Well then, companions, is't not fit,
Since to this gem we owe our wit,
That we should praise the cabinet,
And drink a health to this divine
And bounteous palace of our wine?
Die he of thirst that doth repine.

A Collection of Poems, chiefly of the 17th century, in the Lansdown MSS. No. 777.

SUPPLEMENT TO GRAY'S ELEGY IN A CHURCH YARD.

(From an American Paper)

THE celebrated Elegy in a Church-yard, by Gray, is well known, and justly admired by every one who has the least pretensions to taste. But with all its polish, and deep poetic beauty and feeling, it always appeared to me to be defective, and I have met with a remark in Cecil's Remains, to the same effect. Amid a scene so well calculated to awaken in a pious mind reflections on the sublime truths and inspiring hopes of Christianity, Gray, with the exception of two or three somewhat equivocal expressions, says scarcely a word which might not have been said by one who believed that "death was an eternal sleep," and who was disposed to regard the humble tenants of those tombs as indeed "each in his narrow cell for ever laid." With these views I have regretted, that sentiments similar to the following had not sprung up in the heart, and received the exquisite touches of the classic pen of Gray. I do not offer them to supply the deficiency. This would be as presumptuous and hopeless an attempt, as that of the English artists to repair the mutilations which time or accident had occasioned among the inimitable relics of Grecian genius. They might, with great propriety, have followed the stanza, beginning" Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife."

"No airy dreams their simple fancies fired,

No thirst for wealth, nor panting after fame;

But truth divine, sublimer hopes inspired,
And urged them onward to a nobler aim.

From every cottage, with the day arose

The hallowed voice of spirit-breathing prayer;

And artless anthems, at its peaceful close,

Like holy incense, charmed the evening air.

Though they, each tome of human lore unknown,
The brilliant path of science never trod,
The sacred volume claimed their hearts alone,

Which taught the way to glory and to God.

"Here they from truth's eternal fountain drew

The pure and gladdening waters day by day;
Learnt, since our days are evil, fleet, and few,

To walk in wisdom's bright and peaceful way.

"In yon lone pile, o'er which hath sternly pass'd
The heavy hand of all-destroying Time,

Through whose low mouldering isles now sighs the blast,
And round whose altars grass and ivy climb:

They gladly thronged, their grateful hymns to raise,
Oft as the calm and holy Sabbath shone;

The mingled tribute of their prayers and praise,

In sweet communion rose before the throne.

"Here, from those honoured lips, which sacred fire
From Heaven's high chancery hath touched, they hear
Truths which their zeal inflame, their hopes inspire,

Give wings to faith, and check affliction's tear.

"When life flowed by, and, like an angel, Death
Came to release them to the world on high,
Praise trembled still on each expiring breath,
And holy triumph beamed from every eye.

"Then gentle hands their " dust to dust" consign;
With quiet tears, the simple rites are said,
And here they sleep, till at the trump divine,

The earth and ocean render up their dead.

"Rhode Island, America."

Notwithstanding the modesty, which has prevented the author from claiming for these lines more than the merit of suggesting what is wanting in Gray's admirable Elegy, they accord so well with it both in elevation of sentiment, and force of diction, as to form of themselves no inappropriate supplement. It will not do, however, to intercalate them into the Elegy at the part suggested by the author, nor indeed any where else;

for though the thoughts are not in opposition to those of Gray, they do not, in terms, sufficiently chime in with them. Besides, with all its faults, the work of Gray is one which should be held

sacred.

66

BULL AGAINST WIGS.

THE Papal dignity has sometimes condescended to interfere in affairs of very trifling importance; such was the war of Benedict XIII. against the wigs of the clergy. On the 20th of December, 1724, he published a bull, of which the following is an extract: Statuit et mandat, ne ullus sacerdos, aut sacris initiatus, aut etiam clericus primæ tonsuræ, comam, quæ frontem auresque tegat, nutriat, multo minus peruccâ utatur, sub pœnâ, toties quoties transgrediuntur, decem scutorum, illico operibus et locis piis applicandorum, necnon incarcerationis totidem dierum." Ten days' imprisonment for wearing a wig! Let hair-dressers venerate this chieftain of the infallible church.

COMMISSIONS FOR THE TRIALS OF HENRY THE SIXTH AND THE DUKE OF CLARENCE.

THE two following extraordinary commissions, which were issued in the reign of Edward IV. shew the wretched state in which justice was administered in England in the fifteenth century. The first commission is directed to Richard, earl of Warwick, surnamed the King-maker, to preside as lord high steward on a very singular occasion,-no other than that of the trial of a KING REGNANT; and for no less a crime than than that of murder. The monarch thus accused was Henry VI. who was afterwards barbarously murdered in the Tower of London by Richard, (afterwards king Richard III.) at the instigation of his brother, king Edward. The commission is dated Dec. 3, A.D. 1461; 1 Edward IV.: and the preamble is as follows:

"Quod in processu ejusdem actûs adversus et contrà tam HENR. nuper de facto et non de jure regem Angl. adversarium inimicum nostrum, quam quodam alios rebelles nostros, aliosque qui prænobilem principem et patrem nostrum Ricardum, nuper ducem Eborum, apud Wakefield, crudelissimè et

præditoriè murdraverunt et interfecerunt, IN PRESENTI PARLIAMENTO NOSTRO auctoritate ejusdem parliamenti fiendi.”

(Translation.)

"Whereas, it is intended to proceed in the present parliament, by authority of the same, as well against HENRY, late in fact, but not in right, king of England, our avowed mortal enemy, as against other rebels and others our subjects, who murdered and slew the most noble prince and our father, Richard, late duke of York, at Wakefield."

The other commission is directed to Henry, duke of Buckingham, to preside as lord high steward, for the sole purpose of seeing execution done on George, late duke of Clarence, the king's own brother, who stood convicted and attainted, by the then parliament, of treason committed against the royal person. The reasons assigned by the monarch for awarding execution against the duke, is a futile attempt in extenuation of one of the most cruel fratricides ever recorded. The commission is dated February 7, A. D. 1477-8, 17 Edward IV. and contains among other matter, the following remarkable passage:

"Nos considerantes, quod justicia est virtus excellens per quam regna prosperantur, reges et principes regnant et gubernant, omnino bonum regimen politia et bonum publicum manutenantur et supportantur, quam virtutem ad Dei complacenciam præ aliquâ carnali affectione sequi et eâ uti intendimus ut debimus, multoque magis pro eo quod vinculo conscientiæ nostræ, et per solempne juramentum erga Deum sub pœnâ perpetuæ dampnationis, primo, pro securitate personæ nostræ regiæ et exitus nostri, secundario pro tranquillitate et defensione ecclesiæ Christi infra regnum nostrum Angl. et tertio pro bono publico, pace et tranquillitate regni nostri prædicti ac dominorum et nobilium, et tocius communitatis ejusdem cujuscunque gradus et condicionis existant, necnon in evitatione effusionis sanguinis Christiani prospicere constringimur, licet propinquitas sanguinis, et internus et teneris amor quem ad præsatum Georgium in teneri ætate suá habuimus et jerebamus, nos ad contrarium naturaliter movent et exhortant."

(Translation.)

"WE, considering that justice is an excellent virtue, by which kingdoms prosper, kings and princes reign and govern, and

all good rule, policy, and the public welfare, are maintained and supported; which virtue, so acceptable to God himself, we intend, as we ought, to follow and practise in preference to any other carnal affection; and the more so, as we are bound by the tie of conscience, and liable from our solemn appeal to God, to perpetual damnation; first, we are obliged to provide for the security of our royal person, and of our issue; secondly, for the tranquillity and defence of Christ's church, within our kingdom of England; and thirdly, for the safety of the public weal, the peace and quiet of our aforesaid kingdom, and of the lords and nobility, and of the whole community, of every degree and condition; and lastly, in order to avoid the shedding of Christian blood. Notwithstanding, therefore, the nearness of propinquity, and the internal and tender love which we had and bore to the aforesaid George in his infancy, his crimes now naturally induce and provoke us to act the contrary part."

KNIGHTS OF THE POST.

THERE is a curious old black letter tract in the British Museum, printed at London in 1597, and entitled

The Biscouerie of the Knights of the Poste; or, the Knights of the Poste, or Common Baylers, newly Descried. TWherein is shewed, and plainly laid open, many leude actions, and substill deuises, which are daily practised by them, to the great abuse of most honourable councelers, learned judges, and other graue maiestrates, and also to the defrauding and utter undoing of a greate number of her Maiestie's good and loyal subjects.”

In this tract there is a full exposure of the mock bailers, or, as they were then called, the "Knights of the Post," who will be found to have differed very little from those of our own day. The pamphlet is in the form of a dialogue, which two travellers, journeying the same way, who had formerly known each other, are supposed to enter into. One of them says:

"But hearest thou, Goodcoll? I pray thee, say how doe all our ancient acquaintance, ye good oath-takers, or common baylers, alias the knights of the poste, the lords of Lob's Bound, and heires apparant to the pillory; who are as ready to baile men out of prison, being then well pleased for their paines, as Tiron is in playing the traitor without causes."