able yearly sum, to try a very doubt- that this being is so to be understood ful, if not a fruitless project, where it throughout the whole of S.S.-were may be questioned whether it be with- actually admitted into the presence in the limits of a probability to pro- of God, our great poet's expressions duce any saving to the public. likewise must not be taken in the Michaiah's vision in 1st of Kings, ch. 22, v. 19, 22, might be adduced as a similar instance of the necessity of interpreting these passages of the S.S. figuratively. It is much to be feared that blind- strict literal sense. This heavy charge ness, in part, hath happened unto of blasphemy is removed from MilEngland, as it did to Israel of old; ton, when we interpret him as we or, so far as to induce us to be- must in the instance before us interlieve that our resources can never pret S.S. be exhausted: when all the shallow streams are already nearly dried up; and when men, employed in public works, bring in bills to the amount of 150,000l. after they are over-paid; when such facts are proved, may it Your correspondent will turn to the not be doubted whether all the riches passage itself, and will, I trust, find of the universe would be sufficient to that there is little difference between support the abuses which have been Milton's Blasphemy and these two practised? descriptions taken from S.S. In both When our legislators are speaking God is represented as in the midst of of the poor, they but seldom mention angels; in both an evil spirit is reany other description of them but presented, bent on mischief, and cottagers; and they seem totally si- ready to do all the hurt God would lent about our idle and drunken arti- give him leave to do; in both the ficers and manufacturers, who want evil spirit is represented under the a house of correction prepared for power of God, and not able to them in every district, which would do any thing but by his leave; in tend much more to mend their mo- both the representations seem conrals, and elevate their character, than trived to bring down invisible things fifty schools in the same circuit. [To be continued.] BLASPHEMY OF MILTON. Sir, N reply to the letter of your Ox to the meanest human capacity. It we interpret S.S. in this manner why not Milton? A veneration for our great poet, and a much higher veneration for the holy scriptures, prompt me to excul stiled "A Blasphemy of Milton," in- phemy, and to offer an explanation of serted in page 28 of your Magazine two similar passages in S.S. which by for July last, I beg leave to refer him, misrepresentation or misconstruction, in vindication of our great poet, to are liable to a similar charge. the sacred scriptures, where he will find instances of "Blasphemy as unequivocally impious." Milton's blasphemous lines are, "Erd into the mind of GOD, or man "May come and go, so unapproved, and "leave "No spot, or blame behind, &c." Par. Lost, B. v. 1. 117. Yours, &c. I am, Sir, W. B. On the SYSTEME DE LA NATURE, &c. WITHOUT being able to answer precisely, the chief query of At the 6th v. of the 1st ch. of the your correspondent Quæstiuncula, book of Job, which is a poetical his- (see Universal Mag, for July, p 12.) tory of the man whose trials are re- I can inform him what was said here, corded, your Oxford correspondent on the publication of the Systeme in will find Satan admitted into the pre- English, by Dr. Hodgson, about the sence of God himself. Now, consi- year 1794. I know not where, or dering that this is not to be taken in the strict literal sense, as if Satan, supposing him to be Evil personified and I think it is not difficult to prove by whom, Q- could have heard the work attributed to D'Alembert, a thing, I believe, never before thought of; nor has the style or com MICKLE, Translator of the Lusiad. position the smallest resemblance to MEMOIRS of WILLIAM JULIUS the manner of that writer. It has been generally supposed to have been written by Diderot, and yet the same difficulty remains, as with respect to D'Alembert: it is neither in the [Continued from page 117.] revived by the long-expected IS hopes were in some degree manner of Diderot, nor would his warm head have ever endured the answer from Lord Lyttleton, which labour of such a concatenated and was written with much courtly po operose system. From the best en- liteness: and Mickle in his reply, quiries I have been able to make, ventures to undeceive his Lordship Mirabaud was an assumed name; respecting the disingenuous proceedthe times in which the book was ori-ing, of having assumed a false signaginally published being dangerous for ture. Many other letters passed bean avowal of the real author. It is tween Mickle and his patron, and singular that he should not be known the poet began to form sanguine during the ascendancy of the philo- hopes of preferment and emolument, sophers or atheists, when there could His lordship animadverted with effibe no motive for concealment; or cient freedom upon our author's that such an author as Mirabaud, if MS. poems, and Mickle received his he ever existed, should be unknown corrections with humility and gratiat Paris, and yet that, I am informed, tude. Perhaps, indeed, he shewed was the case. Some of our pious more complacency to his suggestions writers indeed, have certified such that true genius warrants: but if bis a man as Mirabaud, for the purpose, pride might sometimes be hurt by it appears, of making him commit the pertinacity of his lordship's suicide from remorse, a counterpart amendments, his vanity was flattered of the holy cheat of Diderot's and by the complimentary language and D'Alembert's death-bed recantation, the expressions of praise, with which a dread of which imposition it was, his letters often abounded. according to report, that urged David Having been now about two years Hume so strictly to enjoin the publi- in London, without any other means cation of all that passed during his of subsistence than what he received last moments. It was reported also, from his brothers, or procured by that Hume had full proof of the for- writing for the periodical prints, he gery of Bishop Burnet, in his account determined to try what dependance of the repentance of Lord Rochester. he could place upon his patron's inIt is probable that some light might terest in procuring him a settlement be obtained, as to the real author of at home or abroad, He wrote to the Systeme de la Nature, among the Lord Lyttleton upon the subject, and Parisian booksellers; it however, at last an interview was appointed, never had much circulation in France, Of this interview he gives the follow still less here, where the translation ing minute account in a letter to his dropped dead from the press. Indeed, brother: no reasonings of that kind ever met with attention in this country, where we are content to drink our port or our porter, without fatiguing our brains with laborious doubts. The book, however, might prove a salutary exercise for the minds of some mentioned his great burry; he then of our fanatical bigots, "After waiting a large half hour, and hearing a Don all in lace dismissed, I was introduced, and received with his ordinary good nature, and made to sit down. He began with an apology for not sending for me sooner; told me he was afraid he could do little, but that his reason for not writing me was that he might see me, and understand fully what I would have him to do, which he would as far as possible. (I shall repeat here his sentences as nearly verbatim as I INCERTUS, Can,) You want me to recommend Some of those tracts announced by the same author, were really published, according to my recollection, and may perhaps be found noticed in a book intituled, " Anecdotes of the French Nation," London, two Odes, and I shall let some booksellers that I deal with know that I esteem them as very fine poems, and recommending them in company is the best way to serve you; and be sure to let me know before you publish.' Thus with acknowledgements on my part, and assurances of regard on his, we parted." If this conversation be given correctly, it displays in a very conspicuous manner, the self-complacency of poetical peers. Observe only with what great good nature his lordship promises to let two or three booksellers that he deals with, know that he you to my brother"; I am afraid that would be of no real service to you. He has some offices to dispose of, I suppose that is what you want; but he has so many people in the island always ready, and obliged to promise to, that before a place falls, it is perhaps a year or two bespoke: to be sure my recommendation would have great weight with him, but you see it would be some years before it would be of any service to you, and that is not what I would advise you to.' The having such a letter, I replied, would make me well looked upon, and might be of service to me with the merchants. That's another reason,' he thinks them very fine poems! Whereturned, why I did not write to you ther Mickle felt the full force of this that we might talk of that-as to his odious egotism is unknown, but it recommending you to the merchants, is certain that he began to form very I shall do what I can; and if you go high hopes from the promises of there, I shall write him that you are Lord Lyttleton He wrote to him an ingenious young man, that I have and explained what sort of situation a great regard for you, and desire him would be most agreeable to him, and to take notice of you, that you have he concluded his letter with polite written some very fine poems, which gratitude for the condescension of his you will shew him, and I promise you lordship in his promised notice of his he will do what he can.-But would poems, when they should appear. it not be better to speak to some of This epistle, however, produced only the traders here: there's Beckford the following "cold and uncourtly and Fuller-I shall speak to Fuller for you; I expect to see him very soon.' It was very kind, I replied, and would In answer to your last letter, I can very much oblige me. This he re- only say that I have no acquaintance peated, and very cheerfully said with any of the East India Directors, again he would. But, added he, but if a recommendation to my brothere's another point, a clerkship in ther will be of any service to you, I one of the public offices at home; you will give it in the manner I menwrite a good hand, and that is just the tioned. I have not been able to see thing I could wish for you: England either Beckford or Fuller, but it will is the place for you: but you know be time enough to speak to them some I am in the opposition, and cannot time next winter. As to your poetry, ask for any thing as things stand. I must again repeat my advice, that Within a few days I refused accept you should publish nothing in that ing; but if I could have accepted, I way which is not very correct. could have done as I wish for you.' After a pause; Or there's the East Indies- perhaps could be of service to you there, if I knew exactly what you would like--what would suit:-I wish we could contrive.' These words return :" "SIR, I am, With great regard and esteem, Sir, London, Monday. Our poet's faith in the sincerity of he repeated with great good nature. his patron was now a little staggered: I expressed my obligations, and said, and the splendid promises of the peer I would see and inform him. We finally vapoured away into a useless were now afoot. He went on You'll and frigid recommendation of Mickle let me know when you publish your to his brother the governor of Ja maica, " as a man of fine sentiments and good genius in poetry!" William Henry Lyttleton, Esq. The poet, however, had an opportunity of refusing this important ser then governor of Jamaica, vice; for having engaged to go to the Portuguese language, he pubCarolina as a merchant's clerk, he lished in the Gentleman's Magazine informed his patron of it, as the for March 1771, a translation of that cause of his refusal, and thus ended part of the fifth book of the Lusiad, their correspondence. A useful les- which contains a description of the son to those who are willing to learn. apparition at the Cape of Tempests, Let it teach them whom it may con- and in the summer following, the cern, to rely upon the honest efforts first book, as a farther specimen, of genius, to walk their course with with proposals for printing the whole patient firmness, and to disdain to by subscription. Both these specicringe for the smiles and promises of mens being highly approved of, be titled beings, whose patronage is too relinquished his situation at the often only another word for mockery Clarendon Printing House in the and insult. spring of 1772, and retired to an old The engagement which Mickle had mansion-house occupied by a farmer entered into to go to Carolina did not at Forrest Hill, a village about five take place, for the gentleman with miles from Oxford, where he prosewhom it was contracted received, cuted his plan with such unremitting about this time, 1765, some advices attention, that in the end of the year from America respecting the stamp 1775, this celebrated performance act, and having other avocations which was published in 4to. at Oxford, "ac were likely to detain him for some companied by a very numerous and time, it was dissolved by mutual con- respectable list of subscribers. sent. Our author was soon after ap- "When Mr. Mickle undertook pointed corrector of the Clarendon this arduous work, he laboured under Press at Oxford, where he had now many unfavourable circumstances; resided some time, a situation more Sir Richard Fanshaw had published congenial to him, as it afforded him a translation of it in 1655, which gave many literary advantages, of which but a faint idea of the beauties of the he was likely to be fully sensible. original. The language in which it In 1767 he published at Oxford, was composed had been but little cul"The Concubine, a poem in the tivated by the muses; the author's manner of Spenser," which, after fame was not established in this counseveral impressions was re-published try, and our translator had no other in 1777, with improvements, under means of subsistence than the casual the more appropriate title of "Syr sums he received by subscription, Martyn," the former, as the author Disadvantages such as these might acknowledges, conveying a very im- have discouraged weaker minds: but proper idea both of the subject and looking forward with the enthusiasm spirit of the poem. In 1769 he pub- of genius he did not suffer such diffilished " A Vindication of the Di- culties to obstruct his progress or vinity of Jesus Christ," in a letter to damp his ardour. The praises beDr. Harwood. In 1772 " Hengist stowed by his literary friends upon and Mey" and the "Elegy on Mary, the translation, as it came from the Queen of Scots," appeared in Roach's press in detached portions, and the collection of poems, of which Mickle consequent fame which he expected was the editor. About this time too, upon its publication, banished that he was a frequent writer in the melancholy with which he had for Whitehall Evening Post. merly been oppressed, and animated At the early age of seventeen him with an unusual degree of cheerMickle had read Castera's French fulness and vivacity. The hopes translation of the Lusiad of Camoens; likewise of being able to reduce his and he had long meditated an Eng- debts by the profits, and of obtaining lish one, but various circumstances that kind of patronage, which might concurred hitherto to render this lead to independence, from the dediimpracticable. Now, however, he cation of a work so justly celebrated, thought the opportunity favourable still farther brightened his prospects, for such an enterprize, and having and enabled him to proceed with the acquired a sufficient knowledge of greatest ardour aud alacrity. But in this last particular he was dreadfully genius. And what are the Elysian disappointed. Some time before the fields to the Island of Venus!-Read publication he frequently mentioned the Lusiad in Mickle's translation, to the editor of this edition the inti and the Eneid in its native strain; mations he had repeatedly received, and, unless classical prejudices interthat to some persons then very high pose, you will undoubtedly prefer in the East India department, the de- Mickle; though it may appear strange dication of the Lusiad would be very that the version of a modern poem acceptable, a compliment by which should outvie the original of the finest they would think themselves highly ancient epic. Such an eclipse seems honoured; and for which he might a phænomenon in literature: but the expect a princely acknowledgement. Lusiad, perhaps, is become brilliant But before he had determined on any by transfusion"." How opposite to particular person, he was persuaded the cold apathy of the pseudo patron, by his frieud Commodore Johnstone were the feelings of the late gallant to inscribe it to a Scotch nobleman of Lord Rodney, an honour to nobility, the highest rank. This peer unfortu- and the pride of the British navy, nately for the poet, had been the pupil who pronounced the verses of the of Dr. Adam Smith, author of "The translator of the Lusiad, to be equal, Wealth of Nations," (some of whose if not superior, to Pope's translation positions in that work, respecting the of the Iliad. monopoly of the East India Com- "One of our approved writers aspany, &c. Mickle had ably refuted,) serts, that, "If any author has recoverand the intimate friend and panegyed the freedom of Dryden, without rist of David Hume, to whom the losing the harmony or force of Pope, translator was the declared antagonist. it is Mickle in some parts of his exHume's poetical discrimination may cellent translation of the Lusiad." be easily estimated by those who read "Pity that a poem of such supehis criticisms on Spenser, Shakspeare, rior merit was not addressed to some and Milton, in his "History of Great dignified character, and not sullied Britain." Of the English Luisad he with the name of a person incapasaid, "It is a Sea Journal in tolerably, ble of relishing its beauties, and who good verse." Under such tuition we treated the translator with the most cannot be surprised if unfeeling neglect. To treatment so should not immediately perceive the extremely illiberal and undeserved, beauties of a performance, which Mickle, who possessed a considerable has, by a writer of acknowledged ge- share of the genus irritabile vatum, nius, been preferred to the Aniad of was by no meanss inclined to submit, Virgil. "But for Camoens, though without endeavouring in some meahe has some glaring faults, he hath, sure to retaliate. He, therefore, ou doubtless, many original beauties; the death of Mr. Hume, which hap. both of which, indeed, bespeak un- pened about this time, planned, and common abilities. He is not correct before his going to sea, nearly comlike Virgil, but the hand of cold and pleated, An Heroic Epistle from that sober judgment would have blotted gentlenian in the shades to Dr. Adam out the novelties that surprise and Smith," in which the Dr. and his delight us these are "sublime infir- noble pupil were rather roughly mities," which will not bear the in- handled. But on his return from quisition of the critic. "The epic that element, finding his circumpoetry of Camoens, (says Voltaire,) stances easy, though not affluent, reis a sort of poetry unheard of before." sentment was succeeded by contempt, I allow it; but not to his dishonour. and the piece was committed to the The manners of the Lusiad are new flames." and striking. And as to imagery, the apparition hovering athwart the fleet * Discourses ou diferent subjects, near the Cape of Good Hope is so by the Rev. R. Folewhele. 2d Ed. grand a fiction, that it would alone 1791. set Camoens above Virgil, in point of (To be continued.) |