The Humourous Poetry of the English Language

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and his coadjutors did a real service to letters, and assisted in a
purification which Gifford, by his demolition of the Delia Cruscan
school of poetry had so well begun. Perhaps no lines in the English
language have been more effective or oftener quoted than Canning's
"Friend of Humanity and the Knife Grinder." Many of the celebrated
caricatures of Gilray were originally designed to illustrate the Poetry
of the Anti-Jacobin. It had, however, but a brief, though brilliant
existence. Wilberforce and others of the more moderate supporters of
the ministry became alarmed at the boldness of the language employed.
Pitt (himself a contributor to the journal), was induced to interfere,
and after a career of eight months, the "Anti-Jacobin" (in its original
form), ceased to be.
AYTOUN, WILLIAM--Professor of Polite Literature in the Edinburg
University: editor of "Blackwood's Magazine:" son-in-law of the late
Professor Wilson. Professor Aytoun was bred to the bar but, we believe,
never came into practice. He is tha author of several humorous pieces,
and of many in which the intention to be humorous was not realized. He
is what the English call a very CLEVER man. Like many others who excel
in ridicule and sarcasm, he is devoid of that kind of moral principle
which makes a writer prefer the Just to the Dashing. Aytoun is a fierce
Tory in politics--a snob on principle. The specimens of his humorous
poetry contained in this collection were taken from the "Ballads of Bon
Gaultier," and the "Idees Napoleoniennes," editions of both of which
have been published in this country.
BARHAM, REV. RICHARD HARRIS--Author of the celebrated "Ingoldsby
Legends," published originally in "Bentley's Miscellany," afterward
collected and published in three volumes, with a memoir by a son of the
author.
Mr. Barham was born at Canterbury, England, December 6th, 1788. His
family is of great antiquity, having given its name to the well-known
"Barham Downs," between Dover and Canterbury. He was educated at St.
Paul's School in Canterbury, where he made the acquaintance of Richard
Bentley, who afterward became his publisher. From this school, he wont
to Oxford, entering Brazennose College, as a gentleman commoner, where
he met Theodore Hook, and formed a friendship with that prince of wits
which terminated only with Hook's life. At the University, Barham led
a wild, dissipated life--as the bad custom then was--and was noted as a
wit and good fellow. Being called to account, on one occasion, by his