204 Mr. Robert Montgomery, and AuG. 



Gentle reader, pray admire, we conjure you, the exquisitely classical 

 and graceful manner in which our satirist has here compared a fat 

 country gentleman, who licks his teeth and screws his eye, to the female 

 priestess of Apollo, under the influence of poetic and oracular inspira- 

 tion ! Observe, also, the refined taste which likens the same gentleman 

 at the same period of time to a hog ! A hog and a priestess ! Happy 

 association of ideas ! No wonder, Mr. Clarkson was smitten with their 

 " denouncing intensity !" 



Describing a dandy, Mr. Montgomery tells us, 



" A porkish whiteness pales his plastic skin, 

 And muslin halters hold the pimpled chin ; 

 A goatish thing, he lives on ogling eyes, 

 On scented handkerchiefs, and maiden sighs." 



This, we suppose, is what Mr. Clarkson means by the " eloquium cano- 

 rum, the full- toned flowing versification," which bears away the palm 

 from Byron. Its ease its melody its eloquence are indeed superla- 

 tive ! The idea of a dandy living, by way of poetic food, on a pocket- 

 handkerchief, is matchless ! Then, too, the " porkish whiteness !" Mr. 

 Clarkson, no doubt, thinks this quite Juvenalian. He is mistaken. It 

 is the description not of a satirist, but a butcher. 

 Of the Opera, we are informed that 



" Bedaubed with paint, here jewelled heads compose 

 Their pustuled persons in the steamy rows ; 

 Pile luscious fancies on transparent limbs, 

 Move with each form, and languish as it swims." 



The above extracts, we must repeat, are not our own, but Mr. 

 Clarkson's selections. They are quoted by that gentleman himself as 

 samples of the " eloquium canorum" and " denouncing intensity" of 

 Mr. Montgomery's satire. By this time, however, the reader is of a 

 different opinion. Instead of vigour of thought and energy of expres- 

 sion, he has doubtless seen nothing but beastliness absurdity down- 

 right blackguardism vapid imitations of Churchill in his vulgarest and 

 most drunken moments the spirit of Zoilus poured forth in the dialect 

 of Thersites. Compare such a scribbler with Horace, Juvenal, or Byron, 

 indeed ! The bare idea is revolting, and nothing but the inordinate 

 length of Mr. Clarkson's ears can excuse it. Vigour of thought is far 

 very far removed from beastliness of expression. It is not an acquaint- 

 ance with slang dictionaries alone that perfects the satirist. Strength of 

 mind loftiness of idea pungency of wit power of expression, 

 that power which shews itself not in ranting and exaggerated language, 

 but in a calm, easy, unforced, and natural style these, combined with 

 a just appreciation of what is due to man, his weakness and his worth 

 these, Mr. Clarkson, are what form the perfect satirist. These, Sir. are 

 what we respect in Juvenal, and love in Horace. Compare the scribbler 

 of the Age Reviewed and Puffiad with these great and matured intellects ! 

 Fie, fie, IVIr. Clarkson, the very devil who carried you your proof sheets 

 could have corrected you, had you taken advantage of his superior 

 sagacity ! 



We proceed to the Omnipresence of the Deity. This poem, which was 

 the first that rendered Mr. Montgomery notorious, was published a few 

 months subsequently to his Age Reviewed and Puffiad. Having failed to 

 eclipse Juvenal, he imagined probably that he might have better success 



