The historical discourse being of a local nature, we shall pass it over; and we shall merely remark on the letters, that they relate to Mr. R.'s researches in the Cambridge University-library for materials for his General History of Baptists. MONTHLY CATALOGUE, For MAY, 1814. POETRY and the DRAMA. Art. 13. Buonaparte, a Poem. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Murray. 1814. He who for so considerable a period has been the astonishment and the scourge of Europe is fallen; and such a fall, from unexampled pride and greatness, who can contemplate in silence: who can contemplate it even with calm philosophic perspicacity, unmoved by popular feelings, or unswayed by popular sentiments? Bonaparte was a meteor of the very first order, bright and destructive in its passage, yet sinking on a sudden into darkness and insignificance! Universal history affords not one instance of a career of such splendor, or of a fall so degrading and unpitied. In future, poetry, overlooking the examples of Xerxes, Alexander, Hannibal, and Charles XII., will descant on the history of Napoleon Bonaparte as prominently illustrative of the evils of "vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself," and will tell us, if not in the words, at least in the spirit of Johnson, that "He left a name at which the world grew pale, To point a moral or adorn a tale.” Many years must elapse before the history of this wonder and horror of our days can be dispassionately written; and before Europe, recovered from her disasters, will be in a condition dispassionately to read it. In the mean-time, however, verse-men and prose-men will endeavour to gratify themselves and the public by aiming a kick at the hunted-down lion; and, to make sure of the favour of the triumphant party, they will attempt to deprive the prostrate foe of every talent and of every virtue. Much as we reprobate the crimes of Bonaparte, and much as we rejoice at the deliverance of Europe from his iron grasp, we would not ungenerously exult over him. It may be urged, however, in palliation of the present style of invectives, that nothing less than the most unqualified condemnation of him can be tolerated, and that not to hate him with a perfect hatred is to be destitute of all loyalty and public virtue. With feelings of this kind, the poem before us is in perfect unison; the author of which, though all his verse is not highly finished, will please his readers by the warmth with which he congratulates Europe that The gloom of years at once is pass'd away,' by the animated eulogies which he bestows on the conquerors, and by the dark colours with which he sketches the portrait of Bonaparte. • And And thou, lost Chief! in spite of all thy guilt- But Truth, stern guide! reproves the weak desire, The public will excuse the author for trying to squeeze out a tear for the object of his execration, and will not question his report when he wrote him down all evil; yet something very ungenerous, certainly very unchristian, appears in the insinuation that Napoleon ought to have filled up the measure of his crimes by suicide. We could not avoid making this remark in our last Number, and we cannot refrain from repeating it now. Art. 14. The Exile of Elba a Poem on the Downfall of Bonaparte and his Dynasty; with The Deliverance; an Ode, pourtraying the principal Events of the Year 1814. By John Gwilliam, Author of "The Battles of the Danube and Barrosa," &c. &c., 8vo. 38. Jennings. Yielding to the same impressions which animated the author of the preceding poem, Mr. Gwilliam holds up Bonaparte to universal detestation as the greatest monster of the world, — as monstrum nullá virtute redemptum à vitiis; and, in order to make him more sensibly feel the disgrace of his fall, he reminds the Exile' of what he might have been if he had exercised a little prudence: Had prudence mark'd his reign-had justice thrown The poet now follows Bonaparte to his exile, and contrasts his hour of glory with that of disgrace: but he has written with too much haste to attend to the polish of every line: • Where is the man whom millions late obey'd, Whom assisted, then betray'd, He who confounded Europe at a breath, And smote her children with continual death, Whose footsteps shook the world-made sov'reigns own And tremble at the power of his throne Who put to flight all Prussia's marshall'd force, - Where go Where is he now? and whither does he Stript of his plumage-by the world abjur'd- Lo! where he goes to hide his face in shame, The humbled victim of a worthless fame.' In the little island of Elba, (how little, when compared with the vast circuit which his power once embraced!) Bonaparte is represented as on the very worst terms with his conscience, and in course as goaded by the stings of remorse; yet the poet kindly finds out one balm for his woes, and recommends him to soothe the anguish of his tortured mind by the fervour of a woman's love.' Turning to the restored monarch, Louis XVIII., Mr. G. congratulates France on the joyous event, and cautions the King against a confidence in men (particularly Talleyrand) who once assisted Napoleon and then betrayed him. The hero of the North, the magnanimous Alexander, is extolled for the prominent part which he has acted in the recent drama of the downfall of Bonaparte . But for thy vigor France had still remain'd This praise the Emperor of Russia eminently deserves; and it would be indeed a proof of a generous concern for Europe, if, after having restored the balance of power by diminishing the overgrown empire of Bonaparte, he would content himself with "all the Russias," and not annex Poland to his own already colossal dominions. The ode intitled The Deliverance,' Mr. G. informs us, was written for the most part in January last, but was with-holden. ΙΟ from from the public in consequence of the expected appearance of the Poet-Laureat's Carmen Triumphale. Both professedly adverting to the wonderful events which must for ever signalize the opening of the present year, Mr. Southey and Mr. Gwilliam travel over the same ground, and are both animated on the occasion with a patriotic fervour which may now pass for poetic inspiration. Praise to the God of empires and of men! Hope shews her blooming countenance again, - The shouts of war subside, And every eye with rapture seems to turn --- What are her conquests now?- her works of fame And he her savage and unhallow'd chief, The cause of her disastrous fate, Shrinks from her sight like a convicted thief, And curses his ambition The ode thus concludes: all too late.' But hark! the great the glorious cry The tyrant's star is set at last, And France is rescued from her foes! Thy bonds are broken, Gaul! thy days of peace All nations leap with joy to hear thy fate - And drive th' usurper to his haunt of shame!' Mr. Gwilliam is not always sufficiently attentive to his rhymes. Art. 15. The Regent and the King; or a Trip from Hartwell to Dover. A Poem. By Peter Pindar, Esq. 8vo. 2s. Johnston. Saucy as ever, and coarser still, Peter continues to run his rigs on royalty, and seems to be quite on the qui vive on having a brace of sovereigns to turn out before his satiric muse, for the amusement of "the swinish multitude." The poor, unwieldy, gouty Louis XVIII. is indeed very ludicrously and unfeelingly exhibited. Before he is brought forth in the pomp and circumstance of recovered dignity and power, we view him as a pensioner on our bounty at Hartwell: Years twenty-three this king had found And munch'd his meals on English ground, H 2 And Forc'd by the first the world to roam, And by the last laid up at home.' Next he is assaulted by flatterers on his recall: but, between congratulations and the twinges of the gout, the monarch has a bad time of it: "Dear Monsieur Comte, I am so glad Oh! dn dis gout, it drive me mad! A crown!-oh! curse you! mind my foot ; Hartwell, which, while Louis was an exile, is said never to have seen the emblems or appendages of royalty *, is now visited by dragoons and state-coaches, and His Christian Majesty's backside On crimson now was rais'd to ride; A greater honour still awaits the restored King of France: • Well might the giddy thoughtless throngs, The shoutings ran to Hyde Park gate, Gig, coach, landau, mule, donkey, filly, *P. P., however, is too much at variance with facts, when he speaks of the exiled king as being left in a state of poverty. His Majesty himself, we are persuaded, would describe his treatment very differently. Peter is equally incorrect in representing that stategoaches and troops finally attended at Hartwell. 14 Thus |