Mr.URBAN, Birmingham, June 15. formances, and my little means of THE "Barten - upon - Humber, co

. CHE 'Tower of St. Peter's Church, kpowledge, together with what base

entertainment lines of that cature Lincoln, (see Plate 1.) has long been usually find in the world ; I began to regarded as an object of cnriosity; persuade myself that God had extra. and is noticed as such by Mr. Gough ordinarily given me this unlooked-for (Camden's Britannia, vol. II. p. 278.) esteem for some better purpose than for its “round and pointed arches either that I should despise the same, alternately, of old construction.”. A or glory in it to a vain 'end. And further communication of its history that which made me give most faith from any of your intelligent Corre- to such an apprehension was this: I spondents would be gratifying to the observed that the good repute which lovers of Architectural Antiquities. I had obtained unto never got me

A View of the other Church at Bar- any outward profit; nor ever beton may be found in Mr. Howlett's frieaded me in the compassing of any very elegant publication. * M. R. thing for my pleasure. Whereupon,

Jest God should turn his blessing to a New Illustrations of the early Cha- curse, and my reputatic to my shame,

racter, moral and intellectual, of if I sought not what way to employ. GeoRGE WITHÉR, the Poet; drawn it unto his praise ; and observing from the Editor's Preface to the withal, that we make use of the most Reprint of WITHER's Hymns' and excellent expressions of the Holy Songs of the Church.

Ghost in rude and barbarous num. Mr. URBAN,

Aug, 14,

bers, whilst our own wanton fancies OU have mentioned in page 32, were painted and trimmed out in the

Sir Egerton Brydges's Reprint most moving language: methought of GEORGE WITHER's Hymns and it fared with as as with those against Songs of the Church. I wish to call whom the Prophet Hosea complained, the attention of your Readers to a that dwelt in cieled houses themselves, few remarks on the Author and the whilst the Temple of God lay waste: Work.--The Preface to this new Edi-, and therefore, seeing no other to uption, which contains long extracts dertake the same, I spent about three from a rare tract in prose of the years to prepare inyself for such a Poet, entitled The Scholler's Purga. task; and then proceeded with the tory, furnishes inore curious and in. Translation of the Psalms according teresting illustrations of this singular to that ability God had given me.” man's early life and sentiments, than Withor then says, that, bearing. any of the numerous notices or criti- the Psalms were in the hands of anocisms of bim with which the press ther, he was persuaded to undertake has teemed. They exhibit, not the The Hymns and Songs. « This is factious demagogue; the party scrib- that book," says he, * for which 1, bler; the inditer of careless, flat, col- ever worst used for my best intenloquial, and prosaic rhymes; but the tions, suffer more than for all my writer of eloquence and genius; of former indiscretions.”—“Verily," he pure and exalted ambition; esti- goes on, “if I be not altogether for. mating the high callings of a Poet getful of my own thoughts, or too with a sort of Miltovic loftiness and apt to believe over-well of myself, as disdain. How it happened that such perhaps I am, my principal aim was a mao fell, in his latier days, from his ihe glory of God," &c. bigb aspirations, can only be ac fortuoate am I, as some think, that, counted for by the frailties and incon- having performed a good work, dú sistencies of human nature.

nevertheless hear it exclaiined upon Speaking of his past productions, as a frivolous labour ; and stand ache says : i Though I was so young cused for oppressing the people, be every way, that I first began to write, cause a few Hynins, contaioing the and iben to learn, as the childishness praises of God, are commanded to be and indiscretions of my Poems dis- divulged the most convenient way.” cover, yet they procured me respect "I ain confident that I sball in due and applause: which well considering time be delivered from that, aud on, and weighing my own insuffi- from all scaodalous imputations which ciencies, the slenderness of my per- the world hath laid to my charge." GENT. MAG. September, 1816.

“ God,"

“God, who hath hitherto provided “ The principal reward which I for me in such a manner as best be- seek is that which every eyc seeth filted my témporal and spiritual con not; and that, which judge my affccdition, will, I know, continue his tions by their own, think ine io have provident care of me, while I can

least thought on. As for that out. have grace to be thankful, and retain ward benefit, which the necessities of the resolution to do my lawful en- this life, and my frailties, urge me deavour.”

somewhat to look after, it is that As to the execution of this work, little profit only, which my work na“I have,” says the Poet, "as well in turally brings with itself: 'nor shall I that wbich is of my own invention, be long discontented, if that also be as in the Translations, used that sim- taken from me.”-“ Let them allot plicity of speech, which being com me what they please ; and balance my Inendable in other things, would have talent as they list: God will provide obscured the majesty of those in ven- sufficient for me, to whose pleasure I tions.”_"If those indifferent men, refer the success." who know the poesy and power of “ When those friends, who are enthe English pogue, may be my gaged for me, are satisfied, to which judges, they will censure my expres- purpose there is yet, I praise God, sions to be such, as shall neither be sufficient set apart; I vow, in the obscure to the meanest capacities, faith of an honest man, that there nor contemptible to the best judge will not be left me in all the world, ments, but, observing a middle way, to defend me against my adversaries, best becouping that purpose for which and supply the common necessities of they were intended.”

nature, so much as will feed me for In recurring to his motives, he says, one week, unless I labour for it: “ if I have laboured in making use which my enemies are partly informed with modesty of those gifts which of, and do thereupon triumph. But were bestowed on me to that purpose, not to my discontentiment; for I do what blame-worthy have I done?” comfort myself to think how sweet it "If I could have believed that for will be to sit hereafter at some honest me to enter into Orders would have labour, and sing these Hymns and made me either the profitable instru- Songs to the praise of God, for which ment of God's glory, or caused my the world hath taken from me her labours to have been the more holy, favours. Nor doth it trouble me to or the niore edifying, what had letted publish thus much of my poverty, me to procure that advantage?" &c. though I know it will sound disgrace“ But my mind persuades me that fully in the ears of most men. Por I God hath appointed me to serve him mean to procure no man to hazard in some other course. There are di- his estate for me, by pretending betvers gifts, and diversities of callings.” ter possibilities to secure him than I

“ Let all my writings, privately or bave, as others usually do: nor value publicly dispersed, from the first Epi. I the reputation which comes by gram that ever I composed, until the wealth, or such like things, as may publishing of these Ilymns 'now tra- be lost through the malice of others, duced by my adversaries; and if there because I know I shall be the better can be fonnd one line savouring of esteemed of for those toys by none such a mind as may give cause to but fools, or such idiots as will sooner suspect I undertook that task without blush to be found poor than dishonest. that true Christian aim, which I onght Yea, I am assured that among good to have had; or if the performance itself and wise men, it will be no more shall make it appear that I proceed- shame uoto me to be made poor by ed without that due preparation; or if such weans as I have been, than it is you can have any probable testimony, to be made sick by the hand of God : that through the course of my life, nor can I think it will be more my or by any one scandalous act, I have disgrace to have wasted my estate given that cause of offence, as may through my studies, than it is to some disparage my studies, or trouble their other students to have thereby im. devotions to whose use my. Hymns paired their healths.” are tendered, let these things be laid The selection here compressed toto my charge, until I find means to gether from the copious extracts disprore and wash away imputations." which form the Editor's Preface, will

prove the youthful mind of Wither lency in his ten principal members, to have been exalted by no ordinary mystically notifieth his tenfold spiritual feelings. There is a purity and flow perfection, whereupon to insist were not in the language of his prose, which here convenient. Lastly, the faithful could only spring from the heart.

crave the Church's direction to help them!

to find him out; and receive her gracious Let the Reader compare it with the

answer to that purpose.
fashionable style of the day in which
itwas written; and remark how little

" SONG XV.
it partakes of the general quaintness Oh! if him you happen on,
and pedantry of the age! Wither’s Who is my beloved one,
merit is facility : his fault, excessive Daughters of Jerusalem,
want of compression. His copious. 1 adjure you seriously,
ness too often makes hin tedious; To inform him, how that I
and sometimes disgusting. These de Sick am grown of love for him!
formities are more abhorrent to such Fairest of all women, tell
as have been taught mechanically the How thy lover doth excell
arts of composition, than to those More than other lovers do :
who prefer thought to diction. There Thy beloved, which is het,
is more depth, originality, and inge-

That thou dost adjure us so?
nious labour in Donne; but more He, in whom I so delight,
nature and interest in WITHER. Many is the purest red and white;
passages of Wither's Shepherd's Hunt. Of ten thousand chief is he :
ing *, and Fair Virtue +, rise to the Like fine gold his head doth show,
tones of enchanting poetry: less vi. Whereon curled locks do grow,

And a raven-black they be.
gorous, and less picturesque than the
early poems of Milton; but not less Like the milky doves that bide
pure : and far excelling almost all By the rivers, he is eyed;
contemporary authors in the lighter Cheeks like spicy beds hath he;

Full and fitly set they are.
sort of lyrick.

Or like flowers that fairest be :
The Hymns und Songs were a more

Lips like lilies dropping myrrh.
perilous task. Johnson has fully ex-
plained the difficulty of attempting With the precious chrysolet ;

Hands like rings of gold, beset
Sacred Poetry.

But Wither's per Bellied like white ivory,
formance in ihis way is of singular Wrought about with sapphires rich;
curiosity, for the illustration of the Legs, like marble pillars, which
progress of our poetry as well as of

Set on golden bases be.
our language. I will give a specimen Faced like Libanus is he,
of the Songs, accompanied by the Goodly as the cedar-tree,
prose introduction,

Sweetness breathing out of him :
“THE SEVENTH CANTICLE. He is lovely every where.
“ Here is allegorically expressed the This, my friends, is this my dear,
majesty, power, and excellency of Christ; Daughters of Jerusalem.
and is the effect of that which was evan Ob! thou fairest, every way,
gelically sung of him after his Resur. Of all women! whither may
rection and Ascension. First, the Bride

Thy beloved turned be?
is introduced, adjuring the faithful Tell us whither he is gone :
Israelites, that when they have attained Who is thy beloved one;
the knowledge of Christ her spouse,

That we seek him may with thee?
they should profess and teach hiin to the

To bis garden went my dear;
rest of their members. Secondly, those
who long to find him, desire again of To the beds of spices there;

Where he feeds, and lilies gets :
the Church to know the excellencies of
that beloved of hers; and, by doubling Mine is my beloved one,

I my love's am, and alone
the question, seem to imply a two-fold

Who among the lilies eats. excellency. Thirdly, the Church speedily answers those that inquire after her In the present age, in which the Spouse; and, by describing his excel sacred writings are studied with so

* Reprinted 1814, by Sir Egerton Brydges, in 12mo, for Longman and Co. (100 copies only).

+ Nearly ready for publication in the saine form. - Fidelia, another poem of Wither's, has been also reprinted. I A line seems omitted in this stanza.

much