Retrofpec? of Domeftic Literature—Poetry. 
the author will obtain no mean_ place 
among thofe who have contributed to ele- 
vate the minds, purity the morals, and 
gratify the noblelf taftes of their country- 
men.”? After fuch an eulogy trom fuch a 
judge, any other commendation would be 
fuperfluous. 
“© An Effay on War, in blank Verfe ; Ho- 
nington Green, a Ballad; The Culprit, an 
Lilegy; and other Poems on various Sub- 
jecis, by NaTHANIEL BLOOMFIELD.” 
This-name is familiar to thofe who have 
read the preface to the Farmer’s Boy.— 
| Nathaniel and George are the two bro. 
thers who took upon themfelves the pater- 
nal care of Robert, after the cdeceafe of 
their father. ‘The stamp of high appro- 
Hation which Robert’s poems received 
from the public, might well encourage a 
brethcr to become a candidate for its fa- 
vour. Nathaniel, however, did not turn 
poet, becaufe his brother fucceeded in the 
proteflion ; he has merely ¢vrned author in 
confequence of it. It appears from the 
preface, which on this occation alfo comes 
from the difinterefted pen of Mr. Capel 
Lofft, thata love of poetry early evinced 
itfelf in Nathaniel, who ufed to repeat ma- 
ny paflages of the Night Thoughts in his 
walks with his brothers. Although, con- 
fidering the fituation of the author, thefe 
Poems muft excite afonifhment, they are 
of inferior merit to thofe of his brother — 
The light pieces have a fimplicity of fen- 
timent and diction; but he is perfeétly ~ 
‘unequal to the conduct of blank verfe. 
._ * Rhyme and Reafon ; fhort and original 
Poems.” 
-  *¢ The writer is not without hope that. 
his gentle readers, who are converfant 
with modern poetry (as it is termed moft - 
courteoufly) willthank him for his attempt 
to combine rhyme and realfon, on the {core 
of novelty. The author modeftly declares 
to critics of-all defcriptions, that he is not 
fo courteous to himfelf as to think that 
his poems have the fmalleft claim to the 
title of poetry. With refpect to the fami- 
jiarity of his ftyle, the author deems no 
apology neceflary, as flip-fhod Mufés, and 
other Jadies, e2 défhabille, or, in plain 
Englith, half-dreffed, are at prefent the 
fafhion, or rage.” This little volume has 
confiderable merit, and the author is un- 
queflionably a manof genius. 
“* Florribelli 5 or, the Tale of the Fo- 
reft,”” 
A ballad in imitation of the ancient 
ftyle ; averie lamentable dittie | 
Dr. Booker has infcribed a volume of 
*«* Poems’* to his Macenas, the Right Hon. 
‘Lord Vifcount Dudley and Ward. They 
* Monruuy Mac. No, 103. 
63 
have reference to his: Lordthip’s beautiful 
feat of Henley ; and if they add not to 
the reputation of the author asa poet, do 
credit to his feelings as a man. 
Mr. Lowe, of Manchefter, has pub- 
lifhed a volume. of ‘* Poems.” “It would 
have been an at of kindnels to have let 
them pafs unnoticed ; and we fhould have 
done fo, but that Mr. Lowe threatens us | 
with an Epic Poem. Sincerely do we re- 
commend him to return to the’ calling 
which he has left for this idle trade. 
‘© Poems on various Subjects, by THO- 
MAS DERMODY.” 
There is a difplay of fo much tafte and 
genius in this little volume, that we anti- 
cipated with pleafure the produétions of 
Mr. Dermody’s maturer years. Alas! 
the hand of Death has fallen upon him ; 
but his memory will, we underftand, be 
re(cued from oblivion by the friendly hand 
of Mr. Raymond. 
“©The Poetical Works of the late Tuo- 
Mas WartToN; B.D. &c. To which are 
now added, Infcriptionum Romanarunt 
Dele&us, and an inaugural Speech as 
Camden Profefor of Hiftory, never before 
publifbed. Together with Memoirs of brs. 
Life and Writings, and Notes, Critical and 
Explanatory, by Richard Manr, M.A. 
Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford.” 
This is an acceptable prefent to the 
public. Mr. Warton was aman of ge- 
nius, tafte, and erudition; and his poetry, 
though not of the higheft order, 1s embel- 
lithed with fo many graces of diction, and 
flights of fancy, that it will always de- 
light. The life of an academic affords 
few materials for the pen of the biogra- 
pher ; and Mr. Mant had little el.e to do 
than record the progrefs of Warton’s lite- 
rary career. Ihe notes which are annex- 
ed, like many of thofe which encumber 
our beft poets, do not often repay the dif- 
appointed reader for the diffraction of his 
attention. In his criticifm Mr. Mant ra- 
ther follows than leads ; his prudence, or 
perhaps his modefty, gets the better of his 
ambition. 
6 The Divina Comedia of DANTE AL- 
IGHIERI 3 confifting of the Inferno, Pur- 
gatorio, & Paradife. Tranflatedinto En- 
glifh Verfe; with preliminary Effays, 
Notes, and Illuftrations, by the Rev. Hen- 
ry Boyp, A.M. &c.” 
It is now almolt twenty years fince Mr. 
Boyd attempted to transtufe the wild and 
awful {pirit of the great Tufcan Bard into 
Englith verieé. In the year 1785 Mr. 
Boyd publithed a tranflation of the Inter- 
no. Encouraged by the fuccef’s of bis 
firft flight, he has winged his way into 
4N the 
