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The idea of thorns and thistles opposed to roses and lilies is to reconcile us to the failure of the Dutch Expedition, and to other misfortunes and miscarriages of war. According to this young politician, our return from Holland was peculiarly unfortunate for the army; as the coldness of the climate, so far from injuring the health of the soldiers, would have improved it.' We have however heard of no effect of this kind from the climate of Holland; and we believe that none of our soldiers went thither with a hope of improv ing their health.

Undoubtedly, we made a bold effort to deliver Holland from French Influence; and, if we did not succeed, we must, as this writer advises, seek consolation in the rectitude of our conduct.'

In justification of our interference in the political concerns of the continent, we are informed that the balance of Europe is by no means the chimera that some would have us suppose.'

The additions which France has made to her antient territory are
represented to us as ground of the most serious alarm. As the
hero of Salamis was prevented from sleeping by the trophies of
Miltiades, so England can never enjoy repose while her foe is in
possession of so much ability to do her mischief.' Therefore-but
we need not discuss the subject: the reader will see to what the
argument tends; and we shall only add that the abilities displayed by
this writer lead us to form expectations from his future exertions. Moo-y.
Art. 37. The Dutch Expedition vindicated; with brief Observations
on the Emigrants: to which is added a Postscript, containing the
Supplement to the Account of the Armistice concluded between
His Royal Highness the Duke of York and General Brune. 8vo.
Is. Stockdale.

This writer is no croaker. He is resolved to see things in the
best light. Though the field be lost, all is not lost." Notwith-
standing the misfortunes attendant on the expedition to Holland, he
conceives it to have been of use to the general cause.
It has got

us rid of protecting Portugal, has very probably saved the armies
in Switzerland and in Italy, perhaps has saved Ireland, and at all
évents has freed us from the trouble of blocking up the Texel.'

How far the idea of its having caused a diversion of the enemy's
force will reconcile us to its heavy cost in blood and treasure, we
shall not pretend to say: but we are convinced that every noble mind
will appland the Duke of York for preferring an Armistice to a
retreat secured by the inundation of North Holland.

The observations on the emigrants are judicious. Their situation and circumstances must induce every prudent man to receive their accounts with the utmost caution. We can scarcely blame them if they endeavour to deceive us, but we should take care not to be deceived.

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Art. 38. Tax on Income, necessary to be read by all Persons
before they make their Return.-Extract from an Account of
certain Poor Persons in London, who cannot pay their Income
Tax. With Observations, and a Plan for their Relief. Sub-
mitted

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Do

mitted to the Consideration of the Society for bettering the Condition and increasing the Comforts of the Poor. 8vo. 18. Hatchard, &c. 1799.

A piece of pleasantry, on an unpleasant subject, well written, and worth reading. In some of his happiest strokes of irony, the author reminds us of our old friend Swift; who so exquisitely delighted us when we were lads. The serious part of the writer's purpose is to make those of his readers, who are distressed by their want of economy, become better managers; and to live within their income, in order to the more convenient payment of their taxes out of it,

39.

POETRY, &c.

Art. Patient Griselda; a Tale. From the Italian of Boccaccio, By Miss Sotheby. 4to. 2s 6d. Longman. M. Dutens has given the genealogy of the heroes of Romance and we might deduce fabulous tales, both in prose and verse, from as high a source as the first formation of modern languages. The Provençal poets, and before them, perhaps, the authors of the Fabliaux, seem to have supplied Boccaccio (who afterward supplied Chaucer) and La Fontaine, and La Fontaine furnished Prior, with the groundwork of most of their tales. The novel before us, however, according to Manni† and other Italian writers, had truth for its foundation; and such was the opinion of Petrarca, who translated it into Latin.

.

In general, the versification of Miss Sotheby flows with ease, and is correct. We should wish, however, that the Triplets had been more sparingly used; and when used, that the eye should be prepared for them by braces, in spite uf the new fashion of omitting those warnings: an inconvenience which at once disappoints the eye and the ear, if declaimed aloud; and produces such a false cadence of voice, as obliges the reader to repeat the lines in different tones. A few unwarrantable rhymes occur: as feast, taste; knew, anew; hears, bears. Two typographical errors likewise appear-p. 8. robe for robes, and P. 30. as for hast. We fear that the accent on the first syllable of the word ingrates, p. 4. line last, is not the printer's fault :

He not to ingrates has his will resign'd.'

It is an inaccuracy to call the consort of a Marquis, throughout the paem, a Queen; for which there is no authority in the original; nor was the Marquisate of Saluzzo, though a sovereignty, ever erected into a kingdom.

We have mentioned these slight imperfections to put our fair poetess on her guard, as her talents seem worthy of cultivation; and this specimen excites a hope that our acquaintance will not end here. The following lines will probably incline our readers to think that our hope is not ill-founded. After having recapitulated the barbarous trials which the cruel Marquis had imposed on the Patient Griselda; and when his ingenuity in the art of tormenting was more exhausted than her power of suffering, compunction at length came on:

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Here, with a fond embrace he clasp'd the fair,

By soothing softness striving to repair.

*Tables Genealogiques des Heros des Romans.
+ Istoria de Decamerone. Firenze, 1742.

Each

Each tyrant deed-She, who had heard unmov'd
The cold contemptucus taunts of him she lov'd;
Who, by the ruffian's hand, had silent borne,
To see her infants from her bosom torn;
Who from a palace had been hurl'd, and sent
In sordid penury, to seek content;

She, who with smiling air, and brow serene,
Had hail'd her rival as her destin'd queen ;
Who, midst oppressive wrongs had stood resign'd,
Now quits her native fortitude of mind;
Feels the firm soul, that bore severest pain,
Th' extremes of bliss unequal to sustain,
Feels her full bosom heave unwonted sighs,
And the big tears stream copious from her eyes,
While by Gualterio tenderly carest,

And while by turns each lovely child she prest,
To her long tortur'd, now transported breast.'

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Art. 40. Nil Admirari; or, A Smile at a Bishop; occasioned by an Hyberbolical Eulogy on Miss Hannah More by Dr. Porteus, in his late Charge to the Clergy.-Also, Expostulation: or an Address to Miss Hannah More.-Likewise Duplicity, or the Bishop; and Simplicity, or the Curate: a pair of Tales.-Moreover an Ode to the Blue-Stocking Club.-And finally, An Ode to some Robin Red Breasts in a Country Cathedral. To which is prefixed an Engraving of the Author. By Peter Pindar, Esq. 4to. 2s. 6d. West and Hughes. 1799.

Thine, Peter, surely is a graceless style,

But so luxuriant with the charms of wit,
That gravest Bishops must return thy smile,

And sourest critics know not how to spit.

D! B....y.

Yet we have not so laughed our senses away, as not to perceive that we ought to sprinkle a little of our critical gall in the face of this modern Arctine:-But how are we to manage it? Between our holy veneration for Bishops, and our warm attachment to the Ladies of the Aonian-hill, how are we to contrive so to carry our cup even (as the old proverb says) as to keep well with both? If we go off in a laugh-canter with the poet, some good folks may insinuate that we are no better than we should be ;-if, on the other hand, we should in a great passion throw our wigs at him, we stand a chance of being posted up as a pack of ninuy-hammers, and drummed out of the corps of Parnassus. Peter, a wicked rogue, saw our embarrassment, and therefore obligingly presented us with a critiqué on his own work, by way of postcript: but our Captain-General whispers Timeo Danaos, et dona ferentes, and advises us in a civil way to decline his offer. Be it so; and begin we then, Mr. Peter, by returning you a volume of thanks for calling on us to worship you as the only heaven-born poet of the present day; and, to own the truth, you do play and frolic with those Misses of the mount, (some say, with their nursery maids,) as if you had been all brought up in the same family. Is there not, however, some want of poetical gallantry in

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hunting

hunting a poor virgin about the town with the hue and cry of Stop thief? and is it not right, unless you can clearly make out the heavy charge against her, that you should be found guilty of poetical swindling, or of raising a laugh against an harmless maid on false pretences? Then, as to the good Bishop's Eulogy, will Peter, who is so passionate an admirer of the sex, make no allowance “when a Lady's in the case?" Must a Bishop use no warm colouring in a Lady's praise? Let us not suppose that " the age of chivalry is gone." The Holy Knight must be excused a little extravagance in praise of the Lady's "high-toned" or bon ton "Morality." We will allow thee, 'Squire Peter, to stand up for the poets, whom thou prettily termest, the Robin Red Breasts of the Human Race,' and to put in a word against the merciless persecution of fallen beauty: but, if the Lady in question has been a little too tart' on thy profession, and too severe on those of her own sex who have tasted unlicensed bliss, thou hast amply revenged thyself on her, and on her tight reverend admirer. Never was thy satirical cat o'nine tails more plenteously administered. The,risible muscles of thy readers will run riot in spite of their judgment; and there are moments when thou art sure of having the laugh on thy side, if no other support. Since, however, thou hast a prodigious aversion to flattery, which thou beautifully termest "the oil of fool," we will not besmear thee with it; nor on the other hand will we strive to take from thy merit, as in these lines thou dost from that of Mrs. Hannah More:

A little

wilt go on, are women

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too rough" this, surely, 'Squire Peter!--and yet thou and tell us that the Lady has a so-so lyre;' that there of whose gown she is not fit to hold the tail;' that, Had WISDOM crush'd Miss HANNAH's forward quillHad Silence put a gag on HANNAH's tongue

No crape had mourn'd upon the Muse's hill,

Nor Phohus blubber'd for the loss of song.'

Angry also with the Bishop for his well-intended gallantry, thou accusest him of being instrumental to the Lady's fame:

• Calm, but for thee, had HANNAH pass'd along;
OBLIVION ready with her shroud and spade,
To sink her with a prose and rhiming throng,
In sacred silence and eternal shade.'

Now recollect, Peter, that, whatever may be thy motive, thou wilt aid the Lady's celebrity as well as the R. R. preacher; who, no doubt, appreciates the merit of thy pleasantry, and smiles at thy comical prayer for Bishops:

Now God preserve the Bishops, every skin,

To blaze like beacons to the darken'd Nations i
To roast old SATAN, knock down. Gammer SIN,
And for a pack of rascals hang the PASSIONS.'

Mrs. H. M. professes to write for the fashionable world,

Το

To close this apostrophe to our old facetious acquaintance, we must observe that this Satire, though we cannot altogether approve the occasion of it, is executed with much of his usual original and playful wit. The Author of the Pursuits of Literature has a severe lash en passant; and a Lady of the Blue-Stocking Club is hideously caricatured under the name of Urganda.

If the other pieces be not in Peter's best manner, they bear his mark, and will produce the effect which he intended. Peter prefereth the simple notes of his favourite Robin Red Breasts to the Cathedral Service, and rudely asketh

-How can Heav'n with venal sounds be taken,

Tainted with ale and gin, aud eggs and bacon?

"Swelling organs, which (Pope says) lift the rising soul," seem not to have elevated the soul of this sarcastic bard. Is this owing to a virtue, a misfortune, or a fault?

EDUCATION, &c.

Art. 41. The Hare; or Hunting incompatible with Humanity; written as a stimulus to Youth towards a proper Treatment of Animals. 12mo. Pp 187. 2s. Vernor and Hood.

1799.

This little history is introduced by the following apology, in the person of the Hare; I feel it necessary to offer a few words on the subject of my intrusion. To complain of injuries received and grievances unredressed, I have sent forth this history of my life and feelings.-On very serious occasions, " stones have been said to move, and trees to speak," in bringing forth the "man of blood;" and if such inanimate beings have been worked up to this pitch on a cause not their own, may not a hare be allowed to be, at least, as eloquent in its own cause?We must grant that poor Puss pleads very well. She passes through many perils and dangers, and at length finds a safe and comfortable asylum in a humane and compassionate family, who understand the proper treatment of the brute creation, together with that of their own species. Some amusing and instructive incidents will here attract the attention of tender and benevolent minds. Art. 42. A Series of Letters on Education; ascribed to John Witherspoon, D.D. President of Princeton College, New Jersey. Lilliputian 12mo. Is. bound. Button. 1798.

This tiny performance is introduced by the following lines:

The intrinsic merit of this little publication, it is presumed, will be a sufficient apology for its being re-printed in England, from an edition printed at New-York, for C. Davies, in 1797. I have no authority for its being Dr. Witherspoon's, except the American title-page and the style; but am fully of opinion that it would not disgrace the pen of any one.

Dr. W. was born at Yester, a few miles from Edinburgh, in 1722; went to the University of Edinburgh at fourteen years of age; and after several flattering invitations to Dublin, Rotterdam, &c. removed to Princeton in 1768, where he filled his station with honor, till his death, November 15, 1794, in the 73d year of his age, being blest with the use of his reasoning powers to the last.

Moo-y.

Hi.

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