Volume Vi Part 29 (1/2)
JOHN JEFFREY.
The author of ”Lays of the Revolutions,” John Jeffrey, was born on the 29th March 1822, at the manse of Girthon, in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright. His maternal granduncle was the celebrated Dr Thomas Brown of Edinburgh. From his father, who was parish minister of Girthon, and a man of accomplished learning, he received an education sufficient to qualify him for entering, in 1836, the University of Edinburgh. In 1844 he became a licentiate of the Free Church, and after declining several calls, accepted, in 1846, the charge of the Free Church congregation at Douglas, Lanarks.h.i.+re. Mr Jeffrey was early devoted to poetical studies. In his eighteenth year he printed, for private circulation, a small volume of poems, ent.i.tled ”Hymns of a Neophyte.” In 1849 appeared his ”Lays of the Revolutions,” a work which, vindicating in powerful verse the cause of oppressed European nationalities, was received with much favour by the public. To several of the leading periodicals Mr Jeffrey has contributed spirited articles in support of liberal politics. A pamphlet from his pen, on the decay of traditional influence in Parliament, ent.i.tled ”The Fall of the Great Factions,” has obtained considerable circulation. More recently he has devoted himself to the study of the modern languages, and to inquiries in ethnological science.
WAR-CRY OF THE ROMAN INSURRECTIONISTS.
Rise, Romans, rise at last, Craft's kingdom now is past; Brook no delay!
Lombard blades long ago, Swifter than whirlwinds blow, Swept from Milan the foe: Why should we stay?
Rise, then, for fatherland; In rock-like phalanx stand, Cowards no more.
Rise in colossal might, Rise till the storm of fight Wrap us in lurid light Where cannons roar!
In this great dawn of time, In this great death of crime, Quit us like men; By our deeds, by our words, By our songs, by our swords-- Use all against the hordes, Sabre or pen!
More than fame, duty calls, Trumpet-tongued from the walls Girding great Rome; Battle for truth and faith, Battle lest hostile scathe Crush us, or fetters swathe Free hearth and home!
Hark! how G.o.d's thunders roll, Booming from pole to pole Of the wide world!
”Old lies are crush'd for aye, Now truths a.s.sume their sway, Bright s.h.i.+nes the flag of day O'er night unfurl'd!”
Tower, then, the barricades!
Flash forth the lightning blades!
Romans, awake!
Storm as the tempests burst, Down with the brood accursed!
Sparks long in silence nursed Etna-like break; And that volcano's thirst Seas cannot slake!
PATRICK SCOTT.
The author of several meritorious poetical works, Patrick Scott was born at Macao in China, but is eminently of Scottish descent. His father, Helenus Scott, M.D., a cadet of the ducal house of Buccleuch, was a distinguished member of the Medical Board of Bombay, of which he was some time president. Receiving an elementary education at the Charterhouse, London, the subject of this notice entered, in his sixteenth year, the East India College at Haileybury. At the age of eighteen he proceeded to India, to occupy a civil appointment at Bombay.
In 1845, after eleven years' service, he returned to Britain in impaired health, and he has since resided chiefly in London.
Mr Scott first appeared as an author in 1851, by the publication of ”Lelio, and other Poems,” a volume which was received with warm encomiums by the press. In 1853, he published ”Love in the Moon: a Poem,” which was followed in the same year by ”Thomas a Becket, and other Poems.” His latest poetical publication appeared in 1854, under the t.i.tle of ”A Poet's Children.”
THE EXILE.
With drooping heart he turn'd away To seek a distant clime, Where friends were kind, and life was gay, In early boyhood's time.