and lively images. In these particu lars confifts the true art of oratory, an art which it is in vain to teach by formal rules, enjoining certain divifions and fubdivifions of a subject, and directing the orator when to be warm, and when to be cool, when fimple, and when metaphorical. Such fyftematical rhetoric produces nothing but pedantic and tedious harangues, which weary the patience of every hearer, and though they may be applauded in the schools, are of no ufe or effect in real life. The orator who wishes to perfuade, muft take his rules from his fubject, his audience, his own feelings, and his own peculiar talents; for talents of very different kinds may by proper management be made equally to concur in the grand effect of perfuafion. In fome, a rapid ftrain of argument, ftriatly deduced from the matter in debate, delivered in earnest, glowing, but not choice or ornamented language, and dwelling long and fully upon the fame topics, has proved highly fuccessful. Such appears to have been the eloquence of the Grecian Demofthenes; and fuch is that of a speaker, certainly not his infe. rior in powers of mind, the English Fox. This fpecies, however, feems better adapted for oral delivery, than for writing. To the hearer its effect is enhanced by the accompaniments of voice and action; nor is he liable to be offended with negligencies ar tautologies which might give difguft in the leisurely furvey of a reader. On the contrary, the wide reach and compafs of thought, the splendour and copioufnels of illuftration, the profufe imagery and poetical conceptions of a Burke (a man whom I know not where to parallel,) might often bewilder and fatigue the hear er, while to the reader they have af forded the highest gratification, and often proved irresistibly convincing. The strong, pointed, homely fenfe of a Paine, however, has not been infeEd. Mag. April 1800, rior in efficacy to his antagonist's profufion of excellencies; and thus every different mode of oratory, if practifed by a mafter, may produce in its favour the criterion of perfection. This is, to convince the reafon in the very face of prepoffeffion; to wield at will the paffions; to calm the furious and roufe the torpid: in fhort, to effect by the mere power of perfuafion, all that can be done by brute force or all-fubduing gold. The perfection of hiftorical compofition demands a ftill greater affemblage of literary qualifications. Oratory, in the direct form of harangues, once conftituted a part of it; and fome of the beft fpecimens of eloquence of this kind are to be found in hiftories. But though this practice is now abolished (I think, judiciously, as it injured the most ef fential of all impreffions, that of veracity,) yet occafions continually occur in an interefting narrative in which fcope is given for the most genuine eloquence. And notwithftanding it may be true, that authentic history, however written, is capable of giving pleafure, yet I prefume there are few readers to whom it would be indifferent whether they took the relation of Agrippina's landing at Brundufium, of the trial of Strafford, of the death of Mary queen of Scots, from a Tacitus, Hume, of Robertfon, or from one of the vulgar chroniclers of the time. Moreover, we expect from the complete hiftorian a lucid arrangement and skilful developement of facts, often involved and perplexed with contradictions; fagacity to trace the con nexion of caufes and effects; penetration to detect the motives and true characters of men, however difguifed by artifice; together with that philofophical fpirit and freedom from prejudice which entitle the writer to affume the office of an inftructor, and point the great leffon of human events. Poffeffed of thefe requifites, Kk the the hiftorian may be allowed confiderable latitude in his flyle. If he is merely perfpicuous, correct, and elegant, he will avoid blame; but he will not attain the praife of a fine writer without the power of enriching his language, when the fubject favours him, with every figure that can give it force, majefty, and beau ty. Historical writing is in profe, what the epic is in verfe-a field for every varied exertion of which the compofer's mind may be capable. This obfervation leads me to the fpecies of compofition with which I mean to conclude; Poetry-the moft difficult of all to reduce to the laws of critical judgment. The diftin guishing purpose of poetry has often been ftated to be that of pleasing; but various explanations feem neceffary before this principle can be a dapted to ufe. Perhaps the whole bufinefs of verfification may at once be referred to the pleasure it is by experience found capable of giving to the ear; an idea I should willingly admit, as it would establish an eafy difcrimination between poetry and profe by a fingle characteristic, which otherwife is not to be found. But in order to estimate the value of the other ingredients of which poetry is compofed, we ought, I conceive, to proceed beyond the fimple notion of pleafing, and expand our idea of the art to the comprehenfion of all that in writing is capable of imparting to the mind every impreffion in its noft exquifite degree. It would lead me too far were I to er umerate the va rious figures of poetry, and attempt to thow how each contributes to the augmentation of impreffion. It is obvious, however, that the figures of comparison illuftrate and enforce the original idea; and that profopopæia and perfonification bring the fcene directly before the eye, and bestow on it life and action. That the peculiarities of poetical language alfo give pleasure I'mean not to deny; and perhaps poets have in fome cafes more attended to the amusement of their readers, than to the enforcement of a particular fubject. This feems efpecially to be with fome writers the intention of fimile, which, if purfued to minutenels, as many of Homer's; fubftitute a new picture to the imagination, often to the temporary obliteration of the original one. But this is really a fault when it interrupts the courfe of a narative of itfelf highly interesting. The poetry of description and of fentiment is no other than eloquence in verfe; and the advantage of this form over that of profe arifes from the pleasure, and indeed, in fome cafes, the confonance of effect, obtained by measured harmony, together with the licence of ufing without restraint thofe figures which give glow and animation to language. One of the most perfect examples of the efficacy of thefe means is. Pope's epittle of Eloifa to Abelard, of which the thoughts are almost all to be found in the real correfpondence between. those celebrated characters: but how are they heightened, how adorned,. how animated by the rich melody and vivid expreffion of that great mafter! Compare, too, the sketch given by Virgil of the battle of Ac-tium with any profe relation of the fame event. With how much more force and diftinctness is the scene brought to view! how is it aggran dized by a felection of great incidents, and the fuppreffion of every thing petty and trivial; above all, what dignity is thrown about it by the introduction of fictitious perfonages, fuperior to human! It is this use of fiction that many critics have regarded as the principal characteriftic of true poetry; and doubtless, when it contributes to enhance the defired impreffion, it is the noblest exertion of poetical genius. But how frequently is it found that the introduction of celestial beings only tends tends to degrade the human; and that the mixture of preternatural events unrealizes (if I may use the ex preffion) the natural part of the fa. ble? The mere production of wonder and furprife, which fome have reprefented as the most effential bufi nefs of poetry, is often attempted with at least as great fuccef, in profe; witnefs the Arabian Nights, and the whole clafs of novels and romances. On the other hand, fome of the fineft poems are limited to what is ftrictly natural in defcription, only heightened by a selection of the most ftriking circumstances and the most perfect fpecimens, and fet off with all the glow and relief of strong colour ing. decifive a teft of poetical merit, as exifts for many other kinds of litera ry excellence. One exception, however, must be admitted. It is impof. fible for any one to acquire an ade, quate feeling of the beauties of verfification in a foreign language; and therefore he fhould decline all com parifous in this point except between the writers in his own. I return then to the criterion of perfect poetry, and venture to fuggeft that it confiits in the force with which it impreffes the heart or imagination, joined to the pleasure it affords by the artifice of its numbers, and by the variety and fplendour of its diction. The number of fubjects on which poetry is employed, and the different forms it is made to af fume, will ever allow a wide fcope to the diversities of taste in felecting its favourites; nor can any general rules controul the effect of partial af fociations. It is, however, defirable that the mind should acquire a fenfibility to excellence of as many kinds as poffible; and he is the happieft reader of poetry who can enjoy the masterpieces of every age and country, and in every fpecies of poetical compofition. There feems to be a greater propenfity to make comparifons of merit in this, than in any other department of literature; and in none does dogmatifm of opinion fo much prevail. It is an ufual thing for thofe who are the most rapturous admirers of one author, to affect the profoundeft contempt for another, perhaps his rival in general fame. Yet I imagine the criterion above mentioned, if fairly applied, will afford as From the notion above given of the perfection of poetry, I think it will follow as a corollary, that true. taste cannot approve any of thofe de vices for making it easier to the compofer which have been lately prac tifed, confifting of loofe verfification, the abfence of thyme where expect. ed, profaic fimplicity of language, and the like; for, that the real purpofe of fuch liberties is to favour the laziness of the writers, and not to add an agreeable variety to their performances, I am well convinced. As poetry is a luxury and not a neceffary, its multiplication is not an object to be ftudied at the expence of its excellence; and a little of it, of the finest kind and the richest flavour, anfwers its purpose much better than an abundance of ordinary growth. What, then, after thefe particular inquiries, fhall we fay conftitutes the general perfection of writing? I can difcover no other univerfal principle in this cafe, than that which is applicable to every effort of art-the degree in which it accomplishes the purpofe intended. This confideration will, no doubt, ever leave room for fome diverfity of judgement; fince neither the purpofe, nor its attainment, will appear exactly in the fame light to all. Yet I cannot but think that it offers a more promifing accefs to uniformity, than might be conceived by one who had never feriously dwelt upon it. Erroneous judgments, especially of the unfavourable kind, are often made from the unreasonable expectation of whet Kk 2 was never defigned-of what was impoffible to be effected. Let the critic then begin with obtaining a clear idea of what he ought to look for in a work of literature, and not pronounce its condemnation because he does not find what ignorance alone could have led him to expect. With a judgment fo prepared, and a mind free from ordinary prejudices and partialities, he will probably feldom fail of deciding rightly concerning that approach to perfection, which is all that the condition of human nature will permit to the most exalted genius. CURIOUS PARTICULARS RELATIVE TO THE CAPTURE OF SERINGAPATAM. WE From the Afiatic Annual Regifter. E entered the territories of Tippoo Saib, from Ryacottah, on the 5th of March, and encamped before Seringapatam on the 5th of April; and it may be confidered as a fortunate circumftance that the Sultaun did not employ his whole force against us, instead of turning his attention to the Bombay army. The cumberous baggage and nu merous attendants on the Nizam force, as well as that of the European troops, the immenfe quantity of public ftores and provifions, the long train of ordnance, with above forty thousand Benjarries, formed, altoge ther, fuch an hoft as not to admit of being covered by our army; fo that if Tippoo had employed his powers, with the military skill which he was fuppofed to poffefs, he might, without hazarding an engagement, by defultory skirmishes, diftant cannonades, and other hoftile movements, have fo harraffed our infantry and weakened our cavalry, that a great part of our baggage, ftores, and ammunition would probably have fallen into his hands, and the army greatly impeded in its march to the place of its deftination: and, moreover, as the rainy feafon was approaching, there is reafon to believe, that had the Sultaun employed the force he poffeffed with equal judgment and activity, the immediate object of the campaign might have been defeated. It had, indeed, been for fome time reported, that Tippoo was become fubject to fits of mental derangement, and the whole of his conduct feems to justify that opinion. He had difmiffed all his faithful friends, who had ferved him long, and had ferved him well, from his councils; and had called into his fervice men of little experience or capacity, who won his favour by flattering his caprices, and practifing an unrefifting fubmiffion to his will. The former had always difcouraged their master's difpofition to connect himself with France, as pregnant with the mifchief it has fince produced; while the latter promoted it for no other reafon, but because it flattered his hopes of gratifying his refentment against the British power in India. His treasures were immenfe, and his army was not only numerous, but in a high ftate of difcipline and equipment. However, by not employing the one, and mifemploying the other, his fall has been precipitated, his capital taken, and his country conquered, in a manner, and with a rapidity of good fortune, which was equally improbable and unexpected. His powerful empire, which had been fhaken and diminished by the military skill and political fagacity of the Marquis Cornwallis, is now rafed, as it were, to its foundations, and the house of Hyder Ally degraded from the ufurped power which it had maintained during a period of forty years. The importance of this event to the power and commerce of Great Great Britain in the Eaft, is not within the reach of ordinary calculation. From every appearance of the improving ftate of Seringapatam, the cultivation of the country, the number of its inhabitants, and the advancing progrefs of its military establishment, that capital would, in a fhort time, have been impregnable; and the power of Tippoo Saib would have been at leaft equal to the combined strength of the European fettlements in India. The Sultaun, certainly was not inactive; but his activity was mifguided, and became inadequate to its object. He deftroyed the villages, and laid waste the country in front of the army; but by not fufficiently fpreading the tracks of devaftation, his purpofe for diftreffing our army was defeated, as General Harris, by a flight deviation from the common road, reached his destination at the time he wished, and without any material interruption. From the late plentiful rains, and the peculiar confruction of the tanks, which could not be entirely drained, .there was no deficiency of water and though the ufual attempts had been made to poifon it, by fteeping in it the bruifed branches of the milk hedge-tree, no very obnoxious effect was produced: for though no prohibition, or bodies of guards, could prevent the men or cattle from flacking their thirst at thefe tanks, very little inconvenience was felt very few of the people fuffered any disorder whatever from the poisonous impregnation. The fickness that did, at any time, appear among the troops, arofe from the heat of the fun, extreme fatigue, irregular refreshment, and especially among the common men, from the intemperate ufe of every fpecies of vegetable they could find, and particularly of the fugar cane. The action which Tippoo rifked on the 27th March at Malavelle, with the right wing of our army, was ill conceived, as it was ill conducted; because, having the choice of his ground, he ought either to have received us with his whole force, or to have avoided every kind of regular engagement. By turning to the left on the fecond day after this action, instead of croffing the river, as Tippoo appears to have expected, we gained a flourishing and highly cultivated country, which, moft fortunately, his destroying hand had not touched. After a march of about fourteen miles, we reached the Cavary, without the leaft moleftation, and got poffeffion of the large fort Soocilly, which was full of cattle, grain, and forage; and commanded an excellent ford, which the army, with all its equipment, paffed in one day, without any lofs or interruption. Even to the very vicinity of Seringapatam, General Harris had the choice of his route; fo that he was enabled to fit down before it, with all his refources for the fiege undiminished. The evil moft to be dreaded on this fervice, and a tremendous evil it is, was famine; and which the Sultaun had the means of producing, if he had been wife enough to have employed them. The whole of our draft and carriage bullocks, public and private, died, and rice had rifen to three rupees the pound, on the day when the city was formed. It was not till nine days after that event, that the detachments, commanded by Colonels Read and Brown, could arrive with fupplies; notwithstanding all the cavalry, and a brigade of native infantry, had been detached under the command of General Floyd, to favour their junction; fo that if we had not fucceeded in our attempt, the confequence would have been fatal to the army; and that we were not repulled, was owing to the incomparable conduct and intrepidity of the troops, as well as by the judi |