poison; but he now started a doubt that they were not meant for us, as they really did not belong to us: this was a piece of heavy news, and I strove to corroborate it by unans:verable evidence. I believe it is the case, said Mr J.; but 'tis no matter, we must just mutiny, and take them by force, for I can put off no longer :-d-n them," said W. "if they don't give us of their potatoes, we'll give them none of our gin." We were, however, invited to partake of this delicious fare, "and snapt them up, baith stoop an' roop" we began at the tails of the herrings, and ate them off at the nose, leaving nothing but the two eyes. —— We continued to move slowly on, and got some striking views of Egg, which hath a very romantic appearance from some points, especially from the N.W.; on the other hand, the stupendous mountains of Coulan in the forest of Sky, with some of the bold promontories of that island, formed a scene of the wildest grandeur. As we approached the coast of Rum, we saw four or five whales playing in the mouth of the bay, one of which was amongst the largest of them that frequent those seas. In the evening we were quite becalmed a little off the north-east coast of Rum, when we retired all three to our hammocks, and slept soundly until about two in the morning; when I got up, being somewhat disgusted at having arrested an overgrown louse which was traversing one side of my beard; it was then beginning to blow fresh out of the S.W. and a dark fog hid every thing from our eyes. As I perceived the direction, of Cannay when I arose, I expostulated with the men on the impropriety of holding so far to the southward, but they were inflexible, and held on their course. The wind again increased to a gale; the sea grew rough,, and the vessel rolled amain. It was on the morning of the Sabbath, and I shall never forget the impatience manifested by Mr W. on awaking and > 66 perceiving our condition; he spoke none; his colour was as pale as if the cold hand of death had been upon him; and his mouth had assumed an exact. resemblance in shape to a long bow, the nether lip being the string. He came running out of the forecastle, and placed himself beside me astern; arose that moment, and run again into the forecastle; tumbled over every thing that came in his way; hasted back again to me. I said he would hurt himself. What was it that hurried. him so? "Nothing, nothing," said he, only I have some potatoes roasting in the fire, and I am afraid they will burn." He was by this time growing extremely sick, and knew not well what he said; I perceived this, and a little after asked him how he did? He returned me the following laconic answer, in words scarcely articulate, "O Sir, I'm gone 199 I did not fail in future to remind him of this, but he always averred that he did not mean by the exclamation to impress upon me the belief that he was going immediately to take leave of life; but that he was then fallen a prey to the insufferable nausea of a seasickness. The motion of the vessel had also by this time thrown Mr J. into a morbid lethargy; he still kept his hammock, and puked at times so violently, that I thought his chest should have rent. The fog still continued, and we saw no land until about seveno'clock, A.M. Had our crew steered in the direction they ought to have. done, we should by this time have been in the sound of Harris; and tho’. I easily perceived that they were luffing too much, I had hopes that we would land somewhere in that neighbourhood. What then was our mortification, on perceiving that we were off Boigdale-head in South Uist, a short way north of the Sound of Barra; and that after having sailed about thirty hours, to find that we were no nearer our destination than when we set out from the main land the preceding day! They how he was horrified at the sea storm. We now run before the wind with' great velocity, keeping in a straight line with the headlands of South Uist, Benbecula, and North Uist, for upwards of fifty miles. The whole of these coasts presented nothing to our eyes but naked desolation: the sea seems to have washed away every thing but the solid rocks, and to have forced itself into the country in innumerable creeks, in spite of every other impediment. The predominant colour on the face of the Uists is that of the grey rock, and where soil of any They could make no apology for this mistake, but only, that they foresaw a storm, and wished to reach a coast on which they could find shelter in case of necessity. They had certainly considerably mistaken their bearings; but the truth was, that they were utter strangers on the coasts of Harries, although one of them pretended to the contrary; and they wished not to approach it on any account, but, at all events, not until the weather mended. My two friends continued all this while excessively sick: Mr J. lay in a drow sy insensibility, callous and indifferent either to danger or disappointment.-kind prevails, it is only a turf of moss. He manifested, however, not the least dissatisfaction; and whenever I asked him how he did, his answer was always, "I am quite well, now." This was not the case with Mr W., who was continually shifting the scene. Now he would be lying on his lowly couch, groaning and vomiting: anon, he would be on deck taking the sailors to task; but as they did not understand his dialect, he frequently left them in a huff, and retired again to his hammock. I never heard him receive a satisfactory answer, save one, and then, though they were at cross purposes, they were both satisfied. "Is that South Uist, or North Uist?" said he, pointing to the shore, and meaning the isles of S. and N. Uist. "It is South Uist, Sir," said Angus, "look at the compass." His stomach heaved so much, that his chest would not dilate to take in more air than was sufficient for the utterance of two or three words; and as he was continually engaged in swallowing, or endeavouring to swallow his spittle, his sentences were very short and comprehensive. Whenever I asked him how he did, his answer was uniformly "O Gud!" After a breathing he would sometimes add," this is terrible work." Though there are few of the human race whom I respect more than this gentleman, as judging him every way worthy of it, yet I can never help laughing, when I remember On the western shore, indeed, there are a few bays, around which there is a mixture of sand, where crops are raised equal to any in these barren regions. The coasts are bold and rocky, but low in comparison with those of Sky. We looked into Loch-Eynard, when we were first certified where we were; and I could scarcely prevent the sailors from running into it for shelter, as I never could apprehend any danger while we were on a weather shore, and plenty of sea-room.About mid-day we opened Loch-Madi in North Uist, when no arguments could move them to proceed further; so they run the vessel up into it, and anchored beside other two large ones that had taken shelter there. It is not easy to conceive a more dreary and dismal-looking scene, than the environs of this harbour exhibit: the whole country is covered with moss, or grey stones, without the smallest green spot; the sea runs into the country nearly the whole breadth of the island, and spreads itself into a thousand branches, stretching in exery direction, which renders travelling completely impracticable; and indeed there is not the smallest semblance of a road. We were, however, agreeably surprised at finding a good slated inn, of two stories, where we took up our residence during the remainder of the day, and the following night. You would lose all all patience, were I to detail the whole of our adventures in Uist, which are nevertheless well worthy of a place; and if you had not found fault with me in this respect, you should have heard such a story! What should I have heard, James? You should have heard what a curious waiter we had; -how he clasped his hands above his head whenever he could not comprehend our meaning;-how much we were at a loss for want of Gaelic ;-how we hunted the rabbits;--tired of waiting at Kersaig, and set out to traverse the country on foot to its northern extremity, and there procure a passage for Harries. You should have heard of our unparalleled embarrassments and difficulties, and how we fell out with the natives and were obliged to return; -how we arrived again at the place where we set out in the morning, both completely drenched and fatigued ;how the house, and every part about it, was crowded with some hundreds of Lord Macdonald's people, who were assembled to pay their rents;-what an interesting group they were, and how surprised my two friends were at seeing such numbers in a place which they had judged a savage desert, and unfit for the nourishment of intellectual life. You should likewise have heard how our crew fell asleep on board, and could not be awaked-of Donald's despair: and many other interesting particulars, of which you must now live and die in ignorance.I continue, Sir, as usual, Your affectionate, J. H. only engaged the attention, but awakened the free, unqualified criticisms of almost all descriptions of people, from the most frigid and dull plodder, up to the man of the most refined feelings, and brilliant imagination. Music, painting, sculpture, and many of the mechanical arts, which depend, in a great measure, on the execution of the artist, keep the general, superficial observer, a little at bay, conscious, no doubt, of his inexperience in the minutiæ, and leading principles of the art: but poetry, from its being communicated in terms intelligible to all, and descriptive of scenes, sentiments, and passions, familiar to all, seems to have become a general property, and to authorize every pretender to taste, to give a decided opinion on what appertains only to a very limited number. As it is of some consequence to define the nature or quality of an art, previously to a consideration of its effects, it may not be improper to enquire, 1st, what poetry really is, and, 2dly, what the requisites, or natural qualities are, which enable us to judge accurately, and to enter particularly into its peculiar excellence and beauties. The efficient cause, or exciting principle of all genuine poetry, consists of certain qualities, powers, and passions, in the human mind, which may be comprehended under the following heads: namely, sensibility;-fancy er imagination; benevolence ;-love ;friendship; and a moral detestation of what is mean, selfish, sordid, and ungenerous. Without these, or at least a large proportion of them, it is next to impossible, that any person can be the true poet of nature, and in proportion to the strength or influence of On POETICAL TASTE and CRITICISM. these exciters of the human mind, CONSI CONSIDERING the unfrequent appearance of true poetic genius, and the difficulties annexed to the art, it is not a little remarkable, that, from time immemorial, it should have not Jan. 1809. will, in all likelihood, be the excellence of his productions. Guided and governed by these, the poet, withdrawn, as it were, from the general pursuits and predilections of mankind, perceives, feels, and reasons very dif ferently ferently from those around him; and, occasionally awaked by emotions and sentiments seldom experienced by the erowd, breaks out into impassioned strains, congenial to his feelings, unchecked by considerations of worldly prudence, and altogether regardless of what chiefly actuates the minds of these constantly in pursuit of their own interests. Now, taking mankind in cumulo, may it not be fairly asked, how many are governed by similar principles or, to speak more unequivocally, how many are actuated and influenced by similar emotions, sentiments, and passions? If it be admitted, that hardly one in a hundred experiences, in the tenth degree, the warmth and enthusiasm of the romantic and disinterested poet; may it not, with equal propriety, be questioned, if one in an hundred can be a real judge of his effusions, or can enter cordially and critically into his particular beauties and excellencies? As well may we suppose, that a blind man is qualified to appreciate the excellence of the finest painting, or the beauties of a natural landscape; and yet, all pretend to judge and decide on what is foreign to their nature, their habits, and their propensities, with the same tone and pertinacity as the most enlightened critic and enthusiastic admirer of genuine poetry. Having thus briefly explained and defined what appears to me to be the real qualities, or principles of a divine art, and the natural deficiencies and restrictions which exclude thousands from any knowledge of it, I shall next endeavour, with equal brevity, to point out the causes which lead mankind to such absurdity and error, concluding with some observations on the consequences or effects of this indiscriminating criticism. In this short review, I mean not to include either the stupid or the illiterate, but such as, having enjoyed the benefit of a regular education, possess, at the same time, the natural gifts of a good solid understanding, and dis criminating judgement, on matters unconnected with taste, fancy, or refined sensibility. Among these, I shall, for the greater perspicuity, select three descriptions, namely, those who are bred to professions totally distinct and different from what is connected with the fine arts; 2dly, those who have no natural love or relish for them; and, lastly, those who, having run through the whole circle of literature, conceive themselves qualified to judge and decide on every branch in consequence of their being critically conversant with some of them only. However extraordinary it may appear, there can be no doubt whatever of this fact, that mankind are more disposed to talk about what they are superficially acquainted with, than on what they accurately understand. Whether this proceeds from a consciousness of their defects, and a desire to conceal them, or that, depending on the justness and acuteness of their reasoning and perceptions on certain subjects, they conceive themselves competent to judge of all, I shall not take upon me to determine; but in either case it is evident, that the leading principle or efficient cause is vanity, of which all mankind possess less or more. To be silent on any subject started in conversation, is certainly a little mortifying to those who wish to obtain a share, and are ambitious to display their knowledge; but to remain mute when topics are introduced which are considered familiar to all, would be tantamount to absolute stupidity and extreme ignorance. Under these familiar topics may be classed politics, religion, and poor poetry! nor is there an instance in which any of them is introduced, but the whole company breaks out into one general torrent of criticism. The natural consequence is, that the last mentioned article (poetry) has not only a sad time of it, but is literally torn in tatters. The dry practitioner of the law-the grave investigating mathematicianthe experimental patient chymist-the unfanciful dissector of plants, and anatomizer of frogs and caterpillars, are all intimately skilled in the language of metaphor, passion, sentiment and description; nor is the most minute beauty of epic, dramatic, lyrical, or didactic composition, hid from their alldiscerning taste and critical penetration. If not edifying or instructive, it is certainly not a little amusing, to hear these profound judges descanting on what they have not the smallest conception of, and floundering from one absurdity to another: but with regard to a different description of critics, amusement is altogether out of the question, for every thing is conducted with such intemperance, dogmatism, and over-bearing conceit, that the mind, as well as the ears of the listeners, is disturbed and pained with pedantic petulance. The class or description of men here alluded to, is that of the mere grammarian;-the cold, phlegmatic, painful plodder, over the construction of sentences, the analogy of words, the derivation of terms, and the affinity of languages. These men, from their having waded through the whole gulf of ancient learning, and, by a tenacious memory, retained innumerable passages from Horace, Virgil, and Homer, conceive themselves not only competent to judge of every species of poetical composition, but altogether above contradiction. Woe be to the poet, or poetical judge, who presumes to oppose them!-they will lead you a dance through a maze of unconnected, unintelligible jargon, till you are bewildered, and spent with pedantry and stupidity; and, finally, knock you down with quotations that have no connection whatever with the subject in dispute. All you can do is to give up the argument, and leave these torpid, imperitable lumps of clay, to retain their own crude, indigested opiRions; and to maintain what I have heard some of them assert, that sensibility and judgement were the same, for no other reason than this, that judgement and good sense are synonimous terms; and that, as sense is derived from sensus, so must sensibility and judgement be precisely the same; in other words, that a poet possessed of the one must consequently be endowed with the other! The intention of the foregoing strictures, is to point out the extreme folly and absurdity of advancing opinions on subjects, which neither habit nor nature qualify us to appreciate, or comprehend; and, at the same time, to induce mankind to confine their remarks to what they critically know, and are qualified to judge of. Hunan talents and perceptions are as different and distinct, as they are wisely and wonderfully diversified; and instead of grasping at what we can never attain, mankind ought to rejoice at the barriers that oppose them.They are, in fact, the links that bind society more closely together; and were vanity and idle conceit a little restrained, and modesty a little encouraged, each would have cause to rejoice at the limited and just proportion allotted to him. But, unfortunately, for the progress of science, and the im provement of true taste, literary and professional men, instead of prosecuting studies particularly adapted to their natural capacities, range amidst devious paths that bewilder and lead them astray, without their ever arriving at the object of their ambition, which flies them as a phantom. Similar to the mere gingler of rhymes, and the fabricator of smooth versification, who, conceiving himself endowed with qualities essential to inspired song, scribbles on without ever attaining what constitutes the true poet. In a former paper, I took occasion to offer some observations on " poetic character, and literary fame ;" may I hope that this well-intentioned hint to poetic critics will find a place in your |