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GENERAL LITERATURE . Art . VIII . —Songs of the Affections , with other Poems . By Felicia Hemans . Biackwood . 1830 . Mrs . Hem an s is the laureate of hearths and homes . She should be crowned by the winter's fireside , or on the green summer Jawn . Songs of the Affectious are what she should indite ; songs of the senses
would not beseem a lady , and we have had enough of them from Moore , though he is a little better now ; and she mayleave the passions to Byron , the intellect to Wordsworth , and the soul to Coleridge . Her poetry is ever gentle , good , and tender , and if it seldom produce
excitement , it must always be regarded with complacency . Most of the pieces in this volume have already appeared in the Annuals or in Biackwood ' s Magazine . We never could comprehend how Mrs . Hemans came to write so much in Biackwood ; where the wild genius of Wilson ' s articles and the black venom
of too many others produce an effect upon the calm loveliness of her compositions , like that of crimson curtains and a dark carpet , which , as the ladies say , quite kill the delicate colours of the paper hangings . She is a pleasant companion meet her wherever we may ; and we
have never felt her more so , nor indeed so much , as on the present occasion . We have sometimes thought that her writings were sickly , oftener that they were feeble , and almost continually have been annoyed by their verbiage . From these faults the volume before us is
comparatively free . They are Songs of the Affections , and not Songs of the Affectations .
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Art . IX . —Essay on the Subject proposed by the Jloyal Irish Academy , viz . to investigate the Authenticity of the Poems of Ossian , both as given in Macpherson . s Translation , and as published in Gaelic , London , , 1807 , under the sanction of the
Highland Society . * and on the sup ~ position of such Poems not being of recent Origin , to assign the probable Era and Country of the Original Poet or Poets . A Prize Essay . By W . H . Druminond , D . D . Dublin , 1830 . 4 to . pp . 161 .
It is a rare nuion at which Dr . Drurnnciond aims , and aims with honourable success , of the very distinct characters of Theologian , Poet , and Critic . In the first , our readers are generally familiar
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with him . Long niay he keep them so , for the cause of sacred truth in . Ireland requires such a champion ; is well worthy of his powers 5 and will , we trust , repay ( his struggles with many a wreath won in the best of all victories , the putting to flight aud shame of error , intolerance , and prejudice . In the second character his claims are supported ^ both
111 translation and original composition , by many specimens of vigorous , elegant , and flowiug versification . And he is now before us in the third capacity . He appears as the cool , stern , and acute investigator of the evidence , internal and external , obvious or latent , by which Ossian is to be tried , and on which his fame , his country , and his very existence
are suspended . We cannot now enter upon the subject of the Essay ; nor do we hold it needful to specify either the conclusions at which our author arrives , or the arguments on which he mainly depends . Suffice it to say , that we have here both au able summary of what has been already done in this controversy , and much that is new , ingenious , and forcible . We have no doubt of its
welldeserving the prize awarded by the Royal Irish Academy ; and we rejoice in this addition to Dr . Orummond's literary honours .
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Art . X . —An Introduction to Systematical and Physiological JBotany . By Thomas Castle , F . L . S . London . With Plates . A very complete and useful compendium . It contains a general sketch of the history , elements , and language of Botany ; outlines of the Linnaean system ,
natural and artificial ; and of the natural system of Jussieu ; a comprehensive view of the anatomy and physiology of plants ; and a concluding section on the " harmonies of vegetation , * ' which , brief as it is , abounds in interesting and delightful matter , and offers many pregnant hints to those who love to exercise their understandings , or indulge their imaginations , in this most inviting field .
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Art . XI . —Outlines of History . ( Vol . IX . of Lardner * s Cyclopcedia ) An excellent chart to guide the student over the wide and seemingly pathless ocean of history . It is beautifully got up ; as are all the volumes of this cheap and excellent publication , which we again , heartily recommend to our readers .
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Critical Notices . —Miscellaneous . 631
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1830, page 631, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2588/page/47/
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