As when in courtship there we often met Though many a year hath stripp'd its luscious boughs And hark! yon village bells sound sweet and clear, When long time since that merry peal was born Thrown o'er light vapours, while th' imprison'd stars We will not dwell on the faults that present themselves on a cursory perusal. The greatest defect is, a degree of tameness, which damps and deadens the kindlier feelings occasionally kindled into a genial warmth by the outbursting of a ray, the more regretted, when it illumines at times so uninteresting and barren a landscape. Let the author impart more local and individual interest to his subject, and embellish it with more incident, he will soon find that he talents that will enable him to compose a work, possesses far superior, in point of general atttraction, to "The Hopes of Matrimony," though the latter may have cost him a sum of thought he may regret at once to relinquish, and to consider as an accumulation of material perhaps unprofitably expended. Studies in History, containing the History of England, from its earliest Records to the Death of George III. in a series of Essays, accompanied with Reflections, References to original Authorities, and Historical Reflections. By Thomas Morell, 2 vols. 8vo. pp. 586, 651. London. Black and Son. 1818, 1820. VARIOUS have been the writers of history, and as diversified their several objects. The pens of Hume and Gold smith, Gibbon and Voltaire, Robertson and Rollin, with numerous others, have each been employed upon the subject, and their respective works have met with the circulation and support their merits have deserved. Some authors have treated history as a science, and employed the whole force of their enlarged minds in tracing effects to their causes. Others have been more assiduous in following events in an opposite direction, tracing them in their influence, and endeavouring to draw rules for the future from the occurrences of the past. Others, again, have, as it were floated on the surface of things, and embellished a lively, an interesting, and often an instructive picture of events as they passed in succession down the stream of time. Some, therefore, have written for the pondering few, others for more superficial readers, while a certain class have principally consecrated their labours (with less fame perhaps, but certainly not with less utility,) to the instruction of the rising generation. Among these last is the author of the work before us. Nor have the tendencies of history been much less diversified than its authors and its objects. In some instances it may be considered simply as the vehicle of information-as a connected narrative of facts. In others, it becomes the medium of a baneful influence, or the channel of conveying the most salutary sentiments. It is lamentable to reflect, that the very springs of this ever accumulating stream of knowledge should have been poisoned by the principles of infidelity; but even here the painful feeling which this circumstance occasions, should by no means be one of unmingled regret. The moral, no less than the natural, world is under the control of that Power who set bounds to the ocean which it cannot pass; and as the rocks, in the one case, still rear their bold fronts, unmoved by the dashing of the storm, and unsapped by the insinuating fluid; so truth, in the other, still remains unshaken by the assaults, and unimpaired by the wiles, of its keenest adversaries. Like the anomalies in the general laws of nature, which increase till counteracted by the influence of other principles that check their progress, and cause them to retrograde towards their minimum limits, so the aberrations of the human mind are governed by laws which are certain and immutable. The very attempt to render history and philosophy subservient to the spread of infidelity and error, by the subversion of religion and morals, called forth a host of opposing writers, many of whom having been taught in the school of the apostles and the prophets, wielded the weapons of truth with admirable skill and effect. Among these, the author of "STUDIES IN HISTORY" stands forward as a zealous and determined champion in the cause of religion and virtue, and employs all his energy and talents to instil into the minds of youth that train of thought, and connection of ideas, which are well calculated to induce them to compare their motives and actions with the standard of Divine truth. The importance of history, as a means of developing the faculties of the youthful mind, is admitted by all, as it at once engages the attention and interests the affections. If, therefore, the sentiments inculcated with the study of history are opposed to the advancement of religion and morals, their effects must be as prejudicial as their progress is insinuating; but if the current of thought be conducted into a proper channel, and the pursuits of history are rendered subservient to the progress of morals, the youthful mind will become gradually impressed with their importance, and that study, which might have been the most injurious, will at once become highly beneficial. In realizing this object, however, the best intentions may sometimes be productive of unhappy effects; and a work which combines the truths of the gospel with the study of history, undoubtedly requires great skill and care. Even with a combination of taste, talent, and zeal, if the judgment be not always in the fullest exercise, an author may repel where he intended to attract, disgust where he ought to please, and mislead where he designed to instruct. We are aware, that in the class of works to which the essays before us, and others of the same character, are intended as antidotes, the moral poison is often so artfully diffused through the whole mass, as almost to elude observation, till discovered by its effects. The design is not avowed-the point is not argued the principle is not even stated-but the insinuation is made the cup is mixed, and the draught presented. The effect must obviously depend, in a great measure, upon previous bias and principle. It has therefore been said, that the antidote to this species of poison should be administered in the same manner, and the moral medicine rather diffused through, than manifested in, the medium of its conveyance; but while the human mind has a greater tendency to the evil than to the good, it is obvious that the former might be imbibed, and the latter missed; and thus the wound would rankle, while the remedy was unapplied. Our author, however, has chosen a more avowed and open way of connecting moral instructions with historical facts. By adding reflections to each of his essays, he has inculcated the moral lessons which rise naturally out of the subject, in an easy, familiar, and pleasing manner. We should rejoice to see every attempt to enlarge the mind, accompanied by an appropriate effort to regulate the affections and improve the heart; and we would gladly anticipate, with this amiable author, the arrival of the glorious day, when there shall be "inscribed in legible characters, on every work of the imagination, and every production of human genius and science, HoLINESS TO THE LORD."End of vol. i. We consider the work before us as one of the best histories of England that can be put into the hands of youth, both as to the information it conveys, the principles it inculcates, and the manner in which the subject is treated. The plan is, in our opinion, well adapted to afford a clear view of the whole, by giving a lucid sketch of each of its parts; being neither so much abridged as to become dry, uninteresting, or obscure, from the brevity of its statements, nor so amplified as to be tedious from the minuteness of its details. The first volume, which contains the history of Britain from the Roman domination to the death of Elizabeth, is divided into six periods. The first contains Britain under the Roman domination; the second, England under the Saxons and Danes; the third, the Norman line; the fourth, the Plantagenets; the fifth, the Houses of Lancaster and York; and the sixth, the Tudors. The whole is followed by a number of appropriate Historical Questions. The second volume is divided into three periods, and extends from the reign of James I. to the death of George III. these are the seventh, eighth, and ninth periods of the work. The seventh_comprises the history of the Stuarts; the eighth, the female line of the House of Stuart; and the ninth, the House of Hanover; the whole closing, as in the former volume, with a series of Historical Questions. A list of authorities is also given at the end of each essay, which manifest considerable historical reseach. Mr. Morell's style is always clear and perspicuous, often elegant and impressive. His views of the various subjects which come under his discussion, have something in them original and pleasing. The following short extracts will, however, illustrate both the principles, style, and manner of of the author, better than any lengthened exposition. When speaking of the introduction of Christianity into Britain, he says, "Christianity is fitly compared to light, not merely on account of its illuminating and cheering influence; but also because of the silent rapidity with which it has been propagated throughout the world. As none could fix upon the instant of time, in which the first beam of the morning struggles with the empire of darkness, though it soon becomes manifest that the day has dawned, by the universal diffusion of light; so it is, in many cases, impossible to determine when first the light of Christianity dawned upon a pagan country. The obscure but zealous missionary who first proclaimed on its idolatrous shores the joyful tidings, may never be enrolled in the lists of fame: but it soon appears that the dayspring from on high has visited the people, which were lately sitting in darkness and the shadow of death. After a short period, it becomes manifest that the Sun of righteousness has risen upon them with healing under his wings." [pp. 38, 39.] In reference to the reign of Edward the Confessor, in the reflections after the seventh essay, in the second period, Mr. M. observes, "When we hear of one of this line of princes who was dignified with the appellation of 'Martyr,' and another with that of 'Confessor,' our imaginations recur to the glorious period in which a noble army of martyrs and confessors sealed the truth with their blood. We call to remembrance the Ignatiuses, the Polycarps, and the Justin Martyrs, who in the primitive ages witnessed a good confession of Christianity, and then confirmed that testimony by their death. But were such the martyrs and confessors of the Anglo-Saxon church? No! they attained to this high distinction by an easier track; they had only to take on them the vow of celibacy, to enrich the ecclesiastical treasury, or to signalize themselves by the antichristian spirit of bigotry, in order to ensure to themselves a high rank among the saints of the Romish church." [pp. 112, 113.] The remarks upon the state of literature, during the latter period of the Saxon dominion, are particularly worthy of attention. He says, "Literature as well as religion has its ebb and flow, its periods. of revival and of declension; nor is it difficult to discover the causes that usually operate to produce these alternations. The experience of all ages, and the history of all nations, concur to prove, that the decay of learning and taste uniformly follows in the train of war and despotism, superstition and vice; and on the other hand, that the most effectual means of restoring these social blessings, will ever be the diffusion of peace and civil liberty, of general education and christian instruction. If we mark with diligent |