for general ufe, is No. 2, containing an account of the quantities of grain ex-, ported from 1697 to 1780, diftinguithing each year; alfo fhewing the annual ́ average price of wheat per quarter in the fame period. It will be found by, this table, that the price, for the firft thirty years of the century juft clofed, was fo low, in feveral years, as il. 10s. per quarter, and fometimes lower ftill, viz. 11. 4s. and fo lately as 1779, il. 14s. The average of feveral years, however, was 21. 4s. ; and there were periods when the bounty was allowed for exportation. Let the impartial examiner compare thefe prices with the prefent; and then refolve the queftion, If error, mifmanagement, or avarice, have not taken deep root? And whether gentlemen or great farmers, monopolizers, engrossers, millers, mealmen, and corn-factors, are fo innocent of all impofition on the pub lic as their noble advocate afferts. Dramas and other Poems of the Abbé Pietro Metaftafio. Tranflated from the Italian, by John Hoole. Three Vols. 1. 1s. Ottridge and Son, &c. &c. 1800. (Concluded from Vol. XXXVIII. Page 429.) F the Sacred Dramas of Metastasio, OF we shall infert a fpecimen from the affecting Drama, entitled the "Difcovery of Jofeph," in which the poet has fo well fucceeded in the ufe he has made of one of the finest narratives in facred or profane hiftory. In this piece he has happily introduced, befides Jofeph's confident, another character of his own, Afenetha, Jofeph's wife, whofe name only appears in the text. Than. But your wisdom well The force of famine must again compel vinces Yield not fufficient nurture to fuftain foil. The feeble fhepherd mourns his leffening flock ; The famish'd cattle fhew the unfavoury, ftubble, Unmeet for nourishment: the husband. man, With trembling feet, each field explores in vain Than. What means this tenderness for one unknown? Jof. My life with Benjamin's is nearly We feel the griefs of those When by our own, we judge the pains And yet, amidst this unexampled flow Forget not my command: if Jacob's fons, If Benjamin fhould come, return with fpeed To welcome their arrival. Than. I obey. My gracious Lord, henceforth be to yourfelf What you are still to others: every com fort Than. And this, fhall this fuffice to You give to them, but to yourself distress; You heal another's pains, but feed your make you wretched ? Alas! how true, that here on earth is found No perfect happiness: for if to pass From life's worft evils to the highest rank Of human honours, be indeed a bleffing, Who fhould like you rejoice? A flave, a stranger, You came to Memphis: flander'd by a bafe Unhallow'd tongue, and bound in cruelchains, Your life was forfeited, when righteous Heaven Declar'd itself for Jofeph: future time All Memphis heard your prophecies: the His anxious doubts, difclos'd the im comes, With flow belief we join the voice of praise, While cenfure ever finds our open ear. Ah! ftill with hafty judgment fear To view another's deed; For what may cruelty appear, From mercy may proceed. More cautious weigh whate'er can move We fhall conclude our review of this article with the verfion of one of the Cantatas, that are "fo admirable in the Italian for delicate fimplicity and playful elegance;" on the tranflation of which fpecies of poetry Mr. Hoole makes the following obfervations: "Of all characters in writing, perhaps, that of fimplicity is moft difficult to be preferved. It will often happen, that the words and expreffions, graceful in the Italian, can only be rendered in English by circumlocution, which must, of course, take from their fimplicity. In this cafe nothing is left for the tranf lator, but to endeavour to catch the general fpirit of the paffage, and thus, as far as the genius of the two languages will admit, give the trueft likenefs of his author, by which only he can hope to arrive at the great fecret of good tranflation, that of making his work appear like an original." IDYLS, in Two Parts. By Edward Atkyns Bray. 12mo. Rivingtons. 4s. 6d. THESE Poems were principally fuggefted by a perufal of Gefner's Paitorals, And look, the moon's reflected beams Sparkle, with broken light, amidst the briny ftreams. At morn I'll found the twifted fhell, And Thetis, better known to fame. Thou, from the beach, fhalt view thy harmless breed Of favourite lambs on tender herbage feed, And twixt the fheltering branche's fhun The fervours of a mid-day fun : Mean time thy hand the tapering reed may bear, And with infidious hook the fish enfnare. So fhall my fair in either province fhine, To hold the rural crook, or guide the angler's line. No more in ocean's weedy caves The fcaly tribe remains The nymphs, in crystal waters bred, is," as Dr. Johnfon obferves, "fomething in the poetical Arcadia fo remote from known reality and fpeculative poffibility, that we can never fupport its reprefentation through a long work. A paftoral of an hundred lines may be endured; but who will hear of theep and goats, and myrtle bowers, and purling rivulets, through a whole volume Mr. Bray's verfification, however, is flowing and harmonious; and in his BRITISH IDYLS, which he promifes, he may probably be more fuccefsful. King John, an Hiftorical Tragedy, altered from Shakspeare, as it was acted at Reading School for the Subfcription to the Naval Pillar to be erected in Honour of the Naval Victories of the prefent War. 8vo. Bromner, &c. Dr. Valpy, the mafter of Reading School, is the alterer of this play, which, if it has loft in its vigour and fpirit by the alterations, has been benefited in point of decorum and purity of expreffion. As it is now prefented to the world, it appears more proper for juvenilé reprefentation than as it is exhibited on the public theatre. Thofe, therefore, who wish to entertain parents by dramatic performances will have a play ready adapted to their use. Antonio, a Tragedy, in Five Acts. By William Godwin. 8vo. Robinsons. 2s. 6d. 1800. The publication of this play is an appeal from the decifion of the Theatre to the judgment of the public at large; but we believe the verdict pronounced at Drury Lane will not be, on this occafion, fubject to a reverfal. If improbable fituations, unnatural characters, no plot, and a diction fometimes familiar, fometimes inflated, neither verse nor profe, can claim applaufe, we have feen no piece, for a great length of time, fo well entitled to favour. It is faid to be the first attempt of a lover of the drama, whofe talents, however, feem not calculated to excel in dramatic compofition. Elays and Notes on Hufbandry and Rural Affairs. By 7. B. Bordley. 8vo. Printed at Philadelphia for Thomas Dobfon. Imported by J. Marwman. Ios. 6d. 1799. Although the experiments and directions contained in this volume are chiefly calculated for the other fide of the Atlantic, yet many valuable and ufeful hints may be found, which will amply repay the perufal of the prefent work. The compiler of it appears, from his own account, to be one who, on the turn of middle age, and whilft gradually quitting public employments, fat down on a farm in Maryland, and became enthufiaftically fond of hufbandry. The prefent Effays are the refult of experience, and are on the following fubjects. Syftems and Rotations. Grafs Rotations. Grain Rotations. Defign for a Grain Farm. Grain and Meadow Rotation. Farm Yard. Clover. Wheat in Clover. Beans, Maize, and Wheat Culture. Hemp. Farm Yard Manure. Barns. Cattle Stalls. Cattle paftured and foiled : kept and fattened. Obfervations on Cattle, Sheep, and Hogs. Maize and Potatoes as fallow Crops and fattening Materials. Fences. Treading Wheat. Method of registering Experiments. Principles of Vegetation. Neceffaries beft Product of Land. Family Salt. Rice. Country Habitations. Houfes. Intimations on new Sources of Trade, &c. Potatoe Spirit and Beer. Diet on Rural Economy. Gypfum Manure. State Society of Agriculture. Notes and Intimations. From this enumeration our experimental agriculturifts will be directed to fubjects from which they will derive ufeful informa tion. Ice Reflections on the Political and Moral State of Society at the Clofe of the Eighteenth Century. By John Bowles, Efq. 8vo. Rivingtons. 1800. Ma. Bowles is an attentive obferver of the times, and has in the prefent work developed the caufes which have produced the amazing events which now appal mankind, and threaten the existence of civil-fociety. At a crisis the moft awful and alarming which the world has ever beheld, the prefent work is particularly feafonable, and deferves the notice of every one who looks forward to the comfort or fecurity of himfelf or his connexions. The subjects difcuffed are--the political State of Society; the moral State of Society; and the Origin of the War between France and the other Powers of Europe. On each of these topics the reader will find much information, much to commend, and much to call forth his fortitude and excite his attention. An a Jury. By a Country Magiftrate. 8vo. Hatchard. Is. 6d. The principal part of this pamphlet is employed in itrictures on the indecency of the preceding writer in his cenfures on the verdict of a Juryand the opinion of the Chief who prefides in the highest court of criminal jurifdiction in this kingdom. In thefe fentiments we agree with the prefent writer, and are of opinion, that "when a perfon has recourfe, either by writings, publications in print, or by any other means, to calumniate the proceedings of a court of juftice, the obvious tendency of it is to weaken the administration of public juftice, and, in confequence, to fap the very foundation of the Conftitution itfelf." THE ORIGIN OF SHENSTONE'S THIS pathetic and affecting ballad has drawn tears from every eye capable of the feelings of humanity for near half a century, and will continue to produce the fame effect wherever and as long as the English language is understood. It is founded in truth, and was taken from a narrative first pub-. lifhed in a periodical work, entitled THE PARROT, Saturday, ad Auguft 1746, three days after the tranfaction, in the following words: "Just as I had finished the above, I received the following account, which, as the truth of it may be depended upon, and is a remarkable, though melancholy proof, that conftancy and tendernefs have not altogether forfook the bofom of the Fair, I thought it would be an agreeable entertainment for your country acquaintance, and therefore opened my letter again on purpose to infert it. "A young Lady of a good family and handfome fortune had for fome time extremely loved, and been equally beloved by, Mr. James Dawfon, one of thofe unhappy Gentlemen who fuffered on Wednesday laft at Kennington Common for high treafon; and had he been either acquitted, or after condemnation found the royal mercy, the day of his enlargement was to have been that of their marriage. "I will not prolong the narrative by any repetition of what the fuffered on BALLAD OF JEMMY DAWSON. fentence being paffed on him; none, excepting thofe utterly incapable of feeling any foft or generous emotions, but may eatily conceive her agonies; befide, the fad catastrophe, will be fufficient to convince you of their fince. rity. "Not all the perfuafions of her kindred could prevent her from going to the place of execution; fhe was determined to fee the last of a perfon fo dear to her, and accordingly followed the fledges in a hackney-coach, accompanied by a Gentleman nearly related to her, and one female friend. She got near enough to fee the fire kindled which was to confume that heart the knew fo much devoted to her, and all the other dreadful preparations for his fate, without being guilty of any of thofe extravagancies her friend had apprehended; but when all was over, and that the found he was no more, the drew her head back into the coach, and crying out, My dear, I follow thee, I follow thee-LORD JESUS receive both our fouls together, fell on the neck of her companion, and expired the very moment fhe was fpeaking. "That exceffive grief which the force of her refolution had kept fmothered within her brealt, it is thought, put a ftop to the vital motion, and fuffocated, at once, all the animal fpirits; but I leave the phyficians to account for that; I fhall only fay, the story very much |