For, to us, they seem to intimate, as if as if the earth both heated, amand enlightned itself indolls die di os The poem concludes with that old, and often refuted, objec tion to Divine Wisdom, the immense quantity of water in our globe. His answer enumerates many of the advantages derived to man from this seeming superabundance of that element. This was a glorious theme for a poetical imagination. What fine things might not have been faid on the Rainbow, the Clouds, and Rivers? but the Reader will be disappointed who expects to find es the Speciosa Miracula in our Author's performance; which, upon the whole, is even less replete with Poetry, than with Argu XVIII. The Mirrour. A Comedy. In three Acts. With the Author's Life, and an Account of the Alterations. 8vo. Is. Scott. 190 The Author, whose life is here given, and from whose writings the Mirrour is now taken, is Thomas Randolph, A. M. and Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge; a Gentleman nopless seminent for his wit than his learning. He lived about the be ginning of the last century, and if Fate had prolonged his days*, The would probably have equalled any of his cotemporaries in the Bis is Comica, as he certainly furpassed most of them in the variety, and smoothness of his verfification. We always read the Muses Looking-Glass (for fo Randolph intitled his Comedy) with fatis-Dofaction. It is an Ethic Drama; wherein the opposite extremes noof several virtues, exemplified in the most extravagant characJ6ters, are brought upon the stage. We do not, however, pretend to fay, that such allegorical exhibitions are proper subjects for the comic Muse. Randolph has introduced into his scenes the extremes of Courtesy, Fortitude, Temperance, Liberality, Magnificence, Meekness, Truth, Cleanliness, Modesty, Justice, and Urbanity, under Greek names expressive of those vices; Colax, or the Flatterer, with great propriety, making one person in every scene. From these the Editor of the Mirrour has only selected the extremes of Courtesy, Fortitude, Temperance, Magnanimity, Meekness, Truth, and Justice, tho some of the others afford as much truth of character, and from their familiar nature, as well as from the wit which Randolph has bestowed on them, seem equally appropriated to the fock. Besides, in the Looking Glass there are two of the narrow-foul'd Enthusiasts of those days, who Mr. Cibber, in his Lives of the Poets, as well as this Editor, says, that he died in his 20th year; but in the frontispiece of the edition of his Works, published by his brother, Robert Randolph of Chrift-church college, our Poet is said to have died in the 27th year of his age; a circumstance that does honour to Mr. Randolph's memory; when we confider the merit of his writings, and the youth of the writer. having the Players for their customers, are, on this consideration chiefly prevailed upon, though with great difficulty, to fit the play out. Instead of these perfons, who from their cant, and peculiar obfervations, are not a little diverting, our Author has introduced one, whom he calls a Gentleman; yet who, in the first scene, is injudiciously made to adopt some of the sentiments of one of Randolph's Saints. Moreover, this Gentleman goes off with the first act, and never appears again; whereas Randolph's Fanaticks every now and then entertain the Reader with fome of their precife jargon; and, in the last scene, are made converts to the entertainment of the Drama. This, indeed, is npaying too great a compliment to the Muses Looking Glass; had the Poet rather represented them when the curtain drop ped, as more disgusted at the stage, on account of its moral exhibitions, (for Enthusiasts were always foes to morality) it would have been much more in character. By what our Author has omitted of Randolph's, and the very little he has added of his own, the five acts of the original are fhrunk to three in the alteration. A good Critichas, indeed, robferved, that though the number of acts is limited, by the antients, to five, yet, there is nothing in the nature of things to hinder the Dramatic Poet from reducing their number. The only fenfible rule in this cafe, is, that the work be a compleat and regular whole; and of length sufficient to entertain an audience for an evenings But whether, either the Muses Looking Glass, or the Mirroun, would answer this end, those who prefide at the theatrical helm are to determine; at the fame time permit us to fay, that such moral scenes are more worthy to be revived than the gross and unnatural exhibitions of the Humorous ► Lieutenant. ADDENDA to the POLITICAL. XIX. A further Address to the Public. Containing genuine copies of all the letters which passed between A-1 B-g, and the Sry of the A-ty; from the time of his suspenfion, to the 25th of October last, &c. 8vo. I s. Lacy, &c. *In behalf of the Admiral; complaining of ill usage, particularly fince his confinement. XX. A modest Remonftrance to the Public. Occafioned by the number of papers and pamphlets published about Admiral Byng 4to. 6d. Cooper. This is neither a remonftrance, nor any thing else;-but an odd affemblage of words, without meaning, or any apparent purpose. A 1. proofs of the deluge, 486. ALFRED, King of England, cha- ALGEBRA, encomium on, and AMERICA, an attempt to vindi- ANTIMONIAL wine, an instance of uncommon effects of, 391. 492. ARIANISM, what, and how pre- ASTRONOMICAL observations, ATHA ATHANASIUS, cenfure of, 81. On POSTOM ATHENIANS, how enslaved, 27.1. B BALLANCE OF Power, absolutely 1 Books, without experience, of BRIXIANUS, Marcus Marinus, 22. BROWN, Dr. William, negligent tified by Mr. Taylor, ibid. C CAMELS, manner of their paffing CALASSIO's Concordance, where- -90 COLIC, useful premonitions COLOSSAL Figures, description COLOURS, that the Antients pain- 167. Variety of earths and mi- CHRYSOSTOM, a marriage-ha-ned for, 384. Олигтой vispater, a monkery lover, and bsa martyr-worshipper, 81. fing, and fun-fetting, account- 1 |