We would wish the republication of where all that is evil naturally congrethose books of Mr. Coleridge because gates, and in her manufacturing towns they everywhere seek to exhibit not the which have outgrown the church estabfaults of men or of measures, but the lishment, and are, so far, an argument principle sought to be expressed in our for its increase-think of England as great institutions which even by those she is, and remember to what an who are not among the assailants, are extent the education of the English is less valued, we fear, than at any former in the hands of churchmen; for in time. The defenders of our existing thinking of the church institutions of institutions are assailed, as if their the country, we are not alone to think object was to perpetuate some such of the beneficed clergy and parish degradation of the bulk of the people, ministers, but of those members of the as the law of caste involves, as if the establishment-the masters and assistexisting institutions of England-for ants in public places of education, the a moment we entreat our reader, for tutors in the families of the nobility the sake of understanding what we and gentry, those who have formed would say, to shut out from his view the higher classes of the English into the anomalous condition of Ireland, what they are, and contribute to make whatever he may think of it, or may England what she still is, the first and imagine us to think-as if, we repeat, freest country in the world. Think those institutions were, in fact, an im- for a moment of this one English pediment to every advance from the institution, and when you have suchumbler classes, instead of being, as ceeded in bringing the case fairly they undoubtedly are at present, and --however inadequately-before your for centuries have been--the certain mind, ask yourself whether all these means of aiding them in every object, enviable distinctions of English educanot alone of reasonable desire, but cation are to be flung away; and even of the most ambitious hope, that when you have stripped the church of a man can entertain in any country, her property-we know you are quite although we were to allow him to dishonest enough to do so if you can—fancy an Utopia of his own; for Sir say have you provided means to supply THOMAS MORE's would never do for the chasm that will thus be left? By one of our reformers. Never, proba- whom is the business of education to be bly, was there an institution so deci- conducted? What shall be the new dedly beneficial to a nation as the books, and who are to be the instrucChurch has been in England-not a tors of the land? What new system, family in the land, as Mr. Coleridge fresh from France is to replace the has well observed, that has not a direct, BOOK OF GOD? In spite of all we and-it is in no feeling of depreciation can do to disguise it from ourselveswe use a word unhappily equivocal for it is hard to look intently on a even a selfish interest in its continu- prospect, that, as it exhibits our nature Improve it—yes, in all imagi- degraded, it is painful to look uponnable ways improve it-divide the point in controversy is this, shall its wealth more reasonably--make its Christianity continue the religion of schools and colleges more effective the country? To efface this is among restore somewhat of its discipline-and the hopes of the infidel party in Engwith all these changes you but render land, as it has been on the continent; it more like what its framers wished it for this there is no language too strong to be ;-take from it its courts of civil for the radical press. Day after day, law, and we fancy you will not find the in every form in which the wisdom church anxious to preserve them. In that is foolishness, and the mirth your plans for its reform restore, if which is unaccompanied with gaiety, you will, its convocation, that its own and which is followed by heaviness of independent voice may be again heard; heart, can array itself-in laborious but suppose it even as it is, unchanged essays-in poems called philosophical, -even as it is, think of its effects but most of all, in the unstamped think of what England is in her higher publications, which, in defiance of classes, in her middle ranks, in her law, are printed, and command extenvillages and farms-think of England sive circulation-do we meet with that everywhere but in her large cities, scoffing spirit which insults everything ance. at all above itself, and exhibits little kindness or consideration for anything below its own level. space which We have exceeded the can be reasonably allowed for this article; in the Biographia Literaria of Mr. Coleridge will be found some account of his early life and education, some affectionate notices of his early instructors; the book is one which we wish may be reprinted, as it is impossible to read it without loving the man. There is in it a minute account of his studies, and of his opinions on Metaphysics and the principal systems both of England and of the Continent. The part of the book which we most value, however, is the poetical criticism, which occupies more than a volume. In the year after its publication he went to reside at Highgate, with Mr. and Mrs. Gillman-friends in all things worthy of Coleridge; for the last nineteen years of his life he resided in their house, and we can well imagine the bereavement which they, above all others on earth must now feel-during those years the new edition of The Friend was published, the Aids to Reflection, the Essay on Church and State, and his contributions to the Encyclopædia Metropolitan, and to the Transactions of the Royal Society of Li terature, were written; and there seems to have been awakening a second dawn of poetical life. The few verses written in late years are among the most beautiful even of his poems. In the Aids to Reflection many of the passages are poetry of the highest order, and almost flow into metrical form; and have a music of their own richer and truer than any of our poets, except Spenser, of whose fluent versification they almost remind us. Coleridge's studies during all this period, were,we believe, philosophical and theological; and a religious man always, his piety increased as life advanced. One of the most beautiful things we have ever read is his letter to a Mr. godchild, written a few days before his death, which we regret has not been preserved in these volumes. The volumes which his nephew publishes are inscribed to Mr. and Mrs. Gillman. When "The Friend" was published by Mr. Coleridge in 1818, it was inscribed to Mr. and Mrs. Gillman, by Mr. Coleridge, in the follow ing words, which ought to be preserved in every record of the poet's life : "Friend! were an author privileged to name his own judge—in addition to moral and intellectual competence I should look round for some man, whose knowledge and opinions had for the greater part been acquired experimentally: and the practical habits of whose life had put him on his guard with respect to all speculative reasoning, without rendering him insensible to the desirableness of principles more secure than the shifting 1ules and theories generalized from observations merely empirical, or unconscious in how many departments of knowledge, and with how large a portion even of professional men, such principles are still a desideratum. I would select too one who felt kindly, nay, even partially, toward me; but one whose partiality had its strongest foundations in hope, and more prospective than retrospective would make him quick-sighted in the detection, and unreserved in the exposure of the deficiencies and defects of each present work, in the anticipation of a more developed future. In you, honored friend, 1 have found all these requisites combined and realized and the improvement, which these essays have derived from your judgment and judicious suggestions, would, of itself, have justified me in accompanying them with a public acknowledgment of the same. But knowing, as you cannot but know, that I owe in great measure the power of having written at all to your medical skill, and to the characteristic good sense which directed its exertion in my behalf; and whatever I may have written in happier vein to the influence of your society and to the daily proofs of your disinterested attachmentknowing too in how entire a sympathy with your feelings in this respect the partner of your name has blended the affectionate regards of a sister or daughter with almost a mother's watchful and unwearied solicitudes alike for my health, interest, and tranquillity ;—you will not, I trust, be pained, you ought not, I am sure, to be surprised that to Mr. and Mrs. GILLMAN, of Highgate, these volumes are dedicated, in testimony of high respect and grateful affection, by their Friend, "S. T. COLERIDGE. Highgate, Oct. 7, 1818. " Mr. Coleridge was born on the 24th of October, 1772. "He died on the 25th of July, 1834, in Mr. Gillman's house in the Grove, Highgate, and is buried in the old church-yard, by the road side." 11. SONNET; WHICH MAY ILLUSTRATE THE LAST STANZA OF THE PRECEDING POEM. Thou whose meek eyes are bending o'er my page! As if our life were but a second stage Of elder being? Dreams-dim dreams from thence In the drear desart. Oh, for a glimpse to come III.-LINES FOR MUSIC. To fly the world for thoughts of thee, To think of thee till choked with sighs, To sigh for thee till tears arise, To weep for thee till sorrow dies In dull despairing vacancy, If this be Love, I love thee! To feel it life when thou art near, A living death when thou art gone, To blush when thou art named, to feel My heart beat quick with gentle care Now, now-to weep the golden past, This Platonic conception of human life is really independent of the support of the theories or romances of philosophy. However the fact may be explained by metaphysicians, it is a fact, that these shadowy reminiscences of a something past, to which we can assign no definite date or locality, do make part of the experience of most reflecting and of many unreflecting persons. How often do we find ourselves, in the midst of some interesting scene, tacitly asking," Have we not felt all this before ?" This illusory memory-if it be an illusion-of course, (like all other singular phenomena of the mind,) scarcely admits of any intelligible description to those who have never been conscious of it; but I have myself had the personal testimony of numbers to confirm my own experience of its existence. An interesting passage from the Eastern Drama of Sacontala is apropos to this subject. Perhaps," says one of the interlocutors, "the sadness of men otherwise in happiness, on gazing on lovely objects, and hearing delicious songs, originates in a dim recollection of ancient delights, and the remnants of a connection with some antecedent existence." IV. FRAGMENTS WRITTEN ON THE BANKS OF THE SUIR. I've borne my pen to this, the slumberous haunt And thus interpreting the ideal forms And yet this Stream, (as sure in course, as deep, Words true, but alien to the quietude Of my heart's sabbath sunshine--holy light!) The soul to float upon a stream as smooth Mid thoughts as fair as bloom its verdurous banks, And like it picturing every changeful cloud That gives and shrouds, and gives and shrouds again Are the unquiet fancies that o'ercast The still profound of soul.) Who hath not felt Spirit of brightest visions!-for to thee Links thee with every paradisal scene, Peoples the grove, the grot, the glen with thee!- Of thee and fancy, have I heard upburst The harmony that sleeps among the strings, Roused by thy cunning hand! and as I've listened As flowed the music from thy harp and heart, The strong entrancement of the speaking strain: W. A. B. |