anutually repulsive; to combine ideas which can with dif ficulty be made to coalesce; to conciliate both the learned and the vulgar; to amuse the court and to please the people. Dramatic composition is most essentially different from every other department of poetry; and it is obvious that theatrical success must flow from causes wholly independent of literary excellence. The intellectual processes which produce wit and humour are not such as supply the finer elements of imagination. Even in tragedy, the structure of good dramatic language corresponds little in its metrical arrangement with the correct numbers of a dignified poem. Yet was Dryden alternately brilliant in comedy, impressive in tragedy, poignant in satire, judicious in criticism; he wrote for his contemporaries and posterity, but he wrote not for himself. Pursued by penury, he was not permitted to appropriate to his mind a favourite speculation or a permanent pursuit. Tasked by necessity, he was perpetually called from one hard duty to another; sometimes compelled to leave unfinished what was happily begun, or to finish with slovenly haste what by time and care might have been improved to excellence. Under circumstances of such different aspect, it would not be easy to determine how much or how little of equality subsisted in the original powers of Dryden and Pope. Their comparative influence in society, it is not difficult to estimate. The student venerates Dryden; but the world admires Pope. The man of letters discerns in Dryden such original concep. tion, such masculine invention, so many native veins of fancy and of thought, that, enraptured with the treasures he has explored, he overlooks errors and defects, and is alone conscious to the perception of intrinsic excellence. But mankind in general yield their suffrage to Pope; who, whatever may be his materials, always makes of them the best use, and never exhibits his ideas in a crude imperfect state. His superior correctness is the chief cause of his universal po pularity. Succeeding writers have been solicitous to borrow from him the illustration of their opinions, and often set off their own ideas with his harmonious numbers. An author's fame, it is well observed, is rapidly propagated by quota tion. Thus, whilst Dryden is known only to the cultivated, Pope is familiar to every reader: and of all our writers after Addison, he has most contributed to form for us a standard of national taste.-Drake's Illustrations of the SpectatorExaminer-Johnson's Poets---Spence-Somerville's History of the Reign of Anne. BRITISH BRITISHI AND FOREIGN HISTORY For the Year 1807. CHAPTER I. Introductory Remarks-State of Parties in Parliament-Political Events of the former Year briefly noticed; as they refer to foreign Nations, and to domestic Policy-Meeting of a new Parliament--Forms observed on the Occasion-Speaker chosen-Eulogium on the Conduct of Mr. Abbot-Mr. Abbot's Speech on his Election to the Office of Speaker-Detates on his Majesty's Speech in the House of Lords; and also in the House of Commons-Vote of Thanks to General Stuart, &c.—Mr. Biddulph's Motion on the Sulary of the Chairman of Ways and Means-Lord Temple's Motion on the Leather Trade; Distilleries, and Woollen Manufactures-Lord Grenville's Motion on the Slave Trade-Debates on the Negotiation in the House of Lords; and in the Commons. TH HE discussions in parliament to be recorded in the present volume will be found in a high degree interesting, as well from the subjects themselves, as from the results which they produced. A new house of commons was convoked on the 15th day of December, 1806, from whence our Register Low proceeds: the debates became animated, and in some respects approaching to violence; but the majority in behalf of the administration which had been formed under the auspices of the late Mr. Fox and lord Grenville, was respectable and decisive. On their parts there was probably a full confidence of remaining in office; nor does it appear from the conduct of opposition that any well-grounded hope was formed of displacing their antagonists from the seats which they then filled. A motion in behalf of the claims of the Catholics, followed up by a bili intended for their relief, excited an alarm in the breast of his majesty respecting his duty, and the obligations under which he had bound himself by his coronation oath. This anxiety was imparted to some of those who had lately A 2 steered |