281 



PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 

 PROCEEDINGS IN THE ATHEN^UM. 



October 29th. — Rev. S. Rowe*s Lecture on Utilitarianism^ 



Thi abstract of this interesting Lecture unfortunately was pre- 

 pared too late for the present number ; it shall appear in our 

 next. 



November 5th. — Mr. Wightwick's Lecture on the 

 Poetical Writings of Pope, 



The Lecturer commenced by stating that his reason for treating 

 on the present subject, was a feeling that the writings of Pope 

 were not receiving in the present day that attention which they 

 merited, as being the production of an original genius, a polished 

 critic, and a man of unusual acquirement. 



He considered that the influence of modern poetry, and the 

 revival of Elizabethan literature, had proved conducive to a dis- 

 taste for the more studied but less impassioned ; the more classic, 

 but less agitating poetry of that intervening age, which was 

 chiefly distinguished by the genius of Dryden, Addison, and 

 Pope. 



Having alluded to Cowper, as the first to break through the 

 trammels which this school had, in the progress of time, thrown 

 around poetry ; the lecturer proceeded to state, that he had 

 undertaken the present subject, less under the influence of 

 natural bias, than under that of duteous eflfort prompted by 

 candour. Devoted to the power of Shakspeare, the romantic 

 gloom of Byron, the pious simplicity of Cowper, and the specu- 

 lative daring of some others, it might be conceived that he 

 regarded with a somewhat subdued enthusiasm, the precision, 

 polish, and circumspect judgment of Pope; at any rate, he was 

 influenced by no prejudice. 



The lecturer at this period of his discourse deprecated in 

 strong terms the conduct of those who formed their estimates 

 of an author's works from the opinions of others, without giving 

 themselves the smallest trouble in perusal, or the least exertion 

 in judging. 



He attributed much of the difference of opinion, which fre- 

 quently arises between critics, and those who would be critics, 

 to a want of definition as to terms and expressions prior to dis- 

 cussion : he would therefore, before proceeding further, submit 

 to the audience the following definition of poetry : — Poetry pro- 

 fesses to convey sentiment, to excite feeling, and to expand 

 perception through an exalted medium furnished by the imagin- 

 ation. Having illustrated this definition by examples, the lec- 

 turer went on to observe that Pope must acquire tUc more 

 regard, in proportion as we allow the term poetry to be .H' re 

 VOL. VI.— 1835. MM ♦ 



