DR. DARWIN 



" tranfparency in his ftyle through which 

 " we fee objects in their exact figure an4 

 " proportion ; but Dr. Darwin's poetry 

 " wants fenfation ; .that fort of excellence 

 " which, while it enables us to fee dif- 

 " tinctly the objects defcribed, makes us 

 " feel them acting on our nerves." 



A little reflection is, perhaps, neceflary 

 precifely to underftand this criticifm, dif- 

 tinguifliing between vivid poetry which 

 does not excite fenfation, and vivid poetry 

 which does excite it. Inftances will beft 

 elucidate the diftinction. See the tw r o 

 following defcriptions of a wintery even^ 

 ing, late in autumn. 



BOTANIC GARDEN, 



Then o'er the cultur'd lawns and dreary wafte, 

 Retiring Autumn flings her howling blaft, 

 Bends in tumultuous waves the ftruggling woods, 

 And ihowers her leafy honors on the floods, 

 , In withering heaps colle&s the flowery fpoil, 

 And each chill infeft fleeps beneath the foil. 



Quoted 



