He evokes the shades of Cæsar and Cromwell, and shows him, that to follow their example is to share their fate. But, finding him rather envying than dreading their destiny, Monck is summoned, who made so wise and noble a use of equal power. An address is then directed more particularly to Bonaparte, and the visit closed with some wise and patriotic exhortations.' P. 5. We extract the appearance of Cromwell. A form appear'd, more ghastly than the last, Inly the blood-shot eye with terror glar'd, His words, the mighty charm so order'd, fail; The soul's unguarded workings, then began- 'Tis well-and, oh! with awe this scene survey; To die like Cæsar, or like Cromwell live." P. 23. The versification of the whole poem is equally spirited. ART. 45.Poems, chiefly Sonnets, ly the Author of Translations from the Italian of Petrarch, Metastasio, and Zappi. 8vo. 35. Robinsons. These poems discover little imagination; but they are evidently produced by a man of good and affectionate feelings, and a cultivated mind. The two following sonnets will be read with interest. SONNET XX. On the Death of my Brother FREDERICK. Το Νυν τις ενηειης Μνησάσθω πασιν γαρ επίστατο μείλιχος είναι Sweetest and best of men, of brothers, friends, With all that modest worth which ne'er pretends IA. P: 670. She veils her own; that wisdom that combin'd • SONNET XXI. Vain, foolish girl, whose seeming beauteous face Thou hid'st in sullen silence ev'ry grace; Pity to hear thy lone and fruitless plaint.' P. 41. The volume is dedicated to Mr. Pitt, for whom (says the poet) the sorrowing Nine Had turn'd indignant from a world oppress'd.' r. ix. Is this praise or irony? CRIT. REV. Vol. 34. April, 1802. 2 K ART. 46.-The Methodist; a Poem. Svo. 15. Button and Son. 1801. An ironical defence of the Methodists, in smooth, but tame, blank The following passage, alluding to a defence of subscription, is a fair and favorable specimen of the writer's powers. verse. This pleased me well; So I have drawn a creed-for my own use; This modern light, This sweeping lexicographer, no doubt Reason'd from strict analogy. The sun, The moon and stars, all have their stated rounds,- (Providing for their future beef and pudding) Why should not language move? I trust our friend, Our greater Newton, will persist in these His vast discoveries. Who can dare to say What changes may take place, by such a light And clearly prove that day is night disguised;— They dash their paper heads against the wall, Profane readers will complain that the poem is feeble and tediously long. But the poet will be classed, by those of his own persuasion, among the sweet singers of Israel. ART. 47.-The Conjunction of Jupiter and Venus, in Leo; on the 29th of September, 1801.-A happy Prelude to a propitious Peace; a Poem-Mercury's Apology for the Curate's Blunder, an Impromptu; addressed to the Right Hon. the Earl of Yarmouth. And other Poetical Pieces. By the Rev. John Black. 8vo. IS. Robinsons. Mr. Black is improved in versifying. We recollect no passage in his former publication equal to these lines Those, who let slip the dogs of war, . Like exhalations in the skies; Whose hearts, from power quite callous grown, Should they these frenzied times survive, I envy not your torpid state! But oh! forbid I e'er should bear The scorpions, that your souls shall tear!' NOVELS. P. 4. ART. 48.-The Follies of Fashion; a Dramatic Novel. 3 Vols. 12mo. 135. 6d. Boards. Longman and Rees. 1801. The author of these volumes is by no means destitute of abilities,' but they do not appear to advantage when employed in novel-writing. The language is sententious and didactic, rather than familiar. There is no diversity of character in the work; and the plot is so far from being interesting, that we can discover no real reason why sir John Scarsdale and miss Aubrey might not have been married as well in the beginning of the first volume as at the conclusion of the last. The amusements of the present day are certainly conducted in a more trifling manner than they were fifty years ago; but the author's censure of them is abuse rather than satire. ART. 49.-Something New; or, Adventures at Campbell House. By Anne Plumpire. 3 Vols. 12mo. 15s, Boards. Longman and Rees. 1801. The Something New which miss Plumptre here presents to the pub lic is an ugly woman, as the heroine of a novel. It is not very won derful that the fair author had no predecessors in this tract; nor shall we deem it surprising if she have but few imitators, because novels are the food of young minds, and the copy of juvenile manners: they are a picture of the sensations of a warm imagination, at a time of life when, true to our nature, feeling achieves what reason attempts in vain.' To us, in whom old age has bent the passions under a great weight of reason and experience, miss Plumptre's good intention appears with all its advantages. ART. 50. The Pirate of Naples; a Novel. By Mary Charlton, 3 Vols. 12mo. 13s. 6d. Boards. Lane. 1801. Angela, the heroine of these volumes, is the supposed child of Nicolo Trappola, a fruiterer of Naples. After passing some time among caves, rocks, and coffins, in due form of novel procedure, she turns out to be the daughter of a person of family, and is married to the man who had fallen in love with her in her former hum"ble state. Notwithstanding all this has been related a hundred times before, it is not badly repeated by Mrs. Charlton. The affixing such names to the personages of a novel as are common to the country where the events happen is certainly proper; but the adoption of terms of quality in a foreign language, as, marchese, madre, palazzo, povra, &c. savours a little of affectation. ART. 51.-Delaval; a Novel. 2 Vols. 12mo. 8s. Boards. Lane. 1802. This is a pleasing little novel, written in an easy correct style, but without any novelty of incident. ART. 52.-Swedish Mysteries; or, Hero of the Mines: a Tale. Translated from a Swedish Manuscript, by Johanson Kidderslaw. 3 Vols. 12mo. 13s. 6d. Boards. Lane. 1801. We have not leisure to examine whether this novel be really a translation from the Swedish, or whether it be the original production of him who calls himself the translator. The narrative is sufficiently gloomy, and the language sufficiently turgid, to warrant à belief that it is the offspring of some northern author. It will, most likely, amuse for two or three months those who search after novelty; and then, like its brethren, it will be forgotten. MISCELLANEOUS LIST. ART. 53. The Thespian Dictionary; or, Dramatic Biography of the Eighteenth Century; containing Sketches of the Lives, Productions, &c. of all the principal Managers, Dramatists, Composers, Commentators, Actors, and Actresses, of the United Kingdom; interspersed with several original Anecdotes; and forming a concise History of the English Stage. 8vo. 9s. 6d. Boards. Hurst. 1802. This work is intended for a pocket-companion, being closely printed with a very small type, in order to contain a great quantity of matter in as contracted a space as possible. One fault we cannot avoid pointing out; which is, that the dates are not always correct. |