became an important acquisition and the honourable reward of ten years vigils. The Gregorian chant, with dignity and fullness, had brought difficulty; and the invention of Guy d'Arezzo was yet wanting to smile on the choir, and smooth the road to musical

eminence.'

The Gregorian chant' will indeed bring difficulty to most readers, and to all readers for whom the work is intended and the invention of meaning in the passage will puzzle them as much as the Invention of Guy d'Arezzo.'

Again; speaking of the Caliph Almamon, the author says, That distinguished generosity which, out of thirty thousand pieces of gold, could distribute four and twenty to sur rounding friends, before his foot was withdrawn from the stirrup, was soon particularly directed to the advancement of learning. Now, if a person has read the history of the Caliphs, Gibbon's history, or a few such small works, he may recollect the story, and understand the allusion here made to it.

Without any previous or subsequent notice, Anna Comnena is thus introduced:

The family on the throne were not merely eminent patrons of learning, but might be numbered amongst its professors; and though the appearance of Anna Comnena at the bar of criticism may perhaps have softened its verdict, posterity has sympathised with the daughter and applauded the historian."

These specimens may suffice to justify our remarks concerning the obscurity of allusion adopted by the author. One or two short extracts shall now be given, to shew that Gibbon's style has been affected in the present work; how successfully, our readers may judge.

Written composition, it is true, was last affected by this mis fortune; but these barbaric infusions are strongly marked in the literary productions of the time. The progress of undulation extended at last from the centre to the extremest shore, and the scholar was affected as well as the peasant, the soldier, and the citizen.'

The second Caliph of the house of Abassides, Abou Giafar Almansor, seems to take the lead in the patronage of learning and the sciences. Amidst several insurrections, many splendid conquests, much cruelty and much avarice, he found time, taste, and money for a liberal encouragement of the arts, and founded a metropolis unequalled for magnificence and population, which continued the seat of his descendants above five hundred years. Theology and astronomy, poetry and philosophy were there rivals without jealousy, and competitors without envy. Lis own reading lay principally in the Koran and the skies; the conscientious Iman could not be superficially acquainted with the former, and the astronomer was proved by the calculation of tables. But out of these favourite walks no onewas more able or better disposed to judge and reward every exertion of genius. He left his successor an immense dominion, for his volour had extended the Arabian empire over Armenia, Cilicia, and Cappadocia

Cappadocia, a treasure of thirty millions sterling, and subjects known to be brave and willing to be wise.'

The following passage we do not give as an imitation of any author with whom we are acquainted: A prince of the latter house. escaping from the bloody massacre of his family, displayed the standard of revolt in Spain; submission had been death, escape next to impossibility, and an independent crown was the stake he swept in this desperate game.'

Most of the faults of the present work are to be ascribed to the want of a correct taste; knowlege we believe the writer to possess. Many of the metaphors are false, and the images incongruous; we read of inroads ripening into extensive and permanent invasions;'- of a portrait describing with a flattering pencil,' &c.

Our criticism, however, will appear malicious if we continue our extracts; they shall therefore be terminated by a passage which cost us some trouble to comprehend: Within the thirteenth century, no less than a hundred professors read lectures at Bologna; which, allowing to each of these literary monarchs a reign of eight years, will exhibit the cotemporary labours and rivalship of twelve.' This we regard as a verbal and arithmetical riddle, and we rather pride ourselves on having discovered its meaning.

We regret to see time and learning unprofitably employed. The style of this work is such that we could not approve it under any circumstances: but in the present instance it merits especial censure, as it defeats the only proper end for which this Introduction' could have been intended.

ART. VI. Physico-Theology: or, a Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God, from his Works of Creation. Being the Substance of Sixteen Discourses delivered in St. Mary-le-Bow Church, London, at the Hon. Mr. Boyle's Lectures, in the Years 1711 and 1712. By the Rev. W. Derham, Canon of Windsor, Rector of Upminster in Essex, and F. R. S. A new Edition; with additional Notes; a Translation of the Latin and Greek Quotations; and a Life of the Author. 8vo. 2 Vols. PP. 360 and 440. With Plates. 14s. Boards. Cadell jun. and Davies. 1798.

THE

HE necessity which produced the present edition, and the alterations and improvements m de by the editor, will be best understood from his own words:

The sole motive to this undertaking, on the part of the editor, was an earnest desire to extend the benefit and utility of this admirable work to all classes of readers, by opening to their view, what is in reality the most interesting as well as amusing part of the book, those

S 2

those copious stores of physical knowledge, the facts and observations
contained in the notes to this work. Separated indeed from the notes,
the text of the Physico-Theology is nothing else than a detail of
doctrines without their proofs; which the reader must content himself
This, how-
with receiving on the bare authority of their announcer.
ever, was by no means the intention of the author; for in reality he
has supported every observation which he advances in the text, by
As these, how-
ample proofs and illustrations contained in the notes.
ever, consist in great part of quotations from Latin and Greek authors,
the unlearned reader is totally excluded from all the benefit of the
proofs and illustrations drawn from their works. It appeared there.
fore to the editor, that a faithful translation of those quotations in
the learned languages could not fail to be acceptable, not only to such
readers as are entirely ignorant of those languages, but even to those
who, though moderately skilled in them, are not versant in the tech-
nical and scientific phraseology used by the Latin and Greek writers.
Another obvious mean of extending the utility of this excellent work
was, to subjoin a short notice of all the most important discoveries
that have been made in Physics since the time of Mr. Derham; as well
as of such curious facts as have recently come to knowledge, and which
tend to confirm the chief doctrines, or to throw additional light on
the principal topics of the author's inquiry. This therefore the editor
has attempted in the additional notes, which are pretty numerous and
ample; and he has likewise supplied what was confessedly a most
material want in all former editions, several plates, to illustrate those
subjects which are imperfectly understood by verbal description alone.
If in all, or in any of these respects, this new edition of the Physico-
Theology shall be deemed worthy of the attention of the public, the
editor is well rewarded, in the pleasing consciousness of having con-
tributed his aid to the advancement of those noble purposes of its pious
author, who,

to the height of this great argument,
Sought to assert Eternal Providence,
And justify the ways of God to man!'

The life of Derham, prefixed to the present work, is rather a critique on his writings, and a justification of the philosophy of final causes, than a narration of incidents, sentiments, remarks, and conversation. The incidents which occurred in the life of this worthy man, we readily conceive, may have been few and uninteresting, since an uniformity mostly pervades the lives of scholars and philosophers; "fabula unius diei continet vitam" but the sentiments, remarks, conversation, &c. of so distinguished a character, we would gladly have known from his biographer.

To ransack written records, such as were known at the time of Derham, for knowlege and illustration on the subjects of the Physico-Theology, after the patient, laborious, and well directed inquiries of its author, would be a waste of time: but

the

the discoveries and improvements which have been made in late years, in every part of physical science, offer a copious supply of matter, of which the editor has not thoroughly availed himself. The defence of the philosophy of final causes we could well have excused; the zeal and intention of the editor are more meritorious than the skill and force of his augumentation.

Although custom, and the rigorous laws which we have imposed on ourselves, forbid us to examine critically the present work, yet we cannot dismiss it with frigid indifference; nor without indulging in a retrospect of reverential regard for its original author, on account of his unwearied labours, his zeal in promoting what he believed to be the truth, the fervour of his piety, and the copiousness of his acquirements. He was one of those who sought in knowlege (to use the grand language of Bacon) "not a couch whereon to rest a searching spirit, nor a terrass for a wandering and variable mind, to walk up and down with a fair prospect; nor a fort and commanding ground for strife and contention; nor a shop for profit or sale, but a rich store-house for the glory of the Creator and the relief of man's estate."

It is true that his work contains errors: but they are the. errors of the times rather than of the man; and we know better, not so much because we are wiser, as because we live later. If his book be not without defects, it abounds with stores of knowlege rich and plenteous; and whoever is dis posed to blame the unphilosophical use which the author made of them, may employ them, if he can, to purposes of greater profit. Many errors we know have been inveterate; and what the world has long thought to be true is not necessarily so; yet we presume to say that the present work pos-sesses intrinsic merit, since it has grown in reputation under so many variations of opinion, caprices of taste, and vicissitudes of philosophy.

Small 8vo.

1799.

ART. VII. Poems, by Robert Southey. Vol. II. pp. 232. 5s. Boards. Longman and Rees. THE HE former volume of this author's poems was criticized in our xxiid vol. p. 297. We then gave to the ingenious writer the praises which were due to him, mixed with a friendly admonition to exercise his judgment more severely in the selection as well as in the finishing of his pieces. It would have

The editor has not translated all the Latin quotations; for instance, a passage from Pliny, p. 58. vol. ii.

been well, had such discrimination been more exerted in the present volume. When we perceive a man of real talents dissipating his powers in the composition of verses which are trivial both in thought and expression, it is incumbent on us to point out his mistake, and direct his efforts towards the path to true celebrity. The maxim of Quintillian, on the subject of reading, is strictly applicable to the art of writing; and we may be allowed to say," prestat scribere multum quam multa." Mr. Southey may have been hitherto gratified by producing many verses which have been read: but he may find still greater satisfaction from producing a smaller number which shall be remembered, and quoted.

We express ourselves with the more freedom on this subject, because the defects of the poems before us do not arise from a want of genius, so much as from a false system adopted by the author. Seduced by the brilliant but dangerous excentricities of Cowper, (whose poetry, like Seneca's prose, is full of agreeable faults*,) Mr. Southey has attempted to make the Muse descend a step lower, and has, in reality, brought her to the level of prose. To this error, he has joined an excessive fondness for obsolete phrases and turns of expression. Thus, instead of attempting to polish his strains, and to clothe his ideas in the most poetical garb which our language at present affords, his efforts are perpetually reverting to an imitation of the rudest productions of the last two centuries. To shew the propriety of these strictures, we shall print the following pas sages, without the measured distinction of the lines; and let our readers find out their poetry, if they can:

O! it looks ill when delicate tongues disclaim old terms of kin, Sirring and Madaming as civilly as if the road between the heart and lips were such a weary and Laplandish way that the poor travellers came to the red gates half frozen. Trust me Cousin Margaret, for many a day my memory has played the creditor with me on your account, and made me shame to think that I should owe so long the debt of kindness. But in truth, like Christian on his pilgrimage, I bear so heavy a pack of business, that albeit I toil on mainly, in our twelve hours race time leaves me distanced.' Metrical Letter, p. 85. While Bunyan continues to be one of Mr. Southey's classics, we must not expect strains very superior to these.

The Vision of the Maid of Orleans, originally printed as the 9th book of "Joan of Arc," and now adapted to the improved edition of that poem, is the first in this collection. An account of it will be found in our xixth vol. N. S. p. 366; and we shall only now observe that, in the course of this long vision, Mr. Southey's turn for the ludicrous has led him to in

Abundat dulcibus vitiis. Quintil.