The exposition and vindication of the doctrine of providence, which we have attempted in the present paper, contains instruction for all, whether saints or sinners. The lesson it conveys to every human being is: Be satisfied to remain within your proper sphere. Seek not to know what your Maker has concealed. Repress that pride of intellect which refuses the attitude of the angels who tremble and adore, and which aims to bring God down from his throne, and subject him to the process of its lordly scrutiny. Remember that you are finite, not infinite; that you are a man, and not a divinity. But if you refuse the lesson, go on. Make war with heaven. Assail the towers of God's strength, and scale, if you can, the rock of his abode. Those brazen towers, which stood the brunt of hell, dread not the feeble artillery of human cavil. That everlasting Rock, at whose foot break the waves of time, and whose towering height o'erlooks eternity, shall stand secure, and awe the universe with its strength, when you and your memorial shall have perished in the folly of self-destruction.

ART. V.-Bilderdijk.

[Continued from p. 132.]

THE disinterested efforts of De Vries to secure for Bilderdijk a post of usefulness that might afford a comfortable subsistence to himself and family, and thus remove out of his way the obstacles to his return, laid the foundation of an indissoluble friendship. In the poetical works of the latter, we find several pieces addressed to the former, which evince how highly the poet appreciated these kind exertions in his behalf, and the high esteem in which he held this generous friend. The letters* of Bilderdijk, too, are said to attest his fervent gratitude

*The correspondence of Bilderdijk was collected and published in 1836-7, in five octavo volumes, under the editorial supervision of Da Costa, aided by his highly gifted friend, Willem de Clercq, and by the publisher, Willem

and sincere attachment to De Vries.* If Bilderdijk cherished so warm an affection, and entertained so high a regard for this dear friend, the affection of De Vries for him was equally cordial, and his esteem equally high. He speaks of his intercourse with the immortal poet as opening to him an inexhaustible fountain of pure and rational enjoyment; and bears the most decisive testimony to the intrinsic excellence of his character, and the cordiality which he had ever evinced towards him.

In the Amsterdam Division of the Batavian Society of Philology and Poetry, it was proposed, in 1805, to offer inducements to Bilderdijk, then residing in Brunswick, to deliver lectures before them on the Dutch Language, Eloquence, and Poetry. This proposition originated with De Vries and M. C. van Hall, an eminent jurist, poet, and orator, who, however much he differed from Bilderdijk, ever admired him as a poet. The obstacles in the way of the accomplishment of this plan were such as to induce the Society to abandon it. It resulted, however, in a generous present, made by certain of his countrymen, chiefly members of this Division, as a contribution towards defraying his expenses in returning to his native land. It was presented to him early in 1807, with an accompanying letter from De Vries. Men of every rank, and of every shade of political sentiment, manifested an interest in the welfare of the returned exile, and would gladly have seen some plan consummated which would secure to him an honourable support in the performance of literary labour, provided this could be done without giving him an official position. Among those who gave practical demonstration of their interest, was R. J. Schimmelpenninck, Pensionary of Holland, and former friend of Bilderdijk. His generosity touched the heart of his unfortunate friend, and elicited a poetic acknowledgment of his kind

Meeschert, who was also a highly esteemed friend of the editor. We regret that these letters are not in our possession, as they doubtless contain much that might serve to impart additional interest to this article.

* Jeronimo de Vries was a numismatologist, poet, and amateur. He is author of a treatise on the improvement and decline of Dutch poetry during the eighteenth century, as compared with earlier periods. This constitutes the third and fourth volume of the works of the Batavian Society of Philology and Poetry.

ness, and a beautiful tribute to his intellectual greatness and moral worth. It was committed to paper, but was not communicated to him until another change in political affairs had divested the noble statesman of his high dignity, and elevated the injured poet to the zenith of his honour and fame. It was then transmitted to him with a beautiful addition, expressive of the poet's undiminished affection and esteem, which were not based on external circumstances.

As no certain prospect of permanent support opened to his view in his own country, he determined to accept a professorship in Kazan, which had been tendered him in 1805. To this determination he had reluctantly come, and a kind Providence interposed to relieve him from the necessity of carrying out his purpose. The Society of Literature felt it incumbent on them to pay their respects to their new sovereign. Most of the members offered reasons why they should be exonerated. Four remained, who could assign no other reason than want of inclination, and on them the duty accordingly devolved. Among these was Bilderdijk, who, to his surprise, found himself well known at the royal palace. Before the formal reception of the deputation, Bilderdijk, without knowing him, had a conversation with the king, and expressed his views with his usual candour. His frankness made a favourable impression on the mind of his Majesty, and drew from him the remark: "Il est franc comme on doit l'être."

Having won the confidence of the king, and being admitted to intimacy with him, the poet now received many marks of royal favour. He became the king's instructor in the Dutch language; and to facilitate the performance of his duty, an apartment in the palace was offered him. When the Netherlands Institute was founded, Bilderdijk must constitute one of its ornaments. Not only was he allowed a liberal annual income, but residences and country-seats were placed at his disposal. When the poet felt constrained to decline a royal favour, the indulgent reply was: "I meant it well; but live where and as you please; I am contented, if you are." At another time: "Be careful for nothing, only labour for the glory of your country."

This prince seems to have possessed sufficient magnanimity

to enable him to appreciate the convictions and feelings of those who felt themselves indissolubly bound to the House of Orange. Such he gathered around him, and sought to attach to his person. He identified himself with the nation, and laboured to promote, not only its material prosperity, but also its advancement in the arts, sciences, and polite literature. While thus overcoming the prejudices that existed against him at the commencement of his reign, and securing the affection and esteem of the nation, as also its lasting gratitude, he received from Bilderdijk no encouragement to hope that his kindness would ever cause the nation to forget its obligations to the illustrious house now deprived of its rights. Sincerely as the poet was attached to the person of Louis Bonaparte, highly as he appreciated his noble efforts to promote the national welfare and prosperity, grateful as he felt for the numerous favours conferred on himself, and faithful as he was in the performance of present duty, he did not, in his intercourse with him, conceal his sincere conviction that the crown rightfully belonged to another, nor his expectation of one day seeing it restored to its rightful possessor.

Enjoying the royal favour, he now received from different quarters marks of respect. Some of these, had they been shown him when an exile in a foreign land, would have been peculiarly grateful to his feelings, as evidences of being still held in remembrance and esteem.

It was to him a source of peculiar pleasure and heartfelt satisfaction, to see again some of his old and tried friends; such as Rev. J. W. Bussingh, at whose house he was permitted, with his wife and children, to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of his birth, soon after his return to Holland; and his early friend and benefactor, Dr. Verschuur, who died a few months after, and whom he commemorated in an elegy, breathing the liveliest gratitude, and expressive of the highest esteem; and P. J. Uylenbroek, a bookseller and poet of Amsterdam, and one of his earliest and dearest literary friends, who died in 1808, and whom Bilderdijk commemorated in a beautiful elegy, abounding in tender and touching allusions to the past, and pervaded by a spirit of most devoted friendship.

During this period, some of the most distinguished scientific

and literary men in Leyden, at the Hague, and in Amsterdam, were numbered among his warm friends and admirers; such as Jeronimo de Vries, of whom mention has been made, and his excellent brother, Abraham de Vries, a distinguished Baptist minister in Haarlem, who vindicated its claim to be regarded as the place where the art of printing was first invented;— Jeronimo de Bosch, a celebrated Latin poet and a distinguished philologist and antiquary, who died in 1811, at the age of seventy-one, and whom Bilderdijk honoured as a man of poetic genius, a patron of learning and arts, a protector of oppressed virtue, and a lover of justice, liberty, country, and humanity; Herman Bosscha, a distinguished Latin poet, and professor of History in Amsterdam, author, also, of several prose.works, chiefly historical, some in Latin and others in Dutch, and who died in 1819, aged sixty-four:-Meinard Tydeman,* professor of jurisprudence, successively in Harderwijk, Utrecht, and Leyden, who died in 1825, at the advanced age of eighty-four, and whom Bilderdijk honoured as a man of vast learning, indefatigable industry, and eminent piety;-J. Hinlópen, president of the Second Class of the Royal Netherlands Institute of Sciences, Literature, and Fine Arts, who died in 1808, and whom he commemorated in an elegy replete with beautiful and elevated Christian sentiment;-and S. J. Brugmans, professor of Natural History, Medicine, Chemistry, and Astronomy, in the University of Leyden, author of several Latin works, who died in 1819, aged fifty-six, and whom Bilderdijk regarded as greater than either of the celebrated men, Boerhaave or Albinus.

From Dupré, secretary of the king, Bilderdijk received, October 2d, 1806, a polite note, in which he acknowledges the favour of several of the poet's works, received through Professor Brugmans, and suggests the propriety and desirableness of an Ode to Napoleon from his gifted pen, assuring him that he should esteem it an honour to put such a production into French verse. This suggestion, or rather solicitation, Bilderdijk

* In Bilderdijk's poetical works we find several beautiful pieces, addressed to this worthy man. Much as Bilderdijk honoured him for his prodigious learning, he honoured him still more for his sincere and devoted friendship, and his high Christian character.