we are true to ourselves; and this writer, from surveying our present united state and military attitude, concludes that if an invasion be attempted there is little chance of its success. Indeed he is so thoroughly convinced of our superior advantages in this defensive war, that he invokes this hostile visit of Bonaparte as the most effectual means of ending the war, and of humbling his power. In examining the state of political parties among us, this writer speaks in very degrading terms of Mr. Pitt's abilities, and accuses him of having given birth to that usurpation and tyranny which at present threaten our existence: but, though he is extremely partial to Mr. Fox, he does not wish to see him Minister. Mr. Addington is his favourite, and the vindication of his conduct in making the peace, and in his subsequent forbearance, is undertaken: but here the author, though perhaps better acquainted with the interests of trade, is not equal as a politician to Lord Minto. Towards the conclusion, he adverts to matters of political controversy foreign to the present occasion, and which ought now especially to be kept out of sight. Art. 17. POETRY. Glasgow. A Poem. Praise conferred by men of real genius and celebrity is not only gratifying, but on ingenuous minds it acts as a powerful stimulus. It was thus that the commendation which the outlines of the poem before us received from the late Dr. Geddes operated on the author; who, not satisfied with the original compliment, or with acknowleging it with a latus sum laudari à te laudato, has endeavoured to render his poem more worthy of the approbation with which it was first honoured. The first sketch of it was published in December 1783 in the Glasgow Magazine, and was mentioned by Dr. Geddes in his Epistle to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, in flattering epithets; in consequence of which, Mr. Mayne has been induced to revise and extend it, and to bring it into the form in which it now appears. This little production of the Scottish Muse certainly possesses much simplicity and beauty. Glasgow, as the seat of learning, commerce, &c. &c. with its surrounding scenery, is well delineated; and historical and local allusions are explained in a body of notes at the end: but to accommodate it to readers South of the Tweed, there should also have been a glossary of the Scottish terms. That Glasgow is intitled to the poet's praise by its consequence, opulence, and beauty, will be evident from the following particulars contained in the notes: The population of the city and suburbs of Glasgow, according to the enumeration made in the month of June 1801, by virtue of the late Act of Parliament, amounted to 83,760. In 1772, according to Mr. Pennant, the inhabitants were computed at 40,000. Between the years 1611 and 1617, the number of persons in the city, agreeably to the parochial register for those years, amounted only to 7,645! At present it would be a difficult matter to convey an adequate idea of the increasing population and opulence of the city of Glasgow. Since the Peace, these have advanced, as far as can be judged from external appearances, with a rapidity unequalled in the annals of this, or, perhaps, of any other city in Europe.' The principal street in Glasgow, running East and West, is nearly a mile and a half long, and is adorned throughout with handsome houses, which, for a certain length, are built over arcades, supported by pillars-the admiration of strangers, on account of the beauty they add to the City, and of the shelter they afford to the inhabitants who have occasion to be in the streets in wet weather. Building ground to the amount of nearly 100,000l. was disposed of lately in one week; some of it at the enormous rate of three guineas the square yard; or, at the rate of nearly 18,000l. per acre: and it is confidently affirmed, that, for the present season, 1803, buildingcontracts, to the amount of four hundred houses, have been entered into; in addition to the erection of a number of very large cotton spinning-mills, to be worked by steam-engines, in the immediate vicinity of the town.' In a poem which has for its theme this flourishing city in the Northern part of the Empire, an apostrophe to Industry may be expected; and as this part may be most conveniently detached, we shall take is as a specimen, by which the reader will be enabled to estimate the merit of the whole : Hail, Industry! thou richest gem That shines in Virtue's diadem! Sits, chitt'ring, like the wither'd stem To thee we owe the flocks o' sheep * That glad Benlomond's cloud-capt steep- pres And a' the tenants o' the deep, Caught here in shoals! And a' the villas round, that gleam And a' the bleach-fields on ilk stream Thro' Clydesdale flowing! Hence, Commerce spreads her sails to a The Indies and America: Whatever makes a penny twa, By wind or tide, Is wafted to the Broomielaw, On bonny Clyde ! *Benlomond, the most western of the Grampian Hills, is 3,26a feet higher than the level of the sea.' Y 4 • Yet • Yet shou'd the best exertions fail, The Merchants'-House* makes a' things hale Wi' broken banes should Labour pine, And turns their wormwood cup to wine- O! blessings on them and their gear, Safe thro' Life's quicksands may they steer! Like GLASGOW, flourish!' Younger Reviewers might have selected the stanzas in praise of the strappan lasses, tight and clean,' for which Glasgow Green is celebrated but as our dancing days are over, it is prudent in us not to warm our imaginations by the contemplation of Scottish beauty. Art. 18. The Test of Union and Loyalty, or the long-threatened French Invasion. Written and spoken by W. F. Sullivan, A. B. late of the Theatres-Royal, Windsor, Weymouth, &c. &c. 8vo. Is. 6d. Hatchard. Poems written to be spoken, and which may have succeeded tolerably well in delivery, cannot always with good policy be committed to the press; where they must lose the advantages of elocution, and where the faults of the author cannot be concealed by the abilities of the actor. Mr. Sullivan's Address, being adapted to the circumstances of the times, and being in perfect unison with the loyal feelings and patriotic enthusiasm of the people, has been admired, though its merit as a poetic and correct composition is not considerable: . All local prejudice thrown by, forgot "Tria juncta in uno," in true lover's knot, Link'd in one int'rest, in affection warm 66 Quis separabit?" shall our motto form!' Goodness of intention must sometimes atone for faults in execution. The Merchants'-House is one of the many well-endowed charitable institutions, for which Glasgow is remarkable. From its peculiar funds, decayed members, their widows, and families, are provided for by annual pensions, at their own houses, in proportion to the rank which they held in society.' Art. 19. Four Heroic Epistles of Ovid; translated into English Verse. Crown Svo. 2s. 6d. Boards. Dwyer. 1803. The present selection is offered as a specimen of an intended version of the Epistola Heroidum. If the sense of the original be in general correctly rendered, but we apprehend that much polishing would be required, to render this author's lines adequate representations of those of the Roman Bard. The translator's faults consist chiefly in careless and sometimes vulgar expressions, which might have been avoided by more attention. For example: P. 18. P. 23. P. 27. My flooded cheeks my furious nails infest.' More last commands have I of import dear.' This line reminds us of Addison's story of "more last words" of Mr. Baxter. In p. 32, we observe a passage completely obscured by the want of the relative: Let Menelaus stung with jealous pain, Her Paris won by force, by force regain,'— The meaning is her, whom Paris won. We shall now give a sample of the general style of this version: Thus to return, her lingering lord, intreats: Scarce worth the labours and the tears they cost. At thee I thought the fiercest foe must aim, Maids for their lovers sav'd their offerings bring, If this attempt is to be pursued, we must add our earnest recom endation of the lime labor to the translator, FAST-DAY SERMONS, 19th October 1803. Art. 20. David's Choice; or, successful Invasion a sorer Evil than Pestilence or Famine. By J. Lettice, D.D. Vicar of Peasemarsh in Sussex. 4to. ts. 6d. Clarke. A great sameness always pervades sermons of this description; and at present, the monotony is unparalleled. If this sameness, however, be a source of dulness to us as reviewers, it is consolatory to us as lovers of our country; because, in finding that we have no differences of opinion to notice, we have the pleasure of observing that the Clergy of all denominations are animated by the same laudable spirit. Dr. Lettice first paints the vast magnitude of the evil with which we are threatened, and then alarms our consciences with the recollection of some of those national sins by which we may have prowoked the Almighty. He particularly specifies our presumptuous confidence, pride, love of pleasure, and religious indifference. Art. 21. Preached in the Cathedral of Peterborough. By the Rev. Spencer Madan, A. M. Prebendary of that Cathedral. 8vo. 19. Longman and Rees. After having glanced to the case of the Jews as described in the text (Hab. iii. 2.), the preacher invites us to consider our own case and to learn our own lesson. We are cautioned against cherishing any hope from the idea that our enemies are more wicked than ourselves, and are charged to examine the immoral features of our own charac ter, and to correct our own deformitities; if we wish that the Ruler of Nations, would, with respect to us," in the midst of wrath re member mercy." Mr. Madan describes our duty as Christians and Britons in this our vital struggle. Art. 22. Causes of the Inefficacy of Fasts :-Preached at the Octagon Chapel, Bath. By the Rev. John Gardiner, D. D. 8vo. 18. 6d. Hatchard. Lea Dr. Gardiner laments the shortness of the interval between the late thanksgiving for peace and the fast on the renewal of war. ving to others the particular detail of our political, he professes to undertake the description of our moral and religious situation; whence reasons are deduced to shew why God does not regard our ceremony |