There is fpirit, as well as poetry, in the following ftrictures on the alterations now making in St. James's Park':

On that while R

An ample plain there lies, oblique between
The honour'd refidence of Albion's Queen,
Which its proud fummits thus ennobled rears
More by her virtues, than the crown she wears,
And in those realms, the realms of freedom known,
A little manfion, which I call my own:
N exhaufts his art,
Your influence, all ye powers of tafte impart.
I ask not, here to scoop the hollow dell,
There bid the gay fwerd's verdurous bofom fwell:
Naked and flat be the eye-wearying scene
As billiard-table, though not half fo green.
Let not, in groups affembling unconfined,
The Hamadryades goffip with the wind;
And here and there be taught a Dryad ftray,
With artful ignorance to lose her way.
Upright as mufqueteers in a train-band,

Rang'd rank and file, while the tall wood-nymphs ftand,
To keep the roving eye within due bound,

The fair extent throw an embracement round:
And from Moorfields, where elegance prevails,
Bring the nice model of the circling rails.

Bring Bedlam too, ftraw beds, and cells fo dark,
And let the mansion skirt St. James's Park.
With lunatics, here patriots in difgrace,
There chiefs in plenitude of power and place,
Cuckolds, that clank the gainful marriage chain,
And wives by parliament turn'd maids again,
Harams of whores for impotence and age,
Cargoes of fops and foplings for the ftage;
I'll people Bedlam at fome future time;
Or may oblivion feize my ftill-born rhime.'

Art. 16. Retaliation: a Poem. By Dr. Goldfmith; including
Epitaphs on the most distinguished Wits of the Metropolis. 4to.
I s. 6d. Kearily. 1774.

Dr. Goldsmith,' fays the Editor, belonged to a club of Beaux Efprits, where wit fparkled fometimes at the expence of good-nature. It was proposed to write epitaphs on the Doctor. His country, dialect, and perfon, furnished fubjects of witticifm. The Doctor was called on for Retaliation, and at their next meeting produced the following poem.'

The perfons who figure principally in this poetical group are Edmund Burke; his brother, Richard Burke; his coufin, William Burke; David Garrick; Dr. Cumberland, author of the Weft Indian; Dr. Douglas, the detector of Lauder; Sir Joshua Reynolds; and a few. others. We are informed that the Author intended to enlarge his lift; which feems very probable, as the piece appears to be imperfect: a circumftance which its admirers (in which number we may venture to include all its readers) will certainly lament. The poem abounds

with wit, free from even the flightest tincture of ill nature; and the characteristics of all the parties, as far as they are known to us, are equally pointed and juft. As a fpecimen, we fhall give the epitaph on the celebrated orator, Mr. Burke:

'Here lies our good Edmund, whofe genius was fuch,
We fcarcely can praise it or blame it too much;
Who, born for the univerfe, narrow'd his mind,
And to party gave up what was meant for mankind.
Though fraught with all learning, kept ftraining his throat
To perfuade Tommy Townfend to lend him a vote;
Who, too deep for his hearers, ftill went on refining,
And thought of Convincing, while they thought of Dining:
Though equal to all things, for all things unfit,
Too nice for a statesman, too proud for a wit.
For a patriot too cool; for a drudge difobedient,
And too fond of the right to purfue the expedient.
In fhort 'twas his fate, unemploy'd, or in play, Sir,
To eat mutton cold, and cut blocks with a razor.'

The lines on Mr. Garrick are perhaps the most masterly part of this very agreeable fragment; but they have been fufficiently retailed in the news-papers.

Art. 17. The Choice; a Poem. By Samuel Rogers. 4to. Is. Richardfon, &c.

Mr. Rogers has just notions of the economy of private life, and of the obligations of religion and morality; but he totally mistakes his talents if he thinks himself half fo great a poet even as Pomfret. We tell him this truth in pure good will, becaufe we are pleafed with his fentiments; and in the hope that he will, hereafter, be cautious of injuring his own thoughts by attempting to clothe them in verse. Art. 18. The Progrefs of Gallantry, a Poetical Effay, in three Cantos 4to. 1 s. 6d. DodЛley. 1774.

Contains feveral good moral fentiments and obfervations, with a moderate share of poetical merit.

of C

Art. 19. The Gamefters. A Poem. Addreffed to the Mayor Second Edition. I 2mo. IS. Lewis. 1774. Relates to the Canterbury Tale, noticed in our Review for laft month, p. 224. At that city the story is probably interesting; and the perfons concerned may have fufficiently expofed themfelves. But as the affair is local, the fatire here exhibited cannot be expected to draw the attention of the public in general. The poem has fome humour, and offers very good advice. Should it imprefs any mind with a fenfe of the most ridiculous folly, as well as deftructive confequences of gaming, a vice now fo greatly prevalent, it will anfwer a very valuable end.

Art. 20. Medico Maftix, or Phyfic Craft detected, a fatirico didactic Poem. 4to. 1s. Evans.

This poem would more properly be entitled Empirico Maftix, for the fatire is moft particularly levelled at the induftrious fraternity of Quacks. The Author does not appear to be of that fraternity; but

Another copy fays, Dicky Whitworth.

acknowledges

acknowledges himfelf of the Faculty. However, we cannot indulge him with Gilbert Cooper's compliment to Dr. Akenfide, that he is the twofold Difciple of Apollo; for, as a Poet, he claims only a diftant relationfhip to the family of the WELL ENOUGHS.

Art. 21. Richard Plantagenet, a Legendary Tale, now first published, by Mr. Hull. 4to. 25. Bell. 1774·

This is a fimple ftory, the hero of which is fuppofed to be a natural fon of Richard the Third, who is privately brought up under the care of a Clergyman, and kept in ignorance of his birth till the evening preceding the battle of Bosworth; in which his father loft his life and his crown. It was, afterwards, the fon's fortune to work as a Bricklayer for Sir Thomas Moyle, at Eaftwell in Kent, for the fpace of 60 years. To this gentleman, at laft, he communicates the ftory of his birth; and the narrative forms the poem.

We can fay nothing in favour of the compofition. The Author plainly wants tafte and talents for this kind of poetry. Where he aims at fimplicity, he falls beneath it, and miftakes it for filliness; a kind of diction which has prevailed much of late, and which we have frequently condemned,

What a piteous imitation of Sternhold's rhyme have we in the following ftanza!

But now thy tongue hath spoke aloud

Thy grateful piet ee,

No longer be thy story kept

In painful fecresee

There is a difagreeable epithetical fliffnefs in the following line: In thofe care-woven, long protracted years.

And in

Plac'd in a rural, foft, ferene retreat,

With a deep-learn'd Divine I held abode.

The former line is overloaded with uncharacteristic epithets, always a mark of bad writing, whether in profe or poetry; deeplearn'd is harsh and unpoetical, and held abode is ftiff.

Art. 22. An Elegy on the Fears of Death, by the Author of the Difference between Words reputed fynonimous, after the Manner of Girard, Hogarth moralized, &c. &c. 4to. 1s. Ed. Bell.

1774.

This fixpenny poem, confifting of 11 pages, 12 lines on a page, and modeftly charged 1s. 6d. we are previously told, is the first poetical attempt of a Clergyman. In putting fuch an extravagant price upon it, we fuppofe that he or his Bookfeller muft charge for coining new words, one of which occurs p. 2.

"He neither liftens to the youngly tale,"

Or elfe having before their eyes the late fatal decifion concerning literary property, and regretting that this poem fhall in the fpace of 28 years become a prey to the rapacity of thofe notorious rogues, the Scotch Bookfellers, they are determined to make the most of it while they may. In that cafe they may fay as the Author fays in his Poem, Why fear we then the pe-ri-od of all? Toward the conclufion, the Author grows most aftonishingly fublime:

The Empyrean pierce, and rend the Welkin's ear!

The

The Welkin's ear! there's a thought! could the Author only have found breath enough to have proceeded with the fame dignity, he would have been a Prince of an Author indeed. Had he exhibited the towering condition of the Ecliptic's legs, the Equator's nofe, &c. a Prince of an Author would he have been!

AIL. 23. P 75, by Mr. Jefferfon. Second Edition. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Griffin, &c. 1773

Had thefe Poems been worth the leaft notice, fome apology fhould have been made to the Author, and the Public, for overlooking them fo long; but they were amongst thofe things that drop deadborn from the Prefs; and to be in hafte about registering them in our monthly bills of mortality, was very immaterial.

Art 24 Elefair and Evander, a Poem: by S. P. founded

on Fact, being an Hiftorical Narrative of two unfortunate Lovers, whom the Author relieved in Carolina, in the year 1766. 4to.. 25, Snagg. 1774.

No; no indulgence in this court for printing at the solicitation of friends: That plea is totally excluded.

+ Hence firft arofe the fad unhappy flate,

Of many a hungry paunch, and many a fore-fcratch'd pate.' Art. 25. The Mufe in a Fright; or Britannia's Lamentation: A Rhapfody. Containing a fuccinct Account of the Rife and Progress of British Liberty, and the Establishment of the Prefs; with the Methods now taking to defroy it. In which will be difplayed, a number of whole length Characters, &c. 4to. 15. 6d. Bew.

The Author's meaning is fo good, that we fincerely wish he was a better Poet.

Art. 26. The Eftate Orators, a Town Eclogue. 4to. 1S. Evans.

That foppery of phrafe which Architects, Defigners, HeadGardeners, and Auctioneers, in particular, affect in their defcriptions and advertisements, is here properly enough treated with ridicule; and it would have done very well in a poetical fling, or a cafual effay in an Evening Paper, but the fubject is too low for the importance of a pamphlet. The poem is one of the well enoughs. Art. 27. La Cloche De L'Ame: or Confcience the loudeft Knell. A Satyr, Occafioned by feveral late Complaints from Places of Public Refort, of the too long and frequent tolling of the Bells at Deaths and Funerals. To which is added, Vigiliana Noviffima: or the reformed Watchman. The fecond Edition. With feveral confiderable Alterations and Additions. 8vo. 6d. Towers. 1774.

Whether any fuch complaint as that intimated in the above title has been feriously made, we cannot determine: If it has, it may afford fome juft occafion for fatire. It is very proper that thofe whose lives are chiefly devoted to luxury and diffipation, should be fome times reminded of the folemn and awful conclufion which fo fpeedily approaches! But the thought may be the Author's own invention,

* This book was first fold at York,

+ P. 5.

for

for the fake of prefenting his poem to the public in a striking manner. Yet, however good his defign, his poetical talents are not to be much commended.

Art. 28. A Familiar Epifile to the Author of the Heroic Epifle to Sir William Chambers, and of the Heroic Poftjcript to the Public. 4to. 1 s. 6d. Wilkie. 1774.

The fpirited Author of the Heroic Epiftle, &c. having announced his refolution, should occafion require, to employ the thunder of his fong,

Rolling in deep ton'd energy along,"

against the nefarious attempts of arbitrary governors or corrupt fenators, to invade the liberties or fquander the properties of his countrymen, the prefent Writer steps forward to expoftulate with the Heroic Bard on the vanity and folly of fuch an attempt. He keenly ridicules the offeript throughout; and has, indeed, in the language of Admiral Hawke, given the author a found drubbing. He concludes with an excellent leffan for thofe fplenetic geniules who are fo wondrous prompt on every, or on no, occafion,

66

to lift aloft the Satyr's rod,

And tread the paths which great Lucilius trod +."
< -Obe! jam fat!-what fcribbling rage!
-I've writ a volume for a page!
-By Heav'ns I do my fpirit wrong,
To grate this ferannet-pipe fo long:
Hence! hence I hate its peevish tone,
Though aim'd at pride and Spleen alone:
And, if my rhyming vein ftill need
A fong, I'll touch fome gentler reed→→
A reed I fomething know to touch -
Whofe mildly-plaintive notes are fuch,-
They fteal the fting from youthful grief,
Breathe to a lover's foul relief,
Or fuch refign'd diftrefs bestow,
They make the fuff'rer proud of woe.
-Onoble trifling of the hour!

When 'fcap'd from dread of Fortune's pow'r,
I loiter in fome fecret, rude,

Yet fometimes broken folitude,—

While, with a heart not flow to prove

My theme's delight,-1 fing of love.
Not with bent brow, or raptur'd eye,

Or "thoughts.commercing with the sky,"
But mildly gay, with am'rous guile
Perfuading thought to wear a fmile;-
Studious awhile, yet never long,
Nor apt nor careless in my fong;

• See Review for February laft, p. 155.

+ We cannot refift the temptation to tranfcribe the lines alluded

to, above; and every feeling heart will thank us for them.

Glancing