the age of chivalry, and that what might have been very chaste and proper in the times of Shakespeare, Butler, Addison and Gay, becomes unpardonably vulgar in our day. For example, he speaks of apron-strings as growing shorter, and, what is worse, without their having any legitimate right to do so! True, it is only a Biddy that mourns the phenomenon in question. She does it so feelingly, however, that we will quote a stanza or two, omitting those in which she is, perhaps, a little too idiomatic: "The Girl's "With grief and mourning I sit to spin; "There is a tavern in yonder town, My Love goes there and he spends a crown, Lamentation. He takes a strange girl upon his knee And never more gives a thought to me. "Says he, 'We'll wed without loss of time, And sure our love's but a little crime;' My apron-string now it's wearing short, And my love he seeks other girls to court." -p. 169. The song entitled "Lovely Mary Donnelly" is thoroughly Irish. It abounds in those bold similes characteristic of the Irish peasantry, but which are not always well managed by the poet. Indeed, on the contrary, they are sometimes forced very violently in order to make rhyme. A stanza or two will illustrate our meaning, and, at the same time, be not unacceptable as "wood notes wild": Lovely Mary Donnelly. "Her eyes like mountain water that's flowing on a rock, How clear they are, how dark they are! and they give me many a shock. Red rowans warm in sunshine and wetted with a show'r, Could ne'er express the charming lip that has me in its pow'r. "Her nose is straight and handsome, her eyebrows lifted up, Her chin is very neat and pert, and smooth like a china cup, Her hair's the brag of Ireland, so weighty and It's rolling down upon her neck, and gather'd One of the first songs we remember to have heard with the little ones, in their sports, is that entitled "The Fairies;" and it is still one of the most popular of "Child's Songs," in Ireland. Who has observed, if only for an hour, a group of little girls amusing themselves of a fine autumn evening, in any part of the country, without hearing the following stanza sung in unison? "Up the airy mountain, Down the rushy glen, "The Fairies. Wee folk, good folk, Trooping all together; Green jacket, red cap, And white owl's feather !"-p. 30. We find little or no patriotism, however, in Allingham's Poems. has songs on almost every subject, save on the condition of his country, past or present. If there is a single stanza on this subject, it has escaped our observation. In this respect, Campbell, the author of the Exile of Erin and O'Connor's Child, is much more Irish than he; so is Byron, author of the Irish Avatar, Monody on Richard Brinsley Sheridan, &c. If our author has omitted to speak of the wrongs of Ireland merely to avoid ren dering himself unpopular in England, he is greatly mistaken. It is not among the faults of the English nation to proscribe those who lament in "harmonious numbers" the woes of their country. Nowhere is there a more eloquent and scathing protest against the oppressor than in Goldsmith's "Deserted Village," yet no poem is more admired to this day in England. Nearly one half of Moore's Melodies have for their chief burden the wrongs of Ireland; but what sensible Englishman has ever admired "Tommy" anything the less on this account? His fiercest denunciations against the Saxon did not prevent the British Premier from giving him a pension in his old age. The same remarks would apply to Smollett and Burns, each of whom has left on record his deep sense of the wrongs of his country, as all know from "The Tears of Scotland," and "Bruce's Address." Probably it is not for any want of courage, or patriotic feeling, or through any prudential motive, that Mr. Allingham has failed in this respect; but that the canticles of freedom are not in his vein. At all events, we must admit that we have no good reason to blame him. He has given us too many charming morceaux for that. His happiest efforts are devoted to the fair-generally to girls. With him youth and beauty seem inseparable, as if he forgot that the oldest were once young, and that woman has charms which death alone can destroy. Yet, who will not forgive him on reading so charming a ditty as the following? with which we must take leave for the present of one of the most attractive volumes even of the "blue and gold” series, which it has long been our privilege to examine: "The Bright Little Girl. "Her blue eyes they beam and they twinkle, Her lips have made smiling more fair; On cheek and on brow there's no wrinklé, But thousands of curls in her hair. "She's little,-you don't wish her taller; Just half through the teens is her age; And baby or lady to call her, Were something to puzzle a sage! "Her walk is far better than dancing; "Unskill'd in the airs of the city, She's perfect in natural grace; "Her face with the fine glow that's in it, "As taking in mind as in feature, How many will sigh for her sake! HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY. Cyclopædia Bibliographica; a Literary Manual of Theological and General Literature and Guide to Books, for Authors, Preachers, Students, and Literary Men, analytical, bibliographical, and biographical. By JAMES DARLING. Subjects Holy Scriptures. Super-royal 8vo, pp. 1907. London: James Darling; New York: J. W. Bouton & Co. The bibliographical labors of Mr. Darling have elicited the approba tion of all who have anything to do, directly or indirectly, with literature, sacred or profane. His catalogue of Authors is universally acknowledged to be at once the most extensive and most reliable that has yet issued from the press. It has afforded the chief materials for more than one German work of a similar character. The same may be said of bibliographical works recently published in this country-especially Alibone's Dictionary of Authors. There is, however, this important difference between the compilation of Mr. Darling and that of Mr. Alibone: the former does not accept as an author everybody that has written an article for the paper of his native village; or who has delivered, to all who would listen to him, what is, by courtesy, called an "oration." Much less has he praised them, giving their own estimate of their merits. His compilation of Authors is what it professes to be-a faithful, legitimate record-not a vehicle of puffery for all who are willing to pay for that sort of thing. Still more impartial, conscientious, and reliable is the volume now before us. Although chiefly relating to the Bible, such is its character that there are none who read to any extent, not to mention writing, to whom it will not prove a valuable acquisition. Certainly there is no literary man, who has any pretensions to thoroughness, in the treatment of his subjects, and who wishes to economize his time, while not content without research, to whom it would not prove a boon of inestimable value. No matter what biblical subject one requires to write upon, he has only to turn to the index, or table of contents, as the case may be, in order to be able to see, at a glance, the titles and authors of all publications, on the same subject, worth mentioning, whether they are written in English, French, Spanish, German, Welsh, Irish, Greek, or Latin. Supposing, for example, that we desire to know what commentaries have been written on Joshua, we have only to turn to page 271, where we shall find the beginning of nearly five closely printed pages, double column, filled with the titles of works in Latin, French, German, &c., &c., though chiefly in English, each shedding more or less light on the subject in question. Thus, a clergyman, wearied with his week's labor, or, perhaps, so much indisposed as to be incapable, for the time being, of original composition, is required to preach a sermon on the Trinity; he turns to the alphabetical index and finds the word Trinity, whence he is shown, at a glance, the titles of numerous works on the Trinity, and the best sermons extant on the subject. The same may be said of faith, sanctification, good works, justification, rewards and punishments, &c. Feeling certain that there are many of our readers who would gladly avail themselves of such a work, as a means of lightening their labors, and, at the same time, enriching their discourses with the best thoughts of those who had gone before them in the same field, we give a specimen at random, merely premising that it includes but a small portion of what relates to the mission of Christ: "Mission and Character of Christ. For a list of the most important treatises on our Lord's character, see Abp. Newcome on our Lord's conduct. Eusebius Pamphilus. De Abgaro fragmentum. De Christo narratio. Grynaei Constantine VII. Narratio de divina Christi imagine. Edessena ad Augarum Cum præfatione J. E. Grabe. 8vo. Lond., 1706; Josephi Opera, 2, 187. Whiston, W. The testimonies of Josephus concerning Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, and James the Just vindicated. Josephus, by Whiston, I. Bradly, John. An account of the testimony of Josephus concerning Christ. An Impartial View, &c. Martin, David. A second dissertation in defence of the testimony given to our Saviour by Josephus; wherein the paragraph in the 4th chapter of the 18th book of the Jewish Antiquities, concerning Christ Jesus, is proved to be authentick. Translated from the French original. Lond., 1719. Richardson, John. Josephi de Christo Testimonium. Prælectiones, I., 105. Foster, N. A., dissertation upon the account supposed to have been given of Jesus Christ by Josephus, being an attempt to shew that this celebrated work, some slight corruptions only excepted, may reasonably be esteemed genuine. (Anonym.) Pp. 65, 8vo. Oxf., 1749. This dissertation is highly commended by Warburton and Bryant. Bryant, Jacob, Vindicia Flavianæ; or, a vindication of the testimony given by Josephus concerning our Saviour Jesus Christ. Pp. 83, 8vo. Lond., 1779. Klaeden, Joach. Dissertatio de lingua D. N. Christi vernacula. 4to. Witteb., 1739. Weisius, F. Programma de Jesu Christi educatione. 4to. Helmst., 1698. Vavassor, T. De form Christi dum viveret in terris. 8vo. Rostoch., 1666. p. 1840. Lewis, T. Inquiry into the shape, the beauty and stature of the person of Christ, and of the Virgin Mary, offered to the consideration of the late converts to Popery. Pp. 1848, 8vo. Lond., 1735." No one, who has not had experience in the treatment of subjects which require thought and research, can form any adequate idea of the amount of labor and time saved by a work of this kind. For our own part, although we have had the use of it only for a few days, we have derived no slight benefit from it, and, wishing that our readers may possess the same advantages as ourselves, we take pleasure in recommending the work, not doubting but all, capable of appreciating its intrinsic worth, will thank us for calling their attention to it. The American Statesman; A Political History, exhibiting the Nature, Origin, and Practical Operation of the Constitutional Government of the United States, &c., &c. By ANDREW W. YOUNG, author of "Science of Government," &c., &c. 8vo, pp. 1066. New York: N. C. Miller. Of the many works recently published, whose object is the diffusion of political knowledge among the people, so far as we have seen, this is undoubtedly the most comprehensive and complete. Such is its character, that we should be glad that thousands of copies of it could be dis13 VOL. IV.-NO. VIII. tributed throughout the revolted States. It would be worth a dozen ironclad gun-boats, in convincing the secessionists of their errors, and we do not say this from any want of appreciation of the boats, whose more than trumpet-tongued arguments have already accomplished so much. We do not mean that Mr. Young is a great author-that he is eloquent in expression or classical in his style. In these respects we have, indeed, little praise to bestow; at the same time, it is but fair to admit that we cannot find much fault. It is not for the beauty of its composition that works of this kind are sought after or read, but for the facts and suggestions which they contain. All we have a right to expect is, that these be so arranged that they will be readily accessible. Mr. Young seems to have understood this fully; at least, he has anticipated our requirements. His sketch of the rise and progress of parties possesses a peculiar interest at the present moment; and its impartiality will recommend it to readers of all shades of politics. We are also presented with an epitome of the views of our leading statesmen and public men on all important questions, whether they relate to foreign or domestic policy. In the form of an appendix, we have a variety of valuable political essays, with explanatory notes, and a considerable amount of statistical information, which will be useful to many and interesting to all. The table of contents occupies sixteen pages, embracing the topics of eighty chapters, exclusive of the appendix; and the work is furnished, besides, with an index, which extends over ten pages. The last seven or eight chapters give us the most satisfactory narrative we have yet seen relative to the organization of the Kansas and Nebraska territories, the Topeka government, the reports of committees on the troubles in Kansas, the Lecompton constitution, the Cuba, Oregon, and Homestead bills, &c., &c. In short, the work, as a whole, is all that its title implies—a comprehensive manual of statesmanship and political history; and, as such, we do not hesitate to recommend it to all who take any interest in the workings of our free institutions, and the prosperity of our country. Hebrew Men and Times, from the Patriarchs to the Messiah. By JOSEPH HENRY ALLEN. 12mo, pp. 435. Boston: Walker, Wise & Co. 1862. We confess that we had not expected much, from the title of this volume, though we knew nothing about the author; but bearing in mind that the gentlemen, whose imprint it bears, seldom, if ever, publish an indifferent book, we were induced to glance through its pages. A brief passage, here and there, was sufficient to awaken an interest which we confess we do not often feel in the perusal of similar works; and the more we have read, the better we have been pleased with Mr. Allen. He does not pretend to give us much that is new; on the contrary, he freely acknowledges his indebtedness to the writings of Newman, Bunsen, and Ewald. He has www |