Vol. V.]  Retrofpeet of Domeftic Literature-—The Drama. 
poems of modern produétion*. The 
Rev. Mr. PoLwHeE Le has publifhed a 
fecond edition of ‘*The Influence of 
juocal Attachment,’ much improved ; 
to which a fecond volume is added of 
mifcellaneous poetry. The fame author 
has publifhed the third part of an un- 
- finifhed poem, intitled, “ The Old Eng- 
lifth Gentleman :” the objeét is to dilplay | 
the manners and amufements of our fore- 
fathers. Several charaéters of this fore 
have been drawn by other hands, fuch as 
novel-writers and effayifts, &c.: fo far as 
we may judge from the {pecimen, it does 
not appear that Mr. P. is likely to excel 
his precurfors. The childifh forrows 
of Mr. CuarireEs Luoyp and Mr. 
CHARLEs LAMB, in their valume of 
“ Blank Verfe,’ are truly ludicrous. 
The * Vifion,” a poem, on the union of 
Ruffia and Pruffia againft Poland, with 
other pieces, are the effufions of a young 
mind. Their merit, in general, is that 
of mediocrity ; the Vifton is written in a 
ftrain of laudable indignation, at the in- 
famous partition of Poland. Mr, Ev- 
sTACE’s ** Elegy to the Memory of the 
Right Hon, Edmund Burke’’ is folemn 
and appropriate; the fame may be faid 
of Mrs. West’s ‘f Elegy’’ on the fame 
occafion, which, of the two, 1s perhaps 
{uperior. The ‘ Poems’ by Mr. 
Hucks, of Cambridge, difplay much 
fancy, feeling, and true tafte. The lover of 
Scotch ballad will be gratified with a col- 
leétion which lately appeared, of ‘“ Sangs 
of the Lowlands of Scotland :’? they are 
ftated in the title-page to have been 
carefully compared with the original 
editions, and are embellithed with {pirited 
and charaéteriftic defigns of the ingenious 
Davin ALLEN; the readings of thefe 
‘fangs,’ however, are not always correct, 
and the orthography is fometimes faulty. 
If Mr. ArKinson has’ failed in doing 
juftice to the fcenery of ‘¢ Killarney,” it 
is perhaps, in fome meafure, becaufe the 
{cenery of Killarney would baffle any 
powers of defcription. The attempt of 
Mr. A. does him credit. Several random 
arrows have been aimed at the unknown 
author of the “ Purfuits of Literature,” 
whe has prudenily hidden his ignoble 
head in obfcyrity. The author of the 
‘“¢ Progeefs of Satire” has drawn his bow 
with the moft vigorous and manly arm. 
Mr. Hunrer’s *“* Tyibute to the manes 
of unfortunare Poets” is interefting, ra- 
ther on account of the fubjeét than the 

* An excellent and very entertaining review 
ef the original poem appeared in the appendix to 
Vol, XXIII. of the Monthly Review. 
507 
execution ; which latter, however, thongh 
not adequate to the occafion, is by no 
means defpicable. When the memories 
of Homer, Ovid, Lucan, Dante, Pe- 
trarch, Camoens, Taffo, Corneille, Spen- 
fer, Otway, and Chatterton, are to be 
celebrated, we require the loftieft ftrain 
that elegy admits. | 
A great deal of pamphlet poetry has 
appeared of late; among which are 
** The Grove,”’ by the author of the Pur- 
fuits of Literature, who in this, as in his 
former work, difplays the pedantry of a 
{choolmafter, the vulgarity of a poiffard, 
and the malevolence of a———-. The 
** Druriad,”’ containing ftriétures on the 
principal performers of Drury-lane, 
‘“Effufions of Fancy ;’ Mr. Smirn’s 
‘¢Scath of France ;” &c. 8c. &c. almoit 
ad infinitum. Before we conclude this 
article, we muft not omit to notice Mr. 
Jones’s ‘‘ Hobby Horfes,’’ a poem which 
contains a good-humoured and lively fa- 
tire on the fafhionable follies of the day. 
THE DRAMA. 
We are happy to announee the com; 
mencement of *f A Serjes of Plays,’’ in 
which it is attempted to delineate the 
ftronger paffions of the mind ; each paf- 
fion being the fubjeét of a tragedy anda 
comedy. The firft volume only of this 
work has yet appeared : it contains three 
plays ; love is the groundwork of the two 
firft, and in this refpeét they differ not 
from the generality of tragedies and 
comedies which come before us. ‘* But 
I have endeavoured in both,” fays the 
author, ‘¢to give an unbroken view of 
the pafiion from its beginning, and to 
mark it as I went along, with thofe pecu- 
liar traits which diftinguifh its different 
ftages of progreffion.”” In general, our 
dramatic authors exhibit only what may 

‘be denominated the climaéteric of the 
paffion ; they expofe it when it is ren- 
dered furious by fome exafperating cir- 
cumftances; and the charaéter who dif- 
plays it diverts our attention from its ope- 
ration, to the courage and ingenuity which 
are exerted in conquering the difficulties 
which oppofe its indulgence. In the 
prifent dramas, however, the plot is re- 
markably fimple, and the wacidents are 
few—purpofcly few, in order that the in- 
tereft may not be divided, and the atten- 
tion diverted, from charaéter, tothe fub- 
ordinate agents, imagery, fentiment, and 
adventure. We know not to whom the 
public is indebted for thefe plays, which - 
contain many beautiful touches of nature, 
and many delicate delineations of paition. 
The author has introduced them by an 
claborate and ingenious difcoarfe, where» 
cay Nae? in 
