482 MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITEKATURL. 



nachism, and her notices of the parochial church of St. Eustace, ase replete 

 with general and local information. Interesting and amusing, however, 

 as are these, her biographies will become, if we mistake not, the most po- 

 pular portion of her work. They are, really and truly, elegantly and care- 

 fully written — sketchy, perhaps, here and there, but always free, bold, and 

 characteristic. That of Drake is admirable. Among the rest is a brief one 

 of her husband, the Rev. Edward Atkyns Bray, from whose MSS., prose as 

 well poetical, the authoress has, as in duty bound, made many clever extracts. 

 Of the latter the following is a light and graceful specimen — rather o la 

 Sappho, truth to say, but by no means a servile imitation of that enchanting 

 poetess, the L. E. L. of Greece : — 



THE KISS. 



When, tempted by the luscious prize. 



The boy with trembling finger tries 



To rob the hive, with buzzing wing. 



The bee inflicts the burning sting ; 



But (such the will of Fate unkind) 



He leaves it with his life behind. 



So, when, enraptured with thy charms. 



Dear maid, I caught thee in my arms, • 



And rifled from thy ruby lips 



More sweets than e'er the insect sips 



From flowrets of the brightest hue, 



Methought my latest breath I drew : 



My bosom thrilled with pleasing pain. 



My boiling blood swelled every vein, 



I panted, trembled, shivered, sighed. 



And, fainting with the bliss, had died. 



But thou — by pity moved, or love — 



(Oh ! grant that it the last may prove !) 



Breathed, in a kiss, such vital breath 



As woke me from the trance of death. 

 There is also a very pretty poem, " To a Wood Dove," from the pen of 

 Mrs. Bray herself, which want of space alone prevents our printing. The 

 borders of the Tamar and the Tavy — their verdant valleys — their laughing 

 waters — their birds, butterflies, and flowers, not to mention the old house at 

 Sydenham, &c. — cannot fail to add to Mrs. Bray's previous literary reputa- 

 tion ; and, while we could have wished that some portions of the work had 

 been " less lengthy," we wish it every success, and most cordially recommend 

 it to all true lovers of nature, poetry, and romance. 



Tlie Punishment of Death. A Selection of Articles from the Morn- 

 ing' Herald ; with Notes. Vol. I. Hatchard and Son. 



Those who, like ourselves, have been in the way of reading the Morning 

 Herald (or some years past must have been struck with the series of able and 

 humane articles on Criminal Jurisprudence which has appeared in that 

 journal during that period. The interest which has been evinced of late on 

 the subject of capital punishments, and the amelioration which has recently 

 been effected in the criminal code, are, in a great measure, to be ascribed 

 to the exertions of the Morning Herald to accomplish those objects. For 

 months and years did the writer labour alone in this field of humanity, with- 

 out any other stimulus than the consciousness of doing good. We envy him 

 the satisfaction with which he can now look back on his labours. The So- 

 ciety for the Diffusion of Information on the subject of Capital Punishments 

 have paid him a merited compliment, and will do the cause they have so 

 much at heart essential service, in selecting the most interesting of those ar- 



