does not paint them so pleasingly to the sense, which is gratified by the art of delicious combination: in short, CowPER more displays his power in abrupt and daring touches, in striking peculiarities, and animated contrasts; while THOMSON, fond of modulated truth, rather than her violent transitions, subdues the boldest belief into an ethereal distance, and harmonizes every passage of thought by a glowing and just art, which throws over the whole the clearness of a transparent unity. The same difference is observable in the figures by which they animate their landscapes. Those of CowPER are common Nature, vigorously drawn, and coloured with a fidelity regardless of ornament. The figures of THOMSON, on the other hand, are of select and classic outline; they have the grace of the beau ideal, rather than the strong rough character of actual rusticity. In this, as indeed in the whole disposition of his poetic landscapes, he resembles Poussin, who places under shades fit for Tempe, ideal groups; while the genius of the other rather reminds us of the faithful eye, and clear pencil of BERGHEM, who never aimed at abstract beauty or elevated truth; but would place even under the beech-tree of VIRGIL himself an ordinary shepherd.

As a satirist, CowPER is distinguished for his genuine unforced wit, his good-natured playfulness, or generous indignation. He never seems to act as the chastiser of human vices or folly from a spirit of irritable hostility towards the world, or splenetic discontent with his own fortunes. There is evident in him what would be the highest ornament of the Christian preacher-a tendency to war against evil, from an overflowing charity towards the human race. He is the enemy

of vice, because he is the friend of goodness, and because he wishes all men to enjoy the happiness that dwells wherever the virtues extend their dominion: even his utmost severity is softened by his sorrow for human weakness; and a spirit anxious for the improvement of others, struggles with an innate abhorrence of levity and guilt. He sometimes speaks in the voice of terrible reproof, and sometimes in the accents of pathetic admonition: but in his most vehement mood, his thoughts have a serene power; and in his most

sensitive state of feeling, his language possesses a masculine beauty.

The satirical works of POPE have great power, attractive and poignant politeness, moral discretion, taste and elevation; but there is ever apparent in them a master-spirit of personal ambition, a ruling love of praise, and an ardent desire of literary dominion. Had he been as sincere a moralist as COWPER, he would not have inflicted upon poverty the chastisement of a ridicule due only to vanity or vice; nor could he have been most virulent and effective when holding up to the hatred or contempt of the world his personal enemies. It would seem that he satirized not so much with a view of rendering the world wiser or better, as of making his foes feel their weakness, and all mankind admire his power. He succeeded in both; but a nobler object than either would have been more worthy of his great genius and exalted fame. Then he would not have been bitter and sarcastic like one who felt a fault and could resent it, nor would he have shewn most energy when satire reaches the verge of detraction. CowPER wants the polish of his numbers-the severe propriety of his taste the sententious acrimony of his pointed couplets: but he has a charm worth all-a magnanimity that triumphs over his own feelings in his solicitude for the welfare of others. It is true, he spares no vice-he compromises with no folly; but it is evident, that he regrets leaving those simple occupations of the Muse which he enjoyed in the tranquil haunts of rural nature, for the grander but less pleasurable task of governing the passions of men. POPE is a literary politician-CowPER, a philanthropist. Both enriched our language, did great honour to our literature, and gave a brilliancy not easily rivalled to the ages in which they lived: but POPE humbled men's opinion of themselves, because he would be feared-CowPER, because he would become their benefactor. The one has our admiration for what he achieved-the other our esteem both for what he meditated and accomplished.

On the whole, CowPER is to be venerated as a man, and honoured among the first of our Poets his example seconded well the precepts which he divinely announced. Though sub

ject to infirmities of mind and body, his moral worth never relaxed, nor did his genius suffer depression. His virtues are as much above detraction, as his fame is beyond the vicissitudes of time.

On the death of a Young Lady, Daughter of Robert Sutton, Esq., of Ross Way. Addressed to her Sister.—1826.

WEEP not for her who left this sorrowing earth,
And all its ties thus early! thus prepared!
What lovelier sacrifice can He receive,
Who made yon radiant sun, and gave the light
Of His own glory to a darken'd world,
Than virtue blooming as an unstain'd flower
On which heaven's dews have rested! Such was she,
The sister of thy heart -not more in blood
Than in congenial mind and feelings join’d.—
'Tis beautiful to see the soaring lark

Spring from its daisied home on joyous wing,
Pouring its wild song to the opening morn-
"Tis beautiful to see the virgin rose

When pluck'd from its green stem, breathing its sweet
On beauty's bosom-but more lovely still,

Is the pure grace of maiden innocence,

While yet in blossom gather'd for the skies.—

- Not as the king of terrors death appeared,
But, in seraphic form, like those who guide
The feet of innocence to happy realms.

He came with noiseless step and mercy's voice
The messenger of immortality-

He fondly bade the pilgrim spirit rise,
And he would guide it to its Father's home
Of glory, through the shadowy vale of death :
With amaranthine flowers his beauteous brow
Was circled-and the bright ethereal tints
The bow of promise flings across the sky,

D

Glanced on the plumage of his ample wings
Bath'd in celestial light.-With such a guide
Tho' long the journey, how could it be sad!
Or fraught with perils like the paths of earth!
E'en while her eye was closing on the world,
While yet the last pulse throb'd within her heart,
Did she not smile and press her father's hand
As one whom nature mov'd, but whose fond hopes
Were now with nature's GoD.-Her looks bespoke
Mingled affection for the friends around
With calm assurance of the coming bliss,
When she should enter on the bless'd abodes
Where angels tune their golden harps, and bloom
Like Eden's roses in immortal youth.

I well remember how she once could sing
Of those bright beings with a voice that breath'd
Unearthly sweetness-little then I deem'd
That she so soon would join th' angelic band
And be a sister of the seraph choir.

Weep not for her!-the GoD who kindled life
In Jairus' daughter-when the maiden lay
In death's embraces-HE a greater act
Of mercy has perform'd-and she who died
On earth, is living where His glories dwell.

Independence of the Bar attacked, in France.-Dec. 31, 1833.

THE suspension of the French Advocates, DUPONT, Pinart, and MICHEL, for the honest and fearless discharge of their duty to their clients, in exposing and denouncing the falsification of written documents by the law officers of the Crown, on the late political trials, has excited the sympathy of the Bar and the public for the victims of this act of paltry oppression. Instead of being disgraced by the sentence of vindictive power, they are raised in public estimation; they are felicitated upon the virtue, the firmness, and the talent that detected

and exposed the snares of blood which were laid for the lives of innocent men. They receive the rewards of those intrepid defenders of liberty and life, whom neither the smiles nor the frowns of power could seduce or terrify. Public opinion avenges their just cause on their oppressors, and they are followed into their temporary retirement by the applauses of their country.

*

*

This outrageous attack upon the independence of the French Bar has, we grieve to say, found its apologists in England-in free, enlightened, and generous England, where conduct of such a description on the part of Government would call forth a storm of indignation from the universal people, which no government could safely encounter. What is the defence set up? It is, that it is only a quarrel between the Bench and the Bar on a point of decorum; and that it is, consequently, too insignificant a matter for public discussion. The sentence was inflicted, say apologists of this act of tyranny, not by the Government, but by the judicial authority, and, of course, the Government has nothing to do with it.

Now let us, for an instant, suppose that in England the system of interrogating prisoners existed as it does in France, and that on a trial for treason in the Court of King's Bench, it was discovered that the answers of the prisoners were falsified, and that the Crown officers were obliged to admit the falsification, or in other words the forgery, of evidence to affect the lives of the accused. Every one must see, that the most malignant species of forgery is that which is intended for the destruction of human life, and no terms can be too strong for its reprobation. Let us suppose the Counsel for the accused, upon detecting such forgery, applied to the disgraceful attempt the severest terms of reprobation that the language could supply. Let us suppose that they spoke with indignation of the conduct of the law officers of the Crown, who, if ignorant that such falsification had been effected after the original documents came into their hands, had grossly neglected their duty; and if not ignorant of it, were still more criminal. Let us suppose that the law officers took no notice of the expressions of honest indignation on the part of the Counsel, until they