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to explain the intricacies which, in general, disfigure the English laws concerning property.

MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 37. The Fencer's Guide. Being a Series of every Branch required to compofe a complete Syftem of Defence, whereby the Admirers of Fencing are gradually led from the firft Rudiments of that Art through the most complicated Subtilities yet formed by Imagination, or applied to Practice, until the Leffons herein many Ways varied alfo lead them infenfibly on to the due Methods of loofe Play, which are here laid down, with every Precaution neceffary for that Practice. In four Parts. Part first and fecond, contain fuch a general Explication of the Small Sword as admits of much greater Variety and Novelty than are to be found in any other Work of this Kind. Part the third, fhews, in the Ufe of the Broad Sword, fuch an univerfal Knowledge of that Weapon as may be very applicable to the Ufe of any other that a Man can lawfully carry in his Hand. Part the fourth, is a Compound of the three former, explaining and teaching the Cut and thrust, or Spadroon-play, and that in a more fubtle and accurate Manner than ever appeared in Print. To thefe are added, particular Leffons for the Gentlemen of the Horfe Dragoons, and Light-Hurle or Huffars; with fome neceffary Precautions; and an Index, explaining every Term of that Art throughout the Book. The Whole being carefully collected from long Experience and Speculation, is calculated as a Vade Mecum for Gentlemen of the Army, Navy, Univerfities, Academies, &c. By Andrew Lonnergan, Teacher of the Military Sciences. 8vo. 7 s. Printed and fold for the Author by Griffin in Catherine-ftreet.

The Author explains, in his dedication, the manner in which he has attempted to execute his defign. How far he has fucceeded, we muft fubmit to the judgment of thofe proficients in the science of defence, who are able to read. He profeffes to make his treatife as little expenfive as poffible; that multum in parvo is his aim, in prac tice as well as theory; that he has avoided the expence of copperplates, as he thinks it must be generally granted that the pen can better defcribe motion than the pencil. He profeffes himself ready to explain to every enquiring gentleman any difficulty, or to clear up any doubts which may occur in the perufal of this book. He obferves, for which we must take his word, that his directions are fo plain and copious, that any two gentlemen, acquainted with the outlines of the fcience, may very much improve themselves, by alternately giving and taking the leffons which he has laid down.

(Communicated by a Friend.)

Art. 38. An Efay upon Education. By J. Wadham Whitchurch, B. A. 12mo. 3 S. Becket. 1772.

This Effay is divided into three parts; the first treats of the management of children in infancy; the fecond part relates to the conduct of their studies in a more advanced age; and the third is a difcourfe on the advantages and difadvantages of travelling into foreign

countries.

We were led to apprehend from the Author's introduction, in which he is arming himself against oppofition and cenfure, that he

was

was going to propofe fome new mode of education, very different from every other that had been already adopted, and far fuperior to those now in ufe. But our apprehenfions fubfided as we proceeded onward from one page to another, till at last we were perfectly fatisfied that the Author meant no injury to any fyftem of nurfing or education already established. Had this been the cafe, we could not have anfwered for the confequence.

In thofe particulars wherein he seems to differ from other writers on the fame fubject, the difference is rather verbal than real; and there is little originality either in his fcheme itself, or in the arguments by which he explains and enforces it. The plan of a domeftic education, which he prefers and recommends, is liable to many ob jections; the rules he lays down for the education of youth, in the feveral ftages of their progrefs, are by no means unexceptionable; and the books he recommends to the perufal of his pupils are not fo judiciously felected as we could have wifhed. We should hardly have thought of indifcriminately recommending the Philofophical Tranfactions to the perufal of a youth of eighteen, especially as our Author has not admitted into his plan (Maclaurin's Algebra and the firft Book of Euclid excepted) any of thofe preparatory sciences, which are neceffary to their being read either with pleasure or advantage.

Many of his oblervations and directions, however, are pertinent and ufeful; and they have the advantage, for the most part, of being expreffed in clear and intelligible language. Every effort for improving the fyftem of educatin, of all objects the most interefting and important, muft be acceptable to the public; and in this view the work before us is not without merit.

Art. 39. The Beauties of English Profe: Being a felect Collection of moral, critical, and entertaining Paffages, difpofed in the Manner of Effays; and extracted from Addifon, Blackstone, Bolingbroke, Bourk, Browne, Clarke, Dryden, Felton, Fordyce, Franklyn,-Goldimith, Gregory, Hervey, Hume, Johnfon, Lyttelton, Macaulay, Orrery, Pope, Parnel, Seed, Shenstone, Smollett, South, Steele, Sterne, Swift, Tillotson, Warburton ; alfo from the Spectator, Tatler, Guardian, Connoiffeur, World, Adventurer, Rambler, and Idler. The whole tending to culti vate the Mind, and promote the Practice of Virtue. 12mo. 4 Vols. 12 s. bound. Hawes, &c. 1772.

Publications of this kind have lately become numerous, and certainly, if they are conducted with attention and judgment, they have confiderable utility, as a means of diffufing knowledge, and particularly of informing the minds of youth in an agreeable manner, and impreffing upon them religious and moral fentiments. Four volumes, however, feem fomewhat to exceed the proper limits for a work of this ind. Nevertheless the collection appears to be, on the whole, judiciously and carefully executed, and is adapted both to entertain and improve, as may be fuppofed from the catalogue of refpe&able names mentioned in the title-page. The work is divided alphabetically into twenty three book, and the subjects are arranged in the fame manner in chapters and fections. The compiler has introduced effays of the humorous and amufing, as well as of the ferious and moral kind; he has occafionally inter

2

fperfed

fperfed difquifitions in polite literature, and alfo endeavoured to give the young Briton fome idea of the conftitution of his country from Dr. Blackstone's commentaries on the laws of England.

We think he has not been always happy in the title affixed to his fections; at least he is not fo in the three following inftances: Under the head, Adultery, the fecond fection is thus dilinguished, Adultery directed in the Bible. Now this may surprise a reader, if not difguft him; or if it should make him more eager to know what the article contains, he will find but a futile and puerile attempt at humour, in the hacknied ftory, from the Spectator, of the blunder committed in Archbishop Laud's time, by the company of Stationers, who printed feveral copies of the Bible, with the omiffion of the word not in the feventh commandment, and confequently it appeared, Thou shalt commit adultery. Another fection is termed, Difcontent the common let of all mankind. Now, though it is too evident that men often are discontented with their ftation, yet, to say that this is their let, feems to imply, that it is unavoidable; which is far from being the truth. Again, under the word, Fame, the first fection fpeaks of it as a commendable paffion: the defire of fame, or applaufe, may, in a degree, and under proper limitations, be commendable; but furely fame, confidered in itfelf, can neither be called a paffion, or be deemed always commendable.

We could have wished that Dryden's account of herefies and fectaries, which forms the fixth chapter of the eighteenth book, had been omitted, or that fome other effay had been inferted as a kind of balance to this; as fome parts of it are liable to mifinterpretation, or may lead an undiftinguithing reader to entertain an unfavourable opinion of feveral who have been, and others who are, as worthy and valuable as any other members of the community. Every thing that favours of an attachment to party fhould be ftudiously avoided in works intended for the affiftance and improvement of youth.

Notwithstanding these few inftances of negligence and inattention, we think this compilation calculated to answer very valuable ends. Thofe fubjects are felected which inculcate the principles of religion and virtue, and, at the fame time, according to our collector's obfervations, the elegant diction and purity of ftyle of those writers, from whofe works they are extracted, may contribute to improve the literary taste of the younger part of his readers.

Art. 40. The Appeal; or, authentic Copies of two late Addreffes to the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Winchefter, as Vifitor of St. Mary Magdalen College, Oxford. 8vo. s. Leacroft. 1772. The altercation relating to the statute of Magdalen College, which qualifies a Doctor in any faculty, to retain certain ecclefiaftical preferments with his Fellowship, together with the proceedings of the Bishop of Winchester, relating to the Drs. Walker and Kent, in regard to their preferments, hath, for fome time, furnished materials for the news-papers, and for feveral pamphlets; fo that the public, in general, are fufficiently acquainted with the nature of the difpute; but if any of our Readers require a more particular account of this affair, than will be given in the prefent article, we refer them to a tract, entitled, The Conduct of the Bishop of Winchester, or to the review of it contained in our 42d vol. p. 491: alfo to the Appeal now

before

before us; in which Dr. Kent vindicates himself from the charges advanced against him, in certain reports, injurious to his reputation. Art. 41. The Lives of thofe eminent Antiquaries John Leland, Thomas Hearne, and Anthony à Wood; with an authentic Account of their respective Writings and Publications, from original Papers. In which are occafionally inferted, Memoirs relating to many eminent Perfons, and various parts of Literature. Alfo feveral Engravings of Antiquity, never before published. 8vo. z Vols. Large Paper 11. 1 s. Small Paper 12 s. Boards. Oxford printed for Fletcher, in the Turl; and Pote, at Eton. 1772.

Befide the pleasure which naturally refults from books of biography, they have the advantage, in fome inftances, of ferving as commentaries on the writings of the great men they record. But there are authors, who, though they have deferved well of literature, do not excite a general approbation or curiofity. Leland, Hearne, and Wood, were undoubtedly men of learning, and intelligent antiqua. ries; but their industry was more to be commended than their genius. Their researches, however, have their value; and these accounts of their lives, connexions, and publications, are executed with exactness and ability.

Art. 42. Some Particulars of the Life of Jonathan Britain, who was executed at Bristol, for Forgery, May 15, 1772. By a Gentleman who attended him. With a Preface by the Rev. Mr. Rouquet. 8vo. 6d. Bristol printed by Pine, and fold by Cooke in London. From this account it appears that the artful and infamous Jonathan Britain was a true penitent, and a real convert to God. For this fact we muft reft, folely, on the credit of the gentleman who attended him,' and who introduced himself to Jonathan with this af furance that Jefus alone could help him;' that Jefus is the friend of all diftreffed and miferable finners;' that to his arms the wor are welcome if they come with true hearts,' &c. and that many a poor finner has the bleffed Jefus received from the gallows into glory." From all which, we fuppofe, our Readers will conclude that the gentleman who attended Mr. Britain is a Methodist.

Art. 43. A Letter to David Garrick, Efq; occafioned by his having moved the Court of King's Bench against the Publisher of Love in the Suds, &c. By Dr. Kenrick. 4to. 1 s. 6d. Wheble. Those who are curious to learn the grounds of Dr. Kenrick's quarrel with Mr. Garrick, and his motives for writing the Town Eclogue above-mentioned, will find them amply fet forth in this pamphlet. Art. 44. The Toilet of Flora; or, a Collection of the moft fimple and approved Methods of preparing Baths, Effences, Pomatums, Powders, Perfumes, fweet fcented Waters, Opiates for preferving and whitening the Teeth,-with Receipts for Cofmetics of every Kind, that can fmooth and brighten the Skin, give Force to Beauty, and take off the Appearance of old Age and Decay. For the Ufe of the Ladies. Improved from the French of M. Buchoz, M. D. 12mo. 3 s. bound. Nicoll.

On looking over the very copious table of contents prefixed to this large collection of effences, perfumes, and lotions,-well might any handfome, healthy, and cleanly woman exclaim, with the Philofo

pher

pher in the fair, “What a multitude of things are here, which I do not want!"

Art. 45. The New Topic of Converfation; or, Dialogues on the Abufe or Excefs of Credit in Trade. Adapted to the prefent Times. Second Edition. 8vo. 1 S. Murray.

An old tract revived, with a new title-page; on the back of which, the Editor fairly acknowledges, in an advertisement, that These fentiments were offered to the confideration of the public, in the year 1766-and that they are now republished, to draw the attention of the prudent and confiderate part of mankind toward the first and real fource of the growing evils complained of." The late remarkable blow given to public credit, renders this topic of converfation a very melancholy one-we refer to our Review, vol. xxxvi. p. 232, for a character of these Dialogues; we there gave them our approbation, but have not re-perufed them on this occafion.

Art. 46. A plain and complete Grammar of the English Language; to which is prefixed, the English Accedence; with Remarks and Obfervations on a short Introduction to English Grammar. By Anfelm Bayly, LL. D. Sub-Dean of his Majefty's Chapel-Royal. 8vo. 2 s. Ridley. 1772.

The importance of grammar, fays this Writer, is feen, if from no other argument, from the multiplicity of grammars that have been written in all languages.-The multiplicity of grammars, he adds, may feem alfo to infer the facility of grammar, fince every mafter of every petty fchool thinks himfelf qualified to write one, efpecially of his native tongue; but the difficulty is manifest from the imperfection of each. The learned Wallis hath written a grammar, fo have the Johnfons and the Author of the Short Introduction; ftill the complaint continues from natives as well as foreigners, we have no good English grammar.' In order to remove this complaint, he obferves, the question fhould be refolved, what is a good English grammar? Muft it be void of all learning, expreffed in vulgar language, and without any technical terms? This, he thinks, would be a quality unneceffary and improper, becaufe children never learn grammar any more than they do language of themselves, and they may as well be taught elegantly as vulgarly,-and because no art or fcience, though it may be written upon in a mean language, can be explained without the ufe of fome terms. He next afks, Is a good English grammar fuch as is adapted to the English only? This again, he replies, is improper, if not impoffible, because English is not felf-originated, because a liberal education requires the knowledge of the learned languages; and lastly, because the use and intention of grammar is to improve the understanding of children into that of men. Now, therefore, he thinks, he can answer the queftion above propofed: A good English grammar is one that is learned, plain and extenfive. Upon this plan the grammar before us is formed, and called, plain and complete,' but not perfect. The original title, it is faid, was, an Introduction to Languages, or a Grammar literary and philofophical, especially to English, Latin, Greek and Hebrew; but it was thought too complex, and the prefent, as more imple, was preferred by the publisher.' In a former edition, the grammars, it is faid, were placed in one

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