one will wonder at this, who confiders what flrange lengths the madnefs of party will run. Art. 35. Fitz-Stephen's Defcription of the City of Londen, newly tranflated from the Latin Original: with a neceffary Commentary, A Differtation on the Author, afcertaining the exact .Year of the Production, is prefixed: and to the whole is fubjoined, a correct Edition of the Original, with the various Readings, and fome ufeful Annotations. By an Antiquary. 4to. 4 s. fewed. White, 1772. William Fitz-Stephen was a learned monk, of Norman extraction, He was born at London, lived in the family of archbishop Becket, held employments under him, and was prefent when he was murdered at Canterbury. His defcription of London, which has been quoted by Stowe, Strype, and Maitland, was not a detached piece expressly written on that fubject, but was introduced as a prelimi nary in his Life of St. Thomas a Becket, to which it was prefixed after the manner of the Roman hiftorian Salluft, as his prefent editor obferves, from Leland. This fragment, though written in a panegyrical firain, may be confidered as a great literary curiofity, as defcribing the metropolis, with the manners of its inhabitants, at a very early time, the twelfth century, in the reign of Henry II. An extract from an extract of fo old a compofition, is rendered unneceifary, as it has already been made ufe of by the hiftorians of London: it is fuficient to fay, that the anonymous editor has added many notes to afcertain dates and facts, which render it an acceptable performance to thofe who are curious in fearching back into antiquity. N. Art. 36. A Mifcellany of Eastern Learning. Tranflated from Turkish, Arabian, and Perfian Manufcripts, in the Library of the King of France. By Monf. Cardonne, Secretary and Interpreter of the Oriental Languages to his Chriftian Majefty, and Pro-feflor of Arabic in the Royal College at Paris. Tranflated inta English. 12mo. 2 Vols. 5's. fewed. Wilkie. As the articles which compofe this mifcellany are selected with little care or choice, they reflect no honour on their collector; and ftill lefs does the prefent edition do credit to the English translator, The former has been deficient in tafle and judgment; and, the latter, befide having fmall pretenfions to thefe qualities, does not even feem to understand either the French language or his own. St. Art. 37. Socrates out of his Senfes or, Dialogues of Diogenes of Sinope. Tranflated from the German of Wieland, by Mr. Winterfled. 12mo. 2 Vols. 4 s. bound. Davies. 2 An ingenious writer has given the above whimsical title to a work abounding with delicate fatire, pleafant humour, and excellent fentiments; in which he feems frequently to have had his eye upon our admirable STERN. But why he has given the name of Socrates the lead, in his title-page, we are at a lofs to conceive, fince Diogenes is the hero of this performance, and Socrates is never perfonally introduced. The philofopher of Sinope is here reprefented, not as the fnarling, ill-natured Cynic, but as the honest and inoffenfive citizen of the world, the difinterested advocate of virtue, and the benevolent friend of mankind. POETICAL. POETICA L. Art. 38. The Rival Beauties; a poetical Conteft. 4to. 1 s. 6d. Griffin. 1772. A frivolous conteft between two idle Path rhymers, fquabbling about the celebration of the beauties who frequented that place in 1771. One of the pieces, however, has fome fmartnefs, as, for inftance, in the following droll exhibition of a good Lady-wife, with all her family-paraphernalia: We fee the dame in ruftic pride Then pans and pickling fkillets rife With fqualling children, clofe the fcene! One of thefe worthy Lady Bountifuls, however, may be a more eftimable character than a thoufand of our fashionable dames, whose heads and hearts are filled with nothing but an eternal round of extravagant amufements. NOVEL S. Art. 39. The Feelings of the Heart; or, the History of a Country Girl. Written by herself, and addreffed to a Lady of Quality. izmo. 2 Vols. 5 s. Noble. 1772. This performance is not deftitute of incident or fentiment. It is conducted with a good deal of art, expreffed with tolerable purity, and may be read with fome degree of pleasure. St. Art. 40. The Voyages and Adventures of the Chevalier Dupont. Tranflated from the French. 12mo. 4 Vols. 10's. fewed. Jones. 1772. Although we have claffed this work with the Novels, it has rather the appearance of a narrative of real adventures, occurring in a series of trading voyages, through various parts of America and the West Indies. There is nothing romantic nor extraordinary in the incidents; and most of them are intolerably circumftantial and tedious: yet has Mr. Dupont, by the ease and vivacity of his manner, rendered rendered his details in fome degree interefting; and they will prove the more entertaining to many readers, from his descriptions of the various places which he vifited, in his feveral voyages. His perfo nal story, however, is left imperfect, with a view, we fuppofe, to a farther publication, en fuite, fhould the prefent volumes meet with a favourable reception from the public. Art. 41. A comparative View of the public Burdens of Great Britain and Ireland, with a Propofal for putting both Islands on an Equality, in regard to the Freedom of foreign Trade. 8vo. Is. 6d. Robinson. 1772. This pamphlet is written with judgment and ability; and the Author's remarks, with respect to Ireland in particular, appear to be juft and conclufive. The alteration of circumstances ought to produce an alteration of political fyftem. Laws which are proper to a country in one fituation are improper in another. Regulations which are no longer of advantage fhould be abolished, and give place to others that are adequate and effectual. It is not always, however, that thofe who are called to take the lead in fociety are able or willing to attend to the fchemes of improvement that are fet before them. It happens thus that the patriot and the citizen often fpeculate to little purpofe; and that their wisdom and their plans are often treated with contempt. MEDICA L. st. Art. 42. Oratio in Theatro Collegii Regalis Medicorum Londinenfis, ex Harveii Inftituto Habita, Fefto Divi Luce. A. D. 1771. Ajohanne Green, M. D. Coll. ejufdem Socio, &c. 4to. I S. Wal ter. 1772. After the ufual commemoration of benefactors and others who have deferved well of the College, the Orator labours to prove that all the requifites to a good medical education are to be had at our two Univerfities; which he confiders as fchools of medicine not only in no degree-inferior, but even fuperior to most others. Some refections are added relative to the conteft between the College and the Licentiates. The Author difcuffes this fubject in a very liberal manner, and treats thefe laft-mentioned gentlemen with temper and urbanity. But though our medical Orator highly difclaims every idea of an illiberal fpirit of monopoly in the College, he appears tolerably tenacious of its rights and privileges; and does not think it reafonable or expedient, under a pretence of reformation, to have its powers circumfcribed, much lefs given up to or fhared with perfons, who, however deferving in other refpects, are not, in confequence of certain circumstances refpecting their courfe of education, intitled to interfere in the governmental concerns of the College. Our Orator finally intrenches himself in the reverence due to old eftablishments, and the hazards often attendant on innovations; and: ends with a Nolumus ergo leges mutari, adding that, QUIETA mowere ut plurimum incommodum eft-an apothegm which might be, not unaptly, parodied and applied to the acts of that memorable day, in which the quiet of this venerable body was unfeasonably interrupted by by the Rebel Licentiates as they were whilom called by a lefs tempe rate Orator than the prefent t. Ο CORRESPONDENCE. To the AUTHORS of the MONTHLY REVIEW. GENTLEMEN, London, June 7, 1772. NE of your functions is to detect literary impofitions, therefore I doubt not you will permit me to confirm your fufpicion of a petty larceny, mentioned in your last Monthly Catalogue, p. 542, Art. 34, viz. The real Views and political Syftem of the late Revolution at Copenhagen. By Chriftian Adolphus Rothes, formerly Counsellor of Conference, Secretary of the Cabinet to his Majefty Chriftiern VIL and great Affeffor of the Supreme Council at Altena, Though this trash is not worth any refutation, I shall offer a remark or two upon the title-page. ft. As I am pretty well acquainted with the Danish service, I can affure you there is not in Denmark, Norway, or any of the Danish dominions, fuch a man as Mr. Christian Adolphus Rothes, in any employment whatever. 2dly. The dignity of Counsellor of Conference being merely titular, and for life, there is no formerly Counsellor of Conference. 3dly. The prefent King, Chriftian the VIIth (not Christiern) has had but three Secretaries of the Cabinet; the first is now at London; the fecond, who followed his Mafter in his voyage, is in the Court of Chancery at Copenhagen; the third was beheaded on the 28th of April: none of these three called himself Rothes. 4thly. There is no Supreme Council at Altena: that town being no capital hath but a Corporation, and no other Council. In that corporation there is no Affeffor, great or little. Every circumstance in the work itself is abfolutely falfe, and grounded on facts, and a fate of things, that never existed. For inftance: the conduct of the Queen Dowager in the King's Council is very circumftantially defcribed;-but, she never fat in the King's Council. A ban mot is reported to have been faid by the Queen Confort when her Royal Hufband (very impolitically indeed) beltowed a re, giment on the King of France, to be commanded by the Duke of Duras-but never was fuch a prefent made, or even thought of I am, yours, &c. S. R. N. B. The Effais fur divers Sujets intereffans, c. mentioned p. 548, are not to be afcribed to a Mr. Haller, but to M. Schmidt of Arau, formerly Præceptor to the Duke of Saxe-Weymar. S. R. The Reviewers are defired to make allowances, for the ftyle of this letter, it being written by a foreigner." IN GENTLEMEN, your Monthly Review, for April laft, you have inferted, from Mr. Stevens's Book of Songs, fuch reafons as that gentleman bath there thought fit to offer to the Public, as an apology for that publication. You have done this in a manner that not only mani fefts your own belief of the transactions there related, but muft in + Monthly Review, February 1770, p. 143. fluence fluence the general opinion. As I am oft materially injured by this very unfair proceeding of Mr. Stevens's, I expect from your juftice the infertion of the advertisement prefixed to that Book of Songs, which, depending on Mr. Stevens's word as an honest Man, I have been unfortunate enough to publish. I am, Gentlemen, With much Refpect, Whitehaven, May 23, 1772. Your very obedient humble Servant, JOHN DUNN. To the PUBLIC. "A Book of Songs, entitled, THE CHOICE SPIRITS CHAPLET, &c. compiled by GEORGE ALEXANDER STEVENS, Efq; printed by me, having been lately published by Meffrs. Hawes, Clarke, and Collins, in Paternofter-row, London, an advertisement has fince appeared in feveral of the public papers, figned George Alexander Stevens, denying his having had any concern, directly or indirectly, in the compilation of that book; and afferting, that feveral of the fongs wrote by him are taken from mutilated and fpurious copies; which though I cannot believe it to have been inferted by Mr. Stevens himself, yet I think it incumbent on me to lay the following account before the public, in order to justify my own character, and thofe concerned in the publication of that book. When Mr. Stevens was in Whitehaven in April 1767, I mentioned to him my defign of reprinting a book of fongs, I had formerly published; but as there were feveral of the fongs in that collection he did not approve of, he defired I would fend him all the fong books I had in my poffeffion, and he would mark thofe he thought mot proper for a NEW PUBLICATION; which he was fo obliging as to do, and affixed his name to a great number of his fongs, which had been omitted in those publications, and alfo corrected feveral errors in them; he afterwards drew up three different titles, and an advertifement, and defired me to make choice of one of the titles, and transcribe it over, with the advertisement; and he would, if neceffary, correct it; which I did, and he afterwards made a few alterations in it, which title is now prefixed to the bock; nor are there any fongs in the collection (fix Scotch ones excepted, inferted by particular defire) that were not marked by him. He also gave me leave to make use of his name in the publication of the book, in any manner I might think most conducive to my intereft; a permiffion, he faid, he had never granted to any other perfon, and which I hold myfelf greatly obliged to him for. While the book was printing I wrote to Mr. Stevens, acquainting him of it, and, at the request of feveral of my friends, I affixed his name to the title-page, agreeable to the liberty he gave me. From the above account the Public will be able to judge of the truth of the advertisement, and to their candoor I willingly fubmit the determination of the affair. Whitehaven, Nov. 26, 1771. JOHN DUNN." * Both these copies, together with a few of those fongs of Mr. Stevens's which he affixed his name to, and corrected, are left at Meffrs. Hawes, Clarke, and Collins, in Paternoster-row, for the infpection of any gentleman who chufes to fatisfy himfelf of the trach of the above," |