the sober decorum of Bodley. Only within its founder, to the present century, from the comparatively recent period have the chains days when Queen Elizabeth, in ruff and farbeen removed which locked its books to- thingale, with Burghley and Walsingham at gether in the close and loving embrace of a her side, harangued the doctors and Heads Macedonian phalanx, and nearly proved fa- of Houses in well-poised Latin, to the time tal to an ambitious author who, Icarus-like, when the Allied Sovereigns celebrated the soared too high, and hung himself in their advent of peace within its walls, or Queen iron tendrils. Still more recently has hot air Victoria inscribed her name among its manbeen introduced into one division of the li- uscripts! And no wonder that its treasures brary for the benefit of luxurious masters of of books, manuscripts, and rarities should arts, who could not keep themselves warm partake of the character of the place and over Duns Scotus or Athanasius, but, in the have a sort of uniqueness and quaint antiqpride of their hearts, descended to the ex-uity about them not found elsewhere. For ternal world, and took to polished leather here, in undisturbed repose, and still better, boots and thin potations. With these exceptions, Bodley was and is what it was in the days of its founder-goodly to look upon as he; that "full solempne man," who thought, if we should "cancel all our theories, axioms, rules, and tenents," as Bacon advised, "it would instantly bring us to barbarism, and, after many thousand years, leave us more unprovided of theorical furniture than we are at the present." Save also, and excepting that ruthless necessity, in the shape of those same masters of arts, has marred the quaint device of Sir Thomas (who wished to preserve the remembrance of his Christian name T. in the shape of his library), and, by developing one end of it, have metamorphosed it into an H. But for this, the mullioned windows, the fragrant air from the College gardens, the solemn pealing of bells-they have rung out generations of students, and shall ring in generations of students yet to come-repeat from hour to hour, and year to year, the pious deeds of our English forefathers, and the dim traditions of the past. "Antiquity! thou wondrous charm, what art thou, that, being nothing, art everything? What mystery lurks in this retroversion? Or what half Januses are we that cannot look forward with the same idolatry with which we forever revert? The mighty future is as nothing, being everything! The past is everything, being nothing!

fresh and unchanged, as in their primitive state, are the collections of Dr. Dee, the earliest of spirit-rappers, "who did observe and write down what was said by the spirits, Kelley (his assistant magician), seeing and interpreting." Here, too, is garnered up all the correspondence of Hyde, Lord Clarendon, and the little notes that passed between him and Charles I. in the lobby of the House of Commons during those debates which cost the king his crown. Here, too, in its bands of red silk, is the correspondence of the same monarch with his children, when they had taken refuge in France; and here, in sombre winding-sheets of black silk, and seals to match, are the letters that passed after Charles' execution. Here are the correspondence of the parliamentary generals, the papers of the unhappy non-jurors; of Archbishop Sancroft, and of Bishop Ken, whose name lives forever in the Morning and Evening Hymn. And here are the details of the Pretender's doings, and his secret friends in England, in the reigns of Anne, George I., and George II. And what else there may be of curious lore and unrevealed mysteries in that capacious and undisturbed receptacle of "Mighty Bodley," who shall tell us?

Of late some attempt has been made by the authorities of Oxford to sort and tabulate their treasures; and Mr. Hackman's catalogue, which we have until this late period in our article unconsciously omitted to notice-rapt in reminiscences of Bodley

In these respects the Bodleian Library is unique, not only in England, but in Europe. No library of similar extent possesses the is partly the result of these new efforts. same conventual character. Paris, Brus- We wish to deal gently with Mr. Hackman's sels, Frankfort, Augsburg, Munich, Valla- labors. His errors of omission and commisdolid, and Madrid have nothing like it. sion in the execution of his task we will not Associated with all the great traditions of censure heavily; for who that has had dealEngland, from the age of Duke Humphrey, ings with manuscripts does not know how

inevitably, spite of all vigilance and pre- |ters, printing the former in the body of the cautions, all sorts of errors will creep in ? work, and the latter in the index. So for But Mr. Hackman's notions of a catalogue, every entry the reader has to turn backwards and of the requirements of those who are and forwards, and incur at each step, as Mr. likely to consult one, seem to us more Hackman himself must have done, a needstrange, uncouth, and antiquated than Dr. less amount of double labor. When Mr. Dee's spirit-rapping, or a non-juror's advo- Hackman goes home, we suppose that he cacy of the claims of the Pretender. If Mr. despises the door of his chambers in Christ Hackman had spent his academical life in Church, and gets in at the windows. We trying to produce a catalogue as unlike in look for better things under the librarianits plan to any now in existence, and as re-ship of Mr. Coxe, for we shall expect a more pulsive and inconvenient in the using as possible, he could not have succeeded better. The index to his book is considerably larger than the book itself; and to use it, the student must take learning by the tail, and proceed rearwards like an irritated crab. Mr. Hackman (ominous name!) separates the addresses from the substance of the let

complete analysis of papers to be catalogued, a more intelligible order, a more thorough knowledge of the wants of modern students; in short, catalogues as unlike Mr. Hackman's, in all these respects, as Mr. Hackman's labors are unlike the labors of his predecessors and contemporaries.

THE LAST OF THE BYRONS.-The dulness of London at this season of the year has been relieved for the day by a strange glimpse into the romance of the peerage. Last week there died at Brighton, at the early age of twenty-seven, Byron Noel, Baron of Ockham and Wentworth. The heir of a large fortune, the grandson and last direct representative of the greatest of English poets, the young peer had-so the world might have judged-a brilliant career before him. He was the son of Ada Byron, the poet's only daughter, and this is almost all that is known of him positively. For some cause unknown, and only faintly surmised, the young baron never assumed his rank, never took his seat in the House of Lords, never even made his appearance in the fashionable world. Very early in life he broke off his connection with his family, willingly or not, served on board ship as a common sailor, then supported himself as a hired laborer in a Thames dockyard, and became engaged (if he was not actually married) to a barmaid in a sailor's public house in Wapping. Then, in the first bloom of his young life, he dies suddenly by hemorrhage of the lungs, and the court papers mention his existence after years of silence. The last of the Byrons is dead; and the story of the latest descendant of that strange race is buried in the grave with him.-London letter.

FIRST Nunnery founded in the seventh century by Saint Erkonwald, Bishop of London, a descendant of Offa, at Berking, for his sister Saint Ethelberga.

THERE were some Nunneries founded by some of our forefathers, wherein it was appointed that some should be taught the knowledge of the Saxon tongue, on purpose to preserve it, and transmit it to posterity by communicating it down from one to another. Such was the Nunnery at Tavistock and many others which he (Archbishop Parker) could have named.Strype's Parker, p. 536.

These foundations must have been made by Saxons under the Norman kings.-Southey.

WILLIAM sent Harold's standard to the Pope: "it was sumptuously embroidered with gold and precious stones, in the form of a man fighting."

IN THE WOODS.

AND so she learned to wander in the woods,
As if in search, not knowing where she went,
And she put on a statelier beauty, grew
More beautiful through sadness, while the years
Led her to womanhood with persuasive hands.
Not Aphrodite coming in her shell,
When those four seasons met her on the shore,
Was lovelier; being in beauty more divine,
But missing her sweet grace of humanness.
And she grew up a perfect woman pure,
With passion in her, well subdued to truth;
Saddened at most things as she went by them:
And made the Dryads weep at her sad looks.
And all her heart and being yearned for love.
She peeped into the leafy nests of birds,
And wondered what could make them twit and
sing.
-Thomas Ashe.

From The Economist.

The Republic of Liberia, its Products and Resources. By Gerald Ralston, ConsulGeneral for Liberia. A Paper read before the Society of Arts, and reprinted from the "Journal of the Society of Arts," for May 23, 1862.

culiar circumstances." (We wish Mr. Ralston had explained this allusion, especially as we heard, some months ago, similar rumors of a painful nature, of which we would gladly hear the correct version.)

isfactory price. The chief solicitude has been to purchase the line of sea-coast, so as to connect the different settlements under one government, and to exclude the slave trade, which formerly was most extensively carried on at Cape Mesurado, Tradetown, Little Bassa, Digby, New Sesters, Gallinas, THE little state of Liberia owes its founda- and other places at present within the Retion to that very questionable and half-public, but now happily excluded—except hearted association of slaveholders known as in a recent instance at Gallinas, under pethe American Colonization Society. But, painful as is the episode which the history of that Society forms in the annals of the "Slave Power" in America, its 'one good deed beyond the sea promises to survive and flourish. The settlement of Liberia, founded The population at present numbers 500,in 1822, was, on the 24th of August, 1847, 000, of which 16,000 are Americo-Liberians, proclaimed a free and independant state, and and the remaining 484,000 aboriginal inhabregularly installed as the Republic of Liberia. itants. We infer from Mr. Ralston's stateAcknowledged speedily by England, and ments that the Americo-Liberians, or Angloafterwards by France, Belgium, Prussia, Saxon negroes, as he calls them, act as pioBrazil, Denmark, and Portugal, it has now, neers and civilizers of their African brethren in its fortieth year, been at last recognized in several ways, and that their increase by by the United States. The paper before us immigration is much desired in order to is a brief sketch of its past history and pres-stimulate industry and enterprise. ent condition by its Consul-General, Mr. Ralston, which was read before the Society of Arts last May, and was followed by an interesting discussion in which several colored gentlemen from Liberia took part. On the whole, the impression we gain of this little state is favorable and promising. In material and commercial development it is far inferior to Hayti, but it is, perhaps, capable of a higher ultimate development. Its Protestantism will render it more acceptable to Anglicized negroes than the French-Catholic republic of the West Indies; while its position as an outpost of civilization on the African continent is very important as an influence for good upon the tribes of the interior, which it endeavors to draw to itself by honest and conciliatory measures. Mr. Ralston tells us that "it has about six hun- The Republic is divided into four counties, dred miles of coast line, and extends back Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Sinoe, and Maryabout one hundred miles on an average, but land, which are further subdivided into townwith the facility of almost indefinite exten- ships, each of the latter being "about eight sion into the interior, the natives everywhere miles in extent. Each town is a corporation, manifesting the greatest desire that treaties its affairs being managed by officers chosen should be formed with them, so that the lim-by the inhabitants. Courts of monthly and its of the republic may be extended over all quarter sessions are held in each county." the neighboring districts. The Liberian Each county sends two members to the territory has been purchased by more than Senate, and every ten thousand persons send twenty treaties, and in all cases the natives a member to the House of Representatives. have freely parted with their titles for a sat-The latter is elected for two years, the Sen

...

Important exports cannot be expected until greatly increased capital, and a great addition from the free negroes of the United States, shall give a greater command of skilled and industrious settlers who will be, fortunate in finding abundance of native laborers at the low rate of three dollars and rations per month all through the country. . . It is the policy of the Liberian Government to induce American immigrants to settle in the interior-some fifteen, twenty, or thirty miles from the coast-where the surface of the country is undulating and hilly, and more healthy for those freshly arrived than the coast country. Carysburg, White Plains, and Clay Ashland, are some of these interior settlements from which good results have already been experienced."

regarded as a necessary qualification for the ruling men of the chief towns."

ate for four. The President and Vice-Pres- | advantage; and with some of the coast tribes, ident (who are elected for two years) must a knowledge of English is beginning to be each be thirty-five years of age, and possessed of real property to the amount of six hundred dollars. "The judicial power is Mr. Ralston's paper 66 was illustrated by a vested in a supreme court, and such subor- collection of the products of Liberia as sent dinate courts as the Legislature may from to the International Exhibition. These contime to time establish." "Such of the abo- sisted of specimens of cotton cloth, well manrigines as have for three years previously ufactured, and dyed; of coffee, sugar, raw adopted and maintained civilized habits, are cotton, palm oil, rice, silkworm cocoons. entitled to the elective franchise, and a con- Swords made by the natives from the iron siderable number exercise this privilege." of the country, with stone anvils and ham"There are native [i.e., pure African, we con- mers, pouches, leather accoutrements for clude] magistrates and jurors." This is an horses, and a great variety of fibres were extremely hopeful feature, and the following also on the table." Iron ore abounds all facts are equally encouraging. "The Eng- over Liberia, and every species of tropical lish is the mother tongue of the Liberians, produce thrives there. Cotton grows sponand they are extending its use along the taneously all over the country, and the Libecoast and into the interior. Nothing is more rians, encouraged by the Manchester Cotton common than for the native chiefs and the Supply Association, are now paying greater head men and other important persons among attention to its production than they have the tribes within the jurisdiction of Liberia, hitherto done. We rejoice to note all these and even far beyond, to place their sons at hopeful tokens, and wish the fullest success the early age of three, four, or five years, in to this brave little African Republic. A nothe family of the Americo-Liberians expressly ble work lies before it, and we hope that to learn English and to acquire civilized every European influence that can accelerate habits. Among the natives, to understand its progress will be heartily exerted in its English is the greatest accomplishment and behalf.

THE first Alfred while he was a refugee in Ireland became " deeply versed in literature, and enriched his mind with every kind of learning." His fourth successor Celwulf was also a scholar. "Bede at the very juncture when Britain most abounded with scholars, offered his History of the Angels for correction, to this prince more especially; making choice of his authority, to confirm by his high station what had been well written; and of his learning to rectify by his talents what might be carelessly expressed."

From The Spectator.

RELICS OF SHELLEY.*

passion, which, if interrupted, is a mere spray of isolated drops,-if completed, adds WE regret the publication of this volume. another new movement to the few distinct It is evident that Shelley's most attached vibrations of intellectual melody that perfriends and relatives, while from delicate manently possess the imagination of youth. and honorable motives they refrain as yet To have Shelley's poetry in disjointed from telling all they know of Shelley's-in particles is more disappointing than to have some respects-unhappy life, lest it should broken atoms of a rainbow; for though give pain to surviving relatives of the per- there also the whole beauty consists in the sons involved, yet cannot help hovering rare proportions of the continuous curve, round the subject of his more questionable the least arc will enable us to pursue the actions, as the moth hovers round the candle, bow of promise in imagination up to the neither willing as yet to explain fully what zenith and down again to the horizon, while might refute the worst reflections upon his every hiatus in Shelley's many-colored conduct, nor able to let the subject sleep till thought is simply beyond all human power the time arrives when they could do so. to supply. For example, what is this disloThe literary worth of the fragments in these cated stanza worth,—part of the shining ore volumes is not such as to have demanded of Shelley's mind though it evidently is,— separate publication, even if it would have without the whole movement of which it justified publication at all; and the little must have been an essential element ?instalment of correspondence printed here, would have been of far more value if woven into the correspondence already published. There is, in fact, scarcely any motive for the book, except Mr. Garnett's rejoinder to Mr. T. L. Peacock, in reference to the conduct of Shelley towards his first wife and this it would have been far more dignified to defer till it was possible to produce all the particulars to which so many mysterious references are made. Except a beautiful poem of Shelley which was published a few months ago in Macmillan's Magazine, and one of some merit of Mr. Garnett's own on the poet, written in the neighborhood of Mrs. Shelley's tomb, there is nothing in this book that has any literary unity or finish. It is a basket of literary chips and shavings, gathered up from the poet's workshop.

"At the creation of the Earth
Pleasure, that divinest birth,
From the soil of Heaven did rise
Wrapt in sweet wild melodies-
Like an exhalation wreathing
To the sound of air low-breathing
Through Eolian pines, which make
A shade and shelter to the lake
Whence it rises soft and slow;
Her life-breathing (limbs) did flow
In the Harmony divine

Of an ever-lengthening line,
Which enwrapt her perfect form

With a beauty clear and warm."

And many of the fragments are far more
fragmentary even than this is; for example,
the following excluded passage in the
Adonais:-
:-

"A mighty Phantasm, half concealed In darkness of his own exceeding light, Which clothed his awful presence unrevealed, Charioted on the night There is no writer in the whole range of Of thunder-smoke, whose skirts were chrysolite English literature who will less bear this And like a sudden meteor, which outstrips The splendor-winged chariot of the sun, piecemeal treatment than Shelley. It is not eclipse the rich light of imaginative thought as The armies of the golden stars, each one with Coleridge, the passion of deep insight Pavilioned in its tent of light-all strewn Over the chasms of blue night-as with Wordsworth,-nor the gleam of fanciful sentiment—as with Moore,-which There is, we feel, far more pain in the sense takes hold of us,-all these might be to of mutilation which such passages produce some extent preserved in fragments, and the sense of a broken melody-than preserved even without loss of power. But Shelley's poems, whatever else they are meant to be, are meant at least to be felt and seen as wholes-as melodies complete in themselves, expressing some one wave of * Relics of Shelley. Edited by Richard Garnett.

London: Moxon & Co. 1862.

pleasure in the occasional gleam of Shelley's genius which remains there; for the breathless continuity of his song, which rolls onward to the end without rest or pause, was of the true essence of Shelley's genius, and to have shattered fragments of his music is like listening to a stammering lark.