1830.] Mr. Edtvard Clarkson. 207 



as " Ye mountain-piles, earth's monuments to heaven/' would end with 

 so tame and trite a truism as is contained in the closing couplet ? 



" Where haughty eagles roll their eyes of fire, 

 Ere the rent clouds behind their sweep retire." 



The sweep of the eagle is, ad libitum, over indefinite space. How then 

 are the clouds to retire behind it ? 



" Stupendous God, how shrinks our bounded sense, 

 To track the sway of thine omnipotence !" 



Mr. Montgomery has here shewn gross ignorance of the English 

 language. The word <f stupendous" vide Johnson implies some- 

 thing of whose size we have a distinct and definite notion. Thus 

 we say of a mountain, it is stupendous ; so also of a temple, a ship of 

 war, a palace, a pillar, and so forth. How then can it be applied to 

 the Deity ? 



" Blest with thy brightest smile, dare we confine 



An omnipresence so supreme as thine ? 

 . . True, on our queenly spot, the sea-throned land, 

 Thou pour'st thy favours with diffusive hand; 

 Here cool and calm luxuriant breezes blow, 

 And stream-fed vallies with their fruitage glow; 

 Still other climes, though touched with sterner hue, 

 Are set before thine all-embracing view." 



Assuredly, this is valuable intelligence, and the nineteenth century will 

 doubtless appreciate it as it deserves. 



" While skies in tempest agonies outgroan, 

 And the mad elements seem left alone." 



Pray when do the elements look as if they were left alone ? What, 

 moreover, is the meaning of skies outgroaning in tempest agonies ? 

 They must outgroan some thing or body. Who or what is it ? 



" The keel-ploughed waters rustle as they pass, 

 Like crumpled blades of matin-moistened grass. 

 But lo ! the marsh'lling clouds again unite, 

 Like thick battalions halted for the fight ; 

 The sun sinks back, and ramping winds fast sweep 

 Their bristled pinions on the darkened deep, 

 : _,. Till the rolled billows, piling in a train, 



Rear their white heads and volley on the main. 

 Now from their caverns rush the maniac blasts, 

 Tear the loose sails, and split the creaking masts, 

 Like steeds to battle, on the waves advance, 

 While on their glossy backs the bubbles dance ; ' 

 So fast her billows whiten in their ire, 

 ,, - All Ocean seems to boil upon a bed of fire." 



We request our reader's particular attention to the above notable passage. 

 Darwin has nothing so turgid ; Blackmore nothing so vague and so absurd. 

 In the first place, Mr. Montgomery talks of " matin-moistened grass" 

 meaning thereby grass moistened with matin ! Secondly, he tells us of 

 winds sweeping over the deep with bristled pinions ! (pray, did he ever 

 see their bristles ?). Thirdly, of the same winds rushing from their 



