less atmosphere, and the Georgium Sidus a much greater, than that which encircles our world, the medium of heat may be alike in both; and it is likely, that the nearer the planets are to the sun, the lesser will be their atmospheres; the further removed, the greater. Our own earth, by losing a part of its surrounding air, might be placed in the system, where Mercury now is, without any inconvenience to its inhabitants; and in like manner, were the atmospheres increased, it might revolve, with the same comfort to mankind, in the orbit of the Georgian planet. These things being premised, the phenomenon of comets and their tails will be more easily understood. In considering the eccentric orbits of comets, some such train of thought as the following may be supposed to pass through our minds:-It is not to be believed that a single atom in creation was made in vain; yet what sort of beings can inhabit worlds, that are at one time in regions of the most perishing cold, at another in those of devouring fire? Is it not possible that some means may have been devised to avoid these extremes? Could not the atmospheres of the comets be increased and decreased, as they recede from, and advance towards, the sun? Does the velocity of their motions, as they approach the sun, not cause their atmospheres to stream off from the nucleus, and form a sort of tail behind, which may again surround them as they recede from our system? Are streams, or tails, in point of fact, seen issuing from these luminaries? And if so, are they invariably turned from the sun? Do they increase as the comet approaches that orb, and do they gradually surround it as it recedes from the planetary system? So far as science has yet gone, all these questions may be most satisfactorily answered. least orbits and periods. It appears, moreover, that the planets have atmospheres in proportion to their distances from the sun; and that the sun itself, by having a very rare and thin atmosphere under its phosphorescent mantle, (which will float on the air as oil does on water,) may be the abode of beings in every respect similar to ourselves, with this difference, that as they inhabit the greatest and noblest orb in our system, they are perhaps more worthy of enjoying that blessing. Before concluding these observations it may further be remarked, that it seems extremely probable, that every planet in the system was originally a comet; and that every comet will finally become a planet. As the sun is the largest orb, and moreover the centre of our system, it is natural to conclude that it came into existence first. Before the sun was created, an ethereal medium, like a great mist, may be supposed to have pervaded all space, and that at the will of the Almighty, centres of attraction were pointed out in the embryo of creation, to which the surrounding particles of matter approximated and formed nebula, which in process of time acquired such a degree of density, as to be capable of being affected by the laws of attraction. The gravitating mass would then move towards the nearest body, with a velocity increasing as the distance decreased, until the more attenuated portion of the nebulous matter streamed off from the denser nucleus in the form of a tail. At their first outset these new bodies would move in straight lines to. wards their attracting sources; but, as there exists a power of repulsion, as well as of attraction, in all the heavenly bodies, they would be unable to come into actual contact with the suns previously existing, and, like comets, would perform their semicircle round the luminaries, and thence be repelled into the depths of When a comet is in its aphelion, or greatest distance space. When the effect of this action had ceased, (which from the sun, it is completely surrounded by its enor- would take place when they were in their aphelion) they mous atmosphere; in consequence of which, the beams would again be attracted, and again repelled; with this of the sun, be they ever so feeble, in passing through difference, that at every revolution the density of their such a dense medium, will create a sufficient quantity nucli would be increased-the length of their tails of heat for the support of animal and vegetable life, shortened and the eccentricity of their orbits diminisheven at that immeasurable distance. Bailly remarks, ed-in a word, that they would gradually become (vide Hist. d'Astron. iii, 257.) that were the comet of planets, and move round their respective suns in regular 1680, in its aphelion, 138 times more remote from the circles. Thus does it seem not unlikely, that every sun than the earth, it would receive five or (taking the planet in the solar system has originally been a vapour refraction occasioned by its dense atmosphere into con- a nebula-a comet: and that every comet will fisideration) six times as much light from the sun as we nally become a planet. To give still greater strength do from the full moon. As the comet approaches the to this hypothesis the following facts may be stated :sun the coma commences streaming from the head, and First, the indefatigable Sir William Herschel has disas the velocity of the motion increases, the tail increases covered no less than 2000 nebula-and since these are in length also. In so doing, the superabundant atmos- visible to the eye of man, how prodigious, how infinite, phere is thrown off, and the same medium of heat ex- must be the number scattered throughout the universe! perienced throughout all the comet's orbit. But as light and these nebula bear such a resemblance to the distant issues from the sun with such inconceivable rapidity, comets, that they have frequently been confounded. the tail of the comet will be entangled therein, and flow Secondly, several comets have been seen with no nu. from the sun as a banner does when playing loosely be- cleus whatever, presenting only a slight thickening tofore the wind. Gradually as the comet advances to the wards the middle, which was so translucent that the stars verge of the planetary system, its tail will begin to sur- were distinctly seen through the very centre; while others round it, and as it travels through the chilly depths of have been visible with a solid nucleus of 2000 miles in space, the more, and yet the more, will it be enveloped diameter-nay, history records comets that have appearin its atmospheric mantle-to compare small things ed as large as the sun, (vide Seneca, N. Q. 1. 7, c. 15.) with great just as a person in travelling from the equa- and authors, seeking for a natural cause, have attritor towards the pole would gradually increase his ap-buted the darkness at our Saviour's crucifixion, to an parel. It will now appear evident that the periods of the comets might be pretty correctly calculated by observing the length of their tails, and distances from the sun; considering, 1st, That those comets which have the longest trains, and are furthest from the central orb in their perihelions, must also have the greatest orbits, consequently the longest periods. 2dly, That those which advance nearer the luminary, with very long trains, will be the next in order. 3dly, That the comets which have shorter comas and are far from the sun in their perihelions, the third. 4thly, That those which have shorter trains, and are nearest the sun, will have the eclipse of the sun, occasioned by such a comet passing between him and the earth. Thirdly, the tails of comets are generally a little concave towards the sun; the fixed stars are always visible through them, and sometimes they are so brilliant that they have been distinguished during full moon, and even after the rising of the sun. Fourthly, there are three instances of comets actually revolving within the limits of our planetary system: 1st, the comet of Encke, which never passes erland, 15th December 1741, was nearly three times that of the The diameter of the comet, first seen at Lausanne, in Switzearth, and its tail was no less than 23 millions of miles. the orbit of Jupiter: 2d, the comet of Gambart, which travels but a little way beyond the orbit of the same planet at its greatest distance from the sun; and 3d, the well-known comet of 1770, which in its present movements never goes beyond the orbit of Uranus." If these phenomena serve to confirm the hypothesis now advanced, the work of creation may be considered as still going on in the heavens, and the foundations only of innumerable orbs are yet laid on the bosom of space. The Almighty is still at work in the illimitable fields of ether in the boundless regions of infinity; and every day, every hour, new worlds are perhaps springing into existence ! LETTERS FROM LONDON. No. IV. [We have pleasure in announcing that these Letters will be continued regularly once a fortnight.] On Saturday last, I was admitted to the private view of the works of Modern Art at the British Institution. The exhibition is, on the whole, considered superior to that of last year. Many of the pictures, however, have already been before the public, at the Royal Academy and the Suffolk-street Rooms; and what adds to the offence, these are honoured with situations, which, in my opinion, belonged more properly to others shown for the first time. Those who had the direction of the matter, have left themselves no apology, as they have set forth in the catalogue that many creditable pictures were returned for want of room. The number of paintings is 532-there are 9 specimens of sculpture. From some preparatory announcements, expectation was considerably on tiptoe as to this exhibition, and I confess that I for one have been disappointed. In the highest department of art, there is not a single good feature-scarcely even an attempt of the kind; and of the poetical character, there are but few. Neither is there any overflow of portraits-for which there is scope for gratitude;-but of the Dutch school, the scenes and groups in domestic life, there is a multitude. Whether British genius will gain by descending to the taste of the Belgian swamps, is, to my simple perception, exceedingly problematical. Doubtless, this class of productions is most acceptable to the cash critics who dwell city-wards and the artists know, and, per force, take advantage of the fact. Perhaps I may hereafter notice some of the best pictures explicitly; at present, from the rapid survey I made of the collection, I could not conscientiously attempt it. There is a promising array of names; and, among the old and the young best entitled to approbation in their works, I considered Collins, Danby, H. Howard, E. Landseer, Morris, Briggs, Roberts, Stanley, Inskipp, Linnell, Pidding, Webster, and Etty. Northcote's "Adoration of the Shepherds" is certainly extraordinary for an artist in his 90th year. The pictures marked sold, amounted to twenty-three. An engraver named Coney, not much known except to antiquaries, is executing a work, from sketches by himself, which has excited considerable interest among the lovers of the monuments of Gothic architecture. It will comprise the best remains of that order in Europe. Such of the specimens as I have seen are finished with a delicacy and precision truly admirable. The work is to be published in numbers, by Messrs Moon, Boys, and Graves, Pall Mall. The Marquiss of Stafford and others of the higher orders, distinguished for taste in the arts, have taken a lively interest in it. The artist was formerly employed upon the Monasticou. The only thing approaching to literary news is the appearance of the first number of a weekly journal, entitled the Ecclesiastic, edited by the Rev. Henry Stebbing. It professes to be a religious and family paper, and its motto is taken from Matthew, 5th chapter, 44th verse. The Ecclesiastic hath a most slumberous aspect, and like many excellent things, is easier praised than read. I am just about witnessing the first representation of a comedy, in three acts, at Covent Garden. It is entitled, The Widows Bewitched. If it be half as mirthinspiring as the Beaux Stratagem at the same theatre, it shall have my voice for a six weeks' repetition. ORIGINAL POETRY. FAREWELL TO YOU, ANGLESEA ! By James Sheridan Knowles. [IT is almost unnecessary to state, that in giving a place to the following talented effusion, by one of the most warm-hearted of Erin's sons, we make no avowal of our own political sentiments. Party feeling-whatever that may be-will never be allowed to interfere with our enjoyment of good poetry.-Ed. Lit. Jour.] FAREWELL to you, Anglesea!-Said you you'd bother By nature responds to humanity's call; Sure we thought at that moment your memory slumber'd, Sure we felt in our hearts 'twas a blunder you made, As the battles we fought by your side in we number'd, When with Catholic France at shillelagh we play'd! You forgot the poor Roman, to treason a stranger, When he bled by the Protestant banner you bore; For O, could you believe that the loyal in danger Would cease to be true when the battle was o'er ? By the ray of that star which no gem ever lighted— The brightest you wear-brighter mortal ne'er wore! Have you found us a people by errors benighted, But fit to be slaves?-Do we merit no more? By thy high-bounding valour-the fiery courser The war-horse, that bore you like flame through the fight! Were the Nation not vile, could Intolerance force her To stifle the voice tha'. exclaims for her right? But patriots openly, legally striving To rescue their race from oppression and shame! Asleep in icy sheets upon their beds; In the far wilderness the whispering leaves And birds were mute; and silent Solitude, You were look'd for, a cloud, naught but tempest por- With finger on her lip, sat full of fear. The glow-worm lighted up its lovely lamp, By the Author of the "Lament of the Wandering Jew, Thousands were seen rushing to ruin fast, and other Poems." HATH he, whose breath first bade the sun to be, Fair Moon, burnt out, not to relume again? Is thy face changed, to change not any more?— Ye starry orbs, are ye quench'd in the clouds ?— Ye comets, are ye called up to his throne, To sharpen well against the awful day?— Because the sun shone not, winged with fire, The spheres, whose music makes such harmony Chasing the ignes fatui on the heath, Which plunged them amid pits and marshy fens. Some travellers carried in their hand a branch The eyes of all men strain'd to compass light: Imagination, too, was at her work, The electric of the touch, when hand shakes hand, T. B. J. LA CHENILLE. fessor Wilson, which is by far the best likeness that has yet been taken of him. Theatrical Gossip.-The London theatres were never better [The following Fable is from the pen of an accomplished attended than they are at present, whilst, we are sorry to say, ex foreigner.1 UNE Chenille aride Disoit, "Je n'ai plus d'appetit; Je sens mon corps devenir plus petit, C'est fait de moi; je deviens chrysalide, Voila pourtant le sort affreux Ou chaque Chenille est réduite." Tout en parlant elle s'endort De ce profond sommeil qu'elle prend pour la mort. LITERARY CHIT-CHAT AND VARIETIES. THE extensive historical work, so long announced by Sir James Mackintosh, is now likely to appear early in spring. Sir James has also undertaken to prepare for the Cabinet Cyclopædia, Popular History of England, to form three volumes of that publication. The lively authoress of the Diary of an Ennuyée announces a new work, to be called, The Loves of the Poets. A new novel, from the pen, we believe, of Lady Morgan, is about to appear, entitled, The Daverels. The Ettrick Shepherd has expressed a hope that it may not be confounded with The Haverels. Mr Grattan, the author of Highways and Byways, has a new work in the press, Traits of Travel, or Tales of Men and Cities. We hope the work may be better than this affected and unmeaning name seems to augur. The Diary and Correspondence of the celebrated Dr Doddridge are in a forward state at press, under the superintendence of his great-grandson. We understand that the clever author of the Subaltern is preparing the Chelsea Pensioners, a Series of Military Stories. The author of To-day in Ireland is about to publish a new Series of Tales, called, Yesterday in Ireland. We shall, doubtless, soon have To-morrow in Ireland, and then, probably, the Day after To-morrow in Ireland. The Medea and Mr Valpy is publishing a Series of School and College Greek actly the reverse is the case in Edinburgh.-At the Adelphi, Ma- WEEKLY LIST OF PERFORMANCES. SAT. Country Girl, and Lord of the Manor. TUES. School for Scandal, & Ramah Droog. WED. Country Girl, & Marriage of Figaro. THUR. The Will, Day after the Wedding, & Lord of the Manor. TO OUR CORRESPONDENTS. A considerable number of new works lie upon our table for review, all of which we shall notice as soon as possible. An ingenious scientific correspondent has an article in preparation upon the phrenological developement of Burke and Hare, which we doubt not will be perused with interest. The paper on "Religious Division" is respectably written, but it does not seem to contain any thing sufficiently striking or original to warrant publication; we shall be glad, however, to hear from the author again.-The "Essay on Italy," "Phrenologas," and "A Sailor's Dream," will not suit us. The" Sonnets" by a Lady, which we have received from Aberdeen, will appear in an early Number." R. S." of Aberdeen is improving, but he is not quite good enough yet.-There are some pretty Lines in "Minstrelsy," but as a whole it is imperfect."The Dumb Maid," and the effusions of " G. M. G." and "D. M. D." will not suit us, though there is some merit in all these pieces.-We are not aware what crime we have committed to entitle Y. A." of Aberdeen to inflict upon us a copy of verses which begin thus, When last we met, we parted cold, "Should the foregoing," adds "Y. A.” “meet your approbaMiss Isabel Hill has in the press a volume called, Holiday tion, 1 shall be happy in sending you a little piece occasionally.” Dreams; or, Light Reading in Poetry and Prose. We have particularly to request of "Y. A." and his brotherrhymesters, not "a little piece," but a little peace.-"W. M." and "J. K." are under consideration.-The Song on Burns, though types, is unavoidably p ostponed till our next. There is preparing for publication, Rural Recollections; or, R. A. SMITH.-We are happy to state that the concert which took place, last Wednesday evening, in St George's Church, for the benefit of the family of the late R. A. Smith, was attended by nearly fourteen hundred persons. The arrangements were, on the whole, very judicious; but we regret that neither Miss Noel nor Miss Eliza Paton gave their assistance. FINE ARTS.-We understand that Martin's celebrated painting of the Deluge, together with the Holofernes of Etty, one of the most brilliant of the English colourists, are among the pictures to be exhibited this year at the Scottish Academy. There will be ten or twelve portraits by John Watson Gordon at the Royal Institution; and, having already seen most of them, we feel confident that they will tend to increase, still more, the reputation of that very admirable artist. Among the rest, is a portrait of Pro The communication on the subject of "Ballantyne's Examination of the Human Mind," will appear in our next.-" L. E." and "T. A." have just been received. TO OUR READERS. In future, the hot-pressing of the Edinburgh Literary Journal will be discontinued, the practice having been found not only materially to injure the appearance of the work, from the hurried manner in which the operation was necessarily performed, but In the Monthly Parts, also to occasion many vexatious delays. however, the hot-pressing will be continued as formerly; because there is sufficient time to dry the sheets effectually. The third Monthly Part, for January 1829, is now ready for delivery. LITERARY CRITICISM. Sacred Poem. The Opening of the Sixth Seal. A We may that talent lies thus dormant. There seems, in most cases, to be something inherent in its very nature, which incites it to spring into a wide arena, and freely, almost recklessly, to fling its trophies to the crowd. Knowledge is power, but it is power of a certain sort; it is power which is respected more than loved. Genius is power, and power of a higher description; for it commands the affections, while it overawes the mind. Knowledge is something different-something apart, as it were-from the man to whom it belongs; genius is not. esteem knowledge, but hate its possessor; with genius THERE is something particularly pleasant in having this distinction never holds good. Knowledge is to be put into one's hands a new volume of poetry, moist from acquired; and, by industry and perseverance, the merest the press, fresh and uncut. Who knows what its fu- plodder may attain it; genius is innate, and implies a ture destiny may be? It has not yet gone abroad to the more delicate physical and mental organization. Genius world, and we open it in silent expectation, as if about and poetry are synonymes; and the one can hardly exist to look into the secret mechanism of a mind hitherto without the other. But poetry is not always to be looked unexplored. Every one, we suppose, remembers the for in measured lines, or even in written words. It is delightful curiosity and surprise with which, when a like beauty, and may be found under many shapes. It child, he first investigated the hidden springs and wheels glows upon the canvass, it breathes over the marble,of a watch, glittering in their golden intricacy, and for it lightens up the eye of the musician,-it goes forth ever revolving with a ticking sound, like the voice of a with the young enthusiast to distant lands, it gazes living thing. Somewhat akin to this feeling, is the with the astronomer upon the midnight planets,-it more matured emotion of the lover of poetry, when he moves abroad into the sunshine with her who, in her unopens the leaves of a book upon which, for aught he can pretending purity and loveliness, adds fresh lustre to tell, may be written words rife with immortality. The the morning. Poetry is the only visible part of the imchild, it is true, discovers no singing-bird in the cham-material soul-the ray that emanates from the glorious bers of the watch; and rarely indeed are the critic's essence it encircles. hopes gratified, if he has ventured to anticipate some higher emanation of the spirit and the energy divine. But, nevertheless, watches will tick, and poets will scribble, to the end of time; and to judge by the number of rhymes we have occasion to see almost every day, there seems to be much less probability of the former going too slow, than of the latter going too quick. It matters not. Let poets of all shapes and sizes flourish! They are useful members of society, however small. Their lucubrations are the safety-valves by which many a distressed mind is lightened of a thousand idle phantasies. If they did not write, they would die, or go distracted. To them, pen, ink, and paper, afford an intellectual stomach-pump. Nor do we speak it profanely, though perhaps we express it quaintly. There is a substantial relief, and not unfrequently a positive happiness, in being able to embody one's thoughts in words; and of the full extent of this happiness, poets alone are aware. There are poets, no doubt, who exist as poets only to themselves, whose deep feelings have been shut up, like the winds in the cave of Æolus, in the recesses of their own breast, who have walked among other men—" among them, but not of them" and knew not that they were formed differently from the beings by whom they were surrounded,-knew not that the sights and sounds of external nature exercised a far deeper power over their senses,-knew not that they possessed the gift of song, and that were the harp whose notes rung harsh beneath the touch of others, but placed in their hands, they could, without an effort, make it discourse most eloquent music. It is seldom, however, But we are generalizing too much; and, with coldblooded apathy, are keeping all this time three poets anxiously waiting for our opinion on their respective merits. As they are all very unlike each other, except in the single circumstance that each, no doubt, believes himself possessed of a creditable portion of the divinus afflatus, we must take the liberty of saying a few words of them, separatim et seriatim. The "Opening of the Sixth Seal" is a poem in blank verse, founded upon a very sublime passage in "Revelations," descriptive of the final dissolution of the globe. The theme which the author particularly undertakes to illustrate, is the Last Judgment,-a theme unquestionably replete with the finest materials of poetry, but which, though frequently attempted, has never been done justice to, because finite capacities must ever strive in vain to describe the doings of Him who is infinite. The author of the present poem informs us, in his preface, that he did not peruse Pollok's "Course of Time" until he had "concluded his own task." This declaration we certainly think was necessary to save him from the charge of having borrowed part of his plan from that poem. Not only is there a pretty close resemblance between certain passages in the "Opening of the Sixth Seal," and certain others in the "Course of Time," but the general tone and style of the former are far from being unlike those of the latter. To the author individually, this circumstance, being accidental, cannot be charged as a fault; but as it brings his production into closer comparison with a more comprehensive and powerful work, it certainly is a misfortune. |