was mentioned, Mr Smith of Swindrigemuir has written to Mr Auld of Ayr, that he met with Burns at the house of Sir William Cunningham of Robertland, before the poem was published, when, in answer to a question by Mr Smith, he said, that the prototype of his hero was the "Gudeman of Shanter," whose name, Mr Smith was informed by some one present, was "Douglas Grahame.” It is certain that a person of that name possessed the Shanter farm when Burns resided with his uncle in its neighbourhood, and attended Kirkoswald School; and it is not remembered, by the oldest persons in Carrick, that it ever was occupied by a Thomas Reid. Notwithstanding the acknowledged merit of Mr Thom's first productions, it was the opinion of many persons well acquainted with the Fine Arts, that his ignorance of the conventional rules of Sculpture rendered his success in any new attempt highly problematical; and perhaps those opinions may be well founded, in reference to the higher and more severe departments of the art; but his subsequent works have greatly shaken their force, and demonstrated how very easily genius can surmount the obstacles that lie in its way. The Landlord and Landlady of the group we have noticed, like his first productions, were thumped out of the rough block by the mere guidance of the artist's unerring eye, unaided by models or drawings of any sort; and if they do not raise him higher in the scale of artists than he stood before, they will not, at least, diminish his fame. In addition to these statues, Mr Thom has recently sculptured, in white freestone, a portrait of a gentleman, which has not only the merit of being well executed, but is a striking likeness. And he has now nearly finished, in the same material, a bust of Burns, in which we already recognize the features depicted in Lockhart's Life of the Bard, from the vivid recollection of Sir Walter Scott. These busts have been executed without any other model before the artist than the living head of the one individual, and a tolerable copy of Nasmyth's portrait of the other; and yet, they both possess so much individuality, that even a stranger to the persons represented would hardly hesitate to pronounce them faithful likenesses. Judging from these specimens, we have little doubt of Mr Thom's success in Portrait Sculpture; but we would anxiously press upon him the attainment of something greater in the noble art which he has adopted. Possessing, as he does, a precision of eye and dexterity of hand seldom equalled, he may reasonably hope, by a close and diligent study of his profession, to rank his name with the greatest sculptors which our country has produced; and we sincerely hope he is ambitious of that imperishable honour. ORIGINAL POETRY. A LETTER FROM MY COUSIN. You know, when I was a girl, Hal, That was a flight of fancy, Hal, And we both have changed since then; Yet still when I write to you, dear Hal, My heart is in my pen : I have taken my seat in the arbour, Hal, In the midst of the bees and the flowers, And the summer winds and odours, Hal, Recall many long-lost hours. No wonder that the fair child wreaths Alas! like childhood's thoughts they die- The blossoms where are they? You tell me they make room for fruits- But often stolen ere 'tis ripe, I do not love the worthless gifts That bend our childhood down, And give us for our chaplet wreath Ambition's leaden crown. A LAMENT FOR CULLODEN. By Alexander Balfour, Author of " Contemplation, and other Poems," &c. [This Poem is extracted from an unpublished Metrical Tale, in which it is introduced as the song of an old Highland widow.] ALAS! for the land of the heath-cover'd mountains, Where raves the loud tempest, and rolls the dark flood! Alas! for the land of the smooth crystal fountains, The sword of the slayer has stain'd them with blood! Ah, me! for the nation, so famous in story, Where valour, and freedom, and loyalty, shone! They gather'd around the bright star of their glory; But faded their laurels, their glory is gone! Weep, Caledonia !-mourn for the fallen! His banner, unfurl'd, in splendour was streaming, ing, And high beat each heart at the loud pibroch's sound: They came to Culloden, the dark field of danger— Oh! why will not memory the record efface: Alas! for their Leader, the gallant young Stranger! And woe to the traitors who wrought the disgrace! Weep, Caledonia !—mourn for the fallen! Alas! for the heroes whom death has enshrouded! And loud was the war-shout that lull'd them asleep; Their turf the gay Spring with rich verdure shall cover, The sweet flower of Summer in fragrance shall bloom; In the mist from the mountains bright spirits shall hover, The shades of their fathers shall glide o'er the tomb! Weep, Caledonia!-mourn for the fallen! Alas! for the Stranger, by fortune forsaken, Who pillows his head on the heath-blossom'd hill; From dreams of delight with the day to awaken, His cheek pale and wet with the night-dew so chill! Alas! for my country-her glory's departed— No more shall the Thistle its purple bloom wave! But shame to the coward-the traitor false-hearted! And barren the black sod be aye on his grave! Weep, Caledonia !-mourn for the fallen! LITERARY CHIT-CHAT AND VARIETIES. We understand that Mr Murray has in preparation for his Family Library, Lives of General the Earl of Peterborough, by Sir Walter Scott; of Cowper and Cervantes, by Mr Lockhart; of Sir Isaac Newton, by Dr Brewster; of Julius Cæsar, by the Rev. John Williams; of General Wolfe, by Mr Southey; and of Sir Thomas Monro, by the Rev. G. R. Gleig. Mr Murray will also speedily publish the Papers of the Earl of Marchmont, comprising a number of original and unknown documents, diaries, &c. illustrative of the Reigns of Queen Anne, George L., &c., a Memoir of the Public Life of Robert, second Marquis of Londonderry,-a new edition of Boswell's Life of Dr Samuel Johnson, edited, and illustrated with numerous biographical and histori cal notes, by the Right Hon. John Wilson Croker,-the Antiquities of Greece and Rome, selected from the best authorities, both ancient and modern, and principally intended for the use of schools, by the Rev. John Williams,-the Descent into Hell, a Poem,-the History of the Jews, by the Rev. H. H. Milman,-the Life and Times of Dante,-a Memoir of the residence of Lord Byron in Greece, com. prising a Diary of his conversations upon the subject of Christianity, by the late Dr Kennedy,-and the Life and Reign of George III The Landscape Annual, which is to appear in November, and which is in the hands of the proprietor of the Keepsake, bids fair to be a very splendid and interesting work. It is designed to exhibit a series of views illustrative of the most interesting scenery of Europe; and the views are to be accompanied with literary papers, intended to present, not only an accurate and vivid description of the scenes delineated by the artist, but likewise to recall the many interesting recollections which the pages of history or the records of tradition can supply. The forthcoming volume is to comprise a succession of the most attractive views that occur on the route from Geneva to Rome. It will consist of about 300 pages of letter-press, and twenty-six highly-finished line engravings, from views taken on the spot by Prout. The literary department is under the management of Mr T. Roscoe, and the Author of the Castilian. A musical work is in progress, which is likely to be one of some interest. It is to be entitled, "Peninsular Melodies," and will consist of a collection of melodies by the most esteemed composers of Spain and Portugal. The poetry is to be chiefly by Mrs Hemans; which will guarantee its grace and elegance; and the melodies are to be harmonized by Senor la Disma, Maitre de la Chapelle to the King of Spain. The Golden Lyre, which attracted marked attention among the annuals of last year, will this year be again published by Mr Haas. The author of the Revolt of the Bees announces Hamden in the Nineteenth Century, or Colloquies on the Errors and Improvements of Society. To-day Mr Buckingham concludes his Lectures here, after having delivered nine in Edinburgh, and two in Leith. Mr Buckingham has made some changes in his route through Scotland since we announced it last Saturday. He visits Dundee, Aberdeen, Perth, Glasgow, Paisley, Greenock, Ayr, and Dumfries. We are glad to understand that he proposes returning to Scotland next Spring, before which time he will take a trip to Ireland. Taylor and Carlile are now lecturing at Manchester. They have sent round circulars to the clergy and dissenting ministers of the town, presenting their compliments as Infide! Missionaries, and challenging discussion on the merits of the Christian religion. The Heraldry of Crests, containing nearly 3500 crests, with the bearers' names, alphabetically arranged, and illustrated by remarks historical and explanatory, intended as a companion to Clark's Easy Introduction to the Study of Heraldry, is announced for early lication. Mr Bowring is preparing for publication the Poetry of the Magyars, with an account of the Literature and Language of Hungary and Transylvania, and Biographical Notices of their most distinguished Poets. Also, by the same author, Bohemian Anthology, with an introductory history of Ceskian Literature. LONDON UNIVERSITY.-The first session of this Institution having closed, there was, a few days ago, a distribution of prizes to the students who had most distinguished themselves on their examinations. Earl Grey was in the chair; and the great room, capable of containing about a thousand persons, was filled.-The building of the London University is rapidly approaching a state of completion; the portico, in particular, promises to be, when finished, a splendid specimen of architectural taste. The roof is constructed on the classical principle of the ancient Greek tile. The adaptation of this antique style is quite new, and has proved, in its practical effect, altogether successful. The Manager of the Theatre Royal here has gone on a visit to the English provincial theatres, and it is his object to pick up some reinforcements for his own company among them.-A London paper says, absurdly enough, that "Mr Murray has disbanded the whole of his old corps; his command to them to go to the 'right about being propelled by the depression of the times." The same paper adds, with equal accuracy, that "there is not at present one regular dramatic company in the kingdom of Scotland."-A melo-dramatie spectacle, called "Peter Wilkins, or the Flying Indians," has been pub-produced at the Caledonian Theatre with considerable spirit and complete success. STATISTICS ON MADNESS AND SUICIDE.-The number of persons afflicted with madness is one-third greater among women than among men. Men are struck with madness most frequently about the age of thirty and thirty-one; women about the age of from forty to forty-three. Women are generally most disposed to melancholy; men to suicide. Suicides are generally more common among men in the month of April, and among women in the month of August. Suicides are more frequent among unmarried men; but with women it is observed that suicide is more common among the married. Suicide becomes more common among men from the age of thirtyfive to forty-five; among women, from the age of twenty-five to thirty-five. It is a remarkable fact, that the two sexes appear to preserve the difference of their manners and habits, in the choice of the means of destruction to which they have recourse. Thus, men choose cutting instruments and fire-arms; women choose poison and suffocation. The most immediate causes of suicide among women are jealousy, and unfortunate attachments; among men, disappointed ambition and reverses of fortune. Misery produces a pretty nearly equal number of suicides in both sexes. | night, to a most respectable house, in the character of Shylock. We never saw him to more advantage. His health seems to be perfectly restored; and the audience testified their delight by the most rapturous and enthusiastic applause.”—There are to be three grand Musical Festivals this year in England, one at each of the following towns— Chester, Gloucester, and Birmingham. Miss Paton, Madame Malibran, and Braham, are to sing at them.-Young has been performing in Dublin, Braham in Brighton, C. Kemble in Manchester and Liverpool-Madame Caradori had only £35 at her benefit in Liverpool.➡ Madame Catalani has been making a professional tour through Ireland. In Dublin and Cork she received £2000 for twenty-eight nights' performance. She proposes going to Italy in autumnVestris has been drawing very crowded houses in Dublin, and received £700 for twelve nights.-The following punning song is sung by Miss H. Cawse, as Nannetta, in the new melo-drama of the "Sister of Charity:" Theatrical Gossip.-At the English Opera House, a new Opera called "The Robber's Bride,"-the music by Ries-has been produced with success. Messrs Phillips, Sapio, and Thorne, sustain the principal parts.-Matthews and Yates have closed the Adelphi for the season, and are going to France.-Malibran fainted on the stage at the King's Theatre the other evening, and a brilliant and crowded audience were consequently deprived of the Opera.-Kean, we are glad to hear, is himself again;-The Belfast Guardian says, "This unrivalled actor made his appearance in our Theatre on Monday There never was a Nun, Sir, without a true call, And except in Nun's flesh, Sir, no Nun there can be, So I can't be a Nun, Sir, I can't be a Nun, And more after that, Sir-I won't be a Nun! And I won't be a Nun, Sir-be-Cawse-let me see― I can't, and I oughtn't, and I won't be a Nun! TO OUR CORRESPONDENTS. The Communication from the Ettrick Shepherd in our next. "It may be too late To-morrow," though well written, is scarcely original or striking enough.-The Communication from "Tyro,” of Glasgow, is too long for our pages. We have received the "Letter regarding the System of Education pursued at the High School," and will probably have something to say upon the subject next week.The Pamphlets on the Catholic Question, with which we have been favoured from Aberdeen, we must decline noticing at present.“ D. M.'s" communication is under consideration. A Letter from Dunfermline informs us, that "three Fife Domi nies, constant readers and admirers of our excellent Journal, having met together on the night our 35th number arrived in that town, and being particularly attracted with the lines Written at Midnight,' forthwith sat down at three separate tables, and after a couple of bottles of Bailie Campbell's best, and as many gills of Burntisland aqua, produced a poem each." They have sent these poems to us, and request that we will act as the judex litis, and decide which of them is the best, and which the worst. We give the palm to that which is entitled "Cogitations of a Young Pie-baker," and begins thus: "Och! I have never baked what I can bake, The next best is signed “ A.," and the third, which has also merit, is signed "B." "The Nightmare," by William Danby, in our next.-The verses by "H.' are pretty, but somewhat commonplace.-The Communication from Broughty is clever, but of too local and confined an interest.-The spirited lines addressed to Miss Landon would appear with better grace in the London Literary Gazette.-The Lines by "C. M. P." and "T." of Stonehaven will not suit us. Our second notice of the Reverend W. M. Kinsey's Work on Por tugal, is unavoidably postponed. EDINBURGH LITERARY JOURNAL; No. 38. THE OR, WEEKLY REGISTER OF CRITICISM AND BELLES LETTRES. LITERARY CRITICISM. SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 1829. Memoirs of his own Life and Times. By Sir James PRICE 6d. tion. Several anecdotes, which he gives unostentatiously, confirm this. Even after the battle of Pentland, he saved, by his intercession, the lives of several of the insurgents; and would have saved more but for the interference of the curates. He was not inaccessible to love. The following brief account of his first fit shows him to have been of Lord Byron's opinion on the important question of the best method of learning languages. "I was lodged in a widow's house, whose daughter, a young widow, had been married to a Rittmaster of the Emperor's. She was very handsome, wittie, and discreet; of her, thogh my former toyle might have banished all love thoughts, I became perfitelie enamoured. Heere we stayd sixe weeks, in which time she taught me the Hie Dutch, to reade and write it, which I before could not learne bot very rudelie from sojors." He makes mention only of one other fair enslaver-the lady whom he married. It is but justice to say, that his attachment to her has, for length and constancy, been rarely paralleled; and that his anxiety to have her with him on all occasions shows his domestic character in a most amiable light. THE author and hero of these Memoirs is one of those unhappy persons who have been damned to a painful eternity of fame. He is accused by the Presbyterian party of having occasioned, by the cruelties and extortions he exercised in Galloway, the rising which was finally put down at Pentland. He has been treated, on the other hand, by the advocates of the government as a kind of scapegoat, and the sins of the whole party have been bundled on his back, in order that he might carry them away into the wilderness. His autobiography is a piece of special pleading in his own behalf, particularly the third part, which more immediately relates to the events above alluded to. We must confess, that after a most attentive perusal of his statements, with all possible desire to be impartial, we are of opinion that he makes but a lame defence. At the same time, as the devil is credibly reported not to be quite so black as he is painted, so we believe that Presbyterian zeal has made a greater monster of Sir James than truth warrants; and we feel inclined, from the work now before us, to attempt a fair picture of the man. With naturally good and highly cultivated talents, therefore, and with originally good dispositions, confirmed by the decent and orderly habits of the middle ranks of life, in which he was born, our hero was thrown upon the world to seek his fortune, in the eighteenth year of his age. He enrolled himself as ensign in a regiment then raising in Scotland for the service of Gustavus Adolphus, in his German wars. He suffered much at first from sickness and poverty; but, in course of time, his constitution became confirmed, and that peculiar sagacity which ill-natured people allege is characteristic of our Some He received as good an education as the state of the experience in military matters likewise entitled him to Leslie was at this time about to enter England with an army. A person wishing to attach himself to the King's party would naturally have embarked for England, as one intending to attach himself to the Covenant vedlie bestowed upon me, as it was on many others before would for Scotland. Our author frankly confesses : "I had swallowed, without chewing, in Germany, a very dangerous maxime, which militarie men there too much follow; which was, that so we serve our master honnestlie, it is no matter what master we serve; so, without examination of the justice of the quarrell, or regard of my duetie either to prince or countrey, I resolved to goe with that ship I first rencountered." He took passage in a Dane bound for Leith; but found, on arriving at Edinburgh, that the Scottish army had already marched into England, and possessed themselves of Newcastle. Thither he followed them, where he was appointed major of Lord Kirkcudbright's regiment. He held this post, and afterwards a similar one in Lord Sinclair's regiment, till the year 1647, being employed sometimes in Ireland, and sometimes in Scotland; although his fidelity to his employers was occasionally more than doubtful. The chief power in Scotland was at this time divided between Hamilton and Argyle. By some ma He seems to have been naturally of a humane disposi-nagement, the former of these noblemen got a Parliament called, in which a majority of the members were either royalists, or attached to his own interest. Argyle, however, carried all before him in the commission of the Kirk. This latter party were much averse to the raising of a new army, which they knew, under the command of Hamilton and Middleton, could not fail to favour the King. The army was, however, raised, notwithstanding their opposition; and Turner obtained a commission in it. The mi Notwithstanding these blemishes in his character, we have little hesitation in describing Sir James Turner as a naturally humane, affectionate, and talented man. His talents were highly cultivated, both by early education, and the experience of a busy and active life. But his feelings were blunted in a considerable degree by his habits of military discipline, and by the transactions in The party of the Kirk continued to remonstrate against which the life of a soldier of fortune unavoidably impliraising forces for the King's relief. The west of Scot-cated him. Dissipated habits, acting upon a naturally land, and, in particular, the city of Glasgow, was dis- violent temper, had yet further degraded him. tinguished by its refractory spirit. Turner was sent to litary creed which he had adopted had shaken greatly the reduce it to obedience, and gave the inhabitants a speci- principles of strict faith and honour, in which he seems men of the energetic habits he had acquired in the army. to have been educated. Along with the grosser superstiAs this was his first open quarrel with the Presbyterians, tions of the age, he seems to have shaken off much of its we give it in his own words: religious feeling. His fidelity to the King and the Episcopalian religion seems to have been ensured mainly by the hatred which the unrelenting persecution kept up against him by the Presbyterians, for twenty years, had awakened in his breast. It is not our intention to follow this character through the whole of the adventures narrated in his memoirs; although we are much tempted to dilate upon them, seeing how much they contain that reflects light on the domestic manners, and the public policy, of Europe during the seventeenth century. We shall wind up this desultory article by a glance at the new light which has been thrown by this publication on the insurrection which terminated in the rout at Pentland. || "At my comeing to Glasgow, I found my work not very difficile; for I shortlie learned to know, that the quartering of two or three troopers, and halfe a dozen musketeers, was ane argument strong enough, in two or three nights time, to make the hardest-headed Covenanter in the towne to forsake the Kirk, and side with the Parliament. I came on the Friday, and nixt day sent to Mr Dick, and desired him and his brethren to say nothing nixt day in their pullpits that might give me just reason to disturb the peace of the church. In the forenoone he spake us very faire, and gave us no occasion of offence; but in the afternoone he transgressed all limits of modestie, and railed malitiously against both King and Parliament. This obliged me to command all my officers and sojors to goe presentlie out of the church, because I neither could nor would suffer any under my Sir James's narrative confirms the account of the march of the insurgents given by the biographer of Veitch, and command to be witnesses of a misdemeanour of that nature. At the first Dick was timorous, and promisd, if I wold stay, by Colonel Wallace, and explains satisfactorily some of he wold give me satisfaction; but I told him I wold trust their less explicit passages. It confirms the opinion we him no more, since he had broke his promise made in the already entertained, that the rising was not the premaforenoone. Seeing I intended no worse than to remove, he ture explosion of any preconcerted scheme, but occasioned continued his sermon, and nixt day went to Edenburgh to complaine; bot sent one that same night to make his grie- solely by the desperation of some who had been driven by vance to the Duke, who was comd the day before to his pathe oppressions of the government troops to acts of violace of Hamilton. Thither I went nixt morning. His lence. It broke out originally in Galloway, but the Grace approved of all I had done; and there was reason for principal excitement was in the west country, where the it; because I had done nothing bot by his oune order, and Presbyterians were not only more numerous, but had his brother Earl Lainrick's advice. This was that great attained, by the instrumentality of the societies, a degree and well neere inexpiable sinne which I committed against of union and discipline which they wanted in other parts the sacred soveraigntie of the Kirk; for which all members were so implacable and irreconcileable enemies to me after-rious aspect, had not the government previously impriIt might there have assumed a more seEven as it was, had the Presbyterians held to their orisoned a number of the leading men of that district. ginal intention of taking up their head-quarters at La of Scotland. wards." nark, instead of following the foolish or treacherous advice of Steuart to march towards Edinburgh, they must soon have become formidable from increase of numbers. It may be that this was the occasion of their first open declaration of hostilities against him; but he had already given them much cause of offence. His almost unconcealed intriguing for the King in the Covenanting army, and his connexion with Montrose, had not passed unnoticed. His habit of laughing at the prevailing superstitions of the age, of which the work now before us contains several instances, must have offended the weaker brethren; and the indifference with which he regarded all systems of religious belief, must have raised him many enemies in that age of Puritanism. But what must have contributed most to alienate men's minds from him, was his own ungovernable temper. He says himself:-" I confesse my humour never was, nor is not yet, one of the calmest; when it will be, God onlie knowes." This na tural weakness he seems to have aggravated by habits of intemperance; of which the following is a remarkable instance: ing which I confesse, beside the sinne against God, hath brought me in many inconveniences." "Haveing drunke at one time too much at parting with a great person, rideing home I met one Colonell Wren, betweene whom and me there was some animositie. He was a-foot, and I lighted from my horse; drinke prevailing over my reason, I forced him to drawe his sword, which was two great handfulls longer than mine. This I perceiving, gripd his sword with my left hand, and thrust at him with my right; bot he stepping backe avoyded it, and drew his sword away, which left so deepe a wound betweene my thumbe and foremost finger, that I had almost losd the use of both, unles I had beene well cured. Ane other cut I got in my left arme. The passengers parted us; bot I could never find him out after, to be revenged on him, though I sought him farre and neere. This was ane effect of drink men as he had seen. In regard to the materials of which the insurgent army the men, although undisciplined, were as stout and hearty was composed, Turner bears unwilling testimony that the spirit of fanaticism we were already inclined to susThat it was not much infected by pect, from the secession of Peden and others of the more violent party. But Sir James establishes the fact. He ing at the length and frequency of their sermons, and, had apparently expected to have an opportunity of sneerdisappointed in this respect, he ventures to deny that they observed any external ceremonials of religion at all. He rails at the whole body, but cannot avoid commemorating every moment instances of kind and gentle treatment. He confirms the accounts given by Presbyterians of the gentlemanly manners of Colonel Wallace. The account of his intercourse with the Laird of Monreith affords one of the most beautiful pictures of gentle and unaffected piety, endeavouring to win, but not to force others to its own sentiments, that we remember to have met with. The soldier who holds the controversy with Major M'Culloch (p. 160) seems to have had a large portion of the fidelity, caution, and humour of Cuddie Headrigg. The truth is, that except in some of the strongholds of Presbytery, there was much religion, but little bigoted attachment to particular forms, in the land. |
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