LOWELL AND COLERIDGE. lTo 711E EDITOR OF.THE "-EIPF.CTATOIL")
strikes me :as remarkable, that, among the eloquent -speakers xvlao followed Mr. Lowelllast Thursday at the Chapter-I:louse, no one pointed out the likeness 'between the teaching -of Coleridge-and that of the poet who /was -chosen to unveil his bust. I mean that in one poem of Coleridge's, at least, he taught exactly that-idea of a higher patriotism which combines love of one's country-with the -.determination to oppose her when wrong, which is Bo forcibly .aet -forth in. the "Biglow Papers."
Compare these two instances 'ofthat feeling :— " When France in-wroth her giant•limhempreared, And with an oath that-emote air, earth, and 'sea, Stamped her strong foot and vowed she would be free, Bear witness for me how I hoped and feared !
'With what a joy, my lofty gratulation Tinavved I-sang, amid,aelavish band ; And, when to whelm the disenchanted nation, Like Sends embattled by a wizard's wand, The Monarchs marched in evil 'day, And :Britain joined the /Ere array ; Though dear.her shores and circling ocean, Though many friendships, many loves,
flail swollen the patriot emotion, And-east a light o'ermll her hillsund-groves ;
Y-e t■E till *my vei ce ter'd -sangdefeat To all.that braved the tyrant-quelling lances; And shame too long delayed and vain retreat ! •
For ne'er, 0 Liberty ! with partial aim, I dimmed thy light-or-damped-thy holy flume; But blessed the preens of delivered France, And bung my bead and wept at Britain's name."
Is not the -following like the above :in -spirit ?— " Massachusetts, 42ied forgive her, She's a-kneelin'.with the rest; She that ough'.to ha' clung fer over In her.grand old eagle-nest,- She thatmugh' to stand so fearless, Wile the wracks are round her hurled, Holdin' up a beacon peerless
-To the•oppressed in all.the world.
• • ..... Call me coward, call me traiter,
Jest ez snits your -mean idees; -Here I-stand, a-tyrant--hater,
-An' the friend o' Gotham' Peace."
Surely this 'point is worth noting. We 'have /a-good deal,on -the one side, of the lefty 'philosophic seam of the "-patriot emotion ;" and -much, on the ether -hand, of the bastard patriotism of -the Jingo ; brit the combination rof -thereal -love -of country with the bold:apposition-to ecrrrupt national feeling is -rare -enough to be 'worth studying. -May -it not -remind us of the feeling of one who wept over -Jernsalem-while-he pro phesied its fall —I sin,-Sirotc., AN "ENGLISHMAN.
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