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"Fame's lofty temple stands on fairy- Must scorn its brightest, most illusive

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toys,

And fix his hopes on bliss beyond the skies."

When this recital was finished, all of us saw, with regret, that our friend had not yet forgotten those injuries which had blighted his early hopes. We now proposed naming him The Bard of the Leasowes; but he insisted on being known among us by the appellation of The Misanthrope, and we reluctantly complied with his wish.

The characters of the other members admitted, along with these now mentioned, and the pieces recited by them, will form a subsequent communication to you, when our Secretary resumes his functions. Meanwhile, we are enjoying, by anticipation, his surprise, when he sees his own picture in your Miscellany; as we have all agreed, that not a whisper shall transpire concerning this paper, which, should you find less worthy than some of the preceding, I would just beg leave to remind you, that the rich parterre contains the humble daisy beside the blushing rose; that the twitter of the wren, blending with the mellow song of the blackbird, adds to the harmony of the woods; and that Jupiter and Aldebaran shine with brighter lustre in the sky, when contrasted with the dim radiance of the milky-way. With respect to my share in the foregoing, I shall only remark, that Dryden, in the office of Poet-Lau and that the fool Johnny Ferguson, reate, was succeeded by Shadwell; for once, filled the chair of the sapient King James.

I am, very respectfully,
Mr Editor,
Your most obedient servant,

for MARTINUS SCRIBLERUS,
DEMOCRITUS.

Harum-Scarum Hall, Burgh of Kittleprankie. [

RUSSIAN LITERATURE.

LITERATURE, like other sublunary things, is subject to constant changes, nay even to extreme revolutions; and what in one age is considered as the acmé of perfection, is often disregarded in the next, and, in a subsequent one again, held up as a model for imitation: in its present state, it perhaps offers as striking a contrast to that of any preceding period, as the fluctuations of any age or time can present.

Till the latter end of the 17th century, the researches of the literati were, with very few exceptions, confined to the classic lore of Greece and Rome, and the sources offered by Western Europe: regardless of the mines of Eastern Europe, and Asiatic literature, that quietly awaited the exploring hand destined to remove the veil that covered them, and the mist that enveloped them, the learned world pursued the beaten track; and if, with the Latin and Greek authors, a Spanish romance, an Italian love-sonnet, or a Troubadour's ballad, engaged their attention, in addition to what the regular theatrical supply required, it was the utmost stretch to which they extended their regards. The eighteenth century made rapid strides towards diffusing a more comprehensive spirit; but the ninteenth bids fair to outstrip all preceding ones in the race after knowledge. How have the exertions of a Belzoni and a Burckhardt enlightened us on Egyptian and African subjects! What treasures may not be hoped for, what historical lights not expected, from the various literary stores of Asia, if the spirit of research, now on the alert, be but properly directed and perseveringly pursued! Strange to say, the immense quantity of manuscripts, &c. collected at the East India-House, still remains hermetically sealed to the world, as far as regards the only useful purpose of amassing them, that of communicating their contents. Would it not be worth while, instead of maintaining an institution for the instruction of a few youths in Indian languages, who have often shown that they will not be colleged into knowledge, to appropriate sufficient

VOL. XIV.

funds for the purpose of having this mass of manuscripts investigated, and the result communicated to the world? Generally speaking, more real interest seems to exist on this subject on the continent than in England, which is so intimately connected with the East. But even nearer home, a large field remains to be explored, some parts of which are almost equally

new to us.

Since the accession of the house of Hanover, German literature, though comparatively modern, has asserted its rights to consideration with much success; and Wieland, Klopstock, Schiller, and Goethe, have added the suffrages of the British public to the laurels gained in their own country. Much, however, still remains to be done, to place the two countries on a par, since English_literature is much more thoroughly and correctly known in Germany than that of the latter country is in England. Among the countries unmeritedly slighted, Poland has perhaps most reason to complain, since, though the lower classes were destitute of both freedom and cultivation, the higher ones at no time neglected literature; in proof of which, may be adduced their númerous old works in the Latin and Polish languages, still extant. Their philosophical writers, such as Krasicke, Narusze wicz, Niemcewitz, &c, are held in great estimation by all the learned who have accquired a knowledge of their works; and Sniadecki, whose work against Kant's system obtained so much celebrity even in the country of the latter, deserves to be known in all.

It was, however, reserved for the present century to introduce a foreign literature, not only new to us, but also of very recent origin in itself, no portion of it having been in existence before the eighteenth_century. Both the antiquary and the historian would doubtless find their labours richly rewarded, were they to explore all that belongs to their department in the immense Russian Empire, and ascend, in their researches, to the remotest periods; but, in literature, no one need travel far

H

ther back than Peter the Great, though its present activity, combined with the rich materials afforded it by its geographical and historical character, bids fair to make ample amends for the lateness of the period from whence it dates its commencement.

Periodical publications have, of course, formed a prominent means of communicating a literary spirit in this empire; hitherto, however, most of them have been edited in French or German, a circumstance in itself unfavourable to the cause these Journals are intended to promote *. But now a disposition seems manifesting itself for productions of this kind in the Russian language. The year 1823 presented the Russians with the first Almanack in their language, under the title of "The Northern Polar Star," on the plan of those so numerous in Germany, which Mr Ackermann has also introduced to the British public in a similar attempt, under the title of "Forget me not +." This Almanack is edited by two well-known Russian writers, (Rueleew and Bestuschew,) and is to be supported by the principal talent of the country, as is pompously stated in an account of it in a German Journal, which announces, that "Articles from the pens of the most esteemed Russian writers, such as a Schukowsky, Wäsemsky, Gnieditch, Glinka, Wojeikow, the famous fabulist Krülow, and the celebrated poets Astolopou and Panaew, will find a place in it." A Journal, that enjoys great favour, has lately appeared, under the title of "The Northern Archives;" it is devoted to historical and geographical subjects, and, being very ably conducted by a Pole named

Bulgarin, may be productive of great advantage, by exciting a general interest in favour of researches in those departments.

Recent as Russian poetry is in date, it has already made a most rapid progress. Mr Bowring's meritorious work has lately introduced it into England, in a dress well calculated to insure it a favourable reception; and the French are likewise about to have their literature enriched by the chief productions in the dramatic line, since the eighth livraison of the Collection of Foreign Theatrical Pieces, now publishing at Paris, under the title of "Théâtre de l'Etranger," will contain the master-pieces of the Russian stage, translated by Count Alexis de St. Priest, being the first translations into French from the Russian language.

The most considerable recent production in poetry is a Romantic-Epic Poem, in two Cantos, entitled, "The Captive of Mount Caucasus," from the pen of a young poet named Puschkin, whose first work of the same kind (Ruslan and Lindmilla) had already given promise of talents, that, when fully matured, will place him high in the ranks of Russian literature. As it may be interesting to observe the subjects chosen by native talent for the exercise of its powers, I shall here give a short sketch of the argument of the one above-mentioned:

A young Russian, having been taken prisoner by one of the warlike tribes that inhabited the Caucasus, is kept in fetters, and set to tend their flocks, in which situation he engages the affections of a young

• Not so much so, however, in Russia, as would be the case in most other countries, the majority of the well-educated Russians being masters of several languages, and of these two more particularly.

+ I have not yet seen this publication, but I can hardly wish Mr Ackermann success in his undertaking, since he must well know, that the literature of his native country is far from being benefited by them; the greater part containing little else but tales of so trivial a nature, as neither to improve the heart nor instruct the mind. Some honourable exceptions there certainly are, but, generally speaking, they only serve to engross the reading public, to the exclusion of the more important productions of genius.

This is a very praiseworthy undertaking, and promises much towards banishing the rigid adherence to the unities from its strong-hold on the French nation. The first deliveries were devoted to Shakespeare, Schiller, &c., the seventh contained Müllner's "Guili," and Werner's " Martin Lüther,” and “ 24th February." I am not aware that we have any work on so comprehensive a plan in English.

female of the tribe, who does her utmost to alleviate the hardships of his condition, without, however, succeeding in inspiring him with simi. lar sentiments towards her; his heart being previously engaged, and his mind occupied in contemplating the majestic scenes around him, and in reflecting on the people among whom he has fallen. In perfect purity and innocence of heart, she discloses her passion to him, and solicits a return, promising to procure him his free dom, and to get him adopted by her tribe. This induces him to reveal to her the state of his heart; after which, she observes a greater distance towards him, till one day, when the men are all absent on some expedition, she contrives to free him from his fetters, and conducts him to the banks of the Kuban, on his way home. He swims over the river; but on turning round at the opposite bank to take a last farewell of his preserver, he sees the waters close over her, she having plunged into the river, and thus ended a life of no value to her unless shared with him. This poem was written in the Crimea, while the author was in banishment there, and bears the stamp of the feelings such a situation may be supposed to excite. The verse is Iambic, of four feet, and the language both harmonious and powerful, interspersed with very pleasing images and spirited descriptions. The characters are rather wanting in prominent features, and, to use a technical phrase, not always in the best keeping, with the exception of the heroine, who is a perfect ideal of female tenderness and loveliness. With a little more practice in the theoretical part of Epic poetry, and more matured judgment in the delineation and keeping of his characters, this truly-gifted poet cannot fail to produce something, which, uniting the gems with which his first essays are studded, with a more solid ground-work, will insure him a high and permanent station among the sons of Parnassus.

The historical department has lately produced two very important works, the one a voluminous" History of Russia," by Karamsin, said to be a master-piece, the other the "Memoirs of Prince Jacob Petro

witsch (Peter's son) Schakowskoi," written by himself, and containing most valuable materials towards the history of his own times, but more particularly throwing a great light on the intrigues and systems pursued at the Russian Court under the Empresses Anna and Elizabeth. The style of these memoirs is such as to impress the reader with instantaneous conviction of their truth; and the author's active life and personal share in the scenes and intrigues that accompanied each change of rulers in Russia, render this work an interesting addition to our knowledge of that country, as the following sketch will show:

Prince Schakowskoi was born in 1705, and, under the auspices of his uncle, a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Horse Guards, soon obtained a commission in that corps. In 1735 he was placed by his uncle in attendance on Duke Biron of Courland, and thus became an eye-witness of the then Court intrigues. After serving, with credit, in two or three campaigns, he stood high in favour, both with Duke Biron and his adversary Volynskoi, notwithstanding which, he could obtain no higher post than that of Third Counsellor of Police. After Volynskoi's execu tion, and when Biron became Regent, Schakowskoi was placed at the head of the Police, and when the Duke fell, he would probably have felt the resentment of the new Regent, (the mother of the Emperor Iwan,) as one of the Duke's party, had he not found a powerful advocate and patron in the Minister Count Golowkin, who was related to the Regent by marriage, and by whose influence he was soon advanced to be a member of the Senate; a dignity, however, which he held but a very short time, since, on the accession of Peter the Great's daughter, Elizabeth, (1741,) his name was struck out of the list of Senators. He did not remain many weeks unemployed, but was appoint ed Chief Procurator to the Holy Directorial Synod, and had the dis tressing task assigned him, of sending off to Siberia his patron, Count Golowkin, Counts Munnich and Ostermann, and some others, whose sen. tences of death had been commuted into banishment. After continuing

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