BRITISH CATALOGUE. POETRY. ART. 18. Bewfy. A Poem. 4to. 35. Johnfon. 1796. The writer of this poem, we are obliquely informed, is entitled to indulgence, on the fcore of his youth. Our perufal of the poem has induced us to mix, with the indulgence which is claimed for his youth, much praife that is due to his genius. The ftrain in which Bewfey is written, is neither puerile nor incorrect; it is, in most inftances, fmooth and manly; and, in fome parts, elevated and defcriptive. We think the following, among other paffages, affords a favourable fpecimen of the author's poetical powers. "And when to thee, O Night, Scoop'd in the hollow rock by Nature's hand, A little more experience will, we doubt not, give maturity to thofe talents which this juvenile effort difcovers, and enable the author to produce fomething yet more worthy of the public patronage. ART. 19. Odes and Mifcellanies, by Robert Farren Cheetham. 8vo. 7s. 6d. Champante and Whitrow. 1796. Thefe poems are dedicated, by a feemingly ingenuous pupil, to Mr. Lawfon, Head Master of Manchester School; and the author, in his dedication, affirms, that "his tutor, the tenth mufe, the all-accomplished Seward, and the British Critic, have, awith ONE voice voice, told him he can write." We do not remember the occafion to which Mr. Cheetham alludes; but we can truely fay of the prefent collection, that whilft there are many things which indicate a progrefs towards tafte, there are a great many which had better been omitted, as abounding with puerilities, tinfel conceits, and ill-conftructed rhymes. ART. 20. Poems on feveral Occafions. By Bryan Waller, A. M. There is no better thing in this collection, than a charming head of Sir Joshua Reynolds, exceedingly well engraved. In good truth, the verses are but meagre; yet the principles of the author feem entitled to commendation, and he will hereafter, we think, write better. ART. 21. Poems, by the Reverend Henry Rowe, L. L. B. Rector of Ring ball in Suffolk. Two Volumes. 8vo. Cadell. 1796. Thefe poems, as we learn from private information, are published with the hope of alleviating the diftreffes of the author and his family. Under fuch circumftances criticifm muft be filent; and humanity may rejoice, that the lift of fubfcribers contains a fet of names, which, not only by their number, but their refpectability, prove that fome material advantage must have been derived from the attempt. Mr. Rowe claims a relationship, we know not how near, to the poet of that name; this circumftance, though it might not be gueffed from a perufal of the poems, may perhaps have fome effect in affifting the purpose of their publication. DRAMATIC. ART. 22. Arviragus, a Tragedy (never performed). By the Reverend William Tafker, A. B. 12mo. 28. Trewman and Son, Exeter. Odes to the warlike genius of Britain, and fome other compofitions in verfe and profe, have been produced by Mr. Tasker, with a degree of fuccefs which has probably encouraged him to extend his efforts to other claffes of poetry. We will not advife him to repeat his addreffes to the Mufe of Tragedy. She has not fmiled upon him. Arviragus is without plot and intereft; or rather, the flight plot there is, has not been fo conducted by the author as to create an intereft. The characters are too hastily introduced, and too fuddenly deftroyed, to make even their death affecting. The flyle is that of complete mediocrity. Gunandra (more properly Gynandra, a Greek name for a British virgin) is introduced, as it feems, to be killed; but revives, we know not how, in the laft fccne. She thus defcribes herfelf. My name's Gunandra, feminine my fex ; But little of the female arts I know: And And quiver'd arrows; and, with tender feet, And when advanc'd to youth, and ftronger grown, My well-aimed arrows in the Roman blood. The moral of the piece feems to be adapted to the times," that Britons fhould refift their foes to the utmoft." NOVELS. ART. 23. Albert de Nordenfbild, or the Modern Alcibiades, a Novel. Tranflated from the German; in Two Volumes. 75. Robinfons. 1796. The author of this novel has very happily deviated from the precept of Horace, Servetur ad imum Qualis ab incepto procefferit. The beginning of it is ftrange and tame; but in its progrefs it becomes highly interefting, and fupports an irrefiftible claim upon our attention to the conclufion. The incidents are perhaps not very probable; but a Romance muft deviate from common events: and the principal characters are fo amiable, and excite the reader's folicitude fo much, that he will not ftop to enquire whether it be likely they fhould be expofed to fuch adventures. The moft exceptionable part of the work is, perhaps, the platonic love of Amelia: but this may be reconcileable with the manners of the continent, whence the work is derived. The characters are fo well drawn, as to convey instruction as well as entertainment: and we would defy any author to depict a blunt old general, or a weak irrefolute prince, more faithfully than they We fee are here portrayed, under the names of Cafpar and Arno. no reason indeed why the former fhould facrifice his fon, in order to evince his regard for his friend, fince the facrifice was not required; nor is it attended with any ufe, except to help out an embarassment in the plot. But this fault, as well as the defects of the tranflation, will find their apology in the eyes of the candid reader, who perufes the whole book. We recommend the appearance of Rifa, in the field of battle, as a fingular inftance of striking and pathetic defcription. ART. 24. The English Merchant, or the fatal Effects of Speculation in 2 Volumes. 6s. Lane. the Funds. A Novel. By Thomas Bolas. 1795 This writer reminds us of Mr. Sneer's friend, who proposes to make the theatre a substitute for a court of justice: to fuperfede the neceffity of jails and judges by the magical operation of wit and fancy; and fupply the instruments of pain and punishment by the keener engine of of ridicule*. If the effects of fpeculation in the funds cannot be reprefented in a stronger light than when reflected from the pages of fiction, or if common fenfe and feeling cannot deter a man from expofing his own happinefs, and that of his family, to the wanton caprice of fortune, very little good, we apprehend, will be wrought by a publication like the prefent. We are, however, ready to allow Mr. Bolas the warmeft praife for his good intention; and more than that he will hardly expect, fince he informs us the work was finished in two months," the greater part of which has been engaged in the humble pursuits of his avocation." What the avocation of Mr. Bolas may be, we know not; but it evidently has not been that of a literary "Ne futor ultra crepidam," is a found and practicable maxim. man. ART. 25. Robert and Adela: or, the Rights of Women beft maintained by the Sentiments of Nature. 3 Volumes. 12mo. 9s. Robinfons. 1795. We are taught by mournful experience, that many a writer fits down to compofe a work, without informing himfelf of the requifites for producing a good one. The writer of a good novel ought to poffefs a fertile imagination, a found judgment, a command of language, and an extenfive knowledge of mankind. Yet although the author of Robert and Adela does not poffefs any of thefe qualifications in an eminent degree, he is not to be confidered as entirely deftitute of them. It was to be expected that the misfortunes of the French exiles fhould form the tiffue of many a romance: and in this they are woven in brighter colours than ufual. The character which fupports the ftrongeft pretenfions to novelty is that of Lady Sufan Spenfer; which forms no bad comment upon Mrs. Wolftonecraft's doctrines. If, however, we have not much to commend, we have not much to blame and, with this recommendation, we will difmifs it to the attention of fuch readers as will be fatisfied with the affurance, that they hazard nothing in the perufal of it but lofs of time, which, after all, might be spent more unprofitably. ART. 26. The Manfion-Houfe. A Novel. In two Volumes. Writ ten by a young Gentleman. 12mo. 6s. Lane. 1796. An advertisement to these volumes informs the reader that they were written by a young gentleman, for his amufement, and that he knows them to be full of imperfections. So they are, but they are perfectly harmless. ART. 27. Plain Senfe, a Novel, in Three Volumes. Lane. 1795. 95. Though we are not accuftomed to recommend with much warmth the reading of novels, yet our caution arifes chiefly from the fear of their being too much, or too indifcriminately perufed. A few fele&t books of this kind may be read with advantage, provided that fuch Vid. Critic, or A Tragedy Rehearfed. P. 10. reading But reading be not made a daily or ferious occupation. With this re#triction, we recommend very cordially fuch volumes as thefe we are confidering. A ftory more interefting and affecting, or better told, than this, has feldom come under our examination. Auffere as critics are imagined to be, they are not infenfible to the charms of fuch a heroine as Ellen Mordaunt. Perhaps the principal incident in her ftory, upon which all the reft turns, is not managed as we could wish. What is commonly called first love, that is, the fancy of a boy and girl for each other, founded upon feeing, rather than upon knowing one another, is not indeed what we infift upon being adhered to. a first attachment, like Ellen's, founded upon folid merit and long acquaintance, and fanctioned by parents on both fides, should not have been renounced fo fpeedily. At least, if duty and honour forbade her union with Henry, there was no neceffity--but we will not diminifh the painfully pleafing fuípence in which this novel mutt hold its readers. We fhall only remark, that the title of it appears to us The character of Ellen is actually diftinguished, not happily chofen. not fo much by plain fenfe, as by highly cultivated judgment, exquifite feeling, and invincible integrity.. Parents may not only, with fafety, put thefe volumes into the hands of their children, but may even peruse them with advantage themselves. ART. 28. The Creole, or Haunted Iland. In three Volumes. By S. Arnald, jun. Izmo. las. 6d. Law. 1796. There can be little doubt that the imagination of this young and ingenious writer has been warmed by the perufal of Raficlas, the merit of which he has here endeavoured to emulate. The attempt was arduous; but, though we can neither expect nor find in the reflections and fentiments here interfperfed, the profound wisdom of the mature philofopher, the execution of the whole is by no means difgraceful An abundance of fancy is difplayed; and, if the incito the writer. dents are calculated rather to answer the ends of the writer, in ferving as a vehicle for his opinions, than to accord with the laws of probability, they ftill are not devoid of intereft. The style is not entirely free from faults, but difcovers a general talent for writing, which time and exercife will bring to more perfection. Selim, Emperor of Morocco, determines to educate his fon, Narconah, in folitude, rill he fhall attain the age of twenty; the plan is rather improbably contrived, and improbably baffled; but the refult of the whole appears to be that the focial virtues, and a knowledge of religion, not folitude and ignorance, are calculated to form the heart of man. Emperor of Morocco fhould ever have refided in Jamaica, and there have purchased a Circaffian flave, is a ftrange improbability in the outfet. Yet, from this circumftance it is, that the hero, the fon of that union, is denominated the Creole. He finally fettles, not very probably, in Jamaica; and there, not much more probably, finds his mother. Still the Creole may be commended, as a very creditable effort of a young author. That the ART. |