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1795, the islands of St. Marcou. The subsequent capture, confine ment, and escape of Sir Sidney, occupy a considerable portion of the poem. The versification is in general harmonious; and though we could discover nothing new in either the imagery or the sentiments, yet it would certainly not disgrace the pen of any person of a liberal and classical education. Whether the merits of Sir Sidney be only duly appreciated, or whether the Muse of Friendship has not heaped her honours too lavishly on his head, we leave others, who are better acquainted with the circumstances, to determine. We think, however, that it is introducing confusion into the language, and disturbing the scale of panegyric, to apply the same terms of eulogy to the able and enterprising partisan, (for such and such only we conceive the hero of this poem to have been,) as would become the commander whose comprehensive and determined mind is capable of conceiving and exe cuting the great design, and the complicated details, of an extensive campaign.

Art.. 33. Comus, a Mask, presented at Ludlow Castle 1634, before the Earl of Bridgewater, then President of Wales. By John Milton. With Notes critical and explanatory by various Commentators, and with preliminary Illustrations; to which is added a Copy of the Mask from a MS. belonging to his Grace the Duke of Bridgewater. By Henry John Todd, M. A. Minor Canon of Canterbury, &c. 8vo. pp. 280. 6 s. Boards. Rivingtons, &c. 1798.

This edition of Milton's Comus introduces, for the first time, to the public, a copy of the Mask conformable to a manuscript preserved in the Duke of Bridgewater's library at Ashridge, which often varies from the established text. A fuller account than has yet appeared is given of Ludlow Castle, and of the Earl of Bridgewater and his family; the place and persons more peculiarly connected with this dramatic poem. To Warton's memoir of Henry Lawes, who set the songs to music, some information is also added. From Newton, Warton, and the more celebrated commentators, the most valuable notes are selected :-a collation of various readings is added; and many new and elegant illustrations are furnished by the editor, who adduces from the Italian poets several parallel passages hitherto unobserved: but who could no doubt have gleaned many others, had he consulted the classics of Italy with less discrimination.

Art. 34. Blank Verse, by Charles Lloyd, and Charles Lamb. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Boards. Arch. 1798.

Dr. Johnson, speaking of blank verse, seemed to have adopted the opinion of some great man, we forget whom,-that it is only “poetry to the eye." On perusing the works of several modern bards of our own country, we have sometimes rather inclined to the same idea, but the recollection of Milton and Thomson presently ba

nished it.

We have more than once delivered our sentiments respecting the poetry of Mr. Charles Lloyd. To what we have formerly remarked, in general, on this head, we have little to add on the present occasion; except that we begin to grow weary of his continued melancholy strains. Why is this ingenious writer so uncomfortably constant to

the mournful Muse? If he has any taste for variety, he has little to fear from jealousy in the sacred sisterhood.-Then why not sometimes make his bow to THALIA?

Mr. Lamb, the joint author of this little volume, seems to be very properly associated with his plaintive companion.

Art. 35. The Warning, a Poetical Address to Britons. To which is added a Report of the Proceedings of the Whig Club at their Meeting May 1st, 1798, in a Poetical Epistle from Henry Bumpkin in Town to his Brother in the Country. 8vo. Is. 6d. Hatchard. These politico-poetical effusions are perfectly ministerial and antigallican, and, we believe, will be found to possess much more political zeal than poetical merit.

Art. 36. Poems on various Subjects. By Eliza Daye. 8vo. pp. 270. 7s Boards. Johnson.

The moral and religious tendency of these poems we are ready to acknowlege in the fullest extent, and sorry are we that we cannot highly compliment the writer on her poetical talents. The following verses, written on seeing Mrs. Siddons in the character of Belvidera, we consider as some of the best in the volume:

⚫ Queen of expression! on whose potent aid,
Dramatic genius waits to be display'd,
For tho' presiding o'er that awful cell*,
Where radiant angels or dread demons dwell;
Of thee she asks, to draw them forth to light,
To win the ear, and fascinate the sight;
The drooping heart shall here its griefs resign,
And lose awhile its tragic scenes for thine;
The spell which now pervades the weeping hours,
Is Otway's genius, shewn by Siddons' pow'rs;
Ah! could he loose the icy bonds of death,
And catch of fame, this hour, a living breath;
Would he his Belvidera now forego,

Nor think she paid for years of want and woe;
So shall the bards who hear these matchless strains,
By hope reviv'd, forget their present pains,
Tho' cold neglect now blasts their rising bays,
Otways and Savages of present days;
Some future Siddons shall redeem their fame,
And stamp IMMORTAL their neglected name;
On thee with fame, deserved fortune wait,
The actor's-different to the poet's fate!'

Art. 37. Windermere, a Poem. By Joseph Budworth, Esq. Author
of a Fortnight's Ramble to the Lakes. 8vo.
and Davies.

IS.

Cadell jun.

In order to excel in descriptive poetry, accuracy of observation and great powers of discrimination and selection, joined to a frame of mind peculiarly susceptible of the beauties of nature, are essentially requisite; and even these qualifications are insufficient without a per

*The Passions."

fect

fect knowlege of the language in which the author writes, and a taste for the harmony of numbers. Few men are so insensible as not to feel some emotion on beholding a prospect remarkable either for its high degree of cultivation, or for those more wild and magnificent beauties which nature exhibits in mountainous and barren countries: but to analyse this emotion, and to communicate it in terms clear, intelligible, and appropriate, is a task of more difficulty than is gene rally imagined. To this cause we may ascribe the ill success of most adventurers in this province of poetry. The following extract will serve as a specimen of the present attempt:

Then let your thoughts to other prospects bend,
Where Storr's sharp beak, with sightless Naiads blend;
Toil now aloft, now mentally retire,

For new-seen features fan the poet's fire.
Do, mark! reflected by the glorious sun,

Those oozing streams, o'er rockey smoothness run.
Not all the blaze of lustrous diamonds rare
Can with these natʼral brilliancies compare.
'The heath's dun shade, the lately-wither'd fern,
The woods, all fancy, and the mountains stern,
Display the aqueous gems in such a light,

The orb which forms them only is more bright.'

Capt. Budworth was introduced to our readers in vol. xiii. N. S. p. 117.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 38. A Narrative of the Particulars which took place on an Ap plication of the Author to the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Norwich, to be admitted a Candidate for Holy Orders. Containing original Copies of Letters, and his Lordship's Answers. By John White, of the City of Norwich, Gentleman, 8yo. I s. 6 d.

Ridgway, &c. 1798.

Mr. White's case seems to be not unworthy of the notice of the public. He was bred to a branch of the Law, by serving a five years clerkship: but, disliking the profession, he turned his thoughts to the church, and applied to the Bishop of Norwich as a candidate for ordination. The Bishop, however, excused himself from complying with this request,-1st, because Mr. White had not been, educated for the church;" next, as 66 a large portion of Mr. W.'s time had been dedicated to another profession;" and, lastly becaufe Mr. W. " did not belong to either of the universities."

Not satisfied with these reasons, nor disheartened by this repulse, Mr. W. often repeated his application, by letter, to his Lordship of Norwich, and even personally. Every motive and every persuasive were urged, and even compassion was invoked, (on account of some family distresses,)--but in vain: he found the Eishop immoveable.

In this narrative of his case, among other arguments brought to prove the reasonableness of his application to the Bishop of Norwich, he endeavours to shew that there are qualifications for the *Particularly alluding to moral character and having the faculty of being a good reader," &c. &c.

66

sacred

sacred office, of a nature paramount to those on which the Bishop grounded his refusal of the author's request; and on his avowed posses sion of these superior endowments, Mr. W. founds his pretensions to being admitted a candidate for holy orders. In a word, he ap pears determined, if possible, to push his way to the pulpit.-Yet, on the whole, we still think the Bishop of Norwich very justifiable. The character of the clergy for learning, and for respectability as rational and good Christians, with the possession of popular talents and useful adjuncts, ought certainly to be maintained, with the ut most care and circumspection.

Art. 39. Sketch of a Voyage of Discovery, undertaken by Mons. de la Perouse, under the Auspices of the French Government. Drawn from the Original, lately published at París. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Allen. 1798.

This sketch may serve to gratify, in some measure, the eager curiosity of such English readers as may not have an opportunity of consulting the original detail of the voyage of M. Pérouse, and may not choose to be at the expence of purchasing the translation at large. Our account of this very interesting work will be found in the Appendix (just published) to the 26th volume of our Review. Art. 40. An Inquiry into the Feasibility of the supposed Expedition of Buonaparte to the East. By Eyles Irwin, Esq. 8vo. IS. Nicol. 1798.

Mr. Irwin's personal acquaintance with the East Indies, joined to his known abilities, must have peculiarly qualified him for the inves tigation here offered to the attention of the public; and he has reduced the various floating conjectures relative to the object and design of Buonaparte's mysterious expedition, to three generally supposed schemes, so far as it seems to point towards the East: but he does not presume to determine, nor even to conjecture, which of the assigned plans is the most likely to be the real object of the grand equipment.

Mr. Irwin's design, in this publication, appears to have been to evince the impracticability of every surmised plan that has been reported in the news-papers and pamphlets of the times, the almost certain failure of every possible attempt of the kind, and the consequent destruction of the whole armament employed in this romantic undertaking. The pamphlet is well-written; as might be expected from the former specimens of Mr. Irwin's literary abilities which have been given to the public, and duly noticed in our Review: see, particularly, "Adventures in a Voyage up the Red-Sea, &c." Rey. vol. Ixiii. p. 401. and vol. lxxix. p. 518. 0. S. also "Occasional Epistles, a Journey from London to Busrah," Rev. vol. lxxi. O. S. p. 193.

Art. 41. A Letter to Sir John Scott, His Majesty's Attorney-General, on the Subject of a late Trial at Guildhall. By Gilbert Wakefield, B. A. 8vo. I8. Sold by the Author.

*For the plans themselves, as noticed by Mr. Irwin, we refer to his pamphlet.

Nescit irasciis, according to Juvenal, one of the discriminating qualities of a wise man: but Mr. Wakefield, with all his knowlege of antient and modern literature, does not appear to have attained this characteristic of true wisdom. His Study, instead of being propitious to mental tranquillity, is a region of storms; and he gives us the idea of loving to be angry, or at least of loving to give vent to anger. We acknowlege his genius and literary industry: but we do not hesitate to repeat our opinion of the intemperance of his late pamphlet, and our censure of the improper spirit with which some parts of it were written. Could Mr. W. learn to reason with calmness, and to" speak the truth in love," his discussions of all subjects might be acceptable, and his decisions might carry considerable weight: but if, on all occasions, he be disposed to substitute abuse in the place of argument, and to pronounce those persons stupid and bungling who do not give to all and every part of his writings an indiscri minate applause, he is very little qualified to reform the world; and we, in the faithful discharge of our duty, would rather be thought to invite than to deprecate his condemnation. Not that we ever wish to irritate Mr. W. for we have no desire to excite his wrath, and to have "the sun go down upon it;" we would rather "administer to his mind diseased" in this respect; and, since he makes so great a profession of superlative reverence for Christ, we would remind him that it is recorded of the Saviour of the world that-" when he was reviled, he reviled not again."

It may not be amiss farther to remark, in general, that an adherence to the old maxim of soft words and hard arguments was never more necessary than at present. When the prejudices and passions of men are brought into violent action, when fear and suspicion are roused, the intemperate declaimer cannot expect to obtain a patient hearing. Let him reason with the utmost weight on his side, still he will reason almost entirely in vain.

Mr. W. may fay, perhaps, that these hints should be addressed to his opponents, and not to himself:-he may think Sir John Scott guilty of most intemperate temerity in accusing him of a scandalous, malicious, and seditions libel against the peace of the king and country: but he did not see that Sir John may with equal justice charge Him with intemperate temerity, when he roundly accuses the party to which Sir John is attached, of an impious conspiracy against the welfare and even the very existence of the whole human race (p. 33), After this, it cannot be said that his opponents think worse of him than he speaks of them.

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The trial to which this letter refers was that of Mr. Joseph Johnson, for vending some copies of Mr. Wakefield's late Answer to the Bishop of Landaff's Address. Mr. W. here declares that, though he considers Paine's Age of Reason as a most detestable publication, a most infamous compound of arrogance, effrontery, and wickedness, he would not forcibly suppress this book, much less would he punish by fine or imprisonment, from any possible consideration, the publisher, or author, of those pages;' and the following are the reasons which he gives for such a determination:

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