century has convinced the world, that the encomium which was formerly pronounced by Hugh Semple is no idle and extravagant reverie: Ingenii vigore, præsertim si accedat in litteris constantia, nulli mortalium cedunt ."

The later poets and miscellaneous authors are next introduced; many of whom have evinced "great versatility and compass of talent:" and to those succeed a respectable selection of critical and philological writers, whom Mr. I regards with patriotic rather than national admiration. His heraldic adjustinent in the following paragraph will therefore admit of readier admission, by those who arbitrate claims in the republic of letters.

"The present superiority of England in every department except those of history, moral philosophy, and philosophical criticism, we are on all occasions ready to acknowledge; but in these, we must venture, with due modesty, to dispute the point of precedency."

A warmer style than this author commonly exhibits, clothing an earnest appeal to those who scatter academical honours with a partial or sordid hand, concludes his first and most valuable dissertation.

His second dissertation is on the early Scotish Drama, the materials of which are necessarily scanty and unsatisfactory. From Mr. Chalmers, perhaps, we can alone expect more recondite information on this obscure subject. Archy Armstrong, who is introduced at p. 200, as fool to James the sixth, had a volume of Jests ascribed to him, many of which, (according to Granger) he never uttered. From a scarce tract published in 1608, and entitled-"Armin's Nest of Ninnies;" it appears that the Scotish monarch had an earlier attendant in Archy's capacity, of whom the following circumstantial account is given in the same pamphlet, which may be welcome to some readers as a curious novelty,

66 DESCRIPTION OF JEMY CAMBER,
A Scotish Fool.

"This fat foole was a Scot borne---brought up
In Sterlin, twenty miles from Edinborough;
Who, being but young, was for the King caught up---
Serv'd this King's father all his life-time thorough :

A yard high and a nayle, no more his stature,
Smooth-fac't, fayre spoken, yet unkinde by nature,

Two yards in compasse and a nayle, I reade,
Was he at forty yeres; since when I heard not
Nor of his life or death, and further heede
Since I never read---I looke not, nor regard (not.)

* Sempilius de Mathematicis Disciplinis, p. 123,

But what at that time JEMY CAMBER was,
As I have heard I write, and so let passe.

His head was smalle, his hayre longe on the same,
One eare was bigger than the other farre;

His forehead full, his eyes shin'd like a flame,

His nose flat, and his beard small,---yet grew square;
His lips but little, and his wit was lesse ;

But wide his mouth, few teeth I must confesse.

His middle thicke, as I have said before,

Indifferent thighs and knees, but very short;
His legs be square, a foote long and no more,
Whose very presence made the King much sport;
And a pearl spoone he still wore in his cap,
To eate his meate he lov'd, and got by hap.

A pretty little foote, but a big hand

On which he ever wore rings rich and good;
Backward well made as any in that land,

Though thicke; and he did come of gentle bloud:

But of his wisdome ye shall quickly heare,

How this fat Foole was made on every where." &c.

[To be continued.]

Ode to Dr. Thomas Percy, Lord Bishop of Dromore; occasioned by reading the reliques of Ancient English Poetry. Folio, pp. 38. Edinburgh, Mundell and Son; London, Longman and Rees; 1804. As a specimen of handsome and legible typography, this publication confers distinguished credit on the press of Messrs. Mundell : while, as a poetical composition, it must ensure lasting fame to the writer, who, (if the voice of rumour be correct,) has before excited our admiration in the Poetical Register, under the signature of Adeline, and is recognised, at Edinburgh, as Miss Stewart. This lady, like the celebrated Miss Bannerman, is introduced to public attention under the friendly auspices of Dr. Robert Anderson; and, like her precursor in the romantic regions of poësy, promises to do equal honour to so liberal and judicious a patron as the editor of the British poets.

This ode is preceded by some dedicatory stanzas to Robert Anderson, M.D. which teem with grateful feeling, embosomed in poetic language. The Ode itself thus opens, with animated force and pathos:

"Yes, the rapt soul's ecstatic swell

Glows in the eyes thro' glistening tears,
While genius sounds her time-worn shell,
The music of departed years:

Scorning the rules of frigid art,

She awes, she warms, and melts the heart,
With nature's witching minstrelsy;

Informing spirit of the hour,

When inspiration's mystic power

Unfolds to mortal view the wonders of the sky.

""Tis her's to grasp etherial fire,

While darting from its source sublime;

And her's to bid the clouds retire

That sweep the troubled sea of time;

While far the billowy darkness sails,
Her brightening form the Enthusiast hails,
Emerging from sepulchral night;
Awe-struck, he breathes his ardent vow

While quivering from her halo'd brow,

Immortal splendours flash on his enraptur'd sight."

The more striking subjects of ballad-lore in Dr. Percy's reliques are then successively introduced, and they pass as it were in review before the poet's visionary contemplation. These subjects consist chiefly of Northumberland betrayed by Douglas, with 'the introduction of the witch-ladye; Lady Anne Bothwell's lament; Waly, Waly, love be bonny; the bonny Earl of Murray; Jane Shore; Edom o'Gordon; Gil Morrice; Fair Rosamond; Chevy Chase; the Battle of Otterbourne; &c. After these mystic visions with their fairy pageantry, have melted from the enthusiast's embodying eye into thin air;' the following glowing apostrophe is addressed to her country, and to the illustrious preserver of its ancient poetical reliques, the present bishop of Dromore.

"Albion! on thy unconquer'd shore
Shall Poesy delight to dwell,

And pour her legendary lore;

While youthful bards with rapture tell

Of joys her angel voice inspires,
When watching the immortal fires

That on her awful altars blaze;

Of fairy visions ever new,

Bright in the rainbow's varying hue,

That circles fancy's throne, warm in her meteor`rays.

"Yet when their hearts with transport burn;

When sounds the harp's arousing string,

To him their grateful souls shall turn;

To him their earliest offerings bring,
Who seiz'd the torch of genius bright,
Expiring in sepulchral night,

And fired it at the source of day:

Its quivering flame the shades illume

That deepen in oblivious gloom,

And on the glorious past flings heaven's undying ray.

"Oh PERCY! while these splendours beam,

Obedient to thy dread behest,

Existence turns her troubled stream

From whelming time's ingulfing breast.

Dark as the chaos of the pole,

Unfathom'd vapours wildly roll

Swift from the proud inverted wave;

Thou seest far o'er the awful tide

Mysterious visions dimly glide,

Pale as the livid gloom that thickens round the grave.

""Tis thine to mark the flame descend

From heaven's high arch of starry light;

And thine to mark the keen flash rend
The gathering shade of Stygian night.---
Ah! while the deep treinendous shroud,
Burst like the thunder-riven cloud,

O'er blazing ocean swiftly roll'd;
Unbounded regions met thy view,
As the dim mist of years withdrew

Before the living beams of pure etherial gold."

Poetic genius thus sounding the trump of true acclaim in the living ear of dignified desert, must share in the celebrity which it bestows; since, in the words of an elder writer,

"The chiefest office that the poet has,

Is to give others their deserved praise."

Sermons on Public Occasions, and a Letter on Theological Study; by Robert, late Archbishop of York. To which are prefixed Memoirs of his Life, by George Hay Drummond, A. M. Prebendary of York. 8vo. 6s. Edinburgh, Mundells; London, Longman and Rees; 1803

THE editor of this volume is the author of a poetical one, which we had the pleasure to express our cordial commendation of, in our review for June 1802; and by the present publication, we think his preface indulges a well-grounded trust, that "he shall not only testify his own filial reverence, but gratify those connected by ties of blood, amity, or gratitude, and offer a work neither unacceptable nor unprofitable to the public at large."

O VOL. XVIII.

The memoir of his venerable father, the late archbishop of York, is perspicuous, affectionate, and unostentatious. The discourses themselves are remarkable for solid sense, dispassionate reasoning, tolerant principle, and genuine piety. From the fifth of them we extract a few passages of momentous import, and highly worthy the consideration of reflecting persons, at the present political crisis.

"The uncertain issues of war lay a peculiar weight upon our minds. The duty we owe to our king and country, and the preservation of our just rights, may lead us into war, and it may be even attended with some success; but yet it is always a state of danger, perplexity, and sorrow to every nation. The happiness of our situation hath indeed separated us, in a great measure, from its immediate horror and desolation; but on the other hand, the burden lies heavier upon this, than upon any other nation. The rank this nation holds in the scale of power in Europe; the liberty, the commerce, the religion it enjoys, create an envy and enmity in others, beyond what is merely actuated by the thirst of glory and dominion. An expence of blood and treasure is laid upon us, far above our national strength, and whenever we enter into war, the very existence of our constitution is in danger. Our stake is great, and it is, all in balance. Not that war, in some circumstances, can or ought to be avoided; but in all circumstances. it ought to make us think soberly: it ought to make us bring our national state and condition home to our own bosoms; that we may look through the semblance of things, and find out what is really the source of national strength, honour and tranquillity."

"Whilst all that is valuable hangs thus in doubt upon the events of war; if we should perceive symptoms of decay at home, from the overflowing of vice, the terrors would become infinitely more alarming. But be they ever so alarming, as men and christians we are not to lie down and despair: we are not to lose ourselves in weeping and wailing; but to gird up the loins of our mind, to search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord*;' by cultivating those virtues which give strength and comfort to the soul of man, and whose influence renders a nation quiet and flourishing at home, powerful and respectable abroad.”

"Vicious nations may indeed seem to be in full affluence and power; but their prosperity is only for a time. Principles in their source belong only to individuals, yet they will ever, in their consequences, greatly affect the strength, order, and stability of the nation. The general temper and conduct of a nation, doth not arise so much from the excellency of the constitution, or the wisdom of the legislature, as from the principles of the inhabitants; and the state owes its safety or its ruin to the combined virtue or depravity of individuals. The sanctions of human government cannot reach the inward man; it is religion only that can secure the heart."

The letter on theological study well merits the attention of every candidate for holy orders.

* Lamentations, iii. 49.