house; and the people, to whom his infancy was entrusted, used to amuse him, and while away the tediousness of the time to themselves, by reciting the old Scotch tales, of which he has availed himself so happily in his national poems. At the age of twenty-one he commenced Advocate, at which time he married Miss Carpenter, the natural daughter of the late Duke of Devonshire. This young person, who was brought up in the island of Guernsey, scarcely understood English; but, nevertheless, was so passionate an admirer of her husband's poetry, that she looked on the slightest criticism as an injury. A story have it, that pretty plainly shews he is not a man of a complexion extrêmement foible." He was one evening handing a lady of the Buccleugh family into a carriage, when an impudent broad-shouldered porter uttered an exclamation not very pleasing to female ears. Sir W. lost none of his urbanity, though he was observed to compress his lips strongly, but politely went through the ceremony he had undertaken, and wished his friends good night; after which, our spirited author, of the "complexion extrêmement foible," followed the man, and levelled him to the ground with a blow, that left him senseless.-It is a singular fact, that Tenant, another of Scotia's Poets, is a cripple as well as Sir Walter Scott, is told of her having wanted to cut off the ears of a writer for the Edinburgh Review,' who had written a tolerably severe article on the poem of 'Marmion.' The patrons, that Sir W. owed to his rising reputation, obtained for him the place of Under-Sheriff in the County of Selkirk, and that of Secretary in the Court of Scottish Session. These two places afforded him a decent competence, but the produce of his works has assured him an independent fortune, which increases every day. "In the late visit of George IV. to Scotland, he distinguished himself by the expression of an ardent loyalty. The Scotch ladies had chosen him for their orator, and it was he who had the honour to present to the Monarch, in their names, the silver cross, the emblem of their association. The King testified the most flattering kindness for the Scotch Bard, and conferred on him the title of Baronet." The Critic then goes on to give a Portrait of Sir Walter, from English authority; but as we somewhat doubt the likeness, and cannot believe that il n'y a pas un trait de génie ni même de simple esprit dans toute sa figure, we forbear to quote it. POETICAL COURT OF JOHN II. JOHN II., who reigned over Castile from 1407 to 1454, was a celebrated patron of poetry. The grandees of his kingdom wooed the muse with unwearied assiduity, but mingled much pedantry with their addresses. Allegory, ingenious difficulties, and subtleties of all kinds, they delighted in. Mythological allusions and moral sentences they mistook for poetic dignity. But nature sometimes triumphed, and their writings occasionally display that graceful facility so characteristic of the popular poetry of Spain. However, they can scarcely be said to have formed an epoch, unless by the partly successful introduction of learning and philosophy into poetry, and the improvement of lyric verse. But what is more remarkable in this period than the merits of its writers, is, that Literature preserved John II. on his throne. For a long time, the Castilian monarchy had been convulsed by internal troubles. In the last ten years of the fourteenth century, the powerful barons almost wrested the sceptre from the monarchs. Under this Prince, too, the monarchy was more than once threatened with ruin, by the ambition of the grandees. John II. was a weak prince, but he derived his security from his love of literature: it won and preserved him the attachment of the most eminent noblemen, who rallied round his throne and formed a poetical Court, which had great influence on public affairs.. Rare instance this, in the history of States! A Court whose members were at once poets, warriors, and statesmen, surrounding and supporting a learned sovereign, during civil commotions, in spite of his imbecility to govern! Some modern monarchs, equally distinguished for literature and weakness, could not, we fear, calculate on a similar support. Strong must have been the national poetic spirit that could bid defiance to faction and ambition! But the age of chivalry is gone, and (in Courts at least). the glory of poetry is extinguished,—we hope, not for ever! HAYLEY AND GARRICK. HAYLEY'S hopes of seeing his play of “The Afflicted Father" favourably introduced on the stage, arose from the following circumstance. It was highly approved by his friend Mr. Garnier, of Wickham, who happened to be very intimate with the manager, Garrick. Garnier had been a school-fellow of Hayley, and had married one of his relations, the eldest daughter of Sir John Miller, of Lavant, first cousin to the mother of the poet. With his usual goodnature and lively spirit, this gentleman engaged to procure the genuine sentiments of Garrick on the merits of the tragedy; and he took the best possible steps for that purpose. He said to him-" Garrick, I have a play for you, of which I think highly. But you shall judge for yourself. All I ask of you is sincerity. If you think it unfit for the stage, send it back to me with any mark of rejection, and we will pester you no more on the subject; but if you think of it as I do, and resolve to produce it, I will then bring to you my friend, the author. But, remember, you are on honour, and engaged not to ask even his name, unless you have previously determined to try the success of the play." After the anxious suspense of a few weeks, Hayley received a most encouraging billet from his friend, to say, that he had promised to carry him, the next Saturday morning, to breakfast in Southampton-street with Garrick, who was delighted with the Tragedy. Saturday morning arrived, and the exulting VOL. II. P |