tius translated it into Latin prose, and addressed it to him, in the year 1628.

Mr. L'Ofte, taking his idea from the author's original production, has given us a tranflation in English verse. If he has fucceeded in his endeavours, they cannot but be productive of of fome good effect; if not, a good intention must be his plea, and his comfort under the disappointment.'

The tranflator's defign and apology.

Tho' Chrift's religion fhine fupremely bright,
Pride, vice, fond error, oft obftruct its light.
To obviate thefe ills 'tis here defign'd,

To ftate the truth, to fix th' unfettl'd mind.

Thefe proofs t' enforce, and make them deeper pierce, Grotius firit gave them in didactic verse.

That work, loft and forgot, I would retrieve,

Or fomething fimilar, in English, give:

If the grave theme preclude the sprightly grace
In any part, let truth fupply its place.'

If the Dutch rhymes of Grotius are loft and forgotten, the tranflator cannot reasonably expect, that bis production fhould become immortal.

If a farther fpecimen fhould be thought neceffary, take the following.

Book vi. § 10.

But oh, the monstrous, vile abfurdities

In Turkish books! The low ridic'lous lies!
Thus, that a woman beautiful and fair,
Learn'd of fome drunken angels fuch an air
Of melody divine, that he could fly,
At pleasure, by it buoy'd, above the sky,
That once he mounted up, in heav'n, fo far,
That God infix'd her there the ev'ring itar.

A mouse in Noah's ark is faid t'have fprung
Spontaneously, bred from an el'phant's dung.
They fay a cat came from a lion's breath.
They tell a foolish tale concerning death.
Chang'd to a ram the grilly king, muft dwell
For ever now, they fay, 'tween heav'n and hell.

In th' other world they shall fweat out their cheer,
And troops of women to each man adhere:
These things they read; but ev'ry fuch pretence
Proclaims a total lofs of fober fenfe.'

Mr. L'Ofte has fubjoined a tranflation of many of the learned and valuable annotations of Grotius and le Clerc, and added fome of his own.

The Worthines of Wales: A Poem. 8vo. 7s. 6d. Evans, Strand. The republication of a dull antiquated medley, which might have been fuffered to remain unnoticed, among the literary lumber of pait ages.

The

155

The Song and Story of Mrs. Draper, the Widow Lady of Bath. 4to. IS. Williams.

This production, from the very nature of its fubject, is devoted to the altar of Cloacina; and to that we therefore configu it, as an offering truly worthy of the place.

The Metamorphofes, a Comic Opera. In two Acts, as is is performed at the Theatre Royal in the Haymarket. Svo Lowndes,

15.

In perusing this piece we difcover few traces of originality, the fable being gleaned, for the most part, from other dramatic productions. As a mufical compofition, however, it may af ford an audience entertainment; though confidered even in fuch a light, we cannot avoid placing it among thofe performances which are ranked in the lowest order of merit.

The Story of Lady Juliana Harley. 2 Vols. 12mo. 55. Sewed. Cadell.

The productions of this ingenious lady have fo often obtained our approbation, that the may claim a kind of prefcriptive right to the favour of criticism. We do not, however, exceed the bounds of impartiality when we remark, that in elegance of ftyle, chafteness of fentiment, and moral tendency, the prefent novel merits an equal degree of encomium with those which have formerly proceeded from the fame agreeable and interesting writer. It contains not, we must acknowledge, so much bufinefs as either The Delicate Diftrefs, or Lady Barton; but the attention of the reader is well fupported by the refervation of lady Juliana's ftory, to the laft, and by the variety of circumstances which are occafionally introduced concerning her. The Rambles of Mr. Frankly: Vol. III, and IV.

Jewed. Becket.

12mo. 55.

These two additional volumes feem to complete the Rambles of Mr. Frankly, who merits our approbation on account of the moral tendency of the work; though he feems to have paid less attention to probability than entertainment, in the course of these excurfions of fancy.

CONTROVERSIAL.

Letters on the Worship of Chrift, addreffed to the rev. George Horne, D. D. 8vo. 1s. Johnfon.

Thefe letters contain a refutation of fome of the principal arguments advanced by Dr. Horne in his fermon preached before the university of Oxford, May 14, 1775 t.

For an account of Vol. I. and II. fee Crit. Rev. vol. xxxiv. P. 472. See Crit. Rev. vol. xl. p. 84.

The

The author difplays a confiderable share of critical abilities and treats the fubject with that moderation and temper, which hould always be obferved in difquifitions relative to the nature and attributes of the Supreme Being.

A Letter to Soame Jenyns, Esq. wherein the Futility and Abfurdity of fome Part of bis Reasoning in his View of the Internal Evidence of the Chriftian Religion, is set forth and exposed. 8vo. 15. Baldwin.

Mr. Jenyns having afferted, that a fyftem of religion entirely new, with regard to the object and the doctrines, may be extracted from the New Teftament, the author of this Letter affirms, that Chriftianity is not a new religion, with regard to its object, a ftate of happiness hereafter; but that the doctrine of a future ftate, and a future judgment was generally received among the heathens. In confirmation of this opinion, he produces the teftimony of Plato, Cicero, Seneca, and others.

Without attempting to invalidate what this writer has advanced, we may obferve, that Seneca's authority is improperly introduced on this occafion. Seneca lived to the 65th year of the Chriftian ara; and might probably derive fome of his fubTime fentiments, relative to a future ftate, from Chriftian wri

ters.

Mr. Jenyns has afferted, that patriotism and friendship have no intrinfic merit in themfelves, and are totally incompatible with the genius and fpirit of Christianity. In oppofition to this notion our author infifts, that patriotifm and friendship are Christian virtues; that they are inculcated in the Scriptures; and, in particular, that the command, thou fhalt love thy neighbour as thyfelf,' includes an injunction of love in all its degrees, from univerfal benevolence to its centre, friendship.

Indeed, fays he, patriotifm and friendship are fpecies, where love is the genus: for love takes up various names from the various objects to which it is addreffed, as the fea takes different names from the feveral hores it falutes. Thus, as it Jooks upwards to fuperiors, it becomes patriotifm to a country, duty to a governor, piety to a parent, and gratitude to a benefactor. As it looks downwards on inferiors, it becomes mercy to an offender, charity to the indigent, and pity to the diftreff ed. As it looks round about on equals, we call it kindness. And if among thefe it meets with any fitly qualified to reciprocate the offices of kindness, it then becomes friendship.'

Mr. Jenyns has obferved, that the Chriftian legislator has every where preferved a remarkable filence on fubjects esteemed by all others of the highest importance, civil government, national policy, &c.

His opponent replies, that obedience to government is a Chriftian duty, and the policy of ftates confonant with the fpirit of Chriftianity. In confirmation of this opinion he alledges the authority of St. Paul, who fays, Let every foul be subjec

·

to the higher powers, &c.' of St. Peter, who directed his Chriftian converts to fubmit themselves to every ordinance of man; and of Chrift himself, who paid tribute; and returned this decifive answer to the Pharifees and Herodians : Render unto Cæfar the things which are Cæfar's'.

These are all the points, which this writer undertakes to examine and refute.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Village Memoirs: In a Series of Letters between a Clergyman and bis Family in the Country, and bis Son in Town. 4th Edit. Small 8vo. 35. Davies.

We have already mentioned two of the former editions of this elegant compofition; and though its author hath not gratified the wish we expreffed, by a continuation of the correspondence, the prefent edition is enriched with two elegies, which we extract for the entertainment of our readers.

Elegy to a Lady who wished not to hear the Toll of a Bell on the Evening of the late Princefs Dowager's Funeral.

And why not hear the found of yonder bell?
Ah why from ferious thought for ever fly!
It tolls a fober, awful, folemn knell,

A wifh'd-for knell to immortality.

Think not a round of folly's mad career

Can alway fhield thee from reflection's pow'r,
The young, the fond, the rich, the gay muft fear,
Too long regardless of an awful hour.

Think not that beauteous form that now you wear,
That glow of crim fon-thofe infpiring eyes

Muft linger ever here-they all declare

They speak aloud their kindred to the skies.
Do not the hour, the day, the month, the year,
All in their courfe expire, but all renew?
All nature fhews, alas! a profpect drear,
All Nature fhews there's happiness in view.
Long loft in ftorms do mariners repine,
When the glad pilot diftant land defcries?
Ah! fee them eager trace the folid line,

See their hopes kindle as the objects rise.
And fhall my fair with brightest hopes in ftore,
Not once look up beyond this earthly clod,

Shall she alone her destiny deplore,

Her anchor, heaven; and her pilot, God.'

See Crit. Rev. vol. xxxviii. p. 449. and vol, xl. p. 165.

Elegy

Elegy to a Lady on her Marriage.

• Dark was the grove, and fullen all the scene,

The fun scarce chas'd the billowy clouds of night,
Nor fwains, nor fprightly maids, nor wood-nymphs feen,
The frolicks and the loves had ta'en their flight.
Again the howling defert threaten'd ftorms,
Again bleak horrors widow'd all the plain,
Sad contemplation pictur'd hideous forms,
And winter gloom'd a folitary reign.
But lo! fhe came to brighten ev'ry hour,

To cure fick fancy with its cares oppreft,
Unknown to none but to herself, the power
Of chearing all beneath her influence bleft.
Oh! may that power remain to deck the year,
Nor fhed its bloffoms ere maturely blown,
No grafp unhallow'd the rich branches tear,
Ere to the world their genuine fruits are known.
So fhalt thou live in this ill-omen'd age,

A ftar benign to gild the wanderer's way,
Deck with bright fame fair fcience' glowing page,
Its faireft theme, thy radiance and thy fway.'

Advice from a Father to a Son, just entered into the Army, and about to go Abroad into Action. 8vo. Johnson.

In these fenfible and moral letters, the various duties which an officer owes to God, to his country, and to himself, are delineated with great perfpicuity, and enforced by the most powerful arguments which reafon and paternal affection can be fuppofed to fuggeft. We earnestly recommend them therefore to the gentlemen of the army, as a feries of excellent admonitions, by fhewing a regard to which they will render themselves not only more refpectable in their military capacity, but also become confpicuous for the virtues of civil life.

Selecta quædam ex C. Plinii Secundi Hiftoria Naturali, ad Ufum Scholarum accommodata. Small 8vo. 3. Johnson.

Caius Plinius Secundus, called the Elder, was born at Verona, and lived under Vefpafian and Titus, who honoured him with their esteem, and employed him on several occafions. He ferved in the armies with reputation, was admitted into the college of augurs, was fent governor into Spain; and, notwithftanding the time fpent in his public employments, he found leifure for application to a great number of works, which are all unfortunately loft, except his Natural History, in xxxvii books. This, fays his nephew, is Opus diffufum, eruditum, nec minus varium, quam ipfa natura.' lib. iii. ep. 5. A work of great compafs and learning, and almoft as full of variety, as nature herself.' Stars, planets, hail, wind, rain, trees, plants, flowers, metals, minerals, animals of every kind, terreftrial,

aqua