by fimilar editions of whatever is worth publishing or reprinting. The mifcellaneous nature of our County Hiftories makes it rather difficult to clafs them, but the double head which we have given to this fection will comprise the most important part of their contents. That Mr. Polwhele's History of Cornwall has much to recommend it, we have fhown by various citations. Even a smaller diftrict, the divifion of Cleveland in Yorkshire, has afforded a fubject of fimilar research to Mr. Graves †, who has founded upon it a volume of confiderable extent and elegance. Mers. Lyfons, in profecution of their arduous plan, have given the Hiftory of Cambridgeshire, which we have found executed with the fame spirit as their former volume: and by this time, if we mistake not, their account of Cheshire has also appeared. But for the picturesque delineation of ancient buildings, whether in decay or well preserved, we have feen no work entirely equal to Mr. Britton's Architectural Antiquities §, of which two volumes are now completed. Nor does the artist fo entirely exclude the ftudious antiquary, as to occafion any deficiency of curious research. The eye is pleafed, but the mind is not difappointed. BIOGRAPHY. The very comprehenfive volume, entitled Univerfal Biography, the work of Dr. Lempriere, is fuch a book of reference as must be acceptable to every enquirer. If more intelligence be wanted, refpecting any particular perfon, this work will at leaft refer the reader to the more copious fources. The errors, whether of prefs or of information, infeparable. No. IV. p. 499. See alfo p. 23, of January 1810. No. III. p. 270. from from a work fo very various, will gradually vanifh as the editions shall be repeated. Of particular biography, Mr. Ritchie's Life of Hume*, is the moft confiderable fpecimen that our prefent volume contains. We cannot, however, give it high commendation. It fills a chafm in English biography; but it is a mere compilation, and though not tainted with the infidelity of Hume, certainly not employed to advocate any better principles. But few memoirs can rival in intereft the fhort account of Klopstock, drawn up by the late Mifs E. Smith t. The writer is interefting, the fubject is interefting, and the peculiar character of Klopstock and his Meta are the richest fource of the pathetic that a biographer could have found. The anonymous Life of Abraham Newland‡ is a trifle, in which however there appears to be good intention, and certainly not bad writing. Morality may ufually draw fomething from the memoirs of a man raised to affluence by prudence, good conduct, and steady integrity. As a novel written in the Epiftolary form conveys a narrative, without appearing to intend it, fo a collection of original Letters has generally appeared to us to belong to biography. More particularly, when like thofe of Mrs. Montague §, they are chronologically continued, from an early period of the writer's life. No biographer indeed would have sketched the youthful character of Mrs. Montague, with fuch liveliness as we have seen it derive, from the natural touches of her own pen. LAW AND POLITICS. On thefe fubjects we have nothing at present to mention, which does not refer to the questions and events of the prefent day. Among thefe, the great principles of the Revolution have been difcuffed with clearness and ability by the Gresham Lecturer, as a feasonable antidote to fome doctrines too induftrioufly circulated at this time. The fubject of Parliamentary Reform, as it is called, has alfo exercised fome able pens; among which productions we may mention the Pamphlet under the name of Detector; the Letter of the Earl of Selkirk to Mr. Cartwright; and an anonymous Letter to a Member of Parliament, entitled A few plain Obfervations §. All thefe, with energy and effect, oppofe the dangerous opinions which are daily broached by demagogues, with a pretended zeal for our liberties; but with a real danger to all the old fecurities of the conftitution. The anonymous author of Radical Reform is alfo an opponent of thofe restless fpirits, but himself propofes feveral improvements, the majority of which might certainly be adopted with fafety and advantage. Tinney's Letter to Lord Folkflone, on the thanks prefented to Mr. Wardle, is in fact connected with the fame fubject; and is a very well-written and fenfible addrefs, on subjects of much importance. Mr. On general fubjects of national concern, and more efpecially on the conduct of the war, Mr. Leckie ** has produced a book, which though, in perhaps the majority of points, we cannot adopt the fentiments of the writer, nor accede to his ftatements, we fhould think it unjuft to pafs in filence. We mention it therefore, rather as a work to be confidered than implicitly received. Ardnt's Spirit of the Times tt examines the ftate of Europe at large, * No. VI. p. 626. + No. VI. p. 632. **Hiftorical Survey of Foreign Affairs, &c, No. I. p. 63. ++ No. IV. P. 415. and and the probable defigns of the common enemy. The best proof of the writer's fagacity is the punish ment of death inflicted by order of Bonaparte on Palm, the unfortunate printer of the work. On a fubject which lately interefted the whole of this country, and which, for feveral reasons will not foon be forgotten, Mr. Perceval's just and animated Speech, before the vote in the Houfe of Commons, deferves to remain, as a permanent record of the facts. Deliberate judgment will hardly believe hereafter, how much fome very strong minds were at that period warped by paffion. Six Letters on the subject of Dr. Milner †, and the Royal Veto, deserve to be owned by fome more refpectable parent than poor A. B., who may be called to vouch for any thing. In addreffing a newspaper it may be allowable, and even commendable, to withhold a name; but, in prefenting the collection to the public, the author ought not to have continued his reserve. It has not unfre quently happened, that a pamphlet or a speech published in America, has proved worthy of being reprinted in England ; this is eminently the cafe with the letter from Mr. Pickering to Mr. Sullivan § on the queftion of War with this country. Should that rafh measure be precipitated, by a French fac tion, on that fide of the Atlantic, it will not be with, out having received warning from an able and enlightened citizen. Mr. Partridge's Seven Charges to Grand Juries | though they allude immediately to events and circumstances now paft, are fuch as, in all fimilar cafes, will be applicable to general ufe; and fimilar events may always be expected, in a ftate fo conftituted as this. In what clafs to place Mr. G. Hamilton's Speeches and Parliamentary Logic, cannot well be doubted. Perhaps, even in the Seffion now commencing, his precepts may receive very frequent exemplification. Whether his fpeeches will be equalled or furpaffed it is not for us to furmife, NATURAL PHILOSOPHY AND HISTORY, The Pbilofophical Tranfactions of the Royal Society have been reported by us as ufual, and poffefs their ufual value, Thefe are juftly a national boast, But we must not therefore overlook the progrefs of our neighbours. The very acute and elaborate work of M. Chaptal, on the Application of Chemistry to the Arts, well deferved to be tranflated, it is now a regular book in the libraries of philofophers. Dr. Shaw's Lectures §, delivered at the Royal Inftitution will be found an excellent manual, or general introduction to Zoology. The Zoology of the British Inlands is, on the contrary, the selected province of Mr. Donovan; and his work on British Fibes, promifes to be one of the most beautiful of his defcriptive works. The plants of Britain are fill left to Dr. Hull, whofe British Flora, enlarged and improved, will probably be a very useful abstract of that branch of fcience. MEDICINE. If we have little to bring forward at prefent in this cience, it is not because we have remitted any thing of our attention to it; but becaufe, unfortunately No. III. p. 284. + No. V. p. 443 VI. p. 567. No. IV. p. 396. 1 No. I. p. 75: the |
