* * * * *

SATAN IN SEARCH OF A WIFE

Is a little Poem, with much of the grotesque in its half-dozen Embellishments, and some tripping work in its lines.  “The End,” with “Who danced at the Wedding?” and the tail-piece—­a devil-bantling, rocked by imps, and the cradle lit by torches—­is droll enough.

Here is an invitation that promises a warm reception: 

  Merrily, merrily, ring the bells
    From each Pandemonian steeple;
  For the Devil hath gotten his beautiful bride,
  And a Wedding Dinner he will provide,
    To feast all kinds of people.

* * * * *

THE FAMILY CABINET ATLAS

Has reached its Ninth part, and unlike some of its periodical contemporaries, without any falling-off in its progress.  The Nine Parts contain thirty-six Maps, all beautifully perspicuous.  The colouring of one series is delicately executed.

* * * * *

MOORE’S LIFE OF BYRON.  VOL.  II.

Letter to Mr. Murray.

Bologna, June 7th, 1819.

* * * * “I have been picture-gazing this morning at the famous Domenichino and Guido, both of which are superlative.  I afterwards went to the beautiful cemetery of Bologna, beyond the walls, and found, besides the superb burial ground, an original of a Custode, who reminded one of the grave-digger in Hamlet.  He has a collection of capuchins’ skulls, labelled on the forehead, and taking down one of them, said, ’This was Brother Desiderio Berro, who died at forty—­one of my best friends.  I begged his head of his brethren after his decease, and they gave it me.  I put it in lime, and then boiled it.  Here it is, teeth and all, in excellent preservation.  He was the merriest, cleverest fellow I ever knew.  Wherever he went, he brought joy; and whenever any one was melancholy, the sight of him was enough to make him cheerful again.  He walked so actively, you might have taken him for a dancer—­he joked—­he laughed—­oh! he was such a Frate as I never saw before, nor ever shall again!’

“He told me that he had himself planted all the cypresses in the cemetery; that he had the greatest attachment to them and to his dead people; that since 1801 they had buried fifty-three thousand persons.  In showing some older monuments, there was that of a Roman girl of twenty, with a bust by Bernini.  She was a princess Barlorini, dead two centuries ago:  he said that, on opening her grave, they had found her hair complete, and ‘as yellow as gold.’  Some of the epitaphs at Ferrar pleased me more than the more splendid monuments at Bologna; for instance—­

  ’Martini Lugi
  Implora pace! 
  ’Lucrezia Picini
  Implora eterna quiete.’