University of Virginia Library

The name of Mr. Roscoe has long and justly been distinguished by its connection with elegant literature, and his attachment to the sound politics of his native country, in which avocations he has laboured with honour to himself, both as a writer and a statesman. As a specimen of chaste biographical composition, this gentleman's delineations of the Annals of Lorenzo de Medici, and Pope Leo the tenth, will stand the test of nicest criticism; it is that species of writing to the which nothing can be added or retrenched; for, as in the perusal of the Letters of Junius, every reader, from the beautiful and easy flow of language, conceives himself capable of producing a similar composition, so is it with the works of this gentleman, whose fine talents and classical acquirements are only discovered when an attempt is made at imitation. The writer cannot refrain from extending this note, in order to state that the son of Mr. Roscoe, at an early age, published a most promising poem founded on the ancient ballad of Chevy Chace; a specimen of which is annexed, to evince the warm fancy of a youth capable of eliciting such figurative beauties.

The account of the Kings of Spain, by Mr. Cox, is a novel and entertaining production, and is possessed of additional interest from the close alliance which has lately existed between this country and the Peninsula. Duppa's account of Michael Angelo is not only gratifying to the admirers of the arts, but, considered as the delineation of the life of one of the greatest men that ever blazoned the annals of painting, it is a valuable piece of biography to every admirer of general literature.

Few works ever excited such general interest in the republic of letters as the late Mr. Fox's Annals of the Stuart family, prior to its being issued from the press; and never, perhaps, was public expectation more disappointed. So justly was this statesman venerated for his shining oratorical powers, that it was thought next to impossible that any thing of a secondary class could emanate from his mind; the result however proved otherwise, which is a sufficient testimony of the fallacy attending all human judgment. With regard to Mr. Trotter's work; being a narrative of the close of this revered statesman's earthly career, although there are parts which cannot fail to interest, yet the minute particulars recorded by that gentleman are sometimes of a nature to turn the solemn into farce; nor can any sober-minded individual for a moment hesitate to condemn those enthusiastic admirers of Mr. Fox, who could suffer childish ebullitions as the following to be blazoned forth in different periodical publications. LINES BY MR. FOX.

Mr. Godwin has in two instances exerted his talents as a biographer; first, in delineating the Memoirs of Mary Wolstonecraft, which, from certain statements therein contained, it would have been preferable that the public should not have seen; and with respect to his second production, denominated the Life of Chaucer, it lays no claim whatsoever to the title it bears, which should rather have been an Essay on the Manners, Customs, Architecture, &c. &c. of the reigns of Richard the second and Henry the fourth, with the little that is extant appertaining to Geoffry Chaucer, and his munificent friend and patron John of Gaunt.

Gifford's Life of Pitt is written with a masterly hand, and the narrative affords a convincing proof that the writer possessed the most undoubted sources for rendering his pages the correct portraiture of that great statesman's public career.

In the pages of Lee Lewis are to be found a few amusing anecdotes, beyond which the volumes are not deserving any further comment. Raymond's Dermody, like the Anecdotes of the late George F. Cooke, and the Memoirs of Mrs. Sumbull, affords a useful lesson to the contemplative mind, which cannot fail to draw a comparison of the effects produced by the indulgence of ungovernable passions, which transform those abilities that would have conferred honour upon the possessor, into the most destructive weapons of his earthly tranquillity.

Lady Hamilton has published a statement which there is no reason to discredit; and, from the contents of her pages, no candid mind will for a moment hesitate to say that she has claims on the consideration of the country. The writer cannot refrain from adding, that he feels the more grieved for her situation, as in private life her generosity has been unbounded, and thus left her, he fears, to make those appeals to others which were so successfully made to herself during the season of prosperity.

Mudford prefaces his Life of Cumberland with a correspondence which took place between himself and Sir James, Bland Burges, the result of which is not very flattering to the character of the latter; who, after volunteering his services to the biographer in the progress of his labour, never thought proper to act up to the professions thus made. As an unbiassed delineator of facts, Mr. Mudford claims every credit; his style is unaffected and easy, his notes appropriate, and his criticisms, which constitute the leading feature of the work, are obviously the productions of a gentleman of sound judgment and classical taste. The admirers of Cumberland may, in some instances, call him fastidious; but the lovers of truth will respect him for his honesty.

We would advise Mr. Northcote to relinquish the pen; as an artist he cannot fail to shine, but his literary acquirements are not of a nature to gain him that celebrity which, in the walk of painting, he has so long and deservedly acquired.

Few men ever possessed the power of condensing into a small compass the biographical sketches of celebrated characters like the late Mr. Granger; wherefore we are the more surprised that, with such an original before him, Mr. Noble could so far diverge from the track pointed out. As for the last named individual recorded on Sir Noodle's page, it would be loss of time to descant upon such a farrago of egotism and folly; it is only fit for one purpose and no other—doubtless the reader will comprehend my meaning.

By way of addenda to the above note, relating to existing writers of this class, I deem it necessary to subjoin Mr. Lodge, who has acquitted himself very creditably in his account of the Casar family, and Illustration of British History. The Royal and Noble Authors of Parke, though not of a high literary class, prove that gentleman to be possessed of plodding industry. To these might be added the names of many personages whose skill consists in expertly handling the scissars and paste; but to load my page with book-makers would too far derogate from Sir Noodle's great plan,