within is no way shackled in its development, from lack of novelty on that score. What if the spiritual creations of man's brain be able to fulfil their every function without any necessity for new forms?—at least sufficiently so to make us content with the progress of Poetry, even though she may not cast herself into strange postures.

Having said thus much on the prospects of Poetry, we may appropriately conclude with a few words on the tone of mind in which it should be read and studied. We should bring to it, if only for our own sakes, a loving and teachable spirit. A captiously criticising spirit is injurious to its possessor, and apt to reduce his mind, in the long run, to a state of atrophy, for which there is at last no remedy-it grows leaner and leaner in the midst of abundance. A blind, indiscriminate hunger, which swallows all things alike, is, indeed, to be eschewed; but of the two extremes this is more hopeful than the other. For excessive admiration may with time be reduced within bounds, as every fresh object of comparison has a tendency to correct its scale; but the spirit, that is ever looking out for objects of censure, has entered on a career, whose negative character more and more breeds a distaste for the positive, however good; and, could its barren path by any possibility lead where it would for once find itself face to face with perfection, nothing but discomfort could result from an interview for which the loving spirit alone is fitted or worthy.

The precise importance, therefore, of the student eschewing altogether, or at least keeping within compass, that cavilling love of fastening on the defects in a performance in preference to its beauties, is, that he will thereby be in a better condition, and, indeed, in the only possible condition, for appreciating the poem: for the poet's spirit is essentially a constructive and loving spirit, not destructive and malignant. He is alive to beauty,

and by the instinct of his nature is drawn towards it, and simply turns from the reverse. The spirit of the reader should be in harmony with the author he studies, or, for his own sake, the sooner they part company the better.

II.

PERIODICAL LITERATURE.

[JANUARY, 1850.]

HE civilization of modern times, like every great fact, reveals itself under various phases; but, perhaps, to an attentive observer, its not least significant feature is Periodical Literature. The demand and supply alike testify to a high civilization, both mental and physical. Mental, inasmuch as it is a sign unmistakeable that knowledge, which in ancient times was wont to gather itself in glittering pools here and there on the surface of society, leaving the rest a dreary desert unrefreshed, is now diffusing itself abroad and through its very depths, above and below, everywhere operating with fertilizing vigour, wakening a thousand sleeping germs into life, ill things, it must be confessed, and of a good growth together, but still redolent of activity and progress. Nor is it less significant of civilization in its physical aspect. What command over the necessaries of life, and its mechanical arts, must have been attained by society, before a periodical literature like that of our country could have grown up in it! Of this he will be sensible, who considers the necessary conditions of existence in the most trivial publication. Periodical Literature is symptomatic of mind astir in the mass of the community, and how much astir is a subject of grave reflection, but not unconso→

latory, for him who believes that, in the conflict of good and evil elements, the good must finally prevail. Cicero has taken occasion to observe upon the restless activity of the human mind, but the activity of those times shrinks into nothing in comparison with what now prevails. Ninetenths of the population are waging the great battle-the battle for their daily bread; and yet, withal, in the interval of breathing-time allowed them from their struggle with bodily wants, they clamorously demand wherewith to stay the cravings of the mind. To satisfy that craving, the cheap periodical is among the readiest means at hand. But woe to him who, when his brother asketh bread, giveth him a stone, or profits by his hot thirst to offer the poisoned chalice to his lips! And blessings on those who have worked hard to bring light and knowledge home to the hearths of their toil-bound brethren! And, if this craving be intense, it is no less discursive and tenacious. Every thing is challenged to yield up its quantum. Nor would it perhaps be easy to point out a single subject of intrinsic importance that has entirely lost its interest. Thought flows on in a thousand streams, widening as they go to swell the sum of human knowledge. Fluctuations there will be as often as some orb of mind appears above the literary horizon, to raise a spring-tide presently in that direction. If a poet, then after poetry do men run with more than usual vehemence; if a brilliant historian arise, then are we smitten with eagerness to ransack our country's annals. The author of Waverley burst upon the world from a new region of fiction, and historical novels became long the order of the day. So of the other departments. Each in its turn is raised above its usual height, and, when the temporary disturbing influence is abated, subsides into its ordinary channel, but still flows; for, in their due proportion, the interest in all things continues, if that interest be intrinsic. And here, in part, lies the foundation of

prosperity of periodicals in the bulk. They treat among them of everything, and are maintained by the taste for everything being some way or other alive among the people; for fewer things die out than is often supposed.

Having said thus much of periodicals in general, it is time for a word or two of ourselves in particular; and in this our first number stating on what we rest our claims to public attention. The work, as our title indicates, will be a Literary Miscellany; its general aim the old object-the utile dulci-of being agreeable and useful, of combining pleasure with instruction,—in the pursuit of which, we shall deem all matters of general interest our proper province, except where they run into party politics; for these we shall sedulously eschew, not as deficient in interest, nor as being ourselves impassive on those points, but because we know them, from experience both of ourselves and others, that they engage men's minds too deeply, and too excitingly, to square with the somewhat even tone that should characterize a periodical of a literary character. In politics it is all sun or all shade; and we would rather rejoice in a neutral light. With regard to Theology, too, the most important of all subjects, towering above the rest as far as man's eternal interests transcend the limits of his brief sojourn in this life, we shall exercise a similar discretion. Religious topics especially crave a fitting time and place, as well as fitting persons to handle them. If approached with a Gallio-like indifference, the cause suffers, and perhaps scarcely less from mistaken zeal, which is apt in its hot haste to overturn that calm-paced charity without which religion is but a name. And if there be any other subject, the treating of which is more calculated to rouse the angry feelings than to make us wiser and better, we shall avoid that. But with these qualifications, all topics of interest we shall deem within our scope, whether literary or scientific, historical or statistic. So much for the matter;

and for the form, we shall endeavour to vary this, as far as we may, to suit the various tastes of our readers, that each may find something to his liking. Essays and Tales, whether original or translations; Criticisms and Poetry.

We shall find a corner too for occasional problems in chess, to try the ingenuity of such as love that timehonoured game, whose origin seems lost in remote antiquity.

In conclusion, we propose paying our respects to the public monthly, until our publisher, judging by the demand for our lucubrations, shall acquaint us that our visits are not acceptable. In which case, however we may retain our habits of a Looker-on, it will be to see all and say nothing.

III.

COLONIES AND COMMERCE.

[FEBRUARY, 1850.]

OLDING ourselves at. liberty to glance from time to time at the matters of high interest that pass around us, we thought a word or two not

out of place, touching what bids fair to become a question of very absorbing interest, viz. the connexion of this great Empire with its colonies. Our readers, however, must not expect us to discuss here what would greatly transcend our limits and scope. Neque dicere conamur tenues grandia. We leave the Leviathans, in yellow or blue, to tempest the ocean with such big themes. But, floating in shallow waters, where their huge bulk might perhaps not reach, it seemed to us we might be useful in our generation, if we touched on the frame of mind in which we apprehend the discussion should be