Nor, as he further ftates, can the incomes of the clergy be diminished without danger to the ftate from another cause. For the church muft, in fuch a cafe, be perpetually supplied with minifers taken from a lower clafs of fociety; whofe parents will be totally unequal to the expence of giving them a liberal education: and when the profeffors of religion falf fucceffively from refpect to difregard, and from difregard to difefteem: religion will lofe its neceffary force in fociety, and government its beft fupport. We cannot avoid obferving, that if a corn rent had been established in the end of the feventeenth century, in lieu of tithes, fuch nearly would have been the ftate of religion in this country, when thofe peftilent anarchical principles which have brought Europe to the verge of ruin, were at their height here. As it was, we have weathered the ftorm hitherto with great difficulty and exertion, although now it can be only faid to have a little abated, not to have fubfided into a calm. But in that cafe, it would have raged with greater strength, and we should have been lefs prepared to, meet it: and what the event would have been, every one may figure to himself. Even in that part of his inquiry, where we have, without referve, expreffed our diffent from Mr. Cove, the excellence of his intention is obvious: as to the others, he has added to the obligation the church and the state were before under to him, for his capital defence of the rights of the former. This fupplemental publication abounds alfo with strong arguments, and proofs of the writers extensive research and information. BRITISH CATALOGUE, POETRY, ART. 13. The Pride of Birth: a Satire, in Imitation of the Eighth Satire of Juvenal. With Notes, critical and illuftrative; adapted to the Characters and Manners of the prefent Age. 4to. 37 Pp. Caw thorne. 1801. Imitations of Juvenal, even though tolerably written, appear infipid, unless they attain the fententious dignity and energy of the origi nal. In this refpect, the two Satires of Dr. Johnfon have hitherto left The writer before us does not often all competitors far behind them. rife above mediocrity; and many of the pointed fentences of the Ro man man fatirist are feebly or awkwardly expreffed by the English imitator. The following lines, which are a paraphrase of the terfe sentence, * Omne animi vitium tanto confpe&ius in fe Crimen habet, quanto major qui peccat kabetur, are among the best of his imitations: yet fome of them might cafily have been better expreffed. "Honour's a torch that casts a spreading light, Which none fhould feek whofe deeds would fhun the fight: Or all thy vice produce in broadeft day. The infamous ftory of a bet made at Drury-Lane Theatre, even if true, fhould have been omitted, as it could not be related in other than grofs terms. The notes are only remarkable for perfonalities, without much fhrewdnefs of reina:k or neatness of observation. The author is both uncandid and unjust in his farcafms on the Poet Laureat; whofe New Year and Birth-day Odes are fuperior to what might be expected, even from an elegant and ingenious writer, if we confider the great difficulty of producing any 'hing like novelty on fuch occafions. They far excel those of all his predeceffors fince the time of Dryden, Warton alone excepted; and even the Odes of Warton, though fuperior in particular paffages, are perhaps inferior, upon the whole, to thofe of his fucceffor. Of Mr. Pye's Carmen Seculare*, we think very differently from this writer. But he faces even at Mr. Gifford, an author, who has difplayed more of the fire of Juvenal than any poet of the prefent day, and infinitely more than this gentleman is likely ever to at tain. ART. 14. The Vale of Trent. A Poem, 1801. 12mo. 29 pp. 25. Hurft, The Preface of this writer is fo modeft and unaffuming, that we are unwilling wholly to condemn his work. He defcribes himself as a young author," we may therefore, without offence, fay, that he has much to learn, and above all things fhould attend to the precept of Horace, which makes good fenfe the foundation of good poetry." Hitherto he has only acquired fome skill in verfification; but we look in vain, through his defcriptions, for just taste or perfpicuity; and, though here and there we may find a few good lines, it is out of our power to produce a pleafing and unexceptionable paffage, We would not, however, difcourage an author who appears to have a good ear, and an enthufiaftic admiration of the beauties of nature; but recommend to him the ftudy of our beft writers, and a diligent attention to correctnefs and propriety of expreffion, before he ventures on a fecond attempt. • See the review of it in Brit. Crit. vol. xv. p. 73. ART, ART. 15. A Peep at Provincial Routs. A Poem. 4to. 15 pp. 15. Wright. 1801. This writer (for we shall not be justified in calling him a poet) is too vehement and indignant in his language, confidering the fubject of which he treats. He juftiy reprobates wate, and the indulgence of luxury in the higher claffes of fociety; yet, at the entertainment he defcribes, tea alone appears to have been diftributed. With like juftice he inveighs againtt gaming, but does not alledge high play to prevail at thofe Routs, which are the fubject of his fatire. In a note at the conclufion, he very properly disclains the intention of confidering " cards, when reforted to merely as an amufement, in a vicious light;" and we agree with him in condemning them, when they "become a business and confirmed gaming." Yet his Mufe will not, we fear, effect the diffolution of the frivolous affemblies he ftigmatizes (of which, wafte of time is perhaps the greatest evil); nor will he eafily outfcold the Dowagers and Tabbies who frequent them. DRAMATIC. ART. 16. Ramah Drogg: a Comic Opera, in Three Alts, as perfarmed with univerfal dpplaufe at the Theatre Royal, Covent-Garden. By James Cobb, Ejg. Sva. 74 PP. zs. Longman and Rees. 1800. Our affociates refident in the country, obferve that operas and farces, and even comedies and tragedies, when referred to their opinion, are almost fure to be reported of in a way very different from that. which had been experienced at the theatres-royal in London. They declare that they cannot confider, nor make allowances for, the plan on which plays feem to them now generally written; that is, not for the audience, but for the actors. If one of thefe (fay our friends) excels in grimace, another in comic action, or a third in ranting; the play is written with the fole defign of exhibiting these respective powers. Humour and drollery, wit and fentiment, real pathos and fublimity, are altogether unflential to the piece iff; provided the actor be placed in a fituation proper for fubftituting any counterfeits in their room. The Comic Opera of Ramah Droog, is produced as a complete case in point. It is faid to be really performed, at Covent-Garden, with applaufe fo univerfal, that the auditors (or rather the fpectators) have fhaken the house by peals of laughter and yet (continue our friends) we may defy any reader to difcover in it one particle of humour or drollery (a few trite vulgarifies excepted) or a fingle incident, that can move the mufcles of any perfon the most addicted to rifibility. ART. 17. Wilmore Cafik: a new Comic Opera, in Two Aŭts, as pern formed with confiderable Applause at the Theatre Royal, Drury-Lane, The Mufic entirely Now, by Mr. Hook. Written by R. Houlton, M. B. Second Edition. 8vo. 36 pp. 15. 6d. Weitley. 1800. ART. ART. 18. The Jew and the Dolor: a Farce, in Two Acts, as performed at the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden. By Thomas Dibdin. 8vo. 32 FF. is. Longman and Rees. 1800. ART. 19. The Indian: a Farce, as it was performed at Drury-Lane Theatre. By John Fenwick. 8vo. 49 pp. 1s. 6d. Weit and Hughes. Having bestowed an ample fhare of notice upon Ramah Droog, we may dispatch these three pieces (for they are not worth difcriminating) by faying generally, "He's knight o' th' fhire, and represents them all." ART. 20. Teatro Italiano offia Commedie e Tragedie degli Autori piu celebri. Raccolte da Leonardo Nardini ad, ufo degli ftudiofi della Lingua Italiana. Three Volumes. 12mo. 10s. 6d. Dulau. 1800. The two first volumes contain feven Comedies; the two firft of thefe are by Gio. Gherardo de Roffi, the third by March. Albergati Capacelli. The fourth, fifth, and fixth, by Carlo Goldoni, the feventh by Scipione Maffei. The third volume contains Tragedies only. Three by Vittorio Alfieri, one by the Ab. Vincenzo Menti, and one by Scipione Maffei. Alfieri, the author of three of thefe Tragedies, is alive, and has been diftinguifhed by his republican enthusiasm; but the part of his works here given, have little or nothing that is exceptionable. The compiler of this work has already reputably diftinguifhed himself by fimilar publications; and these three volumes may properly be put into the hands of young perfons as containing nothing pernicious, but, on the contrary, will be found both inftructive and entertaining. NOVELS. ART. 21. We have heard that there are perfons, whofe appetite for novels is fo keen, that, whenever they can find leifure from cards and scandal, they will devour feveral volumes in a day. It must be fuppofed, that fuch an appetite is not accompanied by a very difcriminating or faftidious tafte, but will be fatisfied with coarfe food and ftrong feafoning. To those who poffefs it, we may recommend thefe volumes; in which they will find plenty of love, fuch as it is, usually at first fight; characters, adventures, and incidents, exceedingly various and surprising; a picture of the infide of a houfe of ill-fame, in which all the vifitors (with "a parfon and a methodist preacher" among them) are alarmed, and brought together, at midnight; a lively fketch of a rape; which is followed, however, by an honourable and happy union of the parties. They who are captivated by these famples, may have recourfe to the work itself; where they will find great extravagance of fentiment, affociated with as much meannefs of language, ART. ART. 22. Midfummer Eve; or, the Country Wake. A Tale of the Sixteenth Century. In Two Volumes. 8vo. 6s. Mawman. 1800. This tale has been very popular for more than two hundred years, in the northern diftricts of England. It has been delivered to pofterity by oral tradition, and believed with implicit confidence by numbers, who never queftioned one fingle article in the ftory." Vol. i, p. 160. The tale thould have been left to "cral tradition;" in which fhape it might have innocently entertained, and in fome refpects. have improved, the inhabitants of cottagers around their fire-fide on winter evenings. But the prefs difpels the charm; for, few who have learning enough to read, will have credulity enough to believe a word of the ftory. In one refpect it is objectionable. The infidelity and the profligate impiety of the principal character are fuitably joined together; but not fo, the pious faith of other confiderable characters, with their belief of fuch prodigies, as hollow trees uttering groans, and diftilling drops of blood, &c. No two things can be more heterogeneous, than real faith and blind credulity; nor can authors more effectually degrade the former, than by affociating it with the other. ART. 23. Old Nick; a fatirical Story. In Three Volumes. By the Author of Family Biography. 12mo. 129. Murray. 1801. There is a confiderable degree of ingenuity, and contrivance and salent, and good morals and good writing, in these volumes; but then their defects are no lefs numerous. In the firft place, the title has nothing to do with the book, it might juft as well have been called Triftram Shandy. In the next, the learned Mrs. Paulet is a close copy of the learned lady in Roderick Random; and the fervant, Gregory, is fomething made up of Pipes in Peregrine Pickle, and Partridge in Tom Jones. The hero looking to the manager of a theatre for protection and fupport, is very itale and trite indeed; nevertheless, the work altogether is far fuperior to the common run of novels, and will sertainly do injury to no man's principles. ART. 24. The Man of Fortitude; or, Schedoni in England. In Three Volumes. By B. Frere. 12mo. 12s. Wallis. 1800. When we fay that there is little to except to a publication of this kind, it is, generally fpeaking, as great a compliment as can be paid. This, however, is entitled to fomething more. The moral is unexceptionably good; there is no contemptible degree of ingenuity in the contrivance; and the language is fimple, unaffected, and appropriate. One common fault of novels is to be oblerved of this; the defign on the reader's pocket is immediately obvious; a ftory is divided into three volumes, for which twelve shillings is demanded, when, in fact, it ought to be comprized in one volume, at lefs than half the price. ART. 25. The Enchantrefs, or where fhall I find her? By the Author of Melbourne, Jeannette, &c. Lane. 1801. In turning over the Dictionnaire Hiftorique, we were accidentally ftruck by the article Fontaines, in which is given a brief account of an |