Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

Review of New Publications.

to glorify the great Creator of them, who fo mercifully adapted them to the enjoyments of mankind. Ungrateful, therefore, abfurd, and irreligious, are thefe reprefentations of human nature, and thefe complaints against the ways of Providence, which may be fometimes miftaken, often obftructed, or perverted by the mifapprehenfion or malevolence of thofe who prostitute their abilities at the fhrine of wit, and let their imagination run, unbridled, after ridicule, while they trample under foot every religious and moral principle, and every regard to decency.

The Oration of the Prefident, in the laft volume, too well deferves the fevereft cenfure that affronted modefty can utter, and is too grofsly indelicate to be purfued by criticifm, but must be condemned whenever it is read. Nor can his Sermon make amends, notwithstanding it is written with all the power of eloquence and erudition, in the most correct and elegant style, and feems to be the laboured piece, for which the whole work was compofed, and is introduced with much beautiful imagery, though the fame ironical fpirit, fupported by wit and ridicule, is evident through this chef d'œuvre and laft explofion of fpirited farcasm.

To treat this work with its own weapons, which wear the appearance of wit and humour, would be to ufe fuch wea pons in too bad a caufe. The cause merits no open adverfary, for none can meet the foe on equal ground. He ftabs in the dark; he maffacres, in cool blood, the fex; he decoys, by approaching them as a friend, and making his evil purpofe under the fanction of a dedication to one whofe character is a real ornament to her fex, and is no less eminent for true maidenly fimplicity, benevolence, and piety, fuch as is defcribed in Spenter's Woman bood, than for her acknowledged learning, and thofe great talents which have enabled her to enrich our nation with fuch useful and elegant productions, in profe and verfe, as will always reflect honour on the fingle ftate, which has perhaps afforded more leifure for her academic purfuits, and for the exercife of her poetical genius, than are commonly compatible with domeftic duties and family connections. From her fair example, had our author chofen to compliment, in reality, or even to defend from raillery, that refpectable clafs which are the fubject of his work, he might have found GENT. MAG. June, 1786.

501

an ample field for praife, and might have justly raifed the fingle life to an equality, at leaft, with the exalted character of virtuous and holy matrons. And why avoid this obvious path, to deviate into one farcaftical on every ftate of life? and why, offend, by an unwarrantable liberty, this universally revered and amiable perfonage?

"When all the Mufes' train alike are "thine,

"Why chufe the most unpleafing of the "Nine?"

73. Illuftrations of Maxims and Principles of Education, in the Second Book of Rouffeau's "Emile." In Four Letters, &c. &c. fm. 8vo.

THIS illuftration of Rouffeau re quires elucidation, more than the au thor whofe maxims and principles-it feems defigned to explain. With a good intention, and a very feeling heart, the fubject is rather embarraffed than enlightened, as the admirable quotations remain much clearer in their own expreffion than as paraphrafed in this book; for furely no one can mif apprehend the tender and affecting addrefs to the humane, in the clofe of the first letter. And what parent will not wish to fubfcribe to the indulgent fentiments of the author, without a comment ?

Rouffeau's idea of loading children's intellect, by forming their memory before their understanding can reach the variety of leffons endeavoured to be taught, is plain to comprehend, though it may not, in his full extent, be adopted. This author fuppofes that "chil"dren have no memory for fentiments, "because fentiments make no impref

[ocr errors]

fion on them; but they have a me

mory for images, pages, lines, and "letters." As, when a child gets by heart the method of laying the diffected maps, it has been fuggested that the child has no idea but of the notches which unite the counties, and not of the counties themfelves. However, we imagine that a fenfible governefs might eafily imprefs the idea of one with the other, on any common capacity of a child much under 12 years old, when geography, the eafieft and pleasanteft fcience for children, may be acquired and impressed on the intellects for life.

We heartily with that parents and teachers would attend to the pathetic reprefentation of infantine fufferings,

and

Review of New Publications.

502 and the facrifice of prefent health and enjoyments to the diftant profpect of acquiring learning and science but, if the world has not attended to Rouffeau and his precepts, they will not at tend to us or our author.

74. The Scotifh Village. By Mrs. Cowley.

A paragraph in a news-paper, and a tear, feem to have been the foundation of this elegant poem.

In the preface Mrs. Cowley feems modeftly apprehenfive that ber "Vil"lage" thould be brought to the touch ftone of criticism, by comparifon with that of Dr. Goldfmith's; but they are poems of a different fpecies. The Deferted Village," as he has her felf expreffed it, is the poem of a politician. Crabbe's fcarcely lefs celebrated "Vil"lage" is political likewife, and, in fome measure, may be called a didactic poem; but The Scotifh Village" is purely defcriptive, and need not thrink from comparifon with any defcriptive poem in the language. Perhaps the three are each equally good in its way, and would, together, make a curious volume.

[ocr errors]

Mrs. Cowley is the firft English poet that has thought the Scotifh nation entiled to diftinction, or to praife. Her candour in this, as well as in other refpects, does her honour. The friends of Mifs Burney, Mifs Seward, and Mrs. Barbauld, muft feel pleafed at the just and difcriminating praifes the has taken occafion to introduce on them.

We cannot help regretting, in the midft of the pleafure the poem has given us, that its author did not know the fpot fhe celebrates, as there must be fome incidental circumftances belonging to it, of which the might have made a happy ufe. She has given us a mountain, fuppofing, probably, that a mountain muft always make one of the features in a Scotifh profpect. This mountain, however, has a beautiful cavern, and the cavern had once an inhabitant.. In the hiftory of the Seer, we may be af fured, fecond sight is not forgotten; and, in fpeaking of his vifions, the feizes an opportunity to hint at the Union, and its beneficial confequences to cach kingdom, in a way liberal and poetical.

The art of verfc-making is to our age fo well understood, that it is fcarcely praife to fay that a poct's numbers are finooth and polished; but if it is praife, the author of this poem is entitled to it in a high degree. The rhymes are pe

culiarly exact; and yet the cafe of the language is never once violated. For the juffice of this affertion we refer our readers to the poem itself, where they will find beauties of a very fuperior nafure to thofe of measure and jingle.

75. Poems occafioned by the Death of Mif Maria A. -r, late of Ipfwich. By a Gentleman of her Acquaintance. 4to. THESE poems confift of two pieces, written in what the author, we suppose, calls blank verfe; and one in the elegiac meafure. In the fecond piece the writer has denied himself the ufe of the letter S; in which ridiculous fancy he will have few imitators, at least if the value of the invention be determined by his fuccefs.-Our author's verses are rarely even of their proper length. The trt line of the poems confifts only of four feet and a half: but in that curious piece from which the fortunate letter S is preferved, we find seven entire feet in one line:

"The cry of "Arm!" the bray of battle, "and the din of war."

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

Review of New Publications.

[blocks in formation]

Sylphs, no more in haunted groves
Boaft your vegetable loves;
Nor the bloom young Zephyrs fling
O'er the Vermeil cheek of Spring;
Nor the dewy fragrance, born
From the treffes of the morn.
Wherefoe'er our footfleps turn,
Rubies blush, and diamonds burn;
Every grot and filver cave

Streams of milk and amber lave;
And our bowers fuch perfumes give,
As mortals cannot tafte and live.
From controuiing feafons free,
We labour our high alchymy,
Nor borrow from the garith day
One beam, to light us on our way;
But beneath the Atlantic flood,
Wind our fubterraneous road:
Our torch the phofphorus. our car
The jacinth, or the emerald fpar.
Wondrous toils we here porfue,
Never ending, always new;
Blending, in our vast retreat,
Moift and dry, and cold and heat;
Till our skill prolific tries

All Nature's contrarieties,"

Vifions of celeftial dye

In the loom of flamber weave: Raife before her ravish'd fight

503

The pageant of eternal night; And let her fancy-kindled foul attain The unknown wonders of our boundless reign.

First be with plastic fceptre feen The barren Petra, giant queen; Thro' her dun realms let racking cataracts found,

And ocean's billowy ftrength her throne furround:

Each fylph, that floats on ether's wing, The fading tribes of Flora fling Beneath her steps, and, bruth'd by hafty fhower,

Strew every quivering leaf, and short-liv'd Aower.

The triomphs of her reign to fwell, Mida bushy wood and dusky del!, Bidtimorous Fauna chafe her fylvan bands, That howl o'er Zembla's fnow, or Afric's fands.

Bring orient Onyx for her zone, Imperial Granite be her throne; While the rich circle of her crown dif

[blocks in formation]

Her wizard pencil let her take, Dipt in the blue and gelid lake, And as the filmy, bickering colours flow, Bid fairy fcenes and wild creations glow, Various as clouds on evening gale, That like deep-burthen'd navies fall, And, labouring o'er the mountain's fhadowy height,

The foreft gloom reflect, the torrent's glit

tering light."

The following fpeeches of Count Maurice and Leopold are pleasing: "COUNT MAURICE.

"'Tis three months and more

"Hafte, my Gnomes, your ftrains apply. Since on this pendent vault, with trembing

And her boding griefs deceive;

hand,

I etch'd

504

Review of New Publications.

I etch'd the fad memorial of my name, And on its fparry architrave began To chronicle each day of growing woe.".... "LEOPOLD.

"No, I would dwell

For years contented in this vaporous dungeon, Delve the thick-ribbed rocks with fervent toil,

And hear the viewless winds inceffant roar, Imprifon'd like ourselves within the depths Of thefe perplexed labyrinths-could I abridge

Thy forrow, and ranfom our remaining age."

The laft line of this paffage is rough; but Milton's Comus has many lines of much more inharmonious construction. How beautiful are the enfuing:

when thou shalt inhale

The breezy air, and with a thirst as keen
As the parch'd Arab feels on Nubia's fand,
Drink the refrefbing ftream of living light-
Thy foul-felt extacy fhall I partake
"Midft this abhorr'd privation."-

What a friking picture is here ex

[blocks in formation]

JULIANA

What faint gleam Streams there, in circles of imperfect light? "FREDERIC.

'Tis but the trail of braided fparks, that fly In quick fucceffion from the whirling flints

"The vapours in fome of the mines prevent the introduction of lighted candles or lamps; in which cafe they have recourfe to the following contrivance: There is a wheel, the circumference of which is befet with Aints, which, friking againft feels, placed for that purpofe at the extremity, a ftream of fire is produced, which affords a fufficient light for the operation of the miners. GoldImith's Hiflery of Animated Nature, vol, is p. 82."

[blocks in formation]

66

66

66

[ocr errors]

quired vigour and energy, was, that "twice two "ftruck my imagination, "and on confideration accorded, as be"ing as true and perfect as any our tongue affords, refembling a little man, who fupplies his defect in fize by his agility. Two fyllables being metrical foot, four form a verfe, "with a partition in the middle; and, "if the accents fall on the fecond and "fourth, have a natural and exact co"incidence. Being in two correfpon"dent parts, it may be readily put to "gether in reading."

[ocr errors]

a

Ecce fignum! "O Mufe relate The drift of fate. Why armies gleam To Phebus' beam: Why France and Spain Ufurp the main : Why Britons bold Renown'd of old Fierce war to wage 'Gainft tyrant-rage, And pride of Fame The world reclaim, Th' oppreft befriend, Wealth, blood expend, With drought to parch In honour's march, Or mock the fnow

On Winter's brow."

[blocks in formation]

Review of New Publications.

feems to be dictated by equal wisdom and kindness; and furely there is no clafs of fufferers for whom humanity more strongly pleads, than those wretched beings, who have been decoyed by fraud, or torn by violence, from their homes, and from thence are deftined to pain, labour, and want.-Mr. S. propofes to purchase ground of the native Africans, and to erect a town for his colony. The adventurers are to be attended by a clergyman, a school-mafter, and fchool-miftrefs, and by a regular physician, with feveral medical affistants. To thofe who may chance to poffefs, or fhould be able to raise some little property, the terms are eminently advantageous; to those who are deftitute of every thing, they are moderate and gentle and, at the interceffion of the Committee for the relief of the Black Poor, at the head of which is the excellent Mr. Hanway, Government has agreed to fupply them, not only with a paffage and provifion, but also with cloathing, provifions for three months after their landing, together with all forts of tools and implements of hufbandry neceffary for the establishment of a new fettlement.

[ocr errors]

"Thefe are imperial works, and worthy "kings."

An opportunity fo advantageous may perhaps never be offered to them again; for they and their pofterity may enjoy perfect freedom. Settled in 66 a country congenial to their conftitu"tions, and having the means, by mo❝derate labour, of the most comfortable "livelihood, they will find a certain "and fecure retreat from their former "fufferings."

79. Confiderations on the Order of Cincinnatus.

By the Count De Mirabeau.

THIS article owes its birth to a pub lication which first appeared at Charleston, in South Carolina, and relates to an inftitution which we have mentioned in our vol. LIV. p. 550.--The original author, jealous, it fhould feem, of fiterary fame, and indignant at the liberties taken with his labours, thus fpiritedly addreffes the Count de Mirabeau :

"In the year 1783 I published a pamphlet in this ftate, intituled, "Confiderations "on the Order of Cincinnati." I do not mean to fay any thing on that fubject now, nor of the reception which my book had from my countrymen. It found its way to Europe, where it was a ftranger, without an acquaintance to introduce, or a friend to

505

ftand up for it. You, M. le Count de Mirabeau, a man of wit and learning, met with it, in an evil hour, foon after its landing. You feized this offspring of mine, and, after tripping it of the plain homespun garments in which the hands of its parent had arrayed it, you, with the spoils, dreffed out a publication of your own, named it after mine, "Confiderations on the Order of Cincin "natus," and you fent it into the world as your own production.

"It is true, you acknowledge to `us, in your preface, that "the idea, and indeed the fubftance, of your work, is taken from my "pamphlet, which is but little known in "Europe," you fay. This acknowledgement, Sir, is fo far liberal.

M. le Count, is this: Your book confifts of "But what I have to lay to your charge, little elfe but whole pages, paragraphs, and fentences, which you took out of mine; fometimes in the beginning, then in the end, then in the middle of it, fporting now here, now there, and interlarding, as you go, fome fupplementary remarks of your own, as you thought they arose out of the subject; tranflating it into French, and claiming the whole as your own, without once pointing out to the reader which part belonged to me, when fo very little of it was yours: and I fubmit it to men of letters, Sir, if your conduct here can be justified by the above quoted acknowledgement, which appears to be made by way of laying out an anchor to windof a difcovery. Your book, Sir, has been ward, to fecure you against a storm, in cafe tranflated back again, out of your French into English; and the British translator has done to you and me smple justice; for in tranflating yours, he has restored to me out of my own book my own language, often word for word, not even altering the ftructure of the fentences, or members of the pereds, always adopting the very fimilies, metaphors, and allufions, which I did; and frequently placing, in order to difguife it, in an appendix to your work, many fentences and paragraphs which you had taken out of the body of mine.

"You fay, that "my book was but little "known in Europe." Is this a reason, Sir, for you to refolve it fhould never be known there, by your foreftalling it on its arrival? I am not certain it would have been known

in Europe, nor do I care one farthing, although I have been told, that in America trong, firm ftuff, clofely woven, and would good judges were of opinion it was made of last long; and that you thought fo too is pretty evident, by your undoing the whole texture of it, and wearing it in Europe and America as your own manufacture.

"To place this matter in a clearer light, fuppofe I took it into my head to write a book on morals, hiftory, philofophy, &c. and in my preface told the world, that "the "idea, and indeed the fubftance, of my

"work,"

« AnteriorContinuar »