the Dean of Hereford. The price of this reprint is only eightpence, and we strongly recommend it to the attention of the public.

which are obviously beyond the candidate's education, because the candidate himself, and his friends too, if their partiality does not overpower their judgment, will be unwilling to incur the hazard of rejection, which would act unfavourably on all his future prospects.

We shall now try to shew that the rules laid down by the commissioners have not been unnecessarily stringent. The higher examination-papers,' they say, 'contain, in some cases, as many as forty questions: but, either by the printed rules, or by a memorandum at the head of the paper, candidates have been desired to answer two under each head, and then to proceed with any others which they might choose to select. The object of proposing so great a variety, has been to insure to each, as far as possible, an opportunity of satisfying the condition prescribed. No one who has complied with this requisition has been rejected on the ground of deficiency in arithmetic; and, on the other hand, many whose performances have fallen below this standard have received certificates of qualification.' A lithograph, in imitation of manuscript, full of every kind of bad spelling, is set before the candidate, who has to make a fair copy in a corrected form. Even here, the commissioners have put the most lenient construction on all doubtful cases; and they add that 'bad writing has probably in a good many instances sheltered bad spelling.' The rejections to be enumerated under this head are, '41 for deficiencies in spelling alone; 23 for deficiencies in both spelling and writing; 27 for deficiencies in both spelling and arithmetic; and 72 for deficiencies in spelling combined with other faults.'

In the case of Latin and modern foreign languages, the rejections on these grounds only are but ten; in all other cases, there was a want of knowledge in other subjects which would have warranted rejection. Not a single candidate has been turned back on the sole ground of history and geography; and in those cases where the commissioners have reported a deficiency in these, combined with other subjects which would have warranted rejection, there has been either a total omission, or a gross and discreditable ignorance, with no accurate knowledge whatever to justify a favourable decision.'

The commissioners observe that they have felt some difficulty in deciding what should be the minimum of handwriting. We know,' they say, 'no better definition than that which we find in the rules for examination authorised by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, namely "That good handwriting should consist in the clear formation of the letters of the alphabet." Having regard to the use, in several departments, of copying-machines, we conceive that the requirement of the Committee of Council on Education in this respect, "that the handwriting should be rapid, neat, and of that even stroke which allows legible copies to be taken by pressing," would be reasonable and useful in various cases.' It is added, that as yet they have been unable to place the standard of writing generally on this satisfactory footing; and that if they had insisted on it, the public service would have been obstructed by a great number of rejections. They further express a hope, 'that in a short time, when it shall have become publicly known that such good handwriting as is above described is indispensable, the candidates who are sent to us will have made themselves masters of an accomplishment which we believe it to be within the power of every diligent person to attain.' In this hope we concur; but we are bound to add, that the fault does not always rest with the candidate himself-it is often the result of injudicious teaching. Many writing-masters think it the height of good penmanship to write like a copperplate engraving, with excessively fine up-strokes and thick down-strokes, and in very many cases slanting so much as to occupy a great surface, and

still be very imperfectly legible. Flourishes, too, long tops to the h's and long tails to the g's, are encouraged, much to the detriment of an even, regular style of writing, and to the needless consumption of time and

paper.

The system of competition has been introduced to a partial extent, thirteen competitive examinations having been held prior to the 1st of March last-most of them for the War Department. The total number of situations competed for was fifty-eight; the number of candidates who had received nominations was 247, but some of these subsequently withdrew from the contest, and others were not within the prescribed limits of age, so that the number actually examined was only 175. The commissioners say regarding them, that 'both in the competitive examination for clerkships in our own and in other offices, those who have succeeded in obtaining the appointments have appeared to us to possess considerably higher attainments than those who have come in upon simple nomination; and we may add, that we cannot doubt that if it be adopted as a usual course to nominate several candidates to compete for each vacancy, the expectation of this ordeal will act most beneficially on the education and industry of those young persons who are looking forward to public employment.'

A resolution passed the House of Commons a short time ago in favour of throwing all the government offices entirely open to competition. No doubt such a course would give admission to many men of education and ability who have no political influence, and who have therefore at present not the slightest chance of success. There might, however, be some fear lest by this means that which is now a very useful check upon improper appointments, might degenerate into an encouragement of that absurd system of cramming, which is very popular with many men who are sincerely earnest in their desire to promote the spread of useful knowledge, but which, so far as we are able to judge, would in the long-run be far from beneficial to the public service.* In this view the House seems at last to concur; and the government having wisely shewn a desire to carry out the principle in a modified form, and only so far as it can be done without risk of introducing fresh evils, the question may be considered as settled for the present.

A DUTCH NOVELIST.

Ir is a common remark, that relatives sometimes know less of each other, than of those who are in no way connected with them. However this may apply to social life, there is no doubt it holds good in literary matters. The English and Dutch languages, for example, are closely cognate, both being Low Germanic dialects, and offering in numerous points the strongest resemblance; yet how few of the educated Britons, who understand French and other modern tongues of Europe, could read a page of a Dutch author! There is, we believe, a general impression abroad that the literature of Holland is little worth; indeed, the very name of a 'Dutch poet' or a 'Dutch novelist' would be regarded as provocative of mirthful derision.

Our German neighbours, however, are kinder and more just than we are to our Dutch cousins. A critic of the former nation writing lately of Mr Van Beets, calls him ' der holländische Dickens.' Without entirely

* It was well observed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that from the place of examination would be practically excluded from government employ, as it would not be worth their while to incur the expense of a journey to London on an uncertainty. Thus nearly all appointments would be given to inhabitants of London, Edinburgh, or Dublin, or the neighbouring districts.

in the plan of open competition, persons residing at a distance

endorsing this high praise, there certainly are many points of similitude between the two writers.

Mr Van Beets, who writes under the nom de plume of Hildebrand, is now the most popular novelist of Holland. His writings are, we believe, quite unknown in this country; and we trust we shall gratify our readers by giving a few translated extracts from one of his latest tales, The Regge Family.

The story is narrated by Hildebrand in the first person: there is very little plot in it; for our author rather excels in the delineation of character, and the graphic and minute description of inanimate objects, than in the elaboration of exciting incidents. The scene is laid in Leyden, when Hildebrand was a student in the university. He became acquainted with a young fellow-student, a gentle lad, whose family resided at Demerara. William Regge was attacked by a low fever, under which he gradually sank; and, despite of the care of a skilful physician, it became evident that death was approaching.

'A few hours before he breathed his last, his consciousness returned. He drew from his finger a ring, set with a small diamond, and bearing the initials E. M. "Keep that," he said, with a trembling but emphatic voice; "it was very, very dear to me." These were his last words.'

The duty of writing to Demerara, to acquaint William Regge's family with his death, devolved upon Hildebrand; and he received in reply from the lad's father a letter overflowing with expressions of gratitude for the kindness he had shewn his son.

'Two years afterwards, the Regge family came to the Netherlands, and settled themselves in the city of R. I received notice of this event by the arrival of a case of Havana cigars, accompanied by the following odd little note:

"A small smoke-offering of gratitude on our arrival in our mother-country. Come to R- and you shall be heartily welcomed by your faithful

JAN. ADAM. REGGE."

'A short time after the receipt of this smoke-offering -which my student-friends, by the way, had helped me to dispose off speedily-I was musing one morning over my solitary breakfast, when I heard a noise of footsteps upon the stairs, and a loud voice exclaiming : "Higher still?-the deuce! why, 'tis in the attics.

Sakkerloot! how dark it is! I'm a chicken if I can see a bit!"

"Indeed? So you were near neighbours! Yes, 'twas a pity, a great pity. Sakkerloot! is that a portrait of Walter Scott? You read English? A fine language, is it not? Do you think I can procure here a complete edition of Walter Scott?-but it must be a handsome, expensive one; none of your paper covers: the children would tear them to pieces at once." Then looking again at his watch: "At what hour does the museum close? I must see the menagerie too. Can I also take a look at the academy? What more is there to see?"" After going through an active course of sight-seeing with Mr Regge, Hildebrand accepted that gentleman's urgent invitation to go on a visit to his house, which, with its various inmates, is graphically described.

'Madame Regge was rather short of stature, younger than her husband, and browner than her daughter. Her toilet was magnificent, and she looked pleased at my visit, yet somewhat at a loss what to say. Miss Henrietta came to her assistance. It is a good invention for some mothers that of having grown-up daughters. She rose from the sofa to greet me, and the black servant placed a chair for me nearer to her than to her mamma.

"Papa had spoken so much of Mr Hildebrand, that she felt as if they had met before. Papa would be home very soon: some urgent business had forced him to go out."

'Indeed she was a pretty girl this eldest daughter of Mr Regge. She had poor William's finely-cut nose and mouth, but her eyes were larger and brighter than his. Her hair hung in shining ringlets round her pale but polished cheeks: she was dressed in a becoming white muslin negligée, and wore no other ornament than a splendid ruby ring, which attracted the eye to her soft little hands.

"The handsome brunette filled up every pause in the conversation by talking to a splendid white cockatoo with a yellow crest, which stood beside her on a perch. She fed him with crumbs of biscuit, and I felt quite uneasy when his cruel-looking beak approached her pretty fingers.

66

"Oh, he begins to speak so nicely. He has begun to know my name. she stroked Coco's head so tenderly, that I began to Coco, call your mistress;" and wish myself in his place.

obey. At length he came out with: "Scratch my "The pet settled his horny lips, as if preparing to

head!"

His mistress's eyes glowed with anger, and her "This was clearly a mistake, and Coco paid dearly for with a gold needle-case. The bird, then, with slanting pretty hand inflicted a very smart slap on his head head and very short steps, retired to the furthest end of his perch, and held himself there in a defensive position, with one claw raised up, looking very like a school-boy whom his master has threatened with punishment.

Papa, just out of mischief, teaches him such expressions," said the angry young lady; "but I think 'tis very improper."

daughter. I thought of starting some fresh topic, and 'Mamma looked somewhat apprehensively at her was on the point of calling the portraits on the wall to

my aid, when Mr Regge himself entered.

"My dearest friend!" he exclaimed, as if we had been all our lives, as the albums say, "fondly linked dearest friend, I'm charmed to see you! Haven't you together by the tenderest bonds of friendship"-" my taken anything yet? What will you have? Madeira, Teneriffe, Malaga, Constantia? My love, ring at once for refreshments. Oh, poor Coco, what are you sulking about there?"

"He has had a scolding, papa, for speaking other words besides those which I taught him."

"All nonsense! The more words the better. Puss, puss, scratch my head!"