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CHAPTER IX. 
BIOGRAPHY. 
WHE richness of the Biographical Department, in the literary history of the 
last year, atones, in a considerable degree, for the deficiencies and worthlessness 
which unfortunately characterise some of the other divisions. Not only have the 
lives of several eminent character, already known and recorded, been written 
afresh, and presented to the public in a new light, and with additional circum- 
stances of interest; but some of the distinguished moderns, lately deceased, have, 
during the last twelvemonth, been worthily recorded, and associated with the illus. 
trious of former ages, who, by general consent, have been selected to serve as mo~ 
dels and examples of human nature. 
If we estimate the merit by the degree of interest excited, Mr. Hayley’s Life of 
Cowper undoubtedly demands the earliest notice. 1t must not be concealed, 
however, that this is less owing to the abilities of the biographer, than to the 
touching and melancholy circumstances in the life of the author, the tender 
sprightliness which distinguishes his numerous letters, and the uncommon pathos 
that breathes in some of the poetical pieces, which are here for the first time laid 
before the public. The late Dr. Geddes has found a worthy memorialist in Mr, 
_ Good ; whose congeniality of attachment to oriental literature, has peculiarly qua- 
“Tified him to estimate the merit of his friend on those topics, upon which his future 
reputation must mainly depend. ‘The uneventful, though by no means useless life 
of Dr. Reid; has been sketched by Professor Stewart; who has, at the same time, 
vindicated his metaphysical system, from the general objections that have been 
urged against it. The life of the gallant Admiral Earl Howe, has been written 
by Mr. Mason; and we are indebted to a female pen for a particular and highly 
interesting biography of General Zieten, one of the ablest warriors of the great 
Frederick of Prussia, and no less distinguished for his moral worth than his military. 
talents. The publication of Lady Wortley Montague’s Correspondence, by Mr. 
Dallaway, has not only established the compleat authenticity of her celebrated let- 
ters from Turkey, but has raised her to the very highest rank among the epistolary 
writers of Europe, for the combination of brilliant wit, glowing description, 
and sound sagacious observation on life and manners. Mr. Godwin has written 
the Life of Chaucer on a new plan, which we trust will for ever remain unique. 
Dr. Aikin has furnished a large and valuable contribution to Biographical History, 
by the publication of the fourth volume of his General Biography ; and our An- 
nual List is swelled, though not greatly increased in value by the Revolutionary 
Plutarch, Public Characters for 1803, &c. Kc. 
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