In his Notes he is oftentatious of authorities in the defence of his expreffions. Had it become expedient for him, on any occafion, to ufe the "joy of grief," he would no doubt have referred his Reader to the Pfeudo-Gallic Poems, which, at a particular time, he wrought up his fancy to relifh, and almoft his underftanding to believe authentic.-On the prefent occafion, there was no need to travel fo far as Petrarch for an authority; for what is the mode of speaking or writing that will not have its authority in the compofitions of every language. Pope's "trembling, hoping," was at hand. Even the copartenery of Tate and Brady would have furnished him with " awful mirth." Of the Stanza that Gray once published as part of this Elegy, and afterwards faw cause to withdraw, Criticism chooses to decline the examination, unwilling to fhew eagerness to condemn him, who has already condemned himfelf. For the difcontinuance of it in the after-editions, Mafon has affigned this caufe, that it was thought by its Author to be awkwardly parenthetical. But there were other reafons that rendered it expedient that it fhould There, fcatter'd oft, the earliest of the year, be be fuffered to flip out quietly. The fame images, delineated and affembled nearly in the fame manner, are to be found in fome of Collins' Pieces, published about 1746. I am aware that to fix imitation upon Gray, is not to be-, ftow originality upon Collins. Some of Collins' images can be traced to Pope; and fome of Pope's, as well as Collins', to ages of high antiquity. By foreign hands thy dying eyes "were clofed, &c." make part of the wailings of Electra in Sophocles, for the fuppofed death of Oreftes: "The turf lying light on the breast," (to which a ludicrous contraft is on record) ftanding now fo high in the list of elegiac common places, occurs in the Alceftis of Euripides; and Homer has made his Mountain Nymphs (the Fays of thofe times) plant elms, fince converted into flowers, around Eetion's grave. Property in fancy is like other property. Priority of appropriation must found the original right; and of that priority our investigation must determine with the Record. Of the writers to whom Gray has done homage for his tenure, I think Pope is not one. Let it not however be imagined, that, though nothing is acknowledged, nothing is owing. The "Elegy to the Memory of an unfortunate Lady," has given to the "Elegy written in a Country Church-yard," many things both in the way of fentiment and defign. The The "ftoried urn" of Gray, is the "weep❝ing Loves" of Pope: and " animated bust,” is only an obfcure expreffion for Pope's " po "lished marble emulating the face." What though no facred earth allow the room, Nor hallowed dirge be mutter'd o'er thy tomb, has furnished the perhaps improved idea expreffed in Tho' Mem'ry o'er their tomb no trophies raife, Where thro' the long-drawn aile and fretted vault, The pealing anthem fwells the note of praise. That funeral honours, however fcrupulously paid, cannot "back from its manfion call the fleeting breath," is also to be found in Pope, though ftated in a different way: So peaceful refts without a ftone, a name, "Tis all thou art; and all the PROUD shall be, "The Morn beftowing her earliest tears;" (poetical language for dew) " the first roles of "the year blowing, &c." are images which both Collins and Gray thought worth gathering. Here Criticism is content to ftop: congratulating herself on the termination of a labour irksome, irkfome, but not overwhelming, invidious, but not void of ufe. If fhe has defcended into too minute an examination, it has not been with a view to darken counsel, but to furnish light. Of fine writing, the perfection is not fo well promoted by abftract canons, as by individual illuftrations; by the inculcating what fhould be written, as by the examination of what bas. The detection of particular blemishes, is more productive than the difplay of general perfection. There is a common-weal in taste, as well as in government. Minute and characteristical exhibitions, of errors as well as of excellence, are neceffary for improvement, in both. Inde tibi, tuæque REIPUBLICÆ, quod imitere, capias; inde fædum INCEPTU, fædum EXITU, quod vites. In the execution of this neceffary task, Criticism finds herself engaged in much labour, and fubjected to much felf-denial: impeded by Prejudice, and thruft back by Mifconftruction. But the labour is honourable; and the end ufeful. She is content to forget the hardfhips fhe has fuffered; and folace herself with the view of the good she has done. In examining the Elegy written in a Country Church-yard, fhe has found much room for cenfure, and fome room for praife. The Piece has been much over-rated; and many ferious perfons, who meditate on death from a fenfe of 3 of duty, confider Confcience as concerned in their finding this Meditation perfect. Of perfections no doubt it contains fome; but it contains blemishes too; and if Criticifm grant it nothing but its merit, what then will be its praife? To rate that merit precisely, is perhaps not eafy but, where the premises are, the conclufion may be found. Those who are refolved to fortify themselves in the feeling they have encouraged themselves to entertain of its perfections, may find many ftrong positions, in which they may maintain themselves, without immediate danger of being forced. The fubject is serious; the views interesting; the thoughts tender; the verfification, in general, fmooth; the language not unfuitable. The flights are fometimes bold; often catching: and the execution often striking; and sometimes natural. But what, of all things, is likely to enfure this Performance a lafting and ge neral Interest is, that it abounds with images which find a mirroür in every mind, and with fentiments to which every bofom returns an echo. Where fo many beauties are, room may be afforded for faults of thefe, Criticifm has not concealed what came in her way; and to fuch as may urge her to a farther fearch, |