412 
Dr. Cririe must be considered, in one 
point of view, as the commentator of his 
own works. 
« Accept, O Lycidas! this humble lay, 
Slightly descriptive of those rural scenes, 
And wilder charms, which, thro’ our native 
land, 
Kind Nature spreads to captivate the soul, 
Instinctive form’d her beauties to admire : 
Those varied scenes I late with pleasure 
view’d, 
Pleasure unmix'd with pain, save what arose 
From deep regret, through sympathy of soul, 
Excited by thine absence: oft thy name 
Was heard, and oft thy form to Fancy’s eye 
Present appear'd ; and oft (for not alone 
T sought those distant solitary wilds, 
Mountains and lakes, hills, rivers, rocks, and 
woods) 
Our friend, whose presence heighten’d every 
PYG", ; 
Greatly enhancing all the scen’ry round, 
Sincerely join’d your absence to deplore.” 
In this passage we are referred to the 
notes, which the author tells us ought to 
be regularly consulted in the perusal, 
as they are necessary towards a clear un- 
derstanding of the poem. ‘The line to 
be elucidated is this, 
«© Our friend, whose presence heightened 
every joy.” 
Whcereof the Doctor has helped us to 
«a clear understanding,” by the depth 
and novelty of the following annotation. 
« Man is naturally fond -of society, but 
those alone who have tasted the sweets 
of virtuous friendship can tell how much 
BRITISH TOPOGRAPHY AND ANTIQUITIES. 
participation adds to enjoyment.”— 
(P. 254.) 7 
Again, the text is, 
«« September young had scarce begun to tinge 
Witb various colours, fruit and forest trees.” 
The comment runs thus: “ The vari- 
ous seasons of the year have each their 
distinguishing features and respective 
beauties.” (P. 234.) Delighted as we 
needs must be with the truth and pro- 
fundity of this remark, may we be per- 
mitted to hint, that the talents and acu- 
men of this commentator should be more 
worthily exerted? We do indeed confess, 
that such poetry can only be elucidated 
by such comments, that “ none but him- 
self can be his annotator ;” yet surely 
neither Scottish scenery, nor his own 
verses can deserve the investigations of 
this great critic, D. D. as he is, while a 
cloud hangs over the apocalypse, while 
the number of the beast is still unexplain- 
ed, while it remains to be decided, whe- 
ther the man of sin be Tom Paine, 
or Doctor Dodd, and while we have 
only the authority of the news-papers 
and cheap pamphlets for believing Bo- 
naparte to be Gog and Magog. 
The size and exterior of this volume 
have provoked from us an examination, 
which a more appropriate appearance in 
foolscap might have escaped. Common 
trials for petty larceny are scarcely heard 
of beyond the precincts of the Old 
Bailey, but if a peer be tried as a pick- 
pocket, or a lady brought to the bar for 
shoplifting, the rank of the delinquent 
secures universal notoriety. 
Arr. XV. A Tour throughout South Wales and Monmouthshire, comprehending a general 
‘Survey of the picturesque Scenery, Remains of Antiquity, historical Events, peculiar Man- 
ners, and commercial Situations of that interesting Portion of the British Empire. By 
J.J. Barser, F.S.A. 8vo. pp. 372. 
tint Prints, from Drawings by the Author. 
WALES has had more than her pro- 
portionate share of topographers and 
tourists ; but though a great number 
of volumes have been expressly appro- 
priated to this part of Great Britain, 
they have generally’been so deficient in 
the grand essentials of information, that 
gthers continue to follow, and more are 
wanting to furnish a perfect and satis- 
factory account of the principality. In 
our former volume, (p. 495.) we noticed 
a work which professed to treat of South 
Wales, and were impelled to speak re- 
provingly of its author. The volume 
before us, also refers to the same part of 
There is another Edition, with 20 acqua- 
our island, and though it offers only a 
number of slight descriptive sketches, 
yet some of those are touched with the 
hand of a master. It has been too much 
the practice with Welsh tourists to run 
through the country with hasty preci- 
pitancy, make a few brief notes, slight 
sketches, &c., and afterwards work up 
their crude materials into one or two 
octavo volumes. The grand moun- 
tainous scenery, with the magnificent 
castellated, and monastic ruins, which 
characterize Wales, are powerful temp- 
tations to curiosity; and fashion having 
pointed her finger to that part of the 
