has sent forth volume after volume, each surpassing the other in sweetness and power. A tone of gentle, unforced, and persuasive goodness pervades her poetry; it displays no fiery passion and resorts to no vehement appeal: it is often sad, but never exhibits a complaining spirit; her diction is harmonious and free; her themes, though infinitely varied, are all happily chosen, and treated with grace, originality, and judgment. Her poetry is full of images, but they are always natural and true; it is studded with ornaments, but they are never unbecoming.” THE SWITZER'S WIFE. The bright blood left the youthful mother's cheek Like a frail harp-string, shaken by the storm. And she, that ever through her home had moved And timid in her happiness the while, Thy soul is darken'd with its fears for me. My hunter of the hills, thy stately head, And let thine eagle glance my joy restore! The chamois-paths, and through the forests go, God shall be with thee, my beloved!-Away! He caught her to his breast, while proud tears breaking Be taught of thee to choose the better part! In the clear starlight; he, the strength to rouse To rock her child beneath the whispering boughs, With a low hymn, amid the stillness deep. We should be glad to quote more largely from this gifted poetess, and from others of Great Britain, but must limit ourselves to a criticism of Professor Wilson, of Edinburgh, upon them-as a class. The BRITISH POETESSES, he says, seem a series of exceedingly sensible maids and matronsnot "with eyes in a fine phrensy rolling"'-nor with hair disheveled by the tossings of inspiration, but of calm countenances and sedate demeanor, not very distinguishable from those we love to look on by "parlor twilight" in any happy household we are in the habit of dropping in upon of an evening a familiar guest. SECTION XXII. HENRY KIRKE WHITE. No one can read the memoir of this young bard, from the elegant pen of Southey the poet, without deep sensibility. We shall furnish a few sketches to allure the young student to an imitation of the literary industry of White, though it will be necessary to add a serious caution about that neglect of physical culture, and of health, which brought him to a premature grave at the age of twenty-one. When very young, his love of reading was decidedly manifested. At eleven years of age, he one day, at the best school in Nottingham, wrote a separate composition for every boy in his class, which consisted of about twelve or fourteen. The master said he had never known them write so well upon any subject before, and could not refrain from expressing his astonishment at the excellence of Henry's. At the age of thirteen, he wrote some verses, of which the following are a part: ON BEING CONFINED TO SCHOOL ONE PLEASANT MORNING IN SPRING. In a few years he entered on the study of law, and pursued it with an application so unremitting that he scarce allowed himself time to eat his meals, or to refresh his body by sleep. Even in his walks his mind was intensely occupied. Thus his health suffered and soon gave way. His biography by Dr. Southey, his letters, and much of his poetry, are in a high degree fascinating. We have not room for long extracts from his poems, but will furnish one of the most affecting character, probably among the last that he ever penned-found in the close of his CHRISTIAD, an unfinished poem. "Thus far have I pursued my solemn theme With self-rewarding toil; thus far have sung Of godlike deeds, far loftier than beseem On the dark cypress! and the strings which rung Or when the breeze comes by, moan, and are heard no more. And must the harp of Judah sleep again? Thou who dost listen when the humble pray, One little lapse suspend thy last decree! I am a youthful trav'ler in the way, And this slight boon would consecrate to thee, Ere I with death shake hands and smile that I am free. Lord Byron never employed his pen more innocently or judiciously than in preparing the following lines and notes, in memory of this talented and lamented youth. LINES ON HENRY KIRKE WHITE-BY BYRON (a) Henry Kirke White died at Cambridge in October, 1806, in cousequence of too much exertion in the pursuit of studies that would have matured a mind which disease and poverty could not impair, and which death itself destroyed rather than subdued. His poems abound in such beauties as must impress the reader with the liveliest regret that so short A period was allotted to talents which would have dignified even the sacred functions he was destined to assume. SECTION XXIII. WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, as a poet, has been the subject of unqualified admiration by some, and of severe animadversion by others. To those who desire to examine the merits of this disputed matter, the author would recommend Professor Wilson's elaborate and extended criticism on Wordsworth, in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine for 1829. He has therein proved, by appropriate extracts, that Wordsworth has displayed great powers of description, in the first place, of external nature, secondly, of nature, as connected with some interual passion or moral thought in the heart and mind of man; thirdly, of human appearance, as indicative of human character, or varieties of feeling. He has also shown that Wordsworth has manifested an ability to move the affections by means of simple pathos-that he has occasionally attained a chaste and classical dignity-that he has successfully illustrated religious and moral truth; and, finally, that he has brought the sonnet-that difficult vehicle of poetic inspiration-to its highest possible pitch of excellence. Professor Wilson has shown that Wordsworth has been overestimated by his too ardent admirers, and underrated by those who have had neither opportunity nor desire to investigate his claims to public notice. To this poet, he thinks, we are indebted for the most accurate and noble embodying of Nature's grandest forms. The following descriptive passage is a triumpl* proof of the powers of language, when wielded by powerful mind: "A step, A single step, that freed me from the skirts By waking sense, or by the dreaming soul! * * * The appearance, instantaneously disclosed, By earthly nature had the effect been wrought |