ART. XIV.

Poems, by William Cowper, of the Inner Temple, Esq. A New Edition. 2 Vols. Small 8vo. 10s. Boards.-Small Izmo. 6s. Boards. Johnson. 1798.

THO

HOUGH it is not usual with us to notice merely new impressions of works, even if those works possess distinguished celebrity, yet, when they come recommended to our attention by additional matter, we frequently think it right to make our readers acquainted with a circumstance from which in some cases much pleasure, and in others much information, may be derived. We feel happy therefore in taking an early opportunity of announcing this new edition of Mr. Cowper's Poems, because several original productions of that attractive writer now for the first time make their appearance.

It is always gratifying to us, to be able to observe that the opinion which we have given of publications has been sanctioned and confirmed by the subsequent judgment of the world. -Such a distinction must be considered as a reward for past efforts, and will certainly stimulate to fresh exertions.-This pleasure we have experienced in an eminent degree with respect to the works of Mr. Cowper; his first volume appeared in the year 1782, and in our 67th volume we noticed his inventive and original genius: in the year 1785, his second volumé, containing his Task, was published, and in our 14th volume we dwelt with unfeigned delight on the various fascinations of that truly original poem.-We endeavoured on both occasions to do justice to the powers of Mr. Cowper, and to point out to the public his strong claims to their admiration and regard; and we feel much self-gratulation in recollecting that the favourable decision of the world was accelerated by our introduction of this poet to their regard.

In the first volume of the present edition, we observe some verses entitled On the Receipt of my Mother's Picture out of Norfolk.'-This poem is so much to be admired for its pathos and tenderness, as well as for that pleasing melancholy which an early acquaintance with sorrows has rendered familiar to the mind of the author, that we wished to have transcribed it for the gratification of our readers: but its length forbids us. Several new, but short, pieces occur in the second volume, one or two of which we shall transcribe; to shew that Mr. Cowper, in his later productions, has lost none of that grace, ingenuity, and elegance, which were so conspicuous in his earlier compositions.

The following poem exemplifies an ingenious and unexpected turn of thought, such as could have suggested itself on the occasion to the mind of none but a poet:

ODE TO APOLLO.

• On an Ink-glass almost dried in the Sun.
Patron of all those luckless brains,

That, to the wrong side leaning,
Indite much metre with much pains,
And little or no meaning,

Ah why, since Oceans, rivers, streams,
That water all the nations,
Pay tribute to thy glorious beams,
In constant exhalations,

Why, stooping from the noon of day,
Too covetous of drink,
Apollo, hast thou stol'n away
A poet's drop of ink?

Upborne into the viewless air,
It floats a vapour now,
Impell'd thro' regions dense and rare,
By all the winds that blow.

Ordain'd, perhaps, 'cre summer flies,
Combin'd with millions more,

To form an iris in the skies,

Tho' black and foul before.
Illustrious drop, and happy then
Beyond the happiest lot
Of all that ever pass'd my pen,
So soon to be forgot!

Phœbus, if such be thy design,

To place it in thy bow,

Give wit, that what is left

With equal grace below.'

may

shine

One other effusion of fancy shall constitute our last extract:

PAIRING TIME ANTICIPATED, -a Fable.

I shall not ask Jean Jaques Rousseau*,

If birds confabulate or no:

'Tis clear that they are always able

To hold discourse, at least in fable;

And ev❜n the child, who knows no better
Than to interpret by the letter

A story of a Cock and Bull,

Must have a most uncommon skull.

It chanc'd then, on a winter's day,

But warm and bright, and calm as May,

It was one of the whimsical speculations of this philosopher, that all fables which ascribe reason and speech to animals, should be withheld from children, as being only vehicles of deception. Bu what child was ever deceived by them, or can be, against the evidence of his senses?'

The

The birds, conceiving a design

To forestall sweet St. Valentine,
In many an orchard, copse, and grove
Assembled on affairs of love,

And with much twitter and much chatter

Began to agitate the matter.

ye treat

At length a Bulfinch, who could boast
More years and wisdom than the most,
Entreated, op'ning wide his beak,
A moment's liberty to speak;
And, silence publicly enjoin'd,
Deliver'd briefly thus his mind.
"My friends, be cautious how
The subject upon which we meet ;
I fear we shall have winter yet."
A Finch, whose tongue knew no control,
With golden wing and sattin pole,
A last year's bird, who ne'er had tried
What marriage means, thus pert replied:
"Methinks the gentleman," quoth she,
"Opposite in the apple-tree,

By his good-will would keep us single
Till yonder heav'n and earth should mingle,
Or (which is likelier to befall)

Till death exterminate us all.

I

marry without more ado,

My dear Dick Red-cap, what say you?"

Dick heard, and tweedling, ogling, bridling,

Turning short round, strutting and sideling,
Attested, glad, his approbation

Of an immediate conjugation.
Their sentiments so well exprest
Influenc'd mightily the rest,

All pair'd, and each pair built a nest.

But tho' the birds were thus in haste,

The leaves came on not quite so fast,'
And destiny, that sometimes bears
An aspect stern on man's affairs,
Not altogether smil'd on their's.
The wind, of late breath'd gently forth,
Now shifted east and east by north;
Bare trees and shrubs but ill, you know,
Could shelter them from rain or snow,
Stepping into their nests, they paddled,

Themselves were chill'd, their eggs were addled;
Soon ev'ry father bird and mother

Grew quarrelsome, and peck'd each other,

Parted without the least regret,

Except that they had ever met,

And learn'd, in future, to be wiser,

Than to neglect a good adviser.

INSTRUC

INSTRUCTION.

Misses! the tale that I relate

This lesson seems to carry-
Choose not alone a proper mate,
But proper time to marry.'

All the new matter introduced into this edition is so pleasing, that we could transcribe much more with a confidence of imparting the same satisfaction which we have derived from the perusal-but we conceive that what we have already selected will excite that curiosity which it is our object to whet, and not completely to gratify. Catharina, and the Dog and the Water-lily we recommend to particular attention, as the first possesses that delicacy and tenderness, and the second that plainness and simplicity, for all which this writer is remarkable. These volumes are ornamented with engravings from designs by Stothard, and their neatness and elegance will render them welcome to the admirers of handsome books.

MONTHLY CATALOGUE,
For JUNE, 1798.

BIOGRAPHY.

Art. 15. A Review of the Life and Character of the Right Rev. Dr.
Thomas Secker, late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. By Beilby
Porteus, D. D. Rector of Lambeth, now Bishop of London.
The 5th Edition, corrected. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Rivingtons.
THE reasons for the present re-publication of the Life of Archbishop
Secker are given in the prefatory advertisement; which we shall
transcribe for the satisfaction of our readers:

THE REVIEW OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF ARCHBISHOP SECKER, of which a new edition is here presented to the public, has hitherto been prefixed to the first of his seven volumes of posthumous Sermons, and could not be purchased separately, nor, of course, without considerable expence. And in this state it would probably have remained, had not a very respectable and learned Prelate judged it expedient to introduce into his Life of Bishop WARBURTON, such observations on the talents, learning, and writings of Archbishop SECKER, as appeared, both to me and to many other of his Grace's Friends, extremely injurious to his literary character, and the credit of his numerous and useful publications; and therefore highly deserving of some notice from those who loved him in life, and revered him after death. Accordingly, these animadversions have been ably and completely refuted in a letter lately addressed to the Lord Bishop, of WORCESTER, by a Member of the University of Oxford, to which the world has given very decided marks of approbation. But

* See M. Rev. vol. xxii. p. 354. N. S.

S.R.

as

as the author of that letter has made frequent references to THE REVIEW OF THE ARCHBISHOP'S LIFE AND CHARACTER, conceived that it might still further promote the important end which both he and I have in view, the vindication of the Archbishop and his writ. ings, if I rendered that Review of his Life more accessible, by detaching it from his other works, and printing it as a separate publication. The estimate there formed of the Archbishop's erudition and abilities, is undoubtedly very different from that which the Bishop of Worcester has been pleased to give in his Life of Dr. WARBURTON. Both cannot be true. Which of the two, his Lordship or myself, has had the best means of information, and which of the two accounts corresponds best with the opinion entertained of Archbishop SECKER by the best critics and scholars of this kingdom, I shall leave to others to decide. Be that decision what it may, by the publication of the Archbishop's Life in this form, I shall not only enable the reader to judge for himself, but fhall also gratify the warmest feelings of my heart, by the consciousness of having discharged, in the best manner I was able, one of the most sacred of human duties to a deceased friend and benefactor: to whose kindness, under Providence, I owe my first establishment, and much of my subsequent success in life; to whose instructions, virtues, and example, I am indebted for still more important benefits; with whose venerable name it is my highest worldly ambition to have my own united here; and with whom, (among the spirits of just men made perfect,') may a gracious God render me worthy to be more closely and permanently united hereafter!'

For our original account of Dr. Porteus's Life of Dr. Secker, see M. R. vol. xlii. p. 461. and vol. xliii. p. 44.

MECHANICS, &c.

ཀ་

Art. 16. Pantometry; or, an Attempt to systematize every Branch of Admeasurement. By John Dawes, Surgeon. 8vo. IS. Glendinning, Charles-street, Hatton-Garden.

This is an attempt (and not the first of the kind) to simplify the present tables of weights and measures. The chief and primary object of all scientific and systematic plans is to establish a fixed measure, not arbitrary, but existing in nature, permanent and ascertainable. Two measures, having no connection in their nature, yet agreeing in the common principle of immutability, have principally claimed attention. 1st, At a given place, a pendulum, performing a certain number of vi brations in a known time, is of a certain and invariable length :-but the term length designates the distance between two points, the point of Suspension and the point of the Centre of Oscillation. Now the difficulty of measuring or of determining this distance is the great objection to employing the pendulum, as a means of obtaining a standard or an unity. The second plan proposes a certain portion of the carth's circumference as a standard, or as the means of obtaining one ;-and this plan has been adopted by the French. They have performed a second measurement (the first was by the two Cassinis) of the distance between Collioure and Dunkirk, so that, determining the length of a degree of the meridian on each side of the point of latitude of 45°,

they