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THE POET SHELLEY.

THERE has recently been put into our hands a manuscript volume, which we look upon as one of the most remarkable literary curiosities extant. It is a poem in four cantos, by the late poet Shelley, and entirely written in his own hand. It is entitled "THE WANDERING JEW," and contains many passages of great power and beauty. It was composed upwards of twenty years ago, and brought by the poet to Edinburgh, which he visited about that period. It has since lain in the custody of a literary gentleman of this town, to whom it was then offered for publication. We have received permission to give our readers a farther account of its contents, with some extracts, next Saturday; and it affords us much pleasure to have it in our power to be thus instrumental in rescuing, through the medium of the LITERARY JOURNAL, from the obscurity to which it might otherwise have been consigned, one of the earliest and most striking of this gifted poet's productions, the very existence of which has never hitherto been surmised.

ORIGINAL POETRY.

STANZAS.

From "Eldred of Erin, or the Solitary;" a MS. Poem
by Charles Doyne Sillery, Author of "Vallery, or the
Citadel of the Lake."

TELL me, ye midnight voices, where are they-
They who began life's pilgrimage with me?
Some are asleep in death; some far away
Beyond the billows of the boundless sea,
Never to meet but in Eternity!

They are all severed-long forgotten-fled-
Like wintry leaves wind-scattered o'er the lea ;—
Time walked between with swift and silent tread,
Making alike unknown the living and the dead.
And yet mid them there smiled my earliest friends;
The sharers of my innocence and joy :-
Ah! how the rush of years to manhood tends
Our purer, perfect pleasures to destroy !
Who would not wish again to be a boy?

To tread the fields with light and bounding heart;
When no rough blasts, no hardships could annoy :
Our home our Heaven-simplicity our art;
When every various scene new rapture could impart.
Ah me! and those bright sunny days are gone!
Their very memory warms my weary soul :
Yet can they charm, though age apace comes on,
To cut "the thread" and "break the golden bowl."
Yes; years must change, and fleeting seasons roll,
And I fall off, as I had never been,
Hurried along to lingering life's last goal:
Yet shall I ne'er forget those days serene,
The lovely long-lost hours mine infancy has seen!
Lone be the place of my eternal rest;

May no vain marble mock my mouldering clay-
No" storied urn" weigh heavy on my breast,
To lure the passing Pilgrim from his way,
Or tell aught of the being fled for aye :-
But when soft twilight steals o'er purpled skies,
May some lone warbler lull me with her lay;
And while the pale flowers o'er my ashes rise,
May winds and waters mix in melody and sighs.
Oh! I do hate their vanity and pride;
I'm sick of all man's ostentatious show:
Will not his empty pomp be thrown aside
When life hath ceased to burn-life's blood to flow?
When the frail form is laid for ever low,
Will man yet bear his folly to the grave?
I would not have your chiselled scrolls-Oh, no!
O'er me alone let silent willows wave:

How sweet is death! no sorrow clouds the tomb ;-
How still is death! no voice breaks on his rest;-
How calm is death! no troubles there can come ;-
How fair is death! the sunshine of the bless'd;-
Peace to the dead, whose souls are on the breast
Of their Redeemer. O! 'tis sweet to die
When Jesus calls, with wearied hearts oppress'd,
The rough race run, serenely down to lie,
And feel the ebbing soul expand into the sky!

THE ROVER'S RETREAT.

By Thomas Atkinson.

My stride is again on the deck of my bark,

And my bark rides once more on the crest of the sea, And I care not though round my track storm-clouds lour dark,

While the breeze swells my sails thus with boisterous
glee!

And I've learn'd, as the hurricane tempest hath swept,
That to bend to the bounding is firmest to stand;
And through my last peril as now I have stept,
Till my foot was as free as 'tis here,-on the land!
But when next the broad deck of the Osprey I leave-
If it be not the guerdon of beauty to win-
May the billows that now my glad spirit upheave,
Never greet my dull ear with their soul-rousing din;
For the home of the Rover's the timber-where floats
The red flag of defiance to coward or churl;
And while these hold together, away with the thoughts
That would point to the hour when that banner we'll
furl!

Then her head to the wind and her breast to the wave,
The bright west is before us, though clouds close be-

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LITERARY CHIT-CHAT AND VARIETIES.

We are informed that a New Monthly Periodical is to be publish. ed in September next, to be entitled, "The Edinburgh Journal of Natural and Geographical Science." It will be conducted by an association of Naturalists, and is to embrace all the departments of Natural History and of Geography, both physical and descriptive; and while it will be quite scientific, it will at the same time be written in a popular style.

We understand that the Rev. A. G. Carstairs, minister of Wester Anstruther, is preparing for publication a volume containing the whole of the Scottish Communion Service, according to the usual form of the Presbyterian Church, including the services for the Fastday, and the Saturday before and Monday after Communion.

The Life of Hernan Cortes, including a complete History of the Conquest of Mexico, and a faithful Account of the state of that Empire at the time, and the Life of Francis Pizarro, with an Account of the Conquest of Peru, &c., by Don Tellesforo de Trueba y Cosio, author of "Gomez Arias," "The Castilian," &c. are preparing for speedy publication in Constable's Miscellany.

We understand that Mr Derwent Conway, whose works must be well known to our readers, and whom we have the pleasure of ranking among the contributors to the LITERARY JOURNAL, is at present engaged with a poem, which will appear some time in the course of the present year, to be entitled the Chronicle of the Flowers.

Observations upon the Condition of Negro Slavery in the Island of Santa Cruz, and some Remarks upon Plantation Affairs; with a Notice of the Danish West India Islands, is announced.

The MS. note-books of the Rev. Gilbert White, the author of the Natural History of Selbourne, containing many curious observations not hitherto published, are at present in the possession of Mr Murray, of Albemarle Street, who will issue in a few days a cheap and elegant edition of that work.

The author of Reginald Trevor has a new novel in the press, en◄ titled, Lawrence Mertoun, or a Summer in Wales.

A Life of Sir Walter Raleigh, by Mrs A. T. Thompson, authoress And take, my God in Heaven, take back the soul you of the Memoirs of the Court of Henry the Eighth, is announced for

gave.

early publication.

A poem, intended to recall to the attention of the public the son of Bonaparte, has just appeared in Paris. It is entitled, "Le Fils de Homme," and has been seized at the instance of the King's AttorneyGeneral.

was not an absolute outrage on decency, it was, at all events, a very coarse and vulgar trick, and presents but a melancholy view of the theatrical taste of the metropolis.-Drury Lane closes for the season this day, and Covent Garden on the 24th. We are informed, by au

The Courier Francois is undergoing a prosecution before the Tri-thority on which we can rely, that the new plays which Mr Price, bunal of Correctional Police of Paris, for an attack on public morals, the religion of the state, and the mode of worship legally recognized. In speaking of the picture of the King's Coronation, by Baron Gerard, it had said, "The immortal picture of the Supper, those of the Transfiguration and of the Communion of St Jerome, will remain master works of art, even when Christian creeds will be completely abolished, if their frail materials could last so long."

Proposals have been published, at Jassy, for a political and literary journal, in the Wallachian language, to be called the Wallachian Bee. The editors express a hope that this journal may tend to the cultivation of a language spoken by four millions of people, and which derives its origin from the Romans.

The Marquis of Hereford, now residing in Rome, and a munificent patron of the fine arts, has purchased the famous Spada Pompey for 21,000 Roman scudi, upwards of L.5100! This is the statue at the base of which Cæsar was assassinated in the Senate-house; and besides the interest attached to it from this circumstance, it possesses intrinsic value as a specimen of ancient sculpture.

ETON MONTEM.-This ceremony, the object of which is to obtain a collection for the head-scholar on the foundation, preparatory to his removal for the university, by laying all the spectators and passengers under a contribution, demanded as money for "salt," for which a ticket is given, with the motto of " Mos pro lege," took place on Tuesday. It was witnessed by a large number of visitors, and produced a larger sum than on any previous occasion. The King sent a contribution of one hundred guineas.

NEW HIGH SCHOOL.-This fine building is to be opened, with all due ceremony, upon Tuesday next; and a public dinner, commemorative of the occasion, is afterwards to be given, at which the greater part of the literary talent of Edinburgh will be present.

PHRENOLOGY.-We observe that the sensation excited by Mr Stone's recent attack on Phrenology has not yet subsided, and that the attempts made to rally by the Phrenologists have called forth a good deal of discussion in the public journals. We revert to the subject simply to state, that after all that has been said both pro and con, we remain fixed in our opinion, that Mr Combe has been decidedly unsuccessful in his "Answer" to Mr Stone. At the same time we think it right to mention, that one ingenious Phrenologist has directed our attention to several weak points in Mr Stone's pamphlet, to which Mr Combe has not adverted, and to which we believe Mr Stone would find it more difficult to make a " rejoinder." We cannot, however, give a place to any more controversy upon this subject, because we do not conceive it sufficiently interesting to the general reader. Talent may be elicited upon any subject under the sun, and it certainly has been elicited upon Phrenology; but the soi-disant science is, at the best, a harmless delusion, and its disciples are trifling with a phantom.

THE NEW DIORAMA.-The Diorama of the Valley of Sarnen has been succeeded by a View of the Ruins of Holyrood Chapel by Moonlight. It is by far the finest specimen of pictorial art and mechanical ingenuity in this department of painting which has yet been exhibited here. The illusion is perfect, and the effect quite magical. The spectator is supposed to be in the interior of the Chapel, looking out upon the starry heavens through the ruined window in the east. The moon is seen slowly rising, and her light tips with silver all the projecting points of the ruins, and, in the most enchanting manner, streams in among the mouldering tombs and pillars. Occasionally, clouds pass across its disc, or what a less romantic imagination might conceive to be a sudden puff of smoke from the Old Town. The admirable manner in which the whole scene is managed cannot fail strongly to impress upon the mind the many historical associationsthe brightest and the darkest in Scotland's annals-with which these Ruins are connected; and thus, the exhibition not only delights the eye, but is calculated to produce a moral effect upon the mind. The introduction of some subdued and pensive music, executed by an unseen minstrel, is a great addition. The tout ensemble is so delightful, that we scarcely have it in our heart to object that the stars are too large and brilliant, that too many of the first magnitude are crowded within a certain space, and that they represent no known constellation; or that the moon, like most theatrical moons, is not quite round; or that the woman, standing motionless, with a lamp burning before her, is an unnatural and disagreeable figure. We easily forgive these imperfections; for, in the fascination of the scene, with the gentle moon gliding through the air before us, and shedding her lovely light upon the walls, shafts, and shattered architrave, we forget that they exist.

Theatrical Gossip.-"The Beggar's Opera" has been performed at Covent Garden with the characters reversed,-that is to say, the male parts were sustained by females, and the female by males. If this

the manager of Drury Lane, announced lately for next season, are from the pens of the late Mr Maturin, author of " Bertram," &c., and Miss Mitford, author of "The Two Foscari," "Rienzi," &c., one by each.-As we have occasionally mentioned Miss Smithson somewhat harshly, we think it right to quote the following passage from the letter of a London correspondent:-"I am sorry to see that you select the harshest opinions of the London papers concerning Miss Smithson. There are many who estimate her highly; and one thing is certain, that however she might rank with Mrs Siddons or Miss O'Neil, she is infinitely superior to Miss Phillips, Miss F. H. Kelly, or any other Miss or Madam on the boards of this great city, as a tragic actress."-We see it mentioned in the Atlas that Sontag requires £350 per night to visit Edinburgh or Dublin ! It is quite impossible that Sontag can be such an idiot. The house here, at the fullest, does not hold one-half the sum; and were she to ask £20 per night, she would be asking a great deal too much. She is no doubt a very fine singer, but we have heard Pasta, Catalani, and Caradori, and would not break our hearts though Sontag should retire forthwith into some Hungarian solitude with her reputed husband, Count Clam. Catalani is at Belfast, and Madame Vestris in Dublin.-Poor Terry has had a stroke of paralysis, and is said to be dying.-The Haymarket has opened in considerable force.-Although Denham's powers are certainly not equal to the doing full justice to Virginius, he sustained the character with great respectability at his benefit on Tuesday last.-Caradori, who delighted us so much in the "Beggar's Opera," appeared last night in "Love in a Village," too late of course for any criticism of ours this week. She repeats the part this evening. -The new piece we announced last Saturday,-" Willie Armstrong, or Durie in Durance," has been very favourably received, and deservedly so. Its author is Dr Poole, who has no reason to be ashamed of his bantling, and who, we hope, will favour us next season with something still better; for, in writing for the stage, as in every thing else, practice makes perfect.-We have been much pleased with the neat manner in which the Caledonian Theatre is now fitted up; but we are sorry that we cannot speak very highly of the merits of most of the performers. Mr C. Bass himself we have not yet seen; we hope he plays fully better than his better half. "Anne of Geierstein" is being dramatised for this Theatre.

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TO OUR CORRESPONDENTS.

"REMINISCENCES of former days-My first interview with Sir Walter Scott,"-by the Ettrick Shepherd, will appear in our next. The learned and able reviewer of Dr Walker's Sermons has our best thanks: his communication will appear next Saturday.-The interesting article on St Fillan's Spring is in types. We regret much that the tale of " Marina and Jacopo" is too long for our pages, but shall be glad to hear again from its talented Authoress.-The short article, by "A Friend," shall have a place."Q. Q." of Glasgow says, "Give me an answer next Saturday, although it should be a very ill-natured one; I have very little paWe have a good deal, but it will cost us all we have, unless "Q. Q." pays the postage of his next letter: as he seems to be rather a good sort of person, we forgive him this time.-We have to thank our Correspondent at Kirkaldy for his suggestion.

tience."

The Sonnet, by our friend" G. H. G." of London, shall have a place in our next.-Our Leith correspondent shows very distinctly, that in his Pilgrim's Progress, Bunyan has in one or two instances copied from Shakspeare.-The Scotch Ballad, beginning,

"The crabbit auld farmer cam hame at e'en,
An' a sour an' grewsome visage had he;
The body a' day at the pleugh had been,

An' he was as hungry as hungry could be,"

is rather too coarse in some of its stanzas; but we shall be glad to hear again from its author, who has a good deal of native humour and ability about him.-We regret that the verses by "A. P."-by "C. N."-by" J. B."-and by "S. N." of Inverness, will not suit us.

Several of our poetical friends must be content to wait a short while longer, like Peris, at the gate of Paradise; but their time is coming.

[No. 32. June 20, 1829.]

ADVERTISEMENTS,

Connected with Literature, Science, and the Arts.

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MISCELLANEOUS BOOKS.

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Lord Londonderry's Narrative of the Peninsular War. 2 vols.
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There being numerous inferior imitations of these Powders vended, it is necessary to observe, that the Preparer's name and address, "Butler, 73, Princes Street, Edinburgh," are printed in the Label and Bill accompanying each Box of the genuine Powders. Sold in Boxes only, at 2s. 9d., or in neat cases for the Country, or Exportation, 10s. 6d. each. The cases for Exportation are lined with Tin, and carefully soldered up, and thus the Powders may be preserved for any length of time, in any climate.

Sold by the Preparer as above mentioned; also by BUTLER & Co. 4, Cheapside, Corner of St Paul's, London; and the principal Drug

Twelve Years' Military Adventure in various Quarters of the gists, and others, in every Town of the United Kingdom.
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Journal of a Residence and Tour in Mexico. By Capt. G. F. Lyon History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus. By Washington Irving. 4 vols.

Sir John Malcolm's Sketches of Persia. 2 vols.

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NEW PUBLICATIONS.

ROBERTSON and ATKINSON respectfully re

quest the notice of the public to the following List of New, Important, or Cheap Publications, which form part of their present Stock, and which they will sell to their Friends and to the Trade on the most favourable terms.

HENRY'S COMMENTARY, complete in 3 vols. 8vo, distinct type, and with copious Memoir; an edition of extraordinary cheapness, beauty, and accuracy. It may also be had in Parts, at 3s. each.

JOHNSON'S DICTIONARY, without abridgement, in ONE volume, stereotype, 8vo, beautiful Portrait. An indispensable work in every library.

THE COMPANION; a suppressed Periodical, by the celebrated Leigh Hunt. 1 vol. 8vo.

EDINBURGH REVIEW-vols. 1 to 34-a set in fine order, £20, 8s.-for one-third of that price.

THE WAVERLEY NOVELS, New Edition. Specimens and Prospectuses to be had at R. and A.'s, who will receive subscriptions on as liberal terms as any respectable house in the Trade. The Subscription List is already very large.

In addition to the above, R. and A. respectfully submit the following List of their own publications, several of which have just been issued:

THE VILLAGE POLITICIANS, or a Short Dialogue on the State of the Nation, in April 1829. Price 6d.

GUIDE to the PURCHASERS of HORSES, with an Appendix on the Equestrian Equipment of a Gentleman, by a Glasgow Amateur, beautifully printed for the waistcoat pocket, 32mo, gilt edges, 9d.

THE THISTLE.-A Collection of the best Scottish Songs, with Notes by the Authorof the "Eventful Life of a Soldier,"

with two humorous Plates. Price 2s. 6d. boards.

"The Collection contains many originals of great merit, a' Funnery,' &c., and Notes that are curious, while it is very cheap.' -Critical Gazette.

THE SHAMROCK.-An unrivalled Collection of Irish Songs, Edited, and with Notes, by Mr Weekes, will speedily be issued.

CONNEL'S SPELLING-BOOK, price 1s. bound, and First and Second Books, 2d. and 4d., sewed in stiff boards, stereotype editions.-These are now established School-Books, and in use in many of the first Seminaries in England and Scotland, while their cheapness makes them accessible to all.

THE ANT.-Original Volume, 4s. 6d. cloth; Selected Volume the same. By reprinting portions of this work, a few sets are again completed, and original subscribers may now make up theirs for binding. The first portion is a collection of Essays, Tales, and Verses, chiefly illustrative of Glasgow life and character the se cond is a selection of amusing and elegant Pieces, mostly from unexplored sources.

RULES for GOVERNING LITERARY and DEBATING SOCIETIES, 4d.

RULES for FORMING the GENDER of FRENCH. SKETCHES of the ISLE of MAN, by a Tourist. Beautifully printed. Boards 3s. This is a work meant to supply a want long felt by visitors to the delightful Island it describes. has been spoken of by the Journals as a model to guide writers, and is obviously the production of a man of talents and letters: it is as amusing in the arm chair, as useful in the steam-boat.

It

NEW WORK by the AUTHOR of the SKETCH BOOK.

Just Published, in 2 vols. 8vo, 24s.,

CONSTABLE'S MISCELLANY.
VOLUME XLII.

A CHRONICLE of the CONQUEST of GRA- On Tuesday, 23d, will be published, price 3s. 6d. or Fine Paper, 58.

NADA, from the MSS. of Fray Antonio Agapida. By WASHINGTON IRVING.

JOHN MURRAY, Albemarle Street, London.

Published this day, in one vol. royal 18mo, 5s.

THE LIFE of ALEXANDER the GREAT, by

the Rev. JOHN WILLIAMS, A.M., Vicar of Lampeter, and Rector of the Edinburgh Academy; forming No. III. of the FAMILY LIBRARY.

JOHN MURRAY, Albemarle Street, London: Sold also by OLIVER & BOYD, Edinburgh.

Of whom may be had, just published,

Nos. I. and II. of the FAMILY LIBRARY, being the LIFE of BUONAPARTE. 2 vols., 15 Engravings, 10s.

This day is Published,

BY STIRLING & KENNEY, and JOHN FAIRBAIRN, Edinburgh, THE SCOTTISH TOURIST and ITINERARY;

cloth boards,

Illustrated with a beautiful Engraving of the
Battle-ground of Killiecrankie,
HISTORY

OF

THE REBELLIONS IN SCOTLAND,

UNDER THE VISCOUNT DUNDEE AND THE EARL OF MAR,
In 1689 and 1715.

By ROBERT CHAMBERS,

Author of the "History of the Rebellion in 1715," &c. Edinburgh: CONSTABLE & Co. 19, Waterloo Place; and HURST, CHANCE, & Co. London.

This day is published,

In Two Vols. post 8vo, price 16s.

or, a Guide to the Scenery and Antiquities of Scotland and the SOLITARY WALKS THROUGH MANY

Western Islands. With a Description of the Principal Steam-Boat Tours. Second Edition, with considerable Additions and Improvements-Illustrated by Maps and Views. Price 9s. boards, or 10s. 6d.

bound.

The rapid sale of the first Edition of the Scottish Tourist is a decided proof of the superiority both of its plan and execution over any similar Work. The Second Edition, besides being illustrated by four new Plates, will be found to contain very considerable Additions and Improvements.

"We have no hesitation in praising it, since we happen to know that the most distinguished personage in literature, whom Scotland can or ver could boast of, has deliberately pronounced it to be the best book of its kind that has fallen into his hands. It is chiefly remarkable for skilful condensation of much matter, which has lost none of its value by undergoing that process-accurate and extensive historical knowledge and elegance and vigour of diction.-The formation of the plan of the work, and its various details, and the preparatory study, must have cost much more labour than the composition itself; for a plan more perfect-embracing such a variety of objects (all that is interesting and curious in Scottish Scenery)-and showing the geographical relations in which these objects, and the roads conducting to them, stand to each other, never came under our observation.""The value of the whole work is much enhanced by a number of Maps, upon such a truly original and ingenious plan, as do great credit to the inventor.-Each of these is devoted to an entire tour, occupies a page, and consists of three columns, in which are distinctly traced all the places of any note, (mountains, lakes, rivers, towns, villages, villas, &c.) along the route to be pursued, their relative distances, and the roads that diverge from the route."-Caledonian Mercury, 11th May, 1829.

"Those, however, who desire to extend their knowledge of Loch Lomond, I would refer to Stirling and Kenney's Tourist's Guide of 1827-one of the best books of the kind I have met with."-Scotsman, 16th April, 1828.

Also, just Published,

1. A MAP of the PICTURESQUE SCENERY of SCOTLAND. Price 2s. 6d. neatly done up; or coloured, and in a Case, 3s 6d.

2. A New TRAVELLING MAP of SCOTLAND. Price 2s. 6d. neatly done up; or coloured, and in a Case, 3s. 6d.

On the 1st of June was published, price only 2s. 6d.
PART VII. OF

LANDS; with TALES and LEGENDS.

By DERWENT CONWAY.

SECOND EDITION.

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I.

TRAVELLERS IN SCOTLAND.

Published this day, price 15s. bound, THE TRAVELLER'S GUIDE through SCOTLAND, in one thick volume, 12mo. Illustrated with Maps and Views, with an Itinerary on a new plan. The Traveller's Guide contains a general account of Scotland, a description of every County and Parish, laid down agreeably to the Natural Geography of the Country; which, with a Copious Iudex, forms a complete Gazetteer of the Kingdom. II. The PLEASURE TOURS in SCOTLAND, price 9s. bound. An account of the principal Pleasure Tours in Scotland, or a description of the short and long Highland Tours; the Tour up Tweed and down Clydeside; the Long Tour round the eastern coast; besides other excursions usually adopted by the Tourists of Pleasure. Illustrated with Maps and Views, with an Itinerary on a new plan.

The rapid sale of four editions is a strong mark of public approbation to this Tourist's Guide. The numerous Maps, Views, &c. with the Itinerary, have given the book a favourable reception.

III. A TRAVELLING MAP of SCOTLAND, Two Sheets, mounted for the pocket, price 9s.

IV. A TRAVELLING MAP of SCOTLAND, One Sheet, mounted for the pocket, price 6s.

V. A TRAVELLING MAP of ENGLAND,
Two Sheets, mounted for the pocket, price 9s.

VI. A TRAVELLING MAP of ENGLAND,
One Sheet, mounted for the pocket, price 5s.
Published by JOHN THOMSON, 32, St Andrew Square; and sold

THE EXTRACTOR; or UNIVERSAL REPER- by all Booksellers.

TORIUM of GENERAL LITERATURE and SCIENCE. The present Number, for June, contains:-Burckhardt's Travels in Arabia.-The New Colony on the Swan River.-Travels in Jerusalem.-Steam Navigation.-Beet-Root Sugar.-Public Records.-Journey to Mount Etna.-Falls of Niagara.-Cavalry Tactics.-Coast Lights on a New Principle.-The Cause of the Dry Rot Discovered. -Plan for Rating Chronometers.-Origin, Nature, and Number of Suttees.-Principles of Teaching-Galvanism. - Rice Paper.-Visit to the American President Jackson.-The Court of Napoleon.-Modern Jewish Customs.-Phrenology.-Dr Chalmers.-The Organ of Scent.-The Animal Structure.-Convent of St Bernard.-Burning Springs in South America.-Gastronomy.-Opium.-Rules for Connoisseurship in Painting.-The First and Last Kiss.-Three Years at Cambridge-Dogs.-The Waverley Novels.-Anne of Geierstein.Wits and Authors.-The Proverbs of Solomon.-Songs of Burns.The Two Emilies.-Mountain Storms and Slides in America.-French Criminal Trials.-Consumption.-Recollections of a Night Fever.Varieties, &c. &c.

The following, among many other notices, have appeared in favour of this publication.

"This Work is a most valuable compilation to those who live at a distance from large towns, and who may neither have the opportu nity, nor the pecuniary means, of becoming acquainted with the floating Literature of the times. It professes to glean and incorporate in its pages the whole of the most instructive and amusing articles contained in the Foreign and Domestic Reviews, Magazines, and Journals -a profession which it fulfils with a degree of fidelity and judgment, that reflects equal credit on the taste and industry of the editor. We know not where we could refer our readers to a more useful or amusing Miscellany."-Oxford Literary Gazette.

* Part I. price 2s. 6d. is again reprinted, and is now ready for delivery.

Published by J. SUTHERLAND, 9, Calton Street, Edinburgh; and at the EXTRACTOR OFFICE, 150, Fleet Street, London; and may be had of all Booksellers.

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THE POET SHELLEY-HIS UNPUBLISHED WORK, hoped that he would finally have fixed on the former, the

"THE WANDERING JEW."

We now proceed to redeem the promise we made last Saturday, to give our readers a more detailed account of this exceedingly interesting poem. There can be little doubt that, with the single exception of Lord Byron, no poet of our day has evinced a more strikingly powerful and original genius than Shelley, indeed, in so far as originality is concerned, he is probably entitled to claim precedency even of Lord Byron. Hardly, therefore, could there have come into our possession any literary curiosity upon which we should have placed a greater value than an unpublished work by the author of the "Cenci ;" for, much as we regret the fallacious and unhappy principles which Shelley was induced to adopt, and whose spirit he was too much in the habit of infusing into his writings, we hesitate not to own the great admiration we have ever entertained for his profound abilities.

more especially as the poem itself contains very little calculated to give offence to the religious reader. The motto on the title-page is from the 22d chapter of St John,"If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? -follow thou me." Turning over the leaf, we meet with the following dedication:-"To Sir Francis Burdett, bart. M. P., in consideration of the active virtues by which both his public and private life is so eminently distinguished, the following poem is inscribed by the Author." Again turning the leaf, we meet with the

1

"PREFACE.

"The subject of the following Poem is an imaginary personage, noted for the various and contradictory traditions Jew. Many sage monkish writers have supported the which have prevailed concerning him-The Wandering authenticity of this fact, the reality of his existence. But as the quoting them would have led me to annotations perfectly uninteresting, although very fashionable, I decline presenting to the public any thing but the bare poem, which they will agree with me not to be of sufficient consequence to authorize deep antiquarian researches on its subject. I might, indeed, have introduced, by anticipating future events, of the battle of Armageddon, the personal reign of J— C—, the no less grand, although equally groundless, superstitions &c.; but I preferred, improbable as the following tale may appear, retaining the old method of describing past events: it is certainly more consistent with reason, more interesting, even in works of imagination. With respect to the omis sion of elucidatory notes, I have followed the well-known maxim of Do unto others as thou wouldest they should do unto thee.'

66

January, 1811."

The incidents are

We have already mentioned that the whole of the manuscript of "The Wandering Jew," now in our possession—and which, we have every reason to believe, is the only copy extant-is written in Shelley's own hand, and that it must have been composed about twenty years ago. This latter fact is sufficiently established by the date affixed to the Preface, which is " January 1811;" and the Preface bears internal marks of having been written after the poem, which may therefore be set down as belonging to the year 1810. It is, consequently, in all likelihood, the very earliest production of Shelley's pen ; for that wild and astonishing poem, "Queen Mab," was not written till 1811, and was not given to the public The poem introduced by the above Preface is in four till 1815. In 1811, Shelley was only eighteen, and he cantos; and, though the octosyllabic verse is the most himself, writing from Pisa in 1821, says,-" A poem, prominent, it contains a variety of measures, like Sir entitled Queen Mab, was written by me at the age of Walter Scott's poetical romances. eighteen, I daresay in a sufficiently intemperate spirit," simple, and refer rather to an episode in the life of the &c. It thus appears, that " The Wandering Jew" must Wandering Jew, than to any attempt at a full delineation have been written when the poet was only seventeen, and of all his adventures. We shall give an analysis of the when his talents were entirely unknown. It may pos- plot, and intersperse, as we proceed, some of the most insibly have been offered to one or two booksellers, both interesting passages of the poem. It opens thus, in a strain London and Edinburgh, without success, and this may account for the neglect into which the author allowed it to fall, when new cares crowded upon him, and new prospects opened round him. Certain it is, that it has been carefully kept by the literary gentleman to whom he intrusted its perusal when he visited Edinburgh in 1811, and would have been willingly surrendered by him at any subsequent period, had any application to that effect been made. A poem written by a lad of seventeen would, in most cases, possess little attraction; but when it is recollected that the same individual produced "Queen Mab" at eighteen, and afterwards, during his brief career, stood in the very first place of intellectual superiority, the case is altered, and the primitia of such a mind become perhaps still more interesting than its most matured efforts.

Mr Shelley appears to have had some doubts whether to

of subdued and tranquil beauty:

"The brilliant orb of parting day
Diffused a rich and a mellow ray
Above the mountain's brow;
It tinged the hills with lustrous light,
It tinged the promontory's height

Still sparkling with the snow;
And, as aslant it threw its beam,
Tipp'd with gold the mountain stream
That laved the vale below.
Long hung the eye of glory there,
And linger'd as if loth to leave
A scene so lovely and so fair,
"Twere there even luxury to grieve;
So soft the clime, so balm the air,
So pure and genial were the skies,
In sooth 'twas almost Paradise,-

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