lose health, temper, and self-respect-to suffer all the horrors of degrading dependence—

"to ride, to run,

To sigh, to sue, to want, to be undone ;"

such must be the destiny of the man, who hopes to live by authorship, without having received from nature and fortune those powers and opportunities which are absolutely necessary to success.

For us, at least, who have seen something of this wretchedness, to encourage bright anticipations which can terminate only in despair, to incite a poor uneducated man" to a career, which can end only in the prison or the workhouseto precipitate him into difficulties and distresses, of which the mere imagination is a torment, would be, we are well convinced, the most unpardonable barbarity. For us to neglect entering our protest against the mistaken kindness of others, who might be inclined to afford the encouragement, which we deprecate, would we think, be a violation of our duty, not only as literary censors, but as men, who if they cannot make a fellow-creature happy, would yet endeavour to save him from impending despondency and ruin.

Our remarks are capable of very general application. With regard to the particular instance, which has given rise to them, we need only add, that the verses, although they exhibit some occasional glimpses of good feeling, contain not a single spark of genius or talent :-that they are neither tolerable in themselves, nor hold out the slightest promise that the unfortunate author ever will write better.

We trust that we have done the poor man no injustice by our quotations and our comments. He is anonymous, and need not be known. If our judgment be wrong, the general taste can set us right if it be correct, as we fear it is, and already ratified by the opinion of our readers, no time can be too soon, to persuade the misguided rhymester to forswear authorship for ever, and devote his time and talents to some other occupation, where success and profit will be more likely to reward his labours.-No opportunity can be too public, to inform the Correspondent, who forwarded those verses to our Council, that although it is a benevolent and praiseworthy

design to bring forward obscure and unfriended geniusalthough it is a task in which we shall ourselves be always proud and happy to co-operate-yet that its execution requires the highest degree of skill, knowledge, and experience:—and that too often, while they hope to confer a lasting benefit, they are in fact doing the most fatal and irreparable mischief.

THE INTENDED NATIONAL MUSEUM.

AMONG the projects, which are now in contemplation, is the institution of a National Museum, on a plan somewhat similar to the Louvre at Paris. The King, it is said, feels a great interest in the scheme: and will send to the new gallery many of the paintings, which are now seen to less advantage in several of the royal palaces. The Elgin marbles and other models of sculpture will also be removed from the places, where they are now deposited: and we have little doubt, that when the scattered master-pieces are concentrated in a single appropriate spot, the National Museum of England will vie with any collection of pictures or statues in the world, We shall not, however, enter into a detail of the plan, for the very simple reason, that we know nothing of the particular arrangements, and rather imagine that they are not as yet fixed.

But it will be quite plain, if we view the above-mentioned design in connection with the formation of a Royal Academy of Music, that a taste for the Fine Arts is making a rapid progress in this country. We take the fact for granted and we rejoice at it for although we are far from confessing, that we deserve the opprobrious epithets, which have been bestowed upon us by our neighbours, or that we are behind the continent at the present moment in the general matters which relate to the refinement and embellishment of life, we are still most willing to allow, that there is much room for positive improvement. It would be to us a source of considerable pride, if we could assist, not merely in forwarding its progress, but in directing its spirit: or,

since England seems starting upon a fresh race, if we might be allowed to point out the course in which, according to our judgment, her steps ought to be traced.

In a regular discussion, we might begin with examining the influence of the Fine Arts upon the manners, and dispositions, and enjoyments of a people. Our omission of this topic must not be attributed to an ignorance of the importance which it may claim, or the instruction which it may afford. To attempt at least an investigation of it both upon philosophical principles, and by an historical comparison between various nations, would be a task at once pleasing to ourselves, and we should hope not altogether unamusing to our readers. But we shall wait, until we come fairly to a topic which is among the most interesting that can engage the mind of man—namely, the formation of human character, both individual and national.

In the epoch of refinement, which is opening upon us—in the career which we are about to run— -it is our present object to apply the maxims of common sense to the concerns of taste; for common sense is after all the safest directress of every rational pursuit-the only stable foundation of real excellence in manners, in habits, or in arts. We disclaim all pretensions to speaking as professors: we deliver our opinions simply as men, who aspire to see their country pre-eminent in the whole range of human superiority; and who imagine, that to take a correct view of the fundamental principles by which taste must be governed, and the immutable standards to which it must be referred, requires no deep initiation into the mysteries of any craft, no intimate acquaintance with precise technicalities and established forms.

In the useful arts-in agriculture-in manufactures—in mechanics-in the practical department of science-England stands unrivalled. In the Fine Arts-in painting-in architecture-in sculpture-in music-we see no sufficient reason, why she should be inferior to any people which does exist, or has ever existed, upon earth.

It has not, however, escaped us, that many plausible reasons may be assigned. We hear of the difference of climate -the variety of national taste-the force of national prejudices or partialities-the superior beauty to which the human form

attained in ancient Greece:-and a catalogue of fortuitous circumstances, too numerous to mention but we can confess that there is not one among these reasons, to which we can attach implicit faith; and that we consider the most of them absolutely frivolous and unmeaning. While, then, we allow, that with respect to the Fine Arts England has much to learn and something to unlearn, we think the deficiency attributable to accidental and therefore removeable, causes-not to any which are fixed, necessary, and essentially interwoven with the nature of things.

It has been hinted, that the structure of our constitution is unfavourable to our progress in the Fine Arts. The only attempt at proving this strange proposition is by arguing, that the very form and excellence of the British government,—as they engender the love and the habits of proud, sturdy, substantial liberty, as they allow all individuals in the nation the power of reading, and thinking, and talking, upon great and agitating topics, which are forbidden in other nations, and invest them with a personal consequence, which is unknown elsewhere-tend to create high-minded men, and rational politicians, rather than sculptors, or painters, or architects, musical composers, or musical performers. Thus in general society, while the Russian, or the German, or the Frenchman, has a thorough acquaintance with the theory and science of music, can play on one or more musical instruments, can descant with the most approved phrases in real or affected rapture upon a picture, a statue, a column, or a façade, the Englishman has contented himself with the study of orators or philosophers, and rather loves to amuse himself with doctrines of political economy, with the news of the day, with the affairs of state, and the manner in which they should be settled. Now that such is the case-not universally indeed, but frequently-we are ready to admit :-but that such must be the case we utterly and unhesitatingly deny. That men may be at once free and refined, high-minded and polished—proud and jealous of possessing all that gives dignity or value to life, and yet capable of attaining all that adorns it with elegance and grace, is a truth, of which we are not only convinced in the abstract, but which we yet hope to see fully exemplified in

our own land. We have always thought that Goldsmith, in describing us, has traced but half of the possible excellence of our character. He beautifully says→

"Stern o'er each bosom Reason holds her state,

With daring aims irregularly great;

Pride in their port, defiance in their eye,

I see the lords of human race pass by:

Intent on high designs, a thoughtful band,

By form unfashion'd, fresh from nature's hand;
Fierce in their native hardihood of soul,

True to imagin'd rights above control;

While e'en the peasant boasts these rights to scan,
And learns to venerate himself as man.'

The delineation is correct as far as it goes: but it is not the full delineation of an English gentleman :—or of Englishmen as they even now exist, rich, and knowing the use of riches:educated at home in severe and noble studies, but improved by travel and intercourse with the world into a more finished and engaging character-the patrons of ingenuity in every department-the lovers of excellence in all its forms.England, we believe, is now, and may be still more, not only "The land of scholars, and the nurse of arms,"

but a country where

"wealth imparts

Convenience, plenty, elegance, and arts."

Indeed, it has been always one of our favourite speculations to consider not merely the political, but, as it were, the social excellence of our constitution. In this point, it seems to unite in itself all the advantages of monarchy and republicanism.

There are certain qualities and virtues, as is well known, which are only compatible with the genius of freedom. Where liberty is not allowed to flourish, they too must wither and die. We need hardly say, that we allude to liberal opinions-bold and ardent speculations-energy and activity in all useful undertakings-manliness of principle—elevation of soul-and conscious dignity of demeanour. Again, there are certain graces, which can be fostered only by the atmosphere of a court. We mean the charm of real politeness