and he will be at once convinced of the power and influence of poetry over the uncultivated mind.

It is scarcely reasonable to suppose that this species of composition would have maintained its ground after nations began to advance in civilization, had not its influence continued to be felt, as formerly, in a very deep and powerful manner. But it was found that, in proportion as a people advanced in the scale of refinement, their poetry advanced likewise; and that, in proportion to the advancement of both, the influence of the latter over the former acquired additional strength. The divine art of poetry, therefore, from a deep conviction of its utility, continued to be assiduously cultivated; and when, at length, it came to be united in a more perfect manner with its sister music, it soon became apparent that, with equal facility, the two together

"Could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire"

could kindle in the human breast all the latent embers of pride, anger, jealousy, and revenge, or hush these stormy passions into rest, and draw forth, in their stead, all the energies of virtuous thought and noble action.

Hence it is that the sages and legislators of antiquity have had recourse to the assistance of the poet when they wished to produce a reform either in manners or morals; and that rulers, in more modern times, have been anxious to ascertain

for what ballads, as well as other books, people manifested a

particular predilection.

Some in this country have feelingly lamented, and among others, Mr. COLQUHOUN in his treatise on the Police of the Metropolis, that the songs and other amusements of the people were not more particularly the subjects of legislative in. terference. It is painful to hear men of sense talk thus, and is only to be excused on the ground of their own connexion, in some way or other, with the government of the country. All government censorships over literary productions ought to be reprobated, and indeed, they cannot be endured in a free country; because, in the first place, it is enough that authors be amenable to the laws for what they publish; and because, in the second place, when such government censorships are established, it is uniformly for mere government purposes, such as encouraging a blind and slavish submission to every species of political corruption and abuse, and preventing mankind from becoming acquainted with their real situation, and their true interests.

But whatever cause there may be to regret the want of the above-mentioned interference, so far as the interests of virtue and morality are concerned, there is certainly none to regret it in reference to political purposes. Too many servile wretches will always be found, who are willing to prostitute their talents, and lend themselves to any government purpose, in

the hope of obtaining some part of those rewards which it is in the power of most governments to bestow. Others again there will always be, whose minds being blinded by early prejudice, and who, labouring under mistaken notions as to the infallibi lity of a government, and the equity and justice of all its measures, may, without meaning ill, do more to forward its worst purposes, than even those who, from servile motives, are wilfully and obstinately wrong. For how much of that misery, which always follows in the train of war, is the world indebted to the wilful or mistaken exertions of such men?

Is it not a fact too palpable to be denied, that during the last five-and-twenty years of unexampled warfare, much, if not the greater part, of that spirit of hostility which has existed in Great Britain towards the people of France, has been fostered and kept alive by those naval and military songs, which have issued in such abundance from the press in the southern part of the kingdom? But for these and similar productions, would it ever have occurred to the people of Great Britain that France was their natural enemy? What was to render her their natural enemy, or make them regard her as such? Was it her relative position, the difference of her language, her manners, or her customs? Are not other nations sepa. rated from them by the sea as well as France? Have not other nations also, a language, manners, and customs peculiar to themselves? And when did the people of Great Britain think of regarding other nations as their natural enemies on any of these accounts?

Such productions as those now alluded to, are more inimical to the interests of virtue and morality than can well be described. They tend to sever those ties of benevolence which ought to bind man to man, and nation to nation,-they excite feelings and passions disgraceful to humanity, and, not unfrequently, contribute largely to plunge whole nations into a state of misery, from which it is the work of ages to recover them.

In this country, there are few persons but would shrink instinctively from doing an injury to the Red-breast. Even boys, who are the declared enemies of birds in general, entertain a singular respect for Robin, and shudder at the idea of killing him. Is it not probable that much of this respect is owing to the old ballad of the Children in the Wood? And if all those songs of the war cast were displaced by others which would teach men to think kindly and affectionately of their fellow creatures, is it not likely that governments would find it more difficult to carry on the trade of war, and, by its means, to entail upon mankind, as they too often do, those various evils which are its inseparable concomitants?

The subject which has now been only briefly hinted at, is perhaps of more consequence than may at first be imagined; for, if there be any justice at all in the observations that have been made, the conclusions that result from them must be of the highest importance. Admit for a moment, that the genius

of song maintains that unbounded influence over the human heart which the observations just made go far to prove,—admit that it exercises an omnipotent sway over the feelings and the passions of men, both good and bad, moulding or guiding them according to the direction either of a vicious or a virtuous impulse, and it will at once appear, that the compilation of a song book,-nay, that the composition, of a single song, is a work that, although generally thought below the dignity of the philosopher, and the notice of the philanthropist, is yet by no means unworthy of the talents of the one, or of the utmost solicitude and attention of the other.

The limits which we have prescribed to ourselves prevent us from following out this subject at greater length. Yet we cannot but remark how much might be done to promote the exercise of right feelings and affections among men, and to prevent the decay of patriotism and public spirit, of social and private virtue, and of every excellence that can adorn the human character, if the importance which attaches to these lighter productions of genius was thoroughly understood, and appreciated as it ought to be. If a government were to establish a censorship over such productions for the exclusive purpose of seeing that none came before the public, except those which were calculated to rouse the flame of patriotism and devotion when the liberties of a nation were at stake, or which were designed to strengthen the bands of public morals and private virtue, and to inspire a love for all those laudable

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