1821.J 



Critical Notices of the Month. 



167 



have been, and are likely to remain, va- 

 rious respecting' Ihe real state in which 

 Voltaire expired. The moments and the 

 last accents of enfeebled nature, are too 

 often watched and misrepresented for un- 

 friendly purposes ; Voltaire's death-bed 

 was beset by cures and confessors, eajer 

 to extort from the dying freethinker some 

 recantation of his opinions. They were 

 disappointed. He exhibited no symptoms 

 of mental weakness, nor terror at his ap- 

 proaching dissolution. He died, as his 

 biographer circumstantially represents, 

 peaceably, and with the resignation and 

 calmness of a philosopher. 



Kenilworfh, aRomance, by the author of 

 Waverly, &c. relative to which, wehad not 

 time to enter into au examination in our last. 

 The clitims of the uuknoun novelist, are 

 iu this instance preferred with more cer- 

 tainty of success than in the two preceding 

 ■worksofthesameauthor, which were really 

 unworthy of the writer of Waverly and 

 the Antiquary. This author works in the 

 mines of hisiory like a Spaniard iu those of 

 Peru, turning the crudest material to gold 

 with an art peculiar to himself. There- 

 cords of former ages, however obsolete 

 and quaint, and the pictures of maiineis 

 and dresses which have long cea-ed to 

 characterise society, are inestimable trea- 

 sures to this powerful alchymist, and are 

 by him rendered iuexhaustable funds of 

 amusement. It is evident, however, not- 

 withstanding his facility of description, 

 and the aids which are given by the inter- 

 est of the periods and tlie characters fixed 

 upon, that the ingenious frainer of these 

 stories does not appear to such advantage 

 in regard to originalitj' of delineation, or 

 power of creating attachment to his per- 

 sonages, Avhen he exercises his talents on 

 subjects that lead him beyond the long es- 

 tablished characteristics of the border, 

 and into foreign customs, and anotljer lan- 

 guage, as when his genius has full scope 

 to indulge its sallies in the eccentricities of 

 his own native characters, and in pourtray- 

 ing the Ferguses, the Oldbucks, the Dirk 

 Hattericks and Dandle Dinmonts of the 

 Korth. The character of the author in 

 this romance, is that of an exquisite histo- 

 rical painter : a merit not new to him. 

 The Earl of Leicester, a favourite of Eliza- 

 beth, is the hero of the tale, and the splen- 

 did entertainments given at Kenilworth 

 Castle by the Queen, are the principal sub- 

 jects of description. The narrative seems 

 chiefly written for courts asid courtiers, 

 for the events pass altogether amidst the 

 pagcantii, the intrigues, the perfidies, the 

 heartless smiles, ambitious heart-burnings, 

 Budden elevations, and as sudden reverses 

 of a court-life. Amy Kobsart, the young 

 CouutekH of Leicester, whom that peer 

 bad carried oft' from her doating father, 

 an old Knglish knighl aod sportsman, ami 



whom he had secretly married, but whoni 

 he is withheld from acknowledging by bis 

 own selfish ambition, is a character which 

 lays claim to sympathy and iidmiration ; 

 but the interest excited for Amy is too 

 painful, and by no means of the nature 

 we feel for Rebecca the Jew's daughter, 

 or the rest of the author's heroines. The 

 story is altogether too tragic, and the 

 sombre character of the tale appears ill- 

 suited to mix with " the revels of Kenil- 

 worth." 



The Pastorals of Virgil, with a course 

 of English Reading adapted for Schools, 

 &c. have aipeaied within the month, by 

 Robert John Thornton, M.D. Virgil's 

 works have found many learned commen- 

 tator's, but few have been so amusing and 

 popular as Dr Thornton. This edition of 

 the pastorals form two handsome volumes 

 and is the richest in embellishments and 

 illustrations we have seen, ther« being no 

 less than two hundred and thiity engrav- 

 ing-; in the work ; with copies of the best 

 Ent;li.>h pastoral poems, and introductions 

 and critical dissertalionsadded to illustrate 

 the text. A highly pleasing and instruc- 

 tive collection is thus formed, which must 

 prove u valuable addition to the school 

 library, and constitute a very entertaining 

 companion to persons of adult 5 ears ; but 

 we doubt the propriety of extending elu- 

 cida ion so far beyond the main subject 

 as the Doctor's inclination to make ex 

 tracts from our ballad writers has led him. 

 VVe think it necessary thus far to cen- 

 sure the introduction of subjects so com- 

 mon and incongruous, as is in too many in- 

 stances comprised in this edition of Virgil's 

 Pastorals, but we must add our highest 

 testimony iu oihcr respects to the utility 

 of the publication. The facilities given 

 to acquire a kr.owlcdge of the Latin lan- 

 guage are many, and must prove eminently 

 useful. Every line of the text is properly 

 scanned, and the explanations which pre- 

 cede each dialogue, are well calculated to 

 give to youthful minds a clear idea of the 

 subject. 



The IVood Elves, a poem, by Alexan- 

 der HENRY,esq. is a ver\' pleasing poetical 

 romance, in which much genius and ac- 

 quintance with the ancient history of Ire- 

 land are displayed. We have of late been 

 satiated with Caledonian legends — an Irish 

 descriptive poem is n novelty. Mr. Henry 

 has trodden upon poetical ground in pur- 

 suing the ^Vood Elves tUrough their gam- 

 bols, and he may claim his place among 

 the bards who string the harp in celebra- 

 tion of their native country. 



T/iC Spirit of Despotism, &c. is a prose 

 production, and perhaps the ablest pam- 

 phlet that bus lately been published. 

 It is intended 10 point out the principal 

 means by which despotism is established 

 in .-.ny country, and the clTcots it produces 



