of an elegant, but dangerous, modern writer; and he succeeds in imitating him, as far as regards violation of decorum, and no farther. We dare not hope that our censure will have any effect on Frederic Thornhill, esquire. He boldly throws down the gauntlet, and hurls defiance at the critics. His Rosa having sensibly expressed "her apprehensions that he would suffer much from critical severity," he courageously exclaims— "Oh! what's the critic's wrath to me What care I for their stern decree? Where reason's lost in passion's sway, Why should I mourn their saying this, Since it can't damp one burning bliss, &c. &c." Perhaps the fears of his Rosa, who seems to be a female of some taste in poetry, were excited by the perusal of an address to herself, from which we extract the following elegant lines: "And yet methinks it must be morn; And so I cannot part with thee." Whether Frederic Thornhill, esquire, is a gay deceiver of the ladies, we will not take upon us to say; but we are sure that he is a deceiver of himself. Witness this stanza, with which he begins a sorrowful ditty to his lyre:→ "Ah! what avails it, tho' the voice of fame No longer seem my loving lays to scorn! Ah what avails it, tho' my humble naine Be doom'd to shine in ages yet unborn!" One article of information we obtain from this handsome crown octavo, and we will communicate it to our readers. It is that "Apollo never sleeps at all!" There can be no doubt of the fact, when asserted on such authority. We'll "take the ghost's word for a thousand pounds." ART: XII. The only Child; a Poem. 3s. 6d. Wilson. 1814. Though not distinguished by any peculiar merit, this poem is not altogether contemptible. The verses do not flow amiss, nor are the thoughts devoid of feeling. The following description of a woman seduced from the paths of innocence and virtue, is perhaps the best specimen that can be produced. "In Henry's absence she reclin'd her head, ART. XIII. Eloisa ad Abelardo da Alessandro Pope; tradotta da G. B. Boschini, Romano. 8vo, pp.40. Schulze and Dean. 1814. This is prefaced by a dedication to Mr. Mathias, which would of itself prejudice us in favour of any exertion in the department of Italian literature. Sig. Boschini has selected a poem which above every other in our language will admit of a spirited, yet close translation. It has already appeared in Greek, in Latin, and in French, nor has it lost any part by its transfusion, when the task has been in able hands. The present effort of Sig. Boschini appears to have been attended with success. The translation if not always close, is spirited and good. We shall give our readers the passage beginning at "See in her cell sad Eloisa spread Prop't on some tomb, a neighbour of the dead." "Vedi stesa Eloisa in umil stanza, Vedi in che tomba appoggia il fianco spento, Ogni sordo scrosciar o cupo vento Par gemito d' un' ombra; e in quell' orrore In dolce, eterno sonno i' son sopita, Qui più non geme il duol; sanata, estinta E qui d' Amor la face e la ferita. " Superstizion da mille larve cinta, (Perchè qui Dio, non l'uomo, assolve i falli) Prepara palme del celeste Idume, Splendida, e scevra di mondano fuoco, Mostra col dito il ciel, m' esorta, e insegna ART. XIV. The Parents' Poetical Anthology; being a Selection of English Poems, designed to assist in forming the Taste and Sentiments of Young Readers. 12mo. pp. 444.1 5s, 6d. Rivingtons. 1814. Among the many selections which have been made of late years for the use of the rising generation, we know of none that is superior in its claims to the one now before us. For children of both sexes, from the age of eight to twelve, it is admirably calculated; and for females even in a more advanced period of their education, it is much better adapted than more numerous and extensive collections. All the fairest specimens of poetry, in every department are here to be found; those only are omitted which have any tendency to vitiate the taste and undermine the principles of the young. Many pieces of acknowledged merit here appear, which have not as yet found their way into other collections; and some few originals, which do no discredit to the taste of the selector, are sparingly inserted. The arrangement is also judicious and good. There is no appearance either of bookmaking or hurry throughout, but rather of a desire to present to all parents and schools, a well chosen and well arranged English 9 anthology, anthology, which shall equal, if not supersede any now extant. We can fairly say that the editor has well accomplished his task; and we trust that a volume which has so much to recommend it will meet with the attention it deserves. The moderation of the price will prove no bad subsidiary to its merits. NOVELS. ART. XV. The Ordeal; a Novel. In Three Volumes. 12mo. This is a novel which we can safely recommend to the perusal of those who are fond of novels. It will neither injure their taste, nor their morals. It contains no sickly sensibility, no captivating pictures of folly and vice, no lessons of levity, disobedience and wantonness. The heroine, Laura Merton, is firm, yet not obstinate; courageous, yet gentle and feminine; dignified, yet not haughty; sensible and accomplished, yet not vain of her sense and accomplishments. To duty she sacrifices even the dearest affections of her heart. Calm, uncomplaining, and full of reliance on the goodness of heaven, she gives the perfect example of an amiable and virtuous female. The other characters also are drawn with spirit, and well contrasted. The style is animated, flowing and correct. ART. XVI. Tales for Cottagers; accommodated to the present Condition of the Irish Peasantry. pp. 227. Gale, Curtis, &c. 1814. There is much knowledge displayed in these tales of the temper, disposition, and manners of the Irish peasantry; and we have no doubt that an extended circulation of the volume would have no inconsiderable effect in ameliorating the condition and humanizing the minds of that neglected and priest-ridden portion of our community. The following description of the family of a low Irish tenant will be novel to many and entertaining to all our readers. "Let us now take a view of Paddy's family; Philip was often unemployed, though his father had land enough to give all his children enough to do, but Paddy thought it unnecessary to clean or manure his ground, and was not fond of the trouble of tillage. Philip's admiration of the Flanagans, made him wish for his family to resemble them, but as he could not alter them, he was determined to imitate them himself as much as was in his power. He made a bower in the corner of a dirty little garden, and when it was was made, he thought it ill became its situation, so he improved the garden as well as he was able, considering the discouragements he met with from his father; who despised every thing that was neat, He said he hated all pride but family-pride, and he thought the true dignity of a man of family, was to be perfectly idle. When the bower was made, and the garden dressed up in the spring of the year, he brought his sisters to look at it, but they said it was too Lonesome for them to sit in, and they could not be cloistered up, like Mary and her sisters. Philip was disheartened at the bad success of his bower, and did not like to look at it, because no one in the house cared about it; and he was ashamed to ask the Flanagans to see it, lest they should see the dirt and bustle of the house for though his mothers and sisters were idle and lazy, yet they always had a confused look, and the house had the appearance of great business. Pots, and bowls, and pails, and tubs, were all over the floor, so that it was difficult to walk in without stumbling, When we consider this confusion, and the constant scolding and jarring, which they kept up among theinselves, we need not wonder that the Flanagans seldom visited there, but very naturally preferred their own private dwelling. As Philip grew up, he was more and more sensible of the bad management of his father's fa mily, and often recommended his sisters to take example by Mary, but they only ridiculed both him and her in return. His sister Polly having set her heart on the young squire's foot-man, became idler than ever; the plans she formed for meeting him, took up se much of her mind, that she could think of nothing else; and the great plan of marrying him, and living an easy life with such a well-dressed man, and under such a rich master, made her think it a folly to perplex and tire herself doing any business whatever; so she threw it all upon her sister Nelly, which was the cause of many a quarrel. The leases of the tenants were now nearly expired, and every one was anxious about his approaching fate. Paddy made presents of fowl and eggs, and even of a fat calf, to his honour, and when his children went a message, or spent the whole day in minding the landlord's cattle, they had orders never to be paid, but to tell his honour they thanked him for employing them. On an inexperienced young man like Mr. Harvey, these compliments had the desired effect, and Paddy found he was daily coming into higher favour; but Richard's views of the supreme excellence of industry increased that independence which was natural to him, he had nothing to fear; he knew, that while health was granted to himself and his family, they could struggle through every thing by the main force of perpetual industry. He owed no rent, which was not Paddy's case, and he had no idea of cringing to, or flattering a young man that he knew little or nothing about, yet his grateful and benevolent heart was well disposed to love a worthy neighbour, whether rich or poor, and if he loved him, he would go far to serve him. One day in harvest, when Mr. Harvey ad Paddy's family employed in the field, he sent Peggy Flanagan a message of six |
