the greatness thereof; with an appendix, containing in Latine, Libellum de situ, and nobilitate Londini, written by William Fitz Stephens, in the raigne of Henry the Second: Lond. 1598. 4to.” A second edition came out in the author's life time 1603, 4to. in which he intended large improvements, but was prevented by his own ill health, and the death of his able friend John Dalton, Esq. from inserting any, except a few additions about the civil government of the city, out of his own learned storehouse. Stowe survived this edition but two years. The city and nation he had immortalized neglected him. James I. indeed granted him a brief or licence, authorizing him, or his deputy, to receive at the church doors, the benevolence of well disposed people, in recompence of his painful labours, and for encouragement to the like: but he died of poverty, the gout, and stone, in his eightieth year, 1605, and was buried at his parish church of St. Andrew Undershaft, where his widow erected a monument.

CARDINAL WOLSEY.

CARDINAL WOLSEY apologized for his famous piece of insolence in saying, Ego et Rex Meus; I and my king, by observing that this expression was exactly conformable to the Latin idiom, and that a Roman always named himself before the person to whom, or of whom, he spake. Yet this seems to have been an instance of want of civility among that people. The ancients made it a rule, that the person of the greatest dignity should be mentioned first in the discourse: insomuch that we find, the spring of a quarrel and jealousy between the Romans and Etolians, to have been a poet's naming the Etolians before the Romans, in celebrating a victory gained by their united arms over the Macedonians.* Thus Livia disgusted Tiberius by placing her own name before his in an inscription.t

Here I cannot forbear mentioning a piece of delicacy observed in France, which seems to me excessive and ridiculous. You must not say, "That is a very fine dog, Madam,” but, "Madam, that is a very fine dog." They think it indecent that those words, dog and Madam, should be coupled together in the sentence: though they have no reference to each other in the sense.

*# Plut. in vita Flaminini.

Tacit. Ann lib. 3. cap. 64.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE.

Qui monet quasi adjuvat.

MISCELLANEOUS,

An Essay on War, in Blank Verse; Honington Green, a Ballad The Culprit, an Elegy; and other Poems, on various Subjects, by Nathaniel Bloomfield, Vernor and Hood. 12mo. pp. 120. 4s. THE poems, here offered to the public, are the productions of Nathaniel Bloomfield, brother to the author of the "Farmer's Boy," (the merits of which our readers will do us the justice to remember we were among the first to notice and applaud): and if the present volume fails to display the tenderness and simplicity which shine in every page of that distinguished performance; it, nevertheless, embraces a greater variety of sentiment and subject; discusses points of more importance in moral and political life; and exhibits no mean proofs of poetic genius and ability.

For the discovery of the merits of these poetical brothers, the public are indebted to Mr. Lofft, a man in whom the "elements are so blended," that we are at a loss whether most to commend his head or his heart. His kind exertions have enabled them "sociably to ascend Parnassus together, higher than ever brothers have climbed before."-" I may add," he observes," each of them to an height, which but few have ever reached."

In the preface to this little volume, Mr. Lofft informs us that Nathaniel Bloomfield was born at Honington, in 1759, and deprived, of his father, by the small pox, when he was eight years old. Hav ing been taught to read by his mother, and the principles of writing and arithmetic by Mr. Rodwel, of Ixworth, at the proper age he was bound apprentice to Mr. Haylett, a taylor of Market Harling, of which business the father of the Bloomfields had been,

When his apprenticeship expired, he came to London, where, 'with occasional trips into the country, he has since resided. He has been married many years, and has two children living.

When Mr. Bloomfield first came to town he had read but little poetry; but soon after his arrival he purchased Young's Night Thoughts at a stall, which has ever been his favourite book. He afterwards perused Milton, and such of our English poets as fell in his way, but, for the last fifteen years of his life, has certainly read but little "his family having claim'd his utmost exertions, and his business allowing little leisure."-" If, therefore, he appears to possess any knowledge of a literary nature, it must be all from the stores of memory."

At present he resides in Moorfields, London. "He is, (says Mr. G. Bloomfield) about five feet three inches high: of a dark com.:: plexion, and dark grey eyes: he has lost the hair from the top of his 3. head, which gives him the appearance of age. Though remarkable for talking little, so as to have the name of a man of few words, he is, on occasion, a cheerful companion; and though generally pensive and melancholy, ever kind-hearted."

Having spoken thus far of their author, it remains for us to say something briefly on his works.

The "Essay on War" (the principles of which, Mr. Lofft's benevolence and philanthropy induce him to think paradoxical) displays an ardour of sentiment and strength of idea but rarely to be met with in modern poetry. It is, however, it must be confessed, wholly destitute of those agremens of style and versification, which render productions of less sterling merit noticed and applauded.

"Honington-Green” laments, in pleasing yet mournful numbers, the enclosure of a spot, scarcely half an acre, the ornament of the village where the Bloomfields first drew breath. "As a poetical effusion, it strikes me," says Mr. Lofft, "that it has the tone, simplicity, and sweetness, and simple melancholy of the ballad. There is a stroke or two of indignant severity, but the general character is such as I have described; and with filial gratitude and love, there is blended, at the close, that turn for reflection which is so remarkable in this author."

The "Culprit" is a poem of very considerable original merit; the reader's attention is kept alive through all its parts, and its close is awful and pathetic. The opening stanzas, however, (which exhibit human nature in a worse point of view, than, we hope and trust, she deserves to be shewn) do not exactly tend “to make mankind look upon this life with comfort and pleasure, and put morality in good humour with itself.”

"Yorkshire Dip" is the offspring of a playful yet pensive fancy; "Love's Triumph" is a ballad of much sweetness and simplicity; "The Proverbs of Threescore" are strung with ease and conciseness; and "More Bread and Cheese,” (in which the principles of the Essay on War are humourously versified) has much "nerve and energy.".

The "Lyric Address" to Dr. Jenner, is warm from the heart: its author having lost his father, and three of his children, by the dreadful ravages of that disorder which the discovery of Dr. Jenner *it is so admirably calculated to eradicate.

As the shortest of these pieces would considerably exceed the limits of our review, and, in making an extract from either of them,

we might be probably thought to act like the pedant in Hierocles, who, when he offered his house to sale, produced a brick as a specimen, we shall content ourselves with earnestly recommending them to the perusal of our readers, as furnishing an additional proof, “that · a true poetic spirit, in whatever breast it inhabits, will create thoughts, language, and numbers, worthy of the Muse, however unfavourable the occupation and habits of life."

Addisoniana, in two Volumes. Phillips.

THE volumes before us form the second of a series of genuine English anas, on the plan of those published in France, the purport of which is, not to select the beauties, but to record the private memorabilia of the lives and writings of the authors to which they are appropriated.

The "Addisoniana" will indeed be found a most useful comment on the works of a man, of whom, (if we may judge from our own feelings) not the most trifling particular can be thought unimportant. They likewise comprise a variety of interesting anecdotes, relative to the principal literary characters of those times, but more especially to Steele, whose friendship with Addison was so close," that to compile an account of the one, must be to give a life of the other."

The admirers of the Spectator will also find curious illustrations of many passages, which are rendered obscure, from the customs to which they allude having long been obsolete.

Having spoken thus far of their merits, in justice to our readers, we must notice their defects. The volumes abound in frequent repetitions, and a variety of articles are inserted, which obviously tend rather to swell their bulk, than increase their interest.

The embellishments are portraits of Steele and Addison, and fac similes of seven letters (hitherto unpublished) to Mr. Wortley. A few cursory Remarks upon the State of Parties, during the Admi nistration of the Right Honourable Henry Addington. By a near Observer. 8vo. pp. 84. Hatchard, 1803.

THE pamphlet before us is an able and well-written defence of the principal measures of the present administration; and, although its author, in his dedication to Mr. Addington, tells him, he is far from promising that every page shall "soothe his vanity, promote his wishes, or coincide with his opinions;" we are apt to believe that our readers, on perusing it, will agree with us in thinking, that he might have vouched for all three, without any great danger of being for

sworn.

Many of the attacks on Mr. Pitt, are certainly illiberal, and, we believe, unfounded.

Observations on a Ministerial Pamphlet, entitled Cursory Remarks of a near Observer, upon the State of Parties, during the Adminis tration of the Right Honourable Henry Addington. By an anxious Spectator. pp. 44. 2s. 8vo. Ginger. 1803.

A brief Answer to a few Cursory Remarks on the present State of Parties, by a near Observer. 8vo. pp. 56. Budd. 1803.

THESE pamphlets are well meant, but the abilities of their respective writers are by no means sufficient to enable them to cope with so powerful an antagonist.

The Volunteer's Guide, or complete Military Instructor, in the Drill, Manual, and Platoon Exercises; with various necessary Directions for marching, wheeling, &c. Embellished with twenty-six Engravings, neatly cut in Wood, in which every Motion of a Soldier under Arms is properly exemplified. By an Officer of the 3rd Regiment of Loyal London Volunteers. 12mo. pp. 64. 13. 6d. Vernor and Hood. 1803.

A volunteer's guide, in this martial age, can by no means be thought unimportant. Of the present we have merely to observe, that it seems calculated to answer its purpose; and contains every direction necessary to enable the soldier to perform the different motions with neatness and precision.

Amadis of Gaul. By Vasco Lobeira. From the Spanish Version of Garciodonez de Montalvo, by Robert Southey. 12mo. 4 Vols, Longman and Rees.

ROMANCE, SO well defined by Mr. D'Israeli, "the offspring of Fiction and Love," when considered as exhibiting a faithful picture of the habits and policy of the ara in which it was written, and as affording authentic memorials of an institution, which is justly supposed to have had a very serious effect in refining European manners and customs, must be allowed to have a legitimate claim to attention and respect.

The heterogenous jumble of fiction and truth; the long series of unnatural events, infinitely produced, and destitute of order, connexion, or art, which characterised the miserable productions of many of the early romancers, have been exposed by the inimitable Cervantes, with equal humour and effect, "Let it be remembered, however," says the writer already quoted, "that from these pro