The mighty wave, a watry wall, 'till high
The curling top o'erswells the bending base.
Then thund'ring down, the fluid ruin falls
Upon the frighted strand, or pointed cliff.
White boiling foam invades the trembling shore,
And seas in mingled fury madden round.

Objections might be urged against the personification of Calm, which is only a privation of motion: but, after having made a goddess of a negative idea, we must not hesitate to give her stilly arms, which she spreads across the bosom of the charmed wave. -We are tempted to contrast with the involved passage, which we have just quoted, Virgil's description of a storm, in 3 Æneid:

"Tum mihi cæruleus supra caput astitit imber,

Noctem hyememque ferens; et inhorruit unda terebris.
Continuo venti volvunt mare, magnaque surgunt
Equora; dispersi jactamur gurgite vasto:
Involvere diem nimbi, et rox humida calum
Abstulit: ingeminant abruptis nubibus ignes."

The incorporated Tale of Ernesto and Matilda is not without merit: it may draw a tear from the eyes of the young and tender; and every story which has a tendency to inspire virtuous love, and to check avarice, must be attended with good moral effects. Mr. Bidlake, indeed, in all his works, appears to be a friend to religion and virtue, and to possess a heart susceptible of all the finer feelings of humanity. His imagination also is bold and vigorous, and he is by no means destitute of poetic genius. This opinion, we conceive, will be justified by the following passage; though a severe critic might consider it as not wholly free from something like affect

ation:

And see, where one, a lovely mourner strays!

And eyes the wave intent: and ever as
She turns aside her face, a piteous sigh
She heaves, that almost bursts her swelling breast.
"Tis Angelina's form. I know the maid."
Once, not a brighter star e'er shone in heav'n.
How clouded now! How sunk in misty grief!
That flings her lily where the rose late bloom'd.
I see thee, beauteous ruin! Child of woe!
Shade with thy snowy hand thy ivory brow.
'Tis there thy sorrow rests; there reason fails
Disturb'd, and shook upon
proper throne.
Again that snowy hand thy bosom holds !
Panting and struggling; there no less thy grief
For ever feeds, and rankles deep. The fair
A lover had, fond as the kissing breeze
That woos in spring the purple violet ;

its

Faithful

Faithful as holy truth; and as sincere.
But him the greedy sea swallow'd, within
Its pitiless, insatiate waste; and she,
Since that disastrous hour, has never joy'd.
For reason fled; and oft she seeks the strand;
Or on a pointed rock sits sadly down;
Mute as the monument; and still expects
Each flowing wave will waft her lover's corpse,
Before her rainy eyes: though now, alas!
In tedious length successive years have view'd
Her sorrows; pass'd, and left her still forlorn.
Be hush'd ye waves! I hear her woe-tun'd voice.

The melancholy cadence melts my soul.

It is too much-Good Heav'ns! Why wound the dove?
Why lights thy vengeful arrow on the lamb ?

Why stain the bosom of unsullied snow?

"Why didst thou leave these arms, (the mourner cries)
And give inconstant elements such chance?
Where have ye laid him, O ye sea-green nymphs!
In what deep cave hold ye his precious form?
Are not his eyes now jewels, made to light
Your fathomless abyss? his bones are pearl;
His flowing hair fantastic weeds; his lips

True coral now, where late sweet dimpling smiles
Sat fair, like cherubs on a rosy cloud.

O give him back, thou all-devouring deep!
Or lay me with him in one oozy grave!"

After these extracts and remarks, we shall leave the merits of the present work to the final decision of the critical reader.,

Ban....

MONTHLY CATALOGUE,
For JANUARY, 1797.

EDUCATION.

Art. 15. An Universal Grammar of the French Language, on an im-
proved Plan. By Nicolas Hamel, Graduate in the University of
Caen, and Rector of the Town of l'Aigle, in Normandy. 8vo.
pp. 284. 45. bound. Evans. 1796.

ON reading the title of this work, which announces itself as an
universal Grammar of a particular language, we expected to find
it dated from Dublin: an hypothesis not contradicted by the ap-
pearance of the impression, nor by the perpetual purity of English
idiom. It has rather the quality of being comprehensive than concise,
and is as well adapted as most grammars for the use of schools.
Art. 16. A comprehensive Grammar of the English Language, for the
Use of Youth. By J. Rothwell, Master of the Free-school of
Blackrod. The 2d Edition, correeted and improved, 12mo.
- 25. bound. Cadell jun. and Davies. 1797.

Tay.

In

.....

In the lxxixth vol. of our Review, we expressed an approbation of this little work as a grammar for children; and its appearance in a 2d edition seems to imply that the public have thought, with us, that it is properly adapted to answer the end proposed.

NOVELS.

Art, 17. Hubert de Sevrac, a Romance of the Eighteenth Century.
By Mary Robinson, Author of Poems, Angelina, &c. 12mo.
3. Vols. 128. sewed. Hookham. 1796,

This work possesses many of the beauties, and some of the faults,
which characterise that species of modern novels called Romances.
The mysterious, the horrible, the pathetic, and the melancholy, are
the leading features of this kind of writing. We could point out
many parts of these volumes that are delineated with strength and
spirit: but, as a whole, the composition rather fails in effect, owing
to the multiplicity of characters and incidents, and to the frequent
change of scene. We doubt not, however, that it will be perused by
many with pleasure; and, though it be not a first-rate work, it has
many more inferiors than superiors.

Art. 18. Memoirs of the Marquis de Villebon, in a Series of Letters,
founded on Facts. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6s. sewed. Cadell jun. and
Davies. 1796.

A.Ai.

The Marquis de V. is supposed to be one of those French Noblemen, whom the late revolution in that country obliged to expatriate themselves; and his adventures in England are the subject of these volumes. We cannot, however, consistently with truth say much in their praise. The epistolary style is of all others the most difficult to sustain with 'spirit and propriety. As each person has a peculiar character of thought, and manner of expressing himself, it is necessary for an author to command a sufficient variety of style, suited to the differ ent actors whom he employs. In these memoirs, this important object is totally overlooked; and, as far as character of style is concerned, any letter might with equal propriety be attributed to any one of the dramatis persona. The plot is deficient in incident and interest. The language is not wholly free from offences against grammatical accuracy; and we were disgusted with the occasional interpolation of French words and phrases, and with the odious cant terms of bore, quiz, cutting an acquaintance, and others of the same stamp, which never fail of impressing the mark of vulgarity on those who make use of them in conversation or writing;-a vulgarity that is fashionable perhaps, but which confounds the language of the man or woman of baut ton with the jargon of valets and ladies-maids. A.Ai. Art. 19. Abstract; a Character from Life. 12mo. 2 Vols. 65. sewed. Lane. 1797.

The plan and execution of this work do not discover talents that are in any respect superior to those of the generality of novel-writers. The great object of the author is to combat certain opinions with regard to marriage, that have lately become fashionable among many of our modern speculatists. As far as these opinions are erroneous

and

and mischievous, so far the present writer deserves praise for his intentions: we wish that we could say as much for his literary merit. A.Ai Art. 20. A Gossip's Story, and a Legendary Tale, by the Author of Advantages of Elocution. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6s. sewed.

Longman. 1796.

The Legendary Tale, having very little connexion with the chief sub ject of these volumes, might as well have been omitted; since, though far from uninteresting, it is enfeebled by its length, and is deficient in that correctness without which middling poetry is much inferior to indifferent prose. We can, however, recommend the Story as uniting to a great degree of interest the rarer qualities of good sense and an accurate knowlege. of mankind. The grammatical errors and vulgar isms, which disgrace many even of our most celebrated novels, have here no place; and several of the shorter poetical pieces interspersed through the work have very considerable merit. Amusement is combined with utility, and fiction is enlisted in the cause of virtue and practical philosophy.

Art. 21.

A.Ai.

Maurice, a German Tale, by Mr. Schultz, translated from the French. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6s. sewed. Vernor and Hood. 1796. Extravagance, and excessive passions, together with a power of rivetting the reader's attention, are the usual characteristics of German plays and novels; nor is the work before us an exception to the general observation. The language, however, is more chastised; probably on account of its being a translation, at second hand, through the medium of the French. Its moral tendency is rather of a dubious nature, and its merit as a translation is not very great,

A.Ai.

Art, 22. Laura; or the Influence of a Kiss. By A. H. Geszner, Translated from the German. 12mo. 3s. 6d. sewed. Vernor and Hood. 1796.

This novel might have been suffered to escape translation; its incidents are founded on manners which are not English, and should never be suffered to become so. There is no occasion for men to bid each other welcome and farewell with a kiss: nor to familiarize women with such unbashful intercourse of the sexes. The author professes to have made many experiments, and more observations, on the forms of lip-service; and he has here wrought up his collected information into a tender tale, which cloys by superabundance of cari vezzi e molli baci. The translation is not made with perfect felicity: many Germanisms occur: e. g. p. 44. ye nose-wise husseys.' p. 50. the contrary of an Ideal.' p. 91. Mr. destined Professor.' p. 104. the heaven and earth moving deceivers.' p. 179. delicates for delicacy; and several

others.

Art. 23. Berkeley Hall: or the Pupil of Experience. 12mo. 3 Vols.
ios. 6d. sewed. Tindal, Great Portland-street. 1796.
The scene of this work is laid in America; and the time is a short
period before the late revolution in that country. The author has
freely given the reins to his faucy, and in consequence has produced
absurdities and incongruities: but it is an entertaining perform-

many

ance,

Tay.

ance, and by no means the common production of a hackney novel-
writer. Metaphysics and polemical discussions frequently occur: more
reading, and more learning, than are usual in this line of composition,
are displayed; and some interesting delineations are given of the
manners and customs of the American Indians.

Art. 24. The Knights of the Savan; or the Court of Charlemagne :
an Historical and Moral Tale. Translated from the French of
Madame de Genlis, by the Rev. Mr. Beresford.
9s. Boards. Johnson. 1796.

12mo. 3 Vols.

A.Ai.

In our xixth vol. N. S. p. 551, we noticed the original work of which Mr. Beresford here offers us a translation, which, though not faultless, is superior to the common run of such performances. W have only to repeat that, in this romance of chivalry, the incidents are amusingly varied, and the moral is generally unexceptionable: but the spirit of event is often modern, the manners of the age are imperfectly preserved, and the painting is frequently too indelicate and luxuriant for the sober taste of this country. Tay. Art. 25. The Genius: or the Mysterious Adventures of Don Carlos de Grandez. By the Marquis Von Grosse. Translated from the German by Joseph Trapp. 12mo. 2 Vols. 95. sewed. Allen and West. 1796.

This novel belongs to the terrible school, and is on the whole inferior to the Dagger of the same author: see M. R. vol. xix. N. S. p. 207. Scenes of supernatural horror, ill connected, in frightful succession agitate the reader: but they furnish some situations not unworthy of selection by future writers, who possess a less disorderly imagination.

AGRICULTURE, BOTANY, &c.
Art. 26. Remarks on various Agricultural Reports. Transmitted to
the Honourable Board of Agriculture in 1794. By William Fox,
Attorney at Law. 4to. pp. 76. 38. Nicol. 1796.
We have already offered a few observations on the loose manner in
which some of the Reports to the Board of Agriculture are written,
and on the lightness of the matter which they contain ;—we are sorry
that we are not able to speak more highly of the present commentator's
remarks on them; and we have only to fear that the hasty and crude
compositions, which, through the active spirit of the Board, have:
lately been poured on the Public, will tend to perpetuate the super-
ficial manner of writing on rural subjects, which has too long been
prevalent.

Art. 27. The Farmer. Comprehending the most interesting Ob-
jects and beneficial Practices in the Culture of Wheat, Rye, Barley,
Oats, Buckwheat, &c. &c. By Josiah Ringsted, Esq. Third
Edition, with Additions. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Smecton.

D:

Jervis Markham, and Farmer Ellis of Little Gadsden, are here re'vived, and wonderfully enlightened by modern discoveries, particularlythat of rolling by candle-light.

If we had not detected some dangerous precepts, interspersed among much innocent discourse, we might have recommended this

Farmer'

Mars...