In her more scrious writings in tragedy and epic Poetry, it must be confessed, that amidst the most glowing imagery, and smooth and elegant numbers, we find considerable inequalitics, which prove the fair author more intent upon picturing those images, which in the enthusiasm of genius crowded upon her mind, than in polishing what she has written: thus in her drama of "Albina," the same candour which leads us to applaud, here induces the observation, that while some passages abound with animated and impressive imagery, clothed in smooth and graceful numbers, others, which indeed from the contrast appear to greater disadvantage, are inharmonious and prosaic. In this Tragedy, however, the characters of Old Westmoreland and Gondibert are pourtrayed in the grandest stile, and display an intimate acquaintance with the age of chivalry. 66 The Maid of Arragon," a Tale in blank verse, published.about the same time as the "Belle's Stratagem," beautiful as it really is in other respects, is nevertheless able to the same objections as the Tragedy of "Albina ;" nevertheless, nothing can exceed the charms of the Poetry in many of the passages, whilst the characters have all the advantage of being drawn by a dramatic Muse. The Old Arragonian King, the fair Osmida, the Moorish Prince, the French De Couci, are so many distinct portraits coloured by the vivid pen of genius, and the whole of the story is at the same time original and admirably conducted. The The following is a list of the regular Works of this lady, exclusive of several fugitive pieces, many of which are anonymous. COMEDIES.-The Runaway, Belle's Stratagem, Which is the Man? Bold Stroke for a Husband. More Ways than One. A Day in Turkey. Both Ends of the Town. Second Thoughts are Best. TRAGEDIES.-Albina. Fate of Sparta. Who's the Dupe? A Farce. EPIC POEMS.-Maid of Arragon. Scottish Village. Siege of Acre. Among several other beautiful pieces of fugitive. poctry, such as Mrs. C.'s specimens in imitation of Cowley, Monologue on the Death of Chatterton, &c. we cannot but notice, because, being dispersed amongst other publications, they may not have met the eye of general readers; some charming lines. which have appeared in a volume of elegant poems, published by Lady Manners; and also a poem entitled "Edwina," presented to the editors of a late History of Cumberland, founded upon an event which occurred in that county. The following are the verses occasioned by Lady Manners's "Ode to Solitude!" written in the same measure and number of lines with the Ode itself. "All that polish'd Thought adores, "Creative Muses ever bring; "Pour before her vision'd eye, * Bid your fascinations live. ** Rouse "Solitude! call forth thy smiles, "MANNERS! strikes to thee her lyre, "Bloom then grateful to her strain." This little poetic wild flower produced an intimate acquaintance between the two ladies; and, indeed, Mrs. Cowley has ever been distinguished for doing honour to female genius; for Mrs. Barbauld, Miss Burney Burney, and Miss Seward, shine most conspicuously in this lady's poem of the SCOTTISH VILLAGE. The other poem, which is of a local nature, and therefore may not often meet the public eye, abounds with passages descriptive and poctical; its numbers, which are charmingly harmonious, would not have disgraced an Ovid or a Hammond. This, from its nature, will not admit of many selections; but the following eulogy on the sacred rites of Marriage, written at the period when a neighbouring nation was supposed to have dissolved this bond of well-regulated society, has such peculiar beauty, that we should not discharge our duty were we to omit it here. "O MARRIAGE! powerful charm, gift all divine, Sent from the skies, o'er life's sad waste to shine; Which drags the sceptre from thy hallow'd hand, "The weeping world to thee its solace owes, Its rich ananas, and its aloes high, Whose forms pyramidal approach the sky, Its flow'rs that knew to bloom, but not to fade; By the fell fiend without a pang were seen : 'Twas then, fierce rancour seiz'd the demon's breast, When in the MARRIED PAIR he felt mankind were blest." Mrs. Cowley was married at an early period to a gentleman who was afterwards a Captain in the East India Company's service, and died recently abroad; he possessed considerable mental acquirements, and was brother to Mr. Cowley, an eminent corn-factor in Cateaton Street. She has a son now at the bar, and one daughter who is married in the East Indics.* In the different characters of daughter, wife, and mother, the conduct of our fair author has been most exemplary. In person she is rather under the middle This young Lady, who was sent for by her father to India, is the wife of a man of exalted character-the Reverend D. Brown, educated at Oxford; and who has had the honour of being chosen PROVOST of the magnificent College lately erected at Calcutta. He derived this distinction from the friendship of the GovernorGeneral, Marquis Wellesley, and the high opinion of the council, without either solicitation or personal application. This College is on a grand scale, with Professorships in Divinity, Law, and Oriental Literature. The Library of Tippoo Saib and his rich Museum, chiefly collected by his father, Hyder Ally, the Asiatic Augustus, are already placed there. |