322 Monthly Review 
TIEN OE ; 
little ‘wisdom in» giving his. readers such 
full opportunities.of remarking whether the 
thought; >the action,.and the word, tally, as 
they should do, in the. ideal objects, which 
he “sets: before» them., Such, criticism. he 
might escape, by not. bringing the, meta- 
physies, of » his. characters so much into 
relief.. ‘The. difficulties, however, which 
he creates.for himself, he sometimes ably 
and.eminently masters, and would in the 
end, we are sure, if it were not for his rash 
resolution, be yictorious in a distinguished 
degree. 
Researches into Fossil Osteology, partially 
abridged and re-arranged from the French 
of the Baron Cuvier, Member of the French 
Institute, &c: Part I. 4to. 1826.—Cu- 
vier’s researches, in this particular depart- 
ment, are too well known by the natu- 
ralist to render any account of them here 
necessary; if it’ were necessary, we have 
no’ space’ for such a purpose. We deem 
it; however, quite sufficient to announce to 
our readers the design of the present pub- 
lication. That design is, not to give a full 
translation of Cuvier’s text, nor a full tran- 
script’ of the plates, which could not be 
accomplished for less than twenty or twen- 
ty-five pounds ; but by a little curtailment 
he is occasionally very diffwse—and a new 
arrangement of the original materials, with 
a considerable reduction of the plates, to 
present an abridgment scarcely less useful 
to the man of science, and undoubtedly 
more attractive to the public in general. 
The plates are yery distinctly and carefully 
engraved, and altogether the book has a 
very‘ handsome appearance. It is pro- 
posed to comprize the whole in eight parts. 
We have here the first at w yery moderate 
charge. 
Tales in Verse, illustrative of the several 
Petitions of the Lord’s Prayer, bythe Rev. 
H, F. Lyte, 1826.—In this little volume, 
the successive clauses of the Lord’s Prayer 
haye each a poem attached, to which they 
serye as texts. The style resembles Crabbe’s 
in its general vigorous flow, though not 
perhaps quite equal to Crabbe’s occasionally 
irresistible pathos. The object, as may be 
gathered from the title, is decidedly and 
pointedly religious ; and the allusions, illus- 
trations, and broad descriptions, derived 
from worldly sources, are used only for 
the purpose of enforcing the writer’s more 
serious reflections, The tone of his mind 
is generally too sombre to communicate 
much pleasure to the reader ; but the terse- 
ness of his expression—giving point to 
every syllable—the solemn piety of his sen- 
timents, and the deep and eloquent truth 
of each of his descriptions, entitle him to 
no vulgar praise. We might challenge any 
body to cull a worthless, an inflated—even a 
feeble passage from the whole book ; while, 
at the same time, we hardly know how to 
select one, in its bearings, insulated enough 
for extraction, But not to extract we 
of Literature, [Seer 
1 Mh Ree Stal 
cannot. consent to, and therefore we must 
quote amply; since in these short and:rapid 
poems, the action and refleetion are so in- 
terwoyen, that any thing short of a eon- 
siderable extract will not enable the reader 
to judge, of the elevated position of mind 
from which the writer’s thoughts proceed, 
We choose the ‘ Missionary’ for this pur- 
pose—being, as it is, a beautiful.picture of 
devotional feelings, as existing in amelegant 
and cultivated mind, whose sustained deli- 
cacy of sentiment half veils the unbending 
resolution with which it is mingled. 
A young man of good family, fortune, 
talents and acquirements is betrothed to a 
lady of corresponding endowments ; all is 
arranged with regard to their union— 
* and nothing now there needs, 
But fix the day, and draw the marriage deeds, 
I say not how the hours.from hence were spent; . 
I pass each sigh, and look, and blandishment,. _.,. 
The air-built castle, the sequestered walk. 
With trembling arm-in-arm, and all the talk 
*Bout poetry, and trees, and flowers and skies, 
And young Love’s thousand hopes and phantasies ;— 
Nor can I tell how they had matched for life, 
What husband he had made, and she what wife: 
For when all else was settled, and there now 
Remained but just the priest, and ring, and vow, 
News came, that one, on whom, as on his soul, 
He rested, and resigned to him the whole 
Of his affairs, was fled, and with him bore 
The bulk of all his patron owned before. 
«* But there was more to suffer. Ah! the crew 
Were mean and base with whom he had to do! 
Much had been proffered, and it was not much 
To look for some concern, some kindly touch. . 
Of sympathy to mitigate his shock; , : 
But all fell off, like waves from round_a rock, 
They that were yesterday all cringe and bow, 
Stared in his face, or swaggered past him now. 
At once their smiles and welcomes and respect 
Grew cold civility, or proud neglect.” 
The lady refuses to see him, and 
** A& Jetter followed cold and brief, expressing 
Her thanks for past attentions, and professing 
A-high esteem; but she regretted much, ; 
That circumstances were no longer such 
As would admit their union; and in fine, 
She begged all future visits to decline. . 
It was enough. He now had known the worst = 
He wept not, though his heart was nigh to burst : 
He raved not, ‘cursed not, though to both inclined s 
But calmly turned his back upon mankind. 
He made the woods his mate, and to the breeze 
Poured out his spirit’s baleful reveries. ; 
He walked the mountain tops; and loved to lie... 
And follow, the light, clouds along the sky, ; 
And shape and name them in his moods: he pryed , 
Into the cups.of flowers; ando’erthe side 
Of streams would Jean and watch the fish at play: 
Or at the close of evening roam away 
Among the dews, and linger till the sky 
Grew beautiful with stars, and sounds from high 
Came to him through the stillness of the night 
And his soul mingled with the infinite © 9 (is 
And tose from earth; and here it was that first .\)< 
Upon his intellectual darkness burst o aie 
The Majesty of God: amid the woods, big 
The solemn rocks, blue skies, and sounding floods 
He grew familiar with Him, learnt to trace 
His power, His love, His wisdom, and His grace, 
