The experiments seem to have been fairly conducted, and to be candidly related. POETRY and DRAMATIC. Art. 26. Ode au Roi de la Grande Bretagne: Ode to the King of Great Britain. 4to. pp. 21. Cambridge, 1798. De Boffe, London. This anonymous poem seems to come from the pen of a truly loyal Emigrant from France, who has not spared his Republican country men; and indeed, supposing their original plan of obtaining a free government to have been a good one, in establishing it they have certainly disgraced the cause: first by assassinations and the guillotine; and since by an unbounded spirit of conquest. A well-written Advertisement opens this poem, in the spirit of counter-revolution; and the poem itself, which the author tells us is the first which he has ever ventured to publish, is by no means contemptible. The famous poet Rousseau *, the Pindar of France,. seems to have been the author's model. The compliments to our King are neither inelegant nor fulsome: but unluckily for the author, few of our countrymen, with whatever facility and pleasure they may read French prose, are fond of verse in that language. More of our poets have been translated into French, than French poets into Enga fish. Shakspeare, Pope, Young, Thomson, Gay, &c. have been long since known in France by metrical versions. Art. 27. Nilus; an Elegy t. Occasioned by the Victory of Admiral Nelson over the French Fleet, on August I, 1798. 4to. Nicol. 2 S The author of this poem is not a new acquaintance to us, either in verse or prose. As a poet, we long since allowed him to be possessed of merit ; and as a traveller, to be an entertaining and interesting narrator ||. In both these characters, we thought that seeds of promise were discoverable, which in time and by cultivation might spring up and produce flowers and fruits of considerable value. It is with reluctance, therefore, that we own that the production before us has not quite fulfilled our expectations. It appears indeed to have been composed in haste, " on the spur of the occasion," according to mo*dern cant: but Pegasus does not seem to have felt this spur, nor to have mended his pace from its puncture. Some of the stanzas are * John Baptist Rousseau; born at Paris, in 1669. + We are unable to discover the author's reason for styling this poem an Elegy. We should rather suppose it to be a song of triumph, in celebration of a signal victory obtained over our country's most inveterate foe. Had it been intended to lament the death of Admiral Brutys, or the destruction of the French fleet, the title would have been appropriate: but, as Mr. I. clearly means an encomium on the intrepid Hero of the Nile, NELSON, and his gallant associates in renown, the appellation of Elegy, either from its derivation or its use, is inexpressive of the purpose of his production. † See Vol. Ixii. of our Review, for 1780, Eastern Eclogues. so embarrassed in the construction, that, on three or four perusals, we were not certain that they were English, nor that we perfectly comprehended the author's meaning. Egyptian darkness so much prevails, that we should suppose that some mystagogue had wrapt the whole in impenetrable obscurity. Inaccuracies of language may be ascribed to hurry, or to the press: but radical defects must fall on the author himself. Yet, during the inebriation of public joy, the subject which occasions it should skreen poetical effusions from critical severity, particularly if the adventurer be a young sinner: but we supposed the author of the present poem to have been, by this time, thoroughly initiated in all the mysteries of a writer's craft. The following three stanzas are presented to our readers as the clearest and most pleasing in the poem : • For NELSON comes! with bold adventure warm, • He comes! but Fortune jealous of his course, • On Revolution's wheel, see, France! thy hope, 1 Art. 28. Three Dramatic Pieces of Metastasio: The Dream of Scipio; The Birth of Jupiter; and Astrea appeased. Translated from the Original by Francis Olivari, Professor of Modern Languages. 8vo. pp. 106. Dublin. 1797. We take it for granted that the translator of these admirable little dramas is an Italian, and therefore we may venture to call his atchievement an extraordinary performance for a foreigner: as it has ever been found more difficult to translate into than from a foreign idiom. Signior Olivari seems to have made himself master of our language beyond the usual limits of one who is not a native of Great Britain: Baretti wrote English prose tolerably well, but he never attempted verse; and if the versification of these poems be not of the first class, the translator may comfort himself with recollecting that Milton's Italian Sonnets bear no comparison with his Paradise Lost, nor with his Allegro & Penseroso. We have compared the first of these pieces with the original, and find the sense fairly given: but the elegance and poetical spirit of the celebrated author are wanting, as must ever be the case in translating poetry; unless it be undertaken by gifted men of equal genius with the original author, such as Dryden, Pope, and Gray. In the first of these dramas, Scipio's Dream, the poet seems to have personified Fortitude, Resolution, Firmness, in the character of Constanza, rather than Constancy; which in English is usually applied to the passions of love and hatred, friendship, unvaried habits, &c. REV. DEC. 1798. li We We cannot allow space either for quotation, or for verbal criti cism; otherwise, we might produce some of the speeches of Publius, Fortune, and Constancy, in which the admirable sentiments of Metastasio are very well expressed; and other parts of the dialogue, in which a slight change in the diction, or construction, would render the version unobjectionable. The next two pieces abound in sublime sentiments, particularly the last, Astrea appeased; in which the speeches of Clemency, Rigour, Apollo on equality, and Astrea on inequality, are admirable. These important points are fairly and fully discussed; as are those of selflove, and the passions. These moral dramas, as well as most of Metastasio's operas composed during a residence of 50 years at Vienna in the service of the court as Imperial Laureat, were written as birth-day Odes-not to lavish praise for what is done, but to tell princes what they ought to do. Some royal virtue is recommended and displayed in each of these pieces; which, though all originally written for music, and performed by the greatest vocal characters of the time, contain lessons of morality, prudence, and virtue, of infinite importance to the welfare of mankind. Art. 29. The Irish Boy, a Ballad. 4to. Is. 6d. Kearsley. 1798. This ballad feelingly describes and laments the horrid cruelties and devastation which have so unhappily taken place in Ireland, in consequence of the recent rebellion there. The pathos and simplicity of the poem remind us of the pleasing and affecting ballads of Shenstone. The two concluding stanzas, though not the best in respect of the poetry, merit particular notice for the conciliatory spirit that (so very seasonably) breathes through them: Let us drive Party-rage from our breasts, Let us ne'er in the wretched recognise the bad, We have been particularly struck by the benevolent introduction of the half-famish'd cat, and the poor faithful and affectionate dog, found among the ruins of a burnt-down cottage: but for what relates to them, we must refer to the poem. It appears, from various melancholy accounts, that, in the general calamity which has so much desolated that lately flourishing country, the innocent cows, and the tamed and domestic animals of every kind, have had their full share. -Few men, however, extend their care so far from their own immedíate personal concerns! : Art. 30. Saint Guerdun's Well, a Poem. By Thomas White, Master of the Mathematical School at Dumfries. 2d Edition, greatly enlarged. 4to. 28. Robinsons. This poem has been noticed in a former Review, Vol. xix. N. S. p. 125. It is now considerably enlarged, and rendered somewhat more more intelligible:- but it is still pervaded by the same gloom of imagination, and the same fondness for shadowy beings and supernatural agency. Of the poetical talents of the author we have already spoken, and we see no reason for changing our opinion. POLITICS, FINANCE, &c. Art. 31. A Plan for raising the Taxes impartially, and almost free of Expence in War; and in Peace for paying off the National Debt, at the same Time that the Wealthy shall receive Interest for their Money, and the Poor be eased of Taxes. By Francis Adams, Esq. one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, and Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Somerset. 8vo. Is. 6d. Richard. son, &c. 1798. Mr. Adams appears to be a notable speculative financier, and offers many interesting considerations to the attention of the public. He avows his friendship for Mr. Pitt, and his high opinion, in general, of our ministerial measures, particularly respecting the adopted modes of taxation: but he agrees with those who have expressed their disapprobation of the assessed taxes; in opposition to which he warmly recommends the plan for a tax on income. This scheme he approves as operating more equally, and consequently more justly, than that of the triple assessments; and also as a more effectual method of forcing the money out of the pockets of miserly or disaffected persons, for the support of that government by which they and their property are protected. Mr. Adams offers a variety of calculations and tables in illustration of his proposals, &c. by all which it appears that he is acquainted, not slightly, with inquiries and investigations of this kind. In regard to his general opinion concerning the nature and consequences of the national debt, he thus briefly illustrates his idea of what will be our case, or the case of our posterity, if the continuance and increase of that burden be disregarded. Great Britain is frequently represented by the figure of a lion; in allusion to that simile, the causes for apprehension strike me in the following light: the invasion is a scratch that must arouse the lion; the national debt is an internal gangrene, continually gnawing the vitals, and must in the end de. stroy the animal!' p. 52. In support of this notion, he refers, in his motto, to the opinion of the celebrated ADAM SMITH, viz. "The practice of funding has gradually enfeebled every state which has adopted it." Wealth of Nations, vol. iii. De Art. 32. Thoughts on Taxation: in the Course of which the Policy of a Tax on Income is impartially investigated. 8vo. 28. brett. 1798. This writer approves the proposed tax on income. He reasons on many of the objections to which it is liable, and denies that they are of sufficient weight to occasion the rejection of the measure: but his arguments are rather too general, and his opinions, in some instances, are wavering. On the inquisition that he says must take place in order to ascertain income, he remarks, that the mere disclosure of the state of every man's circumstances is an evil of such magnitude, Ii2 nitude, as to be justified by nothing short of the most urgent necessity:' yet he thus begins his next page; ' it has often been asserted that a disclosure of income will be of the most fatal consequence to the mercantile world; but I think much more stress is laid upon that argument than it will bear.' Notwithstanding that the author prefers taxing income to taxing property, he expresses his opinion that the burden of taxes falls with the greatest weight on annuitants; who, he says, 'suffer more by their operation than any other description of men." Art. 33. A Plan for redeeming Two Hundred and Thirty Millions of the Three per Cent. Funds, and for improving the Public Revenue more than Three Millions Three Hundred and Forty-two Thousand Pounds a Year, without raising any new Taxes, and without diminishing the Income of any Person. By S. P. a Country Gentleman. 8vo. IS. Hatchard. 1798. When a title-page promises largely, we are not disappointed if the performance produces little: for great promises raise expectation only, in the credulous; and we are too old to belong to that class. Nevertheless, in the pamphlet before us, we find plans that are at least worthy of consideration. The writer proposes to sell the crown lands; and to enable the lords of copyholds, on paying a fine to government, to convey the fee-simple, converting them into freeholds. These products, in addition to the augmentation of the revenue arising from the sale of the land-tax, he estimates at 490,0001. per annum. The remainder, 2,852,0001. per annum, he proposes to raise by a different mode of providing for the church. His plan is to make the tithes redeemable, and to convert all church lands and estates into freeholds; and he calculates that the produce raised by these means, being vested in the funds, would be sufficient to pay the clergy the full amount of their present incomes, and would yield a surplus of 2,102,3911. per annum. He then adds 750,0001. per annum, which he believes the revenue would gain, in consequence of the improvements which would take place in lands thus released from discouraging clogs. We apprehend that the author has been too sanguine in his calculations; and, no doubt, various objections may be urged against his proposals: but these, perhaps, many will think, would be overbalanced by the benefits of them. His plans have the merit of injuring no person's income: the weight would fall principally on the clergy of future times: but the consequent improvement in cultivation would be a benefit without alloy. Art. 34. A New Inquiry into the Principles and Policy of Taxation, in the Political System of Great Britain. 8vo. pp. 128. Debrett. 1798. 28. The object of this work is to justify the principles of taxation which were recommended by Mr. Pitt when he established the heavy assessment of last year. The author tells us that his particular wish has been to afford the public such an elucidation of the subjects he has treated of, as may serve to recommend them to their universal and general attention:' but |