readers will be perfectly able to form correct conceptions of the real value of this work. We would recommend Dr. T. to translate the two treatises mentioned above, and then the English reader would be possessed of the chief works of this most industrious naturalist. We are persuaded, that the British public would be gratified by writing so interesting to the study of nature; and hope, that he will consider of executing a task, for which he appears so peculiarly well qualified. POETRY. The Siller Gun. A Poem, in Four Cantos, with Notes and a Glossary. By John Mayne, Author of the Poem of Glasgow, &c. pp. 153, small 8vo. 4s Richardsons, London, 1808. THE popularity of Burns's Poem have stimulated an immense horde of imitators; but it is a circumstance too much to the honour of the present author not to be particularly noticed that he is not an imitator but a precursor, and in one instance an example, to Burns. We allude to the poem of Hallowe'en, by Mr. M. which appeared in the 44th volume of Ruddiman's Edinburgh Weekly Magazine, many years prior to the appearance of Burns's on the same subject. Even the first edition of the poem before us, which was written in 1777, appeared in the same work teu years before Burns's poem appeared under the patronage of the noblemen and gentlemen of the Caledonian Hunt. The following stanza of an epistle addressed to the publisher of that Magazine on the first appearance of the "Siller Gun," and "Hallowe'en," will shew what estimation our author had acquired long before the name of Burns was known. "His witty sang, wi' jokes sae fu'. Slides just awa like weel-teas'd woo, Now in our day, Can chaunt sae blithe, or sing sae true To Ramsay's lay." All the biographers, indeed, of the Ayrshire Bard agree, that his taste for verses in his native dialect was greatly increased, if not modulated by the pieces which appeared in Ruddiman's Magazine, of which he was a constant reader. It is even affirmed by the most competent judges that he took" the hint not only of the subject, but also of the measure and general tone of sentiment," of his "Hallow-e'en," from the prior but shorter poem on the same subject by the present author. Both poems, however, have been printed together in various editions, and are equally worthy of that respect which has been shown to the "wood notes wild" of Burns. The subject of the present poem is the "Shooting for the Siller Gun," a small silver tube like the barrel of a pistol," which "derives its importance from its being the gift of James VI. who ordained it as a prize to the best marksman amongst the corporations of Dumfries." If it is considered not merely as chanting the festival of shooting for the gun, but as the celebration of the King's Birth-day, the four cantos which constitute this poem, will form as correct an epopee, and certainly as faithfully descriptive, as any other extant. There is a natural and simple unity in the whole, viewed as the annual celebration of this national festival, which constitutes a true heroic poem. The opening of the piece also fixes its character, as will appear in the third stanza. "O George! the best o' kings and men! For thee our daily pray'rs ascend! Of ilka blessing Heav'n can send, May'st thou hae store; And may thy royal race extend "Till time be o'er!" Those who can relish the characteristic excellence of Burns, the union of the humorous, with the moral and pathetic, will be pleased with the following portrait from nature. After describing the procession to the scene of action, another and more interesting group appears: "To see his face whom she loo'd best, Like mony mae Her exultation was exprest In words like thae: "Trow! but it makes ane's heart lowp light As when, lang syne, His looks were first the young delight And pride o' mine!" Can. I. v. 32-3. The portraits of the fidler John Bruce and the victorious Wm. M'Nish, are not less happy. "To hear John Bruce exert his skill, Ye'd never grudge the ither gill: O! how he scorn'd the Italian thrill, And variations; And gart his thairm-strings speak, at will, Tru Scots vibrations!" "Nor was it only for a reel That Johnny was belov'd so weel; NO. CXXV. VOL. XXXI. U And, what's far mair, John to his prince was true and leel, Ev'n in despair." "William M'Nish, a taylor slee, Can. II. v. 24-5. Rouz'd at the thought, charg'd his fuzee; The bullet flies "His winsome wife, wha lang had miss'd him, Th' example take; And some held up his bairns, and bless'd them, For daddy's sake!"-v. 44-5. Of genuine and unmixed humour this poem contains many fine strokes, and (what is a rare quality of humour) without the least taint of coarseness and indelicacy; such is the description of the bustling preparations for the ceremony of shooting for the gun, Scouring the rusty firelocks, furbishing old accoutrements, &c. before proceeding to the field. The admirable Hogarthian por traiture of John M Maff, who, steeking his ein," (shutting his eyes) and panting cries," Sirs! is she aff? in wild dismay," if equalled, is certainly not surpassed by any thing in Burns. Nor is the author less happy in those occasional touches of a delicate and tender nature which take the reader as it were by surprize, and greatly enhance, by contrast, the effect of the general ludicrous strain of the composition. Thus in describing the tuneful strains of the modest minstrel : "Aft, when the waits were playing by, Soothing lorn lovers, where they lye, To visions sweet Soft as a mother's lullaby, When babies greet !"-Cant. II. v. 27. This is followed by a thought not unworthy of Milton: "He play'd in tones that suit despair,-When beauty dies !" We might, indeed, extract many more passages, perhaps equally deserving of approbation, but to readers unacquainted with the Scottish dialect they would not be so interesting. The author evinces his social, bene. volent and patriotic affections in almost every stanza; but in none does he appear to greater advantage, than in paying the tribute of gratitude to the memory of his late worthy preceptor Doctor Chapman, whose talents and virtues must have been very superior to the mass of mankind, otherwise he could never have ac quired such a general, disinterested, and permanent esteem among all who knew him. The subject of the Siller Gun," indeed is local, so are the characters which it delineates; but the scenery is truly national, and each character depicted is an original genus, of which there are many species all belonging to the same national family, and all bearing marks of one common origin. In this consists one of the chief merits of the poet, whose easy and harmonious verses present one of the most faithful and lively pictures of the ingenuous, rustic Scottish manners, which has hitherto appeared, and which will suffer nothing in being compared with the happiest efforts of Burns. Mr. Mayne is well known as the author of many of our most popular English Ballads, all of which are remarkable for a peculiar chastity of sentiment and tenderness of expression, and which never fail to make a deep impression on the heart when sung in places of public amusement. The great simplicity also of his poetry reminds us of Goldsmith; and, while we adinire the native genius of the poet, we are no less gratified that all his effusions are favourable to virtue, and the best interests of society. Spaniards! Death or Victory! Españoles! Vencer & Morir! Fo lio, with a Picture. Walker, 1808. THE motive of this publication would alone sanction its appearance, was its intrinsic merit even much less than it is. We shall give the first verse of both English and Spanish. "Wake! ye Spaniards, bold and brave, "Despertad! Españoles, osados y bravos, Levantaos!-A'las armas! Salvad vuestra Patria; Romped los trampas de la Perfidia." The translation is extremely literal, and considered as such, is far from being inelegant. We recommend this war song and picture to those who wish to support the cause of the Spanish patriots; and we think it would be highly proper to send a considerable number of them to Spain, which would convey a sensible idea to the Spanish people what a lively interest the whole people of Eng-. land take in their fortune, and how just and necessary is the war against the Buonapartes." The Contrast, a Poem; including comparative Views of Britain, France, and Spain, at the present Moment. In Two Parts. Addressed to an English Nobleman. By Mr. Pratt. Third Edi tion, revised and corrected. 12mo. pp. 28. 1s. 6d. Cradock and Joy, 1808. THE whole of this poem having originally appeared in this Review, and our opinion of it having been sufficiently pronounced by the admission of it into our pages, any particular comments on its merits by us, would, of course, be deemed superfluous and impertinent. We are, therefore, merely to announce its republication in a new form, and to express our satisfaction, that its rapid and extensive circulation has proved that our opinion of it has received the sanction of the public. Original Poetry. By a Member of Christ's College, Cambridge. pp. 108, small 8vo. 3s. 6d. Cradock and Joy. HAD this Cantab never written a line but what he has entitled "To Ambition," "The Woodman," "The Negro," and "The Nun," we should have pronounced him a poet. Delicacy, sensibility, and exquisite taste, are conspicuous in these short poems. From the Negro," we shall extract a few stanzas, with the hope that their moral effect may not be overlooked. "Loud o'er the house-tops howl'd December's blast, While evening's dusky shadows gather'd fast, By cruel hunger prest, by sickness worn, The tempest wander'd thro' his garments torn, Each passing stranger for relief; No charitable mite his wants obey'd, "Ah buckra! buckra! you can only preach- "Tis true, on England's soil, you willing teach, Of little value is this boasted grant Me wander friendless, tho' still free! Corruption and Intolerance: two Poems, with Notes. Addressed to an Englishman by an Irishman. pp. 75, 8vo. Carpenter,. 1808. HAD we not observed the word "Irishman," we should have concluded, that this still-born effusion had emanated from an unfortunate inmate of St. Luke's; and that some curious person had caused it to be printed, in order to illustrate the history of the Human Mind. We presume, however, that its parent is still in possession of that liberty and protection which he most ungratefully abuses, and which he knows not how to enjoy. But, out of charity to a being who most assuredly is not affected with any poetical mania, however much he may have suffered from a cacoethes scribendi, we recommend him to pass seven years in discipline aud penance, three under Thomas Jefferson's government, and |