Plays and Poems written by T. Smollet, M. D. with Memoirs of the Life and Writings of the Author. 8vo. 4s. Evans. We have here an elegant edition of Dr. Smollett's plays and poems, The Regicide a tragedy, The Reprifal a comedy, with fome fatires, elegies, and odes; which ferve to fhew this ingenious writer to have been no mean verfifier, though his modefty did not permit him to boaft excellence in that line of his profeffion. As to the Memoirs of his life, prefixed, they are concife and well enough written: the writer, however, appears to have had chiefly in view, not the character of Doctor Smollet, but that of Mr. Garrick; by whom it is more than probable these memoirs were manufactured. At least we conceive no other writer would be fo extremely folicitous to exculpate that comedian from the charge, brought against him by Dr. S. in regard to his managerial fhuffling about the author's tragedy, the Regicide. Whether Mr. G. be the writer of the memoirs or not, certain it is that he must have furnished the memorialift with copies of the private letters, here publifhed, admitting them to be genuine copies of the epiftolary correfpondence between Dr. Smollet and Mr. Garrick.-The lifewriter gives the following account of the origin of the misunderstanding which Dr. S. is faid to have fo fincerely repented. "Very early in life (at the age of eighteen) he wrote a tragedy intitled The Regicide, founded on the ftory of the affaffination of James I. of Scotland. In the Preface to the publication of this piece, by fubfcription in the year 1749, he bitterly exclaimed against falfe patrons, and the duplicity of theatrical managers. The warmth and impetuofity of his temper hurried him on this occafion into unjust reflections against the late Lord Lyttelton, and Mr. David Garrick; the character of the former he fatirifed in his novel of Peregrine Pickle, and he added a burlesque of the monody written by that nobleman on the death of his Lady. Against Mr. Garrick he made illiberal illfounded, criticisms, and, in his novel of Roderick Random, gave a very unfair reprefentation of his treatment of him refpecting this tragedy. Of this conduct he afterwards repented and acknowledged his errors, though, in the fubfequent editions of the novel, the paffages which were the hafty effufions of difappointment are not, as we think they fhould have been, omitted." Such omiffion, indeed, would have been a greater proof of Dr. Smollet's conviction of his error than any fubfequent encomium on Mr. G. in his other works, or any compliment or conceffion in a private letter to the party traduced. From the known ingenuoufnefs of Dr. Smollet's difpofition, therefore, it is to be doubted whether his repentance was fo fincere as here reprefented, or that he was fo thoroughly convinced his cenfüre had been illiberal or ill-grounded; as in éither cafe we conceive he would have been juft enough to have retracted it on on the spot *. It appears, indeed, that about the time Mr. G. brought on our author's comedy, The Reprifal; he was put into fo good a humour with theatrical managers, as to make a kind of aukward apology for what he had formerly written about them in general, and Mr. G. in particular. But the Doctor had, by this time, feen a little more of the world, and been convinced probably of the political expediency of playing the hypocrite with hypocrites, and treating every man in his own way; if, as is alfo probable, his latter conceffions, fo inconfiftent with the former affertions, were not as much the partial effect of humiliating acknowledgement, as the other of a spirited and juft refentment. But, Mr. G. put out of the queftion, the life-writer fpeaks with fome judgement and impartiality of Dr. S. and his writings: of which he gives us the following particu lars : "In the year 1748 he published his novel of Roderick Random, a book which still continues to have a moit extenfive fale, and first established the Doctor's reputation. All the first volume, and the beginning of the fecond, appear to confift of real incident and character, though certainly a good deal heightened and difguifed. The judge, his grandfather, Crab and Potion, the two apothecaries, and 'Squire Gawkey, were characters well known in that part of the kingdom where the fcene was laid. Captains Oakhum and Whiffle, Doctors Mackfhane and Morgan, were also faid to be real perfonages; but their names we have either never learned, or have now forgotten. A bookbinder and barber long eagerly contended for being fhadowed under the name of Strap. The Doctor feems to have enjoyed a peculiar felicity in defcribing fea characters, particularly the officers and failors of the navy. His Trunnion, Hatchway, and Pipes, are highlyfinished originals; but what exceeds them all, and perhaps equals any character that has yet been painted by the happielt genius of ancient or modern times, is his Lieutenant Bowling. This is indeed nature itfelf; original, unique, and fui generis. As well as the ladder of The paffages in Roderick Random here hinted at, are the following: Speaking of theatrical managers in general, the author calls them "a fet of fcoundrels, fo habituated to falfehood and equivocation, that, I verily believe, they would find it the utmost difficulty to utter one fyllable of truth, though their lives depended upon their fincerity."-They, who know fuch managers beft, will determine how far this harsh reflection should be admitted as a general rule, and whether Mr. Garrick, of all managers, should be made an exception-The other paffage points particularly at this great actor; enumerating the virtues, for which he has been fo careffed by people of fashion. "It is not for the quality of his heart, that this little parafite is invited to the tables of Dukes and Lords, who hire extraordinary cooks for his entertainment: his avarice they fee not, his ingratitude they feel not, his hypocrify accommodates itfelf to their humours, and is of confequence pleating; but he is chiefly courted for his buffoonery, and will be admitted into the choiceft parties of quality for his talent of mimicking Punch and his wife Joan, when a poet of the moft exquifite genius, 13 not able to attract the leaft regard." ROD. RANDOM, Vol. II. Chap. LXII. promotion, promotion, his very name has long become proverbial for an honeft blunt feaman, unacquainted with mankind and the ways of the world. By the publication of that work the Doctor had acquired fo great a reputation, that henceforth a certain degree of fuccefs was infured to every thing known or fufpected to proceed from his hand. In the courfe of a few years the adventures of Peregrine Pickle appeared *; a work of great ingenuity and contrivance in the composition, and in which an uncommon degree of erudition is dfplayed, particularly in the defcription of the entertainment given by the Republican Doctor, after the manner of the antients: Under this perfonage the late Dr. Akenfide, author of a famous poem, intitled, The Pleafures of the Imagination, is fuppofed to be typified: and it would be difficult to determine whether profound learning or genuine humour predominate moft in this epifode. Butler and Smollett feem to be the only two who have united things, feemingly fo difcordant, happily together; for Hudibras is one of the most learned works in any language; and it requires no common fhare of reading, affifted with a good memory, thoroughly to relish and understand it. Another epifode of The Adventures of a Lady of Quality, likewife inferted in this work, contributed greatly to its fuccefs, and is indeed admirably well executed. Yet, after giving all due praise to the merit and invention difplayed in Peregrine Pickle, we cannot help thinking it is inferior, in what may be called naïveté, a thing better conceived than expreffed, to Roderick Random. Thefe were not the only original compofitions of this stamp with which the Doctor has favoured the public. Ferdinand Count Fathom + and Sir Launcelot Greaves are ftill in the lift of what may be called reading-novels; but there is no injuftice in placing them in a rank far below the former. No doubt invention, character, compofition, and contrivance, are to be found in both; but then fituations are defcribed which are hardly poffible, and characters are painted, which, if not altogether unexampled, are at least incompatible with modern manners; and which ought not to be, as the scenes are laid in modern times. The last work which the Doctor published, was of much the fame fpecies, but caft into different form-The Expedition of Humphry Clinker §. It confifts of a series of letters, written by different perfons to their refpective correfpondents. He has here carefully avoided the faults which may be justly charged to his two former productions. On the contrary an admirable knowledge of life and manners is dif played; and most useful leffons are given applicable to interesting, but to very common fituations. We know not that ever the remark has been made, but there is certainly a very obvious fimilitude between the three heroes of the Doctor's chief productions. Roderick Random, Peregrine Pickle, and Matthew Bramble, are all brothers of the fame family. The fame 1751. + Published in the year 1754. First printed in the British Magazine, and afterwards in 2 vols. 12mo, 1762. Printed in 3 vols. 1771. fatirical, fatirical, cynical difpofition, the fame generofity and benevolence, are the diftinguishing and characteristical features of all three; but they are far from being fervile copies or imitations of each other. They differ as much as the Ajax, Diomed, and Achilles of Homer. This was undoubtedly a great effort of genius; and the Doctor feems to have defcribed his own character at the different stages and fituations of his life. * - Before he took a houfe at Chelfea, he attempted to fettle as practitioner of phyfic at Bath; and, with that view, wrote a treatise on the waters ; but was unfuccefsful, chiefly because he could not render himself agreeable to the women, whofe favour is certainly of great confequence to all candidates for eminence, whether in medicine or divinity. This, however, was a little extraordinary; for those who remembered Dr. Smollett at that time, cannot but acknowledge that he was as graceful and handsome a man as any of the age he lived in; befides, there was a certain dignity in his air and manner which could not but inspire refpect wherever he appeared. Perhaps he was too foon difcouraged; in all probability, had he perfevered, a man of his great learning, profound fagacity, and intenfe application, befides being endued with every other external as well as internal accomplishment, must have at last fucceeded, and, had he attained to common old age, been at the head of his profeffion, Abandoning phyfic altogether as a profeffion, he fixed his refidence at Chelfea, and turned his thoughts entirely to writing. Yet, as an author, he was not near fo fuccefsful as his happy genius and acknowledged merit certainly deferved. He never acquired a patron among the great, who, by his favour or beneficence, relieved him from the neceffity of writing for a fubfiftence. The truth is, Dr. Smollett poffeffed a loftinefs and elevation of fentiment and character which ap pears to have difqualified him from currying favour among those who were able to confer favours. It would be wrong to call this difpofition of his, pride, or haughtiness; for to his equals and inferiors he was ever polite, friendly, and generous. Bookfellers may therefore be faid to have been his only patrons; and from them he had conitant employment in tranflating, compiling, and reviewing. He tranflated Gil Blas and Don Quixote +, both fo happily, that all the former tranflations of thefe excellent productions of genius are in a fair way of being fuperfeded by his. His name likewife appears to a tranflation of Voltaire's profe works; but little of it was done by his own hand; he only revised it, and added a few notes. He was concerned in great variety of compilations. His Hiftory of England was the principal work of that kind. It has in itself real intrinsic merit; but, confidering the time and circumstances in which it was written, it is indeed a prodigy of genius, and a great effort of application. It had a moft ex* Intitled, "An Effay on the external Ufe of Water, in a Letter to Dr.with particular Remarks upon the prefent Method of ufing "the Mineral Waters at Bath, in Somersetshire, and a Plan for rendering "them more fafe, agreeable, and efficacious" Quarto. 1752. + Printed in 4to. 2 vols. 1755. Since his death a tranflation of Telema❤ chus has alfo appeared. First printed in 4 vols. 4to. 1757- Ee tenfive tenfive fale, and the Doctor is faid to have received zcool. for writing .it and the Continuation. He was employed, during the last years of his life, in preparing a new edition of the Ancient and Modern Univerial History, great part of which he had originally written himself, particularly the Hiftories of France, Italy, and Germany. He lived nearly to compleat this work, and it is faid it will foon be published. In the year 1755 he fet on foot the Critical Review, and continued the principal manager of it, till he went abroad the first time in the year 1763. To fpeak impartially, he was, perhaps, too acrimonious fometimes in the conduct of that work, and at the fame time too fore, and difplayed too much fenfibility when any of the unfortunate authors whofe works he bad, it may be, juttly cenfured,, attempted to re taliate. The writer proceeds to relate the caufe and confequence of our author's difpute with Admiral Knowles, his breach with Mr. Wilkes, on account of the North Briton, &c; but of thefe and our own idea of Dr. Smollet's writings and character we may peak hereafter. W. Poems, fuppofed to have been written at Bristol, by Thomas Rowley, and Others, in the Fifteenth Century; the greateft Part now firft published from the moll authentic Copies, with an engraved Sp cimen of one of the MSS. To which are added, a Preface, an introductory Account of the feveral Pieces, and a Glojary. 8vo. 6s. Payne and Son. We have here a fingular curiofity, but whether a genuine or fictitious remnant of antiquity, we pretend not to determine; nor can we give a more fatisfactory account of it than is done by the respectable editor in his preface; which we therefore prefent entire to our readers. "The poems, which make the principal part of this collection, have for fome time excited much curiofity, as the fuppofed productions'of Thomas Rowley, a priest of Bristol, in the reigns of Henry VI. and Edward IV. They are here faithfully printed from the most authentic MSS that could be procured; of which a particular defcription is given in the Introductory account of the feveral pieces contained in this volume, fubjoined to this preface. Nothing more therefore feems neceffary at prefent, than to inform the Reader fhortly of the manner in which thefe Poems were brought to light, and of the authority upon which they are afcribed to the perfons whofe names they bear. "This cannot be done fo fatisfactorily as in the words of Mr. George Catcott of Bristol, to whofe very laudable zeal the public is indebted for the most confiderable part of the following collection. His account of this: The first discovery of certain MSS having been depofited in *The publication of this volume, we are informed, was fuperintended by -the fame learned gentleman who favoured the public with the laft very accurate edition of the Canterbury Tales; and who, to borrow his own expicsfion, "of all men living, is beft qualified", for fuch an undertaking. Rev. 6 Red lite |