ANTHOLOGY.

Sir,

I PERCEIVE that in the title page of your last number, you attribute to me an ode, of which in justice to the writer (whom I have not the pleasure to know) I must decline the merit of authorship.

Permit me, Sir, to diveft myself of a fprig (with which your goodnefs might incline to honour me) before it is torn from my brow by the hand, that can better place it where it ought to be worn. With much respect and good will I am, Sir,

Your obedt. fervt.

C. P. SUMNER.

Boflon, Aug. 13, 1804.

Mr. Editor,

FOR THE ANTHOLOGY.

I was much pleased with the dialogue in your last number between Dr. Johnfon and Mrs. Knowles. Every thing in which the great lexicographer partook is interefting to men of letters. But, pray, who was this Mrs. Knowles? I do not recollect to have feen the dialogue you have

I am, Sir, your's, &c.

IN the Review of the British Spy in your 11 No. p. 518, there is part of two paffages which I do not understand. One of them feems to be a quotation from the book reviewed, and the other is an apoftrophe of the Reviewers. The quotation is this, "It is not true that magnanimity can never be loft on a nation, which has produced an Alknomack, a Logan, and a Pocahuntas." Immediately following this affertion is the apoftrophe alluded to. "Spirits of ancient Greece and Rome, where are ye now? In vain do we feek for a folitary evidence of existence among your degenerate fons." I fhould be glad, if you, or the Reviewers, who, by the by, appear to be impartial and candid, in the next Anthology, will render these paffages intelligible to your's &c. Bofton, Oct. 22, 1804..

A. E. T.

may perhaps be induced to furnifh others, and to attempt an investigation at once entertaining and useful.

In the history of the Burma's, contained in the Afiatick Refearches, it is faid, if a criminal on his way to execution fhould accidentally meet and be touched by one of their priests, he was immediately released. The author of the "Effay on Old Maids," (fuppofed to be Hayley,) mentioning the Roman Vestals, obferves, that, "among the many privileges which belonged to the Veftal, there was one which muft have been peculiarly delightful to every feeling heart; I mean, the privilege of faving the condemned. The Romans attached fuch an idea of fanctity to the perfon of a Veftal, that if a criminal on his way to execution was fortunate enough to meet one of thefe virgins, the bare fight of fo pure a perfonage was fufficient to expiate his offences, and the happy incident restored him to life and liberty. On thefe occafions, however, it was neceflary for the prieftefs to affirm, that fuch meeting was the effect of chance."

Effay on Old Maids, vol. 2. p. 120. In Peru, the priestefs of the fun, who was unfaithful to her vows, was buried alive. It is

Sir,

ANTHOLOGY.

COINCIDENCES in the customs of nations, between which there has been no intercourfe, furnishes a curious and interefting fubje&t of speculation. By inferting in the Anthology thofe which follow, fome of your correfpondents

have imagined the fame penalty. at Rome, to punifh the fame weaknefs in the virgins of Vesta. Marmontel's Incas, vol. 1. p. 14.

07. 26, 1804.

P.

ANTHOLOGY.

Sir,

A WRITER in your number of September, who figns himself A lover of found and ferious poetry, attacks the RESTORATOR, for his opinion of Blackmore, who, he roundly afferts, was one of the best poets of Great-Britain.' He can bring ample evidence, that he was masterly as a poet, and he hopes the writer is ready to confefs his errour, and willing to atone for his unjuft cenfure.' The ample evidence, which he brings in confirmation of his opinion, is the praife of Johnson and Addifon, which is confined to a fingle production of the everlafting Blackmore, as Pope ftyles him. The merit of this production no one ever questioned; but as Philips relates, that this poem, when in manufcript, was from time to time, laid before a club of wits, with whom Sir Richard affociated, and that every man contributed, as he could, either improvement or correction, unlefs we can afcertain what excellences in it are derived from Blackmore unaflifted, we cannot allow him the praise of being its author. But for this circumstance, Creation might have been as contemptible as the rest of Blackmore's poems.

Johnfon, throughout his life of this poetical knight, evidently agrees with all men of taste as to his intellectual endowments. At the Univerfity, (fays Johnfon) he refided thirteen years, a much longer time than is ufual; and which he feems to have paft with very little attention to the bufinefs of the place; for in his

He published Eliza in ten books. I am afraid that the world was now weary of contending about Blackmore's heroes; for I do not remember, that by any author, ferious or comical, I have found Eliza either praised or blamed. It is never mentioned, and was never feen by me, till I borrowed it for the prefent occafion. Jacob fays, it. is corrected and revifed for another impreffion; but the labour of revifion was thrown away.'

'Blackmore's profe is not the profe of a poet; for it is languid, fluggish, and lifeless; his diction is neither daring nor exact, his flow neither rapid nor eafy, and his periods neither fmooth nor ftrong.'

The opinion of the nation was now fettled; a hero intro-, duced by Blackmore was not likely to find either refpect or kindnefs; benevolence was afhamed to favour, and malice was weary of infulting.'

Contempt is a kind of gangrene, which, if it feizes one part of a character, corrupts all the reft by degrees. Blackmore, being defpifed as a poet, was in time neglected as a phyfician.'

So then, it feems, that one of the best poets of Great-Britain fell into general contempt as a poet, according to Johnfon, who is quoted by the Lover of found and ferious poetry to confute the Rtorator.

But Blackmore has always been confidered, by the best