A boundless faith that noble mind debas'd, By piercing wit, energic reafon grac'd: A generous Briton, yet he feem'd to hope For James's grandfon, and for James's pope : Though proudly fplenetic, yet idly vain, Accepted flattery, and dealt disdain.E'en fhades like thefe, to brilliancy ally'd, May comfort fools, and curb the fage's pride.' Bozzy and Piozzi; or, the British Biographers. A Town Eclogue. By Peter Pindar, Efq. 4to. 2s. 6d. Kearsley.

Nothing ludicrous escapes this fon of wit and fatire, this Momus of the lower world. The Johnfo-mania is a fertile topic for his pleasantry; and the rival writers of Anecdotes rehearfe their feveral works in humorous rhyme. The importance which the mereft trifles feem to derive from their connection with Johnfon, is difplayed in the alternate fpeeches of these Arcadians, and confequently the pleafantry will frequently be loft by thofe unacquainted with the different works of Mr. Bofwell and Mrs. Piozzi. At laft their difpute runs fo high as to require the interpofition of the umpire, fir John Hawkins, who fhares in the ridicule fo plentifully fcattered. The speakers quarrel in language not the moft delicate; and when Peter fpeaks from himself, his words are not always chofen with the niceft decorum. For this fault we have frequently had cccafion to reprehend him; and are forry that he has profited fo little by our advice.

We fhall felect a paffage from the beginning of the second part, after the umpire had refled a little from his fatigue; his ipirits, in the language of Bayes, having been fo much exalted,' that at laft he falls afleep.

Now from his fleep, the knight, affrighted fprung,
Whilft on his ear, the words of Johnfon rung:
For lo in dreams, the furly Rambler rose,
And wildly staring, feem'd a man of woes.
Wake Hawkins, (growl'd the doctor with a frown)
And knock that fellow and that woman down-
Bid them with Johnfon's Life proceed no further-
Enough already they have dealt in murther:
Say, to their tales, that little truth belongs-

If fame, they mean me-bid them hold their tongues.' This is a very fpirited and appropriated description: the following advice is alfo too good to be loft: we will take the ghoft's word for a thousand pounds.'

• Tell Peter Pindar, fhould you chance to meet him,
I like his genius-should be glad to greet him-
Yet let him know, crown'd heads are facred things,
And bid him rev'rence more, the beft of kings;
Still, on his Pegafus, continue jogging,
And give that Bofwell's back another flogging.'

Peter

Peter pays due attention to the last part of this advice; but the reft feems, from the Eclogue before us, to be difperfed in air. The following lines are fevere; but we shall felect them for the fake of the conclufion, which is fharply pointed and fomewhat characteristic.

For thee, James Bofwell, may the hand of Fate
Arreft thy goofe-quill, and confine thy prate:
Thy egotifms, the world difgufted hears-
Then load with vanities no more our ears
Like fome lone puppy yelping all night long;
That tires the very echoes with his tongue.
Yet fhould it lie beyond the pow'rs of Fate,
To stop thy pen, and ftill thy darling prate;
Oh! be in folitude to live, thy luck:

A chattering magpie on the Isle of Muck.'

A Poem on the Lofs of the Halfewell Eaft-Indiaman, Captain Pierce. To which is fubjoined an Elegy on the unfortunate Sufferers. By a Law Student. 4to. 15. 6d. Whieldon.

This ftudent of the law profeffes himself to be endowed with fome mental qualifications, which are not in general fuppofed to characterise gentlemen of that profeffion.

;

Yet have I feelings worthy of my theme,
-Feelings-I prize beyond a poet's fame
Feelings, which only nature can impart,
Beyond the reach of rhyme and skill of art.
That fweet compaffion for the fuffèrer's woe,
Which thofe alone who feel, alone can know.'

We

6

pay all credit to this gentleman's feelings,' but cannot fpeak very highly of his mode of expreffing them.

The Impeachment: a Mock Heroic Poem. 4to. Is. 6d. Stockdale. This is a pleasant mock-heroic, on the popular fubject of the day, and fome of the parodies from Homer are executed very happily. The objects of the fatire are the coalition, and its friend Mr. Burke; and our author's violent refentment fometimes blinds his eyes, fo as to lofe fight of decorum; a fault too common with political combatants.

Sir Ralph of Stannerton Green. A Poem. 4to. 25. Evans. The incidents in this tale are very melancholy; but, from the manner in which they are narrated, never interesting. Some paffages are obfcure, others vulgar, and the conclufion lame and impotent.

One morn I faw him on the
green,
At the mild peep of dawning gray;
But never more, fir Ralph was feen,
From that e'en to his dying day.'

The

.

The Gerufalemme Liberata of Taffo: with explanatory Notes on the Syntax in obfcure Paffages, and References to the Author's Imitations of the ancient Claffics. To which is prefixed, a compendious Analyfis of Italian Metre. By Agoftino Ifola. 2 Vols. Sve. 10s. 6d. ferved. Robfon.

This, for learners, is a very useful edition of the epic of Taffo: as the ellipfes and inverfions of poetical language are frequent impediments in the early period of the young Italian's ftudies. The editor profeffes alfo to introduce references to the author's imitations of the ancient claffics; but this part of his task feems to be imperfectly executed: luckily it is not a very important one. The introductory analysis of the Italian metre is exceedingly ufeful. It is, on the whole, rather fuperficial; but feems to contain as much as is neceffary to introduce the young ftudent to more extenfive systems. Elegia feripta in Sepulchreto Ruftico, Latine reddita. Cui fubjiciuntur alia Poemata. 4to. 25. Lewis.

This tranflation of Gray's celebrated production is executed with fidelity and elegance. The other poems are written alternately in Latin and English, and are not deftitute of merit.

Elegy written in a Country Church-Yard, by Mr. Gray; translated into Italian Verfe, by J. Giannini, LL. D. 4to. 55. Sold by the Tranflator.

The fimplicity and pathos of the original are not happily preserved in this tranflation.

The Seafons of Life. A Poem.

By the Rev. William Carwithin, A. B. 8vo. 5. Wilkie.

This poem is not deficient in imagery, and the verfification is, in general, tolerably well modulated; but the ideas are often rather fantastical than natural, and an air of juvenility prevails through the whole compofition.

The Mifcellaneous Poetic Attempts of G. Jones. Small Evo. 35. Kearsley.

The author of thefe Attempts, it feems, is an uneducated journeyman wool-comber. His poetry is of very unequal texMuch of it is fatirical and petulant; and other parts difcover a degree of refinement above the common ftandard of an uneducated mechanic.

ture.

The Breeches. A Tale. 4to.

1s. 6d.

Bladon.

A low tale, of a country curate and a cobler's wife; in which the canonical trefpaffer is punished by the husband with the lofs of his breeches.

The

The English Orator. A Didactic Poem. 4to. 2s. 6d. Dilly. Strictures from Nature. By the Rev. Richard Polawhole. 2d Edit. 4to. 25. Dilly.

We gave fome account in our Fifty-ninth Volume, F. 308, 390, of these performances. Some alterations for the better are made in the firft; and several additional fonnets inferted in the fecond.

The Bumbrusher. A Farce. 8vo. 1s. Bell.

This farce feems founded on a real fact: its perfonality is more obvious than either its wit or humour. We have had occafion to remark, that fcientific wit is feldom fuccefsful: it is still lefs fo when debased by obscenity.

The Fool, a Farce, in Two Acts. As performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden. By Edward Topham, Efq. 8vo.

Strahan.

IS.

This female Leon lofes her judgment for a reason not well nor fatisfactorily explained, and recovers it again equally unexpectedly. In fhort, fhe is a fool, to difplay the talents of a favourite actress, and becomes wife, to complete the denouement, in the happy ftyle which farce requires. The incidents difplay broad humour, instead of wit, delicacy, or addrefs; and this little piece may be allowed to fill up its hour on the stage, but fhould then be heard no more. The Prologue is, however, fpirited and happy; one of the fongs, fung by Mrs. Martyr, highly humorous and pleafing.

A Short Account of the new Pantomime called Omai; or, a Trip round the World; performed at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. 8vo. 6d. Cadell.

The poetry of this pantomime is of two kinds, ferious and comical. The former is intended to defcribe, with fublimity, the manners and customs of the Friendly Islanders, &c. in captain Cook's voyage; and the latter to afford humorous merriment fuitable to the pantomime.

Theodofius and Arabella. A Novel. In a Series of Letters. By the late Mrs. Hampden Pye. 2 Vols. 12mo. 55. fewed. Lane.

Novelty must be very captivating, fince it is purchased fo dearly; for, with extenfive modern margins, and a large letter, as in the volumes before us, it is fold at two fhillings for each hour's entertainment. We thought we had reached the bottom, of the bathos; but Theodofius and Arabella were yet behind. Arpafia; or the Wanderer. A Novel. By the Author of the Nabob. 3 Vols. 12mo. 7s. 6d. fewed. Lane.

This is a common ftory, but related with fome art, and in many passages highly interesting. Hurried on by the events, there

is not much time to detect the numerous improbabilities which occur; and, affected by the fituations, we are fometimes led to overlook inconfiftencies in the characters. But these trifles are not to be accurately diffected. Those who are pleased with this kind of entertainment, may find amusement for an idle hour; and thofe whose whole attentions are devoted to novels, will at least receive no harm from Arpafia, or the Wanderer.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Efays on the Subject of Education. 8vo. 35. ferved. Dilly. Thefe Effays were published fome time fince, under different titles, in two of the morning papers; but certainly their merit, is not fuch as to have entitled them to a re-publication.

A brief Account of a Seminary of Learning established at Margate, in Kent. 12mo. 6d.

Nothing more than an advertisement of a feminary, for the reception of twelve young gentlemen, under the care of a clergyman, rector of Leigh, in Worcestershire.

The Laws concerning Horfes. By William Lucas, of the Middle Temple, Gent. 8vo. Is. 6d. Whieldon.

Though Mr. Lucas informs us that this pamphlet is defigned for the use of the farmer, the carrier, and the horse-dealer, he fets out in a manner very different from what we should expect in fuch a production. The first article we meet with is a pompous differtation on the antiquity of the noble art of horsemanship. Beginning with the fcholiaft of Euripides and Eu. ftathius, he proceeds to Chambers's Dictionary, whence he gleans whatever materials he could find under the title horses. He then prefents us with the commonly known laws on the subject; concluding with the horse-tax, highway, and post-horse acts, with a few cafes on horse-racing.

The Trial of the Rev. James Aliham. Two Parts. 8vo. 2s. 6d, each. Lifter.

This Trial, held in the confiftorial and epifcopal court at Doctors Commons, was for adultery, &c. It appears from the evidence, that Mr. Altham was subject to some intellectual infirmity.

The Trial of John Motherhill. Folio, 25. 6d. Kearfley.

This Trial was for a rape on the body of mifs Catherine Wade. The guilt of the culprit could not be doubted; but, from a fuppofed defect in the evidence, he escaped the punishment due to his crime.

**

The Foreign Literary Intelligence will be refumed in our next, and continued in the fucceeding Numbers of the Critical Review,