portion of agreeable entertainment. His journal is admirably well calculated to dispel spleen and melancholy.

POETS.

If the sublimer walks of poesy be now but seldom trodden, her humble paths are more than even frequented. Thousands, who aspire not to gain the summit of Parnassus, amuse themselves among its flowery labyrinths, and cull, with choicest care, the simple garland.

The poetical productions of the last year have been uncommonly numerous. Among the first of these, as the amor patriæ should precede every other sentiment, we must notice "Our Country*," a poem, very ap propriately dedicated to our brave volunteers. It is written with uncommon energy, and with no inconsiderable share of poetic genius, happily uniting the feelings of piety and patriotism.

The Defence of Order is another tribute offered at the same shrine, by a Mr. WALKER, who fills the humble station of collector of the customs at Perth. We notice this circumstance in praise, and not in censure, as another proof, that Genius is capable of shining forth from recesses the most unfavourable to her existence.

As a patriotic effusion, AMPHLETT's "War Offering+", a small collection of original songs, dedicated to Buonaparté, deserves to be favourably noticed. The songs are extremely well adapted to the purpose for which they were composed.

One of the most elegant and pleasing volumes of poems, which has issued from our press for several years, is Lord STRANGFORD's translation of "The Poems of Camoens," the celebrated bard of Portugal. We have been delighted with the pathos and general beauty of the performance, and most cordially hope, that, instead of

* Vide Notices, p. 460.

+ Ditto, 467. + Ditto, 460.

more translations, the noble author will shortly favour the public with an original work.

The muse of our rural poet, BLOOMFIELD, has not been idle; but, impelled by the feelings of benevolence, has endeavoured to extend the Jennerian practice of vaccine inoculation. "His Good Tidings; or, News from the Furm*,” will be hailed with satisfaction by all who were capable of appreciating the merit of his earlier productions.

Mr. BACHELOR, another favourite of the rural muse, is entitled to the kindest attention of the liberal critic. This writer is a young farmer, a tenant of the Duke of Bedford, residing at Lidlington. That a young man, of confined and unpolished connexions, with a very slight and circumscribed education, and having disadvantages of every kind to contend with, should produce a volume of poems-of poems above mediocrity—is surely a circumstance worthy of remark. His "Village Scenest" were written at the time that Mr. Lofft was perusing the manuscript of BLOOMFIELD's Farmer's Boy, and, consequently, before that publication was at all known to the world. Between the age of ten and thirteen, young BACHELOR went to school at Ampthill: at that period, fables in spelling-books were the only things which he could read with delight; and, for several years after, " ROBINSON CRUSOE" pleased him more than all the dull realities of life. After leaving school, where he had never learned a single sentence of grammar, "QUARLE'S Emblems" was his favourite book; and that, with " WATT's Hymns," contributed, perhaps, to give him a taste for rhyme. About the age of fourteen, he became acquainted with "Paradise Lost," "YOUNG's Night Thoughts" and "FENNING'S Dictionary;" and, from the latter, he derived nearly all his knowledge of words. Some years after this, he became acquainted with a small book-society, the principal articles of which were magazines and reviews; and thus does the education of our young poet appear to have been formed.

* Vide Notices, p.453.

+ Ditto, 467.

Notwithstanding such formidable disadvantages, Mr. Bachelor has succeeded in producing several poems of acknowledged excellence, which will be perused with pleasure by those who delight in rural imagery and smooth versification.

Some sweet flowers of poesy compose "The Wild Wreath," which has been entwined by the fair daughter of MARY ROBINSON, whese cold remains now sleep "beneath the willow tree*." Several pieces of that deceased favourite of the muses enrich the volume alluded to, which has also received contributions from Miss SEWARD, Mr. LEWIS, Mr. MERRY, Mr. TwisLETON, &c.

"KENNY'S Society +" is agreeable and pleasing, but not of the first order.

"The Presst," a poem, which the author, who is a printer, has "published as a specimen of typography," is entitled to farther notice. The writer, in noticing the origin, progress, and advantages of the press, has caught an enthusiasm, which, in a considerable degree, answers the purpose of inspiration. The subject is certainly a noble one, and, though the muse of Mr. M'CREERY be not quite adequate thereto, she deserves considerable praise. The typography and embellishments are eminently beautiful.

The posthumous works of Dr. DARWIN§ exhibit the same system of materialism, the same redundant use of technicalities, and the same striking, poetical beauties, by which his earlier performances were distinguished. Sometimes, indeed, he is scarcely to be understood on account of his technical and new-coined terms.

Mr. IRELAND, the notorious author of the notorious Shakesperian forgery, in appearing as an original author, has acquired some credit.

His Rhapsodies evince a playfulness of fancy and a facility of composition, which will enable him to make a respectable figure in the poetical world.

Literally so, enshrined within a tomb, simply-elegant, in Old Windsor church-yard.

+ Vide Notices, p. 462.

Ditto, 461. § Ditto, 464

AKENSIDE, a writer of high poetical merit, established his fame by a work entitled Pleasures of Imagination. If our memory be correct, the first sketch of that celebrated performance was made at an early period of life; but it was some years after, when it assumed the finished appearance which it now wears. Emulative of the fame of AKENSIDE, Miss SEYMOUR, a young lady of only sixteen years of age, has produced a poem, in three parts, entitled, The Powers of Imaginaiton. That Miss SEYMOUR has been equally successful with AKENSIDE we must not aver; but her performance, which evinces compass of thought, proves its author to be in possession of a correct ear, and to be conversant with the poets of ancient and modern times-it is a surprising effort for a female of her years. Repetitions, redundancies, and other defects, usually attendant on immature judgment, sometimes occur; but these, we doubt not, will be duly corrected by the hand of time.

Mr. Rose has presented us with an English version of " Amadis de Gaul," from the French of HEBERAY. It possesses no striking merit. It would be somewhat incorrect to say, that the notes are the most valuable parts of the poem; but they certainly are so of the book.

Messrs. BRAYLEY and HERBERT have, in a poetical romance*, their joint production, well related a tale of terror; in which, as in Mrs. RADCLIFFE's similar stories, supernatural appearances result from natural causes. These poets have, in many of their odes, exhibited a soundness of morality, breathed a truly pa triotic spirit, and displayed a considerable portion of

humour.

The hacknied muse of the obscene and filthy PINDAR seems jaded almost to death. Agreeably to the title of one of his recent publications, he has produced "Great Cry and Little Wool." What he is pleased to term, "An Instructive Epistle to John Ferring, esq. Lord Mayor of London" has also been laid before the public.

* Vide Notices, p. 461.

N.B. If the author intended either or both of these tracts to be considered witty, he should have said so in the title page.

MORALISTS.

MR. BOWLES, in his " Moral View of Society," which he has published separately from the political view, with many additions, has, by a multiplicity of striking facts, a train of judicious reasonings, and a series of impressive truths, proved that, if society be not infinitely more corrupt, sinful, and profligate, than at any former period of our national existence, it abounds, in actual, positive depravity, which is due to the want of religious education, and to a general relaxation of religious principles; and that, at a moment when an implacable enemy threatens to overthrow our altars and our throne, the only alternative left to us is reform, or ruin. Reform, in order to secure to us the protection of that God, our only refuge in times of great peril. To reform, we are called upon by the voice of authority, and to offer up supplications to the throne of grace, for pardon, for mercy, and for divine assistance.

DR. BARROW, who has, on several important occasions, addressed his countrymen with considerable eloquence and effectt; has, with strong sense and sound intellect, in a spirited address, demonstrated to the British patriots the necessity of diligent preparation and constant practice of the use of arms. He dwell with considerable force on the duty of regular attendance to military exercise, amply vindicates the profession of a soldier, as to his general engagement; and shows, in the particular instance of invasion, that we resist an enemy on the same principles, and by the same right, that we hunt down the beasts of prey, which endanger our flocks, our families, and our lives. He shows what

* Vide Notices, p. 466.

In his "Bampton Lectures, and Essay on Education," vide Flowers, Vol. II.