part of the winter in London, and these opportunities she improved, by universal flattery, of adding to the number of her acquaintances and friends. Her marriage disappointment is said to have soured her temper, and resolving against any further attempt to enter that state, she cast about for some mode besides writing, for the employment of her mind and body; and religion, to her active and ambitious soul, presented itself as an instrument and means of acquiring popularity and consequence, as well as promotive of her future welfare. The methodistical societies, " which are neither of nor out of the church," appeared the most convenient, for thus she could enjoy all the advantages of a separatist, without appearing to be one. But it is not from H. More only, that the world has learned that austerity is not virtue, and that the semblance of virtue is widely different from virtue herself. Her conversion, which was then talked of, is yet to come. Her heart may now, for any thing I know, be, by God's blessing, softened, having discovered that semblance and reality are in their nature different; and these late detections of her mental character, may become the means of bringing her back from a visionary to a rational piety; for true religion is not the business of life but a rulé of conduct. In the account which Mrs. Robinson, the celebrated Perdita, left behind her of her own life, she mentions the five sisters in the following words. "The early hours of boarding school study, I pas"sed under the tuition of the Misses More, sisters "to the lady of that name, whose talents have been SHM 66 "so often celebrated. The education of their young pupils was undertaken by the five sisters. In my "mind's eye, I see them now before me; while every circumstance of those early days, is minutely and indelibly impressed on my memory. 66 66 "I remember the first time I ever was present at "a dramatic representation; it was the benefit of "the great actor, Mr. Powel, who was proceeding rapidly towards the highest paths of fame, "when death dropped the oblivious curtain, and "closed the scene for ever. The part which he performed was King Lear; his wife, afterwards "Mrs. Fisher, played Cordelia, but not with suffi"cient eclat to render the profession an object for " her future exertions. The whole school attended; "Mrs. Powel's two daughters being then pupils of "the Misses More." The formal stateliness of that species of prosaic verse employed by the writers of English tragedy, is so familiar to British ears and eyes, as the channel and conductor of heroic virtue, or of atrocious crime, that the person who ventures to use it exclusively for sacred or ludicrous subjects, is more likely rather to excite our risibility and cause disgust, than secure our approbation and sympathy. Although it may be allowed, that virtue may be taught on the stage and vice corrected, yet in Britain, there is and ever will be, a prejudice with the graver order of the people against it. The attitudes, the songs, often the sentiment and expression, the characters represented, as well as that of many of those who act them, are not calculated to remove that prejudice; and it would be difficult to determine, whether the morals of the people are mended or corrupted by the theatre. The safest judgment is to consider it as a place of entertainment and amusement. The holy bible is either the inspired word of God, or it is the venerable history of a people who have been, and are the peculiar object of God's providential regard. In the former light it has been always viewed and received by all christians, and especially by protestants. To attempt, therefore, the illustration or improvement of any scriptural story in that measured prose, and in a dramatic method and form, with even the best intention, if it does not travesty, it at least lessens our veneration for the subjects of scripture, and always excites disgust. H. More, therefore, appears guilty of at least an error of judgment, by the publication of scripture plays, and holy bible tragedies. If the bible be the word of God, and who can doubt it, I cannot but call that part of her works impiety. In sacred poesy, even the learned and pious Dr. Watts was not very successful; what execution then could we expect from the illiterate H. More? There is neither invention, genius, plot or description in her dramas. I am not the only critic of this opinion. "And sacred dramas wrote by Hannah More, Her muse is always hobbling and ever out of na- ture. a sister. Vol. 2, p. 32. MIRIAM. "Yes, I have laid him in his wat❜ry bed, "His wat❜ry grave, I fear !—I tremble still; "it was a cruel task-still I must weep p! "But ah, my mother! who shall sooth thy griefs? "The flags and sea-weeds will awhile sustain "Sweet babe, farewell! Yet think not I will leave thee; No, I will watch thee till the greedy waves "Devour thy little bark: I'll sit me down, "And sing to thee, sweet babe; thou canst not hear; "But 'twill amuse me, while I watch thy fate." The following passage, p. 45, 46, is out of nature. JOCHEBED. "But soft, does no one listen?-Ah! how hard, How wild is thought! how terrible conjecture! "A mother's fondness frames a thousand fears, "With thrilling nerve feels every real ill, "And shapes imagin'd miseries into being." David's prayer, part iv. of DAVID and GOLIATH, is too long, abounding with repetitions and inconsistencies. In every line is an address, just like the prayer of the non-descripts, which is all a beginning, no middle, or body, and whose termination is God knows where. In short, it is not a prayer. The sacred dramas, or holy bible plays, is, I think, a burlesque of religion. What she has written under that title, is no illustration of the story, frequently a perversion of it. We feel, thereby, no virtue confirmed, no vice corrected, and yet there is a perpetual exertion in defence of virtue. H. More's merit consists in a power and ability to say much with much exertion; yet she has the misfortune, though she affords a little pleasure and amusement, of leaving no impression behind, just as it has been remarked of my brother Sir A. Elton's speeches, in which there is always a verbiage, a copia verborum, that when he has ended we remember nothing of what he has said. "Did I unjustly seek to build my name In the REFLECTIONS Of KING HEZEKIAH, her measure is badly chosen, and she appears to be more than usually feeble, though the subject might have led her to higher strains. Blank verse would have suited the subject better. "Come and home" are false rhymes. I defy any man of judgment and sense to read her prologue, even were she a woman of considerable beauty, and to say, "that is the woman I would choose to marry.' The man who marries wishes for simplicity and female accomplishments, not a " IT, HE, SHE Creature." "If she shou'd set her heart upon a rover, "And he prove false, she'd kick her faithless lover." That I may not be charged with injustice, I will here transcribe from David and Goliath, a passage containing one of her best descriptions. P. 101-2. DAVID. "Not so, O King! "This youthful arm has been imbru'd in blood, "Thy servant's occupation is a shepherd. "With jealous care I watch'd my father's flock: "Forth from the thicket rush'd upon the fold, |