0

.

For, to us, they feem, to intimate, as if the earth both heated, and enlightned itfelfeguard alls tid asilimanize ed os

The poem concludes with that old, and often refuted, objec tion to Divine Wisdom, the immenfe quantity of water in our globe. His anfwer enumerates many of the advantages derived to man from this feeming fuperabundance of that element. This was a glorious theme for a poetical imagination. What fine things might not have been faid, on the Rainbow, the Clouds, and Rivers? but the Reader will be difappointed who expects to find earthe Speciofa Miracula in our Author's performances which, upon the whole, is even lefs replete with Poetry, than with Argument, jes b'aiw XVIII. The Mirrour. A Comedy. In three Acts. With the Author's Life, and an Account of the Alterations.

Scott.

8vo.

The Author, whofe life is here given, and from whofe writings the Mirrour is now taken, is Thomas Randolph, A. M. and Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge; a Gentleman noplefs seminent for his wit than his learning. He lived about the beginning of the laft century, and if Fate had prolonged his days", he would probably have equalled any of his cotemporaries in the isis Comica, as he certainly furpaffed most of them in the variety, and fmoothnefs of his verfification. We always read the Mufes Looking-Glafs (for fo Randolph intitled his Comedy) with fatisufaction. It is an Ethic Drama; wherein the oppofite extremes noof feveral virtues, exemplified in the moft extravagant charac1 ters, are brought upon the ftage. We do not, however, pretend to fay, that fuch allegorical exhibitions are proper fubjects for the comic Mufe. Randolph has introduced into his fcenes the extremes of Courtefy, Fortitude, Temperance, Liberality, Magnificence, Meeknefs, Truth, Cleanlinefs, Modefty, Jaftice, and Urbanity, under Greek names expreffive of thofe vices; Colax, or the Flatterer, with great propriety, making one perfon in every scene. From these the Editor of the Mirrour has only felected the extremes E of Courtefy, Fortitude, Temperance, Magnanimity, Meekness, Truth, and Justice, tho' fome of the others afford as much truth of character, and from their familiar nature, as well as from the wit which Randolph has beftowed on them, feem equally appropriated to the fock. Befides, in the Looking Glafs there are two of the narrow-foul'd Enthufiafts of thofe days, who

Mr. Cibber, in his Lives of the Poets, as well as this Editor, fays, that he died in his zeth year; but in the frontifpiece of the edi tion of his Works, publifhed by his brother, Robert Randolph of Chrift-church college, our Poet is faid to have died in the 27th year of his age; a circumftance that does honour to Mr. Randolph's memory when we confider the merit of his writings, and the youth of the writer.

having the Players for their customers, are, on this confideration chiefly prevailed upon, though with great difficulty, to fit the play out. Inftead of thefe perfons, who from their cant, and peculiar obfervations, are not a little diverting, our Author has introduced one, whom he calls a Gentleman; yet who, in the firft fcene, is injudiciously made to adopt fome of the fentiments of one of Randolph's Saints. Moreover, this Gentleman goes off with the first act, and never appears again; whereas Randolph's Fanaticks every now and then entertain the Reader with fome of their precife jargon; and, in the last scene, are made converts to the entertainment of the Drama. This, indeed, is -paying too great a compliment to the Mufes Looking Glass; had the Poet rather reprefented them when the curtain drop ped, as more difgufted at the ftage, on account of its moral exhibitions, (for Enthufiafts were always foes to morality) it would have been much more in character.

By what our Author has omitted of Randolph's, and the very little he has added of his own, the five acts of the original are fhrunk to three in the alteration. A good Critic has, indeed, robferved, that though the number of acts is limited, by the antients, to five, yet, there is nothing in the nature of things to 3 hinder the Dramatic Poet from reducing their number. The only fenfible rule in this cafe, is, that the work be a compleat and regular whole;, and of length fufficient to entertain an audience for an evening. But whether, either the Mufes Looking Glafs, or the Mirrour, would answer this end, thofe who prefide at the theatrical helm are to determine; at the fame time permit us to fay, that fuch moral scenes are more worthy to be revived than the grofs and unnatural exhibitions ofthe Humorous › Lieutenant. ཀབ

TA ADDENDA to the POLITICAL.

-g,

XIX. A further Addrefs to the Public. Containing genuine copies of all the letters which paffed between AI Bg and the Sry of the A- -ty; from the time of his fufpenfion, to the 25th of October laft, &c. 8vo. 1 s. Lacy, &c. In behalf of the Admiral; complaining of ill ufage, particularly fince his confinement.

XX. A modeft Remonftrance to the Public. Occafioned by the number of papers and pamphlets published about Admiral 6d. Cooper.

4to.

Byhis is neither a remonftrance, nor any thing else ;-but an odd

aflemblage of words, without meaning, or any apparent purpose.

COLOSSAL Figures, defcription
yd of two found near the Nile,
9898
488.
word,COLOURING, one of the most
effential branches of painting,
164. Requifites for an Author
in treating on that subject, ib.
diCOLOURS, that the Antients pain-
and 282.

P, Earl of, his excel-
lent fpeech against licencing the
ftage, where to be met with,
CHINESE language, how conflitted
-90 tuted and formed, 110.
CHOCOLATE, its culture and

manufacture, 337-340.
CHRISTIANITY, when, and by
whom, firft planted in England,
569, feq. shied
3CHRYSOSTOM, an marriage-ha-
-visaster, a monkery lover, and a
ba martyr-worshipper, 81.