Mr. Pope is a strong advocate for the act, and earnestly recom. mends a speedy attention to the advantages which it holds out to land proprietors, without loss of time, before those advantages are lessened by the probable rise of the funds;-and for other cogent reasons, for which we refer to the pamphlet.

POETRY, DRAMATIC, &c.

Art. 41. A Day at Rome*: A Musical Entertainment, in Two Acts. As it was damned at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden, October 11th, 1798. 8vo. 1s. Symonds, &c. Notwithstanding the long-experienced good-nature of English audiences, (when party is out of the question,) their decisions on the merit of a new piece do not always err on the side of indulgence; nor do disappointed authors always implicitly submit, but frequently carry their appeals to the public at large, in the hope that by printing their productions they may shame their censurers. In this, however, the unfortunate dramatist seldom succeeds, for the decrees of the Pit are generally affirmed in the Closet. - The present is one of those instances:-yet this little drama is not destitute of wit and humour; though there seems to be nothing very attractive in the songs † ; nor is there either character or business of sufficient importance to fix the attention or command the applause of a London audience. We say command; for if, in these cases, the writer is not possessed of that power, it is in vain to think of inferior considerations.

Art. 42. The Forester; or the Royal Seat. A Drama. In Five Acts. Written by John Bayley. 8vo. Is. 6d. Lee and Hurst, &c. 1798.

This imitation of the Midsummer Night's Dream caricatures the faults of Shakespeare, without approaching his beauties: can it have been intended as a satire on the admirers of our greatest dramatic poet?

Art. 43.

Matriculation: A Poem. 4to. Is. 6d. Cadell jun. and

Davies. 1798.

If an assembly of drunken undergraduates, quizzing a Freshman and kicking up a row, with a school-boy just matriculated, wallowing in the effects of his own intoxication, and drinking diuretic whey to remove his sickness, -be a fit subject for the grave and sober dignity of blank verse, the present publication has perhaps some claim to attention. We think, however, that with such a subject the youthful author had better have tried his skill in Hudibrastic doggrel.

Of the literary merit of this performance, we have little more to say than that we regret to see some very tolerable lines associated with such sorry company; that there are marks of abilityin the poem;

* In Carnival time.

† The music was furnished by the masterly hand of Atwood: but nothing, as the author intimates, with very natural regret, could charm the audience into a fair hearing of the whole entertainment.

and

and that we augur better things of the juvenile writer, should he hereafter employ his talents on some happier subject.

Art. 44. The Inquisitor: a Tragedy, in Five Acts. Altered from the German. By the late James Petit Andrews, Esq. and Henry James Pye. 8vo. 2s. Hatchard.' 1798.

Art. 45. The Inquisitor: a Play, in Five Acts. As performed at 2 s. Robinsons. the Theatre Royal in the Haymarket.. 8vo. 1798.

In the fifth volume of the Nouveau Theatre Allemand, under the title Diego & Leonore, we find the tragedy which has been thought worthy of a brace of translations; and which is now offered to the English public, both in verse and prose. The improbable plot is to this effect. A Portuguese gentleman comes to England, marries, and has a son, who is a protestant. He then goes to his own country, and obtains the offer of high proferment in the church, which he hesitates to accept on account of his marriage. His deserted wife hears of this, and transmits to him testimonies of her death. He is now made archbishop of the Brazils, and finally returns to Lisbon as Patriarch. Meanwhile, his son, the hero of the piece, grows up, comes to Lisbon as an adventurer, falls in love with the niece and heiress of the patriarch, and, being rival to the nephew of the grand inquisitor, is arrested as a protestant and threatened with the faggot. An escape from prison, and an attempt to elope with his mistress, form the business of the piece. He is retaken; and both he and the lady determine to swallow poison. Now comes the discovery of his relationship to the patriarch; too late, according to the poetical translator, to prevent the death of the lovers: but in good time, according to the prose translation *, in which the poisoned chalice is indeed provided for them, but in which they are only preparing to hob or nob, when the patriarch's influence with the holy brotherhood sets them free, and he consents to their union.

In the poetical version of Messrs. Andrews and Pye, the dialogue is simple and elegant, but somewhat insipid: it is decorated with various praiseworthy maxims, favourable to the introduction of religious toJeration.

The style of the prose translator seems, for the most part, bloated and affected: but he has preserved many well-imagined traits of character which escape in the other version.

On the whole, we think that the reading public will not materially disagree with the audience, which effectually discouraged the exhibition of the play.

Art. 46. Poems, on various Subjects. By Mary Ann Chantrell, of Newington-Butts. 8vo. pp. 110. 2s. 6d. bound. Symonds. 1798. The first poem in this volume professes to be in blank verse: but, in our opinion, it differs little from plain prose. This will be apparent if we transcribe any part of it without the customary poetic division and measure of the lines, viz.

• The passion of envy seems to be a curse that is entailed upon mortality, as it is found in almost every breast; and oh! when

* That which was acted, without applause.

7

once

once it gains ascendant there, what labor it requires to chase it thence! Unless one keep strict watch on all our actions, we soon, alas! too soon, must feel its lash. Such is the frailty of our mortal nature, that it admits this vile disgraceful passion, and gives it preference to every other; though in reality 'tis most unsolid,' &c. &c. This is copied exactly.

It would require more sagacity than we possess, to discern here any thing poetical either in the diction or the thoughts. Of the pieces which follow, viz. Pastorals, Epitaphs, Dreams, and Political Rhapsodies, we shall not waste time in going through a minute detail. They differ in kind from that to which we have already adverted, only by being in rhyme; and they seem to have been written rather with a view of filling a volume, than from the resistless impulse of genius or fancy.

In pronouncing an opinion thus unfavourable on the production of a female, we certainly feel pain :- but it affords us some consolation, to perceive that the pecuniary success of the author is already secured by a numerous list of subscribers.

Art. 47. Ode to Lord Nelson on his Conquest in Egypt. By Har

modius. 4to. IS. Egerton. 1798.

Harmodius praises the Hero of the Nile, and celebrates his triumph, with the Temple of PEACE in his view. Peace, indeed, appears, in the poem before us, to be the favourite object of his Muse. His poetry does not displease us: but his humanity claims our highest eulogium. May our glorious victories be soon followed by the full gratification of the Poet's best wishes!

POLITICAL, &c.

Art. 48. Reflections on the late Augmentations of the English Peerage, to which are added a short Account of the Peers in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, and a Catalogue of all the Knights created in that illustrious Reign.

1798.

8vo.

pp. 137. 3s. 6d. Robson.

The preliminary page of this pamphlet contains the facts on which the spirited strictures of the author are founded:

• Mr. Pitt having just made another large addition of thirteen persons to the English Peerage; it is impossible to reflect on the augmentations which have taken place in the Upper House, during his ministry, without strong sensations of doubt, fear, and astonishment.

In 1682 the House of Peers consisted of 2 Dukes of the bloodroyal, 9 Dukes and 2 Duchesses in their own right, 2 Marquisses, 68 Earls, I Countess in her own right, 8 Viscounts, I Viscountess in her own right, 65 Barons, and 3 Baronesses in their own right; forming altogether 161 temporal Peers *.

In 1728 it consisted of 4 Dukes of the blood-royal, 24 Dukes (besides those of Dover, Brandon, and Greenwich, which were supposed to be contrary to the articles of union), I Marquis, 71 Earls, 15 Viscounts, 64 Barons, with 7 Peeresses in their

* Dugdale's Catalogue of Nobility, at the end of his Antient Usage of Arms.”

own

ewn right; in all 186, besides the 16 Scotch Peers *. In these 46 years, therefore, during which had happened the Revolution, and the accession of the House of Hanover, the increase was only 25.

In 1759 it consisted of 2 Dukes of the blood-royal, 20 Dukes, 1 Marquis, 81 Earls, 10 Viscounts, and 58 Barons, besides 9 Peeresses in their own right, in all 181. During these 31 years, therefore, the Peerage had decreased 5.

• In 1780 it consisted of 3 Dukes of the blood-royal, 21 Dukes, 1 Marquis, 78 Earls, 14 Viscounts, 65 Barons, besides 7 Peeresses in their own right; in all 189. During these 22 years, the increase was 7.

• At the close of the year 1783 in consisted of 3 Dukes of the blood-royal, 22 Dukes, 78 Earls, 17 Viscounts, 76 Barons, besides 10 Peeresses in their own right; in all 206; an increase of 17 in about four years.

• In 1797 it consists of 4 Dukes of the blood-royal, 19 Dukes, 11 Marquises, 90 Earls, 14 Viscounts, 121 Barons, and 9 Peeresses in their own right; in all 268. During these 13 years therefore, the increase has been 62.

• In point of promotion in the ranks of Peerage, perhaps no minister has ever equalled Mr. Pitt. He has elevated 10 Peers to the rank of Marquis, 18 to the rank of Earl, and 2 to that of Viscount.

• The addition of 62 to the Peerage is within a fraction of a third of the whole number which existed so lately as 1780. I am by no means an enemy to Mr. Pitt. But, if it be doubted whether there be any violent evil from this great alteration of the system of the constitution, yet as there is no apparent good in it, we may surely be allowed to hesitate, and inquire how far it may be wise to introduce such a striking change, without some importunate and decisive cause: at any rate, it may be made an engine of alarming corruption in the hands of any minister. It is a lure for the country Gentleman; on whose independence before the bauble of a coronet was universally dangled within their grasp, the best hopes of the purity of Parliament were placed.'

We cannot compliment the author's reasoning, by styling it the most conclusive that might have been drawn from such premises. He considers the late additions to the Pecrage as replete with national mischief, not on constitutional grounds as tending to an undue preponderance of one branch of the Legislature, but as alienating the affections of the country gentlemen from the present administration, by exciting the dangerous and hitherto dormant jealousy of those whose hereditary pretensions were originally equal.

• But, while it is impossible to tear our sensibilities from our frame, it becomes a matter of very alarming concern indeed, how profusely this bauble of a coronet is showered down on the heads of improper or undeserving men, and while it makes a few ungrateful and corrupt, makes a thousand disaffected and dangerous.'

In the list of creations and advancements of the Peerage during the present administration, we remark a trifling inaccuracy. Sir T. Egerton is descended from a coheir of the antient Barons Grey De

• * Chamberlaine's Present State of England, 1728.'

Wilton:

Wilton: his claim was indeterminate, or there had been no necessity for a patent dated 1784.- We must also correct the assertion relative to Lord Carrington having assumed the title and arms of a family to whom he had not even a distant agnation. The arms which he bears were legally granted to the brother of his grandfather, High Sheriff of Leicestershire, in 1718; and he has not in any instance assumed those of the former noble family of Carrington.

It will probably be the opinion of many, that no analogy can be formed between the systems of administration in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and of George the Third. The catalogue and characters of her peers and knights, given in this pamphlet, will perhaps convey no censure that is applicable by just comparison to modern men and things. Though the noblemen were very few, they were not immaculate; and if we may believe Sir Robert Naunton, (Fragmenta Regalia, p. 92,) " there were of the Queen's council which were not in the catalogue

of saints."

Art. 49. Copies of Original Letters recently written by Persons in Paris to Dr.Priestley in America. Taken on board of a Neutral Vessel. 8vo. pp. 36. Is. Wright. 1798.

We are informed in the preface to this pamphlet, that 'the letters of which the following are literal copies were found on board of a Danish ship, (The Christiana, Nicholas Albosted, Master,) lately brought into one of our ports by the Diamond Frigate. The originals were inclosed in a cover directed to "Dr. Priestley in America." They have been exhibited, with the usual attestations, in the High Court of Admiralty, as part of the evidence in the proceedings against the above-mentioned ship, and her cargo, and are now remaining on record in the public registry of that court. Their authenticity is, therefore, (continues the editor,) placed beyond a dispute, and may be personally ascertained by any man who chooses to take that trouble.'

The first letter is dated, Paris, 12th February 1798 (25 Pluviose, 6th year), and is signed by Mr. J. H. (John Hurford) Stone, who is described as a traitor in the indictment which was preferred against his brother William Stone, and on which he was tried at bar in the King's-Bench in Hilary term 1796. - This letter contains an account of the French transactions about the period of its datein Venice, Genoa, and the Cisalpine Republic, and particularly of their threatened invasion of this country; which the writer describes as 'a denrée, or merchandice of the first necessity for them; and, I should doubt (continues he) whether any concession on the part of England could now avert the experiment; whether it will be a fatal one to it's government, time only can determine. In the mean time, the government here are putting in work every engine, attempting to engage every passion, to enlist every prejudice; nevertheless always anxious to discriminate between the Government and the People, flattering the one, as much as they profess to execrate the other."

It was not necessary that these letters should have appeared, for us to be informed that their writer had cast off his allegiance to his sovereign: but they were necessary to convince us that any Englishman could so totally eradicate from his mind all feelings of attachment

and