If tempted by our quotation, the reader will look into this little work, he will find, that Mr. Lawson has smoothness, pathos, and imagination, in a higher degree than the generality of his brethren can boast of; but with all these claims on our admiration, he appears, in our judgment, far more elaborate and cautious in measuring his poetical vigour than most of them. With regard, however, to the publication, the title of which we have quoted at the head of this article, we need hardly add, that it contains much of genuine poetry. His composition in general is rich, varied, and elegant; while the language in which his ideas are clothed is usually melodious, forcible, and lofty, though in some places studied in the extreme. Another defect is, that his images are chiefly composed of the sun, moon, and stars, glittering in his pages with the most unsparing profusion and prodigality; whilst the lavish exuberance of light and darkness, heaven, earth, and hell, clouds, skies, mountains, hills, and ocean, cherubim and seraphim, with the whole host of the angelic order, become tiresome and tedious to a degree. We are ready to allow, that these are perhaps the noblest objects in nature, and that a judicious selection of such imagery always produces a pleasing variety; but a too frequent and uninterrupted repetition of it cloys the mind with sameness, and forces it to seek relief in scenes of less dazzling splendour. A hyperbolical and indiscriminate use of metaphor is as blameable, as the entire absence of ornament and decoration. On the whole, however, we may be permitted to remark, that the poems in question display a considerable portion of talent, and stamp their author a legitimate son of genius and inspiration.

In reviewing a work like the one we have noticed, we cannot help associating Mr. Lawson's sacred effusions with the Hebrew Melodies of Lord Byron. Let not our readers smile at the comparison, nor Mr. Lawson himself blush at the honour we do him. We do not mean to ascribe to his poetry, that power, of which Byron-is alone the mighty master; yet in that most essential and living-like quality in effusions of a sacred nature, devotional ardour, we presume, Mr. L. rises somewhat superior to Byron. No part

of Lord Byron's poetical works has been read by us with greater satisfaction, unmixed with any feeling of disgust and abhorrence, than his Hebrew Melodies: there he has succeeded beyond our most sanguine expectation, in transfusing the spirit of his great original: in this respect Mr. Lawson is far distanced by his illustrious cotemporary; but we imagine that, in occasional bursts of enthusiasm, and fervency of religious veneration, he may challenge competition. Lord Byron is more of the poet; Mr. Lawson of the Christian. Lord Byron resembles the majestic orb of day, mild, but glowing on his first appearance, when the eye of curiosity may view his glories without the aid of the prism, and without being painfully forced to withdraw itself from the intensity of his burning rays, as at mid-day; but gradually assumes a brighter and brighter effulgence, as he proceeds in his diurnal career, until, having reached the meridian of his splendour, he becomes too dazzling for mortal gaze. Mr. Lawson reminds us of the "refulgent lamp of night," which, while it diffuses its benignant lustre over the whole globe, suffers the meanest reptile to bask in its radiance without the peril of being scorched. Lord Byron wrote in the consciousness of his superior strength;-Mr. L. as if retiring into the inmost recesses of his heart, composed as his poetic feelings dictated. Lord Byron, Prometheuslike, stretched forth his strong arm, and wrenched a burning torch from the altar of the god of poetry;-Mr. Lawson, with submissive humility, erected a pile in honour of Him, who inspires alike the peasant and the noble; and fire descended from the cerulean spheres to kindle the faggots, which his piety had consecrated to the Divinity. Lord B. would, if he had it in his power, have hurled old Phoebus from his chariot, and set the world in a flame, smiling with scorn and derision at the groans and cries of his fellow creatures;-Mr. L. has a tear to shed over the infirmities of human weakness, a heart that would prompt him to alleviate the pang, which our own miseries create, and speak peace to the troubled soul. Though Lord Byron loves to revel in fairy bowers, where every object assumes, by the spell of the enchanter, an attractive and a fascinating appearance; where birds are taught to sing, and the lambkin to skip; where the music of aerial performers

lulls the senses into a pleasing lethargy, and pleasure, under every hue and semblance, courts attention; where flowers of every season bloom in all the freshness of vernal beauty, and the fountains bubble without the aid of human art; where, in short, nature is made to smile under every circumstance; there is yet a time, when the malignant spirit of Byrou would breathe a pestilential blast over the whole scene, and change the felicities of Elysium into the gloom and horrors of Tartarus. Mr. Lawson's better genius would turn earth intò a paradise.

C.

A Memoir of Central India, including Malwa, and adjoining Provinces; with the History and copious Illustrations of the past and present Condition of that Country. By Major General Sir JOHN MALCOLM, C. C. B. &c. &c. In two Volumes, 8vo. London. 1823.

We have risen from the perusal of Sir John Malcolm's Memoir with equal pleasure and instruction, and can say with confidence, that a more interesting work on India, and the history and character of its natives, has not, in our opinion, issued from the press. The opportunities enjoyed by the author, of acquiring a knowledge of the subjects on which he treats, were ample; and they have been most assiduously improved. His information was collected, under orders of the Supreme Government, and embodied in a Report, which was printed by the same authority. This report is the groundwork of the Memoir now published. More ample leisure, and better health, have enabled the author to bestow a greater degree of attention on his subject, than he was able to devote, while in this country. Many important illustrations have accordingly been given in the Memoir, which did not find a place in the Report; and the mass of materials collected has been moulded into a historical shape and character, in language highly creditable to the taste and judgment of Sir John Malcolm, as a writer. His style often approaches to the romantic, when he dwells on the character and virtues of several of the Mahratta and Rajpoot princes; and it is to us one of the best recommendations, which his book possesses, that it breathes a kindliness of feeling throughout, which bespeaks the Friend of the Chiefs of

Central India, and yet gives us all the assurance of the truth, which we can ask, when we should have been staggered by the same picture from another pencil. We can ourselves now lay claim to a much better acquaintance with, undoubtedly, the most singular tribes and states of India, than we be. fore possessed; and several important errors, into which we had fallen, in estimating the character of the natives have, we think, been removed by the work of Malcolm. Had his Memoir led us to estimate this character still lower, than we have hitherto done, we should indeed have regretted the change: but it is doubly pleasing to have error removed, and the honour of human nature exalted at the same time.

The volumes before us, however, derive their great value from the fiscal and statistical information, in regard to Central India, which they contain—their great óriginality and amusement, from the pictures, which they give us of its princes and their courts. The first volume is devoted to the latter of these subjects; the second, to the former. The sources, from which our author's information is drawn, were exactly those, that are calculated to stamp the character of authenticity and truth on what he relates; and many of them having never before been seen by the eye of any learned European, much of the Memoir before us is occupied with what is strictly novel and original, as well as instructive and entertaining. Sir John acknowledges his obligations to several of his friends, who furnished him with valuable materials in the compilation of his Report and Memoir. In the appendix to the latter, he has specified the designation of these valuable assistants, the duties they performed, and the nature of the communications they contributed. Among them stand most distinguished the names of Major Henley, Captain Steuart, and Major M'Donald. In the contributions of these gentlemen to the work of Malcolm, we hail the first-fruits of a more abundant harvest in the same field. They are now engaged in discharging the most important duties, that can fall to the servants of the Honourable Company, either civil or military: and surrounded by opportunities of enlarging our stock of Asiatic knowledge, it is fortunate alike for the interests of science, and those of the British empire in the East, that we have already

n

such assurance that their talents, zeal, and accomplishments, are commensurate to their enviable opportunities.

Central India- a name introduced into the geography of the Peninsula, within these few years-comprehends, according to MALCOLM, the country lying between twentyone, and twenty-five degrees of north latitude, and seventythree, to eighty of east longitude-from Chittore on the north, to the Taptee river on the south, and from Bundlecund on the east, to the Guzerat on the west. In the days of Akber, it formed one of the Soubahs, or governments of the Moghul sovereign-divisions which, our author is clearly of opinion, were political, not geographical; and, accordingly, often varying with circumstances :—what is now, for example, Malwa Proper, sometimes included countries under its Soubahdar, which it does not now embrace; and, on the contrary, contains at this day districts, which are not mentioned in Abulfazel's Institutes. But while the Delhi sovereign changed at will the political boundaries of the country, his Hindu subjects retained, with the tenacity, for which they have always been distinguished, the name and the limits of their forefathers; and with them Malwa Proper extends from the Vindhya mountains to the Mokunda range, north and south, and from Bhopal to Dohud, east and west. The soil of this country is described by Malcolm, as in many places rich, its climate healthy, and many of its productions valuable. It is in general elevated table land, in which a variety of rivers take their rise; and the inequality of its surface renders it in many places highly picturesque and beautiful. The same animals are to be found in it, as abound in other parts of India : its horned cattle are much esteemed; but the use of the northern and the Dekhun horse, has allowed the breed of that useful animal to degenerate, in a country, where we should have expected it to have been sedulously cultivated.

A better acquaintance with the history of Bouddhism would throw not a little light on that of Malwa and Rajpootana; and, on the other hand, would this celebrated system of religious faith receive no trifling elucidation, could we arrive at the knowledge of the early events, that occurred in these countries. It would seem, that the sect of Bralıma,