1838, and also of the valuable pages of Hakluyt. We consider it fortunate that he did so, for not It is among the adventures of the early Spanish only have the Historical Society been the gainers navigators here recorded, that we would recom-thereby, but the mass of information he has colmend all who require the seasoning of Romance, to lected will greatly extend the interest of the work. search, in order to gratify their taste, and we doubt The advantage of a chronological arrangement whether they will be disappointed in perusing the is apparent to all, and the absence of it materially extraordinary narration of Cabeça de Vaca's jour-impairs the value of the collections of other Hisney on foot from Florida to Mexico!

Making all due allowance for the perhaps natural desire which Cabeça felt to magnify his exploit, there are too many intrinsic evidences of truth in this narrative to justify a disbelief of its general veracity, and it is conjectured with strong probability, that while we are in the habit of according to Ferdinand de Soto the discovery of the "mighty Mississippi"-the "Father of Waters," it is to Cabeça de Vaca that this merit belongs. At all events it is highly probable that he passed that river in his voyage along the coast of Florida, and this conjecture is strengthened by the fact that in his long over-land journey from Florida to Mexico he does not mention his having encountered it. Mr. Robert Greenhow, of Washington, in a letter addressed to the Historical Society of Virginia, communicating a very valuable memoir on the first discovery of the Chesapeake Bay, to which we shall presently refer, declares that "proofs undeniable, exist of the discovery of the Mississippi by the Spaniards many years before the expedition of Ferdinand de Soto in 1541;" and in Mr. Greenhow's forthcoming "History of Florida, Texas, and Louisiana," we may expect to see this interesting speculation more fully developed.

torical Societies in the United States, through many volumes of which the investigator is compelled to search in order to gather the memorials of any given period. His labors are thus prodigiously increased and the dangers of omission multiplied. We hope that the plan thus happily commenced in Virginia will be steadily adhered to. There is still a considerable chasm between the period at which Mr. Robinson's volume closes and that of 1607, when the setttlement took place at Jamestown. We would wish to see this interval illustrated by the voyages and discoveries, the adventures and triumphs of the hardy navigators, who prosecuted their researches along the Southern, as well as the Northern coast of America. The whole country will take an interest in these narratives, while the Annals of Virginia" proper, will of course be of a local character and appeal more particularly to the citizens of our own State. We confess that we would take an honest pride in the reflection that Virginia, the oldest of the colonies, should be the first to develope the history of her sister States prior to the period when the local history of each commences. The great work has been well begun, and we hope that our Historical Society will fully carry it out to its completion.

The volume before us is from the press of Messrs. Shepherd & Colin of this city, and, in its mechani

We have before adverted to the massacre of the French Protestants by the Spaniards under Menendez, at the entrance of St. John's river in Flo-cal execution, does great credit to those gentlemen. rida, the scene of which is strangely mistaken by

Dr. Grahame who places it at the mouth of Albemarle River in North Carolina. In the 20th and 21st chapters of Mr. Robinson's second book, we have an account of the sanguinary deed and of the extraordinary revenge taken by the Chevalier de Gourgue, a gallant and chivalrous Frenchman at the same place in 1568. The length of these chap

LADY RUSSELL.

The beautiful fidelity of the wife of Lord Russell, doters forbids our extracting them, but we recom-ring his imprisonment and trial, is well known to readers of mend them highly to our readers, most of whom English history. will find the charm of novelty in the events which they record.

The communication of Mr. Greenhow concludes the volume before us, in which he offers very formidable evidence to prove that the Spaniards and not the English were the discoverers of the Chesapeake Bay, and a desire to trace the course of the former along the Atlantic coast, led Mr. Robinson, as we understand, to make the change in the plan of the work intrusted to him, upon which we have commented above.

"Voyages, relations et memoires originaux pour servir a l'histoire de la decouverte de l'Amerique, publies pour la premiere foi en Francais."

It was not thine to press the path
By martyr-footsteps trod,

When flame of burning funeral-pyre
Lit the soul's path to God;
But thine no less the martyr's faith,
By whom the cross was borne
So meekly on through life, till death
Exchanged it for the crown.

Faith such as thine, which faltered not,
On Calvary's hallowed mound,
And by the garden-sepulchre,
In olden time was found.
A pure and trusting heart was thine,
A love which passeth show,-

ever imposing or brilliant, especially when acted, task. They come forth at an auspicious moment, seems comparatively inadequate and cold as a rep- when death has canonized the names, and time resentation of human existence. What tragedy, sealed the reputation of the essayist and poet; when for instance, ever written can equal the pathos in- a growing taste for the higher qualities of mind has volved in these last memorials of Lamb and Keats? somewhat modified superficial and indiscriminate What chapter of mental philosophy more strikingly views of literature; and when the spirit of the age unfolds the mysterious laws of the moral nature readily prepares the way for the reception of whatthan the glimpses here unfolded of inward strug-ever vindicates and hallows the memory of those gles, intense consciousness and life-long conflict whom renown has made familiar. The facts of with evils too sacred to be discussed until the suffer- consciousness are, to the student of man and life, ers had passed away? How tame and insignificant what the phenomena of nature are to the scienti appear the outward obstacles, over which coarser fic observer. Lamb and Keats, both from idionatures triumph, compared to the secret misery syncrasy and circumstances, realized and dwelt which these gentle yet heroic men so long endured! upon their inward experiences. Their outward lot The essence of Lear and Hamlet is here incarnated; baffled action only to intensify thought and emoand we realize perfectly how in beings so delicate tion. "I love my sonnets," says the former, “beand aspiring, in the grasp of a destiny so strange cause they are the reflected images of my feelings and mournful, suicidal reveries may alternate with at different times." For the same reason his letcomic talk. ters are interesting to us. We knew of his irkIt is also remarkable that "final memorials" some clerkship, his economical lodgings, his deshould have appeared almost simultaneously, of lightful literary circle, his fraternal love,—and that two individuals peculiarly endeared to the lovers of it was his wont to "gather himself up into the old originality of mind and grace of character: and things." But we knew not of his unostentations the coincidence extends to many particulars. Each charities, nor of the darkest thread in the web of had been misinterpreted—the one as deficient in his destiny-the allusions to which, in this corresreverence, the other in courage; and in both in- pondence, shed a new and almost supernatural light stances the idea is triumphantly refuted-Lamb upon the peculiarities of his genius. having guided himself by a severe line of duty based These revelations are, indeed, eminently Shakeson reverence, and Keats given an uncommon ex-pearean, especially in unfolding that mystical relaample of fortitude. In each, too, pain was magni- tion between humor and pathos, wherein the great fied and cheated of illusion by acute consciousness, dramatist approaches nearer than any other writer in the one case of the latent signs of mental aberra- to the very heart of nature. Lamb's essays are retion, and in the other, we are told, "his knowledge markable for genial humor. He seems peculiarly of anatomy made every change tenfold worse." "to enjoy the quaint, ridiculous and, if we may so The man who indited sportive comments on death, call it, relishing side of life. And yet his personal, felt that he "must be religious;" and he who in- domestic, familiar existence contained an element dulged in moods of sentimental languishment, with of profound wo. He relinquished in early youth his dying gasp, reassured the sinking courage of his his dream of love forever, to watch over a sister friend! afflicted with periodical fits of insanity, in one of which she had killed their mother. A situation more harrowing to a mind of rare susceptibility, is scarcely to be imagined; and it was from the appalling scenes of this tragic destiny that, by the instinct of self-preservation, the voluntary martyr fled, on the wing of fancy, into a realm of curious

The philosophy of human suffering is, as yet, unwritten. Theological literature and poetry afford but glimpses whereby we may vaguely estimate its scope and subtlety; but the materials from which it is educed are chiefly to be discovered in volumes like these. The writings which these men chose to give to the world, form part of their artis-observation and playful wit. "I hope," he writes, tic, deliberate and expressed development; and as (for Mary I can answer) that I shall, through such have been analyzed and estimated by refined life, never have less recollection, nor a fainter imcritics and loving readers. The facts of their ca- pression of what has happened than I have now. reer and the unstudied, confidential letters of friend-It is not a light thing, nor meant by the Almighty ship yield the necsssary collateral light which to be received lightly. I must be serious, circumbrings into relief the native impulses of character spect and religious through life, and by such means and finishes the interpretation that the emanations may both of us escape madness in future if it so of genius but partially, though exquisitely revealed. please the Almighty." A few significant passages Both have been fortunate in their biographers. give us a vivid idea of the extent and influence of Talfourd and Milnes, fitted by their kindred gifts to his calamity. "Being by ourselves is bad and realize the intrinsic worth of their subjects, have going out is bad. I get so irritable and wretched brought together these scattered mementoes and with fear, that I constantly hasten on the disorder. given them an intelligible shape, with the rever- You cannot conceive the misery of such a foreence, affection and delicacy required for such a sight." We know of no incident in the whole range

of literary biography so startling and painful, as he says, "of poems to come, bring the blood frethat here recorded of Lamb, associated as it is with quently into my forehead;" and again " I have writthe geniality and wit of Elia,-that on one occa- ten independently without judgment. I will write sion Lloyd met him and his sister-"slowly pacing independently and with judgment hereafter." Yet together a little footpath in Hoxton fields, both he had his own theory of the art-founded upon weeping bitterly, and found, on joining them, that the nature of his own gifts, from which no indisthey were taking their solemn way to the accus- criminate reproach could drive him. "Poetry," he tomed asylum!" declares, "should surprise by a fine excess and not by singularity."

It is seldom that we thus clearly see the reciprocal interchange of humor and pathos-the one re- He evidently possessed the magnanimity of geacting on the other and thus maintaining the equili- nius. "Is there no human dust- hole," he asked, brium of reason. Lamb's idolatry of Shakespeare in reference to some mean conduct,—“ into which and his metaphysical insight as regards the true we can sweep such fellows?" And although he principle of his creations, is thus explained. Few felt that "a man must have the fine point of his men ever realized, in their consciousness, such a soul taken off to be fit for this world"—it was not testimony to the essential genuineness of the bard's in the spirit of misanthropy that he looked upon his conceptions. Others may interpret the moods of race. "I find there is no worthy pursuit," he Hamlet, the murderous reveries of Macbeth, or the writes, "but the idea of doing some good in the agony of Lear through observation of human na- world." He alludes earnestly to the "ultimate ture in general, or according to a code of philo- glory of dying for a great human purpose" as a sophical criticism; but Lamb did so by his individual prevailing desire, and eloquently observes, "Scesympathies. Love, duty, madness, had pressed nery is fine, but human nature is finer; the sward upon his earliest youth and wrestled in his manly is richer for the tread of a real nervous English and sensitive heart, robing life in a “sceptred pall," foot; the eagle's nest is finer for the mountaineer driving him to minor comforts, isolating his be- having looked into it." In one letter he refers to ing, and, with a kind of dramatic facility, causing his " delight in sensation" as an inferior state to the day's oppressive responsibility to vibrate with his friend's "hunger after truth." But these elethe evening's airy mirth, as a huge and frowning ments-both essential to the poetic nature, were mountain echoes the cheering notes of a horn. more happily blended in him than he seems to have The same characteristic is made known by the new considered. Time had not yet chastened the one, memoir of Keats. His domestic bereavements, or made him vividly conscious of the other. With critical persecution, hopeless love and physical suf- all his urbanity and ingenuousness, he confesses to fering, combined with a temperament that quivered that instinct of seclusion whereby, like the snail's to every impression-afford a gloomy background shell, a protection is afforded such beings, in social to the picture of his life; and yet this is constantly intercourse, from what might otherwise wound or irradiated by his exquisite sense of beauty and harden. "Think of my pleasure in solitude in flashes of humor. Nearly all that his letters sug-comparison with my commerce with the world: gest of the actual circumstances which environ bim, is painful; while the very record is often so lively with hints of vast imaginative pleasure and sparkles of gay conceit, that the same relief is given to the sympathies which arises from the selfpossessed energy of a well delineated character in tragedy; pity is elevated into admiration; the struggle with fate appears grand; the resources of the victim lend a dignity to his misfortunes; and we have a latent feeling that it is "nobler in the mind to suffer" thus than to stagnate in an ignoble prosperity.

there I am a child, there they do not know me, not even my most intimate acquaintance; I give into their feelings as though I were refraining from imitating a little child. Some think me middling, others silly, others foolish; every one thinks he sees my weak side against my will, when in truth, it is with my will. I am content to be thought all this, because I have in my own breast so great a resource." He seems inclined in one letter to deny the individuality of genius, and, if we separate the quality or attributes so designated, from character, the position is tenable. It is, however, not unusual The familiar epistles, like the conversation of to confound the two. Keats recognized, probably the author," a delightful combination of earnest- from circumstances, the truth that intellectually as ness and pleasantry,"- -are quite satisfactory in ex-well as spiritually, the attitude of human being tohibiting the thorough manliness of the poet's char-wards life and nature should be receptive. These acter. He possessed, indeed, all the traits which psychological facts-the universal assimilating nawe associate with his vocation. His sentiments ture of genius and the recipient capacity of mind, were candid, generous, free and humane. All that are hinted with striking beanty, in the following the critics have said in regard to the carelessness and passage: "Men of genius are great as certain promise of his verse is included in his own just self- ethereal chemicals operating on the mass of neuestimation, indicating at once a deep sense both of tral intellect—but they have not any individuality, power and imperfection. "The faint conceptions," any determined character. Now it is more noble

VOL. XIV-90

to sit like Jove than fly like Mercury-let us not | emotion. That excessive sensibility to associa therefore go hurrying about and collecting honey, tions which is so characteristic of this feeling, bee-like, buzzing here and there for a knowledge makes us aware how alive he was to everything of what is to be arrived at; but let us open our even remotely bearing on this subject. In one of leaves like a flower, and be passive and receptive, his first letters from Italy he says: "I can bear to budding patiently under the eye of Apollo, and ta-die-I cannot bear to leave her. Oh, God! God! king hints from every noble insect that favors us God! Every thing I have in my trunks that rewith a visit. Sap will be given us for meat and dew for drink."

minds me of her goes through me like a spear. The silk lining she put in my travelling cap scalds my head. There is nothing in the world of sufficient interest to divert me from her a moment. 0 that I could be buried near where she lives! It

containing and bearing so much misery as this." Mr. Milnes, with becoming delicacy, is silent in regard to the object of this "one passion," except to give the assurance that the consciousness of having inspired it, "has been a source of grave delight and earnest thankfulness through the changes and chances of her earthly pilgrimage." We allude to it chiefly to note what strikes us as a most touch

"These pages," says 66 Mr. Milnes, concern one whose whole story may be summed up in the composition of three small volumes of verse, some earnest friendships, one passion, and a premature surprises me that the human heart is capable of death." But to the reader of thought and feeling, how much is involved in the brief chronicle! The verse is chiefly dedicated to mythological fables; and yet the poet was ignorant of Greek, but adopting the heathen divinities, because around them he could freely throw the drapery of his imagination, he gives each a life more fresh and lovely than that afforded by the literature which embodies them; beings of a "creed outworn," he breathed into ing instance of that want of recognition which them the vitality of his own sensations, and thus seems to attend human beings in life in proportion placed the cold and brilliant gems of a Pagan the as they are ardent and genuine,—that, at the very ocracy, on the warm bosom of Christianized hu- time Keats was half-scorned as the victim of woundmanity. The distinction between genius and schol-ed self-love, his death was accelerated by the ferarship was never more eloquently revealed. The vor of his devotion to another; and the thought of finish of the complete bard, is only occasionally fame had no power to win his desires from the manifest, in the Eve of St. Agnes, for instance, grave. and some of the sonnets; but the rich fancy, novel Of his "premature death," we have a more elabmetaphor, and kindling aspiration gleam and glow orate and authentic record than ever before. His on every page in wild luxuriance. We have else- sufferings were prolonged and severe; but, for an where discussed the claims of Keats as a poet and exile, he enjoyed the benefit of extraordinary medithe volume before us irresistibly attracts us to him cal skill and affectionate nurture. The celebrated as a man. The earnest friendships" to which Dr. Clarke was his constant attendant,--a generhis biographer alludes, seem from the letters to ous artist, the friend of years, scarcely left his bedhave been the great consolation of his life; and side; the sky of Rome canopies his grave, and their ingenuous and manly exposition is a new evi- Shelley wrote for him an immortal elegy. It is dence of that power, which seems the compensa- with the sensation of an intolerable pressure lifted tory award of heaven for the inevitable sufferings from the heart, that we close the story. After of genius, to attach others to its possessors with tracing that feverish life--its keen appreciation of singular tenacity and exclusiveness. The "one the pleasurable in sensation, its ravishing sense of passion" of Keats confirms our belief in the indi- the beautiful in thought and nature, its noble imviduality of affection of the poetical character. Its pulses and constrained environment,—the eager kindliness, admiration and sympathies are, indeed, ness of the soul and the fragility of the body-we universal; and their exhibition is often mistaken see no happy goal for it on earth, scarcely a chance for that of another sentiment. But the very char- for harmonious tranquillity; and it is soothing to acteristic of a poetic mind is concentration. It is know that the ceaseless pleadings of that weary the exercise of this faculty in which consists its heart, are stilled forever beneath the daisy-grown power; and fearful is its intensity when instead of turf!

being directed towards abstract theories or philan- We agree with his biographer in regarding the thropic aims, it becomes identified with a human want of correspondence between the world of object. Nothing more clearly indicates the ab- thought and that of action as a benign law incident sorbing nature of this experience in Keats, than to human life and for a benign end. The gifts of his obvious avoidance of the subject, except when Lamb and Keats redeemed their outward destiny; necessity compelled an allusion. It was the con- and in this great fact so impressively demonstrated trolling thought of his mind, the haunting dream of in the volumes before us, we find a new and perhis fancy, and the almost exclusive sentiment of suasive evidence of the innate worth of genius. To his heart. The few hints which drop from his let- what realms of fancy and awe, to the sweet conters are enough to suggest a world of passionate viction of how many sublime truths, into amity