are bound in justice to observe that it is less in the statements of fact, than in the reflections with which these are accompanied; reflections which, however, making due allowances, are equally creditable to the head and heart of the writer. The scenes of carnage which he so well paints; and the skill and activity employed to destroy life, never before equalled, which he so ably describes; are in his hands powerful arguments to induce contending parties to repress their mischievous ambition, to lay aside their implacable resentments, and to bend their minds to conciliation. Art. 20. POETIC and DRAMATIC. The Enchanted Plants. Fables in Verse. 8vo. pp. 93. 5s. Boards. Evans, Pall Mall. 1800. After the highly finished works which have of late years been given to the world by Dr. Langhorne and Dr. Darwin, on subjects similar to the present, it must not be regarded as matter of surprize if we took up this book with more than our usual fastidiousness. Poetry indeed, and perhaps especially that branch of it which relates to the vegetable kingdom, presents a wide field for fancy, as well as ample scope for the luxuriance of a glowing imagination: but we must repeat, and we repeat it with regret, that we have been so long accustomed to dwell with rapture on the beauties of the two exquisite masters whom we have just mentioned, that we are not altogether able to form a judgment totally unbiassed on this subject. The present composition, though published anonymously, is generally understood to proceed from the pen of a lady (Mrs. Montolieu) of whose taste and poetical powers the public have already formed a favourable judgment; and we may venture to say that this opinion will not be changed by a perusal of the volume now before us. It is ornamented with an elegant frontispiece engraved by Bartolozzi, and is printed in the same style in which every thing proceeds from the hands of Bensley: but, in stating these circumstances, we mention the most subordinate qualities, and shall proceed immediately to a consideration of the work itself. The introduction to the fables is very pleasing; and the idea which it contains, of making the Genius of flowers appear, and endow a mortal with the power of hearing them converse, if not entirely new, must at least be allowed to be extremely striking.-The fables, 22 in number, are each appropriated to some passion or affection of the mind; which they for the most part aptly illustrate, considered both as to the execution and the flowers that are chosen. The versi fication is throughout the whole elegant and harmonious: but the fables are too long to allow us to extract any one for the perusal of our readers. We imagine, however, that they will consider themselves obliged to us for laying before them a few lines takes from the beginning of the last : • Once on a rock reclined I lay That o'er the ocean frowned, Tempests obscured the face of day, X 4 • Sad 〃 Sad sighed the spirit of the storm, Like passing hours of various form Some heaved like woes with mighty swell, Some lightly foaming, curled and fell The nature of our language does not appear to us to admit of the word: real' being contracted to a monosyllable, as in the 16th Fable, page 64, Who real insignificance feel,' especially in our anapastic lines, with which English poets are apt to take inadmissible liberties. They should never forget that to "slide glibly off the tongue" is the chief merit of this measure; which, though perhaps one of the most easy to write, is of all the most difficult to write well. We must also remark that the point or moral of these fables is not always so neatly and tersely expressed as we could wish. There is in this respect a happy elegance in the works of the unfortunate Pignotti, which we freely confess we never yet found equalled; and we would recommend to the author of the Enchanted Plants an attentive perusal of them, and especially the two fables of "La rosa e lo spino" and "Narciso al fonti. Art 21. Epistle in Rhyme to M. G. Lewis, Esq. M. P. Author of the Monk, &c. With other Verses, including Stanzas addressed to Mrs. Jordan. By Soame, Esq. late of Trinity College, Cambridge. 8vo. pp. 24. 6d. Lunn. It is some The epistle, which occupies the greater part of this small pamphlet, is written much in the style of Mr. Lewis's own poetry. times lively, and contains a few good lines, but is on the whole languid and incorrect. The same terror also of the Devil, with his horns and tail, prevails in it; and the author is a sturdy defender both of the indecency and the ghosts of Mr. Lewis's productions. We shall extract the apology for apparitions, as a favourable specimen of the Foctry: Say, oft as Night and Silence o'er the earth In ev'ry virtuous, ev'ry guilty breast? No No mind so firm but oft recurs in thought, Soon shall some wag, to set opinions right, Of the other short poems, the less that is said the better. Art. 22. Poems on various Occasions; with Translations from Authors in different Languages. By the Rev. W. Colljer, Senior Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. Two Vols. sewed. Cadell jun. and Davies. 1800. 8vo. 12s. The author of these poems, which are published by subscription, informs us in his preface that they were written in times of affluence and happiness, but are published in those of a far different condition: of the originals, there are very few which were not composed on real and particular occasions; and, had not difficulties in life appeared, these efforts of a private and unfeigning muse would, most likely, never have been exposed to public view: the author, therefore, more than indifferent as to the applause or censure of those who know him only by these printed poems, is without anxiety as to the judgment which they may deserve; and has little wish as to their dispersion, but as far as the profits may tend to alleviate the burthens which were the causes of their having been committed to the press.' Under these circumstances, the reader will excuse us from entering into a strict examination of the contents of the volumes. Wa shall merely extract one or two poems, as specimens. SERENATA.-TO ROSALBA. Cease for a while thy strain, Sweet Bird of Eve! To Sorrow's languid ear Thy warblings may be dear, While they of wrongs and cruel deeds complain: But in Rosalba's breast, By Love, by Truth possest, Sleep now would fix his reign, and reigning there be blest. 'All ''All nature sinks around In stillest calm; upon the mountain-trees Nor streams to Echo give the faintest sound; The silent Moon is seen, And stars, with noiseless train, accompany their Queen. Thy choicest charms on my Rosalba show'r! While kindled in repose, Fancy, Love's secret friend, within her bosom glows. Nor, Echo! thou disturb the reign of Sleep: And In noiseless train above, O shed your kindest beams, and guard my sleeping love! LEVITIES.-The THREE PHIALS. • A Bon-vivant, some say t'was Quin, For all the who, the where, and when, This Bon-vivant one morning found The The day was past, the night was come, His pulse was cheery, eye was bright,- He saw the phials,-goodly show,- If these compositions prove agreeable to the reader's taste, he may promise himself much amusement from the present collection. The second volume consists chiefly of translations from Latin, French, and Italian poets. Some of the notes evince considerable erudition, particularly that on the Engubine tablet. We are glad to observe that Mr. Collier has obtained a numerous and most respectable list of subscribers. Art. 23. The Birth-Day: A Comedy, in Three Acts. As performed at the Theatre-Royal, Covent. Garden. Altered from the German of Kotzebue, and adapted to the English Stage. By, Thomas Dibdin, Author of the Jew and the Doctor, &c. 8vo. 28. Longman and Rees. 1800. This is a play altered from Kotzebue's Reconciliation, of which we have already given an account. Mr. Dibdin has judiciously omitted many sentimental passages, and has softened much of the absurdity of his original. He has even occasionally introduced a little humour, instead of the Teutonic insipidity which palled us in the unaltered play; and he has contrived, by several ingenious turns, to give some degree |