POETRY. We shall not long be detained by the remarks which this divifion of our preface will demand. We noticed, in our firft number, though ftill fomewhat tardily, a volume of Mifcellaneous Poetry, in English and Latin, by Mr. Reeve: and we allowed to both parts confiderable merit. Mr. William Afhburnham's Elegiac Sonnetst, and other poems, may be read with pleasure. In the Forest Walks, by Mr. Gisborne, we found ourfelves obliged to commend the moralift rather than the poet. The very respectable author appears to have a tafte for poetry, but not a decided genius, nor a very accurate ear. Of Mifs Seward's Poems, through indulgence to a female writer, we faid at firft rather more than they deserved, we may therefore fay the lefs at prefent: they have fome merits, but more faults. The Political Dramatif, the production, in our opinion, of the unknown author of the Purfuits of Literature, has the general characteristics of that indefatigable fatirift: poetical fpirit and claffical knowledge, without fcrupulous correctnefs, or the exact difcrimination when to quit a topic he has taken. The elegant tribute to royal genius, paid by Sir J.B. Burges, in his poem on the Birth and Progrefs of Love, has had the ufual effect of fuch exertions, that of drawing the attacks of Envy upon its author: we fee no reason, however, to retract a tittle of our praise. In a fatire of a very peculiar kind, entitled the Seafick Minstrel**, Mr. Trefham has evinced that he can wield the pen of Poetry as well as the pencil of the fifter-art and if he will condefcend to profit by the hints which we threw out, we doubt not he will acquire ftill greater commendation. The Mufa Etonenfest afforded a pleafing proof of the fuccefsful attention paid to claffical compofition in that famous feminary. In the dramatic line we do not recollect any thing that deferves recapitulation, except a tranflation of Schil ler's Cabal and Love, and of that unfortunately the German Muses, not the British, muft have the praise. Our own theatre is certainly in the loweft ftate for original compofition that it ever experienced. NOVELS. A few, and but a few novels, that deferve to be exempted from the general fate, have lately met our eye. Of these, the first that occurs in this volume is Montalbert, by Mrs. C. Smitht; a novel which, though it cannot rank with the firft in that clafs of compofition, is certainly above mediocrity. A lower praise must not be given to Mrs. Inchbald's Nature and Arit, in which, if that amiable writer had not met with fome defigning perfons, who inftilled unjuft prejudices into her mind, there would be nothing that could merit cenfure. A writer who, in one form or another, frequently appears before the public, has given us a novel, called Angelina, which is entertaining, though not faultlefs; and will be read with pleafure, though it might have been written with more fkill. Hermprong alfo has merits and faults fufficient to attract attention, and thereby will probably efcape the worst lot that can befal a work of genius, oblivion. REPUBLISHED POETRY. For perfons who have eyes adapted to the use of a very fmall print, Dr. Anderfon's collective edition of the British Poets, will be found a very cheap and convenient publication. Beginning earlier, and continued later than the edition of Johnfon, it comprifes a much larger lift of writers; and the biographical notices prefixed to each are fufficient for general information, and drawn up with judgment. Of the Paradife Regained, a kind of Variorum edition has been pub No. III. p. 261. lifhed by the Rev. Mr. Dunfter*; and whether it produ ces the effect defired by him or not, that of making the poem more generally read, will always be honourable to him as an editor. Dr. Aikin has given an elegant fmall edition of the Spleen, and other poems by Matthew Greent, and has prefixed a judicious effay. The Reliques of ancient English Poetry, by Dr. Percy, Bishop of Dromore, that eftablifhed favourite with all admirers of our native Muses, has attained a fourth edition, under the care of his nephew, the Rev. Thomas Percy ; and the differtations in it have received confiderable augmentation. EDITIONS OF CLASSICS. From the Clarendon prefs at Oxford is iffuing, at prefent, a most important work, an edition of Plutarch, with the notes and apparatus of Profeffor Wyttenbach, of Amfterdam; a man whofe life has been in great measure devoted to the study of this author, and the preparation of his edition. Two volumes in quarto, correfponding with four in octavo illued at the fame time, have already appeared, and we have reafon to believe that the work is proceeding with due fpirit. The editor begins with the moral or mifcellaneous works of the author. A neat edition of Bion and Mofchus, by Mr. G. Wakefield, is creditable to his editorial talents; and muft conclude our prefent account of claffical works. MISCELLANIES. Under this head we muft neceffarily place the Tranfactions of the Royal Irish Academy, as they contain not only Philofophy, but Belles Lettres Antiquities, Metaphyfics, &c. The publication is certainly creditable to the inftitution. A book, entitled Varieties of Literature**, with feveral things that ought to have been omitted, contains alfo feveral that deferved to be collected, and may, on the whole, be praised with fome exception, and recommended with *No. V. p. 504. + No. II. p. 194. No. III. p. 301. § No. I. P: 59. Vol. V. p. 469. ¶ No. II. p. 186, and No. IV. p. 385. No. 1. p 41. fome fome caution. Mr. Repton's Sketches and Hints on Landfcape Gardeningt, would, if any additional recommendation were wanting, establish his credit in the profeffion which he has affumed, and to which he has given a name. The death-blow to a daring, and very ill-conducted impofition, was given by Mr. Malone, in his Inquiry into the authenticity of certain Papers, &c. nor can any thing be objected to his book, except perhaps a few redundancies. A very refpectable work on Perfian Literature, by Mr. Oufely, under the title of Perfian Mifcellanies, ftood in the front of our volume; though referved, by its nature, nearly to the clofe of our recapitulation. The book contains many valuable particulars, and is intended as preparatory to another publication of a kindred nature. Heraldry has been obliged to Mr. Brydfon for a most claffical and elegant account of its origin and progress, entitled a fummary View of Heraldry, in perusing which, the reader not partial to thofe ftudies will frequently be inclined to wonder, that fo much liberal amufement can be furnished by fuch a fubje&t. Mr. Mafon's Letters on Church Mufic, exhibit a writer of great talents exercifing his powers upon a fubject which he has carefully ftudied, and, notwithstanding a few peculiarities, in which he will not perhaps find many followers, his book is fuch as the circumftances aboveftated would lead us to expect. The Repertory of Arts and Sciences**, in its fecond and third volumes, continues to give a very fatisfactory report of what is most valuable in the inventions and improvements of the day; and certainly deferves the patronage of all whofe curiofity is directed to thofe objects. Such is the amount of our prefent recital, which, we truft, will not be found lefs creditable to British Literature than thofe by which it has been preceded. + No. I. p. 64. No. VI. p. 630. § No. I. p. 1. No. III. p. 271. **No. I. p. 93. p. 247. No. III, |