ASIATIC SOCIETY. From the Literary Gazette. These two classes comprise the Buddhist The third class are the Brahmanical caves. caves. These are copies of Buddhist viharas, and, until closely examined, appear as though they were Buddhist caves appropriated to Brahmanical use. A nearer acquaintance, however, shows much difference in detail. They are, moreover, never surrounded by cells, the monastic state not being adopted by the Brahmans: and the walls are sculptured, and never painted, as in the vihara caves. The finest specimens are at Ellora and Elephanta. Prof. H. H. Wilson in the chair. The paper "On the cave-temples of India," by Mr. J. Fergusson, was concluded. This gentleman, who traversed a great part of India as an artist and antiquarian, has had advantages which have fallen to the lot of few in examining these mysterious relics of antiquity; and though he modestly disclaims all pretensions to the knowledge of Indian learning and literature, which some of those have enjoyed who have visited these temThe fourth class are not properly caves; they ples, he is the the only person who has investigated are imitations of built temples; and as the rock they are cut from is usually higher than the temple itself, they look as though they were them with the sole purpose of ascertaining their age and object, and who has been able to give ⚫ them his undivided attention; whereas other built in pits. Thus they can never be properly describers have visited them incidentally, while travelling on their usual avocations. He may also boast of seeing a larger number of them than any other traveller, very few having escaped his research. If it were possible to render intelligible the descriptions detailed in this very interesting paper without the architectural plans laid on the Society's table, our limits would preclude our doing so; but this is the less to be lamented, as several of these extraordinary excavations have been already described by others. It will be more interesting to give the classification which Mr. Fergusson's extensive observations have enabled him to make of these caverns, and his conclusions on their chronological succession and antiquity, which he brings down very low, compared with the extravagant assumptions of those who have placed them, in this respect, above the oldest temples of Egypt. Mr. Fergusson divides all the cave-temples of India into five classThe first or most ancient of these he terms the vihara, or monastic caverns. These, though one in object and arrangement, are very various in execution. In the simplest instances they are natural caverns somewhat enlarged and improved by art; in more elaborate examples they are extended to a square cell, with a porch; and lastly, to an extensive hall, supported by massy columns, surrounded by cells for the abode of the priest, and having opposite the entrance a deep recess or sanctuary, in which are usually placed statues of Buddha and his attendants. By far the majority of Buddhist excavations are of this class; and the most splendid of these are at Ajanta: there are also fine specimens at Ellora and Salsette. cs. The second class is that of the chaitya caves. These are the temples of the Buddhists; and one, at least, is attached to every set of caves in India. The plan and arrangement of all these is exactly alike; and, unlike the viharas, the oldest differ in nothing from the most modern, except in size. They have all an external porch, an internal gallery over the entrance, and a nave or centre aisle, at least twice as long as broad, covered by a vault, with a semi-dome over a chaitya, or daghope. The whole interior is surrounded by a narrow aisle, separated from the nave by massy columns, and roofed. The most perfect chaitya cave in India, and in Mr. Fergusson's opinion the most ancient, is that at Carlee. seen, and have an insignificant appearance. They are in worse taste than either of the classes mentioned, although of considerable interest to the antiquarian. The far-famed Kylas at Ellora is of this class. The fifth class are the jaina caves, which, unless it comprehends the Indra Subha group at Ellora-a matter of some uncertainty, contains but few specimens, and these of small importance. They consist of a number of colossal figures cut in the rock, and sometimes, but not always, with a screen left standing before, thus constituting a chamber. The sculpture is rude, and in bad taste. In connexion with the subject, Mr. Fergusson made some remarks on the religions of India. He is of opinion that previous to the appearance of Sakya Muni, in the sixth century before Christ, there existed in India a Brahmanical religion, a sort of fire-worship, very different from modern Brahmanism; and that, contemporary with it, there was a Buddhistical religion, differing but little from it. Kings and people went from one to the other without difficulty or excitement; and in the descriptions left by the Greeks, and in native records, we find it difficult to distinguish between them. He is also of opinion that, from the period of Asoka, в. с. 250, to the fifth century of our era, Buddhism was the prevailing faith of Northern India, while Brahmanism ruled in the south; and that during this participation of territory that polytheistic Brahmanism was elaborated which now prevails throughout India. He concludes that the earliest cave-diggers of India were Buddhists; who were afterwards imitated by the Brahmans: and as to their antiquity, that none are so old as the date of Asoka. Mr. Fergusson finished by deploring the continued destruction of these remains, and more particularly of the paintings, from the injuries of the climate, from their incrustation by the soot, from the native cookingfires, and by the more destructive propensities of European curiosity-fanciers, who seldom visit a temple without carrying off a head or two, picked out of the wall, which is usually crushed to powder before reaching its destination. These observations elicited from the meeting a resolution to use all possible means to get copies made of some of these paintings, and especially those of Ajanta, which were more particularly alluded to by Mr. Fergusson. MEMOIRS OF WILLIAM TAYLOR OF NORWICH. From the Quarterly Review. A Memoir of the Life and Writings of the late William Taylor, of Norwich, containing the Correspondence of many years with the late Robert Southey, Esq., &c. By J. W. Robberds, F. G. S., of Norwich. 2 vols. 8vo. London. 1843. MR. Sydney Smith complimented the Norfolk Taylors, so many of whom have made themselves known to the world in our time, by reversing the obsolete adage into 'it takes nine men to make a Taylor.' We believe the distinguished persons of that name from Norwich and the neighboring country do not all consider themselves to be of the same kindred; but, however this may be, they will all, we suppose, allow that for gifts and acquirements the foremost among them was the subject of these Memoirs. Yet, as he put forth little with his name, and did not in his anonymous writings thoroughly identify Miss Aikin) took a large share in the tuition of the house, and soon distinguished Taylor as one of two pupils especially deserving her own and her husband's most assiduous care -the other being Frank Sayers, whose life was in the sequel written and his remains collected by his early companion. Mr. Robberds considers it as an extraordinary circumstance that the two cleverest boys of the a school formed an enthusiastic attachment for each other-we should have thought it stranger if they had not; but, he adds, friendship unbroken during the term of fortythree years, amidst severer trials than the struggles of academic vanity or the freaks of juvenile ambition.' That is to say, it survived a total disseverance of opinions on subjects of the highest importance; but this, however rare, is not the only example of the kind, nor the most illustrious one, that Mr. Taylor's biographer records. In his life of Sayers (1823), Mr. Taylor dwelt with grateful recollection on the pains taken by Mrs. Barbauld (whom he used to himself with the theories or interests of any call the mother of his mind') with the 'Enggreat party among us, we should not be sur-lish composition' of her young disciples; prised to find that, after a silence of thirteen and, in reviewing that Life, Mr. Southey, a years, preceded by about as long a period of warm friend and admirer of both Sayers and comparative inactivity, he had nearly ceased to be remembered beyond his province and the professed students of literature. Ifsuch obscurity has gathered over him, however, these volumes will dispel it. The narrative is that of an able man-sometimes too ambitious indeed, but nowhere diffuse, every where clear; and the correspondence interwoven is as interesting as any we are likely to see revealed for many years to come. It is our duty to review such a book as this; but the task is not undertaken without reluctance. Mr. Taylor was the deliberate teacher of pernicious opinions: his conversation and his pen were influential in forwarding some of the most fatal heresies of this age: and the many amiable traits in his character render it most painful to dwell on the obstinacy of his unhappy delisions. He was born at Norwich in 1765, the only child of wealthy parents. His father had inherited the chief place in an old mercantile house, engaged mostly in the export trade; and William was destined from the cradle to succeed in this respectable position. The family were of the Unitarian sect, and so all their immediate connections appear to have been. The boy was sent to school first Taylor, made this passage the subject of a brief comment : 'It may be doubted whether such a habit of early criticism would have the effect of producing a natural and easy style; whether it would not tend to banish colloquial and idiomatic English from composition; and whether pupils so trained would not, as they grew up, be likely to think less of what they had to say than of how they should say it. The moral faculties cannot be accustomed to discipline too early, that they may receive their bent in time; but there is danger of weakening or distorting the intellectual powers, if you interfere too soon with their free growth. To make boys critical is to make little men of them, which is the surest way to prevent them from ever becoming great ones.' -Quart. Rev., vol. xxxv. p. 177. Such remarks might naturally have occurred in reference to any Life of Sayers: but there can be no doubt that Mr. Southey was thinking less of the Doctor than of his historian. Having acquired as much Greek and Latin as Mr. Barbauld could teach, or as his parents thought desirable, and made very extraordinary progress in various branches of education more likely to be serviceable in mercantile career, William Taylor was re a under a Swiss refugee, whose favorite study moved from Palgrave to the Norwich countis said to have been etymology, and after- ing-house at the age of fourteen. He could wards with Mr. Rochemont Barbauld, Unita- already read French and Italian with ease, rian minister at Palgrave, whose 'talented and the foreign connections of the firm renand tasteful consort' (early celebrated as dering it expedient that he should complete MAY, 1844. 2 his mastery of those languages, he was soon doctrinal differences, however great and scription. almost exclusively among the dissenters and Besides political clubs Norwich had several manners, and alınost in appearance. The for ever Germanized. He returned to Norwich at eighteen, full of Goethe, and Bürger, and Voss; but not without having 'pervasively studied' the rationalistic divines as well as the pantheistic poets. Without formally withdrawing from the paternal desk, he very soon convinced all about him that his father was to be the last real merchant of the lineage. The elder Mr. Taylor cared nothing about either poetry or metaphysics, but he was proud, as well he might be, of his only son, and fancying him with the seniors, whom his variety of infor- Such was William Taylor's position when self richer than he was, by degrees acqui- his own class-sedulously cultivated and ex- cendancy, and extend its reputation in the world beyond. But the community at large welcomed the juvenile aspirant. There was, as there had long been, a general spirit of intellectual activity in Norwich, but in those days not much of political excitement; and of parts, thus early accustomed to a sense of of society, and thus, without an effort as it - ly devoted himself to the most laborious of cæteris paribus-or rather, cæteris non valde all lives, that of the man who does great imparibus-be effective in proportion to the things in literature or in science-he might nearness of its date. Besides, whenever there not indeed have been a solitary, but he must is an alteration there will be some ugly trace have been a most rare exception to all rules. It of the rent. Many circumstances in the was very natural that the essays and speeches 'Lenore,' when introduced into a story of of his debating clubs should encourage him the twelfth or thirteenth century, whether to enter into correspondence with a news- in England or in Germany, are at once per paper or a magazine; but, if fugitive verses and articles so published should happen to bring him a considerable addition of notoriety-if he should find himself able, by brief snatches of exertion, to fix on himself such a measure of general literary reputation as no man else in or near Norwich had then achieved it became doubly improbable that he should trample on hourly strengthening temptations, and determine to be great in ceived to belong to a much more modern era, and these therefore give an air of patchwork and falsification to both Taylor's version and Scott's, from which the ballad itself is free. According to our view, Taylor's attempt at archaic diction and his Rowleian spelling only make things worse. In fact the whole sentiment of the piece is, like Bürger's own language and rhythm, modern; and especially the picturesque minuteness of the place of sitting down content with being al- description throughout is proper in reference ready thought so. to a superstition that lingers on and influences The first thing that attracted notice be- the heart and imagination, but is already disyond the Norwich sphere, was his translation paraged and condemned, and stands in need of 'Lenore.' Bürger is, if not the greatest, of support. A story like that of Lenore at least among the very greatest, of modern would have been told by a mediæval bard ballad poets, and this remains his master- with a Job-like darkness of hints or a Gospelpiece. Taylor's version was the earliest, and like simplicity and brevity. This piece was rapidly followed by other translations from the same poet, and by and bye much more extensive specimens from the German in a variety of measures. In the three bulky volumes, entitled 'Survey of German Poetry,' which Mr. Taylor published in 1830, he collected many of these early performances in verse, with a sort of connecting commentary made up chiefly from his magazine prose of the same period. We should regret with the biographer that he did not re-write the whole of the prose, had he shown in his patches of addition any disposition to recant his juvenile heresies-but, on the contrary, his aim was to lend these new force and attraction. his biographer considers it as the best in our language: a casual recitation of it suggested, as is well known, the apprentice effort of Sir Walter Scott, which is certainly, in general accuracy and finish, inferior to Taylor's, but in which we cannot but think there is more of the spirit of poetry. In truth we have no thoroughly satisfactory English 'Lenore.' William Spencer's is wordy and pompous, and gives no idea whatever of Bürger's nervous and fiery style. On the other hand, Taylor, and after him Scott, shrunk from strict imitation of the stanza-whereby, as both Coleridge and Wordsworth have observed, a pervading and pathetic beauty of effect is sacrificed. Scott and several others have followed Taylor in some variations of the story Mr. Taylor in his translations, and also in itself, which Mr. Robberds thinks judicious: but here again we have the fortune to dis-experimentalist in metres. Mr. Southey has agree with him. Bürger, for instance, lays his scene at the end of the Seven Years' war -Taylor and Scott carry us back to the Crusades. In our opinion the date of the original was well fixed. The ghost superstition, say what we will, has survived to this day every where; at all events there can be no doubt that it was far from being extinct in Germany when Bürger was writing, and Coleridge and Taylor were electrified during their youthful wanderings by his fresh productions: and we believe that when a superstition is really alive in the popular mind, and therefore (which is infallibly the case) not without some shadow of living power in all minds, a story connected with it will, his original poetry (so called), was a great secured remembrance for his English hexameters by a rather solemn paragraph of the preface to the 'Vision of Judgment.' It may be proper therefore that we should give a small specimen of his workmanship; and we take it from his 'Survey' of the 'Luise' of Voss, a poem of classical reputation, which continues to be hardly less a favorite with the Germans than the most skilfully constructed narrative poem of recent times, the 'Herman and Dorothea' of Goethe. We are not of opinion that the hexameter will ever be naturalized in England. By far the happiest of the attempts is Southey's in the opening of his Vision; but even with his consummate skill the effect of that performance as a whole is very disappointing. With in- | Wallenstein. Mr. Taylor was an excellent ferior practitioners, however able men, the German scholar (probably the very best we result has in all cases been ludicrous. Tay have had), and he was not without a talent for lor had little delicacy of ear, or strung to- versification, but we cannot think Nature had gether his dactyles and spondees, as a living experimenter of high talents and acquirements is said to have done, 'while he was shaving.' We transcribe part of the brated breakfast-scene by the lake : Just where the wind blew into the fire was station'd the trivet, meant him for a poet. He largely excited and gratified curiosity and the influence of what he did has had lasting effects: but no cele-metrical translation, however faithful, however clever, unless it is vivified throughout with the fervor of a true poetical pulse, can ever reach the class of which we have a few examples in our own literature, and of which there are more in the German than in any other literature of the world. But besides a deficiency of native fire, he was far from having such a On it the well-clos'd kettle, replenished with crystalline water. Meanwhile carried Louisa his pipe to papa, and to bacco for pipe-light: Wrapt in the velvety hide of the seal, and a paper Calmly the old man sat, and he whiff'd, and he smil'd, and again whiff'd. Soon as the flame had surrounded the kettle, and steam from the lid burst, command of the poetical language of his own country as has been attained by some of his followers in this walk, perhaps as little entitled to be classed with the poets of Nature's fram Out of a paper-envelope the good old lady her coffee ing as himself. In truth, his knowledge of EngInto the brown jug shower'd, and added some shav-lish literature seems in no department whatings of hartshorn, Then with the boiling water she fill'd up the pot to the summit. for its clearing: Kneeling she waver'd it over the fire, and watch'd Hasten, my daughter, she said, to arrange all the cups in their places, it unfilter'd. Coffee is soonly enough, and our friends will excuse took out ، ever to have been first-rate. His reading at the age of vivid impressions was almost exclusively foreign-chiefly German-and his taste, to use a phrase of his own, soon got into a rut,' from which it never diverged. He is not the only instance of this irretrievable 'Teutonization,' as he calls it; but such, we believe, has never occurred unless where, as with him, the German studies were taken up without the previous devotion of years to the great models of classical antiquity. It is fair to observe, too, that Taylor's taste in German literature itself was very often what the best German critics would have pronounced heretical. He even in his old age talks of Kotzebue as the greatest of all dramatists next to Shakspeare-and we might mention not a few equally preposterous decisions. Of Goethe he speaks better and worse than we ever could think-better of him as a moralist, worse as an artist: but Mr. Robberds is candid enough to drop a hint that his early enthusiasm about the demigod of Weimar, cooled obviously after what he regarded as a personal slight. It seems Goethe never acknowledged the receipt of the English Iphigenia. We have no doubt the omission was accidental; for Goethe was not only a polite gentleman, but most assiduous in flattering the minor literati, at home and abroad, so they would but perform the Kotow. Mr. Taylor was first in the field, and he Mr. Taylor must be acknowledged to have kept it long-or at least the main share of been the first who effectually introduced the it. The mere possession of the German lanModern Poetry and Drama of Germany to the guage was in those days a great rarity-of English reader, and his versions of the Nathan the few who had made that acquisition, alof Lessing, the Iphigenia of Goethe, and Schiller's Bride of Messina, are not likely to be supplanted, though none of them are productions of the same order with Coleridge's most all had made it, like himself, with a view originally to mercantile correspondence, and were not likely to have either wish or capacity for availing themselves of it in the ser |