the whole. Mr. Southey's style, as a laureat, is decidedly new; it appears to have been formed upon the prophetic poetry of scripture, as arranged by Bishop Lowth; we can scarcely give an opinion on the judgnrent of our bard in his selection of this model for secular poetry, as our ears are not sufficiently accustomed to the flow. We have no hesitation, however, in asserting that these Odes far exceed his Carmen Triumphale at the commencement of the year, and if his future improvement is in the same proportion, he will do honour to the laurels which adorn his brow. ART. 11. Ode on the Deliverance of Europe. By T. II. Merivale, Esq. Murray, 1814. We heartily wish that this Ode had been anonymous, for then we could have given our free judgment upon its merits. But when" Roncesvalles" is before us, every inferior production of its author must be passed over in respectful silence. Upon that poem we hope to give an opinion at some length in a future number: we shall therefore stand excused in expressing no opinion upon the Ode before us, except a wish that it had never been written. Men endowed with a rapid genius, and a facility of writing, are never sufficiently aware how much an unsuccessful trifle detracts from their fame: so many more can discover the errors and deficiencies of a small work, than can enjoy the beauties or appreciate the excellency of a large one. ART. 12. Anacreon in Dublin, with Cuts. 12mo. 236 pp. 8s. J. J. Stockdale. 1814. Were we better acquainted with the politics of Dublin, we should enjoy with greater satisfaction the humour of our Irish Anacreon. It is evidently the production of a scholar, and of one who is well acquainted with the original, and the parodies, if we can apply this term to a translation, are adapted to living characters with much ease and success. As a specimen, we shli select "The Petitioner," which is happily parodied from μεσονυκτίαις ποθ ̓ ὥραις. "The session had closed, no new mischief was planning, Soft Soft pity prevail'd as I listen'd to him; The lights had burn'd out, so I hasten'd to trim :- Then deep in my bosom he darted the steel :- A dedication to Lord Byron is prefixed to the work, not indeed in the usual style of dedications, in which his lordship is attacked with much vigour and more justice. His lordship's own dedications are brought together into one point of view, betraying a curious instance of poetical no less than moral inconsistency. "All this, your Lordship will say, is very unlike the accustomed courtesies of a Dedication:—and as you have relieved us from the troublesome duties. of consistency, a few words might have been expended in your praise, without committing me to any permanent panegyric. Under your Lordship's example, we may now satirize those whom we have praised, or praise those whom we have satirized. Yet, if, by some strange chance, you should ever deem consistency a merit, your Lordship will do well to seek it in your censurers rather than in your approvers. "At present, however, it is not only very possible, but very proper, to be the gratefully obliged friend" of the "Feaster of Hirelings "the "most affectionate kinsman " of a “paralytic puler and the affectionately obedient servant " of the "Lord Byron's Dedication to Lord Holland.""+ Thy HOLLAND's banquets shall each toil repay; While grateful Britain yields the praise she owes, TO HOLLAND'Shirelings and to Learning's foes," Lord Byron's English Bards and Scotch Reviewers. p. 41. Lord Byron s Dedication to the Earl of Carlisle.” "No Muse will cheer, with renovating smile, The paralytic pulings of CARLISLE," Lord Byron's English Bards, &c. p. 56. "What can ennoble knaves, or fools, or cowards ?" Lord Byron's new Reading of Pope; in ibid. note p. 71. "Lord Byron's Dedication to Mr. Thomas Moore." "advocate of lust *."-Yet who shall startle at these contradictio is? 66 Against Lord Carlisle and Lord Holland, your praise and your censure have fallen equally harmless:-But the Twopenny-Postman and your Lordship!-Really, really, the revilers of the Sovereign must not quarrel at their petty calumnies on one another." P. ix. From these specimens of the prose and verse, it will be easily discovered in what style the work is composed. We have no doubt but that our readers will be much amused by its perusal. In the notes there is a very curious and interesting detail of all the public proceedings, and private intrigues of that Hydra of Treason the Catholic Board; but as it is now by the wisdom and firmness of the Irish government (for a time at least) 'dissolved, we will not insult the ashes even of Catiline and Cethegus. MEDICAL. Art. 13. Asculapian Secrets revealed. By Peter Mae Flogg'em. 8vo. 226 pp. Chapple. 1813. At medicine and medical men a hearty laugh has ever been allowed, and we believe that the gentlemen of the profession themselves will be the first to join in it; as they have always the ample revenge in their power of relieving the miseries, and palliating the sufferings of their fellow-creatures. But at such a production as the present, it is impossible, notwithstanding the allurements of a black and red daub, (called a caricature,) even to raise a smile. A more vulgar, ignorant, and scurrilous attack upon an honourable profession we never witnessed, without one atom of wit to recommend its violence, or one grain of humour to relieve its vulgarity. The only portion of more than two hundred close printed pages which the reader will find bearable, is the advice to a young physician respecting his carriage. "There is a method by which you may support your dignity in this respect, although the expence of constantly keeping a chariot may at first be rather incompatible with your finances; which is, to hire a job carriage for a day, about once in two or three weeks, and on that day to pay a general visit to your patients whether sick or not; and in the intermediate time, your coachman has either lamed himself, or one of your horses; your carriage is undergoing some necessary repairs, or finding yourself getting corpulent, you judge it requisite to take the exercise of occasionally **Nor spare melodious advocates of lust." Lord Byron's English Bards, &c. p. 23. walking; walking; either of these excuses may answer the end tolerably well, and a white lie, you know, can never be injurious to any one. In this place, accept another very necessary hint, that cannot here be properly omitted; which is, that in riding through the streets, particularly those which are most populous, you should remember always to sit as forward on the seat as possible, with a book in your hand, that the passengers may observe how intent you are on your studies; and that every spare moment of your time is occupied for the public good; indeed the same advice will hold equally good in your days of perambulation, as your meditations cannot be more advantageously and attentively pursued, than in the noisy and bustling streets of Holborn, Fleet-street, or Cheapside. By this manœuvre you are your own trumpeter, an absolute stalking-horse, or advertisement of your own great talents; but at the same time you are carrying on this farce, you may amuse yourself with the newspaper, Joe Millar, or some other publication equally edifying and useful for a practitioner in medicine." P. 36. ART. 14. Observations on the Diseases of Females. By Charles M. Clarke, Surgeon to the Queen's Lying-In Hospital, &c. Longman and Co. 1814. It is with much satisfaction that we turn from the dangerous and delusive publications of designing empirics and ignorant impostors, to the pages of a volume replete with all the information on a delicate and important subject which the most experienced practitioner or the most enquiring student could demand. To such readers alone the work is dedicated; and although many useful hints may be derived from thence by the matron and the mother, yet it is by no means calculated to extend the superficial ignorance, or to gratify the cravings of idle curiosity. All that is contained in this volume is solid, deep, and interesting; the arrangement is excellent, and the style clear, simple, and devoid of that affectation which generally infects the writings of the half-educated man of science. To the medical profession at large it will be valuable and useful, to the student indispensable. The delicate nature of the subject will not allow us to give any analysis or extract from the work; we shall have performed our duty to the public in giving our tribute of unqua lified approbation to its author, who appears to possess that peculiar skill in his profession, which is the joint result of active ingenuity and sober experience. There is an air both of simple and unaffected feeling in the last sentence of his preface, which we are the more pleased with, as it is rarely to be met with in writers upon these and similar subjects. "The author entreats that the reader will make allowances for many inaccuracies in this work. He has endeavoured to write clearly, clearly, rather than elegantly: he has not wilfully misled any one and if these observations shall prove in the smallest degree useful in diffusing information upon the subject of them, or in mitigating the sufferings of human nature, the author will not consider his labour thrown away, nor his time misemployed." DRAMATIC. ART. 15. Arminius, or the Deliverance of Germany. A Tragedy. By Charles Knight. 90 pp. 4s. 6d. Sher wood and Co. 1814. This tragedy, or rather from its length, this dramatic tale, is founded upon the celebrated, defeat of the Roman legions under: Varus by the revolting Germans led on by Armanius. It is al most unnecessary to observe that the idea was suggested by the glorious struggle, which in these days we have been permitted by the Almighty to witness, of the German nations for their li berty, their laws, and their national existence. The parallel is just, and the coincidence remarkable. It appears, however, that the history of the defeat of Varus has been dramatized by Campistron in French, and by A. Murphy in English. The tragedy now before us is evidently the production of a: young man, neither devoid of taste nor genius. He has formed himself upon the most classical models of our English drama; › Mason in particular appears to have been bis favourite, though occasionally the patriotic spirit of the author of Gustavus Vasa. appears to have been infused into his mind. His imitations of: Shakspeare are less frequent, though occasionally a quaint turn both in the language and in the sentiment shews that he has not : inattentively studied that mighty master of dramatic nature. The address of Arminius to his soldiers at the beginning of the fifth act is a spirited composition, but we are of opinion that the best specimen which we can produce of the author's powers is the concluding speech. "Arm. This is a noble triumph! let our bards ་་ For conquerors to bestride. Tyrants may strut Shall |