in them a correctness, strength, and richness, not often found in the productions of other writers. The acute and ponderous mind of Dr. Johnson was not always right in its decisions. In the criticisms on Gray there is much injustice. There are many beauties in poetry which Johnson, with all his strength, did not perceive. There is a tender and melancholy chord of music, to whose warblings his ear was not attuned. Joseph Warton, though not equal to Johnson in genius, yet had equal or more erudition, and a more correct taste. In his notes to his edition of Pope, he had detected many errors of the biographical critic, and defended the reputation of Gray. Johnson, for some reason, nourished a dislike for Gray, as is evident from Boswell's Life; but what that reason was we cannot ascertain. All the children of poetry are lovers of romance, many of them delight in searching in those records which superstitious ages have handed down to posterity. A few centuries back the poet might introduce the wizard and the witch, and the whole tribe of enchanters, and through their instrumentality perform the most astonishing actions. He might fill the air with shrieks and groans, and people the midnight with the most terrible apparitions, without being considered as extravagant. The druids, in the early days of English history, are represented as enchanters, as the celebrators of the most bloody rites, and as even the sacrificers of human victims. Mason, the delightful biographer of Gray, has with striking effect introduced these personages into his dramatic performance entitled Caractacus. That poem, founded upon the Grecian model, is an eminent specimen of dramatic skill and elevated poetry. Some of the odes or chorusses are among the finest lyrics in the English language. The one which begins......" Hark, heard you not that footstep dread?" is particularly entitled to this praise. Caractacus I consider as by far the highest effort of Mason's genius, though his other performances stand very conspicuously on the lists of merit. His English Garden is a noble didactic poem, and the tale of Herina, contained in the last book, has often been moistened by the tear of sensibility. The Jerusalem Delivered of Tasso, though almost adored by Italians, has not yet received its due praise from Englishmen. It is undoubtedly among the first works of human genius: and when we consider that it was begun by its author when twenty-two years of age, we should admire with astonishment. Various have been the opinions which have been entertained concerning this poem. Boileau, in the severity of his criticism, and after him our elegant Addison, have wantonly and unjustly condemned it. But, notwithstanding this censure, it will continue to live in the approbation of true taste and discernment, when all the satires of Boileau have been plunged in oblivion. Voltaire has endeavoured with success to rescue this poem from unmerited censure. In his criticisms upon it, he represents it as founded on the model of the Iliad, but as containing pictures far more exquisitely finished. The Jerusalem Delivered of Tasso, and the Orlando Furioso of Ariosto, are the highest exhibitions of Italian genius. The former is the most correct and chaste, and observes strictly the rules which have been prescribed to epic poetry, while the latter is the most wild and original. The interest with which we read Tasso will be increased by a knowledge of the events of his life. Possessed of sensibility refined and uncommon, he was ill prepared to buffet with the world's malignity, or to encounter the pitiless storms of misfortune. Though his immortal poem, at its first appearance, was almost unparalleled in its success, and was speedily translated into many of the languages of Europe, yet swarms of insect-critics gathered and buzzed around it, to the torment of its fastidious author. Smitten Oh, by the graces, by the loves design'd Attendant on the fairest of her kind, Whose charms excel the charms of human race! Fain would I view, but dare not lift my sight To mark the splendour of her piercing eyes; The heavenly smiles, her bosom's dazzling white, The nameless graces that the soul surprise. frequently in company he would become entirely abstracted, would talk to himself and laugh violently, and would fix his eyes upon vacancy for a long time, and then say that he saw his familiar spirit, and describe him as under the semblance of an angelic youth, such as he paints him in his dialogue of Le Messagi ero. Manso particularly mentions that once Tasso, irritated at his incredulity, told him that he should see his spirit with his own eyes. Accordingly, next day, when they were sitting by the fire, and talking together, Tasso suddenly darted his eyes to a window in the room, and sat so intently gazing, that when Manso spoke to him, he returned no answer. At last he turned to him, and said, "Behold the friendly spirit who is courteously come to converse with me; look at him, and perceive the truth of my words." Manso immediately turned his eyes toward the spot, but, with his keenest vision, could see nothing but the rays of the sun shining through the window into the chamber. While he was thus staring, Tasso had entered into lofty discourse with the spirit, and he solemnly declares, that his discourse was so grand and marvellous, and contained such lofty things, expressed in a most unusual mode, that he remained in extacy, and did not dare to open his mouth to tell Tasso that the spirit was not visible to him. After some time, Tasso turned to him with a smile, and said, he hoped he was now convinced. To which Manso replied, that he had indeed heard wonderful things, but had seen nothing*. A new translation ofthe Jerusalem Delivered would be a very acceptable present to English literature. Fairfax's version is now little or never read. In the days of Tasso, the poet generally relied for protection on some powerful patron. Devoted to the muses, and not to the acquirement of wealth, he was most commonly poor. The prince on whom Tasso most depended was Alphonso, duke of Ferrara, and to him he dedicated his great work. Alphonso, proud of the honours which the poet conferred upon him, was at first lavish of his caresses, but afterward, for some reason which has not been sufficiently explained, threw him into prison. The melancholy bard at length sunk under his distresses; his powerful intellects became deranged, and his phrenzied imagination rendered him the object of compassion and of terror. Manso, his friend and biographer tells us, that of Literature, and Drake's Lit. Hours. Hoole's translation, though not bad, can give us but a very imperfect idea of the original. A version after the manner of Cowper's Homer, would, I am certain, prove a popular and enchanting work. * See Hoole's Life of Tasso, Letters The Henríade of Voltaire, though not equal to the poem last mentioned, has many beautiful passages. It strictly observes the rules of epic poetry, and treads on the footsteps of Virgil. Many of the countrymen of Voltaire rank his genius too high, while many Englishmen rank it too low. Perhaps no man ever surpassed him in versatility of talents. It is a remarkable fact, that notwithstanding his opposition to the Christian religion, in the Henriade there is uncommon respect paid to it, and his tragedies are strictly moral. I wish that the same could be said of his other performances, especially of his Maid of Orleans, which is one of the most licentious performances ever written. The best English translation of the Henriade was published by a French lady, in London, 1797. From this performance I shall take the following beautiful and pathetic extract, which describes an encounter between a father and his son. With death and terror D'Ailly fill'd the plain, D'Ailly of thirty years of warfare vain; man, That bloody day his bright career began. Love form'd the youth for every tender joy, And Hymen smil'd upon the blooming boy; But scorning all that youth and beauty gave, He sigh'd for glory 'midst the great and brave How did his bride that day the league deplore, As her soft hands the heavy cuirass bore, And cloth'd his tender limbs in horrid steel, What anguish did her heaving bosom feel! How trickled down his casque the briny tear, Which hid that face so lovely and so dear. first, the appointment should be vested in that body where there is the greatest prospect of a good lity for a bad one. choice, and the greatest responsibiThe executive, In ble; a chief magistrate, for his own by its unity, is completely responsireputation, will search for the best men. The legislature are, in a great degree, exempted from that responsibility; voting by ballot, as they generally do, the choice is the choice of no particular member, and every one is sheltered by the vote of the other; besides, many of the members change every year or two, and the same body which elected an unworthy officer, existing no longer when his incapacity is discovered, no public shame attaches on them as executive is not lessened by assigning a body. The responsibility of the to a senate or council a negative on his nomination, and such negative may sometimes be a very salutary check, though in general its propriety is questionable: it indeed may, in a very few instances, prevent an improper appointment, but it may also defeat many proper ones. dependence in the judiciary is produced by a tenure during good behaviour, and by an adequate compensation, not liable to diminution. A limited commission would create ed with the re-appointment; a predependence on the authority investcarious compensation would beget a dependence on the legislature. The constitution of the United States secures effectually all these advantages, the check, which the senate has on the nomination by the president, is more necessary, as applied to the union at large, than it would be in relation to a particular state. The constitutions of Pennsylvania and Delaware vest the appointment absolutely in the governor, and contain every requisite to secure a good judiciary; that of New-York vests the choice in the council of appointment; those of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maryland, in the governor and council; that of Kentucky, like that of the United States, in the governor, with seven years, and of the inferior court for five years: so, by the former constitution of Pennsylvania, their judges were appointed for six years; but they have had the wisdom to convert that, by their last constitution, into a tenure during good behaviour. In Georgia it is still worse; the judges hold their offices for only three years. It is for the consent of the senate; those of Connecticut, Rhode-Island, Vermont, New-Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee, in the legislature..... In North Carolina, however, the governor has the nomination. In most of the states the tenure is good behaviour; it is so in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New-York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland,tunate, however, that the judges are Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. In Connecticut and Rhode-Island, the judges are annually appointed; but from the customs and habits of the people of Connecticut, there does not result much injury from this deformity in their code, because it is a matter of course to re-appoint the former officer, unless guilty of some serious misconduct. In Vermont there is more danger of the existence of an undue dependence; the judges are elected annually, and the constitution adds, "and oftener, if need be:" one would think they might be satisfied with an annual election. In New-Jersey, the judges of the superior court are chosen for perfectly independent in every state except Connecticut, Rhode-Island, Vermont, New-Jersey, and Georgia; and with respect to Connecticut, little danger is to be apprehended from their mode. At the same time it is to be regretted, that any of the eastern states, which are generally distinguished for the wisdom of their policy, should countenance principles unfavourable to order, stability, and political morality. The following table is designed to show the state of the judicial systems of America in the year 1796. This table and the above remarks were originally drawn up by Mr. W. Smith. |