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So, may thy cleansed spirit know,
Divine contrition's healing glow ;-
So, Mercy to thy fervent pray'r,
Grant in thy twelfth and closing hour
Firm faith, and holy hope have power,
To save thee from despair.

Poetry.

B.

LYRIC ODE ON WAR.
Translated from the Italian of Alessandro
Mangoni.

HARK! to the right the trumpet knelleth!
Hark! to the left a knell replying!
On either side the earth repelleth

The trampling tread of stud and man.
Lo here, in air a banner flying,
There another broadly glancing-
Here a banded troop advancing,

Another meets it, van to van.

The space between hath disappear'd,
Now they're clashing, brand with brand,
Breasts with deadly wounds are scarr'd,
Blood-burst, more fast their wounds they
ply;

Who are they? the lovely land
What new stranger wasteth now?
Who hath made the noble vow,

His native soil to free, or die?

One their language, as their race
Of one country; strangers call
Each one a brother, every face

Speaks them of a family;
This earth the common nurse of all-
This earth all kneaded now with blood,
Which nature in its solitude

Girt from the world with Alps and sea.

Ah! who to slay his brother first
Uprear'd the sacrilegious brand?
Oh horror! who the cause accurst

Of this thrice cursed butchery?
They know not-come the hireling band
Of a hireling captain, they,
Careless to be slain or slay,

With him they fight, and ask not why.
Ah woe! these fools in conflict wild,
Or wives or mothers have they not?
Why hastes not each her spouse, her child,
From that ignoble field to rend?
The aged, who e'en now devote
To the dark grave each holy thought,
Why speed they not that maddening route,
With counsel wise in peace to bind ?

As sits the countryman before
His quiet dwelling gate at ease;
Watching the storms aloof that

pour

On fields his ploughshare hath not turn'd; So hear ye each, afar that sees, Secure, yon armed cohorts dread, Recount the thousands of the dead,

And the wild woes of cities burn'd. Then from their mother's lips suspense, Behold the sons, intent on learning By names of scorn to know, from whence Ere long they shall go forth to slay; Here dames at eve all brightly burning, With rings and collars jewel'd pride, Which from the vanquish'd's desolate bride, Husband or lover rent away.

Ah woe! ah woe! ah woe! with slain
The loaded earth is cover'd up!
And all is blood yon spacious plain,

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More loud the shouts, more wild the strife; But in yon failing bands a troop

Is wavering now, and now it breaketh,
And victory hopeless now awaketh
In vulgar souls the love of life.

As in the air the scattering grain,
From the broad fan is whirl'd abroad,
So all about the ample plain

The conquer'd warriors' rout is spread;
But sudden on the fugitive's road
Fierce squadrons unforeseen appear,
And on their flank, more near, more near,
Is heard the horseman's thundering tread.
Trembling before their foes, they lie,
The prisoners' yielded arms are heap'd,
The conqueror drowns with clamorous cry
The sound the lowly dying makes;
The courier to his saddle leap'd,
Takes, folds his billet, and away;
He flogs, he spurs, devours the way;
Each city at the rumour wakes.

Why, all the trodden road along,
Run ye from forth your fields, your homes?
Each asks his neighbour in the throng,

Anxious what joyous news hath he;
Hapless! ye know from whence he comes,
And hope ye words of joyful strain?
Brothers by brothers have been slain,

This dreadful news I give to thee.

I hear around the festive cries,
The adorned temples ring with song,
From homicidal hearts arise

Thanksgiving hymns abhorr'd of God,
The while the stranger, from among
The Alps high circle stoops his sight,
Beholds, and counts with fierce delight,

The brave that bite the bloody sod.
Break off the triumph and the feasting!
Speed, speed, and fill your ranks anew,
Be each unto his banner hasting,

The stranger is come down-is here-
Ah conquerors! ye are weak and few! -
Therefore he comes to battle dight,
And waits you in yon field of fight,

Because your brother perish'd there.
Oh for thy children too confin'd!
Thy sons in peace thou canst not feed;
Doom'd land! to strangers now resign'd,

Such judgment hath begun on thee.
A foe, by thee unharm'd indeed,
Sits at thy board, and mocks thy toils,
Divides thy frantic people's spoils,

And holds thy sword of sov'reignty.
Frantic he too! oh never! no,
Was nation blest by blood and wrong;
The conquer'd feel not all the woe;

Still turns to tear the guilty's joy;
Though not his haughty way along
Th' eternal vengeance sweeps and breaks,
It follows, watches still, and wakes,
At his last moment to destroy.
Stamp'd in one image at our birth,
Made in the likeness all of One;
Ever, at every part of earth

Where breath of life we may inherit,

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Youth's leaves are good nature, with modesty part of the nobility and gentry con

twin'd,

Ev'ry virtue the tints it displays,
Its odours consist of a sweetness of mind,
And charms us with freedom and ease.

This flower is ANNA, young life is her morn,
May she bloom like a blossom in Spring,
And years roll away while unpointed the thorn,

To infix in her bosom a sting!

ANSWER TO A QUERY ON SURNAMES.

In the Imperial Magazine for August last, col. 676, a question was inserted on the Origin of Surnames. To this question a short reply was given in the Number for October, col. 830. Since that time we have been favoured with a more detailed account, which can hardly fail to prove satisfactory to our readers.

sist, viz.-such as are derived from the names of places, or have given name to them. The following may be stated as examples among many: Arundel, Arbuthnot, Abercrombie ; Berkeley, Barrington, Borthwick; Coventry, Crawford, Cathcart; Dundas; Elphinstone; Fularton; Grant; Hamilton; Innes; Johnstone; Livingstone; Menzies, Murray, Montgomerie; Netterville; Purves; Riddel, Ross; Somerset, Sutherland; York. This mark of antiquity is, however, not so unequivocal as the first; for although many ancient families, as above, have their surnames from particular places, which either were, or still are, in their possession, yet all that are so designed are not ancient. For it is by no means uncommon for new families to call their lands by their

names from towns and countries, who never had any property there.

FROM this seemingly unimportant sub-own name, and many have their surject, a great deal of curious, and even useful information, may be extracted, by attending to the circumstances peculiar to the different classes unto which these marks of family distinction are naturally divided.

Thus, whenever we find Surnames of which the etymology is either obscure, of foreign extraction, or altogether unknown, the origin of such fami- | lies may very safely be ascribed to the ages of antiquity, to the Norman conquest, or to one or other of the different influx of foreigners, that have so frequently, either in a friendly or in a hostile manner, come into this country.

In proof of this, it may be remarked, that the greater part of the ancient nobility and gentry are thus derived. Such as the Surnames of Allen, Agnew, Agar; Bruce, Burnett, Bertie; Courtenay, Campbell, Cummin; Douglas, Drummond, Dillon; Elliot, Erskine, Eden; Foulis, Forbes, Frazer; Gordon, Graham, Goring; Howard, Herbert, Hope; Ingram, Irwin, Jervis; Kerr, Keith, Kennedy; Lesley, Lam

A very considerable portion of all ranks is denominated from what is properly called the Sir-name, which is taken from the name of the father, or most honourable progenitor of the tribe; and when this is expressed in the ancient language of the country, it is a pretty sure indication of remote antiquity. In England, this ancient sir-name is expressed in the old Norman dialect by Fitz, meaning a son; in Scotland by Mac, a son also; and in Ireland, by O, a grandson; all prefixed to the proper name of the progenitor. Of the first, the following families have attained to the peerage; Fitzwalter, Fitzgerald, Fitzherbert, Fitzwilliam, (2) Fitzgibbon, Fitzpatrick, Fitzmaurice, and Fitzroy, (2) but this last is rather the mark of descent than of antiquity, being the illegitimate offspring of Charles II. Of the sirname by Mac, the following have attained to 'peerage-Macdonald, Macdonnel, Mackenzie, (2) Mackay, Macgill, Maclellan, Macdowal, and

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:

Ansmer to a Query on Surnames.

Macartney and by O, in like manner in the peerage, O'Brien, (2) O'Neil, O'Callaghan, and O'Hara. In Wales, ap, originally prefixed to the name of the father, had the same import; as, ap-Rice, ap-Howel, ap-Evon; the son of Rice, of Howel,-of Evon. The two first were soon contracted to Price and Powel, and still indicate antiquity; but the more common practice of expressing the sirname plainly, Evans, Edwards, Johns, or Williams, is a modern device, which tends to confound ancient families with the commonalty of that country, who change the sirname every generation, by adding for their own sirname the genitive s, to the proper name of their immediate progenitor. Ex. William the son of John Edwards, will call himself William Johnes, or Jones, and his own son Edward will in like manner call himself Edward Williams; so that were this practice general, all family distinction, so far as depends upon sirname, would be involved in utter confusion.*

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haps among the most ancient of this class, its chief having possessed under that name his present lands in Athol for more than 400 years.

Of proper names, almost every one may be adduced as surnames. The following are in the peerage, but, except the first, of no great antiquity: Peter, Alexander, Duncan, and Matthew.

The surnames derived from the diminutives of proper names, such as Dick, Thom, Jamie, Will, Watt, Rob, Sim, Saunders, Pate, with their own progeny of Dickson, Thomson, Jamieson, &c. must all have sprung originally from the lower orders, if not from illegitimacy; as is most probably the case with all surnames derived from the names of women, such as Alison, Mollison, Nelson, Beatson, and Christieson, as well as Christie, or rather Chirstie itself, that being the usual appellation of Chirstain, which in Scotland, is a woman's name.

It would be an endless task to trace the origin of every surname, nor is it here meant to be attempted; but still a few observations more may be indulged, particularly on such as have attained in this country to celebrity.

That branch of sirname that is formed by adding son in plain English to the proper name of the progenitor, is, like the English language itself, more modern, and besides that there are fewer of the nobility of this denomination, their elevation to the peerage is but of recent date; the most ancient at present on the list being Watson Lord Sondes; created such only 45 years ago, since which there has been only eight more of this class added, viz. Robinson, (2) Leeson, Dawson, Acheson, Jenkinson, Nelson, and Hutchinson. Sanderson, Earl of Scarborough, is no proper exception to this, that being only an assumed name at no remote period, the original name being Lumley, which is indeed a name of great antiquity. There was in- Some surnames again denote the deed a Robertson, now changed to Col-nation or people from whence the falier, Earl of Portmore, of pretty an- milies are derived, as Scott, Fleming, cient date, but that name itself is per- French, (which have all attained to the

*Not unsimilar to this is the practice in the Imperial family of Russia, where the children take the name of their own father as a sirname: Ex. Peter Alexowitz, Paul Petrowitz, Alexander Paulowitz. They have even a feminine declension owna, instead of owitz. Ex. Elizabeth Iwanowna, Ann Paulowna, &c. But here there is no danger of confusion, the family being too dignified to admit of doubt, as to lineage.

+ It is related, that when our sagacious monarch, James VI. was on his journey south to London, to take possession of the English

Thus we may observe, that official station and rank have given rise to many dignified families that still continue in power and affluence, although the station or rank that their ancestors held has long since ceased to be enjoyed,-such as Stuart, Marischal, Constable, Butler, King, Dean, Monk, Knight, Falconer, Forester, Bishop. Archdeacon, Treasurer, Chamberlane, &c. There are now about twenty of the prime nobility of these surnames, exclusive of the four last, which have not yet attained to that honour.

crown, he lodged one night at Lumley castle, between Newcastle and Durham. Here the chaplain of the family, in conducting the royal visitor through the gallery of family portraits, took occasion to expatiate on the vast antiquity of his patron's ancestors, tracing them through an almost endless genealogy. His Majesty, who foresaw where this was to end, and unwilling to be longer detained on the subject, cut him short at once with-"Stop, stop, man, I never kend before, that Adam's surname was Lumley."

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Answer to a Query on Surnames.

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peerage) Inglis, and Welch. Nobody | Crookshanks, Bastard, Trollope, &c. has, however, yet thought of distin- which in some of the cases may have guishing themselves by the name of been assumed by, and in others imIrish, yet Ireland is not uncommon as posed on, the parties; of which the a surname; as also England, Scot- wonder is, how their descendants do land, Wales, France, and Holland. not contrive to alter them, which is Almost every town and country, in- often done in other cases, where nodeed, has given rise to a surname. thing opprobrious attaches from the name. There can be no doubt also, that many surnames are corrupted undesignedly in the hands of illiterate people; of which, perhaps, there cannot be shown a stronger instance than the surnames Death and Devil, from De Ath, and De Ville.

The cardinal points, South, East, North, West, are all surnames, of which the two last are in the peerage.

Parts of the Body have been assumed as surnames,—as Foot, Hand, Tongue, Head, Heart, Beard, Belly, Shank, Leg, of which last there are two families in the peerage; and of dress and armour, such as Sword, Spear, Shield, Buckle, Greaves or Graves, Hood, Cuff. Of the three last surnames, there are five peers of the realm.

But the most numerous of all the classes of surnames, is that which bas arisen from trade and occupation, there being very few handicrafts that have not given surnames to particular families; and even these must be of considerable antiquity, as the different employments of men would be an ob

The Colours form a numerous and brilliant class,—as Green, Red, Black, Blue, Brown, of which there are seve-vious distinction at the first assumpral in the peerage; White, lately raised to it, and Grey, which has been for ages on the list of nobility, and had once nearly secured the crown.

From Animals, a numerous race are surnamed, and of high dignity. Guelph, the German for Wolf, is the surname of the illustrious house of Brunswick, and, of course, of the Royal Family of Great Britain: and in the list of the peerage are the following; Lyon, Griffin, Wolf, Fox, Lamb, Hare, Hawk, Coote, Cocks, and Finch.

There are remarkably few surnames taken from the Sea, notwithstanding our intimate connection with it. Shore, lately advanced to the peerage, seems the only one of respectability; for, of the few others in use, such as Herring, Haddock, Crab, Whale, and Hulk, they seem rather to have been imposed as nicknames, than assumed as surnames of distinction.

A considerable number of surnames are derived from the Gaelic, such as Roy, Red; Bane, White; Ogg, Young; More, Great; Begg, Little; none of them have, however, attained to much distinction, except Duff, Earl Fife, and of the same import Dove and Dow, all of which signify Black.

There are several surnames derived from personal qualifications or circumstances, such as Sharp, Smart, Jolly, Fair, Short, Small, Strong, Little; and even some from personal reproach or deformity; as Waddle, No. 30.-VOL. III.

tion of surnames among the great body of the people, which it is believed took place in this country about the end of the 13th, or beginning of the 14th century. But as in these rude ages, the path to honour would rarely lie in the way of rustics and mechanics, it would be long before many families of this class would attain to rank or distinction, and in fact there are few or none thus derived that lay claim to much renown, till within these 150 or 200 years; although in the present day the number, even in the higher ranks, thus descended, is very considerable, and even among them some are named from professions by which one would scarcely expect that almost any family would have chosen to be distinguished. Thus Collier and Salter, which were originally professions held in great disrepute, (so much so as to be conducted only by bondmen,) are now the names of very respectable families; as well as Dempster, which was originally the public executioner.

The following surnames of this plebeian origin, are now enrolled in the class of nobility: Fayer, Collier, Cooper, Carpenter, Turner, Ryder, Smith, Litster, and Gardiner or Gardner, consisting of the families of one Marquis, six Earls, two Viscounts, and four Barons.

On the whole, it is a most gratifying reflection, that, as, on the one hand, such a numerous race of dignified 27

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Observations on Authors and Books.

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nobility, and opulent gentry, can be | be read with pleasure and profit; but traced back to nearly the most remote there are none, I feel certain, recomperiod of our authentic history; which mended, from which neither can be shews, that the noble and exalted vir- derived. A few additions I have intues which first brought them into dis- cluded in (brackets) tinction have continued to influence IPOLPERROC. and animate their posterity, so as to bring them down to the present day with their fortunes and honours unimpaired: so, on the other hand, from the encouraging and mild influence of British laws and manners, the temple of honour is not restricted to the ancient aristocracy, (as in many other countries in Europe,) but is open to the brave and the ingenious, in every department of life.

It may be proper to remark, that similarity of surname, in those classes derived from the diminutive of proper names, and from trade and occupation, affords no ground to conclude a relationship between the parties, as multitudes totally unconnected with one another, would chuse to have imposed upon them some surname originally. For the same reason, such surnames as are derived from the diminutives of proper names, may have no affinity whatever with the proper name itself. Ex. There is no affinity between the surnames Jackson and Johnson; Dickson and Richardson; Wilson and Williamson, nor between Robinson and Robertson; although these two last are frequently, but very improperly, taken the one for the other. The arms of the respective names are completely different.

G. R. From a Constant Reader of Bristol, similar observations have been received.

Observations on several Authors and

Books in the English and Foreign Languages, which are necessary for the formation of a select and small Library. Abridged from the Pamphleteer, No. 3.

THE following account of books was written a few years since in a letter to a lady, for the purpose of pointing out to her those books that might be most proper for her closet. I could then have enlarged the plan without difficulty; a principal effort was, to keep it within due bounds. It was formed entirely from recollection, and, therefore, it is possible that there may be many authors omitted, which might

Geography and Chronology are justly called the Eyes of History. For Ancient Geography, I would recommend Geographie Ancienne, abrégée par D'Anville, in 3 vols. 8vo. to read or refer to; the last Edition of Guthrie's Grammar will, I should suppose, be sufficient for modern, and the Maps of D'Anville for both; for Chronology, Blair's Chronological Tables. (The Biographical and Historical Charts, by Joseph Priestley, are useful.) Next comes Ancient History: I remember so little of the voluminous work of Rollin, as not to venture to decide whether it will quite pay you for the trouble of reading it. (Rollin's Ancient History is certainly a good work, and the little of Roman history that it contains causes us to regret that he had not taken the whole of it into his plan.) I am almost certain that Elémens D'Histoire, par L'Abbé Millot, will give you a sufficient sketch, which you may afterwards fill up and improve by reading (if you will be very learned in Greek history) Translations of Herodotus, Thucydides, and Xenophon; or perhaps, without these, 2 vols. 8vo. of Stanyan's Grecian History may gratify you. I would recommend, also, Spelman's Translation (2 vols. 8vo.) of Xenophon's Retreat of the 10,000; and some Translation, if there be any, of Xenophon's Cyropædia. The Lives of Plutarch: they are all admirable, but those of the Grecians are to be history: this will lead you to the preferred. Hook's is the best Roman History of the Grandeur et Décadence des Romains, par Montesquieu; and that, to Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. If you choose to avoid the latter's sarcastic account of the rise and progress of Christianity, you must omit the 15th and 16th Chapters of the first volume. (Whitaker's Review of this work might follow the reading it. It is published in a separate octavo volume.) Middleton's Life of Cicero, though it inclines to panegyric, will give you a juster idea, on the whole, of that great man, than is to be met with elsewhere.

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