The Life, Letters and Remains of the Rev. ROBERT POLLOK, A.M., Author of The Course of Time; A Poem. By ROBERT POLLOK, A.M. "POLLOK'S Course of Time" was first published at Edinburgh in 1827. Its author was in every quarter unknown to fame. It was published without a word of preface or explanation. To the light-minded reader of light literature, the aspect of such a poem in ten books, in blank verse of a peculiar style, neither Thomson's, nor Young's, nor yet Milton's, was decidedly heavy. Yet the book was successful. Strange as it might seem to readers of the class just named, "the Course of Time" obtained a wide popularity. Something of its early success no doubt may be imputed to the publisher, Blackwood, in whose Magazine it was favorably reviewed. Something may be referred to the fact that the manuscript had been submitted to the inspection of the poet and critic Wilson, and that a favorable opinion on its merits had proceeded from that high authority. But the success of the poem was too great to be thus accounted for. To the readers of the literature that happens to be in vogue, the poet of "the Course of Time" did not address himself. He was not of them. His sympathies were not with them. He had no thought of rivaling Scott, or Byron, or Wordsworth, or any of the idols of the age in which he lived. His aim was more like that of an ancient prophet or inspired psalmist, than like that of a modern poet. With the highest aspirations, with an enthusiastic consciousness that he was writing a great poem, he wrote not with any reference to a cultivated fashionable taste, but for the sake of embodying truth in song. The truth which filled his mind-the grand and awful philosophy of the universe by which he was wont to solve the phenomena of time, and sound the mysteries of eternity-was that which his mother had taught him out of the Bible and the Westminster Catechism, and which had been expounded to him all his life long from Calvinistic pulpits. Of that truth he had become a preacher; and true to his holy calling he undertook to set forth religion, the religious aspect of the universe, in the form of a poem. He found 'fit audience and not few. The frivolous, the gay, those to whom the stern religious side of things is repulsive, those in whose judgment Calvinism and poetry are incompatible, numerous as they are, and infallible as they esteem themselves on all matters of literature are not all the world. Not only in Scotland, but throughout England, and in all these American States, there are thousands of readers, not ignorant, nor incapable of the enjoyment of poetry, to whose sympathies the author of "the Course of Time" effectually addressed himself. And if any critic who wonders that any body can read such a poem, will lay aside his antipathy to those religious views on which it is constructed, and will imagine for once that what he calls Calvinism or orthodoxy is really an obsolete and exploded system of human error, and if in that state of mind he will study the poem just as he might study the great work of Dante which embodies the religion of the middle ages; he will understand how it is that "the Course of Time" enjoys a wide and unfailing popularity. Its faults as a poem are not to be disguised. They are the faults of immaturity and of limited culture on the part of the writer. But notwithstanding all its faults it is a true poem. The volume of "Life, Letters and Remains" is the tribute of an enthusiastic admirer who has no hesitation whatever in ranking Pollok with Milton and Dante. Dr. Scott has fallen into the error-so common with modern biographers-of filling out the scantiness of his materials with conjecture and fanciful disquisition. His volume would have been much better could he have been content to make it smaller. Yet we have read it with great interest, for the representation which it gives of peasant life and of Academic life in Scotland, and still more for the insight which it gives us into the history of this remarkable poem and of its author. The mind of Pollok was not precocious, though his biographer seems to think it was. His childhood and early youth do not seem to have been brilliant at all with indications of genius. Some of his college compositions in prose and verse are highly respectable. But it was not till the secret power of disease was beginning to undermine his life, that his genius was suddenly matured and developed. That one poem was the one work of his life. Having put his life into his work, he died at the age of twenty-nine. Greek Lessons consisting of selections from Xenophon's Anabasis, with directions for the study of the Grammar, exercises for translation from English into Greek, and a Vocabulary. By ALPHEUS CROSBY, Professor of the Greek Language and Literature in Dartmouth College. Boston: Tappan, Whittemore, and Mason, 1849. pp. 121. THE first thirty pages of this work are occupied by a series of reading lessons, all selected from Xenophon's Anabasis, which in the plan of Prof. Crosby, is to be taken up by the student, on finishing this elementary book. Commencing with propositions of a single word, the lessons proceed step by step, to sentences of considerable length and complexity. Taken as they are from one work, and that a master-piece of classical literature, they are free from all inconsistencies as well as from all inelegancies of style. The notes which follow them consist mainly in copious references to the author's Grammar; for in the judgment of Prof. Crosby, the study of the language should commence with the systematic, scientific exhibition of its principles in the Grammar. Next comes a series of lessons for translation from English into Greek, corresponding to the extracts from the Anabasis, and bringing into use the same words and phrases. This feature of the work renders unnecessary an EnglishGreek Vocabulary. The Greek English vocabulary appears to have been compiled with unusual care and accuracy. Like every other production of its accomplished author, this unpretending little volume is characterized by ingenuity and elegance, by perfect thoroughness in details, skillful adaptation to the purposes of practical instruction, and unrivaled tact and felicity of expression and illustration. A First Book in Greek, containing full Vocabularies, Lessons on the Forms of Words, and Exercises for Imitation and Repetition, with a Summary of Etymology and Syntax. By JOHN M'CLINTOCK, D. D., and GEORGE R. CROOKS, A. M., Professors in Dickinson College. Harper and Brothers, New York. 1848. THE able efforts of Professors M'Clintock and Crooks to extend the Ollendorffian method of instruction to the classic languages, will be received with pleasure by the admirers of that system; while they will furnish to many, as yet undecided as to its merits, a favorable opportunity to test it and compare its results with those of the ordinary methods. The "First Book in Greek," is a carefully constructed manual, and fully verifies the declaration of the authors, that "they have spared neither time nor trouble in its preparation." It is no mere specimen of book-making craft; no assortment of stale or stolen wares vended under novel names. It is a peculiar merit of the work that the student is taught to neglect nothing. Thus accent and quantity, subjects usually reserved for the advanced scholar, are here pressed on the attention of the beginner from the outset. The only point which strikes us as objectionable is, perhaps, a necessary incident of the system: it is an excessive splitting up, a mincing process, which exhibits in an isolated, fragmentary way, matters that might be better understood in regular connection. This difficulty, however, the authors have been sedulous to obviate, as far as possible, by frequent summaries and recapitulations. Beside this work, Professors M'Clintock and Crooks have published a "First Book in Latin," which has met with deserved success. Their plan, as announced to the public, comprehends a series of Greek and Latin textbooks, which are yet to make their appearance. The Apostles' Creed: Its origin, constitution, and plan. By J. W. NEVIN, D.D. [Written for the Mercersburg Review.] Mercersburg, Pa.: H. A. Mish. 8vo. pp. 77. OUR German Reformed brethren, of the college and theological seminary at Mercersburg, have certain views of their own, the results of much reading and of much thinking; and they are taking much pains to set forth their views in German and English. Nor are they unsuccessful in their efforts to attract public attention. Without as well as within the limits of their own ecclesiastical connection, they are beginning to have "benevolent" readers-not to say disciples. It is only necessary to organize a strong party against the Mercersburg views, and to denounce them as radically unsound and quite inconsistent with a profession of orthodoxy; and they will probably make a great impression. We have read most of Dr. Nevin's publications that have fallen in our way, and some of those which have proceeded from his colleague, Prof. Schaf. We have read attentively, and with no predetermined purpose to reject their opinions or to find fault. Our reading has been by no means unprofitable; for we have so much of an eclectic habit that we are willing to learn, if we can, from every teacher. The Mercersburg doctors see the religious and theological tendencies of the country and age from their own point of view-a point very remote from that at which we stand, in our Puritan New England; and it may be presumed that they will see some things which we are in danger of not seeing without their aid. Yet we must confess that, with the diligence which we have been able to use, we have not been able always to satisfy ourselves as to the meaning of their language. And where they express themselves most clearly, we often find it impossible to agree with them. We might make out a very considerable inventory of topics, in regard to which their teaching seems to us to involve tendencies exceedingly erroneous. But this is not a suitable occasion for broaching such a discussion. Dr. Nevin's dissertation on the Apostles' Creed, divides the subject into three parts, "its outward history," "its constitution or inward form," and "its material structure or organism." The titles of these sections are sufficiently unlike our old fashioned English, to give the reader some taste of the style in which the whole is written. This dissertation, however, notwithstanding its "organism" and its "inward form"-is the best thing which we have yet received from its author-the most intelligible in its diction, the most instructive in its matter, and the most edifying in its spirit. We wish it might be candidly and thoroughly studied in New England. BOOKS RECEIVED. Is Christianity from God? Or a Manual of Bible Evidence for the people. By the Rev. JOHN CUMMINGS, D.D., Minister of the Scottish National Church, Covent Garden. With an Introduction, by Hon. THEODOre FreLINGHUYSEN. New York: M. W. Dodd. 18mo. pp. 276. Fruits of the May Flower; or Conversations respecting the Pilgrim Fathers. New York: M. W. Dodd. 18mo. pp. 108. Duty versus Will; Or Decision makes the Man. A tale for old and young. New York: M. W. Dodd. 18mo. pp. 251.. An Address at the funeral of Deacon Nathan Beers, on the 14th of February, 1849. By SAMUEL W. S. DUTTON, Pastor of the North Church in New Haven. New Haven: W. H. Stanley. pp. 23. Forms of Prayer. By a Congregational Pastor. New Haven: A. H. Maltby. pp. 12. [Not a collection of forms, as the title seems to imply; but a pointed argumentative discourse on the use of written forms of prayer in worship.] Kirwan's Letter to Dr. Coté on Baptism; with Dr. Cort's Reply. New York: Lewis Colby. 18mo. pp. 64. The relations of Christian Principle to Mental Culture. A Discourse to the graduating class of Wesleyan University, July, 1848. By STEPHEN Olin, D.D. New York: Lane & Scott. 18mo. pp. 83. [A discourse which, for massive riches of thought and dignified force of style, would not be unworthy of John Foster. A better tract for distribution among students at college could hardly be found.] Tracts for the people, No. 4. Punishment: not preventive, not reformatory. New York: J. S. Redfield. Centennary Discourse, delivered in Christ Church, Norwich, on the Sunday following its consecration, April 22, 1849. By the Rector. Norwich: T. Robinson. The Pilgrim Fathers. A Discourse in commemoration of the Pilgrim Fathers, delivered in the third Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, Dec. 24, 1848. By TRUMAN M. POST, Pastor of the Church. St. Louis: pp. 47. The good and the bad in the Roman Catholic Church: Is that Church to be destroyed or reformed? A letter from Rome. By Rev. HENRY M. Field. New York: G. P. Putnam. 12mo. pp. 34. The Genius of Italy; being sketches of Italian life, literature and religion. By Rev. ROBERT TURNBULL, author of the "Genius of Scotland,” etc. New York: G. P. Putnam. 12mo. pp. 332. [A timely book. Italy is a central point of attention for the world; and every book which tends to make Italy better known to the people of other countries, is a contribution to the right decision of the great question of which Italy has become the battlefield. We regret that our limits, at present, permit us to say no more.] The Nursery Book: For Young Mothers. By Mrs. L. C. TUTHILL. New York: G. P. Putnam. 18mo. pp. 205. Selections from Catullus, for the use of Classical Students, with English Notes. By G. G. COOKESLEY, M.A., one of the Assistant Masters of Eton. Revised, with additional Notes, by C. A. BRISTED, late B. A. Scholar of Trinity College, Cambridge. New York: Stanford & Swords. 12mo. pp. 160. [A notice of this work may be expected in our next number.] THE NEW ENGLANDER. No. XXVIII. NOVEMBER, 1849. ART. I. CEMETERIES AND MONUMENTS. The Rural Cemeteries of America illustrated. R. Martin, New York: 1846-47. AN architectural work, in order to be perfect, must aim at conformity with the laws of beauty and of general fitness, and besides this at the following two results: first, at the attainment of the end proposed in the structure, and secondly, at the expression of the feeling which the structure ought to excite. Thus a church must not only be beautiful and suitable as a building, but also as a church; and if it be decorated within, the decorations must be such as are allied with a grave and serious frame of mind, rather than with lightness and frivolity. This latter is imperatively demanded by Christianity; for if there is an antecedent frame of mind with which alone the house of God ought to be entered, and if that frame of mind may be encouraged or repressed by the aspect of the house itself, whether as exciting present impressions or calling up past trains of thought, surely Christianity must demand that the house of worship, and all the details of its decoration should promote the feeling of reverence and tend to recall the mind to the thought that "God is in this place." And so it should be with monuments erected in honor of the dead. Here indeed no one general form is required by the purpose in view; and sepulchral stones may differ far more from oue another, than a Gothic cathedral can differ from a Palladian church, or from one in the Grecian style. But notwithstanding this great diversity of form, although the column, the obelisk, the altar, the slab, and the temple may rise side by side in the cemetery; good taste requires that the end proposed in such structures, and the feeling which they ought to excite, should be contemplated in them all. Nay more, not only does good taste require this, but Christianity also,-which controls taste throughout |