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"Where are the high born dames, and where

Their gay attire, and jewelled hair,

And odors sweet?

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And though the warrior's sun has set,

Its light shall linger round us yet,
Bright, radiant, blest."

The volume concludes with two beautiful sonnets from Lope de Vega, two from Francis de Aldana, and two from Francis de Medrano.

In an introductory essay of twenty-seven pages, Mr. Longfellow describes the qualities of the Spanish devotional and moral poetry, illustrated by examples. He enters into his subject with the fine spirit of a scholar and a poet. The most prevailing characteristics of Spanish devotional poetry are warmth of imagination, and depth and sincerity of feeling. The conception is always striking and original, and when not degraded by dogmas, and the poor, puerile conceits arising from them, beautiful and sublime.' Amidst all the shameful corruption of the middle ages, many a pure spirit, through heavenly-mindedness, and an ardent, though mistaken zeal, fled from the temptations of the world, to seek in solitude and self-communion, a closer walk with God.' Of this class were the principal poets.

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We doubt whether the cloisters of the middle ages exhibited so many examples of holy living as Mr. Longfellow seems to intimate; but doubtless there were some, who, like Thomas à Kempis, shone as stars in a gloomy night, or sprung up like lilies in a stagnant pool.

We are grateful to Mr. L. for these beautiful specimens of poetry. We think he will do a great service, if he shall be the means of removing any of those unnatural prejudices, with which we regard almost every thing associated with Spain, and which, we doubt not, prevent us from taking that deep interest in her lamentable political and spiritual condition, which it becomes us, as philanthropists and as Christians, to feel. We are too apt to think that all good poetry is confined to England, and all fine criticism to Germany, and all scientific analysis to France. The labors of a few such men as Bowring, and Bryant, and Longfellow, are undeceiving us. Where are there more stately verses than these of Manrique? Where, in uninspired song, is the Eternal One addressed in more befitting strains, than in the ode of the Russian poet, Derzhaven? Where, in the compass of poetry, can be found more delicious melodies, than in the poem beginning

"Region of life and light?"

ARTICLE X.

CHINESE VOYAGES.

The Journal of Two Voyages along the coast of China, in 1831, and 1832; the first in a Chinese junk; the second in the British ship Lord Amherst with notices of Siam, Curea, and the Loo-choo islands; and remarks on the policy, religion, etc., of China. By Charles Gutzlaff. New York: John P. Haven. 1833. pp. 342.

MR. GUTZLAFF, the author of these narratives, is a native of Prussia, and is a missionary of the Netherlands society. The energy and faith of primitive days seem to have revived in him. After laboring several years in Siam, he went on board a Chinese junk, and under the disguise of a native dress and a naturalized character, performed a voyage along the coast of China, extending from June to December, 1831. He found many opportunities to distribute books and tracts, and in personal conversation, to direct the minds of his fellow-passengers and others from the absurdities of their religious creed, to the Saviour of the world. His skill in administering medicines, and his practical and extensive acquaintance with natural philosophy and astronomy, awakened a strong interest in his behalf, and were the means of conciliating much attention to his character as a spiritual adviser. The details of this voyage have been published in successive numbers of the Chinese Repository, a monthly journal published at Canton. Many extracts have found their way into American periodicals.

On the 26th of February, 1832, Mr. Gutzlaff commenced the second voyage, on board the Lord Amherst, captain Rees, an English country ship, chartered for the occasion, by the East India Company, under the direction of H. H. Lindsay, Esq., of the company's establishment in China. After an eventful voyage, the Lord Amherst reached Macao on the 4th of September. She visited several ports of Canton province, the western side of the island Formosa, Amoy, Fuh-chow-foo, the capital of Fuhkeen, Ning-po in Che-keang and the neighboring islands, Shantung, Corea,

and the Loo-choo group of islands. The medicines and books distributed by Mr. Gutzlaff were joyfully, and in some places, eagerly accepted.

To show the manner and spirit of the journalist, we select the following paragraphs.

"While musing thus, I turned and saw a poor man carrying a burden, but willing to converse upon the things of eternal life. I felt consoled by this, and rejoiced that I was permitted to tread upon these barren hills. To-day we entered a village at the foot of a very high hill, and were gladly received by the inhabitants. They did not hesitate to converse freely upon any topic which we introduced. I had the pleasure to add a few books to the well-worn library of an old man, which he carefully examined. The houses were built very substantially, and kept tolerably clean; but the occupants were very poor people, of whom the male part were either at work at Amoy, or were gone to foreign parts. At the beach we were shocked at the spectacle of a pretty new-born babe, which shortly before had been killed. We asked some of the bystanders what this meant. They answered with indifference, it is only a girl.' It is a general custom in this district to drown female infants immediately after their birth. Respectable families seldom take the trouble, as they express themselves, to rear these useless girls. They consider themselves the arbiters of their children's lives, and entitled to take them away when they can foresee that their prolongation would only entail misery. As the numerous emigration of the male population renders it probable that their daughters, if permitted to live, would not be married, they choose this shorter way to rid themselves of the incumbrance of supporting them." April 22. It is the commemoration of the Lord's resurrection. How far from all Christian society! How long have I been separated from the communion of the saints!

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"We arrived to-day in the harbor of Fuh-chow, after having, the day before, slightly touched the ground. The whole atmosphere is shrouded in darkness, which obscured the landmarks at the entrance of the harbor; yet we had excellent pilots on board, who brought us in safely. We are now come to that district whence the greatest quantity of tea is furnished for consumption. in Europe.

"The hills where the tea is cultivated, stretch abroad in every direction. The soil does not yield a sufficient quantity of rice for home consumption; however, the exports of timber, bamboo, and teas, more than balance the imports of rice and cotton. The whole region is very romantic: ridges of undulating hills, naked in part, and partly cultivated, in form of terraces, up to the top, give the whole a most picturesque aspect. The river, which

leads up to the capital, is broad and navigable as far as the city. Here are no fragments of ancient edifices, or other classic ruins, but a display of Chinese industry and skill in all its variety. The villages and hamlets are very numerous all along the river; often in beautiful situations. The Dutch anciently traded at this port; but even the remembrance of it is now lost. Our appearance, therefore, struck the inhabitants with astonishment. The entrance of the river is in lat. 26° 6', lon. 119° 55'. As soon as we had anchored, we were visited by the inhabitants of the adjacent village. They made no inquiries after trifles, but were anxious to ascertain the prices of our cargo, and invited us to their village. Fertile fields, sown with wheat, naked rocks, and plains of sand, gave a diversified aspect to the whole environs. We visited our friends in their houses, and held very long conversations with them, principally upon trade. They received the books with hearty pleasure, and read them most diligently. After going through the village, and scrambling over several cliffs, we were intending to return, but were pressingly invited by a merchant, to partake of a supper, which he had prepared for us in a public hall. We supped, therefore, upon very good fare, among an immense crowd, who were extravagantly delighted to see us their guests, and urgent that we should partake freely of their refreshments. We felt very happy in the midst of these cheerful people, who did not act on the principle of the mandarins, that barbarians must be treated as enemies."

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"April 26. Mr. L. and the captain took proper care that the unjust punishments of the natives, who might approach us, should not be repeated here, as at Amoy. We were visited by the mandarin of this district, a civil and sagacious old man. had received orders from the deputy-governor of Fuhkeen province to procure a certain number of our Christian books for the inspection of the emperor. I gave him, accordingly, one copy of Scripture Lessons,' a tract on gambling, 'Heaven's Mirror,' a full delineation of Christianity, besides a few other books of which he had copies before. I was highly delighted that God, in his wisdom, was sending his glorious gospel to Peking, that it might be fully examined and known in the palace. Taoukwang has never shown himself an enemy to popery. In all his edicts against the sects and heresies in his dominions, he does not even mention the name of Christian. Though I know nothing of his character, except that he delights more in pleasure than in business, I humbly hope that the perusal of the word of God will impress his mind favorably towards the gospel. It is the first time that the Chinese government has taken the trouble to examine the oracles of God. The depravity of the human heart, which is as great in the rulers of China as any where, I fear will not permit them to perceive the glory of God in a crucified Saviour. Yet it is the cause of God."

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