CRITICAL NOTICE. 361 



Long and intently as we had ruminated on the subject, still were we 

 little prepared for the speedy accomplishment of our forebodings, — the 

 immediate realization of those visions in which our spirit had been in- 

 dulging. Great, therefore, was our surprize upon finding, in the literary 

 budget, a neatly printed little volume entitled " Songs of Science," 

 and reading a Preface from which the following are extracts : — 



" It has long been a matter of deep regret with the Author, that Poetry, of all 

 the arts, is almost the only one that has not kept pace in the general march of 

 improvement ; nor been made instrumental (at least, since the days of the illus- 

 trious Darwin), to the dissemination of the germs of more solid and useful know- 

 ledge, a purpose which, in able hands, it is very well calculated to answer. His 

 ears have been, every day, shocked by the repetition of coarse and vulgar ballads, 

 written during the happily by-gone ages of darkness and dotage, and quite 

 unworthy to survive them. A new and brighter era has, at length, dawned upon 

 the mind of man: nor should even the unprofitable weeds, which float upon the 

 surface of the universal deluge of intellect and science, be suifered to remain, and 

 pollute the surrounding atmosphere with their noxious effluvise" (effluvia). 



**To supply a collection of songs written upon subjects, and in a style, more in 

 keeping with the spirit and attainments of the present enlightened age, has been 

 the Author's object, and his aim. How far he may have succeeded, itisnotfor him to 

 hazard an opinion. He feels proud, however, in the assurance that his attempt has 

 been honoured by the approbation of one of the most celebrated physicians, philoso- 

 phers, and botanists,* of this or any other age or country. Consequently, he may be 

 allowed to suppose that it is not wholly devoid of merit. The reader will please to 

 observe that, together with the correction of numerous errors, six new songs, 

 which did not appear in the former, have been added to the present edition. Of 

 these, the Carmen Carminum, and the Stanzas on Darwinia splendens (a new and 

 magnificent exotic plant, recently imported from the Cape), have been widely 

 circulated in manuscript, and obtained, from all quarters, the most gratifying 

 applause," — Preface. Pages 3-4. 



The limits within which this rambling article should have been 

 restricted, are already so sadly transgressed, that we can afford room for 

 only one specimen of the delightful ** Songs of Science." This, how- 

 ever, we regret but little ; feeling, as we do, confidently assured that the 

 admiration and curiosity, excited by our transcript, will induce all those 

 who are capable of appreciating talent and originality in literary com- 

 position, to purchase, and peruse, the whole. The following is the fifth, 

 and, to our taste, one of the best, in the collection of twenty-four songs, 

 which form the contents of this most amusing and extraordinary little 

 volume. The author informs us, in a note, that it *' was sung with great 

 spirit and eclat, by the illustrious President, at a late meeting of the 

 Geological Society, and most enthusiastically encored." This surely 

 must have been a rich treat. 



TO GEOLOGY. 



When wooing I go to sweet Mistress Geology, 



'Twere as easy to soften of granite a block. 

 She frowns on my suit like her cousin, Conchology : 



Her heart is as hard as the primitive rock. 

 Yet how lovely I like amber, her terpentine tresses ; 



And marble her bosom, and schistus her veins : 

 Alabaster her arms. Oh ! the couche that she presses, 



Of her hyaline form, no impression retains. 



When my flame I develope, she starts up just like a 



Proud column of basalt, unbending and lone. 

 Her eyes flash like crystallized carbon, or mica, 



Strike me stiff as a stalactite, mute as a stone. 



* We had nearly forgotten to state that the work is dedicated, in a style of fervid eulogy 

 to the " Linnaeus of the Age," Doctor Robbrt Thornton.— J?er. 



