658 
*¢ Britith Parnaffus, is alively, good hu- 
moured, and ingenious jeu defprit. 
*¢ ‘The Soldiers; an Hiftorical Poem, in 
three parts. Containing an epitome -of 
the wars entered into by Great Britain, 
from the year 1739 to the prefent time. 
By R. Farmer. Part I.) In an ad- 
vertifement to ths poem, the author tells 
us, he ** has fent the frft divifion of his 
foldiers on what may be called the Forlorn 
Hope; to reconnoitre the difpofition of the 
public, and afcertain the number and 
firength of the maiked baiteries, likely to 
be opened upon hin by the critics.” We 
are incl.ned to believe, that the fate of 
this firft divifion will deter the commeand- 
ing-oficer, if he has common judgment, 
er common humanity, from fending a 
fecond. 
<¢ Bread; or, The Poor: a Poem. 
With Notes and TIliuftrations, by Mr. 
Pratt, author of Sympathy, &e.”? There 
Js a great deal of merit in this poem: 
not only as to the fubject, the choice of 
which evinces in the autbor, an acute 
eeling for the diftrefles of his fellow 
creatures ; .but, in the execution cf it, 
wherein Mr. Pratt has difplayed a talent 
ter defcription of no ordinary acquire- 
ment. 
«* A Poetical Introduétion to the Study 
of Botany. By Frances ARABELLa 
Rowpen.” In this elegant work, the 
fair author has given a regular introduc- 
tion to the clafles and orders of the Lin- 
nean fyftem: the verfe is of the Darwi- 
nean ftru€ture, and executed ‘with great 
fidelity of imitation. A profe introduc- 
tion gives the outlines of the botanic 
fy item. 
« Thoughts on Happinefs; a Poem, 
in four books. The author evinces con- 
fiderable tafte and imagination; but a 
chain of reafoning is better carvied on in 
profe than in verfe.. 
“© The Poetical Works of the late 
Tuomas Lirt te, Efq.*” This gen- 
tleman is ftated by the editor, im his pre- 
face, to have died in his one-and-twen- 
tieth year; and moft of thefe poems were 
written at fo early a period, that their 
errors may claim fome indulgence from 
the critic: ** their author,’’ it is conti- 
nued, **as unambitious as indolent, fcarce 
ever locked beyond the moment of com- 
‘pofition : he wrote as he pleated, carelefs 
whether he pleafed, as he wrote. It may 
likewife be remembered, that they were 
all the produétions of an age, when the 
pafiions very often give a colouring too 
* See Monthly Magazine, Vol. X11. p, 106° 
Retrofpeét of Domeftic Literature.—Poetry. 
warm to the imagination; and this may 
palliate, if it cannotuexcufe, that air of 
levity which pervades fo many of them. 
The ‘ aurea legge sei piace, ei lice, he 
too much purfued, and too much incul- 
cates. Few can regret this more fincerely 
than myfelf; and if my friend had lived, the 
jodgment of riper years would have chaf- 
tened his mind, and tempered the luxu- 
riance of his fancy.” Thefe exquifite 
amatorial effufions are faid to be the pro- 
duction of a gentleman now living, to 
whom the public is indebted for the very 
beautiful tranflation of an ancient bard, 
who has charmed the idle hour of many 
a grave philofopher, aud taught him per- 
haps, in his incautious moments, ‘ to 
entwine 
The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’s vine.” 
In his preface, Mr. M**** has com- 
mented on fome of the Latin amatory po- 
ets, with the utmoft tafte and correct- 
nefs: he gives the preference to Tibuilus 
over ** Ovid, who made love like a rake, 
and Propertius, like a fchoolmafter ;*° but 
his favourite poet is that of Verona, whom 
he conceives to be pofleffed of more ge- 
nuine feeling than any of them. The 
fweetnels and fimplicity of Catullus, are 
the fubject of juft admiration. 
It is with the greateft pleafure that we 
have feen, in two octavo volumés, a col- 
lection of “* The poetical Works of 
Hecror Macneitu, Efg.” With fe- 
veral of thefe poems the public is. inti- 
mately acquainted : who has not melted 
at the pathetic ‘‘ Hiftory of Will and 
Jean,” and ‘“* The Waes 0”? War.” The 
greater number of thefe elegant effufions 
are in the Scottifh diale&t: they are more 
claffical and correct than thofe of Burns, 
and rival the produétions of that wonder- 
ful genius inrichnefs of fancy, fimplicity, 
and pathos. 
‘¢ Alonzo and Cora; with other ori- 
ginal Poems, principally Elegiac; by 
ExvizABETH Scott, a Native of Edin- 
burgh.” The poetry of this volume has 
received the commendations of Allan 
Ramfay, Blacklock, and Burns: with the 
former of whom the author lived in inti- 
macy, whilethe two latter have favoured 
her with a poetical complimentary letter, 
added to this colle&tion, but never before 
in print. After the opinion of fuch 
judges, it is furely not neceflary to add 
any thing further. 
The Rev. Mr. PapiLion has tranf- 
lated into Blank Verfe, ** The Sacred 
Meditations of John Gerhard.”’ 
* London; a Poem, fatirical and. de- 
icriptive 
i a 
