they jointly form the principal part of education at our public feminaries. The English translation certainly renders the Greek examples more perfpicuous and intelligible to a ftudent ;-but by the use of a double verfion, his progrefs in the Latin language, in our opinion, might at the fame time have been facilitated.

Every fcholar of tafte, who is defirous of writing Greek, will certainly chufe Xenophon for his model in compofition. Yet we are rather furprifed, that Mr. Huntingford fhould felect his whole fecand Part from the Cyropaedia of that author. This portion of his works is read in feveral schools; and is acceffible to almost all school-boys; few of whom, we believe, would have ftrength of mind fufficient to refift the use of fuch an affistant as the original, in order to accelerate the performance of their Greek exercifes.

This circumftance muft confiderably leffen the value of the latter performance, and circumfcribe the ufe of it by very narrow boundaries.

In the third edition of the firft part of this work, the additions, and alterations are very confiderable. From a small pamphlet of fifty-fix pages, it has increafed to more than an hundred, and the price from fix-pence to two fhillings. Corrections do not always merit the title of improvements; but they certainly do, in the prefent inftance. The fignifications of the prepofitions are exhibited in a greater variety of examples. Most of thofe which, in our perufal of the former editions, feemed to us as if they had been selected only from the Port Royal grammar, are now expunged; and their places supplied by others, which are really extracted from the claffics.

In the verbs, the names of the authors are very properly affixed to the examples. But why is the preter-pluperfect of the middle voice omitted, while the perfect is retained? We can, without regret, refign the Paulo poft future, and the fecond futures, in all the voices; and we would with thofe, who lament the lofs of them, to perufe the obfervations of Lennep, which Villoifon has inferted in his edition of the Paftorals of Longus +.

We neither with to offend the Author by these remarks, nor to depreciate his works. We have given our opinion with freedom, folely from a wifh that thefe errors may be avoided, if the

* As Mr. H. has given the English names of the tenfes, we do not imagine that the continuance of the a diphthong, in the word preter, can be tolerated as neceffary, or vindicated as proper. Mr. H. rejects it in the word prepofition; and in our language it has no right to a place in any word. We would likewife with an alteration in page 61, where there is an example taken from part of a verfe of Menander, as the whole line is inferted afterwards in page 91.

Page 248. The paffage is likewife quoted by Dr. Bargefs, in his Appendix to Dawes's Mifcellanea Critica, p. 371.

prefent

prefent publications fhould induce others to enter the road, through which Mr. Huntingford has certainly paffed with credit; and great praise he may furely claim, for firft venturing to enter an untrodden path; a path, by which thofe, who follow his rules and directions, may arrive at found knowledge, if they are ambitious of intellectual eminence. For though there are errors in fome parts of the plan and execution of thefe works, yet we readily allow that they poffefs a very confiderable portion of merit. As first attempts, they have a claim to indulgence; and, as ufeful auxiliaries, they deferve encouragement. On account of their utility, therefore, we with that the fanction of Winchefter college may advance their fuccefs.

With the moft folid fatisfaction, we obferve, that the study of Grecian literature is profecuted, in the prefent age, with increased ardour, and with equal fuccefs, if we may judge by fome late publications*. A tafte for compofition in that noble and expreffive language has diffused itself through our schools and univerfities, which may be ftill farther promoted by M. H's compilements. On that account, we can pardon omiffions and imperfections. Cheerfully, therefore, do we recommend them to fchoolmafters and tutors, as well as to the ufe of all ftudents, who are emulous of writing Greek, and of investigating and imitating thofe elegancies of thought and expreffion, which have rendered the Attic writers, through so many ages, the objects of univerfal ad

miration.

To prove the importance of thefe ftudies, we fhall quote a paffage from Mr. Huntingford +; and if his affertions fhould require any additional teftimony, our Readers may confult Matfaire's Preface to his Græcæ linguæ dialecti‡:

• With the prefervation of Grecian literature is connected the cause of tafte, freedom, virtue, and religion: for the GREEK WRITINGS prefent us with the moft perfect models for compofition in all kinds, whether in Hiftory, Oratory, or Philofophy; whether in Paftoral, Elegiac, Lyric, Epic, or that which excels all others, Dramatic poetry: they infpire us, with a noble contempt of tyranny and defpotifm, and with a generous difdain of that abject fervility, which debafes the subjects of arbitrary power and partly by philofophers, but more fully, forcibly, infallibly, and authentically, by the EVANGELISTS, and founders of CHRISTIANITY, they teach us our duties to God and man.'

Mr. Glaffe's Greek tranflation of Mafon's Caractacus, and Mr. Huntingford's Metrica quædam Monoftrophica.; of which last an account will be given in our next.

+ Preface to the Second Part. Edit. Haga Com. 1738.

ART.

ART. VI. Efays, Moral and Literary. By Vicefimus Knox. 12mo? 2 Vols. 7 s. 6d. bound. A new Edition. Dilly. 1782.

UR opinion of the general merit of thefe very ingenious Effays is already before the Public. The additions, which are numerous, juftify our recommendation. Through the whole, the Author fupports his character as a man of tafte and good fenfe. His reflections are generally judicious; frequently acute and fpirited; and always of a pure and virtuous tendency.

We have carefully compared this edition with the laft, and find the following papers entirely new:

"On entrance into life, and the conduct of early manhood,—On the wisdom of aiming at perfection.-On the fear of appearing fingu. lar. On the injuftice and cruelty of the public prints.-On forming a tafte for fimple pleasures.-On fupporting the dignity of a commercial character.-An idea of a patriot. The refpectableness of the clergy. On the tendency of moral profligacy to deftroy civil liberty. -On that kind of wisdom which confifts in accommodation, founded only on felfishness.-On the prevalence of religious fcepticifm.-Family unhappiness the frequent caufe of immoral conduct.-Hints to young men defigned for Orders.-To thofe defigned for a military or naval life.-Style of hiftory.-Of writing voyages and travels.-On the folly of being anxious to know what is faid of us in our abfence.Efficacy of moral inftruction, Modern criticifm.-Periodical Effayifts. A cultivated mind only fit for retirement-Encouragement of the community in virtuous love.-Hints to gentlemen who are not defigned for any profeffion-Want of perfonal beauty a frequent caule of virtue.-Exceflive and indifcriminate love of company.Moral effects of painting and prints.-Impropriety of publicly adopting a new tranflation of the Bible.-The multiplication of books.Letters a fource of confolation.-Choice of a profeffion.-Vanity of becoming authors and orators without proper qualifications.-Mercantile life.-Selfishness of the men of the world.-The folly of denying that Homer hath faults.-On Thuanus the hiftorian.—On Owen, the Latin epigrammatift.-Politian, Muretus.-Vida.-Sannazarius.-Venerable Bede.-Schoolmen.-On the value of an honeft man.-Extenfion of claffical ftudies to philofophy.-Effects of bad example of the great among domeftics and dependants.-Exciting in boys literary emulation.-Antiquarian tafte.-Objections to the fudy of antiquities, how far improper.-Of fome parts of univerfity education.-Fear of growing old.-Short fyftem of virtue and happinefs. On the propriety of exciting manly virtue in a time of public diftrefs. On the means of reading to the best advantage.-Neglect of a family for idle pleafures.-On forming connections.-Addrefs to a young scholar on a liberal education.-Want of piety from a want of fenfibility.-Religious and moral principles promotive of true po liteness.-Guilt of running in debt.-On Petrarch.-War.-Intem. perate ftudy.-Prefent ftate of converfation.-Goodness of heart. Characters of Theophraftus.-Paffages in Epictetus.Delicacy of flyle.-Profeflion of phyfic.-Complaints against modern literature

-founded.-Diffentions in a country neighbourhood.-Profeffion of the law. Inconveniencies attending living writers.-Obligations of learning to Chriftianity.-Extravagance in trifles, and parfimony in matters of importance.-A tafte for flowers and fhrubs.-Learned profeffion without a competency-Decency as the only motive to virtue and religion.-Animofities from the game laws.-Government of the temper.-Moral effects of a good tragedy.-Politics.-Buffoonery in converfation.-Style of Xenophon and Plato.-Nationaladverfity.-Falfe pretences of art and avarice.-Prevailing taste in poetry.-Indolence in a literary life.-Manners of a metropolis.-On Philelphus and Theodore Gaza of the 15th century.--Frothy fpeaking and writing.-Erafmus.-Education of a prince.-Poems of Row. ley.-Writings of Sterne.-Example of the great.-Profligacy of the lower claffes. Ariftotle's rhetoric.-Ingenuoufnefs. Remedy for difcontent Religious ceremonies. Parliamentary eloquence.Life of letters innocent.-Scripture phrafes enforce the pathetic.Freedom of speech.-Reading as an amufement.-Method of ftudy by Ringelbergius.-Folly of facrificing comfort to tafte.-Henry V.A good heart neceffary to enjoy the beauties of nature.-Bafenefs of vice in nobility.-Affectation of fenfibility.-On fermon writers.-A concluding Effy.'

In thefe Effays the Reader will find much to entertain, and not a little to inftruct him. Some of this Author's opinions. may be controverted; and though we are by no means difpofed to retract the judgment which from the beginning we have paffed on the genius and writings of Sterne (and which gave him so much offence that an affected laugh could not hide his chagrin), yet we think the cenfure paffed on him by our ingenious Effayift is too fevere. After an eftimate of the general merit of Triftram Shandy, and the Sentimental Journey, Mr. Knox paffes this harsh fentence on his private and literary character. Sterne himself, with all his pretenfions, is faid to have displayed in private life a bad and a hard heart: and I fhall not hesitate to pronounce him, though many admire him as the first of philofophers, the grand promoter of adultery, and every fpecies of illicit commerce.'

Of the poems of Rowley Mr. Knox hath the fame opinion. with ourselves. His obfervations on Chatterton are humane and generous but if he had read Mr. Walpole's letter, we think his candour would have foftened his reflections on the conduct of that gentleman towards the unfortunate youth.

We shall felect for the amusement, as well as for the information of our Readers, a very curious and spirited Essay on the Dif cipline of the English Universities:

Our English univerfities are held in high esteem among foreigners; and, indeed, confidering the number of great men, who have received a part of their education in them, and their opulent establishments of colleges and profefforfhips, they are really refpectable. I have therefore been the more difpofed to lament, that the public exercifes should be fo futile and abfurd, as to deserve not only the feverity of cenfure, but the utmost poignancy of ridicule.

KEV. April, 1783.

• Reve

Reverence, it has been juftly remarked, is always encreased by the distance of the object. The world at large, who hear of colleges like palaces devoted to learning, of princely eftates bequeathed for the fupport of profeffors, of public libraries and fchools for every fcience, are difpofed to view the confecrated place in which they abound, with peculiar veneration. Accidental vifitors alfo, who behold the fuperb dining halls, the painted chapels, the luxurious comman rooms, the elegant chambers, and a race of mortals, in a peculiar dress, ftrutting through the streets with a folemn air of importance; when they fee all the doctors, both the proctors, with all the heads of colleges and halls, in folemn proceffion, with their velvet fleeves, fcarlet gowns, hoods, black, red, and purple-cannot but be ftruck with the appearance, and are naturally led to conclude, that here, at length, wisdom, fcience, learning, and whatever elfe is praifeworthy, for ever flourish and abound.

Without entering into an invidious and particular examination of the subject, we may curforily obferve, that after all this pompous oftentation, and this profufe expence, the public has not, of late at leaf, been indebted for the greatest improvements in fcience and learning, to all the doctors, both the proctors, nor to all the heads of colleges and halls laid together. That populous univerfity, London, and that region of literary labour, Scotland, have feized every palm of literary bonour, and left the fons of Oxford and Cambridge to enjoy fubftantial comforts, in the fmoke of the common or combination room. The burfar's books are the only manufcripts of any value produced in many colleges; and the fweets of penfions, exhibitions, fines. fellowships, and petty offices, the chief objects of academical purfuit.

If I were to enter into the many laughable abfurdities of.collegiate life and univerfity inflitutions, as they now ftand, I fhould exceed the limits of my paper. It is my intention at prefent only to acquaint the public with the exercifes, which one celebrated feat of the Mufes requires, of those who feek the envied honour of a Master of Arts degree. I fpeak not from difpleasure or refentment; but voluntarily incur the odium of many perfons attached by intereft and connections to the univerfities, with no other motive, than the defire of removing the difgrace of thofe noble eftablishments, by expofing the futility of the exercifes to public animadverfion.

The youth, whofe heart pants for the honour of a Bachelor of Arts degree, moft wait patiently till near four years have revolved. But this time is not to be fpent idly. No; he is obliged, during this period, once to oppofe, and once to refpond, in difputations held in the public fchools-a formidable found, and a dreadful idea; but, on clofer attention, the fear will vanish, and contempt fupply its place.

This oppofing and refponding is termed, in the cant of the place, doing generals. Two boys, or men, as they call themselves, agree to do generals together. The first step in this mighty work is to procure arguments. Thefe are always handed down, from generation to generation, on long flips of paper, and confift of foolish fyllogifms of foolish fubjects, of the formation or the fignification of which, the refpondent and opponent feidom know more than an infant in fweddling cloaths. The next Rep is to go for a liceat to one of the petty officers,