Of the two volumes of Poetry before us, Evening Hours,
by ROBERT ALLAN, Kilburchan, consist for the most part of Poems and Songs, which it is said have already had an extensive circula- tion, either by means of periodicals and song-books, or better still, in the case of lyrics, by the living voice. Tried by the touchstone of criticism, they seem to owe their success to appeals to local or National feelings and associations, and to the advantages a peeu- far dialect affords. The author also injures himself by not know- mg when to stop. Ile often hammers out his metal to the largest posible leaf, without regard either to the character of the song or the nature of things.
Every workman is limited by the nature of his matter, and more especially the critic. What then can we say of Poems, by M. GORDON, M.A., more than that they are juvenile, but display rather a meritorious juvenility. The longer pieces are misty and wordy, but sounding; the short general poems are neat and pretty, but want both thought and moral ; and the few personal ones were doubtless interesting to the parties to whom they were addressed, but have little attraction for the public.
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