1832.] Monthly Review of Literature. 475 



exactly rank ing the bard of " Caractacus" with the Homers or' Ossians of their 

 days, we may safely aver that he might have executed his heroic task in a style 

 much inferior to what he has here done. It is so far from being a failure that, 

 we are of opinion, with more experience, and a more practised ear for the har- 

 mony of verse with riper powers, and a severer taste, the author of the poem 

 before us would do no discredit to the epic muse of his country. Witness for 

 him the following specimen of the introduction from part the first, if we excuse, 

 here and there, a little halting in the lines : 



" On Mpna's isle the bardic song was raised ; 

 Harmoniously the sacred anthem rose, 

 From earth in supplication unto Heaven 

 For Albion's weal ! From harp, and pipe, and shell 

 Wild music floated thro' the forest grove 

 Softer than Lydian sweet as Loxian measures 

 The weak notes chimed upon the tuneful waters ; 

 The louder tones voluminously full 

 Swept grandly o'er the plain, and rolled 

 With heavy cadence down the long steep vales." 

 



THE ALBUM WREATH. 



WE have great pleasure in agreeing with all critics, who are not above noticing 

 a pretty and graceful publication because it is published at a very cheap rate, 

 in praise of the " Album Wreath." It consists of selections in prose and poetry; 

 and original contributions, that seem in general to deserve the compliment of 

 being printed in a small and beautiful type, upon paper which varies in its co 

 lour every number, but is always of the most elegant tint possible. The numbers 

 of this little work would form an ornament to any table. 



. ' .7p 



sbic ; --il 



THE CLASSICAL SCHOLAR'S GUIDE. BY RICHARD CARR. 



WERE we to judge of the merit of a work by the opinion which the author himself 

 entertains of it, we should not hesitate to rank " The Classical Scholar's Guide" 

 with the most elaborate productions of Person and Hermann. But since it is 

 a failing in human nature to examine strictly the pretensions of an author who 

 thinks so highly of himself as Mr. Richard Carr, we cannot, conscientiously, 

 place him in so lofty a station. He seems enraptured with his plan ; witness 

 the following sublime language "What an accession of knowledge will this 

 be ! derived from a source, which is in itself so apparently simple, yet, in its 

 situation, so central, that with an influential and sweeping operation, like that 

 of the mighty vortices of ancient times, it will, by the power of its all-attracting 

 agency, give, as it were, direction and motion to all the matcria ambiens." If our 

 readers understand this, their intellects must be more acute than ours, for we 

 must candidly confess that it surpasses our limited comprehension. Our elo- 

 quent friend, in speaking of the phraseology of some modern hypercritics, 

 breaks into sublimity thus : " Such like assumptions as these are the very 

 quintescence of vanity ; since we all know that ere long, when the decrees of 

 fate shall have run out when the mighty barriers of the universe shall be 

 pushed aside, and the fatal blow of dissolution shall be struck at the compagines 

 natura every system, whatever may be the subtilty of its constituent parts, 

 whatever ability may have directed its synthetical process, or however it may 

 be distinguished by the various lines of intelligence, shall then, under the hand of 

 analyzing destiny, be reduced to its primitive nothingness, and, ' like the baseless 

 fabric of a vision, leave not a wreck behind.' " The book is said to be " prin- 

 cipally intended for the use of schools ;" and, we would advise Mr. Carr, before 

 " he trespasses on the indulgence of the public" again, to adopt a simple and 

 more intelligible style. 



We do not wish to speak uncharitably of the work, but it is our opinion, that 

 it will rather embarrass, than assist, the student of the classical languages. 



