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MONTHLY CATALOGUE. [For FEBRUARY 1785.1

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 14. Fleurettes, containing an Ode on Solitude: written in the Mountains of Auvergne; by Monf. de la Motte Fenelon. On the Pleasures of Retirement. An Epiftle from Monf, Boileau to Monf. Lamoignon. The Origin of Sculpture. An Epistle from a young Lady to her Lover. From Monf. Fontenelle, &c. &c. &c. Tranflated from the French. London. crown 8vo. Is. 6d. Dodfley. 1784.

THE

HE anonymous tranflator has stepped beyond his province, and we think beyond his reach in the preface to this publication, when he tells us that" Reafon" was "cultivated in France, "in the reign of Lewis XIV. and in England in that of Queen "Anne, as far as it is capable of being advantageoufly cultivated, ་ or as far as its province naturally extends." The variety of our difcoveries which regard the properties of different kinds of air, and of the electrical fluid, as well as the re-animation of perfons apparently dead, he confiders as useless and ridiculous attainments. We may fly in the air (he tells us) controul and play tricks with the lightning, raise the dead, and, like the magicians of old, mimic "fome few acts of omnipotence; but for any really useful know"ledge, Newton and Locke feem to have fixed the boundaries of "human knowledge and our philofophers muft pafs the firaits of mortality, before they can make further difcoveries." But, leaving him in the full poffeffion of his own opinion, we proceed to examine his poetical labours.

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His tranflation of Fenelon's Ode to Solitude does not run above mediocrity. Indeed the original itfelf may, without injuftice, be placed in the fame clafs. As a youthful production, it may be entitled to fome praise, but it is too diffufe, and abounds with repetitions of the fame idea. The two first stanzas will ferve as a fpecimen of the tranflation, and at the fame time confirm our opinion of the ori ginal:

I.

'Ye mountains! whofe tremendous brows,
Crown'd with everlasting fnows,

Above the clouds majestic rife,

And prop the manfions of the skies-
Whilft here, beneath your hoary heads,
Each vernal flow'r that Nature spreads
1 faunt'ring pluck, from pole to pole
I hear the growling thunders roll
Beneath my feet; while from your watʼry store,
A thousand rapid torrents rufhing roar.

II.

Like the tow'ring hills of Thrace,
Which th' audacious giant-race,
To scale the heavens with dire intent,
Heap'd up, from other mountains rent-
Your fummits form a folid plain,
And mountains loftier yet fuftain ;

Still rifing, till by due degrees,

Your mitty heads the pealant fees,

With ftately pride exalted to the fky,

Each formy wind and tempeft's, rage defy.'

In the first Stanza Mr. Fenelon informs us that the "brows" of his Mountains "rife above the clouds, and prop "the manfions of "the skies," and that while he faunters" beneath their hoary heads, "he hears the thunders roll beneath his feet.". In the second he tells us that thele brows, thefe "fummits fuftain moun "tains yet loftier," but which, after all, are not a bit more lofty than the former; for he has reprefented them as exactly in the fame degree of exaltation: Their

"misty heads "With ftately pride exalted to the sky,

"Each stormy wind, and tempeft's rage defy".

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We agree with the author, that there is a comic vivacity" in the gallopping verfe which the author of the Bath Guide and Mr. Hayley have fo happily employed; but we think it falls below the dig nity of the higher fpecies of fatire. It may be remarked that the author has not always fucceeded in this kind of verse. As a proof of this, we shall give the two following lines, which occur in the› fame page:

That Apollo ftill deigns to infpire my fong

"Whofe rank, and whofe merit, and bright eloquence." Daphne and Apollo is well tranflated from Fontenelle. The idea conveyed by the dash between "her" and "face" in the concluding line might have been fpared. If the tranflator fhould alledge that it is effential to the tale, we fee no reason why the tale itself fhould not have been fuppreffed, as an idea of the kind appears with the higheit impropriety in a publication dedicated to Mrs. Montague.

Art. 15. Odes. By the Rev. F. Hoyland. Edinb. C. Elliot. 1783. 4to. Is.

This publication confifts of four Odes. The first is a translation of Mr. Fenelon's Ode on Solitude, which we have noticed in the preceding article, and is fuperior to the tranflation given by the author of Fleurettes. The other pieces are original. There is a vein of fentimental' melancholy, as well as poetry, which runs through thefe odes. We fhall lay the fourth before our readers, as it is fort and has, in our opinion, confiderable merit.

.I.

And art thou come, ere Zephyr mild

"Has wak'd the blackbird's vernal strain ?
Alas! thou com'ft, my beauteous child,
Where Poverty her iron reign

"Extends, more bleak and cruel far

Than winter, or the northern flar:

"Yet ceafe thofe cries that all my pity move;

"Tho' cold the hearth, my bofom burns with love.

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"Soon will the icy brooks renew

"Their liquid fports, and, murm'ring, flow;

"Pale primrofes and violets blue

"Beneath

"Beneath yon fpangled hawthorns blow;
"And foon, perchance, the mighty Queen,
"Who governs this terrestrial icene,
"Will bend, propitious, to my plaintive lyre,
"And blefs with patronage thy hapless are."
III.

While thus an hefitating tear

Glitter'd with hope and lively thoughts
The Goddefs with the wheel drew near,
And, laughing, gave the boon I fought.
O fatal boon indeed! Farewell

The rural comforts, not the cells
The fweets of Liberty, that never cloy;
Bright Hope, domeftic Peace, and friendly Joy
IV.

Once more, dread Deity! behold
My incenfe on thy altar laid;
Not for promotion, fame or gold,
I now invoke thy pow'rful aid.
Ah give me back the honest frown;
The eye, the accent, all my own,
My dear, my long-loft liberty restore;

Ah give me back.myfelf; I ask no more."

In the third Itanza we think "laughing" applied to the Goddess Fortune in a propitious mood, might be exchanged with advantage for fmiling. A patron, in the act of donation, may be faid to fmile, but, without impropriety, cannot be faid to laugh. In the fame ftanza,

"The rural comforts, not the cell"

Is a barth line. If the author intended to fay, that he remained in his cell, though all his comforts were fled, the expreffion is aukward, and does not clearly convey his meaning.

We were particularly pleafed with the last stanza, and confider, Ah! give me back myfelf" as a fingularly happy expreflion. Art. 16. The Looking-Glass: containing Select Fables of la Fontaine. Imitated in English; with additional thoughts. 12mo. 3s. Walter. 1784:

La Fontaine is of all authors perhaps the most exquifite in the peculiarities of his ftyle, and of all authors the most difficult to be tranflated. It is eafy indeed to perceive the fimplicity of his manher, and that his compofition is the very reverse of the fublime and dignified; and thefe particulars it is eafy to imitate: But that unaffected eloquence that accompanies his minuteneffes; that unri talled pathos that he blends with his humour-fudet multum

The following fpecimens are extracted from the incomparable Animaux de la pefte.

• Ni loups; ni renards n'epioient

La douce & l'innocente proie.

"Poor Pufs (fcarce wifhing it) efcapes
Diftemper'd dogs let loofe;
The fev'rith fox ftill longs for grapes,
But loaths the lingering goofe."

ENG. Rav. Feb. 1785. VOL. V.

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Ne

Ne nous flattons donc point, voyons fans indulgence
L'état de notre confcience.

Pour moi, fatisfaisant mes appétits gloutons
J'ai devoré force moutons.

Que m'avoient-ils fait? Nulle offenfe.
"If confciences at crimes revolt,
Confeffions must prevail.

In what have sheep offended?
Yet I, voracious glutton!
My greedy guts.difiended,

When I could dine on mutton."

If any of our readers be long fighted enough to difcover Fontaine in thefe imitations of him, we would recommend him with all diligence to peruse the whole volume, from every part of which we will pledge ourfelves for his deriving equal fatisfaction.

But we are not in anger with the ingenious tranflator. He has printed La Fontaine at the bottom of his page, and this would have expiated for perfonal offences, had they been thirty-fold greater than they are. He is an author that can never be read too often, or admired too deeply. With the utmost justice may we apply to his works, what Cicero has faid of polite letters in general; Adolef centiam alunt, fene&utem oble&ant, fecundas res ornant, adiverfis perfugium ac folatium præbent, delectant domi, non impediunt foris, pernoc tant nobifcum, peregrinantur, rufticantur.

Art. 17. The Hiftory of the Rife and Progress of Geography. By the Rev. John Blair, L.L.D. late Prebendary of Westminster. Cadell.

In this little treatife the origin and gradual advancement of ge ography are traced out with much learning and ingenuity.'

Art. 18. An Account of the first aerial Voyage in England. By Vincent Lunardi, E. Second edition. 8vo. 58. Bell.

A few minutes converfation with Mr. Lunardi will convince any one that he did not write a fingle page of this narrative of his aerial excurfion. It is a jumble of letters, advertisements and depofitions, exprcffed in very pompous, but in very poor language. Art. 19. Hints of important Ufes to be derived from Aerostatic Globes. By Thomas Martyn. 2s. White...

The utility which may refult from the invention of balloons is ingenioufly investigated in this pamphlet. The author thinks, and fupports his opinion by able reafoning, that they may be rendered ferviceable to befieged cities, by conveying fignals more effectually than by any method hitherto known. He is of opinion that they may be, in the fame manner, of the higheft ufe to fleets and armies; that they may furnish facts to meteorology, and much facilitate aftronomical obfervations. The author may be thought by fome to be too fanguine in his expectations; but we think, with him, that time will exhibit this invention, not merely as inatter of curiosity, but as a fubject of real utility to mankind.

Art. 20. A Dialogue between a Justice of the Peace and a Farmer. By Thomas Day, Efq.

The taxes, the miniftry and juries, are the chief topies canvaffed in this dialogue. Mr. Day is a ftrenuous affertor of liberty; and, in

· general,

general, we fubfcribe to his fentiments. On fome occafions, however, it is obfervable that he yields to a turbulent fpirit; and that he is intoxicated by the demon of faction. Writers, notwithstanding, of this fort have their ufe. They are eager to take the alarm : and their eafy fpeculations are fuited to the people. When they are in the right, they contribute to excite a jealoufy against the crown, that is attended with the best effect. When they are in the wrong they are difregarded. But at all times their intentions are laudable: and the liberty of this country is at an end, when the pamphleteer fhall tremble to fend forth his fquib. When the prefs is filent, we may be affured, that the gloomy period of defpotifm is arrived.

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We refpect very much the fincerity and patriotism of Mr. Day; - and we must commend the fpirit which induces him to give his name. to his publications. In the prefent inftance, we are forry that he has affumed for his fentiments the form of a dialogue. They would have come with more efficacy and point in his own perfon. Art. 21. Thoughts on Executive Justice. With respect to our Criminal Laws, particularly on the Circuits. Dedicated to the judges of affize; and recommended to the perufal of all magif trates; and to all perfons who are liable to ferve on crown juries. By a fincere Well-wisher to the Truth. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Dodfley London.

This performance is not compofed by any profeffed writer. The author belongs probably to the clafs of gentlemen who write with cafe. The polite verbofity of his ftyle correfponds with the vacant emptiness of his matter. He is filly, vain and opinionative. His understanding is placid, and incapable of any effort. His imagination is inert and ftupid. His conteinpt of the rights of humanity is hor rid. His advices, to judges, with regard to the execution of criminals, are ferocious, and will be defpifed. A more unhappy performance has feldom undergone our fcrutiny. The author is en>titled to condemnation from every literary tribunal. His fentiments are either childish or fetid; his manner is fluttering and meretricious; and his diction, while it is difgraced by puerilities and affectation, is in oppofition to all the rules of grammar.

Art. 22. A Review of Locke's Denial of Innate Ideas, Secondary Qualities, &c. 12mo. 2s. Law.

If he be not talking of things, but words; I fay, he is a defpicable quibbler, though his name is Locke. And if all fcience were fuch as our author would teach as the foundation of his fyftem, happy them unperplexed therewith;' I can fearcely believe that his fear of my criticifm was the cause of his quaker-preface, a paffage only of which I will animadvert; him having been endowed with little of the fervour of the vates. An idcot himself knows that be is, if he be not bothered with I think, therefore I am." It is true, that thefe cenfures were not to be expected from his first letter, whether he had not then confidered the doctrines, or however." He [Lord Shaftesbury] inculcated fentiments liberal and noble, bold and cool, penetrative and phlegmatic. If any of our readers be not difpofed immediately to admit the opinions, maintained in the above quotations, we truft, however, the following decifion refpecting Mr. Locke's ftyle will not be difputed. I do not think his

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