The Jacobite Episode and its Relative Literatures. Two Essays. By
Wilmott Dixon, LL.B., and I. Logic Robertson, M.A. (Menzies ; Simpkin and Marshall.)—These two essays won the prizes of the Glasgow St. Andrew's Society, and, we may be bold enough to say, deserved them. Both are able productions ; the second especially, though say'ng little about the events of the two risings, giros a very full account of the literature of the period. Mr. Dixon is inclined to take Macaulay's view of the motives of the Highland Jacobites, and regards the party generally with little favour. He is hard, too hard, we cannot but think, on the modern, or, as he calls it, " spurious " Jacobitism of "the Ettrick Shepherd" and his compeers. But ho does justice to the wonderful force of some of these compositions. For it is curious that the best Jacobite ballads, if those are best that have most touched the popular heart, were written after the Jacobite cause was dead and buried. The ballads that were written while it was yet a question whether Stuart or Guelph should reign were made of sterner stuff, of fierce satire and savage invective. But it is in the knowledge of this part of the "Relative Literature "that Mr. Robertson excels.
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