The Power of Gold difplayed. By Frs. Spilbury. Folio. 6d.

Mr. Spilbury has changed his argumentative ftyle into vehement declamation; and has filled fix folio pages with a bitter Philippic against the medicine act and the minifter. If he has any specific in his difpenfary against madness, we would recommend that he be allowed to fwallow it gratis, for the extraordinary care which he has taken of the health and pockets of his majetty's liege fubjects.

POETRY.

"Apologia Secunda: or, a fupplementary Apology for Conformity.

8vo. 6d. Bladon...

It may be proper to remind fome of our readers of the Apologia prima, published fome time fince. It was the Apology of a minifter of the church of England (the Rev. Mr. Newton, rector of the united parishes of St. Mary Woolnoth and St. Mary Woolchurch) for quitting his religious connections with the Diffenters, and conforming to the established church*. The Apologia was anfwered by a Diffenting minifter,' under the title of A Shield for Proteftant Diffenters, in thefe Times of Inflability and Mifreprefentation +. The two Epiftles, before us, are a fecond Apology, addreffed in an ironical ftyle to the • Awakened Clergy,' a term by which the conforming minifters were addreffed in the Apologia. The tendency is to expofe fome apparent contradictions in the ceremonies of the church of England, and to point out its near approach to the ceremonies of that of Rome. In a fprightly work of this kind, we ought not to expect new arguments or connected reasoning it is enough that we are amufed by a lively representation of what have been esteemed errors; and, in this way, we think the Layman's fuccefs is not inconfiderable. Ecce fignum.

To fchifmatic objections now having attended,
And as we were able our mother defended:
We'll speak of the ufeful wife rules fhe enjoins,
Well guarded by fpiritual courts, and by fines.
And fince whatsoever belongs to the gown,
Tho' fmall it may be, fhe etteems as her own;
(For trifles regarded are ever of use
As trifies neglected much ill introduce)
She wifely directs both to colour and shape,
And instead of gay lace, will allow only tape;
And tho' upper garb, fhift from fable to white,
Supporters must always be dark as the night.
Then pray, honor'd clergy, regard your ftriét vows;
Take heed that moft decently black are your hose ;

* See Crit. Rev. vol. lvii. p. 318. † Crit. Rev. vol. lviii. p. 77.

And

And let not the night-cap be deck'd out with lace,
Left fuch a gay turn fhou'd endanger the place.'

Moral Fables. 12mo. 35. Robinson.

We fufpect that we are indebted for these Fables to the ingenious author of the Letters on Tate and Genius. In this work he has affumed a humbler guife, and condefcended to inftruct in the ancient and fimple form of Fable. Compofitions of this kind do not strike by the brilliancy of genius, or enlarge the mind by new and unexpected difcoveries. It is fufficient, if they are plain and fimple; and this praise we can fafely beftow on the Fables of our benevolent author. The morals alfo are drawn with truth; they are extended beyond the ufual length, and instead of didactic dulnefs, are rendered pleafing and entertaining. On the other hand, we perceive no great variety of fubjects, nor are the old ones enlivened by new incidents, or entertaining defcriptions.

The introduction is clear and eafy: we fhall extract from it the distinction between Allegory and Fable, rather on account of the illuftration than for the accuracy of the definition.

The terms Fable and Allegory are frequently uféd indifcriminately, and perhaps cannot admit of definitions wholly diftinct from one another. To allegorize truth under a fable, is not held an improper expreffion: and yet Fable, in the fimpleft fenfe, and as fop understood it, that is, excluding the fables of the epic, of the drama, of romance, and novel, may be confidered as diftinct from allegory. This would be found to be the cafe, were we to have recourfe to painting as a criterion. In that piece of Holbein called Death's Dance, we fee emperors, beggars, and others of intermediate stations led up promifcuously, and without regard to rank. In this painting, the allegory is obvious. But were we to fee a landscape containing, among other objects, an Afs and a Dog, a Frog and a Moufe, an Oak and a Reed, or other fubjects of fopic fa❤ bles; we could not know what fable the painter intended, or whether he meant any fable at all: much lefs would we be enabled to form any conjecture relating to a moral fenfe.'

In fact, when human paffions are perfonified under the names of brutes, the Fable becomes to all intents and purposes an Allegory. But, when it relates to human conduct, which, though often under the influence of the paffions, is not the object of the apologue, whoever are the perfonages, it is then a Fable. That of the Belly and the other Members, by which Menenius Agrippa checked the tumult at Rome, deferves the name of a Fable, though no animated being is introduced: that of the Grafhopper and Ant, though not strictly an allegory, on the other hand, approaches nearly to it. This fubject is however too extenfive for our prefent difcuffion: we can only

lay a foundation, on which others or perhaps ourfelves may fome time build.

Poems on feveral Occafions. By the late Edward Lovibond, Efg. Small Evo. 35. Dodfley.

The editor informs us that the author was a gentleman of fortune, and moft refpectable character; that his poems being difperfed in the hands of different friends, his brother, at their request, communicated to him the following pieces for publie cation. The firft, intitled, The Tears of Old May-Day:' written on the reformation of our calendar according to the ge neral ufage of the rest of Europe, and published in the eightyfecond N. of the World, poffeffes much poetical merit, and is inferior to none in the collection. We mean not to infinuate any thing difrefpectful in regard to the others. Some are exceedingly pleafing, and none fink beneath: mediocrity. His defcriptions are often truly picturefque, and his fiyle eafy and elegant. Two or three fhort poems, writtten by a Mifs G-, inferted in this publication, are entitled to the fame praise.

The Fall of Scepticism and Infidelity. Sve. 35. Cadell.

If the verfes fail of conferring praise they will manifeft the defire; and should the notes want force to rectify one notion in an ingenious and enquiring reader, he muft ftill think they teach nothing that would (in) any wife hinder the welfare of mankind.' This declaration is modeft, and the author's defign laudable, but we cannot fpeak fo highly of the execution. Neither the verses nor notes in general are remarkable for perfpicuity, or ftrength of argument; fome fenfible obfervations, however, not to accurately expreffed as we could wish, are to be found in the latter.

The Pittiad, a poetico-political Hiftory of William the Second. Se cond Edition. 4to. 35. Jarvis.

No publications circulate more rapidly than those which expofe to ridicule illuftrious characters, on which account we are not furprised at the Pittiad's having arrived at a fecond edition, The conduct of the minifter and his adherents is here exhibited in a ludicrous light, with fome degree of humour. The wit iş not very poignant; but abufe alone is fufficient to recommend a performance of this nature.

The Obfequies of Demetrius Poliorcetes: a Poem. By Anne Francis, 15. Gd. Dodfley.

4to.

For an account of this hero, the fair author refers us to the fifth volume of Plutarch's Lives, from whence the has extracted a relation of the magnificent manner in which his funeral rites were celebrated, and which forms the fubject of the poem. Demetrius was the fon of Antigonus, one of Alexander's most famous captains and fucceffors; and not altogether unlike that

great

great hero in his virtues and defects: addicted to pleasure, yet enterprising and magnanimous, he experienced, to a high degree, both the fmiles and frowns of fortune. Being taken priToner by Seleucus, he died, after three years confinement, in the caftle of Cherfonefus in Syria. The poem opens with a defcription of the fleet his fon Antigonus had prepared to convey his afhes to Corinth for interment.

• The brazen prows the fwelling waves divide,
And the brifk eddies curl on ev'ry fide;
Stroke following stroke the agile rowers ply,
From the sharp keels the deep lafh'd billows fly;
Behind the fterns the foaming furges play,
And the bright veftige marks the recent way.
• Before the feet the regal galley flew,
Her cordage gold, entwin'd with Tyrian blue;
Light danc'd her changeful ftreamers in the gales,
And lightly buoyant play'd her filken fails.'

The account of the golden urn which contained the ashes of Demetrius, the votive garlands fent from different cities to adorn it, the approach of evening, and view of the caftle of Corinth, are next delineated, and exhibited in the fame pleafing and picturesque manner. The inhabitants, perceiving the fleet approach,

garments white;

• Slow from the steep defcends the mingled throng,
Their heads with chaplets crown'd, their
So pours the flock with gradual pace along,
Defcending from Olympus' airy height.

Now from the ftrand they view the neighb'ring deep,
Mark how the gallies o'er the billows ty;
Hear dying breezes thro' the cordage creep,
And greet the dying breezes with a figh.

The chofen veffel touch'd her native fhore:
Hufh'd were the winds-'twas filence all around,
Save where the waves with undulating roar
Lull'd the fad foul with melancholy found.

'Twas then Antigonus, in fable vest,

The big round tears flow stealing from his eye, Wip'd his wan cheek, and fmote his throbbing breast, In filent woe and hopeless mifery!

Behold him pointing to the royal dead!

Quick and more quick his pungent forrows flow! Each duteous fubject hangs the mournful head,

And drops the tear of fympathetic woe.'

;

The images in thefe lines are truly claffical, and elegantly expreffed. Xenophantus, a celebrated mufician recorded by Plutarch, is next introduced, as giving the funeral fong in praife

of the deceased. It is written, in our opinion not improperly, in the form of an irregular ode, but bears too strong a refemblance to Dryden's Alexander's Feast, from whence the idea was undoubtedly taken. The most faulty inftance is probably this: Sing Demetrius young and fair,

Ever fair, and ever young!'

Dryden says,

The praife of Bacchus then the fweet musician fung Of Bacchus ever fair, and ever young.'

This expreffion, though fuitable to a god, fhould not have been applied to a man, who died at the age of fifty-four, and whofe obfequies were then performing. We fhould not have disliked a diftant imitation, but where a copy is placed too near fo excellent an original, it must lofe by the comparifon. The following paffage, however, the laft line of which strikes us as particularly beautiful, makes amends for every defect.

The minstrel tries the funeral lay,
Each vocal pow'r he tries;

The gently yielding air gives way,

And the fad notes in flow fucceffion rife;
Slow rife the mournful numbers from the main,
And each touch'd heart reverberates the ftrain.

The skilful rowers ftrike the founding deep,
Revive th' expiring notes;

Their well-tim'd oars refponfive measures keep,

And on the blue expanfe the trembling cadence floats

Now foar the bolder numbers ftrong and clear,
Pour from the main, and ftrike the diftant ear:
Higher mounts the ftrain and higher!
Varying modes the audience greet;
Still tones fymphonious fill the tuneful choir,
Melodious breathing from the vocal fleet:

From fhip to fhip the harmony prevails,

And lift'ning zephyrs pant upon the fails,'

The poem concludes with an account of the laft rites performed in honour of the deceased. The extracts we have given fufficiently fhew our fentiments concerning it.

N O VEL S.

Sentimental Memoirs. By a Lady. Two Volumes. Small 8vo. 75. Hookham.

Our author tells us, that her courage would certainly fail her, were the not perfuaded that thofe gentlemen, whofe profeffion it is to make their report of every new publication, will excite their candid attention to this firft effort to entertain and inftruct her own ex.' Thefe Memoirs may indeed inftruct, for

the