¥810.} Advice to a Young Reviewer.-—Provisions in France. 
And, stretch’d out all the chimney’s length, 
Basks at the fire his hairy strength 5 
And crop-full out of door he flings, 
Ere the first cock his matin rings. 
Mr. M. seems indeed to have a turn for 
this species of nursery tales and prattling 
Jullabies; and if be will studiously cul- 
tivate his talent, he need not despair of 
figuring in a conspicuous corner of Mr. 
Newbury’s shop-window; unless indeed 
Mrs. Trimmer should think fit to pro- 
scribe those empty levities and idle su- 
perstitions, by which the world has been 
too long abused. 
From these rustic fictions we are trans- 
ported to another species of hum. 
Tower'd cities please us then, 
And the busy humrof men, 
Where throngs of knights and barons bold 
In weeds of peace high triumphs hold, =~ 
With store of ladies, whose bright eyes 
Rain infiuence, and judge the prize 
Of wit or arms, while both contend 
To win her grate whom all commend. 
To talk of the bright eyes ofladies, judg- 
ing the prize of wit, is, indeed, with the 
poets, a legitimate species of humming; 
but would not, we may ask, the rain 
from these ladies’ bright eyes rather tend 
to dim their lustre? Or is there any 
quality in a shower of influence, which, 
instead of deadening, serves only to 
brighten and exhilarate? Whatever the 
case may be, we would advise Mr. M. 
by all means to keep out of the way of 
these knights and barons bold; for, if he 
has nothing but his wit to trust. to, we 
will venture to predict, that without a 
large share of most undue influence, he 
must be content to see the prize adjudged 
to his competitors. 
Of the latter part of the poem little 
need be said. The author does seem 
somewhat’more at home when he gets 
among the actors and musicians, though 
his head is still running upon Orpheus 
and Eurydice, and Pluto, and other som~ 
bre gentry, who are ever thrusting them- 
selves in where we least expect them, | 
and who chill every rising emotion of 
mirth and gaiety. 
He appears, however, to be so ravished 
with this sketch of festive pleasures, or 
perhaps with himself for having sketched 
them so well, that he closes with a cou- 
plet, which would not have disgraced a 
Sternhold: ’ 
These delights if thou canst give, 
Mirth, with thee I mean to live. 
Of Mr. M.’s good intentions there can be 
Montuty Mas. No. 198, 
~ 
317 
no doubt; but we beg leave to remind 
him, that in every compact of this nature 
there are two opinions to be consulted. 
He presumes, perhaps, upon the poetical 
powers he has displayed, and considers 
them as irresistible ;—for every one must 
observe in how different a strain he avows 
his attachment now, and at the opening 
ofthe poem. Then it was, , 
If I give thee honour due, 
Mirth, admit me of thy crew. 
But having, it should seem, established 
his pretensions, he now thinks it sufhe- 
cient to give notice, that he means to 
live with her, because he likes her. 
Upon the whole, Mr. Milton seems to 
be possessed of some fancy and _ talent 
for rhyming; two most dangerous en- 
dowments, which often unfit men for 
acting an useful part in life, without qua- 
lifying them for that which is great and 
brilliant. If it be true, as we have 
heard, that he has declined advantage- 
ous prospects in business, for the sake of 
indulging his poetical humour, we hope 
it is not yet too late to prevail upon him 
to retract his resolution. With the help 
of Cocker and common industry he may 
become a respectable scrivener; but it 
is not all the Zephyrs, and Auroras, and 
Corydons, and Thyrsises, aye, nor his 
junketing queen Mab, and drudging 
goblins, that will ever make him a poet. 
= ee 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine, 
SIR, 
|B ica received a letter’ from 
Nancy, in France, stating the 
prices of colomal produce and other 
articles, it may give your readers some 
amusement by inserting them. 
Beef, Mutton, 
Pork, and Lamb, 
Fowls, acouple 1s. 
3d. to 4d. per pound,* 
Turkeys, each = Qs. 6d. 
Geese, each” - 1s. 3d 
Butter, per pound 8d. anes 
Brandy, (best) 2s. 6d. per gallon, 
Claret’. | = - 43d. per bottle. 
Black Tea - 53. to 5s. 10d. per lb. 
Sugar, (refined) $s. 6d. per pound. 
Coffee, (raw) - 3s. 6d. per pound. 
Labourer’s wages, from 5s. to 7s. a week. 
If you think it worth while to insert 
this, I shall from time to time give you 
the prices of articles in other parts of 
the continent. 
London, April 6th, 1810. B.C. 
* There are eighteen ounces to the French 
pound, 
as , Lor 
