Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

preceding Writer. Though he feems to us to treat his fubject rather with too much folemnity and parade, this objection does not lie against the manner in which he accolts his antagonist, whom he treats de baut en bas; bestowing on him, in his wrath, the appellations of obfcene libeller, filthy fcribbler, monfter of corruption and Jubricity, hireling of the corporation of midwives, Don Quixote of the old beldames,'-and their proper fynonims in the French language in the oppofite page. The midwives meet with no better quarter from him, whofe ignorance, obftinacy, rashness and violence he expofes, and exemplifies in the recital of fome late chamber-fcenes; particularly in one where the learned and eminent Mrs.

one of the worthies in the preceding Author's recommendatory lift, plays a very diftinguished part.'

POLITICAL.

Art. 13. Letters from an English Gentleman, on his Travels thro' Denmark, to his Friend in London; ferving as a Confutation to the many falfe Accounts published in the English News papers; but more particularly in the pamphlet called, "The Political Syftem of the Regency of Denmark fully explained." 8vo. 1 s. Wheble. 1772.

The Writer expreffes himself as a warm friend to Queen Juliana Maria, whofe character is fo feverely attacked in The Iolitical Syftem, &c. and he places the conduct of the unfortunate Matilda in the most unfavourable light: but what credit is due to the reprefentations of an anonymous pamphleteer?

Art. 14. A Sketch of the fecret Hiftory of Europe fince the Peace of Paris; with Obfervations on the prefent critical State of Great Britain. 8vo. I S Murray. 1772.

One would imagine, from the dogmatical tone of this Writer, that he was intimately acquainted with the mott private tranfactions of the cabinet in all the courts of Europe. His information, however, extends to no circumflances, not hitherto known and attended to. At the fame time we will not pofitively affert, that our Gazettes and news-papers are the only fources of his knowledge. From the foreign idioms into which he has fallen, he may be fufpected to have been in the train of fome of our ambaffadors. He writes with fome degree of fpirit, but does not difcover much genius or ability.

L'A W.

Art. 15. A Complete Index to the Statutes at Large, from Magna Charta to the Tenth Year of George III. inclufive. By Owen

Ruff head, Efq; and another Gentleman. 8vo. 7 s. bound.

Uriel. 1772.

This Index to the Statutes was originally compiled by the late Mr. Ruffhead, as far as the fourth of the prefent King, for the 4to. edition of the Statutes, which the public hath fo highly diftinguished with their approbation.'

By the chronological order in which the numerous titles and fubjects comprehended in this work are difpofed, the Reader will be enabled to remark not only the various alterations and improvements that have, from time to time, been made in our laws, but

24

their

their connexion and dependence on each other; and as the Common Law, in a great meafure, depends on, and is intimately connected with the Statute Law (the latter being intended to fupply the defects of the former) the difpofition of the different fubjects in the manner above-mentioned, fhews the great improvements which have been made, during a long courfe of years, in the legislation of this country.' PREF.

Two parts of the Eleventh Volume of the 4to edition of the Statutes, containing the acts paft in the two laft feffions of parlia ment, are already published.

EAST INDIES.

Art. 16. A Letter to the Proprietors of Eaft-India Stock, on the Subject of fending Supervifors with extraordinary Powers to India. By a Friend to fair Difcuffion. 8vo. 6 d. Bladon. 1772.

This Writer is both able and candid. He has itated every objection that can be made to the Supervisor-scheme, and has shewn their impropriety, with much force of evidence. His manner and style are not equal to his matter.

NOVEL S.

Art. 17. Ermina; or, the Fair Reclufe. In a Series of Letters. By a Lady, Author of Dorinda Catfby, &c. 12mo. 2 Vol. 6 s. Bladon.

A most insupportable languor and heaviness crawls through these volumes; in which we are truck with no novelty of incidents, or of character; we are furprized with no unexpected or interefting fituations; nor are we charmed with any delicacy of fentiment, or of

manner.

Art. 18. The Explanation; or, Agreeable Surprize. By a Lady. 12mo. 2 Vols. 5 s. fewed. Noble. 1772.

We have feldom met with a performance more infipid than the prefent; which offers nothing to excite applaufe or attention.

POETICA L.

Art. 19. Sir Amorous Whimfy; or, the Disappointed Maccaroni,
A poetical Tale. 4to. I S. Evans. 1772.
This tale has a very handfome engraved title-page.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 20. The Art of planting and cultivating the Vine; alfo of making, fining, and preferving Wines, &c. according to the most approved Methods in the most celebrated Wine Countries in France. By Louis de Saint Pierre, Efq; one of his Majefty's Juftices of the Peace for Granville County, and Captain of the Company of Militia confifting of the French Vine Dressers, established at New Bourdeaux, in South Carolina. 12mo. 5 s. 3 d. fewed. Wilkie, &c. 1772,

That the foil and climate of fome of our North American Colonies, are favourable to the cultivation of the grape, and the manufacture of wines, is a fact now generally admitted, from the experiments that have been made, and the fpecimens that have been produced,

The

The Author of this treatife, as we learn from his prefatory address to the British nation, has made a great progrefs in the actual introduction of this important staple into South Carolina, where he has eftablished a little colony of French and German Vignerons; and famples of their wine, brought hither, have met with fo much approbation, that our Author warmly exults in his profpect of meeting with that encouragement to which (as far as we can judge from the perufal of his book) he feems to be very juftly entitled.

With respect to his account of the culture of the different forts of vines, the management of vineyards, and the manufacture of wines, it appears to be the fulleft and most complete treatife of the kind that hath been published in this country.

Art. 21. A new compendious Grammar of the Latin Tongue. Wherein the Principles of the Language are methodically digested, and briefly comprised in English. By W. Bell, A. B. private Teacher of the Latin and Greek Languages. 12mo. I s. 6 d.

Burnet.

It is a juft complaint that grammatical treatifes are, in general, defective, and little calculated for the ufe of the ftudent. They are numerous, notwithstanding; and, what may appear fingular, it is to be fufpected, that their defects increase, inftead of being remedied. Every inferior teacher, from views of profit, or reputation, or both, undertakes the task of compiling a Compendious Grammar' for his pupils. By this means he gratifies his private ends, while the purpoles of education receive no advance or improvement. It is eafy to tranfcribe; and though he has no judgment to exert, and no ingenuity to display, it is not difficult for him to load the prefs with a pilfered work. In this clafs of productions we may rank the prefent performance.

Art. 22. Effai Philofophique & Pratique fur L'education des Jeunes Seigneurs & Gentilhommes, que l'on vent avancer dans le Monde, á la Cour. Par M. Porny, Profeffeur de Langue Françoise á Etan. 3 s. Parker.

12mo.

In this treatise there is a mixture of good fenfe and of whim. The Author does not appear to be deftitute of knowledge; but his vivacity is greater than his penetration or philofophy. This publica appears alfo to be too much calculated to recommend him as a teacher.

tion

Art. 23. The Life of Theodore Agrippa D'Aubigné; containing a fuccinct Account of the most remarkable Occurrences during the Civil Wars of France, in the Reigns of Charles IX. Henry III. Henry IV. and in the Minority of Lewis XIII. 8vo. 6s. Dilly. 1772.

The prefent life of this celebrated hero of the Huguenots appears to be written with judgment and impartiality; and it is, we believe, the most compleat account of the honeft, brave, and learned D'Aubigné, that hath yet been laid before the public. He was grandfather to the celebrated Madam Maintenon.

Art. 24. The New Foundling Hofpital for Wit. Part V. 2 s. 6d. Almon. 1772.

12mo.

For the nature of this collection, fee our notice of the former parts: Reviews for May and December 1768, and for April 1771.

Art.

Art. 25. The fatal Confequences of Adultery, to Monarchies as well as to private Families: With a Defence of the Bill paffed in the Houfe of Lords, in 1771, entitled, "An Act to refrain Perfons who fhall be divorced, for the Crime of Adultery, from marrying with the Party." Alfo an hiftorical Account of Marriage, &c, By Thomas Pollen, A. M. 8vo. 35. Lowndes. 1772.

Adultery, a fpecies of vice which hath, of late, attracted much of the public attention, here undergoes a religious, hiftorical, and political inveftigation; from which the honest and virtuous Reader will derive as much entertainment as a reflecting and upright mind is capable of receiving from the contemplation of a fubject to hateful to virtue, fo difhonourable to human nature!

The Bill, mentioned in the title page, paffed the House of Lords, but not the House of Commons.

Art. 26. The Female Mifcellany. Part I. containing a Sketch of English Grammar; an Abridgment of holy Hiftory; a fmall Collection of Fables, &c.. Part II. confifting of a Series of Letters addreffed to a young Lady who has made fome Progrefs in reading. For the Ufe of a Boarding School. Small 8vo. 1 s. 6d. fewed. Salop printed; and fold by Owen in London.

The first part of this little work was printed at Shrewsbury, in 1770; but the whole being lately advertifed in the London papers, we were by that means informed of the publication; which, as it is written with a due regard to religion and decency, may be of ufe in boarding fchools, according to the Author's profeffed defign. Art. 27. The Philofophy of the Paffions; demonftrating their Nature, Properties, Effects, &c. 8vo. 2 Vols. 7 s. Almon. 1772. There is much of St. Auguftin, much of Grace, and much of Mrfticism in this treatife; which will probably confine the number of its admirers to the remnant of Hutchinson's followers, and the disciples of William Law.

Art. 28. The School: being a Series of Letters between a young Lady and her Mother. Part III. 12mo, 3 s. Flexney. 1772. For a character of this work, fee Review, vol. xxxv. p. 149; where, in our mention of the first part, the compofition is afcribed to Mrs. Maefe, miftrefs of a boarding-fchool in Bath. The fecond volume was announced to our Readers in Rev. vol. xxxviii. p. 62. Art. 29. An historical Defcription of the Cathedral Church of Canterbury. 8vo. 2 S. Wilkie. 1772,

This defcription appears to be drawn up with a degree of accuracy and judgment, fuitable to the nature of the undertaking. Art. 30. Elements of Painting with Crayons. By John Ruffel. 4to. 5 s. Wilkie. 1772.

Mr. Ruffel, a difciple of the late famous Mr. Francis Cotes, has here, in the most difinterefied manner, communicated to the public, the whole Arcana of his profeffion, and fully proved that he

66

knows his art, without the trade."

His book, in short, contains a fet of valuable inftructions for young ftudents in this elegant branch of the fine arts; introduced by fome ingenious and well-written obfervations on Tafte, and general rules for Drawing.

Art.

Art. 31. Obfervations on the prefent State of the Game in England. By William Taplin. 8vo. 1 s. Davies.

[ocr errors]

Mr. Taplin enumerates the caufes of the deficiency of game in England, and offers propofals for its more effectual prefervation. In order to prevent poaching, he would have every freeholder of five pounds per annum deemed qualified sportsmen; by which means, he obferves, the game would then have as many protectors as it has enemies now.' There may be fomething reasonable in this hint. Art. 32. An Efay, explaining the Mode of executing a useful Work, entitled, A new Defcription of England and Wales, as a Continuation and Illuftration of Camden. 8vo. 6d. Pearch.

A new furvey and defcription of England, &c. is a work greatly wanted, and which would certainly meet with ample encouragement from the public, if undertaken by perfons duly qualified, and of good character.

The unknown Author of the fcheme before us propofes that perfons of adequate abilities fhould be employed, by a fet of fubfcribers, (300 in number) who are to raife 3000 guineas, at 10 guineas each; and the fubfcribers to remain proprietors of the furvey; which would, doubtless, if well executed, prove a valuable copy-so far as literary property will admit of fecurity from piratical invafion.

For farther particulars of this fcheme, we refer to the Essay; the Author of which may be applied to by letter, addressed to A. B. at Mr. Pearch's, bookfeller, London, poft paid.

RELIGIOUS and CONTROVERSIAL. Art. 33. A Differtation upon Heretical Opinions: Giving a fhort diftinctive View of the principal Errors which have prevailed in all the feveral Ages of the Church, and fhewing that thefe are no reasonable Objections against the Truth of Chriftianity, nor any Grounds for the falfe Pretences of Popery or Infidelity. By John Rawlins, A. M. Rector of Leigh in Worcestershire, Minifter of Badfey and Wickamford, and Chaplain to Lord Archer. 8vo. 1 s. od. Oxford printed; fold by Rivington, in London.

1772.

I

The defign of this pamphlet is important, and the differtation itfelf may be even entertaining, as well as inftructive to thofe Readers who wish to obtain a general acquaintance with the rife and progrefs of particular parties and various opinions in the chriftian church. Deiftical writers complain, as is here obferved, that there is not an uniformity of opinion about the doctrines and precepts of the gofpel; and the church of Rome makes ufe of this evafive plea, that there are perpetual diffentions and divifions among chriftians of all denomi nations, except themselves.' Thefe objections, we fear, have been feldom either fairly propofed or candidly infifted on; and an answer, fufficient to fatisfy a mind engaged only in the fearch of truth, may, we apprehend, be obtained without great difficulty. It cannot furely be confidered as wonderful, if amidst the various prejudices and weaknesses, views and interefts of mankind; the different methods of thinking even on the fame topics, that muft prevail among a body of people, together with the obfcurity and uncertainty in which fome doctrinal points may have been defignedly left by the wife Author of

our

« AnteriorContinuar »