MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE. 573 



Not that we by any means are inclined to think that the historical play of 

 " Becket," is of itself sufficient to entitle the author to a very great share of 

 praise. There is not sufficient action in it as a play for representation, nor is 

 there poetry enough to make it interesting to the reader as a poetical compo- 

 sition. The author had, doubtless, good taste enough to perceive, that where- 

 ever else poetry is desirable and pleasant, it is quite out of place in a dramatic 

 effort. But on the other hand, there is not much vigour of language no very 

 striking incident or situation no strong delineation of character. Again ; why 

 does the author, a man of taste and genius, as we perceive him to be, encourage 

 the slip-shod, loose, and feeble versification of the present time, instead of 

 attempting the nervous, sweet, expressive, and masterly versification of Shak- 

 speare and Marlowe ? We have said enough to show that the play of Becket 

 is not a good one. 



But in the minor poems the author is in his element. They are all, without 

 exception, beautiful. " The Men of England ;" " The Invocation," and " The 

 Portrait," are worthy of men who have gained, long ago, their hard-earned 

 reputation. We cannot refrain from quoting a sonnet by way of specimen. 

 We consider it a fair sample of our author. 



" Calm self-devotion, firmness, daring ! powers 



Whose life-breath is the storm of shaken times, 



Bright steps are ye, by which ambition climbs 



To her high station, among Fame's proud towers. 



About your feet lie many wreathed bowers, 



Where peace hath built her little hut of earth, 



Twining it round with thousand idle flowers ; 



And there, with so much graveness as just gives 



A grace to smiles, plain -heartedly she lives. 



'Tis happiest to be humble, and in mirth 



To trifle, not unwisely, the swift hours ; 



Using them as young children, train'd to shew ,q 9ir ;o<; 



The future, opening into ripen'd worth, 



Nor unenjoy'd in budding beauty, now." 



We are glad to see this volume dedicated to Mr. Coleridge. It is a graceful 

 tribute of respect to a man who has not, as yet, been more than half appreciated 

 by his countrymen. 



ti hnB <Wfi sift .bswfcro-91 e'bttwisftjj al> 



LA FAYETTE, LOUIS-PHILIPPE, AND THE REVOLUTION OF 1830. Two VOLS. 

 12mo. LONDON : 1832. 



The present curious and interesting work has been so much criticized and so 

 amply and ably reviewed in other quarters, and, moreover, so many extracts 

 have been given or rather taken from it, that it would be almost superfluous, 

 even if we had space, to do more than bear willing testimony to the propriety 

 and justice of the encomiums which have been passed upon it. 



The present work is divided into three several portions. The first comprises 

 a review of La Fayette's life from his birth to' the revolution of 1830 ; the second 

 contains the history of La Fayette and Louis-Philippe during that revolution, 

 and the last comprehends a survey of La Fayette and Louis Philippe after the 

 revolution. 



We shall not dwell upon the private or public reasons which have induced 

 the author, Mons. Sarrans, to give this work to the world ; he has stated them 

 very ably, and, so far as the public is concerned, very satisfactorily, in his 

 preface. We think that there can be no doubt whatever of the fidelity or 

 integrity of the author ; and whatever motives might induce General La Fayette 

 and other parties concerned, to wish that it had been kept back, cannot in the 

 least impugn or call in question any one statement contained in it. 



Considered as a history of the interesting and eventful period, just past we 

 think that this production must be held to be perfect and complete, and the 

 execution of it, as a literary work, is deserving of all praise. 



