CiiAP. XX.] Poetry. 69 



After the foregoing details, it may not be im- 

 proper, before closing this chapter, to offer some 

 general reflexions on the peculiar poetic charac- 

 ter of the eighteenth centmy. Having already 

 employed so many pages on this subject, the 

 most brief and general views only will be at- 

 tempted. 



The last a^e exceeds all preceding periods with 

 respect to the quantity of its poetry. It is per- 

 haps not going beyond the truth to say, that a 

 greater amount of poetic composition was pub- 

 lished in the course of the eighteenth century, 

 ihan all former asies toG^ether could furnish. 



It may also be stated as a general truth, that the 

 poetry of the last age is more distinguished for 

 taste tlian genius ; more remarkable for polish, 

 smoothness, and harmony, than for invention, 

 strength, and boldness of thought and imagery ; 

 <iind abounds more in those qualities which soothe, 

 amuse, and please, than in those which elevate, 

 astonish, and transport the mind. To some of 

 the names mentioned in the foregoing pages, it is 

 readily acknowledged that exalted genius belong- 

 ed; but, without staying to perform the task, 

 equally invidious and difficult, of adjusting the 

 different claims of authors on this head, it may 

 certainly be hazarded, as a general remark, that 

 the prevailing character of modern poetry is that 

 of correctness and taste. While those who were 

 most distinguished in preceding times, for origi- 

 nality and sublimity, were often guilty of the 

 grossest v iolations of taste ; while, in many of their 

 writings, blunders and absurdities were frequently 

 found mixed up, in nearly equal proportions, with 



