for any of the opinions of this work: but if in any portion, or in its general spirit, it may go beyond the feeling of the American community on the subjects treated, we would suggest the foregoing explanation. The poem begins with an animated apostrophe to Spain. The following passage will serve as a specimen of this portion of the work; at the same time that it discloses interesting facts relative to that unfortunate country. "Tis glorious all-but what avail The gifts of God when man their use denies? Its wealth of waves upon uncultured banks? The generous grape that none may taste, Whose toilsome care has trimmed its cluster'd ranks? Or that unclouded sun that beams for none but slaves. Slaves but beneath that galling chain And trumpets sounded-standards flamed in air, Where terror reigned so late-and on they move, Of pensioned ease the royal gratitude Placed your deliverers.--This was all he could; Ask the south winds that sweep the embattled coast The prisoner's moan that counts the lingering hours, In Spain's most loathsome dungeon, ye shall find, That chained in gallies tug the laboring oar, In which endurance is the worst of crimes.' The passage which follows this, and which is intended to expose what may be called the emigrant policy lately pursued in Europe, is one of the most powerful in the poem, and one of those perhaps, for which the explanation made above will be most needed here. Our sympathies in this country are pretty generally, we think, on the side of the emigrants; whereas, in Europe, experience has so universally found them so strongly on the side adverse to improvement, that their fortunes awaken less commiseration in the liberal party, than could be wished and indeed expected from those whose cause is in its essence the cause of humanity. The following pas * 'Arguelles was the most distinguished orator among the members of the Spanish cortes at their first organization; and, as is well known, was honored by the enthusiastic admiration of his colleagues, with the appellation of the divine. Upon the king's restoration he was brought to trial for his share in the preceding events; but by the dexterity with which he managed his defence, he disconcerted his judges so much, that they found it extremely difficult to pronounce him guilty with any regard to appearances. The king, being informed that there was some delay and embarrassment in the case, sent for the papers and wrote upon them with his own hand-Ten years labor in the gallies at Ceuta. sage at the close of this strain, will interest our readers for the national allusion: But why such fears? And tell me, if thou wilt, In ceaseless hymns that sound thro' grateful Spain. To this succeeds the part of the poem, where the political system on which it is written, is more distinctly developed, and in which the grave and philosophical strain of most of the previous portion is exchanged for a vein of temperate pleasantry. The immediate suggestion of this part of the poem was found in the speech of the emperor of Austria, to the deputies of the Hungarian aristocracy, at their meeting at Pest, in 1820. In this speech the emperor says to the Hungarians, totus mundus STULTISAT, et relictis antiquis legibus imaginarias constitutiones quærit. Vos habetis constitutionem, &c. Our author's note upon this passage is as follows :— A most gracious speech truly: and if the whole world do not immediately change their opinions and come round to his Majes ty's, the whole world will certainly exhibit a high degree of ingratitude, for the very civil and endearing manner in which His Majesty has condescended to point out their errors. Delirat would have been rather more classical, and a little less insulting than stultisat; but it is natural enough perhaps to express barbarous ideas in monkish Latin: and then the word delirat might have brought to mind a highly anti-monarchical passage in a classical poet of great authority.-Quicquid delirant reges, &c. If the whole world are of one opinion, and the emperor of Austria of another, supposing him even to be backed by the deputies of the Hungarian aristocracy, is there not reason to fear that His Majesty may ultimately be left in a minority? Some late accounts, however, seem to shew that the Huns are not quite so well satisfied with their political situation as the emperor seems to suppose. By the law of England an individual is not permitted to stultify himself. Might it not be made a question whether by the law of nations an emperor is at liberty to stultify the whole world? and whether a man, who pretends to stultify the whole world, is not in reality making a fool of himself?" Having indicated this topic in the foregoing note, our au- Come then, ye studious souls from every shore, Constant with copious accents keen and free, Once prized at Washington, St Cloud, St James, The remainder of the poem consists of an address in the person of Mr Gentz, the well known advocate and official organ of the doctrines, which it contains. Having named the press, as the great instrument of modern corruption, this address thus proceeds: Straight from this source supplied in copious stores, Through the wide world, and swells, and rushes on, While schools, like mushrooms, spring thro' all the land, Till learning knocks at every peasant's door. And last, all hope of better things to efface, And poison in its germ the rising race, By the new scheme each youth instructs his brother, Then say what remedy the case can reach, When infants are not only taught, but teach? |