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fubject to new and peculiar modifications. This Writer is obliged to acknowledge that there is little fimilarity between the Poems of Rowley and thofe that were written in the age in which, it is faid, he lived. Inequality, fays he, is not the characteristic of this Author. Whatever fubject is treated by him, is marked with the hand of a mafter, with the enthusiasm of the poet, and the judgment of the critic. The utmost that I fhould think proper to urge from harmonious lines, and paffages now extant in ancient authors, is, that it appears from those paffages, that there was at least what may be termed a capability in our language at that early period. Either our poets did not then fufficiently purfue their point when they had attained a tranfient excellence; or their ear was fo accustomed to the production of the e final, as not to be offended by it; and at other times was perfectly fatisfied with the more numerical scansion of the verfe; or their genius was unequal to the task of uniform perfection, and the efforts of patient and unremitted attention. Those who efteem the poems of Rowley as authentic, are of opinion, that the powers of this poet were fo great, as to have feized this very capability in the language which I juft obferved; and, by adding to it an extenfive erudition and confummate judgment, to have produced fuch compofitions as are indisputably fuperior to all thofe of his cotemporaries, and appear by no means unworthy of the greatest name in the annals of poetry.' But the point in difpute is not, whether Rowley might not have been fuperior to every other poet of his day, but whether there is any ground in reafon to fuppofe, or whether experience could warrant the fuppofition, that he thould be effentially and almost totally different in language, in mode of compofition, in harmony, in metre, in allufions, in references, in obfervations, in fentiment, and in every thing that falls within the compass of what is called tafte, from not only a few, but from all the writers of his own and of every preceding age? The defenders of Rowley muft affent to this propofition in its fullest extenta propofition to which the mind almoft inftinctively revolts; and which the experience of mankind univerfally contradicts. Mr. Mathias, however, attempts to prove it not only poffible in theory, but a fact eftabiifhed by one great example, that may serve instead of a thoufand. His example is Homer. His rea foning on this head is merely gratuitous. It is not only reafoning without proof, but even in spite of it. Let the learned judge. Genius, we know, is peculiar neither to age nor country. The innate powers of the mind doubtless require cultivation, and in the proper feafon will produce fruits fuitable to the Jabour which has been bestowed upon them. I am not here Speaking of an early maturity in a particular perfon, but only of

a coun

a country where literature and compofition may be regarded as in their infancy. In fuch a country, and in fuch an age, appeared a man, who in the vigour of all his glorious faculties, without affiftance, without example, gave to the world a work which has been the admiration and model of all fucceeding poets. What conjecture, what reafon fhall we ever be able to affign, why Homer, who, as far as tradition reaches, had no guide, no precurfor, fhould at once, inftantaneously burft forth in all the united splendor of poetic excellence ?'-—A Writer who is capable of fuppofing this, is prepared to be the dupe of any impofition. Because no models, which might have affifted Homer in the perfecting of the poetic art, do not at prefent exift, is that an argument that none ever did exist? The ancients were convinced that Homer had fome models to guide him ; and it is highly reasonable to fuppofe it. It is all idle declamation to talk of his burfling forth INSTANTANEOUSLY AT ONCE into all the united fplendour of poetic excellence.' We might combat the affertion by this fimple but unanswerable queftion-" How doth the Author know this? How can he prove it?" But we think the judgment of Tully much better to be trufted in a matwhich is more to be decided by internal evidence than by external facts. "Nothing (faid that great man) becomes perfec of a fudden. There is no doubt but there were poets before Homer." The cafe of Rowley and Homer is exceedingly different. We have real ground to proceed on when speaking of the poetry of Rowley's age: but nothing better than imaginary, when speaking of the age of Homer. On the one we can inftitute a comparison with certainty; on the other, our reasonings being arbitrary, cur conclufions must be uncertain, vague, and presumptuous.

ART. VIII. An Analysis of the principal Duties of social Life; in a
Series of Letters to a young Gentleman on his Entrance into the
World. By John Andrews, LL. D. Smali 8vo.
3 s. Boards.
Robinfon, &c. 1783.

TH

If it HIS performance is by no means deftitute of merit. difcovers no uncommon ftretch of thought, nor any original acuteness of difcernment, yet it fhews the Author to be a man of found judgment and mature experience. His remarks, though fometimes trite, are generally juft: and though feveral maxims only contain the very fame idea under a different form of expreffion, yet there is a novelty, a propriety, and an elegance in the whole, that entitle it to our recommendation. Its tendency is ftrictly moral; and a youth formed on the principles it inculcates bids fair to be useful to fociety, and happy in himself.

The

The Author's general plan may be collected from his Advertisement to the Reader. The following Effays are written in imitation of the ftile and manner of Rochefoucault, fhort and fententious, and are illuftrated by frequent allufions and comparifons. Thefe ufually make ftronger impreffions on youth, and force the leffons, which they are defigned to teach, more powerfully and effectually than any other fort of reasoning.' This laudauble defign is ftill farther announced in the Prefatory Letter. Youth generally completes us in virtue or in vice; and lays in that ftock of good or evil which compofes the refidue of our lives. In order to confirm you in a steady adherence to those morals and manners you have been fo carefully taught, and in a determination to fhun whatever may contaminate your character, the following epiftolary effays are addreffed to your perufal. You are to confider them as a repofitory of those maxims and sentiments that are to guide you fuccefsfully in your progrefs through the world. They are the laborious refult of years and long experience, and are founded on a close and continual ftudy of human nature. Endeavours have been used to enliven them, by calling in the affiftance of such metaphors and comparifons as might render them more acceptable to the imagination, and make a ftronger impreffion on the memory.'

Thefe Letters (which are feventeen) treat of the following subjects, in which the moft material circumftances of human lite occur: The importance of Education-Good Nature and Benevolence-Veracity-Generofity-Senfe of Equity and the

Light of Confcience-Gratitude-Magnanimity-Temperance and Sobriety-Propriety of Behaviour-Forethought and Reflection-How to judge of Mankind-Diffimulation-DifcretionUfe of Genius and Judgment-Labour and Industry of the Mind-Emulation-Contentment and Moderation.-To the Letters is added a Conclufion, confifting of mifcellaneous refections.

As a specimen of the Writer's ftyle and manner, we will prefent the Reader with a brief extract:

TRUTH gives firmness to our behaviour. Like a man who knows he has got friends to fupport him, our expreffions are bold, and our appearance refolute: while the consciousness of falsehood influence like a flaw in a deed that invalidates the whole: it unmans us, and often baffles the most conftitutional intrepidity, by that embarraflment which attends the fear of detection.'

'DISSIMULATION may fometimes be unhappily neceffary, but never can be claffed with the virtues. Great minds may occafionally condescend to use it, but they always pay a price far above its worth in the violence they are forced to put upon their inclinations.'

Some

Some of the comparisons are natural and ftriking; but there are too many that weaken and obfcure the maxims they were defigned to illuftrate. The following is affected and far-fetched: As generofity is the fource of difinterestedness, it is no less the tomb of unlawful ambition.'- Liberality of mind is a school wherein those leffons of divinity are taught, from which no fect ever diffented. The dictates of this fchool are truly orthodox and celeftial; by liftening to them human nature is fublimed, as metals through fire are difencumbered of the drofs, and attain their highest degree of purity.' Such allufions rather confufe the mind, than enforce or exemplify the fubject. The comparifon begins with a school, and ends with an elaboratory!

ART. IX. Collectanea Curiofa, &c. Concluded. See our laft Month's Review.

HE fecond volume of this work, including the articles in

The scope volut, contains forty-nine numbers, collected,

for the greater part, from the archives of Oxford Univerfity. The two first numbers may afford fome amufement, as they acquaint us with the provifions of ancient times for the table, with the prices, &c.

The charges of my Lord of Leiyfter (Chancellor of the Univerfity of Oxford) his dinner, the 5th day of September, 1570 (at Oxford). Among many other articles are fuch as follow: For ij kylderkynes of dowble beere, to Mr. Red

dinge,

vj s. iiij d.

For vij gallandes and iij qz. of claratte wine, to
Mr. Noble,

x s. iiij d.

For xxviij b. of butter, to Mrs. Cogene, at iij d. ob. the pownde,

viijs. ijd.

viij d.

xxvj s. viij d.

For a breft of mutton to be rofted, and to be kept cowlde for my Lord, to Mr. Ladiman,

For iiij fingnetes (wans), to Mr. Hegges at vj s. viij d. a peffe,

For vj chickens, to Goodwyfe Toveye, at iij d.

ob. a pefle,

For a b. of finemonde comfats,

xxj d. ijs. viij d For the lonne of xiv dozen of pewter dyches, iiijs. viij d.' We obferve alfo two dozen of trenchers mentioned, but the price not specified, Among the fruits, we find xij pippines, charged at xij d. which fhews them to be more scarce at that time than at prefent. The whole expence of this fumptuous entertainment, of which a very long detail is given, attended, we may be certain, by a very large company, is xix l. ijs. vj d.

No. 3. The cry in Sturbridge fair.' It confifts of various inftructions and orders refpecting bakers, butchers, innkeepers,

carriers,

carriers, &c.; also respecting the members of the University, all proper and neceffary for the prefervation of peace and regularity, at a time likely to be tumultuous and riotous: It appears to be ancient, but is without a date.

No. 4. contains a few extracts from fome MS. papers of Bishop Cofins. No. 5. confifts of extracts from the will of Bishop Andrews, 1626.

No. 6. A letter from a friend of the Univerfities, in reference to the new project for riding the great horfe.' This paper, like fome others, has no date. For our better understanding it, we are referred to No. 21. of the firft volume, which relates briefly the project for an Academy Royal in England; we are there allo informed, how far King James I. had proceeded towards it, and bere are added propofitions advanced concerning it by his fon, Prince Henry. It appears from hence, that befide Janguage, mathematics, &c. horsemanship, and exercises of that kind were to be taught in this fchool, for which purpose, it is faid, the Prince would perfuade his Majefty to furnish fome horfes from his ftables, and that he himself would do the fame from his own. From this laft part of the defign, the Author of the prefent number takes his hint to expofe and ridicule it. He apprehends that fome great man (probably Sir Balthazar Gerbier, the projector) has a great houfe near London, unoccupied, and thinks that his fcheme for a great horfe will render it very profitable. Zealous for the honour of the Universities this writer infifts that other branches of learning are or may be well taught and attained in them, and the great house and great horfe very conveniently spared.

Having been thus led back to the twenty-firft number of the former volume, we may farther here obferve, that it was proposed there should be a common feal for the intended Academy, on the face of which fhould be the effigies of his Majefty, James the Firft, in a chair of state; and on the reverse, King Solomon on a throne, vifited by the Queen of Sheba: King James, it is faid, approved the firft fide, but could not as then allow of the reverfe, out of a princely fear, left his modesty might fuffer, as afcribing Solomon's parts to himself.'

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No. 7. An abstract of divers privileges and rights of the University of Oxford: by Dr. Wallis.' No date. Among other remarks, it is faid, We had not anciently, as we now have, colleges for the habitation of fcholars; but fcholars lived in hired houses, among those of the town. And when a Mafter or Tutor hired a houfe for the ufe of himself and scholars, fuch house was wont to be called a Hall, and he the Principal of that Hall.' We would hope that it does not admit of a query, whether more real and ufeful attention was given to the improvement, the manners and qualifications of the scholars, when REV. March 1783.

they

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