Thunder'd defiance to the shuddering stars, And, with the song of sweetness, which he loves, We have made these citations so extensive, in order that our readers may be enabled to judge for themselves respecting the real merits of this author, and may perceive that considerable power and excellence are displayed in the volume, though every page betrays blunders of metre and language which might at first view deter a reader from farther perusal. The inequalities and the errors, indeed, that occur in these dramas, are truly surprizing. As specimens of grammatical blunders, the following are obvious: In my sleep And threats of coming evil, from my mind The mighty curtain, whose inclosing folds Doth hide the golden gates of Heaven.' (P. 180. line 17.) 'Is it thee Royal Apollo, who doth hide thy bow.' (P. 265. line 11.) With immortality of crime.' (P. 224. line 18.) • Hark! • Hark! how roars The thunder of the upper world! and glares Dost thou not fear their glory?' (P. 225. line 10.) As to metrical errors, it may be sufficient to specify Judean, (p. 144.) and Belesis, (pages 138, 139. and 150.); while Salomenes has the first e long in p. 141. and short in pages 143. and 146. In p. 141. Curdistan's grape is dried in the juice of violets.' To dry a substance in a fluid is rather an Hibernian expression: but this process, we suppose, is to be inspis sation. 6 We are pained, however, with the task of pointing out the deficiencies of an author who seems to have been gifted with genius and imitative power. If he should follow up his poetical pursuits, not discouraged by deficiencies from which indeed he may free himself by labor and industry, we would still seriously advise him, for his own sake, not to appear again before the public without having submitted his manuscript to the perusal of some Englishman of education. ART. VI. WE Letters from Spain. By Don Leucadio Doblado. 8vo. pp. 483. 15s. Boards. Colburn and Co. 1822. E understand that the author of this volume is a Spanish gentleman who was educated for the priesthood, but, entertaining some doubts as to the infallibility of the church of Rome, he deemed it expedient to retreat to this country, where he has resided for many years. In adopting an English home, he determined also to assume an English name, and, anglicizing his Spanish appellation by a tautological addition, he has called himself "the Reverend Blanco White." The name in the title-page is of course fictitious. The merit of these letters, which are dated from the year 1798 to 1808, consists not merely in giving an accurate and entertaining account of modern Spanish life and manners, for with those topics the narratives of our own travellers, especially Townsend, have made us sufficiently acquainted, though the information of a native must still have a pre-eminence: but they call for our attention in a more important point of view, as exhibiting a vigorous and masterly sketch of the moral and political state of Spain previously to its late regeneration; at the same time affording us such an insight into the Spanish character, as may assist us in examining the causes which have led to that great event, and ascertaining the probability of the success and stability of the new system. No No country ever presented a more interesting aspect than Spain offers at the present moment: she has every claim to our regard and sympathy that can be imagined. With all the trammels which a long-continued despotism, and a superstition even more degrading than that despotism, could bind around her, she still preserved a sense of the blessings of freedom; and not even her protracted servitude has rendered her unfit for the enjoyment of them. Throughout the long period of her struggles, she has proved by her resolution, her constancy, and her wise moderation, (that rarest virtue in popular changes,) that she has a title to success; and it is impossible for us to remember the trials and sufferings of so noble a people without feeling a lively interest in their welfare. The horrors of the French invasion were poorly compensated by the chance of a better system of things, of which the administration of Joseph afforded a transient expectation; while the re-establishment of the antient dynasty was marked by the destruction of every hope of freedom. Those who had fought and bled for their country were rewarded with exile or death, and this rigor and injustice were for a time successful. Lacy and Porlier perished: but the spirit which had prompted them survived. At length, however, the great blow was struck, and Spain arose from her chains. In the exasperation of repeated defeats, it would not have been extraordinary if the Spaniards had now repaid some of that debt of injury which they owed to their rulers: but here the high sense and temperate feeling of the nation were manifested, with more than ordinary and more than probable magnanimity. If any thing could have driven them at this time to outrage, it would have been the rash and bloody attempts which the partizans of government made to recover their power: but, in the patience with which the people endured these insults, they have given one of the noblest examples not only which we have witnessed in these eventful times, but which the history of any age presents. After all her struggles, it is still questionable whether the new liberties of that fine region are to be allowed to establish themselves, for they have been assailed from within and they are yet threatened from .without. It seems little to be disputed that the primary origin of the Spanish revolution is to be traced to that dissemination throughout all Europe of just, immutable, and invaluable free principles, which was at least one good effect of the political disturbances of France. The Spaniards, however, did not suffer that grinding oppression which had driven the French to madness; the feudal system was scarcely felt among them; them; and the taxes were not generally burthensome. It was therefore from a conviction of political rather than of personal evil that they sought a change. This sense was strengthened and elevated by the improvement and the information which have been gradually extending themselves in that country for some years past, particularly among the lower orders: so that even the censorship and the Inquisition were unable to oppose the progress which the people were making in knowlege; and, as that knowlege increased, they began to perceive more clearly the folly and wickedness of the antient system, to which they had been again compelled to bow their necks. It is indeed impossible to conceive any thing beyond the absurdity to which that system was carried; and it is equally impossible to suppose that a thoughtful and high-minded nation, like the Spanish, if their eyes were once opened, would ever again submit to such degradation. From the volume before us, numberless instances might be collected of the shameful and ridiculous abuse of power which marked the proceedings of the Spanish government. The circular letter to the Universities sent by Caballero, minister of the home-department, is an excellent specimen of the spirit of the Spanish rulers, and tells all that can be said on the subject. "His Majesty," it was stated in the order, "is not in want of philosophers, but of good and obedient subjects;" and accordingly the study of moral philosophy was forbidden. Even in matters of religion, the last in which the eye of a Spaniard was likely to discover any defects, the increasing information of the people turned their attention to the many absurdities and impositions which characterized their faith. What more amusing instance of priestly folly can be imagined, than that of declaring the Index Expurgatorius, or Catalogue of prohibited Works, to be itself among the anathematized volumes? Nothing could more strongly shew that the period of reformation was at hand, than the fact that, in defiance of all the strictness of church-discipline, extending its influence even over the mind, (for the mere concealment of an evil thought was accounted a sacrilegious offence,) the understandings of many of the clergy themselves escaped from the shackles, and they have stood forwards among the most zealous defenders of the liberties of their countrymen. In the formation of their new system of government, the Spaniards displayed the same moderation which had marked their previous proceedings. They wisely preserved the monarchy, because, independently of all abstract reasoning, the bulk of the nation were attached to the regal form: but, at the the same time, they restricted the sway of the king by such limitations as his conduct and character seemed to render necessary. With regard to the aristocratic interest, they pursued another, and, in the opinion of the present author, not a very wise course. He argues that, unless the nobility are admitted to a separate share of power, they will throw themselves into the hands of government, and support all its arbitrary attempts. It may, however, well be doubted whether, in the present degraded state of the nobility in Spain,-for degraded and ignorant they are to a degree which has rendered them contemptible even in their own country,-it would have been prudent to allow them so important a share in the administration of affairs, for the sake of preserving a balance perhaps merely theoretical between the throne and the people. They would be still exposed to the influence of court-favor, and would at the same time have powers placed at their command with which to purchase it. The Spaniards may now be fairly said to have the game in their own hands, and if they play it wisely they may look with confidence to the result. Among nations as among individuals, the force of character is incalculable in its effects. Let Spain only preserve the attitude of resolute moderation which she has assumed, and her neighbours, however they may wish to annoy her, must feel a respect for her: - let her still continue with cautious anxiety to refrain from giving the jealous sovereigns of Europe any well-grounded cause of offence by extravagant or violent measures; - let her proceed as she has begun, temperately and calmly, and she will receive, in years of happiness and freedom, the reward of her forbearance. On one important point, the conduct of the Spanish government since its reformation is open to some remark. Spain, says the writer before us, boasting at this moment of a free constitution, still continues to deprive her children of the right to worship God according to their own conscience.' Now, however fit Spain may have shewn herself to reap a benefit from her political changes, it is altogether another question whether she be sufficiently advanced in religious liberality, to allow her to appreciate the advantages of such a toleration as Mr. Blanco White would probably establish. We know with certainty that the disregard, which was shewn by Joseph Bonaparte and the French in general to the interests of the Catholic religion, was one very principal cause of the opposition which even their most beneficial measures experienced. Liberality is a plant of slow growth, and to attempt to force the shoots might wither the whole tree. We may observe, also, that the author's speculations on points of religious feeling must be taken |