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HORTICULTURE.

Art. 36. Mifcellanies, on ancient and modern Gardening, and on the Scenery of Nature. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Walter. 178.

A canto of fcraps, in profe and verfe, from writers who have, profefledly or incidentally, expatiated on the beauties of ornamental gardening and natural fcenery: as-Homer, Virgil, Taffo, Petrarch, Bacon, Shakespeare, Milton, Addifon, Thomion, Whateley, the foreign Encyclopedies, and Journals, the Defcriptions of Dovedale, Kefwick, &c. &c.

Art. 37. A Method to preferve Peach and Nectarine Trees from the Effects of the Mildew; and for deftroying the Red Spider in Melon Frames, and other Infects, which infeft Plants in Stoves, and Trees, Shrubs, &c. in the open Garden. By Robert Browne, Gardener to Sir Harbord Harbord, Bart. at Gunton in Norfolk. 12mo. 5s. fewed. Printed by Subfcription for the Author, and fold in London by Walter. 1786.

Mr. Browne's methods feem to be effectual, if thoroughly perfifted in; but the gardener muft not grudge his labour;-that labour which, if repaid by plenty of fine fruit, will certainly be well beftowed. The fame remark will equally apply, with refpect to the high price of this very finall book: for who can deem a crown too much for good inftruction, in order to preferve what is fo expenfive to raife; and which, as the event fhews, is often raifed, only to feast infects and vermin?

MATHEMATICS, &c.

Art. 38. A Key to Hutton's Arithmetic; containing the Solutions, at full Length, of all the Questions propofed in that Work. By Charles Hutton, LL. D. F. R. S. &c. 12mo. 3s. Boards. Robinfons. 1786.

A ufeful publication for thofe fchool-mafters who use the compendium, to which this is a Key.' We can give no other account of this work than what is contained in its title-page, except that, in thofe parts which we have examined, it appears to be free from R-m.

error.

Art. 39. A Syftem of Mechanics: being the Subftance of Lectures upon that Branch of Natural Philofophy. By the Rev. T. Parkinfon, M. A. Fellow of Chrift's College, Cambridge. 4to. 16s. fewed. Cadell.

This performance, fays the Author in his preface, claims little more than the inferior merit of facilitating the progrefs of the ftudent, by a felection from the works of others, which may fupercede the neceffity of applying to a multitude of books. To be of fervice to the ignorant and uninformed was the chief motive for undertaking this work, and the fole object of attention in the execution of it and Mr. P. has very commendably adduced his authorities, by mentioning at the bottom of his pages, the books from which he has felected his matter. He begins with an Introduction, containing fome of the chief phenomena of nature, the rules of philofophizing, and the doctrine of ratios, which is very clear and jutt.

The fubjects of the different chapters into which the work is divided, are, 1. Of Matter, in generál. 2. Of Extenfion. 3. Of

Solidity;

Solidity; but comprehending alfo the general doctrine of abfolute and relative Motion. 4. Inertia of Matter. In this chapter are found fome very just obfervations on the vis motrix, or vis viva, of a moving body, being that by which it communicates motion, or change of motion to another body. Indeed we have never met with any thing more fatisfactory on the fubject. Then follow the general laws of motion, and the doctrine of the compofition and refolution of forces. 5. Attraction of Gravity. 6. Attraction of Cohefion, with fome general Remarks on Hardness, Softness, and Elafticity. 7. and 8. Mechanical Powers. Under the article Wedge, the mistakes of feveral authors are rectified, and the whole placed in a clear light. 9. Centre of Gravity. 10. Communication of Motion by direct and oblique Impact. This alfo comprehends the doctrine of the fpontaneous centre of converfion of a body. 11. Centres of Percuffion, Ofcillation, and Gyration. 12. Rectilineal Motion of Bodies; containing the general laws of accelerating forces. 1. Pendulous, and, 14. Projectile Motion. The Author appears to have a clear idea of things himself, and also to poffefs the art of communicating it to others. His work contains 24. plates, neatly engraved. WiArt. 40. The Rudiments of Mathematics; defigned for the Ufe of Students at the Universities: Containing an Introduction to Algebra, Remarks on the firft Six Books of Euclid, and the Elements of Plain Trigonometry. By W. Ludlam, late Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. Svo. 3s. Boards. Cadell. 1785.

This is a work of very great merit. Mr. L. obferves, in his preface, that no man can get any credit by making an horn-book for the babes in mathematics, though it may be an ufeful work.' Which is but too true, and has probably been the reason why the tafk of writing elementary treatifes, has fo often fallen to the lot of upikilful hands: but when a mafter of the fubject will deign to undertake it, the Public are much benefited, as in the prefent inftance. The book begins with the doctrine of vulgar fractions, which being well understood, a learner will find little difficulty in comprehending the elements of algebra, as here laid down. The remarks on Euclid are, in general, very juft, and will help young, ftudents to comprehend the drift and defign of that celebrated Author. The trigonometry is brief, but eafy to be understood; and, in particular, here is an excellent elucidation of the feveral changes in the algebraic figns, of the colines, tangents, &c. fo neceffary to be obferved in the folutions of aftronomical and phyfical problems. ANTIQUITIES. D: Art. 41. Nenia Britannica, or an Account of fome hundred Sepulchres of the ancient Inhabitants of Britain. In Numbers. By the Rev. James Douglas, F. S. A. Nos. I. II. and III. Fol. 5s. each. Nicol. 1786.

As this is a fingular work, peculiarly adapted to illuftrate the early part of the history of England, and of great importance to the an tiquary, we have deviated a little from our plan, for the purpose of announcing to our readers (especially those who admire the study of antiquity) a publication which will afford both pleature and profit.

The

The Author has opened feveral ancient tumuli or fepulchres, in which are found, depofited with the dead, according to the cuftom of the times, a variety of inftruments of war, culinary or domeftic utensils, rings, gems, coins, &c. Thefe and every circumstance relative to the tombs, are particularly defcribed, and the tombs themfelves, with all their contents, are reprefented in aquatinta plates, which are admirably adapted for conveying an accurate idea of antique relics. Mr. Douglas propofes to complete this curious performance in twelve numbers, each of which will contain three plates, the Author's own

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etching, and the written defcription of what they reprefent.R

NATURAL HISTORY.

Art. 42. A fort Essay on the Propagation and Difperfion of Animals and Vegetables, being chiefly intended as an Anfwer to a Letter lately published in favour of Equivocal Generation. 12mo. is. 6d. Wilkie. 1785.

Omne vivum ex ovo is an axiom fo univerfally received by naturalifts, that every attempt to contradi& it will be treated with ridicule. The idea of equivocal generation will be easily refuted by repeating the arguments of Ray, Harvey, Linnæus, Derham, and others, whofe opinions are fufficiently known.

NEGRO-SLAVERY.

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Art. 43. An Apology for Negro-Slavery: or the Weft India Planters vindicated from the Charge of Inhumanity. By the Author of Letters to a young Planter. The fecond Edition with Additions. 8vo. Is. 6d. Strachan. 1786.

We noticed the first edition of this work in our Review for June laft, and explained the defign of our Author; who now, in addition to what he formerly advanced, makes fome fenfible remarks on a late pamphlet, entitled, An Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the kuman Speciest. He charges the Author of that work with having mifreprefented the treatment of negro-flaves in the Weft India islands, most of the affertions of that gentleman being, in his opinion, founded on the reports of people who had never been eye-witnesses to the circumftances they have related,

We give the more credit to the facts related in the prefent publication, fince the Author has been candid enough to fubfcribe it with his name, Gordon Turnbull. Anonymous information is always fufpicious; but when a man fupports his affertions with the credit of his name and character, no respectable court of criticism' can queftion the truth of them-unless the strongest grounds of fufpicion apDo

pear.

VOYAGES, &c.

Art. 44. A Journal of Captain Cook's laft Voyage to the Pacifie Ocean, on Difcovery, performed in the Years 1776-to 1780. Illuftrated with Cuts and a Chart, fhewing the Tracks of the Ships in this Expedition. A new Edition, compared with, and cor

* See our strictures on Mr. Jackson of Exeter's letter in fupport of equivocal generation, Rev. vol. lxviii. p. 394 and 395, and again vol. lxxi. p. 346.

+ See Review for Nov. laft, page 364.

3

rected

reated from the Voyage published by Authority. 8vo. 63. Newberry. 1785. o

This is a new edition of a work of which we gave an account in our Review, vol. xv. p. 236. What we have faid of that publication has been confirmed by the authentic voyage published by the Board of Admiralty. The prefent edition, however, is in many. places corrected; but it is even now an imperfect account of the difcoveries of the great navigator, and of events which happened in the voyage. 29 Art. 45. An Introduction to Reading and Spelling, written on a new Plan, and defigned for the Ufe of Schools. By the Rev. J. Hewlett. 8vo. 1S. Johnfon. 1786.

EDUCATION,

Many fpelling-books,' fays Mr. H. in his preface, have been profeffedly written for the ease of the mafter and the affiftance of the fcholar, but little has been done towards fyftematizing the language in order to exemplify the different varieties of its orthography, more than collecting from a dictionary, tables of words confifting of two, three, four, five, or fix fyllables.' Mr. H fhews the infufficiency of fuch spelling books, and recommends the methodical plan he has followed, as every way calculated to affift the memory of the fcholar. The plan is a good one, but we fear too intricate for a child, to whofe capacity alone fuch books ought to be fuited. R-m I

We must differ from Mr. Hewlet when he fays the pronunciation of the English language is the most perfect in the metropolis. Art. 46. A Series of Prints of ancient History, defigned as Ornaments for those Apartments in which Children receive the first Rudiments of their Education. In two Parts. Part I. Small 4to. 10d. fewed. Marshall.

This little volume contains copper-plate engravings of remarkable occurrences in the Affyrian, Perfian, Grecian, and Roman monarchies; which laft is divided into four claffes, viz. the Macedonian, Afiatic, Syrian, and Egyptian kingdoms; and concludes with the death of Cleopatra. The defign of this publication is the fame with that of A feries of prints of Scripture history,' mentioned with approbation in our Review for November laff, and is intended as a companion to it: the plates here given are equally good, if not better, than the former, and are much fuperior to any we have before feen, in little compilements for the ufe of young readers. G. 2.G. Art. 47. A Defcription of a Set of Prints of ancient Hiftory, contained in a Set of eafy Leffons. In two Parts. Part I. Small 4to. . 6d. fewed. Marshall.

What we faid in our Review for November concerning the defcription of a fimilar feries of prints, may be applied to the prefent, as, like the former, this little volume explains all the plates in the foregoing publication, and is equally commendable for the ftyle in which the defcriptions are written.

POETRY.

D:

Art. 48. Poetical Effufions of an Epicurean Philofopher, contrafted with thofe of a Chriftian Philofopher, both far advanced in Years. The First being a clofe (though liberal) Tranflation of fome Stan

zas

zas of the late celebrated Voltaire, as published among his Works; and the other of a contrafting Parody of the fa Stanzas by an anonymous Author. Both tranflated from the French. 4to. 1s. Becket. 1786.

Except poor Reviewers, who are, alas! forced to read every thing that any body chufes to write, who will give themselves the trouble of reading a copy of verfes, in which the mere whim of making each page contradict its fellow, fupplies the place of wit, harmony, fenfe, and grammar? 2. Art. 49. The Patriot Beard, an Heroic Comic Poem. 4to 25. Graham, No. 134, Drury Lane.

1786.

Grubstreet hath nothing to fear, if we may judge by this fpecimen, from the rivalship of Drury Lane. In harlotry the latter may excel; but, in poetry, Grubftreet muft ftill remain-the Parnaffus of the city.

Art. 50. Poems for young Ladies, Devotional, Moral, and Entertaining. Selected by Dr. Goldsmith.

Johnfon. 1785.

12mo. 35. fewed.

Whether Dr. Goldfmith was, or was not, the felector of thefe poems, is, we fuppofe, immaterial to the Public. It is of more importance to be fatisfied that the pieces are all of a moral turn, and fit to be put into the hands of young females, with a view to proper inftruction, as well as to rational entertainment. They are collected from the works of Addifon, Young, Moore, Collins, Thomfon, Milton, Dr. Cotton, Goldfmith, Pope, Gray, &c. We have various collections of a fimilar kind and bulk; fuch, for inftance, as the Moral Mifcellany, the Pleafing Inftructor, &c. &c. Many of the poems, and extracts of poems, are the fame in all: and they are equally proper for youth of both fexes. Art. 51. The Progress of War. A Poem. By an Officer. 4to. 4s. Egerton. 1785.

This poem traces the progrefs of war from Cyrus to Frederic. It is a dull and fuperficial performance. It neither interefts nor affects the reader and well might the Author introduce it by complaining of a reluctant muse.'

DRAMATIC.

のこん Art. 52. A Tranflation of the Scots Paftoral Comedy the Gentle Shepherd, from Allan Ramfay's Original. By 'W. Ward. 8vo. 2s. Robinfons. 1785.

Like many other tranflations, this is very unequal to the original. RAMSAY's is a charming poem.

Art. 53. A School for Grey Beards: or the Mourning Bride. A Comedy, in five Acts. By Mrs. Cowley. 810. Is. 6d. Robinfons. 1786.

This comedy, on the day after its first reprefentat ion in Drury Lane, laboured under the charge of indecency. Such was the general report; and, when it was confidered that it came from a female pen, criticism rofe to indignation and refentment. This prejudice, in all

By the advertisements it appears that the Author's name is Chriftian.

probability,

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