And on its glassy surface, specks of foam, The earth-born Wanderer hath passed; and quickly Must be again encountered!-Such a stream Is human life; and so the spirit fares In the best quiet to its course allowed; "Despondency corrected" forms the title of the fourth book of The Excursion, and it will easily be conjectured for whom this correction is intended. Whether or no our author has succeeded in the subject, the future judgement of his readers must decide, We do not wish to bias the opinion of the public, but particular experience admonishes us that it is our duty to recommend a frequent and reflective study of this portion of The Excursion. The very best of us, from the natural frailty of our condition and the instability of human affairs, are at times too apt to suffer the clouds of despondency to arise and darken those beautiful visions which bless our day dreams, and, in the trance of bodily and mental distress, create for the disembodied soul a shortlived paradise of spiritual ecstasy. There is, we should hope, no rational being (the register of whose life is not too much blotted by guilt) but must sometimes feel this sort of spiritual transport; and the enjoyment is so pure, that it seems the only foretaste of those joys (that the eye hath not seen or the ear heard) which favoured mortality can experience. To qualify the mind for frequent impressions of this kind, is a study well worth the attention of every intelligent being; and some of the readiest modes of attaining that qualification will be to fortify the heart against the encroachments of discontent and despondency, to contemplate with care and reflection the works of the Creation, and thus be led from things below to look on things above-By analogy and the inherent impulses of imitation to compare the order of the universe, and to feel the necessity of organizing our own works so as faintly to resemble those which bear the impress of perfect Intelligence The vacant hours of idle thoughtlessness will then be turned to good account. Things will begin to have something more than a nominal value and association; substances and relations, primary and secondary causes, cease to be mere metaphysical distinctions; and the mind become a kingdom peopled by natural and elementary subjects, under the government and discipline of its individual sovereign. It is thus that the estate of the retired and unwealthy philosopher, though unblessed by the smiles of fortune and patronage, is nevertheless supported by the benevolence of Nature and Religion, whose endless supplies are made the active agents of gratitude and consolation. We will not however forestall the arguments, nor vainly attempt to aim at the eloquence, of our Poet; but recommend again and again a frequent study of the "Despondency corrected," which, in our judgement, contains the best test of the mighty powers of its author's intelligence, and will enable our readers to draw from it some inference of the sublimity and beauty of the poet's moral and religious system supported on the basis of Virtue and Faith; -of his philanthropy, from the almost apostolic earnestness with which he sets about the conversion of misguided and desponding humanity;-of his imagination and poetical genius, from the originality and depth of his thoughts -the elegance of expression, the truth and propriety of his metaphors and similes;-the fitness of his epithets ;-and lastly, from the majestic simplicity and harmonious cadence of his numbers, &c.— To these poetic excellencies we think the Muse of Mr. Wordsworth fairly entitled; and are aware that, for this poor though grateful acknowledgement of the 'mental improvement and pleasure which we have received from the study of the work before us, we stand exposed to the censure of some who affect to despise what we have commended. We however feel persuaded that from Philanthropists the Poet will meet with that consideration and esteem, which those who have a deeper insight into the human heart will be ready to bestow. By these the pages of a poem like The Excursion, embracing all the best interests of humanity, will not be devoured with that disgusting rapacity which disgraces the poetic feasts of our Fashionables, who like locusts overrun the territories of every circulating library; and after all their travels cannot even boast with the map-devouring mouse, "A river or a sea Was to me a dish of tea, And a kingdom bread and butter." No; rivers and seas and kingdoms are to these triflers mere objects of transient eye-service, and nothing better. But to return to our subject: The Sceptic, in the course of his painful narrative, having evinced symptoms of native feeling, which called forth the par tial sympathy and pity of his hearers, the Wanderer, commencing his remonstrances, That did not falter tho' his heart was mov'd, strikes at once at the root of the Sceptic's mental disease; and For the calamities of mortal life To the dishonor of his holy Name!" This remark, so truly and feelingly expressed, is tempered by the following short and supplicatory prayer in favour of desponding mortality: "Soul of our souls, and safeguard of the world, Restore their languid spirits, and recall [To be continued.] Progress of the Invested Subscription for the British and Foreign School Society. IN noticing the progress of the Subscriptions destined to re lieve this most important Institution from all its pecuniary embarrassments, we beg leave to refer our readers to the claims it possesses to public support, as stated at page 167 of this volume; and we do trust that the friends to religious toleration, and the best interests of mankind, will exert themselves in the preservation of a work, which has been carried on through uncommon difficulties, and against the most powerful opposition, and which will be regarded by future ages as the glory of this. Amount as stated at page 275 of the present volume, The Friends to the British and Foreign School Society, at £10 10 0 Knight Spencer, Esq. By William Corston. Mr. Phillips Firth, Marlbro' Mills, Norfolk, 2 0 £. s. d. 4 9 3844 52 0 0 110 10 0 0 Josiah Wedgwood, of Etruria, Staffords. 100 00 William Hobday, Bristol, By the Secretary. 131 0 0 By the Treasurer. 100 Mrs. Hall, Hammersmith, By William Corston. Mrs. Mary Unwin, Castle Hedingham, do. do. 10 10 0 100 0 0 500 2 20 1 10 4269 17 9 Contributions for the above purpose are received by Hoares, Barnetts, and Co. Bankers, Lombard Street; by the Treasurer Wm. Allen, Plough Court, Lombard Street; and by the Secretary Joseph Fox, Argyle Street, Oxford Street. Facts interesting to Humanity. A SCHOOL FOR TEACHING GIRLS, CHILDREN of the indigent poor, to read, write, and sew, was established at Guildford, in Surrey, about a year ago, after public advertisement of the intention, by some of the inhabitants, who contribute towards its support by donations and annual subscriptions, upon the most liberal plan; it being open to all, without distinction or exception as to religious professions. For my own part, as an individual, I believe that " pure religion and undefiled is to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep unspotted of the world ;" and that " God is a spirit, and they who worship him [acceptably] must worship him in spirit and in truth," as declared by the lip of Truth. The children, between 70 and 80 in number, were invited lately, during a vacation, to the house of a subscriber, where, on a convenient adjacent lawn, tables were spread with various small articles of clothing, &c. which were distributed among them as rewards, according to merit, adjudged by the managers and weekly visitors present. These little scholars, made a decent appearance, conducted themselves with propriety, and seemed to be highly gratified; doing their governess credit, and affording general satisfaction to the company, several neighbours having stepped in. One circumstance I cannot well omit noticing, for the introduction of which, without the author's permission, I hope to be excused, as no name is mentioned. A small box was provided, and placed on one of the tables, having the following pleasing appropriate lines neatly inscribed on the lid, with an aperture between, to receive donations; they were composed for the occasion by a respectable female decidedly attached to the Institution. Of guiding youth to Virtue's sacred shrine; To instruct the Poor in paths before untrod, To love their Friends, their Bible, and their God." N. B. Another School is intended to be opened for Boys, and one for Adult Persons also, should our finances reach. |