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CATALOGUE.

BRITIS II

POETRY.

ART. 19. Verfs on the late urarimous Refolutions to fupport the Conftitution. To which are added some other Poems. By Samuel Egerton Brydges, Ef. of Denton, in Kent. 4to. pp. 25. IS. Canter bury. 1794.

This is evidently the production of a man of tate and feeling, the truth of which remark, the following fonnet will fufficiently evince.

SONNE T,

WRITTEN AT WOOTTON, IN KENT,

While I re-wander o'er this wood-crown'd fleep,
Yon fheep-clad lawn, and this fecluded dell';
Yon manfion, and yon holy tow'r, that peep
From the thick trees, where in their filent cell,
The hallow'd relics of my father fleep;

I ftrive in vain the tumults to repell,

That force mine eyes with fad regret to weep,
Since my fweet childhood's loft delights they tell.
Here my lov'd parent pafs'd his happy days,
In rural peace, with every virtue warm'd,
While the wide country round, that rung his praife,
His fenfe directed and his goodness charm'd.
But I, alas! to genuine pleafures blind,

Toft on the world's wide waves no quiet find.

ART. 20. Poems and Mifcellaneous Pieces. By Sarah Spence. 12mo. 4s. 6d. pp. 130. Johnfon. 1795.

-The advertisement to this volume informs the reader, that it was published to regain the eftcem of a very near relation, who has fuffered himself to indulge fome ill grounded animofity and diflike, before it was poffible for him to be acquainted with the author's true character." This involves an ambiguity, with which, as Critics, we have nothing to do. The publication is patronized by a very numerous and refpectable lift of fubtcribers; and the poems have a certain portion both of cafe and elegance.

ART. 21.

Llangunnor Hill. A co-deferiptive Poem, with Notes. Humbly dedicated by the Author to the Public at large. 8vo. 2s. Daniel, Carmarthen. W. White, London.

The com

This Poem opens with a compliment to Mr. Dyer, on his Grongar Hill, which unfortunately brings to our recollection, fomething which in the comparifon greatly finks the work before us. pliment is, however, honefly paid, and the author must felf with (what has adminiftered confolation to many an unfortunate inan before himfelf,) the remembrance that the best policy".

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ART. 22. The Reftoration of the Jews. A Poem. By the Rev. Francis Wrangham, M. A. Member of Trinity-Hall, Cambridge, and Curate of Cobham, Surry. 4to. 1s. 6d. Edwards. 1795.

Among the Seaton prize Poems, there are not a great many which rank very high in the catalogue of English Poetry. Wrangham's mufe is certainly not deftitute of vigour, as the following fpecimen proves.

Great Babylon is fallen-amid the dust,
Idly inquifitive the traveller pries,
With patient fcrutiny exploring fill,
And fill, in vain, where Syrian Belus rear'd,
In proud magnificence his idol form.
No traces guide around the fhapelefs mass,
His doubtful ftep; no friendly accent cheers,
Th' unbroken folitude: haply the hifs
Of ferpent rustling thro' the defart wafte,
Or din of dragons, parch'd by tropic fire,
As flash their livid eye-balls, fhakes his foul
With horrid fear: haply the bittern mourns,
In hollow founding note; or the lone owl
Dufky and flow, with inaufpicious fhriek,
Saddens the gloom.

The conclufion is fomewhat abrupt, and yet we hardly know how the fubject would admit of a defcription more circumftantial. Difficult, indeed, muft it be, for the limited faculties of any human mind, to contrive by what means the will of Providence fhall hereafter coinplete its scheme, as far as it involves the Reftoration of the Jews.

ART. 23. The Retired Penitent. A Poem. By Ursula Ivifon. 8vo. rs. Rivingtons. 1794.

The author of this little Poem, candidly acknowledges in the preface, that it is a fort of Paraphrafe of Young's "Centaur not fabulous" It is evidently the production of an unexperienced writer, but on the whole, there is great room for commendation. The lines are neither deftitute of pathos nor harmony, but the writer has not been. fufficiently attentive to her rhymnes.

ART. 24. The Adventures of Timothy Twigg, Efq. in a Series of Poetical Epifles, in 2 Vols. By Jofeph Mujer. 55. Williams, 1795. We certainly cannot refufe Mr. Mofer the modeft request he makes in the latt page of his preface.

"If I have been foiled in the arduous attempt, To catch the manners living as they rife, to blend mirth with morality, to paint with the pen, and produce a Poetical Novel, I hope, when they confider the difficulty of the defign, they will pardon any trifling failure in the execution, and receive this attempt to fteal an hour from the turbulence of the times, and amufe the mind without inPP

BRIT. CRIT. VOL. V. MAY, 1795.

flaming

flaming the paffions, with the favour which they have already fhown to the other productions of THE AUTHOR." P. xi.

Mr. Mofer is manifeftly an imitator of the author of the Bath Guide; and he will probably not be angry with us, if we difcover more poetical humour in the original than in the copy. The following extract will, however, fhow that Mr. Mofer is not altogether deftitute of those talents which are requifite to furnish a laughable and characteristic defcription.

"And here, my dear, I'll try to guess,

Oh, Plutus! lend thy aid;

Say, why to Kitty they address,

Vows at thy altar made?

The Peer begins, "a dev'lish run;
Hey, Charles! no luck in life,

I'm blown at Brook's, and quite undone,
Without a City wife."

Sir Charles replies, "my point's the same,
Oh, Fortune, curfe upon her!

I'll pledge (all I have left) my name,

To cancel debts of honour."

"All hands aloft, my lads, a prize,
A galeon, full of dollars,

Pour a broadfide," the Captain cries,
"I'll make her ftrike her colours."
Sweet Tommy fays,

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I'd like to pick a bit.

her father's rich,

No doubt I fhall the girl bewitch,
She'll foon be Mistress Tit."
"Yoicks!" bawls the Squire,
No ftanding fhally, fhilly,

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"I'll win the plate,

Ware pofts, your reins keep tight and strait,
Well run my little filley."

"To wed," (cries Shadrack) "I believe
Dares few wou'd ron de risk ont,

At prompt, I'll cash and girl refchieve,
But can't allow a difhcount." P. 100.

ART. 25. Songs for the Year 1795. Sacred to Truth, Liberty, and Peace, inferibed to the Sovereign People; with a congratulatory Address to Thomas Hardy. or 2s. 6d. hot preffed,

&c. Jordan.

12mo. Is. 6d.

Of the peaceable tendency which marks this publication, the reader will be able to form a juft opinion, by perufing the first page of it, which contains an advertisement, ftating, "that feveral of the following poems have fuffered much, through omiffions and alterations, which the fear of perfecution induced the Printer to make, though contrary to the Author's wishes." What this Author intended his work fhould be, we cannot judge; what it is, we can; and are not furprifed that it fhould have come forth, contrary to his wishes, an epitome of methodiftical cant, fplenetic dulnefs, and profaic metre.

ART.

DRAMATIC.

ART. 26. The Rage, a Comedy, as it is performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden. By Frederic Reynolds. Second Edition, 8vo. 1s. 6d. Longman, 1795.

This comedy has a great deal both of vivacity and genuine humour, The character of Gingham feems very happily adapted to Mr. Lewis. who fo well underftands how to blend wit with feeling, and fashionable folly with genuine benevolence and plain honefty. Lady Sarah Savage is remarkably well drawn ; and it might be wished that ladies addicted to masculine amusements would for a moment confider to how much greater advantage they appear, the more they resemble the amiable Mrs. Darnley. The fcenes between Mr. and Mrs. Darnley are natural and affecting; but, for the fake of mankind in general, we hope there are few fuch friends as Sir George Gauntlet.

ART. 27. Netley Abbey, an Operatic Farce in Two Acts, as performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden. By Mr. Pearce, Author of Hartford Bridge and the Midnight Wanderers. 8vo. 35 PP. I's. Longman. 1794.

We expect only a trifle under fuch a title, yet a lively and ingenious trifle is fomething, and this author is not one who produces fuch as are dull. His praife of Mr. Richards for his beautiful scene of Nettley Abbey is, we doubt, not the very voice of the public reechoed by an individual.

ART. 28. Arrived at Portfmouth! an Operatical Drama, in two Acts, performed at the Theatre Royal Covent-Garden. Written by the Author of Hartford Bridge, Netley Abbey, the Midnight Wanderers, c. 8vo. 43 PP. Is. Longman. 1794.

A fpirited though a brief performance, diftinguished by fome elegantly written fongs, and a lively dialogue. It relates to our great naval victory on the first of June, and is at once a proof of the author's patriotifm and his talents. He is known to moft persons, by the pieces mentioned in the title, to be Mr. Pearce.

ART. 29. Rule Britannia, a loyal Sketch, as performed with univerfal applaufe at the Theatre Royal, Hay-Market. Written by James Hookham. 1794. IS. 8vo. 39 PP.

Roberts.

A piece in the compofition of which Loyalty feems to have prefided more abfolutely than Ariftotle. Produced without effort, to anfwer the purpose of a moment, and likely to perish when that moment expired.

ART. 30. The fall of Robespierre. An Hiftoric Drama. By B. S. T. Coleridge, of Jefus College, Cambridge. 8vo. 37 PP. 15. Lunn, Cambridge. 1794.

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Mr.

Mr. Coleridge has aimed at giving a dramatic air to a detail of Conventional fpeeches, which they were fcarcely capable of receiving. The fentiments, however, in many inftances are naturally, though boldly conceived, and expreffed in language, which gives us reafon to think the Author might, after fome probation, become no unfuccessful wooer of the tragic mufe.

ART. 31. The Crimps; or the Death of poor Howe. A Tragedy, in one Act; as lately performed at an Houfe of ill Fame, or what is called a Recruiting Office, in London, with univerfal Execration. Written by Henry Martin Saunders. 8vo. 6d. Eaton. 1795.

The author of this Drama we prefume has affumed a fictitious name ; and we think he has therein acted prudently, fince the intention of his publication is, to show that England is not, (what the publication itfelf proves it is,) the Land of Liberty. The fiction of the poet, and the language of his characters prove more ftrongly the malignity, than the wit of the author.

NOVELS.

ART. 32. Caroline de Montmorenci. A Tale founded in fact. By La Marquife de****. 12mo. pp. 195. 3s. Longman, 1794.

A pathetic tale told in elegant language. We think the cataftrophe rather perplexed in its circumftances, but as a whole, it is far fuperior to most publications of the kind.

ART. 33.

The Offspring of Ruffell. A Novel, in two Volumes. 6s. Lane. 1794.

12mo.

We cannot extol this work on the fcore of ftyle, delineation of character, well-contrived plot, probable incidents, or fome other particulars which go towards the making of a good novel. But fince a valuable point is gained, if books of this kind have no bad tendency, we are glad to fay that the Offspring of Ruffell, will afford very innocent, though certainly not exquifite entertainment.

ART. 34. Amantus and Elmira: or, Ingratitude, exemplified in the Character of Ingratus. By George Hution. 8vo. pp. 174. 35. Crofby. 1794.

We can fafely praife the good intention of this writer; for it is evident throughout his book: but we cannot, with any regard to truth, extend our commendation further. The title of the work fhould have held forth, not the character, but the birth, parentage, education, life, and death of Ingratus; whofe name, (by the way) is not well chofen. Ingratitude exemplified by Ingratus, is like the unfortunate mode of logical proof, called, idem per idem.

The book is a tiffae of Adventures, much more wonderful than probable, related in a ftyle neither perfpicuous nor correct. The fpecimens of poetry, at p. 107, 119, 174, are rather below the profe. But the principal defect is; that the author, being young, and evi

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