10 SONNET. 



alluded to are daily becoming more wedded to those sentiments by 

 which Radicalism is chiefly distinguished. The public mind is 

 unsettled ; every man has his own set of political opinions resulting 

 from his outward situation and peculiar thoughts and feelings ; but 

 still the current popular opinions proceed decidedly and strikingly 

 upon the principle that the will of the people ought to be the 

 supreme law in the administration of government ; and there is no 

 Radical who does not claim this doctrine as the first, the most natural, 

 and imperative principle of his political creed. 



From this exposition of the state of parties, it may be deduced, that 

 for the future the contest for political power must chiefly lie between 

 the Whigs and the Radicals. While the Whigs incline to some kind 

 ofjuste-milicu, which does not admit of a very accurate definition, the 

 Radicals claim for the whole community unlimited political power, and 

 for each individual the utmost degree of liberty compatible with the 

 general welfare. The majority of the people are, therefore, always 

 likely to support Radical opinions. But popularity alone cannot at 

 present command place and power in England : the authority of long- 

 established institutions ; the great wealth of the aristocracy ; the 

 dread of unhinging the government, and throwing all things into 

 confusion, will keep the Radicals out of office for some time to come. 

 Their direct influence, however, upon government must be great; and 

 this the more particularly, as the policy of the present Cabinet seems 

 to be to resist the impulse of public opinion up to a certain degree, 

 but to yield to it when the pressure becomes strong and formidable. 

 Under these circumstances, it behoves the people to keep a vigilant 

 eye upon their representatives ; for much good will quickly accrue to 

 the country if the public voice be fairly echoed in the House of 

 Commons. That voice must be obeyed ! We trust we shall hear it 

 often loud but not wild, strong but not impassioned, deliberate but 

 not unwise ; and then the confusion of all parties to make room for a 

 consolidated regeneration of the whole country will be the glorious 

 achievement of the people themselves ! 



SONNET. 



[BY SIR EGERTON BRYDGES.] 

 TO THOMAS WARTON. 



POET of Wynslade ! in thy pastoral strains 

 The calm contentment of a gleamy mind 

 Throws forth its spells with moral plaintivcncss, 

 To soothe the heart, and purify the thought ! 



For simple rural imagery there reigns 

 A charm, which on an intellect refin'd 

 A half-celestial pleasure can impress, 

 By no alloy, or after-sinking, bought. 



Thy contemplative spirit lov'd to sit 



In deep repose half-dreaming, while thine eye 



Por'd on mead, hill, and wood, and would not quit 



For marble halls and rooms of tapestry, 



The silence, and the ideal range, untied 



By Fashion's folly and by purse-proud Pride. 



