older ballad-makers. Sir Walter, not only believed in the antiquity of the Raid, but quoted a whole verse from it in his Marmion, (Cant. 1. v. 13,) and gave the poem at length in his notes to this work, with a grave comment upon this work, pointing out its distinctive antiquarian traits. Surtees, of course, was convulsed with laughter, and thought it good pay for what Sir Walter had so often done to the public, by imposing on them in the way of pretending to quote old ballads, and particularly that famous author, Mr. Anonymous. “I have a graver matter still to relate. About 1824, a fac simile of an inscription on a stone was sent from Malta to the French Academy, with a bilingual writing, purporting to be Greek and Phoenician, accompanied by some emblematic pictures or outlines of them, at the commencement and the close. The learned Raoul Rochette was then keeper of the cabinet of antiquities, and professor of Archæology at Paris. He sent copies to different literati in Europe, and asked assistance to decipher the inscriptions. These were dated in the 85th Olympiad, some 436 years before Christ. Raoul Rochette believed in their antiquity, Creutzer doubted, Bockh, at Berlin, also doubted. But Gesenius of Halle, and Hamaker of Leyden, two of the best orientalists and antiquarians in all Europe, not only sided with the French professor, but published comments on the inscriptions, which were submitted to the European public. In respect to the Greek part of the inscription, it was written Bovorpoondov in order to imitate the most ancient Greek; still there was no difficulty for an antiquarian in reading it. But the so-called Phoenician part was a matter of serious difficulty. Each antiquarian made out his own scheme of interpretation. * "Finally, however, Raoul Rochette induced the celebrated Kopp to undertake the deciphering of these inscriptions. "This he did with the most complete and triumphant success, and exposed the folly of the claims made for them, to all Europe, even to their entire satisfaction. His letter is in volume 6th of the Studien und Kritiken, and it has lulled the *Alternately different ways, or backward and forward, like the trenches made by a plough share, from which idea the word has its derivation. Maltese inscriptions of the 86th Olympiad into a sleep from which they will never awake. Not even the powerful voice of a Gesenius or Hamaker, could summon them back from the regions of Morpheus, or from the banks of the Lethe in a darker domain." We shall be happy to receive answers to Question 7, on Sunday Travelling, to which, notwithstanding the recent attention it has received, we are without any satisfactory reply. We shall be glad also to have the benefit of our readers' experience on Question 9, at page 183. NO MAN LIVETH TO HIMSELF. If God has blest thee with a sonne, blesse thou that sonne with a lawfull calling: chuse such employment as may stand with his fancy and thy judgement. His country claims his ability toward the building of her honor. If he cannot bring a cedar let him bring a shrub. He that brings nothing usurps his life, and robs his country of a servant.—Quarles. BEGIN WELL, AND END WELL. At the first entrance into thy estate keep a low sail: thou maist rise with honor; thou canst not decline without shame. He that begins as his father ended, shall end as his father begun.-Ibid. GOD FIRST. Clense thy morning soule with private and due devotions. Till then, admit no business, the first borne of thy thoughts are God's and not thine, but by sacriledge. Thinke thyself not ready till thou hast praised him and he will be always ready to bless thee.-Ibid. GOD SEES YOU. In all thy actions thinke God sees thee, and in all his actions labour to see him. That will make thee fear him: this will move thee to love him. The fear of God is the beginning of knowledge, and the knowledge of God is the perfection of love.-Ibid. POETRY. "ARE WE GOING HOME?" THE waves were rolling mountains high, The lightning flashed across the sky And thunder pealed around. A noble ship was sadly tossed Within the cabin, faces pale With wonder on the rest; The strange commotion that was raised, At length a bright thought came with heart As light as ocean's foam, She said-all-eager to depart "Oh! are we going home?" Oh, touching words! they brought the tears To many an anxious eye: For, oh, how precious home appears, When we are called to die! There came a crash-a mighty shock→→→ And cries of deep despair; The vessel struck upon a rock, And numbers perished there. And that dear child whose latest thought Was with her home allied; Alas! the earthly joy she sought, Her grave is in the boundless deep, And tender friends in silence weep, But grieve not! she has reached her home! We through life's desert yet must roam, And, oh, how sweet when tempests rise For him to look beyond the skies, With heavy storms of grief and care, Hush! we are going home! and there London. H. M. W. LIFE, A JOURNEY. JESUS! I take my cross to follow Thee, I to my Father's mansion go. My path may wind through many a dreary plain, A pilgrim heeds not, if his home he gain: My rugged way may oft seem long, Cheerful I'll pass the lonely desert o'er, E. |