his life; and over his death, those who have most injured him will have most cause to lament. It is, however, not our province nor desire to dwell on his history, nor are we possessed of sufficient information concerning him to become his just and satisfactory biographers. The poem before us was printed in Boston, 1797. As we do not mean to confine our attention entirely in our reviews to recent performances, we shall, from time to time, give some account of selected works which we deem above the common level of American poetry.....In this class, we have no hesitation in placing the "Ruling Passion." It discovers in its author very considerable talents at satire, and a pupil who has studied in the school of Pope. Notwithstanding the merits of this poem, and its just title to the notice of criticisms, we have never seen it mentioned in the American prints. Mr. P. in his Ruling Passion, after representing man as a world of wonders in himself, and in some respects inexplorable, then endeavours to describe him as he seems to be, and draws several pictures of persons actuated by a predominant passion.... Some of *We are at a loss to know what the Reviewers of this poem can mean by intimating, that its author is no more. We can assure them, that he was never more alive than now to the charms of either existence or sentiment, and never more capable of enchanting the public by his lays. << The street was a ruin," EDIT. these discover strong and vivid In embodying this character, the poet thus proceeds: “See, the lank BOOK-WORM, pil'd with lumbering lore, Wrinkled in Latin, and in Greek four score, With toil incessant, thumbs the ancient page, Now blots a hero, now turns down a sage! should spy, mond blaze; GENEVA's broad lake rushes from its shores, ARVE gently murmurs, and the rough RHONE гoars. Mid the cleft ALPS, his cabin peers from high, Hangs o'er the clouds, and perches on the sky. O'er fields of ice, across the headlong flood, From cliff to cliff he bounds in fearless mood. While, far beneath, a night of tempest lies, Deep thunder mutters, harmless lightning flies; While, far above, from battlements of snow, Loud torrents tumble on the world below; And the breeze whisper, where his On rustic reed he wakes a merrier tune, treasures lie. Than the lark warbles on the " Ides of June," Far off, let Glory's clarion shrilly swell He loves the music of his pipe as well. Let shouting millions crown the hero's head, And PRIDE her tessellated pavement tread ; More happy far, this denizen of air, Enjoys what Nature condescends to spare :.... His days are jocund, undisturb'd his nights; His spouse contents him, and his mule delights !" The poem closes with a just tribute to the memory of the greatest character which this country, or this age has produced...to our peerless Washington; who, greater than the Cobham of Pope, deserves the celebration of a bard, as pre-eminent in the walks of poetry, as he was in the military and political life. THE partiality for English literature is still exceedingly strong in America. Of French or Ger. man compositions, whether in the original language or translated, there are, comparatively, few imported into the United States. For English productions, there is a passion that seems to discourage, by slighting, the efforts of native American genius. Since the beginning of the present year, several of the most useful British publications of the year 1798 have been reprinted at Boston, New-York, and Philadelphia. And, as some of the literary remains of antiquity, which were, perhaps, little esteemed in the age of their primary publication, have accidentally become to us of extraordinary value, so distance of place, operating somewhat like remoteness of time, several novels and other pieces, the offspring of British dulness, which seemed here to fall dead-born from the press, have been quickened into new life beyond the Atlantic. That unwieldy, confused, and inaccurate compilation, the Encyclopædia Britannica, when some years reprinted at Philadelphia, was enlarged with many additions, explanatory of the appearances of nature, and of the state of the arts, and the condition of human life in America. A supplement to that compilation is now issuing from the American press; and it is to be filled, in a considerable proportion, with articles originally American, which we should be well pleased to read in Britain. The Americans appear to be passionately fond of theatrical entertainments. At Boston there are, at least, two theatres. New York and Philadelphia have, in a like manner, their theatres, and their companies of comedians. They repeat all our favourite new plays, as soon as copies of these can be procured from London : and they make, now and then, some efforts of original dramatic composition. Having heard of Bonaparte's expedition to Egypt, they produced, on a theatre at Boston, in the month of April last, a new piece named Bonaparte in Egypt, which was received by the audience with passionate applause. A favourite entertainment, representing the manners of the Indian's, has been likewise produced by the dramatic genius of America, since the beginning of the present year. Among the comedians, are several persons who were formerly known as actors at the provincial theatres in Britain. A Mr. and a Mrs. Hodgkinson enjoy, at this time, extraordinary dramatic celebrity in Boston. The Reverend Jeremy Belknap, already known in Britain as an American author, has recently published a work under the title of American Biography, which relates the lives of persons who have been distinguished in America, as adventurers, statesmen, philosophers, divines, warriors, authors, &c. It has been very favourably received in America; and we should not be ill-pleased to see it reprinted in London. Biography is, confessedly, one of the most interesting forms in which historical information can be communicated and it is of great importance for instruction, as well of the present age, as of posterity, that facts and characters should be commemorated, while they are still recent, in as many different modes as possible of legitimate literary composition. Major-General Heath, well known in the war which dismembered the American provinces from the British empire, has lately published at Boston, Memoirs of his own life. Washington encouraged general Heath in his design of publishing these memoirs. The people of America have received the book with general curiosity and favour. It is a valuable addition to the former records of the transactions of one of the most memorable wars which have been ever waged among mankind. America, as is well known, has lately suffered very much from pestilential and epidemical distempers. The attention of its medical practitioners has, on this account, been strongly directed to investigate the origin of such distempers, and to find a method for their cure. A Mr. Caldwell has recently published a book upon this subject, which appears to possess some merit. Other medical publications, upon similar subjects, have also newly appeared in America. It is from that quarter of the world we are to expect the first completely Vol. I. No. 8. satisfactory information concerning the causes, the symptoms, and the cure of the diseases peculiar to America and the West Indian Islands. How much might a Hippocrates, arising in that hemisphere, contribute to the establishment of a truly useful and permanent system of American medical practice! How surely would he establish a reputation grand and unperishing as that of the Coan sage! Great attention has been lately given towards the improvement of the police economy in the American capitals. Among the latest publications at New York are two reports, by two gentlemen of the names of Weston and Browne, on the possibility of introducing the river Bronx to water and cleanse that city. Two valuable maps of Chesapeak bay, and the Susquehannah river, are among the latest hydrographical publications in America. In this department the Americans have yet much to do. But in a region where there are such extensive tracts of land to be measured and divided among new possessors; so many bays, creeks, navigable rivers, lakes, and such an extent of coast to be surveyed; so many mills to be erected, canals to be cut, bridges to be built, and harbours to be formed, it is impossible that the profession of civil engineers should not speedily become numerous and eminent. The labours of the members of this profession will the most successfully complete our knowledge of the topography of America, and of the hydrograhy of its rivers and coasts. Theological literature occupies a respectable place among the new productions from the presses of America. Dr. Samuel Stanhope Smith, president of the college of New Jersey, has, within these few months, published a volume of very valuable sermons. Dr. Smith is well known to the philosophical naturalists of Europe by his admirable essay on the origin of the varieties in the human species. He is one of the ablest and most elegant writers that have, as yet, done honour to American literature. We should be highly pleased to see his sermons reprinted in London. The sermons of Dr. Clarke, a late clergyman of Boston, are about to be published by subscription. The publication seems to be intended by his surviving hearers as a tribute to the memory of their departed pastor. Morse, the geographer of America, lately published a Fast-Day sermon, which has been reprobated by some American critics, as not less hostile to jacobin principles than if it had been written to be preached in some English cathedral.— So much for the American literature of the first four months of the year 1798. The Anthology. All wake each soft emotion of the soul. Far from the noisome world to live retir'd; Tenjoy sweet converse with congenial souls, And mingle tears of sympathy and love; To roam a-field where nature's bounteous hand Spreads her gay lawn, luxuriant to the eye; And view in thought sublime the God of all; O joy supreme! O paradise below! 'Tis nature's throne, the height of human bliss, Which only feeling souls can e'er attain. Blest is the lot of him, whose feeling heart, And taste refin'd, survey the varied |