Gents Mag 1850 part 1 p.615
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Gentleman's Magazine 1850 part 1 p.615
Townshend, in his Lives of the Judges, vol.ii. p.195, has made a mistake in giving the words, - "If you should abandon your Penelope and your home for Calypso, remember that I told you of the advice given in my hearing at different times to a young lawyer by Mr. Windham and Horne Tooke, not to look out for a seat (in the House of Commons) till he had pretensions to be made Solicitor-General," - to Mr. Granville Sharp, whereas they occur in Mr. Richard Sharpe's letter to a Law Student, p.47. Vol.iii. p.36. "Beausobre's Book (History of Manicheism) is one of the most valuable I have ever seen; it is a complete Thesaurus of early opinions, philosophical and theological."This eminently learned and curious work was published in 2 vols. 4to. 1734 and 1739. There is a remarkable letter of the King of Prussia to Voltaire on the death of Beausobre in 1738 (see OEuvres de Voltaire, t.lxxxiv. p.344.) The late Professor Porson had a very high opinion of the merits of this work, and it forms one of the books in the list of those works which he wrote out as necessary to the scholar, and indispensable in a well-chose library. See Beloe's Sexagenarian, vol.ii. p.297. P.42. "There are two poets who must come into our series, and I do not remember their names in your list: Sir John Moore, of whom the only poem which I have ever seen should be given. It is addressed to a lady, he himself being in a consumption. If you do not remember it, Wynn will, and I think I can help you to it, for it is very beautiful.The name of this poet, notwithstanding the admiration here given, does not appear in Mr. Southey's Specimens. The third edition of Sir John Moore's poems was printed in 1703, with a note penned by Mr. Jerningham, saying that ONE poem was omitted in deference to the intention of the author. "The following lines however," he says, "are too beautiful not to claim an exemption: If in the web of life entwin'd Some mingled threads of love we find, O let unskilful hands forbear Lest with rude touch the work they tear; And wound some kindred virtue there." The poem to which Mr. Southey alludes, as being the only one he had seen, is probably the following: L'AMOUR TIMIDE. To ----- If in that breast, so good, so pure. Compassion ever lov'd to dwell, Pity the sorrows I endure; The cause I must not - dare not tell. The grief that on my quiet preys, That rends my heart, that checks my tongue, I fear will last me all my days; But feel it will not last me long. We add one more, as a specimen of the talent of one, whose name seldom occurs in the poetical list. SONG. Cease to blame my melancholy, Though with sighs and folded arms I muse in silence on her charms; Censure not - I know 'tis folly. Yet, these mornful thoughts possessing, Such delights I find in grief, That could Heaven afford relief My fond heart would scorn the blessing. P.57. "Have you seen the Memoirs of Colonel Hutchinson? If not, by all means read it: it is the history of a right Englishman; and the sketch of English history which it contains from the time of the Reformation is so admirable, that it ought to make even Scotchmen ashamed to mention the name of Hume. I have seldom been so deeply interested by any book as this."This praise is well deserved. These memoirs of two person of extraordinary excellence of disposition, talent, and virtue, unite all the spirit of a romance into the fidelity of history. The early part can hardly be surpassed in the interest it excites; but the work, we think, falls off towards the conclusion. As regards what Mr. Southey says, "that Scotchmen should be ashamed to mention the name of Hume," we beg leave to say, that it is not in loose and general language like this that the merits and defects of that great writer should be weighed. Whoever may hereafter take his place, for it is still empty, whenever the great mass of original records and manuscript documents, which are now reposing in our museums and national libraries, and on which alone, as on a solid basis, authentic history can be formed; we say, whenever they shall be unfolded and made publici juris, then when |
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