says Churchyarde, in the poem prefixed to his Works. "And Master Caxton in his preface to the Boke of Eneydos, 1490, hath a passage which well deserves to be quoted without abridgment: I pray Mayster John Skelton late created Poete Laureate in the Unyversite of Oxenforde, to oversee and correcte thys sayd booke, and taddresse and expowne whereas shall be founde faulte; to theym that shall require it; for him I knowe for suffycyent to expowne and Englyshe every dyfficulte that is therein, for he hath late translated the Epystles of Tullye and the Book of Dyodorus Syculus, and diverse other workes, out of Latyn in Englysshe, not in rude and old Langage, but in polyshed and ornate termes, craftely, as he that hath redde Vyrgyle, Ouyde, Tullye, and all the other noble poets and oratours, to me unknown and also he hath redde the ix Muses, and understantes their musicalle seyences, and to whom of them eche scyence is approved: I suppose he hath dronken of Elycon's Well!!!" Skelton was rector of Diss, in Norfolk, and patronized by the Earl of Northumberland. He wrote against Wolsey. Erasmus styled him very strangely, “Britannicarum Literarum Lumen et Decus." KING CHARLES II. In a very curious and scarce pamphlet, entitled, "A Proper Memorial for the 29th of May," &c. &c. Lond. 1715, 8vo. his Majesty is described as having effected his escape from the rebels, after the battle of Worcester, in the following garb : "He had on a white steeple crowned hat, without any other lining besides grease, both sides of the brim so doubled up with handling that they looked like two spouts, a leather doublet full of holes, and almost black with grease about the sleeves, collar and waist; an old green Woodriff's coat, thread bare, and patched in most places; with a pair of breeches of the same cloth, and in the same condition, the slops hanging down loose to the middle of the leg; hose and shoes of different parishes; the hose were grey stirrups, much darned and clouted, especially about the knees, under which he had a pair of flannel riding stockings of his own, the tops of them cut off. His shoes had been cobbled, being pieced both on the soles and seams, and the upper leathers so cut and slashed to fit them to his feet, that they were quite unfit to defend him either from water or dirt. This exotic and deformed dress, added to his short hair, cut off by the ears; his face coloured brown with walnut tree leaves; and a rough crooked thorn stick in his hand, had so metamorphosed him, that it was hard, even for those who had been before well acquainted with his person, and conversant with him, to have discovered who he was." DRYDEN. Mr. St. John, afterwards Lord Bolingbroke, happening to pay a morning visit to Dryden, whom he always respected, found him in an unusual agitation of spirits, even to a trembling. On enquiring the cause, "I have been up all night (replied the old bard), my musical friends made me promise to write them an ode for their feast of St. Cecilia : I have been so struck with the subject which occurred to me, that I would not leave it till I had completed it: here it is finished at one sitting." And immédiately he shewed him the ode, which places the British lyric poetry above that of any other nation. This anecdote, as true as it is curious, was imparted by Lord Bolingbroke to Pope. The rapidity, and yet the perspicuity of the thoughts, the glow and the expressiveness of the images, those certain marks of the first sketch of a master, conspire to corroborate the fact. It is not to be understood that this piece was not afterwards reconsidered, retouched, and corrected. Dryden's necessities obliged him to produce, besides many other poetical pieces, twenty-seven plays in twenty-five years. He got 251. for the copy, and 701. for his benefits generally, Dramatic poetry was certainly not his talent. His plays, a very few passages excepted, are insufferably unnatural. It is remarkable that he did not scruple to confess, that he could not relish the pathos and simplicity of Euripides. When he published his Fables, Tonson agreed to give him two hundred and sixty eight pounds for ten thousand verses. And to complete the full number of lines stipulated for, he gave the bookseller the Epistle to his Cousin, and the celebrated Music Ode. THE FINE ARTS. In Winkelman's" History of Art among the Ancients," is to be found perhaps the best account of the gradual decay of Painting, Architecture, and Medals, that can be read; abounding with many instances of the fate that has befallen many exquisite pieces of art. Among the rest he says, that when the Austrians took Madrid, Lord Galloway searched for a very celebrated Busto of Caligula, that he knew Cardinal G. Colonna had conveyed to Spain: which fine Busto he at last found in the Escurial, where it served for a weight of the Turret Clock. What Winkelman says of the Laocoon is a capital piece of criticism and just taste; which he finishes by mentioning a matchless absurdity, worthy of the country where it is to be found, that in the castle of St. Ildephonso in Spain, there is a relief of this group of Laocoon and his Sons, with a figure of Cupid fluttering over their heads, as if flying to their assistance. LORD CLARENDON. When this nobleman was going from court, just after his profligate and ungrateful master had obliged him to resign the great seal, the Duchess of Cleveland meanly and wantonly insulted him from a window in the palace. He looked up at her, and only said, with a calm and contemptuous dignity," Madam, if you live, you will grow old." LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. Mr Park's edition of Warton's History of English Poetry is in a state of great forwardness. The Editor's plan is not only to revise both text and notes, and free the extracts from the charge of inaccuracy to which they have hitherto been subjected, but also to supply a continuation in furtherance of Mr. Warton's plan. The very copious Annotations on Warton's History, by the late learned antiquary, the Rev. George Ashby, together with various MS. observations left by that acute Critic Mr. Ritson, are in the hands of the present Editor, and so far as the purposes of correction and illustration can be served will be appended to the notes of Mr. Warton. LIST OF BOOKS PUBLISHED IN FEBRUARY, 1809. Aikin-The Annual Review, for the year 1808. Edited by Arthur Aikin Royal 8vo. 11. Is. -Bath-Rebellion in Bath; or the Battle of the Upper Rooms; a Poem in two Cantos. 4to. 5s. Blacket The Times; an Ode at the Commencement of the year 1809. By Joseph Blacket, 1s. Brazils The Brazil Pilot, or a Description of the Coast of Brazils, Translated from the Portuguese of Manuel Pimentel. 4to. 11. 1s. Catholic Bishops-Six Letters on the Subject of Dr. Milner's Explanation relating to the proposal made in the last Session of Parliament for admitting the King's Veto in the Election of Roman Catholic Bishops. 3s. Chambers-An Introduction to Arithmetic, in which the four principal Rules are illustrated by a variety of Questions. By R. Chambers. 1s. 6d. Corinna in England, and a Heroine in the Shade, A Modern Romance. 2 vol. 85. Cumberland The London Review, conducted by Richard Cumberland, Esq. No. I. 5s. Day-Critical Examination of the Act of 6th of Geo. I, relating to Unlawful and Unwarrantable Projects, demonstrating that the present Joint Stock Companies are neither within the Letter nor Spirit of that Act. By H. Day. 1s. Elton-The Remains of Hesiod, the Ascræan. Translated from the Greek into English Verse. With a Preliminary Dissertation and Notes. By Charles Abr. Elton. Small 8vo. 12s. Familiar Discourses on the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Litany. By a Dignitary of the Church. 8vo. 7s. 6d. Flower-A Statement of Facts, relative to the Conduct of the Rev. John Clayton, sen. the Rev. John Clayton, jun. and the Rev. William Clayton. By Benjamin Flower. 8vo. 4s. 6d. Flower Abolition of Tithes recommended, in which the increasing and unjust Claims of the Clergy are fully examined and disputed. By B. Flower. 1s. 6d. France A History of France, from the Reign of Clovis to the Peace of Campo Formio, 1797. 12mo. 5s. 6d. Gardiner A Sermon on the Duties of Public Worship, Preached at Bath. By J. Gardiner, D. D. 1s. 6d. Gartside Ornamental Groups, Descriptive of Flowers, Birds, Shells, and Gilpin-Observations on several parts of the Counties of Cambridge, Nor- Glasse-The New Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ, with a further Abridg- Godwin-An Essay on Sepulchres, or a Proposal for Erecting some Memo- Hill-The Forest of Comalva: a Novel, containing Sketches of Portugal, Hague A Letter to the Rt. Hon. S. Percival, being a statement of the Hort-The New Pantheon; or an Introduction to the Mythology of the An- Impartial Considerations on the various Prosecutions commenced by the Attorney General, for Libels on his Majesty, and the Dukes of York, and Sussex, &c. &c. 3s. Isaacs-Ela St. Lawrence, or the Village of Selwood. By Mrs. Isaacs. 4 vols. 11. 29. Hints for a New Mode Kentish-Essay on Warm and Vapour Baths; with of Applying Heat and Cold for the Cure of Disease. 4s. 6d. Kentish-The Simplicity of the Christian Doctrine, a Sermon Preached at Dudley. By John Kentish. Kidd-Outlines of Mineralogy. By J. Kidd, M. D. Professor of Chemistry in the University of Oxford. 2 vols. 8vo. 18s. Kotzebue-Leontina. By Augustus Von Kotzebue. 3 vols. 15s. Lathom-London; or Truth without Treason. By F. Lathom, Esq. 4 vols. 12mo. 11. 28. Letters from a Member of Parliament to his Friend in the Country. 2s. 6d. Molina-The Geographical, Natural, and Civil History of Chili. By the Abbe Molina. 2 vol. 8vo. Murray-An English Grammar, comprehending the Principles and the Rules of the Language; illustrated by appropriate Exercises, and a Key to the Exercises. By Lindley Murray. 2 vols. 8vo. 11. 1s. Murray-Mentorian Lectures on Sacred and Moral Subjects, adapted to the comprehension of Juvenile Readers. By Ann Murray. 12mo. 4s. 6d. Newenham-A View of the Natural, Political, and Commercial Circumstances of Ireland. By Thomas Newenham, Esq. 4to. with a Map. 11. 75. Palmer-Debates in both Houses of Parliament in May and June, 1808, concerning Mr. Palmer's Agreement relative to the Post Office. 8vo. 5s. Peithman-A Refutation of P.F. M'Allum's Remarks on the Royal Military College. By Lewis Theophilus Peithman. 2s. Perry-Philosophy for Youth; or Scientific Tutor. By William Perry. 12mo. 5s. Poems and Translations from the Minor Greek Poets and others. Written chiefly between the years of ten and sixteen. By a Lady. 5s. |