ae t * . ‘. 
390 
Grahame, ims which he had learned at Glasgow in the school of 
James. Miliar, as well as those anti-catholic feelings which he 
had imbibed in his early years. This was a favourite 
‘production with the author, but not with the public ; 
and he republished it with very considerable alter- 
ations in a 12mo edition of his poems, in two vo- 
lumes, which appeared in 1807. is next consider- 
able publication in the order of time, and indeed 
the poem by which his fame is most likely to be 
established, is “The Sabbath.” The day of solemn 
universal rest, presented peculiar attractions to a soul 
feelingly alive to the beauties of nature, to the impulses 
of benevolence, and to the sublime emotions of piety. 
In Scotland especially, where the duties of that day are 
still perhaps more-decently and religiously observed 
than in any other part of the Christian world; where 
the pause from painful toil and frivolous pleasure is 
more striking ; and where even those yee do not feel 
its purest joys, partake by s thy and association in 
its Tdocted fativence, the! sentoeapnla scarcely fail'to be 
a popular one, In short, we are inclined to think, that 
the subject admits of the highest poetical embellish- 
ments which language can furnish, with the additional 
interest which truth must always claim over fiction. 
The antiquity of the Sabbath; the authority by which it 
was appointed ; the cause of its institution, first as a me- 
morial of the creation of the world, or rather of that part 
of the system of the universe with which we are’ con- 
nected, as proceeding from the hand of the Almighty, 
and as leading us to acts of adoration and praise; the 
* manner in which it was solemnly enacted, amid the stu- 
pendous displays of divine power on Mount Sinai; the 
jubilee, or year of deliverance, as connected with this 
wonderful institution ; then the change from the se- 
venth to the first day of the week, on account of the 
completion of man’s redemption, by the resurrection of 
Christ; and lastly, its direct and indirect moral influ- 
ence, its actual and progressive benefits conferred on 
society, and the prospect of the Sabbath of rest and 
joy in the realms of endless blessedness ;—all these pre- 
sent a combination of grand and affecting topies and 
images, which are worthy of the highest powers of the 
noblest poet, and which indeed render it less difficult 
to find materials, than to select from the abundance 
that presys on his attention. If Grahame has not at- 
tempted ive that kind of unity to his subject of 
which it w have admitted ; if he contents himself 
with a less ambitious flight, he has, at least, felt the in- 
spiration of his sacred theme, and, by a-series of tender 
and affecting pictures, simply and naturally combined, 
and derived chiefly from the customs and history of his 
native land, and from scriptural allusions and associa- 
tions, has produced a work which renders his name 
conspicuous, not only among the poets, but among the 
benefactors of his country. 
The “Sabbath Walks” and “ Biblical Pictures” which 
are added in the later editions of this poem, are quite in 
unison with the spirit of the work; and some of the 
latter are so strikingly delineated, that a skilful painter 
— easily give them life and figure, by translating 
wi 
the 
his pencil the vivid and glowing descriptions of i 
$ pen. 
_ The next of Grahame’s poems to be slightly noticed, 
is his “ British Georgies,” a name which is too boldly 
chosen, as it leads the mind to the most finished pro- 
duction of the Mantuan Bard ; and as it is in itself per- 
haps the least pe of the author's se . When 
on a visit to.a friend on Tweedside in 1797, he inserted 
GRAHAME. 
a poetic sketch of the month of April, under the sig- G 
nature of Matilda, in the Kelso Mail. It was much 
admired, and was followed cons other months, These 
sketches are preserved in bis works, and there ean 
be little doubt that they gave him the idea of the Geor- 
gics, which are only in fact the filling up of the out- 
line, and which afford theoretical and practical instruc- 
tion to the British husbandman, connected with the 
different months of ‘the year. An attentive reader will 
accordingly find in this larger poem, which is also di- 
vided into twelve parts, a frequent recurrence of the 
same thoughts ha Pes. wncen which occur in the mi-+ 
nor pieces. The Georgits, WZ Many prosaic pa: 
eur tain also a number of pth toiueatad 
fancy and of feeling, and some affecting allusions to 
the state of the author’s declining health. We are not 
fond of didactitpoetry, especially in blank verse ; metre 
gives at least’more entertainment to the ear, when the 
tameness of the subject precludes the flights of imagi- 
nation. And we apprehend, that the beauties which 
are scattered through this poem will hardly preserve it 
from oblivion. 7H) peal) vesie 
The “ Birds of Scotland,” his next large 
uction of very superior merit, in which the author 
describes, with admi skill and truth, the manners 
and characters of the winged tenants of our woods and — 
— With his exquisite descriptions are i 
ineations 
interspersed 
ions of the seenes which frequent, and fine 
allusions to national character, and Biatoal traditions, 
He has indeed succeeded in aceomplishing the design 
which he »sed, of * si rigs hag 
warming the heart.” And he has done more; for 
eye as 
abiding, but by no means.so deep. ; 
expatiates upon them with ever new delight ;his forte 
is accurate description of nature in its simplest forms 5 
per hunts through the intricacies of ‘the human 
heart ; his chief excellence consists inthe faithful de-. 
lineation of the feelings. and moral sympathies of the. 
