same size and composition as those found either at Belus's tower, or the mound mentioned to be situated between it and Hillah; I therefore returned, somewhat disappointed." seven tenths thick, seventeen inches and a half broad; furnace-baked, three inches thick, twelve inches broad, and generally weighed thirty-one pounds. "The Euphrates, as far as Korna, which is one hundred and twenty miles from the head of the Persian Ġulf, is navigable for vessels of three hundred tons, and from thence to Hillah, boats not exceeding eighty can come up during six months in the year. Their construction is singular: they have one very large mast with a latteen sail; the body almost half-moon, no keel, and a rudder of the most awkward shape; the hull is extremely ill-constructed, the ribs and planks being roughly nailed together, and the outside covered with bitumen. When they are going to Korna or Bussora, from Hillah, they sail if the wind be fair, or float down the stream if it be foul. In returning or ascending the stream, they have one end of a long rope tied to the head of the mast, four or six men take hold of the other end, and by this means pull her against the current. The intelligent Writer introduces some interesting details on the river Euphrates, and mentions several curious customs adopted by the present inhabitants of the country. He says, "that part of the Euphrates which lies between Karakoolee and Hillah, a distance of upwards of sixteen miles,winds extremely, and particularly where it passes Belus's tower a quarter of a mile distant. Arguing from the well-established fact, that streams, on so soft a bottom and level a surface, in the course of years change their beds, we may, without violating probability, presume that the Euphrates had anciently flowed between Belus's tower and the other large mound laying about three quarters of a mile to the West of it, mentioned in this account as the one with the walls of a large house still standing in it, and the decayed tree. But if we admit that the river may have changed its course from what it held in those ancient times, and that it now flows to the Westward of both the palace and the tower, instead of passing between them, as it is said to have done, the positions of the palace and tower are then exactly marked by these two mounds; for, with the exception of Niebuhr's watch-tower, there is not a single mound on the Western bank to be found, nor do the natives ever procure any bricks from that side, though the principal part of the town of Hillah is situated on it. If this conjecture be admissible, then the ancients and moderns agree in their accounts of this far-famed city with regard to the site of its two principal edifices; but if it be rejected as improbaI still remain as much ip the darkraft; these are from fifty to a hundred ce fresh roses, and that the diffiwhich had risen up between the o courts, are now removed by a sinré reconciliation and union; all who e connected with these two courts, knowledging the great blessing, will ver cease to maintain amicable relaons and correspondence between them. S "It is curious to observe, notwithstanding the lapse of ages, how some local customs and usages continue in practice. The circular boats made of reeds, and in form of a shield, which attracted the notice of Herodotus so much, and which, in his time, were used on the river between Babylon and Armenia, differ hardly at all from those in use at the present day; which perfectly agree with the description given by that venerable historian. Another curious method of navigation exists in these times, which is noticed as early as the time of Xenophon, merchants in Armenia, when embarking on the Tigris, collect a great number of goatskins, which, having inflated, they fasten together, forming a kind of square It in number; over them are placed mats, then the merchandise, and upon the top of all, the owners and passengers. Sis then set adrift, and, floating down the stream, it occasionally strikes Thgainst islands and shallow parts of Lehe river, the bottom of which being of A soft nature, seldom destroys the skins. "The flowing of the tide at Korna is a singular sight: it prevails against the stream of the Euphrates, but finds the current of the Tigris too powerful; and, as you stand at the confluence of the two rivers, you see the flood-tide flowing up the Euphrates on the one hand, and forced back by the strength of the Tigris on the other, forming, by this contrary direction of two currents, a violent eddy between them. The tides of the Persian Gulph are sensibly felt in the Euphrates twenty miles above Korna, or one hundred and forty miles from the mouth of the river." BARRY CORNWALL. Who filled the world with fame, sleep now inurned, Or on Athenian ground, or storied Troy, Beneath the quiet of the midnight sky, Beside some silent lake, encompassed round The beginning of the soliloquy is also very fine.-- This is a dreary world. The sun has made We have much pleasure in reflecting, that, when this delightful author first glanced upon the public eye, the Literary Gazette greeted his softly brilliant rising in the poetical horizon, with acclamations such as an enthusiastic race of eastern worshippers use when they behold the earliest coming of the lovely morn. Had we any fear, it was that private partiality might unawares warp our judgment, and cause us,perhaps, to express feelings growing out of many roots, which the intrinsic merits of the single fruit before us would not seem to warrant. We imagined that from other considerations of which we were conscious, we could not so sufficiently appreciate the production, as to be entirely fair in our criticism; and we therefore waited with some anxiety to see how far our brother reviewers agreed with or differed from our sentiments. They have unanimously coincided with us; and by common consent, the young Poet has been established in an elevated niche in the temple of fame, though as yet he has only presented two slight volumes to the world. These, we feel assured, are but the prelude to some swelling act; and surely, if Mr. Cornwall be possessed of any ambition, the laurels lavished on his first efforts must stimulate his genius to deeds still more worthy. We shall then be more pleased and more proud than ever to hail his increasing glory: at present, it is only our purpose to remind him of the expectations he has excited by quoting a few that passages from the new edition of his Dra-de matic Scenes. Tempest and storm: and so I am—a wretch. quiry, We add two of the shorter poems--right bank, at the distance of some miles of 38 from Hillah, between the uins, Karakoolee and the river. The following lines, of a soliloquy in the poems re "I accordingly rode to them, and of Werner, were not in the original publica-if the perceived that, for the space of about tion, and are eminently beautiful. ins of half a mile square, the country was rt dis- covered with fragments of different illah; kinds of bricks, but none of them led stow- me to conclude that they were of the SPI OF "Now that his excellency Mirza Abdul Hassan Khan, the ambassador to the grand court of Russia, is about to depart for the capital of that empire, I have resolved to open the gates of friendship with the key of this sincere ENGLISH letter; and, as it is an ancient custom, M SONNET. Oh, for that winged steed, Bellerophon! That Pallas gave thee in her infinite grace And loved for innocence, when thou didst face The treble-shaped Chimera. But he is gone That struck the sparkling stream from Helicon ; And never hath one risen in his place, Stamped with the features of that mighty race. Yet wherefore grieve I-seeing how easily The plumed spirit may its journey take Through yon blue regions of the middle air; And note all things below that own a grace, Mountain, and cataract, and silent lake, And wander in the fields of poesy, Where avarice never comes, and seldom care. ORIENTAL STYLE. St. Petersburgh, Jan. 21st, 1820. The Persian Ambassador, Abdul Hassan Khan, on his visit to this city, was directed to deliver to the empress mother an autograph letter, accompanied by several magnificent presents, from the wife of the Schah :-the Russian journals have published the following translation of the letter. "As long as the elements of which the world is composed shall last, may the august lady of the palace of grandeur-the cluster of pearls of the kingdom-the constellation of the stars of Sovereignty-she who bore the sun of the great empire-the centre of the circle of sovereignty-the palm tree of the fruit of supreme authority-may that august princess be ever happy, and protected from danger. After offering you my sincere good wishes, I have the honour to inform you that, at the appy period in which we live, and rough the great mercy of the Almighthe gardens of the two great powers nce fresh roses, and that the diffi which had risen up between the To courts, are now removed by a sin're reconciliation and union; all who e connected with these two courts, knowledging the great blessing, will ver cease to maintain amicable relaons and correspondence between them. conformable to the principles of friendship and cordiality, that friends should send presents to each other, I beg of you to accept a few of the finest products of our country. I hope that you will refresh with a few drops of friendly correspondence the garden of a heart which sincerely loves you. I entreat you will favour me with some commissions, that I may enjoy the pleasure of fulfilling them. May heaven preserve your days serene, happy and glorious!" (Here follows the signature.) The presents sent with the letter consisted of a pearl necklace, weighing 498 carats; five Indian shawls; a casket, a writing box, and dressing case, furnished with every necessary; and five pieces of brocade of the most superb manufacture. MEMORY. BORNE on the Ocean's heaving breast, Mark yon stately vessel sail; Gently foams the recreant tide, 'Neath the golden-gilded prow; Pleased the joyous waves divide Still behind no track they show. Yet at some far-distant day Memory will the scene retrace; Hail the vessel's easy grace. Still contentment glads his mind; Gone, nor leaves a track behind. Then alike fond memory's powers Pleasures long since past, review; Lead him back to youth's bright hours, And each blissful scene renew. POET LAUREAT. As early as the reign of Henry III. who died in the year 1272, there was a court poet, a Frenchman, named Henry de Aranches, and Magistro Henrico Versificator; and who, by records in the Exchequer is supposed to have had a salary of one hundred shillings a year. Chaucer was contemporary with Pe. trarch, and became acquainted with him abroad. On Chaucer's return to England he became Poet Laureat; and in the twenty-second year of the reign of Richard II. obtained a grant of an annual allowance of wine.John Kay, in his dedication of the Siege of Rhodes to Edward IV. sub scribes himself his "humble Poet Laureat;" and Skelton, who lived in the reigns of Henry VII. and Henry VIII. stlyes himself Skelton, Laureat. In the beginning of the reign of James I. Samuel Daniel was Laureat; but though he was a man of abilities, Ben Jonson was employed to write the court poems, which were so connected with music that they were sung in masques and interludes, and generally performed by the children who were singers at the Chapel Royal. On the death of Daniel, in the year 1619, Jonson was appointed his successor, and was granted an annual pension of one hundred marks. The children of James I. were all well instructed in music, and were taught to sing the lines scientifically, which were written by the Laureat. The King was very solicitous for them to sing and dance to true measure; and while they practised dancing privately, to whistle in time to each other when they had no music. In the year 1630, by letters patent of Charles I. the pension of Poet Laureat was augmented to one hundred pounds per annum; with an additional grant of one tierce of Canary Spanish wine, to be taken out of the King's store of wines yearly, and from time to time remaining at or in the cellars within or belonging to his palace of White hall. Who filled the world with fame, sleep now inurned, r marble Thebes upon whose sands long since the amorous Memnon in the morning light Eng to the young Aurora-for amongst m nder invisibly; and we will talk of ings and days denarted sill he "They ought to be heavy, and wrinkled and yellow;" When I offered myself, whom these graces adorn, You flouted, and called me an ugly old fellow. HERE THE MEETING. we meet, too soon to part, Here to leave will raise a smart, Here I'll press thee to my heart, Where none have place above thee; Here, the rose that decks thy door, The birds at rest above thee, By the night sky's purple ether, The moon that shines above thee, The charms, and casualties of woman, On a gentleman in the habit of calling every thing belonging to him the "best in England" HIS horses are the fleetest in the race, His dogs are ever staunchest in the chase, And yet I never heard, upon my life, WHAT HAS BEEN THE PROGRESS AND SUCCESS OF AMERICAN LITERATURE AND POETRY? HAVING attempted to give a slight for the developement of poetical excel sketch of the causes which retard the progress of American literature, we shall now enter into them a little more narrowly, with a view. more especially to their influence on poetry. The intellectual progress of a nation is dependent on a thousand moral and physical causes, amongst which the spirit of their governmnet, and above all, the nature of their occupations, may be reckoned the chief. The climate too, to which Montesquieu attributes so much, must undoubtedly have a considerable effect on the mind; but this influence cannot be compared with that which the spirit of a nation's occupations exerts. Nature, for the happiness of man, has wisely ordained that we should insensibly accommodate our selves to our situations; and thus our daily habits make an impression on our mind, similar to that which is produced on the surface of a stone, by the perpetual dropping of water. Hence any pursuit which requires continued and minute attention, necessarily excludes occupations of a higher cast, and renders the mind unfit to entertain expanded and lofty thoughts. An exclusive pursuit of one object, not only prevents the mind from acquiring new ideas, but also incapacitates it for the reception of them. lence. In almost every other situation in life-in the labours of the scholarthe dangerous path of the soldier-the simple and healthy toils of the shepherd and the husbandman, there is matter from which the poetical mind can extract ample and pleasant nutriment. But in the mean and uninteresting details of commercial transactions, in accounts current, and balancings, and prices current, in the rise and fall of the markets, and in nice calculations of profit and loss, a man may seek and find his worldly advantage, but with it he too often acquires a narrow and contracted mind, which prevents him from making a true use of those advantages which Fortune has placed in his power. do not by any means wish to decry the incalculable advantages which a country enjoys, from the possession of an extended and flourishing commerce, we only assert that it is in vain to look for enlarged and accomplished minds, in those who follow such pursuits. All men cannot perform all things; it is, therefore, perhaps too much to require any vast mental exertion from these indefatigable labourers, who so earnestly seek to enrich themselves, and consequently their country. We In taking a view of American literature we shall find it pretty much in this state. The Americans would, perhaps, vehemently deny it. They would say, |