Parliamentary Elections improved. • I start a candidate for grace, And trust to gain my cause; Thou art mine agent, Holy Ghost, Shall make me strong against my foes, Free thine election is, O Lord, Love, thou shalt qualify my soul, And should I be return'd at last Partaker of thy grace, Amid the synod of thy saints I'll humbly take my place.' . 33. Mr. Allnatt has evidently been moved by the spirit; but, unhap pily, there are lying spirits both of prophecy and poetry. ART. 37.-Poems and Ballads. 8vo. 35. 6d. Boards. Mawman. The ballads are ill-planned stories, related in modern language. The author says they are principally indebted, for the little share of merit they possess, to Ossian and miss Burney:-we more frequently, in their perusal, recollect Mr. Bowles's manner. The double rhyme is often employed, and not without success. The drum "the signal to prepare" was beating, • Each anxious soldier, earnest in his duty, Save where a moment's sad indulgence seizing, "My Julia, cease this agonising sorrow! Oh! cease," he cry'd, "these accents of despair! "Then fearless to the pealing cannon listen, P. 8. ART. 38.-John the Baptist; a Poem, by Joseph Cottle. 8vo. 1802. IS. A poem with this title was published by Mr. Cottle in his first volume-the same in structure as the piece before us, but in language and versification very inferior. It is the address of the Baptist to the Jews, a discourse in highly polished verse, of which Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,' furnishes the text. The lines which we quote are all full and harmonious, and some of them are entitled to a higher praise. • Glance on the skies above, the earth beneath, This countless train of shapes to being brought; If Nature's lower works your wonder raise, CRIT. REV. Vol. 35. July, 1802. Know you, O list'ning tribes, to what you tend? Amid the still and solemn shades of night, The rays Darts, like the flash that lights the midnight sky, A lucid glance through dark futurity; Sees what a moment life and time appear Contrasted with the one eternal year; And lifts, to nobler worlds, its vast desires, Where Fancy flags her wing! and Thought expires!' P. 14, We wish the subject had been more generally interesting;-that there had been more narrative and less declamation. ART. 39.-Thoughts on Happiness; a Poem, in four Books. 8vo. 35. sewed. Rivingtons. 1802. When the caliph Omar was petitioned to spare the celebrated library at Alexandria, he replied, "If those books contain the same doctrine with the Koran, they can be of no use, because the Koran contains all necessary truths: but if they contain any thing contrary to that book, they ought not to be suffered," and immediately ordered them all to be burnt. On the caliph's mode of reasoning, every book in favour of Christianity, except the Bible, might be condemned. It cannot, however, be matter of surprise, if they who are deeply convinced of the superlative importance of the Gospel in promoting both the present and the eternal happiness of man, should be zealous to cast their mite into the sacred treasury. Such persons as despise the religion of Christ, will, pehaps, despise its advocates. But still, the same right must be allowed to the friends of Revelation, which has been so largely enjoyed, but so greatly misapplied, by its enemies; that of employing every species of writing in support of their cause. If, therefore, verse has been made use of to invalidate the truth of Revelation, it may fairly be used (however unskilfully) in an attempt to shew, that the Gospel scheme is that alone on which all the happiness attainable in this life can be founded. He, whose life and conduct may perhaps not be altogether agreeable to those truths which he nevertheless believes, will readily pardon even the most feeble attempt to fix his attention on "the one thing needful.” The more perfect Christian, to whom these lesser incitements to religion may be more unnecessary, whatever he may be inclined to think of the manner in which the present work is executed, will not be averse to allow that meed which the author is alone anxious to obtain the credit of having meant well.' P. i. We quote a specimen of the poem.. • Ah! how shall man of boundless mercy sing; And work those wonders which the seer foretold. 'Tis true, the Almighty pass'd his dread decree, That sin should lead to death and misery: Yet Mercy sent the eternal Son of God, And he who drinks with me shall thirst no more.” Now let the sinner lift the suppliant eye, Let Hope now heave the penitential sigh; For lo! a Saviour to mankind is giv'n, And Mercy opens wide the gate that leads to heav'n.' P. 89. These are smooth lines; but the ideas which they convey are surely better adapted for a sermon than a poem. ART. 40.-L'Infedeltà punita, Leggenda Erotico-Tragica di Gaetano Polidori. 8vo. 25. Dulau. 1802. A foolish ballad!-Lasindo deserts Doris; she retires into a wil. dess; a hunter finds her there, and is talking with her, when Lasindo comes as a penitent to implore her forgiveness. The hunter, guessing who he is, attacks him in combat, but is thrown to the ground; his hounds, however, fall upon Lasindo, and kill him. MISCELLANEOUS LIST. ART. 41.-Political Calumny refuted: addressed to the Inhabitants of Woodbridge; containing an Extract of a Sermon, preached at Butley, on the Fast-Day, 1793: a Sermon, preached at Otley, on the Day appointed for a general Thanksgiving, on account of our Naval Victories and solitary Musings (in Verse) on the Being of a God, Providence, and the French Revolution. By the Rev. John Black. 8vo. Robinsons. IS. The author is a candidate for the mastership of the free grammarschool in the town of Woodbridge. To injure him in his pursuitaccording to the abominable system supported by the late administration various calumnies were propagated, representing him as inimical to government; and, in support of his character, this work is dedicated to the inhabitants of the town near or in which he lives. As far as we can judge of a man's sentiments by his words, it carries a complete refutation of the crimes laid to his charge; and it must grieve every true lover of his country to perceive that such a profligate spirit has taken possession of so many of its inhabitants-a spirit which will not scruple to use the basest arts to injure a competitor in the object of his pursuit. With the peace, it is to be hoped that the ancient liberality of Englishmen will revive; and the present administration, by discouraging the herds of spies and informers-the greatest pests to morals and government-will possess itself of the confidence of the country. The writer would do well to expose the names of those persons who have so wantonly traduced his character, that they may meet with the contempt they have so justly merited, and by such example deter others from thus indulging in a habit of slandering their neigh bours, ART. 42.--A Letter addressed to Rowland Burdon, Esq. M. P. on the present State of the carrying Part of the Coal Trade. With Tables of several of the Duties on Coals received by the Corporation of the City of London. By Nathaniel Atcheson, F.A.S. &c. &c. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Richardsons. 1802. According to the account with which we are here presented, the coal-trade cannot be carried on much longer; and we must soon be content to warm ourselves with blazing straw in our boots, instead of indulging ourselves with the luxury of a coal fire. We have before us the history of a ship of 500 tons burden, that brought to market the very best coals,' and yet, without estimating the common wear and tear of the voyage, was a loser by its cargo to the amount of 341. 145. 11d.;—and such, says our author, is the real state of a trade which has engaged so much of the public attention.' If this statement be to be depended on, the ship-owners cannot evidently bear any further impost; and the corporation of the city of London |