Except a pretty dramatic paftoral entitled Valentine's Day, thefe pieces are all short and detached, in the form of epiftles, odes, fonnets, fongs, and elegies. A few fonnets in the ftyle of elgant fimplicity, written by two young friends of the author, are added at the clofe of the fecond volume.

Art. 36. Attica: or the Advantages and Difadvantages of a Popular Government. Adapted to the prefent Pofture of Public Affairs. 8vo. Is. Lowndes. 1795.

In former times, when we were young, we remember it was the fashion to admire the ardent spirit of liberty which animated the Grecian Republicans. Athens was a name, at the mention of which every youthful bofom glowed with delight, contemplating it as

"The pride of fmiling Greece and human kind.”

In the prefent more enlightened day, this juvenile paffion for liberty is difcovered to be founded in vulgar error; and Attica muf, now be regarded by our youth as an object, not of admiration, but of averfion. This is the fpirit of the prefent poem. The author, in rhymes not altogether defpicable, inconfiftently endeavours to do credit to the British Conftitution by placing it in contraft with the free ftates of antient Greece; as if the former were the more valuable, the less it refembled the latter in their characteristic features of liberty. Art. 37. Difcord: an Epic Poem. Occafioned by observing the prefent Troubles in France. By Henry Fisher. 4to. pp. 36. 25. Printed at Doncafter. Rivingtons, London. 1794.

Never was the auguft title of epic poem more difgraced than by its application to thefe verfes. They are, in truth, nothing better than the bombastic rant of political phrenzy againft anarchists and reformers. Art. 38. A Poem written towards the Clofe of the Year 1794, on the Profpect of the Marriage of the Prince of Wales. By the Rev. J. Hurdis, B. D. Profeffor of Poetry in the University of Oxford. 4to. Is. 6d. Johnfon. 1795.

We have hitherto given, with fincerity, our "hearty commendations" of the poetry of Mr. Hurdis,-If, on this occafion, we must be more niggardly of our plaudits, we hope it will not be ascribed to any decrease of our favourable difpofition towards this ingenious writer, but rather to his improper mode (as we conceive) of treating a delicate fubject; in which, ftrange as it may feem on fuch a theme, the angry politics of the times have taken place of that fimplicity and affectionate tenderness for which his gentle mufe had been diftinguished. We can have no objection to his warmeft effufions of loyalty, and zealous attachment to the caufe of his country, in oppofition to every foreign and domeftic foe: but we cannot approve the introduction of fo many of the terrible Graces, into a poem wearing fo feftive an afpect; and in which no unpleasant imagery ought to have been admitted. His wild invocation to the "Great God of Battles," p. 5, and all the fubfequent pourtraiture of the "wreck of matter, and the crush of worlds," might well have been fpared.

Art. 39. Private Life; a moral Rhapfody. Written at a Gentleman's
Country Refidence. By Henry Moore. 4to. pp. 20.
Law.

Is 6d.

This

This is one of thofe moderate performances of which the mediocrity, while it fcreens them from fevere cenfure, denies them the tribute of warm commendation. Thus much, however, we may say in its favour,

that, without entire originality, the fentiments are just and moral; the imagery, though fparingly fcattered, is pleafing; the diction is fomewhat raised above fimple profe; and the numbers are not inharmonious.

Art. 40. Fashion, a Poem. 4to. 25. Cadell jun. and Davies. 1795. That the prefent fashionable manners are in many refpects very cenfurable, and a proper object of fatire, must be allowed by every man of obfervation and reflection: but the poet, when he fits down to write, ought to confider that other qualifications are necessary to infure him fuccefs, befides a judicious choice of a subject; and critics may be fo unreasonable as to expect, in a fatirical poem, acuteness of obfervation, an extenfive knowlege of human life and manners, and a quick perception of impropriety and indecorum, illumined by wit, or embellished by humour. In the poem before us, we fee nothing to applaud befides the goodness of the author's intentions. The verfification is infipid, languid, and fometimes incorrect; and the obfervations are trite. After having laboured through the 34 pages of which the work confifts, we have not met with a fingle paffage which can charm by elegance, please by sprightliness, or even arreft our attention by novelty. The following fober addrefs to the ladies of Great Britain will, we fancy, confirm the judgment which we have paffed, in refpect of this author's poetical talents:

Daughters of Britain, take a friend's advice,
Be not in trifles fcrupulously nice.

It fetters down the foul to cares minute,
And oft retards fome more belov'd pursuit:
It facrifices joys of noblest kind,

To fordid things, beneath a well-taught mind,
That knows her mortal partner, fprung from earth,
Should ne'er make her forget her higher birth.
One rule, meanwhile, to heed, Oh, do not fail :
O'er filthy modes let cleanlinefs prevail.

What do I fee! that once attractive mouth,

Whofe radiant fmiles erft charm'd each wond'ring youth,

Is now alas! by pungent duft disgrac'd,

Vile fnuff its loveliness has quite defac'd.

The rofeate tints are vanifh'd; brown fucceeds,

Of deepest hue, and beauty captive leads,
Befmear'd, inflam'd, difarm'd of all her power,

I scarce can recognize the wither'd flower.'

Art. 41. England preferved: an Hiftorical Play in Five Acts, as performed at the Theatre Royal Covent Garden, Written by George Watson, Efq. 8vo. 25. Longman.

One of the most frequent mistakes, and the greateft, of the writers of tragedy of the prefent century, has been in the choice of their fubjects. Many of them have indeed involved the fate of princes, and what are called heroes: but few have understood or developed (VolREV, SEPT. 1795.

H

taire

taire perhaps alone excepted) the grand truths on which the happiness of mankind depends.

The tragic writer, who firft fhall feize thefe truths, and difplay them in all their fublime confequences, will aftonish both reader and fpectator, and will rank among the firft of poets. An attempt like this has been made by the author of England preferved:" but whether on true principles, or on deftructive prejudices, the language and incidents of the tragedy will beft explain. The play is but a feeble performance, though not deftitute of poetic ideas, and is therefore incapable of any great degree of good or harm. That the author intended to do good we can readily believe; for the examples of good intention, in mistaken men, are too numerous to be questioned. Granting, therefore, that war is a good; that a man, who is ready to plunge his fword into the hearts of all who fhall diffent from him in action or opinion, is a hero; and particularly that France breeds fuch a peftiferous fwarm of wretches, that to fweep them from the face of the earth would be the fummit of virtue; grant, in fhort, that contention, hatred, revenge, and a thirst for blood, are beneficent paffions; and the play, it is true, will fill be dull, but we fhall find that the author is ardently intent on inculcating this morality. We do not fpeak in the bitterness of reproach; for we are well aware that he has but imbibed thofe lawful prejudices, of which fo many hundreds of thousands of human beings have lately been the facrifice. It is ftrange that men should perfift in imagining, that to inflict all the miferies which they have the power to inflict on each other is the true means of removing thofe miferies, and the fole medium of happiness. Such, however, is their perfuafion; and all that reason can do is to fhew them the facts, as often as poffible, leaving them to produce conviction; which, eventually, they inevitably will produce.

Mr.W. has, intentionally, made his play a continued allufion to the events of prefent times: of which the following fcene is an inftane., Enter a MESSENGER.

• Meffenger.

My Lord Protector, joy!
The hoft without are of your kindred, friends,
Who, flying from the tyranny of France,

Yield up their fwords, confiding in thy truth,

And hail prince Henry, their liege Lord, and King!
Winchefter. High heav'n, be prais'd!

• Protector.

Submiffion fo well tim'd
Must make atonement for their past mifdeeds.

Admit the chiefs. But fay, who leads them on!

Meffenger. I caught the tidings from the gen'ral voice.

But all, my Lord, cry out Earl William's name.

• Protector. My fon, my eldest hope, my hero come!
Then Pembroke's heart is whole. My fpirits flow
One way. The ruler's duties press not now
Against the parent's. I am doubly strong.
Yet, for a while these feelings mutt I check,
And probe his fpirit to the very quick.

My foul yearns on the boy. Good friends, forgive
Thefe ftrong emotions.

[Retires.

• Chester

▾ Chefter.

We partake thy joy.

Winchester. Thus may juft heav'n lead ev'ry fubject home, In peace, and love, to form one flock again!

Re-enter Meffenger, introducing EARL WILLIAM and Knights, who make fubmiffions to PEMBROKE.

Meffenger. Behold, my Lord, the Barons here attend.
Protector. Earl William Mar'fchal, and ye Knights arise.
Earl Will. Oh! my father, (approaching with eagerness.).
My Lord, as Marefchal (coldly.)

• Protector.

Of England, 'tis my duty bids accept,
And prize thy fervices. A father, Sir,
Knows not of ftate neceffities; he feels
As well as judges, keenly feels: and, when
A fon pulls down that image of respect,
That nature hath infix'd on filial breasts,
The father bears a fting fo fharp, a wound
So deep indeed, that words of penitence
Muft long, long vibrate on his deaden'd fenfe,
E'er they can touch his foul, and pour the balm,
That filial tenderness, alone, can give.
Five fons I have, and thou, of all the five,
Haft been the one, to wound my aged heart,

Canc'lling the peace thy brethren's love beftow'd.

· Earl Will. Oh! Sir, these words are worse to me than death.

Heav'n knows how much I venerate my Sire.

That life thou gav'ft, for thee, I'd yield with joy.

Protector. Thy deeds have greatly prov'd this folemn truth.

'Twas filial love that tore thee from my fide,

Sent thee to league thy felf with England's foes,
And guide the battle's blind, impetuous rage,
Tho' I ftood victim of the doubtful ftrife!

• Earl Will. Blot out remembrance of fuch dire events.
With John, oppreffion's lawless reign hath ceas'd
And all refentment's buried in his grave.

But when he broke the charter we obtain'd,
When forth to war he led his hireling bands,
Mark'd ev'ry footstep in his fubjects' blood,
While defolation followed where he went,

Our caftles fmok'd, our wives and children bled,
And fuppliant mis'ry knelt and wept in vain-

What medium could a free-born spirit keep?

Protector. He might have died to guard his native rights, And not have fold them to a foreign lord.

I knelt, no minion of defpotic pow'r.

Deep in my heart, our liberties I held,

But faw, with fhame, this Ifle betray'd to France,
And tremb'ling ftood aloof, to catch the time,
When I might act, and fave our facred cause.
• Earl Will. But my impatient nature-

• Protector.

What! impatient ? In private ftrifes, men may be tefty now,

H 2

And

And now, be calm. A nation's welfare rests

Not on a temper's turn.-Thou fhew'ft thine age.
• Earl Will. Father, I stand in conflict with thy words,
Like the flight reed against the northern blaft.
Yet, by the blood I'm ready now to shed

In Henry's caufe, I firmly fwear to heav'n,

I meant my country's good in all my deeds.

[dwelt,

Winchester. Nay, look, young man, thro' fields where freedom

And independence fcorn'd all foreign yokes,

E'er yet thy rafhnefs threw our all at ftake,
And fee the fad reverse of former times;

See, where the ftranger o'er our fruitful fields

Earl Will. In pity ftop, thou ftrik'ft upon a string

That vibrates to defpair. Difgraceful day

That faw us leagued with France! 'Twas madnefs all.
For as the eaglet gazes on the fun,

Till ev'ry object fhews to him in fire,

My fancy, warm'd by freedom's fiercest flame,

Imag'd her form, where fhe alas! was not.

I've wak'd from faithlefs dreams, to horrid truths,

To curfe delufions that have damn'd my fame.

• Protector. My fon, my fon! and haft thou found the faith Of France, the tainted Herculéan robe,

A pledge of peace-to torture, and destroy?

Earl Will. Oh! father, truft thy blood, that fills my veins. Believe me true, by thefe a foldier's tears,

Thus let me hide my face upon thy breast.

Protector. My boy, my hero! thou once more art mine,

Thy nature, pure, ingenuous as before,

Too fix'd in honor for deceitful times.

Be thus, my William, ever next my heart,

My prop, my comfort. Had'st thou known the force
Of love parental, thou had'it never left

Thefe aged arms; but well, well, well my griefs

Are o'er, and now they will but heighten joy.

• Earl Will. My father, and my own true countrymen ?

Oh! bleft exchange for falfe unnatural friends!

I would not yield thefe feelings for all France.
Away, feditious fpirits! who fhall dare,

Again exhauft this cup of kindred peace,

And plant diffention in our happy isle ?

• Protector. Now, to our ftations, lords. The crifis comes,

The awful crifis of our England's fate.

Ye, whofe hearts beat but for your native land,

Be firm, reprefs vain boafts, delufive hopes,

And let us rather contemplate misfortune;

Not thence to ficken, and make cause of fear,
But, to attune our fpirits to the times,
And fix at that fublimity of courage,
That can admit no conqueror-but death.

Chefter. This patriot energy will orce fuccefs,
Tho' hoft on hoft oppofe.

• Protector,