Art. 51. Preached in Lambeth Chapel, 27th March, 1803, at the Consecration of the Hon. and Right Rev. George Pelliam, D.D., Lord Bishop of Bristol, by the Rev. John Garnett, M. A. &c. 4to 18. 6d. Robson. From 2 Timothy, i. 8. the preacher takes occasion to pass some commendations on the clergy of the present day, and on the ecclesiastical establishment of this country; accompanied by an encomium on the reigning Head of our Church. The great duty recommended in the text, therefore, is no otherwise enforced in this sermon, than as it is illustrated by these shining examples. Art. 52. Preached at the Anniversary Meeting of the Sons of the Clergy, in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 6th May, 1802. By Geo. Law, M.A., Prebendary of Carlisle. 4to. is. Ri vingtons. The excellence of charity, as a Christian grace, is properly pointed out in this discourse, by a comparison between the sentiments of Pagan and Christian writers on the subject; and charity (implying beneficence) is here defined to be one of the peculiar doctrines of Christianity. In that sense of the word, however, we should have preferred the term moral precept; and we must remark that unity of subject is rather violated in this sermon. From the importance of charity, the author passes to that of the Sabbath; and thence to the Church establishment, and the duty of supporting the orphans of the clergy. Among other arguments on this head, it is urged that the daughters of clergymen have been known to be driven by abject want to become the victims of seduction. We cannot help objecting to a mode of speaking adopted by Mr. Law, and others of his reverend Brethren, as an improper application of scriptural phraseology. We allude to the distinction which they make between the clergy and the laity. The former they emphati cally denominate as of the household of faith:' but are the laity less so? Those of the household of faith, in the Apostle's days, were the little band of distressed and persecuted Christians, who peculiarly needed each other's kindness and support :-they were not those " of the spirituality." The text probably led the author to this misap. plication; viz. Romans xv. 25, 26, 27. CORRESPONDENCE. We are obliged to our Correspondent at Penzance who signs L.; and when the work to which he refers comes into our hands, (we have not yet seen it,) we shall pay due attention to his suggestions. Mr. H. of Scarborough is informed that his instructions were not fulfilled; and that we cannot take the steps which he requests. The Advertisement contained in the letter of J. C-d, of Edin. burgh, might be inserted in a magazine, or more properly in a news paper, but is not consistent with our plan and our duty. THE MONTHLY REVIEW, For AUGUST, 1803. ART. I. The Poetical Works of the late Thomas Warton, B.D., Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford; and Poet Laureate. Fifth Edition, corrected and enlarged. To which are now added, Inscriptionum Romanarum Delectus, and an Inaugural Speech as Camden Professor of History, never before published. Together with Memoirs of his Life and Writings; and Notes critical and explanatory. By Richard Mant, M. A., Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford. 2 Vols. 8vo. 148. Boards. Rivingtons. 1802. IOGRAPHICAL pursuits have lately been much cultivated; and though, in some instances, a blameable minuteness of inquiry has been indulged, it must be acknowleged that several valuable memoirs have appeared. Historical composition is certainly more elaborate and more dignified: but biography possesses greater interest, and perhaps its result is more beneficial to society. It admonishes in explicit terms, and such as cannot be mistaken. Hoc facito, hoc fugito; hoc laudi est, hoc vitio datur;" is the commanding language in which it speaks; and it presents a mirror that discovers a faithful resemblance, which can never be consulted without advantage. The advice of Demea may with propriety be applied to this study: "" deinque Inspicere, tanquam in speculum, in vitas omnium We have borne frequent and willing testimony to the merits of the late Poet Laureat; and we are happy in receiving a. complete collection of his poetical works, recommended also by some account of his life. From these particulars, we learn that Thomas Warton was descended from an antient and honourable family in Yorkshire, and was the son of Thomas Warton, vicar of Basingstoke, Hants, who distinguished himself by several poetical productions, which were collected and pu blished by subscription in the year 1748. This gentleman is reported to have been the author of a well-known admirable epigram, occasioned by a regiment being sent by George the VOL. XLI. Z Second Second to Oxford, at the time that he gave a collection of books to the University of Cambridge: "Our Royal Master saw, with heedful eyes, Troops he to Oxford sent, as knowing why, But books to Cambridge gave, as well discerning, When this jeu d'esprit was once triumphantly quoted by Dr. Johnson, it was answered by Sir William Browne, a physician, in these lines; which the Doctor allowed to be the happiest extemporaneous production that he had ever heard: "The King to Oxford sent his troop of horse, The late Mr. Warton was born at Basingstoke in 1728, and discovered an early attachment to books, with a maturity of mental powers very unusual in a boy. The following letter, addressed by him to his sister when he was only nine years old, is a very extraordinary performance, and must have excited the hope of great future excellence: Dear Sister, "I thank you for your letter; and in return, I send you the first production of my little Muse, which I wish was now old enough to make a song for you to set to music; but at present I send you these four Verses. "On Leander's swimming over the Hellespont to Hero. I agree " "When bold Leander sought his distant Fair, Drown me on my return,-but spare me, as I go." with you in thinking that Friendship, like Truth, should be without form or ornament; and that both appear best in their dishabille. Let Friendship, therefore, and Truth, Music and Poetry, go hand in hand. "The above Verses I know are a trifle,-but you will make goodnatured allowances for my little young Muse; it will be my utmost ambition to make some verses, that you can set to your harpsichord; -and to shew you upon all occasions "how sincerely I am your "THOMAS WARTON." : He continued under the care of his father till he was removed to Oxford in the year 1743, when he was admitted a commoner, and soon afterward was elected a scholar, of Trinity College. Between this time and the year 1749, different poems were published by Mr. Warton, particularly "The Pleasures of Melancholy," reprinted with material alterations in Dodsley's Collection. In 17-19, his "Triumph of Isis" appeared, occasioned by a poem of Mr. Mason intitled, " Isis, an Elegy.' This circumstance, together with an anecdote which we shall transcribe, produced a curious letter from Mason, which we shall also present to our readers: On the anonymous publication of the "Heroic Epistle to Sir William Chambers" about the year 1776, it is known that various opinions were entertained, as to who was the author. Mr. Warton being present in a large company, where it was the subject of conversation, ascribed it to Mason. The declaration was at first made inadvertently. "Well," said he, "if I had been Mason, I would not have written it." When his words were taken up, he was surprised at his having so committed himself; but having once delivered, proceeded to substantiate, his opinion. It was founded on the internal evidence of the poem; versification, style, &c. "But, Mr. Warton, style is so uncertain a criterion:-how can you pretend to say that the poem was written by Mason from its style?" "Just (he answered) as a hatter would tell you who made that hat." The opinion, thus delivered and supported, by some means came to the knowledge of Mason; who, having occasion to write to Warton about the time, took notice of it in the following letter: "Sir, York, April 24, 1777. "Our good friend the Bishop of Litchfield had sent me your obliging letter to him the post before I received yours on the sume subject. I think myself much honoured by your attention to this application in behalf of Mr. Plumer, and heartily hope he may be deserving of the favours you mean to shew him. 1 must own to you, however, that the Gentleman is a stranger to me, and that I was in duced to apply to you, by means of the Bishop, in order to oblige a third person, who gave him a high character. "I have to thank you also for the very flattering sentiments which you express of my late publication, and also for the most acceptable present of that elegant collection of poems, with which you have obliged the public. I am however sorry to find, that The Triumph of Isis' has not found a place near the delicate Complaint of Cherwell,' to which it was a proper companion; and I fear that a punc tilio of politeness to me was the occasion of its exclusion. Had I known of your intention of making this collection, most certainly I should have pleaded for the insertion of that poem, which I assure you I think greatly excels the Elegy which occasioned it, both in its poetical imagery, and the correct flow of its versification. And if I put any value upon my own juvenile production, it is because it is written on those old Whig principles, which I am as proud of holding now that they are out of fashion and I am turned fifty, as I then was when they were in fashion, and I was hardly turned twenty. I trust, Sir, you are a Tory moderate enough to forgive me this wrong. Z 2 • But But while I have the pleasure of writing to you, I feel myself half inclined to add a short expostulation on another subject. I have been told that you have pronounced me very irequent y in company to be the author of the Heroic Epistle to Sir William Chambers, and I am told too that the Premier himself suspects that I am so upon your authority. Surely, Sir, mere internal evidence (and you can possibly have no other) can never be sufficient to ground such a determination upon, when you consider how many persons in this rhyming age of ours are possessed of that knack of Pope's versification, which constitutes one part of the merit of that poem; and as to the wit, humour, or satire which it contains, no parts of my writings could ever lead you, by their analogy, to form so peremptory a judg ment. I acquit you however in this procedure of every, even the slightest degree of ill nature and believe that what you have said was only to show your critical acumen. I only mention it that you may be more cautious of speaking of other persons in like manner, who may throw such anonymous bantlings of their brain into the wide world. To some of these it might prove an essential injury; for though they might deserve the frown of power (as the author in question certainly does) yet I am persuaded that your good nature would be hurt if that frown was either increased or fixed by your ipse dixit. "To say more on this trivial subject would betray a solicitude on my part very foreign from my present feelings or inclination. My easy and independent circumstances make such a suspicion sit mighty easy upon me; and the Minister, nay the whole Ministry, are free to think what they please of a man, who neither aims to solicit, nor wishes to accept, any favour from them. Believe me to be with the truest esteem, "P. S. I should be sorry if you thought this latter part of my letter required any answer." Mr. Mant proceeds to state the different works which Warton edited and wrote; and, on the subject of his Theocritus, he introduces a letter addressed to him by Reiske: By the purchase of a copy of the Theocritus from Mr. Payne, the bookseller, into whose hands the library of our Author came on the death of his brother, Dr. Joseph Warton, in 1800, I am enabled to lay before my readers the following original letter from Reiske, the editor of the Greek orators, &e. whose edition of Theocritus had appeared just before Warton's, and was noticed in his preface with commendation. "WARTONO V. C. "J. J. REISKE. Misit ad me nuper Askewius V. C. Theocritum à Te, Vir Doc. tissime, egregie expolitum. Non potui facere, quin tibi provinciam hanc |