As oft the painted offspring of the spring "Thou, my efteem'd Aurelia, too canst boaft That pierce with thrilling fenfe the nerves of pain; Pleas'd they arraign the theme, which paints old age Affert the native dignity of man. Pilgrims on earth, and journeying on to heav'n, The feat of true felicity and peace, They never feek the beauteous exiles here, Nor blame a want by Providence defign'd." P. 238. Fluttering butterfly" has a bad found: and nine lines after we ought to read, "That pierce the nerves with thrilling fenfe of pain," "Nerves of pain" being bad: the reft is admirable. In the light and playful ftyle of compofition Mrs. W. has feldom indulged; but the following is fo complete a proof of her ability to give grace and elegance to fuch fports of fancy, that we cannot refrain from giving it en WITH THE ADVENTURES OF THE SIX PRINCESSES OF BABYLON, "A king, dear Matilda, in Babylon reign'd: Six daughters he had whom a fairy maintain'd; "Of droll Robin Goodfellow often you've heard, But wildom and virtue by her were conferr'd- "Thefe 'forefaid young ladies, obferve they'd no brothers, Were handfome as- --stop, I've forgot; I could mention their likeness if willing to others; "Now the fairy, regardless of beauty and birth, For rank fhe affirm'd was ennobled by worth, "In an elegant grotto, fequefter'd and cool, But when they were old enough all to quit fchool, "Miranda was clever-I doubt fhe was idle; So the fairy, that fault to reftrain, For difcipline bad inclinations will bridle, "What? a princefs to fpin? I affure you I'm grave, "The lady Floriffa poffefs'd a good heart, "Now her excellent governess knew of a river Which lay in a country far famed, One draught of which courteous demeanour would give her,— Good Humour the river was named. "So the fairy beftow'd a gold bottle upon her, But when he return'd, I declare on my honour, "Clementina, in all the warm ardour of youth, Her charge was to fetch, from the genius of truth, "Poor damfel! full often fhe met with mifchance, "By Bonetta the mantle of meekness was worn, It was bright as the luftre that waits on the morn,— "Allow me to mention one property more : "Of narrow-foul'd Avarice doubtless you've heard, Its contraft, Profusion, is rash and abfurd, "To prove it, when free from fictitious pretence, A wonderful magnet was wrought; This talifman, facred to judgment and sense, By lovely Orinda was fought. "Would you know her adventures at large, pray pursue her, She gives a delightful narration; It was found by a gallant young knight, and brought to her On a fhield which he call'd Moderation. "Thus five of thefe ladies their wishes achiev'd, At laft your young name-fake was fent; She too from Benigna a mandate receiv'd, 'Twas to fetch the white wand of Content. "Disappointment, Ingratitude, Envy, and Grief, But a cherub nam'd Innocence brought her relief, "And now to Benigna the travellers came, And ftated their toils for renown; She gave them, I know you will with for the fame, "Now was I a fairy, I vow I would fend To Matilda this crown by fome elf; But as I am not, I'll entreat my young friend The "The distaff, the mantle, the spear, and the wand, Your mamma, my dear girl, has them all at command, "For the prize which Benigna procur'd by her art For the moment thefe qualities glow in your heart, "To speed your exertions, I'll tell you a truth Without them you'll ne'er know the pleasures of youth, Nor the rational comforts of age." Vol. 1v. p. 277. Besides those which we have enumerated, there are scarcely any ftyles of poetry not introduced by Mrs. W. into thefe two volumes, and none in which fhe has failed of fuccefs. We cannot therefore hesitate to give them the recommendation which her diligence, and ingenuity, her piety and entire rectitude of mind, fo very amply deferve. ART. V. The Speech of the Hon. J. Randolph, Reprefentative for the State of Virginia, in the General Congrefs of America; on a Motion for the Non-Importation of British Merchandize, pending the prefent Difputes between Great Britain and America. With an Introduction, by the Author of "War in Difguife." 8vo. 76 pp., 2s. 6d. London; re-printed for Butterworth and Hatchard. 1806. THE HE able and truly patriotic author of "War in Difguife" has, in this publication, again exerted his talents and difplayed his public fpirit. To thofe talents and that fpirit we endeavoured to do juftice in our account of his former work. In the preface to the publication now before us, he has ftated the motives which induced him to cause the fpeech of Mr. Randolph, in the American congress, to be re-printed in this country, and to prefix to it fome hafty but important remarks. A rumour, it feems, had gone abroad that his Majefty's minifters were on the point of giving way to the claims of America, and renouncing for ever the maritime rights in difpute. When he was taking up his pen to endeavour to arreft fuch a decifion, a Mail from America put into his poffeffion the important fpeech of Mr. Randolph; which appeared to him a defirable fubftitute for the arguments * See Brit. Crit. Vol. XXVII, p. 29. which which he was about to compofe. He deems that, after pe. rufing this fpeech, no man can entertain the idle apprehenfion that a rupture with America would be the confequence of any delay in adjufting our difpute with that country; and that, even in a case of strong and acknowledged provocation, it cannot be apprehended that congrefs would not admit of a deliberate and even tedious difcuflion. "It is not, however, folely, or chiefly in regard to the quef tion I have now in view, or the fafety of further difcuffion, that the fpeech of Mr. Randolph is important. "I invoke the declarations of this American leader, made in the hearing of Congrefs, to atteft, that the ftrictures on the colonial traders of that country, contained in my former publication, were in no degree unfounded.-I appeal to his fentiments on the true interefts of his fellow-citizens at large, that they are on the fame fide of this controverfy with our own.I rely on his opinion, and ftill more on his irrefragable arguments, in proof that a war between that country and this, would be but in a flight degree noxious to the commerce of Great Britain; while its confequences would be ruinous to America, and fuch as her citizens would not even for a brief period, be brought patiently to endure. "In a word, I quote this refpectable authority, not only as a caution againft precipitated determination, but to fhew that timid and ruinous conceffion may be fafely and finally avoided. But what makes this very intelligent fpeech more encouraging to the friends of peace and juftice, as well as highly deferving profound attention in both countries, is the correctnefs of its views as to the power and policy of France. I rejoice for the fake of America and of Europe, that there are Statefmen in the new world, capable of fo clearly difcerning, and fo eloquently expofing, its dangers from French ambition, and its intereft in the navy of England." P. vi. Having further purfued this topic, he adverts to the new foundation of right which arifes from the recent conduct of the enemy. "What!" he exclaims, "is Bonaparte to exclude British fugar and coffee from the continent, and is America to enable him to do fo, by fupplying it with French and Spanish fugar and coffee in their ftead? Are neutral markets even, to be shut by violence against our planters, that our enemies may establish there a monopoly against them? Are the merchants of neutral states to be laid under an interdict as to the carriage of British manufactures to friendly ports, and, fubmitting to that interdict, can |