The " Sabbath Walks" and " Biblical Pictures," which are added in the later editions of this poem, are quite in unison with the spirit of the work ; and some of the latter are so strikingly delineated, that a skilful painter might easily give them life and figure, by translating with his pencil the vivid and glowing descriptions of the poet's pen.
The next of Grahame's poems to be slightly noticed, is his" British Georgics," a name which is too boldly chosen, as it leads the mind to the most finished production of the Mantuan Bard ; and as it is in itself perhaps the least perfect of the author's writings. When on a visit to a friend on Tweedside in 1797, he inserted a poetic sketch of the month of April, under the signature of Illatilda, in the Kelso Mail. It was much admired, and was followed by the other months. These sketches are preserved in his works, and there can be little doubt that they gave him the idea of the Geor gics, which are only in fact the filling up of the outline, and which afford theoretical and practical instruction to the British husbandman, connected with the different months of the year. An attentive reader will accordingly find in this larger poem, which is also divided into twelve parts, a frequent recurrence of the same thoughts and expressions which occur in the minor pieces. The Georgics, among many prosaic passages, contain also a number the finest touches of fancy and of feeling, and some affecting allu sions to the state of the author's declining health. We are not fond of didactic poetry, especially in blank verse ; metre gives at least more entertainment to the ear, when the tameness of the subject precludes the flights of imagina tion. And we apprehend that the beauties which are scat tered through this poem will hardly preserve it from ob livion.
The " Birds of Scotland," his next large poem, is a pro duction of very superior merit, in which the author de scribes with admirable skill and truth, the manners and characters of the winged tenants of our woods and wilds. With his exquisite descriptions are interspersed delinea tions of the scenes which they frequent, and fine allusions to national character, and historical traditions. He has in deed succeeded in accomplishing the design which he pro proposed, of " pleasing the imagination, and warming the heart." And he has done more ; for he has conveyed much instruction in a most agreeable manner, and furnish cd us with new sources of delight in the enjoyment of the cheap and innocent pleasures of nature.
Mr Grahame, whose soul always abhorred the traffic in slaves, and who rejoiced with all good men in its abolition, had the honour of contributing one of the three poems, intended as a grand literary monument to this noblest tri umph of justice and humanity of which our age can boast.
The other two were furnished by Eliza Benger and Mont gomery, and the whole was published by Bowyer of Pall Mall in 1809, with most splendid decorations. Mr Gra hame also wrote the " Siege of Copenhagen," and pub lished it with the sanction of his name, soon after the de tails of that expedition were received. It is a spirited lit tle poem, and contains some passages remarkable for beauty and tenderness. It is written in metrical couplets.
Cowper is the poet whom Grahame most resembles, and whom we believe he adopted as his model. Yet there are striking differences between them, independently of the preponderance of talent in favour of the former. Grahame has more flat passages,—Cowper more rugged lines. Gra hame is minute in describing all that, in the range of na ture, strikes his fancy ;—Cowper, with an eye as poetical, was more limited in his sphere of observation, and less ambitious in the choice of his subjects. Cowper's reli gious views were inwrought and profound;—Grahame's consoling and abiding, but by no means so deep. Gra hame feels and admires the simple and varied charms of creation, and expatiates upon them with ever new delight ; his forte is accurate description of nature in it simplest forms ;—Cowper hunts through the intricacies of the human heart; his chief excellence consists in the faithful delineation of the feelings and moral sympathies of the soul. Grahame has more ornament ;—Cowper much greater extent and variety of thought. In language they are both careless, and in their measures often incorrect. But there is a grace even in their negligence. To both the praise " above all Roman fame" belongs, of rendering the powers of their cultivated minds subservient to the promotion of the best interests of morality and religion.
Those who only knew Grahame by his works, will form their own estimate of his genius and worth. But his me mory will long be embalmed in the minds of those, who had the good fortune to enjoy his personal acquaintance, or his fri, ndship. Never, perhaps, did a kinder and gentler heart animate a human frame ; never did a man exist more unwilling to give pain to any sentient being, or more desir ous of promoting the peace and happiness of all within the sphere of his influence. His country will long cherish the re membrance of the author for the sake bf his works ; while his friends will, with fond and melancholy pleasure, che rish the effusions of his genius for the sake of the amiable author. (I)