Retrospect of Domestic Literature—Biography. 
crown of Poland; are incidents which 
reflect an uncornmon and_ diversified 
lustre on his history, In an ill-fated honr, 
Wueen Elizabeth, who had refused the 
crown of Poland for him, fearing “ to 
lose the jewel of her times,” indulged his 
inartial disposition. In November 1585, 
she constituted him Governor of Flush- 
ing. ‘Sir Philip,” says Dr. Zouch, ia 
his fifth chapter, “ was prepared to sa- 
crifice his fortune and his life for his reli- 
gion and country: and in one of his let- 
ters there is so strong a proof, that he 
considered the cause of the persecuted 
inhabitants of the Netherlands as the 
cause of God, that it would be improper 
to deny the Protestant reader the plea- 
sure of perusing it. ‘If her Majesty,’ 
says he, ¢ wear the fountain, I wold fear, 
considering what I daily find, that we 
sheld wax dry. But she is but a means 
whom God useth. And I know not whe- 
ther Tam deceaved; but I am faithfully 
persuaded, that, if she, shold withdraw 
herself, other springes would rise to help 
this action. For, methinks, I see the 
great work indeed in hand against the 
abusers of the world, wherein it is no 
greater fault to have confidence in man’s 
power, than it is too hastily to despair of 
God’s work.’ This was the cause in 
which he fell. “The cause,” says Dr. 
Zouch, “ of freedom and religion against 
Spanish tyranny and Spanish supersti- 
tion.” He received his death-wound Sep. 
22, and languished till the 417th of 
October 1586. In the sixth chapter we 
have the peculiar traits. of his character, 
as they have been handed down to us by 
bis contemporaries ; an account of his 
friends: and a defence of him from the 
censures which one or two modern wri- 
ters have thrown upon the last and most 
celebrated action of his life. 
The following is an abridged list of Sir 
Philip Sidney’s works; exclusive of nu- 
merous letters, some of which have been 
printed, and others scattered up and 
down in different libraries : 
1. “ The Countesse of Pembroke’s Ar- 
cadia,” first published in 4to. 1590. 
2. “ Astrophel and Stella,” 4to. 1591. 
3. “The Defence of Poesy,” 4to. 1595. 
4, Sonnets,” several of which ap- 
peared in Constable’s Diana; 1594: but 
were afterward annexed to the Arcadia, 
with Astrophel and Stella. 
5. © A Remedie for Love.” 
6. * The Lady of Maya;” a Masque. 
7. ‘* Instructions for Travellers ;” by 
Robert earl of Essex, Sir Philip Sidney, 
and Secretary Davison... 82mo. 16383, 
627 
8. “ Valour anatomized, in a Fancie,” 
1581. 
9. A few “ Songs,” printed in ‘ Eng- 
land’s Helicon,” 4to. 1600; some Sou- 
nets, in “ England’s Parnassus,” of the 
same date; and two Pastorals, in ‘* Dae 
vison’s Poems.” 1611. 
10. “ An English Version of the Psalms 
of David:” two of which were inserted 
in the Guardian, by Sir Richard. Steele. 
11. ‘‘A Worke concerninge the Trewe 
nesse of the Christiag Religion ;” written 
in French against Atheists, Epicures, 
Paynims, Jews, Mahometists, and other 
Infidels. By Philip of Mornay, lord of 
Plessie Marlic. Begunne to be translated 
into English, by Sir Philip Sidney, knight, 
and at his request finished by Arthur 
Golding. 4to. 1587. 
Enough has been stated, without any 
additional praise, to prove the value of 
Sir Philip Sidney’s Memoirs. 
The second edition of Dr. Watkrns’s 
“ Scripture Biography ; or Lives and 
Characters of the principal Personages re= 
corded in the Old and New Testament, 
appears to have heen corrected, and con- 
siderably enlarged: although the genera- 
lity of the articles are still of such a length 
as to be easily read through at one time, 
In the “ Biographical Index to the prew 
sent House of Lords, corrected to October, 
1808,” we have a very curious, original, 
and entertaining, publication. It gives 
® a succinct account of the descent and 
history of the whole English Aristocracy, 
aswell as of such of the Scottish and 
Irish Peers as sit, either by patent or 
election, in the Imperial Parliament. ‘To 
this, for the first time, is added, the bio- 
graphy of the venerable bench of bie 
shops:” all marshalled in alphabetical or- 
der. The Appendix contains several use- 
ful lists; and, in conjunction with the Bi- 
ographical Index to the House of Com- 
mons, the whole appears to form a com- 
plete history of two branches of the legis- 
lature. The generality of articies relaung 
to the peers are arranged in the following 
subdivisons: titles aud creations; de. 
scent and history; the present peer; 
parliamentary conduct; with, occasion- 
ally, anecdotes of the family. Such a 
work is confessedly new, both in its plan 
and structure. 
Of Professor Porson we have as 
yet no regular life to announce. A 
sketch indeed has appeared, with a few 
traits and illustrative anecdotes ; and with 
a portrait, in which those who were par= 
ticulariy intimate with the Professor, 
may, perhaps, find the distant ai alaatie ’ 
Q 
