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no man of a true poctical fpirit is mafter of himfelf while he reads them. Hence, he is a writer fit for univerfal perufal; adapted to all ages and ftations; for the old and for the young; the man of bufinefs and the scholar. He who would think the Fairy Queen, Palemon and Arcite, the Tempeft, or Comus, childish and romantic, might relish Pope. Surely it is no narrow and niggardly encomium to fay he is the great poet of reafon, the first of ethical authors in verse. And this fpecies of writing is, after all, the fureft road to an extenfive reputation. It lies more level to the general capacities of men, than the higher flights of more genuine poetry. "Where then, according to the question propofed at the beginning of this effay, fhall we with juftice be authorized to place our admired Pope? Not affuredly in the fame rank with Spencer, Shakespeare, and Milton, how ever justly we may applaud the

Eloifa and Rape of the Lock; but confidering the correctnefs, elegance, and utility of his works, the weight of fentimert, and the knowledge of man they contain, we may venture to affign him a place next to Milton, and juft above Dryden. Yet, to bring our minds fteadily to make this decifion, we muft forget for a moment the divine mufic-ode of Dryden; and may perhaps then be compelled to confefs, that though Dryden be the greater genius, yet Pope is the better artist.

"The preference here given to Pope above other modern English poets, it must be remembered, is founded on the excellencies of his works in general, and taken all together; for there are parts and paffages in other modern authors, in Young and in Thomfon for inftance, equal to any of Pope; and he has written nothing in a ftrain fo truly fublime as the Bard of Gray.”

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THE

CONTENT S.

THE HISTORY OF EUROPE.

CHAP. I.

Retrofive view of affairs in the Eaft, which led to the lare alarming and dan
gerous fruation of the British empire in India. State of the native powers, with
respect to cach other, and to the Eaft India Company. Greatness of the Maratta
empire; and nature of its power, refources, and government. Infant Ram-Ra-
jah depofed, and a government of minifters, called the Paishwaship, substituted
in his place. Ragonaut Row being obliged to abandon Poonah and his coun
try, for the affafination of his nephew the young Paishwa, flies for refuge to Bom-
bay. Protection afforded to Ragonaut; lays the foundation of all the fubfequent
wars with the Marattas. Treaty of friendship and alliance between the East
India Company and Hyder Ally, concluded at Madras in the year 1769. Re-
fufal to furnish Hyder with the fuccours ftipulated by treaty in his fubfequent
ruinous war with the Maratias, eflranges that prince from the Company, and oc-
cafions his embracing French connections. Treaty concluded at Bombay with
Ragonaut Row. War entered into with the Marattas for his refloration to power.
Ifland of Salfette, Baroach, and other places conquered. Treaty of Pocnah, by
which Ragonaut is to be given, and the new conquefts are confirmed to the Company.
New fyftems of policy adopted. Ragonaut Row is fill prote&ed, and various
intrigues entered into for a resolution in the Maratta government in his favour.
New demands to be made upon the court of Poonah, the rejection of which are to
be deemed violations of the late treaty. Strong military force, under Colonel Leflie
fent across the continent from Bengal. Proceedings of that detachment; Leflie
dies, and is fucceeded by Colonel Goddard. Propofals for a treaty with Mooda-
jee Boofia, the Rajah of Berar, for placing him at the head of the Maratta em-
fire. The court of Poonah refufing to comply with the new demands, the British
refident is withdrawn, and the Bombay army landed on the continent, in order to
accompany Ragonaut Row to that capital. The army being furrounded, and all
means of retreat cut off, a capitulation takes place. Moderate terms impofed by
the Marattas in the treaty of orgaum. Ragonaut Row is given up, and the
my conducted by a boly of Maratta horfe to the fea-conft, where it embarks for
Bankay
[p. 1

СНАР.

CHAP. IL.

Situation and conduct of Moodajee Boufla, the Rajah of Berar. General God-
dard paffes the Nerbudda with the army, who are liberally supplied with pro-
ilions and neceffaries in the dominions of Berar. Negociation with the Rajah,
cho refuses to accede to the conditions held out by the propofed treaty. General

Goddard fets out on his march for Poonah; receives contradictory in Aructions on

the way, from the committee appointed to fuperintend the Bombay army; is met

by a minifter from the court of Poonah, who defires his return with the army to

Bengal, in pursuance of the treaty of Iorgaum: Goddard refuses to comply, and

directs his courfe to Surat. Prefidency of Bombay difaces the treaty of Wa

gaum, and thereby expofe the hoflages to great apparent danger. Now schemes

adopted for a revolution in the Maratta Government. Supreme council conform

the conduct of Bombay in difavowing the convention of Worgaum; but empower

Goddard to negociate a treaty upon other terms with the Maraṭṭas.
Great pot-

parations at the fame time made for war, and a renewal of the negociation with

Moodajee Boola determined. Strong complaints made by the court of Poonah, of

the faithless conduct of the Company. Ragobah efcapes from the cuftody of the

Marattas, and fles for refuge to Goddard's camp, which increafes the difficulties

of the negociation with the former. Various causes which led to the confederacy of

the great princes of India for the extermination of the English. Marattas

break off the negociation with Goddard, and conclude a peace and alliance

with Hyder Ally. Treaty of alliance concluded by the fupreme council with

the Ranna of Ghod. Gen. Goddard concludes a treaty with Futty Sing;

takes Ahmedabad, the capital of the Guzerat, by form, and reduces the

swhole province. Sindia and Holkar arrive with a Maratta army. Sindia

reflores the gentlemen who were given as hoftages at orgaum. Propofals

by Sindia for an accommodation rejected. General Goddard attacks and

defeats the Maratta army. Capt. Campbell repulfes Sindia, and preferves

Licut. Walsh furprizes and defeats a large body of Marattas.

Another large body defeated by Major Forbes. Major Popham's fucceffes on

the fide of Bengal; drives the Marattas out of the country of Ġbod; and

furprifes the fortress of Gualier, which had always been deemed impregnable.

State of affairs in the Carnatic. Treaty with Bazalet Jung for the Gun-

toar Circar, with other tranfactions, which led to great jealousy, dislike, and

ill-will, on the fide of the Nizam of the Deccan, and of Hyder Ally

СНАР. III.

Dif

State of affairs on the coaft of Coromandel. Mahie taken. Nabob of Arcot.
Strong Indications of Hyder Ally's indifpofition to the government of Ma-
dras, and of his defigns upon the Carnatic. Neglect of preparation.
fentions in council.
Hyder invades the Carnatic with a great arty.
Country ravaged; Conjeveram burnt. Arcot befieged. Gen. Sir Hedor
Monro marches with the army from the Mount, in order to form a junction
with Colonel Baillie, and to relieve Arcot. Hyder raifes the fiege, and
places his army in a pofition to prevent the junction.
Baillie defeats

CHAP. IV.

CHA P. V.

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