in that class of publications. They appear to be the productions of a cultivated mind, and prefent the reader with numerous fpirited and elegant paffages, and others marked by a tendernefs and fimplicity that will please and charm him.

The collection of "English Lyrics," likewife in point of fancy, delicacy of fentiment, and poetic tafte, will be found deferving of a confiderable share of commendation. Some of the poems which form it, are exquifitely beautiful.

The "Elegy to the Memory of the Rev. William Mafon," is the production of a genuine poet, who, in harmonious, folemn, and dignified ftrains, worthy of the fubject, laments the lofs, and celebrates the excellencies and virtues of his friend, as a poet, and as a Chriftian.

Mr. Park's "Sonnets, and other Imall Poems," 99 66 were first encouraged to folicit public notice by the counfel of Mr. Cowper." We think it but juftice to the author to acknowledge, that they merit fuch notice. For notwithstanding inftances of negligence, incorrectnefs, bad rhyme, and obfolete or illegitimate expreffion, which will offer themselves to the reader's eye, he will find many of them to be highly poetical and elegant, and fome extremely ftriking and beautiful. Mr. Park's little volume is embellifhed with pleafing engravings.

The volume entitled "Prifon Amusements, and other Trifles, &c. by Paul Politive," confifts chiefly, of "pieces compofed in bitter mo ments, amid the horrors of a gaol, and the preffure of fick nefs. They were the transcripts of melancholy feelings, the warm effufions of a bleeding heart." Notwithstanding the unfavourable circumftances in which they were produced, many of

them reflect credit on the author's genius and tatte, and will pleafe and intereft the reader, by their fimpli city, elegance, and pathos.

"The Vales of Wever, a LocoDefcriptive Poem, &c. by J. Gif borne, Efq." abounds in lively con ception, bold imagery, beautiful defcription, and polish of ftyle and phrafeology, which fecure to the author the honours of a spirited, ele gant, and harmonious poet. But it is not free from blemishes. While perufing it, we fometimes found ourselves utterly incapable of affixing any precife meaning to his combinations of pearly words; and more frequently we found the fenfe obfcured by the inverfion of their regular arrangement. Dr. Darwin's Botanic Garden is the model which Mr. Gisborne has chiefly studied.

Mr. Bidlake's "Country Parfon, a Poem," is not unworthy of that au thor's talents, the exertions of which we have had frequent opportunities of noticing in terms of commenda tion. It contains pleafing and interefting defcriptions, lefs lively, indeed, and brilliant than we have formerly received from Mr. Bidlake's pen; and just sentiments, ingenioufly clothed in poetic allegory. The ftanza in which this poem is written, is that of Spencer.

Mr. Polwhele's "Old English Gentleman, a Poem, Volume I." is the commencement of a work in which the author defigns to exhibit "the manners of the last centu ry in a country gentleman of family, as contradiftinguished from those of borough-mongers,merchants, and miners." At present Mr. Połwhele has done little more than introduce us to the father of his hero, and the different branches of his family; defcribing the outlines of their characters, and their ufual employments

and

and occupations. In his effort properly to difcriminate their characters, he has "fometimes attempted the more dignified heroic verfe, and at other times fported in the lighter ftrain;" and in either inftance we may add, without any injury to his poetical reputation. Of Mr. Polwhele's fuccefs in executing his plan, it is as yet too early to form any de cided opinion, fince this volume contains only two books, which bring us to the birth of his hero.

The "Moral Tales, in Verfe, founded on real Events, written by Thomas Hull, of the Theatre-Royal, Covent Garden," in 2 vols. are interefting and well told; drawn up in eafy verfification and correct language; and inculcate fentiments honourable to the author's heart, and useful to thofe of his readers. We with, however, that he had excluded from them fuch incidents as partake of "the marvellous and fuper-natural," which we cannot admit to be properly described in the title.

"The Poet's Fate, a poetical Dialogue, by George Dyer," defcribes, in fmooth and pleafing verfification, and not without a portion of vivacity and fatire, the inattention of the great to literary merit, and the hard and unfortunate lot which is proverbially attached to the ardent votaries of the Mufes. This dialogue is accompanied with copious and interesting notes, explanatory and biographical.

The English Prologue and Epilogue to the Latin Comedy of Ignoramus, &c. with a Preface and Notes relative to modern Times," by the fame author, poffeffes fimilar characteristics with the preceding work, and properly expofes to contempt dullness, pedantry, and intolerance. But we cannot think that the author's talents appear to

the greatest advantage on humourous and fatirical topics.

"The Art of Poetry, according to the latest Improvements, by Sir Simon Swan, Baronet, published by Jofeph Fawcett," is employed in ridiculing, in good-tempered, and not unfuccefsful ironical ftrains, the different tribes of modern fashionable poets. The correct, the fentimental, and the polite verfifiers are fucceffively the fubjects of his animadverfion; and the pedantic and malignant do not efcape, without being fubjected to the lath of just and appropriate fatire.

"The Church, a Poem, by the Rev. John Sharpe, B. A." is written in blank verfe, and, although fometimes uncouth, or profaic, difcovers genius and talents, which induftry may render very refpectable. The object of the author is, to ridicule thofe follies which tend to bring the clerical character into difrepute, and by ironical contrast to defcribe the duties of the worthy and ufeful divine. He has purfued his plan with confiderable felicity, and enlivened his fatiric or didactic advice with many beautiful and ftriking fimiles.

"The Battle of B-ng-r, or the Church triumphant, a comic heroic Poem, in nine Cantos," celebrates a fingular achievement in modern ecclefiaftical hiftory, with the cir cumflances of which our readers cannot be unacquainted, as the civil action to which it gave rife fofficiently interefted the curiofity of the public. In addition to the materials with which real events furnished the ingenious and lively author, his poetic fancy has been active and fuccefsful, and enabled him to pre fent to the lovers of humour, who poffefs a claffical taste, genuine entertainment.

The "Sermon preached before

the University of Cambridge, by H. W. Ct, D. D. &c. publifhed by Request, and now (for the Sake of Freshmen and the Laity) byRequeft tranflated into English Metre, by H. W. Hopkins, A. M." in humourous, and well measured Hudibraf tic verfe, ably expofes high church doctrines and tory politics, and may be read with profit, as well as pleafure, by thofe for whofe benefit the tranflator intended it.

"My Night Gown and Slippers, or Tales in Verfe, written in an Elbow Chair, by George Colman the Younger," were originally defigned to be recited or fung in an entertainment which the author proposed to offer to the public, at the Hay-market theatre, during Lent. We are glad that when that performance was relinquifhed, he held it more advifable to print his ftories than to burn them; for they abound in wit and humour, and have frequently excited into action our rifible faculties. The firft tale, entitled the Maid of the Moor, ridicules, in a very happy manner, the German ballad of Bürger, of which, during the last year, we were prefented with fo many different tranflations.

From Peter Pindar's mufe we have received, during the year 1797, "One Thoufand Seven Hundred and Ninety-Six, a Satire, in four Dialogues, Dialogue Ift and IId;” and “An Ode to the Livery of London, on their Petition to his Majefty for kicking out his worthy Minifters, &c. &c."

The other poetical publications of the year were, "Poems, by Thomas Townfend, Efq." "Quebec Hill, or Canadian Scenery, a Poem, in Two Parts, by J. Mackay;" "Original Miscellaneous Poems, by Edwards Atkins Harrop;" "Poems, by T.F.Dibdin;" "Fugitive Pieces,

by Frances Greenfted;" "Firft Flights, by John Heyrick, Jun. &c. containing Pieces in Verfe on vari ous Occations;" "Juvenile Effays in Poetry, by J. Donoghue;" "The Lion and Fawn, a Legend, prefented on their Marriage, to the Earl and Countess of Derby;" "Tributes of Affection, with the Slaves and other Poems, by a Lady and her brother;" "Suicide rejected, an Elegy, founded upon Principles of Chriftian Confidence against worldly Defpondency, by Charles James, to which is prefixed a Moral Difcourse against Suicide (never before publifhed) by the late Dr. J. Fordyce;" "Critical Trifles, in a familiar Epiftle to John Fisher, Efq. by the Rev. C. E. Stewart;""Elegy on the Death of Mr. Burke, hy Mrs. Weft;""Elegy on the Death of W. B. Cadogan, by P. Bidulph;" "The Caftle of Olmutz, a Poem, infcribed to La Fayette;" "Ode to Kofciufko, by H. F. Carey, A. M.; "Poetry, by T. Morgan;" "The Right of Life, a Sermon tranflated into Verfe, by H. Horace, Efq." "Chrift's Hospital, a Poem, by T.S.Surr;" "Britannia, a Poem, by Samuel Hull Wilcocke;" "Walter and William, an Historical Ballad, tranflated from the original Poem of Richard Cœur de Lion;" "The College, a Satire, Cantos I. and 1." "Lord Mayor's Day, an Heroic Poem;" "A Poem on the Author of two late Productions entitled 'the Baviad,' and 'the Purfuits of Literature;" "The Scottish Hudibras, by S. Colville;" "The Sea Side, a Poem, in a Series of familiar Epiftles, from Mr. Simkin Slenderwit, fummerifing at Ramfgate, to his dear Mother in Town;" "The Lamentation of a Dog, on the Tax, and its Confequences, addreffed to the Right Hon. William Pitt, with Notes, by Scriblerus Se

cundus;"

cundus;" ;" "The Dog Tax, by E. Nairne;""The Gallanté Shew, difplaying the Character of a Prime Minifter" "A Political Eclogue, Citizen H. T--e, Citizen T-rn-y, R. B. Efq.;" "A Trip to Portfmouth and the Isle of Wight, in rambling Verfes, &c. by a Friend to Britain;""The Trap, a Poem, by a Lady;" "The Guinea Note, by Timothy Twigg, Efq.;" "Hobby Horfes, a Poetical Allegory, in Five Parts, by Jenkin Jones;" "The Reign of Liberty, a Poetical Sketch, by Jofeph Jackfon;""The Scaith of France, or the Death of St. Just and his Son, a Poem, by E. Smith, Efq." "The War of the Giants, by an Admirer of Thomas Sternhold and John Hopkins, to which is added a Dialogue between John Bull and one of his Friends, with Notes;" "The Invincible Island, with introductory Obfervations on the prefent War, by Percival Stockdale;" "The Volunteer, a Poem;" "The Campaign, a Poetical Effay, in Two Books, &c. by Robert Brown, Corporal in the Coldstream Guards;" "The Waes o' War, or the Up. fhot o' the Hiftory o' Will and Jean, in Four Parts;" "Britain's Genius, a Song, to the Tune of 'Come liften to my Ditty,' occafioned by the late Mutiny on board his Majefty's Ships at the Nore, by C. A. Efq.;" and "A Collection of English Songs, with an Appendix of original Pieces, by Mr. A. Dalrymple.'

The following were the Dramatic publications of the year 1797: "The Minister, a Tragedy, in five Acts, from the German of Schiller, Author of the Robbers, Don Carlos, &c. by M. G. Lewis, Efq. M. P;" "Lorenzino de Medici, a Tragedy, in five Acts, by William Rough;" "Arviragus, a Tragedy, (never per

formed) by the Rev. William Tasker;" "The Fatal Sifters, or the Caftle of the Forest, a Dramatic Romance of five Acts, by Edmund John Eyre;"" Falfe Impreffions, a Comedy in five Acts, by Richard Cumberland, Efq;" "Knave or Not? a Comedy, in five Acts, by Thomas Holcroft;" "Wives as they Were, and Maids as they Are, a Comedy, in five Acts, by Mrs. Inchbald," "A Cure for the Heart Ache, a Comedy, in five Acts, by Thomas Morton, Efq.;" "Cheap Living, a Comedy, in five Acts, by Frederic Reynolds;" "The Will, a Comedy, in five Acts, by the fame Author;" "Prejudices, a Comedy, in five Acts, by B. Frere Cherenfi;" "The Italian Monk, a Play, in three Ads, by James Boaden, Efq. ;""The Honeft Thieves, a Farce, in two Acts, altered from the Committee, by T. Knight;" "The Wandering Jew, or Love's Mafquerade a Comedy, in two Acts, by Andrew Franklin;" "A Trip to the Nore, a Mufical Entertainment, in one Act, by the same Author;" and "Utrum Horum? a Comedy of two Acts,as it is now acting with great Applaufe, at the refpective Theatres of London and Amfterdam."

Among the few Articles which we have referved for our Miscellaneous department, we find "A Plan for the Conduct of Female Education in Boarding-Schools, by Erafmus Darwin, M. D. &c." which the author's known good fenfe, literary attainments, and profeffional experience, cannot fail of recommending to parents, guardians, and governeffes, of young ladies. Under a variety of heads it fuggefts important and judicious advice, for eftablifh. ing fuch a rational system of edu. cation for females, as promifes to be

T4

fuccefs

fuccefsful "in uniting health and agility of body, with cheerfulnefs and activity of mind; in fuper adding graceful movements to the former, and agreeable taftes to the latter; and in the acquirement of the rudiments of fuch arts and fciences, as may amufe themfelves or gain them the efteem of others; with a ftrist attention to the culture of morality and religion."

"Mythology compared with Hiftory, for the Ufe of Young Perfons, &c. by the Abbé de Treffan, tranflated from the French by H. North," in 2 vols. is replete with valuable and curious information, explanatory of the fables of Greek and Roman mythology, arranged with judgment and perfpicuity, and detailed in a lively and pleafing ftyle. It deferves to be recommended, as an ufeful companion in their studies, to thofe for whofe benefit it was chiefly defigned.

The fplendid volume of "Mifcellaneous Writings, by R. C. Dallas, Efq." is compofed of various poenis; a tragedy; moral effays; and a vocabulary of the paffions, "in which their fources are pointed out, their regular currents traced, and their deviations delineated." Mr. Dallas's poems poffefs few claims to commendation; and we cannot flat ter him fo far as to fay, that his tragedy will entitie him to a refpectable ftation among our dramatic writers. But his profe exercises reflect credit on his abilities, and on his heart. They are diflinguished by folid fenfe, ingenious remarks, benevolent and pious fentiments, and will afford pleasure and improvement to his readers.

The "Narrative of the Sufferings of T. F. Palmer and W. Skirving, during a Voyage to New South Wale 1794, on board the Surprife Tranfport, by the Rev.

Thomas. Fyfhe Palmer," has been publifhed to vindicate the characters of the fufferers from the charge of confpiracy and mutiny, in which it was pretended they had engaged, with the defign of murdering the captain, and feizing the fhip. This purpofe it has completely anfwered, by bringing forwards fuch strong and circumftantial evidence in their favour, as their most ingenious and prejudiced enemies cannot gainfay or refift. But it exhibits, at the fame time, fuch inftances of cruel, brutal, wicked treatment, to which they were fubjected on their voyage, as muft excite in the humane heart a degree of horror and indignation which words cannot describe.

Mr. Clarke's "Differtation on the Ufe and Abufe of Tobacco, wherein the Advantages and Dif advantages attending the Confumption of that entertaining Weed are particularly confidered, &c." contains a zealous, but not very formidable attack on the confumption of that balmy narcotic. "What I have done," fays the author, "I have done in the fear of God, and with the fimple defire of being ufeful to my brethren; I have fometimes fpoken ironically; fometimes farcaftically; but always with deep ferioufnefs and concern. In short, I have done what I could to render odious and deteftable a custom which, I think, every thing in heaven and earth difcountenances!"* For our parts, we are free to ac knowledge ourselves fuch hardened finners, that his benevolent and pious labours have been loft upon us. Had the author's work appeared in good king James's days, that fapient monarch might have deemed it worthy of being added as an appendix to his equally argumentative Counterblaft to Tobacco.

The volume of "Fragments, in

the