with avidity, that truly excellent and original poem, The Village Curate, is passed by unnoticed and almost unknown. Of the author, the Rev. J. Hurdis, B. D. we know but little, save that he was Professor of Poetry in the univer sity of Oxford, and which alone may justify us in forming a high opinion of his talents. His first work, the one now before us, appeared anonymously in 1788, and was well received. Since then he has published an octavo vol ume of poems, which, though not equal in merit to his first production, yet display cor rect taste and superiour genius; and Sir Thomas More,' a tragedy, written in the genuine spirit of poetry. As a divine, he has also pub lished a few sermons, and critical remarks upon some parts of Genesis. The reader may perhaps recollect him as a correspondent of the poet of Weston, and will excuse us if we ins troduce an extract containing a compliment, not only honourable to the writer, but justly due to the merit of Mr. Hurdis.

6

I have always entertained,' says Mr. Cowper, and have occasionally avowed a great degree of respect for the abilities of the unknown author of The Village Curate; unknown at that time, but now well known, and not to me only, but many. For before I was favoured with your obliging letter, I knew your name, your place of abode, your profession, and that you had four sisters; all which I learned, not from your bookseller, nor any of

his connexions; you will perceive, therefore, that you are no longer an author incognito. The writer indeed of many passages that häve fallen from your peh, could not long continue so. Let genius, true genius, conceal itself where it may, we may say of it as the young man in Terence of his beautiful mistress, Diu fatere non potest.'

It may perhaps be said, that this praise is rather the offspring of warm friendship than rigid criticism. But we can produce an opin ion that is decisive; the opinion of those, at whose bar every author is amenable, and who, though they severely condemn those who ap pear before the publick without merit to claim its approbation, yet are willing when trué gen ius appears, to bestow the highest applause.

The present,' says an English reviewer in his remarks upon this poem, like every preceding age, abounds in verse-makers; and the brethren of the trade, though they differ in some circumstances, have certainly much in common among them. One may possibly finish more neatly than his neighbour, but in general they collect together the same old na terials, and work away with the same blunt in

struments.

*Poets on the contrary, true poets, are very sparingly scattered; but when they do appear, they are easily distinguished from the scribbling herd. Fortunately the present author is entitled to this distinction. He knows the senti,

ments of others, but he gives us his own. Instead of lamenting that there is little chance for originality, he is original; instead of un meaning, though perhaps well measured lines, he presents us with a poem, where the sense is prominent and the language is expressive; and instead of dispiriting us by gloomy representa tions of misery which never existed, he exhibits a pleasant view of life, and, by rendering us contented with ourselves, fits us for bestowing happiness on others.'

Thus, without placing dependence upon our, own opinion and judgment, are we able to bestow the praise of excellence upon this poem ; and without indulging ourselves in the high strain of panegyrick and eulogy, can we venture to wonder that the work has received such little attention and applause from the literary world. As to the poem, it is descriptive, the plan simple, and the author, as he confesses, frequently rides his rambling Pegasus without a rein. But there, is an originality, a purity of moral, and a beautiful yet manly simplicity, which pervades this work, and which cannot fail to interest and charm.

Of this work, the only copy we have been able to procure or even see is a most miserable one, printed at Newburyport. We therefore take the liberty of recommending it to our booksellers, while they are reprinting the poetical productions of Strangford, Moore, Walpole, &c. not to let the Village Curate languish

in obscurity. We can assure them it is an object much more worthy the American press, one which will do more honour to their taste and judgment, and be a highly valuable present to the publick.

In our next number we shall present our =readers with a few extracts.

FOR THE POLYANTHOS..

ANALECTA....No. III.

"Undique collatis membris."

ROBERT MERRY, Esq. A. M.

THIS gentleman was a member of the famous. Della Crusean Academy; and although his poetry has been severely satirized by Mr. Gifford, and although guilty of a false glitter, negligence and obscurity, yet his pretensions to poetical merit are often great and striking; while the spirit of liberty and benevolence which breathe through his writings seem ardent and sincere. His Poem "The Pains of Memory," has by some been preferred to the " Pleasures of Memory."-His pieces in the British Album have the greatest claim to distinction of any, found irthat work. As a proof of this, as well as nis great poetical talent, we refer the reader to those two excellent productions, "Diversity," and "Ambitious Vengeance."

MARRIAGE.

An old Grecian in one of his pithy epigrams, observes, that he is the happy man, who owes

nothing

Ευδαίμων;

ὁ μηδένι μηδὲν ὀφείλων,

Then he who is unmarried.

And in the third place the man, who is without children. If, he adds, the married man be mad, he may boast of some advantage; but, if he immediately buries his wife he has had indeed a great dowry.

Ταῦτ ̓ εἰδὼς σοφὸς ἴσθι

He is a wise man who knows these things.

TRANSLATION OF JUVENAL.

İN 1804 was published a new translation of Juvenal, by the Rev. William Heath Marsh, A. M. It seems an arduous undertaking to give the world a new version of this poet, after the excellent translation of Mr. Gifford. But Mr. Marsh observes that he was entirely ignorant of the design of Mr. G.; and that his own was entirely completed before he saw that rival version. Truth, he adds, requires of me this a vowal, that the present publication may not be imputed to improper motives, by.. which I was. never actuated. For though I have not the presumption to suppose that I possess the pow er to injure an author of such established repu tation, yet I would not unjustly be suspected of