pathetic, and is reduced to the comprehenfion of the most ordinary capacity. To the reader who feeks the improvement of his heart, we can fafely recommend the perufal of rhe whole. If he find not abstract or elaborate difcuffion, he will at least find that undifguifed plainnefs of exhortation which poffeffes, in moft cafes, the force of reafoning, and often fucceeds when reafoning fails. It ought to be obferved, that fome poetical extract is, for the most part, annexed to each of thefe Sermons. Verfes are not an ufual, nor indeed, a fuitable appendage to regular difcourses; but the object, the mode of publication, and the familiarity of these may, perhaps, plead excufe for such a defiance of ufage and rule. The author's defign was profeffedly to catch the imagination, in order to regulate and amend the heart, and he probably could not, with fuch intentions, have reforted to a better ftratagem. A Verfe may catch him who a Sermon flies, HERBERT. BRITISH CATALOGU E. POETRY. ART. 19. The Art of Preferving Health, by John Armstrong, M. D. To which is prefixed a Critical Effay on the Poem, by T. Aikin, M. D. 12mo. 6s. Cadel and Davies. 1795. When the ornaments of printing are bestowed upon a work defervedly popular, and when at the fame time thefe are not extended beyond the limits of common purchafers, he must be a faftidious critic indeed who witholds his commendation. This is one of the moft elegant little volumes we have ever feen, and the prefatory effay of Dr. Aikin will not fail to be an additional recommendation of a performance, which of itfelf cannot be read without delight and advantage. We only regret that the editor has not done more; we could have wished that he had undertaken the task for which he was fo eminently qualified, of giving critical notes upon particular paffages of the poem, and had thus more effectually contributed to the improve. ment of the general tafte. After a fhort introduction, in which is difcuffed what may properly be termed didactic poems, Dr. A. contents himself with giving the fubjects of cach particular book of Dr. Armstrong's Armstrong's poem, with a few concife obfervations on their respective merits. It is to be lamented that these observations are of too general a kind to be useful to the unlearned, or important to the learned reader; yet they evidently will detract nothing from the high character which Dr. Aikin has obtained for erudition, fenfibility and tafte. The editor confines his remarks on " the wonders of the Naiad kingdom," as defcribed by Armstrong to eight fhort lines. This part of the poem is fo preeminently beautiful, that we cannot help wifhing that the doctor had difplayed his critical fkill, in defcanting on its feveral perfections. The plan of the publication did not perhaps allow of this; and we readily exprefs our thanks for what has actually been done. ART. 20. The Pleafures of Imagination, by Mark Akenfide, M. D.. To which is prefixed a Critical Effay on the Poem, by Mrs. Barbauld. 12mo. 6s. Cadel and Davis. 1795. This publication is of a fimilar nature with that which precedes. The object was to give an elegant edition of a popular poem, and yet more to enhance its value, by the fanction of a popular editor. For this purpofe, two names could not eafily have been found better calculated to enfure fuccefs than thofe of Dr. Aikin and Mrs. Barbauld. Whether they confulted together we know not, but the plan they have refpectively purfued is the fame. Mrs. B. begins her effay, with explaining the nature of didactic or preceptive poetry, and proceeds to the defign of the poet in this particular work, the contents of each book, the defects and the merits of the parts, and of the whole. This alfo, as far as it goes, is unexceptionably well done, and exhibits proofs of great acutenefs and a very elegant tafte. As Mrs. B. has, at the conclufion of her effay, pointed out fome few paffages of fuperior excellence, we are furprifed that the fhould have omitted two in particular, to which it would not be eafy to find parallels in any of Akenfide's cotemporaries. The firft is of the lofty kind, and reprefents Brutus after the affaffination of Cæfar, with the bloody dagger in his hand, calling on Cicero. In this edition it is in page 36. "And speak, O man! does this capacious scene," &c. &c. The fecond is remarkable for the fweeteft tenderness, both of fenti ment and expreffion. It occurs in page 80. "Afk the faithful youth Why the cold urn of her whom long he loved," &c. &c. Mrs. B. alfo obferves there are but three fimilies in the poem. probably overlooked that very energetic one of the wolf, in p. 72. "As when a famish'd wolf," &c. &c. She Thefe works are certain of a favourable reception, and we wish that the editors may be induced to engage in other undertakings of a fimilar kind. ART. 21. War, a Pom. 4to. 25. Johnfon. 1794. This work confifts of fifty four pages of blank verfe, in which the mind is feldom cheered by a new poetical idea, and the ear feldom gratified by the fkilful repetition of an old one. Politics feem to have given birth to thefe ftrains, and the poem breathes as much of poetry as fuch a theme is calculated to infpire. ART. 22. The Magic Lantern; er les Ombres Patriotiques. 4to. Is. 6d. Owen. 1794 Whatever the company may think of this fhowman's portraits, they will certainly be pleafed with the wit which accompanies his exhibi tion. ART. 23. Lines on the Murder of the Queen of France, with an Admonition to the Infant King Louis XVII. being a Sequel to " the Tribute of an humble Mufe." By W. F. Fitzgerald, Efq. 4to. IS. Hookham. 1794. In thefe "lines" upon this popular theme, the reader is not furprised by any novelty of thought, but they are written with feeling and correctnefs. ART. 24. The Poems of Anna Maria. 8vo. Price one gold mohur. Calcutta ; Cadell and Davies, London. 1793. There is, upon the whole, more of correctnefs, and lefs of affecta tion in this Lady's compofitions, than in those which ufually proceed from that school of Poetry of which she is evidently a difciple. She is not, however, entirely free from the faults which characterize the Della Crufca feminary. It is incorrect to fay of the "black clouds" that they terrify the fun;" it is incorrect to mix ignoble expreffions with ferious ideas, as in the ftanzas to the memory of Louis the unfortunate, where the fays of the French that they "Bore the pale bleeding head upon a pole ;” And it is affected to talk of " midnight's velvet veft," and of "the blue-fac'd morn that gems the rofy ether's timid blufh." As the best fpecimen we can give, we fhall felect the concluding lines of the last Poem, entitled Adieu to India. "Farewell, ye facred haunts, where oft I've ftray'd Ye ftreams that fwell the winding Hougly's tide, Y DRIT. CRIT. VOL. V. MARCH, 1795. And 1 And now the lofty veffel cleaves the way, Half-a-crown is probably the utmoft price that will be gained for thefe poems in London, which at Calcutta were bought for a gold coin worth nearly two pounds. Such is the high price of poetry in the Eaft! Surely our poets will emigrate. DRAMATIC. ART. 25. The Wedding Day; a Comedy, in Two Acts. As performed at the Theatre Royal, Drury-Lane. By Mrs. Inchbald. 8vo. Is. Robinfons. 1794. The public has on different occafions been indebted to the enter taining pen of Mrs. Inchbald. The prefent comedy has been reprefented various times, and with the greatest fuccefs. The principal character, Lady Conteft, is not, perhaps, entirely original, but is, with remarkable fkill and ingenuity, accommodated to the playful and captivating talents of Mrs. Jordan. The exhibition has only been laid afide, we understand, in confequence of the temporary confinement of Mrs. Jordan, and whenever refumed will, we have no doubt, make a no lefs agreeable impreffion on an audience than before. 1 ART. 26. Britain's Glory; or, a Trip to Portsmouth; a Mufical Entertainment. As it is performed at the Theatre Royal in the Haymarket. 8vo. IS. Barker, 1794• A performance merely temporary, calculated to encourage and indulge the loyalty and patriotifm, that appeared feftrongly, on the occafion of Lord Howe's important victory over the French fleet.— Criticism has no concern with fuch productions.` Acts. ART, 27. The Apparition! a Mufical Dramatic Romance, in Two A Sailor, an Irishman, pleafing mufic, and at least one capital actor, might procure univerfal applause to a lefs deferving perform ance ance than the Apparition. The dialogue is lively, and the plot as good as fuch a piece demands; an old Baron, fuppofed to be dead, who appears as a ghoft to make the virtuous happy, and punish cru elty." NOVEL. ART. 28. The Haunted Priory; or, the Fortunes of the House of Rayo; 4s. Bell. The language of this novel is equally free from vulgarity and affectation, its fentiments from perverfion and immorality. Thus far, more may be faid in its favour than will be found true of many novels. We can venture alfo to recommend it ftrongly to the perufal of those who do not hesitate to wander beyond the boundaries of nature, in fearch of objects which may excite alarm and furprife; who are better pleafed with the vagaries of a ghoft in a Baron's caftle, than with the ufual trappings of a novel, fentimental miffes, and intriguing chambermaids. MEDICINE. ART. 29. Confiderations on the Medicinal Efficacy of Factitious Airs, and on the Method of obtaining them in large Quantities. In Two Parts. Part I. by Thomas Beddoes, M. D. Part II. by James Watt, Efq. 8vo. 72 pp. with Three Engravings, 2s. 6d. Johnfon. No Date. (1794) ment. As the knowledge of chemifts on the fubject of elaftic fluids has lately been much extended, it is certainly defirable that endeavours fhould be made to apply thofe powerful agents to the ufe of medicine, particularly in fuch cafes as have feldom yielded to other treatBut we have feen too many medical wonders país away, to receive with very fanguine expectation the reports of new ones. . When therefore we find prefixed to this pamphlet a propofal for a medical pneumatic inflitution, or temporary eftablishment, for the purpose of afcertaining the effects of thofe fluids in various fatal and dangerous difeafes, &c. we with fuccefs to the undertaking as an experiment, but hope that too much enthufiafm will not infinuate itfelf into the examination or report of the refults. We understand that at Bath, Briftol, Birmingham, and other confiderable places, the defign is refpecably patronized. The part of this tract written by Dr. Beddoes, confifts of fixteen fections, chiefly employed to illuftrate the medical effects of these factitious airs. Mr. Watt, in the fecond part, as might be expected from the great improver of the fteam engine, very ably deferibes the apparatus for procuring them. He allo relates fome curious effects of airs on the living fyftem, and furnishes very intelligent Y 2 |