AN EXTEMPORE WISH.

Si j'étais la feuille que roule
L'aile tournoyante du vent,
Qui flotte sur l'eau qui s'écoule,

Et qu'on suit de l'œil en rêvant:
J'irais chez la fille du prêtre,

Chez la blanche fille a l'œil noir,
Qui le jour chante à sa fenêtre,
Et joue à sa porte le soir.

Les Orientales.

I wish I were the balmy breeze
That playeth with yon Summer rose,
And whispers love to all the trees,

And kisses every flower that blows.
Oh, could I borrow those light feet,
Farewell to bower and myrtle tree;

I know a garden far more sweet,
A red rose dearer far to me.

WITCHES.

A NEW FACT IN NATURAL MAGIC.

BALL AT HUNTINGDON.

WRITTEN AFTER A

A witch! the fancy turns me pale
As that white rose on Lady Bagot;
I thought that good Sir Matthew Hale
Had sent the last witch to the fagot.

And yet they flourish still it seems!

(Oh, pray Lord Brougham prove the error!) And vision shining through my dreams Foretell another reign of terror; Black tresses, like the dark locks flowing O'er poor Sir Walter's handsome Jewess*: And lips, like those that look so glowing, In that sad book-The Monk of Lewis!

And eyes so full, and blue, and sunny,
Are gazing kindly into mine;
Bright as those of Mrs. Honey-
(A simile, mind, Madeline.)
And whispers in my ears are creeping,
Coral lips I'm sure between;
Not Spenser in his garden sleeping,
Heard sweeter from the Fairy Queen.
And footsteps drop upon the ground,
Like pleasant noise of Summer rain;
Or from a twilight bower the sound-
"Good night! but come again!"

They walk for ever by my side,

Fair witches! with their merry glances; And just the cheeks to bloom in rhyme, Or meet by moonlight in Romances. They walk with me where'er I go,

On Summer mornings, Summer eves;

I open Chitty's page, and-lo!

A spirit in the leaves!

* Rebecca in Ivanhoe.

**

Oh, wondrous change! oh, magic power!
What glory on the earth hath broke?
The King's-Bench blooms into a bower,
And Beauty rises out of Coke.

In vain I turn each learned page;
And ponder Sugden o'er and o'er;
Or muse upon this wicked age,

Or sport my double oaken door*.
In vain I flee from them, and shut
Myself up in some bowery vale;
You might as well attempt to cut
O'Connell from his Tail!

Oh, lay them with some magic line!
Some spell by Bishop or Clementi.
Alas! a witch at seventy-nine,

Is nothing to a witch at twenty!

Every Cambridge man knows the luxury of a sported (i.e. closed) door. There is, indeed, a particular knock, not to be mistaken by a practised ear, against which it is peculiarly efficacious.

270

A WORD WITH PROFESSOR SEDGWICK

ON THE

STUDIES OF THE UNIVERSITY.

“ Why, sir, a gentleman from the University stays below to speak with you."-Yorkshire Tragedy, 1619.

ALL who are acquainted with Professor Sedgwick were prepared to expect from his pen an eloquent account of the studies of this University, and of the spirit in which they ought to be pursued: and all who have read his Discourse, know how fully these anticipations have been realized. It is hoped that the following remarks, suggested by its perusal, will be received in a spirit similar to that which has dictated them. The writer has no private interest to promote; he would gain nothing from any change, except, indeed, a sensation of pleasure at beholding the removal of what appear to him imperfections and impediments.

In the Discourse, the studies of the University are divided into three branches.

1st. The study of the laws of nature, comprehending all parts of inductive philosophy. 2ndly. The study of ancient literature.

3rdly. The study of ourselves, considered as individuals, and as social beings. Under this head are included ethics and metaphysics, moral and political philosophy, and some other kindred subjects of great complexity, hardly touched on in our academic system, and to be followed out in the more mature labours of after-life.

The object of a liberal education, says Mr. Whewell, is to develop the whole mental system of man, and thus to bring it into consistency with itself; to make his speculative inferences coincide with his practical convictions; to enable him to render a reason for the belief that is in him; and not to leave him in the condition of Solomon's Sluggard, who is wiser in his own conceit than seven men who can render a reason. This complete mental culture must, no doubt, consist of many elements; but it is certain than an indispensable portion is such a discipline of the reasoning power, as will enable persons to proceed with certainty and facility from fundamental principles to their consequences*. No person has a higher claim to define a liberal education than he whose vigour and capacity of understanding have so easily attained it. But that muscular energy and flexibility of mind which encircle, so to speak, every study, crushing its difficulties,

*Thoughts on the Study of the Mathematics as a Part of a Liberal Education.