Additional Notes. 481 



has contracted from our unfortunate prejudices." — Stew- 

 art's Elements of the Philosophy of Mind, Part II. chap. 

 v. § 2. second edit. 



Moral and Devotional Poetry. 



To the list of sacred poets, the immortal name of Cow- 

 per ought to be added, as holding a place in the first rank. 

 The orthodoxy of his faith, and the fervour of his piety, 

 joined to his great talents, fitted him pre-eminently for this 

 species of composition. 



Gellert is by no means the only sacred poet of whom 

 Germany boasts. The Hymns of Kleist, Cramer, Klop- 

 stock, Schlegel, and Herder, have received high praise. 



Descriptive Poetry . 



The Alptn of Baron Haller, published in 1729, is a de- 

 scriptive poem of considerable reputation. The Friihling of 

 Kleist is a poem of still more distinguished excellence. 

 Though not equal to Thomson, with whom he has been 

 compared, he has certainly painted some of the most beautiful 

 scenes in nature, in just, vivid, and beautiful colours. To 

 these may be added, belonging to the same class, the Luise 

 of Voss, and the Hermann und Dorothea of Goethe, 

 which are generally placed, in that country, in the first order 

 of descriptive poetry. 



Drama. 



A tragedy, entitled, The Grecian Daughter, is, by mis- 

 take, ascribed to Moore, in p. 210. He published no dra- 

 matic work under that title. 



In p. 211 there is an erroneous statement respecting co<- 

 medy. Several of Shakspeare's comedies are purely comic. 

 His tragedies are rather chargeable with having a mixed cha- 

 racter than his comedies. — Dryden also wrote several un- 

 mixed comedies. 



Towards the close of the eighteenth century, the plays of 

 Farquhar, on account of their licentious character, were 

 seldom played, and never without great alterations. They are 

 wholly discontinued on the American stage. 



VOL. II. 3Q 



