Слике страница
PDF
ePub

506

Half-yearly Retrospect of British Literature.

profufion and the elegance of her ornaments, is truly edifying "while they (our enemies) have impiously denied his all-controlling power, we have prayed unto the Lord to give wildom to our councils, fuccefs to our arms, and fteadiRefs to our people; and he has heard us." The bishop then proceeds, in a frain of appropriate picty, to inform his audience, that our conqucks are extenfive; that our Beets have been triumphant beyond the boaft of former times; that Lord DUNCAN is not only a good officer, but a very pious man; and that hiftory will celebrate the glory of our navy, and the fplendour of thofe particular achievements, which are the fubje&t of his panegyric. Another dignitary of the church, the Rev. EDMUND POULTER, prebendary of Winchester, preached a fermon, at the cathedral of that place, of which we really regret that we cannot give our readers a fpecimen; a fhort specimen, too, would be fufficient, for

cy: reafon informs us what these tendencies are. "To a rational being," fays Mr. GODWIN, treating of the foundation of virtue, there can be but one rule of conduct, juftice; and one mode of afcertaining that rule, the exercife of his understanding." In oppofition, it is contended by the author of this examination, on the folid ground that man is a creature of fympathy (the fource whence all his moral feelings arife), and that a fyftem of local relations is the only one adapted to his nature: it is contended, alfo, on the ground of his utter inability to pursue the refult of his actions to their remoteft ramifications, that general good can never be an adequate motive of vigorous action; and that virtue is not to be defined that course of conduct which tends to promote this general good, but it is to be defined that courfe the motive of which is benevolence, or individual gcod. Mr. G.'s antagonist meets him on very fair terms: if," fays he, " the fundamental principle be true, that morality confifts in doing all the good we can, I admit that all the confequences are clear, concatenated, and of an irrefiftible conty of Thanksgiving," is plain and approweb." This acute reafoner, however, viction: Arachne never wove a jufter priate: it is written with the feelings of a man, and in the language of a gentle- admits, in another place (and without The fame remark, in a moderated expofing himself to the charge of inconmeafure, is applicable to a fermon of Dr. fiftency), that the end of virtue is the geMUNKHOUSE," preached in the church neral good. Mr. GODWIN, then, differs. of St. John Baptift, Wakefield." The from him in the means of attaining this fermons of Mr. LLOYD, Mr. CLAPHAM, end: Mr. G. feeks it at once and imMr. AGUTTER, Mr. GOODE, cum mul mediately; to the neglect of those dotis aliis que nunc perfcribere longum eft, mestic endearments, thofe private affecare most of them political declamations which his antagonist, in our opitions, rather diftinguished by viclence than meeknefs, by intolerance than charity.

Such laboured nothings in fo ftrange a ftyle Amaze the unlearn'd, and make the learned fmile.

Mr. HEWLET'S difcourfe on the "Du

man.

An anonymous writer of great acutenefs has entered into " An Examination of the leading Principle of the New Syftem of Merals, as that Principle is flated and opplied in Mr. GODWIN's Political Justice." Mr. GODWIN's morality, or rather his digeft of that fyftem of morals, the foundation of which was

laid by Brown, Hume, Helvetius, and Paley, confiits in making general utility the fole principle of action. "Nothing," fays Mr. Hume," can furnish just ground for moral diftinction in any quality or action but its beneficial or pernicious tenden

*No place fo facred from fuch fops is barr'd,

Nor is Paul's church more fafe than Paul's church-yard. Pope

nion, very juftly confiders, though in themselves as individual enjoyments, to be productive, from their number and extent, of the largest portion of human feantagonist of equal frength and dexterity licity +. Mr. G. has round another with the former, Mr. PROBY, who, in a pamphlet intitled, "Modern Philofophy and Ancient Barbarifm," &c. has fucceeded in identifying the theory of Mr. GODWIN with the practice of Lycurgus. Mr. PROBY, in very aniinated and glowing language, has expofed the abfurd, as well as the deftructive confequences, which would refult to mankind, were the monfrous fyftem of Mr. G. carried into full unimpeded effect.

To fuch readers as may have been seduced by the specious

The author of this pamphlet may fee fome of his own arguments in the fourth number of Dr. ENFIELD'S "Enquirer See Monthly Afag, Vol. I. p. 273.

illuftrations

Vol. V.] Retrospect of Domestic Literature.-Metaphyfics.....Poetry. 505

illuftrations of that writer, or who feel themselves entangled by the fophiftry of his arguments, we earneftly recommend the perufal and the re-perufal of thefe two pamphlets. Dr. GEORGE CROFT's "Short Commentary, &c on the Moral Writings of Paley and Gisborne," is written in fo haughty and dictatorial à ftyle, that the majority of his readers will laugh at his airs, and despise his arrogance.

From the fubjects of Theology and Morals, we proceed to that of

METAPHYSICS.

The venerable and learned Lord MONBODDO has published a fifth volume of his "Ancient Metaphyfics, containing the Hiftory of Man in the Civilized State." His lordship, it is well known, confiders fociety in a state of fuch regular, rapid, and progreffive degeneracy, that a total extinction of the human race must be the speedy and inevitable confequence: money he regards as one of the principal caufes of this deplorable corruption; and England, as it contains more wealth than any country in Europe, is proportionately afflicted with its concomitant calamities, vice, difeafe, and indigence! "As to crimes," fays his lordihip, they abound fo much, that our gaols cannot hold our convicts; and we are obliged to send out colonies, fuch as no nation ever fent out before, to a very diftant country, till of late quite unknown; to which they are tranfported at a great expence, and maintained, when there, at a till greater: thefe crimes, it is obferved, and the obfervation is unqueftionably juft, are almost all the effects of wealth.' According to Lord M. and here we heartily agree with him, the British nation, whofe humanity and generofity are fo arrogantly vaunted-by itfelf! is not merely degenerating at home, but is the caufe of degeneracy and depopulation abroad. "We have deftroyed," fays he, "five millions of human beings in the Eaft-Indies; our colonies in North America, from Hudfon's Bay to Florida, have exterminated the natives by war and maffacre, by vice and by disease, leaving no veftiges of them to be feen--except their burial places!"

It is inconfiftent with the plan of our retrospect, or it would give us the greatest pleasure, to extract a few paragraphs relative to his lordship's management of his private eftate. Suffice it to say, that, as in days of yore, many of his tenants are ferved by cottagers alone; one of the former, who pays no more than 30l. a MONTHLY MAG. No. XXXIII.

year, has thirteen cottagers on his farm: feven other tenants, each of whom poffeffes about three acres of arable land, and fome moorifh ground for pafture, pay his lordship twelve fhillings an acre for the former, and nothing for the latter. “I am perfuaded," fays he, "I could more than double the rent by letting it off to one. tenant; but I fhould be forry to increase my rent by depopulating any part of the country.' On a number of fmall farms, the rental of which, united, is under 100l. a year, his lordship has contrived to fettle and make comfortable 200 inhabitants. "There are many proprietors," fays he, "who think that the number of cottagers on their land is a grievance, and they defire to be quit of them; but, for my part, I am fond of them, and call them my people, and have a pleafure in numbering them and feeing them increase, and am forry when any of them leave my land." Venerable and beloved old man! may you live many years in the enjoyment of this pleafure, and the additional one of obferving, that your own most excellent example is followed by thousands.

A tranflation has appeared, in four volumes, of the "Système de la Nature." This fimple annunciation is fufficient. The learned Dr. WILLICH has publifhed the "Elements of Critical Phi lofophy, &c."; the object of this publication appears to be fomewhat fimilar to a work, for which we are indebted to Mr. NITSCH, intitled, "An elementary View of Profeffor Kant's Philofophy;" every one who is, in any degree, aware of the almoft impenetrable tenebrity of this fyftem, and the almost unfathomable profundity of its principles, will readily exonerate us from the neceffity of entering at large on the fubject. We proceed to a more fafcinating fubject,

POETRY.

The luftre which tafte and learning fhed over the " Effay on the Genius and Writings of Pope," naturally raifes our expectations concerning the merits of Dr. WARTON's edition of the "Works" of that most polished poet. Dr. W. has prefented the public with a valuable performance, which, however, contains lefs original matter than was generally anticipated: the forced and far-fought interpretations of Warburton are omitted, while the notes and illuftrations which accompany this edition are fufficiently numerous. The voice of the muses has of late, we think, been lefs than ufually melodious: our recollection furnishes us with very few poetical publications of 3 T

merit,

506

Retrospect of Domestic Literature.-Poetry.

[ocr errors]

merit. It is almoft unneceffary to fay,
that the "Epiftle to a Friend," by Mr.
SAMUEL ROGERS, author of the Plea-
fures of Memory, is beautiful, intereft-
ing, and very highly polifhed. The five
concluding cantos of the "Henriade"
are published: we know not to whom
we are indebted for this English transla-
tion, which we are ftrongly difpofed to
prefer, in point of elegance, and har-
mony of verfification, to the original of
Voltaire. Mr. GISBORNE'S "Vales of
Wever" is a loco-defcriptive poem, evi-
dently imitated, in regard to ftyle, from
DARWIN'S Botanic Garden: fome parts
of it are beautiful. Mr. FosBROOKE's
"Economy of Monaftic Life, as it exifted
in England," is a poem of confiderable
merit in itfelf, and has, moreover, the
extrinfic value of philofophical and archai-
ological illuftrations from Lyndwood,
Dugdale, Selden, Wilkins, &c. &c. to-
gether with copious extracts from origi-
nal MSS. it is written in the ftanza of
Spencer. Mr. CoTTLE, of Cambridge,
has made a valuable addition to the lite-
rature of his country, in a volume of
"Icelandic Poetry:" this gentleman
has tranflated into English verle the
Edda of Sæmund. When the Edda of
Snorro Sturlefton was published in the
"Northern Antiquities," about thirty
years ago, the compilation of Sæmund
was fuppofed to be loft; a MS. collec-
tion, however, in the king of Denmark's
library of mythological odes from this
Edda, was published at Copenhagen, in
1787. It is this collection which Mr.
COTTLE has tranflated: it confifts of
twelve poems, all of which abound with
imagery, the most romantic, novel, and
fublime. Mr. HAYLEY's edition of
Milton is completed in three volumes;
the price of it is fifteen guineas. This
magnificent work is adorned with the
typographical beauties of Bulmer, and
with engravings from the defigns of
Romney and Westal. Dr. BOOKER'S
"Malvern" is a defcriptive poem of
fome merit the Doctor's talent for this
fpecies of compofition has been evinced
on former occafions, and he appears to
have cultivated it with confiderable fuc-

* Some few readers may require to be informed, that an Edda fignifies a compilation of the fyftem of Runic mythology; in these compilations were incorporated numerous particulars of Scandinavian manners and philofophy. Mr. MALLET fuppofes the object of them to have been, the inftruction of thofe young Icelanders, principally, who intended to devote themselves to the profeffion of the fcald, or post, as they contain a system of poetics.

4

[Sup

;

cefs. Dr. B.'s verfification is easy and
elegant, but not fufficiently animated.
The Rev. JAMES MOORE, master of the
free grammar-fchool in Hertford, has
written, during his leifure hours, an epic
poem, in twelve books, called "The
Columbiad; or, the Discovery of Ame-
rica and the Weft-Indies, by Columbus :"
a dearer and a duller book never iffued
from the prefs. Mr. PYE's "Naucra
tia, or Naval Dominion," is written with
confiderable animation; Mr. P. long
fince accepted an office which imposes on
him the moft grofs and fulfome adulation
that the poet-laureat fhould have volun-
teered a few paffages of fimilar import in
his prefent production, is not wonderful.
The defign and execution of the 'Nau-
cratia are creditable to the poetical ta-
lents of its author. Mr. HULL, of
Covent-garden Theatre, has written
fome "Moral Tales," founded on real
events: the verfification is fimple, ani-
mated, and eafy; the matter is excellent.
The errors of this work are trifling, and
it would be an acceptable and a valuable
prefent to young perfons in particular.
The "Critical, Poetical, and Dramatic
Works" of Mr. JOHN PENN, are pub-
lifhed in two octavo volumes; the first
contains a tranflation of Calfabigi's letter
to Count Alfieri, on tragedy, with various
and learned notes; the poetical mifcella-
nies are of unequal merit: in the fecond
volume is an art of English poetry, imi-
tated from Horace's epifle to the Pifos
an abridgment fucceeds, of Milton's
Samfon Agoniftes, Jonfon's Silent Wo-
man, and Voltaire's Semiramis; all of
which Mr. P. has endeavoured to adapt
for the theatre. Many beauties are
pruned away, from Samfon Agonistes in
particular. Mr. SOUTHEY's "Joan of
Arc," which, confidered under all its at-
tendant circumftances, is a wonderful
effort of genius, has undergone a fevere
and fcrutinizing revifion by its author,
who has published a new edition of it in
octavo. The "Oberon" of WIELAND
has been tranflated by Mr. SOTHEBY:
the fpirit of the poem is faid to have, in
fome degree, fuffered by the too rigid
fidelity of the tranflation; this, how-
ever, will probably be regarded as a
venial error, and the English public will,
doubtlefs, confider itself under obligation
to Mr. S. for introducing it to acquaint-
ance with one of the most polished epic

* The merit of fidelity is, however, difputed by Dr. WILLICH.-See Monthly Magazine, page 399, Part I. 1798.

poems

Vol. V.] Retrofpect of Domeftic Literature. The Drama.

poems of modern production*. The Rev. Mr. POLWHELE has published a fecond edition of "The Influence of Local Attachment," much improved; to which a fecond volume is added of mifcellaneous poetry. The fame author has published the third part of an unfinished poem, intitled, "The Old English Gentleman :" the object is to display the manners and amufements of our forefathers. Several characters of this fort have been drawn by other hands, such as novel-writers and effayifts, &c.: so far as we may judge from the fpecimen, it does not appear that Mr. P. is likely to excel his precurfors. The childish forrows of Mr. CHARLES LLOYD and Mr. CHARLES LAMB, in their volume of "Blank Verfe," are truly ludicrous. The " Vifion," a poem, on the union of Ruffia and Pruffia against Poland, with other pieces, are the effufions of a young mind. Their merit, in general, is that of mediocrity; the Vifion is written in a ftrain of laudable indignation, at the infamous partition of Poland. Mr. EuSTACE'S "Elegy to the Memory of the Right Hon. Edmund Burke" is folemn and appropriate; the fame may be faid of Mrs. WEST's "Elegy" on the fame occafion, which, of the two, is perhaps fuperior. The "Poems" by Mr. HUCKS, of Cambridge, difplay much fancy, feeling, and true tafte. The lover of Scotch ballad will be gratified with a collection which lately appeared, of "Sangs of the Lowlands of Scotland:" they are ftated in the title-page to have been carefully compared with the original editions, and are embellished with fpirited and characteristic defigns of the ingenious DAVID ALLEN; the readings of thefe 'fangs,' however, are not always correct, and the orthography is fometimes faulty. If Mr. ATKINSON has failed in doing juftice to the fcenery of "Killarney," it is perhaps, in fome measure, because the fcenery of Killarney would baffle any powers of defcription. The attempt of Mr. A. does him credit. Several random arrows have been aimed at the unknown author of the "Purfuits of Literature," who has prudently hidden his ignoble head in obfcurity. The author of the Progrefs of Satire" has drawn his bow with the most vigorous and manly arm. Mr. HUNTER'S "Tribute to the mares of unfortunate Poets" is interefting, rather on account of the fubject than the

46

*An excellent and very entertaining review of the original poem appeared in the appendix to Vol. XXIII. of the Monthly Review.

507

execution; which latter, however, though not adequate to the occafion, is by no means defpicable. When the memories of Homer, Ovid, Lucan, Dante, Petrarch, Camoens, Taffo, Corneille, Spenfer, Otway, and Chatterton, are to be celebrated, we require the loftieft ftrain that elegy admits.

The

A great deal of pamphlet poetry has appeared of late; among which are "The Grove," by the author of the Pur-. fuits of Literature, who in this, as in his former work, difplays the pedantry of a fchoolmafter, the vulgarity of a poiffard, and the malevolence of a "Druriad," containing strictures on the principal performers of Drury-lane; "Effufions of Fancy" Mr. SMITH'S "Scath of France;" &c. &c. &c. almost ad infinitum. Before we conclude this article, we must not omit to notice Mr. JONES's "Hobby Horfes," a poem which contains a good-humoured and lively fatire on the fashionable follies of the day.

THE DRAMA.

"But

We are happy to announce the commencement of "A Series of Plays," in which it is attempted to delineate the ftronger paffions of the mind; each paffion being the fubject of a tragedy and a comedy. The first volume only of this work has yet appeared: it contains three plays; love is the groundwork of the two firft, and in this refpect they differ not from the generality of tragedies and comedies which come before us. I have endeavoured in both," fays the author, "to give an unbroken view of the paffion from its beginning, and to mark it as I went along, with those peculiar traits which diftinguifh its different ftages of progreffion.) In general, our dramatic authors exhibit only what may be denominated the climacteric of the paffion; they expofe it when it is rendered furious by fome exafperating circumftances; and the character who difplays it diverts our attention from its operation, to the courage and ingenuity which are exerted in conquering the difficulties which oppofe its indulgence. In the prefent dramas, however, the plot is remarkably fimple, and the incidents are few-purpofely few, in order that the intereft may not be divided, and the attention diverted, from character, to the subordinate agents, imagery, fentiment, and adventure. We know not to whom the

public is indebted for thefe plays, which contain many beautiful touches of nature, and many delicate delineations of paffion. The author has introduced them by an elaborate and ingenious discourse, where

3 T2

in

508 Retrospect of Dameftic Literature.-Novels and Romances. [Sup.

in he has communicated "thofe ideas regarding human nature, as they, in fome degree, affect almoft every fpecies of moral writings, but particularly the dramatic, 'which induced him to attempt it." The fubject of the third play is hatred. "Natalia and Menzikoff,” is translated from the German of M. KRATTER. It is an hiftorical play, where many characters well known in the Ruffian annals are introduced: the drama is founded on the confpiracy into which Menzikoff was feduced against his friend and emperor, Peter the Great. "The Maid of Marienburg," written by the fame author, is a counterpart to the preceding play the fubject of it is the elevation of Catharine I. to the throne of Ruffia. Mr. K. has taken confiderable liberty with hiftorical truth, in the character of his heroine, who, in order to excite our intereft in the fluctuation of her fortunes, is reprefented as inflexibly virtuous, accomplished, and • chaste as the icicle !' The anonymous author of "He's much to blame," acknowledges himself to be, in fome measure, indebted to Le Complaifant, a French comedy, and to GOETHE's tragedy of Clavigo. This is much fuperior to the ordinary run of dramatic compofitions: the dialogue is lively, the fentiments are delicate, and the characters are fupported with fpirit and confiftency. Mr. WALDRON's name is in the recollection of moft of us; his continuation of Ben Jonfon's Sad Shepherd, difplayed no vulgar talent for poetical imitation. He has lately undertaken a task of uncommon temerity; namely, to write a fequel to Shakspeare's Tempeft. Mr. W. has called his drama the "Virgin Queen;" in which he has fhewn himself much better qualified, if not to impofe on the public, at least to imitate Shakspeare, than the impudent author of Vortigern and Rowena. Mr. CUMBERLAND's "Falfe Impreffions," like all his other productions, has the high merit of moral tendency; fo far as character, fentiment, and dialogue are concerned, his comedy has no claim to extraordinary commendation. Mr. REYNOLD'S " Cheap Liv ing," like the greater part of modern plays, is written in accommodation to the talents of fome favorite performer: it may be obferved, however, that a comedy whofe exiftence depends on acting, is, of neceffity, fhort-lived. The preva. lence of party-fpirit has been able to impede the fuccefs which Mr. HOLCROFT's "Knave or not" very richly merited. As politics fix the ftandard of tafte, the

trash of the theatres is very easily ac-. counted for. "The Caftle Spectre" is the popular production of Mr. LEWIS, which, with "the Myfterious Marriage,' "Blue-Beard," Honeft Thieves," and a few others, complete the barren cata. logue of dramatical productions.

NOVELS AND ROMANCES.

Mr.

This department of literature is cultivated with ufual affiduity. "Emily de Varmont" is à tranflation from the French of Louvet. It is faid to have had confiderable influence in producing two memorable decrees of the national convention; the one authorizing divorce, the other allowing pricfts to marry The characters are omewhat extrava. gant, and the fiction is fomewhat improbable. "The Amours of Father Sevin," which are added to it, difplay the cruelty of compulfory celibacy, and are far more interefting and natural. Mrs. SUSANNA CUMMINS, lady of eighteen, laudably defirous of living with that independence which her own exertions can alone fecure her, has translated in an elegant and eafy manner, a beautiful little paftoral of Florian, “ Estelle," together with an effay upon that fpecies of compofition. Eftelle will not detract from the reputation which M. FLORIAN has long fince earned by his writings. MOSER'S 66 Moral Tales,' if not distinguished by much originality of conception or purity of ftyle, are highly refpectable from their object, which is to promote the cause of virtue. His ideas concerning filial obedience are not strictly accordant with the principles of modern morality. Mr. M. thould reflect that where the father is a defpot, the child will generally be a flave. Mrs. ROBINSON'S "Walfing. ham" is, by no means, a happy performance: relying on a deceiving popularity, Mrs. R. has, in this inftance, paid little or no respect to the judgment of thofe whofe approbation is alone worth fecking; her characters are incongruous, her events incredible, her digreffions tirefome, infipid, and often totally impertinent. Mrs. R. has confiderable talents, which it is to be lamented are not more judiciously regimened: the can never write well, fo long as to fill pages is the principal object: her poetry is highly beautiful and delicate. Knights, or Sketches of the heroic Age,” is a tale of chivalry, wherein 'fquires and damfels, combats and captivities, with all the paraphernalia of romance, are abundantly diftributed, On the whole,

"The

« ПретходнаНастави »