treatment than they receive at the hands of their Egyptian taskmasters, Mr. Dickens might have secured a fame which is fast fading away under his new dispensation of writing; but this narrowing of an originally fine and broad-viewed mind will always happen when an author deserts the manly code of his early years, and transforms himself into the companion of fashionable dandies, literary lords and heartless millionaires.

It is unnecessary to follow, seriatim, the progress of so well known a writer. His works are familiar to all, and we shall, therefore, confine ourselves to a few critical remarks on his remaining productions.

Few writers of modern times equal Mr. Dickens in the fidelity with which he selects some family in low life, and paints their portraits; they are complete Dutch pictures; even the tone of voice, and the look are given, and the Crummels, the Kenwigs, and the Squeers, are daguerreotyped for posterity with an unerring accuracy. When, however, he ventures upon the loftier and more complex phases of human nature, he miserably fails, and evidences at once that want of universality which renders him, perhaps, one of the most one-sided delineators of the human family that ever enjoyed a popular reputation. His want of success in this department was once illustrated by a sarcastic writer, as reminding him of the story of the scavenger.

An old master in that, the dirtiest of sciences, was asked one day his opinion of a new and popular apprentice he had. Scratching his head, and looking very profound, he uttered in an oracular ⚫tone of voice, "In a straightfor'ard piece of business, such as sweeping a crossing, he was undeniably great, but when he came to a little dainty bit, a loftier kind of fancy work, such as tittivating round a post, he showed a sad want of genius;" so with Dickens in low characters; he is wonderfully true, graphic and amusing; but when he comes to a little dainty piece of portraiture, such as a

How keen the stars, his only thought,-
The air, how calm, and cold, and thin,
In the solemn midnight,

Centuries ago!

O, strange indifference! low and high
Drowsed over common joys and cares;
The earth was still,-but knew not why
The world was listening,-unawares.
How calm a moment may precede

One that shall thrill the world for ever!
To that still moment, none would heed,
Man's doom was linked no more to sever,
In the solemn midnight,

Centuries ago!

It is the calm and solemn night!

A thousand bells ring out, and throw
Their joyous peals abroad, and smite

The darkness,-charmed and holy now!
The night that erst no shame had worn,
To it a happy name is given;

For in that stable lay, new-born,

The peaceful Prince of earth and heaven,
In the solemn midnight,
Centuries ago!"

This fine hymn first appeared in "Blackwood's Magazine," and was introduced by Professor Longfellow to the American public, in his beautiful collection of fugitive poetry, entitled "The Waif." It was considered so admirable a composition that the critics paid it the compliment of considering it a production of the accomplished Editor of the little volume in question. It has accordingly gone the rounds of the press, and has been much admired. We are not surprised at many persons attributing it to the pen of the elegant author of "Evangeline," for it possesses many characteristics of his style. It breathes a finish and simplicity which are perfectly in keeping with the subject, and the refrain at the end of each verse is striking and natural.

124

BRITISH

WRITERS.

Some also of Domett's best poems remind us strongly of Mr. Willis' muse, and evidence a close affinity with the poetical spirit of this distinguished American Poet.

The verses entitled "The Sea Side Calm" will illustrate our meaning

"The morning air was pure and cool,

Asleep the silver bay;

Each object on the shining sands,

In shade reflected lay.

The giant cliffs in long array

Were drawn up by the sea,

Their heads thrown back with lofty pride,

In musing majesty.

The sea, methought, did woo the earth,

In low fond tones of love,

The silent sky hung stooping o'er,

And listened from above.

The herds of clouds were lying down,
The hunting winds were gone;
Their angry bark was heard no more,
The weary chase was done.

A calm ambrosial consciousness
Did nature's bosom steep,
A stillness not so stern as death,

And more profound than sleep.

'Twas music mute, and voiceless speech,

A quiet creeping spell,―

Repose without forgetfulness,

And silence audible."

There is a great similarity existing between a peculiar band of poets in England, and some of the most popular of thei brethren in America. They almost seem to belong to the same

A LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL WORKS

OF THE

AUTHORS NAMED HEREIN.

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH.

Descriptive Sketches in Verse.-Lyrical Ballads, 2 vols.-On the Relations of Great Britain, Spain and Portugal, to each other.-The Excursion.— The White Doe of Rylstone.-Peter Bell, the Wagoner.-The River Duddon, Sonnets.-Ecclesiastical Sketches, in verse.-Memorials of a Tour on the Continent.-A description of the Lakes in the North of England.-Yarrow Revisited, and other Poems.-Poems, chiefly of early and late years.—His collected Poetical Works, 8 vols. London, or in one vol. large.

WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR.

Imaginary Conversations, 5 vols.-Gebir Count Julian, and other Poems.— Pentameron and Pentalogia.-Pericles and Aspasia, 2 vols.-Citation and Examination of Shakspere.-Hellen.-Andrea of Hungary, and Giovanni of Naples. Complete Works, 2 vols. royal octavo, 1846.

SAMUEL ROGERS.

Human Life.-Italy, a Poem.-Jacqueline, a Tale.-Pleasures of Memory.

BARRY CORNWALL.

Dramatic Verses, and other Poems.-English Songs, and other Poems.Flood of Thessaly, and other Poems.-Life of Edmund Kean, 2 vols.-Marcian Colonna, and other Poems.-Sicilian Story.-His collected Poetical Works, 3 vols.-Mirandola, a Tragedy.

THOMAS MOORE.

Alciphron. The Epicurean.-Epistles, Odes and other Poems.-Amatory Poems of Tom Little.-Irish Melodies.—Lalla Rookh.—Life of Sheridan, 2 vols.-Life of Lord Edward Fitzgerald, 2 vols.-Loves of the Angels.—Odes of Anacreon.-Summer Fete.-History of Ireland, 4 vols.-His collected Poetical Works, 10 vols.-The Dublin Mail, a Poem.-The M. P. or the Blue Stocking. The Two-penny Post Bag.-Sacred Songs.-Fudge Family in Paris.-Fables for the Holy Alliance.-Life of Captain Rock.—An Irish Gentleman in Search of a Religion.

LEIGH HUNT.

Amyntas, from Tasso.-Captain Sword and Captain Pen.-Descent of Liberty, a Mask.-Feasts of the Poets, and other pieces.-Foliage, Poems.—Indicator, and the Companion, 2 vols.-The Seer.-Life of Lord Byron, 2 vols.— Months, Descriptive of the year.-Story of Rimini.-Hero and Leander.-Poetical Works.-Legend of Florence, a Play.-The Palfrey.-Imagination and Fancy.-Wit and Humor.-Stories from the Italian Poets, 2 vols.-Jar of Honey, from Mount Hybla.-Men, Women and Books, 2 vols.-The Town, 2 vols.-A Book for a Corner, 2 vols.-One hundred Romances of real Life.— Critical Essays on the performances of the London Theatres.—Blue Stocking Revels.

ALFRED TENNYSON.

Poems chiefly Lyrical.-Poems, second series.-The Princess.-Poems, fifth edition, 2 vols.

ROBERT BROWNING.

Pauline, a Love Confession.-Paracelsus, a Poem.-Strafford, a Tragedy.Sordello, a Poem.-Bells and Pomgranites.-1. Pippa Passes.-2. King Victor and King Charles.-3. Dramatic Lyrics.-4. Return of the Druses.-5. Blot in the 'Scutcheon.-6. Columbe's Birth Day.-7. Dramatic Romances.— 8. Luria.-The Soul's Tragedy.

ARTHUR A. CLOUGH.

Bothie of Toper-na-Fousich.