rounded with mountains, with trees, with walls, with fruits and fragrance, and in a corner of my own garden, reading" Thomson's Seasons." If life has any thing better than this to bestow, I should like to hear of it. If a country clergyman, in the first blush of his self-wrought happiness, could be better employed, I should like to know how. From the delightful repose of such feelings, so gently, so soothingly agitated, it is that the brightest thoughts, the deepest sentiments, the most convincing arguments proceed. You may drug the divinity student with gloss and commentary;-you may text-book his leisure hours to the last minute he can possibly appropriate ;-you may lecture him, question him, convince him, per meditates feels-raves-romps with his children, or domesticates with his wife. Here he listens to the song of evening and of morn, watching all the various stages of nest-building, and incubation; and here, too, he becomes acquainted with every tree in its bud-its blossom-its setting-its promise-its full-grown fruit; till autumn carry him again back into winter-and he be left to ruminate, in gleesome anticipation, on the snow-drops and daisies of returning spring. TERIAN CHURCHES. T. G. suade him, instruct him, in fact, and doctrine, and opi- THE INTRODUCTION OF ORGANS INTO PRESBYnion; up to the very teeth you may cram him, with Mosheim, Clarke, and Paley, but, if you do not win and keep his heart,-if his soul is not spread like the gossamer of Autumn, over every moving and still object, if he has not, in short, a taste for nature, and a reverence for God, he will, in all probability, take up with the clerical farming and marketing at last. To the Editor of the Edinburgh Literary Journal. SIR, I crave your forbearance to a few remarks suggested by the letter of "X. Y. Z." in your last number, on the subject of the introduction of an organ into the Relief Chapel in Roxburgh Place. The writer talks of this as a "bold innovation upon the severe limits affixed by ancient prejudice, a pleasing proof of the progress made by true liberality and sound good feeling;" and he trusts that "the Established Church will not permit herself to remain behind her more rigid sister." Now, in my humble opinion, the Church of Scotland is behind no establishment on the face of the earth; and if it is wished to effect any innovation upon her modes of worship, let that innovation be based upon reason or Scripture, and not upon the practice of any other establishment, held out for her imitation. The Church of England came into existence at the fiat of a sanguinary and tyrannical monarch; while the Scottish Church was the fruit of the enlightenment and piety of her people, whose blood was cheerfully poured forth in its defence. There is then no reason for assuming, a priori, that the practices of the English Church, or any other church, are worthy of being imitated by us; and the letter in question affords no argument whatever upon the general merits of the question. The character of a Scotch clergyman stands deservedly and undoubtedly high but let him beware of the consequences, if he devote himself to secular avocations of an engrossing character; and above all, let him avoid 66 farming" as he would keep clear of the pestilence. His previous habits-his education-his present employment, and the whole tenor of his thoughts are, or ought to be, at variance with such harassing and engrossing considerations, as farming involves. An aged or sick person is dying, and in need of spiritual comforting; but the minister is out-he is looking after the delivery of grain, or the covering of a drain. The text on Sabbath leads to a contempt of earthly, in comparison of heavenly possessions; such is the language, and the language of the pulpit exclusively, for it is well known to every old woman in the parish, that the minister never" sells his hen, mair than ither folk, on a rainy day." Forgiveness of injuries is inculcated strenuously, but by one who looks from the church door with somewhat of a sinister aspect upon the man who purchased his last thrashing of barley at a shilling a-boll below the market-price. The duties of a clergyman are confessedly sufficient to engross his whole thoughts and exertions; and yet our minister" attends markets-buys, sells, speculates, and fights on, through all the turmoil of a farming life, with the most devoted farmer of the neighbourhood. No; " we cannot serve God and Mammon"-the law ensures every minister in the possession of a quarter of an acre of garden land, suitably enclosed and defended; and within this, assuredly, lies the proper sphere of his amusements and relaxations. "Kail yards," with all their accompaniments of Sabbath retirement, repose, and devotion, have been to me an object of reverential and pleasing regard from my youth upwards. It is in the corner of the "yard" that old grannie is to be found and to be heard at night-fall-when the soul of the aged ascends If then it is true that the simplicity of our country's in "groanings which may not be uttered" to God on worship be the indication of a regulating and pervading high. It is on a tanzied or green turf couch, in an- principle,-and if we are asked to permit a departure other recess, that the labourer sits, with his children from it in any instance, it would seem that the proper around him, and that his careful partner narrates to him method would be, not to introduce a solitary infraction her in-door doings during the week-that all the roll- of the system,—one anomalous violation of the harmony ing childhood spreads itself out in freedom and reli- visible in the whole structure, but to set ourselves to regious attention, whilst Scripture stories are told, chap- consider the principle itself, and if it be found erroneous, ters are read, questions are put, and psalms are repeat then to depart from it, not in this instance alone, but in ed. It is from this little neuk of property that kail- every point where its influence can be detected. If we blades or leaves are brought when the pot is on-and can persuade ourselves to question and to revise this that a hungry and a numerous family are regaled with great fundamental feature of our national worship, and viands of the most wholesome and delicious character. to loosen what the wisdom of our ancestors has fixed, What his "kail-yard" is to the labourer, his manse- and the lapse of centuries consolidated, and if we argarden, comprehending in it the character both of kit- rive at the conclusion, that this simplicity is unworthy chen-garden and orchard, is to the minister. It is his of being retained, then let us, at once, put the new dogstudy his closet-his drawing-room. Here he reads-ma in force to its full extent, let us not only have or. Our venerated Church has been charged with rigidity in her tenets, and austere simplicity in her forms; but it has never been, and cannot be, denied that the institution, as a whole, exhibits one consistent character pervading it throughout. Her simplicity is not the result of accident or caprice, but the effect of a strong and guiding principle, attaching its distinctive traces to every part of her discipline. Of this principle, and of its ap plicability to ecclesiastical matters, the propriety has been questioned; and I am not now to enter upon its defence; only I state my own opinion, that the Church, who fearlessly trusts her influence and her dignity to the naked majesty of truth, assumes a bearing of much more real loftiness than another who will not let herself be seen except in a holiday suit. gans, but painted windows, glowing with imaged saints, let us have frescoes on our walls, and crucifixes in our hands, let us kneel at our public prayers, and bow at every mention of the name of Christ. All these are "adjuncts of devotion ;" and nothing can be said in favour of one, which does not equally support the rest. None of these things appear in themselves culpable or pernicious; but they are equally ready for the service of falsehood as of truth, and have been much oftener used, nay, seem more easily and naturally applicable, for the purposes of the former. tively necessary, in order to remove the slur cast upon Your most obedient servant, SCIENCE. The question then, I apprehend, comes to be, not "shall we have organs or no ?" but shall we abide by, or depart from, that great and leading feature which has characterized for centuries the Protestant church of Scotland? I am for abiding by it. I am for defending it as the palladium of our venerable and bloodbought establishment, as the sublimest monument of the piety, the intellect, and the philosophy of our country and even independently of its intrinsic merits, I │| PHRENOLOGICAL DEVELOPEMENT OF THE MURam for keeping it simply as one of the parts of that sacred edifice, whose minutest angle should be touched with reverence, and as one of those strong distinctions between Protestantism and Popery, which, if the signs of the times do not lie, there is no cause to soften, and much reason to preserve, unimpaired, in order that the banners of eternal truth may be as different from those of falsehood, as their sources, and their natures, and their effects, are different. There is much more which I could wish to say upon this subject, but I cannot encroach farther on your va luable space, excepting to state a single idea with regard to the improvement of our psalmody. If my observations of what is going on in public opinion are correct, a change is at present taking place in the feelings with regard to religion. It had been long unfashion able, especially among the male sex, to think of or pay regard to religion: and one of the many indications of this sentiment was, its being considered unfashionable to sing in church. This silly weakness, along with the general feeling which caused it, is subsiding; and the present time seems to me not unfavourable for an attempt to render the vocal music of our churches more impressive than the strains that issue from any mechanical and inanimate source. The new church of St Stephen's affords an excellent field for the experiment I am about to propose; and if it were seriously undertaken by the excellent person who has been appointed its minister, little doubt could be entertained of its success. Let a first-rate precentor be got, part of whose stated duty it shall be to instruct the congregation in sacred music. Let a few hours in the course of every week be appointed for this purpose, and let the church be then open to the whole congregation. Let the precentor arrange the pupils according to the qualities of their cars and voices, and accustom them to sing the different parts of the psalm tunes in use,-in which employment the monitorial system might, perhaps, be usefully applied. Let the precentor's salary be sufficient to cover this part of his trouble, leaving zeal to be cherished by an occasional collection. The great difficulty would be to induce the congregation, or rather the younger part of them-for upon them the scheme would mainly depend, to attend the lessons; but were the subject kept in their view from the pulpit, and were the minister, by personal exertion, to induce a few leading persons to set an example, I think this obstacle would soon be surmounted; and let the system once be fairly established, its permanency, if properly cherished by those superintending it, would be completely ensured. To a certain extent this system has already been adopted in one or two churches; but a degree of anxiety corresponding to the importance of the object, has not been manifested for its success. Something of the sort, however, upon a great and established system, is impera DERER BURKE. [WE are happy to have it in our power to present our readers with the subjoined interesting scientific and phrenological information, connected with a subject which at present engrosses so much of the public attention. Every reliance may be placed upon the accuracy of the statements, as they have been prepared with much care and impartiality. They will be followed up next Saturday with some additional facts, and a general view of the inferences to be drawn from the whole.] THE following Craniological Report was taken a few hours after the death of the criminal. The first table relates to the size of the head and absolute developement of the several Organs ;-the second expresses the gradations in size, or relative developement of the Organs. I. From the Ear to the Centre of Philopro- INCHES. 4 8-10ths. 5 5 4-10ths. 5 7-10ths. 5 5-10ths. 5 From ditto to Lower Individuality, Amativeness, very large. rather II. 6 1-8th. 5 3-10ths 4 6-10ths. 5 8-10ths. 5 9-10ths. 5 5-10ths. Firmness, large. Upper, moderate. Form, full. Such is the developement of this notorious murderer, whose name has already become a byword for villainy, and will long be perpetuated in the Annals of Crime. On this report, however, it is necessary to observe, that the principal Organs, included in the genus of "Propensities," are here represented larger than they could have existed during life; because the measurement was taken over the cranial integuments, which, at the posterior and posterior-lateral parts of the head, are always found distended by congestion of blood, in consequence of the criminal being thrown upon his back immediately after execution. Our readers will easily understand this, when they are informed, that in cases of death by hanging, drowning, lightning, &c. the blood remains uncoagulated, and gravitates to those parts of the body which rest upon the floor. Hence, in cases similar to this, the integuments at the posterior part of the head, neck, and back, are invariably found in a very turgid state; and it is over this distension that the Phrenological casts and measurements are, after death, always This taken. For example, in the Phrenological Busts of Mary Mackinnon and Haggart, the distance from Destructiveness to Destructiveness measures 6 inches ;-on the naked skull, however, the measurement is only 5 inches. In the case of Mary Mackinnon, also, from Combativeness to Combativeness, measures on the bust 5 inches 4-10ths, on the skull 4 inches 7-10ths. circumstance in the case of Burke will affect the usual number of Organs, including Amativeness, Philoprogenitiveness, Combativeness, Destructiveness, &c.; and it should be also remembered, that on this account the moral and intellectual Organs,-Benevolence, Ideality, Comparison, &c. are made to appear relatively less than they actually are. Ón the whole, it will be seen from the preceding statement, that the Organs of the Moral Sentiments are more developed than was to have been expected from what we at present know of the character of Burke. The Intellectual Organs also are, perhaps, fully large; but from those in which we are most interested the propensities at the back part of the head-we cannot yet draw any very accurate conclusions, for the reasons we have above mentioned. Nor, for the same reasons, can the bust, which was taken by Mr Joseph, on Thursday morning, be considered as any fair criterion, as it was taken over the distended integuments. Having understood that Mr Combe was to make some remarks upon this subject in his Lecture on Thursday, we attended at the Clyde Street Hall. Mr Combe began by regretting that it was not in his power to exhibit the cast of Burke, as he had promised; two had been taken, one by Mr Joseph, and another by Mr O'Neil; but the former was not yet ready to be taken from the mould, and the latter having been taken over the hair, was less adapted to their purpose. He had himself seen it for a short time, but was not yet able to remark upon it. He hoped, however, to have it in his power to present a cast at his next lecture. In the meantime, he had been informed by an able Phrenologist, that the developement corresponded in every particular with the dispositions manifested by Burke. He said that the character of this individual, in consequence of his late atrocities, was somewhat obscured from the public eye; and that it should be remembered that he had, during a considerable portion of his lite, refrained from crime, having been for some time in the Donegal militia, and not having committed murder till the thirty-sixth year of his age. No former theory of philosophy could explain the anomaly of these debasing faculties having remained so long inactive, excepting Phrenology. He might also add, that he had seen a gentleman who had witnessed the dissection of the brain, and who informed him that the cerebral organ of Destructiveness was enormously large, and that the bone under which it was developed was much attenuated, so as to be nearly diaphanous. It is not our intention to enter at present into any phrenological controversy; but we propose returning to this subject next Saturday, when we hope to be able to add some farther interesting particulars. As the Literary Journal goes to press early every Friday morning, the present remarks have been necessarily prepared on Thursday. ORIGINAL POETRY. SEVEN SONNETS TO E— I. 'Tis not the flattering folly of rash youth, And oh! far less the voice of empty praise, In which so often I have dared to raise Thee above human parallel ;-Love is truth In speech no less than thought, and wanting this "Twould forfeit all the purest of its bliss. Well may I deem thee something more than those Who pass and are forgotten hour by hour! By thoughts of thee light bursts upon life's woes; And when, escaping from its daily bounds, In thoughts of thee my spirit knows her power; The current of my soul turns all to thee; Strength not its own my buoyant heart surrounds, And light, which earth hath never seen, I see! II. SHOW me a world where duty undisturb'd Show me a world where Friendship never fails, III. BRING me a harp from Heaven, if thou wouldst hear Sounds that have never swell'd on land or sea; By thunder or by winds, to sway the soul; Strip her of beauty, and her nature's dower, And place the treasures under my control. Oh! human tongues were form'd for skulking fraud, To barter with, to cozen or conceal; They have no words thy excellence to laud,— They have no power to tell thee what I feel: In Heaven alone, from which these feelings came, And in the songs of Heaven, they'll have a name. IV. OH! for an eye of vision so intense, That matter gave no boundary to its ken; Oh! for an ear of so refined a sense, That heavenly songs could reach it in this den Of loud confusion; and, (would Fate permit,) 'Mongst all that human natures must endure: I would be what my wildest dreams have thought Concerning beauty, excellence, and love; Oh! I would reach what but in dreams I've sought, V. As a sweet voice with unexpected song Comes floating through the stillness of the night, Out pouring in a stream of deep delight, Till sense and soul sink the full tides among ;As gorgeous and magnificent vapours throng From sea and land, the lake and rocky height,— Entrancing, heart-renewing thoughts of thee,— I know they yet will shine in God's own skies. VI. PERHAPS thine absence, as some ocean isle Form'd by its crowds-though frowning on its folly; Of other nature at that hour we met; An angel who protects my pathway yet ;— VII. I HEARD a voice as if of many waves, Athwart the sky, proclaiming that the graves And the world's doom was read. Then roll'd away Kingdoms, and hosts, and arts! Then sunk the day! The stars of Heaven the wide destruction shared,— And space was Chaos!-till amid the wild And stormy expanse, I saw thee, as a star, Bright and securely beaming from afar, And heard thy spirit say, in accents mild,— "Hath not our love outlived its wintry clime,— And triumph'd o'er the cares and fears of Time?" E. B. I'll woo in softer-better mood, The ladye that I love. II. For helmet bright with steel and gold, I'll have her pictured in my breast- III. No mettled steed through battle-throng, But pride shall make my spirit strong, dote of the Boston Post-office. It has been completely success. ful: Matthews played Monsieur Mallet, and the character, as sustained by him, "between every burst of laughter, produced by its broken English and national and individual vanity, drew down a shower of tears, and produced audible sobs from various classes of the audience." Mr Benson Hill, formerly of the Edinburgh Theatre, also sustained his part with much approbation.-A vocal and dramatic institution is about to be formed in London, under the patronage of several individuals of high rank, for the purpose of affording young persons, of both sexes and of competent talents, a systematic stage education.-The provincial towns seem to have subtracted a good deal of talent from London this season: Braham has been delighting the people at Bath, both with his singing and comic acting,-a power which it appears the vocalist has recently found out that he possesses;-Macready is ruralizing in the west of England ;-and Mr and Miss Cramer, Curioni, and others, have been giving a series of Concerts in Liverpool.-This evening, we observe, Miss Isabella Paton, an actress and singer of some power, is to make her debut at the Theatre Royal here, in the part of Peggy, in the "Country Girl." Her sister, Miss Paton, has been playing Desdemona, to the astonishment of the good people of Dublin.-Mazzinghi's Opera, "The Noyades, or the Maid of La Vendee," and several other novelties, have been produced here within the last week, but we are sorry to say the Manager's exertions do not meet with the encouragement we could wish. LITERARY CHIT-CHAT AND VARIETIES. OUR readers will be glad to learn, that it is understood to be the intention of the Lords of the Treasury to authorise the free transmission through the Post-office, to authors residing in the country, of the proof-sheets of any work going through the press, which are sent to them for correction. For this purpose, the proofs, it is said, are to be sent open to Mr Francis Freeling, who will inclose them in a post-office cover, and forward them according to the address, and do the same on their return. The London Literary Gazette proposes that this arrangement should be extended to all new publications; but we are afraid this is a concession hardly to be expected. A new novel, from the pen of Mr Galt, is announced by Blackwood. It is to be called, "My Landlady, and her Lodgers ;" and will appear shortly. We are informed that a new edition of the Waverley Novels, in royal 18mo, is in preparation, accompanied by Notes and Illustrations, supplied by the author. A second edition of Mr Derwent Conway's Solitary Walks through many Lands, will appear in February. A personal Narrative of a Journey through Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, by the same author, will form an early volume of Constable's Miscellany. Tales of the Wars of our Times, by the author of Recollections of the Peninsula, are in the press. We observe, from Clapperton's Journal of a Second Expedition into the Interior of Africa, which has just appeared, that there is some probability of recovering the books and manuscripts of the late Mungo Park. They are in the possession of one of the African kings. Mr Buckingham has been. lecturing in Liverpool, on the subject of the opening of the trade to India and China, at the expiration of the Company's charter. We are informed that he proposes visiting Edinburgh shortly. FINE ARTS.-Active preparations are going on, both at the Royal Institution and Scottish Academy, for the ensuing exhibitions, both of which are to open early in February, and are expected to be fully as interesting as any we have yet had in Edinburgh. We are happy to understand that, among others, one or two pictures by our celebrated countryman, Wilkie, are to be exhibited at the Royal Institution. We shall present our readers with an early account of the most interesting features of both exhibitions. Theatrical Gossip.-At the Adelphi Theatre, a three-act piece has been produced, entitled, "Monsieur Mallet, or My Daughter's Letter;" and founded on Matthews' well-known anec WEEKLY LIST OF PERFORMANCES. Jan. 24. Jan. 30. SAT. The Hypocrite, Maid and Magpie, & Noyades. The Hypocrite, Noyades, & Charles Edward. Books very recently published.—Marshall on Classification of Shipping, 8vo, 6s. 6d. bds.-Barker's Cicero's Catilinarian Orations, 12mo, 5s. 6d. bds.-Hussey's Explanation of the Bible, 18mo, 2s. sewed.-Clapperton's (Captain) Journal, L.2, 2s. bds.-Buckingham's Assyria, Media, and Persia, 4to, L.3, 13s. 6d. bds.Emerson's Letters from the Algean, 2 vols. post 8vo, 18s. bds.Rank and Talent, by the Author of Truckleborough Hall, 3 vols. post 8vo, L.1, 8s. 6d. bds.-The Modern Martyr, 2 vols. 12mo, 10s. bds.-County Album of England and Wales, 12mo, 5s. 6d. hf.-bd.—Last of the Plantagenets, 8vo, 12s. bds.-Major's Medea of Euripides, post 8vo, 5s. bds.-Leifchild's Help to Reading the Scriptures, 12mo, 2s. 6d. bds.-James's Pastoral Letter, 6d.Spirit and Manners of the Age, 1 vol. 8vo, 11s. 6d.-Walsh's Narrative of a Journey from Constantinople to England, 3d edit. 12s. bds.-James's Christian Charity explained, 2d edit. 68. bds.-Neele's Romance of History, 3d edit-Memoirs of John Shipp, 3 vols. 8vo, L.1, 10s.-Rudge's Introduction to Perspective, 8vo, 8s. 6d.-Cullen's Practice of Physic, 2 vols. 8vo, L.1, 48-Reginald Trevor, 3 vols. 18s.-Romaine's Select Letters, 32mo, 2s. 6d. Our Beith Correspondent has our thanks; the "Song for Burns' Anniversary, 1829," will appear in our next.-We suspect " J. R." must not trust too much to his poetical powers.-We think more of " W. M." of Montrose; but his Lines scarcely come up to our standard.—“ La Chenille" shall have a place, probably in our next. If the Author of the "Alpine Horn" will send us his emendations, we shall attend to them." The Last Notes of the Last Bugle," and "Scotia," will not suit us-From William Laidlaw, of Selkirk, we shall be glad to hear again; the Author of "Lucy's Flittin" can produce better things than the song to the tune of "Brewer Johnnie." |