Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

haps allow of any very lafting refentments. Thefe volumes are not very full of incident and intrigue, and the morality is lefs exceptionable than the language: there are no very great errors or inelegancies in the latter, yet we think it is not polished with fufficient care,

The Duped Guardian; or, the Amant Malade, A Novel. In a Series of Letters. By Mrs. Cartwright. Two Vols. 12mo. 6s. Cafs.

The English, the French, and the Latin of thefe little volumes are equally exceptionable; and the greater part of the ftory is that of Mrs. Cowley's laft comedy, viz. More Ways than One' we mean fo far as relates to the artlefs niece of the artful physician. Yet Mrs. Cartwright has avoided one exception+ able part of the plot, which we noticed; for Luttrel's honour, and the propriety of his conduct, render him a real acquifition In other refpects, there is fome contrivance in the conduct of the story, and we are interested in the event. The characters are the threadbare perfonages of a modern novel,

[ocr errors]

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Life of the Rev. Ifaac Watts, D. D. By Samuel John, fon, LL. D. With Notes; containing Animadverfions and Additions. 8vo. 25. 6d. Rivington.

There is fomething uncandid in the conduct of this publication. The title-page carries with it the appearance of fome defire that the public thould believe the work to be Dr. Johnson's. Having made their purchafe, they find about one-fifth of it only what they expected; which is the account of Dr. Watts, taken by the editor from the Lives of the English Poets. The notes, which are at least equal to the text in quantity, are Arictures, animadverfions, and corrections of Dr. Johnfon's account, conveying fome additional information relative to Dr. Watts's character, connections, &c. Dr. Johnfon being treated in these notes with fome degree of harfhnefs, we cannot help obferving, that whilft his name is made fubfervient to the fuccefs of the work, and his matter borrowed to increafe its bulk, it feems ungenerous that the biographer fhould be brought forward for little elfe than to receive correction. Is it not enough to condemn a man, without making him erect the feaffold for his own execution?

Dr. Johnfon's Life of Dr. Watts is followed by an authentic account of this refpectable divine's laft avowed fentiments concerning the doctrine of the Trinity, the deity of Chrift, &c.

Thefe opinions being, to all appearance, carefully and accurately flated, and being the confcientious refults of fo profeffed a reafoner as Dr. Watts, on thefe important fubjects, cannot but defervedly excite curiofity, although they will not be found entirely calculated to fatisfy it. To this article, pretty largely tieated, ficceeds Dr. Watts' Solemn Addrefs to the great and ever

blessed

bleffed God, on a Review of what he had written in the Trinitarian Controverfy. This little piece is by no means uninterefting, and bears teftimony to that fincerity and earnestnefs, which feems to have been characteristic of the doctor's mind.

The book concludes with a miscellaneous Appendix, fome parts of which will not be refufed their fhare of merit by the admirers of this learned and worthy perfon.

A candid and impartial Sketch of the Life of Pope Clement XIV. 12mo. 2s. 6d. fewed. Printed at Dublin.

The author of thefe letters fets out with taking a general view of the inftitution and early government of the fociety of Jefuits; after which he gives an account of the life and reign of Clement the Fourteenth, by whom it was abolished; the grandfon, as we are told, of a man who earned his fubfiftence by felling fkins. The temper of this amiable pontiff is faid to have been easy, open, and affable; his converfation was tinctured with wit and humour. The author infinuates that Ganganelli was not averfe to an amorous intercourse with the fair; but as this charge is totally unfupported by any fact, we are inclined to confider it as the fiction of malignity against a refpectable character.

Memoirs of George Anne Bellamy. 12m0. 35. Walker.

Mrs. Bellamy's Apology having been found a popular pro duction, this gentleman, for fuch the author ftyles himself, has, thought proper to make an abridgement of the work. How far this conduct is fuitable to the character he has affumed, we shall not determine.

An Heroic Epifle to Major Scott, with Notes Hiftorical and Expla natory. 4to. 15. 6d. Keariley.

This Epiftle, it feems, has been written with the view of expofing to ridicule fome ill-founded pretenfions to an honourable defcent, faid to have been uttered in a certain affembly.If even the virtues of ancestors cannot confer any hereditary honour on their pofterity, much less can the latter expect to derive esteem from oftentatious and falfe eulogiums on their progenitors.

The Degeneracy of the Times. Is. 6d. Kearfley.

This pamphlet is otherwife named in the title-page, A Disgraceful Tale of the Hon. Captain F-zr-y;' but the ocCurrence which it mentions is fuch as reflects honour on the captain's generolity, who, out of his own private fortune, compaffionately relieved the extreme diftress of a brother officer.

Reflections on the Study of Nature. 8vo. 15. Nicols. This is a tranflation of the celebrated Linnæus's Preface to his Mafeum Regis Adolphi Frederici, one of his moft. magnificent

works

works. The defign of the original author, in that preface, was to evince the dignity and importance of a philofophical en quiry into the works of nature. This he performed with that exten ve knowlege and ability for which he was diftinguished; and we think that the prefent translation is executed in a manner correfpondent to the fubject.

Remarks on the extraordinary Conduct of the Knight of the Ten Stars, and his Italian Squire. 8vo. Is. Wilkie.

In regard to the original caufe which has given rife to this dispute, we cannot fay any thing with certainty; but so far we are fafe to pronounce, that if Mr. Bowle, who lately published a valuable edition of Don Quixote in the Spanish language, has received any juft provocation from Mr. Baretti, or others, he has, in thefe Remarks, retaliated with much indignant feverity on the character and writings of his opponents.

A Letter to a refpectable Proprietor of the Navigation from the Trent to the Merfey. By Jofiah Wedgwood, F.R.S. 4to. Becket.

15.

It appears that fome perfon, under the fignature of An Old Proprietor, had, in a printed account of certain transactions, relative to the management of the company's affairs, impeached the conduct of the committee, and particularly of Mr. Wedg wood. The charge was partly refpecting the navigation, and partly related to printed statements of Facts refpecting fome Differences which have arifen between the Duke of Bridgewater, and the Proprietors of the Navigation from the Trent to the Merfey. These statements the Old Proprietor afcribed entirely to Mr. Wedgwood, though they were iffued under the fanction

of the committee.

The object of the prefent Letter, dated April 30, 1785, is to refute the charges above mentioned: and we muft candidly acknowlege that, fo far as we can judge from Mr. Wedgwood's reprefentation only, he appears to have, in the most fatisfactory manner, repelled the accufations of the Old Proprietor. We may at least affirm, that he has defended the proceedings of the committee with fuch force of argument, and fuch evidence of integrity, as fully evinces his title to the refpectable character which he univerfally holds in fociety.

12mo.

A Collection of Gaelic Proverbs, and Familiar Phrafes. By Donald Mac Intofb, 25. Printed at Edinburgh. This collection is accompanied with an English translation, for the purpose, it feems, of facilitating the study of the language. Subjoined to it is The Way to Wealth,' by Dr. Franklyn, tranflated into Gaelic by Donald Mac Intosh. For any thing we know, both the tranflations may be executed with fidelity; but we are forry that our inacquaintance with the Gaelic will not permit our bearing teftimony to the abilities of honest Donald, as a translator.

A New

A New French Spelling Book, with the English to every Word; or, a Syftem of Reading, on a Plan fo entirely new as not to bear the leaft Refemblance to any Thing of the Kind hitherto attempted. By Mr. Du Mitand. 8vo. Is. Crowder,afo

In little things there is often much labour, and it is repaid with little praife. This old apophthegm, repeated in different languages, and through fucceffive ages, has never been more exactly verified than in the work before us. Its accuracy is confiderable; for the words are not only divided with care, but the pronunciation is taught with an exactnefs, which can only arife from a nice ear, and an intimate knowlege of the power of English letters. Let not the author, however, be too fanguine he cannot reap immortal fame,' for his materials are tranfitory. He may, and we hope he will, attain a temporary credit, and the emolument which he feems, comparatively, to undervalue. On the other hand, the reader must not expect, what the limited power of letters will not afford; that he can learn the French pronunciation without the affiftance of a maf ter. Mr. Mitand, by the happy aid of profody, has out-stripped his predeceffors; but there are ftill difficulties infeparable from the nature of the subject, which no rules can teach.'

6

Mifcellaneous Thoughts. 8vo. 45. Marfhall.

Thefe Thoughts feem to have been the fuggeftion of a parent to his children. We meet with no ftudied phrafes to attract attention, no round period to conceal inanity in found. What is trifling appears in open day. But there is a candour, good fenfe, and benevolence, which rife higher than ingenuity; there is a confolation under misfortune, fuperior to the vaunted precepts of the Stoic.

The work confifts of Effays, Dialogues, Epiftles, and Meditations, on the most interesting fubjects, and we fincerely with it fuccefs..

Letters between an illuftrious Perfonage and a Lady of Honour at B. Small 8vo. 25. fewed. Walter. A frivolous but inoffenfive production, founded upon the late frequent excurfions of the P of W. to Brighthelmftone.

London Unmasked; or the New Town Spy. 8vo. 26. Adlard.

The various modes of diffipation in London afford an ample field for defcription; and of this luxuriant fubject the author now before us appears to have industriously availed himself. He conducts his readers into almost every fcene of public refort, the manners of which he delineates in colours apparently faithful. If vice and folly, to be hated, need only to be seen, he may lay claim to the merit of at least attempting a reformation of the public manners; for in the mirror which he holds up, it must be acknowledged that they are reflected in all their native deformity.

The

The Hiftory of the Wars in Scotland, from the Battle of the Gran pian Hills, in the Year 85, to the Battle of Culloden, in the Year 1746. By John Lawrie, A. M. 12mo. 35. Printed at Edinburgh.

In Scotland, as in most other countries, war forms the prin cipal fubject of its hiftory, through many fucceffive ages: nor can we refufe to the people of that nation the honourable acknowledgment, that in maintaining their independency against every invading power, they have not only difplayed an invin cible spirit of freedom, but, on many occafions, the most heroic exertions of valour. That the mountainous parts of the coun try could never be totally fubdued even by the Romans, is not per haps matter of furprize; but that in the maritime diftricts of the kingdom, the inhabitants fhould always fucceffively oppose the Danes, who fubjected to their dominion the fouthern part of the island, is a circumftance which affords ftrong proof of the courage and activity of the Scottish nation.

In this work, the battles are related in chronological order; beginning with that of the Grampian Hills, in the year 85 and ending with the battle of Culloden, in 1746. The mate rials appear to be carefully collected, and are recited in a perfpicuous Ryle.-Should this Hiftory prove fuccefsful, the author intimates a defign of publishing an account of the battles of England, from the landing of Julius Cæfar in Britain, to the end of the laft war; and the work, we are informed, is almost ready for the press.

Omai's Letter to the Earl of ** Svo. 15. Bell.

A compofition fit only for the readers, if fuch there be, in the ifland of Ulietea.

Annotations on the Trial of Mrs. Harriot Errington, Wife of George Errington, Efq. for Adultery. Svo. Lyfter...

When we inform our readers that this pamphlet contains no information but what appeared upon the trial, they will readily conclude that it is nothing elfe than a catch-penny. The comments are obscene and disgusting, without any pretenfions to it of humour..

« AnteriorContinuar »