that his conclufions are juftified by his authorities, yet we have been every where inftructed and pleafed, and can fatisfactorily recommend his work to the antiquarian ftudent, as full of curious and original refearch, conveyed in an animated though fometimes exuberant ftyle, and pursued with an independent spirit. We cannot avoid lamenting that the author has not prefixed a table of contents to his work, because from this omiffion the public can have no idca of the number of valuable and curious topics which are difcuffed in it; and we are apprehenfive that this may fomewhat retard its circulation. The author has not even given a preface. It is true that he has a right to rely on his deserved reputation, as a pledge to the public that his work will be found to contain no trivial matter, and that his fubject will not be confined within the narrow limits of his title. But many of the author's contemporaries, when he was in the full bloom of his reputation, are now no more, and the majority of the reading world at present is compofed of perfons to whom his works are not familiar, and therefore, in juftice to himfelf, he fhould have laid before them a complete bill of fare, that the diverfity and curiofity of the feat he had provided might have been generally known. ART. II. Supplement to the Memoirs of Richard Cumberland. Written by Himfelf. With an Index. 4to. 72 PP. Befides Five Sheets and a Quarter of Index. 5s. Lackington and Co. 1807. WITH gratitude for much amusement, we gave an account of the Memoirs themfelves*: the Supplement, which now follows, is written exprefsly to fupply fome deficiency in the former narrative, fubfequent to the return of the author from Spain. "If," fays the author, "I have written indolently of this latter period of my life, it was not because I had been more indolent in it, for I might have faid without offence to modefty, that I have been much more active as a literary man, fince I have ceafed to be an official one; but it was because I had fallen into heavy roads, and like the traveller who, wearied by the *Brit. Crit. Vol. xxvii. p. 457. tedioufnefs tediousness of the way, puts four horses to his chaife for the concluding ftage, fo did I haften to terminate my task, shutting my eyes against those objects that would have operated to prolong it." P. 2. Mr. Cumberland takes a very early opportunity, in his Supplement, of retaliating upon Mr. Hayley, for the very petulant and improper manner in which he had received this author's eulogy of his truly illuftrious grandfather Bentley, and the good-humoured allufion to Mr. H. which accompanied it. Nor is it poffible to deny, that in this whole bufinefs Mr. C. has completely the right fide of the argument; and no lefs completely in the addrefs, and quiet irony with which he handles it. The following paragraph may ferve as a good fpecimen of Mr. C.'s manner in this queftion. Mr. H. having wifhed for life and leifure "to write fuch a preface as he wishes to prefix to the Milton of Cowper," with a manifeft intimation that he means to attack Bentley in it, Mr. C. fays; "In the mean time I hope that Mr. Hayley, who piously refers his purpose to the will of Heaven, may have life and leifure allowed to him for all worthy undertakings, and wisdom to ab. tain from all ridiculous ones: and, as for this meditated preface, which he brandishes over the ashes of dead Bentley, I hope he will with to write nothing but what will do himself credit, and then I hope it will be juft fuch a one as he wishes to prefix; but if it fhall be his pleasure to attack him with a repetition of hard names, and foul language, and calls that paying his respects, I truft there will be found fome friend to truth and good manners, fome temperate defender of the real character of that good and benevolent man, who will bring his rath affailant to a better fenfe, by convincing him how very little oil will ferve to fuffocate a wafp." P. 8. In truth, if Mr. Hayley knows it not already, he ought to be told, that the name of Bentley is one of thofe from which Britain derives moft glory in the eyes of Europe; and that though he will certainly attack his moft vulnerable part, when he cenfures his attempts upon Milton's text, yet, (with every admittance of his failure in that refpect,) his character ftands, and will for ever ftand fo high, that the attacks even of Pope and Swift against it are become contemptible; and that a ftudied affault, from an inferior poet, will be like the attempt of a pigmy to overthrow the pyramids. We turn, however, to a more pleafing part of this Suppletuent, when we perufe the difinterefted panegyric of the K RPI CRIT. VOL. XXXI. FEB. 1808. author author upon Mr. Pitt; and we have peculiar pleasure in giving a place to the following verfes, written in praife of that exalted ftatefman, and with the idea of their being infcribed on a public monument. "To thee, great Orator, whofe early mind "Here, though the Sculptor fimply graves thy name, For know that dying pray'r was breath'd for you." P. 14 There is, after all, little or nothing of narrative in this Supplement it confifts chiefly of characters, and eulogies of perfons known to the author, or efteemed by him. The account of the origin and mode of compofition of the Exodiad, is pleafingly given in page 53. The author very neatly notices the attacks of the Edinburgh Reviewers upon his Memoirs, and repays them with a few rather elegant than fevere farcafms. To his other Reviewers he is candid, and even grateful, even when they ventured to notice flight defects: and we feel particularly gratified at being thought to have merited his thanks, by pointing out a trifling error in a claffical fubject; which is abundantly excufed by the plea, that the author was writing, at the time, without the aid of books. Mr. C. dates the beginning of this Supplement Feb. 19, 1806, on which day, he fays, he was entering his 75th year. To more years have fince elapfed, and we truft that he enjoys, at the approach of his 77th year, the fame vivacity of fpirit and vigour of intellect, which he then poffeffed. To enjoy thefe bleffings to fo late a period is a rare indulgence. May they be continued to him as long as he himself can wish! ART. III. Richmond Hill, a defcriptive and hiftorical Poem, illuftrative of the principal Objects viewed from that beautiful Eminence. Decorated with Engravings. By the Author of Indian Antiquities. 4to. Price il. 1s. Miller. · 1807. MR. MAURICE has appeared before the public with various claims for literary diftinction, and in all has been received with complacency and applaufe. His works on India are now become standard books, referred to as authorities by all who have either intereft or curiofity in what relates to that portion of the globe. His poetical abilities have been fuccefsfully exercifed from his earliest years, have grown with his growth, and ftrengthened with his ftrength. On the prefent occafion he has felected a subject of peculiar delicacy and difficulty, it involves fo many fcenes, fituations, circumftances, and perfons, as to require no ordinary judgment in their difpofition and arrangement. He has produced, however, a beautiful poem, a poem which, nevertheless, must be contented to fhare the fate of all human productions, not to give fatisfaction to every body. Some will wonder that certain names are omitted, while fome may express both astonishment and displeasure that others are introduced. We fhall, however, fubjoin a fpecimen, which may proudly defy all cavil, and challenge the most acrimonious acuteness. Which of us has not liftened with complacency and tenderness to the popular ballad of the Lafs of Richmond Hill? Mr. Maurice thus pathetically and harmoniously relates the whole of the interesting tale. "Amid this confluence of fublime delight, To mark the martyr'd MIRA's paffing bier, "Oh! Rubens, for thy pencil's magic skill, The The forrows of difaftrous love to fing, And beauty blafted in it's dawning fpring. That roams thy beauteous brow, or laurell'd fhade; "This radiant Wonder was Mercator's pride, Pierc'd by this lovelier Helen's fatal charms, RICHMOND through all her bounds, like Troy, was fired, And in feverer flames her fons expired. "Foremost and comclieft of th' admiring train, This bound in beauty's adamantine chain, |