energy of the fpeakers, as there were few, very few, whofe judgment was matured by time, had alfo great weight in making converts; for, among the lower orders of people, an extemporaneous harangue, against the ministers of religion, had an effect not eafily imagined. This was particularly noticeable about Spitalfields, when, as the French fyftem of politics infenfibly attached itfelf to the auxiliary ideas of prophefies, fulfilling on the Continent, it would be difficult to say, where the effects would have ceafed, had time been given to obtain that confiftence wished for by the visionary movers of those irritable bodies." P. 10.

The reader will find various matters worthy of his attention throughout this book, which, as the author fays, " may awaken the rancour of infidel fanatics," fince it contains "an expofure of their opinions, by one who has witneffed their moft fecret operations; and the most unqualified expreffion of the views of thofe who efpoufed them;" but "must be more than counterbalanced by the approbation of the learned and fober-minded of all Chriftian denominations." For his deliverance from fuch a fuare, the author may be moft warmly congratulated; nor can he be too ftrongly commended for thus endeavouring to make his own efcape the means of fafety to many others. The recantations of thofe who, after being mifled, have feen and acknowledged their error, are of abundant ufe to fociety, and deferve recommendation; both for the inftructions they convey, and for the encourageme it they may hold out to others to act, in fimilar circumftances, with equal honesty and fpirit.

BRITISH CATALOGUE.

POETRY.

'ART. 16. Sans Culotides. By Cincinnatus Rigfhaw, Profeffor of Theaphilanthropy; Member of the Corresponding and Revolutionary Societies; Brother of the Roy Crofs; Knight Philofopher of the Order of Illuminati; and Citizen of the French and Hibernian Republics. 4to. 127 PP. 55. Chapple, Pail-Mall. 1800.

The pretended Mr. Righaw is a very able master of verfification, and well-skilled in the fatiric modes of attack; yet there is fomething of intereft wanting in his Sans Gulstides, though what it is we can

hardly

hardly pronounce. On confideration, we are inclined to think it is variety; fo many pages in one ftyle of irony, become fatiguing even in the hands of a good writer. The Sans Culotides confift of imitations of feveral Eclogues of Virgil; to which are fubjoined, an imitation of the First and part of the Fourth Book of the Georgics. The didactic opening of thefe latter imitations, which teach the arts of cultivating Jacobinifm, is written with much force.

"What makes rebellion fmile; at what juft hour
To move nice questions; when to add the power
Of Whigs to Democrats; what care mult form
The ftripling fage, or guide the patriot swarm ;
Such arts I fing."

The following paffage admirably defcribes jacobinical arts, which have long been affiduously practised.

"On early youth, to calm experience blind, When fraudful fancy foftens all the mind,

Let the fly fage his noble toil begin,

And ftamp the witching rudiments of Sin.
But fill that heart the best return shall yield
Which vice has fapp'd, and disappointment fteel'd.
Now ere you feek to win the youthful ear,
Sift well your fubject, and th' affault prepare.
Each childish prejudice, each habit scan,
And learn each various bias of the man.

Mark which bold minds the blaze of truth will bear,
And which, more cautious, ftart at what they hear;
With fome the patrior jargon ftill fucceeds;
Some ruth where'er feductive pleasure leads;
Thefe Hymen's joys, and quick divorces move,
And all the fweet viciffitudes of love;
Of wealth divided fome with rapture hear,
And fcent the promis'd plunder from afar;
Your needy man is born for blood and ftrife,
And embryo murders lurk upon his knife;
For niggard Nature has her gifts confin'd,
Nor lavish'd ev'ry crime on ev'ry mind;
Such is her law, fince heav'nly justice hurl'd
Satan's grim troops into the nether world;
Troops from whom modern Jacobins arofe,
And hardy race unmov'd by human woes.
Then careful on the waxen mind of youth,
Stamp, deeply itamp, each democratic truth."

An Effay of confiderable humour, "On the Materiality of moral Subftances," is prefixed to the Poems, with fome other accompani ments. The original text is also given with the imitation,

ARTA

ART. 17. The Meteors. Two Volumes. 12mo. 1.25. Black, Leadenhall-Street. 1800.

<

The Meteors, if we are to speak metaphorically of them, are no unpleafing corufcations; they feem to have been generated by the flame of wit, in the atmosphere of loyalty. In plain terms, they form a very pleafing and various collection of poems, in which fome have much merit, and few are without claims to commendation. As originali y is much to be prized in fuch collections, we shall give the following playful lines, on a Purfe prefented by a young Lady. The occafion has often occurred, but we do not recollect feeing it so well employed.

* O tell me how, and where, and when
"Can I return the obligation;
Alas! will my poetic pen

Do juftice to my inclination?

'Tis furely much the shortest way,
And to the ear I think as pleafant,

In fimple profe at once to fay,

Dear girl, I thank you for your prefent.

But as the ladies now-a-days,
Expect poetical addreffes;
Without more trifling or delays,

My pen with pleasure acquiefces.
O condefcend, ye Mufes! pray,

(First you must know my theme a purfe is)
O kindly teach me what to say,
To make acceptable my verses.
Delightful theme! O beauteous purfe!

To give the praifes you require,
Exceeds my weak unfkilful verfe,
Exceeds my faint poetic fire.
Shall my untutor'd pen profane
The many virtues you inherit?'
Can I your properties explain,

Or give you half the praife you merit?

Ah no! I yield the task of praife

To those who better can explain it ;

A fingle with my bofom fways,

A fingle stanza fhall contain it.

So neat, fo charming a defign,

Was ne'er with fuch fuccefs attempted ;

And fince 'tis defin'd to be mine,

O! may I never fee it emptied!"

A moft natural, but very improbable wifh for a poet's purfe! This collection appeared originally in twelve numbers, and feems to have been encouraged in that form. That they fhould all be equal, cannot

bc

be expected; but to specify any great part of the poems that deserve commendation, would lead us too far. When we fay that there are many ferious and many comic effufions which every lover of poetry will approve, we certainly give a high character of fuch a mifcellany. We cannot, however, omit inferting one elegant and fhort poem, which tátches our eye again ere we close the book.

1

"THE SYLPH.

Not when in azure fields of air,
Thy bufy pinions play,
Do I intreat thee, lift the prayer
Which muft my grief betray.

Not when upborne 'mid folar beams,
Undazzled with the light,

To gloomy groves, hoarfe murmuring ftreams,
Do I recal thy flight.

But when in Delia's charms you live,

'When hours like minutes flee,

Remind the fair a heart to give

For that the ftole from me.”

ART. 18. Poems on various Subjects. By S. Pearfan. 12mo. 5
Rivingtons. 1800.

Thefe Poems are poffeffed of a confiderable fhare of humour, with which fpirit they feem almoft all to be compofed. The tale of St. Cuthbert is very facétioufly related; and the Myfterious Knight is very little, if at all, inferior to the popular one of the Fair Imogene, by Mr. Lewis. A refpectable Lift of Subfcribers is prefixed to this volume.

ART. 19. Liner, written by Mrs. Spalding, of Devizes, an feeing his Royal Highness the Duke of York's Lester, of the 24th of September, 1799. 4to. is. Chapman, Elect-Street.

Mrs. Spalding writes in rhyme, and therefore does not fufpect that fhe writes profe. Yet fuch is the fact. For example:

For England's ftrength does in militia lie,

And where for finer troops can we apply ?

She feems well intentioned, and loyal; and even hints at other works in which those good qualities appear, but we are unfortunately unacquainted with them.

In an inftance warm my zeal appears,

many

In many a page trace loyalty for years.

To a lady fo well difpofed we would on no account give any infidious praifes, which might tempt her to try the prefs again.

Ο

BRIT, CRIT, VOL, XYI. AUGUST, 1800.

ART. 20.

Equanimity, a Poem.

By Mafin Chamberlin. 8vo. Is. 6d. Clarke. 1800.

The argument and defign of this Poem are unquestionably good but we cannot very greatly commend the execution in the more indif penfable qualities of poetry, vigour, and harmony."

ART. 21. A Poetical Review of Mifs Hannah More's Strictures onFemale Education. Svo. 2s. 6d. Hurft. 1800.

A feeble attempt to turn into ridicule one of the most excellent and ufeful publications of the prefent times. How feeble it is will appear from a fpecimen, neither the best nor the worst that could be taken. Now as our ideas fucceed in a train,

Geography made travellers pop in her brain,

Who all to give Britain's dames preference concur,
Good lord! on their own country-women what flur!

DRAMATIC.

ART. 22.
ΚΑΣΣΑΝΔΡΑ ΨΕΥΔΟΜΑΝΤΙΣ. By Fra gli Arcadi)
Aurifco Gerefteo. 12mo. 5s. Hurft, Paternofter-Row. 1800.

This Arcadian Shepherd (whofe tramontane appellation we know not, but perhaps could eafily guefs) has here published a very ftrange compofition, fomewhat in the form of an ancient drama. The fubject itfelf is range. It reprefents a curious alarm among the ghofts of Trojan heroes and heroines, left they should be obliged to react their miferies in Egypt, at the fuggeftion of a modern critic. Bonaparte is introduced, and many other incongruous perfonages; and, in the obfcurity of the defign, it is not easy to perceive even the fide taken by the author. In the text he feems to ridicule the Egyptian Troy, in the notes he seems rather to take the contrary part; but neither text nor notes prefent any thing fufficiently poignant or intelligible to be re, peated here. We have feldom feen a more unsuccessful rhapsody.

ART. 23. Streanfball Abbey, or the Danish Invafion; a Play of Five Alts, as first performed at the Theatre at Whitby, Dec. 2, 1799Written by Francis Gibfon, Efq. 8vo. 4s. Robinfons. 1800.

There is a great deal of fpirited and good writing in this perform ance, and the characters are generally well and confiftently supported; that of the traitor, Sir Piers of Grofmont, in particular. We have read it with much pleasure, and think it far more deferving of reprefentation than many pieces, which for a time at least, have been favourably received on the London theatres.

NOVELS.