'Twas like a torch-race-such as they Of Greece perform'd, in ages gone, When the fleet youths, in long array, Pass'd the bright torch triumphant on. 'I saw th' expectant nations stand, To catch the coming flame in turnI saw, from ready hand to hand,

The clear, but struggling glory burn.

And, oh, their joy, as it came near, 'Twas, in itself, a joy to seeWhile Fancy whisper'd in my ear, "That torch they pass is Liberty!"

And each, as she receiv'd the flame, Lighted her altar with its ray, Then, smiling, to the next who came, Speeded it on its sparkling way.

From ALBION first, whose antient shrine Was furnish'd with the fire already, COLUMBIA caught the spark divine, And lit a flame, like ALBION's, steady. The splendid gift then GALLIA took, And, like a wild Bacchante, raising The brand aloft, its sparkles shook, As she would set the world a-blazing ! And, when she fir'd her altar, high It flash'd into the redd'ning air So fierce, that ALBION, who stood nigh, Shrunk, almost blinded by the glare!

Next, SPAIN, so new was light to her, Leap'd at the torch-but, ere the spark She flung upon her shrine could stir,

'Twas quench'd—and all again was dark. Yet, no-not quench'd-a treasure, worth So much to mortals, rarely diesAgain her living light look'd forth,

And shone, a beacon, in all eyes!

• Who next receiv'd the flame? alas, Unworthy NAPLES-shame of shames, That ever through such hands should pass That brightest of all earthly flames!

Scarce had her fingers touch'd the torch, When, frighted by the sparks it shed, Nor waiting ev'n to feel the scorch, She dropp'd it to the earth-and fled.

And fall'n it might have long remain❜d,
But GREECE, who saw her moment now,
Caught up the prize, though prostrate, stain'd,
And wav'd it round her beauteous brow.

• And Fancy bid me mark where, o'er
Her altar, as its flame ascended,
Fair, laurell'd spirits seem'd to soar,
Who thus in song their voices blended :-

"Shine, shine for ever, glorious Flame,
"Divinest gift of Gods to men!
"From GREECE thy earliest splendour came,
"To GREECE thy ray returns again.

"Take, Freedom, take thy radiant round,
"When dimm'd, revive, when lost, return,
"Till not a shrine through earth be found,
"On which thy glories shall not burn!"

pp. 17—21.

The Extinguishers' deserves to be praised as much for the The Little Grand Lama,' value of the moral, as for its wit. we would advise all those readers to pass over, who are afraid of laughing at naughty things. The following is not quite unexceptionable, but we will venture it.

When Royalty was young and bold,
Ere, touch'd by Time, he had become-
If 'tis not civil to say old-

At least, a çi-devant jeune homme,

One evening, on some wild pursuit,
Driving along, he chanc'd to see
Religion, passing by on foot,

And took him in his vis-à-vis.

This said Religion was a Friar,
The humblest and the best of men,

Who ne'er had notion or desire
Of riding in a coach till then.

"I say"-quoth Royalty, who rather
Enjoy'd a masquerading joke-
"I say, suppose, my good old father,
"You lend me, for a while, your cloak."

The friar consented-little knew

What tricks the youth had in his head;

Besides, was rather tempted too

By a lac'd coat he got in stead.

Away ran Royalty, slap-dash,

Scampering like mad about the town;

Broke windows-shiver'd lamps to smash,

And knock'd whole scores of watchmen down.

• While nought could they, whose heads were broke,
Learn of the "why" or the "wherefore,"
Except that 'twas Religion's cloak

The gentleman who crack'd them, wore.

Meanwhile, the Friar, whose head was turn'd
By the lac'd coat, grew frisky too-
Look'd big-his former habits spurn'd-
And storm'd about as great men do→→→

• Dealt much in pompous oaths and curses-
Said " - you" often, or as bad→→→→
Laid claim to other people's purses—
In short, grew either knave, or mad.
As work like this was unbefitting,
And flesh and blood no longer bore it,
The Court of Common Sense, then sitting,
Summon'd the culprits both before it.
• Where, after hours in wrangling spent,
(As Courts must wrangle to decide well)
Religion to St. Luke's was sent,

And Royalty pack'd off to Bridewell.

With this proviso-should they be
Restor❜d, in due time, to their senses,
They both must give security,

In future, against such offences

Religion ne'er to lend his cloak,

Seeing what dreadful work it leads to;

And Royalty to crack his joke,

But not to crack poor people's heads too.' pp. 35-38.

There are certainly many things which we could wish out of the volume. But it will have only the life of an ephemeron. The following is a very neatly turned epigram.

'A SPECULATION.

Of all speculations the market holds forth,
The best that I know for a lover of pelf,

Is to buy ****** up, at the price he is worth,

And then sell him at that which he sets on himself.'

The volume is exorbitantly dear.

Art. IX. The Bible Catechism, arranged in Forty Divisions: all the Answers to the Questions being in the exact Words of Scripture: intended for the Religious Instruction of the Young, both in Families and Schools. By W. F. Lloyd. 24mo. pp. 170. Price 2s. London, 1822.

THE

HE late Rev. Samuel Palmer, of Hackney, drew up, many years ago, a Scripture Catechism on a much smaller scale than this, which deserves to be better known than we apprehend it is. As Mr. Lloyd does not refer to it, we think it very likely that he was not aware of its existence. The idea was excellent; for if answers are to be put into a child's mouth, to questions which it is probable he cannot fully comprehend, it is most seemly and most advisable in every point of view, that they should be framed in the language of that perfect rule of faith which is of paramount and Divine authority. The habit of appealing to Scripture in support of our religious sentiments, is a most important one to be formed in the youthful mind; and the committing to memory so large a variety of texts, will in itself be useful.

This very copious collection of Scripture texts must have cost Mr. Lloyd considerable pains. They are arranged under the following chapters.

Chap. I. The Holy Scriptures. II. The Young-Young or weak Believers-early Piety. III. Of God. IV. Of Jesus Christ. V. Of the Holy Spirit. VI. Of Sin. VII. Of the Pardon of Sinthe Atonement of Christ-Repentance. VIII. Of the Renewal of the Mind-Regeneration. IX. Of Faith. X. Prayer and Praise. XI. The Sabbath and the House of God. XII. Affliction-Persecution. XIII. Temptation. XIV. The Righteous and the Wicked. XV. Wisdom. XVI. The Kingdom of Christ-the Spread of true Religion. XVII. Humility and Pride. XVIII. Meekness-Forgiveness-Patience-Perseverance. XIX. Anger, Strife, Hatred, Malice, Revenge, and Envy. XX. Love-Benevolence-Sympathy -Mercy-Peace. XXI. Love of the World-Covetousness-Content. XXII. Honesty and Dishonesty-Justice and Injustice. XXIII. Diligence and Idleness. XXIV. Slander-Tale-bearingFilthy Speaking. XXV. Truth and Deceit. XXVI. Cursing and Swearing. XXVII. Concerning the Tongue. XXVIII. Purity. XXIX. Company. XXX. Self-denial. XXXI. Self-examination and Watchfulness. XXXII. Duties of Children. XXXIII. Duties of Brothers, Friends, and Neighbours. XXXIV. Duties to Kings, to Masters, &c. XXXV. Life-Time. XXXVI. Death and the Grave. XXXVII. The Resurrection. XXXVIII. The Day of

Judgement. XXXIX. Heaven. XL. Hell.'

Two morning and two evening prayers are added, in the exact words of Scripture.

VOL. XX. N. S.

P

This little work is particularly adapted to attract the attention of Sunday School Teachers. Its price will exclude it from very general introduction in its present form, but an abridgement is advertised, price four-pence. Mr. Lloyd, as the secretary to the Sunday School Union, must have had ample experience as to the capacities of children; but we should imagine that a greater simplicity of language in the questions would have been desirable. The very first question, Who inspired the Scriptures?' is not very clear or very happy. The more direct answer, too, would be supplied by the reply to the second question; and the text cited as an answer to the first, would with more propriety apply to the question, What is Inspiration? The sixth question will require to be accompanied with an explanation: perhaps, the Author intended that it should be so introduced by the teacher. But such phrases as the following would, it seems to us, stand not in less need of being translated to Sunday School children in general: Are the wisdom and piety of the young intimately connected with the extension of the cause of Christ? What is the curse of the carnal, and the blessing of the spiritual?' • What is said in the Revelations (Revelation) as to Christ's subduing his enemies, and his supreme dignity? Does the sympathy of Christ as our high-priest, encourage our confidence in prayer? What vision of the gospel's extension did St. John behold? Should a mature understanding and a child-like disposition be joined together?' Are righteousness and judgement essential to the character of God.' This last, we think a very improper question to be put to a child. There are in all nearly nine hundred questions, many of which we should certainly strike out; and we should recommend, in the next edition, a severe revision of the phraseology, with a view to greater simplicity and correctness. As to the prayers, they prove that Scripture language is not the most suitable for the prayers of a child, if his prayer is to be a reasonable service. It is comparatively easy to make a child learn by rote, and go through a mechanical exercise with the utmost precision; but the grand object ought to be, to make them think, to gain access to their moral nature; and with this view, while we quite approve of their being taught a doctrinal catechism, we should rely more on the efficacy of the system which leaves the child to frame his own answer to the question put to him, whenever the subject admits of it. At the same time, the design of the Bible Catechism has our cordial approbation..