/ 



2^ Poet?y. [Chap X 



guage, for strong descriptive powers, and a vein 

 of rich and exquisite humour, his productions have 

 few rivals. None can read the works of this 

 justly celebrated writer without admiring the ge- 

 nius which, amidst so many difficulties and dis- 

 couragements, could soar so high ; nor without 

 lamenting the misfortunes and the vices which, 

 with such a genius, and amidst so many excite- 

 ments to virtue, could sink him so low. 



Walks in a Forest^ and the Vales of Wever, by 

 Mr. Gisborne, display a very honourable share of 

 original and strong descriptive' powers. A Tour 

 through Wales, by Mr. Sotheby ; Grove-Hill, by 

 Mr. Maurice ; The Sea, by Mr. Bidlake ; The 

 Pleasures of Memory, by Mr. Rogers ; and the 

 Pleasures of Hope, by Mr. Campbell ; are all con- 

 sidered by critics as possessing rich and various 

 poetic beauties. The Farmer's Boij, by Robert 

 Bloomfield, to ease and sweetness of versification 

 adds descriptions of such original and inimitable 

 excellence, as shows that they were drawn from 

 nature ; and it possesses likewise a vein of senti- 

 ment and morality of the most elevated kind. 



SECTION VI. 



PASTORAL POETRY. 



The Pastoral poetry of the eighteenth century 

 is also highly honourable to modern genius. A 

 brief review of the principal names which belong 

 to this class of authors will show that the last, with 



