"of Homer, on the contrary, are full and expanded paintings of nature. Of the Homeric poetry, copiousness is the characteristic; of the Virgilian, "metaphorical inversion. 66 "There are few metaphorical inflexions of phrase in Homer; in Virgil they overflow. Virgil says, in the fifth book of his Eneis, "Thus "he spoke weeping, and gave the reins to his "fleet." Homer would have expressed it more "simply. Thus in the twelfth Odyssey he says, "Now they leave the inhospitable shores of the Cyclops, and sail through the ocean." This marks strongly the distinction between the Homeric " and Virgilian poetry, 66 "I sometimes amuse myself by translating from "Homer into English verse. I will confront a "brick of my house with a brick of Pope's. "BY ALEXANDER POPE. "There in the forum swarm a num'rous train, "The subject of debate a townsman slain; "One pleads the fine discharg'd, which one denied, "The witnesses appear on either hand, "The appointed heralds still the noisy bands, “And form a ring with sceptres in their hands." "BY LUCAS GEORGE. "In noisy crouds the populace appear, "Rise in debate, and urge the wordy war, "This pleads his juster cause, attests the skies, Pray, in the justice of criticism, do you not "think mine the more spirited translation? Is. not my versification also more regular, harmo"nious and natural? Answer this, I say.* ઠંડ The "four last lines of Pope are monotonous; the "pauses fall too late to be lively. Sum Pius ૮૯ Eneas! &c. &c. "Have you ever seen Mambrun's epic poem in "Latin, of Idolatry Overthrown? No. You see, Sir, how little you know of French authors.+ "This poem I have glanced over (no matter "where), and can inform you that it is below cri¿ticism. "News. Townshend, the schoolmaster, has "fled. Finding his garrison no longer tenable, "he wisely evacuated it, and has embarked him r self, and his system of book-keeping, for the "island of Bermudas. Had this descendant "from Orbilius Flagosus known Latin, he would, doubtless, have found a valedictory quotation in Virgil, and addressed me with it at parting, "Nos patriæ fines et dulcia linquimus arva, "Nos patriam fugimus; tu, Tityre, lentus in umbrą, "Formosam resonare doces Amaryllida sylvas." Answer. NO. Is not this a bull? "The Trustees have increased my salary to a "hundred and twenty pounds a-year, with board ing; so, I believe, I shall continue to vegetate " and eat grass among the Newtown farmers, till "I shall be enabled to look on the frowns of for"tune with a more magnanimous countenance. "You say you are writing a Novel. There was a man in Babylon! toll de roll! pr 66 "June 18, 1801. "I again resume my conversation with you. "Our right reverend Parson has the predicting spirit of Achilles' horse, for he told me last "night we should have fair weather, and I per"ceive the sky is without a cloud. "The people here are become more attentive "to me of late, than they formerly were; and "though I cannot hope for intellectual felicity, yet I may expect such tranquillity as (though inglorious) will at least be indulgent to my li"terary indolence. "I dined yesterday with Mrs. and her daughter. The old lady told me a story about (6 you. She said, that instead of delivering "Heloise the novel which I sent her by you from West Chester, you lent it to her youngest 'daughter, and palmed upon Heloise an old his"tory of Rome.-I again repeat, women know "not what to be at. Mrs. acquainted me "in a whisper, that she was preparing a critique " on your fugitive poems, which she should sign "Artimesia, and publish it in the Commercial "Advertiser. Knowing you to be one of the genus irritabile vatum, and having the dignity of 66 66 your character at heart, I enjoin you not to reply to this Amazon with anger, but gibbet "her without ceremony to a gallows already "made to your hands." "When Artimesia talks by fits, Of councils, classics, fathers, wits, "Reads Malbranche, Boyle and Locke; РОРЕ. "Having this gallows in contemplation, I ad"vised Mrs. --to publish her stricture; complimenting her on her penetration, her acute ness, and her wit. She ought to be punished "for her temerity. A woman has no business "with a pen in her hand, unless it be to compute "the expences of her housekeeping. When a "woman is ambitious of literary distinction, she "becomes distracted. Look at Mrs. Wolstan 166 croft's (I may be 66 forgiven for not spelling the name right) Perversion of Women. It " is a volume of insanity. "It may be asked, Is a woman then to be "debarred access to all books? I say no. If she "discovers an avidity of reading, put a bible into "her hands. Let a bible be her manual; let 1 "her lisp the scriptures in her childhood, and "digest them in her youth. "I was at New-York thrice last week. The "last time I wished much to see you, and I "called twice at the little tavern for that pur66 pose; but you were too indolent to stir out; "so I left you to meditate in your chamber, and prosecute your lucubrations, while I walked solitarily round the battery, and lamented the "instability of friendship. 66 66 "Heloise has just sent me my stockings and cravats (delicately mended) by her brother. "She is an amiable little devil, and I often go to "see her, mea sola voluptas! But rather than be ❝ in love, I would change my humanity with a "baboon. "I am sorry you are occupied in writing a "Novel, because the world has reason to expect "something better. The mind of a young man "of genius resembles a little stream, which, ac"cording to the direction that chance may give " it, is either lost by mixing with other channels, or, preserving its course, enlarges at last its waters, and flows with the magnificence of the "Nile, or the Ganges. 66 66 "I have sent Lang another essay to insert in "his Gazette. It is the story of an Indian war"rior; a mere cram; but no matter; any thing " is good enough for these calm Americans—fruges consumere nati. "Do you not think Lang a silly fellow, to place |