120 
to difcover, how far thefe tales 
founded in nature, or faé&t. <A critic of 
confiderable learning and talents. Mr. 
FALCONER, has tranflated “* The Voy- 
age of Hanno,” repubiithed the Greek 
text, and added two elaborate differ: 
tations, intended to eftablifh the credi- 
bility, and afcertain the time of the 
voyage. 
POETRY. 
In our prefent gallery of the mufes, 
which is not yery fplendidly furnifhed, 
the firft place mutt be allotted to Mr. 
Mason, a veteran, who has for nearly 
half a century been refpeétably ranked 
among our Englifh poets, a third volume 
of his poems. ee and corrected by 
his own mature judgment, has appeared, 
which, if they do not much encreate, will 
eahanlg not dimintfh the author's well 
earned yeputation as a poet: asa citizen, 
it mav be regretted, that, in his laft 
publication, he abandons thofe principles 
of freedom, for which, through life, he 
had been a ftrenuous advocate. The 
author of Joan of Arc, Mr. SOUTHEY, 
_to whofe genius we have already paid 
homage, has given new proofs of rare 
poetical talents. in a {mall volume of 
Poems,” written on various fubjedcts, 
-and with great diverfity of ftyle and man- 
ner: fone of the pieces particularly 
among the “ Botany Bay Eclogues,”’ are 
exquifitely tender; fome rife into fub- 
limity. fome flow in eafy familiarity; but 
all difcover a vigorous fancy, warm fen- 
 fibility, and an excellent heart. Genuine 
poetry ae lfo be found in Mr. CoLe- 
RIDGE's * Ode on the meee rted Y ear;; 
a piece written with ardent conception, 
and a great command of poetical lan- 
guage. The felf-taught genius of Mrs. 
YeEaRSLEY, fiill retains its fire, and 
has produced a volume under the name of 
s* The Rural Lyre,” which, though not 
free from obfcurity and irregularity, Is 
diftinguithed by energetic {cntiments, 
2 imagery, and original language. 
+ The Poetical Works” of Mr. BisHOP, 
are a large mafs of verfe, which might 
not improperly have been called, Poetical 
Trifles; they appear to have been the 
yapid eiufions of good-humour, inge- 
nuity, and pleafantry, rather than the 
vigorous efforts of genius: the author 
peffeffed a lively epigramatic vein, and 
a confiderable command of eafy erie 
fication; but his poetical talents would 
have appeared with greater advantage, 
had his friends exercifed more critical 
feverity, in making the fele€tion from 
his papers.. Another anonymous tran{- 
Poetry... Novels. 
are: 
[Aug. 
lation, well executed, in the ballad ftyle” 
has appeared, of Biirger’s ‘ Elienore,” 
accompanied with a beautiful poem, en- 
titled, ** The Chafe.” Mr. Dyer has 
Gaeeeleralt lly exercifed his poetical talents, 
in a piece, ¢ entitled, ‘* The Poet’s Fate.” 
The fatiric mufe has found means to take’ 
off the padlock from the Ne of her fa- 
vourite, Peter Pindar, and fhe has fent 
him out, decked :with frefh wreaths, in 
« feventeen hundred and ninety-fix.” 
Very fuccefsful fatirical imitations of 
Shakfpeare, have been given in ‘ Paf- 
fages felected by diftinguithed perfonages, 
on the trial of Vortigern and Rowena.” 
Mr. Faweerr has poetically and hu- 
mou coufly fatirized certain modern poets, 
in “Phe Art.of Poetry, according to the 
lateft improvements.’’ Other pieces, 
which ie mav be fufficient to men- 
tion with general commendaticn, are, 
“© Prifon Amufements, and other Trifles,”” 
by Pav Positive ;-wrhten during a 
harfh impsifonment of the author in 
York Caftle ; “Mr Par Ke’s Sonnets ;* 
“ The Caftle of Olmutz; Mr. Ccox’s 
«Conv erfation,” a didaétic Poem; Mr.. 
Wise's ‘¢Syftem,” a metaphy fical Poem 
Mr. Coiman’s “ Night-Gown and 
Slippers’; The Battle of B-ng-r; F,- 
GREENSTEAD’s ‘6 Fugitive Pieces,” 
and a * Political Eclogue.” Mr. JER- 
NINGHAM has echoed Mr. Burke’s Let- 
os ina ftiff and obfcure poem, entitled 
‘ Peace, Ignominy and Defiruétion.” 
pe Mirror’s ‘ Tales,” and “ The 
Pin-Bafket’’ may be configned, with 
other trafh, to oblivion. ‘T(wo works, 
under the head of Poetical Tranflation, 
have appeared, which are entitled to 
confiderable praife: Mr... CarRLyLe’s 
‘© Specimens of Arabian Poetry,’ inthe 
original, with elegant and harmonious 
verfions, and biographical and hiterary 
anecdotes; and an excellent tranflation 
of “* Voltaire’s Henriade.”” A new and 
very elegant edition has _appe eared of 
«* Pope’s Effay on Man,” accompanied 
with a judicious critical Effay by Dr, 
AIKIN. 
‘ NoveEts. 
The readers of Novels have been, as 
ufual, plentifully fuppled with daily 
food feces the common market, but have 
not been often invited to any extraordi- 
nary entertainments. Mrs. RADCLIFFE 
has prefented them with a rich treat in 
her highly-wrought romance, * The 
Italian ;’’ where, if they have an appe- 
tite w hich can digeft im probabilities, 
they may feaft even to faticty upon pice 
turefque defcriptions, fingular charac- 
teTSy 
