burst from his heart. This was too much even for the stoicism of the uncle, who then pressed him affectionately to his bosom, and exclaiming, "'tis my brother's child," bursts into tears himself. I do not remember that I was ever more sensibly affected. If it is not then to the structure of their language, nor to the refinements of education, that this delicacy of ideas and language is to be ascribed, may we not suppose that the genial warmth of the climate, and universal luxuriance of nature, unite to produce a physical tenderness and susceptibility in the various organs of sense, and thus render the nerves on which they act, more "tremof blingly alive all o'er," than our hardier and more rigid climate? I am aware that these opinions of the Hindoos will find but little credit with the generality of my countrymen in India; who will be apt to regard them as the visionary offspring of prejudice and ro mance. With them there are but two, though very distinct, opinions upon this subject; one party regarding the inhabitants, manners, productions, &c. of India, when compared with those of Europe, as utterly unworthy of notice; while their opponents, fewer indeed in numbers, but equally strong in argument, give to every thing in the East a preference, as decided and probably as unjust. To profess impartiality, and to be only laughed at for the profession, is so common, that however sincerely I may believe myself endued with so rare a quality, I should get but little credit by avowing it. Let me therefore endeavour to secure the favour at least of one of the contending parties, by avowing a predilection for the simple character and manners of the unsophisticated Hindoo. I can admire the superior genius of Europe displayed in laws, commerce, lite DIRGE rature, and all the arts and sciences which tend to the refinement of human life; as well as her stouter nerve, and loftier courage, evinced in many splendid and glorious conquests: yet I am inclined to believe, that the consequences of this superiority, the long train of multiplied wants, increasing luxury, vicious habits, political corruption, religious scepticism, &c. &c. are not quite counterbalances to that moderate state of happiness, which a people who are far advanced in all the arts of civilization, yet still remain some steps below perfection, may be supposed to possess: an happiness less brilliant and less glorious perhaps, but at the same time more tranquil and diffused, and less liable to be overthrown. Such a state of public happiness I imagine the Hindoos to have enjoyed under the government of their ancient princes. The laws of Brimha, believed to be of divine origin, were obeyed without cavils or murmurs; and though like all other productions of human understanding, they doubtless contain many imperfections and errors; they may nevertheless boldly challenge the praise of great wisdom: and the merit of being admirably adapted to the genius of the people for whoseguidance they were intended, and the climate in which they were to be exerrised. By what has been termed "the unnatural division of the people into castes," they at least put a powerful check upon domestic ambition; with the crimes and miseries which too often attend upon that unruly passion: while we have ample proof that emulation was not extinguished in the honours which we know were paid to men distinguished in any branch of science, and the beautiful specimens of art and manufacture, which are still to be found in every part of this immense empire. POETRY. >On the Death of the Poet In those fam❜d bow'rs let fancy stray, Of Shiraz and of Mosellay, (a) This dirge supposes the European reader already acquainted with some of the celebrated Where Hafiz once in vernal grove Pour'd forth his minstrel strains of love, poems of Hafiz, that have been versified in our language by Sir William Jones, Nott, Hindley, and others, more especially with the Gazel of the Maid of Shiraz," that of the " Belle Idol," and that of "Ask me not," &c. &c. all or most of which may be found in Hindley's versions, as well as some interesting particulars in the introduc Some wound inflicting or some smart, And made the wanton spring more gay But ah! no more the echoed sound Dwells in the breeze and floats around; Theme of thy bard, lov'd Rocnabad, (b) Ah! ask me not, who now is sad: Whose banks, what crystal stream, what grot, Grief, are thy haunts, O ask me not: The mole upon thy cheek (f) shall be, Speak not of pastimes, frolic, mirth, That, Nuruz-like, (g) to love give birth, Of am'rous rapine, syren wiles, Art's tempting looks, insidious smiles, Of plund'rers, whose once prowling eyes Glanc'd, like a Tartar's, at their prize, tion to that work, (Notes, p. 11, 21, 22, and p. 34, 43, 50.) connected with the local and general history of the bard. Through the whole of this elegy, the Hafizian style has been imitated, as will more particularly be seen in the repetitions, so common in the Persian poetry. (b) See the Gazel of the Maid of Shiraz. (c) See Introduction to Hindley's Versifications of Hafiz, Notes, page 21. (d) See Gazel of the Maid of Shiraz. (f) See the mole, alluded to here, in the Maid of Shiraz Gazel. (g) Herbert tells us, that "at the Nuruz or Spring, they send vests to each other; that then also the gardens are opened for all to walk in.→ That the women likewise, for fourteen days have liberty to appear in public, who when loose, like birds enfranchised, lose themselves in a labyrinth of wanton sports," &c. &c.-See Herbert's Travels, P. 139. That stole, but ask me not, whose heart. (h) Ah! gay coquettes, grief now disarms The fairy magic of those charms, Nor moles, nor ringlets can delight, Yet spare the cypress (k) round that bust, Hafiz sleeps there, awe guards his dust. Then, blush not, thou yet brilliant gem, Ye virgin pilgrims, off'rings bring, (h) See Shiraz Gazel. (i) The venerable monuments of ill-fated Persia, as in the days of Sadi, remain still a prey to the armies of contending chieftains, or the temporary and casual abode of rapine and faction; that wretched country, in the words of the poet, being yet thick entangled with tumult, like the hair of an Ethiop. (j). See the Belle Idol Gazel, where Hafiz addresses his mistress under the deified character of one of the Divinities of the temple, to whom he pays his amorous adoration. (k) See Captain Franklin's description of the new tomb of Hafiz, raised by Kerim Khan, shadowed by the poet's beloved cypress, and of the fine copy of the works of Hafiz continually placed there, as well as Kampfer's account of his old tomband Epitaph. See also Hindley's Introduction to his versifications, p. 21. From heav'n first caught, shall ne'er expire: Dwell with the bard, whose matchless lays Oft cheats the ear and gains ephemeral praise, [strel's lays. To crown Studded with star-bright beauties blaze: Though with showers of gold the min Dwell with the bard, whose wide-beam'd fame Spreads a pearl'd halo round his name: → Come, mem'ry, then, around his head Write, write, record his deathless doom, "Within this sainted dome doth lie "As much perfection as could die, "Which, when alive, did spirit give "To as much sweetness as could live : "Be proud, thou glorious plot of earth, "Which gave this peerless genius birth; "When wonder asks,-where did he dwell? "Let Shiraz, let Mosella tell." Verses lately addressed to an amiable young Lady, in a dangerous illness, who desired the Author to write a few Lines in her Poetic Album, previous to her departure for the Country in search of that health which had been lost in Town. When a mild maid requests, with gentle look, An humble poet to adorn her book With some few lines, where rhyme and [display; reason may, On various forms, their matchless charms How can the Bard, with a good grace decline So sweet a task untried, and thus resign All hope of future favours from the Nine? No, Frances! he will not thy prayer refuse, Though long deserted by his faithless [roam, muse, Who loves on Scotia's plains, alone to And seldom wanders from her native home; [combine Where rocky shores and kindred hills With echo's aid to form the swelling line. In which, mere sound, without the least pretence To thought, or wit, or even common sense, (1) Allusive to the poems of Hafiz placed upon his tomb. (m) See the Epitaph of Hafiz, Hindley's Introduction, p. 21, Notes, where it is given more at large than in Kampfer. my flight prove vain, I still shall do In which, though the most tender ties conjoin, [thau mine. They cannot breathe one more sincere Then go, dear maid! but may you soon' Eplace; retrace With rosy health thy footsteps to this lay, Till full of years a nobler seat be given, To ripened virtue, panting then for heaven; Where Christians meet, but not to part REVIEW OF BOOKS. Paul's Letters to his Kinsfolk. Svo. pp. 468. Edinburgh, Constable and Co. 1816. 12s. PAUL'S letters are sixteen in number, and severally addressed to his sister Margaret, his cousin the Major, the Laird, his cousin Peter, and the Minister. "The Major," says Paul, page 5, "shall hear of more and bloodier battles than ever were detailed to Young Norval by his tutor the Hermit. The Laird shall know all I can tell him on the general state of the country. Peter shall be refreshed with politics, and the Minister with polemics." In a word, Paul has left Scotland for Flanders at the very nick of time for adding to the usual gleanings of tourists, a rich harvest of the campaign of 1815, and the battle of Waterloo. Paul also visits Paris; and a portion of the volume, at the same time, is devoted to French and Flemish politics. This work, concerning which some pains appear to have been taken, that it should be considered as the production of Mr. Walter Scott, is well written, in a light style, and contains an abundance of entertaining materials. Embracing, as it does, so great a number of the topics of modern conversation, the latter merit will be easily credited. In our cursory survey of its pages, we have been more particularly arrested by the comparison instituted between Scotland and Flanders, in the first letter; the anecdotes of the Duke of Wellington and of Buonaparte respectively, on the day of Waterloo; the author's statements of the barbarities of the French troops; his mast just denunciation of the Palais Royal; his picture of the Asiatic Journ.-No. IV. moral state of France, and his discriminating and philosophical estimate of the moral characters of the French and English nations, Leaving these longer passages to be sought for in the work itself, we extract only a short anecdote for the immediate entertainment of our readers. The scene is in France : A friend of mine met with an interesting adventure at one of these deserted villages. He had entered the garden of a cottage of somewhat a superior appearance, but which had shared the fate of the rest of the hamlet. As he looked around him, he perceived that he was watched from behind the bushes by two or three children, who ran away as soon as they perceived themselves observed. The sound of the English accent, howHe called after them, but to no purpose. ever, emboldened the mother to show herself from a neighbouring thicket, and at length she took courage to approach him. My friend found, to his surprize, that she understood English well, owing to some accident of her life or education which I have forgotten. She told him her family were just venturing back from their refuge in the woods, where they had remained two days without shelter, and almost without food, to see what havock the spoilers had made in their cottage, when they were again alarmed by the appearance of troops. Being assured that they were English soldiers, she readily agreed to remain, under the confidence which the national character inspired; and having accepted what assistance her visitor had to offer her, as the only acknowledgement, she sent one of her children to pull and present the only rose which her now ruined garden afforded. "It was the last," she said, «she had; and she was happy to bestow it on an Englishman." It is upon occa sions such as these, that the French wo men, even of the lowest class, display a sort of sentimental delicacy, unknown to those of other countries. 3 A VOL. I. Symbolic Illustrations of the History of England, from the Roman Invasion to the Present Time; accompanied with a Narrative of Principal Events. Designed more particularly for the Instruction of Young Persons. By Mary Ann Rundall, of Bath; Author of the Grammar of Sacred History. 4to. pp. 680. London: Black, Parbury and Allen. 1815. £2. 2s. "OBJECTS that are seen," says our fair author, in her preface, "make a more lasting impression on the mind than the mere recital of facts it has, therefore, been my aim, in the composition of the symbols or hieroglyphics, to embody, as it were, the most striking incidents recorded in the annals of our country; and as the ingenuity and penetration of the student is exercised in discovering the meaning of the symbolical representation, the fact itself, with all its connecting associations, becomes more forcibly impressed upon the memory. Principles of patriotism may also be excited as powerfully as by words. Who, when he beholds a national banner trampled on by the conqueror, will not exclaim, may such never be the fate of Britain !—or, who, when he beholds a French invading standard supported by a French noble, will not experience a feeling of indignation?" In the invention of her numerous symbols, Miss R. has displayed no small portion of industry and dexterity. Her narrative is conveyed in language which is written with ease and freedom, and generally correctly. Her book is handsomely printed, and the engravings well executed in their kind; and, on the whole, we doubt not that the publication will always be regarded as a gift of a very superior class, when put into the hands of youth; and that it will be the means of fixing the attention of many an intelligent English pupil, upon the history of the country in which he was born. On this latter point, however, we speak with some degree of caution; because we are less sanguine than Miss R., as to the success to be hoped for in overcoming the listlessness so commonly observed in young minds, upon the subject of our national history. "It is a fact," says Miss R., "well known to those engaged in the education of youth, that the history of England is considered by their pupils less amusing than any other that is usually put into their hands. Why is this?” And Miss R., after drawing parallels (not always, as we think, with success), between the incidents of English and of Greek and Roman history, resolves her question, by representing the absence of paintings, for conveying the matters of an history, as the cause of our youthful indifference to it. We do not wholly agree with our author; we grant the value of historical painting under this view; but we cannot allow that the indifference complained of is to be ascribed, either wholly, or in even any great part, to the want of it. Our early indifference to English, and to all modern history, is produced by the small share which it contains of any thing that can feed the ima gination, that can take us away from things familiar, and open the door to mental excursion. A fur |