Sect. K.] Didactic Poetry. 17 



Beattie, which may without impropriety be men- 

 tioned under this head, beside the most engag- 

 ing pictures of nature, abounds in the richest sen- 

 timental, moral, and poetical beauties. The Es- 

 says on Painting, History, and Epic Poetry, by 

 Mr. Hayley, though partaking of the historical 

 and descriptive, are also didactic in their charac- 

 ter, and exhibit a very large share of erudition, 

 correctness, elegance, and poetic taste. 



Beside the specimens of didactic poetry above 

 mentioned, English literature furnished a num- 

 ber of others, during the period under considera- 

 tion, which, though not in the first rank of ex- 

 cellence, are yet entitled to respectful notice. 

 The Chace, by Somerville, to a just and intellir 

 gent view of its subject, adds felicity and variety 

 of description, and elegance of language. The 

 Infancy of Dr. Downman discovers him to have 

 been a good poet, an excellent medical philoso- 

 pher, and a friend to morality and virtue. The 



year 1727, and was reprinted at Loaidon, with notes and obser- 

 vations by sir Richard Clayton, in 1791. If Dr. Darwin had 

 ever seen de la Croix's work (which can scarcely be question- 

 ed) some deduction must be made from his claim to originality. 

 Still, however, the Botanic Garden will be entitled to no small 

 share of applause as a poem. Though many of the opinions of 

 the author must be considered as erroneous; though his poetry 

 evinces more taste than genius, more labour than invention, and. 

 displays more meretricious glare than chaste ornament; and 

 though much of the praise which was bestowed on the work 

 soon after its appearance must be deemed extravagant; yet 

 since the author of the Pursuits of Literature pronounced judge- 

 ment upon it, its poetic character has perhaps, in the estimation 

 of many, sunk too low. Dr. Darwin is far from standing at the 

 head of modern ^oets; but he holds a place greatly abov« me- 

 diocrity. 



Vol. III. C 



