the sea,

I could best describe, that I attempted: and the country in the immediate vicinity; the dwellings, and the inhabitants; some incidents and characters, with an exhibition of morals and manners, offensive perhaps to those of extremely delicate feelings, but sometimes, I hope, neither unamiable nor unaffecting: an Election, indeed, forms a part of one Letter, but the evil there described is one not greatly nor generally deplored, and there are probably many places of this kind where it is not felt.

From the variety of relations, characters, and descriptions which a BOROUGH affords, several were rejected which a reader might reasonably expect to have met with: in this case he is entreated to believe that these, if they occurred to the author, were considered by him as beyond his ability, as subjects which he could not treat in a manner satisfactory to himself. (1)

Possibly, the admission of

(1) ["Mr. Crabbe is distinguished from all other poets, both by the choice of his subjects, and by his manner of treating them. All his persons are taken from the lower ranks of life; and all his scenery from the most ordinary and familiar objects of nature or art. His characters and incidents, too, are as common as the elements out of which they are compounded are humble; and not only has he nothing prodigious or astonishing in any of his representations, but he has not even attempted to impart any of the ordinary colours of poetry to those vulgar materials. He has no moralising swains or sentimental tradesmen; and scarcely ever seeks to charm us by the artless manners or lowly virtues of his personages. On the contrary, he has represented his villagers and humble burghers as altogether as dissipated, and more dishonest and discontented, than the profligates of higher life; and, instead of conducting us through blooming groves and pastoral meadows, has led us along filthy lanes and crowded wharfs, to hospitals, almshouses, and gin-shops. In some of these delineations, he may be considered as the satirist of low life, — an occupation sufficiently arduous, and in a great degree new and original in our language. By the mere force of his art, and the novelty of his style, he compels us to attend to objects that are usually neglected, and to enter

some will be thought to require more apology than the rejection of others in such variety, it is to be apprehended, that almost every reader will find something not according with his ideas of propriety, or something repulsive to the tone of his feelings; nor could this be avoided but by the sacrifice of every event, opinion, and even expression, which could be thought liable to produce such effect; and this casting away so largely of our cargo, through fears of danger, though it might help us to clear it, would render our vessel of little worth when she

came into port. I may likewise entertain a hope, that this very variety, which gives scope to objection and censure, will also afford a better chance for approval and satisfaction. (1)

into feelings from which we are, in general, but too eager to escape; and then trusts to nature for the effect of the representation. It is obvious, that this is not a task for an ordinary hand, and that many ingenious writers, who make a very good figure with battles, nymphs, and moonlight landscapes, would find themselves quite helpless if set down among streets, harbours, and taverns." - JEFFREY.]

(1) [In one of Mr. Crabbe's note-books we find the following observ. ations relative to the Borough:-"I have chiefly, if not exclusively, taken my subjects and characters from that order of society where the least display of vanity is generally to be found, which is placed between the humble and the great. It is in this class of mankind that more originality of character, more variety of fortune, will be met with; because, on the one hand, they do not live in the eye of the world, and, therefore, are not kept in awe by the dread of observation and indecorum; neither, on the other, are they debarred by their want of means from the cultivation of mind and the pursuits of wealth and ambition, which are necessary to the developement of character displayed in the variety of situations to which this class is liable."]

THE BOROUGH.

LETTER I.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

These did the ruler of the deep ordain,

To build proud navies, and to rule the main.

POPE's Homer's Iliad, b. vi.

Such scenes has Deptford, navy-building town,
Woolwich and Wapping, smelling strong of pitch;
Such Lambeth, envy of each band and gown,
And Twickenham such, which fairer scenes enrich.

POPE'S Imitation of Spenser.

Et cum cœlestibus undis

Æquoreæ miscentur aquæ: caret ignibus æther,
Cæcaque nox premitur tenebris hiemisque suisque;
Discutient tamen has, præbentque micantia lumen
Fulmina fulmineis ardescunt ignibus undæ.

OVID. Metamorph. lib. (1)

(1) ["Sweet waters mingle with the briny main :
No star appears to lend his friendly light;
Darkness and tempest make a double night:
But flashing fires disclose the deep by turns,

And while the lightnings blaze, the water burns."-DRYDEN.]

The Difficulty of describing Town Scenery - A Comparison with certain Views in the Country - The River and Quay -The Shipping and Business-Ship-Building— Sea-Boys and Port-Views - Village and Town Scenery again compared-Walks from Town-Cottage and adjoining Heath, &c. - House of Sunday Entertainment-The Sea: a Summer and Winter View - A Shipwreck at Night, and its Effects on Shore - Evening Amusements in the Borough An Apology for the imperfect View which can be given of these Subjects.