98. TO HIS BROTHER. KEATS. [JOHN KEATS was born in London in 1796. He died at Rome at the early age of twenty-four. Every one knows Byron's allusion to the supposed cause of his death: ""Tis strange the mind, that very fiery particle, Keats was a young enthusiast-one who had dedicated himself with his whole heart to his poetical aspirations. He "was killed off by one critique," says Byron. Had Keats been of a less sensitive nature—had he mixed more with the world-had he been much behind the scenes where the parrots of criticism are taught to call, "fool" and "knave," he would have felt how utterly to be despised was such dirt as "The Quarterly" then thought it grand and dignified to cast at an apothecary's poor apprentice. He would have known that persecution from such a quarter was his necessary fate, because he had found friends amongst men of political opinions differing from those of the Review; and was not one of the coterie who arrogated to themselves (as they still arrogate) a supremacy of literary judgment. It would be hard to say that the same journal had redeemed the disgrace of its cruelty to Keats, by any generous encouragement of merit beyond its own pale, during its subsequent career of a quarter of a century. Fortunately such influences upon public opinion are rapidly waning, and the world asks for some better guide than flippant dogmatism and anonymous insolence. Keats published, in 1818, "Endymion, a Poetic Romance;" in 1820," Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and other Poems." These may now be obtained in a cheap form. The unhappy poet, whose agonies under the contempt with which he had been treated, are stated by his friend Shelley "to have resembled insanity," could not have anticipated that he should so soon have taken his rank amongst the most enduring names of our literature.] Full many a dreary hour have I past, My brain bewilder'd, and my mind o'ercast The purple west, and, two bright streaks between, That the bright glance from beauty's eyelid slanting But there are times, when those that love the bay, A sudden glow comes on them, nought they see It has been said, Dear George, and true I hold it, In air he sees white coursers paw and prance, All that's reveal'd from that far seat of blisses, These wonders strange he sees, and many more, Of whitest clouds she does her beauty dress, Like a sweet nun in holiday attire? Ah, yes! much more would start into his sight- And should I ever see them, I will tell you Such tales as needs must with amazement spell you. These are the living pleasures of the bard: But richer far posterity's award. What does he murmur with his latest breath, While his proud eye looks through the film of death ? That maids will sing them on their bridal-night. Gay villagers, upon a morn of May, When they have tired their gentle limbs with play, And placed in midst of all that lovely lass That my soft verse will charm thy daughters fair, And warm thy sons !" Ah, my dear friend and brother, Could I at once my mad ambition smother, For lasting joys like these, sure I should be Happier, and dearer to society. At times, 'tis true, I've felt relief from pain When some bright thought has darted through my brain. Through all that day I've felt a greater pleasure Than if I'd brought to light a hidden treasure. As to my sonnets, though none else should heed them, I feel delighted, still, that you should read them. Of late, too, I have had much calm enjoyment, Stretch'd on the grass, at my best loved employment Of scribbling lines for you. These things I thought Ocean's blue mantle, streak'd with purple and green; I see the lark, down-dropping to his nest, Which at this moment is in sunbeams drest; 99.-CHRISTIAN CHARITY. J. B. SUMNER, Bishop of Chester. [THE present excellent Bishop of Chester, Dr. John Bird Sumner, is the son of Dr. Sumner, who was a contemporary with Dr. Parr at Harrow, and became Head Master of that celebrated school. He died young. His two sons have each had the rare distinction of being promoted to the highest offices of the Church by the force of their own merits. The Bishop of Winchester is the younger brother of the Bishop of Chester. John Bird Sumner in 1815 published his first work, entitled " Apostolical Preaching." In 1816 appeared his "Records of Creation." To this remarkable work was awarded the second prize of £400, under the will of a Scotch gentleman named Burnett. In 1821 Dr. Sumner published the Sermons from which we extract the passage below, All his works are distinguished by their earnest piety, their depth of thought |