I. A certain conformation of the language in which two particulars are comprized. ift. A metrical difpofition of the words, which is called verfe. 2d. A certain grandeur and clevation of expreffion. In confirmation of this first pofition, I might venture to allege even the exordium of Paradife Loft (" of man's first," &c. to "fing heavenly mufe"), for although delivered in a ftyle of the moft abfolute fimplicity, it is clearly distinguishable from profe, for the two reafons here affigned: 1. A tranfpofition of the words from their proper grammatical arrangement, and a regularity of feet: 2. By a majefty of phrafe, which would appear ridiculous and bombaftical in profe....whofe mortal tafle....fing heavenly mufe. II. The fecond effential of a poet, I fhall briefly characterize by the word genius: in which I include that happy fertility of invention, which enables the mind to devise a suitable subject for its exertions, and to expatiate, to a greater or lefs extent, through univerfal nature, for the discovery of objects to embellish it. This faculty of creation was efteemed by the Greeks fuch a capital ingredient in the formation of a poet, as to give rife to his denomination in their language. There needs no elaborate proof of this pofition; because I fuppofe, that every judgment will unite in acknowledging a power of invention in fome degree to be an abfolute requifite in poetry. III. The third effential is, an enthufiaflick turn of mind: which includes all that is understood by the terms, imagination, fenfibility, and tafe and in proportion to the difplay of this third property will be the excellence of poetry. My meaning in these three divifions will be more diftinctly apprehended, and the subject itself receive confiderable illustration, if we confider whether the union of all these qualities be neceffary to poetry; and if not, which of them may be fpared. Ift. An abfence of the two parts of the firft effential property cannot be allowed. Without an ordonnance of measure and a dignity of expreffion, poetry cannot poffibly exift. By the former of thefe particulars, the poet of all ages and nations has been diftin guifhed: this point refts, therefore, upon the unanimous fentiments of mankind. And the fecond will difcover real poetry, even when divested of its metrical habiliments. (See this topick illuftrated by Horace, fat. 1, 4, 45, 63, who there confirms all that is advanced upon this head of the fubject.) Thus, when we read in the fcriptures concerning the Supreme Being.... He made the moon for certain seasons ; And the fun knoweth his going down. Pf. cix. The verfe indeed is loft, but we perceive the compofition to be poetical, both by a correspondent measurement of the fentences (a principal artifice in Hebrew poetry), and by a noble perfonification, inconfiftent with the fobriety of real profe. So far, then, we may fatisfy ourselves upon this point. And yet it may be useful to remark, that the properties here fpecified do not folely conflitute poetry, though they are effential to it. Fenelon's Telemachus is a fine fpecimen of elevated compofition, but, is not a true poem: and Sir Richard Blackmore's Epicks (if I may be allowed to take refuge in this old example, to avoid all poflibility of affront to the judginent of others, by inftancing in authors of greater reputation), though written in measure and in rhyme too, are still profe. The fecond neceffary ingredient of poetry (though poetry, as diftinguishable from verfification only, cannot exift without it) is not an exclufive property: for the principal distinction of a very common fpecies of compofition is invention to as great an extent as is found in any poem whatfo. ever. Such performances as Sir Thomas More's Utopia, and the whole class of novels, are neither called, nor esteemed, poems; though fomething of a poetical character evidently difcriminates them from fimple didactick profe. Where then shall we look in this inftance for a decifive diftinction between poetry and profe? With out doubt in a regular recurrence of appropriated numbers: in appropriated numbers, I fay, or we fhall not define fufficiently a modulated profe from poetry. Deprived of this characteristick, I do not fee why Homer's Odyfey would have a better title to the honours of poetry, than the Telemachus or the Utopia, whatever the fuperiority of that performance may be in other refpects. Concerning the third effential of poetry, an enthufiaflick turn of mind, in proportion as profaick compofitions are tinctured with it, they lose their specifick character, and become, as one of our poets expreffes himself, Profe on ftilts, or poetry gone lame. Compofitions of this peculiar caft, like a flip of land which borders upon two countries and belongs to neither, may occafion, as well as the comparifon, fome degree of controverfy; but as they tranfgrefs the fobriety and uniformity of exact writing, are culpable in themfelves; and, inftead of being urged in oppofition to the preceding obfervations, fhould be mutually given up as illegitimate, both by the patrons of poetry and profe. The fenfe of an incongruity of this kind induced a celebrated prelate to give his tranf lation of a prophet, highly ennobled by his warmth of imagination and fublimity of genius, fome appearance of poetry, by a regular diftribution of the fenten. ces in conformity to the original. He faw the beauty of Ifaiah tarnifhed, and his dignity degraded, by the garb of vulgar profe: he was willing to preserve, if poffible, fome faint traces of eastern poefy, as far as the genius of a different language would admit, that his incomparable author might not lofe, even in a version, Lefs than archangel ruin'd. What gives me the greater confidence in the foregoing remarks is, that they are merely an extenfion of the hints contained in a few words of Horace; who is not more worthy of admiration for the elegance of his poetry, than the incontrovertible juftice of his criticisms. "First of all (fays this arbiter of tafte and fearning-fat. 1, 4, 39, 45) I must beg leave to exempt myself from the number of thofe whom I diftinguish by the name of poets for it is not fufficient to give a line its proper number of feet to entitle to this diftinction nor can you with reafon denominate him a poet, whofe writings, like mine, partake fo much of the fimplicity and familiarity of common converfation. No he only deferves this honourable appellation, who is poffeffed of genius, a more divine frame of foul, and a magnificent and harmonious elocution." : The ancient comedy, because it wanted thefe requifites, and was only diftinguished from profe by its measures, he denies to be a poem. The Roman comedy (if he meant that) might have been profcribed from the poetick province for an additional reason: because it was not folicitous to preferve any appearance of verfification, except in the two concluding fyllables of the line. The three criterions of poetry, laid down above, might be em ployed as a good standard, where by to adjuft in general the refpective excellencies of all poets whatever, and afford full fcope for fome very curious and entertaining difquifitions, if any one of leifure and tafte would take upon him the profecution of the subject. I will juft fubjoin one example of an application of these rules, in conclufion. Homer in the article of invention, which is the first merit of poetry, has a great fuperiority over Milton. Except therefore it could be fhown, that thefe later poets compenfate this inferiority by more abundant excellence in the other two constituents of poetry; the fupremacy of Homer in one cafe, and the fubordinate claims of Milton in the other, over the rest of the epick race, will be indifputably established, But the rules above will be as ferviceable in eftimating and comparing different departments of poetry, as in rating the worth of thofe in the fame department. And Milton, in the fame respect, a fuperiority over Virgil. LETTERS FROM ITALY. We have already expressed our gratitude to our friend, by whofe kindness we are allowed to prefent the following letters to the publick. His obfervations on the merit of the memoir of the Duke della Torré are undoubtedly perfectly correct. We are inclined to think however, that though it has none of the beauty of the defeription of Pliny, and though its real value arifes from its being an excellent continuation of the observations of Sir William Hamilton, it will still be read with intereft even by thofe readers, whe are contented with indiftin& and fugitive impressions. GENTLEMEN, TO THE EDITORS OF THE ANTHOLOGY. I HAVE lately been indulged with the perufal of feveral letters from an intelligent gentleman of this town now travelling in Europe, which comprehend a tranf lation from the Italian language of a memoir relative to the last eruption of Vefuvius. Having liberty to make fuch use of these papers, as I might think proper, I am perfuaded that I could not better difpofe of them, than to tranfmit them for publication in your valuable mifcellany. The obfervations of the Duke della Torré may, to fome readers, appear tediously minute; but they will ferve to give accurate and precife information relative to thofe ftupendous phenomena, which are generally confidered with mere amazement and vague admiration; and we are confoled for any fatigue, by the intimation fuggefted by our ingenious friend of communicating, hereafter, the condensed result of his own obfervations in that interefting region. With fincere wishes for the reputation and fuccefs of the Anthology, I remain, yours, till the 11th of Auguft last, when a new eruption took place with phenomena, which are here deemed worthy of defcription and attention. The Duke della Torré, a man of fcience, who has been very attentive to the fubject of volcanoes, and who was a very accurate obferver of the late eruption, has published his account of it; and I am affured by a very respectable literary man, the Rev. Mr. Haytu, chaplain to the Prince of Wales, that the account is perfectly correct. It has been fent to the Royal Society of London, but as it may never reach our country, or at least not for a long time, I have thought it beft to fend it to As the Italian is underftood only by a few perfons with us, I have taken the liberty to tranflate this work, and if it fhall Rome, January 24, 1805. be deemed fufficiently interesting I have no objection to the publication of it. Boston, May 16, 1805. MY DEAR BROTHER, J. D. THOUGH the phenomena of volcanoes have been long known and often well described, yet they are fo rare, and fo wonderful when compared to the other operations of nature, that they ftill excite a lively intereft in the breafts of literary and philofophical men. The volcano of Vefuvius is so much more conveniently fituated for observation, than thofe of Etna or Stromboli, that it has been more frequently and more accurately noticed. I find however, that even to the literary men of Naples it is ftill highly interesting, because its more powerful efforts are feldom made oftener than once in the courfe of a fingle life. This mountain had been almoft perfectly quiet from the year 1794 you. "FIRST RELATION OF THE ERUPTION OF VESUVIUS, FROM THE 11TH OF AUGUST TO THE 18TH SEPT. 1804. By the Duke della Torré. "For the space of ten years Vefuvius, maintaining a perfect tranquillity, had ceafed to lay wafte the circumjacent country, and to disturb the neighbouring inhabitants; in this quiet ftate however it was preparing and difpofing new materials, by which it would one day display its original fury. "The phenomena of the 11th of Auguft laft announced the terrible eruption, which was again deftined to afflict this unhappy country, at the fame time that it would furnish fresh materials to chemical amateurs, by which they might form new conjectures relative to these unexplained operations of nature. "I cannot omit giving an exact idea of the state of Vefuvius, at the first moment of the prefent eruption. "On the 2d of November, in the year 1803, I afcended the fummit of Vefuvius, by the road which goes from the village of Refina, and arrived at the brink of the opening, faw a vaft crater, which prefented to me only the appearance of a profound plain. The medium depth of this crater, from its lowest part to its fuperiour edge on the weft fide, as it was then meafured on the fpot, by perfons let down for the purpose, was found to be precifely 500 Neapolitan palms (equal to 430 feet English), a depth 100 palms lefs than on the 2d July 1794, when it was meafured by the learned Mr. Brieflach. In the midst of this crater were three fmall hills, of the height of 50 palms each (43 feet English), from which in February 1799 were ejected heated ftones with confiderable explofion and flame, which were vifible at the capital (Naples) for two days. These were the prefages of the eruption of 1794, fo that thofe are mistaken, who believe that the mountain had remained from the period of that eruption in perfect quietnefs. In thefe little hills were ftill vifible orifices, which emitted the ufual vapour or fmoke, charged with fulphur and ammoniack, and on the infide of thefe openings were formed beautiful incrustations of fulphureous falts, abounding with very fhining cryftals. The cit cumference of the crater was then found to be 11,500 palms (9899 feet English). This exceeded the dimenfions related by Mr, Brieflach by 2900 palms. The difference of this menfuration appears to me to be attributable to the following caufes. "Ift. That the materials thrown out by the antecedent eruption of February 1799, having fallen back again within the crater, could not have augmented its depth. "2d. That, as the edges of the opening had in many places fallen into the centre of the crater, they not only must have raifed the furface of the plain at the bottom, but the base must have continually been approaching the fuperiour edge of the cone, at the fame time that the circumference would become more extenfive. "The inclination of the fides of the crater was greater to the fouth and fouth west. Its greateft elevation was to the east and north east. The form of the crater was the fame as defcribed by the above mentioned Mr, Brieflach, that is to fay, an ellipfis a little eccentrick, internally circular and externally conical. The medium external height of the cone on the weft fide may be estimated, from the base of the plain to the mouth, about 4000 palms, or about half a Neapolitan mile.. "In fuch a ftate I left the mountain on the 2d November, 1803; nor do I know of any other circumftance, except that I have understood from the information of the Hermit del Salvatore, that |