5<5 Poetry. [Cq^P- XX. 



Great Britain. To these may be added Tkc 

 Pursuits of Literature, a satirical poem, publish- 

 ed a few years ago, by an anonymous hand. In 

 this "work every friend of truth, virtue, and sound 

 learning will fmd much to approve and admire. 

 A large portion of the literary and moral opinions 

 which it contains are doubtless entitled to the 

 ■\\armest approbation. But the judicious reader 

 will also fmd much to condemn. The author dis- 

 covers, on many occasions, a bitterness of preju- 

 dice, and a rage for satire, which frequently lead 

 liim astray, and which detract greatly both from 

 the dignity and the value of his work. His pe- 

 dantic fondness for quotation is indulged to a de- 

 gree which disfigures his pages, and encumbers 

 and weakens his meaning ; and, after all, his notes 

 are so much more spirited and valuable than his 

 poetry, that the latter ^vill seldom be read except 

 as an introduction to the former *. 



Under the head of Satire falls that jnock-heroic 

 poetry, which is a species of composition almost 

 wJiolly peculiar to modern times, and of which the 



* The author of this singular work is still unknown. That 

 he has great learning, and a comprehensive and vigorous mind, 

 -cannot be doubted ; and that in prose he expresses himself with 

 much force, vivacity, and taste, is no less evident. But I must 

 be permitted, on many subjects, to call in question both the can- 

 dour of his temper, and the rectitude of his judgement ; and as a 

 poet, notwithstanding all the applause which has been heaped 

 upon him, I must consider him far below the great masters among 

 whom he affects to take his station, and with whom he has the 

 presumption to compare himself. His work is one of those which 

 derive their chief importance and popularity from the praise and 

 aspersion of living characters with which they abound ; an4 

 which, in a few years, must fall into oblivion. 



