neceffity. If the English had not been forced by them to engage in the conteft, our author truly remarks, they would probably have thrown "the whole Continent of Europe into the moft frightful convulfions of Liberty, Republicanism, Infidelity, and Atheism. "For that reafon," he adds, "they have appeared peculiarly incenfed against us at times. Thofe lions have roared from their dens, bit the bars that confined them, and lashed their fides with their tails, in their rage. against us." The contrast between our own fituation and that of our quondam rival, when viewed abftractedly from the dreadful causes by which it has been produced, cannot but prove highly gratifying to every real friend to his country. In the concluding with of our excellent author, which befpeaks the honest mind of a true patriot, and the pure foul of a pious Christian, we moft cordially join. "May we fo act, as to be worthy of fuch bleffings! May we furvey with a falutary terror that Volcano of Liberty, which has thus broke out in the center of France, and which at times threatens to shake the whole globe into atoms! May we cling the clofer for it to our glorious conftitution, to our heaven-defcended religion, to our Redeemer and our GOD! May we ftand firm in the honourable post, in which God has kindly placed, us half againft our wills; perfift with refolution in the work of fighting his battles against that Anti-Chrift; and perfevere in warring together with him, againft this Atheism! And may HE, who fpoke the chaos of the world into order at first, foon fpeak this chaos of stubborner elements in France into peace; for the fake of that country, for the fake of our own, and for the fake of all the world!" P. 55. We have exceeded the limits which we generally prefcribe to ourselves in our remarks on publications of this defcription; but the extreme importance of the fubject, the novel manner in which it is treated, and the great ability difplayed in the difcuffion, seemed to us to justify a deviation from a common rule. We are willing to encourage a hope that this excellent production will have the defirable effect of directing the attention of mankind to the "real origin of government," and of counteracting the evil effects of the fpeculative doctrines of modern philofophers, by the correction of falfe principles; which, under the mask of philanthropy, tend to deftroy the happiness of mankind, and under the guife of freedom, to impofe the worst of fhackles, the fhackles of violence, and the tyranny of Republicanifin. BRITISH BRITISH CATALOGU E, POETRY. ART. 17. The Coffee-Houfe, a Characteristic Poem. 4to. Is. 6d. Robinfons. 1795. The author of this pocm, if he claim not from his prefent effort the rank of "bard fublime," will not be denied the praise of having exhibited accurate obferations of manners and character, in vigorous language, and good verification. He is of Oxford, and his name we underfland to be Ph. Smith. He reprefents himself as left alone in a coffee-house, and meditating on the characters of those who have juft departed fucceffively from the feveral boxes. The defcriptions are conceived with fpirit, and varied with judgement. The following fpecimen will evince the juftice of this account: 1 "See yon gay troop, how fuddenly they rife, In joyful extacy laughing full loud: With boift'rous mirth they fnatch their high-crown'd hats Brews now a fecond ferment in their veins, And fparkles in their eyes with liquid fire. To fome, more genial to the prefent hour Of animal delight, Lo! broad-fac'd mirth To fmile with Farren, or to laugh with Quick." The other characters are, a ceafelefs Orator; a Mifer; a folitary and unpatronized,Man of Learning and Genius; an unhappy Benedict, whofe only view in forming his matrimonial connection was the fear of a jail, in confequence of early extravagance and debauchery; a knot of rich Bachelors, who, though not infenfible to the charms of female beauty, have, from excefs of caution, declined entering into the honourable ftate of wedlock; a junto of violent politicians; the portrait portrait of a young and gay Officer, whofe devoirs have been affiduoully and fuccefsfully offered to the fair and frail bar-maid. We object only to the extenfion of acquirements to four fyllables, in page 8. ART. 18. Pactical Sketches. By Ann Batten Cristall. 8vo. pp. 187. 5. Johnson. 1795. There is a great deal of genuine poetical fpirit in these compofitions, and they will be read with great fatisfaction by all but the faftidious Critic, who refufes to pardon, even in writers without experience, a feeming inattention to rhyme and the ftructure of verfe. In this refpect there are fome irregularities in Mifs Criftall's performance but there is much genius, and warmth of imagination. It is our fortune to meet with fo little good poetry, that we are glad to take every opportunity of placing before our readers the dawn of what may ripen into future excellence. The following may ferve as a fpecimen of the writer's powers, though the whole volume may be read with plea fure by the lovers of poetry. SONG. "Thro' Spring-time walks, which flowers perfumed, Where hyacinth's and jonquils bloomed, Hid amid a briary dell, Or 'neath a hawthorn tree, The fweet enchantments led me on, While fummer's fplendent glory fmiles, But ftill a thousand pranks the play'd ; She laugh'd and fcorned, I chas'd her still, While Autumn waves her golden ears, And wafts o'er fruits her fragrant breath, The fprightly lark its pinions rears, Still wanton as the timid hart, Now Winter lights its cheerful fire, The The Christmas game, the playful dance, Mutual we glow, and kindling love Dr. Aikin has written an elegant and ufeful effay on the application of Natural History to Poetry. We recommend the perufal of this tract to our author, that the may in future avoid fuch mistakes as making the hare-bell flower in Autumn. NOVELS. In Two Vo1794. ART. 19. Edward De Courcy; an ancient Fragment. lumes. 12mo. Pp. 172 and 192. 6s. Lane. This is a well-told and pathetic tale. It profeffes "to include a brief sketch of the civil and religious liberties of England in former times; as a contraft to their flourishing condition at the end of the 18th century:" and exhibits one of those mixtures of fiction and real history, which of late years have been fashionable. The hero De Courcy is fuppofed to be the nephew of the Duke of Norfolk, who was banished by Richard II.; and, with his fifter Philippa, to have been educated by that nobleman, whofe actual fortunes are intermingled with the fictitious adventures of his wards. The cataftrophe is deeply and difinally unfortunate. We fhould give this fragment our unqualified approbation (bating Tuch expreffions as "the gradual expand of reafon," and "one innate pang," with the ftrangely common blunder of noviciate for novice, the ftate for the perfon, (which occurs frequently) if we did not perceive in it a tendency too pernicious to be paffed without notice. The covert defign of thefe volumes, as to religious matters, is, to recommend deifm: to make" reafon free to prefcribe the system of religious worship." (Vol. II. p. 178.) In modern effays, whether grave or gay; in hiftories and political difquifitions, whether fcanty or voluminous, fuperficial or profound, we have lately been accustomed to expect fuch things: but our novels, for the ufe of the fair-fex chiefly, are but just beginning to be interfperfed with fuch dainties. A recipe for making an infidel may be collected even from thefe little volumes: Exempli gratiâ :-Pick up from hiftory a few corrupt practices of the Romish Church: add to them, from your own imagination, quantum fufficit. Call this Chriftianity; but remember to fay once, in fome obfcure note (as in Vol. II. p. 56) that you mean only the Christianity of the Church of Rome. Let an honeft, moral man, whofe religion is "that of nature," (Vol. II. p. 128.) be grievously oppreffed by fome furious bigots of this religion: if he has a wife and feveral children, fo much the better: exalt his character as highly as poffibly: let him have "virtue above the restrictions of a fyftem;" (p. 130.) and " act well the facial part, which is true religion;" (p. 188): and let his enemies triumph over, and ruin, him and his family: the thing is done; you have determined your incautious reader's religion by his feelings; and have taught him to be an infidel, because you have taken care never to tell him what real Christianity is. ART. 20. Caroline Merton, a Novel founded on Fact. By a Lady. 6s. Richardfon. 1794. 2 vols. 12mo. When we meet with real names, fuch as Mr. Crawford and Sir Harry Inglefield (honourable names!) how can we for a moment doubt that every thing they fay is founded on fact? But we think our fair author has injudicioufly betrayed her friend George Clayton, by the publication of his letter to Mr. Crawford, wherein he declares, though a married man, (p. 78) his violent paffion for Mifs Caroline Merton, and difplays the arts he had ufed to foothe his wife's jealousy, and to infpire an amiable girl with a guilty paffion. Though we do not mean to fay that such a reprefentation may not be fonnded in fact, we are affured, by confulting the book of nature, that fo unlimited a confidence upon fuch difgraceful fubjects is by no means usual. MEDICINE. It ART. 21. Oratio Anniverfaria in Theatro Collegii Regalis Medicorum Londinenfis, ex Harveii inftituto, habita a Joanne Latham. M. D. Socio. Die Octobris Decimo Octavo, fefto fancti Luca Evangelifta. A. D. 1794. Londini apud T. N. Longman. p. 27. 8vo. 25. 1795. The Harveian Oration, as its name imports, was founded by Dr. W. Harvey, who difcovered the circulation of the blood, and was a confiderable benefactor to the College of Phyficians. is fpoken in the theatre of the college every year, ufually by the youngest fellow, on St. Luke's Day; which is the anniversary of the foundation of the college; when the prefident, cenfors, and other officers are chofen. But although every fellow is expected in his turn to prepare and deliver an oration, the publication is at the option of the fpeaker; they are not therefore regularly printed. The fubject is ufually, a general commendation of the fcience of phyfic, the praifes of the founders, benefactors, and other great characters which have adorned the college. Among thefe the name of Harvey ftands peculiarly distinguished. On fubjects fo trite, little novelty can now be expected. We fhall pafs over, therefore, the accounts of Linacre, Caius, Sydenham, Freind, and other illuftrious members, to whofe fame nothing can be added, and give as a fpecimen of the prefent com. pofition, the characters of the late Drs. Pitcairn and Austin. Nonne te vidimus," the orator fays, "Pitcairne fagax! nomen O! prægrande olim et futurum, in orbe tuo fulmine fulgido corrufcantem? Nonne te animo audenti et perfpicaci quod facit affiduo tramite vulgus iter deferentem, atque ignotas inufitatafque vias benigno numine explorantem ? nonne te cometam, admiramur, circulum fidereum effugientem, et femitam totam tuam fulgore nitidiffimo defignantem? Te etiam, Auftine folers, orbiculum heu! breviffimum peragentem vidimus-fed curfum tuum celeberrimum lux notat perennis, et gloria fplendidiffima; nam dum medicinæ reftabit utilitas, Chemiæ decus, Philofophiæ dignitas, femper honos nomenque tuum laudefque manebunt." The reader here fees an accumulation of praifes, but they are not appropriated to the perfons. Dr. Pitcairn was a phyfician |