19 NOVEMBER 1864, Page 21

Miscellaneous Poems, By Ann Stuart Thompson. (Hamilton, Adams, and Co.)—These

verses are, we presume, written by Mrs. Thompson as nursery rhymes for her children, and such of thorn as deal with secular subjects, although entirely without thought of any kind, may perhaps answer this purpose. But we must protest against turning the language of the Bible into doggrel. We do not pre- , tend to have read more than the first fifty pages of this book, but in these there is not only a verse narrative of the sacrifice of Isaac, but Mrs. Thompson actually ventures to traveatie the fourth chapter of St. John in this fashion :—

"But,' Bat,' Jesus said, who drinketh of This water they will thirst again, That which I give comes from a stream That waters all Emmanuers plain. And those who drink will thirst no More, And everlasting life 'twill bring,

And all may drink,—the vilest, worst,—

It is a never failing spring.'"

If one considers whose words they are which are thus dealt with, or compares them with the' original (St. John iv., 13, 14), it is difficult to say whether the writer of these verses is most wanting in reverence or perception of beauty. If foolish women must relieve their ennui by writing what they call poetry, let them at least be content to express their own vacuity of mind, and not degrade subjects too sacred to be carelessly handled. It will give some idea of this lady's fitness for her task that in the first 42 pages we have detected two instances of false grammar (p. 33 and 42); that in the pefem of Abraham and Isaac, containing just 56 lines, occur such rhymes as God—deed, Him—seem, said—seed, God—wood, prepare—where's, child—failed, return—son, sacrifice—skies, and lamb—came ; and that the, idea that flowers are like censers flinging about their fragrance or incense is considered so exquisitely happy that it is repeated twice within seven pages. How- ever, we will readily forgive Mrs. Thompson for writing nonsense if she will only for the future spare the Bible.