A 



BRIEF RETROSPECT 



OF THE 



EIGHTEENTH CENTURY, 



CHAPTER XX. 



POETRY. 



Jl OETRY, in one form or another, has been the 

 growth of every age with the history of which we 

 are acquainted; and the eighteenth century had 

 its full share of those who paid their court to the 

 Muses. It may be said with confidence, indeed, 

 that the last age produced a far greater number of 

 poets than any former period of the same extent. 

 But it must be confessed, that of this number few 

 are entitled to the character of distinguished ex- 

 cellence. The mantle of Shakspeare or of Milton 

 has not fallen upon any succeeding bard. Since 

 the death of the latter, more than a century has 

 passed away without producing a rival of his 

 great and deserved fame. Still it may be main- 

 tained that poets, and poetic excellence, have been 

 produced, of sufficient distinction to do high lio- 



Voi. m. 3 



