those whose fineness of texture makes them weak, whose susceptibility most exposes them to contagion ; whose natures, being most excellent, are, for that very reason, capable of becoming most depraved; who being formed to promote the happiness of the world, may, ' when strained from that fair use, prove its bane and destruction; retaining, as they will still do, much of that empire which Nature intended for them, over the minds and faculties of the other half of the species."-Windham's Speech on the Peace of Amiens.-This may be the consequence of publishing many licentious poems. Those who do not desire such a dreadful moral revolution in the world should pause before they write, and consider whether the innocent recreation of writing a few verses "to Delia or Chloe," may not be more criminal than they imagine it to be; whether glowing thoughts are in themselves quite innocent, and whether such sports are not dangerous to the moral principles of their Amandas. Cowper, in his Tabletalk, has severely, (perhaps too severely) condemned the amatory writers. 14 Why fan in other breasts unhallowed fires, 15 To fever up the passions till they boil! There is a poet of the present day, whose exquisite satire, patriotism, beauty of imagery, and sweetness of versification ; whose brilliant thoughts, as thick "as the gay mote that people the sunbeam," must delight all those who read his productions. Would to God that he had never lent a grace to vice. Well might he exclaim with Spenser Many lewd lays (ah, woe is me the more) 16 Philosophers, such always have they been. What with your criticisms, lay-sermons, and metaphysical reveries, the press is sadly be-deviled. You give the poor Jectures, bibles, every thing but bread. You write long, very long dissertations on the poor-laws in your academical retreats, and turn up your noses at the sight of a mud cottage. Fine theorists! Amiable companions of Malthus and Co. You affect great concern for the morals of the poor, you declaim most lustily against a cricket-match on a Sunday evening, and yet you discourage marriage. You complain of emigration, and yet squander away your time in Paris or London, or slumber it away in your libraries as useless as the metaphysical lumber that fill your shelves.-Away with this nauseous canting about mistaken benevolence! I ought, however, to except from this general condemnation, the Dissertation of Mr. Davison on the Poor-Laws; it unites the sagacity of a Smith to the eloquence of a Burke ! 17 Now for the scandal-mongers of the day. There are a numerous herd of scribblers who exist by relating scandalous anecdotes of personages in high life. Though ephemeral they are not harmless. They every where generate distrust and suspicion. These wretches take delight in destroying the happiness of private families. What right have they to be the inquisitors of domestic life? What right have they to expose the follies of young men, to gratify the spleen of the malignant? Let them expose the harlot vice uncased in all her ugliness; but let them not rake up anecdotes which ought now to be forgotten, which are often false, and when the persons of whom they are told have ceased to exist, or have become honest members of society. 18 Scandal is read. "Especially in this age of PERSONALITY, this age of literary and political gossipping, when the meanest insects 32 NOTES ON "POESY" 25 Wretches, pale, famished, dying in the street? May I be forgiven for quoting these admirable lines of Goldsmith? If to the city sped-what waits him there? Deserted Village. Let any man take up that exquisite poem, the "Deserted Village," and he then will see that almost every line in it, is applicable to the present state of things in this country. Goldsmith was a bad politician, but he had the feelings of a man. He was no bigot, much less a trading, hacknied, canting philosopher. INVITATION ΤΟ The Banks of the Avon, IN IMITATION OF MOORE. THIS is the balmy breathing-time of spring; Thy varied charms, where'er thou wind'st thy way: |