merit, most uncommon in this clafs, of containing much information within a very fmall compafs. are. POETRY. At the head of our Poetical ranks we cannot place a perfon of more dignity than an Epic Poet; and Mr. Hoyle, though his Exodus does not in all points fatisfy the critical reader, has fufficient merit as a poet to deferve refpectful mention. But of a very different character is the much read, much admired, and much criticized Marmion, of Mr. Walter Scott. Without defcending to particulars, in this hafty recapitulation, it has faults enough to fhow that genius is not infallible; and beauties enough to atone for its faults, were they even greater than they Mr. Crabbe's collected Poems are a fine family, happily re-united; and fomething of the fame character belongs to the volume of Oxford Prize Poems, though in that, the relationship between the individuals is not quite fo ftrict §. Other collections of Poems have been mentioned, of various but not small merit. We may particularly fpecify Mr. Polwhele's three volumes ||, Mr. Bland's fingle volume, in which Edwy and Elgiva¶, is the principal. compofition, Mr. Stewart's Refurrection**, Mr. Parfons's Traveller's Recreations ††, and Mifs Betham's elegant volume ‡‡. All thefe, being mixed collections, cannot eafily be characterized, except as having a general claim to the attention of poetical readers. As a defcriptive Poem, Mr. Maurice's Richmond Hill ranks with the other works of that ingenious writer. In a very different line, * No. V. p. 496. No. VI. p. 540, No. III. p. 265. ++ No. V. p. 548. No. VI. p. 591. No. III. p. 303. No, VI. p. 66c. the the anonymous author of Epics of the Ton*, demands fome notice; but, though we often admire the ingenuity of his fatire, we do not always approve the application of it. The Drama of Adelgitha, by Mr. Lewist, is written with poetical vigour, but without that ultimate perfection, either of ftyle or fable, which the author's talents feem to promife. Two tranflators have been noticed, of the name of Howard, but whether related or not does not appear. Mr. Nathaniel Howard took the Inferno of Dante for his tafk; which he executed with vigour in blank verse, though anticipated, in the fame plan, by a very ingenious writer, only a few months before §. In blank verfe alfo are the Metamorphofes of Ovid ren-dered, by Mr. 7.7. Howard, and the style of tranflation is good, though not exactly fuited to that of the original author. LITERATURE. A few works, lately noticed, feem to come to-" gether under this head, more conveniently than any other, being yet in their fubjects widely different. Mr. Wefton amufes us with detached Fragments of Oriental Literature ¶; Mr. Dibdin purfues the illuftration of Editions of the Claffics, in his Introduction ** while Mr. Pye comments on the Commentators of the general favourite Shakspearett, with a liveliness, which had it been exercifed while the chief Commentators could anfwer for themselves, would have provoked fevere retaliations. An Archeologia-Græca, after that of Potter, was evidently a bold under taking, but Mr. Robinfon* has produced one which will perhaps affift the young ftudent more effectually, than the very learned compilation of the Archbishop. With fincere regret for the lofs of the. author, and the unfinished state of his papers, we. noticed the fpecimen, lately published, of Mr. Boucher's Supplement to Johnson's Dictionary †. We truft, that fuch collections will not be loft for want of diligence and attention in fome competent friend. The ingenuity of Mr. Enfor's Independent Man‡ will not allow us to pass it in filence; yet, as a fyftem of education, we do not recommend it; it is, indeed, rather to be confulted with difcrimination, than followed implicitly in any thing.. The republication of Ruperti's fecond Edition of Juvenal, is a fervice to Literature, till the reopening of the Continent fhall pour in upon us thofe claffical ftores, which, in Germany at leaft, must have been accumulating fince the interruption of our intercourse fince an ambitious enemy endeavoured to make us literally, what our fhips will ever pre yent, penitus toto divifos orbe Britannos. MISCELLANIES. It remains to collect the ftragglers, who would not fall in with our main divifions: and firft the posthumous collection of Mrs. Chapone's Writings, two volumes highly honourable, not only to the memory of the author, but to the general eftimation of female character, and authorship. There is, however, at prefent, no deficiency of fuch teftimonies. Mrs. Grant's Letters from the Mountains tend to the fame point; * No. VI. p. 669. No. VI. p. 626. + No. IV. p. 396. No. IV. p. 416. No. I. p. 58. I No. VI. p. 608. as as do alfo Mrs. Opie's Simple Tales*. All these illuftrate the virtues of the fex, as well as their ingenuity, Mad. De Stael's Corinna, the translation of which has been lately reported †, proves chiefly the latter quality. The chief male work, which here demands notice, is Mr. Auftin's Chironomia ‡, a work of various ingenuity, containing precepts which have not often been fo well enforced, and an attempt to reduce to notation the geftures of the human body. We have now once more to close our half-yearly account. In the fix months which are next to enfue, what events may be comprehended! Our prayer is, that they may at length be profperous, to Britain, to Humanity, to the World! We truft, that to the grand Ufurper will foon be applicable the famous lines of Juvenal: -nam qui nimios optabat honores, * No, V. p. 566. + No. V. p. 517. No. VI. p. 595~. |