regularity of design, and justness of thought or sentiment, I mentioned fanciful invention; and of this particular I shall, in like manner, offer some illustration.

“Fanciful invention is, in truth, the quality that, of all others, distinguishes, and is chiefly characteristic of, poetical composition. The beauties of design, sentiment, and language, belong to every kind of fine writing; but invention alone creates the poet, and is a term nearly of the same signification with poetical genius. A poet is said to have more or less genius according to his powers of fancy or invention. That Hamilton possesses a considerable portion of this talent is manifest in many of his compositions, and particularly so in his Contemplation. This appears evident from some passages already quoted. But, though our poet possesses powers of invention, he is not endowed with all the powers of invention, nor with those of every kind. His genius seems qualified for describing some beautiful scenes and objects of external nature, and for delineating with the embellishments of allegory some passions and affections of the human mind.

"Still, however, his imagination is employed among beautiful and engaging, rather than among awful and magnificent, images; and even when he presents us with dignified objects, he is more grave than lofty, more solemn than sublime, as in the following

passage:

Now see! the spreading gates unfold, &c.

"It was also said, that our poet possessed pleasing sensibility. It is not asserted that he displays those vehement tumults and ecstacies of passion, that belong to the higher kinds of lyric and dramatic composition. He is not shaken with excessive rage, nor melted with overwhelming sorrow; yet when he treats of gravé or affecting subjects, he expresses a plaintive and engaging softness. He is never violent and abrupt, and is more tender than pathetic. Perhaps the Braes of Yarrow, one of the finest ballads ever written, may put in a claim to superior distinction. But even with this exception, I should think our poet more remarkable for engaging tenderness, than for deep and affecting pathos. Of this, his epitaph, beginning with Could this fair marble,' affords illustration.

“In like manner, when he expresses joyful sentiments, or describes scenes and objects of festivity, which he does very often, he displays good-humour and easy cheerfulness, rather than the transports of mirth or the brilliancy of wit. In one of the best of his poems, addressed to lady Mary Montgomery, he adorns sprightliness of thought, graceful ease, and good-humour, with corresponding language and numbers. In this performance, a number of female characters are described in the liveliest manner, characterised with judgment, and distinguished with acute discernment. Thus, in the following indirect description, we have the dignity of female excellence:

Heavenly Charlotte, form divine,
Love's universal kingdom's thine:
Anointed queen! all unconfin'd,
Thine is the homage of mankind.

"In another passage we have a fine picture of the gentler and livelier graces:

In everlasting blushes seen,

Such Pringle shines of sprightly mien ;

To her the power of love imparts,

Rich gift! the soft successful arts, &c.

"Elsewhere we have a melodious beauty:

"Artless divine to her belong,

The heavenly lay and magic song, &c.

"The transitions in this poem are peculiarly happy. Such are the following.

Strike again the golden lyre,

Let Hume the notes of joy inspire, &c.

But who is she, the general gaze

Of sighing crowds, the world's amaze,
Who looks forth as the blushing morn,

On mountains of the east new born, &c.

Fair is the lily, sweet the rose,

That in thy cheek, O Drummond, glows, &c.

"I have dwelt so long, and I could not avoid it, on the preceding particulars, that I have not left myself room for illustrations of our poet's language and versification. I observed, in general, that these were elegant and melodious; and so every reader of genuine taste will feel them. They are not, however, unexceptionable; and if in another letter I should give farther illustration of our author's poetical character, I shall hold myself bound, not only to mention some excellencies, but also some blemishes in his verse and diction"."

Some of Hamilton's poems were first published at Glasgow in 1748, and afterwards reprinted, not only without the author's name, but without bis consent, and even without his knowledge. He corrected, however, many errours of that copy, and enlarged some of the poems, though he did not live to make a new and complete publication. The improvements he made were carefully inserted in the edition published at Edinburgh in 1760, with the addition of many pieces taken from his original manuscripts. Since that time there has been no demand for a new edition. It would be of importance, but it is seldom easy, to account for the various fates of poets. Hamilton, if not of the first class, and in whom we find only those secondary qualities which professor Richardson has so ably pointed out, surely excels some whose works are better known and more current. The neglect which he has experienced may be partly attributed to his political principles, and partly to the local interest which his effusions excited and to which they were long confined. Verses of compliment and personal addresses must have extraordinary merit if they attract the notice of distant strangers. Prejudice, however, is now at an end, and the friends of Scottish genius who have lately called the attention of the public to this writer have proved that he deserves a higher rank than has yet been assigned to him. He is perhaps very unequal, and the blemishes in his verse and diction, to which professor Richardson has alluded, are frequent; yet it is no inconsiderable merit to have been one of the first of his countrymen who cultivated the purity and harmony of the English language, and exhibited a variety of composition and fertility of sentiment that are rarely to be found in the writings of those whose poetical genius is of the second degree.

The Lounger, No. 42. C.

Nun sober and devout! why art thou fled
To hide in shades thy meek contented head?
Virgin of aspect mild! ah why unkind,
Fly'st thou displeas'd, the commerce of mankind?
O! teach our steps to find the secret cell,
Where with thy sire Content thou lov'st to dwell:
Or
say, dost thou a duteous handmaid wait
Familiar, at the chambers of the great?
Dost thou pursue the voice of them that call
To noisy revel, and to midnight ball?
O'er the full banquet when we feast our soul,
Dost thou inspire the mirth, or mix the bowl?
Or with th' industrious planter dost thou talk,
Conversing freely in an evening walk?
Say, does the miser e'er thy face behold,
Watchful and studious of the treasur'd gold?
Seeks Knowledge, not in vain, thy much lov'd
Sill musing silent at the morning hour? [pow'r,
May we thy presence hope in war's alarms,
In S's wisdom, or Montgomery's arms!
In vain our flattering hopes our steps beguile,
The flying good eludes the searcher's toil:
In vain we seek the city or the cell;
Alone with virtue knows the pow'r to dwell.
Nor need mankind despair these joys to know,
The gift themselves may on themselves bestow.
Soon, soon we might the precious blessing boast;
But many passions must the blessing cost;
Infernal malice, inly pining hate,
And envy grieving at another's state.
Revenge no more must in our hearts remain,
Or burning lust, or avarice of gain.
When these are in the human bosom nurst,
Can peace reside in dwellings so accurst?
Unlike, O Eglintoun! thy happy breast,
Calm and serene, enjoys the heavenly guest;
From the tumultuous rule of passions freed,
Pure in thy thought, and spotless in thy deed.
In virtues rich, in goodness unconfin'd,
Thou shin'st a fair example to thy kind;
Sincere and equal to thy neighbour's fame,
How swift to praise, how obstinate to blame!
Bold in thy presence bashful Sense appears,
And backward Merit loses all its fears.

Supremely blest by Heav'n, Heaven's richest grace
Confest is thine, an early blooming race
Whose pleasing smiles shall guardian Wisdom arm,
Divine instruction! taught of thee to charm.
What transports shall they to thy soul impart!
(The conscious transports of a parent's heart)
When thou behold'st them of each grace possest,
And sighing youths imploring to be blest,
After thy image form'd, with charms like thine,
Or in the visit, or the dance to shine.
Thrice happy! who succeed their mother's praise,
The lovely Eglintouns of future days.

Meanwhile peruse the following tender scenes,
And listen to thy native poet's strains.
In ancient garb the home-bred Muse appears,
The garb our Muses wore in former years.
As in a glass reflected, here behold
How smiling Goodness look'd in days of old:
Nor blush to read where Beauty's praise is shown,
And virtuous Love, the likeness of thy own;

'Campbell's wisdom, &c. edit. 1758:

'In Stair's wisdom, or in Erskine's charms.' Copy prefixed to edition of the Gentle Shepherd in 1758.

While midst the various gifts that gracious Heaven,
Bounteous to thee, with righteous hand has given;
Let this, O Eglintoun! delight thee most,
To enjoy that innocence the world has lost.

TO A YOUNG LADY

WITH THE FOLLOWING POEM.

READ here the pangs of unsuccessful love,
View the dire ills the weary sufferers prove,
When Care in every shape has leave to reign,
And keener sharpens every sense of pain:
No charm the cruel spoiler can controul,
He blasts the beauteous features of the soul;

With various conflict rends the destin'd breast,
And lays th' internal fair creation waste:
The dreadful demon raging unconfin'd,
To his dire purpose bends the passive mind,
Gloomy and dark the prospect round appears,
Doubts spring from doubts, and fears engender
Hope after hope goes out in endless night, [fears;
And all is anguish, torture, and affright.

O! beauteous friend, a gentler fate be thine;
Still may thy star with mildest influence shine;
May Heav'n surround thee with peculiar care,
And make thee happy as it made thee fair;
That gave thee sweetness, unaffected ease,
The pleasing look that ne'er was taught to please;
True genuine charms, where falshood claims no
Which not alone entice, but fix the heart: [part,
And far beyond all these, supreme in place,
The virtuous mind, an undecaying grace.
Still may thy youth each fond endearment prove
Of tender friendship and complacent love;
May Love approach thee, in the mildest dress,
And court thee to domestic happiness;
And bring along the power that only knows
To heighten human joys and soften woes:
For woes will be in life; these still return;
The good, the beauteous, and the wise must mourn;
Doubled the joy that Friendship does divide,
Lessen'd the pain when arm'd the social side:-
When strong affliction finds the weak alone!
But ah! how fierce the pang, how deep the groan,
Then may a friend still guard thy shelter'd days,
And guide thee safe through Fortune's mystic ways:
The happy youth, whom most thy soul approves,
Friend of thy choice and husband of thy loves,
Whose holy flame Heaven's altar does inspire,
That burns through life one clear unsullied fire,
A mutual warmth that glows from breast to breast,
Who loving is belov'd, and blessing blest.
Then all the pleasing scenes of life appear,
The charms of kindred and relations dear,
The smiling offspring, love's far better part,
And all the social meltings of the heart:
Then harlot Pleasure with her wanton train
Seduces from the perfect state in vain;
In vain to the lock'd ear the syren sings,
When angels shadow with their guardian wings.
Such, fair Monimia, be thy sacred lot,
When every memory of him forgot,
Whose faithful Muse inspir'd the pious pray'r,
And weary'd Heaven to keep thee in its care;
That pleas'd it would its choicest influence show'r,
Or on thy serious or thy mirthful hour;
Conspicuous known in every scene of life,
The mother, sister, daughter, friend, and wife;