The following paffages have the found of Travestie: * As when the hundred-handed giant ftrove And hurl'd his hundred darts 'gainft thund'ring Jove; Returns rare thunders from her-hundred guns. Mr. Tasker, in his defcription of the engagement between Rodney and De Graffe in the Ville de Paris (called Paris by a poetical licence for the fake of the metre) had fo often made ufe of cannon, that he was obliged, for the fake of variety, and in the last inftance for the fake of the rhime, to come down to guns. The word hath a moft un-epic found: and yet, if, like fome nicer poets who affect an uncommon chastity of expreffion, he had called them tubes, he would have made the matter ftill worse. Long were to tell the vigilance of Hood, He ought to have taken the whole fleet, as he purfued it so much like a God; or at least have given his poet an opportunity of exulting in their total deftruction. No further fubterfuge, no further flight, Lo! guns, and men, and mafts, ALL fink to endless night! One inftance more of the genuine mock-heroic (though without defign) will fuffice. The Poet defcribing the floating batteries of the Spanish navy which appeared before Gibraltar, fpeaks thus graphically of their form: Wond'rous their structure, and unusual fize, On their fhorn decks, nor masts nor fails arise; This account it must be acknowledged is literally true. But is it poetica!?" And yet, Mr. Tafker may fay, if the floating batteries are to be defcribed, how could the Poet omit what was fo effential to their ftructure and defignation as the raw bullhides ?" Hence the difficulty of his prefent undertaking; a difficulty which a lefs adventurous poet, benumbed with the Fuga Culpa, would have declined encountering with. To point out the faults of this poem would be a tedious and invidious tafk. Let its more meritorious part rescue it from condemnation; and let the misfortunes of the man plead for the defects of the poet ! In spite of the wet, Springy backs' of the raw bull-hides, there is true poetic fpirit and fublime imagery in the description of the late celebrated rencounter at Gibraltar: Where Where Calpe's rock laughs at the threat'ning waves The Poet pays a very juft tribute to the diftinguifhed bravery and humanity of Mr. now Sir Roger Curtis; and uniting his name with the ever honoured and illuftrious name of Elliot, apoftrophizes, in very animated language, the heroic pair.' If aught the powers of mighty verse avail Your blended names fhall fhine in poets' ftrains And sparkle in the ætherial space of old heroic fame' Mr. Tasker, in a mingled vein of lamentation and humour, fings a grace o'er the Poet's flender repaft: and it is a good one, The banish'd Mufes hold a court their own In fancied dance round Phoebus' radiant throne; While Hebe crowns th'ideal cup with wine, Prefs'd from harmonious grapes on rich Pieria's vine.' This is fubtle doctrine! It docs admirably well in poetry. But to "a parfon much bemus'd in beer," the practical use and application would be ill recompenfed by all the harmonious grapes that all the vines of Pieria ever produced.--Hinc illa lachryma! -for Mr. Tafker is not only a poet by choice, but by neceffity! "The ambrofial metaphors' which feaft his imagination, mult fupport, as well as they can, his body too! He hath Apollo's bow; but, alas! it is not the bow with two ftrings. The Mufe, however, is fruitful in refources; and if the cannot fecure a jolly life, fhe can, at leaft, anticipate a merry death. Hear how her dutiful child would reconcile her to her fate: Art thou more grofs and fenfual in thy views, } Like fabled fwan, raise then thy notes on high, Sing thy laft fong, and fing it well, and die." Mr. Tafker is the very Job of poetry! Lefs patient fpirits would have curfed the Mufe-and died. But though the starve him, yet he will never leave her nor for fake her. We hope, however, the will blefs his latter end more than his beginning. ART. VII. Collectanea Curiofa; or, Mifcellaneous Tracts relating to the Hiftory and Antiquities of England and Ireland, the Univerfities of Oxford and Cambridge, and a variety of other Subjects; chiefly collected, and now first published, from the Manufcripts of Archbishop Sancroft, given to the Bodleian Library by the late Bishop Tanner. 8vo. 2 Vols. 12 s. Oxford, printed; and fold by Rivington, Cadell, &c. in London. 1781. M' IGHT we judge of the importance of a publication by the number of refpectable fubfcribers, this before us would certainly claim a confiderable fhare of attention. Subfcriptions, we know, are often promoted by connections, friendfhip, or other confiderations; but whatever influence fuch confiderations might have, as to the prefent performance, there can be no doubt that the Editor's prevailing motive has been the bringing to light fome curious tracts, and letters, which have long refted obfcurely on the undisturbed fhelves of a library. This mifcellany being chiefly compiled from the manuscripts of Archbishop Sancroft, the Editor introduces his collection by fome extracts from the BIOGRAPHIA BRITANNICA, refpecting this prelate; to which is added a letter (never before publifhed). from Mr. Thomas Baker, Cambridge, to Dr. Richard Rawlinfon, of St. John's, Oxford; which letter contains an account of the Archbishop, taken from the MS. papers of Roger North, Efq; fteward of his courts, and youngest fon to Dudley Lord North. Dr. Sancroft was a public and a party man, and, confequently, his character has been differently reprefented. In common with other mistaken high-churchmen, no doubt, he entertained principles unfriendly to that liberty for which reafon, humanity, and Chriftianity plead; but whatever inconfiftency might otherwife appear in his conduct, it must be acknowledged that he gave a strong teftimony of fincerity, as this writer remarks, in facrificing high dignities and advantages to what he thought truth and honesty. The first volume of this work contains feventy-four numbers; concerning fome of which it will be fufficient to mention their names without any farther remarks: The antiquity, ufe, and privilege of cities, boroughs, and towns: written by Mr. Francis Tate of the Middle Temple, 9th Feb. 1568.' The antiquity, ufe, and ceremonies of lawful combats in England: England: written by the fame, Feb. 13. A. 1600.' A difcourfe touching the unlawfulness of private combats: written by Sir Edward Cook, Lord Chief Juftice of England, at the request of the Lord Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton.' Of a lie, how it may be fatisfied, or at least how it ought to be dealt in by an Earl Marthal; as alfo what laws are neceffary to be established to prevent the many barbarous mischiefs that daily do happen, for default of fome fuch course to be taken. Anonymous. This laft is the beft of the tracts on the fubject, inculcating true principles of honour and magnanimity of foul, in oppofition to duels and private encoun ters. No. 5. Of the first establishment of English laws, and parliaments in the kingdom of Ireland, Oct. 11. 1611. Written by James Ufher, afterwards Archbishop of Armagh.' No. 6. A difcourfe fhewing when, and how far, the Impeperial laws were received by the old Irish, and the feveral inhabitants of Great Britain. By the fame.' The first of these articles may be fomewhat entertaining at the prefent juncture. It appears very clearly, that early care was taken, and continued, that the laws of England fhould be obferved in Ireland. As to the parliaments of that country, it appears alfo, that the first order out of England which the Archbishop could obtain concerning them, is the conftitution of King Edward II. in the 12th year of his reign, directing that parliaments should be held yearly in the land of Ireland. By other means it is found that they had been held much earlier, even in the 48th of Henry III. As to the Imperial law, we are told, that the precife time of the first profeffion of the civil law in England was about the year 1149 It is more a matter of curiofity than of importance. The principles of good fenfe, of truth and equity, of justice and humanity, are now too well understood to render it neceflary for us to look back to directions of barbarous, or, far lefs enlightened ages, and rules prefcribed in times of conqueft or arbitrary power. We may infert here a fhort fentence from the next article; herein appeareth fome of the glory and riches of the Common law above the Civil or Feudal laws; for thefe laws hammer out plenty of legal or chymical diftinctions, by reafon whereof the poor clients in their courts roll the ftone of Sifyphus.' Happy, then, are the people who are emancipated from thefe fhackles, which, under the notion of fuperior learning and abilities, ferve only to enrich and aggrandize, at their expence, a few individuals! 6 No. 7. Of ancient tenures. Written by Sir Walter Raleigh. This is a long and curious article. No. 8. is an original letter to the Marquis of Buckingham from Queen Anne, wife to James I, copied by Abp. Sancroft,'-This, if we mis take take not, has appeared in preceding collections: we have certainly read it before, but do not recollect where. As, however, it is very fhort, and relates to fo great and fo unfortunate a perfon as the celebrated Raleigh, our Readers will not be difpleased with a tranfcript of it. • Anna R. My kind dogge *, if I have any power or credit with you, I pray you let me have a trial of it, at this time, in dealing fincerely and earneftly with the King, that Sir Valter Raleigh's life may not be called in queftion. If you do it fo, that the fuccefs answer my expectation, affure yourself that I will take it extraordinarily kindly at your hands, and reft one that wisheth you well, and defires you to continew ftill, as you have been, a true fervant to your master. To the Marquis of Buckingham.' 6 No. 9. relates to a difpute between the Knights commoners, as they are termed, and the Aldermen of the city of London, concerning precedency; and it appears to have been determined, on the 19th February 1611, that within the city Aldermen fhall have and take place and fuperiority before the faid Knights commoners, which are freemen or citizens of the faid city.' An apology for the late Lord Treasurer Sir Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury. Written by Sir Walter Cope.' This is addreffed to his Majesty, no doubt meaning, James I. It is fenfible and well written, according to the ftyle of the time. But we have seen it before, perhaps, in the Harleian collection of tracts: The next five numbers relate to the marriage of the children of James I. They begin with an account of the management as to the Spanish match, firft propofed with the Infanta major, and after with the younger Infanta; written, with great appearance of fidelity, and in vindication of himself, by Sir Charles Cornwallis to the Lord Digby. Then follow, A difcourfe concerning the marriage propounded to Prince Henry with a dughter of Florence: written by the fame, being the Prince's treasurer, at the Prince's commandment.' A letter to the King. By the fame, being an apology for himself." • Mr. Thomas Alured his letter to the Marquis of Buckingham, 1620, to diffuade the match with Spain.' This Mr. Alured, or Aldred, is faid to have been one of the Marquis of Buckingham's chaplains. It is written with freedom,-that This was the ftyle of court favouritifm in the reign of the British SOLOMON. "Dear Dad," and "Dear Goffip," was Buckingham's mode in addreffing the King (in his private letters); and "Dear Dog," and "Dear Stinie," food at the head of his Majesty's loving billets to that minion. 6 freedom |