THE EDINBURGH MAGAZINE, OR LITERARY MISCELLANY, FOR OCTOBER 1799. With a View o, DALKEITH HOUSE, the Seat of his Grace the Duke of BUCCLEUGH. THE EDINBURGH MAGAZINE, OR LITERARY MISCELLANY, FOR OCTOBER 1799. FOR THE EDINBURGH MAGAZINE. The GLEANER, No. XII. As o'er the lucid waste of Greenland's fnow GISBORNE'S defcriptive poem, termed THE VALES OF WEVER, exhibits, on a smaller fcale, the characteristic beauties and defects of Darwin's Botanical Garden. The diction is uniformly ornate, and finically fplendid; the verification po. lifhed and correct, but fatiguingly monotonous; the file impreffive and energetic, in numerous paffages; but as this energy rather proceeds from the combination of words, than from the originality of ideas, it foon palls and lofes its effect upon the mind. As the measure is incapable of fupporting the majefty, which brilliant imagery and polished verfification dif- For what is Nature? ring her changes round, Three monftrous legs of mutton fhock our eyes, The propriety of thefe expreffions, by vague and indifcriminate invec which depreciate defcriptive poetry tive, can never be allowed; neverthe Hh2 lefs |